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Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared a “really important” update on Aston Villa and their chances of signing Marcus Rashford permanently this summer, with the England international currently enjoying a new lease of life under Unai Emery.

Marcus Rashford praised since joining Aston Villa

After being left out in the cold by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, the 27-year-old opted to pursue a different club in January.

Aston Villa now considering hijacking AC Milan deal to sign £33m star

Aston Villa are now looking at joining the transfer race to sign a Premier League player.

ByBrett Worthington Mar 25, 2025

Rashford was linked with a Man United exit for months, before Villa eventually took the bait and signed him on loan with an option to buy for around £40 million – a move which NSWE and Monchi will be overjoyed with.

Since putting pen to paper on a temporary move to the Midlands, Rashford has worked his way back into the England fold with four assists from nine appearances in all competitions and some truly impactful performances.

Player

Average match rating

Youri Tielemans

7.05

Marcus Rashford

6.96

Morgan Rogers

6.83

Tyrone Mings

6.80

Marco Asensio

6.79

“The Holte End have a new hero,” said Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp after Rashford’s excellent substitute appearance in a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

“That sub made all the difference. He was fantastic. Rashford came on, he gave energy, enthusiasm, everything we want to see from him. The running, the desire… he was excellent. He gave them that impetus to put Chelsea on the back foot.

“Right now, he looks like he is loving every second of it. He’s involved, he’s showing enthusiasm – all the things that were thrown at him at Man Utd, he is now doing the opposite. And he’s got sweat on his face and he’s not jogging around like ‘I don’t want to be here’. He looks like he wants to be in that claret and blue shirt.”

His impressive form means Villa could even face competition from the likes of Bayern Munich for Rashford’s signature this summer, even if Emery’s side possess an option to trigger his buy clause.

Fabrizio Romano shares "really important" Marcus Rashford update

Now, speaking on GiveMeSport’s Market Madness, respected reporter Romano has shared an update on Villa’s plans to sign Rashford permanently.

He claims that Villa’s finances will be “really important” in determining whether they’ll trigger the £40m buy option, but in any case, the journalist expects him to remain beyond 2024/25.

“Aston Villa are very happy with Marcus Rashford in general,” said Romano.

“So I don’t think, in any case, if they decided to trigger the £40m option clause, I don’t think they would do that just to sell the player again.

“So in that case, I see Marcus Rashford staying at Aston Villa and having the opportunity to make something long-term with the club. What I can say about Marcus Rashford is that it’s going to be really important to understand financially what happens for Aston Villa.

“So now they’re obviously really focused on the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and to see what happens in the Premier League table from now to the end of the season. That’s going to be obviously really important, and then we will have to see financially.”

Afghanistan’s participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is in the hands of the International Olympics Council (IOC), not the ICC. This is the view expressed by ICC’s chief executive officer Geoff Allardice, who was responding to how cricket’s governing body will tackle the challenge of Afghanistan women players being forced into exile since Taliban assumed power in 2021.In October the IOC approved the LA28’s recommendation of adding T20 cricket as a new sport, convinced by its popularity across the Commonwealth countries as well as the younger generation, along with the potential it brings for growth in markets such as the USA.In its proposal, the ICC had recommended a six-team event for both the men’s and women’s competitions which was approved by the IOC. By 2025, the LA28 and ICC will work out a competition structure as well as the way in which teams can qualify for the event.The LA28 organisers have stressed on gender equality at the Olympics, which normally sees participation from both genders in individual and team sports. However, Afghanistan currently do not have a women’s cricket team, with 22 out of the 25 contracted players moving overseas since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. There remains a chance, however, that the men’s team might take part in the event in five years’ time.”(In) the Olympic competition teams are fielded by the National Olympic Committees of those countries,” Allardice told the ‘s Stumped podcast. “As an international sporting federation, we position our sport with the LA28 organisers for inclusion. And the IOC and they (LA28) have included cricket. In terms of the position of the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, it’s probably something for the IOC to be able to address more accurately than me. But I know that they (IOC) have been following the progress or the developments there. Our position on cricket and supporting our member in Afghanistan is not dissimilar to those of other international sporting organisations.”Related

• Human rights question hangs over success story of Afghanistan's men

• Afghanistan agree 'in principle' to support women's cricket

• Afghanistan women's cricket in danger after Taliban's reported opposition

• Women's cricket 'in peril' but fans rejoice as the game returns to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

• IOC to monitor support for women's cricket in Afghanistan ahead of LA28

In its communication with the Taliban government, the IOC has been emphasising that the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) will be in danger of suspension if access to sports for women continues to be restricted. The IOC has not cleared Afghanistan’s participation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.Addressing the IOC session in Mumbai in October, James Macleod, IOC head of Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committee Relations, said that there was a “tiny bit of progress” made which was evident in the Hangzhou Asian Games recently. Out of the 83 Afghan athletes, 17 were women. While it was the men who owned all five medals, the women athletes – all of whom reside overseas – competed in volleyball, athletics and cycling. They also had male and female flag bearers at the event.IOC president Thomas Bach had pointed out at the Mumbai session that the onus was on Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee to show the progress it was making to ensure women cricketers were receiving encouragement and support to compete at all levels. “In this broader context, cricket will be considered in the end,” he saidAfghanistan men were part of the gold medal match in the Asian Games in the absence of the women’s team. Allardice, who traveled to Hangzhou, said that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had committed to developing women’s cricket when it was granted ICC’s Full Membership in 2017.”They were in the process of doing that through to 2021,” Allardice said. “And in 2021 the regime in the country changed and has brought in rules, laws that prohibit women from playing sport in the country. Whilst we have spoken with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and their position is that they have to operate within the laws of the country and the rules set by the government.”An ICC working group, led by its deputy chair Imran Khwaja, has been liaising with the Taliban government in the last year with the ultimate aim of helping women play cricket safely. “The question for the ICC board is do we support our member in their ability to promote cricket within the rules set by the government of the country? And view is yes,” Allardice said.As a Full Member, the ACB receives significant funding. As per the ICC’s financial distribution model for the next cycle (2024-27), the ACB will receive approximately USD 16.8 million as its share from the commercial earnings. Allardice said that the member boards had the autonomy to utilise the funds as they saw fit.”How those members distribute those funds and the use of that money is very much up to those members. With any of our members, we have a check and balance over how that money is distributed and whether it goes to certain contracts or other contracts. We don’t stipulate how that needs to be managed.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da marjack bet： O Botafogo e a SAF que controla o futebol do clube foram acionados na Justiça. De acordo com o “Blog do Ancelmo”, em “O Globo”, a empresa do ex-diretor de negócios Lênin Franco entrou com uma ação que tramita na 36ª Vara Cível da Comarca da Capital.

Franco, que foi contratado em 2021 para comandar a área de negócios do Alvinegro, afirma que tem direito a comissões não pagas pelo clube por metas alcançadas e também solicita indenização. O montante cobrado chega a R$ 569.178,11.

RelacionadasBotafogoEm um ano de SAF, Botafogo passa por frustrações e encara pressãoBotafogo11/03/2023BotafogoBotafogo demonstra interesse em contratar Ademir, do Atlético-MGBotafogo11/03/2023Fora de CampoSecretário Nacional do Futebol fala sobre torcida única nos estádiosFora de Campo11/03/2023

da jogodeouro： Entre as queixas está o fato de John Textor, acionista da SAF do Botafogo, ter rescindido unilateralmente todos contratos de patrocínio em curso de maneira unilateral bruscamente, inclusive os firmador por Lênin Franco. O ex-diretor reclama de “capricho” do norte-americano.

“Todo o trabalho idealizado, construído e mantido foi simplesmente destruído da noite para o dia, por capricho do investidor, sendo o sócio da Autora (Lênin) automática e repentinamente bombardeado por parceiros comerciais atônitos, fato que gerou enorme desgaste, inclusive, para a sua imagem”, diz a petição.

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan delivers a scathing assessment of United, predicting a dismal season ahead for Ruben Amorim next year.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• United lost Europa League final to Tottenham
• Red Devils without European football next season
• Jordan sends Amorim job warning

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United lost the Europa League final to Tottenham on Wednesday night, failing to secure Champions League football or a trophy. This defeat has led to widespread criticism of the club's performance and direction, with concerns raised about their financial situation and ability to compete at the highest level. The result also means a significant financial blow for the Red Devils, impacting their summer transfer plans.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Europa League defeat caps off another disappointing season for United, extending their trophy drought and highlighting deeper issues within the club. Years of poor recruitment, mismanagement and a lack of clear direction have eroded the club's standing in the football world. The failure to qualify for the Champions League further exacerbates these problems, hindering their ability to attract top talent and generate crucial revenue needed to comply with Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).

• WHAT JORDAN SAID

  Speaking on talkSPORT, Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan said: "We're seeing an erosion and if it keeps going for another ten years, you're going to see the analogy that I made of Manchester City being Red Bull and Manchester United being Ferrari, being eroded because the next generation of fans are light upon winners and United are not winners.

  "I think we just saw United hit the bottom. You cannot make a case for Manchester United to be finishing 16th in the Premier League, two places above the relegation spot and putting out a performance. United were abject and they've lost the final in such an abject manner with so much riding on it, so many opportunities to change the direction of travel.

  "I think you've just witnessed the United beast hit the bottom and then that's when you start to bounce and I think you'll see a bounce. Now, what that bounce looks like, it might mean that United finish tenth next season and not 17th."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  United face a crucial summer as they look to rebuild their squad and address the issues that have plagued them in recent years. Amorim will be tasked with making significant changes, potentially offloading underperforming players and bringing in new talent. The club will need to be more strategic in their transfer dealings and find solutions to comply with PSR. While Jordan predicts a "bounce" after hitting rock bottom, the scale of that improvement remains to be seen, with a top-half finish potentially representing a significant improvement.

da 888casino： Leeds United have only picked up one point from their last two matches and it has left their place in the automatic promotion spots vulnerable heading into midweek.

da betano casino： After Burnley and Sheffield United both won on Saturday, the Whites are now only above the Blades on goal difference and are only two points ahead of Scott Parker’s team in third.

The West Yorkshire outfit failed to extend their lead at the top of the table when they went to Fratton Park on Sunday, as they were beaten 1-0 by the newly-promoted outfit.

Daniel Farke will surely be frustrated with the lack of clinical edge that his team displayed in the defeat, as Leeds missed three ‘big chances’ and created 2.27 xG.

The German head coach may also be frustrated by some of the performances of his players. Much-talked-about goalkeeper Illan Meslier, for example, did himself few favours for the winning goal.

Illan Meslier's performance against Portsmouth

The French goalkeeper, who has made two errors that have directly led to goals this season, only faced three shots on target in the match and conceded once.

Meslier was indecisive with the ball that was played in behind for Colby Bishop and hesitated multiple times before committing too late and flopping to the floor, giving the Pompey striker all the room he needed to lift the ball over him.

Whilst it is easy to say with hindsight, the former Lorient man should have come out quicker, instead of hesitating, to clear the danger, or he should have remained big to make the block, instead of opening up the lob opportunity for Bishop, once he realised it was too late to get the ball first.

Of course, blame also lies at the feet of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, who allowed the attacker to run off them, but the left-footed stopper may also not be best pleased with his part in the goal.

Chalkboard

Expand Collapse

The 25-year-old goalkeeper, who had 65 touches and completed 59% of his attempted passes, was not the sole reason behind the defeat for Leeds, however, as numerous other players struggled throughout the game, including centre-forward Joel Piroe.

Joel Piroe's struggles against Portsmouth

The Dutch attacker was selected to lead the line against Portsmouth and it seems to be a perfectly fine selection by Farke, given that he is the joint-top scorer in the Championship alongside Norwich City’s Borja Sainz.

Piroe had scored 15 goals in 25 starts prior to the clash at Fratton Park. This suggested that the Whites could rely upon him in front of goal if they created the chances for him in Hampshire.

As you can see in the clip above, however, that was not the case as the former Swansea City marksman missed a glorious opportunity to find the back of the net to make it 1-0 in the second half, when Manor Solomon appeared to put it on a plate for the striker.

Piroe, who had fewer touches (33) than Meslier, also missed a huge chance to score in the first half when he followed up on a save by Nicolas Schmid, only to fire his unmarked and unchallenged effort straight back at the Pompey goalkeeper.

Vs Portsmouth (A)

Joel Piroe

Minutes

90

xG

0.98

Big chances missed

2

Shots

2

Goals

0

Pass accuracy

75%

Duels won

5/11

Stats via Sofascore

The Dutchman, who also lost six of his 11 duels, racked up 0.98 xG from those two chances combined but failed to find the back of the net, both times with the score at 0-0, and it could have been a completely different match if the Whites had taken the lead instead of going behind.

Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth was critical in his assessment of the forward’s performance. The journalist awarded the striker a player rating of just 3/10, citing his big misses and lack of impact on the game.

With all of this in mind, Farke must finally drop the Dutch number nine from the starting XI for the midweek clash with Millwall at Elland Road on Wednesday, bringing Mateo Joseph in as his replacement.

Why Mateo Joseph should be given a chance

Piroe should be ruthlessly dropped to the bench after his struggles in the last two games, with zero goals and two ‘big chances’ missed against West Brom and Portsmouth as a starter.

This clash with Millwall on Wednesday is the second part of a three-game week and Farke must also keep in mind that he has a big squad to utilise, to ensure that his players do not suffer from burnout heading into the final weeks of the promotion race.

Therefore, now could be the perfect time for Piroe to be dropped from the starting line-up – after two subpar performances – in order to provide him with a much-needed rest, and Joseph with an opportunity to show what he can do.

The Spain U21 international’s last Championship start came against Derby County in a 1-0 win at Pride Park on the 29th of December, which shows that it has been a while since the academy graduate has had a chance to shine as a starter.

24/25

Joseph (per 90)

Percentile rank vs forwards

Non-penalty xG

0.37

Top 34%

Non-penalty goals

0.22

Bottom 35%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.14

Top 16%

Assists

0.22

Top 15%

Shot-creating actions

2.26

Top 23%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Joseph – who has started 11 of his 35 league outings – does rank highly among his positional peers in the Championship in several key attacking metrics.

The 21-year-old ace, who was once described as “dynamite” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, gets himself into great positions, hence his high rank for xG, but has not converted enough of those opportunities into goals.

He has thrived as a creative presence in the final third, though, and could come in against Millwall to provide a foil for the likes of Solomon, Brenden Aaronson, and Dan James – or Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani if they are selected.

The right-footed Spaniard has created four ‘big chances’ in his 11 starts and could play a decisive pass to help his team to the win next time out.

Farke certainly has options to play with and should bring Joseph back into the XI, finally dropping Piroe, for this clash on Wednesday to freshen up the team and, hopefully, retain their place at the top of the Championship table.

Related Left for £1m: Leeds sold big Meslier upgrade who was one of the PL's best

Leeds could have had a perfect, long-term goalkeeping solution

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Mar 8, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da pixbet： O Flamengo não terá Arturo Vidal à disposição para a partida desta quarta-feira, contra o Madureira, pela segunda rodada da Taça Guanabara. O volante apresentou um desconforto muscular e ficará no Rio de Janeiro, enquanto a delegação embarca para Cariacica, no Espírito Santo, nesta tarde. A partida será no Estádio Kleber Andrade, às 19h, com transmissão em Tempo Real do LANCE!.

+ Conheça o luxuoso hotel que servirá de base para o Flamengo no Marrocos

RelacionadasFlamengoZagueiro revela pedido de Vítor Pereira e exalta Flamengo: ‘Me sinto realizado’Flamengo17/01/2023FlamengoFlamengo opta por privacidade e fecha luxuoso hotel para servir de base no Mundial; conheça a logística do clubeFlamengo16/01/2023

da prosport bet： Por outro lado, o zagueiro Léo Pereira está relacionado para a partida. Contra a Portuguesa, no último domingo, o zagueiro não ficou à disposição de Vítor Pereira por conta de dores na perna esquerda. Já Filipe Luís e Rodrigo Caio, em fase de recondicionamento físico, seguem fora do time, assim como o meia Victor Hugo, que sofreu uma fratura no pé esquerdo no primeiro jogo do ano.

Como explicado por Vítor Pereira após a vitória no Maracanã, sobre a Portuguesa, a ideia da comissão técnica é dar “minutos de jogo” ao time principal visando a Supercopa do Brasil, contra o Palmeiras no dia 28 de janeiro, e o Mundial de Clubes, no Marrocos, a partir do dia 2 de fevereiro.

Confira os relacionados pelo Flamengo para a partida contra o Madureira:

Goleiros: Dyogo Alves, Matheus Cunha e Santos
Zagueiros: David Luiz, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira e Pablo
Laterais: Ayrton Lucas, Varela, Matheuzinho e Wesley
Volantes: Erick Pulgar, Gerson, Thiago Maia e Igor Jesus
Meias: Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro, Matheus França e Werton
Atacantes: Everton Cebolinha, Gabi, Marinho, Mateusão e Pedro

The left-arm spinner was reported by the match officials after the first ODI against India on January 10

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2025Ireland left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after her action was deemed to be illegal.Maguire, 18, was reported for a suspect bowling action during the first ODI against India in Rajkot on January 10, where she picked up 3 for 57 from eight overs.She subsequently got her action tested at the ICC-accredited testing centre in Loughborough on January 21, where it emerged that the amount of elbow extension in her bowling action exceeded the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations.”As a result, in accordance with clause 6.1 of the regulations, Aimee is immediately suspended from bowling in international cricket,” an ICC release said. “Her suspension will remain in effect until she undergoes a re-assessment of her bowling action which confirms that she can bowl with a legal action.”Maguire was initially named in Ireland’s squad for the recent Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia. Since the assessment window fell in the middle of the tournament, she had to be withdrawn.Maguire made her international debut in 2023. So far, she has played 11 ODIs and nine T20Is, taking 25 wickets in all with a best of 5 for 19 against England in an ODI last year.

The England allrounder talks about facing India again, and what he has learnt during his time with the Chennai Super Kings

Interview by Alan Gardner03-Aug-2021It’s three years since you made your international debut, which was followed by winning Man of the Series for the Tests against India. Is that something you reflect on often?
I do. I’ve always said that summer was pretty amazing. Making my debut against Pakistan at Headingley probably came out of nowhere, but I managed to get through that and get picked for that first game [against India] at Edgbaston. It’s three years, but probably doesn’t feel that long ago. With the Indian side coming over, naturally I’ll have that at the back of my mind. Thinking how that series went gives me great confidence going into Trent Bridge. I haven’t played much Test cricket in the last six months, so it’s exciting for me to hopefully try and replicate 2018. India are a fantastic side, so I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic series.You had quite an amazing impact – five wickets and a vital half-century at Edgbaston, top scorer at the Ageas Bowl, played a part in all four wins. Everything seemed to click for you.
As a player, you naturally have periods where you’re in form and you’ve got to ride those good waves. I always remember the exciting parts of that series. Luckily for me, it went well with bat and ball and we managed to win 4-1. Looking back on it, it gives you great confidence when you perform against that type of opposition. For me, there’s no better feeling. I always look back on that, thinking, yes, I can perform at this level. Naturally, anything that goes well gives you confidence, so it’s definitely been good and probably helped my game across all formats. It gives you belief that you can perform against high-quality players.Did you actually surprise yourself with how well you performed?
I wouldn’t say surprise yourself – you probably do better than you think [you would]. It probably helped me that I got called up due to Stokesy [Ben Stokes] getting injured [against Pakistan]. When you don’t have to actually think about what’s ahead of you, you go in with an open mind and perform like you’re in a county game. But when I’m in a tough place, I probably look back on series like that and that’s what gives you confidence.Related

• Forgotten man Sam Curran has 'itchy feet' but is happy to bide his time

• The timeless human drama of Edgbaston 2018 (2018)

• The story of Sam Curran's precocious rise (2018)

• Sam Curran: 'I came back from the IPL a much better player'

• 'Be absolutely relentless on length' – Dale Steyn

What was your standout memory of the series?
That Edgbaston Test was my favourite, the way we won that game on the last day, last session, where it could have gone either way. I think we needed four-five wickets. And yeah, the way I batted, the way I bowled. The whole atmosphere at that stadium – it was my first experience of Edgbaston, so great memories.You’ve not played a Test since Sri Lanka in January. What is your ideal preparation like? Do you like to keep it simple, or do analysis on who you’ll be coming up against?
I wouldn’t say I’m a very technical person. I don’t do too much analysis or overthinking. I’m quite an in-the-moment type of person, just reacting to situations. That’s what I feel is best, because if I’m overthinking things, I don’t think that’s a good place to be.Kumar Sangakkara, who was a team-mate of yours at Surrey, said you had very good “situational awareness”. Do you think you have a natural sense for the game?
I always feel I perform my best when I’m in the moment. I’m quite an instinctive player when it comes to deciding things. Don’t really watch too much in terms of analysis, what the bowlers do, what the batters do. I go on my gut feel quite a lot. I think a lot of players do that. There are players who love looking back on things, but I’m pretty easy in terms of moving on. More that I don’t want to overthink my game, because for me personally, that’s not helpful.You started so young – making your debut for Surrey at 17, England at 19 – but you seem to know what works for you.
The next couple of years, I may fall into wanting to do different things, but for now I just love the responsibility of playing for England, trying to perform in front of the amazing support. I never really get too down, because cricket’s a sport where you get so many ups and downs. But the pride of walking out for England in a Test match – there’s no better feeling.”I look up to someone like Stokesy [Ben Stokes, hugging Curran in photo], who scores big runs and takes loads of wickets”•Michael Steele/Getty ImagesYour exploits against India also helped win you an IPL contract when you were picked up by Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 auction. You must look back on it as a life-changing summer?
That’s how it worked out. I played that India series and then went to the IPL, and things progressed quite quickly. I’ve just enjoyed the journey so far. I’ve learned a lot of things. I guess I was pretty new to the scene then, but I feel like now I’ve played quite a bit in all formats, where you learn things, you improve on things, you find out things – certainly different players at the IPL, where you can pick their brains, especially the foreign players and the local Indian players. That’s benefited my game quite a bit.Moving to Chennai Super Kings for 2020, you had an immediate impact – albeit the team didn’t have a great season.
I think it’s a tournament where I got very lucky. I got thrown into it quite young, moved from Kings XI to Chennai, which worked out pretty well in terms of coming to a team where you had Stephen Fleming as coach, MS Dhoni as captain, some big foreign players. It’s just an environment where you eat and sleep cricket. You’re always around the guys and you can ask questions, see how guys train, learn new tricks. It’s an environment where you come across guys you never see in day-to-day life. It’s been fantastic for me. It gives you great confidence when you perform. At the IPL there’s no weak team, so whenever you play, you’re under so much pressure. You just go out there and do what you do and if it goes badly, you learn from it. If it goes well, you take confidence. It’s a great tournament for me. I’ve loved every minute of it.Dhoni called you a “complete cricketer” during that IPL out in the UAE, where you were used in a variety of roles and even opened the batting. That must have felt pretty good?
A player like Dhoni, he’s got such a big presence in the game. He’s achieved so many amazing things. Naturally you get confidence from that. There’s nothing better for me as a younger player to get put in those scenarios. It wasn’t the best season for the team but you learn so much and obviously this season when the IPL was going ahead [in India], we were second on the table. It’s a great franchise and hopefully I can contribute more in the coming years.”At the IPL there’s no weak team, so whenever you play you’re under so much pressure. If it goes badly, you learn from it. If it goes well, you take confidence”•Arjun Singh/BCCIIn Mumbai earlier this year, with Andre Russell on the rampage for Kolkata Knight Riders, you came on and bowled him around his legs as he attempted to leave.
It was just [one of] those moments when you come across players like that, where it’s you or him in the moment. He’s one of the most powerful hitters and you bowl to him: you execute and you get him out. If you don’t, you’re going into the stands. It really tests your game and that’s why I really do feel like I’ve benefited from being around such high-quality players and hopefully I bring that form into playing for England. I’d love to be part of a World Cup, so fingers crossed I can make the squad.Your flexibility is clearly an asset. Is that something you think can help your case with England?
You’ve seen how good the England white-ball sides are. Any time you get picked in the XI, you’re very proud and honoured to be playing, because it’s a phenomenal squad and whoever gets picked, you know you’ve got to keep performing because there’s so much depth. You saw that with the Pakistan series, where guys who hadn’t really been playing put on such a good performance, so it’s a great place to be.Will there be some messages flying around with the CSK guys ahead of the India Tests? Guys like Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur go from being team-mates to the opposition.
There are a couple of guys I got friendly with at the IPL, but come the series, they’ll obviously be enemies. They are really nice guys that I played with at Chennai and there’s a few I look forward to seeing.Going back to into Test cricket – this will actually be the fourth format you’ve played in the last month or so, after playing the opening game of the men’s Hundred, as well as ODIs and T20Is with England. Do you find it hard to make the switch?
I haven’t played a red-ball game for a while, so I feel pretty fresh. Got away from the game for a bit in terms of getting a rest. The basics stay pretty similar. The patience element comes into it a bit more [in Tests], but I don’t change too much. You’ve got to be prepared for bowling a lot more overs, batting a longer period of time. Fielding’s a longer situation. The group had a training day the other day at Loughborough, where we went through some nice bowling spells, getting those overs back in the body.High five: Curran took his first international five-wicket haul, against Sri Lanka at his home ground, The Oval, last month•Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesWhat are you aiming to do once you get to the top of your mark in a Test?
I’m pretty open going into the game. Like I said, I don’t analyse too many players. I try and stick to my strengths and go out there with a clear mind. If I do play, it will be pretty stock standard how I go about trying to contribute – take a few wickets, score a few runs. Really excited – five Tests against India in England with the crowds back. I love playing in front of the fans. It gives you that extra adrenaline and rush to keep performing.For all your success with England so far, your first five-for only came last month, in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at The Oval. The way you celebrated suggested it was quite a significant moment for you?
That was really special that day – home ground at The Oval, played there so many years. I think it was just relief. It was my first five-for for England. Such an amazing feeling, one of those moments you cherish. You dream of scoring hundreds, taking five-fors, winning games. To do it on your home ground, with family there, it was very special.You also made 95 not out in an ODI against India in March, nearly getting England over the line chasing 330. Was that just a case of breaking it down ball by ball in your head or feeling it in the moment?
A bit of both. You try and read the situation, and we got very close. But you take confidence from doing well. I’m that type of player. Hopefully, the next couple of weeks and months will be good for myself and the team.You’ve made a couple of 90s in first-class cricket for Surrey as well. Presumably you’re keen to convert one?
Yeah, of course. I don’t think about those things too much. It’s in your head, but I don’t want to look too far ahead. Fingers crossed it comes soon.”I always feel I perform my best when I’m in the moment. I’m quite an instinctive player when it comes to deciding things”•Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty ImagesWhat do you make of the theory that you might one day end up as more of a batting allrounder?
Yeah, I love contributing. I look up to someone like Stokesy, who scores big runs and takes loads of wickets. That’s someone I want to emulate, keep try to improve day by day and keep getting better.Eoin Morgan has said that you and your brother Tom are among the most competitive people he’s ever met. Where does that come from?
We’re a competitive family – three brothers [Ben plays county cricket for Northamptonshire]. My dad played cricket. In the back garden, messing around, you’ve got to be competitive. I love winning, I hate losing. It’s just in our blood. When you’re in a tough situation, I just try to get in the battle. I’m not a bad loser, but I don’t like losing.Did your dad being an cricketer, playing internationally for Zimbabwe as well as having a long career in county cricket, help with your drive to play the game professionally?
I think just being around cricket, my dad coaching, always being on a field messing around on the boundary while teams were playing. We just lived cricket, sleep cricket, a big cricketing family, loved the game. I’m sure he would have loved to be here to see us [playing now].Did you know that no left-armer seamer has ever taken 100 wickets for England? You’re already almost halfway there at the age of 23…
I’m not a massive stats person, but I just want to play as much Test cricket as I can through my career – it’s obviously the pinnacle, so fingers crossed I can become the first.You’re a multi-format player, but is Test cricket still the ultimate?
Absolutely. That’s why I think the next six weeks are really exciting. Sure, it’s going to be a fantastic series and I hope I can be involved in any way, shape or form. Just got to try and get in the side and never lose my spot.Have you heard the phrase, “Sam Curran: makes things happen”? What do you make of it?
I have come across it, yeah. Any player tries to make things happen. I don’t know why I’ve got that tag. I just love trying to impact games, whether that’s with bat, ball or in the field. I’ll keep trying to make it happen.

Everton are now believed to have made an approach to complete the signing of a “world class” player who knows the Premier League well but has fallen out of favour at his current club.

A host of players continue to be mentioned as options for the Blues in the summer transfer window, including Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper. The 25-year-old Englishman started all 46 of the Blades’ Championship matches last season, helping them reach the playoff final, but defeat to Sunderland at Wembley ruined their chances of promotion, and he may like the idea of heading to the top flight.

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is another player who could want to remain in the Premier League, following his side’s relegation to the second tier, and Everton have been backed to snap him up, amid their search for more quality in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic is another reported target for the Merseysiders, with the Serb potentially seen as a strong replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Just 20 years of age, he scored an impressive 12 goals in 23 Championship starts last term and could serve as the old fashioned number nine alongside the more elusive Thierno Barry.

Everton make approach for "world class" midfielder

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport [via Goodison News], Everton have made an approach for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, seeing him as an excellent choice to bring in this summer. The Blues are said to have asked for information regarding the 27-year-old, but it is added that no offer has been tabled for him yet.

He joined Juventus for around £42m last summer but was once worth a much higher figure, with Neil Moxley even claiming “somebody’s just having a bit of a laugh” when he was quoted at £60m while thriving at Aston Villa, pointing to Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal as a benchmark.

Indeed, albeit out of form and out of favour in Turin last season, Luiz is a player who has proven his worth at the highest level for many years now, having been such an influential performer for Villa, so he could be a brilliant signing for Everton.

The Brazilian has 175 appearances to his name in the Premier League, as well as 20 goals and 18 assists, with John McGinn heaping praise on his ability, describing him as “world class”, and Jermaine Pennant calling him better than Rice in the past.

“Any team would dream to have Rice, but there are better sixes in the Premier League at the moment. I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better. I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice. Creativity-wise he’s better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice. So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz.”

Everton now ready to pay £5m+ to sign new star with same agent as McNeil

The Toffees are ready to take advantage…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 7, 2025

Luiz is still in his prime, so this wouldn’t be a case of Everton splashing out on a player who has peaked, and his box-to-box style could be a great asset for David Moyes.

Mackenzie Harvey and Daniel Drew scored magnificent One-Day Cup centuries while Spencer Johnson took four wickets to lead South Australia to an emphatic nine-wicket win over Victoria.The victory at Karen Rolton Oval completed a wonderful week for South Australia after they earlier completed their first Sheffield Shield win over the Victoria in nine years.Harvey’s unbeaten 134 off 110 balls, his first in the format, was complemented by skipper Alex Carey initially in an 80-run opening stand before Drew (108 not out off 86) made an equally impressive ton to chase down Victoria’s 286 for 7 in the 38th over to claim a vital bonus point.Victoria skipper Peter Handscomb had earlier rescued his side from a precarious position with an excellent 104 from 121 deliveries after Johnson and Brendan Doggett tore through the top order.Harvey, 24, gave the run chase a real kick along when he took 16 off Sam Elliott’s first over. It was a masterclass by the stylish left-hander who grafted for his runs early before accelerating and dominating his former team to earn player-of-the-match honours.Harvey, the nephew of former Australia allrounder Ian Harvey, easily surpassed his previous highest domestic one-day score of 61.Drew, 28, was just as impressive and lifted the tempo to ensure his team claimed the win inside 40 overs to get what could be a crucial extra competition point.Earlier, Johnson took 4 for 46 in a fast and furious spell that set up the win after Carey had won the toss. Johnson removed big-hitting Josh Brown when his former Brisbane Heat teammate was brilliantly caught by a diving Drew at mid-off.His second wicket was a tribute to the left-armer’s searing pace and attacking mindset. Johnson let rip with a straight short ball that had Campbell Kellaway rushing his pull shot and gloving through to Carey.Handscomb came in with Victoria reeling at 42 for 3 and showed aggression and patience depending on what was required. After lashing a suite of boundaries and two imperious sixes, Handscomb accumulated 15 singles in a row.He was dropped on 83 when Liam Scott was unable to grab a caught and bowled chance. An effortless lofted cover drive to the boundary against spinner Lloyd Pope summed up Handscomb’s absolute control for much of the innings. He found a willing ally in Jonathan Merlo (78 off 71) but the final tally was nowhere near enough.