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Worcestershire compile the third-highest first-class score in their history as hosts struggle in response

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-Jun-2025Hampshire 68 for 3 (Varma 10*, Brown 7*, Taylor 2-16) trail Worcestershire 679 for 7 dec (Hose 266, Libby 228, Roderick 80) by 611 runsJake Libby achieved his second career Rothesay County Championship double century as Worcestershire compiled the third-highest first-class score in their history.Stand-in captain Libby batted throughout a 10-hour vigil to secure a personal best 228, while underpinning his side’s vast 679 for 7 declared.His double century was paired with Adam Hose’s on day one – making it the first time two Worcestershire batters had passed 200 in an innings, while Gareth Roderick’s 80 kept him company for much of day two.The declaration at tea left Hampshire 32 overs until the close, and during the evening they managed to lose their top three on a lifeless pitch to end the day on 68 for 3 – an ominous 611 in arrears.Libby is built for long innings. He has a sound defence, enough shot-making to avoid building pressure on himself, and the mental fortitude to become unmovable.Aged 21, he scored a double ton in Nottinghamshire’s Second XI. On Championship debut, Libby scored a 247-ball century. In 2021, he batted for 681 minutes – two minutes shy of the longest Championship innings – to save a match against Essex.This innings shouldn’t have come as a shock to anyone, especially when it became clear before lunch on day one that the Hampshire bowlers were in for a torturous time with the pitch and Kookaburra ball.While Hose scored with abandon, Libby frustrated and accumulated. The pair put on 395 with their contrasting style until Hose’s departure late on the opening day.Nightwatcher Adam Finch and Ethan Brookes fell in the morning session but Hampshire only managed to pick up one bowling point, with Worcestershire counting the maximum five batting points to reverse their batting woes this season.Finch edged the three-wicket James Fuller behind, while Brookes left a straight one from Kyle Abbott.But Libby persisted, passing 150 with his sole six – towering Liam Dawson straight down the ground – and found Roderick a similarly stubborn partner.Roderick had barely scraped 250 runs together in 16 previous innings this season, but given the perfect batting conditions, upped the price on his wicket.It wasn’t pretty viewing in the roasting south coast sun, but it kept the scoreboard slowly ticking and the Hampshire bowlers, eight of whom were used in total, toiling.Roderick’s second fifty of the season came in 114 balls, but it was overshadowed by Libby raising his bat on 200 after 399 deliveries.Roderick top-edged a sweep to fall for 80 and Matthew Waite was carelessly run out before Tom Taylor added 51 with Libby.With a new ball ready after tea, Libby decided to put Hampshire’s bowlers out of their misery by concluding his and Worcestershire’s innings, having cleared his previous high of 215.The 679 was the highest Worcestershire score away from Visit Worcestershire New Road and the highest total by a visiting team to Utilita Bowl – only the 714 Hampshire dropped on Notts in 2005 stands above it.Hampshire’s response was not wholly unsurprising after 160 overs of draining fielding in mercury rising temperatures.Fletcha Middleton and Ali Orr had already been given lives when chances were shelled in the slips, but didn’t cash in.Middleton never looked comfortable before a hooping in-swinger from Taylor hit his pads in front, while Orr seemed to find rhythm until shabbily turning Finch to leg slip.Nick Gubbins followed to give Taylor a second leg-before wicket but Tilak Varma and Ben Brown remained for the last 40 balls of the day.

They must all be starting the games in IPL 2025 thinking they can have Gujarat Titans (GT) in trouble if they take two early wickets. Or two in the first half even. However, their top three just keep scoring big runs. All three of them now sit in the top six as GT ended with 209 on a typical low Jaipur pitch. Shubman Gill, the top-scorer with 84 off 50, told Jos Buttler 190 was going to be a good score, but Buttler said that despite low bounce it was a true pitch and a quick outfield. So he didn’t quite expect a cakewalk.Gill and the new orange cap holder B Sai Sudharsan got GT off to another measured start with a 93-run opening stand, their fifth of 50 or more in nine innings this IPL. RR had the chance to break this partnership early, but Sudharsan was dropped on nine by Shimron Hetmyer. With just one aerial hit in the powerplay, GT still managed to take 53, thanks to Gill’s 25 off 16.The easing of field restriction didn’t slow Gill down. He took the slog-sweep on even on this low track, and sent Riyan Parag into the stands. Wanindu Hasaranga then created some pressure with three boundaryless overs. It probably resulted in the wicket of Sudharsan for 39 off 30 and a slow start for Buttler, but Gill broke the shackles of four overs for 23 runs with two sixes off Yudhvir Singh in the 14th.Having got a sighter of 7 off 10 balls, Buttler then proceeded to ruin the analysis of Hasaranga with three sixes and a four in the 15th over. He scored 41 off the next 14 balls he faced, including a six over long-on and a reverse-ramped four off compatriot Jofra Archer. Buttler was denied strike in the last two overs, but Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan still managed to get 22 off them.

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to outbid their Premier League rivals to secure the signature of a “pure baller”, as they are determined to win the race.

Spurs looking at Eze alternatives after transfer blow

Eberechi Eze’s move to Arsenal has sparked a furious reaction among the Tottenham fanbase, with many suggesting that Daniel Levy is at fault, although Simon Jordan believes the chairman may not be to blame for the disappointing outcome.

Regardless, Spurs will now be forced to move on to alternative targets, and an offer was submitted for Como’s Nico Paz, which was knocked back, with Fabrizio Romano revealing Real Madrid stepped in to stop a deal going through.

With Spurs’ move for Paz proving unsuccessful, their list of targets has been narrowed down even further, and a report from Spain has now revealed they are determined to win the race for a different attacking midfielder…

Indeed, Tottenham are now prepared to outbid Crystal Palace in order to get a deal for Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss over the line, with the north Londoners intent on stopping the Moroccan signing for their Premier League rivals.

Spurs have ‘made it clear’ they won’t let the Eagles win the race for the attacking midfielder, who could command a fee of £32m, with Levy clearly unwilling to miss out on another key target to a fellow Premier League side.

El Khannouss would be risky signing for Spurs

The Leicester star is clearly thought of very highly by scout Ben Mattinson, who has hailed him as a “pure baller”, but Spurs are playing a risky game by going all out to win the race for the 21-year-old.

Unlike previous targets, such as Gibbs-White and Eze, the youngster is yet to prove himself at the top level, and hasn’t exactly set the world alight in terms of attacking contributions per 90 over the past year.

That said, with Paz no longer an option, the number of options on Spurs’ shortlist is dwindling, and the Belgium-born midfielder could flourish in a better side, having been part of a Leicester team that were relegated without putting up much of a fight last season.

As such, while it would be a gamble for Tottenham to sign El Khannouss, there are no longer many better options available, with a deal for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers deemed unlikely.

“To hold back Krunal for the 20th over made absolute sense” – Bangar also praised Patidar’s captaincy

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-20252:15

Is 2025 finally going to be RCB’s year?

The popular Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) slogan, , which translates to “this year the cup is ours”, has been doing the rounds over the years in IPL. It’s never happened, not with the men’s team. But Ambati Rayudu believes IPL 2025 could be that year – 18th time lucky.”If you look at their team, they have a pretty set combination,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “If you see the teams that are not doing well in the IPL, they are still trying their combinations. But RCB is one team, along with Delhi [Capitals (DC) and Punjab [Kings (PBKS)] to some extent, who have got their combinations well set for the season.”I have always enjoyed their [RCB’s] cricket. We have fun at their expense, only because nobody talks about DC or Punjab. Only because RCB always has a team that can win the IPL. But somehow, they come short because of their own shortcomings. Nobody else defeats them, it’s them. But this year, with [Rajat] Patidar [as captain], (this year the cup is RCB’s).”Related

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In Patidar’s first year as captain, RCB have won all their three away games – in Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai – so far and lost one at home to sit third on points table following their 12-run victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday. Only net run-rate separates table-toppers DC, second-placed Gujarat Titans (GT) and RCB.Sanjay Bangar echoed Rayudu views and heaped praise on Patidar’s captaincy and tactics during the game against MI. Chasing 222, MI needed 138 runs from the final ten overs, and they had brought the equation down to 52 from four overs with six wickets in hand and, at that stage, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya looked set to finish it off. However, Patidar’s use of fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazelwood, and left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya at the death saw RCB eke out a win. While Bhuvneshwar bowled the 16th and 18th overs, Hazlewood bowled the penultimate one. Handing over the ball to Krunal for the last one was also an unusual move but worked for RCB as he picked up three wickets and defended 18.”For me, the biggest takeaway in that captaincy during those 20 overs is getting Bhuvi early,” Rayudu said. “Because you generally associate Bhuvi to bowling either 19th or 20th. But getting Bhuvi early when they really needed experience, when they needed to get the game back into their control, I felt was a brilliant move.Rajat Patidar has led RCB to three wins from four matches•Associated Press

“Because he could have gone [to] Krunal again, thinking that we have Hazlewood and Bhuvi. But even the execution from Bhuvi and Hazlewood was amazing. And this also shows this IPL is different, because there is no dew. Bowling yorkers even in the second innings has become slightly more easier. And also with the use of saliva. “Bangar said that having just five bowlers might have been an “advantage as well” for RCB because Hardik “had numerous options” and “probably MI didn’t really use the resources” at the right time.”But that wasn’t the case with RCB,” Bangar said. “I just guess that also the type of batsmen that were there at No. 3 and No. 4 allowed Rajat to bowl those spinners [Krunal and Suyash Sharma] in tandem. Which wasn’t the case with MI. Because MI always had this at the back of their mind. That they don’t have to bowl spin to Rajat Patidar. And that played in RCB’s hands. So he was pretty smart with that particular thing.”And to hold back Krunal for the 20th over made absolute sense. Because you don’t really want him to be bowling the 19th over, with Josh Hazlewood only having 10 or 12 to defend. So all in all, a very good day out for Rajat.”For all you know, before the season began, everybody was talking about RCB not really having the depth in the spin department but here you have eight overs of spin [were] bowled at Wankhede and quite effectively, which was probably the difference between winning and losing.”

Despite already spending big this summer, Manchester City are now reportedly set to hold talks in an attempt to seal one last blockbuster move for Pep Guardiola.

Man City targeting late transfer flurry

After starting the transfer window so strongly with the arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri, it looked as though Manchester City had commenced and ended their summer business in clinical fashion early on. Since then, however, Savinho and Ederson have thrown unexpected spanners into the works which could force the Citizens to land at least one more blockbuster move.

Both players missed City’s opening day thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers through ill-timed injuries as rumours continue to emerge over their futures. Whether they make swift recoveries in the event of a late summer switch will certainly be interesting to see, however, with Tottenham Hotspur chasing Savinho and Galatasaray already in talks to sign Ederson.

In the event that Ederson does depart, which looks likely at this stage, Guardiola could reportedly welcome Senne Lammens before the end of the month. Although the Citizens initially had their sights set on Gianluigi Donnarumma, reports have since emerged that any deal to sign the Italian has become difficult due to Paris Saint-Germain’s £22m asking price.

As a result, City have reportedly turned their attention towards Lammens and hijacking Manchester United’s move to sign the Royal Antwerp shot-stopper.

Meanwhile, when it comes to potentially replacing Savinho, those at the Etihad have shifted their focus towards what would be one of the headline deals of the summer in the closing stages of the window.

Man City set to hold talks to sign Rodrygo

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Manchester City are now set to hold talks to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid, with the Brazilian’s representatives already on their way to commence discussions. Madrid reportedly value the winger at around £87m, but are open to letting him leave before the end of the month.

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Reportedly going head-to-head with Liverpool in the race to sign Rodrygo, City will have their eye on revenge on the Reds after watching on as Florian Wirtz chose Anfield over the Etihad earlier this summer.

What’s more, if City are looking to replace Savinho, then doing so with a star of Rodrygo’s calibre would certainly send a statement of intent around the Premier League. Dubbed “special” by former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, the 24-year-old is arguably one of the best wingers in the world.

Rodrygo

Real Madrid stats

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270

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68

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51

In one swoop, City could have the potential to form one of the Premier League’s most deadly partnerships between Erling Haaland and Rodrygo – one which could see them restore their English crown just one year after conceding it to Liverpool.

Manchester United's stance on relieving Ruben Amorim of his duties has emerged amid the club's worst start to a Premier League season in 33 years. Amorim's back-five tactics has been criticised after the 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City, but the Portuguese coach remained bullish on his tactical system and even insisted that the club would have to sack him before he changes his setup.

United lose again in dire derby

United suffered their third defeat of the 2025-26 season in five games across all competitions, as they went down 3-0 against rivals City at the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden broke the deadlock in the first half with a clinical header from Jeremy Doku's assist. After the break, Erling Haaland scored a brace to seal a crucial win for Pep Guardiola's side.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWill United sack Amorim?

According to the , Amorim's position as Red Devils boss is not under any genuine threat despite losing 16 of the 31 matches he has managed the club thus far. Amorim's current contract runs until 2027.

Amorim stays bullish on his tactics

Despite all the criticism and the derby loss, Amorim remained firm on his stance as he claimed that he won't be changing his 3-4-3 formation anytime soon. The Portuguese manager said: "Guys, I understand that and I accept. It is not a record you should have in Manchester United. There are a lot of things – you have no idea what happened during these months – but I accept that. I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man. We will talk about that every game that we lose. I don't believe in that, in the system, or whatever. I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change.

"My message is that I am going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message. It is not my decision, the rest (on whether United change manager). Until I am here, I will do my best. I really want to win games. I am suffering more than they."

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(C)Getty ImagesWhen are United playing next?

With no European games in midweek, Amorim's side will be back in action on Saturday as they take on Chelsea in another mammoth Premier League clash.

Southee said it “feels right” to sign off from Test cricket after playing the team he debuted against as a teenager

Vishal Dikshit15-Nov-2024

After playing two World Cups within the space of a year and featuring in a historic 3-0 Test series win in India is when Tim Southee thought was the “right time” to sign off on his 17-year Test career. Southee also thought it would be special to play his last series against England, the side he had started against 17 years ago as a teenager, and which is now coached by his former captain and close friend Brendon McCullum.Southee revealed he thought about retiring from the format on the recent tour of India, where he bounced the idea off coach Gary Stead, and decided his final three Tests would be the “marquee” series against England at home, especially after the series win in India gave New Zealand a boost to qualify for the WTC final, which Southee will be available for should they make it.”I guess you look at what’s in front of you and last year was that World Cup and we had the T20 World Cup earlier this year,” Southee told reporters about how he reached the decision. “We had this chunk of Test cricket, which I guess was all exciting along the last 12 months, and you near the end of that exciting part and you look forward and it’s a marquee series against a great opposition (England), one obviously which I started against all those years ago, and it feels right.Related

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“I think just playing a game for New Zealand was a dream come true. So to do that at a young age was pretty special and I guess to sit here and [realise] it’s gone, it’s gone extremely quickly and sit here and over the next…however long you’ll reflect more. It’s just been a great ride and there’s still a little bit to go. But certainly, when I took that field in Napier didn’t think we’d be sitting here 17 years on, that’s for sure. But yeah, just been a real privilege and a real honour to fulfil a childhood dream. And represent our country.Looking back at the last 12 months, Southee said: “I think on the back of what happened in India, it’s obviously given us a chance [for the WTC final], but there’s three matches in front of us against a pretty good opposition. So like every match we’ll try and take care of Christchurch first and give ourselves best chance of performing there. But, ideally, obviously, it would be nice to crack on and have another shot at the Test Championship final. But we know there’s a lot of hard work to go on between now and then, but we’re certainly giving ourselves a chance of doing that on the back of a special few weeks in India.”Southee’s final three Tests will be in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton, which is home for him now, and that will raise the emotional quotient of his farewell game, by playing in front of close friends and family.”One last chance at three grounds that have been pretty good to me and places I really love playing at. It’s a tough decision but I think it’s the right one. [We’ve] also got some promising young bowlers coming through, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working alongside and hopefully taught them a thing or two along the way. And they’ve certainly taught me a thing or two as well, so that’s been a pleasure and it’s their time now to keep driving this team forward.”Hamilton’s now home so it’s nice that [I’ll be] able to walk off there and drive home – probably not drive home – but just to be able to finish in front of friends and family,” Southee said. “It’s a ground that I’ve played a lot of cricket in and I’ve had a lot of cricket for Northern Districts and New Zealand. So it’s a special place like the other two, the Basin and obviously an amazing Test venue in Hagley Oval as well. Like I said, it feels right against a very good opposition, great mate, who’s the coach of the opposition as well. The guy has had a big part in my career and like I said a very close friend.”Southee had made his Test debut in Napier in March 2008 against England under the captaincy of Daniel Vettori, and with senior players Stephen Fleming and McCullum also in the side. He took a five-for in the first innings before closing out the Test – which New Zealand lost by 121 runs – by smashing an unbeaten 77 off 40, studded with nine sixes.”It was just a dream start,” he said of his Test debut. “I think just walking in that changing room, you see the likes of Vettori, Fleming, McCullum as a 19-year-old kid. That was just a special week. Obviously, the result wasn’t what we wanted, but I guess to be able to perform at that level and just you’re walking into changing with your heroes and to be able to get some wickets and some runs in that first game was pretty special.Southee also reflected on New Zealand’s rise across formats in the last 10-odd years, where they reached two ODI World Cup finals in the last three editions and one T20 World Cup final in 2021, apart from lifting the maiden World Test Championship by beating India in the final in 2021, saying the seeds for those were sown sometime around 2012 under McCullum.Tim Southee scored 77 in his Test debut•Getty Images

“I think you look back to around that, was it 2012 period when when Brendon took over and there was a real change and the way that we played and the style we played and it felt right,” he said. “We had a great group of players that were a consistent bunch for close to 10 years. The Boults, Wagners, Watlings, Williamsons, Taylors, Latham. There’s a whole lot of group of guys that were able to consistently play together. You look at the good sides around the world, there’s a lot of consistency amongst them. So to have guys that you know inside out and play with them for close to 10 years, I think went a long way to the success we had and then I think we’ve just seen guys coming into a good environment, very skillful players, being able to come and show what they’re capable of and they’ve sort of carried that on. So hopefully long may that continue over the over the next few years as well.When asked what he will miss the most about the format, Southee said, “I think everything. Test cricket is…There’s nothing like it. I think one feeling that I’ll certainly miss is the day one energy. Anyone that’s played Test cricket will understand what I mean about the day one energy around the change room, just the uncertainty around everything and there’s just a real, sit and feel that I’ll certainly miss. That feeling of walking out on the field, representing your country in the whites. There’s a number of things you miss sitting back afterwards, whether you’ve won, lost or drawn. Just sitting in the change room looking around. There’s a lot you’ll miss. But it’s like everything has to come to you at some stage. And I’ve been very lucky to so far play 104 of them, so hopefully a couple more.While reminiscing some of the highlights of his Test career, Southee said: “I think there’ll be more reflecting over the next however long but, I think you look back on a number of series where the Test went in Hobart all those years ago, series win in the West Indies (2014), UAE, obviously what we just achieved in the last few weeks was pretty much the top of the tree with the World Test Championship. So, yeah, just been fortunate to be a part of the side especially over the last 10 or so years, we’ve been able to achieve some pretty special things.”Before his final Test series starting November 28, Southee will also turn out for Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield clash against Auckland at his home ground in Hamilton, from November 19 to 22.

Teenager adds 130 to earlier scores of 51 and 154 in what is still only seven innings since his debut

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2024Minutes after play in the other key relegation match was abandoned for the day without a ball bowled in Worcester, Nottinghamshire at last resumed their own crucial Vitality County Championship match against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge. A 1pm start meant 110 overs have been lost so far.But, easing home anxiety, the locally-raised, left-handed teenager Freddie McCann compensated with a massively impressive 130 to add to earlier scores of 51 and 154 in what is still only seven innings since his debut.From 55 for 3, Notts recovered to 324 for 6 at the close, Jack Haynes offering a more measured 47 and Kyle Verreynne an increasingly rapid unbeaten 76 in support. On what has settled down into a very benign pitch, Nottinghamshire have already secured two batting points and a draw will now be enough now for both sides to escape the drop.Batting in sunshine with blue sky overhead proved entirely less fraught than the ordeal on a seaming pitch that had seen Notts reach 33 for 2 from the 15.2 overs possible on Thursday. But in a strong crosswind Michael Booth, first change, produced a perfect outswinger for his fifth ball of the day to knock back Joe Clarke’s off stump for 12.The 23-year old Zimbabwean, in just his fourth first-class appearance, proved hit and miss, however, and even Olly Hannon-Dalby lost accuracy as McCann raced to a fifty from 87 balls in a period that brought 99 plundered runs in a dozen overs. The true nature of this pitch had become very clear.Reduced to posting a solitary slip for Craig Miles, Warwickshire still struggled to stem an advance that carried the home side to within 20 minutes of tea before another batter fell. Haynes became an early victim for Danny Briggs’s left-arm spin when beautifully held at slip by Will Rhodes.It ended a 127-run stand at better than a-run-a-ball and the interval, coming after 36.4 of the day’s re-jigged quota of 75.4 overs (the last eight were lost later to bad light), arrived with 211 for 4 on the board and McCann just past his century from 147 balls.Warwickshire tightened up markedly through 55 minutes in the evening but found another partnership beginning to accelerate. Verreyyne, the South Africa wicket-keeper with a Test hundred to his credit, settled into his fourth innings since joining Notts and the first batting point came up what proved an hour from the close.With the fifth wicket having added 98, it was a surprise when, from nowhere it seemed, two men then fell in eight balls, McCann yorked by Miles’s second ball back. Next over, Lyndon James had come and gone for 2, edging to the lone slip as Rhodes, the seventh bowler, reprised his knack of invariably grabbing an early success.But the 300 came up, and a second batting point with it, and if Warwickshire can claim their final bowling point on Saturday and also pass 300 themselves, they would not go down whatever happens in either relegation game.Away from play, eyes remain on a threatening forecast – the weather may yet have the last say. With only two days left for Lancashire at Worcester, where just 26 overs have proved possible, they have many miles to make up and rain is feared both there and in Nottingham on Sunday afternoon. Notts and Warwickshire supporters may be breathing more easily at the half-way point of this final round.

The past several transfer windows saw minimal activity from Liverpool, but that didn’t stop Arne Slot from replacing Jurgen Klopp and winning the Premier League in his first year at the club.

But having achieved such staggering success last term, the Dutch coach has been rewarded by FSG with a series of impressive signings this summer, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz all joining the title-winning side.

Wirtz, in particular, has the potential to become a superstar on Merseyside. Signed from Bayer Leverkusen (after Frimpong) for a British-record £116m fee, the 22-year-old has been described as “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes.

To surpass this incredible acquisition would be a Herculean task, but Liverpool are inclined to try, with sporting director Richard Hughes looking to bag a forward.

Liverpool's summer transfer plans

After a move to Napoli collapsed, Darwin Nunez’s future is currently uncertain. Liverpool want a new centre-forward, and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is the dream.

However, the Sweden star has been priced at £200m, which should put him beyond FSG’s reach.

However, with Luis Diaz mooted for a move away from Anfield this summer and having agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich, perhaps the Reds need to prioritise a bid for a left-sided forward.

And according to reports from Spain, Liverpool could be set to shatter the footballing world with a formal offer for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who is valued at €130m (£113m) by Florentino Perez.

While there is an expectation that Vinicius Jr, 25, will finalise a new deal with Los Blancos sooner rather than later, the protracted nature of the talks could lead Liverpool to swoop in and secure an incredible addition.

What Vinicius Junior would bring to Liverpool

While Liverpool have struck gold with the signing of Wirtz, they might hit an even richer stream through the signing of Vinicius Jr, who has been called “the best player in the world” by Perez in the past.

While there was a fair share of controversy (putting it modestly) around the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the dynamic forward did win The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2024 after missing out on the apex of individual accolades.

Joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in the Brasileiro Serie A for £39m in 2018, making him the most expensive under-19 player in history, Vinicius Jr has since become a superstar on the global stage, one of the most marketable and decorated rising stars of his generation.

Across the past year, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, underscoring the elite danger that could see him surpass even Wirtz at Anfield.

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The Brazil international is a remarkable player, and his sustained brilliance over the past four seasons illustrates his world-class level, which is maybe even higher than Wirtz’s, even though the German has notched 69 goal involvements for Leverkusen across the past two seasons, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2023/24 aftet his outfit’s invincible, title-winning campaign.

Wirtz is the real deal, but he needs to do more at this stage of his career to reach Vinicius Jr’s level, with any far-fetched deal to sign the Madrid superstar set to see him arrive with a pre-existing reputation as a Ballon d’Or contender, a platform Wirtz still needs one final push to reach.

Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vini Jr. could be a stunning signing for Liverpool, making a real signal of intent.

While the Reds have already secured a marquee arrival in the form of Wirtz, the South American might just prove to be the cream of the crop, should he arrive in the coming weeks.

A Gakpo upgrade: Liverpool ready to submit bid for "world-class" £86m star

Liverpool will need to replace Luis Diaz if they sell the Colombian this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2025

After seeing their team fall short of the Championship playoff picture last season, West Bromwich Albion fans will be desperate for new manager Ryan Mason to be a success from the Hawthorns dugout.

It’s a very risky appointment, considering the 33-year-old has little to no experience as a manager outside of the comforts of Tottenham Hotspur. Still, it’s a bold and adventurous appointment that might well pay off, especially if promotion is reached.

He will surely want plenty of new signings to join him at the Baggies to try and put the West Midlands club back on the map, with a potent EFL goal-machine now reportedly on his shopping list.

West Brom ready to move for EFL ace

As per journalist Darren Witcoop via his X account, West Brom are among several clubs pursuing the services of Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Kelman this summer transfer window.

It’s even stated that the Baggies are ready to make a move for the recent winner of the League One Golden Boot, with his transfer valuation coming in at around the £850k mark, as per Football Transfers.

Witcoop hasn’t named the other clubs allegedly chasing after the former Leyton Orient loanee, so it will be interesting to see if West Brom do go on to land their desired target, with Sheffield United once looking at Kelman, according to other reports.

Ruben Selles’ Blades will no doubt be in the promotion race alongside Mason’s men, with a hope that West Brom come out on top to secure a deadly marksman for their new manager, winning him his own Josh Maja-style figure in the process.

How Kelman could be Mason's own Maja

Much like the lethal Nigerian, Kelman hasn’t had everything his way across his varied career to date, away from his goalscoring heroics last season for the O’s.

Indeed, before his majestic 27-goal heroics during the 2024/25 campaign, the 23-year-old unfortunately blew hot and cold for many of his other loan sides, with a paltry five strikes coming his way on the books of both Gillingham and Wigan Athletic, prior to everything clicking at Orient.

Maja endured similar barren patches of form himself before finding a location that suited him well at the Hawthorns, with the injury-prone 26-year-old only finding the back of the net a matter of five times as well when lining up for both Stoke City and Fulham.

Now, however, the on-fire duo will have discarded any bad memories they have with those past clubs, knowing they have found their goalscoring mojo as strikers now that very rarely need a second invitation to hammer a glorious effort home.

Games played

46

26

Goals scored

21

12

Scoring frequency

162 mins

173 mins

Assists

5

2

Touches*

22.0

27.7

Accurate passes*

6.9 (67%)

13.5 (76%)

Shots*

2.4

1.8

Big chances missed

20

10

It’s clear when studying the table above that both centre-forwards in question are more content with peppering opposition ‘keepers with regular shots rather than getting involved with play outside of their fox-in-the-box approach, with Kelman only averaging a mere 6.9 accurate passes per League One clash last season, alongside Maja only making 13.5 of his own.

Therefore, Kelman could be well suited to the way West Brom feed their potent strikers, with assist king Tom Fellows perhaps tallying up even more than the 14 assists he managed all across the 2024/25 campaign if the 23-year-old were to don Baggies blue and white shortly.

He was even hailed as an “intelligent” forward player by journalist Josh Bunting last season, with Kelman just praying now that he can show off his goalscoring prowess up a division in the EFL.

He has never actually scored at the intimidating level, but West Brom took a gamble on Maja coming good with only three second-tier strikes next to his name on his arrival, meaning Kelman might just explode into life too as Mason’s very own version of the clinical 26-year-old.

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1 ByKelan Sarson Jun 29, 2025