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Manchester United’s business this summer is already in full flow, after Matheus Cunha was announced as their first signing ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Red Devils forked out a whopping £62.5m for the Brazilian international, who registered 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League this campaign.

However, whilst it may seem like a hefty figure, it’s an excellent deal for a player who can change the club’s fortunes, after a dismal spell in front of goal over the last couple of months – scoring just 44 league goals in 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim doesn’t appear to be done there though, with a striker still high on his list of priorities, leading to numerous names mentioned over a move to Old Trafford.

Liam Delap was seen as the number one target before his subsequent move to join Chelsea, resulting in a shift of focus, with numerous of Europe’s elite still on their radar.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Over recent weeks, numerous top-level talismen have been mentioned as options for United, as Amorim looks to land the goalscorer who can catapult the club back up the table next season.

Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitiké have all been mentioned as potential options for the Red Devils, with no deals yet completed for any of the aforementioned stars.

However, that same can’t be said elsewhere, as they appear to be making a move for Juventus star Dušan Vlahović, that’s according to the latest report from FootballTransfers.

They claim that Amorim’s side have entered talks with the Italian outfit over a move for the striker, who currently earns £315k-per-week, according to Capology.

It also states that he’s keen on a move to join United this summer, seeing the switch as an opportunity to take his career to the next level, with a Premier League move the dream for the Serbian.

Why Vlahovic would be United’s answer to Haaland

Erling Haaland has been one of the Premier League’s leading talismen over the last couple of years, often causing United a whole host of problems in the process.

The Norwegian joined Manchester City back in the summer of 2022 from Borussia Dortmund, subsequently going on to score 121 times in his 142 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s men.

He’s managed to score six times in his eight appearances against the Red Devils, including a hat-trick in the 6-3 rout at the Etihad back in the 2023/24 campaign.

Given his record, most sides across England’s top-flight must wish they had their own version of the talisman, with Amorim potentially able to do just that with Vlahovic.

The 25-year-old has been labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref, with hope that he can transfer his skillset over to Old Trafford should he move in the coming months.

When comparing their respective figures from the 2024/25 campaign, the Serbian has managed to outperform in numerous key areas, showcasing what an amazing addition he would be this window.

Vlahovic, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered more progressive carries and more progressive passes per 90 in 2024/25, showcasing his all-round nature with the ball in attacking areas.

How Vlahovic compares to Haaland in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Vlahovic

Haaland

Games played

29

31

Goals scored

10

22

Progressive carries

1.4

0.8

Progressive passes

1.2

0.6

Aerials won

2

1.8

Fouls won

0.9

0.4

Take-on success

42%

36%

Stats via FBref

He’s also won more aerials per 90 and drawn more fouls, subsequently offering Amorim a huge focal point at the top end of the pitch, something which he’s craved since his appointment.

The Juve star has also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted, able to play off the shoulder or even drop deeper and complete a mazy run past the opposition.

Such a move would likely cost the club a hefty whack in wages, but it’s one that could hand the side the needed attacking threat they’ve lacked this season.

If he manages to reach the levels produced by Haaland over recent years, it would be a sensational pick-up and one that could catapult the side back up the table.

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Posts 2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 17, 2025

After last night’s huge Champions League triumph, Arsenal have demonstrated that they are capable of beating Europe’s elite, a signal as to how far they’ve developed in recent years.

Mikel Arteta deserves a tremendous amount of credit for the work he’s done in rebuilding the side over the last five years, with all his work leading up to the win over Real Madrid.

After such a display at the Santiago Bernabéu, supporters will undoubtedly be hugely confident that the side can go all the way and claim their first European title come the end of the campaign.

However, with the summer transfer window approaching, decisions will need to be made on the futures of numerous players currently plying their trade at the Emirates.

Signings will need to be made to continue the rebuild, potentially allowing the Gunners to compete with Europe’s elite on a consistent basis for many years to come.

The latest update on Arsenal’s hunt for summer signings

Over the last couple of days, links to Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres have rapidly developed, with Arsenal just one of the sides in the race to land his signature this summer.

Reports earlier this week claimed that Gunners sporting director Andra Berta has already held talks with his representatives over a move to North London ahead of the window opening.

It’s also been reported that the Swedish international is keen on a move to join Arteta’s side, with a £60m fee mooted to land the talisman, who’s netted 87 times in the last two seasons.

Any deal for the 26-year-old would see the side finally land the focal point they’ve desperately lacked, but he could be joined in the final third by Spanish winger Nico Williams.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have pulled out of the race, leaving Arsenal as the favourites to trigger his £50m release clause in the coming months.

Why Gyokeres would star at Arsenal along with £50m star

Given his goalscoring record in the Liga Portugal over the last couple of seasons, it’s no secret that Arsenal would be getting themselves a proven goalscorer who would take the side to the next level.

However, there’s only so much a striker can do on his own, often relying on the creativity of players around him to produce the goods to allow them to thrive.

Injuries have massively plagued Arteta’s side in the final third throughout 2024/25, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all missing large chunks of the campaign.

Depth is desperately needed this summer, with a potential partnership of Gyokeres and Williams alongside Saka one to be feared by sides across the Premier League.

The Spaniard has all the tools to provide the Swede within the final third, with his stats from LaLiga demonstrating the quality he possesses with the ball at his feet.

The 22-year-old, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Ben Mattinson, has registered five assists this season, but his underlying stats showcase how much of a threat he is in the final third.

Williams has notched a total of three successful take-ons and 5.3 progressive carries per 90, undoubtedly at his best when marauding forward with the ball at his feet.

He’s also registered 1.9 key passes and 5.1 crosses completed per 90, with both of his respective tallies providing Gyokeres with ammunition to score within the final third.

The Spaniard’s talent doesn’t stop there, achieving 5.2 shot-creating actions and 3.2 progressive passes per 90, once again highlighting the talent he boasts to provide opportunities for those around him.

Whilst the pair would likely set the Gunners hierarchy back around £110m this summer, it’s a bargain price given the elite-level talents they would be signing.

The prospect of the pair linking up at the Emirates is a hugely exciting one, with the pair having the skillset to push the club closer to ending their two-decade wait for a league title.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 17, 2025

When it rains it pours for Ruben Amorim. Walking into Manchester United, he will have been under no illusions that the size of his task at Old Trafford was a colossal one.

However, not even he would have envisaged the opening months of his tenure to play out like this.

Indeed, as Newcastle battered the Red Devils 4-1 inside St James’ Park in the Premier League on Sunday, Amorim walked back down the tunnel having not won for the 20th time in 33 matches at the helm.

Erik ten Hag hardly left this side in the best of states but you’d expect better results, even if the Portuguese is still relatively new to the role.

Alas, football is a cutthroat sport and he will need to get it right sooner rather than later.

Still, at least he’s not afraid of making the big calls, dropping Andre Onana from his squad entirely this weekend. Sadly, his deputy didn’t cover himself in too much glory either.

Bayindir's performance vs Newcastle

Last week, goalkeeper Onana engaged in a war of words with former United star Nemanja Matic who was in the Lyon squad to face them in the Europa League on Thursday.

Matic noted that the Cameroon stopper was “the worst ‘keeper in Manchester United history” and to the script, Onana had a howler in France, spilling a ball from out wide into the net in the first half.

So, in a bid to take him out of the firing line, Amorim decided that Onana would not travel to the north east this weekend.

As a result, Turkish stopper Altay Bayindir stepped in to take the gloves. While he hasn’t been handed too many opportunities this term, he was the FA Cup hero when United beat Arsenal in the shoot-out back in January.

While he could have done little about three of the four Newcastle goals, scored by Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, he did make a mistake of his own.

Up to that point, it honestly hadn’t been a bad afternoon for Bayindir but his error, right when he needed to coast through a game unnoticed, will not have done him many favours.

Eddie Howe’s side were already 3-1 up at this point when the Turk inexplicably chipped the ball straight to Joelinton. The Brazilian lept high and headed it into the path of Guimaraes who wasn’t going to miss.

Speaking after the game, Amorim was asked what he said to the goalkeeper at full-time: “Nothing, I’m going to continue to do the same. We are going to analyse the game, but we need to focus on the next one. We cannot change this one.”

It was an error-filled game for United, with Noussair Mazraoui also at fault, slipping in the build-up to Barnes’ second goal and effectively handing them a second on a plate.

Still, at least they had their good moments. Bayindir, despite conceding four, was not at fault for any of the other goals.

Performance in Numbers

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They weren’t the only two who deserve a bit of flack come full-time, however.

4/10 Man United star must be given the boot

While the defensive display left plenty to be desired, there were some positives from a United point of view, none more so than Alejandro Garnacho’s goal, fed nicely by a rampaging Diogo Dalot who looked in fine form moving forward.

There was also a first-team debut for 18-year-old Harry Amass, who in the words of Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst, ‘did not look remotely out of his depth.’

Luckhurst was not complimentary of everybody, however, notably Christian Eriksen. While he deemed Bayindir and Mazraoui worthy of 5/10 match ratings, their Danish teammate only picked up a 4/10 rating with the reporter noting that he was ‘often off the pace amid the intensity’ of the game at St James’ Park.

The fact of the matter is that Eriksen should not be starting for United on the best of days, let alone against a fast-paced Newcastle side.

The playmaker has been a wonderful servant to the Premier League, but it’s so obvious that his best days are behind him now. Indeed, writer Sam Pilger suggested that he “should be nowhere near the the starting line-up”, accusing the veteran of lacking “muscle and pace”.

Eriksen vs Newcastle

Minutes played

90

Touches

54

Accurate passes

42/47 (89%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Accurate long balls

1/2

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

0

Duels won

2/4

Stats via Sofascore.

The Denmark international’s display was summed up by his involvement in the third goal, scored by Barnes.

While Mazraoui slipped, his teammates, notably Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof and Eriksen, hardly did much to disrupt the Newcastle number 11 from bearing down on goal. Neither Yoro or Eriksen could get close enough to the Toon attacker who was allowed to just surge towards the goal with ease.

The Dane’s numbers were hardly very pretty either. He did complete 89% of his passes but did not have a shot, complete a key pass, register a dribble or make an interception, just to condemn his woes from a defensive point of view.

Ahead of a vital second leg against Lyon on Thursday, Amorim must ensure that the 33-year-old isn’t in his starting lineup.

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Australia’s ruthless performances across formats expose gulf between teams, despite England’s pre-series optimism

Valkerie Baynes01-Feb-2025England’s post-Ashes review has begun, even before any formal announcements, with captain Heather Knight and Jon Lewis, the head coach, forced to consider their positions in light of an unprecedented 16-0 defeat.While Lewis has been forthright, insisting he is the right person to take the team forward in the immediate aftermath of England’s innings defeat in the Test to conclude a terrible tour, Knight was not about to make an “emotional” call on her future just yet.Any decisions may be taken out of their hands with Clare Connor, the ECB’s deputy chief executive, due to address a media conference over the weekend.It is hard to see what more Knight could have done, other than scream – as she often looked like she wanted to do – every time an England fielder shelled a regulation catch during the series.And there’s no guarantee that would have helped any more than the high-level training she and Lewis say England have displayed outside of matches.Poor shot selection was another weak point for England throughout and, while she was culpable herself, Knight was her side’s leading run-scorer with 229 runs across all three formats, behind only Australian Beth Mooney’s 409 overall.”I’m probably going to sit on the fence again and say it’s a time to probably not think about it,” Knight said after being asked, not for the first time on the tour, whether she was thinking about her position.”Things are pretty raw and have obviously happened pretty quickly. I think the coming weeks is a time for everyone to reflect on what we could have done better, how we’re going to improve as a side. That’s not an emotional decision that’s going to be made now, it’s in the coming weeks.”Related

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If England are to move on from Knight after nine years at the helm, they must consider who they have to replace her and whether they are a better option.Nat Sciver-Brunt said last week she would “love to lead the girls… whenever that time is” when asked if she’d like to be England captain one day.It was the sort of response Sciver-Brunt was obliged to give, to avoid headlines screaming that she was out to take Knight’s job or that she didn’t have any desire to lead her country, rather than an outright expression of her willingness to take the role now.Sciver-Brunt is part of England’s four-pronged leadership group, which also includes Amy Jones and Sophie Ecclestone, and she has stood in as skipper before, including partway through England’s T20 World Cup exit in October after Knight injured herself while batting against West Indies.A chaotic fielding performance ensued and Lewis came onto the field during a drinks break, his efforts to help lift the team going in vain as West Indies won by six wickets and ended England’s campaign in the group stages.Sciver-Brunt cannot be blamed for England’s fielding woes in that instance, any more than Knight can be held responsible for the lack of improvement in that area since.When Amy Jones stood in as captain during India’s 2022 tour of England, she said the on-field leadership role was “definitely not something that comes naturally to me”. That was two and a half years ago and being part of a wider leadership group may have built Jones’s confidence in that area.Ecclestone’s penchant for wearing her heart on her sleeve – which is very unlike Knight, Sciver-Brunt and Jones – while shouldering the responsibility of leading England’s spin attack might count against her. That is unless England opt for a real shake-up of the role.Even then, Ecclestone’s apparent refusal to do a post-match interview with former team-mate turned broadcaster Alex Hartley, who had earlier questioned the fitness of some members of the England team, became the flashpoint of the tour and is the sort of controversy the ECB would want to avoid.The absence of a clear-cut successor combined with Knight’s relatively strong individual performances and limited responsibility for England’s failings make a case for her staying on as captain. Whoever leads the side going forward, they need a thick skin. Just ask her.”There’s always highs and lows, and that’s the joy of the job,” she said. “Sometimes it tests you, tests your character, tests the good times and the bad times, and you have to take them on the chin, the bad times, to enjoy the good times.Heather Knight has much to consider after England’s 16-0 drubbing in Australia•Getty Images”It’s always a tough place to come and tour as a cricketer and particularly as a leader. We haven’t played well enough, and you’re going to feel that as a leader and feel that on your shoulders. I’m certainly frustrated with how the team has gone. We haven’t shown our best cricket and we’re all obviously very frustrated with that and pretty gutted.”Lewis, too, is under scrutiny. Since taking over in late 2022, he has overseen the highs of England’s home Ashes series, where Australia narrowly retained the trophy, and the lows of the T20 World Cup and this series.After England lost the third T20I of this Ashes by a massive 72 runs – they also lost the first by 57 runs – Lewis denied that the eight-points-all draw in 2023 had given his side too much confidence.Instead, he said, it was a case of England being unable to execute in the crucial moments of this series and adapt in the face of a relentless Australian side at home.No one in a position to effect change has offered a solution to that in all the early picking over England’s defeat, and there were worrying signs even before that.Lewis expressed concern ahead of the series about the hectic schedule – which was the same for both sides.He also suggested that a Bondi Beach packed on a Sunday morning with swimmers and touch rugby players gave Australia an inherent advantage in terms of athleticism and talent pool (there was no pun intended, despite how bizarre the notion was).Young, inexperienced players learning their craft on the international stage has been mentioned more than once as another explanation for England’s struggles.It was all sounding like excuses.Meanwhile, Australia were the team with real problems in terms of injuries to key players and yet they took it all in their stride to grind their opposition into the dirt.The hosts were without injured captain Alyssa Healy and key allrounder Ash Gardner for the T20 leg of the series, with Mooney standing in as wicketkeeper and vice-captain Tahlia McGrath stepping up to the senior role.Healy’s availability for the Test was uncertain right up until match eve, causing uncertainty over the batting order for a time.Australia’s dominance of the Women’s Ashes was absolute•AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia wiped the T20Is 3-0 and scored 440 in the Test, including centuries for Mooney and Annabel Sutherland for a 270-run lead on first innings. They did so with Ellyse Perry coming in at No.10 after injuring her hip in the field on the first day.After the Test, Healy announced that she faced a period on the sidelines to resolve her foot stress injury and said she was “going to have a look at a couple of things and how I can be better, maybe a bit more disciplined in some areas”.Healy’s assertion that she could do more, even when injured, epitomised Australia’s constant desire to be better even when they are on top.England’s somewhat improved performance in the field on the third afternoon of the Test and the resilience of tailenders Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell in delaying the inevitable amid a nine-wicket innings from Australia spinners Alana King and Gardner can’t paper over the chasm between these sides.Connor herself, may come in for some tough questioning.She announced a sweeping restructure of domestic women’s cricket in the wake of England’s 12-4 home Ashes defeat in 2019, a process that is ongoing with the alignment of women’s teams to county sides starting this spring. Yet the gulf between England and Australia that was supposed to be closed by those changes is now as stark as ever.The ECB has repeatedly talked up their investment in and professionalisation of women’s cricket, which stands to benefit further from the sale of the Hundred franchises. But if the structural changes already underway need more time to come to fruition, then the ECB must manage expectations.The MCG hosting an aggregate crowd of 35,365 over the three days of a dead-rubber, surpassing the record attendance for a women’s Test set at Trent Bridge in 2023 by the end of the second day, further rammed home the strength of the game in Australia.After their weakest performance in the multi-format era of the Women’s Ashes, it is now incumbent upon England to stage a remarkable recovery.

Ireland need a series whitewash to secure direct qualification for the World Cup, at South Africa’s expense

Mohammad Isam08-May-2023Bangladesh and Ireland played their first ODI series in thirteen years in March. They are now playing another starting Tuesday. This one is far more important for the hosts as the three-match ODI series in Chelmsford is the last chapter of the ICC’s ODI Super League. The result of this series will directly affect a third country: South Africa. Ireland were thumped 2-0 in the previous ODI series between the sides in Sylhet, but Chelmsford is vastly different. The visitors, although in good form, will only have one day to train at the ground to figure out the conditions

South Africa will be watching

Ireland have a big task on their hands during this ODI series. They have to beat Bangladesh 3-0 and one of those wins have to be by a big margin. Ireland are 30 points and 0.305 runs per over in net run rate behind South Africa, who are in eighth place in the points table. Ireland are in eleventh place so if they have a great series, their first whitewash against Bangladesh, a World Cup place will be theirs.South Africa will however be hoping that that isn’t the case and would certainly be backing Bangladesh, the team who beat them 2-1 in March 2022 in their backyard. Bangladesh have already qualified, and winning the series will take them to second (3-0) or third (2-1) spot in the points table. They are currently in fourth position but a strong finish in the points table is what captain Tamim Iqbal had desired at the start of the ICC ODI Super League.

Ireland return from the subcontinent

Josh Little’s return from the IPL is good news for the home side. The addition of Craig Young will also bolster their pace attack as Ireland try to bounce back from a long and tough tour of the subcontinent. They lost both ODI and T20I series in Bangladesh, as well as the two Tests against Sri Lanka. But they will be happy about some individual performances.Graham Hume performed admirably in the white-ball leg of Ireland’s Bangladesh tour•AFP/Getty ImagesCurtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker and Paul Stirling struck Test centuries while Harry Tector’s three fifties made him Ireland’s highest scorer on their tour of the subcontinent. Andy McBrine had a stellar Test match in Dhaka when he took a six-for, Ireland’s best bowling show in the two tours, apart from a fighting half-century.Graham Hume was the surprise package in the bowling department, particularly in the white-ball matches in Bangladesh. In trying conditions and flat batting pitches, Hume was their best performer, including taking a four-wicket haul. Ireland would however want contributions from their captain Andrew Balbirnie and some clarity on George Dockrell’s role.

A different challenge for Bangladesh

The visitors have struggled to regularly train at the Fenners ground in Cambridge due to rain. Their practice match was also abandoned due to rain. Away in Chelmsford, there was no training for either side in the lead-up to the series as there was a County Championship match ongoing till May 7. The only time they will get a look at the main venue will be on the eve of the match.Tamim is leading a well-oiled machine. Bangladesh’s only glitch recently was losing to world champions England in a home ODI series in early March. They beat India late last year, having already made it to the World Cup directly. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim have been Tamim’s most important performers, while Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have contributed heavily too. Taskin is missing out due to an injury, but the rest are in this squad.Mushfiqur Rahim scored Bangladesh’s fastest ODI hundred during their home series against Ireland•AFP/Getty ImagesBangladesh’s scoring rate has also stood out recently. They went at 6.61 runs per over against Ireland, their all-time highest in an ODI series . It is a continuation of their progressive scoring rate that they have developed, partly through their T20I exploits, in the last 12 months. Mushfiqur has recently scored Bangladesh’s fastest ODI century, while newcomers like Towhid Hridoy have also adopted the rapid scoring policy.

ODIs return to Chelmsford

This will be the first ODI at the county ground in Chelmsford in 24 years. Two of the three ODIs it has hosted were played during the 1999 World Cup. Bangladesh played one of those matches, their first ever World Cup match, against New Zealand. Of course none of those players, coaches or officials are part of this team now, but there’s some knowledge available about the ground.Chelmsford is one of the smallest grounds in the county circuit but the pitches can be bowler-friendly. Swing and seam are generally the main threat but offspinner Simon Harmer has been unplayable at times too. High-class spin will make an impact. At the same time, six of the last eight one-day matches here featured 300-plus first-innings totals. If the rain stays away, it promises to be an interesting contest.Tamim: ‘We have two or three players for No. 7 role’
Batting deep in these conditions will be an important aspect. Bangladesh have however gone the other direction in recent matches, as they have looked to bolster their bowling attacks in white-ball cricket. Mehidy’s batting improvement has meant he can occupy the No 7 spot although in situations when they need extra batters, they will look for a big hitter at that position. Tamim said two days before the first ODI that they are interested in playing an extra bowler, but understands the importance of a good contribution from the No 7.”No 7 is a very important position,” he said. “It is also an under-appreciated position. A 25-run innings is sometimes equal to fifty at No 7. It is a thankless spot, but it is very important. We have two or three players in that position. [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz has shown the capability of batting well. He single-handedly won the series against India with his batting.”If he bats at No 7, we can play an extra bowler. We will look at these combinations in this and probably the next series too. Six bowlers is a lot of options. But five bowlers means that if someone has a bad day, you are stuck as a captain and team.”

South Africa played like a team intent on silencing the noise around them but still came up second to England once again

Firdose Moonda27-Nov-2020International cricket is back. In South Africa. And by South Africa. But England are still the masters of the white-ball.As recently as 12 days ago, this series was in danger of not happening and CSA was in danger of having its status as the national body of cricket in this country stripped away. The sports minister was ready to step in and potentially prevent them from fielding a team that could call itself South Africa.As recently as Thursday, South African cricket’s chief medical officer warned that if a significant number of players contracted Covid-19, matches could be called off. Two of the 24-man squad had returned positive tests so his fears were not entirely unfounded.And here we are. For the first time in almost eight months, the South Africa men’s team got on the park and it was clear they had something to prove. Until the 17th over of England’s innings, South Africa played like a team intent on silencing the noise. Like a team that wanted to end the wittering around themselves and their culture, the whispers around the administration and the crisis. And even in that over that cost 28 runs and put England on the path to victory, South Africa still played in a way that amplified the sound of bat on ball. Finally. There was cricket.ALSO READ: Bairstow 86* powers England to five-wicket winIn the lead up to this series, the conversation has been about sportsmen and social justice especially when it comes to racial prejudice. Given the history of Apartheid, colonialism and slavery, South Africa could be one of the countries that could best understands and embodies the antiracist doctrine, but it is still grappling with recent schisms and trying to find solutions.CSA’s attempt was to put up two large banners with the message “We stand in solidarity against racism and gender-based violence” and drape them over stands at opposite ends of the ground. But on the day that New Zealand and West Indies took a knee and Australia and India formed a barefoot circle, the absence of any gesture from South Africa was glaring. They are the only one of the six teams that were in action who have not symbolically shown their support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, even though they insist they are working on living out a doctrine of equality.On top of that, they also have other causes to be concerned about. The first 16 days of next month are dedicated annually as days of activism against gender-based violence and both teams wore black armbands to mourn those who lose their lives to abuse and those who have died from Covid-19. In South Africa, the latter has risen to more than 21,000 and with infection rates rising, there are fears of many more. Ten minutes before the start of play, flags were frantically lowered to half-mast, where they should have been flying since Wednesday. Among the many things that needed to be done as Newlands got ready for international cricket, it seemed someone remembered that one just in time.As South Africa lined up to sing their national anthem, directly in front of the SuperSport commentary team, they could hear JP Duminy being asked about BLM and supporting the activist sportsman. An aura of awkwardness settled over the opening salvo and when the final chords of “Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika” rung out, and everyone remained standing, it felt as though something had been left unsaid, or undone. History will judge South Africa’s (in)action and assess how well they have applied the principles of inclusion they have committed to.It may also see this season as one in which South Africa built on the foundation stone’s laid last summer, when a new coaching regime took over. Their tenure showed promise, with a Test victory but it was clear they needed time. The longest off-season since readmission may not have been exactly what they had in mind but it gave them room to reflect and reimagine the kind of team they want to be.We need more than one match to be able to see what their new approach of “aggressive, but smart,” means but we can already make some deductions. Faf du Plessis best demonstrated it with the bat when he twice went close to hitting one of the Egyptian geese that have made the Newlands outfield their home, but twice evaded them. While Harry the Hadeda, the avian superstar from England’s last tour, was nowhere to be found two adult and four teenage geese occupied positions from the covers to long-on, walking in to almost every ball and scurrying away as soon as it was hit.Kagiso Rabada’s catch gave George Linde a wicket•Getty ImagesDu Plessis played around them and in the same vein as he had been doing at the IPL. In the fifth over, he changed the tone of South Africa’s start from unsure, on a pitch where the ball was not coming on as quickly as might have been expected, to in control when he buried a ball in the construction site, smoked the new one down the ground and on to the railway stand, where the absence of fans meant the few in the ground could hear the ping as it hit a flagpole, and then mowed it through midwicket.The way George Linde, the debutant, was used was the other example of how the new style of play may reveal itself. Linde was tasked with opening the bowling and rewarded his captain with a wicket off the second ball and then switched ends to claim another as Rabada took a stunning low catch. South Africa seldom give a spinner or a new player that level of responsibility but Linde plays his franchise cricket here and has the experience of 81 domestic T20s so they trusted him and it paid off.More’s the pity that Linde did not have his home crowd cheering him on but these are the times. Newlands is not ready for visitors anyway as the construction of an office block continues. And who knows what commentary might have provided late in the game when, with England needing 84 runs from 48 balls, Quinton de Kock turned to Heinrich Klaasen to bowl at Ben Stokes. That was South Africa saying they thought they were so far ahead they could do anything. And they were wrong. Not aggressive, and definitely not smart.Klaasen conceded 14 runs, before de Kock went back to his premier spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. In hindsight, he should have let Shamsi bowl his full quota of four overs, although even that may not have stopped what happened later. Beuran Hendricks conceded 28 runs, including eight wides in an over where he lost control.Some will question why Anrich Nortje, who has just come off a fantastic IPL, didn’t play. Perhaps South Africa thought the pitch would better suit those who take pace off the ball – it looked that way when England was bowling. Perhaps there were transformation targets to consider, which could have been solved in other ways.Or perhaps still it’s that England, who are unbeaten in seven T20 series, are a bloody good team, who bat deep and back themselves until the very end. There is no better opposition to return to international action against. Welcome back, England. Welcome back, international cricket.

National Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Parker died at age 74 on Saturday, leaving the baseball world mourning for "the Cobra." Parker had a long battle with Parkinsons.

Throughout Parker's 19-year MLB career, he was most known for his 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1978 with the Pirates, he was named the National League's MVP after combining a .334/.394/.585 slash line with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs.

Parker was already enshrined in the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame class in 2022, and he was set to be honored at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown next month after being voted in by the Classic Baseball Era Committee back in December.

Tributes poured out for Parker on Saturday shortly after the Pirates revealed the sad news. The Pirates specifically spoke about Parker's legacy ahead of Saturday's game vs. the New York Mets. PNC Park held a moment of silence for their famed star.

The Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds, where Parker spent four seasons after his tenure with the Pirates, and the Athletics, where Parker spent two seasons, all wrote memorials for Parker on social media.

Here's a look at how the rest of the baseball world honored Parker on Saturday.

Big picture: a rare ODI face-off after deluge of T20Is

Bangladesh and Afghanistan will have to fight the same adversary in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday: rustiness.Afghanistan last played an ODI eight months ago, in the 2025 Champions Trophy, and even that game was washed out, so they have played just two ODIs this year. Bangladesh have played six, but the last one was in July. Not as bad as their opponents, of course, but they have lost four of these games and won just one.This irregularity in playing ODIs affects how the XIs are chosen.Afghanistan have dropped Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib and Noor Ahmad based on their Asia Cup – in the T20 format – performance. Hashmatullah Shahidi continues to lead, with Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal forming the batting core.Azmatullah Omarzai is their ODI star with bat and ball, so he will have to shoulder a significant workload. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi will lead the bowling attack, alongside newcomers like Bashir Ahmad and Abdollah Ahmadzai, who made their T20I debuts earlier this week.Related

• Rishad: Looking forward to working with Ponting at Hobart Hurricanes

• Simmons happy with Bangladesh's 'exciting, aggressive' style

Bangladesh, meanwhile, have a squad that’s based on their big-picture plan for the 2027 ODI World Cup. It means Mehidy Hasan Miraz continues as captain, with Najmul Hossain Shanto back in the picture. There will be hope that some of the batters bring their T20I form into the ODI arena. Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan looked good in the recent 3-0 win against Afghanistan and will be relied upon.The battle will be between Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain and Nurul Hasan for the three middle-order spots. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman will lead the bowling attack, while it will be interesting to see whether Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam are both picked in the XI or not.Bangladesh would like to ride on the momentum of the T20I series sweep, while Afghanistan must get out of their five-match losing streak across formats. It is likely to be a closely fought series, but the rustiness could mean a lot of errors – in the planning and in the field – as they go adjusting to the format.

Form guide

Afghanistan WLWWW
Bangladesh LWLLLRashid Khan will depend a lot on Azmatullah Omarzai in either innings•Associated Press

In the spotlight: Azmatullah Omarzai and Saif HassanAzmatullah Omarzai has scored 896 runs and taken 31 wickets in the last two years in ODIs. No wonder he is currently No. 2 in the allrounders rankings. Omarzai will bat in the lower-middle order to provide cushion as well the finishing touches, and also play as the second seamer. He was one of the few to show good form in the T20Is against Bangladesh, although he would be disappointed with the way he got out in the third game in Sharjah, a wild swing that ended in a top edge that was taken by the backward point fielder.Saif Hassan will be the most anticipated ODI debutant for Bangladesh in a long time. His scintillating form in T20Is in the last two months has forced the selectors to bring him into an ODI set-up that’s crying out for a fresh approach. Saif’s attacking shots are great to watch, but as he showed in the third T20I on Sunday, he can also be clever: he played out a maiden over from Rashid Khan knowing it was the legspinner’s last and went on to score an unbeaten 38-ball 64 to take Bangladesh home.Darwish Rasooli is likely to get into the playing XI•AFP/Getty Images

Team news: middle-order changes in the offing

Darwish Rasooli is likely to get into the XI while either Nangeyalia Kharote and AM Ghazanfar is expected to join the attack. Bashir could make his ODI debut.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Darwish Rasooli, 7 Azmatullah Omarzai, 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Nangeyalia Kharote, 11 Bashir AhmadSaif is likely to open the innings with Tanzid, while Nurul will fight for a place with Hridoy. Mohammad Naim has not reached UAE yet due to visa issues. Parvez Hossain has been added to the ODI squad as a back-up batter. Nurul Hasan is likely to keep wicket in the first ODI.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanvir Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanNurul Hasan will have to fight for his spot•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: bat first, win the game?

The side batting first has won four out of the last five day-night ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The average score batting first in these matches is 274. The forecast in Abu Dhabi is of extreme heat, with some breeze expected in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• Afghanistan and Bangladesh are tied 2-2 in the bilateral series stakes, although it’s the latter that leads 11-8 overall
• Nabi is the only survivor of the first ODI between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, held in 2014 in Fatullah
• Tanvir Islam’s five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Bangladesh’s previous ODI series was the first five-for by a Bangladeshi spinner in two-and-a-half years.

Pep Guardiola has made it clear he will not be pulling Gianluigi Donnarumma aside for a warning despite the goalkeeper amassing four bookings in just ten Premier League appearances. The Manchester City manager insisted the Italian is old enough to recognise that his temperament on the pitch must be reined in, even as he edges toward a disciplinary record no goalkeeper in the competition has ever reached.

• Donnarumma on verge of unwanted history

  Three of the cautions have stemmed from dissent, with the other issued for time-wasting, placing the 26-year-old on precarious footing. Should Donnarumma pick up another yellow in any of City’s next six league fixtures, he would become the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to serve a suspension for accumulating five bookings this early in a season. Although a dozen goalkeepers have reached at least five yellows in a campaign, none racked them up quickly enough to trigger the automatic ban before the 19-match threshold.

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  What did Guardiola say?

  Asked whether he planned a stern conversation with his summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain, Guardiola was unmoved.

  "No, he is adult enough," Guardiola said. "He will, step by step, understand things in the league and [learn] new behaviours."

  Guardiola showed little appetite for revisiting Donnarumma’s yellow-card tally when he spoke on Monday ahead of City’s trip to Fulham. He responded curtly when asked whether the club were concerned about the possibility of a ban. "It is what it is," he said.

  The scrutiny surrounding Donnarumma intensified after Manchester City’s dramatic 3-2 win over Leeds, when Daniel Farke suggested the goalkeeper went down unnecessarily to hand Guardiola an opportunity to issue tactical instructions at a critical moment. Leeds had fought back from two goals down to haul themselves level at the Etihad, only for Phil Foden to strike in stoppage time and secure victory.

  Farke’s comments have added fuel to ongoing discussions among football lawmakers about potential rule changes to prevent teams from exploiting stoppages involving goalkeepers. Under current regulations, outfield players who require treatment must leave the pitch for thirty seconds before rejoining the action. Goalkeepers, however, are exempt due to the specialist nature of their role.

  According to reports, decision-makers spent considerable time debating whether this exemption should continue. One proposal gaining support would compel teams to temporarily remove an outfield player if their goalkeeper receives medical attention, thereby preventing managers from using the pause to reorganise their sides. Another suggestion involved banning players from approaching the dugout entirely during such interruptions.

• Getty
  

  Foden’s rise continues as Guardiola hopes for new deal

  While Donnarumma dominated the disciplinary conversation, Guardiola was more eager to discuss Phil Foden’s growing influence following his match-winning double against Leeds. The City manager expressed hope that the 25-year-old, whose current contract runs until 2027, will commit his long-term future to the club.

  "Hopefully he can stay all his career here," said Guardiola. "He is a special player, a Man City fan, from the academy."

  Foden himself suggested after Saturday’s game that he now sees himself as one of the leaders of the squad. Guardiola agreed that the playmaker has long demonstrated authority through his football, even if he is not the most vocal presence away from the pitch.

  "On the pitch, he's always been like that," said Guardiola. "Vocally he is not a guy who talks much in the dressing room but, on the pitch, he never hides behind the scenes."

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• Bernardo Silva also walking a fine line

  Donnarumma is not the only City player inching toward potential suspension. Bernardo Silva collected his fourth yellow of the season against Leeds, meaning he too is only one booking away from disciplinary action. City’s 19th league fixture, the game at Sunderland on New Year’s Day, marks the point at which the suspension threshold increases from five to ten cautions. Donnarumma and Silva, therefore, need to navigate the next few weeks without incident or face a forced absence.

  City can close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to just two points if they overcome Fulham on Tuesday night. Guardiola's side have been gathering momentum after a rocky start to the campaign. The Gunners will, however, have the chance to assert their status as title favourites when they face Brentford at home a day later. 

There’s reportedly no way back for one West Ham star as Nuno Espírito Santo ultimately decides that he doesn’t want the player, and a January exit is now described as inevitable.

The pressure on Nuno’s shoulders has slightly eased following back-to-back victories against Newcastle and Burnley, which also gifted the Hammers some much-needed encouragement over surviving the relegation dog scrap.

Before their only consecutive home wins since October last year, West Ham looked nailed on for a drop to the Championship for the first time since 2011, but six points from Nuno’s last two matches have suddenly flipped the narrative on its head.

However, things don’t get any easier for West Ham from this point onward, with Nuno braced for a tough round of fixtures just after the international break.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

The east Londoners take on Bournemouth and Liverpool before travelling to Man United, who are enjoying a resurgence under Ruben Amorim, with Aston Villa and Premier League title contenders Man City awaiting them over the festive period as well.

After that, the January transfer window does represent a major lifeline for West Ham, and reports suggest the club are set for a very active winter when it comes to incomings and outgoings. Sky Sports report that West Ham are targeting a new defender, midfielder and striker in January, with Nuno given assurances that David Sullivan and co have money to spend on fresh talent.

We’re also likely to see a fair few players head out the exit door, not least striker Niclas Füllkrug, who has apparently been given the green-light to leave after a lacklustre spell marred by injuries and a lack of form.

West Ham could also sell Guido Rodriguez for pure profit after signing him on a free transfer from Real Betis last year, but one player who looks the most likely to depart by far is midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

The 31-year-old was axed from West Ham’s matchday squad immediately after Nuno’s arrival, despite being vice-captain under Graham Potter and a “quiet leader” of the team.

James Ward-Prowse "almost certain" to leave West Ham after Nuno decision

For anybody wondering, there is basically no chance for Ward-Prowse to play his way back into contention, with Nuno fully deciding that he’s surplus to requirements.

That is according to journalist Dean Jones, who told TEAMtalk this week that the Englishman is “almost certain” to leave as David Moyes’ Everton take real interest.

The question for West Ham is how much money they can recuperate from Ward-Prowse’s sale, and how much could be reinvested into bolstering key areas when the January window opens for business.

Sullivan will also be keen to get the former Southampton star’s £115,000-per-week wages off the books, as he is currently the club’s fourth-highest earner behind Alphonse Areola, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen.