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There are just over two weeks remaining until the transfer window finally slams shut, and with the Premier League back underway tonight, clubs are running out of time to complete their business.

Arsenal, last season's runners-up, are, unfortunately, one of those teams that need to kick things up a gear in the market. At the moment, the only addition they have made to the first team is Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.

The former Bologna ace looks like a quality signing, but considering they already produced the best defence in the league last season, it doesn't feel like enough in the face of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City behemoth.

Fortunately, Edu Gaspar and Co appear to be working on signing at least one more player at the moment: Mikel Merino.

The Real Sociedad ace has been touted for a move to the Emirates all summer after an impressive season for club and country, and it's starting to feel like he might finally be on his way to North London.

However, he'll have to really impress in red and white to see his valuation get anywhere close to one of his potential new teammates.

The latest on Merino to Arsenal

The links to Merino stem back to late June, and since then, it feels like very little has actually happened regarding his potential move to Arsenal this summer.

However, according to reports this week, Edu flew out to Spain to enter into negotiations with Sociedad, raising hopes that the deal could finally be approaching a swift conclusion.

It is still not entirely clear just how much the Spaniard will cost the Gunners, but based on the reports, the final price could reach up to £30m, and while that's not an insignificant sum, it's probably more than reasonable.

For example, in 45 appearances for the Basque side last season, he scored eight goals and provided five assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 3.46 games, which for a central midfielder is quite impressive.

Moreover, according to Squawka, he was the only player in Europe's top seven leagues last season to win over 300 duels, coming in with a final total of 326.

In all, Merino looks like he'll be a brilliant signing for Arsenal, but it's unlikely that he'll ever see his valuation surpass one of the players he could keep out of the left-eight position.

Kai Havertz's valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is none other than Kai Havertz, who fans will probably be hoping won't make too many appearances in midfield next season.

The German international was signed from cross-city rivals Chelsea last summer for £65m, and while there were some doubters at the time, he is now valued at €98m by Football Transfers, which converts to a whopping £84m.

This means he's currently worth £19m more than the Gunners paid for him last year and at least £54m more than Merino if he joins the club for the £30m fee being reported.

Now, this lofty valuation might seem too high to some, but following his switch from the left-eight position to striker last season, the "sensational" 25-year-old, as dubbed by Mikel Arteta, was, well, sensational.

For example, in his 51 appearances last season, he scored 14 goals and provided seven assists, equating to an impressive but not mind-blowing average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games.

Appearances

51

18

Goals

14

8

Assists

7

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

0.83

However, in the 18 games he played as the team's central striker, he scored eight goals and provided seven assists, meaning his average as a number nine was a goal involvement every 1.2 matches, which is frankly outrageous.

Ultimately, Havertz might still be a player who divides opinion, but you cannot argue with his numbers as a striker last season, and should Arsenal sign Merino in the coming weeks, fans will be hoping that means the German can stay at the sharp end of the pitch from now on.

Forget Merino: Arsenal in the race to sign "world-class" £100m star

The incredible midfielder could be the final piece of the puzzle for Mikel Arteta.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2024

The Indian captain hurt himself while fielding during England’s chase

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2021India captain Virat Kohli says he “should be fine” for the final T20I after he “aggravated” an upper quad (thigh) muscle while fielding during England’s chase in the fourth T20I on Thursday.Kohli hurt himself during the 15th over as he sprinted in from deep midwicket and threw off-balance in an unsuccessful attempt to stop a second run. He went off the field after that and watched the rest of the game from the dugout and was even seen limping during the closing stages of the match.”I ran for a ball, I dived and I threw it, so I was probably not in the best position,” Kohli told host broadcaster Star Sports at the post-match presentation. “I just moved out to the outfield, earlier I was fielding in the inner ring. And the temperature drops pretty quickly, so your body tends to get stiff. So I just aggravated my upper quad a little bit and I didn’t want to make it into a niggle or an injury.”It’s nothing serious. I should be fine by the day after tomorrow because we have the game in the evening. So probably took a smarter decision to come off and not sprint five-six more times and probably do it more because we have an important game coming up.”In Kohli’s absence, Rohit Sharma took over the reins as the Indian bowlers closed out the game to level the series 2-2. The decider will be played on Saturday.

“It’ll be certainly nice to work under Virat and will certainly enjoy batting with him – that’s for sure”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-20212:48

Glenn Maxwell looks back at his first IPL auction experience

Three days before the IPL 2021 auction, Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell has said he wouldn’t mind playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as that would allow him to fulfil the desire of playing alongside his “idol”: AB de Villiers.”That’ll be awesome. AB [is] one of my idols and one of the guys I’ve always tried to watch the way he goes about [things],” Maxwell said during a media interaction on Thursday from New Zealand, where he is part of the Australian squad for the upcoming T20I series. “It’ll be awesome to work with him, and he’s always been really helpful to me along the journey. Whenever I’ve caught up with him, he’s been brilliant. So to be able to work with him first hand will be pretty cool.”Having released several players including Chris Morris, Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali – the Royal Challengers are likely to be on the lookout for an allrounder. Maxwell is a batsman who can go in at the start of the innings and play the finisher’s role, while also providing a solid fingerspinning option. Maxwell said that he “gets along” well with the Royal Challengers’ captain Virat Kohli, too. “I get along with Virat pretty well. It’ll be certainly nice to work under Virat and will certainly enjoy batting with him – that’s for sure.”Related

Shaun Marsh, Corey Anderson on final IPL auction list

Mitchell Starc, Joe Root opt out of IPL 2021 auction

Kings XI's big purse and the return of 'Chinna Thala'

If the Royal Challengers do manage to hire Maxwell, they will become the fourth franchise the Australian would play for in the IPL. In the past, he has turned out for the Mumbai Indians, the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and twice with the Kings XI Punjab.The key question for the Royal Challengers team management – comprising Kohli, Mike Hesson (team director) and Simon Katich (head coach) – would be whether they want to spend a large chunk of their purse on Maxwell in case rival teams enter into a bidding war, as was the case in past auctions, especially the smaller ones.In 2013, Maxwell was the only IPL millionaire after being picked by Mumbai for US$ 1 million. The next most expenisve buy that year was Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis at US$ 725,000.

“The Australian team is generally together for a one-day series somewhere in Australia and we get to watch it together and congratulate and commiserate each other depending on what they went for or if they didn’t go. So it’s stressful day for a lot of people, and I’ve been lucky to be on the good side of it a fair few times”Glenn Maxwell

In 2018, the Daredevils released Maxwell, just a season after paying INR 9 crore (US$ 1.4 million approx then) for him. Maxwell opted out of the IPL to focus on the home season in Australia and the ODI World Cup, but that did not hurt Maxwell’s stocks much. In the 2020 auction, he ended up being the second-most expensive buy after the Kings XI paid INR 10.75 crore (US$1.514 million approx) for him.Despite all the promise and potential, though, Maxwell struggled in the last IPL, which was played in the UAE, making just 108 runs and picking three wickets in 13 matches. It did not come as a surprise then, when the Kings XI released him. However, that did not stop Maxwell from listing his base price in the highest bracket of INR 2 crore (US$ 274,000 approx).Maxwell said he has cherished every IPL experience – whether for Mumbai or for the Kings XI or at the Daredevils – and he was even elevated to the Kings XI captaincy in 2017, a season in which he smashed 310 runs at a strike rate of 173.Glenn Maxwell wouldn’t mind having the other jersey on come IPL 2021•BCCI”I suppose to have the luck to go back there [for] most years has been awesome for my cricket,” he said. “It’s been great to have the experience of playing around the best players in the world and learn from different teams as well.”We’ve had different coaches – Punter [Ricky Ponting at Capitals], Sanjay Bangar, [Virender] Sehwag [both at Kings XI] – and it’s been awesome. People ask me if my cricket would be different if I didn’t go for that [IPL], but I have no idea. But I don’t think it would because I don’t feel I’ve changed too much as a person.”Maxwell is once again anticipating an “exciting” auction, which he will be following on Thursday in New Zealand with the rest of the Australia team-mates. “The Australian team is generally together for a one-day series somewhere in Australia and we get to watch it together and congratulate and commiserate each other depending on what they went for or if they didn’t go. So it’s stressful day for a lot of people, and I’ve been lucky to be on the good side of it a fair few times.”

The “strange” saga surrounding Kylian Mbappe and the France squad is, according to Louis Saha, “like if Argentina turned on Lionel Messi”.

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World Cup winner searching for spark in SpainLeft out of successive squads by DeschampsTalk of rift leading to international retirementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

While World Cup winner Mbappe has not been performing at the peak of his powers since becoming another ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid, with the odd knock being nursed along the way, he was expected to remain a talismanic presence for his country – with the captain’s armband being passed in his direction.

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Didier Deschamps has, however, taken to leaving the superstar forward out of back-to-back squads. Questions are now being asked of a working relationship there, with Mbappe seemingly cutting a frustrated figure. There have even been suggestions that he could head into international retirement at just 25 years of age.

WHAT SAHA SAID

Former France star Saha – speaking to , who offer the latest Premier League odds – has said of the mess that Les Bleus are creating: “Things are very strange between Kylian Mbappe and the France national team, he has fought with the federation in the past and has been like a politician at times. What is happening between them is really sad, it’s like if Argentina turned on Lionel Messi. Mbappe has an issue with Didier Deschamps but it isn’t a bad thing for him to take a rest, the issue will come if he decides to step back from the national team going forward.”

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Saha went on to say of the Blancos star potentially quitting international football: “If Kylian Mbappe steps away from the national team it will be a disaster. That’s how bad the situation is. At some point he does need to take some responsibility and realise that he isn’t playing the way he can and isn’t scoring the amount of goals he can. It’s now up to him to prove people wrong and prove he is the player Real Madrid signed. It’s all down to him now but it will take time because the task is enormous.”

Liverpool are yet to conclude any business since Arne Slot took over as manager but fear not, we are still a while yet from the Premier League recommending in August.

Tears were shed when Jurgen Klopp departed Anfield in May, but this is a great chance for a reset in Merseyside.

Manchester City and Arsenal have been the dominant sides in the top-flight over the last two years but it's time that Slot put the Reds back in the conversation.

They fell away towards the end of last term but with some more firepower and more defensive solidity, they should be right back up there.

So, who could they sign? Well, they've already turned down Newcastle star Anthony Gordon, although there is a belief according to reports that they could go back in for him.

Another player happens to be his England colleague Marc Guehi.

The latest on Marc Guehi's future

Next summer could see three vital players leave Anfield behind. All of Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract. Of the three, you sense that Salah could be the first to jump ship.

However, if the latter takes his leave, they will need reinforcements. They may even need them before he departs.

One option could be Crystal Palace's Guehi. Slapped with an asking price of £65m, he has been the subject of interest from Liverpool in recent weeks, although considering his performances at Euro 2024, his signature could now be harder to obtain.

There also appears to be interest from Tottenham so if Richard Hughes and Co do make a move, it won't be straightforward to get over the line.

What Heskey has said about Marc Guehi

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of 888sport, Emile Heskey chatted to us about Liverpool's recruitment for this summer.

Asked about Guehi's displays, he was left incredibly impressed with the centre-back's level of performance in Germany this summer.

Although suspended for the quarter-final clash with Switzerland, he has been a rock at the heart of England's backline, taking Harry Maguire's left-centre back role and making it his own.

"He has looked so composed and assured," Heskey began. "I’ve been very impressed with him and he’s been one of England’s best players of the tournament so far. He has been solid in every game and formed an excellent partnership with John Stones at centre-back."

Marc Guehi at Euro 2024

Games played

4

Clean sheets

2

Touches *

91.8

Pass accuracy

93%

Interceptions *

0.5

Tackles *

0.5

Ball recoveries *

5

Duels won *

4

Yellow cards

2

Stats via Sofascore (* = per game)

The defender has only been a bit part of England squads in recent international breaks but he has now become a mainstay, something that has left the former Liverpool striker gushing.

Heskey continued: "Not playing a competitive game for England before at a major tournament, you have to say Guehi has been mightily impressive with the calmness he has shown throughout each game so far in the competition."

So, would he be a good signing for Slot? Heskey – who played for the Three Lions on 62 occasions – concluded: "He would be superb alongside Van Dijk. There is no better centre-back to learn from than him and it would take his game to the next level.

"Guehi has been so comfortable bringing the ball out from defence, he has good pace as well, so this would work well at Liverpool should it happen."

The Palace star did struggle with injury last term but featured on 25 occasions in the league, also captaining the club at times.

Related Emile Heskey backs Liverpool to sign "exciting" £70m PL star

Emile Heskey was speaking to Football FanCast this week.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Jul 7, 2024

يخوض منتخب السعودية مباراة قوية اليوم الثلاثاء، أمام عمان في اللقاء الذي يجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”.

وتقام منافسات بطولة كأس الخليج العربي “خليجي 26″، والتي انطلقت في الكويت يوم 21 ديسمبر الجاري، وتستمر حتى 3 يناير المقبل.

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب عمان يهزم السعودية بثنائية ويتأهل إلى نهائي كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”

وتأهل منتخب السعودية إلى دور نصف نهائي كأس الخليج بعد احتلاله المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب المجموعة الثانية بعد الفوز في مباراتين وتلقى هزيمة واحدة.

بينما تصدر منتخب عمان ترتيب المجموعة الأولى برصيد 5 نقاط، من الفوز في مباراة واحدة والتعادل بـ مواجهتين.

ومن المقرر، أن تقام المباراة النهائي لـ كأس الخليج 2024 بين الفائز من مباراة السعودية أمام عمان، والكويت أمام البحرين، يوم السبت المقبل 4 من يناير 2025. موعد مباراة السعودية وعمان اليوم في كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”

من المقرر أن تنطلق المباراة بين منتخب السعودية ومنافسه عمان اليوم الثلاثاء، في تمام الساعة 04:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 05:30 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية.

مباشر بالفيديو.. مباراة السعودية وعمان في كأس الخليج “خليجي 26” القنوات الناقلة لمباراة السعودية وعمان اليوم في كأس الخليج 2024

تنقل المباراة بين السعودية وعمان، عبر قنوات الكأس القطرية 1،2،5 وSSC NEWS HD، والكويت الرياضية، والشارقة الرياضية، البحرين الرياضية، أبو ظبي الرياضية1، عمان الرياضية ودبي الرياضية. معلقو مباراة السعودية وعمان اليوم في كأس الخليج “خليجي 26”

وينقل أحداث وفعاليات المباراة كل من فهد العتيبي عبر SSC News، وعلي سعيد عبر الكويت الرياضية 2، وأحمد المعمري على الكويت الرياضية 1، ومحمد الشامسي عبر أبو ظبي الرياضية، وعبد الله السعدي عبر دبي الرياضي، وأحمد الطيب على الكأس 1، وخالد الحدي عبر الكأس 2، وأحمد العجمي عبر عمان الرياضية، وعبد الحميد الجمسي عبر الشارقة الرياضية، وعلي حسن عبر البحرين الرياضية.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

If Marnus Labuschagne’s conscious mind will be grappling with the likes of Peter Siddle, Riley Meredith and Jackson Bird in the opening Sheffield Shield round from Saturday in Adelaide, his deeper thoughts have already turned to how India’s pacemen will seek to end the golden run he has enjoyed in Test matches since last year’s Ashes series.While Labuschagne has played one Test against India, batting No. 3 at the SCG in January 2019, that match arrived before his blooming as an international batman after taking full advantage of the county cricket finishing school with Glamorgan later that year. Since then, Labuschagne has cracked 1249 runs in nine Tests at 83.26, with four centuries, to sit third on the ICC rankings.Those performances have not only seen Labuschagne elbow his way into Australia’s ODI team, meaning he travelled to England for the brief recent limited-overs tour, but also placed an outsized target on his back for bowlers across Australia and around the world. Shield jousting, with four matches to be played, will give Labuschagne the chance to get into the sort of groove he occupied before memorably entering the Ashes as a concussion substitute for Steven Smith at Lord’s and never looking back.ALSO READ: Mitchell Swepson: ‘I loved being thrown the ball to win the game for the team’“For me personally it’s about getting better and coming up with really trying to think about how they’re going to attack me, what they will do to try to get me out and how I will counter that. If I keep trying to do the same thing, I think fundamentally the same thing is going to work, but you want to make sure there’s going to be new ideas and new plans,” Labuschagne said. “If that’s the short ball or if that’s having a few more catchers on the leg side or hanging it wider on the off side, whatever their plans are going to be.”I think it’s important as a cricketer that you’re one step ahead and you’re trying to understand what they’re going to do and how they’re going to attack you. I love the contest – I want to score runs and they want to get me out. [Shield sides] are going to come up with plans, they’ve played against me for the last four years and they understand how I play, so they’re going to come prepared and I think that’s the exciting part, you have to be one step ahead and be really clear on how you want to play the game.”A hyperactive character at the best of times, Labuschagne’s hotel room confinement in England and then Adelaide upon the squad’s return has seen him wake up early to watch plenty of IPL fixtures, as he began to think about the prospect of dealing with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, to name two.Marnus Labuschagne pulls behind square•Getty Images

“I think you’re subconsciously thinking about it, thinking about how their bowlers bowl, especially now you’re locked in and you watch a bit of the IPL in the morning and you look at how their bowlers are bowling,” Labuschagne said. “It kind of makes you think about what they’ll do, how Bumrah will bowl, what Shami will do, what those guys will do. Maybe it’s more of a subconscious thing, so you’re not necessarily thinking about it directly, but it’s turning over in the background, what you might do, what plans they might have for you.There had been concerns that the Shield would be drastically cut back or even shelved amid the difficulties created by Covid-19, but Cricket Australia’s staging of the early rounds of the season in Adelaide, at venues including Glenelg Oval and Karen Rolton Oval, will be highly valuable for the likes of Labuschagne and also the Test captain Tim Paine, who will lead Tasmania against the Bulls from Saturday. It’s a contrast to the lead-up for players taking part in the IPL, who will likely get just one red-ball game in Australia before the Tests begin.”I’m a big fan of the four games in a row,” Labuschagne said. “I think that’s really helpful for that momentum and rhythm with your batting. You actually get to play game time continuously. That really helps and aids that development and that ability to keep scoring runs. Hopefully that can propel you into a really good Test summer. You’ve just got to take it a game at a time. You can’t get too distracted and too ahead of yourself and trying to build momentum.”I definitely think it’s slightly harder [coming back from the IPL] but we’re so used to it nowadays being able to change format to format. It might take them a couple of training sessions to get the feel of it, but I think it will turn over pretty quick and guys will get into the rhythm of things very quickly. That’s the nature of games these days. The schedule is so cramped, there’s so much cricket on you have to be able to shift from white ball to red ball and red ball to white ball simultaneously.”As for tackling the fishbowl existence of biosecure hubs at home and away, Labuschagne admitted some days were easier than others. “Any day I get out and get to go train is a good day. Hit balls, catch some balls in slips or have a bowl, I think they’re the really enjoyable days for me,” he said. “I think some of the tougher days are when we weren’t allowed out for the whole day, they were tough, you’re in your room and doing different things but you can’t get out and about and move around.”There was no fresh air or outside so you almost got a bit claustrophobic sometimes. But all in all we were very lucky with our quarantine in Adelaide, they were very good to us, and we were lucky enough to keep training and doing gym and running and those sorts of things. I’ve tried to listen to a fair few podcasts. I’ve been listening to a few of Joe Rogan’s podcasts, must try to keep yourself occupied to be able to learn. That’s what I tried to do in isolation and a bit of gym. I’ve got a heap of gym equipment that I travelled with so I’m doing a bit of gym in my room and things like that.”

Fears that advertisers will soon be beating down doors at Seven and Foxtel, requesting discounts in line with any reduction in rights from Cricket Australia, have helped send a very public broadcast dispute into a more private setting – at least for now.CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley and the New South Wales-based board director Richard Freudenstein met with Seven’s chief executive James Warburton in Sydney on Thursday, and Hockley with Foxtel’s chief executive Patrick Delaney on Friday, in an effort to find a resolution after weeks of public mud being slung at the governing body in pursuit of a rights discount.This pertains particularly to the BBL, which virtually all parties other than CA are adamant needs to be reduced in size from the 14-game-per-team structure of the past two seasons, regardless of the effects that the Covid-19 pandemic will have on the looming season.Plenty of other issues have been raised, from a perceived “lack of quality” in terms of players to the flipping of the international season to have India playing white-ball games – behind Foxtel’s paywall – before Seven air a Test match.ALSO READ: Cricket Australia v Channel Seven: Gold Coast glow forgotten in broadcast battleWhile CA and the broadcasters remain at odds over whether or not their shares of a A$1.18 billion, six-year rights deal should be reduced given that very little content has been cut from the schedule – none at all as yet in Seven’s case – there is at least now consensus that the public sparring needs to come to an end.All parties share concern that the already significant damage to cricket will allow advertisers to push the broadcasters themselves for further discount to rates for airing commercials during the summer, or in Foxtel’s case scare off potential subscribers.More dangerous still is the prospect of a cascade effect from Seven and Foxtel’s decision not to pay their full contracted instalments (A$33 million from Foxtel, A$25 million from Seven) to CA on Tuesday, whereby sponsors and advertisers choose to take similarly provocative action.Seven, a A$1.3 billion annual revenue business that is 41% owned by the multibillionaire Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes, has been eager to propagate the fanciful idea that full payment of its A$82 million annual rights fee (A$75 million in cash, A$7 million in free advertising with the network) to CA had the potential to wreck the company. In late August, Seven poached rights to high-rating talent show from its rival network Nine.The noise of the dispute, largely driven by Warburton’s incendiary words but widely broadcast by News Corp, owner of Foxtel, has run in the face of green shoots in terms of advertising spend across the media industry, which bottomed out in June and has been slowly regathering itself since.CA and Seven now have until September 25 before the network’s request for a dispute resolution mechanism to be activated, in which the value of the rights are independently assessed. This clause is part of a long-form agreement between the governing body and the network that was only completed quite recently, underlining the instability that has existed in the A$450 million relationship between Seven and CA almost from the beginning of their deal in April 2018.While Foxtel have maintained a more dignified front in their own negotiations with CA, a highly concentrated media environment has helped contribute to pressure on the governing body that aids the pay TV provider in its request for a rights reduction and/or a greater level of exclusivity should Seven follow through on its threats to walk away from the CA deal.News Corp’s global chief executive, Robert Thompson, said that there was benefit for Foxtel in negotiating cheaper and more fit-for-purpose sports rights deals in the current environment, as sports battle with the enormous growth of their cost bases.”There needed to be a reset in sports rights cost. In Australia there has been a reset and that reset is still in motion and there is no doubt as to the benefit of Foxtel,” Thomson told an investment conference. “There’s a realism in Australia about sports rights. The sports themselves have generally become conscious of the value of media partnerships and are aware of the danger of not having those partnerships. It’s an existential moment for some of the sports given their own cost base.”These things are not just about the quantity of matches, they are about the quality of the experience for our customers. We all know which teams are the big drawers and the importance of exclusivity. And that for us is a big factor. Not just how much we spend, but the quality of the relationship we have with the sport and how the sport understands our needs.”Seven is due to broadcast the opening international matches of the season, a limited -overs series between the Australian and New Zealand women’s teams in Brisbane, starting with three T20Is on September 26, 27 and 30, before an ODI series on October 3, 5 and 7. The WBBL is scheduled to commence on October 25 and be played entirely in Sydney.

Buttler’s 75 under intense pressure came despite father’s hospitalisation the previous day

Valkerie Baynes08-Aug-2020

Jos Buttler played his part in England’s thrilling victory against Pakistan believing that if he didn’t make runs, he was probably playing his last Test.Buttler made the frank admission after scoring 75 and sharing a century stand with Chris Woakes, who finished not out on 84, to help England chase down an imposing fourth-innings target of 277 with three wickets in hand and a day to spare.It came as Buttler faced increasing criticism over his batting – his Test average had dropped to 31.63 going into this, his 45th Test – and he had a poor game behind the stumps, missing three chances during Pakistan’s first innings.”If I’d taken those chances, we’d have won two hours ago,” Buttler told Sky Sports after play. “I’m very aware I didn’t keep well, I missed some chances and at this level you can’t afford to do that no matter how many runs you score. You’ve got to be better, I know that.”Definitely thoughts go through your head, like potentially if I don’t score any runs I’ve probably played my last game. Those kind of things are in your head, but you’ve got to try and shut them out and try and focus on the here and now and play the situation and I’m pleased that I was able to do that.”Buttler’s Test average since the start of 2019 was even worse at 24.46, with four half-centuries going into this match. He showed glimpses of improvement with 67 in England’s series-deciding third-Test win against West Indies, and 38 out of an under-par 217 in the first innings against Pakistan.Buttler’s errors behind the stumps were undeniably costly, a dropped catch and missed stumping twice letting off Shan Masood on 45 before he went on to top score for the match with 156. He also missed a run-out chance with a wayward throw in Pakistan’s first innings. And while the mistakes didn’t ultimately affect the result, they contributed to England being under huge pressure as they were asked to post the second-highest successful fourth-innings chase at Old Trafford.Buttler’s status as a great of the white-ball game has not been questioned and those credentials came in handy during England’s pursuit. In fact, his captain, Joe Root, called upon Buttler’s skill in that area when he came in with his side 106 for 4, having lost Ben Stokes and still needing 171 runs.The tempo of the run chase became particularly important because, Buttler said, he wanted to “take the new ball out of the equation” by guiding England as close to the target as possible before it became available, especially with the pitch misbehaving at times.Ollie Pope saw that first-hand, so to speak, when he gloved a Shaheen Shah Afridi ball that reared off a length to gully.”After I saw that ball to Popey it felt like if you just try and stay in and bat the time you’re going to be a bit of a sitting duck,” Buttler said. “So I wanted to be positive, try and put pressure back on Pakistan and try and replicate a one-day chase.”In terms of how many overs was it till the new ball, if we were going to get close we didn’t want to leave, say, 50 with the new ball to come. I thought that was going be tough work, having a harder ball, seeing the indifferent bounce, so try and break it down to try and score at four an over.”The plan worked. By the time Pakistan took the second new ball, England needed just 13 runs to win and, although Buttler was out by then, he had left his side in a strong position and in the capable hands of Woakes.Butter later told a press conference: “Joe actually said before, ‘remember who you are, you enjoy chasing targets down, try to limit it to a one-day game’.”A game like today really suited me and suited my eye, in terms of the run chase and breaking it down to more of a one-day game and trying to tick runs off and get us to the finishing line.”Buttler also revealed that his belief had faltered “at times” recently as his place as England’s first-choice keeper-batsman came increasingly up for debate.”There have been some lonely nights thinking about it,” Buttler said. “But runs aside, if you are a wicketkeeper in this team, you have to take chances. You have to keep better than I did in the first innings. I know that. I don’t need other people to tell me that. I expect it of myself and to play international cricket for England there’s a level required.”Not only did victory come with doubts swirling around his own performances, it also came at a time of off-field turmoil for Buttler, whose father was admitted to hospital after watching the day’s play on Friday, following a run of recent health scares. He was allowed to return home on Saturday, and Root was full of praise for Buttler’s fortitude.”It says a huge amount about him as a person, to be able to carry that, and to be able to use that or park that going into this innings,” Root said. “Only he will know which way around he did that. But I’m sure it’s very difficult thing not to think about. To be able to deal with that and still play in that manner was exceptional.”One of his big traits is that, under pressure, he puts in big performances. Another example of that was that final ODI against Australia on this very ground. You can deal with those high-pressure situations but to have that external pressure as well, I’m chuffed to bits for him, it must have been very difficult to deal with.”

Everton are interested in completing the signing of a "very dangerous" midfielder this summer, according to an update from journalist Alan Nixon.

Everton transfer news

Blues supporters will be hoping for an excellent summer in the transfer market as Sean Dyche and his side look to kick on after a frustrating season of points deductions and takeover turmoil.

Many players continue to be linked with Everton ahead of potential moves at the end of the campaign, with Blackburn Rovers attacker Sammie Szmodics being seen as an exciting option who could come in and provide competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. His 27 goals in the Championship this season means he tops the scoring charts, and it looks as though the Blues believe he can make the step up to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Hull City centre-back Jacob Greaves is seen as a great replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite should the Englishman leave Goodison Park in the summer. He has averaged 4.3 aerial duel wins per game across 43 Championship outings this term, as well as 1.8 tackles per match.

Celtic teenager Rocco Vata has reportedly been viewed as a strong replacement for Amadou Onana, should the current Blues man leave, while Boulaye Dia is considered an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin, having scored four goals in Serie A for Salernitana this season.

Everton want "very dangerous" ace

According to Nixon on Patreon (via Goodison News), Everton are well-placed to sign Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl once the summer window arrives.

He said: "Rohl would only cost around £12m, a fee that is also attracting Newcastle and Palace, who have him on their extended lists of targets."

The 21-year-old is seen as someone who can fill the expected void left by Onana, with the Belgian potentially moving on to pastures new, and a £12m offer could be enough for the Blues to get their man.

Rohl could be an astute signing by Everton in the coming months, coming in as a young player with a lot of years ahead of him, but also someone who has already picked up plenty of experience. The £13,000-a-week midfielder has chipped in with two goals and three assists in the Bundesliga this season, while Germany Under-21s head coach Antonio Di Salvo has said of him:

"He fought his way into [Freiburg's] team. That's not easy. He focused on defensive work and also came into his own offensively. He scored a very nice goal on Sunday with a great solo run that highlights his qualities. He's very quick and determined, a strong shot-stopper. He also scored a very nice goal in the European Cup. He's very dangerous at the moment."

"50% will hate it" – Pundit shares what he’s heard on second Everton buyer

He says half the fans would “hate” it.

ByHenry Jackson May 4, 2024

Rohl could bring extra quality in the final third for Everton, with more firepower needed after only scoring 38 times in 36 Premier League games this season, and his versatility would be an added bonus for Dyche, with the German capable of shining in attacking midfield and in wide areas.