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Chelsea are now racing to sign an “incredible” forward from one of their bitter Premier League rivals, who are now willing to cash-in this summer, according to a report.

Blues set sights on new forward

With Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku failing to do the business in front of goal, the Blues have now set their sights on signing a new striker in the summer transfer window, and they have a number of top-level targets in mind.

Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, who has been extremely impressive in the Champions League this season, is one of the latest strikers to be targeted, with the 29-year-old joining the likes of Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres on the shortlist.

Not only are the west Londoners looking to bring in an out-and-out striker, but there have also been suggestions they could look to bolster their wide options, with fellow Dortmund star Jamie Gittens well-liked, alongside Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki.

Related Chelsea eager to sign £40k-p/w full-back who's "one of the best" in Europe

The Blues are set to battle it out for a defender, who has been in very impressive form this season.

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 21, 2025

However, according to a report from Caught Offside, there may be an option from much closer to home, with Chelsea now keen on signing winger Mohammed Kudus, who currently plays for bitter rivals West Ham United.

The Blues are not alone in their pursuit of Kudus, however, with Arsenal and Liverpool also in the race, alongside Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, who have reportedly already submitted a £87m bid for the Ghanaian.

Enzo Maresca’s side are yet to make any moves to sign the forward, but there are some indications they could be successful if they choose to formalise their interest, as West Ham are now willing to cash-in to fund their own summer transfer business.

"Incredible" Kudus impressing at West Ham

The 24-year-old’s debut campaign at the London Stadium last season certainly caught the eye, picking up 14 goals and nine assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, establishing himself as a key player under former manager David Moyes.

In light of his impressive performances, the Ghana international received high praise from journalist Raj Chohan, who believes the right-winger would be able to make the step-up to a top club.

The Accra-born attacker has been less impressive this season, failing to score and picking up just one assist in his last 15 Premier League games, but it is difficult to stand out in a very poor West Ham side, who sit in 17th place.

Kudus, who ranks in the top 2% of all wingers for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, as per FBref, could be an exciting signing for Chelsea, but given his goal and assist return this season, it would be unwise to match Al-Nassr’s £87m offer.

In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has lured a number of superstars to play their football in the Middle East, with big money on offer.

Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the first big names to make the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr in 2023 and the Portuguese icon now picks up an eye-watering £178m per season.

Messi, Mbappe and Dembele rejected billions in Saudi Pro League contracts

Some big money has been turned down over the years.

ByCharlie Smith Jul 19, 2025

Some star players have turned down moves to the Saudi Pro League, including Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes and Kylian Mbappe. However, the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante swapped some of the best clubs in Europe for Saudi Arabia.

Darwin Nunez is the latest to do so, heading to Al-Hilal from Liverpool in a transfer worth an initial €53m. But where does he rank on a list of the 10 most expensive Saudi Pro League transfers of all-time?

Player

From

To

Fee

Neymar

PSG

Al-Hilal

€90m

Jhon Duran

Aston Villa

Al-Nassr

€77m

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

Al-Qadsiah

€68.25m

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa

Al-Nassr

€60m

Malcom

Zenit

Al-Hilal

€60m

Otavio

FC Porto

Al-Nassr

€60m

Ruben Neves

Wolves

Al-Hilal

€55m

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool

Al-Hilal

€53m

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham

Al-Hilal

€52.6m

Galeno

FC Porto

Al-Ahli

€50m

10 Galeno €50m to Al-Ahli

Brazilian winger Galeno swapped FC Porto for Al-Ahli in 2025 in a deal worth €50m.

Arguably at the peak of his powers at the age of 27 when swapping Portugal for Saudi Arabia, Galeno helped Al-Ahli win the first-ever AFC Champions League Elite title, scoring in the final against Kawasaki Frontale.

9 Aleksandar Mitrovic €52.6m to Al-Hilal

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored goals everywhere he has been during his career, and after starring in England for eight years with Newcastle United and Fulham, caught the attention of Al-Hilal.

In 2023 they decided to pay those at Craven Cottage €52.6m for the Serbian striker, who has gone on to average more than a goal or an assist each game. Mitrovic helped Al-Hilal win a league title in 2023/24 and the Saudi Cup.

8 Darwin Nunez €53m to Al-Hilal

Looking likely to be Mitrovic’s replacement at Al-Hilal in 2025 is Darwin Nunez.

The former Liverpool striker was hit and miss at Anfield after costing the Reds £85m, with Arne Slot and those on Merseyside deciding to cash in halfway through a six-year deal.

7 Ruben Neves €55m to Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal have been big spenders in recent years and also splashed the cash on midfielder Ruben Neves in 2023.

The Portugal midfielder followed his national teammate Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, paying Premier League side Wolves €55m.

6 Otavio €60m to Al-Nassr

Another Portuguese star who headed to the Middle East in 2023 was Otavio, with Al-Nassr triggering his €60m release clause in his FC Porto contract.

Playing alongside Ronaldo in attack, the winger has made close to 100 appearances for Al-Nassr and is under contract until 2026.

5 Malcom €60m to Al-Hilal

Malcom cost Barcelona more than €40m in 2018, however, after selling the Brazilian winger to Zenit Saint Petersburg, he was then on the move again in 2023, joining Al-Hilal.

Still on the books in 2025, Malcom has won one Saudi League title, one Saudi Cup and two Saudi Super Cups.

4 Moussa Diaby €60m to Al-Ittihad

Despite signing the likes of Benzema, Kante and Fabinho in recent years, Al-Ittihad’s most expensive signing is Moussa Diaby.

Costing €60m from Aston Villa in 2024, Diaby has turned into an assist machine for Al-Ittihad, registering 16 in his first Al-Ittihad season.

3 Mateo Retegui €68.25m to Al-Qadsiah

After finishing fourth in the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League, Al-Qadsiah splashed the cash and broke their transfer record by signing striker Mateo Retegui from Atalanta.

Looking to topple the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, Retegui joins Al-Qadsiah after scoring 25 Serie A goals in 24/25.

2 Jhon Duran €77m to Al-Nassr

Like Diaby, Aston Villa also sold Jhon Duran for big-money to the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Nassr briefly partnering the Colombian alongside Ronaldo.

They paid a club-record €77m for the forward, however, Duran was loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce for the 2025/26 season.

1 Neymar €90m to Al-Hilal

Topping the charts as the most expensive Saudi Pro League transfer of all time is Neymar, who cost Al-Hilal €90m from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

Unfortunately for Neymar and Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a serious injury shortly after joining and never starred in Saudi Arabia, making just seven appearances for the club.

He left in 2025 after having his contract terminated, returning to Santos.

Games

7

Goals

1

Assists

3

Minutes played

428

The word was infamously uttered by England captain Tony Greig in 1976, and it’s made a reappearance nearly 50 years later

Martin Williamson25-Nov-2025Barely a sporting contest passes without someone making a cocky boast in the build-up. People are used to it – almost expect it – but in 1976 England captain Tony Greig overstepped the line on the eve of England’s series against West Indies. He made a comment that galivanised not only the opposition but also the tens of thousands of their supporters who flocked to grounds to see his words rammed back down his throat.West Indies arrived in May 1976 after a humiliating 5-1 drubbing in Australia the previous winter. They had beaten India in between, but that had been a struggle, and Clive Lloyd, their captain, hatched a plan based on all-out pace. He possessed a crop of outstanding – and fast – bowlers, and in the early tour matches they destroyed everything put in front of themAs the first Test loomed, Greig was interviewed for the BBC’s Sportsnight programme. Irked by a stream of newspaper articles highlighting the strength of West Indies, Greig let rip. “I’m not really sure they’re as good as everyone thinks,” he said. “These guys, if they get on top they are magnificent cricketers. But if they’re down, they grovel, and I intend, with the help of Closey [Brian Close] and a few others, to make them grovel.”The remark was highly inflammatory for a number of reasons, the main one being that Greig’s words, coming from a white South African, were seized on for racist overtones. “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any black man,” Lloyd said. “The fact they were used by a white South African made it even worse. We were angry and West Indians everywhere were angry. We resolved to show him and everyone else that the days for grovelling were over.”Most of the West Indies team felt Greig’s words were deliberate and not an off-the-cuff quip. “Everyone was stunned,” recalled Viv Richards, on his first tour of England. “This was the greatest motivating speech the England captain could have given to any West Indian team.”Behind the scenes, the England players were equally livid. Pat Pocock, the Surrey spinner who played twice in the series, said his immediate reaction was: “You prat …what have you done? You don’t do that sort of thing, winding them up for no reason.” Mike Brearley, who made his debut in the first Test, said that the words “carried an especially tasteless and derogatory overtone”.While the British media initially treated the comments as pre-series bravado, it was soon clear that they had not gone down at all well with the Caribbean population. Greig apologised, even appearing on a black London radio station to try to diffuse the situation. “I’m a press-man’s dream,” he admitted, “if you talk to me long enough I will say something controversial. I am bound to offend someone and get myself into deep water. ‘Grovel’ was simply an instance of that.”Close – aged 45 but recalled for the series – said that what irked some of the England side was not the remark, but that having made it Greig didn’t back his words with actions. “Everyone knew what he meant,” Close reflected. “If you get on top of West Indies the odds are that you stay on top. But the astonishing thing was that Tony, having made his point, made no attempt to drive it home once he got on the field.”After draws at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, West Indies took control of the series as England wilted in the heat – 1976 was one of the hottest and driest summers of the century – and were blown away by West Indies’ battery of fast bowlers. At Old Trafford and Headingley, England lost heavily, and Greig was subjected to increasing barracking, mostly good-humoured, from the large Caribbean contingents in the crowds.At that time The Oval, the scene of the final Test, was more Kensington than Kennington for West Indies matches, with the large Caribbean population of south London making the game a virtual home-from-home for the tourists. To the accompaniment of bugles, horns, cans and calypso singing, the crowd partied as West Indies flayed England for two days.By the time Greig came out to bat on Saturday evening England had mounted a recovery, but after cracking two stinging cover-drives off Michael Holding, he was bowled off his pads. As he left the field several hundred spectators, mainly young and West Indian, ran onto to the pitch and headed for the departing Greig, jostling and mocking him, and play was suspended in what Wisden described as a “disgraceful scene”.On the Monday, West Indies, who led on the first innings by 252 runs, did not enforce the follow-on, preferring to let Roy Fredericks and Gordon Greenidge cut loose in an unbeaten first-wicket stand of 182 in 32 overs. As the noise from the spectators increased in the afternoon heat, Greig slowly walked towards the open stands on the Harleyford Road side of the ground and sunk to his knees, grovelling to the crowd. They roared their delight. Greig, always the showman, had made his peace. “I realise that I made a mistake in using that word at the start of the series and they haven’t let me forget it,” he told the press that night.But it was too late for England, who were blown away by Holding the following morning, his 6 for 57 in the second innings giving him 14 wickets in the match.Within nine months Greig had thrown in his lot with Kerry Packer and had been stripped of the England captaincy – his international career ended at the end of the following summer. He went on to become a leading commentator, although he continued to court controversy. In 1990-91, while covering the England tour of the Caribbean, he was criticised for blurting out “Goodnight Charlie” when West Indian batsmen were dismissed.”Anyone who wants to suggest it was my South African background that was behind my comment and put any racist tone to this thing just doesn’t know me,” Greig said three decades later. “None of the West Indies players ever confronted me about my comments at the start of the series – they were just faster and nastier whenever I came to the crease.”Bibliography

David Tossell (Know The Score, 2007)
I Don’t Bruise Easily Brian Close (MacDonald & Jane’s, 1978)

My Story Tony Greig and Alan Lee (Stanley Paul, 1980)

And how many bowlers have taken hat-tricks as well as been victims of one?

Steven Lynch29-Aug-2023Stuart Broad took a hat-trick in a Test, and was also a victim in one. How many others have been on both sides of a hat-trick? asked Abhishek Chakravorty from India

You’re right that Stuart Broad not only claimed a Test hat-trick – in fact he took two, against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, and Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2014 – but was also part of one, as the last victim of Peter Siddle’s birthday hat-trick in Brisbane in 2010-11.Five other men have featured on both sides of a Test hat-trick: Darren Gough (England), Shane Warne (Australia), Nuwan Zoysa (Sri Lanka), Harbhajan Singh (India) and Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka). For the full list of Test hat-tricks, click here.In men’s ODIs, there are also six: Kapil Dev (India), Mohammad Sami (Pakistan), Brett Lee (Australia), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Rubel Hossain (Bangladesh) and Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya, who was actually part of two hat-tricks as well as taking one. For the ODI list, click here.And there are two in men’s T20Is: Khalid Ahmadi of Belgium and Uganda’s Kenneth Waiswa. For that list, click here.There are no instances in women’s Tests or ODIs, but four in T20Is: by Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Megan Schutt (Australia), Fahima Khatun (Bangladesh) and Onnicha Kamchomphu (Thailand). For that list, click here.Does the famous match at the Wanderers when South Africa scored 438 to win still hold the record for the highest aggregate in a one-day international? asked Abdurrahman Bakhsh from South Africa

On that memorable evening in Johannesburg in March 2006, Australia ran up 434 for 4, but South Africa edged past them with 438 for 9. The match aggregate of 872 runs not only remains the ODI record – next comes the 825 of India (414 for 7) vs Sri Lanka (411 for 8) in Rajkot in 2009-10 – but is still the highest in any List A (senior one-day) match. It came under threat at Trent Bridge in 2016, when the Royal London Cup game between Nottinghamshire (445 for 8) and Northamptonshire (425) featured 870 runs. In all, there have now been 11 List A games with 800 or more runs.Seven different St Lucia bowlers took a wicket in an innings in a CPL match earlier this month. Was this a record for any T20 game? asked Sandesh Acharekar from India

Seven St Lucia Kings bowlers took a wicket in their recent Caribbean Premier League match against Barbados Royals in Gros Islet – Matthew Forde grabbed three, and the six other bowlers one apiece (there was also a run-out, from the first ball of the innings). This equalled the record for senior T20 cricket: there have now been no fewer than 25 instances of seven, including five in official internationals. Earlier this year, seven Ireland bowlers took wickets as they upset Bangladesh in Chattogram.Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara are among eight batters to have scored a double-hundred and a hundred in the same Test•Getty ImagesDerbyshire’s Luis Reece scored a double-hundred and a century in the same game earlier this season. How often has this happened? asked Michael Edwards from… Derbyshire

Left-hander Luis Reece made 131 and added 201 not out as Derbyshire followed on against Glamorgan in Derby last month.Reece provided the 73rd instance of this double in first-class cricket, but only the second for Derbyshire, after the Australian Chris Rogers against Surrey at The Oval in 2010. The first to do it anywhere was CB Fry, with 125 and 229 for Sussex against Surrey in Hove in 1900 (the only instance before the First World War). Zaheer Abbas achieved the feat four times, all for Gloucestershire, remaining not out in all eight innings.The figure of 73 includes eight occurrences in Tests, the most recent by Marnus Labuschagne for Australia against West Indies in Perth in 2022-23, and also the two instances of a triple and a single century in the same Test – by Graham Gooch for England vs India at Lord’s in 1990, and Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2013-14.Also, in the main number are the two cases of two double-centuries in the same first-class match, by Arthur Fagg for Kent against Essex in Colchester in 1938, and Angelo Perera for Nondescripts vs Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 2018-19.As the World Athletics Championships are going on at the moment, I wondered if any Test cricketers had ever won medals? asked Andrew Simpson from England

By the time the World Athletics Championships began, in 1983, increased professionalism meant it was increasingly difficult for anyone to rise to the top in more than one sport, as had been relatively commonplace in earlier years. But you should never say never: I believe there is one world athletics medallist who also played a cricket Test match. Sunette Viljoen won the silver medal in the women’s javelin in Daegu in 2011, and bronze in Beijing in 2015; in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 she won an Olympic silver medal too. Before her athletics career took over, Viljoen played one Test for South Africa, against India in Paarl in 2001-02. She also played 17 one-day internationals, and featured in the 2000 World Cup. One imagines you wouldn’t have wanted to try a quick single to her in the field.There was another close connection to Test cricket in the most recent world championships. Rai Benjamin won the bronze medal in the men’s 400 metres hurdles, having won silver in the same event in 2019 and 2022; he also won silver (and a gold in the 4x400m relay) at the Tokyo Olympics. He’s the son of the former West Indian fast bowler Winston Benjamin, who played 21 Tests and 85 ODIs between 1986 and 1995.Also in Budapest, Brandon Starc – the brother of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc – finished eighth in the men’s high jump.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

For some batters there hasn’t been much cricket, but one of the incumbents has filled his boots over the winter and wants to be back at the Gabba

Alex Malcolm26-Oct-2021One of Australia’s incumbent Test openers has scored more runs in first-class cricket since the team last played a Test match than any of his countrymen. He’s made 995 runs in 14 matches, averaging 49.75, with four centuries.It’s not David Warner, who has played just one first-class match since the Gabba Test against India. It’s not Will Pucovski, who has not played a single game of cricket since he dislocated his shoulder in the new year’s Test in Sydney and won’t play in Victoria’s first Sheffield Shield game this season due to another concussion.It’s not Joe Burns, who was dropped for the Sydney Test and has played just six matches since. It’s not Matthew Wade, who opened in the first two Tests of the series despite never opening before in his 14-year 156-game first-class career.And it’s not Usman Khawaja, who is being discussed as an option to open in the first Test of the upcoming Ashes, having opened just three times in his last 28 first-class innings since the 2019 Ashes tour, for scores of 30, 4 and 2.Related

• Eye on the Ashes (hopefully): who could push their Test claims in the Sheffield Shield?

• Gloucestershire hail Marcus Harris signing as 'big statement of intent'

• Victoria look to kick on after season of development

• Tests back of mind in Kurtis Patterson's Ashes push

Marcus Harris hasn’t yet played a game this summer, but his deeds in England this winter for Leicestershire seem not to be at the forefront of minds, and he chuckled when he was reminded that he is in fact one of Australia’s incumbent openers.”It was a difficult summer last year just with the way that the opening position kept rotating so there’s always going to be speculation,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s good to talk about from a media point of view. Personally, and privately in speaking to selectors, I know what they think and I know they probably have looked back on my work over the last period of time and I think that will hold me in good stead going forward. I know I’ve been a consistent performer for probably five or six years now in Shield cricket so I’m confident if I get the opportunity I’ll be fine.Marcus Harris enjoyed a very consistent season for Leicestershire•Getty Images”But that’s the tough thing about playing for Australia. The opportunities are limited. You’ve got to take them when you get them so that’s what’s been hard, as I’ve sort of been in and out a little bit. But I think the people and the powers that be understand and they sort of know how hard it can be.”Going to England was a big part of my vision for going forward, being able to play a lot of cricket and putting numbers on the board.”Harris has been in regular contact with coach Justin Langer over the winter but more importantly had a fruitful conversation with Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey last Friday. He was reassured by Bailey that despite the annual media rumblings of a “bat-off for places” in the lead-up to the Ashes, that his larger body of work will carry more weight, particularly as Victoria and New South Wales have not played a single match so far this summer due to the Covid lockdowns, while other states have already played two each.”It is really good [to hear that]. I think it’s like with any sport, it’s good for stories and stuff like that,” Harris said. “But you know that at the end of the day the people that are picking the team are looking at the bigger picture rather than a smaller bit of work.”

When you come in and out of a team you can put a lot of pressure on yourself knowing that this might be your only chance so that can be hard to play with that pressure

Harris made 655 runs in eight games for Leicestershire, scoring three centuries including a stunning 185 not out in a successful fourth-innings chase of 378 against Middlesex. Harris loved the experience so much he signed a two-year deal with Gloucestershire to play all three formats over the next two seasons after only playing two with Leicestershire.”The best thing for my development was to go and play over there in the winter and keep playing cricket rather than playing home seasons here then not doing much for a couple of months,” he said. “I think at this stage of my career I’ve got to keep playing all the time so it’s been beneficial no matter which way the season goes here, just for me as a cricketer to be able to play over there in different conditions.”Harris’ experience in the 2019 Ashes in England, where he made just 58 runs in six innings, could have easily scarred him. But he viewed it as a pivotal learning moment.”It wouldn’t have seemed like it at the time, but it was such a good learning experience playing in that series,” he said. “Sort of knowing that you might be able to play one way in Australia but that might not always suit the way you’re going to have to play in England.”I think the good thing as well being in Leicester and being by myself with different coaches, is you work everything out for yourself and you have to work it out on the run a little bit. And equally as the pressure of being the overseas player, you’re expected to do well so you have that pressure on you. But I enjoyed that.Marcus Harris was bounced out in the second innings against India after starting promisingly•Getty Images”County cricket is very different to Shield cricket. The bowlers are different, the batters are different. They’re very good in their conditions and so you’ve got to try and find a way to make your game suit that, which I enjoyed.”The key now is for Harris to convert those experiences at Test level if he can get a consistent run at it. He has shown glimpses, including his second-innings 38 at the Gabba, that he is capable of being Australia’s long-term solution at the top of the order.”When you come in and out of a team you can put a lot of pressure on yourself knowing that this might be your only chance so that can be hard to play with that pressure,” Harris said. “I enjoyed in that second innings that we had to score quite quickly, that sort of suited me a little bit, so I learned from that.”If I get another opportunity, I can try and take that pressure off myself, which is easier said than done, but just go out there and look to score and put runs on the board will probably suit me.”I sort of feel like in first-class cricket it took me a little while, it probably took me 20 or 30 games, probably more, 40, to understand and believe in myself. But as I’ve got older, I sort of know that if I can get a good run, a few games, I feel like I could do the same thing in Test cricket.”That’s all it is really, a bit of self-belief and proving to yourself and proving to people that you can do it.”

Baseball’s regular season is inching closer to its final crescendo and the playoff races are in full throttle.

The never-say-die Rangers and Guardians have made things interesting in the American League, while the Mets’ collapse has opened the door for the likes of the Diamondbacks, Reds and Giants to dream of October baseball. Will New York hold on for the third wild-card spot? Can the Mariners win the club’s first division title since 2001? And will Brewers manager Pat Murphy take home some hardware for the second consecutive year?

We’ll answer those questions and more in another edition of Fact or Fiction. 

The Mets will still make the playoffs despite their September skid

Things have been dire for the Amazin’s as of late. The Mets, once owners of the best record in baseball on June 12, must have broken a few mirrors or stumbled upon a black cat on Friday, June 13. Since that day, the Mets’ pitching—both starters and the bullpen—has taken a turn for the worse and the Juan Soto-led lineup has been inconsistent en route to baseball’s fourth-worst record. Heck, Mets fans can be forgiven if they began to think the team would never win a game again, as they had a nine-game losing streak before a Pete Alonso walk-off home run mercifully brought an end to the painful skid Sunday. 

And yet, after all this losing, consternation and hand-wringing, the Mets are in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot. FanGraphs likes their chances—86.4% odds to make the postseason after they beat the Padres on Tuesday—and so do I. That’s because there’s still a lot to like about the Mets. 

The lineup is slowly starting to wake up. Soto, the $765 million man, has been swinging a hot bat thus far in September and is on pace to hit the third-most homers in Mets history, trailing only two Alonso seasons. Speaking of Alonso, he’s homered in each of his last two games to snap a 10-game homerless streak. And Francisco Lindor went yard Tuesday to continue a five-game hitting streak. New York needs more than just those three, of course, but having the top of its order produce like it’s being paid to will go a long way towards the club making the postseason. 

And as for the much-maligned starters, the Mets may have found the club’s new ace in No. 3 prospect Nolan McLean, as well as two more promising young arms in Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, the former of whom has struggled with his command in two starts since a promising debut. But with McLean, an innings-eater in David Peterson and the solid Clay Holmes, the bones of a potential playoff-caliber rotation are there. Should Kodai Senga, who excelled in his first Triple-A start after his demotion, find his form, there’s a glimmer of hope surrounding the Mets’ rotation. 

If there’s one thing that could still sink these Mets, it’s the bullpen, in which the so-called circle of trust has dwindled to closer Edwin Diaz, Tyler Rogers and Brooks Raley. But call it a hunch, intuition or whatever you want to call it: I’m a believer that the Mets’ superior talent to the Diamondbacks, Reds and Giants will win out in the end. Mets reliever Ryne Stanek said Sunday’s walk-off win felt like a “deep breath” for the Mets. Perhaps the club will look back at that deep breath as the turning point. 

Verdict: Fact

The opener is one of a crop of young batters who will feature in the two-day pink-ball game

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-2025

Sam Konstas made century from the PM’s XI last season•AFP/Getty Images

Sam Konstas has been named in the Prime Minister’s XI to face an England team in Canberra at the end of November in a two-day day-night fixture with the side including some of the best young batting talent in Australia.Ollie Peake, Campbell Kellaway and Hugh Weibgen will also feature alongside Nathan McSweeney who played three Tests against India last season. The side will be captained by the experienced Peter Handscomb and also includes former Test quick Peter Siddle.It was the corresponding fixture last season that helped propel Konstas into the Test side when he flayed 107 off 97 against India in what became a one-day game due to rain.Konstas has lost his Test place for the start of the Ashes after struggling in West Indies then making 161 runs at 20.12 in four rounds of the Sheffield Shield.Kellaway, meanwhile, has been one of the standout batters in the early stages of the season with 317 runs at 39.62 opening for Victoria, recently facing down a rapid spell from Mitchell Starc at the SCG.His state coach, Chris Rogers, earmarked him as one of the frontrunners to replace Usman Khawaja when his career ends.”It’s proven once again he could be the successor to Khawaja. He’s going to do fantastic things in his career,” Rogers, said. “I spoke to Campbell about it after and he wouldn’t have faced that challenge throughout his career.”But if he’s going to go on and play international cricket then he will have to face things like that, where tall, fast bowlers are kind of aiming at his front shoulder.”So that’s something that he’s going to have to work on, the positions he gets into. But to come out and get 50 and line the ball up so well against Starc and Hazlewood, I thought that was a real tick.”Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “This team showcases the depth of talent in our domestic cricket system, and I’m particularly excited to see some of our emerging stars earn this opportunity.”I am also looking forward to the Ashes commencing in Perth from 21 November, it’s the oldest rivalry in world cricket – Australia and England in an Ashes Series always means something extra.”The PM’s XI match takes place on November 29 and 30 between the first and second Tests.Prime Minister’s XI squad vs England
Peter Handscomb (capt), Benji Floros, Campbell Kellaway, Campbell Thompson, Charlie Anderson, Doug Warren, Hugh Weibgen, Joel Curtis, Nathan McSweeney, Oliver Peake, Peter Siddle, Sam Konstas, Sam Skelly

Sky Sports presenter Dan Bardell has now shed light on a “sneaky” Leeds United moment against Aston Villa, which VAR may have missed in Unai Emery’s side’s 2-1 win at Elland Road.

Morgan Rogers’ second-half double sealed Aston Villa a 2-1 win at Leeds and lifted his side into the Premier League’s top four. The England forward cancelled out Lukas Nmecha’s early opener for Leeds soon after the interval before his exquisite free-kick secured Villa a sixth win from their last seven league games.

A fifth defeat in six league matches was a bitter pill to swallow for Leeds, who remain in the relegation zone and had nothing to show for a spirited display, which saw them match their opponents for long periods.

Leeds dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season after Saturday’s results and a second home league defeat of the season heaped further pressure on head coach Daniel Farke.

Eight of Leeds’ 11 points prior to kick-off this season had been won at Elland Road and they made the ideal start, taking an eighth-minute lead after a lengthy VAR decision.

Sean Longstaff’s free-kick was hooked back across goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson and after Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez dropped the ball under pressure from Anton Stach, Ezri Konsa’s attempted clearance rebounded off Nmecha and into the net.

VAR Paul Tierney concluded after a lengthy check that neither Gudmundsson or Stach had been offside.

"Sneaky" moment VAR may have missed in Leeds v Aston Villa

Nmecha’s third goal of the season was confirmed after a lengthy VAR check for offside. There will have also been some fears that a foul could’ve been given, something which may not have been checked in great detail.

Taking to X during the first half, Sky Sports man Bardell suggested the goal shouldn’t have stood due to a “sneaky nudge”, despite the fact Martinez should’ve done a lot better, saying: “Could be disallowed for a couple of things there, but not great from Martinez, although I do think there was a sneaky nudge too. Not ideal.”

Ultimately, regardless of whether there was meaningful contact, the Argentinian should’ve done a lot better, considering he is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

That said, Villa managed to force their way back into the game regardless, with Rogers putting in a fantastic second-half display, bagging a brace, which ensured his side moved up to fourth in the Premier League table.

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Manchester United have endured a superb upturn in form over the last couple of weeks, with the squad now finally reaping the rewards of the faith shown in the manager.

Ruben Amorim was a man under pressure a couple of months ago, especially after the Red Devils endured yet another dismal start to a Premier League campaign.

The 40-year-old has since led the first-team squad to five games unbeaten in England’s top-flight – a run which is undoubtedly the best during his 12-month spell at Old Trafford.

Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur showcased their ability to bounce back from losing positions – something which may have been difficult in 2024/25.

There’s little disputing that the club are certainly on the up under Amorim’s guidance, but his side could be further improved during the upcoming January transfer window.

Man Utd’s hunt for new additions in January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been one of the sides touted with a move to land Palmeiras centre forward Vitor Roque after his impressive form in 2025.

The Brazilian youngster has scored 16 times in his 30 league appearances this calendar year, currently sitting as the division’s second top scorer at present.

His form has led to links to the Red Devils, but it would be yet another expensive addition, with the Serie A outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of £42m for his signature.

In terms of big-money additions, the Red Devils have also been touted with another move for Elliot Anderson after his incredible rise at Nottingham Forest this campaign.

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, United have already made contact with the Reds over a deal for the central midfielder, who’s also become an England international regular in recent months.

However, the journalist has also confirmed that any deal would set the hierarchy back upwards of £100m-£120m this January – a deal that would break the club record fee paid for Paul Pogba back in 2016.

Why Anderson would finally get Sesko firing

During their £200m spending spree in the summer, the United hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £74m for the signature of Benjamin Sesko from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Given the magnitude of such a fee, real expectations were placed on the Slovenian to provide the goods and lead the line for Amorim’s men in 2025/26.

However, his time at Old Trafford to date has been a huge disappointment, with the 22-year-old only finding the net twice in his first 11 Premier League outings for the Red Devils.

Sesko is currently four games without a goal in England’s top-flight, even being dropped to the substitutes bench and limited to just half an hour in the draw against Spurs.

He will no doubt need time to settle into life in England’s top-flight, but he could be aided in his attempts for success at Old Trafford should the board secure the services of Anderson this winter.

It would no doubt be a mammoth investment if they were to land the 23-year-old, but such a move would provide Sesko with the ammunition he needs to thrive in front of goal.

Anderson, who’s been dubbed “sensational” by Matt Forde, has completed 1.3 take-ons per 90 – ranking him in the top 3% of all midfielders in the division at present.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

8.8

Passes into final third

8.6

Take-ons completed

1.3

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.6

Duels won

7.7

The aforementioned tally showcases his ability to get the ball into attacking areas, which could provide the forwards ahead of him with the chances they need to impress.

He’s also 8.6 passes into the final third per 90 – with such a tally the highest of any player in the Premier League this season, highlighting his talents with the ball at his feet.

Other figures, such as 8.8 progressive passes and 1.4 key passes per 90, further demonstrate his talents at finding a teammate – with such numbers perfectly falling into the hands of Sesko.

The prospect of Anderson linking up with Bruno Fernandes is truly an exciting one, with the United fans potentially blessed with one of the best duos in the league.

If the youngster can replicate such numbers, there’s no reason why he can’t help Sesko finally kickstart his career in England – even if a deal would cost the hierarchy a club-record fee.

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1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 11, 2025

كشف ييس توروب المدير الفني لفريق الأهلي، عن قائمة لاعبيه لمباراة شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

ويواجه الأهلي نظيره شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في السادسة من مساء غد السبت، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي، في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع.. معلق مباراة الأهلي وشبيبة القبائل في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وشهدت قائمة الأهلي عودة إمام عاشور بعد غيابه لإصابته بفيروس A، بالإضافة إلى عودة الثنائي زيزو وتريزيجيه بعد الإصابة التي تعرض لها الثنائي الفترة الماضية.  قائمة الأهلي لمباراة شبيبة القبائل الجزائري

المرمى: محمد الشناوي ومحمد سيحا ومصطفى شوبير

الدفاع: ياسين مرعي وعمر كمال وأحمد رمضان بيكهام  وياسر إبراهيم ومحمد هاني وأحمد نبيل كوكا وكريم فؤاد

الوسط: محمد علي بن رمضان ومحمود حسن تريزيجيه ومروان عطية وأشرف بن شرقي ومحمد مجدي أفشة وإمام عاشور وأليو ديانج وأحمد سيد زيزو  وطاهر محمد طاهر 

الهجوم: محمد شريف وحمزة عبد الكريم.