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Top Story: Klaasen sends England’s title-defence hopes spiralling

Heinrich Klaasen crumpled to his haunches in a dripping mess after every shot. In between whiles, he flayed England’s bowlers for a 61-ball century to set up an emphatic South Africa victory at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.The brutality of Klaasen’s 109 from just 67 balls all told matched the harshness of the heat and humidity which had also left England bowler David Willey cramping throughout South Africa’s innings, ending on 399 for 7 and requiring the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history. England capitulated instead, crashing to 170 all out in 22 overs and suffering their heaviest ODI defeat.Click here for the full report

Match analysis: Classy Klaasen digs deep to make Wankhede his Colosseum

Heinrich Klaasen brought up his maiden World Cup ton off 61 balls•Associated Press

Heinrich Klaasen was so spent by the time he faced his 61st delivery, the one he pulled wide of fine leg to bring up his fourth ODI hundred, that almost immediately after he raised his bat in celebration and screamed, his knees gave way and he ended up in a squat. His face contorted between unbridled exhilaration expressed directly at Mark Wood, to ultimate exhaustion and eventually to the realisation of the unquestionable enormity of the moment: this was not just his first century at a World Cup, it was a century against the defending champions in a match South Africa earmarked as must-win after their chastening defeat to Netherlands earlier in the week.As the emotions sunk in, Klaasen composed himself, and acknowledged his team-mates and the crowd, which included his wife and daughter, and the heavens. Then, he went straight to Wood to apologise, several times. Wood settled on a fist-bump or three and Klaasen could have his moment back but only until the next wave of weariness set in. Then it was back onto his haunches to try to conserve the energy to bat to the end, and summon the reserves to keep finding the boundary. It’s a small ground but today it felt like a cauldron and Klaasen had to both absorb and transfer the heat.Read the full analysis from Firdose Moonda in Mumbai

Must Watch: What’s gone wrong for England

1:40

What’s gone wrong for England?

Match report: Sri Lanka overcome Engelbrecht-led resistance to finally open their account

An unbeaten 91 from Sadeera Samarawickrama shepherded home a tricky chase as Sri Lanka overcame a resilient Dutch outfit and finally got points on the board. The result means Sri Lanka join Afghanistan, Netherlands, Bangladesh and England on two points after four games; they did however go past Afghanistan on net run rate – before England plummeted later in the evening – to move off the very bottom of the table.Set a target of 263, the chase was built around key partnerships – the first a counter-attacking 30-ball 34 between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, to recover from the early loss of Kusal Perera, followed by more substantial stands of 52, 77 and 76 – with Samarawickrama a key cog throughout.Click here for the full report

Match analysis: Sri Lanka find new lionhearts in sloppy-to-sublime performance

7:49

Maharoof: The new-ball spell of Madushanka and Rajitha set up the win

It’s the 47th over of Netherlands’ innings. Logan van Beek, running between the wickets, is nowhere near safety and has resigned to fate. Substitute fielder Dunith Wellalage flicks the throw from cover to Chamika Karunaratne, who botches a simple run out chance at the bowler’s end. Van Beek gets to his maiden ODI half-century.Then in the penultimate over, van Beek heaves Kasun Rajitha’s slower ball to the deep midwicket. Charith Asalanka covers some ground first before throwing himself full stretch on the edge of the boundary. It was towards the shorter side and momentum could’ve taken it over, but for Asalanka’s athleticism and balance.Read the full analysis from Shashank Kishore in Lucknow

News headlines

• Rahul Dravid has expressed disagreement with the two “average” pitch ratings that ICC match referees have dished out in the first 11 days of the 2023 ODI World Cup. In doing so he has called for greater diversity in the kinds of surfaces that will be considered “good” or “very good” – the ICC’s highest pitch ratings.
• Travis Head will slot straight back in at the top of Australia’s batting order when he is cleared to return to action, which could be as soon as their next game against Netherlands in Delhi on Wednesday, meaning a move down the list for the in-form Mitchell Marsh.

Match preview

India vs New Zealand, Dharamsala (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEDT5:39

Bond: NZ vs India’s top three could be the decider

Ask any ardent Indian fan which is their second-favourite cricket team, and New Zealand will remain a common answer. Ask the same set of fans which team spooks them the most when it comes to ICC events: New Zealand will once again be the unanimous reply. Why you ask.Southampton 2021. Nagpur 2016 and Dubai 2021. Manchester 2019.It’s probably the memories of the last one here that has most Indian fans flinch. And as much as India would like to deny it, New Zealand have been their bogey team over the years. There are numbers to back this up. In all ICC events since 1992 (considering only the final from the WTC 2019-21 and 2021-23 cycles), India have beaten New Zealand just once in nine attempts.Full previewTeam newsIndia (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Suryakumar Yadav/Ishan Kishan, 8 Shardul Thakur/Mohammed Shami, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mohammed SirajNew Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Tom Latham (capt & wk), 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mark Chapman, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent Boult

The opener made 131 but no one else reached 20 for Australia A

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2023

New Zealand A made it back-to-back victories in the four-day series despite a defiant century from Australia A opener Caleb Jewell on the final day of the pink-ball game in Mackay.Jewell made a brilliant 131 before he was last-man out, but the next-highest score in the chase was 19 as the home side struggled to combat the New Zealand A pace attack on tricky conditions.Over the course of four A-team first-class matches played between the teams in April and this series, New Zealand A have won three of them with the other drawn.Having been set 302, following Tom Bruce’s unbeaten century, Australia A made a solid start during an overcast first session until Cameron Bancroft was caught at second slip. They had then reached 80 for 1 when, moments before rain stopped play, Tim Ward was caught behind.When play resumed, captain Nathan McSweeney edged to slip against the impressive William O’Rourke. Campbell Kellaway survived a huge appeal for caught behind only to top edge to square leg moments later, but Jewell continued to score freely as he dominated the innings.He went to a 120-ball century, his fifth in first-class cricket, and while he was at the crease Australia A had a good chance of chasing down the runs. However, he could not find anyone to stay with him long enough.Josh Philippe, who made a superb hundred in the first innings, drove to mid-off and Mitchell Perry was brilliantly caught at backward point by Adithya Askok.Nathan McAndrew did not appear convinced by his caught-behind decision and there was too much left for the bowlers to do. An injured Ben Dwarshuis came out at No. 11 but did not have to face a ball with Jewell clubbing to deep square leg.The teams now meet in three one-day games on September 10, 13 and 15.

The 2023 men’s ODI World Cup will begin on October 5 in Ahmedabad, and matches will be held across ten venues, and culminate in the final – also in Ahmedabad – on November 19. The semi-finals will be held in Mumbai and Kolkata on November 15 and 16.The 45 league matches and the three knockouts will be played in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune over a span of 46 days. The two semi-finals and the final will all have reserve days. There are six day league matches in the tournament, which will start at 10:30 am IST. All other matches will be day-night games starting at 2:00 pm IST.The ICC has confirmed that if India qualify for the semi-finals, that game will be held in Mumbai, unless their opposition is Pakistan, in which case the game will be played in Kolkata.Related

• Pakistan agree to World Cup schedule change, to play India on October 14

• World Cup schedule will undergo changes, confirms Jay Shah

• PCB writes to Pakistan government for travel clearance for ODI World Cup

• Travelling fans left in the lurch by delay

• Pakistan to play nine World Cup league matches at only five venues

The long-awaited, and much-delayed, World Cup schedule was finally released by the ICC and BCCI at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday, just 100 days before the start of the tournament. In comparison, the fixtures for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales and the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand were released more than 12 months in advance.The format will be the same as it was in 2019, with ten teams playing each other once in the league phase and the top four qualifying for the semi-finals. India qualified for the event as hosts, while Afghanistan, Australia, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa made it by finishing in the top eight of the 2020-2023 World Cup Super League. The remaining two teams will be identified at the ongoing World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe, which is being contested by Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, Scotland, UAE, USA and Zimbabwe.Before the tournament begins, the teams will play warm-ups in Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati between September 29 and October 3.

India to play at nine of the ten venues in league stage, Pakistan in five

The 2023 World Cup begins with a rematch between the 2019 finalists – New Zealand taking on England – while hosts India open their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.India then play Afghanistan in Delhi on October 11; Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15; Bangladesh in Pune on October 19; New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22; England in Lucknow on October 29; a qualifier in Mumbai on November 2; South Africa in Kolkata on November 5; and another qualifier in Bengaluru on November 11, which is the penultimate day of the league stage. India travel the most among the ten teams, playing at nine of the ten venues during the league phase. Their warm-up games are against England in Guwahati on September 30 and against a qualifier in Thiruvananthapuram on October 3.While most other teams play their nine league matches across most of the ten venues – Australia, for example, are playing at eight venues – Pakistan are playing in only five cities: Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The league phase concludes on November 12, with England playing Pakistan in Kolkata and Australia taking on Bangladesh in Pune.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

After the tournament opener against England, New Zealand play three matches in the south of India – against a qualifier in Hyderabad on October 9, Bangladesh in Chennai on October 14, and Afghanistan in Chennai on October 18 – before travelling far north to play two matches in Dharamsala, against India on October 22 and Australia on October 28. Their last three league matches are against South Africa in Pune on November 1; Pakistan in Bengaluru on November 4; and the other qualifier in Bengaluru on November 9. New Zealand’s warm-up games are against Pakistan in Hyderabad on September 29 and South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on October 2.South Africa begin their campaign in the north of India, playing a qualifier in Delhi on October 8, and then play Australia in Lucknow on October 13, and the other qualifier in Dharamsala on October 17. They then travel west to Mumbai to play England on October 21 and Bangladesh on October 24, after which they head south to take on Pakistan in Chennai on October 27. Their last three league games are against New Zealand in Pune (western India) on November 1, against India in Kolkata (eastern India) on November 5, and against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad (western India) on November 10. South Africa’s first warm-up game is against Afghanistan in Thiruvananthapuram on September 29 before playing New Zealand at the same venue on October 2.Bangladesh’s World Cup starts with two games in Dharamsala – against Afghanistan on October 7 and England on October 10. They then play New Zealand in Bangalore on October 14, India in Pune on October 19, South Africa in Mumbai on October 24, before heading east to Kolkata to play a qualifier on October 28 and Pakistan on October 31. Their last two league games are against the other qualifier in Delhi on November 6, and against Australia in Pune on November 12. Bangladesh’s warm-ups are in Guwahati, against a qualifier on September 29 and England on October 2.At their third successive World Cup, Afghanistan start against Bangladesh in Dharamsala on October 7, and stay on it north India to play India and England in Delhi on October 11 and 14, then go south to play New Zealand and Pakistan in Chennai on October 18 and 23, before travelling to Pune to play a qualifier on October 30. Their last three league games are against the other qualifier in Lucknow on November 3, Australia in Mumbai on November 7 and South Africa in Ahmedabad on November 10. Afghanistan’s warm-ups are against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on September 29 and a qualifier on October 3 in Guwahati.

As The Friedkin Group look to make their mark yet again, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive central defender, who has already caught the attention of the Toffees’ scouts.

Everton transfer news

Since the arrival of David Moyes, any relegation concerns have been eased, with those at Goodison Park setting their sights on handing a historic ground a fitting farewell in its final five Premier League games. Even away from home, Everton have impressed – extending their recent unbeaten run to five games with a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

Meanwhile, now that their relegation fears are all but over, Everton can begin turning their attention towards Friedkin’s first summer transfer window at the helm, in which they’ll aim to welcome the reinforcements needed to take the Toffees back into the top half.

The rumours have already been coming thick and fast on that front, with one particular defender now reportedly on the radar of those at Goodison Park ahead of the summer.

Fewer touches than Pickford: Moyes must axe Everton dud who lost 10 duels

Everton secured a point against Wolves in the Premier League.

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 9, 2025

According to The Boot Room, Everton are now battling to sign Cameron Carter-Vickers, who Friedkin have already scouted ahead of the transfer window. The former Tottenham Hotspur defender has found his best form since joining Celtic on a permanent basis almost three years ago and could now get the chance to earn Premier League redemption.

With Jarrad Branthwaite’s future in doubt as ever, Carter-Vickers certainly wouldn’t be a bad target for Everton to consider if they lose their star defender. He ticks boxes for experience at the top level and being a player at the peak of his powers who is capable of moving Moyes’ side beyond settling for top-flight safety.

"Fantastic" Carter-Vickers would take Everton up a level

It wasn’t so long ago that Carter-Vickers was keeping Harry Kane quiet as Bayern Munich were forced to escape an evening to forget through Alphonso Davies’ last-gasp winner to knock Celtic out of the Champions League’s last 16. Now, after proving the level that he belongs for the rest of Europe to see, the defender could arrive in Merseyside to drag Everton back to where they belong.

Earning plenty of praise after that performance against the Bundesliga giants, the American was dubbed a “strong” and “fast” central defender whose passing ability is “fantastic” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker.

In Everton’s ideal world, Branthwaite will once again stay put this summer before Moyes completes his backline with a player of Carter-Vickers’ calibre. It’s then that the former West Ham United boss could have James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Branthwaite and the American defender to choose from, providing four excellent options.

However, with Aston Villa and others also interested, it remains to be seen whether the Toffees step up their pursuit of the Celtic star this summer.

Hosts forced to follow on after five-for and brisk batting from New Zealand quick

ECB Reporters Network19-May-2023

Middlesex 175 (Simpson 57*, Henry 5-45) and 81 for 1 trail Somerset 404 (Bartlett 121, Abell 77) by 148 runsMatt Henry took centre stage with bat and especially ball as Somerset forced hosts Middlesex to follow-on on day two of their LV = Insurance County Championship clash at Lord’s.The New Zealand paceman, who took 4 for 93 against England in a Test at Lord’s eight years ago, again excelled at the home of cricket, returning 5 for 45 as Middlesex were bundled out for 175 in their first innings.Henry’s heroics with the ball came hot on the heels of a swashbuckling 40 in the day’s first hour which propelled the Cidermen beyond 400.For the Seaxes it was sadly a case of rinse and repeat where their batters were concerned, only a combative half-century from this season’s beneficiary, wicketkeeper John Simpson and a pugnacious 39 from Toby Roland-Jones saving them from greater ignominy. It’s now one batting point in 30 for Richard Johnson’s men this season.Following on, Middlesex lost Sam Robson in reaching 81 for 1, Mark Stoneman having survived an edge to third slip unbeaten on 45. They still trail by 148 and face an uphill battle to avoid a fourth defeat in six games.Somerset soon lost Craig Overton to Murtagh in only the third over the day, but that merely served to bring Henry to the crease and, no slouch bat in hand, he signalled his intent with a brutal drive back past the bowler to get off the mark with a boundary.Thereafter, he struck the ball really cleanly to send six more deliveries to the ropes, though he was helped by some friendly offerings from the home attack.In the blink of an eye Henry had reached 40 in only 22 balls and it needed the introduction of Higgins to end the revelry, the quick hooking a short one into the hands of Ethan Bamber behind square.England spinner Jack Leach came out swinging, before losing his off-stump to Bamber, but Lewis Gregory ensured a fourth batting point.It soon became apparent Henry’s whirlwind innings had merely been an hors d’oeuvre for heroics with ball in hand.He and Overton subjected Middlesex openers Stoneman and Robson to a searching examination with the new ball, Henry in particular beating the bat with monotonous regularity.It seemed as if the hosts had passed the test when with lunch looming Henry produced a Jaffa to get one between Stoneman’s bad and pad flattening the leg-stump. And Henry made that lunch all but indigestible for Middlesex by producing an outswinger first up to Stephen Eskinazi which he nicked through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies.The hat-trick ball was delayed by the interval before Henry came close to the feat with a delivery, left by Robson, which missed his off-stump by the proverbial coat of varnish.If the first two wickets could be put down to Henry’s brilliance the same wasn’t true of those that followed. Max Holden started well enough, twice driving Henry to the cover fence, only to then play no shot to one which came back up the slope and trapped him in front.Robbie White’s first knock of the summer lasted two balls before skipper Lewis Gregory pinned him on the crease and when Robson became the latest Middlesex player this season to be strangled down the leg-side, half their side were gone with just 70 on the board.To his credit Simpson was at his gritty best, driving fluently and briefly threatening a counter-offensive in company with Higgins.However, the latter missed a full toss from Leach (2 for 22) to be leg-before and with the rot set in Luke Hollman inexplicably reverse swept another from the England spinner into the hands of slip.Simpson became becalmed and entrenched, before a seventh four took him to a 92-ball 50, while home skipper Roland-Jones came out firing, hitting cleanly through the mid-on mid-off arc to smite six boundaries in a rapid 39, the pair adding 54 for the eighth wicket.But nemesis Henry returned to remove both Roland-Jones and Bamber to complete a five-for to condemn Middlesex to the follow-on.

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de vencer o Atlético-GO por 2 a 1 no último domingo (4), primeiro êxito em quase um ano, o São Paulo concedeu folga a seu elenco nesta segunda-feira (4) antes do duelo de volta das oitavas de final da Copa Sul-Americana, às 21h30 (de Brasília) de quinta-feira (7), no Morumbi.

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GALERIA
+O vai-vem do São Paulo para a abertura da janela de transferências

O plantel tricolor só volta a trabalhar durante a manhã desta terça-feira (5), no CT da Barra Funda.

Um respiro ao time antes de uma das sequências de partidas mais difíceis do ano. Após a Católica, o São Paulo encara o Atlético-MG, fora de casa, pelo Brasileirão, no domingo (10). Depois faz o duelo de volta com o Palmeiras pelas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil, no Allianz Parque, no dia 14.

Na avaliação de Rogério Ceni e sua comissão técnica, esses duelos serão fundamentais para traçar o planejamento para o restante da temporada.

No caso do clássico com o rival paulista, por exemplo, a meta é abocanhar as gordas verbas dadas pelo avanço de fases no maior mata-mata nacional.

Já uma vitória sobre o Galo pode colocar o São Paulo de novo na zona de classificação para a próxima edição da Copa Libertadores, principal objetivo do ano.

Para esta quinta, o Tricolor pode até perder por 1 a 0 que ainda assim avançará de fase, já que venceu o duelo de ida por 4 a 2. Caso perca por dois gols a disputa vai para os pênaltis. Além de oito atletas contundidos – Moreira voltou no domingo -, Ceni não contará com Calleri, Nestor e Igor Vinícius, expulsos em Santiago.

TABELA
> Confira classificação, jogos e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22
> Confira todos os jogos da Sul-Americana-22
> Conheça o novo aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

With Liverpool preparing to splash the cash for the first time under Arne Slot, those at Anfield are reportedly in constant contact to sign one of Europe’s most impressive players ahead of interest from Real Madrid.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds, whilst still top of the Premier League, looked far from convincing against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out as Matheus Cunha passed what some will hope to have been an Anfield audition with flying colours. Even as the Brazilian threatened to steal the headlines, however, Mohamed Salah was once again the match-winner.

With a trip to Aston Villa awaiting them on Wednesday night, it doesn’t get any easier for the Premier League leaders, who have 13 games remaining to fend off any Arsenal attempt to hijack their push for silverware.

Of course, once those 13 games are played out and the title is decided, Liverpool will have no choice but to turn their attention to the summer transfer window. And given that Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all set to depart as free agents at the end of the season, it’s fair to say that the Reds could have plenty of making up to do.

Related He left in 2021: Liverpool flop sold for £12m is now outscoring Nunez in PL

He could have played a part for the Anfield side over the past few years.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Feb 17, 2025

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool are now in constant contact to sign Florian Wirtz, who is valued at a hefty £87m by Bayer Leverkusen. They’re not alone in their interest, however, with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Arsenal also keen on the attacking midfielder.

A deal will become easier for any of the four interested parties if Xabi Alonso leaves Leverkusen at the end of the campaign, with the Spaniard’s future reportedly playing a large part in Wirtz’s decision. One of the most talented players in Europe, Wirtz could form one of the deals of the summer.

"Incredible" Wirtz would be blockbuster move

Losing any one of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold would be a major blow this summer. Losing all three at once would be indefensible. But, one way to make up for that in part would be to welcome a player of Wirtz’s quality. Better yet, of course, would be to keep hold of those three players and then add the German to an already-stacked squad.

When the summer arrives, the Reds should go all out for a player who would move straight into Slot’s system as the attacking midfielder in his 4-2-3-1 – perhaps replacing Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Florian Wirtz

Dominik Szoboszlai

Curtis Jones

Starts

18

18

10

Goals

9

3

3

Assists

9

2

3

Key Passes

44

33

12

The stats certainly don’t lie and it’s as clear as ever that Wirtz would take Liverpool’s attack to a new level entirely. What’s more, his ability to lead the line, as he has done in a partnership at Leverkusen at times, would also hand Slot an instant boost.

Dubbed “incredible” by former Chelsea and Liverpool man Joe Cole last season, Wirtz is one to watch this summer.

Sunderland will hope their February can start on a better note than how their January concluded with the Black Cats made to settle for an unsatisfactory 2-2 draw with bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle.

Nathanael Ogbeta would break Sunderland hearts right at the death with a dramatic equaliser after efforts from Wilson Isidor and Trai Hume would see Regis Le Bris’ men race into a slim 2-1 lead.

The Frenchman will want his side to be just that little more clinical ahead of some crunch clashes to come at the top of the Championship, with one new striker helping in that regard if he joins the Wearside ranks shortly.

Sunderland's search for a striker

As per a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Sunderland are ‘ready to make a bid’ to land the services of Southampton striker Cameron Archer, albeit with there set to be intense competition for his signature.

Indeed, Bailey states that both the Black Cats and Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are preparing loan-to-buy bids for the 23-year-old, with the table-toppers in ‘pole position’ to land the former Aston Villa youth product over Le Bris’ men.

But, with it being well documented how hungry Sunderland are to land a new centre-forward this window – with the likes of Emil Riis Jakobsen and Chuba Akpom linked heavily with a switch to the promotion hopefuls – the Wearside outfit presumably won’t just give in so Leeds can tie up a stress-free deal.

Losing out on Tom Cannon to Sheffield United will have left visible bruises on the end of the Black Cats too, with Archer an arguable upgrade on the ex-Stoke City loanee if he immediately hits the ground running at the Stadium of Light.

How Archer compares to Tom Cannon

After all, the 23-year-old has threatened to spark into life for Southampton this season even as Ivan Juric’s side sit at the bottom of the Premier League on a depressing six points.

He has a reasonable tally next to his name of five goals in all competitions, which included this stunner finding the back of the net against Liverpool in the EFL Cup to the amazement of the St Mary’s masses watching on.

In total, Archer has managed to pick up six goals in the Premier League despite being thrust into the deep end in both instances with the relegation-doomed Saints and basement club Sheffield United last campaign, whilst Cannon has never found the back of the net in the elite division from his own limited opportunities.

Moreover, the “special” – as he was once labelled by football pundit Danny Murphy – ace has been there and done that in the second tier in the past, with his spell under Michael Carrick’s tutelage at Middlesbrough sticking out.

Whilst Cannon has taken the Championship by storm with his blistering performances this season, the table above reinforces the idea that Archer would be an upgrade on the new Blades striker, with the 23-year-old helping himself to an outrageous 17 goal contributions when donning a Boro strip.

Cannon has two fewer strikes from three more games on the contrary, with Archer also willing to be more unselfish and play others into the contest away from the fox-in-the-box abilities of the 5 foot 11 forward, when glancing at his six assists next to the Irishman’s zero.

He could well end up terrorising more Championship defences if he does relocate to Sunderland before Monday’s deadline, with Le Bris potentially spoilt for choice up top between Wilson Isidor and the ex-Boro number ten, as the Black Cats go about adding in more statement buys to keep up the chase with the rest of the promotion pack.

Bigger talent than Jobe: Sunderland could land another "monster" signing

Regis Le Bris could get even more out of his exciting youngster if he joins Sunderland.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 29, 2025