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After an incredibly intense ten months of football that have seen Arsenal stage last-second comebacks, demolish their nearest rivals, and rack up the most wins they have ever had in the Premier League, it's another second-place finish for the north Londoners.

Mikel Arteta's side have been pretty much perfect for most of the season, but pretty much is not nearly enough when coming up against Pep Guardiola's freakishly resilient Manchester City, and while Arsenal took them to the final day, it's back to the drawing board over the summer.

However, with the Spaniard's team boasting the best defence in the league by five goals, it's clear that the attack must be the focus, and based on recent reports, the Gunners could be about to sign a forward who could replace Gabriel Jesus and make them forget about Alexander Isak.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from the Independent, Arsenal are intent on signing a new striker before the start of pre-season, and there are two names at the top of their list: Isak and Brian Brobbey.

The former has been a target for some time and remains their top choice over the latter, but according to the report, the Gunners believe the chance of Newcastle United selling the Swede this summer is low and, as they do not want to get drawn into a protracted saga, they have earmarked the Ajax ace as their secondary top choice.

A reliable price for the 22-year-old has not been reported at this point, but Football Transfers' Player Valuation Model has claimed he could be worth around €24m, or £21m, which, if true, would represent an absolute bargain, and one the Gunners' should jump on.

The Dutchman may not be a household name like Isak, but he has been in red-hot form this year and could be the perfect Jesus upgrade to boot, and if the price is anywhere close to £21m, Arsenal can't afford to miss out.

How Brobbey compares to Isak and Jesus

So, if Arteta and Edu Gaspar are looking to sign a striker who is going to help them bridge the gap to City next season, the most critical factor is their pure output.

In his 43 games this season, Brobbey has scored a whopping 22 goals and provided 12 assists to boot, giving him an average of a goal involvement every 1.2 games, which would be impressive for any player, let alone for one who turned 22 in February.

In comparison, Jesus has returned eight goals and eight assists in 36 games, giving him an average of 2.2 goal involvements per game, while Isak's 25 goals and two assists in 40 games mean he averaged 1.48 goal involvements per game last season.

Appearances

43

36

40

Goals

22

8

25

Assists

12

8

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.79

0.44

0.67

So, with it clear that the Amsterdam-born "powerhouse", as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, comes out ahead for output, how do the trio's underlying numbers compare?

Well, it is once again advantage to the Dutchman as in almost every striker-relevant metric, he comes out on top, including non-penalty expected goals and assists, non-penalty goals, shots on target, goals per shot on target, goal-creating actions and especially aerial duels won, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.95

0.77

0.62

Non-Penalty Goals

0.67

0.64

0.24

Assists

0.30

0.08

0.30

Shots on Target

1.50

1.44

1.16

Goals per Shot on Target

0.45

0.44

1.16

Passing Accuracy

78.2%

78.1%

78.6%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.44

2.87

3.55

Goal-Creating Actions

0.56

0.40

0.49

Aerial Duels Won

2.43

0.36

0.91

However, he does come out second best to the Gunners' number nine for shot-creating actions and passing accuracy while producing the same number of assists as the 27-year-old per 90.

Interestingly, Newcastle's star striker fails to come out ahead in any of the comparisons, suggesting that while Brobbrey is currently Arsenal's second choice, he should perhaps be their first.

Ultimately, Jesus and Isak are both incredibly talented strikers and the number of goals the latter scores would surely improve Arteta's side.

However, considering the potential price, output, and underlying numbers, the Spaniard should look to Ajax's star striker first this summer.

5/10 Arsenal star let Arteta down on their big day

Arsenal held up their end of the bargain but couldn’t seal the Premier League title.

ByMatt Dawson May 19, 2024

Aitana Bonmati's agent confirmed that Chelsea were ready to trigger the release clause of the Barcelona star to lure her to WSL.

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• Chelsea hold a long-standing interest in Bonmati
• Were ready to put in a historic bid for the Ballon d'Or winner
• The midfielder snubbed the Blues to continue at Barca

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bonmati has entered the final year of her contract with the Blaugranas but has reached an agreement to ink a renewal which could potentially make her the highest-paid player of the side. She has been at Camp Nou since the age of 13 and is set to continue her journey at the Catalan club in the future.

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  However, English giants, Chelsea were ready to break the bank for Bonmati by triggering her €3 million (£2.53m/3.32m) release clause – which would have made her the most expensive signing in the history of women's football. But the player rebuffed the approaches and placed her trust in the sporting project at Barcelona which has helped her scale the heights of success.

• WHAT CHRISTIAN MARTIN SAID

  In an interview on Catalunya Radio'sprogramme, Bonmati's agent Cristian Martin revealed: "Chelsea were willing to pay the €3m termination clause. That Barça can compete with offers of this calibre shows you that, instead of lowering the women's budget, it is the other way around. In addition, Barça wants to continue to capitalise on the hegemony it has. It is consolidating its hegemony and Aitana's role within Barca is also being consolidated."

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  However, Martin has warned that it would be a challenge for the Spanish league to compete with the financial muscle of WSL clubs in the future and Barcelona are well aware of the consequences. They have already lost forward Mariona Caldentey to Arsenal this summer after she refused to extend her contract and other stars could follow suit.

  "The risk is that over the years the Spanish League will not improve and that this will not let it compete with the English clubs. The players may have new ambitions, as has happened with Mariona this season," he said.

Tendulkar played his part, but India found two unlikely batting heroes to deliver a tense win

The RetroReport by Shashank Kishore10-May-2020

Getty Images

Title sponsors have a huge recall value when fans revisit memorable classics. Many Indians still refer to the 1983 World Cup as the Prudential World Cup. The 1987 edition, which India hosted for the first time, is fondly remembered as the Reliance World Cup. The 1985 World Series, made famous by Ravi Shastri and his Audi, is often referred to as the Benson & Hedges World Series. Many years from now, this India v Australia clash will be remembered as Titan Cup fixture in Bangalore.The match had everything. Some fine new-ball bowling from local lads Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, electric fielding from Ajay Jadeja, a slow-paced but a well-constructed century from Mark Taylor that helped Australia post 215 and a fiery spell from a wiry Glenn McGrath, backed by relentless support from Jason Gillespie, that triggered a top-order wobble. Then there was a collision involving Jadeja and McGrath and, of course, Sachin Tendulkar being at the front and centre of India’s chase.That wasn’t it. There was debatable umpiring and crowd trouble, too, when Mohammad Azharuddin fell to what he felt was a shocking lbw decision, when in reality, he had only himself to blame. India were only three down by then, but the signs were ominous. Memories of Eden Gardens from a few months ago came rushing back. But sanity prevailed and play resumed after a 20-minute delay. The break didn’t change India’s fortunes drastically as they lost Sourav Ganguly almost immediately to a brain freeze from Tendulkar. The Indian captain froze halfway through a second that he wanted, by which time Ganguly had reached a point of no return. The alarm bells were ringing and India’s chances hinged on Tendulkar, like it so often does these days.He batted for a better part of the chase, shelving his natural game in the middle overs for hard-run singles, apart from sweeping and picking left-arm wristspinner Brad Hogg for crucial boundaries to ensure the asking rate never got out of hand. But his dismissal which quickly followed Nayan Mongia’s and Sunil Joshi’s left India at 164 for 8 in pursuit of 216.Enter local boys Anil Kumble and Srinath, with their mums cheering and screaming for every run they scored, every ball they defended and every boundary they hit. The ninth-wicket pair held their nerve, combated the McGrath-Gillespie threat and eventually scripted a great escape. India needed 52 when they joined hands. The stands were starting to thin, but those who stayed back got their monies worth.Kumble is a nudger at the best of times, Srinath a little more eccentric and enterprising. He fancies a good-old slog and when he connects, they sail. It’s this mix of ice and fire that had 40,000 faithfuls biting their fingernails off in the face of an asking rate that had spiralled to over a run-a-ball. As the equation narrowed, the crowd stated to heave. Australia felt the pressure and when it was down to single digits, not even the nerves of the occasion could fray the two local boys, who ensured India ended up winners.As many as six Karnataka players were part of India’s XI in this game. At that World Cup quarter-final game, Venkatesh Prasad was the hero. Here, it was his close friends who became overnight sensations. Joshi strangled Australia in the middle overs with some tight bowling, but the two batsmen – Sujith Somasunder and Rahul Dravid had outings to forget.If facing Brian McMillan and Allan Donald may have been intimidating enough in Hyderabad, Somasunder ran into McGrath here, looking all over the place against the short ball. He was roughed up so much that a sucker ball – an inswinging yorker – had his stumps in a mess. However, these are blips India would want to look at later, for this win came at the right time following a string of ODI failures post their infamous World Cup semi-final, in Singapore, Sharjah, Sri Lanka and Toronto.For Australia, Taylor’s industrious century was some consolation. It was his slow but steady partnership with Steve Waugh that lifted Australia after the innings meandered around the three-run-per-over mark for much of the first half. After Waugh’s dismissal, Michael Bevan added some much needed-urgency, but it felt as if Australia fell much shorter than they would’ve liked to finish with.But, their bowling attack made their total of 215 look bigger. It so happened that they ran into an inspired lower order and Tendulkar, yet again. In Mumbai, at the World Cup, they got away. In Bangalore, they couldn’t pull off a coup.

One game to go, just one more match, and we'll know whether the Premier League title is staying in Manchester or coming to North London for the first time in two decades.

Mikel Arteta's young Arsenal side have proven once again this season that they are the real deal, and regardless of the title's ultimate destination, they are here to stay and challenge Pep Guardiola's juggernaut for some time to come.

Alongside Sporting Director Edu Gaspar, the Spaniard has helped to transform the North Londoner's squad with impressive additions like Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz, but one player who could use some real competition is Bukayo Saka.

The club poster boy has been the first name on the teamsheet for several years now, but based on recent reports, he could soon have the perfect teammate to push him to new heights.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from former BBC journalist Ibrahim Sannie Daara, Arsenal have enquired about the availability of West Ham United sensation Mohammed Kudus ahead of the summer transfer window.

While this is certainly exciting news for the Arsenal faithful, the same report also revealed that Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain have all done the same thing, while Liverpool are set to trigger the Ghanaian's £75m release clause in the coming weeks.

There is a lot of competition for the Gunners to overcome in this transfer battle, but with the club on the precipice of lifting major honours, they might be able to sell themselves better than the Reds.

Moreover, while Kudus could come in as a Saka challenger, his positional versatility could also see him take over from Kai Havetz as the number nine, replace Leandro Trossard as the long-term leftwinger, or even move into the midfield to partner Martin Odegaard.

Ultimately, it will be a tough deal to complete, but for £75m, the club should fight tooth and nail for it.

How Kudus could fit in at Arsenal

Now, there are several ways Kudus could come in and make Arsenal a better team. The first is as a serious challenger to Saka.

According to respected data analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Ajax ace is "very similar to Saka" in that he has an immense impact on games from the right, assisting his teammates and scoring goals himself.

Appearances

47

47

50

45

Goals

17

20

13

17

Assists

7

14

7

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.51

0.72

0.40

0.42

For example, in just 20 starts on the right side of the attack this season, the "generational" forward, as described by journalist Gary Al-Smith, has scored 13 goals and provided one assist, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.4 games – an output similar to Saka's average of a goal involvement every 1.3 games from his 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances.

However, what sets the Hammers star apart is his versatility. While he would likely come in to challenge the Englishman for that place on the right, he would also be able to play in multiple other positions, keeping the rest of the team on their toes and adding a new dimension to the North Londoners.

Appearances

39

42

7

90

Goals

20

14

3

23

Assists

5

3

2

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.40

0.71

0.35

For example, in 42 appearances as a centre-forward in his career, the Accra-born sensation has scored 14 goals and provided three assists, meaning he averages a goal involved as the number nine once every 2.4 games. This isn't far off Havertz's return of a goal involvement every 1.9 games as a striker, coming from his return of 36 goals and 12 assists in 95 starts.

Finally, while the 23-year-old has played on the left a few times in his career and could, therefore, challenge the likes of Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, his considerable experience playing in attacking and central midfield roles could allow him to flourish as a more attacking midfielder alongside Odegaard.

For example, in 46 games as a central midfielder, the 5 foot 9 ace has scored 11 goals and provided three assists, while in 44 games as an attacking midfielder, he's scored 12 goals and provided six assists, meaning he averages a goal involvement every 3.2 and 2.4 games, respectively.

Ultimately, it would be an expensive deal to complete, but signing Kudus would provide the club with a star who would genuinely challenge Saka. Moreover, his ability to start almost anywhere on the pitch would give Arteta a level of tactical freedom not offered by any other player.

Arsenal "frontrunners" to repeat Saliba masterclass with "insane" £86m gem

The incredible ace could be a generational talent.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 10, 2024

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for a European competition for the 2024/25 campaign took another blow as they were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday.

They were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City at Wembley in the semi-finals of the competition, which means that they do not have a chance to qualify for Europe through winning the tournament.

The Blues are also ninth in the Premier League table, ahead of their clash with Arsenal on Tuesday night, and have plenty of work to do if they want to reach the Europa Conference League or the Europa League places before the end of the season.

Their struggles on the pitch have not done much good for Mauricio Pochettino's position as the club's manager, as rumours continue to swirl over his position at Stamford Bridge heading into next term.

In fact, Todd Boehly and his team are reportedly looking at a manager from one of their rivals in the Premier League as a possible replacement for the Argentine boss.

Chelsea's interest in Premier League head coach

According to TV Dello Sport reporter Rudy Galetti, Chelsea have identified Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi as a candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge.

The journalist claims that the Italian tactician is currently the "preferred" option for the Blues and has climbed ahead of other candidates in their thinking.

Galetti reports that Pochettino's position at Chelsea is "always" in question, which does not suggest that a definitive decision has been made either way at this moment in time.

This means that the former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton boss may still have time to save his job if the team's performances and results are impressive enough between now and the end of the current season to convince the board to stick with him heading into the summer transfer window.

The Italian journalist adds that De Zerbi is also open to moving on from the Seagulls, who he led to the knockout stages of the Europa League this term, to start a new experience in the 2024/25 campaign.

He reveals that the Brighton chief views Chelsea as a good option to join if he does decide to move on from his current side, but German giants Bayern Munich, who are looking to replace ex-Blues manager Thomas Tuchel, are also in the race to secure his services.

This suggests that Boehly may need to fight to land De Zerbi in the summer, should the Italian tactician become available, as Bayern could provide fierce competition for his signature.

If the London-based outfit can win the race for him, though, it could be heaven for current midfielder Moises Caicedo, who worked under him last season.

Moises Caicedo's form for Roberto De Zerbi

The Ecuador international was signed by Chelsea for a staggering British-record transfer fee of £115m, with an initial £100m and £15m of easily achievable add-ons.

It was a mind-blowing fee to pay for a defensive midfield player who had yet to prove himself in Europe or at a top club in England or elsewhere.

So far, Caicedo is yet to live up to his price tag as his performances have not even been as good as his displays for Brighton in the Premier League last season, whilst working with De Zerbi.

Appearances

37

28

Sofascore rating

7.08

7.03

Key passes per game

1.2

0.6

Tackles per game

2.7

2.4

Interceptions per game

1.5

1.1

Duel success rate

58%

55%

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old dynamo created twice as many chances (key passes) per game, and made 0.7 more tackles and interceptions per outing, whilst also winning a higher percentage of his physical duels.

The chart above also illustrates how much more of an impact Caicedo had on the pitch in the Premier League under De Zerbi than he has for Pochettino this term, with more progressive passes, progressive carries, and touches in the opposition penalty box per 90.

These statistics all point to him being far more successful in the Italian's system in comparison to the current set-up at Chelsea, as he currently does not have as much license to get forward to progress play from deep whilst his defensive powers have also waned.

Therefore, De Zerbi arriving at Stamford Bridge in the summer would be perfect for Caicedo, who would be back in heaven with a manager who he knows can get the best out of him in the Premier League, as he could then start to justify his mammoth transfer fee.

Roberto De Zerbi's record with Brighton

The 44-year-old boss, who typically deploys a base formation of 4-2-3-1, led the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last term, which earned them Europa League football.

He won 14 of his 32 league matches in charge of the club, having replaced Graham Potter after his move to Chelsea, and currently has Brighton, who lost Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister last summer, in tenth place.

Meanwhile, Pochettino currently has the Blues in ninth in the Premier League, despite splashing the cash on Caicedo, Cole Palma, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson, among others, ahead of the season.

De Zerbi, whose dominant style of football was hailed as "unique" by Pep Guardiola, has also caught the eye with his management in Europe for Brighton, with a record of five wins, one draw, and two defeats in eight Europa League games.

Whereas, Pochettino lost five and won six of 14 Champions League matches in charge of Paris Saint-Germain, which was his last experience of European football prior to arriving at Stamford Bridge.

It remains to be seen whether or not De Zerbi can be a success at a top club and compete for major honours on a regular basis, having only performed in the mid-to-upper level of the table in England so far.

Ranking Chelsea's worst Premier League managers by win percentage

Mauricio Pochettino’s late-season revival was too little, too late for Chelsea…

ByAlex Roberts May 21, 2024

However, his appointment would be heaven for club-record signing Caicedo, whose performances could improve under his former manager, and that is one seemingly glaring positive that could come from bringing the Brighton boss to London to replace Pochettino in the summer.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em partida válida pela terceira rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro 2021, Palmeiras e Corinthians se enfrentam neste sábado (12), às 19h (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque, em São Paulo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasBoletim do NP: Vexame na Copa gera prejuízo ao Palmeiras e forte manifestação de Paulo Nobre: “P… da vida”Palmeiras10/06/2021PalmeirasCom eliminação precoce na Copa do Brasil, Palmeiras perde R$ 6,15 milhões e compromete orçamentoPalmeiras10/06/2021PalmeirasEmpresário de Gustavo Gómez revela sondagens diárias por zagueiro do PalmeirasPalmeiras10/06/2021

O clássico coloca frente a frente duas equipes que foram eliminadas da Copa do Brasil nesta semana e que agora mudam a chave para o Brasileirão em busca de uma vitória sobre o rival para retomar a confiança na temporada.

O Verdão está na sétima colocação do torneio nacional, com três pontos. A equipe vem de uma vitória sobre a Chapecoense por 3 a 1, em São Paulo, após ter perdido para o Flamengo, no Maracanã, por 1 a 0. O rival, por sua vez, também venceu na última rodada. Em Minas Gerais, o Corinthians derrotou o América-MG por 1 a 0, conquistou os primeiros pontos na competição e, atualmente, ocupa a décima posição na tabela. Na primeira rodada, o Timão foi superado pelo Atlético-GO, por 1 a 0.

Palmeiras x Corinthians terá transmissão no Premiere (pay-per-view) para todo o Brasil, com narração de Everaldo Marques, comentários de Casagrande (por vídeo) e Alexandre Lozetti, Central do Apito com Sálvio Spinola; e Felipe Diniz e Alexandre Oliveira nas reportagens.

Vale lembrar que os rivais se enfrentaram no último dia 16 de maio, pelas semifinais do Paulistão, com vitória do Palmeiras por 2 a 0, em Itaquera.

continua após a publicidade

MatériaMais Notícias

A tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 foi divulgada pela Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) e os Meninos da Colina conheceram o adversário da estreia. O primeiro compromisso do Vasco será contra aChapecoense, no dia 27 de junho. Vale destacar que o horário e o local da partida ainda serão definidos pela entidade.

> Confira a tabela da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro

RelacionadasVascoGuilherme Esteves, do Vasco, é convocado pelo técnico Dudu Patetuci para a Seleção Brasileira Sub-15Vasco02/06/2021VascoApesar da vitória, Vasco peca na falta de intensidade e tem queda brusca de rendimento nos últimos jogosVasco01/06/2021Vasco‘Vamos todos aquecer um coração’: Vasco inicia campanha de doação de cobertores e agasalhosVasco02/06/2021

De acordo com o regulamento da competição, asoito melhores equipes se classificam para a fase decisiva (quartas de final, semifinal e final). Na temporada passada, o Atlético-MG ergueu a taça ao superar o Athletico e foi derrotado pelo Cruz-Maltino na Supercopa do Brasil.

Atualmente, os comandados do técnico Diogo Siston seguem na disputa da Taça Guanabara Sub-20, porém foram eliminados nas quartas de finais da Copa do Brasil pelo Internacional.

Confira os duelos do Gigante da Colina no Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20

27/06 – Vasco x Chapecoense
30/06 – Botafogo x Vasco
04/07 – Vasco x Internacional
11/07 – Corinthians x Vasco
14/07 – Vasco x Sport
18/07 – Vasco x São Paulo
25/07 – Atlético-GO x Vasco
28/07 – Bahia x Vasco
01/08 – Vasco x Fluminense
08/08 – Vasco x Athletico-PR
15/08 – Flamengo x Vasco
22/08 – América-MG x Vasco
29/08 – Vasco x Cruzeiro
05/09 – Grêmio x Vasco
12/09 – Atlético-MG x Vasco
19/09 – Vasco x Ceará
26/09 – Fortaleza x Vasco
03/10 – Vasco x Palmeiras
10/10 – Santos x Vasco

New-look seam attack restrict New Zealand to sub-par 153 for 5 in series opener

The Report by George Dobell01-Nov-2019England 154 for 3 (Vince 59, Santner 3-23) beat New Zealand 153 for 5 (Taylor 44) by seven wickets
A maiden T20I half-century from James Vince helped a new-look England get their New Zealand tour off to a winning start in Christchurch.Despite taking the opportunity to look at three debutants – Sam Curran, Pat Brown and Lewis Gregory – England ensured the reign of new head coach, Chris Silverwood, got off to a winning start in sealing a sixth successive T20I victory. For a side experimenting with fringe candidates a year out from the T20 World Cup, it was a satisfying performance.There were some dissenting voices when Vince, now 28 and playing his 35th international game across formats for England, was recalled. But when he bats like this, combining composure with an ability to time the ball that few can match, it is easy to see why the selectors havefound it so hard to cut him adrift.James Vince pulls through the leg side•Getty ImagesHere, demonstrating a range of conventional strokes, Vince controlled the run-chase perfectly. From the moment he hit his first delivery forfour, a classy square drive of Mitchell Santner, he batted with a fluency no other batsman in the game could replicate. Using his feet to pace and spin alike, he made it hard for New Zealand’s bowlers to settle on a length and hit as many fours – seven – as their batsmen managed in their entire innings.But while Vince may dominate the headlines, this was a result set up by a skilful display from England’s bowlers. Maintaining immaculate lines and lengths, they varied their paces cleverly to keep New Zealand to a total perhaps 20 under par on a surface that was a little sluggish – understandably, too: this is the earliest date an international game has been played in New Zealand’s South Island – but which offered bowlers little.The opening pair of Sam and Tom Curran conceded just seven from the first three overs of the match – Tom Curran started with a maiden – to ensure New Zealand were unable to make full use of the Powerplay. And while Sam Curran’s figures were dented by a third over that cost 21 – Colin Munro punishing Morgan’s decision to extend the bowler’s spell with two successive sixes – he had already snared the key wicket of a frustrated Guptill, playing-on as he looked to force the pace.It was a decent start from Brown, too. Bowling at the death, he showed both his skills and his composure, conceding two sixes but no fours,and claiming a notable maiden international wicket when Ross Taylor mistimed a slower ball to deep midwicket. The third debutant, LewisGregory, was not required with bat or ball, though looked just a touch nervous in the field.Pat Brown made his England debut•Getty ImagesBut perhaps Chris Jordan was the pick of the bowlers. While Tim Seifert may have been unlucky with his dismissal – replays suggested the full toss he scooped to mid-wicket was perilously close to waist height – Jordan demonstrated a good range of pace, good control and a willingness to bowl both in the Powerplay and at the death.That New Zealand were able to set anything like a competitive target was largely due to a fifth-wicket stand of 56 in 38 balls between RossTaylor and Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell hit the ball as hard as anyone but, coming in at 93 for 4 in the 14th over, had been left too much to do to get New Zealand up to a match-winning total. Only four overs in New Zealand innings realised more than 10 runs; only one realised morethan 13.Any hopes that New Zealand may have enough were quickly banished. Jonny Bairstow may have taken eight balls to get off the mark, but he then took 18 – three fours and a six – off Scott Kuggeleijn’s first over. So while Santner, with his changes of pace, troubled England with three wickets, the support bowlers – Kuggeleijn and Ish Sodhi – were unable to maintain the pressure.When Bairstow, brilliantly caught by Martin Guptill at deep mid-wicket after he had been drawn into slog-sweeping one well outside off stump, and then Vince, mistiming a long-hop in the same direction, fell New Zealand may have harboured hopes of a dramatic fightback. But EoinMorgan was too experienced to allow that and sealed the result with a heave over midwicket off Tim Southee with nine deliveries remaining.The result puts England one-up in the five-match series.At the post-match press conference, Mitchell conceded that New Zealand were about 10 short of a par score. “We would’ve liked to have done better but I think England probably adapted better to the pitch than we did. It was tough to start on, was a bit two-paced and a bit slow. We lost a few wickets straight after the Powerplay there which halted our momentum a bit and we had to play catch up but fair play to England. They might have been a bit more match-fit having played a couple of warm up games and hopefully we’ll learn from this and be ready for the next one.”The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack of March 15 in the city. All proceeds from ticket sales at the match are to be to donated to a fund to encourage the participation of ethnic minorities in sport.

The 34-year old has made just four Test appearances since January 2017, his last one being the first Test in October 2018 against Australia in Dubai

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2019

Wahab Riaz struggled for rhythm•Getty Images

Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz has decided to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket in order to focus on limited-overs formats. He has also withdrawn from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, just two days before the start of the tournament, where he was set to represent his domestic side Southern Punjab.Wahab, who made his Test debut for Pakistan in 2010 and has played 27 Tests, also added he wanted to focus on regaining fitness levels required for the longer format. Since January 2018, the 34-year-old has played only five red-ball matches, one Test and four first-class games.Wahab was also absent from Southern Punjab’s camp in Lahore, where the side was preparing for their opening game against Central Punjab.”After reviewing my past couple of years’ performances in red-ball cricket and the upcoming limited-overs cricket, I have decided to take time off from first-class cricket,” Wahab said. “During this period, I will like to focus on 50-over and 20-over cricket, and continue to access my fitness for the longer version of the game. At a stage I feel I cannot only return but also perform with the red-ball, I would make myself available. “The PCB had been trying to convince me to pursue my career with red-ball, but today I met them to convey my decision. I am grateful for their understanding and support.”Wahab was the casualty of former coach Mickey Arthur’s drive towards a high-performance culture within the Pakistan squad, where he was criticised for his work ethic, with Arthur even saying he had not won them a game in two years. After being ignored for the tour of Ireland and England in 2018, Wahab played in the Dubai Test against Australia where he finished wicketless. But just a year after Arthur seemingly signalled the end of his career, Wahab was added to their World Cup squad, nearly two years after his last ODI. He finished 11 wickets in eight games in the tournament.But now, with this break and him missing the first-class season, his Test chances appear slim. Pakistan, in the next 12 months, are scheduled to host two Tests against Sri Lanka, two against Bangladesh, and play away series in Australia and England.Wahab was earlier handed out a category B central contract, but it is understood he is likely to be demoted in due course following this announcement.

Glasgow Rangers managed to sign three new players during the January transfer window, as Fabio Silva, Mohammed Diomande and Oscar Cortes all arrived in Glasgow.

The main talking point was the failure to bring in another centre-forward on deadline day, yet it appears as though Philippe Clement is comfortable with the players he currently has until the end of the season.

The Ibrox faithful will continue to place their trust in the Belgian, especially after his wonderful start to life at the Light Blues. Not only has he guided the club to their first League Cup trophy since 2011, but also to the last 16 of the Europa League, along with dragging the Gers back into the title fight.

His three signings will all offer something different, and they may even prove to be the difference between finishing the season with one trophy or ending it with three.

Diomande is the obvious standout, as the young Ivorian joined from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy and his future looks extraordinarily bright.

Mohammed Diomande has a big future at Rangers

The midfielder is set to cost the Ibrox side a fee in the region of £4.3m, indicating that Clement is clearly confidence the player will be a success at Rangers.

During his spell in Denmark, the 22-year-old made 111 appearances for Nordsjaelland, scoring 13 goals, and grabbing 14 assists in the process, demonstrating his forward-thinking abilities.

With an average pass success rate of 89% in the Danish top flight during the 2023/24 campaign, Diomande is also excellent at dictating the play, while he ranked fifth among the squad for tackles per game (1.4) and fourth for interceptions per game (0.8), suggesting that he does not shirk away from his defensive responsibilities either.

It looks as though the Gers have managed to sign a midfielder who can not only contribute going forward but is also able to provide a defensive barrier when Rangers don’t have the ball and these skills could be vital over the next few months.

He was not the only midfielder that the Light Blues were interested in, however, as Clement was reportedly keen on making a move for Croatian gem Marko Bulat last month, and he may indeed have been a more attractive option than Diomande to feature in the midfield.

Rangers were showing interest in Marko Bulat

According to Football Scotland, the Gers ‘checked on the conditions’ of Bulat during the winter window as they looked to bolster their midfield area.

The report stated that the 22-year-old was keen on a move away from Dinamo Zagreb, yet the Croatian side were valuing him at around the £5m mark and this was perhaps the only stumbling block for the Light Blues.

His profile certainly fitted the bill with regard to what Clement was hoping to build in the future; a young and hungry midfield with plenty of passion and the potential to make the club a big profit over the next few years.

The Belgian manager faces the prospect of six players leaving for nothing at the end of the season due to their contracts expiring.

Ryan Jack and John Lundstram are among those six and while the Englishman deserves another year at least, the Scot has suffered from too many injury issues recently and should be thanked for his services and moved on this summer.

Bulat, then, would have made an ideal Jack heir should he have joined Rangers last month.

The stats that show why Marko Bulat would have been a good signing for Rangers

Since joining the club, Jack has made over 200 appearances for the Gers, winning every major honour in Scotland over the previous seven years.

The 31-year-old has also missed a grand total of 118 matches through injury since 2017 and these niggles are unlikely to stop as he ages.

Domestic statistics this season	Marko Bulat	Ryan Jack
Goals	3	1
Accurate passes per game	22.1	25.1
Key passes per game	1.4	0.6
Total duels won	2.8	0.6.
Tackles per game	1	0.2

While Diomande is a more forward-thinking central midfielder, Bulat prefers to operate in a slightly deeper role, similar to that of Jack, and this suggests he would have been an ideal replacement for the former Aberdeen starlet.

The youngster was even compared to Croatian midfield icon Ivan Rakitic by Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson, who said:

“From watching Bulat and looking at the numbers, he reminds me of a young Ivan Rakitić. He’s a box-to-box midfielder who is a very capable defender and a goal scoring threat. Technically gifted and intelligent in and out of possession, hence the Rakitić comparison.”

Bulat has already played 173 senior matches since making his professional debut in the 2017/18 season, which demonstrates how much experience he has already racked up in such a short space of time.

For Zagreb this season, Bulat ranks highly across a range of metrics, including third for shots per game (2.2), sixth for key passes per game (1.4) and for goals and assists (five), made even more impressive due to the fact he has missed a few matches due to injury.

There was no way Clement could have splashed out £5m on Bulat alongside signing Diomande and, while the Ivorian may be an excellent option to call upon in the middle of the pitch, might the 49-year-old manager have missed a trick by missing out on the Croatian?

Only time will tell in that regard, but the statistics certainly suggest that the 22-year-old could have been the ideal long-term replacement for Jack, who looks certain to leave Ibrox this summer.

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With a busy few months ahead, Diomande will need to hit the ground running if he looks to impress the Ibrox faithful and, considering his past performances, there is no doubt he is capable of shining in Scotland.

Like any transfer window, there are always players that clubs miss out on and eventually go on to play at a higher level. Bulat could perhaps be one such name who will star at a level above the Scottish Premiership in the next few years.

If Clement does have the budget in the summer, and Bulat is keen, a concrete move should be made for the midfielder, who is set to enjoy a wonderful career.