Arsenal have now made progress in their pursuit of a “magician”, having reached an agreement in principle with his club, according to reporter Sebastien Vidal.
Gunners set sights on new forward after Gyokeres
The Gunners finally got a deal for Viktor Gyokeres over the line on Sunday, and Mikel Arteta is clearly delighted with the signing, saying: “Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels.
“He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.”
It will be a real relief to have signed a striker, but Andrea Berta and co have no plans to stop there, given that Arteta was left a little short on options out wide at times last season too, and they are currently working to get another forward through the door.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze is among the main targets, with reliable reporter Ben Jacobs revealing the England international is “keen” on a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, and initial talks have now been held with the Eagles.
There has now been a further development in Arsenal’s pursuit of Eze, with journalist Sebastien Vidal revealing they are now “pushing” to get a deal over the line, having reached an agreement in principle with Palace.
The Gunners plan to pay £30m for the £27-year-old up front, and they are currently negotiating the time scale of when they will pay the rest of the installments, with the Eagles keen to receive full payment within two years.
£265k-per-week Arsenal star approves exit as club prepare bid after talks
The north Londoners may need to trim their squad.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 26, 2025 "Magician" Eze could be yet another fantastic signing
A deal for the Palace star is unlikely to be cheap, with the attacker’s current employers keen to receive £68m, but there are plenty of signs he could be yet another fantastic signing, in what has been an exciting window for the north Londoners.
Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has lauded the Englishman as a “magician” in the past, and he was regularly among the goals for Palace last season, providing 25 attacking contributions across all competitions.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
34
8
8
FA Cup
5
4
1
EFL Cup
4
2
2
By far the Greenwich-born forward’s most important goal came in the FA Cup final, scoring the winner against Manchester City, which meant Crystal Palace lifted major silverware for the first time in their history.
As such, Eze is clearly a big-game player, and it is exciting news that Arsenal are now making progress towards sealing a deal.
Leeds United played their first game of pre-season last weekend when they faced Manchester United in what turned out to be a 0-0 draw between the two Premier League sides.
There was a chance to see some new faces, as Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sean Longstaff, Jaka Biijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Gabriel Gudmundsson all featured, as well as some old ones.
Jack Harrison has returned from his two-year-long loan spell at Everton and was included in the starting line-up to face the Red Devils, which turned out to be a less-than-popular decision among supporters.
Reporter Graham Smyth claimed that there were boos from the Leeds fans when Harrison touched the ball after just five minutes, and that there were more boos when he was stood over a free-kick ten minutes later.
After the game, Daniel Farke told BBC Sport: “Jack has many Premier League appearances and we would be stupid if we didn’t want to use that. It is a bit tricky if you have a couple of years away but that was a decision before my time.
“Right now he is back with us. He is a great guy, a hard worker and very reliable. It is up to him to win the confidence and trust back.”
Why Leeds should move on from Jack Harrison
Despite Farke opening the door for him to work his way into the team ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, Leeds should be looking to move on from the former Manchester City man.
Ultimately, the Whites need players who can make a big impact at the top end of the pitch to help them avoid an instant relegation back to the Championship next term.
Harrison’s form in the last two seasons in the Premier League for the Toffees does not suggest that he is likely to provide what they are looking for in the final third, as he consistently struggled in front of goal on Merseyside.
The left-footed dud scored three goals and provided three assists in 29 matches in the top-flight for Everton in his first year at Goodison Park, before a dismal return of one goal and zero assists in 34 matches during the 2024/25 campaign.
xG
3.52
Top 43%
Goals
1
Bottom 17%
xG on target
1.07
Bottom 24%
Shots on target
7
Bottom 33%
Assists
0
Bottom 3%
Dribble success rate
35%
Bottom 19%
Dispossessed
41 times
Bottom 15%
As you can see in the table above, Harrison had plenty of chances to add to his solitary goal, with 3.52 xG, but underperformed as a finisher for the Toffees.
Everton winger Jack Harrison
These statistics do not suggest that he is likely to be the left winger the Whites need to replace Manor Solomon and to lead them to safety in the Premier League, which is why he should be sent packing by a star the club are reportedly keen on signing.
Leeds chasing deal for new winger
According to Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth, Leeds United remain interested in a deal to sign Feyenoord forward Igor Paixao this summer.
The journalist claims that the Championship champions are still chasing a swoop to bring the Brazilian attacker to Elland Road ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
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Smyth adds that he has yet to get a call to suggest that the 25-year-old winger is set to sign for Marseille, which has left the door open for Leeds to continue their pursuit of the impressive star.
The latest from Voetbal International is that Marseille are yet to reach an agreement on a transfer fee with Feyenoord, and their final offer for the attacker is due to be submitted on Tuesday.
It had been claimed that the French side were closing in on a deal of around £30m to sign the Eredivisie sensation, but it now remains to be seen how much Roberto De Zerbi’s side are going to offer with their latest approach.
Why Leeds should sign Igor Paixao
Leeds should push to win the race for the £30m-rated star in the coming days because he has the quality on the left flank to send Harrison packing, which may come as good news to any supporters who felt the need to boo the English winger, as harsh as that was, last weekend.
As aforementioned, the Whites and Farke ultimately need quality in the attacking positions and Harrison seems unlikely to provide what they need, whilst Paixao has the potential to be a match-winning player for the club.
His form for Feyenoord in the 2024/25 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to be a hugely influential figure for Leeds next season, as a winger who can score and create goals at an impressive rate.
The Brazilian star, who was hailed as “explosive” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, racked up 16 goals and ten assists in 34 appearances in the Eredivisie, but he also showcased his quality in the Champions League for anyone doubting the quality of the Dutch top-flight.
xG
0.97
Top 46%
Goals
2
Top 35%
xG on target
1.89
Top 28%
xA
1.39
Top 24%
Assists
4
Top 4%
Chances created
20
Top 6%
As you can see in the table above, Paixao registered more assists (four) in the Champions League last season than Harrison has managed (three) in the last two Premier League campaigns combined.
When you add in his 26 goal contributions in the Eredivisie on top of his exceptional performances in Europe’s premier cup competition, the £30m-rated star appears to be a huge upgrade on the English attacker.
Igor Paixao for Feyenoord.
This is why Leeds should send Harrison packing by agreeing a deal with Feyenoord for Paixao, who has the quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals to regularly impact matches to win vital points for the team.
Whilst he is unproven in the Premier League, the Brazilian sensation’s form in the Champions League shows that he can perform against the very best teams in Europe, which suggests that he has a good chance of making an impact in one of Europe’s major leagues – the Premier League.
Farke's new Buendia: Leeds are now pushing to sign "magical" £26m star
Leeds United are interested in signing a midfielder who would be Daniel Farke’s new version of Emiliano Buendia.
ByDan Emery Jul 22, 2025
Therefore, Leeds should allow Harrison to move on, should he find a new club, this summer and attempt to replace him by signing Paixao to improve Farke’s team.
Leeds United were very much the entertainers in the Championship last season as they romped home to the title in style.
In total, the free-flowing Whites would fire home an emphatic 95 strikes across the 46-game campaign, with Joel Piroe also winning the second-tier’s top goalscorer accolade when contributing to a sizeable 19 of that high amount.
Still, the newly promoted side will know the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether, resulting in some proven top-flight attackers now appearing on their ever-growing shopping list, as their goalscoring heroics in the EFL are pushed to the side.
Leeds consider move for new number ten
At one end of the pitch, Farke and co appear to have finally sealed a replacement for Illan Meslier, in the form of Lyon’s Lucas Perri, with the 27-year-old set to sign for a fee of around £13m from the Ligue 1 outfit.
At the other end, Leeds have already added Lucas Nmecha to their forward options, with the German attacker already helping himself to a pre-season goal for his brand new team.
But, with his sketchy injury record, it would be foolish to halt the striker additions there, as Rodrigo Muniz continues to be talked about as one of the Whites’ priorities up top in winning themselves a Premier League-ready performer.
Rodrigo Muniz Premier League stats – Fulham
Muniz does have a respectable 17 goals next to his name in the tough division for Fulham, but it remains to be seen what amount Farke and Co. would be willing to fork out to land the clinical Brazilian, with £50m coming in as his reported, eye-watering valuation.
Alongside securing a fresh striker, Leeds will also be on the hunt for an exciting number ten to complement the striker makeover, with Bilal El Khannouss an option they’re now considering in this department from recently relegated Leicester City.
Leeds-centric journalist Beren Cross has revealed that development amid interest in the Moroccan playmaker also coming from Sunderland and Aston Villa in the Premier League.
This level of interest in the £22.5m ace’s services might make it hard for Leeds to sneak a deal over the line, but if they want a promising attacking talent that could set up Muniz with even more chances, they should persist in trying to bring the up-and-coming youngster to West Yorkshire.
Why El Khannouss could be a dream for Muniz
Muniz’s 17 strikes for the Cottagers in total look like a reasonable amount of goals for a striker to have next to his name on first inspection.
However, that amount suddenly holds more weight when you consider eight of those strikes were hammered in Premier League action last season from just eight starts, with one of his Fulham teammates in Willian, even declaring him as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” off the back of this blistering form.
An extended run in the team under Daniel Farke could well help Muniz become even more potent, with the likes of Daniel James no doubt chomping at the bit to supply him with golden opportunities, alongside El Khannouss if he ditches the King Power Stadium for Elland Road.
Even as Leicester fell through the relegation trapdoor last season, El Khannouss still managed to stand out as a thorn in the side of many top-flight outfits, with his promising output of two goals and three assists only telling the basic, surface-level story of an impressive individual campaign.
Indeed, if the 21-year-old had the potency of Muniz next to him in the Midlands, his assist count would be sitting at a far heftier amount, with a steep eight big chances created by the “sensational” El Khannouss – as he was glowingly labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – when donning Foxes blue.
Four goals and 14 assists would also come the slick midfielder’s way when performing out of his skin for Genk before Leicester came calling, culminating in Miguel Ribeiro – who coached the Moroccan sensation in Belgium – further lauding the 21-year-old for possessing “eyes in his back” regarding his split-second ability to carve out an opening.
Both signings – as well as that of Perri – could be key, therefore, as Leeds attempt to play with confidence and swagger in the attacking areas in the Premier League, over receding into their shell as relegation candidates.
Better than Paixao: Very good chance "unplayable" £20m star signs for Leeds
Leeds United are weighing up a move for this phenomenal £20m ace.
He will continue to be available for domestic cricket as well as the Mzansi Super League
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2019Hashim Amla has retired from all international cricket. He will continue to play domestic cricket, and is also available for the upcoming Mzansi Super League 2019.Amla’s decision to step from the international game marks the end of a career that lasted nearly 15 years, with his Test debut having come in November 2004, in India. He made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and he made his last appearance for South Africa at the recent World Cup.He bid goodbye to the international stage with an unbeaten 80 in South Africa’s nine-wicket win against Sri Lanka, but he had an underwhelming World Cup otherwise with 203 runs overall in seven innings. Nevertheless, Amla leaves several South African limited-overs records in his wake. His 27 ODI hundreds are the most by a South African, and 24 of those came in victories. He was also the fastest batsman to 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 runs in ODI cricket. He ended his ODI career with 8,113 runs at an average of 49.46, with 39 half-centuries to go with his 27 tons.His Test successes were even more illustrious, with Amla amassing 9,282 runs at 46.64 with 28 centuries. He was the first South African to score a triple hundred in Test cricket, and finished as his country’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, second only to Jacques Kallis.Amla also has the highest Test scores for his country against England, India and the West Indies, and the highest against Australia in the post-unity period. Further highlights include his making 490 runs while being dismissed only once in the two-match Test series in India in 2010, scoring centuries in both innings of the second match to follow his unbeaten double century in the first.Two years later, he earned Man of the Series honours in both the Test and ODI series in England. His innings of 196 against Australia at Perth in December 2012 won him the Man of the Match award and was an important contribution to the Proteas’ series-winning performance, as well as helping Amla to become the No. 1 ranked batsman in the world in Test cricket in 2013.During a brief spell as captain he led the Proteas to a rare Test series win in Sri Lanka, and was named SA Cricketer of the Year in 2010, and again in 2013. While his last Test match saw him score 0 and 32 as South Africa lost 2-0 to Sri Lanka at home in February, and poor form had taken a little of the gloss off his numbers over a difficult final year in Test cricket, Amla leaves the international arena with his reputation for being the classiest, calmest man on the field intact.”Firstly, all Glory and thanks to the Almighty for granting me this Proteas journey which has been nothing but a joy and privilege,” Amla said in a statement announcing his international retirement on Thursday. “I learnt many lessons during this incredible ride, made many friends and most importantly shared in the love of a brotherhood called #proteafire.”I would like to thank my parents for their prayers, love and support, it is their shadow over me that enabled me to play for years under the Protea sun. Also, my family, friends and agent, my team mates and every member of the support staff throughout this incredible journey. A heartfelt thank you to every one of you!”The fans for energizing me when times were tough, and for celebrating with me when we succeeded together. Siyabonga South Africa!”And, of course, a very special thanks to the President and the Board at Cricket South Africa – not forgetting the Chief Executive, Mr Thabang Moroe, and his administrative team. I really appreciate all the opportunities and am truly grateful.”Love and peace.”
Chelsea and Everton are reportedly among six Premier League teams who might be forced to sell players quickly due to profit and sustainability rules.
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Six clubs face PSR violationMust sell before June 30 to complyTransfer window will open on June 14WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester are all grappling with the imperative to offload key players before June 30 – the cutoff date for Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) evaluation. Each club's specific financial threshold remains confidential; hence the selling needs of each entity will vary to keep their losses below the £105m mark over the last three years.
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Clubs failing to meet the spending regulations could face severe sanctions, including points deductions. Last season, Everton experienced the repercussions firsthand, being docked points on two occasions for different breaches, resulting in a total loss of eight points. Similarly, Nottingham Forest faced a four-point deduction for a single breach. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to financial rules and the dire consequences of failing to do so.
DID YOU KNOW?
Selling players is the most straightforward and immediate method for clubs to boost their income and comply with regulations. While new commercial deals are an alternative, they often take longer to negotiate and finalise. Player transfers, on the other hand, can provide a quick influx of cash, allowing clubs to balance their books more effectively.
GettyWHAT NEXT?
The impending June 30 deadline is likely to create a flurry of activity in the transfer market. Clubs needing to sell players quickly may accept lower fees than they would under less pressured circumstances. This could present opportunities for other clubs looking to strengthen their squads at a lower cost. The interplay between financial necessity and market dynamics will be a key storyline as the transfer window unfolds.
Tim Paine not 100 percent sold on new rule governing player withdrawals
Daniel Brettig in Southampton21-Jul-2019Australia are coached by a former batsman in Justin Langer who had to have a doorway physically blocked by his captain Ricky Ponting in order to prevent him re-entering the field after a serious blow to the head.In a famous episode, Langer was barred from coming out to bat at the end of a thrilling fourth innings chase against South Africa at the Wanderers in 2006, ultimately achieved by Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz with eight wickets down. Langer, despite serious concussion, doggedly put the pads on with 10 runs still to win.”To tell the truth I don’t know what I would have done,” Ponting said at the time. “If we needed two to win and he had to go out and be on strike I was probably going to have to declare or do something like that, which would have been pretty hard. He said to me then he wouldn’t have spoken to me ever again as long as he was alive. If it comes to that again, I am just going to have to knock him out.”He was probably only ever going to go out there if he could stand at the non-striker’s end. We couldn’t risk or afford him having to face any deliveries. Medically over the last couple of days his situation hasn’t changed. It was going to take me and probably a few other blokes to keep him in the dressing room if it had got down to that.”That being the case, it is not so surprising that the captain Tim Paine is less than 100 percent sold on the concept of players being withdrawn and substituted from Test matches due to concussion. Even if Cricket Australia and its sports science division have led the way on pushing for concussion substitutes, ever since the death of Phillip Hughes highlighted the vulnerability of the head in 2014.”I know the rule has come in. I think you’ll be hard-pressed to make guys pull out of a Test match,” Paine said in Southampton. “It’s going to be interesting to see how it works.”We’re all for player safety and improving that space. But it’s new to me as anyone and it’ll be interesting to see how it’s worked and policed. I find it quite fascinating that you can replace a guy halfway through a game. Again, we’ll wait and see how that works.”Approval of concussion substitutes for the Ashes as part of the inaugural world Test Championship was a keynote decision at the ICC annual conference in London following the World Cup.However, it left a few questions open that remain to be answered: will each Test venue have a demonstrably independent doctor on hand to determine concussions at arm’s length from either team? Will decisions be enforceable irrespective of variable symptoms? Will teams either home or touring stock themselves with additional squad members just in case?Whatever the answers, the area will be a source of interest throughout the Ashes, given the batteries of pace assembled on either side. Certainly Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will be eager to match the pace of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins by series end, the better for Australia to prepare by way of a bareknuckle internal trial in Southampton this week.”I think it will be a proper game, Paine said. “Both sides will be looking to win and both sides will have individual players wanting to do really well to press the final case for Ashes selection. We certainly don’t expect it peter out on the second innings or play around with a run chase or anything like that. At the moment it’s a fair dinkum game of cricket and that’s been made really clear.”Over the years the opposition in tour games has, I wouldn’t say it’s got worse but I don’t think opposition cricket boards have helped each other prepare as much as they used to. You’ve had to find different ways in your preparation to make sure everyone is ready to go for Test match intensity. And obviously a series of Ashes magnitude we thought it was a great idea and as close to a Test match as we think we can get it’s a perfect preparation.”Usman Khawaja will be the one name missing from the game, as he recovers from a hamstring strain, although Paine left open the possibility that the Test No. 3 may get a bat towards the end of a self-regulated fixture. There is no question as yet regarding his availability for the first Test in Birmingham.”I don’t think he’s in serious doubt. He’s in a rehab stage so the decision has been made that he won’t at this stage,” Paine said. “There is a possibility, maybe, if something were to happen to someone else he might be right for the back end of the game. But we expect him to be fully fit and available for selection for the first Test.”
After three trophy-laden years with Lyon, which included a Champions League title, the former France international has big boots to fill in London
As Emma Hayes prepares to take charge of her first game as the new head coach of the United States women's national team this week, her successor at Chelsea has finally been announced, with Sonia Bompastor to take the reins after bidding farewell to Lyon with defeat in the Women's Champions League final at the weekend, that her second appearance in the occasion as a coach in just three seasons.
The arrival of the former France international has been expected for some time, as Bompastor impressed the Blues' hierarchy with the work she has done at OL since assuming the role of head coach in 2021. In the three years since, the 43-year-old has won a trio of league titles, overseen two triumphs in the Trophee des Championnes, lifted the Coupe de France and reached two Champions League finals, winning one.
Bompastor, the only woman to win the Champions League as both a player and a coach, has quite the CV – but what makes her a good fit for Chelsea as they move into this new era? GOAL picks out six reasons why the Frenchwoman can be a successful replacement for Hayes…
Getty ImagesInherits a top-level squad
First of all, Bompastor is walking into a team that has been winning trophies for the past nine years, including a fifth-successive league title in May, so it's pretty well set-up. Chelsea is a club that invests, it is committed to its women's team and it has been left recommendations by Hayes which she hopes it will act on to keep that success coming.
But it also has a playing squad which has been built with the future in mind, and that will be a huge help for Bompastor as she settles in as there is not going to be a huge transition period in terms of personnel. Chelsea boast a great blend of experienced stars, players approaching their primes, youngsters who have shown great things at the top level and even younger players who are currently following their development plans well, with the aim of getting into the first-team.
It's a versatile squad, too, so while Bompastor will likely want to add a few pieces over this summer transfer window and beyond, she should have the players at her disposal that fit into the way she wants to work.
AdvertisementGettyTrusts in youth
Bompastor fits into that future planning Chelsea have been doing because of her track record with young players, too. The club has put real emphasis on signing bright, teenage talent in recent years, and the new boss should be able to pick up where Hayes left off in bringing them through.
Before being appointed as Lyon's head coach, Bompastor spent eight years managing the club's academy, and so it has been no surprise to see her give young players their chance in the first team over the last three years, either by bringing talents like Alice Sombath and Liana Joseph through the system, or trusting in those brought in at young ages from elsewhere, such as Vicki Becho and Melchie Dumornay.
GettyCan manage the big stars
On the flip side, Bompastor also has experience from her time in Lyon of managing those superstars and the egos that inevitably come from doing so. While it might look easy from the outside to have a squad packed full of established internationals, as it provides incredible depth and experience, it can also be tough when you are benching them or managing minutes.
Bompastor's success as a player and a manager, which has seen her lift three Champions League titles, will command the respect of the dressing room from the off as well, which makes it easier for managers to have players accept their decisions.
GettyAdaptable styles
Bompastor and Hayes are different in many ways, but one similarity is how flexible they can both be with their game plans. While both like to have the lion's share of possession, they are humble enough to recognise when there are match-ups that would be better approached with a more counter-attacking mindset that involves restricting an opponent in a certain way or pressing them high.
Chelsea did not have a non-negotiable style of play during Hayes' 12 years, just a staff that found ways to dominate and win, and Bompastor doesn't arrive with some overwhelming philosophy that she needs lots of time to implement, though she will have ideas she would like to put in place. It means she doesn't need particular players to fit into her team either, but rather footballers who are versatile, which Chelsea have plenty of. It should all help the players and their new coach work together well, without major delays.
All Mitchell Starc wanted was some eggs to start his morning, but another hotel guest wanted to share a few words with him
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2019Mitchell Starc’s day started with a sledge over breakfast and finished with him having notched another entry in his World Cup hall of fame with a delivery for the ages to castle Ben Stokes.Hours before Starc speared the swinging yorker under Stokes’ bat, to remove England’s last hope of chasing down Australia’s total, he had his morning briefly interrupted at the team hotel by a guest who had a few words to share about some strapping on his elbow and his choice of food: three poached eggs.WATCH on Hotstar (India only) – England’s wicketsStarc’s wife, Alyssa Healy, mentioned the breakfast chat on Twitter – thanking the person in question, later confirmed to be English, for firing him up – and Starc laughed it off after the match as all “good fun” saying he was “still half-asleep” when it happened.”Someone was having a go at my strapping tape and having a go at my bowling,” he said. “I was just hungry. He was just having a laugh at my strapping tape and what I was eating. It’s all been good fun throughout the tour around the crowds and at the hotel. It’s just part and parcel of a World Cup.”
High fives to the English bloke who fired up Mitch with some banter at breaky….. onya legend!!
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) June 25, 2019
It was no surprise that Starc was in jovial mood having bagged 4 for 43 to take his World Cup haul to 19 wickets at 18.26 and a strike-rate of 20.4. He is now eighth on the list of World Cup wicket-takers with 41 wickets in just 15 matches at an average of 13.92, comfortably ahead of those above him in the list, and won’t have bowled many better deliveries than the ball to remove Stokes four years after the pair had been involved in Stokes’ obstructing the field dismissal on this ground.”We had a bit of a laugh that I think the last time we played one another at this ground was that one that came back at him,” Starc said. “He’s a fantastic player and he’s one of their key batters. Watching that game against Sri Lanka, he nearly got them home there with that 80-odd he scored. We knew while he was batting that we couldn’t just rest up, we couldn’t cruise. We had to try and take that wicket [and] fortunately got one through the gate but he was batting fantastically well today.”I’ve got a pretty simple one-day plan and it’s all about execution. To execute that ball exactly how I wanted to was pleasing for me, but just pleasing to get the result.”Australia are now safely in the semi-finals with two group games remaining, the next of which is on Saturday against local rivals New Zealand who are unbeaten in the tournament.”They are playing some fantastic cricket, they have really gone under the radar,” Starc said. “No one has spoken too much about them and they keep winning games. They’ve got a strong side batting and bowling, Kane Williamson is their linchpin in the middle there and they’ve got bowlers who swing the ball.”It’s another big game for us, obviously we have cemented our spot in the semis now, we want to try and finish as high as we can and play some really good cricket headed towards the finals series. They’re very important for us.”
Cristiano Ronaldo united with Neymar and had a laugh with Anthony Joshua as they prepared to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
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Sporting icons sat together by boxing ringFront-row seats to Fury vs UsykNeymar also spotted as Saudi Arabia eventWHAT HAPPENED?
Two sporting icons collided as Ronaldo took his seat next to boxing heavyweight Joshua ringside ahead of the highly-anticipated Fury vs Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has become a second home for both athletes in recent years, with Ronaldo playing his football at Al-Nassr while Joshua has fought several times in Riyadh. The former Real Madrid star was also spotted chatting to Al-Hilal star Neymar.
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Both stars are proving to be a huge draw for Saudi Arabia as they continue to grow their influence in the sporting world. Ronaldo remains the cover star for the Saudi Pro League while Joshua has returned to his best form in the boxing ring and could face the winner of the Fury vs Usyk fight at some point in the next year.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO AND AJ?
Ronaldo is due to close out the SPL season by the end of May. Al-Nassr have two games left to play against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad. Joshua, is expected to return to the ring in September and face the winner of winner ofDaniel Dubois' fight against Filip Hrgovic on June 1.
Jurgen Klopp called it time on his stint with Liverpool earlier this year and the German has revealed his plans for the future.
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Klopp says an emotional goodbye to LiverpoolTargeted by multiple top clubs for moveReiterates that he will take a hiatus from managementGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
On Sunday evening, Klopp got the farewell of a king from Liverpool players and fans at Anfield as he led the side for the last time during their 2-0 win over Wolves. During his departure announcement, the German had already made it clear that he would not be joining another club at least for another season as he wanted some much-needed rest from football.
AdvertisementWHAT KLOPP SAID
Speaking to the media, Klopp said [via ESPN]: "I don't know exactly why nobody believes I probably will not be a manager again. But I understand because obviously, it seems to be a drug – it looks like that because everybody comes back and everyone works until they are 70-something.
"I always had the idea that I would not do that that long. Look, other people are smarter, other people can do it in different ways. I have to be all-in, I have to be the spark, I have to be the energy, I have to be all these kinds of things and I'm empty. That's it.
"My biggest worry today was that [goalkeeper coach] John Achterberg was coughing all the time next to me and I thought I would wake up and I'm ill because he did his coughing in my direction!
"I have to start with the rest now and then we will see. But it's not now that I feel already and [think about] maybe the next opportunity.
"You only have to look outside which clubs are obviously available and stuff like this. There will be opportunities, but I don't sit here and think, 'Maybe in a year's time I take that.' At this moment, it's see you later.
"I love all and everything about the club, but it's time for me to go. But look, it's not burning behind me and that gives me a good feeling."
Getty THE BIGGER PICTURE
Klopp will leave the Merseyside club after a gruesome nine years at the helm. The German only won eight trophies during the tenure, however, he leaves the club as a fan favourite having transformed the club's dwindling fortunes to a standing where they can compete for trophies over the coming few years, even without him.
WHAT NEXT FOR KLOPP?
The German had been linked with multiple clubs when he announced his exit, however, he has doubled down on his decision to leave the management course for the foreseeable future and will only make a return if he wishes to some time in the future.