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Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be targeting the loan signing of a forward from Barcelona, with under-pressure Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou still on the hunt for his first outfield transfer as we approach the business end of January.

Spurs eye new attacker after failed Randal Kolo Muani deal

The Lilywhites were involved in a high-profile race with Juventus for Randal Kolo Muani’s signature recently, but they eventually lost out to the Old Lady.

Tottenham now in pole position to sign "super" £30m Premier League forward

Spurs are the “biggest competitor”.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 22, 2025

Tottenham held discussions with PSG over Kolo Muani, after the France international was deemed surplus to requirements by Luis Enrique and allowed to depart the Parc des Princes before February 3rd.

The 26-year-old, who bagged a sensational 15 goals and 14 assists in all competitions during his best season at Eintracht Frankfurt, was deemed one of the best versatile forwards available on the market (David Ornstein), so Spurs officials will have been very disappointed to miss out on his services.

Now, Postecoglou’s side have re-entered the market for another wide player, as they look to back their manager who’s been forced to cope with a serious injury crisis at N17 throughout the campaign.

Tottenham are believed to be the main contenders to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, but his English colleague Lyall Thomas has since reported that the 18-year-old will command a hefty £55 million transfer fee.

The price quoted for Dibling could be too much for Tottenham mid-season, but there is another potential loan option in the form of Barcelona forward Ansu Fati.

The Spain international spent 2023/2024 on loan at Brighton, where he scored four goals and bagged one assist in 30 total appearances, since returning to the Camp Nou and enduring a very mixed season.

Fati has suffered from a few injury problems this term, which have largely kept him out of Hansi Flick’s first-team, and he’s failed to make any real impact when available.

Tottenham make proposal to sign Ansu Fati on loan

As per one Spanish media source, Tottenham could offer the £227,000-per-week attacker a route back to the Premier League.

Indeed, it is believed that Spurs have made a proposal to sign Fati on loan from Barcelona, which would include an option to buy. The Catalans could be tempted by this offer, as they actively seek to find the 22-year-old a new club.

However, Tottenham would need to take on a hefty portion of his wages, and Fati is apparently more in favour of remaining at his current club despite his squad status.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou’s men have apparently “set their sights” on signing Fati before the deadline.

Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 84 was the only positive for Mumbai as RCB romped home with 22 balls to spare

Hemant Brar02-Apr-20232:05

Dasgupta: Kohli’s break has helped him re-ignite the fire

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis hit scintillating half-centuries as Royal Challengers Bangalore marked their homecoming with a dominating eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.The win was set up by Royal Challengers’ bowlers. After inserting Mumbai in, du Plessis used seven of them; except Glenn Maxwell who bowled just one over, everyone else picked up at least one wicket.That Mumbai could post 171 for 7 in itself was an achievement. After 15 overs, they were 102 for 5 but Tilak Varma’s magnificent 84 not out off 46 balls gave them something to fight with.Du Plessis and Kohli, though, showed how much under par Mumbai were. The pair added 148 in 14.5 overs for the opening stand, du Plessis hitting a 43-ball 73 and Kohli an unbeaten 82 off 49. Between them, they hit 11 fours and as many sixes. When Kohli hit the winning six, 22 balls were still left in the game.Impact Player – Behrendorff in for SuryakumarMumbai, who had started the game with three overseas players, brought in Jason Behrendorff in the second innings. He replaced Suryakumar Yadav, but it made little difference as Behrendorff went for 37 in three wicketless overs. Royal Challengers were in such a comfortable position throughout that they didn’t even use an Impact Player.A powerless powerplayM Chinnaswamy Stadium is infamous for being the bowlers’ graveyard. However, that wasn’t the case in the first innings, with the ball coming slightly slower off the surface. Mohammed Siraj bowled three overs in the powerplay for just five runs and Ishan Kishan’s wicket. Kishan had hit two fours off Reece Topley in the second over but Siraj created the pressure with dot balls. When Kishan tried to break away, he ended up miscuing one to deep third.Batting at No. 3, Cameron Green lasted only four balls and was castled by a Topley yorker. Siraj could have had Rohit Sharma too in the next over. After bowling three dots in a row to Rohit, Siraj went for a bouncer. Rohit countered it with a pull, only to top-edge it straight up. But Siraj couldn’t hear Dinesh Karthik’s call – blame it on the deafening noise by the spectators – and ended up colliding with the wicketkeeper, and the chance went down. It didn’t prove costly, though, as Akash Deep had Rohit caught behind three balls later. Rohit made 1 off ten balls; Mumbai ended the powerplay on 29 for 3.Tilak Varma raises his bat after reaching a well-deserved half-century•BCCIVarma plays a lone handComing in at 19 for 3, Varma opened his account with a second-ball six. Suryakumar’s wicket in the ninth over left Mumbai at 48 for 4 but Varma kept playing his shots. He hit Maxwell for a six and four off successive balls before scooping Deep four a boundary in the next over.He found some support from debutant Nehal Wadhera who hit Karn Sharma for back-to-back sixes, the second one going landing on the roof over long-on. When he tried it for the third time, he holed out. In his next over, Karn dealt a much bigger blow by bowling Tim David.Varma appeared immune to all that and brought up his fifty in 32 balls. His knock had steered Mumbai to 133 for 7 after 18 overs. Then, Siraj lost his radar and sent down five off-side wides – four of them in a row. To make it worse, Varma picked up two fours as well in the over.Harshal Patel had conceded only 21 from his first three overs but he too bore the brunt now, going for 22 in the last over of the innings. Arshad Khan, the other debutant on the night, smashed the second ball of the over for a six. Varma followed it with a pulled four before wrapping up the innings with a helicoptered six.Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli started strongly for Royal Challengers Bangalore•BCCIThe du Plessis-Kohli showMumbai’s left-arm seamers Behrendorff and Arshad found swing with the new ball, but du Plessis defused that threat by using his feet. He went down the track three times in Behrendorff’s second over, hitting one four and two successive sixes.Jofra Archer failed to latch on to a tough return catch from Kohli off his first ball for Mumbai. On the next, Kohli steered him for four, and then went down the track to launch a slower one over long-off.Du Plessis too enjoyed his luck when Kishan dropped him off Piyush Chawla in the fifth over, and took the side to 53 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. A couple of overs later, he welcomed Green into the attack with two fours and a six.Du Plessis brought up his fifty – off 29 balls – with a six off Hrithik Shokeen and celebrated it with another six on the spinner’s next ball. Kohli, despite hitting some eye-catching shots, was playing second fiddle to du Plessis. He took 38 balls for his half-century but by the time du Plessis got out, he had almost caught up with him.Karthik was promoted to No. 3. He fetched a three-ball duck but Maxwell smashed two sixes in three balls to take Royal Challengers to the brink of victory.

Three books on the master commentator and Australia captain offer you the wisdom of Benaud

Paul Edwards20-Dec-2015Sometimes it is wise to succumb to temptation. Asked to review three books that celebrate the life of Richie Benaud, this cricket writer is itching to respond in the pithy style of the great man himself:And now he has. Not a word wasted there, and potential readers can get on with the business of ordering.Yet even sitting at a desk, one intuits the late Benaud’s distaste for hyperbole. If you must, Benaud might say, but can we please dispose of this idea? Before long, Benaud’s list of truly great men and women is produced and one recalls his dismissal of the idea that Shane Warne getting out for 99 might be labelled “a tragedy”. Words are not candyfloss.All of which illustrate one of the beguiling paradoxes of Benaud’s career – that while no one in cricket was more easily or frequently impersonated, there was still nobody like him.All three of these books are anthologies and each has plenty to commend it. The ideal stocking-filler is probably , edited by Rob Smyth, which does not suffer in the least from being confined to extracts from the but might have benefited from the inclusion of a contents page. A particular strength of Smyth’s book is that the last third of it includes a season-by-season chronicle of Benaud’s career, but we also have a host of tributes to his skill as a commentator and his shrewd assessments of his countrymen. For example, there is this from the 1973 on Dennis Lillee:

“Though he looks flamboyant in action on the field, Lillee is essentially a man of simple character, preferring a king-size steak to the more spicy continental dishes, and the occasional glass of beer to the magnum of champagne… On the field, a man who shows an obvious dislike to batsmen, he is of equable temperament once the day’s play is over, and the only thing he is prepared to dislike in cricket at the moment is the type of field set for him in one-day fixtures on the England tour.”

, seems on first glance to be a slighter book, one that can easily be placed in the coffee-table category. But it is not so. For one thing, the photographs have been well-chosen and are superbly reproduced. For those of us currently thinking about how the camera supplies a different history of the game, they provide a wonderful chronicle of Benaud’s career from the multifaceted springtime of Worcester in 1953 to the not-too-grand elder statesman speaking alongside a statue of himself at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2008.Some of the writing is very fine, too. Consider this from AG (Johnny) Moyes:

“No slow bowler can reach the top of the hill – it is a difficult upward climb – without much planning, perseverance and hard work. There is no proper pathway to success except through blood, sweat and tears, for the spinner must learn to take a hiding without giving ground. Purposefulness, endurance and brains are prime necessities. Benaud has these qualities, and that is why he finally emerged from the clouds into the sunshine of rich and continued success. He is without doubt one the most gifted slow bowlers in cricket’s long history.”

For some of us, Richie Benaud was always there, a soundtrack to our cricketing lives. Shrewd, articulate, wise, he was the perfect antithesis of RC Robertson-Glasgow’s one-way critic. He was commentating when we fell for the game and he policed our love with astute observations.As the cricketing world spins ever more rapidly we will wonder what he might have said about it all. Richie himself might observe that there are other commentators and we should listen to them. He might also add that it might not be such a bad idea if we made up our own minds a little more. Quite true, but when we need to be reminded of Benaud’s unique voice we will have these three fine anthologies and his own books on our shelves. Marvellous, indeed.Benaud in Wisden
Edited by Rob Smyth
Wisden
198 pages, £10.99Remembering Richie
Richie Benaud and friends
Hodder and Stoughton
334 pages, £20Those Summers of Cricket – Richie Benaud 1930-2015
Hardie Grant
185 pages, £20

After withdrawing from the England squad last week, the ex-Manchester United striker is a doubt for the Gunners' clash with the French giants

When Arsenal welcomed Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium last month, trailing 2-0 from a disappointing first leg in Spain, they were bidding to become the first team in seven years to prevail in a Women's Champions League knockout tie despite going into the second leg with a two-goal deficit. Thanks to an almighty performance, and a 3-0 win, the Gunners did exactly that – and Alessia Russo was right at the heart of it all.

The Lionesses star was unlucky not to leave with a match ball, having scored two huge goals and then had another couple disallowed for marginal offsides. She was brilliant with her finishing in high-pressure moments and exceptional in so many other areas of her game, too, particularly her pressing. There were a lot of stand out performers in red that night, with Chloe Kelly and Mariona Caldentey others who really stepped up, but it was hard to disagree with Russo being named Player of the Match.

Thinking back to how pivotal the forward was in that massive game, it would be cruel if she was to miss the fixture that it set-up: a Champions League semi-final against eight-time winners Lyon. After withdrawing from the England squad midway through last week's international break, Russo is a doubt as the French champions visit London for the first leg on Saturday. It would not just be a blow to her as an individual, either. Indeed, of all the players that Arsenal could lose for this tie, she might be the most crucial in what is a testament to her growth as a player this season in particular.

AFPHitting new heights

It's been a career-best goal-scoring season for Russo, and there is still plenty of football left to play, too. The 26-year-old is on track for her most prolific return in the Women's Super League, just one strike off last season's tally of 12, and has scored seven times in the Champions League. Only Barcelona's Claudia Pina has netted more times in the competition proper so far this term, with the England star also just one behind Manchester City's Khadija Shaw in the race for the WSL Golden Boot.

In the league, she is out-performing her expected goals (xG) statistic by 2.12, having under-performed by 0.41 last term; her big chance conversion rate has soared to a career-best 57 percent, having stood just below 43% last year; and her shot conversion rate has also improved from 15.2% to 17.7%.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMore than a goal-scorer

But it's not just the goals Russo scores that make her crucial to Arsenal. "She does so many other things for the team as well that are so important," Gunners boss Renee Slegers said after that win over Real Madrid. "You saw our press for example, today. She put so much work into it, like the others.

"It's always good for forwards and the players who get into those positions to finish attacks and get the ball into the net. It's important for them because that's something they need to bring to the team in games. Of course, it's good for Less. But you can see she's so consistent, stable, as a person, that she doesn't get swayed by if she scores or not, or what exactly her contribution to the result is. She just works really hard for the team and she keeps on going."

Be it her hard work off the ball, her ability to link play or how she creates for others, Russo is a vital cog in an Arsenal team that has been seriously impressive since Slegers took charge back in October.

Getty Images SportValuable back-up…

So, what do the Gunners do if they are without Russo on Saturday? They do have another top-level striker in their squad, in Stina Blackstenius. With over 100 caps for Sweden and experience playing in major finals for club and country, she is no stranger to the pressure that a big game like this one against Lyon brings.

She's also got an impressive list of huge moments in Arsenal colours. In last year's League Cup final, it was Blackstenius who delivered the match-winning moment in extra-time to defeat Chelsea 1-0, while the Gunners' run to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2022-23 season saw the Swede score in three successive knockout games, with her strike in the second leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich sealing Arsenal's place in the last four.

Getty ImagesBut a very different one

However, Blackstenius is a completely different player to Russo. As far as centre-forwards go, the two almost could not be less alike. If the Swede was to start instead, Arsenal would have to at least slightly change the way they set-up for this tie, as Blackstenius will not hold the ball up in the same way as her English team-mate, she won't be as involved in linking play and building attacks, and she'll naturally look to get in behind with her great movement and electric pace, which will require a different type of service when compared to that Russo typically demands.

It all serves to highlight just how important the England star is to what Arsenal do. At times in the past, she has come in for criticism because her strengths have been in things aside from the goal-scoring, with her certainly not a typical No.9. But the work Russo has done to improve in front of goal deserves a lot of credit and it has seen her deliver plenty of important strikes while remaining so central to the Gunners' all-round principles.

MatériaMais Notícias

da realsbet： O Palmeiras se prepara para receber o São Paulo mais uma vez no Allianz Parquenesta temporada, no próximo domingo. Será o terceiro clássico entre os rivais na arena alviverde. Os dois primeiros foram por competição de mata-mata (final do Paulistão e oitavas da Copa do Brasil) e renderam uma boa grana para os cofres do clube. Agora, pela 32ª rodada do Brasileirão, a tendência é que o valor acumulado chegue perto dos R$10 milhões.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPossível substituto de Rony, Merentiel destaca bom retrospecto do Palmeiras em clássicosPalmeiras12/10/2022PalmeirasPalmeiras se reapresenta de olho no clássico contra o São PauloPalmeiras12/10/2022PalmeirasDe virada, Palmeiras bate o Atlético-MG e abre vantagem no Brasileirão sub-17Palmeiras12/10/2022

da bwin： > Confira os públicos do Palmeiras no Allianz Parque em 2022

> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2022 clicando aqui

A primeira partida entre os clubes no estádio palmeirense, em 2022, foi na volta da decisão do Paulistão, quando o Verdão venceu de goleada, por 4 a 0, e conquistou o título.Naquele dia, uma grande parte das arquibancadas do Allianz estava inutilizada por causa da montagem do palco de um show, reduzindo a capacidade do estádio em quase 25% (público foi de 31.836 pagantes). Mesmo assim, a renda bruta foi de R$ 2.772.491,62.

Depois, o segundo encontro entre Palmeiras e São Paulo ocorreu nas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. O time de Abel Ferreira foi eliminado nos pênaltis.O público naquele dia foi o recorde da história do estádio, com 41.361 pagantes, lembrando que os clássicos em São Paulo são disputados com torcida única. A renda bruta da partida também foi excelente, com o Verdão faturando R$3.557.294,35.

Somando esses dois jogos contra o Tricolor, o Palmeiras arrecadou R$6.329.785,97, o que já é um valor bastante significativo. E a trilogia de Choque-Rei neste ano pode ser encerrada com quase 10 milhões de reais, uma vez que quase 38 mil ingressos já haviam sido vendidos até a noite da última quarta-feira, segundo o clube.

Trilogia Choque-Rei 2022, no Allianz Parque
Final do Paulistão – Palmeiras 4 x 0 São Paulo -R$ 2.772.491,62
Oitavas da Copa do Brasil – Palmeiras 2 (3) x (4) 1 São Paulo -R$ 3.557.294,35
32ª rodada do Brasileirão – Palmeiras x São Paulo

Newcastle United are now interested in signing a “clinical finisher” who could be available in the January transfer window, according to a report.

Newcastle transfer news

Although Eddie Howe may feel he needs to make some additions in January, in light of his side’s disappointing campaign up to this point, the manager’s transfer policy continues to be limited by the Premier League’s financial rules.

When asked about an alleged £65m bid for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, the manager said: “Firstly, I don’t think any bid (for Guehi) reached that level (£65m). That is far in excess of what the reality was. Secondly, with PSR, there is no pot of money that we have sitting there waiting to be spent.”

As such, Newcastle fans may be best advised not to have their expectations too high this January, despite the club’s continual links to some top players in the Premier League and beyond. The Magpies will be all too aware of Bryan Mbeumo’s abilities after his goal in the 4-2 defeat against Brentford last week, and there have been reports that a huge offer could be on the way, with Howe prioritising the signing of a right-winger.

As the uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak’s future continues to mount, the manager may also be tasked with bringing in a new striker, and there have now been reports linking Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto with a move to St. James’ Park.

According to The Boot Room, Alberto is on Newcastle’s radar, but they may face competition for his signature from a number of other Premier League clubs, with Everton and Nottingham Forest also named as potential suitors.

The forward has admitted he has a “dream” of playing in the Premier League, while also saying there is a 50/50 chance he leaves Corinthians in January, meaning he could be available sooner rather than later.

Should the Brazilian club sanction his departure this winter, they would be looking to receive a fee of around £17m, having turned down a £14m bid from West Ham United over a year ago.

Newcastle leading the race to sign £16.5m gem with a "magical" left foot

The Magpies are in pole position.

1 ByHenry Jackson Dec 9, 2024 Alberto impressing in front of goal

The Brazilian has been capped for his national side on one occasion, and he poses a very impressive goal and assist record throughout his career so far.

Club

Games played

Goals

Assists

Santos

25

3

1

Internacional

85

31

5

Zenit

15

6

4

Corinthians

148

57

18

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also been very complimentary of the 23-year-old in the past, saying he’s a “complete forward” and praising his finishing in particular.

Of course, Newcastle’s main priority should be to keep hold of Isak amid interest from a number of top clubs, but Alberto could be a brilliant acquisition this January, particularly considering he may be available for the relatively low price of just £17m.

Former India opener will explore “new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it”

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2023

M Vijay has called time on his international career to explore “new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it”.Vijay played 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and nine T20Is in an international career that began in 2008 when he replaced Gautam Gambhir in India’s XI for the final Test of the 2008-09 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur. He last turned out for India in the Perth Test in December 2018, and last played first-class and List A cricket, for Tamil Nadu, in late 2019. His last appearance in professional cricket was in the IPL, in September 2020.A classical Test opener, who, when at his peak, had a solid technique and immense patience against the new ball – his ability to leave the ball earned him great praise during India’s tour of England in 2014 – Vijay finished with 3982 Test runs in 105 innings at an average of 38.28. He made 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries, with a best of 167 against Australia in Hyderabad in 2013.Related

Who is in our all-time Chennai Super Kings XI?

The adequate artistry of M Vijay

“I am excited to announce that I will be exploring new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it, where I will also continue to participate in the sport that I love and challenge myself in new and different environments,” 38-year-old Vijay said in a statement. “I believe this is the next step in my journey as a cricketer and I look forward to the new chapter in my life.”Will Vijay explore opportunities in overseas T20 leagues?In June last year, speaking at an event to launch the 2022 edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Vijay had said he wanted to “play as long as possible”. While he hasn’t said if he would be pursuing opportunities in T20 leagues around the world, Vijay’s retirement note didn’t make a mention of retirement from anything apart from international cricket.Not long ago, in fact, he had hinted at playing outside India. “I am almost done with BCCI and am looking for opportunities abroad,” Vijay had told former India batter WV Raman on Wednesdays With WV, a weekly show on . “After 30 in India, it’s a taboo. I think people see us as 80-year-olds walking on street.”The media should also address it differently. I feel you are peaking in your 30s. Sitting here right now, I feel I can bat the best way I can. But, unfortunately, the opportunities were less, and I had to search for chances outside. I honestly feel as a person, you can only do what’s in your hand. You can’t control the uncontrollable. Whatever happened, happened.”M Vijay had his best years in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, winning the title in 2010 and 2011 with them•BCCI

Vijay was a key member of India’s Test squad for a five-year period between 2013 and 2018. From December 2013 to January 2015, when India played all their Test cricket away from home – in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia – Vijay faced the most balls and scored the second-most runs for the team. He was also one of only three players to average more than 40.Though a Test opener in the classical mould, Vijay also featured in 106 IPL games and led two franchises: Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Punjab Kings. However, much of his success came for Chennai Super Kings, with whom he won two IPL titles, in 2010 and 2011. The triumph in 2011 was particularly special as Vijay earned the Player-of-the-Match award for his 52-ball 95 in the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Overall, he scored 2619 runs in the IPL, with two centuries and 13 half-centuries, scoring his runs at a strike rate of 121.87.Vijay also had short stints with Essex and Somerset in the English county championship.”My journey from 2002-2018 has been the most wonderful years of my life,” he wrote in his retirement note. “It was an honour representing India at the highest level of sport. I am grateful to the opportunities provided by the BCCI, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Chennai Super Kings and Chemplast Sanmar [the corporate that runs Jolly Rovers, Vijay’s club team in the TNCA league].”

The 21-year-old swing bowler has revelled in West Indies with one eye on T20 World Cup

Valkerie Baynes13-Dec-2022

Lauren Bell stands to embody the fearless style of play England Women are aiming to carry into next year’s T20 World Cup and beyond.Bell, the 21-year-old right-arm swing bowler, will mark six months since her international debut just after Christmas as part of a group of youngsters awarded an opportunity over the English summer by former head coach Lisa Keightley.The thing that has stood out about Bell, 20-year-old quick Issy Wong and teenage allrounders Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp since taking the step up is their apparent refusal to be intimidated by the opposition.It’s an approach new head coach Jon Lewis has doubled down on, calling for his entire England squad to stop playing safe. Lewis is also big on encouraging players to trust in the skills and talent that got them into the elite set-up as opposed to constantly telling them what to do, and Bell seems to be embracing that faith.”It’s been great to have new coaches in around the squad and John has come in and really drove us to be inspiring and entertaining for anyone who’s watching women’s cricket,” she said from Barbados on Tuesday, a day after arriving from Antigua for the remaining four fixtures in a five-match T20I series with West Indies. “It’s a really good way to view the game and it’s moving in the right direction.”The West Indies has been a good tour so far. The confidence I have from the coaches, the backing of the coaches, and the backing of Heather [Knight], the captain, it’s just put me in a really good place. I feel like I know my role in this team and I know where I where I stand. Being really valued and part of the team has played a big role in that.”Related

Freya Kemp diagnosed with stress fracture of back after returning from Caribbean tour

Kate Cross embraces 'mindset shift' as England Women seek attacking new era

Alice Capsey suffers broken collarbone in fielding accident

Lauren Bell claims four wickets to seal series for England with a game to spare

Freya Kemp ruled out of West Indies tour due to back injury

Bell made her debut in the drawn Test against South Africa in Taunton, where she took two first-innings wickets and bowled an economical if wicketless 14 overs in the visitors’ second innings.Going into last Tuesday’s second ODI against West Indies, she had three wickets from four matches in the format before claiming a devastating 4 for 33 as England crushed the hosts by 142 runs. Then, on Sunday, in just her third T20I, she claimed 3 for 26 to set up an eight-wicket victory which leaves the home side staring down the prospect of another England clean sweep after the ODIs finished 3-0.West Indies’ batting has been poor, while Bell has revelled in the conditions producing some wonderful swinging deliveries that have left them flummoxed. And while she will come up against tougher opposition, Bell has her sights set on earning place in the squad for February’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.”That’s a big focus for us,” Bell said. “I think the next four T20s are a good chance to really put a stamp to the rest of the world about where we are with our cricket and how good a T20 squad we can be.”It will also be a good chance to play some the girls who have maybe not played so much T20 cricket and see what our different options are against different players.”Bell got her chance in T20Is when veteran seamer Katherine Brunt was rested for India’s tour of England in September – she played two of their three matches for no return. Having shared new-ball duties with the experienced Kate Cross during the ODIs in Antigua, Bell finally had the chance to open the bowling with Brunt in the first T20I.”That’s actually the first time I’ve played with Katherine in my career so that was pretty special,” Bell said. “Not many people can say they’ve done that so that was really good.”Having her around, having Crossy around in the ODIs, I think I can just learn so much. They’re really open just helping me with anything. It was a good experience.”Being on the big stage is not alien to Bell, which is another notable thing in favour of England’s youngsters. She was the second-highest wicket-taker in this year’s Women’s Hundred behind Southern Brave team-mate and Australia legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and sixth on the list in 2021, the inaugural season of the competition, which has been credited with giving young players valuable experience against top-level opponents in front of big crowds.With Kemp and Capsey returning home from the Caribbean early due to back and collarbone injuries respectively, it is down to Bell and Wong – who was not part of the ODI squad and is yet to feature in the T20I series – to fly the flag for England’s newest crop. If they can play with what is becoming a collective trademark of freedom, it should be a breeze.

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a solid start to life as Chelsea boss, only losing twice in their first 11 matches of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The Blues have only tasted defeat against Manchester City and Liverpool, sitting third in the table on 19 points – but remain nine points off Arne Slot’s side, who occupy the top spot after the third international break.

After another summer of transfer arrivals, the new talents have wasted no time in making an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge, undoubtedly boosting their chances of finishing within the top four come the end of May.

Pedro Neto arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a deal in the region of £54m, but has already showcased his talents, scoring his first league strike against Arsenal last time out, securing a point for the Blues against their London rivals.

Big-money additions have become a regular occurrence after the takeover of Todd Boehly in 2022, but the club have often had to balance the books as a result.

The club are no stranger to a big-money departure, recouping a lorryload of money over the years from player departures.

Chelsea’s record departures from Stamford Bridge

Winger Eden Hazard was undoubtedly a fan-favourite during his time in West London, scoring 110 times within his seven years as a player at the Bridge.

The Belgian captured the hearts of the fanbase with his mazy dribbling ability, helping the side get out of numerous close encounters and cagey affairs.

However, despite their Europa League triumph at the end of the 2018/19 season, Hazard departed the Blues for a deal in the region of £130m – joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in a club-record departure for Chelsea.

Kai Havertz joined the Blues in a £75m deal back in the summer of 2020, making himself an instant hero at the club during his debut campaign in England.

The German international scored nine times during his opening year in the capital, only finding the net once in Europe, but that would be his biggest goal during his time at Chelsea, scoring the only goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City back at the end of 2020/21.

However, a handful of years on, he now plays his trade for London rivals Arsenal, after joining the Gunners in a £65m deal last summer – aiming to bolster Mikel Arteta’s ranks.

The transfer makes him the second most expensive departure in Chelsea history, but the club may currently have their own version of a £100m star who was of interest to Maresca this summer.

1) Eden Hazard

2019/20

£130m

2) Kai Havertz

2023/24

£65m

3) Mason Mount

2023/24

£60m

4) Diego Costa

2017/18

£57m

5) Oscar

2016/17

£52m

Chelsea’s £100m star in the making

Over the summer, Chelsea were on the lookout for a new striker, which led to Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak being linked with a transfer to the Bridge.

However, despite the interest, the £100m valuation from Eddie Howe’s side put the Blues off a potential move for the Swede, with the Italian sticking with Nicolas Jackson as his primary option in the final third.

It’s a decision that appears to have been a blessing in disguise, with the Senegalese international enjoying his spell as a regular starter this campaign – being ranked as a similar player to Isak by FBref after his displays in the Premier League.

The “extraordinary” Jackson, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has outscored the Magpies’ talent, whilst achieving a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate than his fellow striker.

Games played

11

9

Goals & assists

9

6

Shot-on-target accuracy

56%

39%

Shots on target per game

1.5

1.2

Pass accuracy

74%

74%

Take-ons completed

45%

25%

Jackson has also completed more take-ons whilst also matching Isak for his pass accuracy, showcasing how much his all-round game has developed this season – undoubtedly benefiting from the faith shown in him by Maresca this season.

At the age of just 23, the former Villarreal ace has the opportunity to develop even further and become a real crucial player in the Maresca era at the Bridge, possibly preventing any big-money additions in the centre-forward position.

Many fans craved that big-money signing over the summer, but Jackson has proven that he has the skill set to be a success in England’s top flight and be the main man for the club as a focal point.

Like for Isak, a £100m price tag will surely soon be coming his way…

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ByConnor Holden Nov 21, 2024

Jose Mourinho huddled up to a steward during the Europa League tie between Anderlecht and Fenerbahce that was marred by fighting in the stands.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Fenerbahce vs Anderlecht paused due to fighting
• Mourinho wrapped his arm around a steward
• Turkish side into last 16

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The game in Belgium was paused for 15 minutes due to scrapping between fans but it was all love for Mourinho, who was later seen with his arm around a steward and seemed relaxed before half-time.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mourinho's good mood might have had something to do with the way the match was panning out, with his side cruising into the last 16 of the Europa League. Fenerbahce earned a 3-0 aggregate lead in the first leg last week and a 2-2 draw at Anderlecht was enough to seal comfortable qualification.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The crowd trouble was cleared up after a 15-minute delay, when the players were sent inside into the dressing rooms having initially attempted to reason with the fighting fans themselves. Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel was seen demanding that security staff break up the incident but was dragged away by team-mates.

• WHAT NEXT FOR FENERBAHCE?

  Fenerbahce led 1-0 when the game was stopped, the eventual 2-2 draw suiting them nicely. They now progress to the last 16, where they will take on Rangers or Olympiakos.