da 888： Aston Villa secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge in Birmingham on Wednesday night.

da poker： Two goals from Marco Asensio either side of a strike from Ian Maatsen ensured that the Villans went through 6-1 on aggregate, after the 3-1 win in Bruges last time out.

Unai Emery should be delighted with his side’s performance against the ten men of Club Brugge, who had Kyriani Sabbe sent off in the first half, and with Asensio – in particular – who starred off the bench.

Marco Asensio's performance against Club Brugge

He was named on the bench for the start of the match but was brought on for English forward Ollie Watkins by the manager at half-time with the team drawing 0-0.

The Spaniard scored his first and the opening goal for Villa shortly after his introduction when he found space in the box to finish, awkwardly, with his weaker right foot into the roof of the net.

His second, however, was a simpler finish. Marcus Rashford did brilliantly to create space for the cross down the left and cut the ball back for the PSG loanee to sweep the ball past the goalkeeper.

The 29-year-old maestro was not the only star for the Villans on the night, though, as left-back Maatsen put in his best performance for the club since his permanent move from Chelsea last summer.

Performance in Numbers

Expand Collapse Ian Maatsen's best performance from Aston Villa

The Netherlands international has only started four times in the Premier League and three times in the Champions League this season, as Lucas Digne has been preferred ahead of him, but this performance may convince Emery to hand out more game time to him.

He was just as good as Asensio on the night because of his excellent contributions in and out of possession for Villa on the left flank, playing the full 90 minutes.

Maatsen won four of his six defensive duels, making two interceptions and one tackle without being dribbled past once, and this shows that the Club Brugge players found it difficult to get the better of him.

Ian Maatsen

Vs Brugge

24/25 UCL (per game)

Pass accuracy

94%

90%

Tackles + interceptions

3

2.0

Duel success rate

67%

56%

Key passes

3

0.5

Dribbled past per game

0x

0.5x

Sofascore rating

8.4

6.99

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch dynamo was also sublime with his use of the ball, creating three chances and completing 94% of his attempted passes to go along with his goal.

Maatsen, who was handed a player rating of 8/10 by both the BirminghamMail and GOAL, put in his best performance in a Villa shirt, as illustrated by his statistics in comparison to his average output in the competition this term.

It was also his first goal for Villa, his highest Sofascore rating (8.4) for Villa, his most chances created (three) in a game for Villa, and his joint-highest pass success rate (94%) as a starter in the Champions League or Premier League this season.

Overall, it was a statement performance by Maatsen, who combined defensive solidity with attacking fluidity, and it was one that may earn him more starts and minutes between now and the end of the campaign, as the defender has shown just how good he can be at his best.

Related 99th percentile for assists: Aston Villa now in talks to sign £13m maestro

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Posts ByDominic Lund Mar 12, 2025

Sri Lanka 110 for 2 (Athapaththu 55) beat England 104 (Dean 34, Fernando 2-16, Dilhari 2-17) by eight wicketsChamari Athapaththu led from the front in a stunning allround display – first with the ball and then with a rampant 26-ball fifty – as Sri Lanka secured their maiden T20I victory over England in extraordinarily emphatic style: by eight wickets, and with a crushing 40 balls remaining, as Heather Knight’s new-look team were served a dramatic reality check, only two days after cruising to victory in the series opener at Hove.After winning her second toss of the series and choosing to bowl first, Athapaththu showed her team how it needed to be done by bowling the dangerous Danni Wyatt for 1 in her first over, and never let up in her leadership thereafter, as England were hustled out for 104 in 18 overs – a far cry from the 186 for 4 that they had posted in just 17 overs in Thursday’s opening fixture.Then, sensing a chance to crush England from the outset of the chase, Athapaththu climbed onto the offensive with the bat, cracking eight fours and two sixes with similarly positive support from Harshitha Samarawickrama, who sealed the contest with a massive swipe over midwicket to finish unbeaten on 30 from 35 balls.Chamari sets the powerplay toneSpeaking at the toss, Athapaththu insisted – with some justification as things turned out – there had been some “positives” to take from a one-sided series opener at Hove, but recognised that their bowling had to improve after England had romped along at close to two a ball on that occasion.And so the skipper herself added that burden to her already broadly laden shoulders, to set the tone for an astonishingly unrelentingly display. Despite one loose ball that Maia Bouchier carved for four, Athapaththu’s remit in the contest’s first over was to keep the stumps in play as much as possible, on a hybrid wicket that offered a touch of grip for her spinners, and in sunny afternoon conditions a world away from the dank misery of Hove.The gambit paid agenda-setting dividends with the sixth ball of Athapaththu’s over. A beautifully flighted offbreak lured Danni Wyatt on the drive, but a hint of dip and spin bowled her clean through the gate for 1. Suddenly a partnership that had realised 77 from 45 balls at Hove had been broken before it had begun, and that carefree youth that had so flourished in game one had a different scenario to counter.Inoshi in on the actionAlice Capsey had made a belligerent 51 from 27 on that occasion; here she was restricted to an anxious 3 from 9 as Inoshi Fernando followed her skipper’s lead in her first outing of the series. First, her tall offbreaks pinned Capsey to the crease for five consecutive dot-balls and a single, then she snapped the trap shut in the field one over later. Itching to break the shackles, Capsey lashed through the line at Sugandika Kumari and Fernando was almost blown off her feet at mid-off as she clung on well to a flat chance.Bouchier by this stage had connected well on another cuff through the covers, but Fernando’s impact was not done yet. The first ball of her second over was flapped in ungainly fashion straight to Kavisha Dilhari at extra cover, and Bouchier attempted to bend her bat around her helmet as she traipsed off for 12 from 10. Not only were England truly in the m(aia)ire at 21 for 3, but she’d missed a golden opportunity to rebuild a faltering innings, and seize the opportunity for seniority that she’s been handed in the absence of the likes of Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt.Old guard falter tooInstead, England’s hopes were reinvested in a familiar pair of middle-order stalwarts. Heather Knight and Amy Jones saw out a powerplay that, at 32 for 3, realised less than half the 66 for 0 that Sri Lanka had been subjected to at Hove, but neither batter really exuded an air of permanence in an uncompromising match situation – least of all Jones, who so nearly holed out to backward point as an attempted reverse-sweep off Fernando fell inches short.On 10, Knight successfully over-turned an lbw decision after her attempted reverse-sweep was shown to have flicked her glove before crashing into the pad, but one over later, Jones’ scratchy stay was ended in the opposite fashion – Ranaweera trapped her on the back pad, and after Atapaththu’s last-ditch decision to review, the ball was shown to be thumping the top of leg stump.Jones was gone for a run-a-ball 12, and if 41 for 4 in the eighth over was a dicey scenario, England’s issues were only just beginning. Freya Kemp picked off two singles off two legal deliveries, only to be stumped off a wide in Dilhari’s next over, as she galloped out of her crease for Sanjeewani to gather well down the leg-side and beat her despairing dive, and all hopes of a competitive total ended when Knight spooned a back-foot punch back to Ranaweera. At 48 for 6, England were fully braced for ignominy.Maia Bouchier grimaces after falling in the second T20I at Chelmsford•ECB via Getty Images

Dean digs for double-figuresOnly Charlie Dean, last out for a feisty 34 from 26, found anything like the requisite blend of endurance and aggression, including three fours in a row off Ranaweera – two firm sweeps and a well-dispatched full toss.At the other end, however, the progression continued. Danielle Gibson opted for aggression without endurance, as she survived a slash through deep third that flew inches wide of the fielder, before scuffing a reverse-sweep straight into the lap of backward square.Sarah Glenn, sporting a new cap to mark her 50th T20I appearance, then snicked off fourth-ball to give Dilhari her second wicket. Though Issy Wong hung around long enough to endure England wouldn’t be setting their new record low total in a women’s T20I, when she lashed through a drive at Prabhodhani to be bowled for 13, the end was not long in coming.Cross, Wong bear powerplay bruntIf England thought their day had hit its nadir, Athapaththu had further indignities to deliver. She signalled her intention to keep the hammer down with a second-ball drive for four off Kate Cross, and even though Sanjeewani fell in Gibson’s subsequent over (after two no-balls had hinted at England’s anxieties), Sri Lanka’s captain was only just getting warmed up.Cross’s second over was utterly taken to the cleaners – 21 runs in total, compromising three blazed fours in a row and a simply vast flog over square leg, off the roof off the Felsted School Stand and into the garden of a bemused lady looking on from her balcony. After some similarly rough treatment at the back-end of the first T20I, Cross’s figures for the series now read 4.2-0-55-0 – a reminder perhaps why her impeccable lines have been overlooked in this format since 2019.Nothing, however, was quite as gruesome as the public pillorying that Wong would endure in her first international over of the summer. Her absence from the firing line has been a bit of an ongoing mystery in recent months, given the excitement that surrounded her all-round game last summer, but here was public evidence of a player at war with her own technique.Her first over of the match lasted for ten deliveries, the first four of which amounted to a tragicomedy in themselves – a huge front-foot no-ball that Harshitha Samarawickrama flicked off her pads for four, followed by a flick to deep square leg off that most of the crowd failed to realise was a free hit . Another leg-side no-ball followed, then another catch off the free hit – an astounding one as it happens, as Cross at mid-off snaffled the ball in her outstretched right hand.By the end of it all, Wong could only grin in self-effacement as Glenn jogged down to give her a consoling pat on the shoulder, and as Sri Lanka blazed towards their victory target with barely a shot out of place, it was something of a surprise to see her reintroduced with 13 runs still needed and little left to be gained. Three more drilled boundaries duly drew the scores level, leaving Harshitha to heave Cross into the pavilion for the winning six.Wong’s inclusion for this match had come at the expense of England’s new young thing, Mahika Gaur, and her struggles rather underlined the importance of Knight’s pre-series warning about the youth in this team. Expecting too much too soon is a dangerous thing.

MatériaMais Notícias

da 888： Em meio ao início da temporada, o Botafogo recebeu sondagens por um jogador importante de seu elenco. Trata-se de Jeffinho, que despertou interesse depelo menos um da Inglaterra e outro da Alemanha. O atacante encerrou o último ano como titular da equipe comandada pelo português Luís Castro. A informação foi divulgada pelo portal ‘ge’.

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No entanto, John Textor, dono da SAF alvinegra, pretende emprestar o atacante ao Lyon, equipe que adquiriu recentemente, para não correr o risco de perder definitivamente o atleta para outro clube. O bilionário quer que o jogador continue a se desenvolver no futebol em um clube daEagle Holding, empresa do norte-americano. O interesse da equipe francesa foi divulgado pelo periódico”L’Équipe”.

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da fezbet： No momento, o Glorioso não recebeu uma oferta formal, porém a sondagem contou com os valores pedidos por um desses clubes. A diretoria alvinegra aguarda a proposta oficial para definir os próximos passos. As conversas para um possível empréstimo ao clube francês ainda não foram debatidas com o estafe do atleta, de 23 anos.
​
Cabe salientar que a janela do futebol europeu fecha no dia 31 de janeiro, na próxima terça-feira. Com isso, a negociação precisa ser agilizada caso o atleta realmente deixe o Botafogo rumo ao futebol do Velho Continente.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

Segundo o portal francês, o Lyon busca alternativas para o lado esquerdo de ataque. O meio-campista Romain Faivre está acertando seu empréstimo ao Lorient e o atacante Toko Ekambi foi para o Rennes, também emprestado.

Contratado junto ao Resende para atuar no time B, Jeffinho deu conta do recado e chamou atenção de Luís Castro ao ser testado no time principal em virtude de desfalques. Dessa forma, tornou-se titular absoluto do time em 2022 e foi uma das grandes revelações do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Com a camisa do Glorioso, disputou 26 partidas, marcou dois gols e deu três assistências e ajudou a equipe a garantir uma vaga na Copa Sul-Americana. No fim do ano passado, participou do ‘Jogo das Estrelas’, organizado por Zico, e sofreu uma lesão. Ainda não conseguiu se recuperar para fazer sua estreia em 2023.

Pep Guardiola has flushed out his Manchester City coaching staff as the club have confirmed the departures of Juanma Lillo & Inigo Dominguez.

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Guardiola bids farewell to Lillo & DominguezCarlos Vicens has also left the clubMan City yet to decide on replacementsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Lillo, a close confidant and long-time collaborator of Guardiola, will not be part of City’s future plans. The 58-year-old Spanish tactician originally joined the club in 2020 and was a key figure in the technical area during a dominant spell for the team. He left briefly in 2022 to manage Qatari club Al-Sadd but returned to City in 2023 for a second term as assistant coach. His contract has now expired, and both parties have opted not to renew it.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Joining Lillo through the exit door is Dominguez. Over the past two seasons, Dominguez has contributed in various support roles, working closely with the first-team players and Guardiola on a day-to-day basis. Whereas, Carlos Vicens, another key figure in Guardiola’s setup, is also moving on – this time to pursue his own managerial ambitions.

The Spaniard, who began his tenure at City in 2017, steadily rose through the ranks, starting with the youth teams and eventually earning a spot in the first-team coaching structure. Having been responsible for set-piece strategy and gaining growing influence over the squad’s tactical details, Vicens has now been appointed the head coach of Braga in Portugal.

DID YOU KNOW?

The departure of three senior coaches is not merely coincidental but part of a broader strategy orchestrated by Guardiola himself. Renowned for continuously evolving his footballing philosophies, the City boss is believed to be keen on refreshing his staff with new thinkers who can challenge and contribute to the team’s continuous tactical refinement.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

With the Club World Cup looming in mid-June, City must make new additions to the coaching team as quickly as possible. After a disappointing domestic and European campaign, City will look to salvage their season by adding a trophy to their illustrious collection on the global stage in the United States.

أعرب أيمن الشريعي رئيس نادي إنبي، عن رأيه في قرارات حكام مباريات الدوري المصري الممتاز، موضحًا تفاصيل انتقال محمد إسماعيل إلى الزمالك.

وقال أيمن الشريعي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “القرارات الإدارية التي تصدر من الحكام بمنتهى القوة والانضباط، وأنا أرى أنها قرارات منضبطة، ولا بد أن تكون القرارات الفنية في الملعب على نفس الوتيرة”.

وأضاف: “تم تصعيد 9 لاعبين ناشئين، ولا توجد مباراة لعبناها في الدوري بدون الدفع بـ اثنين من الناشئين، المنتخب طلب 4 لاعبين من 2005، وهم، سيف سفاجا وعلي إيهاب ومحمد عبد الله ومهاب، وهم يعتبرون في الفريق الأول”.

طالع أيضاً.. قناة الأهلي تشوق الجماهير بجلسة تصوير لـ إمام عاشور.. وموعد إعلان التفاصيل

وتابع: “لم نحصل على نسبة إعادة بيع محمود جاد، وخاطبنا النادي المصري من أجل ذلك”.

وأفاد: “أتحمل ضغوطًا لا يتحملها أحد، نتيجتها أننا نحصل على استثمارات ونُصعد شباب صغير، وهذا دوري كرئيس نادي”.

هل كنت تتوقع انتقال محمد إسماعيل لـ الزمالك؟: “تامر مصطفى عندما قال لي أنا لا أحتاج اللاعب، وهو يلعب في مركزي وسط المدافع والمدافع، لذلك وضعت نسبة من إعادة بيعه لأنني كنت أثق به”.

While there is a strong chance that this season is another that ends without any silverware, Arsenal have an exceptionally talented squad.

When fit, Bukayo Saka is one of the most dangerous wingers in world football, and now, in Ethan Nwaneri, he has a genuine understudy who looks like he could reach the same level a few years from now.

In the middle of the park, an inform Martin Odegaard can be near enough unplayable while Declan Rice continues to run games from central or defensive midfield.

Finally, the team’s strongest area, the defence, is bursting with world-class talent, but without a doubt, the jewel in the crown is William Saliba, and based on recent reports, the club are now looking to sign someone who could be the next version of the Frenchman.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in signing Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all preparing to make an offer for the youngster this summer.

How much the defender might cost is not mentioned in the report, but his final price tag varies dramatically, with some stories claiming he could be available for as little as £25m, while others suggest he’d cost around £40m.

It could be a complicated and potentially costly transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Hato’s impressive ability and immense potential, one well worth pursuing, especially if he can be the next Saliba.

Why Hato could be the next Saliba

Now, we know that comparing a young defender who can thrive as a full-back or centre-back still playing in the Eredivisie to someone like Saliba, who is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in the business and has proven himself in the Premier League, might sound absurd.

Nevertheless, there are some key similarities between the pair.

The first is that, like the Frenchman before he joined Arsenal in 2019, there is an awful lot of hype, excitement and expectation about what Hato could develop into in the coming years.

For example, respected football analyst Ben Mattinson has described the teenager as an “exceptional athlete” who has “the potential to be an elite lockdown full-back”, while U23 scout Antonio Mango simply described the defender as an “insane” prospect and talent scout Jacek Kulig went a step further, dubbing him “one of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe.”

On top of that, the Rotterdam-born gem has also been named in ninth place, ahead of Archie Gray, on GOAL’s 2025 NXGN list, which looks at the most exciting young players born on or after January 1st 2006.

Appearances

103

Starts

94

Minutes

8457′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.12

Minutes per Goal Involvement

650.53′

Points per Game

1.86

Moreover, this belief that the Dutchman is going to be something special is why the Gunners are set to have some serious competition for his signature this summer, as they did when both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign Saliba before they got their hands on him.

Finally, if the North Londoners were able to get their hands on the Ajax star this summer, then like the Frenchman in 2019, he’d be making the big move before he was even 20, as he’ll still be a teenager until March 7th next year.

Ultimately, Arsenal already have a sensationally talented defence, with Saliba at the heart of it, and while it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, they’d only be making it even better by signing Hato at the end of the season.

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Chelsea’s activity in the transfer market has caught the eye in recent years, splashing the cash to try and return to Premier League glory in the near future.

Todd Boehly has certainly invested big money into the first-team setup, handing Enzo Maresca the tools to be a success at Stamford Bridge, with the Italian having a wide selection of players to choose from.

The 46-year-old has often relied upon Moises Caicedo at the heart of his midfield, with the Ecuadorian starting every single game in the league since his appointment.

He may have cost an English record £115m back in the summer of 2023, but given his regularity in the first team, it has been money well spent, looking to be worth every penny.

The same can’t be said for another player, who’s massively failed to deliver in West London after his own big-money move to join the Blues a couple of years ago.

Raheem Sterling's stats for Chelsea

Back in the summer of 2022, Chelsea forked out £50m to sign winger Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, looking to inject added quality into the club’s front line.

However, the move has been a disaster for both parties, struggling to make the desired impact – ultimately leading to his loan move to Arsenal for the current campaign.

The Englishman scored nine times during his debut campaign at the Bridge, going one better with 10 in the following campaign – but after the arrival of Maresca, he ended up falling down the pecking order.

During his three-year period in West London, the 30-year-old has scored just 19 times in 81 appearances, an average of just one goal in every 4.2 matches – simply not at the level for a top-level attacker.

Given his £325k-per-week wages, coupled with his lack of impact for the Blues, it would be a surprise to no one to see him moved on in the summer, with another player also needing to be shipped out.

The player who should never play for Chelsea again

Given the influx of transfers made over recent years, it was always likely that sales were going to be needed, with Sterling just one player who has to be sacrificed after his lack of positive impact.

However, it’s made the jump much harder for academy players to stake their claim in the first team, with the club desperately wanting success after such high spending.

One player who’s been unfortunate in his development is striker Armando Broja, who at one stage looked as though he could lead the line for the Blues going forward.

The Albanian international joined the club at the age of nine, developing through the ranks, before getting his first-team opportunity in the 2022/23 campaign.

The 23-year-old only managed to score three times across his two seasons in the first team at the Bridge, eventually losing his place due to an ACL injury.

Broja has since spent two separate spells out on loan at Fulham before linking up with Everton for the current campaign – but injuries have once again reared their head.

The striker, who earns £40k-per-week, has only made six appearances for the Toffees, with his last outing coming back in January after not featuring until December following his summer move.

After just one start and zero goals at Goodison Park, people have started to voice their displeasure at his lack of impact, with one writer claiming he’s been a “complete waste” of a loan addition.

Games played

6

Minutes played

179

Goals scored

0

Touches

77

Shots taken

4

Chances created

2

Passes completed

27

Given his continuous struggles away from West London, coupled with his lack of action when fit, Maresca needs to brutally part ways with the forward this summer to cash in while the 23-year-old still has some value.

Broja and Sterling need to be the first two players out of the door, with their subsequent departures handing the boss the funds to build on his impressive first season in charge of the Blues.

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is now “working” on a deal to sign an “unbelievable” player permanently, as he is a perfect fit for the club, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Villa making plans for the summer

Villa were active in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Marcus Rashford, Donyell Malen and Marco Asensio to strengthen in attacking areas, amid the departure of Jhon Duran, who joined Al-Nassr for £65m.

However, Emery remains keen on bringing in a new forward in the summer, with widespread reports suggesting Rashford could still be eyeing a move to Barcelona at the end of the season.

Samuel Chukwueze is of interest to the Villans, and there are suggestions the AC Milan winger could be keen on a reunion with Emery, given that he has previously described his former manager as “amazing”.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha is also on the shortlist, with reliable reporter Ben Jacobs revealing a deal is “there to be had” in the summer, regardless of whether the Old Gold retain their Premier League status.

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While Rashford’s future remains up in the air, there are now suggestions Villa could already be trying to secure the signing of Asensio on a permanent basis, with Brown telling Football Insider: “On the evidence of what I’ve seen in his couple of appearances, he looks perfect for Villa.

“I think Emery and his staff will have been impressed as well, and they’ll already have started working behind the scenes to see if they can make the move permanent.

“A lot will depend on the role he plays while on loan, but at the moment I’d say that’s where they’re leaning.

“PSG want to move him on, he’s keen to leave, and Villa will be better off if they can keep him beyond the end of the season and will be working to make that happen.”

Asensio still yet to prove himself

The Spaniard arrived at Villa Park with a good pedigree, having played for European giants Real Madrid and PSG, however it is too early to say whether he should be signed on a permanent basis.

The former Real Madrid man was lauded as “unbelievable” during his time in La Liga, but he has made just two cameo appearances since arriving at Villa on loan, coming on as a second-half substitute against Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town.

Having amassed 61 goals and 32 assists in 286 games for Madrid, there are clear signs the 29-year-old could go on to be an important player for Villa as we enter the business end of the season.

However, the jury is still out at the moment, and the £116k-per-week attacking midfielder will be hoping he is given the opportunity to prove himself with a start against Liverpool in the Premier League this evening.

Liverpool are now lining up a club-record bid to sign an “incredible” former Manchester City player, who could cost over £100m this summer, according to a report.

Reds eyeing Darwin Nunez replacements

Darwin Nunez has received widespread criticism this season, and there were suggestions the Uruguayan could make a move to Saudi Arabia during the January transfer window, although he ultimately ended up staying at Anfield.

However, it is clear the end could be near for Nunez, as the Reds are stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, and a recent report has revealed they have opened talks over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Contact has also been made with the representatives of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the Sweden international will not come cheap, as the Magpies are looking to hold out for a fee of £148m for their talisman.

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As such, Isak may be unattainable this summer, and another option is seemingly moving up the list of targets, with a report from Anfield Watch revealing Liverpool are now lining up a club-record bid to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.

The Spanish club value Alvarez very highly, and it may take an offer of over £100m to tempt them into a sale, but the Reds are undeterred by the valuation, having been keen on the forward for quite some time.

Prior to the former Manchester City man’s move to La Liga, talks were held with Pep Guardiola’s side, but an agreement could not be struck, given the high asking price and an insistence that Luis Diaz would be used as a makeweight.

There could be a new approach made for the 25-year-old, however, as he is viewed internally as a perfect fit for Arne Slot’s side, given his work-rate, ability to play in multiple positions, and keen eye for goal.

"Incredible" Alvarez is proven at the top level

During his time with Manchester City, the striker was lauded as “incredible” by Guardiola, who also praised him for the “massive” contribution he made to their success.

Despite having a penalty ruled out in controversial fashion against Real Madrid earlier this week, the Argentina international has gone on to impress at Atletico Madrid, too, racking up a remarkable 22 goals and five assists in all competitions.

That said, considering the Atletico star is contracted until 2030, it may be very difficult to prise him away from the Spanish side this summer, and some other targets mentioned in the report may be more attainable.

The Reds are said to hold a good relationship with RB Leipzig, which could give them the edge in the race for Sesko, while Isak is believed to be keen on a move to Merseyside.

Tahlia McGrath was the only Australia batter to get to 50 as India bowled them out for 219 on day one

Ashish Pant21-Dec-2023

Having played a crucial role in India’s big win over England last week, Pooja Vastrakar was at it again, this time with Australia in her sights. The fast-bowling allrounder presented a masterclass in swing bowling, making the ball talk both ways to pick up career-best figures of 4 for 53 as Australia were bowled out for 219 in their first innings of the one-off Test at the Wankhede Stadium.Vastrakar picked up two wickets apiece in the first and second sessions while Sneh Rana returned 3 for 56 as India continued their impressive Test bowling show. In reply, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma added 90 for the first wicket in 16.4 overs. Shafali fell six minutes before close of play, but India comfortably held the upper hand after day one, ending it 98 for 1 in 19 overs and trailing Australia by 121 runs.Australia could not have foreseen a worse start after winning the toss when Phoebe Litchfield was run out for a diamond duck in the first over. Beth Mooney tapped a Renuka Singh delivery to the left of gully and set off. Miscommunication ensued and Litchfield was found nowhere in the frame.Vastrakar then rattled Elyse Perry’s middle pole with an inswinging jaffa. The ball pitched outside off and deviated sharply back in through the gap between Perry’s bat and pad as Australia were reduced to 7 for 2 ten balls into their innings.With the ball hooping around and also keeping low, Mooney found the going tough. The ball slid past her outside edge several times and she also had an umpire’s call verdict going her way when she missed a Renuka Singh indipper from around the stumps.Ellyse Perry was cleaned up by a jaffa from Vastrakar•BCCI

Tahlia McGrath, however, decided to go the counterattacking way. She got her innings going by creaming Vastrakar through the covers twice in two balls before tapping her past point. India had the chance to dent Australia further but Deepti Sharma failed to hang on to a tough chance over her head at second slip when McGrath slashed at Renuka and edged thickly in the seventh over.McGrath cashed in, going on a boundary spree even as Mooney continued to struggle. Then the introduction of spin stemmed the flow of runs to an extent. McGrath raised her fifty off 52 balls but failed to go further. It was Rana who ended the promising 80-run stand with McGrath flicking to a leaping Rajeshwari Gayakwad at short midwicket.While Alyssa Healy made a bright start, getting off the mark with a six over long-on, Mooney’s luck ended when she fell off the final ball of the first session courtesy a sharp Vastrakar bouncer that she could only fend to first slip as Australia reached lunch at 103 for 4.Healy and Annabel Sutherland started confidently after the break. Both batters used their feet to good effect, collecting boundaries at every given chance. They had added 40 off 96 balls when the sweep brought about Healy’s undoing. Deepti switched her angle to around the wicket and Healy immediately brought out the sweep only to miss the ball completely and find her stumps in a mess.Vastrakar then ended Sutherland’s dogged stay with a nip-backer that caught her right in front of the stumps. The first ball of her next over, she had Ashleigh Gardner poking at an away-swinger outside off with Yastika Bhatia doing the rest as Australia were reduced to 160 for 7.Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma added 90 for the first wicket•Getty Images

That soon became 168 for 8 when Rana had Alana King caught behind, with a little help from the DRS. Jess Jonassen and Kim Garth took Australia to tea at 180 for 8.The duo hung around for 93 balls but added only 30 as the spinners tightened up after the break. India stitched six maidens between the 63rd and 70th overs and that contributed to the wicket of Jonassen, who was sent back via another DRS overturning. Jonassen shaped up for a reverse-sweep to a full Deepti ball and was struck in front, with ball-tracking indicating that the ball would have smashed into middle stump.Garth and debutant Lauren Cheatle added 21 for the last wicket before Rana claimed her third wicket to close out the Australia innings in 77.4 overs. The only blemish in a largely professional performance from India were three catches dropped by Deepti in the slips.Mandhana and Shafali then came out and immediately found their bearings. All the demons in the surface seemed to have subsided as they feasted on the Australian bowling. Mandhana got off the mark with a cut for four off Garth before Shafali struck Cheatle for two successive cover drives. India raced past fifty off just 46 balls with neither opening bowler looking particularly threatening.Shafali and Mandhana rode their luck to an extent with a a few inside and outside edges falling safely. Shafali fell close to stumps on day one when she missed a straight Jonassen delivery to be trapped in front on 40. Mandhana and Rana then took India safely to stumps with just a wicket down.