Following the undeniable bombshell that Alexander Isak has asked to leave the club, Newcastle United and PIF have reportedly set their sights on a talented replacement.
When news emerged that he was suffering from a thigh injury and he would, therefore, not travel to take part in Newcastle’s Asia tour, it became clear that trouble may be afoot. And soon enough, reports came to the fore that Isak has, indeed, asked to leave St James’ Park this summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia and Liverpool.
It would have been Newcastle’s biggest fear heading into this summer, but that fear would have only increased by their own transfer failure. The last thing that Eddie Howe needs after watching the Magpies miss out on Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo is for Isak to depart, but that may be the reality that he is forced to live with next season.
There is still one positive in this saga for Newcastle, though. As frustrating as losing Isak would be, his exit would instantly solve any remaining PSR problems for the foreseeable future and allow PIF to flex their financial muscles in full.
According to The Athletic, the final package to sign Isak could cost as much as £250m, with Newcastle demanding a transfer fee worth as much as £150m before agent fees and wages are taken into account.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
With a chunk of that money, the Magpies could welcome an instant replacement and then finally splash the cash to improve other areas in Howe’s squad.
PIF set sights on Lois Openda
Turning towards an Isak replacement before anything, those at St James’ Park are now reportedly ‘targeting’ a Bundesliga talent. According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, PIF have now set their sights on signing Lois Openda for Newcastle this summer as they look to find the heir to Isak’s Tyneside throne.
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The RB Leipzig forward, now at the peak of his powers at 25 years old, is not the out-and-out goalscorer that Isak is, but he is a better creator and could provide Howe with a better all-rounder than the Swede.
After impressing in the 2023/24 campaign, Openda picked up where he left off last season and ended the campaign with 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. Described as a “fantastic young striker” by scout Jacek Kulig whilst in Germany, the Belgian could now get the chance to make the biggest move of his career so far.
The 2024/25 campaign was certainly a disappointment for West Ham United. Graham Potter’s side ended up finishing 14th in the Premier League, but given some of the talent in their squad, it could be seen as a disappointing campaign overall.
Indeed, one of the biggest issues last term for the Hammers was putting the ball in the back of the net. They did not find it easy to score goals, scoring 46 in total, better than only five sides, as per Understat. Worryingly, they underperformed on their expected goals tally, which was at 50.59xG last term.
Mohammed Kudus in action for West Ham.
Despite losing the attacking talent of Mohammed Kudus this summer, with the Ghanaian joining Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham are looking to add firepower in forward areas to their squad.
West Ham’s latest attacking target
Of course, losing a player with the attacking quality of Kudus is a blow for the Hammers, but they still have the likes of Jarrod Bowen in their side who can contribute in attack. To add to the depth in forward areas, the Hammers seem to be plotting a shock move this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to a recent report from Graeme Bailey, West Ham are one of the sides ‘to have registered their interest’ in signing Real Madrid’s new breakout star Gonzalo Garcia on loan this summer, suggesting they have opened up talks to sign him.
The striker, who made a name for himself at the recent Club World Cup in America, is also wanted by newly promoted pair Leeds United and Sunderland, and the Hammers’ London rivals, Brentford.
Although this is a loan deal, previous reports suggested that Chelsea were ready to fork out £34m for his signature, as per reports in Spain.
Why Garcia would be a good signing
It is fair to say that the last month or so has been a whirlwind for Garcia. He got his chance at the Club World Cup for Los Blancos after Kylian Mbappe fell ill at the start of the competition, and certainly took his opportunity.
Gonzalo Garcia in action for Real Madrid.
Before the start of the tournament in June, the 21-year-old had only played six times for Madrid’s senior side, scoring once. His record for Real Madrid Castilla was impressive, with 30 goals and seven assists in 73 appearances.
Yet, since becoming a key player in the Club World Cup, the Madrid-born attacker has been “sensational”, according to former striker Joselu. He bagged four goals and grabbed an assist in six games in the tournament, which included strikes against Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
Those sorts of numbers will surely pique the interest of West Ham fans, and maybe even their captain, Bowen.
The 28-year-old was sensational once again last term, with 13 goals and ten assists in 34 Premier League games, in a season where they were lacklustre in front of goal.
Indeed, some of the numbers the England star put up last term, via FBref, suggest that he might link up well with the Los Blancos man.
For example, he averaged 0.24 crosses and 1.39 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes last season, ranking him in the top 17% and 14% respectively.
Passes into the penalty box like the one above for Danny Ings last season could make Bowen and Garcia a deadly combination. Some of his numbers from the Club World Cup suggest they could form a dangerous duo.
According to the stats from Squawka, the Los Blancos academy star scored four goals from inside the penalty box in the competition. Not only does that highlight a great centre-forward’s instinct, but also suggests he is capable of getting on the end of Bowen’s crosses. He also had a 44.44% conversion rate.
Goals from inside box
4
0.8
Conversion rate
44.44%
44.44%
Shots on target
7
1.4
Duels won
22
4.4
Ball recoveries
10
2
Those kinds of numbers, coupled with Bowen’s tendency to get crosses into the box and create chances, with his ten Premier League assists last term, are evidence enough to suggest these two could become a deadly partnership.
Whilst it is initially only a loan deal, a £34m fee has been reported. If the temporary move goes well, perhaps it can become permanent and turn into one of the bargains of the summer.
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After spending more than ever at Anfield, FSG are reportedly looking to show the door to a number of players this summer. One Liverpool star has already rejected the chance to leave, however.
Liverpool's summer business off with a bang
When Liverpool won the Premier League in the 2019/20 campaign, they decided to settle for what they had – enduring a quiet transfer window in the summer that followed. Soon enough, Manchester City were back on their throne as a result. Five years on, however, FSG have learnt from that harsh lesson and are investing more than ever to build what could be a dominant Liverpool side.
Having already signed Jeremie Frimpong, the Reds are set to welcome his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate, Florian Wirtz, for a British record fee. Simply put, it has so far been a statement summer from Richard Hughes and Michael Edward, who are not stopping there.
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The Reds want to win the race for his signature.
BySean Markus Clifford Jun 14, 2025
Wirtz has been one of the most talented players in his position for the last two years, recovering from an ACL injury to help Leverkusen to an invincible domestic season before performing at similar levels last season. Now, by joining up with the likes of Mohamed Salah, he could finally take his seat among the very best that European football has to offer.
Appearances
92
Goals
34
Assists
35
Although their spending will excite Liverpool fans, it is unlikely to come without sacrifice this summer. With Giorgi Mamardashvili, Wirtz and Frimpong arriving – potentially among others – the likes of Darwin Nunez and now Andy Robertson have been linked with moves away.
The Scot has most recently attracted the interest of Atletico Madrid, as per Fabrizio Romano, and talks are already reportedly underway. Of course, it’s in Madrid that Robertson could square off against Trent Alexander-Arnold in what would add an interesting narrative to a derby already so fierce.
It’s not just Robertson attracting interest, however, as FSG have now seen one big-money player reject the chance to leave this summer.
Alisson rejects Galatasaray move
Despite the fact that FSG have already welcomed his replacement for years to come in Mamardashvili, it looks as though Alisson Becker is set to stay put. According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Alisson has rejected a “concrete enquiry” from Galatasaray and will be staying put at Anfield in the coming months instead of joining the 25-time Turkish Super Lig winners.
The Reds initially agreed a deal to sign Mamardashvili last summer before loaning him back to Valencia. Now, a year on, he’s set to join up with his new teammates.
Given that Caoimhin Kelleher has already left for Brentford, there will be a place in Arne Slot’s squad for Mamardashvili, but Alisson is not budging. The £150,000-a-week goalkeeper has seemingly made the decision to keep hold of his No.1 spot even as his long-term replacement arrives.
Will Celtic claim a fifth successive Scottish Premiership title this forthcoming season?
The Hoops’ title defence will commence for Brendan Rodgers’ men on Sunday 3rd August, before the first Old Firm of the season at Ibrox will be staring them in the face just four games in.
Throw a season-defining Champions League play-off into the August mix, and there is plenty for Celtic supporters to be excited about in the early period of the year.
Celtic's search for a new striker
Rodgers and his team have seemingly been very busy already in this transfer window.
Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan have already put pen to paper at Parkhead, while Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren are set to arrive imminently too.
Nevertheless, after Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais for a reported £10m in January, a new centre-forward remains high up their priority list.
With top target Mathias Kvistgaarden of Brøndby seemingly heading elsewhere, a report by The Daily Record suggests that Celtic could make a move to sign Bojan Miovski.
They state that the Hoops have ‘shown firm interest’ in the North Macedonian striker in the past, intimating he is certainly on their list of potential targets.
Why Bojan Miovski could replicate Kyōgo Furuhashi's Celtic success
Miovski joined Aberdeen from MTK Budapest in the summer of 2022 for a reported fee of £600k and his career really took off in the Granite City, scoring 44 goals in 98 appearances for the Dons, thereby earning a £6.8m move to Girona last summer.
However, after scoring only four times for Blanquivermells, the Catalan club might be looking to sell, hence why he is purportedly available.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So, would he be a good signing? Well, finding a striker as good as Kyōgo will be difficult, to put it mildly.
The Japanese forward netted 85 times in 165 appearances for the Bhoys, with Graeme Macpherson of the Scotsman asserting that he is the club’s best striker since Henrik Larsson, which is the highest of high praise.
So, does Miovski have the talent to make a similar impression, should he move to Glasgow this summer?
Well, one should not read too much into his season at Girona. Signed to replace Pichichi winner Artem Dovbyk, this was always going to be a tough act to follow.
Meanwhile, Girona themselves, having upset the odds to finish fourth in La Liga, thereby qualifying for the Champions League, really struggled to balance the two competitions, finishing 16th this season, avoiding relegation by a solitary point.
Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski.
Miovski, for his part, failed to nail down a regular starting spot, included in a La Liga lineup on just 12 occasions, limited to only 1,241 minutes across all competitions, both of his league goals coming during a 4-1 win over Espanyol at Montilivi in November.
So, it’s fairer to assess his statistics from his time in Scotland.
Miovski’s SPFL statistics
Statistics
22/23
SPFL rank
23/24
SPFL rank
Goals
16
4th
16
5th
Shots on target
35
7th
43
3rd
*Shots on target %
50.7%
3rd
41.3%
12th
Big chances missed
15
3rd
16
3rd
Average SofaScore rating
6.86
64th
9.64
67th
*minimum 30 shots taken.
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table outlines, scoring 16 goals in back-to-back Premiership seasons for an Aberdeen team that finished 3rd and then seventh is an impressive achievement, on top of his four goals in Europe, four in the Scottish Cup and four in the League Cup; some nice symmetry there.
Journalist Bence Bocsák described his performances for the Dons as “quality”, hence why he was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, sighting Miovski’s international exploits too, scoring eight times for North Macedonia to date, five of which have come since September last year, most recently on target during a World Cup qualifier against Wales in Skopje.
Meantime, Scott Bradley of Breaking the Lines labels him a ‘clinical finisher’, praising his ‘excellent movement’, while Nick Devlin has previously asserted that Miovski was “the best player in the league in his position” during his time in red.
Thus, if Celtic are able to secure his services, at 26-years-old, he is ready to make an impact from day one, and would unquestionably score a bucket load of goals for the hoops.
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Celtic are reportedly keen on a deal to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi.
Celtic recently confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window when they unveiled left-back Kieran Tierney as the newest arrival to Parkhead.
The Scotland international is joining from Premier League side Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract with the Gunners expires at the end of this month, six years on from his move to The Emirates in 2019.
Tierney, as you can see in the graphic above, won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first spell in Glasgow, and he will be hoping to add to that tally in the years to come.
Whilst the Hoops will be looking to add more options to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers will also have to deal with speculation over the future of his star players.
Brendan Rodgers
Football Insider reported last month that Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda have both attracted interest from other clubs this summer, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will remain in Glasgow beyond the end of the window.
Rodgers will, of course, not want to lose any of his star attackers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as Kuhn, for example, would leave a big hole to fill on the right flank.
Why losing Nicolas Kuhn would be a big blow for Celtic
The German winger leaving Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window would be a big blow for the Scottish giants because of the quality that he can provide at the top end of the pitch.
Kuhn, who joined the club from Rapid Vienna at the start of 2024, had six months to settle into the Premiership in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before he hit his stride this term.
The 25-year-old ended the season with an eye-catching haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, which included three goals and one assist in ten outings in the Champions League.
Wingers with the most assists in the Premiership (24/25)
Player (club)
Assists
Nicolas Kuhn (Celtic)
8
Ianis Hagi (Rangers)
7
Daizen Maeda (Celtic)
7
Danny Armstrong (Kilmarnock)
6
Shayden Morris (Aberdeen)
6
James Forrest (Celtic)
5
Nicky Cadden (Hibernian)
5
Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
5
Hyun-jun Yang (Celtic)
3
Glen Middleton (Dundee United)
3
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the bulk of his assists came in the Premiership, where he led the league for assists among wingers and in all positions.
The former Bayern Munich academy star also provided a big goal threat in the Scottish top-flight, though, with a return of 13 goals in 32 appearances in the division.
His contributions at the top end of the pitch, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, are why losing him would be such a blow for Celtic, but they are reportedly eyeing up a star who could be their next Kuhn.
Celtic in talks to sign £2m attacker
According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are in talks with Nordsjaelland winger Benjamin Nygren’s representatives over a potential move to Parkhead this summer.
The reporter claims that the Hoops have already approached the Danish club to seek permission to speak to the forward, and they are now in discussions with his agents.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Joseph adds that the Hoops will move on to talks with Nordsjaelland if they can agree personal terms with the attacker, as they are yet to agree a fee with his current team.
Meanwhile, CeltsAreHere adds that a fee of £2m will be enough to secure a deal for the 23-year-old star’s services, as his current contract with the Danish outfit is due to expire at the end of December, and that there is also interest from clubs in Belgium and Germany.
Celtic must, now, work hard to convince Nygren to make the move to Glasgow this summer because he could come in as a natural replacement for Kuhn, or as fantastic competition for his place in the team.
Why Nygren could be Celtic's next Kuhn
The 23-year-old star would be a fantastic replacement for the German attacker from a stylistic perspective, as they are both left-footed forwards who like to drift infield from the right flank.
This means that Nygren could play a similar tactical role to the one that Kuhn currently plays for Rodgers in Celtic’s team, which suggests that he could slot into the side with ease, either as a replacement or as competition for him.
The Sweden international, who was described as an “underrated” talent by Danish Scout on X, also has the quality on the ball to replicate Kuhn’s impact in front of goal in that position.
Nygren produced 15 goals in 34 games during the 2023/24 campaign and 16 goals in 32 matches in all competitions this season, which speaks to his ability to make a difference on a regular basis in the final third.
24/25 Superliga
Benjamin Nygren
Percentile rank vs wingers
xG
10.90
Top 4%
xG on target
16.95
Top 1%
Shots on target
40
Top 1%
Goals
15
Top 1%
xA
5.97
Top 8%
Assists
2
Top 50%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, he was one of the top-performing wingers in the Superliga during the 2024/25 campaign, ranking incredibly highly among his peers as both a scorer and a creator.
His meagre assist tally of two should not be a cause for concern because of his xA of 5.97, which suggests that he was let down by wasteful finishing from his teammates, rather than only having two assists due to a lack of creativity.
Therefore, Rodgers could find his next version of Kuhn by completing a deal to sign Nygren, because he is another left-footed right winger who has the potential to deliver goals and assists, or at high-quality chances created, on a regular basis for the Scottish giants.
It is now down to Rodgers and the club to convince the player to turn down interest from Belgium and Germany in order to win the race for his signature before the start of pre-season next month.
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Rangers have held positive talks over a move for Davide Ancelotti, but there has been a new update regarding an offer being made for the 35-year-old.
Ancelotti and Gerrard linked with Rangers post
The Gers and the 49ers have an extremely busy summer ahead of them ahead of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season. The new owners’ first task will be to find a new permanent boss, with Barry Ferguson’s time in interim charge coming to an end.
A number of managers in and out of work have been linked with a move to Ibrox, including former Gers boss Steven Gerrard. After leaving Al-Ettifaq in January, Gerrard has been described as the 49ers “dream” target to take over and was thought to be the favourite in recent weeks.
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However, since then, Real Madrid assistant manager Ancelotti has burst onto Rangers’ radar, with claims even suggesting an offer was made by those in Scotland to the son of Carlo Ancelotti.
It isn’t a rumour that has gone down well with former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness, who said he sees “big red lights” over a Rangers move for Ancelotti. Talking to Football Insider, Wyness said: “I don’t think he’ll understand the bear pit that Glasgow is, he won’t understand the beast that Rangers is as a football club and the demand from the fans.
“Rangers’ overriding priority is to beat Celtic. Any manager is measured by that. Is Davide Ancelotti the man to do that? I really don’t think so. If they do it, I see big red lights flashing for Rangers.”
Now, a fresh update has been relayed regarding Ancelotti, Rangers and that reported offer.
Rangers offer to Davide Ancelotti was false report
The Rangers Review shared an update on a potential move for Ancelotti, stating that Rangers have had positive discussions over a move for the 35-year-old, who is attracted by the idea of becoming the new Ibrox boss.
However, previous claims of an offer being tabled are false, with no contract bid being made to Ancelotti by the Scottish giants at this moment in time. The report does still add that Ancelotti is a key target for the 49ers and Andrew Cavenagh and that a decision is set to be made by the end of the month.
Since this report, journalist Alberto Pereiro has claimed that Ancelotti “has decided to postpone his career as a head coach and will accompany his father to Brazil until the 2026 World Cup”, so perhaps a move to Glasgow is not on the cards after all.
Davide Ancelotti: Honours won as a coach
Champions League
2022, 2024
La Liga
2022, 2024
Bundesliga
2017
Copa del Rey
2023
FIFA Club World Cup
2022
UEFA Super Cup
2022
Spanish Super Cup
2022, 2024
German Super Cup
2016, 2017
If Pereiro’s statement is accurate, Rangers will have to look elsewhere ahead of the 2025/26 season, and they’d be thankful they did not submit an offer despite previous claims.
How batters like Saim Ayub and Pathum Nissanka score in the upcoming series is also worth keeping your eyes on
Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Nov-2025So we have arrived at another bilateral ODI series. Believe it or not, these were all the rage back in the first half of the 2010s – used so frequently as schedule-filler, to bulk up tours. T20Is and T20 leagues serve that purpose now, and the ODI World Cup is not till 2027. Still, this is a chance for Pakistan and Sri Lanka to do some building towards the next big event. Here are five things to watch for the three-match series starting on Tuesday.Can Pakistan build on victory over South Africa?What is clear is that both Sri Lanka and Pakistan are middling ODI sides. The rankings are some reflection – Sri Lanka are currently fourth on the ODI charts, and Pakistan are fifth, and neither side has had a glut of ODIs this year. The difference, though, is that Sri Lanka appear to be an ODI outfit on the rise, having won seven of their 10 matches this year. Pakistan have lost 10 of their 14, and had also crashed out of their “home” Champions Trophy.There is a little recent uptick for Pakistan, however. They sneaked a victory in the first ODI against South Africa earlier this month, then strode to a thumping win over them in the third ODI to seal a 2-1 series win. That was against a depleted South Africa, and Sri Lanka have sent a full-strength squad.Still, for a team that was looking for inspiration, perhaps their first series under Shaheen Shah Afridi has provided a new beginning.Saim Ayub a threat at the top of the orderSaim Ayub averages 50.85 in ODIs•AFP via Getty ImagesSo fragile have their runs of form been in the last couple of years, you praise Pakistan batters at your peril. But so far, young left-hand batter Saim Ayub has been putting together the makings of a good ODI career. He has only played 15 innings in the format so far, so we are at the very early stages. But he averages 50.85, and crucially has a strike rate of exactly 100, having hit 712 runs so far.Against South Africa, he made scores of 39, 53, and 77 off 70 in the third ODI. This is the kind of consistency that could prove helpful in concert with Fakhar Zaman’s more erratic returns from the other end. This will be Ayub’s first series against Sri Lanka.How effective will Sri Lanka’s bowlers be on Pakistani tracks?While Sri Lanka have won three series this year, against Australia, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, only the Zimbabwe win came away from home. Generally, over the course of the last two years, as they have rebuilt under captain Charith Asalanka and coach Sanath Jayasuriya, much of their limited-overs success has come at Sri Lankan venues still famed for the turn their tracks offer. The surfaces in Pakistan will likely be more batting-friendly, which will test Sri Lanka’s spinners in particular. This is the less-favoured of Wanindu Hasaranga’s formats, and Maheesh Theekshana has been far from his best in 2025. Sri Lanka will need them to assert themselves.Can Pathum Nissanka continue unlocking new levels?By his own increasingly-high standards, 2025 has been just a middling year for Pathum Nissanka in ODIs. In ten innings, he has hit one century and two fifties, and has an average of 32.40, and a strike rate of 84.81. He has been expanding his game in other formats, however. He has hit two Test hundreds in just three innings this year, and his most-recent T20I knock was an outstanding 107 off 58 balls against India. If the surfaces in Rawalpindi are on the flatter side, Nissanka may be a serious force.Abrar-Hasaranga funWanindu Hasaranga celebrates a wicket with the Abrar Ahmed celebration during the recent Asia Cup•MB Media/Getty ImagesAsia’s rivalries are packed with machismo and cheap political posturing these days, but one that continues to buck the trend is the Sri Lanka-Pakistan relationship. In their match in the Asia Cup, Abrar Ahmed mimicked Hasaranga’s wicket celebration (which Hasaranga had himself pinched from football player Neymar Jr.), and Hasaranga mimicked Abrar’s wicket celebration in return. Although this had the potential to turn tense, the players met after the match, and were seen animatedly bro-ing out together (this is the scientific term).That clip of them shaking hands and half-embracing then became a little piece of viral “brotherhood” content, in an otherwise acrimonious and shameful Asia Cup. The general vibe of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka fixtures over the last 15 years has been that although there can be on-field altercations, the tension seems to almost invariably give way to off-field cuteness.
The men’s eliminator saw 397 runs scored off 196 balls for the loss of only four wickets
Sampath Bandarupalli26-Aug-2023197 Target chased down by the Manchester Originals in the eliminator is now the highest chase in the Hundred. The previous highest target chase was 190 by Trent Rockets against Originals in the last edition.201 for 3 Originals’ total against the Southern Brave is now the joint-second highest in the Hundred. The highest is also by Originals, who made 208 for 5 against the Northern Superchargers last year. Superchargers also made 201 for 3 earlier this season against the Brave in Southampton.ESPNcricinfo Ltd397 Runs scored by Originals and Brave at The Oval on Saturday makes it the highest aggregate for a match in the Hundred. The previous highest was 393 runs between Superchargers and Originals at Headingley in 2022.5 Instances of a team losing a men’s T20 game after batting through the scheduled overs despite losing only one wicket, including Southern Brave on Saturday.1 Southern Brave became the first team in the Hundred to have three batters score fifties in the same innings. The top three of Brave – Finn Allen, Devon Conway and James Vince – are now only the fourth in men’s T20s to be on the losing side despite scoring 50-plus runs in the same innings.41 Balls needed for Originals to reach the 100-run mark. It is the joint-fastest team 100 in the Hundred, as the Originals equal their record, set against Northern Superchargers in last year’s away fixture.122 Partnership runs between Allen and Conway, the highest opening stand in the men’s Hundred. The previous highest was 121 by Quinton de Kock and Paul Stirling, also for Southern Brave against Welsh Fire in 2022.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe 122-run stand between Allen Conway is also the second highest in the men’s competition, behind the unbeaten 124 between Dawid Malan and D’Arcy Short for the second wicket for Rockets against Brave in 2021.0 Number of 170-plus totals by Southern Brave in the Hundred before this game. Their previous highest total in the competition was 168 for 5 against Birmingham Phoenix in the final of the 2021 season.Brave’s total of 196 for 1 in the eliminator was the fifth highest by any side in the Hundred. Batting first has been a rarity for Brave, contributing to their lack of big totals, as they have batted first only seven times in 27 matches.
How India’s historic win at The Oval reaffirmed the joy of Test cricket for this fan
Amit Bordia07-Sep-2021Choice of game We now live at a stone’s throw from The Oval, so I wasn’t going to miss this game. With the series delicately in balance, an Indian team that must have been equally buzzing and hurting after Lord’s and Leeds, I was looking forward to a great time at the ground, and the prospects of enjoying the lunch break with aloo parathas at home.My commute regularly takes me to the road outside The Oval and for the last full year, I have seen it become a construction site, with a new stand being built. There was almost no cricket there in all of 2020. Often, I was left wondering how the feel of the ground would change. It was nice to be in the same stand, having seen them built slab by slab. They have been a great addition to the facilities and provide a modern touch to the gasholders in the backdrop.The build-up Here we were – 4th Test, day five – with all the four results possible. I left for the stadium early and even then the streets from Vauxhall station were packed. The stands were full well before Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja started the proceedings. Schools and offices in the UK are now fully open – and one could sense that there were more than a few bunked classes, a few sick leaves and work-from-home requests that would have enabled those in the stands to be there.Related
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Stats – India's first Test win at The Oval since 1971
Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar to miss fifth Test after positive Covid-19 results
It was absolutely buzzing. By the end of day four, England had provided hope by their staunch resistance. While I knew that such a score has never been chased at The Oval, one of my earliest cricket memories was reading about India at the venue in 1979, and how Gavaskar’s 221 took India to 420 odd, just a few runs short of the target. Then there always was Headingley 2019 in the back of the mind! And of course, India did not have R Ashwin.The crowd Whoever said Test cricket is on a decline needed to be at The Oval. Most of the fans were in their seats before the start of play. Not just the usual faithful but also young kids and families were all around. The stands were packed to the rafters all five days.The Indians get into a huddle as Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed walk out•Getty Images for Surrey CCCBetween shouts of support, it was normal to hear someone explaining to their kids how the ball could reverse. The more passionate Indian fans were still arguing about the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane (a banner saying “oh Rahane- no more (excuses)” was a crowd favourite) and the exclusion of Ashwin – who was seen practice bowling in almost every break.I had been to a few games at the Hundred this summer and the buzz in the crowd in the last five days matched the best of those – and that speaks volumes of the love of Test cricket in these parts.The resistance from the England openers carried on through the first hour of the day. But just when the Indian supporters were starting to feel a bit down, the first couple of wickets fell. All hell broke loose.The Indian supporters were in full swing. Dhols (Indian drums), turbans, flags, and people dressed in all shades of blue – the dark-blue retro jerseys from the 1992 World Cup, the light blue ones from 1996 to 2007, and then the slightly darker versions that the World Cup champions wore in 2011 – were all there.An ode to The Oval To a cricket fan, The Oval does not have the history and reverence that Lord’s enjoys, but it does almost always assure an incredible atmosphere and a buzz – slightly rebellious and much less formal than the “Home of Cricket”.It is also one ground where the dressing room is very accessible to the viewing public – and a seat at the Bedser Stand is one of my favorite spots in the world to watch cricket. For it not only provides a great behind-the-bowlers-arm view of the game, it allows a rare glimpse of the body language of those walking up and down on their way to battle, and those in the dressing rooms.My Bedser Stand favourites have included a near ring-side view as Inzamam-ul-Haq called his team from the field in 2006, as Kevin Pietersen waited to bat, sitting in a very contemplative mood, against South Africa in 2012, and as Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid made their way to the middle after following-on in 2011.Fans arrive at The Oval•Getty Images for Surrey CCCThe wow performance By far, the best cricketing performance of the day belonged to the smiling assassin, Bumrah. He has such an energy about him – the way he bowls, and then turns almost hurrying to his mark and smiling all the way back – it is hard not to love him. In many ways, he is very similar to how Neil Wagner, another much-loved character, goes about his business.The six-over spell that Bumrah bowled was my defining cricketing memory of the day. Old ball, dead pitch, strong home support, good batting line-up, tired body – none of these seemed to have mattered to him.Fifty years on… The last time India won at The Oval was when Bangladesh had just become a nation, Sunil Gavaskar had made his debut a few months back, India still played three-four spinners overseas, and my parents weren’t even married – and I am not young by any standards! By all measures, this was a historic win. But more importantly, it reaffirmed the joy of Test cricket – for how it unfolds over many sessions and days, and how a day (or two) at the cricket beats almost everything else. The Oval might not be the Home of Cricket, but for the last five days, for me and for many others – it was the “Heart of Cricket”! Want to do a Fan Following report? Read our FAQ here.
كشف مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك، عن تطورات جديدة تخص ملف اللاعبين الأجانب في الفريق، وسط حالة توتر نتيجة تأخر المستحقات المالية لأشهر طويلة.
وأكد المصدر، أن عدد من اللاعبين حركوا إنذارات قانونية تجاه النادي من خلال محامي خاص، في ظل غياب الحلول لصرف المتأخرات، وهو ما يضع الإدارة تحت ضغط كبير قبل الميركاتو الشتوي.
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وأوضح المصدر عبر بطولات: “حتى الآن، ليس هناك فسخ للعقود لكل من محمود بنتايج وخوان بيزيرا وآدم كايد وعدي الدباغ، لكن هناك إنذارات وصلت الزمالك بالفعل بعد انتهاء مهلة الثلاث أشهر القانونية بسبب عدم الحصول على أي مرتبات”.
وأشار المصدر إلى أن اللاعبين الأجانب داخل الزمالك “لا يشعرون بالاستقرار”، ما جعل رغبتهم قوية في الرحيل قبل يناير، بحثًا عن أندية جديدة تضمن حقوقهم المالية في أسرع وقت.
وأوضح أن مشاعر القلق تتزايد بين اللاعبين، خاصة مع غياب وضوح رؤية الإدارة بشأن مستحقاتهم وعدم وجود أي تطمينات عملية لحل الأزمة قبل حلول فترة الانتقالات.
وكشف المصدر أن “مهلة بنتايج وبيزيرا تنتهي بعد أسبوع رسميًا”، ما يعني اقتراب إمكانية فسخ التعاقد من طرفهما إذا لم يتم دفع المستحقات، وهو ما قد يزيد من معاناة الفريق فنيًا.
واختتم المصدر تصريحاته مؤكداً أن الأزمة المالية “لا تخص كرة القدم فقط”، موضحًا أن هناك مشكلة مالية في جميع الألعاب داخل النادي، وأن المجلس عاجز عن سداد تلك الديون في الوقت الحالي.
وكان الثنائي عبد الحميد معالي وصلاح مصدق قد فسخا عقدهما مع الزمالك قبل أيام رسميًا بعد إنذار بمهلة انتهت بسبب عدم حصولهما على مستحقاتهما المالية منذ بداية الموسم الحالي، ويبدو أن هناك المزيد في الطريق.