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Both Scotland and Oman qualify for Super Sixes after Ireland’s loss to SL but Oman will not be carrying any points from the group stage

Himanshu Agrawal25-Jun-2023

Brandon McMullen soaks in the glory of a maiden ton•ICC/Getty Images

Brandon McMullen’s name sounds quite similar to Brendon McCullum’s. On Sunday morning, in what seemed like a Bazball effort in Bulawayo, McMullen also played quite like McCullum, switching gears from being 9 off 21 balls at one stage to finishing with 136 from 121. That took Scotland to 320 in 50 overs after they had managed just 47 in the first 13. In reply, Oman too took their time: they got 16 in the first five overs, but their run rate went past three again only at the end of 19 overs. They eventually fell short by 76 runs.The win confirmed Scotland’s progress to the Super Sixes, and Oman too qualified despite the loss after Sri Lanka beat Ireland earlier in the day. However, Oman – having lost to Sri Lanka as well – will not be carrying any points to the next stage, with points only against fellow qualifying teams from the same group considered. That also means Scotland’s next game, against Sri Lanka, is a big one as the winner will carry two extra points into the Super Six round.Scotland’s new-ball bowlers Chris Sole, Adrian Neill and McMullen himself were spot on to start with as they bowled tight, Test-match-like lines and lengths to never let Oman off the hook. But Oman’s batters had never really attempted to attack until then either, so much so that the first signs of intent from them came only after the first drinks break.Chris Greaves was among the wickets•ICC/Getty Images

But the fact that they had so much to do was all down to McMullen and his captain Richie Berrington. They added 138 off 122 deliveries for the third wicket, during which Oman’s hopes of restricting Scotland to a manageable total had all but evaporated despite the sedate start. When Berrington fell for 60 in the 39th over, the score was 220 already.The partnership was dominated by McMullen, who brought up his maiden ODI hundred off 92 balls. He piled up runs all across – whether it meant swinging for the leg side or pumping boundaries down the ground. The innings even included a funky, Suryakumar Yadav-inspired scoop for four over short fine leg, attempting which had McMullen lose his balance and fall on his back.Scotland lost their last seven wickets for 77 in a rush for rapid runs, four of which went to Bilal Khan, who eventually finished with 5 for 55. But in return, Oman’s batters never really backed up his efforts. The only time when Oman looked to be having a say with the bat was during the seventh-wicket stand of 105 between Naseem Khushi and Shoaib Khan. They provided some late entertainment in a union that lasted for 83 deliveries, with Khushi cracking a half-century. He smashed 69 off 53 balls, thus only delaying the inevitable.As for Scotland, apart from making it to the Super Sixes, they had another positive in the form of a five-wicket haul from legspinner Chris Greaves, who took all of the last five Oman wickets to fall.

Glamorgan allrounder will serve until February 2025, having succeeded Daryl Mitchell in 2021

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2023James Harris, the Glamorgan allrounder, has been re-elected for a second term as chair of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.Harris, 32, took over from the previous incumbent Daryl Mitchell in 2021, and will remain in the post until February 2025 – the maximum four-year stint permitted by the PCA’s constitution.”Being re-elected is a huge honour,” Harris said. “I’ve really enjoyed the first two years. Having an extra two years will be brilliant and I’m really looking forward to pushing through some meaningful change in my second term.”Harris’ first term coincided with the sport’s recovery from the Covid pandemic, and in addition to representing the organisation in Parliament, at the DCMS Select Committee hearings, he has also overseen the PCA’s increased commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.iAs a Director of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, he also helped raise funds for the PCA’s charitable arm by cycling over 1,000km to and from Cardiff, via Headingley and Lord’s.”The PCA has a huge role to play in the evolution of the game worldwide, we need to make sure that we’re moving forward with the game, keeping pace with the game, because there’s so many opportunities to play around the world in different tournaments which wasn’t available 10 years ago,” Harris said.”I think with the opportunity for players to travel and improve their game around the world, there really is no better time to be a professional cricketer than right now and I can only see that trending in one direction as we move forward.”PCA Chief Executive, Rob Lynch, said: “I’m really pleased that James has been elected by his peers to take on a second term as Chair of the Association.”A lot has happened in the world of cricket in the last two years and James has been as been at the forefront of the change in England and Wales.”I’m looking forward to continuing our strong working relationship and strategic planning for the next two years is already under way in this crucial point in the history of our game. With key priorities assessed to ensure we continue to champion the interests of professional cricketers in this country, we will be updating our members in the coming weeks through the AGM, Rookie Camp and pre-season meetings with all 26 domestic squads.”

RCB have had a good run of late but don’t have a great record at home; Mumbai would hope to take the next step in their rebuilding process

Hemant Brar01-Apr-20233:23

How can Mumbai Indians make the best use of Cameron Green?

Big picture – Mumbai Indians’ bowling looks thinRoyal Challengers Bangalore’s quest for their maiden IPL title is still on but they have been pretty consistent of late, making the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. This run has also coincided with them not playing at their home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium – theirs is one of the poorest home records for an IPL team. This season, they play six of their first eight games in Bengaluru, which could dictate how their campaign goes.Virat Kohli’s return to form in international cricket is a big plus for them, but they need Dinesh Karthik to repeat his heroics from last year too.Mumbai Indians, their opponents, are the most successful IPL team with five titles but they have been in a rebuilding phase since the 2022 mega auction. They finished at the bottom of the points table last season, with four wins and ten losses. This time, they have fortified their batting by signing Cameron Green. However, their dream of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer bowling in tandem will have to wait another season to become reality.Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma will be keen to make an impact with the bat. The last time he averaged over 30 in an IPL season was in 2016.Team news – big names missingRoyal Challengers will be without Wanindu Hasaranga, Rajat Patidar and Josh Hazlewood. Hasaranga is in New Zealand for the T20I series; Patidar is at the NCA, recovering from his heel injury; Hazlewood is in Australia for rehab of Achilles tendonitis. Mike Hesson, Royal Challengers’ director of cricket, said on Friday that Hazlewood would “join the group on April 13 and will continue his last bit of rehab in India”.Mumbai Indians are without Jhye Richardson and, of course, Bumrah. Both are out of the tournament. Mumbai have signed Sandeep Warrier as Bumrah’s replacement, though.Toss and Impact Player strategyRoyal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers don’t have many exciting options on the bench to make full use of the Impact Player rule. In fact, they can go with the same XI irrespective of whether they are batting or bowling first.Probable XI: 1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Mahipal Lomror, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Michael Bracewell, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Reece Topley, 11 Mohammed SirajIf they are batting first and need an extra batter at any stage, Suyash Prabhudessai can come in as Impact Player. Else they can bring in Siddarth Kaul or Karn Sharma in the second innings. If they are bowling first, Prabhudessai could come in during the chase.Jofra Archer will be making his debut for Mumbai Indians•Mumbai IndiansMumbai Indians
Mumbai are not placed any better in terms of Impact Player options. Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya is probably their best option, and could replace Tilak Varma when they are bowling.Probable bat-first XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Tim David, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Hrithik Shokeen, 10 Sandeep Warrier, 11 Jason BehrendorffIf they are bowling first, Kartikeya starts; Varma replaces him in the second innings.Probable bowl-first XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tim David, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Ramandeep Singh, 7 Jofra Archer, 8 Hrithik Shokeen, 9 Sandeep Warrier, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Kumar KartikeyaStats that matter – tie Kohli up with spin During the recent T20I series against New Zealand, Ishan Kishan found it difficult to get going against Michael Bracewell, falling to him twice in 13 balls for just seven runs. Harshal Patel has dismissed Rohit three times in 23 balls while conceding only 27 runs. Since the start of 2022, Kohli’s T20 strike rate against spin is 119.75. Against pace, it’s 137.35.Pitch and conditions – Home disadvantageOver the years, M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been a nightmare for bowlers. Don’t expect anything different this time either. And while it might be the home venue for Royal Challengers, they have 42 wins and 40 losses here. On the other hand, Mumbai have ten wins and three losses at this venue.Quotes”Mumbai Indians have got a good record here. But that’s all in the past. There’re new characters within the teams. So you can sort of take that from a confidence perspective and try to infiltrate that into the players. But the bottom line is you don’t win the game of cricket on paper.”

A “brilliant” manager is under consideration to replace Barry Ferguson as Rangers manager this summer, at which point the club is “likely to be under new ownership”, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.

Ferguson gets off to perfect Rangers start with win at Kilmarnock

After 16 months at the helm, Philippe Clement was relieved of his duties as Rangers boss following a 2-0 home defeat against St Mirren, which left his side 13 points adrift of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.

In the wake of Clement’s sacking, a number of managers have been linked with moves to Ibrox, with the likes of David Wagner and Steven Gerrard being named as potential candidates for the job. However, the Gers hierarchy moved swiftly to appoint ex-player Ferguson on an interim basis, and the former captain avoided an early scare at Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening, winning his first match 4-2 courtesy of goals from Vaclav Cerny, Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami.

TalkSPORT pundit makes on-air claim about new Rangers owners' manager plans

Who will become the Gers’ next permanent boss?

ByHenry Jackson Feb 25, 2025

The 47-year-old has made it clear he will impose an attack-minded philosophy during his time in the Ibrox dugout, saying: “You are going to see a team who are going to have a certain style of play, attack-minded and we are going to try to win every single game.

“We are going to be aggressive, which was a part of my game as well and I don’t mean by going and tackling people, but I mean aggressive in the press.”

It remains to be seen whether the Scot’s attacking philosophy is able to win over the Rangers faithful and convince the board to give him the full time gig, but a four-goal haul at Killie is a great start.

Taking to X however, the reliable Jacobs has stated Derek McInnes is “under consideration” to replace Ferguson in the summer, at which point the Gers are “likely to be under new ownership”, with 49ers Enterprises in line to take over.

McInnes famously came close to replacing Pedro Caixinha in the dugout back in 2017, verbally accepting the deal job before being talked out of it by Dave King.

"Brilliant" McInnes impressing at Kilmarnock

The 53-year-old has developed quite a reputation in Scotland, spending almost eight years at Aberdeen between 2013 and 2021, and pushing Celtic nearly all the way in the title race during the 2015-16 season.

During his time with the Dons, the Paisley-born coach also lifted the Scottish League Cup in 2014, one of three trophies he’s won in his career, having won the Scottish Championship on two occasions.

Brendan Rodgers has described the Scottish coach as “absolutely brilliant”, and there are signs he could do a good job at Ibrox, given his success with Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, leading the club to a fourth-place finish last season, in what was their first campaign after winning promotion.

That said, if Rangers are going to bridge the gap to Rodgers’ Celtic, they could do with a manager with more experience of competing for major honours, rather than appointing a coach with no experience in a top job.

Celtic supporters may have been left feeling a little underwhelmed after the deadline for the January transfer passed on Monday night without a new striker coming through the door.

The Hoops were in the market to add another number nine to their squad because Adam Idah is the only senior, recognised, centre-forward in the squad, with Daniel Cummings and Johnny Kenny offering depth as young strikers.

Brendan Rodgers lost an influential player during the window in that position after Kyogo Furuhashi completed a permanent move to Ligue 1 side Rennes.

The Japan international, as you can see in the clips above, scored 63 goals in the Scottish Premiership during his time with the Hoops, including ten this season, and they opted not to replace him.

Celtic were reportedly interested in a deal to sign Brondby marksman Mathias Kvistgaarden, but talks broke down over the Danish side’s valuation of the forward, and the Bhoys did not find a suitable alternative before the deadline.

The Scottish giants, instead, ended deadline day with one new addition, on top of bringing in Jota earlier in the window, as they swooped for Jeffrey Schlupp on loan from Crystal Palace.

Jeffrey Schlupp's current market value

The Ghana international, whose contract with the Premier League side is due to expire at the end of the season, is currently valued at €6m (£5m) by Transfermarkt.

His value has remained high despite his struggles on the pitch in the top-flight for Palace in the 2024/25 campaign. He did not start a single match in the first half of the season, with all 12 of his appearances coming as a substitute, and the versatile ace did not contribute with any goals or assists for his team.

Schlupp has a high value, though, because he arrives at Parkhead as a player who has been a regular in the Premier League over the last ten years or so, with 280 outings in the division for Palace and Leicester City combined.

The 32-year-old star can, therefore, provide valuable experience from having played in a major league for so many years, whilst he is also able to offer value through the versatility he possesses on the pitch.

Left midfield

119

Central midfield

83

Left-back

75

Left wing

17

Centre-forward

11

As you can see in the table above, the former Premier League title-winner has the ability to play in a multitude of positions for Rodgers, although one theory is that he will mainly provide cover for Greg Taylor at left-back.

Alex Valle’s loan from Barcelona was cut short in January and that left a vacant spot in that position behind Taylor, which Schlupp could, now, fill.

Market Movers

Whilst the Palace veteran can provide quality and experience on a loan deal, which is not set to cost Celtic millions, the Hoops do have one back-up defender who they may regret signing.

The defender Celtic must regret signing

Rodgers returned to Parkhead in the summer of 2023 to replace Ange Postecoglou and the Northern Irish boss decided that he needed to bolster his options at the heart of the defence.

Carl Starfelt completed a move to Celta Vigo in Spain and the Hoops reacted by bringing in three new centre-backs, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, and Nat Phillips, whilst Liam Scales returned from his loan at Aberdeen.

The Scottish giants reportedly splashed out a significant fee of £4.3m to sign Nawrocki from Polish giants Legia Warsaw, possibly in the hope that he would be able to form a solid partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Appearances

10

Starts

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.0

Error led to goal/shot

0

Duel success rate

57%

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old central defender only went on to start seven matches in the Premiership during the 2023/24 campaign, as Carter-Vickers and Scales eventually became the first-choice pairing.

Nawrocki was hardly terrible, winning the majority of his duels without making any major errors, in his ten league appearances for the Hoops, but his displays were not impressive enough to convince Rodgers to hand him more minutes on the pitch.

Maik Nawrocki's current market value

At the time of writing (05/02/2025), Transfermarkt currently values the Polish flop at €2.5m (£2m) and this means that his value has plummeted by around £2.3m in just 18 months at Parkhead.

He is worth way less than Schlupp, who has not cost the Hoops a transfer fee, and it appears as though Celtic will have to take a loss on him when they eventually decide to part ways, unless there is a miraculous turnaround.

Nawrocki is reportedly on a weekly wage of £12k – £624k-per-season – and this means that he will have earned roughly £1.2m in wages by the end of this term – his second year at the club.

This illustrates how much the Scottish giants have wasted on the 23-year-old dud, as they have spent around £5.5m on transfer fees and wages, for him to only start seven league matches in 18 months.

The former Legia Warsaw star has not made a single appearance in the Champions League or the Premiership, as Auston Trusty, Carter-Vickers, and Liam Scales have all been preferred ahead of him.

This means that, to date, Nawrocki has cost Celtic around £780k per league start and his declining market value suggests that they are unlikely to recoup much of the money they have spent on him back.

He is a depreciating asset whilst sat on the bench, or in the stands, and never playing, which does make it odd that they did not allow him to move on – permanently or on loan – in the January transfer window, provided there was any interest in his services.

Forget Idah: Celtic can find the next Kyogo by handing Celtic star new role

Celtic came up short in their bid to replace Kyogo Furuhashi…

ByRobbie Walls Feb 5, 2025

Overall, as it stands, Celtic should regret splashing the cash on him for Rodgers back in the summer of 2023 because he has not proven to be a value for money signing, as they will hope Schlupp will be in the second half of this season.

Despite the fact it has been a disappointing season for Wolverhampton Wanderers so far, there have been two standout players in attack for the Old Gold.

Of course, one of those players has been Matheus Cunha, who has ten goals and four assists in 22 Premier League games. That includes three occasions where he has scored and assisted at least once in the same game.

Norwegian centre-forward Jorgen Stand Larsen has also been a standout player at Molineux this term. He has found the back of the net seven times, and has two assists, in 23 Premier League games.

Despite the fact they have just 16 points this season, they have still scored 32 times, a fairly decent number. Whilst that is largely down to Cunha and Strand Larsen, they might be trying to add to that attacking firepower this January.

Wolves eye up new attacker

The player in question here is experienced Portuguese attacker Rafa Silva. The 31-year-old is currently plying his trade in Turkye for Besiktas, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just taken charge as manager.

However, according to a report on Portuguese television channel V+ TVI, Wolves are believed to have sent an enquiry out about the player. At this stage, it is unclear whether the Old Gold would be looking for a loan deal or a permanent move.

Should the former Benfica star move to Molineux on a permanent deal, or even on loan with a buy clause, it should not be too expensive. He is valued at just £10m, according to Transfermarkt. With that being said, the wages could be an issue, given he earns £160k-per-week in Turkey, as per Capology.

Why Rafa Silva would be a good signing

If there is one thing that Silva could bring to Vitor Pereira’s side, it is experience. The 31-year-old has not only got experience winning trophies with Benfica but has played over 500 professional games.

This term, he has been impressive for Besiktas. In 31 appearances across all competitions, he has ten goals and seven assists. He starred in Solskjaer’s first game, scoring once and grabbing two assists in a 4-1 thrashing of Athletic Club in the Europa League.

Upon his arrival at the club, journalist Kaan Bayazit described Silva as a “magician”, and he showcased why in that game.

The Portugal international will also bring great versatility to the Wolves squad. Over the course of 326 games for Benfica, in which he bagged 94 goals and registered 79 assists, the attacker played as a winger, a number ten and even as a centre-forward.

Position

Games

Goals

Assists

Second striker

62

20

9

Attacking midfield

56

20

21

Right-wing

53

14

21

Left midfield

43

20

4

Right midfield

42

7

11

Left-winger

40

8

6

Centre-forward

8

4

3

This could certainly be useful for the Old Gold, who will be looking to add to the attacking quality already in the side, including the likes of Cunha and Strand Larsen. Silva would certainly enhance that if he made the move to the West Midlands this month, and Pereira would have the luxury of playing him alongside a range of players.

If Wolves do bring Silva to the club, he could end up being their best attacker since Pedro Neto. Another versatile Portuguese forward, Neto left Wolves in the summer to join Chelsea for a hefty £54m fee.

During his time at Molineux, Neto was scintillating. He scored 14 goals and grabbed 24 assists, and whilst injuries affected him, stood out in his last season, with two goals and nine assists in 20 Premier League games.

Liverpool legend turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher described Neto as a “special talent” just after his move to Stamford Bridge, and that was certainly something he showed as a Wolves player.

Well, Silva will certainly have a lot to live up to if he wants to hit the heights of Neto at Wolves, but all the pieces of the puzzle are there. Not only is he incredibly experienced, but he possesses a goal threat and lots of versatility.

Transfer Focus

He could well be their biggest attacking threat since his fellow Portugal star, and help the Old Gold avoid regulation.

Wolves hold talks to sign "dominant" midfielder who's been compared to Rice

The Midlands club have seemingly made a late move.

ByTom Cunningham Jan 29, 2025

Florentino Perez is paying a heavy price for failing to buy a replacement for the incredibly influential German, who retired last summer

Real Madrid fans turned up at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday anticipating another miracle. What they got was a mess, the inevitable result of Florentino Perez's negligence.

Madrid spent the majority of the evening bombarding the Arsenal area with crosses and long balls but, as a bitterly frustrated Thibaut Courtois pointed out, it was an exercise in futility, given Joselu wasn't there to get on the end of them.

But then, it wasn't as if Madrid had the guile in midfield to pick holes in the Gunners' backline. Indeed, Joselu wasn't the only member of last year's double-winners who was sorely missed across both legs of the humiliating 5-1 aggregate loss to Arsenal. Toni Kroos was also conspicuous by his absence – because Perez failed to replace him, too, and that's proven an even bigger oversight on the part of the president.

With the great Luka Modric now well past his best, Madrid no longer have a single player capable of dictating the play or opening up defences in the same way that the Croat and Kroos did for a decade. Truth be told, the whole make-up of the midfield looks wrong, with Aurelien Tchouameni clearly not good enough to serve as the kind of No.6 that a team like Madrid requires, and Eduardo Camavinga still a work in progress. Even Jude Bellingham's free role looks like a luxury Real can ill-afford as those stationed in front of him do so little from a defensive perspective.

It's clear, then, that Madrid need to belatedly find another Kroos – or the next best thing – if they are to reclaim their place at the summit of European football. Below, GOAL runs through six possible solutions to Real's defensive midfield problem…

Getty Images SportRyan Gravenberch

It's always a worrying sign for any club when the agent of one of their star players starts mentioning Madrid in the media. Consequently, Liverpool will now be on red alert after Ryan Gravenberch's representative, Jose Rodriguez, talked up his clients of a move to the Bernabeu in an interview with .

"He's good enough for Real Madrid," Rodriguez said. "We would love for him to play for them, but Liverpool would ask for a lot of money. I know they've had their eye on him, but now it's impossible."

Of course, impossible is nothing as far as Madrid are concerned. They nearly always get what they want, and having already nicked Trent Alexander-Arnold off Liverpool for nothing, it does seem believable that they've been looking at Gravenberch too.

The Dutchman is still very much learning on the job, but he's been a revelation since being deployed as a No.6 by Arne Slot this season, and has the kind of passing range and press-resistant dribbling skills that would make him ideal for the base of the Madrid midfield.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAlexis Mac Allister

Liverpool may have tired a tad in the second half of the season, which is the main reason why they were upset by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, but when they met Madrid at Anfield in November, they played with the kind of intensity and aggression Real have lacked nearly all season long.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were completely overwhelmed on the night in question, thanks in no small part to a Player-of-the-Match-winning display from Alexis Mac Allister, who not only opened the scoring on Merseyside but also incessantly pressed Bellingham, Modric and Camavinga to the point of distraction in a 2-0 win that was far more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

So, while Federico Valverde, who played at right-back on Merseyside, is capable of bringing a similar level of energy to Madrid games, it's not come as a shock to see reports in recent days claiming that Mac Allister is one of their summer transfer targets.

However, as with Gravenberch, it would take a colossal sum of money for Liverpool to even consider parting company with the Argentine World Cup winner, who is an incredibly versatile and influential player – and still only 26.

AFPAngelo Stiller

Madrid aren't the only ones looking for a Kroos replacement. Germany need one too following the veteran playmaker's retirement after Euro 2024, and coach Julian Nagelsmann has publicly admitted that he is hoping Angelo Stiller can fill the void.

The 24-year-old, who has also been compared to another tremendously combative but creative defensive midfielder in Joshua Kimmich, certainly shares some of Kroos' qualities. He reads the game well, has good vision and is a fantastically precise passer of the ball.

On the downside, Stiller signed a new deal with Stuttgart in January and his reported €40 million (£34m/$45m) buyout clause doesn't come into effect until 2026. However, Madrid might try to tempt the Bundesliga outfit with a bigger bid this summer, particularly as Liverpool are also said to be very interested.

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Getty Images SportAdam Wharton

Adam Wharton is 21 years old and has still only made 33 appearances in the Premier League – and yet it feels like only a matter of time before he's snapped up by a top team.

The presumption remains that it'll be one of England's elite that eventually agrees to pay Crystal Palace a hefty sum of money for the classy former Blackburn Rovers midfielder, whose confidence in possession and intelligent use of the ball are rare in one so young. Manchester City may even have moved for him during the winter window had Wharton not been injured at the time.

However, according to the, Madrid's chief scout Juni Calafat is also a big admirer of Wharton, who made England's Euro 2024 squad less than six months after leaving Ewood Park. So, while a switch to the Bernabeu still seems a little far-fetched due to his lack of experience at the very highest level, Wharton is definitely one to keep an eye on – particularly if he maintains his current rapid rate of progression.

In a deal that would commence the Graham Potter era with a bang, West Ham United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign “one of the best strikers in the world” at a cut price in the January transfer window.

West Ham transfer news

Bringing Julen Lopetegui’s tenure to an end following defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Manchester City on top of poor results throughout the current campaign, West Ham have since turned towards Potter, who has taken his first job in football since being shown the door at Chelsea in 2023.

Back in the technical area and back in the Premier League, the pressure will be on the former Chelsea boss to avoid a repeat of his Stamford Bridge failure and instead enjoy similar heights to the ones that he took Brighton & Hove Albion to in the past.

Addressing the fans for the first time, Potter told West Ham’s official website: “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the Club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.

“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the Club forward in the medium to long term.”

West Ham make shock contact in race to sign first Potter target this month

He could rediscover his best form under Potter…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 9, 2025

With the January transfer window open, meanwhile, the new manager may not have to wait long until he gets his first signing through the door. According to GiveMeSport, West Ham have now been offered the chance to sign Jonathan David at cut price from Lille, who have one final chance to profit from their forward this month before he leaves on a free deal in the summer.

David would be an instant upgrade

Dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world” by podcast host and Canadian football expert Tony Marinaro, there’s no denying that David would be an instant upgrade on West Ham’s current options, having scored as many as 17 goals in 27 appearances throughout the current campaign – more than Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Fullkrug combined.

Still just 24 years old, the Canada international would be an incredible coup for the Hammers. He could solve their goalscoring problems for years to come and finally ease the responsibility on Bowen, who has carried their frontline more than once over the years.

At a cut price too, West Ham should jump at the chance to secure the forward’s signature ahead of the chasing pack waiting to snap it up for free at the end of the campaign.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Sport foi até o Brinco de Ouro no último fim de semana e, mesmo com toda polêmica que envolveu um possível pênalti a favor do Leão, trouxe para casa um ponto importante.

– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

O comandante Gilmar Dal Pozzo acredita que o time alcançou o seu objetivo e mantém a sua meta para ficar na briga pelo G-4.

‘Fizemos um jogo bastante equilibrado, não conquistamos essa vitória, mas a gente valoriza um ponto, sim. Hoje um ponto nos deixa numa condição favorável, no G-4, que é o objetivo do clube. É muito difícil jogar aqui contra o Guarani, então eu estou valorizando muito esse ponto, embora a gente queira a vitória’, declarou.

Com o placar em Campinas, o Sport está na 4ª colocação da Série B, com 4 pontos conquistados.

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Just as Wolverhampton Wanderers fans must have thought their relegation-threatened side had turned a corner, a 4-2 defeat at the hands of AFC Bournemouth would grimly greet them.

Gary O’Neil would have been doubly upset at the outcome of the Cherries encounter having previously managed the away side before taking up the Old Gold vacancy.

A number of the Wolves first-team failed to spark into life in this action-packed defeat, as relegation concerns overwhelm the West Midlands outfit once more.

Wolves' underperformers vs Bournemouth

It wasn’t a display that was completely devoid of any positivity, however, with Jorgen Strand Larsen impressing again for the Old Gold in attack with two strikes in the high-octane contest.

But, it was the defenders that really struggled to keep tabs on the confident Bournemouth attackers, away from any plus points involving the Nordic forward.

Toti Gomes would, in particular, stand out as a notable underperformer at the back, with the out-of-sorts centre-back gifting Bournemouth their first penalty of the day after he rashly tangled with Justin Kluivert after only three minutes.

Moreover, Jose Sa between the sticks would be at fault for the other two penalties in the frantic clash, as the Portuguese goalkeeper had to fish the ball out of his net a depressing four times.

Away from the defenders, midfielder Joao Gomes would likely have trudged off the Molineux turf frustrated with his performance, which saw the usually forceful number eight only win five of his 13 duels, on top of surrendering possession a costly 13 times.

With their form in mind this term, O’Neil and Co would surely love to turn back time and have this player at their disposal in the centre of the pitch…

Wolves loan flop is now a European sensation

The player in question here is Vitinha, who joined Wolves in the midst of the Portuguese invasion that engulfed the Premier League side in the summer of 2020, with Fabio Silva and Nelson Semedo also joining the Molineux ranks around this time.

Whilst both players remain on the books of the top-flight strugglers to this day, Vitinha walked away from Wolves after an unmemorable loan stint, having only played 22 times for the club with just one goal and one assist registered next to his name.

His only strike for the West Midlands side would amazingly come away at non-league Chorley in the FA Cup, with the slick 5 foot 8 ace now front and centre of Luis Enrique’s new-look Paris St. Germain, away from playing against obscure teams from England.

The PSG number 17 is 109 games down at the Parc Des Princes after a bumper £35m move from Porto took place in 2022, with the 25-time Portugal international stunning last time out in Ligue 1 action versus Nantes, whilst Wolves stumbled to defeat in the Premier League.

Vitinha’s numbers vs Nantes
Stat	Vitinha
Minutes played	90
Goals scored	0
Assists	0
Shots	3
Big chances missed	1
Touches	183
Accurate passes	158/169 (93%)
Key passes	6
Stats by Sofascore.

Staggeringly, Vitinha would end up amassing a ridiculous 183 touches of the ball up against Antoine Kombouaré’s visitors, with 158 accurate passes also managed as a constant livewire attempting to make things happen for his French employers.

Wolves would love to have their former flop back if he could dazzle in the top flight in a similar manner, as opposed to the uninspiring displays he conjured up during his brief spell at Molineux, with the Old Gold even deciding against buying him outright at the end of the loan.

That might well be a decision that they now regret, with Vitinha aiming to keep these stylish displays for PSG coming all the whole O’Neil’s men anxiously battle against relegation back in England.

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