Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and Will O’Rourke also return to the white-ball squads after being rested for the Sri Lanka tour

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2024

Bevon Jacobs was picked up by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025•NZC

Hard-hitting middle-order batter Bevon Jacobs has been handed his maiden New Zealand call-up by being picked for the upcoming three-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka.Jacobs was part of the New Zealand XI side that took on Sri Lanka in a 10-overs-a-side tour match in Lincoln on Monday, although he did not get a chance to bat.Jacobs’ call-up comes barely a month after he was picked up by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 auction, joining New Zealand internationals Trent Boult and the new white-ball captain Mitchell Santner. Jacobs’ maiden IPL contract came after an impressive Super Smash campaign last season, where he hit 134 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 188.73 while batting as a finisher.Related

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Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan on February 23 in UAE

“It’s obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family,” NZC selector Sam Wells said. “He’s a promising player with a lot of talent and we’re looking forward to exposing him to international cricket.”He’s clearly got a lot of power with the bat, but he’s also shown in the longer formats that he has a decent technique and temperament.”Having come through the system at Auckland, Jacobs had made a switch to Canterbury for whom he made his List A and T20 debuts just over a year ago. But he returned to Auckland ahead of the ongoing home summer, and made his first-class debut for Auckland last month, with scores of 75 and 79.After narrowly missing out on another half-century in his second before, he racked up 80 against his old team, Canterbury.Fast bowler Zakary Foulkes, wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay and top-order batter Tim Robinson are also part of the T20I squad, and could play their first international home games, having made their debuts abroad earlier in the year.Foulkes and Robinson debuted in the T20Is in Pakistan in April, while Hay’s debut came in Sri Lanka in November. Hay is set to keep wickets in the T20Is, and will be cover for Tom Latham in the ODIs that follow.While Jacobs, Foulkes and Robinson have only been called up for the T20Is, Latham, Will Young and Will O’Rourke will join the squad for the one-dayers. O’Rourke has been rested for the T20Is after a heavy Test workload, having featured in all eight Tests against Sri Lanka, India and England.Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra will be back in white-ball action for New Zealand•Associated Press

The series against Sri Lanka will also see Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry make a return to the white-ball squads, having been rested during their tour of Sri Lanka to prepare for the home Tests against England.New Zealand will miss many big names, due to their commitments to various franchise T20 leagues. Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, Adam Milne and Tim Seifert are away at the BBL, while Kane Williamson and Devon Conway are part of the SA20, which is scheduled to begin on January 9.Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson remain unavailable as they are still recuperating from knee and back injuries respectively.The team will be coached by Luke Ronchi, with regular head coach Gary Stead taking a break. Ronchi will have Jacob Oram for support as the bowling coach, while Craig McMillan will look after the batting and fielding.This will be New Zealand’s final ODI bilateral series before the Champions Trophy, where they will take on hosts Pakistan in the tournament opener.New Zealand also will play a tri-series in Pakistan, also featuring South Africa, before the Champions Trophy begins.”As with the squads that recently toured Sri Lanka, we’re keen to keep exposing new talent to the big stage and it’s nice to have an experienced core of players around them,” Wells said. “The Champions Trophy, like all ICC pinnacle events, is an obvious incentive for players and I know many will be keen to put their best foot forward in the ODI series to be in the frame for selection.”The T20Is will be played on December 28, 30 and January 2 before the ODIs on January 5, 8 and 11.New Zealand T20I squad vs Sri LankaMitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitchell Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Nathan SmithNew Zealand ODI squad vs Sri LankaMitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitchell Hay, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young

Five players who were in the hotel at the time of the incident were safely evacuated

PTI18-Nov-2024The PCB had to curtail the National Women’s Championship in Karachi on Monday after five players had a close shave following a fire incident in the team hotel.”Fortunately, no players were injured, as the PCB promptly evacuated the five players in the hotel at the time of the incident and relocated them safely to the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre,” the PCB said in a statement.The PCB tried to find an alternate accommodation for the teams but because of the Ideas Defence Exhibition being held in Karachi, they could not find a hotel. The board said the decision to truncate the tournament was taken keeping in mind the health and safety of the players.”Additionally, the unavailability of alternative accommodations to meet the approximately 100 rooms of the required standards contributed to this outcome,” said the PCB statement. “To determine the tournament winner, the PCB has decided that the Invincibles and the Stars – the top-two teams after four matches each – will face off in the final. The date and venue for the final will be announced in due course.”

Liverpool’s season starts now. Though the Reds were defeated at Wembley last Sunday, Crystal Palace lifting the Community Shield after winning the penalty shootout, few fans would have been left reeling by the blow.

But the curtain-raiser did give the club a taste of Arne Slot’s new squad, with expensive summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike combining to score a well-worked opening goal. Also making his debut, Jeremie Frimpong’s cross after 20 minutes arced fortuitously beyond the impressive Dean Henderson.

But now, the reigning Premier League champions host Bournemouth in the opening match of the top-flight campaign, with sights set on retaining the crown that was so spectacularly won last year, Slot’s first after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the dugout.

Despite the remarkable nature of Liverpool’s summer spending, options are rather thin at the moment. Particularly, the Merseysiders offer little in the way of defensive depth. That does, however, appear set to change.

Up top, greater strength. Though that said, Liverpool haven’t yet been able to pull off a record-breaking deal for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who, as one of the finest strikers in the world, would complete the frontline.

Liverpool still chasing Alexander Isak

Since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022, Isak has only gone from strength to strength, blooming into a world-class finisher but also a forward of impressive flair and finesse.

Isak’s relationship at Newcastle has disintegrated as he pushes to sign for Liverpool, who have already seen a formal offer worth an initial £110m rejected this summer.

Some would say the protracted pursuit of the Sweden star has become unsavoury, with Isak ostracising himself from Eddie Howe’s plans, but it’s a complex matter and Liverpool are patiently making headway.

The hopes of integrating him ahead of the now-arrived campaign have proved fruitless, though, and the Anfield side must prepare for Bournemouth without the 25-year-old and all the depth and quality he would provide.

Liverpool team news

Joe Gomez has returned to first-team training after picking up a minor Achilles injury during Liverpool’s pre-season camp in Japan, though it’s highly unlikely Slot would hand him a starting berth.

The most prominent absence will be Ryan Gravenberch, who, after missing out last week due to the birth of his first child, is suspended after being shown a red card against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2024/25 season.

In his place, Alexis Mac Allister could hop back into the starting mix, having been benched at Wembley due to a lack of fitness. However, with Curtis Jones operating so smoothly in a deep-lying role last week, completing all 53 of his attempted passes, he may well reprise his position.

And should that take place, Slot has an interesting opportunity to field a line-up which could get the squad ready for a potential future with Isak at the spearhead.

How Slot can accommodate Isak at Liverpool

The easy assumption for Liverpool, were they to succeed in signing Isak this month, would be to drop Gakpo and shuffle Ekitike out onto the left flank.

In Slot’s world, Liverpool have become more structured and patient in the build-up, with the rise of Gravenberch allowing for the transitional flow to be carried through the centre. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now playing for Real Madrid, expect that impetus to remain intact.

However, were Isak and Ekitike to play together in a sort of 4-2-2-2, the Reds could see a renewed focus on wide play, with Mohamed Salah stretching out to the right and Wirtz drifting left to accommodate the two mobile strikers.

With the newfound energy and pace of Milos Kerkez and Frimpong on the flanks, overlaps could become commonplace down Anfield Road, with the creative flair of both further supplementing Ekitike and Isak in the final third.

And though the respective forwards are considered to be similar – both athletically dynamic and hard workers off the ball; each endowed with a technical aptitude that is beyond most number nines – Isak is clearly the more refined and streamlined goalscorer.

The forwards are competent enough that this could work a treat in theory, but it would require the sacrifice of another starting member. Gravenberch, who indeed misses out against Bournemouth, is the transitional linchpin of Slot’s midfield, but it could see Dominik Szoboszlai’s starting berth taken from him.

The £120k-per-week Szoboszlai is one of Liverpool’s most tenacious and industrious players, having enjoyed steady progress across his two terms at Anfield after joining from RB Leipzig for £60m in 2023.

But with Jones playing so confidently in Gravenberch’s stead last week, and Mac Allister presumably fit enough to make his first start of the season, there might not be room for the Hungarian from the outset.

Against the Eagles, Szoboszlai won three tackles and won four of his eight contested duels, emphasising the reasoning behind Slot dropping him deeper to shift Wirtz into the line-up.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

75

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

Accurate passes

55/63 (87%)

Key passes

3

Dribbles

0/0

Tackles

3

Interceptions

1

Duels won

4/8

It was, make no mistake, a fine performance from the 24-year-old, and one which might see him play an important role across the term ahead.

His drive is something special, with content creator Asim Mahmood previously hailing the all-action midfielder for being a “machine” in the centre.

But to ensure the fluency of a potential structural shift with Isak at the front, Slot might be inclined to indeed drop Szoboszlai against the Cherries and field Gakpo in his typical left-sided forward role – though with a marked focus on cutting inside and promoting his goalscoring ability, thus mimicking Isak and allowing Wirtz to move out onto the flank.

Given that Salah has enjoyed such success from a playmaking standpoint as he has entered the later stages of his prime years – no Premier League player created more big chances than the Egyptian (27) last year – and Wirtz is considered to be “a genius” by Xabi Alonso for his flair, passing and vision, Liverpool would surely have the tools to create and work effectively, even if Szoboszlai drops out and awaits an impact from the bench.

It’s a shame that Liverpool have reached a position where elite-level players are forced to sit on the bench to make room for another. There are worse problems to have for a football fan, though, it must be said.

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A “great” Liverpool player has now reportedly held talks with a foreign club’s sporting director over a summer move there, with a four-year deal being offered to him.

Liverpool handed potential fresh Isak boost

The Reds have had a summer transfer window to remember, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez hopefully taking them to new heights under Arne Slot.

After smashing their transfer record on Wirtz, Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has now emerged as Liverpool’s next dream target, although the Magpies are refusing to budge currently after rejecting an opening offer for the Swede.

A new update from The Athletic‘s David Ornstein does claim that Isak is “adamant he will not play for Newcastle again”, however, adding that even if he stays put at St James’ Park, he has “no wish to reintegrate” with his teammates.

This acts as a boost to Liverpool, who clearly still want to sign the 25-year-old, but the coming weeks have the potential to be unpredictable, as the Premier League champions consider a second offer, hoping that the Magpies’ stance softens at the same time.

While plenty of focus is on Isak, and a possible new centre-back signing, a new claim has dropped regarding the future of a current Reds player.

"Great" Liverpool player in talks with foreign club

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott’s move to RB Leipzig this summer could be edging closer, with the Reds wanting £47m with a buyback option or £56m without during discussions.

The Bundesliga club have now offered the 22-year-old a four-year contract, and it is claimed that “manager Ole Werner and sporting director Marcel Schafer have already held direct talks with the player, outlining their vision for him to become a central figure in the team’s attack-minded system.”

Elliott is a popular figure at Liverpool, helped by the fact that he grew up supporting the Reds, but now feels like the right time for him to enjoy a new challenge, and the report says he is open to an Anfield exit.

The Englishman isn’t a regular starter under Slot, and that won’t change unless there are serious injury problems, and he has reached a point in his career where he needs to be playing week in, week out.

Elliott could be a great signing for Leipzig, and an ideal potential replacement for Xavi Simons, as the report alludes to, with former Liverpool man Joe Cole hailing him earlier this summer.

“I love the kid, he plays football the right way. I am excited for his future. He has done a great job for Liverpool, but if he decides to move on, there are levels to move on again. That passion, he can show every week.”

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Whether Leipzig agree to a buyback option remains to be seen, but even if they don’t, this is the right time for Liverpool to sanction Elliott’s exit, allowing him to kick on elsewhere, not to mention ensuring the Reds receive good money for him.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has bolstered his options in the middle of the park with the additions of Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach in the summer transfer window.

The German boss moved to add physicality to his options in midfield to go along with the technical quality that Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, and Ilia Gruev offer to the team.

Ampadu’s absence in midfield was felt in the 5-0 loss to Arsenal at The Emirates on Saturday, as the Gunners found it far too easy to get past Gruev to run at the Leeds defence.

The midfield area of the pitch was so important to the West Yorkshire outfit when they were last promoted to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa, who led the club to a top-half finish.

Leeds enjoyed a sensational first season back in the top-flight to finish well clear of relegation, and a key part of their success was having a strong midfield.

Academy graduate Kalvin Phillips played a significant role in how effective the team was in the middle of the park, with his fantastic performances in his first year in the Premier League.

How Kalvin Phillips earned an England call-up

The Yorkshire-born star started 37 times in the Championship in the 2019/20 campaign, per Sofascore, as Leeds romped their way to the title, which was clinched in lockdown.

Phillips won 4.0 tackles and interceptions per game, winning 54% of his overall duels in the division, but there was still a question mark over whether or not he would be able to handle the step up in quality from the Championship to the Premier League.

Boy did he answer that question and leave no doubt. The Leeds number 23 hit the ground running in the Premier League and bossed the midfield for the Whites to help them achieve a top-half finish in the 2020/21 campaign.

In fact, after just one season in the Premier League with Leeds, Phillips was described as one of the best midfielders in world football by teammate and captain Liam Cooper.

His statistics in the top-flight for the Whites in the 2020/21 campaign show that he was among the top players in England, at least, when it came to being a defensive monster in midfield.

Tackles

2.74

Top 12%

Interceptions

1.67

Top 18%

Blocks

1.82

Top 9%

Clearances

1.96

Top 9%

Aerial duels won

1.11

Top 39%

Passes blocked

1.30

Top 15%

As you can see in the table above, Phillips ranked highly among his positional peers, and it did not go unnoticed by Gareth Southgate, who made him a key part of the England side at the European Championship in 2021.

The English star started seven times on on his country’s way to losing in the final to Italy, and the Whites are now interested in a star who could follow in Phillips’ footsteps.

Leeds eye ambitious move for England star

According to MOT Leeds News, Leeds United are eyeing up an ‘ambitious’ approach to sign Manchester United and England central midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.

The report claims that the injury to Ampadu has sparked a bit of a concern at Elland Road, and that the Red Devils academy graduate has emerged as a transfer target for them late in the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that Leeds would like to sign one more midfielder before next week’s deadline and Mainoo is being lined up as a possible loan target for Farke’s side.

The outlet reveals that Mainoo would be open to a transfer away from Old Trafford, but Manchester United are unlikely to sanction a loan deal this late into the window.

MOT Leeds News does claim, though, that the situation could change and an opportunity could open up if the player decides to push for a move in the coming days.

Why Kobbie Mainoo should sign for Leeds United

Ditching Manchester United, even if just on loan, for Leeds may not seem like an obvious career move for Mainoo, even in spite of the situation the Red Devils find themselves in, but it could be the right one for his career.

It is a World Cup year for players, with the World Cup taking place in Mexico, USA, and Canada next year, and that means that they need to be playing regularly, and playing well, to push for a place at the tournament.

Mainoo has been an unused substitute in Manchester United’s first two matches of the Premier League season, despite his team picking up just one point from those games, and does not appear to have much hope of crashing into Ruben Amorim’s two-man midfield.

However, Farke’s switch to a 4-3-3 this season could provide Mainoo with the perfect platform to excel as one of the two eights ahead of a number six, which is not something that he has the luxury of in Amorim’s system.

At the start of last season, pundit Robbie Earle said: “You hear the term generational talent when you talk about this guy. He controls the game for Man United, he’s got the maturity and ability to slow the game down and make sure people are in place.

“He plays like a 29-year-old not a 19-year-old, he’s got poise, athleticism, ability in and around the box, he’s an absolute jewel, you build a team around him.”

United did not heed these words because they then hired a manager who played a system that did not suit his talents, hence why he has now found himself as an outcast at Old Trafford.

Take-ons attempted

2.71

Top 20%

Take-ons completed

1.42

Top 18%

Take-on success rate

53.4%

Top 28%

Goal-creating actions (take-ons)

0.09

Top 4%

Goal-creating actions (shot)

0.09

Top 2%

Goal-creating actions (fouls drawn)

0.05

Top 9%

As you can see in the table above, Mainoo excelled in the 2023/24 campaign, prior to Amorim’s arrival and change in system, as a midfielder with the license to carry the ball and take players on.

As part of a midfield three, the England star could excel at Leeds by being given the perfect platform to showcase his best attributes in the middle of the park as a regular starter in the Premier League.

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This is why Mainoo should push to complete a loan move to Elland Road in the coming days because he could follow Phillips in using Leeds as the place to make his push for a starting berth for England in a major tournament at the end of the season.

تغلب فريق آرسنال على خصمه وست هام يونايتد بهدفين دون مقابل، بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وحل وست هام ضيفًا على آرسنال اليوم السبت في الجولة السابعة للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

وتعرض قائد آرسنال مارتن أوديجارد للإصابة خلال اللقاء، وتوجه الطاقم الطبي لفحصه والاطمئنان على حالته، ثم استكمل اللقاء.

وتقدم آرسنال بهدف في الدقيقة 24 عن طريق بوكايو ساكا لكن لم يحتسب بداع التسلل، لتظل النتيجة تعادل سلبي.

ولم يتمكن أوديجارد من الاستمرار إثر إصابة في ركبته وقام ميكيل أرتيتا باستبداله ليشارك مارتن زوبميندي بديلاً له في الدقيقة 30.

وجاء هدف تقدم آرسنال عن طريق ديكلان رايس، بعد تمريرة بينية قابلها إيزي بتسديدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء وتصدى لها الحارس وارتدت الكرة وتابعها رايس وسدد في الدقيقة 38.

واحتسب حكم اللقاء ضربة جزاء لآرسنال بعد سقوط تيمبر في منطقة الجزاء، وتوجه بوكايو ساكا للتسديد وسجل بنجاح في الدقيقة 67.

حسمت المباراة بفوز آرسنال بهدفين دون مقابل، ليرفع رصيده إلى النقطة 16 في صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ويتوقف رصيد وست هام عند النقطة 4 في المركز قبل الأخير.

ويلاقي ليفربول نظيره تشيلسي في الجولة ذاتها مساء اليوم، وحال الفوز سيستعيد الصدارة من آرسنال. أهداف مباراة آرسنال ووست هام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

This summer transfer window has acted as a period of change for Liverpool, and it has felt at times like the transition from the end of the Jürgen Klopp reign to the start of the Arne Slot one. Whilst this will be Slot’s second season at the club, last year’s Premier League-winning campaign was predominantly done with his predecessor’s signings, with the exception of Federico Chiesa.

Prominent members of Liverpool’s front line have departed the club this summer, including Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, which have helped fund new faces. Liverpool’s opening day win against Bournemouth has demonstrated Slot’s favour towards his own signings, as four of the starting eleven were signings from this summer.

Slot now looks likely to remove another one of Klopp’s favourites as a German club are prepared to offer Liverpool a massive return on their investment.

RB Leipzig preparing bid for Elliott as personal terms agreed

RB Leipzig are preparing to submit a bid worth £25.9 million for Liverpool and England attacking midfielder, Harvey Elliott. This report comes from the Empire of the Kop, who stated that Liverpool’s valuation of Elliott is closer to £34.5 million, and the gap between the two figures will “potentially be bridged through structured payments and add-ons”.

This deal will see Liverpool receive more than 500% profit on Elliott, given that he only cost them £4.3 million when they signed him from Fulham in 2019.

Elliott has fallen out of favour at Liverpool since Slot took over, with his appearances dropping from 53 in all competitions during the 23/24 campaign to 28 appearances in all competitions in the 24/25 campaign. Since departing Liverpool, Klopp has taken over as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull and may be one of the figures behind recruiting Elliott.

Empire of the Kop also report that Elliot has come to terms with the fact that he does not feature heavily in Slot’s plans and is accepting a move to the Bundesliga, having already agreed personal terms in principle. These personal terms include a pay rise where he’ll increase from the £2.08 million that he earns each year at Liverpool to a new salary between £2.6 million and £3.4 million a year.

Elliott's transfer adds to Slot's forward depth issues

While Elliott didn’t feature prominently for Slot last season, his departure would still add to the minutes that need to be made up. Slot’s new-look forward line will have to make up for the minutes of the recently sold Diaz and Nunez, as well as those of Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in the summer.

Premier League Minutes Last Season

Jota

1,194

Diaz

2,410

Nunez

1,118

Elliott

360

Total

5,082

Whilst it may seem like a mammoth task to make up 5,082 minutes, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké came close to that last season. Across the last Bundesliga campaign, the pair racked up 4,933 minutes of game time, only 149 minutes short of what the listed players played combined.

MatériaMais Notícias

O começo do trabalho de Luxemburgo no Corinthians foi marcado pelo “ônibus estacionado” nas partidas, e o treinador conseguiu mudar o rótulo contra o Fluminense e Galo. Porém, na derrota contra o América-MG, a equipe alvinegra jogou no “ponto morto”.

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+ Roger Guedes se aproxima da ponta: veja os maiores artilheiros da Neo Química Arena

Luxa optou por manter boa parte dos titulares e seguiu com o esquema de três zagueiros, sendo Gil, Bidu e Renato Augusto as principais ausências.

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Contudo, ao contrário da vitória sobre o Atletico-MG, o Timão nao teve coesão ofensiva e pecou na criação, tanto pelo meio-campo como nas alas.

continua após a publicidade

E aí entra a parte individual. Renato Augusto é disparado o jogador mais técnico da equipe, e Bidu vem mostrando aptidão para jogar de forma mais ofensiva no lado esquerdo, algo que Fábio Santos não oferece mais.

O Corinthians não ficou enfiado na defesa, mas tampouco ameaçou o goleiro adversário, apenas no começo da partida, em cabeceio no travessão de Róger Guedes.

continua após a publicidade

Como Renato e Luxa disseram após a partida, o desgaste da classificação na Copa do Brasil teve seu preço, e o Corinthians parecia jogar em uma rotação abaixo do Coelho.

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A coroação da partida apática do Timão foi materializada na cobrança de pênalti de Fábio Santos, nos acréscimos. O lateral, tão letal na marca da cal, foi displicente e isolou a chance de improvável empate.

Na parte tática, Luxemburgo fica com a dúvida se mantém ou não o esquema de três zagueiros contra o Independiente del Valle, no “jogo da vida” pela Libertadores. Ao elenco, resta ver se a partida contra o Atlético-MG pode ser repetida ou se a atuação diante do Galo foi um ponto fora da curva em uma temporada caótica.

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Matt Roller and Nagraj Gollapudi30-Jan-2025

First out of the blocks: Oval Invincibles are the first team to have been sold in the ECB’s equity sale•ECB/Getty Images

Mumbai Indians owners Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) are set to buy a 49% stake in Oval Invincibles after winning a virtual auction on Thursday afternoon. RIL will enter into a period of exclusivity which will see them negotiate agreements with Surrey, the ECB and their financial advisors before completing the purchase.Reports on Thursday night suggested that Knighthead Capital, the US-based hedge fund, were the successful bidders in the process for Birmingham Phoenix. Knighthead, who bought Birmingham City Football Club in 2023, are investing heavily in the city, including the development of a new ‘sports quarter’. This would be their first foray into the cricketing world.RIL’s winning bid for the Invincibles was understood to value 100% of the franchise at £123 million, implying they will pay just over £60m for its 49% stake. The ECB declined to comment and are not expected to confirm successful bidders – or valuations – until next week. Both Surrey and Warwickshire declined to comment.ESPNcricinfo understands that RIL saw off competition from a Silicon Valley tech consortium (involving the chief executives of Google, Microsoft and Adobe), and private equity firm CVC. The Invincibles, two-time defending champions in the men’s Hundred and two-time women’s champions, are the first team to be sold in the final round of the ECB’s sales process.The deal will see two heavyweights of their respective markets coming together: Mumbai Indians are widely seen as the most powerful IPL franchise, while Surrey are the richest English county club. The Invincibles will become the sixth team run by RIL, after Mumbai Indians (in both the IPL and WPL), MI New York (MLC), MI Cape Town (SA20) and MI Emirates (ILT20).RIL, owned by the Ambani family, were widely linked with buying a stake in London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s, but moved their focus towards the Invincibles as the sales process went on. Host venues were given the option to sell some of the 51% stake that they will be gifted by the ECB as part of the privatisation process, but ESPNcricinfo understands that Surrey have held firm on their stance that they will retain their controlling shares.Related

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Chairman Oli Slipper told the Surrey’s members last month that the club “must and will retain the controlling stake” in the Invincibles, and that they had been “totally transparent” with prospective investors that this represented a “clear red line” for them. Slipper has previously proposed renaming the team as ‘Surrey Invincibles’ though RIL will likely have a say in any future rebranding.CVC, who own Gujarat Titans in the IPL, were also believed to be in the sale process for a stake in Birmingham Phoenix but appear to have missed out on both of the first two teams sold. The tech consortium, meanwhile, will be in the mix for a 49% stake in London Spirit on Friday but face competition from Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG (the owners of Lucknow Super Giants), Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer, and Cain International. A minority stake in Welsh Fire will also be sold on the same day.ESPNcricinfo revealed details of the final-round process on Monday, which sees prospective investors enter a sealed bidding process (if two bidders remain) or a live auction (if three or more remain). Stakes in Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets will be available next week, with Southern Brave – who are being treated as a unique case by the ECB, since hosts Hampshire are privately owned by GMR – the final team up for grabs.The ECB believes that funds raised from the sale of stakes in the eight Hundred teams will “future-proof” county cricket for the next 20-25 years. The revenue from the sale will be split between the 18 first-class counties, MCC and the recreational game in England and Wales.The Hundred’s fifth season is likely to look similar to the previous four, with the ECB treating 2025 as a transitional year. The tournament’s fixtures were announced on Wednesday, with the season due to run from August 5-31 and thereby avoiding a clash with Major League Cricket.

There’s no denying that West Ham United look a little light with the 2025/26 Premier League season just two weeks away, even after the defensive acquisitions of Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadj Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague.

Mohammed Kudus has not yet been replaced after completing a controversial £55m switch to Tottenham Hotspur, and Crysencio Summerville remains injured after sustaining a hamstring injury that ruled him out for the final 18 games of the term.

However, Lucas Paqueta’s absolution from wrongdoing in a two-year-long spot-fixing case marks a galvanising lift and potentially the catalyst for change. A turning point.

However, the Irons still need more, and no mistake. Paqueta is a high-level playmaker, but he could with a foil, someone to shoulder his burden at times.

And Potter has got the perfect young star in his sights.

West Ham lining up more attacking quality

Skipper Jarrod Bowen remains West Ham’s offensive linchpin, but he needs some help in the final third after a rather uninspiring 2024/25 as a collective.

Goalscoring quality remains a pressing issue, but United averaged just 1.53 goal-creating actions per 90 last term, as per FBref, which surpassed only the three relegated sides.

As such, Potter may look to complete a move for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who is anticipated to leave Anfield this summer, having been limited for playing time under Arne Slot.

Football Insider report that the Hammers are ready to make their move, pushing ahead with plans to sign the £50m-rated midfielder.

Elliott, 22, has held talks with a number of suitors, and West Ham are joined by Newcastle United and Tottenham, among others, in their intrigue.

Why West Ham want Harvey Elliott

Though Elliott struggled for match action at Liverpool last season, he still managed to showcase his ability on numerous occasions, notably scoring in three successive Champions League fixtures.

A diminutive and versatile midfielder, Elliott’s technical ability on the ball serves as the staple of his skill set, with one-time Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley praising his ability to create “magic” through his passing.

As per FBref, the England U21 international ranked last season among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goal involvements, passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as the top 15% for goal-creating actions per 90.

Thus, Elliott’s potential to become a special player for a team like West Ham is underscored, and he could even rekindle the finest form of Bowen, who still wrapped up the latest campaign with a respectable haul of 13 goals and ten assists in the Premier League.

Elliott came up trumps through the 2023/24 campaign, providing plenty of creative support as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool struggled against a slew of unfortunate injuries.

24/25

28

5

3

23/24

53

4

14

22/23

46

5

2

21/22

11

1

0

*20/21

1

0

1

19/20

8

0

1

He has the tenacity and winning mentality, inculcated in him through his years on Merseyside, to combine with Bowen, who is a spirit-lifting star in his own right.

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino once said that Bowen is “direct and he’s a bit like Salah” when discussing the complete forwards’ fast rise at the London Stadium, and this only strengthens the case for him being a dream partner for Elliott.

Landing Elliott would be a statement signing, all right, and perhaps what West Ham need to hit their stride and return to the forefront next season.

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