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Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a statement 3-0 win over West Ham. While some of the new signings, like Granit Xhaka, put in excellent performances, it was the players who got promoted that won them the game.

Following goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard and Wilson Isidor, manager Regis Le Bris spoke about their significance to the team: “It’s really important for two reasons at least, the first one they showed they can step up today. We’ll see later, but today it was the case. At the same time, they are really important because they keep the identity of the club and the way we worked last season.”

One of the ways Sunderland were most impressive against West Ham was defensively, with the London side only managing shots that valued a total of 0.56 xG.

However, Le Bris is looking to strengthen his defensive unit even further as the club readies a second bid for their top centre-back target.

Sunderland is not giving up on signing Lucumí

Sunderland are planning to put in a second bid for Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumí. Le Bris’s side previously placed a bid worth just over £24 million for the Colombian, which the Italian side rejected.

The bid that Sunderland placed was equal in value to the release clause that Lucumí’s contract previously held. This clause expired in mid-July, and the Black Cats are now expected to place a bid of higher value, according to Italian reports, via Sports Witness.

Bologna have already sold Lucumí’s centre-back partner, Sam Beukema, to Napoli this summer, and there are reports that because of this, the club see Lucumí as unsellable. The report goes on to say that Bologna are hoping to extend the defender’s contract, but as a “contract renewal appears complicated”, the Serie A side may be willing to let Lucumí go for a high enough bid.

On the personal side of the deal, Lucumí is reportedly “keen” on the move, and Sunderland already has a history with Lucumí’s agency, as he is with Wasserman, who also represent three current Sunderland players – Simon Moore, Dennis Cirkin and Dan Neil.

Why Sunderland might make Lucumí their club-record signing

Six of Sunderland’s top ten most expensive transfers have come in this window, and if they sign Lucumí, that number will rise to seven. The first bid they placed for the Colombian would have made him the club’s second most expensive player, and depending on the increase in value of the second bid, he could become the club’s record signing.

Last season, Lucumí stood out in Serie A as a ball-playing centre-back who excelled at stopping opposition counter-attacks. For Serie A centre-backs, he ranked in the top 9% for passes completed per 90 and accurate long balls per 90. Additionally, Lucumí averaged just over six ball recoveries per 90, which was in the top 4% of centre-backs. This means that when his side lost possession, he was often there to rectify the situation.

After the opening match, West Ham boss Graham Potter spoke about Sunderland’s performance and somewhat dismissively said, “It wasn’t a result – with the greatest respect – of Sunderland pushing us back and playing well. It was an action, a cross from 30 or 40 metres we should be happy to defend.”

While Sunderland didn’t dominate possession, only having 37% of it, they got the result from well-executed moments and hitting West Ham on the break.

Lucumí’s skill set will allow them to pull off this kind of result more often, as he is both accurate and progressive with the ball, allowing his team to counter quickly, and he specializes in stopping opposition counter-attacks, which will allow his team to exploit them in the transition of play.

The pair will turn out together for Northern Districts this week ahead of the Test series against England

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2024

Kane Williamson has paid tribute to the “incredible” career of his close friend Tim Southee after the pace bowler announced he would retire from Tests after the England series.The careers of Williamson and Southee have run side-by-side from junior and Under-19 level through domestic cricket into to all formats for New Zealand with the pair playing their 100th Tests together against Australia earlier this year, although Williamson made his debut two-and-a-half years after Southee.Related

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Williamson is New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in Test history while Southee is second only to Sir Richard Hadlee on the wickets list with 385 so remains a chance of reaching 400 against England.”Playing so long together, you just go through so much,” Williamson told reporters in Hamilton ahead of his first game for Northern Districts since 2019 where Southee will also line up. “Both doing stints in leadership roles and you go through different turbulent times, then you have some good ones as well and they are all part of the experience. To do it as long as Tim has is incredible as a fast bowler, there’s not many in the history of the game who have been able to achieve what he has. Such a huge member [and] leader of our side and a close friend as well.”While New Zealand’s historic 3-0 victory in India suggests there could be plenty of good times ahead for the current team, Southee’s retirements marks the latest departure from an era of players that brought considerable success following the likes of Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme and Neil Wagner while Trent Boult no longer features in Tests after stepping away from a central contract and has also retired from T20Is.”It’s life, isn’t it. You do realise you are closer towards the end than the start which is a certainty,” Williamson said. “It’s [about] navigating those periods because you feel slightly different when you play your first game to when you play your 100th and there’s different levels of excitement, your life changes a little bit, whether that’s family, extra dogs, whatever it is you are into, so the picture does take a slightly different shape and your motivation does adjust.”There’s sadness, but excitement as well for Tim because the end of your time in a sporting professional environment is scary but there’s so much more to come.”Williamson, who will return from a groin injury against England after missing the whole series in India, also turned down an NZC contract this year but remains committed across formats. He termed the victory in India one of New Zealand’s “all-time cricketing memories” although added missing out on being part of it was challenging at times with his fitness assessed on a Test-by-Test basis before it was decided he wasn’t ready.”It was a lot of internal temptation [to try and get there], for sure, then after a few discussions it was keep taking that time to get it right so that’s what I did,” he said. “Suffered a little bit of FOMO, which is a good thing, but just admired it really. To go over and play the way they did, so special, one of our all-time cricketing memories.”Williamson’s groin injury was picked up running between the wickets in the second innings of the second Test in Galle and he admitted the body needed more looking after in the latter stages of his career.”It’s not major, which is good,” he said. “Think post knee [injury] there’s always little curlys that bob their heads so actually making sure I keep putting that time in. For so long you feel invincible, and I’ve certainly had a few reminders that’s not the case recently and making sure that I’m staying on top of all those things and keeping the body in check.”

It would be something of an understatement to say this summer has been a busy one for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s men hardly had a moment to catch their breath after winning the Conference League before they were thrown into the Club World Cup, which they then won.

Likewise, even though the board have made plenty of signings over recent years, they’ve been just as busy this summer, picking up some genuinely exciting talents like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

However, they aren’t done there, as they’ve also been linked with another international star, someone who’d be a far better signing than another player touted for a move to Stamford Bridge: Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea target massive Garnacho upgrade

While most of Chelsea’s business this summer has been conducted without much controversy or fan backlash, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that there is a portion of the fan base who wouldn’t be overjoyed with the potential signing of Garnacho.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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After all, the Argentine international has a massive public falling out with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, and while he’s talented, the supposed price tag of around £40m might be too much for someone who could disrupt the dressing room.

So, it’s good news that it now appears as if the club are closing in on someone else, someone who’d be a far better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sports Zone, which claims that Chelsea are now rapidly advancing with their interest in Xavi Simons.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Blues have now reached an agreement on personal terms for the RB Leipzig star, and that a first bid is expected sometime today.

While the report makes no mention of how much the Dutchman might cost the West Londoners, other stories from this month have claimed that the German outfit want around £61m.

It could therefore be an expensive transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a way better signing than Garnacho.

Why Simons would be a better signing than Garnacho

So, if we ignore all the potential off-the-pitch problems and focus solely on what they can do on the pitch, why would Simons be a far better signing than Garnacho?

Well, first and foremost, the Dutchman is simply the far more dangerous attacking outlet, and that is clearly shown in their respective output from last season.

In his 33 games for Leipzig, totalling just 2763 minutes, the 22-year-old “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.

That means the former Paris Saint-Germain gem managed to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 144 minutes.

In contrast, the Madrid-born ace scored just 11 goals and provided ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3,568 minutes, for the Red Devils last term.

Garnacho vs Simons in 24/25

Players

Simons

Garnacho

Appearances

33

58

Minutes

2763′

3568′

Goals

11

11

Assists

8

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

144′

169.90′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, the Argentine international averaged a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or every 169.90 minutes.

Unfortunately for the United ace, the one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look at their national team statistics as well.

For example, the former PSV Eindhoven superstar has already won 28 senior caps for the Netherlands, in which he’s scored five goals, provided four assists, made one World Cup appearance and six at the European Championships.

For his efforts, the Argentine has won just eight caps, one of which was a substitute appearance at the Copa América, and he’s only provided one assist in that time.

Ultimately, while Garnacho has undeniable talent, Simons is simply the better and more complete player, and therefore, Chelsea should be looking to sign him over the United ace.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 30, 2025

Chelsea have taken their summer spending to around £140 million, with BlueCo once again showing they’re not shy about investing to compete at the very highest level.

Enzo Maresca first welcomed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, who joined the Blues in a £30 million deal from relegated Ipswich, and he’s already scored his first goal for Chelsea at the Club World Cup.

Premier League club close to finalising deal for "world-class" Chelsea player

There’s been a key update out of Stamford Bridge.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 3, 2025

Delap bagged a strike against ES Tunis and set up Enzo Fernández for Chelsea’s second of the game in a 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC, with Delap making a fine start to his Stamford Bridge career as he chases a potential spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens has also signed for Chelsea after the west Londoners finally agreed a £55 million deal, coming after they saw as many as three bids rejected for the Englishman before the start of this year’s CWC.

As well as the aforementioned homegrown duo, Chelsea confirmed the arrival of striker Joao Pedro from Brighton in a reported £55 million transfer, which could rise to £60 million with add-ons.

The Brazil international joins Maresca’s side after scoring 30 goals in 70 total appearances for Brighton, with Pedro also fresh off the back of his best Premier League season at the Amex.

Despite his young age, the 23-year-old has been playing top-level English football since 2019/2020, having also enjoyed a productive spell at Watford before his switch to the south coast.

Fabian Hürzeler praises "excellent" Joao Pedro move to Chelsea

Speaking to Brighton’s official website, Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler has piled praise on the transfer – calling it an “excellent deal” for them and an “exciting” move for the South American.

“This is a good move for all parties. It’s an excellent deal for the club, and a good return on a significant investment in an area of the pitch where we have a lot of competition and are already well served in terms of our attacking talent,” said Hurzeler.

“It’s also an exciting move for Joao: it gives him the opportunity to play Champions League football this coming season, and he will of course be keen to cement his position in the Brazil team ahead of the World Cup next summer.

“Joao has given us some wonderful moments – during my time and before I came to the club – so on behalf of everyone I would like to thank him for his service over the past two seasons and wish him the best for the future.”

With Delap and Pedro now arriving, it could spell the end for striker Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea are reportedly open to selling Jackson, amid interest from the Premier League, Napoli and Juventus (Gianluca Di Marzio), while the likes of Noni Madueke and Chrstopher Nkunku are also being linked with moves away.

It is SPFL fixture release day and as Premiership champions, Celtic will have a home game on the opening weekend, 2/3 August.

But, how many new signings will Brendan Rodgers have on board in time for his team’s first pre-season match on 4 July?

Well, Celtic have already added Kieran Tierney to their ranks, re-signing the left-back after he became a free agent, while they’ve also reportedly agreed a fee of £1.7m to land winger Benjamin Nygren in the coming days.

The Hoops are not content with just one attacking signing, however.

Celtic chasing a new winger

According to a report by RMC Sport, talks between Celtic and Royal Antwerp are “underway” as the Hoops seek to sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who he claims is ‘keen on the move’ to Scotland.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Meantime, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider has previously reported that Celtic are ‘well-placed’ to make this deal come to fruition, describing the winger as a ‘long-term target’.

Balikwisha, who is 24 years old, began his senior career at Standard Liège, before joining Royal Antwerp in July 2021, making 141 appearances for the Reds to date, scoring 29 goals and registering 17 assists.

He was a key figure in the Antwerp team that won the domestic treble in 2023, the club’s first Jupiler Pro League title for 66 years, then scoring the goal against AEK Athens that saw them qualify for the Champions League for the very first time, also on target against Shakhtar Donetsk at Bosuilstadion in the tournament’s group stages.

This season though, Antwerp missed out on European qualification altogether, disastrously beaten 2-1 by Royal Charleroi in a European play-off last month, fuelling speculation that he could be on the move, and hence why the club are looking to cash in.

How Michel-Ange Balikwisha would improve Celtic

Celtic are in the market for a new winger this summer, partially due to the fact that Jota will be sidelined for between “six to nine months” after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at Tannadice in April.

So, would Balikwisha be a good replacement? Let’s assess his statistics.

Minutes

1,784

99th

Goals

7

17th

Assists

6

9th

Progressive carries

85

10th

Carries into penalty area

34

9th

Shot-creating actions

69

30th

Goal-creating actions

10

13th

Big chances created

6

40th

Key passes per match

1.5

24th

Average SofaScore rating

7.32

14th

Worth noting that the 2023/24 season was chosen because, similar to Jota, Balikwisha is coming off a long-term injury, requiring knee surgery just over a year ago, before a meniscus injury saw him make just three appearances this season before 9 March.

After that, he did enjoy a run of games, starting each of Antwerp’s final 11 matches to conclude the campaign.

Despite his injury issues, analyst Ben Mattinson labels him an “amazing” talent, describing him as “two-footed” and “capable of beating a defender either way”. That certainly suggests he’d be a great replacement for the injury-stricken Jota.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes he operates best as an “inside forward”, praising his “pace, dribbling and finishing”, which he believes to be his strongest attributes.

Said to be one of the most ‘talented attacking players’ in the Belgian top-flight by Lee Scott of Total Football Analysis, that’s high praise considering Global Football Rankings believes the Jupiler Pro League to be the eighth-strongest division in the world; for context, the Scottish Premiership is all the way down in 43rd.

Given that Balikwisha has just one year remaining on his contract at Antwerp, it would appear as though Celtic will be able to sign him at a cut-price, and he seemingly has all the qualities to thrive in Glasgow’s East End.

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Was that the goal that sealed Jadon Sancho’s Chelsea fate? With the Blues having already completed the comeback in Wednesday’s Conference League final, the Englishman extended that lead even further with a stunning strike from the left flank.

Introduced off the bench on the hour mark, the on-loan winger swiftly helped to rubberstamp victory with that delightful curling effort past a helpless Adrian, with that marking his 15th goal involvement of the season on his 41st outing for the west London side.

While there remains lingering doubts over whether Enzo Maresca’s side will sign the £25m man permanently – amid the presence of a £5m cancellation clause – the latest suggestion is that talks are now being held with the player’s representatives over contract terms.

As reported in recent days, the Blues are hopeful of negotiating fresh terms with the Manchester United outcast, in order to bring him in line with their current wage structure at Stamford Bridge.

If a deal can be agreed, the one-time Borussia Dortmund man could be set to stay put for the long term in the capital. That said, even if a deal is struck, it may not prevent the club from seeking out further attacking reinforcements this summer.

Latest on Chelsea's search for a winger

Liam Delap is all but confirmed as the latest exciting arrival under the Todd Boehly regime, with the £30m acquisition set to join the likes of Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez in bolstering Maresca’s ranks next season. Sporting CP teenager, Geovany Quenda, meanwhile, will make his move next summer.

With the likes of Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke already on the books – alongside the suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk – there does appear to be significant depth on the flanks, yet recent reports have indicated that a new winger remains a priority target for the club.

According to one Spanish news outlet, the Blues are said to be turning their attention toward AC Milan sensation, Rafael Leao, with Boehly and co believed to be ‘stepping up their interest’ in the Portugal international.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As per the report, the Conference League winners are said to be readying a ‘concrete push’ to land the 25-year-old from the San Siro, with the Serie A side’s financial woes – and lack of European football next term – opening up the possibility of a sale occurring this summer.

Leao himself is said to be ready to move on from his current side, with Chelsea viewing this as the opportune time to pounce, having been keeping tabs on the player over an extended period.

With negotiations set to ‘accelerate’ over the coming weeks, the former Lille star could be the new attacking figurehead at Stamford Bridge..

How Rafael Leao compares to Sancho

As noted already, Sancho did end the campaign with five goals and ten assists to his name under Maresca, although there remains that nagging feeling that he is damaged goods, not least amid his dismal spell at Old Trafford that has yielded just 18 goals and assists in 83 games.

Equally, there must also be alarm bells ringing at the fact that Sancho’s best work in 2024/25 arguably came in Europe’s third-tier competition, having actually only scored three goals and provided five assists in the Premier League.

With just 22 goal involvements to his name in 89 games in England’s top-flight to date, the question remains as to whether the Manchester City youth product is entirely suited to the rigours of the Premier League.

Indeed, as pundit Tony Cascarino noted earlier in the campaign, Sancho is lacking that real athleticism to be able to beat his man, as he ‘doesn’t have that burst of acceleration to get at defenders’, while largely playing a ‘conservative game’.

That is not an accusation that can be labelled at Leao, by contrast, with the Milan ace hailed by national team boss, Roberto Martinez as “one of the best players in the world one-on-one and when it comes to exploiting spaces.”

Such dribbling prowess is evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref. Sancho, for instance, ranks in just the top 18% in that regard, with both men typically lining up on the left flank.

Leao’s greater threat is also laid bare by the fact that he ranks in the top 14% for touches made in the attacking penalty area, with that again placing him ahead of his Chelsea counterpart, who ranks in the top 18% for that same metric.

Equally, even amid a disappointing season collectively for the Italian giants, Leao was still able to register 23 goals and assists, with that return including 18 goals and assists in Serie A .

As evidenced in the table above, the wantaway star has hit double figures for assists in each of his last four seasons in Italy’s top-flight, while scoring at least eight goals in that time.

For comparison, since moving to England in the summer of 2021 on a £73m deal, Sancho’s best league return came in 2022/23, when he scored six times and provided only three assists for United.

Of course, the caveat is that Leao is yet to try his hand in the Premier League, although he seemingly possesses the pace and power to thrive. As noted by Bologna defender Nicolo Casale, “when he accelerates it’s difficult to hold him and in a moment he runs away and you don’t catch him.”

It’s arguably a long time since anyone said anything similar of Sancho…

Instant Delap upgrade: Chelsea to hold meeting over signing £84m "monster"

Chelsea are not hanging about in their bid to improve the squad

By
Ross Kilvington

May 30, 2025

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on Aston Villa’s summer transfer plans as the reportedly look to pen a “fantastic” player to a long-term deal.

Aston Villa pushing for summer signings regardless of league finish

It remains to be seen if Unai Emery’s side will clinch a top-five finish in the Premier League this season, getting back into the Champions League in the process, but a busy summer transfer window is expected either way. Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan is a rumoured target for Villa, with the highly-rated 18-year-old being watched by club scouts and their recruitment team even holding talks with him.

Another exciting young player, Lyon winger Malick Fofana, has also been backed to move to Villa Park ahead of the 2025/26 season, as Emery looks to bring in more attacking depth. The 20-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring 11 goals in Ligue 1 and the Europa League combined.

Their moves in the market will of course still be influenced somewhat by their European status, with Ollie Watkins’ winner against Bournremouth this weekend moving the Villans level on points with Chelsea, who were defeated away at Newcastle.

A new striker arguably wouldn’t go amiss for Villa in the summer, with Watkins turning 30 later this year, and Paris Saint-Germain marksman Goncalo Ramos has emerged as a rumoured option. He has found minutes hard to come by for the Champions League finalists, with competition for places incredibly strong, but would surely only join another club in Europe’s elite competition.

Aston Villa keen to sign Rashford to long-term deal

According to Romano for Give Me Sport, Aston Villa like the idea of signing Marcus Rahsford permanently at the end of the season. They are reportedly “very happy” with the Manchester United attacker, adding that Emery considers him an “excellent player and the feeling between coach and player is understood to be very good”.

There is a potential issue surrounding Financial Fair Play, however, which will “now dictate the next steps” of a potential deal, with the England international’s salary “another important point not to be underestimated” in the update.

Rashford’s loan move to Villa felt like a gamble at the time, following a run of poor form for United, but he has been a big success overall, registering 10 goal contributions in 17 appearances, even if four goals isn’t exactly an earth-shattering return.

The Englishman looks to have a spark back in his game, with Emery praising the impact he has made last month, saying of him: “He is feeling better and he played a fantastic match. We are very happy. If he is happy, we are happy.”

The fact that Emery likes the £300,000-a-week Rashford so much suggests that he should be trusted in wanting to sign him on a permanent deal, even though there is an element of risk there, especially if they cannot negotiate those wages down.

There is always the possibility that the 27-year-old has simply upped his game for a short period, in order to earn a move elsewhere, but he will surely be desperate to prove himself in the long-term at another club, considering his time at United looks over.

Arsenal have privately refused to rule out signing a former Man City forward for manager Mikel Arteta this summer, with new sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners hierarchy set for a key transfer decision.

Arsenal cruise into Champions League semi-finals after Real Madrid win

It’s been a sensational week for Arteta and co, who made history by becoming the first ever side in history to win at the Bernabeu on their first two visits – breaking a record which stood for 77 years.

Arsenal given 50% discount for £280k-per-week forward after opening talks

Andrea Berta could now strike a half-price deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2025

Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sealed a stunning 5-1 aggregate win for Arsenal in the Spanish capital, making a serious statement to the rest of Europe that they’re genuine contenders to win this year’s Champions League title.

A tough test in Ligue 1 champions PSG awaits in the semi-finals, but their tails will surely be up after a potentially season-defining quarter-final tie.

“The feeling that we have is our reality, basically,” said Arteta on the mood around Arsenal after their triumph over Real Madrid.

“And in the feeling that I had before the game, when the players were transmitting and how prepared I could feel the team, that we are ready to compete against anybody. Now we have to continue to do that because I think we have some momentum now.

“Where we finished last year and the way we’re doing it this year, the teams with their eyes on us and the competition, it’s incredible. Big credit to [Madrid}, it was my first time as a coach in that dugout, and today I realised after three minutes in this stadium, anything is possible. They are specialists of creating such chaos and belief, and it’s very difficult to really understand what’s going on in the game and have certainty about how we controlled it. I think they showed a lot of maturity.”

Arsenal refuse to rule out signing Raheem Sterling permanently

Privately, Arsenal are making plans to build the squad further and provide Arteta with new wide attackers.

In the last week, Arsenal have repeatedly been linked with a move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, not to mention Athletic Bilbao sensation Nico Williams, but there is also the matter of Raheem Sterling and his future at the Emirates.

It hasn’t exactly been a dream loan move from Chelsea for the Englishman, who’s seen precious little game time under his former City assistant coach, with Arsenal paying around £163,000-per-week of his £325,000-per-week salary during his temporary stint.

Berta would need to renegotiate contract terms and a fee with Chelsea to make his move permanent, but according to The Mail, as quoted by TEAMtalk, Arsenal have refused to rule out signing Sterling permanently and are yet to inform him of a final decision.

It would be a bizarre call by the north Londoners at this point, considering the 30-year-old boasts just one goal and five assists all season, but it is believed his stay may not be completely off the table, contrary to reports.

What’s a tour of England without some nostalgia – or a lot of it?

Sidharth Monga07-Aug-2025July 20
National Football Museum in Manchester. Its glass exterior has lyrics of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” inscribed on it. Manchester is, of course, Oasis country. Pronounced “oh- weɪ-ˈsʌs” in the north. They are on tour and playing in Manchester tonight. Ticket prices too high at the last moment. Or at the first. See a reel of a woman at the concert using Shazam to identify the song being played. It is “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve, who are opening for Oasis.July 21
Could spend hours in Strawberry Field, the children’s home run by the Salvation Army when John Lennon was a kid in Liverpool. Went on to immortalise the place with the Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Was demolished in 1973 but the iconic red gates are now open to visitors.End up spending hours as it rains. Find shelter under tall trees in the beautiful garden. Imagine Lennon here as a child, escaping the world and getting lost in Strawberry Field. Now, famous Beatles lyrics are inscribed around the place. Once it stops raining, come out to see this inscription: “No one I think / Is in my tree”.July 22
A short walk from Strawberry Field is 251 Menlove Avenue, where Lennon lived from 1945 to 1963. Find there a Peruvian man, Jhon Vilchez Cordova, born in 1971, named for Lennon by his father, a big Beatles fan. Jhon is in tears, having made it to Lennon’s home. Help him photograph himself outside Lennon’s house.Walk to St Peter’s Parish Church where John and Paul first met. In its graveyard rests Eleanor Rigby. Not far from her rests John McKenzie. However, this Eleanor Rigby died in 1939. Paul McCartney has said the woman in his song is fictitious, and any connection to this graveyard – where they used to sunbathe and “probably had a craft fag” – is subconscious. “This is just bigger than me.”End up on Mathew Street, where, at the Cavern Club, the Beatles were discovered. Whole street now is a Beatles tribute.Fab forever: a tile in memory of John Lennon outside Strawberry Field in Liverpool•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfo LtdJuly 23
Been in the UK long enough to suspect the efficacy of the buttons for signals at pedestrian crossings. Read up to find out most of these are just placebo, especially during busy hours. For example, the BBC says the one at the intersection of Regent Street and Cavendish Place near its HQ in London takes 105 seconds for the red man to become green irrespective of whether the button is pressed or not. However, there are some busy intersections where one press the button or the cycle will skip the pedestrian phase.July 24
In Nitish Kumar Reddy’s absence, India are doing a bit of placebo with themselves. They are playing three allrounders according to them, but none of them is a strike bowler in the conditions we have. The bowlers are struggling with their workloads and are being bowled into the dirt. England end day two on 225 for 2 in response to India’s 358.July 25
Old Trafford is a convenient cricket ground despite the infamous, seemingly permanent, temporary stand. Despite the hotel and the conference centre, the Point, taking prime real estate away from working-class cricket fans. Convenient because the tram drops you off almost inside the ground. Reminiscent of Kotla in Delhi – not pretty by any stretch but located right where old Delhi meets new, by the Dilli Gate metro station. Old Trafford also has a “sensory room”, where people troubled by excessive noise or light can take refuge.This could be a day at the Kotla. Pitch dying, bowlers tired, England make their way to 544 for 7.July 26
Test-match Saturday, and finally feel the strain of crowds on the tram. Absolutely jam-packed. Use skills learned in Bombay local trains. Stand not in the doorway but lean against wall right next to it. Anyone who has done a rush-hour commute in Bombay knows the premium on that space: don’t have to make way for anyone at stops, easy to exit when your stop arrives.In the pink: Roger Waters’ one-time home in Cambridge•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfo LtdMassive crowd in, expecting England will seal the series, but India resist, losing only two wickets, those in their first over. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill bat together for 69 overs.July 27
England throw everything at India, including an injured Ben Stokes, but India, already missing Rishabh Pant with a broken foot, hang on for a draw. Stokes offers India handshakes at the first instance of their becoming available, but India want to bat on so Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar can complete their centuries. Both sides are within their rights to do what they do. England within their rights to bowl part-timers and protect frontline bowlers. However, virtue-signalling from England leaves bitter taste. Disappointed, India pull out after centuries, not continuing to bat till the scheduled close of play.July 28
Piccadilly Station in Manchester has a public piano for anyone to play. Everybody seems to be having a good time, but as with everything, there exist online reviews:

“Very quiet piano. Felt like I had to slam down a bit. Needs a bit of a tune up but can’t argue with a public piano!”

“Has seen better days 🙁 Many out of tune keys and some keys that don’t even work, plus no seat available. A shame.” – (Can vouch to Jacob that a seat is available now.)

“Sadly very low quality. Absolutely battered. Quite a few keys not working at all.”

, written by John Cleese (centre), based on the 1970s sitcom of the same name, opened in London last year•James Manning/PA Photos/Getty ImagesJuly 29
Pink Floyd pilgrimage in Cambridge. Unlike Liverpool and the Beatles, no tourism trap here. Stand with goosebumps outside the house where Syd Barrett, once the creative genius behind Floyd, lived and died alone as Roger Barrett after leaving Floyd, his alter ego and public life in the 1960s. Neighbours have in the past spoken of hearing deathly screams in the middle of the night, or hearing him barking like a dog.This semi-detached house is not far from where Barrett grew up. Nearby is Rock Road, where Roger Waters moved into a house with his mother when he was two. That house is completely obscured by magnolia growing in the front yard – echoing how Waters would perform from behind a wall in later years.About a hundred yards away is a Quaker Meeting House, likely where Roger’s mother, a radical atheist whose front room was almost a Labour Party office, would often go, telling her sons that while she didn’t share the Quakers’ beliefs, “they are good people”.End up doing some punting on the river Cam in the backyards of some of the most prestigious colleges in the world. Punting ends near the Anchor Pub, which is where Roger Barrett became Syd, back when the place was called the Riverside Jazz Bar. Barrett greatly admired resident drummer Sid Barrett, and inevitably was nicknamed after him, with a “y” for distinction. A wall now bears a big mural of Syd with an inscription of the lyrics from “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”: “Caught in the crossfire/ of childhood and stardom”.July 30
Keep noticing small, often cemented-up windows in some of the older buildings all over England. Find out now that it was done to avoid paying a ridiculous “window tax” imposed in England and Wales from the 17th century. This is where the phrase “daylight robbery” originated.July 31
It is indeed daylight robbery that India haven’t won a single toss in these five Tests, taking their toss-loss run in international matches to 15. Once again, they have two placebo allrounders in the side, who are essentially batters in these seaming conditions. With eight batters and three bowlers, India end the day at 204 for 6.Attention Russian billionaires: the Oval gasometer will be replaced by luxe flats soon•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfo LtdAugust 1
A London playlist, especially when living in Herne Hill and Brixton.”The Guns of Brixton”, by The Clash
“LDN”, by Lily Allen
“London Boy”, by Taylor Swift
“Maid of Bond Street”, by David Bowie
“South Of The River”, by Tom Misch
“Streets of London”, by Ralph McTell
“Portobello Road”, by Cat Stevens
“London Bye, Ta-Ta”, by David BowieBye bye, ta-ta is not far. Soon this heightened state of purposefulness will be replaced by a temporary void. The three-man India attack promise us one final classic, bowling England out for a lead of just 23, which is wiped out in no time. Real life can wait at the door, we have one final thriller to oversee.August 2
Have always wondered what is inside the gasometer near The Oval. Have never managed to get in. Can’t do it anymore because it is now a construction site – being turned into luxury residences. Same as with Battersea Power Station, the site of the iconic cover of the Floyd album .Overhear on a Thameslink train two people decrying the conversion of old heritage buildings into high-rises. As the train crosses a bridge, one is excited to point to the other an old house that has survived. He is quick to tell her the story of the house: an old inn in Southwark, which has survived because it gets heritage protection by virtue of being associated with a Shakespeare theatre group. It most likely is the Falcon Tavern, a frequent haunt of Shakespeare and other writers.August 3
End up in Chinatown after watching India struggle with just three fast bowlers, defending 373, but still managing to stay alive thanks to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. On way back, go past a theatre running . Most of the original cast is gone, but John Cleese, 85, ploughs on – he is the writer of this stage version.August 4
A breathtaking end to a great series, with Siraj outlasting everyone for a six-run win for India. Twenty-five days of hard work comes down to one hit or one wicket. Siraj delivers the wicket, with a yorker, his fifth-quickest ball of the series.And suddenly everybody is saying goodbyes, and what a privilege it has been. Reality has burst through the door. England, London, foxes in the Herne Hill backyard, you will be missed.

Several key themes emerged, some predicted, some not, from the second edition of the BBL overseas draft

Alex Malcolm04-Sep-2023Availability wasn’t a major worryAll the talk coming into the draft was that BBL clubs would prioritise the availability of overseas players above all else to the point where several clubs hinted they would only take ILT20 players who could play all 10 home and away games, instead of players signed up for the SA20 that starts earlier in January, or players who were likely to have international duty during the BBL. That situation did not eventuate.Rashid Khan and Quinton de Kock were both taken in the first four picks despite not being available beyond January 5 while England’s Test tour of India in mid-January did not prove a major deterrent with Harry Brook, Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed all snapped up. Tom Curran, Chris Jordan and Haris Rauf could also be called away for international limited-overs duties, and yet all three were taken in the first nine picks. Clubs appeared happy to take the best players on offer and will back themselves to find replacements if and when they need them.Related

Harry Brook withdraws from the BBL

Kapp goes pick one to Thunder in WBBL draft as Scorchers retain Devine

How the drafts played out

De Kock to make his BBL debut while Brook and Crawley find new clubs

Three clubs only take two overseasThe WBBL draft was plagued by passes in the third and fourth rounds as seven of the eight clubs only took two overseas players due to the bespoke direct nomination rule. There was a similar spate of passes in the BBL draft despite no such rule being in play. But clubs were allowed to take only two overseas and then sign a third at a later stage, provided the player had nominated for the draft. Melbourne Renegades, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder all took this option. The major reason for only taking two players is flexibility.One of the negatives of the draft from a club perspective is that they are locked into signing a player in September when so much can change in terms of injuries and availability between now and the start of the tournament in December. The negative from the BBL’s perspective is the later rounds of the draft can fall flat when there are more passes than expected. It may be something the BBL needs to look at next year.James Vince still got to the Sixers despite being available to be poached•Getty ImagesLoyalty remains valued despite retention being testedThere were two intriguing storylines into the draft with Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat both set to be severely tested by other clubs given they could only use one retention pick. Sixers had three retention options among the platinum players in Curran, Jordan and James Vince. Hobart Hurricanes tested Sixers’ mettle early using pick three on Curran knowing they could get one of the others. Sixers bit straight away, retaining Curran. Hurricanes then took Jordan, filling their need for a bowling allrounder. It left one of the BBL’s most consistent overseas performers in Vince up for grabs to any club who wanted him for 10 straight picks. But no one took him, and Sixers were able to pick him at pick 14.Similarly, there was pre-draft talk of a club potentially trying to force Heat to choose between Colin Munro and Sam Billings. In the end, Heat didn’t have to use their retention pick on either. Billings was actually available to Hurricanes at pick 11 but they opted for Heat’s other retention pick in Sam Hain and Heat let him go, then took Billings with pick 15.Eight players – Vince, Munro, Billings, Rauf, Adam Hose, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Alex Hales, and Laurie Evans – returned to their previous club without a retention pick needed. Only two were used to retain Rashid and Curran, and only four players – Hain, Jordan, Brook and Crawley – were selected by a new club. Despite the BBL wanting more player movement, loyalty, familiarity, and culture remain strong forces among the BBL clubs in selecting overseas players.Hundred is the BBL’s major overseas recruiting farmThe two competitions are closely linked with so many Australian administrators, coaches and players working across both competitions. It should be no surprise then that so many of this year’s draftees have come from the Hundred. Eighteen of the 21 players drafted played in the Hundred including eight from the two finalists, Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals. Player of the tournament Jamie Overton will make his BBL debut this year after being shrewdly selected by Strikers.Zaman Khan was a surprise selection at pick 13•Getty ImagesPakistan gems still sought-after commoditiesPakistan players have long been attractive prospects for BBL clubs and quite often it is those just under the international radar that are the most sought after following the success of Rauf. Two more get to follow in his footsteps in Zaman Khan and Usama Mir although unlike Rauf, both have already played international cricket and have been appearing in a number of leagues around the world this year alone. Stars are hoping Mir will fill the huge spin hole they have and become a cult hero bowling his fast legspin at the MCG, while Thunder have added Zaman. Thunder’s selection was especially bold at pick 13 given the number of high-quality fast bowlers available.American Anderson not a forgotten manHurricanes’ head of strategy Ricky Ponting said moments after selecting Corey Anderson that he was “a forgotten man” in global cricket. The former New Zealand allrounder has not played an official T20 since August 2020 having not featured in international cricket for New Zealand since 2018 after announcing his intention to qualify for USA. But Anderson, 32, has re-emerged this year in Major League Cricket for San Francisco Unicorns, a team run by Cricket Victoria and coached by former Australia allrounder Shane Watson, who is a close friend of Ponting.Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade also played with Anderson and witnessed firsthand his stunning 91 not out off 52 balls where he torched a MI New York attack featuring Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard. That was enough for Hurricanes to take him with their third pick and they hope he can replicate those feats on the small dimensions of Bellerive Oval in Hobart.