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The hesitant batting of captain Babar Azam was a microcosm of the problems facing the team

Danyal Rasool07-Jun-20241:40

Mumtaz: Babar Azam was troubled by USA bowling

There were nine minutes between the end of USA’s Super Over and the first ball of Pakistan’s, and that phase where no cricket was played painted as eloquent a picture of the story of the game as any passage of actual action.Every single American fielder was in position at Grand Prairie. Saurabh Netravalkar had ball in hand. A full-time employee at a software giant in Silicon Valley, Netravalkar – who once played for India’s Under-19 side – had taken time off from his day job for USA’s T20 World Cup campaign. He glanced over at the opposition’s dugout of full-time cricketers; they couldn’t quite work out who was best equipped to take on Oracle’s software engineer in the pressure moments they were supposed to excel in for a living. You wouldn’t have begrudged Netravalkar’s impatience, paid time off in the US is rare enough not to be spent waiting around on the opposition’s Super Over choices.Related

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• USA's Super Over smash and grab

There was no reason for USA to shirk away. This was, after all, the sort of moment those cricketers will have looked forward to for the best part of their careers. They knew they should have wrapped this game up well within regulation time, and it was an excited rather than nervous buzz that pulsed through the home side. As Pakistan, wracked with self-doubt and uncertainty, went back and forth on how to scrape their way out of the hole they’d dug for themselves, it suddenly became hard to tell who the underdog was.For the past day or so, Pakistan captain Babar Azam had told everyone about all the things that aren’t in Pakistan’s control. The Dallas weather that forced them to train indoors for two days when it rained, though better scheduling would have seen them arrive with time enough to acclimatise. The niggle to Imad Wasim that upset the balance of the side, though a 34-year-old with an extensive injury record was always a risk worth factoring in. The toss when USA inserted Pakistan to bat against their will, though Babar won the toss five times in the build-up fixtures – supposed to be dry runs for this tournament – and never once opted to bat first.Babar the batter, though, is all about control. But under the pressure of a fiery USA start, he shrunk into his most conservative traits. But then again, Pakistan’s middle order has the lowest combined average of any of the top 12 nations. It thrust Babar into the impossible position of sticking around aimlessly and diminishing his side’s chances, or get out taking a risk and watching them go up in smoke anyway.By the end of a powerplay where Pakistan scored 30, he had managed 4 off 14 balls, and after nine overs, 9 off 23. When he flicked the final ball of the 10th over the rope, it was the first four of Pakistan’s innings. They burned through deliveries like an oil nation with a carbon budget, unable to recognise the finite nature of those resources even as they evaporated before their eyes.Fear of failure? Babar Azam never got going and finished with a 43-ball 44•Associated PressBut it was Pakistan’s profligacy with the ball that put all that had gone before to shame. USA had recognised there was little to fear from the target, or indeed a bowling unit that spent at least 14 disinterested overs going through the motions.Shadab Khan has backslid as a bowler far enough to barely be considered an allrounder, and yet Pakistan were forced to get through four overs from him and Iftikhar Ahmed. When Babar needed him to squeeze in a tight one as the quicks built up a modicum of pressure at the death, Shadab would toss in three loose deliveries and was fortunate to concede just the 11 that helped USA break the shackles.That Pakistan could put out such a performance and still somehow find themselves in a situation where defending 12 off three would win them the game was almost a travesty. A half-hour of clutch bowling, culminating in an enthralling penultimate Mohammad Amir over that saw him land four yorkers on a sixpence demonstrated the ceiling of Pakistan’s performance and how far below that they had dipped for about 35 of the game’s 40 overs.

The highlights of USA's incredible victory against Pakistan in Dallas#USAvPAK #T20WorldCup
pic.twitter.com/z5hKxoiWHH

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 7, 2024

It was the sort of display that has seen him lauded as the architect of two of Pakistan’s three ICC titles, and the sort of over he has the ego to believe he can bowl more frequently than anyone else in the nation.Pakistan had bowled just two full tosses in the previous six overs despite almost exclusively going for yorkers, but Haris Rauf would miss his mark twice in the final three balls, with Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar finding the 11 runs they needed to drag their side into the Super Over.But wins against the run of play are rare in cricket, and the debt Pakistan’s wastefulness had racked up would have to be paid. Amir, whose full deliveries on the stumps had proved so reliable, suddenly strayed from the plan, sending the Super Over out of the batter’s hitting zone. The best thing you could say for that approach was it worked, though only because it was too wide for the batter to reach on at least three occasions. Like the child who always falls for the same magic trick, USA opting to steal a run every time the wide was called seemed to surprise the Pakistanis; seven of the 18 they put up came off wides.From getting themselves into a scarcely deserved winning position, Pakistan had leaked 29 off 9 balls. The damage done over three hours of improvidence could not be undone by nine minutes of timorous repentance. Pakistan had invited the wolves to the door, and the debt was about to be settled.

His powerplay strike rate of 148.31 is the highest among all batters (min 25 innings) in the CPL, and he looks good for more

Deivarayan Muthu30-Sep-20221:15

Rahkeem Cornwall: “My six-hitting is natural”

An ideal T20 opening batter is one who dashes out of the blocks, takes risks selflessly, and doesn’t mind losing his wicket in the process. Rahkeem Cornwall is the perfect fit for this role. His powerplay strike rate of 148.31 is the highest among all batters who have batted in a minimum of 25 innings in the CPL; Faf du Plessis, Sunil Narine, Brendon McCullum and Evin Lewis round off the top five in this list.That Cornwall is in such an elite company despite no exposure to the other big T20 leagues makes his record even more remarkable. Batting in T20 cricket has become increasingly specialised, but Cornwall’s approach is a simple one: “I think I just stick to my game plan and once the ball is in my area, I tend to make sure I capitalise and put it away,” Cornwall told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the CPL 2022 final.Related

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In the first qualifier against Guyana Amazon Warriors on a Providence pitch that wasn’t too conducive to run-scoring, Cornwall cracked 11 sixes during his 54-ball 91. Only Andre Russell has hit more sixes in a CPL innings. Cornwall is particularly strong down the ground but his stable base, still head and strong forearms allow him to even tug balls from well outside off into the leg side. He revealed that he doesn’t spend much time on range-hitting, attributing his six-hitting to his natural skills.”Not really – I haven’t done any range-hitting and I think that [six-hitting] is natural,” Cornwall said. “I think I’m strong enough down the ground or any area – [I’m] a 360[-degree] player. So, I just have to focus on shot selection and wait till the ball is in my area to put it away.”T20 is a fickle, chaotic game, but Cornwall has learnt to embrace failures and stay true to his role of maximising the powerplay.”As a player, once you back yourself, failure is going to come and there’s no doubt at it. It’s just how you bounce back from that failure,” Cornwall said. “Yes, I may hit 11 sixes one day, but on another day, I may get holed out off the first one. So you have to just back yourself as a player and trust your skills and go for what you believe in.”Cornwall had suffered an ankle injury midway through CPL 2022, but he hasn’t let that disrupt his rhythm – with bat and ball. Cornwall was actually underutilised with the ball at St Lucia Kings last season – he bowled all of two overs in CPL 2021 – but at Barbados Royals, he seized his opportunity, enjoying his most productive season with seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.53.Rahkeem Cornwall – leading the charge in the powerplay in the CPL•ESPNcricinfo LtdRoyals are quite big on pairing up a thrifty fingerspinner with a more aggressive wristspinner. At the IPL now, they have R Ashwin with Yuzvendra Chahal. At the SA20, Bjorn Fortuin will work with Tabraiz Shamsi. At this CPL, Cornwall complemented Mujeeb Ur Rahman (a mystery fingerspinner) and Hayden Walsh (a legspinner).”The communication has been very good [with the wristspinners],” Cornwall said. “Me and Hayden grew up [together] from childhood and we always share information between us on how the pitch is playing, what sort of length you need to bowl. And [I am] just getting to know Mujeeb. The conversations are going good with him too, and just trying to pick his brain to see what I can take from his game into my game.”Cornwall’s confidence is so high this season that he finally decided to flick out his carrom ball – a variation he has been working for a while – in the first qualifier against Guyana Amazon Warriors. The ball veered away from Romario Shepherd, who could only skew a catch to cover. Having done his job with both ball and bat this season, Cornwall believes that he is close to unlocking his full potential as an allrounder.”I’ve been working on it [carrom ball] for a long period of time at the nets but didn’t really have the confidence [earlier] to bowl in the match itself,” Cornwall said. “I gave it a try this time around and it worked out well for me.”Yeah, this year I’ve really shown what I can do with the ball and over the years I’ve been performing with the bat. So, I’m happy that my bowling is coming along this year and getting the opportunity to bowl. I grabbed it with both hands.””I’ve been working on it [carrom ball] for a long period of time at the nets”•CPL T20/Getty ImagesAt 6’5″ and 140kg, Cornwall is among the heaviest cricketers ever and that has often distracted people. Jason Holder was one among those people, but having now seen Cornwall from close quarters at Royals, he believes that Cornwall has the tools to succeed in international cricket.”I look at somebody like Jimbo [Cornwall] and despite his size – yes, he has got his restrictions – I think there is a role for him in international cricket,” Holder said. “I was probably one of those persons who were probably blindsided by his size and probably his mobility. But seeing year on year, what he does and seeing how dynamic this version of the game [T20 cricket] has become and how specific you got to be in terms of particular points of the game, I strongly believe that Jimbo can play international cricket at this level.”People underrate his bowling and to me he has shone leaps and bounds over lot of different legspinners and lot of other spinners in the competition. And his power at the beginning of the innings speaks volumes. So, he is one I think I would love to see at the international level.”Cornwall has never played a white-ball international, but if he keeps firing like this, West Indies – and bigger T20 leagues – should come calling for him.

Two IPL thrillers, drama in the Pakistan Super League and a Super Over between Pakistan and Australia back in 2012

Himanshu Agrawal10-Sep-2020Pakistan v Australia, bilateral series match, Dubai, 2012

Two days after crumbling for 89 in the first T20I of a see-saw limited overs tour of the UAE, Australia nearly levelled the series. Kamran Akmal’s late fireworks pushed Pakistan to 151. Australia started the chase aggressively before Saeed Ajmal flummoxed both David Warner and Shane Watson to spark a collapse. George Bailey’s 42 off 27 kept Australia in it, and it came down to seven needed from two balls. Pat Cummins hit Abdul Razzaq for a six, but then spooned the next ball to mid-off to leave the scores level.In the Super Over, Australia scored 11. Cummins, then just 19, was chosen to defend it. Umar Akmal hit his second ball for four, and then Razzaq got another boundary off the fourth. Pakistan were left with two to get off the last ball, and Cummins’ attempted bouncer was called a wide. Akmal tapped the next ball to cover and sprinted for the single. There was a run-out chance, but Dan Christian failed to collect the throw at the non-striker’s end and Pakistan took the series.Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL, Sharjah, 2014
The Royal Challengers had begun the tournament with two wins and were favourites to chase 151, with Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Yuvraj Singh and Albie Morkel in their batting line-up. Kohli and Yuvraj scored slowly in a partnership of 55 but they still required only 29 from 25 balls when Kohli was dismissed. The runs would not come for Yuvraj, who had faced a similar predicament in the T20 World Cup final less than three weeks before. He struggled to 31 off 34 balls before holing out in the 19th over. RCB needed nine off the final over, bowled by Vinay Kumar. After three singles, Chris Lynn took a sensational catch at deep midwicket to dismiss de Villiers. Morkel had to get six from two deliveries, but Vinay Kumar allowed only three to complete a remarkable comeback win for KKR.A triple-wicket over from James Faulkner was key to an exciting Rajasthan Royals win in the 2014 IPL•BCCIKolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals, IPL, Abu Dhabi, 2014
Ajinkya Rahane’s 72 and cameos from Shane Watson and Steven Smith helped the Royals to 152. In reply, Gautam Gambhir limped to 45 off 44. With 16 needed from 11 balls, James Faulkner foxed Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Uthappa and Vinay Kumar in the same over, making Royals favourites to clinch the win. But Shakib al Hasan struck a boundary and two doubles in the last over to tie the match.In the Super Over, Manish Pandey’s six off Faulkner set the Royals 12 to get. Sunil Narine conceded four off the first three, then Watson slogged him to deep midwicket for four. Watson then took a single to leave Smith with three to get. Knowing two would be enough since Royals had the boundary advantage, Smith pushed the ball to deep extra cover for an easy double.Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, PSL qualifying final, Sharjah, 2017
In the first qualifying final of the 2017 Pakistan Super League, Ahmed Shehzad and Kevin Pietersen led an early onslaught, taking the Gladiators to 121 in the first 10 overs. Zalmi were able to pull things back a bit, but were still left chasing 201. They were 3 for 2 in the chase, but Dawid Malan and Mohammad Hafeez kept them in it with rapid fifties. That set the match up for Boom Boom Shahid Afridi. Just three days before, he had smacked 45 off 23 to deliver a win against the same opposition. This time, his team needed 59 off 6.1 overs, and he clattered 34 from 13 deliveries. He was out in the 19th, but Zalmi needed just seven off the final over with four wickets in hand and Daren Sammy still batting. Sammy scored five off the first three balls, but then couldn’t get back on strike as Zalmi lost three straight wickets, the final two run-outs. It was a remarkable collapse. Zalmi did manage to make it to the final after winning the next qualifier, beating Gladiators comfortably to win the cup.Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, PSL, Sharjah, 2018
A low-scoring thriller in which spinners dominated before an Andre Russell special finished the game. Yasir Shah and Sunil Narine, whose four overs went for just 10 runs, kept Islamabad United to 121. The Qalandars were cruising in the chase at 77 for 2 in the 12th over, but then collapsed, losing a wicket in nearly every over. Brendon McCullum watched from one end as his team-mates fell. Eventually, he was left with seven to get off the final over with just two wickets remaining. He was run out on the second ball, but No. 10 Salman Irshad slashed a six over deep point to tie the scores. He holed out to the next ball, and the match went to a Super Over.The Qalandars batted first, and McCullum and Umar Akmal hit a six each to get to 15. Asif Ali and Russell chased for Islamabad. McCullum dropped Asif at long-on second ball, and the ball went over the rope for six. Russell was left with eight to win off two balls. A top-edged four, a six over long-on, and Islamabad were celebrating. For the Qalandars, it was a sixth straight defeat.

Manchester United are now preparing a £87m offer for an “unbelievable” forward, who has amassed 11 goals and assists already this season.

Man Utd keen on new forward despite Mbeumo's impressive start

Off the back of scoring 20 Premier League goals for Brentford last season, Bryan Mbeumo was expected to make an instant impact at Man United, and the forward has certainly made an impressive start, most recently scoring against Liverpool.

The Cameroonian opened the scoring for United after just over one minute, coolly slotting past Giorgi Mamardashvili after being played through by Amad Diallo, with Ruben Amorim’s side going on to pick up a statement 2-1 victory courtesy of a late Harry Maguire winner.

Mbeumo is not the only summer signing who has started to catch the eye in recent weeks, as Benjamin Sesko has found his feet, with the Slovenian finding the back of the net in both the 2-0 victory over Sunderland and 3-1 defeat against Brentford.

With Matheus Cunha also arriving at Old Trafford in the summer, Amorim has plenty of options in attacking areas, but another forward is of interest, with an ambitious move being planned.

Indeed, INEOS certainly aren’t messing around, with a report from Spain revealing Man United are now preparing an offer of around €100m (£87m) for former player Mason Greenwood, who has made an impressive start to the season with Marseille.

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Marseille would be willing to sanction a departure for the right fee, with United reportedly setting a deadline of the summer transfer window for the Ligue 1 side to agree to their terms, and the Red Devils retain a 50% sell-on fee of any sale, which would lower the cost.

Greenwood shouldn't even be considered by Man Utd

Amorim will be hoping the 2-1 victory at Anfield can be a turning point in the season, with the manager finally winning two Premier League games on the spin, and the 40-year-old is likely to have won plenty of fans around courtesy of the victory over United’s bitter rivals.

Alternatively, signing the 24-year-old would be an incredibly divisive decision, given the way in which he left United, so a move should not even be considered, despite the Englishman’s fantastic start to the campaign, chipping in with 11 goal contributions across all competitions.

Competition

Goals

Assists

Ligue 1

6

3

Champions League

1

1

Instead of signing their former academy graduate, who Nicky Butt once described as “unbelievable”, the Red Devils could look to sign Real Madrid’s Endrick, with it recently being revealed they are readying a January loan move for the young Brazilian.

However, given the start Mbeumo has made to the season, it would not be the end of the world if United missed out on the signature of another new forward, and Amorim will be hoping the 26-year-old can continue his impressive form against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

A stray cricket ball was accidentally rolled into the pitch by the heavy roller during the innings break creating an irreparable hole

Alex Malcolm05-Dec-2025
The WBBL match between Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes was abandoned at Karen Rolton Oval after a cricket ball was accidentally rolled into the pitch by the heavy roller during the innings break creating an irreparable hole.The pitch was being rolled during the innings break, as per normal WBBL rules, when a ball from a nearby fielding warm-up went under the roller on the pitch and was rolled into the surface.The heaviness of the roller pressed the ball into the pitch and created a ball-shaped hole in the middle of the surface. Strikers released a statement on their Instagram explaining why the match was abandoned after the hole was created.”As a result, the pitch conditions were changed significantly,” the statement said. “After consultations between the match referee and the umpires, it was considered unreasonable to expect the Hurricanes to bat in conditions that were materially different than those the Strikers had experienced. Both team captains were consulted by the officials and were accepting of the decision.”Hurricanes, who had already qualified to host the final after winning seven of their first nine games, were preparing to chase Strikers’ total of 167 for 4 before the match was abandoned. Madeline Penna had made 63 not out off 51 for Strikers, batting through the innings to set up the total. Wickets were shared by Hurricanes bowlers.The abandonment was another blow to Strikers’ finals hopes as it is their third no result for the season. They now sit sixth with one game left against Sydney Sixers. They need to win that to be assured of a place in the finals.

Liverpool’s season went from bad to worse at the weekend, with Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest condemning Arne Slot to a 3-0 Anfield defeat and a fifth loss in six Premier League matches.

Though FSG retain the faith in the Dutch coach, who so confidently won the league title last season, it’s clear that results and performances need to improve quickly, else the Reds will find themselves shackled to mid-table and a campaign of misery.

It’s also clear that sporting director Richard Hughes will consider making another signing this January, having overseen a summer transfer window in which Liverpool paid over £400m on new players, and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as the perfect fit.

However, Liverpool don’t have a bottomless pool of resources, and it may be the other end of the field which requires attention.

Liverpool ready to sign centre-back this winter

It almost feels absurd to think Liverpool need to spend in January after their record-breaking summer, but there’s no question that Liverpool would become threadbare if, say, Virgil van Dijk succumbed to a months-long injury setback.

Ibrahima Konate’s form has gone beyond the pale, and Liverpool’s full-back system is plumbing to imbalanced depths that were surely unfathomable after an ostensibly satisfactory spending spree.

That’s why Liverpool are considering a winter bid for Marc Guehi, having seen a deal for the Crystal Palace centre-half fall through on transfer deadline day at the start of September.

According to reports from Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool remain in pole position to sign Guehi and will be emboldened to learn that the Eagles are setting their sights on Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande as his replacement.

Reports from Spain in the last 24 hours corroborate those claims, suggesting that things are ‘practically a done deal’ and that ‘after several months of negotiations, the agreement appears to be almost finalised’.

Guehi is out of contract at the end of the season but Palace are expected to accept offers of £35m in January should one arrive.

While FSG would be wary of paying out for a player who can be snapped up for free only months down the line, Guehi is a rare talent, and Liverpool desperately need a defender.

Why Liverpool should sign Guehi now

Liverpool have already strengthened at centre-back this year through the £27m signing of Giovanni Leoni. The former Parma defender is only 18, but he’s among the most exciting talents in the world. He is also sidelined for nearly a year after rupturing his ACL on his Reds debut.

The uncertainty around Konate’s contract, and the Frenchman’s abject performances this year, emphasise the need for more depth, and Guehi has already been profiled extensively; he’s the man for the job.

The 25-year-old has played an instrumental part in Palace’s rise under Oliver Glasner’s wing, winning the FA Cup and then the Community Shield. The Londoners are currently fifth in the Premier League, with two losses from 12 games.

Liverpool, conversely, can’t stop losing, and they are leaking goals and lacking any semblance of security at the back. Guehi would fix that. Not only is he a “monster in defence”, as has been noted by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, but he is also among the most dynamic and intelligent modern centre-halves out there.

His range of passing is exactly what Liverpool need. Van Dijk is getting old, and Konate is hardly a convincing proponent of play-out-from-the-back football.

This is outlined by FBref’s data. According to the digital platform, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 9% of centre-backs in the Premier League this season for progressive passes and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90.

This underscores Guehi’s confidence on the ball, and that’s exactly what Liverpool need, with analyst Raj Chohan saying that, partnered with Conor Bradley on the right side of the defence, the “build-up combination is horrible”.

Guehi, meanwhile, is two-footed and a driver of Glasner’s progressive vision in possession. He is also proving himself to be a more stable and convincing defender.

Premier League 25/26 – Guehi v Konate

Stats (* per game)

Guehi

Konate

Matches (starts)

11 (11)

12 (12)

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

0

Touches*

65.9

73.3

Accurate passes*

45.1 (87%)

54.7 (90%)

Chances created*

0.6

0.4

Ball recoveries*

3.5

2.5

Dribbles*

0.1

0.2

Tackles + interceptions*

3.3

2.0

Clearances*

5.1

5.7

Duels (won)*

5.9 (66%)

6.0 (65%)

Errors made

1

3

Data via Sofascore

Though Konate remains a convincing aerial battler, his overall game has left so much to be desired, with errors rife and sure to be disabling any kind of confidence from his teammates.

He has actually been criticised by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher for being at the epicentre of all of Liverpool’s woes. Not quite, but there’s no denying he’s the weakest link in a fragile backline, and Slot cannot afford to persist with him for the duration of the campaign, not if he wishes to salvage things.

While Semenyo would be a neat addition, it’s true that Liverpool could crumble, truly, if they suffer a damaging defensive setback. Moreover, Rio Ngumoha has shown his class already this term and will be convinced that he has more to offer over the coming months.

Whether Liverpool opt to go this way or that this summer remains to be seen, but there’s no question that the Anfield side need to pull off a change or two, else they will flake away and be condemned to a truly disastrous campaign.

Guehi would ease the concerns and then some. The plan was to bring him over this summer, and the plan remains to seal his signature come the end of the season. Why not now?

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

Tottenham are believed to be at the front of a queue for one of Europe’s most exciting strikers as we slowly head into the January transfer window, according to a new report.

Tottenham poised for active January after attacking struggles

Spurs’ struggles this season have exposed a glaring deficiency that threatens to derail their campaign — the absence of a reliable, clinical striker capable of converting chances on a regular-enough basis.

As January approaches, manager Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure to address what has become the most pressing issue hampering Spurs’ progress.

Since the start of 25/26, they’ve registered the second-lowest rate of shots on goal out of every Premier League team, and currently sit 17th in the division for expected goals per game.

25/26 Premier League

Spurs

League rank

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

Stats via FBref

Their lack of attacking edge was on display for all to see during Spurs’ 4-1 defeat to North London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, with the Lilywhites barely managing to lay a glove on the home side, barring Richarlison’s out-of-this-world lob from the half-way line.

Dominic Solanke’s persistent injury troubles have crippled Tottenham’s forward line since pre-season.

The England international underwent ‘minor ankle surgery’ in October and has managed just 47 minutes of football all campaign, depriving Frank of his primary goalscoring outlet.

The absence of Tottenham’s club-record signing has left a massive void that nobody has adequately filled. His latest setback follows multiple injury problems throughout last season, with the 28-year-old’s record proving a major concern for Frank.

This, combined with Randal Kolo Muani’s own fitness problems, Richarlison’s inconsistency and Mathys Tel’s rumoured unrest, means that Spurs have been repeatedly linked with a new centre-forward.

One of their chief targets, according to multiple reports, is FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

The young Spaniard is being targeted by Spurs ahead of the January window, alongside the likes of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who has reportedly held direct talks with Frank over a move to London in the winter.

Aghehowa was once close to joining Chelsea in 2024 before he pulled out of the move to Stamford Bridge, and that decision has paid dividends.

The 21-year-old has scored 36 goals in 60 total appearances in all competitions since the start of last season, with Aghehowa now having his pick of Premier League suitors ahead of 2026.

Tottenham lead Chelsea, Newcastle and Arsenal in race for Samu Aghehowa

According to CaughtOffside and journalist Mark Brus, Tottenham are currently leading the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle in the race for Aghehowa as they show the strongest interest.

This follows a report from Tuesday that Spurs are prepared to strike a deal for the forward as early as January, but Porto apparently won’t budge on his £88 million release clause.

The former Deportivo Alaves sensation, who Brus describes as ‘one of the most exciting young strikers in the game’ right now, has also been revered as a ‘madman’ number nine by other members of the press.

Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, Spurs’ new co-sporting director duo, could have more funds to play with in January thanks to the Lewis family trust’s recent £100 million capital injection.

Some of these funds could be reinvested into their recruitment drive, and the signing of Aghehowa would certainly be a mid-season statement in Frank’s hunt for silverware and a top four finish.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Atlético de Madrid está no mercado em busca de volantes para reforçar o elenco. André, do Fluminense, seria uma das principais opções do time de Diego Simeoni, é o que afirma o jornal “AS”, da Espanha. O Tricolor, no momento, ainda não recebeu propostas oficiais pelo volante campeão da Libertadores.

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Apesar do Fluminense negar a informação, o jornalista Ben Jacobs sinalizou que o Fulham fez uma proposta de € 30 milhões, mais € 5 milhões em bônus, para contratar André. O Atlético de Madrid está ciente que esse é o valor para tirar o jogador do Tricolor nesta janela de transferências.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Fluminense

O clube colchonero considera a negociação complicada pela pedida do clube carioca. Porém, o clube tem uma boa relação com os empresários do atleta, o que pode ser um incentivo para seguir procurando meios de contratar André. Um cenário diferente seria tentar um empréstimo com obrigação de compra na próxima janela. Com isso, o Atleti teria que pagar mais dinheiro para ter o jogador. Se a proposta for um empréstimo com obrigação de compra, os valores podem chegar a rondar os € 45 ou 50 milhões, diz o jornal.

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O atleta de 22 anos é uma das maiores joias do elenco comandado por Fernando Diniz. Além de já ter sido alvo de clubes da Europa na janela de transferências do meio de 2023, o André se valorizou com as convocações para a Seleção Brasileira.

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Opener Sam Robson’s stunning career best 169 not out off 139 balls helped Middlesex chase 388 – the highest ever successful List A run chase in England – to beat Durham by five wickets in a thrilling Metro Bank One Day Cup clash at the Banks Homes Riverside.Durham pair Alex Lees and David Bedingham hit contrasting centuries in their imposing 387 for 4. Having been inserted, it was the county’s highest ever home total in this format.Captain and opener Lees batted through for 138 not out off 132 balls and South African Bedingham blazed 107 off 67 with eight sixes. But it wasn’t enough to prevent a second defeat in four Group B matches.Robson, like Lees, batted with controlled aggression and was the cornerstone of a remarkable chase in perfect batting conditions, achieved in 48 overs. Middlesex won their second game in three to boost hopes of a top-three finish.A handful of counties have posted higher second-innings totals in List A matches, but no one had bettered Worcestershire’s successful pursuit of 377 to beat Leicestershire at New Road in 2018. Until today.Both teams lost a wicket in their first over.New-ball seamer Toby Roland-Jones bowled Emilio Gay for a golden duck with a beauty two balls into a sun-soaked contest. He was the day’s standout bowler with 1 for 43 from 10 overs.Much to the bemusement of representatives from both counties, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal sat in Durham’s fan zone prior to the game.Leg-side dominant, Lees hit his two sixes over midwicket and wide long-on and shared 141 for the second wicket with in-form Will Rhodes from 1 for 1 in the opening over. Rhodes contributed a well-paced 63.While Lees became the first Durham player to score centuries in the County Championship, T20 Blast and One Day Cup in the same season, Bedingham was much more aggressive – vicious on the pull and down the ground.Lees was on 71 when Bedingham came to the crease, and there was a brief moment when the South African could have reached his hundred first. However, Lees got there off 106 balls, followed by Bedingham’s off 65.Luke Hollman took a superb catch at long-on to help teenaged seamer Jamie Feldman remove Bedingham at 289 for 3 in the 42nd over, though both sides were loose in the field.Colin Ackermann crashed 53 off 27 balls to give Durham the advantage at halfway.However, Middlesex responded in kind en-route to their highest List A total.Joe Cracknell was caught behind down leg pulling at Ben Raine.But, from 2 for 1, Robson and Josh De Caires advanced in dynamic fashion by sharing 120 inside 16 overs. The latter had contributed 63 off 48 balls when he was caught behind reverse sweeping against George Drissell’s off-spin.Middlesex reached 200 for 3 after 28 overs, by which time Durham’s new fast-bowling signing Archie Bailey had uprooted the middle stump of captain Ben Geddes for 24.Former England Test opener Robson, aged 36, was strong on both sides of the wicket without hitting a six until his side neared 300.The right-hander reached his fourth career century off 89 balls, by which time Middlesex were 237 for 3 in the 33rd over. Robson was in the midst of a 114 partnership with Jack Davies. Bailey bowled Davies for 61 off 42, at 280 for 4 in the 37th over, but Robson ploughed on.With 10 overs left, Middlesex needed 78, with Hollman now a helping hand. He contributed 47 to a near match-sealing partnership of 103 with Robson, who hit 19 fours and two sixes to record his county’s second-highest List A individual score.

Rowdy Tellez made his third relief appearance of the season on Wednesday, giving up one run on three hits. Tellez, a first baseman by trade, has hit 12 home runs this season, but this isn't a Shohei Ohtani situation.

Tellez keeps pitching because the Pirates stink. Pittsburgh has the worst record in the NL Central and are 11 games out of the wild card. They'll soon be officially eliminated from the playoff hunt. In the meantime, they're just trying to get through the season.

That's why Tellez took the mound in the eighth inning of the Pirates 12-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Just don't ask manager Derek Shelton about it because he appears to be done talking about it, which is why he kind of snapped when Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette asked him about the decision after the game.

"It's 11 to nothing," said Shelton. "It's 11 to nothing. Bednar and Holderman both pitched yesterday. Santana's been our best reliever. Chapman I'm not going to pitch in that situation. Come on. You've watched enough baseball to know that. It's 11 to nothing. Seriously. No. No, you don't have to ask. There's a better question than that. Seriously. I mean, it's 11 to nothing."

This is Shelton's fifth year as manager of the Pirates. The team is 283-402 during his stint. They have not finished .500 or better since 2018 and haven't been to the playoffs since 2014.