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Director of cricket declares Brook to be ‘better leader’ than Pope after promotion to vice-captaincy

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Sep-2025England men’s managing director Rob Key has called time on Chris Woakes’ Test career after the seamer was overlooked for the Ashes, while also stating Harry Brook’s credentials as “a better leader” led to him replacing Ollie Pope as vice-captain.Key was speaking 24 hours after England announced their 16-man squad for this winter’s tour of Australia. While the presence of Will Jacks was the only surprising name in the touring party, the absence of Woakes and a new deputy to Ben Stokes – which had been teased by head coach Brendon McCullum – were the main talking points in an otherwise predictable touring party.Woakes is a veteran of two previous Ashes tours. Though he possesses an average of 51.68 in Australia, he had enjoyed a new lease of life as England’s attack leader following James Anderson’s retirement at the start of the 2024 summer. Of his 62 caps, 17 have come during Stokes’ reign, with 62 wickets at an average of 27.25. That includes a player-of-the-series performance in 2023’s home Ashes, in which he was parachuted in for the final three Tests, and claimed 19 dismissals to help England square the series from 2-0 down.This summer, Woakes and Mohammed Siraj were the only quicks to start all five matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. However, he badly dislocated his shoulder on day one of the fifth Test at The Kia Oval. Having come out to bat in a sling on the thrilling final morning of the match, he subsequently opted against surgery to give himself the best chance of making the Ashes.England’s management, however, felt Woakes was too much of a risk. And with the seamer turning 37 in March, and out of a central contract next month, Key revealed he will not feature in their plans beyond the Ashes.Brook is deemed the better option to lead England in Stokes’ absence•Getty Images”It’s been as tough a time for someone, I think, in cricket terms, the timing of it (the shoulder dislocation) as much as anything else, and the chance of reoccurence for the immediate future for Chris Woakes,” Key said.”He was running out of time to be ready for the start for the Ashes. And then once you get out of an Ashes series, you’re often looking at the next cycle, really. So Chris Woakes isn’t in our plans at the minute… at all.”Brook’s elevation to vice-captain was the other big decision for the selectors. Key revealed that he, McCullum and Stokes had spoken to Pope ahead of the announcement, but said the move had no bearing on whether he would make way for Jacob Bethell at No.3, when the Ashes get underway at Perth on November 21.Pope had previously stood in as Test captain on five occasions, most recently in the Oval Test against India. However, England have been impressed with how Brook has taken to the limited-overs captaincy since replacing Jos Buttler in March. This extra responsibility confirms him as the likeliest candidate to take over from Stokes in the long term, as well as being the best short-term replacement in Australia should the captain miss any Ashes action through injury.”It’s pretty simple, really – we think (Brook) is the best person for the job,” Key said. “He has had more experience now in leadership and I think that Harry Brook deserves it. There are no other ulterior motives, other than the fact that we think Harry Brook is the best person to be the best vice-captain.”I think he (Pope) felt that it was coming. Vice-captaincy is not always the most important decision you have to make. We could have gone down the road of not having a vice-captain. When Popey has done it, he’s done it well. He’s fitted into so many different roles that we’ve asked him to do over the past few years and done them all well. Harry Brook is just the better leader and will be the better leader going forward, so that’s why he gets that job.”Pope has been a stable presence as Stokes’ deputy, averaging just under 40, and 41.60 at first-drop, while also standing in as wicketkeeper on five occasions. But he has come under increasing pressure from the emergence of 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who sowed the seeds of change with an impressive showing at No.3 in New Zealand last year.Related

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Bethell managed just 6 and 5 in his only subsequent Test appearance – under Pope’s captaincy at The Oval. However, he emerged from the summer with credit despite limited playing time, scoring a maiden professional century in the ODI series against South Africa, before becoming England’s youngest-ever captain on the recent T20I tour of Ireland. Further opportunities to state his case will come in October’s white-ball tour of New Zealand that will be used to build towards Australia.Such has been the consistency of the Pope-Bethell debate that Stokes accused the media of an “agenda” against the former earlier this summer. Key, however, said such conversations were inevitable at the sharp end of the international game, as is the possibility of Pope losing his spot to a player who may be deemed a better option against Australia.”I just think it’s international cricket,” he said. “If it’s not Ollie Pope, it’s someone else. There’s always a talking point and things like that drive interest towards the game. Someone like Ollie Pope has played really well in a tough position, he has had to deal with this all along, as have any players when they have lost a bit of form. That’s part and parcel of being an international cricketer. That is why it’s tough.”There is not, like, an elaborate scheme where, if we take the vice-captaincy off Ollie Pope, it makes him easier to drop. It doesn’t matter if you are vice-captain or not. If we don’t feel you are the right person wherever you are batting – whether that’s an opener or No.5 – we’ll end up bringing in someone we think can do the job better.Looking ahead to the Perth Test in just under two months’ time, Key added: “Ollie Pope is the man in possession. We’ll find out what that XI will be, probably two days before.”

Along with 90s from Shan Masood and Ben Cox, Foxes dominate Kent attack

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Kent 17 for 0 trail Leicestershire 459 for 7 dec (Patel 114, Cox 93, Masood 90, Hill 54) by 442 runsA fine century from Rishi Patel, along with 90s from Shan Masood and Ben Cox, saw Leicestershire secure maximum batting bonus points and left them the verge of securing the Division Two title as they dominated a callow Kent attack after being put into bat at the UptonSteel County Ground.Beginning the match 25 points clear of second-placed Glamorgan, the Foxes could not have hoped for a better second day of this Rothesay County Championship match after the first was entirely lost to the weather.It made for a chastening first-class debut for 19-year-old all-rounder Corey Flintoff – one of a remarkable five teenagers in the Kent side – who, with father Andrew watching, bowled 15 wicket-less overs for 91 runs, though he did take a catch.Kent openers Harry Finch and Ben Dawkins survived a difficult nine overs before the light closed in.After the loss of the entire first day to the strong winds that made handling the covers too dangerous to undertake, it was a relief to see the ground ready for play from the start.Flintoff, the second son of former England allrounder Andrew to be embarking on a career as a professional cricketer, following in the footsteps of brother Rocky, took his place in what must surely have been the youngest slip cordon ever formed in county cricket, all three slips and gully being in their teens.They were in the game early, when Jaydn Denly at second slip dropped a straightforward chance given by Sol Budinger off the bowling of Joey Evison. To make matters worse, Denly left the field with illness soon afterwards, while Evison’s feelings will not have improved when Budinger casually swung an in-swinger over the midwicket boundary for six. The Kent allrounder had his revenge soon afterwards however, when Budinger again edged to second slip and this time Flintoff held on.Patel, however, looked in good touch from the start. The 27-year-old has struggled for consistency this season after missing the early weeks with a thumb injury, but has recently shown signs of finding the form which saw him called into an England Lions training camp, and he took full toll on the regular loose deliveries from the visiting attack.There were plenty of testing balls too, and George Garrett produced a beauty to square up and bowl Ian Holland, but a score of 151 for 2 off 30 overs at lunch told its own story. Having hit ten boundaries in going to his half-century, Patel hit another ten in going to three figures, his second Championship century of the season, shortly after lunch.Kent were already looking down the barrel, but Patel played too soon at an Ekansh Singh delivery and got a leading edge that looped to mid-on, a maiden first-class wicket for the 19-year-old, and Lewis Hill, having registered his seventh half-century of the season, slashed a wide short ball from Michael Cohen straight to point.When Steve Eskinazi, who never settled, went leg before to Evison, Leicestershire were in danger of wasting their flying start, but the elegant Masood was calmness personified, and he found lively support from Cox. Together they added 161 for the sixth wicket and both seemed certain to reach three figures, but Garrett, bowling with the new ball, pushed one across Masood to find an edge which carried to slip before Grant Stewart took a fine leaping catch at mid-on to dismiss Cox off the bowling of Evison.

Duckett and Crawley add 188 to break the back of 371-run chase at Headingley

Andrew Miller24-Jun-2025

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley played a vital hand in the run-chase•Getty Images

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, heaped praise on his opening pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley after their crucial final-day stand of 188, as history repeated itself with a spectacular 371-run chase in the first Test against India at Headingley.Three years after the two teams’ last meeting in England ended with Stokes’ men hunting down a record 378 to square the series at Edgbaston, this latest epic was sealed in the first over of the match’s final hour. Jamie Smith’s slog-swept six over wide long-on capped an unbroken 71-stand for the sixth wicket with Joe Root, who finished unbeaten on 53, after India had threatened a fightback with England at 302 for 5.The bulk of England’s work, however, had been done across the first two sessions, and Duckett was named Player of the Match for his scores of 62 in the first innings and a brilliant 149 from 170 balls in the second, an effort that spanned the first 55 overs of their chase.Related

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Duckett 149 lays the foundation as England hunt down 371

“It was unbelievable,” Stokes said at the post-match presentations. “Unless you’re involved in it, [it’s hard to know] the pressure of the fourth innings, going out there. Opening the batting is hard enough, especially in England. So that partnership that Zak and Ben got us off to was just incredible.”Those two complement each other so well. Obviously, Ducky got the big score that contributed towards us winning this game. But I thought the way that Zak was able to stay composed, and stay in the moment, and sense that Ducky was getting off to the flyer [was crucial].”Despite England’s recent reputation for aggression from the get-go, the pair took a more measured approach to this latest chase. Faced with the dangerous Jasprit Bumrah in gloomy morning conditions, they set themselves to build a platform through the morning session, and it was only when the change bowlers, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, entered the attack that Duckett accelerated through to a 66-ball half-century.”In that period, it was really important that me and Zak got through without losing any wickets,” Duckett said at the presentations. “It was pretty clear to us this morning. If we batted for the whole day [at the tempo that] we normally do, we’d probably get the total, so we didn’t overthink anything. Certainly we had to get through Jasprit’s first spell and that new ball, and from there on, we were just playing our natural games.”He’s a world-class bowler,” Duckett added, after England had denied Bumrah any wickets in the second innings, despite his brilliant five-for in the first.3:26

Harmison: Not sure India believed they could get Duckett out

“In that first innings, he was superb, so to limit his damage was massive for us. Our individuals are all going to go about it differently, but I thought we did play him very well today.”Despite the flourish with which they finished the Test, Duckett acknowledged that England “had been completely behind the eight-ball” at certain periods of the game, thanks to Bumrah’s brilliance as well as a total of five individual Indian centuries, including one in each innings for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.However, Stokes was especially pleased with the spirit in adversity that his team showed, and singled out Josh Tongue’s key helpings of “rabbit-pie” in each innings, with his seven wickets helping to restrict India to 7 for 41 in the first innings, and 7 for 73 in the second.”There’s been a lot of skill that’s contributed towards us winning this Test match,” Stokes said, “but also the attitude that the team has showed towards this game.”We’ve been in the field for long periods of time twice throughout this game, but I thought every session we turned up with the attitude that we could blow this game open at any point. We always knew that we were only a couple wickets away from running through the pack, and Josh Tongue’s spells in both innings were massively game-changing.”2:38

Is Stokes’ bowling workload a worry?

England’s five-wicket victory was their sixth in a row at Headingley, dating back to 2018, and on each occasion they had bowled first.On this occasion, Stokes’ decision at the toss had looked like back-firing, with former England captain Michael Vaughan saying he was “staggered” at India being given first use after they finished the opening day on 359 for 3. Stokes, however, insisted that at no point had he second-guessed his call.”You don’t know what’s going to happen before a ball is bowled, you’ve got to go with what you think is going to give you the best chance of winning the game,” he said. “The wicket here on day one looked like there was a bit of grass on top of it. There was a bit of moisture underneath it.”We backed ourselves to win that toss and bowl first, and try and strike a couple of early poles. But the opposition is allowed to play well. This is international-level cricket, where the quality of players on either side are very good. We bowled pretty well on that first session. But India played incredible.”

Celtic kick off their Scottish Premiership title defence this weekend against St Mirren and could now be closing in on a defensive reinforcement, according to reports.

Chris Sutton urges Celtic to do more transfer business

Underwhelming is the word most Celtic fans would use to describe their summer transfer window despite Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benjamin Nygren, Hayato Inamura, Callum Osmand and Shin Yamada coming through the Parkhead entrance.

Despite the reigning champions being linked with plenty of names over recent weeks, Chris Sutton has urged Celtic to sign a left-back, striker and winger to avoid being caught short in the name of squad depth.

He stated when asked about their remaining business: “A striker. I think left-back is still an issue as well. I think the signing of Kieran Tierney is really exciting. They’ve got Inamura in as well, but I still think that’s an area of concern.”

Later, he added on wide reinforcements: “You look at the wide areas, losing Nicolas Kuhn even though it was good money. If anything happens to Daizen Maeda, you’re in trouble. James Forrest. You’ve got Yang. I think Marco Tillio’s back as well. You get the sense it’s not where Brendan wants to be.”

Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter has been targeted by Celtic, but Brendan Rodgers could now be dragged into the latter stages of the window as he looks to recruit options on either flank.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha has told Royal Antwerp he wants to join Celtic

The Bhoys are in the market for more recruits this summer.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jul 24, 2025

Truthfully, Celtic have been slow to act on the transfer front. Whether that is a by-product of waiting for quality to become available near the end of the window is one thing, though they could finally be set to strengthen an area in need of work.

Celtic in pole position to loan Manchester City's Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

According to Manchester Evening News, Celtic are in pole position to loan Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey despite the 19-year-old being the subject of alternative interest from Championship clubs.

Previously, the Hoops made contact over a swoop for the Citizens talent, and it is said that he has been earmarked for a temporary move elsewhere following an outstanding campaign last year that saw him claim the Premier League 2 Player of the Season gong.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey 24/25 – youth and senior level
Appearances	33
Goals	2
Assists	1

At first-team level, he featured six times for Manchester City across all competitions, leading Pep Guardiola to praise Simpson-Pusey’s “composure” in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Injury and arrivals at the Etihad Stadium in central defence have clogged his pathway to senior stardom, though a straight loan at Celtic would allow the former England Under-18 international to sample challenging for domestic trophies and competing in Europe.

In recent years, Celtic have been an unspoken friend of the City Football Group, which has seen the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Patrick Roberts and Olivier Ntcham go on to be landmark names at Parkhead.

After losing Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki, Simpson-Pusey could be the ideal candidate to offer depth and potential within the Hoops’ backline.

Seifert will reunite with Finn Allen and Corey Anderson at San Francisco Unicorns, who finished runners-up in 2024

Deivarayan Muthu25-Apr-2025New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert is set for his maiden MLC (Major League Cricket) stint in the US after having been signed by San Francisco Unicorns for the 2025 season. Seifert, 30, will reunite with his New Zealand opening partner Finn Allen and former Northern Districts team-mate Corey Anderson at Unicorns.Under Anderson’s captaincy, Unicorns finished runners-up in MLC 2024.Both Seifert and Allen are not contracted to the NZC but have committed to making themselves available for all of New Zealand’s T20I series in the lead-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. Seifert and Allen were recently reintroduced into the New Zealand T20I team for the home series against Pakistan and were talked up as “New Zealand’s bash brothers” after forging explosive partnerships at the top.Related

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Neesham, Allen, Seifert 'very hungry' to play for New Zealand

“I’ve been following MLC from afar over the last couple of seasons, particularly keeping a close eye on some of the Kiwi contingent,” Seifert said. “I can’t wait to get started this summer and add some more firepower with a team that is already stacked with talent and in a great position to take things one step further than last year.””We look for both quality cricketers and quality personalities when bringing players into the Unicorns fold, and Tim definitely checks both those boxes,” Unicorns head coach Shane Watson said. “His skills with the gloves will also be a major asset this year, especially with the new wickets in Oakland and Fort Lauderdale offering something of an unknown for spin bowling. He’s also coming in with impressive form with the bat, adding to an already dominant top order alongside Finn [Allen], Shorty [Matt Short], and Jake [Fraser-McGurk].”Both Seifert and Allen are currently in action in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Ross Taylor has been named Seattle Orcas ambassador for MLC 2025•Getty ImagesNew Zealanders have been in demand among other MLC franchises as well. Offspin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell, who was central to New Zealand’s run to the Champions Trophy final in March, has been signed by MI New York (MINY). Bracewell will join Trent Boult at MINY; Boult is currently part of MI’s teams in the MLC, SA20 (MI Cape Town) and IPL (MI Indians).Daryl Mitchell, who had missed MLC 2024 for Texas Super Kings with injury, has re-signed with the franchise for the upcoming season. In Mitchell’s absence last year, TSK had brought in Afghanistan wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who has now been retained for MLC 2025 along with Devon Conway.Tearaway Adam Milne will link up with Mitchell and Conway at TSK. Milne was part of Washington Freedom in the inaugural MLC in 2023 and has worked with TSK head coach Stephen Fleming at CSK in the IPL.Daryl Mitchell will reunite with Stephen Fleming at Texas Super Kings•Associated PressTSK have also snapped up the South Africa pair of Nandre Burger and Donovan Ferreira, who both play for Joburg Super Kings (JSK) in the SA20.Former New Zealand stalwart Ross Taylor has been named Seattle Orcas ambassador for MLC 2025. He had previously worked as a batting coach at Orcas during the first two seasons of the tournament. Former England batter Ian Bell will take over from Taylor as Orcas’ batting coach.New Zealand Cricket recently became the first national governing body to invest directly in an overseas T20 league after joining forces with MLC to launch one of the competition’s new teams in 2027, when the league expands.The 2025 edition of MLC will be played from June 13 to July 14 with Oakland’s Coliseum to host matches for the first time.

استقر السويسري كريستيان جروس، المدير الفني لفريق الزمالك، على التشكيل الأساسي الذي سيخوض به مواجهة مودرن سبورت، في إطار منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

المباراة ستقام على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، اليوم الخميس، ضمن مواجهات الجولة التاسعة من عمر البطولة المحلية في تمام السابعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والثامنة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية.

بالأرقام | مباراة الزمالك ومودرن سبورت.. بين الصدارة والبحث عن الفوز الأول

يدخل الزمالك اللقاء وهو يحمل طموحًا كبيرًا لتحقيق الفوز، ساعيًا لاعتلاء صدارة جدول الترتيب بفارق الأهداف عن بيراميدز، المتصدر الحالي.

كما يأمل الفريق في استغلال تعثر غريمه التقليدي الأهلي، الذي تعادل مع فاركو بهدف لمثله في الجولة الماضية.

يأتي ذلك في وقت يحتل فيه الزمالك المركز الثالث في جدول الترتيب برصيد 17 نقطة، بعد خوضه 8 مباريات، حقق خلالها الفوز في 5 لقاءات، وتعادل مرتين، بينما تلقى هزيمة وحيدة.

أما مودرن سبورت فيقبع في المركز الأخير برصيد 4 نقاط حصدها من 4 تعادلات و4 خسائر فيما لم يحقق أي انتصار في الدوري المصري. تشكيل الزمالك اليوم أمام مودرن سبورت

حراسة المرمى: محمد عواد.

خط الدفاع: عمر جابر – حسام عبد المجيد – أحمد أبو الفتوح – حمزة المثلوثي.

خط الوسط: نبيل عماد دونجا – محمد شحاتة – محمد عاطف.

خط الهجوم: مصطفى شلبي – أحمد مصطفى زيزو – سيف الجزيري.

Several big names are returning to the U.S. men's national team squad as Mauricio Pochettino has named a 26-player roster for October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. Among the key returnees are Weston McKennie, Matt Turner and Antonee Robinson – all of whom missed the September camp – as they join headliners Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards.

GettyA look at the squad

McKennie, Turner and Robinson highlight a list of 15 players included on the roster after missing the September camp. McKennie is back in the team for the first time since March's CONCACAF Nations League defeats, while Robinson – the 2024 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year – will be looking to earn his first cap of 2025 after nursing injuries for much of the spring.

Joining them among the returnees are Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman and Haji Wright, who have all scored goals recently on the club level, but were not on the September roster.

Among those who were part of the USMNT's split results in September matches against South Korea and Japan, Pulisic headlines, joined by regulars such as Richards, Tim Ream and Matt Freese. Folarin Balogun, too, is on the roster after scoring in the Japan win. Same for Alejandro Zendejas, who has kept that form rolling with Club America in Liga MX.

With 80 caps, Pulisic is the most experienced player on the roster, followed by Ream (77), McKennie (60), Turner (52) and Robinson (50). There are 10 MLS players in the squad.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe squad in full

GOALKEEPERS: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (New England Revolution) 

DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Mark McKenzie (FC Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) 

MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), James Sands (FC St. Pauli), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) 

FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (Club America) 

Getty ImagesNotable absences

Of course, the squad also has some notable absences, several of which are due to injury. Johnny Cardoso, Ricardo Pepi, Sergino Dest and Gio Reyna are among those dealing with fitness issues at the moment, and none of those four were called in for this camp. Also left out was midfield mainstay Tyler Adams.

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Getty Images SportThe lone newcomer

Of the 26 players in camp, only one will be featuring under Pochettino for the first time – St. Pauli midfielder James Sands, who was last on the USMNT during the 2023 Gold Cup. Sands has since shone in the Bundesliga after making the move from NYCFC, earning this USMNT return in one of the final few camps pre-World Cup.

Chelsea are continuing their serious progress when it comes to selling players this summer, with talks ongoing to offload another star with Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka.

"Brave" Chelsea player who Maresca loves now "wants to leave" this summer

The Blues could lose one of their best prospects.

ByTom Cunningham Aug 4, 2025

In the last 72 hours, Enzo Maresca’s side have raised around £65 million in outgoings, starting with Armando Broja, who’s completed a move to Burnley (Fabrizio Romano).

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Since then, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall has agreed a switch to Premier League rivals Everton and Ugochukwu has agreed to follow Broja to Turf Moor. Once all of those deals are announced, the club are expected to raise their total transfer income to far north of £200 million.

As things stand, Chelsea are around £58 million away from completely balancing their books, which is imperative considering their pact with UEFA.

Their seismic financial windfalls from winning the Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League next season have already put Chelsea in solid financial stead when it comes to PSR, but it is an entirely different case when it comes to FFP.

The Blues were fined for breaching FFP rules last month and must produce a ‘positive transfer balance’ if they want to register new signings for the Champions League next season, which explains their impressive hustle in agreeing a host of exit deals recently.

Amid Chelsea’s talks to sign both RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho, the need to make sales won’t stop here.

Borussia Dortmund are in talks to sign Carney Chukwuemeka again, so there could be yet another opportunity for Chelsea to seal another quick-fire exit this week.

Alongside the aforementioned quartet who have played their last games in Chelsea blue, £195,000-per-week attacker Christopher Nkunku can still leave Stamford Bridge before deadline day.

Chelsea in talks to sell Christopher Nkunku

That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who says Chelsea are in ongoing talks over selling Nkunku after a mixed campaign.

The Frenchman still managed to rack up 15 goals in all competitions, despite not being a key player under Maresca last season, and there is a belief that United are still targeting Nkunku among other interested sides.

Called a “top player” by ex-teammate João Félix, Chelsea have apparently been forced to reduce their asking price for the ex-Leipzig sensation too, so clubs will certainly be tempted to bite the bullet.

نجح فريق بايرن ميونخ في تحقيق الفوز على نظيره يونيون برلين، في مباراتهما مساء اليوم السبت، في بطولة الدوري الألماني لموسم 2024/25.

واستضاف ملعب “أليانز آرينا” مباراة الفريقين في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الألماني، حيث فاز بايرن ميونخ بثلاثة أهداف دون رد. أهداف مباراة بايرن ميونخ ويونيون برلين في الدوري الألماني

كان هاري كين قد سجل هدف بايرن ميونخ الأول في الدقيقة 15 من عمر الشوط الأول، من ضربة جزاء.

وتمكن كينجسلي كومان من تسجيل الهدف الثاني لأصحاب الأرض، بايرن ميونخ، في الدقيقة 43.

وعاد هاري كين إلى زيارة شباك يونيون برلين، ليسجل الهدف الثاني له والثالث لـ بايرن ميونخ، في الدقيقة 51.

وارتفع رصيد هاري كين إلى 11 هدفًا في صدارة قائمة هدافي الدوري الألماني لهذا الموسم، بفارق هدف عن النجم المصري عمر مرموش، لاعب آينتراخت فرانكفورت.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد بايرن ميونخ إلى 23 نقطة في المركز الأول، بينما تجمد رصيد يونيون برلين عند 15 نقطة في المركز السادس.

Newcastle United’s Europa League hopes suffered a blow last night as the Magpies lost ground to Chelsea following the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.

Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall managed to get on the scoresheet for Eddie Howe’s side, but it was in vain as Erik ten Hag’s claimed all three points.

The defeat was the Magpies’ first in the last four Premier League outings, with all eyes on the final day if the club are to feature in a European competition once more next season.

Howe’s side sit three points behind Chelsea following their win against Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Red Devils level on points going into the final match week.

One player in particular excelled at Old Trafford, staking his claim for a more regular place in the side ahead of next season.

Lewis Hall’s stats against Manchester United

In the last four matches, Howe has finally selected Hall to feature from the start at left-back – with the youngster taking advantage of the club’s recent troubles with injuries.

He’s gone from strength to strength in recent matches, with his display against United last night up there with one of his best in the black and white of Newcastle.

Hall featured for the entirety of the contest, completing 54 passes at a completion rate of 86% – with the 19-year-old completing more passes than midfield maestro Bruno Guimaraes.

The current Chelsea loanee, whose deal turns permanent this summer, also managed 86 touches, 20 more than the Brazilian who like the majority of the side failed to have a real grip on the encounter.

Minutes played

90

90

Passes completed

42

54

Pass percentage

86%

87%

Touches

66

86

Long balls completed

2

5

Key passes

0

2

Given the quality of his recent performances for the club, questions must be asked as to why it’s taken Howe this long to hand the youngster a consistent run in the first team.

His strike in stoppage time was the icing on the cake for his brilliant display, which saw him be awarded a 8/10 match rating by Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, with the writer dubbing his effort as a 'wonder strike'.

Why Hall is now undroppable for Newcastle

There’s no denying, the left-back position has been a weak spot for the Magpies in recent months, with regular centre-back Dan Burn featuring there in an unnatural role, with sides starting to target his lack of pace in the channels.

However, Hall has certainly staked his claim for a permanent role on the left of the club’s defence, with the youngster only going to develop further given his tender age.

He looked to form an excellent partnership with winger Gordon down the left-hand side last night, giving the supporters a glimpse of what could be an exciting partnership for many years to come.

Gordon has been excellent for Howe’s side this campaign, grabbing his 11th league goal of the season last night – cementing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet in recent weeks.

However, following his recent outings, Hall looks as undroppable as the 23-year-old, with the defender having the potential to transform into one of the best attacking full-backs in the Premier League – his £28m fee looking like a potential bargain.

Howe must ditch 6/10 Newcastle man who won 0 duels vs Man Utd

He produced a below-par display at Old Trafford last night.

ByEthan Lamb May 16, 2024