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Arsenal are believed to be the main contenders to sign a former Manchester City star, with sporting director Andrea Berta now identifying him as one of his major summer priorities.

Arsenal urged to make "statement" striker signing amid Rodrygo talks

Kai Havertz is now back on the grass after what was thought to be a season-ending hamstring injury, but Gabriel Jesus’ severe ACL problem could still have him out until 2026.

Arsenal: Berta now targeting £80m Premier League star as Rodrygo talks stall

They’re having problems in pursuit of the Brazilian.

ByEmilio Galantini May 26, 2025

Over the second half of 2024/2025, Mikel Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role due to Arsenal’s shortage of options, and the Gunners often struggled to put teams away over a disappointing top flight campaign.

Arsenal drew more games than any other side in the Premier League top ten, with their lack of ruthlessness in the final third proving a very considerable worry. Berta has reportedly set his sights on a prolific striker for Arsenal this summer as a result.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are in concrete talks to sign Benjamin Sesko, with keen interest in Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres remaining as the club weigh up their best options.

Arsenal have also held talks over a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, as they attempt to add more goals and assists to Arteta’s squad. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to Football Insider recently, explained why the signing of a centre-forward and Rodrygo would be a “statement”.

“[Rodrygo] is a wide player – they need a number nine, but if you sign him and a number nine, that’s a real statement”, said the pundit.

“What it would cost you to get Rodrygo, and would he want to go to Arsenal, is two different things. The need for a number nine is pressing. Saka will play on the right-hand side, Rodrygo can play on the left – if you have those two as a wide pairing, that’s one hell of a pairing to fit in behind a world-class number nine.”

Arsenal now "strongest bidder" to sign Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez

The consensus has been that Arsenal’s statement striker signing this summer is likely to be one of Sesko or Gyokeres – but it is now believed that Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez is near the top of Berta’s transfer list as well.

The Argentine is a relatively new target for Berta, just one year after his £82 million switch to Atlético from Eastlands, with Alvarez going on to enjoy a very impressive debut season for the Spanish heavyweights.

The 25-year-old World Cup winner, whose contract reportedly includes a £126 million release clause, couldn’t get in ahead of Erling Haaland in the City pecking order, but he’s since showcased his real quality with 29 goals and seven assists in all competitions throughout 2024/25.

He was a big-game player in his debut season at Atlético as well, scoring against the likes of Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, not to mention Barcelona in the top flight.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca and journalist David Medina, this has attracted Berta’s serious attention, who is now believed to be prioritising a deal for the South American. Arsenal have also emerged as the “strongest bidder” for Alvarez this summer, with Berta also playing a pivotal role in signing him for Atlético last summer, so he’s a player that the Gunners transfer chief already knows very well.

A serial winner who’s lifted nearly every major trophy just midway through his 20s, Alvarez is a very enticing target, with pundit Owen Hargreaves heaping praise on the centre-forward during his time at City.

“The thing about Alvarez, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a bad game,” Hargreaves said on TNT Sports in late 2023.

“He’s probably a natural centre forward but because of Haaland, you can play him up with him there, you can play him as the number 10. Obviously, with [Kevin] De Bruyne out injured.

“I think the thing that has stood out for me most is his set pieces. The quality on his corners and his crosses, and obviously his free-kick at the weekend.

“It is quite exceptional really.”

According to broadcast giant ESPN, Arsenal are demanding a major concession from Thomas Partey as talks continue over a new contract for the midfielder.

Thomas Partey could now stay at Arsenal with talks ongoing

The £200,000-per-week star has stayed relatively injury-free throughout an impressive 2024/2025 campaign which has seen him dazzle in multiple roles under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal deal "done" as Berta awaits Kroenkes green-light for £51m signing

The Gunners owners are currently holding up a move.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

Utilised at right-back during the absences of key players, as well as partnering the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield to great effect, Partey’s been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers throughout the season.

Last term, the Ghana international could barely get a look-in due to fitness issues and falling down Arteta’s pecking order, and was widely tipped to leave the club four years after his £45 million transfer from Atlético Madrid.

However, this campaign, Partey has made more appearances than in any of his previous seasons at the Emirates Stadium, now proving indispensable to Arteta.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Partey’s resurgence has now sparked the club into action, with Arsenal opening talks to extend the 31-year-old’s contract as his current terms are due to expire this summer.

Arteta has confirmed to the press that he wants to keep Partey at the club for next season, with sporting director Andrea Berta now handed the task of agreeing an extension.

“Yes, there is progress with all the players. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to decide and to talk about,” said Arteta when asked if there has been progress over a new deal for Partey.

“The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.”

If contract talks go south, Barcelona are among the clubs eyeing a Bosman deal for Partey, so the African won’t be short of prestigious options.

Arsenal demand major concession from Thomas Partey in contract talks

As per ESPN, it is now believed that Arsenal will demand one major concession from Partey in “any” deal for a new contract, despite his exceptional form.

The suggestion is its pretty non-negotiable, with the concession being that the midfielder will need to take a pay cut to remain in north London.

This comes as Arsenal attempt to finalise a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Berta is widely rumoured to also be negotiating fresh terms with the likes of Bukayo Saka, so it appears the club wish to trim their wage bill where possible.

Partey is keen to remain at Arsenal, according to credible news outlets like The Telegraph, but it remains to be seen whether he’s willing to be paid less than his illustrious teammates – especially considering he’s put in consistently outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

It was a night of conflicting emotions for Arsenal last night.

Mikel Arteta’s side finally returned to Premier League football after two weeks off for the international break, and while they looked a little rusty, they picked up all three points, winning 2-1.

However, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhães both came off injured and while the former didn’t look too bad, the latter appeared to be holding his hamstring, which could be terrible news ahead of next week’s Champions League game against Real Madrid.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Furthermore, while they ultimately won, the home side’s performances were mixed. Some players really stepped up, while others looked poor, including one Arteta signing who has to be dropped ahead of the next two games.

Arsenal's stand-out performers vs Fulham

So, before we get to the disappointing player in question, it’s worth looking at those who played well last night; the team did win, after all.

While Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have received much of the praise following last night, deservedly so, other starters stepped up to the plate, such as Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain had a good international break, starting both games for Thomas Tuchel, and carried that form back into the match against Fulham as he was seemingly here, there, and everywhere throughout the 90 minutes.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Granted, he did miss a chance towards the end of the game, firing well over the bar, but in all, it was a composed and dominant performance, as fans have come to expect, and enough to earn a 7/10 match rating from football.london’s Tom Canton.

Two players who did one better than the Englishman were Timber and Merino who received 8/10 match ratings from the journalist.

Before coming off, the former put in a brilliant showing, getting forward to help out in attack and making several impressive defensive contributions, including a vital tackle on Antonee Robinson in the second half.

Merino scored yet another goal for his efforts, and while it was a little scrappy, he continues to deliver for his manager and teammates.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all great last night, as there was one Arsenal ace who underwhelmed and once again showed that the club should probably be looking to move him on as soon as possible.

The Arsenal star who must be axed after Fulham

It is a cruel irony that Arteta got Saka back from injury last night and then lost Timber and Gabriel. What makes it worse is that Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are also injured.

So, with few options, the manager turned to Jakub Kiwior to replace the Brazilian titan.

While he’s shown glimpses of quality in the past, this performance further reinforced the idea that Arsenal need another centre-back in the summer and that, as podcaster Phil Costa claims, he just “isn’t good enough” to regularly feature for the Gunners.

As he was against Fulham earlier in the season, the Polish international looked uneasy at the back, unconvincing on the ball and was a significant step down in quality on the man he replaced and the star he was playing alongside.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by Canton, who awarded him just a 6/10 on the night and laid part of the blame for the Cottagers’ goal at his feet for his ‘tussle’ with the rapid Adama Traore.

Interestingly, his statistics for the game are rather mixed, with the positive being the fact he won four of five ground duels, made five clearances and completed 93% of his passes.

Minutes

74′

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

Dribbled past

1

Errors Leading to a Shot

1

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (0)

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Lost Possession

4

Passing Accuracy

41/44 (93%)

However, on the other hand, he lost 100% of his aerial duels, made an error that led directly to a shot and was dribbled past, which, if it happens against Fulham, could be a serious problem against Real next week.

Therefore, if there is any chance that White, Timber, or even Rice can fill in at centre-back in the next two games, Arteta must drop Kiwior from the starting lineup, as he’s just not good enough to start for a team like Arsenal.

Better than Saka: 8/10 Arsenal star just dropped his best game in years

Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal team as they beat Fulham 2-1.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 2, 2025

Up-and-coming seamer is in the running to replace Anderson in England’s Test team

Vithushan Ehantharajah23-May-2024They say moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in life. One imagines replacing James Anderson might rival that.Dillon Pennington has taken the former in his stride. A switch from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire has been seamless with 21 wickets across five Division One matches so far. It is a start that puts him on course for his most productive County Championship season.The latter opportunity, however, has not presented itself just yet. But the manner of Pennington’s performances as a six-foot-four quick operating in the mid-eighties has had gums flapping.Men’s managing director Rob Key, having put the word out that England are looking for pace over dismissals from would-be Test quicks, mentioned Pennington when discussing possible debutants this summer in a recent interview with the BBC. Anderson’s impending retirement after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s puts a little bit more on Key’s namecheck, particularly given that Pennington does not have a central contract.”My main aim was to get into the Notts team and perform well there,” Pennington tells ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve started okay, but I’ve got a long way to go. I mean, I’m only five games in.”It’s an exciting time in English cricket. There are opportunities, but there are some fantastic bowlers out there, and I think I’ve got a long way to go before anything like that happens, and that’s completely fair.”One of those “fantastic bowlers” is Josh Tongue, who, along with batter Jack Haynes, joined Pennington in swapping New Road for Trent Bridge. Tongue’s setback in his recovery from a pectoral injury has opened the door further for Pennington. As has a recurrence of a lower back stress fracture for Surrey’s Jamie Overton.Pennington’s emergence has been steady. His talents have always been earmarked for higher honours, reflected in U19 caps for England, notably at the 2018 World Cup. His cohort contained the likes of Harry Brook, Will Jacks and fellow opening bowler Ethan Bamber, who he calls a mate. “We have a bit of a sounding board after games,” he says of their friendship. “If ever either of us are struggling, we pick up the phone and have a chat about it.”Dillon Pennington was Worcestershire’s spearhead prior to his move to Trent Bridge•Getty ImagesProfessional debuts across all three formats arrived that summer, as did glowing early reviews from the likes of Morne Morkel and Kane Williamson, who were playing for Surrey and Yorkshire, respectively. But it speaks to where Pennington is at the age of 25 that such flattery does not mean all that much now.”Those sorts of comments were a long time ago, in 2018,” he says. “A lot has gone past. One of the reasons for the move was I almost needed a jump-start. I needed something a little bit different to play higher honours at some point in my career.”I think I was progressing nicely at Worcestershire. But since those comments and since the Under-19s, I just hadn’t kicked on enough for what I wanted and what maybe was projected on me.”That being said, 2022 was a breakthrough season, with Pennington taking 44 of his eventual 140 dismissals at Worcestershire. Work, primarily on lengths, with former head coach Alex Gidman and Alan Richardson (bowling coach at the time before replacing Gidman in 2022) paid dividends. It was the result of their guidance, Pennington’s hard work and the opportunities to learn while doing.”I had so many playing opportunities at Worcestershire, which was amazing, and it makes you learn very quick about how you need to perform. I’ve gradually got better just by playing and learning against different batters and different counties.”Over the years, that’s got better and better. I think I’ve just got more acclimatised to first-class cricket, really. There are some great people there. Playing under Leachy (Joe Leach) and Dolly (Brett D’Oliveira) was really good – they gave me a lot of confidence.”

One of the reasons for the move was I almost needed a jump-start. I needed something a little bit different to play higher honours at some point in my career.

The switch to Peter Moores’ Nottinghamshire was by no means a straightforward decision. “Of course, it’s daunting,” Pennington says. “There are loads of things in your mind that are pros and cons about doing it.”But I think when your ambitions are to play international cricket, you are going to face difficult times and decisions anyway.”The sweetener was Kevin Shine’s presence on the Nottinghamshire staff. Pennington had some dealings previously with him through the pathway during Shine’s time as the ECB’s lead bowling coach, a role that involved Shine travelling the counties to keep tabs on the next crop of quicks.As such, Pennington decided to spend the winter at home, as much to get to know his new teammates as begin working with Shine. The pair sat down in October and devised a plan to build on Pennington’s work at Worcestershire and evolve him as a bowler to make the step up to international cricket. “Any changes he (Shine) wanted to make, I just opened up to him and allowed him to crack on.”Related

Key, McCullum, Stokes told Anderson: It's time to move on

Anderson to retire after Lord's Test against West Indies

Top of the list were increasing pace and improving stamina to maintain that pace throughout a day’s play and over the course of the match. To achieve that, Pennington worked on getting more flow into his action by changing his gather, ensuring he held onto the ball for longer. That, in turn, buys him more time to assume a stronger position and ensure better alignment at the crease, at the point of delivery.It was a tweak Stuart Broad made, under Shine’s guidance, that allowed him to sign off a glittering career in style. Having workshopped a new gather over the 2022-23 winter and start of the 2023 County summer – even boasting about a new outswinger – Broad finished the Ashes as England’s leading wicket-taker with 22.”It’s more with my action – just try and create a bit more flow. I’ve changed my load-up a tiny bit, but it’s actually going back to when I was 18 – I had a similar thing. So we’ve basically gone back in time, but with the strength work I’ve done and the bits I’ve done at Worcester, all that has combined.”It’s helped with my engine – I’m able to go for a bit longer and the consistency of pace has got better.”The results, so far, are clear for all to see. Batters have been undone by combinations of pace and bounce, all while Pennington continues to seek improvements on the whole.He returns to where it all began this week as New Road hosts its first match of the summer. The awkwardness of coming up against former teammates was taken care of in the second round of the season in Nottingham. Pennington took 3 for 76 with the Kookaburra ball in a rain-affected affair.He’ll no doubt be given a warm reception and have more attention on his performance in this final round of Championship cricket before the Vitality Blast takes over. By the time it returns at the end of June, Pennington may have a better gauge of whether he is in the mix for that first Test on July 10. He has had no contact with the ECB about it just yet – which is fine by him.”There’s no point for me putting pressure on myself. I need to cement myself in a team that’s really good, I’ve got a new coaching staff to impress. The hope is that all of that will result in a better me.”

Former cricketers showered praise on Joe Root after he scored his 26th Test century and went past 10,000 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jun-2022Joe Root walked off to a standing ovation at Lord’s after guiding England to a five-wicket win, not before reaching his 26th Test century and crossing 10,000 Test runs with the same shot. Here is how the cricket fraternity reacted to his achievements on social media.

ROOOOOT! Unbelievable

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) June 5, 2022

The Saurashtra batsman opens up on the mental pressures he dealt with during a memorable domestic campaign

Shashank Kishore23-Mar-2020In December 2019, Saurashtra batsman Sheldon Jackson was going through a “dark phase” and was on the verge of walking away from cricket, a game he had fallen in love with as a 12-year-old.Only 32, Jackson was one of the pillars of Saurashtra’s batting and had seen the team steadily rise to the top echelons in domestic cricket. Yet he was feeling a sense of hopelessness creeping in.Team-mates began noticing Jackson’s habits and moods. He would often restrict himself to his room after play, unlike earlier when he would be part of the team’s fun and games and dinners.”This was the time when a lot of players were speaking about mental-health issues and how it was impacting their cricket, but I wasn’t comfortable speaking about it because I wasn’t sure how it would’ve been perceived,” Jackson tells ESPNcricinfo. “My team-mates felt I was overthinking, I was becoming very intense. On the field, I was always bothered by these thoughts. It was becoming a mental burden.”ALSO READ: The evolution of the Saurashtra familyRemarkably, just four months later, Jackson played his part in Saurashtra’s historic triumph when they beat Bengal in Rajkot to win their maiden Ranji Trophy title. Jackson finished the season with 809 runs in 18 innings at an average of 50.56, and was the third-highest run-getter among batsmen in the non-Plate category. It was a week of celebrations for Jackson, who became a father the day before Saurashtra were crowned champions.A week after lifting the Ranji trophy, Jackson is at home, spending time with his newborn, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the cancellation of the Irani Cup match Saurashtra would otherwise have been playing against Rest of India.”I’ve had time to look back at what has been a challenging season, one that knocked me at different times, although on the outside, it looked like nothing could go wrong. I’d planned a short holiday with friends after the Irani Cup, but that had to be cancelled. I’m happy changing nappies, doing duties of a nightwatchman at home, spending time with my newborn son.”Along with joy, there has also been a bit of sadness. The day before the Ranji final, March 8, Jackson mourned the demise of NC Gohil, his first coach, and the one person he wanted to thank for becoming a Ranji winner. It was Gohil who had spotted the 12-year-old from Bhavnagar and taught him respect the game and its nuances.

“It’s hard to say if I would’ve retired, but I wasn’t in the best mind space. I had to battle inner demons. My mother wasn’t well, I wasn’t feeling well physically”

“I started off going for just the summer camp, but he spotted the talent in me and gave me an opportunity to play for the districts a few years later,” Jackson says. “He was the whole and soul of the Bhavnagar District Cricket Association. He’s had a massive contribution to who I am today. He would’ve been proud to see me part of a Ranji Trophy-winning team. The last week, I’ve had time to reflect on my journey from there to where I am.”So what was the dark phase all about?Most of it had to do with not getting near the India cap, the ultimate dream of any domestic player. Jackson had already aired his frustration on his Twitter account last year when he failed to be part of any of the India A tours. That outburst on Twitter, Jackson says, was the result of constant rejection.”It was the hurt, maybe, of being ignored season after season. It’s as if some voice is telling you: ‘Mate, you aren’t good enough. Nice try, but sorry.’ That hurt.”Jackson ended the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy with 854 runs at an average of 47.44. But no Saurashtra player made the India A cut even though they finished runners-up.ALSO READ: ESPNcricinfo’s Ranji Trophy XI: Jaydev Unadkat to lead, Sarfaraz Khan at No. 4The snub contributed to a dip in motivation as Jackson battled physical and mental issues. “All of it contributed to a dark mind space I found myself in [at the start of the season]. It’s hard to say if I would’ve retired, but I wasn’t in the best mind space. I had to battle inner demons. My mother wasn’t well, I wasn’t feeling well physically. Batting seemed a chore. I had this feeling that whatever I score isn’t going to be noticed anyway. Only my wife, mother and Chirag Jani [his Saurashtra team-mate] knew what I was going through.”Jackson and Jani, three years his junior, have played together through their professional careers and are best friends. They went to the same school and the same academy in Bhavnagar, and played for the same club before sharing the Saurashtra dressing room.”I played through an ankle injury after the quarter-finals of the 2018-19 season,” Jackson says. “My toes used to swell up. I had to cut out my right shoe to play through pain, but that dream of winning the Ranji Trophy kept me going, even though deep down I knew I may have been pushing it.”We didn’t win and that added to my disappointment. And after our third game [of the 2019-20 season] against Uttar Pradesh, I was questioning myself. ‘Is it still worth pushing it?’ I’ve made runs season after season, only to be told, ‘Sorry, we can’t pick you for India A.’ What next?”Sheldon Jackson had his match shirt autographed by the whole team•ESPNcricinfo LtdAfter that game, Saurashtra had a new coach in Karsan Ghavri, whose influence Jackson credits for his turnaround. “He is a legend, and in cricket terms, he wasn’t a ‘coach coach’ but a superb man manager. He let me be myself, allowed me my space and time. Over time, I realised whenever Cheteshwar [Pujara] wasn’t around, I took a lot of pressure on myself. And I think somewhere it showed.”Arpit [Vasavada] coming in and playing the way he has somewhat helped me go back to my old ways. Playing freely without worrying about protecting your wicket, not worried of the team failing if I didn’t score. So in a way, the chats I had with Karsan helped. He got the players into a good space. I certainly benefited from working under him. He brought a lot of calmness inside me. I wasn’t thinking about runs, selection. I was just happy to play every game and perform.”Jackson says speaking to his close friends outside cricket also helped give him perspective. “I used to think cricket was a skill sport, but I was wrong,” he says. “My friends, Marshall and Visakha, who I work out with, pushed me to get physically fit. I could sense when I was out on the field the whole day, how different I felt once I lost weight and worked on building muscle.”I am 33 but I can proudly compete with a 22-year-old. I realised to get back in the IPL or play at a higher level, I needed this tuning of not just the mind but the body as well. I have been training with Marshall [a gym instructor] and have seen a huge change in myself. Now, I’m even more hungry to keep playing. Because I think I found my recovery times improving as the season went along.”

“It’s natural for me to have expressed disappointment, you aren’t human otherwise. But now I have new perspective. There’s purpose to my game, to keep going regardless”

For the moment, Jackson is at peace, having put behind him the hurt of selection snubs, but he says matters of the mind are still a work in progress. He says winning the Ranji Trophy has helped a great deal, for starters, but he’s keen to continue working on his mind and body to ensure he sustains the hunger for runs.”I’m feeling light,” he says. “It’s natural for me to have expressed disappointment, you aren’t human otherwise. But now I have new perspective. There’s purpose to my game, to keep going regardless, without expecting that reward. It’s the love for the game.”Soon, Jackson will resume work with the Income Tax office, his employers, in Ahmedabad. He has files to scrounge through, cases to handle, and pages of notes and training material to revise. Jackson couldn’t be more thankful for the support from his employers.”Work beckons now. That’s the life of a domestic cricketer during the off season,” he says with a smile. “They’ve been the most supportive over the year. It’s this security that has also helped me. Today, if a cricketer isn’t part of the IPL, you need that security of a job to keep you going, because you can’t play forever. A Ranji Trophy title has given me the hunger to keep going, when it seemed as if my time was up. The fire is still burning.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Cruzeiro aguarda a chegada de mais dois reforços. A Raposa receberá o defensor argentino Lucas Villalba, do Argentinos Jrs, para a realização de exames médicos. Além disso, o clube finaliza os trâmites para ter o equatoriano José Cifuentes, do Rangers, da Escócia. Ambos chegam por empréstimo. As informações são do portal “ge”.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Villalba tem 29 anos e atua como lateral-esquerdo e zagueiro e chega no começo. O Cruzeiro irá pagar cerca de R$ 2 milhões pelo empréstimo do jogador, com opção de compra de R$ 4 milhões. O defensor já havia informado o desejo de deixar o Argentinos Jrs e não atuou nas três partidas do clube na temporada.

Por outro lado, Cruzeiro e Cifuentes ainda finalizam os trâmites do acordo entre as partes. O volante de 24 anos vem treinando com o Rangers e é esperado dentro de 15 dias em Belo Horizonte. Ele também chegaria emprestado por uma temporada.

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Caso concretize a chegada dos dois jogadores, o Cruzeiro chegará a oito reforços para 2024. A janela de tranferências brasileira se encerra em 7 de março; até lá, o clube trabalha buscando contratações para o setor ofensivo.

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Cruzeiro

Given the atmosphere at Chepauk, you’d have been forgiven for mistakenly thinking it was a certain other right-hand wicketkeeper-batter taking the field against New Zealand A

Srinidhi Ramanujam27-Sep-2022To associate cricket in Chennai with the crowd turning out at Chepauk isn’t new. It has been said many times that Chennai is one of the places in India where cricket crowds – for any match, domestic or international – appreciate a good game irrespective of the teams featuring in it.On Tuesday, the crowd at MA Chidambaram Stadium erupted for about 30 seconds when a player walked out onto the field. This kind of reception has mostly been reserved for “” MS Dhoni or for “” Suresh Raina. Or for local boys like R Ashwin. None of them were here today.Related

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Thakur: India are looking at me for all three formats

Chennai Super Kings’ off-season camps create quite a stir as well, but it wasn’t that either.This cheer was for Sanju Samson, who has played several domestic matches in Chennai before but still might not have expected such a warm welcome. For a minute, it felt like the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.Samson has been in the city for almost a week now, as captain of the India A side for the limited-overs series against New Zealand A. If the first one-dayer had 200-odd spectators, today the crowd grew, in both numbers and noise, until roughly 2,000 people were on hand to watch the home side produce a 3-0 sweep.Mind you, Chennai is still experiencing searing heat with the temperatures touching 35°C during the day, but the fans didn’t care. For many, this is the closest they get to experiencing an international. The last game that India played at Chepauk was in February 2021, when they beat England by 317 runs in the second Test. It has been a while, and with both these A sides featuring several players who have already played for their country, people came in good numbers to watch the games, even on weekdays.And there was an eruption of joy every time Samson walked out to bat against the touring New Zealanders. Every time he dived and stopped a possible boundary, there were whistles. When Samson applauded a player’s effort on the field, the crowd clapped with him. When Samson appealed for a wicket, they did too. Clips of the crowd cheering loudly for Samson even went viral on social media platforms last week, after the first one-dayer.He’s always had this connection with fans. Especially with those from Kerala, his home state. According to reports on the local news, Samson’s supporters are expected to protest the decision to leave him out of the T20 World Cup squad by showing up at Wednesday’s T20I between India and South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram wearing t-shirts with his face on them.There were clips of fans at the airport shouting “Sanju Sanju” when the Indian team landed on Monday. Suryakumar Yadav was seen showing a picture of Samson on his mobile phone to fans gathered outside the team bus, prompting them to go wild. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who play under him at the IPL, also joined the party, posting photos of the crowd, and tagging Samson in them.

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Big picture – Subplots add to the intrigue

This Australian international summer – hyped as possibly the biggest cricket season ever – started with a whimper after persistent drizzle in Perth ensured the first ODI was rather forgettable.But Australia did dominate a game that lasted less than 50 overs and they can clinch the three-game series with victory in Adelaide. While the series-opener will be erased from the memory of the fans who endured the constant rain delays – a further frustration was that it hardly rained during some breaks – there were some notable takeaways for both teams.Perhaps most pleasing for Australia was the new-ball performance from quicks Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as they tore through India’s top order before the damp weather set in. Hazlewood, particularly, relished the extra bounce and pace on a ground that will host the first Ashes Test in a month.Related

• India's ODI gameplan tested in pacy Perth

• Frustrated Short looks to make most of India opportunity

• 'I hide' – Renshaw blocks out Ashes speculation

With Pat Cummins set to miss the Ashes opener, Hazlewood’s importance has grown and he looked in good physical condition in the first ODI having struggled with injuries in recent years.While the Ashes hovers over basically everything in Australia right now, winning this series is important for Australia as they look to build consistency in 50-over cricket after a patchy run.ODI debutants Matthew Renshaw and Mitchell Owen performed well as did fringe players Matt Kuhnemann and Josh Philippe in a welcome sign for the team’s depth amid a transition ahead of the 2027 World Cup.Josh Hazlewood starred with two key wickets in the opening ODI•Getty Images

India, however, had very little to take out of the first ODI apart from a late cameo from debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy and an impressive new-ball spell from left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh.Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggled in their returns, while Shubman Gill had a rare recent failure on his ODI captaincy debut. India were rusty in their 50-over return since the Champions Trophy and it was a particularly tight turnaround for those who played in the Delhi Test against West Indies, which only finished on October 14.India will surely present a much more formidable challenge in Adelaide and they will need to if they are to force a series-decider. Like in Perth, the sellout crowd in Adelaide should be mostly filled with blue shirts to again underline India’s heft in the sport.

Form guide

Australia WWLLL
India LWWWW

In the spotlight: Matthew Short and Rohit Sharma

While those in the Ashes frame are hogging the spotlight, Matthew Short has gone under the radar given he is not part of those discussions. But Short has for some time been on the fringes of Australia’s white-ball teams, pegged back by inconsistencies and, more recently, injuries. Unlike Renshaw and Philippe, Short did not make the most of his opportunity in the first ODI, making just 8 off 17 and falling tamely to left-arm spinner Axar Patel. Short is likely to be retained at his favoured Adelaide Oval, where he has long dominated for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. He will need to perform well with competition starting to heat up amid a transition of the batting order.Rohit Sharma succumbed under the early onslaught in Perth, nicking Hazlewood to second slip on 8. In his return to the field since the IPL, he scratched around, but did show off his trim physique with hard running between the wickets. Rohit has been working tirelessly in the Adelaide nets as he hopes to turn back the clock and alleviate some pressure amid doubts over whether he can make it to the next World Cup.3:07

Kotak: ‘Too early to judge’ Kohli and Rohit

Team news: Alex Carey and Zampa return

Regulars Alex Carey and Adam Zampa will return, likely at the expense of Philippe and Kuhnemann. Carey missed the opener due to Sheffield Shield duties and he will take the gloves with first-choice white-ball wicketkeeper Josh Inglis still on the sidelines with a calf injury. Zampa was unavailable in Perth owing to paternity reasons and he will squeeze out Kuhnemann, who had a rare opportunity in the XI and did well bowling in the death.Australia (possible): 1 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 2 Travis Head, 3 Matthew Short, 4 Alex Carey (wk), 5 Matthew Renshaw, 6 Cooper Connolly, 7 Mitchell Owen, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Adam ZampaIndia are likely to stick with the same batting order, but question marks hover over the makeup of their attack. Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav was unlucky to miss out in Perth although Axar and Washington Sundar – both preferred for their all-round abilities – bowled quite well, taking two of the three wickets to fall. Spinners are normally under the gun at the smaller Adelaide Oval making it an intriguing dilemma for India’s hierarchy. Prasidh Krishna’s ability to swing the new ball might get him the nod over Harshit Rana, who struggled in Perth.India (possible): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed SirajWashington Sundar was preferred over Kuldeep Yadav in the opening ODI•PTI

Pitch and conditions

There has been rain in Adelaide in the lead-up, with the SACA ground staff using UV lights to dry the wicket ahead of the match. In a relief, no rain is forecast on Thursday, although conditions are expected to be overcast and cool. The Adelaide Oval is renowned as a batting paradise because of the shorter boundaries square of the wicket.

Stats and trivia

• Kohli needs 54 runs to move past Kumar Sangakkara and into second place on the ODI runs list.
• Travis Head needs 50 to reach 3000 ODI runs.
• Starc is five wickets away from joining Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Warne as the only Australians to take 250 ODI wickets.
• Australia have not beaten India in an ODI in Adelaide since January 2008. India completed successful chases in the past two matches between the teams in 2011 and 2019.

Quotes

“Adelaide’s always a good place to play and it will be heaving tomorrow. It’s a sellout so it’s a great chance for guys to show off their skills.”
“Both Virat and Rohit looked in good touch. They batted well in the nets yesterday. I believe they are doing well.”