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Arsenal are in “ongoing” transfer discussions with a forward via agents, as sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta continue their planning for the summer transfer window.

Arsenal braced for historic Champions League night at Real Madrid

While their recruitment plans for next season are beginning to be put into focus, Arteta and co’s current first priority is preparing for what could be an historic Champions League night at the Bernabeu.

Arsenal: £200k-p/w star holds exit talks with Arteta very likely to lose him

His departure would give the Gunners boss a major headache.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 15, 2025

Arsenal hold a 3-0 aggregate lead over Real Madrid heading into their quarter-final second leg, courtesy of two sensational free-kicks from Declan Rice and Mikel Merino’s superb finish at the Emirates this time last week.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Los Blancos must now mount a major comeback to stand any hope of keeping their Champions League hopes alive, but it is only half-time and Carlo Ancelotti’s side still pose a serious threat.

It is by some distance Arsenal’s most crucial game of the entire season so far, and it has the power to make or break their campaign after they conceded defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Nothing less than perfect will do against Europe’s most feared side on away turf, with potential victory against Real also coming as a real statement to the rest of the continent that Arsenal are now among it’s truly elite teams.

A good run in the Champions League will also pay dividends when it comes to attracting their top transfer targets when the window reopens, with Berta planning to sign multiple attackers for Arsenal after being appointed as their new sporting director.

This reportedly includes a left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with many interesting names becoming linked to joining Arteta as we approach what will be a “big” summer for Arsenal, by Arteta’s own admission.

In the last few days, it has emerged that Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is becoming a more serious target for Arsenal.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg first reported the Frenchman is being viewed as an alternative to Leroy Sané, and Arsenal are among the favourites to strike a deal for Coman.

Now, the same journalist has shared another update on the 28-year-old’s future involving Arsenal.

Arsenal in "ongoing" talks with Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman

Plettenberg reports that Coman’s representatives are in “ongoing” talks over a potential move to Arsenal, while Bayern are set to replace the winger, eight years after he completed a permanent move to Bayern from Juventus for around £18 million.

“There is contact between Arsenal and Kingsley Coman’s management, with both sides in ongoing communication,” wrote Plettenberg.

“Arsenal are aware that Saudi Arabia is a very appealing option for Coman, but they have expressed their interest. Coman and Bayern are expected to part ways in the summer. The situation is positive, with open dialogue between all parties. Coman will be replaced.”

The former PSG forward has featured regularly under Vincent Kompany this campaign, heading into double digits for goals and assists combined, but he’s been in and out of the starting eleven amid fierce competition for places.

The Premier League appears a viable move as he hits the prime of his career, with Tottenham also believed to be expressing an interest in Coman this summer.

Former captain hails team-mate as one of the great bowlers, but says the future starts now

Matt Roller16-May-2024There is spiced lamb, beef rump and sparkling rosé on the ‘endless lunch’ menu as Andrew Strauss sits down in the hospitality tent at the exclusive Hurlingham Club in west London. But, he admits, after a damaging blow to his self-esteem, he is feeling “pretty sour”.Strauss is playing padel – a squash/tennis hybrid – alongside a professional player but has just been beaten 6-4 in the semi-finals of the pro-celebrity challenge at the inaugural Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic. As, indeed, in the other half of the draw, has another man whose competitive spirit is unlikely to be doused by retirement: James Anderson.Related

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For Strauss, this was an opportunity to catch up with Anderson after he confirmed that he will retire from international cricket after England’s first Test of the summer: “It was just to congratulate him and have a chat about what his plans are moving forward. Rightly, he’s going to take stock and he wants to get through this game well, and finish on a real high.”I really hope he gets the send-off he deserves at Lord’s. People have been talking about this moment for years – in a way, we got lured into thinking it was never going to come. It’s been an extraordinary career with extraordinary resilience and will to keep going. Playing sport at the highest level is not an easy thing, and bowling’s even harder. He’s one of great bowlers of all time.”Anderson was an integral part of the England team that Strauss led to No. 1 in the ICC’s rankings: he was the leading wicket-taker in the 2010-11 Ashes, their most recent win in Australia, and took 21 in four Tests against India the following summer. “He was just utterly dependable,” Strauss recalls.”He was one of those bowlers that you knew what you were going to get, every time. He had a great competitive fire and instinct, and extraordinary skill. Any captain would love to have him in their team. The other thing is that he kept fit: he never – or at least, very rarely – got injured. It’s quite depressing to think that he made his England debut before I did. I’ve been retired for 12 years now!”But when he returned to the job on an interim basis in early 2022, in the wake of a 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia, his call to leave Anderson and Broad at home while England toured the Caribbean blindsided both players. “It’s always that balance between focusing on what’s good about a team and thinking about improving areas to be competitive down the line,” Strauss reflects.”Coming in in an interim capacity, you talk to people about what was wrong with that set-up. No-one ever had any doubts that Broad and Anderson would come back and play at home; playing away from home, they’ve definitely shown that there was a lot more life in them. You’ve got to give them both huge credit for that.”But the principle is the same as it is now: England had been particularly poor away from home, so the focus was always on trying to find bowlers that could perform in overseas conditions. The skills required away from home are slightly different to the skills you need at home – fast bowlers, reverse-swing bowlers, good spinners, all the stuff that our game doesn’t naturally produce – so we need to get game-time into people who’ve got potential.”England used six seamers in that series, of whom only Mark Wood is a certain starter – fitness permitting – when they next play overseas, in Pakistan this winter. Chris Woakes led the attack but has not played away from home since, while Craig Overton, Matt Fisher and Saqib Mahmood have battled injuries and Ollie Robinson’s career is at a crossroads.

It’s quite depressing to think that he made his England debut before I did. I’ve been retired for 12 years now!Strauss on Anderson’s longevity

There is a wide cast of potential successors which also includes Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Matt Potts, Olly Stone and Sam Cook. But Key has admitted that he and the rest of England’s selection panel will have to take “punts” as to who has the attributes required to perform at international level: he does not believe that the County Championship in its current guise closely replicates Test cricket.The Professional Cricketers’ Association is pushing for a revamped schedule following a player survey which revealed frustration and concern about the volume of cricket. For Strauss, whose recommendations were rejected by the counties after he led an extensive “high-performance review” into English cricket, it is a story which feels all too familiar.”It’s just pointless to have that conversation,” he says. “There was an opportunity last year and the game chose not to take it. No-one is going to touch it with a bargepole anytime soon. You reap what you sow. It is the counties’ choice as to what they do, but I do hope that they listen to their players going forward. Sometimes, I feel like there’s more focus on the members than the players.”Strauss, as Executive Chair of TTB Sport, is part of the team behind the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic•Alfred Dunhill Padel ClassicStrauss’ principal recommendations were to cut the number of Championship fixtures each county plays from 14 to 10; to play 50-over cricket at the start of the English summer; and to play four-day friendlies alongside the Hundred in August. Key suggested recently that it was a mistake to frame the review solely around ‘high performance’ but Strauss disagrees.”We’d just lost an Ashes series, and all the conversation was: how do we make sure that we have a structure that produces genuine high performance? That was the remit. When you’re looking through that lens, you have to say, how closely does domestic cricket match the needs that are required in international cricket?”The answer is, it doesn’t – especially when you’re playing most of your games in April, May and September. None of those issues have been resolved.” Strauss is happy that other recommendations – such as the Kookaburra ball trial – have been implemented, but predicts: “This conversation is just going to go on and on. Everything is a trade-off.”A common criticism of Strauss’ review was that it barely mentioned the Hundred and its mid-summer window. “But that wasn’t part of our remit,” he insists. “Personally, I feel like we have to invest in the Hundred, and make it the second-biggest short-form tournament in the world. That’s the way the game is going. I actually think the Hundred is a solution to a lot of the problems in the game.”But these are no longer Strauss’ problems. These days, he can devote as much time to padel as cricket, through his role as executive chair of TTB Sport Capital, a marketing, investment and advisory group which is running the Hurlingham Club event to raise funds for the charity Laureus Sport for Good.His only active involvement in cricket is as a member of Rajasthan Royals’ advisory board and he is enjoying the opportunity to be “on the outside” of English cricket after a lifetime involved in the game. “There’s a perspective you gain from being outside the bubble,” he says.”When you’re in it, everything feels so important. You feel like the whole world has a strong opinion on everything you do. But then you realise that, actually, it’s only a small little bubble and that the world goes on. I’m still passionately supporting England whenever they play – but having that perspective is good.”

Titans team director chats about the “opportunity to do something special”, the men who matter, and the team culture

Nagraj Gollapudi28-May-20224:04

Vikram Solanki: ‘We have an opportunity to do something special’

The very first ball for Titans in the IPL was an event. Remember that?
Absolutely! That seems a long time ago, although, bizarrely, it doesn’t seem so long ago if you see the point I’m trying to make. It’s always a good starting point, isn’t it? The first ball of the tournament, the first ball for a new franchise, and Mohammed Shami definitely delivered. An absolutely peach of a ball. I thought KL Rahul did well to nick it, to be honest with you. It was such a good ball. All credit Shami. He is confident in his skill and his art is exactly that, to try and challenge the batsman’s defence, regardless of the format.Match 1, Ball 1: KL Rahul, caught Matthew Wade, bowled Mohammed Shami•Ron Gaunt/BCCITitans beat Lucknow Super Giants in that game. The key batter was Rahul Tewatia, who straightaway showed that he had worked on his main weakness: playing outside off. You remember that reverse-sweep six against Ravi Bishnoi at the death where the target came down from 42 off 24 to 29 off 17? He said that he was confident of taking the match deep along with Miller because the situation was right. He had confidence in Abhinav Manohar and the way he took on Bishnoi turned the match.
You have mentioned two players that have been standout performers for us, amongst others, in David Miller and Rahul Tewatia. Rahul and David bat in a position that requires a certain type of character. Rahul has that in abundance, as does Miller. And the fact that he [Tewatia] was able to execute his plan, was calm under pressure, and had Miller as a good foil, as well as the point he made about being confident, and instilling that confidence that he has in a newcomer, Abhinav, speaks volumes for the sort of atmosphere, the environment that that we were fortunate enough to create.Related

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One marked change in Tewatia’s batting has been his off-side play, which has improved compared to 2021. Was that a factor you jotted down when you went for him in the auction?
If you were to ask me to give you an example of a summary of our season, it would be this: we have worked extremely hard, whether that be in practice, whether that be in games, we have been prepared to challenge ourselves. We’ve tried to play smart cricket, but we understand we will make mistakes. Not that we’ve been blasé about – okay, it doesn’t matter if we don’t get it right. It’s not having the fear of making a mistake or not having the fear of failing. Those two components have stood us in good stead, certainly when we’ve got into tight situations in games.As far as Rahul is concerned, I only admire the way he goes about his practice, he is a fierce competitor even at practice. He practices his competitiveness. If you were able to see some of the net sessions that Rahul takes part in, he is very much competing against his team-mates, against the bowlers that he’s up against, it’s always a contest. And your point about him developing his off-side play, it’s all Rahul.

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Titans’ last-over finishes is another great story. While chasing, you have won seven out of eight with every game going to the last over. You have won three matches where the target was more than 50 runs in the final four overs. Five of the seven wins while chasing came when you needed ten-plus runs in the final over. It takes belief, no doubt, but I felt Titans’ batters showed a presence of mind and calmness to not get swayed by pressure. Do you agree?
I would add to that, that it requires somebody to allow themselves to be in that position and allow themselves to be challenged in that position, whether that be in practice or not. They put themselves under pressure in practice so they can actually deal with pressure when it comes down to matches and the pressure situations. And it epitomises exactly how Rahul goes about his work – he puts himself under pressure in practice so he can then deliver when he is under pressure.Vikram Solanki and Hardik Pandya thrash out their plans•BCCIWas the last win, against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1, a good example?
You could go through the season and you could go through a number of games where exactly that sort of scenario is played out and somebody else has put their hand up. You think of some of the innings Rashid Khan has played, David Miller has played, to get us across the line, it then becomes a habit in the sense that you are, as a team, confident under pressure. And at times we’ve delivered with the ball under pressure: you think of the second Super Giants game in Pune, we delivered with the ball under pressure. Shubman Gill in that game stood out. He was brave in his decision-making, he had the conviction of assessing the pitch and playing accordingly. He was able to put a competitive score on the board.You think of all the noise around strike rates in T20 cricket and things, but Shubman was able to actually make an assessment of the pitch and what was required at that particular moment in that particular game, against that attack, with wickets falling at the other end. We posted a competitive total and then actually defended a par total. You’d agree that it was by no means a comfortable total [144] for us to defend, but then when they bowled in the fashion they did, that again is an example of allowing yourself to go to those pressure situations and trusting yourself and trusting your method, trusting your technique, trusting your game to the extent that you will get through.No one has symbolised that attitude, perhaps, more than Miller. He has immense experience, has hit some of the fastest innings, but was not getting in the playing XI regularly the last few seasons. Again, why did you decide to buy him?
Like I pointed out, that’s a difficult role to play as a batsman. I’m not in any way understating the role that perhaps the top order plays – you get guys that can take games away from you in the top order, and if they get in, they can single-handedly win games. [But] in my mind, the difficult job, the more pressurised job, is exactly that: those middle- and lower-middle order batters that have to actually assess what is required, be smart, take the game deep. Or make a decision at times not to take the game deep and actually press the button earlier because, for whatever reason, they think a bowler is somebody they’ve got to take down. They’ve got to be brave enough to take that decision and then have that conviction in their method, trust their technique, trust the fact that they’ve done the work that is needed, put themselves in that sort of pressure situation. I’d go as far as sort of saying it’s the tougher side of batting in short-format cricket.So, our approach in thinking of David Miller was we were confident of his qualities as a cricketer. He’s displayed that time and time again. Our assessment was that he perhaps didn’t have the opportunities or the consistent run that he needs, or anybody needs, if you think about it in those slots. They need a consistent run, and you need to instil that sort of confidence in them and a bit of backing in them. So that was our thinking when we went for Miller in the auction.Miller and Tewatia – the two middle-order rocks for Titans•BCCIIs Miller the Andre Russell for Titans in that you feel safe when he’s there at the end?
Miller is the David Miller of the Titans. At times somebody else puts their hand up. Of course, David has taken us over the line a couple of times and I’m sure he takes a lot of confidence, and the team takes a lot of confidence, when he’s at the crease. Equally Hardik Pandya is an exceptional batsman, an exceptional finisher. He’s a winner himself. He’s led the team and has an imprint of his style of play on the team. We are confident as a group when any of those batsmen are at the crease.

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These will be surprising stats for readers: Hardik’s strike rate of 152.54 in the last four overs this season is the for him in any IPL season, and he has hit only two sixes in 59 balls in this phase. Clearly it is a planned strategy to allow him to play a middle-order role?
You just think of the form Hardik showed at the start – he kept our innings together. The nature of batting in T20 cricket is at times you are going to go through these sorts of peaks and troughs.As far as Hardik is concerned, as far as strike rate is concerned, what we’ve tried to instil in our planning group is a confidence that you make an assessment of what is required in any given situation, play the situation according to what you think is appropriate, what role it is that the team needs you to play. You make that decision. We will of course have conversations about it. And Hardik has done that.Take the knock he played in Qualifier 1 – more often, it is Hardik that plays the lion’s share in that sort of a partnership. But he absolutely assessed Davey was going well; he just needed to make sure that the partnership was sort of taken deep. And he played exactly the knock that he needed to play. Whether you view that as maturity from just his experience, whether you view that as a maturity and a responsibility because he is now captain, I’m not sure. He certainly made some good decisions. He has led the team well. He’s led the team with good example. He has been very giving of his time, he’s all in it.What stands out is his composure. Barring the odd display of emotion, Hardik has maintained this I-am-in-control face. As a leader from match one to 15, where has he – as a captain – improved?
That would be, perhaps, a question for Hardik. For me, it was very apparent that right from the outset, from when we spoke to him about the captaincy, he was enthused by it. He is somebody that’s clearly a passionate cricketer, he plays cricket in a sort of entertaining way that is contagious in its style itself because he’s confident, he is prepared to take the fight on. But, to some extent, that point about encouraging people to not be afraid of making mistakes, not doubt themselves if something hasn’t gone right, he’s certainly been giving of his time in that sense, he’s been giving of his experience in that sense. And he’s got a lot of experience to share.To me, he has a poise that is typical of winners. He’s somebody that has clearly been through a great deal in his life, both as a cricketer and as a person. And he uses those experiences to sort of lead the way he does. I’m so pleased because he was very adamant that he wanted to do a really good job. He’s a thoroughly good human being. And that that has sort of stood him in good stead as well.Two of the leaders of the Titans unit – Hardik Pandya and Ashish Nehra•BCCIIf anything, the emotions are being shown outside the field by the partners of the players and coaches. Do you have to tell to please calm down?
Why would you? Emotion is good. It shows that you care. And this group does care. It cares about each and every individual. It cares about the team, as do the families. This bubble has been a really interesting situation for us. It has its challenges, of course, but it has benefits. There’s no doubt about it.Has it allowed the group to gel well too?
There’s no sort of comparison to make, but it certainly feels that way. I wonder when there is no bubble, whether there’ll be a small element of everybody thinking there was actually a lot of good about that sort of situation.

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You will be aware that teams that have topped the league stage have won the IPL four times in the previous 14 years. What gives you the confidence that Titans are ready for something historic?
I wasn’t aware of that – thank you!We take confidence in the way we have played our cricket. We take confidence in the way we practice. We take confidence that this group is, again, I come back to those points that we made: we worked hard at practice today, we will work hard at practice tomorrow, we will play smart cricket. When it comes down to the game, we have been in pressure situations before and got over the line in very tight situation from nowhere at times.This is our first final. We have an opportunity to do something special. But, to some extent, what we have achieved so far is something special. I would congratulate everybody that’s been involved in this franchise for what we have achieved so far. There is more for us to achieve – not only this year, but as a group going forward as well. This is just the next step for us.

The opener has been shunted up and down the order so many times that he feels like each of his innings is like a fight to prove he is worthy

Mohammad Isam in Dhaka09-Mar-2020Soumya Sarkar did the job at No 3 against Zimbabwe. He was asked to do a different one in Lahore couple of months ago. Bat at No. 6 and 7. He had two opportunities but he couldn’t adapt to an unfamiliar role where he had to slog from the word go. Thrusting Sarkar into a new role looked like a desperate attempt by the team management to keep him in the squad, but it certainly wasn’t the first time the decision-makers in the Bangladesh team insisted on having him around.Even for this first T20I against Zimbabwe, conventional wisdom was to keep Mohammad Naim in the line-up, having backed him against India and Pakistan in the previous two ODI series. But it was Sarkar who came out at No. 3 after Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das had plundered 92 for the first wicket.While it was clear that Sarkar wasn’t given the specific role of clearing the boundaries, he still went after the Zimbabwe bowling. He perhaps realised that with the likes of Naim and Najmul Hossain Shanto hot on his heels and Das having captured the opening slot in the ODIs and T20Is for now, he had to get a move on.After seeing out three overs with Das, Sarkar cracked three fours and two sixes in 15 balls, moving to 36, and then in the final over, he struck three sixes off Chris Mpofu, two off the final two balls to take Bangladesh to an even 200 in 20 overs. It has been a very long time since the Mirpur crowd has seen Sarkar dominate in this manner.”I saw in the ODIs that they didn’t bowl well in the death overs so I was planning to take it deep,” he said after making 62 off only 32 balls. “I targeted one of those big overs. I have always played in the top order, and when the team has required, I have played at number six and seven. I have always tried to prove myself, but it hasn’t happened lower down the order. So I wanted to cement my place when I got out to bat today.”While this was a role he was quite familiar with, coming to bat at one down or opening the batting, Sarkar said that he had to take guidance from others when he was asked to bat in the middle or lower order.”When I bat in the top order, it is a familiar role as I have been a top-order batsman since my childhood,” he said. “I know I have to use the Powerplay fielding restrictions or build an innings. But when I am batting down the order, I ask the seniors how to bat in that position. I sometimes ask the computer analyst what I should do – go for the shots or support the set batsman. Sometimes it depends on the match situation.”Sarkar cannot explicitly say what his preferred batting position should be, as it is against the team culture in Bangladesh. He has been tried almost everywhere. He started off as a top-order batsman in ODIs and naturally he carried out the same role to the T20s. In Test cricket, too he has mostly opened the batting but the last time he went out to bat against the red ball, against Afghanistan in Chattogram in September, Shakib Al Hasan sent him at No. 8.Sarkar is a management favourite because of his class as a batsman; class that he showed in plenty during his first six months as an international cricketer. That is why it is so hard to give up on him. In the Asia Cup two years ago, even though Bangladesh needed middle-order reinforcements, it was him they ended up calling up (alongside Imrul Kayes).Sarkar didn’t do well at the 2019 World Cup, and followed it up with a 60-odd against Sri Lanka last July. He kept playing T20Is without crossing the 39-run mark. He lost his place in the Test side and possibly has in the ODI side too, unless the team management decides to bring him back in Karachi next month.Sarkar knows he has to keep improving, even though stability has been something he has not had too much of lately. That is perhaps why he feels every time he goes out to bat he has to go out of his way to nail down his spot.”I still try to maintain a high strike-rate,” he said, “But now I try to fit myself to the situation, or choose a certain bowler. If I had made better runs in India [in November], I would have held my place in Pakistan. So I am trying to hold on to my place every time I go out to bat.”

Byron Buxton put on a show for his bobblehead day at Target Field.

The Minnesota Twins outfielder hit for the cycle during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, doing so for the first time in his career. Buxton began the cycle by hitting a triple during the bottom of the second inning. He added a ground rule double in the third, and hit a single in the fifth.

With three quarters of the cycle done, Buxton completed the cycle by hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Overall, Buxton has compiled five hits, three runs and two RBIs—all on his bobblehead day. It will be hard to find a more special bobblehead day than this one.

Buxton's complete cycle marked the first hit for the cycle by a Twins player since 2019, and the first hit for the cycle by any team at Target Field. The Twins currently hold a 12-3 lead over the Pirates, and are on track to earn their 47th victory of the season.

With five spinners in their squad, and three likely to start in their XI, slower surfaces could make them extremely hard to beat

Nagraj Gollapudi17-Feb-2025India will play all their Champions Trophy 2025 games in Dubai. The pitches there were used in the ILT20, which ended on February 9, only 11 days before India’s tournament opener. Does that mean that the surfaces will be predominantly slow? And will they wear out as the tournament progresses?Matthew Sandery, the head curator at the Dubai International Stadium, is non-committal about the latter question. But he is confident his team has had enough time since the completion of the ILT20 to prepare the “best surfaces” at the venue where India will play their group matches and – in case they qualify – the knockouts too.”The wickets that we will use for the Champions Trophy will have a minimum of two weeks of recovery from their last game of ILT20,” Sandery tells ESPNcricinfo. “We will aim to provide the best surfaces possible for Dubai and its conditions. I am confident that the pitches will be suitable for ODI requirements as expected around the world.”Related

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India are unlikely to mind if the pitches are on the slower side. They go in as favourites despite the absence of their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who misses out due to back issues.Their squad includes five spinners, three of whom are fingerspinning allrouners – Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar – who provide batting depth, and two are X-factor wristspinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. This enviable collection of bowlers can create pressure on most surfaces, but they’re likely to be even harder to negotiate on slow pitches. Going by their recent line-ups, it’s likely that India will begin the tournament with a three-seamer-three-spinner combination.During the ILT20, a total of 15 matches, including the final, were played in Dubai, of which 14 were day-night games. Conditions at the ground offered a fair balance, giving batters and both kinds of bowlers something to work with. Fast bowlers averaged 25.06 at the venue while going at an economy rate of 8.08, while spinners managed corresponding figures of 29.16 and 7.46.1:12

Champions Trophy: Harshit or Arshdeep in India’s XI? Manjrekar takes his pick

Dubai, though, has not hosted ODIs involving the Full Member teams since June 2019. This makes it hard to read into recent 50-overs numbers from the venue. For what it’s worth, if you consider ODIs from 2018, Australia and Pakistan have scored the only two 300-plus totals in 35 matches at the venue, and both came in the same match. Since 2018, the average first-innings total in Dubai in ODIs has been 213, while the average winning total has been 252. Teams batting first have won 14 and lost 19 times, with one tie and one no result also in the mix.Sandery does not foresee dew being a major factor, especially with the difference between day- and night-time temperatures in Dubai expected to be low. “Dew is a funny thing; we have played a very competitive ILT20 Season 3 in the UAE over the last month, and I think it didn’t come into play much at all.”The Champions Trophy is the first marquee men’s event being played in Dubai since the 2021 T20 World Cup, where India failed to make the semi-finals. They have been training since Sunday at the ICC Academy and will kick off their campaign on February 20, against Bangladesh.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox completed a player-for-player swap in a trade on Friday, as the Brewers acquired outfielder Andrew Vaughn in exchange for pitcher Aaron Civale, who was sent to Chicago. And MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa believes there is a clear victor and loser among the two players involved in the trade.

"…Number one, if I'm Andrew Vaughn, it's Christmas morning for me," DeRosa said.

DeRosa went on to explain that the underachieving Vaughn, a former third overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, could possibly reach his full potential getting a fresh start in a different organization. Further helping that potential cause is the fact that Vaughn will now be contributing to a winning team in Milwaukee (37–33) after spending the first five seasons with the White Sox, who set a modern-day record with 121 losses this past season.

"If I'm Andrew Vaughn, I can't get to the airport quick enough," DeRosa quipped.

Civale, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Two days ago, the Brewers made it known that they would like for Civale, who has only ever started in his big league career, to shift to the bullpen. Civale did not want to do so, and, through his agent Jack Toffey, expressed his desire to remain a starter, even if it meant no longer pitching for the Brewers. DeRosa believes the Brewers sent a "message" to the free agent-to-be, trading him to the White Sox, where it may be difficult to acquit himself well for his upcoming free agency.

Former big leaguer Chris Young astutely noted that Civale will certainly get more opportunities to start on Chicago. However, if judging the trade simply by the team success both players are bound to experience in the remainder of the 2025 season, it's difficult to call anyone but Vaughn the winner.

In an interview with Time Magazine published at the end of July, Erling Haaland claimed that Norway would only have a 0.5 percent chance of winning the 2026 World Cup. He added: “If we would qualify for the World Cup, it would be like another big nation winning it. It would be the biggest party ever. Scenes in Oslo would be incredible.” That party is now underway, with Norway having booked their spot at the tournament for the first time in 28 years after thumping 4-1 wins over Estonia and Italy during the November international break.

The latter of those victories, recorded at a packed-out San Siro, was particularly impressive. Italy deservedly led at the interval through a clever finish from Francesco Pio Esposito, but Norway exploded into life in the second half and put on an attacking football clinic to blow the hosts away, with Antonio Nusa and Jorgen Strand Larsen scoring either side of a Haaland brace.

It must be noted that Italy are no longer the force of old, but steady improvements have been made under new boss Gennaro Gattuso, and five members of their Euro 2020-winning squad –  Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nicolo Barella, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni and Manuel Locatelli – started the match. Norway are just the second team to ever beat Italy in a competitive away game by three goals or more; Sweden were the last to achieve that feat way back in 1983.

They also exacted revenge over Italy for their round of 16 defeat at the 1998 World Cup finals. Statement results don't come much bigger, and you'd have to imagine that Haaland is now revising his expectations for next summer. 

The Manchester City talisman is leading a golden generation of talent that should fear no one. All the evidence from a stunning qualification campaign points to one undeniable truth: Norway are serious dark horses for World Cup glory, and not just because they can call upon the best striker in the business…

GettyProper firepower

Haaland's presence is main factor, though. Norway won all eight of their games in Group I, scoring 37 goals, and Haaland bagged 16 of them, equalling Robert Lewandowski's single qualifying campaign record. 

The irrepressible City terminator has already notched 32 goals for club and country this season, and his double against Italy brought him up to 55 in just 48 appearances at international level, 22 more than any other Norway player in history. Haaland has found the net in nine consecutive games for his country, and in eight of his last nine Premier League outings for City. Norwegian journalist Lars Sivertsen has described Haaland as the nation's "greatest ever player", ahead of icons like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, John Arne Riise, and Tore Andre Flo, which feels totally justified.

Amazingly, at the age of 25, Haaland has not even entered his prime yet. No other team at the World Cup will boast such a deadly weapon: a quick, strong, deceptively skilful and frighteningly ruthless centre-forward who doesn't seem to feel pressure.

But he will also benefit from a stellar supporting cast. Atletico Madrid's Alexander Sorloth has been the perfect foil for Haaland as an imposing target man, while Wolves marksman Strand Larsen has emerged as the ideal impact substitute. As Italy learned to their peril, Norway have enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with any opponent.

AdvertisementGettyOdegaard to return

Remarkably, Norway managed to seal their spot at the World Cup without their prized playmaker and captain, Martin Odegaard. The Arsenal midfielder missed his country's final three qualifiers due to a knee injury, and Solbakken has confirmed he is still "some distance" from a return to the pitch.

But time is on Odegaard's side, and Norway need him to unlock their full potential. In tighter games, he is the one who can sprinkle the magic required to open things up, as he did when setting up three goals in Norway's 4-2 win away in Israel in March.

Odegaard produced seven assists overall, more than any other player in European qualifying. Like Haaland, he is a world-class operator built for the big stage. The 26-year-old also demonstrated his commitment and leadership credentials by flying out for the latest Norway camp and joining their celebrations instead of focusing only on his recovery at Arsenal's training base.

"He was there before, during and after," Solbakken said after the win over Estonia. "There is always an aura with Martin." Norway team-mate Morten Thorsby added: "Martin is our captain. He gives us security and strength. We wanted him with us. Even though he couldn’t help us on the pitch, he did off the pitch."

Odegaard leads by example in everything he does, and Norway fans will be praying that the former Real Madrid starlet returns to full fitness sooner rather than later, because he is the key to a deep World Cup run.

AFPExciting young guns

With an average age of just 25.8 years, Norway possess one of the most exciting young squads in the international game. Haaland and Odegaard have shared most of the plaudits in recent years, but there is every chance that, by the time the World Cup kicks off, the spotlight will extend to fit in two hugely talented up-and-comers: Nusa and Oscar Bobb.

Nusa, who has been catching the eye in the Bundesliga with his exploits on the left wing for RB Leipzig, has racked up 16 goal involvements in 20 games for Norway since making his debut in 2023. There is still scope for the 20-year-old to improve his decision-making, but he gives defenders nightmares with his explosive turn of pace and magnetic footwork, which have also been vital to Norway's emergence as an effective counter-attacking side.

On the opposite flank, Bobb has not been quite as influential, but he offers something different. The Manchester City ace does most of his best work when coming inside, and is happier to link the play rather than be a difference-maker in the final third. Bobb, 22, is more of a technician than Nusa; he excels at finding space between the lines and picking out incisive passes. 

Nusa gives Norway an X-factor, while Bobb has the footballing IQ to help draw opponents out of position. They could be an effective combination in North America, while former Nordsjælland wonderkid Andreas Schjelderup is another option in advanced areas. Struggles for form at Benfica and off-field controversy have halted the 21-year-old's career trajectory over the last year or so, but he is also a gifted footballer who is versatile enough to play on the wing or as an attacking midfielder.

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AFPBrilliant Berge

Norway's rise can at least partly be attributed to the vast Premier League experience in their dressing room. In addition to Haaland, Odegaard, Strand Larsen and Bobb, Solbakken has also utilised the qualities of Sander Berge (Fulham), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) and David Moller Wolfe (Wolves) to take Norway to the next level.

With so many players used to the intensity of life in Europe's most demanding league, Solbakken has genuine strength in depth. There is an unsung hero in that group who deserves far more credit, though.

Berge was arguably Norway's most consistent performer in qualifying. The Fulham midfielder's ability to break up play initially gave them the platform for success, and after Odegaard was ruled out, he also became the man to drive the team forward.

"He's taken a huge step forward at Fulham. We've been able to tailor-make a role for him in the national team that really suits his strengths," Solbakken has told .

Berge has been Norway's chief disruptor and architect in the No.8 slot, setting the tone for the rest of the squad with his work rate. When Berge is playing alongside Odegaard and Bodo/Glimt's Patrick Berg, Norway have the perfect blend of physicality and creativity in the middle of the park. The former Sheffield United and Burnley star is now living up to the promise he showed in his younger years, and Norway are a much braver side in attack and defence because of him.

Are Newcastle United finally clicking into gear this season?

It appears that way, with Eddie Howe’s Magpies now three wins from their last three matches in all competitions, which included an excellent 2-0 EFL Cup win being picked up over Thomas Frank’s challenging Tottenham Hotspur last time out at St James’ Park.

Still, the Toon only have three wins next to their name in the Premier League from their opening nine clashes, meaning more positive results need to be picked up in the bread and butter of the top-flight soon, with away trips to West Ham United and Brentford now on their agenda.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will, no doubt, be fearful of Newcastle’s attack as they loiter near the bottom of the tough division, with Nick Woltemade helping himself to yet another goal against Spurs to add to his ever-increasing Magpies back catalogue.

Woltemade's unbelievable Newcastle start

Woltemade would ensure his new side would progress through to the quarter finals of the EFL Cup when he headed this effort past a hapless Antonín Kinský.

He hasn’t just reserved his goals this season for when he comes up against stand-in goalkeepers, however, with Woltemade also boasting a mightily impressive four strikes back in league action, which has even led to opposition managers such as the Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler hailing him as “special” in what he can uniquely offer the Tyneside giants.

Indeed, it isn’t just a lethal edge that the 6-foot-6 marksman can provide, whether that be when he’s racing through on goal, or being positioned intelligently to head home a cross, with Woltemade also often in the correct spaces to progress his side’s efforts going forward with a killer pass.

He was at the heart of Harvey Barnes’ goal against Benfica in the Champions League, for example, as his ingenious flick then led to the number 11 firing home, after Anthony Gordon had played it into his path.

To put it simply, acquiring the ex-Stuttgart striker for £69m – although looking rather steep at the time – has now gone down as a “first class” signing, as his manager has recently stated.

Howe and Co. could well look to this coming January in trying to win more attacking firepower in a similar vein to their new star-man, as one move is reportedly eyed up…

Newcastle's search for another striker

After all, although William Osula has looked dangerous off the bench for Newcastle in recent matches, there is a lack of depth in the striker spot at St James’ Park – with Yoane Wissa still sidelined.

This might spark the Magpies into attempting to seal Alexander Sorloth’s signature in January, as Ross Wilson plots what his first bit of business at his new club will be as the fresh sporting director.

Newcastle could do far worse than landing Sorloth if rumours are to be believed, with Spanish outlet Marca – via Sport Witness – that eyes are very firmly on the Norwegian’s exploits at Atletico Madrid between now and the transfer window swinging open, with scouts from Newcastle previously watching the 29-year-old in action back in September.

The similarities between Woltemade and the Scandinavian are immediately obvious, with Sorloth coming in at a gigantic 6-foot-4 frame himself.

On top of that, despite some wobbles this season under Diego Simeone, he has been a reliable source of goals for most of his stay in Spain to date, leading to the fiery Simeone lauding him as a “phenomenal” finisher.

25/26

9 (3)

2 + 0

24/25

35 (15)

20 + 2

23/24

34 (30)

28 + 6

22/23

34 (28)

12 + 3

21/22

33 (20)

4 + 0

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Sorloth possesses the same split-second instinct Woltemade possesses when finishing off chances, with this season seeing him bag three goals, despite only averaging 40 minutes of action in La Liga per game.

In total, the 66-time Norway international now has 61 Spanish top-flight strikes next to his name, which far outweighs his German counterpart’s Bundesliga tally of 14 goals.

Away from clearly being potent, Simeone has also noted that Sorloth is “important in every moment and context of the game you can imagine”, with an eye for an assist and carving out an opening also clear, with Howe very much ready to use him as a focal point like Woltemade, knowing he’s a similar team player.

It’s unlikely that he would usurp Woltemade from the get-go, but as another second-in-command option for a potential £27m fee, it feels like a no-brainer to chase after.

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One Newcastle United player is now “keen” to stay at St James’ Park and signing a new contract, according to former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown.

Newcastle line up more new deals after Pope extension

Nick Pope recently triggered a contract extension to stay on Tyneside until 2027, revealing in the pre-Benfica press conference this week it was a clause inserted into his original deal in 2023.

Bruno Guimaraes has also been a fantastic servant for the Magpies, adding so much quality and heart to the midfield ever since he joined the club.

Sorting the Brazilian’s future has to be a key area of focus for Newcastle, and a recent update claimed that they have offered him a new five-year deal, in order to ward off interest from the Saudi Pro League.

Bruno isn’t the only player whose future will be looked at, though, with experienced heads Kieran Trippier and Jamaal Lascelles out of contract at the end of this season.

Now, a key update has emerged regarding a player who is at the opposite end of his career, with Eddie Howe likely to be buoyed by the news.

Newcastle ace "keen" to sign contract extension

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League executive Mick Brown spoke on the chances of Tino Livramento signing a new deal at Newcastle, saying he is “keen” to stay put.

“Livramento has earned all the plaudits he gets. He’s worked very hard to become part of that Newcastle team despite the injuries he’s had, he plays wherever he’s needed and has always done a very good job. He’s done the same for England as well and has improved his reputation considerably.

“A lot of that progress has been made since he joined Newcastle, where he clearly has the trust and a good relationship with the manager. Of course, when a player is performing at that sort of level consistently, it’s going to attract interest from other clubs who might want to bring him in.

“But from what I hear, Livramento is happy at Newcastle, and I’d expect if there was a new contract on the table for him, he would be keen to stay. It’s something that would be the best outcome for all parties if they could get him tied down. Not only do Newcastle get to keep a fantastic player, but he can continue and build on the progress he has made there, playing regularly at the top level.”

Livramento is currently 19th on the Newcastle wage list at just £50,000-a-week, but has to be seen as a big part of the club’s future, with the England international proving to be a great option in both full-back positions.

The 22-year-old should only grow as a footballer as the years pass, potentially even becoming a regular starter for the Three Lions, and Theo Walcott once even claimed that he possessed an “aura”.

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