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All-time great innings comes after batter’s self-doubts following mid-tournament axing

Sruthi Ravindranath30-Oct-20254:31

Rodrigues: I wanted to be there till the end

Some of sport’s greatest tales are about comebacks. The kind that linger in memory, where moments of silence suddenly erupt into thunderous cheers. That’s what fans live for: those fleeting instants when hope turns noise into belief.At the DY Patil Stadium, Jemimah Rodrigues was on 82 when she slog-swept Alana King and got only a top-edge. The ball spiralled high toward midwicket, with King and Alyssa Healy converging under it. For a few seconds, the 35,000-strong crowd fell utterly silent.Rodrigues had been batting like a dream until then. It had been a game of nerves. India still needed 131 from 102 balls, but Rodrigues looked composed, piercing gaps and running hard between the wickets despite the suffocating humidity. Every run drew cheers, even well-timed dots found appreciation.Then came that silence. It was a familiar sight for India fans: a set batter dismissed mid-chase, momentum slipping away. They had felt that when Smriti Mandhana had fallen in the chase against England in the league-stage match at this World Cup.And then, the roar. Rodrigues had been dropped by Healy. Her face barely flickered, but the stands exploded for the reprieve.Moments later, silence again.Rodrigues was struck in front by King, and Australia confidently reviewed the not-out call. Thousands of eyes fixed on the big screen. Two reds, one green, ball passing over the stumps. The roar returned.From that point, Rodrigues’s mind was clear: capitalise. But the conditions were brutal. With humidity over 75%, she was hours into her innings and revealed later she felt drained.Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur embrace in the middle at the moment of victory•ICC/Getty ImagesYet this wasn’t just about one night. It was about the weeks, the months, the years that had led her here. This was the kind of story sport loves: a redemption arc written through grit.It began with heartbreak. A lean run of form had led to her being dropped for the 2022 World Cup. She clawed her way back, and by 25, had become one of India’s senior batters. But at this World Cup, things turned again. Two ducks. Two 30s. Then came another blow when she was dropped for the England game. It was, as head coach Amol Muzumdar put it, “one of the toughest decisions” to leave out, not just a senior batter, but also one of the team’s best fielders.Off the field, Rodrigues was struggling. Anxiety crept in. She spoke of “feeling numb”, of days when she cried a lot. The omission only deepened her doubts.”To be honest, when I was dropped and when I came in to this World Cup, I wanted to come out there, not prove a point, but do things so my team wins,” she said. “I kept reminding myself that, because it’s very easy to get into that mindset, and that mindset never has helped me. But I think today, today not just today, but from the last few games, all I thought about was, because I didn’t start off well, things just kept getting, worse and worse.”But sport, cruel as it can be, also offers another chance. Rodrigues returned to the XI against New Zealand, promoted to No. 3. The response was emphatic: 76 off 55 to guide India home. But that was just the beginning.Then came Thursday. Another promotion to No. 3, this time against the unbeaten defending champions, Australia. This wasn’t just any chase – it was a world-record one, in front of a home crowd. The kind of stage that tests every nerve.Harmanpreet Kaur, her captain and partner for much of the chase, had done this before. Her 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 semi-final had changed women’s cricket in India forever.Rodrigues’ innings completed the highest chase in W-ODI history•Getty ImagesMandhana’s early dismissal had silenced Navi Mumbai. Amanjot Kaur was listed at No. 3 on the team sheet, but Rodrigues instead walked out. She’d only known of her promotion five minutes earlier.For the first 11 balls, she played herself in. Then came a four, and the tension eased slightly. Questions loomed: would India go too deep again, as against England? Could they do it without Mandhana, their best batter in the tournament so far?Rodrigues knew they could. She believed India could chase 300-plus, and she batted like it.The turning point came with a cheeky, audacious scoop off Kim Garth in the eighth over. India had watched Phoebe Litchfield play such shots earlier, now Rodrigues answered back. Between deliveries, she talked to her partners, and to herself. “I was praying, I was talking to God,” she would later reveal.The classic Rodrigues shots began to flow: the loft over short third off Ash Gardner, the late cut past backward point, the flick through midwicket, those crackling sweeps of all kinds. India’s momentum was rising but so was the pressure.Related

• Harmanpreet: 'There is nothing bigger than this in our life as a cricketer'

• Women's cricket prepares to crown a new world champion

• 'The belief, the fight, the hunger to win' – cricket world reacts to India's historic win

• India make history as Rodrigues and Harmanpreet end Australia's reign

• Rodrigues: Felt like a dream after a month of anxiety

With 150 needed off 20 overs, Harmanpreet shifted gears, unleashing a series of boundaries. Rodrigues applauded, raising her thumb after sharp runs, willing her captain on. When Harmanpreet fell for 89, cramped and spent, the silence, and a familiar dread returned: was another collapse coming?Not this time. Rodrigues, calm and steady, guided her partners.”I was telling Harry [Harmanpreet] that we both have to finish it and we can’t leave it for the end, just because we are set and we know we can take it through,” she said. “And when that happened [Harmanpreet was dismissed], it was like a blessing in disguise for me because I was kind of losing my focus because of my tiredness. But when Harry got out, I think that added more responsibility to me that, ‘Okay, I need to be here. Okay, she is out, I will score for her’. And I think that again got me in the right zone. Then I started just sensibly playing.”When her century came, off 117 balls, there was no wild celebration, just a quiet fist bump and a hug from Richa Ghosh. The job wasn’t done. The asking rate still hovered above a run a ball.Ghosh struck some heavy blows before falling for 26, and the stadium hushed again. But Rodrigues ensured the silence didn’t last. A four off Sophie Molineux, then two more off Annabel Sutherland. The equation was down to single digits and Amanjot Kaur finished it with two boundaries in the 49th over.Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 not out in the 2017 semi-final was proof of what could be achieved against Australia•Getty ImagesRodrigues dropped to her knees, tears streaming, her team-mates hovering around her. The near 100-overs she spent on the field in punishing conditions was well worth it. There would be more tears later, during the presentation and at the press conference. But they told a story larger than any chase – the story of redemption.”I know how important this match is, and I wanted to be there to finish it off, so all I did was, you know, just kept telling [myself] to just stand here, amazing things can happen towards you, you never know what can happen towards the end of the match,” she said.”When I reached my fifty, when I reached my hundred, I didn’t celebrate, because, at that moment I looked at our hotel right here, and I said [to myself] tomorrow morning, what would make me happier? Would it be a fifty? Would it be a hundred? No, it would be India winning. And I want to wake up with that feeling, I want to sleep with that smile, that we are playing the finals, and I’m waking up to get ready for the finals.”In recent memory, few comebacks in sport have glowed quite like this. Perhaps Femke Bol’s redemption after her fall in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2023 World Championships, returning with an astonishing effort to win Olympic Gold for Netherlands a year later, or a 35-year old Rafael Nadal’s impossible rally in the 2022 Australian Open final from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev.Rodrigues belongs among the great comeback stories, rising from self-doubt and tough times to lead her team past a side that almost never loses. In the end, at the DY Patil Stadium, she made sure all the silences turned to roars.

South Africa A finished the day on 299 for 9 despite a 100-run partnership between Hamza and Jordan Hermann

Shashank Kishore30-Oct-2025Rishabh Pant spent an entire day on the field, seemingly untroubled by his foot, as he returned to action after more than two months in rehab for a foot injury sustained while batting during the fourth Test in Manchester.N Jagadeesan wasn’t as lucky, after B Sai Sudharsan’s spikes got stuck into his right hand during a training session on match eve. The selectors were forced to summon Ishan Kishan as cover. Jagadeesan’s injury meant an opportunity at the top of the order for Ayush Mhatre, the Mumbai opener, who was originally set to play only the second four-day fixture.All eyes were on Pant when he arrived early and began the day with warm-ups, timed sprints and a batting hit prior to the toss, which he won to put South Africa A in to bat. On a green surface at the Centre of Excellence, which offered plenty of seam movement and swing, the decision seemed justifiable. But gritty efforts from Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza drove South Africa A to 299 for 9 at stumps. Nonetheless, they will be disappointed with the total, because there was the promise of a lot more earlier in the day.India A’s efforts in the field were led by Tanush Kotian, the offspinning allrounder, who picked up four wickets. He wheeled away for much of the second and third session, and was complemented by Manav Suthar, who was unlucky to have only two wickets next to his name at the end of a day where he got the odd ball to turn sharply, and jump up at the batters, whenever they seemed indecisive.Jordan Hermann used sweeps to great effect•PTI

Among the fast bowlers, Gurnoor Brar was potent but had just one wicket to show after 15 overs of toil himself. But the wicket he prised out – of Hamza for 66 – exhibited the virtues he’s been picked for. Gurnoor can hit hard lengths, hustle batters for pace, and have them hopping. This was exactly how Hamza fell, when he tried to evade a well-directed short ball to break a 130-run second-wicket stand.But Hamza had several moments he will look back on fondly from his innings. His manner of tackling spin against Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar will stand him in good stead, if he gets an opportunity to feature in the two Tests that follow later this month. He didn’t let Kotian settle down, and used his feet superbly to hit him over mid-off repeatedly in his first two overs.Then, Hamza drove Kotian against the turn through extra cover, with Pant keen on leaving cover open to try and trap him into a false stroke. Against Suthar’s left-arm spin, he used his feet well to step out and cover the line to flick him against the turn through midwicket. One such stroke brought up his half-century.Hermann was more sedate after a fiery start. He began with square drive off Khaleel Ahmed, and was quick to pounce on anything short. Once Hamza took charge, however, Jordan slipped back into a more tempered pace, playing himself into the innings. Along the way, he was challenged by Brar’s pace and late movement.India A attacked with close-in fielders before stumps•PTI

Once spin came on, Jordan eased himself against Suthar by playing the lap sweeps and paddles, one of which had him fall over in a manner reminiscent of Pant’s red-ball pyrotechnics. He also played the shot of the afternoon – a sumptuous flick through midwicket, off Khaleel, in the first over after lunch. But he was eventually dismissed on 71, lbw while stuck on the crease to play Kotian against the turn.Shortly prior to his wicket, captain Marques Ackermann perished to Kotian when he tried to step out and flick, unable to get to the pitch and chipping one straight to Suthar. This dismissal briefly brought together Jordan and his older brother, Rubin Hermann, to the crease.The latter did a fine job, after it looked at one point as if India A would run through the lower middle-order, when Rivaldo Moonsamy fell just after tea to leave them 197 for 5. Ruben drove through the line fearlessly as Khaleel went searching for some reverse in the final session, and had a slice of luck when Sai Sudharsan put him down at deep backward square leg on 38.But it didn’t cost India A much as he was out soon after. He was bowled by Kotian for 54, to a delivery that kept low after he was too early into a pull shot. Shortly after, Kotian scalped up a classic offspinner’s dismissal, when he bowled Prenelan Subrayen through the gate, to claim his fourth towards the end of the day’s play.As stumps approached, Pant employed as many as six fielders around the bat, with South Africa A’s lower order at the crease. The tactic worked when Tiaan van Vuren’s top-edge off a slog sweep was lapped up by Devdutt Padikkal. India A then enjoyed the perfect finish to the day, when Khaleel trapped Lutho Sipamla lbw, to help them take the honours on the opening day.

For months now, Cubs fans have been wondering who No. 30 is and what he's done with right fielder and designated hitter Kyle Tucker.

Tucker, whose gaudy early-season numbers helped turn Chicago into one of the most exciting teams in baseball, slashed just .218/.380/.295 in July. He has been even worse in August, posting a .148/.233/.148 slashline in 15 games. His last extra-base hit came on July 30.

On Wednesday, Cubs fans received a reported explanation for Tucker's struggles. According to a report from ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Tucker has been playing through a hairline fracture in his right hand suffered June 1 against the Reds.

"Tucker, 28, wanted to keep playing for the then-first-place Cubs, choosing against an (injured-list) stint as he compiled a .982 OPS that month. But his numbers have tanked since the beginning of July, leading to him getting several days off this week for a reset," Rogers wrote.

Even with the reported injury, Tucker is 10th in the National League among position players with a bWAR of 4.1. If Chicago can get him remotely healthy by the end of the season, its prize offseason acquisition could turn into a dangerous October wild card.

كشفت تقارير صحفية تطورات برشلونة من أجل التعاقد مع الدولي الإنجليزي هاري كين، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ.

ويريد النادي الإسباني التعاقد مع هاري كين خلال الفترة المقبلة لتدعيم خط هجوم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بعد رحيل البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي.

وكشفت تقارير صحفية مختلفة في الآونة الأخيرة أن برشلونة لديه رغبة قوية في الحصول على خدمات هاري كين لتدعيم الهجوم، خاصة مع احتمالية رحيل روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مجانًا الصيف القادم.

وكشفت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أن إدارة برشلونة تعلم بكل التفاصيل المتعلقة بالمهاجم الدولي الإنجليزي مع بايرن ميونخ وسيخوضوا ملف التعاقد معه بدءً من شهر يناير.

اقرأ أيضًا | هاري كين يوجه ضربة قاسية لـ برشلونة

وأفادت أن كين لديه وقت حتى 31 من شهر نوفمبر الجاري لتفعيل بند خروجه في الصيف مقابل 65 مليون يورو، برغم من ثقة إدارة بايرن في استمرار كين إلا أن برشلونة لن يستسلم لأن اللاعب يبحث عن عقد طويل الأمد وحتى الآن لم يقُم بايرن بأي خطوة.

كين الآن يعطي الأولوية لاستمراريته في بايرن لكن وكلاء لاعب توتنهام هوتسبير السابق يبحثون عن عروض مناسبة له في المستقبل تحسبًا لأي تغير في الأمور، ويعبتر برشلونة هو أبرز نادي يلبي طموحات كين من حيث الفوز بالألقاب.

وأكدت الصحيفة الإسبانية أن المفتاح الرئيسي للمسألة كلها يكمن في مدة العقد إذ أن كين يبلغ من العمر 32 عامًا ويبحث عن الاستقرار، لن يرضَ بعقد أقل من عامين أي حتى عام 2029.

إذا لم يفعل كين بند عقده برشلونة سيحذف اسمه من القائمة وسيتم العمل على خيارات أخرى ولعل أبرز تلك الخيارات هو الأرجنتيني جوليان ألفاريز مهاجم أتلتيكو مدريد.

After Travis Head had hogged the attention in the build-up, fellow opener Jake Weatherald emerged from his shadow with a rollicking maiden Test half-century as Australia capitalised on a ragged England bowling and fielding effort in the day-night second Ashes Test.Australia ended day two well on top after half-centuries from Weatherald, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. It was the first time in a decade that Australia put on 50-plus stands for the first four wickets in a Test innings but no batter has yet been able to kick on for a big score.Just a fortnight ago, England hustled Australia for 132 in Perth with hostile pace bowling that evoked peak West Indies but they have been undisciplined since and conceded 5.17 runs an over so far in this innings.Related

• Australia wait to count cost of crazy floodlit passage

On the back of Weatherald setting the tone with 72 off 78 balls, including 59 in the first session, Australia moved into a powerful position at 291 for 3 and just 43 runs behind England’s first innings.Under major pressure after their first-Test humiliation, England appeared to be wilting amid a totally lacklustre bowling effort until Cameron Green and Smith succumbed in the same over to a short-ball ploy from Brydon Carse, who had been very expensive to that point.Leeds-born Josh Inglis was later clean bowled by indefatigable skipper Ben Stokes as England mounted an unexpected fightback after a totally underwhelming day. But Alex Carey and Michael Neser benefited from sloppy fielding – amid five dropped catches by England so far in the innings – as they finished with an unbroken 49-run partnership to steady Australia.After England were dismissed for 334 in their first innings early on day two, with Joe Root finishing unbeaten on 138, the focus immediately turned to Head following his extraordinary century in Perth as a makeshift opener.

With veteran Usman Khawaja ruled out due to a back injury, Head is playing this match as a specialist opener – a role he had only occupied previously in South Asia.There was intrigue over how he would approach the situation on a ground where he bagged a king pair in the day-night Test against West Indies in January 2024.Head had no troubles negotiating the first delivery, with Jofra Archer spraying down the leg side in a sign of things to come for England’s attack. Archer could not find the right length but Head and Weatherald were circumspect as the innings started with three maidens.Weatherald was unruffled and smacked a boundary in the fourth over to open Australia’s account and the runs soon flowed. Crouching very low, watching intently and talking to himself as the bowler approached, Weatherald was compact early before growing in confidence with a trio of boundaries off seamer Gus Atkinson.Head, meanwhile, made a watchful start and did not score until his 15th delivery. He had only made 3 of Australia’s 30 runs when Archer finally got his length right and produced a cracking back-of-a-length delivery that angled in and nipped away to catch the outside edge.But wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, playing his first day-night match, was wrongfooted and dropped a straightforward chance much to the delight of an increasingly rowdy contingent of Australian fans in the terraces.Head crawled to 4 off 29 balls before finally scoring his first boundary in the 10th over, followed by a six off the wayward Carse. It ignited Head whose trademark cavalier style returned and he was matched by Weatherald as they knocked England’s quicks off their lengths. England were either too short or full with Weatherald punishing modest bumpers with several belligerent uppercuts.Jofra Archer reacts to a dropped catch•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The wheels were quickly falling for England, reminiscent of many horror shows at this graveyard site for them, but they had a brief respite when Head on 33 threw away his wicket, holing out to mid-on in a rare bright spot for Carse.Head’s wicket did not slow down the momentum of Weatherald, who notched his half-century off 45 balls – the fastest in a Test at the Gabba in a decade.Stokes resorted to spinning allrounder Will Jacks before the 40-minute tea break but his solitary over went for nine runs. After some soul searching, England’s quicks bowled better on resumption and were rewarded when Archer trapped Weatherald plumb lbw with a fierce full delivery that hit flush on the toe.Lacking support, Archer pushed through with a seven-over spell but could not produce another breakthrough as Labuschagne and Smith built a formidable partnership.Both reached their half-centuries in 67 balls with Labuschagne judging the length superbly and unfurling the pull shot when required as he became the first batter to reach 1000 runs in day-night Tests. But he fell tamely to Stokes when he feathered an attempted cut close to the body, ending his bid for a first Test century since the 2023 Ashes.Smith, sporting black adhesive stickers on his cheekbones, looked in control and combined in another half-century stand with Green, who batted one spot higher at No. 5 than in Perth.England hoped to rally under the lights but wickets looked unlikely until Carse, who sported macabre figures of 1 for 92 from 12 overs to this point, bluffed Green by bowling a full delivery that rattled the stumps after the batter had been backing away against the short ball.Carse then delivered a brute of a delivery that hit Carey on the glove but was dropped at gully by Ben Duckett. England’s spirits quickly lifted when Smith on the next delivery was brilliantly caught at deep backward square by Jacks as Stokes threw his cap in the air in celebration.But England’s momentum was halted by sloppy fielding and they appear to be staring down the barrel.England had started the day’s play in considerably better shape after a momentum-swinging last-wicket partnership between Root and Archer. Making Australia’s weary bowlers back up amid stifling humidity, England hoped to add more invaluable runs to their overnight total of 325 for 9.With his century jinx on Australian soil over, Root looked to cross 150 but was content in taking singles and there was no need for anything outlandish like his reverse scoop off Scott Boland that registered his first ever Test six in the country.In a madcap final stretch of play on day one, Archer zoomed past his highest Test score of 30 and his bid for a maiden Test half-century started well when he cracked a superb drive through the covers off Mitchell Starc. But Archer fell on 38 when a diving Labuschagne took a blinder of a one-handed catch at deep backward square to end the 70-run stand – the highest 10th wicket partnership for England on an Ashes tour since 1951.

Manchester United find themselves fighting to climb into the Champions League slots and now appear to be closing in on the signing of a midfielder to help their aspirations of competing with their rivals.

The Red Devils have taken time to get going this season, and Ruben Amorim has needed to face his fair share of criticism amid scrutiny when results haven’t gone in the favour of the Old Trafford outfit.

Still, a run of five Premier League matches unbeaten before the international break has been enough to restore confidence among an expectant fanbase, who appreciate that the former Sporting boss is trying to implement a complex system that will take time to fully perfect.

With Lisandro Martinez nearing a return to full fitness, Amorim was asked before his side’s clash with Everton whether the Argentinian defender could be an unlikely solution to step into the breach. However, he moved to play down any notion that he could fill the vacant hole in the engine room.

He said: “A smart, intelligent football player can play in a lot of positions, but it is not the right position for him. I feel Licha is becoming close to be ready able to play. We need to be careful, but he is clearly in a better position.”

Come January, it feels likely that Manchester United will look to find a long-term solution with Casemiro coming towards the twilight years of his career.

Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba is a long-term Red Devils’ target, albeit his £115 million valuation is likely to put their pursuit of the Cameroon international to bed.

That being said, Manchester United and INEOS could now be willing to go in a different direction as they close in on the arrival of another talent from the English top-flight.

Man Utd in advanced talks to sign Joao Gomes from Wolves

According to Trivela, Manchester United’s discussions to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes have progressed to advance stages in recent days as they look to complete a deal in January that could be worth in the region of £44 million.

The Brazilian star could put the cat among the pigeons regarding Kobbie Mainoo’s long-term future at the club if he were to come in after registering a solitary assist in 15 appearances this campaign.

Five similar players to Joao Gomes (FBRef)

Djaoui Cisse

Rennes

Thomas Partey

Villarreal

Ilaix Moriba

Celta Vigo

Junior Mwanga

Nantes

Kevin Danois

Auxerre

Rob Edwards is keen for the 24-year-old to stay in the West Midlands despite Wolves staring down the barrel at relegation to the Championship, something that a move to Old Trafford could alleviate if he were to seek a new career challenge.

Dubbed as someone who gives “everything” by Vitor Pereira, he would represent a younger upgrade on some of Amorim’s current crop in midfield, albeit it remains to be seen whether they can push a deal over the line once the window opens.

Man Utd now make approach to sign exciting gem who shone at U17 World Cup

شارك المصري محمد صلاح كبديل في مباراة فريقه ليفربول أمام سندرلاند ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، التي جمعت الفريقين مساء الأربعاء.

واستقبل ليفربول خصمه سندرلاند على ملعب “آنفيلد” في مواجهة ضمن مباريات الجولة الرابعة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي “البريميرليج”.

ودفع المدرب الهولندي آرني سلوت بمحمد صلاح كبديل مع بداية الشوط الثاني، وقد شارك بدلاً من كودي جاكبو، وحسمت المباراة بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله.

وحصل محمد صلاح على تقييم 6.6 من 10 بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”، وسدد تسديدتين، ومرر 4 تمريرات مفتاحية، ولعب كرة عرضية دقيقة من أصل 5.

ولعب محمد صلاح 25 تمريرة دقيقة من أصل 30 بنسبة بلغت 83%، ولمس الكرة 48 مرة، وفقد الاستحواذ 16 مرة، ولم ينجح في 3 محاولات للمراوغة، وخسر 4 التحامات للكرات الأرضية.

وتعد تلك المرة الثانية على التوالي التي لا يشارك فيها صلاح أساسيًا مع ليفربول بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في الموسم الجاري، عقب المواجهة الماضية أمام وست هام.

وأصبح رصيد ليفربول 22 نقطة في المركز الثامن بجدول الترتيب، وسندرلاند يملك 23 نقطة في المركز السادس، ويتصدر آرسنال بـ 33 نقطة.

Following another evening of wasted chances, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, who have set a bargain price for their striker.

David Moyes was once again left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland in a game that saw Thierno Barry spurn a clear-cut opportunity to win the game. In the forward’s third start, expectations were high that he could finally kickstart his Everton career.

When the ball arrived at the far post, it looked as though the £27m man was destined to open his account in Merseyside, only for his attempt to find the stands rather than the back of the net. For the umpteenth time this season, the Toffees simply couldn’t find the missing piece to an impressive attacking move.

Moyes didn’t shy away from mentioning the missed chances at full-time either, and will be getting more and more frustrated with his current striker situation.

What really summed up Everton’s striker problem was the performance of Beto when he came from the bench. Whilst Barry was guilty of missing his chance, his replacement simply struggled to get himself into the game.

It’s something that The Friedkin Group must address if they are to push Everton into the top half of the Premier League. Several names have already been mentioned who could solve Moyes’ problem in the January transfer window, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll arrive.

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Everton could now be brewing their very own version of Crystal Palace midfield sensation Adam Wharton.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 31, 2025

Among those mentioned includes Ivan Toney, who will likely need a move back into Europe from Al-Ahli if he is to get into Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad. But he’s not the only name on the list, with Vlahovic’s new bargain price suddenly making him an interesting option.

Everton enter race to sign Dusan Vlahovic

According to TEAMtalk, Everton have now entered the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic, who is now available for as little as €20m (£18m) in January if he fails to sign a new contract at Juventus.

The Serbian striker has been linked with a move away from the Italian club for some time, but could now get his chance to move on courtesy of the Premier League in 2026. Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham United are also in the race to secure his signature in a bargain move.

Minutes

499

597

308

Goals

3

1

0

Assists

0

0

0

Expected Goals

3.2

3.9

1

If the Toffees want a clinical striker then Vlahovic could be their man. The forward has scored three goals in just 499 minutes of action so far this season – the same as three goals in around 5.5 full games.

Described as “strong” by former Juventus boss Igor Tudor, Vlahovic has also matched his expected goals so far this season, whilst Beto has fallen far behind what he is expected to have scored by this stage. Simply put, Everton would be landing themselves a major upgrade.

Everton also eyeing Nicolas Jackson move

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack in 2025/26 has massively failed to deliver at present, as seen by the measly figures produced by those in such an area of the pitch.

Richarlison is currently the Lilywhites’ top scorer in the Premier League this campaign, but the Brazilian has only managed to score five times in his 14 appearances to date.

Micky van de Ven is the only other player within Thomas Frank’s squad to net more than two goals in England’s top-flight, further showcasing the lack of talent in the final third.

Fellow centre-back Cristian Romero also netted a double in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Tuesday night, with the Argentine rescuing a point at St James’ Park.

However, the January window presents an opportunity for Frank and the hierarchy to add needed quality to the attacking department to aid their chance of success.

Spurs looking to bolster their forward line

In an attempt to improve the options within the final third, Spurs have identified Porto striker Samu Aghehowa as a potential option ahead of the January window.

The 21-year-old has been in tremendous form during the 2025/26 season, as seen by his tally of 12 goals in his 20 appearances for the Portuguese giants.

However, such a deal would certainly be a hefty one for Frank’s men, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£70m) to part ways with their talisman.

Samu isn’t the only attacker currently being considered by the Lilywhites hierarchy ahead of the winter window, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo also another target.

According to Sky Sports, Frank’s men have started to intensify their efforts to land the 25-year-old winger, who has already registered nine combined goals and assists this campaign.

They also state that Liverpool are also in the race for his signature, but Fabio Paratici’s early efforts have seen the Lilywhites take the lead in the hunt for his services.

Why Semenyo could be Spurs' new Heung-min Son

Heung-min Son is a player who massively exceeded expectations during his decade in North London, with the South Korean international one of the best to wear the Spurs shirt.

He joined as an unknown quantity to many supporters back in the summer of 2015, but after a decade at the club, it’s safe to say he cemented himself as one of their best-ever attackers.

The winger racked up a staggering total of 173 goals in his 454 appearances for the club, even racking up 101 assists – often being to the go-to man alongside Harry Kane.

However, Frank was unable to rely upon the 33-year-old after taking the reins, with the attacker departing in a £20m deal to join LAFC during the summer window.

Son, who was capable of impressing with both feet, has left a huge hole on the left-hand side of the Lilywhites’ attack, something which has been a huge issue for the Dane.

That could be about to change in the coming months, especially if the hierarchy are able to secure a move for Semenyo in the upcoming transfer window

The Ghanaian international, who has demonstrated his two-footed ability this campaign, has also produced numerous impressive figures – with his underlying figures showcasing his qualities in possession.

Semenyo, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by teammate Justin Kluivert, has managed 0.69 goals and assists per 90, a tally higher than any player in the Spurs squad.

Such a tally ranks him in the 97th percentile of all other attackers in the division, showcasing his incredible ability to produce the goods in front of goal.

Games played

13

Goals & assists

9

Goals & assists (per 90)

0.69

Shots on target

1.1

Take-ons completed

1.8

Carries into opposition box

1.4

Aerials won

2.3

Progressive passes

3.8

He’s also registered 1.1 shots on target and 2.3 aerials won per 90, with both figures also ranking him higher than 95% of other wingers in the Premier League.

Semenyo is an all-round talent who can either go alone or provide the goods for those around him, with £65m potentially being an excellent price for a player of his quality.

Other stats, such as 1.8 take-ons and 1.4 carries into the final third per 90, further highlight his talent in possession, which could hand Frank the talent he craves in attacking areas.

It’s unclear if the board will manage to get a deal over the line in the coming months, but if they want to reach the next level, a move for Semenyo is an absolute must.

His skillset is scarily close to that of Son, with the Ghanaian having the chance to emulate the South Korean and make his own history should he move to North London.

Saved by Romero: Frank must bin Spurs flop who had fewer touches than Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur were fortunate to walk away with a point against Newcastle United last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

The Athletics will complete their first season in their temporary home of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., against the Royals on Sunday.

Between their departure from their longtime home in Oakland and the move into their new stadium in Las Vegas expected by 2028, Sacramento is home. It may not feel that way, though, as they became known simply as the "Athletics" this season. The franchise's stopgap home is set to feel a bit more natural next season as they unveiled new alternate uniforms Sunday that proudly read Sacramento across the chest.

The new jerseys will seemingly replace the team's current gold alternates with the "A's" logo on the left chest. According to MLB.com's Martín Gallegos, the A's plan to wear their new Sacramento gold uniforms for every home Saturday game next season.

Just one of two MLB franchises without a City Connect uniform, the new jerseys are a no-brainer to further relate to their new city even if they will only be there for a couple more years. The Athletics' '25 campaign will come to a close Sunday as they finish the regular season near the bottom of the AL West with the Angels. There's plenty to be excited about, though, with strong rookie campaigns from Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, plus the deadline deal where they acquired top prospect Leo De Vries by sending Mason Miller and JP Sears to the Padres.