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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted their opening bid for a highly rated centre-back, as star defender Cristian Romero continues to attract Atlético Madrid’s admiring glances ahead of the summer window.

Atlético Madrid express interest in signing Cristian Romero

Atlético’s links to the Argentinian are nothing new, as Romero’s potential move to La Liga has been reported on regularly over the last few months.

Tottenham "dreaming" of signing £67m ex-PSG star after Europa League triumph

Spurs’ summer transfer window has suddenly become much more interesting.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

What is more concerning, though, is more recent claims that Romero is just as keen to leave north London as Atlético are on signing the £165,000-per-week centre-back, who starred throughout Spurs’ Europa League campaign and was crowned Player of the Tournament.

Player

Rating

Guglielmo Vicario

7.7

Yves Bissouma

7.6

Cristian Romero

7.4

Bruno Fernandes

7.4

Destiny Udogie

7.2

His defensive heroics helped Ange Postecoglou make good on his famous promise of always winning trophies in his second season, which will now go down in Lilywhites folklore, and Romero was pictured enjoying the celebrations as Spurs ended their 17-year wait for silverware.

However, hoisting the Europa League trophy aloft may well be one of his final acts in a Tottenham jersey.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo is one of the latest outlets to report that Romero has given the green light to join Atlético and is personally keen on a switch to Diego Simeone’s side, with the main obstacle being his £50 million price tag.

La Liga reports as far back as March also claimed that Romero is determined to leave Tottenham this summer, and according to media sources closer to home, the 27-year-old is still expected to go regardless of their Europa League triumph (Pete O’Rourke).

Therefore, it is little surprise that Spurs are believed to be targeting a centre-back when the window reopens.

Tottenham remain in contention for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, as per GiveMeSport, and were thought to be seriously in the mix for Dean Huijsen before he decided to join Real Madrid from Bournemouth at the end of the season (Fabrizio Romano).

Guehi’s price tag is expected to be around £50 million, given he’s entering the final 12 months of his contract, but chairman Daniel Levy now also has his eyes on a cheaper alternative successor to Romero.

Tottenham submit opening bid for Genoa defender Koni de Winter

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, that man is “gifted” Genoa defender Koni de Winter.

The Belgium international has been targeted by the likes of West Ham, but it is actually Spurs who are making the most serious move for him out of any Premier League side.

La Repubblica states that Tottenham have submitted a £20 million bid for De Winter ahead of 1st June, and while the outlet doesn’t reveal Genoa’s stance on this offer, it is a signal of Spurs’ serious interest.

The likes of Inter and Juve have also been linked with the 22-year-old, perhaps highlighting his quality, with de Winter revealing that those close to him compare the defender to Man City legend Vincent Kompany.

“All my life I have been told I play like Vincent Kompany,” said De Winter to the i Paper.

“I have this ability to make runs with the ball like he did, I have the same technical side. It’s a really big name, so I one day hope to be able to live up to him. You look at the other big names (former Belgian Premier League defenders) and it is only right that they ended up playing in the best competitions.”

This summer is massive for Ruben Amorim if he is to succeed as Manchester United manager, needing to oversee a huge transformation of the first-team squad.

Their lowly Premier League standing this campaign is evidence that changes are desperately needed if they are to return to their former glory in the years ahead.

Whilst they still have a chance to claim a trophy in the form of the Europa League, it has undoubtedly been a disappointing year for the Red Devils – recording their lowest points tally in the Premier League era.

However, with a couple of weeks left of the season, the hierarchy have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements for Amorim, aiding him in his quest of being a success at Old Trafford.

One area of the pitch in particular has been the subject of keen interest in the last couple of days, with the side in desperate need of reinforcements to take the Red Devils to the next level.

An update on United’s pursuit of new attackers this summer

Matheus Cunha has been the main target for United within the final third, with his move edging closer to completion, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is the latest player to emerge on the club’s shortlist, potentially linking up with the Brazilian at Old Trafford should they both move.

The Frenchman isn’t the only striker currently on their shortlist, with Liam Delap also a key target after his £30m release clause became active after Ipswich Town’s relegation was confirmed.

However, Lyon star man Rayan Cherki has been touted with a summer switch to Manchester, with CaughtOffside reporting Amorim’s men are leading the race for his signature.

The 21-year-old has notched 12 goals and 19 assists across all competitions this season, and could be available for as little as £25m during the upcoming window.

Why Cherki could be even better than Amad

Winger Amad Diallo has become a key player during the Amorim tenure at United, notching 11 combined goals and assists since his arrival, but injuries have massively halted his progress.

The Ivorian has been missing for the last three months with an ankle issue, with the side massively missing his presence within the final third – leading to their lowly league standing.

However, he could be about to provide a huge boost to the side between now and the end of the season, as it’s been confirmed that he’s set to return to training after his lay-off.

Such a situation will undoubtedly improve their chances of claiming the Europa League, but his place in the side could be under huge threat going into the 2025/26 campaign.

A move for Cherki would massively boost the forward line in Amorim’s side, offering an upgrade to Amad and pushing the side closer to success in the near future.

When comparing his stats with those of the Ivorian from the ongoing season, he’s massively outperforming him in numerous key attacking areas – with the £25m fee touted appearing to be a bargain.

The Lyon star, who’s been labelled “one of the best in the world” by one analyst, has registered more combined goals and assists to date, whilst also having a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete way more progressive passes and completed more of the dribbles he’s attempted – having the skillset to provide other players within attacking areas.

Cherki’s talents don’t end there, completing more crosses and managing to achieve more carries into the final third – with the youngster excelling with the ball at his feet.

The United side has been devoid of flair and entertainment within the attacking department in recent years, with a deal for Cherki providing the excitement the supporters have often failed to see in their recent demise.

He could feature alongside Amad at the top end of the pitch under Amorim for many years to come, having the tools to push the club one step closer to the glory days they once endured.

Big Garnacho upgrade: Man Utd set to open talks to sign "extraordinary" star

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing a star who would be a big upgrade on Alejandro Garnacho.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 29, 2025

With Fabio Paratici set to return to the club, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly in constant contact with an impressive defender who’s also found himself on the radar of Real Madrid.

Fabio Paratici set for Tottenham return

Having left the North London club in 2023 following a two-and-a-half-year ban by FIFA which he is still serving, Paratici has reportedly agreed to return to Tottenham. The Lilywhites have plenty of work to do this summer and the return of an experienced sporting director may well go a long way towards things finally changing for the better under Ange Postecoglou.

How much room Spurs have to manoeuvre in the transfer window is the big question. Should they miss out on winning the Europa League and, subsequently, a place in next season’s Champions League, those in North London are unlikely to have a large budget to spend. After taking one leg in the final with a 3-1 first leg victory over Bodo/Glimt, however, Europa League victory is still very much a possibility.

Many will be quick to assume that a place in Bilbao is now firmly in Spurs’ grasp and Postecoglou reiterated that a repeat of his side’s performance on Thursday night next week will see them advance.

He told reporters: “Obviously they scored the goal late, which doesn’t reflect our dominance in the game, but if we repeat that performance next week it’ll be enough for us to get through.

Tottenham may sign £300k-p/w Premier League star if they win Europa League

A lot is on the line.

ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025

“Yeah, I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today, I thought our performance was everything it needed to be, really well organised and disciplined defensively and really calm going forward and created good opportunities for ourselves.”

Europa League victory would no doubt help to turn the narrative of their season on its head, perhaps saving Postecoglou’s job in the process and even luring top transfer targets to the club.

Tottenham in constant contact with Jonathan Tah

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are in constant contact with Jonathan Tah over a summer switch following the expiry of his current Bayer Leverkusen deal at the end of the season. The Lilywhites are far from alone, however, with Manchester United and now even Real Madrid also looking to convince the defender into a move.

As Paratici plots his first transfer back, those in North London could end the summer having landed a true bargain. The Leverkusen defender played a pivotal part in last season’s invincible domestic double and has impressed once again throughout the current campaign.

A player who’s earned plenty of praise over the years, former Germany boss Joachim Low told reporters after handing Tah his international debut at the beginning of his career: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible.”

Soon-to-be-father sticks to the game that got him noticed to drive England into the ascendancy

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Jul-2024Even before Ben Duckett got his second shot at a Test career on the 2022 tour of Pakistan, the four caps he achieved way back in 2016 were something he was looking forward to telling his grandchildren about.As he awaits the imminent birth of his first child with fiancée, Paige, setting the lineage in motion for those future earwiggers … well, kids, granddad has a few stories to tell. Not just of three centuries – and of a couple of indiscretions that preceded his chance to score them – but of his role in fortifying England’s opening partnership for the first time since 2012. It’s a role he’s performed with the kind of engaging play that, as was the case here on Saturday – and indeed on Thursday – channels an opponent’s energy and fires it straight back at them between the eyes.The 71 runs that West Indies added for their final wicket gave the tourists a not-inconsequential lead of 41, while also prolonging the morning session to further frustrate England. The move to simply not try and get Joshua Da Silva out confused many, who were then irked as No.11 Shamar Joseph started to show his aptitude with the bat. And when Duckett drove into Zak Crawley’s stumps at the non-striker’s end – via the fingertips of Jayden Seales – there was the missing ingredient from the first seven sessions of this second Test. Jeopardy.And then, just like that, it was gone. Ground to a paste and smeared across the Trent Bridge outfield, mainly through cover and backward point. Much like day one, when Crawley fell three balls into England’s opening effort, Duckett – again with the assistance of Ollie Pope – flipped matters with a breezy seventy-odd: another knock that did not trouble the centuries column, but carried as much weight given the circumstances.Then, the left-hander unfurled four consecutive fours against Seales – West Indies’ best last week at Lord’s – propelling England to 50 inside just 4.2 overs to change immediately the mood inside Trent Bridge. This time, the deficit was polished off in 41 deliveries. Duckett assumed a more subdued role with Pope having the honour to tuck into Seales for consecutive boundaries. But he had overtaken Pope by the time he unloaded a hat-trick of sweeps on Kevin Sinclair, which in turn allowed England to bring up their 100 in 18.4 overs. Duckett had 53 of them.Much as had been the case for England, a ball change helped momentarily turn the tide for West Indies. The first 14 deliveries with the replacement accounted for Pope and Duckett, both undone by the sideways movement that the subbed-out Dukes was lacking.Three successive sweeps took Ben Duckett to fifty, and ripped the initiative from West Indies•Getty ImagesOn a true pitch at a boundary-friendly ground, the lead of 99 for the loss of three at that juncture had the game in the balance. But the fact that England had that platform allowed Harry Brook (71 off 78) and Joe Root (37 off 67) to close out the day playing their natural games in the toughest conditions, as the moisture held in the air with the floodlights in use for the final 90 minutes of play.”There are occasions when you’d like to put your feet up for a little bit longer,” Chris Woakes joked when asked what it was like watching a top order perpetually on the charge, unperturbed by the odd casualty.”We’ve committed to that way of playing and, we want to entertain, we want to put the pressure back on the opposition. It’s exciting to watch, but at the same time there are sometimes when you’re like ‘lads can we just bat some overs’ so you can put your feet up! But you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth, the way the guys are playing so far in this game has been incredibly exciting, great to watch and hopefully puts bums on seats.”I also know, while there might also be occasionally chances with the new ball against our opening pair because of the way they play, I also know as a bowler – and an opening bowler – that when you’re put under pressure, it does make it harder to deliver your skill.”It’s worth noting Duckett’s introduction to the team came at a time when the vibes under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes were immaculate. The 2022 summer had hooked everyone in, but the selectors decided Duckett’s flourish was a missing piece. Alex Lees was a surprise casualty as Duckett got the nod for Pakistan. In the 18 Tests since, against six teams spread across three continents, the shorter left-hander is averaging 47 and has struck his 1,504 runs at 88.62.Related

• Ben Duckett 76, Harry Brook 71* hand England solid advantage over West Indies

• Dominica dominant as two little pals Athanaze and Hodge make England sweat

• West Indies cling to England's coat-tails on day of heart and flaw

• Hodge, Athanaze leave England thunderstruck as Wood shoots to thrill

• Pope shows Test hundreds are like pizza: Even when it's bad, it's still pretty good

None of that is put on. It’s not Bazball, counter-attacking or imposing oneself. Simply a bloke who loves going after the ball so much that there were guffaws in the stands when he left his first ball of the innings, from Alzarri Joseph, to nudge his overall leave percentage closer to 2. And, every bit as loud as the cheers that greeted the 11 boundaries that took England away from peril, was the ovation when Duckett walked off with a second tone-shifting innings in three days.That it came at his home ground felt particularly pertinent, given the looming addition to his family speaks of a more grown-up Duckett, without having to shed the impish instincts. A handy sweet spot between maturity and immaturity. Like knowing swearing isn’t big or clever, but still finding it funny.Northamptonshire encouraged the renegade streak, then Nottinghamshire refined it. That included re-shaping his grip after a botched recovery from an operation on the ring finger of his left hand, which resulted in a contorted grip in the 2018 summer, limiting his scoring shots.The issue arose because Duckett returned to action four weeks earlier than he should have done, impatiently trying to state his case for a return to the England team. The recovery took longer than expected, but as he is finding out, good things come to those who wait, even to a man in a hurry. Particularly now he has a few more stories to share with the family. Perhaps even one of a series-clinching Test win in the city they now call home.

Chance to win Commonwealth Games medal has kept veteran England bowler going

Valkerie Baynes29-Jul-2022Had it not been for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Katherine Brunt could be retired from international cricket by now.The event, which began with a hopeful, theatrical and eccentric opening ceremony on Thursday night, features women’s cricket for the first time in history at Edgbaston from Friday morning. Brunt is thrilled that at the age of 37 she is able to be part of the sort of multi-sports event that so inspired her growing up.Related

• Brunt continues to marvel as her end-game looms

• Heather Knight to miss CWG 2022 opener due to hip trouble

• Can England shake things up enough to challenge Australia?

• Alice Capsey in England's Commonwealth Games squad

• Brunt: 'If I break after the Commonwealth Games, so be it'

But it wasn’t always on the cards and, had late July and early August 2022 not been highlighted on the women’s cricket calendar for the past few years, she might not have been playing anymore.”To be honest, it’s been on my mind properly for the last four years and there’s been events that have come and gone that I thought I’d never be a part of,” Brunt told ESPNcricinfo. “This is just literally another one of those things – a Commonwealth Games – the chance to earn an actual medal, it’s impossible to imagine right now but it’s right there and I’m just so happy I’ve managed to keep myself here and fit and strong and with the ability to still play well. I’m really proud of the fact that I’m here and I get the chance to experience this and tell my kids about it one day.”And she is playing well. Having retired from Tests ahead of England’s draw with South Africa in Taunton at the end of June, Brunt roared back in their opening ODI in Northampton with a hostile opening spell that read 5-1-5-2 and reduced South Africa to 34 for 2 inside the first nine overs. She then took a career-best 4 for 15 in the first T20I as England swept both white-ball series to head to Birmingham match-hardened and on a roll. But for Brunt, it wasn’t nearly as easy as it looked.”I’ve had the most challenging year of my whole career this year,” she had said between the ODI and T20I legs of South Africa’s multi-format tour. “I’ve had some seriously big lows this year, I’ve considered retirement constantly. I’ve been battling with doubt and self-belief for weeks on end.”I went through the Ashes and the World Cup series with a lot of mental strife, physical strife at times, and I’ve never questioned my action as much as I have in the last few months. The last 12 weeks of training have been seriously difficult, and me wondering whether I’ve still got it has been at the forefront of my mind every single day.”So the last two weeks have been brilliant. Something just clicked and I felt that I’m back to myself and that game [in Northampton] really did help me with remembering who I am and what I can do and I still belong in this team and there’s still a job for me to do yet.”At the ODI World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year, Brunt could be seen practising various technical drills during the warm-ups and she took just one wicket in England’s first five games before making a breakthrough with 3 for 17 against Pakistan.”I was praying it was something specific and there was something I could do but sometimes it’s just a feel, and that’s actually the most annoying part of the game is because I don’t have a magic wand and neither do other people,” Brunt said.”The problem lies in the fact that I’ve always been able to just make it happen and I’ve always been really consistent. I’ve got a repeatable action and there’s not much care that needs to be taken with it and so when it did go wrong, I had no answer and no clue as to what to do.

“I’m really proud of the fact that I’m here and I get the chance to experience this and tell my kids about it one day.”Katherine Brunt

“But I just slowed everything down and then started from the beginning again – as if I was a youngster. It was quite interesting and it took a lot of will… There were some technical issues in there but once they got fixed, it was just a matter of bowling overs and hoping that that feel came back. That was the most important bit for me, the feel, because that’s the bit that gives me the confidence and the belief to be able to beat the best batters in the world.”One thing that didn’t wane was Brunt’s on-field passion. Love it or not – probably depending on whether you’re on her team, the opposition or a neutral onlooker – it’s a huge part of what makes her the bowler she is.”I never have to find that,” Brunt said. “That’s just in me as soon as I cross the boundary rope. It’s something that just comes out naturally. And sometimes I don’t like what I see but honestly, it’s just because I’m so emotional and I wear my heart on my sleeve.”That fire needs to be controlled, sometimes it’s uncontrollable, but it’s not something I have to conjure up.”Far from those snarling, bellowing, in-your-face wicket-taking celebrations, a glimpse of Brunt as she marched into Alexander Stadium for the opening ceremony showed the face of a young kid again, eyes wide and mouth open in awe as she looked up into the stands of what will also be the athletics venue and took it all in. Beside her, Sophia Dunkley, the just-turned-24-year-old who represents England’s next generation beamed and jumped for joy. Their thrill at being part of a multi-sport showcase event was palpable, and a big part of what has kept Brunt going.”Growing up watching Olympic athletes and things like that on TV, thinking that that was a million miles away and now we’re part of it is just unbelievable, isn’t it?” Brunt had said earlier.A short time before England entered the stadium, Bismah Maroof, the Pakistan captain, walked in as her nation’s joint flag-bearer alongside wrestler Muhammad Inam, and Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s captain, shared the honours for her country with weightlifter Indika Dissanayake.The BBC interviewed Suzie Bates, who had already enjoyed being part of such a spectacle representing New Zealand in basketball during the 2008 Olympics. The opportunities that cricket began to offer, she said, helped her decide to switch sports and here it was, her second sport, so to speak, at the pinnacle. Then, continuing the women’s cricket thread being woven through the sport’s maiden appearance at the Games, umpire Sue Redfern read the Commonwealth Oath on behalf of all the officials taking part.Katherine Brunt walks in the opening ceremony with Team England•Getty ImagesSo what would it mean to Brunt to win a gold medal on home soil? It could go straight to the top of her career highlights.”All of our country’s athletes in every aspect of sport all coming together and being probably part of the biggest stage of them all, it would be the icing on the cake of what I consider a really fruitful career I’ve had the privilege to experience and I’ve kept going as long as I have to get to this stage,” she said.”So I think it would mean everything to myself especially but obviously as a team it’s something we’re really, really, really striving for. It would be brilliant.”So if that box is ticked in the final at Edgbaston on August 7, does Brunt retire on that note?”Honestly, I could tell you, end of the Commonwealth Games and then just ride off into the sunset, right? I would be lying that that was a sure thing,” she said. “That’s the goal I set myself two years ago and I will be extremely proud of myself to get to the end of that unscathed.”But if that if that’s a success, and I feel great, then why not go to the February T20 World Cup? Especially with it being just a T20 focus, it would take a lot of stress off my body and be also a great end so I can’t say Commonwealth because it might just not be, but it is very soon.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo quebrou o tabu que durava 10 anos e venceu o Corinthians na Neo Química Arena. Em Majestoso válido pela 4ª rodada do Paulistão, o Tricolor superou o Timão por 2 a 1 em Itaquera, com gols de Calleri e Luiz Gustavo. Arthur Sousa descontou para os mandantes nos acréscimos do segundo tempo. O zagueiro Caetano foi expulso no primeiro tempo, após revisão do VAR.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCorinthians responde Lucas Veríssimo e revela e-mails ao empresário do jogadorCorinthians30/01/2024Futebol NacionalConfira os confrontos da primeira fase da Copa do Brasil; Corinthians e Vasco viajam para o SulFutebol Nacional30/01/2024Fora de CampoPato, ex-São Paulo, revela para quem está torcendo neste Big Brother BrasilFora de Campo29/01/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Com o resultado, o São Paulo chega aos dez pontos e permanece na liderança do Grupo D do Paulistão. Já o Corinthians estaciona nos três pontos e pode acabar na lanterna do Grupo C em caso de vitória da Inter de Limeira.

⚽COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

O Corinthians até teve um bom início de jogo e conseguiu igualar a fisicalidade do São Paulo. Porém, o Tricolor foi efetivo e conseguiu explorar os espaços na zaga do Timão com Calleri, que deixou a equipe de Carpini em vantagem. O time de Mano Menezes desmoronou após a expulsão de Caetano, que recebeu cartão vermelho após o árbitro consultar o VAR.

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Carpini poupou Lucas e outros titulares, e a estratégia funcionou, já que Luiz Gustavo ampliou a vantagem após cobrança de escanteio. O Timão tentou resposta rápida com Yuri Alberto, mas o camisa 9 corintiano parou na trave. Mesmo com um a menos, o Corinthians diminuiu a vantagem com Arthur Sousa, nos acréscimos, mas não conseguiu o gol de empate.

O que vem por aí?

O próximo compromisso do Corinthians é no domingo (4), contra o Novorizontino, às 11h, na Neo Química Arena, pela quinta rodada do Paulistão. Já o São Paulo viaja para Belo Horizonte para a disputa da Supercopa do Brasil, contra o Palmeiras, às 16h.

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➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

CORINTHIANS 1 X 2 SÃO PAULO
PAULISTÃO – 4ª RODADA

Local: Neo Química Arena, em São Paulo
Data e hora: Terça-feira, 30 de janeiro de 2024, às 19h30 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Vinicius Gonçalves Dias Araújo
Assistentes: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis e Luiz Alberto Andrini Nogueira
Árbitro de vídeo: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral
Público e renda: 43.381 / R$ 2.488.558,50

Cartões amarelos: Romero (COR); Alisson, Calleri, Wellington (SPO)
Cartões vermelhos: Caetano (COR)

GOLS: – Calleri (0-1, aos 20′ do 1ºT) Luiz Gustavo (0-2, aos 6′ do 2ºT) e Arthur Sousa (1-2, aos 45′ do 2ºT)

The Boston Red Sox have been without star third baseman Alex Bregman for over a month, as the 31-year-old has been sidelined with a right quad strain since late May.

Bregman took to social media Wednesday and dropped a major hint about his potential return from the IL, suggesting it won't be long before he's back in Boston with the team. On Instagram, Bregman shared a video of himself hitting a home run at Fenway Park. He used an emoji that says "SOON" underneath an arrow as the caption for the post.

While Bregman didn't get into any specifics about his impending return, Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged that there's "a really good chance" the veteran infielder returns prior to the All-Star break, via Ian Browne of MLB.com.

Boston's last series before the midseason break is set to begin Thursday—a four-game series against the rival Tampa Bay Rays at home. It seems likely Bregman will be back in the lineup at some point during that series.

Prior to sustaining the injury, Bregman had been off to a roaring start to his career with the Red Sox. In his first 51 games for the organization, he slashed .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs.

The sum is significantly less than the R815 million from last year

Firdose Moonda20-Sep-2025Cricket South Africa has reported a profit for a second successive financial year after three previous years of losses at their AGM on Saturday. They announced a profit of R238 million (approx US$13.7 million), significantly less than the R815 million from last year (approx US$ 45.6 million) but substantial after a season in which their only profitable incoming tour was four T20Is against India.Last summer, CSA also hosted Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which are typically loss-making series, but generated revenue from a combination of broadcast income, ICC disbursements and the addition of seven new sponsors.They also boasted increased interest in South African cricket with viewership of matches at one billion in 107 countries, earning CSA R707 million (approx US$40 million). The rest of their income was derived from R378 million in ICC distributions (approx US$21 million) and R125 million in sponsorships (approx US$7.2 million). Income from the SA20 was not itemised in this year’s report.Their biggest expense was the running of professional cricket including players salaries, hosting matches and upkeep of facilities which amounted to R1.3 billion (approx US$75 million). CSA maintains reserves of R1.42 billion (approx US$82 million) which their integrated report said will “provide a stable foundation for the future.”The report also included details of the country’s stadiums, which are being upgraded for the 2027 World Cup. Among the more notable developments so far is that The Wanderers and SuperSport Park have new high-definition LED floodlights while George’s Park has refurbished seating and a new scoreboard.Drop-in pitches are also still in development around the country. “The upcoming 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup represents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the best of South African cricket. Preparations are already well underway,” Pearl Maphoshe, chairperson of the board of directors, said in a statement. “This tournament must be more than a sporting event. We are focused on ensuring it leaves a meaningful legacy through infrastructure improvements, youth development, environmental accountability and shared national pride.”With 2027 preparations underway, South Africa do not host any Tests this summer but will begin their World Test Championship (WTC) title defence on a full tour to Pakistan next month. That will be followed by an all-format tour of India before the SA20 kicks off on Boxing Day. The only men’s international cricket this summer will be five T20Is against West Indies in January-February 2026. In the absence of any Test fixtures, the mace will be taken on a country-wide trophy tour next week.

Ireland left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire has been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.Maguire, 18, was suspended from bowling earlier this year after being reported during the first ODI against India in Rajkot on January 10. Her action was deemed suspect under the ICC’s Illegal Bowling Regulations.Maguire has since remodelled her action and subsequently underwent an independent re-assessment at an ICC-accredited testing centre where she was cleared.”An independent assessment of Maguire’s remodelled bowling action at an ICC accredited testing centre concluded that the amount of elbow extension was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations,” an ICC release said.Maguire made her ODI and T20I debut against West Indies in July 2023. She has so far played 11 ODIs, where she has picked 16 wickets, with best bowling figures of 5 for 19 against England last year. Maguire has also played nine T20Is, where she has nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.20.The 18-year-old is not part of the Ireland squad that faces Pakistan in a three-match T20I series, which begins in Dublin on Wednesday.

Batting helmets across baseball will have a slightly different look during the 2024 MLB playoffs—and beyond.

Game 1 of the wild-card series between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park marked the debut of the sponsored Strauss logo on the side of each helmet.

Back in September, MLB announced a partnership with Strauss, a German workwear company, to display their logo in the playoffs for the next four postseasons, and on all minor-league batting helmets all season long beginning in 2025.

While sponsorship patches are nothing new—the majority of MLB teams have a patch on the sleeves of their jersey—the location on the batting helmet is new, and it's a bit jarring.

Fans weighed in on MLB's latest attempt to grab dollars:

MLB has a full slate of playoff action scheduled for Tuesday, with Game 1 of all four wild-card series—Astros-Tigers, Royals-Orioles, Mets-Brewers and Braves-Padres—set to begin.