England pace bowler Tymal Mills has revealed his daughter suffered a stroke shortly before he was due to board his flight to play in the BBL with Perth Scorchers.Scorchers announced that Mills, who was part of England’s T20 World Cup squad, had withdrawn from the tournament due to a family emergency.”Home for Christmas after the most horrible 11 days,” Mills posted on Instagram. “As we were at the airport about to leave for Australia our daughter suffered what ended up being a stroke.”She lost complete use of the left side of her body and were told they couldn’t predict how much she would regain. “Despite all of the challenges she faced our little girl has amazed everyone with her recovery to point where we were discharged with her hopping and skipping out of the hospital.”She has lots of rehab, medication and scans ahead but we are so grateful to be where we are right now.”Thank you to everyone that’s reached out to us. Keep your loved ones close.”Scorchers announced David Payne, a fellow-left arm quick who plays for Gloucestershire, had been signed as Mills’ replacement.They have had to overhaul their overseas signs after all three of the players they brought in from the draft became unavailable. Alongside Mills, Phil Salt was injured during the ODI series against Australia and Laurie Evans’ contract was terminated after he failed a dope test.Faf du Plessis, Adam Lyth and Stephen Eskinazi and currently part of the squad.
Greg Shipperd, the Sydney Sixers’ coach, will take charge until the end of the season
ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2022
Phil Jaques watches on•Getty Images
Former Australia batter Phil Jaques has lost his job as New South Wales head coach after the state’s poor start to the domestic season which sees them bottom of both the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup.A planned mid-season review during the BBL break was brought forward following NSW’s latest Shield defeat against Western Australia last week and it was announced on Tuesday morning that Jaques had left his role.Greg Shipperd, who is currently Sydney Sixers’ coach in the BBL, will take temporary charge until the end of the domestic season. He will begin with this week’s Shield match against Victoria before moving into his Sixers’ role then back to NSW for the latter part of the summer.Jaques came into the head coach role for the 2018-19 season having done two years with Queensland between 2015 and 2017 before returning to NSW as batting coach. NSW won the Sheffield Shield in the 2019-2020 season which was curtailed by the pandemic and the Marsh Cup in 2020-21.”On behalf of all at Cricket NSW I’d like to thank Phil for his contribution to cricket in NSW as both a player and coach,” Greg Mail, the NSW chief of cricket performance, said. “Phil is an immensely passionate NSW person and has given his all in his time as head coach, but we feel that now is the right time to make a change. We wish Phil well in his future endeavours.Shipperd is one of the most highly-regarded coaches in the Australian game and has also filled various roles around the world.”Greg Shipperd’s cricket acumen and his coaching record is well renowned, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to guide our Blues program while we take the time to understand our next move,” Mail said. “He has existing relationships with many of the players and staff and I expect his transition into the group, starting with this week’s match against Victoria, will be seamless.”
Leeds United’s form in the Championship this season has been nothing short of sensational, helping Daniel Farke’s side sit top of the table with just over a third of the campaign remaining.
The German has galvanised the squad after the disappointment of last season’s play-off final defeat, currently sitting in pole position to secure a return to the Premier League.
The Whites haven’t tasted defeat in the league since the end of November, enduring a 14-game unbeaten run which has helped fend off the threat from the likes of Sheffield United and Burnley in recent weeks.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans
It’s also a testament to the playing squad, sustaining such high levels of performance during the incredible run, with every player contributing to their success.
Numerous players have taken their game to the next level after last season, cementing their place as a first-team regular under the German at Elland Road.
Leeds United’s star performers in 2024/25
Joel Piroe moved to Yorkshire after relegation to the second tier last season, arriving with high hopes after scoring 20 times in his final season at Swansea City.
However, despite notching 14 goals for the Whites in his first campaign at the club, he split options between the fanbase as to whether he was worth the £10m fee paid for his signature.
It’s safe to say the Dutchman has silenced his critics this year, already matching last season’s tally with 14 games left, currently sitting as the club’s top scorer.
Ao Tanaka is a player who arrived in the summer to aid this season’s promotion push, looking to be an absolute bargain for the £3.5m fee spent to prise him away from Fortuna Düsseldorf.
The Japanese international has featured 29 times in the league to date, nailing down his place at the base of the midfield, operating alongside various partners such as Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
However, despite the form of the aforementioned pair, another first-team member has exceeded beyond all expectations and resurrected his career in Yorkshire.
The Leeds player who’s been one of the best in the Championship
Left-back Junior Firpo joined the club back in the summer of 2021 from Barcelona, looking to inject further quality into the backline as they tried to build on their impressive first season back in the top flight.
The full-back has since made over 100 appearances for the Whites, often being the go-to choice in that department, but not without criticism – in which he has received his fair share.
After relegation to the Championship, he remained as a regular starter, featuring 29 times in the league throughout 2023/24, registering eight assists in the process.
However, he came under fire for his displays at times, looking almost certain to leave last summer – even being dubbed a “liability” by the Daily Mirror’s David Anderson – but stayed put at Elland Road, a decision that now looks to be a superb one.
Whilst he’s missed a huge portion of the campaign through injury, when he’s featured on the pitch, he’s constantly caught the eye, scoring once and notching seven assists in just 19 games, which includes a hat-trick of assists in the win over Cardiff City.
Games played
19
Goals & assists
8
Pass accuracy
85%
Tackles won
1.2
Duels won
6.3
Chances created
1.7
Touches in opposition box
3.4
His underlying stats also back up how impressive he has been for Farke’s men in their ambitions of securing promotion, undoubtedly up there with some of the very players in the division throughout the year.
However, there may be some cause for concern, with the 28-year-old currently set to leave in the summer with his contract expiring at the end of June.
Regardless of promotion, the club desperately need to tie the former Barça ace down to a new deal at Elland Road, potentially able to make the step back up to the Premier League amid his recent form in the second tier.
Not many people would’ve predicted such a drastic turnaround in his time in Yorkshire, but it’s a credit to Firpo and his commitment to succeed, deserving all the praise that is directed his way at this moment in time.
Leeds flop who left after just 20 games is now similar to a £92m star
Leeds United were fortunate to possess such a talent who’s starred away from Elland Road.
Chelsea have been the home to countless talented centre-forwards over the years, helping the club achieve some unthinkable achievements – none more so than the Champions League triumph in 2012.
Didier Drogba was a player who played a crucial role in their European victory, scoring the equalising goal before slotting home the winning penalty in the shootout, securing their first Champions League trophy.
The Ivorian would score over 150 goals during two separate spells at Stamford Bridge, cementing himself in the club’s history forever, with José Mourinho playing a blinder in signing him back in 2004.
Diego Costa is another striker who captured the hearts of the fanbase, scoring a total of 59 goals in 120 appearances, leading the club to multiple Premier League titles.
In the present day, the responsibility falls to two players within Enzo Maresca’s current squad to provide the goods after nearly a decade without a league triumph.
Jackson & Nkunku’s stats for Chelsea in 2024/25
Nicolas Jackson has been the Blues’ first-choice striker throughout the first half of the season, starting 22 of the 24 league outings so far in 2024/25.
The Senegalese international has scored nine times to date, registering the second most league goals behind top scorer Cole Palmer – showcasing his ability in front of goal.
However, it’s safe to say the 23-year-old could’ve had a lorry load more goals, missing 15 big chances in the Premier League, the fourth most of any player in the division.
Christopher Nkunku is the other senior option at Maresca’s disposal, but has massively struggled for a starting role, only making three out of a possible 24 matches.
However, the Frenchman has been given consistent minutes in other competitions, scoring three times in the Carabao Cup alongside seven strikes in the Europa Conference League.
The pair have provided key goals in important moments for the club over the last couple of months, but they may have been better off keeping hold of one player who’s starred away from the Bridge after his summer move.
The former Chelsea player who’s outperformed Jackson & Nkunku
Striker Romelu Lukaku was a big-money investment for the Blues back in the summer of 2021, looking to catapult them towards a Premier League title after multiple years without success.
The Belgian moved to West London for a fee in the region of £97.5m, breaking the club’s record fee at the time, but failed to prove value for money, causing an uproar in his time during his second spell.
He registered 15 goals in his 44 appearances across all competitions during his return to the club, but it would be his only season of first-team action after a remarkable interview in which he expressed his desire to leave once again.
After separate loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma, Lukaku would depart on a permanent deal to join Antonio Conte’s Napoli for a fee in the region of £30m this summer, with the talisman wasting no time in impressing for his new outfit.
The Belgian, who’s previously been dubbed “world-class” by fellow professional Jordan Graham, has registered a combined 16 goal contributions – more than Jackson and one less than Nkunku, but he’s outperformed the current Chelsea pair in other various key areas.
He’s registered a high goal per 90 rate along with a better conversion rate based upon the efforts he’s registered on target, highlighting his clinical edge within the final third.
Lukaku has also won more fouls per 90, whilst also winning more of his aerial battles, showcasing his all-round number nine play – something which the Blues have desperately been missing in recent times.
How Lukaku compares to Nkunku & Jackson in 2024/25 so far
Statistics (per 90)
Lukaku
Nkunku
Jackson
Games played
22
20
23
Goals & assists
15
3
14
Goals per 90
0.5
0.3
0.4
Goals per shot-on-target
0.5
0.3
0.3
Fouls won
1.3
1
1.2
Aerials won
42%
41%
33%
Stats via FBref
Whilst his time at Stamford Bridge was one to forget, there’s no denying that he possesses a serious goalscoring ability that has seen him be a hit at every club since leaving the Blues.
Given his goalscoring antics away from the club, it could have been a wise decision for Maresca to work with the talisman to try and provide that difference the Italian has been desiring since his appointment in the summer.
Big Colwill upgrade: Chelsea lining up move for £80m PL "monster"
Chelsea are reportedly interested in the defender who would come in as an upgrade on Levi Colwill.
كشفت تقارير صحفية عن واقعة مثيرة تخص حارس مرمى فريق برشلونة، مارك أندريه تير شتيجن، قبل نهاية موسم الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم 2024/25.
وحسم برشلونة لقب الدوري الإسباني في الموسم الأول للمدرب هانز فليك رفقة النادي الكتالوني.
وغاب تير شتيجن عن معظم مباريات برشلونة في الموسم الماضي، بعدما تعرض لقطع في وتر الرضفة خلال مباراة فياريال في الدور الأول من الليجا، في شهر سبتمبر.
وتمكن تير شتيجن من العودة إلى الملاعب في شهر مايو الماضي، وشارك في مباراتين في الدوري الإسباني ضد بلد الوليد وفياريال.
وكانت مباراة فياريال هي الأخيرة لـ برشلونة على ملعب “مونتجويك” في موسم الليجا، واحتفل بكأس البطولة رفقة جماهيره.
وذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية أن إدارة برشلونة خططت لإقامة احتفالية كبيرة بالثلاثية المحلية أمام جماهيرهم في المباراة الأخيرة على ملعبهم في الموسم.
اقرأ أيضًا | دي يونج يعلن مصيره مع برشلونة.. ومن الأحق بالكرة الذهبية
وأوضحت أنه ضمن تلك الاحتفالية، كان من المفترض أن يتحدث اللاعبون إلى الجماهير، وعلى رأسهم القائد مارك أندريه تير شتيجن.
وأفادت أنه على الرغم من ذلك، لم يحدث أي شيء مما هو مذكور، حتى إن رئيس نادي برشلونة خوان لابورتا والمدرب هانز فليك شوهدا على أرض الملعب وهما يتحدثان بنبرة متوترة، دون الكشف عما قيل بينهما، ولكن بدا وكأن حديث ساخن دائر بينهما.
وأشارت إلى أن مصادر في نادي برشلونة أكدت أن اللاعبين أرادوا التحدث إلى الجماهير، ولكن تير شتيجن قرر عدم القيام بذلك، رغم أن هذا الأمر كان مخططًا له في جدول الاحتفالات وتم إبلاغ وسائل الإعلام بذلك.
ووفقًا للصحيفة نفسها، فإن ما حدث أثار غضبًا شديدًا بين مسؤولي برشلونة نتيجة عدم الاهتمام بما يقرب من 50 ألف مشجع في الملعب، تم إبلاغهم أن اللاعبين سيتحدثون إليهم في احتفالية مميزة.
وترى المصادر أن السبب وراء موقف تير شتيجن، الرافض للحديث أمام الجماهير، يعود إلى كونه غاضبًا من حصوله على دقائق لعب أقل مما كان متوقعًا في الفترة الأخيرة من الموسم، بعد حصوله على الضوء الأخضر للعودة.
وليس من المعروف ما إذا كان تير شتيجن سيستمر رفقة برشلونة الموسم المقبل أم لا، في ظل رغبة برشلونة في التعاقد مع حارس مرمى جديد، وتحديدًا حارس إسبانيول خوان جارسيا، مع إمكانية تمديد عقد البولندي فويتشيك تشيزني.
Strikes deal with ICC to get rights to global tournaments across men’s and women’s cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2023Sky Sports will broadcast all World Cups in the UK and Ireland under an exclusive eight-year deal struck with the ICC for an undisclosed sum.The arrangement marks the first time the two organisations have shared a direct contractual relationship and forms part of the ICC’s drive to sell media rights individually in key markets.Last August, Disney Star* bagged the broadcast rights for the Indian market to show all ICC events between 2024 and 2027 in a massive deal. The ICC had put out a tender to sell those rights with multiple bidders participating in the walk-in bid. Subsequently ICC put the rights for the USA market up for sale but there has been no further update on that.There was no bidding process involved for the UK market, though. In a media release on Friday, the ICC said it had decided to engage directly with Sky, which has a long-term broadcast deal already in place with the ECB to show cricket – both men’s and women’s – within the UK.It is understood that rather than a tender process, the ICC factored in the ECB-Sky relationship and felt it would be beneficial to lock in a deal directly with Sky. The ICC believed that doing so would simplify things from a production and marketing perspective.Beginning in 2024, the partnership will see Sky and its NOW streaming service hold broadcast and digital rights for all men’s and women’s ICC events, including ODI and T20I World Cups through to the end of 2031.During the course of the partnership, Sky will broadcast 28 international events, including both men’s and women’s showcases every year as well as a World Test Championship Final every two years and Under-19 tournaments. Three of those events have already been confirmed to take place on UK soil – the 2025 World Test Championship final, the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and the 2030 Men’s T20 World Cup.Geoff Allardice, the ICC chief executive, said the partnership presented “some exciting opportunities for innovative collaborations”.”I am confident this partnership can support our long-term ambition to attract more players and more fans to the game,” Allardice said.Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports MD, said more people in the market were watching top-level cricket following the successes of England Women at the 2017 World Cup, and the men’s team’s dual successes at the 50-over and T20 World Cups – they are current holders of both trophies.”This new direct partnership with the ICC means that Sky Sports viewers in the UK and Ireland will continue to enjoy every ball, run, wicket and catch from every international tournament for many years to come, and we’re all hugely excited to see what’s in store,” he said.The 2019 Men’s World Cup, hosted by England, recorded the highest average audience for a cricket tournament in the UK to date and drew the highest ever UK TV peak for cricket of 8.8m viewers as Sky shared the rights to the final with Channel 4. England’s victory over Pakistan in the Men’s T20 World Cup final last year in Australia was the highest-viewed T20 match in the UK ever following a similar partnership with the terrestrial broadcaster.
It’s the big one. Over the best part of a decade, Liverpool and Manchester City have been billed as the Premier League’s biggest and highest-stakes fixture.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola went head-to-head over many seasons, forged a deep-rooted rivalry that has gone down as one of the division’s greatest. But Klopp is no longer part of Anfield’s project, and City have fallen by the wayside.
Still, the Etihad Stadium awaits on Sunday for a Reds team that has suffered successive 2-2 draws on the road, and Arne Slot will know that ceding further territory will present second-placed Arsenal with a chance to move within touching distance.
The Citizens are horribly out of sorts this season, a shadow of their former imperious selves. To be sure, Liverpool are in a good position to inflict further misery on Pep’s men, but their record on Manchester’s blue patch leaves plenty to be desired.
23/24
Premier League
1-1 draw
22/23
Premier League
4-1 loss
22/23
Carabao Cup
3-2 loss
21/22
Premier League
2-2 draw
20/21
Premier League
1-1 draw
They haven’t won at the Etihad in the Premier League since November 2015, a few months into Klopp’s tenure. Moreover, Omar Marmoush is roaring into life as the four-in-a-row champions’ new superstar.
Omar Marmoush's form this season
City attacked the winter transfer market with a vengeance, incensed by their ongoing downfall and determined to piece Guardiola’s dynasty back together.
Signings were made across the park, but the £59m deal to bring Eintracht Frankfurt superstar Marmoush to England was the headliner.
Mohamed Salah is the best forward on the continent right now, certainly the most clinical, certainly the most devastating. However, the City forward is already proving himself to be a statement signing after putting a hat-trick past Newcastle United last weekend.
1.
Mohamed Salah
26
39
2.
Harry Kane
20
29
3.
Omar Marmoush
20
28
4.
Mateo Retegui
23
23
5.
Robert Lewandowski
23
22
5=
Alexander Isak
23
22
5=
Erling Haaland
25
22
With Darwin Nunez’s future up in the air, the Egyptian heir apparent was coveted by Anfield chiefs, with Swiss football journalist Marcel Reif suggesting – via the Liverpool Echo – that the 26-year-old would move to Merseyside in the summer.
Liverpool will hope that their decision won’t come to bite them on Sunday, but they could have had their own version plying his art under Slot’s wing. Alas, the dynamic forward was released when he was just 11 years old.
Liverpool fumbled their own Marmoush
Liverpool have a fearsome frontline, but Nunez isn’t up to scratch and Luis Diaz seems to perenially ebb and flow from form.
His name? Anthony Gordon. You might have heard of him. The England international started slow on Tyneside but he has gone from strength to strength over the past two seasons, even being awarded the Magpies’ Player of the Season for 2023/24.
Hailing from Liverpool, Gordon cut his teeth with Everton and made 78 senior appearances for the Toffees, scoring seven goals, before handing in a transfer request and earning a £45m move to St. James’ Park in January 2023.
Anthony Gordon
There’s no love lost between Gordon and the Blues, with his Anfield origins only adding insult to injury. Indeed, Gordon was a part of Liverpool’s youth set-up before being released aged 11. It was a blow, a cruel blow, but the lad dug in deep and restored his pathway to the major stage over the road, honing his formative skills at Finch Farm.
Gordon has intimated his thoughts on the situation: “It was another chance for me to grow. But that was hard. It affected me mentally and dented my confidence. I had to pick myself up and go again.
“When I got to Everton, I never looked back.”
Anthony Gordon
Now thriving as a high-class and versatile Premier League forward, Gordon has no doubt shown Liverpool that they made a mistake in letting him go, for he almost returned last summer, and for a pretty penny at that.
Anthony Gordon's form for Newcastle
Newcastle were battling against Profit and Sustainability breaches last summer, and selling Gordon to Liverpool was a real possibility. However, Eddie Howe’s side ultimately found a different way to circumvent the problem.
The failure of the two clubs to agree on a fee might have formed the crux of the breakdown, perhaps because United had touted their talent at a jaw-dropping £100m, a figure FSG most looked at with derision.
Gordon could have been the long-term solution to Liverpool’s issue on the left flank, succeeding Diaz perhaps. After all, he’s the right profile: according to FBref, the Three Lions star is one of Marmoush’s most comparable players when crunching numbers collected over the past 365 days.
Both right-footers are positionally dynamic, with pace and potency that serves them well on the left wing though has seen managers shift them into more frontal focal roles when dealing with absences.
Moreover, Gordon posted 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last season, proving that he can mix his output in a manner that aligns with Marmoush.
The Citizen star, indeed, has scored 23 goals and added 14 assists from 33 appearances for his two clubs combined in 2024/25, making a telling comment on his skill as a first-rate forward.
Omar Marmoush
Marmoush might have more of a natural striking instinct but Newcastle’s star winger has a complete approach to his football that will serve him well at the top of the continental game, averaging 2.1 key passes and 5.4 successful duels per Premier League fixture this term, as per Sofascore.
Gordon is still only 23 years old too, so has several years to catch up to Marmoush’s present level and refine his shooting skills. Self-proclaimed as a “nightmare” for defenders, he’s hardly lacking confidence either.
In any case, Liverpool have shown that they admire both players and appear to have fumbled both.
Time to go: Liverpool have an "unplayable" teen who'd send Nunez packing
Darwin Nunez is increasingly likely to leave Anfield at the end of the season.
South Africa staged their best performance of the tournament – with bat, ball and in the field – to upset England and secure a place in a World Cup final for the first time in any form of international cricket – men’s or women’s.Their victory was built on a 96-run opening stand between Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt as both racked up half-centuries for the second consecutive time in this tournament before Marizanne Kapp’s cameo of 27 from 13 balls took the hosts to 164 for 4. That left England needing their joint third-highest successful T20I run chase and joint-highest at a World Cup, matching their 2009 semi-final effort against Australia.Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail then claimed seven wickets between them – and Brits took a Women’s T20I record-equalling four catches to put the task beyond England and set up a clash for the trophy with defending champions Australia on Sunday. All of this had seemed so far away a fortnight ago.The hosts had lost the opening match of the tournament to Sri Lanka by three runs at Newlands, setting back their campaign and were also beaten by Australia in Gqeberha. But they defeated Bangladesh in their final group game to squeeze into the knockout stages at the expense of New Zealand. Back in Cape Town on Friday, they held their nerve superbly to pull off a stunning victory before 7,507 fans.Heather Knight and England came so close•AFP/Getty Images
Ismail, Khaka the destroyers
Ismail bowled with pace and guile in the powerplay – including some aggressive bouncers, one of which was clocked at 128kph. She claimed two wickets in that time, although England had 55 runs on the board compared to South Africa’s 37 without loss. Sophia Dunkley first miscued to midwicket, where Brits took a simple catch but it was Brits’ absolute blinder from the same position to remove Alice Capsey for a second-ball duck that set the innings alight. Cramped by the short ball, Capsey steered the ball to the right of the fielder, who ran towards it and dived, clutching the ball just above the turf as her team-mates steamed in to congratulate her – none more so than Ismail, who leapt into Brits’ arms.Brits took another sharp catch to remove Danni Wyatt and give Khaka her first after Wyatt had been put down by Wolvaardt off Khaka’s bowling earlier in the innings. It looked like it would fall to Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s in-form batter, to rescue her side, particularly when Chloe Tryon missed a caught-and-bowled chance, but Brits came to the fore again with a catch at long-on off a Nadine de Klerk slower ball.Having also had Amy Jones caught by Anneke Bosch, two wickets in two balls from Khaka to remove Sophie Ecclestone and Katherine Sciver-Brunt in the 18th over left England needing 25 runs off the remaining two overs. Heather Knight’s six off Kapp helped make it 13 off the last, but then Ismail pegged back Knight’s leg stump with three balls remaining and 12 still needed. Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean managed just five between them before Glenn dropped to her haunches in anguish and the pair trudged off arm-in-arm as the South Africans celebrated wildly.
The Brits and Wolvaardt show: Part 2
After a sluggish start – South Africa scored just 14 off the first four overs after winning the toss – they started to raise the tempo led by Wolvaardt’s heave a long way over the fence at wide long-off. After the powerplay, they looked more in control as she and Brits followed up their unbroken stand worth 117 runs against Bangladesh with another key partnership.Tazmin Brits produced a second successive fifty in a must-win match for South Africa•Getty Images
Wolvaardt brought up her sixth T20I fifty with a four through cover off Ecclestone but fell three balls later to a leading edge gobbled up by Dean at cover. But that prompted Brits to flick the switch as she danced down the pitch twice in three balls to power Glenn over deep midwicket and long-on for two sixes. She brought up her half-century next ball with a four through the covers, helping herself to 17 runs off a pivotal 15th over. Brits eventually fell to a solid catch by Katherine but not before she had propelled her side towards a competitive total.
Ecclestone keeps England in it
England hadn’t helped themselves with a scrappy performance in the field, but Ecclestone’s two wickets in three balls – she snared the potentially explosive Tryon, caught attempting to pull but picking out Nat at deep midwicket for just 3 and de Klerk, bowled for a second-ball duck – momentarily derailed South Africa’s final push in the penultimate over.But then Kapp, the beneficiary of a misfield while on 2, cashed in first off a high full toss by Katherine in the final over which she pulled for a one-bounce four through deep backward square leg. Then she hammered back-to-back fours off the last two balls piercing the gap between cover and mid-off and high over deep midwicket to give the hosts the late lift they needed.
West Ham United could make a move for a “magnificent” striker who’s scored 11 goals this season, alongside top target Jonathan David, according to a report.
David emerges as priority signing
David is out of contract with Lille at the end of the season, meaning he is set to be available on a free transfer, and West Ham boss Graham Potter has identified him as his top target to strengthen his frontline.
It will not be easy to win the race for the Lille star, however, with the aforementioned report revealing the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus are also keen, and more recently Barcelona have been mentioned as potential suitors.
The Canadian is said to favour a move to the Camp Nou, but the Hammers could have a major advantage in the race for his signature, as they are able to outspend the La Liga side.
Lille'sJonathanDavidin action with Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni
In fact, the Irons have now submitted a contract offer worth a total of £16.5m, in an attempt to beat the European giants to the 25-year-old, but he is not the only striker they have in mind for a summer move.
According to a report from GiveMeSport, West Ham could also make a move for Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha at the end of the season, with Potter keen on bringing in some additional firepower in attack.
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The Hammers have been impressed by Emegha’s red-hot form since returning from injury, and there is a chance he could be brought in alongside David, with club chiefs planning to bring in two forwards ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
There could be competition for the forward’s signature, however, with Newcastle United also named as potential suitors, while Chelsea could have a major advantage if they decide to make a move, given that Strasbourg are the Blues’ sister club.
West Ham need new forward options
West Ham have had some bad luck on the injury front this season, with Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio being ruled out, and given their ages, the duo are likely to be approaching the twilight years of their careers.
Considering Potter’s side have also scored just 30 Premier League goals this season, the second-fewest outside the relegation zone, it makes sense to bring in two new forwards this summer, and there are signs Emegha could be a good acquisition.
At 22-years-old, the Dutchman is at the right age to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, and he has scored 11 goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances, while also providing two assists.
That said, David should remain West Ham’s priority target for the summer, given that the Canada international has proven himself over a number of years in Ligue 1, while also impressing in the Champions League this year, registering six goals and two assists.
Domestically, the Light Blues have very little to play for, languishing 13 points adrift run-away Premiership leaders Celtic, despite being unbeaten in nine league matches, most recently battling to a 3-1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Mohammed Diomande
Meanwhile, they’re seemingly set for a trophyless season, having been beaten in December’s League Cup Final on penalties, before ignominiously exiting the Scottish Cup at the hands of Queen’s Park, a monumental and historic shock.
However, in the Europa League, Philippe Clement’s team impressively secured a top eight finish, so will now face one of Bodø/Glimt, Anderlecht, Fenerbahçe or Twente in the round of 16, with the first leg on the road coming up on 6 March.
So, while this has largely been a campaign to forget, a few more memorable European nights at Ibrox could be on the cards and, if Rangers are going to make progress in the Europa League, they’ll need their superstar striker to be on top form.
Rangers' search for a striker
Rangers’ top-scoring attacker of the post-liquidation era, by quite some distance, is Alfredo Morelos, who scored 124 goals in 269 appearances for the club, averaging a goal every 152 minutes.
33 of the Colombian’s goals came in UEFA competitions, becoming the Gers’ record European scorer, smashing the previous record set by Ally McCoist of 21, who didn’t mind too much, saying “I hope he hangs around and continues his goalscoring form… it would be great”.
However, Morelos didn’t hang around for too much longer, departing on a Bosman in May 2023, signing for Brasileirão outfit Santos, currently on loan at Atlético Nacional, and the Gers have found him a difficult figure to replace.
The summer of Morelos’ departure, Rangers spent big to fill his void, signing both Cyriel Dessers for £4.5m, as well as Danilo for a reported fee of £6m.
Cyriel Dessers
Fair to say, neither have lived up to the billing, with Mark Walker of the National describing Dessers as a ‘flop’, while Graeme Young of the Daily Record notes that Danilo ‘has been reduced to fleeting appearances’ due to persistent injury setbacks.
So, let’s assess their respective Rangers careers so far.
Cyriel Dessers vs Danilo Rangers career comparison
Statistics
Dessers
Danilo
Appearances
93
38
Minutes
5,534
1,730
Goals
40
12
Minutes per goal
138
144
Assists
15
8
Goals – xG
+0.4
-0.6
Big chances missed
44
15
Shots on target %
46.2%
50%
Matches missed due to injury
Zero
60
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table outlines, neither Dessers nor Danilo have had catastrophically disastrous Rangers careers, both averaging a goal roughly every 140 minutes on the park.
That though has been exactly the problem for Danilo, sitting out 60 of the 101 matches Rangers have played since the start of last season due to injury, thereby unable to contribute.
Meantime, the most glaring statistic for Dessers is the fact he has missed 44 Opta defined big chances since the start of last season, a remarkably high number.
Cyriel Dessers
In this year’s Europa League, of all 670 players who’ve had at least one shot, the Nigerian striker has the second-lowest goals – xG figure of -3, above only his compatriot Victor Osimhen for this metric, with the Galatasaray attacker having attempted a whopping 25 more shots.
Interestingly, the player top of this very same metric is also a Rangers player, so could he be Clement’s saviour in front of goal?
Rangers have struck gold with "jackpot transfer"
After these two not-so-good centre-forward signings the season before, few had high hopes when Rangers acquired Hamza Igamane for a reported fee of £1.7m last summer, arriving from AS FAR of Morocco’s top division.
However, Anthony Evans of the Daily Record notes that the 22-year-old has ‘been in red-hot form this season’, scoring 13 goals in all competitions, four of which have come in the Europa League, as well as a hat-trick against Hibs at Easter Road.
Meantime, Keith Jackson also of the Daily Record, labels him a ‘superstar’, while Matthew Elder of the Scotsman believes he has been the Premiership’s ‘signing of the season’.
Joining for £1.7m as mentioned, CIES Football Observatory believe he is now worth more than £13m, representing a 664% increase in value, while it was reported in January that Rangers had set a £25m price tag on Igamane, amidst interest from Everton.
That valuation is more than justified considering he has shown himself to be a “completely unpredictable” and exciting talent, as per analyst Ben Mattinson, with it certainly looking like a “jackpot transfer” for the Light Blues, in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Market Movers
So, while Danilo and Dessers may be flops, Igamane could represent a huge return on investment, potentially yielding Rangers’ club-record sale, currently held by Calvin Bassey’s £19.6m move to Ajax.
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