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Chelsea’s approach to recruitment has long revolved around stacking their squad with some of the brightest young prospects in world football.

In the past few years, they have paid significant sums to secure teenagers such as Estevão, Kendry Páez and Mamadou Sarr.

This summer alone, they have added some of the most exciting youth prospects in Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Jorrel Hato from Ajax.

The logic is simple: bring in rising stars before their price goes up and commit them to long contracts, typically seven years or more.

By doing so, Chelsea not only protect themselves against paying premiums later – as they did with Enzo Fernández’s £107m transfer in 2023 – but also keep themselves compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by spreading transfer fees across the length of those deals.

The result is the youngest squad in the Premier League, with an average age of just 23 years and five months.

Not all of these gambles work out, however. A number of players have grown frustrated at limited minutes and moved on.

This summer alone saw exits for Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku.

And in previous years, Chelsea have made high-profile misjudgements by letting go of talents like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice and Romelu Lukaku too early.

Yet there are also success stories that show the model can deliver.

Nowhere is that clearer than with Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer's stunning Chelsea stint so far

When Chelsea paid Manchester City £40m for Palmer in 2023, the deal was met with scepticism.

Could a player who had mostly been used sparingly by Pep Guardiola truly justify such a fee?

Two years on, the answer is an emphatic yes. Palmer is now the beating heart of Enzo Maresca’s side and widely regarded as the club’s most important player.

Since his arrival, Palmer’s market value has soared from €32m (£28m) to €120m (£110m), as per Transfermarkt.

He was central to Chelsea’s resurgence last season, guiding them to a fourth-place finish, a UEFA Conference League triumph and a Club World Cup title.

His influence was decisive in both finals, scoring twice against PSG in the Club World Cup and picking up man of the match awards in each.

Palmer’s output has been remarkable: 45 goals and 29 assists in his first 100 appearances for the club.

Beyond numbers, his creativity and ability to dictate games in the final third have been transformative.

It is no surprise he won the PFA Young Player of the Season award, or that he broke into the England team in 2023, scoring in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Statistically, Palmer excels across multiple areas.

Matches Played

37

Goals

15

Assists

8

Progressive Carries

120

Progressive Passes

214

Source: FBref

His 2024/25 season included 37 appearances with 23 goal involvements, averaging 6.03 progressive passes per 90 and 5.70 shot-creating actions.

He is not just scoring and assisting, but consistently advancing Chelsea’s play in possession.

For all the criticism of the club’s scattergun transfer policy, Palmer stands as proof that sometimes they get it spectacularly right.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Palmer

For every Palmer success story, there is a cautionary tale.

Jamal Musiala’s departure is one Chelsea fans continue to regret.

Having been part of the Blues’ youth system, he left for Bayern Munich in 2019 for just €200k (£175k).

Today his market value is estimated at €140m (£130m), and he is widely considered among the best attacking midfielders in world football.

At Bayern, Musiala has blossomed into a superstar.

In 207 matches, he has scored 64 goals and provided 39 assists, while also cementing his place in the German national team with 40 caps and eight goals.

Former England youth teammate Jude Bellingham once roomed with him, and Musiala’s decision to represent Germany over England has only heightened the sense of loss.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes summed it up simply: Musiala is “one of the best number 10s in the world.” The statistics underline his world-class profile.

In 2024/25, he managed 14 goal involvements in 25 Bundesliga matches, with 1.55 shots on target per 90 and an outstanding 45.6% accuracy, as per FBref.

He edges Palmer in dribbling influence too, recording 39.6 carries per 90 compared to Palmer’s 33.0.

While Palmer is the superior progressive passer (6.03 per 90 to Musiala’s 5.35), Musiala’s ability to destabilise defenders with his direct running offers a complementary, if different, threat.

The irony is stark: Chelsea now pay premiums to secure players like Palmer, while having allowed Musiala to leave for a fraction of his current worth.

Injuries have unfortunately stalled his 2025/26 campaign – a broken leg at the Club World Cup means he will miss large portions of the season – but his trajectory remains upwards.

The Palmer-Musiala contrast highlights the dual nature of Chelsea’s youth model.

They are capable of landing gems that transform the team, but just as easily let diamonds slip through their fingers.

Maresca must drop Chelsea dud who was as bad as Chalobah vs Bayern

Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich in their first Champions League game of the season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2025

Arsenal will host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Mikel Arteta's side facing an early test of their European credentials. The Gunners have already seen off Athletic Club and Olympiacos this season, but the visit of Diego Simeone and his troops will be their sternest challenge yet, particularly with the Spanish giants clicking into gear after a slow beginning to the season.

It will also see Arsenal's formidable defence try to keep someone who could have been a team-mate of theirs quiet. Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez is loving life again in Madrid, but he could have swapped the capital of Spain for that of England earlier this year.

Alvarez was one of several strikers tentatively linked with a move to Arsenal during the first half of 2025, with Arteta eventually settling on Viktor Gyokeres as his new No.9. Even despite their early-season success, some Gunners fans aren't totally convinced by the Swede and are wondering how much better they could be doing with a different forward up top.

Getty Images SportNeed for a No.9

Arsenal supporters had been crying out for a new No.9 since forever. When you grow up on a diet of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, how can you expect to be satisfied by helpings of Olivier Giroud and Alexandre Lacazette?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's successful one-man mission to win the 2020 FA Cup was pretty much the last time Arsenal's striker was one of the most feared in the land. Gabriel Jesus did have a period where he looked like the second coming of Pele upon arrival in 2022, but he hasn't been the same since suffering a knee injury at that year's World Cup and is currently working his way back from an ACL tear.

When they needed a centre forward to carry the scoring load in the second half of 2023-24, Arsenal turned to Kai Havertz, who was very openly signed as a midfielder, though whose versatility was seen as a massive plus-point when paying Chelsea £65 million and immediately making him one of the club's highest earners. The Germany international has played well as a lone striker, though has rarely looked like one you could win the Premier League with.

Arsenal's over-reliance on Havertz and winger Bukayo Saka to provide goals and assists also led Arteta down the path of adding firepower to his squad. That was before you even factored in how stale their attack looked during an injury-blighted 2024-25 campaign.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhy Gyokeres?

Heading into the summer window, there were two prominent names on Arsenal's shortlist. One was RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, and the other was Gyokeres of Sporting CP. The profile of striker Arteta craved for was a brutish and prolific hit-man who could occupy defenders with their physicality.

Despite a summer spend of roughly £250m ($335m), Arsenal seemingly had a limit on how much they were willing to shell out on a striker. It's one of the primary reasons why they pivoted away from Sesko, per , despite the Slovenian being the preferred choice of the club's hierarchy prior to the window.

Sporting director Andrea Berta, who officially took post on March 30, balked at the demands of both Leipzig and Sesko's representatives, which effectively killed the hope of Arsenal agreeing a deal. Sporting, meanwhile, were still tough negotiators and an agreement over Gyokeres dragged on until late July over the structure of payment, but the price never really went back above £60m ($80.5m) all in once the Portuguese champions agreed to come down on their top scorer's £85m ($114m) release clause. The Sweden international, who scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, became the priority target once Sesko was ruled out of the race for good, with Manchester United later stumping up an initial £66.3m plus £7.4m ($89m plus $9.9m) in add-ons to sign him from Leipzig.

While Sesko was still seen as a work in progress by Arsenal, the hope with Gyokeres was that he could hit the ground running as a ready-made striker capable of firing Arsenal to glory without too much of a settling in period, particularly as he had performed excellently in England with Championship side Coventry City from 2021 to 2023.

Getty Images SportEarly teething problems

Through 11 games of his Arsenal career thus far, Gyokeres has scored three goals. Two came on the second week of the season in a 5-0 hammering of Leeds, while the other came directly after the September international window during a 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest at the start of Ange Postecoglou's infamous 39-day spell as manager.

Gyokeres heads into Tuesday's battle with Atletico on a run of nine games without a goal, but this isn't of public concern to Arteta. Prior to Gyokeres drawing a blank in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Fulham, the Arsenal boss said: "I told [Gyokeres] before the first meeting, I said, 'the nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn't score for six or eight games, he can handle that. If not, you have to go somewhere else because the expectation is going to be there'.

"So, if you put on a nine shirt for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, 'OK, six games, if I don't score, I'm a different player? I start to act in a different way?'. No, I want much more of the same of what he's doing."

Speaking after that win at Craven Cottage, Arteta said: "He was very close today again, two or three times. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal, so we try to give him support and love and it will come.

"He looks at you and doesn't move. He was on the screen like this and he just said: 'It's fine'. That's him. There's no emotion there, he just has a single-targeted mindset. That's what I love about him."

That Arteta has even had to whip out these lines is proof enough that Gyokeres hasn't quite had the totally desired impact to date. Beyond the raw numbers, he also looked lost in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Liverpool and their last-gasp 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City. Even against lesser opposition, he's still getting up to speed with the ruthless rigour of the Premier League and appears a step or two behind his team-mates. This is a natural step he needs to take, but one Arsenal can only afford since they're already top of the table.

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Getty ImagesBerta unconvinced

Though Gyokeres and Sesko were the two frontrunners for the Arsenal striker gig, Alvarez's name was one that appeared in many a gossip column when it came to the Emirates Stadium striking vacancy. He was prolific in his first season at Atletico, registering 29 goals and eight assists in 57 matches across all competitions, though was seldom cast as a happy figure at the Metropolitano.

Barcelona have long been linked with the Argentina international, while if Arsenal indeed held an interest, it would probably have been easier to try and get him out of Atletico rather than domestic rivals Manchester City. Alas, Sami Mokbel reported that a move failed to materialise due to financials involved regardless, and Berta, the sporting director at Atleti when they first bought Alvarez for up to £81.8m in 2024, cooled the Gunners' interest.

Alvarez isn't the same physical profile as Gyokeres or Sesko, standing somewhere between 5'7" and 5'9" depending on which database you believe. The point is he's on the diminutive side and wouldn't have been able to harass defenders in the same way, instead relying on his off-ball pressing and on-ball excellence. Playing with this sort of centre-forward may have made Arsenal an easier watch this season, such is Alvarez's elegance and ability to bring others into play.

Sciver-Brunt takes lead in rampant run-chase to seal unassailable 2-0 series win

Valkerie Baynes23-May-2025Three wickets from Em Arlott, playing just her second international match, decimated West Indies as England ran away with victory in the second T20I at Hove and an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match series.Arlott’s impressive spell accounted for key batters Hayley Matthews, who had scored 100 of her side’s 146 runs in the first game at Canterbury, and Stafanie Taylor, who had returned from injury to bolster the tourists’ line-up. She also removed Zaida James, courtesy of one of two strong catches by Sophia Dunkley, and took a catch of her own to dismiss Shemaine Campbelle, the West Indies’ highest scorer for the match with just 26.That was off Charlie Dean, who took back-to-back wickets to finish with 2 for 12 from her four overs, while Lauren Bell took 3 for 28, including one in the opening over to set the tone for the match. Issy Wong was also economical with 1 for 10 in four overs.Player of the match Arlott had waited a long time to make her debut in Canterbury, having been called up to the England squad during India’s visit in 2021 without playing. She missed out again the following year when she left England’s camp before the home series against South Africa began, because she was suffering the after-effects of Covid. At that point she feared her chances of playing for her country were gone. But she made up for lost time as West Indies were restricted to 81 for 9.After losing opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge on the first ball of the reply, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Dunkley reeled in the target with 64 balls to spare.Arlott’s amazing spellMatthews needed someone to go with her this time following her gallant century in a losing cause on Wednesday. But fellow opener Qiana Joseph fell cheaply once more, spooning a return catch to Bell on the third ball of the game. A double-wicket over from Arlott left West Indies reeling at 18 for 3 in the fourth over with their inspirational captain, Matthews, back in the dugout with just six runs to her name. Matthews had tried to play across the line of a length ball from Arlott which shaped in and moved off the seam and clattered into the stumps. Four balls later, Dunkley held a stunning catch, leaping to her left and tumbling at short midwicket to dismiss James.England’s fielding demons from the T20 World Cup match between these two teams looked to be exorcised. Arlott was on a roll when she had the experienced Taylor well caught at short extra cover by Dean for a second-ball duck. That gave Arlott 3 for 7 in 14 balls. She finished her allocation with 3 for 14, including 18 dot balls.Lauren Bell struck in the first over to ignite a ruthless England display•Getty ImagesWest Indies implodeCampbelle was also back from injury and she made some semblance of a start in trying to drag West Indies out of their predicament, reaching 26 off 36 balls. But hers was the first of two wickets to fall in as many balls to Dean with Arlott in the action again, taking a comfortable catch at long-on. Mandy Mangru followed, bowled attempting to paddle sweep and West Indies were 63 for 6. Shabika Gajnabi survived the hat-trick ball but, in the over between, Bell had Aaliyah Alleyne caught behind.Gajnabi fell when Dunkley took another catch at backward point off Wong and Bell had her third wicket when Afy Fletcher holed out to Sciver-Brunt. England conceded just six more runs from that point but they were unable to bowl out West Indies, who set a paltry target of 82.Sciver-Brunt leads the run chaseIf failing to take 10 wickets was a hiccup in the display of ruthlessness that new England head coach Charlotte Edwards had called for on the eve of the series, her side were able to make up for it with a rapid run-chase. Wyatt-Hodge’s dismissal, bowled by James with the first ball of the innings, didn’t augur well. But Sciver-Brunt, England’s new captain, batted with authority, marshalling a powerplay of 49 for 1 and bringing up the team fifty with the first of back-to-back fours off Matthews, driven through the covers then reverse-swept.She brought up her half-century when she was dropped by Cherry-Ann Fraser moving to her right from deep midwicket and ran two for her 17th fifty in T20Is. She then struck the winning runs with a leg-side four off Afy Fletcher. Meanwhile Dunkley, who had top-scored for England with an unbeaten 81 in the previous game, played the supporting role with an unbeaten 24 off 25 balls as England cruised to 82 for 1 in 9.2 overs.

Celtic dropped down to second in the Scottish Premiership table on Saturday afternoon as they were held to a drab 0-0 draw by Hibernian at Parkhead.

The Hoops have dropped points in two of their six matches in the top-flight so far this season, and they now sit two points behind Hearts in the table.

Brendan Rodgers made a few changes to the starting line-up to freshen things up after the 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday night, but the players coming in did not push their case forward to keep a starting berth. Arne Engels was one of those players who did not take their chance.

Why Arne Engels should be dropped by Celtic

The Belgium international was brought into the central midfield mix to replace Benjamin Nygren, who dropped to the bench, but produced an underwhelming performance in the middle of the park.

Engels, who was signed for £11m from Augsburg last summer, was substituted in the 68th minute of the match after failing to register a shot on target or a ‘big chance’ created, per Sofascore.

The 22-year-old flop lost possession of the ball 18 times and only created two chances, neither of which were ‘big chances’, before Rodgers decided to haul him off for the last 20 minutes.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Engels should, therefore, be dropped from the starting line-up after he failed to take his chance to impress. However, the Belgian was not the only underperformer for the Hoops, as Kelechi Iheanacho was even worse than him.

Why Celtic should drop Kelechi Iheanacho

The Nigeria international was brought into the starting line-up to replace Daizen Maeda in the number nine position after he came off the bench to score in the draw with Red Star Belgrade.

As you can see in the clip above, the former Sevilla striker did brilliantly to take the ball under control and find the top corner between two defenders to put the Hoops ahead in that match.

Unfortunately, the left-footed attacker was unable to follow that up with an impressive performance from the start against Hibernian, as he wasted several chances to find the back of the net.

Minutes

67

Shots

4

Shots on target

1

Big chances missed

2

Passes completed

9/10

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

As you can see in the table above, Iheanacho spurned the two big chances that he had, one of which was a tap in that he struck the crossbar with from close range.

The worst part of his performance was that the one chance that he did take, finding the back of the net with a nice finish, was offside because he mistimed his run across the front post.

Along with his poor play in front of goal, Iheanacho also lost 100% of his duels (1/1), per Sofascore, which shows that he did not compete with and make it hard for the Hibs defenders.

This is why he was even worse than Engels, who won more duels (two), created more chances (two), and missed fewer ‘big chances’ (one) than the striker, per Sofascore.

"Phenomenal" Celtic star looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti's rise

This Celtic star may end up being the biggest loser from Sebastian Tounekti’s form.

ByDan Emery Sep 23, 2025

Both of Iheanacho’s goals for Celtic so far have come as a substitute. This, perhaps, suggests that coming off the bench to make an impact should be his role for now, which is why he must be ditched from the starting XI against Braga.

West Ham have been left with a major shortage of forwards, and could now go into the market to raid one of their Premier League rivals for a versatile striker in January.

West Ham short of strikers ahead of Brentford visit

With the slightly later slot of Monday night, the Hammers have some extra time to prepare ahead of Brentford’s visit to the London Stadium for a clash that could be pivotal during Nuno Espirito Santo’s early reign in charge.

Niclas Fullkrug is out with a torn thigh and is expected to be out for the foreseeable future, and the Portuguese boss has now hinted that youngster Callum Marshall may be set for a start as he vies with Callum Wilson for a place in the side.

Later, he expanded on Marshall and the potential striker competition, suggesting it will give West Ham’s options extra motivation to battle it out for a starting place.

Jarrod Bowen continues to be a central threat for West Ham, and the England winger could yet be used in a makeshift striker role once again after Fullkrug’s latest problem.

However, West Ham are in need of a natural striker, and have considered January loan moves.

"Worried" – Pundit labels Nuno decision at West Ham a "real shame" for entire country

Nuno hasn’t been afraid to stamp his authority.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 17, 2025

While that scenario has been evaluated, pace could be a defining factor behind any purchase, with the Hammers struggling to penetrate their opposition at the top end of the field.

After a return of six goals in their opening seven Premier League encounters, West Ham could now turn to one of their rivals to secure a much-needed injection of quality going forward.

West Ham could strike deal for Chelsea sensation Tyrique George

According to Keith Wyness, in conversation with Football Insider, West Ham are trying to land Chelsea forward Tyrique George and ‘sources’ suggest the 19-year-old could well move to the London Stadium in January.

The teenager, while traditionally a left-winger, can play as a centre-forward when required, as he has already done for Enzo Maresca this season on three separate occasions.

George bagged a goal and an assist in Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup after being deployed as a striker — effectively winning the clash and sparing Maresca from a major embarrassment.

Now, West Ham are believed to be in for George, and Wyness says it makes perfect sense.

Five similar players to Tyrique George (FBRef)

Bruma

Benfica

Mika Godts

Ajax

Estevao

Chelsea

Manor Solomon

Villarreal

Artur

Botafogo

Valued at around £26 million during the summer by Chelsea, George has registered four goals and six assists in 31 total appearances for the club.

Due to his limited minutes this season, West Ham may now have the perfect opportunity to offer regular exposure to senior football, though it isn’t clear whether he would arrive in East London permanently or on loan.

Paris Saint-Germain’s turbulent October continues to expose cracks beneath their star-studded surface. A frustrating 1-1 draw against Lorient has left coach Luis Enrique visibly exasperated, calling his team’s display “bad” and lacking “composure.” With points slipping away, key player injured, and a defining run of fixtures approaching, PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 suddenly looks fragile.

PSG falter again as Lorient expose familiar flaws

PSG’s trip to Lorient wasn't a fixture to remember as the Parisian's fell short of clinching a win, drawing their third match of the season. Despite enjoying most of the possession, the champions looked unusually blunt and uninspired in attack. After a goalless first half where Lorient comfortably absorbed pressure, PSG finally broke through in the 52nd minute when Nuno Mendes finished off a neat move involving Warren Zaire-Emery and Senny Mayulu.

But just two minutes later, Lorient equalised through Igor Silva, punishing a rare but costly lapse in PSG’s defence. From that point on, the Parisians chased shadows, struggling to create clear chances despite throwing bodies forward. Their lack of sharpness in front of goal and failure to deal with transitions made the performance one of their most frustrating this season. Enrique’s expression on the touchline said it all as the Spaniard was filled with irritation, disbelief, and disappointment, which he clearly expressed in the post-match press conference.

AdvertisementAFPEnrique's blunt verdict on performance

The draw in Lorient is not an isolated slip; it’s part of a broader trend that’s begun to worry PSG supporters. Since their 1-0 defeat to Marseille in late September, PSG have stumbled repeatedly – drawing against Lille, Strasbourg and now Lorient, all while looking short of rhythm and conviction. Matches that once looked routine are now turning into tests of resilience they keep failing to pass. The Parisian coach didn’t hide his frustration in his post-match interview.

"Why did they cause us so many problems? It’s simple, I think we played a bad match. We had a very bad first half, we didn’t create any chances, the opponent defended very well, and it was difficult. We improved a little in the second half, but I think we could play another 90 minutes without scoring today," said Enrique.

Reflecting on PSG's shortcomings in the game, the PSG head coach said: "I think we lacked composure, we didn't create chances, it's difficult to win an away game like that… Lorient's low block? We're used to those phases of play because most teams defend like that, but when you don't have one-on-ones, movement in space, runs in behind, and you lack composure, it's difficult. Is there frustration? Yes, of course, that’s why I’m a coach. When you don’t get what you want, it’s difficult to manage.”

PSG are currently on top of the table with 21 points, however, Monaco are coming close to closing the gap being in second place with 20 points followed by Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lens with 19 points each. 

PSG's pattern of decline and Desire Doue's injury blow

From the 1-0 loss to Marseille’s high press to the latest draw against 16th-placed Lorient, PSG’s performances reveal a clear pattern of stagnation. Defensive errors, hesitant decision-making and an inability to break compact lines have all combined to blunt the team’s dominance. Even in matches they win, like against Auxerre or Brest, their play often drifts between moments of brilliance and long spells of uncertainty.

The situation worsened against Lorient with  Desire Doue’s injury. The French winger was in visible pain and taken off the field in stretcher after a serious hamstring issue. Coming just weeks after his return from a calf strain, the timing couldn’t be worse. Enrique confirmed post-match that it was “not good news,” a statement that further dampened PSG’s night.

For Enrique, the tactical frustrations now merge with personnel challenges. Without Doue’s dynamism, PSG lose a key link between midfield and attack which is something they have already struggled to establish consistently. Add to that their recurring defensive lapses and lack of final-third precision, and the champions suddenly look less like an unstoppable force and more like a team grappling with its own identity.

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AFPEnrique faces tough challenges against Nice and Bayern Munich

With a crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich looming and a tricky Ligue 1 fixture versus Nice scheduled beforehand this Saturday, Enrique has no time to dwell on disappointment. His next challenge is both tactical and psychological as he pushes to revive confidence, improve finishing, and tighten a defence that’s looked fragile under pressure.

The Spaniard will likely demand a reaction against Nice, using the match as a dress rehearsal before Bayern. But the growing list of injuries, coupled with recent fatigue, means squad management will be critical. PSG’s title ambitions remain intact, but their aura of control is slipping.

Seventh wicket stand of 96 keeps honours even after Mason Crane takes three on opening day

ECB Reporters Network29-Jun-2025Gloucestershire 279 for 7 (Akhter 58, Bracey 57*, Crane 3-55) vs Glamorgan A seventh wicket stand of 96 between James Bracey and Zaman Akhter gives Gloucestershire hope at the end of a hard-fought and fluctuating opening day in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.Glamorgan looked to have taken complete control of proceedings shortly after tea with leg-spinner Mason Crane (3 for 55) ripping through the visitors’ middle-order but Gloucestershire’s early evening counterpunch ensures that at 279 for 7 they have a foothold in this absorbing contest.Having asked the visitors to bat beneath cloudy skies Glamorgan’s seamers failed to threaten in the early exchanges as Gloucestershire’s openers, Cameron Bancroft and Joe Phillips, serenely progressed to a half-century partnership midway through the morning session. It was a masterclass in low-risk batting, the pair expertly rotating the strike and simply waiting for the bad balls to arrive before duly dispatching them to the boundary.With the Glamorgan quicks struggling to create chances and sustain pressure, Sam Northeast, turned to Ben Kellaway’s spin after just 25 overs of the morning session, a decision which soon paid dividends. With his ninth delivery, Kellaway removed Phillips for 38, the Gloucestershire man’s leg-glance superbly caught by Chris Cooke’s behind the stumps to give Glamorgan their first breakthrough with the score on 77.Buoyed by that success, leg-spinner Mason Crane was introduced to work in tandem with Kellaway and found some instant grip and turn. However, Bancroft and Oli Price stood firm to guide the visitors to lunch on 90 for 1, with Bancroft having progressed to an unbeaten 45. A satisfying morning’s work having been asked to bat.The former Australia Test-star looked in ominous form and when he steered Timm van der Gugten to the third-man fence shortly after lunch he brought up his fifth consecutive County Championship score of 50 or more. At that stage, you could have forgiven Glamorgan for fearing the worst, in his last two red-ball innings against the Welsh county, Bancroft had registered 184 and 163 and came into the match off the back of scoring 58 and 176 in Gloucestershire’s thrilling draw with Derbyshire last week.Therefore, the relief among the home players and supporters was almost palpable when van der Gugten trapped the shuffling Bancroft LBW in his next over without any further damage inflicted, the Gloucestershire skipper departing for exactly 50 to leave the visitors on 97 for 2.Miles Hammond joined Ollie Price and put on 43 for the third wicket, but both men struggled for rhythm and fluency, particularly against the accuracy of Crane, and when left-hander Hammond prodded at a googly, he could only guide it straight into the hands of Kiran Carlson at first slip.It was the first of three wickets to fall for just 8 runs, Crane picking up Graeme van Buuren caught behind for 4, before Price’s stodgy stay came to an end with a mistimed pull shot off James Harris which picked out Carlson at mid-wicket. It rather summed up Price’s struggles, his 24 runs coming off 93 deliveries and the visitors were suddenly at a rather precarious looking 148 for 5. By tea, they had limped to 156 for 5 – the afternoon session had yielded just 66 runs in 32 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.It appeared Glamorgan’s stranglehold would continue when Crane picked up the wicket of Ben Charlesworth shortly after tea. The tall left-hander pinned LBW for 16 by a sharp turning leg-break and with Gloucestershire having slipped to 179 for 6, Glamorgan were now firmly in the box seat.However, the ever-dependable Bracey and Akhter had other ideas, launching an early evening counter-attack which added 96 runs in 24 overs. Akhter the chief aggressor, blazing 58 from just 67 balls with 10 fours before falling LBW to van der Gugten (2 for 45) in the penultimate over of the day. Bracey remains unbeaten on 57 and will hope he can find some more willing allies tomorrow and push Gloucestershire’s first innings total towards 300 and beyond.

Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson has revealed why Christian Eriksen declined an approach from the club during the summer transfer window, with the former Manchester United midfielder initially worried about being asked to feature in Wrexham’s popular documentary series, 'Welcome to Wrexham'. The Dane instead joined Bundesliga side Wolfsburg as a free agent.

Getty Images SportEriksen's Wrexham snub revealed

Eriksen was exploring the market as a free agent after leaving Manchester United in the summer. Wrexham, who had just earned another promotion, this time to the Championship, made an ambitious attempt to sign the 33-year-old, but talks quickly stalled, to the disappointment of co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Speaking on , Williamson explained that Eriksen’s representatives initially misunderstood the club’s intentions. 

He said: "I reached out to the agent and what was really interesting in the first call is the reaction was, 'We don't want his story to be in a documentary, because we've had plenty of opportunities for a documentary for his story.' He thought we were calling not because of his footballing capabilities, but because we wanted a documentary story. I'm like, 'Wait a minute. I didn't even think about that'. 

"Obviously, I'm aware of it, but that wasn't the reason we were calling. We were calling because he could potentially be an interesting footballer, we're looking for players that could play for us in the Championship. Difference makers that could help us be competitive on the pitch. After I explained what our actual objectives were, trying to build a competitive squad and that I wasn't even thinking about it from a documentary perspective, we had a great conversation."

Williamson, who previously served on Inter Milan’s board during Eriksen’s time there, said that after clarifying Wrexham’s objectives, the conversation became positive. However, the Denmark international ultimately decided he wanted to continue his career with a top-flight club and later signed for Wolfsburg in September.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWilliamson: Media attention a good thing

Despite missing out on signing a Serie A and FA Cup winner, Williamson believes Wrexham benefited from the publicity surrounding their pursuit. He added: "I wasn't expecting the agent to come out and say what he said because I typically expect those conversations to be confidential. But what it did was it sent a signal around the players' market, if you will. That we were serious about being competitive. I think that was important because a lot of people were just saying, 'OK, what's Wrexham doing? You know, they've been a little bit quiet at the start of the market, but now they want to be competitive.'"

The attention certainly did help Wrexham attract several notable signings, including Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass, Liberato Cacace, Lewis O’Brien, and Conor Coady. The club went on to break their transfer record three times, spending around £33 million ($43m) in total, including £10m ($13m) on Wales forward Nathan Broadhead. So far the string of signings are helping keep the club afloat in the second tier of English football.

Red Dragons adapting to Championship life

Wrexham have risen rapidly through the English football pyramid in recent years. Their journey has been chronicled in the Emmy Award-winning Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, which is broadcast on Disney+. The documentary began with their life in the National League, before eventual back-to-back promotions into League One. Last season, Phil Parkinson's side won automatic promotion, placing them just one step below the Premier League. Currently sitting 16th in the Championship, but only five points off the play-off spots, Williamson said the club’s progress remains on track as they look to break through and into the top flight. He said: "It’ll take a few windows to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion. But we’re heading in the right direction, and that’s exciting."

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Getty Images SportLong-term vision on track

It would be a minor miracle to see Wrexham promoted into the Premier League at the first time of asking, but the Welsh side have continued to show they can compete with some of the UK's biggest clubs. Plenty of teams in the Championship have vast experience of life at the top, and Wrexham are continuing to push in the right direction at the top of the pyramid.

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a move for an “unbelievable” Premier League player in the January transfer window, as he looks to boost his World Cup chances.

Aaronson hails impressive "mentality" at Leeds

The Whites continue to battle well in the Premier League this season, with last Friday’s 2-1 win at home to West Ham leaving them 15th in the table at the end of the weekend.

One player who is enjoying his football at Leeds is Brenden Aaronson, with the American hailing the mentality on show under Daniel Farke after scoring against the Hammers, and lauding the competition for places.

“It was huge for us today to keep the mentality. I think that was the message all week. Late minutes in the game, stay on top of it and get the result which we needed today to hold the 2-1 win. Defensively, we were good today. We handed a lot of crossing situations from them. West Ham is a team that has a ton of quality so it was definitely a difficult game. I am just proud of the group.

“I think we have this next-man-up mentality where I think everybody is ready to play and everybody is winning their chance. I think the biggest thing for me is getting in the box and the ball bounces your way but that is all about positioning and reacting. I am really happy with the goal and I am happy with the group and the atmosphere.”

But Leeds will know that there is still a huge amount of work to do this season, in terms of avoiding relegation back to the Championship, and new signings in January wouldn’t go amiss.

Leeds eye January move for "unbelievable" Barkley

According to The Leeds Press, Leeds and Farke are keen on signing Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley on loan in the January window.

The 31-year-old is seen as “an option amongst several other players” midway through the season, with Farke “keen to add a creative midfielder to his squad in January”. The player himself is “keen for more game time”, with a move to Elland Road giving him an “outside chance of a place in the England World Cup squad” next summer.

Barkley could be a shrewd creative loan option for Leeds in attacking midfield, scoring 37 Premier League goals in his career and being lauded by former Luton Town teammate Andros Townsend, who even once compared him to the legendary Diego Maradona.

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Barkley has a point to prove and a big World Cup aim with England, which would only be a good thing for Leeds, and if the loan move didn’t work out, he would simply return to Villa at the end of the season.

Rawal made contact with Filer and Ecclestone in two separate incidents during India’s successful chase against England

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2025India opening batter Pratika Rawal has been fined 10% of her match fee and handed one demerit point for “avoidable physical contact” during the first ODI against England on Tuesday, which India won by four wickets.Two separate incidents took place during India’s chase, which came in for scrutiny by the match officials.The first was when Rawal played a ball off Lauren Filer in the 18th over and went across for a single. While approaching the non-striker’s end, she made contact with the bowler. Then, in the next over, after being bowled by Sophie Ecclestone for a 51-ball 36, Rawal made contact with Ecclestone on her way back to the dressing room.Related

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Rawal pleaded guilty to the Level 1 breach of the ICC’s code of conduct, which relates to “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play”.”It [the collision with Filer] was not intentional; I was just running in my way,” Rawal said ahead of the second ODI at Lord’s*. “And the shoulder barge thing was also not deliberate. I don’t think there is [need to have] any reaction to it or [make] any fuss about it.”While she was in the middle, Rawal stitched together partnerships of 48 with Smriti Mandhana for the first wicket and 46 with Harleen Deol for the second wicket, setting up the chase of 259, which India completed comfortably thanks to a 90-run stand between Jemimah Rodrigues (48) and Deepti Sharma (62*) for the fifth wicket.England, meanwhile, were fined 5% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate. They were found to be one over short of the target in the time allotted for completing their overs, though they didn’t have to bowl all 50, India getting over the line with ten balls in hand.England and India will meet each other for the second ODI on Saturday, at Lord’s, before the last game of the tour, the third ODI in Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. India had earlier won the T20I series 3-2.* 1300 GMT Updated with Rawal’s qoute