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After announcing the arrival of Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United have now reportedly entered talks to sign a long-term target who Eddie Howe loves in a deal worth £30m.

Newcastle announce Cordero arrival

Having spent the last two windows watching other clubs spend big and welcome key additions courtesy of their PSR concerns, Newcastle and PIF wasted no time before getting their business started this time around. Securing the addition of Cordero, the young Spanish winger will arrive at the end of his Malaga contract on July 1.

Welcoming Cordero to the club in what could be one of his final acts at the club, departing sporting director Paul Mitchell said: “Antonio is an exciting talent. We’re delighted to bring him to Newcastle United amidst interest in Spain and across Europe.He has lots of potential, and the next phase of his development will be for the club to select a loan move that will challenge him and build on his experiences.”

PIF are not done there though. In search of a winger instead of Bryan Mbeumo, who could soon be on his way to Manchester United, the Magpies have been linked with moves for the likes of Anthony Elanga as well as Brighton forward Joao Pedro.

Elanga is a name that was mentioned last summer before Newcastle were ultimately unable to make their move. One year on, however, they’ve got the necessary breathing room to spend and have reportedly already enquired about a potential deal to sign the Nottingham Forest star.

The Swede isn’t the only target that Newcastle could revisit this summer, either. Making up for last summer’s disappointment, those at St James’ Park are now “in talks” to sign a long-term target who Howe loves, according to reports.

Newcastle "in talks" to sign £30m Trafford

According to Sky Sports, Newcastle are now “in talks” to sign James Trafford from Burnley, who value their shot-stopper at just £30m this summer. The England international is a player that Howe has had ‘long-term admiration and interest in’ and wants Trafford to compete with current No.1 Nick Pope next season.

The latter has struggled on the injury front over the last 12 months and the addition of Trafford could see his place come under threat.

Newcastle’s interest in Trafford is, of course, far from new. The Tyneside club even agreed personal terms with the goalkeeper last summer before failing to negotiate a deal with Burnley.

One year on, whether that agreement remains in place or Newcastle are forced back into negotiations will be interesting to see, especially if Trafford’s stance has changed.

The dream XI Newcastle can build: No Gordon; Joao Pedro & £120m trio sign

Newcastle are looking to make sweeping changes as they step back into the Champions League.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 10, 2025

Dubbed “world-class” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, Trafford has more than earned the interest of a Champions League club and may yet arrive at Newcastle before taking Pope’s starting spot.

“The thing that impressed me the most was the method that he used,” captain Morgan said of Rana’s knock

Sidharth Monga11-Apr-20212:11

Morgan: Rana’s aggressive method impressed the most

The level of care he would have got is of course beyond the imagination of most of the country right now, but the country could possibly take some heart at this bleak time that the Man of the Match in the third game of the IPL is someone who has just beaten Covid-19.Last month, Nitish Rana became the first player in this IPL to test positive for Covid-19 with a reported vacation in Goa after having successfully participated in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy becoming the talking point. In that light, the preparation could not have been anywhere close to ideal.However, the first ball Nitish Rana got on Sunday night was a juicy wide half-volley, and he took the approach that sets the Kolkata Knight Riders apart from others: attack if you can, there are others behind you if you fail. He smacked Bhuvneshwar Kumar away for four, and set the tone for the rest of the innings.Related

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“I just saw the ball was in my slot, and I went after it,” Rana said on Star Sports when receiving his Man-of-the-Match award. “I have only one thing in my mind when I bat: if the ball is in my half, I have to try to convert it into a boundary.”Rana converted 13 of those into boundaries in his 56-ball 80, impressing his captain Eoin Morgan, who along with coach Brendon McCullum have to be the most positive leadership group in a cricket set-up. When you impress such a champion of aggressive cricket with your approach – never mind the results – you must have done something right.”Delighted for Nitish,” Morgan said at the post-match press conference. “Obviously a match-winning innings. The thing that impressed me the most today was the method that he used. He played really aggressively, and always took a positive option, which really did set up our batting innings. Rahul [Tripathi] played extremely well, which allowed our lower middle order [to play with freedom], one of whom came off today in Dinesh Karthik, so I am delighted for Nitish.”Rana and Tripathi added 93 runs in 50 legal deliveries, all of them in the dreaded middle overs on a dry and slow track. Thanks to that onslaught, the blip in the end – just 42 runs in the last five overs – wasn’t enough to restrict the Knight Riders to a par total. It was only after they were dismissed that the difficult nature of the pitch became apparent.”Just catching up really,” Morgan said when asked what the conversations were like once Rana came out of isolation. “[He was] delighted to be out of quarantine and have a negative report. Then when he joined the squad, getting back to playing in the camp, netting and then batting in the practice match as well, his game [was] in really good touch. We witnessed it today on a wicket that wasn’t as good as he made it look to bat on. We are delighted for him.”What might have been a challenging pitch for the others possibly took out an aspect that challenges Rana. Teams have looked to go quick and short at him with impressive results, but the pitch didn’t have that kind of pace nor did the Sunrisers Hyderabad have that kind of bowlers. The Knight Riders’ next match is on the same square: Rana will be keen to end the pattern in his last six IPL innings: 0, 81, 0, 87, 0 and now 80.

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scored half-centuries before India’s offspinners took complete charge

Sidharth Monga24-Oct-20241:56

Manjrekar: Small sample but Washington shows promise as Ashwin’s successor

India 16 for 1 (Southee 1-4) trail New Zealand 259 (Conway 76, Ravindra 65, Washington 7-59, Ashwin 3-64) by 243 runsThree days ago, Washington Sundar was not even part of this Test squad, instead scoring a hundred and taking a couple of three-fors against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. Brought in the XI ahead of the incumbent spinner (Kuldeep Yadav) and the back-up (Axar Patel) in the squad, he took seven wickets on the first day of a Test to bowl New Zealand out for 259. Five of his victims were bowled, one lbw and one caught as he took out the last seven wickets following three taken by Tamil Nadu team-mate R Ashwin.While this was Washington’s maiden Test five-for and his best figures in first-class cricket, the three wickets took Ashwin past Nathan Lyon’s 530 in 25 fewer Tests. The two could be involved in a showdown later in the year in Australia, but right now India were in a fight to defend their 18-series winning streak at home. Washington proved to be just the ally he needed.R Ashwin didn’t take much time to get among the wickets•BCCI

India called up a second offspinner from outside the squad ostensibly to lengthen their batting without compromising on taking the ball away from left-hand batters, but two left-hand batters in the top order – Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra – still scored fifties and threatened to take New Zealand to a big total after winning the toss on a track on which batting last won’t be fun. New Zealand were 138 for 2 when Ashwin got Conway, and 197 for 3 when Washington accounted for Ravindra.As the series moved from Bengaluru to Pune, the clouds, seam and extra bounce all disappeared. There was no concept of good-toss-to-lose here. Nothing is ever easy in Test cricket, but this was one of the easier starts to an innings with the openers racing to 30 in seven overs without any trouble. But Ashwin was introduced early, and it took him just five balls to drift one in and then turn it past the outside edge to trap Tom Latham lbw.There was turn from the good part of the pitch, but not consistent. The partnership between Conway and Will Young looked threatening, but a sharp review demanded by short leg Sarfaraz Khan returned a faint touch of the glove to send Young back. Now Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja kept troubling the batters: in the 11 overs they bowled in tandem, they drew 24 false shots and conceded just 30 runs.Rachin Ravindra got to yet another milestone in his fledgling Test career•BCCI

Post-lunch, when India started with Jasprit Bumrah and Washington, runs came freely: 35 off the eight overs. Ashwin brought control first and then the wicket of Conway. Again the ball turned, but this time it was the drift and dip that put Conway out of position, and the turn made him look like pushing at a ball he didn’t need to play.Ravindra, Player of the Match in Bengaluru, brought New Zealand much-needed solidity because Daryl Mitchell was extremely uncertain at the start of his innings. He survived an lbw on umpire’s call, played risky sweeps of both kinds, and only looked comfortable after 20 balls or so. Ravindra, though, gave the bowlers nothing. Akash Deep got close to getting him with at short midwicket but the hit was too ferocious to catch for a fielder so close. An outside edge after two bouncers managed to beat slip and brought up his fifty.Ten minutes before tea, now in his third spell, Washington began to get it right. The first ball of this spell turned from middle and off to go past Ravindra’s bat and hit the top of off. Things began to happen now as balls went straight on or turned from the same spot. The penultimate ball before tea beat Tom Blundell’s outside edge, and the last one, slower and wider, turned back in through the gate to take top of middle.Tom Blundell was bowled by Washington Sundar on the stroke of tea•BCCI

Post-tea, Washington bowled in all his glory: at the stumps, but getting variable turn from the pitch. An inspired review accounted for Mitchell in a rare dismissal: offspinner getting an lbw from over the wicket when the batter is forward. As it turned out, this had turned just the right amount to both be hitting him in line and taking the leg stump.Tied down, frequently going back to full balls, Glenn Phillips ended his struggle of 9 off 31 with a chip straight to deep mid-off. Had you seen just the shot and not the field, you wouldn’t have been wrong to assume the mid-off was up tight and he was just looking to clear him.Mitchell Santner hit two sixes in his fighting 33, but Washington kept hitting the stumps at the other end. To Tim Southee he went wide on the crease from around the wicket. The angle beat the outside edge and hit top of off. Ajaz Patel was caught back to a full ball, and played on. To bookend his work, Washington produced another beauty to account for the set batter, Santner: one that pitched on middle and off and took the top of off.The accuracy and variations of pace and seam position, with a little help from the pitch, proved to be too good for New Zealand.With just 10-odd overs to bat to stumps, India shelved some of their ultra-aggressive approach from their last two Tests. Still, Southee swung and seamed one past Rohit Sharma’s watchful bat to take top of off. A small bit of joy for New Zealand at the end of a tough session.

ألقت تقارير دنماركية، الضوء على تعيين ياس سوروب مدربًا للنادي الأهلي، بعد توصله لاتفاق مع مجلس إدارة القلعة الحمراء بقيادة محمود الخطيب.

ووفقاً لـ”سبورت” الدنماركية، فقد نشرت أنه قد يكون من الصعب على المواطن الدنماركي العادي فهم ما يفعله سوبورب في القاهرة والذي أصبح يدرك ذلك بنفسه.

وأجرى سوروب مقابلة مع قناة “TV Sport2” حول انتقاله لكرة القدم المصرية والذي لا يعد أمرًا مألوفًا، رغم أنه أصبح واقعًا، وقال: “إذا نظرنا إلى قارة مثل إفريقيا، نجد أن أكبر ناد هناك يضم أكثر من 80 مليون مشجع”.

وأضاف: “الأمر أشبه بمحاولة الوصول إلى أوروبا والانتقال لبرشلونة أو بايرن ميونخ، إنه ناد من هذا المستوى”.

وأضاف عن عرض تدريب الأهلي: “لقد أغراني أن يفتح لي ذلك أبوابًا جديدة وقارة جديدة، مع ما يصاحب ذلك من ضغط، لذلك وافقت في النهاية على هذا التحدي الهائل”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. الأهلي يعلن تفاصيل الجهاز المعاون لـ ياس سوروب.. وموعد وصوله

وكان النادي الأهلي قد حقق لقب الدوري المصري ثلاث مرات متتالية، وبلغ مجموع ألقابه 45 بطولة في تاريخه.

وسيحصل سوروب على عقد لمدة عامين ونصف، ووفقًا لما نشرته “Tipsbladet” الدنماركية، فإنه من المتوقع أن يتقاضى راتبًا سنويًا يقارب 20 مليون كرونة دنماركية.

ولم يتم الكشف عن المبلغ المحدد الذي سيحصل عليه المدرب صاحب الـ55 عامًا، لكنه اعترف بأن العرض المادي لعب دورًا في قبوله المهمة.

وواصل سوروب: “لا أتحدث عن الأمور المالية فهي ليست جزءًا من هذا، سأذهب إلى هناك لتحقيق بعض النتائج ولأخطو خطوة مهمة في مسيرتي المهنية، من الواضح أن الراتب جزء من ذلك وهو بالتأكيد جيد، لكن مهما كان الأمر سأحتفظ به لنفسي”.

وأتم المدرب الدنماركي عن مشروع تدريب الأهلي: “إنه مشروع متكامل، تجلس وتدرسه في النهاية وتقيم ما إذا كان يناسبك المشروع ككل، الأهلي تواصل معي عدة مرات، لكن هذه المرة فقط تمكنا من تحقيق أهدافنا”.

وسئل سوروب عن مشاركة الأهلي المثيرة في كأس العالم للأندية حيث يأمل المدرب في إضافة لمسة مميزة لأداء النادي: “هم يحققون أداء جيدًا أيضًا في البطولات الكبرى، إنه ناد يضم العديد من اللاعبين الدوليين، لذلك فهو لا يسعى فقط للفوز بالدوري المصري بل عليه أن يبذل قصارى جهده لبناء سمعة طيبة لنفسه عالميًا”.

وختم سوروب: “ما رأيته خلال الشهر الماضي من كرة القدم المصرية، هو دوري يتمتع بجودة فردية عالية لكنهم يفتقرون للقليل من الفهم التكتيكي للفريق، والذي آمل أن أتمكن من المساعدة فيه واتخاذ الخطوة التالية للأمام للتطوير”.

Lewis Hill’s 71* also pivotal in eight-wicket win over Yorkshire

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-2024Ian Holland starred for champions Leicestershire with ball and bat as they maintained hopes of a Metro Bank One-Day Cup title defence with a rain-affected eight-wicket win over Yorkshire at Scarborough, the Foxes chasing a revised 22-over target of 150.All-rounder Holland took the new ball and returned 2 for 39 from 10 overs before opening the batting with 42 off 25 balls as Leicestershire won for the fourth time in six fixtures to move into the top three places in Group B.Helped by captain Lewis Hill’s excellent 71 not out off 54 balls with four sixes, Holland dented Yorkshire’s chances. They lost for the third time in six having made 236 for 7 from 50 overs after being inserted before rain at the mid-innings interval forced a two-hour delay to 5pm.The Vikings recovered from 118 for 6 thanks to a career-best 60 from Dom Bess and 55 not out for Matthew Revis, the seventh-wicket pair sharing 112. But the exploits of Holland and then Hill usurped their contributions.Alongside Holland, Tom Scriven and 17-year-old debutant Alex Green also struck twice apiece in Leicestershire’s five-man seam attack.The champions were exceptional with the ball during the first half of the innings having elected to bowl on the same pitch used for Yorkshire’s win against Essex on Tuesday.Along with taking four early wickets, reducing the Vikings to 79 for 4 inside 25 overs, they exerted significant control and conceded only three boundaries in that time.Tall Academy seamer Green encouraged after Holland had struck twice with the new ball to get Fin Bean caught behind and Shan Masood at cover.Holland also had a hand in the third wicket as he took the catch at mid-on after Harry Duke had miscued a pull at Scriven before James Wharton, for 23, pulled Roman Walker to deep midwicket.
Just when Yorkshire tried to accelerate, with George Hill and Luxton hitting a six apiece, they were checked by both men departing in quick succession as the score fell to 118 for six in the 35th over.Hill was caught in the ring off a miscued pull at Green before Luxton was caught behind against Scriven.But as good as Leicestershire were early on, Bess and Revis matched them late on in their century partnership to give Yorkshire a competitive total.They shared three leg-side sixes and reached their fifties late in an innings which saw 93 runs come from the last 10 overs. Revis got to 50 first off 47 balls and before Bess’s came off 48. Both finished having faced 51 balls.Bess had hit an unbeaten 53 – also a career best – in Tuesday’s win against Essex.Even though Leicestershire were helped by Duckworth Lewis Stern, their task still didn’t look straightforwards given ideal bowling conditions under gloomy skies.But Holland set the tone by square driving Hill for four after three balls of the chase.He found the boundary regularly afterwards and was strong on both sides of the wicket.And the loss of opening partner Sol Budinger – caught at mid-on off Hill, 18 for one – was not costly.When Holland fell, well caught at square-leg by diving sub-fielder Yash Vagadia off Dom Leech, the Foxes had control at 62 for two in the eighth over.Hill hit Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin for six over long-off – his second six – as Leicestershire reached the 10-over mark at 80 for two. And when Hill reached his fifty off 37 balls, the game was all but over at 113 for two in the 14th.Hill dominated an unbroken 90 stand with third-wicket partner Ajinkya Rahane (28) as victory was sealed with 2.2 overs remaining.

Championship challengers keep the deficit to 12 points ahead of crucial meeting next week

ECB Reporters Network26-Jun-2024

Essex 339 (Walter 134, Critchley 53, Potts 4-71) and 208 for 2 (Elgar 120*, Westley 63*) drew with Durham 587 and 184 for 8 dec (Borthwick 71, Harmer 4-75, Porter 3-18)Dean Elgar reaped his 50th first-class century as he and Tom Westley dropped anchor to secure a draw against Durham in the Vitality County Championship.Former South Africa international Elgar batted the whole of day four, almost exclusively with Westley, to make sure Durham didn’t have a sniff of victory.He ended up with 120 after an epically stoic 165 runs, 421 balls and 276 minutes third wicket stand with Westley – who scored 63 not out.Essex are now 12 points behind leaders Surrey ahead of their meeting next week, while Durham remain in the chasing pack having collected 16 points from a match they led throughout.The hosts needed 405 runs to win on the final day, a tough but not impossible task, but made no attempt to secure a fifth victory of the season.The rationale made sense with a draw meaning Essex would fall 12 points behind table-toppers Surrey – but victory at the Kia Oval next week would likely even things back up.Durham’s initial aim had been to see off the night watcher Jamie Porter.They managed to do that in the fifth over as the day when Matthew Potts beat his fellow fast bowler for pace and crashed into his off stump.From then on, Elgar and Westley got their tents and airbeds out to camp out for the day – as Durham couldn’t extract anything from the pitch to aide a wicket.Westley took 19 balls to get off the mark, and when he did, he also ended a 27-ball spell barren of runs.The lack of opportunity or entertainment seemed to get to the Durham team who took to slow clapping the bowler, in a similar manner to a long jumper preparing to leap.Members of the crowd did not take kindly to the jesting and things got testy when a shout of “no ball” went up as Ben Raine was halfway through his run-up. The incident prompted the umpires to chat to Durham captain Scott Borthwick, while angry comments were volleyed between spectators and fielders.Elgar and Westley were unfazed by the shenanigans as they reached lunch with just 54 runs scored in the morning session.Things didn’t change afterwards, but milestones began to appear. The fifty stand came in 168 balls, Elgar reached a half-century in 96 deliveries and the century partnership in 247 balls.As close as Durham came to a wicket was when Elgar tried to clip Borthwick into the leg side but the ball struck Michael Jones at short leg and ballooned up for Ollie Robinson to pouch. But the umpires, and subsequent replays, made it clear it had been a bump ball.It was one of only three appeals against Elgar, with the other two hopeful lbw shouts at best, with technique and temperament coming to the fore.His maiden first-class century had been scored in Bloemfontein for Free State against Limpopo in 2007 as a 19-year-old.Now 37, Elgar has a half-century of them to help Eagles, South Africa A, Knights, Somerset, Titans, Surrey and Northerns, although his most prized will be the 14 Test tons he plundered before retiring from international cricket last winter.This one came up in 170 balls with a pronounced tickle around the corner before he lifted his helmet, clapped the balcony, and earned a hug off Westley.A mere 85 runs came in the afternoon session, and once Westley had reached an 86th first-class fifty in 198 balls – and 17:00 BST had been reached the hands were shaken on a draw.To sum up Elgar and Westley’s solidity, exactly 400 dot balls had been delivered in Essex’s second innings.

Bangladesh’s cricketers are making full use of staying at the same hotel as the Australians in Dhaka, trapping Alyssa Healy at the toaster and gathering vital information about how one of the best in the world goes about doing her business.Australia are on site for a limited-overs series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is which kicks off on Thursday and their hosts are absolutely thrilled.”They are the legends of the game so our players are looking forward to meeting them,” Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said. “Already our players are going up to them in the breakfast table. This communication is important to grow as a team. Many of our players never played against them. We see them as idols so playing with them is a huge achievement.”This is the Australia women’s first bilateral tour to Bangladesh so starting from the players to the fans and media, there’s massive interest. Sultana’s opposite number Healy said that they will be looking to learn from the Bangladesh players too, specifically about the pitches and conditions they might face on this tour and beyond considering the T20 World Cup will be taking place here later in the year.Related

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“I’m really proud of this group of people, who see it as a greater responsibility to continue to grow the game,” Healy said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean going over and above but there’s always opportunities to intermingle between the sides. To talk about the game as a whole. To gain some useful experience, and not just that’s not just on their part.”That’s me asking questions about playing here in Bangladesh and playing against sides that we don’t get the opportunity to play against either. I think it goes both ways. The girls are really excited to be here and be a part of this series. Hopefully those conversations will take place. I’ve already had one conversation today around the toaster at breakfast so excited for many more to take place.”2:09

Why Nigar Sultana Joty is happy to see Asian sides play top nations

Fatigue is a subject Healy touched on considering some of Australia’s players are coming off the back of the recently concluded WPL in India, before which they had been busy with national commitments. “I think there’s some differing levels of battery power around our group at the moment,” she said. “I think that’s part of the modern game. That’s exactly what is going to start happening moving forward. Playing right around the world 12 months of the year and managing those expectations are going to be a real challenge.”Fortunately for us, I feel we’ve got some great perspective within our group. We have Tayla Vlaeminck back in our in our squad for the first time for a long time. Sophie Molineux is back around the group. There’s enough perspective in there that if you’re feeling a little bit tired, there are players that are absolutely busting their gut to be here playing for Australia. That’s a nice reminder for each and every one of us. The group is really excited to be here and excited to pull on the yellow and play for Australia again, which I think tips it.”Sultana, meanwhile, has pointed out her team’s bowling as their strength. She also pointed out the bigger picture of playing against Australia at home. Bangladesh have been quite impressive in the last 12 months, particularly after they ran India close in the two white-ball series. They also beat Pakistan in 2-1 in a T20I series and an ODI series at home, and won two matches in South Africa too.Both Sultana and Healy welcomed the huge media presence at the pre-match press conference. “When we were playing against India,” Sultana said, “the journalists’ questions were very different. Whether we can win or not, you asked. I think it is a huge success for my team that you aren’t asking me these questions. The questions this time are about winning and doing better. I think it is a kind of a success.”We really want to do well against Australia. They are a big side. They get facilities that are equal to their men’s team. We are still a way from that, but the BCB is trying. They got us a team sponsor this time. There’s a lot of media attention this time, which wasn’t the case before. The word will spread more about women’s cricket. When girls will know that they have a professional future in this sport, they will be more interested to play cricket.”

Every time Karnataka have threatened to assert their might in a gripping semi-final at Eden Gardens, Vidarbha have fought back – just as they have done all season

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Kolkata19-Dec-2017You don’t often win matches when you are three down and trailing significantly in the second innings. On Tuesday in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy, both semifinals had reached similar junctures. In Pune, Bengal had conceded a first-innings lead of 112 and lost their top three while still trailing by 77. In Kolkata, Vidarbha were 54 behind when they lost their top three.But from there, both teams took entirely different routes.Bengal crumbled to 86 all out, as Delhi stormed into the final with victory by an innings and 26 runs. Vidarbha, on the other hand, lost just one more wicket, and scrapped hard to remain in contention for their maiden Ranji final. By the time play had wound down at Eden Gardens, Vidarbha had moved into a 79-run lead – marginal but enough to keep their dream alive.This kind of mettle from Vidarbha has defined this semifinal. Throughout, Karnataka, overwhelming favourites, have tried to assert their might. But at every stage, Vidarbha have thwarted them.Karnataka made use of a fresh, green track to bundle Vidarbha out for 185 on the first day. Vidarbha fought back immediately, snuffing out three wickets for 21 runs. Then, on the second morning, CM Gautam and Karun Nair put on a 139-run fourth-wicket stand, and it seemed as though Karnataka would take full control. But Vidarbha hit back with four wickets for 38. It took a tenacious century from Nair to give Karnataka the upper hand.Now, with their openers gone early and Wasim Jaffer having wasted a start, Vidarbha are left with six wickets in hand to try and challenge Karnataka again. Critical to that pursuit is Ganesh Satish, unbeaten on 71. Ironically, Satish struck a century in the 2013-14 final to set up Karnataka’s title win. Now, he is leading the fight to knock out his former team.There aren’t too many recognised batsmen to follow. But if you are a Vidarbha supporter, there is a small sense of assurance to be found from what their lower middle and lower order has done this season. Between Nos. 5 and 7, Vidarbha’s batsmen have averaged 46.34 this season. Only Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have done better.Each time Vidarbha have been in trouble, they have found someone to rescue them. In the quarter-final against Kerala, Vidarbha recovered from 95 for 6 batting first to put up 246. Against Chhattisgarh in Nagpur, Vidarbha were 309 for 6 after conceding 489. Apoorv Wankhade, Karn Sharma and Akshay Karnewar then rallied to bring them close, but Vidarbha folded for 435.Karn and Karnewar aren’t playing this match, but in their place are Akshay Wakhare and Aditya Sarwate. Wakhare made handy contributions of 27 not out and 30 in Vidarbha’s quarterfinals. Sarwate averages close to 30 in first-class cricket and has a century and three fifties. Reasonable or not, Vidarbha will want a contribution from both of them on Wednesday.They also have the wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar, who made twin fifties against Kerala in only his third first-class game. He is at the crease now with Satish, Vidarbha’s third-highest run-getter this season. Satish averages nearly 49 in the second innings in his first-class career, as against 42.68 in the first.On this Eden Gardens surface with spongy and occasionally variable bounce, movement and pace, a target above 150 could open up the game. Over 200 would probably shift the pressure back on Karnataka. Vidarbha might still have to bowl brilliantly, though: in the last 12 years of the tournament, the lowest successfully defended target at Eden Gardens is 214 – Bengal collapsed to 112 all out while chasing this against Andhra in 2007.None of this may happen. Vidarbha may fold inside the first session of day four. They could score in excess of 300 and still get walloped. But through sheer resolve, Vidarbha have added intrigue to what could have been a one-sided semifinal. At the very least, when they walk out on the fourth day, they will still dare to dream.

New Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to add a full-back to the squad as he looks to sign Wesley from Brazilian side Flamengo.

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Gasperini interested in right-back WesleyItalian coach wants more wingers in Roma's squadJuventus also interested in the playerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Head coach Gasperini's priority at Roma is to build upon the current squad, and, as per , the Italian have identified Flamengo right-back Wesley as a priority signing for the Giallorossi. The 21-year-old has been on Gasperini's radar since his days at Atalanta.

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Wesley has played a prominent role in the Flamengo squad, winning the Copa Libertadores in 2022 and was later also named in the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A Team of the Year. With Wesley, the Roma coach plans to add more technical ability and drive on the wings, a key position in the Europa League winner's tactics. However, Juventus are also looking to bring Wesley to Turin and believe their former Brazilian stars Danilo and Alex Sandro can influence the player to join Igor Tudor's side.

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Gasperini has taken charge of Roma after a nine-year spell at Atalanta. He was chosen by Ranieri, now working as an advisor to the club, and the Roma owners, with the new boss aiming to get the capital club back in the Champions League.

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Beginning a new chapter at Roma with his newfound friend Ranieri, Gasperini believes his involvement in training and his hard-working attitude and ability to win over the players will help him reach new heights at Stadio Olimpico.

Andy Robertson labelled Liverpool target Florian Wirtz an "exciting talent" as the Reds aim to wrap up a deal for the exciting Germany playmaker.

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Liverpool step up Wirtz pursuitReds ready to shell out club-record feeRobertson spoke out on potential signingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 22-year-old playmaker is on the verge of joining the Reds in what could become the most expensive transfer in British football history. Although negotiations are still ongoing between Liverpool and Leverkusen, reports indicate that a deal has been struck, with only the payment structure left to finalise.

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Should the €150 million (£127m/$171m) deal be completed as expected, Wirtz’s move to Anfield would eclipse the £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo, setting a new benchmark in Premier League transfer spending. He had a sensational campaign in Germany, scoring 16 goals and assisting 15 times, spurring the Merseyside club to break the bank for the Germany international.

WHAT ROBERTSON SAID

Speaking to , Robertson shared his thoughts on the player Liverpool fans hope to soon welcome to Merseyside.

"He was excellent against us (Scotland, at Euro 2024) I do remember that," he said.

"Obviously that game was extremely tough for us, but he was excellent, he was the one causing us problems in the half-space, running in behind, he can mix it up. I haven't seen too much of him but I have played against him and that was enough to see he was going to be a top player. We played Leverkusen in the Champions League this year as well and we dominated that game a bit more as well, so it was probably a bit more difficult for him, but certainly in the German team against us he was excellent.

"We're certainly linked with him, that's for sure! You can't miss it, you can't not see it. But if we get him through then an exciting talent is through the door. We've already got a lot of exciting talent in there. He's a right good player. He'll only help us, and if he does get through the door then we'll be excited to play with him."

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Liverpool’s triumph in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign took many by surprise. Now, with the club crowned champions once more, Robertson acknowledges the shift in expectations heading into next season.

"I think that [pressure] is something that we're going to need to deal with," Robertson said. "The lads that have been there for a while. Me, Virgil, Mo and Ali, after we won the league the last time, we were kind of used to the pressure.

"For a lot of the lads that won it for the first time this season, and the lads coming in, they'll feel the pressure for the first time. We'll be favourites and there will certainly be more expectation on us than there was at the start of last season. That kind of suited us last season, we could go under the radar, get off to a good start, and by the time people took us seriously we were probably too far ahead!"