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Chelsea chiefs are prepared to ship off a fair few players this summer after already spending around £140 million on new signings, with BlueCo intent on balancing the books to ensure they’re in line with FFP regulations.

In talks: Chelsea identify "next top target" in £60m star, he's keen to join

The Blues could yet another new attacker to their ranks.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025

Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are both poised to join Enzo Maresca’s side, with the latter having his medical in the US before his £55 million switch from Brighton, which has now been officially confirmed. Chelsea also agreed a deal for Gittens at that same price.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

This follows their £30 million move for Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, and it is believed that Chelsea are in talks over a move for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus as their next top attacking target (Simon Phillips).

If they do land Kudus next, the west Londoners will need to start selling players for significant fees, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga coming as their only senior exit so far.

Kepa joined Arsenal for around £5 million, which was announced earlier this week, and Chelsea are fully expected to orchestrate a few more high-profile exits.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi could all leave Stamford Bridge this summer, according to The Athletic, alongside more first-team regulars.

Christopher Nkunku is allegedly pushing to leave, while the likes of Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are attracting reported interest from London rivals Arsenal.

Maresca’s backlog of surplus wingers will need some trimming, and that includes England international Raheem Sterling, who’s now back after a lacklustre loan spell at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea ready to sell Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke

Journalist Pete O’Rourke, sharing an update for Football Insider, says that Chelsea are ready to accept offers for both Sterling and Madueke.

The latter, who cost around £30 million to sign from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, has played a key role under Maresca in recent months – earning praise from England boss Thomas Tuchel for his performances at international level too.

However, Madueke will be allowed to leave for the right price, and it could very well be for Arsenal, given the serious links and their extremely productive business relationship over the last few transfer windows.

Chelsea are very unlikely to receive a bid close to Sterling’s original £50 million deal from Man City, but it will be a boost for BlueCo to get the 30-year-old’s seismic £325,000-per-week wages off the books.

Reports in Spain last week suggested that Besiktas were in talks to sign Sterling, so there could be an avenue to explore in the Turkish Süper Lig, or perhaps in Saudi Arabia, where sides stand the best chance of getting anywhere near his sky-high salary in terms of a contract offer.

Another defeat would put Afghanistan on brink of elimination, while victory for Australia would set them up beautifully for a semi-final spot

Deivarayan Muthu22-Jun-20241:09

Maxwell: Hopefully a few mental scars from the double century

Match detailsAfghanistan vs Australia
Kingstown, 8.30pm local time
Big Picture: All eyes on Glenn MaxwellThe last time Australia faced Afghanistan, history was made. A cramping Glenn Maxwell was writhing in pain – he could barely walk, let alone run – but pulled off a miracle in Mumbai. They were struggling at 91 for 7 in pursuit of 293, but Maxwell’s epic double-hundred put Australia back on track for another world title and left Afghanistan on the brink of elimination.Maxwell then endured a difficult IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he even took a break. He started the T20 World Cup with a duck against Oman and then laboured to 28 off 25 balls against England. He was bowled cheaply by a ripper from Mark Watt in the chase against Scotland, but in the chase against Bangladesh, he showed signs of his best, though he faced only six balls in a rain-hit fixture. He swatted legspinner Rishad Hossain over long-on and crunched Mustafizur Rahman through the covers. Maxwell finished with 14 off six balls at a strike rate of 233.33. Australia will hope that Maxwell, the spin-hitter, can produce an even bigger impact against Rashid Khan and co. on a Kingstown pitch that has been conducive to spin.Related

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

Australia's World Cup mojo on full display in bid for triple crown

ESPNcricinfo Awards 2023 Men's ODI batting winner: Glenn Maxwell vs the world

Though Maxwell is yet to hit full tilt, Australia’s middle order (between Nos. 4-7) has struck at 168.09, the best among all 20 teams in this T20 World Cup. In contrast, Afghanistan’s middle order has struck at less than 100 – the lowest among all Full-Member teams in this tournament. Adam Zampa and potentially Ashton Agar could make life even more difficult for the Afghanistan middle-order batters in Kingstown.This game will be played in the backdrop of some tension between the two boards. Cricket Australia has refused to play Afghanistan in bilateral series in the recent past because of political reasons. Australia’s decision to pull out of multiple bilateral series against Afghanistan has met fierce condemnation, including a threat from Rashid Khan to pull out of the BBL. Afghanistan’s players will be out to prove a point about their standing in the global game when they take Australia on in a third World Cup game in three years.Form guideAfghanistan LLWWW
Australia WWWWW1:44

Rashid Khan: Middle-order batting needs to improve

In the spotlight: Naveen-ul-Haq and Tim DavidNaveen-ul-Haq has taken some pasting in the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup, but he is Afghanistan’s best bet to counter Australia’s power-packed line-up at the death. He can bowl yorkers from a slingy action and has several slower variations, including the knuckle ball, tailor-made for the low bounce in St Vincent. Naveen has a chance to add to those variations by working with Dwayne Bravo at Afghanistan and Texas Super Kings in the upcoming MLC.Naveen, though, will have to be wary of Tim David, who has taken him for 50 off 38 balls in T20 cricket being dismissed. David also has a good head-to-head record against Rashid – 62 off 45 balls with just two dismissals – and has been working on his own spin bowling though Australia haven’t needed his secondary skill in the T20 World Cup proper. If David doesn’t get you, Marcus Stoinis will. If Stoinis doesn’t get you, Maxwell will.Team news: Will Australia bring back Agar?Hazratullah Zazai fell cheaply against India, but Afghanistan will likely give him another go.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Hazratullah Zazai, 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiConsidering the slow, turning tracks in Kingstown and Afghanistan’s right-hand heavy line-up, Australia might bring back left-arm fingerspinner Agar, instead of one of the three frontline quicks, and pair him up with Zampa and Maxwell.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Tim David, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood/Ashton Agar, 11 Adam ZampaPitch and conditions: Spin to winSpinners have thrived in Kingstown, picking up 22 wickets at an economy rate of 5.64 in six innings this tournament. Expect more of the same when two of the world’s best T20 wristspinners Rashid and Zampa will be in action on Saturday night. Chances of rain are low on Saturday evening.Stats and trivia: Farooqi dominates powerplay Agar has dismissed Nabi twice in ten balls while conceding just four runs in T20 cricket. He is one wicket away from becoming the second Australia spinner, after Zampa, to 50 T20I wickets. Farooqi has bagged 15 wickets in this T20 World Cup at an economy rate of 5.45. Eight of those 15 wickets have come in the powerplay, the most by a bowler during this phase in the tournament. Travis Head, David and Stoinis have hit 129 sixes among them in T20 cricket this year.Quotes”I think there are a few players who are very early in their international careers and they will learn from it. And World Cup is always the biggest stage when you’re playing against the biggest team as well.”

“Yeah, it was nice to get out there and hit a couple, but I’ve said it pretty consistently. I felt pretty good throughout the whole tournament.”

Everton have been put through the wringer over the past several years, but the return of David Moyes in January has turned the club back in the right direction.

The Friedkin Group have a daunting task ahead, with so many players out of contract at the end of the month. But it’s also a golden opportunity to redesign the Toffees squad as they step into a new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

New CEO Angus Kinnear, who left Leeds United to replace Kevin Thelwell in May, has got his work cut out, but Everton are willing to entrust their senior figures with the big decisions, and understandably so, given Moyes has identified an exciting new option to strengthen the frontline.

Everton make their first move

According to Turkish outlet A Spor, Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz has been approached by Everton as they look to add depth and dynamism to Moyes’ squad.

Yilmaz can play across both attacking flanks and thus would fit the bill as to what the manager hopes to add. It’s understood that the Merseysiders will soon present an opening £16m offer, but that the Istanbul club are holding out for a figure closer to £29m.

With Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom both returning to their parent clubs after difficult loan spells at Goodison Park, this could be a shrewd signing indeed for the Blues.

What Yilmaz would bring to Everton

Everton’s Premier League pedigree has at times felt threatened by the turbulence at the club over recent seasons, by the dysfunction that has led to palpable fears of relegation.

Moyes, though, transformed the club when arriving in January, after 12 years away. Everton finished comfortably in 13th place, and if they can get things right during the off-season, bringing in players such as Yilmaz, they could be headed for a new level of success.

Yilmaz, a silky and talented winger, would certainly ease the burden on Iliman Ndiaye’s shoulders, the Senegalese star hailed by pundit Jamie Redknapp for his “dynamite” qualities after joining from Marseille for £15m last summer.

He could even prove an upgrade on Dwight McNeil, taking his place in the starting line-up as Charly Alcaraz makes the number ten spot his own, especially after notching 20 goal contributions from 48 matches for Gala last season.

That came after a EURO 2024 showdown with the Netherlands, which led Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk to declare his adversary “difficult for every defender”.

The Turk’s constant running and unrelenting intensity suggest he’d be a fantastic addition to the Premier League, potentially even capable of keeping McNeil on the bench.

Everton’s industrious playmaker started the 2023/24 season off with aplomb, but a knee injury ruled him out for the entirety of the midseason. Still, the one-time Burnley talent finished the year with four goals and eight assists from 21 top-flight fixtures, 15 starts.

League Stats 24/25 – Baris Yilmaz vs Dwight McNeil

Stats (* per game)

Yilmaz

McNeil

Matches (starts)

32 (29)

21 (15)

Goals

12

4

Assists

3

8

Touches*

46.9

39.4

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (0.9)

1.2 (0.5)

Pass completion

75%

83%

Big chances created

8

12

Key passes*

1.4

1.8

Dribbles*

1.4

1.1

Ball recoveries*

3.0

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

0.9

Duels won*

6.3

2.8

Data via Sofascore

Though McNeil is evidently the more naturally creative player, Everton could add a new dimension to their attacking efforts by bringing Yilmaz in.

Everton, let’s not forget, finished 13th in the chance creation standings last season (63 big chances created) but only scored 42 goals, fewer than all but the three relegated outfits.

Ultimately, it would serve Moyes well to have both players in the team next season, but Yilmaz’s pace and directness offer shades of Ndiaye, and we’ve seen how well he took to life in the Premier League when signing for Everton.

Related Everton ready to trigger £30m release clause for "exciting" DCL replacement

The Toffees could land their Liam Delap alternative.

Posts 2 ByTom Cunningham Jun 8, 2025

Being kicked out of a major tournament isn’t something that happens very often in football. In fact, it’s an incredibly rare event, but it has happened.

From match fixing scandals, to financial foolishness, to plain stupidity, here are 10 times clubs were kicked out of various competitions.

1 Club Leon (2025) Denied place in expanded Club World Cup

FIFA expanded their Club World Cup to include 32 teams from 2025, but Mexican side Club Leon were booted out of the competition after falling foul of the rules regarding multi-club ownership.

They had qualified via winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023, with rivals Pachuca – who are also owned by Grupo Pachuca – winning the tournament a year later.

With these clubs unable to participate in the same competition, Leon were eventually booted out. FIFA created a play-off match between MLS outfit LAFC and Mexican side Club America to decide which team will take their place.

2 Juventus (2006) Relegated to Serie B

The Calcipoli scandal shook Italian football, but no club was more affected by the consequences than Juventus. Uncovered in May 2006, it was a major sports controversy in Italy’s Serie A and Serie B football leagues. It involved several clubs, executives and football bodies, including Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio, Milan and Reggina.

The scandal was revealed through telephone tappings, exposing relations between club executives and referee organisations during the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons, with accusations of referee selection to favour specific clubs.

Juventus, the league champions, were severely penalised, being stripped of the 2004/05 Serie A title, relegated to Serie B, and downgraded to last place in the 2005/06 season.

While popularly known as a match-fixing scandal, no match-fixing violations were found for Juventus in intercepted calls. The club was absolved of wrongdoing, but sporting executives Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo received lifetime bans.

A subsequent investigation implicated other clubs, though they weren’t put on trial due to the statute of limitations.

Legal battles ensued, with damage claims and appeals, leading to controversy and ongoing debates. Juventus returned to Serie A, eventually dominating with a record nine consecutive league titles.

3 Marseille (1994) Relegated to Ligue 2

After winning the Champions League the season before, Marseille were kicked out of Ligue 1 in 1994 after a bribery scandal that changed French football forever. The French football bribery scandal, known as Affaire VA-OM, unfolded during the 1992/93 French Ligue 1 season in a match between Valenciennes and Olympique de Marseille.

Marseille president Bernard Tapie and general manager Jean-Pierre Bernès sought to influence the game by bribing Valenciennes players, including Jorge Burruchaga, Jacques Glassmann and Christophe Robert.

The aim was to ensure Marseille’s players remained fresh for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final against Milan. Glassmann refused the bribe, exposing the scandal. Despite winning the match and the league title, Marseille faced severe consequences.

The scandal led to Marseille being stripped of the title, but runners-up Paris Saint-Germain declined to be named champions, resulting in no official winner for the 1992/93 season. Tapie, Bernès, Burruchaga, Jean-Jacques Eydelie and Robert were convicted of corruption in subsequent trials.

Tapie and Eydelie served jail terms, while Bernès, Burruchaga, and Robert received suspended sentences. The aftermath included Marseille’s relegation to Division 2 for the 1994/95 season due to financial difficulties. Glassmann, who refused the bribe, was honoured with the 1995 FIFA Fair Play Award.

4 Ismaily (2019) Kicked out of CAF Champions League

In 2019, Egyptian club Ismaily were disqualified from the competition following the disruption of their fixture against Club Africain.

The disqualification stemmed from Ismaily fans hurling stones and water bottles at match officials and players from the visiting Tunisian club, leading referee Neant Alioum to call for the teams to retreat to the changing rooms during stoppage time, with Club Africain leading 2-1.

CAF’s decision to expel Ismaily from the competition parallels a previous disqualification of Algerian side Entente Sportive de Setif in 2016 after a similar episode against Mamelodi Sundowns. As a result of Ismaily’s expulsion, their results in Group C were nullified.

The club was eventually reinstated after CAF overturned the decision, stating there was no evidence of an invasion or targeted aggression towards the visiting team.

5 Fenerbahce & Besiktas (2013) Banned from European football

Turkish football clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas faced UEFA sanctions following a domestic match-fixing scandal from 2011. UEFA banned Fenerbahce from European football for two seasons and imposed a suspended third-season ban.

Besiktas received a one-season ban from UEFA competitions. Both clubs were implicated in a 2011 Turkish league scandal, leading to convictions for 93 individuals, including Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim. Yildirim received over six years in prison but was released pending an appeal.

The UEFA disciplinary panel considered evidence over several months and ruled that Fenerbahce would miss the upcoming Champions League and any subsequent European competitions. Besiktas, implicated in the 2011 Turkish Cup final, were excluded from the next Europa League.

The Turkish Football Federation had previously imposed bans on players and officials but took no action against clubs involved in the scandal.

6 Lazio & Milan (1980) Relegated to Serie B

After a match-fixing scandal, Milan and Lazio were relegated to Serie B, while three Serie A and two Serie B clubs faced five-point deductions. The Italian Football Federation banned 20 players, half of whom had represented the Italian national team.

Notably, Paolo Rossi, a key figure in the Azzurri team that won the 1982 World Cup, received a reduced two-year sentence. Milan’s president, Felice Colombo, was initially banned for life but later received a six-year suspension.

The scandal originated in the state-run Totocalcio competition era, leading a struggling merchant, Massimo Cruciani, to approach a restaurant owner, Alvaro Trinca, with a match-fixing scheme. The Totonero black market in football betting facilitated their plan.

Despite facing heavy losses, Cruciani and Trinca filed a complaint, leading to arrests and subsequent sanctions by the Italian Football Federation, casting a dark shadow over Italian football.

7 Real Madrid (2015) Disqualified from Copa del Rey

Real Madrid were disqualified from the Copa del Rey in 2015 for fielding an ineligible player, Denis Cheryshev, during the round-of-32 match against Cadiz on December 2. Cheryshev scored the opening goal in a 3-1 victory, but it was later revealed that he should have been serving a one-match suspension.

Despite Real Madrid’s appeals, the Spanish Football Federation maintained its decision. The competition judge acknowledged that Cheryshev was not personally notified about his ban, a crucial requirement for the suspension to take effect.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted that the club received no communication from the federation regarding Cheryshev’s suspension and vowed to take the matter to appeals and the arbitration court. Cheryshev had incurred a one-game ban after receiving his third yellow card in the 2014/15 Copa del Rey campaign while on loan at Villarreal.

8 5 Armenian football clubs (2023) Massive Armenian match-fixing scandal

This match-fixing scandal was so audacious, we can’t help but wonder how these clubs thought they would get away with it. The Armenian Football Federation (FFA) has just suspended the country’s second tier and disqualified five teams due to evidence of their involvement in match-fixing.

Around 45 individuals, including club owners, players, and coaches, have received life bans, with an additional 13 individuals banned for varying periods for their roles in match manipulation. The FFA cited “undeniable evidence” from international organisations and law enforcement agencies for its decision.

Club owners with Russian passports, Russian players and coaches, as well as Ukrainian, Latvian and Belarusian footballers, were reportedly among those banned. Teams such as Lokomotiv Yerevan, Aragats, Torpedo Yerevan and Masis were disqualified from the championship following suspicious results, including scorelines like 12-0, 0-12, 1-8, 9-2, 0-7, 0-8, and 8-2.

FC Yerevan, which had withdrawn from the 2019/20 Premier League due to financial and technical problems, were also disqualified for match-fixing.

9 Parma (2015) Relegated to Serie D

Parma used to be a real force in Italian football. Players like Hernan Crespo, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon were just a few of the greats to wear their beautiful kits. Unfortunately, in 2015, it all came crumbling down for the old giants.

The two-time UEFA Cup winners were relegated to the fourth tier of Italian football due to their inability to secure a new owner. The club declared bankruptcy and had been seeking a buyer to address their financial troubles.

Parma’s relegation followed a series of financial challenges, including a late tax payment that led to their exclusion from the Europa League during the 2014/15 season.

10 Rangers Relegated to Scottish Third Division

In 2012, Rangers as we knew it ceased to exist. They had to start anew from the fourth tier after a financial crisis led to their expulsion from the Scottish Premier League.

The decision by Scottish Football League clubs marked a significant downturn for the Gers, who faced administration before a takeover led by Charles Green.

Rangers had initially wanted to join the second tier, but 25 out of 30 clubs voted for them to begin at the bottom of the footballing hierarchy in Scotland. This move contrasted sharply with Rangers’ historical prominence and average attendance of over 45,000 at their Ibrox stadium.

The club have since made their way back to the top of Scottish football, winning their first title since their relegation under Steven Gerrard in 2020/21.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta will personally try to convince Mikel Arteta to green-light a move for one PSG star, who he tried and failed to sign during his 12-year stay at Atletico Madrid.

Andrea Berta kick-starting Arsenal transfer plans for this summer

One of Berta’s first acts, following his confirmed appointment in late March, was to reach out to the representatives of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, and he’s shown little sign of slowing down since then.

£42m Chelsea target now privately imagining a transfer to Arsenal instead

The Gunners are emerging as favourites.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 6, 2025

The Italian’s reputation as an astute operator in the transfer market has excited plenty of on-lookers ahead of his debut window at Arsenal, and it is believed the 53-year-old could spearhead a £300 million spend on as many as seven major signings (GiveMeSport).

Arsenal’s final Premier League games	Date
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th
Southampton (away)	May 25th

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Berta is also pushing to sign Sporting Cp striker Viktor Gyokeres, in a bid to end Arsenal’s long wait for a prolific centre-forward who can guarantee 25-plus goals-per-season for Arteta.

Arsenal are also in the market for wide players and potentially an alternative to star forward Bukayo Saka, with the England international’s spells out through injury at points this season giving Arteta a major headache.

Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané is still a target for Arsenal in that regard, as the ex-Man City star is yet to pen fresh terms at the Allianz Arena, and his contract is due to expire this summer as things stand.

Sane switched agents at the last minute during negotiations over a new deal at Bayern, as confirmed by club president Herbert Hainer, which has now thrown a spanner in the works.

However, if the Germany international does end up officially putting pen to paper, Arsenal will need to move on to other targets.

Andrea Berta wants Lee Kang-in at Arsenal

According to a report from The Sun and journalist Simon Barlow, versatile £119,000-per-week PSG forward Lee Kang-in is attracting attention from Arsenal, and Berta specifically.

As per their information, Berta will push Arteta to approve an Arsenal swoop for Lee, coming after the 53-year-old attempted to sign him for Atletico during his time with the La Liga side.

Berta was apparently the driving force behind Atletico’s pursuit of the South Korea international when he was at Mallorca, only for him to choose a move to the Parc des Princes instead.

Lee has featured in a variety of attacking roles under Luis Enrique this term, predominantly on the right-wing, but also on the left, as an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward and even back in defence. This could be highly attractive from Arteta’s perspective, as he’s known to seriously value versatility in any new player.

PSG are also eager to sell the 24-year-old, as per this report, so a deal could be completed in quick fashion.

After reaching a seventh successive FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, Manchester City’s focus now turns back to ensuring they’ll be in next season’s Champions League.

With nine Premier League fixtures to go, Pep Guardiola’s team are fifth, thereby occupying the final Champions League position, but they’re far from guaranteed to stay there, given that five clubs are four points or fewer behind.

With a Manchester derby to come at Old Trafford on Sunday, it is imperative that the Sky Blues beat bottom-three dwellers Leicester at the Etihad on Wednesday night.

As Guardiola targets three points from that seeming home banker, he should unleash Man City’s “quality” youngster ahead of Abdukodir Khusanov.

How Abdukodir Khusanov has performed at Man City

As noted by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, Manchester City outspent the other 19 Premier League clubs combined in January, splashing around £180m on five new recruits, including Khusanov, who arrived from Lens for a reported fee of £33.8m.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise, considering he was playing for Enerhetyk-BDU Minsk in the Belarusian top division as recently as July 2023, becoming the first Uzbek to feature in the Premier League 18 months later.

The defender debuted against Chelsea in January, ‘thrown in at the deep end’ according to Jordan Campbell of the Athletic, before making an almighty error less than three minutes in, his ‘undercooked’ back-header gifting the Blues an early opener.

Luckily for him, Man City roared back to win 3-1.

After a difficult start to life in Manchester, Khusanov was named the club’s Player of the Month for February, as voted for by fans, with the club’s official channels already believing he has ‘captured the hearts’ of supporters.

Nevertheless, this didn’t save him from being taken off at half time of the Citizens’ FA Cup tie at Bournemouth on Sunday, with Man City a goal down and Khusanov having been booked.

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So, it remains to be seen if he’ll keep his place in the starting lineup against Leicester, although we’re advocating for Pep Guardiola to unleash a home-grown youngster instead.

Man City's best replacement for Khusanov

Man City’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Bournemouth is largely credited to Guardiola’s decision to replace Khusanov with Nico O’Reilly at the interval in Dorset.

Within four minutes, O’Reilly had put the ball on a plate for Erling Haaland to equalise before also getting the assist for Omar Marmoush’s winner later on.

Speaking to Gabriel Clarke of ITV after full time, Guardiola praised the 20-year-old’s impact as “outstanding”, adding “he’s going to play in the semi-final for sure”, given his form in the FA Cup to date.

Emlyn Begley of BBC Sport notes that O’Reilly is an ‘attacking midfielder… by trade’, but he is certainly versatile and he’s been catching the eye for a number of months yet. Perhaps the best source of praise came from City content creator Steven Mcinerney, who stated that “Nico has that La Masia intelligence with the physicality of someone like Rice.”

Meantime, Ben Fisher of the Guardian emphasises that the introduction of the £2.9k-per-week earner ‘transformed’ Man City’s performance at Bournemouth, thanks to his ‘seemingly bottomless energy’, becoming the first substitute to register two assists for the Sky Blues since İlkay Gündoğan at Leeds in December 2021.

So, let’s assess his statistics for the club so far.

Nico O’Reilly’s senior Man City career in numbers

Statistics

Nico O’Reilly

Appearances

10

Minutes

553

Goals

3

Assists

2

Chances created

8

Passing accuracy %

90.36%

Take-on success %

51.39%

% of ground duels won

63.7%

% of aerial duels won

60%

Interceptions

1

Clearances

7

Tackles

19

Ball Recoveries

34

Touches per 90

77.65

Stats via Transfermarkt, Sofascore & Squawka

As the table outlines, O’Reilly is very much still the new kid on the block, playing little over 550 senior minutes so far, while four of his ten appearances have come as a substitute, debuting in the FA Community Shield back in August.

Nevertheless, he’s already shown his quality, and the fact he can play multiple different positions makes him an invaluable asset for Guardiola, so we’re sure the Man City faithful would love to see him handed a first-ever Premier League start when Leicester visit the Etihad on Wednesday.

Related He was saved by O'Reilly: Pep must drop 4/10 Man City dud after Bournemouth

Man City won their FA Cup semi-final 2-1 on Sunday

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Mar 31, 2025

“There’s the real sense of calm out there when you know you’ve got someone that good,” says Australia captain Pat Cummins

Alex Malcolm03-Mar-20242:12

Cummins: Green as sharp as I have seen him

You couldn’t see the glint in Nathan Lyon’s eye behind his trademark tinted sunglasses, but you could tell it was there.It was there during his press conference after day three when he spoke with overwhelming confidence that Australia would create the seven chances necessary to win the Test match.It was there on the morning of day one when he ran his hand over the verdant Basin Reserve pitch and felt a dryness and hardness underneath that suggested sharp spin and bounce was on offer.Related

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He was right on both fronts, and he and Cameron Green were the chief architects of Australia’s 172-run win.Lyon put on a masterclass of offspin bowling on the fourth and final day, becoming just the 10th spinner to take 10 wickets in a match in New Zealand and only the third to do so in the long history of the Basin Reserve, behind two spin bowling luminaries in Muthiah Muralidaran and Australia’s current bowling coach Daniel Vettori.He also achieved the rare air of becoming just the third Test bowler to take five-wicket hauls in nine different countries behind Muralidaran and Shane Warne.You could not wipe the smile off Pat Cummins’ face after Lyon had spun his side to victory yet again.”Captain’s dream really,” Cummins said. “There’s the real sense of calm out there when you know you’ve got someone that good on a wicket that’s giving him a little bit of help.”You can get creative with some of the field placements knowing he’s going to land it exactly where you want it to. I thought he was brilliant over the last couple of days bouncing through a few different plans but just always felt like he was in control and always felt like we had Plan B, C, D that we could go to as well but never really felt like we had to. Yeah, an absolute dream.”Rachin Ravindra walks back disappointed after falling in Nathan Lyon’s trap•Getty ImagesThey tried plan B very briefly on the fourth morning with Lyon switching to the R.A. Vance stand end first up despite his first six wickets, and Glenn Phillips’ five, falling from the Southern end. The idea was to give Mitchell Starc a chance from the Southern end to see if he could swing the 41-over old ball with the help of a south-westerly breeze. But Starc was unable to find much movement, and Lyon was not extracting as much spin and bounce from the R.A Vance end and after two overs Cummins went back to plan A.It took Lyon three balls to break the game open from his preferred end. He found some extra bounce and Rachin Ravindra miscued a cut straight to point. Three balls later he had Tom Blundell caught at short leg for the second time in the match and the game was all but over.Lyon had forecast his plans in his press conference the night before. There was no secret sauce. He would bowl around the wicket with overspin and try and challenge the sticker of the bat with short leg and leg slip in place.ESPNcricinfo LtdNew Zealand knew the plan. They just could not throw him off it. Two balls into Lyon’s next over Phillips glanced one inches short of leg slip. Two balls later Phillips played back again to a quicker ball that spun sharply and was pinned plumb lbw.It had taken Lyon all of 22 balls on the fourth morning to take three wickets and get into New Zealand’s tail. He would pick up a sixth of the innings when Tim Southee holed out to long-on after deciding his defence was not good enough to withstand the pressure.It was a meek end from New Zealand. But it was a credit to the irrepressible and ageless Lyon. He has made no secret of the fact that he wants to keep playing until the end of the 2027 Ashes and his captain said he will continue in the job as long as Lyon is still going.”I’d love for him to keep going until 2027,” Cummins said. “I think the only barrier I think really is his body.”If he looks after his body and makes sure he’s right for whatever it is, 10 Test matches a year, I’d absolutely love if he was playing until 2027.”I don’t think there’s much that’s going to get in his way. I’ve already told him the day he retires I’m definitely giving up the captaincy because it makes my life a hell of a lot easier.”

England wicketkeeper reveling in moment after starring in back-to-back Test successes against New Zealand

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Jun-2022Among the glazed eyes of those packed into Nottingham’s Mega Munch in the early hours of Wednesday, several of whom had secured a stunning victory at Trent Bridge against New Zealand, stood one looking the freshest of the lot.Ben Foakes was propped at the greasy counter, cap on, seemingly with his wits in check while those around him sported tell-tale ruddy cheeks. His aura was as it was at the end of the first and second Tests when he helped England home: calm and unflustered after the chaos. Amid the bombastic exploits this last month, he has been the designated driver.A few days on, Foakes admits to ESPNcricinfo his look was deceiving. “I didn’t feel fresh,” he laughs. “I think it’s the first time I’ve actually been out this year. The next day was a complete write-off.” As for his order, he went healthy (ish). “I didn’t go chips, just a fried chicken burger. It was good, actually. Though I suppose everything at 4am is.”Memories of getting back to the hotel are understandably hazy. But the imprints of a series win, moreover how England chased down 299 in 50 overs on the final day to secure it, will have greater permanency. From the dressing room to the bar and on to late-night kebab shop, many of the chats between players, even members of the public – some of who had been in the stands earlier that day – circled back to the efforts of that day.Related

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There is a tangible sense of fun around the men’s Test side. A renewed freedom under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, both in their expression and the fact they were out that late at all. The midnight curfew that had been in place since the end of 2017 momentarily lifted to savour their feat.”Any time there is a Test like that, which is very rare, you can feel it in the stadium and around,” says Foakes. “The atmosphere inside was incredible and you could see that filtering out of the ground. After a tough couple of years [in which England won just one Test in 17], it was a really good buzz in English cricket. With the new era, the way it’s talked about how we are going to play, it’s all blended in as positive vibes.”In the infancy of such upward flux, there is a tendency to laud two wins picked up against the reigning (if slightly weathered) World Test Champions as totems rather than merely early foundations. Cynics might regard a blowout with five Tests still to come this summer, and indeed the final match against New Zealand this Thursday, as a premature celebration. Sure, it’s been fun. But the dry mouth and headaches won’t be far off.Except, for those involved, this feels different. McCullum’s approach may have a whiff of “no tactics, just vibes”. But there is a belief among those who go out there and live it that he is instigating a shift in what English Test cricket should be, how it should feel and who it is for. The best encapsulation came in that final tea break, with 160 runs still to get.”Baz’s team talk at tea – it was like William Wallace!” Foakes says. “After he was done, everyone was desperate to get out there.”The traditional Test approach in that situation would be ‘see how it goes, see how many wickets we’ve got left, then if the situation isn’t there, do we shut up shop?’ He was like, ‘Nah, we’re not doing that. We’re winning this game. If we don’t, so be it – we’ve done it the right way. It doesn’t matter if we don’t win this game.’ And it took the pressure off.”To English cricket’s conservative ears, it is inspirational talk bordering on heresy. The gloom that has encapsulated the Test set-up is because it matter when they don’t win. It is why Joe Root had to step down from the captaincy, even in the form of his life. Why others beyond the field of play have lost their jobs. Why, going into the Test summer, there was such widespread disillusionment with the format in this country. All the more reason, according to Foakes, why such talk needs to be so strong. Any alterations to the fabric of Test cricket require the players to do the sewing.

“I had a few questions and didn’t want to be too indecisive and not know how I am meant to be playing. [McCullum] has been really clear with the doubts I had and it was good for me to be open with him”

“It has changed the way I look at Test cricket,” Foakes says. “With playing for England, there are obviously a lot of pressures, a lot of criticisms and things like that. If you think about that too much, it weighs on you. But over the last two weeks, it’s clear to see the positives and how amazing playing for England can be. Baz and Stokesy, the way they are, promote that.”‘Ground-breaking’ is too big of a word. But when I think about it, my approach to Test cricket has always just been about endurance, mentally slow for a reason, and meant to be calculated. When you play for England, there is another side to it – the entertainment factor.”I guess it’s similar to the New Zealand game a year ago [at Lord’s, where England declined to chase 273 in 75 overs]: we could have gone for the win, but didn’t. For pure entertainment value, within the crowd and at home, even if you lose that game at Trent Bridge, you’re probably doing more for Test cricket. There’s a balance in the game and trying to improve the viewership of it as well.”During the post-tea carnage in Nottingham, when England went from 139 for 4 to 272 for 5 inside 11.3 overs, 93 of those 133 runs from the blade of Jonny Bairstow – the man dismissed, having made 136 – Foakes was in a unique position. He had access to one of the best views in the house in the home dressing room, while burdened with impending responsibility as the next man in. Usually “really nervous” while waiting his turn, he was uncharacteristically at ease. “I usually pop out the back to keep myself busy. I must have gone to do it 10 times but every time there was a six, so I kept coming back to see what had happened.”We needed a lot of runs and it should have been a tight finish. But I was so chilled. When Jonny did get out, I was shocked because I was nestled in watching the game. Everyone during their partnership was like, ‘what the hell is going on?!'”Having snapped out of spectator mode, he went out to the middle and accompanied Stokes to the conclusion. He even had to push the skipper ahead of him, insisting he lead the pair off having finished unbeaten on 75. “I’ve just tapped it around for 12,” was the rebuff when Stokes insisted the pair walk off Trent Bridge together.He had a similar walk at Lord’s the week before, albeit with Root further ahead following his 115 not out to Foakes’ 32. Nevertheless, he was clapped through the Long Room, fulfilling an experience he had always wished for as a kid.That was an overdue home debut, coming as a new era lock rather than a seat-filler as the previous 11 caps abroad had been. His work behind the stumps so far has been as you’d expect from the poster boy of glovemanship. The two finishing cameos speak of assurance, along with 56 in the first innings of the second Test, a welcome third fifty-plus score in his career. His previous one, a half-century against Sri Lanka in November 2018, followed on from a debut knock of 107 the match before.Foakes hugs Ben Stokes after the latter hit the winning runs at Trent Bridge•Getty ImagesAs expected in almost four years since that bright start, form has fluctuated and, in turn, technique tweaked. A first-class average of 24.58 in the 2019 summer elicited a change from a more open stance brought about by adjustments made to county bowlers going wide and moving the ball back into right-handers. His back hip was coming through too much, creating unforced errors against the moving Dukes ball. He has also changed his bats to the shorter blade version used by Gray Nicolls stablemate Ollie Pope.The next thing Foakes wants to get right is his approach. Even in this “express yourself environment”, there is plenty of critical thinking taking place.”In the first Test at Lord’s in the first innings, I ended up playing a crappy shot just because I was a bit in-between. Batting with Jimmy [Anderson] I was thinking, ‘what am I meant to be doing here?’ And I ended up playing a wishy-washy shot to a ball I would have left from Tim Southee.”The issue to overcome, he says, is acquiring the flexibility to be a No. 7 in this XI, straddling the fence between the full-time batters and the tail. The difference between operating as a facilitator or aggressor is just one ball at the other end. For someone accustomed to batting five at Surrey, it is not a natural fit. He has picked McCullum’s brains to untangle his own.”I had a few questions and I didn’t want to be too indecisive and not know how I am meant to be playing. He’s been really clear with the doubts I had and it was good for me to be that open with him. It means I’m going out into in every innings knowing I have backing.”I don’t have a massive power game. But I can use my feet, do different sorts of things to accelerate my scoring without being reckless. Going back to that Southee ball – how do make that a ball I can score off by doing something different? I’ll never do what Rooty did and scoop Southee over my head. I’m never going to try it, but I might be able to do things with my strengths.”It will take time before we can say the McCullum-Stokes axis has reinvigorated English Test cricket, beyond the third Test at Headingley and even this summer. It’s too soon to say they have reinvented the long-form game. They are merely rolling the dice, trying to get some change.Any long-term change requires the likes of Foakes to seize the opportunities to truly reframe England’s psyche. It is a different kind of responsibility, one which will feel heavier once this honeymoon period is over.Right now, though, it feels like a privilege. “I just think it’s a really fun time to be involved,” Foakes beams. “That’s the way I’m looking at it.”

When he won the Under-19 World Cup as part of Kohli’s team, the world was at his feet. But his career didn’t quite take off and he says that’s okay

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot11-Mar-2020Twelve years ago, Shreevats Goswami was part of Virat Kohli’s batch of India Under-19s that became World Cup champions in Kuala Lumpur. Within a week of his arrival in India, he had an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore, had the kind of money “which kids could only dream of”, bought his first car, shared a dressing room with Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis. And to top it all, he finished the inaugural edition with the emerging player award. The world was at his feet, everyone assumed.”Even before that Under-19 World Cup final, the BCCI had announced each franchise could pick two players from our squad. We had already started dreaming and thinking about IPL, Dav Whatmore (head coach) had to strictly tell us ‘listen boys, there’s a World Cup final coming up.’ It was that mad,” Goswami, now a mature 30-year old, tells ESPNcricinfo. “We all got carried away by the attention, money. Virat (Kohli) and I were picked for RCB. Everyone called it a party franchise. We didn’t win much that year, but we were a rocking team with the glamour element. It was a different world.”But he’d soon realise, the initial name and fame was meant to last for “a while” and once the novelty factor vanished, it was back to the hard grind. When the realisation hit Goswami, he had to contend with being an understudy to Wriddhiman Saha at Bengal. It remained that way for a better part of his first seven years as a first-class cricketer, until 2015. His career is a mirror to Saha’s and his struggles because of being an understudy to MS Dhoni during his prime. That explains why Goswami has managed to play just 55 first-class games in close to 12 years. And this season, having featured in 10 matches, he had to make way for the returning Saha in the grand finale.

“I’ve never felt pity on myself. If I keep thinking I am a victim of circumstances, I will never enjoy my cricket”

You throw this comparison to Goswami, half-expecting him to play the victim card. Refreshingly, he looks at his situation in a lighter vein, without blaming circumstances or luck. It’s not common, and most certainly very rare in cricket, with stifling competition all around.”Even in the IPL, Wriddhi is ahead of me in the pack at Sunrisers Hyderabad,” Goswami laughs. “But look, we are good friends, we have a good vibe together. Sometimes, I put on a third person’s hat and think: ‘If I was in his shoes and there was someone else behind me, would it have been any different? The answer is no.”When you stop thinking about yourself and look at it from a neutral perspective, you get clarity. That has helped me calm down. This is how sport is and I have to accept it. I’m not the first person, I won’t be the last to be in such a situation. So I’ve never felt pity on myself. If I keep thinking I am a victim of circumstances, I will never enjoy my cricket. And you play for a short time, 10 years, maybe 12-15 if you’re fortunate. Why not play it with happiness? I cherish the travel, the friendships I’ve forged, the bonds, the feeling of being in a team and winning tournaments. I’m that kind of person.”Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami walk out amid fireworks•BCCIGoswami finds it hard to say if he lost his way, but certainly looks back at a few vital moments and wonders what could have been. Like in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2009-10, where he finished as the highest run-getter in the competition as a 20-year old, ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Kedar Jadhav, Robin Uthappa and Abhinav Mukund, to name a few. That season, he struck 568 runs in seven innings, with three centuries and a half-century as Bengal finished runners-up to Tamil Nadu.”I won’t say I lost my way,” he says. “Let’s be honest. Selection criteria in cricket has changed. When I was the highest run-getter in the domestic 50-over competition, I didn’t get picked either in the India Emerging squad or for India A. Today, if a 20-21 year old, straight out of a successful Under-19 World Cup does that, chances are he will be fast-tracked. Maybe it was also the timing.”When I scored those runs, I was playing as a specialist batsman and not keeping, because Wriddhi was. So you could say bad timing. After my first IPL season, I won the emerging player’ award, I hardly got chances in the second season. So there have been a few moments that could have panned out differently. In Ranji Trophy cricket, I’m the first one to say I haven’t done so well to be noticed. My keeping has been good, batting numbers not so good. People judge you by numbers. I got just one game for India A a couple of years ago, when Rishabh Pant was injured. I did decently, I thought, but it is what it is.”

“Earlier, if nobody picked me, I’d be like ‘no worries’. Now when I reflect, I guess I may have been wrong. But I can’t worry about it now”

Goswami admits this kind of maturity has taken a while to come. He wasn’t this way during his “carefree” younger days. It’s time and experience that has lent a new dimension to his overall outlook. One look at his Twitter feed, and you’d know how genuine his feelings are towards team-mates, both seniors and juniors, who have done well for Bengal or for their respective IPL teams. For him, these things are as valuable as runs and wickets.”Back then, I was a different person,” he says of his teenage days. “If nobody picked me, I’d be like ‘no worries’. Now when I reflect, I guess I may have been wrong. But I can’t worry about it now. Now, even if I score 2000 runs in a season, there will be those who will say, ‘oh, he’s 30’. So yes, now it’s more about playing without worrying about what the future holds.Shah Rukh Khan gives Shreevats Goswami a kiss•AFP”I keep looking at my cricketing journey and think: ‘how many people have had a chance to play with geniuses like Dravid or Kevin Pietersen, Mark Boucher – I have. For me, it’s the memories of being part of winning teams, sharing dressing rooms with legends, relishing friendships I’ve made along the way – all these things matter.”Goswami is spontaneous when asked about who his biggest critic is. “I am,” he responds. “I always criticise myself. In India, there are thousands of people to tell you what to do, but not many to tell you how to do it. So all that doesn’t matter. I have looked at myself harshly at times. So I am my biggest critic.”For an Indian cricketer to be so articulate about his thoughts, have this kind of self-awareness is very rare. Surely, he must be well-read, drawing inspiration from someone, somewhere? Goswami’s case is different. He has no idols to speak of, and prefers to draw inspiration from every day life.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited. End of the day, if you can wake up with that feeling, you can’t ask for anything more”

“I don’t draw inspiration from a particular person,” he says. “It’s every day life I look at. Like in the semi-final, Anustup Majumdar bailing us out from 67 for 6 on a green wicket to make 149 was inspirational, match-turning. Manoj Tiwary making a triple century was inspirational. Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, coming from the backgrounds they do to play and be the champions. They are is inspirational. Shahbaz Ahmed rescuing is in the quarter-final with bat and ball – these are the kind of things that inspire me.”All along this up-and-down journey, Goswami hasn’t let his parents get involved in his cricket, hasn’t let his emotions show. Both during the good and bad times. “I know they’ve always supported me,” he says. “I didn’t go much to school because of cricket. The only option I had was this game. I was playing for Bengal since Under-14 days. They said ‘this is his career, this is what he wants to do, let him pursue it’. My wife today says the same. Whether it’s a good day or bad day, she’s always supportive, says the right words.”Someone so serious about his thought process may need a release from time-to-time, you’d think. For Goswami, that comes in the form of annual vacations, impromptu trips with his wife Payal, a sports rehabilitation specialist and trainer from South Africa. She works with orthopaedic patients, chronically ill individuals and disabled sportspersons.”Coming from sports background, she has sound understanding of a sportsman’s mind,” he says. “We train together while I’m away from cricket. We plan a yearly holiday after the season is over, sometimes pack our bags and head off spontaneously. We’re not someone who plan trips. Right now, I’m in this kind of space where I’m very happy. The thirst for success drives me, but that is subjective. End of the day, you have to be happy. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited. End of the day, if you can wake up with that feeling, you can’t ask for anything more.”

Federal authorities are investigating a youth baseball company owned by the MLB Players Association, ESPN reported on Thursday.

The company, named Players Way, was founded by the MLBPA in 2019. In a statement to ESPN, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the aim of the company "isn't to become just another cog in the youth sports machinery, putting profits over players. It aims higher: to meet players where they are, teach the game the right way, and to foster lifelong lessons creating lifelong fans."

The federal investigation was launched by an anonymous whistleblower complaint in which Players Way was cited. According to ESPN the complaint accused director Clark of "self-dealing, misuse of resources and abuse of power at the union," and of nepotism in regards to his dealings with Players Way. Additionally, sources told ESPN investigators were asking about "whistleblower allegations of excessive union spending on international and domestic trips for Clark and other senior union executives."

The MLBPA decried the allegations as "without merit" and Clark, who has not been charged with a crime, denied them and said they are "baseless" in a statement to ESPN.

ESPN reports the events Players Way puts on are few and sparsely attended. Consequentially the company has generated "barely six figures in revenue" since its founding. The union has invested $3.9 million into the company, according to the MLBPA's public documents, but the union declined to explain how that money was spent. ESPN further reports the true number is closer to $10 million, and that those funds "largely paid the six-figure annual salaries of its executives and consultants," which include "a handful of former major leaguers, some of whom were simultaneously working other full-time jobs outside the union."

Multiple former union officials said Players Way operates with "no standard accounting practices" and "no annual budget circulated among senior finance officials." Clark was idenitifed as the driving force behind the union's involvement with the company, but a former official said there were no events, actitivies, or partnerships with other youth baseball companies. ESPN sources said Players Way "appeared to be a landing spot for Clark's loyalists," and few players in the union knew about it.

Federal investigators declined to comment. ESPN reports this investigation is part of a larger inquiry into the MLBPA's financial dealings with another company called OneTeam Partners from last spring.