Lancashire have said they are investigating after an incident in which a fan attending the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford was asked to cover up the Pakistan shirt they were wearing.The fan, named in Pakistani media as Farooq Nazar, posted a video on social media documenting the request, initially from a member of the security staff at the ground, that he cover the shirt, a replica of Pakistan’s traditional green limited-overs kit.The security guard, who identifies himself as working for Lancashire, says: “I’ve been asked by control if you can cover that shirt up, please.” Later on, a steward can be heard saying the shirt “might be considered nationalistic”.Related
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In the video, Nazar can be seen becoming increasingly agitated amid repeated requests to cover up. Eventually, he is approached by a police officer, who asks to continue the conversation away from the stands. According to reports, Nazar then opted to leave the ground rather than hide his shirt.Political relations between India and Pakistan, frosty for years, have been at their most tense this year, following a brief military skirmish between the two countries in May. Those tensions have filtered into relations between the BCCI and PCB; the two sides have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 and no Test cricket since 2007-08. Their participation in ICC events hosted by either country has also recently become problematic, with a neutral venue added in to stage their games as part of a hybrid solution to the issue.It is unclear on which day of the Test, which ended in a draw as India batted their way through five sessions, the incident took place but Lancashire confirmed they were looking into it.”We are aware of the incident referenced and are taking steps to understand the facts and context surrounding the matter fully,” a Lancashire spokesperson said.In recent years, Lancashire have openly spoken of building their links with India. The Hundred team based at the ground, Manchester Originals, are set to become 70% owned by Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG group, which runs Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, while Lancashire’s chief executive, Daniel Gidney, has suggested giving the BCCI a stake in the 100-ball tournament.
Tottenham ace James Maddison has announced the birth of his second set of twins alongside partner Kennedy Alexa. The couple had their first child, Leo, in 2021 and in the summer of 2023, twins Delilah and Rome were born. Now, the England international and Kennedy have their fourth and fifth kids, with Maddison saying their five-a-side team is now "complete".
Maddison family grows again
On Monday, the former Leicester City midfielder announced that Jensen and Frankie Maddison had been born on October 30, while praising his partner as a "superwoman". Incidentally, it is very rare to have twins, let alone two sets. In fact, the odds are a huge one in 50,000.
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In addition to sharing photos of his latest newborns, he wrote in a heartwarming post on Instagram: "Jensen & Frankie Maddison. 30.10.25. Five a side team complete. You’re a superwoman @kennedyalexa."
Maddison on road to recovery
Maddison has been short of luck with injuries in recent years, the latest of which came in a pre-season game against Newcastle United where he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The Englishman is expected to miss the majority of this season but the birth of his latest set of twins will no doubt lift his spirits.
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While Maddison is still on the sidelines, in addition to looking after his young family, his Tottenham side take on Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Spurs then return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host in-form Manchester United.
Manchester United’s 1-0 triumph over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has injected a newfound sense of optimism that Ruben Amorim is the man to lead the club forward.
Such a performance made it two Premier League wins in a row for the Red Devils, something which hadn’t been achieved since May 2024 under former boss Erik ten Hag.
Dating back to the end of August, the side have now won four of their last six matches, showcasing the impressive work conducted by the boss despite links around his future at Old Trafford.
The 40-year-old also appears to have the backing of the hierarchy, especially after Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed he wanted to give the former Sporting CP boss three years in the role.
However, Amorim may have numerous players to thank for the club’s recent upturn in form, with the duo undoubtedly being some of the shining lights during 2025/26.
The underlying stats behind Bruno & Mbeumo’s success in 2025/26
Despite a dismal 2024/25 campaign, Bruno Fernandes managed to achieve some incredible numbers for United, as seen by his tally of 37 combined goals and assists, but the midfielder has continued such form into the new campaign.
He’s currently sitting at the top of the Red Devils’ chances created chart, currently registering 2.8 per 90 – a tally that is way higher than any other player within the squad.
The 31-year-old has also completed the most passes of any player, further highlighting the ability he possesses to provide others with endless opportunities – despite operating in a deeper role after the arrival of one player this summer.
Bruno has had to play as a number eight to help accommodate new addition Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian showcasing why the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £71m for his signature.
The 26-year-old has already had an immediate impact, achieving the highest shot-on-target accuracy rate of any player in squad – contributing to his top-goalscorer status at present.
He’s also created the same number of big chances in the Premier League as Bruno, highlighting his all-round quality in attacking areas – something which was greatly lacking in 2024/25.
The United star who’s becoming Amorim’s best player
Mbeumo and Bruno have both registered a total of three combined goals and assists – with the pair registering the most contributions of any players in the United squad.
The efforts in front of goal, coupled with the aforementioned underlying stats, have made the pair some of the first names on Amorim’s teamsheet.
The pair have played key roles in the recent revival of the manager and will likely continue to do so in the near future, potentially bringing about added levels of success in the years ahead.
However, the aforementioned pair may not be the only ones who play a vital role under Amorim, with Amad Diallo arguably being one of his most important players at present.
Before the manager’s arrival at Old Trafford, the Ivorian was barely an impact player under Ten Hag and often had to rely on minutes off the bench to have the desired effect.
He’s since become a consistent starter over the last 12 months, but also doing so in a somewhat unfamiliar role to help fit into the 40-year-old’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system.
The 23-year-old has occupied the RWB position of late, a role that is slightly deeper than what he’s used to, having joined the Red Devils as a right-winger back in the winter of 2021.
However, Amad has taken to life in the position like a duck to water, nailing it down as his own and subsequently producing numerous incredible figures in 2025/26.
He’s featured in all but one league outing to date, only registering one goal contribution, but it’s his underlying stats that have seen him adhere himself to the fanbase.
Games played
7
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
93%
Key passes made
1.4
Dribbles completed
1.2
Tackles made
1.9
Ball recoveries made
4.1
Big chances created
2
The Ivorian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.4 key passes per 90 along with a 93% pass completion rate – subsequently showcasing his ability to provide those around him with key chances.
Amad has also completed 1.2 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League, which has allowed him to get into dangerous areas before making the killer pass to one of his teammates.
However, his new role has seen him take on added defensive responsibility, something he’s taken in his stride as seen by his tally of 1.9 tackles and 4.1 ball recoveries made per 90.
As a result of such performances, Amad is rapidly becoming one of the manager’s key performers, showcasing that he can be trusted operating in a somewhat unnatural position.
Should he continue on such a trajectory, the youngster can be a key first-team member for many years to come and help Bruno and Mbeumo in their quest for success in the final third.
Man Utd's "homegrown Osimhen" at Carrington looks like their new Rashford
Manchester United already have a star who could reach phenomenal levels in the near future.
On Saturday, they got to sit back and watch Chelsea, Manchester United, and, most crucially, Liverpool lose, while they went on to claim all three points in dramatic fashion away to Newcastle United.
However, there is no time to get distracted, as Mikel Arteta and Co have another game to prepare for against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
With games coming thick and fast, the manager should be looking to make a host of changes to the starting lineup, including dropping one promising player for a world-beater.
The changes Arteta needs to make to the Arsenal lineup
It was a gruelling game at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, and with another potentially testing match against an improving West Ham United this weekend, Arteta should consider making some changes to the starting lineup to face Olympiacos.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The first of those changes should come between the sticks, with Kepa Arrizabalaga coming in for David Raya, and while the former Chelsea keeper didn’t play in the last UCL game, this one should be a slightly easier affair and a real chance to rest the Gunners’ number one.
At right-back, Ben White deserves a chance to start another game in place of Jurrien White, who was unreal against the Toon. On the other flank, it should be a second start of the season for young Myles Lewis-Skelly, who added some real dynamism when he came off the bench on Sunday.
In the middle of the park, it might be worth keeping Martin Zubimendi at the base of midfield, especially as this game could provide an opportunity for the manager to start Martin Odegaard alongside Eberechi Eze.
The latter is still getting to grips with how the team plays, so keeping him in the lineup makes sense to help him with that, and then when it comes to the latter, he needs to get back his match sharpness as quickly as possible if he’s going to play a significant role over the coming months.
Moreover, playing both of them in midfield should give the side a far more cutting edge and help deal with a stubborn low block, if that’s how the Greek side opts to play.
Finally, up-top Arteta should keep Viktor Gyokeres in the side as he was looking better on Sunday, and the more chances he gets to bolster his goal tally, the more confident and therefore effective he should become.
Gabriel Martinelli should come in off the Swede’s left, and then on the right, Ethan Nwaneri should be handed another start, as Bukayo Saka no longer needs to be run into the ground anymore, especially when the teenager is more than good enough to cover for him.
With all that said, there is one more area of the lineup that needs to be addressed – an area where Arteta should make another bold call.
Arteta should axe one of Arsenal's most exciting players
So, one of the players who should retain their position at centre-back for the game is Gabriel Magalhães, as he will not want to sit out after scoring that goal against Newcastle.
However, alongside him, Arteta should bring William Saliba back into the side.
Yes, that means dropping the incredible Cristhian Mosquera, who has looked so good already this season that one content creator has already branded him the club’s “signing of the summer.”
However, there is really one key reason why he should be dropped, and no, it’s not because he made the mistake that led to the goal on the weekend.
Instead, it’s the fact that he is still relatively young for a defender – 21 years old – and inexperienced at this level, so it might be wise to take him out of the lineup for a game or two and ensure he’s not overplayed.
However, when it really comes down to it, the reason the former Valencia gem should be dropped is so that Saliba can come back into the team.
The “world-class” titan, as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano, came on at half-time at St James’ Park due to minor fitness issues, and that is one of the reasons he should be in from the start against Olympiacos, so he can build up his fitness and match sharpness ahead of the weekend.
Saliba’s Arsenal Career
Appearances
140
Starts
137
Minutes
12193′
Goals
7
Assists
3
Points per Game
2.06
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, if the manager opts to play several of his young stars, such as Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, and possibly even Max Dowman, it would make sense to ensure the centre-back pairing is as strong as it can possibly be.
Ultimately, while Mosquera is an incredible talent, Saliba should be in from the start to regain his fitness and provide balance for what could be a relatively inexperienced team.
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New Zealand opener Bates scores unbeaten 93, Eagles bowled out for 177
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Apr-2025A four-wicket haul for fledgling seamer Phoebe Turner was followed by a brilliant a unbeaten 93 for New Zealander Suzie Bates as dominant Durham brushed aside Essex by nine wickets at the Banks Homes Riverside in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition opener.Turner, 21, was the standout bowler with 4 for 33 from eight overs as Essex, inserted, were bowled out for 177 inside 48 overs. Fellow seamer Grace Thompson also impressed with two wickets on her professional debut, while experienced leg-spinner Katie Levick struck three times.Essex recovered from 65 for 5 in the 20th over, with Jodie Grewcock contributing 31 and Sophia Smale 40. They shared a sixth-wicket 53, but it wasn’t enough in front of a 600-strong crowd at the start of the professional era of women’s cricket in the North East.Related
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Opener Bates is Durham’s first ever professional women’s overseas signing, and she led a composed chase with 14 fours in 103 balls. She shared a superb unbroken 173 with second-wicket partner and captain Hollie Armitage, who scored 64 off 87 balls. A five-point victory was sealed in the 33rd over.Turner was the leading wicket-taker in last season’s 50-over regional competition, striking 23 times for Northern Diamonds. She and Thompson – a tall 17-year-old rookie – set the tone as the Eagles slipped into early trouble.Thompson struck with the new ball when she trapped Jo Gardner lbw before Turner angled one across visiting captain Grace Scrivens and had the left-hander caught behind for 19, making it 46 for 2 in the 12th over.Turner then had Cordelia Griffith caught behind by England squad wicketkeeper Bess Heath, who claimed two catches and two stumpings. The same bowler had Lissy Macleod caught and bowled off a skied top-edge.In between, Abi Glen took a superb catch diving to her left at first slip to help Thompson remove Flo Miller as Essex slipped to five down.The half-century stand between Grewcock and Smale, under the Riverside floodlights, was accumulative.Levick removed both Grewcock and Smale stumped, leaving the Eagles 145 for 7 in the 42nd over.Levick then ousted Amara Carr for 21 and, courtesy of a catch at short third, helped Turner get Eva Gray as the tail was mopped up with 2.3 overs remaining.Levick and Thompson finished with 3 for 28 and 2 for 34 from their respective 10-over spells.Run-scoring on this pitch wasn’t completely trouble-free, and Kate Coppack’s seam trapped Emma Marlow lbw in the second over of Durham’s chase.But in 37-year-old Bates, a veteran of 348 all-format international appearances, and Armitage, Durham had the perfect combination to steer their ship.They calmed any early nerves early in their near 31-over alliance before becoming more expansive to extinguish Essex’s hopes.Durham reached 100 for 1 after 22 overs, by which stage a home victory was almost certain.Bates was strong on both sides of the wicket and reached her fifty off 68 balls moments later. Armitage then followed her to the same milestone off 75 to cap off the bonus-point success.
In the other match, Diana Baig set up Pakistan’s win against Ireland
Firdose Moonda09-Apr-2025Scotland pulled off the first upset of the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers by denying Hayley Matthews, who single-handedly kept West Indies in the game despite leaving the field twice with severe cramps, and beating the side by 11 runs.Matthews became only the fourth player to take four wickets and score a century in an ODI but West Indies’ over-reliance on her cost them. She took four of the first five Scotland wickets and forced herself to return to the crease twice – once off a stretcher to keep batting when West Indies were nine wickets down – but it was not enough. Scotland were the side that rallied around Sarah Bryce’s 55 (off 56 balls) and her 82-run fifth wicket stand with Megan McColl and then their spinners. Offpinners Katherine Fraser and Darcy Carter and legspinner Abtaha Maqsood took six wickets between them to defend 244 and get their first points on the board.Temperatures were close to 40 degrees Celcius with humidity at around 60% and conditions took their toll across both games in Lahore. West Indies used cooling collars made of ice packs during drinks breaks, Scotland took shelter under umbrellas and Ireland’s Gaby Lewis received treatment on field three times for cramps during her 96 minutes of batting against hosts Pakistan.Related
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West Indies chose to bowl first on a green top at the LCCA Ground but Scotland were up to the task. Abbi Aitken-Drummond and Carter put on 48 inside 12 overs, in an innings laced with three boundaries each. Matthews brought herself on in the 12th over and had Aitken-Drummond and Kathryn Bryce caught behind in successive overs and Carter dismissed in her third and suddenly, Scotland were 69 for 3. When Chinelle Henry’s direct hit ran out Ailsa Lister West Indies finally looked like they had another player on the field and could run through Scotland.Sarah Bryce held the innings together but when she edged to slip, Scotland went into freefall. They lost 6 for 62 and were bowled out in 45 overs, as both Aaliyah Alleynne and Karishma Ramharack took two wickets each.The chase started poorly when Qiana Joseph gifted a caught-and-bowled to Carter. Zaida James was in at No.3 in the second over. She batted slowly but carefully and shared a 113-run stand with Matthews, which put West Indies well on track. They were 120 for 2 in the 27th over when James tried to hit Chloe Abel over fine leg but found the fielder at 45 and then chaos ensued.West Indies lost Shemaine Campbell, Stafanie Taylor and Henry in the space of 23 deliveries and of those, Taylor’s run-out was key but the required run-rate still manageable. West Indies needed 53 runs off 72 balls and Matthews was still batting, but only just.When Shabika Gajnabi was caught behind, Mathews was on 95 and hobbling. Cherry-Ann Fraser was out in the next over and it was clear Matthews was forcing herself to keep going but couldn’t. She left the field. Afy Fletcher lasted six balls and was dismissed for duck so Matthews came back on and hit four off the next ball she faced. She was on 99 and running out of partners. She fell to the ground wailing and then was stretchered off the field.Ramharack gave Fraser another caught and bowled to leave West Indies nine down when Matthews rolled herself off the stretcher and returned to bat. She brought a century and kept West Indies in the hunt but Alleynne couldn’t stay with her. She was out lbw in the 47th over, with West Indies 11 runs short. They have a day’s break before playing Ireland on Friday.File photo: Diana Baig picked up four wickets•Getty ImagesIn the day’s other match, hosts Pakistan had their bowlers, led by senior seamer Diana Baig, to thank for securing them a 38 run win over Ireland. Pakistan trudged through their innings to score 217 and Ireland were bossing the chase on 96 for 1 in side 24 overs. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu took three wickets in four overs to leave Ireland’s middle-order exposed before Baig took care of the tail. She finished with figures of 4 for 35 in her first appearance for the team since their opening match of last year’s T20 World Cup and got Pakistan’s campaign off to a winning start.Ireland will have the same amount of recovery time – physically and emotionally – after believing they had done enough against Pakistan. Jane Maguire removed Gull Feroza early and Sidra Amin found run-scoring tough which meant the dot ball mounted up. Muneeba Ali tried to keep the scoreboard moving but Pakistan were 79 for 1 after 20 overs and going nowhere. Sidra was on 29 off 61 balls. Muneeba fell trying to get things going and was replaced by Aliya Riaz.Aliya showed more initiative and was scoring at a run-a-ball when Amin finally got to 50 off 110 balls and was then dismissed at the end of the 36th over. Pakistan were 153 for 3 after 36 overs and a score over 200 looked some distance away. Natalia Pervaiz came in ahead of captain Fatima Sana but was runmout for 12, by which time Aliya was also dismissed. Pakistan did not have the batters for a last ten-over push and lost 6 wickets for 42 runs from Aliya’s dismissal. They were bowled out with an over to spare for 217.That total didn’t look enough despite Baig’s new-ball breakthrough. She had Sarah Forbes given out lbw in the ninth over but a 69-run second wicket stand between Lewis and Amy Hunter started to take the game away. Ireland were 96 for 1 when Sandhu trapped Lewis on the back pad and dragged Pakistan into the game. Both Hunter and Delany played on, leaving Ireland 119 for 4 and Pakistan had the opportunity to burst through.Sadia Iqbal got rid of Leah Paul before Baig was brought back and removed Christina Coulter Reilly, Louise Little and Arelen Kelley in three overs. Cara Murray’s run-out confirmed Pakistan’s win. They will take on Scotland on Friday.
Manchester City are looking to cement themselves as the team to beat in the Premier League and they could go some way to doing that if they are able to tempt their latest transfer target to the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City react to Champions League league phase draw
In an eventful week, the Champions League league phase draw is now complete and Manchester City now know who they will face for a place in the knockout rounds of the competition.
From the eight sides they will take on, ties against Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli are the standouts, though the Citizens have landed a favourable run off games on paper and will feel confident they can progress.
Man City’s Champions League opponents
Real Madrid (A)
Borussia Dortmund (H)
Bayer Leverkusen (H)
Villarreal (A)
Napoli (H)
Bodo/Glimt (A)
Galatasaray (H)
AS Monaco (A)
Fixture dates TBC
Speaking after the draw, Pep Guardiola expressed his delight at being able to welcome former Manchester City heroes Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane back to the Etihad Stadium.
He stated: “I’m really pleased he (Kevin De Bruyne) will come back here and of course, we have to beat the teams Napoli and Galatasaray (with Leroy Sane), nice to welcome him back. I’m sure the people will give a great welcome to them, they deserve it.”
Nevertheless, attention turns to their clash against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend alongside transfer activity, and the Citizens are plotting move to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid.
Admittedly, that may come down the line in January, though it shows that Guardiola’s ambition is through the roof as his side look to get back to dominating English football. Fermin Lopez could also move to the Etihad from Barcelona, and they are lining up another significant play for one of the world’s finest stars amid growing uncertainty over his future at a global superpower.
Man City lining up record Vinicius Junior bid
According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are lining up a £130 million bid to sign Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, given he has two years on his contract left in the Spanish capital.
The Brazil international is at loggerheads with Los Blancos over an extension and Guardiola is ready to swoop in, given his pace and ability to burn past defenders in one-on-one situations.
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The Blues are lining up a shock move for a player Pep Guardiola has praised in the past…
ByDominic Lund Aug 28, 2025
Similar to their pursuit of Alexander-Arnold, the Citizens may wait until 2026 to move for the winger, who has been nominated for the 2025 Balon D’Or and has previously been labelled “quality” by scout Jacek Kulig.
Starting the campaign with a bang, Vinicius registered a goal and an assist in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Real Oviedo last weekend, but his situation is growing slightly more uncertain as the weeks go by.
Manchester City are no stranger to a statement signing, and manging to push a deal over the line for someone of such a high pedigree would be guaranteed to make global headlines.
Manchester United outcast Andre Onana grabbed a delightful assist as Trabzonspor came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Gaziantep in a Turkish Super Lig clash on Saturday. Onana's maiden appearance for the Turkish club came last week where he impressed after making eight saves, although his new club went on to lose 1-0 to Fenerbahce.
Onana's Turkish delight as keeper plays part in goal
The United loanee marauded way outside of his penalty area as he looked to take matters into his own hands, eventually sending a pinpoint pass for Paul Onuachu behind the opponent's defence. The former Southampton striker held off several defenders before slotting beyond the onrushing goalkeeper as Trabzonspor came back from behind to snatch a point against Gaziantep.
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Watch the video of Onana's assist
AFP
Man Utd flop continues to impress on loan
The Cameroonian goalkeeper has, at least temporarily, ended his nightmare spell at Old Trafford after completing a season-long loan move to the Turkish Super Lig towards the end of the summer transfer window. Before the move, Onana had appeared in just one game for United this season, their Carabao Cup second-round exit against fourth-tier side Grimsby Town, where he made several mistakes and conceded 11 times in the penalty shootout.
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When will Onana play next?
The 29-year-old will be back in action for Trabzonspor on September 27 as they host Fatih Karagumruk in a Super Lig clash.
One thing’s for certain: Liverpool are primed for an eventful end to the summer transfer window.
FSG are diligent operators, with Anfield’s transfer strategy driven by two of the best in the business in Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, and this was clear through the swift signings of full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and the British-record signing of playmaker Florian Wirtz, which was wrapped up in June.
However, the pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been anything but expeditious, with the Reds having seen a British-record bid worth £110m plus add-ons rejected at the start of August, following weeks of intense speculation and suggestion that the Sweden international wants to move to Anfield.
Now, it’s getting messy. The 25-year-old is aggrieved about the way his and Newcastle’s transfer window has transpired, and is insistent that he has played his final match for the Magpies.
Liverpool need another striker, having sold Darwin Nunez to Al Hilal in a deal rising to £57m after parting ways with Luis Diaz, now garbed in Bayern Munich’s kit.
But did Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace make a comment on Arne Slot’s attacking line?
What the Community Shield told us
Last month, Liverpool signed Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike for a £79m fee, adding one of the most talented forwards in Europe to Slot’s squad.
Isak’s future broods in the background, but the French forward stepped up and scored during the Community Shield at Wembley, expertly converting following Wirtz’s fizzed pass just four minutes into his debut.
The 23-year-old told Liverpool and the fanbase that he’s ready to become a major player at Anfield and in the Premier League, bearing the potential to rival the likes of Isak for a place as one of Europe’s top strikers.
Though defensive fragility and thinness were clear against the Eagles, the Merseysiders also lack depth up top. And though Ekitike is the real deal, it’s imperative that Hughes and co welcome another forward to Liverpool’s mix this month.
Liverpool lining up Isak alternative
Liverpool want Isak, but they are ready to pounce on other attacking targets should the need arise. And according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Bradley Barcola sits right at the top of the shortlist.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Discussing the Premier League champions’ outstanding transfer plans this summer with GIVEMESPORT, Romano confirmed that internal discussions have been held behind the scenes over a move for Barcola, 22, who has emerged as a superstar at PSG.
Instrumental in driving Luis Enrique’s quadruple-winning 2024/25 campaign, the France international has been valued at around €100m (equating to around £87m) by the French giants, who hope to tie Barcola down to a long and lucrative new contract in Paris.
Liverpool Barcola
The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe has suggested Liverpool could move to sign a left-sided forward along with a nine such as Isak, and with that in mind, could the Reds not pull off a stunning double swoop?
Why Liverpool want Bradley Barcola
Barcola has flaws in his game; he’s certainly not the finished product. But how exciting is that? The French winger, after all, posted 21 goals and 21 assists apiece across all competitions for PSG last season, winning four major titles, including the Champions League.
Already considered to be a “world-class player” by Liverpool and Romano, Barcola’s pace and potency down the left flank suggest he could be the perfect Diaz replacement and contrast to the more goal-focused Cody Gakpo. While the Frenchman may be the Swede’s alternative at the moment, we can envisage a team where they co-exist.
Isak is a striker of startling completeness, and that’s why he could work so fluently with Barcola, whose grasp of the technical side of the game would work well alongside the Scandinavian talent’s goalscoring qualities.
Last season, it was clear that Eddie Howe reduced the scope of Isak’s game, thus streamlining his prolific capacity and giving rise to his standout strength.
Alexander Isak’s Last Two PL Seasons
Stats (* per game)
23/24
24/25
Matches (starts)
30 (27)
34 (34)
Goals
21
23
Assists
2
6
Touches*
26.8
33.3
Shots (on target)*
2.4 (1.4)
2.9 (1.4)
Big chances missed
21
18
Pass completion
80%
77%
Big chances created
5
11
Key passes*
0.9
1.2
Dribbles*
1.4
1.2
Ball recoveries*
1.3
1.6
Tackles + interceptions*
0.4
0.5
Duels (won)*
2.4
2.8
Data via Sofascore
Even so, Isak still enjoyed plenty of creative moments, with that fact further substantiated through his ranking among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, via FBref.
Slot loves players who can do multiple things, and so Isak’s role at number nine would come with the ancillary duty of supplying teammates.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
This would be helpful for Barcola, who enjoyed much success in front of goal last year, albeit not producing true clinical results. Indeed, across PSG’s league and European campaigns, the £109k-per-week talent might have scored 17 goals, but he also missed 33 big chances, highlighting ample room for improvement there.
Luckily, he’s got a knack for finding space and shooting, and his 21-goal return last year is hardly something to be sniffed at.
With great ball-carrying ability, creative focus and the potential to become a truly deadly goalscorer, Barcola is surely the perfect partner for a striker like Isak, whose intelligence and off-the-ball movement would accommodate the France star when he wants the headlines.
And when Barcola is the one tasked with supplying Isak? Well, expect a seamless connection, striking fear into the rest of the Premier League and indeed Europe.
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The half-centuries from Kamindu and Asalanka ended up as mere footnotes in the game as WI won with five balls to spare
Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Oct-2024West Indies 180 for 5 (King 63, Lewis 50, Pathirana 2-27) beat Sri Lanka 179 for 7 (Asalanka 59, Kamindu 51, Shepherd 2-39) by five wicketsBrandon King and Evin Lewis crashed 107 off 55 balls at the top of the order, to set West Indies beautifully on course to their target of 180, in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. Although the hosts’ middle-overs bowlers slowed West Indies’ progress, they were never in serious trouble.They had plenty of batting to see the chase through, and Sherfane Rutherford finished it off with a four off the first ball of the final over.Shamar Joseph was the most economical of West Indies’ bowlers, conceding only 27 from his four overs. Though King and Lewis later outshone them, Sri Lanka had two half-centurions too, in Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, whose 82-run stand was the most substantial of the innings.King, Lewis blast the powerplayLewis struck the first boundaries, launching Chamindu Wickramasinghe for a six and four at the end of the first over, but it was King who made the greatest impression while the fielding restrictions were in play. King’s standard move was to run at the bowlers and blast them down the ground. So good was his hand-eye coordination, that he did it twice against seamer Asitha Fernando in the second over, before taking aim at the spin of Maheesh Theekshana in the third over.By the end of the powerplay, King had eight fours (some of them edged, to be fair), and 39 runs off 20 balls. Lewis, who had blasted boundaries off Wickramasinghe almost exclusively, had 31 off 16 balls. And West Indies had 74 off the first six.They kept swinging, and by the end, Lewis made 50 off 28, and King 63 off 33. The requirement was fairly simple after their onslaught.Shamar Springer celebrates his maiden T20I wicket•AP Photo/Viraj KothalawalaWI quicks strike earlyBy contrast, Sri Lanka’s top order had failed to prosper on a helpful surface, thanks in part to sharp bowling from West Indies’ quicks. Romario Shepherd caught the edge of Pathum Nissanka’s bat three times, conceded fours behind the wicket and then had him caught by the keeper on the third occasion, to make West Indies’ first breakthrough. Kusal Perera was then bowled by Shamar Joseph early in the following over.When Kusal Mendis was also bowled by an excellent quicker delivery from Gudakesh Motie, leaving Sri Lanka at 58 for 3, it felt as if West Indies were about to carve open the game.Kamindu may be good at cricketBut then perhaps it’s time to admit that Kamindu appears to know what he is doing on a cricket field. Having recently become the fastest batter since 1950 to 1000 Test runs, he produced 50 off 41 here in the shortest format, outdone in his team only by Asalanka who clubbed 59 off 35, Kamindu would also bowl two overs for 14, switching arms when necessary. He took the wicket of the opposition’s top scorer, King, with his left-arm spin, and collected figures of 1 for 14.