All posts by h716a5.icu

Inter Miami ready to confirm ‘done deal’ for Jordi Alba replacement as legendary Spanish left-back retires after MLS Cup glory

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Inter Miami are preparing to usher in a new era at left-back, with Jordi Alba set to retire after winning the MLS Cup on Saturday and Spanish full-back Sergio Reguilon lined up as his successor. The 28-year-old free agent has been spotted in Miami and is considered a near-confirmed signing, with the deal expected to be announced shortly after Alba’s farewell.

Alba retires – Inter Miami set to sign Reguilon

Inter Miami won Saturday’s MLS Cup final, knowing it would also mark the final appearance of Alba, who has decided to retire following the showpiece match. The former Barcelona star has been a key part of the club’s rise alongside Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, but the 34-year-old has “waved the white flag” and brought an end to a storied career after one last push for silverware. With Alba departing, the club has accelerated plans to secure his replacement, identifying Reguilon as the preferred option, as per .

The report suggests the signing is essentially a “done deal,” with Inter Miami ready to announce the move soon. Reguilon has been seen in Miami in recent days, fuelling the belief that the transfer is imminent and that the Spaniard will join early in the 2026 MLS season. The former Tottenham defender has spent the past six months without a club, making the opportunity in Miami a timely lifeline.

Reguilon last played competitive football in May 2025, featuring for 74 minutes in Tottenham’s match against Aston Villa before his release in the summer. Since leaving Spurs, he has spent extensive time training individually to maintain his fitness and prepare for a January return to professional competition. Inter Miami view his experience across Europe as an ideal fit to succeed Alba in a team built on high-profile leadership and possession-based play.

Advertisement(C) Getty ImagesReguilon part of Inter Miami's new-age rebuild

Alba’s retirement represents a major turning point for Inter Miami, who structured much of their attacking width around the veteran’s overlapping presence on the left flank. His departure leaves a significant void, not only tactically but culturally, as he formed part of the celebrated quartet reunited from Barcelona’s golden era. Replacing that influence requires a player capable of contributing immediately, which explains the club’s push to secure Reguilon before preseason begins.

Reguilon’s arrival would continue Inter Miami’s strategy of balancing superstar talent with experienced professionals capable of adapting quickly to MLS demands. The move also signals Miami's broader commitment to long-term squad evolution rather than relying solely on ageing marquee names. With Alba and Sergio Busquets retiring and Messi and Luis Suarez entering the final years of their playing careers, the club appears intent on planning ahead rather than reacting late.

Reguilon has not played professionally in seven months

Reguilon’s career has taken him across several major clubs, beginning at Real Madrid before a loan spell at Sevilla. Tottenham signed him permanently in 2020 but recurring managerial changes and shifting tactical needs saw him fall out of favour and ultimately leave the club in 2025 after loan spells with Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Manchester United. Despite his absence from competitive football in recent months, his resume and athletic profile continue to attract interest.

His six-month free agency raised concerns about match fitness, though sources state he has been “training extensively” on his own to prepare for his next move. Inter Miami are aware he may need time to regain sharpness, but believe his upside outweighs that temporary limitation. The club values his ability to operate both defensively and in transition, traits essential for a team that relies heavily on wide build-up patterns.

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Getty Images SportInter Miami set to announce Reguilon signing soon

Inter Miami gave the perfect send-off to Alba and Busquets as they won the MLS Cup on Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. If Reguilon’s signing is confirmed, he will join the roster in early February and begin preparations to slot into the starting XI for the 2026 campaign. The club will then face broader questions about further reinforcements and how best to evolve the squad as key veterans age out of their prime.

Five Biggest Upgrades of the MLB Trade Deadline

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A few contenders have to be thrilled after what they were able to accomplish this week.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is behind us, and after 24 of the wildest hours Major League Baseball has ever seen, several teams emerged far better than they began the day. Despite sky-high prices, there were blockbusters galore with a number of All-Stars changing hands and teams across the league deciding to throw caution to the wind and go all-in.

Here are the teams that made the biggest upgrades at the deadline.

Seattle Mariners acquire third baseman Eugenio Suárez

The Mariners entered the month of July desperately needing to upgrade their corner infield positions. They did just that in two trades with the Diamondbacks, landing Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez a few days apart. Suárez is the real upgrade here.

As the deadline crossed, Seattle’s third basemen had combined to produce 0.2 WAR, a .664 OPS, five home runs, and 35 RBIs. Suárez arrives slashing .248/.320/.575 for an OPS of .895, with 36 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 143. That’s a big improvement from Ben Williamson’s wRC+ of 76. Suárez is a massive upgrade for a team that wanted to go all-in and take advantage of catcher Cal Raleigh’s historic season.

Naylor and Suárez will combine to bring a ton of offense to a team that is 12th in the majors in runs scored and 10th in OPS (.730). Seattle did what it needed to do at the deadline to give itself a boost in the race for the American League West crown.

San Diego Padres land left fielder Ramón Laureano

A lot can be said about the Padres’ trade deadline—and I've said some of it—but they did manage to fill their biggest need, and get more on top of it. After the truly puzzling blockbuster for Mason Miller, San Diego made one of the best moves of the day, landing Ramón Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn from the Orioles in exchange for six prospects.

Padres left fielders currently rank 29th in baseball, having generated -0.7 WAR this season. They rank 28th in OPS (.613) with a collective slash line of .229/.283/.330 and seven home runs. The position has been a turnstile since the season kicked off. Jason Heyward started things off, then a laundry list of guys followed—all failing spectacularly one after another.

Laureano immediately upgrades the position. He’s slashing .290/.355/.529 with an OPS of .884, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 144. Given his career track record, it’s fair to expect some regression before the end of the season, but even so, he’s a massive improvement over the current group at the position.

A few days ago, I called for the Padres to chase Laureano and fill their most obvious need. He will fit perfectly in a lineup surrounded by Manny Machado, Fernando Tatís Jr., Jackson Merrill, Luis Arráez, a re-emerging Xander Bogaerts and O’Hearn. And to make things even better, his contract carries a cheap club option for 2026. This was a great move for San Diego.

VERDUCCI: MLB Trade Deadline Reflects Desperate Need for Postseason Bullpen Arms

Carlos Mendoza (left) has a new set of arms to use out of the bullpen for the Mets’ stretch run. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
New York Mets overhaul bullpen

The Mets made a few moves I liked, including the addition of Cedric Mullins to fill a huge hole in center field. But more significant than that was New York’s bullpen teardown. Edwin Díaz has returned to an elite level in 2025 after some struggles in 2024, but getting him the ball has been an issue in Queens. That should end now.

The team’s bullpen currently ranks 11th in ERA (3.80), but it has now leveled up considerably. Over a few days, the Mets traded for Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley and Gregory Soto, adding to a group that included Ryne Stanek, Reed Garrett and Brooks Raley.

Rogers is a submariner who is unconventional but gets people out. In 53 appearances for the Giants this season, he is 4–3 with a 1.80 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 38 strikeouts against four walks in 50 innings. Soto, who already has a few games with the team, is a hard-throwing lefty who hitters find nearly impossible to barrel up. His xERA (3.32) and xBA (.221) show underlying metrics that are better than his 3.79 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

In Helsley, the Mets added the 2024 NL Reliever of the Year, a power righty whose fastball averages 99.3 mph and whose slider garners a 45.6% whiff rate. Opposing batters are hitting .092 off of it. On the season, Helsley is 3–1 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 41 strikeouts against 14 walks in 36 innings. He is 21 of 26 in save chances, but he will now move into a setup role in front of Díaz. He should thrive there before hitting free agency this winter.

Expect to hear Timmy Trumpet playing far more often at Citi Field over the next few weeks.

Philadelphia Phillies get top closer available in Jhoan Durán

Mason Miller aside, the Phillies landed the best closer available at this year’s deadline and filled their biggest need in the process. This season, the team’s relievers rank 24th in ERA (4.48) and have already blown 17 of 44 save opportunities. Enter Jhoan Durán.

The Phillies were willing to give up two good prospects to acquire Durán from the Minnesota Twins, but the upgrade was necessary. The 27-year-old righty is 6–4 with a 2.01 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings, with 16 saves in 18 chances. Durán’s elite fastball averages 100.2 mph, and he produces outstanding chase and whiff rates. His splitter averages 97.5 mph and opposing batters are hitting just .221 against it.

Durán is one of the best closers in baseball and his addition means the rest of the bullpen can drop down into lower-leverage situations. Now Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering can focus on being setup men for their new ninth-inning guy.

New York Yankees re-do bullpen

The Yankees got better at several spots leading up to Thursday’s deadline, but nowhere more so than the bullpen. Yes, the additions of Ryan McMahon, Austin Slater, Amed Rosario and José Caballero will help, but they weren’t the big news. As a group, New York’s relief corps has struggled for long stretches this season and needed a complete refresh.

General manager Brian Cashman made good on his promise to go all-in by landing three new arms for the back end of his bullpen. Yankees relievers rank 20th in ERA (4.19), but should get a serious boost after landing closer David Bednar from the Pirates, Camilo Doval from the Giants and Jake Bird from the Rockies.

Bednar has been excellent in a bounce-back season, posting a 2.37 ERA and 51 strikeouts against 10 walks in 38 innings. He is a perfect 17-for-17 in save chances. He has returned to being an elite closer after struggling in 2024. Doval isn’t having the season he had in 2023, when he saved 39 games, but he boasts a 3.09 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. While his fastball is much more hittable this season, his slider is still outstanding. As for Bird, he needed to get out of Denver and should improve as a result. In 45 appearances, he is 4–1 with a 4.73 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 62 strikeouts against 23 walks in 53 1/3 innings. Despite those ugly numbers, he has an xERA of 3.59 and his sweeper can be really good.

The Yankees can score runs; now their bullpen should be able to prevent them.

Shams Mulani and the art of better bowling through better recovery

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Mumbai spinner talks about how he improved dramatically starting in 2022, and why he’s not anxious about breaking into the India side

Himanshu Agrawal22-Feb-2024Since the start of 2022, Mumbai slow left-armer Shams Mulani has 140 wickets across all domestic first-class matches in India. That is the most among bowlers to have bowled at least 500 overs during this period, and it has come at the third-best strike rate.A third of those wickets came from only six games in the truncated Ranji Trophy season of 2021-22, which started in February 2022 and had a second phase in June. Mulani received the Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the leading wicket-taker that season.Before that bumper tournament, where he averaged 16.75, Mulani’s ten first-class games since his debut in 2018-19 had brought him 28 wickets at 34.46. But since then, he has averaged a little over half that in all first-class cricket.Related

Shams Mulani bags another five-for but he is not done yet

'I'll try to repeat what I did last year' – Shams Mulani looks to continue rapid rise

Shams Mulani aces the left-arm spinner vs left-hand batter challenge

What brought about that turnaround?Fitness has been key, Mulani says ahead of Mumbai’s final group-stage Ranji fixture this year, against Assam. “For three years, I have been working very closely with Vishal Chitrakar, the strength and conditioning [S&C] coach for Mumbai. And I got a lot of help from the S&C coaches during IPL too.”He realised he needed to work to get his body accustomed to the demands of big seasons with plenty of matches. “Especially since I try my best not to miss even a single game,” he says. “And because it’s a long season, it’s pretty difficult to maintain your performance for the entire season.”But Vishal knows my body well – like how long I take to recover, and the programmes that work for me. We had decided that if I wanted to climb up the ladder, then I had to change something. Vishal has been really helpful in bringing those changes.”Other coaches, like Deepak Parteki [who also works at the National Cricket Academy], have been helpful too. They have been with me for a couple of years now.”Mulani received the Madhavrao Scindia Award for leading Ranji wicket-taker for 2021-22 from R Ashwin, one of his role models, earlier this year•Saikat Das/BCCIBefore his breakout 2022, Mulani had bowled 30 or more overs only twice in 15 innings. But during that Ranji season of 2021-22, he delivered more than 30 overs three times in 11 innings. That included a marathon 63.2 overs in the first innings of the Ranji final that season. Twenty-six of those overs were bowled in a spell that ran over the second evening and the third day.”I used to feel fatigued by the second innings until the season after my debut,” Mulani says. “I realised I had to stress on the recovery of my body because that is very crucial in a four-day game. If you have bowled a lot in the first innings and want to repeat that effort in the second, by which time the body has become sore, then you need to give yourself adequate time for training and strength sessions in between games.”That is something I have worked a lot on with the help of our physio, trainer and masseur. I do some rehab whenever I get some time. That helps me bowl long spells and recover to bowl more. Earlier I didn’t have a lot of idea about these things.”Mulani takes pride in how he has ground his way through first-class cricket, and likes bowling long spells. He says he wants to be prepared for any opportunity that comes his way, and to rise in his career with exposure.”Playing and experiencing domestic cricket is really important for me. I believe that the competition that exists in the Indian domestic circuit cannot be found anywhere else,” he says. “There is also the assumption people have that pitches here always have turn for the spinners, and so they bag a lot of wickets. But there are some pitches which aren’t helpful, and where you have to just keep bowling to extract something from them. So bowling those long spells – sometimes even 30 or 40 overs in an innings – is really crucial for me.”

****

Former Mumbai batter Amol Muzumdar took over as the team’s coach in June 2021. The two years for which he served in that role were key for Mulani – mainly for how he instilled a sense of confidence that Mulani had lacked till then.In the nets for his IPL team, Mumbai Indians. Mulani hasn’t played an IPL game yet, but has taken 52 wickets in his 43 T20s so far•Mumbai Indians”My first season with Amol sir, when he noticed a few things about my bowling, was very helpful,” he says. “There were some technical suggestions too [from Muzumdar], but it was the changes he made to my mindset that made the most difference. For instance, he told me that if I was to become a better bowler, I simply had to try to be on top of the batters by being more attacking.”I used to get a lot of confidence just by talking to him. He always wanted me to get the batters out through my skill – like bowling well even on flat tracks, rather than just through help from the pitch. Amol sir was the only one who said I just do better. He said I had to be dominant in first-class cricket.”Muzumdar’s advice and exhortation resulted in Mulani delivering what he says is his most memorable performance in the last two years, against Goa in Ahmedabad in a group-stage game in February 2022. Mumbai were bowled out for 163 after batting first, and Goa doubled that score. Mulani took 6 for 107 in the second innings, but he rates his fourth-innings performance higher, when Mumbai were defending 231 and had to bowl Goa out in “hardly about 60 overs on the final day” to win. He took 5 for 60, to complete a career-best match haul.”It stands out,” Mulani says of that five-for. “It will always remain special. Looking at the situation, we did really well as a bowling unit to hit back, and I was able to contribute.”Another significant influence on his career has been that of former India and Mumbai batter Pravin Amre, who was a mentor to him. Mulani says Amre worked on his batting during his early days, and those inputs have paid off: in 37 first-class innings since 2021-22, he has hit eight half-centuries and been part of some crucial partnerships to rescue his sides.Before bowling in the last innings in that game against Goa, Mulani added 116 for the eighth wicket with Tanush Kotian. Mumbai were only 44 ahead when they came together, but when Mulani was out for 50, they led by 160. That apart, Mulani has been part of five century stands. In fact, he is one of only two players to have scored at least 800 runs and taken at least 80 wickets in all domestic first-class games in India since 2021-22.”I had a pretty long association with Amre sir,” Mulani says. “I had been practising under him at Shivaji Park Gymkhana ever since I was nine. He has informed me a lot of things about the game, including how to be mentally ready.”With the cricket season getting longer, I don’t get as much time [to spend with Amre].”

As an allrounder who bowls left-arm spin and bats around No. 7, Mulani almost predictably idolises Ravindra Jadeja, whose achievements with ball and bat – and in the field – he says he is in awe of. “Looking at the way he does everything – I hope to be even 10% of what he is,” Mulani says. “It will be very good if I end up achieving even that much. I would love to replicate his stature and his contributions to Indian cricket.”But if you specifically ask me about bowling only, then I really enjoy watching [R] Ashwin and Nathan Lyon. What stands out about them, respectively, is their variations and control. Whenever there is a Test on TV featuring them, I watch it and learn – like what they are doing, how they are varying pace, the lengths they are bowling, and the fields they have.”

****

Success with his domestic team got Mulani selected for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy ahead of the 2022-23 season. He produced the goods there too, despite the step up, smashing 97 in quick time in a drawn game against North East Zone, taking West to victory with an all-round show against Central Zone in the semi-final, and four wickets in the second innings of the final against South Zone to give West the title.A year later he represented Rest of India against Saurashtra in the Irani Cup, taking five wickets and scoring valuable runs as Rest won by 175 runs. Earlier this month came his India A debut, in the third unofficial Test against England Lions in Ahmedabad, where too he left an impression, with 5 for 60 in the second innings in a comfortable win for the home side.”When I got my jersey for India A, I couldn’t understand what was going on in my mind,” Mulani says, pointing out that the uniform is quite similar to that of the national side. “It sank in after a while – it was India A, and not just a state team. It was the second-best line-up in the whole of India.”Talk about taking the next step, representing India, and Mulani is in no rush, though he will turn 27 next month. He is happy to take it one step at a time.Ashwin and Jadeja, India’s lead spinners in Tests, have some gas in their tanks still, and over the last few years, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav have squeezed in when allowed and performed well. That leaves little room for Mulani to make a case for himself – not least because he is a like-for-like player to Axar.He isn’t looking too far ahead just yet. “My job is to only perform. I will not have a role in selection,” he says. “I don’t keep wondering whether I will ever get a call or not; that is needless stress for me. I know that I will be in the limelight if I keep performing well, and that opportunities [to play for India] will come knocking soon.”

Nottingham Forest now eyeing £87m "powerhouse" striker with eight goals in 25/26

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Nottingham Forest are now eyeing a £87m striker, who has already scored eight goals this season, with Evangelos Marinakis clearly looking to make a statement of intent.

Forest eyeing new striker despite Dyche reunion with Chris Wood

Sean Dyche is well-known to be an admirer of Chris Wood, having spent a successful period working with the New Zealander at Burnley, and the new Forest boss was left disappointed when the striker exited Turf Moor in 2022.

Dyche said: “It wasn’t a perfect scenario to lose a player who’s done very well for us and for himself as well. He’s a good player. He’s been quieter this season but you look at the record for us, you look at what he’s achieved as an individual.”

The former Burnley manager is likely to be excited by the prospect of working with Wood again, given that the striker was very impressive right across the 2024-25 campaign, chipping in with 20 goals in 36 Premier League goals as the Tricky Trees qualified for Europe.

However, considering the New Zealand international is now 33-years-old, it is probably time to start thinking about long-term replacements, and Marinakis clearly means business, with the Europa League side setting their sights on an exciting young striker.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Nottingham Forest are now eyeing a move for FC Porto star Samu Omorodion, who has also attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United.

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The Forest boss is looking to strengthen his forward line.

1 ByDominic Lund Oct 23, 2025

Indeed, Omorodion has caught the eye of a number of England’s top clubs, but he is likely to command a huge transfer fee, with Porto unwilling to compromise on the €100m (£87m) release clause included in his contract.

Forest have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old in action on a number of occasions in recent weeks, and there is every sign that he could be a fantastic addition to Dyche’s squad…

"Powerhouse" Omorodion would be statement signing for Forest

It has been far from an ideal start to the campaign for the Tricky Trees, who may find themselves in a relegation battle if there is not a major turnaround in results, so it would be a real statement of intent if they were able to sign the Porto striker.

Scout Ben Mattinson has suggested the Spain international has the potential to play at the highest level, waxing lyrical about his key attributes a little under one year ago.

Since then, the young Spaniard has continued to impress, chipping in with eight goals in his opening 10 matches for Porto this season.

Omorodion may have the ability to take Forest’s attack to the next level, so it is exciting news they are in the race for his signature, but it could be difficult to get a deal done unless Dyche’s side start improving their league position.

Yankees Deal Veteran Pitcher to Braves Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Just a day after making a trade to acquire veteran starting pitcher Erick Fedde in a deal with the Cardinals, the Braves made another splash on the trade market Monday as they look to further patch up their injury-riddled starting rotation.

Atlanta agreed to acquire veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later, according to multiple reports.

Carrasco had been DFA'd by New York earlier in the season and is currently in the minor leagues, but he's made eight appearances for the Yankees in 2025. The 38-year-old owns a 5.91 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 32 innings and has surrendered seven home runs and 10 RBIs.

With the Braves in dire need of available pitchers, the addition of Carrasco at virtually no cost makes sense, though his upside is limited at this stage of his career.

Atlanta was hit with myriad injuries in the month of July, losing starting pitchers including Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale and Grant Holmes to the IL. Now, they're looking to fill the void left behind by that trio, with Carrasco serving as the latest addition to the rotation.

Pep must boldly bench Bernardo & unleash Man City's £295k-p/w "freak"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Are Manchester City being overlooked as Premier League title candidates?

A lot of the recent spotlight has been on Liverpool, considering the champions have lost three top-flight matches in a row for the first time since February 2021, with many thereby anointing league leaders Arsenal as overwhelming favourites.

However, considering Man City have been champions in six of the last eight seasons, they are very much in this race.

Pep Guardiola’s team have yielded 13 points from their last five league outings, going in search of a fourth straight league win when they take on Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ahead of this one, the Sky Blues have actually lost their last two visits to Villa Park, failing to win any of their last three outings there, despite a sequence of five successive victories in Birmingham beforehand.

If the Citizens are to get back to winning ways in the Midlands, should Guardiola boldly drop one of his most loyal disciples and start a forgotten star instead?

Bernardo Silva's Manchester City importance

Just in case anyone was doubting Bernardo Silva’s importance to Manchester City, he was on target at Estadio de la Cerámica on Tuesday night, heading home the second goal that rather cemented three Champions League points against Villarreal.

This was his 418th appearance for the club, only 13 men have ever made more, 18 behind Willie Donachie and his namesake David Silva, who sit ninth and tenth on the all-time list.

Bernardo himself has now scored 73 goals and registered 74 assists for the Sky Blues, while he is the player who has made the most appearances under Guardiola in his entire managerial career, clear of Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and İlkay Gündoğan, all of whom moved on to pastures new this summer.

Still only 31 years old, there are discussions about Silva’s role in the current Man City side, given that he has not started any of the last three Premier League matches, before returning to the lineup in Eastern Spain on Tuesday.

So, the Portuguese international may well once again be left on a Premier League bench come Sunday afternoon, given that Guardiola needs to make space in his team for another sensation.

Guardiola must start Manchester City's 'freak'

So far this season, Manchester City have been rather over-reliant on the goals of Erling Braut Håland; his tally of 15 goals already accounts for 65% of their entire tally across the Premier League and Champions League.

However, could the return of Omar Marmoush help ease this attacking burden?

The Egyptian suffered a knee injury during Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou in September, so had not been seen since, until coming off the bench for a brief four-minute cameo at El Madrigal on Tuesday.

His return is certainly a major boost considering that last season, for two different clubs, he was one of the most in-form strikers in Europe, as the table below documents.

Kylian Mbappé

Real Madrid

31

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

29

Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona

27

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

26

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

25

Alexander Isak

Newcastle United

23

Erling Braut Håland

Manchester City

22

Omar Marmoush

Frankfurt & Man City

22

Ousmane Dembélé

Paris Saint-Germain

21

Serhou Guirassy

Borussia Dortmund

21

Patrik Schick

Bayer Leverkusen

21

Ante Budimir

Osasuna

21

Mason Greenwood

Olympique Marseille

21

As the table documents, only five men across Europe’s top five leagues scored more league goals than Marmoush last season, an impressive feat considering the Egyptian changed clubs in January.

Shortly after arriving at the Etihad, he scored a hat-trick against Newcastle, before securing the Premier League Goal of the Season award courtesy of this absolute rocket against Bournemouth in May.

On top of his £59m transfer fee, Marmoush is the club’s third-highest earner, currently pocketing a reported £295k-per-week, behind only the aforementioned Håland and Silva.

Journalist António Mango labelled him a “well-rounded… freak”, international teammate Mohamed Salah heralded him as a “great player with a lot of talent”, while former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger described him as “mobile” and “powerful”, impressed by the “special” talent’s adaptability and versatility.

Marmoush is not only a goalscorer, proving during his short Manchester City career so far that he can get involved in build-up play as if he was a world-renowned attacking midfielder, while also capable of running in behind, thereby creating space for others.

Well, on Sunday, Guardiola will come up against an Aston Villa side who will press ferociously at times and defend with a high line but, as noted by Ali Tweedale of Opta’s the Analyst, Unai Emery’s team are susceptible to transitions, often caught out by opposition counter-attacks due to the fact that their offside trap, once the best in Europe, is no longer watertight.

Thus, while Bernardo offers technical brilliance, this may be a game best suited to Guardiola’s direct attackers.

With that in mind, Jérémy Doku and Savinho appear the obvious choices to start out-wide, the latter rewarded for his scintillating display at the Cerámica this week, having looked ‘Leroy Sane-esque’ on the night.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Through the middle, Marmoush should be chosen to complete the attacking trident, getting forward to support Håland in a second striker role, because his profile is best suited to causing the Villans all sorts of problems, and his return could be a serious game-changer in the title race in general.

Man City have Fernandinho 2.0 who's "one of the best players in the world"

Pep Guardiola may have found his new Fernandinho at Manchester City…

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 24, 2025

Stats – Meg Lanning, the ton-making machine and the most successful World Cup captain

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Lanning called an end to a glittering international career where she broke several records, both with the bat and as captain

Sampath Bandarupalli09-Nov-20231 – Meg Lanning signs off as the leading run-getter for Australia in women’s internationals. Lanning’s career tally of 8352 runs is also the fifth-highest for any batter in women’s Internationals.17 – Hundreds by Lanning in international cricket are the most for a woman. Fifteen of those came in ODI cricket, which is also a record. Suzie Bates (12) is the only other batter with ten or more centuries in Women’s ODIs.

5 – Number of World Cup titles as captain for Lanning – four T20 World Cups (2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023) and one ODI World Cup (2022). No other captain (male or female) has won more than two World Cups.Related

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Lanning 'relieved' to have retired after thinking about it for 'quite some time'

'Thank you for what you've done for women's cricket' – The cricketing world reacts to Meg Lanning's retirement

146 – Number of wins for Lanning as Australia’s captain across formats. These are the most matches won as a captain in women’s internationals. Seventy six of those wins came in T20Is, the highest for any captain in the format (men or women).53.51 – Lanning’s batting average in ODIs is the best for any woman with a minimum of 25 innings. Her strike rate of 92.20 is the fifth best in the women’s ODIs (where data is available).45 – Number of balls Lanning needed for her century against New Zealand in 2012 at the North Sydney Oval. It is the fastest-recorded century in women’s ODI cricket. Only two recorded centuries came faster than Lanning’s 45-ball ton until 2012 in men’s or women’s ODIs.10 – The number of ODI hundreds out of her 15 that came while chasing. It is a record in women’s ODIs and twice the next best Amy Satterthwaite (5). All those ten centuries by Lanning have come in successful run-chases.Lanning holds two of the top five highest individual scores in women’s T20Is•Getty Images13 – Centuries as captain for Lanning across the three formats, also a record in women’s internationals. She scored 6409 runs as a captain, bettered by only Charlotte Edwards (6728) and Mithali Raj (6546).1 – Lanning won 24 consecutive ODIs as a captain between 2018 and 2021, the longest winning streak for any captain in ODI cricket (across men or women). She also holds the record for most consecutive internationals won as a captain – 21 between March 2014 and July 2015.

3405 – Runs by Lanning in T20Is are the second-most by any woman in this format, behind Suzie Bates’ 4021 runs. Lanning is also the only Australian woman to score 3000-plus T20I runs.2 – Centuries for Lanning in T20Is. She is one of the nine women to score two or more T20Is tons. Lanning scored 126 against Ireland in 2014 and 133* against England in 2019. Both were the highest individual score in women’s T20Is at that point.18y 288d – Lanning’s age when she scored 104* against England in the 2011 Perth ODI. She is the youngest player to score a century for Australia in International cricket.

152* – Lanning’s highest score for Australia came against Sri Lanka in the 2017 World Cup game in Bristol. It is the highest individual score in a run-chase in women’s ODIs. Lanning has three out of the top five individual scores in the women’s ODI chases.35* Lanning did not lose in her last 35 matches as captain of Australia. The last defeat under her captaincy came against India in an ODI in September 2021. It is by far the longest unbeaten streak for any captain in International cricket, as the next best was 21 for Clive Lloyd (1980-1981) and Viv Richards (1983-1985).

Xabi Alonso responds to Liverpool speculation as Real Madrid boss faces sacking rumours while pressure mounts on Arne Slot amid Mohamed Salah relationship breakdown

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has left the door open to a potential future move to Liverpool, admitting that while he is focused on his current role, "you never know what can happen" in football, amid intense speculation linking him with a return to Anfield. The coach's response comes amid claims he is in danger of being sacked, while questions have been asked of Arne Slot's future at the Merseyside club.

Alonso and Slot under pressure

The former Reds midfielder has found himself at the centre of a managerial merry-go-round rumour mill. While Slot is currently feeling the heat at Liverpool due to his side languishing in 10th place in the Premier League despite significant summer investment, Alonso is navigating his own storm at the Santiago Bernabeu. Following a chaotic 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo, the Spaniard is facing a defining week, with a Champions League clash against Manchester City looming.

However, despite the immediate pressure in the Spanish capital, questions about a potential switch to the Premier League have persisted. Alonso reportedly turned down the chance to replace Jurgen Klopp in order to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, before eventually taking the Madrid job in the summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMadrid boss addresses his future

When asked directly about the possibility of managing in England, specifically regarding a return to his former club Liverpool, Alonso offered a tantalising response that stopped short of a full denial.

"For sure, it's something to consider with the English clubs, with my former club," Alonso admitted. "But for now, this is the place that I want to be, and in the future, you never know what can happen."

Slot's situation grew even worse as the coach finds himself in a dressing room rift involving talisman Mohamed Salah, who sensationally criticised the Dutchman after their 3-3 draw against Leeds at the weekend. Alonso remained diplomatic, however, when asked about the situation.

"Those are decisions they have made at Liverpool. No doubt we're missing a lot of details. So it's not for me to give an opinion on that," he said.

Two giants in crisis

The comments come at a fascinating juncture for both clubs. Liverpool's title defence has crumbled spectacularly, leaving Slot on the brink. The Dutchman's relationship with Salah has fractured, with the Egyptian forward omitted from the squad to face Inter this week.

Meanwhile, at Madrid, Alonso is fighting to keep his own tenure on track. The defeat to Celta has left Los Blancos trailing leaders Barcelona by four points, and reports suggest a heavy defeat to Manchester City could be fatal for his prospects.

"The next one is the best one. I think I know myself, and the fans know Manchester City very well from facing them many times in recent years, but I see it as an opportunity more than anything," Alonso said.

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Alonso also touched upon his own player management challenges, drawing a parallel between the Salah situation and his handling of Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward reacted poorly to being substituted against Barcelona earlier in the season, a flashpoint that Alonso insisted he would not handle differently in hindsight.

"I would not change anything," he noted, reinforcing his stance on discipline – a trait that German legend Lothar Matthaus recently highlighted as a potential point of friction with Madrid's creative stars.

"It’s not about changing, it’s about adapting. I knew pretty much what it was, that’s why Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world. You need to adapt to it, to learn from it. After you have to perform, you have to have that interaction with the players. Some days are good, some days are not so good. But from every game, we take steps, and we are in this position now, and we have to face it with good energy, positivity, that’s the only way to turn it around."

Devine upstages Capsey as Scorchers seal victory

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The NZ allrounder followed figures of 2 for 16 with 46 off 24 balls

AAP27-Nov-2025Alice Capsey’s four wickets – including three in an over – were not enough as Sophie Devine led Perth Scorchers to a WBBL win over Melbourne Renegades.Scorchers survived a dramatic collapse to beat Renegades by four wickets and deny the home side a share of top spot on the WBBL ladder.Chasing 150 on Thursday at Junction Oval, Scorchers were cruising at 116 for 2 in the 13th over.After taking two wickets, Sophie Devine had been promoted to open and her blazing innings had put Scorchers in what appeared to be an impregnable position.But first Georgia Wareham bowled Maddy Darke for 15 and two balls later, Alice Capsey had opener Beth Mooney stumped for 41. The English spinner stunningly snared another two wickets in the same over to leave the Scorchers in major strife at 118 for 6.But Freya Kemp (18 not out) and Lilly Mills (15 not out) stopped the rot, guiding Perth to 151 for 6 with eight balls left.Capsey snared 4 for 14 from her three excellent overs of offspin.Earlier, Devine had taken the key wicket of Renegades No.3 Sophie Molineux for only 5 before Renegades were all out on the last ball of their 20 overs.The New Zealand star then moved up the order and belted the Renegades attack around Junction Oval, hitting six fours and two sixes in her knock of 46 from just 24 balls that ultimately proved the difference.The Renegades would have joined Hobart Hurricanes at the top of the ladder with a win. Instead, they stayed third ahead of Saturday’s big local derby against the second-placed Melbourne Stars.Chloe Ainsworth claimed two wickets in the 13th over of the Renegades’ innings and they were struggling at 94 for 7.Nicola Faltum and Sarah Coyte then had a quickfire stand of 46 for the eighth wicket that meant the home side posted a competitive score.Coyte was run-out for 24 from 18 balls and Fulton top-scored with an unbeaten 41 off 28 deliveries, with six fours.Ainsworth returned a miserly 2 for 17 from her four overs and Amy Edgar also claimed two wickets.

Northern Superchargers officially renamed Sunrisers Leeds

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Sun Group, an Indian media conglomerate, had completed a £100 million takeover of the franchise earlier this year

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2025Northern Superchargers have been renamed ‘Sunrisers Leeds’ by their new owners, one of three anticipated name changes in the Hundred ahead of the 2026 season.The Sun Group, an Indian media conglomerate based in Chennai, completed a £100 million takeover of the Leeds-based franchise earlier this year. Yorkshire opted to sell their 51% stake in the Superchargers on top of the ECB’s 49%, meaning that the Sun Group owns 100% of the company’s shares.The new owners have now filed documents to Companies House in the UK, which confirm that the Superchargers name will be discontinued. The new name ‘Sunrisers Leeds’ falls in line with their other franchise brands: Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20.

Two further name changes are anticipated in the Hundred, with the league’s eight teams now under private ownership. Manchester Originals are set to become Manchester Super Giants, after Lancashire’s deal with the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. Oval Invincibles, meanwhile, are expected to be renamed MI London when Reliance Industries Limited’s minority investment is finalised.Sanjay Patel, Yorkshire’s chief executive, earlier this year said that the club would use the proceeds from the sale to start clearing their significant debts. “The deal puts the club in a strong financial position, which has been far from the case for many years here, and we can start looking towards a very bright future,” Patel said.Superchargers’ women won the Hundred this year, beating Southern Brave in the final at Lord’s, while their men were knocked out in the eliminator. The men will return under a new head coach as well as a new name next year, with Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori linked with the vacancy opened up by Andrew Flintoff’s departure.The ECB announced last week that the Hundred will move from a draft system to a player auction for recruitment from next year, with a substantial increase in salaries and an extra overseas player per side, both designed to boost star power. The 2026 season is expected to run from July 21 to August 16.

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