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The Baltimore Orioles' match-up against the New York Mets on Thursday included a bit of pregame entertainment that admittedly wasn't for everybody.

Electronic musician Dan Deacon performed his unique rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Camden Yards which, well… you can listen to below. Deacon, who has been meandering down his own psychedelic-esque path of music since the early 2000s, created a kooky, experimental piece that deviated from what one might expect for a standard national anthem performance and immediately elicited polarizing reactions from MLB fans.

Some called it bizarre. Others called it genius. One fan shared a video of Deacon's performance and wrote in the caption, "I think the Orioles have officially hit rock bottom."

That prompted plenty of people on social media to come to Deacon's defense, declaring that the Baltimore-based electronic composer is a legend in his own right. Judge it for yourself:

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was visibly taken aback when a journalist praised him for the work he is doing at Premier League-chasing Coventry City. The former England international took over the Sky Blues just under a year ago when they were hovering above the Championship relegation zone; but now, they are top of the division. And when it was put to him what a great job he was doing, Lampard was touched.

Lampard moving on from Chelsea failure

When former Manchester City man Lampard was sworn in at Coventry nearly a year ago, he had a point to prove. Not only because his last managerial stint as Chelsea's caretaker manager was a disaster but his predecessor, Mark Robins, was a very popular figure at Coventry Building Society Arena, having earned them two promotions from League Two, guided them to EFL Trophy success, and led them to an FA Cup semi-final and a Championship play-off final. Now that they are top of the Championship under Lampard, talkSPORT reporter and Coventry fan Anil Kandola took the time to express his gratitude to the ex-Chelsea midfielder.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLampard having 'special' impact at Coventry

Kandola told Lampard – who nearly led Derby County to the Premier League in 2019, only to lose in the final to Aston Villa – that the impact he has had on Coventry is like nothing he has ever seen before. He also complimented him for igniting the same passion that Robins showed at the club. 

He said: "My final point is not a question, it's more of a thank you. So obviously you won't know, but I'm actually from Coventry, so I can see probably a lot more than you do in terms of the impact it has in the pubs and the bars everywhere across this city. The impact you’ve had on this team Frank is something I’ve never seen before. The way that this crowd here, on the road and in the pubs, It’s truly special what you’ve created here. Mark Robins, he was so loved before you came in here, and there was a real hesitation, not just from you, your perspective, but just in general, can they really ignite that passion and the love for the game? And you've done that in abundance, so thank you so much for what you've done and best of luck for the rest of the season."

Coventry leading the way

Coventry are top of the Championship with 31 points after 14 games. They hold a four-point lead over second-placed Stoke City and have lost just once this season. Lampard has got Sky Blues fans dreaming of returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2001, and it seems he believes as well. 

He replied: "Well, thank you, and that's an amazing thing that you said there. I'm not stupid. I know we've got some results and we're in a better position now, and I realise that fans are happy with that. But when you say that personally, you talk about pubs and around the city or whatever it is, travelling to games in our bubble sometimes you miss that. You just try and strive to win every game that you possibly can. So when you say that and it feels as big as that, then I really appreciate it and I'll keep trying to keep you happy and try to do the right thing."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Coventry?

Coventry, who made it to the Championship play-offs last season before losing to eventual winners Sunderland in the semi-finals, face, arguably, their biggest test of the season when they travel to second-placed Stoke on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash. If they can come through that unscathed, the Sky Blues may believe the promised land of the Premier League is within their grasp. If they did that, it would be a remarkable turnaround from being in League Two just seven years ago. However, there is still a very long way to go.

Meg Lanning hits another half-century but home side stumble short of the line

ECB Media09-Aug-2025Manchester Originals held their nerve to claim a nail-biting two-run victory over Oval Invincibles in a dramatic clash at the Kia Oval, leaving Invincibles still searching for their first win of their 2025 campaign in the Hundred women’s competition.After being sent in to bat, Originals captain Beth Mooney showed her class, anchoring the innings with 70 off 45 balls. She combined early with Kathryn Bryce, before the latter was bowled by South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, who impressed with figures of 2 for 22.Amelia Kerr added 15 before falling to a stunning diving catch from the returning Tash Farrant, off the bowling of Phoebe Franklin (1 for 17). Despite losing wickets in the latter stages, Mooney’s efforts saw the Originals post a competitive 139 for 6.In response, Invincibles came out firing, racing to 42 without loss in the powerplay. Skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill contributed 33 off 25, while Australian great Meg Lanning held strong in the chase with a well-paced 56 off 42 balls.The match swung late when Sophie Ecclestone dismissed Alice Capsey for 17. With 26 needed off the final 12 balls, pressure mounted. A crucial moment came when Fi Morris spilled a catch on the boundary – only for Lanning to fall shortly after, caught by Alice Monaghan with five balls to go and 13 still needed.Paige Scholfield briefly reignited hopes with a boundary and single, but with four required off the final delivery, Kapp was unable to find the rope leaving Originals to take the win.Mooney, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “You can’t really get too high or too low in this format. It can change pretty quickly. But I was really pleased that [Kathryn] Bryce came out and hit the ball like she did. She’s an excellent player and can match it with the best in the world – so to see a take on Kapp like that was awesome.”I thought they bowled well up front; the ball was doing enough to make you second-guess yourself, but when I’m at my best, I’m not really thinking about it and hopefully can hit some out of the middle, and there are a few more in me for the rest of the tournament.”

Wolves have made an enquiry for Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira, with executive chairman Jeff Shi receiving a reply.

Wolves to “take time” in new manager search

The Old Gold parted ways with Vitor Pereira on Sunday following their eighth Premier League defeat of the season and are no further down the line in regards appointing a long-term replacement.

David Ornstein has revealed that Wolves didn’t begin the process for a new manager until Pereira was sacked after the 3-0 loss at Fulham, despite their struggles all season.

“I think they wanted to give Vitor Pereira as long as possible. And therefore, they didn’t start a process to replace him before he was actually sacked.

“Once he was, the work began in earnest, or maybe Saturday night after the Fulham defeat, into Sunday, phone calls were starting to be made to express interest in a number of candidates, including Gary O’Neil.”

It looked as if Gary O’Neil was going to return to Molineux, however, he walked away from talks to leave the club at square one.

Under-21s head coach, James Collins, and under-18s head coach, Richard Walker, are in interim charge ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.

Sam Allardyce keen on taking Molineux job but reveals what Wolves are after

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ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

It has been claimed that Wolves “want to take time” to find the right man after O’Neil’s move fell through and Rob Edwards distanced himself from the vacancy.

A leadership group involving Shi and Matt Jackson are involved in the managerial process, whereas Wolves are also being influenced by Jorge Mendes in the background.

The new Nuno Santo: "World-class" manager wants to hold talks with Wolves

Now, a new name has emerged with Wolves even making contact over a deal.

Wolves make Abel Ferreira approach

According to reports from ESPN Brazil, Wolves have made an enquiry over a move for Palmeiras boss Ferreira.

The Portuguese manager was wanted by Nottingham Forest following Nuno Espirito Santo’s exit and was also linked with Chelsea back in 2023.

However, following the latest move from Molineux chiefs, Ferreira has rejected Wolves’ offer as he is focused on the CONMEBOL Libertadores final and the Brazilian Championship with Palmeiras.

A two-time Brazil league winner with his current employers, Ferreira plays a 4-2-3-1 manager and has won 6-0 on four separate occasions.

Wins

361

Draws

149

Losses

154

Goals scored

1,093

Goals conceded

652

Points per game

1.86

Two of those came with Palmeiras and the other two in Portugal when he was in charge of Braga, and as can be seen, the 46-year-old has plenty of managerial experience at a relatively young age.

Unfortunately for Shi and co, a move to Wolves for Ferreira doesn’t look like it is on the cards in 2025, leaving Wolves to look elsewhere once again.

The July 31 trade deadline is almost here, and there are still plenty of teams yet to emerge as buyers or sellers. When we released our initial trade candidate rankings and predictions a month ago, there were only six teams more than seven games outside of a wild-card spot. Now, there are … seven. 

Even so, since then there seems to be more teams that have internally admitted they aren’t going to win the World Series in 2025, adding some more players to the rumor mill to boost what had been quite a barren trade market. We’re still waiting for our first game-changing deal of July, however—and it seems more than likely Rafael Devers will be the most talented player traded this season.

Still, there are plenty of intriguing players available. We’ve updated last month’s initial rankings of the 25 best players who seem most likely to be traded, with six new entries making their debut. We’ve identified each player’s most logical landing spots, and offer predictions for where (or if) they’ll be dealt.

1. Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins SP

2025 stats: 10–4, 2.63 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, 132 K, 23 BB, 2.9 fWAR in 116 1/3 IP

Best fits: Cubs, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Astros

Ryan has put everything together this season, flashing masterful control with a five-pitch mix that keeps hitters guessing. He’s a legitimate ace who just turned 29 and carries two more years of team control beyond 2025. The Twins will rightly demand a massive return for the righthander, but if he’s moved, it’s difficult to foresee a better player changing teams over the next week.

Prediction: Not traded

2. Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox LF

2025 stats: .257/.323/.433, 9 HR, 10 3B, 25 2B, 54 R, 51 RBI, 1.7 fWAR in 101 games

Best fits: Padres, Braves, Royals, Dodgers, Phillies, Guardians

Duran ranked fourth in the AL in WAR last season—directly above Juan Soto and José Ramirez—while leading the majors in doubles and triples. The 28-year-old has fallen off quite a bit this season, but he’s under team control through 2028 and still profiles as an above-average leadoff hitter for the next several years. The Red Sox would have to be blown away by an offer to consider trading another building block so soon after the Rafael Devers deal, especially after their recent surge that has them right in the thick of the playoff race, though they do possess a surplus of outfielders and Duran has been the name most frequently popping up in rumors.

Prediction: Not traded

3. Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks 3B

2025 stats: .257/.328/.605, 36 HR, 18 2B, 64 R, 86 RBI, 3.4 fWAR in 99 games

Best fits: Yankees, Cubs, Tigers, Mariners, Brewers, Royals, Twins

Suárez is a streaky power hitter who’s had a terrific first half—the 33-year-old leads the majors in RBIs and with 36 home runs is on pace to top his previous career high of 49 homers set during the 2019 juiced-ball season. He also hit the 300th home run of his career last month and will likely be the best bat moved before the deadline. D-Backs GM Mike Hazen has thus far indicated an unwillingness to sell, but top prospect Jordan Lawlar is waiting in the wings, Suárez is a pending free agent and Arizona may not have the pitching to keep up in the playoff race following season-ending injuries to ace Corbin Burnes, starter Jordan Montgomery and closers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk.

Prediction: Traded to Yankees
Update: Suárez was traded to the Mariners.

4. Jhoan Durán, Minnesota Twins RP

2025 stats: 5–4, 1.62 ERA, 2.12 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 15 SV, 50 K, 16 BB, 1.4 fWAR in 44 1/3 IP

Best fits: Cubs, Phillies, Tigers, Dodgers, Rangers, Rays

Durán has taken his game to new heights in his fourth big-league season, blowing hitters away with a four-seamer that sits 100.3 mph and a devastating knuckle curve that’s generated a 42.6% whiff rate. He’s posted a staggering 67.8% ground ball rate and has allowed just one home run. Should the Twins decide to capitalize on what is likely to be Durán’s peak value, there should be no shortage of contending teams lining up to add a game-changing closer to the back of their bullpen.

Prediction: Traded to Cubs
Update: The Phillies acquired Durán for starting pitcher Mick Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait.

Gabriel Jesus has addressed growing speculation over a possible return to Palmeiras, insisting no contact has been made and stressing that any decision about his future will be taken “with Arsenal.” After nine months out recovering from major knee surgery, the Brazilian has made it clear that a January exit is not an option, reaffirming his commitment to fighting for his place under Mikel Arteta.

Jesus linked with Palmeiras return

Jesus moved to cool talk of an imminent exit after reports in Brazil suggested he was considering a January return to Palmeiras, the club where he first rose to prominence. The Arsenal striker, who has only recently resumed training following a nine-month absence with a serious knee injury, reiterated that there have been no negotiations and that his current focus is solely on regaining his place in the Gunners’ squad. With competition for attacking positions intensifying at the Emirates, his comments arrive at a crucial moment as speculation continues to swirl about his long-term role in Arteta’s plans.

The 28-year-old spent part of his rehabilitation in Brazil during the Premier League off-season, using Palmeiras’ training facilities to complete key stages of his recovery. That time back home fuelled narratives about an early comeback to the Brazilian league, but Jesus has insisted that such interpretations overlook the reality of his long layoff and the need for a stable environment as he rebuilds match fitness. With Arsenal battling on multiple fronts, the striker is determined to re-establish himself before entertaining any thoughts about the next chapter of his career.

AdvertisementAFPBrazilian will 'decide' future 'with Arsenal'

Jesus’ interview with Revista Placar made headlines in both England and Brazil, largely due to his candid tone and firm dismissal of transfer rumours. The forward has long spoken warmly about Palmeiras, and his admiration resurfaced publicly, but he clarified that any future return would be a deliberate joint decision with Arsenal rather than a reactionary move after injury.

Speaking emphatically about recent rumours, Jesus stated: “There was never contact with another club. My wish, as I always say, is to return to Palmeiras. And Palmeiras also want me to come back.”

Reflecting on the timing of a possible return to Brazil, Jesus added: “When I feel it’s the right time to go back to Palmeiras, I’ll decide that with Arsenal.” He also addressed the realities of returning from a serious injury, explaining: “But we’re talking about a player who has been out for nine months and is now fighting to return to the team. Some journalists speak without any basis.”

Jesus then shut down suggestions that he might leave in the upcoming window, saying: “After such a complex surgery, it makes no sense for me to leave the club now.”

Getty Images SportGyokeres' arrival put Jesus further down the Arsenal pecking order

Jesus’ Arsenal journey has been defined by an explosive beginning followed by persistent injuries that derailed his role as the club’s first-choice centre-forward. His early contribution transformed Arteta’s attack during the 2022–23 Premier League title push, but recurring knee issues — including an ACL rupture in January 2025 — repeatedly halted his momentum and forced Arsenal to reassess their long-term planning in the forward department.

The summer arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, alongside competition from Kai Havertz and a strengthened attacking midfield unit, has threatened Jesus’ place in the squad. Arteta still values the Brazilian’s versatility and pressing intelligence, often highlighting the tactical flexibility he provides when deployed wide or centrally. However, with Arsenal competing for major trophies and now boasting greater attacking depth, Jesus’ ability to remain consistent and available will play a defining role in determining his future at the club.

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Jesus certain to stay at Arsenal past winter window

Jesus’ contract situation adds another layer to the discussion. His deal runs until 2027, meaning Arsenal are under no pressure to sell, but his high wages and injury record pose legitimate considerations as the Gunners shape their squad around younger, more durable options. While a future move to Palmeiras is widely expected, both the player and the club understand that his return to Brazil is more a matter of timing than desire — and that time is not January 2026.

For the remainder of the season, Jesus’ priority is crystal clear: regain full fitness, build rhythm and fight for minutes in a competitive Arsenal forward line. With the Gunners pushing toward domestic and European targets, his experience and multifaceted skillset could still play an important role across a long campaign.

As for Palmeiras, the Brazilian giants remain patient yet eager admirers, monitoring Jesus’ condition while respecting his current obligations in North London. A summer move in 2026, or even 2027, appears far more likely than a mid-season switch, particularly given the player’s insistence on stability during his recovery.

After a season with Kerala, the allrounder is back at Karnataka and is geared up to make an impact

Shashank Kishore05-Nov-2024At 31, Shreyas Gopal believes he’s at his bowling peak. Glimpses of this were evident last week when he single-handedly delivered Karnataka’s first win of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, against Bihar.Sure, the opponents weren’t the most-fancied, but with two set batters – Babul Kumar and Sakibul Gani – having put together a century stand on the final day, Karnataka were running out of time. But when Mayank Agarwal, the captain, threw the ball to Shreyas in a last-ditch effort to salvage something, the tide turned.Shreyas picked up four wickets in a hurry as Bihar lost 8 for 76 to set up a 69-run target, which Karnataka achieved easily under fading light. Shreyas finished with a match haul of 8 for 98.Related

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For Shreyas, who is seven short of 250 first-class wickets, creating an impact and delivering under pressure has been a prime focus. This performance must have underlined those attributes.With K Gowtham not in the reckoning, Vidwath Kaverappa injured, and Prasidh Krishna with India A in Australia, the timing of Shreyas’ performance couldn’t have been better.”I’m delighted to be back where I belong,” he says. “Last year I went to Kerala only because I was guaranteed to start across all formats. Towards the end of my first Karnataka stint, I wasn’t getting chances consistently across formats. I had lost my IPL contract as well [in 2023].”Shreyas didn’t perform all that badly for Kerala. During the 2023-24 Ranji season, he picked up 16 wickets in six games, and hit one century and one half-century in his 272 runs, largely in the lower middle order.His white-ball numbers were a lot better. At the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he picked up 12 wickets in eight games at an economy of 4.96, while at the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, he picked up 12 wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.66.

“[Chahal] is one of my favourite bowlers currently and there’s no shame in saying that. The way he uses his variations and when he uses them is really phenomenal”

Those performances went a long way in Mumbai Indians picking him for the IPL. But with Piyush Chawla preferred as their No. 1 Indian spinner, Shreyas played just three games. Yet, the confidence from his domestic season was reassuring.”Those innings and wickets gave me that confidence,” Shreyas says. “I want to try and set that bar as high as possible and give it to the next generation to take over. My whole thing is to do as well as I can [once again for Karnataka].”Over the years, Shreyas has enjoyed learning his craft. In this journey of self-discovery, he has had a number of fruitful conversations with Yuzvendra Chahal. “He is one of my favourite bowlers currently and there’s no shame in saying that,” Shreyas says. “The way he uses his variations and when he uses them is really phenomenal.”The one thing they share in common is the love for bowling at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the key to success is “overcoming fear of being hit” as much as it is about consistency and variations.”It’s always difficult to bowl here,” Shreyas explains. “But again, if you keep saying ‘difficult, difficult’ when you get the ball, you’re not helping matters. You have no choice but to bowl here. You have to try and look at the conditions. There has to be something in it that you can try and extract.”Whether it is angles, whether it is the wind, whether it is the longer boundary, whether it is speed or trajectory – anything. You have to try and evolve. I’ve focused on that over the years.”Shreyas believes he is a lot more mature and calmer to take setbacks in his stride now, like missing an IPL season or not being an all-format regular for Karnataka previously. He wants to channel this maturity now.”A 20-year-old version of myself wouldn’t have this experience,” he says. “The first few games of my IPL, even in the odd game, when I got taken for a few runs, it used to really affect me a lot more.”But it takes a lot of bowling and a lot of matches, whether it is IPL, SMAT, Ranji, India A – it takes a lot of games to be able to come to a stage where you’re like, this has happened, these are my learnings, and I take this from here and I ensure I don’t keep making the same mistakes.”Shreyas Gopal has six hundreds in first-class cricket•PTI While continuing to evolve as a bowler, Shreyas has also fine-tuned his batting. Six first-class hundreds and nearly 3500 runs are the proof. Much of these have been in the company of the lower order, because he has primarily batted at No. 6-7, unlike in age-group cricket where he was a top-order batter.”Very honestly, when I was in my early 20s, there were a couple of years where I didn’t do very well with the bat,” he says. “So, it kind of took away a little bit of confidence. But then, you do realise that you have scored so many runs for a reason and there has to be a way to come out of it. And it’s probably just bad form.”It’s something that you’ve not dealt with, or you’ve not thought about it. So I did start putting a lot of thought in it in the last five-six years about my batting. I wanted to take it to the next level. I wanted to win matches with the bat as well. I was winning matches with the ball.”I’m glad that in the last few years, I’ve been able to do that. And, you know, I’m very happy sometimes when people ask me, are you a bowler who can bat or a batsman who can bowl that? I still want to be someone that when I walk into bat, they’re like, this guy can score a lot of runs.”Looking ahead, Shreyas realises India could be amid a spin transition at some point in the immediate future. And he wants to put his hand up to join what seems like a long queue already, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar and Manav Suthar in it.Shreyas is focused on impact performances – like the one he came up with in Patna – rather than setting any numbers.”It’s about creating an impact, adding value, whether it’s a four-wicket haul instead of five, or a 60 on a tough track instead of 120 on a flat track. If I can do these consistently and we win, I’ll automatically put my hand up to be noticed.”That’s what I want to do. Help the team win titles, like we did when I first came into the team.”

Kellaway, Crane claim three wickets apiece as Lancashire’s slim hopes unravel

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025 Glamorgan 261 and 348 for 7 dec (Northeast 132, Carlson 108) beat Lancashire 137 and 318 (Wells 102, Harris 61) by 154 runs Glamorgan extinguished any hope of a record-breaking run-chase from Lancashire as they wrapped up a vital 154-run victory at Emirates Old Trafford which keeps them on course for promotion from Rothesay County Championship Division Two.After a delay for rain, in which 20 overs were lost, the hosts were faced with scoring 247 runs with five wickets in hand off the 76 remaining overs but with Marcus Harris at the crease accompanied by nightwatchman Tom Bailey, the Red Rose still held ambitions that a win could be salvaged from a game in which they had been dismissed for 137 in their first innings.It took just 45 minutes before lunch for Glamorgan to make huge strides towards the victory with Bailey bowled by a brilliant Asitha Fernando inswinging yorker for 16 to make it 259 for 6, with all-rounder Chris Green following 18 balls later, top edging a sweep to Kiran Carlson off Ben Kellaway for 9 to leave the score 270 for 7.With Harris remaining, Lancashire still harboured a glimmer of a chance, and the Australian reached a battling half-century off 89 balls. But when Harris was out for 61, caught at short leg by Carlson off the impressive Mason Crane, the game was well and truly up, with Tom Hartley and George Balderson left with an almost impossible task.Hartley, who had scored his maiden first class century in the previous match, could not repeat his heroics and was out bowled Kellaway, who finished with 3 for 82, for 5, to leave skipper James Anderson joining Balderson in the middle.The England bowling great brought out a few trademark reverse sweeps to elongate proceedings with Balderson also swinging his bat to good effect as the last pair put on 25 for the final wicket.The final act came at around 2.20pm when Anderson missed a sweep to hand Crane his third wicket of innings to finish with match figures of 9 for 126 and leave Glamorgan celebrating a first win at Emirates Old Trafford since 1993.For Lancashire it is a defeat which sees them further adrift in the Division Two promotion race with the result leaving the Red Rose 38 points behind a gleeful Glamorgan with three games remaining.

Aston Villa are already planning ahead for the January window and have a Belgian talent on their radar who could slot into their midfield pivot under Unai Emery.

The international break is beginning to take shape, and the Villans have earned a rest from Premier League action after an excellent turnaround following their early-season form. However, supporters will be patiently waiting for club football to return in the West Midlands.

Capping an impressive run of results before the top-flight paused, a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Aston Villa against Bournemouth left them sixth in the league standings ahead of favourable clashes in a couple of weeks against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Still, Ollie Watkins’ struggles this season haven’t gone unnoticed, and neither has his omission from the England squad. Nevertheless, BBC Radio WM pundit Gary Thompson is adamant that the goals will start flowing for the out-of-form striker.

He said: “Sometimes as a striker, you’re waiting and trying to analyse, as opposed to just gambling and moving. Then, when the ball goes, you’re that split-second behind. It happens with a lot of strikers. But I’ve got loads of faith in that fella. I believe Watkins will come back and will score goals. But you are judged as a striker on your goals.”

Either way, the January window could prove to be a pivotal month when it comes to adding quality to the Villans’ existing squad. Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli has been personally requested by Emery, potentially adding a layer of versatility in the wide areas.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt could also be on his way to Villa Park, offering a potential landmark signing in their pursuit of a European place, and he may be joined by an exciting engine room operator from the Belgian Pro League.

Aston Villa keen to sign Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are pursuing Anderlecht rising star Nathan De Cat, who is on the radar of a host of clubs due to his emergence at the Belgian heavyweights this season.

Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and AC Milan are some of the other sides intrigued by his potential, and the Villans’ recruitment team view the 17-year-old as an ideal fix to feature alongside Boubacar Kamara in their double-pivot.

Nathan De Cat in 2025/26 – all competitions

Appearances

19

Goals

1

Assists

1

The Belgium Under-18 international won’t be easy to land, with Anderlecht set to demand a base fee of £18 million with add-ons potentially taking the total figure to around £31 million.

Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside Nottingham Forest, are also in the hunt, so it is fair to say De Cat has plenty of options to choose from as he continues his meteoric rise on the continent. January is just around the corner and Aston Villa are making their priorities known, though it remains to be seen if they can push through a deal for one of Europe’s in-demand midfielders.

Aston Villa are also keen to bolster their defence with Oscar Mingueza

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Fran Jonas is a notable omission from the squad which will lean heavily on the experience of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-2025Allrounder Flora Devonshire, who is uncapped at ODI level, has been included in New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.Polly Inglis, Bella James and Bree Illing, who have just eight ODIs between them, have also been included for their first World Cup campaigns.Devonshire, a 22-year-old left-arm spinner, made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year and was part of the New Zealand A tour of England in June and July. Her inclusion in the 15-player squad meant that fellow left-arm spinner Fran Jonas, who has 26 ODIs to her name, was a notable omission.Related

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Bree Illing and Bella James earn maiden New Zealand contracts

New Zealand Women begin World Cup prep with Chennai camp

“It’s never easy when you have multiple players pushing for the same spot and that of course made for some tough selection calls,” head coach Ben Sawyer said. “Having to leave out the likes of Fran in favour of Flora was a tough decision. We know Fran is a quality player and at 21 we believe she still has her best years in front of her.”Left-arm seamer Illing took four wickets in her first ODI series against Sri Lanka, while James made her ODI debut against Australia late last year. Inglis, who hit an unbeaten 34 off 21 balls in her second outing against Sri Lanka in March, will also provide wicketkeeping back-up to first-choice Izzy Gaze.”I’d like to especially acknowledge the four players set for their first World Cup – they’ve all earned this opportunity and I’m excited to see what impact they can have on the tournament,” Sawyer said. “I’m really pleased with the balance of the squad. I think we’ve got the right mix to tackle what we’ll come up against in terms of conditions and opposition.””Bree puts batters under pressure early with her swing and has great ability with the new ball. Her and Flora have both shown they can consistently bring the stumps into play, which will be effective in the conditions we’re going to face.”Flora’s got an attacking mind and skillset with the bat, which is valuable down the order. Bella’s a versatile batter who can hit 360 degrees around the ground and can bat in most places in the line up.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Polly gives us another option with the gloves within the squad, and she possesses great grit and determination, which are qualities that will be important in trying conditions.”The experienced core of the squad includes captain Sophie Devine, who will retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu, Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr.”I can honestly say that in the four world events I’ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we’ve ever been,” Sawyer said. “Having no international cricket in our calendar since April has given us the ability to work really hard on our physical skills in particular, which is something that could be the difference in India.”The squad leaves for the UAE on September 13 for a pre-tournament camp, which includes two warm-up matches against England, before heading to India. Their opening World Cup match is against Australia on October 1 in Indore.New Zealand for Women’s ODI World CupSophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu