Scorchers and WA 50-over title-winning captain heads back to Durham for a third season after recovering from his knee injury
Alex Malcolm05-Apr-2024Western Australia batter Ashton Turner is headed back to Durham to play a third straight season in the Vitality Blast following his stint in the IPL with Lucknow Super Giants.Turner, 31, has not played since knee surgery during the BBL ended his Australian domestic season in December but he is currently with LSG in the IPL although he has not been called into the XI due to their strong overseas contingent.But he is set to be a key part of Durham’s Blast campaign having played 22 matches for them across the last two seasons, scoring 408 runs at 34.00 with a strike-rate of 153.38 in the middle-order.Related
Xavier Bartlett confirmed for Vitality Blast stint with Kent
CA revoke Xavier Bartlett's NOC for County Championship stint with Kent
Lyon looks beyond Ashes antagonism to spread spin gospel at Lancashire
Aussies in county cricket: big opportunity for fringe names to push Test credentials
Turner is one of the very few T20 middle-order specialists in Australia and has been a popular player at both Durham and Manchester Originals in the last two England summers. Both Durham and Originals have strong WA connections with Turner’s former WA team-mate Marcus North the director of cricket at Durham and former WA keeper-batter Ryan Campbell the current coach. Turner’s former Perth Scorchers captain Simon Katich is the current Originals coach.Turner’s quality as a middle-order batter and leader is highly valued at Durham and North said he was delighted to have him back.”It is great to news to have Ashton returning to Durham this season,” North said. “During his two spells at the club, he has demonstrated vital leadership skills and fits into our dressing room very well.”He is a proven leader and run scorer having captained the Scorchers and Western Australia to multiple championships in recent years. I look forward to him returning to the club in May.”Turner has captained Scorchers to two BBL titles and WA to three Marsh Cup (Australian domestic 50-over) titles in the last five years. His absence from the BBL through injury had a major impact on Scorchers’ failure to claim a BBL three-peat.He has played nine ODIs and 19 T20Is for Australia, with his most recent international coming against South Africa during a three-match T20I series last year.
Soccer cultures clashed outside MetLife Stadium, but the mixture suggested that this tournament just might work
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Sergio Furnari calls his car the "Siuuuu machine." It's a bit on the nose, a chunky pickup truck painted in the colors of the Portuguese flag. The real attraction, though, is what's on the back: a 6-foot high, frighteningly life-like replica of Cristiano Ronaldo, bulging thigh muscles, one finger to his lips silencing a crowd that's not actually there and not actually watching him.
"He deserves a serious monument for the next generation. It is for the next generation," Furnari told GOAL, remarkably straight faced. "We will understand CR7 in a different way from a 3-year-old or a 5-year-old or 15-year-old. He is the superman of life."
Anywhere else, and it would be an eyesore, a mere novelty. But here, at MetLife Stadium, a few hours before kickoff of the first New York fixture of the Club World Cup, it made a frightening amount of sense. Passersby laughed and took pictures.
Men, women, children, old and young, all clad in Palmeiras and Porto kits, recreated Ronaldo's celebration, as if in tribute. There was a football match to be played here on Sunday night – one of nine Club World Cup matches to be held at MetLife over tournament, including both semifinals and the July 13 final. But for a moment, Furnari was the main event.
It was a microcosm of the day.
There was Ronaldo, the name everyone knows. But in front of him, were fans of both teams in the match – strangely jovial, almost frighteningly kind to each other. A fierce, full-blooded affair this was not. Instead, in the hours leading up, it felt like an optimistic celebration of what football might be in the United States, a confusing world in which GOATs, struggling Portuguese teams and exciting Palmeiras sides all collide – all in service to an expanded 32-team Club World Cup.
This was day two of the month-long tournament, and this wasn't the soccer you know. But it's the one America can offer in this summer of soccer, and that might just be enough.
Getty
'The group isn't so bad'
The four Palmeiras fans on the train were feeling pretty optimistic about their chances. The Brazilian side are in what seems to be a relatively kind group for a team that can kindly be considered outsiders. They would seem to be favorites against both Egyptian giants Al Ahly and MLS representative Inter Miami.
Before the game, they insisted that they have what it takes to beat Porto.
"The group isn't so bad," one Palmerias fan who had traveled from Brazil for the tournament insisted.
And there certainly seemed to be a widespread belief that such a result could happen – at least prior to kick off. A Porto fan spokesperson told GOAL, word on the street was that Palmeiras fans would outnumber Porto supporters, 70-30 percentage-wise. A walk around the stadium and scope of public transport on the train over suggested that it was more like 99-1.
Still, what few Porto fans showed up seemed to be making the most of it. Their attendance was more sparse, but perhaps more familial. There were barbecues and beers and soccer balls, kids kicking with dads, while moms watched from lawn chairs.
Porto have been poor of late domestically, and went trophy-less last season. They have not won the Portuguese top flight – a league they are expected to dominate – since 2022. But the team have made it clear they want to amend that. Midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, who is skipping at least the start of Canada's Gold Cup campaign for the tournament, emphasized that.
"We want to play good football," he told the FIFA website. "We want to show the fans that we're growing and that we're playing well, but at the same time, the W is very, very important. And I think for a tournament like this, if you start winning, you get yourself in a good spot in the group, you get your confidence high as well, and it's just massively important."
Fans certainly seemed to believe, with some coming from Portugal, as well as Belgium and Canada, to offer support.
Advertisement
Getty Images
A different kind of Churrasco
But the best pre-match scenes weren't found in the parking lot, on light-rail cars or even in the stadium. Part of that is on FIFA, who have inexplicably banned tailgating at many of the CWC games in the U.S. this summer – removing a crucial hallmark of South American football culture.
Instead, Palmeiras fans made the lengthy trek through an echoey tunnel just outside the stadium, stretching their legs up a slight incline from the concrete of the parking lot to the shiny, manufactured interior of the American Dream Mall. Two hours before kickoff, there were a few green shirts here and there – mostly because some had to cut through the mall due to the nightmarish parking situation at the stadium.
But crowds built steadily. By 4:30 p.m., 90 minutes before kickoff, it was a flood of green, with the delightful cacophony of voices from all over the world mingling. Then, suddenly, music. A man took a temporary stage wearing a mask, and waved a Palmeiras flag in the air. With that, the manufactured, shiny building erupted. Hands in the air, fans of all ages shouting.
A few baffled parents, there, presumably, to take kids on a large indoor rollercoaster, sprinted out of the place. What remained was otherwise a party scene, fans belting every word of every song, the floor rumbling under the weight of Palmeiras anticipation. There was no grilled meat or beer to be found – yet – but the Brazilian contingent had turned a hub of American commercialism into their own kind of Churrasco.
Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream now
Getty
Curating the right atmosphere
Whistles erupted from the Palmeiras end as the Porto goalkeepers strolled out to warm up. The Brazilian fan section looked as compelling as it possibly could for a club that usually plays its home football 4,778 miles away. They sang their songs and waved their flags, a quarter of the lower concourse of MetLife – a surprisingly pleasant venue for a soccer match – a compelling mixture of green and white, with banners adorning the seats closest to the pitch.
There are some strange similarities between this venue and Allianz Parque. They were built around the same time, both refurbished versions of iconic venues. And the Palmeiras fans treated this place as if it were their own, screaming, chanting and whistling at all of the right times, berating the referee when calls went against them and cheering in approval when winger Joaquin Piquerez made a Porto defender look silly early on.
They had taken over Times Square by the thousands Saturday night. And they attacked this occasion with similar zeal.
"It was like playing at home," head coach Abel Ferreira said.
But the Porto contingent did their bit too, a thin strip of blue and white bumping from the get-go. Porto have tried to revive their American presence after a fallow period, Paul Silva, a member of Porto New Jersey, told GOAL.
It has been challenging, given the results on the pitch. They are the third-best team in Portugal at the moment, which doesn't leave much room for excitement. Their numbers might not have been massive but the enthusiasm couldn't be knocked.
Getty
Two sides settle for a draw
The CWC opener, held Saturday night, was a scoreless draw that simmered throughout but never quite took off. FIFA had made a real show of the whole thing, with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami hosting Al Ahly, but the spectacle on the pitch never quite matched the enthusiasm of federation president Gianni Infantino in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
That was followed by two blowouts, Bayern Munich and PSG rolling past Auckland City and Atletico Madrid by a combined score of 14-0 on Sunday.
The early days of this tournament needed a , a back-and-forth encounter to capture the imagination – and perhaps show that this could someday, somehow become something teams want to win. Palmeiras were certainly up for it. The South American sides are perhaps the most compelling storyline to be found here, their undoubted urge to prove they can cut it with European talent a driving factor.
And they poked and prodded for most of the first half. Estevao, due to sign for Chelsea after the tournament, was the main attraction and went on some wonderful weaving runs between the lines. But they created from all over the pitch. A fine double save from Porto's reserve goalkeeper Claudio Ramos kept them out on the stroke of half time.
Porto also offered some ideas. Striker Samu caused all sorts of problems, the powerful No. 9 pulling the Palmeiras defense this way and that. He is linked with a move to a bigger European club this summer, and it was clear to see why; he is bigger, faster and stronger than every defender that takes him on. But Palmeiras, too, held their own, with veteran goalkeeper Weverton providing important saves off set pieces to keep the game level at the break.
"What wins matches is goals, but we didn't get scored on either," Estevao said after the game.
The game became less of a spectacle in the latter stages as both teams rotated. Cheers turned to groans. Palmeiras skewed a couple of good chances, and their presence waned after Estevao was removed on 65 minutes.
"We came here to show that we are Palmerias. We have excellent players, we know what we are capable of," Estevao said. "We were able to impose our level of play, we were really offensive. But we have to improve next time."
Porto fans fell relatively quiet as the apathy of a scoreless draw emerged. They stayed until the end, but flooded out in their thousands as the final whistle blew.
Time in middle for South East Stars is best remedy for out-of-favour batter, says Gareth Breese
Andrew Miller15-May-2024
Sophia Dunkley has been in flying form for South East Stars after her England omission•Surrey CCC/Getty Images
Sophia Dunkley will have to wait in line for a return to international action, according to England Women’s assistant coach Gareth Breese, despite an impressive return to form for South East Stars in the opening rounds of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Dunkley, who is currently leading the tournament run-charts with 293 at 97.66 in five innings, including a century against Northern Diamonds last week, was dropped from the England set-up for the ongoing series against Pakistan after a desperate run of scores on this winter’s multi-format tours of India and New Zealand.In her absence – as well as that of Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is available once again after a minor medical procedure – England’s rejigged top-order endured a torrid start to the summer, collapsing to 11 for 4 in the first T20I at Edgbaston, before a strong middle-order fightback, led by the senior pairing of Heather Knight and Amy Jones, set their side up for a comfortable 53-run victory.Breese, however, insisted that England’s incumbents – including Dunkley’s nominal replacement Maia Bouchier, the stand-out player of the winter just gone – would be afforded the time and space required to grow into their roles, in much the same way that Dunkley herself will now be left to find her form, away from the spotlight, ahead of the final push towards this winter’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.”As batters, it’s one shot, one mistake and you might be back in a pavilion,” Breese said, ahead of Friday’s second match in Northampton. “It’s not an ideal situation to be 11 for 4, but one thing about the set-up here is that we back the girls. After one blip, we’re not just going to make an absolute U-turn on them.”It was the first game, a few people were a bit rusty, we didn’t get off to the start we wanted. Having the experience of Heather and Amy Jones coming in at that stage was brilliant in terms of setting up the recovery. But I’m sure the girls will have learned from seeing the Pakistani attack and will use that experience in a positive frame to go into the next game.”Dunkley, however, remains an integral part of the wider England set-up, as shown by her involvement in a red-ball training session at Loughborough on Tuesday. Breese, who is also her head coach at Welsh Fire, said this was part of a wider effort by the management to “touch base” when it was convenient for those players on the fringes, thereby leaving them more space to find form in their regional set-ups.”What we don’t want to do is bring girls all across the country for three hours, just for a session,” he said. “Every time a player leaves us, we try to support them as much as we can when they’re fairly close to us, while giving them an opportunity to get some more time in the middle. And it’s working exactly how we would want it to work.England’s top order (including Freya Kemp, above) endured a dramatic collapse in the first T20I•Getty Images
“Dunks has been working closely with her batting coach Alex Gidman, and she was in for a session with us yesterday, so she’s still in and around the fold. She’s gone back to doing what she’s done over the years, in terms of to getting herself selected, and that’s scoring runs. That’s all you can ask when you are out of favour, you let the runs do the talking, and I think she’s still in a really good place.”Any player who’s played for a while goes through ups and downs. And if they say they haven’t, then you don’t know how truthful they are in sharing.”In addition to the forthcoming ODI series against Pakistan, England have three ODIs and five T20Is coming up against New Zealand in June and July in which to finalise their World Cup plans. And while that does not, on the face of it, offer a huge amount of opportunities for out-of-favour players to make their case, Breese insisted that offering continuity to the squad incumbents was not remotely the same thing presenting a closed shop for selection.Related
Dunkley confirms return to form but Stars fall just short of record chase
England missing Sciver-Brunt for T20I opener with Pakistan
England survive top-order implosion as Sarah Glenn derails Pakistan's victory hopes
Amy Jones rides the emotions to deliver dream 100th match
“We’ve seen people that have been selected from just outside our contracted group, and that’s what you want,” he said. “If you can have competition for places, then you’re pushing the girls who are contracted to be better. And that’s a really good environment to be in.”What you don’t want is a clear-cut 15, because if it’s too easy to select them, you probably haven’t got the girls in the right place.”The ultimate difference between the sides in the first T20I came in the bowling, particularly England’s three-prong spin attack. Sarah Glenn – back in the team after suffering concussion in New Zealand – led the line with four wickets, while Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean contributed a wicket apiece. All three bowlers are now in the top five of the ICC’s T20I rankings, with Ecclestone remaining at the top of the pile – a fact that augurs well with favourable conditions looming in Bangladesh.As the team’s spin coach, however, Breese said he wasn’t about to let the players rest on any laurels, describing himself as a bit of a “grumpy dad” when it comes to demanding ever higher standards.”It’s a real credit to the girls for the work they’ve put in over the last few years, to get the recognition in the standings,” he said. “I’m happy with where they are but sometimes, like a bit of a grumpy dad, I keep trying to push them to be better.”I almost don’t try and get flattered by the ratings. I just want to keep improving and then that will happen as a by-product of that. But the three girls complement each other really well, and they also contribute with the bat, which allows you to play all three in the same T20 team.”But I think all of them can get better. Even though Soph’s been top of the rankings, you’ve seen her grow into one of our best death bowlers. Deano has been a real wicket-taker for us, and Glenny’s been stunning since she came in. I’ve been lucky enough to know her since she was on the academy, and her character is probably her stand-out trait. That reflects in how consistent she is with the ball.”
da imperador bet： Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up to save the day for his side on Sunday with a terrific strike to beat Leicester City 1-0 at the King Power Stadium.
da pinnacle： His second-half goal means that Arne Slot’s side are now only three points away from winning the Premier League title, which they could celebrate at Anfield against Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday.
As you can see in the highlights above, it was an emotionally charged celebration by the England international, who ripped his shirt off to passionately celebrate in front of the away supporters.
He is out of contract at the end of this season, with Real Madrid monitoring his situation, and refused to comment on his future when interviewed after the game.
One Liverpool player who has already committed his future to Anfield, however, is winger Mohamed Salah, who recently put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension.
Unfortunately, though, the former Chelsea and Roma forward’s performance against Leicester on Sunday was not one of his finest outings in red.
Mo Salah's struggles against Leicester
The Egypt international set the tone for what was to come in the opening minutes of the game when he found himself unmarked in the box and saw his low effort hit both posts and roll back out for a Leicester defender to make a clearance. It simply was not his day in front of goal.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah
Salah played the full 90 minutes against the Foxes and took seven shots on goal, six more after the initial effort that hit both posts, and failed to find the back of the net from any of them, only hitting the target once.
The left-footed magician missed four ”big chances’, more than any other player on the pitch, and will surely be gutted to have come off the pitch without a single goal to show for his efforts in the final third.
Vs Leicester
Mo Salah
Minutes
90
xG
1.05
Shots
7
Shots on target
1
Big chances missed
4
Key passes
3
Big chances created
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Salah did create one ‘big chance’ for his teammates, though, which was not rewarded with an assist, as he was involved in plenty of actions – without success – in the Leicester box.
Salah has scored 27 goals and provided 18 assists in the Premier League so far this season, but this showing against the Foxes was a far cry from what supporters have seen from him throughout the rest of the year.
The Liverpool superstar was not the only player who underperformed in the 1-0 win over Leicester at the King Power, though, as Conor Bradley failed to take his chance to impress.
Conor Bradley's performance against Leicester
The Northern Ireland international was given the nod at right-back ahead of Alexander-Arnold, who is still coming back from injury and was not deemed ready to start.
Liverpool’s academy graduate played the opening 71 minutes of the game before being taken off for the English defender, who then went on to win the game for the Reds.
Bradley got off to the worst possible start early on in the game, just as Salah did with his miss, after he dawdled on the ball in his own box and was tackled by Wilfred Ndidi, who then failed to get a cross in before slipping out of play. That set the tone for the rest of what turned out to be a nervy showing.
Vs Leicester
Conor Bradley
Minutes
71
Tackles
0
Interceptions
0
Pass accuracy
79%
Big chances created
0
Duels won
6/14
Possession lost
17x
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old defender went on to lose the majority of his physical duels, whilst he also gave the ball away 17 times without creating any of the nine ‘big chances’ that Liverpool fashioned.
These statistics show that Bradley was just as bad as Salah due to his lack of quality on the ball and his weakness defensively, as both players underperformed on the right flank.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
FSG must, now, take note of this performance from the right-back because it proves that the board must spend millions on a new right-back if Alexander-Arnold does not put pen to paper on a contract extension.
Why FSG must sign a new right-back for Liverpool
The England international provided a timely reminder of the kind of quality that he can produce at his best. He is a full-back who has the ability to win a match on his day with his use of the ball as both a scorer and a creator at the top end of the pitch.
Liverpool will lose a huge attacking outlet in their squad if he moves on this summer as a free agent, and Bradley is yet to prove that he has what it takes to fill that void.
The young full-back’s lack of quality on the ball in the win over Leicester was just the latest sign that Liverpool must have plans for another right-back to come in and offer an attacking threat next season, should Alexander-Arnold move on.
Liverpool’s attacking output from right-back
24/25 Premier League
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Conor Bradley
Appearances
29
15
Goals
3
0
Big chances created
14
1
xA
6.72
0.58
Key passes per game
1.9
0.3
Assists
6
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the English dynamo offers significantly more than Bradley does with the ball at his feet, with 14 times as many ‘big chances’ created in the Premier League.
The Reds were linked with an interest in Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong, who is valued at £34m, earlier this year, and the Dutch defender has scored 29 goals and provided 44 assists in 186 games for the German club.
He may have the kind of quality that Liverpool need to replace Alexander-Arnold with, due to his ability to score and assist goals from right-back, and that further proves that FSG will need to splash the cash and spend millions if they want to land a high-quality replacement for him.
It is now down to the board to spend the money required to bolster Slot’s squad if Alexander-Arnold decides to end his time at Anfield this summer.
Nunez upgrade: Liverpool likely to see £50m bid accepted for "mini-Salah"
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Darwin Nunez is expected to leave Liverpool this summer.
Michael Owen is a player who will forever live in the hearts of Liverpool supporters, emerging through the academy and making a name for himself in the first-team at Anfield.
The now-retired striker made just shy of 300 appearances during an eight-year period, notching 158 goals – sitting in the top ten for the club’s highest goalscorers.
He would win the Ballon d’Or in 2001, winning the award at the tender age of just 22, before leaving the Reds in the summer of 2004 to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.
His achievements on Merseyside have undoubtedly cemented him in the club’s history forever, with his goalscoring record a huge reason for the love he received from the fanbase.
Fast-forward 21 years on from his subsequent departure, current boss Arne Slot has the opportunity to land a new version of the England attacker.
Liverpool to plot £40m summer bid for PL star
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are keen on making a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this summer should they be relegated from the Premier League.
However, the Reds are not alone in their pursuit of the 22-year-old, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United just three other sides wanting to land the youngster.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapapplauds fans after the match
Despite the Tractor Boys’ lowly league standing, Delap has managed to notch 12 goals in 30 league appearances – three times more than the club’s next highest goalscorer this campaign.
The report states that the striker has a £40m relegation release clause in his current contract, potentially a bargain given his recent form in England’s top flight.
Despite the interest elsewhere, it would be a superb addition, allowing the young star to follow in the footsteps of Owen at Anfield and taking his own career up a notch.
Why Delap could be the next Owen for Liverpool
Former Reds striker Owen was a freak of nature during his time on Merseyside, with the striker becoming the second-youngest player to ever claim the Ballon d’or.
Whilst Delap is already at the same age as when the 45-year-old claimed the trophy, he still has a lot of work to do before he gets anywhere near emualting such a feat, but the signs of following in Owen’s footsteps are all positive.
The Ipswich ace – who has burst onto the scene at a similar age – has already wasted no time in demonstrating his goalscoring quality at the top-level, possessing a similar skillset, with his pace in behind the backline causing constant problems – just as Owen demonstrated during his eight-year spell in the first-team on Merseyside.
He’s just six goals off the iconic striker’s tally from his own first season in the Premier League, doing so whilst featuring for a lower-quality side – highlighting how impressive he’s been for Kieran McKenna’s side.
If he is to reach the levels set by his compatriot, Delap is in desparate need of a big-money move to a top-six side this summer, but given his nationality, Slot’s side would have to pay a premium for his signature – but it would be worth every penny, especially if his figures from this season are anything to go by.
How Delap compares to Liverpool’s current striker options
Whilst sitting top of the Premier League table, Liverpool have struggled to rely on a striker, with Mohamed Salah often being the man to produce the goods within the final third.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah
Whilst the Egyptian has registered 54 combined goals and assists in just 45 games across all competitions, with it unthinkable to imagine where the side would be without his contributions.
Strikers Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez have struggled to nail down the centre-forward role, often sharing the role between themselves over the past couple of months.
However, the pair have only registered 11 combined Premier League goals between them in 2024/25, a tally lower than Delap has managed on his own at Portman Road.
Whilst on the face of it, the Manchester City academy graduate has outscored the pair, his underlying stats are also better than the aforementioned pair – highlighting what a superb signing he would be this summer.
Games played
30
20
25
Goals & assists
14
9
7
Shot-on-target accuracy
45%
32%
39%
Take-ons per 90
1.4
1
0.7
Take-on success
47%
38%
38%
Aerials won
46%
44%
34%
Fouls won
1.8
1
1.3
Delap, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also achieved a higher shot on target accuracy rate, showcasing his clinical nature within the final third.
He’s also completed more take-ons per 90 this campaign and also having a higher aerial success rate, offering an all-round presence that the club have missed in the last few months.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
Given the form of the current Reds strikers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to no one to see either of them offloaded during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Should they leave, Delap has showcased that he’s a perfect option to replace either of the current forwards, improving further with higher-quality players around him.
If he moves and gets anywhere close to the levels produced by Owen, it would be a bargain deal at £40m, potentially taking Slot’s reign at Anfield to the next level.
Best signing after Van Dijk: Liverpool struck gold on "world-class" star
He’s been one of the best footballers in the world for quite a few years.
Liverpool are ready to accept an offer for a £150,000-a-week player who could leave Anfield this summer with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold set to sign for Real Madrid
It looks set to be an active few months for the Reds in the transfer market, despite Arne Slot’s side being on course to win the Premier League.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wants to see up to six players brought in ahead of the 2025/26 season, with a replacement for Alexander-Arnold on the to-do list.
Sky Sports: Arne Slot holds talks to sign £40m+ "monster" for Liverpool
He’s a top priority for the Dutchman.
ByCharlie Smith Mar 25, 2025
“I’m excited to see where Arne Slot will take Liverpool because it looks like they’re going to win the league, but there are still so many areas to improve. He needs a centre-back as back-up to the two that we have, he’ll need a right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to leave.
“I think he needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger and that he trusts, a centre-forward to play and a left-winger. There are at least five or six players he needs to get in – three to go straight in the team and three to be strong back-ups.”
The English full-back has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu, with reports claiming a transfer is 99% done after terms were agreed.
Expert Fabrizio Romano has said that all parties are confident a deal will be done after Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield deal expires in the summer.
Jeremie Frimpong has been earmarked as a replacement for Alexander-Arnold and reports have claimed that Slot has held talks with Frimpong’s reps over a move to Liverpool.
However, Alexander-Arnold may not be the only player to depart the club. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of the campaign, whereas Federico Chiesa has also been linked with a Liverpool exit.
Liverpool ready to loan out Chiesa as Lazio make contact
As per reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are ready to send Chiesa out on loan for the 2025/26 season and are willing to include an option to buy of €15m.
Federico Chiesa in action for Liverpool
This comes after Lazio made initial contact over a transfer, though Chiesa’s salary of £150,000-a-week appears to be too expensive for the Serie A side. Indeed, his wages are even high at Anfield, taking home more than regular starters Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate combined.
It does look as if the Reds are ready to move the Italian on over the coming months, with the 27-year-old not exactly starring at Anfield after joining last summer.
Games
11
Goals
2
Assists
2
Yellow cards
1
Minutes played
387
He’s struggled with injuries and has scored just twice, with Chiesa’s latest goal coming in the EFL Cup final defeat to Newcastle United at Wembley. Under contract until 2028, Liverpool appear to be willing to send the attacker out on a temporary basis, making this one to watch.
Rana collided with Vastrakar while fielding, but came on to bowl six more overs to finish her quota and was taken to hospital after complaining of headache
Srinidhi Ramanujam30-Dec-2023India allrounder Sneh Rana was taken for scans after “complaining of headache” post her collision with Pooja Vastrakar in the field during the second ODI against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium, the BCCI said. Former India captain Anjum Chopra, a commentator at the match, said Rana also complained of nausea.Rana will take no further part in the match. Harleen Deol has been named as her concussion replacement.”She [Rana] had a little bit of headache post the first innings,” India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar said after the match*. “We felt it was appropriate for her to do the scan. The reports have been fine and she is back in the dressing room. She is still having a little bit of a headache, but that’s normal. She is available for the third match.”Related
Sutherland, Litchfield seal series for Australia in tight finish
Ball-by-ball: The seven catches that India dropped
The incident happened in the 25th over of the first innings. Trying to stop a cut by left-hand batter Beth Mooney, Rana moved to her left from short third and Vastrakar to her right from backward point. In the process, Rana’s head banged into Vastrakar and both players fell onto the ground. Rana was taken off the field immediately, with the physio applying ice on her head, but returned after a couple of overs.Rana, who had bowled four overs at the time of the collision, went on to complete her quota of ten overs. She dismissed Ashleigh Gardner in the 37th over and finished with figures of 1 for 59.Rana was the Player of the Match for her seven wickets in the one-off Test played between the two teams last week. In the first ODI that India lost, she dismissed Australia opener Phoebe Litchfield.Deol, who bowls spin but is primarily a batter, was considered a like-for-like replacement for Rana, who is an offspinner primarily and a lower-order batter. Deol’s last ODI outing was against Bangladesh in Mirpur in July, when she scored 77 in a tied game and was named Player of the Match.
Heavy hitter managing expectations after learning of ECB central contract omission via social media
Cameron Ponsonby02-Dec-2023Will Jacks was not told by the ECB that he had missed out on a central contract, saying “I just ended up seeing it on Twitter like everyone else.”Jacks, 25, has played in all three formats for England over the past 12 months and was a surprise omission from the ECB’s list of 29 players to receive a contract offer.”It was a bit of a difficult one,” Jacks said on the eve of England’s ODI opener against West Indies. “I didn’t really find out at all. I knew everyone was hearing and I was waiting to hope that I would find out and then I didn’t. I just ended up seeing it on Twitter like everyone else did and that was obviously disappointing. I was hoping to get one.”Jacks is in high demand on the T20 franchise circuit, with contracts to play in the SA20 in January and the IPL in March. As a result, the omission has been a double edged sword, with Jacks now able to pick and choose his winter commitments as he builds to his number one priority: making the squad for the 2024 World Cup.”The last two World Cup years I’ve just narrowly missed out on selection, so making the World Cup squad is a massive goal of mine and playing T20 cricket in South Africa against some of the best players will be perfect for that.”Related
Will Jacks embraces 'clarity' at No.7 as second England coming begins
Will Jacks shows his worth after sparse England opportunities
Chris Woakes 'at ease' with India Test omission despite Ashes heroics
England place attributes over averages to fill spinners' void for India tour
Ben Duckett itching for opportunity as England begin new white-ball era
The difficulty for England and Jacks, is that the SA20 clashes with England’s Test series against India where, given the explosive batters’ ability with the ball and his strong performances in Pakistan last year, he would be a likely candidate for selection in the squad, if not the playing XI.”I wouldn’t say it’s changed my motivation to play for England,” Jacks said in regards to whether the snub has led to him re-jigging his priorities. “Obviously England is the pinnacle and I want to play as much as I can, but what it has done is managed my expectations.”The India Test matches have obviously been in the back of everyone’s mind for the recent period – it’s such a massive series and there’s all the talk about spin and the need for allrounders and having a deep squad. So it’s probably just that instead of me thinking that I was going to be picked I’m now thinking okay, if they wanted to pick me then realistically, I would have been given a contract. So the fact that they haven’t given me one, probably says something.”Where Jacks is definitely wanted, however, is here and now. Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott have confirmed to him that he will open in all three ODIs alongside Phil Salt, as they look to give their high-risk, high-reward openers as much opportunity for success as possible.”That [backing] is huge for everyone,” Jacks said. “If you bring in a fear of failure or worry about if you are going to play or not, obviously that hinders your performance and you won’t be able to go out there and play with 100 percent confidence. That is really important in any team you play for and especially for England. Everyone knows how high the competition is for places.”England are not expecting the three-match ODI series to be a high-scoring encounter, with the training wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium taking a lot of spin and scores in and around the 250-300 mark assumed to be closer to par.”It’s going to be a bit more – not a grind – but you’re really going to have to think your way through an innings and treat it like it is a longer format…there’s no worries of it becoming an extended T20.”Sunday’s match kicks off at 9:30am, a non-issue for a group still just about on UK time and waking up at 6am naturally. But, on Saturday, the squad had an earlier wake up call than normal when an earthquake registering 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Antigua. No major damage on the island was experienced, but for a group of lads from Shires, Manchester and Surrey, it was a new experience.”We’re all claiming that we’re earthquake survivors now,” joked Jacks, who slept through the whole thing. “I woke up at about six, saw the messages on the group and couldn’t really believe it. Some of the guys said their whole room was shaking and everything.”With England staying at a resort on the south-east corner of the island that looks straight out across the ocean, some players were more concerned than others.”Brooky [Harry Brook] messaged me saying: ‘Is there going to be a tsunami?’ Jacks quipped at his mate’s expense. “That was the first thing we thought but it’s all good now.”
The New Zealand allrounder is expected to slot in at No. 4 at least until the arrival of Nat Sciver-Brunt
Andrew McGlashan20-Oct-2023
Sophie Devine continues her association with Perth Scorchers•Getty Images
Perth Scorchers captain Sophie Devine is set to take on a middle-order role for at least the first part of the WBBL campaign.Scorchers, who missed finals last season after being champions the summer before, have stacked their top order with overseas signings through England duo Amy Jones and Lauren Winfield-Hill alongside Devine. Winfield-Hill will play the first six games before the arrival of star allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt with the duo replacing Danni Wyatt who pulled out of her deal having been an original draft pick.When Sciver-Brunt joins there will be further changes to the batting order, but to start the season Winfield-Hill is expected to open alongside Beth Mooney with Devine coming in at No. 4.Related
Devine cuts loose to power Scorchers before Hurricanes are blown away
WBBL previews: Thunder look to Kapp, Matthews could inspire Renegades
Lanning 'disappointed' and 'frustrated' at Sciver-Brunt's likely WBBL signing
Benchmark WBBL faces biggest challenges yet
It’s a role she has taken for New Zealand this year, including during the recently completed tour of South Africa where she made 61 off 37 balls in the second T20I, and believes it can help Scorchers exploit the power surge – the latter two overs of the powerplay which can be taken by the batting side after the 10th over.”That’s certainly one of the options,” Devine said. “Lauren is a world-class opener with a lot of experience. We know she can bat anywhere in the top order as well, but think certainly initially we’ll look to me to drop down the order a little bit.”Coming off the back of the New Zealand tour, batting in that No. 4 role, it’s a role I’m starting to get a lot more comfortable with. The tempo I play at, especially with the format of the Big Bash with the surge, I think it’s a really important part. We’ve seen teams really dominate last year in terms of clear tactics and think that’s an area we can expose a bit better than we did last year.”In tournament like this, you need the ability to change things. We’ve got a lot of bases covered.”The late signing of Sciver-Brunt has been controversial given she did not originally nominate for the draft due to injury. Meg Lanning has been critical of the move as Melbourne Stars would have had retention rights had she been available. When the ECB cleared her for the tournament, Scorchers had the remaining salary cap to take advantage.”It’s an interesting one around the draft and the purpose of it,” Devine said. “With Nat’s situation and her knee injury, that’s why she didn’t enter into the draft. We certainly had no contact with her before then. Every club had the opportunity to sign Nat when she became available and she chose the Scorchers which I think shows a lot about this club.”When a player like that comes around you snap her up with two hands. Think it’s vital we keep getting the best players in the world into his tournament, it’s what makes it so great.”Devine herself was at the mercy of the draft with Scorchers needing to decide between her and Marizanne Kapp, although it was always felt the likely result that she would return to Perth. Kapp went to Sydney Thunder as the No. 1 pick.”I was actually quite nervous,” she said. “Scorchers held all the cards with who they were going to retain. I probably didn’t get told too much. I had real hopes I’d come back but was also prepared if things fell the other way. I mean Marizanne Kapp is one of the best, if not the best, players in the world in this format. It’s pretty special to come back here.”
يبدو أن صفقة انتقال أحمد حسن كوكا، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي إلى قاسم باشا التركي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، باءت بالفشل، بسبب عدم الاتفاق بين الناديين.
وكان نادي قاسم باشا التركي قد طلب التعاقد مع لاعب فريق النادي الأهلي، بشكل نهائي، لتدعيم صفوفه في فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.
طالع| خاص | الأهلي يحدد لـ قاسم باشا سعر بيع أحمد نبيل كوكا
وكشف مصدر بالأهلي لـ بطولات عن تعثر انتقال أحمد نبيل كوكا إلى نادي قاسم باشا التركي، بسبب الخلاف بين الناديين على تسديد قيمة الصفقة.
وتابع المصدر، أن الأهلي كان يرغب في الحصول على قيمة الصفقة على دفعتين والبالغة 800 ألف دولار، ولكن الفريق التركي تمسك بدفع الصفقة على أربع دفعات.
ومن المقرر أن ينتهي عقد أحمد نبيل كوكا، البالغ من العمر 24 عامًا، مع الأهلي في الموسم القادم 2026.