Derby County and Blackburn Rovers have been embroiled in an intriguing backstory this campaign, centred around John Eustace, who could now have a say in a transfer saga involving both clubs.
Derby County look to build on surviving relegation
Despite fighting for large parts of the campaign in the relegation zone, Derby secured their Championship status by the skin of their teeth after playing out an anticlimactic 0-0 draw with Stoke City on the final day. Working a minor miracle at Pride Park, John Eustace managed to guide the Rams to safety after they were previously seven points adrift of survival, losing only one of their final six league matches.
Derby County managerJohnEustaceand Jerry Yates
Controversially, the 45-year-old arrived at Derby from Blackburn Rovers, which was a surprise turn of events at the time due to the vast distance between both clubs in the English second-tier standings. Nevertheless, his decision proved to be worthwhile even in the face of doubters, something Eustace was quick to point out once the Rams confirmed they would be staying in the Championship.
Derby County’s great escape under John Eustace
19. Derby County
50
20. Preston North End
50
21. Hull City
49
22. Luton Town (R)
49
23. Plymouth Argyle (R)
46
24. Cardiff City (R)
44
Leaving some frosty relations at his former club, Blackburn missed out on a playoff berth by two points, creating more intrigue between both sides as they go head-to-head again next season. Crossing paths once again, Eustace’s Derby are now fighting his old side for the signature of a talented midfielder from League One, per reports.
Derby County and Blackburn Rovers fight to sign Ethan Erhahon
According to EFL Analysis, Derby and Blackburn both want to sign Lincoln City midfielder Ethan Erhahon, who is attracting interest from a clutch of other clubs in the second and third tier of English football.
Plymouth Argyle, Millwall, Preston North End and Oxford United are also in the hunt for the Scotland Under-21 cap, who could fetch the Imps a seven-figure fee if he were to be sold.
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Labelled “brilliant” by Michael Skubala for his dominant nature in the middle of the park, Erhahon has won no fewer than 139 duels in League One this season as Lincoln secured a comfortable mid-table finish. Formerly of St Mirren, the 24-year-old is known for his abilities in both boxes, making him an ideal fit for a move up to the Championship if the correct opportunity presents itself.
Now, it remains to be seen who will win the battle for his signature. Derby and Blackburn have become foes on the pitch. Could they also continue that relationship away from the field of play?
Celtic continued their dominance of Scottish football at the end of last month by claiming their fourth successive Scottish Premiership title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United.
Ryan Strain’s own goal gave the Hoops an early lead in the match before braces from Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah wrapped up a comfortable victory for Brendan Rodgers and his men.
The Glasgow giants, now, have the chance to complete a domestic treble for the second time in three seasons if they can beat Aberdeen in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park at the end of this month.
It has been another successful season for Celtic, irrespective of the result against Aberdeen, as they have already won the Premiership and the League Cup.
Callum McGregor
Callum McGregor, the Hoops captain, has now won a staggering ten league titles for the club, to go along with eight League Cups and six SFA Cups, although he is yet to taste European glory at Parkhead.
The Celtic skipper turns 32 this summer and is currently contracted through to 2028, but the Bhoys may start to think about what life could look like beyond having him in midfield.
Why Callum McGregor would leave big boots to fill at Celtic
Aside from his leadership qualities and what he brings to the table as the captain, McGregor would leave big boots to fill at Parkhead because of the quality that he provides in the middle of the park.
The left-footed star is a metronomic midfield player who acts as the heartbeat of the team with his ability to dominate and dictate matches with his passes, allowing Celtic to control games in the Premiership.
McGregor has also added a goalscoring touch to his game this season, as shown in the clip above, with eight league goals to his name so far this term.
The bulk of the former Scotland international’s work on the pitch for Celtic, however, is what he does with the ball at his feet as a passer, rather than as a goalscorer, because he is a metronomic presence for the Hoops.
Callum McGregor’s passing quality (all comps)
Season
Matches played
Passes made per 90
Pass accuracy
24/25
42
73.6
94.3%
23/24
41
66.3
91.5%
22/23
34
72.5
92%
21/22
42
67.6
90.1%
20/21
44
68.9
90%
19/20
32
64.1
91.3%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, McGregor is an incredible passer who has proven, over the last six seasons, that he can consistently find his teammates at an exceptional rate whilst attempting plenty of passes per 90.
This shows that he can retain possession to help Celtic dominate matches, which then allows him to dictate the tempo of games to suit what the team needs.
This shows that McGregor will leave big boots to fill when the Hoops eventually decide that they need to replace him as a regular starter, whenever in the future that may be.
Celtic tipped as possible destination for international star
Former Scotland international Pav Nevin has suggested that there is a star currently playing in one of Europe’s major leagues who could be the next Callum McGregor at Parkhead, and it would be a shock move if it were to happen.
Nevin has claimed that Billy Gilmour is in a “strange” place in his career because he has failed to nail down a regular starting spot at Napoli, having had the same problems with Chelsea, Norwich, and Brighton in England.
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The pundit told the Daily Record: “So you’ve got two choices. Choice number one is accept that’s your career, that’s your life, that’s what happens. You are going to play with some great clubs, win some trophies, people are going to love you and you are going to play until you’re 40 because you’re going to be relaxed and that’s a good career for Billy.
“The other possibility, I wonder if Celtic and Rangers need a controlling, creative player. It is that one where, if he comes up to Celtic or Rangers, he takes over from Callum McGregor or becomes the new Barry Ferguson. That’s it.”
It would be a shock to see Gilmour arrive at Parkhead, because he came up through the ranks at Rangers before his move to Chelsea as a teenager, but he would not be the first player to tread that path.
In fact, current Celtic star Greg Taylor came through the Gers academy before his move to Kilmarnock, from where he then went on to sign for the Hoops, which suggests that it is not an impossible move, albeit it would still be a shock.
Why Billy Gilmour could be the next Callum McGregor
If the Scottish giants were to pursue a move for Gilmour, whether that is this summer or in the future, he could be the dream signing to replace McGregor in the middle of the park.
Like the Celtic captain, the former Rangers academy starlet is a deep-lying central or defensive midfield player whose main qualities revolve around his ability to pass the ball and dictate matches.
Gilmour is not a physical midfielder who patrols the park to make big challenges and win aerial battles. Instead, he is a diminutive star who can use his technical and athletic attributes to help his side dominate games on a regular basis.
The £13.6m-rated star, who currently plays for Napoli in the Serie A, has proven his quality as a metronomic passer during his time in Italy and England.
Billy Gilmour’s passing quality (all comps)
Season
Matches played
Passes made per 90
Pass accuracy
24/25 (Napoli)
27
59.1
89.4%
23/24 (Brighton)
41
77.1
91.8%
22/23 (Brighton)
17
60.5
90%
21/22 (Norwich)
28
46
83.4%
20/21 (Chelsea)
12
72.5
88.8%
19/20 (Chelsea)
11
65
88.7%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, his spell with Norwich, who were relegated from the Premier League that season, is the only time that he has not been an incredibly reliable and frequent passer in the middle of the park.
Typically, Gilmour is a midfielder who attempts and completes a high number of passes per 90 at an exceptional rate, which is what McGregor does for Celtic in midfield for Rodgers.
Callum McGregor
The 23-year-old star is significantly younger than the Hoops captain and this means that he could be the long-term heir to the Scottish star’s throne in the middle of the park in Glasgow, if the club signed him from Napoli.
Gilmour could, therefore, be McGregor 2.0 for Celtic because he has the passing quality and the experience at the very top level to suggest that he would be a star as a ‘controlling’ midfielder for the club, which is why they should consider making a shock move for his services.
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However, there is nothing to suggest that he is an active target for the club at this moment in time, so it remains to be seen what will happen to Gilmour and his future at Napoli. But, given Nevin’s comments, it is an interesting transfer to think about and one that could be viable in the future.
Chelsea are now determined to win the race for a “decisive creator”, and they are readying a €30m (£26m) offer for his services, according to a report.
Blues pursuing new attacking midfielder
Throughout the campaign, Enzo Maresca’s side have largely done a good job crafting opportunities for Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in attack, having created 83 big chances in the Premier League, the joint-second highest total in the division.
Those figures suggest a lack of cutting edge from the strikers may be a problem for the Blues, so it is little wonder they are set to pursue a new striker in the summer transfer window, and they are now leading the race for Borussia Dortmund star Serhou Guirassy.
However, Maresca is also clearly keen to bring in a new playmaker this summer, with Lyon assist king Rayan Cherki among the potential targets, alongside Como’s Nico Paz, who has impressed manager Cesc Fàbregas with his performances in Italy this season.
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There has now been a new update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Paz, with a report from Spain revealing the west Londoners are now readying a €30m (£26m) offer for the 20-year-old, as they are determined to win the race for his signature.
Doing so could be a tall order, however, with the Argentine attracting attention from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid, who retain the option to re-sign their former player for the bargain fee of less than €10m (£8.6m), which could be appealing.
Como's Assane Diao,NicoPazand Maxence Caqueret celebrate their first goal
The report states the youngster has been one of the Serie A’s stars this season, so it is little wonder he has garnered interest from some European giants, and he is said to be a prime target for the Blues, whose model is built around signing young players.
"Decisive creator" Paz impressing in Italy
Although Real Madrid have a buy-back clause, they may be ruing the decision to let the Como star leave in the first place, given the level of his performances in the Serie A this season.
The Spain-born maestro has six goals and seven assists to his name in 30 appearances, and his displays have earned him a call-up to national side Argentina, setting up a goal on his debut against Bolivia back in October.
The starlet has developed a strong relationship with Como forward Assane Diao, and Ben Mattinson lauded him as a “decisive creator” after setting up the Senegal international’s goal in the 3-0 victory against Lecce last time out.
Paz’s performances for Como suggest he is now ready for a move to a top club, so it is exciting news that Chelsea are stepping up their transfer pursuit, but Real Madrid’s cheap buy-back clause could pose a major problem.
On Saturday, after Celtic were officially crowned champions at Tannadice earlier in the day, the Gers were held to a 2-2 draw by St Mirren, with Cyriel Dessers and then Nicolas Raskin on target in Paisley.
This means, since the split was first introduced in 2000, the Light Blues have still never won all five post-split fixtures, but it matters not this time round, given that they are 17 points adrift the champions, out of all other competitions too, ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
So, the primary concern for Rangers supporters is who is going to be their new manager, especially considering next season will start early, given that they’ll enter the Champions League second qualifying round on 22/23 July, so could the new 49ers ownership group hire a “brilliant” boss?
Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers
As widely reported by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, and many others, Steven Gerrard remains amongst the front-runners to return as Rangers manager this summer.
Steven Gerrard
The Englishman has been out of work since being sacked by Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq in January, enduring a pretty underwhelming 18 months in the Middle East, winning only 19 of 55 matches.
Nevertheless, Gerrard’s record during his first spell in Glasgow is very impressive, as the table below outlines.
Rangers’ post-promotion managers
Managers
Matches
Win %
League titles
Domestic cups
Pedro Caixinha
26
54%
Zero
Zero
Graeme Murty
35
60%
Zero
Zero
Steven Gerrard
192
65%
1
Zero
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
68
62%
Zero
1
Michael Beale
43
72%
Zero
Zero
Philippe Clement
86
64%
Zero
1
Barry Ferguson
11
36%
Zero
Zero
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, Steven Gerrard is both Rangers’ longest-serving manager and also their only boss to deliver a top division league title since the legendary Walter Smith, departing with an impressive 65% win ratio after almost 200 matches.
Andrew Slaven of the Scottish Football Show believes it would be the populist appointment to re-hire Gerrard, but also posits whether or not Michael Beale could return as his assistant, having himself been, as described by former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, Rangers’ “worst ever” manager.
So, the new 49ers ownership group may choose to look elsewhere, so could they hire a soon-to-be out-of-work manager?
Rangers' potential new manager
On Easter Monday, following a 6-0 demolition of Stoke City, Leeds United were promoted back to the Premier League.
A 4-0 drubbing of Bristol City on Monday night took the Yorkshire giants’ points tally to 97, the most they’ve ever accumulated in a single season, and victory at almost already-relegated Plymouth Argyle on Saturday will see them clinch the EFL Championship title.
So why is this relevant to Rangers?
Well, despite achieving promotion, a report by Matt Hughes of the Guardian has suggested that Leeds are considering sacking manager Daniel Farke, due to concerns over his previous record in the Premier League. There are now whispers – perhaps unsurprisingly considering the 49ers’ link – that Farke could end up in the Ibrox hotseat instead.
So, let’s assess the German’s managerial record.
Daniel Farke’s managerial statistics 2017-present
Club
Season
Points
Position
Outcome
Norwich City
2017/18
60
14th
Norwich City
2018/19
94
1st
Promoted
Norwich City
2019/20
21
20th
Relegated
Norwich City
2020/21
97
1st
Promoted
Norwich City
2021/22
22
20th
Sacked after 11 games
Borussia Mönchengladbach
2022/23
43
10th
Sacked
Leeds United
2023/24
90
3rd
Beaten in play-off final
Leeds United
2024/25
97
1st
Promoted
All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table shows, Daniel Farke is a bit of a Championship promotion specialist, possibly set to win the title for a third time, but his Premier League record is miserable, winning only six of 49 matches, holding the unwanted record of most successive Premier League defeats suffered by any manager, which is 15.
Nevertheless, Neil Warnock believes it would be ridiculous to sack Farke given that he has done a “brilliant job” this season, while Beren Cross of The Athletic notes that Leeds’ ‘senior players praised’ the manager’s style, giving them the ‘freedom’ to play.
Even Pep Guardiola described him as an “exceptional manager” during his time at Carrow Road.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkecelebrates after the match
Nevertheless, should he be dismissed, this is where Rangers come in.
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is poised to become the new majority stakeholder at Rangers, so already has a working relationship with Farke, making any appointment potentially straightforward.
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What Farke has proved is that, when he’s in charge of one of the top teams in a division, he has thrived, possibly making him a more exciting appointment for Rangers than any potential Gerrard return.
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Much of the talk at Manchester United is currently centred on the goalkeeping ranks – amid reports that Andre Onana could be on his way this summer – although Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle United also showcased the Red Devils’ woes in an attacking sense too.
As that 4-1 thrashing highlighted, Ruben Amorim’s side are simply starved of quality at the top end of the pitch, with the visitors looking particularly lifeless following the loss of Joshua Zirkzee to injury, alongside the withdrawal of goalscorer, Alejandro Garnacho.
Substitute Rasmus Hojlund, for instance, has still scored just three Premier League goals this season, while the returning Mason Mount has just one goal and one assist to his name in 36 games for United in total.
Having relied on the talents of Amad Diallo during Amorim’s early tenure – with the Ivorian registering 12 goal involvements in 20 games under the Portuguese coach – the Old Trafford side having looked particularly short of ideas since the 22-year-old’s cruel injury blow.
In all, United have scored just 38 goals in 32 league games this season, while the recent Manchester derby marked the 12th time that they have failed to score in a top-flight fixture in 2024/25.
Rasmus Hojlund for Man Utd.
At least one new forward is then the priority this summer – will Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, be among those to arrive?
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Tensions are brewing at Molineux regarding the future of their standout Brazilian, with Cunha – who only recently returned from a four-game suspension – having irked the Wolves fanbase following a subsequently deleted Instagram post, in which the 25-year-old stated that he “will follow my dreams, not yours”.
Matheus Cunha
That hint regarding a potential exit has come after the former Atletico Madrid man previously outlined his desire to “take the next step” in his career, with the 14-goal hero signing a new contract back in January which includes a £62.5m release clause.
As reported last week, United could be among the clubs to trigger that clause this summer, with The Athletic outlining that Cunha is among those being considered to play in one of the two number ten berths under Amorim.
The in-demand talent – who is also courting attention from the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest – notably scored and assisted against United on Boxing Day, having now racked up 39 goal involvements in just 76 Premier League outings to date.
It is clear then why Cunha would represent an attractive addition, even amid his recent disciplinary issues, albeit with there likely to be question marks over how the Red Devils would fund a move, with Amorim outlining that the club will have to sell before they can buy this summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
The Man Utd flop who could help fund Cunha move
Reports have claimed that there could be more than ten first-team departures at the Theatre of Dreams ahead of next season, with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof approaching the end of their contracts, while both Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans could be in line for retirement.
There will also be a desire to cash in on those who aren’t currently making an impact under Amorim, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony all in need of a permanent new home amid their respective loan moves.
In the case of the latter man, the Brazilian is one of those that INEOS certainly need to send packing after three dismal years in Manchester, with the former Ajax starlet having registered just 12 goals and only five assists in 96 games following his £86m arrival.
Antony’s Man Utd record vs selected wingers (past and present)
Player
Games
Goals
Assists
Total G/A
Antony
96
12
5
17
Amad
57
12
10
22
Jadon Sancho
83
12
6
18
Alejandro Garnacho
135
25
20
45
Dan James
74
9
9
18
Angel Di Maria
34
4
12
16
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
63
13
11
24
Memphis Depay
53
7
6
13
Stats via Transfermarkt
That grim record represents just what a costly mistake the 24-year-old has proven to be, with club legend Gary Neville describing him as “frustrating at times”, having only shown flashes of what he can do.
In truth, you can almost count on one hand the real high points that Antony has enjoyed in a United shirt, be it his crucial late equaliser in the eventual 4-3 win over Liverpool last season, or his long range stunners against both Barcelona and Real Betis in the Europa League in 2022/23.
That record against LaLiga sides perhaps illustrates why he has now found his feet while turning out for Betis in recent months, with the polarising left-footer looking like a man reborn with eight goals and assists in just 15 games for the Seville outfit.
Such performances are a positive in the sense that it should generate a market for Antony this summer, with the club desperately needing to shift their expensive flop off the wage bill, amid his reported salary of £105k-per-week.
That wage appears even more unjustified when considering that he earns more than what his compatriot, Cunha, is collecting at Molineux, with the Old Gold star taking home £90k-per-week, despite his stellar impact at Premier League level.
As Antony has shown in Spain, there does appear to be a player in there somewhere – albeit, just not a Manchester United one.
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Crystal Palace have now made contact over a move for an “aggressive” defender, who could be available for just £5m, according to a report.
Palace eyeing defender amid Marc Guehi uncertainty
Marc Guehi’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, which means the upcoming transfer window will be Palace’s last chance to cash-in on the defender, and a number of Premier League clubs are in the race for his signature.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
Chelsea are determined to win the race for Guehi, although the Blues may face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, who had a £70m bid knocked back in January, while Liverpool have also held talks over a potential deal.
As such, Oliver Glasner is likely to be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of targets have been identified, with IF Elfsborg’s Terry Yegbe recently becoming the latest player to be shortlisted.
Crystal Palace’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Manchester City (a)
April 12th
Newcastle United (a)
April 16th
AFC Bournemouth (h)
April 19th
Arsenal (a)
April 23rd
Nottingham Forest (h)
May 5th
The Eagles are leading the race for Yegbe, while they also hold an interest in Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof, who is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.
As we approach the summer transfer window, Palace are not short on centre-back targets, and a report from Argentina (via The Hard Tackle) has revealed they have now made contact over a deal for Independiente De Avellaneda’s Kevin Lomonaco.
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Lomonaco could be a low-cost addition to Glasner’s squad, given that he is valued at just €6m (£5m), and the south Londoners are keen on securing his signature, although they may face competition.
London rivals West Ham United have also made an approach for the 23-year-old, with the race for his signature starting to heat up ahead of the summer transfer window.
"Aggressive" Lomonaco impressing in Argentina
There are some signs the centre-back could be an exciting acquisition for Palace, given that he has received high praise from an Argentine football expert.
The “aggressive” defender is an imposing figure at a colossal 6 foot 4, which he clearly uses to his advantage in aerial situations, but it is also important that he seems to be good with his feet, which is important for any modern-day centre-back.
It would, of course, be a gamble to sign Lomonaco, given that he is unproven outside Argentina, but at just £5m, it could be a risk worth taking for Palace, who are in need of a replacement for Guehi.
Arsenal have now made a strong move to sign a “special” Paris Saint-Germain star, who is still yet to accept an offer to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes.
Gunners under pressure after Aston Villa defeat
The Gunners’ lead at the summit of the Premier League table was reduced to just two points on Saturday, after slipping up at Villa Park, with Emiliano Buendia netting a stoppage-time winner to secure all three points for the hosts.
Gary Neville has suggested the defeat shouldn’t be a major cause for concern, given that Aston Villa are a good side, saying: “That’s a game you can lose. I wouldn’t be panicking at all if I was Arsenal off the back of that. You’re going to lose a game or two, you just are, and you’re going to win a lot of games.”
However, after coming second three years on the spin, Mikel Arteta’s side may be feeling the pressure, with Manchester City now breathing down their necks, and the north Londoners are looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.
That is according to a report from Le10 Sport (via Sport Witness), which states Arsenal have now made a strong move to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, who isn’t entirely happy at the French club, and is still yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.
PSG have made an offer to Barcola, which would see his salary increase significantly from £111k-a-week, but he is yet to commit to a new deal, amid interest from the Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are very active contenders.
Arteta’s side have been interested in the French forward for quite some time, and the latest development is exciting, as there are plenty of signs he could be a fantastic addition to the squad…
"Special" Barcola could be exciting signing for Arsenal
With Gabriel Martinelli not in the best of form, receiving widespread criticism for some of his performances this season, it may be a savvy move to sign a new left-winger, and the PSG star has been in impressive form.
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Indeed, the 18-time France international has already amassed eight goal contributions in 18 matches this term, while also receiving very high praise from scout Ben Mattinson earlier this year, who described proved him as “one of the best left wingers in Europe”.
Not only that, but the 23-year-old also ranks extremely highly across a range of key attacking statistics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.
Statistic
Average per 90 (past year)
Assists
0.42 (95th percentile)
Progressive carries
5.13 (87th percentile)
Touches (Att pen)
8.72 (98th percentile)
Should the opportunity present itself, Arsenal should definitely step up their interest in Barcola, and it is promising news they have already made a strong move to secure his signature.
Sri Lanka put in a spirited display, but couldn’t stop England from going top of the table
Madushka Balasuriya11-Oct-2025
Nat Sciver-Brunt brought up a scintillating century•ICC/Getty Images
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 10th WODI hundred and a four-wicket haul from Sophie Ecclestone helped England brush past a spirited if flawed Sri Lankan side in Colombo completing a dominant 89-run win, as they made it three wins in three at the World Cup – and with it go top of the group. It was Sri Lanka’s second defeat in as many games, though they have a point on board courtesy their washed out game against Australia.Here, Sri Lanka were up against it with just 17 runs on the board when Chamari Athapaththu was stretchered off the ground after she pulled up with what looked like hamstring strain in the sixth over of the chase. It was later revealed to be nothing more than cramps impacting her right calf, allowing her to bat later in the innings, but at that point Sri Lanka might have been fearing the worst.As it transpired the rest of Sri Lanka’s top order responded admirably. Vishmi Gunaratne struck consecutive boundaries off Lauren Bell to kickstart the chase, but before she could do any real damage she was done in by a ripper from Charlie Dean, turning sharply through bat and pad.This brought Harshitha Samarawickrama to join Hasini Perera in the middle, and the pair set about stitching together Sri Lanka’s best partnership of the innings – 58 off 66. During this period, you wouldn’t have blamed the boisterous crowd, one filled with several young fans, from entertaining thoughts of a famous victory.Sri Lanka had moved to 89 for 1 after 18 overs by the time Ecclestone – the number one ranked bowler in WODIs – was brought into the attack, but it wasn’t until her second over that she would begin to tighten her stranglehold on the game.The first to go was Perera, who chipped one to straight to mid-on. That over would be a wicket maiden – one of three maidens she would bowl – as Ecclestone proceeded to almost singlehandedly end Sri Lanka’s chase.Sophie Ecclestone derailed Sri Lanka’s chase•ICC/Getty Images
Such was her impact she ended up bowling her entire 10 overs in a single spell, during the course of which she picked up the wickets of pretty much the entire Sri Lankan top order.Samarawickrama was the next to fall, top edging a sweep off Ecclestone to short fine. Kavisha Dilhari then missed an arm ball, before arrived the coup de grace – one that dipped and turned, luring the recovered Athapaththu into a drive, before turning it viciously through bat and pad to crash into the stumps.That last wicket silenced the crowd for good, and the remaining wickets fell with little fuss – even Sciver-Brunt was able to get in on the action, rounding out her day with the wickets of Anushka Sanjeewani and Dewmi Vihanga. Sri Lanka eventually folded for 164.It was the proverbial icing on the cake for Sciver-Brunt who had earlier been on a one-woman mission to help her side overcome a tough pitch and Sri Lanka’s army of spinners.England were helped by a host of misfields littered throughout their innings, though perhaps the defining moment occurred in the 14th over.Sciver-Brunt was on three at the time, when she whipped one from Inoka Ranaweera hard and straight to Udeshika Prabodhani at midwicket, who just couldn’t hold on. It was the only drop of the innings, but ended up costing Sri Lanka north of 100 runs.England had started strong, going at around five an over in the opening powerplay, thanks to Tammy Beaumont’s 32 off 29, but an ill-advised single saw the back of Amy Jones before Beaumont herself sliced one high to point.From that point on though Sciver-Brunt was the common denominator as England strung together a spate of partnerships through the middle overs.Nat Sciver-Brunt gave the England innings momentum•Getty Images
The highest was 60 from 73 between Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight, a stand that had threatened to take the game away from Sri Lanka as the pair worked the field expertly, utilising deft sweeps and dabs, allied with calculated risks over the infield.The partnership was broken against the run of play as Knight gloved a reverse-sweep to slip. It was given not out on the field, but keeper Sanjeewani petitioned heavily for the review to be taken – and it was eventually, with just two seconds on the clock.That wasn’t Sanjeewani’s only intervention, as she also effected two sharp stumpings and helped complete a run out, in what was a consummate day out.Like against India, Ranaweera once more shifted the momentum of the innings, this time through a jarring intervention in the 35th over. Emma Lamb was first bowled around her legs, before a sharp bit of glove work from Sanjeewani saw Alice Capsey short of her crease after she had been deceived in the flight.Suddenly from 141 for 3 in the 31st over, England found themselves 168 for 6 a little over three overs later.Prior to this England had been eyeing up a total in excess of 270 but just as they had been looking to accelerate, they had to hold back. It meant that between the 40th and 48th over just two boundaries were struck, as England and Sciver-Brunt prioritised inching the total up to decent territory, if not imposing.The first real show of intent at the death came in the penultimate over, when Sciver-Brunt struck a sumptuous inside-out six over extra cover – to bring up her century – and followed it up with another loft down the ground.The final two overs brought more runs, as England struck 28 runs in that patch to boost their total past the 250-mark, and in the end it proved to be more than enough.
RB Bragantino e Flamengo se enfrentam neste sábado (4), pela quinta rodada da Série A do Brasileirão. A bola vai rolar a partir das 18h30 (de Brasília), no Nabizão, em Bragança Paulista (SP), com transmissão do Premiere.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalpites de HojePalpite: Bragantino x Flamengo – Campeonato Brasileiro – 4/5/2024Palpites de Hoje04/05/2024FlamengoPressionado no Flamengo, Tite busca novas soluções para amenizar crise e quebrar tabu diante do BragantinoFlamengo04/05/2024NotíciasZebra Rubro-Negra! Aposte R$100 e ganhe R$243 se o Flamengo vencer o BragantinoNotícias03/05/2024
➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!
As odds disponiveis no Lance! Betting apontam 2.43 para um triunfo do Flamengo, 2.9 no empate e 2.9 para uma vitória do Bragantino no Brasileirão.
Na última rodada do Brasileirão, o Flamengo foi derrotado pelo Botafogo, enquanto o Bragantino empatou com o Fortaleza.
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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA RB BRAGANTINO X FLAMENGO BRASILEIRÃO SÉRIE A – QUINTA RODADA
🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 4 de maio de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília) 📍 Local: Nabizão, em Bragança Paulista (SP) 📺 Onde assistir: Premiere 🟨 Árbitro: Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva (FIFA-MG) 🚩 Assistentes: Guilherme Dias Camilo (FIFA-MG) e Celso Luiz da Silva (MG) 🖥️ VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (FIFIA-RS)
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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES RB BRAGANTINO (Técnico: Pedro Caixinha) Cleiton; Nathan Mendes, Pedro Henrique, Eduardo Santos e Juninho Capixaba; Jadsom, Eric Ramires e Gustavo Neves; Vitinho, Mosquera e Eduardo Sasha
FLAMENGO (Técnico: Tite) Rossi, Wesley, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira e Ayrton Lucas; Allan, Igor Jesus, Gerson e De la Cruz; Pedro e Bruno Henrique
Although they have yet to win the Premier League since leaving Highbury, Arsenal have had some sensational players represent them at the Emirates Stadium.
The likes of Mesut Özil, Cesc Fàbregas, and more recently Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were, or are, world-class internationals, but perhaps the best of them all was Alexis Sanchez.
The former Barcelona star might have sullied his reputation among the fans by joining Manchester United in 2018, but during his time in North London, he was practically unplayable and racked up a monster tally of 124 goal involvements in 166 games.
So, fans should be seriously excited about reports linking Arsenal with another international superstar who could be their new Sanchez.
Arsenal target another Sanchez
Unlike last season, Arsenal aren’t finding it too difficult to score goals this year, with four players on four or more goals across all competitions this season.
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However, injuries have once again become a problem, and while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have stepped up this year, it would be unwise for Arteta and Co to solely rely on them to hold down the left flank for the rest of the campaign.
It seems that the club share this opinion, as they now appear ready to go all in for a potentially game-changing Sanchez-esque winger in the winter window.
At least that is according to reports from Spain, which claim Arsenal have maintained a significant interest in Rodrygo.
In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that as things stand, the Gunners are ready to spend €90m on the Real Madrid star, which is about £80m.
It won’t be an easy deal to get over the line, particularly with Liverpool and Chelsea supposedly interested, but it’s one worth pursuing, especially as Rodrygo could be another Sanchez-type signing for Arsenal.
Why Rodrygo would be another Sanchez
Now there are more than a handful of apparent similarities between Rodrygo and Sanchez, with one of the biggest being where they’d be coming from were the former to join Arsenal.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo looks on
Like the Chilean superstar, the Brazilian international would be coming from one of Spain’s big two, and more than that, he would be leaving a side where he’s a bit-part player to become a leading figure at the Emirates.
Furthermore, while he has spent a lot of time on the right, he, like the former Barça star, is primarily a left-sided attacker, and that’s where he’d play in North London.
And finally, if Arteta can get the best out of him, the 24-year-old could have a similar game-changing effect on the Gunners’ attack.
After all, while he’s not having the best of seasons this year, he has been incredible for Real in the past, and were he platformed correctly out on the left, he could elevate Arteta’s attack.
Rodrygo’s Real Record
Appearances
283
Starts
181
Minutes
16512′
Goals
68
Assists
53
Goal Involvements per Match
0.42
Minutes per Goal Involvement
136.46′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, even though he has been forced onto the right for much of the last two years or so, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has amassed a tally of 68 goals and 53 assists in 283 appearances, totalling 16512 minutes.
In other words, the former Santos gem has averaged a goal involvement every 2.33 games, or every 136.46 minutes for Los Blancos.
Moreover, he has scored 25 goals and provided 16 assists in 67 Champions League games, with eight of those goals coming in the knockouts.
Ultimately, while he is not having a great season, Rodrygo’s immense talent and ability to turn games around are undeniable.
Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign him in the winter window, as he could be another Sanchez-type signing.