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Club’s first List A title since 1994 comes a year on from the death of young spinner, Josh Baker

Vithushan Ehantharajah21-Sep-2025The waiting. The uncertainty. The fear. All of it made Worcestershire’s victory that much sweeter.Faced with a rank forecast above Trent Bridge, neither team knew if matters would be settled on the weekend, never mind Saturday. Worcestershire had restricted Hampshire to 237 for 7, then found out they’d be chasing a re-jigged 251 from 45 overs. That ended up being 188 from 27.The final pursuit began just 21 minutes before the 5:36pm cut-off for the minimum required 20-over chase. Such were the unknowns, even the ECB’s unofficial word on protocol (had the rain returned prior to the 5:15pm start) was refreshingly honest. How much play would spill into Sunday if a shorter second innings had been rubber-stamped the day before? They would broach that when it arrived, which was hopefully never.”At the halfway stage, I quite fancied the longer chase,” Jake Libby, Worcestershire’s captain, said afterwards, and understandably so, having entered this final with 50 overs in mind. Some in the Worcestershire dressing-room were anxious during the hours of hold-up. Ethan Brookes, who all but won the match with 57 off 34, spent most of it asleep.Both Libby and Brookes succumbed to Hampshire’s own unknown. Released from an England squad, having travelled overnight from Ireland, Scotland international Scott Currie dropped into Nottingham for his second Metro Bank appearance this season to take a maiden List A five-wicket haul.Libby’s nick through to Ben Brown swung the game back Hampshire’s way. Brookes’ top-edge, if not the end, was seemingly the start of it, as the first of three to fall to Currie in the innings’ penultimate over.Could Brookes have come in earlier? His penchant for a boundary – he has struck one every 5.25 balls this campaign – looked a necessity. As Libby and Kashif Ali were taking time to erect a platform with their less-than-a-run-a-ball stand of 62, you wondered where the meaningful strikes would come from. Brookes’ arrival, with 93 required from 61 balls, felt overdue.Matthew Waite and Henry Cullen produced the winning flourish for Worcestershire•Getty ImagesHis five fours and four sixes ensured it was just in the nick of time. Moreover, his calculations were spot on. Currie’s hugging of the wide line from the Radcliffe Road End made it “pretty much impossible” for Brookes to access his natural hitting arc to the shorter leg side. So, Brookes remained patient, as much for other bowlers to target as the deliveries they would send his way.”Abbott and Fuller, I think it was?” Brookes asked, mind still mush from the battle. “Uh, I can’t remember, this is all a bit of a blur… but I knew that they were going to go off-pace, because that’s what the wicket suited.” Brookes ensured the last overs of Abbott (25th) and Fuller (22nd) were taken for 15 and 16, respectively.As Libby recalled: “Ethan came out to me and, I remember, the sentence he said to me was: ‘I’m gonna try and do something special here’.” Such was Brookes’ flow state, he was able to buy back a few chances for Worcestershire to use when he had left. He also recouped time to lament his dismissal without missing the final throes, including Matthew Waite’s first-ball six over wide long on. The allrounder eventually finished unbeaten with 16 off five.”I literally took my emotion out in the dressing-room and then was like, right, there’s a game to watch still here,” Brookes said. “We know what we can do at the back end. He (Waite) has played a special knock as well there. People should not forget that.”Don’t worry, they won’t. Not the moment of glory, which took an age for the television umpire to confirm, not that anyone by this point was in a rush. Aside from Henry Cullen, who had gone from fearing his pull shot off Brad Wheal had been caught at backward square leg, to being adamant he had found the winning strike, based on Abbott’s subdued reaction having butted the boundary sponge.Libby did not celebrate to begin with. Stoic throughout this campaign, Worcestershire’s 50-over skipper ceded that his exact thoughts at the time remain hazy. The product, perhaps, of “a few elbows to the head” in the ensuing limbs.Josh Baker died in May last year at the age of 20•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesNot since 1994 have Worcestershire experienced List A glory, back when it was a 60-over competition. Their previous silverware, 2018’s Vitality Blast, was achieved with an entirely different XI. The only potential survivor, Brett D’Oliveira, rolled his ankle on Thursday in the dregs of a County Championship match against Durham that confirmed the club’s relegation back to Division Two.D’Oliveira had been Worcestershire’s leading run-scorer in the Metro Bank. He is also a totem of an organisation admired across the country for its family feel. A compliment, even as the English game careers towards a less emotive state.Brett and his lineage – from his trailblazing grandfather Basil, to his much-loved father, Damian, whose loss in 2014 was an emotional body blow – embody the soul of New Road. As such, there was no better person to be holding Josh Baker’s shirt as the trophy was lifted than Brett, having laid down his crutches.Baker’s death in May of last year at the age of 20 rocked the club. Hampshire captain Nick Gubbins highlighted how much of that tragedy reverberated beyond New Road. “Some things are bigger than cricket,” Gubbins said. “If there’s one team I would be happy to lose to, or as happy as you can be, it would be Worcestershire.”The logo of the JB33 foundation, set up in Baker’s honour by his parents, Lisa and Paul, adorns Worcestershire’s playing shirts. They carry him forward on both sides of their chest. On Saturday night, a squad, a supporter base and a family used the stage of a final to honour him.”This means a lot to a lot of people at the club,” Libby said. “Players, coaches, supporters, families, friends… and of course, Josh Baker, who we’ve worn proudly on the front of our shirts this season. And he is still very much in our thoughts.”Ironically, it was Libby who kept his teammates waiting at the end, as they lined up behind the trophy, waiting for their leader to finish a long post-match debrief on Sky. There was more waiting as the players queued to embrace Baker’s parents as their own, pushed to the front of the stand teeming with Worcestershire support.”It was very difficult,” said Brookes. “[It’s] heartbreaking what’s happened and… to share a really special memory with his parents in honour of Josh. It’s… yeah, it will definitely be a highlight of my career.”Related

• Quick Kashif Ali half-century helps Worcestershire to home semi-final

• Scott Currie relishing 'dirty work' as Hampshire target more Blast success

• Worcestershire relegation confirmed despite tons for Gareth Roderick, Ethan Brookes

• Brookes stars in thrilling chase as Worcestershire seal One-Day Cup glory

If there was one regret, it was that Worcestershire’s club journalist, John Curtis, was not there to witness the scenes. Curtis, who passed in April, was a beloved figure in the New Road press box, and every other he walked into. And these were not so much the days that made his job worthwhile – he truly loved them all – but what he wished for a team and group of players he never tired of championing. An avid chronicler of the county, this latest entry into their history books will carry his honour, too.Even without this victory, Worcestershire were the standout 50-over side of the 2025 season. Consistency of selection despite the Hundred – only Adam Hose graced that tournament for Trent Rockets before his horrific leg injury – saw them lose just once. For all the feeling associated with this success, it is no less than their cricket has deserved.It is also important to state that Saturday was third on Hampshire’s list of priorities, even if this is now a second defeat at this stage in the last three seasons, in a competition that has proved an effective schooling for their prodigious young talents. Having also lost in the Vitality Blast final last weekend, they now head into the final round of the County Championship fighting for their own Division One survival.Therein lies modern county cricket in a nutshell. Constantly vying with itself for relevance – be it status or simply a reason to be. Even a club of Hampshire’s stature, and all their freshly enhanced financial might, are not immune from that struggle.But on Saturday, in a competition that time is starting to forget, amid great uncertainty around the future relevance of the English county game, Worcestershire and all whom they hold dear were able to rise above it all for their own, deserved moment.

Key numbers after day one of the Dharamsala Test, where the Indian spinners left England in tatters

Sampath Bandarupalli07-Mar-2024220 – Number of balls bowled by Indian spinners in the first innings of the Dharamsala Test. These are the fewest that a team’s spinners have bowled to take all ten wickets in the first innings of a Test match. The previous record was 250 by Pakistan, also against England, in 2022.1871 – The number of balls Kuldeep Yadav took to reach 50 wickets in Test cricket, which is the fewest for any Indian bowler. Axar Patel was the previous fastest, he reached the 50-wicket milestone in 2205 balls.Among all spinners, he’s the second fastest to the landmark, behind England’s Johnny Briggs, who took only 1512 balls to get there.Fewest balls to 50 Test wickets by Indians•ESPNcricinfo Ltd16 – Innings needed for Yashasvi Jaiswal to complete 1000 runs in Test cricket, the second-fastest for an Indian in the format. Vinod Kambli remains the quickest, having got there in only 14 innings.Jaiswal is the fastest Indian to reach 1000 runs as an opener in men’s Tests, bettering the record held by his captain Rohit Sharma: 17 innings.Related

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239 – Number of days from his debut that Jaiswal took to complete 1000 Test runs, the fifth-quickest for a batter. The fastest is Michael Hussey, who reached the milestone just 164 days after his debut.Jaiswal took nine Tests to breach the 1000-run mark in Test cricket, the joint second-fastest in history along with Herbert Sutcliffe, George Headley and Everton Weekes. Only Donald Bradman is ahead, having reached the milestone in his seventh Test.1976 – The previous instance of Indian spinners taking ten wickets on the first day of a Test match. It came against New Zealand in Auckland. The last time Indian spinners took all ten wickets on the first day of a home Test was in 1973, also against England, in Chennai.1 – This is the first instance in 58 first-class matches at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala of spinners picking up all ten wickets in an innings. The previous highest was nine by Saurashtra against Himachal Pradesh in 2007.Most runs in a bilateral Test series for India•ESPNcricinfo Ltd712 – Runs by Jaiswal so far this series, the most by an Indian batter in a Test series against England, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 655 in 2016. Jaiswal’s series tally is currently the third-highest for an Indian in a Test series, behind Sunil Gavaskar’s 774 in 1971 and 732 in 1978-79, both against West Indies.2 – Instances of an Indian spinner dismissing five of the oppositions’ top six in a Test innings in the past seven years. Both times it was Kuldeep who did this – against West Indies in the 2018 Rajkot Test and against England here.

The Gujarat Titans coach talks about the franchise’s auction strategy, the building of the squad and what he expects from the team’s first IPL season

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi27-Mar-20223:23

Nehra: ”The most important thing in IPL is how you react in pressure situations and close games’

Gujarat Titans went into the IPL mega auction having picked Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill as the core of the team, but came out of the auction with a squad that appears thin on paper. Their head coach, former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra, disagrees, and believes his team can be a contender.This is Nehra’s second coaching stint, after two seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore. His colleagues at Titans, mentor Gary Kirsten and team director Vikram Solanki, have all worked together previously at RCB in 2019. In this interview Nehra lays out Titans’ strengths, the vision for the franchise, and reaffirms his belief in Pandya, who is making his captaincy debut.You were previously with a well-established team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, where you were bowling coach, whereas this time you start from scratch. Does this make you excited, nervous, or both?

I would say more excited. I am more excited this time because here we are talking about a team where you can start everything from scratch, and getting a team after retaining three players at a big auction.I would say it’s good to be nervous. It’s good to be under pressure. When you talk about any sportsperson, when there’s pressure on you, you always excel.RCB was completely different, but that was also great learning, great fun. There were so many things we learned from there that we can use here.Related

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What would you say is the key strength of Gujarat Titans?
The most important thing is the kind of squad we’ve got: we have a mix of youth and experienced guys, and you’re looking to build a team for the next few years. Yes, IPL is that kind of a tournament [in which] from year one you would like to do well, and you can do well because everybody has the same purse. We have enough allrounders, we have a good bowling unit, we have a young, exciting captain. There will be things over a period of time we will learn, but right now if somebody asked me, “Are you happy with your squad?”, I’m very pleased the way things have gone.Titans’ auction strategy was a bit curious. You bid for 37 players and bought 20. Only Royal Challengers bid for fewer players (35).
We didn’t go to the auction thinking that so and so is a must and we are willing to pay anything for him. There were a few franchises that went in with that mindset and they had that requirement because they wanted their previous players. But other teams also wanted them, which meant the price went really high. Our mindset was not like that because there were so many good players in the auction and also there were ten teams. We are happy with our squad, as we got what we wanted. If you go into the auction or the field with a clear mindset, the chances of you doing well are better.

“IPL is the kind of a tournament in which from year one you can do well because everybody has the same purse”

At the same time you also bid hard for Ishan Kishan, Kagiso Rabada, Shreyas Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Mitchell Marsh and T Natarajan, but pulled out eventually. Why did you not go full throttle?
We had already retained three players. Two of those players, Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan, I had paid Rs 15 crore (about US$2 million) for, and Rs 8 crore ($1.06m) for Shubman Gill. Yes, I would have liked to have all of these guys but we have only so much money. For example, for Washington Sundar or Shreyas Iyer, we were ready to go up to a certain price. [But] we are talking about a team sport. Yes, you need match-winners, you need players with that X-factor, but there’s a price to it. Then we got Lockie Ferguson, Jason Roy and Mohammed Shami. Club them with the three players we had retained, then build a team around this group.Would it be fair to describe your squad as thin on experience on paper, but which also allows you, as a coach, to build towards something new?
I would not say that. Somebody else also asked this question. I said, “What is on paper?” You look to make a good team at the auction, but at the same time there are players who you [the franchise] believe in. Everyone’s thinking and mindset are different. I don’t see it as thin on paper from any angle. When you look at our bowling, there is experience in Shami, Rashid and Ferguson. We have the experience of Matthew Wade or David Miller. Even Gill is an experienced guy. He might be 22, but this will be his fifth IPL. You can count on your fingers five to six guys with so much experience. Pandya too. He first played in the IPL in 2016, and now in 2022 he is the captain of a franchise and one of the bigger-name players in cricket. He has never led in the past.
There are two sides to a coin. If you have an experienced captain, things work differently. But everyone has to start somewhere. When Gary Kirsten took charge of the Indian team as head coach, it was not like he had been coaching prior to that for five years. Or when MS Dhoni took charge as Indian captain, it was not like he had been leading Jharkhand for a good four to six years. Hardik Pandya might not have captained previously, but both of us will learn from each other as we start spending more time together during the season. He is very excited and very positive. He is taking it as a very big responsibility. At the jersey launch he said a very nice thing: “I have been talking to all my players and I’m just telling them, a win is yours and a loss is mine.” So I told him that we want to give you responsibility, yes, but it shouldn’t become a burden. It should be enjoyment coupled with responsibility. I am not someone who will judge everything only by the results. The teams that have kept their process proper, gelled well, have had a good work ethic, kept things simple, have been successful more often than not. We want to follow a similar approach.”We didn’t go into the auction thinking, ‘We must get this player and we are willing to pay anything'”•BCCIHardik has now got the opportunity to be captain of Gujarat Titans in his home state. It is a win-win situation for everyone. In all my conversations I have not seen him once being stressed or talking about captaincy being a burden. He is ready to take up the challenge. More than ready; he is very willing.You could see that at Mumbai Indians or for India, Pandya was always in the ear of Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma.
But this time there will be people in his ears ().Will you be the first one?
Yes, we are here to make the strategy and help him, but he has to make his own decisions. He has to express himself. He is someone who has just taken charge, he will learn things over a period of time. So many times you take decisions on the spur of the moment and later realise you could have done things better.One could be [the kind of] person who does not say anything or just says only that much. But I prefer having a good discussion with mutual understanding and respect. That is most important, and then you can have discussions. Not only when you are losing; I’m someone who, even if we are winning the games, wants to see what else we can do better.You had a short camp recently in Baroda with a few players, including Pandya. He said he wants to keep it a surprise, but where is he in terms of his bowling?
When I saw him in Baroda, he was good, bowling around 80%. That was a few weeks back and he was feeling really comfortable. Since then he went to the NCA [for his fitness test] and has been practising non-stop. He has used this word, “surprise”, once or twice, so I jokingly asked him, “What is this surprise? For me the only surprise can be if you are bowling 145-plus. Apart from that, what is the surprise?”What did he say?
He said nothing. To be realistic, if he can bowl around 134-135kph-mark – he has the heavy ball, has a lot of experience – he is more than an asset if he can bowl, be it for India, for the franchise, or himself. But from day one I have been saying, in any T20 squad, I will take Hardik Pandya as a pure batter. As far as our franchise is concerned, I am looking at him more as a captain and batsman. And maybe that is why he is saying [his bowling] is a “surprise”.

“The teams that have kept their process proper, gelled well, have had a good work ethic, keep things simple, have been successful more often than not in the IPL. Gujarat Titans want to follow a similar approach”

How much of a concern is it that two key players, Pandya, and Gill, who is likely to open and is one of your main batters, have not played cricket for several months?
I wouldn’t say it is a concern. We are having a preparatory camp right now where we look to play two to three practice games. More game time is always better for somebody who is coming back from injury. With these two guys, they just need a game or two and they will settle in quickly.And Pandya will be your middle-order lynchpin?
Unless he wants to open (). Yes, he is a middle-order batter, but in IPL, based on the situation or some condition, you might also see him bat at No. 3.What role do you want Gill to perform? At Kolkata Knight Riders there was debate about him and his strike rate. But here, is he the main specialist batter?
When you discuss strike rate in T20, it all depends on the conditions and the match situation. Sometimes that strike rate is good for certain grounds, for a certain player of a certain team. You are talking about his strike rate of 130-135 [123.00]. Majority of the guys, even Virat Kohli [129.94] or Rohit Sharma [130.30], are around 130-135, if I am not wrong. Here you are talking about Gill, who is 22. He is only going to get better. He had a great three-four years with KKR. But from our side it is not only about the numbers – that your strike rate has to be this [much]. I mean, there can be a turning wicket and it could be only a 130-run game and he scores a 50-ball fifty… you have to consider such things and then analyse.On some days he can be the aggressor. At a ground like Wankhede, the par score is 180-190, and teams are chasing that easily.For a batter, the quicker you understand [the situation] that is the most important thing. One is the player’s skill and the other part is to assess the situation better. Shubman Gill is great at doing that. On these grounds you might see a different Gill with a strike rate of 140, 145, 150, who knows, on some days. Or if it is a slow wicket, you will have him scoring at a strike rate of 100, which could be a match-winning innings.Gujarat Titans team director Vikram Solanki (left) and captain Hardik Pandya at the team’s jersey launch•Gujarat TitansIs Rashid the vice-captain?
We have not decided that yet. But the value Rashid Khan brings as a player and what he brings to the table and the kind of person he is, I don’t think I can explain in words, or I don’t think I need to.In terms of options is it a bit of a concern that barring Rashid there are not many experienced bowlers in the middle overs?
No. We have Rahul Tewatia. And then you have Hardik Pandya. We have Lockie. We have Shami. Then we can play another fast bowler. We have the choice of playing R Sai Kishore. We have the choice of Jayant Yadav. Vijay Shankar is there, if needed. We have seven-eight bowling options. I have seen teams in the IPL playing with five or six bowling options with just four pure bowlers. We have the luxury of going in with five pure bowlers, and I count Rashid as an allrounder.In T20 you have always followed the mantra that a team needs good bowlers who can bowl well upfront and also at the death. Guess that role is fulfilled by Shami and Ferguson for you?
They are strike bowlers. Shami, I have always valued him. As a strike bowler he looks to take wickets upfront, which is a huge bonus in any format. And Lockie, again, who can bowl anywhere, he has got pace and how. That’s why he got that kind of a price. And he has been an X-factor player wherever he has played, especially for New Zealand.Shami has been in the form of his life. How excited are you to work with him?
I have played with him in my last few years. In the last three or four years the kind of experience and the kind of maturity he has shown… the two fast bowlers in India we always discuss are Shami and [Jasprit] Bumrah. And it is not one or two series. The kind of fitness he has shown, the kind of long spells he has shown [he can bowl], it is really exciting to see. The price we got him for was a steal. And if he had gone for more, we definitely would have tried to push for that also, I can say that.For this team he is a senior pro. The last couple of years, when he was playing for Punjab [Kings], he has bowled a few Super Overs, he struck early even in high-scoring games. He is someone that a guy like Varun Aaron, who has played for India previously, or even a young guy like Yash Dayal, will look up to.

“From day one I have been saying, in any T20 squad, I will take Hardik Pandya as a pure batter. As far our franchise is concerned, I am looking at him more as a captain and batsman”

He is not your conventional T20 bowler, but at the death he was one of the better bowlers in the last IPL. And he does not use slower balls, he just sticks to his strengths.
That is very important, not just for a bowler, even for a batter. First things first, you need to see what your strengths are, and then you look to improve and do new things. Shami and I are on similar wavelengths – we keep things simple. The good thing with Shami is, he knows his strength and that strength works for him. That’s what you call experience.Shami is an aggressive bowler, a wicket-taker. Even Lockie. They should stick to their strengths. They are not people who just want to bowl two overs for less runs, because the team is looking at them to pick up wickets. That should be their main aim. We are talking about two experienced guys. I’m sure they know what to do and how to do it.The first season is all about finding your feet. What kind of approach do you want Titans to adopt?
I am not sure [if I agree with] finding feet, that it’s okay, we are a new franchise, we’ll give our players two or three years and slowly we’ll start qualifying [for the playoffs]. In the end every franchise had an equal purse to make a team, and we were lucky enough to retain those three players. Of course, it takes a little time, the way things are with Covid and all that, to gel [as a group]. But from year one, you should be looking to win the tournament. As a team you must always think positive. It is not like Gujarat Titans has come up with a completely new team, where out of 20, 15 players have never played IPL or international cricket. Then you can say that [about finding feet]. All these guys have been part of the IPL and have also played international cricket.Over a period of time, consistency is the main thing in the IPL – what you have done in the last five years, how your team has shaped up, that’s the key. For that, of course, you have to start from year one.Are CVC, Titans’ owners, on the same page? Do they agree with your vision?
I hope so, that’s why they got me ().”We have a good, young squad, we have X-factor players – I don’t think as a coach I can ask for more than this”•Gujarat TitansIt’s been really smooth, considering we are a new franchise. When you have Vikram Solanki and Gary Kirsten as mentor and an experienced guy like Aashish Kapoor [assistant coach] who has worked in the IPL, it has made my life easy. From where it started and in so little time, it has been phenomenal.So the owners have left the cricketing decisions to all of you?
Yeah. More than 100%, which is great.Corporate set-ups work towards targets. Have they set a target for the coaching staff?
I don’t think they need to set any target. As I explained earlier, it is the players who want to win the most. The owners understand that very well, and they have seen in the last few months the thinking of the support staff and players and where they want to take the team. Yes, they also would like us to win, and they have seen us working for long hours to achieve that goal.What are the few key things Titans need to do to build a winning rhythm and stay consistent?
The most important thing in the IPL is how you react in pressure situations and in close games. Those two points are key [to success]. I am not saying that our aim is only to qualify, but if you want to go step by step [for playoffs], you should know how to win those close games and how to make fewer mistakes. This team has so much talent, but you have to be patient and you have to work together. In the IPL, if I’m not wrong, around 75% games go really close; I would say around 50-60% games go to the 20th over. It is for the players to understand those situations and what the team needs at that point of time.

One of the most intriguing young players in Manchester United’s academy at the moment is 17-year-old Chido Obi.

The former Arsenal player has a superb record at academy level. He scored 32 goals in 21 official games for Arsenal’s U18s and once bagged ten goals in a 14-3 win over Liverpool U16s. It’s safe to say he knows where the net is.

The Denmark U20s striker featured eight times for the Red Devils at senior level last term, and is a graduate of their academy, having made his first-team debut for the club. Although he’s yet to score, he has certainly impressed in his few short cameos.

In the long run, perhaps he could make the perfect replacement for Rasmus Hojlund, who is now thriving at Napoli on loan.

Hojlund's 2025/26 season in numbers

Since leaving United on loan in the summer, Hojlund has enjoyed great success for his new club Napoli and his international side, Denmark. In his last ten appearances for both club and country, he’s scored and assisted nine times.

That includes a fantastic run of form in the past four games.

Hojlund, who wears the number 19 in Naples, has found the back of the net on six occasions in that time, chipping in with one assist, too. That record stretches across the ongoing international break too.

Although he showed flashes of his best form in that famous Red shirt, the 22-year-old struggled for consistency.

He only managed to bag 26 times in 95 games, yet strikes like this one against Viktoria Plzen showed the type of quality he possesses.

The Dane’s current form is certainly a hot streak, who never really managed to find his feet at Old Trafford. There is a chance he could join Napoli permanently next summer, with the Scudetto winners having a buy option in the deal.

If that is the case, and he departs Old Trafford, United might already have his replacement brewing and it’s not Obi or the in-form Benjamin Sesko.

Man United's in-house Hojlund replacement

At the moment, all signs point to the fact that Hojlund will leave the club next summer, given that he has a buy clause and is playing so well.

Of course, in the long run, Obi could be the man to replace him, although there is an even bigger talent than the Dane.

Without doubt, one of the most exciting talents in English football at the moment is JJ Gabriel. At just 15 years of age, he is comfortably one of the best players in the U18s Premier League, against players three or four years his senior.

Academy Scoop, who covers the Red Devils youth sides over on X, described Gabriel as the “talisman” of Darren Fletcher’s side, while as the MEN outline, some academy followers believe he is “the best talent United’s academy has ever seen.”

That is huge praise, especially when you factor in the fact that he is playing three age groups up.

The numbers behind Gabriel’s form this season show just how much of a talent he is. He’s found the back of the net seven times in six appearances, with all of those goals coming from centre-forward.

He can also operate on the left wing, but Fletcher moved him centrally, and he’s since been thriving.

It is easy to see why he was hailed as “one of the most exciting talents in the world” by the Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston. He is a technically superb attacker, with his strike against Manchester City at the end of September showing how quickly he can change direction, before firing home a well-struck effort.

It is certainly interesting to see Gabriel operate as a striker for the Red Devils’ academy sides. He clearly has bags of technical quality, and playing in this advanced role has shown that he has an eye for goal, too.

It will be fascinating to see when Gabriel makes his debut for the first team, with reports suggesting he will train with Amorim’s side this term.

He’s already shown great ability in the academy, and Amorim may well decide to unleash him this season, as Mikel Arteta did with Max Dowman.

He would certainly be an upgrade on Hojlund in the long run if he adapts to senior football as quickly as he did to the U18s.

Man Utd have a "£100m + footballer" who's becoming their new McTominay

Man Utd will not want to repeat the mistake they made with McTominay

2

By
Joe Nuttall

Oct 13, 2025

وجه دانييل ستوريدج مهاجم ليفربول السابق رسالة للمدرب آرني سلوت بشأن التشكيلة التي سيعتمد عليها في مواجهة ليدز يونايتد غداً في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان ستوريدج قد أبدى تألمه لرؤية النجم المصري محمد صلاح يجلس على مقاعد البدلاء، في مباراتين متتاليتين أمام وست هام يونايتد وسندرلاند.

وقال ستوريدج لشبكة “سكاي سبورت”: “إذا كنتم ستتركون صلاح خارج التشكيل مرة أخرى، فقم بتجربة خيار مختلف، وألعب بفيرتز واعتمد عليه في مركز الرقم 10 خلف إيزاك وإيكتيكي معاً، لنرى ما إذا كان سيفتح بعض الأبواب ويساهم في صناعة بعض الفرص”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. سلوت: محمد صلاح لاعب استثنائي.. وطبيعي أن يتحدث الناس عنه إذا لم يشارك

ونفى ستوريدج ما يتردد عن رحيل صلاح في يناير على الرغم من عدم رضاه، وأشار لوجود مشاكل في جاهزية لاعبي ليفربول مثل فيرتز وإيزاك والذين يحاولون استعادة مستواهم.

واختتم: “بشكل جماعي يجد اللاعبون إيقاعهم لكن الفريق يجد إيقاعه أيضاً، من المرجح أن العديد من الأشخاص بمن فيهم المدرب يبحثون عن الثقة”.

Over recent years, Manchester United haven’t been shy to splash the cash on new additions in an attempt to help various managers lead them up the Premier League table.

Since the summer of 2022, over £800m has been spent on signings, with the expectation that more funds are needed to take the Red Devils back to their former glory.

Erik ten Hag spent three quarters of the aforementioned figure, but his inability to provide sustained success has handed Ruben Amorim the responsibility at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old himself has already splashed over £200m in the transfer market, with more additions expected during the upcoming January transfer window.

Numerous areas of the pitch are subject to investment, as seen by the attacking department in the summer, but the winter window presents the perfect chance to bolster the midfield.

United’s hunt to land a new midfielder in January

Given the lack of depth in United’s central midfield department, a new number six has been seen as the priority in the January market, leading to numerous names being touted with a big-money transfer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes has been one of the latest players linked with a transfer to Old Trafford, with the player himself open to a potential winter move.

The Red Devils’ interest has led to a £44m price tag being mooted in recent days, but at present, there have been no conversations between the clubs or the player.

However, he may be seen as a potential back-up option in the coming months, with rumours picking up over a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.

According to The Athletic, Amorim’s men have made the 23-year-old their primary target for the next window, but any deal could cost a pretty penny for INEOS.

The report also states that Sean Dyche’s side are reluctant to lose their star man during the midway point of the season, leading to a £100m asking price being quoted.

Why United’s primary target would be the best deal since Bruno

Back in January 2020, United did spend big to improve their first-team squad, subsequently forking out a reported £47m for the signature of midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

At the time, the Sporting CP star would have been an unknown quantity to many, but nearly six years on, it’s safe to say such a move was one of the club’s best in recent times.

The 31-year-old has since racked up a total of 303 appearances for the Red Devils, even managing to net his 100th goal for the club in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea back in September.

However, he’s also been a provider for those around him, as seen by his tally of 86 assists, with the Portuguese international current averaging 0.62 goal contributions per 90.

United have tried to replicate such deals in years gone by, completing moves for the likes of Patrick Dorgu, but the Dane’s move has been merely unsuccessful.

The aforementioned star has found minutes hard to come by, even struggling to perform when given the chance, which could lead to an early departure despite only joining 12 months ago.

However, a deal for Anderson would certainly follow the Bruno trend, with the Red Devils potentially getting themselves one of the division’s best talents at present.

The Englishman has taken his game to the next level in 2025/26, with his stellar performances cementing his place as an international regular within Thomas Tuchel’s England side.

His tally of two combined goals and assists in the Premier League may not seem impressive, but it’s his underlying stats which have made him such a sought-after talent.

Anderson, who’s been labelled a “warrior” by Ben Mattinson, has regained possession the most of any player in the league this season – with such an asset filling the club’s hunt for a dominant ball-winner.

Such a feat is made all the more impressive by his other tallies out of possession, with the Forest star winning 2.8 tackles and 7.2 duels won per 90 – further reaffirming his dominant nature.

Games played

12

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

8.3

Passes into final third

8.2

Take-ons completed

1.3

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.8

Duels won

7.2

However, with the ball at his feet, he’s been just as effective, as seen by his remarkable tally of 8.3 progressive passes completed per 90, with 8.2 of his efforts being made into the final third.

To top off the 23-year-old’s incredible numbers in 2025/26, he’s completed 1.5 key passes per 90 to date, with 1.3 of his passes being into the opposition’s penalty area.

A deal for Anderson would be yet another huge piece of business conducted by INEOS, but it’s one that would certainly solve one of Amorim’s biggest issues at Old Trafford.

Should the £100m man get anywhere near the levels produced by Bruno at the Theatre of Dreams, it would be a phenomenal addition, and one that could allow the side to finally compete for titles once again.

Joao Gomes upgrade: INEOS ready Man Utd talks for "out of this world" star

Manchester United look set to make another move for a central midfielder ahead of the January window.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

اكتمل قوام المجموعة الثانية في النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العرب 2025، التي تستضيفها قطر بمشاركة 16 منتخبًا.

وتنطلق منافسات بطولة كأس العرب يوم 1 ديسمبر، حيث يسعى المنتخب الوطني المصري لتحقيق انطلاقة مثالية تحت قيادة المدير الفني حلمي طولان.

وينتظر عشاق الكرة العربية صدامات قوية داخل المجموعة، حيث يسعى المغرب لتأكيد تفوقه القاري، بينما يطمح المنتخب السعودي لتحقيق أداءًا متميزًا في البطولة العربية.

ومن المنتظر أن تشهد مباريات المجموعة الثانية إثارة وندية بين الفرق المشاركة لحجز بطاقتي التأهل إلى ربع النهائي، وسط رغبة كل منتخب في تجاوز مرحلة المجموعات ومواصلة المشوار نحو منصة التتويج.

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب عمان يهزم الصومال بركلات الترجيح ويتأهل إلى كأس العرب 2025

يُذكر أن النسخة الأولى من كأس العرب أقيمت عام 2021 في قطر، وتُوج بها منتخب الجزائر بعد الفوز بالنهائي، بينما اكتفى منتخب مصر بالوصول إلى نصف النهائي واحتلال المركز الرابع في الترتيب النهائي للبطولة. مجموعة السعودية والمغرب في كأس العرب 2025

– المغرب

– السعودية

– عمان

– جزر القمر

Como and Switzerland star Alisha Lehmann named a Chelsea star as the toughest-ever opponent she has contested against, while also revealing whether she would rather win the World Cup with the Switzerland national team or the Ballon d'Or. Lehmann left Aston Villa for Italy to join Juventus in the summer of 2024 after spending six years in England and joined Como in the summer.

• Lehmann's journey in the WSL and Serie A

  Lehmann came to England at the age of 19 after making her professional debut at Swiss club BSC YB Frauen. In the WSL, the then-teenager signed for West Ham United and spent three seasons at the club. In between, she was briefly sent out on loan to Everton in 2021. With the Hammers, Lehmann finished as a runner-up in the Women's FA Cup in the 2018-19 campaign

  The Swiss forward then signed for Aston Villa and spent the next three seasons before finally moving away from England and heading to Italy. While personally Lehmann did not have a great season and remained sidelined for quite some time with injuries, as a team, Juventus won the league title – marking the first major trophy of her career. After spending only a season with the Italian giants, the 26-year-old signed for Como on a three-year deal 

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  Lehmann picks her favourite opponent

  In a chat with Dillon Deluxe, Lehmann was asked to pick the toughest opponent she has ever faced, to which she said: "I think Millie Bright". She then picked former Aston Villa team-mate and ex-England star Rachel Daly as the best player she has played with.

  Finally, when asked whether she would prefer to win the World Cup with the Switzerland national team or bag the Ballon d'Or, Lehmann said: "World Cup, 100%".

• Lehmann's house in Italy burgled

  Lehmann recently shared a video on Instagram where she captured the state of her bedroom after seeing intruders rifle through her belongings, with the contents of wardrobes and cabinets being flung everywhere. The Switzerland international was not at home at the time of the incident.

  Despite the burglary, Lehmann tried to stay upbeat, as she posted the video with a sarcastic message: "Next time people rob my house, can you please clean up after, cause I’ve got OCD. As someone that likes organisation and cleanliness, the Swiss now faces confusion and mess."

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  When will Lehmann play next for Como?

  Lehmann recently featured in Como's 1-0 loss against Roma in a Serie A clash on Sunday. She will be back in action for the club on December 7, when they take on Parma. In between her playing commitments, Lehmann frequently visits England after linking up with Love Island presenter and partner of Manchester City defender Ruben Dias, Maya Jama, to become the coach of MVPs United in the UK version of Baller League.

The Chicago White Sox were blanked 9-0 by the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night to drop their astounding season record to 31-109. It appears they have a date with unfortunate destiny as it'll take drastic improvement to avoid posting the worst win-loss number Major League Baseball has ever seen. Once again, NBC Sports Chicago had to think of things to say on

Thankfully, an incident between Sox manager Grady Sizemore and umpire Hunter Wendelstedt provided all the content neccessary. And it really set Ozzie Guillen off. Though, to be fair, a lot of things can set Guillen off.

“I wish I punched him in the face,” Guillen said of Wendelstedt. “He’s the first guy to kick me out of a game in the big leagues, with no reason. His dad, he was a legend. I said, ‘You know what? You’re not a pimple on your daddy’s behind.' I told him that. Because he kicked me out running out onto the field. He kicked me out of the game. Like, wait a minute. Don’t live on your daddy’s name. I spent more years in the big leagues than you. I think the call made today… I never argue with a call in TV. But obviously, with the uniform on, I did it almost every day. The calls made today were horrible.”

Not done, Guillen added: “The guy is bad. Look at how fat he is. He should be embarrassed to wear that uniform."

The barb about the umpire's relative girth notwithstanding, that's Guillen's lived experience and it would make sense if he's been waiting to torch the guy.

Plus, it probably felt good to talk about someone doing their jobs poorly who is not being paid by the White Sox. Only a few more weeks until it'll all be over.

McMullen and Leask’s contributions weren’t enough for Scotland to chase down 199

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jun-2025

Opener Michael Levitt’s breezy 90 helped Netherlands beat Scotland by 17 runs in a high-scoring contest in the T20I tri-series in Glasgow on Wednesday. His 57-ball innings lifted Netherlands to 198 for 7 after they were asked to bat. In reply, Scotland managed only 181 for 9 on the back of Brandon McMullen’s half-century and Michael Leask’s quickfire 46.Netherlands lost Max O’Dowd and Teja Nidamanuru inside the powerplay but it was the 75-run third-wicket partnership off 45 balls between Levitt and Scott Edwards that steered Netherlands to a competitive total. While Levitt, who had scored a T20I century before, smashed six fours and five sixes in his knock, Edwards chipped in with a 21-ball 31. Fast bowler Charlie Cassell broke the threatening stand, trapping Edwards lbw in the 13th over. Three overs late, Levitt was dismissed by fast bowler Jasper Davidson. There were also handy lower-order contributions from Ryan Klein and Roelof van der Merwe that ensured Netherlands had enough on the board.For Scotland, Cassell and Davidson shared four wickets among them.In the chase, Scotland stumbled early, when opener Mark Watt was run out in the third over for a 9-ball 6. However, No.3 McMullen and George Munsey revived Scotland briefly with their 50-run stand for the third wicket. Offspinner Nidamanuru gave the breakthrough by ending Musney’s stay in the eighth over and dismissed captain Richie Berrington in his next over. McMullen too fell after a 27-ball 51 leaving Scotland in trouble.While No. 6 Leask stood up with his 46 off 23 – where he struck five sixes and one four – Scotland kept losing wickets regularly on the other end. From 151 for 5, Scotland lost the next four wickets for 30 runs to eventually finish at 181 for 9. Netherlands’ left-arm spinner Van der Merwe, though leaked 44 runs in his four overs, accounted for two wickets in the 17th and 19th over to halt Scotland. Nidamanuru finished with 3 for 30 from his four overs while Aryan Dutt and Daniel Doram also scalped a wicket each.With this victory, Netherlands have moved to top of the points table with four points from three matches. They will face Nepal on Thursday Scotland are second with two points from three matches.