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Returning to the land of his forefathers for the World Cup, the Netherlands opener is hoping to turn his excellent start into something bigger

Himanshu Agrawal07-Oct-2023Vikramjit Singh, one of the biggest positives for Netherlands in their opening match against Pakistan, is briefly lost for words as he thinks back to one of his favourite shots from that half-century. He mimics the flick shot that he picked from a near fourth-stump line off Shaheen Shah Afridi. “That was sweet, I really enjoyed that,” he says with a smile.Vikramjit hit Shaheen for three boundaries, all inside the powerplay, to give Netherlands an excellent start in their chase of 287. His third-wicket stand with Bas de Leede briefly kept Pakistan on tenterhooks, before his toe-ended pull shot that found deep midwicket led to a collapse. A couple of overs earlier, he had cleared the same long boundary by playing a similar shot off legspinner Shadab Khan. He said he didn’t rue attempting the shot, but wished to have timed it better.On Monday, Vikramjit will have another opportunity. Perhaps he will have the chance to put to action the learnings from having watched his “idol” Quinton de Kock make bruising century in South Africa’s World Cup opener in New Delhi. It was an off day for Netherlands, so Vikramjit watched the match closely. He first met de Kock at the T20 World Cup last year, where he couldn’t stop asking him questions.”The backlift, him playing away from his body, the way he cuts the ball – I want to bat like him every time I go out there,” Vikramjit had told ESPNcricinfo prior to the World Cup. “The chat I had with him [at the 2022 T20 World Cup] was about the way he goes about it, what he thinks when the bowler is running in, etc. Then we had a series against South Africa, when again I had a chat with him.”Related

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Men in orange: how Netherlands grew a big-team mentality

Vikramjit, like a couple of others from his team, is returning to the country of his forefathers for the World Cup. While there are no games in Punjab, where his family hails from, there is still an air of familiarity about it for him.Prior to coming to Hyderabad, he spent ten days in Bengaluru training on different surfaces. As such, Vikramjit often makes trips back to India to play, and has spent considerable time training with former India Under-19 World Cup winner Taruwar Kohli in Jalandhar. Kohli’s familiarity with Vikramjit grew during his club cricket stint in the Netherlands between 2017 and 2019, when he would often frequent Vikramjit’s house. That eventually grew into a mentor-mentee relation.Vikramjit Singh’s batting is more fearless than his mentor, Taruwar Kohli’s•KNCB/Gerhard van der LaarseSince 2021, the two have trained together at Kohli’s academy, with the help of robo-arms, bowling machines and dedicated coaches. Vikramjit has fed off the knowledge of his mentor-cum-friend, but there is one difference. While Kohli’s batting was mostly orthodox, Vikramjit’s is a little more enterprising.”For me, it’s about getting used to the speed of the game,” Vikramjit says. “In international cricket, everything happens so much quicker. Not only is the ball being bowled faster, but also the game is moving so quickly. Just getting used to that takes a little bit. When you get into the professional set-up, you learn not only cricket-wise but also off the field – like how disciplined you need to be.”Much of Vikramjit’s early learnings were shaped by his father, Harpreet, who was also his first coach. The solid grounding helped Vikramjit make a name in the Under-12s and Under-15s. At 14, he even got a bat sponsorship from Jalandhar-based manufacturers BAS, which was incidentally facilitated by Ramesh Kohli, Taruwar’s uncle and one of the partners in the company.The early age-group promise helped him earn a national cap at 16 when he made his T20I debut against Scotland in 2019 following a strong endorsement from former Netherlands captain Peter Borren. An ODI debut followed in 2022, one that set in motion his trip to the World Cup. This is a fresh chapter in a journey that began in a tiny village near Jalandhar called Cheema Khurd.Vikramjit, who was born there, moved to the Netherlands when he was “three or four” after Harpreet took over a transport business established by his father. Vikramjit remembers watching the 2011 World Cup on TV and dreaming of playing in one.”My grandparents are the ones who migrated to the Netherlands,” he says. “My dad, and all my uncles and aunts, was born there. Dad was an amateur cricketer. I joined him at times, and really walked in his footsteps.”

“In international cricket, everything happens so much quicker. Not only is the ball being bowled faster, but also the game is moving so quickly. Just getting used to that takes a little bit”

Vikramjit went to a Dutch school and made Dutch friends, which meant playing a lot of football, the country’s most popular sport. However, cricket didn’t leave him.The defining moment of his young career came during the ODI World Cup Qualifier this June, when Netherlands were fighting for one of the two qualifying spots. Against hosts Zimbabwe, Vikramjit was struggling on 8 off 23 but picked up pace to finish with a then-career-best 88 off 111 to lay the foundation for Netherlands’ total of 315, at the time their joint-highest in the format.When facing West Indies in the same tournament, he went from 0 off 6 to 37 off 32 in a chase of 375. Netherlands eventually won the game via a Super Over, having tied the game with their highest ODI total. His “best innings” came when he cracked 110 from 109 deliveries against Oman in the Super Sixes and took home the Player-of-the-Match award.”I don’t like remembering my innings, but you still always remember the first hundred,” he says. “That was quite special.” Ultimately, Netherlands – along with Sri Lanka – made it through to the World Cup. Netherlands had finished last in the 13-team ODI Super League but had managed to take down the big boys en route to India for the ten-team World Cup.”The Super League was a great opportunity for us to showcase what we’re made of,” Vikramjit says. “It was great playing big names and bigger teams. But hopefully we can do well in the World Cup, and the ICC looks at us and says, ‘These guys are here to play as well. They are not just an Associate team.'”Perhaps a win or two against the big boys in the coming weeks will further drive home that point. For now, Vikramjit is happy to revel in an excellent start that he hopes to transform into something bigger.

The reasons include a one-dimensional pace attack, Sarfaraz Ahmed’s falling stock, and more

Danyal Rasool17-Jun-2021Quetta Gladiators was the model of a well-run franchise, perhaps not only in Pakistan, but T20 franchise cricket across the world. They were snapped up for the most competitive price of all six PSL franchises, but the relative modesty of the side’s value never dimmed its appetite for consistent success. For the first four seasons, the Gladiators were perhaps the most predictably successful side in the league, winning the title in 2019 and only once failing to reach the final.From those heady heights, Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side – and it has always been Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side – has suffered something of a drastic decline. The 2020 season was the first that ended in elimination at the group stage, with the Gladiators finishing fifth on net run rate. Their overall impeccable record might have suggested it was an aberration, but the trend was turbo-charged this year, with the Gladiators, rock bottom with seven losses in nine, becoming the first side to be dumped out of contention.The game that knocked them out was especially ignominious, with the Multan Sultans inflicting upon them the heaviest defeat in PSL history. The Gladiators were shot out for 73, the second-lowest score in the league. But the spectacular nature of their nadir shouldn’t detract from the fact that the Gladiators have been well short of the mark all season, both in the first leg in Karachi, and now that the tournament has moved to Abu Dhabi. Here’s a look at a few of the things that went wrong for a one-time PSL giant.Related

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Failure to replace elite batters
There are only so many stars a side can lose without the shine coming off them, and the Gladiators have lost star batters by the shedload over the past few seasons. One of the most reliable strategies for success in the PSL is also one of the more straightforward ones: select world-class overseas batters, stick them at the top of the order and watch the runs and boundaries tumble in. For the first three seasons, the Gladiators could boast perhaps the biggest star of all in Kevin Pietersen, joined a year later by PSL royalty Rilee Rossouw, before Shane Watson and Jason Roy linked up with them in 2018. Add to that roster Ahmed Shehzad, who, in the initial years of the PSL, still harboured hopes of joining the ranks of those three in T20 celebrity status, and had the numbers to back it up. Only Watson and Pietersen hit more sixes for the franchise, while no one betters Shehzad’s nine half-centuries.By 2020, though, the Gladiators had lost all of them. The decision to let Rossouw go in 2019, especially as he continues to thrive for the Sultans, has aged especially badly, and the inability to acquire batters of the calibre they possessed in those early years has begun to take its toll. This year, seven different men have opened the batting for them, and Jake Weatherald, Usman Khan and Saim Ayub – their most regular openers – don’t really come close to matching the explosiveness of the players they lost. The Gladiators have been allowed to decay, and now the rust is showing.The Gladiators are now without several T20 batting stars they once had, including Shane Watson•PCB/PSLOne-dimensional fast bowling attack
It never hurts to have an express pace bowler in a side, whatever the format, but could it hurt if you cram in as many as three on subcontinental pitches? The Gladiators had Dale Steyn, Mohammad Hasnain and Naseem Shah on their roster, but all have ended up proving either prohibitively expensive or ineffectual for the best part of the tournament. Steyn isn’t quite the phenomenon he has been for so long around the world, and when Wahab Riaz and Sherfane Rutherford smashed him for 21 in a tight penultimate over in a crucial early game, the writing seemed to be on the wall. It was a game that captured effectively the Gladiators’ inability to keep the runs down against their fast bowling, with Hasnain, Steyn and Shinwari conceding a combined 133 in 11.3 overs.Hasnain, the ace fast bowler, has an economy rate of 8.89 this season. Shah has gone wicketless in the three matches he played, last conceding 19 in an opening over that set the scene for a crushing Islamabad United win. The loss of Ben Cutting, a player who balanced that pace attack with more nuance, guile and experience, hasn’t helped either.Sarfaraz Ahmed’s long-standing captaincy
Ahmed’s influence over Pakistani cricket over the past decade or so is hard to overstate, and in a lot of ways he is Mr Quetta Gladiators, so long term is his service to that franchise. The Gladiators are the only team to retain their captain from the first season, and it was easy to see why when Ahmed led them from one successful campaign to another. His contributions with the bat over the years have anchored the Gladiators through several sticky spots, combining regularly with Rossouw over the years, especially in tight chases.But it’s also hard to miss that Ahmed’s stock has fallen over the past two years. His previous two campaigns with the side have come after he was sacked from the Pakistan captaincy and removed from the side altogether. In that same period, his performances with the Gladiators have remained steady, but with the league seeing high-scoring games with greater frequency since it moved to Pakistan, Ahmed’s anchoring role doesn’t quite hold the value it used to.In addition, several flustered exchanges with his own bowlers this season appear to have painted the picture of a captain not quite in harmony with the rest of the squad. A captain who demands the highest standards with the relentlessness that Ahmed does will invariably exact an emotional debt from his side. At some point, that debt has to be repaid, and the Gladiators’ days of reckoning appear to have come.The toss
It would be harsh to allocate any blame to Ahmed for not calling correctly, but the inflated importance of bowling first in Karachi meant losing all their tosses in the first leg didn’t help the Gladiators’ cause. They were forced to bat first in each of the five games they played there, losing their first four and finding themselves on the verge of elimination before the league was halted anyway. They were the only side to actually defend a total in Karachi this year, keeping the Sultans at bay in their fifth game. But as Wednesday’s game, where they won the toss and chased against the same opposition illustrates, the Gladiators’ problems run deeper than the landing of a coin.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em processo de recuperação após realizar uma cirurgia no rim, Gerson retornou ao centro de treinamentos do Flamengo, mas deve perder o início da fase de grupos da Copa Libertadores.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

O meia, que reassumiu a camisa 8 após a saída de Thiago Maia, foi submetido a uma pieloplastia para corrigir uma estenose no ureter. Segundo Bruno Benigno, urologista do Hospital Oswaldo Cruz, o tempo de recuperação é de, no mínimo, 45 dias.

– O prazo de recuperação depende da atividade física do atleta. Para atividades intensas, com risco de impacto, o tempo de recuperação varia de 45 dias a dois meses, dois meses e meio – revelou o profissional.

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Portanto, Gerson não estará à disposição da comissão técnica da equipe carioca para as primeiras partidas do torneio continental, que começa no dia 3 de abril.

Capitão do Flamengo de Tite, o meio-campista acumula seis gols e 12 assistências em 66 partidas desde que retornou à Gávea.

CONFIRA DETALHES DA CIRURGIA DE GERSON

Como funciona uma a cirurgia de pieloplastia?

– Pieloplastia é um procedimento cirúrgico que significa a reconstrução do sistema que drena a urina, filtrada pelo rim e tem que ser direcionada para o ureter, o tubo que liga o rim à bexiga. A pieloplastia trata o estreitamento deste canal. É uma reconstrução de um canal que está em formato de ampulheta.

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Ela pode ser feita de três formas, de forma aberta, tradicional, por cortes. Por cortes pela laparoscopia, através de furos, ou com laparoscopia robótica, um método mais moderno e preciso”.

Possíveis dificuldades no retorno às atividades

– 10 a 20% dos pacientes em casos congênitos apresentam casos leves, e o diagnóstico não é feito na infância, e o paciente descobre na fase adulta a estenose de JUP.

Ele pode ter cólica renal, náusea, infecção urinária, vômito, formação de pedras no rim. Assim o paciente é direcionado para tratamento cirúrgico, que é a pieloplastia. Não existe medicação ou tratamento alternativo que faça a correção desta condição sem a necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica.

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Former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has tipped a ‘world-class’ member of Thomas Frank’s squad to snub new contract talks amid interest from world football’s elite sides.

Tottenham enjoy mini Thomas Frank revival after two consecutive wins

Frank’s Tottenham tenure was heading towards crisis territory just days ago, but consecutive victories over Brentford and Slavia Prague have injected fresh optimism into a campaign that threatened to derail completely.

Saturday’s 2-0 triumph against Brentford represented far more than three precious points — it also went a long way to vindicating Frank’s approach after mounting pressure following a dismal five-match winless streak.

The victory, sealed through first-half strikes from Richarlison and Xavi Simons, ended Tottenham’s agonizing wait for a home Premier League win since their opening-day demolition of Burnley.

Frank described the performance as “very complete,” highlighting his side’s dynamism, unpredictability and defensive discipline that restricted Brentford to just four attempts throughout the match.

Owen Hargreaves says "exceptional" Tottenham star outshone Simons against Prague

It was a great night for Spurs in Europe.

By
Emilio Galantini

5 days ago

Simons, who has attracted criticism since his £52 million arrival from RB Leipzig, put in a Player of the Match display.

The Netherlands international orchestrated both goals, curving his run brilliantly to deliver Richarlison’s tap-in before producing a sensational solo effort, driving from halfway into Brentford’s penalty area to slide past Caoimhin Kelleher.

Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague continued the momentum, extending Tottenham’s remarkable home European record to 23 consecutive matches without defeat.

An own goal from David Zima, and penalties from Mohammed Kudus and Simons, elevated Spurs into the top eight of the Champions League standings with 11 points from six games.

Kudus was Tottenham’s ‘best player by far’ on the night as he continues to justify his £55 million transfer from West Ham in the summer, but Micky van de Ven once again proved himself indispensable too.

According to recent reports, Spurs are ready to offer van de Ven a ‘double your money’ contract in an attempt to ward off the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea, who’ve shown interest in the Dutchman.

Van de Ven is an indispensable member of the Lilywhites backline and scored what was perhaps their goal of the season against FC Copenhagen recently, mimicking Son Heung-min’s famous Puskas winner with a mazy run from deep inside his own half.

Interest in the 24-year-old is inevitable, with Hoddle now commenting on the defender’s long-term future.

Glenn Hoddle tips van de Ven to snub Tottenham contract offer

Amid claims that Spurs are eager to tie down their superstar centre-back, Hoddle has now told Capital Football that he expects van de Ven to snub Tottenham’s advances over a new deal.

Hoddle adds that he is the club’s ‘only’ world-class player, and could ply his trade at basically any team in the world.

The former Wolfsburg star was also a vital member of Ange Postecoglou’s team and key to the Australian’s high line. Whenever van de Ven was absent through injury, you noticed, and he’d be an equally hard player to replace for Frank.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is the only Spurs star to play more Premier League minutes this season than van de Ven, highlighting just how pivotal he is for Tottenham’s new boss.

Replacing him would be a near-impossible task, but luckily for the club, he’s already contracted until 2029.

Major League Baseball umpire Ron Kulpa had a night to forget Tuesday in Minnesota as he missed a wild amount of calls while working home plate in the Twins' 9-1 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

Kulpa, whose struggles have been well documented before, had the announcers shaking their heads all night as he missed 18 calls. Here's a sampling of the announcers' reactions to those misses.

“Ohhhh that was called a strike but that was ball four.” 

“That’s the fastball he took for ball one to begin the at bat.”

“Oh, he got that call. Fooled Ron Kulpa there.”

“He got a gift on a curveball.” 

Here's video proof of his mistakes.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli could be heard yelling at Kulpa during the seventh inning.

Fans were also not impressed with Kulpa:

Not the best of nights for Ron Kulpa.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph in the 2024/25 campaign allowed numerous players to write themselves into the club’s history books forever.

The Lilywhites ended their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware, and did so in tremendous fashion after defeating fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao.

Ange Postecoglou handed the fanbase memories to last a lifetime with the triumph, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his position as manager in North London.

Thomas Frank was elected as the man to take the reins during the summer, with the Dane handed the responsibility of taking the club to the next level after the European success.

However, his appointment has prevented numerous players from kicking on in their careers, with the first-team members often struggling to replicate the form they demonstrated under the Aussie.

The biggest losers from Thomas Frank's appointment at Spurs

Yves Bissouma was often one of Postecoglou’s first names on the teamsheet during the 2024/25 campaign, as seen by his tally of 44 appearances across all competitions.

The Malian international featured in 11 of the 15 club’s European outings last campaign, but it’s safe to say his spell under Frank has been far from successful to date.

He was left out of the club’s UEFA Super Cup final after being late numerous times, resulting in missing out on the club’s Premier League squad for the current 2025/26 campaign.

However, he’s not alone in that regard, with Brennan Johnson one of the Lilywhites’ most important players in the previous campaign, as seen by his phenomenal goalscoring record.

The Welshman scored 18 times across all competitions – even netting the winner in the Europa League final – subsequently ending the year as the club’s top goalscorer.

Like Bissouma, he’s struggled for consistency this time around, with the 24-year-old only starting five league games out of a possible 11 since Frank took charge in the summer.

Mohammed Kudus’ arrival has no doubt pushed him down the pecking order, with the manager seemingly preferring the Ghanaian international over him at present.

Spurs star is no longer "one of the best in the world"

Spurs’ £120m spending spree during the summer window has made competition for places even tougher in 2025/26, with the first-team now having incredible depth in certain areas of the squad.

Given the number of competitions the Lilywhites are currently featuring in this season, it’s crucial Frank has the ability to rotate and rest certain players when needed.

Competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League will likely take priority, which has seen numerous players have to settle for minutes off the bench as a result.

Djed Spence has taken his career in North London to the next level over the last couple of years, with the full-back taking advantage of the injury crisis last campaign.

The Englishman made himself a regular starter under Ange last campaign, which has resulted in the 25-year-old now becoming an international regular under Thomas Tuchel.

His starts at right-back has provided competition for Pedro Porro in such an area of the pitch, with the Spaniard often missing out from the starting eleven as a result in recent months.

The 26-year-old has become known for his ability in possession rather than out of it, with Spence the complete opposite and making him an excellent fit for Frank’s system.

In 2024/25, Porro registered nine assists across all competitions, the most in a single season since his move to England – resulting in one journalist labelling him the “best in the world”.

However, in the ongoing campaign, the full-back has only registered one assist to date – showcasing his struggles – with his underlying stats also a cause for concern.

He’s completed just 72% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 8% of all players in England’s top-flight this season.

Pedro Porro – stats in the PL (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

11

Goals & assists

1

Passes completed

72%

Crosses completed

17%

Duels won

3.9

Times dribbled past

1.3

Fouls committed

1.3

Dribble success

42%

Stats via FotMob

Porro’s crossing success has also taken a massive hit in recent months, as the Spaniard has only completed a total of 17% of his efforts as of the middle of November.

Out of possession, he’s struggled just as much, as seen by his tally of just 3.9 duels won per 90, with such a figure placing him in the bottom 25% of all defenders in the league.

His lack of defensive talent is also evident in his tally of being dribbled past 1.3 times per 90, which is higher than 82% of other full-backs in the division at present.

Such numbers will certainly be a cause for concern to the manager, especially given the quality of players such as Spence already on the books in North London.

Despite his form under Ange, Porro could now find himself on borrowed time in the near future, with the hierarchy potentially tempted to cash in on him and invest in other areas of the squad.

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Tottenham Hotspur have a star who could end Rodrigo Bentancur’s career in North London.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 19, 2025

Chelsea have already reached out for discussions with the representatives of Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz, with Enzo Maresca hatching a new tactical plan involving Cole Palmer.

The west Londoners have lost three out of their last five Premier League games and narrowly escaped with a thrilling 4-3 win away to bottom side Wolves in the Carabao Cup earlier this week.

Despite spending nearly £300 million in the summer transfer window, there is clearly still work to be done from Chelsea’s perspective, and reports suggest that Juventus are even taking an interest in Maresca ahead of next summer.

The Old Lady appointed Luciano Spalletti on an interim basis until the end of the season, but if that doesn’t work out and Maresca fails to turn the tide at Stamford Bridge, a move to Juve could be on the cards in 2026.

In the meantime, Chelsea’s manager is surely tasked with finishing in the top four at the very least, and preferably adding more silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet after their Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs earlier this year.

According to some reports, Maresca is still quite unhappy with the options he has at Chelsea right now, so January could be a key month despite heavy summer backing in the market.

The most obvious area Chelsea are short in is centre-back, with ex-midfielder John Obi-Mikel claiming that the Blues will get nowhere near a Premier League title boasting that backline.

Ahead of the winter window’s opening, reports suggest that Chelsea are prioritising a new centre-back, with Levi Colwill expected to be out until spring 2026 after rupturing his ACL in pre-season.

However, they could also land a new forward, and have been linked with Yildiz as a serious option.

Chelsea make "very exciting" Yildiz offer amid Cole Palmer plan

Fabrizio Romano says that Chelsea “really like” the Turkey international who’s dazzled as Juve’s star attacker since the beginning of last season.

Yildiz racked up 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions across 2024/2025, finishing the campaign as their best-performing regular with over 10 starts, going by average match rating per 90 minutes (WhoScored).

The 20-year-old also made more key passes per 90 and completed more take-ons in the final third than any of his teammates, with Yildiz starting 25/26 in equally imperious fashion.

Juventus 2-0 Parma Calcio

8.88

Juventus 4-3 Inter Milan

8.51

Juventus 3-1 Udinese

7.55

Atalanta 1-1 Juventus

7.10

Genoa 0-1 Juventus

7.04

via WhoScored

He has seven goal contributions in 12 appearances already this term, attracting serious interest from Stamford Bridge.

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have “discreetly” reached out to Yildiz’s camp with a “very exciting” offer to join them, and Italian insiders are adamant that Maresca’s side are in pole position to land him.

This comes as Maresca hatches a plan to partner the young Turk with Palmer up front, as Chelsea see him as the “ideal” player to link up with their England superstar.

However, there are major obstacles to overcome in this would-be transfer — mainly Juve’s minimum demand of around £79 million — with Real Madrid also in the race.

Los Blancos are described as a “major threat” to Chelsea in pursuit of Yildiz, and the player is apparently very enticed by Xabi Alonso’s side as a possible destination.

There is also the matter of Juve apparently stepping up new contract talks to keep him out of rival clutches, so Chelsea could have to launch the kitchen sink if this move has any chance of happening.

Chelsea have been offered another Juventus star too

يرى داني ميرفي، النجم السابق لفريق ليفربول، أن المصري محمد صلاح لعب دورًا في تفوق مانشستر سيتي على حامل لقب الدوري الإنجليزي، في مباراتهما مساء أمس.

واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة فريقي مانشستر سيتي وليفربول، في قمة منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث خسر حامل اللقب بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.

وكتب داني ميرفي، عبر شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “كان جيريمي دوكو رائعًا للغاية مع مانشستر سيتي في فوزهم يوم الأحد، لكن تكتيكات ليفربول كانت السبب في قدرته على الانطلاق بقوة على يمينهم”.

وأضاف: “بدون عودة محمد صلاح للمراقبة الدفاعية، كانت كتيبة آرني سلوت دائمًا عرضة للخطر في تلك الجهة من الملعب، وشعرت بالأسف تجاه كونور برادلي، الذي كان يحاول إيقاف دوكو، لكن كان عليه أيضًا القلق بشأن نيكو أوريلي”.

وواصل: “حتى لو وجد ليفربول توازنًا أفضل وكان لديه جناح يمنح برادلي دعمًا دفاعيًا أكبر أو يضغط على مساحات مانشستر سيتي، فمع أسلوب لعب دوكو، كان من شبه المستحيل إيقافه”.

وأردف: “كان دوكو ممتع للمشاهدة، بغض النظر عن الفريق الذي تشجعه أو الفريق الذي ترغب في فوزه، كان عليك الإعجاب بمهارته وسرعته وقوته وشجاعته، وكان هدفه مذهلًا، لكن طريقة لعب ليفربول ساعدته على التألق”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | هالاند وفودين يستفزان جماهير ليفربول خلال ثلاثية مانشستر سيتي

واستكمل: “كان دوكو لاعبًا حيويًا ونجم تلك المباراة، كان هذا أفضل أداء رأيته له بقميص مانشستر سيتي، لكن عدم تكليف محمد صلاح بالدفاع سهّل عليه الأمر كثيرًا، لقد أصبحت هذه المنطقة من الملعب خصبة للغاية بالنسبة لمانشستر سيتي، وكانت أحد الأسباب التي جعلتهم يفوزون بسهولة في النهاية”.

واسترسل: “سيقول الكثيرون إن ليفربول حقق نجاحًا لسنوات دون أن يتراجع محمد صلاح من أجل الواجب الدفاعي، وفي حين أنه دافع بشكل أكبر تحت قيادة كلوب، إلا إنه قد تحدث الموسم الماضي عن عدم منحه الكثير من المسؤولية الدفاعية من جانب سلوت، وعن دى استمتاعه بذلك، ولنتذكر أن ليفربول فاز بلقب الدوري وهو يلعب بتلك الطريقة”.

وأوضح: “ولكن هناك فرق بين عدم القيام بذلك أبدًا والقيام به أحيانًا، بالنظر إلى الموسم الماضي عندما فاز ليفربول على ملعب الاتحاد، كان أداء صلاح الدفاعي من بين أفضل ما رأيته منه، هذه المرة (أمس) أعتقد أن الأمر يعود إليه ربما، لأنه رأى كيف أن برادلي كان يمر بوقت عصيب، كان عليه التفكير آنذاك في مساعدته، حتى لو كان ذلك لمدة 15 أو 30 دقيقة فقط، من أجل مساعدة ليفربول للعودة إلى أجواء المباراة”.

وشدد: “أنا لا أقول إن محمد صلاح يجب أن يصبح لاعبًا مختلفًا تمامًا الآن، فأنت لا تريده أن يركض للخلف كلما تفقد الكرة، لأنك أحيانًا تريده مستعدًا للانتقال حيث يكون أوريلي خارج موقعه، وكاد صلاح أن يسجل عدة مرات بتلك الطريقة يوم الأحد، بفضل سرعته، لكن يجب أن يكون هناك توازن”.

واختتم: “ففي مباراة مثل هذه، حيث يتسبب دوكو في إرهاق ظهيره الأيمن، لمدة 20 دقيقة، حينها يمكنك المساعدة حتى لو قيل لك إنه ليس عليك فعل ذلك، لا أفهم لماذا لم يفعل محمد صلاح ذلك إطلاقًا”.

Manchester United will hope to strategise for the long-term under INEOS and could now be set to up their pursuit of a talented teenager who may arrive at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's long-held relationship with developing talent

Whether it be integrating graduates from Carrington or buying young talent before developing them into first-team stars, the Red Devils have a long history of promoting prodigious assets and it is something that has characterized the backbone of the club.

Since 1937, Manchester United’s proud record of having an academy player present in every matchday squad has never faded, though it has been at risk one too many times under Ruben Amorim.

Either way, the Red Devils have made a concerted effort to recruit youngsters of late, with Sekou Kone and Diego Leon examples of investments for the future.

JJ Gabriel and Chido Obi Martin are also highly promising Red Devils’ talents, while Ayden Heaven’s emergence since joining from Arsenal has saw the defender make several first-team appearances.

Ultimately, the aim is to build a pipeline of future senior stars under INEOS, easing pressure on the club to buy players and, in turn, reducing the impact that PSR regulations will have on their ability to spend.

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Years under the Glazers resulted in mounting debt, but there is now a feeling that sustainability is achievable with the correct measures put in place in Manchester, albeit this process will take time and patience.

Expectation to claim results at Old Trafford will always be paramount. However, seeing a plan in place will afford the club more patience as they aim to get back among the Premier League elite.

With that in mind, Manchester United have a new talent on their mind who has plenty of promise and could come in to strengthen the ranks at youth level.

Man Utd eyeing move for Coventry City youngster George Shephard

According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United are eyeing a move for Coventry City youngster George Shephard, who is already loved by Frank Lampard as he was on the bench for the Championship outfit in their victory over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

This follows an impressive string of performances for their Under-21 side, offering recognition for displays as he remains someone who could be fast-tracked into the senior set-up on a more regular basis.

Predominantly used on the right flank or as an attacking midfielder, Shephard is yet to sign professional forms at Coventry and his situation has alerted a number of clubs, including Manchester United.

Now, it remains to be seen whether the prospect of developing at Carrington would appeal to him as he looks to make a mark in senior football. Most young players would jump at the chance, so it will be intriguing to see if he makes the jump.

Tottenham Hotspur have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, as seen by some of the achievements on the field under various managers.

Ange Postecoglou may have been handed his marching orders over the summer window, but he managed to achieve something which various managers have failed to do in North London.

The Aussie claimed the Europa League title with a victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao, subsequently ending the 17-year trophy drought.

However, it wasn’t enough to keep his job, with the 60-year-old replaced by Thomas Frank, with the Dane tasked with the responsibility of taking the Lilywhites to the next level.

Their ability to win the Europa League has allowed the club to feature in the Champions League, whilst also recruiting some top-level talent in the process.

How Spurs struck gold in Daniel Levy's final window

During the recent summer window, Frank made a beeline to improve his forward line, subsequently making a move to land Mohammed Kudus from rivals West Ham United.

The Ghanaian cost a reported £55m during the off-season, but he’s already shown glimpses of being a shrewd addition for the Lilywhites in 2025/26 and beyond.

He’s registered five assists in his first ten outings in North London, as per Transfermarkt, with the forward also getting off the mark during the recent 2-1 win over Leeds United, lashing home from just outside the box.

Kudus wasn’t the only big-money addition during the off-season, with the hierarchy also forking out £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

A new number ten was on the agenda all summer long, subsequently landing the Dutchman after missing out on the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White prior to his arrival.

The 22-year-old has so far made seven outings across all competitions, but unlike Kudus, he’s failed to find the net and has also only registered one assist in the process.

Despite the aforementioned additions, one other player in the first-team is rapidly becoming a better signing than the pair after establishing himself in Frank’s plans.

The Spurs star who’s becoming a better signing than Kudus & Simons

Over the last couple of years, Spurs haven’t been afraid to splash the cash to help them achieve their goals on the pitch, with the hierarchy spending well over £400m in the last three years.

Numerous areas of the pitch have been subject to investment, as seen by the additions within the final third, but the defensive unit has also been bolstered in recent years.

The partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the heart of the backline has already contributed to Frank’s side keeping five clean sheets in 2025/26 to date.

However, the middle of the park is arguably one of the most important, with Lucas Bergvall already making huge strides after the Dane took the reins during the off-season.

The Swede was an unknown quantity to many a little over 12 months ago, when the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £8.5m for his services from Djurgarden.

Yet, swiftly said to possess “a first touch like Modric” by the Athletic’s JJ Bull, at the age of just 18 when he moved to England, the midfielder made an immediate impact during his debut campaign – racking up 45 appearances across all competitions.

Whilst he’s primarily a deep-lying option, he managed to net his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup semi-final over Liverpool – but it was unable to catapult the side to the final.

The 2025/26 campaign has seen the youngster go from strength to strength, already featuring in ten outings under Frank and leading to Squawka describing him as “incredible”.

Bergvall has already added to his goalscoring tally, netting his first English top-flight effort in the recent 3-0 triumph over West Ham at the London Stadium.

Lucas Bergvall – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

6

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.2

Duels won

5.2

Recoveries made

3.9

Shots taken

1.5

Stats via FotMob

His underlying stats this season are just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 and winning 5.2 duels per 90 – subsequently showcasing his excellent ability to regain possession for the side, before transferring the ball into attacking areas for the likes of Kudus and Simons.

The Swede has also achieved an 84% pass completion rate, whilst also completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted – arguably being the perfect box-to-box option at the heart of the team.

At just 19, it’s scary to think about how impressive Bergvall can become in the years ahead, especially if he continues on the trajectory he’s put himself on in recent months.

There’s no disputing that Kudus and Simons will be excellent additions in the near future, but the move for Bergvall was a bargain and one that could go down as one of the best in their history if he reaches his full potential.

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