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Leeds United have less than two weeks to prepare for their opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign against Everton at Elland Road.

It will be the club’s first top-flight match in more than two years, since their 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in West Yorkshire under the management of Sam Allardyce at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Daniel Farke will now be hoping to be more Marcelo Bielsa than Sam Allardyce or Javi Gracia, as the German head coach attempts to guide the team to safety.

The Whites boss will want more options to pick from at the top end of the pitch, though, as Lukas Nmecha is currently the only attacking player who has been added to the squad during the summer transfer window.

As you can see in the quotes above, Farke has made it clear that the club need to bring in more attackers, including a replacement for Manor Solomon.

The Championship champions should also be on the lookout for a marquee number nine addition, as it remains to be seen whether or not Joel Piroe has what it takes to make the step up.

Leeds have doubts over Joel Piroe's Premier League ability

Back in May, Football Insider reported that Leeds would not build their Premier League attack around the Dutchman, because they have doubts over his suitability for the top-flight.

The outlet stated that the Whites were not planning for the former Swansea marksman to be their first-choice number nine for the 2025/26 campaign, because of their doubts.

This may seem like an odd stance for the club to take after Piroe won the Golden Boot with 19 goals in the Championship for Leeds last season, but it is one that makes sense.

The Whites won the league with 100 points and were utterly dominant in the second tier, which meant that they were able to carry a striker like Piroe, who does not offer much to the team from a physical perspective.

In the Premier League, however, his lack of mobility and strength could cause problems as a starting number nine, as Leeds will be fighting against relegation rather than dominating matches.

As you can see in the table above, Piroe was far too weak in duels with opposition players and ranked incredibly lowly among his positional peers in a host of physical metrics.

Leeds pushing to sign Serie A striker

Piroe’s lack of physicality, in terms of both speed and strength, may be why the Championship champions are reportedly eyeing up a new centre-forward.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Leeds United are “pushing” to complete a deal to sign Montenegro international Nikola Krstovic from Italian side Lecce.

The reporter claims that the 25-year-old marksman has been given the “green light” to pursue a move away from the Serie A outfit this summer, which has opened the door to a potential transfer to Elland Road.

Vidal adds that the former Red Star Belgrade marksman is “high” on Farke’s wishlist of attacking reinforcements, with the club now pushing to get a deal done for the striker.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that Lecce value the centre-forward at a fee of around £26m, although it remains to be seen how much Leeds are willing to pay for his services.

Why Leeds should sign Nikola Krstovic

The Whites should sign the Serie A number nine because he would come in as a big upgrade on Joel Piroe for Farke ahead of the Premier League curtain-raiser against Everton.

Unlike the current Leeds forward, Krstovic has already proven his quality in one of Europe’s major leagues with his performances for Lecce over the past two seasons, proving that he can score goals at an impressive rate.

The £26m-rated striker scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 37 appearances in the Serie A during the 2024/25 campaign, which is a very respectable return for a player in a team that battled relegation, and successfully, it is worth noting.

Krstovic’s contributions at the top end of the pitch helped Lecce to finish 17th in the division, three points above the bottom three, which shows that he can step up and deliver crucial goals to help a team in a relegation battle.

Along with his potential to be an excellent goalscorer for Leeds, having scored 21 goals in the last two seasons, the Serie A star would also come in as a big upgrade on Piroe from a physical perspective.

As you can see in the table above, the Lecce centre-forward ranked above average in most of the physical metrics that Piroe ranked among the worst in the Championship for.

Krstovic, who was hailed as “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, is a strong number nine who can hold his own in duels, on and off the ball, to provide his team with a strong outlet up front.

This means that he would be far more useful to Farke as a starter in the Premier League, as Leeds are likely to be battling the drop and will need a striker who can provide relief by winning fouls and duels, which is not Piroe’s strong suit.

Therefore, Krstovic could be an ideal signing for the Whites to come in as a proven goalscorer and physical presence in the number ninerole ahead of Piroe.

The new Rutter: Leeds submit bid to sign "fascinating" £22.5m star

Leeds United have reportedly submitted a bid to sign a star who could be their new Georginio Rutter.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 4, 2025

Continuing their search for a striker, Newcastle United could now reportedly jump ahead of Bayern Munich to sign a towering forward whose technique has been compared to Lionel Messi’s.

Isak agrees terms with Liverpool

Things could be about to get worse before they get better at St James’ Park this summer. Fresh reports have now revealed that star striker Alexander Isak has already agreed personal terms with Liverpool, who are now waiting for an opening to submit their first bid.

Liverpool’s interest follows the bombshell news that Isak is looking to leave Newcastle this summer and has reportedly gone AWOL in the hope of pushing through an unexpected departure.

Not for the first time this summer, Newcastle have been put in an unenviable position in the transfer market and must push to get their business done as the Premier League campaign draws near.

On that front, however, those at St James’ Park may need to prepare themselves for even more rejection amid reports that Benjamin Sesko favours a move to Old Trafford.

The RB Leipzig forward is the subject of a Premier League battle between Manchester United and Newcastle, but the Magpies already reportedly believe that he will choose the Red Devils this summer.

Newcastle now in talks to sign £65m+ ace once called 'better than Haaland'

The Magpies once again have a fight on their hands to sign a top target…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 31, 2025

As such, Newcastle must once again take a look down their long list of striker targets and go in pursuit of what could quickly turn into a replacement for Isak. And if it’s the towering Sesko profile that they’re after, then one particular option should be their top priority.

Newcastle eyeing Woltemade hijack

As reported by The Sun, Newcastle are now eyeing a deal to sign Nick Woltemade ahead of Bayern Munich, who have hesitated to complete their move after welcoming Luis Diaz from Liverpool.

The 6’6 VfB Stuttgart striker enjoyed an incredibly impressive season in Germany – scoring 17 goals in all competitions – and quickly followed that up with six goals in six games to win the Golden Boot at the U21 Euros.

The German has unsurprisingly received high praise from all those who have seen him at his best, including from Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor, who said: “Woltemade has Messi’s technique! I think I recognise a good footballer quickly and Nick caught my eye from the first week of training.

“The most important thing for us is to involve Woltemade enough in the game but he can do that as a deep-lying striker between the lines or as a true No.9 in the opponent’s box. Because we know what we have in Nick: he’s a two-metre-tall (Jamal) Musiala or Messi!”

India has a “leadership role to play” in ensuring that Test cricket not just survives but thrives in regions like the West Indies, according to its CEO Johnny Grave.Grave, who joined Cricket West Indies (CWI) back in 2017, lauded the BCCI’s commitment to Test cricket despite a gruelling calendar but said more needs to be done at the ICC level to protect the red-ball game outside India, England and Australia.Out of the nine competing ICC Full Members, only these three will play a five-match series in the 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle. Three teams – Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe – have never been part of the championship, which was introduced in 2019.Grave, currently busy with co-hosting the T20 World Cup, spoke on the future of the game and the role he expects the BCCI to play.”India have a leadership role to play,” Grave told PTI. “They’re now the No. 1 board when it comes to power, influence and resources. To date, they’ve been fantastic in how they’ve continued to play all three formats of the game, [and with] their commitment to Test cricket. I don’t think it has ever been as strong as it is now.”Is the BCCI doing enough in the leadership role? “I think they are,” Grave said. “They’re becoming increasingly influential in the key decisions that the ICC makes. The BCCI were hugely supportive in one of the biggest things the ICC have achieved in the last 12 months, which is getting cricket back into the Olympics after a gap of 128 years.”The fact that India came on board and supported that bid was absolutely, in my opinion, crucial for the result that the ICC got, which was the acceptance of cricket into the LA Games.”And we’re already seeing from the Associate world, in particular, that being an Olympic sport has a very big impact on them, positively, in terms of how they can get money from government, get money from the Olympic associations to drive the game at all levels.”

“Centralise travel costs and accommodation in WTC”

India have toured the West Indies three times in the last five years, providing a massive financial boost to the CWI, which largely depends on media-rights money from Indian and English broadcasters to keep the game afloat in the Caribbean.As of now, series in the WTC cycle are bilaterals with the home board pocketing all broadcast revenues and the visiting teams having to pay for their own travel. Grave wants the ICC to centralise the travel costs – West Indies have to spend quite a bit on travel in crisscrossing the globe.India have toured West Indies three times in the last five years•AFP via Getty Images

“We have to have a league mentality that we’re all in it together as the Test playing nations,'” Grave said. “And I think the World Test Championship is a start to that. I think it’s gaining some momentum. I think it can be improved.”Centralise flights and accommodation within the World Test Championship and take on those costs as the costs of the league rather than placing all that burden on the participating teams as we’re so negatively disadvantaged by that.”

T20 World Cup to offer economic boost of US$300 million in the region

In Grave’s words, the CWI has not been in a better place financially after multiple tours from India and England in the post-Covid era. The T20 World Cup, which is the first ICC men’s event held in the Caribbean since 2010, will also add to the coffers of CWI, which generates an annual revenue of US$50 million.The six chosen venues needed urgent renovation to be World Cup ready and that has cost $50 million approximately, with half of the amount spent on the Kensington Oval in Barbados, where the final will be staged.Related

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• BCCI set to get nearly 40% of ICC's annual net earnings

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“It’s been 14 years since we hosted our last men’s event,” he said. “And it’s hugely important [that we get to host world events].”[Building infrastructure] is a huge part of hosting a World Cup because the legacy of that means that the six grounds that are playing hosts for this World Cup will have facilities that we, Cricket West Indies and our home boards, can benefit from for hopefully for the next decade.”West Indies are co-hosting the T20 showpiece with USA, and going forward, more world events will be jointly hosted and not just by India, England and Australia, as it has been the case in the last ten years.”We made the point that we think there should be more equal revenue sharing of ICC distributions [BCCI currently gets nearly 40% of the share]. And part of that equality was the spreading around [the hosting rights for] the men’s events.2:19

WI captain Rovman Powell on what a home World Cup means for West Indies

“Some of the bigger host countries could be making $100 million from hosting a men’s event based on the revenues that they would keep.”And therefore, it’s another way in which if you’re not spreading around those events, that the few nations that do host are benefiting more than others, as well as getting on-the-field home advantage and playing in home conditions that they should know better and be able to adapt better.”It’s an important part of the change of the next cycle, there’s going to be multiple teams hosting.”

Arsenal’s transfer plans continue to evolve with the first mini-transfer window now open for business, and sporting director Andrea Berta has a limited opportunity to register new players before deadline day on June 10.

Andrea Berta in "numerous talks" over signing new winger for Arsenal

The Italian’s arrival has been greeted with much anticipation, and it hasn’t taken long for Berta to commence laying the groundwork on key potential Arsenal signings.

"True" – Fabrizio Romano backs reports as Arsenal target £126m striker

The north Londoners are in fact interested.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 29, 2025

One of his first acts as director was to make contact with Nico Williams’ representatives (The Guardian), and reports ever since claim that a new winger is high on Arsenal’s transfer to-do list after they missed out on this year’s Premier League title to Liverpool by 10 points.

Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury midway through the season crippled Arsenal’s attacking output. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the long-term futures of both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Arsenal will entertain suitable bids for Martinelli, according to The Athletic, and Trossard is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates. The north Londoners, as per Sky Germany correspondent Florian Plettenberg, are holding “numerous talks” about wide options.

Since that update from Plettenberg, Arsenal talks for Rodrygo have stalled due to wage demands, and Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma has found his way on to Berta’s shortlist.

Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane has also been offered to Arsenal as his contract in Bavaria ticks down towards expiry, according to Sky Sports in England, so there are many names in Berta’s orbit, and it is highly likely the 53-year-old will bring at least one winger to N5.

Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz emerging as prime Arsenal target

Now, according to website Turkish-Football, another player is now under serious consideration from Berta and co – Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

The 20-year-old can play on either flank and even as a second striker, with his versatility appealing to Arteta’s “tactical vision”. Juve view the 19-cap Turkey international as a key star for the future, off the back of a solid campaign for the youngster personally.

Yildiz weighed in with 16 goal contributions (nine goals and seven assists) in 48 total appearances across 2024/2025, and he even finished the season as Juve’s highest-performing regular by average match rating per 90, according to WhoScored.

His star player status has prompted the Old Lady to value him at up to £86 million, as per this report, but that hasn’t stopped Yildiz emerging as a “prime” transfer target for Arsenal as Berta continues his search for forwards.

The former Bayern Munich academy gem appears set to have a bright future, and if Arsenal are willing to invest significantly, it could be in the Premier League.

Everton are close to beginning their new era at Bramley Moore Dock and could now move a step closer to completing a free transfer for an established Premier League defender, per reports.

Everton enjoying a peaceful end to Goodison Park era

Safety was the desired result when David Moyes took over at Goodison Park, and it is fair to say the former West Ham United boss has passed his remit with flying colours since returning to Merseyside.

A run of only four losses in 15 matches across all competitions have pulled the Toffees well clear of the drop zone, with their Premier League status secure after a raft of impressive results despite a clear lack of squad depth.

Incredibly, Goodison Park will host just two more Everton matches before being consigned to history as the Blues move across town, which could pave the way for some exciting additions to enter the fold if the Friedkin Group flex their financial muscle this summer.

Nantes winger Moses Simon could be one of first arrivals of the new era for a fee in the region of £12.8 million, offering a potential solution should Jack Harrison return to Leeds United. Sunderland sensation Chris Rigg is also on Everton’s radar, illustrating the calibre of reinforcement the Toffees have in mind to kickstart a new dawn under Moyes.

Shades of Cahill: Everton chasing PL "revelation" to upgrade on Doucoure

David Moyes is looking to strengthen his Everton team in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 24, 2025

Following years in the doldrums, the Blues finally appear to be on the up and have aspirations of progression once they arrive at Bramley Moore, but PSR regulations may limit their scope to spend at a lavish rate. Free transfers may be an intelligent way to attract quality while keeping the books in check, so it won’t some as a surprise to hear that Everton could utilise this mode of transfer action.

Everton make contact over Victor Lindelof move

According to CaughtOffside, Everton have made contact over a move for Manchester United star Victor Lindelof in an attempt to fend off competition from several other clubs for his signature. Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United have also registered their interest, while Inter Milan, Juventus and Benfica are lingering in the distance.

Victor Lindelof’s Manchester United record

Appearances

277

Goals

4

Assists

7

Trophies

1 EFL Cup, 1 FA Cup

After falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford, £120,000 per week earner Lindelof is set for a new challenge in the prime of his career and has no shortage of offers in his hunt for a new club. His availability on a free transfer combined with experience of the English top-flight is a lucrative commodity for sides to consider heading into next season.

Everton have several players set to see their deals expire on Merseyside and may have a void to fill in the heart of defence, making Lindelof an inexpensive solution providing they can meet his wage demands in negotiations.

He may be the unglamorous option, but Hampshire spinner comes with a compelling first-class track record

Matt Roller22-Jul-20253:29

What can England expect from Liam Dawson?

What do the following players have in common: Moeen Ali, Mason Crane, Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Adil Rashid, Matt Parkinson, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir? The answer is that between Liam Dawson’s third Test cap (eight years ago) and his fourth (against India on Wednesday), England have picked all 11 as spinners ahead of him.Dawson’s recall, aged 35, is so ordinary as to be extraordinary. England have spent the last three years talking about attributes and upsides while trying to fashion Test-match spin bowlers out of T20 allrounders and the rawest of rookies. Now, they have settled for pragmatism, with the recall of a seasoned professional who has become the County Championship’s most valuable player.Dawson has long been a solid performer for Hampshire but has reached new heights in his mid-30s. He has scored seven centuries and taken ten five-fors in the last two-and-a-half Championship seasons, averaging 47.59 with the bat and 25.63 with the ball: “He’s been a huge player for us,” Adi Birrell, Hampshire’s coach, told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s actually got better and better, too.”Related

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His comeback is a fillip for county cricket, as was his decision to prioritise playing for Hampshire ahead of the Pakistan Super League in the spring. “It goes to show that if you consistently perform, the door will open at some stage,” Birrell said. “It shows that there is still the option of being [picked as] a county stalwart. It is great that England have selected him.”It is even more remarkable given his apparent breakdown in relations with England’s management. Dawson was frustrated – understandably so – by England’s miscommunication in 2023: “Luke Wright basically told me I was going to go to the World Cup, and to get a little bit fitter,” he explained to the podcast. “And I received a call the next day to say that I wasn’t going.”He was then overlooked for the Test tour to India, which enabled him to play in the SA20 instead. Dawson had been a regular in international squads for years but rarely played, including during their triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign; once the novelty had worn off, it made little sense for a player who has never held a central contract to sacrifice significant franchise deals just to pick up a tour fee as England’s 12th man.Dawson admitted last year that Test cricket was “completely off the radar” for him, and said that he was at peace with the likely end of his international career. “It’s not something that I want to be doing, running drinks, at my age.” Now, he is not only back in the Test team, but likely to play a significant role at next year’s T20 World Cup. In that sense, his recall is a win for player power.1:14

Brook: ‘Dawson is always willing to fight for the team’

Dawson’s comeback for June’s T20I series against West Indies has proven to be a soft launch for his Test comeback: he took 4 for 20 on his return, and left a positive impression on Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook, his coach and captain. “He’s a wily, old fox,” Brook said this week. “He’s willing to always fight for the team, he’s very competitive, and it’s good to have him here.”It was instructive that Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, picked out that same attribute as one of his strengths. “I’ve known Daws for a long time. I know the cricketer he is, but what does go under the radar is his competitiveness,” he said on Tuesday, as well as citing the relevance of Dawson’s white-ball return under McCullum. “He showed he can come back in and get to work straightaway.”Birrell believes that Dawson has become a more complete bowler since Graeme Welch’s appointment as Hampshire’s bowling coach, challenging both edges of the bat. “They’ve worked very well together,” he said. “He used to undercut it, but now he’s getting better at overspin… He bowls an off-stump line: one slides, one turns, so he’s got all dismissals available to him.”1:38

Harmison: Dawson might help with Stokes workload

A 5ft 8in left-arm bowler, Dawson could hardly be more different in profile to the 6ft 4in offspinner he is replacing in Bashir. Brook believes Dawson should have some footholes to work with outside the left-hand batters’ off stump, but Ravindra Jadeja’s returns for the series – 3 for 331 across 99 overs – should prompt a level of caution as to how much can be expected from him.He also comes into this Test on the back of six T20 Blast games for Hampshire, and bowls very differently between formats. “In T20, I try to drag my length back by two, three or four feet and bowl short,” he told the podcast last year. “It’s probably the biggest thing I struggle with in my career, chopping and changing formats, especially going from white ball to red ball.”But his defensive skills may yet come in useful if India look to take him on – as Rishabh Pant surely will – and his batting should ensure that he adds value across disciplines. He made a half-century on Test debut in Chennai back in 2016, and has centuries for Hampshire in every position from opener to No. 7; in fact, his first-class average (35.29) compares favourably to that of Zak Crawley (31.90).As such, he is the ultimate plug-and-play pick, a selection based not on philosophy but practicality. Dawson has already jumped ahead of two England-contracted spinners in Leach and Rehan to be selected in Manchester. Now, he has the chance to show that he is not just a fill-in for Bashir, but a compelling alternative to him.

The Bengal and India A batter, who recently missed out on being picked for the national side again, is looking to accentuate the positive

Interview by Shashank Kishore06-Jul-2023Abhimanyu Easwaran has been on the fringes of the Indian team for three seasons now. His India A numbers are mighty impressive: an average of 47.27 across 34 innings as an opener, with six centuries and a best of 233.Barring one season, the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, where he made just 258 runs in 17 innings, Easwaran has also been a prolific run-getter for Bengal. Yet, when the India squad was announced for the West Indies tour, which marks the beginning of the new WTC cycle for the team, Easwaran found Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad had leapfrogged him.Easwaran has taken the latest setback in his stride as he gets ready for the new domestic season. In Bengaluru, having finished playing for East Zone in the season-opening Duleep Trophy, he spoke at length about channelling his disappointments, how preparation matters, dealing with perceptions of being a one-format batter, and his fitness work, among other things.Related

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It must be disappointing to miss selection for the West Indies series. How do you channel it?
It’s all about that dream I had as a kid. Whenever things don’t go my way, I just think about why I started playing the game. Because I enjoy it and want to play for the country. Small things like not getting runs in a game won’t change the work I’ve put in for the past 15 years. Or if I don’t get picked in a squad, it won’t affect my passion or the hard work I’m going to put in going forward. The dream will always be to play for the country and win games. That drives me. No matter what happens, I ensure I wake up every day and do what I should to improve as a cricketer.How big is preparation for you?
Preparation is the key. I feel if I’m well prepared, I go into a game confidently. I try and ensure that I prepare according to conditions. Before the Duleep Trophy, I arrived in Bangalore early and trained at Just Cricket Academy for ten days on similar wickets to the one I was to play on here. I feel if I’ve prepared according to the conditions, it gives me the best chance to perform in any tournament.How have you gone about putting your preparatory process in place?
I’ve been working with Apurva Desai [currently batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy] for ten years now. His input has been massive in trying to help me adapt to different venues and conditions.Easwaran made a hundred in the first innings of the first unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bloemfontein in November 2021, against an attack that included Marco Jansen, Beuran Hendricks and Lutho Sipamla•Cricket South AfricaIf we’re playing at Eden Gardens, what are the kind of plans I should go with? What are the options I can give myself as a batter? We work on game plans, tactics, different shots and technical tweaks. We discuss the kind of preparation needed for every tour. Prior to the India A tour to South Africa in 2021, I trained on Astroturf because the ball zips through there. I trained with synthetic balls, just to get the hands high, because I would be facing extra bounce. We discuss everything in cricket. If I go into the ground, I want to be the best-prepared player. I may not be the best player in terms of runs in the match, but can I be the best-prepared? I always ask myself this.When you were coming up the ranks, did you always want to be a “pure Test-match type batter”?
No, that’s just a perception. I wanted to play all formats.There’s also a perception that you need IPL runs to go with domestic performances.
I’ve always wanted to be an all-format batter. I played T20s pretty late for Bengal, but I’ve constantly worked on that side of the game. In the off season I worked on a few shots, which hopefully will come off well this season.It’s not that I just love one format. Yes, Test cricket will always be special but it’s also the most challenging. But in terms of my game, I am constantly working on my T20 game. I wish to play IPL soon – it’s another dream, to play in the biggest league.You had a chance to trial with Delhi Capitals mid-season. How was it like?
I wasn’t expecting it, honestly. If you don’t get picked at the auction, you don’t think there’s a chance. Their fast bowler, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, got injured. You’d think they’d replace him with another fast bowler. But since their batting wasn’t going too well, they probably felt like strengthening that department. It was good to be part of the set-up, even if it was just for a few days. Just to see how people go about things – like, how David Warner prepares. They weren’t winning a lot of games at that point, but you could see guys wanted to put their hands up and win games.Within touching distance: Easwaran with India coach Rahul Dravid at a net session during the Bangladesh tour•AFP via Getty ImagesDid you get a chance to interact with Ricky Ponting, the Capitals head coach?
I didn’t get a lot of time to talk to him because he was busy with the entire group. But he was behind the nets, watching us bat, and would appreciate a good shot. He watched me and Priyam Garg [who was also called up] closely. I didn’t get really get a chance to speak about my batting or my game, but in the huddle, he welcomed us. It was nice.Does it bother you that you don’t get picked in the IPL?
I won’t say it bothers me. I still have a fair chance to be picked. It’s not like this is the last year I’m going to play. I’m just 27, I have enough time. If I get runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Deodhar or Vijay Hazare Trophy, that gives me a good chance. Again, it comes back to preparation and going into the game giving myself the best chance. That’s what I am focusing on.You’ve spent nearly a decade as a first-class cricketer. Is there a phase you look back fondly?
Yes, there have been a few but the one that stands out is from the 2019-20 season. I was made Bengal captain that year for the first time. I’d scored 861 runs in six matches [11 innings] the previous year. I then got a double-hundred for India A, I got a hundred in the Duleep Trophy final. So I was on a high, but I couldn’t buy a run the next season. I made 258 runs in ten games, but we were in the final. On the one hand, here’s my team doing well and making the final, on the other, I wasn’t able to contribute. Not being able to win the title was more disappointing, but to come back from that and get runs, bat the way I do, was special. That phase was challenging.When you’ve been so near yet so far for three years, it must hurt from within. Does it?
It sure does. But given the population we have, there are very few people who are this close to being picked for the Indian team. So I’m taking it in a positive way, that I’ve got to a place not many can. That gives me confidence. If I can keep putting in the work I’ve done, I’m still pretty close, I could get picked soon.There have been a few times when you came close to getting the India cap. When do you think you came closest?
I got twin hundreds for India A in Bangladesh last December, just prior to the Tests. I did well on the India A tour of South Africa in 2021.Easwaran with Priyank Panchal, whom he opened with and who captained Easwaran’s side, India Red, in the 2019 Duleep Trophy final•Saurabh Somani/ESPNcricinfoBut I think I was closest probably in 2021 in England. I was the reserve opener, and we had a tour game prior to the first Test. Not playing in that tour game because I was a close contact of one of the support staff who had Covid meant I had to quarantine for ten days. I lost that chance in that practice game before the first Test. Mayank Agarwal was concussed before that first Test. Maybe had I played and got runs, I would have earned the cap. All that time spent instead quarantining and isolating even though I didn’t have Covid was really tough.You spoke of on-field preparation. What about off-field preparation?
It’s as important as what you do on the field. You can’t eat what you like and say, “I’ll make up for it.” There’s a balance to maintain. Around 2015-16, I discovered I wasn’t feeling too well after breaks. There was a pattern where I used to get out soon after lunch or tea breaks. I found I wasn’t so switched on, even though I’d be batting on 50 or 70. I had a chat with a friend who told me about a genetic medical test. That told me I was gluten-intolerant. From that day to now, I have only had gluten probably twice or thrice a year. That’s after a tournament finishes and I have a break for more than a week, because I can afford that – I won’t be training the next day. That involves , soya. I gave up soft drinks ten years ago. I felt the dream is bigger than this. If I don’t have Coke, it doesn’t matter.How has fitness transformed your outlook to cricket?
During Covid, I felt there was something I needed to work on, because the seasons were getting longer. I was playing all formats and also for India A, so I didn’t have breaks. Usually during the off season, you get a couple of months off, but I wasn’t getting that because of India A commitments. I realised the need to get stronger.I had a lot of things in mind: Do I have the fitness to last an entire Ranji season, if we reach the final? Do I have the fitness to push beyond a double-century? Can I be fresh on day five of a match? That was the time I started working on fitness with Soham Desai [current India trainer]. Since then, I’ve been able to feel that change. Last year also, after fielding for around 155 overs against New Zealand A, I was batting probably the best I had in the last three years. My feet were moving well, so well that I was enjoying it a lot, and I wasn’t feeling too tired. I could feel the difference and that made me enjoy what I was doing.You may have not played a Test, but you probably have some fond memories of travelling with the team?
Without a doubt. It’s an honour to wear that jersey. I still remember when I received the team kit before that England tour in 2021, I just didn’t want to take it off all day. I cherish the chats I’ve had with Virat Kohli on preparation and Cheteshwar Pujara on single-mindedness. Being a part of the Test squad that won at Lord’s was a special memory. There was so much passion, so much fire. Shami, Siraj, Bumrah with their tails up… bundling them out inside 60 overs, it was amazing. I think those are situations you train and play for. It was great to be part of a side that won in England. You want to win overseas, at home, everywhere. It’s something every cricketer dreams of. Hopefully I’ll have that chance soon.

Six years after his ODI hundred on debut for Hong Kong in the UAE, Chapman is back to the same country but to represent New Zealand

Deivarayan Muthu09-Oct-2021Mark Chapman was still an engineering student when he marked his ODI debut for Hong Kong with a match-winning hundred against UAE in Dubai in 2015. Nearly six years later, he is back in Dubai for his first World Cup with New Zealand. Along the way, he has completed his mechanical engineering degree and put it to good use, founding ESCU sports that manufactures cricket equipment.This will be Chapman’s third T20 World Cup overall, having turned out for Hong Kong in 2014 in Bangladesh and then in 2016 in India. Chapman was born in Hong Kong to a mother from mainland China and father from New Zealand.”Yeah, it has been quite the journey to be honest,” Chapman said during a virtual media interaction. “Having been born in Hong Kong and represented them, having been to Dubai for a couple of world events with the Hong Kong team it’s been quite a journey. To be honest, I haven’t thought too much about it. It’s been really exciting to be with this New Zealand group in the last couple of years and it’s my first world event with the New Zealand team and it’s been something that I’ve been looking forward to a long time and just really stoked to be here and join the guys.”Related

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Chapman is fairly familiar with the UAE venues – he has played 25 matches across formats in the country, scoring 559 runs – but he is focusing more on adapting to the conditions that have changed since his last visit in 2018. Most recently the pitches have been relaid in Sharjah, where New Zealand are set to play two of their five league games.”First and foremost the experiences will probably help me just with the general surroundings and knowing the venues, knowing the grounds and adjusting to the heat,” Chapman said. “And as we’ve seen in the IPL, the pitches can vary from 120 scores to 230 I believe was scored last night. This is very much what you assess about what you face on any given day and just adjusting to that.”Mark Chapman backs himself to do the job with his left-arm fingerspin too•Getty ImagesIn 2018, Chapman travelled with the New Zealand A team as well as the senior team for six T20s against the Pakistanis in the UAE and he hopes to draw confidence from those experiences. Shane Bond, who was then the coach of the New Zealand A team, will also be part of the senior team’s backroom at the forthcoming World Cup.”Anytime you get to play and get experiences and again some of the players that you’re going to face, it is valuable experience and I remember Shane Bond was the New Zealand A coach and he’s coming back into that camp too. It will all feel a little bit familiar and [I’m] really looking forward to the challenge, particularly the first game with Pakistan. It should be a good game.Chapman also said that robust New Zealand domestic and A team structure has prepared him to cope with the demands of international cricket.”Back then [at Hong Kong] I was still a student and playing cricket as amateur,” he said. “Having graduated from university and moving into New Zealand’s domestic system, I was able to dedicate all my time to cricket. Things off the field really sort of started to ramp up with strength and conditioning, mental skills and all that sort of stuff that we probably didn’t get much of in the Associate world. So, I think being in New Zealand domestic and the international environment has taken my game to another level. The intensity of international cricket is something that’s quite different from Associate international cricket too.”Having previously been part of the Associate set-up, where usually every game has a lot at stake, Chapman is used to the pressure that a knockout game brings. New Zealand might face similar pressure in the T20 World Cup and Chapman is ready to embrace it.Mark Chapman has a T20 strike rate of 133•AFP”[In] Associate cricket, every game there seems to be something on it – whether it’s funding or qualification for World Championships, World Cups,” Chapman said. “Playing for New Zealand there is a lot of bilateral cricket which doesn’t have as much context to it and I think that’s where the World Test Championship was born from. So to come into a tournament environment where there’s significant meaning in every game and context in every game is exciting. It puts more pressure on the line and hopefully we can get a few wins and qualify.”Around the time of his CPL stint with St Lucia franchise in 2018, Chapman had sustained a shoulder niggle which eventually turned into a serious injury, prompting surgery. The troublesome shoulder has limited Chapman’s left-arm fingerspin in the past, but he now backs himself to do the job with the ball, too, if New Zealand need his secondary skill in the UAE.”Injuries are part and parcel of sporting careers and I think it’s fair to say I’ve had my fair share and a shoulder reconstruction is probably up there in the scheme of things… I’m not going to lie, that was a pretty tough journey, but I’m pretty happy with where things are with my shoulder now and obviously I’ve been working a lot of my bowling behind the scenes. So, we’ve seen that spin could play a role in these sort of conditions. I’ve just got to prepare as best as I can and if I’m called upon [to bowl], I’ve got to be ready.”Having finished his IPL duties with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kane Williamson has now moved into the hotel room next to Chapman’s. In a few weeks, Chapman could potentially be batting alongside the New Zealand captain at the World Cup where it all started for him six years ago.

The Brewers take away the ball on the ground and at the wall, so in the sixth inning, Freddie Freeman lined a four-seamer to the only place they couldn’t get to it: the stands. 

The home run gave the Dodgers a lead they would hold to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, 2–1. It gave them cushion as their bullpen faltered in the ninth inning. It gave the Brewers the kind of fits they are used to when it comes to that player. “Freddie Freeman has been a Brewer killer for a while,” lamented Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy. “So hopefully he’ll oversleep tomorrow or something.”

It also rendered moot one of the wildest plays in recorded memory: With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, Max Muncy drove a would-be grand slam 404 feet to center, where center fielder Sal Frelick leapt for—and bobbled—then caught—the ball. He fired it to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who relayed home. On the base paths, the runners broke into chaos, darting forward as if for a double, then back as if for a sacrifice fly. Teoscar Hernández barreled home from third just as the throw reached the plate. Amid the chaos, catcher William Contreras raced to third. For a moment, it seemed no one was quite sure what was happening. After a three-minute replay review, the word came down from New York: It was the first 8–6–2U double play in postseason history. 

(If Frelick had caught it clean, that would have been the second out and it would have been a tag play at the plate for the third, which Hernández beat, so it would have been bases loaded, two out. But because the ball hit the wall before Frelick got hold of it, the ball was live and it was a force play at home for the second out, and then a force play at third for the third.)

The 97-win Brewers, best in the sport, have spent much of the run-up to this series casting themselves as scrappy underdogs who win games with grit and the power of friendship. They keep the competition off balance, playing tight defense and running the bases aggressively; no other team forced its opponents to make more errors this season. Their $108 million payroll this season ranked No. 24 in the sport and is less than a third of what the Dodgers spent on players: $329 million. 

“I’m sure that most Dodgers players can’t name eight guys on our roster,” Murphy said before Game 1, having already discarded his last bit: calling his players the Average Joes and then complaining that people were calling them average Joes. The Dodgers rolled their eyes at this routine—“We know the act,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts—but there is something to be said for paying superstars to play like superstars. Freeman, the first baseman (who is making $162 million over six years), and shortstop Mookie Betts ($365 million, 12 years) provided the offense; lefty Blake Snell (whom the Dodgers signed this offseason for $182 million over five years) offered just about everything else. 

He threw eight sparkling, one-hit, no-walk innings, striking out 10. He did not throw a fastball in the seventh. He allowed a total of two balls to the outfield, none after the second inning. He picked off the only hitter who reached base against him. 

In his 10 years in Milwaukee, Murphy said, “I think it’s the most dominant performance against us.”

The Brewers’ collection of “misfit toys,” as Murphy insists on calling them, nearly matched him: Opener Aaron Ashby, a fourth-round draft pick chosen for this task essentially because he is left-handed and therefore has a chance to shut down two-way star Shohei Ohtani, walked Ohtani but otherwise survived the first inning. In came Quinn Priester, who did not make the Red Sox’ rotation out of spring training and whom the Brewers acquired for two minor leaguers and a draft pick; he got through the next four. Chad Patrick, who came to Milwaukee in a trade with the A’s for utilityman Abraham Toro, allowed that Freeman home run. Jared Koenig, who was released by the Padres in 2023, got five outs. Closer Trevor Megill, who was waived in ’21 and then traded for a player to be named later and cash to the Brewers in ’23, got three more. 

Only Abner Uribe, who signed as an 18-year-old out of his native Dominican Republic for $85,000 in ’18, made more than one mistake. He walked Muncy to open the ninth, then allowed a single to Kiké Hernández. After a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third, he intentionally walked Ohtani, then very unintentionally walked Betts to bring in a crucial insurance run. 

This became relevant only minutes later, when the Dodgers’ only weakness—their bullpen—struck. Roki Sasaki, the flamethrowing starter who flamed out in the majors and spent much of the season rediscovering himself in the minors before being converted to postseason closer, struggled with his command, walking the first hitter he saw, then allowing a ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly to bring the game back within a run. After another walk, Roberts summoned erstwhile closer Blake Treinen, who walked the bases loaded before getting away with a fastball a foot above the zone for a whiff. 

“It’s not going to come easy,” said Roberts. “This is going to be a grind. It’s going to be tough.”

The Average Joes can still win this series. They just have a smaller margin for error. And unfortunately for them, the next Joe Millionaire awaits: the guy who starts Game 2 for the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is the highest-paid pitcher of all time. 

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu faces a severe defensive crisis ahead of the pivotal Champions League showdown against Liverpool, as key summer signing Manuel Akanji missed the final training session on Monday, leaving the Nerazzurri dangerously exposed against Arne Slot’s prolific attack.

Chivu rocked by latest fitness concern

The atmosphere at the Inter training centre was noticeably tense on Monday morning as the team conducted their final preparations ahead of the monumental Champions League showdown against Liverpool. What should have been a routine session of tactical fine-tuning turned into a source of major anxiety for head coach Chivu, as key defender Akanji was absent from the group.

The Swiss centre-back, who arrived on loan from Manchester City on deadline day and has since established himself as a pillar of the Nerazzurri backline, did not participate in the final training session before the midweek match. Reports emerging from Appiano Gentile suggest that the defender is suffering from flu-like symptoms, a concern that has cast a shadow over his availability for the upcoming European fixture. For a manager still finding his feet at the elite level like Chivu, losing his most dynamic defender on the eve of facing the English champions poses a huge concern. The club medical staff are reportedly working around the clock, but with the game less than 48 hours away, the odds of the 30-year-old starting are drifting swiftly from possible to unlikely.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportInter stretched thin for Liverpool clash

Akanji's potential absence exposes the fragility of an Inter squad that underwent significant surgery in the summer. When the club sanctioned the loan of Benjamin Pavard to Marseille and brought in the Swiss international as his temporary replacement, the logic was sound: swap one elite defender for another. However, that decision relies heavily on the fitness of the new arrival, and with Akanji now sidelined, the depth chart looks alarmingly thin.

Chivu is now forced to shuffle a pack that is already light on options. The veteran Stefan de Vrij is the natural replacement in the centre of the back three, but the Dutchman lacks the recovery pace that makes Akanji so effective in a high line. Alternatively, the manager could turn to the towering Yann Aurel Bisseck, a player of immense promise but one who arguably lacks the experience for a high-stakes duel against Premier League opposition. The defensive unit, anchored by Alessandro Bastoni, relies on chemistry and fluid movement; removing a key cog like the former Borussia Dortmund man disrupts the entire mechanism. 

Akanji absence could be fatal for Inter

Facing Liverpool is a daunting task at the best of times, but doing so without your quickest centre-back is flirting with disaster. Under Arne Slot, the Reds evolved into a ruthless transition machine, and their attack is specifically designed to exploit gaps in opposition backlines. However, they are set to take to the field without Mohamed Salah amid the breakdown in his relationship with Slot and the Reds' ongoing struggles this season.

Akanji’s greatest asset is his ability to cover wide channels and manage one-on-one situations, traits that are essential when facing the pace of striker Alexander Isak or the creative wizardry of Florian Wirtz. Without him, Inter risk being exposed to rapid counter-attacks, particularly if they try to impose their possession game. De Vrij or Francesco Acerbi offer positional intelligence, but if they are isolated against the speed of the Liverpool forwards, the result could be catastrophic. The English giants are struggling this season with just one win from their last six matches, but they still have the firepower to punish even the smallest error, having beaten Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt in the competition before their shock 4-1 defeat at home to PSV last time out.

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AFPWhat comes next?

The dilemma facing the Inter boss is classic risk-versus-reward. He could hand a start to Bisseck or De Vrij in the biggest game of the campaign so far, but will be concerned about the structure of his backline for such a big game. A pragmatic approach might see Inter sit deeper to protect their slower defenders, inviting pressure from a Liverpool side that loves to dominate the ball. The final decision will likely be made on the morning of the match, after one last fitness test. Until then, the Nerazzurri camp remains in a state of suspended animation, waiting to see if their defensive leader can pull off a miracle recovery. If not, it will be up to the remaining soldiers to form a shield wall capable of repelling the English invaders.