The visitors didn’t entertain a target of 282 from 57 overs after Hilton Cartwright’s unbeaten 171

Tristan Lavalette09-Mar-2025New South Wales opener Sam Konstas batted maturely on a tricky WACA surface late on day four to fend off Western Australia’s unlikely push for victory as the pivotal Sheffield Shield clash ended in a draw.It means both teams will have to rely on results going their way in the last round to make the final after Queensland leapfrogged them into second-placed with their earlier victory against Tasmania.The WACA has hosted the previous three finals, but South Australia locked up hosting rights with their thrilling victory against Victoria. Three-time champions WA will play fifth-placed Victoria, still mathematically able to qualify for the final, in the last round while NSW travel to Tasmania who have been knocked out.Related

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WA declared their second innings at 346 for 4 early in the second session with Hilton Cartwright finishing unbeaten on a first-class career best score of 171 not out.NSW needed 282 runs off 57 overs for the victory needed to move into second spot, but they did not attempt to chase down the total on a surface that proved particularly difficult for batters against the new ball.Konstas was a steadying presence with 50 off 107 balls before Matthew Gilkes and Ollie Davies held firm in the final hour.All eyes at the start of NSW’s innings were on Konstas and whether he would try to make a play at the total. But he was watchful from the get go much like during his limited time at the crease in the first innings. The fireworks happened at the other end when opener Nic Maddinson fell for a duck on the third ball of the innings after edging left-arm quick Joel Paris to second slip.Konstas was unperturbed and intent on defence, taking until his eighth delivery to register his first run. In a big moment, Kurtis Patterson had a let off on 1 after he was dropped by Paris at gully in a tough chance.Paris and Cameron Gannon produced considerable seam movement, but Konstas was rock solid and only had one scoring shot from his first 23 balls. Lance Morris entered the attack in the 11th over and there was an unknown over how many overs he would bowl. Under a restriction of around 30 overs per game to manage his body, Morris took career best first-class figures of 5 for 26 off 20.3 overs in NSW’s first innings.Morris ended up bowling 12 overs, but he was unable to rediscover his accuracy and control as Konstas played him with relative ease.Batting became easier as Konstas and Patterson, NSW’s first innings top-scorer with 86 off 262 balls, made it through to tea and they knocked the ball around after the resumption.Hilton Cartwright finished unbeaten on a career-best 171•Getty ImagesThe match unexpectedly sparked to life when Paris bowled Patterson with a delivery that crept low. Paris continued to target divots as he troubled left-handed batter Gilkes, while offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli started to menace with sharp bounce.He had Konstas on 38 poking to short-leg, but it was given not out. Konstas reached his half-century and the match again appeared to be fizzling away until he missed a straight Rocchiccioli delivery and was stumped before Josh Philippe was caught at short-leg on his first ball.But Rocchiccioli could not get his hat-trick or produce the necessary heroics as the match petered out to a draw.Earlier, WA resumed their second innings on 209 for 2 with a lead of 144 runs. There was intrigue over how WA would play the situation and when they would eye a declaration. Cartwright and Cameron Bancroft batted cautiously against the new ball with runs hard to come by as the clock started to tick.Bancroft’s 276-ball stonewall ended on 86 after he edged Jack Edwards to first slip. Playing his 100th Shield match, Bancroft trudged off disappointed but satisfied in his return to the field after a horrific on-field collision during a BBL game in early January.Bancroft’s wicket didn’t prompt a change of tactics from WA with batter Sam Fanning struggling with his timing. Emerging left-hander Fanning does tend to either bat in two modes – aggressively or dour – and he was stuck in the latter with just three runs off his first 31 balls faced.But with the ball losing its shine, Fanning eventually got into his groove and runs flowed after lunch. The batters had fun for 30 minutes after the interval with Fanning launching offspinner Chris Green down the ground on several occasions.Cartwright overtook his previous highest score of 170 before he soon walked off the field to a rousing ovation.

After eight seasons outside the luxuries of the Premier League, it’s fair to say Sunderland returned with a bang against West Ham United.

The first half played out as a tense 0-0 affair, before the Black Cats then suddenly burst into life as Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard, and Wilson Isidor all found the back of the net in quick succession to hand Regis Le Bris’ underdogs a glorious 3-0 win.

Off the back of such an impressive victory, Sunderland find themselves just below top spot in the Premier League on goal difference, owing to Manchester City’s slightly more emphatic 4-0 success.

The aim will be to continue to put wins on the board to ensure a heartbreaking relegation doesn’t happen, with more signings looking to be in the pipeline, too, in order to help matters on the pitch.

Sunderland explore move for £30m star

Sunderland really have been one of the big spenders in the Premier League this summer, despite their newly promoted status.

£141.5m has been splashed out in total on 12 brand new signings, with the Black Cats adding former Bayer Leverkusen right-back Nordi Mukele to their camp just after the resounding triumph over the Hammers for £9.5m.

More cash could soon be spent on landing Getafe attacker Christantus Uche, with both Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers also keen on the Nigerian forward, on top of Le Bris’ outfit further taking a fancy to this new £30m target to upgrade their options up top.

Indeed, it had been reported that Sunderland had lodged a £27m bid for Leicester City star Abdul Fatawu. An update from BBC Sport confirms that the Wearside club is exploring a possible move for the standout Foxes winger, but a move may well prove to be tricky to get over the line, owing to his pricey valuation, which is now allegedly closer to £30m.

That means any move for the Ghanaian to join the Stadium of Light ranks would match their record transfer fee for Habib Diarra.

It could well be deemed a gamble worth exploring, with a potential here for Sunderland to pick up their next Amad Diallo if Fatawu goes on to be as tricky and effective as the Ivorian was all those years ago donning the famous red and white stripes.

How Fatawu could be Sunderland's next Amad

Amad would never get to grace the Stadium of Light turf in the Premier League.

Instead, he proved to be a dangerous spark throughout his loan stint in the Championship for the Wearside outfit, with Sunderland fans still possessing a fondness for the slick 23-year-old two years on from his explosive stint at the club.

14 goals and four assists would fall into Amad’s lap from 42 memorable appearances for the Black Cats, with his game then taken to that next level back at parent employers Manchester United, leaving him with a healthy haul of 14 goals and 12 assists for the Red Devils from 65 outings.

Fatawu will hope he can become as established in the Premier League if a move to Sunderland does manage to get off the ground, having already been dubbed “unplayable” for his heroics in the EFL by scout Jacek Kulig.

Fatawu for Leicester (23/24)
Stat – per 90 mins*	Fatawu
Games played	40
Goals scored	6
Assists	13
Big chances missed	0
Big chances created	32
Total duels won*	6.1
Stats by Sofascore

During Leicester’s title-winning exploits under Enzo Maresca, Fatawu would routinely light up the Championship – in a similar rampaging fashion to Amad on Wearside – with the right-sided winger accumulating a ridiculous 19 goal contributions from 40 clashes.

Staggeringly, 32 big chances would also be created from those contests, with the 21-year-old always on the front foot, wanting to make openings happen, much like his fellow left-footer Amad always looked to dazzle and please supporters when situated at Sunderland.

The next big stride Fatawu will have to make is translating this jaw-dropping Championship form over to the Premier League regularly, having managed to amass two assists at the level last campaign, before a cruciate ligament nightmare took over.

Sunderland might well be the best place for him to explode into life even more, based on their gung-ho performance against the Hammers, with the opportunity there for him to emerge as the next exciting young talent on the right flank, in the mould of Amad before him.

Moreover, their glittering track record with up-and-coming gems coming good is also in their favour here, as another major buy looks to be completed by the ambitious, top-flight newcomers in the nick of time.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 19, 2025

Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich tenure ended in frustration, but under Vincent Kompany, the champions are rediscovering team spirit. While Tuchel faced criticism for lacking cohesion and empathy, Kompany has revitalised the squad, leading Bayern to domestic success and an impressive start to the season. Former chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge praises the Belgian coach for creating a harmonious environment that energises players.

Thomas Tuchel’s troubled Bayern stint

Tuchel’s tenure at Bayern from March 2023 to June 2024 ended in frustration. The former Borussia Dortmund boss admitted he struggled to “consistently bring the team to a higher level,” compounded by injury problems within the squad. Despite announcing he would step down, Bayern initially tried to retain him, with thousands of fans signing petitions and players like Manuel Neuer and Harry Kane urging him to stay.

His side finished third in the Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen went on to win the league and the DFB-Pokal, leading to Bayern ultimately deciding to part ways with him. With alternatives such as Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick unavailable, they turned to Kompany to lead the team. The Belgian has done a fine job so far, having guided the team to the Bundesliga title and a strong start to the new season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRummenigge hails Kompany's managerialship

Rummenigge has given Kompany the credit for their revival, telling "The team spirit has returned. It was somewhat lost under Thomas Tuchel, because in terms of empathy, there really wasn't enough work done.

"[Kompany] has formed the team into a unit from day one, maintaining a good rapport with every single player. The result is that the team works really well, both on the pitch and in their private lives. They do a lot together, and the coach is the spiritus rector; he's doing a great job."

How Kompany restored Bayern's unity and attacking flair

Since taking over, Kompany has revitalised Bayern’s squad with a high-pressing, attacking style and strong locker-room culture. The players, inspired by Kompany’s leadership, have responded with cohesion, energy, and a sense of unity absent under Tuchel. The Belgian coach has since managed 64 games for the club in which he has won 46, while drawing and losing nine.

Bayern have not only reclaimed domestic dominance but also built a team ethos that balances on-pitch performance with off-pitch camaraderie. Stars like Jamal Musiala have praised Kompany’s influence on their development and mindset, highlighting the renewed confidence coursing through the squad.

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Getty ImagesBayern's flying start to the season

The impact of Kompany’s leadership is evident in Bayern’s eight-win streak to start the 2025-26 campaign. Even without landing several key summer transfer targets, the team is firing on all cylinders, with attacking threats and tactical flexibility proving decisive. Despite key injuries to Musiala, Hiroki Ito and Alphonsoe Davies, Kompany has navigated well with the shortcomings. The Bundesliga club are set to fly to Cyprus to face Pafos in their next Champions League outing on September 30.

Glasgow Rangers ended the summer transfer window with a flourish on Monday night, as they confirmed their final two signings to bolster the squad.

Derek Cornelius signed on loan from Marseille with an option for the club to make it permanent next summer, and he will compete with John Souttar for the left-sided centre-back role.

The Canada international will be hoping to slot into the defence to improve the team’s fortunes at the back, as Rangers have already conceded 17 goals this season in all competitions.

Rangers also swooped to sign Youssef Chermiti from Everton in a permanent deal that could rise to a staggering fee of £10m, and is worth an initial £8m.

This makes the Portugal U21 international the most expensive signing made by the Scottish Premiership giants since they signed Tore Andre Flo from Chelsea in 2000 for a fee of £12m.

The investment in the squad will place even more pressure on head coach Russell Martin and his position at Ibrox, after a dismal start to his time in charge in Glasgow.

The case for Russell Martin's sacking

It is fair to say that the former Southampton boss was not the most popular appointment when he was unveiled as the new manager at the start of the summer.

Martin had a less-than-impressive loan spell at Ibrox as a player back in 2018, which may not have helped some fans to warm to him, and he endured a horrendous time in the Premier League as a manager last season.

The former Scotland international lost 13 of his 16 Premier League matches in charge of Southampton, winning once, before being sacked by the English club, per Transfermarkt.

Martin had won promotion to the top-flight with Southampton in the 2023/24 campaign, though, and Rangers may have hoped that he would be able to bring some of that experience to Ibrox to fire the team back to glory this season.

Premiership xG table after four games

Club

xG

xGA

xPTS

Celtic

5.7

1.2

8

Hearts

6.4

4.1

7

Hibernian

5.7

1.9

7

Rangers

4.5

3.7

6

Motherwell

5.9

5.5

6

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, however, the Gers have not performed particularly well in their opening four games in the Scottish Premiership, despite underperforming their xPTS by two, with four draws.

This shows that the Gers have not played brilliantly, creating loads and not conceding many big chances, and that they cannot complain too much with their disappointing start to the campaign.

As you can see in the post above, some supporters were also left incensed by the 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge last week, leading to some fans making it very clear that they want the club to sack Martin.

A hammering in the Champions League, leading to the club dropping down to the Europa League, and the underwhelming performances and results in the Premiership do not paint a pretty picture for the Gers head coach.

It does not feel like supporters have bought into his style of play or the performances that his team have produced so far, and, given the nature of the results, the board may not be unjustified if they decide to wield the axe and part ways with him.

There is no suggestion that the club are going to do that. However, the start to the season is a huge concern and the Ibrox crowd felt as flat, as an onlooker, as it has been in an Old Firm clash for some time on Sunday.

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This is why Rangers must ruthlessly sack Martin to pursue a move for long-term club target Kjetil Knutsen, who was first linked with a move to Ibrox back in 2021.

Why Rangers should appoint Knutsen

Since that initial interest in the Norwegian head coach in 2021, Rangers were linked with him to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst in 2022, to replace Michael Beale in 2023, to replace Philippe Clement in 2024, and to replace Barry Ferguson earlier this year.

This shows that the 56-year-old manager has never been too far away from the club’s thinking in recent years, which is why they must finally formalise their interest with a move to bring him in to replace Martin, should they decide to part ways with the Scottish boss.

Knutsen, whose former captain Ulrik Saltnes described his playing style as “kamikaze”, has enjoyed an incredibly successful spell with Bodo/Glimt, recently beating Sturm Graz to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, whilst Celtic and Rangers both dropped down to the Europa League.

He also led his team to the semi-finals of the Europa League in the 2024/25 campaign, which made Bodo/Glimt the first Norwegian side to reach the last four of any European competition.

Knutsen’s Eliteserien success with Bodo/Glimt

Season

Matches

Points (position)

2025

20

45 (1st)

2024

30

62 (1st)

2023

30

70 (1st)

2022

30

60 (2nd)

2021

30

63 (1st)

2020

30

81 (1st)

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Knutsen has proven himself to be a perennial title-winner during his time with Bodo/Glimt, winning four of the last five league titles, whilst being on his way to a fifth in six seasons.

This shows that the former Rangers target has proven that he can manage a team to be incredibly successful and dominant in domestic matches when his team is expected to be on the front foot.

Meanwhile, his incredible achievements in Europe, relative to the club he is managing, show that he can also manage in underdog situations, which is why he could be perfect for Rangers and what they need.

Bringing in an experienced title-winning head coach who also has a proven track record in European competitions could be exactly what Rangers need to get Ibrox rocking and backing the manager once again, after what has been a failed experiment with Martin thus far.

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Whilst Thomas Frank managed to win his first Premier League game as Tottenham Hotspur manager, the club still have work to do before the end of the summer transfer window.

He’s already been backed by the board, landing a £55m deal for Mohammed Kudus, but ultimately, further big-money reinforcements are needed to avoid a repeat of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Lilywhites ended the previous year in 17th place, still managing to win the Europa League, with the Dane the man to lead them into the Champions League this season.

However, if the 51-year-old is to be successful in either of the competitions in the near future, he will need added quality in depth within key areas of the pitch.

Big money will likely need to be spent if added success is to be achieved, but one of the club’s key dealings may have already taken place over the last couple of days.

Cristian Romero’s new contract at Tottenham Hotspur

Back in the summer of 2021, Spurs completed the loan signing of Cristian Romero from Italian outfit Atalanta, making the centre-back’s move permanent 12 months later – costing around £42.5m in the process.

Whilst his disciplinary record has often been brought into question, he’s been a key component of the Lilywhites’ backline, making 126 appearances over the last four years.

The 27-year-old was named the club’s captain last week, highlighting the trust new boss Frank has placed in him – understandably so given his Man of the Match showing in the European final against Manchester United.

The good news has continued for the Argentine, penning a new four-year deal until the summer of 2029, with such a move arguably one of the best pieces of business conducted by the club this window, amid interest from Spanish giants Atlético Madrid.

However, despite Romero’s new contract, the hierarchy are looking to add further quality into the club’s backline, handing Frank the added depth he needs to help the side challenge at the top of England’s top-flight.

Spurs targeting move for a new Romero partner

Over recent days, Spurs have entered talks with Manchester City over a potential deal for 20-year-old right-back Rico Lewis – potentially providing competition for Pedro Porro.

The Englishman has also been subject to interest from Nottingham Forest, but it’s been confirmed that the youngster wants to remain at the Etihad beyond the summer window.

However, he’s not the only defender in their sights, with the club also strongly considering a move to land Brentford star Nathan Collins, according to the Daily Mail.

Their report claims that the Lilywhites have been closely monitoring the Irish international, who featured in every single minute of the previous Premier League campaign.

It also states that Manchester United and Liverpool are also plotting a move for the 24-year-old, but Spurs could hold the key to any move, given the centre-back’s previous time playing under Frank at the GTEC.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be perfect for Romero

Whilst Frank has only overseen two competitive games as Spurs boss, he’s already showcased his versatility in the role, operating with various different systems.

In the UEFA Super Cup final against PSG, the Dane utilised a back-five, whilst switching back to a more familiar back four in the win against Burnley on Saturday.

However, if the club are to be a success, adapting the side based upon the opposition is vital, something which was hugely lacking during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.

A move for Collins could offer the new boss the depth he craves, adding another option to the heart of the defence, which could allow for a centre-back trio of Micky van de Ven, Romero and the Irishman.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Bees star would set the hierarchy back before the September 1st deadline, but it would be a transfer that would add the needed quality to the defensive unit.

When comparing his stats to those of Romero from 2024/25, the 24-year-old managed to outperform the Argentine in key areas, even ranking highly among other defenders in the division.

Collins, who’s been labelled “one of the best defenders in the Premier League” by journalist Mario Marra, ranked in the 97th percentile for blocks made (2.1) whilst ranking in the 89th percentile for aerials won (3.1), according to FBref.

How Collins & Romero compared in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Collins	Romero
Games played	38	18
Goals & assists	5	1
Progressive carries	0.9	0.7
Progressive passes	4.8	4.5
Blocks made	2.1	1.1
Clearances made	5.9	3.6
Aerials won	3.1	2.6
Aerial success rate	63%	60%
Stats via FBref

Such figures are both higher than those produced by Romero, which would subsequently hand Frank the quality at the back to improve the record of 65 league goals conceded last season.

The Irishman also achieved a better aerial success rate last season, whilst making nearly two times more clearances per 90 – further highlighting the quality he possesses without the ball.

However, despite Collins’ ability without the ball, he’s also showcased his talent in possession, something which has been vital in Frank’s system – as seen by the Bees’ average possession of 48% in the Premier League during 2024/25.

He managed to achieve more progressive passes and carries per 90 last season, able to seamlessly fit into the manager’s plans given his previous stint under his guidance.

Whilst it’s unclear how much the Bees will be demanding to part ways with their captain, it’s a deal that could transform the Lilywhites’ fortunes within the defensive third.

If he can replicate such numbers from 2024/25, he could prove to be the perfect partner for Romero, which could provide added success for the club in the not-too-distant future.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 16, 2025

“It’s a shift from advertisers saying we are subsidising women’s cricket to saying we are genuinely investing in it,” says ICC’s chief commercial officer

Firdose Moonda08-Mar-2025ICC’s women’s events from 2025 will have standalone sponsors, in a move that is expected to give the women’s tournaments greater prominence and make them distinct from that of the men. This should take effect from the 2025 ODI World Cup and include the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 Champions Trophy, for which the ICC has partnered with Unilever with a view to expansion in the future.”It is the first time we’ve offered commercial opportunities specifically for our women’s cricket events and we see this partnership as a significant marker of confidence in the standalone value of women’s cricket,” Anurag Dahiya, the ICC’s chief commercial officer, told ESPNcricinfo. “The decoupling signals that women’s cricket is no longer an add-on or a freebie that’s attached to men’s games, but a distinct high-potential commercial product.”It’s a shift from advertisers saying we are subsidising women’s cricket to saying we are genuinely investing in it, and that’s because we believe that it can drive revenue, audiences, and relevance.”Dahiya pointed to the increased interest in the women’s game over the last few years as a key driver for the decision. “We see an acceleration of growth across metrics, whether it’s in stadia or on broadcast and digital platforms. We’ve broken audience records steadily over the last few years.”

“We are quite fortunate that we’re not having to go and promote women’s cricket to an entirely new cohort of audiences. Our core men’s fans are just as interested in women’s cricket as well”Anurag Dahiya, ICC’s chief commercial officer

At last year’s T20 World Cup, 15,935 people watched the group-stage match between India and Pakistan – a record crowd for a pool match at a women’s event – and the final, between New Zealand and South Africa, was sold out. That marked the third successive time that a women’s T20 final had been fully attended after Newlands in 2023 and the MCG in 2020, with the latter breaking the record for the largest in-stadia audience at a women’s cricket game – 86,174. In 2023, the ICC produced their most-watched T20 women’s World Cup with viewership figures increasing by 790% compared to 2020, and the body expects this trend to continue as the tournament begins to include more teams.From 2026, 12 teams will contest the T20 World Cup, up from ten since 2016, while the addition of a T20 Champions Trophy from 2027 ensures there is a women’s ICC event every year.”The expansion of events has also been giving us a lot of momentum,” Dahiya said. “Our calendar has introduced new events such as the Under-19 women’s T20 World Cup, the women’s Champions Trophy, and upcoming editions of the existing events, which will see more participating teams as well. There are more opportunities for players and more opportunities for our fans to enjoy the content from these apex events.”Australia won the 2020 T20 World Cup final in front of 86,174 people at the MCG•Getty ImagesAlthough Dahiya noted that women’s cricket had its “own identity, own rhythms, and own audience and fan profiles”, he said it also benefitted from an already existing spectator base in the men’s game, who have often transferred their interest across to the women’s game. “We are quite fortunate that we’re not having to go and promote women’s cricket to an entirely new cohort of audiences. Our core men’s fans are just as interested in women’s cricket as well.”But there are also newer viewers, particularly in places like the United Kingdom, where women’s sport has been promoted as family-oriented while research from the Women’s Sport Trust showed that it is particularly appealing to young female fans.Unilever runs what it calls a “positive beauty” campaign, and promotes its products through a diverse range of women of different races, ages, sizes and body shapes. “They have done some amazing work in breaking stereotypes and promoting an inclusive, authentic representation of women,” Dahiya said. “Challenging those stereotypes in the representation of women in sports, specifically in cricket, is core to our strategy but we also want the participants to be acknowledged for what they are first and foremost, which is high-performing athletes. That’s regardless of their diverse background, body types or personal stories. We want to promote the fantastic performances they give on the playing field.”

Will Manchester City make a statement signing before the transfer window closes?

Earlier this summer, back before the Club World Cup, the Sky Blues signed Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders for a combined £103m, all three debuting stateside during the summer.

Since, Pep Guardiola has brought James Trafford back to the club from Burnley, potentially to usurp Ederson as the first-choice goalkeeper, we’ll have to wait and see, but will the Sky Blues now make a serious splash in the market before the window slams shut on 1 September?

Manchester City targeting attacking talent

As was reported by Fabrizio Romano on Monday, Manchester City are “considering” a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.

This comes after Jack Grealish has agreed to join Everton on a season-long loan, the Toffees have an option to make the deal permanent for £50m next summer, while Tottenham are in talks to sign Savinho for around £43m.

Thus, this could both raise the funds and create space in the squad for a high-profile attacking arrival, so could it be Rodrygo, who has purportedly been targeted by Arsenal, Spurs and others throughout this window?

Or, should Manchester City prioritise signing an even more talented attacker who is stylistically very similar to the Brazilian?

Well, according to reports on the continent, Manchester City have “entered the race” to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, adding that contact has been made with the Dutchman’s agent.

It has appeared only a matter of time until Simons moved to Chelsea, with the two clubs seemingly haggling over a free; the Bundesliga side are reportedly holding out for £61m, having paid £43m to make his move from PSG permanent as recently as January.

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Now though, could Man City gazump their Premier League rivals and convince the Netherlands international to move to the Etihad, rather than Stamford Bridge?

What Xavi Simons would bring to Manchester City

There’s no doubt that Simons is a high-quality player, having already produced so much at just 22 years old.

After not getting much of a look-in at Paris Saint-Germain, his breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven in the 2022/23 season, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists in just 48 appearances for the Eredivisie giants.

Since moving to RB Leipzig, he’s racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in 76 outings for die Roten Bullen, as per Transfermarkt, but is now seemingly desperate to leave Saxony, after his side finished seventh in the Bundesliga, thereby failing to qualify for any European competition.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has certainly been impressed, labelling Simons “an exceptional player”, while scout António Mango believes that he is “tactically flexible…dynamic” and intelligent when forced to operate in tight spaces.

Meantime, Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines outlines how he can be deployed both as an inside-forward or a number ten, tactical flexibility Guardiola would surely appreciate, praising his “explosiveness…. creative passing” and powerful 1vs1 dribbling.

So, let’s assess how Simons and Rodrygo compared to one another in the Champions League last season, having been deemed to be stylistically similar players, as per FBref.

Non-penalty goals

Bottom 31%

Top 1%

Non-penalty xG

Top 9%

Top 9%

Shots

Top 2%

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

Top 2%

Top 16%

Progressive carries

Top 11%

Top 14%

Successful take-ons

Top 9%

Top 10%

Prog passes received

Top 7%

Top 1%

Key passes

Top 11%

Top 20%

Touches

Top 12%

Top 1%

Worth mentioning the caveat, first and foremost, that Simons only played five Champions League matches last season, partially due to injury, but also because RB Leipzig were generally hopeless in the league phase, winning once and losing their other seven fixtures, thereby finishing 32nd.

Nevertheless, the Dutchman still produced impressive numbers, ranking in the top 2% for both shots and shot-creating actions, also more impressive than Rodrygo in terms of successful take-ons and key passes.

In summary, the data tells us that Simons is much more of a creative force, while Rodrygo enjoys a dribble and is more of a goal threat in terms of scoring himself.

Nevertheless, in Manchester City’s case, when you’ve got Erling Braut Håland spearheading your forward line, more creativity is probably what you’re after, so perhaps Simons would prove the shrewder addition after all.

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1 Aug 9, 2025

West Ham have confirmed the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as the club's new head coach, replacing Graham Potter just hours after the latter was sacked on Saturday. Nuno has agreed to personal terms with the east London club, and is expected to be officially unveiled as the Hammers new boss ahead of their Premier League clash with Everton on Monday. Potter was sacked after winning just six of his 25 games in charge.

Nuno expected to take over at West Ham imminently

Nuno, who left his position at Nottingham Forest earlier this month, will be in position to lead the Hammers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night, and that he will take his first training session this weekend. He has signed a three-year contract.

“I am very pleased to be here and very proud to be representing West Ham United. My objective is to work hard to get the very best from the team and ensure that we are as competitive as we possibly can be,” the 51-year-old told the club's website. 

"The work has already started and I am looking forward to the challenge that is ahead."

AdvertisementAFPPotter and staff dismissed for poor start to the season

In a statement released earlier on Saturday, West Ham confirmed the immediate dismissal of Potter and his entire backroom staff, clearing the decks for Nuno and his lieutenants ahead of Monday's game. Potter took over from Julen Loptegui in January of this year, with the Hammers in 14th place. The club remained in that position come the end of the 2024-25 season, but failed to kick on under the Englishman's stewardship. West Ham are currently in 19th place in the Premier League table, and the club were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by fellow strugglers Wolves. 

A quick rebound for Nuno after Nottingham Forest departure

Nuno's departure from the City Ground immediately turned up the pressure on any struggling Premier League manager, as the Portuguese was forced out of the club after a falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis. The 51-year-old's stock is at an all-time high, after he marshalled Forest to a seventh-placed finish in the top tier last term while they flirted with Champions League qualification for much of the campaign. Ironically, the Portuguese's last game in charge of the club was a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Potter's West Ham at the City Ground, the Hammers only win of the young season. The managerial position at the City Ground was filled by former Tottenham and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. 

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Getty Images SportNuno's Premier League record

Aside from a brief and unhappy spell at Tottenham, Nuno has consistently delivered results in the Premier League. After leading Wolves to a Championship title in 2017-18, the Portuguese authored two seventh-placed finishes for the club, laying the foundations for Wolves to remain in the Premier League ever since. After saving Forest from the drop in 2023-24, he again led a side to a top-seven finish, giving the club their first a taste of European football in more than 30 years. 

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O avião comprado por Leila Pereira foi apresentado nesta terça-feira (27) na sede da Embraer, em São José dos Campos. A presidente investiu na aeronave com a intenção de facilitar a logística do Palmeiras quando o time for jogar fora de São Paulo. A nova aquisição tem alcance de 5.278 km, permitindo voos sem escala por toda América do Sul.

O investimento foi feito inteiramente por Leila, e será registrado pela Placar Linhas Aéreas, empresa da presidente. O modelo E190-E2 tem capacidade para 114 pessoas, mas a pedido foi adaptado para 98 lugares visando maior conforto dos passageiros. A aeronave tem valor estimado de 74 milhões de dólares (R$ 352 milhões).

+ VÍDEO: Veja um ‘tour’ por dentro do avião de Leila Pereira que será usado pelo Palmeiras

O avião passou por um processo de personalização interna e externa em Portugal, mas não recebeu nenhuma cor ou símbolo do Alviverde. Leila explicou que tem a intenção de alugar a aeronave para outros clubes quando não estiver sendo utilizado, mas que o a preferência sempre será do Palmeiras.

O Palmeiras será responsável apenas por pagar o combustível e as taxas relativas do voo. A expectativa, segundo Leila Pereira, é de que as viagens com a nova aeronave saiam bem mais baratas e confortáveis do que fretamento com as companhias aéreas, como é feito atualmente quando o time joga fora de casa

At the start of the calendar year, Celtic had Adam Idah, Johnny Kenny, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Daizen Maeda on their books as options in the number nine position.

Kyogo, of course, left to sign for Rennes in the January transfer window, and Kenny is still a young player who needs time to develop and improve before he is a frontline option.

Earlier this month, Brendan Rodgers said: “I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”

The Celtic head coach is now set to lose another option in that centre-forward role, as Anthony Joseph reports that Idah is closing in on a permanent move to Swansea.

He is set to undergo a medical in Wales on Friday before putting the finishing touches on a move to the EFL Championship side before the end of the summer transfer window on Monday.

The Ireland international’s exit will leave Celtic with Kenny and Shin Yamada as their only natural striker options, whilst Maeda can, of course, play there.

Celtic have had a nightmare with Adam Idah

It is hard not to feel that the Scottish giants have had a nightmare with the Irish centre-forward, who they only signed from Norwich City on a permanent deal last summer.

The club reportedly paid an initial fee of £8.5m, which could have gone up to £9.5m, and Swansea have now agreed a deal that is worth up to £7m for the 6 foot 3 attacker.

This means that the Scottish Premiership champions have made a loss of at least £1.5m on Idah just 12 months on from signing him from the Canaries, which is hard to defend from a recruitment perspective.

The number nine had his moments in a Celtic shirt, as shown by the clip above, but he was nowhere near reliable enough as a starting option for Rodgers.

Appearances

19

16

Minutes

1,352

357

Goals

6

7

Minutes per goal

225

51

Assists

0

1

As you can see in the table above, Idah only scored six goals in 19 matches in the Premiership for the Scottish giants in his only full season at the club.

This may be one of the reasons why the club decided to sanction a permanent transfer to Swansea after just one year, because he failed to prove that he could deliver consistently as a starter.

Ultimately, Rodgers could not trust him to start week-in-week-out and they may have expected more from a player they were willing to spend up to £9.5m in 2024.

Celtic prepare offer for new striker

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Celtic are considering a last-gasp offer to sign Anderlecht centre-forward Kasper Dolberg in an attempt to replace Idah.

The journalist claims that the Denmark international is the club’s number one target to fill the soon-to-be vacant number nine shirt at Parkhead.

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Joseph also reveals that the Hoops are in talks with Anderlecht over a move for the experienced marksman, as they look to bring him in before the deadline on Monday.

He adds that the Scottish giants were quoted a fee of around £10m for the forward earlier this summer, but it remains to be seen if that is still the case.

The journalist claims that Anderlecht are open to cashing in on the former Ajax and Nice star after they were knocked out of Europe by losing 3-1 to AEK on aggregate, which has presented Celtic with the opportunity to swoop in now that Idah is on his way out of the club.

Why Celtic should sign Kasper Dolberg

The board should be pushing to get a deal for the Pro League forward over the line before the deadline on Monday because he could arrive as a big upgrade on Idah in the number nine position.

As aforementioned, the £9.5m signing from Norwich simply did not do enough when given chances as a starting striker for Celtic to be relied upon as the main man for goals.

Dolberg, however, is a player who could be that main man as an experienced and top-quality number nine who can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The Anderlecht marksman has already scored three goals in five games at the start of the current campaign, per Sofascore, but it was his form last season that shows how much of an upgrade he would be on Idah.

Appearances (starts)

31 (30)

35 (19)

xG

16.70

N/A

Goals

18

13

Conversion rate

22%

17%

Goals from outside the box

3

2

Assists

2

0

Duel success rate

50%

41%

As you can see in the table above, Dolberg can score goals at an impressive rate whilst starting week-in-week-out for his side, which is something that Idah failed to do.

The Danish attacker, who was once hailed as an “extraordinary talent” by John Steen Olsen, also enjoyed a greater conversion rate in front of goal and won more of his physical duels with opposition defenders.

These statistics suggest that Dolberg could offer far more to the team as a regular starter than Idah did, certainly in the Premiership, as a lethal centre-forward who can finish chances efficiently, as shown by his goal return versus his xG.

At the age of 27, Celtic would also be signing a player who is in the prime years of his career and can be expected to hit the ground running as an instant and reliable performer, rather than coming in as a young and unproven talent who would need time to adjust and develop.

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Therefore, Dolberg could be a fantastic addition to the squad as a big upgrade on Idah as a starter if they can get the deal over the line in the coming days.