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The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month and full focus will now be on that for Celtic after the 2024/25 campaign came to an end on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers will surely have been disappointed by his side’s failure to clinch the domestic treble after they lost to Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup.

The Scottish giants had already secured the Scottish Premiership title, for the fourth time in as many seasons, and won the League Cup by beating Rangers on penalties in the first half of the campaign.

Celtic also made it through to the play-off round of the Champions League, losing to Bayern Munich, after making it through the initial league phase.

The Hoops enjoyed a successful season, in spite of their SFA Cup final defeat to Aberdeen, and it came off the back of significant investment in the team last summer.

Celtic showed that they are willing to splash the cash to improve the side and compete in Europe by signing Augsburg central midfielder Arne Engels for a club-record fee.

Why Arne Engels has been worth the money

The Glasgow giants reportedly broke their club transfer record to sign the Belgian starlet from the Bundesliga outfit for a staggering fee of £11m.

It was a huge sum of money to play for a then-20-year-old midfield maestro, yet it has turned out to be money well spent so far because he has delivered impressive performances on the pitch for the Hoops.

Engels ended the season with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the middle of the park.

Celtic have dominated Scottish football, winning the last four titles and three of the last five domestic cups available to them, so any signings coming in should be with a view to improving their form in the Champions League.

As you can see in the table above, Engels helped them to do that with his displays in Europe, which led to Celtic reaching the play-off round, having been dumped out with one win in the group stage in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Belgian whiz has been worth the money for the Hoops, so far, because he has delivered quality in the Champions League, including a goal and an assist in the 5-1 win over Slovan during the league phase.

Celtic, however, could take the Belgian talent to the next level by splashing the cash once again to sign a striker to make the most of his creativity next season.

Celtic expected to move for new striker

According to Anthony Joseph, writing for Sky Sports, Celtic are ‘expected’ to make a new move to sign Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Denmark youth international has been a long-term target for the Scottish giants, and they are now prepared to make yet another swoop for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

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Joseph adds that the closest the club have come, to date, to signing the 23-year-old star was in the recent January transfer window, after Kyogo Furuhashi left to join Rennes, but they were unable to get a deal over the line.

The journalist states that Brondby have been sticking to their valuation of at least £10m for the attacker, which is slightly less than what the Hoops paid to sign Engels last summer.

This suggests that it is a deal the Premiership champions could afford to do if they feel he is worth splashing the cash on, given that they were prepared to spend big on the Belgium international.

They should, now, sanction a £10m swoop for his services when they make their expected move for the striker because he could take Engels to the next level with his finishing ability.

Why Celtic should sign Mathias Kvistgaarden

The Hoops should splash the cash on Kvistgaarden because of his exceptional form for Brondby in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that he could be a lethal forward for Celtic with the creativity that Engels can provide.

In the Premiership, the Belgium international was only rewarded with six assists from the 11 ‘big chances’ that he created for his teammates throughout the season. This shows that the midfielder was let down by the quality of finishing from the club’s forward players in the top-flight.

Adam Idah was one of the wasteful attackers responsible for that. The Ireland international scored 13 goals and missed a whopping 19 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership, whilst he also underperformed his xG of 13.57.

This suggests that Celtic could take Engels to the next level as a creator by signing a striker who can more than make the most of his creativity, which is why they should swoop for Kvistgaarden.

As you can see in the table above, the Danish attacker would come in as a big upgrade on Idah because of his finishing quality, having scored five more goals from open play with a similar xG tally at league level.

Kvistgaarden, whose form was dubbed “absolutely sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a striker who has the movement and the finishing skills to take Engels’ assist tally way beyond the 13 he got this season.

The 23-year-old striker, who scored 23 goals in all competitions, could thrive on the kind of quality that Engels can provide from a central midfield position, and that could make him a star for the Hoops next term as their regular starter in the number nine position.

It is now down to the board to sanction a £10m deal for the Danish marksman, to both provide Rodgers with a clinical and effective starting centre-forward, whilst also taking Engels to the next level by finding a player who can make the most of his creativity.

Celtic could sign Idah upgrade in £40m star who's "guaranteed goals"

Celtic have been tipped to swoop for a star who would be a big upgrade on Adam Idah.

By
Dan Emery

May 25, 2025

In what would be one of the most impressive moves of the summer transfer window, Arsenal have now reportedly held internal discussions about signing a modern-day Premier League legend.

Arsenal must go again for Premier League title

After suffering more heartbreak in pursuit of the Premier League title, this time courtesy of Liverpool, Arsenal have been left to go again next season. More so than in the two prior campaigns, this season’s defeat may well frustrate Mikel Arteta and those in North London the most.

Manchester City found themselves in injury crisis as fallen champions, Liverpool entered a new era under Arne Slot and Chelsea were restarting once again under a new manager in Enzo Maresca. If it was to be Arsenal’s year then many believed it would be the current campaign, before they themselves suffered injury issues and frustrating form.

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Arteta spoke about his disappointment after Liverpool confirmed their status as Premier League champions, telling reporters: “Yes, [it hurts] big time. I understand that it’s a team who have been more consistent, they’ve had the ingredients to win it and it’s been painful.

“I want to congratulate Liverpool and what they’ve done, the manner they’ve done it and how consistent they’ve been, and I think they fully deserved to win it.”

There is still time for the Gunners to flip the script on their season, however, with a vital clash against Paris Saint-Germain next week handing them the chance to turn their 1-0 aggregate defeat around and step into the Champions League final.

European glory would undeniably end any heartache over the Premier League title and instantly create history in what is currently on course to become another season of what might have been.

Meanwhile, looking ahead to the next campaign off the pitch, new sporting director Andrea Berta is reportedly looking to make one of the biggest statements of the summer.

Arsenal discuss shock De Bruyne move

According to The Boot Room, Arsenal have now held internal discussions about signing Kevin de Bruyne upon the expiry of his Manchester City contract this summer. The Belgian reportedly wants to remain in Europe in what has shocked the Citizens, who may well find themselves squaring off against one of their best-ever players having thought he would jet off to Saudi Arabia or the USA.

Whilst MLS side San Diego are still chasing the Belgian’s signature, his desire to stay put at the top level could certainly open the door for those at The Emirates. Arteta is also already more than familiar with De Bruyne’s capabilities, having worked with him during his time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.

An undeniable Premier League legend, the £400,000-a-week star has earned praise which reflects that in recent weeks. Among those with positives to say, Guardiola told reporters: “You always have to be careful, have respect for the players who play main roles, and incredible players that play for the last, I don’t know, 20, 30 years in this club.

“But come on, there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest, for sure. Because of his consistency – except the last year, year and a half, that he had injury problems – in important games and not important games, and every three days being there.”

Over the last week, Liverpool have been strongly touted with a summer move to land Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, but would have to pay a fortune to secure his signature.

It’s been reported that the Reds are willing to pay £115m for his services, but the Magpies are demanding a staggering £150m to part ways with their star man.

Their interest in the Swedish international is hardly a surprise given his goalscoring record in 2024/25, notching 20 Premier League goals – sitting third in the top-scoring charts behind Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland.

However, the fee would make the 25-year-old the Reds’ most expensive player in their history, potentially pushing them closer to sustained success under Arne Slot.

It may be too much to fork out on one player this summer, potentially delving into the market to pursue other targets, with one other talent emerging on their shortlist.

Liverpool targeting move for £70m talent

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are targeting a summer move for West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen in an attempt to strengthen their forward line.

The 28-year-old has registered eight goals and five assists in his 27 league appearances this campaign, sitting as the Hammers’ top scorer during 2024/25.

It’s not the first time the Reds have been interested in landing the former Hull City star, after previously registering interest in his services in the transfer market over the past few years.

However, the recent report states that Bowen would be open to a move to Anfield this summer, with the prospect of winning trophies possibly taking his career to the next level.

Graham Potter’s side have previously placed a £70m price tag on his head, with a move for the England international potentially a better deal than any transfer for Isak.

Why Bowen would be a better signing than Isak for Liverpool

Whilst there’s no denying the quality of Isak and that he would improve the centre-forward department, other areas may be in need of investment this summer.

Contracts remain up in the air with just a couple of months left on the deals of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah, with none of the stars yet to put pen to paper over a new deal.

The latter is arguably the most important, especially when considering how crucial he’s been to the success endured under Slot during the Dutchman’s first year at Anfield.

The Egyptian international has registered 54 combined goals and assists in his 45 appearances across all competitions, helping the side sit top of the league table.

However, the 32-year-old is currently set to leave at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract, with no new deal agreed between the club and the forward.

Should he depart this summer, a new winger has to be the priority over a striker, with Bowen undoubtedly a more important signing than Isak should Salah depart on a free transfer.

When comparing the West Ham star’s stats with the Egyptian’s from 2024/25, he’s managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – showcasing how much of a superb signing he would be.

Bowen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Ian Wright, may have been massively outscored by Salah, but has managed to achieve the same shot-on-target accuracy rate – highlighting his impressive nature in the final third.

Games played

27

31

Goals & assists

13

44

Shot-on-target accuracy

42%

42%

Pass accuracy

71%

71%

Crosses completed

3.5

1.9

Take-ons completed

1.6

1.6

Aerials won

0.3

0.3

He’s also managed to complete the same number of take-ons per 90, whilst also completing more crosses, potentially improving other players’ tallies around him – just as the 32-year-old has done on Merseyside this season.

Whilst keeping hold of Salah would undoubtedly be the preference for the supporters, Bowen has demonstrated that he has the tools to soften the blow should he depart in the coming months.

He may cost a pretty penny to prise him away from the London Stadium, but it would be a worthwhile deal, allowing Slot to kickstart the rebuild should it be needed during the off-season.

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ByTom Cunningham Apr 8, 2025

The Kolkata Knight Riders opener seems to have found his mojo at the top of the batting order again, and rival teams are paying

Nagraj Gollapudi25-Apr-2024At the halfway mark of Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings in their home match against Rajasthan Royals ten days ago, Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals director of cricket, said he felt sorry for bowlers this IPL, in which batters have plundered runs at a rate not seen in the tournament’s history until now.A packed Eden Gardens swayed with happy emotion as Sunil Narine, Knight Riders’ opener, whipped a short delivery outside off from Kuldeep Sen for four. Harsha Bhogle, who was on air, asked Sangakkara how Royals might stop Narine. “Hopefully he’ll get himself out,” Sangakkara said.By the time Narine did get out, he had made his first T20 century in over 500 matches to become the first KKR batter to score an IPL hundred at Eden Gardens. It came in 49 balls. Though his start was steady, he accelerated in the middle and death overs, scoring at an overall strike rate of over 194, with six hits over the rope and 13 fours.Related

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Narine, who until earlier this week was among the top ten run-makers in the tournament after that innings, still leads ESPNcricnfo’s Smart Stats MVP standings for the tournament, thanks to his batting heroics paired with incisive bowling that has brought him nine wickets.He has been a distinct point of difference for KKR, who are second on the points table and have shaped up as the team to beat behind RR through the first half of this year’s IPL.At the innings break after his hundred, Narine said that just the fact of him being in contention for the orange cap was a joke, given his dire returns with the bat over the last few IPL seasons. Starting with 2021, he made 62, 71 and 21 runs respectively, batting ten innings in each of the last three years, not all as opener.How has this turnaround as an impact opener come about?Narine says Gautam Gambhir, the former Knight Riders captain, who returned as the team’s mentor this season, has been instrumental. “With GG coming back, he gave me the confidence and the assurance that I’ll open the batting. And out of the 14 games, just try to [succeed] in three or four to give the team a good start.”ESPNcricinfo LtdIt was under Gambhir’s captaincy, in 2017, that Narine opened for the first time for KKR. The idea to field him as an opener, Simon Katich, the franchise’s assistant coach between 2015 and 2019, says was adopted from Melbourne Renegades, who tried Narine out as an opener for three matches in the 2016-17 BBL. He scored just 37 runs in those games but there was enough on show to establish that Renegades were not just throwing things at a wall hoping something stuck.Back in 2017 at KKR, Narine was paired with Australian batter Chris Lynn, one of the leading top-order T20 power-hitters of the time. “We knew teams wanted to bowl spin early to Lynny,” Katich says, “and we felt Sunny would put pressure on the opposition team in the first couple of overs, which allowed his partner to get settled and attack in the back end of the powerplay.”The impact of that strategy was witnessed in May 2017, when Narine and Lynn pulped Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowlers in a 105-run opening partnership in the powerplay, chasing a target of 158. It was, until April 20 this year, the highest powerplay partnership in IPL history.”The game was over. The boys killed it in the first six overs,” Katich chuckles.That rampage by Narine and Lynn showed what an aggressive mindset and a batter with no fear of consequences can do. It was something of a precursor to the batting carnage we have seen this IPL, where the record for the highest IPL total has been broken three times, two of those instances courtesy the outrageous batting of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad.Narine and Phil Salt, the KKR openers, have not been too far behind that pair. In the match against Royals, that team’s spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin, deliberately pitched on a line outside off stump in an attempt to evade Narine’s hitting arc. He still managed to score heavily against the pair, who are arguably among the best slow bowlers in the tournament.Narine was not slogging, and evidence of that came in how he repeatedly squeezed boundaries through the pocket behind the bowler, who had positioned long-off and long-on extra straight. Narine picked up 67 runs from just 28 balls against Chahal and Ashwin in that game. Before that match, Chahal had conceded just five sixes in this year’s tournament in the middle overs, and Ashwin none. Narine hit five sixes off them in that game alone.The start of something big: Narine (right) walks out to open with Aaron Finch for Melbourne Renegades in early 2017•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesLike Narine, Katich too credits Gambhir with being behind the move to open with Salt and Narine. “It just highlights the way game keeps evolving,” he says. “This year in particular, we are seeing a really aggressive game and teams like KKR and SRH are probably leading the way with that in terms of [saying] ‘We are going to put opposition teams under the pump right from the word go. If it doesn’t go to plan, so be it. We might lose a few [wickets] doing that, but we are going to win more than we lose playing an aggressive style of cricket, and take pressure off that middle order.'”The 19 boundaries Narine hit against Royals is the joint most number of fours and sixes in an innings so far this IPL. Overall this year he has hit 20 sixes, which places him sixth on the list of leading six-hitters this season.How does he derive the power to go so big, despite not having much of a trigger movement?”He has relatively long levers,” says Katich, who was head coach at Trinbago Knight Riders, where too Narine has opened. “When you look at his grip, it’s pretty high on the handle. So when you see him hitting sixes – he’s a powerful ball striker.The short ball was something of an Achilles heel for Narine over the years, and Katich speaks of how there was a period where teams tried to tuck Narine up and bowl at his right shoulder, with some success. While his strike rate against the short ball has been consistently high, his dismissal rate against it was high in the past as well, leading to a low batting average against the short stuff: 11 in 2017, 18 in 2018, 15.66 in 2019.This IPL, on the other hand, in seven innings as an opener, against 59 deliveries pitched back of a length or shorter, Narine has scored 82 runs at an average of 41 and a strike rate of nearly 139, getting out twice.”The beauty of him batting in the powerplay is, it’s very difficult to pin someone down when you have only got two men protecting the boundary, because there are times where he top-edges sixes and then the bowlers [get] gun shy of attacking him again with a short ball,” Katich says. “And because he moves around [the crease], it makes him difficult to bowl to, because he’s just as capable of scoring off side as he’s leg side.Narine has credited KKR team director Gautam Gambhir with giving him confidence in his role as an opener•BCCINarine usually takes a leg-stump guard, holding the bat somewhat loose, his backlift high. Generally he opens up his right hip and right shoulder to be able to use the bottom hand to access both sides of the pitch: he can hit over square leg as easily as he does over deep point. To counter that, Katich says, teams have tried taking pace off the ball and tried pitching fuller around the wide line outside off stump to make it hard for him to power it over mid-off or cover.Narine, though, has improvised to counterattack against that strategy. In the game against Delhi Capitals in Vizag,where Narine made 85, during the powerplay, Ishant Sharma pushed the point fielder back and brought midwicket closer, having placed him deep earlier. Narine read it correctly and took a quick step wide to hit it over mid-off for a four.Also that over, with square leg and midwicket deeper, Ishant attempted a yorker that turned into a low full toss outside off. Narine stretched from his leg-stump guard to connect to it with one hand and got enough power into the stroke for the ball to race for four between point and short third. He got to 34 off 15 after having started his innings with five dot balls.”The thing with Sunil, what a lot of people probably don’t appreciate, is that he actually works as hard as most do on his game,” says Tom Moody, who in the past has watched Narine from the opposition dugout as head coach at Sunrisers Hyderabad, and more recently has worked with him as head coach of Oval Invincibles in the Hundred. “So there’s no coincidence that he has those moments where he can have an opposition on the back foot very quickly, because it’s not like it’s unrehearsed. He is prepared for it.””I have one role and the less I know, the better it is for me,” Narine said this year when asked why he skips batters’ meetings. He would rather lounge by the pool than discuss match-ups.ESPNcricinfo LtdAnd that inclination to keep his mind uncluttered has probably allowed Narine to not fret too much about whether he is in control or not while batting. Among openers this IPL who have faced at least 40 deliveries in the powerplay, his control percentage is the lowest, 51.55, but he counters that with his intent in the first six overs, when only two fielders are allowed in the outfield. Among batters who have faced at least 30 deliveries, only Head has a higher aggression (intent) percentage for openers in the powerplay.In his assault on Royals, Narine had 14 false shots in the first 24 deliveries. An extremely chancy beginning, but he made his own luck. In T20s intent matters more than control, and Narine understands that.Is he unique as a batter?”He’s a skilful bowler that can bat,” Moody says. “And he has realised that his most effective way to bat in this format, and the most damaging, is to play with that freedom. The game is increasingly being recognised for those impact-type innings – those ten-ball impact innings that either help you finish off the total or launch your powerplay into a level that you wouldn’t otherwise have done if you didn’t have that sort of approach.Katich says that moving Narine back up to the opening slot is a winning move by KKR. “He’s a game changer. He’s a proven player in the IPL. He has got a huge amount of experience, he’s a very clever cricketer. The more you can have those guys playing these roles in critical times of the game – which the powerplay is – you give guys that opportunity.”Stats inputs from S Rajesh

The India batter on her love affair with butter chicken, discovering lasagna in Australia, and a secret Bhatia family recipe

Interview by Annesha Ghosh18-Mar-2022What is one meal you can eat day in and day out?
Butter chicken and roti. I eat it at home when my father makes it, and every time I go to a restaurant I straight away call for butter chicken if anyone else accompanying me orders non-veg.Is there anything you really love that you’ve added or removed from your diet to better fit your fitness regimen?
Chicken biryani. I it, but my nutritionist has asked me to cut out rice from my diet totally, explaining how it can affect my fitness and make me slow – with regards to injury too. So chicken biryani has had to go.How difficult was it to give that up?
It did break my heart when I was told I shouldn’t be having rice. But I was, and am, willing to make such sacrifices to get better results out of my cricket. But whenever I am allowed the freedom to have food of my choice, say, on a day off or some such, I make sure to have chicken biryani and butter chicken.What else has been hard to give up?
. I used to eat a lot of it growing up, but in the last seven years I’ve only had the home-made version of the street snack, and that too, rarely. In December last year, though, I had proper roadside after I scored a century for Baroda in the senior one-day domestic competition in Nagpur. It felt so good.What is your favourite pre- or post-workout snack?
I like to keep it light, so I usually go for [millet rotis]. After a workout I like having protein shakes or brown-rice cakes with peanut butter.Which of your team-mates is the best cook?
I am yet to taste anything made by my India team-mates, but I’ve heard Smriti Mandhana is quite good, so I’d like to try out some of what she makes. My Baroda team-mate Charmi Shah is decent at making Maggi and popcorn.What’s one thing you can cook for yourself really well?
I can make pizza. I remember making pizza at an Amul cooking contest once. On a regular basis, though, I think I’d be more comfortable making bread-omelette and [okra] – that’s a dish I love tucking into every now and then.What’s the one dish you would like to ace?
[spinach]. I can’t make it but my mother makes it very well. It would make for a very nice combination with , which I already know how to make, and roti.Who is the one team-mate who can eat whatever they want without it affecting their fitness?
Tanvir Shaikh from Baroda. She indulges in deserts often but she tops pretty much all the sprinting drills. We often ask her, [You eat everything, where does all of it go?] In the Indian team, I am a newbie, so I don’t have much of an idea, but I think Sneh Rana is similar [to Tanvir]. Her fitness is top- shelf. Her metabolism must be quite high, so cheat meals don’t appear to affect her much.Is there a snack you carry in your kit bag when you’re travelling or on tour?
Peanut butter – dark-chocolate flavour. I took a liking to peanut butter ever since I first had it during the home series for South Africa [in March last year], for which I was part of the Indian squad for the first time. I can’t do without peanut butter after a workout.Did you try any new food when you toured Australia?
We were served lasagna at the pink-ball Test [in Carrara]. I loved it. During the tour they would also serve rice, dal and chicken – tandoori or butter – for buffet, and we’d order roti separately along with . The food in Australia was very good.Which cricket venue you’ve played at has had the best food or catering?
We were in Ranchi for a domestic game, and I loved the food and catering in that stadium. I particularly liked the chicken.You’ve grown up, and live, in Baroda. What would you recommend to anyone visiting your home town?
Kathiyawadi cuisine is quite famous in Gujarat, especially the Kathiyawadi , which serve a wide variety of fare. Those are usually a bit more spicy than Gujarati . Baroda’s street food is quite popular as well, and people here are crazy about in particular. , , are some of the other dishes I’d recommend.What do meals look like during a regular week in the Bhatia household?
My mother is vegetarian, but my dad, [older] sister, and I eat non-veg, so the fare on weekdays is usually veg stuff, which either my mom or our cook takes care of. Anything non-vegetarian is typically reserved for Fridays and Sundays and is made by my father.What are the signature dishes in your family?
Home-style chicken and mutton are my papa’s signature dishes, but our household has one of its own, the Bhatia . It’s a gram-flour-and-yoghurt-based thin gravy, which most types of are, and we add a generous assortment of diced drumstick, potatoes, and okra in it. We treat all our guests to it and serve it with steamed rice and sometimes with .What food do you miss most when you’re on tour?
. It’s so simple to make and it reminds me of the simplicity of home. Though you get dal at restaurants or often at match venues in India and abroad, it’s never the same, and as simple, as .

This week, we relive the glorious one-day triumphs of Lancashire in the 1990s

Andrew McGlashan27-Apr-2020What We’re WatchingWasim Akram too quick
Wasim Akram forged one of the great overseas careers with Lancashire. In the 1990 Benson & Hedges Cup final at Lord’s, he produced a blistering new-ball spell that put the county on course for a comfortable victory against Worcestershire.Akram had already played his part with the bat as he clubbed 28 off 21 balls in a strong performance from Lancashire’s lower order (that was a feature of their side, as you will see). Akram was usually held back from the new ball – Lancashire’s one-day bowling options were tremendously deep – and on this day he came on as first change behind Paul Allott and Phillip DeFreitas.He found the outside edge of Tim Curtis and then set about roughing up a young Graeme Hick, who soon edged to Warren Hegg as Lancashire took hold of the match. “Akram has looked likely to take a wicket with every ball,” said commentator Jack Bannister.Surrey’s epic meltdown
One of the most extraordinary collapses in one-day cricket. In the 1993 Benson & Hedges Cup first-round match at The Oval, Surrey were 212 for 1 chasing 237, needing 25 from 35 balls. Graham Thorpe had a century to his name and Alec Stewart was on 95 when Peter Martin nipped one back into off stump. Surely just a blip on the way to victory?Then Akram was brought back, strangling Monte Lynch down the leg side and removing Thorpe, well caught at midwicket by Ian Austin, in the 51st over. Such was the pressure built by Akram, Martin and Austin that the runs required soon overtook the balls remaining as Surrey’s middle order froze like rabbits in headlights although, in their defence, Akram and Austin produced a masterclass of yorker bowling. By the time the final over began, Surrey needed 14 with Waqar Younis (this was a golden era of the overseas player) and Martin Bicknell at the crease, but they couldn’t really get close.Akram with the bat, this time
Hick’s century had led Worcestershire to a very competitive 261 for 5 in their 1995 Benson & Hedges Cup semi-final and Lancashire’s chase was in the mire at 169 for 7 as Hick added two wickets for good measure. Lancashire, though, were far from finished despite needing 71 off eight overs.Akram, with some help from Warren Hegg, took 19 off the 48th over to spark the chase into life. Akram swung his way to a 41-ball half-century as the nerves started to show in the Worcestershire team. There then follows one of the many lovely pieces of commentary from Richie Benaud’s career:

“A slight change of tactics, perhaps, now they’ve realised they only need fractionally better than a run-a-ball. May be that fewer risks will be taken…”

Next ball: Hegg drives Phil Newport inside out over extra cover.

“You can forget what I said there, pay absolutely no attention to it, and thank heavens Warren Hegg didn’t hear it.”

Akram was bowled with 24 still needed, but Lancashire’s lower order was able to finish the job as Hegg and Gary Yates kept their cool.Glen Chapple and his team-mates celebrate dismissing Essex for 57 and winning the 1996 NatWest Trophy•Clive Mason/Getty ImagesA final-over Roses thriller
Like the season before against Worcestershire, in 1996, Lancashire pulled a chase out of the fire. And this time it was against their biggest rivals, Yorkshire, in a gripping contest spread over two days because of rain that went to the last ball.Michael Bevan and Richard Blakey had led a Yorkshire recovery with an unbroken stand of 167 and when Lancashire fell to 97 for 5 then 174 for 7, victory was a long shot. However, Hegg unfurled a brilliant 81 off 62 balls (it would remain his highest one-day score) to bring Lancashire to within touching distance when he was bowled with 11 needed.Yates, who had played a vital supporting hand, was run out by a brilliant throw from Anthony McGrath and it came to eight needed off the final over, bowled by Craig White, with Glen Chapple and Martin at the crease. Chapple drove a boundary first ball, but White got his yorkers in to leave Martin on strike with two needed off the last delivery. It was a pretty good ball from White, a wide yorker, but Martin managed to drive it through point to send the home fans into ecstasy.Chapple’s demolition job
The NatWest Trophy, a 60-over one-day tournament, often finished with bowler-dominated matches at Lord’s in mid-September – the 1996 final between Lancashire and Essex fit into that bracket. Lancashire labored to 186 all out, anchored by John Crawley’s 66, but it would prove more than enough as Martin and Chapple devastated the Essex line-up.Chapple’s 6 for 18 is what the final is remembered for, but it was Martin’s exemplary new-ball spell that set the tone as he removed Paul Grayson, Nasser Hussain (brilliantly caught by Hegg) and Paul Pritchard with a series of wicked legcutters. However, the ball of the day did belong to Chapple when he zipped an unplayable delivery past Robert Rollins. When Jason Gallian struck with his first ball, pinning Graham Gooch lbw, Essex were 33 for 7. A short while later they were 57 all out and Lancashire had completed the one-day double.For more such curated YouTube playlists, click here.

The New York Yankees have acquired Chicago White Sox outfielder Austin Slater in exchange for right handed pitcher Gage Ziehl. Ken Rosenthal of was first on the trade, and 's Bob Nightengale was first on the return.

Slater was one of several outfield names that the Yankees were considering ahead of the trade deadline amid the elbow injury to star slugger Aaron Judge. The Yankees were considering a reunion with former outfielder Harrison Bader, but Slater proved most palatable for New York.

Slater has hit .236 this season with five home runs and 11 RBI.

Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who was named in South Africa’s second-string squad to play a T20I in Namibia on October 11 and their white-ball sides to tour Pakistan later this month, is being assessed for an injury he sustained while playing a domestic match.Maphaka, 19, was in action for his provincial side, the Lions, in a four-day match against Western Province at Newlands last week. He bowled 5.5 overs in the first innings but had to leave the field with hamstring discomfort. He was taken for a scan which revealed no major damage and returned to take the new ball in the second innings. His 3 for 26 in 10 overs led the Lions’ charge to victory by an innings and 134 runs. He will now have a precautionary MRI to confirm his fitness ahead of a busy season.Maphaka is expected to be a part of South Africa’s international engagements over the next two-and-a-half months, which include tours of Pakistan and India, though there has been conversation about ensuring he has more time in the domestic game, particularly the four-day competition. To date, he has only played six first-class matches, which includes two Tests. He has also played three ODIs and 13 T20Is for South Africa and was signed by Durban’s Super Giants for the fourth season of the SA20.South Africa are due to play Namibia in a one-off T20I on Saturday to inaugurate the new stadium in Windhoek. The match takes place the day before the Test side begins the World Test Championship title defence in Pakistan, which has ruled several frontline players including captain Aiden Markram, out of the trip across the border. South Africa will be captained by Donovan Ferreira, who will lead Quinton de Kock in his international comeback. De Kock reversed his ODI retirement and made himself available for international cricket last month.

It’s one step forward and two steps back for Newcastle United, who were defeated on the road in the Champions League against Marseille, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the double.

Eddie Howe’s side responded with vim and vigour after the international break to beat Manchester City at St. James’ Park, but this served as a sobering reminder that there is much work to be done away from Tyneside, with the Toon having won only one game away from home all season.

Harvey Barnes’ fine form continued as he swept home from close range only minutes into the affair, but United failed to channel their counter-attacking approach and were ultimately overwhelmed by the French hosts.

It was a frustrating performance, epitomised by the woes of Nick Pope between the sticks.

Why Howe must consider dropping Nick Pope

Pope joined Newcastle from Burnley for about £10m in 2022, and he has since. This season, he has started all 12 of the Magpies’ Premier League fixtures, though he has failed to keep a clean sheet across five successive matches.

There have been tenuous calls to drop the 33-year-old all year, but these are rising in volume and intensity, and the veteran’s mistake in France will only fan those flames, with United losing clarity and conviction in their performance after the gaffe.

Given that Aaron Ramsdale is patiently waiting in the wings, having been signed on loan this summer, there’s justification for dropping Pope going forward, it may be that Howe needs to drop his mainstay between the sticks and start to rewire his defence, as has already started through the likes of Malick Thiaw and full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.

Newcastle still have three wins from five in the Champions League this season, and may yet find the form to seal a place in the automatically-qualifying top eight.

But Howe does need to continue to chop and change, and Pope isn’t the only one whose starting berth is at risk.

Newcastle star is now relegated to the bench

At the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Anthony Gordon was awarded Newcastle’s Player of the Year. But last year was a testing one for the England international, in contrast with United’s resurgence, and he has fallen further into the mire since the summer.

Against Marseille, Gordon’s woes continued as he proved utterly ineffectual in a makeshift centre-forward role.

Writer Firdie Idris remarked that the decision to field Gordon, a pacy left winger, as a central striker “never works”, and his display against Marseille only corroborated that claim.

In his central berth, Gordon only created one chance and hit the target with only one shot. He didn’t even attempt a dribble and won only one of five duels, as per Sofascore. He also completed just 14 passes as an isolated figure in Howe’s offensive line.

Penning their post-match thoughts, The Shields Gazette could only hand the Three Lions star a 4/10 match rating, criticising him for being on the back foot throughout the contest.

Truthfully, Gordon has been out of sorts all season. Prolific on the continent, he has yet to kindle any semblance of good form on the domestic front, and this was not a display to imbue within him a kind of confidence that will be needed ahead of Premier League clashes against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

Given that Gordon is one of Newcastle’s most profitable players, there’s reasoning behind the call to cash in down the line. Certainly, given the need for further investment over the coming transfer windows, it’s something PIF might consider as Barnes continues to go from strength to strength.

In any case, Gordon needs to raise his level. He is one of the outfit’s most talented players and is horribly underperforming. Like Pope, Howe would be wise to drop him for the forthcoming fixtures and rekindle his will to win.

PIF can fund Anderson move by selling Newcastle star who's a "nightmare"

Newcastle are proving themselves to be a team in transition this season.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 25, 2025

Newcastle United have a tough run of fixtures to contend with for the rest of November, before the bumper Christmas schedule weighs heavily on the calendar.

Indeed, the up-and-down Magpies have a tricky home clash with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City up next, as Eddie Howe no doubt worries already as to how his porous defence will deal with a free-flowing Erling Haaland.

Then, it’s back-to-back away fixtures at Marseille and Everton in the Champions League and Premier League, with Howe, presumably, under even more intense pressure if he fails to pick up a win or two across this stretch of contests.

Far too many players Howe has relied on over the years have failed to deliver the goods across recent matches, with many of those underperformers also falling into the high earners bracket at St James’ Park.

Assessing Newcastle's current wage bill

Newcastle’s highest earner currently continues to lead by example for the most part in club captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Understandably, during losses on the road against West Ham United and Brentford, the Brazilian wasn’t at his liveliest.

But, the £160k-per-week “talisman” – as he has been recently labelled by Michael Carrick – does still have three goals next to his name this season, when bailing his topsy-turvy side out of some sticky situations, which included this wonderfully taken strike breaking the deadlock against Nottingham Forest last month in a much-needed 2-0 win.

The same adoration isn’t being extended to Joelinton and Anthony Gordon – who both take home a hefty £150k-per-week pay packet – with the pair notably struggling in league action this season. Neither player has scored a single goal or registered an assist from a combined 16 Premier League outings.

Thankfully, Nick Woltemade has lived up to his club-record £69m price tag, and his high £132.5k-per-week wage, on the contrary, with four league goals already next to his name.

There will be some grumbles about Anthony Elanga’s £55m fee and £100k-per-week wage, though, with the ex-Manchester United attacker dubbed a “massive overpay” by analyst Raj Chohan, with the Swede yet to show off his exhilarating best on the wings. He remains goalless so far on Tyneside.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The likes of Elanga and Gordon are not the only players being hounded.

A "legendary" star must be ditched by Newcastle

Elanga will also surely have the benefit of patience on his side, with the 23-year-old only 17 games down for his new employers. In time, the hope will be that the expensive £55m purchase does come good.

Whereas, in the case of Joe Willock, the peak of his Newcastle career looks to be very firmly behind him now, with his drop-off in form on Tyneside a very concerning tale.

Towards the start of his Newcastle playing days, Willock perform the role of a bright spark in front of goal from the midfield ranks expertly, much like Guimaraes now provides Howe and Co.

Staggeringly, he scored in seven straight Premier League matches during his initial loan spell from Arsenal during the 2020/21 season, as Willock lived up to Mikel Arteta’s words of being a “special” talent.

Ex-Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell even went as far as to state that Willock had achieved “legendary stats” at St James’ Park with this unbelievable goalscoring run, further hailing the number 28 as “god-like” to the Tyneside masses.

Games played

133

Goals scored

10

Assists

9

Transfer fee

£25m

Wage per week

£80k-per-week

Willock has, arguably, become a victim of his own successes at Newcastle, with the former Arsenal midfielder only managing to cough up two more goals across 133 games, away from exploding onto the scene with a breakneck eight goals during his first 14 outings.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has simply labelled the 26-year-old as a major “disappointment” over the past couple of seasons, with only 100 minutes of Premier League action handed his way this campaign, really bringing into view his lavish £80k-per-week wage.

Wildly, that means summer arrival Malick Thiaw earns less than Willock, despite being an ever-present part of Howe’s defensive unit in the Premier League so far this season, with the German only banking a £70k-per-week salary.

It’s far from the most uplifting story seeing the decline of Willock in real time, but if Howe is to turn around his side’s fortunes right now, he will have to consider shelving the EFL Cup-winning midfielder for good very soon, alongside other previous regulars who have now fallen off the horse.

Everton enter race to sign £88m South American "machine" with Newcastle

The Toffees need a creative spark.

1 ByTom Cunningham Nov 16, 2025