Tag Futebol

Speaking on Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 podcast, he looked forward to India’s contest against England’s batters

ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-2025

Jasprit Bumrah: ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024•ICC/Getty Images

Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, is keen to get his hands on the Dukes ball and play in swinging conditions during India’s upcoming tour of England, which starts with a warm-up game from June 13 to 16 followed by the first Test in Leeds from June 20 to 24.”Playing in England is always a different challenge,” Bumrah told former Australia captain Michael Clarke on the YouTube channel. “I always love bowling with the Dukes ball.”But I don’t know how much the Dukes ball is doing right now because there’s always constant changes to the ball. But the weather, the swinging conditions. And then when the ball becomes soft, there’s always a challenge. So I always look forward to playing in England.”This will be Bumrah’s third bilateral Test series in England – he also played the World Test Championship final there, against New Zealand. His previous eight away Tests against England have brought him 37 wickets at an average of 23.78. He is the most experienced member of an India pace pack that also includes Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh; he felt all of them have the ability to run through oppositions, especially when they bat aggressively like England do.LA 2028 a target

“Now, I’ve heard there’s Olympics in cricket coming as well, so that is something I’m really looking forward to. Who would have thought cricket would become an Olympic sport? So, yeah, that’s something that excites me”

“They’re playing an interesting style of cricket which is interesting because I don’t really understand it too much,” Bumrah said. “But as a bowling unit, we always feel confident that when the batters are being ultra-aggressive, on a given day, anybody could run through and get wickets.”The five Tests in England will be played over 46 days from June 20 to August 4, in Leeds, Birmingham, Lord’s, Manchester and The Oval. Bumrah is unlikely to feature in all five Tests, though, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar having indicated that his worload may need to be closely managed.Related

Tongue, Woakes to play for Lions with one eye on first Test

'He's a vaccine for any illness' – Aaron, Moody in awe of Bumrah

Agarkar: 'Don't think Bumrah will be available for all five Tests'

Shubman Gill relishing 'ultimate honour' of Test captaincy

India A hit Canterbury nets: Nair still in IPL mode, Reddy in fluent touch

With India set for a packed next nine months, which include a T20 World Cup in February 2026, Bumrah said he would play all three formats but pick and choose his games to keep his body fresh.”Obviously, it is tough for any individual to keep playing everything for so long,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for a while, but eventually you have to understand where your body is going, what is the important tournament.”You have to be a little selective and smart about how you use your body. As a cricketer, I would never want to leave anything and always keep on going. But I don’t set goals or look at numbers. Whenever I have [set goals], I’ve never been able to fulfil them.”I just try and enjoy because that’s why I started [playing] this sport. Take one day at a time and collect memories because, at the end of the [career in] sport, that’s all I’ll remember.”

Leeds United are already looking ahead to the January transfer window and could seek to target an international star who will currently be available for free in 2026.

Leeds trying to move on after transfer frustration

Daniel Farke has acknowledged that the Whites could’ve done more in the window as they look to stay in the Premier League, albeit the German coach will have to play with the cards he has at his disposal for the time being after a heartbreaking late defeat at Fulham on Saturday afternoon courtesy of a bizarre Gabriel Gudmundsson own goal.

Like any newly-promoted side, home form and being able to withstand barrages while on the road from elite outfits will be key to their chances of survival. Either way, the former Norwich City boss has admitted he will need to cope with the ‘reality’ of their situation.

He stated via The Independent on their transfer dealings: “I’ve got a few principles with how I work and this is crucial for me. One principle is I like openness and transparency. I like to name it how I see it.

“The second principle is once a transfer window is closed and I can’t influence things anymore, you won’t hear one bad word or comment from me in any way. I’m pretty fortunate to be allowed to work in the business. My job is to adapt to the reality and work with what I’ve got.”

Failed late Leeds moves for Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin, among others, have left the Whites a little light for Farke’s liking, but that is the way of the window, and he isn’t the only top-flight manager in that situation.

Ultimately, time is the greatest healer and January isn’t a million miles away, which could see movement emerge regarding another star who was heavily pursued during the summer.

Leeds United plan move to sign Fulham's Harry Wilson

According to Football Insider, Leeds are planning a renewed move to sign Fulham winger Harry Wilson in January after missing out on the Wales international in the final hours of the summer window.

Encouragingly, the £55,000 per week earner is out of contract in 2026 and the Whites are keeping a close eye on his situation, while the Cottagers may be willing to sell him should he fail to agree an extention over the next few months.

Leeds are brewing a homegrown Wilson in “very talented” 18-year-old star

Leeds United are brewing their very own Harry Wilson in this 18-year-old sensation.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

Labelled “outstanding” by Michael Beale, Wilson, who shares the Unique Sports Group agency with Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow, per Transfermarkt, scored six times in 27 appearances last term and has featured in all of Fulham’s matches so far in 2025/26, though is yet to get off the mark.

Clearly, Farke has had to deal with frustration at Elland Road in his mission to land key targets, but the chance to achieve retribution in pursuit of a player who could potentially arrive on a cut-price agreement or for free next year may sweeten his set of circumstances.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl says keeping Harry Kane beyond 2027 is “absolutely conceivable" after the striker suggested he is open to discussing a contract extension with the club. Alongside him, Bayern are also working on Dayot Upamecano’s extension to protect the squad’s core amid their perfect start to the new season.

Kane’s contract becomes Bayern’s priority

Kane may still have two years left on his Bayern deal, but the Bavarians are eager to avoid uncertainty. The England captain’s contract runs until 2027, with a reported release clause of around €65 million (£55m/$76m) becoming active in 2026. While that clause has fuelled speculation of a Premier League return, particularly with Tottenham holding first refusal, Bayern are determined to tie their star striker down well before then.

Kane has been nothing short of transformational since joining in 2023. He won the European Golden Shoe in his debut season, became the fastest player to hit 50 Bundesliga goals, and recently helped Bayern reclaim the league title. On Saturday, he netted his 100th Bundesliga goal after 104 matches, breaking a top-flight record shared by Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMax Eberl praises Kane’s leadership

Speaking ahead of Bayern’s Champions League trip to Cyprus, sporting director Eberl was asked about Kane’s long-term future. His response left little room for doubt.

“A collaboration beyond 2027 is absolutely conceivable,” he said. “That’s why we will discuss the next steps with him in a relaxed manner. He’s an absolute leader — it would be awesome to win titles with him, and he said that too. We want to do that with him for a long time to come.”

Eberl’s words echoed Kane’s own comments earlier in the season when he admitted he was “really happy” in Munich and open to staying beyond 2027. With 18 goal involvements already this campaign, Kane remains the heartbeat of Vincent Kompany’s attack, and Bayern view his future as central to their success.

Dayot Upamecano’s uncertain future draws suitors

While Kane’s renewal looks promising, the same cannot yet be said of Upamecano. The French defender’s contract runs until 2026, but talks over an extension have stalled in recent weeks. With Bayern hesitant to match his wage demands, several European giants have started circling.

Liverpool are reportedly leading the chase, viewing Upamecano as a potential successor to Ibrahima Konate, while Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring the situation. If no extension is agreed by January 2026, the 26-year-old will be free to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs abroad.

For Bayern, losing Upamecano on a free transfer would be a bitter blow, especially after seeing Leroy Sane depart in similar fashion. The defender has been a cornerstone under Kompany, featuring in over 200 games since joining from RB Leipzig, and his departure would leave a glaring hole in Bayern’s backline.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportBayern focus on core players to maintain winning momentum

Eberl has made it clear that securing the futures of Kane and Upamecano will define Bayern’s long-term planning. The club cannot afford to repeat past mistakes of letting top talent walk away without compensation, and both players are seen as essential pillars of Kompany’s project. At the same time, Bayern know they must balance ambition with realism. Kane’s contract talks will likely be straightforward given his public commitment and the club’s desire to build around him. Upamecano’s case, however, may require tougher negotiations, with rival clubs offering lucrative packages. 

The summer transfer window officially slammed shut for another year on Monday night, without Celtic adding any number nines to their first-team squad.

Adam Idah was allowed to complete a £6m transfer to EFL Championship side Swansea City on deadline day, but that exit was not followed up by a replacement.

This means that Celtic have sold Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored 85 goals in 165 games for the club, and Idah, who scored 29 goals in 76 matches for the club, in 2025.

Meanwhile, Shin Yamada, who has scored four goals in his last 39 matches in all competitions, is the only first-team striker who has been signed by Celtic this year, in January or the summer.

However, Celtic do still have a chance to bolster their squad because they can dip into the free agent market to find a striker to lead the line for them this season, after they failed to sign one before the end of the window.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reports that the club will hold talks with former Manchester City star Kelechi Iheanacho after his contract at Sevilla was ripped up on Monday night, before the deadline.

Why Kelechi Iheanacho could be a good signing

Signing a free agent does not always have to be a bad thing, because plenty of players end up in unfortunate situations and may not have been able to show the best of themselves, leading to them being available at this time of the year.

Kelechi only played 11 matches in all competitions during his time with Sevilla in Spain, scoring three goals, which shows that he did not get too many opportunities to showcase his quality in front of goal.

He is a player Brendan Rodgers already knows incredibly well from their time together at Leicester City in England, which means that the Hoops boss knows that the striker has the quality to make an impact in front of goal at Parkhead.

Kelechi scored 43 goals in 143 matches with the Northern Irish boss as his manager at the King Power, per Transfermarkt, and has a lot of experience in the Premier League with Leicester and Manchester City.

22/23 (28)

5

5

21/22 (26)

4

5

20/21 (25)

12

2

19/20 (20)

5

5

18/19 (30)

1

3

17/18 (21)

3

3

16/17 (20)

4

3

15/16 (26)

8

1

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old striker has a decent history of goals and assists in the English top-flight, including a 12-goal haul with Rodgers as his manager in the 2020/21 campaign.

These statistics and his relationship with the Celtic boss suggest that signing him could be a worthwhile gamble to bolster their options up front before they have a chance to reassess the situation in the January window.

Even if Kelechi comes through the door in the coming days on a free transfer, though, it does not mean that the Scottish Premiership champions have achieved what they set out to do.

Sky Sports reported that the Hoops wanted to sign two new strikers on deadline day, as Idah left to join Swansea, which means that they may have to make two free agent signings if they still want another number nine in the building.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

A quick look at the free agent market will tell you that there is another centre-forward available who will be well known to Rodgers, even if he has not managed him before.

Patrick Bamford was released by Leeds United last month after they were promoted to the Premier League, as they went with Joel Piroe, Lukas Nmecha, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their frontline forward, and he could be an even better signing than Kelechi.

Why Celtic should sign Patrick Bamford

Rodgers will have managed against Bamford in the Premier League and will know what he is about, which could make him another sensible short-term addition on a free transfer to ensure that the club get two strikers in the building before the clash with Kilmarnock.

Like Kelechi, the 31-year-old marksman has excelled in the English top-flight in the past. In the 2020/21 campaign, when Kelechi scored 12 goals, the former Leeds man plundered an eye-catching haul of 17 goals and was hailed as “exceptional” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for his performances that term.

This shows that the former England international’s peak may be higher than the Nigeria international’s, because he scored five more goals at Premier League level that season than Kelechi did in any season in his career.

In recent history, both players failed to showcase their qualities with limited game time in the 2024/25 campaign, but they both featured for their sides in the 2023/24 Championship season, for Leeds and Leicester respectively, and Bamford came out on top.

Appearances

33

23

xG

9.52

6.30

Goals

8

5

Shots on target per game

0.7

0.5

Assists

1

1

Ground duel success rate

40%

38%

Aerial duel success rate

39%

17%

As you can see in the table above, Bamford scored more goals, offering a greater threat in front of goal, and was more impressive in his physical duels, particularly in the air.

These statistics suggest that Celtic may not get much in the way of hold-up or physical play from Kelechi, given his horrendous aerial duel success rate, and that could cause problems in European matches when the Hoops need their number nine to relieve pressure in big matches.

This means that Bamford, who won two Championship titles during his time at Elland Road, could be more effective as an outlet for Celtic in big games, domestically and in Europe, whilst also having the potential to offer a greater goal threat.

Therefore, bringing the English striker in as well as Kelechi could make a lot of sense for the Scottish giants, as it would give Rodgers the two number nine signings he wanted and offer the team different options in the centre-forward position.

Worse than Nygren: Rodgers must drop Celtic flop who "offered little"

Celtic must drop their flop who was even worse than Benjamin Nygren against Rangers.

ByDan Emery Aug 31, 2025

Bamford’s statistics also suggest that he would simply be a better signing striker for the team than Kelechi as the main man up front, which is another reason why the club should swoop for him.

West Ham United have sparked into life on the transfer front.

While he isn’t the flashiest addition, Callum Wilson entering the building on a free transfer from Newcastle United will still have caught the eye as the Premier League outfit adds in strikers in the wake of Michail Antonio’s exit.

On top of that, Mads Hermansen has also finally arrived from Leicester City to boost the Irons in between the sticks, costing a reported £20m in the process.

Graham Potter and Co. could soon make it a hat-trick of exciting buys with a new target reportedly on their agenda, who could follow in Wilson’s footsteps by costing nothing.

West Ham in talks to sign attacking midfielder

With Kyle Walker-Peters also entering Potter’s ranks after his Southampton contract expired, there is a theme popping up.

It would, however, cost West Ham a pretty penny to land Mateus Fernandes from the Saints, with a previous £30m price tag being placed above the up-and-coming 21-year-old’s head amid interest from the likes of the Hammers.

Fernandes isn’t the only target centrally, though, with a report from Roma News indicating that West Ham are now locked in negotiations with AS Roma star Lorenzo Pellegrini over a standout free transfer taking place.

The Serie A side will allow for this to happen so they can free up some wage costs and make a signing or two themselves this summer, but any potential deal rests on Guido Rodriguez also leaving the London Stadium, before anything significant whirs into motion.

Pellegrini could even go on to be Potter’s own iteration of Manuel Lanzini, with the Roma number seven hopeful he can be as impactful as his fellow Argentine compatriot if a move to England does get off the ground.

How Pellegrini can be Potter's own Lanzini

Before heading to his native Argentina to line up for River Plate, Lanzini was a fan favourite figure at the London Stadium.

Across 226 games for the Hammers, it’s fair to say the diminutive playmaker left his lasting impact, culminating in him amassing 32 goals and 26 assists in total, which included that ​​​​​​memorable effort being cannoned home against arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur back in 2020.

His consistent brilliance for the Hammers even saw his then-teammate Declan Rice hail him as a “special” talent to line up alongside, with Pellegrini hopeful he can reach this same level of performance if he calls East London home shortly.

Of course, the 29-year-old isn’t being chucked to one side by Roma for no reason, with Pellegrini just fresh off a below-par offering last season in Serie A that saw him tally up a weak two goals and two assists.

But, much like Lanzini in the Premier League, the Rome-born attacker has shown off his class over the majority of his extensive stay in the Italian top-flight, away from this worrying drop-off in form.

Even the Hammers’ favourite was guilty of going missing in certain contests, with only one league goal coming his way during his final swansong campaign, which ended his love affair with West Ham on a somewhat damp note.

Pellegrini’s overall numbers for Roma

Stat

Pellegrini

Games played

316

Goals scored

55

Assists

59

Europa League appearances

53

Champions League appearances

14

Trophies

1x

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Amazingly, away from that off-season last time out, Pellegrini has managed to collect a sizeable 55 goals and 59 assists for his boyhood club, with his Roma boss in Claudio Ranieri, going as far as to describe the 29-year-old as “exquisite” when he performs at the peak of his powers.

Capable of lighting up a pitch on his day with skilful displays with the goals and assists to match, he does feel as if he’s the next coming of Lanzini for those at the London Stadium, with Pellegrini also adept enough to line up in a more traditional central role if needed, as well as down the left wing, much like the ex-Irons number 10.

On a free transfer, this really could be a steal, with Rome royalty in Francisco Totti even labelling him as a “leader” for his efforts at the Stadio Olimpico.

Related Ideal Antonio replacement: West Ham agree terms to sign £13m "diamond"

Following his release, ending a ten-year association with the club, West Ham have reached an agreement to sign Michail Antonio’s replacement for £13m.

Posts ByBen Gray Aug 10, 2025

Former cricket and rugby league pro to join squads for tour of South Africa and Women’s Ashes

Valkerie Baynes14-Nov-2024

England Women assistant coach Courtney Winfield-Hill (right) with Charis Pavely during the 2024 tour of Ireland•ECB via Getty Images

Courtney Winfield-Hill will join the England Women’s set-up as an assistant coach for the upcoming tour of South Africa and the Women’s Ashes.Winfield-Hill, a 37-year-old former cricket and rugby league professional who was part of England’s backroom staff on the tour of Ireland in September, will be reunited with the squad in South Africa once she has finished her second-year stint as an assistant coach with WBBL side Brisbane Heat.Winfield-Hill worked with Trent Rockets in the most recent edition of the Women’s Hundred and previously held a regional academy coach role with Northern Diamonds as well as assistant coaching roles at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League and England Women’s A and U19 squads.”I am really proud to be a part of the set-up,” Winfield-Hill said. “Since working with England teams, I have been made to feel nothing but welcomed and feel the ECB have invested in developing me as a coach.”The development of the domestic game over the last five years has been brilliant to watch and I have taken a lot from recent involvements with the England A, development games and the Ireland tour. South Africa and the Ashes are two exciting series and I am really looking forward to linking up and working with the group.”As a player, Australia-born pace bowler Winfield-Hill – who is the wife of former England and current Brisbane Heat batter Lauren Winfield-Hill – represented Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat.After moving to England in 2018, she led Leeds Rhinos to a Grand Final and Challenge Cup double in 2019. She represented England at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 having qualified on residency and now works for the sport’s governing body as Senior Women and Girls’ Partner.Courtney Winfield-Hill switched countries and sports to star for England at the Women’s Rugby League World Cup•Getty Images

Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women’s Cricket, said Winfield-Hill’s dual background in professional sport offered a fresh outlook to the current coaching set-up, led by head coach Jon Lewis.”Courtney has played such an important role in developing the up-and-coming players on our international pathway and adds tremendous value in any environment she is part of,” Finch said. “She will bring a different outlook on the game into the coaching team which will ensure the support we provide to players continually moves forward in what will be an exciting period for the senior team.”

Grace Scrivens half-century sets hosts up before Aussies dampen Spirit

ECB Media07-Aug-2024

Alana King picked up three crucial wickets for the Rockets•PA Images/Getty

Aussie duo Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King spun Trent Rockets to a much-needed 31-run win over London Spirit at Trent Bridge.Gardner and King combined for six wickets as a star-studded Spirit line-up never threatened to chase down 158 for 5.Young gun Grace Scrivens struck 55 from 43 balls for the hosts, although she had to walk off the field in the second innings when she was struck in the face attempting a catch.It meant Rockets ended a three-game losing streak and was made all the more impressive as Nat Sciver-Brunt, the women’s competition’s leading run-scorer, had a comparatively quiet match with 21 from 12 balls.Former England Under-19s skipper Scrivens played arguably her best innings of The Hundred sharing a 74-run opening stand with Bryony Smith that set the tone for a performance that will have caught the attention of the other teams.Scrivens hit nine boundaries and her opening stand with Smith, who crashed 34 from 22 balls, was only ended in misfortunate when Charlie Dean got a finger on the ball before it crashed into the stumps with Smith unable to recover her ground after backing up.India star Deepti Sharma claimed the big wickets of Sciver-Brunt and Gardner, but Heather Graham’s unbeaten 22 from 12 balls ensured a fast finish.Spirit’s chase was immediately undermined when Gardner removed Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith from successive balls before King had former Australia captain Meg Lanning caught by Kirstie Gordon at mid-on.Gardner trapped Dani Gibson lbw and when England and Spirit skipper Heather Knight’s sweep at King landed in the hands of Smith, after hitting 29 from 20, the game was up.Gardner and King both finished with identical figures of 3 for 23 from 20 balls as Spirit closed on 127 for 7.Meerkat match Hero, Gardner, said: “It was huge (win for us). It was probably the first game we put all three facets of the game together. The openers did a fantastic job giving us the start that they did, that was the best we’ve been with the ball and we were pretty clean in the field. It was a pretty perfect performance.”

In what would be a statement move in his first few months in the job, Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta has now reportedly made an approach to sign a top Manchester United target.

All eyes on PSG for Arsenal

With the Premier League title race over and Liverpool confirmed as champions, Arsenal have all of their focus on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday. Heading to France with a 1-0 deficit to overturn courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s early strike last time out, the Gunners have it all to do.

Bournemouth’s trip to The Emirates this weekend should simply be seen as the chance for Mikel Arteta to rest key men. In a season full of injuries, the Spaniard must take control of the narrative and avoid what would be the most frustrating absences heading into Wednesday.

The Arsenal boss rallied his troops after their disappointing 1-0 defeat against PSG on Tuesday, telling reporters: “It’s half-time. I said exactly the same message after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 [in the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates]. Go to Paris, win the game, and we are through.

“That’s what we have to do. We saw two teams that are very aggressive, intense, not a lot of margins. Their keeper made two saves that normally are goals and those are the margins you have in these games.”

Mega Kiwior upgrade: Arsenal initiate talks for "superb" £34m monster

The experienced international could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 2, 2025

After frustration in the title race, Arsenal will be desperate to avoid even more heartbreak on the European stage. There’s no doubt that winning the Champions League would have a major impact on Arteta’s project on and off the pitch too, especially when chasing summer transfer targets.

Berta makes Arsenal approach to sign Trincao

Instantly ruffling a few feathers, Berta has reportedly set his sights on a top Manchester United target. According to Record in Portugal, Berta has now made an approach to sign Francisco Trincao from Sporting CP this summer and has already had scouts in place to take note of his impressive campaign.

The winger, who is represented by the same agency as United stars Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro, has been reborn in Portugal following a failed spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Now, four years on from leaving the Premier League and failing to make his loan move permanent, Trincao could be back with a vengeance courtesy of Arsenal.

By signing the winger, Arsenal would also solve a major problem of theirs by welcoming an added creative spark and someone who would provide instant backup for Bukayo Saka.

Starts

31

17

Goals

8

6

Assists

14

10

Key Passes per 90

2.42

3.02

Described as “terrific” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in 2022, Trinaco has only reached new levels ever since and his eye for an assist is particularly impressive. As Martin Odegaard’s numbers continue to fall too, it’s the type of passing ability that Arteta arguably needs at his disposal more than ever at Arsenal.

Leeds United have held talks and are very serious about signing a new international defender who could replace Junior Firpo.

Firpo impressing at Leeds with contract set to expire

Leeds have impressed on the whole during the current Championship season under Daniel Farke, and one player who has been key is left-back Firpo. The Dominican Republic international has contributed to an impressive 12 goals in 26 league appearances in 2024/25 and was named Leeds’ Player of the Month for February.

Talking after picking up the award, Firpo said: “The fans have always shown their love to me. I’m really grateful and appreciative of their support for us, whether it’s at home or away, they’re always unbelievable. I just want to continue performing for them as I have been.

“Working as part of a team, it really feels like we’ve all been going in the same direction. We’re pushing on together, we’re doing really really well and we’re getting closer to our target.”

However, despite Firpo now finding his feet in Yorkshire after a tricky first few years, the full-back is set to be out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to pen new terms.

Championship run-in

Leeds (81 pts)

Sheffield United (83 pts)

Burnley (81 pts)

Luton Town (a)

Oxford United (a)

Coventry City (a)

Middlesbrough (a)

Millwall (h)

Derby County (a)

Preston North End (h)

Plymouth Argyle (a)

Norwich City (h)

Oxford United (a)

Cardiff City (h)

Watford (a)

Stoke City (h)

Burnley (a)

Sheffield United (h)

Bristol City (h)

Stoke City (a)

QPR (a)

Plymouth Argyle (a)

Blackburn Rovers (h)

Millwall (h)

As a result, he could leave for nothing, and there have been rumours over a return to Spain for Firpo where he played for Real Betis and Barcelona.

Should he depart for nothing, Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises will need a replacement, and it looks as if they have identified a new target.

Leeds hold positive talks over move to sign Zaidu Sanusi

According to reports from Africa Foot, Leeds have been in contact to hold talks with FC Porto over a move for Zaidu Sanusi. It is claimed that initial discussions have been positive with Leeds now very serious and interested in signing Sanusi.

An offer worth €2m (£1.6m) is being looked at by Leeds, with a four-year contract at Elland Road on the table. Sanusi is 27 years of age and has been on the books with FC Porto since 2020. Prior to that, the Nigeria international was with fellow Portuguese clubs Mirandela, Gil Vicente and Santa Clara.

Capped 22 times at international level, Sanusi has made 128 appearances for FC Porto and returned earlier this year from a serious ACL injury.

Related Leeds seriously looking to sign £25m star after Meslier's Swansea mistake

Meslier’s mistake against Swansea City could be the final straw for Leeds, as they eye a new goalkeeper this summer.

Posts ByBrett Worthington Apr 1, 2025

Now, it looks as if he could be on the move to England with Leeds, making this one to keep an eye on ahead of the 2025/26 season.

SL’s last-wicket stand of 78 to chase down 304, or an 18-year-old’s heroics? Which Test was better? Vote now!

ESPNcricinfo staff14-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The SA-SL 2019 Durban Test moves to the round of 16.The Perera miracle in Durban, 2019
Sri Lanka were enduring a tough time heading into this series. They were coming off a 2-0 pummeling in Australia, their captain had been sacked, and an inexperienced team, led by Dimuth Karunaratne, was put on the plane to South Africa. The perfect lead-up to a heroic comeback story?In what was a seesawing Test in Durban, Sri Lanka emerged victorious, chasing down 304 with one wicket to spare. They had lost their ninth wicket while still 78 runs off their target. Kusal Perera then scored 67 of them all by himself. Perera gave Sri Lanka an incredible finale on the fourth afternoon along with the No. 11 Vishwa Fernando, as they put on a record-breaking tenth-wicket stand to see their team home in a tense finish.At lunch on the day, Sri Lanka were 166 for 5, still 138 runs away from a win, after which Keshav Maharaj scythed through the Sri Lankan lower-middle order, leaving them at 226 for 9. That brought Fernando to the middle, and from the moment he got there, he was entirely focused on survival. He faced 22 balls before he got off the mark.It looked like victory was assured for South Africa, but as Fernando clung on at one end, Perera defended with unreal calm and even took several blows to his body on his way to the target. Batting for 309 minutes, he farmed the strike superbly, and picked his opportunities to attack and push the score forward. Along the way, he also made his career-best Test score of 153, sealing the famous win with a boundary.Debutant Cummins’ heroics in Johannesburg, 2011Trust Pat Cummins to do something heroic. But to do such a thing on his Test debut? As an 18-year-old?Australia had a lot to prove entering this Test. They had been bowled out for 47 in the first Test of the series in Cape Town, their lowest total in 109 years. They had lost that match before lunch on the third day.In seaming conditions at the Wanderers, Australia took a 30-run lead in reply to South Africa’s 266. Having been brought in as Ryan Harris’ replacement for the second Test in Johannesburg, Cummins came to Australia’s rescue in the second innings as he outbowled his more senior colleagues.He gave Australia a fighting chance of victory in a match that, 24 hours earlier, appeared to have slipped from their grasp after superb batting from Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. Cummins was responsible for breaking the Amla-de Villiers stand, as he went on to bag six wickets to set up a target of 310 runs for his team.Openers Shane Watson and Phil Hughes failed to repeat their first-innings displays. They were both out to Vernon Philander as Australia were 19 for 2, but Ricky Ponting and Usman Khawaja brought down the home side’s advantage. Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn’s strikes, though, left Australia six down with another 95 runs to get.Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson then forged a partnership of 72 to erase the bulk of the deficit, but with his team eight down with 12 runs required, it was Cummins who kept his calm and scored two boundaries in the 15 balls he faced to seal the close win for Australia. It was the highest fourth-innings total at the Wanderers.