He said that he decided to go all out for the catch the moment he saw that Rohit Sharma, at long-on, wasn’t going to get to the ball

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jul-2024Suryakumar Yadav knew he “hadn’t touched the rope” and that he’d made the split-second decision of going all out for the catch the moment he saw Rohit Sharma further away from the ball at long-on as compared to him at long-off.The topic of discussion was the catch he took to dismiss David Miller in the final over to tilt the T20 World Cup final in India’s favour, decisively, as it turned out.”Rohit usually never stands at long-on but at that moment he was there,” Suryakumar told the . “So when the ball was coming, for a second I looked at him and he looked at me. I ran and my aim was to catch the ball. Had he [Rohit] been closer, I would have thrown the ball towards him. But he was nowhere close. In those four to five seconds, whatever happened, I can’t explain.”Related

• Bumrah and Hardik script stunning comeback to lead India to T20 World Cup glory

• Sometimes sports can be messy and without any explanation

• Rohit Sharma: This is my greatest achievement, I wanted it badly

• Rohit and five other Indians headline ESPNcricinfo's team of the T20 World Cup

Was the catch clean? Did Suryakumar’s foot tickle the advertising skirting? Replays have been inconclusive so far.”When I pushed the ball [up and inside the playing area] and took the catch, I knew I hadn’t touched the rope,” he said. “The only thing I was cautious about was that when I pushed the ball back inside, my feet don’t touch the rope. I knew it was a fair catch. In hindsight, anything could have happened. If the ball had gone for six, the equation would have been five balls, ten runs. We might have still won, but the margin would have been closer.”Suryakumar revealed the method behind taking such catches, while also crediting fielding coach T Dilip for motivating the entire group by introducing the fielding medal after every match, which has ensured “everyone wants to do something extra on the ground”.”The catch I took, I have practised it at different grounds, depending on the wind,” he said. “I was standing a bit wide because Hardik [Pandya] and Rohit had put a field for the wide yorker, and Miller had hit straight. My mind was clear that I have to catch it come what may.”A day before the game, we do a quality fielding session where for 10-12 minutes, we have more than ten high catches, flat catches, direct hits, slip catching. It’s not a one-day exercise, I practise these kinds of catches during IPL, during bilateral series. Yesterday’s catch was the reward of the hard work done over the years.”Getty Images

Suryakumar said that such balance and agility wouldn’t have been possible without working on his fitness. He spent four months on the sidelines from November 2023 to March 2024, recovering from a sports hernia and an ankle injury. It was during this period that he worked on slimming down as part of his fitness regimen which also included working with a nutritionist.”I remember last August, I was at around 93kg, maybe because I was having too much local food,” he said. “I got injured and then had a hernia operation. I went to NCA [BCCI’s National Cricket Academy] from January 1 to April 1 [this year]. Even during off days, I used to not go home because I knew Monday morning would be my session. I couldn’t waste time.”I ate proper food prepared by my chef. I used to sleep sharp at 10pm and get up early in the morning. Even now, I have decided on my meals for the next week with the help of the chef and nutritionist; they decide how much protein and fat I will have daily, how much water I need to take with my food. We have a group for it which also has my wife. They decide and I just follow. It helped me here.”How has he soaked that moment in, along with the euphoria of being a world champion?”In those four to five seconds, whatever happened, I can’t explain,” he said. “The amount of reaction I have been getting for that, people have been calling, messaging; there are more than 1000 unread WhatsApp messages on my phone. The catch is all over social media. I’m grateful that I was there in those five seconds of play.”

With Everton now mathematically safe from relegation under David Moyes, you would be forgiven from a Toffees perspective to start peaking at the upcoming transfer window, away from merely focusing on May’s upcoming Premier League action.

A new era at Bramley Moore to come could see the Merseysiders enter into a promising, fresh period, with some deadwood allowed to leave in the form of Michael Keane and other out-of-contract personnel, away from just adding in new signings.

One target reportedly on Everton’s agenda was former striker hero Richarlison, but the dramatic move has now been rubbished by the Scotsman in the Goodison Park dugout.

Still, if rumours are to be believed elsewhere that Beto could be on the move, a switch for the Brazilian might well come back up down the line.

Everton's reported interest in Richarlison

Whilst Moyes was dismissive of the potential of a reunion deal, he was still complimentary of the “really good” attacker, meaning the door hasn’t been fully shut.

The South American menace would fire home an impressive 53 strikes for the Toffees from 152 total appearances, before his career fell to the wayside somewhat when moving onto Tottenham Hotspur.

Therefore, with Everton perhaps waving goodbye to striker stalwart Dominic Calvert-Lewin too, a move to bring back such a former potent ace isn’t the wildest suggestion.

But, the Richarlison that terrorised defences at Anfield once upon a time isn’t quite where the Brazilian is right now, with Everton undoubtedly winning when it comes to the £60m deal to offload the 28-year-old, considering he has just a paltry 20 goals for Spurs from 80 often injury-plagued contests.

Consequently – according to Football Transfers – the Spurs number nine’s value now sits at a far lower £22.5m. Amazingly, one top performer back at Goodison Park is now worth more than Richarlison’s updated price-tag, proving his initial £20m valuation to be worthwhile.

The "magic" Everton star now worth more than Richarlison

Everton don’t quite have a red-hot centre-forward like Richarlison currently at their disposal who is hogging the limelight, with the Toffees two top scorers in league action this season that of Iliman N’Diaye and Beto, with the pair on seven and eight goals respectively.

Dwight McNeil does follow just behind on four strikes to play his part, but the ex-Burnley winger’s continued excellence on Merseyside for many a season now has seen his transfer value sensationally soar above Richarlison’s.

After all, the previous weekend in the Premier League saw McNeil return back to the Everton starting XI with a bang, with this sumptuous long-range effort helping his side clinch a 2-2 draw versus Ipswich Town.

But, what usually gets the Everton masses out of their seats is the “magic” – as he was once lauded by football journalist Joe Thomas – forward’s ability to set up a teammate with a golden opportunity, seen in his seven league assists this campaign so far which bumps up his assist count overall to a sizeable 17 from just over a century of appearances.

Matches played

101

Goals scored

15

Assists

17

Value when joining

£20m

Value now

£22.8m

Price increase

£2.8m

He has been held back this season by injury problems, but that hasn’t stopped his price tag from soaring up to £22.8m regardless, representing a £2.8m increase from when he first entered the building back in 2022.

Whilst McNeil is more of a winger option than his South American counterpart, he could be a better attacking option for the Toffees right now than Richarlison, considering the Spurs flop has just four goals in league action this season, like McNeil, despite being a primary centre-forward.

Moreover, any move for their former number seven would feel redundant if Beto does stay put, with the Portuguese attacker on eight for the campaign himself.

McNeil will just hope next season can be an injury-free one on his end away from any new faces entering, meaning he could become an even more influential figure for the Toffees in their brand new stadium.

He's perfect for Delap: Everton open talks to sign "unbelievable" star

Everton have wasted no time in moving for summer targets, already putting in the work to land one star.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2025

Joao Felix has admitted he wants to return to his boyhood club Benfica to regain his form, but his wage demands and transfer fee may block a transfer.

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Joao Felix wishes for a call back to LisbonPortuguese forward unable to shine in recent spellsBenfica interested in bringing the forward homeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Felix has struggled to live up to the hype since leaving Benfica in a big-money move to Atletico Madrid, which was followed by an unsuccessful loan spell at Barcelona. Chelsea then snapped him up, but he failed to get going in the Premier League and was loaned to AC Milan last season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Although he had a good start at San Siro, the Portugal international was inconsistent in the latter half of the season as he amassed three goals and one assist in 21 games for the Italian club. With his future unclear yet again, Felix now hopes to return to Benfica, but Chelsea's asking fee and the player's wages are out of the Portuguese club's budget.

WHAT JOAO FELIX SAID

Chelsea signed Felix for €52 million (£45m/$61) from Los Colchoneros on a seven-year contract. The club are willing to offload the player, and Benfica coach Bruno Lage has been open about the desire to bring him back, but was clear that he must make a compromise on his salary if he is to re-join the Eagles.

Felix has now spoken about his desire to move to Lisbon, saying: "The whole world knows that Benfica is my favourite team. It's my home. One day I will return. I don't know if it's now or in a few years, but if it were now I would be very happy. There are two options: either I stay in England or I return to Benfica."

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR FELIX?

Felix is not a part of Enzo Maresca's project at Chelsea, with the London club already assigning his shirt number to Dario Essugo, suggesting another summer transfer is on the cards.

Fariha Trisna’s hat-trick gives Bangladesh something to celebrate

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2024Georgia Wareham made the most of her opportunity as part of a reshuffled batting order with an impressive maiden T20I fifty as Australia secured the series with a comprehensive 58-run victory, although Fariha Trisna’s hat-trick gave Bangladesh something to savour.Ahead of the tour, Australia coach Shelley Nitschke had indicated to ESPNcricinfo that some different combinations could be tried during the series with an eye on the T20 World Cup later this year, and so it transpired.Wareham and Grace Harris, the latter opening alongside Phoebe Litchfield, added 91 in 54 balls for the second wicket to form the major stand in Australia’s innings. Wareham, who struck ten boundaries, brought up her half-century from 26 deliveries.Litchfield had missed out at the top of the order when she fell for 2 off 7 balls to continue a lean run of form since the India tour over Christmas. In 18 innings since then, taking in the multi-format series against South Africa, the WPL and this tour, she has a top score of 35.Fariha Trisna leaps in celebration after completing her hat-trick•Getty ImagesAustralia stumbled after Wareham departed, managing just 55 for 7 from the remaining 8.3 overs of their innings of which 39 came in a stand between Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry.Left-armer Trisna gave the innings a dramatic conclusion when she removed Perry, Sophie Molineux and Beth Mooney, who was down at No. 9, in consecutive deliveries.Still, Australia’s total proved well out of reach for Bangladesh although they started promisingly with 22 coming off the first two overs. But once the opening stand of 34 was broken by Megan Schutt, it was one-way traffic.Molineux and Ash Gardner took 6 for 27 from their combined eight overs while Wareham added to her runs by removing top-scorer Dilara Akter for 27.The final match of the series takes place on Thursday.

Jonathan David has told his agent to get his transfer to Juventus over the line after reaching a personal agreement with the Serie A side.

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• David agrees personal terms with Juventus
• Signing bonus and Commissions left to be sorted
• David a free agent after running contract down with Lille

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Canadian striker David agreed on a salary of €6 million (£5m/$7m) plus bonuses and must now sort out his agent's commission, according to

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Juventus received a €7 million (£6m/$8m) boost thanks to their Club World Cup participation. This money should aid their pursuit of David. who is a free agent after running his contract down with Lille.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  David is coming off the back of an impressive season with Lille in which he scored 25 goals in all competitions. Juve are eager to sign him as they are expected to sell Dusan Vlahovic this summer due to his refusal to sign a new contract.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DAVID AND JUVENTUS ?

  Juventus president Damien Comolli would be hoping to get the deal over the line as quickly as possible to reinforce their attacking department. For David, it would be a step up for his career moving from Lille to a giant club like Juventus, and he hopes he will be able to recreate his form.

Match details

Lucknow Super Giants (fifth) vs Mumbai Indians (ninth)
Lucknow, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)

Big picture – MI let down by overseas seamers

After two defeats in their last two games, MI’s playoff chances have nosedived, and if they lose on Tuesday, they will be in the same boat as Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Before the season started, MI looked one of the stronger sides despite being thin in the spin department. Somehow, that has not translated into performances, and a big reason behind that is their overseas fast bowlers’ struggles.Jason Behrendorff and Dilshan Madushanka were ruled out with injuries even before the tournament started. Their replacements – Luke Wood and Kwena Maphaka – failed to meet the expectations. Nuwan Thushara has gone for 12 an over in the two games he has played, without any wicket to show for it. Gerald Coetzee, who has 12 wickets in eight games, has also run hot and cold, and has an economy of 10.10. All that has left Jasprit Bumrah with too much to do.Related

• Varun and Salt star in comprehensive KKR win

• Want to win a T20 league? Take wickets

• India's T20 World Cup squad: IPL form unlikely to heavily influence selection

• How many sixes need to be hit before they lose their magic?

While LSG are also coming off a defeat, they are in a much better position on the points table. A win against MI could even propel them to second position. Apart from the advantage of playing at home, they will be boosted by the return of Mayank Yadav, who has passed all his fitness tests.

Form guide

Lucknow Super Giants LWWLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Mumbai Indians LLWLW

Team news and impact player strategy

Lucknow Super Giants
Matt Henry may have to make way for Mayank. That will also allow LSG to bring in Ashton Turner for an out-of-form Devdutt Padikkal.Depending on whether LSG are batting first or bowling, one of Ayush Badoni and Yash Thakur could be the Impact Player.Mayank Yadav’s availability will offer LSG flexibility in their overseas combination•BCCI

Probable XII 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 3 Marcus Stoinis, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Ashton Turner, 7 , 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Mayank Yadav, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Mohsin Khan, 12 Mumbai Indians
MI can consider bringing in Kumar Kartikeya for Luke Wood, especially if the pitch is on the slower side. Suryakumar Yadav (if bowling first) and Nuwan Thushara (if batting first) could be their Impact Player options.Probable XII 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 , 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Nehal Wadhera, 7 Tim David, 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Kumar Kartikeya/Luke Wood, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12

In the spotlight – Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav

Quinton de Kock started IPL 2024 with a bang, scoring two fifties in the first three games. But since then he has struggled for consistency and has crossed 20 only once in six innings. Given LSG have not been able to score freely in the powerplay – their run rate of 8.38 is the second-worst in that phase this season – they need de Kock to be at his best soon.Suryakumar Yadav was expected to revive MI’s fortunes after his return from the injury. While his 166 in six innings so far, at a strike rate of 171.13, are not bad returns, both the runs per innings and strike rate are down by around 10 compared to last season. He has had two 50-plus scores but has made only 36 runs in the other four innings, including two ducks. As MI fight for survival, Suryakumar will have a key role to play.

Stats that matter

• Rohit Sharma has fallen to Amit Mishra eight times in T20s while scoring only 87 runs in 92 balls. Only Sunil Narine has dismissed Rohit more number of times (nine).
• Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Marcus Stoinis four times in 44 balls while giving away just 42 runs.
• Mohammad Nabi has managed to keep Nicholas Pooran quiet: 45 runs in 43 balls, one dismissal. Nabi has been equally frugal against de Kock – 32 runs in 28 balls – even though he has never dismissed him.
• Ravi Bishhnoi has troubled Ishan Kishan (21 runs off as many balls, three dismissals) and Tim David (17 off 23, two dismissals). But Hardik Pandya has taken him for 55 runs in 25 balls and Tilak Varma 38 in 20. Neither has got out to him even once.
• Hardik has managed only 14 runs in 23 balls (one dismissal) against his brother Krunal.

Pitch and conditions

In five games so far in Lucknow, no team has been able to breach 200. Given LSG have a better spin attack than Mumbai, it will not be a surprise if the pitch for Tuesday’s game is on the slower side.

Quotes

“If you look at Quinny’s [de Kock’s] season, he has played nine innings and has scored three fifties, which is not a bad thing. But also, he got out sort of in the first or second overs at times. We will know his X factor. He is a guy who on his day can take their game away from you. Do you want to make too many changes? I think with the experience he brings at the top, you don’t want to change that. Just with his history, you need to back him in that position.”
“This is a slightly bigger ground as compared to others, so that will be a relief for the spinners. We want to keep things as simple as possible – restrict runs and try to take wickets.”

هاجم أحمد حسام ميدو، نجم منتخب مصر السابق، مسؤولي استاد القاهرة الدولي بسبب ضغط المباريات على أرضيته قبل ساعات من استضافة مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك.

وكتب ميدو عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “إكس”: “استاد القاهرة أُقيمت عليه 8 مباريات خلال 12 يومًا من 18/9 حتى 29/9: مودرن وإنبي، الأهلي وسيراميكا، زد والاتحاد، الزمالك والجونة، البنك الأهلي ووادي دجلة، زد والحرس، مودرن وفاركو، الأهلي والزمالك”.

وأضاف نجم الزمالك السابق: “والنتيجة أننا ندمر أرضية الملعب، النجيلة لها عدد ساعات معين.. عبث لا يحدث إلا في الدوري المصري”.

استاد القاهرة اتلعب علية ٨ مباريات خلال ١٢ يوم من ٩/١٨ حتى ٩/٢٩
مودرن وانبى
الأهلي وسيراميكا
زد والاتحاد
الزمالك والجونة
البنك الأهلي ووادى دجلة
زد والحرس
مودرن وفاركو
الأهلي والزمالك
والنتيجة ان احنا بندمر أرضية الملعب
النجيلة دي ليها عدد ساعات معين
عبث لا يحدث إلا في… — Mido (@midoahm) September 29, 2025

ويأتي انتقاد ميدو في وقت تتجه فيه أنظار الجماهير إلى استاد القاهرة، حيث يحتضن الليلة “كلاسيكو العرب” بين الأهلي والزمالك في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الممتاز.

ورغم الهجوم، أكدت مصادر داخل الاستاد أن الساعات الماضية شهدت جهودًا مكثفة لإخراج الملعب في أفضل صورة، حيث جرى تجهيز أرضية اللعب بشكل كامل، فضلًا عن غرف الملابس، المدرجات، ومناطق جلوس الجماهير، مع تنفيذ خطة تنظيمية ومرورية لتأمين الحضور.

وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن القمة النارية المنتظرة بين الأهلي والزمالك، يسعى فيها الفارس الأبيض للفوز من أجل الابتعاد بصدارة ترتيب الدوري، حيث يتواجد في المركز الأول برصيد 17 نقطة.

على الجانب الآخر، يسعى الأهلي لتحقيق الانتصار من أجل العودة من جديد إلى المنافسة على لقب بطولة الدوري للموسم الحالي، بعد البداية السيئة، حيث يحتل المركز السابع برصيد 12 نقطة.

Kaur and Mandhana, two of the team’s leaders, believe this loss will help them become better in the future

Annesha Ghosh at the MCG08-Mar-2020Shafali Verma doesn’t have a reference point for defeat in a World Cup final. Nor does her fellow 16-year-old team-mate Richa Ghosh. This was their first world tournament; this was India’s first T20 World Cup final. The hurt of an 85-run hiding at the hands of a ruthlessly clinical Australian side, therefore, found expression in raw emotions. Tears streamed down the cheeks of the two youngest members of an Indian side whose undefeated run in the tournament snapped in the final.Verma, barely six months into her international career, finished as India’s top-run getter; her four-match streak of brisk 25-plus scores ending with an underwhelming 2. A look of disbelief followed her edge off a short ball from Megan Schutt that the wicketkeeper, Alyssa Healy, gobbled up. Self-chastisement began as she threw her head back on her way off the field. Earlier in the day, she had dropped Healy on 9, who went on to make a match-defining 39-ball 75.Ghosh had had little idea she would be playing any part in the match other than carrying drinks until India’s daunting 185 chase entered its final ten overs. Coming in for the concussed No. 3 Taniya Bhatia, Ghosh came out at No. 8 in the wake of Veda Krishnamurthy’s dismissal in the 12th over. The teenager struck an enterprising run-a-ball 18, but much like the rest of the batters that came after the top five, her resistance proved futile, and her attempts to add respectability to their chase, foiled.”At 16, I had not watched women’s cricket, let alone starting to play myself,” India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur said. “And here they are, playing for India. It’s a big thing. Yes, Shafali took the dropped chance to her heart. On one level, you understand these are kids we’re talking about.”But at some level, they must also realise what their mistake was and take this as a lesson. Such things help you become better, look for motivation within. Shafali has a long way to go, but the sooner you learn from these mistakes, the better.”In Kaur’s view, their runners-up finish at the T20 World Cup in Melbourne wasn’t the same as the Lord’s heartbreak for the Mithali Raj-led side at the 2017 ODI World Cup final.”I guess 2017 was more disappointing because that was so close, but today what we were expecting of ourselves, we didn’t play that cricket,” Kaur, who was part of both teams, said. “But as our team is quite young, we did really well in the league games, and I think at the last T20 World Cup we reached the semis and this year the finals. I think, if we just keep working on ourselves and keep improving, then maybe in the future we can win.”A disappointed Indian team at the presentation ceremony•Getty ImagesAt the MCG, the sound of the record 86, 174 crowd was deafening. By the time the result of the game had been decided, a visibly distraught Verma stood close to vice-captain Smriti Mandhana before they went up on the stage to collect their medal.”I told her she has got to be really proud of the kind of campaign she had,” Mandhana said. “As a 16-year-old, when I first played the World Cup, I couldn’t hit the ball 60% of the way she could. She was really upset the way she got out. But she is that kind of a kid – she keeps thinking about how to get better.”This time she should be left alone. This is the time to introspect. Especially because failure teaches you more than success. I think the whole team should be left alone and just introspect how we can grow as players.Mandhana’s own form at the tournament was far from convincing. In four innings, including the final, she made 49 runs at an average of 12.25, the dearth of a half-century from her or anyone else through the World Cup laid exposed in the final. All shortcomings considered, Mandhana said there were positives in India’s campaign, which she too believed, was unlike the 2017 edition of the 50-over World Cup.

At 16, I had not watched women’s cricket, let alone starting to play myself. And here they are, playing for India. It’s a big thingHarmanpreet Kaur on Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh

“That was a different format,” Mandhana said, “T20 was not one of our strengths. One-day is still our preferred format, and yet the way we have come out of it and played our cricket in the last 8-10 months… But our team performance overall has been quite good. That’s something [coach] Raman sir worked on – to develop this as a team and not just create one or two players.”You get one or two players out and you win a match. Obviously, it didn’t work out the way we thought it would today. That’s a very good thing Raman sir has got into this team. And the way the youngsters have come in and changed the set-up totally.”The pressure of the crowd, Mandhana added, wasn’t a factor in India’s loss. Nor was the buzz in general around the team in the lead-up to the final.”We all are really off everything. We have changed our numbers,” she said. “We are not on Instagram or Twitter for us to think at the moment. The crowd was amazing, but given we play in front of noisy crowds at home, so we are kind of used to playing noisy crowd. We were not much concerned about that; we just wanted to play good cricket.”Shafali Verma was dismissed by Megan Schutt in the first over•Getty ImagesAs for the 16-year-olds, Mandhana called for moderation and fairness from team-mates and fans alike. “She [Verma], for example, got good runs in the last four matches. T20 is a format where, especially as an opener, one day you will go and get 80 runs, another day you will get eight runs. If we can take those innings so well and appreciate them, then I think we will have to be beside her after this innings as well.”Pace spearhead Shikha Pandey echoed Mandhana, adding the emotional heft of their young players’ reaction to the loss was only natural. “They’ve played their first World Cup. They still have a long way to go. So we would just go have a chat with them and tell them we can get back stronger next time. It’s okay for them to emotional express what they are feeling.”Pandey, like Mandhana and Kaur, is among the select few in this T20I side who saw India collapse at Lord’s to squander what looked like a likely maiden world title. Though India have come up short in two finals in four years, she underlined the enormity of the night, and the luminaries who helped make the final a watershed moment in women’s cricket, should not be forgotten.”It’s a privilege to have spoken to her today, and have met her in person,” Pandey said about tennis legend Billie Jean King, who was seen speaking to the Indian side after they lost the game. “She’s someone who’s done so much for women’s sport in general, and someone’s who’s actively working towards equal pay and opportunities for women. She just said we were unlucky to have lost today… we must keep working hard. She said she’s very proud of us.”As India now shift their focus to the ODI World Cup that begins in less than a year in New Zealand, lessons from this T20 world tournament might come in handy, and King’s words in particular could spur them on to overcoming the final frontier soon.

da dobrowin： Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is personally keen on a high-earning centre-forward, who’d now reportedly jump at the chance to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal two-man striker target list with Andrea Berta holding talks

da marjack bet： According to recent reports, two players currently stand out as Arsenal’s most desired striker targets – Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Related Arsenal seal first summer sale as "high level" player completes European move

A few more expected to follow this summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

Going by the on-field and off-field numbers, it is clear to see why this is the case.

Gyokeres, who’s racked up a phenomenal 53 goals in all competitions for Sporting this season, could also depart the Primeira Liga side for a fee of up to £60 million, according to Fabrizio Romano, so he’d be an arguable bargain when factoring in the 26-year-old’s record.

Viktor Gyokeres – stats by club

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Sporting CP

101

96

28

Coventry City

116

43

17

Brommapojkarna

67

25

9

FC St. Pauli

28

7

4

Swansea City

12

1

0

Brighton

8

1

1

via Transfermarkt

Meanwhile, Sesko’s current release clause stands at £67 million, and the Slovenia international actually bettered his goalscoring tally from last season (18) with 21 goals across all competitions.

While some reports in Portugal earlier this week stated that Arsenal have agreed a £59m fee to sign Gyokeres from Sporting (O Jogo), this claim appears to have jumped the gun, as Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated on Friday that Berta is holding serious talks over a move for Sesko.

Arsenal’s pursuit of a top goalscorer remains very much open, as Berta identifies targets who he believes would be best-suited to Arteta.

Interestingly, as per journalist Simon Phillips last week, Arteta would personally prefer Sesko, while Berta is believed to be more of a fan of Gyokeres.

What’s clear, though, is Arsenal’s glaring need for another striker. Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for most of this calendar year, following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

While the latter has since returned to action, it is imperative that Arsenal don’t wait any longer to sign a 25-plus-goals-per-season forward, as they look to mount a successful Premier League title challenge.

Dušan Vlahović would "immediately" join Arsenal this summer

According to some reports, there are other centre-forwards on Berta’s shopping list, albeit further down the pecking order when compared to Sesko and Gyokeres.

Journalist Daniele Longo, writing a piece for Calciomercato, shares that Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is one of them.

The Serbia international is entering the final 12 months of his £359,000-per-week contract at Juve, and with no sign of a renewal, it would appear that the Old Lady must be more inclined to sell him this summer, rather than lose Vlahovic for nothing in 2026.

Longo states that Vlahovic “would immediately pack his bags” and join Arsenal if given the opportunity, and Berta personally wants the ex-Fiorentina star, even if he’s less of a transfer priority.

The “starting” price of any negotiations for Vlahovic comes at around £42 million, which could be seen by some as good value, considering the “machine” has scored at least 14 total goals per season since 2020/21.

If Berta were to seriously pursue him, Arsenal’s major obstacle would undoubtedly be Vlahovic’s extortionate wages.

Liverpool and high-class forwards have long stood in a productive affinity, even before Jurgen Klopp changed Anfield’s direction, previously spiralling out of control under Brendan Rodgers’ wing.

There have been many. Mohamed Salah is the cream of the Premier League’s attacking pool right now, indeed one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history, but Arne Slot’s recognised strikers, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, have been beset with problems this year.

Nunez, in particular, has been a massive let-down. No transfer figure spent in Liverpool’s long history stretches north of the Uruguayan, who joined from Benfica for £85m in 2022 but, now aged 25, is set to depart this summer having failed to ever reach his potential.

He certainly hasn’t succeeded in replacing Bobby Firmino, one of the greatest modern forwards to grace Merseyside.

Why Bobby Firmino was so special

Liverpool signed Firmino from German club Hoffenheim for £29m in 2015, months before Klopp’s appointment changed everything.

Silky and stylish, he was perfect for Klopp’s gegenpressing style of football, an industrious worker, an intelligent technician and a balletic dancer across the frontline.

Distinctive and the connecting axis from which Salah and Sadio Mane swooped and struck from either flank, the Brazilian left at the end of his contract in 2023 with a legacy that most players could only dream of.

His brilliance is all the more sorely missed due to Nunez’s failure to live up to the billing, and Liverpool appear to yearn for that presence at number nine, ramping up their interest in the next version of the South American star.

Liverpool lining up their next Firmino

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are looking to repeat their Firmino trick in signing an up-and-comer from the Bundesliga this summer, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike in FSG’s scope.

Ekitike has been one of the most talked-about forwards of the current campaign, with his performances catching the eyes of numerous high-profile suitors. Liverpool scouts, indeed, were in attendance when he scored against Tottenham in the Europa League one week ago.

And it’s thought that Liverpool are now moving the 22-year-old up to the top of their summer shopping list, though they would be required to fork out €85m (about £73m).

Why Hugo Ekitike would be perfect for Slot

Alexander Isak would be the dream. But dreams aren’t often bedded in reality, and Newcastle United’s £150m demands are sure to act as a strong repellent on FSG.

And that’s completely fair enough, especially when Ekitike – who data-driven site FBref record as one of Isak’s most statistically similar players – is ostensibly available for half the price.

One of the most attractive parts about Isak’s skill set is that he can marry varying parts of the striker’s game, unleashing himself as a truly dynamic and fearsome force.

Ekitike can be that focal point for Liverpool, indeed replicating Firmino in the process.

Ekitike, like Bobby Dazzler, would be signed from Germany as an up-and-coming attacking talent, albeit with a higher stock.

But the likeness doesn’t end there. Ekitike is not just “one of the best strikers out there,” according to analyst Ben Mattinson, but his protean approach mirrors that of Firmino’s, with Frankfurt correspondent Christopher Michel piling on the praise and claiming “his technique is one of the best in Europe and his foot is like glue for the ball.”

Having struggled to get going as a youngster at Paris Saint-Germain moved on loan to Frankfurt for the latter half of the 2023/24 season before signing permanently for a reported €35m (£30m) fee.

The first impression at his new home was one of promise. He struggled to acclimatise as winter turned to spring, though he finished the campaign off on firm footing, firing home in four of Frankfurt’s final five league matches of 2023/24, assisting in the other.

This season, the seeds of success have bloomed, with the France native having posted 21 goals and nine assists across all competitions, showcasing a balance of output that Firmino would be proud of.

Let’s look at how the players compare. Firmino didn’t play all that much during his final season at Liverpool but you can clearly see the similarities between the two silky forwards, with Ekitike actually proving he has a charged athleticism that could outstrip the Brazilian even in his heyday.

This energetic and clinical quality would give Liverpool exactly what they need next season, easing Salah’s burden while giving the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz (should he stay put) greater license to strike on goal and raise their scoring numbers.

Ekitike is what Liverpool thought Nunez would be, and while he hasn’t yet step foot on Premier League grass, the talented Frenchman has the perfect skill set to front Slot’s system and the data to back it all up.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 7% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 9% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for all of progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

To put that another, more digestible, way: Ekitike is technically gifted, an able runner who not only drives his way into dangerous positions but maximises his chances of making things happen once arriving at such crucial junctures.

Transfer Focus

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He’s got Liverpool written all over him, and while £73m or thereabouts would put him among the Anfield side’s most expensive signings in history, the pointers suggest this would be a road worth heading down.

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