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The summer transfer window is officially open for business in a bizarre change that sees Chelsea able to make signings between now and the tenth of June.

With the Club World Cup being played between the middle of June and the middle of July, a new transfer window has opened to give teams a chance to bolster their squads for the tournament before the second and main transfer window opens up.

Chelsea are already putting work in to improve Enzo Maresca’s options heading into the competition in America, with Liam Delap closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge.

Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that the England U21 international started his medical on Monday with the club ahead of a move from Ipswich Town.

The £30m release clause in his contract with the Tractor Boys potentially made this an easier deal than it could have otherwise been, as they did not have to negotiate and haggle with the Championship side.

Whereas, other signings this summer may be harder to get over the line due to the competition for top talent, as was the case when they signed Eden Hazard back in 2012.

How Chelsea won the race for Eden Hazard

In the summer of 2012, there was a race on to sign the Belgium international from Lille after he had delivered 20 goals and 18 assists in 38 matches in Ligue 1 during the 2011/12 campaign.

Due to his incredible form with Lille in France, Hazard was one of the hottest young prospects in European football, which meant that there was plenty of interest in his services, but it was Chelsea who landed his signature.

The Belgian starlet explained his decision, saying: “When they won the Champions League I told myself, ‘Why not Chelsea?’ There was a struggle between Chelsea and [Manchester] United but, for me, Chelsea has the best project. It’s a wonderful club.”

His comments show that the club’s success, beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, played a significant role in his decision to make the move to Stamford Bridge, instead of joining Manchester United.

Hazard, of course, then went on to produce 110 goals and 88 assists in 352 appearances in all competitions for the Blues during his time in England, before signing for Real Madrid in 2019.

This proves that he was a player who was well worth putting the effort in to beat other clubs to his signature that summer, because he went on to deliver goals and assists at an exceptional rate in the Premier League over seven years.

2018/19

37

16

15

2017/18

34

12

4

2016/17

36

16

5

2015/16

31

4

3

2014/15

38

14

9

2013/14

35

14

7

2012/13

34

9

11

Chelsea could find a Hazard repeat this summer, now, by winning the race to sign another highly-rated young forward from one of Europe’s major leagues.

Chelsea leading race to sign £84m forward

BILD reporter Christian Falk, speaking to Caught Offside, has revealed that Chelsea are leading the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt talent Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window.

The German journalist claims that the Blues are already in talks with the player’s representatives about a move to Stamford Bridge, and that they could soon seriously pursue a deal for the striker.

Transfer Focus

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

Falk told CaughtOffside: “Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were previously considered the top favourites for Hugo Ekitiké. But the three-man competition has now turned into a two-club battle.

“At the moment, Chelsea, who qualified for the Champions League in fourth place, hold the best cards in the Ekitiké poker. Chelsea are already in dialogue with the player’s side and could soon get serious.”

This latest update suggests that Chelsea are the frontrunners to sign Ekitike, who is reportedly valued at around £84m, in the coming weeks, despite interest from two other top teams in England.

Why signing Hugo Ekitike could be an Eden Hazard repeat

The Blues could be getting flashbacks of their deal to sign Hazard because it would be another move for a highly-rated young European talent amid competition from some of the best teams around, and it would be off the back of winning another European trophy.

Ekitike’s quality also suggests that the potential is there for him to follow in the Belgian’s footsteps to become a star for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for many years to come if they can get a deal over the line for his services this summer.

The 22-year-old starlet ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, which is not entirely dissimilar to Hazard’s haul of 20 goals and 18 assists for Lille before his move to England.

Writer Sam McGuire described Ekitike as a “shot monster” and a “genuine goal threat”, and those comments are backed up by the France U21 international’s output in the Bundesliga this season.

Non-penalty goals

0.49

Top 27%

Non-penalty xG

0.68

Top 3%

xG

0.76

Top 5%

Shots

4.0

Top 5%

Shots on target

1.55

Top 8%

Non-penalty xG per shot

0.18

Top 18%

As you can see in the table above, Ekitike ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in the division for taking shots, finding the target with his shots, and generating high-quality chances.

A non-penalty xG of 0.18 per shot also shows that he takes high-quality shots in front of goal, rather than being wasteful with long-range or low-value efforts.

Ekitike’s haul of 22 goals for Frankfurt also means that he scored at least seven more goals than every player in the Chelsea squad in all competitions, which suggests that he could immediately improve Maresca’s team by offering a huge threat at the top end of the pitch next season.

The next Ashley Cole: Chelsea 'advancing talks' to sign "immense" £46m star

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ByRoss Kilvington May 31, 2025

Cole Palmer ended the campaign as the top scorer with 15 goals to his name, and the Blues could now repeat their Hazard blinder by signing this French star to be their main man in front of goal for many years to come.

Arsenal have now submitted an opening offer for an “exceptional” young player, and they’ve had a response, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Gunners set sights on new goalkeeper

After initially usurping Aaron Ramsdale in the starting XI, David Raya has established himself as a key player for the Gunners, making 36 appearances in the Premier League this season, but there are signs that Mikel Arteta has now started looking at bringing in a long-term heir.

Espanyol shot-stopper Joan Garcia is among the main targets, with the north Londoners recently holding talks over a deal for the Spaniard, who would prefer a move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of signing for Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Garcia has been a target for quite some time, having initially agreed to join Arteta’s side last year, and while they seem well-positioned to get a deal for the Spaniard over the line, Romano has now revealed that a move has been made for a different goalkeeper.

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In a recent update on X, the transfer expert stated that Arsenal have now submitted an opening offer of £1.25m for Chelsea goalkeeper Freddy Bernal, but the Blues were not convinced by their rivals’ proposal.

The Gunners’ rivals have knocked back the bid, given their eagerness to keep hold of Bernal, who is clearly impressing for the Blues at youth level, having also attracted the attention of several other unnamed clubs.

Arsenal’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Date

Newcastle United (h)

May 18th

Southampton (a)

May 25th

"Exceptional" Bernal catching the eye at youth level

Given that he is just 16-years-old, the Chelsea ace is likely to be some way off a first Premier League start, but he has caught the eye with his performances for the U18s, having been lauded for his “exceptional distribution” by scout Felix Johnston earlier this season.

The youngster was also the only Chelsea youngster to be named in the England U17 squad earlier in the campaign, highlighting his potential, so it is little wonder the Gunners are keen on taking him to north London.

That said, with the Blues knocking back Arsenal’s offer, it seems unlikely they will be able to prise the teenager away from their London rivals, and Garcia could well be a preferable option, considering the 24-year-old is already proven at a much higher level.

The Espanyol star made 35 appearances in La Liga last season, during which time he caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who appeared to suggest he could be the perfect heir for Raya, given the similarities in their play-styles.

Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this weekend after their midweek heroics in the Europa League.

This has become something of a recurring theme for the Ibrox side over the previous few seasons, as they have reached the last 16 of the competition every season except one since 2019/20. Although they did compete in the Champions League during the 2022/23 season.

The tie against Aberdeen is effectively a dead rubber for the Light Blues, as they will finish second in the table regardless of what happens this weekend.

All eyes will be on the return leg against Athletic Bilbao in Spain on Thursday evening. A 0-0 result during the first leg, which saw Robin Propper sent off after 12 minutes, along with Liam Kelly saving a penalty, means the Gers have a fighting chance of making it to the semi-finals.

There were a few poor performers during the first leg, however, and this should force Barry Ferguson into making a change or two, especially with the return tie in mind.

One player who should be dropped against the Dons is Cyriel Dessers, who was dismal against the La Liga side.

Cyriel Dessers' game in numbers vs Bilbao

The 30-year-old was tasked with leading the line in place of Hamza Igamane, which was perhaps seen as a bit of a surprise given their contrasting form in the competition.

Nevertheless, Dessers had scored against Manchester United and Fenerbahçe, with hopes high that he could repeat the feat against Spanish opposition.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the best of games for the Light Blues. Typically, Dessers missed a big chance, while failing to even register a single shot on target during his 85 minutes on the pitch.

The striker managed to take just 18 touches, completed four of his ten passes and won only 40% of his total duels contested against Bilbao, offering next to nothing in the final third.

Despite his decent scoring record for the club – netting 45 goals in 102 appearances – he is always going to be a point of discussion among the fanbase.

Assistant manager Neil McCann said of the striker last week: “Cyriel Dessers will always divide opinion because he will miss chances, but this is the life of a striker. I was so proud of him after the game because he didn’t stop pushing and making runs – we need to create chances for him and that is what we are doing.”

That said, should he now be replaced?

Why Cyriel Dessers must be dropped by Rangers

In December, journalist Scott Bradley criticised the striker, saying: “I’ve had a lot of patience with Cyriel Dessers, but Rangers need to cut ties with him in January. He’s the most frustrating player I’ve watched at Ibrox. I’ve never seen a player quite like him, but it’s clear as day he’s not got the mentality to play for Rangers.”

Rangers didn’t move him on during the January transfer window, but it might be a possibility that he moves on in the summer, especially considering it could be the ideal time to cash in with two years left on his deal.

With changes expected ahead of the Aberdeen clash, Ferguson will be keen to give minutes to those who haven’t featured as often in the last few weeks.

Could this see Igamane return to the starting XI? He will need some minutes in the legs ahead of the second leg next Thursday. Igamane has already scored once against the Dons this season, netting in the comfortable 3-0 victory back in January.

Before his winner against Celtic midway through March, that was his last Premiership goal and there has been a slight downturn in his form in recent weeks, no doubt about that.

Goals

10

4

Assists

1

1

Shots per game

2.8

1.4

Goal conversion percentage

13%

31%

Big chances created

9

1

The overall feeling, however, is that his maiden season at Rangers has been an overwhelming success. Across 40 matches in all competitions for the club, the 22-year-old has scored 14 goals and grabbed three assists.

This works out as a goal contribution once every 2.3 matches. Given how poorly received he was on arrival last summer, he has proven plenty of his critics wrong.

In recent weeks. Ferguson has deployed Igamane on the left wing in order to cater for Dessers as his main option through the middle.

The Moroccan international is at his best when operating in a central role, especially as his hold-up play is far better than his senior teammate.

Indeed, journalist Joshua Barrie noted after the 0-0 result in midweek that Igamane had made nine successful passes/carries during his 15-minute cameo at Ibrox.

In comparison, Dessers only managed eight successful passes/carries across 85 minutes of action on the pitch. It is clear that the youngster is far better at linking up play, carrying the ball into the final third and is much more energetic.

Starting him against Aberdeen would allow the centre-forward to get some vital minutes in his legs ahead of the second leg against Bilbao, where he must start.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

A goal or two against the Pittodrie outfit would certainly bolster his confidence, that’s for sure.

Football Insider reported last month that Everton are looking to make a move for the African sensation when the summer transfer window opens up in a few months.

No fee has been mentioned as yet, but whoever arrives as the new permanent manager of Rangers will surely be looking at maximising the profit so that he has some funds to work with this summer.

And what about Dessers? Will the new boss retain his services? That will depend on his style of play and whether there is scope for him in the first-team squad next term.

Whatever happens, Igamane must be used to leading the line, especially against Bilbao next week. Replacing Dessers for the trip north this afternoon must be the one change that Ferguson has to make, especially if he wishes to lead the Ibrox side to their second European semi-final in just three years.

Rangers have hit gold on "thunderous" star who is worth more than Taylor

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The greatest England batter to ever do it finally gets it done

Vithushan Ehantharajah04-Dec-2025

Joe Root brought up his maiden hundred in Australia to carry England’s hopes•Darrian Traynor/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images

It was the 181st delivery that Joe Root tucked around the corner. But the relief carried the weight of the 2213 leading up to that ball from Scott Boland, more than 12 years after playing – and missing – his first on an Ashes tour, at this very ground.When he walked onto the Gabba as a 22-year-old in 2013, for his first taste of pure anti-English Australiana, no thought can have been given to the present day. Root was the anointed one; a Yorkie talent far greater than what existed and what may come. He’d achieve plenty more to deserve a place among the greats, but at no point in the prophecy had we imagined his legacy could be tainted by such a specific struggle.He would not have known then what he does now, and nor would anyone have dared tell him if they had foreseen it. That for the next decade and some, Australia would have nothing for him. No glory, no joy, and still, at the time of writing, not a single Test win to savour. And up until 8:40pm local time on day one of the second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes, not one century.The shrug accompanying the celebration could not have been more ironic. “What were you worried about?” he asked a nation, and a sport. Well you, Joe, and this thing around your neck, weighing you down as you protested otherwise. Drawing you into conversations that brought out a gnarl in the still boyish grin you try to hide behind that facial hair. A box to tick that had you training for an entire day at Lilac Hill in the build-up to the series, intense enough to require breaks for lunch and tea so net bowlers could keep up with your relentless pursuit of perfection in an imperfect world.Related

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No individual English milestone has carried more weight on one man and, by proxy, everyone around him. An entire discourse has now shifted with a fourth century this year, and tenth since the start of 2024. Maybe the next thing to hit him with was that this century came against an Australia without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and, for their own peculiar reasons, Nathan Lyon. Good luck to them.Batting is a selfish pursuit that benefits the team. And yet Root’s 40th Test century nourished the people behind the players, the ones allowed to show the emotion, as they did when his 11th boundary skipped over the sponge at fine third. “Go ball!” shouted Ben Stokes as it sped away off the turf, before holding back the tears.Stokes has felt Root’s travails in Australia too keenly, perhaps. They were both maiden Ashes tourists for the disastrous ’13-14 series, before Stokes watched on from afar as Root copped it hard in ’17-18. Stokes made an early return from a mental health break in ’21-22 to not leave his mate in the lurch again. Desperate to help out, the pair clashed under the strain of Covid-19 and a second successive 4-0 defeat. Of all the things Stokes has overseen as captain, perhaps this day, when Test cricket’s second-highest run-scorer, well, scored some more runs, might be the one to fill him with the most pride.It might even be the perfect microcosm of Root’s life in Australia. They gunned for him as a kid and still gun for him now, knowing this is the last time they will get to do so on their own patch. They had him for 0 and 8 in Perth. They could have had him on 2 in Brisbane, at the end of the third over, when Steve Smith could only parry a tough chance off Mitchell Starc. They still do not have him on 135, nor England, who closed on 325 for 9.Therein lies another familiar thread through Root’s career: often he has been the man with solutions in a sea of confusion. For so long, the adult in the room, and especially more so now in a team full of bright talents with dim moments. At times throughout his career – and in moments here – those around him do not seem attuned to the gravity with which he is operating. Like Michael Caine in the most popular interpretation of Charles Dickens’ – he can often seem a serious man among carefree muppets.There were familiar passages of Root getting through periods that felled others, beginning with his arrival. A throwback to bad old days – many of them during Root’s time as captain – when he would walk out to the middle far earlier than he’d have liked. This, to face the 16th delivery of the match at 5 for 2, was his third-earliest entry into an innings in Australia. The other two times – at the WACA (second ball) and in Adelaide (10th) – came in the ’13-14 series, when he was a No. 3, and both in the fourth innings.That he survived Starc’s devastating early burst that felled Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope owed as much to luck as to an ingrained understanding that even the best players have to simply hold on. The edge and plays-and-misses broadcast the anxiety. Movements were awkward, the usually crisp shapes of body and bat notably frayed, as if he had two left feet and the two right ones for hands.For all the understandable maligning of Zak Crawley, his dominance in the initial 117-stand that lifted England off the floor – the opener with 71 of them – allowed Root to operate in his slipstream. By the time Crawley had fallen victim to the short-ball ploy, Root, on 41, was ticking; walking at Boland to change his length into driveable treats. A gloved pull off Brendan Doggett beyond Alex Carey was soon replaced by swivelled ones with rolled wrists.Joe Root brought out his scoop in a crucial last-wicket stand•Darrian Traynor/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesThe knuckling down during the period when the artificial lights clicked into gear as the sun set was equally impressive, if ultimately unnerving alongside Harry Brook’s chaotic energy. Carey stood up to squeeze Root with narrow fields and a metronomic Michael Neser sitting in on a wicket-to-wicket line.Brook’s comical drive at Starc – the first ball he had faced from the only bowler carrying any real threat – was followed by Root keeping schtum, scoring 5 off 18 deliveries from the left-hander in a 59-ball boundary-less sequence that was broken by yet another crisp drive down the ground off Boland. Now that, kids, is how you absorb pressure and then put it back on the bowlers.Arguably Root’s most impressive response was to not respond at all to the mix-up that ran-out Stokes. The skipper called quickly without hesitation, but also not realising Josh Inglis had the legs and hands to sprint and swoop. Had Root trusted his captain, he’d have been the one seen off for 77 and England’s innings would have collapsed terminally.It was in the midst of the 5 for 54 cascade that Root notched his sought-after landmark. And it was hard not to surmise from his venture into outlandish shot-making with Jofra Archer through to stumps – nailing his second reverse scoop off Boland (having botched the first off Starc) for his first six in Australia – that this was a man liberated. Amid the glee as Smith tried to kill the day off by taking the pink ball to the corner was a 61-run stand that lifted England merrily from a distinctly sub-par 264 for 9.All the talk leading into the series was that it was not about Root, but no England success on this tour would be on the agenda without him. And so it has played out.While Matthew Hayden’s naked walk across the MCG has been kiboshed – much to his own relief – England’s Ashes are still alive. And Joe Root’s legacy has not been saved but reinforced. The greatest England batter to ever do it finally got it done.

“We’re not playing for what we wanted to be playing for, but a really vital match for us in the grand scheme of things,” the captain Jos Buttler said

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Paul van Meekeren charged down the pitch, swung, and missed. Jos Buttler gathered Moeen Ali’s flat offbreak, moved his hands past the stumps as if to toy with van Meekeren, then dragged them back to knock the bails off. As England’s players gathered in the middle there were high-fives, pats on backs, and even a few smiles.So this was how it felt. 29 days after their first win at this World Cup, a breeze past Bangladesh in Dharamsala, England finally had their second. In those 29 days, they stayed in seven different hotels across seven different cities, travelled nearly 5,500km spanning six different flights, lost five consecutive games and were bowled out in all five.In most sports, World Cups have mercy on losing teams, sending them home after two or three defeats. Not cricket. England’s beleaguered players have been stuck halfway across the world for the last two weeks with their semi-final prospects long gone, waiting aimlessly for someone, anyone to strike the killer blow.Australia delivered it, but even that wasn’t enough. The mid-tournament revelation that a Champions Trophy spot was on the line left England with no choice but to treat a low-key fixture against the Netherlands, a side they took for a world-record total of 498 last year but one with more points than them in their first seven games, as a must-win.Related

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And so, to Pune – or more accurately, a vast, empty stadium an hour outside Pune, nestled somewhere near the Mumbai-Pune expressway on the edge of sprawling suburbia and overlooked by an incomplete housing project. The sparse crowd, reported at 9,217 by the ICC, rattled around in this 42,700-seater concrete bowl.England took 39 runs from the first four overs and overcame the loss of Jonny Bairstow for 15. Dawid Malan brought up a 36-ball half-century, and Joe Root finally made it out of the first Powerplay. But then came a familiar stumble: Root was nutmegged by Logan van Beek, losing his middle stump reverse-scooping, and panic set in.Malan was run out after being sent back by Ben Stokes, looking for a single that was never there, Harry Brook – finally recalled for Liam Livingstone – hit two sumptuous boundaries then hooked Bas de Leede to deep square leg, and Buttler chipped tamely to mid-off, by this stage utterly bereft of his usual self-assurance.1:24

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The stadium DJ was impervious to the banks of empty seats, blaring out Canadian rap between overs. Moeen Ali half-heartedly lofted Aryan Dutt straight down de Leede’s throat at long-off for 4 off 15 balls. In the stands, one older England fan held up a sign which self-effacingly declared: “We beat Bangladesh”.Chris Woakes nudged a single off Dutt, then resolutely blocked the final ball of his over. “Alright Pune, let’s raise the energy!” implored the DJ. “Hands up, hands up, dance, dance, dance, let’s go!” Nobody danced. England’s double world champions scrapped to keep their legacy intact.It was left to Stokes to bail them out. He was given a life on 41, when Dutt put down a tough chance at fine leg off van Beek, then started to grind through the gears. He reached a 58-ball half-century, his second in a row, when he launched de Leede over midwicket, then marmalised Dutt after surviving an inconclusive review for lbw.Stokes’ second fifty took only 20 balls as he brought up a century by reverse-slapping van Meekeren for four. It was his first in World Cups, a fact which served only to underline that some players’ influence will never be measured by milestones, in light of his 2019 heroics.But this was a strange sight: here was England’s man for the big moments, 25km outside Pune, in a battle for Champions Trophy qualification. Stokes will surely not play in that tournament, but his innings at least dragged them to the lofty heights of seventh in the World Cup group stage heading into the final round of fixtures.This, then, was the reason that Stokes had stayed in India, rather than heading home and moving his knee operation forwards by a week. “That’s not his style at all,” Buttler said. “He’s here to play in the World Cup and he wants to be here.” The pair did not even discuss the possibility of Stokes leaving early.As England wrapped up a 160-run win with another solid bowling performance – their third in a row, after bowling India and Australia out – Buttler’s overriding emotion was relief. “It’s not enjoyable losing,” he said. “It’s been a frustrating time… Any game I play, I’m competitive, I want to win – whether it’s a game of cards or a game of cricket.”Finally, the losing streak was broken. “It’s nice to end that sequence and we go to Kolkata,” Buttler said. “We’re not playing for what we wanted to be playing for, but a really vital match for us in the grand scheme of things. It’s great to be heading there with something on the line.”England now fly east to play Pakistan on Saturday, where they can at least expect a much grander spectacle at Eden Gardens against a team vying for a semi-final berth – and against India, no less. Then at last, after one final sequence of travel-train-play, they will be able to consign this dismal title defence to history.

“No one knows that for the last seven to eight months I have been working hard on my bowling”

Sidharth Monga29-Apr-2022You’d expect Sunil Narine to top economy charts in an IPL season eyes closed, but here is a surprise. Among those who have bowled a minimum of 10 overs this IPL, only Narine has a better economy than Krunal Pandya’s 6.18 per over.During Mumbai Indians’ glory days of 2019 and 2020, Krunal played virtually as the fifth specialist bowler with Kieron Pollard used as back-up should things go wrong. In the last year or so, his bowling has dipped, which led him to work hard on his skills for “seven to eight months”. The reward came in the form of his first Player-of-the-Match award in the IPL since 2017, as his spell of 2 for 11 in four overs – including a maiden over – led Lucknow Super Giants’ defence of just 153.Related

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The opposition, Punjab Kings, were a good match-up for Krunal: among the 10 teams this year, Kings have the worst run-rate and worst average against left-arm spin. However, Krunal has been impressive through the season, bowling in eight matches out of nine so far, and going for less than eight an over in six of them. In four of them, he has gone at a run a ball or better.”Throughout the tournament I have been bowling well,” Krunal told host broadcaster Star Sports. “No one knows that for the last seven to eight months I have been working hard on my bowling. Trying to get tall.”I just want to mention Rahul Sanghvi, who has been a big, big help for me. I had a chat with him seven-eight months back, and I told him I want to develop my skill. I felt I was always good with my mindset. I just felt if I could develop my skills, it would really help. The results everyone can see, but the effort has been there from the last eight months, trying to get better as a bowler, especially skill wise.”The one skill Krunal said he was missing was the ability to turn the ball. Bad habits had crept in unknown to him.”Because I am playing a lot of short-form games, you don’t realise what’s happening,” Krunal said. “So I didn’t realise I was getting too low and my stride was too long, and in the end I just had to fire the ball in. So I was just playing with the batsman’s mind. So I just realised if I get tall and if I impart more spin… I have always varied my pace but in that if I am able to impart spin or get the ball to grip [then] that would create a lot of doubt in the batters’ mind. Again had a word with Rahul Sanghvi. He was kind enough to help me.”Let Daniel Vettori, one of the greatest left-arm spinners to play the game, break it down for you. “He is one of the few spinners who can bowl at that pace and still impart topspin on it,” Vettori said on ESPNcricinfo’s post-match analysis show T20 Time Out. “Most spinners who bowl that quickly have to undercut the ball. And therefore all that is happening is that the ball is skidding on unless it is a really bad surface. What he is doing is he is challenging batsmen with that pace but also getting dip.”It’s not like batsmen can get down to him, it’s not like batsmen can go back to him. It is incredibly difficult to read the length. That’s why he is so successful against left-hand batters and right-hand batters because he has actually got something on the ball. It is a real skill, and it’s impressive to watch.”To his credit, Krunal also has the self-awareness to realise when the skill needed to get something on the ball has deserted him, and the willingness to work hard on it setting that right.

If Father Time is truly undefeated, he was nowhere to be found Thursday night.

During a busy night on the jam-packed October sports calendar, it was a trio of athletes in their 40s who shined the brightest. It felt like 2012 again on when 40-year-old Joe Flacco and 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers battled head-to-head in a tight game between the Steelers and Bengals. Over in the ALCS, the Blue Jays handed the ball to 41-year-old Max Scherzer in a game they needed badly on the road.

The result: One of the most fun nights of prime-time sports in recent memory. Maybe these guys play forever?

Joe Flacco, Bengals quarterback

Age: 40 years, 274 days
Stats: 31/47; 342 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT, 108.6 RT

Traded to Cincinnati just 10 days ago, Flacco made his first home start at Paycom Stadium in a Bengals uniform on Thursday night. And he made Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin look like a genius for pulling off the move.

Flacco had his best game since Week 5 last season, logging a 108.6 passer rating and connecting with star receiver Ja'Marr Chase 16 times for 161 yards and a score on a whopping 23 targets.

For the first time in five years, Flacco was the younger quarterback on the field opposite Rodgers. And it showed, particularly on one play in the fourth quarter when he scrambled for 12 yards on a hilariously entertaining read option.

RELATED: The 13 Quarterbacks the Bengals Considered Before Trading for Joe Flacco

"The play clock was down, and I said, ‘Ah, screw it.’,'" Flacco said of the read option call. "I was just going to hand it off, but [Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith] came off the edge so damn quick I was like, ‘Alright, I haven’t done this since my first or second year but I’ll do it now.'"

Flacco's still got it. And so does his counterpart from Thursday night.

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers quarterback

Age: 41 years, 319 days
Stats: 23/34; 249 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT, 103.7 RT

Rodgers threw two interceptions Thursday night that led to 10 Bengals points. But other than that he was fantastic, tossing four touchdowns for the second time this season while targeting nine different receivers in the passing game.

The 41-year-old's most impressive throw of the night was one that fell incomplete. After the Bengals took the lead on Evan McPherson's 36-yard field goal with seven seconds left, Rodgers attempted to add another Hail Mary to his YouTube highlight reel.

RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Was Furious After a Teammate Tackled Him During a TD Celebration

Rodgers rolled to his left to buy some time and launched a pass from his own 36-yard line. The pass traveled 69.8 yards in the air, which Next Gen Stats confirmed was the longest recorded pass attempt since at least 2017.

. Or, uh, This is 41.

Max Scherzer, Blue Jays starting pitcher

Age: 41 years, 82 days
Stats: 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 4 BB

Needing a win to even up the ALCS against the Mariners, Toronto handed the ball to Scherzer, its grizzled vet. He didn't want to give that ball back.

Scherzer waltzed through the first four innings, allowing just one run on Josh Naylor's solo homer. When Blue Jays manager John Schneider strolled out to the mound in the fifth inning with a runner on base, Scherzer wanted none of it. He yelled at his skipper to get the heck back into the dugout.

RELATED: Max Scherzer Unleashed Unexpected Weapon to Baffle Mariners, Even ALCS 2–2

At 41 years old with three Cy Young awards on the résumé, Scherzer's got every right to do that.

"I've been waiting for that moment," Schneider said after the game. "It was awesome, I thought he was going to kill me. It was great."

It was Scherzer's first postseason win since leading the Nationals to the 2019 World Series title. By the looks of it, he's not done, either.

Jamie Carragher has blasted Liverpool’s "disconnected" online fans that are struggling to see the bigger picture when it comes to Mohamed Salah’s explosive outburst against the club. In the opinion of an Anfield legend, "those who dedicate their life to supporting the team" will always side with a title-winning manager during any dispute with a disgruntled player – regardless of the status that said performer enjoys.

• Dropped after explosive rant: Salah's state of play at Anfield

  Salah is a modern day legend on Merseyside, with the Egyptian superstar registering 250 goals for the Reds. Over the course of eight memorable years, he has captured two top-flight crowns, savoured a Champions League triumph, won four Golden Boots and three PFA Player of the Year awards.

  The talismanic 33-year-old has, however, accused his current employers of throwing him under the bus in a disappointing title defence. He has also admitted to seeing his working relationship with head coach Arne Slot break down.

  Slot took to dropping Salah from his squad for a Champions League clash with Inter, with many supporting that stance as the Dutch tactician sought to ensure that his authority at Anfield is not undermined. Fans at San Siro backed their manager with chants from the terraces.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Salah vs Slot: Who do Liverpool supporters favour?

  Carragher saw that as no surprise, with the former Liverpool defender saying in his column for : "In a choice between a title-winning Anfield manager and a multi-title-winning footballer, the coach wins every time. The relationship between a successful Liverpool boss and the Kop is, through my eyes at least, unique. The fans have a banner that displays the faces of all the most revered managers in the club’s history. Slot’s face was added this year. What other fanbase would back a manager who has only been at the club 18 months over a superstar who has delivered every honour in the game for eight years?"

• Taking sides: Carragher sees true fans backing Slot

  Not everybody is on Slot’s side in his row with Salah – who has reacted angrily to being benched of late – but Carragher believes that true fans know where their allegiance lies. He added: "There will be those reading this column, or more specifically commenting on it online, who will vehemently argue against my submission that the die-hard supporters are overwhelmingly behind Slot on this issue. Like many clubs’ fanbases, Liverpool’s is divided between those who dedicate their life to supporting the team – the familiar faces you see and hear even as players at home and away – and those who spend their time on social media and are disconnected from the mood in and around the city and the stadium itself.

  "After I spoke on the Salah situation on Monday Night Football, I was alerted to those who disagreed with my take. I couldn’t care less, because I intuitively know I am on the same page as those supporters who were at San Siro on Tuesday night. I am in touch with enough of them to be able to measure if my mood reflects theirs. The day I no longer believe that to be true is the day I stop commenting on Liverpool.

  "There is a newer generation of supporters who follow players more than a club. If Salah had left two years ago or last summer, they would have taken their allegiance with him. I would go so far as to say that there are some who would have happily seen Liverpool lose to increase the prospects of Salah staying and Slot leaving.

  "This issue was never going to be just about Slot versus Salah, or even Salah versus Liverpool’s executives. To those who understand Liverpool, it is about their perception of what the club stands for and how those representing it should behave. They see the manager as the embodiment of their values. Once that connection is established – and Slot secured his in his first year – the bond is reinforced when someone threatens it. For all the poor recent performances, questionable tactics and contentious substitutions, for those supporters who are the true lifeblood of the club, Slot always had an ace up his sleeve; he is a Premier League-winning manager."

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  Salah future: Liverpool stay or Saudi Pro League transfer?

  The big question now is: Does Salah have a future at Liverpool? On that subject, Carragher said: "There might be no way back for Salah now he is heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, but I genuinely hope there is. Even though I have been furious about what he said last weekend, it would be an absolute travesty if that interview is remembered as his last meaningful act for Liverpool. He has done too much for the club for that to be so. He owes it to himself to make sure he is afforded a farewell fit for a legend – whenever that might be. If that means he has to apologise, so be it.

  "As things stand, it would be no surprise if Liverpool sold Salah to fund another spree in January because the lack of resources on the substitutes bench in midweek was extraordinary given how much was spent last summer. That was a key takeaway from another dramatic Anfield week. Slot’s squad is weaker than it should be."

  Salah, who signed a two-year contract extension in April, is already being linked with teams in the Saudi Pro League. Slot has confirmed that internal talks will be held ahead of a Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield on Saturday – a contest which may become a farewell event for one of the Reds’ brightest stars.

Como have been dealt a massive injury blow with Alvaro Morata ruled out for a significant period. The Spanish striker, who arrived in the summer following a drawn-out transfer saga involving Galatasaray and AC Milan, faces a frustrating spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious thigh injury against Inter.

Morata blow confirmed

Cesc Fabregas faces a major headache heading into the winter break after Como confirmed that their marquee summer signing has sustained a serious muscle injury. Morata limped off during the first half of the recent clash against Inter at San Siro, clutching his thigh after a challenge near the corner flag.

According to an official statement from the club, tests have confirmed a "high-grade lesion of the long adductor muscle in his left thigh". While the club stopped short of putting a definitive timeline on his return, reports in Italy suggest the Spaniard will be out for at least two months. He is expected to miss crucial fixtures as Como look to climb the table, with a potential return date pencilled in for mid-February 2026. They face two matches against AC Milan by then, one of which is supposed to be played in Australia, as well as Lazio and Atalanta. 

Advertisement'Frustration weighs heavily' on Morata

Morata took to Instagram to express his devastation at the latest setback. "When things don't go as you expect, when you give your best but can't reach where you want to go, frustration weighs heavily," he wrote. "And now, on top of that, this injury. But even in moments like this, I feel fortunate: because of my teammates, because of my club, because of the incredible fans. I will recover, I will get up and I will return to help achieve all our objectives."

A nightmare start after summer saga

The injury compounds what has been a nightmare start to life at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the 33-year-old. Brought in to provide elite experience and goals, Morata has struggled to find his rhythm, failing to find the net in his first 15 competitive appearances for the club, eight of which have been as a member of the starting XI. 

His arrival was meant to be a coup for the ambitious outfit. The transfer saga was one of the stories of the summer, with Morata initially on loan at Galatasaray from AC Milan. A complicated three-way negotiation ensued, with the Turkish giants demanding compensation to terminate his loan early. Milan eventually agreed to pay a fee to release him, allowing him to join Fabregas – his former Chelsea and Spain teammate – at Como.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Como?

With their star forward out, Fabregas will be forced to reshuffle his pack for the foreseeable future. The burden of goalscoring will likely fall on Anastasios Douvikas, who has netted three times this season, as the club navigates a busy festive period without their most high-profile player. The injury may also force Como into the January transfer market if the diagnosis worsens, leaving Morata to watch from the stands as his wait for a first goal in Como colours drags on into the new year.

Como are sixth in the league and seven points behind leaders AC Milan and Napoli. They face fourth-placed Roma in their next game on Monday. Last week's 4-0 defeat to title candidates Inter was just their second defeat of the season, having last gone down 1-0 at Bologna in their second Serie A game of the season.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo recebe o Fortaleza neste sábado (13), pela primeira rodada do Brasileirão 2024. A bola vai rolar a partir das 21h (de Brasília), no Morumbis, em São Paulo (SP) com transmissão do SporTV e Premiere (pay-per-view).

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Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre São Paulo e Fortaleza (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
São Paulo x Fortaleza
1ª rodada – Brasileirão

🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 13 de março de 2024, às 21h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Morumbis, em São Paulo (SP)
📺 Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Alex Gomes Stefano (RJ)
🚩Assistentes: Luiz Claudio Regazone (RJ) e Daniel de Oliveira Alves Pereira (RJ)

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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Thiago Carpini)
Rafael; Igor Vinícius, Diego Costa, Arboleda, Welington; Pablo Maia e Alisson; Erick, Luciano, Michel Araújo e André Silva.

FORTALEZA (Técnico: Juan Pablo Vojvoda)
João Ricardo; Tinga, Britez, Titi e Bruno Pacheco; Zé Welison, Pochettino e Hércules; Yago Pikachu, Lucero e Moisés.

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