Dream Guehi replacement: Crystal Palace chasing late move for £40m "beast"

Crystal Palace fans must be waiting with bated breath right now, as last-minute transfer developments continue to filter out of Selhurst Park.

Eberechi Eze has already heartbreakingly left East London behind, with Marc Guehi perhaps the next high-profile departee, as his much-talked-about switch to Liverpool remains up in the air.

If Guehi were to go, it doesn’t have to be all bad news, with the Eagles now looking to rekindle their interest in a defensive titan just in time before 7pm’s cut-off.

Crystal Palace rekindle interest in £40m star

Oliver Glasner’s Eagles already look to have defensive recruits in mind, with Igor Julio expected to leave Brighton and Hove Albion behind to join the Seagulls’ Premier League arch rivals on a loan basis before the window slams shut.

He could be joined through the door by past Palace target Strahinja Pavlović, with Sky Sports, via Ed Aarons reporting that the AC Milan colossus remains the Eagles’ number one target at the back, having looked at the Serbian in January.

Serbian defender Strahinja Pavlovic

However, the £40m-rated centre-back was deemed too costly at the time, with a deal also looking difficult to execute in the here and now.

Yet, if Guehi were to finally uproot to Anfield, that might well accelerate this move forward.

Therefore, Pavlović swapping Italy for England at the final hour could be a move to keep an eye out on, with the Premier League side winning a dream replacement for their 6-foot titan in the process.

How Pavlovic can be a dream Guehi replacement

After all, if Guehi were to relocate to Arne Slot’s Reds shortly, he has at least exited Glasner’s Eagles on the best possible note, having caressed this effort home versus Aston Villa to secure a farewell 3-0 win.

Away from that moment of individual brilliance, Guehi has also been rock solid at the start of the 2025/26 campaign, with the captain leading by example when collecting two clean sheets from his side’s opening three league clashes, with an imposing four duels won on average.

Palace’s deadline day target is also well known for being commanding in the air – as seen in this fierce header cannoning in at the back-end of the last Serie A campaign – with former Rossoneri icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic even going as far as to laud Pavlović as a “beast” in this department.

But, the 24-year-old is far from being a one-trick pony, even if he has also been heralded as a “warrior” by national team manager Dragan Stojkovic for his gritty approach, with his calm ability on the ball making him even more of a readymade replacement for Guehi.

Pavlovic in Serie A vs Guehi in PL (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Pavlovic

Guehi

Games played

24

34

Goals scored

2

3

Assists

1

2

Touches*

67.8

64.9

Accurate passes*

50.0 (89%)

43.1 (84%)

Total duels won*

5.0

4.9

Clean sheets

7

11

Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, Pavlovic actually bettered Guehi’s pass accuracy average last season in the hustle and bustle of Serie A action, with plenty of promising signs evident to suggest that the Serbian could fill the void left behind by the 25-year-old effectively.

It might just be too little too late for Palace if they want to get a statement deal over the line before 7pm, as Guehi’s switch to Liverpool perhaps goes down to the wire.

Pavlovic for AC Milan.

But, developments can suddenly spark into life on such a chaotic day, with Palace winning themselves a top deal at the death if Pavlovic does promptly swap Milan for London.

Better deal than Uche: PL "animal" in medical ahead of Crystal Palace move

Crystal Palace look set to win the services of another star on deadline day, away from their pursuit of Christantus Uche.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 1, 2025

Partner to Larsen: Pereira must axe Arokodare for "relentless" Wolves star

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2024/25 Premier League campaign has been defined by frustration and disappointment.

Five games in, they are rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -9.

Their attack has looked blunt, generating one of the lowest expected goals (xG) figures in the division – only Aston Villa, Burnley, and Leeds rank worse.

This stands in stark contrast to their Carabao Cup outings, where they have shown flashes of potential.

They beat West Ham in the second round with a convincing display and now have an opportunity to build momentum against Everton in the third round on Wednesday night.

For manager Pereira, this cup tie feels like more than just a fixture; it’s a chance to breathe life into a faltering season.

The departure of Matheus Cunha, who was instrumental last year, has left a void in Wolves’ attacking play.

While the defensive structure under Pereira’s three-at-the-back system has shown glimpses of resilience, the final third remains the glaring weakness.

Upcoming fixtures, including clashes with relegation rivals Sunderland and Burnley after the international break, demand fresh solutions.

Arokodare's difficult start at Wolves

When Wolves signed Tolu Arokodare from Genk for £24 million, there was genuine excitement.

The 24-year-old forward had just finished as the Belgian Pro League’s Golden Boot winner, scoring 21 goals and establishing himself as a dominant aerial threat.

In total, he netted 41 times in 113 appearances for Genk, suggesting he could be the answer to Wolves’ goalscoring problems.

So far, however, the transition has been anything but smooth.

Arokodare has featured twice in the Premier League for a combined 156 minutes, starting against Newcastle and Leeds. While his physical presence is undeniable, his output has underwhelmed.

Against Leeds, he recorded three shots, but only one was on target. His dribbling attempts yielded no success, and although he contested 13 aerial duels, he only won seven, as per Sofascore.

The numbers reflect a player still adjusting to the intensity and pace of English football.

Wolves fans were expecting a ruthless finisher; instead, they’ve seen a forward struggling to impose himself.

Pereira’s persistence with Arokodare has become synonymous with the side’s wider attacking malaise.

At a time when Wolves desperately need sharpness in the final third, he has looked like a work in progress rather than a solution.

How Pereira can get Wolves firing again

The return of Jorgen Strand Larsen could change the equation entirely.

The Norwegian striker has been Wolves’ talisman since arriving from Celta Vigo, having scored 14 league goals on loan.

That tally accounted for 22% of Wolves’ total strikes, a contribution that proved decisive in avoiding relegation last season.

His commitment was underlined this summer when he signed a new deal until 2030 despite Champions League club Newcastle United tabling bids of £50m and £55m.

Strand Larsen has already opened his account for the campaign, scoring twice in the Carabao Cup win over West Ham.

Yet an Achilles injury has sidelined him for the past two league games, leaving Wolves blunt in attack.

Now fit again, his return offers Pereira an ideal chance to reset the forward line.

The ideal partner for him is Jhon Arias, the Colombian winger-forward who joined from Fluminense for £15m.

Arias contributed four goals and 13 assists in Brazil last season, showcasing his ability to both score and create.

His versatility makes him well-suited to Pereira’s 3-5-2 system, where he could play just off Strand Larsen, stretching defences and linking midfield with attack.

Although Arias has only managed 179 league minutes so far, his technical qualities have been clear, having also been hailed for his “relentless” work off the ball by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Matches Played

12

Goals

1

Assists

4

Progressive Carries

48

Progressive Passes

55

He thrives in tight spaces, has the vision to pick progressive passes, and the pace to break lines – elements Wolves sorely lack when Arokodare leads the line.

If given a run of games, Arias could replicate the kind of strike partnerships Wolves have historically relied upon in Derek Dougan and John Richards.

Everton in the League Cup provides the perfect stage to test this combination.

Strand Larsen’s presence guarantees a focal point, while Arias’ creativity and movement would add unpredictability.

Together, they could finally give Wolves the attacking structure to match the defensive solidity that has, at times, looked promising.

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

Um mês sem Gabriela Anelli: cinco pontos que tentam explicar as investigações atualmente

MatériaMais Notícias

A morte de Gabriela Anelli completa um mês nesta quinta-feira (10). A torcedora do Palmeiras veio a óbito após dois dias internada por ter sido atingida por estilhaços de uma garrafa de vidro arremessada durante um confronto entre torcedores palmeirenses e flamenguistas antes do duelo entre as duas equipes pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, no dia 8 de julho.

RelacionadasFora de CampoDefesa de torcedor suspeito de matar Gabriela Anelli entra com pedido de habeas corpusFora de Campo09/08/2023Fora de CampoPolícia descarta teoria de palmeirense ter jogado a garrafa responsável pela morte de Gabriela AnelliFora de Campo26/07/2023Fora de CampoTorcedor do Flamengo suspeito de ter matado a palmeirense Gabriela Anelli é preso pela Polícia CivilFora de Campo25/07/2023

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UM MÊS, DUAS PRISÕES

Jonathan Messias Santos da Silva, torcedor do Flamengo, está detido preventivamente desde o dia 25 de julho. Ele é o principal suspeito de ter lançado a garrafa que acertou Gabriela Anelli. Porém, inicialmente Leonardo Felipe Xavier Santiago foi preso em flagrante pela Delegacia de Polícia de Repressão aos Delitos de Intolerância Esportiva (Drade). Ele foi solto depois de dois dias no CDP de Pinheiros, na Grande São Paulo, após recomendação do Ministério Público acatada pela 5ª Vara Criminal da Barra Funda.

Trinta e um dias depois do falecimento da torcedora palmeirense, ainda não há confirmação sobre quem foi o autor do crime, que responderá por homicídio doloso, com agravante por motivo fútil, já que, mesmo não tendo a intenção de atingir a vítima, houve risco assumido ao atirar o objeto durante o conflito.

PRIMEIRO SUSPEITO

O caso começou a ser investigado pela Drade, mas posteriormente passou para o Departamento de Homicídios e Proteção à Pessoa (DHPP), que é um dos órgãos de execução da Polícia Civil em São Paulo. A solicitação para a alteração teve a anuência do Coronel Guilherme Derrite, atual Secretário de Segurança Pública do Estado.

Diferentemente das investigações conduzidas pela Drade, que apontaram a autoria do crime a Felipe Xavier Santiago, a operação montada pelo DHPP chegou até Jonathan Messias Santos da Silva.

Quando isso aconteceu, Felipe já tinha sido solto após solicitação do Ministério Público de São Paulo.

A detenção em flagrante do flamenguista foi baseada em uma suposta confissão dele pouco depois do conflito que terminou com o crime contra Gabriela Anelli. A defesa do acusado, no entanto, nega a afirmação que, segundo César Saad, que é delegado titular da Drade, Felipe Xavier Santiago teria admitido a autoria do arremesso da garrafa em um depoimento classificado como informal por Saad.

Por conta da ausência de provas concretas, o MP/SP solicitou a soltura de Felipe, que foi acatada pela juíza Marcela Sant’anna, em 12 de julho, dois dias após o torcedor do Flamengo dar entrada no CDP de Pinheiros.

Após o prosseguimento das investigações pelo DHPP, que apontaram outro suspeito, os advogados de Leonardo solicitaram a cassação das medidas cautelares impostas pela Drade.

CONDUÇÃO DAS INVESTIGAÇÕES

O DHPP, então, assumiu as investigações do zero até chegar em Jonathan Messias Santos da Silva, o segundo suspeito, que segue preso preventivamente.

A investigação do Departamento de Homicídios e Proteção à Pessoa buscou as imagens originais de pessoas que filmaram em suas janelas e câmeras de segurança dos condomínios da rua Padre Antônio Tomaz, onde ocorreu o conflito entre torcedores do Palmeiras e do Flamengo.

Mesmo com algumas pessoas reticentes, houve contribuição com o órgão de Segurança Pública, com a cessão dos vídeos no formato em que foram gravados, para que assim não houvesse comprometimento na reprodução.

Também foram ouvidos moradores, profissionais de segurança particular e guardas civis municipais que estavam nos arredores quando a confusão entre os torcedores aconteceu.

Após as investigações feitas pela equipe do DHPP de forma presencial, houve uma condução por meios digitais. Um drone sobrevoou o local onde o crime aconteceu e também foi feita uma reconstituição virtual da região.

A parte decisiva para chegar no principal suspeito, de acordo com o Departamento, no entanto, foi a perícia. Os profissionais responsáveis utilizaram todas as imagens obtidas, sincronizaram em termos de horário e avaliaram frame a frame até o momento em que a garrafa de vidro foi arremessada, bateu no portão do tapume de acrílico que dividia o setor das duas torcidas e estourou, tendo os estilhaços atingido Gabriela Anelli. A confirmação, para o DHPP, veio através da utilização de um software profissional que isolou o som das filmagens e fez com que os peritos identificassem o barulho da garrafa quebrando. Para o órgão, a partir dali, não restaram dúvidas sobre a autoria do crime.

O problema é que não havia clareza em relação à identificação da pessoa que lançou a garrafa. A equipe da DHPP, então, acompanhou os movimentos seguintes do flamenguista, que se dirigiu a um veículo, trocou a camisa cinza que utilizava e colocou uma branca, do Flamengo. Na sequência, ele entrou no Allianz Parque, onde o órgão vinculado à Polícia Civil conseguiu ter clareza na identificação física através do sistema de biometria facial utilizado para entrada no estádio do Palmeiras.

Somado a esse conjunto de fatos, não restaram dúvidas à Delegacia de Homicídios e Proteção à Pessoa de que Jonathan foi o autor do arremesso da garrafa cujos estilhaços atingiram fatalmente Gabriela Anelli.

De qualquer forma, o caso foi esclarecido para o DHPP. O autor, em prisão temporária, foi interrogado ontem e indiciado pelo crime e, na presença de advogados, ele reservou-se no direito de permanecer em silêncio e manifestar-se apenas em juízo. É possível agora representar pela prisão preventiva, mas caberá ao MP a manifestação e ao juiz a decretação ou não. Não temos dúvida – disse Ivalda Aleixo, delegada titular do DHPP, em contato com o Lance!.

Mesmo com as identificações do Departamento apontando Jonathan Messias como principal suspeito, Leonardo Xavier, que já estava solto após os dois dias de prisão cumpridos a pedido da Drade, foi ouvido pelo DHPP.

– Ele estava em liberdade, porém com medidas cautelares. Mas não cabia ao DHPP se manifestar sobre ele enquanto não terminássemos a investigação. Inclusive, ele foi ouvido novamente. A Drade fez o flagrante de Leonardo. Essa prisão foi confirmada e convertida em preventiva. Porém, depois houve a manifestação do MP para que a prisão fosse revogada diante da possibilidade de não ter sido Leonardo. A Juíza acatou e encaminhou para o DHPP prosseguir na investigação do homicídio ocorrido. Seguimos a partir daí – afirmou Ivalda à reportagem.

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DEFESA DO ACUSADO

O advogado de Jonathan Messias Santos Silva , José Victor Moraes, fez o pedido de habeas corpus (recurso para garantia do direito à liberdade de um cidadão) na 2ª instância do TJ-SP, nesta segunda-feira (7).

Segundo José, a polícia irá fazer um termo de indiciamento e representação para transformar a prisão temporária em preventiva. Na terça-feira (8), Jonathan ficou em silêncio durante o interrogatório no DHPP, que segundo o advogado, tratava de uma estratégia da defesa.

José Victor disse que Jonathan só irá falar em juízo e em momento oportuno, e afirmou que os vídeos utilizados pela perícia não foram juntados nos autos do processo.

– O laudo não é assertivo em mostrar culpabilidade, cita probabilidade e que os vídeos não são originais. Isso pressupõe que são editados em momentos distintos, não dá para precisar se ao certo a garrafa que acertou a vítima tenha sido disparada ou não por ele – disse José.

O advogado do torcedor informou que a família irá contratar uma perícia particular contestar a prova considerada como fraca. José alegou que seu cliente trocou de camisa antes de entrar no estádio para não ser reconhecido como um torcedor do Flamengo, com o intuito de evitar brigas.

A defesa de Jonathan diz que ele é inocente e trabalhador, e que não possui antecedentes criminais. O advogado ainda afirmou que ele é professor público, e por conta das investigações, foi afastado pela Secretaria Municipal de Educação do Rio de Janeiro.

E O PALMEIRAS NISSO?

O Verdão colaborou em todos os momentos com as investigações, fornecendo as imagens das câmeras de segurança do Allianz Parque e, principalmente, do sistema de biometria facial, que foi fundamental para identificar Jonathan Messias Santos da Silva.

A equipe alviverde também enviou dois diretores e mandou uma coroa de flores no velório de Gabriela Anelli. No jogo como mandante seguinte ao falecimento da torcedora, contra o São Paulo, pela Copa do Brasil, foi feita uma homenagem com a foto da jovem exibida nos telões do estádio palmeirense minutos antes da bola rolar.

No entanto, houve um descontentamento por parte da família de Gabriela, que reclamou de não ter tido o pedido de um ingresso para o Choque-Rei em que Anelli foi homenageada pelo clube. O bilhete seria para o avô da garota, que manifestou o desejo de ir ao Allianz Parque no dia da partida.

O Lance! apurou que houve uma falha de comunicação onde a solicitação feita pelos familiares de Gabriela Anelli não chegou às pessoas competentes.

دفعة معنوية.. ألونسو يستعيد 4 لاعبين في كلاسيكو ريال مدريد وبرشلونة

تلقى تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد دفعة معنوية قوية بعد الفوز على يوفنتوس بهدف نظيف مساء أمس في الجولة الثالثة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.

وبحسب صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية فإنه من المقرر أن يشارك دين هويسن في الكلاسيكو بعد استبعاده من قائمة مباراة يوفنتوس كإجراء احترازي.

وتحسنت حالة هويسن بعد الشد العضلي الذي تعرض له اللاعب خلال معسكر منتخب إسبانيا في فترة التوقف الدولي الأخيرة، وسيصبح اللاعب ضمن قائمة لقاء برشلونة على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو يوم الأحد المقبل.

طالع | موعد الكلاسيكو اليوم بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة في الدوري الإسباني

وعانى هويسن من إجهاد شديد في عضلة باطن القدم اليسرى مما أدى لتعرضه لتمزق طفيف، وكان من المتوقع أن يغيب لمدة تتراوح بين 12 و15 يوماً.

وأظهرت تدريبات ريال مدريد الأخيرة أن هويسن سيكون متاحاً في مباراة الكلاسيكو وسيقلل من مشاكل الفريق الدفاعية، وسيكون جزءًا مهمًا من تشكيل ألونسو.

وبدأ هويسن في جميع المباريات التسع التي كان متاحاً فيها ولعب كل دقيقة في سبع منها وقد استبدل في الدقيقة 89 في مباراة أخرى وفي مباراة أخرى طرد بعد نصف ساعة.

وسيعتمد ألونسو على راؤول أسينسيو أيضاً والذي قد غادر الملعب أمام يوفنتوس أمس بعد معاناته من آلام عضلية، لكنه لم يحتاج للخضوع للفحوصات وسيكون جاهزاً لمواجهة برشلونة بينما يعد روديجر وألابا هما الغائبان الوحيدان عن المباراة.

وسيعود أيضاً داني كارفاخال وداني سيبايوس وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد والذين سيكونان جاهزين ولائقين لمواجهة برشلونة وسيقرر ألونسو موقفهم من المشاركة.

Not Isak or Ekitike: Liverpool "wizard" could be Slot's own Divock Origi

Liverpool are flying in the Premier League, and Arne Slot will be satisfied with the 12 points claimed from as many available during this early stage of the season.

But each time the Reds have come close to sharing the spoils, with the midweek Champions League victory, Virgil van Dijk thumping home in the dying embers, ensuring Liverpool have left it late to win their fifth match in a row.

Bournemouth

Federico Chiesa

88′

Newcastle

Rio Ngumoha

90’+10

Arsenal

Dominik Szoboszlai

83′

Burnley

Mohamed Salah

90’+5

Atletico Madrid

Virgil van Dijk

90’+2

Unsustainable? Sure. Although, more importantly, this is the sign of a winning unit, one still acclimatising to a new wave of quality.

Alexander Isak made his debut for the club on Wednesday evening, having joined from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on deadline day. Will he reprise his starting berth against David Moyes’ Everton, or should fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitike get the nod?

Who Liverpool should start up front against Everton

It’s the Merseyside derby, and the chances are that Liverpool will face another stern test as they continue to click into gear and push for a second successive Premier League title.

Slot was quizzed on whether Isak or Ekitike would play up top against the Toffees, and his answer was unsurprisingly elusive.

However, it’s rather comforting to know that, throw Cody Gakpo into the mix too, and Liverpool have an abundance of quality ready to shift and change as the manager demands.

This is a team capable of competing for all the major honours this term, to be sure.

Hugo Ekitike replaces Alexander Isak

However, the tale of Liverpool’s tape has indeed been one of late-stage drama, and Slot might actually be forced to turn to another forward on Saturday afternoon, one who might be required to channel his inner Divock Origi, who loved a derby for the Reds.

Liverpool's new Divock Origi

Origi is perhaps the definitive cult hero of modern times for Liverpool, a player who never managed to nail down a starting berth with any regularity but popped up with big goals on numerous occasions.

Divock Origi scores in the Champions League final

Across his Liverpool career, the Belgian striker scored 41 goals and supplied 17 more across 175 matches, notably scoring the wrap-it-up goal in the Champions League final as the Anfield side downed Tottenham Hotspur.

And how he loved to play Everton, notching six goals against the Blues. In fact, his haul of six goals against Liverpool’s rivals is double a host of teams who sit second in his personal scoring chart.

And Federico Chiesa could now step up as Slot’s own version of the 30-year-old, with the Italian having enjoyed something of an early Liverpool rebirth himself so far this season (Origi was loaned out to Wolfsburg after a slow start to his career in England).

Chiesa was Liverpool’s sole summer signing one year ago, and injuries limited him to a bit-part role. However, he has already raised the bar this year, netting the winner as Liverpool beat Bournemouth in their opening Premier League match of the season.

Hailed as a “wizard” for his remarkable performances in his homeland by broadcaster Roger Bennett, Chiesa has rekindled the fire in his belly and looks set to contribute toward the club’s efforts this season.

All eyes will be on Isak for the Merseyside derby, should the record-breaking striker indeed start from the opening. If not him, it’s bound to be Ekitike at number nine.

Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike

But Liverpool’s proclivity, their need, for late goals and the nature of this fixture against Everton suggest that it may once again go down to the wire, and if that is the case, Chiesa’s skills might be needed.

He’s already come up trumps once for Slot’s side this season, and now the dynamic attacker may be called upon again, channelling his inner Origi to perhaps strike late and ensure Liverpool’s flawless start continues.

Would such an outcome really be that surprising at this point?

Their own Bellingham: Liverpool have "one of the best youngsters in Europe"

Liverpool may have found their own Jude Bellingham in 17-year-old star

1 ByWill Miller Sep 19, 2025

Shaik Rasheed and Jamie Overton in as CSK bowl, Mitchell Marsh back for LSG

Chennai Super Kings stand-in captain MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to field against Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants on Monday.”Blessed,” Dhoni said, about the sea of yellow at the Ekana Stadium, after winning the toss. He wanted to bowl first because of chances of dew later. He said the team was looking for consistency from the batters and better powerplay bowling performances. Shaik Rasheed replaces and Jamie Overton come into the team, in place of Devon Conway and R Ashwin.Pant confirmed Mitchell Marsh was back into the XI after missing the previous game. Himmat Singh goes out of the team. Pant hoped the openers continued their fine form.The teams are playing on pitch no. 5 today, which is the centre wicket. There are square boundaries of 66 metres on both sides and 73 metres straight. The pitch is a mix of 70% red soil and 30% black soil, so it won’t be very slow and some runs should be available.CSK are looking to break a five-game losing streak while LSG are trying to make it five wins in a row.LSG XI: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant, 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Avesh Khan, 10 Akash Deep, 11 Digvesh RathiLSG’s Impact Player options: Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz, Breetzke, Himmat SinghCSK XI 1 Shaik Rasheed, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Ravindra Jadeja, 5 Vijay Shankar, 6 Jamie Overton, 7 MS Dhoni, 8 Anshul Kamboj, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Matheesha PathiranaCSK’s Impact Player options: Dube, Nagarkoti, Curran, Hooda, Ramakrishna Ghosh

'He's a fighter!' – Jamie Vardy helping Cremonese score more goals despite drought with Leicester legend nearing first start since Serie A switch

Cremonese head coach Davide Nicola remains unwavering in his trust in "fighter" Jamie Vardy as the striker prepares for his first start since joining the Serie A club in the summer. He came off the bench as Inter claimed a dominant 4-1 victory last week, but his coach was positive about his impact and feels he makes the team more threatening even though he is yet to find the net across two substitute appearances.

  • Inter run riot as Vardy adapts to Serie A

    Inter dominated Cremonese with a convincing win at San Siro, displaying relentless attacking intent and fluidity throughout. Vardy was introduced just before the hour mark in an effort to spark a comeback, but despite his earnest movement and brief flashes of urgency in link-up play, he once again finished the match without either a goal or an assist, extending his frustrating search for a breakthrough in Serie A. 

    Coach Nicola, however, remains optimistic about the English striker, describing Vardy as "a fighter" and expressing hope that a turnaround is near. The Italian manager was quick to praise Vardy for his contribution to the team's only goal against Inter, despite the striker's ongoing personal drought. Nicola emphasised that Vardy's presence and constant pressure in the penalty area were instrumental in creating the space needed for the goal.

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    Coach Davide Nicola optimistic about Vardy's resurgence

    Cremonese had enjoyed a surprisingly positive start to the season, making the defeat to Inter their only loss so far. In a post-match interview, Nicola reflected on his team's six-game run in the league while reassuring supporters that it's only a matter of time before Vardy returns to his goal-scoring form.

    "I don't need to look at the result of a match to be more or less confident. I analyse it every time I start working with a team and I focus on the final objective. This start is thanks to both the players and the moments in which we met certain teams, as well as the situations we were able to exploit," he said. "I'm certainly not the one discovering Vardy; he's shown he's a fighter, and it's no coincidence that by filling the penalty area more, we managed to score. The break will allow us to further improve our physical condition until we can get everyone up to the same level."

  • Vardy chose Serie A adventure after Leicester exit

    Vardy joined the Italian side on a free transfer after his long period at Leicester ended last season. While the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League, Vardy departed as a club legend with 200 goals in 500 matches before being snapped up by the newly-promoted Serie A side. He featured in the third league game of the season, coming off the bench for the last 30 minutes as Cremonese drew 0-0 with Hellas. The 38-year-old missed out on the next two games before his substitute role against Inter.

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    Cremonese's challenging path forward

    Cremonese arrived this season as newly promoted and have shown flashes of resilience, but their defeat to Inter exposed gaps in depth and consistency. Vardy remains a focal point despite his goal drought, and Nicola believes continued trust in him and the squad will pay off over time. With the international break providing time to regroup, Cremonese must stabilise defensively before their next fixture against Udinese on October 20.

Journalist reveals how Monchi leaving will impact Emery's Aston Villa future

One of the recent developments at Aston Villa will have an impact on Unai Emery’s future as manager, it has been revealed.

Emery loses key ally as Monchi departs

Sporting director Monchi is known to have been a key Emery ally, which is why the 57-year-old’s recent departure has set off alarm bells, but the manager has been quick to dispel the rumours that there was a falling out.

The Villa boss said: “He was very good, but after two years he needed to have another chapter in his career. Mutual agreement with the club. I wish him the best with his new chapter.

“We reacted quickly to get one person who I know personally. I have a lot of confidence with Roberto Olabe and he is going to help us.”

Indeed, the club hierarchy moved quickly to appoint Roberto Olabe, formerly of Real Sociedad, as Monchi’s successor, with the 57-year-old joining at a difficult time, given that the Villans are currently languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

After Monchi’s exit, there were some rumours suggesting that Emery could be soon to follow, but journalist Graeme Bailey has recently suggested that Olabe’s appoitment is a clear show of faith in the Spaniard, who could now be in it for the long haul.

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Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey said: “They’re fully committed to Emery. They know they’ve got a world-class manager there.

“And I think the Olabe appointment is a clear sign that they brought him in to help Emery, to be part of the Emery project. It’s a clear sign the Emery project is still green-lit, full steam ahead. If it hadn’t been someone like Olabe, I would have had my doubts.

“But the fact it’s Olabe coming in, I think really underlines the commitment of the owners to Emery, and should give the fans who want Emery to stay some real comfort in that appointment.”

Villa must stick with Emery despite difficult spell

It is fantastic news that Aston Villa plan to stand by their manager, as it would be incredibly rash to dismiss him after going through his first difficult spell since taking over from Steven Gerrard, at which point playing in the Champions League was nothing more than a pipe dream.

Manchester United have reportedly identified Emery as a major target to replace Ruben Amorim, and it is no surprise, given the job he’s done at Villa Park, setting an impressive record last season.

That said, results and performances alike have not been good enough, with Villa recording an xG of just 3.79 across their opening five games, and the 53-year-old needs to put things right sooner rather than later to avoid further scrutiny.

The Bishnoi over that Pant left out 'a major point' in LSG's loss to CSK

Pant chose pace over spin, possibly keeping Dube in mind, even though captains have turned to spin at the death to keep Dhoni quiet

Vishal Dikshit14-Apr-20254:32

Why did Pant not give Bishnoi another over?

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) legspinner Ravi Bishnoi doesn’t know why he didn’t get a fourth over against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) despite returns of 3-0-18-2, but feels the captain, Rishabh Pant, would have had his reasons.LSG were defending 166 at home against CSK, but fell short after a rare off-day for Nicholas Pooran as Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni finished the job with three balls to spare by taking down LSG’s pace bowlers in the death overs.”I didn’t really talk [to Pant] about it, but I went to the wicket a couple of times [to check] and I think he had plans in place he wanted to execute,” Bishnoi said at the press conference after the game. “In such situations, the captain is better placed, and he keeps wicket, too, so he understands things better. According to me, he took the decision he thought was better.Related

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“He was clear in his mind and it’s better in such tense situations that the captain thinks with a clear mind.”Bishnoi had dismissed Rahul Tripathi and Ravindra Jadeja in the ninth and 13th overs respectively, and nine of his 18 balls had been dots. He didn’t bowl his fourth, but the less experienced Digvesh Rathi and part-time spinner Aiden Markram finished their quotas.”There was a lot of time when I thought about bowling him [Bishnoi] that [fourth] over,” Pant said after the game. “But we discussed with a lot of players and just couldn’t let him bowl. We thought let’s take it deeper, and that didn’t happen for us today.”Rathi and Markram had finished bowling in tandem by the 15th over when CSK needed 56 runs from 30 balls, and Dhoni had just joined Dube. Dube’s presence, and his reputation as a six-hitter off spin, might have forced Pant’s hand.Bishop: ‘I wonder why Rishabh didn’t go for Bishnoi’3:43

Bishop: LSG quicks lacked execution in the end

At the ESPNcricinfo studio, it was a major point of debate, with Abhinav Mukund saying the game was lost on that decision, and Wasim Jaffer calling it “a major point” for LSG going down.”I know Dube was batting, but Dube couldn’t get hold of him [Bishnoi] before that anyway. And he has that googly,” Ian Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “I wonder why Rishabh didn’t go for Bishnoi – 2 for 18 from three [overs] just stands out like a beacon in all of that.””If you got a wicket there, and you’ve got Jamie Overton to come, I felt it was very defensive to go for the faster-bowler strategy at that point, because you are actually thinking that you didn’t want Dube to get a couple of sixes off Bishnoi,” Abhinav said. “This is something that you see in the IPL, or any form of cricket, where captains tend to sort of… they like a certain type of bowler because they are uncomfortable against it, and sometimes the converse also happens.”As a left-hander, possibly Rishabh is thinking, ‘I can smash Bishnoi out of the ground, so I don’t want him to face off against Dube. ‘ Just a hypothetical theory I am planting here.”Whether that’s what Pant had on his mind or not, he had got the ball changed after the 16th over and switched to his faster bowlers. “Bowling Bishnoi to Dhoni and Dube at that point wasn’t a gamble because [with 44 needed in four overs] the way this game has gone, we didn’t see a 20-run over,” Abhinav said. “You were still in the game. It was the best time to make that call and then decide what you want to do after that.”

“I know Dube was batting, but Dube couldn’t get hold of him [Bishnoi] before that anyway. And he has that googly”Ian Bishop

But Pant stuck to his pace-bowling options, even though a lot of captains have turned to spin against Dhoni in the death overs, especially in CSK’s last three chases.Sanju Samson had given the 18th over to Maheesh Theekshana in Guwahati when CSK needed 45 from 18 and Theekshana conceded just six runs. Axar Patel bowled himself in the 17th over – which was his first that day – when CSK needed 72 from 18, and gave away just five runs. In CSK’s last chase, Shreyas Iyer handed Yuzvendra Chahal the 17th over with 68 to win from 24 and he gave away just nine runs. In all these cases, Dhoni failed to hit a single boundary against the spinners.Since IPL 2020, Dhoni has struck at only 94.23 against spin, with 14 fours and nine sixes in 243 balls.To Pant, perhaps, the set Dube appeared a bigger threat. But once Dhoni got pace on the ball, he ended the 16th over, bowled by Avesh Khan with two consecutive fours, dispatched a Shardul Thakur slower delivery on the leg side for six even as one hand came off the bat, and hit his next ball, from Avesh, for four. The game tilted in CSK’s favour when – with 24 required from 12 – Dube started Thakur’s over with a four and six to the deep-third boundary and it turned out Thakur had also overstepped for the second ball.

Rayudu: 'Pretty stubborn' Pant must 'accept the fact that he is struggling'

Ambati Rayudu feels Rishabh Pant does not have the mindset to play in the middle order and is better suited to play as an opener

ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-20251:52

‘Pant needs to accept the fact that he’s struggling’

What’s ailing Rishabh Pant? Ambati Rayudu put the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain’s “very, very bad patch” in IPL 2025 down to him being “pretty stubborn” about not changing his position in the batting line-up. Rayudu also feels Pant does not have the mindset to play in the middle order and is better suited to play as an opener.Pant, who was the most expensive buy at the last IPL auction at INR 27 crore, has made just 128 runs in ten innings this season. He’s had five single-digit scores, including a duck, and just one half-century. In ESPNcricinfo’s MVP list, which takes into account the total impact a player has had on his team, Pant is currently placed 176th. In the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday, he walked out at No. 4 after two early wickets and struggled to score a 17-ball 18 in the 237 chase. LSG went on to lose the match by 37 runs and are currently seventh on the table with six losses in 11 games.”I think, at this point in time, I’m feeling very sorry for him because he’s not been changing his batting order or his approach,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out. “I think he’s being pretty stubborn about how he wants to go about things. It’s not working in his favour at the moment. It happens in this sport, to be very honest, and he is going through a very, very bad patch. It can happen to anybody. I just hope that he takes this learning and improves on it and doesn’t become even more stubborn, but just accept the fact that he is struggling and start doing things a little differently [and] try and get better every day. That’s all you can do.Related

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“I think more than anything it’s just the clarity of what he wants to do because Pant ideally for me is an opener in white-ball cricket, because in the middle order he has not been great. I know he loves playing in the middle but he doesn’t have the batsmanship that is required or the skill set. Maybe he has the skillset, but not the mindset to execute that.”To be fair, Pant did move himself up and down the order after starting the IPL season at No. 4, going to six in one game, opening in another, then dropping to No. 7, but returning to the preferred No. 4 each time.On Sunday, after showing early intent with a six over mid-off off Marco Jansen, Pant hit two more boundaries off Yuzvendra Chahal. In the eighth over, looking for a big shot, he charged at Azmatullah Omarzai and swung so hard at the ball that he lost control of the bat, which flew out to midwicket while the catch off the top edge was taken at deep cover. Katey Martin saw a pattern in his dismissals and called that Pant’s “downfall”.”… when he charged down giving himself room, [with] nice control down the ground and the next ball he plays an extravagant shot, which we know is Rishabh,” Martin said. “But you want him to be able to give himself the best chance possible and we know that he is going to play those expansive – the weird – shots out of nowhere. But I think that’s been a real downfall of his, is [that] just out of nowhere he played a shot that you thought, ‘oh, that was more reckless than what we’re probably typically expecting from them’.””That shows that mentally he is not very relaxed and very calm,” Rayudu added. “At the moment, the word that I would use is he lacks confidence.”Shreyas’ relationship with Ponting a big bonus, says RayuduWhile Pant has had a poor season, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, another INR 25-plus-crore buy at the auction, has so far had a season to remember. While he’s not been too consistent with the bat, he’s been lauded for his captaincy, with his team currently second on the table and primed for a playoffs spot.PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting had worked together at Delhi Capitals previously too•Associated Press

Rayudu suggested that Iyer’s close relationship with head coach Ricky Ponting has been an important factor.”Shreyas has had this partnership with Ricky Ponting at Delhi [Capitals],” Rayudu said. “They both know each other very well. That is very, very important. You need to know your coach as a captain because both have to be hand in glove. It’s a long tournament. You can’t be on different pages or [have] different mindsets. And Shreyas actually likes Ricky Ponting a lot. He is someone who is a little more aggressive in terms of his strategies, I think it’s a good match that is made in Punjab at the moment. Shreyas definitely as a batsman has improved quite a lot.”Martin highlighted how being a wicketkeeper-captain could also be affecting Pant and that, Iyer suited Ponting’s outlook as a head coach more than Pant did when they were together at DC till last season.”Ponting, going into the auction, he spoke so much about the fact that he wanted to build a team around the captain and he wanted the captain to lead the side,” Martin said. “With Shreyas Iyer scoring runs as well, he’s been able to translate that into the captaincy and the confidence and vice versa. With Pant, who hasn’t had that confidence and hasn’t been able to score the runs that he would have liked, I think there’s added pressure as a wicketkeeper as well.”When you’re a keeper you have to kind of rely on others around you and [Nicholas] Pooran’s probably the next leader. You see him come from the boundary. But when he’s in the boundary the majority of the time, it can be a little challenging. So that’s the added pressure of keeping and to negate the bowlers from as far back as you can as a wicketkeeper.”

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