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How the offspinner has maximised his skillset to stay in contention to make India’s World Cup squad

Alagappan Muthu05-Aug-2022Though he was playing his very first match in St Kitts, R Ashwin knew about the wind. He went around the wicket to right-hand batters, not to stifle them, or to entice their outside edge with the angle across them. He did it so that if they had to hit with the turn, they would be going against, well, nature.These are the kinds of little things that once made Ashwin the Mona Lisa of modern-day fingerspinners. Only there was a blemish in the picture. His batting. And, soon enough, that’s all anyone ever saw. The fact that he wasn’t a natural six-hitter.Between June 2017 and the start of last year’s T20 World Cup in November 2021, Ashwin played a grand total of one white-ball game for India. That is as emphatic as proof can be that two out of three formats of cricket are only willing to tolerate right-arm offbreak as a secondary skill.Ashwin needed to find a way to fit in. So a player who has hit Test centuries relying only on touch finally gave in and embraced the cross-bat stuff.”I’ve been playing the slog sweep for some time,” he told Star Sports Tamil in May. “I’ve been trusting the sweeps more regularly since the Chennai Test match [in February 2021, when he scored a century against England]. I feel that’s an important shot. I’m someone who times the ball well, so if I play the slog sweep I feel I can make the bowler bowl to my lengths. I’ve worked hard [on my batting]. I read the game well and I know the ebbs and flows of the game; I always back myself on that front. Unfortunately, I’m not so blessed with a lot of power. So, consciously I’ve worked on my batting and my technique.”T20 moves at vicious pace. It leaves people behind. Especially those with limitations. Ashwin had a big one. But he also had the will and the smarts to do something about it. That’s how a player who made his IPL debut in 2009 had his best year as a batter in 2022: facing over 100 balls for the first time, scoring a half-century for the first time, and hitting almost half his career tally (21) of IPL sixes in just one season (nine).A sizable part of that upswing is down to his hyper awareness of the conditions. A few months ago, Ashwin attempted to exploit the bounce and the small boundaries on offer at the DY Patil Stadium by crouching extra low in his stance all in effort to get under the ball and give it the required elevation. This week, in St Kitts, he knew enough about the place to realise he had an ally – the wind – which could help him be even more of a nuisance to the batter, and really, in T20s, that is all a bowler can hope for.R Ashwin batted at No. 3 three times in IPL 2022 and changed his stance a number of times•BCCIAshwin had seen this coming, way back in 2016, and has since then been doing everything he can to stay ahead of the curve. The result of that is now he knows he doesn’t have to be the guy who can run through a batting line-up. He can be just as effective by picking off the opposition’s best player, because that one wicket can turn the whole game around.April 18, 2022. Kolkata Knight Riders are bossing a chase of 218. Andre Russell walks in. The equation is 70 off 42. Ashwin has the ball. Only, he is doing something weird. He is bowing from wide of the crease. The ball is slanted into the batter and pitches on a length, pinning him to his crease and forcing him to play. And then it turns the wrong way and crashes into the stumps. Russell out for a duck. Ashwin sets off in celebration. Rajasthan Royals go on to win by seven runs.”I’d only begun working on that carrom ball yesterday, to get it to turn against the angle like that,” Ashwin told the broadcaster at the end of the game. “So being able to execute that in a match, it was a reaffirmation. It’s just an example of the battle that I always have with myself to keep getting better.”There are other instances too – dismissing Rajat Patidar in the second qualifier, which played a huge part in Royal Challengers Bangalore making only 27 runs off the last 33 balls of a playoff game – that all add up to a delightful little stat.Ashwin dismissed more right-hand batters (seven) than left-hand batters (five) in IPL 2022, defying the convention that spin is only effective when it turns away from the bat. In fact, in eight T20Is since his comeback to the Indian team last November, he has bowled 97 balls to right-hand batters and conceded only five boundaries. That’s a ratio of one in 19.4, which is a marked improvement on what it was at the time he was dropped (one in 7.6). The man has spent half his career railing against perception in sport. Now all he has to do is point to his numbers.Ashwin has always been willing to evolve. To do better; to be better. It’s the reason he is still in contention to make India’s T20 World Cup squad and while a big shiny trophy will certainly add weight to his commitment, it can still be appreciated without one.

A Wankhede crowd of 26,006 soaks in all the big hits from their heroes in the Road Safety World Series opener

Vishal Dikshit in Mumbai07-Mar-2020There were no serpentine queues outside the stadium, no rush to buy tickets from the counter, nobody offering to paint your face as you approached the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday evening. Sure, it was no international match, but this is Mumbai, where Sachin Tendulkar still gets mobbed even if he his inaugurating a mall in the unknown outskirts of the city. So where was everyone as he returned to play after all these years?Well, by the time the coin was flipped for the toss, as Tendulkar, captain of India Legends, and Brian Lara, of West Indies Legends, walked out in retro-looking blazers, the crowd had already packed the stands. For a 7pm start, office-goers had wrapped up work, students of colleges in south Mumbai hung back after the last class, and the rest took trains from far and wide to throng the stands even before the toss. And all this largely to watch the man who last played a game at this very ground, six and a half years ago in his 200th Test.There was hardly a cheer when Tendulkar decided to bowl. It meant these fans, who had already waited for all these years, had to wait for another 90-odd minutes to watch the master bat. That’s another thing that in a charity match they took nearly two hours to bowl 20 overs, and in those two hours too, the crowd got plenty to cheer for.Zaheer Khan ran in to bowl as gingerly as he did when he used to carry those niggles and even beat a well-set Daren Ganga to rattle the stumps. Khan celebrated like he used to: he let out a roar, raised both his arms like an umpire does for a wide and walked even more gingerly in celebration.Yuvraj Singh was cheered when he moved to long-off in the ninth over and nearly broke into a bhangra every time the crowd right behind him chanted his name between balls. The loudest of them came earlier though when he was at point and Ganga tapped the ball towards him for a risky single and Singh snooped in for a direct hit at the keeper’s end. The crowd erupted as soon as the zing bails lit up.Ganga’s wicket in the sixth over brought out the other legend the crowd came to watch. Much like his lofted drive over the covers in the Bushfire charity match last month, that went viral on social media, Lara let out a few more of his majestic strokes right from his first ball. An aerial drive over extra-cover against Khan, a charge down the pitch to Manpreet Gony next over straight down for a one-bounce four, the trademark swipe-pull with the exaggerated lift of the front leg, and a drive through the covers off Irfan Pathan’s first ball had such a flourishing finish that Lara’s bat went all the way to touch his shoulder blade in the follow through. The four fours he middled in his 15 balls was nothing short of what the crowd came for.Brian Lara with all the wristy goodness in the world•Associated PressWest Indies finished on 150 for 8 and the spectators’ wait to see the local legend bat was finally over. That familiar walk down the staircase from the dressing room while putting on his gloves, the glance towards the sky as soon as he stepped on the field, the shadow straight drives on his way to the pitch, and the phones were out from the stands to capture this all, like it used to happen all those years ago.Cricket may have transformed in a variety of ways since his retirement but nothing has changed about Tendulkar. He was still gesticulating vigorously, irked by someone near the sight screen even when he was not on strike. He was still adjusting his crotch awkwardly just before settling into his compact and perfect-looking stance, that lean on the bat in his right hand at the non-striker’s end with his right leg crossing over his left, and he was still pinching singles with his loud and childish shrieks, making Virender Sehwag burn a few more calories than he wanted to.”Initially he said we won’t take risky singles but he then tapped the ball around for quick singles; that’s Sachin for you,” Sehwag said after the game. “He played some magnificent attacking shots, it doesn’t feel like he hasn’t been playing for so many years.”The way Tendulkar timed his shots bore testimony to Sehwag’s words. Even as Tino Best, one of the fittest players across the five squads this series, steamed in and beat Sehwag with pace, Tendulkar nudged around his deliveries closing in on 140kmh nonchalantly. Against a much slower Pedro Collins, Tendulkar danced down to attack, and against Sulieman Benn’s spin he took out his late cut and delicately placed the ball between point and cover-point.He gave the crowd a scare too, edging one to Carl Hooper at slip, who couldn’t hold on to the catch and neither could Ridley Jacobs despite being within touching distance for the relay attempt. Deafening silence spread in the stands when the ball was in Hooper’s hands and a screaming cheer followed immediately when the ball touched the ground.Unsurprisingly, the loudest cheers from the 26,006 people were echoed for Tendulkar and they will remain in the stands for remaining matches. Don’t be surprised if you hear the familiar “Sachin! Sachin!” chants even when India Legends have an off day in the Road Safety World Series over the next two weeks.

The late, great Bob Uecker remains the heart and soul of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ten months after his death in January at the age of 90, the Hall of Fame broadcaster was on everybody's mind at American Family Field following the Brewers' 3-1 series-clinching win over the rival Cubs in Game 5 of the NLDS.

While the Brewers celebrated on the field, a photo of Uecker with the text "For Ueck" was displayed on the jumbotron. Those among the sellout crowd of nearly 43,000 fans who stuck around to celebrate began to chant, "Ueeeeck."

"We love it for Ueck," Murphy said to reporter Lauren Jbara on the TNT broadcast after the game. "He's meant so much to this organization—the way he affected these players, especially last year. To win this for him is really, really special."

The players honored Uecker, too. While taking the celebratory team photo on the field, Brewers players laid out a blue flag featuring Uecker's signature in gold. It was placed on the grass, right in the middle of the photo.

Uecker's legacy lives on. And the Brewers are hoping there's a bit more Uecker magic left in the tank for their upcoming best-of-seven series against the Dodgers in the NLCS.

يعتقد جيمي ريدناب نجم ليفربول السابق أن مسيرة محمد صلاح قد تنتهي مع الريدز بشكل كارثي خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوية القادمة في يناير.

وأكد لاعب ليفربول السابق أن النجم المصري لن يكون راضياً بالجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء في ملعب آنفيلد إذا لم يعثر على النادي المناسب.

ولا يمر محمد صلاح بفترة جيدة هذا الموسم، ويبدو أن رحيله عن صفوف ليفربول قد يكون وارداً خاصة مع ابتعاده عن المشاركة بشكل أساسي في آخر مباراتين بالدوري الإنجليزي.

وقال ريدناب في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية: “إنه لاعب عظيم في الدوري الإنجليزي ولاعب عظيم في ليفربول، ولهذا السبب لا أعتقد أن النهاية ستكون سعيدة”.

ويستعد محمد صلاح للمشاركة مع منتخب مصر في كأس الأمم الإفريقية في ديسمبر ويناير، وحددت الصحيفة 7 أندية يملك النجم المصري فرصة للانتقال إلى أحدهم في بداية العام الجديد.

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ويعد أول هذه الأندية هو الهلال السعودي، كما استفسر أيضاً القادسية عن إمكانية ضمه، وكان صلاح قد سبق ورفض إلى جانب ليفربول عروضاً من أندية الشرق الأوسط ومع ذلك لا تزال قادرة على الإنفاق المالي لإتمام الصفقة.

ويأتي أيضاً سان دييجو الوافد الجديد نسبياً للدوري الأمريكي، والذي أثبت مرونة في جذب النجوم وعلى الرغم من احتمالية صعوبة تمويل الصفقة لكنهم نجحوا في الحصول على خدمات ليونيل ميسي.

ويعد سان دييجو هو الفريق المرشح الأوفر حظاً حيث مالكه مصري وسيمتلك فرصة أكبر من شيكاغو أو ميامي أو لوس أنجلوس إف سي.

وكان ريدناب قد أشار إلى أن صلاح قد يرغب في البقاء في أوروبا، وقد سبق للنجم المصري أن أرتدى قمصان فيورنتينا وروما ومع ذلك ستكون عودته إلى هناك عاطفية.

وارتبط اسم جالطة سراي أيضاً بالتعاقد مع صلاح في يناير، إلى جانب برشلونة الذي سبق له التعاقد مع روبرت ليفاندوفسكي رغم زيادة عمره وقد يخاطر البلوجرانا مع اقتراب عقد البولندي من الانتهاء وعدم اتخاذ قرار بعد بشأن ماركوس راشفورد بالتحرك لضم صلاح إذا كان الفريق الإسباني يملك القدرة على تحمل تكلفته.

West Ham United have now set their sights on welcoming a Premier League rival to become Nuno Espirito Santo’s first signing at the club, according to reports.

Frankfurt end interest in Fullkrug

It could be a fairly busy January transfer window on all fronts for West Ham as Nuno looks to mark his stamp on the side. The Hammers endured a frustrating summer transfer window and watched on as Graham Potter paid the price. In just under a month, however, they’ve got the chance to make up for lost time.

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That should see a number of reinforcements arrive, but it could also spell the end for a handful of current stars. And one of those likely to leave is Niclas Fullkrug. The towering German has simply never got going at the London Stadium and now finds himself behind the pecking order to Callum Wilson.

He desperately needs a move away, but that move won’t come courtesy of Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite initial interest, the Bundesliga side have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign the former Borussia Dortmund man.

Where that leaves the 32-year-old is the big question. There reportedly remains interest from Italian giants AC Milan and there’s little doubt that a winter sale would be the best outcome for all parties.

In the meantime, the Hammers must look towards the transfer market for reinforcements of their own. Whilst a striker should sit top of their priority list, it is also worth noting that they could do with further competition for Alphonse Areola following Mads Hermansen’s struggles. And that could come courtesy of Jose Sa.

West Ham targeting Jose Sa move

According to Football Insider, West Ham are now targeting a move to sign Sa as Nuno looks to raid his old club in 2026. The goalkeeper was recently dropped by new manager Rob Edwards and could only watch on as his replacement, Sam Johnstone, also struggled between the sticks.

Sa, who is represented by the same agent as Mateus Fernandes, is certainly not short on experience. The 32-year-old has been in the Premier League for the last four years and has maintained his starting place for the most part. As backups go, he would be a solid option for West Ham.

The choice between Sa and Johnstone may be a tad more complicated these days, but it wasn’t so long ago that Gary O’Neil was full of praise for the former, saying in 2024: “There’s no headache, no. Johnstone was injured today. Jose’s trained really well and been excellent. Sam was injured, Jose was excellent and has always been ready. There’s no headache, it’s really clear where we go next.”

The goalkeeper’s arrival wouldn’t steal the biggest headlines at the London Stadium, by any means. Alas, it would solve Nuno’s frustrating Hermansen problem.

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Mohamed Salah’s name has dominated the headlines at Liverpool for so many years, but never as intensely, and as negatively, as in recent days.

The Egypt international’s incendiary interview after Arne Slot’s side blew their advantage and drew at Leeds United has torn at fraying fabric and left Liverpool in dangerous and unknown territory.

The iconic forward, an all-time great on Merseyside and in the Premier League, is facing the very real possibility of leaving Liverpool in January. There is a good chance he has played his last game for the club.

This is a painful situation, to be sure, but Salah is ageing and ostensibly past his prime.

Slot does, however, need to get a tune out of the club’s expensive summer signings, with Florian Wirtz’s struggles a stark representation of the dysfunctional tactical set-up.

Why Wirtz has struggled under Slot

It’s fair to say Wirtz has not been good enough this season, far below the standard expected when Liverpool signed the German midfielder for a £116m fee. It’s also fair to say he’s walked into a burning building, making it difficult to shine against the backdrop of the flames.

It is clear that when Liverpool signed Wirtz this summer, they had landed one of the most talented playmakers in the world. It was also clear that Slot planned to reorient Liverpool’s creative supply line after Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid.

So many variables have been at play this season, but there is no excuse for the toothless, spineless performances that Liverpool have laboured through this season. Slot has to take responsibility, and he has to get more out of Wirtz, who won the Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2023/24 after steering Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible title.

Wirtz has what it takes to succeed. Claims that he lacks physicality are simply untrue. Moreover, he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers in the Premier League for progressive passes and shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, so he needs just a little nudge in the right direction, with an uptick from Liverpool’s wider system too.

Liverpool need results, and they need them quickly.

Liverpool lining up Slot replacement

According to Anfield Index, FSG chiefs Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have held talks with Como manager Cesc Fabregas as they continue to weigh up Slot’s future.

Fabregas, 38, is one of the brightest young coaches in the world, and he’s enjoyed a stunning start to life in Serie A, his Como side sixth in the standings.

The Spaniard’s expansive, free-flowing brand of football is not too dissimilar from Slot’s own vision, and this suggests he could dovetail into Liverpool’s first team, taking the reins at the season’s midpoint and restoring balance and confidence.

He may also be the perfect coach to give rise to Wirtz’s latent quality.

Why Liverpool should appoint Fabregas

Fabregas is a young and talented coach, but some would understandably have reservations over his youth and inexperience. However, were FSG to make the appointment, they would no doubt reference Arsenal’s meteoric rise under Mikel Arteta’s wing as a yardstick which they could follow.

Fabregas knows the Premier League, having featured 350 times in the division as a player, having scored 50 goals and supplied 117 assists across stints with Arsenal and Chelsea.

Moreover, Fabregas knows a thing or two about playmaking in the Premier League, lauded as a world-class “maestro” by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho during his trophy-laden spell at Stamford Bridge.

Truly, he was a “genius” of a footballer, as claimed by former boss Antonio Conte, and he has translated that wealth of footballing knowledge to the coaching scene, with Como playing some slick attacking football this season while maintaining a steely defensive line, for the most part. In the words of one notable analyst on X, he’s “football’s next elite manager.”

This foundation could be perfect for Wirtz, who shares certain tactical tendencies with the rising managerial star. Look at Nico Paz, for example, who has been immense this season ahead of his much-anticipated return to Real Madrid.

Paz, 21, is one of the hottest creative talents in the business, and he has been in fine fettle for Como this season, posting five goals and five assists apiece across 15 matches in all competitions this term.

Like Wirtz, he’s as naturally gifted as they come, but he has also been tasked with defensive responsibilities that have given him a coating of completeness that Fabregas’ tactics would play into Wirtz’s own game.

One thing’s for certain, Liverpool have crumbled under Slot’s wing. After that blistering start at the beginning of last season, the Reds have slowly tapered off, shipping so many goals and losing so many games.

27

Games

52

23

Wins

26

3

Draws

10

1

Losses

16

2.66

PPG

1.69

73

Goals scored

91

27

Goals conceded

69

Liverpool have a whole host of problems that have shown little sign of abating this season, but among the most egregious issues are the woes of Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who look shells of their former selves.

This cannot continue. Changes are needed. While FSG will continue to persist with Slot for the time being, given that Hughes has held preliminary talks with Fabregas (and who knows who else?), we can be sure that the plug will be pulled if improvements are not seen quickly.

Fabregas, with fresh and innovative ideas, could be the shrewd solution.

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Manchester United have now been told that a £50m offer for an “all action” midfielder will be accepted in the January transfer window.

Man Utd determined to sign central midfielder amid Casemiro update

Casemiro has emerged as one of Ruben Amorim’s key players this season, with the only Premier League game the Brazilian has missed being due to suspension, and Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that talks over a new contract are now underway.

The transfer expert said: “So now the desire is from Man Utd obviously to continue with Casemiro, but on different conditions.

“So the salary he has right now is a salary Manchester United don’t want to pay in the future. Not because of unhappiness with the player, but because they want to change the salary structure.”

Given that the Brazilian rakes in a whopping £350k-a-week, it is no surprise United are keen to reduce his salary, and it would also be savvy to bring in a long-term replacement for the former Real Madrid man, considering he is set to turn 34 in February.

As such, Man United have recently identified Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes as a target, and there has now been a development in their pursuit of the midfielder, having been told that a £50m offer would be accepted in January.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which reveals Man United are determined to bring in a new central midfielder, having missed out on their key summer targets, and they could launch a move for Gomes when the upcoming transfer window opens.

Wolves are hesitant to sanction a departure, which is why they are demanding £50m, although the 24-year-old would still be far more affordable than Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, who would both cost over £100m.

"All action" Gomes could be viable Casemiro heir

Much like his compatriot, the Wolves star excels at winning back possession, having averaged 3.34 tackles per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 96th percentile when compared to other midfielders.

Scout Ben Mattinson has also confirmed he rates the Brazilian highly, describing him as an “all action” midfielder, a “dog of a ball winner” and an “excellent box crasher”, while also praising the central midfielder’s physicality.

The 10-time Brazil international is also now very experienced in the Premier League, having made 104 appearances in the competition for Wolves, during which time he has amassed seven goals and four assists.

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Gomes has proven he deserves a chance to prove himself at a bigger club, and Man United should definitely capitalise on Wolves being bottom of the table by trying to lure him away in the January transfer window.

A statistic has cropped up online in recent weeks regarding Liverpool’s running in the Premier League this season – or lack thereof.

While Liverpool have adopted a cooler approach since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the dugout over a year ago, it is inexcusable that the Reds are being outworked so often this term, emphasising a haggardness that is shaping this frustrating campaign.

Mohamed Salah’s work rate has been questioned this season, accentuated by the 33-year-old’s startling drop-off in front of goal, but he is only one part of a malfunctioning system, and it’s clear that something needs to change.

Slot has the tools to make it an internal fix, but with the January transfer window fast approaching, rumours have emerged concerning Liverpool’s desire to sign a robust new wide forward.

Liverpool's search for a new winger

With Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz both leaving something to be desired down the left channel this season, Liverpool may be interested in signing a more Luis Diaz-esque forward this winter.

This likely wasn’t pre-planned in the FSG offices, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and there’s no question that the Merseysiders are missing the Colombian’s energy and electric presence.

Salah is ageing, and so it’s understandable that he should lack his one-time athleticism. However, that does not alter the problem at hand for Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

Salah has always been conservative with his energy, though, and Liverpool actually need a profile tuned more toward that of Sadio Mane.

Well, they may have found their man, with Caught Offside revealing that Antoine Semenyo is right at the top of FSG’s shortlist. However, Liverpool will find thick competition in the shape of Manchester United, who are ready to pip their arch-rivals to the Ghanaian’s signature.

Semenyo, 26, would cost at least £65m to prise away from Bournemouth, though it’s felt that a more accurate figure falls toward the £80m ballpark.

Why Liverpool want to sign Semenyo

With six goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this season, Semenyo has been one of the most in-form players around, his efforts leading content creator Liam Canning to praise his “world-class” technical ability.

Fast and furious and two-footed, this is a maverick of a forward who has sharpened his skills in the Premier League across the past several years and is now ready for a role at a team like Liverpool, with Semenyo actually described as “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now” by Reds analyst Josh Williams.

Indeed, Semenyo is really showing himself to be a superstar, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 9% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics show why he could be such a Mane-esque player for Liverpool, and looking at how he’s doing this term when such statistics are collated against the Senegalese’s final year under Klopp’s wing in the Premier League, you begin to see why Liverpool – and Man United – are so keen.

Matches (starts)

34 (32)

11 (11)

Goals

16

6

Assists

2

3

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.1)

2.1 (1.3)

Big chances missed

13

5

Accurate passes

23.6 (77%)

19.8 (77%)

Chances created*

1.3

1.0

Succ. dribbles*

1.4 (61%)

1.9 (46%)

Tackles*

1.0

1.6

Duels won*

4.7

6.5

Liverpool have missed Mane ever since selling him to Bayern Munich in 2022, and with Salah now getting on, Semenyo could provide the injection of energy and positivity that the club so clearly need.

The Anfield side might have won their opening-day clash against the Cherries, but Semenyo set his own tone with a stunning two-goal performance, causing Slot’s backline any number of issues throughout the evening.

Diaz was a fine player for Liverpool, but Mane was a cut above. There is a player profile that Liverpool dearly miss, and if they pull off a deal for Semenyo, they will sign a star with a similar skillset who could restore Liverpool’s equilibrium.

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Last MLB offseason, all eyes were on Shohei Ohtani. This offseason, it's Juan Soto.

Every winter, several interesting free agents become available for teams to court and attempt to add to their roster in a quest to improve their odds of the ultimate goal: Winning a World Series.

While some free agents fit more in the category of situational additions—like teams looking for more hitting from a particular side, or help at a specific defensive position—there are players who are show-stoppers: You add them if you have the chance to no matter how they fit your roster now and figure the rest out later.

Soto is one of those players. And much like Ohtani, his free agency will be a massive domino in regards to free agency at large. Teams interested in spending on Soto will have lots of money to spend in their budget, but only once they learn they're definitely out of the running on Soto.

So, in this guide—which will be updated frequently with the latest information—let's start there: How much will Soto cost the winning team?

Everything to Know About Juan Soto Free AgencyJuan Soto Favorites: It's UnclearJuan Soto Contract Value: How Much Will He Earn on New Deal?Juan Soto Free Agency Timeline: When Will He Make Decision?Juan Soto Meetings: Every Team Reported to Have Met With Juan SotoMore of the Latest Around MLBJuan Soto Favorites: It's Unclear

"At this point, we don't know who the favorites are," Jeff Passan swooped in and reported on Dec. 4 after plenty of shoddy reports back and forth about various teams in the running having a lead. The Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers are, "still in it," as of Friday.

Juan Soto Contract Value: How Much Will He Earn on New Deal?

Several factors play into how much a player can earn on his contract in a salary cap-less world. How good is the player? How old are they? What length of deal are they looking for? How is the contract structured?

Soto sits in the top tier of players that can essentially ask for "the new record": A deal that bests the previous high-water mark. That would put him above Aaron Judge, who played the first year of his new contract with the Yankees in 2024. Asked if the team captain would be content with that inequity, Judge said, "It ain't my money, I really don't care as long as we get the best players."

Jon Heyman reported on October 31 that Soto was seeking a $700 million deal. That raw value would be the same as the one Ohtani landed on last winter with the Los Angeles Dodgers, however, Ohtani's deal is unique and largely deferred (it pays Ohtani even after his playing years with the Dodgers are expected to be over). The present value of Ohtani's contract when signed last offseason was around $337 million. Taking into other factors, it has been described as a value closer to $430 million.

Heyman later reported Soto's deal, "could reach $600 million," but did not write off a $700 million contract. It sounds as if Soto is not interested in a largely deferred deal, presumably desiring his annual payout to be close to the AAV of the contract itself. On Nov. 27, Heyman reported that Soto is seeking a 15-year deal.

Later, most reporting and insider speculation has been around a very high AAV and a contract length anywhere from 12-14 years. Jack Curry of YES reported that the deal is likely to exceed Ohtani's $46 million per year. That would put it in a range of $564 million to $658 million if he beats Ohtani's AAV by just $1 million.

On Dec. 4, ESPN's Jeff Passan said the, "final number is going to be $600 million dollars over a double digit figure number of years." He said it was possible it could go in excess of $700 million.

Surely, some team may the $700 million he and his agent, Scott Boras, seek, but that may not be Soto's final decision. Players routinely take pay cuts for situations they view as more favorable, and all indications are Soto heavily values a setting that will give him lots of chances at the playoffs. Soto is also looking for a deal with opt-outs, a factor that seemingly pushed the Yankees to revise their opening offer to him, possibly to push back against their division rivals, the Boston Red Sox upping the aggression of their pursuit.

Juan Soto Free Agency Timeline: When Will He Make Decision?

Scott Boras, Soto's free agent, said in early November the decision will not be soon. He cited an abnormally large number of interested parties that Soto and Boras want to vet fully.

Many have speculated the Winter Meetings to be the most likely time for a deal to get done. Those take place Dec. 8-12.

Boras later (in a press conference related to one of his other clients on Dec. 3) said though no decision is imminent for Soto, the outfielder will soon start eliminating teams from contention for his services. It is not yet clear which teams are finalists.

Then, on Dec. 4, Passan reported that more meetings will take place over the weekend of Dec. 7/8 and, "at that point, Juan Soto will decide where he's going to go and we will know at latest, by the time the Winter Meetings in Dallas start."

On Nov. 26, The Athletic's Brendan Kuty confirmed that the schedule of offer rounds appears to position the finality of negotiations around the general timeframe of the Winter Meetings. Jon Morosi confirmed that in a report on Dec. 2, saying, "we will know where Juan Soto is going in the next 10 days."

Juan Soto Meetings: Every Team Reported to Have Met With Juan Soto

Here is a look at every team reported to have met with Soto to this point.

Offers

On Monday, Nov. 26, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that five teams have made official offers to Soto: The Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. No word on whether or not the Phillies, who were at one point expected to meet with Soto, have made an offer.

The Athletic's Brendan Kuty reported that there are expected to be, "multiple rounds," of offers for Soto.

It was reported on Dec. 2 that the Toronto Blue Jays are expected by some to have the highest offer for Soto.

On Dec. 2, Yankees insider Jack Curry reported the Yankees, "feel they've made this a priority," and, "have put their best foot forward. And they say that they are comfortable with whatever decision he ends up making because they feel that they have sent the message to him they want him in New York."

Previously, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy publicly committed hard to the idea of handing out a massive contract to Soto even though the team has major money invested in Rafael Devers.

First Meetings

Soto met with the Boston Red Sox on Nov. 14, the first team reported to have met with him. Soto was said to be impressed with the presentation Boston brass put on, and inquired about three specific items.

Soto then met with the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 15, another meeting described as "impressive".

The most recent team to meet with Soto was the New York Mets on Nov. 16. He met with them on Saturday, and the Queens contingency was described as "hopeful" coming out of the meeting.

It has been speculated the New York Yankees meeting happened on Monday, Nov. 18. Team owner Hal Steinbrenner confirmed he and team officials traveled to Calif. to meet with Soto and said he was a, "priority."

"He's definitely a significant part of why we got to the World Series. I've got ears. I know what's expected of me," Steinbrenner said to the press. He said that in addition to himself, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, and a few other front office members attended. Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media reported that Soto sought confirmation from Steinbrenner and the Yankees' entourage that the team would be improved year after year.

Mark Feinsand reported that the Dodgers will meet with Soto on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Alden González of ESPN confirmed it. Feinsand also reported Soto has spoken with, "at least," one other team beyond the ones that have been reported, suggesting the Giants, Phillies, and Rays were all possibilities.

Jon Heyman reported on Tuesday, Nov. 19 that the Phillies plan to meet with Soto at some point.

Second Meetings

No one has received a follow-up meeting yet, but Passan reported more meetings would occur this upcoming weekend, Dec. 7 and 8.

It's unclear if Soto will actually meet with teams a second time or just hold one meeting with each team that he shares mutual introductory interest with.

American investment fund is first to conclude negotiations as it expands Birmingham sport portfolio

Matt Roller25-Jul-2025The American investment fund Knighthead Capital has completed a £40 million takeover of Birmingham Phoenix, marking the first finalised transaction in the Hundred’s sales process.Knighthead, the New York-based group, acquired a majority stake in Birmingham City FC two years ago and were successful bidders for a 49% interest in Birmingham Phoenix in late January. The sale transaction was completed on July 15, per paperwork filed to Companies House, and the franchise will be run in partnership with host county Warwickshire.Tom Wagner, Knighthead’s co-founder, has been appointed to the Phoenix board as a director along with colleagues Andrew Shannahan and Kyle Kneisly, both of whom are on Birmingham City FC’s board. The legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady has a small interest in Knighthead but will not serve as a director.Knighthead’s purchase forms part of wider plans to create a ‘Sports Quarter’ in Birmingham, which would include a new 62,000-seat football stadium. Wagner has already successfully lobbied for government funding for new transport links and said last month that he saw the Hundred as an opportunity to underline his commitment to the city.Related

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“We really, genuinely want to see Birmingham continue to develop and grow,” Wagner told the BBC. “The Phoenix is a great way to expand the exposure of the city to a broader, more global audience. It’s also a way for us to tie-in to the substantial south Asian community that is here in Birmingham.”Warwickshire and Knighthead will assume operational control of the Phoenix after the 2025 season of the Hundred, which runs from August 5-31. The county will retain four out of seven board seats as majority owners, with Mark McCafferty (chair), Stuart Cain (chief executive), Craig Flindall (strategy director) and Adam Lowe (commercial director) serving as directors.The ECB initially planned for all eight sales transactions to be signed off by early April but negotiations over paperwork have dragged on far longer than first anticipated. “It is about the ‘what ifs’,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould told ESPNcricinfo last month. “I hate to think how many sets of lawyers are in on this, but that’s what they’re paid to do.”ESPNcricinfo has learned that several other transactions are either finalised or close to completion, though it remains to be seen if all eight will be signed off before the 2025 season starts in 10 days’ time. Four of the seven other new investors are owners or co-owners of IPL franchises, while the other three are US-based like Knighthead.