Seamer will bolster T20 squad after departures of Xavier Bartlett and Wes Agar
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2024Kent have signed Melbourne Renegades seamer Tom Rogers for the second block of Vitality T20 Blast group games.Rogers, 30, has several years’ experience in the Big Bash League with Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes but this will be his first stint in county cricket. In all T20 cricket, Rogers has taken 60 wickets at 24.78 with an economy of 8.38.”We’re pleased to have got Tom on board to sure-up our bowling options going into the ‘business end’ of this South Group stage,” Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said. “He has a lot of experience and has skills that will be useful to us with both the ball and the bat, too.”Rogers will reinforce Kent’s bowling in the Blast, with Xavier Bartlett having only been made available for the first eight group games and Wes Agar returning to Australia early due to a shoulder injury.Kent are currently second from bottom in the South Group, having won two games, but could still fight their way into contention for a top-four spot.”I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in the Vitality Blast and I’m excited to be joining Kent,” Rogers said. “We know that every game is vital for us now, and I want to do my part in getting results as a Spitfire in the near future.”
Celtic have moved quickly to bolster their playing squad during the summer transfer window and several moves have officially gone through on Tuesday.
Kieran Tierney agreed to return to Parkhead earlier this year, and his move has finally gone through upon the expiry of his contract at Arsenal, which came to an end on Monday.
The Scotland international, who left the Hoops to sign for the Gunners back in the summer of 2025, is not the only player officially arriving on Tuesday, though, as Ross Doohan has also joined on a free transfer from Aberdeen.
Celtic have also taken advantage of a contractual situation to snap up a deal for 19-year-old centre-forward Callum Osmand, whose deal with Premier League side Fulham expired on Monday.
The teenage striker has joined from the Cottagers’ U21 side, but has taken the first-team squad number of 19, and is set to compete for a place in the squad.
What Callum Osmand's role at Celtic will be
The young striker could arrive at Parkhead to fulfill the role that Johnny Kenny played for the Scottish Premiership champions in the second half of last season.
Brendan Rodgers decided to integrate the Irish forward into the first-team squad after his loan spell with Shamrock Rovers, and the 22-year-old forward scored one goal and provided one assist in eight Premiership outings, starting one game.
Celtic have already rejected an offer of £500k from Bolton for the Irishman, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will still be at Parkhead by the end of the summer transfer window.
An exit from Glasgow for Kenny in the coming weeks would open the door for Osmand to take up his role as the back-up centre-forward in the squad.
24/25
22
11
4
23/24
29
21
6
22/23
21
11
2
21/22
1
0
0
As you can see in the table above, the Welsh striker enjoyed a prolific career at youth level for Fulham, scoring 54 goals for the U18 and U21 sides combined.
However, he is yet to make a senior appearance for any club to date, which means that it remains to be seen how he will adapt to first-team football. This is why a back-up role initially could make a lot of sense for the teenage talent.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
Osmand, though, may not be the only centre-forward to come through the door this summer, as the Hoops may also look for a long-term replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi as an immediate starting-calibre option.
Celtic opted against signing an immediate replacement for the Japan international in the January window, but they should now swoop for a senior addition, and Bojan Miovski is a player who could make a lot of sense.
Why Celtic should sign Bojan Miovski
The Daily Record recently reported that Celtic have shown more interest in signing the Macedonia international than Rangers in the past, and that they would be a more likely destination for the forward.
They have been linked with an interest in signing the former Aberdeen star, who is valued at £9m, from Girona, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will press ahead with a swoop for his services.
Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski.
The Premiership champions should pursue a deal for the £9m-rated striker because he is a proven performer in Scotland who could hit the ground running as a starting-calibre option, competing with Adam Idah for a place in the starting XI.
This would leave Rodgers with Idah and Miovski as his two senior options, with Osmand as a back-up, and that would free up Daizen Maeda to play out wide.
Miovski’s form during his time at Aberdeen in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns suggests that he has the quality to come in as a better striker than Osmand, who is yet to make his senior bow.
The 26-year-old star’s return of four goals in 22 appearances in all competitions for Girona may not excite supporters, but a poor year in the Spanish top-flight does not paint the full picture.
Bojan Miovski for North Macedonia.
Miovski plundered 44 goals in 98 outings for Aberdeen in all competitions during his two seasons in Scotland, which included a haul of 32 goals in the Premiership.
The left-footed marksman, who was once dubbed a “complete number 9” by journalist Josh Bunting, is a proven goalscorer in the Premiership, which suggests that he could provide an instant threat in front of goal for the Hoops next season.
Appearances
37
38
Goals
16
16
Conversion rate
23%
15%
Minutes per goal
181
197
Big chances created
6
4
Assists
2
2
As you can see in the table above, the Macedonia international was a consistent performer in front of goal for the Dons in the Scottish top-flight, firing in 16 goals in both of his seasons at Pittodrie.
Daizen Maeda, with 16 strikes, was the only Celtic player who scored more than ten league goals last season, which suggests that Miovski would be one of the biggest goal threats, if not the biggest, within the Hoops squad if he can get back to that form.
The Girona forward also has a record of four goals in nine games against Rangers in his career to date, which suggests that he could be a fearsome opponent in the big games for Rodgers next term.
Overall, Miovski is a proven Premiership performer in the prime years of his career, at the age of 26, which is why he would come through the door as a much better striker, in the here and now, than Osmand, who has not proven himself in any league at senior level to date.
More exciting than Inamura & Osmand: Celtic could sign "jaw-dropping" star
Celtic could land a signing that is more exciting than Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura with this star.
ByDan Emery Jun 30, 2025
This is why Celtic should swoop to rescue the centre-forward from Giorna before the end of the summer transfer window, to provide Osmand with a fantastic attacker to learn from next term.
An emphasis on investment remains at BlueCo’s Chelsea, but several learning curves have been passed and there’s a feeling that things are not so scattergun anymore.
With Enzo Maresca’s side preparing to take on the Paris Saint-Germain super-team in the Club World Cup final, the club will be permitted to take only the briefest sojourn before a reduced pre-season commences ahead of 2025/26.
There has already been a deluge of new arrivals for the west Londoners, who secured their place back in the Champions League and won the Conference League across Maresca’s first season at the helm.
Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have been poached from domestic rivals, while Jamie Gittens, 20, has finally completed his £51.5m transfer from Borussia Dortmund, having been hailed by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley as “England’s best left winger in 2024/25” before he plateaued over the closing months of the term.
Jamie Gittens in action for Borussia Dortmund.
The talented Estevao, Kendry Paez and Dario Essugo are all bound for Stamford Bridge too, but Chelsea still have a few more tricks up their sleeve.
The latest on Chelsea's summer transfer window
Noni Madueke has been granted permission to engage in the personal technicalities of his proposed transfer to Arsenal, with the Gunners having seen a £52m offer accepted.
The right winger is a talented player but hardly indispensable. And he’s not the only one the Blues are willing to offload in order to reshape in a superior fashion. Indeed, Nicolas Jackson may be sold, with Todd Boehly reportedly pricing the Senegalese striker at an eye-watering £100m amid interest from AC Milan.
Elsewhere, Chelsea have been mooted to make their move for Aston Villa’s dynamic attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, something which Madueke’s departure would facilitate.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
But Maresca seemingly wants some more competition out on the left, too, with Mykhaylo Mudryk in interminable purgatory and the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix all likely to leave this summer.
And that’s why Chelsea could make an approach for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who, aged 28, is settled as one of the most underrated wingers in the Premier League.
That’s according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, who has confirmed that Chelsea (and Arsenal) have considered making a move to sign the Japan international this summer.
Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabian suitors are also looking to get a deal done, and while there’s a sense that Mitoma’s entourage are drumming up interest to get a bumper new contract at the AMEX, the door is ajar for a summer switch, though Brighton would certainly need to lower their £80m asking price.
Why Chelsea want to sign Kaoru Mitoma
Mitoma joined Brighton from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale and was instantly loaned out to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Pro League, something which proved instrumental for his development as he polished his physical properties before being unleashed in the Premier League.
Brighton & Hove Albion's KaoruMitomain action with Fulham's Timothy Castagne
Now, he’s a seasoned veteran, having completed 108 appearances for the Seagulls across all competitions, scoring 24 goals and assisting 20 more.
His 37-goal involvement return in the Premier League, across 88 matches, is also nothing to be sniffed at. Mitoma isn’t the most prolific player, but he is immensely talented and endowed with the pace and intelligence to make a real difference.
Kaoru Mitoma
In fact, the 28-year-old ranked among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last term for non-penalty goals and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, which highlights the impact he could have in Chelsea’s first team.
Is there any proof that Gittens, so young and untested, could bring such an instant effect to Maresca’s squad? Indeed, cast your mind back to Jadon Sancho’s days at Dortmund, and you will find all the substance needed to form such a compelling argument.
Matches (starts)
36 (28)
32 (21)
Goals
10
8
Assists
4
3
Shots (on target)*
1.6 (0.8)
1.6 (0.8)
Big chances missed
12
4
Pass completion
81%
82%
Big chances created
8
6
Key passes*
1.0
0.7
Dribbles*
1.4
2.4
Ball recoveries*
2.8
2.0
Tackles + interceptions*
1.7
1.3
Duels won*
4.1
4.9
While Gittens is maybe a bit more active in the duel, and certainly has the makings of a clinical wideman, Mitoma is more complete in his performances, with BBC pundit Shay Given even claiming he’s “at the heart of everything positive” Brighton do in the Premier League.
There is also the pretty significant factor that Mitoma plies his trade in the Premier League, whereas Gittens has been cutting his teeth these past few years in the Bundesliga, a division of ostensibly lower quality.
The aforementioned Bailey has regarded Mitoma as “one of the Premier League’s best”, and it’s clear to see why. Though consistency might not be the Japanese’s strong suit, he has shown quality on England’s biggest stage that most wingers could only dream of, and even then, such ambitions would be hazy, ill-defined things.
While Gittens has the makings of something special, Chelsea would be wise to ease him into a position of seniority at Stamford Bridge. Signing Mitoma and allowing the pair to jockey for starting roles could prove a move that bears dividends for the success of Maresca’s project.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half
Chelsea will be raising the bar in the months to come. European nights will be freighted with the added expectation and intensity that the Champions League theatre brings. Mitoma is exactly the kind of player who could help the club tackle this issue and come up with a solution.
Bad news for Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea open first talks to sign £43m "animal"
Enzo Maresca is looking to sign a Spanish midfielder this summer
“When you have a mega auction you are bound to have a reset. But you try and maintain as much of the core as possible,” Sanjiv Goenka says
Sreshth Shah28-Aug-2024Sanjiv Goenka, the Lucknow Super Giants owner, did not give much away about his team’s retention plans and captain KL Rahul’s future with the franchise, but admitted that the upcoming mega auction will mean the team “resets” in some aspects ahead of IPL 2025.Speaking to the media in Kolkata alongside newly unveiled mentor Zaheer Khan, Goenka said LSG’s retention decisions will not be made with a short-term view.”All decisions are medium-term and need to be thought of carefully,” he said. “When you have a mega auction you are bound to have a reset. But you try and maintain as much of the core as possible. The coach Justin Langer continues, [support staff] Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes will also be there. So it is a question of improving and going further from where you are now.”Rahul, the LSG captain since the team’s first IPL in 2022, was in Kolkata this week and met Goenka. Goenka did not get into the details of their conversation, but called Rahul “family”.”I have been meeting KL on and off regularly over the last three years,” Goenka said. “Frankly I am surprised this meeting is getting a lot of attention [in the media]. He is integral [to LSG]. He has been here since the inception. For me personally and for [my son] Shashwat [Goenka, who is also involved in running LSG], he is like family.”After two playoff appearances in IPL 2022 and 2023, LSG missed the playoffs for the first time in the 2024 season, finishing seventh on the table because of a poor net run rate. It was the first time the franchise did not have the services of mentor Gautam Gambhir, who had moved to Kolkata Knight Riders. In the coming season, Goenka believes Zaheer’s presence “will do wonders” for the team.”Beginning of a new relationship. Zaheer has impressed me as a player, coach and strategist,” Goenka said. “His hunger for success is something that attracted me to bring him into the LSG franchise.Zaheer Khan was formally named Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor on Wednesday•Sreshth Shah/ESPNcricinfo”A couple of weeks ago, I realised he wasn’t with any cricket franchise. I called him up. We spoke. He agreed. And he’s here. It’s as short and as quick as it gets. We are very excited to have him on board.”Zaheer, who had been associated with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 as director of cricket and head of global development, said he will serve in a similar role at LSG. He said he was particularly impressed with the “building blocks” put together by a “young franchise in only three years”, and felt that he shared the owners’ vision.”Yes it happened exactly in the same words how Mr Goenka explained. We got on a call and realised we have a similar stance on many topics about cricket,” Zaheer said. “We discussed the direction, the culture, the brand the team wants to play. The building blocks are already in place. It’s a relatively young franchise but it doesn’t seem like that. Reaching playoffs in this fiercely competitive league isn’t easy and [seeing their progress] gives me confidence.””It is a team game, so I will be serving the team in every capacity possible, and yes, it includes bowling. If I am there in the set-up, does the team need another bowling coach?” he said with a smile. “When you see LSG, their journey is only three years but they are as comparable to the teams who have played the IPL for 17-18 years. The building blocks are in place and we need to take them forward. Decision-making will be something we’ll work on, since it is something that can differentiate teams.”As it stands, LSG’s roster includes Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Quinton de Kock, Naveen-ul-Haq and Devdutt Padikkal, among others. The teams are expected to know the IPL’s retention rules in early September, after which they will decide on whom to retain, possibly with a late-November deadline, before the mega auction leading into IPL 2025.
Chelsea have the chance to seal their second trophy under Enzo Maresca when they face PSG in the Club World Cup final.
It will be a tough task, as the French side are arguably the best side on the planet, evidenced by their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Enzo Fernandez will be crucial as the Argentine will be tasked with trying to keep possession for the Blues, while also aiming to stop PSG from mounting attack after attack in the final third.
That being said, despite Maresca signing plenty of attacking players this summer, might the former Benfica starlet be growing worried amid the club’s latest transfer link?
Chelsea enquire over Barcelona midfielder
The list of attacking players linked with the Blues is lengthy, but Maresca now looks like he could be set to add a midfielder or two to his squad.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea, along with Arsenal, have enquired about the availability of Barcelona star Marc Casado this summer.
The Catalan giants are demanding €50m (£43m) should any club wish to make an official bid for the Spaniard.
Barcelona's Marc Casado against Benfica.
He does have a release clause worth €100m (£86m), but due to their financial situation, Barcelona may be forced to accept a lower offer. If Maresca does sign the player, it could be bad news for Fernandez.
Why Chelsea must sign Marc Casado
Last season in the Premier League, Fernandez played alongside Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.
He registered 13 goal contributions in the top flight, while also creating 13 big chances and averaging 2.3 key passes per game for the Blues. The Argentine may be a more effective player going forward, but defensively, Casado has the upper hand.
Indeed, last season, the Barcelona starlet tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (48.8% vs 36.9%) per 90, along with committing fewer fouls (26 vs 52) and making more interceptions (22 vs 13) in their respective domestic leagues.
Accurate passes per game
53
Goals
1
Assists
3
Total duels won per game
4
Big chances created
3
Tackles per game
1.9
Furthermore, Casado also won more total duels per game (53% vs 47%) and lost possession fewer times per game (7.7 vs 12.8) than the current Blues midfielder.
With the club signing a plethora of attacking players this summer, shoring up the midfield now appears to be Maresca’s priority.
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham in action with FC Barcelona'sMarcCasado
A move for Casado could have Fernandez fearing for his place in the starting XI next season, that’s for sure, with Caicedo seemingly a shoo-in to start, having been described by Maresca as “one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world”.
Following Spain’s victory over Switzerland last November, Casado was showered with praise by teammate Bryan Zaragoza, who said: “He’s an animal. I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”
This sort of player is exactly the type of midfielder that Maresca would love to have available to him.
Aged just 21, Casado is only going to get better with age, especially by playing in the Premier League and Champions League for the Blues.
If the Stamford Bridge side can secure his signature for a decent fee, it might turn out to be one of their best signings of the summer, with Casado representing a perfect partner to Caicedo in the centre of the park.
For Fernandez, however, it could well be bad news in the long run.
£17m ace nearing Chelsea exit after Madueke, it'd free up space for Ekitike
Ekitike could be on his way to Chelsea this summer.
The ECB has responded by reassuring SLC and the team about the security arrangements in place
Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Aug-2024The Sri Lanka men’s team has raised concerns about the security situation in England in light of the anti-immigrant riots that have erupted in various cities. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has responded by reassuring Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the team about the security arrangements in place.Players already in England for the pre-series training have also expressed anxiety about the unrest, particularly as they do not have a security plan covering this portion of their trip. This nine-person contingent – seven players and two support staff – have asked SLC to arrange for better security over the next few days, as they travel to and from a ground near London.”Most of the issues seem not to be close to where we are but everyone is still a little concerned,” one player in England told ESPNcricinfo. “We can’t really go out to dinner or do anything like that. Mostly we stay in the hotel. No one wants to run into trouble and get beaten up.”We’ve asked the board to try and ask for some security for us until the main team arrives, but we haven’t heard anything back yet.”Most of the team is set to arrive in England for a three-match Test series on Sunday, at which point the ECB’s security plan kicks in. Sri Lanka’s team manager Mahinda Halangoda, who is still in Sri Lanka, told ESPNcricinfo that he had raised concerns with ECB after seeing news reports from Manchester – where the team play their first Test from August 21 – in particular.”I raised the issue with them, but the ECB responded very quickly and sent us their comprehensive security arrangements,” Halangoda said. “We’ll be having a security liaison on the tour from them as well.”While some far-right protests have been marked by violence, there have, over the last few days, been large counter-protests aimed at protecting immigrant-owned businesses, places of worship, and other places immigrants frequent.The United Kingdom government also assured sporting bodies that the country remained safe for sports, on an emergency call on Wednesday. The UK police has stated unequivocally that it will crack down on and prevent violence.Sri Lanka are set to play three Tests in England which begin on August 21 in Manchester. The teams then head to Lord’s for the second Test from August 29 before finishing off at The Oval on September 6.
Newcastle United aren’t giving up on their chase to sign an attacking reinforcement and are now reportedly set to take their next key step towards their top target.
Eddie Howe admits Newcastle "frustration"
The Magpies have faced an endless brick wall in pursuit of their top targets so far this summer – whether it’s been Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo or Hugo Ekitike. Reports are now even suggesting that Manchester City could hijack their move to sign Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford. But Eddie Howe and everyone else involved at St James’ Park are not giving up on welcoming much-needed reinforcements just yet.
The Newcastle boss shared his thoughts on a frustrating summer recently, admitting that Newcastle were hoping to get any business done early but have simply been unable to get deals over the line.
All involved in Tyneside will be desperate not to miss out on any more targets and reports are now suggesting that they’re working to ensure that their striker problem is finally solved.
Newcastle expected to take key Wissa step
As reported by GiveMeSport, Newcastle are now expected to submit an improved offer to sign Yoane Wissa after Brentford rejected their opening bid worth around £25m. Whether that second bid, which will reportedly be worth £30m, is successful remains to be seen, but the striker has told the Bees he wants to leave.
Their new Ba: Newcastle confident of signing "remarkable" £50m star
Newcastle are weighing up a move for Brentford’s star man after move for Ekitike falls through.
ByWill Miller Jul 23, 2025
Having already lost Mbeumo, Brentford are reportedly demanding as much as £50m to sell Wissa this summer. Given that he has just one year left on his current deal and has already left the Bees’ pre-season camp amid transfer speculation, however, there could yet be room to negotiate that valuation.
Starts
34
34
Goals
19
23
Assists
4
6
Expected Goals
18.5
20.3
A player who former Brentford manager and new Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank described as “incredible” alongside Mbeumo last season, it’s clear to see why Newcastle want Wissa.
Yoane Wissa celebrates for Brentford
The Brentford star would provide immediate backup for Isak, who has already suffered an injury concern in pre-season, and could even partner the all-important Swede.
The allrounder received a guard of honour in what seemed to be his final CPL game
Deivarayan Muthu19-Sep-2024Andre Russell summed up the overwhelming feeling at the Queen’s Park Oval as the Trinidad crowd turned up in droves on Wednesday to celebrate one of its greatest T20 heroes in what was possibly his last CPL game.Before the start of CPL 2024, Dwayne Bravo had announced he would retire from the league after the end of the ongoing season. But he has played just two games so far this season, and the one against defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain might have been his last, Russell suggested after winning the Player-of-the-Match award and dedicating it to his good friend.”I’m just happy to be part of this game tonight and that’s the reason why so much emotion was kind of behind that celebration,” Russell said after Trinbago Knight Riders beat Amazon Warriors by five wickets. “He [Bravo] deserves a win tonight. You have helped me a lot with my cricket – how to outthink the batter and then to be a smarter bowler. You’re not going to get it right all the time but once you have the right mindset to get the execution, I think you’re on the right way.”We’re going to miss him but I hope he is still going to be around for the rest of the tournament. But he’s definitely one we all listen to and we all look up to and you know he might shed a bit of tears tonight inside the changing room, but I appreciate him.”Related
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Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph rested for SA T20Is
Russell, who has played 130 matches alongside Bravo, including 74 for West Indies, spoke glowing of the impact Bravo has had on his own career.”I think me being who I am today, Bravo has a lot to do with it,” Russell said. “I used to wicketkeep, then I started bowling and batting at No.10, No.11 and 9. Watching him play in Test cricket for West Indies – bowling good pace, fielding and diving and all those things and then when he comes to bat, he gets the job done.”
What an entrance by the CHAMPION!#CPL #TKRvGAW #BiggestPartyInSport #CricketPlayedLouder pic.twitter.com/4hR5DreFId
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 18, 2024
The rest of the TKR players and support staff also seemed to suggest this might have been Bravo’s final CPL match as they honoured him by wearing his No. 47 shirt and giving him a guard of honour before he stepped onto the field.Bravo bowled Keemo Paul for 3 and snagged a sharp catch at slip to dismiss Tim Robinson for 34. Then, during the innings break, he was driven around the Queen’s Park Oval on a cart as he signed balls and sent them into the crowd.Bravo is the most decorated player in the CPL, having won five titles in all, including three with TKR. He led TKR to back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before captaining St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their first title in 2021.He was instrumental in building the Trinidad franchise from scratch before Kieron Pollard joined TKR and took over the captaincy from Bravo. Before the start of the Trinidad leg of the tournament, Pollard also toasted Bravo’s role in TKR’s success.
Aura pic.twitter.com/R3Skzxb95U
— Trinbago Knight Riders (@TKRiders) September 19, 2024
“The impact has been fantastic and tremendous in terms of the individuals he has brought to the franchise from all over the world,” Pollard said of Bravo in a chat with . “At one point an Australian coach in Simon Helmot, he won a championship with him, to the local support staff who have been here since the inception. Persons who are well recognised in Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean. We have Ruel Rigsby, the physio, and Kelly Sankar [massage therapist], who has been here since the inception and Sheldon [Sewnarine] who is one of the logistics guys.”So these are the people who he would’ve put and trusted in supporting roles for him and bringing excellent cricketers of generations – Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum and Johan Bothas of the world – and our own icons in Darren Bravos and Denesh Ramdins and understanding what’s needed to build a cricket team. I think he has done a fantastic job and there’s no better place to finish his cricketing career in the Caribbean than TKR, a team he has built.”From team-mates to opponents, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell have lit up T20 leagues around the world•BCCIRussell is back with a bangHaving been troubled by an ankle injury during the first half of the CPL, Russell marked his return from a two-week break with five boundaries, including four sixes, in his 36 off 15 balls, to help TKR chase down 149 after a middle-order wobble. Prior to the start of this CPL, Russell had also been rested for West Indies’ home T20I series against South Africa, but his return, along with Bravo’s, lent so much domestic depth to TKR’s XI that they could afford to play with just two overseas players in Tim David and Waqar Salamkheil.”It feels good to be back in the middle,” Russell said. “I’ve been struggling with an ankle injury over the past couple of weeks and you know these guys [support staff] have been doing some amazing job, getting me back on the park. I was going to say ‘thanks to me’ because with the dedication and hard work to make sure that I do whatever the physio wants me to do: wake up early morning, head to the gym, in the pool, and do whatever. So, when you work hard you get good results and I’m happy.”
Crystal Palace are making contingency plans behind the scenes, in the event they’re forced to sell Eberechi Eze amid ongoing interest from Arsenal.
Crystal Palace jostling to sign "special" £30m Chelsea ace over AC Milan
The Eagles could land a Chilwell repeat…
ByTom Cunningham Jul 24, 2025
Oliver Glasner hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best summer window after guiding Palace to their first ever major trophy at the end of last season.
The south Londoners are currently in a legal battle with UEFA, Nottingham Forest and Lyon after Palace’s spot in the Europa League was unceremoniously, and perhaps unfairly, revoked due to their alleged breach of multi-club ownership rules.
Daniel Munoz
7.11
Eberechi Eze
7.09
Maxence Lacroix
6.88
Marc Guehi
6.81
Jean-Philippe Mateta
6.80
via WhoScored
John Textor was forced to sell his shares in Palace, agreeing a £190 million deal for his 43% stake with New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, with the American tycoon also resigning from his leadership role at Lyon to try and avoid a demotion to the Conference League.
However, UEFA still followed through with their decision, and Palace have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to get their Europa League spot back.
A decision is expected on August 11 after a hearing three days prior, and whilst the Eagles take on UEFA, Glasner’s side also face the looming threat of losing key players.
Marc Guehi is attracting serious interest from Liverpool and other Premier League rivals ahead of deadline day on September 1, while multiple sources suggest that Arsenal are hot on the heels of star playmaker Eze.
The England international had a £60 million release clause in his contract, but that expired at 11:59pm on Friday night, so Arsenal will need to enter negotiations with Palace if they want to strike a deal.
Arsenal were not planning to trigger Eze’s clause anyway, and the 27-year-old remains very keen on a move across London after talks with both Mikel Arteta and Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta, according to reports.
Crystal Palace could sign Lucas Paqueta and Leandro Trossard to replace Eze
Football Transfers have an update on the ex-QPR star’s future, and it’s claimed that Steve Parish could make a “sensational double swoop” to replace Eze if he does leave.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzeposes with the player of the match trophy
Indeed, West Ham creator Lucas Paqueta and Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard are of interest to Glasner’s side, and FT sources believe that Palace could bring in the two London stars simultaneously if Eze leaves.
The Brazilian is apparently Palace’s “major target”, but they’re also weighing up a move for Trossard, who could be used as a makeweight by Arsenal to sweeten any deal for Eze.
Lucas Paqueta
In a statement move, Palace may actually end up signing both Paqueta and Trossard, but for that to happen, Parish could need to milk as much cash for Eze as possible.
The Hammers midfielder commands a price tag of around £60 million, according to GiveMeSport, while Arsenal have placed a £17 million valuation on Trossard as he enters the final 11 months of his contract.
The £77 million duo are proven Premier League players, though, and could be worth their wait in gold for Glasner, who’s looking to build upon Palace’s historic FA Cup triumph at Wembley.
In the latest from our series focusing on players who swam against the tide during their careers, we take a look at one of Germany's great sporting rebels
"We do what we want? Revolutionaries against authority: 16:0!" That was the message displayed on a banner by Bayern Munich fans during their team's game at Augsburg back in April to commemorate the great revolt within the club of March 1979.
Led by captain Sepp Maier and midfielder Paul Breitner, the Bayern players seized power in Bavaria to overthrow authoritarian, long-time president Wilhelm Neudecker and pave the way for the Uli Hoeness to take over and usher in the modern Bayern Munich.
That Breitner was at the heart of it came as little surprise, since he was someone who personified the term 'rebel; a player for whom accepting the status quo just wasn't an option.
Getty ImagesThe spark
After the club's golden era in the early 1970s, during which they won three European Cups, Bayern slipped into a veritable crisis, both in sporting and economic terms. In dire straits, club president Neudecker saw only one path towards salvation: Appointing Max Merkel (pictured) as the team's new manager.
Legendary Austrian coach Merkel had led both Bayern's rivals 1860 Munich and FC Nurnberg to league titles in the 1960s using questionable methods, earning himself the nickname 'Peitschenknaller' – the whip cracker.
Unsurprisingly, Bayern's players had no desire to endure Merkel's torture, and after a 4-0 home defeat to Arminia Bielefeld, they made a deal with Neudecker. If the team earned at least three points from their following two away games (with a win worth two points) against Eintracht Braunschweig and Borussia Monchengladbach, popular interim coach Pal Csernai would be allowed to stay on. Otherwise, they would accept Merkel.
Just before the first of those games, key players Maier and Breitner fell ill while star striker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge picked up an injury. Nevertheless, the all-important trio fought through and helped the team secure a 0-0 draw. The jubilation after the final whistle was great, but that turned to anger when the players subsequently learned that Neudecker and Merkel had long since signed a contract.
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"Sepp and I went to the team and said, 'Not with us'," Breitner later recounted of the incident. Backed by the 14 remaining squad players, he and Meier told Neudecker that evening that if the deal is broken and Merkel took over, the team would go on strike.
Completely taken aback by such a drastic reaction, Neudecker resigned after 17 years in office. Csernai was kept in charge, and the team went onto achieved their now-irrelevant three-point target with a spectacular 7-1 victory over Gladbach.
"That was something that had never happened before in German football," said Breitner, who was 27 at the time. "The fact that we turned against the coach and thus also against the president, that we took revolutionary steps – that's something that Germans don't normally accept." The public outcry was correspondingly huge, but the revolt was unstoppable.
Maier had to end his career in the summer of 1979 after a car accident, leaving Breitner to take over the captain's armband. His childhood friend Hoeness, who was the same age but could no longer play due to a knee injury, filled the power vacuum created by Neudecker's departure at the administrative level and became the youngest general manager in the Bundesliga.
Together, they catapulted Bayern back to the top. Breitner, in collaboration with Rummenigge, led to two league titles while Hoeness ensured the club's economic recovery with clever advertising deals and transfers.
Complicated figure
Breitner and Hoeness had been on the pitch together as Germany won the 1974 World Cup final, with the former already something of a rebel back then as his his flowing mane and beard made him look like Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara.
Breitner's behaviour gave creed to those comparisons, too. Without being assigned to do so, he converted the penalty to make it 1-1 against the Netherlands in the final, and when the players' wives were not invited to the subsequent German FA (DFB) victory celebration, the then-22-year-old promptly resigned from the national team – a decision he later reversed.
There are several such contradictions in Breitner's life. He posed under a picture of the controversial Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong with the German edition of China's state-owned newspaper – in his hands. However, after the 1974 World Cup, he transferred to the ultimate establishment club, Real Madrid, which was exploited by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.
once dubbedBreitner a "left-wing rebel with a Maserati and a pool". Just like Hoeness, Breitner used the early forms of football commercialisation to enrich himself, appearing in films and signing advertising contracts with companies such as McDonald's. In reality, Breitner just did as he pleased without a care for who might be offended by actions.
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Getty Images SportTaking on Bayern (again)
Breitner ended his playing career in 1983 at the age of just 31. He was later inducted into the Bayern Hall of Fame, during which the club called him "an eccentric, a revolutionary, a maverick, an uncomfortable rebel – a footballer who divided opinion."
Breitner lived up to these attributes even after his career ended. As a newspaper columnist, he regularly clashed with his former club and, above all, with his childhood friend Hoeness, who was still in charge in Bavaria. Their relationship suffered greatly as a result, but Breitner did eventually return to Bayern as a brand ambassador. Nevertheless, he "talked himself out of part of his own career," Rummenigge said. "But Paul was always authentic, an exotic character, a little crazy, but also always interesting."