Chelsea are now reportedly weighing up a move to sign a new midfielder as soon as January as they look to put the finishing touches to Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Chelsea facing midfield dilemma

Chelsea’s midfield has been one of the best in the Premier League this season, with Moises Caicedo beginning to justify his massive price tag 12 months on from his arrival, while Enzo Fernández has been rejuvenated in his more advanced role under Maresca.

Roméo Lavia has also emerged as a key figure, and Maresca rotates the trio based on his needs in each game, explaining last month: “Roméo Lavia and Caicedo give us physicality, strength in the middle. When we play with Enzo, it has to be Enzo and one between Moi and Roméo. When Enzo moves we struggle in the middle with physicality. In this moment, Moi and Roméo give us this”.

But beyond this trio, there are concerns brewing. Both Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei have been strongly linked with exits in January, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has also seen limited action since arriving over the summer, and has been tipped to seek out first team football elsewhere.

Appearances

Total minutes

Moises Caicedo

17

1507

Roméo Lavia

9

481

Enzo Fernández

16

1151

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

5

55

Cesare Casadei

0

0

Carney Chukwuemeka

0

0

This could leave the Blues light in the middle of the park with fixtures coming thick and fast, which could in turn force them back into the transfer market to find more cover for Caicedo and Lavia. Now, they have been tipped to attempt an audacious swoop next month.

Chelsea want to sign France international

That comes according to reports in Spain, which claim that the Blues are ready to offer almost £50m to sign AC Milan and France midfielder Youssouf Fofana in the January transfer window.

Fofana only arrived at San Siro over the summer, with the Rossoneri taking advantage of his contract situation at Monaco to snap him up cheaply. Since his arrival, he has been a key player for Paulo Fonseca, starting 14 of his side’s 16 Serie A games.

The Frenchman, dubbed a “technically brilliant” midfielder by Football Analyst Ben Mattinson on X, is still just 25 years old and now has been tipped to make a swift exit from Milan despite still having three and a half years left to run on his £88,000 a week deal.

As per the report, Chelsea “have set their sights on Fofana” and are “willing to shell out 60 million euros [£49.7m] to secure the Frenchman’s services”, a fee that would treble Milan’s initial investment.

5/10 Chelsea star just proved why Boehly needs to spend more money

Chelsea’s 5/10 has proven why Maresca needs another option in January

1 ByConnor Holden Dec 22, 2024

It is added that though Fofana has just arrived, “the 60 million on the table could be enough for Milan to agree to negotiate” for his services, with the club also believed to be fielding interest for fellow midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who is also enjoying a fine season in red and black.

With midfield minutes a serious problem at Stamford Bridge, adding another big signing to the mix seems highly unlikely in January, especially one that has spent just months at his current side, with Maresca’s side more likely to target defensive upgrades and perhaps a new striker before turning their attentions to midfield.

But with as many as three fringe midfielders perhaps pushing for an exit in search of first team football, they could face something of a shortage in the middle of the park.

MatériaMais Notícias

da dobrowin： O presidente do Corinthians, Duílio Monteiro Alves, ultrapassou, no segundo semestre deste ano, a metade do seu mandato à frente do clube alvinegro. No entanto, o cartola ainda tem pouco mais de um ano de gestão e neste período não focará somente no futebol, mas, também, na parte estrutural.

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da esport bet： +112 anos do Timão: relembre 12 momentos marcantes na história do Corinthians

O comandante do Timão tem dois objetivos até entregar o cargo, que não possui reeleição: a ampliação da Neo Química Arena, e a construção de um alojamento para os atletas das categorias de base.

NEO QUÍMICA ARENA

No caso do aumento de capacidade de público do estádio corintiano, é um sonho um pouco mais distante, pelo menos neste primeiro momento. Isso porque o próprio Duílio admite que a prioridade da direção é quitar o acordo costurado com a Caixa Econômica Federal para o pagamento da Arena.

No fim de julho, o Conselho Deliberativo corintiano aprovou um novo acerto, onde o Corinthians começará a pagar a partir do ano que vem, sendo que as parcelas anuais iniciaram o seu processo de quitação em 2025. Antes, as tratativas costuradas em 2020 previam com o Timão que já teria que iniciar o pagamento no fim deste ano.

– Temos um estádio maravilhoso, conseguimos um acordo muito importante com a Caixa e com a Odebrecht. A recuperação judicial já foi aprovada por unanimidade, o juiz já homologou e agora tem o prazo que temos que aguardar para ver se aparece alguém contra. Temos que primeiro cuidar desta parte, porque temos o estádio para pagar – disse Duílio em entrevista nos bastidores da live show que comemorou o aniversário de 112 anos do Corinthians, na última quinta-feira (1º).

Ainda que cauteloso, Duílio reconhece a necessidade de ampliação da Neo Química Arena, que hoje tem capacidade para cerca de 48 mil torcedores, e que nesta temporada tem média de público um pouco maior de 37 mil presentes. É o maior registro médio anual desde a inauguração do estádio, em 2014.

Além disso, hoje o Timão tem uma base de 116 mil sócios, o que aumenta a concorrência na hora da busca pelos tickets, através do rating.

Mesmo assim, o mandatário corintiano demonstra preocupação em realizar esse processo pensando, acima de tudo, na saúde financeira do clube alvinegro.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileiro e simule os próximos jogos

– A gente trabalha em cima disso, mas com responsabilidade para fazer a ampliação, mas de uma forma que não prejudique o clube, como temos feito. É uma ideia, enxergo como uma necessidade, porque temos 160 mil fiéis torcedores pagantes e teremos mais dificuldades de espaço quanto melhor o time estiver. É algo que está nos planos, mas com calma, responsabilidade, para não dar um passo maior do que a perna e não sofrer, de novo, o que já estamos passando – destacou Duílio.

Uma possibilidade aventada, principalmente após o vazamento de uma reunião da direção corintiana, o técnico Vítor Pereira, e membros da Gaviões da Fiel, principal torcida uniformizada corintiana, era a de retirada de cadeiras de alguns setores ou até mesmo a redução do tamanho dos acentos, de 45cm para 40cm. Isso, no entanto, foi descartado por Duílio.

ALOJAMENTO PARA A BASE

Após adiar a entrega do Centro de Treinamento para as categorias de base, prevista para 2020, mas estendida por conta da pandemia do novo coronavírus, o Corinthians encerrou o processo de construção do local, que fica instalado ao lado do CT Joaquim Grava, que abriga a equipe profissional.

Contudo, o complexo ainda não conta com um alojamento para abrigar parte desses jogadores.

O Timão possui a ‘Casa do Atleta’, no bairro do Tatuapé, mas o espaço comporta apenas 40 pessoas. A ideia é que, no CT, o Timão consiga receber em torno de 160 jovens.

Duílio se mostrou cauteloso sobre entregar o projeto até o fim do seu mandato, mas deixou claro que essa será uma das suas prioridades,

O cartola também destacou a importância da base, e admitiu que o Corinthians perde atletas nas suas categorias de formação por falta de alojamento para fornecer.

– Existe, sim (a possibilidade de entregar o alojamento). É ruim falar isso aqui, depois não entrega, mas é a prioridade número um terminar o alojamento da base. Nós estamos vendo a qualidade dos jogadores da base. Muito se fala que a base não é boa, mas vemos aí grandes jogadores, no mundo todo, que saíram da base do Corinthians e fazem muito sucesso, na Seleção Brasileira, em grandes ligas e também no nosso time. É o exemplo claro de que a base funciona – disse o presidente corintiano.

+Quem escalar no Cartola FC? Veja cinco dicas por posição para a 25ª rodada do Brasileirão

– Nossa base é muito boa, e com alojamento conseguiremos melhorar bastante. Hoje o Corinthians perde muitos atletas para clubes que têm condições de alojar. É uma responsabilidade muito grande, para alojar um jogador temos que ter uma estrutura perfeita para não correr nenhum risco e dar condições aos atletas de terem uma vida tranquila, educação e parte esportiva também. Corremos todos os dias para achar soluções para construir, e esta é uma prioridade – concluiu.

Ainda ao falar de base, Duílio relembrou que duas das vendas que a instituição realizou na temporada, o representa um terço do cumprimento da meta de negociações de ativos que o clube tinha neste ano, são frutos das categorias de base: o zagueiro João Victor, vendido para o Benfica, de Portugal, e o meia-atacante Gabriel Pereira, o GP, negociado com o New York City, dos Estados Unidos.

Juntas, a vendas desses dois atletas significa algo em torno de R$ 75 milhões aos cofres corintianos.

Além dos negociados, o presidente corintiano relembrou investidas de outras equipes por outros ativos oriundos da base, como o lateral-esquerdo Lucas Piton, e o volante Du Queiroz.

– Neste ano tivemos vendas de Gabriel Pereira, João Victor, propostas para Du Queiroz, Lucas Piton sempre tem procura e outros também – pontuou Monteiro Alves.

Além da dupla mencionada, o zagueiro Robert Renan também é alvo de agremiações da Europa, principalmente na Inglaterra. O atacante Adson é outro que tem sido monitorado por algumas equipes do exterior.

continua após a publicidade

Chelsea supporters have been urged to “keep an eye” on one potentially “massive” transfer, as BlueCo apparently consider signing another Man City star for manager Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea seal 4-3 comeback win over Tottenham as January window looms

The Chelsea squad are giving Stamford Bridge officials something to really think about heading into the looming January transfer window, as Maresca’s side are in exceptional form and sit just four points off Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea transfer "priority" as BlueCo look at signing £75m England player

A very reliable journalist says he’s under consideration at Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 10, 2024

Their latest statement win, a 4-3 comeback away to Tottenham from two goals down, has added further weight to the notion that they’re now genuine title contenders – even if Maresca continues to downplay such suggestions.

Brentford (home)

December 15

Everton (away)

December 22

Fulham (home)

December 26

Ipswich Town (away)

December 30

Crystal Palace (away)

January 4

While Clearlake Capital have displayed a history of serious spending since the consortium’s takeover in 2022, Todd Boehly and BlueCo will be wary of throwing illustrious new names into the mix mid-season when the current team appears to possess such a well-executed balance right now.

That being said, reliable Blues journalist Simon Phillips reported earlier this week that Chelsea are prioritising the addition of a new centre-back, and this could happen as early as January.

The futures of Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, who have struggled for consistent minutes in their first-team overall, despite minutes in cup competitions, are described as uncertain by Phillips, even if other reliable sources indicate that Chelsea actually see a bright future for the latter player (Ben Jacobs).

Of the centre-backs being targeted, one of them is Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite. It is believed Branthwaite has interest from Chelsea heading into 2025, but he isn’t the only defender on their radar, with Benfica’s Tomas Araujo, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Portugal international Antonio Silva all being considered (Simon Phillips).

However, perhaps the most interesting target, and one who would be an undoubted statement addition, is Man City star Ruben Dias.

Chelsea considering "massive" deal for Man City star Ruben Dias

According to Phillips’ “best and most historic Chelsea source”, via the reporter’s Substack, Chelsea are considering Dias as a potential centre-back signing – with the £180,000-per-week treble winner on their shortlist.

The source has urged readers to “keep an eye” on Dias’ possible switch to Stamford Bridge, in what would be a “massive deal”, and a type of transfer which the club’s hierarchy are apparently striving for.

Up until recently, Dias has been an ever-present in City’s defence and key player in their dominance of English football since signing for them from Benfica for around £65 million.

He is a player of proven Premier League and European pedigree, not to mention a real leader of men.

The 27-year-old is just five appearances away from 200 overall in a City shirt, during a period where he’s won trophies galore and clinched both the country and club’s 2021 Player of the Year award.

da bet sport： Chelsea chiefs are optimistic they can win the race for an “extremely exciting” transfer target as we fast approach the looming January window.

Chelsea look to extend winning run with victory over Everton on Sunday

da apostebet： While manager Enzo Maresca categorically denies his team are in the midst of a Premier League title challenge, if Chelsea continue their impressive run of form, he won’t be able to for much longer.

Related Agents tell Chelsea they can sign "underrated" 16-goal striker for £25m

He’s been in the form of his life this season.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Dec 19, 2024

The Blues haven’t lost a single top flight game since their 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in October, and have won their last five league matches on the spin.

Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures

Date

Everton (away)

December 22

Fulham (home)

December 26

Ipswich Town (away)

December 30

Crystal Palace (away)

January 4

Bournemouth (home)

January 14

Sean Dyche’s Everton, who were recently taken over by the Friedkin Group in what is now a new era for the Toffees, could be Maresca’s next victims – with now being an awful time to play Chelsea who are firing on all cylinders.

They’re also fresh off the back of a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League, and the mood around Stamford Bridge is very positive as they look to extend their winning run and end 2024 on a major high.

Unfortunately for exit-linked summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who got on the scoresheet against Shamrock, he may not be part of the ride for much longer.

Dewsbury-Hall reportedly has 10 clubs looking at signing him ahead of January, with Maresca also refusing to rule out a mid-season exit for his former Leicester City star.

“Unfortunately I cannot say that,” said Maresca when asked if Dewsbury-Hall will stay beyond January.

“Not about Kiernan, about all the squad, because when the transfer window is open, unfortunately anything can happen. So I’m not focused on January, the only thing I can say about Kiernan is that we are very happy in the way he’s working, we are very happy about his performance, and this is my thought about Kiernan.

“We don’t want one of our players to leave, the problem is that sometimes the question is more for them, that if they say, OK, you don’t want me to leave, but I’m not happy, I want to play more. So in that case, we are not going to say, no, you have to stay, yes or yes. It’s a matter of agreement between the club and the player, the only thing I can say is that we are happy with Kiernan, then we’ll see.”

In the event Dewsbury-Hall does depart, Chelsea are apparently chasing a potential wonderkid replacement.

Chelsea "hopeful of securing a deal" for Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan

According to TEAMtalk and journalist Rudy Galetti, Maresca’s side and Man United are currently battling it out for Norwegian rising star Sverre Nypan.

The Rosenborg midfielder has bagged eight goals and 10 assists across the whole of 2024, totaling 18 goal contributions in the final third, and his performances in the Eliteserien have garnered attention from England.

Chelsea are “hopeful of securing a deal” for Nypan, who Rosenborg value at up to £20 million, and he’s apparently drawn comparisons with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

“Sverre Nypan is extremely exciting,” said Norwegian football expert Jesper Mathisen to TV2 last year.

“I get a bit of the same feeling as when I saw Martin Ødegaard break through as a boy.”

A quartet of centuries helped England plunder a record 506 for 4 on the opening day to put the tourists in command of their first Test appearance in Pakistan for 17 years.Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who put on a 233-run opening stand, were joined by Ollie Pope and Harry Brook – the latter playing just his second Test – in posting hundreds on a remarkable day in which England’s run rate scarcely dipped below a run a ball as they became the first side to score 500 runs on day one of a Test.No sooner had Brook brought up his maiden Test fifty, and he surged towards his century by whipping Saud Shakeel for six fours in one over to almost all quarters of the ground. Brook reached his ton off just 80 balls after he and Pope had added 176 runs for the fourth wicket and, when bad light ended play, he remained not out on 101 with Ben Stokes unbeaten on 34.Crawley had threatened to become the first Englishman to score a hundred before lunch on the first day of a Test as he and Duckett set a solid foundation for their side, which had been laid low by a sickness bug just 24 hours earlier.Stokes was among the worst affected but fronted up for, and won, an all-important toss after England were only able to confirm that they had a fit XI two-and-a-half hours before the start. They were forced into just one change to their intended team, handing Will Jacks his Test debut for a still-recovering Ben Foakes, with Pope to take the wicketkeeping gloves.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The last time Crawley had played against Pakistan, he struck 267 to deliver on the promise of three half-centuries in 11 previous innings. A tumultuous stretch followed that knock in August 2020, with just a brace of fifties in 21 innings which followed 10 single-figure scores and two ducks among them bringing his place under increasing scrutiny.That was until his century in the drawn first Test against West Indies in Antigua in March this year, which seemed to set him up for the English summer, only for another unspectacular spell to ensue until his rapid unbeaten 69 off just 57 balls in September’s third and final Test against South Africa.Crawley’s latest innings was next-level speed-wise, however, as he perfectly merged England’s assertive approach under Brendon McCullum with the need to make the most of his time in the middle while some of his team-mates regained their strength.One of only four players in England’s original XI named on Tuesday to take part in an optional training session on match eve, Crawley opened with three fours off Naseem Shah so that England were 14 without loss in the most expensive first over of a Test in two decades.Haris Rauf, making his Test debut after 57 T20Is and 15 ODIs, entered the attack in the eighth over, but Crawley continued to find the boundary with back-to-back fours either side of the pitch in Rauf’s second over and, after 10 overs, the tourists had motored to 63 for 0.The last time Duckett played a Test, he fell for 5 and 0 at the hands of a rampant R Ashwin as England suffered a heavy defeat to India in November 2016 and he admitted thinking his Test career was over.Making his return six years later after an excellent Championship season for Nottinghamshire, Duckett looked assured, his fortuitous slash through third to bring up England’s fifty notwithstanding, as he reverse-swept then ramped Zahid Mahmood to the fence.Crawley brought up his half-century off just 38 balls, sweeping Zahid through fine leg for four, while England brought up their 100 in 13.5 overs and Duckett reached a run-a-ball fifty in the second hour.Save for a hearty appeal for lbw, which looked to be high with no functioning DRS in the third over to test the on-field not-out decision, and a slash off Rauf which went just wide of a slow-moving Mohammad Ali at mid-on to move into the 90s, Crawley’s innings was domineering. He had scored 17 fours by the end of the morning session as he and Duckett took England to lunch unscathed with 174 runs on the board.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Pakistan, missing the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi and fielding three other debutants alongside Haris, in right-arm seamer Ali, legspinner Zahid and middle-order batter Shakeel, looked toothless and needed a breakthrough. They eventually got there through Zahid and Rauf in the space of nine balls.On 99, Crawley managed to overturn his lbw dismissal playing around Naseem’s full delivery which rapped him low on the front pad but was shown to be heading down the leg side. Two balls later, Crawley’s deft punch through the covers brought up an 86-ball century, the fastest by an England Test opener and joint fifth-fastest overall.Duckett brought up his maiden Test ton with a pulled four off Rauf, a beaming smile spreading across Duckett’s face as he soaked up the applause. His stay was shortlived thereafter when he missed his reverse sweep of Zahid and was struck on the pad in line with off stump, although Pakistan had to review Joel Wilson’s not-out decision.So ended England’s highest Test opening stand against Pakistan and they went from 233 without loss to 235 for 2 when Crawley followed a short time later, done by Rauf’s reverse swing as the ball slid through the gate and took a deflection on to middle stump.Joe Root fell lbw to Mahmood for just 23, burning a review in a bid to overturn his dismissal before Pope and Brook forged on.Brook, who had pulled Zahid for six on the stroke of tea, helped himself to another six in the evening session when he muscled Rauf over deep midwicket. He brought up his fifty with a single in the next over moments before Pope raised his century working Agha Salman off his toes for one to reach the mark in 90 balls.Even when Pope fell to Ali, lbw on review to give Pakistan something to smile faintly about in the fast-fading light, Brook surged ahead with England’s quickest Test hundred now in his sights. He fell short of Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball mark set in 1902, but slotted in at No. 3 behind Jonny Bairstow when he struck Naseem for a gorgeous cover drive for four.The fact that England still have the firepower of Jacks and fellow debutant Liam Livingstone to come on a batter-friendly pitch gave the hosts ever more to worry about overnight.

Trevor Bayliss’ enlightened knowledge of the game coupled with his ability to make the players feel comfortable could take England out of the mire they have got themselves into

Daniel Brettig in Cardiff07-Jul-20155:51

Ashes Key Battles: Bayliss v Boof

Ask Darren Lehmann how Trevor Bayliss will fare as England coach, and he says all the right things: a good cricket man and a quality mentor who wants the game to be played the right way. Ask Lehmann about his memories of Bayliss the cricketer, and he breaks into a broad grin.”He used to whack ’em! He used to slog ’em at number three for New South Wales.”Lehmann bears no ill towards Bayliss for choosing to coach England, and so far nor do many of his countrymen. If there have been fewer raised Australian eyebrows about this appointment than some expected, it is largely because of satisfaction at how Bayliss’ old Sheffield Shield opponent Lehmann has done his job. There is also the fact that Bayliss has always kept a low profile, letting his work speak louder than his words.Certainly Lehmann’s cavalier batting tendencies were more widely known and celebrated, but there was scarcely less swash in Bayliss’ buckle, something he was able to demonstrate in 1989-90 as the unavailability of Steve Waugh on national duty gave him prime responsibility for the No. 3 spot.Walking to the wicket, the stocky and bespectacled Bayliss gave the appearance of a stodgy grafter. But his love for the game was evident in how he spent years driving the more than two-hour round trip from a job working on Navy armaments at Emu Plains to the SCG for practice as a fringe player, and in how he loved nothing more than to belt the ball. Teammates remember him hitting sixes inside out over cover when such a shot was unheard of.Bayliss was always moving the scoreboard along, buying time for Greg Matthews, Mike Whitney and others to bowl opponents out across the summer of 1989-90. He was also an outstanding cover fielder, often snaffling catches when most eyes had darted from ball and batsman to outfield or boundary. “If you wanted a job done,” says his former state captain Geoff Lawson, “you put Trevor there.”While Lehmann got in first for South Australia, soaring to an innings of 228 against NSW in Adelaide that made national headlines and helped catapult him into Test 12th man duty in January, Bayliss chose his moment in the return match. A run-a-ball 59 set the Blues on the path to a victory that helped push them into the Shield final – the “slog ’em at No. 3″ innings Lehmann remembers.An aggregate of 992 runs was second only to Mark Waugh among the NSW XI, and Bayliss earned the players’ Player of the Year award. His spoils were a week’s holiday for two at Opal Cove Resort at Coffs Harbour, flying Ansett. It was a simpler time, but an influential one for Bayliss, who has never forgotten the importance of building strong relationships within teams.Where Lehmann was heavily influenced by the freewheeling ways of David Hookes, Bayliss was immersed in the value of positive thinking and aggressive play through the liberated approach favoured by the NSW captain Lawson and the coach Steve Rixon. At the time, both South Australia and NSW favoured styles of play somewhat at odds with the more measured, calculated ways of a national team led by Allan Border and ruled by Bob Simpson.Lawson and Simpson often disagreed, as did Hookes and Simpson, and it was the path of the aggressor that both Lehmann and Bayliss chose to carry with them into coaching. At the same time Border’s Australians were laying waste to England on the 1989 Ashes tour, Bayliss was based in Glasgow, playing league cricket for West of Scotland CC and filling the considerable shoes of Clive Rice. It was perhaps the germination of his globetrotting ways.”It’s the first time I’ve been over here,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald that year. “I’ve got my wife here and I’ve got a car and we look around when I’m not doing any coaching at Glasgow High School. The club expects the pro to be the best player on the team … the pressure is on me a bit. But I’m not doing too badly. I’m averaging 150 after six or seven bats and have 18 wickets. I run the practices and do extra practices with the younger players if they need or want it.”The habit stuck. After his playing career fizzled out in the mid-1990s, Bayliss coached NSW junior teams, where he mentored Michael Clarke among others, before taking on the state coaching job. Quickly he showed himself to be a softly-spoken but firm mentor, always preferring quiet counsel to histrionics. As common to his teams as regular trophies is a lack of internal strife.Among his dictums for NSW was to insist that when on tour, all players met in the hotel bar at 7 pm each night and stayed long enough for a drink and shared chat. Other plans were fine, so long as they were scheduled for later. This simple measure meant no player would feel isolated away from home and hearth, while rapport had a chance to build. England’s players can expect similar instructions.”He takes a lot of the anxiety out of a change room and gets guys to enjoy the game for what it is,” says Brad Haddin, who was state captain for much of Bayliss’ first stint with the Blues. “He’s been great for my cricket. He’s been one of the guys that helped me get to where I am now. I think he’s a really good appointment for England.”After four years with Sri Lanka, where Bayliss and Paul Farbrace built the fruitful working partnership they have now rekindled with England, a return to the NSW job was initially denied to him. Instead he was left to coach the Sydney Sixers, where a young Steven Smith was emerging as a batsman and leader. Remembering how their axis developed, Smith remembers Bayliss being strong in maintaining that captains, not coaches, run a cricket team.”He never gives any specific instruction,” Smith says. “I think he realises it’s the captain’s job and it’s up to the captain to make the ultimate decision. However he is very good to talk to about the game, he understands the game really well.”He talks about it non-stop, whether you’re out having dinner or a beer at the bar or anything like that, he’s talking about the game of cricket, and that’s great for learning, particularly as a young player. He’s been very successful wherever he’s coached, whether it be IPL or back at NSW and the Sixers. He understands what a good environment’s all about, what a good cricket team’s all about.”Much like the former NSW administration, England were slow to realise Bayliss’ value, declining to choose him over Peter Moores in 2014. Andrew Strauss proved to be sharper in his analysis than Paul Downton had been, ultimately presenting Bayliss with the “offer he couldn’t refuse” and coaxing his man to the ECB. Lawson reckons that Bayliss will hasten slowly, ensuring he has built constructive relationships before enacting major change.Anthem time at Cardiff will doubtless be the source of mixed feelings, but Australians seem comfortable that an avowed lover of the game is ensuring its virtues are propagated abroad. In 2005, when the Tasmanian Troy Cooley was England’s Ashes-winning bowling coach, not only had Australia let a countryman slip through the net, but the equivalent role did not even exist with the baggy greens. No such oversight exists this time.Should Bayliss’ simple methods reap success this summer, a few more hackles will of course be raised. Lehmann might not grin quite so much at the memory of a blue-capped slugger, either.

While the number of women's team will increase, the men's field will be reduced to 12 teams

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IOC approves proposal for 16 women's teams, 12 for menChange will be implemented in 2028Reasserts commitment to growing women's gameFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The International Olympic Committee approved a proposal that will increase the women's soccer field to 16 teams, starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games. At the same time, the IOC said the men's soccer field will be reduced to 12 teams.

“FIFA has always believed in the power of women’s football and today’s decision by the IOC Executive Board is a positive step,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday in a statement. “Our vision is clear: we are investing in and expanding opportunities for women’s football at every level. More teams on the Olympic stage means more role models, more inspiration and more impact.

"This development reflects our shared understanding that women’s football deserves greater representation and visibility at the Olympic Games. We thank the IOC for the fruitful discussions that will make LA28 a groundbreaking event, and we will continue to work with our partners to incorporate futsal and beach soccer into the Olympic program.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the U.S. women's national won the gold medal, defeating Brazil in the championship game. In the men's field, Spain defeated France for the gold.

The expansion of the women's field reiterates both the IOC's and FIFA's commitment to growing the game.

“FIFA has been working on the increase in women’s teams at the Olympics for some time," FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström added. "On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank the IOC administration for their collaboration with us over the past months to prepare this groundbreaking decision. We are very pleased with the outcome but, of course, we will continue with fully commitment our daily and sustained work across all relevant areas of the women’s game."

The reduction of the men's field from 16 to 12 teams was made by the IOC board to help push the core quota of athletes for L.A. to 50.7% women and 49.3% men – 5,333 for women and 5,167 for men – the IOC said.

DID YOU KNOW?

The USWNT are five-time gold medalists at the Olympic Games, winning the tournament in 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2024.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

The 2028 Los Angeles games are just more than three years away, and qualification for the competition will begin in the buildup to the event.

Going into the fourth Test, it’s pretty clear where the urn’s headed

Andy Zaltzman05-Aug-20151. Momentum
After the second day at Edgbaston, England had all the momentum. As the series had shown, this is an extremely vulnerable position for a team to be in. England left Cardiff after a near-perfect team performance with too much momentum. The momentum swang a full 360 and knocked them spark out at Lord’s, whereupon Australia’s counter-momentum back-swang a double-loopie-loop (a technical sports science term), and cleaned them up on the 720-degree reverse slap-round (apologies once again for the necessary use of sports jargon, which only highly qualified experts are able to comprehend).On the third morning, therefore, England cleverly let Australia’s tail-end make a bit of a game of it, then lost a couple of wickets, and chased their target down without too much flourish. They were clearly aiming to decelerate the pendulovelocity of the momentum swingabola down to around the 540-degree mark, to ensure that it would follow through to defeat Australia down in Nottingham with a one-and-a-half somersault clonk-down.Michael Clarke’s clever drop of Ian Bell, at a moment when the departure of England’s No. 3 might have prompted some jitteriness, albeit without the real prospect of Australian victory, astutely tried to un-decelerate the momentum back up to the critical 720-ish range. We will know on Thursday which way the momentum has chosen to go – contrary to widely held belief, it is a flighty little beast with a mind of its own – but rest assured, it could mean that one or both of England and Australia have a distinct advantage.2. The first innings
If these two teams ever conspire to play well in the same match, it could be an all-time classic. In fact, if they manage to play badly in the same match, it could be just as much of an all-time classic. As it is, we have seen a series that has been both compelling and curiously unsatisfying, marked by decisive outbreaks of excellence, and equally decisive outbreaks of rubbishness, as the teams have pitted strength against weakness, and weakness against strength.Only four times in the last 25 Ashes Tests has the first-innings difference between the two sides been less than 100 runs. (This sequence goes back to the MCG Test of 2006-07. The four matches with a sub-100 first-innings lead/deficit: Perth in 2010-11, when Australia led by 81 in a low-scoring game; the Trent Bridge and Durham thrillers in 2013; and the MCG in 2013-14, when an already thrashed England took an illusory 51-run first-innings lead, added 65 before losing their first wicket, and then subsided like an embarrassed soufflé). The average first-innings lead/deficit in those 25 Tests has been 197.By comparison, five of the previous nine Ashes Tests had produced a first-innings difference of under 40 runs, and 155 Ashes Tests from 1950-51 up to Perth in 2006-07 had produced 37 games with a deficit of under 50 runs, and 26 more with a difference of less than 100 (40% of the matches). The average first-innings difference was 138, so close first innings have been the exception rather than the norm, but the recent drought is still marked.Of course, many Tests with evenly matched first innings end up as one-sided powerhoofings, and many Tests with a large deficit turn out to be nail-biting, stomach-churning masterpieces; but this year, as in 2009, the closeness and unpredictability of the series has been in contrast to the lopsided narratives of the individual matches, whose destiny has essentially been all but fixed in the relatively early stages. As fictional TV detective whizz Columbo would no doubt testify, there can be excitement and satisfaction from watching a drama progress to an ending that has already been decided; there is also a reason why most TV detective shows do not reveal the result until right at the end.

The momentum swang a full 360 and knocked them spark out at Lord’s, whereupon Australia’s counter-momentum back-swang a double-loopie-loop (a technical sports science term), and cleaned them up on the 720-degree reverse slap-round

If England/Australia repeat their strength/weakness that was so potently on display at Lord’s/Edgbaston, then they will be well on the way to another vital defeat/victory (delete according to preference).3. Michael Clarke’s batting position
Where should Clarke bat in the remainder of the series? Would dropping down to No. 5, where he has had most success as a Test player, be a sign of weakness? Would staying at No. 4 be a sign of insanity? Is “on the beach” an option? The answers: (a) perhaps, but it might be very vocally suggested to be a sign of weakness, even if it isn’t, and could therefore become accepted as a sign of weakness, regardless of whether or not it actually is; (b) perhaps, but No. 5 has been a highly productive position in the Test batting order for many countries in recent years, so playing one of your best players at five could make sound run-making sense; (c) no, but it would be preferable to “on the plane”, where Clarke claimed he has been playing in the first three Tests. He could bat at four and succeed, or bat at five and fail. Or vice versa.The mantra “class is permanent, form is temporary” undoubtedly has an element of truth, without being an immutable law of science (hence the reason WG Grace no longer plays for England). But the facts remain that class players can have elongated stretches of poor form (as Ian Bell has proved over the last two years, and many before him, including Lara and Tendulkar), and even class players some day reach the end of the physical road. Whether or not Clarke has yet done so is open to question. Back injuries are notoriously unhelpful for batsmen. Whether he bats at four or five, he will remain a “class player”. But he could also remain horrifically out of form. Or score a century. This is clearly a potentially critical issue for both England and Australia.4. Key players missing
If Australia having been struggling without the self-admittedly effectively absent Michael Clarke, then they have been missing the actually absent Ryan Harris like a dolphin would miss its blowhole, or a unicyclist would his seat.England could find life similarly awkward without Jimmy Anderson. He has a mixed record against Australia, averaging close to 36, but has played a major role in several important victories in England’s victorious series (he took four of the top six in the decisive first innings at Lord’s in 2009; Ponting and Clarke in his first seven balls in Adelaide in 2010, and four more in the match; four in the first-day skittling at the MCG later that series, then seven in the match in Sydney; and, most significantly, five in each innings at Trent Bridge two years ago).His absence at Trent Bridge could be a vital boost for Australia. Or open the door for a replacement to have a Finn-like impact on the series.5. Brittle batting
It could all come down to which team is able to play an entire Test match, spanning as many as two innings, without at any point being skittled out in under 40 overs.Following England’s historically awful 37-over fourth-innings floundering at Lord’s, Australia’s 36.4 over capitulation at Edgbaston was the sixth swiftest dismissal of a team in the opening innings of an Ashes Test. (Since 1902, the only more rapid first-day disintegrations have been Australia’s Darren Gough-inspired 31.5-over subsidence on day one of the 1997 Ashes, and England’s woeful 33.5-over capitulation at Leeds in 2009.)One of the rules of Test cricket is “Do not get skittled out in under 40 overs.” The team that adheres to this rule will hold a decisive edge.Michael Clarke: aircraft connoisseur•Getty ImagesCONFECTIONERY STALL TRENT BRIDGE PREDICTION: I just don’t know any more. England, maybe?Wherever Clarke bats – he will be under equal pressure in either position – he is unlikely to match the spectacular batting-order migrations of one of his predecessors as Australia captain. On the 1956 Ashes tour Ian Johnson, an offspinning just-about-allrounder who began his Test career in the middle order but latterly batted mostly at 9 or 10, managed to bat in all seven positions from five down to 11 in just five Tests.He began the series at eight, batted at nine in the second Test, then 10 and seven in the third, and 11 and 10 in the fourth. Having amassed the scoreboard-shattering total of 39 runs at an average of 5.5, he then took the somewhat counter-intuitive step of promoting himself to No. 5 in the first innings of the final Test. Having evidently noticed the opportunity for a small piece of batting-order history, he then batted at six in the second innings. In all: 61 runs at 7.6. But what a journey. Add in six wickets at an average of just over 50 (four of them for 151 runs at Old Trafford, on the pitch where his England offspinning counterpart Jim Laker took 19 for 90 in the match), not to mention zero catches, and losing four tosses out of five, and it is clear that Johnson set a benchmark for “on the plane” captaincy even in the days before touring cricket teams travelled by air.Some Edgbaston stats● Steven Finn’s glorious return was a great story, a great personal triumph, and a great relief. He bowled like the bowler he looked like he had become when taking four in each innings against South Africa at Lord’s in 2012 (seven of his wickets were top-order batsmen). Edgbaston was his fifth Ashes Test. The previous four had been marked by both wickets and run-leaking, giving him Ashes career stats that are now a one-man incarnation of the spirit of 21st-century cricket – of the 116 bowlers with 20 or more Ashes wickets since the First World War, Finn currently has the best strike rate (40.9), the 50th best average (29.08) and the 116th best economy rate (4.26).● Anderson was the first England bowler to take six in the opening innings of an Ashes Test in this country since Peter Such’s debut 6 for 67 in 1993, and the first England seamer to do so since Richard Ellison’s 6 for 77, also at Edgbaston, in the fifth Test of 1985.● Ian Bell became the first England No. 3 to score two fifties in an Ashes Test since Robin Smith, at Trent Bridge, in 1993.● Stuart Broad batted for 50 balls in a Test innings for the first time since the Old Trafford Test in 2013, an innings of valuable and overdue restraint, and the first time he appears to have batted like a batsman for a considerable time.● This is the second successive Ashes in which David Warner has scored 50 or more in the second innings of the first three Tests. Previously, only Herbert Sutcliffe had done so, in 1924-25.● Currently, only one bowler in this series is conceding less than three runs per over – Adam Lyth. From his one over of niggardly Yorkshire-hewn neo-Illingworthian offspin.

تتواصل التحضيرات داخل رابطة الأندية المصرية لتنظيم بطولة كأس السوبر المصري للموسم الجديد 2025-2026، وسط تنسيق جارٍ مع اتحاد الكرة لتحديد الدولة المستضيفة ومواعيد المباريات.

وقال مصدر من داخل رابطة الأندية في تصريحات خاصة لموقع بطولات: “الرابطة حددت مواعيد مناسبة لإقامة بطولة كأس السوبر قبل حلول شهر ديسمبر، وتم إخطار اتحاد الكرة بهذه المواعيد”.

وأضاف: “لكن الاتحاد المصري لم يحسم حتى الآن الموقف الرسمي، بسبب عدم الاستقرار على الدولة التي ستستضيف البطولة المقبلة”.

طالع أيضًا | الاتحاد الكويتي يعلن تطورات عرض استضافة كأس السوبر المصري 2025 وموعد البطولة

وتقام بطولة كأس السوبر المصري بالنظام الجديد منذ موسمين، حيث تشهد مشاركة 4 فرق بدلًا من الشكل التقليدي الذي كان يقتصر على مواجهة بين بطلي الدوري والكأس فقط.

وتُوج النادي الأهلي بلقب النسخة الماضية من البطولة، التي أقيمت في الإمارات، بعد تفوقه على الزمالك بركلات الترجيح في المباراة النهائية.

ويشارك في النسخة المقبلة من البطولة كل من الأهلي بصفته بطل الدوري، والزمالك حامل لقب كأس مصر، وسيراميكا كليوباترا بطل كأس الرابطة، بينما يُنتظر تحديد الفريق الرابع – صاحب “الكارت الذهبي” – بالتنسيق بين اللجنة المنظمة، الرابطة، واتحاد الكرة، ويُرجح أن يكون بيراميدز.

يُذكر أن الأهلي يتصدر قائمة الأندية الأكثر تتويجًا بكأس السوبر المصري برصيد 15 لقبًا، فيما يمتلك الزمالك 4 ألقاب في المركز الثاني.

Fleming is now the head coach at all three CSK teams, in the IPL, at the SA20, and at the MLC

ESPNcricinfo staff and PTI22-Mar-2023Stephen Fleming will be the head coach of Dallas-based Major League Cricket (MLC) team Texas Super Kings (TSK), who have a partnership with IPL side Chennai Super Kings.Fleming has been the long-serving head coach at CSK, and has guided the team to four IPL titles. He was also the head coach at Joburg Super Kings, a team owned by the same owners as CSK, for the inaugural season of the SA20 league in South Africa.Super Kings joined Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians to make it four out of six MLC teams to have owners connected with the IPL – the tournament is scheduled to begin on July 13.Related

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The six MLC teams are San Francisco Unicorns, Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings and Washington DC. Capitals, co-owned by GMR Group, are partnering with Seattle Orcas.All six MLC teams completed the domestic player draft at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they selected nine players each from more than 100 eligible to represent the “US cricket community”. The rest of the players are going to be filled later.”Cricket is the second-most popular sport in the world with a global fan base of around 2.5 billion followers, but there has not been an opportunity for the sport to grow in the US,” Anurag Jain, co-owner of TSK, said. “We look forward to having a professional team in Texas for the passionate local cricket community to root for and to introduce the sport to new fans across the country.”