В сервисе Steam появилась очередная порция бесплатных проектов. В свежую подборку попали пять игр, три из которых получили 100% положительных отзывов.

ROSE — шутер с элементами «рогалика», где нужно противостоять волнам врагов и боссам на сгенерированных аренах. Имеет 100% положительных отзывов. Страница в Steam.

DEMON COMPASS — хоррор от третьего лица с тремя отдельными сюжетными линиями и трёхмерной графикой в духе игр из 90-х. Имеет 100% рейтинга. Страница в Steam.

Lifetakers & Heartbreakers — военный 2D-шутер с видом сбоку про трех элитных солдат, которые после крушения вертолёта оказались на вражеской территории. Страница в Steam.

All We Need — хоррор, вдохновлённый североамериканской мифологией. Страница в Steam.

Mini GUNN — двухмерный файтинг с пиксельной графикой. Имеет рейтинг 100%. Страница в Steam.

Следить за халявой и скидками на игры можно в нашем Telegram-канале.

🍌 Лучшая семейная игра — Donkey Kong Bananza

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PC Новости All We NeedНовости Lifetakers & HeartbreakersНовости ROSEНовостиИгровые новостихаляваSteam

В сервисе Steam появилась очередная порция бесплатных игр. В свежей подборке мы собрали семь проектов, включая RPG, арена-шутер, кликер и двухмерный платформер.

Astra Nova — ролевая игра, созданная на Unreal Engine 5. В текущей версии доступен только один эпизод, рассказывающий о вселенной, находящейся на грани разрушения. Главным героем выступает медик, оказавший в затруднительном положении из-за метеоритного дождя. Цель игры — выжить, путешествуя по пылающим горным руинам и отбиваясь от гротескных врагов. Страница в Steam.

Mec Me Loffa — арена-шутер, где нужно противостоять волнам противников. Страница в Steam.

Croquettes Gang — кооперативная игра про двух животных, которые крадут еду и продают её местной мышиной банде, чтобы накопить на легендарный золотой крокет. Страница в Steam.

BattleCore Arena — вышедшая в раннем доступе соревновательная PvP-игра, где нужно управлять огромными шарами. Была разработана студией Ubisoft Bordeaux. Страница в Steam.

FINDit — простенькая игра про поиск спрятанных предметов. Страница в Steam.

BUG — кликер, где нужно уничтожать жуков. Получил 100% рейтинга. Страница в Steam.

Anna: The Magic of Words — 2D-платформер с ретро-графикой в духе игр для NES. Текущая версия, вышедшая в раннем доступе, включает только два уровня. Страница в Steam.

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⚡️ Процессоры AMD тоже подорожают

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Rub of the green, invisible heroes, plants in rival teams… is it too early to say ?

Sidharth Monga26-May-2022Forget the role clarity. Never mind the death bowling of Harshal Patel and death batting of Dinesh Karthik. Leave aside Wanindu Hasaranga in the middle overs. If you are a Royal Challengers Bangalore fan and believe in signs, you are probably already playing “” at wedding celebrations. For it looks destined right now that this is Royal Challengers’ year. You probably know more signs than us, but here are a few that are staring us right in the face.If you haven’t noticed these, you either don’t follow IPL or are just trying to be a hipster by following only teams that have no connect with the geographical units they claim to represent: Rajasthan Royals or Punjab Kings or whatever their name was last week or Delhi Capitals.

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Watch live coverage of Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore on ESPN+ in English or in Hindi

DRSYou probably get nightmares of the marginal calls gone against your team or that erroneous short run that you believe ended up costing you a playoffs spot, but this year the rub of the green has been on Royal Challengers’ side. Remember the second ball Karthik faced in the Eliminator? Looked gone for a duck. Not given. Saved by an umpire’s call on the review.Who will forget Rishabh Pant, so trigger happy on most days with DRS requests, being conservative in a match that Royal Challengers desperately needed Mumbai Indians to win against Capitals?All these marginal calls are going against Royal Challengers’ rivals elsewhere. Capitals’ Rovman Powell not getting the no-ball, for example. Gujarat Titans’ Matthew Wade hitting the leather off the ball only for Ultra Edge to not show a sound signature. With some luck, we might even have a year when Royal Challengers don’t demand for an aspect of decision-making to be taken away from the umpires.Related

• The thing that makes Sanju Samson special

• Manjrekar: KL Rahul needs to bat 'quicker rather than longer'

• du Plessis on Harshal: 'Every time I feel the pressure, I go to him'

• Patidar, Rahul and their different high-wire acts

• Stats: Patidar's big-match hundred

They are dropping your match-winnersBoth Rajat Patidar and Karthik were dropped when the partnership was hardly past 10: in the end they end up with 92 in 41 balls.Also before we let Pant go, he dropped Karthik on five in the league game against Royal Challengers only for Karthik to score 66 off 34 that buried Capitals.Speaking of match-winnersShouldn’t they be Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli? Between them, Maxwell and Kohli have played three innings of 40 or more at a strike rate above 140. du Plessis last had such a big impact on May 8. It’s the others who have been carrying them. You would think with two matches remaining the big three are due according to the law of averages.He’s won it with Mumbai. He’s won it with SRH. He’s won it with CSK. This year, Karn Sharma is with RCB. Should we say more?•BCCIWhat are the odds?Patidar was supposed to be getting married during this IPL. It was only an injury to young Luvnith Sisodia – an event so unremarkable that the IPL release doesn’t even mention what injury – that brought Patidar in as replacement after Royal Challengers had let him go. He spent more than 20 days on the bench, and came in only when others played them out of contention. Now he won you the Eliminator with his first century in T20 cricket.Plants in rival teamsIf Patidar is an example of a lost soul finding its way back, another lost soul helped them from the outside. Tim David was part of Royal Challengers last year but they made not a single bid for him at the auction table this year. Only for David to score 34 off 11 in Mumbai’s final league match to make sure Capitals finished below Royal Challengers.The invisible heroStarting 2016, only Mumbai have been able win the IPL without Karn Sharma in their squad even though Karn has played only four matches in the playoffs. That’s four titles in four playoff matches, one with Sunrisers Hyderabad, one with Mumbai, two with Chennai Super Kings. In one of the title runs, he didn’t play a single game.If you think all of Royal Challengers’ calls at the auction table have worked only in a circuitous way, you have another thing coming. They managed themselves a steal deal this year: Karn Sharma at the base price of INR 50 lakh.The captainThe last time a team won the IPL from outside the top two, it was an overseas captain leading them. du Plessis is the only overseas captain in the playoffs this year. Okay now we are taking it too far but you get the drift.

Kent left battling for a draw with Zak Crawley, Ben Compton at the crease

ECB Reporters Network13-May-2023Kent 95 and 66 for 0 (Crawley 35*, Compton 30*) trail Hampshire 373 (Dawson 84, Weatherley 58, Fuller 51) by 212 runsKent were left battling for a draw after three days of their of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Hampshire at Canterbury.The hosts are 66 without loss in their second innings, trailing by 212, with Zak Crawley unbeaten on 35 and Ben Compton 30 not out.Earlier, Liam Dawson hit 84, Joe Weatherley 58 and James Fuller 51 as the visitors posted 373 in their first innings.Kent had started well, with Wes Agar taking three early wickets to help reduce Hampshire to 159 for 5, but after riding out a torrid opening session the visitors kicked on after lunch and took a 278-run lead.After day two had been reduced to just 6.1 overs, the weather finally improved on Saturday morning, with Hampshire resuming on 103 for nought.Having been dismissed for just 95 in their first innings, Kent came roaring back into the contest, with Agar striking twice in the third over over of the day.Fletcha Middleton was first to go, edging behind for 48 and handing Jordan Cox his first red-ball dismissal as a wicketkeeper. Agar then produced an absolute jaffa that sent Nick Gubbins’ off-stump cartwheeling.He then had Weatherley lbw, but was denied a fourth victim when Crawley dropped Ben Brown, although the batter failed to cash in, adding just a single before he was lbw to Grant Stewart for 10.A far-from-gruntled James Vince was given lbw to Michael Hogan for 24 and Hampshire endured a spell of 7.4 overs without scoring.Ian Holland took 36 balls to get off the mark, although when he did it was a stylish cut off Joey Evison for four and he and Dawson survived to reach 189 for 5 at lunch.From then on the visitors dominated and as the runs came in torrents the home desperation was summed up when an lbw appeal was turned down and a fan yelled: “Come on you … ” before realising the entire ground could hear him. Thinking better of swearing, he meekly added the word … “umpire,” to widespread laughter.A potentially crucial stand of 94 was ended in emphatic fashion when Evison splayed Holland’s stumps for 41, but by then the momentum was entirely with Hampshire.It was 308 for 6 at tea and Dawson continued to hit out until he holed out to Hamid Qadri and was caught at mid-wicket by Tawanda Muyeye.Kyle Abbott was lbw to Evision for 2 before Fuller tried to sweep a full toss from Qadri and was caught on the boundary by Muyeye.When Keith Barker clubbed Evison to Muyeye for 25 it left Kent with a hazardous 26 overs to survive until stumps.Dawson put down a tough chance to catch Ben Compton off Mohammad Abbas, but the openers batted through until failing light forced Hampshire to bring on their spinners for the final five overs and neither Dawson nor Weatherley was able to break through.

There’s just something about Darwin Nunez.

How can a player toil through so many minutes of the campaign, yet harness his chaotic powers when Liverpool need him most?

The £85m club-record striker’s struggles were forgotten in an instant when he expertly collected Alisson’s powerful goal kick, held off Marquinhos and found Harvey Elliott with a weighted ball into the box. Cue the pandemonium in Paris.

However, the fact remains: Nunez has drifted through three seasons at Anfield, never really producing the sustained clinical results to match the lofty tag and provide Liverpool with the elite-level centre-forward they require, fighting for the most major of honours.

Darwin Nunez's season in numbers

Nunez has divided opinion right through his Liverpool career, but as a 25-year-old striker into his third season at Anfield, he hasn’t been good enough.

His struggles have been emphasised by Arne Slot’s reluctance to hand him starting roles in the Premier League, and it feels like we could be heading toward a bittersweet conclusion, with the Reds on track for silverware this term but Nunez, perhaps, preparing for a premature exit, having failed to reach his potential.

Multiple sources – including Fabrizio Romano – made claims in January that Nunez was on the brink of moving to the Saudi Pro League for a large figure, but FSG blocked his sale given Slot’s title-chasing squad would be sold short at the 2024/25 campaign’s midpoint.

Apps (starts)

29 (19)

36 (22)

22 (7)

Goals

9

11

4

Assists

3

8

2

Touches per game

23.8

23.3

14.7

Shots per game

2.9

3.0

1.2

Big chances missed

20

27

4

Key passes per game

1.0

0.9

0.3

Dribbles per game

0.6 (49%)

0.4 (43%)

0.4 (40%)

Duels won per game

2.8 (38%)

2.4 (38%)

2.4 (38%)

But when seeing his struggles in front of goal over three campaigns, Liverpool cannot afford to risk their attacking potency any longer. Mohamed Salah cannot be crushed with an absurd weight of responsibility as he approaches his mid-thirties.

So then, it looks like sporting director Richard Hughes is ready to sign an exciting upgrade.

Liverpool ready to sign Nunez upgrade

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have made their move to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, opening talks to sign the player who is keen on leaving the German side this summer.

Sesko, 21, has emerged as one of the most coveted strikers in Europe and is believed to have a release clause worth €70m (roughly £58m).

Leipzig are sixth in the Bundesliga and failure to return to Europe’s elite club competition will only raise the chances of his departure.

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The report notes that Liverpool have made enquiries in recent weeks, but they currently trail Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in the race. Newcastle and Aston Villa also hold a vested interest in the fearsome striker.

How Benjamin Sesko compares to Darwin Nunez

Liverpool fans have felt a frisson of excitement in recent weeks, watching reports emerge concerning interest in Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

The Magpies are set to demand in excess of £150m, so maybe hang on to your horses with that one.

Instead, Liverpool could get their mitts on one of the most exciting young goalscorers in the business, Sesko having been described as “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

At 6 foot 5, Sesko is a rangy and physical presence in the final third, but he’s also slender, agile and pacy, ranking among the top 15% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons completed (1.17) per 90, as per FBref.

He joined Leipzig ahead of the 2023/24 season and has showcased exciting goalscoring qualities that have translated from the domestic scene onto the Champions League stage, which bodes well for his potential future on Merseyside.

Bundesliga

54 (39)

24

6

Champions League

16 (10)

6

0

DFB-Pokal

5 (4)

5

1

DFL-Supercup

1 (0)

0

0

For a 21-year-old forward, it’s quite the resume having only just hatched from the early phase of his career. This time two years ago, Sesko was a teenager plying his trade for RB Salzburg in Austria.

Having scored 24 times in the Bundesliga so far, Sesko has actually only missed 16 big chances, as per Sofascore. This is a remarkable rate of success for one so young.

From this, we can extrapolate the figures and suggest Sesko will be a prolific force to be reckoned with under Slot’s wing at Liverpool, especially when contrasting his clinical edge with Nunez.

Looking back at the breakdown of Nunez’s Premier League metrics over the past three years, we can see the Uruguayan has converted 24 chances in the division, missing a further 51, equating to a success rate of just 32%.

Conversely, Sesko’s big-chance conversion rate stands at 60% across his two campaigns in Germany, which is almost double his counterpart’s accuracy. He’s four years Nunez’s junior, remember, still building foundational blocks to his game.

Liverpool wouldn’t be losing Nunez’s finer traits either – not when Sesko is showing signs of emulating that side of the number nine game.

Scout Antonio Mango has described the Slovakia international as a “menace” in attacking areas, with his blend of strength, athleticism and awareness surely setting him up to dovetail into a dynamic and devastating Redmen outfit. He will feed off the energy and creativity of his potential teammates.

While it’s worth remembering Nunez was a free-scoring sensation at Benfica, scoring 34 goals from 41 appearances across the 2021/22 season, before Liverpool snapped him up, Sesko is already showing signs of an unwavering clinical nature.

If a superstar like Isak proves out of FSG’s financial reach, Liverpool won’t get much better than this up-and-coming star.

He left in 2013: Liverpool flop sold for £15m is now outscoring Nunez

He was one of the worst signings in Liverpool’s modern history.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 4, 2025

On the brink of a milestone only seven other bowlers in history have crossed, the Australia spinner looks ahead to his side’s next six Tests in England

Andrew McGlashan05-Jun-2023Nathan Lyon is already in rarified air as a Test cricketer. But he’s close to joining an even more exclusive club.With six Tests over the next two months there is every chance that he will claim the 18 wickets he needs to reach 500 – a milestone only achieved by seven bowlers in the history of the game.Lyon is not someone who likes focusing on personal milestones during a playing career, but he is able to acknowledge the significance of the landmark that is within his grasp during the upcoming Ashes series. His 400th wicket also came against England, during the 2021-22 series, when he had Dawid Malan taken at silly point on the fourth day at the Gabba.Related

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Ashes 2023 squad vs squad: Who looks stronger?

Cummins happy to be 'underdone than overdone'; 'getting mentally ready' key for Rohit

Flying under the radar, Travis Head could play decisive hand for Australia in England

New candidates emerge as Australia search answers for who after Nathan Lyon?

“Yeah, I don’t like talking about myself in that light, but it is pretty amazing when you sit back and look at the names who have been able to take 500 Test wickets,” he said before flying to the UK. “I know I’ve been very fortunate and I’m grateful for my journey so far. It has been amazing, and if I’m able to tick that little box over the Ashes, it would be very special.”If I start looking at what I’ve been able to achieve, the Tests and the series that we’ve won, I’ll feel like the end can sneak up on you quite quickly. I still feel I’ve got a lot of cricket left in me and I know personally, I want to tick off some big goals in the many years to come. I’ll definitely look back at it when I do call stumps, but that’s not for a while yet.”Lyon, who made his Test debut in 2011 and claimed a wicket with his first delivery, now embarks on a two-month tour of the UK with two major prizes up for grabs: the World Test Championship and the Ashes, which Australia have not won in England since 2001.Lyon’s key role in Australia’s WTC final Facing India at The Oval on June 7 is the first matter of business for Australia before thinking about the Ashes, even though that series begins just four days after the Oval match ends. The WTC has been much more of a singular focus for the Australians this time after they missed the inaugural final due to over-rate penalties.”This is my World Cup final,” Lyon said. “Being part of the 2019 [ODI] World Cup, where we weren’t good enough against England in the semi-final, it did feel the World Cup dream probably slipped away.”Spinners Matt Kuhnemann (left) and Mitchell Swepson (right) in a BBL game. “I do feel the depth of Australia’s spin stocks has improved out of sight,” Lyon says•Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesLyon was a central figure in Australia’s campaign to secure their spot in this year’s WTC final. In this two-year cycle he claimed 83 wickets in 19 Tests at 26.97, 15 wickets more than the second most prolific bowler in this period, James Anderson. While history suggested Australia would dominate at home, they were handed a tough overseas draw with visits to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.Though only the tour of Pakistan produced a series win – and a very significant one at that – crucially Australia picked up three Test victories in those series, clinching their place in the final with the win in Indore where Lyon claimed 8 for 64. That followed five-wicket hauls in the other two successes: 5 for 83 in Lahore in a match that went to the final hour of the final day and 5 for 90 in Galle.”I’m pretty proud of the whole squad – players and coaches – the mentality of everyone, the way we played our brand of cricket, the different challenges of playing in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and at home,” Lyon said. “Feel like the World Test Championship final is a reward for our efforts over the last 24 months, but there’s a lot to play for now. We really need to make sure we go on with it and finish the job that we set out to do.”To go over to each country and play my role and be able to help contribute to a few wins, it’s been amazing, but it’s also been a massive learning curve for me and all our squad. Not one [performance] stands out – they are all equal in their own right. Saying that, it means nothing now. I need to make sure I’m playing my role [in the final].”Lyon’s looming centuryThe proximity of the WTC final to the Ashes has made for a curious build-up. The match against India deserves its own billing but the prospect of the five contests that follow it is mouth-watering given the resurgence in England’s Test cricket over the last 12 months.Lyon, who has recently launched an online platform called GOATD, which will provide members exclusive behind-the-scenes access to his tour, is on his fourth Ashes trip.”Feel like every Ashes is getting bigger,” he said. “England have been talking about the Ashes for a long time but for us we are purely focused on the WTC final and feel like we’ve got to be. We know we are there for the long haul and it will be a big challenge with what England throw at us, but right now the focus is purely on India.””To hopefully crack 100 consecutive games would be an extremely proud moment, but let’s try play 98 first”•SuppliedLyon’s first Ashes trip, in 2013, can be seen as a key moment in his career. He was omitted for the first two Tests, when Ashton Agar was preferred – Agar famously left a bigger impression with the bat by making 98 at No. 11 on debut. Lyon returned at Old Trafford. He has not missed a Test match since, currently sitting on 97 in a row.”It’s something that I’m pretty proud about, having played 97 consecutive Tests. To hopefully crack 100 consecutive games would be an extremely proud moment, but let’s try to play 98 first,” he said.This will be the earliest Ashes series in the UK since 1997 and it will be wrapped up before August – a month where in recent times such series have just been getting going. Lyon had a brief spell with Worcestershire in 2017, which gave him a taste of bowling in early-season English conditions, but he does not think much will have to change.”I’ve been watching a fair amount of county cricket and talking to the likes of Sean Abbott [at Surrey] and getting some intel on the surfaces,” he said. “Stokesy has come out and said they want hard, fast, flat wickets, so that’s what we are expecting.”While India come first, what of the prospect of being taken on by England’s Bazballers and their batters trying to put him into the stands? “Won’t be the first it’s happened to me,” Lyon said. “I have the record of most Test sixes in history so a couple won’t matter to me.”The shadow of Headingley 2019Australia retained the Ashes in 2019 under Tim Paine’s captaincy, so that was certainly a success, but it was also a missed opportunity to come away series winners: England levelled the series at The Oval after, of course, the Stokes-inspired Miracle at Headingley.Enough time has elapsed that Lyon is philosophical at looking back at his impending return to that ground; this year’s series features the same venues in the same order.”I know 99% of people probably think the run-out [that Lyon failed to effect during England’s last-wicket partnership in their successful chase] cost us everything, but we should have won that game well and truly before taking it so deep,” he said. “But Ben Stokes is going to go down as one of England’s greatest. Definitely feels like we missed a trick but to go over there and retain the Ashes was extremely special.The missed run-out of Jack Leach at Headingley in 2019: “I’m expecting the crowd [at Headingley in 2023] to let me know, but it’s not the first mistake I’ve ever made and it won’t be the last”•Getty Images”I’m not scared of the ground, I’m looking forward to being back at Headingley. Was probably one of the best Test matches I’ve ever been a part of. I’m expecting the crowd to let me know, but it’s not the first mistake I’ve ever made and it won’t be the last.”Future bright, but Lyon has no plans to leave Unlike in 2019, Lyon has a fellow spinner alongside him in the Test squad. Todd Murphy has been one of the breakout stars in the Australian game over the last 12 months and claimed 14 wickets on his maiden Test tour, in India, including a seven-wicket haul on debut in Nagpur.Australia’s schedule over the next couple of years – they do not tour the subcontinent for Tests until they go to Sri Lanka in early 2025 – means that, barring injury to Lyon, and the end of his long unbeaten Test run, Murphy is likely to have to wait for his next opportunity – unless an SCG Test calls for two spinners.But his emergence has gone a long way to answering the question of who replaces Lyon when the time comes. Along with Matt Kuhnemann’s swift elevation to Test cricket in India, the presence of Mitchell Swepson, the emergence of Corey Rocchiccioli at Western Australia, and hopefully a return for legspinner Tanveer Sangha from injury next season make for a sense that the spin stocks are in a healthy place.”Think the depth is growing very fast,” Lyon said. “[Matt and Mitch] have done exceptionally well in their own right and have played a role in winning games overseas. Hopefully I’ve been able to help the guys out here and there but I do feel the depth of Australia’s spin stocks has improved out of sight and it will be a good space for the next decade or so.”Lyon has no plans on vacating his position anytime soon. “The hunger and drive to get better is still there, and I still feel like I have a lot to offer Australia. I’ve never conquered this game of cricket and never will – feel like I can keep learning and keep getting better. Until that day comes when I can’t get any better or the hunger dries. That’s when I call stumps.”No. 500 may not be the last of his landmarks.

Having already agreed a loan deal to sign Cedric Kipre from Stade de Reims, Ipswich Town are now reportedly closing in on their second signing of the summer in the form of another Ligue 1 star.

Ipswich set to sign Cedric Kipre

It’s been a slow summer transfer window at Portman Road so far as Kieran McKenna looks to build a side capable of earning an instant return to the Premier League without Liam Delap. The talented forward was always destined to depart once relegation was confirmed and he did just that when Chelsea came calling to win a frantic race for his signature.

Replacing the forward remains the toughest task for Ipswich this summer, but not one that sits top of their list of priorities. Instead, according to recent reports, The Tractor Boys are set to commence their summer business by signing Kipre on loan from Reims to hand the central defender his first move back to English football since leaving West Bromwich Albion last year.

Kipre will need little introduction to Championship fans given his extensive experience in England’s second tier, and that experience should prove to be key for McKenna’s side next season.

Ipswich in race for sought-after "huge talent" who scored 12 goals in 24/25

The Tractor Boys could add some attacking flair this summer…

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 16, 2025

Whether signing Championship experience is part of the overall plan for Ipswich this summer remains to be seen. Recent links have emerged with the likes of Kwame Poku have been mentioned in recent weeks before his move to QPR, but those at Portman Road could first welcome a midfield reinforcement to match the potential arrival of Kipre this summer.

Ipswich in advanced talks to signing Matusiwa

As reported by Le Parisien, Ipswich are now closing in on a deal and are in advanced talks to sign Azor Matusiwa from Stade Rennais this summer. The defensive midfielder initially cost the French side around €16m (£14m) back in January 2024, but is seemingly set to move on just 18 months later in favour of McKenna’s side.

Minutes

2,078

1,959

Progressive Passes

134

59

Tackles Won

39

22

Ball Recoveries

134

107

As far as replacements for Jens Cajuste go, it’s fair to say that Matusiwa is an impressive option. The midfielder outperformed the former Ipswich loanee and Napoli midfielder in several key departments last season and will thrive in the Championship if he completes a summer switch.

In a deal worth £10m, Matusiwa could even turn into an excellent bargain at Portman Road. During his time at Reims, the midfielder found himself at the centre of praise more than once, including from Ben Mattinson in 2023. The analyst described the Dutchman’s anticipation as “great” and went on to praise him as “strong” as well as “agile”.

So, although Ipswich have taken time to get going, both Kipre and Matusiwa would represent solid signings to kickstart their transfer window at long last.

Khaled Ahmed has been cut from the group that toured India and Pakistan

Mohammad Isam16-Oct-2024The Bangladesh selectors naming Shakib Al Hasan in the Test squad for the first match against South Africa confirms that he will return to the country for the first time since May. Shakib is reportedly landing in Dhaka on Thursday, which allows him three days to prepare for his final Test match.Shakib announced his retirement in Kanpur on September 26, wishing to complete his Test career with at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. But he had expressed concern about his safety if he came to Bangladesh, given the number of Awami League leaders being arrested since August 5, the day their government effectively resigned from power after 15 years. Shakib was a member of parliament from his hometown Magura. He was one of 147 people named in an FIR for an alleged murder during the unrest.Although the BCB said that they couldn’t guarantee Shakib’s security, Bangladesh’s interim government confirmed – a couple of times – that he is unlikely to be arrested. But the sports adviser Asif Mahmud did say that the allrounder would be better off if he were to break his silence about the student protests. Shakib did that last week, when he put up an apology on Facebook.ESPNcricinfo LtdSelector Hannan Sarkar said that Shakib was selected only after the BCB had given them the green light.”Shakib had expressed his desire to play his final Test at home. We also know that this was a government issue and BCB issue. We sought the BCB’s clearance so when they gave us the green signal that Shakib is available for selection, we picked him. We are proud to see our legend retiring from the home of cricket.Shakib is among four spin-bowling options in the squad, alongside Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan. Almost everyone that were part of the recent tours to Pakistan and India made it to this squad as well, except the fast bowler Khaled Ahmed, who was picked to play in Kanpur but bowled only four overs.Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan opened in all four Tests, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy has become their back-up. Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto could continue at No. 3 and 4, rather than the other way around since Mominul got a century batting at No 3. Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das and Mehidy round out a long Bangladesh batting order.Taijul is usually picked in home Tests ahead of a third seamer. Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud should be the first choice, although Nahid Rana’s pace could be tempting.Bangladesh host South Africa for two Tests, in Mirpur from October 21 and in Chattogram from October 29. It is the first assignment under their interim coach Phil Simmons, who joined the squad on Wednesday, a day after the BCB removed Chandika Hathurusinghe from the position for disciplinary reasons.Bangladesh are currently seventh on the World Test Championship points table, after a 2-0 win in Pakistan and a 2-0 defeat in India. South Africa are fifth on the WTC standings, having most recently won a two-Test series 1-0 in the West Indies in August.Bangladesh squad for first Test against SANajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams has been given a lifeline after featuring for Hull City against Sunderland in a pre-season friendly following struggles with mental health.

• Williams features for Hull in pre-season
• Manager keen to hand second chance to ex-Man Utd man
• Follows battle with mental health and driving ban

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williams left United last summer following the expiry of his contract but was unable to find a new club, having been handed a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving in 2023. But Hull have taken a chance on the defender, featuring him in their recent pre-season win over Sunderland.

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  WHAT WAS SAID?

  Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic has opened up on the arrangement, saying: ""I like to help people because everyone deserves a second chance in life," he told Hull Live. "I spoke with him very honestly, and I explained to him what I expect from him.

  "We will be very careful, very, very slow. We have time, so we will try to help him. I think the quality is there because he was on a high level at Man United, so his quality is there. We need him to bring good fitness, and then we will make a decision.

  "For me, his mentality is good. From our conversations, he's a very normal guy. He just asked me yesterday (Monday), 'can I play?' and then I asked him, 'do you feel comfortable to play some minutes?' His desire is there, and so is the hard work.

  "On Saturday [when they played Stockport County at Edgeley Park], we left him here in Hull to carry on training, and so far, everything has gone according to the plan."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Williams has also recently opened up about his struggles with mental health, admitting he could never be openly honest about his feelings during his time at United due to fears over what would happen as a result. Hull have made a major show of support to the young defender by taking him on, where he will hope he can return to the top level.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMS?

  Hull are taking the situation with Williams one step at a time, and it remains to be seen whether he will be signed permanently ahead of the Championship campaign beginning in a few weeks' time.

Alzarri Joseph, the West Indies fast bowler, has been suspended for two matches for his unsanctioned departure from the field during the third ODI against England, in the wake of a disagreement with captain Shai Hope.Joseph issued a public apology in the aftermath of the incident, acknowledging that “my passion got the best of me”, adding that he had “personally apologised to Captain Shai Hope, my team-mates and management”.”I also extend my sincerest apologies to the West Indies fans – I understand that even a brief lapse in judgment can have a far-reaching impact, and I deeply regret any disappointment caused.”During the fourth over of the innings in Bridgetown, Joseph was unhappy with a field placement and could be seen remonstrating with Hope. Off the fourth ball, Joseph removed Jordan Cox caught behind, but did not celebrate with his team, instead immediately returning to his mark. At the end of the over, Joseph left the field unannounced and went into the dressing room, forcing West Indies to begin the fifth over with only ten fielders on the pitch.”Behaviour like that is unacceptable on my cricket field,” Daren Sammy, West Indies’ head coach said to TalkSPORT after play. “We will be friends…but in the culture I’m trying to build, that’s unacceptable. We will definitely have a chat about that.”Joseph returned to the pitch for the beginning of the sixth over, but did not resume bowling until the 12th. He bowled two more overs, before leaving the field again after two misfields off his bowling saw England gain two runs through overthrows. He returned later to bowl two more in the middle overs and his remaining three in the death.Joseph finished the match with figures of 2 for 45 from his 10 overs after dismissing Cox and Dan Mousley.”Alzarri’s behavior did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds,” Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, said. “Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged.”Sammy, who was appointed as West Indies head coach in May 2023, is widely credited for his man-management abilities, and has convinced several players, such as Andre Russell and Evin Lewis, to return to the international game.”I pride myself on having the difficult conversations,” Sammy said. “But in a way that everybody understands what is needed to be done. To see guys going out there and slowly progressing in the right direction makes me proud.”There’s still a lot of work to be done, but it’s one that I’m quite passionate about.”West Indies won the ODI series 2-1 and the five-match T20 series begins on Saturday, with Sammy hinting that some of the star names who were absent from their recent series against Sri Lanka, such as Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hosein, are set to return.”We’ve got a couple of senior players who were not in Sri Lanka that we expect to be back,” Sammy said. “Our T20 team is our most successful team and our most settled team. So, yes, we incorporate some new guys to give them that exposure, but our T20 team normally picks itself.”This story was updated at 12am GMT following Joseph’s suspension