Category Uncategorized

Renato Sanches has appeared to remove all links to Roma from his Instagram bio after being left out of the squad to face Napoli on Saturday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Sanches left out of Roma squad
• Mourinho's side beat Napoli 2-0
• Roma references removed from Instagram bio

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following Sanches' snub by manager Jose Mourinho for the Napoli game, the Paris Saint-Germain loanee no longer has Roma references in his Instagram bio. His profile picture is relatively blank, the text beneath that merely states 'gamer', but he still has photos from his stint with the Italian side.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sanches' spell with Roma has not been a particularly happy one. The 26-year-old has played just nine times this season, although a hamstring issue has restricted his game time, too. The Portuguese international has been repeatedly criticised by manager Mourinho, who apologised just a week ago for taking the substitute off after just 18 minutes during the 2-0 loss to Bologna. His future at the club after this latest move may be more uncertain now.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In Sanches' breakthrough season in 2015-16 at Benfica, he helped them them win the league and cup double, and was awarded the division's breakthrough player and the Golden Boy award in the process. He then joined Bayern Munich in the summer of 2016 for £30 million.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Sanches will return to Serie A action on December 30 away to title chasers Juventus. The January transfer window opens in just over a week and it remains to be seen if Sanches will stay with Roma for the second half of the season.

PSV Eindhoven boss Peter Bosz said USMNT star Malik Tillman put in a near "scarily good" display in their 1-1 Champions League draw against Arsenal.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• PSV Eindhoven draw 1-1 with Arsenal
• Both teams into UCL knockout stages
• USMNT ace Tillman praised for display

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  A much-changed Arsenal side were held to a 1-1 draw with PSV on Tuesday night as Yorbe Vertessen cancelled out Eddie Nketiah's opener. The Dutch side held their own against Mikel Arteta's men and Bayern Munich loanee Tillman was one such player who particularly impressed on the night. After the match, manager Bosz heaped praise on the attacking midfielder.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT PETER BOSZ SAID

  "I almost found Tillman scary, so good," said Bosz during his post-match press conference. "I really enjoyed that sitting on the bench. I really enjoyed playing that. That's just beautiful to watch."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tillman, 21, is seen as one of the next big hopes for the United States. He impressed last season on loan to Rangers and now he is shining in the Dutch top-flight – after proving to be too good for the club's reserve side. He is yet to make his breakthrough for parent club Bayern but performances like this are likely to help towards that ultimate goal.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR BOTH TEAMS?

  Eredivisie's runaway leaders PSV travel to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday whereas Arsenal host Brighton in the Premier League on the same day.

Arsenal have been linked to Serie A hitman Dusan Vlahovic, however, the Gunners could miss a potential disaster by avoiding signing the striker.

Mikel Arteta’s side were the second-highest-scoring side in the Premier League last season, however, links to the big-money forward could reinforce that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Are Arsenal linked to Dusan Vlahovic?

Sources in Italy mentioned earlier this year the north Londoners in relation to the potential destiny of Vlahovic, claiming that the Gunners have ‘never given up’ on the prospect of signing the 23-year-old.

The report comes from the angle that the forward is ‘no longer’ considered to be ‘untouchable’ in terms of Juventus’ value of the goalscorer, making Arsenal’s rumoured interest a subject to be cautious over.

How many goals has Dusan Vlahovic scored?

A 23-year-old with 95 domestic career goals is never going to be short of attention in the transfer window, however, the Serbian has struggled with a dip in form since trading Fiorentina for Juve, signalling a risk for potential Premier League suitors.

In his first two seasons in Turin, Vlahovic has hardly been the "monster" that Carlo Garganese bestowed on him, netting 17 goals in Serie A in a decline compared to his form at Fiorentina in where he scored 38 goals in his final two Serie A campaigns.

While it takes time to adapt to new surroundings, the striker made the move to a side with more attacking prowess around him while remaining in the same league that he dominated just one season prior.

It has been a recurring narrative for prolific players from fellow top leagues in Europe are unable to hit former heights in the Premier League, a trait that Arsenal know too well.

The Gunners’ current record signing Nicolas Pepe signed for the club back in 2019 from Lille, where he caught the eye of Unai Emery after registering a monstrous 33 goal contributions in 38 Ligue 1 games in 2018/19.

Four years down the line and the winger is set to return to the club after a season-long loan at Nice after a poor opening three years in north London.

In three campaigns, the £72m forward scored 16 Premier League goals before falling down the pecking order and being replaced rightly by Bukayo Saka.

The Ivory Coast international has shown little promise of living up to his lucrative price tag since trading Ligue 1 for the Premier League, in a risk that has not paid off for Arsenal. Indeed, in his final season before being loaned back to France, he found the net on just three occasions for the Londoners.

Signing high-cost players from abroad is an area that the Gunners should tread carefully around, with warning signs flagging around the interest in £70m Vlahovic, who has already shown frailties to his consistency in Serie A.

The 'unsettled' striker should be a player for Arsenal to steer clear of, with Arteta having the foundations to bolster his side without having to risk spending sensational money on players that aren’t guaranteed to perform.

Edu should revise the past mistakes made in the transfer of Pepe when considering the clubs’ interest in the Serbian, who has averaged fewer non-penalty goals per 90 to Gabriel Jesus over the past year, with 0.35 to the Brazilian’s 0.39, via FBref.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:25

Bangar: Tewatia’s introduction turned the match

A sensational display of end-overs bowling from Mohit Sharma and strangulation by legspin from Rahul Tewatia, playing his first game this season, helped apply the choke on Kolkata Knight Riders. By securing one of three wins they needed, Kings XI lived to fight another day.In what was an engaging last five overs off which Knight Riders needed just 50, Mohit brought out all his slower variations – the knuckleball, back-of-the-hand slower deliveries and offcutters – and delivered them with precision to deny Chris Lynn, who wiped out half of Knight Riders’ 168-run target off just 52 balls, and Manish Pandey. The pair’s dismissal off successive deliveries off the 18th over helped close out a tight game, with the Sharmas – Mohit and Sandeep – defending 29 off the 12 deliveries to ensure three playoff spots were still up for grabs.Knight Riders’ productive first sixKings XI made four changes, two of those being forced. One of them – Hashim Amla – had just smashed a 60-ball 104, his second century of the season, in the previous game. Even so, the rest of the batsmen stuttered as they finished with just 189 when they should’ve posted 210. Now, without Amla, who along with David Miller was unavailable because of national duty, Kings XI needed a robust beginning from the openers. Manan Vohra, who had earlier in the tournament shunted up and down the order to accommodate both Shaun Marsh and Martin Guptill, sparkled briefly, but his dismissal brought about a restrained approach. The first six overs fetched just 41 for the loss of the openers. Knight Riders had begun well.Maxwell, Saha keep the innings aliveOn a surface where the ball was deviating just about enough to keep the medium-pacers interested, Chris Woakes and Colin de Grandhomme bowled six overs in tandem, conceding just 22 off the first four immediately after the Powerplay. Kings XI limped to 63 for 3 in the first half. They went 17 deliveries without a boundary after Shaun Marsh’s dismissal in the ninth over, before Maxwell cut loose – hitting de Grandhomme for two successive sixes off legitimate deliveries to trigger a surge. Maxwell’s picking of lengths was impressive as he played the pull effectively against the pacers. Wriddhiman Saha, on 10 off 17 at one stage, pinched crucial boundaries to move to a run-a-ball 26. At 115 for 3 with five to play, Kings XI needed big back five overs. But they were denied.Kuldeep Yadav, returning in place of Piyush Chawla, was rewarded for his willingness to flight the ball as he had Maxwell caught at wide long-off in an attempt to hit him for a third successive six. In his next over, he had Saha stumped after being biffed across the line one ball earlier. A cameo from Tewatia lifted them to 167, not underwhelming but not match-winning either.Getty Images

Narine tees off, Lynn consolidatesTwo quiet men, who don’t believe in intimidating opponents with words, let their blades talk. Sunil Narine’s no-frills approach fetched him four fours in a 10-ball 18. Lynn, playing in only his second game after returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out for three weeks, didn’t show signs of “not being a 100 percent” as he revealed during a flash interview. Time and again, he was tested against the short ball, only for the deep midwicket and wide long-on boundaries to be peppered with regularity.The best shot of his knock – a flat-batted swat off Matt Henry which he fetched from outside off – showed how brutally effective he can be even if not at full tilt. Yet, this wasn’t as brutal a knock as the one against Royal Challengers Bangalore. By bringing up a half-century off just 29 deliveries, Lynn ensured Gautam Gambhir’s struggle against spin – he scratched around 17 deliveries for 8 before mistiming a slog to deep midwicket – didn’t deeply disturb the asking rate.Tewatia spins a webOne ball after sending back Gambhir, Rahul Tewatia, playing his first game this season, saw off Robin Uthappa, but to not give any credit to Axar Patel would be doing injustice to his efforts. Running around from straight deep midwicket, he covered quick ground before putting in a dive to catch the dipping slog sweep inches from the ground near deep square leg. Now, the choke was on. Axar followed it up by conceding just three in his next over. The spinners – Tewatia along with Axar and Swapnil Singh – at that stage had combined figures of 2 for 30 off six overs. Knight Riders needed 86 off 54 balls.Maxwell’s punt on Mohit pays offBy leaving two overs of Mohit in the last five, Maxwell gambled. Considering the form Lynn was in, it was a tough proposition. But the pressure applied by the spinners left Knight Riders with a steep task against a bowler, who justified the INR 6.5 crore investment, at a crunch moment when the game was on the line and Kings XI’s chances of staying alive was hanging by a thread. That he bowled just three overs may have been a decision Kings XI could have rued, but on the night, it was his experience that prevailed.

Manchester United are in pole position to sign Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils could be extremely busy during the summer transfer window despite the ongoing takeover saga, with rumours of moves for players all over the pitch.

A new striker appears to be high on the agenda, with those at Old Trafford plotting a move for Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund. When it comes to a midfielder, Chelsea’s Mason Mount is seemingly the top target, with a £40m offer made for the England international.

A new defender has also been speculated, with reports previously claiming that Napoli’s Kim min-jae agreed to move to Manchester, although he now looks on course to move to the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

To finalise the transfer rumour mill, a new goalkeeper in Onana for Erik ten Hag’s side had also been rumoured, and a further update has emerged. According to The Evening Standard, Chelsea have pulled out of the race to sign the Inter Milan goalkeeper and will move on to other targets.

As a result, Manchester United are in pole position to sign Onana, who is expected to cost around £50m, where he could be reunited with Ten Hag.

Is Andre Onana better than David De Gea?

Onana, a Cameroon international, made 145 appearances under Ten Hag at Ajax and joined Inter Milan last summer. The 27-year-old starred in his first full season in Serie A, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 appearances.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is also a fan of the £67,000-a-week player, hailed the shot-stopper’s ability on the ball following the Champions League final earlier this month.

“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

There is a bit of history between Ten Hag and Onana, though, with the manager leaving the goalkeeper out of a cup final with Ajax last year before they both moved on, but with the futures of David de Gea and Dean Henderson up in the air, signing someone like Onana could be a wise move ahead of the new season, and by the looks of it, United are in a good position to get a deal over the line.

Harry Kane has explained how David Beckham inspired him to leave Tottenham for a new challenge at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Superstar striker bid farewell to SpursTaken on new challenge outside of EnglandEx-Three Lions captain did likewiseWHAT HAPPENED?

The England captain has, following a record-breaking spell in north London, decided to go chasing trophies outside of his homeland. A £100 million ($126m) transfer deal has taken him away from his roots at Spurs and onto the books of the reigning German champions.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There was a time when English players were reluctant to leave their Premier League comfort zone, but more and more are now spreading their wings. Manchester United legend David Beckham helped to set that trend back in 2003, when he left Old Trafford for Real Madrid, and Kane is delighted to be following the lead of a modern day icon.

WHAT THEY SAID

Kane has told of the reasons for his switch to Bayern: “Maybe my journey here can be an inspiration for the younger [English] players to do the same and take that step. I remember David Beckham making the move from Manchester United to Real Madrid. I was a kid and I was like, 'Wow, what an amazing experience.' Maybe I took Beckham as an example. I always wanted to see a different league, a different atmosphere. So far everything is going very well: on and off the pitch. I admired Robert Lewandowski when he was a young player, he took a fantastic path and set incredible records. I want to reach his level, and maybe even better.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

gettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Kane has already scored three goals through two Bundesliga appearances for Bayern. He missed the chance to secure major silverware on his competitive debut, with a shock 3-0 defeat suffered at the hands of RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup.

Speaking at a press conference for the first time since he was dropped for what came to be known in public as slow strike rate in the Tests in the West Indies, Cheteshwar Pujara may have come prepared for a question on the scoring rate. It was naughtily put too.Pujara was asked what he thought of India’s strike rate on a day that New Zealand bowled with discipline to keep the hosts under three-an-over even though they lost just the three wickets. Pujara saw the slower ball early; he could have hit it out of the park, but chose to respectfully block it.”This issue has become slightly too big,” Pujara said. “The message [from the team management to him] was to play with intent. When it comes to Test cricket, we don’t need to focus much on strike rate. It’s about having a positive intent. Overall, on such wickets, obviously you can’t keep scoring runs at strike rates above 70-80. You have to play according to the situation, know what the team requires, what number you’re batting at. Depending on all circumstances, you have to bat accordingly.”Two of his team-mates, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, batted according to the situation, weathering the threatening period before gradually scoring runs faster in an unbeaten 167-run partnership. That Kohli can accelerate is well known, but Pujara pointed to what is not pointed often: Rahane’s wish to dominate once he is in.”I’ve observed for the last two years that Ajinkya’s batting has improved in all formats,” Pujara said. “Especially in Test cricket, the way he is batting, he has scored runs in tough situations in India and abroad. He has improved a lot. Once he is set, the way he dominates is always a pleasure to watch.”The second half of this partnership is what New Zealand will rue after they had reduced India to 100 for 3 in 36 overs. James Neesham, the New Zealand allrounder making a Test comeback, said all was not lost yet because they had still kept a check on the scoring rate.”I don’t know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball,” Neesham said. “We stuck at it well. Seamers had a tough job with not a lot of bounce or lateral movement. If you can’t get the ball reverse-swinging, it’s difficult with their quality batsmen. Keeping the run rate below three was a good achievement. Couple of quick wickets tomorrow, and we’re still in game.”There is one thing they could have done differently, though: call correctly at the toss. That’s a habit Kane Williamson seems to have inherited from Brendon McCullum. On a tour where tosses are crucial, New Zealand have lost all three. Neesham could laugh about it, though.”Probably makes it easier, turn up at the ground knowing you’re probably going to lose and be bowling, which is an easier mental shift than thinking you might be batting.”

Marcus Trescothick has confirmed he will play his 25th season for Somerset after signing a new one-year contract.Trescothick, 40, made his Somerset debut in 1993 and is closing in on 25,000 first-class runs. Earlier this season he equalled Harold Gimblett’s record of 49 centuries for the county. This summer he has scored 978 at 54.33 in the County Championship.”I have made no secret of my desire to carry on playing for Somerset for as long as I can,” Trescothick said. “I’m really enjoying my cricket at the moment and I still have the hunger to succeed. I am delighted that I will be a part of this club for another year.”It’s a really exciting time for the County at the moment with the talent that we have coming through and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next 12 months.”Matthew Maynard, Somerset’s director of cricket, said: “Marcus still has so much to offer, both on and off the field. The runs he scores, the experience he brings and the knowledge that he passes on to the younger players make him a vital member of this squad.”

There may be more impressive individual performances and more action-packed days in the next two or three months but, in the context of this Pakistan tour, this was an almost perfect start.

George Dobell at Taunton03-Jul-2016
Scorecard2:10

‘Good to start the tour on a high’ – Younis

There may be more impressive individual performances and more action-packed days in the next two or three months but, in the context of this Pakistan tour, this was an almost perfect start.On a benign pitch, in front of a good natured crowd, Pakistan were able to ease their way into a tour that promises some tough moments on and perhaps off the pitch, with a low-key day – a wonderfully low key day from a Pakistan perspective – of gentle cricket.It wasn’t like this the last time they were here. The last time Pakistan were in Taunton, in September 2010, they were besieged. It was only days after the story had broken and, as helicopters hovered over their hotel and journalists waited in the car-park, the atmosphere inside the squad was anything but low key and gentle.The Pakistan camp remain nervous, probably unnecessarily so, about the reception that awaits them on this tour. So to have started this trip with three weeks training out of the spotlight and then enjoy a relatively uneventful day during which nearly all of their top six enjoyed a decent amount of time in the middle represented an ideal start.Not for the first time, Pakistan were grateful to the composure and class of Younis Khan. The 38-year-old, who missed the 2010 tour having fallen out of favour with the team management, finished the day unbeaten on 99 having added 179 for the fifth-wicket with Asad Shafiq.It was not a flawless innings. Younis was reprieved on 20 (a tough chance wide to Marcus Trescothick’s right at second slip) and again on 75 (when Alex Barrow was unable to cling on to an even tougher chance offered via the inside edge). But, in between times, he began to settle into the pace of pitch and the movement in the air and unveiled many of those familiar strokes – the devastating sweep, the flamboyant cut and the pleasing drives off front and back foot – that have already brought him more than 9,000 Test runs and 31 centuries.”It’s not easy for any team when they come to England,” Younis said afterwards. “But we have come to the country very early and we are very well prepared. I think this may be the first time that Pakistan have batted well at the start of a tour. We nearly all had 50 or 60 balls in the middle.”It would be fantastic for me if my performances helped the team do well. It would make me the happy man of the earth.”Shafiq was no less impressive. Joining Younis with the side on 132 for 4 and in just a little trouble, he survived an early run out chance but then was admirably compact and watchful in steering his side into a safer waters. While he may reflect he squandered an excellent opportunity to register a century – he sliced a somewhat wild drive off a wide one that turned a little – he will have taken confidence from this start.The one man to miss out was the captain. Misbah-up-Haq felt for his second ball, a delivery some way outside off stump, without any foot movement and edged to slip.Tougher challenges remain, of course. The days when county teams looked upon these matches as an opportunity to make a name for themselves are largely gone, especially for bowlers. So here Somerset, resting the Overton brothers and Lewis Gregory, fielded an attack that included three men with one Championship cap for the club between them including a first-class debut for 18-year-old off-spinner, Dominic Bess, who moved from Sidmouth to Exeter a couple of years ago to ensure him of more opportunity at club level.They bowled tidily enough. Paul van Meekeren, a Dutch international who has been playing club cricket for Benwell Hill near Newcastle, has just signed until the end of the season and did himself no harm with a whole-hearted effort. After Mohammad Hafeez missed a straight one, van Meekeren produced a beauty that draw a stroke from Azhar Ali but left him to take the edge.Tim Groenewald also finished with two wickets. Two balls before Misbah’s departure he had seen Shan Masood fall across a straight one as he tried to whip the ball through the leg side.But Josh Davey, the Scotland international, was less fortunate. After dropping a relatively simple caught and bowled chance offered by Masood on 17, he was also the unlucky bowler on both occasions that Younis was reprieved. On another day, he might also have won a leg before shout against Hafeez before the batsman had scored.Masood, especially efficient off his legs, and Hafeez, who pulled successive sixes when the medium-paced Davey dropped short, may both feel they missed out on the chance to cash-in against this inexperienced attack. But, in terms of gaining time at the crease ahead of the serious business part of this tour, this was a pleasing start for Pakistan.

In another clinical display, Delhi Daredevils’ bowlers restricted table-toppers Gujarat Lions to 149, setting up a convincing eight-wicket win in Rajkot’s last game of the season

The Report by Nikhil Kalro03-May-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRishabh Pant blitzed his first limited-overs half-century to help Delhi Daredevils to a big win•BCCIIn another clinical display, Delhi Daredevils’ bowlers restricted table-toppers Gujarat Lions to 149, setting up a convincing eight-wicket win in Rajkot’s last game of the season. In the chase, Rishabh Pant and Quinton de Kock blazed a 115-run partnership off 81 balls – the side’s joint-fourth highest opening stand – to help Daredevils breeze to the second spot on the points table. Despite successive losses, Lions retained their place at the top. It was the 24th win by a chasing side in 31 games this season.After opting to bowl, Daredevils’ bowlers set up an advantage in the first four overs. It looked like Shahbaz Nadeem had trapped Brendon McCullum in front in the first over, but umpire Chris Gaffaney indicated that the batsman had got an inside edge. After facing three of the first 16 balls, McCullum charged at a Zaheer Khan slower ball. Like most of Zaheer’s offcutters this season, it beat McCullum’s wild swing and clipped the off stump.Two balls later, Dwayne Smith chipped a long-hop from Nadeem to long-on. In the same over, Aaron Finch, who replaced an injured Dwayne Bravo, got a leading edge off his attempted sweep to short fine leg. Lions’ three overseas batsmen were dismissed and already the middle order was limited to playing for singles and twos into Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium’s large pockets. The score at the end of six overs read 35 for 3, Lions’ lowest Powerplay returns of the season.Apart from a well-timed uppercut for six, Suresh Raina struggled to find his timing. Dinesh Karthik, though, accrued his runs through well-placed sweeps and flicks in the vast outfield. Just when it looked like Lions had consolidated after the early jolt, Raina was stumped after misjudging a googly from Amit Mishra.Thereafter, Ravindra Jadeja and Karthik resorted to the same as the previous few overs. The pair, however, set up a solid platform for the end overs. Lions found at least one boundary in every over after the 13th, except the penultimate one.The last five overs yielded 50 with hard-run twos contributing to the Lions score. Yet, the extent of the damage in the first four overs was so severe that Lions could only muster a sub-par 149.De Kock and Pant, promoted to the opening slot, effectively finished the game by plundering nine boundaries in a 61-run Powerplay. Pant was particularly dominant with scythed cuts off the seamers’ wide offerings. When the ball was straight, Pant used his strong bottom hand to whip fours through the arc at midwicket.After matching Pant in the Powerplay, de Kock laid anchor and milked the bowling for singles. Pant, though, did not slow down. He used his feet to smear and swipe towards the long-on region as he struck his first limited-overs fifty, off 25 balls.Both Pant and de Kock were dismissed after across-the-line heaves, but Sanju Samson and JP Duminy, who returned after regaining fitness, took Daredevils home with 16 balls remaining.