All posts by h79snht.top

Amid all the chaos surrounding their search for a striker, Newcastle United are now reportedly considering an approach to sign a Serie A defender as an alternative option to Giorigio Scalvini.

Newcastle still eyeing defensive targets

Whilst their biggest priority seems to be signing a striker this summer, even if it’s not Hugo Ekitike who arrives, Newcastle also still have their sights set on a defensive reinforcement. The Magpies once again lacked much-needed depth within their backline at times last season, forcing Dan Burn to step into the centre-back role. But with their PSR concerns eased this time around, they must finally address their central defender problem.

On that front, Eddie Howe’s biggest concern should be Sven Botman. As talented as the Dutchman is, he completed just eight Premier League appearances last season and battled with consistent injury struggles for a second consecutive campaign.

Simply put, if Newcastle are going to compete on all fronts, then they may need a viable replacement for the 25-year-old if he faces the same problems next season.

Botman injury history (via Transfermarkt)

Season

Games Missed

Knee problems

2024/25

7

Broken kneecap

2024/25

6

Cruciate Ligament surgery

2023/24

28

Knee injury

2023/24

16

Ankle injury

2023/24

2

Missing a total of 59 games in the last two seasons, Botman has gone from a crucial player to an unreliable option for Howe in frustrating circumstances and links to the likes of Scalvini suggest that Newcastle are well aware of that.

Related Newcastle now enter talks with agents of 19-goal star who PIF chiefs "love"

He would be an excellent Ekitike alternative.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham Jul 17, 2025

The Atalanta star – still just 21 years old – has reportedly found himself on Newcastle’s radar as they look to welcome a key reinforcement this summer. His name isn’t the only one on the list, however. Alongside him, the Magpies have also reportedly set their sights on another Serie A defender as an alternative option.

Newcastle also considering Savona approach

According to Sky Sports, Newcastle are now considering an approach to sign Nicolo Savona from Juventus this summer. The Italian has plenty of versatility, given that he can play right-back, right-midfield and at centre-back, and would instantly offer Howe crucial competition for a number of roles in his side.

Serie A stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Savona

Scalvini

Minutes

1,724

272

Tackles Won P90

0.68

1.33

Progressive Passes P90

3.07

6.67

Ball Recoveries P90

3.75

4.33

Whilst the numbers suggest that Scalvini is the standout option, it is worth noting that the Atalanta man played far fewer minutes than Savona due to injury struggles and, therefore, had less data to base those numbers on. Nonetheless, with the minutes that he did receive, he impressed.

Whether Newcastle value those numbers over the value of recent minutes is the big question. Described as “very interesting” by scout Jacek Kulig last season, Savona is someone that could be ready to step into Newcastle’s backline if needed. The same may not be able to be said for Scalvini, who is just returning to full fitness after a lengthy absence.

Given that Newcastle already have one injury-prone defender in the form of Botman too, welcoming another player who spent large parts of last season sidelined would be an incredible risk.

South Africa reduced West Indies to 97 for 7 after Joseph picked up his third five-wicket haul in his first Test at home in Guyana

Firdose Moonda15-Aug-2024

Shamar Joseph enjoyed the perfect homecoming with a five-for on his international debut in Guyana until Wiaan Mulder’s career-best 4 for 18 all but stole the show on a spicy surface at Providence Stadium. In total, 17 wickets fell, the most in a day of Test cricket at this venue, albeit in a small sample size of just three matches. There was swing through the air, seam movement and decent carry which has put the series-decider in fast-forward.In stark contrast to the slowness of the Trinidad Test, which was also pockmarked with rain interruptions, the action took place in overdrive under blue skies in Guyana. Despite both captains’ desire to bat first, it was a day for the bowlers, especially fast bowlers, who bowled 68 of 82.2 overs and took 15 wickets. Only one batter – Jason Holder – in the top six of either side scored more than 30 and it was a record 10th-wicket partnership for South Africa against West Indies of 63 between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger that gave the visitors the advantage.There was movement through the air and off the seam from the outset which Aiden Markram experienced when he edged the third ball of the Test past third slip, after he opened the scoring with a cover drive off Holder. At the other end, Jayden Seales repeatedly brought the ball back into the left-handed Tony de Zorzi, who left a sizable bat-pad gap and was bowled in the fourth over.Joseph was introduced in the seventh over and started dangerously. He got appreciable inswing and then had Markram misjudge the length and leave the ball, only to knock over the off stump. That was Joseph’s first wicket on his home ground. Two balls later, he had Temba Bavuma trapped in the crease as a slightly shorter delivery hit the South African captain low in front of the stumps to dismiss him for a second-ball duck. South Africa went to the first drinks break on 20 for 3.Shamar Joseph picked up five wickets in his first Test at home in Guyana•Gallo Images/Getty Images

David Bedingham hit the first boundary off Joseph when he flayed him behind point for four but Tristan Stubbs had a much harder time getting off the mark. He faced 19 balls before he got his first run. By then, he had survived an lbw appeal off Joseph that was adjudged high and edged Seales just short of Holder at second slip. As his innings grew, Stubbs continued to keep the slips in play and West Indies in the hunt. And he wasn’t the only one who gave West Indies a glimpse into the lower order.Bedingham flirted with danger when, on 11, he hit Jomel Warrican over mid-on. Three fielders converged on the chance but no one could get there. In the next over, Stubbs, who had reached 26, was drawn forward by Holder and edged to Warrican at slip but he fell over trying to hold on. If Holder was irritated at the missed opportunity, it did not last long. In his next over, Stubbs reached for an outswinger and was well caught by a leaping Kavem Hodge at third slip, 10 minutes before the lunch break. South Africa were 64 for 4 at the interval.Joseph resumed after the break and was convinced he had Bedingham out in his second over with a ball that jagged in and beat the inside edge. Kraig Braithwaite reviewed but Bedingham survived on umpire’s call. Four balls later, Joseph made sure there was no doubt when Bedingham drove at a full ball and was caught behind.West Indies were into the last recognised pair and separated them in the next over with a peach from Seales that forced Wiaan Mulder to play and found his outside edge. Kyle Verreynne could have been out off the next ball when he edged Sealed to gully but was dropped. Two balls later, Joseph beat Keshav Maharaj for pace and bowled him, then Rabada was cleaned up by Seales, and when Verreynne played on off Joseph, West Indies could celebrate for all kinds of reasons.Joseph had completed his third Test five-for, and first at home after a tough tour of England, and celebrated by blowing kisses to the sparsely populated stands. South Africa were 97 for 9, and in danger of being bowled out for less than their lowest score against West Indies: 116.But Piedt had other ideas. He took South Africa over 100 with a cover drive for four and tactically West Indies eased off. They brought on Gudakesh Motie, he dropped it short, and Piedt pulled him for four, then hit him down the ground for six and through the covers for four more. In frustration, West Indies reviewed two chances off Piedt in Holder’s next over: one an lbw appeal that was clipping leg on umpire’s call and another where the impact was outside the off stump. It didn’t help that Joseph left the field with a cramp and wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva gave the gloves to Tevin Imlach after suffering a finger injury. Depleted in personnel terms, the hosts seemed sapped.Nandre Burger and Dane Piedt added 63 for the final wicket•AFP/Getty Images

Piedt and Burger took South Africa past 141 – their lowest Test score in the West Indies – as the second session was extended with West Indies in search of the final wicket. It came 17 minutes after the scheduled tea break when Burger missed a length ball from Motie and was given out lbw to give West Indies’ premier spinner his first wicket of the series.Buoyed by the bonus runs, South Africa took to the field with wickets on their mind and believed they had one off the third ball. Rabada beat Braithwaite’ inside edge and hit him above the knee roll and Bavuma reviewed only to see the ball missing the stumps. But the wait for a breakthrough did not last long. Left-armer Burger, in his third Test, set Mikyle Louis up with a series of away-swingers and then landed one on a good length to beat the outside edge and bowl the West Indian opener.Keacy Carty took a liking to the outswing and took three fours off Burger’s next two overs, prompting the early introduction of the third seamer, Mulder. Not often regarded as an out-and-out strike bowler, Mulder made the case for a rethink when his second ball squeezed between Braithwaite’s bat-pad gap and removed the West Indian captain. Impressive became excellent when Mulder took a stunning catch off his own bowling in the next over – a one-handed grab to the right – to dismiss Alick Athanaze and then found swing to entice a drive from Hodge, who was caught at third slip.With only three seamers in South Africa’s XI, Burger was brought back on at Rabada’s end and struggled to get his line right as he directed the ball down leg. Bavuma put a leg slip in place and Carty hit the next ball straight to Maharaj at a shortish midwicket to leave West Indies 47 for 5.Things could have got a lot worse in the next over when Holder was given out lbw off Mulder but reviewed successfully with ball tracking indicating it was missing leg. Mulder got his fourth anyway, when Da Silva edged him to second slip. Holder took the fight to South Africa, hit three fours in four balls and shared a 41-run stand with Motie, which could have ended the day on par. But Maharaj had the last say on the day when Motie missed a sweep and was given out lbw, to leave West Indies 63 runs behind with only three first-innings wickets in hand. Day two promises more drama.

تمكن فريق برشلونة من تسجيل هدف أول في شباك نظيره فالنسيا، في مباراتهما الجارية حاليًا في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، موسم 2025/26.

ويستضيف ملعب “يوهان كرويف” مباراة برشلونة وفالنسيا، في خضم منافسات الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإسباني.

ونجح برشلونة، في تسجيل هدف أول في شباك خصمه فالنسيا، في الدقيقة 29 من عمر الشوط الأول.

جاء الهدف عن طريق فيرمين لوبيز، بعد تمريرة طويلة رائعة من فيران توريس، حيث وصلت إلى مواطنه الذي انطلق وسددها في شباك الضيوف، معلنًأ عن التقدم لحامل اللقب. هدف فيرمين لوبيز في مباراة برشلونة وفالنسيا

تحدث المهاجم السويدي فيكتور جيوكيريس، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي آرسنال عن احتفال القناع الشهير خلال حواره مع صحيفة “سكاي سبورتس” البريطانية.

وانضم جيوكيريس إلى آرسنال من صفوف سبورتينج لشبونة في صفقة بلغت قيمتها 64 مليون جنيه إسترليني، وأصبح جاهزا للعب مع ناديه الجديد بعد تسجيل هدف في مباراة ودية ضد اتلتيك بلباو.

وقال جيوكيريس: “يبدو الأمر منطقيًا بعض الشيء بالنظر إلى ما آلت إليه الأمور، بعد أن بدأتُ بذلك الاحتفال، بدأتُ أسجل المزيد من الأهداف، وهذا ما دفعني إلى ارتداء القناع أكثر”.

وأكمل: “كنت في السويد في وقت مبكر جدًا، خُضنا بعض المباريات في المنطقة ولم ألعب جيدًا، وظنّوا أنني لم أبدو منزعجًا من عدم أدائي في تلك المباراة تحديدًا”.

وأردف: “إنني لا أمتلك القوة الذهنية اللازمة للنجاح في كرة القدم، هذه الجملة لا تزال عالقة في ذهني وما زلت أذكرها حتى اليوم”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ديكو: هانز فليك يشبه برشلونة.. وتعرضنا للظلم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

عن بدايته في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز: “كانت مباريات مختلفة، بعض المباريات كانت أصعب حيث لم أستطع تقديم الأداء الذي أريده، ربما يعتمد ذلك على أداء المباراة لكنني خضت مباريات شعرت فيها بحال جيدة جدًا”.

واستكمل: “لقد كانت الأمور متقلبة لكن بشكل عام، تمكنت من تسجيل بعض الأهداف، وفزنا في معظم المباريات، لذلك كانت بداية جيدة لكن كان من الممكن أن تكون أفضل”.

وعن الانتقادات التي يتلقاها: “عليك أن تُبدع، وأن تتكيف مع بيئة عملك، عليك أن تؤمن بنفسك وتستمر في التقدم مهما حدث سواء داخل الملعب أو خارجه، لا أعتقد أنه عليك أن تتقبل ما يقوله كل من حولك، ليس عليك أن تستمع إلى كل ما يقال”.

وعندما سُئل عما إذا كان التركيز في إنجلترا أكبر منه في مراحل أخرى من مسيرته، أجاب مهاجم آرسنال: “ربما، عندما لعبت في البرتغال كان هناك الكثير من ذلك أيضًا، إنهم يعيشون من أجل كرة القدم هناك أيضًا، الأمر مشابه بعض الشيء لكن هنا أكبر بكثير، إنهم يحللون كل ما تفعله لكن هكذا هي الأمور، لا عيب في ذلك”.

وأتبع: “ربما ليس من أولوياتي قراءة كل ما يُقال أو ما يكتبه الناس، الأمر ببساطة هو التفكير في الأمور التي يُمكنك التحكم بها والقيام بها على النحو الصحيح”.

وعن مواجهة مانشستر سيتي اليوم: “هناك فرق كبيرة في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز حيث يتعين عليك تقديم أداء جيد في هذه المباريات، نحن نتطلع إلى هذه المباريات ونريد الفوز بها”.

Liverpool are having quite the transfer window. Hugo Ekitike has scarcely been welcomed aboard the Reds’ pre-season tour in Asia and already sights have been set on Alexander Isak.

The Newcastle United striker has long been FSG’s dream target at number nine, and having informed the Magpies of his desire to explore a move away from St. James’ Park, Liverpool are ready to make their move.

What happens next is unclear, but there’s no question that FSG’s ambitions are to stay atop this mountain Arne Slot’s squad have scaled.

And, would you believe it, there’s more to come before September is upon us.

Liverpool lining up Isak partner

While it might seem fanciful that Liverpool could welcome a few more attacking additions having now announced the £79m signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike, there remain a few more cards the club can play.

Namely, with Bayern Munich set to lodge their second bid for Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez still anticipated to leave Merseyside in the coming weeks, there’s little question that FSG could authorise a big-money move for another versatile forward.

So then, as per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are still tracking Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon as FSG continue their large-scale rebuild, though the Magpies would want as much as £100m if they were to sell.

Still, Gordon is of a long-standing interest to the Anfield side, having left their academy as an 11-year-old and come close to a transfer last summer.

Why Liverpool should sign Anthony Gordon

Gordon, 24, is an out-and-out winger, though he can also play in a more central berth when required. In this way, he could be the perfect replacement for Diaz, who is looking more and more likely to leave for Germany in the coming weeks.

Anthony Gordon – Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Left winger

124

26

29

Right winger

53

8

8

Attacking midfield

21

13

2

Centre-forward

16

5

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

But more importantly, he could be Isak’s dream teammate at Liverpool, linking right back up with his Magpies dance partner on the left flank, supplying him with assists and seeing the favour returned.

A tenacious, hard-working winger, the Three Lions star is known for his versatile attacking approach and his high-speed running, capable of stretching lines and drawing defenders away for number nines like Isak and inside forwards like Mohamed Salah to find space and strike on goal.

And while he’s not renowned for his prolificness, the one-time Everton starlet has still notched 21 goals and 22 assists across all competitions over the past couple of seasons, making good on the praise that he is an “exceptional” forward, as has been said by football scout Antonio Mango.

This brand of football might also play into Wirtz’s hands (or, more precisely, his feet), for the German midfielder’s first-class playmaking could be directed down multiple avenues with two athletic talents in Isak and Gordon ahead of him.

Wirtz’s silky ball-carrying skills combine with an inborn creative flair which would elevate any talented forward, central or wide, across the globe.

Indeed, the 22-year-old ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for passes attempted, the top 7% for goal involvements, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

However, with a pairing such as Gordon and Isak, who have already crafted such seamless synergy, this could be a truly remarkable frontline, eclipsing the talented attacks of rivals across the continent.

Gordon, to whom Isak is “the best in Europe”, loves playing with such a dynamic and intelligent striker who is also a devastating marksman. Isak, after all, scored 27 goals and supplied six assists for his teammates last season, with movement and off-the-ball work making him so much more than just a goalscorer.

They couldn’t, could they? If Liverpool do manage to pull off this extraordinary double deal, the Reds would not only have one of the most talented and in-sync offensive duos in world football, but they would Wirtz lingering behind to feed them sharp balls with frightening consistency and style.

Scary hours for the rest of the Premier League.

Related Could be a bigger talent than Ekitike: Liverpool ready to bid for £51m ace

Liverpool aren’t done yet in the summer transfer window.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 23, 2025

India put on their best batting show and then were clinical with the ball and on the field to send the Asia Cup champions packing from the tournament

S Sudarshanan09-Oct-2024

On a slightly cooler evening in Dubai, with semi-final qualification hopes in the balance, India brought their A-game to the fore to thrash Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2024. They put on their best batting show – perhaps the best among all teams in the tournament so far – and then were clinical with the ball and on the field to send the Asia Cup champions packing from the tournament.Batting first, India rode on half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to post 172 for 3, the highest total in this T20 World Cup. They then skittled Sri Lanka out for 90 to register an 82-run win, India’s biggest in T20 World Cups, with Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana picking up three wickets apiece. As a result of their massive win, their net run rate (NRR) jumped to 0.576, better than Pakistan’s and only behind Australia’s. This is notable as their NRR had taken a beating following the 58-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match.Shafali, Mandhana remind us what India missedBefore Wednesday, India’s opening stands against Pakistan and New Zealand were 18 and 11 respectively. In a tournament where batting first seemed to give teams an advantage, India batted second in both their matches. India got to bat first after Harmanpreet won her first toss and the openers set about their task steadily.Sri Lanka pressed their spinners into service and both Shafali Verma and Mandhana found it tough to break free. Shafali took the aerial route for India’s first four in the third over and did so again in the fourth and the fifth. She was on 24 off 20 in the fifth over; at that point Mandhana was on 6 off 10. But in a pattern different from the previous game, she was not being impatient or trying too hard.Smriti Mandhana was rapid after the first six overs•Associated Press

Mandhana finally got going with a smack over the left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari’s head as India ended the powerplay on 41 for 0. She also slogged another left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera for a six over wide long-on in the next year to signal the gear change. India managed to hit at least one four in each over between the third and the ninth. Chamari Athapaththu kept India guessing by giving her bowlers one-over spells till the 13th over, by then Mandhana overtook Shafali to get to a fourth T20 World Cup half-century.Harmanpreet says hello from No. 3It took a run-out to end India’s opening partnership at 98, their third-highest in T20 World Cups, when Athapaththu and Ama Kanchana – brought in for Hasini Perera – combined to catch Mandhana short on 50. On the very next ball, Athapaththu had Shafali miscuing a heave to cover. That over meant Athapaththu ended the one-spell strategy and bowled a second over in the spell – the 13th and the 15th overs.Having batted at No. 4 against Pakistan, Harmanpreet came in at No. 3 and was soon joined by Jemimah Rodrigues before she even faced a ball. Few batters in the Indian line-up are at ease against spin than Rodrigues. She used the sweep to first put Ranaweera away and then moved in her crease to pull Athapaththu to the deep square leg boundary.At the other end, Harmanpreet hit Kumari for a four and a six to ensure the openers’ platform did not go to waste. Rodrigues soon fell for 16 off 10 – she was given a life at 13 when Kavisha Dilhari dropped a dolly at deep midwicket – but played a vital role in injecting momentum after two quick wickets.By then, Harmanpreet, with a cushion of a long batting line-up to follow, cut loose. She first paddled Kanchana past short fine leg before hitting two fours to spoil Athapaththu’s figures. Ranaweera could not hang on to a powerful hit at cover when Harmanpreet was on 22. She hit Kanchana and Prabodhani for two fours each in the last two overs to bring up only her third half-century in T20Is since the 2023 T20 World Cup. That blitz – 52 not out off just 27 balls – helped India take 46 off the last four overs, the most by any team in this T20 World Cup.Renuka Singh struck twice in the powerplay to dent Sri Lanka•Getty Images

She had retired hurt against Pakistan due to a neck injury, and had come for the toss with a pain-relief patch on the right side of her neck but was termed fit for this game. However, she did not take the field in the chase, with Mandhana captaining the team.Sri Lanka slide in chaseHeading into the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka had the most wins since April last year and their win-loss ratio was better than that of India and Australia. Because they had hunted down 166 to win their maiden Asia Cup title, it would have been a tad premature to write them off in the 173-run chase in Dubai. But India were on the money from the word go, and never let them even get a sniff.An athletic effort from Radha Yadav, substitute for Harmanpreet, on the second ball of the chase set the tone. She ran back to her right from backward point and dived full length to catch a miscue from Vishmi Gunaratne. Mandhana then handed the new ball to Shreyanka Patil at the other end, ahead of Deepti Sharma. Patil responded by pushing one slightly quicker and getting it to spin away, enticing a defensive, hard-handed poke from Athapaththu to gather the edge to slip. When Renuka Singh had Harshitha Samarawickrama, the star of the Asia Cup final, feather an outside edge in the third over, the challenge was almost quelled.Legspinner Asha then joined the party in the middle overs, picking up three wickets using the sharp spin available to undo the batters. Her biggest wicket was that of Anushka Sanjeewani, who was the enforcer in the 37-run fourth-wicket with Dilhari. After floating a few up to the batter, Asha pulled the length ball to deceive the Sri Lanka wicketkeeper, with Richa Ghosh stumping her. Asha and Reddy, the Player of the Match against Pakistan, struck regularly through the middle overs. Both finished with identical figures of 3 for 19, Reddy’s efforts creditworthy after she was taken for 12 in her first over. For the third game in a row, Sri Lanka finished with a double-digit total in this competition.It was an outing that raised India’s hopes of a semi-final qualification, with their last league game against Australia on Sunday.

انتهت مباراة ولايتا ديتشا الإثيوبي والاتحاد الليبي، بالتعادل السلبي بدون أهداف، في اللقاء الذي أقيم بينهما اليوم الجمعة، ضمن منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

ولايتا ديتشا تواجه مع الاتحاد الليبي، في إطار ذهاب دور الـ 64، من عمر منافسات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، وذلك على ملعب الفريق الإثيوبي.

وبذلك ستحسم مباراة العودة بين فريقا ولايتا ديتشا الإثيوبي والاتحاد الليبي، المتأهل بينهما إلي دور الـ 32 من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

طالع.. خاص | بعد قرار الأهلي.. موقف الاتحاد الليبي من ضم حسين الشحات

ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراة العودة بين ولايتا ديتشا والاتحاد، في ليبيا، يوم الجمعة المقبل 26 سبتمبر 2025.

يذكر أن المتأهل من مباراة ولايتا ديتشا الإثيوبي والاتحاد الليبي، سيواجه المصري البورسعيدي، في دور الـ 32 من منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية.

تجدر الإشارة إلي أن المصري كان قد ودع منافسات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الموسم الماضي، من دور ربع النهائي بعد خسارته بركلات الترجيج أمام سيمبا التنزاني.

ويشارك من مصر، في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية للموسم الحالي 2025-2026، ناديي الزمالك والمصري، حيث أعفى الكاف الثنائي من خوض الدور التمهيدي الأول الـ 64.

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of a promising attacker who’s already undergone his medical tests in west London, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Related £80m Chelsea star tells agents to find him new club after becoming "unhappy"

He’s keen on leaving Stamford Bridge.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

Enzo Maresca’s side return to Cobham for pre-season training on August 4, around three weeks after their triumphant 3-0 Club World Cup final win over European champions PSG in New Jersey.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea will have just 13 days to get up to speed before their opening Premier League game of the new season against Crystal Palace, with Maresca facing unprecedented preparations as he looks to potentially spearhead a title challenge.

Right now, the Blues are working to back their manager as much as possible in the transfer market – having already sealed deals for Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro for a total of around £145 million.

BlueCo are actively working on two more signings, with Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato in advanced talks to join Chelsea after agreeing personal terms and informing the Eredivisie side that he wants to leave.

Alongside Hato, Chelsea are in negotiations with RB Leipzig to sign playmaker Xavi Simons too, with Maresca’s side informing the Germans that they want to sign him and a first offer is thought to be imminent.

To make room for the arrivals of Hato and Simons, Chelsea are expected to sell many players before deadline day on September 1, especially amid pressure from UEFA to balance out their squad through departures.

Chelsea agree deal for Crystal Palace "sensation" Jesse Derry

According to Romano, Chelsea have now also agreed a deal to sign Crystal Palace “sensation” Jesse Derry – who was a man in demand with eight clubs thought to be in pursuit of the teenager.

Derry was closing in on a move to Europe too, but it is believed that Chelsea “hijacked” that switch with a medical even taking place on Friday.

“Chelsea agree deal to sign 18-year-old winger Jesse Derry from Crystal Palace beating 8 European clubs for the England wingers,” wrote Romano on X.

“Medical will take place on Friday as the teenage sensation looked set for a move to Germany before Chelsea hijacked the move.”

The versatile forward was a rising star at Selhurst Park, racking up 20 goals and five assists in just 27 outings for Palace’s Under-18s, but he’s now set to become a new Chelsea player.

It is unclear right now what Maresca and co have planned for Derry, but he’ll likely go straight into the academy before eventually working his way up to the senior team.

Perhaps a loan away could even be on the cards for this dazzling talent as Chelsea secure yet another head-turning prospect.

Uncapped Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli and Abdul Malik also named for Afghanistan’s first bilateral ODI series against SA

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2024

Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan is set to be back in ODIs for the first time since the World Cup last October-November, after being named in the 17-member squad to face South Africa in the upcoming three-match series in the UAE.However, Afghanistan continue to miss the services of mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is still recovering from a sprain in the index finger of his right hand, even as they left out wristspinner Noor Ahmad. Chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said offspinner AM Ghazanfar, who had made his ODI debut in March, “will cover” for Mujeeb against South Africa.But Rashid’s return helps make up for Mujeeb and Noor’s absence. Rashid was ruled out of Afghanistan’s ongoing one-off Test against New Zealand, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) saying he can’t play red-ball cricket till he gets medical clearance due to an “ongoing injury”.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rashid had undergone back surgery after last year’s World Cup, and was thus out of action for four months, during which time he missed entire assignments against UAE, India and Sri Lanka, and ODIs against Ireland. That apart, Rashid also had to withdraw from the BBL, PSL and the SA20, before finally returning to action in the Ireland T20Is this March.Since his surgery, Rashid has only played T20s, following up his comeback series with the IPL, T20 World Cup, MLC, the Hundred, and the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL), Afghanistan’s domestic T20 competition. But after back trouble, Rashid also injured his hamstring while playing for Trent Rockets in the Hundred, as a result missing the last week of the competition, before facing back issues again at the SCL, where he played three games.Meanwhile, Afghanistan have also called up uncapped medium-pace bowler Bilal Sami, and top-order batters Darwish Rasooli and Abdul Malik for the ODIs against South Africa. While Rasooli has played seven T20Is and Malik has played two Tests, Sami is yet to represent Afghanistan in any format.According to an ACB release, Malik was called up to act as cover for the injured opening batter Ibrahim Zadran, whose ankle sprain first forced him to miss the one-off Test against New Zealand, and now rules him out of the ODIs against South Africa.The three-match ODI series begins on September 18, with all games to be played in Sharjah. This will be the first time that Afghanistan and South Africa will be facing-off in a bilateral ODI series, having only met at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups before.For Afghanistan, this series will serve as preparation for the Champions Trophy early next year, for which they qualified for the first time by finishing sixth in the league stage of the 2023 World Cup.Afghanistan squad for South Africa ODIsHashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad