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Manchester City made a statement in the winter transfer window in a bid to strengthen their squad, bringing in the likes of Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush.

In a way, it worked. While the club were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in February, they have lost only three domestic games in 2025.

The FA Cup provides the only chance of silverware, and Pep Guardiola will be hoping that winning the competition for the third time can set his side up for a new era starting this summer.

There is still plenty of work to be done this summer. Could Guardiola be targeting a player from a fellow Premier League side?

Man City eye move for Milos Kerkez

Milos Kerkez has emerged as a transfer target for City and a host of other clubs ahead of the summer window.

The left-back has made 36 appearances for Bournemouth this season, recording nine goal contributions in the process. He has even started every single one of the club’s league matches, indicating how important he is to the team.

Assists

5

Accurate passes per game

27.8

Big chances created

6

Key passes per game

0.9

Tackles per game

1.5

Total duels won per game

4.2

Kerkez ranks in the top 11% for crosses into the opposition penalty area and in the top 15% for carries into the final third when compared to peers in the top flight this term.

These statistics have seen the Cherries place a price tag of around £45m on the defender.

City could certainly afford this fee in the summer. The club have also struck gold on an academy starlet who is worth a lot more than the Hungarian full-back – Rico Lewis.

How Man City have hit gold on Rico Lewis

Despite only turning 20 last November, Lewis has already racked up 90 senior appearances under Guardiola, impressing the Spaniard on the right side of the defence.

Indeed, the manager even hailed the Englishman as “exceptional” back in 2023, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since.

One of his key strengths is his passing ability, and when compared to peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the youngster ranks in the top 1% for pass completion percentage (92.1%) and in the top 6% for progressive passes (6.01) per 90.

This shows that he doesn’t just dictate games with his range of passing, but he is able to begin attacks and set the midfielders and forwards up for success with his attack-minded abilities.

As such, his market valuation has grown year-on-year. According to Football Transfers, the defender is now valued at €62.7m (£53.5m).

This value is nearly £10m more than Kerkez at the time of writing, and it may increase even further as the years progress if he can continue to shine on the pitch.

Of course, he plays on the opposite side of the pitch compared to the Bournemouth sensation, but considering City brought him through the academy, they have struck gold on the left-back.

If and when he departs City, they will make an absolute fortune on the Englishman. That much is certain.

Man Utd now considering shock move for "exceptional" £25m Man City attacker

The Red Devils are eyeing a move for a player from one of their bitter rivals.

ByDominic Lund Apr 25, 2025

Rangers and prospective new owners the 49ers Enterprises have been making early moves for a new Ibrox manager in Europe.

Rangers and 49ers release statement on takeover

The rumours over a takeover at Rangers involving the 49ers have gone into overdrive in recent months, with previous claims suggesting that there was confidence of a deal being completed ahead of the 2025/26 season.

In recent days, Rangers and the consortium have issued a joint statement, saying to Sky Sports: “Rangers and its existing controlling shareholders are in productive conversations with the two lead members of the Consortium, Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group, about the potential for the Consortium to acquire control of the club and to inject additional capital. These discussions reflect a shared recognition of the importance of Rangers FC’s long-term direction, ambitions and management.”

Related Rangers have hit gold on "impressive" gem who is worth more than Mulligan

Rangers signed a player under Clement who is worth more than Josh Mulligan.

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2025

One of their first tasks in Glasgow will be to appoint a new permanent manager, with the Gers currently having Barry Ferguson in interim charge until the end of the campaign after parting ways with Philippe Clement.

Ferguson is keen on the Rangers job on a full-time basis and vowed to make the club “better” if he is given the opportunity.

“In terms of in the future, managing elsewhere, no. I enjoyed my role at Rangers before, and if that’s not going to be managing, then hopefully I’ll just go back to that and enjoy what I was doing. If I get the job, I will make my club a better club. If I don’t get the job I will still support the club.”

Rangers last 5 permanent managers

Philippe Clement

2023-2025

Michael Beale

2022-2023

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

2021-2022

Steven Gerrard

2018-2021

Pedro Caixinha

2017

However, it looks as if the 49ers have other plans in mind when it comes to a new Rangers boss, going off an update from The Athletic.

Rangers and 49ers hold manager talks in Europe

According to The Athletic, relayed by Give Me Sport, Rangers and the 49ers have been holding talks with managers in Europe ahead of a potential summer move.

No specific names are mentioned, however, 49ers technical director Gretar Steinsson has held Rangers discussions with managerial candidates across Europe.

There have been a few managers in Europe who have been linked with the Ibrox role, including Jose Mourinho who is currently in charge of Fenerbahce. As we know, Ferguson and Rangers got the better of Mourinho and Fenerbahce in the Europa League earlier this year.

Marco Rose, who has links with Red Bull and by extension the 49ers due to the connection at Leeds United, is another who has been mooted as a potential target after he left RB Leipzig in March.

It will be interesting to see what route the 49ers go down in regards to bringing in a new manager, but they aren’t wasting time with Steinsson working behind the scenes.

It is rare for teams to pair left-arm spinners together, but West Indies look set to stick with them in pursuit of a third T20 World Cup

Matt Roller18-Jun-20243:29

Bishop: Confidence the key for West Indies at the business end

Their great Test teams were built around fast bowlers, but West Indies have a proud history of spin-bowling partnerships: Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine were immortalised by Lord Beginner’s calypso; Lance Gibbs would bowl offspin at one end while Garry Sobers bowled his left-arm variations from the other; and more recently, West Indies’ T20 World Cup successes were built around a pair of spinners too.Samuel Badree was the constant – bowling his flat, fast wristspin in the powerplay. In 2012, Sunil Narine would take over from him through the middle overs; four years later, with Narine still sorting out his bowling action, the towering left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took over and bowled containing spells through the middle, finishing the tournament with an economy rate below seven.Related

Gudakesh Motie looks to reinvent what it means to be a left-arm spinner

Stats – It's been a bowlers' World Cup, but that might change now

Pooran bursts on to the T20 World Cup, pedal to the metal

And when West Indies had faced England last December, they landed on another such pair: selecting Guyana’s Gudakesh Motie to play alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s Akeal Hosein. Both are left-arm fingerspinners, but are very different bowlers with complementary strengths. They have played 11 matches together since, taking 35 wickets at 15.57 between them, 16 of which came in their group stages of this World Cup.The formula is simple: Hosein takes the new ball and often bowls three of the first five overs. He flights some balls but also relies heavily on his arm ball, which drifts sharply into the right-handers. “He’s a very, very integral part [of the side], especially for controlling the powerplay for us,” Rovman Powell, West Indies’ captain, said.When the field spreads, Powell brings Motie on and empowers him to flight the ball, varying his pace and looking to spin the ball hard. “Right as we come out of the powerplay is Gudakesh Motie time,” Powell said. “It’s like Akeal Hosein passing the baton onto Gudakesh Motie, and it’s been very good so far.”West Indies geared their selection to conditions, knowing that their pitches can play slow and low, and may turn more as the World Cup wears on. “We’ve been playing our entire career on these pitches: we’re not surprised when it’s slow, it’s low and it’s low-scoring,” Nicholas Pooran said. “The reason why most of our averages are 20-25 is because we bat on pitches like this.”

“[It’s been] pleasantly pleasing to me to see how [the] same type of bowlers – two left-arm spinners turning the ball in the same direction – have complemented each other so well. That’s something that is new to me”Ian Bishop to ESPNcricinfo

In St Lucia, where West Indies face England on Wednesday night, conditions have been much more favourable for batters: against Afghanistan on Monday, Pooran hit 98 in a team total of 218, the highest score of the T20 World Cup so far. But with England likely to field a batting line-up filled with right-handers, Hosein and Motie should still play a role.In terms of average and economy rate, they were West Indies’ best bowlers in their 3-2 series win against England in December too, and Powell said they would “definitely” match-up well against England’s batters in a few days’ time: “When we pick the two left-arm spinners, we know that in West Indies conditions, whether the wickets are good or the wickets are bad, they’re going to be a handful because they’re world-class.”Hosein has reached an intriguing stage where he has played enough T20 cricket around the world – over 150 matches in his career, one-third of which have come in the last 12 months – that his arm ball no longer takes teams by surprise. Batters know the cues: he tends to bowl it from significantly wider on the crease, and with a slightly lower trajectory.”[It’s been] pleasantly pleasing to me to see how [the] same type of bowlers, two left-arm spinners turning the ball in the same direction – although Akeal Hosein has the arm ball – have complemented each other so well,” Ian Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “That’s something that is new to me.”They’ve got Roston Chase there [as well] as the option to turn the ball the other way. Ideally, in a perfect world, they’d like a wristspinner. They don’t have that, so they’ve gone with the two left-arm spinners. I wouldn’t mind seeing them change it up though at some point, because teams are planning for Akeal Hosein in that powerplay.”1:37

Ganga: Hosein and Motie are two ‘very different bowlers’

England are well aware of Hosein and Motie’s strengths, to the extent that they chose an uncapped slow left-armer in Tom Hartley as their back-up spinner ahead of Rehan Ahmed’s legspin following December’s tour. “There’s no question both teams know a lot about each other,” Sam Curran said. “The two spinners are probably one of their strengths.”Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, England’s openers, both have good head-to-head records against Hosein, and Salt in particular has made huge strides since he was dismissed by left-arm spin five times in six innings on a tour to Bangladesh last March. Salt has become much more confident playing through the off side, and scored two hundreds against West Indies in December.Motie is more of an unknown for England, though. He has an extensive first-class record but is relatively new to T20 cricket, only making his debut in the format in 2021, aged 26. He has never played in a franchise league outside of the CPL, where none of this England squad feature regularly, and only played against them during the December tour.Motie is short, and has a low release point, but puts significant overspin on the ball, meaning some balls are quick and skiddy, while others turn sharply off the pitch. In the group stages, he bowled arguably the ball of the tournament to date, which drifted into Daryl Mitchell from a wide angle at 62mph/99kph, before turning sharply to hit the off bail.It is rare for teams to pair left-arm spinners together in modern T20 cricket, but West Indies believe they have found a winning formula and look set to stick with it in pursuit of an unprecedented third men’s T20 World Cup. If they achieve it, it might even be enough for Hosein and Motie’s names to feature in a calypso.

The UAE legspinner talks about his hat-trick against Sri Lanka, his time as a net bowler in the IPL, and about rubbing shoulders with big-name players in the Abu Dhabi T10 league

Deivarayan Muthu24-Nov-2022Karthik Meiyappan was in a trance when he claimed a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the men’s T20 World Cup last month. He only began to realise what he had achieved when he got together with his father and then when he visited his extended family in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.”Definitely, it [the hat-trick] took some time to sink in,” the 22-year-old UAE legspinner says. “When I came back home to Dubai, it slowly started kicking in that I actually pulled off something spectacular.”The family support I’ve had over the years is incredible. To come back home and for them to let it sink in was the best part. I can be vulnerable in front of my family. Expressing my emotions then – it couldn’t have been better scripted.”Karthik’s father, PL Meiyappan, was also a legspinner, who played league cricket in Tamil Nadu before moving to the UAE for work.”My dad wanted to continue to play cricket and even got picked for his university side [in Madurai],” Karthik says, “but I think the family couldn’t support him at the time and that’s how his cricket [career] got cut short.”It’s probably something he lives through me and I’m sure he’s a proud father.”Karthik is a modern wristspinner who bowls into the pitch and gets his googly to turn and fizz more than his legbreak. It was those wrong’uns that took out Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka in the 15th over of Sri Lanka’s innings to make him only the fifth bowler to bag a hat-trick in a men’s T20 World Cup.3:25

‘Our batting slacked in the World Cup, but our bowlers were up to the mark’

“Obviously, when I was bowling to the lefties [Rajapaksa and Asalanka], my plan was to take it away [from them] because I felt like they were more leg-side dominant and have a better range of shots on the leg side, especially Rajapaksa,” Karthik says.”When Asalanka walked in, Vriitya [Aravind, the UAE wicketkeeper] asked me whether I wanted to slip in a legspinner, but I was feeling like he was coming from a bad patch of form, so again I backed myself to bowl my best ball. I told Vriitya I’ll back my wrong’un again and luckily it pitched in the right spot.”Then when Shanaka walked in, even Vriitya had no doubt what I was going to bowl, so I just went about bowling the wrong’un once again and got him through bat-pad.”Karthik, who started out as a seamer, imitating Brett Lee’s action as a boy before realising his body couldn’t withstand the load of fast bowling, explains that googlies come easier to him than legspinners because of how his action is set up.”I’m more perpendicular and 12’o clock, as they say. For me, bowling the googly is easier than a legspinner because of the leverage I get on the ball. It’s easier to snap my wrist and fingers to bowl the wrong’un. Legspin is something that I back myself to bowl as well, but in T20s, I feel the wrong’un is the weapon with which I back myself to deliver eight or nine out of ten times.”Karthik dabbled with offspin and legspin before becoming a quick legbreak-googly bowler – a species that is much in demand in T20 cricket these days. But before taking up cricket professionally, he was quite seriously into chess, even playing some inter-state tournaments in Tamil Nadu.”Chess is something I inherited from my family,” he says. “My grandfather and my uncle play chess and sport has been in the family background. When I was living in Coimbatore for two years, I was just playing gully cricket then. Chess was something that caught on [for me] because I’m very eager at grasping things by just observing. My dad also played chess, and [when] my mum put me in coaching in Coimbatore, I found it was something I could do. My parents tried to put me through a professional programme, but they [the organisers] requested that I stop my education and focus only on chess, which we couldn’t at that point. Chess was something I love, but once I moved to Dubai [in 2007], it wasn’t a big thing here, so I moved to cricket.”Related

Wrong'uns the right answer for UAE hat-trick man Karthik Meiyappan

Ball-by-ball – how Karthik Meiyappan hat-tricked Sri Lanka

We felt like we gained a lot from the IPL, says UAE captain Ahmed Raza

Karthik made his international debut for UAE in 2019, and since then though he was part of touring sides, didn’t get many chances in the XI – until this year. He believes his three-wicket haul against Singapore in the Asia Cup T20 Qualifier in Al Amerat earlier this year, and a stint with former offspinner and current Tamil Nadu coach M Venkataramana in Chennai, have transformed his career.”I think that was the real turnaround for me,” he says of that game against Singapore. “Ever since the game, I feel things have been going well.”I came down to Chennai for a month and worked with Venkataramana under Robin [Singh, the UAE coach] sir’s guidance. He kind of tweaked a few things in my bowling, which really came in handy for me. The hat-trick is the icing on the cake because there was a lot of work behind it.”Karthik has also had stints as a net bowler with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, getting to work with Sri Lanka legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and his hero MS Dhoni.”Shane Warne is someone I’ve looked up to, but lately I’ve been watching Wanindu closely. The way and the style we bowl is similar, so I try to pick up a lot of things from his bowling. And then suddenly I started celebrating the way he did. I took my celebration off Wanindu – and not Neymar – and even told him after the game against Sri Lanka in the World Cup that I copied his celebration.”Before the Ireland series [in October 2021], I had a stint with CSK. I spoke to MS Dhoni about how I could handle them sweeping the ball because Ireland are more of sweepers. So, he gave me advice and, like I said, you’re learning off the best.”Meiyappan with his family, including his mother, Selvi, and sister, Lobha Mitra•Karthik MeiyappanKarthik now has a chance to show his wares in the T10 league in Abu Dhabi, which begins this week. It is a tournament that he believes has helped bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket for UAE’s players. The league could also potentially be a shop window for the inaugural ILT20 in the UAE in 2023.”Practising with international players is different from competing against them. There is lots to learn and you get used to that exposure, which is important to bridge the gap between an Associate team and a Test nation. T10 is a short format, and at the end of the day, as a bowler you still have to be aggressive and look to dominate the game, which is something I like.”He’s looking forward to playing alongside Shanaka and Rajapaksa for Chennai Braves in the league – and remind them that they were his World Cup hat-trick victims. “Even before the World Cup started, when we had the welcoming lunch, I spoke to Shanaka and [Maheesh] Theekshana about playing together at Chennai Braves, but now I will go to Shanaka and have a few words about the hat-trick ball, for sure.” (laughs)With a T20 World Cup hat-trick against the Asia Cup champions, has Karthik made his case for a promotion from net bowler at Chennai Super Kings?”It hasn’t crossed my mind yet,” he says. “But if I get my process right and my results going, it will be a by-product. It will happen, if it’s meant to be. Obviously, I’ve put myself out there and my chances now might be better than what it was before, but I would not push my imagination. Whatever opportunity comes my way, I will definitely take it with two hands.”

The WBBL begins this weekend in Sydney. Here’s how the eight teams shape up after a hectic lead in

Andrew McGlashan and Dan Brettig22-Oct-2020

Adelaide Strikers

Captain: Suzie BatesCoach: Luke WilliamsWBBL history: 2015-16: 7th, 2016-17: 8th, 2017-18: Semi-final, 2018-19, 6th and 2019-20: Runners-upSquad: Darcie Brown, Suzie Bates (NZ), Sarah Coyte, Ellie Falconer, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Katie Mack, Tegan McPharlin, Tahlia McGrath, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Alex Price, Megan Schutt, Stafanie Taylor (WI), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)In Madeline Penna (Stars), Laura Wolvaardt
Out Sophie Devine (Scorchers), Tabatha SavillePre-seasonHow will last season’s runners-up cope with losing the talismanic Sophie Devine? They have brought in Laura Wolvaardt, the South Africa batter who is one of the most exciting young players in the game, but Devine’s 2019-20 haul of 769 runs and 19 wickets will require the squad to dig deep. They will hope to see far more of West Indian Stafanie Taylor than last season.Player to watchBridget Patterson had a very solid tournament last season with 319 runs – putting her fourth behind the Strikers’ big three of Devine, Suzie Bates and Tahlia McGrath – and that form was enough to earn her an Australia A call-up to face India. She is the type of player – now secured on a three-year deal – that will need to kick her game on again to help fill the void left by Devine’s exit.

Brisbane Heat

Captain: Jess JonassenCoach: Ashley NoffkeWBBL history: 2015-16: 6th, 2016-17: 3rd, 2017-18: 5th, 2018-19: Champions and 2019-20: ChampionsSquad: Maddy Green (NZ), Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Jess Jonassen, Amelia Kerr (NZ), Delissa Kimmince, Nadine de Klerk (SA), Charli Knott, Lilly Mills, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia VollIn Nichola Hancock (Stars), Nadine de Klerk, Georgia Redmayne, Georgia Voll
Out Haidee Birkett, Sammy-Jo Johnson (Thunder), Beth Mooney (Scorchers), Kirby Short (retired)Pre-seasonThere has been significant change for the defending champions as they prepare to attempt the hat-trick. Captain Kirby Short has retired with Jonassen promoted to lead the side, while Beth Mooney made one of the high-profile switches by moving to the Perth Scorchers and Sammy-Jo Johnson has gone to the Sydney Thunder. Whether the Heat can replace Mooney’s runs will be key – a task that will fall in part to Georgia Redmayne who has joined from the Scorchers.Player to watchGrace Harris is entertaining in whatever she does, whether it’s with bat, ball or with microphone. However, last season’s return of 212 runs at 17.66 and six wickets at 49.66 was perhaps a little below expectation. With the loss of such a key figure in Mooney, Harris will be one of the senior players who will need to take up the slack with the bat. With two ferocious WBBL hundreds to her name – her second coming off just 42 balls – and an overall strike-rate of 137.40, it will be interesting to see where she is used in the batting order.Nicola Carey hits powerfully through the off side•Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes

Captain: Corinne HallCoach: Salliann BriggsWBBL history: 2015-16: 2nd, 2016-17: 4th, 2017-18: 8th, 2018-19: 8th and 2019-20: 7thSquad: Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson (injured), Corinne Hall, Brooke Hepburn, Erica Kershaw, Hayley Matthews (WI), Sasha Moloney, Rachel Priest (NZ), Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Emma Thompson, Chloe Tryon (SA), Tayla Vlaeminck (injured), Belinda Vakarewa; Replacements Hayley Jensen (NZ), Chloe Abel, Nell Bryson Smith, Emily SmithIn Erica Kershaw (Renegades), Rachel Priest (Thunder), Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg (Thunder), Emma Thompson
Out Stephanie Daffara, Erin Fazackerly (Renegades), Katelyn Fryett, Heather Knight, Meg Phillips, Emily SmithPre-seasonThe Hurricanes’ story has been one of steadily diminishing returns after starting out as competition finalists and then returning to the semi-finals the following year. Last season saw more inconsistency, with the distraction provided by the wicketkeeper Emily Smith’s minor integrity infraction and the extremely harsh ban that Cricket Australia chose to hand down in response. Smith is only on the fringes of the squad this time around as a replacement player, with the gloves taken by New Zealand’s combative Rachel Priest. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to the Hurricanes this time around will be the fact that Tayla Vlaeminck has already been ruled out of the entire tournament. That came due to her long and challenging recovery path from a foot fracture which had ended her T20 World Cup campaign before it began. Australia had to change their tournament plans considerably without Vlaeminck – and the Hurricanes need to do likewise.Player to watchNicola Carey is one of the national team’s more underrated contributors, offering parsimony with the ball and intelligent middle-order batting when required. She is not competing with anywhere near as many box office names at the Hurricanes and showed last season that the responsibility suited her, offering up numerous performances with both bat and ball that suggested she could step up similarly for Australia if ever required to offer something more than cameos.

Melbourne Renegades

Captain: Amy SatterthwaiteCoach: Lachlan StevensWBBL history: 2015-16: 8th, 2016-17: 7th, 2017-18: 6th, 2018-19: 4th and 2019-20: 4thSquad: Makinley Blows, Maitlan Brown, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin (unavailable), Erin Fazackerley, Ella Hayward, Lizelle Lee (SA), Carly Leeson, Sophie Molineux, Courtney Neale, Amy Satterthwaite (NZ), Molly Strano, Lea Tahuhu (NZ), Georgia Wareham, Courtney WebbIn Erin Fazackerly (Hobart Hurricanes), Ella Hayward, Lizelle Lee
Out Tammy Beaumont, Erica Kershaw, Claire Koski, Danni WyattPre-seasonThe return of Amy Satterthwaite as captain looms as a major source of encouragement for the club as they seek to graduate from a pair of semi-final appearances to become the first Melbourne team to take out the title. Lizelle Lee’s arrival from South Africa will provide plenty of big hitting and still greater experience to the batting line-up – which will be missing Jess Duffin following her pregnancy – while in Molly Strano, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham, the Renegades boast all but one member of the Australian team’s enviable spin bowling quartet. There remain doubts over Lea Tahuhu’s fitness though.Player to watchSatterthwaite‘s quality was on display as she acquitted herself best of all New Zealand’s players in their recent drubbing by Australia over twin T20 and ODI series in Brisbane. Her resumption as the leader of a Renegades combination that was able to maintain their league position without her in the 2019 tournament makes the club undoubtedly one of the chief obstacles for any WBBL trophy aspirants this time around.Meg Lanning will resume the captaincy of the Melbourne Stars•Getty Images

Melbourne Stars

Captain: Meg LanningCoach: Trent WoodhillWBBL history: 2015-16: 5th, 2016-17: 5th, 2017-18: 7th, 2018-19: 7th and 2019-20: 8thSquad: Katherine Brunt (Eng), Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Bhavi Devchand, Nicole Faltum, Holly Ferling, Tess Flintoff, Georgia Gall, Alana King, Meg Lanning, Erin Osborne, Mignon du Preez, Nat Sciver (Eng), Annabel Sutherland, Elyse VillaniIn Katherine Brunt, Sophie Day, Bhavi Devchand (Scorchers), Georgia Gall, Meg Lanning (Scorchers), Nat Sciver
Out Kristen Beams (retired), Nicola Hancock (Heat), Emma Inglis, Lizelle Lee (Renegades), Madeline Penna (Strikers), Angela Reakes (Sixers)Pre-seasonWere the Melbourne Stars’ men’s team to have maintained the sort of wretched record their women’s equivalent have managed over the WBBL’s first five seasons, little short of a Royal Commission would have been called. It remains a source of enormous frustration though that the Stars have not been able to prosper, and the return of Meg Lanning from a stint with the Perth Scorchers will undoubtedly help. Lanning performed well as the Stars began their existence as a mid-table team finishing just out of the semi-finals, and it will now be a question of whether the Stars and their new coach Trent Woodhill have been able to assemble an effective group to operate around her. The arrival of two seasoned England internationals in Katherine Brunt and Nat Sciver bode well for these plans, offering Lanning a pair of highly dependable operators with the ball and the bat, respectively. More will be expected of Annabel Sutherland, with Elyse Villani given the chance to score a little more freely without the responsibilities of captaincy.Player to watchIt’s hard to look past Lanning as key to the Stars improving their fortunes, after two impressive seasons with the Scorchers saw a strong combination with Villani in particular before she moved to the Stars the season before Lanning chose to follow. There is a sense at the Stars that the club is finally committing the kinds of resources and attention to the WBBL that it should have done long ago, and Lanning’s return is a measure of that resolve.

Perth Scorchers

Captain Sophie DevineCoach Shelley NitschkeWBBL history 2015-16: 4th, 2016-17: Runners-up, 2017-18: Runners-up, 2018-19: 5th and 2019-20: Semi-finalSquad Megan Banting, Jemma Barsby, Samantha Betts, Nicole Bolton, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sophie Devine (NZ), Sarah Glenn (Eng), Heather Graham, Amy Jones (Eng) Emma King, Beth Mooney, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia WyllieIn Megan Banting, Sophie Devine (Strikers), Sarah Glenn, Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat), Georgia Wyllie
Out Kim Garth, Kath Hempenstall, Meg Lanning (Stars), Georgia Redmayne (Heat), Nat Sciver (Stars)Pre-seasonIt would be hard to argue that anyone did better business than the Perth Scorchers as they brought in both Devine and Beth Mooney, while also signing England legspinner Sarah Glenn who has impressed this year. They have lost Meg Lanning but with Amy Jones and Nicole Bolton also in the batting line-up, they will be confident of getting runs on the board.Player to watchYou would think the batting would look after itself, but what about the Scorchers bowling? Heather Graham was their leading wicket-taker last season with 15 and shapes as being a key component of the attack again if they want to go deep into the tournament. She had a brief taste with Australia last season but was not part of the expanded squad recently against New Zealand. She scored an unbeaten half-century against India A in the series before Christmas and took 3 for 40 to help Western Australia win the WNCL.Sammy-Jo Johnson, Sarah Aley and Hannah Darlington at Sydney Olympic Park•Cricket Australia

Sydney Sixers

Captain Ellyse PerryCoach Ben SawyerWBBL history 2015-16: Runners up, 2016-17: Champions, 2017-18: Champions, 2018-19: Runners up and 2019-20: 5thSquad Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Ashleigh Gardner, Lisa Griffith, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Marizanne Kapp (SA), Ellyse Perry, Angela Reakes, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Dane van Niekerk (SA)In> Angela Reakes (Stars), Lisa Griffith (Thunder)
Out Alisha Bates, Lauren Smith (Thunder)Pre-seasonThe Sixers were one of the quieter teams during a hectic contracting period as they look to respond the surprising fifth-place finish last season, the first time they ended outside of the top two. Pace-bowling allrounder Lisa Griffith has jumped across down from the Thunder with Lauren Smith heading the other way, while Angela Reakes returns to her original club after a spell with the Stars which included missing the whole of last season due to an Achilles injury. There will be plenty of attention on the recovery of Ellyse Perry from the hamstring injury which has sidelined her since the T20 World Cup after she suffered a setback while training with the Australia squad in Brisbane.Player to watchIf Perry is available she will form an enviable opening pairing with Alyssa Healy, but it feels as though Ash Gardner is taking her game to a new level and could be set for a big tournament. She struck the ball very cleanly against New Zealand, especially in the well-constructed 61 in the opening T20I when Australia were in trouble, as she allies her strength and timing with the nous of building an innings – even in the short format. Coupled with her more-than-handy offspin and dynamic fielding, she is the ideal T20 all-round package.

Sydney Thunder

Captain Rachael HaynesCoach Trevor GriffinWBBL history 2015-16: Champions, 2016-17: 6th, 2017-18: Semi-final, 2018-19: Semi-final and 2019-20: 6thSquad Sam Bates, Tammy Beaumont (Eng), Hannah Darlington, Rachael Haynes, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail (SA) Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Heather Knight (Eng), Kate Peterson, Olivia Porter (injured), Lauren Smith, Rachel Trenaman, Tahlia WilsonIn Tammy Beaumont, Sammy-Jo Johnson (Heat), Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith (Sixers)
Out Alex Blackwell (retired), Nida Dar, Rene Farrell (retired), Lisa Griffith (Sixers), Rachel Priest (Hurricanes), Naomi Stalenberg (Hurricanes)Pre-seasonAfter a disappointing sixth place last season, allrounder Sammy-Jo Johnson was a significant signing as she moved from the defending champions Brisbane Heat. England pair Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont should provide a strong top order – which will have a new look this year after the retirement of Alex Blackwell and loss of Rachel Priest – alongside captain Rachael Haynes and the hugely talented Phoebe Litchfield.Player to watchNineteen-year-old Hannah Darlington was the Thunder’s leading wicket-taker last year with 16 at 21.31, which earned her the young player of the tournament title. She then headed across the Tasman and was the leading wicket-taker for Otago in their Super Smash campaign with 13 wickets in 11 matches. She will form a potentially potent seam attack alongside Shabnim Ismail and Johnson.

يواجه منتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة مديره الفني حلمي طولان، نظيره منتخب الأردن، ضمن مباريات دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وكان منتخب مصر قد تعادل في الجولة الماضية مع منتخب الإمارات بهدف لكل فريق، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس العرب.

ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثالثة رفقة منتخبات الأردن والإمارات والكويت.

ويسعى منتخب مصر لتحقيق الفوز أو التعادل على أقل تقدير أمام الأردن، من أجل حسم التأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب.

ويحتل منتخب مصر المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة الثالثة لبطولة كأس العرب، برصيد نقطتين من التعادل مع الكويت والإمارات في الجولتين الأولى والثانية. موعد مباراة مصر والأردن في كأس العرب 2025

يواجه منتخب مصر نظيره منتخب الأردن، في تمام الساعة الرابعة والنصف من مساء اليوم الثلاثاء بتوقيت القاهرة، والخامسة والنصف بتوقيت قطر والسعودية والأردن. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة مصر والأردن في كأس العرب 2025

وسوف تذاع مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني مع نظيره منتخب الأردن عبر قنوات بي إن سبورت المفتوحة، وأبو ظبي الرياضية 1، وقناة الكأس، بالإضافة إلى ذلك، ستنقل المباراة عبر قناة دبي الرياضية 2، وقناة الشارقة الرياضية، وقناة إم بي سي مصر 2.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

A somber moment took place during the San Francisco Giants-Detroit Tigers game on Wednesday afternoon after a member of the Tigers' grounds crew at Comerica Park suddenly went down due to injury.

In between innings, the grounds crew member collapsed on the field due to what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury and was swiftly attended to by a medical trainer.

As the grounds crew member sat on the base paths swarmed by concerned onlookers from both teams, the cameras zoomed in on him to get a better look at the situation.

He didn't appreciate that, and after the cameras focused on him a second time, he shamelessly flipped the bird on live television (wait until the end of the video):

Oof. Not the best idea to do that on-air.

After a brief delay, the Tigers went on to win, 4-3. Prayers up for the injured grounds crew member—hopefully, he recovers from his injury soon and still has his job afterward.

Phil Foden spared Manchester City's blushes as he struck late to snatch a 3-2 win after his side had chucked away a two-goal advantage at half-time. Foden scored in the very first and last minutes of the game, rescuing all three points for Pep Guardiola's side which could prove vital at the end of the season. Josko Gvardiol bundled in a second goal in a dominant first half from the hosts.

But everything changed after the break as relegation-threatened Leeds put up a fight for their under-pressure boss Daniel Farke. They produced a spirited comeback and even believed in victory themselves but Foden diminished that, deciding the game with a brilliant finish from outside the area in the first of the 10 minutes of additional time. 

The England forward scored the fastest Premier League goal of the season to give City the lead after 59 seconds, firing in first time after a cross from Matheus Nunes. The midfielder was denied a second goal by a brave block from James Justin, who threw himself in front of the ball from close range, and then by a super save from Lucas Perri. 

Leeds could only resist the City dominance for so long, though, and the second eventually arrived from a corner, Gvardiol sliding in to stab home following Nico O'Reilly's knockdown, helped by some abject goalkeeping from Perri.

City had the bit between their teeth and pushed for a third before half-time but to no avail, with Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders having shots blocked and Perri repelling a strike from Nico Gonzalez, while O'Reilly headed wide.

Leeds came out for the second half with a double substitution and a totally different mindset and they immediately pegged City back. They fired out a warning minutes after the restart when Donnarumma patted a free-kick away only for it to land at the feet of Ethan Ampadu, with Reijnders making the block. One minute later Dominic Calvert-Lewin halved the deficit, losing the ball on the turn then snaffling it back off Nunes to strike. City's nerves began to set in and Leeds then won a penalty when Gvardiol rushed into a tackle on Calvert-Lewin and sent him flying.

Donnarumma guessed right to parry Nmecha's penalty but the rebound fell straight back to the German forward for him to tap in the leveller. The Etihad fell silent but when Foden buried the ball in the bottom corner after dribbling across the outside of the box, the stadium erupted and secured a valuable three points for Guardiola and his troops.

GOAL rates Man City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Gianluigi Donnarumma (5/10):

  After a placid first half he didn't transmit much confidence under pressure. Flapped at a free-kick, did the hard part saving the penalty but sent the ball to the worst place possible.

  Matheus Nunes (4/10):

  His bright forward play which led to the lightning-quick opening goal was cancelled out by his clumsy defending gifting Calvert-Lewin the goal that made Leeds believe. His botched clearance gave Leeds possession again and then after tackling Calvert-Lewin he surrendered the ball to him.

  Ruben Dias (5/10):

  Had a flawless first-half display but couldn't show the necessary leadership when Leeds grew in confidence.

  Josko Gvardiol (4/10):

  Like Nunes, his poor defending undid his good work in doubling the lead. Couldn't communicate with Nunes for the first goal and then produced an awful tackle for the penalty.

  Nico O'Reilly (6/10):

  A strong physical display, showing his hunger by attacking Perri from the corner and setting up Gvardiol. 

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  Midfield

  Bernardo Silva (5/10):

  Didn't really put his usual stamp on the game.

  Nico Gonzalez (6/10):

  Dominated the first half, barely giving Leeds any glimpses behind him. Struggled to adapt to the visitors' changes.

  Tijjani Reijnders (6/10):

  Contributed his share in defence and attack although was the first to come off when Guardiola wanted a reaction.

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  Attack

  Phil Foden (9/10):

  Dangerous and decisive from start to finish. Could have had a hat-trick in the first half and when everyone else had lost belief he grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck and won it.

  Erling Haaland (5/10):

  Failed to score for the third game in a row, barely getting a chance in front of goal. He obediently did his defensive work, though, and was a useful presence nullifying Leeds' ariel threat.

  Jeremy Doku (5/10):

  Couldn't do his useful damage and struggled to prise Leeds' defence open down his left flank.

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  Subs & Manager

  Rayan Cherki (6/10):

  Gave City a bit more guile going forward and gave the ball to Foden for the crucial strike.

  Omar Marmoush (N/A):

  Saw a header saved by Perri one minute after coming on.

  John Stones (N/A):

  Brought on in the 95th minute to run the clock down.

  Pep Guardiola (6/10):

  A very strange game for the coach to digest, pure dominance followed by a loss of composure and belief. To his credit, his changes helped swing the game back in City's favour, even though he owes Foden a massive pat on the back for digging him out of the hole.

Enzo Maresca has urged Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian to ignore comparisons with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, insisting the Brazilian should focus solely on improving himself. Ahead of a huge Champions League clash between two of Europe’s brightest teenagers, the Blues boss backed Estevao to become a “top player” if he keeps developing at his own pace.

• Maresca opens up on Estevao's comparison with Yamal

  Chelsea head coach Maresca has moved to calm comparisons between 18-year-old sensation Estevao and Barcelona prodigy Yamal as the pair prepare to share the pitch in a blockbuster Champions League encounter. Estevao has made an impressive start to his debut season in England, contributing goals and assists in limited minutes as Chelsea carefully manage his adaptation to Premier League football. His explosive dribbling and natural flair have made him a fan favourite already, and the youngster heads into the Barcelona match in strong form after impressing for both club and country.

  Maresca has repeatedly praised the winger’s maturity and willingness to learn but stressed that comparisons to more established players could add pressure at a stage where Estevao is still adjusting to European football. With four goals and one assist in 16 appearances, the Brazilian has already demonstrated he can influence high-level matches when used correctly. Chelsea consider him one of the cornerstones of their long-term project, but Maresca insists development must be gradual.

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  Maresca urges Estevao to enjoy football without pressure

  “Estevao is already playing at a high level and is starting games for Brazil,” Maresca told reporters ahead of the Barcelona clash. “He is very young and for sure can do many things better, but we are very happy with him. It’s nice for people who love football to watch players like Estevao, Lamine Yamal, Pedri. We are happy that Estevao is with us.”

  “Estevao is going to be an important player for this club in the future, no doubt. The most important thing for Estevao now is that he has to enjoy his football, he has to be happy, and not think about being better than this player or that player.” Maresca stressed the need to avoid external pressure. “He just has to be better than himself day by day, work hard and improve, and for sure he will be a top player for this club.”

  The Chelsea manager also warned that comparisons to Yamal are unfair and premature given their different trajectories. Yamal’s 31 goals and 42 assists in 118 Barcelona appearances place him in a more advanced career phase, while Estevao is only months into his European journey. Maresca finished by reiterating that enjoyment, learning and steady improvement remain the keys to Estevao’s development.

• Estevao's promising start at Chelsea after move from Palmeiras

  Estevao has been one of the breakout stories of Chelsea’s season, arriving from Palmeiras with enormous hype but immediately demonstrating he can handle the demands of elite football. His four goals and one assist only tell part of the story, as his speed, creativity and fearlessness have added a much-needed spark to the Blues’ attack. His international form strengthens his profile further, with five goals in his last six matches for Brazil signalling the rise of a future Selecao star.

  The winger’s journey from Palmeiras to England shows why Maresca is urging patience. At his former club, he registered 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances, developing into one of South America’s top young prospects before Chelsea secured him. Despite the excitement, Maresca is aware of the challenges faced by young wingers entering the Premier League and wants to protect Estevao from comparisons that could hinder his growth.

  On the other side of the pitch is Yamal, whose prodigious emergence at Barcelona has set new standards for teenage talents. Having broken multiple age records and already established himself as a decisive force in La Liga and the Champions League, Yamal’s trajectory is unique even among elite prospects.

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  Chelsea take on Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday

  Estevao is expected to feature in some capacity against Barcelona, though Maresca may continue to manage his minutes carefully given the intensity of the fixture. The club’s long-term plan is to gradually increase his influence as he adapts physically and tactically to English and European football. A strong performance on the Champions League stage would further elevate his status but Chelsea remain focused on steady, sustainable development.

  Meanwhile, Yamal will be the first name on Hansi Flick's team list as the Catalan side finally start to receive players back from injury ahead of the packed winter schedule.

Germany's new star forward Nick Woltemade finally broke his silence on the 'idiots' Newcastle claim made by Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after the Bundesliga champions lost the transfer race to sign the striker from Stuttgart for £65m. After selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day, the Magpies brought Woltemade as the Swede's replacement.

• Rummenigge called Newcastle 'idiots' after losing Woltemade race

  After missing out on one of their key transfer target for the summer, Bayern board member Rummenigge branded the Magpies 'idiots' for spending a massive transfer fee and even sarcastically congratulated Stuttgart for cashing in. The Bundesliga champions made several attempts to bring the German striker to the club over the summer, with their final bid reportedly touching €60m (£52m/$70m). Stuttgart, however, refused to let the player leave below their asking price of €75m (£65m/$87m).Ultimately, a desperate Newcastle made a club-record £69m bid and got the deal done.

  Speaking to , Rummenigge said: "I can only congratulate them in Stuttgart for finding, so to speak, an idiot who would pay that much money, because we certainly wouldn't have done that. I said: We're coming in on a scale that I no longer find acceptable. We shouldn't meet all of their demands. 

  "The players and their agents must also be careful not to trap themselves. The money has to come from somewhere, and that comes from expanding competitions or creating new ones."

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  Woltemade reacts to Rummenigge's comments

  The Magpies star has now finally reacted to Rummenigge's comments as he told : "My team-mates commented on it, I didn't. I think that was the right thing to do. A lot was made of my name, Bayern, and transfer fee during the summer; that was the story of the summer. To answer your question: the headlines everywhere said 'idiots.' But I read Mr Rummenigge's entire statement – it was certainly somewhat unfortunate, but not quite so dramatic.

  "When I arrived at the national team, everyone congratulated me. Bayern players also congratulated me. When they see a player taking a step forward, you get congratulations. That was the case for me too. There were no negative comments, especially since my circumstances were special."

• Ex-Newcastle star hit back at Rummenigge

  Reacting to the Bayern chief's harsh comments, former Newcastle winger Chris Waddle told : "They probably thought they had him at a lower price. Newcastle have obviously looked for a centre-forward after the saga with Isak. They've looked around and thought who's available? They've looked at Woltemade because he's a good player. He's a tall guy. He's quite mobile. Technically he's all right. 

  "Bayern Munich thought, 'he’s a player we can snap up who could replace Harry Kane in a couple of years.' They probably thought they had a deal done. But Newcastle came in and I think it's a little bit of sour grapes. I think Newcastle's offered a better contract, better wages, better everything. Bayern Munich would probably think they would get him at the price that they think he's worth. They think Newcastle's paid over the top. Time will tell on that."

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  How is it going for Woltemade?

  Woltemade has made an instant impact since moving to the Premier League from the Bundesliga in the summer. He has appeared in 14 matches for the Magpies thus far across all competitions and scored seven goals, including four in eight league appearances. 

  He has also performed consistently for his national team and he recently starred with a brace in Germany's close win over Luxembourg, which kept their hopes alive of securing a direct berth at the World Cup next year. The 23-year-old will be back in action for Germany on Monday as the four-time world champions face Slovakia.