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Defending champions record third straight win despite Holden half-century

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2023Hampshire seamer John Turner starred with three wickets on his Vitality Blast debut as the defending champions recorded their third straight win, holding off rock-bottom Middlesex at Radlett.The 22-year-old captured the wicket of Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi with his first ball in the tournament, finishing with 3 for 30 as the Hawks successfully defended a modest total of 164 for 6.Max Holden’s first Blast half-century of the summer, with 53 from 31 balls, had given the Seaxes hope of finally breaking their duck in the South Group as he and Ryan Higgins (43 from 35) added 60 for the fourth wicket.But Hampshire’s death bowlers held their nerve to ensure the home side remain winless in the competition, equalling their longest losing start to a campaign of seven defeats in 2006 and 2009.Hampshire skipper James Vince, who had smashed a match-winning 88 not out in the sides’ first meeting of the tournament, missed out this time after driving Josh de Caires’ second ball tamely to mid-off.But Ben McDermott was soon into his stride, pummelling Blake Cullen for successive boundaries and dispatching both Tom Helm and de Caires over the fence as he and Toby Albert shared a partnership of 56 from 38.Luke Hollman’s tight three-over stint of 2 for 12 broke the stand, luring Albert into a mistimed reverse sweep and the leg-spinner also prised out the big-hitting McDermott, caught at long-off just short of his half-century.With Joe Weatherley and Aneurin Donald both holing out as de Caires recorded his best T20 figures of 2 for 34, the Hawks had lost three wickets for just 11 runs and they responded by shifting Chris Wood up the order to No.7.That move paid off as the quick hrashed 31 from 21 and he and Ross Whiteley, with an unbeaten 28 from 20, hauled Hampshire above 150 but Higgins, with four consecutive dot balls in the penultimate over, ensured they fell short of par.However, their total looked more than substantial after two overs of the Middlesex reply, with just two extras on the board and both openers back in the pavilion with ducks against their name.Eskinazi was caught miscuing a pull to midwicket off Turner’s first delivery and Joe Cracknell followed five balls later, leg before – but Holden and Pieter Malan kick-started the innings with a stand of 43 from 23.Malan, having advanced to 18 with two powerful leg-side blows off Wood, attempted to do the same against Nathan Ellis just before the end of the powerplay and was caught in the deep.Holden displayed a knack of picking out the gaps, carving Scott Currie to the cover boundary and clipping his next ball to leg for four more as Middlesex kept pace with the required run-rate.The left-hander brought up his 50 from 26 balls and Higgins was a more than capable foil in their partnership, bisecting the leg-side fielders perfectly to register successive fours off Wood.But Liam Dawson tilted the contest back in Hampshire’s favour, tempting Holden to top-edge a pull to short fine leg and Turner claimed his third wicket before Vince raced from mid-off and dived to pouch a skier from Higgins.Despite two boundaries by Martin Andersson to keep Middlesex in contention, a target of 15 from the final over proved too steep.

India began each session of day three knowing the best they could do was stay alive, and they did just that. Still, Australia’s grip had tightened by stumps

Sidharth Monga09-Jun-20231:15

Manjrekar: Not a flash in the pan from Shardul

India hung in admirably on the third day of the WTC final through fighting runs from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur and a better bowling effort than in the first innings, but by the end of the day it was apparent they had lost too much ground on the first two days. They began the day 318 behind with half their side gone, took body blows to somehow reduce the deficit to 173, but ended the day 296 behind with six Australian wickets still standing.India began each session of the day knowing the best they could do was stay alive. They managed to not get blown away, but in the long, final session, Australia progressed steadily to leave India somewhere between just alive and out of the game.Related

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Ball-by-ball: How Rahane and Thakur rode their luck at Oval

Scott Boland began metronomically and snuck past KS Bharat’s inside edge to bowl him second ball of the day. Pat Cummins and Boland then proceeded to torture the two batters, Rahane and Thakur, with uneven bounce out of the pitch. For the best part of the first hour, they were relentless and quick. Thakur was forced to take a painkiller and wear padding on both his forearms.However, it was still not a perfect display in the field from Australia. Cummins ended up with six no-balls with wickets off three of them. Following Ravindra Jadeja and Rahane on day two, he missed out on Thakur’s wicket on day three. Three catches went down in the slip cordon. Mitchell Starc struggled for control.Once they saw off the threat of Cummins and Boland, Rahane and Thakur began to score freely. By lunch, Rahane was 11 short of what would have been a special century on Test comeback, and Thakur 14 short of a third fifty in three innings at The Oval. The 60-over-old ball had stopped misbehaving by now, and India had a good shout at cutting down the 209-run deficit significantly before the second new ball.Ajinkya Rahane punches Nathan Lyon through the off side•Gareth Copley-ICC/Getty ImagesPost lunch, though, Rahane followed a widish delivery and edged it only for Cameron Green to pull off a spectacular catch at gully. The next three wickets could add just 35, though Thakur did manage to get to his half-century.India bowled with better control than they did in the first innings. Mohammed Siraj, in particular, extracted uneven bounce after nicking David Warner off early. Twice the bat fell out of Marnus Labuschagne’s hands on impact, much like it had done earlier with Thakur. Once he was swept off his feet. Umesh Yadav benefited from the pressure created with his first wicket of the match as Usman Khawaja wafted at a wide delivery.At 24 for 2, India would have hoped for further inroads, especially with Labuschagne struggling, but Steven Smith played a breezy knock to push India back. Having set himself up for a long dig in the first innings, Smith now looked for quick runs, racing away to 12 off his first seven balls. India’s second string of quicks now bowled with spread-out fields as Smith looked set for a big, effortless knock.Steven Smith knew he was in trouble right after miscuing a swipe across the line•Getty ImagesThen Smith tried to charge Jadeja for the third time in the Test. On the first two occasions, in the first innings, he managed to get enough of a half-hit to avoid mid-off, but this time there was enough grip from the surface to take the edge for point to take the catch. To get Smith out for just 34 when he was batting at a control rate of above 90% was a relief for India.Jadeja then used the rough outside the left-hand batter’s off stump to get rid of Travis Head. Labuschagne, standing well outside the crease to face the India quicks, never really looked in control. He ended the day 41 off 118 but, along with Green, he denied India any further success. To their credit, India didn’t allow them easy runs, going at well under three an over.It was half the job done for Australia, who would want to give their fast bowlers at least 24 hours with their feet up before they begin their final push for the title.

Liverpool's Premier League-winning manager Arne Slot has been spotted partying with Wayne Lineker in Ibiza after Arsenal clash.

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Slot visited Ibiza after Arsenal clashPartied with Wayne LinekerLiverpool next face BrightonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The newly-crowned English champions gave up on a two-goal lead to settle for a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Right after the clash at Anfield, Reds boss Slot jetted off to Ibiza and was spotted partying at the famous O Beach Club, owned by Gary Lineker's brother Wayne. The Dutchman also received a kiss from Lineker as the DJ played Queen's 'We Are the Champions' track.

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Slot enjoyed a stellar debut campaign at Anfield, leading the club to their historic 20th English top division title, thereby equalling Manchester United's tally. The Dutchman will now focus on strengthening his squad in the summer ahead of their title-defending campaign. His biggest challenge will be identifying a proper replacement for star full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is on his way to join Real Madrid as a free agent.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Merseyside club will be back in action in the Premier League on May 19 when they face Brighton away from home in their penultimate match of the season.

A Bundesliga move awaits Jobe Bellingham, with Dortmund leading the race, but Jurgen Klopp may well tempt the Sunderland star to choose RB Leipzig.

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Bellingham expected to leave SunderlandBVB currently leading the raceKlopp could lure Sunderland star to a rival teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Bellingham is "right at the top" of the wish list of Borussia Dortmund officials Lars Ricken and Sebastian Kehl. The decision has been made to make an approach to the younger brother of former Dortmund player Jude Bellingham. The approximated cost of the operation is believed to be €25-30 million. However, Klopp, who is currently the Global Head of Football at Red Bull, could tempt the Sunderland star to choose Dortmund's Bundesliga rivals in RB Leipzig.

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BVB have a particular advantage when it comes to signing the 19-year-old central midfielder from Sunderland; contact with the Bellingham family, especially with father Mark, has never been broken since Jude's departure for Real Madrid. In addition, Jobe regularly visited Dortmund when his brother was still playing there. He, therefore, knows the environment and the people in charge.

The scouting department, which once discovered Jude, is said to be enthusiastic and completely convinced of Jobe's abilities. In addition, those responsible are particularly impressed by the physical development of the 19-year-old, who is now said to be 1.91 metres tall. Bellingham is now a member of England's U21 national team and was also named the Championship's best young player. He has made 40 appearances (4 goals, 3 assists) in the current season.

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If the transfer goes through, Dortmund will not be looking to sign loan player Carney Chukwuemeka on a permanent basis, according to reports. Although the 21-year-old loan player impressed greatly when he did play, he rarely saw any action. Chukwuemeka arrived in Dortmund in the winter with a significant fitness deficit and often struggled with muscle problems.

The catch, though, is that Klopp is determined to sign Jobe for Leipzig, despite his overall package and the fact that he is contracted to Sunderland until 2028, could prove to be obstacles in the operation.

Getty Images SportWHAT'S NEXT?

In addition to Jobe, Rayan Cherki is also a must-have signing for Dortmund in the summer after the third attempt to sign him. A winter transfer had reportedly fallen through because Lyon owner John Textor did not stick to the agreement with Cherki to let him go for an offer of €22.5 million.

Coach Niko Kovac is said to have already spoken to Cherki, who is having a strong season (12 goals, 19 assists) despite personal frustration over the failed winter transfer. According to , a transfer in the summer would now cost Dortmund €30 million.

Jadon Sancho is not expected to play a role in the plans of the BVB bosses. Recently, English media had repeatedly reported that Dortmund were planning to bring the 25-year-old back and could possibly get Sancho in exchange for Jamie Gittens, who is looking to leave. However, Ricken, Kehl and Co. have now clearly agreed not to pursue Sancho, who is currently on loan from Manchester United to Chelsea.

Narine hits form too, meaning a question mark still hangs over CSK’s playoff spot

Karthik Krishnaswamy14-May-20231:59

Dasgupta: ‘You can see how well Rana has taken to leadership from his batting’

Kolkata Knight Riders tripped Chennai Super Kings in their last home game of the league season, out-spinning them and out-batting them on a tricky Chepauk pitch to stay in contention for the playoffs. CSK would have become the first team to seal a playoffs spot if they had won; they’re still in a good position to go through, but this defeat may have hurt their chances of a top-two finish.KKR’s mystery spinners played a massive role in restricting CSK to 144 for 6, with Varun Chakravarthy continuing his excellent season and Sunil Narine returning to wicket-taking ways after taking just one in his last eight games. KKR were always favourites from there, particularly with dew setting in, but they kept the contest interesting by losing three wickets within the powerplay before Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana put them back on top with a 99-run stand for the fourth wicket.KKR fined for slow over-rate

Nitish Rana and his team-mates have been penalised for KKR’s slow over-rate in the Sunday night game against CSK. Since it was KKR’s second such offence this season, Rana was fined Rs 24 lakh and the others in the playing group Rs 6 lakh or 25% of their match fee, whichever is lesser.

KKR eventually won with nine balls to spare. They may have hoped for a more comprehensive win, but Rinku and Rana had little choice but to put NRR considerations on the back burner after KKR lost three early wickets.Varun, Narine dominate after Dhoni chooses to batInterviewed at the end of the game, MS Dhoni said CSK would have needed 180 to have any chance of defending a total once dew set in, but there was no way they could have scored 180 in the conditions that prevailed through the first innings.It was, of course, Dhoni’s decision to bat first. Their innings began promisingly enough, with the first two wickets putting on 31 and 30 respectively. Varun ended both partnerships, with his carrom ball turning significantly both times to have Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane caught off miscues.Rahane’s wicket sparked a collapse, as CSK slumped from 61 for 1 to 72 for 5, with Shardul Thakur dismissing a scratchy Devon Conway for 30 off 28 balls before Narine struck twice in the 11th over to send back Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali.Dube repairs CSK innings from one endWith the odd ball stopping on the batter or turning sharply, or both, and with not a lot of batting to come, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja cut out risk-taking and looked to take the innings deep. But while Dube still found the boundary every now and then, Jadeja stagnated; he hit just the one six and no fours while scoring 20 off 24 balls.Dube, though, ensured CSK passed 140, hitting Suyash Sharma for two sixes, and clearing his front leg to clatter Varun for another in the 18th over. He found a way to score even when Varun bowled his typically strangulating lengths, working the ball between long-on and deep midwicket for a pair of doubles in that 18th over.Deepak Chahar picked up three wickets in the powerplay•BCCIChahar picks up an unusual three-forAt the innings break, it felt as if the result would hinge on how KKR dealt with CSK’s spinners. As things happened, though, the powerplay was all-pace, with Deepak Chahar from one end and Tushar Deshpande from the other. Chahar struck in each of his overs, but this was no vintage display of swing bowling: the wickets, instead, came off catches to deep point, short third and short third.Rinku and Rana bat CSK out of the gameBy the time the powerplay was done, Rana and Rinku had already showed signs of rhythm. Rana had whipped Chahar off his hip for six in the fifth over, and Rinku had hit Deshpande for a straight six to end the sixth over.Spin came on immediately, with Dhoni bringing on his two offspinners against the two left-handers. They began well, conceding just seven runs across the seventh and eighth overs, before Rinku relieved the pressure with a pair of fours off Moeen Ali in the ninth.Moeen continued to go for runs thereafter, with Rana hitting him for three fours across his third and fourth overs – a reverse-sweep and two inside-out drives. In all, he took 34 off 22 balls against the offspin pair of Moeen and Maheesh Theekshana. It was a demonstration of a well-known fact, that Rana is among the best left-hand batters against offspin in the IPL.ESPNcricinfo LtdRinku usually prefers pace onto the bat, but on this day he was excellent against the spinners too, and made sure that he dominated his favourable match-up, hitting Jadeja for two sixes.It didn’t help Super Kings that they put down the one chance they got to break this partnership when it could have still mattered, with Matheesha Pathirana putting Rana down at deep backward square leg when he miscued a sweep off Moeen in the 11th over. Rana was on 18 at that point.Both batters went on to bring up their fifties before Rinku was run out in the 18th over, attempting to take a tight single that would have brought up the century stand. By then, the contest was all but over, with KKR needing just 13 from 17 balls.

“Everything should be on a reciprocal basis,” says Najam Sethi, suggesting that Pakistan’s ODI World Cup matches be held outside India too

PTI21-Apr-2023The PCB has proposed a “hybrid model” for the upcoming Asia Cup to the Asian Cricket Council, where “Pakistan plays its Asia Cup matches at home and India their matches at a neutral venue,” board chairman Najam Sethi said on Friday.The BCCI has refused to allow the India team to travel to Pakistan for the tournament because of the ongoing political differences between the two nations and demanded the continental tournament be shifted from Pakistan to a neutral venue.But, with Pakistan hoping to host as much of the tournament within the country, Sethi hoped that the visit of his country’s foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, next month to Goa for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council meeting will help find a solution.Related

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“We have been told that, maybe, the ice will keep on melting – if this happens when the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan in 2025, India would consider playing in Pakistan,” Sethi said at a press interaction. “We have been advised to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue and also go to India for the World Cup.” He didn’t specify who the suggestion had come from.Sethi indicated that the public mood in his country was that Pakistan should play cricket with India on level terms.”Our government has imposed no restrictions about playing against India,” Sethi said. “But I can say right now that public mood is: we are not needy and we can stand on our own feet financially and we want to play cricket with India honourably. We are also negotiating with the ACC.”Sethi: ‘Everything should be on a reciprocal basis’Sethi said that if Pakistan decided to shift all India matches in the Asia Cup to a neutral venue, India should also use the same hybrid experiment during the 50-over World Cup, to be held in India in October-November this year.”We feel this hybrid experiment can also be applied when it is time for the World Cup,” Sethi said. “Our stance is that everything should be on a reciprocal basis. In the old times, yes, there were security issues in Pakistan. But now there are no issues, so what is India’s excuse for not playing in Pakistan?”The ACC, led by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, is yet to respond to the PCB about the proposed hybrid model. Reports say that the other ACC members also want the Asia Cup to be held at a neutral venue to cut costs even though Pakistan will remain the tournament host.The Asia Cup will feature six teams, including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and one team that will be identified after the qualifiers, which is currently underway in Nepal.

He started in fifth gear and largely stayed there even as the rest of his team-mates struggled

Matt Roller16-Apr-20232:43

Moody: Other than Venkatesh, no KKR batter had any rhythm

Venkatesh Iyer writhed around in agony on the Wankhede pitch. He had raced to 19 not out after eight balls, lofting the debutant Arjun Tendulkar for four and six before upper-cutting Cameron Green for six. And he figured that, with fine leg inside the ring, he could shift across to the off side and look to scoop Green over that fielder’s head to pick up his second successive boundary.But, as Venkatesh later put it with a smile: “Unfortunately, I didn’t connect; and the ball connected to my knee.” Kolkata Knight Riders’ medical staff rushed on to give him treatment, causing a lengthy delay as he weighed up the merits of retiring hurt. “Honestly, the first emotion was to go out, because it was unbearable,” he said at the press conference after Knight Riders’ five-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians.He opted to continue, and inside-edged his next ball past short fine leg for four. In the following over, he twice shuffled down the track to hit Duan Jansen for sixes down the ground; when he miscued, the ball landed just out of the back-pedalling Tim David’s reach.Related

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According to ESPNcricinfo’s metrics, no batter in the last decade of IPL cricket has scored more runs while ‘out of control’ than the 38 Venkatesh managed on Sunday afternoon. But if this was a streaky, chaotic innings, it was one which highlighted the value of attacking intent in this format – particularly on a small ground, and against an inexperienced bowling attack.Venkatesh was measured against Piyush Chawla, who he seemed to mark out as Mumbai Indians’ main attacking threat, but scored at a 200-plus strike rate against their other five bowlers, hitting each of them for at least one six. As his team-mates struggled to find their tempo on a slowish pitch which got better under lights, Venkatesh started in fifth gear and stayed there.He was dropped in the 80s, while attempting to loft Hrithik Shokeen over cover, but scored increasingly heavily square of the wicket, twice pulling Riley Meredith’s slower balls over the leg side for six. “This was a red-soil pitch, so you have to play much squarer and not straighter,” he explained.Venkatesh Iyer copped a blow on his knee•BCCIWhen Venkatesh brought up his hundred off 49 balls, bowing towards his team-mates in the dugout as he celebrated, it seemed to mark his return to the big stage after what has been a difficult year for him; a year which saw him suffer second-season syndrome in IPL 2022, lose his India place and suffer a broken ankle that threatened to rule him out of this tournament altogether.It also brought to an end one of the IPL’s more bizarre statistical quirks. Venkatesh became KKR’s second centurion, 15 years – almost to the day – after Brendon McCullum blitzed 158 on the tournament’s opening night. There was a circularity to it: McCullum, after all, was the man who brought Venkatesh into his side in the second half of IPL 2021, and who retained him ahead of the following year’s mega-auction.There have been moments in which that decision has looked unwise: Venkatesh lost his place in the KKR side last season, struggling to make an impact as he moved up and down the order. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill – who signed for Gujarat Titans for INR 8 crore, the same wage that Venkatesh is on – has made a breakthrough in international cricket, blossoming into a more dynamic T20 batter than the one who once opened alongside Venkatesh.This century – and his brilliant 83 off 40 in Ahmedabad last weekend, an innings which slipped under the radar due to Rinku Singh’s heroics – was a reminder of his ability. With his long, gold chain hanging out of his untucked, long-sleeved shirt, Venkatesh can appear almost insouciant when he bats, but it is clear that he cares deeply.2:28

Iyer: The credit for my century goes to Abhishek Nayar

“I just have gratitude for whatever I have,” he said. “I just want to go out there and explore what I can do on a cricket field. As far as this season goes, it’s Venkatesh Iyer doing what’s correct for the team, not individually. The clarity of role given to me is absolutely amazing, and I’m just looking to go out there and execute that plan.””Shreyas [Iyer] is injured, so someone had to take up the No. 3 role which is a very important role, and I’ve maintained that I want to be flexible as a cricketer. When they told me I’m going to bat at No. 3, obviously the intent didn’t change: you have to go after the bowling in the powerplay, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”He has been used as a specialist batter in every game this season, via the Impact Player rule, as he continues to recover from his broken left ankle, so is yet to take the field with his team-mates. “Injury doesn’t take a toll on your body just physically, but mentally as well. It makes you go through a lot,” he said. “I’m really happy that I’m back on the field, doing what I love the most.”But given Venkatesh’s focus on intent, there was one lingering question: why did it take him seven balls to move from 94 to 100? “The scoreboard was not working so I couldn’t see how many runs I was batting [on],” he said with a smile. “But if that happened, that’s something that I have to correct and keep moving from there.”And in truth, Venkatesh’s slight slowdown was the least of KKR’s problems in their defeat. Following back-to-back wins, they have now lost two games in the space of 48 hours and it is clear that they have major issues which could prove difficult for them to address.With Venkatesh watching from the dugout, their fast bowlers leaked 80 runs in 6.4 overs as Mumbai cruised to their target. And their openers again failed to fire: they have used three different combinations already this season, but their opening partnerships have been worth 70 across five matches.Their other seven batters managed 67 runs off 69 balls between them, with Andre Russell’s unbeaten 21 off 11 only begging the question as to why he was not given the opportunity to face more. Instead, Shardul Thakur was promoted and made 13 off 11, while Rinku struggled when Mumbai took the pace off, eking out 18 off 18.Perhaps moving Venkatesh up to open could solve their opening woes, though he has clearly benefited from the clarity of a settled role this year and such a move would amount to compromising a strength to address a weakness. “In hindsight, we can talk about us scoring 15-20 runs less [than we should have] or the wicket getting better,” he said, “but we have to accept that they batted really well; they outbatted us.”Yet even if KKR fell to a heavy defeat, Venkatesh will look back on this Sunday afternoon with fondness. For several long months, he wondered if he would be fit enough to feature in IPL 2023; now, he is the tournament’s leading run-scorer, back centre-stage after a year in the wings.

Manuel Neuer jokingly dubbed Nick Woltemade “Woltemessi” as Bayern Munich continue their push to sign the Stuttgart striker despite strong resistance.

Bayern clinch Supercup 2-1 Stuttgart firm on their striker's departureNeuer praise fuels ongoing transfer speculationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern kicked off their season with a 2-1 Supercup triumph over Stuttgart, courtesy of goals from England’s superstar Harry Kane and a high summer recruit from Liverpool Luis Diaz. Yet, the night truly belonged to captain Neuer, who at 39 rolled back the years with a commanding display in his 11th Supercup appearance. The veteran goalkeeper produced decisive saves, showcasing the reflexes and authority that have defined his legendary career.

After the match, Neuer turned the spotlight onto one of Bayern’s long-standing transfer targets, Euro U-21 sensation Nick Woltemade. In a lighthearted but telling moment, the skipper showered praise on the young forward and even dropped a cheeky transfer hint by giving him a playful nickname: “Woltemessi.” The quip not only drew laughs but also fuelled speculation that Bayern is still not yet done with their pursuit of the rising star.

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Speaking about Stuttgart’s U-21 European champion, Woltemade, the Bayern captain was full of praise: "He's a very good player, who's also Woltemessi," said Neuer, smiling as he compared the youngster’s skillset to the Argentine legend.

The German striker is "someone who can do a lot on the ball, is unpredictable, and the same applies to Deniz Undav, for example," Neuer added.

But his comments didn’t stop there. With Bayern still looking to bolster their attack this summer, Neuer appeared to drop a subtle transfer hint, "I have a feeling something else will happen. But as I say every summer: We trust our managers. They'll do their homework, and we'll concentrate on football."

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Neuer’s remark carried shades of Thomas Muller’s trademark wit, often used to break tension while also sending subtle messages. Just as Muller has been known to mix humour with insight when commenting on teammates or rivals, Neuer’s playful nickname for Woltemade did more than entertain. It added weight to Bayern’s ongoing pursuit of the 23-year-old forward, reinforcing the idea that even the dressing room leaders see him as a potential addition. With Stuttgart holding firm that “the case is closed,” Neuer’s words put added pressure on the Bundesliga rivals while keeping the rumour mill alive.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN & WOLTEMADE?

For Stuttgart, CEO Alexander Wehrle has been categorical in ruling out Woltemade’s departure, even after putting forward an improved contract club has even offered the striker an improved contract worth up to €2.5m per year, though Bayern’s proposal was reportedly three to four times higher, underlining how serious their pursuit is. For now, Woltemade remains a Stuttgart player, but with the transfer window still open and Neuer’s pointed remarks fresh.

Ellyse Perry and Sarah Bryce led Sixers’ chase but the lower order fell away with Strikers’ legspinners to the fore

Andrew McGlashan29-Oct-2024Bridget Patterson was involved in a nasty incident while wicketkeeping during Adelaide Strikers’ victory over Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval where Amanda-Jade Wellington produced a key all-round display.In the fourth over of Sixers’ chase Patterson took a ball in the face from a 119kph delivery by Darcie Brown which pitched in front of her and kicked up, striking near the right eye. Patterson stayed on the ground with a physio and doctor quickly onto the field and after a few minutes was able to walk off. She remained at the venue for remainder of the game and will be further assessed in the coming days.”It was a nasty injury,” Strikers coach Luke Williams said after the match. “Obviously we were all worried about her, but it looks like she’s escaped major injury. It certainly was nasty at the time with the cut.”Patterson had earlier played a key role with the bat as Strikers’ middle-order produced a powerful counterattack to enable the visitors to claim the first win of their title defence.In reply, Ellyse Perry dominated the early stages of the chase with a 26-ball fifty then Sarah Bryce impressed again with 62 off 44 balls but when she fell to Megan Schutt the innings faded swiftly in a collapse of 6 for 18. Legspinners Wellington and Anesu Mushangwe were superb in the closing overs with the former comfortably defending 14 off the last.Patterson, Wellington and Orla Prendergast combined to make 123 between them off 92 balls with 32 runs coming off the two power surge overs. Wellington, inparticular, cut loose inside the restrictions with two sixes and three fours off Ash Gardner and Lauren Cheatle to finish with 40 off 16.Those contributions enabled Strikers to recover from 51 for 4 in the seventh over after Cheatle had made early inroads before Perry held onto a stinging return catch – with a juggle – to claim Laura Wolvaardt.Perry and Bryce added 80 in 50 balls for the second wicket with Perry lacing 11 boundaries although she was dropped at long-on on 17. The impressive, and quick, Brown removed Perry when she top-edged a short ball to fine leg and Sixers suffered another huge blow when Gardner fell for a five-ball duck.But Bryce and 19-year-old Elsa Hunter, on her WBBL debut, put on 53 off 35 balls to bring the target in sight aided by some poor catching from Strikers but they couldn’t finish the job for a Sixers side stretched to the limits by injury.

Everton are now believed to have made an approach to complete the signing of a “world class” player who knows the Premier League well but has fallen out of favour at his current club.

A host of players continue to be mentioned as options for the Blues in the summer transfer window, including Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper. The 25-year-old Englishman started all 46 of the Blades’ Championship matches last season, helping them reach the playoff final, but defeat to Sunderland at Wembley ruined their chances of promotion, and he may like the idea of heading to the top flight.

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is another player who could want to remain in the Premier League, following his side’s relegation to the second tier, and Everton have been backed to snap him up, amid their search for more quality in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic is another reported target for the Merseysiders, with the Serb potentially seen as a strong replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Just 20 years of age, he scored an impressive 12 goals in 23 Championship starts last term and could serve as the old fashioned number nine alongside the more elusive Thierno Barry.

Everton make approach for "world class" midfielder

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport [via Goodison News], Everton have made an approach for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, seeing him as an excellent choice to bring in this summer. The Blues are said to have asked for information regarding the 27-year-old, but it is added that no offer has been tabled for him yet.

He joined Juventus for around £42m last summer but was once worth a much higher figure, with Neil Moxley even claiming “somebody’s just having a bit of a laugh” when he was quoted at £60m while thriving at Aston Villa, pointing to Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal as a benchmark.

Indeed, albeit out of form and out of favour in Turin last season, Luiz is a player who has proven his worth at the highest level for many years now, having been such an influential performer for Villa, so he could be a brilliant signing for Everton.

The Brazilian has 175 appearances to his name in the Premier League, as well as 20 goals and 18 assists, with John McGinn heaping praise on his ability, describing him as “world class”, and Jermaine Pennant calling him better than Rice in the past.

“Any team would dream to have Rice, but there are better sixes in the Premier League at the moment. I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better. I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice. Creativity-wise he’s better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice. So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz.”

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1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 7, 2025

Luiz is still in his prime, so this wouldn’t be a case of Everton splashing out on a player who has peaked, and his box-to-box style could be a great asset for David Moyes.