England quick blows The Blaze away with stunning all-round display in Oval eliminator
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Jul-2025Issy Wong starred with bat and ball as Birmingham Bears doused the hopes of The Blaze with a 20-run victory in the Vitality Blast Final’s Day Eliminator at the Kia Oval.Wong blasted 59 from 38 balls including two sixes, sharing a stand of 64 with Sterre Kalis 45 as Birmingham piled up 163 for 8, Sarah Glenn returning 3 for 29.Wong wasn’t done, ripping out Tammy Beaumont and Kathryn Brice for ducks off successive balls on her way to 4 for 14. Millie Taylor backed her up 3 for 20, becoming the competition’s leading wicket-taker in the process as The Blaze were bowled for 143 despite 53 from Georgia Elwiss.Wong was promoted to No. 3 following the early dismissal of Davina Perrin for 1. The speedster cracked her first ball straight for four before being given out lbw only to be reprieved on review. Wong would make the most of that let off powering the only two sixes of the innings over long-on and midwicket and playing wristy cuts to third and point in a gem of a half-century.Meg Austin made less use of being dropped at cover by Kirstie Gordon, reaching 14 before being brilliantly run out by quick work from Ella Claridge.Kalis was slowly into stride before successive fours of Heather Graham gave her innings some impetus. Wong and Kallis share 64 for the third wicket before Glenn struck twice in successive balls, Wong caught by Bryce at cover and the dangerous Laura Harris falling first ball to a grab in the deep.Glenn would return to clip Kallis’s off bail and thereafter it needed Emily Arlott to muscle a few fours to get the target over eight an over.Inspired by her batting Wong produced a devastating opening over, bowling England opener Tammy Beaumont with a beauty which nipped between bat and pad before a rapid lifting ball followed The Blaze’s leading-scorer Kathryn Bryce and took the glove through to wicketkeeper Natasha Wraith.Marie Kelly and Elwiss counterattacked with a flurry of boundaries, the sweep and the cut in evidence as 27 came from overs four and five. The 50-partnership came up in 29 balls, but the return of Arlott brought the breakthrough as Kelly (35) sliced to Perrin backward of point.Spinners Taylor and Hannah Baker applied the squeeze and pressure told when Heather Graham chipped one back to the former. Wong returned to dismiss Sarah Bryce caught at long leg and Taylor bowled Claridge as the rate spiraled.Glenn launched Surenkumar for a huge straight six, but Taylor spreadeagled her stumps and though Elwiss completed a half-century with her eighth four she was stumped next ball as the task became too much.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was certainly backed by the board with new recruits to improve the squad during the summer transfer window.
The Premier League giants swooped to add Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko to their attacking ranks to completely transform their front three.
Mbeumo has produced one goal and one assist in seven appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, whilst Cunha is still looking for his first goal contribution for the club.
Meanwhile, Sesko has scored two goals in his last two appearances in the top-flight and has scored two goals in four starts in the division since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer.
The Slovenia international will be hoping to kick on from here and prove that he can be a consistent and lethal goalscorer for the Red Devils for many more years to come.
If he can do that, Sesko could be considered to be Amorim’s new Viktor Gyokeres, as the Arsenal striker was such an integral part of the manager’s success with Sporting.
Why Gyokeres was so important to Amorim at Sporting
Amorim won the Liga Portugal title in the 2023/24 campaign after signing the Swedish striker from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, after finishing fourth and second in the two previous seasons.
Gyokeres was so important to the Portuguese manager in that 2023/24 season because his immense performances at the top end of the pitch led Sporting to glory, winning the league title for the first time in three years.
The towering centre-forward was an absolute monster for Sporting. He scored and created goals at an exceptional rate as their number nine after his move from the second tier in England.
Shots on target
58
Top 1%
xG
22.71
Top 1%
xG on target
28.33
Top 1%
Goals
29
Top 1%
xA
6.08
Top 1%
Assists
10
Top 1%
Chances created
54
Top 1%
As you can see in the table above, Gyokeres was the best striker in the division. He ranked at the top of the pile in pretty much every key metric as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
These statistics show that the right-footed forward was incredibly consistent for Amorim, given his output, which is why he was such an important player for the manager.
The Manchester United coach has not had a consistent attacker in that vein at Old Trafford, though, as no player managed more than eight goals in the Premier League last season, per WhoScored.
Whilst Amorim will be hoping that Sesko can be his next Gyokeres, there is a central defender who is becoming the manager’s next version of the striker.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Netherlands international Matthijs de Ligt may not be a lethal centre-forward who is going to score 30 or 40 goals in a season for the Red Devils, but his consistent performances at the back could make him the linchpin of Amorim’s team moving forward.
Why Matthijs de Ligt could be Ruben Amorim's new Viktor Gyokeres
The best teams in the world are built around top-quality players who deliver consistently impressive performances over the course of a season.
Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. Erling Haaland at Manchester City. Vitinha at PSG. Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid. Gyokeres during his time at Sporting. The list could go on.
The best teams all have several players who deliver consistently every week, which is what Amorim had with Gyokeres in Portugal, and De Ligt may be starting to show that he can belong in that category of player.
The Netherlands international is a no-nonsense central defender who joined the club from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but it has taken him a bit of time to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League.
Not every player hits the ground running at a new club. Some players need time to adapt to their environment, and it appears as though de Ligt has finally found his feet in England.
Appearances
29
7
Sofascore rating
6.91
7.04
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.1
3.2
Clearances per game
3.1
5.1
Ground duels won per game
1.5
2.6
Aerial duels won per game
2.0
3.6
Ground duel success rate
61%
69%
As you can see in the table above, the former Ajax and Juventus star has stepped up at the start of this season after a fairly average first year in the Premier League with the Red Devils.
His improved ground duel success rate, in particular, suggests that he has adapted to the intensity and physicality of the division, as he is anticipating situations and reacting to danger quicker, which means that the centre-back is winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck.
Former United star and England international centre-back Rio Ferdinand has noticed the improvement in De Ligt this season, praising the defender last month: “Matthijs de Ligt has been magnificent this season, solid in all departments.
“I think he’s put himself in place to be the first name on the sheet if we go by [Leny] Yoro being a sub at the weekend. De Ligt now looks like the number one choice defender in the team form the manager’s point of view.”
De Ligt has started all seven of his appearances in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, which backs up Ferdinand’s claim that the Dutchman is the first-choice defender for Amorim at this moment in time.
The 26-year-old star, who still has time left to improve even more, has improved throughout his time at Old Trafford, as evidenced by his aforementioned statistics, and he now looks like a consistent performer who can be relied upon by Amorim.
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That is why De Ligt is on his way to becoming the manager’s new Gyokeres, because he could fall into that bracket of players who deliver consistent performances in successful teams, if he can keep up his current level of performance in the Premier League.
Even though they have received plenty of criticism for it over the years, Chelsea’s transfer policy has seen them build a squad full of exceptionally talented youngsters.
The club might not be ready to challenge for a Premier League title this season, but over the next few years, as their youngsters become increasingly comfortable, they could be a real force in all competitions.
One of the players who looks like he could be a genuine superstar for the West Londoners is Estevao, who was sensational against Liverpool on Saturday.
However, Chelsea have already got their hands on another incredible prospect who could end up being an even bigger talent than the 18-year-old.
Estevao's brilliant performance against Liverpool
It should be said that Estevao’s brilliant display against Liverpool on the weekend didn’t come as much of a surprise to Chelsea fans and those who have been watching them this season.
After all, while he hadn’t scored before the game, he had made a couple of impressive cameos off the bench against the likes of Crystal Palace and Benfica.
Moreover, in his first start for the club, against West Ham United, he was near-enough unplayable and, thanks to some silky movement and technical brilliance, provided his first assist for Joao Pedro.
However, even then, it can’t be denied that his efforts against Arne Slot’s side felt far more significant and like a real statement to the rest of the league.
He only came on in the 75th minute, but once he was on the pitch, it was impossible to ignore him.
Granted, a lot of what he tried didn’t actually come off for him, but the fact that he attempted three dribbles, played two key passes, and was accurate in two of his three crosses in just a little over 20 minutes of action is hugely impressive.
He made Andy Robertson’s life miserable in the closing moments of the game and then, thanks to his awareness and positioning, was in the right place at the right time to poke home the winner.
Daniel Sturridge summed it up well after the game when he said the teenage gem “came on and was absolutely top draw.”
In all, Estevao looks destined to reach the very top of the game, but Chelsea have already signed another sensational prospect who might just be an even bigger talent.
Chelsea's bigger talent than Estevao
In good news for Chelsea fans, there are a few genuinely exciting youngsters set to join the squad next summer, including Denner, Geovany Quenda, and Kenry Paez.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, when it comes to someone who might be a bigger talent than Estevao, only one name comes to mind: Dastan Satpayev.
The Blues secured a deal for the Kazakhstani forward in February, but as he was 16 at the time and is now 17, he has to wait another season before he can move to West London.
However, that might not actually be such a bad thing, as he’s been getting plenty of game time with Kairat Almaty in recent campaigns and making quite the impression.
For example, in 27 appearances last season, totalling 1908 minutes, the young phenom scored 13 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 95.4 minutes.
Appearances
27
Minutes
1908′
Goals
13
Assists
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.74
Minutes per Goal Involvement
95.4′
So far this season, the Almaty-born ace has scored three goals and provided one assist in nine games, seven of which have been qualifiers for the Champions League, with the other two being in the competition proper.
The hype surrounding the forward is no joke, with one analyst going as far as calling him “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and, as if that wasn’t enough pressure, “a future rival to Lamine Yamal.”
Finally, the 17-year-old is not just impressing at club level, but also on the international stage.
After producing five goal involvements in ten games for Kazakhstan’s U17 side, and then making one appearance for the U21s, he has already won five senior caps, two of which have come against Wales.
Ultimately, Estevao is the man of the moment and appears destined for greatness, but it seems that Satpayev will follow a very similar path in a year’s time and could even surpass him.
Moises Caicedo tells Chelsea fans where he ranks himself compared to Kante
The Blues midfielder scored a stunning goal as his side went on to defeat Liverpool.
AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi has publicly urged Zinedine Zidane to take over as Juventus head coach. Sacchi hailed Zidane for creating a "machine of beauty" at Real Madrid, emphasising the Frenchman’s ability to combine attacking football with a winning mentality. With Juventus currently undergoing a major sporting renewal, Sacchi believes Zidane's tactical balance and deep connection to the club make the reunion a perfect fit.
Zidane and Juventus: A reunion that makes sense
Sacchi, the revered former AC Milan and Italy coach known for revolutionising modern football with his innovative tactics, has expressed his desire to see Zidane return to his old club Juventus, this time as head coach. Despite Zidane wanting to manage Les Blues in the future, the former Italian coach remains optimistic for a reunion.
For Sacchi, the idea isn’t rooted in nostalgia but in footballing logic. Zidane’s connection with Juventus runs deep: five years in Turin as a player, two Serie A titles, and the foundation of his world-class career under Marcello Lippi. Now, with Juve entering a new phase under general manager Damien Comolli and in need of both identity and inspiration, Sacchi suggests the Frenchman’s profile aligns perfectly with what the club seeks.
AdvertisementAFPSacchi’s wants Zidane to replicate Madrid success with Juventus
Sacchi's admiration for Zidane was clear while he explained how he is a good fit for the managerial position at Juve.
"His Real Madrid played an attacking game, showed courage, kept possession of the ball most of the time, dominated the opponent through a dense network of passes and the fans admired him. I ask myself: why isn't a coach who created such a machine of beauty working?," Sacchi said in a column for .
The former Milan coach further added: "I confess I have hope. He was a great Juventus player, he became a champion in the black and white jersey, he had a maestro like Marcello Lippi as his coaching mentor, so why not imagine him on the Juventus bench? Someone like him, someone who always put attacking football first, someone who believes in team play and talent at the service of the team. Our championship could only benefit from his presence."
How Zidane redefined success at Madrid
Zidane’s coaching career remains one of the most remarkable in modern football. After a brief spell with Real Madrid Castilla, he was appointed first-team coach in January 2016. Within months, he delivered the Champions League title, becoming only the second man in Los Blanco’s history to win it both as a player and a coach.
What followed was an unprecedented period of dominance – three consecutive Champions League titles (2016, 2017, 2018), two La Liga triumphs, two UEFA Super Cups, two Club World Cups and two Supercopa de Espana crowns. His record stands as one of the most decorated managerial runs in modern football: 11 trophies in just five seasons, including a historic 35-match unbeaten run.
Since leaving Madrid in 2021, Zdane has reportedly turned down multiple managerial offers, including from Paris Saint-Germain and several Premier League clubs.
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AFPWhere will Zidane end up?
Zidane admitted recently that he does not know why he has not yet stepped into the Juventus hot seat as he prepares to make his return to management. It is not yet known if a Serie A return is on the cards, however, with many reports suggesting he will replace Didier Deschamps as France coach after the World Cup.
After making a new decision regarding Jorgen Strand Larsen’s future, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to sign an attacking reinforcement for Vitor Pereira.
Wolves make Strand Larsen decision
After rejecting two offers from Newcastle United, it very much looked as though Wolves were destined to keep hold of Strand Larsen, but the Magpies are not giving up yet. Those in Tyneside are in the mood to spend big after signing Nick Woltemade and still have their sights set on the Norwegian.
As such, in what may only add to the rumours, Pereira has decided to leave the talented forward out of his squad to face Everton later today. The Portuguese manager has insisted that Strand Larsen simply misses out through injury, but reports have suggested that he’s out of the squad in hope of sealing a late exit.
Despite those reports, Pereira told reporters: “We know that every person have ambitions in life. At this moment he is our player, he has good personality, he is a team player He is dealing with a small injury, I hope he can play tomorrow.”
As two different narratives are pushed, Strand Larsen’s situation will certainly be one to watch up until Monday’s deadline. The impressive forward has been valued at £60m by the Midlands and the ball is seemingly in Newcastle’s court as they consider matching that fee.
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Wolves, meanwhile, are in search of their own incomings. Having so far lost two from two Premier League games, those in the Midlands have reportedly turned towards an attacking reinforcement who they hope will partner rather than replace Strand Larsen.
Wolves reach agreement to sign Arokodare
According to Fabrizio Romano, Wolves have now agreed a deal to sign Tolu Arokodare from KRC Genk this week. Already undergoing a medical to complete a move worth €27m (£23m), the forward looks set to arrive before the deadline and hand Pereira the firepower that he’s been looking for.
After scoring 23 goals in 45 games last season, it’s clear that Arokodare would be capable of keeping up with Strand Larsen to form quite the partnership. Meanwhile, in the worst-case scenario for Wolves, the Nigerian is talented enough to replace the Norwegian.
Former Premier League defender Toby Alderweireld took the time to praise the 24-year-old after bringing an end to his career, telling reporters: “There are also players who did the opposite. Tolu [Arokodare] for example, great guy.
Genk striker Tolu Arokodare
“He came to me during the match: ‘Toby, I’m a big fan. You hurt us a lot last season.’ I also sincerely think he is one of the best strikers in Belgium, and I don’t say that because I have to.”
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.
How Fiorentina cancelled transfer to stop Sunderland signing 6'3 prodigy
Abatido após a derrota por 3 a 0 do Corinthians contra o Botafogo, o volante Roni foi um dos poucos atletas corintianos a atender a imprensa na zona mista do Nilton Santos e falar com o torcedor corintiano. O volante agradeceu o apoio da torcida na partida e frisou que todos estão tristes com o atual momento do Timão.
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+ Cássio comete pênalti infantil, Corinthians sofre na criação e é amassado pelo Botafogo; veja notas
– A primeira coisa é agradecer o torcedor. Agora é continuar trabalhando, dói, ninguém está feliz. Não tem muito o que falar, noite para ser esquecida. Sentir dentro do coração essa dor para levantar a cabeça no clássico – disse Roni ao portal Meu Timão.
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
O próximo compromisso do Corinthians é o clássico Majestoso, e a equipe alvinegra defende o tabu de jamais ter sido derrotado pelo São Paulo na Neo Química Arena. Para manter a escrita no clássico diante do Tricolor, Roni destacou a importância da evolução física e mental da equipe nos próximos dias.
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+ Veja tabela e a situação do Timão no Brasileirão
– Temos que nos preparar fisicamente e mentalmente, principalmente por tudo que vem acontecendo, ser forte. Mais um jogo, levantar a cabeça, ir para cima e manter o tabu, que é importante para nós.
Com apenas quatro pontos, a equipe de Vanderlei Luxemburgo está uma posição acima do Z4, e só não está na zona do rebaixamento pois possui menos cartões amarelos em relação ao Cuiabá.
Derby County have met the £3 million asking price to sign a “real leader” who manager John Eustace has worked with before, according to a recent report.
Derby closing in on multiple signings
After avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth, Eustace and co. have been busy in the transfer market, adding five new players to the squad already. Their most expensive capture is USA youngster Patrick Agyemang, who has joined from Charlotte FC.
Derby in transfer race with Wrexham to sign 32 y/o Championship defender
There’s serious competition for his signature…
ByBrett Worthington Jul 16, 2025
The Championship side are yet to really utilise the loan market, but that could be about to change, as the Telegraph’s John Percy reports that Derby are close to signing Owen Beck on loan from Liverpool.
The Wales under-21 international is expected to undergo his medical at Derby later this week and then become their sixth signing of the summer.
The 22-year-old has already enjoyed a few loan spells in the EFL, as he joined Bolton Wanderers for the 2022/23 campaign and then Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers team for the entirety of last season.
Beck will be the third addition this summer who has worked with Eustace before moving to Derby, and the Rams could soon make it four, as they eye another defensive signing.
Derby meet £3m asking price to sign Callum Brittain
According to EFL Analysis’ Graeme Bailey, Derby have met Blackburn’s asking price to sign defender Callum Brittain.
Callum Brittain.
The Lancashire side had placed a £3 million price tag on the player’s head, and while the Rams have agreed a deal in that ballpark, Middlesbrough are expected to make a new offer and match that after their initial bid was turned down. It will then presumably be up to the player to choose his next destination.
The 27-year-old has been at Ewood Park since 2022, when he joined the club from Barnsley. Brittain has been a regular in the Blackburn side since his move, playing 104 games in the Championship across three campaigns. Last season was a productive one for the versatile full-back, as he scored two goals and recorded five assists in 33 league games.
Apps
33
Starts
30
Minutes per game
81
Goals
2
Assists
5
Big chances created
8
Key passes per game
1.4
Interceptions per game
0.6
Tackles per game
1.7
Brittain was an important figure in Eustace’s former side, and the now Derby boss even reserved special praise for the defender, labelling him “one of the best full-backs in the league” and a “real leader” on and off the pitch.
Brittain’s potential arrival at Pride Park would see him compete alongside Ryan Nyambe and Kane Wilson for that right-back spot, but given his versatility, he can also cover at left-back, right midfield and even central midfield if needed.
Allrounder strikes fifty and takes two wickets as Hampshire close in on their fifth win of the season
ECB Reporters Network19-Sep-2024Liam Dawson returned 50 wickets in a Vitality County Championship season for the first time after scoring an eighth fifty of the season as Hampshire closed in on victory over Worcestershire.Spinning all-rounder Dawson reached a half-century of scalps by adding Kashif Ali and Adam Hose to his tally – in doing so beating the 49 wickets he claimed last season – with no spinner in the country taking more this year.Along with his bowling exploits, no one has passed 50 more times than Dawson in Division One in 2024, as he moved to 907 runs with a 51 which set Worcestershire 394 runs to win.The visitors ended the day five wickets down, still 277 runs short of victory – but with Jake Libby still undefeated on 55.Both sides are now only playing for positions after Hampshire’s improbable title challenge ended with Surrey’s victory over Durham, and Worcestershire’s survival already secured.Having elected against enforcing the follow-on the previous evening, Hampshire’s second innings was ramshackle and lacking in fluency, but still ended up at in the vicinity of the destination they would have aimed.The inability to score runs quickly was largely due to Joe Leach’s expertise with a nipping ball, taking three for 17, with six pressure-building maidens, across his first two spells.The 33-year-old is retiring after next week’s fixture against Lancashire, but proved he was still as skilful as ever to pick up Hampshire’s top three – although none of the wickets were classic dismissals.Toby Albert fell in the second over of the morning when he was strangled down leg and was caught behind, Fletcha Middleton lasted a further four overs before he was caught and bowled while playing across one, and first innings double centurion Nick Gubbins was caught at slip after the ball had looped off the wicketkeeper’s glove.Ben Brown quickly followed when Amar Virdi straightened one to pin him, but James Vince was keeping the scoreboard progressing with an often sketchy, sometimes glorious 44.Vince dragged Virdi onto his own stumps while sweeping but after lunch Tom Prest and Dawson returned with a lucidly attacking game plan to whip up a 72-run partnership at a whisker under a run-a-ball.Dawson followed his first innings century and five-wicket haul with a 63-ball fifty but fell soon after when Logan van Beek destroyed his stumps.Things turned frenetic again as James Fuller swished behind, Prest was leg before when stuck on the crease to Virdi, Kyle Abbott was bowled on the swing and Felix Organ was run out after a strike confusion with Mo Abbas – which prevented Virdi from a second career 10-wicket haul.With an imposing, but not impossible target, Gareth Roderick failed to show the resolve of the first innings by getting bowled by Abbott in the sixth over.Kashif Ali played for turn that didn’t come from Dawson to fall lbw in the 14th over before two fine slip catches from Vince accounted for Rob Jones and Adam Hose – the latter was Dawson’s 50th wicket of the season.Jake Libby had staunchly battled to 49, but when initially trying to reach the milestone, he ran out his partner Brett D’Oliveira, before eventually getting to a 47th first-class fifty with a less risky ambled single off 106 balls.Libby remained unbeaten at close, with Ethan Brookes hanging on alongside him.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been a busy man over the previous few weeks. Not only has he led the Blues to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, but the Italian has significantly bolstered his first-team squad.
In came striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, before defender Mamadou Sarr joined the club from Strasbourg.
This was only the beginning. Since the start of last week, Maresca has secured a deal to sign forward Joao Pedro for £60m, giving Delap some competition.
Furthermore, Jamie Gittens has made the move to Stamford Bridge from Borussia Dortmund, costing Chelsea £51.5m in the process.
The revolving door at Stamford Bridge means plenty of players will be departing over the coming weeks, but it is evident that Maresca wants to overhaul his attacking options ahead of next season.
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Remarkably, he doesn’t appear to be finished with those three signings.
Despite the arrival of Estevao from Palmeiras, another of the globe’s top talents, Ethan Nwaneri, could make their way to Bridge over the next year.
Why Chelsea are looking at Ethan Nwaneri
The Arsenal sensation might be on the market next summer due to a stall in contract negotiations with the club.
Nwaneri has just one year left on his current deal with the Gunners and a new contract is yet to be agreed. Fabrizio Romano broke the news recently on X regarding Chelsea’s interest, saying:
“Chelsea have been showing interest in Ethan Nwaneri situation, only in case new deal won’t be sealed with Arsenal. Nwaneri & Arsenal, in talks over new deal while player wants game time guaranteed.”
There is no doubt that convincing Nwaneri to swap the Emirates for Stamford Bridge would be a real statement of intent by the Italian, especially considering his superstar potential.
Goals
4
2
Assists
2
0
Big chances created
1
1
Key passes per game
0.6
0.3
Successful dribbles per game
1.4
1
Last season saw the right-winger enjoy a stunning breakthrough. Across 37 matches in all competitions for the Gunners, the teenager scored nine goals and grabbed two assists.
When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the 18-year-old not only ranked in the top 7% for non-penalty goals (0.48) per 90, but also ranked in the top 1% for successful take-ons (3.54) per 90 over the previous 365 days.
This certainly proves how effective the youngster is when taking on opposition defenders. Combine it with the fact he is excellent in front of goal and Nwaneri would make for a stunning signing.
Why signing defenders makes more sense for Chelsea
Maresca does have a plethora of options in the final third, however. The likes of Estevao, Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George and Cole Palmer could play out wide, while Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Pedro will be used in a central role next season.
In an ideal world, adding Nwaneri to this lineup would make Chelsea contenders for both the Premier League and Champions League, no doubt about that.
Other areas need to be bolstered, however, which indicates that a move for a Serie A defender would turn into a much better signing than the Arsenal teen.
Sarr is the only defensive signing that Maresca has made so far this summer, but the supporters will be hoping he won’t be the last.
Benfica duo Antonio Silva and Tomás Araújo have both been linked with a move to the Blues since the transfer window opened, but both potential moves have gone cold recently.
Now, it looks as though Chelsea are keen on making a move for Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini.
That’s according to Caught Offside who further report that Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the youngster, so the Blues won’t have it easy trying to lure him to the Premier League.
The report states that Scalvini could cost up to €60m (£51m), but still only 21, this could be a wonderful long-term signing by Maresca.
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Given the need for high-quality defenders, Scalvini might just turn out to be a better recruit than Nwaneri.
What Giorgio Scalvini could bring to Chelsea
The Atalanta starlet missed the majority of last season due to suffering a cruciate ligament injury, derailing the fine progress he had made during the 2023/24 campaign.
Hailed as a “top talent” by none other than Fabrizio Romano back in 2022, Scalvini enjoyed what was a breakthrough season in Serie A that term.
Defensively, he ranked in the top 4% for interceptions, in the top 16% for aerials won and in the top 22% for tackles per 90 when compared to his peers.
It was going forward that the young centre-back really stood out among his positional peers, however.
Indeed, not only did he rank in the top 16% for shot-creating actions, but the Atalanta defender also ranked in the top 5% for successful take-ons and in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 in Serie A.
This proves that Maresca wouldn’t just be getting a solid centre-back who is able to command his backline, but one who can shine while going forward, playing in a way that is “so similar to [Declan] Rice” at Arsenal in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.
The Italian could certainly add something different to his Chelsea defence by making a move for the 21-year-old this summer, no doubt about that.
He might still be raw, but as the statistics suggest, Scalvini has demonstrated his credentials in one of the toughest leagues on the continent.
Atalanta defenderGiorgio Scalvini.
Signing Nwaneri might inject yet more dynamism into the final third and give the supporters a major jolt, but the more important signing would be that of Scalvini.
“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” said Sir Alex Ferguson during his spell at Man United, so prioritising a move for up-and-coming defenders, rather than young attackers, might just turn Maresca’s team into serious challengers for major honours.
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