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Tottenham, in unprecedented circumstances, missed out on Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, with the club now forced to move on to other transfer targets.

Tottenham advancing move for £24m defender after 'emerging' as favourites

Spurs have been told what it would take to get a deal done.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025

The announcement of Gibbs-White’s new contract dropped on Saturday evening, thwarting Thomas Frank’s hopes of bringing in a proven number 10 to inject some much-needed creativity – at least for now.

The England international was due to be another statement signing immediately after Tottenham’s £55 million deal for Mohammed Kudus, with chairman Daniel Levy and co booking Gibbs-White in for medical tests at Hotspur Way on July 11 (BBC).

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The Lilywhites were also ready to pay his £60 million release clause, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis put a stop to the transfer, threatened Spurs with legal action and somehow convinced Gibbs-White to pen a contract extension.

Gibbs-White praised Marinakis in an interview after the new deal was confirmed, with the Greek tycoon standing proudly next to him in what was seen as a bizarre move.

It is never straightforward when it comes to Tottenham, with Levy, technical director Johan Lange and the recruitment team wasting over a fortnight on their chase for Gibbs-White as just weeks remain of the summer window.

Their need for a new creator is emphasised by club legend Son Heung-min’s potential departure to the States.

Los Angeles FC are actively pursuing a deal for the South Korea international with an approach made, but the north Londoners are unlikely to sell before the end of their pre-season tour of Asia due to certain contractual obligations and his obvious commercial appeal in the Far East (The Telegraph).

There are reports that Levy is prepared to sanction Son’s move to LA for around £15-20 million, and another update has now come to light.

Son close to agreeing personal terms with LAFC over Tottenham exit

According to GiveMeSport, Son is now close to agreeing personal terms with LAFC, and the MLS side are eyeing a transfer towards the end of August.

The 33-year-old also has firm admirers in Saudi Arabia, who are prepared to pay £30 million plus add-ons, but it appears LAFC are taking the lead right now with talks “advancing”. That being said, Son has made no final decision on leaving just yet.

The £190,000-per-week winger is expected to hold crunch discussions with Frank over his future and role in the first team once they return to London, with Tottenham happy to keep Son and let him leave on a free transfer next year.

Levy won’t stand in the former Bayer Leverkusen star’s way if he does choose a move to LA, though, meaning Son’s future is entirely in his hands.

An exit would bring an end to Son’s incredible 10-year stay in N17, where he cemented himself as a club icon. Son is past the century mark in terms of both goals (173) and assists (101) since joining Spurs, with supporters facing the prospect of bidding an emotional farewell to the forward.

Robbie Keane called Son the most “underrated” player in Premier League history, and he could soon become the new star of LAFC’s project.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a very intriguing summer transfer window, which has been made all the more important after their qualification for the Champions League next season.

Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter

Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 21, 2025

Spurs were handed a monumental boost both on and off the field after their triumphant Europa League final win in Bilbao last month, with Thomas Frank set to reap the rewards as he prepares for his first-ever job managing an elite-level club.

The financial windfall gifted to Tottenham, not to mention the greater player-pull they now possess as a result of competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition, will play an absolutely pivotal role in attracting the club’s top transfer targets to N17.

However, that isn’t to say that they’re guaranteed to keep their best players.

Son Heung-min may well have already played his final game for Spurs, with sides in Saudi Arabia expressing a serious interest in the South Korean, while Atlético Madrid continue to sniff around star defender Cristian Romero.

The 27-year-old was crowned UEFA’s official Europa League Player of the Season and was vital for Ange Postecoglou throughout the tournament, helping Spurs to end their 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware.

Romero is also a leader in the dressing room, according to teammates like Micky van de Ven, who showered praise on the Argentine for helping his transition to Premier League football.

“For me, he is world-class. He is a leader. He is always one hundred per cent. He is a top-class player with the ball and without the ball when defending,” said van de Ven to Optus Sport.

“I can promise you he is not scared of anyone. He keeps going every game. From day one here he has helped me. He is just a world-class player.”

With Tottenham facing the prospect of losing their imperative defender, who’s reportedly told chairman Daniel Levy he’s keen to leave the club this summer (Marca), reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold has taken a look at who could replace him.

Tottenham could replace Cristian Romero with Marc Guehi

As per Gold, Tottenham have been fans of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi for a “long time”, and he’s a potentially “obvious” candidate to step into Romero’s shoes.

Spurs made a very public £70 million bid for the England international in January, which was rejected out of hand by Palace chairman Steve Parish, who had precious little time to source a replacement for the defender.

Gold warns that, while Tottenham could offer Guehi Champions League football, any move would depend on defensive sales as Frank is currently stocked with centre-backs, and by the time they agree to some sales, the 24-year-old may have already found a new club.

Arsenal are believed to be “very keen” on Guehi, as are Liverpool, so Spurs may even have their work cut out for them in this instance. He’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park, but Palace will still demand around £50 million, according to GiveMeSport.

Somerset 55 for 6 (Kohler-Cadmore 24, Gilchrist 2-12) beat Kent 46 for 5 (Billings 16) by 14 runsTom Kohler-Cadmore played a whirlwind cameo with the bat as Somerset beat Kent Spitfires by 14 runs in a tense Vitality Blast contest reduced by rain to five overs a side at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.The former Yorkshire batsman smashed 24 runs off nine balls as Somerset raised 55 for 6 from their five overs, Nathan Gilchrist taking 2 for 12 on his debut, while Charlie Stobo and Grant Stewart claimed a wicket apiece.Charged with the task of chasing a revised target of 61 off five overs, Kent imploded in the face of tight bowling from Somerset’s Australian quick Riley Meredith and Jake Ball, who returned figures of 1 for 15 and 1 for 19 in two overs respectively.Kent came up short at 46 for 5 as Somerset claimed their fourth win in six games to retain leadership of the South Group.Kent skipper Sam Billings won the toss and elected to field, Xavier Bartlett conceded 11 runs to openers Tom Banton and Will Smeed in the first over and then the rain intervened, forcing the players to run for the cover of the pavilion at 6.35pm.Thereafter, umpires Ian Blackwell and Mark Newell staged a couple of inspections and the Taunton ground staff twice attempted to remove the covers, only for the wet weather to return on each occasion and prevent a quick resumption.When the elements finally relented and mopping up operations were completed, it was announced that play would resume at 9.02pm with the game reduced to five overs-a-side.Kent made the best possible start upon the resumption, stand-in overseas bowler Stobo having Smeed caught at deep mid-on with his first ball. Kohler-Cadmore promptly made amends, smashing a six and four off the first two deliveries he faced as Somerset plundered 13 runs to finish the second over on 24 for 1.Kohler-Cadmore pulled Stewart for another four in the third, only for the pace bowler to exact an instantaneous revenge next ball, inducing Banton to hit straight to cover and depart for seven with the score on 31. Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory hit the ground running, driving his first ball for a sumptuous four as the home side advanced to 37 for 2.Gilchrist’s first delivery in T20 cricket will be one he will want to forget in a hurry, Kohler-Cadmore carting him over mid-wicket for an enormous six. Gregory drove the third ball of the over back down the ground for four, only to then hole out in the deep, while Kohler-Cadmore departed in similar fashion as Gilchrist held his nerve to reduce the home side to 49 for 4 at the end of the fourth.Ben Green and Tom Abell were run out in the final over as disciplined Kent turned the screw, Bartlett conceding just six runs from it as Somerset finished up on 55 for 6.Required to score 61 off 30 balls to win, the Spitfires made a poor start to their reply, Zac Crawley being run out by substitute fielder Kasey Aldridge and Daniel Bell-Drummond top-edging a pull shot to short square leg as Meredith reduced the visitors to 9 for 2.Billings opened up with a pulled four at the expense of Jake Ball, but the seamer recovered well, persuading Marcus O’Riordan to present Abell with a straightforward catch at long-off in an over that cost just nine runs. Kent’s frustration knew no bounds when Meredith restricted them to a mere seven runs in the third over, his nagging accuracy leaving the visitors needing to score an unlikely 36 off 12 balls.Big-hitting Billings opened his shoulders and helped himself to a brace of fours off Ball in the fourth, only to then take on Abell’s arm and be run out for a 10-ball 16 attempting a second run. Kent required 26 runs off the final over, but Green demonstrated a cool head to frustrate the best efforts of Joe Denly and Stewart.

Celtic ended the 2024/25 campaign without a domestic treble to show for their efforts after they were beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the final of the SFA Cup on Saturday.

The Hoops had taken the lead through an own goal by Alfie Dorrington, only for Kasper Schmeichel to inadvertently parry the ball back into his own net in the second half.

Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston then stepped up and missed in the penalty shootout, whilst the Dons produced an outstanding set of spot-kicks that gave Schmeichel little chance of redeeming himself.

It was a disappointing afternoon for the Hoops, who would have secured the treble if they had held on at 1-0, but it was still a successful season for Brendan Rodgers and his men.

Celtic won the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth time in as many years and beat Rangers on penalties to win the League Cup in the first half of the campaign.

One player who may have been left particularly disappointed by his afternoon was centre-forward Adam Idah, who failed to justify the manager’s faith in him as a starter.

Why Adam Idah should not be a starter for Celtic

The Hoops reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £9.5m, with an initial fee of £8.5m, to sign the Ireland international from Norwich City last summer, after he had spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Parkhead.

His last game on loan at the club came in the SFA Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park, and the attacker came off the bench to net the winner in the last minute.

He was the super sub for the Scottish giants that day and his telling contribution to that trophy may have influenced the club’s decision to splash a significant transfer fee on the Norwich loanee.

However, Idah has failed to kick on as an effective starter for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, as he still seems best suited to coming off the bench to make an impact late on.

As you can see in the table above, the 6 foot 3 marksman ended the Premiership campaign with six goals and zero assists in 19 starts, which is a fairly dismal return for a £9.5m-rated centre-forward.

Of course, Saturday’s defeat to Aberdeen was another game in which Idah started and failed to score, as he was withdrawn from the action without a goal or an assist before extra time.

The statistics paint a clear picture: Idah is best-suited to playing a role off the bench as a super sub against tired defences after replacing a starting centre-forward.

That is why Celtic should be in the market to sign an upgrade on the Irishman to start on a regular basis, and they could find that upgrade by swooping for one of their January target Evan Ferguson.

Evan Ferguson tipped for Celtic move

The Hoops were linked with an interest in the Brighton & Hove Albion forward in January, but missed out on a deal as he landed at West Ham United on loan.

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman recently suggested that the Ireland international should, now, consider dropping down to the Premiership to play for Celtic after failing to play regular minutes with the Hammers.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

CeltsAreHere quoted him as saying: “I thought in January, and this is no disrespect to the Scottish Premiership, that Evan Ferguson should aim higher. But given what’s happened, a move to Celtic wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

“If he goes to Celtic, he would be guaranteed goals, which would only boost his confidence and help bring out the player that we saw break through at Brighton. Evan Ferguson just needs to play football. If a move to Celtic means he can do that, then I understand why he would do it.”

Rodgers should take Goodman’s advice and reignite his interest in signing the Premier League attacker in the upcoming summer transfer window, as he could come in to be the starting centre-forward next season.

Why Celtic should sign Evan Ferguson

The Scottish giants should swoop for the Brighton youngster because he is a talented young striker with the potential to be an upgrade on Idah for the club heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Ferguson, who was described as “phenomenal” by teammate James Milner, has endured a difficult year, with just three Premier League starts for Brighton and West Ham combined, after missing pre-season last summer due to injury.

Prior to this difficult season, though, the 20-year-old attacker had shown plenty of promise at Premier League level with Brighton in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.

The Irish number nine scored 12 goals in the top-flight in those two years combined, which shows that the potential is there for him to be an effective goalscorer at the top level.

As you can see in the table above, Ferguson – who is valued at £40m by Football Transfers – outperformed his xG in both of those seasons, illustrating how clinical he can be at his best, before his struggles this term.

Whereas, Idah scored one goal from 2.76 xG across 29 appearances in the Premier League during his time with Norwich, which shows that he did not provide as much quality in front of goal as his international teammate did for Brighton.

Whilst Ferguson is coming off the back of a poor season, due to a lack of game time and injury problems last summer, it is clear to see that he has the potential to be a huge signing for Celtic, hence why Goodman claimed he would be “guaranteed goals” in Scotland.

The 20-year-old starlet has shown that he can punish Premier League defences efficiently, with his xG-to-goal ratio, which is why he could be a big upgrade on Idah, who ended the Premiership season with 13 goals from 14.77 xG.

Worse than Schmeichel: Celtic's 5/10 forward cost Rodgers the treble

This Celtic forward was even worse than Kasper Schmeichel and ultimately cost the team the treble.

3

By
Dan Emery

May 25, 2025

This is why Celtic should pursue a deal to bring Ferguson to the club when the summer transfer window opens for business, if he is an attainable target from Brighton, to improve their options in the final third.

Strikers have been iconic over the years at Liverpool football club, with different generations of attackers giving the supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Luis Suárez is just one talent who’s captured the heart of most during his spell at Anfield, registering 82 goals in his 133 appearances for the club.

The Uruguayan spent three years on Merseyside before moving to Spanish giants Barcelona, leaving a huge hole at the top end of the pitch as a result.

Talents such as Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi and Diogo Jota have all operated at the top end of the pitch in recent years, with only one of them remaining during Arne Slot’s reign at the club.

However, the Dutchman could be about to land a player who could be his new talisman ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, looking to make it back-to-back Premier League triumphs.

An update on Liverpool’s striker situation this summer

Darwin Núñez is a player who looks set to depart Liverpool this summer after failing to deliver following his £85m transfer from Benfica back in the summer of 2022.

The Uruguayan has scored just 40 times in his 139 appearances, an average of one goal every three and a half games, leading to murmurs around his long-term future.

Atlético Madrid has been mooted as a possible destination for the 25-year-old, with the Reds demanding just £35m to sell him – resulting in a £50m loss on their investment.

However, such funds could be used to sign another star, with Benjamin Sesko the latest player touted with a summer switch to Merseyside, according to GIVEMESPORT.

The report claims that the RB Leipzig ace has a £55m release clause in his current contract, with the Reds impressed by his goalscoring tally of 20 goals in his 42 appearances throughout 2024/25.

It also states that he’s high on their shortlist, seen as an affordable alternative to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, allowing Slot to have the goalscoring striker he’s been craving.

Why Liverpool’s £55m target would be an upgrade on Nunez

It’s safe to say it’s unimaginable where Liverpool would’ve finished in 2024/25 if it wasn’t without Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian producing countless moments of magic at key points of the season.

The 32-year-old has registered a combined 56 goals and assists in his 48 appearances across all competitions, by far and away the most of any player in the first-team squad.

Luis Diaz sits as the club’s second-highest scorer in the league on 12 goals, a staggering 16 behind Salah, highlighting his importance to the side over the last few months.

Despite his new contract, he’s undoubtedly coming to the back end of his professional career, needing to land other targets in forward areas to spread the load rather than be reliant upon one player.

Sesko would provide exactly, with his goalscoring record in the Bundesliga, one that could the side to have that focal point they have often lacked despite the success they’ve endured.

When comparing his stats to those of current forward Nunez, the 21-year-old has massively outperformed him, highlighting how much he would improve the attacking department.

The Slovenian, who’s been labelled “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered more combined goals and assists than the Uruguayan, along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature.

How Benjamin Sesko compares to Darwin Núñez in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Sesko

Nunez

Games played

30

26

Goals & assists

17

7

Shot-on-target accuracy

43%

37%

Take-ons completed

1.5

0.7

Take-on success

52%

38%

Aerials won

2.6

1.4

Aerial success rate

58%

35%

Stats via FBref

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in more of the aerial battles he’s entered – offering the side an all-round threat in the final third.

Whilst £55m may seem a risk for a player who’s never played in England before, it’s a deal worth completing, especially when taking his dominance over Nunez into account.

Given his tender age, he has the opportunity to improve further under Slot’s guidance, potentially becoming the club’s next star attacker to lead them to consistent Premier League glory in the years ahead.

Related A big Diaz upgrade: Liverpool make approach to sign future "£100m" star

Liverpool could be about to make a move for a sensation who could replace Luis Diaz.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 30, 2025

The footballing gods were in playful mood on Tuesday evening, as Manchester United slipped to a 13th Premier League defeat of the season, having been undone by one of their own academy graduate at the City Ground.

Now plying his trade for Nottingham Forest, Anthony Elanga ripped through the Red Devils at breakneck speed to net what proved to be the game’s only goal, with the fleet-footed Swede having now registered 29 goals and assists since leaving United back in 2023.

Sold for just £15m, the 22-year-old has made that fee look an absolute “bargain” amid his form since – as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson – albeit with new boss Ruben Amorim appearing to refute claims that selling the winger was a mistake.

Speaking in his post-match press conference following the 1-0 defeat, Amorim suggested that in-form players like Elanga – and Marcus Rashford – had been given a fair “chance” to succeed at Old Trafford, while then going on to state that the “pressure is too big” for certain players at the club.

In essence, the 40-year-old appeared to hint that such talents have only been able to flourish after breaking free of the scrutiny that comes with playing for such a historic club like United.

In the case of Elanga, his fruitful stint at Forest has followed a return of just four goals and four assists in 55 first-team games for United – were the club really in the wrong to sell him?

Why Man Utd sold Elanga in 2023

In the view of journalist Samuel Luckhurst, the “only mistake” that the Red Devils – then led by Erik ten Hag – made was “not getting a higher fee” for the Swedish speedster upon his exit almost two years ago, with Elanga hardly setting the world alight prior to that departure.

Despite scoring his first senior goal away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign, it wasn’t until the arrival of interim boss, Ralf Rangnick, that Elanga properly forced his way into the first-team frame the following season.

Much of the winger’s impact came in the final few months of 2021/22, having scored away at Brentford and Leeds United, as well as in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Those latter two strikes came in just the space of a few days, although as it proved, Elanga wouldn’t score again for the club after that, having been reduced to a bit-part role following Ten Hag’s arrival.

As the BBC’s Simon Stone has stated, the Dutchman ‘did not feel Elanga had the quality needed to be enough of an influence on his squad’, hence the decision to let him depart.

Having failed to score in 26 games in 2022/23, there were likely few objections when the Malmo-born starlet was eventually sold, not least with Alejandro Garnacho having emerged that season.

Hindsight might suggest that Ten Hag was mistaken in his view of Elanga, although it could be argued that United already have a bigger talent on the flanks – he just wasn’t playing on Tuesday…

The Man Utd star who's worth more than Elanga

There were instant comparisons made between the performances of Garnacho and Elanga at the City Ground, with the Argentine perhaps in danger of heading the same way as his former teammate, amid talk of an exit.

That said, it’s worth remembering that as Elanga toiled in 2022/23, a star was born in Garnacho, with the then-teenager ending that campaign with nine goals and assists in the senior ranks.

In a team that looks far too content with playing it safe in attack, Garnacho is, to his credit, a risk tasker – so too, is Amad Diallo.

As previously explored, the Ivorian had fallen behind the likes of Elanga in the pecking order amid a muted start to life in Manchester, with the diminutive left-footer having arrived on a £19m deal from Atalanta in January 2021.

It has arguably taken until this season for the one-time Rangers and Sunderland loanee to truly become a central figure at Old Trafford, but boy, has he taken his chance.

Player

Current club

Market value

Kobbie Mainoo

Manchester United

£46m

Marcus Rashford

Aston Villa

£42m

Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United

£38m

Scott McTominay

Napoli

£34m

Mason Greenwood

Marseille

£29m

Anthony Elanga

Nottingham Forest

£29m

Dwight McNeil

Everton

£21m

Angel Gomes

Lille

£17m

Andreas Pereira

Fulham

£17m

James Garner

Everton

£17m

Following Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim spell – which yielded two goals and one assist for Amad – the 22-year-old had been the shining light of United’s campaign, up until last month’s cruel injury blow, having chalked up 12 goal involvements in only 20 games under Amorim.

The wing “wizard” – as previously hailed by journalist James Copley – has nine goals and eight assists to his name in total this season, with Elanga, meanwhile, having contributed six goals and nine assists for Forest.

Currently leading his former colleague for goal contributions, Amad is also deemed to be the higher value asset, according to Transfermarkt, having seen his worth soar to £34m. Elanga, by contrast, is valued at ‘just’ £29m.

That rising valuation has followed the signing of a new long-term contract for the £120k-per-week sensation, with Amorim also providing a boost after suggesting that his rising star is set to return before the campaign is over.

As that bumper new deal has indicated, Amad represents the future of Man Utd. Elanga – for all his positive displays since leaving Old Trafford – is now part of the past.

Man Utd's £50k-p/w star is in danger of becoming the new Anthony Elanga

Man Utd saw Elanga come back to haunt them on Tuesday evening at the City Ground

ByRobbie Walls Apr 2, 2025

CSK’s Sri Lankan ‘slinga’ too good as Lasith Malinga watches his copycat from Mumbai’s dugout

S Sudarshanan15-Apr-20241:49

McClenaghan: ‘Pathirana a far more well-rounded bowler this season’

On the eve of the Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings game, Lasith Malinga was doing his thing. He stood still behind the single stump at the bowler’s end as Nuwan Thushara ran in and tried to hit the shoe placed at the striker’s end. It was a drill that Malinga used to use, and he was using it to help the new Sri Lankan slinga, Thushara, get it right.It’s a method that has now caught on.In the adjacent CSK nets, their own slingin’ Sri Lankan, Matheesha Pathirana, was not to be seen. A hamstring niggle had kept him off the field. He played two matches before being sidelined and head coach Stephen Fleming wanted him to play against MI only if he was 100% fit. So no training on Saturday.Related

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It’s understandable that CSK want to have Pathirana in their XI. Their death bowling had cost them games in the past, and their search for a reliable, long-term solution ended with Pathirana. His pinpoint yorkers and change-ups have been hard to get away, and his economy of 8.17 at the death is only bettered by Yuzvendra Chahal’s 7.73 among those who have bowled at least 15 overs in the last four overs since IPL 2023. Pathirana’s temperament under pressure has impressed one and all, including MS Dhoni, who had suggested that “he shouldn’t even get close to red-ball cricket”.Pathirana was fit enough by Sunday to make the XI, and it was natural, then, for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to call upon him when MI were seemingly running away with the chase of 207. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan had blitzed to 70 in seven overs when Pathirana was handed the ball. He had to bring his death game alive early. The home team was cruising and, despite being outnumbered by CSK fans, the MI fans were the noisier bunch at that point.His first ball was an attempted yorker that turned into a low full toss. It was on Kishan’s pads. He could have smacked it anywhere but flicked it straight to midwicket. A ball later, Suryakumar Yadav was slightly taken aback by the bouncer and, yet, managed to uppercut it. But Mustafizur Rahman took a well-judged catch at deep third to send Suryakumar back for a two-ball blob. Within just three balls, Pathirana had changed the script.

“I was really pleased with his accuracy tonight, he was outstanding. I said to him afterwards, the wickets are a bonus, but his accuracy was really good. Sometimes you’ll bowl accurately but not get wickets. Tonight, he was accurate and got wickets”Eric Simons

“What I have noticed from last year and the first time I saw Pathirana is he is a far more well-rounded bowler now,” Mitchell McClenaghan observed on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut. “He doesn’t just come in and try and bowl yorkers. He has got a good-length ball and a bouncer now. [With the bouncer to Suryakumar] he was trying to not let him get forward.”With Tilak Varma then joining forces with Rohit to keep MI in the hunt, Pathirana was summoned again for the 14th over. He delivered to end the 60-run partnership by dismissing Tilak, thanks to a tumbling catch running backward from mid-off by Shardul Thakur. A few overs later, Pathirana fired in a fuller ball to splay Romario Shepherd’s stumps. The chase had well and truly been derailed.With Pathirana’s action, there is a tendency to be wayward and bowl wides down leg, but on Sunday, he was accurate. He was especially clear in his methods and bowled to the field with the longer boundary on the leg side (for a right-hander) throughout his spell.Matheesha Pathirana struck off his first ball, picking Ishan Kishan•BCCI”I was really pleased with his accuracy tonight, he was outstanding,” Eric Simons, CSK bowling consultant, said at the press conference. “I said to him afterwards, the wickets are a bonus, but his accuracy was really good. Sometimes you’ll bowl accurately but not get wickets. Tonight, he was accurate and got wickets.”But, with his action being what it is, can he not get predictable? How does remain unique?”I give him a target and tell him to hit the target. How he does it, he works his own technique out for himself,” Simons explained. “That’s how we do it. I give him a glove, hit the glove. I give him a target at the bottom of the pitch, he hits the target.”When you’ve watched someone a lot you pick up little things and act like a mirror almost for some people, and you see something’s a bit different. I don’t try and coach internally. I don’t tell him how to do it, I tell him what to do and he tries and works it himself. His accuracy tonight was the most rewarding for me.”Allow him to be unique, don’t try to figure him out.”On the way to Gate 5 of the Wankhede Stadium before the game, a group of fans in blue were talking about Malinga. Little did they know that a slinga would undo Mumbai on their own turf and be the point of difference in a game Jasprit Bumrah was also a part of.

All the statistical highlights from New Zealand’s innings win in Christchurch

Sampath Bandarupalli19-Feb-20221 Number of times South Africa lost a Test by a bigger margin in terms of innings than they one (an innings and 276 runs) against New Zealand in Christchurch. They lost against Australia by an innings and 360 runs in Johannesburg in 2002.ESPNcricinfo Ltd0 Instances of teams winning by a bigger margin in terms of an innings in Tests in the last ten years. There have been 75 innings victories in Tests in the ten-year period starting February 17, 2012 before the Christchurch Test and the previous biggest among them was by India against West Indies in Rajkot in 2018. India had won that Test by an innings and 272 runs. This win was also New Zealand’s third-biggest innings victory in the format.5 Number of wins for New Zealand against South Africa across 46 Test matches between them. The Christchurch triumph was also their first win in 17 Tests against South Africa since beating them in 2004 in Auckland, their first home Test win against them and also by an innings.206 Runs aggregated by South Africa in Christchurch, their second-lowest match-aggregate in a Test match since their readmission (where they got bowled out twice). Their lowest is 199 runs against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2018. The 206 runs are also the third-lowest aggregate for South Africa in a Test match in the last 100 years.ESPNcricinfo Ltd202 Wickets for Tim Southee in Test cricket at home, the most by any player for New Zealand. Southee eclipsed Richard Hadlee, who had 201 wickets across 43 Tests played in New Zealand.197 Runs conceded by New Zealand pacers while claiming all 20 wickets in Christchurch. Only four times have a team’s pace bowlers bagged all 20 wickets in a Test match while conceding fewer runs (excluding bowlers who bowl both pace and spin).ESPNcricinfo Ltd5 Matt Henry became only the fifth No. 11 batter to achieve a higher individual score than his opponent team’s batters in a Test match (where all 11 players batted twice). There has been only one other instance since 1900 – Zaheer Khan’s 75 against Bangladesh in 2004. Henry scored 58 not out in New Zealand’s first innings, while the highest score for South Africa was 41, by Temba Bavuma, in their second dig. Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne collectively scored 48 runs, the most for South Africa in this Test match, which is still less than Henry’s unbeaten 58.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are underway, which means rumors are flying and deals are likely to be struck.

On Monday, plenty of reports made the rounds as teams attempted to get a jump on the offseason and best position themselves for 2026. Here are all the latest rumors we’re hearing as the winter meetings heat up.

Nationals listening on CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore

The Nationals have a new head of baseball operations, and he’s looking to reshape the franchise to his liking. Paul Tobobi is MLB’s youngest president of baseball ops, and the long-time Red Sox scouting director and assistant general manager is not wasting any time. Turning Washington around likely means moving on from two young All-Stars.

Shortstop CJ Abrams and lefty starter MacKenzie Gore are being targeted by multiple teams at the winter meetings. The 25-year-old Abrams is an athletic shortstop coming off his best season, while Gore is a 26-year-old with elite stuff who had a brilliant first half but struggled down the stretch. Both came to the Nationals as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres. Gore is under team control through 2027, while Abrams won’t hit free agency until 2029.

In 2025, Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBIs, 92 runs scored, 31 stolen bases, and a career-best 3.1 fWAR. He’s not a good defender at short, but could easily move to second base or the outfield. Gore made 30 starts and went 5-15, with a 4.17 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts against 64 walks in 159 2/3 innings. But in his first 19 starts of the season, he went 4-8 with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts against 35 walks. He faded hard down the stretch, which is something a new team would need to figure out.

Given the weak free agent market for shortstops, Abrams could fetch a significant haul. Meanwhile, Gore, a young lefty with ace stuff, could also net a hefty return. Teams will need to meet Toboni’s high price, but both players can be had.

Royals looking for multiple outfielders

The Royals are canvassing the league for help in the outfield and may need to make a trade to fill out the roster. Kansas City missed the playoffs by five games in 2025, as the team surprised the rest of MLB by staying in the race as late as it did. But the team’s outfield is a bit of a mess.

While Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and another option like Harrison Bader would all be too expensive for the Royals, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal insists the team is pursuing all options. That could include trading starter Kris Bubic, who is set to make a projected $6 million before hitting free agency after next season. The 28-year-old lefty went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts against 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings this season. He could fetch a solid return as a rental.

Rosenthal listed Mike Yastrzemski, Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, and Mike Tauchman as options in Kansas City’s price range. Jac Caglianone is almost certain to have right field locked down, but the two other spots remain open.

Padres entertaining Nick Pivetta trade

Padres general manager A.J. Preller pulled off a coup last offseason, as he waited out the market before signing Nick Pivetta to a shockingly affordable four-year, $55 million deal. The 32-year-old rewarded the Padres, turning in a career-best season in which he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts against 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings. That success, and a contract that is jumping to $19 million in 2026 has made Pivetta a trade candidate.

While The Athletic’s Dennis Lin points out that a Pivetta trade isn’t likely, the Padres need multiple starting pitchers and at least one bat. Moving the team’s ace would require a significant return that would improve San Diego at multiple spots, but no one should ever rule out Preller’s appetite for wheeling and dealing.

If Pivetta doesn’t move, San Diego could look to deal second baseman Jake Cronenworth. There aren’t a lot of middle-infield options on the market, and free agents won’t come cheap. The 31-year-old Cronenworth is a steady presence who is under contract for five more years at an affordable $60 million.

As the Padres face a salary crunch and a potential sale, cutting payroll to fill multiple spots makes a lot of sense.

Dodgers looking to get younger

Even the Dodgers have work to do this offseason. While the two-time defending World Series champions will enter 2026 as favorites to win again even if they don’t make a single move this winter, there are areas the team needs to shore up. Most pressing, is the desire to get younger.

Bill Punkett of the reports that L.A.’s president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, says there’s “not as much heavy lifting required” this offseason. But the team does have an aging core. Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, and Hyeseong Kim were the only three position players under 30 on the Dodgers’ roster in 2025. While Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki give the team younger starters to build around, much of the roster is leaving its prime.

Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith will both be 31 next season, while Freddie Freeman is 36, and Mookie Betts is 33. The team does have a fairly loaded farm system, but outfielders Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope are both 20 and have some growing to do. Meanwhile, MLB-ready infielder Alex Freeland doesn’t currently have an open spot to fill with Betts, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy on the roster.

L.A. is expected to be involved in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes this winter, but they could also opt to use their farm depth to pursue an outfield upgrade. White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. or Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan would fit the bill and make the team a bit younger.

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber recorded the 1,000th hit of his career on a classic "Schwarbomb" home run against the New York Yankees. Though Schwarber was unable to reach this milestone in front of the Phillies home crowd, the home run was caught by a Phillies fan in attendance at Yankee Stadium.

After the Phillies' 12-5 win, Schwarber met up with the fan that caught the home run ball and his two friends. Schwarber traded two signed baseballs to get the milestone baseball back, and even offered to sign a third ball for the trio. However, they declined, replying that they simply just want Schwarber to re-sign with the Phillies, per Scott Lauber of .

"It's been fantastic these last three and a half, four years now, the support that we get from our fans," Schwarber told reporters. "Means a lot to me that they attach themselves onto our team, myself, whatever it is. We can feel that support, always appreciate it."

Schwarber, who is in the middle of his fourth season with the Phillies, will have his contract with Philadelphia expire following the 2025 campaign. He signed a four-year deal for $79 million with the Phillies in 2022, and is in the middle of another tremendous year for Philadelphia. He has hit 36 home runs and 82 RBI with a .960 OPS this season, ranking top-10 in all of MLB in all three categories.

The fans are not the only ones interested in getting Schwarber extended with Philadelphia. Phillies managing partner John Middleton expressed earlier this week that the team wants to get a new deal done with Schwarber, vi. Though the two sides were unable to agree on a new contract before the season, re-signing Schwarber will likely be a priority heading into the offseason.