Aston Villa have a busy couple of weeks ahead amid their need to ensure they don’t overstep the FFP mark and one of their star men is now being lined up for a move ato Manchester United.

Aston Villa's balancing act in light of PSR

Profit and Sustainability Rules have become a contentious topic for fans who don’t support one of the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs. However, they have become a frustrating reality that everyone now has to abide by.

Unfortunately, Aston Villa are now at risk of breaching regulations after recording £202.6 million in pre-tax losses over the past two years, which is the most out of anyone in the Premier League.

Losing a maximum of £105 million over three consecutive years is the limit for top-flight clubs, which has created plenty of speculation regarding potential sales to bridge the gap.

BBC Sport columnist Fara Williams has named Jacob Ramsey as a player Aston Villa could sell to make ends meet, as she said: “It does feel like Aston Villa will have to sell some key players this summer if they are to bring others in and keep within PSR regulations.

“There has been a lot of rumours around it and I believe Jacob Ramsey was a name being mentioned who, as a homegrown player, they would make more money from.”

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2 ByTom Cunningham Jun 11, 2025

The Villans have also passed on signing Marcus Rashford permanently, prioritising Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho as a more affordable alternative.

Nevertheless, the feeling around the West Midlands is one that Aston Villa must sell before they can buy, and Unai Emery could now have a dilemma on his hands following recent developments.

Emiliano Martinez in talks with Man Utd

Now, according to reports via CaughtOffside, Emiliano Martinez is in talks over a move to Manchester United and may be a sacrificial lamb for Aston Villa amid their current PSR state of limbo, and he is thought to be open to the idea of moving to Old Trafford.

Due to the Red Devils’ status as a domestic rival, the Villans are reportedly demanding a fee north of £40 million to sell the World Cup-winning stopper this summer, who has been identified as a successor to Andre Onana under Ruben Amorim.

Emiliano Martinez in 2024/25 – Premier League (Fotmob)

Appearances

37

Goals conceded

45

Clean sheets

8

Penalties saved from penalties faced

1/2

Labelled “magnificent” by Alan Shearer, Martinez now appears primed for a move elsewhere, begging the question of who could replace the Argentina international between the sticks.

Going off recent times, OGC Nice stopper Marcin Bulka is a prominent target for Aston Villa, illustrating that Emery may have his eyes on a younger alternative in the event he is left searching for new blood.

Either way, Martinez has been a brilliant servant in the West Midlands and would be sorely missed, even if his departure feels like the best source of action for all parties involved.

Tottenham Hotspur’s frontline has been impressive throughout the 2024/25 campaign, managing to catch the eye despite the club finishing in a lowly 17th position in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites netted 64 goals in their 38 outings, with only six other sides in the division scoring more, four of which managed to secure Champions League qualification.

Brennan Johnson finished the season as their top scorer in the league with his tally of 11 goals, adding to his excellent collection, which saw him net the winner in the Europa League final.

He was the only player to register double figures in the league, but numerous players across the squad managed to register key goals, which contributed to their excellent tally.

However, new boss Thomas Frank has immediately wanted to target reinforcements in such an area, evidently wanting strength and depth in his quest for success.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

After his successful stint at Brentford, the Dane has already targeted a move for striker Yoane Wissa, with the Congolese star a man in demand this window.

He’s not the only Bees star on their radar, with Bryan Mbeumo another player who’s been strongly linked with the Lilywhites, but it appears they’ve missed out on his signature, with a move to Manchester United now edging closer.

Another name has been mentioned in recent days as a result, with Canadian international Jonathan David firmly on their radar, according to Get Football News Italy.

They report that Frank’s side have made contact with his representatives over a move to North London with his contract at Lille set to expire at the end of the month.

It also states that the 25-year-old has now halted talks with Italian sides Napoli and Juventus to explore a deal to the Premier League, after scoring 25 times in 49 appearances this season.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s own Kane

Harry Kane is a player who has cemented himself in Spurs’ history forever, catapulting himself into the hearts of the fanbase given his spell in the first team over a 10-year period.

The 31-year-old rose through the youth ranks before registering 280 goals for the club, a tally which has made him the highest goalscorer in the club’s history.

However, his goals weren’t enough to catapult the Lilywhites to any form of tangible success, subsequently seeing the forward leave for Bayern Munich in an £82m deal back in 2023.

Since his departure, the club have spent big on Dominic Solanke, dropping a club-record £65m fee to secure his signature, but he’s struggled to maintain elite levels of performance over the course of his first campaign – scoring just nine goals in the process.

The club have greatly lacked that clinical presence in forward areas, something which David could provide in North London should the club land him in the coming weeks.

When comparing his stats to those of fan-favourite Kane, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas this campaign – with FBref labelling him as a similar player to the England international.

David, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by Tony Marinaro, has achieved a better shot on target rate than Kane this season, highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.

Games played

32

31

Goals & assists

21

35

Shot on target accuracy

43%

42%

Pass accuracy

82%

78%

Key passes made

1.3

1.2

Take-on success

48%

43%

Progressive carries

1.4

1

Fouls won

1.3

0.7

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted and registered a higher tally of key passes per 90, offering Frank’s side an all-round option that can provide alongside scoring.

The Canadian has further demonstrated his all-round talents, registering a higher take-on completion rate, whilst posting more progressive carries per 90 – having the skillset to create his own opportunities, rather than be dependent on his teammates.

Given that the forward is available on a free transfer this summer, it would be a no-brainer for Spurs to strongly pursue a move to avoid missing out on his signature in the coming weeks.

If he can get anywhere near close to the levels produced by the departed forward in North London, it would be a superb signing, with his talents undoubtedly handing the manager the attacking quality he desires.

Frank's answer to Bale: Spurs make huge bid to sign "sensational" £70m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making huge strides in a deal for one attacking star.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 24, 2025

Former NZ batter had his life ban for corrupt activities revised in 2023

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Aug-2024Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand international, received a special cap earlier this month to commemorate his 100th ODI, nearly 17 years since the milestone in 2007. Sir Richard Hadlee presented Vincent the cap in Auckland at a small ceremony attended by Vincent’s family and some former team-mates.”It was a lovely way to be acknowledged for my cricketing career, and to be able to use the night as an avenue to say thank you very, very much to people who’ve been by my side through the great times and the tricky times,” Vincent told The Post. “It was a really memorable, special night with some lovely words spoken.”Vincent, who finished with 2413 runs in 102 ODIs, also played 23 Tests and nine T20Is between 2001 and 2007. He then played in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) and was on the domestic circuit until 2014, when he was banned for life by the ECB for corrupt activities on the county circuit.In December 2023, the ECB revised the punishment, allowing Vincent to return to working in domestic cricket.Related

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Vincent banned for life by ECB

Lou Vincent's life ban revised, allowing him to return to domestic cricket

“The past is the past,” Vincent said in Auckland. “It was powerful that I had such huge support for the application for the ban to be appealed and there was no opposition from the ECB, they fully respected the work I’d done behind the scenes over the last few years and using my experiences to help educate the next generation of players.”NZC chief executive Scott Weenink said the board had been sitting on Vincent’s commemorative cap “for probably 13 years.””The reality is, you can’t forget what he actually did and he would be the first to admit that, but he’s done his penance and no one has done more to fight match-fixing than he has by being so open and telling everything that he knew,” Weenink said. “When the opportunity came, it was really the least we could do to present him with his cap.”According to Vincent, Hadlee – the former chairman of selectors who had first picked him for New Zealand – was in tears while presenting the cap.”I was able to say to him ‘Richard, you are New Zealand Cricket, you are the best player we’ve ever had, you’ve achieved so much, and for you to take time out and fly to Auckland to want to present this cap to me is so, so humbling and a reflection of the great man you are,” Vincent said. “And he was in tears. Sir Richard Hadlee in tears!”Vincent’s 100th ODI appearance came in Cape Town in December 2007, where he scored 18 and also took his only ODI wicket by dismissing Jacques Kallis. Now 45, and slowly returning to cricket, Vincent recently turned out for Seddon Cricket Club and was involved in a five-day match to raise awareness on men’s mental health.”Life moves on, and my life has moved on now. I’ve been blessed with a little son, and I’ve got two daughters who are teenagers,” Vincent said. “To have the opportunity to start a family again and be settled in the far north and have the beach life – a simple life – this is all I’m focused on now.”

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.

24/25

58

22

19

23/24

39

24

11

22/23

55

23

19

21/22

52

22

17

20/21

49

6

5

19/20

38

5

3

18/19

31

4

9

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

Ben Charlesworth led the way with 105 not out as Gloucestershire produced a determined fightback on the second day of the Vitality County Championship Second Division game with Leicestershire at Bristol.The 23-year-old left hander notched his second first-class century off 164 balls, with 14 fours and three sixes, in a Gloucestershire first-innings total that had reached 227 for 3 by the time bad light ended play seven overs early. James Bracey was unbeaten on 34.Leicestershire had posted 402 all out in their first innings from an overnight 291 for 7. Liam Trevaskis contributed 50 and Tom Scriven 60 off 84 balls, while Zaman Akhter finished with 3 for 110.There was bright sunshine over the Seat Unique Stadium for most of the day, but also a blustery wind. Leicestershire added 14 to their overnight total before Ben Green, back on loan from Somerset, was bowled for ten by Akhter off an inside edge and pad.By the time the second new ball was taken, Leicestershire were 319 for 8. It had barely any effect as Trevaskis went to fifty off 108 balls, with six fours, helped by Scriven in a taking the score to 381with a ninth-wicket stand of 76.Offspinner Ollie Price ended it by having Trevaskis caught in the covers to earn a third bowling bonus point. But Scriven wasn’t finished and completed a half-century of 78 balls, with his seventh boundary, stroked through extra cover off Price.It was largely due to Scriven’s efforts that Leicestershire took a fourth batting point. He brought up 400 with a pulled four off Akhter and was clearly looking to hit out when lofting a catch to long-on off Price to complete the innings.Lunch had been delayed for the fall of the final wicket and Gloucestershire began their reply at the start of the afternoon session. Soon the Leicestershire seamers were finding the pitch as unresponsive as their Gloucestershire counterparts had done as Charlesworth and Cameron Bancroft put together a half-century opening stand in 13 overs.Charlesworth top-edged a pull shot for six off Josh Hull, but it was one of few false shots as both he and Bancroft settled in to play some delightful strokes. Bancroft was particularly strong through the leg side and it was a surprise when the Australian edged an attempted cover drive off Scriven to second slip and departed for 39.At 68 for 1, Price joined Charlesworth and made only six before getting a thin edge to an attempted pull shot off Hull and feathering through to wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb. Charlesworth was unbeaten on 42 when tea was taken at 4pm with Gloucestershire 102 for 2.The tall allrounder soon moved to his half-century at the start of the final session with a flashing square cut boundary off Scriven. He had faced 96 deliveries and hit seven fours and a six, rarely looking in the slightest trouble.Fellow left-hander Hammond was also producing some swashbuckling shots as the pair took the score past 150 in the 39th over. They had added 65 in 16.2 overs when Green made an important breakthrough, nipping one back off the seam to pin Hammond lbw for 29.Charlesworth had a moment of anxiety on 77 when surviving a loud shout for a catch behind off Scriven. But there were to be no nervous nineties for him as two mighty blows cleared the ropes in the same over from left-arm spinner Trevaskis and took him to three figures.It was a hugely impressive ton from a young player long earmarked for a big future. Bracey leant typically solid support, but with rain forecast for tomorrow morning it may take a supreme effort from one of the teams to force a decisive result on such a bat-friendly surface.

Sunderland don’t want to just make up the numbers next season in the Premier League.

Indeed, the Black Cats’ early summer business indicates that they are going to splash the cash to try and stave off an immediate Championship return, with a club-record £30m spent on acquiring Habib Diarra from Strasbourg.

That’s before you even consider the long-winding list of names being linked to the Stadium of Light, with ex-Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi one standout face on their reported shopping list, alongside names such as Hamed Traore also being tipped to relocate to Wearside for a high £18m.

Of course, Sunderland are no strangers to such a statement deal when trying to achieve something remarkable like survival in the Premier League, with Enzo Le Fee the talk of the town when he moved to England earlier this year.

Le Fee's early impact at Sunderland

When Le Fee initially linked up with the Black Cats in January on loan, his much-talked-about arrival was secured to try and push Le Bris’ side back up to the promised land.

It ended up being a mission success, thankfully, with Le Fee’s stylish presence helping Sunderland in some nervy promotion-deciding moments, as seen in him registering two vital assists in the playoff semi-final first and second legs versus Coventry City.

Le Fee’s career numbers before joining Sunderland
Club played for	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
Lorient	142	8	15
Rennes	35	0	5
AS Roma	10	0	0
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Also chipping in with a goal during Sunderland’s intense promotion run-in, Black Cats supporters far and wide must have been scratching their eyes watching such an immense talent strut his stuff in the Championship, considering he was lining up for Italian giants AS Roma just before his switch to Wearside.

On top of that, he also collected a hefty total of 28 goals and assists on the books of both Rennes and Lorient, with Le Bris clearly flexing his ex-Lorient connections to surprisingly pick up Le Fee, who is now a permanent member of his Premier League camp after joining for good for £20m.

Another bold move similar to the Frenchman’s shock switch could soon be signed off on if rumours are correct, with this potential deal perhaps going down as an even bigger signing than the 25-year-old’s entry if the enigmatic star in question can instantly settle.

The "phenomenon" who could be a bigger signing than Le Fee

Le Bris loves hopping into the Ligue 1 market when attempting to unearth potential Sunderland gems, with Diarra the next notable face from the French top division being given a chance to shine in Wearside.

Lyon superstar Georges Mikautadze could be the next to fall off the ambitious Ligue 1 conveyor belt, with French outlet Foot Mercato revealing that Sunderland are one of a number of clubs across Europe keeping a close eye on the entertaining Georgian amidst Lyon’s financial woes.

Mikautadze might end up joining the Sunderland ranks for only £1m more than Le Fee, which would be an almighty steal when you consider the many dazzling performances the 24-year-old forward served up under Paolo Fonseca last season.

In total, the attacking “phenomenon” – as he has been labelled in the past by former boss Emilio Ferrera – would hammer home 17 goals and pick up nine assists in all competitions, even as background noise threatened to unsettle the now Ligue 2 outfit.

Mikautadze’s G/A numbers for Lyon & Metz by season
Season	Club played for	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
24/25	Lyon	47	17	11
23/24	FC Metz	22	14	4
22/23	FC Metz	42	25	9
Sourced by Transfermarkt

When digging even deeper and analysing the table above, his numbers overall when playing in France – away from just being Lyon’s main attacking spark – blow Le Fee’s own tally even more out of the water, with a ridiculous 79 combined goals and assists coming his way for both Metz and his current employers.

With all of this on his side, there will be so much hope in the air that Mikautadze can be a rip-roaring success in England, much like Le Fee has managed to be.

If anything, having also been hailed as a “living legend” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Mikautadze might well be even more of an enticing watch, particularly if his enthralling displays ensure immediate Premier League safety.

Sunderland plotting bargain swoop to sign "great" Premier League midfielder

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Tom Cunningham

Jun 30, 2025

In what would be their signing of the summer so far, Everton have reportedly launched an opening offer to welcome a midfield star ahead of Premier League rivals.

Latest on Everton's potential incomings

After already signing Thierno Barry and Mark Travers whilst also welcoming Carlos Alcaraz on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell, Everton have now reportedly turned towards fresh targets. The Friedkin Group, clearly out to make a statement in their first summer at the helm, have also reportedly set their sights on the likes of Samuel Lino from Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.

Ramsey would particularly be one to watch if he arrived at The Hill Dickinson Stadium ahead of next season, but it remains to be seen whether Everton can win the race for his signature. Despite his clear talent, the midfielder is likely to be an affordable option amid Aston Villa’s PSR problems – allowing the Toffees to come swooping in.

Minutes

1,623

1,594

Goals

1

0

Key Passes

21

13

Ball Recoveries

83

73

Going forward, Ramsey would be a particular upgrade on James Garner in the middle of David Moyes’ side. At just 24 years old too, the Aston Villa man is about to enter his prime years, making now the best time to move in for his signature.

That said, it’s not just Ramsey that the Toffees have set their sights on. Midfield seems to be the area of focus currently and names such as Tomas Soucek has also been mentioned as a result.

Everton leading race to sign "interesting" Atletico star who's now free to leave

He’s on the move this summer.

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Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that Everton are set to submit an imminent £12m bid to sign the West Ham United star and hand Moyes a reunion with the midfielder.

The same, meanwhile, can be said about another transfer target, with Everton now reportedly launching their opening offer for his signature.

Everton launch first Douglas Luiz offer

According to TeamTalk, Everton have launched an opening offer to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus in a loan-to-buy deal. The Brazilian is reportedly open to a return to the Premier League just one year on from his decision to swap Aston Villa for Turin. And as Juventus look to show him the door, it’s the Toffees who are primed to take full advantage.

The midfielder would be an impressive coup, given his Premier League experience and reports that former club Aston Villa are interested in a swift reunion this summer.

Juventus are reportedly hoping for a package worth €35m (£30m) for Luiz this summer, but it remains to be seen whether Everton’s opening offer has reached that price.

Even after struggling in Serie A though, there’s no doubt that the Brazilian would be worth splashing out on. Aston Villa sporting director, Monchi, has been one of many to share praise for Luiz in recent years – telling reporters last season: “He’s playing less than we all expected, but we’re talking about a strong player.”

Birmingham City now want to sign an “outstanding” midfielder with experience at the highest level on a free transfer this summer, according to a recent report.

In preparation for their season back in the Championship, the Blues have been busy in the transfer market, adding nine new players to Chris Davies’ squad, with Kyogo Furuhashi their most expensive capture to date.

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However, their business appears to be far from finished as they remain interested in signing Kieran Dowell from Rangers. The attacking midfielder spent last season on loan at St Andrews, and the Blues are said to be keen on striking a permanent transfer. However, they face a fresh problem, and that is Rangers boss Russell Martin has been using Dowell in pre-season, after it was expected that he would be surplus to requirements on his return to Ibrox.

As they continue to look into a deal for Dowell, Birmingham are also interested in signing attacker Hwang Hee-Chan from Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is reported that Hwang is considered a top target, given his experience in the Premier League.

However, the £14 million fee Wolves would want plus the player’s wages mean a deal may be hard, and the Championship side are now turning their attention to alternative targets.

Champions League winner could join Blues in free signing

According to EFL Analysis, Birmingham City are among the teams from the EFL who are interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old, who has been capped 35 times by England, is leaving Turkish giants Besiktas, as they have decided to agree to a settlement on the final year of his contract. Oxlade-Chamberlain is now expected to head back to the UK, as he is in talks with a number of clubs over a possible transfer.

As well as Birmingham, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Sheffield United, Coventry City, Stoke City and former club Southampton have been made aware of his situation. North of the border, Rangers are also interested in a deal and are considering making an approach.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s 24/25 league stats

Apps

18

Starts

14

Goals

1

Touches per game

34.7

Passes per game (accuracy)

23.2 (85%)

Key passes per game

0.1

Interceptions per game

0.3

Tackles per game

0.9

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who won the Champions League back in 2019 with Liverpool, has been with Besiktas for two seasons, during which he has struggled for regular game time in the Süper Lig. He has played 38 games in total across the two league seasons and has scored a combined five goals.

His time in England was more successful, as he scored 20 goals in 235 Premier League games, and while he wasn’t always a regular at Liverpool, former boss Jürgen Klopp labelled the England international an “outstanding” player.

Klopp said: “Ox is an outstanding player, an outstanding player, was always and will always be.”

Deputy unafraid to seek counsel as he prepares to lead England in three-Test series

Matt Roller20-Aug-2024

Ollie Pope, England’s stand-in captain, talks to the media at Old Trafford•Getty Images

Ollie Pope will become the 82nd man to captain England’s Test team when they face Sri Lanka on Wednesday, standing in for the injured Ben Stokes. Stokes is with the squad in Manchester and will remain with them throughout the three-match series, with Pope conceding on Tuesday that “it’s still Stokesy’s team” as he pledged to deliver “the same messages from a different voice”.Pope has only captained one match in his first-class career, a high-scoring draw in the County Championship, but led Surrey in eight T20 Blast matches this season. He has been England’s official vice-captain since the start of last summer and with Stokes out of the series after tearing his hamstring in the Hundred, Pope will have three Tests to find his feet in the role.”When I got appointed vice-captain, there was always a chance that something like this would happen,” Pope said. “It’s not necessarily something you dream about, but it’s one of the greatest honours I see in English cricket. It’s exciting for me, and it’s a chance for us as a team to try and to take a step forward.”Stokes has been at both of England’s training sessions at Emirates Old Trafford and Pope has welcomed his presence. “It’s still Stokesy’s team,” he said. “Everyone’s pretty clear how they want to go about this week, and this series in general. I think having Stokesy in the changing-room is great.”If I want to lean on him, I can lean on him, and I think he’s going to let me do my own thing for the course of this Test series as well. I know how well he’s managed our bowlers especially, and I’ve picked his brains a little bit on that. It’s a lot of the same messages from a different voice, and in my own way… He’s going to let me go and do my thing over the course of this series.”Stokes, who has started his rehabilitation as he targets October’s tour to Pakistan, will be one of a number of influential voices within the dressing-room, alongside Brendon McCullum, James Anderson, and the rest of England’s staff. “He’s obviously going to be watching, chatting with Baz, and I can have those conversations in the intervals if I think anything needs to change and [we can] bounce a few ideas off each other,” Pope said. “I think it’s only a positive having him around.”Related

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Chris Woakes 'wouldn't shy away' from attack-leading role in overseas Tests

Sri Lanka dig deep through de Silva, Rathnayake after top-order collapse hands England control

Pope had a productive series against West Indies in July, scoring 57 at Lord’s and then 121 and 51 at Trent Bridge. But he has only faced 39 balls in competitive matches since that series ended, scoring 35 runs in five innings for London Spirit in the Hundred, and said that he has learned in his brief experience of captaincy that he will need to compartmentalise his batting.”Hopefully, it’s almost a positive on my batting,” he said. “I’ve still put in the hard work in the nets with the bat like I do for Test cricket. I’m still at No. 3 when it comes to batting and my job for the team is still to go out and score big runs… when I had a bit of a stint in the T20 for Surrey, the first thing I reminded myself was, when it’s batting time, it’s batting time.”Then, the rest of the time, you can be the captain and think a little bit more about the team. I’ve got some great guys to lean upon on the pitch as well, obviously Brooky [Harry Brook] being vice-captain, he’s got a great cricket brain, and guys like Rooty [Joe Root] out there on the pitch too. There’s plenty of experience to bounce off a few ideas.”Pope missed England’s most recent Test in Manchester through injury, when they were thwarted by the rain during last year’s Ashes series, and the forecast is poor again this week. “I’ve not looked too closely at the weather,” he said, when asked if England would consider setting the game up for a result. “Whether it takes us five days or however long, the aim is obviously to go and win the game.”Sri Lanka lost their only warm-up match against an inexperienced England Lions team last week, but recently beat India 2-0 in an ODI series. Pope – who has never played against Sri Lanka before – is targeting a series whitewash, but insisted that they are not taking their opponents lightly on their first tour to England since 2016.”I know they’ve won [against] India, but I think the main focus for us is on ourselves. We know that if we can go and play our best cricket then hopefully, that’s enough. We’ll respect them as a team. We don’t underestimate anyone … Our target is to go out and win 3-0 but at the same time, we realise that Sri Lanka have got some good experience.”

يستعد فريق مانشستر سيتي، بقيادة المدرب بيب جوارديولا، لخوض مباراة الديربي مساء يوم الأحد ضد نظيره مانشستر يونايتد، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويستضيف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة مانشستر سيتي ومانشستر يونايتد في الديربي الأول بينهما هذا الموسم، 2025/26، ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي.

ويدخل مانشستر سيتي تلك المباراة وهو في حالة سيئة بعدما خسر في مباراتين متتاليتين، أمام توتنهام وبرايتون، ويعاني من عدة إصابات على رأسهم النجم المصري عمر مرموش الذي سيغيب بضعة أسابيع.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز السادس عشر برصيد 3 نقاط فقط، في حين أن مانشستر يونايتد لديه 4 نقاط في المركز الحادي عشر. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي المتوقع أمام مانشستر يونايتد اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: جيانلويجي دوناروما.

خط الدفاع: ماتيوس نونيز، روبن دياز، ناثان آكي، نيكو أوريلي.

خط الوسط: برناردو سيلفا، رودري.

خط الوسط الهجومي: تيجاني ريندرز، أوسكار بوب، إيرلينج هالاند.

خط الهجوم: جيريمي دوكو. 

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.