All posts by h716a5.icu

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says he was "in shock" following the news that chairman Daniel Levy was leaving the club.

Pochettino in shock after Levy exitLevy departs after almost 25 yearsPochettino managed Spurs between 2014 and 2019Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Spurs announced on Thursday that the long-serving chairman was departing after almost 25 years at the helm. While the club stated he was "stepping down" with immediate effect, the have since reported that Levy was eased aside by owner Joe Lewis and the board.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

And Pochettino – who worked alongside Levy during his five-and-a-half-year spell as Tottenham head coach – has revealed he immediately texted his former boss after learning the news of his shock exit from north London.

WHAT POCHETTINO SAID

Pochettino, who is now in charge of the United States men's national team, said: "I am a little bit in shock because he [Levy] was my former president. I don't know what happened there. Of course, I sent a text to him, and I sent a text to different people that were very close to him. I wish him the best. My relationship [with him] always was very good, and yes, I was in shock."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

DID YOU KNOW?

After he was appointed by Levy in 2014, Pochettino enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Tottenham. Under the Argentine's stewardship, the club finished inside the top four in four consecutive Premier League seasons, while also reaching the Champions League final in 2019 before he was dismissed in November of that year. Pochettino has since managed Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and the USMNT, while Levy oversaw Tottenham's Europa League victory over Manchester United in May, ending the club's 17-year wait for a trophy.

Ferguson picked up the injury during the T20I against Sri Lanka on Sunday in Dambulla, where he claimed a hat-trick

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2024Lockie Ferguson will be flying back to New Zealand after picking up a calf injury in their series-levelling T20I victory over Sri Lanka in Dambulla. The 33-year-old fast bowler has been ruled out of the ODI leg of the tour which begins with the first of three matches on November 13.Ferguson was only just returning from injury – a different one, right hamstring – and was heavily involved in changing New Zealand’s fortunes, his hat-trick helping them defend a total of 108 as they came back from 0-1 down to share the spoils.An NZC release said he felt some discomfort while bowling his second over of the chase on Sunday. Ferguson left the field thereafter and was unable to take any further part in that T20I, although he did return to pick up the Player-of-the-Match award. He has been ruled out of the rest of the Sri Lanka tour based on initial assessments and is scheduled to undergo scans upon arriving in New Zealand to ascertain the full extent of the damage. Adam Milne has been called into the squad as Ferguson’s replacement and will arrive in Dambulla on Tuesday.”We’re gutted for Lockie,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said, “He showed in the space of just two overs what an asset he is with the ball and he’s also brought a lot of leadership to this group, so he’ll be a big miss heading into an important ODI series for us. To be ruled out so early in a tour is always tough to take, but we’re hopeful his recovery will be short and he’ll be back out on the field in no time.”Adam is a like-for-like replacement who brings genuine pace and plenty of international experience, so we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the group.”Ferguson has played one Test, 65 ODIs and 43 T20Is for New Zealand since making his debut in December 2016. He has been one of the team’s first-choice picks in white-ball cricket, a status he underlined by recording his country’s sixth T20I hat-trick. New Zealand will now be relying on a relatively inexperienced seam-bowling attack, although Milne’s inclusion – 49 ODIs and 53 T20Is played – does offset that a little. Milne will join Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith to make up the team’s frontline seam-bowling options with support from allrounders Zakary Foulkes and Josh Clarkson.New Zealand are on the back end of a long tour of the subcontinent which began with a washed-out Test against Afghanistan in early September. That was followed by a 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka a few weeks later and a 3-0 win over India in India earlier this month.

Will Manchester City be back on top of the Premier League next season?

Last time round, Pep Guardiola’s team endured a nightmare campaign, losing 17 times across all competitions, seeing their historic sequence of four successive Premier League titles come to an end.

As they aim to change that, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Sverre Nypan have all been signed so far this summer, but are the Sky Blues now aiming to make a marquee addition that could restore their position of dominance?

Manchester City seeking a statement signing

Even by the usually astronomical high standards, the Premier League’s biggest clubs have been spending an enormous amount this summer already, and we’re not even into August yet, as the table below documents.

Liverpool

5

£294m

Chelsea

8

£227m

Arsenal

6

£187m

Manchester United

2

£136m

Manchester City

5

£125m

Tottenham Hotspur

6

£124m

Please note: all information is correct at the time of publication

As the table documents, all of the Premier League’s traditional heavyweights have spent big this summer, most notably Liverpool.

The reigning champions have already splurged almost £300m to sign Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, Miloš Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili, but a report by Mark Ogden of ESPN claims they’re willing to spend as much as £165m to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle, with the Swede pushing for the move, which would be quite the statement signing.

In response, reports in Spain claim that Manchester City have ‘made an initial offer’ of £170m to Chelsea in an attempt to re-sign Cole Palmer, adding that he is valued at closer to £250m by the Blues, which would smash the world-transfer record of €222m held by Neymar.

Palmer joined the Citizens’ academy as an eight-year-old, making just 41 appearances for the first team, 28 of which came as a substitute, thereby leaving for Chelsea two summers ago for a reported fee of £42.5m, in search of more opportunities.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, from Man City’s point of view, this has turned out to be one of the great modern-day transfer market mistakes, given Palmer’s form in West London, with former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison asserting back in December that “he is the best player in the Premier League… of that there is no doubt”.

Now though, is Guardiola leading a sensational attempt to bring Palmer back to the Etihad?

How Cole Palmer's return would transform Manchester City

Just before his move to Chelsea, Palmer scored in both the FA Community Shield against Arsenal and the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla but, even so, no one could’ve forecast the impact he would make at Stamford Bridge.

As the table below outlines, few have been more productive in front of goal in the Premier League since he joined Chelsea.

Mohamed Salah

47

28

75

Erling Braut Håland

49

8

57

Cole Palmer

37

19

56

Ollie Watkins

35

21

56

Alexander Isak

44

8

52

Jarrod Bowen

29

14

43

Son Heung-min

24

19

43

Bryan Mbeumo

29

13

42

Bukayo Saka

22

19

41

Matheus Cunha

27

13

40

As documented, only Mohamed Salah and Erling Braut Håland have registered more goals and assists across the last two Premier League campaigns than Palmer, made all the more remarkable by the fact that just three of his goals have come since Boxing Day, emphasising his incredible form beforehand.

Worth also noting that he’s accumulated four more than the aforementioned, in-demand Isak, despite the fact the Swede is a centre-forward. In all, the Englishman has provided 57 goals and assists in 89 Premier League games, only just behind Isak’s return of 63 goal involvements in 86 outings in England’s top-flight.

Palmer was also instrumental as Chelsea won the Club World Cup earlier this month, scoring twice against Paris Saint-Germain in the final, and the Conference League, with Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian describing his second-half performance against Real Betis in Wrocław as ‘astonishing’.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserts that he is a Premier League “legend in the making”, while his manager, Enzo Maresca, described him as a “top player” who is “not normal”.

Selim Ben Hmida of Total Football Analysis outlines how Palmer is at his best when deployed as an ‘advanced playmaker’, given his ability to shoot from distance, create chances and drive into space.

Thus, while Isak is looking likely to be a frightening signing for Liverpool, Palmer would be a transformational acquisition for Man City, should they manage to re-sign him, given that the England international and Håland would surely form an unstoppable duo.

Better buy than Paqueta: Man City ready bid to sign "outstanding" £50m star

Manchester City could win themselves a better signing than Lucas Paqueta by landing this outstanding ace.

1 ByKelan Sarson Jul 28, 2025

They both picked three wickets and scored crucial 20s each while Wolvaardt and de Klerk also played their roles to put South Africa 1-0 up

S Sudarshanan04-Dec-2024Allrounders Marizanne Kapp and Annerie Dercksen were at the fore as South Africa kickstarted the women’s ODI series against England with a six-wicket win in Kimberley. The duo shared six wickets between them as England were bowled out for 186. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 59, again aided by valuable cameos from Kapp, Dercksen and Nadine de Klerk as South Africa went 1-0 up with 70 balls to spare in the three-match series.Refreshed after being rested from the preceding T20I series, Kapp picked up three wickets inside her first four overs reducing England to 29 for 3. That soon became 77 for 5 and eventually 106 for 7 in the 26th over. But a counterattacking eighth-wicket partnership of 67 off 64 between Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone helped England to a respectable total.It seemed as if South Africa would make easy work of the chase when Tazmin Brits hit three fours in a Lauren Filer over. But she was given out lbw when a length ball from Lauren Bell hit her on the thigh pad after her missed attempt at a sweep-pull. She wanted to review the call but Hawk-Eye was down and she couldn’t use the DRS. However, South Africa found the going easier against Bell and Filer, especially when they pitched the ball on the fuller lengths. They had raced to 38 for 1 after six overs when spin was brought on.Dean applied the brakes on scoring and trapped Sune Luus lbw, who was also unable to review the decision with DRS down, and walked back visibly upset. At that stage, with the up-and-down bounce exaggerated by the use of the heavy roller, the target felt distant.But Dercksen eased the nerves by hitting three fours in her first eight balls. She helped South Africa take back the control England exerted through Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt and allowed Wolvaardt to play the waiting game. Dercksen and Wolvaardt added 54 for the third wicket before the former fell pulling a short ball from Filer straight to deep square leg, where Tammy Beaumont took a well-judged catch.That is when Kapp stamped her mark with the bat, scoring a run-a-ball 22 with three fours and a six. She first sliced Ecclestone past backward point before hitting Filer for a four and six to help South Africa march towards the target. At the other end, Wolvaardt completed her half-century off 92 balls. Kapp fell with South Africa 51 away but Wolvaardt and de Klerk [48 not out off 28 balls] completed the formality with the latter hitting 11 fours, the most by any batter in the contest. On the way, South Africa managed to keep Ecclestone wicketless for a ten-over spell in an ODI for the first time since March 2022Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone added 67 for the eighth wicket•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesEngland were dealt an early blow with Maia Bouchier being ruled out after spraining her neck while batting in the nets. As a result, Sophia Dunkley partnered with Beaumont at the top after they opted to bat. Beaumont edged Kapp first ball she faced but wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta couldn’t hang on. Kapp, and Jafta, did not have to wait long for success though as Dunkley tickled one to Jafta on the final ball of the first over.Kapp continued to probe with the new ball and, along with Ayabonga Khaka, managed to string together a row of 11 dots before Beaumont decided to change gears. She charged Khaka to flick her over midwicket and went past Claire Taylor to become England’s second-highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, and enter the list of top ten run-getters in the format. But her joy was short-lived, when, in the following over, she charged down to Kapp but was beaten on the inside to be bowled. Danni Wyatt-Hodge continued from where she left off in the T20Is and smacked a couple of balls before she was trapped in front by de Klerk.Amy Jones then helped England recover briefly as spin came into play. But Dercksen, in just her second ODI preferred here ahead of the more experienced Anneke Bosch, struck soon enough, getting Jones to miscue a pull towards deep backward square leg where Chloe Tryon pulled off a stunning diving catch. Nonkululeko Mlaba, who had an injury scare after twisting her ankle early in the match, then trapped Alice Capsey lbw.Heather Knight took her time and looked to get the measure of the surface. She hit five fours in her innings, often using her feet even against the seamers. But her attempted paddle against Mlaba proved to be her downfall.At that stage, England looked to be folding cheaply, but Dean and Ecclestone combined for England’s third-best partnership for the eighth wicket in ODIs. It was only when de Klerk pulled off a fine leaping catch at backward point after Ecclestone mistimed a cut off a slow short ball from Dercksen that the partnership ended.That effort was not enough to prevent a first loss on the tour for England, who were playing an international game for the first time at the Kimberley Oval.

Manuel Neuer has ruled out an immediate return to Germany national team despite growing calls for him to end his retirement ahead of the World Cup.

Neuer insists he has retired from international dutyGoalkeeper's agent had hinted at a possible comebackGermany faced with dilemma amid Ter Stegen injuryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Neuer has shut down talk of an immediate return to the German national team despite calls for him to end his international retirement. The 2014 World Cup winner stepped away from international duty in August 2024 after making 124 appearances, but speculation about a comeback has intensified following Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury. While the Bayern Munich goalkeeper did not completely rule out the 2026 World Cup, Neuer stressed that he is not thinking about a return right now. 

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The debate has flared up after Ter Stegen underwent back surgery that will keep him sidelined for several months. The Barcelona goalkeeper has also lost his starting spot at club level with the arrival of Joan Garcia, leaving Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann in a difficult position. Oliver Baumann has stepped in as a reliable option, but questions remain about whether the 2014 World Cup winners need more experience in goal.

Neuer’s agent, Thomas Kroth, earlier fueled speculation by insisting the veteran remains in top shape and would not turn down a call if asked. Former German international Bastian Schweinsteiger also backed the idea of a shock return for the 39-year-old.

WHAT MANUEL NEUER SAID

"First of all, I wasn't asked. It was a conscious decision on my part to leave the national team and retire," Neuer said on Wednesday at a reception at the Bavarian State Chancellery in Munich. "So it's not even an option for me."

However, the Bayern Munich legend did not completely rule out a return for the 2026 World Cup, and said: "I had a very successful and enjoyable time, and I'm not currently thinking at all about whether and how I could return to the national team. I have been with the team since 2009, and with the European Championship, it was a nice conclusion. I think I got a lot out of German football and maybe also gave German football a little something."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANUEL NEUER AND GERMANY?

For now, Neuer’s retirement stands, but Germany’s unsettled goalkeeper situation, which was made worse by their recent 2-0 loss to Slovakia, could keep the debate alive. The defeat has only added pressure on Nagelsmann as he looks for stability ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. The Germany boss has committed to Ter Stegen as his No. 1, but with the Barcelona keeper sidelined and Baumann still trying to prove himself at the international level, the calls for Neuer’s return are unlikely to fade anytime soon.

After a long summer, Arsenal finally kickstart their fourth attempt at winning the Premier League tomorrow afternoon.

It feels like it could be the competitive title race for some time, but thanks to their summer business, Mikel Arteta’s side feel well-placed to attack it head-on.

Sporting Director Andrea Berta and his team have overseen six first-team additions so far, with the most significant undoubtedly being Viktor Gyokeres, and if that wasn’t enough, they are still being linked with a move for the sensational Eberechi Eze.

However, if Arsenal really want to make a splash and complete a signing that’d be better than the Swede and Englishman, they should go back in for a player they were linked with earlier this summer.

Why Gyokeres and Eze could be game-changers

While there are always a multitude of motivations behind every transfer, it’s not hard to work out why Arsenal decided to splash £63.5m on Gyokeres this summer: goals.

The Gunners have needed a new goalscoring centre-forward for some time now, and when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, it’s hard to think of many players as good as the Swede.

For example, in just 52 appearances last season, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a staggering 54 goals and provided 13 assists to boot.

In other words, the 27-year-old international averaged 1.28 goal involvements every game, or one every 63.40 minutes, which is frankly ridiculous.

When it comes to their interest in Eze, there is perhaps a little more to it.

For example, on top of his brilliant haul of 25 goal involvements in 43 games for Crystal Palace last season, the former QPR gem can play as a traditional number ten or fill in on the left, which is an area of concern for the Gunners.

Moreover, he is Premier League-proven and proved he has what it takes to step up in the biggest games last season during the Eagles’ incredible FA Cup triumph.

In short, Gyokeres is a brilliant signing, and Eze would be as well, although if Arsenal want to make an even better purchase than both, they should go out and get someone they were linked with earlier this summer: Bradley Barcola.

Why Barcola would be a better signing than Gyokeres & Eze

While the reports touting Barcola for a move to Arsenal seem to have disappeared in recent weeks, he was briefly linked with the club back in June, and since then, stories have claimed that Paris Saint-Germain value him at around £87m.

So then, if Berta were to go out and get the young Frenchman, why would he be a better signing than Gyokeres and Eze?

Well, the first argument comes down to this output, as even though he plays on the wing, the Lyon-born superstar, whom Mattinson has dubbed “one of the best LWs in Europe,” scored 21 goals and provided 21 assists in 64 appearances, totalling 3927 minutes, last season.

Appearances

64

Minutes

3927′

Goals

21

Assists

21

Goal Involvements per Match

0.65

Minutes per Goal Involvement

93.5′

That works out to a sublime average of a goal involvement every 1.52 games, or every 93.5 minutes, which trumps the Palace star’s average of one every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

Now, you might be thinking that the Frenchman’s numbers still pale in comparison to the Swede’s, and while that is correct, you have to take into account the competitions they play in, as, according to Opta Analyst, the Portuguese league is only the eighth toughest in the world. At the same time, Ligue 1 makes it into the top five.

The second reason the “world-class” PSG gem, as dubbed by journalist Dougie Critchley, would be a better signing is down to what he team needs, as while a new striker was important, Kai Havertz was on 15 goals before his injury last season.

In contrast, neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard have impressed off the left for some time now, making it a real weak point in the side.

Finally, and this is important when it comes to squad building and future success, the Champions League winner is still just 22 years old. In contrast, the other two are both 27, meaning they will likely start becoming less effective in three to four years, compared to eight or nine.

Ultimately, Gyokeres is an excellent signing, and Eze would be as well, but from his output to his position and age, we can’t help thinking Barcola would be the best addition of the lot.

Best signing since Rice: Big-money target "in favour" of moving to Arsenal

The international entertainer could be a game-changer for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2025

After the spinners limited England to 132, India’s batters aced the chase to go 1-0 up

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Jan-20251:34

Manjrekar: India’s spinners made it impossible for England to recover

India brutally cast aside England in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, as Abhishek Sharma’s 79 from just 34 deliveries munched a meagre target of 133 with 43 balls to spare.Abhishek’s third 50-plus score in the format capped an accomplished all-round performance from India. A combination of Arshdeep Singh’s 2 for 17 up top and Varun Chakravarthy’s 3 for 23 through the middle accounted for England for 132, scuppering their attempts to mark Brendon McCullum’s first match in charge in the format with the attacking verve he craves.But for Jos Buttler’s 68 – his 26th T20I fifty – things could have been worse. Buttler’s evening had begun by losing a crucial toss to Suryakumar Yadav. With the 7pm start in Kolkata, moisture was in the air throughout, and dew a factor in the first innings itself. Both captains wanted to bowl, and only one got the chance.Related

Can England's batters find a way to test India's bowling depth?

Varun's overspin renaissance shows no sign of slowing down

Abhishek: 'I have been told to keep my attacking intent'

Arshdeep made the best of the conditions, removing openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett in his first 11 deliveries. Those dismissals took the left-arm seamer to 97 wickets in T20Is, leapfrogging Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s top wicket-taker in the format.By the time Buttler departed in the 17th over, he had provided 68 out of the 109 on the board, with Harry Brook the only batter to reach double-figures before Jofra Archer pitched in with 12 from No. 9.Brook’s 17 was part of a stand of 48 with Buttler, the vice-captain and captain setting about a rebuild that was ended by Varun’s googlies. Varun bowled Brook and Liam Livingstone in the space of three deliveries to turn England back to rubble. His third was Buttler, holing out to deep square-leg.Whatever little jeopardy there was in the chase, was restricted to just the fifth over, when Archer removed both Sanju Samson – who had done the early running – and Suryakumar for a duck in four deliveries. Archer, who bowled his four overs on the bounce having opened the innings, was comfortably the pick of England’s bowlers with 2 for 21. By contrast, Gus Atkinson was taken apart for 38 runs across his two overs, with his first blitzed for 22 by Samson.The onus was then on Abhishek, who was put down by Adil Rashid on 29 off 16. He would bring up his half-century just four balls later.Though Rashid eventually got his man, India had all but established a 1-0 lead in this five-match series by then. A top-edged four from Tilak Varma off Mark Wood’s bouncer off the penultimate ball of the 13th over confirmed it.ESPNcricinfo LtdArshdeep Singh sets the toneBefore England were choked through the middle by a three-pronged spin attack, they were clipped up top by the lone Indian full-time quick. Since debuting in 2022, Arshdeep has been a new-ball banker for India’s shortest format. Consistently devastating and devastatingly consistent.It was fitting that on the night he became India’s leading T20I wicket-taker, he reinforced his credentials as one of the format’s leading seamers in an opening three-over spell of 2 for 10. Movement away and up off a good length did for Salt, who could only sky a leading edge, and it was followed by nip the other way that left the left-handed Duckett for a similar demise.Of those initial 18 deliveries, a remarkable 12 were dots, which saw him get the better of Buttler and Brook without reward. On another day, their feelers outside off stump may have resulted in edges, bringing more joy Arshdeep’s way. But rather than bemoan missing out on those extra notches in the wicket column, he seemed happy enough with his work, having opened the door for his spinners.Jos Buttler top-scored for England with 68 off 44 balls•Getty ImagesFamiliar failingsThere is no shame in falling to India’s spinners in any format, least of all when they are operating at home. But there was a haunting familiarity about England’s failure at Eden Gardens – and it has nothing to do with what happened here in that final in 2016.Eight years on from that heartbreak, England were roughed up in 2024’s semi-final in Guyana, as Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja combined to take 6 for 58 from 11 overs. Only Axar remained this time around, but the results were about the same – 12 overs of web-spinning prising out five for the concession of just 67.It is easy to say the likes of Brook, Livingstone and Jacob Bethell should have taken cues from Buttler, particularly his ability to pick length. But Buttler’s vast IPL experience and superior ability makes that hard to replicate. Credit belongs to the bowlers, particularly Varun.Despite the grass on the surface, the spinner was unperturbed. His IPL nous came to the fore at a ground where he has taken 24 wickets at 22.20 from 16 appearances.A holding pattern of deliveries just short of a length kept the ball out of hitting arcs, and he was not pre-occupied with spinning the ball past the edge – even though he beat the insides of Brook’s and Livingstone’s bats. “Bowling sidespin, I cannot beat batsmen with sidespin. The only way I can beat batsmen with bounce,” Varun, as he nursed a deserved Player-of-the-Match award, said. Perhaps most galling for England is he rated his display a humble “seven out of ten”.Nitish Kumar Reddy took a running, tumbling catch to send back Jos Buttler•AFP/Getty ImagesIndia’s cleaner handsBethell’s drop of Abhishek, charging in from deep midwicket, tracking the ball all the way only to see it spill through his hands as he dived forward, did not matter.A ball later, Abhishek was caught at longoff. An over later, India had confirmed their win. But the sight of one of England’s best fielders fall short in that moment highlighted the gap between the two fielding efforts on Wednesday evening.It would have been one hell of a take, but still not the best of the night. That honour belonged to Nitish Kumar Reddy, who pulled off a tougher version of Bethell’s effort, sprinting in at a greater rate of knots and intercepting the ball so close to the ground that the umpires asked for a second look. Buttler, whose charge was halted by that brilliance, had already made it back to the dugout when the television umpire finally gave it the all-clear.Despite playing no part with bat or ball, Reddy got plenty of airtime, taking a simpler catch to remove Jamie Overton and scurrying about the deep on a one-man mission to restrict England’s boundary count. That endeavour was matched by those in the ring, with Rinku Singh setting the tone when he claimed a leading edge off Duckett that required him to sprint back from cover with one eye over his shoulder.Of course, Bethell’s drop was not even the worst off Abhishek. Rashid’s was a far simpler caught-and-bowled chance. The legspinner was duly punished when the left-hand batter blitzed three boundaries – the last two sixes over midwicket, then straight down the ground – off the remainder of his over. England’s heads dropped – a nod to the nourishing effect of taking your catches.

Juventus face a decisive moment in the Prisma investigation as former president Andrea Agnelli, vice-president Pavel Nedved, sporting director Fabio Paratici, and other top executives await a ruling on plea bargain requests tied to alleged frauds. If accepted, the agreements could bring suspended sentences, potentially closing one of the most consequential corporate and sporting scandals in Serie A history.

The Prisma investigation and plea bargain requests

The Prisma investigation, initiated in 2021, scrutinises Juventus’ financial dealings, including alleged fictitious capital gains, false corporate disclosures, and potential market manipulation tied to player transfers and loans. Former Juventus executives, including Agnelli, Nedved, Paratici, Cesare Gabasio, Stefano Cerrato and Maurizio Arrivabene, requested plea bargains in June. The requests outlined suspended sentences: Agnelli – one year and eight months, Nedved – one year and two months, Paratici – one year and six months, Gabasio and Cerrato – lesser terms, while Arrivabene seeks acquittal.

The ruling by Rome Court GUP Anna Maria Gavoni is expected on Monday, although reports indicate a possible short delay. The decision will determine whether the plea bargains are accepted.

AdvertisementAFPThe case and its impact on Juventus

The case led to Agnelli and Juventus’ entire board resigning in 2022. Juventus faced a 10-point penalty in the 2022-23 Serie A season and was removed by UEFA from the Conference League due to financial irregularities. The Prisma investigation has explored whether the club misled investors with invoices for non-existent transactions to show income and if supervisory bodies were obstructed.

Acceptance of the plea bargains could represent a final legal resolution for the club, allowing key figures like Agnelli to return to football administration after their sports-related bans expire.

The alleged offences against the former executives

The alleged offences include market manipulation, false corporate disclosures by a listed company, fraudulent filings, and obstruction of regulatory authorities. If accepted, the plea bargains would involve suspended sentences, closing a critical chapter in Juventus’ legal and financial history. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images NewsThe road ahead for Juventus

Juventus awaits the court’s decision, which could resolve the long-running legal battles tied to the investigation. Should the plea bargains be accepted, the club may stabilise its leadership structure.

The ruling will also set a precedent for financial governance and compliance in Italian football, emphasising the consequences of alleged corporate misconduct at one of Europe’s most storied clubs.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium came alive on Sunday afternoon, with a battling Everton performance making it a perfect start to life in their new home, beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0.

Everton are now on the board for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, rebounding after a disappointing and contentious opening-week defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road.

Last week, Sky Sports’ Gary Neville remarked that Everton need “three or four more players” before the closure of the transfer market. Since then, a £40m deal has been agreed for Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling.

The Toffees still need a right-back and will consider further positions too. However, the signing of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City has done much for the club already, the 29-year-old starring as Everton overcame Brighton on their new patch of Merseyside.

Jack Grealish's dream start

Grealish repaid the faith on his home debut as an Everton player, notching two excellent assists as Moyes’ side claimed their first points of the season.

Defeat against the Seagulls would have left a sour taste for the Merseysiders, but they proved that the spirit of Goodison Park lives on within a new setting, this blue sea charging a tenacious and industrious performance on the field.

Grealish adds flair and flavour to Everton’s squad, and The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland remarked he was one of the “standouts” against Brighton, alongside the indomitable Jordan Pickford, already looking like producing more potent results than have been the case at City for the past few years.

25/26 – EFC

2

0

2

24/25 – MCFC

20

1

1

23/24 – MCFC

20

3

1

22/23 – MCFC

28

5

7

21/22 – MCFC

26

3

3

20/21 – AVFC

26

6

12

And, according to Spanish reports, the Three Lions star is already the centre of internal discussions on Merseyside regarding a potential permanent deal. Such is his quality, such is the excitement after that incredible full debut.

Following this trend, TFG might want to repeat their trick in raiding another Premier League rival for a talented player deemed surplus to requirements.

They might even have found such a player already.

Everton line up Premier League star

According to Football Insider, Everton are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma, who has quickly fallen out of favour in Thomas Frank’s new system.

Tottenham want to sell with Bissouma, having added Joao Palhinha to their ranks this summer, but they also want to recoup as much of their £25m outlay as possible, which could prove a sticking point for the Blues given their financial constraints.

Alas, Moyes is keen, and having entered the final year of his contract down N17, it makes sense that the Malian star would move on before the window slams shut. If Everton can agree a reduced price, it could be a fantastic deal.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Everton want Yves Bissouma

Everton have already strengthened in the centre of the park this summer, having signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea for £28m and having added attacking midfielder Grealish (with Dibling set to sign next).

At the anchor, Idrissa Gana Gueye continues to perform with aplomb, but he’s 35, and a successor must be found. Bissouma looks the man for the job.

Once remarked for his skill as an “absolute monster” in central battles by journalist Aaron Stokes, the 28-year-old has fallen out of favour under Frank’s wing at Tottenham, but he also struggled in Ange Postecoglou’s system, starting just 16 times in the Premier League last season.

His early days in north London and indeed the time spent on the south coast with Brighton showcased his quality, and, like Grealish, he could spark a career resurgence if making the move to Merseyside and forming a part of his reshaped and rehoused Everton.

He’s hardly flawless, but Bissouma remains a crisp distributor and a tough-tackling protector of the backline.

Data from FBref reveals he ranks among the top 18% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 9% for tackles, the top 7% for clearances, and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90.

And working in Moyes’ system, rooted so firmly in hard graft and unwavering defensive principles, Bissouma could rekindle his quality, as has already been shown through Grealish’s full debut on Sunday.

In fact, working together as different points in Moyes’ midfield, Bissouma and Grealish could strike a first-rate partnership, with the Spurs man using his strength and athleticism to cover plenty of ground, thus enabling the England international to release his winged feet and return to some semblance of his quality at Aston Villa, which led to him being described as “world-class” by one-time Manchester United prospect Luke Chadwick.

By covering and competing with Gueye (and potentially replacing the veteran beyond the 2025/26 season), Bissouma might just return to the kind of form that had English football in awe way back when, and giving that Grealish may yet find Everton to present a permanent home for him down the line, there’s every reason for fans to start getting excited.

Silky on the ball and strong in the duel, Grealish is a slippery customer for any opponent he comes up against, but with the added security of Bissouma in all his combativeness behind, reinforcing the centre, the fleet-footed winger might just succeed in establishing consistency.

The search for a right-back rages on, and fans will anxiously await the completion of Dibling’s move, but the signs are promising indeed for those of an Everton persuasion.

Bissouma would represent a coup, all right, but having already added Grealish to Everton’s fold, Moyes has shown that he has what it takes to bring such players over to the club and chart a course for the top end of the Premier League.

Everton star just proved he could be their new Barkley & it's not Grealish

Everton started their new life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a convincing 2-0 victory.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 24, 2025

With just two days until the transfer window slams shut, Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on an alternative option to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

Latest on Man City's transfer targets

Man City’s transfer window began with a flourish but has slowly petered out. Now, with deadline day approaching, there’s still a number of dominoes that must fall in order for them to get their main targets. One of those targets is of course Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper has already said goodbye to fans in France, but those at the Etihad are yet to get their deal done.

As things stand, City are still waiting on Ederson’s exit before they push ahead and secure Donnarumma. There’s no denying that time is running out for that move to happen, however, and Pep Guardiola could yet miss out.

Donnarumma isn’t the only top star to be linked with a move to Man City, either. Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has also been on their radar this summer as he looks for a route out of the Bernabeu.

Just like Donnarumma, however, the Brazilian’s move likely relies on whether the Citizens sell one of their own first. For some time, it looked as though that could be Savinho, who didn’t feature in City’s first two Premier League games, but Tottenham Hotspur have since turned towards other targets.

New Silva: Man City plot shock move to sign £65m England international

Man City would be pulling off a huge shock with this move

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 29, 2025

A better option than Rodrygo may yet also emerge. Reports are now suggesting that those at the Etihad have set their sights on an alternative superstar option for Guardiola.

Man City eyeing Olise

As reported by BILD’s Christian Falk, Man City are now eyeing a move to sign Michael Olise from Bayern Munich alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League rivals, Liverpool. The Frenchman has starred since swapping Crystal Palace for the Bundesliga champions, who are not currently willing to sell their star man.

The interest of the Citizens is certainly interesting, despite Bayern’s reported stance. Guardiola has struggled to find a winger as effective as Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane were during City’s peak under the Spaniard, but it hasn’t been for the want of trying. Jeremie Doku, Savinho, Grealish and others have all tried and failed to truly grab the same headlines. Olise, however, could be the man that Guardiola has been searching for.

Minutes

2,334

1,928

Goals

12

6

Assists

15

5

Completed take-ons

72

49

Compared to Rodrygo, there’s a clear standout. Olise is on another level to the Real Madrid man, but Guardiola will already be well aware of the quality that the winger has in abundance.

Described as “unique” by former Man City man Owen Hargreaves last season, it wasn’t so long ago that Olise was silencing the Etihad with a last-minute penalty to salvage a draw for Crystal Palace.