All posts by n8rngtd.top

A £16.8 million player has agreed to join Chelsea, and they've struck a deal with his club, with Todd Boehly now closing in on a tenth summer signing.

Chelsea undergo busy transfer window and squad overhaul

Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham), Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa), Renato Veiga (FC Basel), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City), Marc Guiu (Barcelona), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United) and Filip Jorgensen (Villarreal) have been announced as new Chelsea arrivals this summer, with Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian also set to join in 2025.

Chelsea close to agreeing deal for ace who BlueCo liken to Real Madrid star

The west Londoners think he could replicate a Galactico.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 31, 2024

Aaron Anselmino will complete a move to Chelsea from Boca Juniors as well, after completing his medical at Stamford Bridge this week, making it nine signings in total for new manager Enzo Maresca ahead of his first Premier League season in charge.

However, a lot of the aforementioned players are young and could be deemed as ones for the future, rather than immediate upgrades to Maresca's first team. Only Tosin, Dewsbury-Hall and Jorgensen look likely to go straight into the senior team, so there could still be work to do for co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.

Most notably, Chelsea appear to be making serious moves for a new forward. The west Londoners are in ongoing talks with Napoli over striker Victor Osimhen, and Romelu Lukaku could be used as a makeweight, with the Belgian already agreeing a three-year contract and pay-cut to work under Antonio Conte again (Ben Jacobs).

Meanwhile, Chelsea have also submitted a concrete bid for Hoffenheim striker Maximilian Beier, who could be an alternative to Osimhen if a deal cannot be done for the Nigerian.

There is also the possibility of adding yet more talent to Chelsea's ever-growing pool of young players with real potential. KRC Genk shot-stopper Mike Penders, who made his Jupiler Pro League debut last weekend in a 0-0 draw with Standard Liege, is the latest gem on their radar.

Reports earlier this week claimed Chelsea were closing in on a deal for Penders, who BlueCo believe could be the next Thibaut Courtois. The 19-year-old, who stands at a lofty 6 foot 7, now appears even closer to a Stamford Bridge move.

Penders agrees to join Chelsea as deal reached with Genk

According to HITC, Penders has agreed to join Chelsea and they've reached a deal with Genk. Indeed, the Blues will pay around £16.8 million to get him over the line, and he'll remain on loan at Genk for the 2024/2025 season to aid his development.

With both personal terms and an agreement struck between the clubs, it appears Chelsea are closing in on their tenth capture of the window, with the teenage talent appearing highly-rated by those within the club after the Courtois comparison.

In future seasons, he could well be competing with Jorgensen for the number one spot.

A 97-run opening stand from Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Haris took Zalmi to 193, and Kings never got going in the chase

Danyal Rasool13-Feb-2022
Lahore Qalandars have had a few shocking seasons in the PSL, but as the worst ever PSL side, this Karachi Kings unit would take some beating. Well, they took some beating today against Peshawar Zalmi, the side second from bottom this season, with Zalmi thrashing them by 55 runs. It was illustrative of the gulf between the Kings and every other side this competition, and while Babar Azam’s men still aren’t mathematically out after six defeats on the trot, the math you’d need to do to place them in the top four simply isn’t worth doing.Zalmi’s win was set up by 20-year old opener Mohammad Haris, who played the role of senior partner alongside Hazratullah Zazai. Imad Wasim was smashed off the first ball Haris faced as a signal of intent, and while the Afghan struggled for rhythm, the young Haris was finding the middle of the bat exceptionally cleanly. The duo scampered along to 97 in the first ten overs, with Haris finally dismissed for a 27-ball 49 as he tried to reverse-sweep Mohammad Nabi.The spell of play that followed saw the Kings pull Zalmi back a bit, with the boundaries drying up as the run rate dipped. Qasim Akram struck to remove Zazai for 52 and Shoaib Malik took his time bedding in. But Babar’s bowlers lost their lengths and discipline in the final four overs, and Cutting and Rutherford were there to punish them. A total of 51 came off the final four overs, and all of the Kings’ hopes of reining in the Zalmi innings had been dashed.But if the Kings’ execution with the ball was careless, their approach to the chase was unforgivable. Just 12 were scored off the first three overs, two of them bowled by part-timer Malik, with Sharjeel and Babar mystifyingly shelving aggression and unleashing conservatism instead. The run rate had crept above 10 already; it would never go back into single figures again.Amazingly, still, the Kings barely seemed to play a shot in anger, seemingly content with a thumping defeat as long as they weren’t bowled out. Sharjeel was removed by Salman Irshad early, and while Babar stuck around to score 59, it was little use to his side. He had simply scratched around and taken 46 balls to get there, never once seeming to appreciate the urgency that a serious chase would require. There was even time for farce when, trapped plumb in front, he opted to review, and walked off before the ball tracking even confirmed what had been obvious to the naked eye.He wasn’t the only one at fault, though. The malaise appears to have spread through the side, with Joe Clarke similarly struggling to find any rhythm whatsoever. He nudged and nirdled his way to a run-a-ball 26 before fellow Englishman Liam Livingstone cleaned him up to put him out of his misery.But it didn’t matter, because the Kings had accepted their fate long ago. Zalmi were professional, and that’s all they needed to be against this broken husk of a side. They may not be out yet, but as they hobbled to 138 by the end, you can almost feel they wish they were.

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from Auckland v Sialkot at the Champions League T20

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers09-Oct-2012Fans of the day
By the time the evening game came, the Wanderers crowd had swelled to around 500 and most of them were cheering on Sialkot. It was up to Auckland’s most charismatic player, Lou Vincent, to change that. Vincent has been on a mission to attract more fans to his franchise and has taken to carrying a Justin Bieber doll around to convince young people to come to the cricket. Some of them must have listened because they were at the boundary rope to high-five him every time Auckland took a wicket.Start of the day
After Imran Nazir showed glimpses of good form at the World T20, especially against Bangladesh, Sialkot may have expected him to start explosively in the Champions League. But Kyle Mills had something else to say about that. He kept Nazir in check with three consecutive short-of-a-length deliveries that nipped away from him and kept him stuck in his crease. Mills only give away two runs in that over and it was Auckland who made the impressive opening.Release of the day
Auckland had held Sialkot in a vice grip until someone the batsman found familiar came on to bowl. Azhar Mahmood did not just open the tap, he allowed water to gush out too. His over cost 18 runs and was an assortment of short balls, wide deliveries and ones that did not have much wrong with them, except that Haris Sohail could get hold of them.Double strike

Sarfraz Ahmed invited comparisons with Sohail Tanvir because of his unconventional action and almost lived up to the billing with his two wickets in the 14th over. Auckland were sailing to their target when Azhar Mahmood slapped a short and wide ball to short cover where Shoaib Malik took the catch. With the set batsmen gone, Sarfraz turned it on and beat Colin de Grandhomme’s bat twice with deliveries that angled away. He nicked the third one through to Shakeel Ansar to send jitters into the Auckland line-up.

Tottenham chiefs have now put a "fantastic" mainstay player up for sale this summer, with Ange Postecoglou's rebuild seemingly in full effect.

Spurs agree mass player exits in squad overhaul

Technical director Johan Lange and the wider Spurs recruitment team have already agreed to a host of senior players leaving N17, and it is believed that a few members of Postecoglou's squad could follow them.

Tottenham officials set for talks with £24m forward who troubled van Dijk

He was a nightmare for the Liverpool defender recently.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 23, 2024

Girona are in talks to sign out-of-favour Spurs winger Bryan Gil, according to reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano and Paul O'Keefe, while Richarlison is believed to be attracting interest from Saudi Arabia.

Uncertainty also surrounds the future of Giovani Lo Celso, who was given few opportunities under Postecoglou last term when his preferred starters were fit and available.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille on an initial loan deal, which will become permanent for £17 million next summer (Sky Sports), with the Dane joining Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Tanguy Ndombele and Joe Rodon who are already out of the door.

A few surprising names have been linked with exits as well, including Son Heung-min. The South Korea superstar's contract is set to expire next summer as things stand, with Saudi side Al-Ahli registering an interest in signing Son as a result.

Chairman Daniel Levy is highly unlikely to consider selling the 32-year-old, we believe, given his importance to Postecoglou. Following these exits, Spurs have reinvested the cash in signing Archie Gray from Leeds United for £40 million, and secured a season-long extension on Timo Werner's loan deal before that.

Tottenham are rumoured to be in the market for an attacking signing before deadline day on August 30, though, so Levy and Lange could be biding their time before making more formal moves towards the end of the window.

As Postecoglou's overhaul continues to take shape, a new report from Italy has now claimed that mainstay winger Dejan Kulusevski could be sold. The Swede played 36 Premier League games last season, starting 31 of them and racking up 11 goal contributions in that time, becoming a regular under the Spurs boss.

Tottenham chiefs now put Dejan Kulusevski up for sale

According to Calciomercato.it, Tottenham chiefs consider Kulusevski up for sale, despite his first-team status, and former Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte could potentially look to sign him for Napoli.

The £110,000-per-week winger was signed on an initial loan deal on January deadline day in 2022, which later became permanent in the summer of 2023, but it appears the north Londoners are now open to offers for Kulusevski.

It remains to be seen if anything comes from this report, or if Spurs would demand a marquee fee for the 24-year-old with four years still remaining on his contract. The element of Conte's interest isn't entirely surprising, though, as the Italian has expressed his admiration for Kulusevski on more than one occasion.

“I think he is showing that he is a fantastic player for the present but also he if he continues in this way he can become a really important player,” said Conte on Kulusevski in 2022.

“He is strong physically, good technically; he has no fear of the opponent or the tackle. It is a good sign, with Harry and Son, also Lucas Moura and Bergwijn, offensively we are good, and I am happy for this.”

The spotlight was on Naeher, and rightfully so, but her swansong was one of several storylines that unfolded throughout the match

The time never feels right to step away; it always feels either too soon or too late. And, when it comes to Alyssa Naeher, she made it feel like her international career is ending prematurely – and that's because she's still pretty damn good at what she does.

Naeher is stepping away, she did so with a win. Thanks to a Lynn Williams game-winner in the 71st minute, the USWNT left The Hague with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. It was a hard-fought win, one that, for large stretches, looked like it wasn't going to go the USWNT's way, as they were at times outplayed and out-shot (a whopping 23-5) by the host side.

The spotlight was on Naeher on Tuesday, and rightfully so, but her swansong was one of several storylines that unfolded throughout the match. There was Williams leading a group of supersubs to turn the game around. There were some uncharacteristic struggles from USWNT regulars all over the field throughout what might just be the worst half of the Hayes era. And there were some bright moments, too, particularly from newcomers fighting for their spot.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from The Hague.

• AFP
  

  WINNER: Alyssa Naeher

  You could argue she deserved to go out with another trophy in hand but, even so, as send-offs go, this was about as good as it gets.

  Naeher was the clear star, the clear player of the match, as she led the USWNT to the win. By the end of it, she'd made six saves, each seemingly more difficult than the last, as she kept the USWNT in it almost single-handedly at times. We'd seen Naeher do it before but to do it in her final international game? That really was something special.

  You could see how much it meant to her teammates after the match as they lined up to take photos alongside her one last time. The USWNT's famous "Uncle" has always been beloved, not just for what she can do on the field but for the support she provides her teammates off of it. The USWNT will miss that once she's gone.

  Tuesday was all about Naeher, as it should have been. And, with her play in goal, she made sure that she walked away seemingly at the peak of her powers with one final standout performance to bookend a career full of them.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  LOSER: Other USWNT goalkeepers

  To put it lightly, good luck!

  Naeher is stepping away near the peak of her powers, which will only complicate this transition period. For whichever player is next up, the comparisons will hang heavy in the air, particularly as long as Naeher continues to thrive in the NWSL. After the performance she put on Tuesday, fans will be left wanting more – a tough challenge for any player asked to replace the irreplaceable.

  In general, the USWNT No. 1 job comes with weight. It has been one occupied by legends such as Brianna Curry, Hope Solo and, now, Naeher. She felt that weight when she took over from Solo and, throughout her career, has only added more for the next up.

  There's no replacing Naeher, but someone will have to try. Whichever goalkeeper wins that job will be under plenty of pressure, especially given how good Naeher has been – and still is.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Lynn Williams

  She didn't have her best day in the USWNT's 0-0 draw with England last weekend, but she surely made the most of her chance against the Netherlands.

  Played in by Yazmeen Ryan, Williams provided the finish the U.S. needed to escape with a 2-1 win. And It continued Williams' ridiculous run as a supersub, as she's now scored a whopping 10 goals off the bench in a U.S. shirt.

  Williams remains a player who can greatly impact a game, and she did just that against the Netherlands. After the U.S. gained a little bit of control back in the second half, the substitute attacker was there to make the most of it to rally the U.S.

  It showed that Williams still has a big part to play, even among the young stars around her. That veteran presence off the bench is so, so valuable, and Williams proved why again on Tuesday – especially with the attacking trio of Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson not available.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSER: Jenna Nighswonger

  No sugarcoating this one: this wasn't a good game. From the opening whistle, Nighswonger looked miles off of it, struggling to really match the speed of the Netherlands attack. She was breezed past on multiple occasions, leaving the U.S. defense exposed throughout a one-sided first half. She was taken off at halftime, thankfully before any more damage was done.

  It's easy to forget that Nighswonger is just 17 caps into her USWNT career. Just two years ago, she was playing at the college level. This is all still new to her and, despite her Olympic success this summer, there will be rough moments.

  Tuesday was one of those. They happen, and they're no reason to write anyone off. It'll be interesting to see what Nighswonger learns from this as she continues on with her USWNT career.

Headingley permitted to host New Zealand Test and South Africa ODI after suspension lifted

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2022Yorkshire’s right to host international fixtures has been reinstated by the ECB, on the proviso that the club’s members desist from blocking reforms introduced in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal, and that the influence of the family trust run by the former chairman, Colin Graves, is removed.Assuming these requirements can be met by March 31, Headingley will be able to resume preparations for hosting this summer’s third Test against New Zealand in June, and an ODI against South Africa in July – lucrative contests that Lord Kamlesh Patel, the chairman, had warned were fundamental to the club’s financial viability.”I welcome this decision and thank the Board of the ECB for supporting the return of international matches at Headingley once again,” Lord Patel said in a statement. “We have worked night and day to bring about tangible change at Yorkshire, and the removal of the sanctions has validated and reignited our drive for positive progress.”Rafiq said that he supported the ECB’s decision, saying that under Lord Patel, Yorkshire have “shown a real willingness to change and have already come a long way”.”This is the correct decision by the ECB,” he twetted. “His [Lord Patel’s] leadership has earned the club another chance but the reforms must continue and we must see real change.”Yorkshire was stripped of its major-match-hosting status in November, following a wave of revelations about the club’s long-suppressed investigation into allegations of institutional racism – including the suggestion, reported by ESPNcricinfo, that the racial slur “P**i” had been considered to be “banter” within the team dressing-room.At the height of the crisis, the club was also hit by a mass exodus of club sponsors – including Emerald Publishing, Headingley’s title sponsor, and Nike, the team’s kit suppliers – and the reinstatement of their major-match status will also enable them to rebuild that portfolio, particularly in the lead-up to the 2023 season, when the club is due to host a lucrative Ashes Test.In a statement, the ECB acknowledged “the hard work and good progress made by the club”, after reviewing a written submission from Yorkshire officials at a formal meeting last week, and an independent assessment from the Good Governance Institute & Howard Kennedy LLP.Overall, the ECB assessed that Yorkshire was able to “show a demonstrable commitment to building a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion”; provide “evidence that it is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination”; “commit to identifying and tackling historic cases of discrimination”; and “ensure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is a welcoming environment for everyone”.However, clear issues still remain at the club, not least those pertaining to Lord Patel’s appointment as chairman in November – an issue that was deemed by a section of club members, led by Patel’s predecessor Robin Smith, to have been unconstitutional.In response, Patel claimed last week that the group was actively seeking to “delay and derail” Headingley’s international reinstatement, because they believe the club is being “sacrificed on the altar of Black Lives Matter”.The matter was raised in the House of Commons earlier this week by Julian Knight MP, the chairman of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which has been investigating the racism issue ever since Rafiq’s emotional testimony to the committee in November.Related

• Yorkshire add Kabir Ali, Tom Smith and Alastair Maiden to coaching staff

• Yorkshire racism report ruled Azeem Rafiq being called 'P**i' was 'banter'

• Lord Patel: Black Lives Matter opponents are behind Yorkshire reform delays

The ECB addressed these matters in their announcement, stating that the club would be required to resolve the issues that had been “subject to procedural flaws”, while also calling for “amendments to club rules relating to the appointment and operation of the Board”.These relate to the ongoing issue of the Graves Family Trust, which is owed approximately £15 million by Yorkshire following a bail-out in the early 2000s which saved the club from bankruptcy. According to Roger Hutton – the former chairman who resigned in the wake of Rafiq’s allegations – Graves’ continued role behind the scenes had been a significant “roadblock” in Yorkshire’s delayed response to the crisis.”The Board welcomed the hard work and actions taken by Yorkshire County Cricket Club towards putting the Club on a new path,” Barry O’Brien, the ECB’s interim chair, said. “Alongside the progress already made, we considered many factors in reaching our decision. Amongst them, the impact on fans who have bought tickets in good faith and the young people who will benefit from Yorkshire’s improved outreach and pathway provisions. Finally, the Board was mindful that the return of international cricket will support continued change and progress at the Club.”I very much hope that the traumatic events that have taken place at Yorkshire over the past several months and years will act as a catalyst for increasing the pace of change throughout the game.”Yorkshire’s progress, both in the lead-up to its March deadline and thereafter, will be monitored quarterly by the ECB, alongside the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).”There is no place for racism in sport or in any part of our society,” Marcial Boo, the EHRC chief executive, said. “In our meetings with Lord Patel at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and with the England and Wales Cricket Board, we encouraged them to take bold steps in eradicating racism. We welcome today’s announcement as a clear sign that progress is being made.”We will now closely monitor progress against their action plan, which will involve us attending quarterly checkpoint meetings with the YCCC and ECB. If progress is not made quickly enough, we will consider further legal action.”We hope that other cricket clubs will take this opportunity to examine what they are doing to tackle discrimination and harassment, so that no one involved in cricket, whether as an amateur or a professional, suffers the racism that others sadly faced in the past.”

Manchester City have leaped into the lead in the race to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leveerkusen next summer, according to a report.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Top teams want to sign Wirtz
• Guardiola eager to bring him to Man City
• English giants willing to pay €100m

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The attacking midfielder's excellent performances for Leverkusen and Germany have attracted interest from across Europe, with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid reportedly looking to sign him.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City have emerged as the new favourites to sign the 21-year-old, reports. Pep Guardiola wants to replenish his side to build a team capable of winning every trophy and sees Wirtz as an ideal addition. The Premier League champions are prepared to pay €100 million (£83m/$105m) to get him next summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wirtz, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027, scored 11 goals and made as many assists to help fire Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title last season. He has scored seven goals in all competitions so far this season.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ?

  The Germany star will have time to consider his options as the top teams in Europe line up to snap him up come the end of the season.

Australia’s bowling depth has captain believing they have “options for anywhere in the world”

Andrew McGlashan28-Dec-2021Pat Cummins’ immediate priority is to continue the domination of England for two more Tests as Australia target another Ashes whitewash, but after securing the series in less than 12 days he believed they were building a squad that sets them up for more success in the years to come.The standout feature for Australia across their three crushing victories has been the depth of their fast bowling. Scott Boland spectacularly added his name to the list with an astonishing haul of 6 for 7 at the MCG to follow Jhye Richardson’s five-wicket return in Adelaide and a solid debut for Michael Neser and the development of Cameron Green.Cummins’ own absence for Adelaide due to being a Covid close contact was barely noticed, as has been the case with Josh Hazlewood missing the last two games through injury and Richardson not being risked in Melbourne.Related

• The bewitching hour: Starc, Cummins, Boland, and a spell to remember for the MCG crowd

• 'Who does that? Scott Boland does. Our ancestors stand proud with him'

• No change in Langer's contract status despite T20 World Cup and Ashes glory

“Our bowlers have been fantastic. Haven’t even felt like there’s been one session where it’s got away from us,” he said. “It’s what dreams are made of, the way we’ve played. And outside of the results there’s so many other positives; we’ve been able to have a couple of debutants, really build a squad of 15-odd players. It doesn’t just feel like a 3-0 victory, feels like we are setting ourselves up for the next few years as well.”Australia will face much sterner batting line-ups than this historically poor England side, but after last season’s loss against India a return to home dominance has left Cummins confident ahead of the challenges to come which involve three subcontinent tours to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India in the current World Test Championship cycle.It has been more than two years since the side has played Test cricket overseas – they are due to tour Pakistan in March – and there will be different questions posed to them, notably the playing of spin and whether they rebalance the attack with a second frontline spinner or stick with the pace bowlers. Legspinner Mitchell Swepson continues to wait for his Test debut which would appear unlikely to come during the Ashes.Cameron Green claimed the Ashes-clinching wicket•Getty Images

“The World Test Championship is a big thing,” Cummins said. “Absolutely want to be in that final. Winning away from home, we’ve got a great opportunity to go over on a couple of subcontinental tours. Think that’s a really big challenge for any team, you can see England coming here it’s foreign conditions for them. I feel like it’s building. Think we have options for anywhere in the world.”Having missed the Adelaide Test, Cummins is only seven playing days into his captaincy having been thrust into the job when Tim Paine resigned a couple of weeks before the series. It could have destabilised the team, but Cummins and Steven Smith have formed an excellent leadership pair and Alex Carey has eased in behind the stumps. Alongside the return of Travis Head No. 5 and Marcus Harris’ gusty innings in Melbourne there are few areas that have not come together.On a personal level, a whirlwind few weeks was still sinking in for Cummins – he was a key part in retaining the Ashes in England in 2019 and in a couple of weeks, so long as the series can navigate Covid, will be holding the urn up in Hobart.”I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet,” he said. “Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, those were the captains I grew up watching and idolising so to be in a similar position is just awesome. When I think about what it means, I think more about for our group of players.”We’ve got seven players in the top 10 of the world at the moment and we probably haven’t strung the performances over the last couple of years that we expect of ourselves. This really consolidates that we are a really good, strong Test side and a good sign for the next few years.”

There is a strong argument for Sri Lanka to move Mahela Jayawardene, who looks to have hit top form at a vital stage of the World T20, permanently into the opener’s slot in limited-overs cricket

Andrew Fernando in Pallekele30-Sep-2012On a night stacked with positives for Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene’s unbeaten 65 from 49 deliveries was perhaps the most heartening of all. Sri Lanka have prospered in this format when he has made runs at the top of the innings, making him a little bit like a right-handed Sanath Jayasuriya who has bartered brutality for refinement. Against New Zealand, Jayawardene threatened form with a rapid 44. Against West Indies he flowed rhythmically into it. With both openers having made fifties in the Super Eights, and Kumar Sangakkara also among the runs, the chances in this tournament for Sri Lanka’s middle order to prove that it has become more robust are getting fewer.A cursory glance at Jayawardene’s score on the sheet might suggest his innings was a run-of-the-mill Twenty20 knock; a strike rate of 133 with ten boundaries and a six. But that’s too simple. No innings of his is quite so humdrum. He feels the game, breathes it. At the crease, and as a captain, he has his ear to the ground, and his finger on the pulse. In the Super Eights opener, with 179 to chase down, Jayawardene was aggressive throughout his 26-ball salvo, as he needed to be. On Saturday, it was like he composed a piece of music.The four through point after three dot balls in the first over was the first clang of percussion in the seconds after the audience has calmed into an expectant hush; the piano chord heralding commencement. Tillakaratne Dilshan sounded out three bold notes of his own in the next over, crashing Fidel Edwards for consecutive fours through the offside, but while his partner held the limelight, Jayawardene played second fiddle – his intonations audible only occasionally.At the end of the Powerplay, with Sri Lanka well ahead of the required rate, Jayawardene dipped into a quieter movement alongside Sangakkara. Those overs were defined by a more careful cadence, and Jayawardene barely progressed at a run-a-ball. Sunil Narine was negotiated watchfully on a track assisting spin, but occasionally a louder thrum came along, like when he reverse-paddled Narine for four, through where slip would have stood. After the match had been made safe, Jayawardene began to go faster. There is a chance Sri Lanka’s net run rate will determine qualification to the semi-finals, and so a spate of boundaries brought the innings to a crescendo. The crowd might have wished West Indies had made more, so that Jayawardene could have kept playing for them.As a successful Twenty20 batsman, he is often nominated as an advert for the enduring effectiveness of convention in every format, but in reality, Jayawardene is as innovative as they come. It’s just that the grace that pervades every aspect of his game gives the illusion that he only plays the old-style strokes. Earlier in his career, and at times even now, his release stroke was an advancing shot over midwicket. In the hands of anyone else, that would be a heave across the line. When Jayawardene plays it, it seems like the very shot that inspired the MCC coaching manual.

At times even now, his release stroke [is] an advancing shot over midwicket. In the hands of anyone else, that would be a heave across the line. When Jayawardene plays it, it seems like the very shot that inspired the MCC coaching manual.

In Twenty20s, Jayawardene scoops with the best of them, and though he has had trouble timing reverse shots in the past, now sweeps past point with aplomb. In the practice match against West Indies before the tournament began, he played a reverse pull off Kieron Pollard that flew over short-third man for four. He is a small man compared to Twenty20 behemoths like Kevin Pietersen, and he is not as fond of weights and protein shakes as Brendon McCullum, but he has found ways to number among the best.”When T20 came around, I had to push myself with my limitations,” Jayawardene said after his innings at Pallekele. “I had to make sure that I was a bit more innovative. I don’t have the power like Chris Gayle or Kieron Pollard. For me it’s all about hitting gaps. When I want to hit out I can hit. Maybe not 100 metres, but 70 or 75 metres. It just helps me opening the batting, as I have more time to work with.”There is a strong argument for Jayawardene moving permanently up the order to open the innings in limited-overs cricket, where he has played with the kind of freedom not afforded him in an inexperienced middle order. In ODIs, his average as an opener is almost 17 better than his career average, and his Twenty20 numbers are similar. Too often he has sacrificed his favoured spot to accommodate team-mates who are not as effective providing good starts, but are wholly unsuited to batting in the middle order. Though Jayawardene demotes himself to make the most of Sri Lanka’s resources, perhaps the team would be better served if their best opener remained in that position permanently.Following two good innings at the top, Jayawardene is likely to face the new ball for the remainder of the World Twenty20 at least. Sri Lanka are all but through to the semi-finals, with a far superior net run rate than that of England and West Indies – both of whom need to win handsomely on Monday to push the hosts out of the top two. Jayawardene has struck form at the right time for Sri Lanka and, as he has proven with centuries in the World Cup semi-final in 2007 and the World Cup final last year, he has a habit of reserving his best for the crunch encounters.

Hoping to land a future star, Aston Villa have reportedly made a player plus cash deal to sign a Turkish talent for Unai Emery, who would lose one of the more experienced players in his squad as a result of the deal.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have been one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League, welcoming a total of five fresh faces whilst also losing Douglas Luiz to Juventus and Tim Iroegbunam to Everton to comply with profit and sustainability rules. Ross Barkley became the latest to arrive at the start of the month, swapping Luton Town for the chance to play in the Champions League at Villa Park.

Having made improvements to Emery's starting side, meanwhile, Villa have seemingly turned their attention towards the future and landing a player who would have quite the impact for years to come. The deal wouldn't be without its sacrifice, however.

Aston Villa now set to lose "amazing" squad player with medical booked

The deal is reportedly progressing quickly…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 11, 2024

According to Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Aston Villa have submitted an €18m (£15m) plus Alex Moreno offer to sign Semih Kilicsoy from Besiktas in a deal that would also see the Turkish giants keep hold of their 18-year-old forward in a one-year loan deal. That offer has reportedly been rejected, however, as they look to keep hold of their youngster for good.

Whether Villa go again in pursuit of the young forward remains to be seen, but the fact that Moreno was included in their offer is an indication of where his role lies in Emery's squad following the arrival of Ian Maatsen this summer. That said, if Villa can solve their Moreno conundrum and welcome a future star in return, then it is a deal that they should be pursuing.

"Fantastic" Kilicsoy is one for the future

The interest of a Champions League club in the form of Villa should come as no surprise, given how impressive Kilicsoy was in his first professional season at Besiktas. The teenager earned praise throughout Europe, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who described his first campaign as "fantastic" on X.

With Jhon Duran's Aston Villa future already thrown into doubt more than once this summer too, Kilicsoy represents an option who would be ready to provide backup for Ollie Watkins even at just 18 years old. He proved in abundance last season that he's more than ready for first-team action and that includes in the Premier League.

For now, however, Aston Villa's reported bid to sign Kilicsoy has been rejected and he remains a Besiktas player ahead of the fast-approaching 2024/25 campaign.