In what would hand their promotion hopes a major boost, Southampton are now plotting a January move to sign a Premier League star who’s been told to leave his current club.
Will Still "delighted" after much-needed Sheffield United win
Prior to their 2-1 victory over a struggling Sheffield United side, Southampton had gone as many as six Championship games without a win. It’s a run that included frustrating draws against Watford and Portsmouth and one that could have quite easily led to several questions about Will Still’s position. But, at long last, it is now a run that has come to an end courtesy of Sheffield United.
In the end, it was Ross Stewart who was the hero of the hour as his brace secured the Saints’ 2-1 victory against Chris Wilder’s side in what Still described as the “ultimate Championship game”.
Asked if Southampton deserved all three points, the manager told reporters: “Overall, yes. I think we’ve been in control of large parts of it. We probably conceded another one of those annoying goals.
“You then miss a penalty and think, ‘Jesus, it’s going to happen again’, but we’ve not done that at all. We’ve made a few tweaks. We bought a bit of energy on the pitch and managed to turn it around. Getting back into the game is always tough when you’re away here.
“Then we’ve just kept at it and not felt sorry for ourselves. We’ve dug deep and got a brilliant win from Roscoe. It was the ultimate Championship game.”
Even after getting back to winning ways, however, there’s still work to be done at St Mary’s and the January transfer window will present Southampton with the perfect opportunity to welcome one particular upgrade.
Southampton plotting Ward-Prowse return
As reported by GiveMeSport, Southampton are now plotting a move to sign James Ward-Prowse in the January transfer window. The West Ham United midfielder has been told that he’s not in new manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans and could now return to the Saints less than three years on from sealing a £30m exit.
It would be a sensational return for the Southampton academy graduate, who could certainly do with a return to where it all started. Already dropped by Nuno, Ward-Prowse arguably needs the Saints just as much as they need him.
Whilst it’s been a frustrating couple of years, Ward-Prowse is still capable of taking Southampton to promotion if he completes his return in January. The 30-year-old could instantly partner Shea Charles at the heart of Still’s midfield and suddenly take the Saints from play-off hopefuls into automatic promotion contenders.
There will, of course, be question marks over their ability to afford such a player but West Ham could yet set a cut-price amid Nuno’s desire to show the midfielder the door. If that proves to be the case, then Southampton should take full advantage.
Ruben Dias has explained why Erling Haaland is “very similar” to Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Manchester City and Portugal defender having played with both. At club level, Dias has seen Haaland hit another purple patch that has helped him to reach 324 career goals three years quicker than five-time Ballon d’Or winner CR7 managed – with the prolific Norwegian seemingly taking his game to even greater heights.
Haaland goals in 2025-26: How many has he scored?
A red-hot start to the 2025-26 campaign has been enjoyed by Haaland, with the target being found on 23 occasions through 13 appearances for club and country. He came agonisingly close to claiming a ninth Premier League hat-trick last time out when bagging a brace for City in their 2-0 victory over Everton – with several big opportunities being spurned.
Just three months after turning 25, Haaland has reached 324 goals. He has hit that point considerably quicker than Ronaldo, who remains in the process of chasing down 1,000 – with the Portuguese GOAT, who now plies his trade for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, sitting on 949 and counting.
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Qualities shared by Haaland and Ronaldo
Dias will be hoping to help Ronaldo challenge for World Cup glory next summer, having starred alongside Haaland in City’s quest for more domestic and continental honours. He is understandably delighted to be a team-mate of two iconic goalscorers that boast similar traits.
Dias told reporters when asked about how Haaland and Ronaldo compare: “It's a good reflection of his state of mind. In that he is very similar to Ronaldo. Everyone wants to score goals, but both of them have this ability to just keep on scoring and scoring. We're just happy that Erling is in this moment and we want him to continue. We want to keep pushing him because we want him to break records that have not been beaten before.
“You need to ask Erling and Cristiano (about what makes them so special), but obviously mentality is key in everything that everyone does. That will be a big part of it. But also natural talent and a lot of other things.”
Best version of Haaland? Dias answers tough question
Haaland hit 52 goals for City in his debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, helping them to a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble. His 36 efforts in the English top-flight that season was a new record.
Quizzed on whether Haaland is even better now, Dias added: “I don't really know because Erling has beaten the Premier League goals record before, so better than ever? He's always been brilliant and on a very special level. Last season was obviously tricky for us, but it was probably the moment after winning so much.
“I actually don't know what his numbers are, but we will keep pushing him. We will push everyone on the pitch because only that way will we achieve great things. If anyone thinks we have won enough here then they're in the wrong place. If players keep pushing themselves for better individual form then a better collective form comes out. That's the only way.”
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Premier League record? Future targets for Haaland
Haaland is working on a contract at City through to 2034. Alan Shearer has told of his all-time Premier League goal record of 260 potentially being eclipsed by a man that currently has 96 to his name: “Yes, Haaland is the perfect centre-forward. His record is phenomenal, appetite to score is fantastic. I love it. He’s quick, strong, agile, he reacts quicker than most around the six-yard box which is impressive and his ability to put the ball in the back of the net is magnificent. If you’re building a footballer or centre-forward, you wouldn’t look too far away from Haaland being the perfect one.
“Haaland could definitely break my Premier League goal record. There’s no doubt that if he does another seven or eight years, maybe even less then he’ll have a brilliant chance of breaking it. But there’s so many ifs and different things that could happen to that. There are so many ifs and buts, but absolutely, if Haaland was to stay in the Premier League another six or seven years then he’s definitely someone who could, and probably will break my record.”
It remains to be seen how long Haaland will remain in Manchester. He continues to attract interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, as they remain in the market for the best players on the planet, and is already considered to be one of, if not the best goalscorer that the Premier League has ever seen – topping the likes of Shearer and Harry Kane.
Sunderland will be hoping they can make the Stadium of Light a firm fortress for all of the Premier League season to come.
The Black Cats are currently two wins from two on their own patch, with the only defeat they’ve tasted so far this league campaign coming on the road to fellow newly promoted side Burnley.
Of course, it’s unrealistic to expect the wins at home to keep piling up, but if more and more positive performances come their way on Wearside, survival will surely be in their clutches.
Regis Le Bris will be more at ease about his side’s survival chances, too, having just snapped up the services of former Ajax goal machine Brian Brobbey for a standout £21.6m.
Brobbey's standout deadline day move
Transfer deadline day was a busy one at the Stadium of Light.
An unwelcome bump in the road would come Sunderland’s way when news filtered out of the Premier League club that short-term loanee Marc Guiu was being recalled by Chelsea, with the Blues light on numbers up top after Liam Delap went down with an injury.
Thankfully, much like they had done throughout the chaotic window, Sunderland had a seamless plan up their sleeve in attempting to win more exciting purchases, with Brobbey drafted in late on to make up for Guiu’s unanticipated departure, alongside Bertrand Traore and Lutsharel Geertruida also entering the fray.
The expectation will now be that the lethal Dutchman can instantly hit the ground running after leaving his native Netherlands behind, having garnered quite the reputation for being a potent finisher in the Eredivisie.
Indeed, after smashing home a ridiculous 85 goals at youth level for the Amsterdam giants, the forceful 5-foot-11 hotshot would then go on to amass a similarly clinical 56 strikes from 163 senior outings, leading to former Dutch attacker turned pundit Pierre van Hooijdonk labelling him as “very annoying” to try and hinder.
Sunderland will, of course, now pray he can be as commanding in the English game.
But, they might well possess their own homegrown Brobbey already, if one raw youngster goes on to be a hit in the senior side down the line.
Sunderland's homegrown Brobbey
It isn’t a strange occurrence when a rising star from the Black Cats academy starts to make a name for himself in the senior ranks. Rather, it’s almost expected at this point.
Indeed, in recent years, both Chris Rigg and Tommy Watson have graced the Stadium of Light turf for their boyhood side in the Championship, with Watson – who is now at Brighton and Hove Albion – even scoring the decisive strike in the playoff final last season to send his beloved team back to the Premier League.
The next up-and-coming youngster in line for more consistent, first-team opportunities could well be Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi, with the teenage sensation already being dubbed a “super talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango for his whirlwind displays up front for both the U21s and U18s.
From 56 appearances in these age brackets, the promising Belgian talent has managed to amass a hefty collection of 27 strikes and four assists, and while those numbers do slightly pale in comparison to Brobbey’s own haul of 85 goals when starring on the youth pitches at Ajax, it does feel written in the stars that he will be their next highly-talked-about starlet that takes the first team by storm.
Games played
58
284
Goals scored
27
141
Assists
4
45
Age at first team debut
18
18
After all, when studying the table above, despite their vast difference in numbers, both Samuel-Ogunsuyi and Brobbey coincidentally share the same age when they made their respective senior debuts for Sunderland and Ajax.
Hopefully, the 18-year-old can soon follow in the Dutchman’s footsteps even more by becoming an overwhelming success story for the Black Cats, with a formative loan spell to come at Falkirk – where he has already been tipped to be a “crowd-pleaser” by Falkirk boss John McGlynn – likely to boost his confidence even more that he can cut his teeth in the senior game.
If all goes to plan, Sunderland could have their own version of Brobbey for free, with the teenager looking to the 23-year-old, too, for some guidance through the choppy waters of the men’s game.
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Liverpool are looking to complete the signing of an “incredible” player next year, potentially beating rivals Manchester United to his signature, among others.
Isak in Liverpool training ahead of debut
The Reds are back in Premier League action on Sunday action on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to Burnley in a game that many will expect to see the visitors win comfortably.
For Alexander Isak, it has the potential to be a special day, with the Swede in line to make his debut at some point, even if it is from the substitutes’ bench.
The 25-year-old took part in his first training session for Liverpool on Wednesday, with footage showing the elite finishing ability that he has in his locker, and why the Premier League champions were willing to pay Newcastle United a record-breaking £125m for his services.
Granted, Isak needs time to build up his match fitness, so as mentioned, Hugo Ekitike is likely to be preferred at Burnley this weekend, but a second-half cameo feels on the cards, in what is hopefully the first of many appearances in a Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool enter race to sign "incredible" ace
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now battling to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in 2026, whether that be in January or next summer.
Man Utd “face a fierce battle” with their biggest rivals, with FSG now entering the race, whereas Newcastle United and Chelsea are also mentioned as options for the £60m-rated England international.
Wharton is one of the most exciting young English players around currently, already becoming such an accomplished footballer at the age of just 21.
The Palace star is an elegant player with a lovely left foot, and he possesses the ability to both dictate play from a deep midfield role, but also shine out of possession, displaying good positional sense and a strong work ethic.
Wharton, who has won two of his three games against the Reds (66%), could be a brilliant squad addition for Liverpool, coming in as a replacement for Wataru Endo, before maturing into a key starter, having been lauded by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze.
“Playing with him at Palace, I’ve got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him. He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise. When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.”
"Huge money" – Liverpool eye 2026 move for "magician" after Isak and Wirtz
What a signing this could be.
ByHenry Jackson Sep 9, 2025
There was a time when United were clearly the more exciting proposition than Liverpool, but that has changed significantly in the modern game, and the hope is that Wharton sees the champions as his best future option, picking them over the Red Devils and other suitors.
Despite rejecting a deadline-day move, one Glasgow Rangers player who is not in the plans of manager Russell Martin could still complete a departure away from Ibrox.
Youssef Chermiti "only wanted" Rangers
A busy summer ended with a hectic deadline day for all involved at the Gers, who welcomed both Youssef Chermiti and Derek Cornelius. The former arrives with the task of helping to replace the goals of Hamza Igamane following the forward’s move to LOSC Lille, whilst Cornelius must somehow fix the leak within Martin’s backline.
Speaking for the first time since arriving from Everton, Chermiti told Rangers’ official website: “I am really happy to be here. As soon as Kevin [Thelwell] and the manager spoke with me, I did have other choices but I just wanted to join Rangers and I am here now.
“Kevin and I have had a good relationship since Everton and he text me during pre-season and I spoke with my agents and my family and we got this done. For me the most important thing is the interest from the club and the interest of the manager to be on the team. Of course I want to play so for me the most important thing was coming here to play.”
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There’s certainly room for the 21-year-old to hit the ground running too. Cyriel Dessers’ late departure should see Chermiti enter Martin’s squad as soon as possible in the hope of making an instant impact.
A similar departure also very nearly took place within Martin’s backline, only for one defender to reject an exit even though he’s not in the manager’s plans. The task that the Gers now have on their hands is showing him the exit door one way or another.
Nsiala could still leave Rangers
According to The Glasgow Times, Clinton Nsiala could still leave Rangers after rejecting a deadline-day loan move to Dynamo Kyiv. The defender is not in Martin’s plans and those at Ibrox are still trying to find the right move for him amid further loan interest from Anderlecht, KV Mechelen and Zulte Waregem.
The transfer window in Belgium doesn’t close until Monday, 8 September, which hands Nsiala just four days to seal a much-needed move away from the Scottish Premiership.
After just one year at the club and just 17 games, the 21-year-old would be wise to complete a move away to get his career back on track. The last thing that he needs is to stay put and remain outside of Martin’s squad entirely, having so far failed to make a single appearance this season.
Ultimately, Nsiala looks destined to go down as another transfer that failed to work out from the Philippe Clement era. What was a defender full of promise is now one that Rangers must move on before the end of the window elsewhere.
Luis Enrique has discovered a new tactical perspective by watching Paris Saint-Germain matches from the stands, first against Lens and then in the Champions League win over Atalanta. The Spaniard adopted the change after taking inspiration from rugby coaches and argues the vantage point offers clearer insights. However, he insists he will ditch this approach and not “play with fire” in Sunday’s heated clash with Marseille.
Luis Enrique enjoys view from the stands
PSG head coach Enrique has twice experimented with watching PSG matches from the stands. Seated higher up, headphones on, and giving instructions to his staff on the touchline, he found the vantage point valuable for observing team structure and opponent identity before later moving down to the touchline. But while Parc des Princes provided the perfect safe space for tactical exploration, Enrique has already confirmed that the upcoming fiery clash against Marseille will be a return to the touchline as he is mindful of both the hostile environment and his ongoing recovery from a broken collarbone.
AdvertisementAFPPSG coach already feels the heat of the game against Marseille
"I wanted to play the first half in the stands, it's always better because you have more information and the vision is better," he said after his side's 4-0 win against Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday. "At the same time, I think the players and the team overcame their pressure brilliantly. It's easier to see the opponent's identity and how to press them. In the second half, they changed a bit, they defended in a midfield block, but I think we dominated the whole match."
The Spaniard further added: "Away from home, I don't dare. Especially for my physical well-being, which is not at its best at the moment. It's better not to play with fire. I'll be down there with my players to feel the heat. It's a classic of French football, a match that everyone wants to play and coach in an intense atmosphere. It's always attractive for all the players."
Asked where the idea to observe from the stands, he said: "I've seen rugby coaches watch games with a very different perspective for a long time. I like the opportunity to look for that improvement. I wanted to watch the first half from the stands and it's magnificent. It's different. I can control everything. It's an interesting option that I'll use in the future. After that, you can do the halftime talk perfectly because you've seen exactly who played well on the pitch. We have a lot of direct information. In that sense, it's very positive."
No PSG fans allowed at Marseille clash
The Velodrome showdown has been rated a level 5 risk – the highest security alert – by France’s anti-hooliganism unit (DNLH). As a result, PSG fans are banned from traveling to Marseille, while OM supporters will miss the return match in Paris. The move comes after violent clashes with police in March and unrest during PSG’s title celebrations in May 2025. Even under heavy security, PSG–OM remains one of Europe’s fiercest and most volatile rivalries, with tensions off the pitch echoing the intensity on it.
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Getty Images SportPSG coping without star power
PSG have managed well without Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, with Bradley Barcola’s goals and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s recovery boosting the side in their outing against Atalanta. But their true depth and resilience will be tested in their upcoming league match against Marseille on September 22.
Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with a fairly drab 0-0 draw against fellow Premier League side Leeds United on Saturday.
Ruben Amorim’s side featured two new signings in Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha, whilst the Red Devils are still finalising a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
Whilst there will be a lot of focus on who Manchester United bring in to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window, the club also need to move on the players who are not going to be involved under Amorim next season.
One of those players, Marcus Rashford, appears to be on the verge of a move away from Old Trafford, as Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign the England international.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are set to sign the 27-year-old attacker on a season-long loan, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.
David Ornstein has added that the Spanish giants are also set to pay 100% of the forward’s wages during that loan spell, in what will come as a welcome relief to Manchester United.
Why Rashford to Barcelona is a good move for all concerned
Rashford is reportedly on £300k-per-week at Old Trafford, as per Capology, and that equates to around £15.6m per year, which shows that the club are set to save a huge amount of money as part of this deal.
Whilst it is not set in stone that the winger will sign for Barcelona on a permanent transfer next summer, as it is only an option, United can be thankful that they are not paying his enormous wages next season, given that he was not a part of Amorim’s thinking.
Rashford
It is money that could be allocated elsewhere, potentially to bring in further attacking reinforcements, as Rashford has not been consistent enough in the final third to prove that he is worth spending that kind of money on.
The England international was sent out on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that Amorim did not see a future for the academy graduate in his side.
Marcus Rashford’s expensive contributions
Season
Goals (all comps)
Yearly wage
Cost per goal
24/25 (Man Utd & Villa)
11
£15.6m
£1.4m
23/24 (Man Utd)
8
£15.6m
£1.95m
22/23 (Man Utd)
30
£10.4m
£346k
21/22 (Man Utd)
5
£10.4m
£2.08m
Stats via Sofascore & wages via Capology
As you can see in the table above, Rashford has failed to hit double figures for goals in two of the last four seasons in all competitions, and has only cost under £1.4m per goal scored in a season in one of the last four.
These statistics suggest that it is for the best that the English forward joins Barcelona on loan, with his wages paid in full, because United will be offloading a player, even if potentially just for next season, who has not justified his cost.
His exit will also create a space in the squad for United to bring in a replacement for him before the end of the summer transfer window, and the club are reportedly eyeing a star who could be an upgrade on him.
Man United make contact to sign Ligue 1 star
According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s versatile attacker Randal Kolo Muani.
The reporter claims that the Red Devils have already made contact with the Ligue 1 champions, as they pursue a potential transfer for the France international.
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Aouna adds, though, that Newcastle United have also made contact with PSG over a potential deal for the forward, which means that there could be stiff competition for his signature this summer.
The journalist’s article on Foot Mercato also reveals that Juventus are interested in a deal to bring him back to Turin, after he spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian giants.
This latest report does not outline how much money it would take to strike a deal with PSG for Kolo Muani, but a price tag of £50m was mentioned earlier in the summer.
Why Man Utd should sign Randal Kolo Muani
The Red Devils should push to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks because he could arrive at Old Trafford as an upgrade on Marcus Rashford.
Like the soon-to-be Barcelona player, the French attacker is a versatile talent who can play out wide on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, which would provide Amorim with a plethora of ways in which to utilise his qualities.
In fact, France teammate Kylian Mbappe described Kolo Muani as being a “very complete” forward, and United could benefit from his brilliant all-round play as their new centre-forward, if they can secure a deal for him this summer.
The 26-year-old star scored eight goals and provided one assist in 16 matches in the Serie A during the second half of last term, whilst Rashford only scored six goals in 25 outings in the Premier League.
24/25 Serie A
Randal Kolo Muani per 90
Percentile rank vs STs
xG
0.36
Top 41%
Goals
0.62
Top 9%
Shots on target
1.08
Top 27%
Successful dribbles
1.39
Top 20%
Touches in opposition box
6.03
Top 20%
Interceptions
0.31
Top 14%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, the Juventus loanee produced high quality in a host of key metrics, as he excelled as a dribbler and a goalscorer, whilst also putting in hard work to win the ball back for his side.
Whilst, with one assist, the creative side of his game was not on full display, Kolo Muani did assist 17 goals in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that he can be a fantastic creative threat when at his best.
The £50m-rated star, who scored two goals in three games at the Club World Cup, has delivered at least ten goals in all competitions in each of the last five seasons, whilst Rashford, as aforementioned, has only managed that in two of the last four years.
Kolo Muani could arrive as an upgrade on the England international because of his impressive form for Juventus in the second half of last season, as well as the almost guaranteed goals that his record suggests that he would provide in the final third.
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Jos Buttler rampaged into form in his second innings back in charge of England’s T20I side, a brutal 83 off 45 balls helping to clinically ice a chase of 159 and give the tourists a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.Batting once again at No. 3, Buttler followed up the good work of his bowling attack by peeling off the 26th 50-plus score of his career in T20 internationals, eight fours and six sixes ringing off his bat during a century stand with Will Jacks that saw England cruise to their requirement with more than five overs to spare.Having again won the toss and opted to bowl, England made good use of the conditions to leave West Indies three down in the powerplay, Saqib Mahmood striking twice to continue his prolific start to the series. Rovman Powell provided some ballast for West Indies with a 41-ball 43 but Romario Shepherd was the only other batter to reach 20 as Dan Mousley, in his second T20I, and Liam Livingstone shared four wickets.Although England then lost their centurion from Saturday’s successful chase of 183, Phil Salt, to the first ball of the reply, Buttler and Jacks dispelled West Indies’ hopes of making a game of it with a domineering stand of 129 from 72 balls. Both fell in the same Shepherd over but there was no reprieve forthcoming for West Indies.Hosein’s opening salvo Only three times had a score of 150 or less been defended in T20Is at Kensington Oval – and none since 2010. West Indies clearly needed to make early inroads with the new ball, and they couldn’t have gone any better in that regard. Akeal Hosein gave his first ball some air, found a little turn, and Salt’s aggressive thump went straight to hand in the covers. Buttler was then late in jabbing down on Hosein’s fourth delivery, the ball deflecting off the toe of the bat before bouncing over the stumps. Might the pitch still be tricky to master?Buttler serves up a classic The short answer was: no. Jacks did the early running, picking off boundaries against Matthew Forde and Hosein, with Buttler scoring just three runs off his first 10 balls. Back-to-back fours off Forde followed, before Jacks deposited Hosein over long-off. England were beginning to feel a little more comfortable as Shepherd came on to bowl the final over of the powerplay – and they were metaphorically in a deckchair sipping from a cold bottle of Banks by the end of it.Jacks again took the lead, clubbing four high over mid-off, before ceding the stage to Buttler. His first of three consecutive boundaries was something of an ungainly hack that spun away to the rope at deep backward point, but that was followed up by emphatically drilling Shepherd’s slower ball over the sightscreen, then walking across to the change of length and flipping four more over the head of short fine leg, as England reached the end of the powerplay on 56 for 1.Another bludgeon down the ground off Gudakesh Motie meant a replacement ball had to be sent for, and Buttler went to a 32-ball half-century by smashing Roston Chase into the crowd in the 10th over of the chase. Terrance Hinds, making his debut for West Indies, was collared for 15 runs as England brought up their 100 in the next, before Buttler went 6-6-4 against Chase. He fell in the next over, three balls after Jacks – and one ball after being dropped in the covers. But the finish line was already in sight for England, Livingstone creaming four boundaries in 11 balls and sealing the result with a six.Mahmood in the mood again There was early evidence of some juice in the pitch, with Bridgetown having been lashed by rain during the morning, as Evin Lewis edged Jofra Archer fortuitously wide of slip while attempting to leave in the first over. Brandon King was in no mood for sighters, though, and tried to thrash his second ball from Mahmood over the top: the ball stood up just enough off the surface to send a spiralling leading edge to mid-off.Archer had Lewis prodding and poking in the channel, before producing a brute of a lifter to flick the glove through to Salt. And although Mahmood struggled at times to control the amount of movement on offer, conceding 10 wides in his opening three-over burst, he picked up his fifth powerplay wicket of the series when beating Chase on the inside to win an lbw decision that was backed up on DRS as umpire’s call. West Indies were 35 for 3 inside the fourth over – marginally better off than their start to the first T20I, but not by much.Powell powers the revival West Indies needed a partnership and they got one from Powell and Nicholas Pooran – but it was not fluent. Pooran soon opted for seeing off the new-ball pair, given the movement on offer, while Powell was also circumspect, seeing off a maiden from Sam Curran in the eighth. The pair put on 35 from 43, with just a boundary apiece, before Pooran was lured from his ground by Livingstone, whose flighted offbreak left the West Indies No. 3 stranded.Powell had crabbed his way to 18 off 28 before he found his range, panning Livingstone over the midwicket rope for the first six. He lost another partner in Sherfane Rutherford, England reviewing successfully for lbw, and then somehow managed to muscle Rashid on to the rope at extra cover, despite aiming down the ground. Another boundary at the end of the over brought up West Indies’ 100; but just as Powell appeared set to unleash through the death overs, he was undone by Mousley’s 116kph/72mph yorker, which dipped under the bat to hit middle stump and give the 21-year-old his maiden international wicket.Windies tail wags The hosts only managed three boundaries between the end of the powerplay and the start of the 15th over, but after Powell’s dismissal, the lower order heaved away to good effect. Motie made good use of the extra pace Mousley put on the ball to thrash two fours in three balls, before Shepherd took back-to-back boundaries off Archer and crunched Curran down the ground. Forde also found the ropes three times in six balls, all them sweetly struck, while Hinds hit his second ball in international cricket for four – Mousley’s final over costing 15, including five wides down the leg side.
Aston Villa have made contact with the representatives of a £40 million Atletico Madrid ace who Unai Emery is a big fan of, according to a recent report.
Aston Villa make striker enquiry amid Ollie Watkins exit rumours
Villa may not have been expecting it, but so far in this transfer window, there has been a lot of talk about the future of star striker Ollie Watkins. The England international has been a key player for the Villans for a number of seasons now, but given the recent speculation, his time at the club could be coming to an end.
Aston Villa make enquiry to sign £60m star who scored in win at Villa Park
Aston Villa are among the teams interested in signing a Premier League striker.
ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025
It’s been reported that Manchester United are considering a bid to sign Watkins as they continue their search for a new striker. Meanwhile, Arsenal previously opened talks over a deal to sign Watkins, which may be stopped now they are close to signing Viktor Gyokeres. But Newcastle United are another team that are interested in Watkins and have placed him on their list of potential targets.
Therefore, no one can blame the Midlands side for looking at potential replacements, and according to journalist Nabil Djellit, Villa have submitted an enquiry to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea. The forward could leave Stamford Bridge this summer and is said to have a £60 million fee on his head. Villa are not alone in their pursuit of the player, as Man United have also submitted an enquiry.
Aston Villa make contact with £40m+ Atletico Madrid star
As the Premier League side assess their forward options, they also look to be in the market for a new midfielder. According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa have made contact with Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher’s representatives in a bid to bring him to Villa Park.
The report states that despite only joining the Spanish giants last summer from Chelsea, Gallagher could be open to a return to England, as he wants regular minutes. Atletico are not actively looking to sell Gallagher, but they would be open to a departure should they receive a fee in the region of €45-50 million, which is roughly £39-43 million.
This has alerted Villa, but they do face competition from teams such as Nottingham Forest and Newcastle. However, the Villans are the only team to have made contact with Gallagher’s representatives. Villa’s interest is likely being pushed by Emery, who is said to be a big fan of Gallagher’s ‘energy and Premier League experience’.
Apps
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The 25-year-old’s search for regular minutes may come as a surprise given he played 50 times in all competitions. However, the England international, once dubbed a “pressing and transition monster”, was very much in and out of the starting XI.
He started 19 games in La Liga out of 32 but started just four of the nine Champions League games he played in. Given how Emery feels about Gallagher, a return to England could see him be a regular in the Villa side.
Du Plooy makes fifty against former team before Roland-Jones unbeaten stand
ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2024
Ryan Higgins whips one to the leg side•Getty Images
Middlesex 342 for 7 (Higgins 107, du Plooy 57, Roland-Jones 51*) vs DerbyshireRyan Higgins again proved the saviour of Middlesex as the hosts fought back from early trouble to post 342 for 7 against visitors Derbyshire on day one at Lord’s.The Zimbabwean-born all-rounder battled to a fourth century of the season from 152 balls, reaching his ton in the grand manner with a six into the Mound Stand as the hosts recovered from 189 for 6.Higgins and Seaxes skipper Toby Roland-Jones, whose 51 not out was his first championship half-century for 21 months, rewrote the record books with their unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 112 eclipsing that of 95 by Wilf Slack and Colin Metson set at the County Ground Derby in 1981.The late plunder was harsh on a Derbyshire attack who were excellent for much of the day, spinner Alex Thomson the pick of the bunch with 2 for 43.Middlesex’s decision to bat first on winning the toss was greeted by applause from the home faithful accustomed to seeing them insert opponents this season Ironically, it soon became clear their decision had been made on the sportiest wicket seen at Lord’s this campaign.Zak Chappell struck in the first over having Sam Robson taken at backward point, the former England opener back in the hutch without a run on the board. It set the tone for a fascinating morning’s cricket where Derbyshire’s bowlers extracted plenty of life and bounce from a green-tinged surface.Both Mark Stoneman and Max Holden had uncomfortable moments, the former nicking one from Chappell just short of slip, while the latter slashed another swinging ball from the probing Sam Connors wide of the close-catching cordon.The hosts appeared to have survived the worst when Stoneman flicked at a delivery wide down the leg-side from Anuj Dal, wicketkeeper Brooke Guest flying to his right to catch.New batter Leus du Plooy, playing against his former county, and Thomson began a gripping duel in the run-up to lunch, the batter looking fidgety and trying to give the bowler the charge, the spinner countering, mixing some tempting tossed up deliveries with others fired in short to stop his former teammate in his tracks.Holden was becalmed either side of lunch as the ball began to swing under increasing cloud cover and his patience ran out as he slashed a wide one to Aneurin Donald at slip.Again, Du Plooy and Higgins weathered a storm, the former unfurling some glorious extra-cover drives and playing a delicious late cut through third in advancing to his half-century.Thomson though proved his nemesis, when Du Plooy got too far away from one that bounced and gave Guest another catch to end a stand of 63.He’d also account for Nathan Fernandes before tea, a ball too close to cut, flying to Wayne Madsen at slip and when Jack Davies edged through to Guest five balls after the interval, Middlesex were 189 for 6.An unusually subdued Higgins, who’d been given a life on 33 when Donald grassed a chance at slip from a reverse sweep off Thomson, found sufficient rhythm to move through to 50 with five fours. Luke Hollman kept him company for a while before edging one from Daryn Pavillon to the diving Madsen at slip.With that, Higgins began to chance his arm and ride his luck, twice edging through the gap in the slip cordon to the fence at third, and with Toby Roland-Jones reviving memories of bygone days bat in hand with a couple of dreamy cover-drives the pair rattled up a 50-partnership in good time.The skipper broke his bat digging out a Connors Yorker and the change proved fruitful as he sent the next delivery over the short boundary into the Mound Stand. He later repeated the feat to raise the second batting bonus point and to compound Derbyshire’s growing frustration Higgins was reprieved a second time on 88 when a chance above head high at second slip fell to earth, Pavillon the unlucky bowler.He made the most of the let-off to reach his hundred in the death throes of the day, Roland-Jones’ landmark following shortly afterwards.