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Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue as Bangladesh Test captain until the conclusion of the ongoing 2025-2027 World Test Championship [WTC] cycle.Shanto, 27, had stepped down from Test captaincy following Bangladesh’s 1-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka in June, suggesting that “three separate captains will be difficult for the team to deal with.” He had been Bangladesh’s all-format captain but, earlier this year, quit the T20I role, which is now with Litton Das, and was then removed from ODI captaincy, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz given the role.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, has reinstated Shanto into his old position ahead of the two-match Test series against Ireland, starting November 11 in Sylhet.Related

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• Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain after series loss against Sri Lanka

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“I feel truly honoured to continue leading the Bangladesh Test team and I am very grateful to the Board for the faith and trust they have shown in my captaincy,” Shanto was quoted via a BCB press release. “Captaining my country in Test cricket is the greatest pride of my life. I will do my utmost to repay the responsibility that has been entrusted to me.”It is a joy to lead a team that has so much talent and potential, and I believe we have an exciting and positive season ahead. We are looking forward to the upcoming series against Ireland later this month, which marks the start of a busy and important period for Bangladesh Test cricket.”Shanto, who first took over captaincy in 2023, has led Bangladesh in 14 Tests, out of which they have won four, lost nine and drawn one Test. The high point of Shanto’s captaincy came in August 2024, when Bangladesh registered a 2-0 series sweep in Pakistan.”Shanto has shown composure, commitment and a deep understanding of Test cricket,” BCB president Aminul Islam said. “Under his leadership, we have seen growth and belief in the team. The Board feels that continuity in leadership will serve us well as we move forward in this new Test Championship cycle.”Bangladesh are yet to register a win in the current WTC cycle, losing one and drawing one Test so far against Sri Lanka. They are seventh on the points table, with four points after two games. The Tests against Ireland are not part of the WTC.

Are Celtic poised to appoint a new manager?

According to widespread reports, Celtic have been given permission to speak to Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy, talks that have taken place over the weekend.

The Frenchman has won both MLS Cup and Leagues Cup in charge of the Black and Gold, very much now the front-runner to take over the reins from Martin O’Neill.

Should Nancy swap Ohio for Glasgow, he would have a big job on his hands to put together a cohesive team, considering the Celts’ current injury crisis and poorly constructed squad.

So, which player is in danger of becoming the new Luis Palma following an underwhelming start to their career in hoops?

Why Luis Palma failed at Celtic

Few players have made such a bright start to their Celtic career only to disappear into oblivion quite as quickly as Palma.

After arriving from Aris Thessaloniki in August 2023, the Honduran made an electrifying start to his time in Glasgow.

He scored four goals in his first eight Premiership appearances, bagging ten goals across his first season all told, including netting against both Atlético Madrid and Feyenoord in home Champions League matches, as well as heartbreakingly seeing a last-gasp winner against Lazio disallowed by VAR too.

However, last season, Palma very much found himself no longer in Brendan Rodgers’ plan, seeing a miserly 267 minutes of action before being loaned out to Olympiacos for the second half of the campaign.

After scoring just one goal in 12 appearances for the Greek giants, he joined Lech Poznań on loan this summer, and is seemingly loving life in Poland.

To date, Palma has scored six goals for the Railwayman, on target against both Rapid Wien and Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League, producing this rather iconic celebration after netting against Widzew Łódź during a 2-1 Ekstraklasa victory at Stadion Poznań in September.

Lech, who have won two of the last four Polish titles, have a €4m (around £3.5m) option to buy Palma at the end of the season, but this would shatter their current transfer record of €2.3m, paid to sign Yannick Agnero from Halmstad earlier this year.

Nevertheless, after a promising start to his Celtic career, Palma appears to have no future at Parkhead, but who could become the latest exciting attacking signing to depart as quickly as they arrived?

Celtic's next Luis Palma

Having left themselves woefully short in attacking areas, Celtic rather went on a trolley dash towards the end of the transfer window.

Benjamin Nygren, who joined back in June, has looked excellent so far, while both Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho have shown promising signs, but the same cannot be said of Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

The winger had been on Celtic’s radar for a long time, his move to Glasgow delayed by 12 months due to injury, belatedly arriving from Royal Antwerp for a reported fee of £5m.

However, so far, the 24-year-old has not justified that price tag, as the table below documents.

As the table highlights, Balikwisha has made very little impact so far, yet to score for the Celts, while registering two assists, these coming against Motherwell and Partick Thistle.

Of his 12 appearances, only two have come from the start, included in the lineup for his first two Premiership matches against Rangers and Kilmarnock, thereby not starting a game since 14 September.

Upon his arrival, then-manager Rodgers labelled him a “really talented, exciting player” who “loves to attack and can play both sides”, while scout António Mango was also impressed by his form at Antwerp, describing him as a “terrific talent”, albeit Celtic supporters have seen very little of this to date.

As well as changing clubs recently, Balikwisha has made a big decision regarding his international future, switching his allegiance from Belgium to DR Congo, a request approved by FIFA earlier this month.

He was thereby included in Sébastien Desabre’s squad for the first time ahead of this month’s fixtures, an unused substitute as the Leopards beat Cameroon 1-0 in their World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday night.

This means, alongside Tounekti of Tunisia, Balikwisha is set to be absent for Celtic during the Africa Cup of Nations, meaning he has seven matches in which to kick-start his career at Parkhead before that tournament commences in Morocco.

However, should Nancy arrive, this may be bad news considering that, across all 136 matches in charge of Columbus Crew, the Frenchman always deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation, a shape that does not contain any wingers, which is exactly what Balikwisha was signed to be.

Thus, similar to Palma, there is clearly a talented player in there, albeit the early signs are, despite a sizable transfer fee, Balikwisha is not going to fulfil his potential at Celtic.

Ange 2.0: Celtic board 'very keen' to interview 48 y/o McKenna alternative

Celtic should appoint an “immensely respected” manager not Kieran McKenna because he would be able to replicate Ange Postecoglou’s success in Glasgow

By
Ben Gray

Nov 13, 2025

Australia’s captain has spent the off-season working on her technique after a run of injuries

Andrew McGlashan31-Jul-2025Australia captain Alyssa Healy has made some technical adjustments to her wicketkeeping technique in a bid to ease the strain on her body ahead of the ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.Healy has not kept in a competitive fixture since the ODI series against England during the Ashes in January. She played the Test in that series as a specialist batter having suffered a recurrence of a foot injury that she first sustained at last year’s T20 World Cup, while a knee injury curtailed her WBBL season.Healy explained that the changes won’t be hugely visible but consist of her starting in a slightly more upright position, something she termed a hybrid technique between what is generally coached differently in Australia and England.Related

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“We’ve been taught how to wicket keep a certain way in this country for an extended period of time,” Healy said at the announcement of Westpac as a new partner with Cricket Australia. “At the end of the day, it’s not overly efficient on our bodies, and doing it at 35 is not ideal.”We’ve just been looking at ways to make it a little bit easier for some ageing joints and trying to keep things moving the way they should. It’s been a nice learning experience later in my career, so hopefully it pays off.”Speaking separately to ESPNcricinfo, Healy went into more detail on how the changes came about following discussions with a podiatrist she was working with around her latest injury.”One of them actually worded it to me like when, and I’m not comparing myself to him, but when Cristiano Ronaldo started to get towards the back end of his career, they changed positions for him to make it a little bit easier on the body,” Healy said. “It was interesting and I said, well, how do we do that in the game of cricket? Like you can’t really change positions, but can we change things technically to make things more efficient? And we just played around with it.Alyssa Healy has battled injury over the past year•ICC/Getty Images”[Looking at] some of the stressful parts of my job and what it’s doing to some of the joints in my body and how do I get the best out of myself for the back end of my career. So we just tinkered around with it and it’s just really simply, it’s kind of like a bit of a hybrid model between what the English do and what we do.”We’ve all been traditionally taught to stay low and come up with the ball and that’s fine until your knees and your feet can’t allow you to do that anymore. So just been playing around with how to get to my power position a little bit differently.”Healy will return to keeping in the upcoming Australia A series against India A with the hope she can play a full role behind the stumps at the World Cup which starts in late September. Australia will prepare for that tournament with three ODIs against India.”I’ll get a red-hot crack at it in the ODI fixtures in that A-series, so we’ll get a better look at how things are working,” she said. “My goal is to be there and playing in the World Cup as a wicketkeeper, so hopefully that pans out.”While Australia have a significant prize ahead of them as defending champions at the ODI World Cup, the team won’t be seen on home soil until the middle of February when they face India, with the WPL now permanently in January and forcing them out of the school holiday window.The multiformat series against India involves three T20Is, three ODIs and finishes with a day-night Test at the WACA in Perth.”Not having an international fixture in that school holiday period does hurt a little bit, but in saying that, it kind of extends the cricket season, which isn’t completely a bad thing for our sport,” Healy said. “At the back end of the Ashes [last year], I felt like that was really cool to have it at the end of the Border-Gavaskar, so hopefully there’s similar sort of momentum this year at the end of the men’s Ashes, that there’s still some more cricket to watch.”We’re playing India, which is one of the biggest series for us, so we’ll wait and see how it plays out. I think it’s going to look different for a little period of time until we work out the right balance for us in Australia with WPL shifting.”On the prospect of the pink-ball Test, Healy said: “Hopefully we get a nice fast, bouncy wicket, and we can show the Indians how good our pace stocks are.”

Scott McTominay could be on his way back to the Premier League after Newcastle United entered the race to secure his signature alongside a number of rivals.

The Magpies, with their PSR problems behind them, have set their sights on building a side capable of staying inside the Premier League’s top four and that may start with their midfield.

Already, those at St James’ Park have tied Sandro Tonali down to a new deal at the club after holding secret talks with the Italian and now rumours are emerging as to who could join the former AC Milan man.

At 25 years old, Tonali is increasingly likely to play a key role under Eddie Howe for years to come and Newcastle could even decide to build the heart of their side around the midfielder, whilst also pursuing the likes of Elliot Anderson.

The Nottingham Forest star has been linked with a return to Tyneside just over a year since leaving Newcastle for the Midlands in what would be a sensational move.

Howe even went as far as to admit that there’s some regret that Newcastle were left with no choice but to sell Anderson amid PSR problems last year. That alone suggests that he’d be more than happy to welcome the England international back with open arms.

By signing Anderson just after securing Tonali’s future, PIF could also be opening the door for a Ballon d’Or nominee to take his place in Newcastle’s midfield.

Newcastle in pole position to sign Scott McTominay

Newcastle are now in pole position to sign McTominay from Napoli alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, according to TeamTalk. Both sides are reportedly joined by Barcelona in the race to welcome the Scotland international, who is also expected to be offered a new deal in Italy.

When McTominay left Manchester United in 2024, the Red Devils were happy to show him the door. Now, over a year later, he has the world at his feet and was even a 2025 Ballon d’Or nominee. His rise has been sensational, and he could yet make a return to England to end some unfinished business.

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To no surprise, Howe also reportedly believes McTominay is the perfect fit for his Newcastle side and views him as someone who would help the Magpies stay in the Champions League.

Described as “special” by former Man United boss Jose Mourinho, the midfielder has finally realised his full potential and now has another big decision to make.

Ross Wilson now wants Newcastle to sign Joelinton heir

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has fired an ominous warning to his England team-mate Marcus Rashford, saying he’s back to his best physical condition and relishing playing in El Clasico. Real lead Barcelona by two points at the top of La Liga ahead of the hotly-anticipated clash at the Bernabeu, with more than just bragging rights at stake.

Stop-start season so far for Bellingham

Bellingham has battled with injury at Real Madrid while navigating a strained relationship with England boss Thomas Tuchel in recent months. A summer shoulder surgery meant Bellingham missed the start of the season in Spain, making only a few substitute appearances early on. He has recently found form, scoring his first Champions League goal of the season in a victory against Juventus. His situation with England became fraught following controversial comments by Tuchel in June, who described some of Bellingham's on-field antics as "repulsive," later apologizing. Tensions escalated in October when Tuchel omitted Bellingham from the squad for World Cup qualifiers, citing Bellingham's lack of match rhythm. But the former Borussia Dortmund star can put all those worries behind him with a positive performance againstdeadly rivals Barcelona. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportImportance of El Clasico

Ahead of the match, Bellingham said: “It's probably one of the biggest matches in the world. As a kid, I watched them all; I grew up following them. I've played in a few of them. I've had some great moments and some tougher ones, but it's an incredible match to play, especially at home, and I'm really looking forward to it. "In England, everyone recognises that this is one of the biggest matches in the world. There are big classics and derbies there, but even there, everyone is aware of what  this match means. Because of the level we've seen over the years, the pressure, the demands, the quality of the players, and the level of play at stake every time. I grew up there, but that doesn't change my perspective: on the contrary, I respect it even more. So yes, it's important that we get the win."

Bellingham firing on all cylinders

Bellingham is feeling positive about his fitness after early-season struggles, he said: "I feel very good and happy. Finally back on the pitch. In the last few games before the break, and then against Getafe and Juve, I started to feel better, closer to my best form. I'm strong and positive, probably in the best physical condition I've been in a long time. I'm ready to contribute and give whatever it takes for the team to win and continue the momentum they'd already created while I was away. I hope I can continue playing well, enjoying ourselves, and winning." He added: "A very important part is managing the match, the moment, emotions, and certain details that make all the difference. Last year, when we found ourselves behind in some matches, it affected us too much, and we let the game slip away. Now it's about staying mentally stable throughout the 90 minutes. Tactically, we know how they play and how we want to play. So the key is managing the rest well: the nerves, the pressure, the atmosphere… which will be huge. It's these details that can make the difference."

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AFPAll eyes on the Bernabeu

A blockbuster El Clasico awaits and Barcelona hold the psychological edge, having won all four of last season's encounters between the two bitter rivals, including a resounding 4-0 league victory on Real Madrid’s turf. Madrid will be without defenders Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba for the game in the Spanish capital but know that star striker Kylian Mbappe has been in sensational form, scoring 10 times in just nine LaLiga games so far in 2025-26. Barcelona, despite an injury crisis which has impacted key stars including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Gavi and Raphinha, have excelled under Hansi Flick, demonstrating a robust, high-scoring attack. Get ready for a high-stakes battle that could significantly impact the title race.

As they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest this weekend, one Newcastle United star has received impressive praise from a club legend.

Howe previews "big" Nottingham Forest clash

So far, it’s been a good week for Eddie Howe and Newcastle. The Magpies netted four in a convincing victory against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League and must now take that goalscoring form into the Premier League having so far scored just six goals in six league games.

Howe didn’t shy away from the importance of Nottingham Forest’s visit, either, whilst also taking the time to praise Ange Postecoglou as the Australian aims to turn things around following a tough start in the Midlands.

The Newcastle boss also confirmed the extent of Tino Livramento’s injury. Whilst the fullback thankfully avoided an ACL tear, he will miss the next eight weeks on the sidelines.

Howe told reporters: “He went to see a specialist, the scan initially looked better than we thought it was. The specialist confirmed it is an 8-week injury, which is a blow for us with the number of games we have in that period. It is a ligament injury and it will take time to recover.”

Newcastle now preparing to launch £60m+ offer to sign "underrated" midfielder

The Magpies could spend big again…

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Although he’ll be without Livramento, there are still positives for the Newcastle boss ahead of this weekend. Nick Woltemade continued his strong start against USG by netting on his Champions League debut and another star player also enjoyed his best performance to earn praise from Alan Shearer.

Shearer blown away by "unbelievable" Elanga trait

Full of praise for Newcastle after they eased past USG, Shearer revealed that he’s been blown away by Elanga’s pace. The former Nottingham Forest star picked up the Man of the Match award after picking up an assist and running his UCL opponents ragged with his electric speed.

The Newcastle legend revealed his shock at just how quick Elanga looked in midweek, saying on The Rest Is Football podcast: “He’s rapid, isn’t he? I mean, oh my God, he’s like incredibly quick. It’s unbelievable how quick he is.”

It’s not the first time that the Swede’s speed has been on full show, either. Just last season, Elanga clocked the third-quickest run time and was only behind Matheus Nunes and Micky van de Ven.

In what has been an excellent week for Newcastle’s summer signing, he’d love nothing more than to cap things off by scoring his first goal for the club against his former side this weekend. A place on the scoresheet would truly get him up and running at St James’ Park.

In an attempt to bolster the attacking midfield department, Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of talented youngster Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

The hierarchy forked out a staggering £52m for his signature, a figure that made him the fourth-highest addition in their history – being one of five players to join the club for £50m or more.

At just 22, he’s seen as an immediate and long-term solution to the issue in such an area, already showcasing his quality in his first handful of Premier League appearances.

Simons has already notched an assist for the Lilywhites, teeing up Pape Matar Sarr from a set piece in the 3-0 triumph against local rivals West Ham United.

However, a deal for the youngster may not have been completed, especially if they had agreed another deal for a player who was previously on their radar.

Eberechi Eze’s proposed move to Spurs this summer

After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White, Spurs turned their attention to fellow English star Eberechi Eze in an attempt to improve the options at Thomas Frank’s disposal in forward areas.

At one stage, a deal appeared extremely likely to be completed, with the player himself in advanced talks over a switch to join the Lilywhites and move across the capital from Crystal Palace.

However, despite a £60m fee being mooted, a deal would rapidly crumble in front of the supporters’ very eyes – with such a failure undoubtedly being a disappointment given the previous failures.

Eze would instead make a move to join Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal in a deal totalling £67.5m including add-ons – further adding pain to the fans after missing out on his signature.

The Englishman’s announcement video with the Gunners threw shade on his failed move to join Frank’s side, claiming that he always wanted to join the Arsenal after previously playing for them as a youngster.

However, alongside the deal to land Simons instead, the club already have another talent on their books who could emulate the former Palace star’s success in the Premier League.

The Spurs star who’d be their very own Eze

Spurs’ academy setup has allowed for numerous top-level talents to emerge over the last couple of years – potentially saving them millions of pounds in the years ahead.

Mikey Moore was a player who took advantage of the injury crisis last campaign, subsequently making 19 appearances for the first-team across all competitions.

The teenager even scored his first senior goal in the Europa League victory over Elfsborg, showcasing the talent and potential he possesses to become a key member of the squad in the years ahead.

He’s not alone in having huge potential in North London, with midfielder George Abbott another star who could become a key man under Frank during his tenure.

The 20-year-old joined the club at the age of just seven, spending a decade at youth level before penning his first senior contract with his boyhood club at 17.

Abbott enjoyed his first taste of senior action last campaign, racking up 44 appearances on loan at League Two outfit Notts County – scoring six and registering seven assists.

Such performances led to one County analyst dubbing the youngster as “incredible” – even winning the EFL’s Goal of the Season for his effort against Accrington Stanley.

He would return to North London for pre-season, even starring in some of the fitness tests conducted by the first-team – further showcasing his remarkable talents despite his tender age.

Abbott is currently spending the 2025/26 season on loan at League One side Wycombe Wanderers, even scoring his first goal of the season against Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon.

Games played

44

Goals & assists

13

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.2

Fouls won

1.3

Tackles won

1.6

Interceptions made

1.7

Recoveries made

5.2

Such a stint is similar to Eze, with the now Arsenal talent previously spending time on loan at the same club before making a name for himself in England’s top-flight.

There’s no denying that Abbott has a long way to go before reaching such levels, but the comparisons are there for all to see, with the midfielder needing to continue on his current development path.

If he can continue starring like he has done in recent years, the sky will be the limit for the 20-year-old talent, potentially having a key role to play in Frank’s potential success.

Should he get to the levels of Eze, it would once again highlight the impact of the club’s academy setup – with Abbott the next in a long line of stars to emerge out of the youth setup.

He's outperforming Kudus: Spurs' star was offloaded by Postecoglou for £0

Tottenham Hotspur may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart the club for free.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 22, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos está no top 10 das maiores torcidas do Brasil. De acordo com o censo do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), o Peixe tem 4,57 milhões de torcedores espalhados pelo país e ocupa a 8ª posição no ranking, ao lado do Internacional.

+ Até 70% OFF em produtos do Peixe para os torcedores fanáticos!

Apesar da boa posição no ranking, o clube do litoral paulista apresenta uma grande diferença para seus rivais do estado.

+ Ângelo rumo à Europa: veja as 35 maiores vendas do futebol brasileiro

O mais próximo do Alvinegro Praiano é o Palmeiras, que ocupa a 4ª posição e esbanja 15,37 milhões de torcedores; acima dele está o São Paulo, que possui 17,03 milhões de adeptos e, na segunda posição da lista, o Corinthians figura com 32,20 milhões de fãs.

O número de torcedores do Peixe apresentou uma queda em comparação com a estimativa de 2021. Na pesquisa anterior do IBGE, o Santos tinha 6,4 milhões de torcedores, ocupando a mesma posição que está agora.

Confira o ranking completo das maiores do Brasil:

1 – Flamengo: 45,28 milhões
2 – Corinthians: 32,20 milhões
3 – São Paulo: 17,03 milhões
4 – Palmeiras: 15,37 milhões
5 – Vasco: 8,72 milhões
6 – Grêmio: 6,64 milhões
7 – Cruzeiro: 6,44 milhões
8 – Internacional: 4,57 milhões
9 – Santos: 4,57 milhões
10 – Atlético-MG: 4,36 milhões
11 – Bahia: 3,53 milhões
12 – Botafogo: 2,70 milhões
13 – Fortaleza: 2,70 milhões
14 – Sport: 2,49 milhões
15 – Fluminense: 2,28 milhões
16 – Paysandu: 1,86 milhão
17 – Ceará: 1,66 milhão
18 – Vitória: 1,45 milhão
19 – Seleção Brasileira: 1,45 milhão
20 – Santa Cruz: 1,24 milhão

Doggett signs for his fourth BBL club on a two-year deal while Jewell is set to leave Hurricanes on the final day of the player movement window

Tristan Lavalette05-Feb-2025Melbourne Renegades have further bolstered their pace stocks after landing free agent Brendan Doggett, while the club’s shake-up is set to continue with Hobart Hurricanes’ title-winning opener Caleb Jewell poised to sign with them before the BBL’s new player movement window ends on Thursday.Doggett, who was part of Australia’s squad during part of the recent India Test series, has played the past two seasons with Adelaide Strikers, but only claimed three wickets in six matches in BBL 14. He had previously played four seasons with Sydney Thunder after having started his career at Brisbane Heat.His signing comes on the back of Renegades securing left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff on a three-year deal after Perth Scorchers were not able to guarantee him a contract.Related

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“Brendan is an exciting addition to our squad, he’s a skilful fast bowler with ability to execute under pressure and take important wickets,” Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said. “We believe Brendan will play an important role for us. To pair him up with Tom [Rogers], Jason, Adam [Zampa] and Will [Sutherland], we believe we have a powerful bowling unit that boasts variety and the very highest-end talent.”After missing out on the finals for the fifth time in the past six seasons, Renegades have also looked at shoring up their top-order batting. ESPNcricinfo understands that Jewell is set to be released from his Hurricanes contract and take up a deal with Renegades. He played a key role in Hurricanes’ championship campaign, complementing breakout opener Mitchell Owen in an anchoring role.Owen extended his contract with Hurricanes through to BBL 17, while free agent Tim David is expected to re-sign after significant interest from Melbourne Stars. Hurricanes, however, are believed to not have offered a contract to legspinner Peter Hatzoglou. He only took one wicket from six matches this season, but was relatively economical and did play through their finals campaign.ESPNcricinfo understands left-arm seam-bowling allrounder Hayden Kerr is set to re-sign with Sydney Sixers on a two-year deal having had considerable interest from several teams, including Stars.Kerr started his BBL career with Sixers in 2019-20 and has been a mainstay of the side since his breakout in BBL 11, highlighted by clubbing 98 not out as an opener against Strikers in the Challenger final. He took nine wickets from ten matches this season.Free agent D’Arcy Short is expected to re-sign with Strikers, but the club is believed to be still weighing up their batting options. The veteran averaged 23.50 with a strike rate of 135 from nine matches in various roles in Strikers’ batting-order.Caleb Jewell is set to leave Hurricanes for Renegades•Getty ImagesMeanwhile, left-arm quick Joel Paris has returned to Scorchers, his original BBL club, after signing a one-year deal. Paris was Scorchers’ primary target to replace Behrendorff and he will rejoin the club he played for from BBL 5 through to BBL 10. He finished the latest BBL season strongly and helped Stars make an unlikely finals appearance.”We identified the need for another new-ball bowler and saw this as a great opportunity to bring Joel back to Perth,” Scorchers high-performance boss Kade Harvey said. “Joel had a strong BBL14 season for the Stars, bowling a lot of his overs during the powerplay. We also like having a left-arm pace bowler in the squad.”He’s an excellent leader and has been an enormous contributor for WA over many years, so we’re looking forward to having him throughout the whole summer.”Scorchers’ former captain Mitchell Marsh is still out of contract but appears likely to remain with the team despite interest from both Melbourne clubs.In another development, Stars general manager Blair Crouch has stood down after four seasons in the role. Stars appear set to reshape the general manager role to remove the cricket high-performance and list-management element from the job having hired former Australia fast bowler Clint McKay as T20 high-performance manager last year.

GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI

Can we jump to conclusions? Are the pieces just perfectly in place for most of Europe's top leagues? 

Liverpool played Everton – the definition of a trap game. But they saw them off, late pressure notwithstanding. Man City and Arsenal then did the Reds an almighty favor by playing out a 1-1 draw in which either manager could have set up a team to win, but neither looked like they really wanted to.

Liverpool are five points clear and not playing well (yet). Further down the table – yes, down – Man United won their game against Chelsea and then tried really hard to lose it. In Germany, Bayern Munich are scoring for fun. And even if PSG-Marseille is postponed until Monday because of heavy rain, there's no doubt that the Parisians will walk it.

Of course, much can change here. Liverpool could start losing. Arsenal could decide they want to win. City could win 20 in a row and no one would bat an eyelid. Until then, though, we're left admiring from afar. But that might not be such a bad thing.

GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.

AFP1Mikel Arteta never changes

Why, Mikel, would you go out and spend big on Victor Gyokeres, Ebere Eze and Noni Madueke, if you aren't going to make the most of them? Arsenal's summer transfer business, from the outside, seemed a state of attacking intent. Here was a manager who loved his defensive structure, taking the handbrake off a little.

The Gunners could be expansive, maybe even just a little bit fun. But when it came to the big game, Arteta went right back into his shell. The Spaniard deployed seven (!) defensive players against a weakened Man City at home, and relied on a late moment of magic from Gabriel Martinelli to salvage a 1-1 draw.

Was this tragedy? No. But one point could have been three, if Arteta had just been a little more brave.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Pep Guardiola bunkers in

Man City are in a precarious spot. They are still rebuilding and tweaking, Pep Guardiola fiddling with a team rather than fine-tuning it. And you could see a side still a little uncertain of itself Sunday afternoon.

City went up 1-0 early thanks to a lovely goal from Erling Haaland. Guardiola's side of old would twist the knife, make it four or five. Instead, Guardiola shrunk and bunkered in. To be fair, it almost worked, but City were frighteningly conservative.

And even if Arsenal weren't exactly full of attacking inspiration, they could have few complaints about the draw. But something weird is happening: Pep is playing scared.

Getty3Erling Haaland is keeping Man City alive

It is a good thing, then, that Guardiola has a super Norwegian space robot demon to play up front. Haaland wasn't exactly last year, but he was miles off the player that smashed the Premier League goalscoring record in his debut season. Now, it seems, he is determined to restructure his game a little.

Haaland's whole vibe for a long time is that he was very good at one thing: sticking the ball in the net. Everything else was low priority. But this year, he's changed it up. Haaland is carrying Man City not only by scoring – he has six in five games – but also by affecting the game everywhere else.

Haaland passes. Haaland defends. Haaland now does a bit of everything. And without him, City would be in a far worse place.

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Getty Images Sport4Liverpool keep playing with fire

It's rather funny that the most likely team to win the Premier League are doing it while looking reasonably poor for long stretches. Liverpool were excellent for 30 minutes in the Merseyside derby. They scored two very nicely crafted goals, and might have had a third if Mo Salah's whipped shot not gone inches wide of the top corner.

After that, though, they closed into their shell, and let Everton play. They were, in the end, outrun, outworked and perhaps slightly fortunate to come away with three points against their rivals. It's an odd situation, all said.

Liverpool probably have too much attacking talent to lose in a shootout. But they do a pretty poor job of controlling games from ahead. At some point someone is going to punish them. The question is, who?