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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has opened talks to sign a “commanding” defender, who’s now a top defensive target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new centre-back amid Saliba concerns

The Gunners’ centre-back partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba has received widespread acclaim over the past few seasons, with Jamie Carragher saying: “As a partnership, him and Gabriel is as good as anything in the Premier League.

“I think Saliba is the better player but Gabriel is the better leader, and Saliba needs to bring that to his game if he wants to get to the levels we talk about with Virgil van Dijk.

“Saliba needs Gabriel. Since Gabriel has come out of the team, that’s not the same Saliba I’m watching.”

Related Best ST since Auba: Arsenal agree personal terms for £67m "monster"

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a new striker this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 31, 2025

It has recently been revealed the Brazilian defender is now in advanced talks over a new deal to remain at the Emirates Stadium, but with Real Madrid expressing an interest in Saliba, it could be a wise idea to bring in a new centre-back this summer.

According to a report from Football Transfers, that is exactly what the north Londoners are planning to do, having now moved ahead of Manchester United in the race for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni.

Such is Arsenal’s level of interest in Leoni, he has now been identified as one of their top defensive targets for the summer transfer window, with sporting director Berta leading talks over a deal to bring the 18-year-old to north London.

Juventus and Inter Milan are also in the race for the teenager, who joined Parma in a deal amounting to €8m (£7m) last summer, which has proven to be a savvy investment, given that he has emerged as a key player for the Italian side.

"Commanding" Leoni impressing for Parma

At the start of the 2024-25 Serie A campaign, the centre-back found game time difficult to come by, but he managed to establish himself as a key player during the second half of the season, which is an impressive feat at such a young age.

Football scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the Italian defender, describing his aerial dominance and duel prowess as “commanding”, while also stating the youngster is “destined” to play for a top club.

Leoni is yet to prove himself over a sustained period of time, but his emergence as a first-team player at such a young age can only be a good sign, and the Parma ace could be a solid addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

That said, there are a number of other interesting young defenders on the shortlist for Arsenal, and Arteta may even decide against bringing in a new centre-back, given that Gabriel and Saliba are arguably almost undroppable when fit.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Jorrel Hato

Ajax

£40m

Nathan Collins

Brentford

£23m

Cristhian Mosquera

Valencia

£17m

Arsenal have many different transfer plates spinning behind-the-scenes right now, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta attempting to make progress on key summer deals.

Arsenal poised to sign Kepa and Zubimendi amid new striker talks

While there were some concerns that Real Madrid would hijack Arsenal’s move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, The Athletic’s David Ornstein moved to reassure supporters this week that the Spain international is firmly on track to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Related £67m player prioritising Arsenal move as agent holds meeting, it's not Sesko

He’s pretty keen on a move to north London.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 13, 2025

The delay in announcing Zubimendi’s capture is apparently down to financial reasons, with Sociedad keen to register the 26-year-old’s sale as part of the next financial year, which commences in July (AS).

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal are poised to sign Zubimendi after months of talks, and barring a late unmitigated disaster, Gunners chiefs consider the deal for him as “done” (David Ornstein).

Berta is also closing in on the signing of Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga as their second-choice keeper after missing out on widely reported top target Joan Garcia to Barcelona.

The Spaniard, who was deemed surplus to requirements by Enzo Maresca, is set to finalise a £5 million move from Stamford Bridge, following a productive loan spell at Bournemouth last season.

Kepa’s imminent arrival has been praised by critics too, who call him an “absolute steal”.

“Arsenal have acted really quickly after it became clear that Joan Garcia would not be arriving from Espanyol this summer and have all but wrapped up a really smart piece of business,” said journalist Charles Watts to CaughtOffside.

“Landing a keeper like Kepa for just £5 million is an absolute steal. I’m honestly baffled at how there seems to be some who are questioning it.

“You are talking about a keeper approaching his best years who has plenty of experience and is a senior international. He had a very good season on loan at Bournemouth last season and the season before he helped Real Madrid win the Champions League while he was there.”

Amid these two moves, Arsenal continue working on signing a new striker.

Two names have dominated the headlines – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal have been in negotiations with Leipzig over Sesko, but are yet to find an agreement on price, which has perhaps led them to try their hand at an offer for Gyokeres instead.

Arsenal submit "concrete offer" for Viktor Gyokeres

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Sporting and the Sweden international have received Berta’s opening bid.

The Italian held a summit with Sporting’s general director of football, Bernardo Palmeiro, in Spain earlier this week. During these talks, Arsenal submitted their “first concrete offer” for Gyokeres, which came in at around £55 million including add-ons.

Unfortunately, this is very unlikely to be anywhere near enough, as Sporting president Frederico Varandas confirmed to the media this week that the 27-year-old star striker would not be leaving for nearly £60m.

Gyokeres’ situation in the Primeira Liga is becoming very toxic, with the player uploading a cryptic Instagram post after Varandas’ comments that he would not be blackmailed into selling him.

In his post, Gyokeres addressed the “false” talk regarding his future, potentially aimed at Varandas’ statements to the media.

Having scored 54 goals in all competitions last term, guiding Sporting to their first domestic double in decades, the centre-forward’s future has now turned into a soap opera, and Arsenal could look to take full advantage.

If the north Londoners do make progress in negotiation, it is believed by some media sources that Gyokeres is demanding around £250,000-per-week to join any suitor (The Mirror).

The hosts secured their second-ever series whitewash against the West Indies

Madushka Balasuriya21-Jun-2024

Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu put up a solid opening stand•SLC

Chamari Athapaththu, Nilakshika Silva and Anushka Sanjeewani led the way with half-centuries before Sachini Nisansala grabbed a maiden five-for to set up a comprehensive 161-run win over the West Indies in the third ODI in Hambantota. The hosts took the series 3-0, securing their second series whitewash against the West Indies.Chasing Sri Lanka’s score of 275 for 6 – their third-highest total in ODIs – West Indies struggled to get going as both Rashada Williams and skipper Shemaine Campbell were dislodged inside the first six overs.Chedean Nation and Stafanie Taylor then strung together the innings’ only partnership of note as the pair put on 57 off 82 deliveries, steadily chipping away at the target, only for Taylor to edge one behind off the miserly Oshadi Ranasinghe. Nation, who had looked in control during her 57-ball 46, might have harboured hopes of putting on similar stands with the middle and lower order, but Athapaththu put paid to any such notions when she skid one past Nation’s outside edge to clip off stump.Suddenly West Indies were teetering at 69 for 4, at which point Nisansala took over. She had been the most expensive of Sri Lanka’s bowlers last time out, but here her slow left-arm orthodox proved extremely effective, particularly on a surface that offered a good amount of grip and turn.Zaida James was trapped leg before to one that skidded on, while Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher and Qiana Joseph all fell looking to hit out. The five-for was complete when Aaliyah Alleyne (27 off 27) chipped one back to Nisansala, bringing to an end her cameo.Earlier, having been put into bat, the Sri Lankan opening pair of Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne took the attack to the West Indian bowlers in a stand of 93. Gunaratne fell six runs short of her half century miscuing an attempted loft to Alleyne at mid-off.Two more wickets in quick succession saw the backs of Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hansima Karunaratne, but Athapaththu was still at the crease to bring the game back under control with 57-run partnership with Nilakshika.The Sri Lanka captain eventually fell for a 106-ball 91, as Fletcher spun one through bat and pad. At that point Sri Lanka were 156 for 4 after 34.1 overs, and their primary power hitter was back in the dressing room. But if the West Indies were hoping to reel themselves back into the game, Nilakshika and Sanjeewani were not willing to play ball, as the pair proceeded to plunder 117 runs in a 93-ball fifth wicket partnership – Sri Lanka’s second highest for the fifth wicket. Sri Lanka ended up scoring 93 off the final 10 overs; Sanjeewani (55 off 46) and Nilakshika (63 off 78) eventually fell in the final over, but by then the damage was well and truly done.

Manchester United are working hard to get it right in the transfer market this summer, having approached a critical juncture in INEOS’ ownership.

Things didn’t go to plan last season, with Erik ten Hag dismissed by October and his successor, Ruben Amorim, struggling to get a tune out of the suffering Red Devils, who ultimately finished 15th in the Premier League.

But with Matheus Cunha already signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, his £62.5m release clause activated, there are signs that Old Trafford will rise again.

Man Utd open talks for new striker

Cunha is a brilliant forward, but he’s not a centre-forward. The Red Devils need a partner to field as the number nine, and contacts have been made for such a striker.

Transfer Focus

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

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Manchester United are looking to replace Rasmus Hojlund this summer and have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, as per Tutto Juve, who has resurrected his career on loan at Juventus.

The 26-year-old Les Bleus star was on United’s radar – along with Tottenham Hotspur – in January after falling by the wayside in the French capital, though ultimately settled on a short-term stint in Turin.

Now, the above Italian report claims INEOS have made first contact with PSG for the versatile striker, although the same can be said for Newcastle United. Juventus, moreover, hope to purchase him permanently too.

What Kolo Muani would bring to Man Utd

Amorim is carefully piecing together a strikeforce capable of challenging for honours, capable of going punch for punch with the biggest hitters in the Premier League.

Kolo Muani on his A-game would certainly help in that regard. Leaving Eintracht Frankfurt to sign for PSG for around £76m in September 2023, the France international’s stock has since decreased, but he’s demonstrated with Juve his lingering quality, scoring ten goals and assisting three more across 21 matches in total.

With Cunha bringing his wide-ranging attacking skills to the table, Kolo Muani could find himself born again, thriving as the forward of a Premier League team chasing a return to European competition.

Sometimes, a change of scenery can help reignite the fire that has flickered out for a player. PSG proved to be the wrong career choice for the Frenchman, but a Man United project that he can lead that is showing signs of progress (on the transfer front, at least) is something he should consider pursuing.

Dusan Vlahovic’s Past Five League Seasons

Season

Club

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

Juventus

16

8

1

24/25

PSG

10

2

1

23/24

PSG

26

6

6

23/24

Frankfurt

2

1

0

22/23

Frankfurt

32

15

14

21/22

Nantes

36

12

5

Stats via Transfermarkt

United might find that Frankfurt’s €100m (£85m) valuation for Hugo Ekitike is a tad on the costly side, but they could snap up another of Die Adler’s star forwards in Kolo Muani, with that £76m price tag creeping down to a reported £50m if PSG sell this summer.

Once labelled a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani is a dynamic and incisive striker who has found his footing once again in Italy, ranked among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Furthermore, to have finished the campaign with a scoring rate of 0.50 is pretty impressive, given his woes across the first half of the year. In fact, as per Sofascore, his eight-goal haul in the Italian top flight also saw just four big chances missed, which makes an interesting comment on his prolific instincts.

Working with Cunha, Amorim could create a truly devastating strikeforce (and that’s without even discussing the potential addition of Bryan Mbeumo), with the Brazilian forward having averaged 1.8 key passes per Premier League match last season, creating 13 big chances. He was instrumental in staving off relegation for the Old Gold.

Of course, Kolo Muani is not just restricted to sharpshooting. His silky and furnished attacking style lends itself to creative support, and Cunha would delight in this, having demonstrated an incredible scoring ability for Wolves.

This is exactly the kind of electric signing United need to make to bring them back to a respectable position. That famous Theatre of Dreams pull will need to come into play once again.

Related Their best signing since Bruno: £40m target now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to make another superb signing in this summer window.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 22, 2025

أعلن مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي اليوم الأربعاء، عن غياب نجمه المصري عمر مرموش ضد مانشستر يونايتد، خلال اللقاء الذي سيجمع الفريقين بملعب الاتحاد في الجولة الرابعة من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان عمر مرموش قد تعرض لإصابة في الركبة أثناء مشاركته مع منتخب مصر أمام بوركينا فاسو، أمس الثلاثاء، في المباراة التي انتهت بالتعادل السلبي.

وسيجري عمر مرموش مزيدًا من التقييم والفحوصات، وسيحاول بدء عملية تأهيله لمعرفة مدة غيابه عن المشاركة مع مانشستر سيتي.

وكان منتخب مصر قد حقق الفوز ضد اثيوبيا، بهدفين نظيفين، على استاد القاهرة، وسجل مرموش هدفاً من ركلة جزاء، قبل أن يتعادل ضد بوركينا فاسو سلبيًا.

اقرأ أيضاً.. مانشستر سيتي يعلن موقف عمر مرموش من مباراة مانشستر يونايتد

واضطر عمر مرموش لمغادرة الملعب في الدقيقة العاشرة، بعد تعرضه لتدخل عنيف من أحد لاعبي بوركينا فاسو، قبل أن يدخل بدلاً منه أسامة فيصل.

وفيما يلي جاءت ردود أفعال جماهير مانشستر سيتي عبر منصة “إكس” على إصابة عمر مرموش وغيابه عن لقاء ديربي مانشستر ضد مانشستر يونايتد، الأحد المقبل، حيث تمنى أغلبهم تعافي المصري بشكل سريع.

“نتمنى لك الشفاء العاجل”

Speedy recovery to him — Sweep (@0xSweep) September 10, 2025

“يا له من جنون، كيف ينجو مانشستر سيتي مما حدث”

That’s crazy mehn! How do Man City survive this — Davano (@davanoSOL) September 10, 2025

“أحد أكثر المهاجمين الذين لا يتم تقديرهم بشكل كافي في أوروبا حالياً وسوف نشعر بغيابه”

“One of the most underrated forwards in Europe right now, his absence will be felt 💔” pic.twitter.com/eHQWhEVlku — BafsonAlpha📈 (@AbdulkadirRab17) September 10, 2025

“لقد كان لمرموش حضور كبير في الآونة الأخيرة لذا فإن أي انتكاسة سوف تكون محسوسة”

Marmoush has been a big presence lately, so any setback will be felt. — DanAlex🐦‍🔥 (@Danicryrpt) September 10, 2025

“من المحزن رؤية ما حدث لهذا اللاعب، أتمنى له الشفاء العاجل”

Sad to see this ngl.. Wishing him a quick recovery — LibertyCFC (@Goodnessak) September 10, 2025

“ستكون خسارة فادحة، كان يونايتد سيواجه صعوبة بالفعل والآن يكاد يكون من المستحيل على سيتي أن يفوز بالثلاث نقاط”

That’s going to be a huge miss. United was already going to be tough, now it’s almost impossible for City to get 3pts.#MUFC — Krishna Anand (@KrishnaAnand_) September 10, 2025

“ليست أخبار جيدة”

Not a good news🤦 — Az-Zahara 🌺 (@YorubaHausagyal) September 10, 2025

“أتمنى ألا تكون الإصابة قوية”

Hope the injury is not too serious — Osei Adam (@OseiAdam1) September 10, 2025

“نحن بحاجة له أن يعود قريبًا”

We need him to be back soon 🔥 — sirkings media ⚽ (@sirkings97715) September 10, 2025

“3 نقاط سهلة لمانشستر يونايتد يوم الأحد”

Easy 3 points for United on Sunday. — Eric 🇲🇼🇿🇲🇿🇦 (@AliqGiga) September 10, 2025

Manchester United are now willing to trigger the £8m release clause required to sign a “fantastic” Casemiro replacement, according to a report.

Casemiro's future at Man Utd

Widespread recent reports have suggested that Casemiro wants to stay at Man United, following talks with new Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, which could be viewed as a positive, given that the 33-year-old ended the season very well.

The 33-year-old made it clear he was proud of the way he was able to force his way back into the starting XI, saying: “Of course, you want to win titles, but one of the most successful seasons of my career, without a doubt, was this one. For turning things around, with hard work and dedication.”

However, there have been suggestions that the former Real Madrid man is not the player he once was, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher famously claiming the midfielder should call it a day at the top level and move to the MLS or Saudi Arabia.

According to a report from Spain, United are now looking at replacements for Casemiro, given that the Brazilian is past his best, and they are willing to trigger the £8m release clause in Wilfred Ndidi’s Leicester City contract.

The Red Devils don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to sign Ndidi for such a low fee, having tracked the midfielder for quite some time, and the fact he is experienced in the Premier League means it shouldn’t take too long to adapt to life at Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old is viewed as a long-term replacement for Casemiro, but there is also a possibility the two midfielders are used interchangeably next season, should the Brazil international remain at the club.

Related Man Utd could hijack Leeds talks for £21m star who wowed Luis Enrique

Old Trafford chiefs are chasing a new goalkeeper…

Posts ByBrett Worthington Jun 30, 2025 Ndidi could be "fantastic" Casemiro replacement

Should Casemiro decide he wants to stay at Old Trafford, it will be difficult to get him off the books, given that the central midfielder remains under contract for another year, and his £350k-a-week wages could be prohibitive for potential suitors.

However, there are signs that Ndidi could be a solid replacement for the maestro on a long-term basis, having performed very well across some key defensive metrics over the past year, despite Leicester’s relegation from the top flight.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

3.29 (95th percentile)

Blocks

1.82 (93rd percentile)

Clearances

3.10 (97th percentile)

Aerials won

2.36 (96th percentile)

Not only that, but the Nigerian has been lauded as “fantastic” by members of the media, and he is vastly experienced at Premier League level, having made 220 appearances in the competition.

At just £8m, Ndidi could be a bargain addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad, but it doesn’t look like Casemiro will be on the move in the near future.

Shortly after resigning from his role with Sri Lanka, Silverwood joins Tom Moody’s backroom staff

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-2024

Chris Silverwood resigned as Sri Lanka coach after the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

Chris Silverwood has been appointed to his first job in English cricket since he was sacked as England’s head coach, replacing Azhar Mahmood as one of Tom Moody’s assistants at defending champions Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.Silverwood lost his job in the aftermath of England’s 4-0 defeat in Australia in early 2022 but was only out of work for two months, joining Sri Lanka on a two-year contract. That was later extended to include the recent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US, but Silverwood resigned shortly after their group-stage exit, citing a reluctance to spend long periods away from home.Related

Deepti returns to the Hundred with London Spirit

Stokes to link up with Flintoff in Superchargers comeback

Silverwood resigns as Sri Lanka head coach

Noffke leaves Queensland, Brisbane Heat for Otago job

He will now join Moody’s staff at the Invincibles for 2024, ahead of their – and the Hundred’s – opening matchday on Tuesday, against Birmingham Phoenix. Mahmood resigned from his role when he took up a full-time role with Pakistan earlier this year, and Silverwood will join Matt Walker and Jim Troughton in the men’s coaching staff.James Foster, who lost his job as Northern Superchargers coach last year after they won the wooden spoon in the men’s competition, will also return to the Hundred this summer. He has replaced Paul Collingwood as one of Trevor Bayliss’ assistants at London Spirit, with Collingwood unavailable for the start of the tournament while on Test duty with England.The Spirit have added two more assistant coaches to the backroom staff of their women’s team, who are coached by the Australian Ashley Noffke. Ali Maiden, the Yorkshire men’s assistant coach, and Sunrisers’ Marc Broom have both been appointed, and Maiden could be a contender to replace Noffke when he steps down at the end of this season.The most notable coaching appointment in the Hundred this year saw Andrew Flintoff replace Foster as Superchargers head coach in the men’s competition. His first match as a head coach is against Trent Rockets at Headingley on Friday night.

Birmingham City are not slowing down in the summer transfer window in their attempt to bolster their squad ahead of a return to the Championship next season.

The Blues recently confirmed the signings of James Beadle, Tommy Doyle, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Demarai Gray to improve their options across the pitch.

They are not done there, though, as L’Equipe recently reported that Rennes striker Kyogo Furuhashi is closing in on a move to Birmingham for a fee that could rise as high as £10m, which is how much the French side paid to sign him in January from Celtic.

Kyogo, who failed to score in six matches for Rennes, is not the only player who is reportedly on the verge of making the move to St. Andrew’s to join Chris Davies’ squad.

Birmingham City set to complete double deal

A fresh claim from GIVEMESPORT backs up L’Equipe’s news that the Japanese striker is closing in on a transfer to the Championship side this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

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The report adds, though, that the League One champions are also set to sign attacking midfielder Kanya Fujimoto on a free transfer, following his exit from Gil Vicente.

GIVEMESPORT claims that both Kyogo and Fujimoto are ‘expected’ to join the club before the end of the weekend, as the Blues close in on a big double deal.

The outlet reveals that Birmingham kept tabs on the former Gil Vicente star throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and they are now making their move for him.

Why Fujimoto is even more exciting than Kyogo for Birmingham

Despite Kyogo being set to sign for £10m and Fujimoto due to arrive on a free transfer, the latter looks to be the most exciting signing out of the two players.

Birmingham are signing Kyogo off the back of a very difficult season for him. As aforementioned, the striker did not score in six league games for Rennes before being immediately sold six months after joining.

The 30-year-old forward also only scored ten goals from 14.14 xG in a dominant Celtic team in the Premiership during the first half of the season, which shows that he significantly underperformed in front of goal.

This shows that Birmingham are spending a huge fee on a player who is declining and heading into the latter stages of his career, which is a big risk because there is a chance that his form does not improve.

24/25 Liga Portugal

Kanya Fujimoto per 90

Percentile rank vs CMs

xG

4.00

Top 4%

Goals

5

Top 3%

Shots on target

13

Top 5%

xA

2.77

Top 14%

Assists

5

Top 3%

Chances created

35

Top 8%

Successful dribbles

19

Top 16%

Stats via FotMob

Whereas, as you can see in the table above, Fujimoto is arriving at the club off the back of a very impressive season with Gil Vicente in the Portuguese top-flight.

At the age of 26, he is coming into the prime years of his career and appears to be at the top of his game, ranking highly among his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator of goals in Portugal.

Fujimoto was once described as a “silky dribbler who’s dangerous in the pockets behind the striker” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and his statistics back that up, as he ranked highly as a dribbler to go along with his goal contributions.

The Japanese ace is a midfielder who can score and assist goals efficiently, outperforming his xG, and has the performances to suggest that he can hit the ground running at St. Andrew’s.

Related Birmingham City enter race to sign £6m "monster" ahead of Sheffield United

The Blues have joined the race to sign a defender from a Premier League club.

Posts 2 ByBrett Worthington Jul 2, 2025

This is why he is an even more exciting signing for Birmingham than Kyogo, who is coming off the back of a poor year in France and in Scotland, and is not in the prime of his career anymore.

Experimental side captained by Nat Sciver-Brunt made to work before getting home in final over

Valkerie Baynes11-Jul-2024

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone combined to dismiss Suzie Bates•Getty Images

England mixed it up, put it in a test tube, found themselves under pressure and still came out with a win and an unassailable 3-0 lead in their T20I series against New Zealand.Sophie Ecclestone’s four-wicket haul smothered Sophie Devine’s defiance before Alice Capsey’s T20I career-best of 67 not out saw the hosts win by six wickets with four balls to spare in Canterbury.With two matches left, the hosts could well continue their experimental approach which saw Sophia Dunkley take her chance with a 26-ball 35 returning to the top of the order and sharing a 66-run partnership with Capsey to put England in control. Two quick wickets to Fran Jonas preserved the hope that Devine had given New Zealand but Capsey’s 60-ball innings, and an cool cameo by Freya Kemp of 16 not out from eight balls saw England home as the White Ferns were left to rue a rash of missed chances in the field.Devine interventionFrom Suzie Bates’ stunning straight drive for four off the first ball of the match – bringing up her 10,000th international run – to her 52-run partnership with Amelia Kerr for the second wicket, this was more like the batting performance New Zealand had craved. At the end of the powerplay, the White Ferns were 46 for 1 and Kerr took them past the 50-mark with four off Sarah Glenn’s first delivery, a fuller one which she lifted behind square. But when Ecclestone cleaned up both in a devastating first over, Devine needed to produce the sort of innings that had so far eluded her on this tour.With Georgia Plimmer having fallen for a first-ball duck in the opening over, the spectre of New Zealand’s batting woes loomed large again and, at 63 for 3, it fell to Devine and Brooke Halliday to steady them. Devine received a life on 4 when Charlie Dean couldn’t hold a sharp return catch before Halliday spooned a Glenn delivery straight to Nat Sciver-Brunt at long-on. Devine broke a boundary drought lasting 5.4 overs when she struck Dean for two fours in four balls, swung through square leg and thundered through long-on, but as the wickets continued to fall, Devine would have to unleash if they were to turn 100 for 6 into a defendable total.Kemp made it 106 for 7 with a perfect yorker to remove Hannah Rowe but Devine slammed the first six of the match over long-on two balls later then slog-swept Ecclestone for an even bigger one over deep square leg and drove the next ball down the ground for four. Devine brought up her fifty with the first of three fours in a row off Dani Gibson, smashed down the ground, before slashing past short third and ending the innings with a heave through square leg to walk off with her first half-century of the tour.Ecclestone’s incisionsEcclestone came into the attack and struck with her second ball, Bates chipping straight to Sciver-Brunt at mid-off for a 27-ball 38. Kerr swung her bat in anguish after she was beaten a beauty three balls later, a flighted delivery that dipped then gripped off the pitch and sailed past the inside edge onto the top of middle stump. When Ecclestone splattered Izzy Gaze’s off stump with her arm ball, New Zealand were in all sorts of trouble. That’s when Devine shifted gears but Ecclestone claimed her fourth when Leigh Kasperek tried to match her captain’s hitting and heaved across the line, only to miss and see her middle stump rattled. It was the last ball of Ecclestone’s allocation, giving her 4 for 25, her second four-wicket haul in T20Is and bettered only by the 4 for 18 she took against New Zealand at Taunton in 2018.Alice Capsey’s half-century got England over the line•Getty Images

“What-if?” planningEngland made sweeping changes in a piece of “what-if?” planning ahead of the T20 World Cup, as it was described at the toss by Sciver-Brunt, standing in as captain for Heather Knight, who sat out alongside Danni Wyatt and Lauren Bell. That made way at the top of the order for Dunkley to play her first T20I since March. Kemp returned after her unbeaten 26 and 1 for 30 playing again as an allrounder in the opening T20I in Southampton while making her comeback from a back injury. Bell made way for fellow seamer Lauren Filer in the other change, which was in keeping with a theme Knight painted ahead of the T20I series where she said England would look to try different combinations and tactics with a view to needing to adapt to changing conditions in Bangladesh.Having been dropped after England’s tour of New Zealand earlier this year, Dunkley scored 15 in her only other appearance of this visit by the White Ferns, in the third ODI in Bristol. Here she had another chance to show what she could do ahead of the T20 World Cup and the spotlight intensified here when Maia Bouchier fell on the first ball of the run-chase, pinned lbw by Rowe. In Rowe’s next over, Dunkley powered a big six over long-off, then helped herself to three fours – and 15 runs in all – off Devine’s second over, which was the last of the powerplay and ended with England comfortable on 50 for 1. But when left-arm spinner Jonas entered the attack, she had two wickets in two balls, Dunkley cramped by a full ball which drifted in and chopping onto her stumps and Sciver-Brunt to an lbw decision that would have been overturned had she reviewed with ball-tracking showed it was missing leg stump.Capsey, Kemp get the job doneThat left England needing 73 runs in 10 overs and Capsey made the most of her chance when she was pinned on the front pad attempting a reverse sweep off Kasperek and successfully reviewed, the ball shown to be going down the leg side. Amy Jones survived two dropped chances, put down on 11 by Plimmer at long-off and Devine at mid-off on 18 with England needing 28 off 17 balls. Capsey slammed Kerr over long-on for six next ball so that when Jones was run out, the equation was 22 needed from 15.Yet another chance went begging when Maddy Green failed to hold in the deep and Kemp capitalised, cleverly reversing Kasperek to the boundary through short third and smashing the next ball down the ground to leave England with five to get off the last over. They got there with four balls to spare via a streaky four by Capsey off a Jonas misfield.

أعلن الإسباني روبرتو مارتينيز، المدير الفني لمنتخب البرتغال الأول لكرة القدم تشكيل لاعبيه لمواجهة أرمينيا، في إطار منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

ويستهل منتخب البرتغال مشواره في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لـ كأس العالم 2026 والتي ستقام بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك وكندا، بمواجهة أرمينيا خارج ملعبه.

ويقع منتخب البرتغال في المجموعة السادسة في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 إلى جانب منتخبات المجر وأرمينيا وأيرلندا.

وكان المنتخب البرتغالي قد توج ببطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية للمرة الثانية في تاريخه بعد الفوز على نظيره الإسباني بركلات الترجيح. تشكيل البرتغال اليوم أمام أرمينيا في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

في حراسة المرمى: ديوجو كوستا.

في خط الدفاع: جواو كانسيلو – جونزالو إيناسيو – روبن دياز – نونو مينديز.

في خط الوسط: جواو نيفيز – برونو فرنانديز – فيتينيا.

في خط الهجوم: جواو فيليكس – بيدرو نيتو – كريستيانو رونالدو.

O 𝗫𝗜 𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 para o jogo frente à Arménia 🦾#FazHistória | #ARMPOR #WCQ pic.twitter.com/U19m6EX78b — Portugal (@selecaoportugal) September 6, 2025