Mikel Arteta’s squad could look different in January, as Arsenal weigh up their options ahead of the winter window in the bid to keep up the momentum in their title charge.

The Gunners sit just one point from the summit in the Premier League table after 12 games played, however the club’s stance in the upcoming transfer market could be fundamental to their league position in May.

Injury woes continue to plague Arteta’s side, adding to the expectation to welcome reinforcements in January, with one former target said to be the north Londoners’ favoured move.

Arsenal transfer targets – Douglas Luiz

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano recently told Caught Offside that Arsenal “really, really want” Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in January.

The Brazilian was eyed by the Gunners last summer, in which three bids were rejected by Villa amid Arteta and Edu’s desire to welcome the former Manchester City man to the Emirates.

According to CIES Football Observatory, the 25-year-old has a market value of €60m (£52m), making him an expensive asset to target this winter, however it’s clear that the north Londoners have admired the midfielder throughout his rise at Villa Park.

Romano added that Unai Emery’s star player would be the “perfect midfielder” for Arsenal, although he will be far from easy to acquire from the Midlands side, who have “no intention” to allow him to leave.

Why Douglas Luiz would be a good signing for Arsenal

With Thomas Partey struggling to stay fit, Declan Rice is Arteta’s only option regarded to be of starting XI calibre available at present in the engine room.

In Luiz, the Spaniard could secure a future partner for the Englishman, as well as a player capable of playing to the manager’s demands in midfield with a host of Premier League experience.

Statistically comparable to Rice by FBref based on his performances this season, the Brazil international has the perfect balance of a combative and ball-playing presence, highlighted by his average of 2.38 tackles and 5.81 progressive passes per 90.

If Arsenal were to focus on attempting to bring the Villa dynamo to the Emirates, a shift in personnel in midfield would be necessary for financial reasons, with Fabio Vieira interestingly linked with a move away in January.

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano touched upon Marseille’s interest in the Gunners’ outsider with reference to a potential loan dealm as the 23-year-old continues to struggle to impose himself in north London.

Douglas Luiz

Fabio Vieira

12

8

5

1

1

2

1.2

0.4

4.9

1.9

2

2

1.30

0.53

While the former Porto gem is more of an attacking asset in central midfield, his numbers this term suggest that Luiz could replace him at Arsenal with the Brazilian boasting more of a playmaking presence from deeper areas.

As highlighted in the table above, in the instance of offloading Vieira to make way for the Villa sensation, Arteta would not compromise the Gunners’ attacking outlets, suggesting that the switch in personnel would benefit the squad in all aspects.

There’s good reason as to why the manager is so set on capturing Luiz’s signature, with journalist Gregg Evans once lauding the midfielder as an “absolute joy to watch” for his growth at Villa Park.

In trading Vieira for Luiz, Arteta could make a fundamental change to his options in midfield, with the Brazil international fairing as the more-suited figure for the manager to integrate into his side.

وجه مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، اللوم لزملائه بعد الخسارة من ميلان بركلات الجزاء الترجيحية اليوم، الأربعاء، في مباراة ودية.

وخسر برشلونة بنتيجة 4-3 أمام ميلان بعد التعادل في الأشواط الأصلية 2-2 في ختام الجولة بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والعودة إلى المدينة الكتالونية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. موعد تقديم داني أولمو صفقة برشلونة الجديدة

وتحدث ليفاندوفسكي عن عمله مع فليك في تصريحات مع صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية، وقال: “سعيد جدًا وراضٍ عن عملي مع هانز مرة أخرى، أعتقد أننا سنقدم موسمًا رائعًا وسينتهي بنا الأمر بالفوز بالبطولات”.

وعن أداء اللاعبين: “عندما نكون متفوقين في أي مباراة بهدف نظيف علينا أن نهاجم أكثر من أجل تسجيل المزيد”.

وأضاف مهاجم برشلونة في النهاية: “أسلوب الفريق المعروف هو الهجوم هذا هو حمضنا النووي، علينا أن نكون حريصين على ذلك في جميع المباريات”.

The Australia batsman has overcome a knee injury sustained in the UAE to be ready for the opening Test against India in Adelaide but had already embarked on his enhanced fitness regime

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2018

Usman Khawaja’s 141 in 524 minutes is the second-longest fourth innings stint in Tests•Getty Images

Usman Khawaja has taken inspiration from NBA star LeBron James to get himself into peak physical condition for the demands of Test cricket.Khawaja has overcome a knee injury sustained in the UAE to be ready for the opening Test against India in Adelaide but had already embarked on his enhanced fitness regime.James is 33 and Khawaja turns 32 later this month and has already felt the benefits of his hard work, which has seen him lose around 10kg, firstly during a spell in county cricket with Glamorgan then when forming his match-saving 141 against Pakistan in Dubai.”It wasn’t a thing where I was like ‘CA’s coming down on me telling me to lose weight and I have to do it or else I’m not playing’. It wasn’t Big Brother or anything,” he told RSN radio.”That was probably one part of my game and place that I wanted to work hard on and make sure I was in the right physical shape for international cricket. Training, playing, travelling. I don’t think people realise how much actually goes into the international schedule.””I just wanted to make sure that I was the best version of myself. One of my favourite athletes, LeBron James, does that as well as anyone else. I had a good Ashes campaign but I just felt like it was something I needed to work on at the time. I just started chipping away at it.”I was actually really surprised with how well I was pulling up after games. Losing weight doesn’t help you particularly score runs. It doesn’t make you a better batter. It’s about the other little things. Being in the field, recovering, running between the wickets.”The exact role Khawaja plays in the Test series against India remains to be confirmed with a decision still to be made over Australia’s opening combination. If Marcus Harris debuts alongside Aaron Finch then Khawaja will be moved down to No. 3, but coach Justin Langer has previously praised the performance of Finch and Khawaja in the UAE.Khawaja admitted he liked the role at first drop as it allows him to gather his thoughts after fielding, but he is more than content with whichever position he takes.”The only thing it affects is how fast I have to run off the field,” Khawaja said. “You only get 10 minutes as an opener, which is a pain in the a***. I love batting No. 3 because you often get a little rest, little breather, put your pads on nice and easy, watch the openers scurry off. But it doesn’t make a difference whatsoever.”

Newcastle United could be looking to sign a new goalkeeper in January, and a "phenomenal" target is believed to be open to the idea of moving to the club.

Newcastle want new goalkeeper

The Magpies have been rocked by yet a major new injury setback in recent days, during a season in which it feels as though their fitness woes will never end. Nick Pope suffered a serious shoulder problem in last weekend's 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League, and he could now even miss the rest of the season, such is the severity of it.

While Eddie Howe has Martin Dubravka to call upon in Pope's absence, it could be that Newcastle and PIF look to sign a high-level 'keeper rather than have to trust the Magpies' backup option between the sticks for an extended period of time, with a number of names being thrown into the hat.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale is one option for Newcastle, with the England international losing his place in the Gunners' team to new loan signing David Raya this season, while former Manchester United stopper David De Gea is another who could move to St James' Park.

David De Gea open to Newcastle move

According to The Times, De Gea is keen on the idea of joining Newcastle, as he looks to get his career back on track after departing Old Trafford at the end of last season in what is a welcome boost for Howe.

"David de Gea is open to a surprise move to Newcastle United after their goalkeeper, Nick Pope, was ruled out for at least four months with a dislocated shoulder.

"The Spaniard has been without a club since he left Old Trafford in the summer after 12 years. While he was initially reluctant to come back to the Premier League he is understood to be open to a move to the North East."

It is essential that Newcastle bring in a new 'keeper next month, considering Howe's side have genuine top-four aspirations once again in the Premier League. Ramsdale is the more up-and-coming option out of him and De Gea, but the latter could be the wisest choice to bring in, considering his vast experience in the game, with the Magpies target making 45 appearances for Spain.

Related Fabrizio Romano drops update on future of "battleship" wanted by Newcastle

The renowned journalist says it is one to “keep an eye on”.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Dec 5, 2023

Granted, he may not be the force he once was, but Arsenal legend Rio Ferdinand has hailed him in the past, saying the 33-year-old is "phenomenal", and a tally of 545 appearances for United says so much about his level of consistency over an extended period of time, not to mention winning one Premier League title along the way.

De Gea is now a free agent since departing United in the summer, but he has proven himself as a world-class performer many times during the past decade, and would bring with him a winning mentality and ability to be a match-winner with his shot-stopping prowess, so it'll be interesting to see who the Magpies target.

Jurgen Klopp is not bothered with Mohamed Salah's rough patch in front of goal despite struggling again during Europa League exit to Atalanta.

Article continues below

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• Liverpool beaten on aggregate by Atalanta
• Salah scored from the spot but his performance was not up to the mark
• Klopp puts his weight behind the Egyptian

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Salah found the net against Atalanta from the spot at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on Thursday evening but could not inspire Liverpool to a comeback by overturning a 3-0 deficit from the first leg. He was instead caught guilty of squandering chances and had to be subsequently taken off in the second half despite his team trailing by two aggregate goals.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Klopp downplayed Salah's ineffectiveness in front of the goal. Instead, he insisted that missing chances is part and parcel of the sport and is not a cause for alarm.

• WHAT KLOPP SAID

  “I’m not particularly concerned,” said Klopp. “That’s what strikers do. That’s how it is. We have to go through it, he has to go through it. He is one of the most experienced players in the squad. That’s pretty much all.

  "It’s not that Mo didn’t miss chances before in his life, that’s part of the game. The penalty was super convincing, a super penalty then the next chance that was unlucky, but it’s not the first time has has missed chances like that. I won’t make a big story of it. I’m not particularly concerned.”

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• KLOPP HAS OTHER CONCERNS

  However, Klopp did focus on the broader shortcomings, particularly in creating scoring opportunities, against well-drilled defences like Atalanta.

  "We didn't have enough chances," he said. "We have to create a little bit more than we did in the first half already as it's clear you need a result to help destabilise the opponent and if you have a second goal it's a tricky one as the next goal is extra time but we didn't get to that point and we will never really know how that would have looked. If you don't deserve it, it's all good."

Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement maintained his unbeaten start to life at Ibrox with a 2-0 win over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

The Light Blues recorded a victory for the first time in three matches after successive draws against Aris and Aberdeen, ahead of their clash with Hearts on Wednesday.

Abdallah Sima scored both goals for the Scottish giants and produced a superb performance down the left flank. However, it was Todd Cantwell who was the star of the show as he proved his worth with a stunning display.

Abdallah Sima's performance against St Mirren in numbers

The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee was pivotal to the win as his two finishes provided the separation between Rangers and St Mirren.

His first goal came after some impressive build-up play down the right eventually resulted in the ball falling his way and the forward produced a fantastic finish to make it 1-0.

The second goal then came as he latched onto a ball through the middle of the pitch and coolly dispatched the ball into the back of the net.

Sima, who has now scored seven Premiership goals this season, did, however, lose six of his eight ground duels, failed with his only attempted dribble, and completed 68% of his attempted passes across the 90 minutes.

This shows that it was not a perfect performance from the winger, who was loose on the ball at times and did not create any chances for his fellow attackers, but there is no knocking how clinical he was in the final third.

Todd Cantwell's performance against St Mirren in numbers

Meanwhile, Cantwell provided a brilliant all-round display as he proved his worth after a difficult evening against Aris in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Clement decided to withdraw the midfielder after 37 minutes as the forward struggled on the right wing with his lack of pace and inclination to drift inside to pick the ball up in central areas.

The head coach provided the English whiz with an opportunity to catch the eye in his more natural position through the middle as a number ten on Sunday and it got the best out of him.

Cantwell recorded a Sofascore rating of 9.0 – the highest of any player on the pitch – as he ran the show in midfield and helped Rangers to dominate, and win, the match.

The 25-year-old magician set up both of Sima's goals and the second assist was, particularly, special as he split open the St Mirren defence with a wonderful through ball.

He created four chances for his teammates in total – second only to James Tavernier's six – and completed 88% of his 60 attempted passes.

Cantwell, who had 80 touches of the ball, also completed 100% (2/2) of his attempted dribbles and won six of his nine ground duels over his 86 minutes on the pitch.

Like Sima, the former Norwich star had a hand in both goals but, unlike the winger, had a sublime all-round performance to go alongside his goal contributions.

Therefore, Cantwell was better than the Senegal international and proved his worth to Clement and the Gers supporters with a perfect response to Thursday night's disappointment.

يشهد اليوم الثلاثاء الموافق 13-8-2024العديد من المباريات الهامة والمُثيرة على مستوى مواجهات الدوري المصري، والأدوار التمهيدية لبطولات دوري أبطال أوروبا ودوري المؤتمر الأوروبي، والدوري الأوروبي، بالإضافة للمواجهة المرتقبة بين الهلال والأهلي في كأس السوبر السعودي.

وتُلعب اليوم ثلاث مباريات ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز، حيث يستضيف البنك الأهلي نظيره فاركو، ويستقبل الإسماعيلي منافسه المقاولون العرب، ويواجه الجونة خصمه بلدية المحلة.

ويلتقي فريقا الهلال والأهلي، في قمة مرتقبة بينهما، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس السوبر السعودي للموسم الجديد 2024-2025.

ويشارك في بطولة كأس السوبر السعودي 2024-2025، 4 أندية، هم الهلال والنصر والأهلي والتعاون.

ويتواجد فريقا الهلال والنصر بصفتهما البطل والوصيف لبطولة دوري روشن 2023-2024 وتواجدا أيضًا في نهائي كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين لنفس الموسم، لذلك تم اختيار ناديي الأهلي والتعاون اللذان يحتلان المركزين الثالث والرابع في ترتيب جدول الدوري السعودي.

طالع أيضًا | وكيل الشماخ يكشف أسباب فشل انتقاله للأهلي.. ويؤكد “يحيى عطية الله كان البديل” مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 13-8-2024 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات الدوري المصري اليوم

البنك الأهلي ضد فاركو، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

الإسماعيلي ضد المقاولون العرب، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport 1”.

الجونة ضد بلدية المحلة، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport 2”. موعد مباراة كأس السوبر السعودي اليوم

الهلال ضد الأهلي، الساعة 7:15 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “ssc hd 1”. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أوروبا اليوم

تفينتي أنشخيده – هولندا ضد ريد بول سالزبورج – النمسا، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

أبويل نيقوسيا – قبرص ضد سلوفان براتيسلافا – سلوفاكيا، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

فنربخشة – تركيا ضد ليل – فرنسا، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

بودوغليمت – النرويج ضد جاغيلونيا بياليستوك – بولندا، 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

باوك سالونيكا – اليونان ضد مالمو – السويد، 8:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

فرينكفاروزي – المجر ضد ميتييلاند – الدانمارك، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

لودوجوريتس رازجراد – بلغاريا ضد كارباغ اغدام – إذربيجان، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

ستيوا بوخارست – رومانيا ضد سبارتا براغ – التشيك، الساعة 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

سانت جيلواز – بلجيكا ضد سلافيا براغ – التشيك، الساعة 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

جلاسكو رينجرز – إسكوتلندا ضد دينامو كييف – أوكرانيا، 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الأوروبي اليوم

ذا نيو سينتس – ويلز ضد بيتروكوب – مولدوفا، الساعة 8:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة. مواعيد مباريات دوري المؤتمر الأوروبي اليوم

بايد ليناميسكوند – إستونيا ضد هاكن – السويد، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

مورنار – الجبل الأسود ضد باكسي – المجر، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال آسيا اليوم

شاندونغ تايشان – الصين ضد بانكوك يونايتد – تايلاند، الساعة 3 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

الغراقة – قطر ضد شباب الأهلي – دبي، الساعة 6:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

English cricket could be forgiven for feeling as if the Ghost of Christmas Past was visiting over the next few days.Events that the game may well have wanted to put behind it – notably, the late-night brawl involving Ben Stokes and Alex Hales in Bristol in September 2017 – will be dragged up once again as the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) considers whether Hales and Stokes have brought the game into disrepute.There is no doubt it has been an ugly episode for the game and the individuals involved. Footage of high-profile players involved in a fight and the headlines that followed – headlines that alleged homophobic bullying, among other things – certainly showed the game in an unflattering light. And, coming at a time when the ECB are keen to underline their credentials as a family sport, they were damaging in every way. At first glance it may seem a straightforward case.But first glances are sometimes misleading and this case is not as straightforward as is sometimes presumed. For a start, Stokes has already been cleared of the charge of affray at Bristol Crown Court and looks set to remain insistent that, apart from staying out later than was wise, he has done very little wrong.For that reason, the CDC – which claims to be an entity independent of influence from the ECB or beyond – has assembled an especially experienced panel and permitted legal representation for the players; something it says it will do only in “the most exceptional case” in its own regulations.The three-man panel comprises three highly-respected lawyers with a cricket background: former Derbyshire batsman, Tim O’Gorman, who is now general counsel for Halfords Group and chairs this panel; former Gloucestershire and England swing bowler Mike Smith, who is now an employment lawyer, and the judge, Chris Tickle, who was a long-time member of the Warwickshire committee.They will hear the case – brought by the ECB (it is an irony that the ECB’s favoured law firm, On Side, will act as the prosecution, having sat in on Stokes’ trial in a supportive role) with the players’ legal teams providing the defence. While the court case was conducted in public, the CDC hearing will be conducted behind closed doors with no access for media.The case will be heard – and hopefully concluded – over two days this week. Hales will appear before the panel on Wednesday morning, with the expectation that Stokes will appear later the same day, with the possibility his testimony will run into Friday. A verdict – and the announcement of any potential sanctions (fine and bans are both possible) – is also expected on Friday. It may or may not be relevant that the ECB are holding their Christmas party that day; an early announcement is anticipated.There is no guarantee that that will be the end of the matter, though. All parties – both players and the ECB – retain the right to appeal the CDC verdict.Stokes will argue, with the help of a QC and the team of the lawyers who supported him in Bristol Crown Court, that he became involved in the violence only to protect himself and others from harm. So while there is no doubt the footage widely distributed looked bad, further detail shown to the court may provide mitigation.It may also be deemed relevant that the two men at the heart of the case, Kai Barry and William O’Connell, praised Stokes as “a hero” for saving them from homophobic abuse and attack. A key moment in the court case came when a fellow defendant, Ryan Ali, accepted that video footage showed him attacking Hales and Barry with a bottle. Stokes is therefore likely to argue his action were proportionate and responsible.But both he and Hales may struggled to explain why they were out at a bar in the early hours of the morning. At that time, there were no curfews for the team, but they were midway through a limited-overs series against West Indies and the late night and amount of alcohol consumed does not fit well with the level of self-sacrifice expected of international sportspeople. Some censure, for that part of the night at least, looks inevitable.It is worth noting, however, that several other members of the England squad have already been punished for their part in events that night. It is understood they received fines of between £1,000 and £2,000 and written warnings as to their future conduct. At least one of them is understood to have returned to the team hotel later than Hales. The CDC panel may struggle to justify substantially tougher penalties.If there are suspensions, however, it seems they will apply only to cricket played under the direct authority of the ECB. So neither Stokes or Hales are likely to be barred from appearing in the IPL (or any other foreign league; there is some legal doubt over the jurisdiction the ECB would have in attempting to prevent players earning a living in such a way) though they could, in theory, be given suspensions from county and international cricket. There are, then, obvious potential consequences ahead of England’s tour of the Caribbean which starts in January. As a result, there may also be consequences for England’s World Cup planning.There is an important distinction between the players, though. For while Stokes has already, in effect, been suspended for the Ashes series – he also lost the England vice-captaincy – Hales has missed only two ODIs (also missed by Stokes) at the end of the 2017 summer in the immediate aftermath of the incident. That could leave him a little more vulnerable to any further sanction, especially as he is currently not a first-choice member of England’s ODI side. Put simply, Stokes already has time served in the bank. Hales does not.Furthermore, while Hales was not on trial in Bristol – he was never even arrested – some his actions on the night in question may well require explanation to the CDC, not least the suggestion that he had only arrived on the scene after the incident. Copious CCTV footage suggests that was not true.There was also the suggestion, from Stokes’ defence team, that the most serious injury sustained in the episode – Ali’s broken eye socket – may have been caused by an apparent kick to the head by Hales.In Hales’ defence (and, because he was not on trial, he did not have a chance to clear his name in court) it must be remembered that that moment in the fracas came after he had been attacked by a man wielding a bottle. It also came when Stokes and Ali were embroiled in a struggle on the pavement.Hales may well tell the CDC that he was out of his depth, scared and trying to prevent his friend being hurt by an attacker who had shown he was prepared to use a weapon. Perhaps a dozen times, he tried to dissuade Stokes from continuing the fight it and even tried pulling him away at one stage.So there is plenty for the panel to consider. And plenty at stake.

Three wickets from seamer Thandolwethu Mnyaka had overseen a disappointing top-order collapse early, with Pakistan reduced to 112 for five at one point

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2018Centuries from Azhar Ali and Babar Azam headlined a positive second day for Pakistan, rescuing the visitors from what threatened to be an embarrassing first-innings capitulation against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Benoni.Three wickets from seamer Thandolwethu Mnyaka had overseen a disappointing top-order collapse early, with Pakistan reduced to 112 for 5 at one point, 206 runs behind the hosts’ 318. It left Pakistan requiring the services of their in-form batsman Azhar Ali and Babar Azam, the one who looks set to take his place for several years to come.Pakistan featured three players vying for the opening slot ahead of the first Test at SuperSport Park, beginning on December 26. Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman departed for 23 and 19 respectively, while Shan Masood, batting at number three, managed 41 before being castled by 25-year old Mnyaka.Haris Sohail and Asad Shafiq were made short work of, bringing Azhar and Babar together at the crease. The pair combined for a 155-run partnership, with Azhar retiring out after completing his hundred. When captain Sarfraz Ahmed was dismissed, Babar had reached three figures, and with Pakistan just 12 shy of the CSA’s Invitation XI first innings score, they decided to declare.That gave the CSA XI 12 overs at the end of the day to see out, which they managed for the loss of one wicket. Joshua Richards was bowled by Mohammad Amir in the third over of the innings, but Neil Brand and Tshepang Dithole saw out the rest of the day without further setbacks, putting 45 on the board. The game may be headed for a draw, but Pakistan have been left with much to take away. The form of their two best batsmen will reassure them, but out-of-form openers against an attack the calibre of South Africa’s is an uninviting prospect.

USMNT 2023 Young Player of the Year Kevin Paredes has signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation agency.

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USMNT rising star Paredes signs with Roc Nation2023 USMNT Young Player of YearTouted for major role at Paris GamesWHAT HAPPENED?

In an announcement posted on social media, the hip-hop icon's sports agency announced that they had secured the services of the young American. In the highlight reel, the Wolfsburg player is welcomed to the 'family' – which includes Man City superstar Kevin De Bruyne and up-and-coming Brazil phenom Endrick.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Paredes struggled to find playing time throughout the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, but the flip of the calendar year saw him break into the senior team. Despite only netting two goals across 23 matches this season, he's started nine of Wolfsburg's last 10 matches in all competitions. During the March international break, he represented the U23 USMNT Olympic squad in international friendlies against France and Guinea.

WHAT PAREDES SAID

“I am so grateful to have this level of support at this stage of my career, and of course it is extremely exciting to be joining the Roc Nation family. There is still a long way to go in my career, and it’s fantastic to have partners who have my best interests at heart, enabling me to concentrate my focus on performing for both club and country.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PAREDES?

Paredes will finish out the 2024 Bundesliga campaign with Wolfsburg before switching gears to representing the U.S. at the 2024 Olympic Games. Expected to make the 18-man roster in Paris, the 20-year-old has high expectations heading into the tournament.