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What to do with Rasmus Hojlund? On one hand, the Dane is a talented young striker who cost Manchester United a sum of £72m in 2023; on the other, he flattered to deceive across the 2024/25 campaign, wholly unconvincing.

Ruben Amorim took the wheel of a sinking ship when he replaced Erik ten Hag last November, but there’s no denying the Portuguese tactician failed to get the desired tune out of his Red Devils troops.

United finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. The whole team lacked fluency and confidence, but Hojlund did himself few favours, scoring just three goals across 32 league games, averaging only one shot per game, as per Sofascore.

His woes have led to the expectation, or at least anticipation, that he will be offloaded this summer, and while Inter Milan have registered their interest this summer, talks are on standby; Jason Wilcox, technical director at Old Trafford, is unsure whether he will be signing off the 22-year-old’s departure, who reportedly wants to stay put.

While Hojlund’s future remains up in the air, it’s clear that INEOS and Amorim are congruent in their view that a new, high-performing centre-forward is needed.

Let’s have a look at the latest.

The latest on Man Utd's striker search

They started with Liam Delap. Man United were very much among the clubs interested in the Ipswich Town striker after his side’s relegation from the Premier League, thus unlocking his £30m release clause.

But it was Chelsea who activated the clause and added him to their ranks.

Still, United’s signing of Cunha and prospective transfer for Mbeumo could redefine Amorim’s frontline, and therre are other number nines who could be enticed by this resurgence-chasing team.

Sadly, it doesn’t look like that striker will be Viktor Gyokeres, who is on strike at Sporting Lisbon as he looks to engineer a move to Arsenal, which is now entering the final stages according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Gunners’ shortlist came down to two, and they can’t have both. Therefore, a door has been opened for United to make a stunning swoop.

Man Utd in contact for new striker

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Man United are among the contenders for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is valued at €90m (roughly £78m).

It’s that substantial price tag which effectively ended Arsenal’s long-standing interest in the Slovenia international, instead pushing ahead with the deal for Gyokeres.

It may prove to work out just fine for the Red Devils, though, for Sesko’s camp have made contact with United as they look to secure the 22-year-old the high-profile transfer he craves.

However, Wilcox will need to work swiftly if he’s to lift the mood on the red side of Manchester, with Bailey confirming Liverpool and Newcastle United are also informed on Sesko’s situation.

Why Man Utd must sign Benjamin Sesko

Sesko will be aware that signing for Man United this summer would mean a season without continental competition. But then Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe last term, and the Devils have ambitious plans that the rangy forward would help realise.

Described as “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sesko’s clinical nature, his pace and his physicality all combine to offer similarities to the game of Manchester City’s world-class goalscorer.

Sesko might not be as complete as Gyokeres (yet), but he’s the making of a world-class striker, with analyst Ben Mattinson even saying earlier in 2025 that he has a “superior profile” to the Sweden star.

It might not look like that at face value, with Gyokeres scoring 97 goals and supplying 28 assists across 102 matches for Sporting Lisbon, winning the Liga Portugal in each of his two terms.

Furthermore, the 27-year-old proved his quality in the Champions League last year, dispatching a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City while under Amorim’s wing.

But Gyokeres is no spring chicken and has yet to compete in one of Europe’s top five divisions. Sesko, however, is competing in a tougher league, with less dominance to exert his authority.

Thus, it could be surmised that the Slovenian would produce a lofty tally of his own, were he playing as Sporting’s number nine in Portugal.

Benjamin Sesko – German Bundesliga Career
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)	31 (17)	33 (30)
Goals	14	13
Assists	2	5
Touches*	19.1	30.7
Shots (on target)*	1.5 (0.8)	2.1 (0.9)
Big chances missed	8	10
Pass completion	67%	68%
Big chances created	1	5
Key passes*	0.4	0.6
Dribbles*	0.5	1.2
Duels won*	2.5	4.1
Data via Sofascore

Clearly, passing isn’t his strong suit, but Sesko’s strength and movement as a frontman are things to be admired, having made real headway across the physical aspects of the game.

He’s getting better and better, and it’s certainly intriguing to note that only 18 big chances have gone begging across his past two Bundesliga campaigns, having scored 27 goals.

In fact, Sesko’s 39-goal, eight-assist return for Leipzig, across two seasons, has come over just 87 matches in all competitions, 62 of which came from the outset.

With Matheus Cunha and hopefully Bryan Mbeumo too flanking Amorim’s central striker at the Theatre of Dreams next season, Sesko would have the experienced, Premier League-proven teammates to bolster him and help him realise his potential.

And that potential is vast. Who knows whether Sesko would hit the ground running – or Gyokeres, for that matter – but Amorim is looking to turn Old Trafford back into a hothouse for development and success, and Sesko could be the perfect man to lead the line for many years to come.

The new Carrick: Wilcox racing to sign "incredible" £86m CM for Man Utd

Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign a midfielder who could be their next Michael Carrick.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 13, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to grant a discounted transfer away for one of their star players, with chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites recruitment team conceding their inability to demand a large fee.

Tottenham advancing move for £24m defender after 'emerging' as favourites

Spurs have been told what it would take to get a deal done.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025

Spurs boss Thomas Frank oversaw an unprecedented two pre-season friendlies on Saturday, as two separate first-team sides took on Wycombe Wanderers at the Hotspur Way training ground and Luton Town at Kenilworth Road respectively.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Frank’s reason for this was to give as many minutes to his players as possible, before flying out for their pre-season tour of Asia, and Spurs are reportedly just as busy off the field as they are on the grass.

Levy and technical director Johan Lange sealed the signing of Mohammed Kudus in a £55 million deal from West Ham earlier this month, following on from their signings of Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and Kota Takai, with Spurs in the market for further upgrades.

Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White was a key target for Frank in that regard.

The England international had been booked in for a medical just over two weeks ago, but his once-imminent move to N17 was blocked by Evangelos Marinakis. Despite Forest’s threat of legal action for an alleged ‘illegal’ approach, Tottenham were thought to still be prioritising a deal for Gibbs-White.

However, following a sensational Saturday night twist, the 25-year-old is now poised to stay at Forest and has even put pen to paper on a new three-year contract – dealing a hammer blow to Frank and Levy in their search for a number 10.

As the club attempt to get more new attackers over the line, with Brentford striker Yoane Wissa also a target for Spurs, uncertainty surrounds the future of legend Son Heung-min.

The South Korea star will be a key centre-piece on their tour of the Far East, given his status as an heroic figure in that part of the world, and reports suggest that Tottenham won’t be able to sell Son until they return from Asia as a result.

In any case, Son has plenty of suitors in the meantime.

Tottenham in talks with Los Angeles FC over selling Son Heung-min

Chief among them is MLS side Los Angeles FC, with renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that Steve Cherundolo’s side have made an approach to the 33-year-old.

Now, GiveMeSport have an update on this, and the outlet reports that Tottenham are in talks with LAFC over selling Son as negotiations between “all parties” continue.

What’s more, Levy and co are prepared to sell him to the States for as little as £15 million. This is to make his exit as smooth as possible in a bid to honour the player’s decade-long service, with Spurs chiefs conceding that they’re unlikely to get their £35 million valuation from an MLS side.

The “superstar” does have interest from Saudi Arabia, but Son isn’t particularly keen on a move to the Middle East.

Called one of the Premier League’s most underrated ever players, supporters will be sad to bid goodbye to Son, but winning the Europa League last season was a perfect way to call time on his memorable Tottenham career.

“What he brings to the team. Goals, of course, but his energy, his assists, the way he plays the game with a smile on his face,” said Robbie Keane to talkSPORT in 2022.

“For me, he’s the most underrated player in Premier League history. He could play for any team in the world.”

Arsenal’s transfer plans include the potential signing of a Premier League star before summer deadline day on September 1, with sporting director Andrea Berta identifying one Aston Villa star as a key long-term target.

Mikel Arteta is gearing up for what will be a vital 2025/2026 season.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 19, 2025

The Spaniard, discounting Community Shields, has been pursuing his second piece of major silverware since their 2020 FA Cup triumph at Wembley, even though Arsenal have backed him to the hilt with a net-spend of around £487 million in that period.

The pressure is well and truly on Arteta to deliver glory after many years building the project, even if they have come mightily close to ending their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title on a couple of occasions.

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

Man City’s imperiousness is largely to blame for Arsenal’s lack of title celebrations over the last three years, with injuries to key players and a lack of cutting edge resulting in Arteta surrendering the crown to Liverpool last campaign.

The north Londoners will need to back their manager again with new signings over the coming months, if they hope to close the large gap between them and Arne Slot’s champions.

According to various reports, Arsenal are attempting to sign a new striker, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres both at the top of their wishlist (BBC).

Bukayo Saka’s long injury lay-off midway through 2024/2025 hamstrung Arteta’s chances of ever catching Liverpool, while Leandro Trossard is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, so Arsenal remain in the market for a winger too.

A few interesting names have been linked in the last few weeks, including Real Madrid star Rodrygo, Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, but the latter is closing on on a move to Barcelona after agreeing personal terms (The Athletic).

An alternative to the highly-rated Williams, who was rumoured to be a top target, comes in the form of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

The England international could be just as difficult to prise away from Villa Park, but according to Football Transfers, Unai Emery may have to cash-in.

Aston Villa could be forced to sell Morgan Rogers to Arsenal

The outlet claims that Villa may reluctantly sell Rogers if they recieve a £50 million-plus bid from Arsenal, indicating that a deal could be there for Arteta thanks to their rival’s PSR concerns.

Berta has apparently identified the former Middlesbrough star as a long-term target, and Villa are already pushing ahead with their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in response, as they weigh up Rogers’ replacement.

Villa anticipate an Arsenal bid for Rogers this summer and are increasingly concerned they’ll lose the 22-year-old, so this could be one to watch.

There is little denying that one of the Premier League’s most impressive sensations from last season would be a stellar capture, either.

“There’s no doubt he’s an exceptional player,” journalist Charles Watts said about Rogers’ links to Arsenal.

“Arsenal saw that first hand last season, especially in the game at Villa Park at the start of the campaign when he gave them all sorts of problems. The expectation is that Aston Villa might have some PSR difficulties that they will have to navigate this summer having failed to qualify for the Champions league and it could be that they are forced into a sale of a player they would ideally not want to let go.

“Rogers is one of those players who has been mentioned as a potential departure and that’s no surprise given the way he has developed since moving from Middlesbrough.

“When it comes to Arsenal, I think he would be a welcome addition should they interest firm up into anything more concrete.”

Leeds United are going to be playing Premier League football next season and will have to use the summer transfer window to build a squad that can compete at the top level.

Daniel Farke can look at what one of his predecessors, Marcelo Bielsa, did in the 2020/21 campaign, when the Whites stayed up in the top-flight and finished in the top half.

The Argentine head coach helped the club to avoid relegation, and set them on their way to avoiding the drop in the 2021/22 season too, and the players he had at his disposal played a key role in that.

Stars like Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford Rodrigo, and Raphinha may have stolen the headlines, but Mateusz Klich went under the radar with a return of four goals and five assists in the Premier League from a midfield position.

Leeds make first offer for midfield target

Leeds are active in the current summer transfer window to bolster their squad and are reportedly eyeing up a deal for a star who could be Farke’s own version of the Poland international.

Transfer Focus

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

According to L’Equipe, the Championship champions have submitted their first offer, worth around £22m, to Strasbourg in an attempt to sign central midfielder Habib Diarra.

The report claims that the French side have not yet responded to the bid, but they are waiting to see if any other teams come in with counter-offers, amid interest from clubs in Germany and England.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Evening Post has confirmed that an offer has been made, but adds that other targets in that position are felt to be more likely at this moment in time.

Why Diarra could be Klich 2.0

If Leeds can get a deal over the line for Diarra, then Farke could have his own version of Klich in the Premier League next season, because he is a well-rounded midfield star who can impact games in and out of possession.

The 21-year-old talent, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed will have a “huge future” in the game, played regularly in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg in the 2024/25 campaign and caught the eye with his displays in the middle of the park.

Diarra played 29 Ligue 1 games or more in each of the last three seasons, which shows that he has plenty of top-flight experience in a major European league, and this term was his best so far from a performance point of view.

Appearances

30

35

Goals

4

4

Big chances created

9

3

Assists

5

5

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

1.3x

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

1.4

Duels won per game

3.3

2.4

As you can see in the table above, his performances in Ligue 1 this season were incredibly similar to Klich’s in the Premier League when Leeds avoided the drop in the 2020/21 campaign.

These statistics show that Diarra could emulate his impact at the top end of the pitch by delivering a respectable number of goals and assists from a box-to-box midfield position, whilst potentially being even more creative when you look at the ‘big chances’ that he created.

The chart above further illustrates the similarities between the two players, particularly when it comes to scoring and creating goals, which suggests that he could be a very similar player to Klich for Farke.

Diarra’s ability to combine defensive work, as he is rarely dribbled past, with his attacking output suggests that he could be a very valuable player for the German boss in the Premier League, as he could impact games at both ends of the pitch.

He must go before Bamford: Leeds have told £11m flop he will now be sold

Leeds have told this flop that he must leave this summer, and the dud must go before Patrick Bamford.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025

However, the Yorkshire Evening Post did report that other midfield targets are more likely, so it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites will be able to get a deal over the line for this star.

Manchester City’s strong end to the season continues.

On Friday night, the Sky Blues beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at the Etihad with, who else, Kevin De Bruyne the only scorer.

Having now won four Premier League games on the spin, Pep Guardiola’s team now have second place well within their sights, widely expected to continue their winning streak on Saturday, considering they’ll be facing rock-bottom Southampton.

Despite this recent upturn in form, which includes reaching a third successive FA Cup Final, Guardiola still insists that this season has been a disaster, hence why he’s planning to spend big this summer, so could he go shopping within the league?

Manchester City's midfield target

The Blues are lining up a big-money move this summer with the likes of £100m-rated Morgan Gibbs-White now in their sights and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz also a target.

That said, could it be another Premier League star who Pep and Co turn to?

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to a report in Spain, Manchester City ‘have submitted’ an offer of £55m to Tottenham Hotspur for the services of James Maddison, who they claim is viewed as the long-term ‘successor’ to the outgoing De Bruyne.

Maddison would surely add a touch of creativity and vision to Man City’s midfield, something that has been lacking throughout this season.

The 28-year-old England international joined Spurs from Leicester City for a reported fee of £40m two summers ago but, with Tottenham currently down in 16th, no European football next season could force them to sell key assets, unless they’re able to win the Europa League of course.

So, would Maddison be a good signing for Manchester City, and which recent move would this be reminiscent of?

How Maddison compares to Jack Grealish

Of course, the Sky Blues are no strangers to signing high-profile English international attacking midfielders from within the Premier League, breaking the then-British transfer record to secure the services of Jack Grealish for £100m in 2021.

Now coming towards the end of his fourth season at the Etihad, Grealish’s Man City career can be split into two distinct parts, as the table below outlines.

Grealish’s Manchester City career in numbers
Statistics	21/22	22/23	23/24	24/25
Appearances	39	50	36	31
Minutes	2,730	3,487	2,114	1,520
Goals	6	5	3	3
Assists	4	11	3	5
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the numbers emphasise, during Grealish’s first two seasons in Manchester, he was a regular starter and key contributor, but this has certainly not been the case during this campaign or the last, starting only one Premier League fixture since Christmas.

So, would Maddison be able to replicate the form of great Grealish should he make the move to the Etihad?

Well, let’s compare the duo this season to help answer that question.

Grealish vs Maddison 2024/25 comparison
Statistics	Grealish	Maddison
Appearances	31	45
Minutes	1,520	2,717
Goals	3	12
Assists	5	11
Goals – xG	+0.1	+4.2
Shots on target %	32.3%	46.6%
Pass completion %	87.7%	81.5%
Attempted take-ons	37	106
Take-on success %	37.8%	41.5%
Big chances created	3	8
Progressive carries	92	62
Progressive passes	71	221
Touches per 90	36	66
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table highlights, Maddison’s statistics this season are almost universally more impressive than Grealish’s for every metric included.

He’s certainly a more progressive passer, while simply on goals and assists alone, the Spurs star – who is “unbelievable” in the eyes of Sky Sports pundit Darren Ambrose – has a lot more end product.

The one problem could be that Maddison’s season may actually be over.

Ange Postecoglou stated that he is “concerned” his star midfielder could require knee surgery, which would be a major blow because, as Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic argues, he might just be Tottenham’s most-important player, given ‘how good he is at finding those pockets of space’.

Thus, any potential summer sale would be a massive blow for Spurs but, on the flip side, this would be a major coup for Man City.

He'd be amazing with Haaland: Man City pushing to sign £100m "magician"

Erling Haaland could be boosted in attack if Manchester City snap up this exciting star.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 4, 2025

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been vital to their success over the last few years, cementing himself as one of the best defenders in world football.

The Dutchman, who’s out of contract at the end of the season, has won five major honours during his time at Anfield, including a Premier League and Champions League triumph.

The 33-year-old will go down in club history for his showings in Merseyside, making over 300 appearances for the first team, with many hoping he can add to his tally next season – but the hierarchy will need to sort his contract scenario out as soon as possible.

Whilst the £75m forked out for his signature back in January 2018 may have appeared to be a mammoth sum, he’s been worth every penny, catapulting the Reds to their various levels of success.

His big-money move is one of the biggest deals in the club’s history, but they could be about to land a move just as impressive in the summer, massively strengthening Arne Slot’s first-team squad in the process.

Liverpool preparing £115m bid for Premier League star

According to one Spanish outlet, Liverpool are preparing a £115m bid to land Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak this summer, but face huge interest from elsewhere.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in recent times, with the Magpies massively reluctant to offload their key man this summer.

The Swede has thrived this campaign, notching 24 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions, including in the Carabao Cup final against Slot’s side – denying him his first trophy since taking the reins.

The report states that Eddie Howe’s side do not want to sell their star man this window, but understand the Reds’ interest is serious, with the 25-year-old potentially able to leave should they fail to achieve Champions League qualification.

Whilst it would be a club-record transfer, matching the English record in the process, a move for Isak would massively improve the current attacking department, making Slot’s side an even bigger threat in 2025/26.

How Isak compares to Liverpool’s current striker options

Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota have often shared the responsibility of leading the line for Liverpool in 2024/25, but have often struggled during key moments.

The Portuguese striker may have notched the winning goal in the Merseyside derby last week, but has failed to deliver on a consistent basis, only scoring nine goals across his 31 appearances in all competitions.

As for Nunez, he’s also been a disappointment this campaign, evidently not being the man to take the Reds to the next level under the guidance of the Dutchman.

His tally of seven goals in his 42 appearances throughout this season, works out to just one in every 4.5 outings – a record simply not good enough if the club are to continue their dominance in the Premier League.

Such form could see Slot turn to Isak in the summer window, with the 25-year-old massively outperforming the aforementioned pair this year – highlighting the elite-level talent he possesses.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “the best striker in the world” by one analyst, has massively outscored the pair, offering another dimension to the club’s forward line.

He’s also managed to complete more take-ons and also completed more passes he’s attempted, offering an all-round number nine, something which the Reds have desperately lacked in recent years.

Games played

26

20

25

Goals & assists

25

9

7

Shot-on-target accuracy

46%

30%

39%

Pass accuracy

74%

70%

71%

Shot-creating actions

3.3

3

2.2

Take-on success

49%

39%

38%

Progressive passes

2.8

2.6

2

Whilst the touted fee would be a mammoth investment from the hierarchy, it would be a deal that would be worth every penny – taking the side to new heights under Slot.

Although competition will be high for his signature this summer, the club’s current league standing and European qualification could give them the edge in the race – making him the biggest deal since Van Dijk and arguably the most important for their ambitions of reaching the next level.

Liverpool must boldly sell "priceless" star earning more than Diaz & Jones

Liverpool, heading for the Premier League title, are set for a summer of change.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 5, 2025

He has the ability to bat at any tempo and he showed an ability to overcome difficult batting conditions

Deivarayan Muthu26-Jan-20252:01

Tilak Varma’s finishing reminds Manjrekar of MS Dhoni

An Indian No.3 picks up Jofra Archer over long leg for six in T20I cricket. One of the fastest bowlers in the world is left stunned. The shot leaves jaws on the floor.It happened in 2021 in Ahmedabad. History repeated itself four years later in Chennai. Except the No.3 wasn’t Suryakumar Yadav this time. Tilak Varma did SKY things – like owning the spaces behind square – and added his own touch.The odds were stacked against Tilak: Archer and company clocked speeds north of 150kph, Adil Rashid was getting the ball to rip, wickets kept tumbling around him and the Chepauk pitch was not conductive to strokeplay. This unbeaten 72 off 55 balls was a coming of age innings. India’s regular No.3 in T20Is and captain Suryakumar was so impressed that he bowed down to Tilak after he nervelessly finished a chase of 166 with four balls to spare. Tilak also bowed down to Suryakumar before they exchanged hugs, with the Chepauk crowd cheering on India’s No.3s.The mood at the start of the chase was very different. Archer and Wood had ripped out Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson with 148kph rockets. Everyone held their breath when a similar rapid delivery from Wood beat Tilak on the hook and whooshed past his head. Everyone except Tilak. He still kept throwing punches. With the black-soil Chepauk track playing true to its nature and slowing down, he understood that he had to maximise the powerplay.Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav bow down to each other after India’s thrilling win•BCCITilak manufactured swinging room, exposed his stumps, and violently cracked Archer over point for four to start the fifth over. Then, when Archer slanted into into his pads next ball, he unleashed that pick-up shot over long leg for six. Two balls later, when Archer aimed for Tilak’s head, he spliced him over the keeper’s head for six more in a thrilling sequence. In all, Tilak took Archer for 30 off nine balls – no other batter has scored more runs off Archer in a T20 innings. In the end, Archer was left nursing his worst T20 figures: 4-0-60-1.Related

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“If you see I want to target [England’s] best bowlers,” Tilak said at his post-match press conference. ‘If you take on their best bowlers, other bowlers will be under pressure. So, [even] when the wickets are falling, I want to take their best bowler. It’s easier for the [batter] at the other end also. So I backed myself and I took chances against him. And also whatever shots I have scored for Archer, I have worked in the nets. Mentally I was ready for that. So, it has given me a good result.”Tilak’s ultra-aggression would’ve even made England coach Brendon McCullum proud, but he was prepared to dial it down after India suffered a middle-order slide. With the surface also offering more grip and turn to the spinners in the second innings, Tilak sat back and saw off Rashid, England’s lone specialist spinner.In Rashid’s last over, Tilak farmed the strike and dealt with the first five balls before leaving the No. 9, Arshdeep Singh, just the bare minimum to do. Though Arshdeep holed out the next ball, Tilak stayed cool, farmed the strike again and got the job done along with No.10 Ravi Bishnoi.2:56

Tilak: I was only thinking of batting till the end

“I know I can play both types [of innings],” Tilak said. “I can hit with a good strike rate and also at 6 or 7 [runs per over], I can bat at a higher strike rate. That is what I have discussed with Gautam [Gambhir] sir in the last match. He said that you can play with a good strike rate over 10 [an over] also and below 10 [an over] also. When team requires, you should be flexible and I got the chance to prove it in this game.”I said that I will be playing till the end. And that is what Gautam sir also said during the drinks break. He said that it is a time that you can show the people that you can play both the innings. So, I said that whatever happens I will be staying till the end and I want to finish the game.”Tilak shifted up the gears and did finish the chase in grand style with a drilled four through the covers off a slower variation from Jamie Overton. Coming off back-to-back T20I hundreds on fairly flat pitches in South Africa, this innings, in tougher conditions to see off a chase that required thought and nuance, showed that Tilak might be a Swiss army knife of a batter. Versatile, adaptable and powerful.With Tilak also acing the No.3 role – he has scores of 72*, 120*, 107* in his last three innings there – he gives India the option of maintaining a left-right combination, if Abhishek falls early, and holding Suryakumar back. And if India can’t find room for Washington Sundar once the first-choice players return from injury, Tilak can pitch in with his occasional offspin and fill that hole as well.Tilak is only 22, but he’s already opened up endless possibilities for India in T20Is

The overseas contingent led the way, and Krunal showed his captaincy wares in Rahul’s absence, but Hooda’s poor form didn’t help

Ekanth25-May-20235:02

Moody: LSG did well but need Indian batting depth

Where they finished

Position on table: Third after the league stage, with 17 points
Wins: Eight
Losses: Five
No result: One
Lucknow Super Giants made it to the playoffs for the second time in two years but were knocked out in the Eliminator once again, this time losing to Mumbai Indians in Chennai. Despite KL Rahul’s campaign ending early with a thigh injury, Krunal Pandya led them to three wins in their four league games. But Rahul’s absence, and the underwhelming returns from their other Indian batters, hurt them in the Eliminator.

The good: The overseas contingent

With Quinton de Kock away on national duty, Kyle Mayers started the tournament for LSG. His rollicking knocks – three half-centuries in his first three outings – meant de Kock had to warm the bench for a fair few games even when he was available. De Kock finally got his chance when Rahul was ruled out. He scored 143 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 140.19 but was left out for the Eliminator, a move that sparked a debate.If Mayers gave LSG flying starts, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran took care of the middle order, turning games around with their audacious hitting.Stoinis had his most productive season with the bat, topping the run charts for LSG with a tally of 408. He scored those runs at a strike rate of 150 and notched up three fifties. His all-round skills came to the fore against Rajasthan Royals, where he dismissed Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal to help his side defend 154.Pooran was fearless with the bat. His 15-ball half-century against Royal Challengers Bangalore helped LSG chase down 213. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he combined with Stoinis to smash Abhishek Sharma for 31 runs in a game-changing over.LSG’s musclemen: Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis•BCCINaveen-ul-Haq came good in his debut IPL season, making full use of the opportunity he got due to Mark Wood’s illness. Wood had picked up 11 wickets in just four games, but the slow tracks at the Ekana Cricket Stadium meant LSG persisted with Naveen even after Wood had recovered. Naveen ended the season with 11 wickets from eight games, his four-for in the Eliminator going a long way in restricting Mumbai to 182.Among Indian players, Ravi Bishnoi continued his growth by taking 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.74, while Yash Thakur impressed with 13 wickets from nine games at 9.07.

Poll

The bad: Hooda’s horrid season

Deepak Hooda was one of the key Indian players for LSG, more so after Rahul’s injury. But he could muster only 84 runs in 12 innings with a best of 17. Ayush Badoni and Krunal played a couple of handy knocks but in the games where Stoinis and Pooran failed, the middle order looked brittle.With Mohsin Khan not available for the first nine games, Avesh Khan was expected to shoulder extra responsibility. But he had a forgettable season. In nine games, he picked up just eight wickets at an economy of 9.75. With Naveen getting the nod over Wood, LSG missed a strike bowler in the powerplay.

Top performer: Nicholas Pooran

Once he get going, which he did more often than not, Pooran was unstoppable. His ability to attack from ball one is what allowed him to rack up two 40-plus scores at a strike rate of 300-plus: a 19-ball 62 against RCB and a 13-ball 44 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both innings illustrate his intelligent selection of boundary options. He finished the season with 26 fours and as many sixes. He was severe against pace bowlers, scoring at a strike rate of 198.14. Against spin, it was slightly lower – 145.45 – but only by Pooran’s standards.

The highlights

• LSG racked up 257 for 5 – the second-highest in the history of IPL – in a record-tumbling innings against Punjab Kings in Mohali. Only two of the 20 overs did not feature a boundary.
• The 31 runs ransacked by Pooran and Stoinis off Abhishek in the 16th over against Sunrisers were the joint-most in an over in IPL 2023.
• Pooran’s 15-ball fifty against RCB is the joint-third-fastest in the IPL.

Hazlewood needed only 25 balls to pick up a five-for

Gaurav Sundararaman19-Dec-2020ESPNcricinfo Ltd 36 India’s lowest ever score in Test history. The previous lowest was 42 against England way back in 1974. That was also in the third innings of the match but India were following on.1 The very first instance in all of Test cricket that all 11 batsmen, and extras, couldn’t cross single-figures in an innings. The highest scorer was Mayank Agarwal, who made 9. In the only other instance when all 11 batsmen made single-digit scores – South Africa against England at Edgbaston in 1924 – extras contributed 11 to the total of 30. 19 Lowest score for India at the loss of six wickets in Tests. Their previous was 25 . There have only been seven lower scores at the loss of the sixth wicket in Test history across all teams. 25 Deliveries taken by Josh Hazlewood to complete his five-wicket haul.The fastest five-for from the start of a bowling spell in a Test is 19 balls, set by Australia’s Ernie Toshack against India in Brisbane in 1947-48, and equalled by Stuart Broad for England against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2015.8 – Runs conceded by Hazlewood. Only twice has an Australian bowler conceded fewer runs in an innings in which he has taken five for more wickets. 1.6 Third most-economical five-wicket haul for Australia in Tests and the best since 1947 when Toshak took 5 for 2. 31 Matches for Pat Cummins to take 150 Test wickets, the joint Second-fastest for Australia. He shares this feat with Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. Clarrie Grimett was the quickest though getting to 150 Test wickets in 28 Tests. 19 Innings for Agarwal to reach 1000 Test runs. He is the third-quickest from India to this feat. Vinod Kambli and Cheteshwar Pujara are the two players who achieved it quicker in 14 and 18 innings respectively. 1 Loss for India when Virat Kohli has won the toss. Under these conditions, previously, he had played 25 matches and won 21 with four draws.8 This was the eighth win for Australia in day-night Tests. They are yet to lose one of these.

MatériaMais Notícias

O duelo entre Nova Iguaçu e Vasco, pelo jogo de volta da semifinal do Campeonato Carioca, já tem local definido. A Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Ferj) oficializou, na tarde desta quarta-feira (13), o Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, em Volta Redonda, como palco da partida de domingo, às 16h (de Brasília).

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Mandante, o Nova Iguaçu havia solicitado ao consórcio administrado por Flamengo e Fluminense para levar a partida para o Maracanã. No entanto, não houve resposta por parte dos administradores do estádio, e a Ferj aguardou “até o limite máximo operacional” para dar um veredito.

No jogo de ida, disputada no Maracanã, Nova Iguaçu e Vasco empataram em 1 a 1. Xandinho abriu o placar para o Laranjão, e Lucas Pitón deixou tudo igual para o Cruz-Maltino. Para o duelo decisivo, a equipe da Baixada Fluminense tem a vantagem do empate para alcançar a grande final, por ter se classificado à frente do Gigante na Taça Ganabara.

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➡️ Autor de gol sobre o Vasco, Xandinho comenta momento do Nova Iguaçu: ‘Coragem sempre’

Confira a nota da Ferj sobre o local de Nova Iguaçu x Vasco:

A Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro aguardou até o limite máximo operacional a indicação do estádio para a realização da semifinal Nova Iguaçu x Vasco.
O Laranjão da Baixada, clube mandante, indicou o Estádio Raulino de Oliveira.

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Campeonato CariocaNova IguaçuVasco