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Arsenal have communicated to the board of Real Madrid that they’re about to seal the deal for a “world-class” player, according to an intriguing report.

Arsenal's summer transfer plans ramp up amid Champions League campaign

On the field, Mikel Arteta has one clear focus after missing out on the Premier League crown to Liverpool – winning Arsenal their first ever Champions League title.

Arteta sold Arsenal gem for just £4m, now he's outscoring Isak & Sesko

The incredible poacher would have been useful for Arsenal this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 28, 2025

The Gunners face Ligue 1 champions PSG over two historic European semi-final legs which could define their campaign, and Luis Enrique’s side come as a very tough obstacle they must overcome.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Arsenal will take encouragement from Aston Villa’s entertaining win against them in the last round at Villa Park, which proved they’re not unbeatable, with OGC Nice also ending the club’s unbeaten streak in the French top flight by clinching a surprise 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes last Friday.

The north Londoners already boast a victory against PSG this term, with Arsenal beating them 2-0 at the Emirates in October, so it is clear that Arteta’s side are in with a real chance of reaching their first Champions League final since 2006.

“I think prepare as well as you possibly can,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s excitement to face PSG over the two legs. “Make sure that your energy is balanced. Make sure that you’re understanding what you have to do. It’s time to express yourself out there and enjoy being a footballer and playing in one of the best stages that you can play in world football.”

New sporting director Andrea Berta, meanwhile, is working to prepare for his first summer transfer window in his new role.

Reports suggest Arsenal are looking to strengthen Arteta’s squad across the board, and could spend as much as £300 million doing so (GiveMeSport). One of their key transfer plans for the summer is signing a star new central midfield player, despite Arsenal recently opening talks with Thomas Partey over a contract extension.

Arsenal tell Real Madrid they've "practically finalised" Zubimendi deal

According to Cadena SER, Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, who’s been targeted for a pre-summer deal since January (The Mail), is very nearly through the door.

Multiple reports last week, including from both David Ornstein and Marca reporter Juan Castro, indicated that there is real belief at Arsenal that they’re on the verge of sealing a deal for Zubimendi, with Cadena making another interesting claim.

The outlet shares news of Arsenal informing Real Madrid’s board that their signing of Zubmendi is “practically finalised”, with the Whites told that they may have to look elsewhere in pursuit of a new midfielder.

Premier League sides are apparently threatening to scupper their summer plans, with Chelsea also viewed as Real’s main competitors for Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, while it is believed Los Blancos may not have the financial firepower to compete with England’s elite.

It seems as if Zubimendi’s £51 million release clause will be triggered by Arsenal, and a wide array of media sources, including Cadena, suggest the Spain international will be Berta’s first major signing as director.

The “world-class” technician, as he was called by Kieran Tierney, has also been described as the “perfect” midfielder for Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano).

With Washington Sundar also contributing consistently through the Zimbabwe tour, India’s T20I future seems to brim with options

Deivarayan Muthu14-Jul-20243:43

Takeaways: India’s future bright as youngsters come good

Batters who can bowl have been on India’s T20I wishlist for a long time.While Hardik Pandya continues to be the only man in India who can do Hardik Pandya things, a new crop of batters who can bowl is emerging. In the fifth T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, India’s top eight contained four players who could perform dual roles. Among the lot, Shivam Dube came away with the Player-of-the-Match award and Washington Sundar with the Player-of-the-Series award.With Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, Washington has now staked his claim for a full-time role in India’s side in the format. Dube, who bowled just one over each in IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup that followed in the USA and the Caribbean, ended up bowling eight overs across three T20Is in Zimbabwe, and completed his full allotment of overs on Sunday.Related

• Rathour on India's transition: Needs to be done gradually, in a controlled manner

• After months of hell, Hardik Pandya rises again

• Washington beats the IPL blues with spell of old-school subtlety

• Samson, Dube, Mukesh star as India complete 4-1 series win

Dube claimed the wickets of Dion Myers and Johnathan Campbell to kill of Zimbabwe’s chase of 168. He kept digging the ball into a used Harare surface, and kept taking pace off to deny batters easy access to the boundaries. This after he had crashed 26 off 12 balls to help drag India towards 167.”It’s always a special thing for me as an allrounder to contribute in both the departments – bat and ball,” Dube said after the game. “So, it felt really good today to take some wickets.”India’s team management might have been even more pleased with Abhishek Sharma’s spell: 3-0-20-1. With the series already in the bag and with Abhishek extracting turn, bounce and grip, India could afford to give him an extended spell ahead of Washington or Tushar Deshpande. Abhishek had returned identical figures of 3-0-20-1 in the fourth T20I after taking some tap in the first three games. In that fourth T20I, he could have got another wicket had Ruturaj Gaikwad not dropped a fairly straightforward catch in the infield.Prior to his first international series, Abhishek had bowled both in the powerplay and middle overs in IPL 2024. In the second qualifier against Rajasthan Royals on a pitch in Chennai that turned appreciably more in the second innings, Abhishek picked up the wickets of Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer while giving up just 24 runs in his four overs.Shivam Dube only bowled one over through the T20 World Cup but showed in Zimbabwe that he can cope with a bigger workload•Associated PressAbhishek then fine-tuned his bowling in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 league, where he was among the top ten wicket-takers. “A special mention to the coaches and Shubman [Gill] who actually believed [in me] after the first two matches [in Zimbabwe] because I didn’t bowl that much and I didn’t bowl well also,” Abhishek said after India won the series 4-1. “So, I thought that giving me the chance with the ball again… I’m always very grateful for that. I’ve been working really hard on my bowling. I knew if I’m going to get my [India] cap, I have to bowl for my team, so I was working on that.”Once India’s seniors return to the T20I team, there might not be room for Abhishek in the XI, but it’s always a healthy sign to see batters work actively on their secondary skill.Dube is also learning on the job as a T20 bowler and has added the back-of-the-hand slower variation to his standard offcutter. As for Washington, he is predominantly a bowler in white-ball cricket, but has been training behind the scenes to pack more power into his batting. At one point, he even had a stint with Apurva Desai, the former Gujarat batter who has also worked with Dinesh Karthik in the past.T20 cricket moves at a breathless pace. It leaves players behind unless they upgrade themselves. To keep up with that pace, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips learnt offspin on the job to add to his power-hitting. England’s Liam Livingstone dipped into all-sorts spin to enhance his value as an allrounder. Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus, who started as a batter, can now turn the ball both ways. His mystery spin helped him break into the ILT20 as an allrounder.It’s now refreshing to see India select and nurture such multi-dimensional players in T20 cricket. Not too long ago, India had five batters, none of whom could bowl, an allrounder, a wicketkeeper, and four specialist bowlers. And when Hardik was unavailable, they were left scrambling for balance. They turned a corner while winning the T20 World Cup, picking a side with three allrounders in Hardik, Jadeja and Axar Patel, apart from Dube who wasn’t called on that much with the ball.Despite the absence of Hardik, Axar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, the IPL’s newest all-round hero, in Zimbabwe, India coped excellently and provided a glimpse into a bright future.

ESPNcricinfo picks out eight players who pushed their case for integration within the India mix

Annesha Ghosh30-May-2022The 2022 edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge might have been its most pertinent one yet as far as helping chart a roadmap for India’s immediate future.A league-stage elimination in the ODI World Cup a month ago rounded off a forgettable year-long run for the national team in the 50-over format where they lost all bilateral ODI engagements before failing to make the knockouts of a world tournament for the first time in four tries. A packed T20I-heavy season now beckons.Related

• Jhulan Goswami not in squads for Sri Lanka tour, Jemimah Rodrigues back for T20Is

• Alana King: 'A lot of the girls are crying out for women's IPL'

• Sune Luus bats for expansion of T20 franchise cricket: 'Important to know different players and different conditions'

• Pooja Vastrakar once again proves she is the X-factor

• Deandra Dottin metamorphoses into a 3D force of nature on Supernovas' big night

A bilateral series against Sri Lanka, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in July-August, might materialise. A series against hosts England and the fifth edition of the Asia Cup T20, likely in October, then follows before ODI world champions Australia touch down for a series in December. The focus then shifts to the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup and the senior world event in the same format to be played in January and February.With veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami inching closer to the end of their storied careers and India needing options to fix their inconsistencies in all three departments, ESPNcricinfo picks eight players who made a mark during the Women’s T20 Challenge and have pushed their case for (re-)integration within the India mix.Jemimah Rodrigues has her eyes set on returning to the Indian team•BCCI

Jemimah Rodrigues

The disappointment over her curious World Cup omission behind her, Rodrigues made the right noises after her match-winning 44-ball 66 for Trailblazers in the Women’s T20 Challenge.”[…] the Commonwealth and the [T20] World Cup [are around the corner], so I definitely wanted to be in the best touch and the best form and it’s nice to score those runs. It gives you more confidence scoring runs and going back into the Indian team,” she said, having scored a 21-ball 24 in the previous game. That she adds immense value as a fielder is also relevant given that’s what T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur is looking for.Taniya Bhatia has upped her T20 game•BCCI

Taniya Bhatia

For a player who doesn’t get picked to play for India anymore – and certainly not anywhere in the top-order, the opportunity to bat alongside the national captain and rescue her team in the Women’s T20 Challenge was something of a game-changer. And Bhatia responded with a 32-ball 36 against Velocity.Bhatia, who finished as Punjab’s leading run-getter in the 2021-22 domestic T20 season, has fallen down the pecking order in international cricket thanks in part to the mercurial (and accidental) rise of Richa Ghosh. But she remains a force to be reckoned with. Her diving take of Shafali Verma’s edge off Deandra Dottin in the final proved a telling blow given victory in the end came with a very small margin.”Given we have mostly T20Is line-up, I have tried to prepare accordingly since returning from the ODI World Cup,” Bhatia said after Supernovas’ title triumph. “With the bat, I was focused on playing what the situation demanded instead of worrying about what’s happened in the past or happening now on the outside.”Simran Bahadur picked up four wickets in two matches in the Women’s T20 challenge•BCCI

Simran Bahadur

India’s search for a pace-bowling allrounder had been a wild-goose chase until Pooja Vastrakar found a second wind on the tours of England and Australia last year. And Bahadur took her down during her 10-ball 20 in the death overs of a wildly see-sawing final game. A player capable of that kind of power against that kind of bowling in that kind of pressure deserves keeping an eye on.Bahadur, the Delhi allrounder who has one ODI and four T20I caps, was impressive with her lower-order hitting even in India A’s title-winning Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy campaign last December. In the Women’s T20 Challenge, she finished with four wickets in two matches, though her tally would have been almost double that had she and her Velocity team-mates not shelled their chances.S Meghana showed admirable footwork in a 47-ball 73•BCCI

S Meghana

In her only innings of the tournament, the Trailblazers opener showed what she might bring to the table as a regular in the T20I side. Her 47-ball 73 was a prime example of not only her range of shots but her footwork as well. Whether she was dancing down the track or using the depth of the crease, it was all perfectly timed.A prolific run-getter in domestic tournaments over the past two seasons, Meghana had made 4, 49, and 61 in her maiden ODI series, on the New Zealand tour, earlier this year. In the only T20I India have played in 2022 – which also marked her return to the shortest format for the first time in five years – she top-scored with a 30-ball 37. This fifty in the Women’s T20 Challenge should, one hopes, lead to more game time with India.Harleen Deol made a 19-ball 35 in Supernovas’ opening win in 2022•BCCI

Harleen Deol

India haven’t always been great with their approach to find new personnel. And even when they do find them, those players often go through a period where they have very little idea of what their role in the team actually is. Deol, for example. has been shunted up and down the T20 batting order all year; collateral as India ran through a slew of talent without ever really giving them the chance to settle.A consistent performer across the past three seasons of the Women’s T20 Challenge, Deol made a 19-ball 35 in Supernovas’ opening win in 2022. A gun fielder like Rodrigues, she took two catches in the opening fixture and was reliable with her ground fielding all through. As India transition into a new phase, having Deol in the batting line-up, or at least on the bench, might be worth a shot.Priya Punia showed improved intent in the Women’s T20 Challenge•BCCI

Priya Punia

The Delhi batter’s T20I debut in February 2019 raised eyebrows because, at the time, her game seemed more suited to ODIs. She scored 4, 4, and 1 in that series, against New Zealand, and never played the shortest format for India again.Now, in the Women’s T20 Challenge, Punia showed an improved boundary-hitting ability and intent to rotate strike. Her 20-ball 22 and 29-ball 28 were just the foil Dottin needed to do her thing, especially in the final. Punia’s two brilliant catches of Smriti Mandhana and Sophia Dunkley were also a sign of the work she may have put in on her overall game to improve her chances of an India recall.Kiran Navgire has issues with the short ball, but the rest of her game is very eye-catching•BCCI

Kiran Navgire

A 34-ball 69 or a 13-ball duck – what will you remember from the 27-year-old uncapped batter’s outings in the Women’s T20 Challenge?No matter the answer, two truths about Navgire, the highest run-getter in Indian domestic T20s this season, are beyond doubt. One, the raw power she showcased in a blistering fifty on debut in the Women’s T20 Challenge warrants exposure at the highest level. Two, she could be doubly dangerous once she works out her issues with the short ball.

Rashi Kanojiya

After what appears to be a gradual but decisive sidelining of Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Radha Yadav are the only left-arm spinners of note still in selection contention. And with Radha going through a lean patch, there couldn’t have been a more opportune time for the Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner Kanojia to take 4-0-22-0 on her Women’s T20 Challenge debut, for eventual champions Supernovas in the final.Whether that performance, clubbed with her impressive showings in domestic tournaments over the past year, translates into an India call-up, remains to be seen.

It is all change at Tottenham Hotspur at boardroom level.

Last month, it was announced that Daniel Levy was stepping down as the club’s executive chairman after a quarter of a century in the role.

Levy certainly divided opinion among Spurs supporters, but will, undeniably, forever be one of the most influential figures in the club’s history, overseeing the construction of the new training ground and stadium, catapulting the club into the ‘big six’, something that would have been fanciful a decade or so ago.

Now, Peter Charrington has succeeded him as non-executive chairman while Vinai Venkatesham, formerly of Arsenal, was appointed chief executive officer in April.

It will be interesting to see what these changes mean for Spurs going forward, while another noteworthy appointment, or should we say re-appointment, was made this week.

Fabio Paratici's Tottenham return

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Fabio Paratici has returned to Tottenham Hotspur as sporting director.

He previously held the role between June 2021 and April 2023, before serving a 30-month ban from all footballing activities handed to him by FIFA, one of 11 Juventus executives punished in this way following the plusvalenze scandal, also given a suspended 18-month sentence.

Despite this, Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport believes his re-appointment is a major coup, considering his excellent reputation, boasting ‘one of the most extensive contacts books in the game’.

Paratici will be joint sporting director alongside Johan Lange, stating “I’m convinced that working in partner­ship with Johan we can build a special future for the club and our supporters.”

The table below documents all the players signed when Paratici was in situ the first time.

Paratici’s signings at Tottenham
Players	Fee	Spurs apps
Bryan Gil	£21.6m	43
Pape Matar Sarr	£14.6m	113
Emerson Royal	£25.8m	101
Rodrigo Bentancur	£15.9m	123
Cristian Romero	£42m	133
Dejan Kuluševski	£30m	146
Pierluigi Gollini	Loan	10
Clément Lenglet	Loan	35
Pedro Porro	£40m	116
Arnaut Danjuma	Loan	12
Fraser Forster	Free	34
Ivan Perišić	Free	50
Yves Bissouma	£25m	100
Djed Spence	£19m	51
Richarlison	£60m	101
Destiny Udogie	£15m	74
All info via Transfermarkt

As the table documents, many of Paratici’s Spurs signings made little impact in North London; looking at you Bryan Gil!

Others though remain key figures in Thomas Frank’s team to this day, including Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and more.

However, one in particular was infamously not wanted by then-manager Antonio Conte, but Paratici can feel truly vindicated by his decision to sign him.

Paratici's greatest transfer market triumph

Back in July 2022, Djed Spence joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £19m.

The full-back had been an integral part of Nottingham Forest’s promotion-winning team during a very memorable loan spell from Middlesbrough, leading to Daniel Taylor of the Athletic describing him as the best loan player he’d ever seen at the City Ground.

Despite this, upon his arrival, manager Conte instantaneously labelled him an “investment of the club” and “not my signing”, which Spence later revealed “shattered my confidence”.

Thus, following loan stints at Stade Rennais, Leeds United and Genoa, he made his first start for Spurs away at Southampton last December, 881 days after signing for the club.

Well, since then, the 25-year-old has not looked back, starting 24 of Spurs’ last 30 Premier League fixtures, as well as both in the Champions League so far this season.

A hugely versatile asset, given that Spence has been deployed in both full-back positions, Ian Wright also describes him, at his best, as a “swashbuckling” presence. In the words of Harry Redknapp, he’s been a “revelation” in north London.

Meantime, current manager Frank asserted that Spence is “exceptionally good” is one-on-one defensive situations adding, “he’s a great type, can play both sides… big credit to Djed. He truly deserves it. It has been a tough”.

The Tottenham manager was referencing Spence’s international breakthrough, making his senior England debut against Serbia at Stadion Rajko Mitić last month, replacing Reece James for the final 20 minutes or so in Belgrade.

This month, Spence started both of England’s matches against Wales and Latvia, with Three Lions captain Harry Kane giving this emotional speech when presenting his team-mate with his maiden cap.

Given Thomas Tuchel’s dearth of left-back options, Myles Lewis-Skelly the other leading contender for that spot, it is far from inconceivable that Spence will be starting at the World Cup next year.

Back at Tottenham, his exponential improvement over the last 12 months is vindication for Paratici, who always believed in him, and proves that all it takes is the right environment for a player to thrive, one that clearly did not involve Conte.

Paratici already handed Frank the next Mbeumo in "incredible" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot on one star who could be Thomas Frank’s next Bryan Mbeumo.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 17, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Athletico e o Coritiba, que subiram da Série B para a Série A de 2026, foram reconhecidos como ‘patrimônio cultural imaterial’ do Paraná. A honra foi dada durante esta semana.

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➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Na quarta-feira (10), a Assembleia Legislativa do Paraná (Alep) aprovou, e o governador Ratinho Júnior (PSD) sancionou as Leis nº 22.897 e 22.901. Elas institutem o ‘Dia Estadual do Club Athletico Paranaense’ em 26 de março e ‘Dia Estadual do Coritiba Foot Ball Club’ em 12 de outubro, datas de fundações da dupla Atletiba.

Assim, os aniversários dos clubes passam integrar o Calendário Oficial de Evento. Além disso, o ato reconhece Athletico e Coritiba como patrimônios culturais, históricos e sociais do Estado.

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No caso rubro-negro, a proposta atualiza a grafia oficial do Athletico, alterada em 2018. A proposta foi feita pelos deputados Delegado Tito Barichello, Alexandre Curi e Luiz Claudio Romanelli. Já pelo lado alviverde, os políticos Anibelli Neto e Artagão Junior propuseram a homenagem.

Athletico e Coritiba se preparam para 2026

De volta à elite do futebol brasileiro, Athletico e Coritiba estão de férias e planejam a próxima temporada. Os dois clubes disputarão o Campeonato Paranaense, Copa do Brasil e Brasileirão no ano que vem.

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No comando, Odair Hellmann tem contrato com o Furacão até maio e trata da renovação. Já o Coxa mudou de Mozart para Fernando Seabra.

O elenco atleticano inicia treinos online em 24 de dezembro e inicia a pré-temporada no CT do Caju em 2 de janeiro de 2026, enquanto o grupo alviverde começa os trabalhos em 27 de dezembro, no CT da Graciosa. O Athletico disputará o estadual com o time sub-20, tendo alguns reforços do elenco principal, e o Coxa iniciará as duas primeiras rodadas com uma equipe sub-23 para o de cima assumir no terceiro.

Tudo sobre

AthleticoAthletico ParanaenseAthletico-PRBrasileirãoCoritibaFutebol Nacional

Manchester United have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Ligue 1 defender, who has left their scouts blown away.

INEOS draw up 2026 transfer plan

To their credit, Man United got their summer transfer window fairly spot on. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens all look like solid signings, whilst Benjamin has shown flashes of his true quality. And results proved before the international break that a turnaround under Ruben Amorim is still possible.

Even if Monday’s 1-0 loss against the 10 men of Everton brought them back down to reality, one defeat in their last five games represents much-needed improvement.

INEOS have never stopped backing their manager and recent reports have claimed that they’re ready to return to the transfer market to improve his squad even further in 2026.

The plan, according to the Express, is to sign two wing-backs and a midfielder next summer, with the likes of Elliot Anderson among their top targets.

The Nottingham Forest star has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season even as his side sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and then Ange Postecoglou before hiring Sean Dyche.

Thomas Tuchel has been impressed enough to grant Anderson a starting place next to Declan Rice in his England side, which is now his to lose ahead of the World Cup.

The unfortunate news for Man United is that his price will only increase if he enjoys a successful tournament, even though reports have already claimed he’ll cost them over £100m.

The midfielder is also not the only name on United’s shopping list. INEOS have also reportedly set their sights on signing Ligue 1 defender Jeremy Jacquet.

Man Utd plotting "bargain" Jeremy Jacquet move

According to Caught Offside, Man United are now plotting a move to sign Jacquet from Stade Rennais after the young defender impressed their scouts in France.

The Red Devils have reportedly joined Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace in the race to sign the 20-year-old and it’s easy to see why.

Dubbed “imposing” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Jacquet is reportedly available for as little as €30m (£26m), which Caught Offside’s Mark Brus described as a “bargain” deal.

Having already signed Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in recent years, adding Jacquet to their ranks would complete Amorim’s back three for years to come.

Man Utd receive bid for "insane" £105k-p/w player, he's said yes to January move

The Red Devils have received a proposal ahead of the January transfer window, with a sale now edging ‘closer’.

1 ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025

With Harry Maguire still yet to sign a new contract ahead too, the young centre-back may have the chance to come straight into Man United’s starting side next summer in an attempt to make an instant impact.

Worse than Bruno & Casemiro: Amorim can't start Man Utd duo together again

Newcastle United’s topsy-turvy campaign is raging on. When will Eddie Howe strike the balance needed for his team to kick on and reestablish themselves as a force in the Premier League?

Last weekend’s performance over Manchester City offered a glimpse into what United are capable of, dispatching Pep Guardiola’s side at St. James’ Park thanks to Harvey Barnes’ second-half brace.

But that win was built atop a run of three defeats from four in the Premier League, and Newcastle have since been defeated on the road in the Champions League, against Marseille in France.

It wasn’t the Toon’s worst performance of the season, but the emission of anxiety after Nick Pope’s costly mistake emphasises the issue in mentality when away from Tyneside.

Why Howe should drop Nick Pope

Pope has been a strong and convincing goalkeeper for Newcastle since joining the club from relegated Burnley in 2022, but, aged 33, the Three Lions star is allowing errors to creep into his game, the latest of which cost the Magpies dearly in Marseille.

Newcastle knew they needed to take something home with them from the Orange Velodrome, and indeed, Barnes’ finish secured an advantage at the interval.

Cool heads were needed, but Pope rushed out to claim a neat through ball and failed to match the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the veteran striker getting there first and then rounding Pope and scoring from an acute angle to restore parity. The one-time Arsenal hero then scored again from close range, smacking home from a few yards out following a fierce cross-box pass.

That frustrating display was hardly an outlier. This season, Pope has left plenty to be desired.

Given that loanee Aaron Ramsdale is waiting in the wings, it’s understandable that some supporters want to see a change between the sticks, and it’s perhaps something Howe should consider if he wishes to revive his team’s fluency and confidence on the road.

It’s not the only change that must be made, though, with another United man’s form this season emphasising the need for a permanent tweak on Howe’s part.

The Newcastle star who's a bigger liability than Pope

A core part of Newcastle’s success over the past four years, Joelinton’s chapter at the club may nearly be written, with the long-time star beginning to become a problem for Howe.

One of the most powerful and imposing midfielders in the Premier League, Joelinton’s form has suffered this season, and he’s noticeably regressed, and that is accentuated by the superstars around him.

Unlike last season, when Joelinton’s intense, pack-a-punch style was so integral in charging up the Newcastle engine, the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are forming something of a partnership

Newcastle’s Italian midfielder, to be sure, is showing off new levels of athleticism and strength to match his natural elegance, and the skipper is as all-encompassing as ever in the middle of the park.

But Joelinton is waning, and this has been picked up by Toon observers. Indeed, journalist Mark Douglas noted earlier in the campaign that the 29-year-old has been “nowhere near his best”.

Sofascore record that Joelinton is winning only 2.9 ground duels per Premier League fixture, which is his lowest average since 2019/20, his debut term, when he principally played as a centre-forward.

Refashioned into an all-action midfielder, Joelinton has proved himself to be an iconic servant for Howe at Newcastle, but after so many rounds of unforgiving action, it may be that it is the right time for him to move on.

Howe’s Most-used Players at Newcastle
Rank	Player	Apps
1	Bruno Guimaraes	172
2	Dan Burn	166
3	Fabian Schar	165
4	Jacob Murphy	152
5	Joelinton	146
Data via Transfermarkt

Hailed as a “club legend” by content creator Adam Pearson, the Brazil international has had his day, and the fact that PIF are gearing up for an ambitious bid for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in 2026, the England midfielder having emerged from Newcastle’s academy, suggests that the mainstay is becoming expendable.

The suggestions that Pope should be extricated from his post between the posts are rising in volume, but the emphasis on pushing for a Joelinton upgrade must be just as loud.

For all the Brazilian’s robustness, he is no longer untouchable under Howe’s wing, and is perhaps becoming the weakest link in a team that needs to kick on.

PIF have signed an "explosive" talent who can end Gordon's Newcastle career

Newcastle United already have an exciting attacker up their sleeve who can end Anthony Gordon’s stalling Magpies career.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 27, 2025

Orla Prendergast claims three wickets as hosts subside once again at Chelmsford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Sep-2025

Sarah Bryce unleashes a drive•Getty Images

The Blaze 59 for 0 (S Bryce 33*) beat Essex 211 (Smale 41, Prendergast 3-43) by 35 runs (DLS) Orla Prendergast led the wickets charge as The Blaze won a rain-affected encounter with Essex at Chelmsford to book a home semi-final at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.Prendergast took 3 for 43, including a momentum shifting double strike to help bowl out the hosts for 211. Her efforts were ably supported by Lucy Higham’s 2 for 33 and some outstanding out-fielding, typified by Kathryn’s Bryce’s run-out of Ariana Dowse.Six of Essex’s batters reached double figures, but only Sophia Smale (41) got beyond 40, Jo Gardner making a run-a-ball 36. The pair added 52 for the seventh wicket after the hosts collapsed from 104 for 2 to 133 for 6.Blaze openers Sarah Bryce (33 not out) and Georgie Boyce had knocked 59 off the target in 11.2 overs when the weather closed in.Dowse and skipper Grace Scrivens gave the hosts a a solid start, the former caressing one through the covers and driving another square for four. Scrivens reached 16 before mishitting a half-tracker from opposite number Kirstie Gordon to square leg and a brilliant pick up and throw from Katherine Bryce ran out Dowse for 20.The response to the double setback was good with Lissy Macleod (30) and Lancashire loanee Liberty Heap (33) targeting the straight boundaries in a stand of 59 at almost a run a ball. Essex looked poised to push on, but Heath’s demise, top edging a short one from Prendergast to midwicket sparked a mid-innings slump.Flo Miller was another Prendergast victim and when Higham sent Macleod packing courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled, three wickets had fallen for six runs in 16 balls.Higham then bowled Amara Carr with a beauty, before Smale and Gardner rallied the home side’s flagging effort, the latter striking the ball powerfully back past the bowler in the mid-on/mid-off arc.But before they could entertain hopes of a score of 250, Prendergast splayed Gardner’s stumps and thereafter only Smale who was last out held up The Blaze for long.The bad weather was closing in by the time The Blaze began their reply, Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce immediately showing aggressive intent. Bryce hit Gray for the only six of the match while Boyce three times struck the ball firmly to the fence along the floor.By the time rain drove the players from the field enough overs had been completed to constitute a match and The Blaze were a mile ahead on the DLS and looking forward to a semi-final.

Elly De La Cruz has been historic this season and the Cincinnati Reds shortstop has put up some huge numbers. Both good and bad.

De La Cruz enters the final week of the 2024 season with some tremendous numbers. He's currently hitting .261, has an on-base percentage of .343, while slugging .476. He has 25 home runs, 74 RBIs and leads all of baseball with 65 stolen bases. His OPS is .819, he boasts an fWAR of 6.5 and a wRC+ of 121.

His campaign has been historic as the 22-year-old is the first shortstop in MLB history with 25 or more home runs and 65 or more stolen bases in a season. Additionally, he's only the fourth player since 2000 to register 90 or more home runs and stolen bases combined in a season. He's tied at 90 with Jose Reyes's mark from 2007, but trails only Ronald Acuna's 114 from 2023 and Shohei Ohtani's 108 this season. That's some pretty great company to be in.

De La Cruz is electric and has become a budding star, but the Reds have had to take the bad with the good as he's developed. He does lead MLB in stolen bases, but he's also tops in strikeouts (210) and errors (28).

The closest competition for the lead in strikeouts is Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar at 193, so there's very little chance he loses the strikeout crown. The MLB single-season record for strikeouts is 223, set by Mark Reynolds in 2009. The Cincinnati Reds record is Adam Dunn's 222 from 2012. De La Cruz is also on pace to become the first player to lead MLB in strikeouts and steals in the same season.

Despite the negatives, it's easy to see why De La Cruz is so exciting. His StatCast page is a really fun read. He's in the 90th percentile in average exit velocity, 89th in bat speed, 77th in hard-hit percentage, 98th in defensive range, 90th in arm strength and 100th in sprint speed. Then there are some weird takeaways. He's in the 34th percentile in xBA (.244), 25th in percentage of balls squared up, eighth percentile in whiff percentage, and fifth in strikeout percentage.

De La Cruz is a ball of contradictions, but he has a long career ahead of him to iron out his issues. His 2024 season has seen him post ridiculous numbers, both positive and negative. But he's been incredibly fun to watch the entire time.

Jack White takes 4 for 33 on T20 debut as Joe Clarke’s half-century goes in vain

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jun-2025Dawid Malan hit his third consecutive Vitality Blast half-century as Yorkshire, having lost their first three North Group matches, defeated Notts Outlaws by nine runs at Trent Bridge, seamer Jack White taking 4 for 33 on his T20 debut.With Adam Lyth making 29 from 21 and Matt Revis 27 not out from 22, Malan’s 58 from 29 balls helped Yorkshire post 175 for 8.After Malan and Lyth had put on 83 in 45 balls for the first wicket they may have hoped for a few more with left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (2 for 24 from four) and pace duo Dillon Pennington (2 for 29) and Daniel Sams (2 for 31) limiting the damage thereafter.Yet the target still proved beyond the Outlaws in the face of a tidy performance across the board by Yorkshire’s bowlers, led by 33-year-old former Northamptonshire man White, home skipper Joe Clarke making 50 and Freddie McCann 31 but no other batter passed 20.After winning the toss and opting to bat, Yorkshire had been 75 without loss in the opening powerplay, Lyth lofting Matt Montgomery and Sams for leg-side sixes before Malan did likewise to Pennington and Conor McKerr, the latter conceding 22 runs in his first over.Pennington broke the partnership on 83 in the eighth when Lyth, reaching, was caught at cover, Malan departing in the next when he hammered a third six over backward square off McKerr but was caught and bowled off a leading edge next ball.Three wickets in eight balls then tilted the balance towards Outlaws as James Wharton swiped Calvin Harrison straight to deep midwicket and Liam Patterson-White snaffled two in the same over – Harry Duke caught behind and Will Luxton on the midwicket boundary.From 121 for 5, Revis and Will Sutherland added 35 but Sams collected a steepling return catch to remove his fellow Australian and had Jafar Chohan taken at extra cover, conceding just 11 in his last two overs. In between, Dom Bess – reprieved when given out caught behind off a pad – was caught at midwicket.After losing Lyndon James (bowled) and Jack Haynes (caught cover) from consecutive Jack White deliveries in the opening over of their reply, Outlaws recovered to 67 for 2 from six. Clarke and McCann added 63 in 32 balls before the latter top-edged to cover for 31 off 18 trying to reverse-hit leg-spinner Chohan.On track at 91 for 3 from 10, Outlaws suffered a major blow when Clarke, having just completed his fifty with a fifth four to go with two sixes off White and a third off Lyth, holed out to long-off off Bess, with Tom Moores (19 off 22) caught at long-on off White in the next over. Matt Montgomery perished in similar fashion off Will O’Rourke in a tight over that left the home side, six down, needing 55 from the last 30 balls.Back-to-back sixes by Sams off Bess briefly raised home hopes but he fell when he drove the next ball straight back to the bowler, Chohan immediately snaring his second as Patterson-White picked out long-off.After the last over arrived with Notts still needing 17, White made McKerr his fourth victim, conceding only seven more runs.