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Starc fiery but expensive, while Hazlewood gives nothing away, after Travis Head warms up for Lord’s with ton

Daniel Brettig at New Road07-Aug-2019Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood made contrasting entries to the Ashes tour under the gaze of Worcester Cathedral at New Road, the former’s ability to take wickets but also go for runs neatly encapsulated in a spell reading 4-1-27-1 after the tourists had declared at 266 for 5 on the opening day.Taking the new ball, Starc got his line right in the opening over to pin Tom Fell lbw for a duck and with 1 for 0 after a single over would have been happy with his start. However, with the captain Tim Paine looking on from mid off – Matthew Wade taking the gloves in this game – Starc’s next three overs went for 27, most of them finding the middle of the talented teenager Jack Haynes’ bat, to the delight of a largely sedate crowd.Hazlewood, meanwhile, gave virtually nothing away while returning 2 for 2 from four overs, bowling Josh Dell off his glove with some prancing bounce and then getting Haynes lbw in his final over before the close. The combination of wickets and economy would have been of interest to Paine and the watching selection chairman Trevor Hohns, as all assess their options ahead of the second Test at Lord’s next week.Sent in to bat by Worcestershire on a fine if cloudy morning, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft had opened for the Australians but neither would have been entirely happy with their stays. Harris was only able to survive for 58 minutes before he was bowled trying to leave one from the otherwise-expensive Adam Finch, and Bancroft made a determined start before also losing his stumps in trying to drive at Josh Tongue.More comfortable were Usman Khawaja, gliding to an attractive 57 before touching a good one from Tongue behind the stumps, and Travis Head, who made the most of his return to a ground where he played county cricket last year by carving out a third hundred in six matches on this tour, having also contributed a useful 35 and 51 at Edgbaston.There was time too for Wade to punch 20 from 16 balls before Paine declared, giving Starc and Hazlewood 45 minutes of bowling before the 6pm close. Wade kept wicket in order to prepare himself for the event of Paine being sidelined from one of the remaining four Tests and forcing a change in gloveman, while also granting the captain a mental break from the task of keeping wicket.

Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is very much taken, but that didn't stop one ambitious fan from trying to set him up with someone else during the World Series championship parade.

Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko, were seen enjoying themselves atop the players' bus in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon when they spotted a Dodgers fan's "Marry My Mom" sign that was playfully trying to break the couple up. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell saw it first, and hilariously pointed at the fan with a cheeky smirk.

When Ohtani saw the sign, he turned to tell Mamiko, who immediately was in stitches about it. She then seemed to try to cover Ohtani's eyes in case there were any more flirty or courting signs along the parade route.

Watch that funny moment in the video below, posted by TikTok user @jaybug2714:

Shooters shoot.

Here are a few more cute moments of Mamiko trying to take pictures of Ohtani during the parade:

It's not clear exactly how long Ohtani and his wife have been together, but the Dodgers star announced he had officially tied the knot in a sweet Instagram post in February 2024. The two welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in April 2025.

Aston Villa are one of the Premier League's form sides under Unai Emery and could now look to enact an exciting January transfer, according to journalist Alex Crook.

Aston Villa's January plans

January has come at an ideal time for Aston Villa as they look to maintain their strong domestic form, and Emery and company will be aware that the right changes this month could go a long way to deciding their eventual fate this term.

Rumours will of course be doing the rounds as to who could potentially give the Villans some additional squad depth, and one man who continues to be mentioned in connection with the club is Hellas Verona wideman Cyril Ngonge.

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Tuttomercatoweb claim that the Villans are keen on the 23-year-old; nevertheless, Napoli, Fiorentina, AC Milan and Nottingham Forest will try to beat them to his signature. Hellas Verona are looking to hold out for between €12-13 million for the attacker in part of an effort to raise €25 million this window.

Previous reports also intimated that Aston Villa are keen on Girona forward Artem Dovbyk, with a fee of around £39 million quoted as a figure that could tempt the La Liga high-flyers into parting ways with the Ukraine international.

More or less every top club in Europe has registered an interest in Copenhagen sensation Roony Bardghji and the Villans have joined his illustrious list of suitors. His current employers will look to recoup a figure in the region of £20 million for the Sweden international.

Jeremie Frimpong to Aston Villa update

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, talkSPORT radio journalist Crook has confirmed that Aston Villa do have a "genuine" interest in Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong after initial reports surrounding their attraction towards the Netherlands international surfaced amid his £35 million release clause.

Crook told the outlet: "Yeah, but it's been fairly quiet so far. They were big in the summer and they're probably in a better position than they could have hoped. The owners have got deep pockets and they're ambitious.

"So yeah, I think towards the end of the window that might well ramp up. Jeremie Frimpong is the one that I think is the most genuine from what I'm told. Leverkusen aren't particularly keen to sell him in this window. But if that was to change, I think that they would certainly be part of the conversation."

Labelled "brilliant" by former boss Neil Lennon, the 22-year-old has been in fantastic form this campaign, registering seven goals and ten assists in 22 appearances across all competitions (Frimpong statistics – Transfermarkt).

Frimpong is one of the most talented full-backs in Europe and would be a massive coup for Aston Villa as Emery looks to keep the good times rolling in the West Midlands.

Aston Villa’s recruitment over the last few seasons has tended to be spot on, as highlighted by the fact that they’re pushing for Champions League football this season.

Ollie Watkins, Boubacar Kamara, and Douglas Luiz are all prime examples of exceptional scouting.

None of the above were household names before developing at Villa, and it is very rare to find the club overpaying for talent.

However, among all the hits, there is bound to be a miss or two, with one particular player failing to live up to his price tag.

Emiliano Buendia before moving to Villa

Emiliano Buendia spent his youth career and early years as a professional at Getafe in Spain, before having a loan spell at Liga 2 side Cultural Leonesa, where he made a name for himself.

The club were ultimately relegated that season, but it didn’t stop the Argentine from shining, as he netted six goals and provided 13 assists. His performances caught the eye of Norwich City, the club he went on to join straight from his loan for just over £1m.

During his first season at the Canaries, Buendia helped the side earn promotion to the Premier League, thanks to his eight goals and 12 assists over the campaign. The 27-year-old continued to be a creator in the top flight, picking up seven assists in 28 games.

However, Norwich were sent straight back to the Championship, and in the 2020/21 season, the attacking star proved that he was far too good for the league, picking up 15 goals and 16 assists.

Buendia’s time at Villa Park

Following his outstanding campaign, plenty of Premier League clubs were interested in signing the magician, but it was Villa who ultimately beat Arsenal to his signature for £35m.

However, the Argentine’s start to life at Villa Park didn’t begin with a bang, despite scoring against Brentford on his third start for the club. During his first campaign, Buendia would go on to play 35 matches, scoring four goals and registering six assists in the league, while only playing 55 minutes per game on average.

Despite this, the versatile attacker pretty much held his estimated market value from when he signed, only dropping around £3m.

His importance to the Villa team continued to grow in his second season, as he played every single game in the Premier League, however, his output in the final third actually decreased, with a record of five goals and just two assists. Nonetheless, Buendia still didn’t see a drastic drop in value in June 2023, as you can see from the table above.

During pre-season in the summer, the 5 foot 8 maestro was described as “unrecognisable” by football creator Ty Bracey, after his performance against Newcastle saw him score twice and provide another.

However, a cruciate ligament tear at the start of August hasn’t seen the number ten play all season, missing 35 matches. This is one of the main reasons why his estimated worth is now just £8.5m according to CIES Football Observatory.

The numbers he once displayed at Norwich are yet to be replicated at Villa, and considering the club forked out a rather hefty fee for the attacker, it is fair to say that the move has been unsuccessful so far.

But who knows? He could revive his career under Unai Emery once he’s recovered from his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

A former Premier League CEO has shared what “close sources at West Ham” have been saying to him about manager Julen Lopetegui and his future at the London Stadium, amid calls for David Sullivan to part company with the Spaniard.

Lopetegui facing West Ham axe after lacklustre start

The 58-year-old has guided West Ham to just three league wins so far this season, which wasn’t exactly the hope when technical director Tim Steidten finished splashing out more than £120 million on summer signings.

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The Middle East is a very serious option for him.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 14, 2024

West Ham arguably have no clear sense of identity on the pitch, and Lopetegui has been criticised for his tactical choices, faith in out-of-form players and general approach to crucial matches.

There are even suggestions that senior West Ham players are not behind Lopetegui, with the Spaniard failing to impress after jumping into David Moyes’ shoes – a man who guided the club to their first major trophy since the 1980s.

Mohammed Kudus is among the West Ham players “frustrated” by this current situation, according to reports, with Liverpool and clubs in Saudi Arabia potentially looking to take advantage of this situation.

Lopetegui is facing attacks from all angles, and former footballing CEO Keith Wyness now says the tactician is in a very tough spot.

Lopetegui "right on the edge" of West Ham dismissal

Speaking to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, via GiveMeSport, Wyness claims Lopetegui is “right on the edge” of being sacked by West Ham – sharing what “close sources” have told him about what’s going on “behind the scenes”.

“I’ve spoken to some close sources at West Ham. He’s being backed publicly but behind the scenes,” said Wyness.

“There is a lot of unhappiness. If he survives the international break, then he’ll get through to Christmas, and he’ll be reviewed again then.

“But he’s right on the edge at the moment. It’s not surprising. The style of play is lacklustre, as far as West Ham fans see it. It’s a case of be careful what you wish for, because Moyes has gone and they’re now in the same place – if not worse.”

West Ham face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park right after the international break, and a result there could alleviate the pressure after a lacklustre 0-0 draw at home to Everton.

Former South Africa captain wants the team to play their best attack, comprising five match-winning bowlers

Sruthi Ravindranath03-Dec-2022With South Africa still figuring out their best XI for the Test tour of Australia, former captain Graeme Smith believes they should stick to an “aggressive mindset” and play six batters and five bowlers.”I’d like to see South Africa back their six batters,” Smith told ESPNcricinfo. “I think there’s always that fear because the batting has been weak. They’ve always looked to play the extra batter. Maybe that can be a defensive mindset and not an aggressive mindset. I’d like to see them take an aggressive mindset.Related

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• Kagiso Rabada hopes for Test turnaround in Australia after 'disappointing' T20 World Cup

• Smith hopes SA20 will help end South Africa's World Cup wait

“You’ve got Lungi Ngidi, you’ve got Marco Jansen. You’ve got [Kagiso] Rabada and Anrich Nortje, and you’ve got Keshav Maharaj, who are all outstanding Test bowlers and can really win you games single-handedly. Work on the batters, get the six batters to bat in partnerships and get totals. If you get the totals you want, bowlers can win you games. And South Africa should pick the bowlers who can win you games.”South Africa’s Test captain Dean Elgar had suggested they were still “in a bit of debate” about playing an extra batter to lengthen their line-up. South Africa are presently second in the World Test Championship table, but their batters haven’t been racking up big numbers in the last few years. Since the start of 2020, they have had just six centuries in 19 games, the fewest among the teams part of the WTC. In their previous Test series, which they lost to hosts England 2-1 in August-September, they had just one batter among the top five run-getters. They also got bowled out under 200 four times in that series.Smith also said South Africa needed to focus on building partnerships. They have had just nine century stands in the last two years, which is again the fewest among the nine teams that are part of the World Test Championships.”If you can get those partnerships together over 100-150, you start to make an impact on the team’s innings. I think when you’re under pressure, you tend to focus on yourself and the pressure just grows, how you can work together as a batting unit to post totals there in Australia is going to be key. You obviously need some of your big players to perform well and take the pressure off the youngsters.”South Africa’s bowling continues to remain their biggest strength. Their bowling average of 24.94 is the second lowest while their strike-rate of 46.7 is the best among the Test-playing teams in the last two years.Among the standouts in this department has been Rabada, who’s been their kingpin across formats. Among the bowlers to take 50-plus wickets since 2020, only his team-mate Nortje has had a better bowling strike rate than him. Rabada is the only fast bowler who was part of South Africa’s successful Test tour of Australia in 2016, when he took 15 wickets in six innings.”The thing about KG is that he’s the center piece for South African cricket at the moment so whenever he doesn’t play it’s noticeable,” Smith said•Getty Images

Ahead of this tour, however, Rabada admitted that the amount of cricket being played was a concern and that it needs to be “managed”.”The thing about KG is that he’s the centre piece for South African cricket at the moment so whenever he doesn’t play it’s noticeable,” Smith said. “But it’s about producing enough talent that you can afford to rest a player here and there. At the moment you know in a World Cup, and a big tour to Australia, he has to play his roles there. And also as he gets more experience, he will learn to manage himself and stay focused on what’s important.”With Elgar saying his side was prepared for a “feisty” series against the current No. 1 Test team, Smith, who has been part of three bilateral tours to Australia, said South Africa should solely focus on competing on the field.”I think whenever you tour Australia you got to be prepared for being in someone else’s country for a period of time. Crowds.. and the players playing the game hard so definitely you’ve got to be mentally prepared. I think the key is always playing good cricket. It’s the only way that I’ve found over the years, having lost really badly once and won twice, if you can play really good cricket and you turn everything around and the home team gets under pressure. So I hope that South Africa focus on their performances, in particular their batsmen. There is some talent in the bowling ranks, [but] if the batters can get some runs in Australia it gives you a chance to beat them.”The first of three Tests between Australia and South Africa starts on December 17 at the Gabba in Brisbane,

The Argentine came off the bench and scored with the final touch of the game in stoppage time

Lionel Messi made a dramatic return Thursday evening in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, scoring Inter Miami's second goal with the final touch of the match as the Herons defeated Jamaican Premier League side Cavalier SC 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate) to advance to the quarterfinals. The Argentine had missed three straight matches due to "load management" but came off the bench in the second half to help secure the win.

Luis Suarez opened the scoring with a 37th-minute penalty, converting clinically to give Miami a three-goal aggregate lead. The penalty was earned after Tadeo Allende showed slick dribbling on the edge of the box before being taken down by a defender.

Messi padded Inter Miami's aggregate advantage in the 92nd minute, poking home from close range after a Santiago Morales assist set him up on his left foot – a chance he wasn’t going to miss.

Miami controlled the match comfortably, with few clear chances for either side as play largely unfolded in midfield or Cavalier's defensive third. The result was never in doubt.

A sold-out national stadium in Kingston saw 35,000 fans turn out to watch Messi and support their local club. The match was moved from Cavalier’s 3,000-seat home stadium to Independence Park to accommodate the crowd. It was Cavalier's most high-profile match since 1971, when they hosted Brazilian legend Pelé and Santos at the same venue.

With the aggregate win, Miami advances to the quarterfinals to face MLS rivals LAFC and France’s all-time leading scorer, Olivier Giroud, in a two-legged series for a spot in the semifinals.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from their Leg 2 win in Jamaica…

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  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Oscar Ustari (6/10):

  Made one big save in the 74th minute to keep a clean sheet. Job well done.

  Ian Fray (6/10):

  Playing at right back, Fray adapted well and communicated well next to Falcon and Redondo. However, he was rarely tested.

  Maxi Falcon (8/10):

  Impressive on set pieces and rock-solid defensively. One of their best performers on the day.

  Noah Allen (7/10):

  Overshadowed by Falcon, but Allen was fantastic in playing out of the back. Crucial in maintaining possession, he was everywhere across the back line in transition.

  Jordi Alba (7/10):

  Inverted when asked, and navigated his flank to a precision. Locked up Cavalier defensively, and influenced the attack in transition.

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  Midfield

  Sergio Busquets (7/10):

  Ran the midfield show to a precision. Classy as always, the veteran held his own in the pivot, and allowed Redondo to push forward in transition.

  Federico Redondo (6/10):

  Didn't particularly impress, but didn't put in a foot wrong either. From a midfield perspective, that's a solid performance.

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  Attack

  David Ruiz (N/A):

  Subbed off early in the first half after pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

  Telasco Segovia 7/10):

  Impressive set piece delivery throughout the match, and a really solid performance in an attacking midfield role.

  Tadeo Allende (7/10):

  Earned the first half penalty, and was a menace in and around the box for Cavalier. Great performance.

  Luis Suarez (7/10):

  Clinical with his penalty kick, and navigated the final third of the pitch rather well.

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  Subs & Manager

  Benjamin Cremaschi (6/10):

  Replaced Ruiz and did his job well. Had a great 1v1 chance in the second half, but squandered it looking a bit nervous in a tight angle.

  Lionel Messi (7/10):

  Scored with the final kick of the game in the 92nd minute after a lively cameo off the bench. A welcomed return.

  Yannick Bright (6/10):

  Replaced Busquets and locked down the midfield in a roughly 40-minute cameo.

  Tomas Aviles (N/A):

  Subbed on with 15 minutes to spare to close out the game.

  Santiago Morales (7/10):

  Introduced in 75th minute as the 18-year-old gained important senior minutes, and capitalized on the opportunity with a late assist to Messi.

  Javier Mascherano (7/10):

  Tactically, he emphasized putting pressure on their defense, and it worked early as Cavalier were forced into committing a foul in the box to hand Miami its spot kick. Perhaps he could have rotated more without using Messi due to the state of the pitch – the grass in the stadium was torn to shreds, with clumps and holes scattered everywhere. However, the club did what was asked of them, and Mascherano has them onto the quarterfinals. Job well done.

Tim David defended 10 in the last over after the visitors had been comfortably on track in a low-scoring match

Tristan Lavalette25-Jan-2023Tim David held his nerve with the ball as Hobart Hurricanes kept secured a remarkable two-run victory over in-form Brisbane Heat in Launceston. This gave them a slim chance of making it through to the BBL playoffs – provided Melbourne Stars stars beat Sydney Thunder during the second game of the day. That did not happen and now Hurricanes are out of the competition.The Heat, meanwhile, were booted out of the Knockout Final and ended up in the Eliminator after fluffing a chase of 121. On a two-paced surface, which proved difficult for batting, they appeared on course at 103 for 4 in the 17th over.But they stumbled and it came down to a dramatic last over where Heat needed 10 runs to lock up third spot and a home knockout final. David did enough against James Bazley but Hurricanes knew they needed another result to go their way. And in the end, it didn’t.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Meredith and Ellis star before David’s late heroics

Hurricanes’ finals chances were almost dead and buried with their hopes resting with star quicks Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis.They obliged in menacing early bursts with Meredith removing Usman Khawaja and then Ellis knocking over Marnus Labuschagne’s off stump with a gem of a delivery to revive Hurricanes.Hurricanes were suddenly in the box seat when Heat lost wickets in consecutive deliveries in the sixth over when Matthew Renshaw was run out by a brilliant gather and direct throw from Zak Crawley.After Meredith’s initial three-over spell, Hurricanes weren’t as threatening and clearly missed left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley, who has starred in a breakout season but missed due to a groin injury.With Jimmy Peirson and Sam Hain holding firm, Meredith desperately returned in the 15th over but couldn’t breakthrough although his last searing delivery smacked Hain on the right wrist. Ellis returned and snared the key of Peirson as Hurricanes’ season went down to the wire.With their frontliners bowled out, Hurricanes fortunes rested on David and he delivered with accurate full deliveries to fluster Bazley. He helped run out non-striker Matthew Kuhnemann on the third delivery before the twists continued when David bowled a full toss that Bazley hit for six. He recovered to thwart Bazley on the final two deliveries to keep Hurricanes’ season alive at least momentarily.

Heat fall apart at the death

Heat will be ruing letting third spot slip through their fingers. They struggled early before a composed Peirson and Hain combined for a 73-run partnership to dig Heat out of a hole.Peirson, who was Heat’s most reliable batter during their early season struggles, mustered his wealth of experience while Hain showed why he’s become a key part of the middle-order with clever flicks on the leg-side.Hain also showed his toughness after the blow from Meredith and remained at the crease, but fell shortly later with Heat still 18 runs short. Peirson then Bazley were unable to be the hero as Heat finished fifth and prepare to take on the Thunder in the Eliminator on Friday.Marnus Labuschagne held a brilliant catch in the outfield•Getty Images

Swepson continues strong rebound ahead of India tour

Legspinner Mitchell Swepson was dropped earlier in the season and failed to take a wicket in his first five innings that he bowled.But he’s hit back hard recently and bowled particularly tidily in a much-needed tonic ahead of a defining Test tour of India for Swepson. He continued his strong bounce back with a menacing spell to tie down Hurricanes’ powerful batters in the middle overs.Swepson conjured sharp turn although his only wicket was rather fortuitous when a long hop snared struggling Ben McDermott, who was brilliantly caught by a diving Marnus Labuschagne.He conceded just one boundary in his four-over spell to finish with 1 for 17 to play his role in a disciplined attack with seamer Michael Neser claiming the spoils with a four-wicket haul.

Hurricanes’ rejigged batting order struggles

Hurricanes on paper have arguably the most explosive batting order in the competition. But they’ve badly underperformed and Hurricanes entered the clash on the brink.With their backs to the wall, Hurricanes decided to go for broke and rejig their misfiring batting order. D’Arcy Short, once a BBL star but whose batting has spiralled the last two seasons, was dropped for Macalister Wright who made his season debut after impressing in local cricket.Opener McDermott, another out of form batter, moved down to No. 4 and replaced skipper Matthew Wade who shifted to No. 6 – a position he occupies for Australia but hadn’t batted for Hurricanes since BBL07.The changes didn’t provide the necessary spark with Hurricanes losing wickets regularly. McDermott and Wade both fell cheaply with only Wright saving Hurricanes from embarrassment with a run-a-ball 56 after a watchful start.He upstaged his more high-profile teammates and his knock proved the standout in a low-scoring contest.

Chelsea’s transfer strategy has seen them sign and sell an enormous number of players over recent years, and while it has worked, they’ve also lost out on some brilliant talent.

For example, FA Cup winner Marc Guehi was sold to Crystal Palace for just £18m in 2021, and has since become one of the very best defenders in the Premier League.

He has also become a key player for England, starting both games during the international break and scoring his first international goal against Serbia.

However, there is another Cobham graduate who was sold too soon, someone arguably more exciting than Guehi and who looks destined to become an England star.

Ex-Chelsea players to play for England

Due to the sheer number of players Chelsea have sold or released over the last decade or more, it’s hardly surprising that there are quite a few who have gone on to play for England.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

For example, Declan Rice was famously a part of the group of Cobham gems that included Mason Mount, but was released at 14 years old and ended up joining West Ham United.

The 26-year-old would go on to make 245 appearances for the Hammers and captain them to Conference League glory before joining Arsenal for £105m two years ago.

He made his debut for the national team in March 2019 under Gareth Southgate and has since become one of the most important players for the side, accumulating 68 caps during which he has scored six goals, provided six assists, and played in two European Championship finals.

Other former Chelsea players who have pulled on the Three Lions after leaving Stamford Bridge, but aren’t as crucial to the teamlike Dominic Solanke, who made his debut while playing for Liverpool.

While none of those players have gone on to be stars for the national team, another Cobham graduate, who might be more exciting than Guehi, appears to be on track to be one.

The Cobham gem primed to be an England star

While Guehi received plenty of attention for his impressive performance on Tuesday night, and rightly so, there was another former Cobham gem playing alongside him: Tino Livramento.

The Croydon-born full-back joined Chelsea as a child and made quite a name for himself coming up through the academy, even winning the player of the year award in the 20/21 season.

However, after failing to agree on terms on a deal, the Blues sold him to Southampton for around £5m, where injuries would limit him to just 34 appearances in two years.

Yet, those 34 appearances were still impressive enough to convince Newcastle United that he was a player worth signing, so in August 2023, they spent around £32m rising to £40m to bring him to St James’ Park.

Since then, the 22-year-old has gone from strength to strength, making 83 appearances for the Toon, in which he’s produced four goal involvements, averaged 1.77 points per game, played on both sides of the defence and most importantly, helped the club with their first silverware since the 50s.

All of this was enough for him to win his first senior cap for England under Lee Carsley last November, and then this international break, Thomas Tuchel played him in the first game and started him against Serbia.

Moreover, it looks like he could become a star for the side, as according to some reports, the German has told his staff he views the Toon ace as someone who can become his ‘first-choice left-back.’ Theo Walcott has even stated in the past that he believes Tuchel may have a “future England captain” at his disposal, such is his presence.

Finally, on top of passing the eye test and still having plenty of time to develop, another reason why the former Cobham gem might be even more exciting than Guehi is the fact that his underlying numbers are already stellar.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 4% of full-backs in the league last season for ball recoveries, the top 6% for long pass completion, the top 11% for passes blocked, the top 13% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it’s challenging to predict how a youngster will develop, it feels like Chelsea made a significant mistake in allowing Livramento to leave in 2021.

The Chelsea academy star turning Maresca's head after Nicolas Jackson praise

Chelsea’s manager is keeping a close eye on him.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 11, 2025

Robinson, a standout for Fulham and the USMNT, insisted that he isn't thinking about a summer move

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• Antonee Robinson quashed rumors of a summer transfer
• Has been linked with a move to Liverpool
• Has 10 assists in Premier League this season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Antonee Robinson insisted that a move away from Fulham isn't on his mind, despite speculation that he could leave the club this summer. Robinson has been a standout for Fulham this season in their unlikely European push, and has been named among the best full backs in the Premier League.

  There have been long-term links with Liverpool, while Manchester United are among reported contenders for his signature.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Robinson, 27, has been a journeyman for most of his footballing career, but has settled under Marco Silva at Fulham. His 10 Premier League assists this season has him within touching distance of the 13 set by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 2019-20 campaign.

• WHAT ROBINSON SAID

  Robinson addressed his future in an interview with : "I've been in the game long enough now to kind of know you have to block out the outside noise and things like that because I've been on the end of it when I've not been playing well. I saw criticism when I was younger, seeing people doubting me and things.

  "So I know that there's two sides to the coin. You just have to take everything with a grain of salt. You have to believe in yourself and when things are going bad, focus on yourself, and when things are going good, focus on keeping going.

  "So, transfer rumors and stuff like that, I try not to look at. Especially like with the Liverpool one – all my friends and family are from Liverpool, so it's more of them messaging me than me seeing newspaper stuff. And I have to say, 'Look, it's just, just a story in the paper and anyone who's doing well is going to get linked to a team.' "

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROBINSON?

  The left back was named in the USMNT squad for their upcoming Nations League finals fixture against Panama on March 20. Before that, he is set to feature for Fulham as they host struggling Tottenham on Sunday.