Wolves are “looking” at the signing of an exciting attacking player in the summer transfer window, according to reliable journalist Mike McGrath.

Wolves targeting moves for Premier League pair

With the new Premier League season now on the horizon, Wanderers know the importance of adding to their squad and ensuring they aren’t looking over their shoulders in 2025/26.

Promisingly, Wolves are being linked with new signings all over the pitch, with Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi emerging as a target at the heart of the defence. Whether Levi Colwill’s ACL injury puts paid to his teammate moving to Molineux remains to be seen, though.

Liverpool attacker Ben Doak is believed to be wanted by a host of Premier League clubs, with the Reds possibly selling him permanently for around £20m this summer, and Wanderers are one of the teams who are reportedly in the mix to snap him up.

The loss of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United was a big blow earlier in the window, with further reinforcements needed to fill the void left by him, and Wolves have now been linked with a player who could be ideal to come in and make a difference in the final third.

Wolves "looking" at 22 y/o attacker

According to McGrath on X, who cites fellow Telegraph journalist John Percy, Wolves are “looking” at Nantes attacker Matthis Abline as a “strong” option this summer.

Abline may not be too well-known to English supporters, given his age and the fact that Nantes aren’t one of France’s biggest clubs, but he is an exciting option nonetheless. The 22-year-old Frenchman has scored 16 goals in 60 appearances for his current club, which a good return for a young player, and his versatility can be a weapon for Vitor Pereira.

The youngster played 27 times as a number nine last season, but also appeared in eight games on the right and a couple of occasions as a left winger, with most of his goals coming through the middle. Scout Jacek Kulig has admired the quality and long-term potential that Abline possesses for some time, saying he has an “gold” in his game back in April 2024.

While it would be unfair for Wolves supporters to expect the Nantes ace to come straight in and be a tailor-made replacement for Cunha, he would still be seen as a key man who could mature into a genuine star over time.

Matthis Abline’s international stats

Caps

Goals

France Under-21s

9

2

France Under-20s

10

5

France Under-19s

11

6

France Under-17s

7

5

France Under-16s

7

4

The fact that he has scored 22 times for France at youth level speaks volumes about his ability, and Wanderers should be viewing him as a fantastic option to bring in.

England cash in on 151-run first-innings lead thanks to brutal hitting on third day

Andrew Miller30-Nov-2024

Kane Williamson fell to Chris Woakes as England took command•Joe Allison/Getty Images

Close – New Zealand 348 (Williamson 93, Phillips 58*, Carse 4-64, Bashir 4-69) and 155 for 6 (Mitchell 31*, Smith 1*) lead England 499 (Brook 171, Stokes 80, Pope 77, Henry 4-84) by four runsFor a man who answers – as modestly as one can – to the nickname “Wizard”, Chris Woakes’ overseas record has become such a millstone that, in December last year, the man himself all but conceded his days as a touring Test cricketer were over, when he was omitted from England’s trip to India.But the retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson, and England’s insistence that their remodelled Test attack still needs a wise old head to lead it, have redefined his role within the squad. On the third day at Christchurch, he delivered the spell that justified that faith; three top-drawer wickets in New Zealand’s second innings, including the priceless scalp of a well-set Kane Williamson, that have put England within sight of victory in the first Test.Woakes dovetailed superbly with Brydon Carse, the newest addition to that seam attack, who utilised his heavy ball and unstinting energy to bomb his way to three wickets of his own, including Rachin Ravindra to his first ball of the evening session, and Glenn Phillips in the day’s closing moments.After two days of even toil, England had secured a day of outright dominance. It was set in motion by their belligerent batting in an overcast morning session, in which Harry Brook’s mighty 171 underpinned a total of 499 in 103 overs, and Ben Stokes made a hard-hitting 80, his highest score since the 2023 Ashes. Some free-wheeling hitting from an allrounder-stacked tail then put the seal on their innings, with Gus Atkinson and Carse clattering a total of 81 runs from 60 balls between them.Duly emboldened by a lead of 151, Woakes carried that attacking mindset into the field, serving up a performance that evoked his series-turning displays in the 2023 Ashes. He had gone wicketless across 20 overs in the first innings, reiterating those doubts in the process, but this time found an extra degree of nip from a fractionally fuller length, to finish the day with figures of 3 for 39 in 13 overs – already his third-best figures in 41 overseas innings.Woakes’ first breakthrough came with his ninth delivery of the innings. Tom Latham had been New Zealand’s most fluent performer on the opening day with a quickfire 47, but this time he played fractionally across the line to a wobble-seam delivery that straightened into his edge and looped to Brook at second slip for 1.Carse, bursting with energy once more, then struck in his first over as Devon Conway scuffed a pull to mid-on, where Atkinson stooped to gather a brilliant reaction catch, inches from the turf.Brydon Carse claimed the key wicket of Devon Conway•Joe Allison/Getty Images

Williamson and Rachin Ravindra confirmed that the pitch was still perfectly playable in reaching tea unscathed in a third-wicket stand of 39, with Williamson notching his 9,000th run in the process. But that serenity was shattered when Carse returned for the second over after the break, with no slips in situ and a clear intention to play on the batter’s ego. Ravindra duly went for broke first-ball, and Jacob Bethell backpedalled well at deep square leg to snap the trap shut.At 64 for 3, New Zealand were in desperate need of a partnership, and in Williamson and Daryl Mitchell – their outstanding performer on the 2022 tour of England – they found two wise heads who drew the sting from the situation, and set about nudging their team back towards the lead. But Woakes’ second spell cracked that resolve wide open.The signs that he’d found his rhythm were plain when Williamson, fresh from making his second fifty in a Test for the tenth occasion in his career, was forced into a brace of awkward fences past gully, and in his next over he produced the killer blow – a superb inducker that started on a tight off-stump line and kept coming back into Williamson’s pads, leaving him blowing his cheeks in exasperation as he called for the futile review.One ball later, Woakes was on a hat-trick – mobbed by his ecstatic team-mates in the process – as the out-of-form Tom Blundell was undone by the opposite delivery, one that nipped half a bat’s width away, and grazed the thinnest of edges through to the keeper. Glenn Phillips kept the hat-trick delivery out, and subsequently managed to erase the remaining deficit, but he couldn’t hold out to the close. Carse went wide on the crease, hit the pitch hard once more to find nip back off the seam, and umpire Rod Tucker’s onfield lbw verdict was upheld on umpire’s call.It continued a remarkable turnaround from England, who had been on the ropes at 71 for 4 early in their first innings, but scarcely took a backwards step after resuming on 319 for 5 in the morning session, a deficit of 29. Brook and Stokes both emerged with belligerence, determined that they would not be caught cold under the morning cloud cover, as had been the case in their stuttering start to the innings, with Brook becoming only the third England batter after Wally Hammond and Joe Root to pass 150 twice in New Zealand.And yet, having survived four drops on the second day, Brook was gifted a fifth life on 147. Phillips – who had handed him his first reprieve on 18 before grabbing a screamer to dislodge Ollie Pope – made a mess of another relatively straightforward catch that bounced out of his grasp at gully.Harry Brook flashes one away behind square•Joe Allison/Getty Images

The new ball was Brook’s cue to take his innings into overdrive, particularly against Tim Southee, whom he launched onto the pavilion roof with one especially contemptuous swipe. Just when it seemed there was no respite in prospect, Brook nibbled tamely outside off at Matt Henry, and snicked off to Blundell behind the stumps. He left the stage with an overseas Test average of 89.40, and exactly 500 runs at 100.00 in New Zealand alone.Woakes would save his impact for the ball, as Southee found his edge for 1 with a trademark outswinger that Latham – the spiller of three chances on day two – scooped up low at second slip. But England have brought some rare batting depth to this Test, and Atkinson – a centurion against Sri Lanka in the summer – and Carse each came out swinging from the get-go.Atkinson brought up England’s 400 with a swivelled pull for six over square leg off Henry, en route to 48 from 36 balls, but the shot of the day was Carse’s outrageous, wristy lap over deep fine leg for the second of his three sixes. He was left unbeaten on 33 from 24 when Shoaib Bashir become Henry’s fourth of the innings, although he had been dropped off his sixth ball by Phillips in the over after lunch – the eighth lapse of New Zealand’s fielding effort, and the third by Phillips alone. For all the dominance that England had exerted by the close, it wasn’t hard to spot where the tide had turned.

One of the most intriguing transfer sagas of the summer has surrounded Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. The Sweden international seems destined to leave St James’ Park, with Liverpool still pursuing a move despite signing French striker Hugo Ekitike earlier in the window.

The Magpies are also linked with Benjamin Sesko, but a recent report from Craig Hope explains that ‘the feeling inside the club is that he is likely to join’ Manchester United instead. David Ornstein says that he is still a ‘top target’ for the Magpies, although Ruben Amorim’s side are keenly pursuing him.

As the Magpies continue their search for a new striker this summer, a new option has seemingly emerged in the last couple of days.

Newcastle’s striker search

So, it does seem that Isak is set to leave the North East for pastures anew this summer. With Ekitike now a Liverpool player, and Sesko a key target for the Red Devils, the options have certainly been narrowed for the Magpies.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, a report from TEAMtalk suggests that Porto and Spain striker Samu Aghehowa is ‘under consideration’ this summer at St James’ Park. Newcastle have clearly shortlisted a set of striker targets, but the 21-year-old is an ‘option’ for the club.

However, this will not be a cheap deal to do for the Magpies, although selling Isak means that would not be an issue. According to reports in mid-July, Aghehowa could be worth as much as £69m this summer.

That same report suggested that Aston Villa were also interested in signing the player, so Newcastle might face stiff competition from Premier League rivals.

Why Aghehowa would be a good signing

Despite not turning 21 until the start of May, Aghehowa impressed for Portuguese giants Porto. Having impressed in La Liga on loan at Alaves from Atletico Madrid the season before, he continued such form for Dragoes.

In 45 games across all competitions, Aghehowa scored an impressive 27 goals, grabbing three assists in that time, too. His record in the Portuguese top flight stood out, with the striker bagging 19 goals in 30 appearances.

The Spain international, who came through the academy at Granada, has also impressed in Europe. He bagged six goals in nine Europa League games last term, including two against Man United, then managed by Erik ten Hag, in a 3-3 draw.

Indeed, if the Magpies are to sign the 21-year-old this summer, Aghehowa could become their own Viktor Gyokeres. The Sweden striker, who recently signed for Arsenal, also impressed in the Portuguese top flight over the past couple of seasons.

The 27-year-old, who will take the number 14 shirt at the Emirates Stadium, bagged 68 goals in just 66 games in the Liga Portugal. Whilst his 39 league goals in 2024/25 eclipsed Aghehowa’s tally from last term, it is worth remembering that he is six years his senior.

With that being said, scoring 19 league goals is still an incredibly prolific return for the youngster. The Magpies will surely hope that, over time, he can grow into a similar player and is already showing signs of being a clinical number nine. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig said he is a “monster in the making”, which is certainly positive for the Magpies.

On top of that, the striker’s numbers from last season in the Portuguese first division stand out. As per Sofascore, he averaged 0.8 goals each game and was a threat in the air, too, winning 1.9 aerial duels per 90 minutes. In contrast, the new Arsenal number nine scored 1.3 goals and won 1.2 aerial duels each game, according to Sofascore.

Goals

0.8

1.3

Shots on target

1.4

2.6

Big chances created

0.2

0.4

Aerial duels won

1.9

1.2

Expected goal involvements

0.65xGI

1.21xGI

Newcastle will have the money to spend on a new number nine this summer, and Aghehowa could be the dream acquisition. The Magpies will hope he can become their own version of Gyokeres, after showing how clinical he can be in the Portuguese top flight.

£69m is no doubt a costly signing, but the Spaniard could help solve their issues up front and become a key player for Howe’s side.

A new Ben Arfa: Newcastle join the race to sign "sensational" £21m star

Newcastle United target Morocco star reminiscent of Hatem Ben Arfa

ByWill Miller Jul 29, 2025

Questions around India’s batting order for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth grew after Shubman Gill hurt his left thumb on the second day of India’s intra-squad training match at the WACA.He picked up the injury while fielding in the slips and left the field, not to return. It could not be confirmed if the injury will affect Gill’s selection for the first Test, starting November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.Gill has been bating at No. 3, but has also been lined up as an option for the opening slot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in case Rohit Sharma is not available for the first Test because of the birth of his second child.It has also been learnt that Devdutt Padikkal, who was part of the India A group in Australia, will stay back with the Test squad*. It could not be confirmed, however, if Padikkal will be part of the main squad or the reserves.

Rohit Sharma welcomes second child but still not confirmed to play in Perth

While they await a proper assessment of Gill’s injury, the Indian camp received the good news that Rohit’s wife Ritika Sajdeh had given birth to their second child on Friday. With the due date for delivery close to the Perth Test, Rohit had communicated to the BCCI and the selectors that he might not be available for the series opener.Related

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In the wake of the 3-0 whitewash India suffered against New Zealand recently, Rohit, it is learnt, even considered travelling to Australia to train with the team and return for the birth of his child.It’s not clear yet if he will travel to Perth in time to be available for the first Test.Another opening option, KL Rahul, had left the field during the first day of the simulation match after being struck in the elbow by a short ball. He did not come out to bat later in the day as India’s main batters had another turn at the crease. Rahul did not take the field on Saturday either.Abhimanyu Easwaran is the other option India have for the top of the order.Gill, who batted twice on Friday, made 28 in his first go before being caught at gully off a Navdeep Saini back-of-length delivery. He made an unbeaten 42 upon his return to the crease.

Hosts Malaysia were knocked out after finishing with three defeats in as many games

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2025India finished top of Group A after beating Sri Lanka in a top-of-the-table clash on Thursday, while West Indies secured their spot in the Super Six stage of the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 by knocking out Malaysia.Playing the second game of the day in Kuala Lumpur, India completed their perfect group stage campaign with a resounding 60-run win over Sri Lanka, who had also come into the match on the back of two wins.Gongadi Trisha’s 44-ball 49 helped India put 118 for 9 on the board before their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 58 for 9.Related

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India were in trouble early when they lost two wickets in the space of four balls. But Trisha lifted them from 17 for 2 to 78 for 4. Cameos from Mithila Vinod and VJ Joshitha then took India to a formidable total in a match that followed a script similar to the one earlier in the day.Sri Lanka lost a wicket each in the first five overs as Shabnam Shakil and VJ Joshitha claimed two each and there was a run out.Rashmika Sewwandi tried to inject some impetus as Sri Lanka added 21 runs for the sixth wicket, but Parunika Sisodia and Ayushi Shukla took three wickets in three overs to put the contest to bed. Sri Lanka’s last two batting pairs did well to survive ten overs to avoid getting bowled out, but the match was decided halfway through the chase.Earlier, West Indies beat hosts Malaysia by 53 runs. Despite scoring just 112 for 7 from their 20 overs, West Indies skittled Malaysia out for 59 to finish third in Group A.Malaysia, as a result, were knocked out after finishing bottom of the group with three defeats.Erin Deane and captain Samara Ramnath shared six wickets between them•ICC/Getty ImagesCaptain Samara Ramnath starred in the virtual knockout fixture for West Indies. She was out for 5 at the top of the order, but then wreaked havoc with the ball, finishing with figures of 4 for 6 – bettered only by five-fors from India’s Vaishnavi Sharma and Scotland’s Maisie Maceira in this edition.Malaysia were 38 for 2 after ten overs chasing 113 and that’s when Ramnath started a collapse that saw the hosts lose eight wickets for 21 runs. The Malaysia batters were unable to read her as she got all four of her wickets either bowled or lbw.She got two wickets in her second over, including that of her opposite number Nur Daniya Syuhada, and then picked a third in her next.Fellow offspinners Naijanni Cumberbatch and Erin Deane then took four wickets in the next three overs before Ramnath completed the rout in the 18th over.West Indies had been put in to bat and struggled to pick up the pace, but opener Assabi Callender held the innings together with a 42-ball 30, and got them to a total that proved to be more than sufficient.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has been dealt a recruitment blow, following news about a key attacking target.

Spurs are already no stranger to transfer mishaps this summer, and supporters will remember their famously botched move for Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White all too well.

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The 25-year-old, at one stage, was all set to undergo his medical at Hotspur Way ahead of a £60 million move, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis put a grinding halt to the transfer after believing Spurs made an illegal approach.

What followed was weeks of back and forth, an alleged second bid over his £60m release clause and repeated reassurances that Gibbs-White was still keen on a move to north London – only for the England international to pull an out-of-nowhere U-turn (Alasdair Gold).

Gibbs-White penned a club-record £150,000-per-week new deal at the City Ground, announcing the contract on Forest’s media channels with Marinakis looming over his shoulder – ending all hope of Tottenham signing the ex-Wolves star.

Despite how advanced the move was, it shows just how quickly things can change in any moment, and no deal is done until contracts are signed on the dotted line.

Losing out on Gibbs-White was made all the more heartbreaking when James Maddison collapsed to the turf in pre-season with an ACL rupture, with the England international expected to miss a large portion of this season as a result.

Spurs once planned to head into the new season with both Gibbs-White and Maddison at Frank’s disposal, but considering neither are available for the Dane, Tottenham have since intensified talks to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.

Reliable reports suggest that Daniel Levy has reached a verbal agreement for Eze as Palace actively scour the market for a replacement, which may be crucial before Oliver Glasner’s side give their final green light to the deal.

This is somewhat backed up by big-name outlets, like Sky Germany, who report that talks are very advanced.

With Eze on the verge of a move to N17, it is worth noting that Tottenham have also been in talks to sign Man City winger Savinho in a separate deal (Fabrizio Romano).

Tottenham dealt Savinho transfer blow after Man City decision

The 21-year-old, valued at around £60 million, would come in as a direct replacement for club legend Son Heung-min, but according to BBC Sport columnist and La Liga expert Guillem Balague, Tottenham may need to start looking elsewhere.

That is because Man City have now decided that Savinho is set to stay, despite his talks with Tottenham, and other reports suggest that Levy is already weighing up alternatives, like Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche.

Pep Guardiola may well be thrilled by this decision from Sky Blue officials, as the Spaniard is on record calling the Brazil winger an “extraordinary” player, whilst hoping that he remains at the Etihad Stadium for many years.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has paid tribute to Bruno Fernandes, saying the midfielder "deserves to be in the history of the club" as he continues to act as his side's talisman in their hour of need. The 31-year-old led the Red Devils' charge towards a precious Premier League victory over Chelsea on Saturday, scoring the opening goal in a dramatic 2-1 win which saw both sides reduced to ten men.

Fernandes has occasionally faced criticism for his attitude

Fernandes chalked up a milestone against Chelsea, with his first-half strike taking his United goal tally up to 100 in all competitions in a near-six-year spell at Old Trafford which has saw him face occasional criticism for his fiery temperament.

AdvertisementAFPAmorim adamant Fernandes deserves praise after Chelsea win

While Amorim believes Fernandes "can play better" at times, the United head coach is adamant the captain equally deserves "all the praise" as he continues to produce when the club need him most.

Amorim lauds club captain Fernandes in his post-match comments

In his post-match press conference following the win over Chelsea, Amorim said of Fernandes: "He deserves all the praise. The most important thing is the influence he has on the squad. Sometimes he's not in the best position to be the main man in every game, but the point of the captain is to be the best he can be in every situation to help the team to be better. He's doing that. I think he can play better – but everyone can play better in our team. That guy deserves to be in the history of our club, not just for what he does but for what his team conquers."

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Fernandes helps ease Old Trafford tension following difficult start

Fernandes’ efforts against Chelsea helped ease the tension surrounding United following a difficult start to the 2025-26 season. Amorim’s side headed into the match having won just one of their opening five games in all competitions, but victory over Chelsea saw them push up to 10th in the Premier League table.

As the Alejandro Garnacho saga stumbles on, Manchester United have now reportedly enquired about signing a Chelsea midfielder as part of the Argentine’s transfer.

Latest on Chelsea's Garnacho move

With less than two weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, Chelsea are yet to complete their deal to sign Garnacho. The young winger hasn’t returned to Ruben Amorim’s plans in the meantime, either, and could find himself at the worst-possible crossroads if those at Stamford Bridge don’t step things up.

There seems to be plenty of faith that a move will take place before the deadline, however, given that Garnacho reportedly turned down an approach from Bayern Munich this month and only has his sights set on West London.

Those at Old Trafford won’t simply sell their unwanted stars at any price, though, and Amorim reiterated that stance when asked about the likes of Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho earlier this summer – telling reporters: “We are just allowing these players to think and decide. If they reach a point where they will have to join the team, they will join because they are our players.

“I know for a fact Omar (Barrada, CEO) and Jason (Wilcox, director of football) and the club have a number (price) for these players. If they don’t reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that. I understand other clubs are maybe waiting for the last minute, but they can have a surprise.”

With that said, what could certainly help move Chelsea’s move along is the chance for Manchester United to get something in return to solve a problem of their own this month.

Man Utd enquire about signing Andrey Santos

According to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, Manchester United have now enquired about signing Andrey Santos as part of a Garnacho swap deal with Chelsea this summer. The midfielder spent last season on loan at Stasbourg, where he impressed many, and has now been thrown straight into Enzo Maresca’s squad.

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As things stand, the Blues have reportedly told United that Santos is not for sale, but whether they change that stance as the deadline approaches and they become desperate to sign Garnacho remains to be seen.

As for United, it’s no shock that they’ve singled Santos out as the player they’d like in a swap deal. The Manchester club have just been priced out of a move for Carlos Baleba by Brighton & Hove Albion and Santos represents the type of player that could fill the same void as the Cameroon star.

Described as “dominant” by scout Jacek Kulig recently, the Brazilian would be an excellent addition to United’s midfield.

It delayed his departure for the team’s training camp in Dubai but he is expected to resume batting later this week

Andrew McGlashan19-Jan-2025 • Updated on 20-Jan-2025

Steven Smith has a history of elbow problems•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Stand-in Test captain Steven Smith has been given the all-clear to head to Australia’s training camp in Dubai ahead of the Sri Lanka series after seeing a specialist about the elbow problem he picked during the BBL.Smith, who has a history of elbow problems, sustained the injury to his right arm, the one he had surgery on in 2019, while throwing in the field for Sydney Sixers in their washed-out match against Sydney Thunder on Friday.It delayed Smith’s departure to Dubai as he sought further advice from a specialist, but he was given the green light on Monday.”Smith is expected to return to batting later in the week to begin his preparation for the first Test against Sri Lanka,” a CA statement saidRelated

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'It doesn't look great': Kuhnemann's SL tour in jeopardy

Smith is due to lead Australia in the two Tests in Galle with Pat Cummins on paternity leave.Australia retain hope that left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann will be able to play a part on the tour despite having surgery on a fractured right thumb he sustained against Hobart Hurricanes last week.”He will remain in Australia while the surgical wound heals further,” CA said. “He is planned to resume bowling this week with a view to joining the squad in Sri Lanka if he continues to progress well.”With the injury being to Kuhnemann’s non-bowling hand, his major challenge will revolve around batting and fielding.Kuhnemann, who played three Tests in India on the 2023 tour, which included taking 5 for 16 in Indore, had shaped as a key figure in Australia’s bowling set-up for the two Tests with the Australia hierarchy putting a lot of stock in the value of the left-arm spinner.Should he not make the tour, it increases the chance of allrounder Cooper Connolly, who bowls left-arm spin, making a Test debut after just four first-class games which are yet to bring a wicket.”I haven’t been reading too much into it [the injury],” Connolly said after helping Perth Scorchers to victory over Adelaide Strikers. “But if the opportunity arises for me to make my debut then I will try to take the most of it. I think it’s just about going over there and learning what it’s like playing in those subcontinent conditions and just enjoying the boys around me and the coaching staff.”Meanwhile, Cummins will seek further advice as he recovers from “increased left ankle soreness” following the Test series against India where he sent down the most overs of any bowler. He was named captain of Australia’s Champions Trophy squad last week, but it remains uncertain if he will make the tournament.”He will seek specialist rehabilitation advice this week and is likely to require a period of physical preparation and recovery,” CA said. “The [national selection panel] will continue to monitor Cummins’ recovery leading into the Champions Trophy.”

Chelsea certainly bounced back from their opening day bore draw in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace when making the short trip to West Ham United on Friday night.

Despite initially going 1-0 down to the Hammers, the Blues never looked short on confidence at the London Stadium, with a 5-1 demolition job the final outcome, which left ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter shellshocked in the home side’s dug-out.

Away from the impressive displays of Joao Pedro and many others against the Irons, however, Chelsea do look to still be in the market for an exciting attacking addition or two.

Indeed, they look to be close on landing long-term target Xavi Simons’ signature, but he isn’t the only statement addition up top that the Blues seem to be interested in.

Chelsea tempted to make bid for £80m star

It has been a long, drawn-out saga involving BlueCo and the Dutchman this summer.

This could soon come to an end, though, with the Blues – according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg – planning to offer the captivating 22-year-old a contract until 2031, with personal terms already verbally agreed between RB Leipzig and his potential new employers.

Chelsea will have to wave goodbye to reserve figures such as Christopher Nkunku before a move for Simons can be finalised; however, with Aston Villa now touted a surprise next destination for the out-of-sorts Frenchman, as Unai Emery’s men are reportedly interested in a deal.

The Blues could test relations between the two clubs even more by finally landing the services of Villans superstar Morgan Rogers, with GIVEMESPORT revealing that the West London outfit are tempted by a last minute splurge for the Englishman.

Having just been awarded PFA Young Player of the Year, a deal for Rogers to leave Villa Park behind for Stamford Bridge wouldn’t be cheap, with the report stating that a move would only get off the ground if Chelsea were willing to fork out an amount in the excessive £80m ballpark.

How Rogers is a dream Simons alternative

Maresca’s ambitious Blues might well view this as a better deal to chase after than persisting with Simons, with Rogers more than a dream alternative to the Leipzig number ten, when you consider his Premier League capabilities already.

Of course, Simons did have a standout 2024/25 season himself in the Bundesliga.

Across a mere 25 games, the breathtaking 22-year-old would consistently dazzle German top-flight defences, culminating in him picking up a hefty tally of ten goals and seven assists just in league action.

However, Chelsea have been burnt here before – with both Nkunku and Timo Werner going on to be major flops in the Premier League after leaving Leipzig behind – leading to the same anxieties popping up involving Simons.

Therefore, despite the fact Rogers will cost a weighty £80m or more to get through the door, the “sensational” attacker – as he’s been previously lauded by journalist Eduardo Hagn – could be the preferred last-minute option, particularly if Villa are willing to part ways, while the Simons transfer saga rumbles on.

Games played

37

26

Goals scored

8

10

Assists

10

7

Big chances created

16

12

Rogers very much came into his own donning Villa claret and blue last season, with the Stamford Bridge-linked midfielder actually picking up one more goal contribution in the demanding Premier League than Simons managed across his 26 Bundesliga outings.

Moreover, the “unstoppable” gem – as he was dubbed by Jamie Carragher – created four more big chances than his Dutch counterpart, with the addition of the stunning 23-year-old perhaps making Maresca’s men even more genuine title-challengers, after their walk-in-the-park victory at West Ham.

Chelsea won’t turn their noses up at Simons joining, with the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder clearly ready for the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

But, landing Rogers would be a dream move if that expected arrival goes awry, with Chelsea poaching a sensational talent from a top-flight rival to try and be on the same pedestal as the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal near the very top of the ladder.

The new Fabregas: Chelsea submit offer to sign "spectacular" £43m "genuis"

The mercurial midfielder could be Chelsea’s new Cesc Fabregas.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 21, 2025