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

When Eddie Howe reflected on Newcastle United’s form at the start of the November international break, he would have felt the weight of back-to-back Premier League defeats against Brentford and West Ham United.

He also would have known the significance of a big performance against Manchester City at St. James’ Park when club football returned, and so it was momentous to have battled to victory against Manchester City on Saturday evening, recovering ground in the race for European football.

The season’s still young, and there is optimism regarding the Magpies’ hopes of finding success once again this year, but Howe and technical director Ross Wilson will already be looking toward the future, and they have earmarked Elliot Anderson as the perfect player to take this project to the next level.

The latest on Anderson to Newcastle

As far as Newcastle are concerned, the Anderson situation is twofold: they will absolutely be in the thick of any upcoming battles to bring their academy graduate back home, and they will surely need to make concessions of some description, given the Tricky Trees are set to demand in excess of £100m for their prized player, who is also being chased by Manchester United

Anderson, 23, was sold to Forest in 2024 for a fee in the region of £35m. This was signed off by PIF officials bearing gritted teeth, having felt forced into cashing in for the homegrown talent in order to balance the books and placate PSR.

Ruefulness has since shifted to regret. Anderson has been described as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has designated the star as a regular starter alongside Declan Rice as the 2026 World Cup looms large.

While Newcastle’s vested interest could lead to an exciting and concerted bid – Howe said at the start of October that he “would love him to” come back home – but it’s not as if the Toon engine room is lacking without him.

That said, Joelinton appears to be winding down after years of tireless and robust service. Anderson would surely dovetail into a trio with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

If Newcastle have to shuffle a few things, so be it, and there’s one rather brazen sale PIF could permit to ensure the club have the finances to pull a bid off next year.

The Newcastle superstar PIF could sell

It may well be a controversial move, but Newcastle have floated the possibility of selling Anthony Gordon about for some time, with Liverpool interest in their one-time academy talent in 2024, before United opted instead to cash in on Anderson.

Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for around £45m in January 2023 and, after a testing start to life on Tyneside, made significant progress across the 2023/24 campaign, winning the club’s Player of the Year after recording 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and serving as a talisman as Howe’s side battled through an injury-hit year.

But last season, as Newcastle went from strength to strength, returning to the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup, Gordon regressed, only scoring six Premier League goals all year.

Though his playing style has put him in a promising position to beat the likes of Marcus Rashford to a regular starting berth at next year’s World Cup, more is needed from a player of his calibre, whose once untouchable place on Howe’s left wing is looking far more apt for replacement at this stage, especially with injuries and suspensions contributing toward his poor form this year.

Then, of course, we have Harvey Barnes, whose brace against City underscored his worth in this system. That’s three goals in two Premier League matches for the former Leicester winger, whose incisiveness from the wing works well against Nick Woltemade’s unique striking game, willing to drop deep and influence play while also playing the part of a powerful target man.

Gordon’s blistering speed and ability to stick to the flank or weave inside to wreak chaos are two brilliant aspects of his game, but he needs to offer more, and his inability to do this could see Howe sell him to fund a move for Anderson, perhaps making a shrewd winger signing to complement Barnes besides.

Because frankly, Gordon’s form in front of goal hasn’t been good enough for a while. The Three Lions star was said to have entered “Gabriel Obertan territory” after the loss at West Ham, which, for one of the most prominent wingers in England, self-proclaimed as a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, is not good enough.

Jacob Ramsey – Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals (assists)

25/26

7

0 (0)

24/25

34

6 (6)

23/24

35

11 (10)

22/23

16

1 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

Should Gordon fail to establish prolific form before the end of the season, there will be more than just a few questions placed by his name. Given that Liverpool have expressed an interest over the past couple of years, not dissuaded by Newcastle’s £100m valuation, could there be regret that he was not sold sooner?

Barnes, after all, is beginning to find goalscoring form, and Gordon has failed with 60% of his dribbles in the top flight this term, also missing big chances while failing to break his duck.

Gordon at full speed and potency in the final third and up and down the touchline is a dangerous adversary for even the finest of defenders. But his declaration of a nightmarish playing style can only go so far if he is unable to produce clinical results at the end.

We need only look at the Alexander Isak saga and the potential that Woltemade offers in the box to understand that selling Gordon for the right price would not be detrimental for Howe’s longer-term plans.

And if those funds are used to bring Anderson back home, thus completing what may well become the best central midfield in the whole country, then it would surely be a worthwhile move.

Newcastle have already got a bigger talent than Barnes who's "like Mbappe"

Newcastle United have a bigger talent than Harvey Barnes in an 18-year-old who is similar to Kylian Mbappe.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 24, 2025

Bowlers, Saif combine to hand Bangladesh 3-0 win against Afghanistan

Bangladesh clean swept Afghanistan 3-0 in the T20I series in Sharjah, as they successfully followed a chasing template in all three matches. Saif Hassan continued his good form with an unbeaten 38-ball 64 that powered Bangladesh to a six-wicket win in the third T20I.Afghanistan once again fell well short after being sent in to bat first. They had an ordinary powerplay, followed by an even worse middle overs. Only a late burst from Darwish Rasooli and No. 10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman got them to 143 for 9 in 20 overs.Tanzid Hasan got Bangladesh off to a quick start before Saif took over with his big-hitting. He struck seven sixes and two fours, including several swings, flicks and sweeps on his way to his fourth T20I fifty. Bangladesh did lose a couple of wickets in the middle, but Nurul Hasan struck the winning runs to wrap up victory with two overs to spare.

Tanzid provides early fireworks

Azmatullah Omarzai provided Afghanistan with the early wicket of Parvez Hossain, when the left-hand batter skied him in the fifth over. Parvez looked good in the early exchanges, striking a four and a six in his innings of 14. But when he tried to loft Omarzai, he was caught at mid-off.Saif started with a six later in the same over, before Tanzid crashed two fours in a row off Rashid Khan in the seventh over.Darwish Rasooli’s innings of 32 propelled Afghanistan•ACB

Tanzid then belted Mujeeb for a six over long-on, before Rasooli dropped a sitter off Tanzid’s top edge in the 11th over. But thankfully, for Abdollah Ahmadzai, who was the bowler, Tanzid top-edged his next delivery, a slower one, to mid-off. But Tanzid’s run-a-ball 33, and his 55-run second-wicket stand with Saif, had given Bangladesh a good base in their 144-run chase.

Saif slays, Jaker flails

Like earlier in the series, Bangladesh, though, fell into the pattern of getting into panic mode after a good partnership. Captain Jaker Ali survived two lbw appeals in three balls against Rashid. Both times the ball pitched outside leg stump. Saif then laid into Ahmadzai with a 92-metre six in a 22-run over that should have made life comfortable for Bangladesh.Instead, with just 35 runs to get in 38 balls, Jaker fell to Mujeeb. Jaker took a second review in his 11-ball stay, but this time it didn’t save him. Mujeeb then had Shamim Hossain bowled for a golden duck to make things a little interesting.Saif, meanwhile, cleverly played out Rashid’s last over, the 15th of the innings, with forward-defensive shots, even as it meant giving away a maiden. It didn’t put much pressure on Bangladesh, however, although he made up for it by striking debutant Bashir Ahmad for two sixes in the 16th over. Saif reached his fourth fifty with the second six in the over, a slog sweep that went for 95 meters.Nurul, at the other end, remained not out on 10, including hitting the match-winning runs, a six off Ahmadzai, who had an evening to forget in Sharjah. Nurul thus ended unbeaten in all three matches of the T20I series.Mohammad Saifuddin got three wickets•Afghanistan Cricket Board

Saifuddin leads Bangladesh’s charge

Bangladesh’s bowlers continued their dominance in the powerplay in this T20I series. Afghanistan were 39 for 3 after six overs, with Shoriful Islam once again giving Bangladesh an early breakthrough. He removed Ibrahim Zadran in the third over, before Shamim took a screamer at cover to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Nasum Ahmed in the fourth over.Wafiullah Tarakhil’s wicket in the sixth over rounded off Afghanistan’s struggle in the powerplay. Sediqullah Atal looked good during his 23-ball 28, before Mohammad Saifuddin had him caught at deep point in the 11th over. Omarzai then skied Rishad Hossain for 3, before Mohammad Nabi and Rashid fell cheaply, and in successive overs.Bangladesh dominated with the ball till the 15th over, and with Afghanistan at 106 for 8, they might have expected to take the last two wickets rather quickly.

Rasooli, Mujeeb salvage some pride

Bangladesh almost had the ninth wicket in the 17th over when umpire Ahmed Shah Pakteen adjudged Mujeeb lbw, only for a review to save Mujeeb. Rasooli struck Rishad for a four and six later in the over, before Mujeeb got two fours off Shoriful in the 18th over. Rasooli, who scored 29, fell trying to slash Saifuddin, thus giving the latter his third wicket, and ending a 34-run ninth-wicket stand.New batter Bashir then survived a caught-behind chance, with the ball having dropped an inch in front of wicketkeeper Jaker. Mujeeb struck one more four to take Afghanistan past 140, thus giving their bowlers something to aim at.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Points to Simple Evidence for How '25 Blue Jays Are Different

The Toronto Blue Jays are off to a dream start to their postseason run, jumping out to a 2–0 series lead over the New York Yankees to open the American League Division Series.

Starring for the Blue Jays is slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has six hits in nine at-bats so far in the series, and a home run in each game, including a grand slam that sent the Toronto crowd into absolute elation on Sunday.

The Blue Jays are no strangers to the postseason, having played playoff baseball in three of the past five seasons, but this is already their first trip past the wild-card round since 2016, and if they can make a run to the World Series, it will be their first appearance since taking back-to-back titles in 1992 and ‘93.

Guerrero, who has spent the entirety of his career in Toronto, was asked if he felt there was something different about this year’s team compared to others. Through a translator, he provided a succinct answer.

"Today was optional for everyone here,” Guerrero said. “And we're all here."

The Blue Jays will have the chance to put away the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday night. If Guerrero can keep up his astounding run at the plate, they should have a good shot at finishing the job.

ترتيب مجموعة مصر في كأس العرب 2025 بعد الهزيمة أمام الأردن ونهاية دور المجموعات

تلقى منتخب مصر هزيمة صعبة أمام الأردن بنتيجة 3-0، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثالثة رفقة منتخبات الأردن والإمارات والكويت.

وكان منتخب مصر قد تعادل في الجولة الماضية مع منتخب الإمارات بهدف لكل فريق، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس العرب.

طالع | تشكيل منتخب مصر أمام الأردن في كأس العرب.. مروان حمدي يقود الهجوم

وأحرز منتخب الأردن الهدف الاول أمام مصر بالدقيقة 17، والهدف الثاني بالدقيقة 40 من الشوط الأول، وسجل علي علوان الهدف الثالث من ضربة جزاء في الدقيقة 91.

وفي المقابل استطاع منتخب الإمارات الفوز على الكويت بنتيجة 3-1، في المباراة الأخرى بالمجموعة ويتمكن من حصد بطاقة التأهل إلى ربع النهائي محتلا المركز الثاني. ترتيب مجموعة مصر في كأس العرب 2025

1- الأردن، 9 نقاط.

2- الإمارات، 4 نقاط.

3- مصر، نقطتين.

4 الكويت، نقطة واحدة.

Presidente do Vitória confirma saída de ex-Flamengo e mira renovações

MatériaMais Notícias

Os jogadores do Vitória estão de férias, mas a diretoria do clube trabalha intensamente e corre contra o tempo para montar o elenco de olho na próxima temporada, que começa daqui a um mês. O presidente Fábio Mota, inclusive, já mapeou algumas necessidades da equipe e confirmou a saída de três jogadores do atual elenco, dois deles titulares.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVitóriaPresidente do Vitória alfineta o Bahia: ‘Não é nordestino’Vitória10/12/2025VitóriaPresidente do Vitória anuncia renovação com Jair VenturaVitória10/12/2025

✅ Clique aqui e siga o canal do Leão no WhatsApp para ficar por dentro das últimas notícias

O primeiro a ser citado durante a entrevista coletiva concedida nesta quarta-feira foi o atacante Carlinhos, ex-Flamengo, pouco aproveitado durante a temporada.

— O empréstimo de alguns jogadores estão vencendo e não vamos renovar, como Carlinhos — afirmou Mota.

Mesmo com a passagem de quatro treinadores pela Toca do Leão, Carlinhos manteve o status de terceiro na fila da posição de centroavante ao longo de todo o ano. Ainda assim, ele entrou em campo 23 vezes com a camisa vermelha e preta, com quatro gols marcados.

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Além de Carlinhos, Fábio Mota também revelou a saída do lateral-direito Raúl Cáceres e do volante Willian Oliveira. Ambos, inclusive, terminaram a temporada como titulares do time de Jair Ventura.

— O Raúl [Cáceres] quis voltar para a terra dele [Paraguai]. Quero aproveitar para agradecer os dois anos que ele passou aqui, um cara exemplar, dedicado e de bom caráter, mas está voltando para o país dele. Nós entendemos e desejamos sorte ao Raúl. O Willian também saiu com a mesma história, voltando para a terra dele. Recebeu uma proposta. Estamos trabalhando no mercado para repor essas duas peças. A meta é tentar ser o mais assertivo possível — detalhou.

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➡️Presidente do Vitória alfineta o Bahia: ‘Não é nordestino’

Vitória busca renovações

Além do trabalho para repor as saídas, o Vitória também busca renovar com atletas importantes do time que estão na reta final do vínculo por empréstimo. O presidente Fábio Mota citou seis nomes que se tornaram prioridade para o clube, já de olho na próxima temporada:

Thiago Couto (goleiro) – pertence ao Sport;Lucas Halter (zagueiro) – pertence ao Botafogo;Jamerson (lateral-esquerdo) – pertence ao Coritiba;Ramon (lateral-esquerdo) – pertence ao Internacional;Baralhas (volante) – pertence ao Atlético-GO;Erick (atacante) – pertence ao São Paulo.

— Estamos conversando com Halter. Entre Vitória e Botafogo está resolvido. Estamos conversando com o atleta. Baralhas e Vitória está adiantado. Vitória e Atlético-GO estamos conversando — iniciou o presidente Fábio Mota.

— Thiago Couto não deu porque o Sport está sem presidente. Estamos aguardando. Sobre Erick, estamos conversando com o São Paulo. Disseram que o São Paulo negou a proposta do Vitória. Não negou porque não fizemos ainda. Estamos na conversa. Estamos conversando com o Coritiba sobre Jamerson. Está bem adiantado. Estamos conversando com o Internacional sobre o Ramon. O objetivo do Vitória é renovar o contrato desses atletas — completou.

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Futebol NacionalMercado da BolaVitória

All-round Gardner sparks Sixers to another win

Less than a fortnight after Sydney Sixers were mauled by Melbourne Stars, they have won the return bout to continue their late-season WBBL surge.Ash Gardner starred with her highest score in the league for more than two years, as well as taking three wickets, in the 16-run win on Wednesday at Drummoyne Oval. The Sixers improved to equal-second in the standings with Stars, and have a game in hand.On November 20, Stars great Meg Lanning unleashed a batting masterclass against Sixers, and her 135 remains the top score of the season. But since that heavy loss, Sixers are on a three-game winning streak, with one no-result. By contrast, Stars have lost their past two matches to fall three points behind top side Hobart Hurricanes.After Sixers won the toss on Wednesday, Gardner headlined their innings with a quickfire 50 from 31 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes. It was her highest WBBL score since October 2023.Maia Bouchier’s 67 went in a losing cause•Getty Images

Opener Sophia Dunkley contributed 41 and Sixers reached a healthy 164 for 5.Stars looked shot when Gardner trapped Lanning lbw for just eight, leaving them 30 for 4.Enter Maia Bouchier, playing her first game of the WBBL season as a replacement for Marizanne Kapp. Bouchier combined with Kim Garth for a fifth-wicket stand of 82 that put Stars back in the hunt.After Gardner dismissed Garth for 17, Dani Gibson immediately hit three fours and suddenly the pressure was on Sixers.Stars were 131 for 5 in the 18th over when Bouchier rifled a low drive off Mady Villiers and Lauren Cheatle took an outstanding catch at cover. With Bouchier out for a match-high 67 from 40 balls, and Gibson dismissed in the next over for 17, Sixers could breathe again.Stars reached 148 for 8 as Gardner snared 3 for 31 from four overs.Sixers will close out the regular season against Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers, while Stars will play Sydney Thunder.

How the Gabba Test pitch will perform under lights

The Sheffield Shield match ended late on day three with Queensland players saying the twilight period was key

AAP25-Nov-20252:51

Ehantharajah: This defeat will hurt for England

Gabba curator Dave Sandurski is set to prepare a pitch for the day-night second Ashes Test that will reward both batters and bowlers, just like in the recent Sheffield Shield clash.Queensland’s Matt Renshaw and Xavier Bartlett were standout performers in the day-night pink-ball Shield game at the Gabba which they won by seven wickets on day three.Related

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Hazlewood returns to training, Cummins arms himself with pink ball

While the pitch for the Test will be a different strip, both players said the Gabba had presented a surface that rewarded bat and ball.Renshaw made 114 in the first innings while Bartlett scored 72 and took 4 for 35 in the second.The fact the Shield match finished at the end of the third day means Sandurski will get more preparation time with hot weather forecast ahead of the Test that starts Thursday week.”Gaining an extra day to get it close to that 10-day [preparation] period makes life just that little bit more comfortable,” Sandurski told AAP. “All indications are there is a bit of heat around. The wicket will dry out a lot quicker so you’ve got to make sure you keep enough moisture in it to last five days.”We try and make our wickets pretty much the same for four and five-day cricket. The aim is to provide a wicket where all players get a chance to perform their skills so hopefully all facets of the game come into the match.”Sandurski said the Shield match was indicative of how good batting and bowling would pay dividends at the Gabba.The Gabba during the day-night Sheffield Shield match•Getty ImagesThe two-day Test in Perth was a reflection of how England and Australia approached their task rather than the surface. “Years ago draws were acceptable but now they are not and people play more shots and can provide more chances,” added Sandurski.Bartlett identified the middle session, played in a twilight period under lights, as the key to success. Both he and Gurinder Sandhu extracted seam and pace from the surface in that period on day three.”Just on twilight the pink ball talks a little bit more and the game goes through massive ebbs and flows,” Bartlett told AAP. “You see wickets falling in clumps. You’ve got to stay in it and make the most of that middle session.”If the Test wicket is like the one we just played on it will be a really good cricket wicket. We got a result in three days but when you bat well you get rewarded and if you bowl well it’s the same.”Renshaw said that twilight period was a challenge and when the game could change quickly.”While batting it feels like you can get a ball with your name on it at some point, but I think it will be a pretty similar wicket to what we have normally had at the Gabba,” he said. “We saw the pink-ball Test a few years ago when West Indies were touring and it swung around at times and was also nice for batting.”

Wareham stars again as Melbourne Renegades make it two from two

The defending champions are off to a flying start with their stand-in captain leading from the front

AAP11-Nov-2025

Georgia Wareham continued her fine start to WBBL•Getty Images

Melbourne Renegades 151 for 6 (Wareham 58*) beat Sydney Thunder 148 for 7Melbourne Renegades captain Georgia Wareham has claimed back-to-back player-of-the-match awards in a four-wicket win over Sydney Thunder.Filling in for the injured Sophie Molineux, Wareham smashed 58 off 32 deliveries in the run chase at Junction Oval after claiming 2 for 25 with her legspin.Wareham had starred just two days previously against Brisbane Heat with bat and ball and she backed that up.The heavens opened on several occasions during the match but the players pressed on through it. After the Thunder made 148 for 7 in their 20 overs the Renegades were in trouble at 73 for 5.Wareham and Nicole Faltum (37 off 26 deliveries) then combined in a match winning partnership that enabled the hosts to coast to victory with 11 balls to spare.Wareham’s placement was superb as she compiled her runs with minimal risk and plenty of nous in her fifth WBBL half-century .Earlier, Thunder had a solid start provided by Georgia Voll (26) and Tahlia Wilson (30). But from 60 without loss they slipped to 79 for four and that was largely due to the influence of Wareham.In her four accurate overs she dismissed the dangerous Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield for just 12. Power hitting by Heather Knight and Anika Learoyd at the death gave the visitors a decent total but not enough to stop Wareham and Faltum.

Arsenal to “directly contact” £88m forward about joining after talks with his reps

Arsenal are poised to hold talks with a marquee forward about joining Mikel Arteta’s side as the Gunners plan to be active in the January window, according to a new report.

Arsenal squad depth attracts praise after busy summer

Arsenal’s current campaign is increasingly defined by their excellent squad depth, arguably the best in the Premier League.

Despite consistent injuries in key areas, Arteta’s side have shown an ability not just to cope, but to thrive.

The summer’s heavy investment in new faces is already paying dividends, with Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table and on an unprecedented 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Arsenal sealed a 2–0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, tightening their grip on the title race.

The routine win came courtesy of an early header from makeshift number nine Mikel Merino, who scored his 21st goal this calendar year, and a late strike from Bukayo Saka — despite Arteta enforcing an array of personnel changes.

What stands out is how Arsenal have seamlessly filled the gaps when injuries arise.

Arteta noted this week that this is one of the club’s “worst” injury spells in recent memory — and yet, the squad’s backup options have all stepped up to do their jobs.

Key defenders and attackers are still sidelined, and further absences could stretch the squad.

Gabriel Magalhaes is still weeks away from returning, and Arteta is waiting to discover the true extent of Cristhian Mosquera’s injury after he was hauled off against Brentford.

Kai Havertz also won’t be back for weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.

£282k-a-week star expressing wish to join Arsenal as agents open talks

His exit is a real possibility.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025

That being said, Arsenal look better equipped than ever before to handle a long, demanding season — and, crucially, to maintain their push towards a first league title in 22 years.

Arsenal to 'directly contact' Juventus star Kenan Yildiz about joining

Despite their plethora of options right now, a report from Turkish Football now claims that Berta and Arteta are planning for the January window, and one man attracting their serious attention is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

The Serie A rising star is currently Juve’s top performer, bagging four goals and three assists in the Italian top flight already this season after finishing last campaign as their standout attacker as well (WhoScored).

The 20-year-old is a wanted man in the Premier League, with Fabrizio Romano stating that Chelsea are big fans of Yildiz.

However, a lot of reports centre around Arsenal’s interest.

Corriere dello Sport stated earlier this week that Arsenal have held ‘new’ talks with Yildiz’s entourage, and this is backed up by Turkish Football.

The Gunners have already made their interest known to the player’s agents, but it is now believed that Arsenal will also ‘directly contact’ Yildiz about joining them after speaking to his representatives.

Yildiz’s ability to perform on the wing or almost anywhere across the front line — combined with his recent performances for club and country — make him an attractive target, with Juve still unwilling to meet his contract demands.

The impetus for the approach appears twofold.

On one hand, Yildiz’s contract renewal talks at Juventus have stalled, opening the door for Berta. On the other, Arsenal’s management seems determined to boost attacking depth — even after a major summer recruitment drive — perhaps aiming to add more youthful creativity and unpredictability to their forward line.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are also out of contract in under two years, and Yildiz would be a stellar option to replace them.

The Old Lady are poised to demand an eye-watering fee, though, reportedly around £88 million for their prized asset who ex-Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri called a ‘special talent’.

Juve may not find a club willing to shell out that much on Yildiz, but what’s crystal clear is that English sides are taking note of his exploits.

Plunket Shield: Williamson makes low-key return, Nicholls piles on the runs

The Phillips brothers sparkle in the Plunket Shield while Abbas returns from injury in the tour game against the West Indians

Deivarayan Muthu29-Nov-2025In his first game for Northern Districts in a year, Williamson lasted only 27 balls across two innings. After scoring 17 in ND’s first innings, he was dismissed for just 3 in their second on the final day at Bay Oval, his home ground, against Auckland. Williamson fell to rookie left-arm spinner Rohit Gulati in both innings. In the first dig, Williamson stepped out and shanked a catch to mid-off before being bowled in the second. Williamson will look to shake off the red-ball rust when he lines up for New Zealand against West Indies in their WTC opener in Christchurch from December 2.Nicholls notches up twin tonsHenry Nicholls missed the cut for the upcoming three-match Test series at home against West Indies, which will kick off New Zealand’s new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, and was not needed as a reserve batter during the preceding ODI series, but he reminded the selectors of his worth with twin centuries for Canterbury against Otago in Dunedin. This, after he had topped the one-day Ford Trophy charts in the first chunk of the season, with 306 runs in five innings.Nicholls, Canterbury’s captain, emulated his coach Peter Fulton in scoring centuries in each innings. Only four other Canterbury players have achieved the dual feat in the Plunket Shield. After making 111 off 157 balls in the first innings, Nicholls was even more fluent in the second, cracking an unbeaten 109 off 119 balls, which strengthened Canterbury’s push for victory.Canterbury also had hundreds from Ish Sodhi and No. 9 Sean Davey. Their unbroken 204-run partnership was the third-highest for the eighth wicket in the Plunket Shield. Sodhi celebrated his maiden first-class ton in dramatic fashion, pulling off the D-Generation X celebration, perhaps inspired by wrestling stars Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

The Phillips brothers sparkleAfter impressing in the first round on his return from injury, Glenn Phillips had another solid workout in the second, especially with the ball, bowling more than 25 overs in each innings for Otago against Canterbury. He came away with a match haul of four wickets, including that of New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham in both innings. Phillips found turn to scratch the outside edge of Latham and also snagged Canterbury’s first-round hero Matt Boyle. Legspinner Sodhi stopped Phillips six short of a hundred in Otago’s first innings and proceeded to dismiss him in their second innings, too, for 2.For Auckland, Glenn’s brother Dale followed up his first-innings 40 with his first hundred for his new side, having moved from Otago ahead of the season.Glenn Phillips had another good workout for Otago•AFP via Getty ImagesAbbas, Allen return to actionElsewhere in Lincoln, young batter Muhammad Abbas marked his return from a rib injury, which had forced him to miss five rounds of the Ford Trophy, with a half-century against the West Indians in a two-day tour game. Abbas stood up to Kemar Roach, pulling and punching the West Indians’ spearhead for fours.In Auckland, Finn Allen returned from injury for Auckland A, managing a run-a-ball 7 while opening the batting in a T20 game against Otago A at Keith Hay Park. This was Allen’s first competitive fixture since he suffered a foot injury during his MLC stint with San Francisco Unicorns.CD hunt down 361 after tactical declarationAfter captain Tom Bruce bravely declared with Central Districts 236 runs behind hosts Wellington in their first innings, his team successfully chased 361 on the final day to script a stunning win. Brad Schmulian and Curtis Heaphy, who was back from a hamstring injury, helmed the chase with a 292-run stand for the second wicket. Opener Heaphy departed for 132, but Schmulian remained unbeaten on 167 and got the job done for CD along with Dean Foxcroft.

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