The striker says he still believes he can play at a World Cup after spending much of the last three years out of action

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• Dike sets sights on USMNT return
• Scored long-awaited goal this past weekend
• Has been hit with multiple injuries since moving to West Brom

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Daryl Dike has not given up his dream of representing the U.S. men's national team in a World Cup as the striker set his sights high after scoring a long-awaited goal for West Brom this past weekend.

  Dike's goal came in the Baggies' final match of the Championship season, a win over Luton Town, his first in nearly a year and a half. He'd spent most of that time with yet another Achilles injury, the latest in a long line of injury setbacks to impact him since his arrival at the club in 2022. Dike only returned to the field in February after a year out, and the 24-year-old striker was clearly overcome with emotion as the ball hit the back of the net.

  With that goal behind him, Dike can now head into the summer on a high as he looks to be fit and ready for what's to come. Notably, the striker is out to prove he can reclaim a place with the USMNT and finally put his injury hell behind him.

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  WHAT DIKE SAID

  “I’m a football fan,” Dike said, per the Athletic. “Everyone in the squad knows I’ll watch every game, I’ll know every player. I’ll always watch, so I have dreams in football. Whether that’s playing in the Champions League, or playing at the World Cup.

  “I always tell myself that I’m only 24, so I can achieve every one of those dreams. I tell myself that, even though I’ve fallen down, I can get back up. I can still keep going, I can still keep running, and I still have the chance to prove myself and prove to everyone I can still do it and achieve those dreams.”

  He added: “That’s one of my goals. Every single player has always dreamt of playing at a World Cup. I’d love to be part of that squad. Any time you’re able to represent your country, it’s a big honor, especially on a big stage like that. Of course, I’ll be working towards that, all off-season, all season, to be able to be a part of that.”

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  Dike went on to speak about the emotional toll his injuries took on him over the last several years. In total, he missed 129 games over his first four seasons with

  “You are always going to end up feeling sorry for yourself," he said. "The first time it happened, I was very upset, naturally, but I was like ‘OK, I’ll be alright.’ But the second time I was like, ‘I worked all the way to get back…and now it’s happened again.’ I’ve got to work again. That was definitely a low point, because I was so excited to be playing again. So for it to happen again, and for me to think, ‘OK, this is just the kind of condition I’m in until I’m done playing…’ You’re thinking, ‘Is it going to happen ? Am I going to be the same?’

  “But with my support group and the goals in the back of my head, I knew I’d bounce back. With training sessions like the past few months, and games like today, I can push a few of those doubts away and show I can still do it and be confident in myself.“

  In terms of the USMNT, Dike faces a big fight to get back into the picture, particularly with the wealth of options at the striker position. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent headline the European contingent, while Mauricio Pochettino has also leaned on Patrick Agyemang, Brian White, and Brandon Vazquez as MLS-based options.

  Dike earned 10 caps for the USMNT between 2021 and 2023, scoring three goals, including a brace against Martinique at the 2021 Gold Cup.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WEST BROM?

  West Brom finsihed ninth in the Championship this season, narrowly missing out on a chance to play in the promotion playoff. The club will remain in England's second division next season with Dike, hopefully, helping to lead the line.

Game rattles on after Marsh ton, Wood five-for as England lose their top three before close

Alan Gardner06-Jul-2023Mark Wood and Mitchell Marsh were the standout performers on a rollercoaster day one at Headingley, as England and Australia jousted for the ascendency on a juicy Headingley pitch.Wood, back in the side after concerns about his fitness, bowled with sustained pace and hostility to claim his first five-wicket haul in a home Test, and helped England clean up the Australia innings with alacrity after an unheralded scene-stealing performance from Marsh had threatened to take the game away.Marsh was a surprise selection in the Australia XI, after Cameron Green picked up a minor hamstring strain, and playing his first Test since the final match of the 2019 Ashes. He had only made four first-class appearances in the intervening period, but produced a bullocking, 102-ball hundred – his third in Tests and third against England – to help steer Australia away from the rocks at 85 for 4 just before lunch.Marsh dominated his stand of 155 with Travis Head, outscoring his partner by almost four to one, but England hit back to take the last six Australia wickets for 23 runs in the space of 8.4 overs. The game continued to rattle along thereafter, too, as England lost their top three before the close.England came into this match 2-0 behind in the series and nursing their grievances after narrow defeats at Edgbaston and Lord’s. Only a win in Leeds will suffice if they are to keep their attempts to win the Ashes alive – and only Don Bradman’s 1936-37 Australians have successfully come back from such a position against their oldest rivals.Ben Stokes won his third toss of the series and duly put Australia in, with the expectation of helpful conditions at Headingley – scene of Stokes’ heroics four years ago and a ground known for its partisan stance. It took just five balls for the Western Terrace to let out its first roar of the day, as Stuart Broad found David Warner’s outside edge to extend his record against the Australia opener to 16 dismissals in Tests.Stuart Broad claimed the wicket of David Warner for the 16th time in Tests•Getty ImagesThere were immediate signs of pace and carry for the seamers, in contrast to the surfaces for the opening two Tests, and England’s reshaped attack were soon making further inroads. Wood had not played a Test since December or bowled in competitive match since mid-April at the IPL but hit his straps from the outset, pushing the speed gun up to 96.5mph/155kph and leaving Marnus Labuschagne groping for the ball during three consecutive maidens.When Labuschagne managed to get off strike, that left Usman Khawaja in the firing line. Five balls that were short or short of a good length were followed by a fuller, 95mph/152kph delivery that beat Khawaja’s flat-footed drive and left leg stump flat on the ground. His opening spell of 4-3-2-1 was proof plenty that Wood was ready to blast off.Labuschagne had grafted for more than hour but eventually fell for a ponderous 21 when Chris Woakes – this was his first Test appearance since March 2022 – had him edging to slip, and England went in to lunch in buoyant mood when Steven Smith, in his 100th Test, fell to a catch at the wicket off Broad despite reviewing Kumar Dharmasena’s on-field decision.It could have been better for the hosts, and dropped catches were a major blight on England’s day. Jonny Bairstow missed a tough chance off Smith on 4 and then put down a far simpler chance down the leg side when Head had made 9. The worst aberration was to come at the start of the afternoon session, however, when Woakes found Marsh’s outside edge only for Joe Root to grass a straightforward take at first slip.Marsh was on 12, having smashed Woakes for six earlier in the over, and he fully capitalised on his good fortune in one of the more extraordinary Ashes hundreds of recent memory. Strong on the drive through the covers and down the ground, he showcased his power with a bludgeoned six off Wood that flew into the Western Terrace, racking up his first Test fifty since March 2018 – from just 59 balls – to push England back.Their mood got worse when Ollie Robinson walked off the field mid-over after suffering from a back spasm, and Marsh continued to do much as he pleased. Broad was thumped down the ground, barely able to get his fingertips to a fast chance, and Moeen Ali’s offspin came in for similarly disdainful treatment, as a straight six took Marsh to 99 before a tap into the off side – a tight single had Stokes collected cleanly – brought up the second-fastest hundred by an Australian in England.But as the day threatened to run away from them, England grabbed on to Marsh’s coattails at the vital moment, Woakes finding an inside edge that ballooned to slip on the brink of tea. And although Root put down another chance to reprieve Alex Carey after the interval, he held Head’s outside edge from the very next ball and Wood then tore through the tail in the space of 14 deliveries: Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins pinned by pace, Carey hit on the head and then holing out, Todd Murphy dragging into his stumps.There was still more than an hour and a half left in the evening session, and Australia made use of the conditions themselves as Cummins struck twice in his opening spell. Ben Duckett was well held by the leaping Carey – who clinched an outstanding catch by pressing the ball to his lips in the tips of his gloves – and Harry Brook’s first outing at No. 3 was short-lived as he edged to second slip.Marsh then capped his day in the Yorkshire sun by removing Zak Crawley in his second over, via another fiddle to the cordon, before the local pairing of Root and Bairstow throttled down to see out a high-octane day, with the promise of more to come.

Says he relies on his hands for placement and gives himself “a few options for different lengths”

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-20234:00

Harmison on Maxwell’s 201*: ‘It has to be the greatest innings in ODI cricket’

One of the reasons why Glenn Maxwell’s hardly-believable double-century against Afghanistan in Mumbai is being billed as the greatest ODI knock of all time is because of how he was suffering from back spasms and severe cramps in the lower half of his body, and he still managed to hit a total of 21 fours and 10 sixes to lead Australia to victory, mainly by using his arms and upper-body strength.Maxwell attributed that ability to a pre-match batting drill he used to practice around eight-nine years ago in the BBL, to hit some big boundaries.”One of the things I used to work on before every BBL game – going back about eight or nine years – was foot drills where the first 12 balls I’d face I’d stay dead still but try and hit them as far as I could,” he told the . “Whatever the length, I basically had to hold my top body for as long as I could to get the right trajectory to feel like I hit a six. Working on that upper-body movement without using your legs is actually a good way of finding out where your ideal heave point is. Going back to that [innings against Afghanistan], I obviously had to tinker a little bit with actual bowlers not just bowling half-volleys outside off stump but bowling different areas. Jut relying on stuff I had worked on in early years and try to adapt as quickly as I could.”Related

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'I'm a bit numb to it' – Maxwell needs time to soak in stunning innings

Maxwell stands tallest in adversity to deliver Australia their knock-out blow

Stats – Maxwell, Australia's first men's ODI double-centurion

Cummins hails Maxwell's 201* as 'the greatest ODI innings that's ever happened'

When asked what helped him prepare for such unorthodox shots, Maxwell said: “I think it has a lot to do with the positions I get myself in on a golf course where I’m stuck behind a tree and I’ve to throw my wrists around or flick it around. It’s little things like that. I feel like it allows you to be inventive and tests the boundaries.”Maxwell also revealed on the podcast that the worst cramps in his body were in his calf muscle, and that at one point the middle toe on his right foot “starting to bend back” and combined with the back spasms, his “body was starting to shut down”.When he fell to the ground at one point and lay flat because of cramps just after completing a single, he was attended to by the team physio who said that going off the field would be worse because Maxwell’s body would cool down and coming back down the long staircase from the dressing room at the Wankhede Stadium would become very tough. The physio then advised Maxwell to slow things down since the batter also “couldn’t control my breathing,” and told him to hydrate himself more and bat on.Not only against Afghanistan, but during his record-breaking 40-ball century against Netherlands, and further back in the past in white-ball cricket, one of Maxwell’s trademark ability is to find the gaps in all corners of the ground, irrespective of the line and length of the ball, and the bowlers.”Once I get in, I feel like I can set myself early enough in my mind and have a good idea of where I’m trying to hit it,” Maxwell explained. “I feel like my hands can get me out of trouble if the ball is not quite in that areas and do I give myself a few options for different lengths.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s demands for signing a new Al-Nassr contract reportedly include sacking the club’s coach, sporting director and several players.

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• Current deal is set to expire this summer
• Reluctant to pen extension as things stand
• Wants sweeping changes across the board

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The expectation was, having made a trend-setting move to the Middle East in 2023, that CR7 would agree an extension to his record-breaking deal at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – with his current terms set to expire this summer.

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  No paperwork has been signed, though, and Ronaldo is said to have grown frustrated and concerned by the lack of success that Al-Nassr have been enjoying. He still has just one trophy to his name across two-and-a-half years in Riyadh.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With Ronaldo stalling on prolonging his spell with Al-Nassr, claims that the Portuguese GOAT has laid out his demands in order for an agreement to be reached. He is calling for sweeping change.

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  WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO IS DEMANDING

  Ronaldo is said to be keen for Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro to leave his role as sporting director and follow head coach Stefano Pioli through the exits. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is also of the opinion that half of Al-Nassr’s squad are not good enough.

Chelsea haven’t been afraid to splash the cash since the arrival of wonder Todd Boehly back in 2022, with the American splashing over £1.2b on new additions in the process.

It has enabled boss Enzo Maresca to have superb squad depth this season with multiple key options across various different positions across the pitch.

Given the Europa Conference League campaign this campaign, it has allowed the 44-year-old to rest his key players, often fielding a completely different starting eleven in Europe.

One transfer window, in particular, has led to their recent success in the Premier League, edging them ever closer to securing a return to

Champions League football at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s transfer window in January 2023

Enzo Fernández moved to the Blues in January 2023, costing Boehly a whopping £106.8m – a transfer fee that would break the club’s transfer record.

The Argentine has been impressive over the last couple of months, regaining his starting position after losing his place in the starting eleven after the Italian’s appointment.

However, the 24-year-old enjoyed a run between November and December which saw him register a goal or an assist in seven consecutive matches – helping the Blues win every game in their Europa Conference League group.

Noni Madueke was another player who arrived during the aforementioned month, costing £29m from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven – becoming a key player in recent times.

The Englishman has made 72 appearances for the Blues, scoring 17 times and registering assists, with Maresca trusting him to nail down the position on the right wing.

However, the Italian boss tried to delve into the market over the last couple of weeks to land a player who could’ve featured alongside Madueke in the final third.

The player who earns nearly 2x more than Garnacho at Chelsea

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho was a name constantly touted over a move to West London during January, but a move for the Argentine failed to materialise.

The youngster was seen as an option for the left-hand side after Mykhailo Mudryk’s ongoing suspension, but Maresca was unable to complete any deal, subsequently having to operate with the options currently at his disposal.

It would’ve been another huge investment from the hierarchy, but as well as incomings, the American needed to make some key calls on departures to reduce the bloated squad following the arrivals.

One of the players who should’ve been offloaded is centre-back Benoit Badiashile, who’s failed to make an impression under the new boss, casting doubt on his long-term future at the club after arriving in the same window as Fernandez and Madueke.

The Frenchman cost £35m two years ago, but this year has been unable to force himself into the starting eleven, starting just twice in the Premier League in 2024/25.

His lack of minutes, coupled with his huge fee should’ve seen him moved, especially to prevent the club from losing a fortune on the fee forked out for his signature.

Badiashile also pockets a small fortune despite his lack of action, earning £90k-per-week – a figure nearly two times higher than winger target Garnacho who’s only earning £50k-per-week despite his rapid rise at Old Trafford.

Chelsea first-team players who earn less than Badiashile
Player		Weekly wage	Yearly income
Axel Disasi		£80,000	£4,160,000
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall		£80,000	£4,160,000
Robert Sanchez		£60,000	£3,120,000
Noni Madueke		£50,000	£2,600,000
Marc Guiu		£50,000	£2,600,000
Filip Jorgensen		£50,000	£2,600,000
Malo Gusto		£45,000	£2,340,000
Roméo Lavia		£45,000	£2,340,000
Stats via Capology

Given his mammoth income, Maresca should’ve parted ways with the former Monaco man, which could’ve allowed for added investment during the window just gone.

With the summer transfer window opening in just a few months’ time, it gives the boss another chance to make alterations to his playing squad, with the departure of Badiashile needing to be right up there on his list of priorities.

He's now outscoring Palmer: Chelsea must regret selling "all-time great"

Chelsea sold an “all-time great” who’s now outscoring everyone at the club

1

By
Connor Holden

Feb 6, 2025

Chelsea have endured somewhat of a drop-off in recent weeks under Enzo Maresca, failing to live up to the early standards he set for himself in the early stages of his time at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian only lost two of his first 10 Premier League matches at the helm, looking as though they could be in an unexpected title battle at one stage.

However, their form has taken a turn for the worse over the last few weeks, losing four of the last eight matches, seeing them slip to sixth place and sitting behind Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.

Injuries have undoubtedly contributed to the recent decline, with seven first-team members currently sitting on the sidelines and unable to aid the manager in his attempts to secure Champions League football.

Maresca has still been able to rely on one player who’s been the shining light in West London since his big money to the club a couple of years ago.

Cole Palmer’s stats for Chelsea in 2024/25

After his £40m move from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, Cole Palmer had an immediate impact for the Blues, registering 25 goals and 15 assists in his debut year in West London.

Such a record has made the Englishman’s task of matching such a tally this time around that little bit harder, but he’s already produced numerous moments of magic that have taken the division by storm once again.

The 22-year-old has already scored 14 times during the ongoing campaign, whilst also registering six assists for his teammates – with his combined tally the highest in the first-team squad.

His best performance undoubtedly came in the 4-2 thrashing of Brighton and Hove Albion, with Palmer scoring all four in the first half, becoming the first player in the division’s history to achieve such a feat.

Despite his excellent form under Maresca, the club may have allowed the next version of the superstar to slip through their net – making a mistake in allowing him to depart the club.

The player who could’ve been Chelsea’s next Palmer

Living up to the high standards set by Palmer is no easy feat, something which no player currently at the Bridge has managed this season given his tally of contributions.

However, the thought of having another version of the England international is a scary prospect, but one that unfortunately won’t come to reality after letting Tyler Dibling slip through their net.

The 18-year-old, who is currently starring for Southampton in the Premier League, was brought for £1.5m by the Blues back in the summer of 2022 – but it would be a move that was short-lived.

After making just two appearances for the academy, he would return to the Saints after failing to settle, with the Blues potentially living to regret their decision not to make the teenager more at home when they had the opportunity.

He’s since developed into a key member of their first team in 2024/25, making 21 appearances in the league and scoring twice – leading to journalist Eduardo Hagn labelling the talent as “outrageous”.

Dibling possesses very similar traits to Palmer, with the pair both left-footed and operating off the right-hand side and cutting onto their stronger foot after gliding past the opposition.

Games played

21

25

Goals & assists

2

20

Shot-on-target accuracy

39%

39%

Progressive carries

3.8

3.3

Carries into final third

2.8

2.1

Pass accuracy

78%

75%

Take-ons completed

2.1

1.3

As seen by their figures from 2024/25, the Saints star has matched or bettered Palmer in numerous key areas, highlighting the quality he brings, possessing the ability to become even better given his tender age.

Whilst there was not much the club could’ve done to stand in his way at such a young age, his development away from the Bridge appears to have rubbed salt into the wounds – demonstrating what they could’ve had.

Unfortunately for the fans and Maresca, Dibling will always remain a case of what could’ve been, with the hierarchy now having to pay a fee in the region of £55m if they were to bring him back to West London in the coming months.

Chelsea must rue selling "Messi of goalkeepers" who’s better than Sanchez

Chelsea already sold the “Messi of goalkeepers” who is far better than Sanchez

2 ByConnor Holden Feb 20, 2025

South Africa-born batter Sybrand Engelbrecht is also part of the 15-member squad; Fred Klaassen out with injury

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2023Colin Ackermann, Paul van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe have returned to Netherlands’ squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup. The trio had missed the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe earlier this year because of their county cricket commitments.South Africa-born batter Sybrand Engelbrecht was also named in the 15-member squad. Engelbrecht, who will turn 35 next week, first came into the limelight for electric fielding for South Africa during the 2008 Under-19 World Cup. He has played 58 List A games, scoring 1275 runs at an average of 45.53 and a strike rate of 78.89, and 54 first-class games and 45 T20s. The last of those matches, on the South African domestic circuit, was in 2016.From the World Cup Qualifier squad, Michael Levitt, Vivian Kingma and Clayton Floyd were left out, while Noah Croes was named as a travelling reserve, alongside Kyle Klein.ESPNcricinfo LtdTim Pringle, who was listed originally to travel with the squad for the pre-tournament camp in Bengaluru between September 19 to 28, has been withdrawn.* “There’s actually been a development with Tim Pringle: He’s picked up a couple of niggles, so he actually won’t be coming to the pre-World Cup camp in Alur,” head coach Ryan Cook said. “He’s obviously coming back from quite a big operation and we have been tracking his progress.” Pringle, 21, who played for Netherlands in the T20 World Cup last year in Australia, last played this March, turning up for Northern Districts in the Plunkett Shield. According to Cook, Pringle had suffered a fracture, but the nature of injury is not known.Left-arm seamer Fred Klaassen did not make it due to stress fracture. Klassen was also part of the set of players who missed the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe due to county commitments. Cook said that Klassen’s strengths as a new-ball bowler and left-am quick would no doubt be missed in India.”Fred Klassen’s a true performer for the Netherlands. He has shown through all the formats, whether that be one-day cricket or T20 cricket, so he’s a big one for us and would’ve formed a good part of our bowling attack there (in World Cup).Fred Klaasen misses out due to injury•Getty Images”Obviously, Fred would be gutted to miss out, but it was the right decision taken by himself. It is disappointing to not have him, but I’m pretty confident that most of the bowlers will be able to take up that slack that he probably leaves – his left-arm angle and swing and stuff up front is something that we really enjoy having in our side. Having said that, at the Qualifiers, those guys weren’t available either and the bowling attack fared well.”Asked whether it was a risk to include just four fast bowlers in the 15 during a long World Cup, Cook said he was content with the combination.”Some of the teams are obviously picking different combinations of players in their team,” he said. “I think India have also gone with that sort of four seamers plus some allrounders. I don’t want to give away too much in terms of what we’ve got up our sleeve going forward.”Cook also pointed out that it was a “fantastic initiative” by the KNCB to send Croes and Klein as development players, but they were not travelling reserves which would mean they could be drafted in as replacement for any injured player.Cook added that Netherlands’ goal was to make the semi-finals. “Any team that goes to a World Cup is looking to make the next stage of a World Cup, and in this case, that’s the semi-finals. So we are obviously looking to try and win as many games as we can to put ourselves in position to compete to get into those semi-finals. I believe that’s something that we can do and something that the guys are willing to put the work into to get that outcome.”From the Qualifier tournament held in Zimbabwe in June-July, Netherlands and Sri Lanka were the two teams to make it to the main event, ahead of the likes of West Indies, Ireland and Scotland.”Naturally, our planning and preparation for the World Cup started soon after our qualification in Zimbabwe,” head coach Ryan Cook said. “Having no bilateral fixtures after the qualifiers enabled us to plan for various scenarios for the duration of the summer. Over the past few months the players and staff have been hard at work with the full squad being very dedicated and detailed towards achieving our objective in the World Cup.”We have an exciting mixture of youth and experience and a unified, cohesive culture which allows those to express their best selves within the group.”Netherlands last played in an ODI World Cup in 2011. Wesley Barresi is the only member of the current squad to have featured in that edition. This will be their fifth appearance in the tournament.Netherlands squad for World CupScott Edwards (capt, wk), Colin Ackermann, Shariz Ahmed, Wesley Barresi, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Ryan Klein, Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O’Dowd, Vikram Singh, Saqib Zulfiqar
: Noah Croes, Kyle Klein

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now keen to win the race for an “imperious” defender, who is expected to cost over £25m, but there could be competition for his signature from rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Wolves eyeing centre-back signings

Wolves have managed to steer themselves six points clear of the relegation zone due to an uptick in form under Vitor Pereira, putting themselves in a strong position to avoid the drop with 10 games left to play.

However, Pereira will be keen to avoid being in a relegation dogfight again next season, and given that his side have one of the worst defensive records in the league, new defenders are now being eyed ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Old Gold are showing an interest in Everton centre-back Michael Keane, who is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season, with the Toffees looking unlikely to renew the Englishman’s contract.

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ByBarney Lane Mar 11, 2025

Keane is proven in the Premier League over a number of years, but there are also indications Wolves may take a gamble on more of an unproven quantity, with a report from GiveMeSport revealing they are keen on winning the race for Genoa’s Koni De Winter.

There is widespread interest in De Winter from the Premier League, with West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United also named as potential suitors, although the Red Devils are not expected to make a move.

The Genoa defender is expected to have a price tag of over £25m, having put in some impressive performances in the Serie A this season, and there is also a feeling he could also end up remaining in Italy, with AC Milan recently expressing an interest.

Wolves’ upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Southampton (a)

March 15th

West Ham United (h)

April 1st

Ipswich Town (a)

April 5th

Tottenham Hotspur (h)

April 12th

Manchester United (a)

April 19th

"Imperious" De Winter impressing in Italy

The 22-year-old has put in some top displays in Italy since making the move to Genoa, with journalist Sacha Tavolieri describing him as “imperious”, while also praising the way in which he was able to hold off Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

Not only is the centre-back solid defensively, but he also poses a real attacking threat, ranking in the 97th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

The Belgian’s aerial ability was also on show when he scored a back-post header in his side’s 2-0 victory against Monza back in January.

As such, it is clear to see why a number of Premier League clubs are queuing up for the Genoa star, and Wolves should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

Glasgow Rangers were in the market to sign a new central defender in the recent January transfer window to bolster their depth in that position.

Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen eyed up a player in that role, due to injuries to the likes of John Souttar, Dujon Sterling, and Leon Balogun, and eventually brought in Rafael Fernandes on loan from Lille.

He has been an unused substitute three times and his only start so far came in the embarrassing 1-0 defeat to second tier outfit Queen’s Park in the SFA Cup.

Another player who was linked with a move to Ibrox in the January window was former Rangers defender Nikola Katic, who went on to sign for Plymouth Argyle instead.

Niko Katic's current market value

The Bosnia international joined the Championship team on loan from FC Zurich and is currently valued at just €1.5m (£1.2m) by Transfermarkt.

Despite his unimpressive market value, Katic, who made 59 appearances for Rangers, has caught the eye with some impressive performances for the Pilgrims.

The former Gers titan made a whopping 17 clearances and won five of his six duels in a historic 1-0 win over Premier League giants Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Katic has also won 65% of his duels across five appearances in the Championship for Plymouth, showing that he has hit the ground running as a dominant defender.

Rangers, however, have already hit the jackpot on their own dominant, 28-year-old, centre-back in the form of Scotland international John Souttar.

Rangers hit the jackpot with John Souttar

The Light Blues signed the Scottish defender on a free transfer from Hearts in the summer of 2022, and he was valued at £1.2m by Transfermarkt at the time of that move.

Market Movers

Souttar endured a frustrating debut campaign at Ibrox as he missed 50 games for club and country with an ankle injury, which caused his value to drop to £1m. He did not allow that setback to put him down, however, and has bounced back to become an incredibly valuable member of the squad.

July 2022

£1.2m

July 2023

£1m

March 2024

£2m

May 2024

£2.5m

October 2024

£2.9m

December 2024 – present

£3.7m

As you can see in the table above, his value has since soared by millions to the point where he is now worth more than three times as much as Katic, who is the same age as the Rangers star.

In the Scottish Premiership this season, Souttar has started 16 games for the Gers and caught the eye with his dominant defensive work – winning 69% of his ground duels and 63% of his aerial battles.

The 28-year-old colossus, who was hailed as “unbelievable” by international teammate Andy Robertson, has also won a staggering 87% of his duels across seven appearances in the Europa League so far this term.

This shows that Souttar has been a rock at the heart of the Rangers defence, rarely allowing opposition players to get the better of him, which is why the club hit the jackpot when they signed him back in 2022.

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Not only did they sign an excellent defender who has performed well on the pitch, but they also signed a valuable asset whose market valuation has soared in recent years.

Teenage legspinner impressed in Antigua defeat and hopes to continue learning from England’s past master

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For more than a decade, the of England’s white-ball set-up has been Adil’s wristspin.Filling the shoes of any world-class performer is almost always a doomed task. And those anointed to do so rarely appreciate the burden of expectation that is lumped on their growing shoulders. But nevertheless, step forward Rehan Ahmed.Rehan was the pick of England’s bowlers during defeat to West Indies in the first ODI, claiming 2 for 40 from his ten overs, spinning the ball sharply in both directions. His googly, which is arguably more of a stock delivery for him than his legbreak, is sensational. A modern-day legspinner in the shape of Rashid Khan as opposed to Shane Warne. And he can launch the ball out of the ground with the bat too.Related

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At a time when England are heading into the final years of Rashid’s career, the fact a readymade replacement is developing in front of our eyes is a blessing. Whether Rehan contributes the same quantity of wickets that Rashid has done across his career, it’s impossible to tell. What you can be sure of, however, is that he will provide a quality of entertainment that few across the rest of the game can.Rehan was picked for Pakistan last winter on the basis that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum just liked it. What they liked exactly, no one was really sure. A batter who bowls? A bowler who bats? No one knew. They just felt that whatever mysterious concoction they’d been served up by the Leicestershire academy was delicious and they wanted lots more of it.”I don’t mind being hit for runs,” Rehan said the day after England’s defeat. “I just want to take wickets. The runs aren’t really part of it. I know there’s going to be a couple days where I get it wrong and I get hit around, which I’m fine with, it’s just more when I’m on top and I’m bowling well to [try to ] impact the game as much as I can.”On Sunday in Antigua, Rehan gave West Indies No. 3 Keacy Carty a living nightmare. In 17 deliveries to Carty, who has been struggling for domestic form, Rehan conceded just seven runs as he consistently turned the ball past both edges. Yes, the pitch assisted spin – but if it’s turning, you want your spinner to bowl well. And he did.”I think there was a couple of overs in there I could have maybe attacked a bit more,” Rehan said a spell that looked certain to have won England the match. “[I could have] played around with the field a little bit more. But again I’m not seeking perfection and I felt like I bowled very well. I think I challenged the stumps quite a bit. But there’s always ways to improve.”Rehan Ahmed was the pick of England’s attack in the first ODI•Getty Images

This isn’t to retire Rashid prematurely, with the sweet spot for England potentially lying in the idea of playing both of them. For just £40, you can go to a Trent Bridge ODI and watch Qui-Gon Jinn train his Padawan one over at a time. After all, in the same way that Rehan was picked for the tour of Pakistan on the basis that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough – a 39-year-old Rashid in 2027 may rock up to another World Cup on the basis that if you’re good enough, you’re young enough.”I think so,” Rehan replied when asked if he reckoned England could play with two leggies in one side. Which, admittedly, is a question it is in his interest to answer affirmatively. “You see more than one seamer in a team, so there can always be more than one legspinner.””Rash is probably the best legspinner in the world right now and whenever I’m with him I try to take as much information as I can, especially on his legspinner – he’s got about 12 so I just try to pick one of them for now. But it has offered me a lot and I’m getting a bit more sidespin than I used to.”I played a couple of T20s in the summer and the Bangladesh game [in March] as well so I think it was a nice feeling for all of us together. I feel like I can speak to Rash about bowling and it felt like a practice game even though it was an international game so it kept me very relaxed.”What’s more, if the idea of more than one legspinner in a team is cause for excitement, a team with more than one Ahmed is doubly so, with Rehan’s brother, Farhan, a 15-year-old offspinner, set to be named in England men’s Under-19 World Cup squad.”He bowls a lot of dot balls so he’ll be quite boring,” Rehan joked. “But no, I’m very happy for him. He’s very young and he’s been picked for such a big thing as well. It’s an unbelievable achievement. He’s actually at school right now doing his physics test.”Rehan is one of three brothers, and the family have a strong cricketing bond with his elder brother playing regularly for Nottinghamshire 2nd XI. The trio also regularly turn out together for their club side Cavaliers and Carrington – previously described by Rehan as the “Manchester United of cricket, the best club in England”.So invested is Rehan, he returned to play for Cavaliers the weekend before the Ireland ODI series in September began. “I play with my older brother and younger brother and dad in club cricket and it’s the best feeling ever. As many of us that can play together, it’s always going to be good. Whether it’s for England, for county, for school, for a club, anything. I think playing alongside family is always a great feeling.”