West Indies overcame Pakistan’s spinners as well as the weather to power home by five wickets to level the ODI series 1-1. In a chase which ebbed and flowed, a blitz from Sherfane Rutherford and a controlled innings at the death by Roston Chase saw them home with ten balls to spare.Their task was made significantly harder than it might have been when Jayden Seales’ standout fast-bowling performance had restricted Pakistan to 171 for 7 in 37 overs. The target was slightly upwards (181 in 35 overs) of what was scored owing to multiple rain delays in the first innings.Pakistan were put in to bat first and played stodgy cricket inconsistent with the decade they were playing in. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub found the occasional powerplay boundary but interspersed it with strings of dot deliveries; the first ten overs had just five singles taken. When Seales’ extra pace and Shai Hope’s canny field placement extracted an outside edge from Ayub in the ninth over, it was the ninth successive ball the left-hand batter had faced that had not produced a run.Mohammad Rizwan couldn’t make up for a slow start•AFP/Getty Images

Three balls later, Babar Azam was cleaned up by a Seales special that burst through the gate and made a mess of his stumps, and put West Indies firmly on top.It brought Mohammad Rizwan out, but he appeared to have left positivity behind in the dressing room – he scored just 4 off his first 23 deliveries. A shower that delayed play by 90 minutes did not help Pakistan find their rhythm. Jediah Blades took his maiden ODI wicket by drawing an edge from Shafique that ended his battle of an innings the over after play resumed.As run-scoring increasingly became a struggle, West Indies’ bowlers – spinners and seamers alike – kept making inroads. Gudakesh Motie trapped the Pakistan captain in front. Chase got a ball to keep low and produce an under edge off Hussain Talat’s bat to conclude his comparatively brighter innings. Salman Agha struggled to see any scoring area beside the little dab to deep third, and when Shamar Joseph surprised him with the straighter bouncer, a top edge sent him packing.Multiple rain breaks curtailed Pakistan’s innings•AFP/Getty Images

A further rain delay truncated the game to Pakistan’s benefit with the innings winding down, allowing Hasan Nawaz to go for broke in what became seven death overs. Cruelly for Pakistan, though, that stubborn cloud unloaded its contents upon the Brian Lara Stadium once more just as he had begun to get going. That little passage of play saw 32 scored in 3.1 overs, but Pakistan were denied a big finish with their final three overs wiped out.West Indies were set an entirely manageable target, though Hasan Ali’s opening salvo soon cast that expectation into jeopardy. Wickets in each of his first two overs sent the openers back, and the hosts found themselves stuck in the same mire that had dogged Pakistan. Rizwan, sensing an opportunity to strangle, brought the spinners on after six overs, with Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed producing the desired results.The scoring rate briefly slowed to a trickle, particularly as far as Keacy Carty was concerned. His first 26 balls produced just three singles, piling the pressure on his captain at the other end. An intriguing plot point concerned Pakistan’s fifth bowling option; the one over Ayub had bowled leaked 10, and another from Salman shed another 11.Sherfane Rutherford took Shaheen Afridi down in the 17th over•AFP/Getty Images

With a newly arrived Rutherford at the crease and the asking rate over six, Rizwan made the fateful decision of turning to Shaheen Afridi, and the batter picked his moment. Two fours and a six saw him plunder 17 that over, and with Rizwan turning immediately to the part-timer Salman, another 20 were lopped off the target.It bought West Indies the cushion to see off the primary spinners Abrar and Mohammad Nawaz more respectfully, but the pair wasn’t content with containment. Nawaz found extra turn to have Hope stumped before, in what felt like a game-turning moment, he induced Rutherford into a smear that found square leg. It was part of an eight-over period that saw just 17 scored, but just as significantly, Pakistan had bowled out Nawaz.Chase slapped a couple of sixes the following Ayub over to wrench the asking rate below six once more, and it was there that it would stay for the rest of the game.The returning fast bowlers never packed the same threat, and West Indies began to milk them in addition to finding the odd boundary that took the game further out of the visitors’ reach. Justin Greaves had looked uncertain against the turn, but was impressively assured now, a wristy flick over mid-on for six off Hasan perhaps the shot of the innings. By now, the equation was purely mathematical, With Chase’s crisp drive through the off side sealing a topsy-turvy win on a day that promised each outcome at certain points, before settling on the one the Trinidad crowd had come to witness.

Liverpool are now reportedly exploring a deal to sign Jarrod Bowen after West Ham United shared what it would take for them to sell their star man in 2026.

Those at Anfield have set their sights on another attacking addition with their summer spending yet to come good. Club-record signing Alexander Isak has scored just one goal in all competitions and has largely faced fitness issues during his time at Anfield so far. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz – although gradually improving – is yet to find the back of the net.

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Suddenly, after a major spending spree, the Reds have looked out of ideas going forward at times. On paper, an attacking blend of Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitie and Cody Gakpo should result in endless goals. In reality, however, it’s a combination which simply hasn’t worked so far.

Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville didn’t hold back after Liverpool’s recent 3-0 defeat against Manchester City either, claiming that Wirtz is a “problem” for Arne Slot.

The November international break has handed the Premier League champions some much-needed reprieve and it’s a break that must see Slot come up with a solution for his side’s problems.

As much as Neville has criticised Wirtz, the truth is that the German hasn’t been Liverpool’s greatest problem in recent weeks. No player in the Premier League has created more chances than the former Bayer Leverkusen man in all competitions, yet the numbers show that he’s got just one assist to his name. For the most part in recent weeks, he’s played his part.

Instead, the big problem lies with those ahead of him who have been wasteful. It’s sparked concerns that Salah could be past his best and those at Anfield are already reportedly eyeing his replacement as a result.

Liverpool exploring Jarrod Bowen move

As reported by Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Liverpool are now exploring a move to sign Bowen ahead of 2026. Whilst West Ham are expected to turn down any advances at this stage, they would reportedly consider selling their captain if an interested party submitted an ‘irresistible’ offer.

Liverpool proved that they’re not afraid to splash the cash in the summer just gone, so the Hammers’ stance should give them a glimmer of hope that they could yet sign Bowen, who shares an agent with Andy Robertson.

As for the forward, himself, if anyone deserves a big move it is him. Bowen has dragged West Ham to European glory, kept them in the Premier League and become an undisputed legend at the London Stadium. Now, if Liverpool come calling, he should grab hold of the opportunity with both hands.

The 28-year-old has already experienced what it’s like to score at Anfield with West Ham, but could yet get the chance to celebrate in front of The Kop week in, week out in 2026.

Jurgen Klopp called Bowen his “favourite player” in 2023 and could watch from afar as the West Ham man completes a move to Merseyside three years later.

Liverpool and Arsenal scouting new right-back who pocketed Gakpo

Having played just four T20s before Monday, the left-arm seamer became the first Indian to take a four-for on IPL debut

Vishal Dikshit31-Mar-20251:36

Aaron: ‘Skiddy’ Ashwani quicker than batters expected

Ashwani Kumar hails from Jhanjeri, a village in the Mohali district of Punjab. He belongs to a humble family that couldn’t afford to pay for his cricket. He still found ways to get around Punjab to play the game and did well enough to earn a first-class debut at the age of 18. But then a hamstring injury took him off the field.Two seasons later, he returned to the Punjab side but got just one game in the Ranji Trophy and one in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. And then another three white-ball games in the 2022-23 season. He was too “raw” then, not very fit, and Punjab had enough pace options in the side at the time.Ashwani then joined the Launching Pad Cricket Academy in Chandigarh in 2023. Soon after that, he got picked for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2024-25 season as a back-up in the pace attack led by Arshdeep Singh. But, even before he could get a game, came the IPL mega auction. In 2024, Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had already spotted something in Ashwani to bring him on board as a net bowler, and PBKS even pulled some strings to ensure he went to their camp and not CSK’s.Related

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• Rickelton: 'The pressure internally is big but externally is huge' at the IPL

• Rookies Ashwani and Rickelton lead MI to first win

• Best figures on IPL debut: Ashwani the first Indian with a four-for

Before the auction ahead of IPL 2025, Ashwani appeared for trials at both CSK and Mumbai Indians (MI), and the MI scouts are believed to have been impressed by what they saw: his ability to rush batters despite not being express and the ability to swing the new ball as well as pound it into the pitch, as well as other variations. MI’s scouts – whom captain Hardik Pandya credited after Monday’s win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – were on the prowl before the auction and made sure the MI management picked two domestic unknowns for INR 30 lakh each to bolster the pace unit – Satyanarayana Raju and Ashwani, who had played only five domestic games at the time.Before IPL 2025 started, Ashwani went back to the academy in Chandigarh to spend time with his coach Varinder Singh and specifically worked on his fitness, his non-bowling arm, and his strength and conditioning. The Ashwani that showed up in the MI camp a couple of months later had a stronger action and a more athletic body.One of the first things Ashwani’s Punjab coach Wasim Jaffer and team-mate Ramandeep Singh – who was his opponent on Monday night – mentioned was his work ethic. “He works tirelessly in the nets, he’s very sincere and he wants to keep improving,” Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo. “He has a lot of things – he can hit 140kph, he has a bouncer, a yorker, a slower ball. I’m so happy he went to the right franchise.”Ashwani Kumar celebrates after having Rinku Singh hole out•Associated PressWhen IPL 2025 started, MI had to deal with Jasprit Bumrah’s absence and two losses in their first two games. Being the only team without any points before Monday’s game, MI could have played it safe by retaining Raju in the XI – he at least has some IPL experience to show. But they took a punt by leaving Raju out and named a fourth IPL Indian debutant in three games, after Raju, Vignesh Puthur and Robin Minz.Playing at home, where conditions are better for their bowling attack, Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar finally struck in tandem. But even though Chahar got the big wicket of Quinton de Kock in his first over, Hardik replaced him with Ashwani for the fourth over. Ashwani had known earlier in the day about his imminent IPL debut, and he was so nervous he could barely have lunch. When Hardik gave Ashwani the ball, he asked him to “enjoy yourself”. And that Ashwani did by striking with his first ball in the IPL in front of thousands of home fans and went on to become the first Indian to bag a four-for in his maiden IPL appearance.That he got Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh as his first two wickets wasn’t even the best part of his day at work. Three balls after he had sent Rinku back, in the 11th over, Ashwani sent one down with a slightly scrambled seam at just short of 137kph. But the way the ball curved from outside leg to hit the top of leg stump, making Manish Pandey look late on the shot, showed that the 23-year-old had a trick or two up his sleeve.”He’s a lot quicker than people recognise at first,” Ryan Rickelton said of Ashwani. “I think that’s a great attribute to have. He can swing the new ball. I know it’s obviously quite tough – we’ve got two specialist bowlers with the new ball as well – but to have a second plan for that swing factor was really impressive. He’s a lot quicker than you think and he rushes you a little bit as well.”Ashwani Kumar is mobbed by Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya after his first-ball strike•Associated PressAnd then Ashwani did it again in his next over. Against the might and muscle of Andre Russell, Ashwani bowled one at 140.7kph – another scrambled-seam delivery that took the top of middle stump, and the Wankhede was in raptures because the crowd knew that with KKR 88 for 8, the game was almost done.”[When] we played a practice game, [we saw] he had that zip, he had that little late swing, something off the wicket, and had a different action and plus, he was a lefty,” Hardik said of Ashwani’s arsenal at the presentation. “This wicket offered a little more and we thought that Ashwani can come and bowl the way he bowls, and I’m really, really happy for him.”Ashwani could hardly believe that he was taking home the Player-of-the-Match award. “This is a very big thing for me that I got an opportunity like this,” he said. “I didn’t think I would be the Man of the Match in my first match. I just wanted to follow my process and do my bit, that’s it, but it turned out very well. I was completely confident [about performing in front of a big crowd] but still I was a little nervous before the match. It was just a little bit of ‘what will happen’.”The MI management “backed him” like they backed Puthur and Raju, and even Hardik all those years ago. You never know what turn life takes – to fast-track an unknown from a small town to Mumbai and make thousands of fans scream your name in a packed stadium, whether you are Puthur, Raju or Ashwani. He has shown the potential and has the support of one of the most successful franchises in T20 cricket, but as Ramandeep said after the game, “he has a long way to go.”

Bosch, de Klerk, Shangase and Dercksen are also first-timers for an ODI World Cup

Firdose Moonda03-Sep-2025

Karabo Meso, the 17-year-old wicket-keeper batter, will go to her first World Cup after being included in South Africa’s squad for the ODI tournament in India and Sri Lanka which starts later this month.She has just two ODI caps to her name and has played seven senior internationals in all, but has featured in two Under-19 World Cups and won the SA20 Schools title with Steyn City earlier this year. Meso is one of two players who will play at a World Cup for the first time. Offspin-bowling allrounder Nondumiso Shangase, who was recalled to South Africa’s squad in May, is the other.Top-order batter Anneke Bosch and allrounders Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen will also feature in an ODI World Cup squad for the first time; they have previously been in T20 World Cup squads.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The rest of South Africa’s 15-player group is as expected, led by Laura Wolvaardt with significant experience in different departments. Allrounders Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon and seamer Ayabonga Khaka all played important roles in South Africa reaching the last ODI World Cup semi-finals and will be present again.As reported last week, there was no room for former captain Dane van Niekerk, who was included in a training camp but her international comeback remains a while away.Others present in that camp but not making the squad are batters Lara Goodall and Faye Tunnicliffe, seamer Ayanda Hlubi, legspinner Seshnie Naidu and allrounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Luyanda Ntuza. Miane Smit, an allrounder who bowls offspin, has been included as the lone travelling reserve.”The make-up of the squad is underpinned by the consistent selection process that was adhered to during the recent ICC Women’s Championship cycle, while taking into account the subcontinent conditions and the different characteristics of the group required for a successful tournament of this nature,” Clinton du Preez, South Africa’s convenor of selectors, said.Under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, SA have lost four ODIs in 10 outings•Cricket South Africa

This will be the first major tournament South Africa will play under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, who succeeded Hilton Moreeng in a permanent capacity last year. In Mashimbyi’s tenure, South Africa have been inconsistent, with four wins in ten ODIs, including a series win over West Indies in June. Mashimbyi was occasionally without some senior players – such as Kapp for the tri-series in Sri Lanka – but will have one more opportunity to fine-tune his combinations before the tournament starts.South Africa tour Pakistan for three ODIs to be played between September 16 and 22 before moving on to India for their World Cup opener against England. Their recent tournament run has included two ODI World Cup semi-finals and back-to-back T20 World Cup finals, and there is expectation for them to take the next step and claim a cup. Mashimbyi is confident this group of players can deliver.”From the moment I joined this team, and even before my time when the squad went through the qualification phase, it was all about working towards this moment,” Mashimbyi said. “We can look back at the amount of preparation we have put in and know that we have done our best. We are ready to send a squad to the World Cup that will make South Africa proud.”We believe we have the squad of players that can go out there and deliver on the world stage. Now it is all about carrying that belief with us every step of the way, along with the support of the entire nation.”South Africa squad for Women’s ODI World CupLaura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon
Travelling reserve: Miane Smit

Sellout crowd disappointed as heavy and persistent rain prevents any action at Malahide

Matt Roller19-Sep-2025Persistent rain wiped the second of three T20Is between Ireland and England out before a ball was bowled. Heavy overnight rain in the Dublin area left patches of the outfield totally sodden at Malahide Cricket Club, and a planned 1.30pm inspection was pushed back indefinitely until umpires Aidan Seaver and Jonathan Kennedy eventually called the game off at 3.47pm.It made for an anticlimactic afternoon, not least with a “sold out” sign plastered onto the ticket booth and a crowd of more than 4,000 expected. After three washouts against West Indies, Ireland have now lost four out of their eight home men’s internationals this summer to the weather; the only consolation is that the forecast for Sunday’s match is more promising.Brian MacNeice, Cricket Ireland’s chair, said that their insurance policy mitigated the financial impact of the abandonment. “We have a policy that covers it,” MacNeice said. “There’s no financial impact to us, other than potentially a slightly more expensive insurance policy next year.”A member of the groundstaff tries to dry the outfield•Sportsfile via Getty Images

The wash-out was particularly frustrating for Ireland as this series was initially pencilled in for June, only to be shifted back to September at the ECB’s request. “Even in the middle of the summer, you can’t predict that you’re going to get perfect weather,” MacNeice said. “We didn’t have a problem having the games here at this time.”England had planned to rotate their side for the second T20I, with Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox both in line to feature before the weather intervened. They may win opportunities on Sunday, but one man who will not is the uncapped Scott Currie, who has been released from the squad to play for Hampshire in Saturday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge.Wednesday’s series opener saw England take a 1-0 lead over Ireland, chasing 197 with 14 balls to spare thanks to Phil Salt’s innings of 89. It meant a winning start to Jacob Bethell’s short tenure as stand-in captain, deputising for the rested Harry Brook.

And does Varun Chakravarthy have the best bowling figures in a losing cause in T20Is?

Steven Lynch05-Feb-2025Sri Lanka used only four bowlers in Australia’s huge total in the first Test. Was this a record? asked Aditya Agarwal from India
Australia’s first innings in Galle last week reached 654 for 6 before Steve Smith declared. You’re right that Sri Lanka used only four bowlers, who sent down 154 overs between them.It was not only the highest Test total in which only four men bowled – previously Australia’s 528 against India in Adelaide in 1981 – but also the highest in all first-class cricket. That mark was previously 533, by South Africa in an unofficial Test against an Australian XI in Port Elizabeth early in 1987.There have been two Test innings longer than 154 overs to feature only four bowlers. In Rawalpindi in 1997, Pakistan used only four in 167.5 overs as South Africa made 402. But the most deliveries came in Sydney in 1951, when England used only four bowlers in 129 eight-ball overs – equivalent to 172 of six balls – as Australia reached 426. One of those England bowlers, Denis Compton, sent down only six overs – but Alec Bedser delivered 43, John Warr 36 and 40-year-old Freddie Brown 44.Three of Sri Lanka’s bowlers last week conceded more than 180 runs: this has happened only once before in a Test innings, in Sri Lanka’s own record total of 952 for 6 declared against India in Colombo in 1997. The bowlers then were Rajesh Chauhan (1 for 276), Anil Kumble (1 for 223) and Nilesh Kulkarni (1 for 195 on debut; his wicket came from the first ball he bowled).Gudakesh Motie top-scored in the match as West Indies beat Pakistan last week. How often has the highest individual innings in a Test come from a No. 9? asked Shane Chintamani from Guyana
It turns out that Gudakesh Motie, who made 55 in the second innings of West Indies’ dramatic series-squaring victory over Pakistan in Multan last week, was only the tenth man to make the highest individual score in a Test match from as low as No. 9 in the order.The list includes Reggie Duff, a batter who usually opened but who went in at No. 10 on his debut for Australia against England in Melbourne in 1902, and scored 104.The other No. 9s who top-scored in an entire Test were Clem Hill (160) for Australia against England in Adelaide in 1908 (he usually batted much higher, but had been ill), Ian Johnson (73) for Australia vs India in Madras in 1956, Asif Iqbal (146) for Pakistan vs England at The Oval in August 1967, Warren Lees (89) for New Zealand vs Sri Lanka in Christchurch in 1983, Wasim Akram (66) for Pakistan vs West Indies in Faisalabad in 1986, Fanie de Villiers (67 not out) for South Africa vs India in Ahmedabad in 1996, Brett Lee (62 not out) for Australia vs West Indies in Brisbane in 2000, and Shaun Pollock (111) for South Africa vs Sri Lanka in Centurion in 2001.Was Usman Khawaja the oldest man to score a maiden Test double-century? asked Emil Chandran from Australia
When he reached his double-century against Sri Lanka in Galle last week, Usman Khawaja was 38 years 43 days old. He was the 12th man to score a Test double-century after turning 38: Don Bradman of Australia and India’s Vinoo Mankad both made two.The oldest man to score a Test double-century remains the South African opener Eric Rowan, who was 42 when he made 236 – his first and only double – against England at Headingley in 1951. Jack Hobbs was 41 when he scored 211 (also rather surprisingly, his maiden Test double-century) for England vs South Africa at Lord’s in 1924. Another Englishman, Patsy Hendren, reached his maiden Test double-century on his 41st birthday, against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1930. Graham Gooch of England and South Africa’s Dudley Nourse both also scored Test doubles after their 40th birthdays. Mankad and England’s Andy Sandham were also older than Khawaja when they reached their maiden Test 200s. For the list, click here (note that the ages given are at the start of the match in question).Varun Chakravarthy is the only bowler to have taken two five-fors in losing causes in T20Is•BCCIVarun Chakravarthy took a five-for in a T20 international against England the other day and lost – and it was the second time he’d done that. What are the best T20I figures by someone who ended up losing? asked Lakshmi Narayanan from India
The Indian legspinner Varun Chakravarthy took 5 for 24 in the second T20I against England in Rajkot last week, but he still finished on the losing side, as he did when he claimed 5 for 17 in Gqeberha last November.In all there are 28 instances of a bowler taking five or more wickets in a losing cause in a men’s T20Is, and Chakravarty is the only one to have done it twice. The best figures in a defeat are 6 for 12, by the Hong Kong seamer Nasrulla Rana against Papua New Guinea in Kuala Lumpur in 2023; Chakravarty’s 5 for 17 are the best figures in vain in a match between two Test-playing nations.There were 53 men’s Test matches in 2024. Was this a record? asked Andrew McKenzie from England
The number of men’s Tests in 2024 has been exceeded only twice before: there were 55 in 2001, and 54 in 2002. What’s noticeable is that there were 12 draws in 2001, and eight in 2002, but only three last year. The last time there were as few as three draws was 2020, when Covid meant there were only 22 Test matches all year.For the list, click here. Note that this is worked out by the start date, which means a few Tests which straddle the new year are not credited to the second year. This does not affect any of the top 25 or so entries, except 2013 and 2014 – one Test started on December 30 and continued into January 2014 (so arguably the totals for those years should be 43.5 and 41.5).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Tottenham Hotspur’s activity in the transfer market in the last few months has been a huge success, with the board completing deals for numerous top-level talents.

Thomas Frank will no doubt have been hoping the hierarchy would have given him the opportunity to improve the options at his disposal ahead of his debut campaign in North London.

The biggest deal came in the form of Mohammed Kudus, with the winger costing a total of £55m from Premier League rivals West Ham United – a fee that already looks to be a bargain.

He’s already registered four assists in his first two league outings for the Lilywhites, with the Ghanaian currently the joint highest goal creator in the entire division.

However, with January rapidly approaching, the Dane will no doubt be eying up further deals to help his side be competitive in England’s top-flight and in the closing stages of the Champions League group stage.

Spurs’ hunt for added attacking reinforcements in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been named as just one Premier League club currently in the race to sign Brentford forward Kevin Schade in January.

The German has caught the eye of Frank once more, after the 51-year-old previously signed the attacker during his stint in charge at the GTEC Community Stadium.

It’s been reported that the Lilywhites are already working on a winter deal for the 23-year-old, with a fee in the region of £48m mooted for his signature at present.

However, he’s not the only forward-minded player on their radar, with the hierarchy also currently considering a move to sign Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo.

The latest report from one Spanish outlet states that the board see the Japanese international as a priority target for the upcoming window, with a £52m price tag, the ballpark figure right now.

It also states that the 24-year-old is keen on a switch to the Premier League in the coming months, seeing such an opportunity as a chance to take his career to the next level.

Why Spurs’ £52m target would be a huge upgrade on Johnson

Spurs haven’t been alien to a big-money attacking signing, as seen by Kudus’ arrival in the summer, but Brennan Johnson is another player who falls into such a category.

The Welsh international cost a staggering £47.5m back in the summer of 2023, joining the Lilywhites from Nottingham Forest in an attempt to improve the right-wing position.

His time in North London over recent years has certainly been topsy-turvy, with numerous highs often being overshadowed by various moments to forget for the 24-year-old.

He’s previously been subject to vile online abuse from his own supporters on social media, but it’s safe to say he proved all of them wrong with his Europa League-winning goal last season.

Frank’s arrival gave the winger the chance to build on his success in 2024/25, but it’s been a couple of months to forget for Johnson, as he’s dropped down the pecking order – whilst being sent off in Kudus’ absence against FC Copenhagen.

It could be about to get a whole lot worse for the forward should Kubo arrive, with the Japanese star certainly pushing last campaign’s top-goalscorer down the order further.

He may be an unknown quantity to many, but when comparing his stats to those of Johnson from 2025/26, they highlight how much of an upgrade he would be on the current winger.

Kubo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by former Barcelona star Xavi, has completed more progressive carries and passes per 90 – numbers which showcase his desire to get balls into dangerous areas whenever possible.

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst notching more key passes per 90 – which could allow him to add a more creative presence to Frank’s first-team squad.

Other tallies, such as more take-ons completed and more carries into the final third per 9,0 reaffirm his ability with the ball at his feet, which could take some of the responsibility off Kudus in the process.

£52m would be yet another huge statement of intent from the board after the summer deal to land the Ghanaian, but it showcases the ambition they do have to take the Lilywhites to the next level.

As for Johnson, such a deal would all but end his career in North London, with the board desperately needing to offload him to avoid losing a small fortune on their investment.

Forget Palhinha: Spurs star is fast becoming their best player since Kane

Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot on one player who is becoming as crucial as Harry Kane.

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Ethan Lamb

Nov 7, 2025

Seamers do the needful against Warwickshire, as Surrey collapse opens door to points victory

ECB Reporters Network24-Sep-2025Warwickshire 258 (Mousley 74, Barnard 48, Young 48, Hutton 4-46, Abbas 3-33) vs Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire are within 300 runs of securing the Rothesay County Championship crown after bowling out Warwickshire for 258 on day one at Trent Bridge.Needing to secure a maximum of 10 points from the final round of matches to lift the title for the first time since 2010 after their victory over holders Surrey last week, Nottinghamshire fulfilled their first requirement by taking all three bowling bonus points, led by Brett Hutton’s four for 46 and Mohammad Abbas’s three for 33.And Surrey’s failure to take any of the five batting bonus points potentially up for grabs in their match against Hampshire at Southampton, means they require just two more in this match to be certain of becoming champions.Put simply, if they can muster anything above 300 with the bat within 110 overs in their first innings, the title will be theirs even were they to lose this match and Surrey win theirs.They might have been on the field in pursuit of those runs already if Dan Mousley had not defied difficult batting conditions by scoring 74 after driving Warwickshire recovery from 127 for five.Mousley shared a 117-run sixth-wicket partnership with Ed Barnard, who exactly matched Will Young earlier in making 48 from 104 deliveries. Warwickshire, who began the day in fourth place, are keen at least to overtake Somerset and finish third.After choosing not to bat first, Nottinghamshire presumably would have hoped to send Warwickshire to lunch in a more precarious position than 70 for one. As it was, in an opening session limited to 25 overs after a wholly unforecast stoppage for rain, the visitors lost only Alex Davies, who was leg before to the 10th ball of the match as Hutton found some early movement through the air.Not that it was for want of trying by the Nottinghamshire attack. Abbas, returning from a minor back issue, bowled seven overs that on another day might have generated two or three wickets. Young and Rob Yates played and missed several times and edged other deliveries past the slips. Both executed some good shots, to be fair to them.More rain delayed the afternoon session by 50 minutes. It began with another early wicket, Yates well held at second slip by Freddie McCann in Abbas’s second over.Abbas has taken the place vacated by Josh Tongue, ordered to rest up by England after his match-winning performance against Surrey last week, which illustrates the depth of Nottinghamshire’s bowling resources. Their other centrally-contracted fast bowler, Olly Stone, though he missed the first tranche of matches through injury, will complete the season having not appeared in the Championship side.Though the sky cleared, batting remained a challenge, although patience and some nifty footwork appeared to be paying off for Young. Having saved himself on 35, managing to kick the ball away a delivery from Dillon Pennington squirmed under his bat towards the stumps, he was nearing a half-century against his former county.But then he unexpectedly wafted at a ball from Hutton outside off stump and paid the price. With Surrey already dismissed by Hampshire for just 147, a first bowling point for Nottinghamshire was enthusiastically applauded by the home crowd, fully aware that the requirement to take the title was already down to just four more points.Two more wickets before tea reduced Warwickshire to 127 for five. Sam Hain, pushing forward, and Zen Malik were caught behind in consecutive overs, the latter off a ball from Lyndon James that moved late to find the edge of his defensive bat.The middle session thus belonged to Nottinghamshire, yet Mousley and Barnard resisted and then fought back in the final session, Mousley becoming more confident and aggressive as the partnership grew, accelerating to a half-century from 62 balls, which he celebrated by going down the pitch to hit James back over his head for six.In the final half-hour, though, the pendulum swung back to Nottinghamshire, left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White claiming the second bowling point with a caught-and-bowled to remove Barnard before Abbas, bowling fast and straight with second new ball in hand, dismissed Michael Booth and Ethan Bamber in consecutive deliveries.Hutton wrapped things up by bowling Tazeem Ali before Mousley holed out to long off, leaving Nottinghamshire within touching distance of the prize.

Joining Manchester United in their pomp is easy. Joining Manchester United in their current state, fresh off the back of a worst-ever Premier League campaign at Old Trafford, requires a little bit of craziness.

Craziness to believe that you can be the man to lift the Red Devils out of their ongoing decline, with ex-Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo – signed on a £71m deal over the summer – already looking like he’s ready to do just that.

There may not have been the glamour attached to the deal that there was when names like Angel Di Maria or Radamel Falcao rocked up in Manchester, but that might be because this marquee move actually made sense, with Ruben Amorim and co forking out for a properly Premier League-proven figure.

Having netted 20 times in the top-flight last time out under Thomas Frank, there was a feeling that the Cameroonian was destined for the Champions League, with his former boss intent on taking him to Tottenham Hotspur.

The 26-year-old, to his credit, made it clear he only wanted United, patiently waiting out protracted negotiations to eventually seal his desired switch. Six goals in his first 12 games for the club have since followed.

Mbeumo is now the benchmark for further reinforcements to try and meet, with recent reports indicating that additional attacking recruits could potentially be in the works.

Man Utd's search for a forward

While the extent of his injury is yet to be known, the potential absence of Benjamin Sesko has brought the lack of genuine alternatives to the Slovenian into sharper focus, with Joshua Zirkzee the only other senior striker in Amorim’s ranks.

Sesko, signed for £74m from RB Leipzig, has made a promising albeit unspectacular start in English football with just two goals scored across league and cup, with questions to be asked over whether a more experienced marksman is still required.

According to reports in Spain, that very fact may well see United renew their interest in a certain Harry Kane in 2026, with the England skipper deemed to be a ‘proven solution’ to their long-standing centre-forward woes.

Transfer Focus

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As per the report, the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea are also paying close attention to the 32-year-old’s situation at Bayern Munich, with his existing deal in Bavaria set to expire in 2027.

Kane, the piece suggests, is keen to stay at the Allianz Arena, although the presence of a reported €65m (£57m) release clause in his current contract will certainly spark a raft of interest heading into the New Year.

Whether it is January or next summer, Kane – who was Erik ten Hag’s prime target back in 2023 – would still remain a significant coup if INEOS could pull it off.

Why Man Utd could land an even better signing than Mbeumo

2023 remains a frustrating window as far as United are concerned, with Ten Hag’s apparent interest in the likes of Kane and Declan Rice ultimately counting for little, as Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana all arrived instead.

Hojlund, as those at Old Trafford are aware, has since proved to be something of a mixed bag, having scored just 26 goals in 95 games in all competitions, alongside a further four goals on loan at Napoli this season.

Since leaving Spurs for Bayern two years ago, meanwhile, Kane has gone on to amass a ridiculous haul of 108 goals in just 113 games for the Bundesliga giants, becoming the quickest player this century to reach triple figures for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Mbeumo might have stolen the show with a standout 2024/25 campaign for the Bees, but if it is true Premier League proven quality that you are after, then Kane is the man. 213 goals in England’s top-tier places him third on the all-time list.

Widely regarded as the best striker in the world, Kane has scored at least 17 league goals in every season stretching from 2014/15 to 2024/25. As for the new campaign, he already has 13 in ten in Germany’s top division. Mbeumo, for contrast, has five in 11.

2024/25

31

26

2023/24

32

36

2022/23

38

30

2021/22

37

17

2020/21

35

23

2019/20

29

18

2018/19

28

17

2017/18

37

30

2016/17

30

29

2015/16

38

25

2014/15

34

21

Not your typical superstar, the former Spurs talisman is simply efficient to the extreme, with few players in the modern era having possessed such a ruthless, clinical streak in front of goal.

The beauty of Kane too, however, is that he isn’t just your average penalty box poacher. There are so many strings to his extraordinary bow.

Even deployed in almost a central midfield role at times under Vincent Kompany this season, namely in the win over Borussia Dortmund, England’s record scorer has that knack for being able to spray passes at will, having developed into an all-encompassing, playmaking number nine.

Such traits even led Tottenham great David Ginola to liken him to a legendary figure of the past back in 2022: “He is like the new Diego Maradona now. Long passes, short passes, he has it all.”

At 32, while he may be entering that ‘last dance’ territory, Amorim and United certainly shouldn’t turn their nose up at the chance to bring Kane back to England. There is Alan Shearer’s record to chase for him, after all.

Now worth more than Anderson: Man Utd star is the "nearest thing" to Zidane

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on a star who’s worth more than Elliot Anderson.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 14, 2025

Being a referee in the Premier League is arguably one of the toughest jobs in football, with a select group of officials regularly entrusted to take charge of top flight fixtures.

Even though VAR is still causing plenty of controversy week in, week out, decisions on the field are now more important than ever, with technology doing its best to try and not get involved unless it is ‘clear and obvious’.

The game is also arguably faster than it’s ever been, so referees need to be extremely fit and quick to react. But who is the best referee in the Premier League right now?

Rank

Ref

1

Anthony Taylor

2

Michael Oliver

3

Stuart Attwell

4

Craig Pawson

5

Jarred Gillett

6

Darren England

7

Chris Kavanagh

8

Simon Hooper

9

Andy Madley

10

Peter Bankes

11

Robert Jones

12

Michael Salisbury

13

Tony Harrington

14

Samuel Barrott

15

Thomas Bramall

15 Thomas Bramall

One of the least experienced referees in the Premier League, Thomas Bramall was the man in the middle that made a huge mistake by disallowing Aston Vila’s goal against Man Utd on the final day of the 2024/25 season.

That arguably cost Villa a place in the Champions League, but the PGMOL have stuck with Bramall, who, at 35 years of age, appears to be a referee in the early stages of his top flight career.

14 Samuel Barrott

One of the card happiest referees in the Premier League, Samuel Barrott is one of the most inexperienced officials in the top flight after making his debut in 2023/24.

He took charge of 23 games in 2024/25, apologising for one mistake he made in Crystal Palace’s defeat to Brentford after wrongly ruling out Eberechi Eze’s free-kick.

13 Tony Harrington

Tony Harrington is among the referees to average the least amount of fouls awarded per 90, but that doesn’t make him a bad official.

He made his Premier League debut in 2021/22 but just hasn’t been given a regular run of games in the top flight. Harrington’s best tally of games came in the 2024/25 season where he officiated 18 fixtures.

12 Michael Salisbury

Michael Salisbury has never been a regular in the Premier League after taking charge of his first game in the 2021/22 season.

He was on VAR duty and instructed referee Robert Jones to look at Josh King’s goal against Chelsea which was incorrectly ruled out. Salisbury was dropped by the PGMOL shortly after.

11 Robert Jones

Nottingham Forest aren’t the biggest fans of Robert Jones, with Evangelos Marinakis’ side lodging an official complaint against the 38-year-old after a series of decisions against the Reds.

He was the first Premier League referee to ever perform a red-card rejection, however, some of Jones’ decisions are controversial and he averages awarding a penalty every three games.

10 Peter Bankes

Peter Bankes has now reffed more than 100 games in the Premier League since 2019, however, the Merseyside-born official has regularly come in for criticism from fans.

Former referee Keith Hackett even said Bankes looked “out of his depth” in 2025 after a decision he made in Man Utd’s clash with Bournemouth.

9 Andy Madley

A FIFA licensed referee who has taken charge of the FA Cup final, Andy Madley has taken charge of more than 100 Premier League games since 2017/18.

More recently, he has made some controversial decisions, including one between Everton and Man Utd which resulted in Toffees fan Tony Bellew calling him a “cheat”.

8 Simon Hooper

Often blowing early instead of allowing advantage, Simon Hooper has enraged Premier League players and managers in recent years.

An experienced top flight official after making his debut in 2015, Hooper has often come in for criticism and was actually injured at the end of October in Liverpool’s defeat to Brentford, while he was also the man in the middle during the Reds’ controversial defeat at Tottenham in 2023.

7 Chris Kavanagh

Chris Kavanagh has been a hot topic of conversation in recent years, whether it be for sending off Declan Rice for kicking the ball away or leaving Bruno Fernandes upset after he missed his penalty.

The Greater Manchester official has been on FIFA’s books since 2019 and is closing in on 200 Premier League matches at the age of 40.

6 Darren England

Another FIFA referee, Darren England caught the eye of the international governing body after two years as a Premier League official.

He was a part of the VAR team that somehow incorrectly ruled out Luis Diaz’s goal for offside in Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham, but in recent years on the pitch, has been consistent.