Month: July 2023

MANCHESTER UNITED could hijack Liverpool’s move for £50million-rated midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to reports.
Chelsea are also keen on signing the Southampton starlet, who impressed for the Saints last season.
Manchester United could hijack Liverpool’s move for Romeo LaviaCredit: Getty
Liverpool have emerged as the favourites to sign the 19-year-old in recent weeks, but could now face competition for his signature.
After having a £35million bid rejected, the Reds are expected to submit a second offer this week.
However, the Daily Mail report that United and Chelsea are both interested in the teenager, along with an unnamed foreign club.
Chelsea have been in contact, with the Blues still yet to reach an agreement for the signing of Brighton’ Moises Caicedo.
Liverpool remain the favourites to sign Lavia, though, after reportedly agreeing personal terms with the Belgian.
The report adds that United would have to sell players first as they also look to bring Sofyan Amrabat to Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s side are under pressure to complete a deal for the Moroccan.
Amrabat is also a target for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli and is believed to be available for £26million this summer.
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Elsewhere, United are closing in on the signing of striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta.
It is understood the Red Devils have reached an agreement over a £72million deal for the Danish forward.
MAN UTD TAKEOVER NEWS LIVE: Stay up to date with all the latest purchase and transfer news from Old Trafford
They could still rival Liverpool for Lavia, though, who only joined Southampton last summer.
Despite their relegation from the Premier League, Lavia impressed in his 34 appearances for the club last term.

Barcelona are reportedly considering going for Joao Felix if Ousmane Dembele decides to leave for PSG this summer.
The forward is wanted at the Parc des Princes and Barca are ready to negotiate a deal with Luis Enriques side.
Sport reckon that if Dembele does go, then Barcelona could try to sign Felix from Atletico Madrid. He has already been offered to the club by Jorge Mendes.
Felix has also already made it clear how much he wants to play for Barca. The Portugal international made a shock statement earlier this month revealing its his dream to play for Barca.
Atletico would no doubt he keen to offload Felix in the wake of such statements, and it seems there is interest from Barcelona in his services.
The only problem might be agreeing a fee. The report claims Barca would prefer a loan with a purchase option. Atletico, you suspect, would prefer a straight sale.
Felix isnt the only player Barcelona are considering as a Dembele replacement. Bernardo Silva, Yannick Carrasco and Alexis Sanchez have also been mentioned and you can expect more names to pop up too.

Sindhu, the 2019 world champion, has struggled to maintain her winning form since returning from an injury, as she has prematurely exited as many as seven of the 12 BWF World Tour competitions this year.
With back-to-back events scheduled, there isn’t much time, but the two-time Olympic medalist will attempt to use Hashim to help her discover her best self and test out some of her moves when she faces off against fellow countrywoman Ashmita Chaliha in the first round. Although Ashmita lost both times they played in the Guwahati Senior Nationals Championships, she managed to give the premier Indian player a fright.
Even Srikanth hasn’t been able to string together victories in a single week. He showed flashes of his former glory when, at the Japan Open, he defeated fellow Indian H.S. Prannoy after crushing Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen with his characteristic aggressive style. When facing Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto on the court, the former World No. 1 will need to reduce his mistakes.
The most reliable players for India this season have been Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, and the World No. 2 duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Satwik and Chirag, who have won four titles, have been the buzz of the town, but they have chosen to forgo the competition in order to get ready for the World Championships (August 2127).
The only other Indians to win championships this season were Prannoy and Sen, who were similarly reliable, especially the former. Prannoy will play Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu this week, while Sen, the Canada Open champion, will face Lu Guang Zu of China in their preliminary match.
Since winning the Orleans Masters earlier this year, young Priyanshu Rajawat has also been excellent despite his defeats, giving his opponents a fright, including Sen, Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, and World No. 2 Anthony Ginting of Indonesia. The 21-year-old will face Nathan Tang, a local competitor, to open his campaign.

In the Premier League Summer Series, Chelsea showcased their brilliance under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino. Experimenting with Christopher Nkunku in a fresh role and unveiling an impressive new midfield partnership. The Blues secured the title with a convincing 2-0 win against Fulham in Washington DC.
Throughout the pre-season, Christopher Nkunku proved his adaptability by excelling in three different roles. Having played as a forward in the last three matches. He showcased his skills as both a left-winger and a no. 10 against Fulham.
Notably, in his maiden appearance on the wing, Nkunku scored his third pre-season goal in four matches. With such a versatile performance, it is evident that he will play a prominent role under Mauricio Pochettino. And he is likely to be utilized in multiple positions in the upcoming season.
Furthermore, in an exceptional first-half performance, Thiago Silva demonstrated his dominance by heading in Ben Chilwell’s corner to open the scoring. Despite coming off at half-time along with the entire backline, Silva left a lasting impression both defensively and in possession. Ensuring teenage goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina had a calm debut.
Chelsea acquisition of Monaco defender Axel Disasi for £39 million, following Wesley Fofana’s injury. And it is a testament to their commitment to bolstering their defensive ranks. Disasi will challenge Silva for a starting spot. But it will undoubtedly be a formidable task to displace the legendary defender.
For the first time, Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos partnered as two no. 6s in Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1 formation. This new midfield duo effectively controlled Fulham during the first 45 minutes. Hence, allowing Chelsea to dominate possession and thwart counterattacks from Marco Silva’s team.
With such a strong showing, it seems likely that they will feature together in the starting lineup against Liverpool on August 13. As of now, little progress has been made in the pursuit of signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, further cementing the position of the Enzo-Andrey pivot in the team’s plans.
Chelsea’s pre-season journey has been nothing short of impressive under the management of Mauricio Pochettino. With Christopher Nkunku’s versatility, Thiago Silva’s commanding presence, and the promising Enzo-Andrey midfield partnership, the Blues have laid a strong foundation ahead of the upcoming season. As they continue to fine-tune their squad, the team’s prospects look bright, and fans eagerly await the exciting matches to come.
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Hampshire v MiddlesexMetro Bank One Day CupTuesday 1st August (11am Start)The Ageas Bowl
Hampshire kickstart their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign on Tuesday as they welcome Middlesex to The Ageas Bowl.
A youthful side, led by Nick Gubbins, progressed to the semi-final stage in 2022 and they will be hoping for more success this time around.
Middlesex finished fourth in the group stage last time out but have lost Steven Eskinazi to The Hundred, who finished as the competitions top run scorer in 2022.
Hampshire Squad
A 13-player squad has been named for the match against Middlesex.
Nick Gubbins remains as skipper after last year, as cover for club captain James Vince.
Tom Prest led the side in runs scored with 402 in 2022 and he made a half-century in the National Counties match against Dorset.
Academy prospects Eddie Jack and Dom Kelly are included and took 4-7 and 3-14 respectively against Dorset.
Jack Campbell is currently out with a groin injury.
Full Hampshire Squad

Nick Gubbins (31) Captain	Toby Albert (15)
Keith Barker (13)	Ben Brown (10)
Scott Currie (44)	Aneurin Donald (12)
Joseph Eckland (9)	Ian Holland (22)
Eddie Jack	Dom Kelly
Fletcha Middleton (19)	Felix Organ (3)
Tom Prest (24)

Middlesex
2022 Season In Numbers

• 4th in Group A
• Leading run scorer: Stephen Eskinazi (658)
• Leading wicket taker: Umesh Yadav (16)

Head-to-Head
Hampshires record in List A v Middlesex
P: 61, W: 31, T: 1, L: 27, NR: 2, A: 5
Last 5 meetings:

• April 23 2019 | The Ageas Bowl | Hampshire won by 119 runs
• May 30 2018 | Merchant Taylors’ School | Hampshire won by five wickets
• May 3 2017 | The Ageas Bowl | Middlesex won by 89 runs (DLS)
• June 7 2016 | Radlett | Hampshire won by five wickets (DLS)
• August 1 2015 | The Ageas Bowl | Hampshire won by 10 wickets

Tickets
Tickets for Hampshire v Middlesex are available via the link below, while theyll also be available on the gate on Tuesday.
Gates open prior to the match at 10am.
Click here to buy tickets.
Vistitor Guide
For information on what to expect at The Ageas Bowl during Tuesdays match please check out our Visitor Guide, available below.
Click here to view our Visitor Guide.
Coverage
A live stream will be available for the match and a link to this stream will be available in the free-to-download Hampshire Cricket App and at www.ageasbowl.com/cricket.
Both the Hampshire Cricket App and www.ageasbowl.com/cricket will also host a live match centre with scorecard, statistics and insight available throughout the match.
Weather Forecast
Please follow the link to view the latest weather forecast for The Ageas Bowl: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6620360

The third and final ODI between West Indies and India will take place at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Tuesday (August 1). The Caribbean side won the previous game and levelled the series (1-1).
In the previous match, Shai Hope shined for the hosts and guided them to victory. The Windies skipper scored a match-winning 63 runs off 80 balls and ensured that the Caribbean side reached the set target with six wickets in hand. Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd stood out among the Windies bowlers, bagging three wickets each in the first innings.
On the other hand, despite Ishan Kishans resilient fifty and Shardul Thakurs three scalps, India ended up on the losing side.
With the series levelled, both the teams will now look to seal the trophy by emerging victorious in the third ODI when they meet each other at Brian Lara Stadium.
Also Watch: Suryakumar Yadav hilariously motivates Kuldeep during the 2nd ODI; stump mic catches the funny remarks
ODI stats and records at the Brian Lara Stadium:
It is worth mentioning that no Men’s ODI has been played at this venue so far. However, the Brian Lara Stadium has hosted a few Women’s ODIs, with the chasing team having an advantage over the side bowling first. On that note, let’s have a look at how WODIs have fared on this ground.

• Matches played: 03
• Matches won by the team batting first: 01
• Matches won by the team batting second: 02
• Highest score: 182/8 (West Indies Women)
• Lowest score: 136 (Sri Lanka Women)

Brian Lara Stadium Trinidad Pitch Report:
Brian Lara Stadium Pitch (Image Source: Twitter)
The pitch at Brian Lara Stadium tends to be sluggish and spin-friendly. However, the batters can also score runs if they spend some time in the middle. Although no Mens international game has been played here, the average first-innings score in WODIs at the venue is 147. The team winning the toss will look to bowl first and watch the nature of the pitch as the game unfolds.
Brian Lara Stadium Trinidad Weather Forecast:
The weather at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad will be partially sunny and partially cloudy. The rain is expected to play a spoilsport during the start, followed by a thunderstorm in the later half of the play. The temperature will soar around 32 degrees Celsius with 79% humidity and wind blowing at 11km/hr.
WI vs IND 3rd ODI, Probable XIs:
West Indies: Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (c& wk), Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
Also READ: Ishan Kishan’s girlfriend: Is India wicketkeeper-batter dating a supermodel?

Team England needed a crucial wicket on the last day of the last Ashes Test to contain Australia and believed they had Australia’s star batter Steve Smith close to lunch on Day 5 but the batter was ruled not out. In the 66th over, Smith was batting on 39 and England captain Ben Stokes appeared to have caught the ball at leg gully as it popped off the batter’s glove of Moeen Ali’s loopy delivery. Umpire Joel Wilson said it was not out and Stokes went for review.
The catch was taken cleanly by Stokes at leg gully as he stretched his right arm but as he moved to celebrate, the ball flew out of his hands and fell down.
Replays appeared to indicate that Stokes realised it wasn’t a clean catch since his head dropped right away.
“After numerous replays, Smith was ruled not out as the catch was not perceived to be clean according to law 33.3 of the MCC,” the ICC wrote in a report.
“The law states, ‘The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement.’
“The incident was similar to Mitchell Starc’s catch of Ben Duckett at Lord’s but clearer. With this, Smith survived as Australia headed to lunch three down and needing a further 146 runs to win. ”
Chris Woakes and Mark Wood provided the early breakthrough on Day 5 of the of the fifth Ashes Test to help England stage a comeback but Australia still have an edge in the crucial math.
Australia were 238/3 at Lunch with Steve Smith (40) and Travis Head (31) standing unbeaten at the crease with the team needing another 146 runs for victory.

Manchester United are set to land the most lucrative kit deal in Premier League history – but it still doesn’t put them above Real Madrid or Barcelona on the world list.
The agreement is the biggest of its kind in English football and is a significant increase on United’s previous deal with Adidas, which was said to be £75million per-year running until 2025. However, the Red Devils have agreed an early renewal of £90m per-season contract with the German kit supplier.
It will also be United’s single most substantial form of income for the next decade, reinforcing the financial resilience and stability of the club. United’s CEO Richard Arnold said: “The relationship between Manchester United and adidas is one of the most iconic in world sport, forged through a shared commitment to style, flair and, most importantly, high performance.
“With its roots in the 1980s, our partnership has been reinvented over the past decade with some of the most innovative designs and technology in sportswear. We are now looking forward to refreshing this powerful partnership again through the remainder of this decade and into the 2030s.”
But how does this deal compare to others in world football? Mirror Football have taken a look at the top 10 kit deals on the planet…
1. Real Madrid
The £110m-a-year contract with Adidas sees Real come out on top in a deal that lasts until 2025.
Los Blancos are the most successful club in European football, having won 14 Champions League titles.
2. Barcelona
Barcelona’s £100m-a-year deal with Nike runs until 2028. Despite Lionel Messi’s departure two years ago, the Catalan side remain one of the world’s valuable football clubs.
They lifted the La Liga title last season and have won Europe’s top club prize on five occasions.
3. Manchester United
United have not moved a place since their previous kit deal, but edge closer to Real and Barca at the top.
The length of Red Devils’ new £90m per-year deal has not been announced, although Arnold admitted it will last for the rest of the decade and into the 30s.
Adidas have extended their partnership with Manchester United (
Manchester United)
4. Paris Saint-Germain
After signing a new deal with Nike in 2019, PSG have moved up to fourth with an annual earning of £68.7m.
The French side have grown in market value since Messi’s arrival in 2021, and although the Argentine has moved on to pastures new, PSG remain valuable with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar still at the club.
5. Manchester City
The Premier League champions earn £65million-a-year, in a deal with Puma that lasts until 2029.
City are streets ahead of United on the pitch, but fall short off it after the Red Devils’ latest renewal.
6. Chelsea
The Blues’ £60million-a-year contract with Nike sees them joint sixth in the list.
The west Londoners will be donning the swoosh logo until at least 2032. Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be hoping for an improved season after finishing 12th last campaign.
6. Arsenal
The Gunners also pocket the same amount as Chelsea but with rivals Adidas and have a deal in place until 2024.
It is not yet known whether Arsenal will stick with Adidas as they have just one year left on their deal – and Champions League football for Mikel Arteta’s men could see a more lucrative offer be involved.
8. Juventus
The Serie A giants earn £46million-a-year with Adidas and are the only Italian outfit to make the top 10.
Juventus ‘ deal runs until 2027, but the Old Lady are not set to compete in European football this season and haven’t been as much of a scoop financially since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
9. Bayern Munich
The Bundesliga champions pocket £42.5million in their deal with Adidas.
The giants of German football have an agreement in place until 2030.
Bayern Munich have a deal with Adidas until 2030 (
Getty Images)
10. Liverpool
Having replaced their New Balance deal with Nike in 2019, Liverpool currently pocket £30m per year and have the 10th biggest kit contract in world football.
10. Tottenham
Spurs’ £30m-deal with Nike rounds off the list. The North Londoners have a contract until 2033 and are the sixth English team in the top ten.