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One of the most fun sporting events to bet on of the year is the annual MLB Home Run Derby, and this year's edition of the event is set to take place on Monday night!

Teoscar Hernandez won the Derby last year, but he won't be competing this time around. In this article, I'm going to break down everything you need to know to bet on it, including the field, odds, and my best bet.

2025 MLB Home Run Derby OddsCal Raleigh +280Oneil Cruz +330James Wood +400Byron Buxton +800Matt Olson +850Junior Caminero +950Brent Rooker +1000Jazz Chisholm +16002025 MLB Home Run Derby Format

First Round: All eight batters hit as many home runs as they can in three minutes or 40 pitches, whichever comes first. At the end of three minutes or 40 pitches, each batter gets an untimed round that goes until they hit three balls that don't result in a home run. If a batter records a home run longer than 425 feet, he'll be rewarded with an extra out.

Bracket Round: The top four batters from the first round will advance to the bracket stage. The semifinals and final consist of rounds of two minutes or 27 pitches.

2025 MLB Home Run Derby How to WatchDate: Monday, July 13Time: 8:00 p.m. ETVenue: Truist ParkHow to Watch (TV): ESPN 2025 MLB Home Run Derby ParticipantsByron Buxton (Twins)Junior Caminero (Rays)Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Yankees)Oneil Cruz (Pirates)Matt Olson (Braves)Cal Raleigh (Mariners)Brent Rooker (Athletics)James Wood (Nationals)2025 MLB Home Run Derby Prediction and Best Bet

The Home Run Derby has largely been a crapshoot for the most part, so I'm staying away from the top couple of names on the odds list, including Cal Raleigh. He's having a historic season for the Mariners and undoubtedly has the power to win this, but I have concerns about his endurance, which plays a big role in this competition.

Instead, I'm eyeing Byron Buxton at +800. He's second in the field in slugging percentage this season at .574, with Raleigh being the only participant sporting a higher mark. He has already hit 21 home runs in 78 games this season, and he has the athleticism and endurance that Raleigh may lack. The Minnesota Twin also ranks sixth in MLB in Pull% (53.1%), and he's in the 90th percentile in bat speed (75.0 mph).

He seems like a great value bet at 8-1 on Monday night.

حذر محمد صلاح فريقه ليفربول من أنه لن يلعب مجدداً مع الفريق بعد التعادل مع ليدز يونايتد بثلاث أهداف لمثلها، في الدوري الانجليزي الممتاز.

وقد انفجر صلاح غاضباً بسبب استبعاده من التشكيل الأساسي للمباراة الثالثة على التوالي، قبل أن يتم استبعاده من المشاركة ضد إنتر ميلان في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحتل ليفربول المركز العاشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، وأكد باتريس إيفرا نجم مانشستر يونايتد السابق أن العلاقة بين الريدز وصلاح قد انتهت تماماً وأن تصريحات المصري تذكره بالبرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فان باستن: محمد صلاح تصرف بـ”غباء” مع سلوت

وقال إيفرا في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “جول” العالمية: “يذكرني هذا قليلاً بمقابلة كريستيانو مع بيرس مورجان عام 2022، ينسى الناس أحياناً أننا بشر وأننا نتعرض للأذى”.

وأضاف :”عندما سمعت ما قاله صلاح، شعرت أن أحدهم يتألم بشدة، ردة فعل الجماهير السلبية تجاهه سخيفة للغاية، صحيح أنه حقق الكثير للنادي لكن في الوقت نفسه، عندما لا تلعب بشكل جيد فإنك يجب أن تتقبل الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، أعتقد أنه لن يلعب مع ليفربول مجدداً، لا أحد يعلم، ربما يقدم ليفربول أداء أفضل بدونه وربما يسمحون له بالرحيل في يناير”.

وواصل: “أشعر أن بقائه عام كامل كان أطول من اللازم، كان يجب أن يرحل الصيف الماضي، عندما رحل ماني كنت أعلم أن ليفربول سيواجه مشكلة حتى مع فوزهم بالدوري العام الماضي، كنت أعلم أنهم سيواجهون صعوبات في مرحلة ما”.

واختتم: “يشعر صلاح بأن النادي يتخلى عنه، ليس من الجيد أبداً التحدث عن النادي علناً، لا ألوم ليفربول ولا صلاح، هو إنسان وذهب إلى هناك وأجرى مقابلة وتحدث بصدق وأحياناً لا يكون من الجيد التحدث بصدق لكني أرى أن هذا القرار بمثابة نهاية صلاح”.

Australia have been inconsistent in ODIs since the last World Cup and are missing some key players for this series

Tristan Lavalette18-Oct-2025

Garbed in Australia’s bright new yellow ODI kit, as he leads the team on their first steps towards a title defence at the 2027 World Cup in the absence of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh could not avoid a question he has started to be increasingly asked.Given his outstanding form in white-ball cricket, and injury concerns mounting for the Australia Test team, is Marsh starting to think about the possibility of an unlikely Ashes call-up?”I’ve got tickets to day one and two. Haven’t asked the wife yet, so that’s about as much thought as I’ve given it,” a smirking Marsh said to reporters in his trademark style of completely playing down his chances of resurrecting a Test career that looked over after he was dropped last summer.Related

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While it was a humorous way to end the press conference on the eve of Australia’s three-match ODI series against India, it did underline that the Ashes is hovering over basically everything in Australian cricket right now.It has overshadowed the build-up of this series, no mean feat given India’s heft in the sport. While these ODIs and T20Is against India are widely viewed as the entrée ahead of the Ashes, they do have longer-term implications given that there are World Cups in each format over the next couple of years.We’re at the halfway mark in the ODI World Cup cycle, meaning it’s time for teams to start strategising. Australia are in transition in the 50-over format, with several unknowns over their batting order after the retirements of Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.Australia’s batting-order has been weakened further with Josh Inglis, Alex Carey and Cameron Green not playing in the first ODI in Perth. While Carey is currently on Shield duties, Inglis is on the sidelines due a nagging calf injury and Green has been pulled out of the series after suffering a side strain.The developments, of course, have Ashes implications. “He’s okay, it’s on the very, very minor end. It’s a cautious take on it but he’s all good,” Marsh said of his WA team-mate Green.This series is an important opportunity for Matt Short after a run of injuries•AFP/Getty Images

It does mean Australia have an opportunity to experiment with batter Matt Renshaw and batting allrounder Mitchell Owen set to make their ODI debuts, while Josh Philippe will take the gloves and play his first ODI in more than four years.After his recent hot run of form at the domestic level, Marnus Labuschagne has been recalled as Green’s replacement but won’t play in the first ODI even though he is making the long journey to Perth to link up with the group.”Across the board in our white-ball teams over the last 12 month, we’ve seen a lot of guys get opportunities, so it always brings excitement to those guys,” Marsh said. “We just have to be really clear on their role and they will enjoy playing cricket for Australia.”A golden opportunity is likely to be presented to Matt Short, who has been on the verge of Australia’s white-ball sides but inconsistencies and, of late, injuries have proven hurdles.Short has thrived at the top of the order in domestic white-ball cricket, but will likely have to settle at No. 3 with Marsh and Head having established such a dynamic opening partnership.”We know he opens for Victoria and Strikers and in T20 cricket around the world,” Marsh said of Short, who has opened the batting in 11 of his 13 ODI innings. “But we see no difference opening the batting and No.3. We’re comfortable with him batting there.”After missing the South Africa series with concussion, Mitch Owen will get a chance in ODIs•AFP/Getty Images

Australia’s form has been patchy since their 2023 World Cup triumph, having most recently lost to South Africa 2-1 in northern Queensland in August, a time of year where little attention is on cricket.There will be considerably more spotlight on this India series and it feels very much like Australia will now start ramping things up in cricket’s middle format.Australia will face a tough test against top-ranked India, similarly in transition under new captain Shubman Gill but still boasting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.”Had the privilege of playing against them quite a lot over the journey,” Marsh said of Kohli and Rohit. “They’re obviously legends of the game, Virat is the greatest chaser ever in this format. I think you can see by the ticket sales that a lot of people want to come and watch them.”More than 50,000 fans are expected at Optus Stadium, a nod to the pulling power of India but also indicative of Ashes fever in the air in a city that will host the first Test in just five weeks.”To see the stadium packed out against India, it’s going to be a great experience for our group,” Marsh said. “I believe it’s going to be a high scoring affair, but getting through the first 10 overs for both teams will be a challenge and maybe where the game’s won and lost.”

“Sometimes you need to do those sorts of things to get the balance right,” Smriti Mandhana says about Jemimah Rodrigues being dropped in favour of Renuka Singh

S Sudarshanan20-Oct-20253:45

Mandhana: ‘Emotions took over, I needed to be more patient’

Smriti Mandhana has taken the blame for India’s batting collapse against England on Sunday night at their women’s World Cup match in Indore, where they went from needing a-run-a-ball 57 with seven wickets in hand to a four-run defeat.Chasing 289 for a win, Mandhana was dismissed for 88 off 94 balls in the 42nd over, and from there they slipped to 262 for 6 by the 47th and just couldn’t get the final impetus with left-arm spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith bowling six of the last nine overs.”We could have done better with our shot selection,” a subdued-looking Mandhana said at the press conference. “It started from me, so I will take it on myself that the shot selection should have been better. We just needed six runs per over. Maybe we should have taken the game deeper. I’ll take it [upon] myself because the collapse started from me.”Related

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Smith bowled to Mandhana from around the wicket with deep square-leg, deep midwicket, long-on and long-off in place. Mandhana looked to go inside out over the covers but the ball drifted away a little, making Mandhana mistime it straight down long-off’s throat.”I thought I could take her on, I was trying to aim more over covers,” Mandhana said. “I mistimed that shot. Maybe the shot wasn’t needed at that time. I just needed to be more patient because throughout the innings I was trying to tell myself to be patient and not to play aerial shots.”The emotions took over for that one, which never helps in cricket. But walking back, I was pretty confident that we’ll be able to get the win. But it’s cricket, you can’t ever think too far ahead. If you lose, I don’t think [a good innings] means anything. I had to be a little more patient than I’ve been in the last two-three months.”Four overs after Mandhana fell, Richa Ghosh tried to hit Nat Sciver-Brunt over the off-side infield but chipped a catch to Heather Knight at cover. In the next over, Deepti Sharma slog-swept Ecclestone straight to deep midwicket.3:15

Review: How did India lose this game?

“Richa has been good for us, but I wouldn’t say that it’s only dependent on her,” Mandhana said. “We just needed 6.5 runs per over; it’s not like we needed nine per over that the finishing part was a lot to ask. We have seen Aman [Amanjot Kaur] do that in WPL and Sneh [Rana] has been brilliant in the last four-five overs with the bat for us in the first three-four matches. So, I wouldn’t say that, especially this one, that it was only dependent on one player. We’ll take it upon ourselves that we could have actually done better in the last six-odd overs.”Was leaving Jemimah Rodrigues out the right call?India had played each of the previous four matches with five bowlers, and they ended up having to defend targets on each occasion, failing twice, against South Africa and Australia. Against England, they benched Jemimah Rodrigues for an extra bowler in Renuka Singh. As it happened, India were asked to chase and the move to change the team balance came under the spotlight.Renuka, though, was India’s least expensive bowler, conceding runs at 4.62 in her eight overs. In fact, the bowling unit pulled their weight, conceding just 36 runs in the last five overs to stop England at 288 when 300 looked on the cards. But the batting later came unstuck despite half-centuries from Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti.Deepti Sharma’s dismissal was the last nail in India’s coffin•Getty Images”In the last two matches, we thought that five bowling options were not good enough, especially on a flat track like Indore or [the way] the second game in Visakhapatnam played out,” Mandhana said. “We are not privileged enough to have batters who could bowl a few overs, which a lot of other teams can do. So on a flatter track, we thought that five bowling options could cost us, especially if one bowler has a bad day.”It was definitely a very tough call to drop a player like Jemi. But sometimes you need to do those sorts of things to get the balance right. It is not like this [combination] is going to be there [for the rest of the tournament]. We’ll have to see how the situation is, how the wicket will play and then we’ll take a call.”Mandhana heaped praise on Deepti, who returned 4 for 51, her best at World Cups, and triggered a collapse of 6 for 77. In the process, Deepti also became only the second India woman to take 150 ODI wickets after Jhulan Goswami.”Deepti has been brilliant for us in the last ten-odd years she has played. Today was her 150th ODI wicket. It’s becoming a habit for her to play every match and break some records,” Mandhana said. “Her all-round capacity, especially in one-day cricket, the way she can bat and also bowl, and read the situation has been amazing. I feel she’s done a good job for us in the World Cup and I hope it keeps continuing.”

Sunderland have recruited well since entering the Premier League picture and could now be set to make an ambitious yet methodical play to land Monaco loanee Ansu Fati.

The Black Cats are enjoying a steady start to the campaign under Regis Le Bris, and they have been the most exciting of the newly promoted sides to enter the top flight, attracting praise for their entertaining style of football.

Nevertheless, the Sunderland boss is simply enjoying the ride, as he told BBC Sport before their 1-1 draw with Everton that the next challenge for his group is to remain consistent in what will be a testing run of upcoming fixtures.

Wilson Isidor has stepped up to fill the Sunderland striking role, and Chelsea star Marc Guiu could rejoin the club in January after a brief stint at the Stadium of Light.

Of course, stocking up on attacking reinforcements to improve squad depth will be critical to ensuring the Black Cats survive. Early-season form is a positive indication, but the management team will keep their feet on the ground while supporters dream.

It goes without saying, Sunderland are at their most exciting point for well over a decade at the least. They are back competing at the top table and look to be thriving under the pressure, increasing their appeal to potential signings.

With that in mind, they could now go all out for an exciting international winger with the flair to add another dimension in the final third.

Sunderland could build their team around Ansu Fati

According to reports in Spain, Sunderland are keen to bring Monaco loanee Ansu Fati to the North East and see him as a figure who ‘can lead a growing project within the Premier League’ if he were to complete a move.

Aston Villa are also keen on his services, though Barcelona and Monaco have an agreement in place whereby the latter can purchase him permanently for £9.6 million next summer.

Ansu Fati’s incredible early-season form

Appearances

10

Goals

6

Assists

0

La Blaugrana can also buy him back after that for around £24.5 million. Should either agreement not come to fruition, then Sunderland would be free to pursue the Spain international.

Fotmob illustrate that he has created seven chances and has directed 6 of his 13 shots on target in Ligue 1 this term, playing into the theory that he has enjoyed a rebirth of form in the principality of Monaco.

Sunderland have a new star who's been their best signing under Le Bris – it's not Xhaka

Of course, their league finish and level of ambition moving forward may factor into matters, though it appears Sunderland could well be a match made in heaven for Fati.

A dramatic conclusion to the second day in Grenada put Australia under severe pressure as Jayden Seales removed both openers after West Indies had limited their deficit to 33. Australia’s bowlers shared the success but Brandon King’s maiden Test fifty and lower-order resistance lifted West Indies before Australia’s top-order was put under the pump again.West Indies had extended their first innings to the point that Australia had an awkward 35 minutes before the close. Sam Konstas couldn’t make it to the end of the first over. Looking to force through the off side from the back foot, playing away from his body, he dragged the ball into his stumps to leave much for him to ponder ahead of the final Test in Jamaica.Related

• Half-centuries from Smith and Green give Australia control

• King and Seales do their bit to make West Indies' grand plan work

• Webster and Carey rescue Australia after another top-order slump

• Hard work done but no pay day for Green as questions linger

It was tough against the new ball. The first ball Cameron Green faced, reared at him and hit the shoulder of the bat as he tried to avoid it, but it landed short of the slips. Then Usman Khawaja received one that scuttled from Shamar Joseph but wasn’t straight. However, in Seales’ next over, Khawaja was caught on the crease from around the wicket, a familiar line of attack that has troubled him, and was plumb lbw – he also burned a review in desperation.Green and nightwatcher Nathan Lyon, who took a blow on the arm in the dying moments of the day, were able to make it through to stumps but Australia were sitting far from comfortably.West Indies had been twice building a foothold in their innings at 111 for 3 and then 169 for 4 – the latter after a promising stand was formed between King and Shai Hope. Pat Cummins, who earlier in the day claimed a stunning caught-and-bowled to remove Keacy Carty, broke through at a key time and further swift wickets left the home side well behind.However, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph added 51, a stand littered with some powerful hitting, before the last-wicket pair of Seales and Anderson Phillip survived ten overs. Travis Head ended the innings with the day’s third return catch, a sharp, low effort. Unlike in Barbados, batting did appear more comfortable when the ball got softer, although there remained assistance for the quicks, and signs of unevenness. Lyon, who sent down a 17-over spell, also extracted some bounce.Brandon King hit two fours and a six off Nathan Lyon before falling to him•Associated Press

Bad light had denied Australia the chance of a quick burst at West Indies’ top order the previous night but they wasted little time in making inroads in the morning when Josh Hazlewood held a low return catch to dismiss Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in his 100th Test. It meant three single-figure scores for Brathwaite in the series, and while the landmark Test is a fine achievement, there are significant questions around his output.For just the eighth time in Test history, the first two wickets of an innings fell to return catches – although that phrasing hardly does justice to Cummins’ outstanding effort. Carty got an inside edge into his pad, which looped towards the vacant short-leg area; Cummins changed direction in his follow through, made it to the other side of the pitch, dived and got his right hand under the ball – as confirmed by the TV umpire. It was a breathtaking piece of athleticism from Australia’s captain.John Campbell had taken an aggressive route, riding some luck and profiting from the positive mindset, which included a pulled six off Hazlewood. But his dismissal was a soft one, walking down the pitch at Beau Webster and looking to clear the on side but only finding mid-on.King, who showed his strength through the off side, and captain Roston Chase took West Indies through to lunch without further loss, with King taking on Lyon with two boundaries in the last over of the session. But in the first over after the break, Hazlewood earned an lbw against Chase when Australia correctly opted to use a review.Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph frustrated Australia with a 51-run stand•Associated Press

West Indies initially took the honours in the afternoon session during a proactive stand of 58 between King and Hope. King took on a short delivery from Hazlewood and pulled him over midwicket for six on the way to a 77-ball half-century, brought up with a slash against Mitchell Starc. His absorbing contest with Lyon continued, too, when he danced down the pitch and deposited him straight for two sixes.It was a threatening stand for Australia but as so often, Cummins struck when needed. It was a wonderful set-up against Hope: the ball before he had made one straighten to beat the outside edge, then nipped one back between bat and pad with Hope’s feet stuck in the crease.Next over, King’s impressive innings ended when gloved a delivery with extra bounce from Lyon down the leg side. Initially given not out on the field, Green at midwicket was convinced it had been touched and Steven Smith, at the time in charge with Cummins off the field, called for the DRS.When Justin Greaves got an inside edge into his pad that popped up to Alex Carey, Australia appeared set for a significant lead, but the stand between the Josephs cut into that. They thought the innings was over on 247 when Phillip was given lbw sweeping at Lyon but it had turned too much and was missing leg.

تقام اليوم الإثنين 3-11-2025، مراسم قرعة دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا للموسم الحالي 2025-2026 وذلك في العاصمة الجنوب إفريقية جوهانسبرج، حيث سيتم تحديد المجموعات الـ4 التي تضم 16 ناديًا تأهلوا من الأدوار التمهيدية.

(محدث) نتائج قرعة دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025-2026

ويتواجد في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا فريقان من مصر هما الأهلي وبيراميدز، حيث تأهل المارد الأحمر إلى دور المجموعات بعد فوزه على إيجل نوار البوروندي بنتيجة (2-0) في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب.

وعلى الجانب الآخر، فقد صعد بيراميدز حامل اللقب، إلى نفس الدور عقب تخطيه فريق التأمين الإثيوبي بنتيجة (3-1) في مجموع المباراتين.

ويأتي النادي الأهلي في تصنيف المستوى الأول بفضل نتائجه القارية المميزة، فيما يتواجد بيراميدز في تصنيف المستوى الثاني، ما يفتح احتمال وقوع الفريقين في مجموعة واحدة.

طالع أيضًا | محمد بركات: الأهلي يدفع ضريبة رحيل لاعب الفريق.. وتوروب قدم أفضل مبارياته أمام المصري موعد قرعة دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025-2026

وتنطلق مراسم القرعة اليوم في تمام الساعة 2:00 ظهرًا بتوقيت مصر، 3:00 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، ومن المقرر أن تبدأ فعاليات اليوم بإجراء قرعة بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية أولًا، قبل أن تُسحب قرعة دوري الأبطال مباشرة.

Santiago Gimenez’s goal drought in Serie A has forced AC Milan to consider reinforcements ahead of the January window. The Mexico international hasn't been able to find the net in any of the opening nine games of the tournament, prompting CEO Giorgio Furlani and sporting director Igli Tare to start scouting alternatives. Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee has re-emerged as a prime target, while Roma’s Artem Dovbyk remains a fallback option if talks stall.

Milan grow impatient among Gimenez drought

A striker’s worth is ultimately measured in goals, and Gimenez’s current numbers make grim reading. In nine Serie A appearances this season, the Argentine forward hasn’t scored once. This is despite the forward accumulating many chances in the final third of the pitch. His only two goals of the season came in the Coppa Italia win over Lecce, offering little comfort in Milan’s domestic campaign.

Gimenez joined Milan in January 2025 for €28.5 million after an excellent run at Feyenoord, where he scored 65 goals in 105 games. But Serie A’s tactical rigidity and physical duels have exposed weaknesses in his positioning and link-up play. Against Atalanta, he didn’t register a single shot or key pass while against Pisa, he lost majority of his duels and completed just 18 successful passes in 75 minutes.

Despite coach Massimiliano Allegri’s backing and defending Gimenez claiming he has "a big hand defensively", Milan’s patience is wearing thin. The club looks good on paper but hasn't been to convert their chances on pitch highlighting the lack of cutting edge that Gimenez was supposed to fix.

The Serie A giants are reportedly considering a move for United forward Zirkzee in the January window and also have a contingency plan to sign Dovbyk if things take an unexpected turn, according to

AdvertisementAFPZirkzee re-emerges as Milan target

The search for strikers has brought Milan back to a familiar name, Zirkzee. The Dutch forward is struggling for rhythm under Ruben Amorim, yet remains admired at San Siro for his technical blend of size, link-up play, and creativity. The 24-year-old has only played five games this season for Amorim, all of which were substitution appearances. Milan were also interested in bringing him back to the Italian league in the summer window but an agreement couldn't be reached with his camp.

Zirkzee joined United for €42.5m after a breakout 2023-24 season with Bologna, where he scored 11 goals and 4 assists in 34 Serie A matches helping Bologna finish fifth and return to Europe. At Old Trafford, however, he’s been marginalised only scoring three goals and registering two assists in the Premier League across his 32 appearances. The main reason behind his decline at United has been Amorim’s tactics which are pace-oriented attack and doesn’t suit Zirkzee's rhythm-based, hold-up style.

For Milan, that mismatch could be opportunity. A six-month loan with an option to buy is being discussed internally, as the club believes Zirkzee’s Serie A experience and aerial strength make him an ideal mid-season fix. He’s seen as someone who can both create space for Rafael Leao and convert half-chances, exactly what Gimenez currently lacks.

Swap-talks with Roma and backup plans

While Zirkzee tops the shortlist, Milan have not abandoned parallel discussions with Roma over Dovbyk. Talks between the clubs collapsed last summer over loan terms, but they could resume if United refuse a loan for Zirkzee. Dovbyk, who has two goals in eight Serie A matches this season, still offers the physical profile Allegri prefers.

The board is keeping options flexible. Milan’s team shot-conversion rate underline how wasteful finishing has cost them at least six points. A striker who can raise that efficiency even slightly could shift their season trajectory. That’s why sporting director Tare continues to monitor situations in France and Germany. 

Dovbyk fell out of the starting place at Roma mainly due to underwhelming performances and tactical misfit under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Initially given opportunities in the Europa League and some Serie A games, Dovbyk struggled to make a significant impact, and further failing to score or assist consistently. His low goal involvement, combined with limited creativity and inability to fit Roma’s attacking style, led the coach to prefer other forwards like Paulo Dybala.

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Getty Images SportCan Gimenez win back his place in the Milan XI?

Despite external noise, Allegri still believes Gimenez can turn it around. He remains Milan’s most-used forward, logging 627 league minutes. His defensive contribution further makes him the coach's go-to-player and solidifies his starting position, but goals decide futures.

The next eight fixtures, including a derby against Inter on November 23 and a clash against second-place Roma, will define his fate. If the drought stretches further, Milan’s January priorities are clear: bring back Zirkzee’s or strike a deal with Roma for Dovbyk.

Karachi Kings knocked out of PSL 2025 after posting a below-par 190

Madushka Balasuriya22-May-2025

Fakhar Zaman set it up and Abdullah Shafique knocked it down, as Lahore Qalandars overcame a sloppy outing in the field to overhaul a competitive but eventually below-par target of 191 to knock out Karachi Kings. Qalandars will play Islamabad United in the second Qualifier on Friday.David Warner’s 75 had earlier kept Kings in the game, but on a good batting surface supporting contributions were few and far between. Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Qalandars with figures of 3 for 35, but it was the pressure exerted by the spinners through the middle that derailed Kings’ innings.Related

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In fact most of Qalandars’ battle wounds were self inflicted, with them dropping Warner twice – the nadir of an abysmal fielding performance – but once the chase began, all that was swiftly forgotten.Fakhar set the tone, before Shafique expertly broke the chase with a pair of game-breaking partnerships. He was visibly upset at not being able to see the game through, but by the time he was dismissed the contest was as good as done.Fakhar sets it up for ShafiqueFakhar continued his rich vein of form at the top of the order, this time rollicking 47 off 28 to give Qalandars the ideal start to their chase. Thirty-eight of those runs came in boundaries, and propelled him to a healthy strike rate of 167.85But while Fakhar was in full flight, his team-mates trundled along closer to the ground. For a while it seemed Qalandars might fail to capitalise on Fakhar’s platform – despite his innings, they were scoring at less than the required 10 an overEnter Shafique, who alongside Kusal Perera, set about putting together an 83-run stand, which essentially turned the game in Qalandars’ favour. Perera, usually a dominant figure in the middle, identified early the mood Shafique was in and simply focused on turning over the strike. Shafique fulfilled his role, finding boundaries when required to keep Qalandars within touching distance of the required scoring rate, before settling in and upping the ante. It took an outstanding grab from a backpedaling James Vince to dismiss him, but by then the requirement had been brought down to 33 off 28.David Warner top-scored for Karachi Kings with 75•PCB

Qalandars blow hot and coldDuring the pitch report, 200 was deemed a par score, so having restricted Kings to 190, one would assume Qalandars would have been relatively happy with their first innings having been asked to chase. Well, yes and no.On a fairly belting track, Qalandars would have been forgiven for thinking they’d given Kings an unnecessary lifeline in an innings that the Kings were in danger of letting flounder. On most days the two drops off Warner – on 47 and 61 – would be bad enough, but those were just the most egregious of the four dropped catches in the innings. Add to this four no-balls and the resulting free hits, 12 wides and countless examples of sloppy fielding, and there is an argument that Qalandars might have been able to cut Kings’ score by at least 20%.But despite one of the worst fielding efforts of this PSL, Qalandars’ bowlers stuck to their tasks diligently. Rauf was the pick of the bunch with his three wickets, while Mohammed Naeem’s three overs went for just 15 – both bowlers though were guilty of dropping a chance each, and having a chance spilled off their bowling.Middle overs make the differenceAfter weathering a Warner-led rapid start, in which Kings were ticking along at quicker than 10 an over inside the powerplay, Qalandars dragged things back through the middle overs courtesy some tight overs of spin from Naeem and Shakib Al Hasan – a period that might have been even better, had Qalandars simply held on to their chances.But even with those dropped catches, Kings lost four wickets through overs 7-16, while scoring just 74 runs. They managed to raise their scoring at the death to put forward a fighting total, but it always seemed a little short.But where Kings struggled, Qalandars found a spark. Led by Shafique, they struck 104 runs through the same middle over period and lost two fewer wickets. It meant the Sri Lankan pair of Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa were given the fairly straightforward task of knocking over the remaining runs at a touch over run-a-ball, which they did with minimal fuss.

Everton have made some smart signings this summer and could be set to ruffle the feathers of a couple of Premier League rivals in their latest pursuit, per reports.

Everton probe for late signings under David Moyes

The summer window always promised to be a transformational one at the Hill Dickinson Stadium due to Everton’s newfound financial clout under the Friedkin Group, and the likes of Jack Grealish, Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall arriving have illustrated their ambition.

Still, David Moyes recently delivered an honest response when asked about the Toffees’ remaining activity before Monday’s deadline, claiming his side won’t be able to accomplish everything they’d have hoped in terms of recruiting new personnel.

He said: “We’re trying to up the quality as we go along. But I’m sort of saying it now because we’re just about at the end of the window, we just can’t do everything and we generally don’t have the finances to do everything in this window.”

Still, Everton aren’t letting up in their pursuit of new additions and have Tomas Soucek on their radar, who Moyes is a huge admirer of due to their time spent together at West Ham United.

Nevertheless, the Hammers are standing firm on their £19 million valuation of the midfielder, leading the Toffees to keep an eye on Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis.

Morale is high at the club and supporters are buying into the project put forward under Moyes. Regardless, there is an appetite for further business to see their side break through a glass ceiling that has been tough to crack in recent years.

If recent developments are anything to go by, the Toffees could now be about to upset the apple cart by attempting to usurp two of their Premier League rivals in pursuit of an in-demand playmaker.

Everton vying to sign West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta

According to Globo, Everton have held talks behind the scenes over West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who is also wanted by Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the transfer deadline.

Despite a deal taking him away from the London Stadium being deemed unlikely, negotiations between the parties mentioned haven’t yet ceased, though the Hammers are demanding a fee of £50 million before sanctioning the Brazil international’s exit.

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By
Will Miller

Aug 29, 2025

Labelled a “maverick” by Moyes, Paqueta has scored twice in three matches across all competitions this campaign, which is made all the more impressive by the fact the Irons haven’t managed to win a single fixture under Graham Potter.

Capable of featuring in attacking midfield or as a centre-forward, his arrival would add another exciting element to the Toffees’ attack, albeit it remains to be seen how realistic forcing a deal over the line will prove in light of their financial reality.

PSR regulations need to be adhered to and the Friedkin Group will only spend if necessary, leaving supporters on the edge of their seats for further developments.