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Manchester United have now made contact over a deal for a “decisive” forward, who is attracting widespread interest after a fantastic 2024/25 campaign, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing new forward amid Garnacho uncertainty

Marcus Rashford officially completed to Barcelona on Wednesday, and the England international is unlikely to be the only Man United forward on the move this summer, amid major doubts over Alejandro Garnacho’s future at Old Trafford.

Earlier this month, it was widely reported that Garnacho had informed the United hierarchy that he wants to leave in the current window, and there is plenty of interest in the Aston Villa international, who is eager to remain in the Premier League.

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The Red Devils are in discussions over a deal for an “expert striker”.

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That is according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, who said: “Alejandro Garnacho wants to stay in England, and there are only so many options. Chelsea, we know, like him, whilst Tottenham have maintained contact.

“But Aston Villa have emerged as an option, I am told the player has done his homework on the possibility of working with Unai Emery, and he has heard good things.”

Despite already adding Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to his ranks this summer, Ruben Amorim may want to bring in a new winger if Garnacho does depart this summer, and a new target has now entered the frame.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which reveals that Man United have now made contact over a deal for Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini, who is attracting widespread interest after an impressive 2024-25 campaign.

The Italian club are thought to be holding out for a fee of €50m (£43m), meaning a deal would be on the expensive side, and his current employers are hoping Orsolini commits to a new contract, with a new deal currently being worked on.

As such, it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils are able to tempt Bologna into a sale.

"Decisive" Orsolini impressing in the Serie A

The 2024-25 campaign will live long in Bologna fans’ memory, given that they lifted the Italian Cup, and the Italian forward was one of the driving forces behind their success, picking up 22 goal contributions in all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Serie A

30

15

5

Italian Cup

4

2

0

Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano was also full of praise for the Italy international last season, saying: “He has this ability to be solid, decisive, incisive, and there are not many with those characteristics. Having him is a big deal for us.”

As such, Orsolini could be an exciting addition to Amorim’s squad, although it would be a gamble to shell out £43m on the forward, given that he is unproven in the Premier League and Champions League.

As Graham Potter looks to shape his West Ham United side ahead of his first full season in charge, the Hammers have reportedly made contact to sign an impressive Serie A midfielder who once pocketed Declan Rice.

West Ham keen on attacking additions

It’s a big few months ahead for Potter and his side following a tough start to life at the London Stadium for the former Chelsea manager. After arriving to replace the struggling Julen Lopetegui, many expected Potter to make his mark from the off and ensure that any Stamford Bridge failure became an afterthought. That new manager bounce never truly came, however, and the pressure is now on.

Games

20

Wins

6

Draws

5

Defeats

9

Following just six wins in his first 20 games and a frustrating 14th-place finish in the Premier League, Potter and West Ham must ensure that they get off to a quick start next season.

What should help that is their potential work in the summer transfer window. Already, they’ve reportedly set their sights on attacking additions such as Adama Bojang and AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham.

Major club ready to sell decorated star amid West Ham race for Kudus replacement

The Hammers are beginning to be proactive on the market…

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The latter would be a particularly wise addition given his past Premier League experience and the Hammers could yet land a relatively routine deal following his struggles on loan at AC Milan last season.

Abraham, like West Ham, endured a season to forget last time out and could certainly do with a return to the Premier League if he is to rediscover his best form in the next campaign.

It’s not just their frontline that West Ham must improve, however. Amid previous reports that David Moyes’ Everton side are interested in signing Tomas Soucek this summer, those at the London Stadium could be forced to find a replacement. And what better way to replace the towering midfielder than by signing a player who “shut down” former star Rice?

West Ham make contact to sign Musah

According to TeamTalk, West Ham have now made initial contact to sign Yunus Musah from AC Milan this summer. The American international initially looked on his way to Serie A champions Napoli in a deal worth €25m (£21m) before Milan changed their stance and demanded that price as well as add-ons. Now, the Hammers have a chance to sneak in ahead of Napoli.

Whether West Ham are willing to do what Napoli are not will be the big question, but their interest in Musah should come as no surprise. At 22 years old, the midfielder already has some impressive experience under his belt at the top level, including at the 2022 World Cup.

It was in Qatar that the Milan man caught the eye for the USA, especially against England as he helped his side earn a 0-0 draw against the Three Lions. Earning the praise of Jacek Kulig as a result, the scout claimed that both Musah and Tyler Adams “shut down” an England midfield which included Rice and Jude Bellingham.

Ben Slater took full advantage of Guildford’s short square boundaries to hit nine sixes and 12 fours in a brilliant List A best 164 off 119 balls as Notts Outlaws overpowered Surrey by 107 runs.And Rob Lord, a 23-year-old seamer making only his second senior appearance, was Notts’ star with the ball in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 2,000 at Woodbridge Road, impressing hugely with 5 for 45 as Surrey were bowled out for 271 in reply.The Outlaws’ third win in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup’s Group B boosts their hopes of reaching the 50-over competition’s later stages, while for Surrey it was sadly a fifth defeat in five matches.Only Dom Sibley, following up his 149 against Warwickshire two days’ previously with 72 off 81 balls, threatened with the bat for Surrey as Lord spearheaded an excellent Notts’ performance in the field.Tailender Conor McKerr did have some late fun with three sixes and eight fours in a violent 36-ball 71 – the fast bowler’s highest score in any senior cricket – but by then it was just damage limitation for Surrey.Opener Slater was joined by Jack Haynes, who struck two sixes and nine fours in a fluent 85-ball 86, in a superb partnership of 187 in 28 overs that is a List A second wicket record for Notts against Surrey. Both Slater and Haynes batted beautifully, with Notts’ eventual total also a record for List A games between these two counties.Haynes, like Slater, will certainly always remember the day with affection as he came into the game with four ducks from his previous four innings in the competition. Yet if Haynes was anxious about extending such a remarkable and unwanted run of noughts he did not show it after Freddie McCann had hit five fours in a bright 28 before mis-hitting Ryan Patel’s medium pace to mid off in the seventh over.Slater’s first six was pulled off McKerr, taking him to 22 and signalling more positive intent after a comparatively cautious start, but it was only once he had reached his eighth List A hundred – and seen Haynes cloth one to mid on the ball after thumping McKerr for a massive six – that the left-hander went into overdrive.An over from legspinner Cameron Steel cost 27 runs as Slater pulled and swept him for three sixes, adding two fours and a single for good measure, and time and again Slater flicked or bludgeoned the ball high over the legside ropes until, in the 46th over, he drove James Taylor straight to Ben Foakes at extra cover.By then the Notts total was 345, Haseeb Hameed and Lyndon James had both gone cheaply attempting to hit out, but Matthew Montgomery had also played a lovely cameo of 38 in 21 balls before lofting McKerr to long-off.Tom Moores, with a jaunty unbeaten 24, ensured that Notts reached the sort of challenging total that Slater’s heroics deserved, and Surrey’s response only really looked up to that challenge when Sibley and Patel were adding 66 in 11 overs for the first wicket and when Ben Geddes also played well for a 32-ball 34 at No. 3.Patel pulled and drove sixes in his 35, before hitting James to deep midwicket, and Geddes helped Sibley take Surrey on to 115 for 1 until a quite brilliant catch by keeper Moores proved to be a key moment in the game.Geddes flashed hard at Lord and the thick edge seemed to be flying away to the boundary, only for Moores to fling himself high to his right to clutch the ball in one glove.Rory Burns was then leg-before for a duck to slow left-armer Liam Patterson-White, another Notts bowler to impress even though Sibley did pull a rare short one from him over mid-wicket for one of his three sixes.Surrey’s slide continued when Foakes (10) chipped Lord to cover, off a leading edge, and Steel (7) nicked the bustling Lord through to Moores.Sibley’s departure, in the 31st over, left Surrey in an almost hopeless position – the opener held by bowler Lord when he skied an attempted pull – and, to his great joy, Lord’s fifth wicket arrived two overs later when Josh Blake (10) hooked straight to long leg.After that, McKerr enjoyed himself as the dominant partner in a 71-run stand for the eighth wicket with Nathan Barnwell (17), but after he perished to a catch at long on the end came quickly. Both James and Luke Fletcher finished with two wickets.

Liverpool are making waves in the transfer window this summer and even television personality Piers Morgan has chimed in, with the well known Arsenal supporter unhappy at the news coming out of Anfield this week.

Liverpool closing in on three summer signings

Arne Slot has become a hero at Anfield following a season that has saw his side become Premier League champions, and celebrations will continue long into the next few weeks from anyone of a Liverpool persuasion.

However, there have been headline-grabbing stories elsewhere involving the Reds, not least Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave his boyhood club for Real Madrid.

What has been more impressive in light of a significant departure is Liverpool’s quickfire response in the market. Turning heads around Europe, Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong appear to be on their way to Anfield.

Laying down a statement of intent, the top-flight holders have reportedly seen off competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich for the former, who clearly views the Reds as an environment where regular silverware can be won for the foreseeable future.

Milos Kerkez has agreed personal terms with the Reds, lending credence to the thought that Slot could be set to build a dynasty while in charge.

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The Reds are close to completing a deal.

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Either way, this window feels like it could be a significant one for Liverpool. They have needed to wait their turn during Pep Guardiola’s four-in-a-row era, but you feel the tide may be changing between the Reds and their rivals.

Arsenal have also been firmly in that conversation, so much so that media personality Morgan has now shared his thoughts on the news coming out of Merseyside.

Piers Morgan reacts to Liverpool's Florian Wirtz bid

Taking to social media platform X, Morgan has questioned why Arsenal haven’t taken a similar course of action to Liverpool’s speedy pursuit of a key target like Wirtz. Questioning Mikel Arteta’s authority, he also praised the Reds for ‘not mucking around’ as they look to defend their title come the start of next season.

Admittedly, he does have point, but Liverpool fans will be quite happy that they are the ones leading the race for a player who has registered 16 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances this term.

Next campaign, Arsenal are expected to be at the forefront once again in the title race. The Reds managed to finish ten points ahead of their nearest challenger, albeit their run-in results were a consequence of winning the league with games to spare.

Liverpool are a winning machine when it matters at present and are showing no signs of slowing down, so there is every reason for the red half of Merseyside to be excited at what 2025/26 could have in store, while fans in North London must count on their club to find the right number nine to lead the line for Arteta next term.

While signing a new centre forward is top of new sporting director Andrea Berta’s wishlist at Arsenal this summer, the need to strengthen in other areas of the pitch is also strong.

The Gunners have been severely hamstrung – pardon the pun – by injuries this season, notably in their forward line.

Though, there’s also been a huge degree of inconsistency, chiefly at left wing where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have scored just eight goals each in the Premier League.

So, where will Mikel Arteta and Co turn to in their bid to add an extra dose of spice to their attack?

Arsenal chasing big-money winger

For over a year now, Arsenal have been exploring a move for Spanish winger Nico Williams.

The Bilbao star dazzled at the European Championships last summer, famously scoring a goal in the final against England.

However, after no club signed him last year, interest hasn’t dampened in the young forward. He reportedly dreams of a move to Barcelona but their finances are still extremely tight. As a result, English clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have both been interested.

If the Gunners have room for a pricier addition, perhaps AC Milan’s Rafael Leao could be their man.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Arsenal have been linked with a move in the past but their interest is now ramping up ahead of the summer, with Football Insider reporting that they are now ‘working on signing’ the Portuguese sensation.

One problem could be the player’s release clause which currently stands at an almighty £145m according to claims in Italy.

How Rafael Leao compares to Nico Williams

While Williams is quite clearly one of the most exciting young wingers in the game right now, there is an argument to suggest that his output needs improving.

This feels like a player simply ready to explode in a better side but the fact remains that he has only scored five times in LaLiga this term and 11 in all competitions.

If Arsenal are looking to add more goals to their side then perhaps Leao, despite a heftier price tag, would be a more exciting candidate here.

Described as a “superstar” by scout Jacek Kulig, he may have only scored one more than Williams in 2024/25, but he’s got a history for finding the net with consistent regularity, now reaching double figures in each of the last four campaigns. On that evidence, it’s no surprise to see that data analyst Ben Mattinson noted that he is “clinical off both feet.”

Goals

0.32

0.22

Assists

0.32

0.34

Shot on target %

39%

35%

Key passes

2.18

1.85

Progressive passes

3.91

2.89

Shot-creating actions

4.62

4.96

Succesful take-ons

2.53

3.21

Take-on success %

48%

40%

Progressive carries

5.27

5.52

When diving deeper into the numbers, the play style of each winger becomes clearer. They are both ‘carry-first’ attackers, driving at players and committing their full-back. This is what Arsenal need more of in the final third so that’s one box ticked.

Williams registers more take-ons but it’s actually Leao who appears to be more effective in one-on-one situations, registering a higher success rate.

Crucially, while the Milan sensation is a goalscorer, he’s also creative and in this Arsenal team he could take his assist numbers to the next level considering he actually ranks higher than Williams for key passes over the last two seasons.

Ultimately, Berta will have to be wise with how he spends the Kroenke’s cash this summer and thus, Leao may not be possible. However, if they are able to sign a striker and still raise additional funds, the 25-year-old should be the man they go for on the flanks.

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Manchester United have now made contact over a deal for an “incredible” striker, who would be keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Patrick Berger.

Man Utd pursuing new striker for Amorim

Man United suffered yet another setback in their last Premier League outing, suffering a 4-1 defeat away at Newcastle United to remain 14th in the table with just six games left to play, and they were very poor at both ends of the pitch.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund both squandered one big chance at St. James’ Park, which once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to bring in a new striker this summer, and several targets have now been identified.

Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is believed to be chief among them, with the Englishman set to be available for just £30m this summer, given that his side are almost certain to be relegated from the Premier League.

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Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike are also on the shortlist, with the Red Devils considering options from abroad, and another Bundesliga striker has also recently entered the frame.

According to an update from Sky Sports reporter Berger on X, Man United have now made initial contact over a deal for Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, although the move is still in the early stages, with nothing concrete so far.

Leverkusen would be looking to receive €25m – €30m (£21m – £26m) for Schick, making him an affordable option for United, and there are some signs he would be keen on the move, given that the Premier League is said to be his “preferred destination”.

Ideally, Amorim would be looking to bring in a younger striker, but the 29-year-old is viewed as an “interesting” option.

Schick enjoying another impressive Bundesliga campaign

The Czech striker has spent the majority of his career in Germany, chalking up 70 goals and 13 assists in 138 Bundesliga outings, and the current campaign is on course to be one of his most prolific to date.

With 17 league goals to his name, there are clear signs the Leverkusen star is now entering his prime, and he has averaged a remarkable 0.87 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, placing him in the top 1% of all strikers in a top five European league.

Not only that, but the forward has been lauded as “incredible” by members of the media in the past, indicating that he could be a real upgrade on Hojlund and Zirkzee, who have fallen way below expectations this season.

That said, it would be a gamble to sign Schick, given that he is unproven in the Premier League, and Delap should remain United’s top striker target.

Also: what’s the quickest an ODI target has been chased down in terms of scoring rate?

Steven Lynch21-Mar-2023Australia knocked off their target in the second ODI at 11 an over – was this the fastest such rate in a win? asked Murray Greenfield from Australia

Australia passed their target of 118 in Visakhapatnam at the weekend in just 11 overs, at a scoring rate of exactly 11.Only three targets have been overhauled at a faster rate in all ODIs. Top of the list is New Zealand’s demolition of Bangladesh in Queenstown on New Year’s Eve in 2007: a modest target 93 of was knocked off in just six overs – that’s a rate of 15.83 an over – with Brendon McCullum hitting 80 not out while Jamie How contributed seven.New Zealand lie second on the list as well, scoring 118 for 0 at 14.16 an over to beat Sri Lanka in Christchurch in 2015-16. And six days before Australia’s recent onslaught, Nepal went at 13.04 an over in defeating Papua New Guinea in Kirtipur. The World Cup record was set in Wellington in February 2015, when New Zealand hurtled to their target against England at 10.13 an over.India lost in Visakhapatnam with 234 balls to spare, their heaviest defeat by that yardstick, beating a defeat with 212 balls to spare by New Zealand in Hamilton in 2018-19. For that list, click here.Temba Bavuma recently made his second Test century, in his 97th innings, 88 innings after his first. Has any other player had a bigger gap between Test centuries? asked Jeremy Bourke from Australia

You’re right that Temba Bavuma’s second Test century for South Africa – his 172 against West Indies in Johannesburg earlier this month – came 88 innings after his first, an unbeaten 102 against England in Cape Town in January 2016.Only one man has had a longer gap between Test hundreds: there were 92 innings between the New Zealand wicketkeeper Adam Parore’s first ton (100 not out against West Indies in Christchurch in 1994-95) and his second (110 vs Australia in Perth in 2001-02).Another South African, Mark Boucher, had 73 innings between Test centuries; Pakistan’s Moin Khan had a gap of 69 innings, and Mahmudullah of Bangladesh 68.The longest time gap between Test centuries is almost 14 years by Australia’s Warren Bardsley, between 1912 (164 against South Africa at Lord’s) and 1926 (when he carried his bat for 193 against England, also at Lord’s, when he was 43).India’s first six partnerships on the fourth Test were all of 50 or more – has this ever happened in a Test before? asked Jeevan Malhotra from India

India’s innings in Ahmedabad earlier this month was actually the third time a Test innings had started with six successive partnerships of 50 or more. The first occasion was in Australia’s first innings in the famous tied Test in Brisbane in 1960-61, and it happened again in Pakistan’s first innings against Bangladesh in Khulna in 2015.There are 17 instances of the first five wickets all producing partnership of 50 or more.Polly Umrigar is the only other allrounder apart from Vinoo Mankad to complete the set of a fifty, 150 and a five-wicket haul in the same match•William Vanderson/Getty ImagesHas any allrounder scored a fifty, a 150 and taken a five-wicket haul in the same Test, apart from Vinoo Mankad at Lord’s in 1952? asked Raghav Manickam from India

That remarkable performance by India’s Vinoo Mankad – 72 and 184, either side of taking 5 for 196 in 73 overs at Lord’s in 1952 – has been matched only once – by another Indian, Polly Umrigar, who scored 56 and 172 not out after taking 5 for 107 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1961-62. Ian Botham just missed out, with 50, 149 not out and 6 for 95 for England against Australia at Headingley in 1981. There have been five other instances of a player scoring a hundred, a half-century and taking a five-for in the same Test. And there are two cases of this in women’s Tests, both by England’s Enid Bakewell – 114, 5 for 56 and 66 not out ­against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69, and 68, 112 not out and 7 for 61 against West Indies at Edgbaston in 1979.Regarding last week’s question about people who made their first-class debuts in a Test, I thought Parthiv Patel did this? Should he be on that list? asked Mahendra Bhasin from India, among others

The Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel played the first of his eventual 25 Tests at Trent Bridge in 2002, when he was only 17. That was actually his tenth first-class match – but what was unusual was that none of the previous nine had come in India, which makes him unique among Indian Test players.Parthiv made his first-class debut for India A in South Africa in 2001-02, and had also played in Sri Lanka and England before his Test debut. On returning home he had one first-class match before playing his first Test in India, against West Indies in Mumbai: at that point he had still not appeared in the Ranji Trophy (he did not play in it until 2004-05, his 45th match).The Indian statistician Pushkar Pushp tells me that Parthiv is one of only four men to make their Test debut for India before appearing in the Ranji Trophy, since the tournament started in 1934-35, following Ramesh “Buck” Divecha (1951-52), Budhi Kunderan (1959-60) and Vivek Razdan, who made his first-class debut for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup match against Ranji champions Delhi in Bombay (now Mumbai) in November 1989, and was selected for the upcoming tour of Pakistan, and had one further match there before playing in the second Test in Faisalabad, just 20 days after his first-class debut.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Left-arm wristspinner has developed the hard way to seize chance with Birmingham Bears

Matt Roller21-Jun-2021There is no good time to test positive for Covid-19 but for Jake Lintott, Sunday was a particularly frustrating one. He is due to miss at least three Birmingham Bears fixtures in the Vitality Blast while self-isolating, and the fact that the first ended in defeat underlined his importance to the side since the start of last year, during which time he has been their leading wicket-taker.Lintott, a 28-year-old left-arm wristspinner who bowls nearly as many googlies as stock balls, had played three T20s for Gloucestershire in 2018 and a single one for Hampshire the year before, but as he headed into his late 20s, appeared destined for a career playing club, minor counties and second-team cricket, which he combined with a job as director of cricket at Queen’s College, Taunton. His success for the Bears – Warwickshire’s T20 moniker – in the Blast seemed a long way off 15 months ago.Lintott had been due to travel to La Manga on Warwickshire’s pre-season tour last March after Ian Westwood, the 2nd XI coach, had talked him up following some impressive performances the previous summer, but when the UK went into lockdown, he was furloughed from his job and uncertain about what lay ahead.Related

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“I was in a bit of a grey area,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I didn’t know where counties were going to come out financially at the end of it, and everything was a bit uncertain. When I got furloughed from the school job, I tried to use lockdown as a big opportunity to focus on me and invest as much time as I wanted to in myself.Having struggled to find time to focus on his fitness while working during the week and playing every weekend, Lintott took up running and lost nearly three stone (18kg). “When you’re in a full-time working environment, it can be really hard to find time for yourself. I’ve always moved quite well, even as a biggish lad, but to lose weight, it means the perception disappears and it’s another box ticked. I think it was the last thing I had to do [to earn a contract].”He had spent time on Zoom with Graeme Welch, the club’s bowling coach, working on his action – “it sounds bizarre that he was coaching me through a computer screen” – but turned up to a second-team game before the Blast and left the coaching staff taken aback: “I think I looked like a completely different person, having lost all that weight.”On the first day of the 2020 group stage, he signed a short-term contract to cover the five weeks of Blast cricket, which he combined with his job at Queen’s, regularly driving 130 miles up to Edgbaston and then 130 more back down to Taunton. While the Bears missed out on the quarter-finals after letting a winning position slip against Northamptonshire in their final group game, Lintott’s return – 10 wickets in nine games, with an economy rate of just 6.30 – marked him out as one of the season’s breakout stars.After discussions over the winter – during which time he briefly trained with Jack Leach while working as a pathway spin coach for Somerset – Warwickshire offered him his first professional deal in February, which he is combining with his job at Queen’s this season. He took eight wickets in his first five games in the Blast and since 2020, only three spinners – Matt Parkinson, Danny Briggs and Dan Moriarty – have taken more wickets in the competition; all three have a higher average and economy rate than Lintott.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”I’ve trained a couple of days a week since February up in Birmingham: travelled up, stayed overnight, two days of training, back to the school,” he said. “To be honest, I’ve had no days off since April. It’s tough work but it’s all worth it.”For a while I felt like I’d been a bit unfairly treated. It’s quite hard to break into the county system once you’ve reached a certain age, and that was a good example of it. I felt like I was good enough but my age was holding me back. Because I do lots of coaching I understand that people develop at different ages, but I’m not sure the system here allows players to come in late. The fact I’m different and you see how big wristspin has become in T20 has always kept me going but it has taken a lot of determination. It would have been easy just to give up.”Naturally, he attributes much of his success to his novelty factor. Tabraiz Shamsi, Kuldeep Yadav, Zahir Khan and Noor Ahmad have made reputations for themselves around the world, and the percentage of balls bowled by left-arm wristspinners in T20s around the world has grown fourfold over the last eight years, according to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data. But they remain as rare as Fabergé eggs in England, a graveyard for unorthodoxy: Lintott is already the all-time leading wicket-taker among left-arm wristspinners in the Blast’s history.”I think I’m the only contracted one in the country,” he said. “D’Arcy Short does it for Hampshire on a part-time basis and there are young lads in the academies at Northants [Freddie Heldreich] and Yorkshire [Sam Wisniewski] but there’s really not much of it about. That’s definitely an advantage: it’s just different, isn’t it? And that’s a big thing in T20, being unpredictable. It makes me harder for batters to line up, because they’re not used to it. It’s good fun, as much as anything.”While Lintott has had to put up with various coaches suggesting he revert to bowling left-arm orthodox, wristspin has always come naturally to him. When he was nine years old, he naturally bowled out the back of his hand while masquerading as a seamer, and once he had realised wristspin was a viable option, he pursued it seriously. “It’s nice to be able to spin the ball both ways. That’s the best thing about it: my job is to take wickets and make batters look a bit silly.”

“I’m a really ambitious guy and want to take my cricket as far as I possibly can. That’s shown in how hard I’ve had to work to get here”Jake Lintott

The arrival of Briggs, the slow left-armer who is the Blast’s all-time leading wicket-taker, at Warwickshire has worked in his favour, with their bowling styles and personalities naturally complementing each other. “I’m quite emotional and eccentric and like to get into the battle, whereas he’s chilled and level-headed. He never really gets hit which means players have to start coming hard at me; that brings me into the game, spinning it both ways.”I’ve been working on being more effective to left-handers: generally people think of me as spinning the ball away from them and into right-handers, but I bowl a lot of googlies – near enough a 50:50 split. With right-handers trying to slog me leg-side, I get wickets and dot balls going across them, whereas with left-handers, my legspinner doesn’t rip quite as much as my googly, just because of my angles. I make it a big part of my routine to do analysis on where opposition batters like to hit boundaries, and where I can get dot balls to them.”Things have clicked for the Bears so far, joint-top of the North Group halfway through the group stage, with two players in particular standing out for Lintott. “I’m obviously biased, but how Sam Hain has not played for England is remarkable: he’s easily the best white-ball batter in the country at the moment. Carlos Brathwaite has added a lot to the group as an overseas player, too – in terms of character, and obviously match-winning performances with bat and ball.”It was Brathwaite, a Manchester United fan, who came up with the idea for Lintott’s newly-minted celebration: fists together with the thumb and forefinger pointing out to make a ‘J’ and an ‘L’, evoking midfielder Jesse Lingard’s trademark ‘J-Lingz’ pose. “A few lads got their hair cut before we were on Sky but I don’t need to worry about that… I guess T20’s all about fun, isn’t it?”Propelling the Bears to a top-two finish in North Group after returning from self-isolation is his immediate focus, with a ‘wildcard’ spot in the Hundred or opportunities with Warwickshire in the Royal London Cup potentially down the line. “I know if I keep taking wickets I’ll be in with a shout,” he said. “I’m a really ambitious guy and want to take my cricket as far as I possibly can. That’s shown in how hard I’ve had to work to get here. I’m just happy to finally be settled with a county: I’ve got three years to invest in Warwickshire, because they have invested in me.”

أعلن مدرب نادي مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، عن تشكيل فريقه لمباراة كريستال بالاس اليوم الأحد، وذلك لحساب منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

مانشستر سيتي سوف يحل ضيفًا على نظيره كريستال بالاس، وذلك لحساب الجولة الخامسة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويسعى مانشستر سيتي إلى تحقيق الانتصار على كريستال بالاس من أجل مواصلة المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث يحتاج السيتيزن إلى الفوز لتقليص الفارق مع آرسنال صاحب المركز الأول إلى نقطتين فقط.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مواعيد مباريات اليوم الأحد 14-12-2025 والقنوات الناقلة.. مانشستر سيتي ضد كريستال بالاس وريال مدريد أمام ألافيس وشهد تشكيل مانشستر سيتي استمرار تواجد عمر مرموش، النجم المصري على مقاعد البدلاء، حيث اعتمد المدرب بيب جوارديولا على إيرلينج هالاند في مركز المهاجم الصريح.

ويعول جوارديولا على خدمات ريان شرقي وفيل فودين في مركز خط الوسط المهاجم، في حين عاد تيجاني ريندرز إلى التشكيل الأساسي. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي اليوم أمام كريستال بالاس في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: جيانلويجي دوناروما.

خط الدفاع: ماتيوس نونيز، روبن دياز، جوسكو جفارديول، نيكو أوريلي.

خط الوسط: نيكو جونزاليز، برناردو سيلفا، تيجاني ريندرز.

خط الوسط المهاجم: فيل فودين، ريان شرقي.

خط الهجوم: إيرلينج هالاند.

ويجلس على دكة بدلاء مانشستر سيتي كلًا من: جيريمي دوكو، ناثان آكي، عمر مرموش ، سافيو، جيمس ترافورد، ماركوس بيتينلي، ريان آيت نوري، عبد القادر خوسانوف، أوسكار بوب، ريكو لويس، موكاسا.

Mousa Dembélé is a star who exceeded all expectations during his time as a Tottenham Hotspur player, with the Belgian one of the most underrated players in their history.

He would go on to rack up a total of 249 appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, often catching the eye with his physicality and dazzling feet.

Despite his massive frame, you wouldn’t expect a player to easily get past the opposition, but Dembélé used to glide past his men in North London – with many of his former players singing his praises.

However, since his departure in 2019, the first-team have lacked the dominant and ball-playing option at the heart of the side, but that could be about to change in January.

With the window now on the horizon, Thomas Frank is starting to draw up a list of players who could improve the options at his disposal in the middle of the park.

Spurs’ hunt for a new midfielder in the January window

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been one of the Premier League clubs linked with a potential winter deal to land Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

Manchester United were massively touted with a deal to land the Cameroonian international in the summer, but were massively put off by his £100m valuation.

The same could be said for Frank’s side in January, with the Lilywhites wanting to land the 21-year-old, but are unwilling to fork out the current asking price for his signature.

However, he’s not the only midfielder in their sights at present, with Atlético Madrid talent Conor Gallagher once again appearing on their radar ahead of the upcoming window.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Englishman is available for a fee in the region of €60m (£52m) next month, with Fabio Paratici wanting to fork out such a fee for his services.

It also states that the player himself could be keen on a move back to the Premier League, but Diego Simeone’s side will only sanction a move if the asking price is met.

How Gallagher compares to Dembele

Spurs have often formed numerous rivalries in the Premier League over the years, with Chelsea just one of the sides in which they have had many fierce contests with.

Frank Lampard was a player who regularly starred against the Lilywhites, often leaving the fanbase wishing they had their own version of the English midfielder.

He featured against the club on 41 separate occasions, winning 22 of which and only losing eight times – often providing the difference in the London derby.

The now-retired star scored ten times within the aforementioned meetings, the third-best record against any time in his professional career – further showcasing his impact against Spurs.

Mixing a player of Lampard and Dembélé’s quality is always going to be a difficult ask, but it’s one that Gallagher has managed to do during recent months in Madrid.

He’s been a dominant player for Simeone’s men in LaLiga, with his underlying stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcasing his incredible ability at both ends of the pitch.

Gallagher has won 2.5 tackles and made 1.6 interceptions per 90 this season, with such numbers showcasing his dominant ball-winning presence that Dembélé possessed.

Conor Gallagher – LaLiga stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

15

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

88%

Shots taken

1.4

Progressive carries

2.7

Progressive passes

3.9

Tackles made

2.5

Interceptions made

1.6

Carries into opposition box

0.9

Stats via FBref

He’s also made 0.9 carries into the opposition box as part of his 2.7 progressive carries per 90, another component of his game that the Belgian demonstrated in North London.

However, his ability in possession has also caught the eye, with England U21 manager Lee Carsley previously stating that the midfielder is just “like Lampard”.

Gallagher has completed 88% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with 3.9 of which per 90 going into the final third – something which Lampard became known for with the Blues.

His crashing nature also handed the Spurs fans numerous moments of anguish, something which the Atletico star has demonstrated with his tally of one goal and 1.4 shots per 90.

£52m may appear to be a huge investment in the former Blues star, but his all-round stats in Spain’s top-flight this season showcase his elite-level output at both ends.

Should he merge the levels achieved by Dembélé and Lampard in the Premier League, it would be a stellar signing and one that can take Frank’s side to the next level.

Related Saved by Romero: Frank must bin Spurs flop who had fewer touches than Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur were fortunate to walk away with a point against Newcastle United last night.

Posts 2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025