Tag Futebol

After the Toronto Blue Jays and slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. failed to agree to contract terms before his self-imposed deadline back in February, the belief was that the four-time All-Star would hit the open market as a free agent this winter. Ensuing reports, which indicated just how far apart the two sides were in their negotiations, only served to strengthen that notion.

But everything changed in the early morning hours Monday, as the Blue Jays and Guerrero agreed to terms on a 14-year, $500 million contract extension, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of .

The massive deal begs several questions.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Contract Details Are there any deferrals in Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Contract?

No. Guerrero's contract includes no deferred compensation, according to Spotrac. This was a sticking point in negotiations between the 2023 Home Run Derby champion and the Blue Jays. Guerrero and his agents Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro made it clear that the deal should include no deferrals, which would have significantly lowered its present day value.

Does Guerrero's contract have a no-trade clause?

Yes. Guerrero's deal includes a full no-trade clause, according to Spotrac. Per MLB rules, this means that Guerrero can block a trade to any of the other 29 teams. A full no-trade clause gives much more power to the player than a partial one, which allows a player to block trades only to a specified list of teams.

How long will Guerrero be under contract with the Blue Jays?

For 14 seasons, beginning in the '26 campaign and running through the '39 season.

Where does Guerrero's contract rank among the biggest in MLB history?

It is the third-largest contract in MLB history, but the second-largest in terms of present day value. It is also the largest contract in Blue Jays history. Here's a closer look.

Below are the biggest contracts in MLB history in terms of total value.

Player

Total Contract Value

Juan Soto

$765 million

Shohei Ohtani

$700 million

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

$500 million

Mike Trout

$426.5 million

Mookie Betts

$365 million

Now, here are the biggest contracts in terms of present day value.

Player

Present Day Value

Juan Soto

$765 million

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

$500 million

Shohei Ohtani

$460 million

Mike Trout

$426 million

Aaron Judge

$360 million

In the case of Ohtani and Betts, significant contract deferrals, which have become a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers' team-building philosophy, drag down the present day value of the respective deals.

In terms of average annual value, Guerrero's contract, which will pay him $35.7 million per year, checks in as the ninth-largest in MLB history, just behind New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and Trout. In terms of the biggest contracts among active players at the time of this story's publishing, Guerrero's deal ranks seventh in MLB in AAV. Note that these AAV figures are all in terms of present day value and don't include deferrals.

In a fun twist, Guerrero Jr. will earn $142.8 million through the first four seasons of his deal, which eclipses the entire career earnings of his father and Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr.

In seven seasons, Guerrero has posted a .287/.362/.498 slash line with 160 home runs, 511 RBI and 478 runs scored. In addition to making four All-Star teams and winning the '23 Home Run Derby, he is a two-time Silver Slugger, has a Gold Glove to his name and in '21 was the youngest player, at 22 years old, in MLB history to be named All-Star Game MVP.

NZ’s openers Conway and Young surpassed Zimbabwe’s total of 125 on their own

Firdose Moonda07-Aug-2025

Matt Henry’s sixth Test five-for eclipsed Brendan Taylor’s international comeback, and entrenched questions over Zimbabwe’s batting in the longest format. Zimbabwe were bowled out for their lowest total in nine innings, and second-lowest since 2023, with Taylor’s 44 and Tafadzwa Tsiga’s 33 the only individual scores over 11. That Taylor and Tsiga never batted together further underlines the issue, as Zimbabwe mustered a best partnership of only 29 on a surface where they chose to bat first.There was some early movement but with less bounce on offer than last week, and the quality of New Zealand’s seamers shone through. Henry led the attack, but debutants Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher were also impressive. They varied lengths well, and bowled tight lines to a plan to give New Zealand’s line-up the best of the batting conditions.In response, Devon Conway and Will Young put on New Zealand’s third-highest opening partnership against Zimbabwe, and New Zealand’s first opening stand of over 150 in almost three years. It was their fourth century stand together, and first for the opening wicket. Though separated late in the day, Conway and Young put New Zealand ahead, and memories of Taylor’s slog earlier in the day already far from mind.Related

Brendan Taylor grateful for second chance with Zimbabwe

Taylor was called into action immediately on his comeback after a three-and-a-half-year ban when he was elevated to open the batting – something he had only done six times before – in place of Ben Curran. The reason for that became obvious as Taylor looked, by a distance, the most aware of his off stump, left well, and defended solidly.With all those qualities on display in the morning, he will be livid with the manner of his dismissal shortly after lunch. Taylor became Henry’s third wicket when he popped a tame catch to stand-in captain Mitchell Santner at extra cover to end a two-hour-and-23 minute stay at the crease.By then, Zimbabwe were in all sorts of trouble. They had already lost the rest of their top order thanks to poor shot selection in the face of excellent bowling. Brian Bennett, who partnered Taylor, was out as early as the ninth ball when he chased a delivery that shaped away and edged Henry to second slip, and will have to address his technique going forward.Brendan Taylor scored 44 on his return to Test cricket•Zimbabwe Cricket

Henry should have had Nick Welch off the next ball when he edged a good-length delivery. But Will Young, who took the catch that dismissed Bennett, could not hold on. Welch was beaten on the outside edge at least twice more by Henry, who then beat his inside edge and had him out lbw.Zimbabwe would have hoped an experienced middle order would stabilise them, but Sean Williams and Craig Ervine went cheaply. Williams was worked over by Foulkes, who moved the ball away late, and edged to third slip, where Young took a diving catch to his right. Then, on the stroke of lunch, Ervine reached for a full, wide ball, and handed Young a third catch. Zimbabwe went to the break on 67 for 4, with Taylor on 33 and well set. His shot of the session was an upper cut off Duffy that was struck powerfully and placed well.The same could not be said of the shot Taylor played in the afternoon, when Henry bowled on a good length outside off, and Taylor tried to drive off the back foot but chipped the ball to Santner. At the start of the next over, Foulkes set a leg-side trap for Sikandar Raza, and banged it in short and Raza walked straight in. He moved to the off side, and guided the ball into Rachin Ravindra’s hands. That was the third time in as many innings in this series that Raza was dismissed by the short ball.Foulkes had Trevor Gwandu lbw three balls later, and Zimbabwe had crashed to 83 for 7. The end of the innings was only a matter of time. Henry picked up his fourth when Vincent Masekesa played down the wrong line and the ball hit the top of off stump, and his fifth when Blessing Muzarabani backed away and was bowled. Foulkes also chased a fifth, but Tsiga and Tanaka Chivanga resisted with a 25-run last wicket-stand.Will Young remains without a century one inning into his 22nd Test•Zimbabwe Cricket

Tsiga played a couple of well-timed shots through deep third and midwicket, and offered a rare glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe’s batting. But he ran out of partners when Chivanga failed to use his feet and drove Fisher to mid-off to give him a wicket on debut. Zimbabwe were bowled out inside 49 overs.In response, New Zealand raced to 57 without loss after ten overs, and 40 of their runs came in boundaries. Conway got hold of fuller deliveries from Chivanga, while Young, who was struck on the glove, took on Muzarabani’s short ball. Zimbabwe’s new-ball pair then adjusted their lengths, but when Muzarabani and Chivanga went full, it was too full, and Conway cashed in. Chivanga’s fourth over cost 14 runs as Young cut him twice and then edged a back-of-a-length ball over the slips to bring up New Zealand’s fifty.Gwandu’s introduction quietened things down, but only a touch, as New Zealand accumulated with ease. Chivanga changed ends, and it was off him that Young brought up his 11th Test fifty and New Zealand’s hundred with a flick through midwicket.Zimbabwe’s best chance came shortly after the day’s final drinks break when Muzarabani drew Conway’s edge, but the chance died on Ervine at slip. Muzarabani also found the inside edge, but the ball raced away for four. Conway rode his luck, and then brought up his 13th Test fifty. New Zealand were in the lead with 14.4 overs left to play on the opening day.They were 33 runs ahead when Masekesa thought he had the breakthrough. He hit Conway, on 72, in front of middle and leg, and appealed for lbw but it was turned down. Zimbabwe finally had some joy when Young tried to pull Gwandu but chopped on. Young remains without a century one inning into his 22nd Test. Conway finished the day on 79* alongside nightwatcher Duffy.

Hurricane Milton left a path of destruction in its wake across Florida. Among the areas impacted by the Category 3 hurricane was Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

According to Marc Topkin of the , the damage to the stadium is still being assessed, though it's been made clear that the Rays won't be able to play at the stadium on Opening Day in 2025, which is scheduled for March 27.

Among the areas of the stadium most impacted by the storm was the roof, which was massively disfigured by Hurricane Milton, as well as some of the team offices, which Topkin indicated sustained "extensive" damage.

Topkin reports that it's not immediately clear where the team will play at the start of next year, nor how long they'll be displaced as the stadium undergoes repairs. It's possible they'll play at a nearby minor league stadium, though they'd likely need to play in a stadium that has a roof, something most minor league parks lack.

It seems, as more information about the condition of Tropicana Field is discovered, that the Rays have another potential obstacle to overcome before the start of next season, which figure to have significant impacts on the upcoming campaign.

Mikel Arteta has urged calm and perspective after Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was dropped from Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad. The 19-year-old left-back has struggled for regular minutes this season, and while his omission has sparked debate among fans, Arteta insists the setback could “happen for the right reason” as he backed the teenager to bounce back stronger.

• Lewis-Skelly omitted from latest England squad

  Lewis-Skelly was one of several players omitted from Tuchel’s latest England squad for the November internationals against Serbia and Albania. The 19-year-old, who featured in the October clashes, was left out as Tuchel prioritised players receiving consistent game time at club level. Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly and Tottenham’s Djed Spence were instead called up, with the England boss emphasising that competition and performance dictated his selection.

  Lewis-Skelly’s exclusion follows a season in which he has struggled to cement a first-team place. Despite impressing in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid last month, the teenager has only played 92 minutes of Premier League football this term, primarily featuring in cup competitions. With Riccardo Calafiori reclaiming the left-back role after recovering from injury, Lewis-Skelly has found himself pushed down the pecking order at the Emirates.  

  Tuchel had previously warned that a lack of minutes could jeopardise Lewis-Skelly’s England place, and his latest squad confirms he has acted on that stance. As it stands, Lewis-Skelly will have to reclaim his starting spot at club level if he is to return to the national team setup before next year’s World Cup.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Arteta sends a positive message to Lewis-Skelly

  Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League trip to Sunderland, Arteta expressed empathy for Lewis-Skelly but encouraged the player to see his omission as part of a larger journey. "Yes for sure, we are here to support and to help each other and give a good perspective of the situation," Arteta said when asked if the teenager needed reassurance." 

  The Arsenal boss continued to praise the maturity and achievements of the 19-year-old despite his recent setback. "When you look at his age, what he's already done, he's just remarkable. So don't look at the one [bad] moment what is happening for you because maybe it happens for the right reason and today you cannot see it."

• Getty Images
  

  Tuchel explains Lewis-Skelly snubbing from November squad

  Tuchel’s decision to omit Lewis-Skelly was not based on form alone but on consistency and competition within the England setup. The England manager explained that the Arsenal defender, along with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Morgan Gibbs-White, had been “out-performed” by players earning regular starts for their clubs. “Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes,” Tuchel said, noting that Nico O’Reilly’s sustained run at Manchester City had pushed him ahead in the selection order. 

  For Lewis-Skelly, the message is clear: minutes on the pitch matter as much as talent. His total of 470 minutes across all competitions this season lags behind rivals Spence and O’Reilly, who have featured far more prominently for their respective clubs. Nevertheless, within Arsenal, there remains full belief in the teenager’s long-term potential. Lewis-Skelly is widely regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the Hale End academy in recent years.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lewis-Skelly may still have a way into England World Cup plans

  Lewis-Skelly’s immediate focus will be on reclaiming a more prominent role within Arteta’s matchday plans. With Arsenal navigating a busy run of fixtures across domestic and European competitions, opportunities are likely to arise, particularly if Arteta continues to rotate his squad. A strong performance in upcoming fixtures could strengthen his case for both Arsenal minutes and a potential recall to the England setup in March.  

  As for Tuchel, the door remains open. England’s manager has repeatedly stated that his selections are fluid, dependent on form and fitness, not past reputation. With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, Lewis-Skelly’s challenge is clear.

Manchester United are looking to plan for the long-term under Ruben Amorim and Fabrizio Romano has now delivered a key update on the future of one of their stars.

Matheus Cunha excited for what's to come at Man Utd

Admittedly, the Red Devils have had a mixed start to the season, and it will take time to get things right as they aim to climb the Premier League table, albeit Matheus Cunha has been impressive since his summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Opening up on his settling in period, the Brazil international has laid out his plans to continue improving at Old Trafford, claiming that he is enjoying the challenge of helping Manchester United to get back to their best.

He said via the People’s Person: “What I was searching for as a person more than anything else, I’m slowly finding. You constantly want to improve; that’s innate in human nature, but I can’t help but stop and enjoy this moment.

“Feeling privileged to wear the jersey of the greatest national team in the world, one of the greatest clubs in the world… It’s a spectacular personal moment. I have an incredible family, another little girl now, everyone is doing well and healthy. I’m enjoying all of this in a positive way.”

While the Red Devils look to rectify results on the field, club officials are ready to push for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton despite Real Madrid also holding an interest in the England international.

Related Man Utd have a "£100m + footballer" who's becoming their new McTominay

Man Utd will not want to repeat the mistake they made with McTominay

Posts 2 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 13, 2025

However, bringing new talent into the building isn’t their only priority, with an update now emerging on the future of one of their key stars whose next steps have now become clearer.

Fabrizio Romano delivers Harry Maguire contract update

According to Romano in his GIVEMESPORT column, Manchester United star Harry Maguire is in talks over a contract extension, but he won’t be set for a pay rise if he does end up putting pen to paper at Old Trafford.

He said: “No [he won’t be receiving a pay rise]. It would have to be a different salary structure for Maguire in order to make it happen, talks are taking place.”

Harry Maguire at Manchester United

Appearances

253

Goals

16

Assists

9

Trophies

EFL Cup x1, FA Cup x1

Reported to be earning £190,000 per week at Old Trafford, the England international is famously one of Manchester United’s most expensive ever signings following his £80 million move to the club in 2019 from Leicester City.

Throughout highs and lows, Maguire’s leadership qualities and consistent level of performance have always shone through, and he is worthy of an extended stay at Old Trafford while Amorim tries to navigate a transitional period for the club.

Of course, he is likely to garner interest in the transfer market. However, Manchester United fans will hope a new contract can be sorted out for one of their most dependable assets.

Everton’s summer has been one of bold investment.

After losing several senior players, including Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the club moved swiftly in the market.

Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, Tyler Dibling from Southampton, and, most eye-catchingly, Jack Grealish from Manchester City.

The start to the season has been encouraging. Everton lost their opening fixture 1-0 away at a raucous Elland Road but responded with a 2-0 home win over Brighton.

That momentum carried into a thrilling 3-2 victory at Molineux, giving supporters cautious optimism. Yet amid this excitement, Everton’s left-back situation remains one of the more pressing concerns.

For years, the position was locked down by club legend Leighton Baines, whose attacking instincts, set-piece expertise, and sheer consistency made him a fan favourite and one of the best full-backs in Premier League history.

Baines played 420 games for the Toffees, scoring 39 goals and assisting 64 more, becoming the first defender to reach 50 Premier League assists.

Now an assistant coach under David Moyes, Baines still casts a long shadow over the role he perfected.

Everton’s recent struggles in the position, however, have made his legacy all the more glaring.

Everton's issues at Left-Back

Everton’s problems at left-back were laid bare on opening day when James Garner, a natural midfielder, was forced to fill in against Leeds.

He performed admirably, even scoring against Brighton in the following game when deployed there again, but his inclusion underscored the lack of natural options.

Vitaliy Mykolenko remains the first-choice left-back, but his availability is a constant question mark.

Since joining Everton, the Ukrainian has missed 23 matches through injury, disrupting any rhythm in the back line.

His return for the full 90 minutes against Wolves was a welcome sight, but the recurring fitness issues mean the club cannot rely on him as a season-long solution.

The uncertainty at left-back has been a consistent issue since Baines retired, and it is little surprise Everton turned to the transfer market in search of an answer.

Their £8m move for one of Europe’s most promising young full-backs could prove decisive in addressing this long-standing problem.

Adam Aznou could be the next Baines

Everton’s decision to sign Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich was not just a short-term fix but a long-term investment in a player who has the potential to redefine their left side.

At 19, the Moroccan international has already built a reputation as one of the brightest defensive talents in Europe.

A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he moved to Bayern in 2022, featuring in both the Champions League and Club World Cup, albeit for just 29 minutes combined.

The second half of last season saw him gain valuable senior experience on loan at Real Valladolid.

Despite the club finishing bottom of La Liga, Aznou shone individually, ranking second for dribbles completed among defenders with at least 500 minutes played, as per BBC Sport

Bayern board member Max Eberl openly admitted regret at losing him, underlining just how highly rated he remains in Germany.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has already described Aznou as having “huge potential,” a statement that captures the excitement surrounding the teenager’s arrival. Mattinson has also tipped him to be the heir to Baines under Moyes.

His statistical profile backs that up.

The full-back sits in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 (1.91), the 91st percentile for tackles per 90 (2.82), and the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 (2.51).

These numbers illustrate not only his willingness to carry the ball forward but also his capacity to defend aggressively and positionally.

Though Everton supporters will need to be patient – he has yet to make a matchday squad on Merseyside – the club views him as a player capable of becoming their next Baines: dependable at the back, adventurous going forward, and a fan favourite in waiting.

Crucially, his development could be accelerated by the calibre of teammates around him, particularly Everton’s marquee signing of the summer – Grealish.

The England international arrived from Manchester City after Thomas Tuchel warned him that he needs regular minutes to secure his place at the World Cup.

He has begun the season brilliantly, registering four assists in three games, and looks every bit the creative force Everton needed on the left flank.

His ability to drift inside, carry the ball at speed, and thread through passes makes him the perfect partner for an overlapping full-back.

If Aznou can integrate into the side, his overlapping runs and willingness to push high up the pitch could dovetail perfectly with Grealish’s inside-left positioning.

For now, Aznou remains very much in the pipeline.

He will need time, patience, and careful integration, but the tools are all there for him to succeed.

Everton have a "match-winner" who's Moyes' new Pienaar & it's not Grealish

David Moyes could have this next Steven Pienaar now at Everton in this fantastic £22m star.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 5, 2025

Half-centuries from Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh helped Lucknow Super Giants put on 203 for 8 against Mumbai Indians on Friday in IPL 2025. MI captain Hardik Pandya took a five-for for the visitors after winning the toss and choosing to bowl.Marsh survived a caught-behind chance in the first over of the game. But the bowler Trent Boult and his team-mates didn’t hear it, and the opener capitalised in a 69-run powerplay where he hit nine fours and two sixes.The introduction of left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur accounted for Marsh before a slower bouncer from Hardik reduced the in-form Nicholas Pooran’s promising start to a cameo. Rishabh Pant’s lack of form continued as he, too, fell to a slower short ball from Hardik.After going on the attack during Pant’s stay, Markram went back to playing second-fiddle with Ayush Badoni’s entry. Badoni bought some time but got going later on to post 30 off 19 balls. He was out caught behind playing the scoop a ball before the death overs began. LSG made 90 for 4 in the middle (7-16) overs.Markram reached his fifty off 34 balls, which was off the 98th ball of the innings. He fell to Hardik, who bowled two overs at the death in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. A couple of boundaries from David Miller in the final over took LSG past the 200-mark before Hardik helped himself to two wickets to complete a five-for, the first by a captain in IPL history.

The KKR batter explained it was “not an easy pitch to just go out there and hit”, and taking his time to get set worked

Sreshth Shah03-Apr-20252:53

Boucher: Arora’s length and swing caused trouble

As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wrapped up their innings at 200 for 6, Venkatesh Iyer stood at the edge of the dugout, embracing Angkrish Raghuvanshi in a moment of silent acknowledgment. While the gesture seemed to signal “mission accomplished”, it was more of a nod to the fact that KKR had posted a competitive total, especially after being 122 for 4 after 15 overs, to give their bowlers a chance to test Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).In the end, KKR’s bowling attack ensured the target was more than sufficient. But in hindsight, it was the blistering 91-run stand in just 41 balls between Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh that reshaped SRH’s perception of the chase, turning a manageable ask into a daunting one.Venkatesh, who top-scored with a 29-ball 60, said that even in the age of batters being aggressive from the first ball, there were still plenty of benefits of taking a few balls early to set your eye in.Related

Swing while you're winning – KKR 'bowl a touch fuller' to thwart Travishek

The Arorana stumbling block in Travishek's rumbling road

Rahane: Batting unit needs to take it forward

Venkatesh, Arora consign SRH to their biggest-ever defeat

“The messages that they [Ajinkya Rahane and Raghuvanshi] sent during the time-out, they made us understand that it’s not an easy pitch to just go out there and hit. You have to take your time,” Venkatesh told reporters after the match. “Ball was sticking a little, it was turning.”So it was important for us not to chew a few balls, but to take time to understand what the pitch has to offer. And I have that luxury because we have Rinku [Singh], Ramandeep [Singh] and [Andre] Russell in the backend.”Even if I take a few balls, I know that if I can cover it to an extent, we still have our engine room who can demolish any bowling attack. So the plan was to understand the pitch first and then react accordingly.”It worked as Venkatesh and Rinku accelerated after the 15th over when they were on 11 off ten and 6 off eight balls, respectively.But with two set batters at the crease, anything less than full-throttle hitting would have been an opportunity wasted with Russell, Ramandeep and in this game, Moeen Ali still padded up. While this depth in the line-up gives batters the freedom to play fearlessly – knowing their wicket holds less individual value – Venkatesh pointed out another reason.”We tried to milk it around, understand the condition,” Venkatesh said. “It was never easy for a new batter to go out there and hit. To be very honest, even if Ramandeep and Russell would have come in the 18th over, they would have had to take a couple of balls to understand the nature of the surface. I had that luxury, Rinku had that luxury. We had taken a few balls and then it became easy for us.1:10

Do SRH need to rethink their batting approach?

“But I think the frame of mind that you are talking about, once we hit the 17th over, we just understood that we can tee off now. We had taken enough time. We had to hit because we have three more batters coming in, but in order to hit and in order to execute the plans properly, it was important for us to spend time out there and that’s what we did.”Reflecting on his low scores – 3 and 6 – in his first two knocks before this breakout innings, Venkatesh felt he was “rushing a little” earlier in the tournament. He further said they wanted to be a team that posted “20 runs above par” and not just swing from ball one.”It’s very important for us to show positive but correct intent,” he said. “If we are 50 for 6 and I still go and tonk everything, that’s positive, but that’s not correct.”Aggression does not mean tonking every ball for sixes. It’s about how you understand the conditions, how you are able to maximize the conditions in your favour. And that is what aggression actually is. We don’t want to be the team that scores 250 when we’re playing well and when we’re not, we get out for 70.”We want to be a team who understands the pitch and the conditions quickly. To assess the par score and try to make 20 runs above par.”Venkatesh acknowledged that their total wasn’t entirely comfortable against a team like SRH. However, he credited Vaibhav Arora, the Player of the Match, for his impactful new-ball spell that shifted the momentum firmly in KKR’s favour.”Even after scoring 220, sometimes we feel that they can change it,” he said. “But we always knew that a team which is ultra-aggressive always carries the risk of getting wickets. That’s what we wanted to exploit. We have Vaibhav Arora who bowls in the powerplay to pick up wickets and he did that. A team that hits every ball also has the chance of going down early. And that’s what we wanted to exploit.”

West Ham United have experienced a nightmare start to life back in the Premier League.

Graham Potter’s job security is already on thin ice at the Hammers a mere two games into the brand new season, having had to watch his hopeless team lose 3-0 away at Sunderland on the opening day, only to then be humiliated back on their patch 5-1 by near London rivals Chelsea.

It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, however, with West Ham potentially able to restore some of their damaged pride by picking up some last-minute purchases in the transfer window to try and push them out of their malaise.

West Ham keep tabs on £20m star

Potter will look to be busy between now and September’s approaching deadline, knowing this could be make or break for his job in the long run.

Reports from Spain are indicating that the basement club are in talks over landing Barcelona youngster Hector Fort on loan, on top of AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa also being on their radar, albeit with Nottingham Forest and Atalanta being placed alongside them in the race for the £15m midfielder.

Away from those named, the forlorn Irons are also in the hunt for an experienced Premier League attacker who could be available for as cheap as £20m.

Indeed, a report from Caught Offside reveals that West Ham are keeping tabs on Raheem Sterling’s developing situation at Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, with Beskitas allegedly in the lead for the 30-year-old’s services, as the Turkish titans plan to send a delegation out to London shortly to seal a deal.

Still, not all hope will be lost, considering Caught Offside also state that the Blues number seven might prefer a London stay over a switch to the Super Lig, with Fulham also keeping an eye on the unfolding situation, alongside Potter and Co.

How Sterling can become the next Antonio

Despite Sterling’s missteps at both Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years, he could be the boost West Ham desire up top, with Potter potentially picking up the Hammers’ next version of Michail Antonio in the process.

The Premier League’s early relegation favourites waved goodbye to a whole host of experienced faces this summer, as the likes of Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski departed the London Stadium.

The casualty that looks to have hurt the Hammers instantly is the loss of Antonio, though, with the loyal 35-year-old servant allowed to leave the building on a free transfer this summer.

Off the back of this decision, West Ham have only been able to carve out one big chance during their opening two league defeats, leading to former goalkeeper Robert Green bemoaning the lack of leaders in the dressing room after the sobering Blues loss.

With the Jamaican’s 83-goal tally gone, the Hammers are clearly in dire need of another seasoned head to try and get more out of a limp attack, which is where Sterling could come to the rescue if he can bounce back from disappointing stints elsewhere in London.

Sterling’s record by club

Club

Games

Goals + Assists

Man City

339

131 + 86

Liverpool

129

23 + 18

Chelsea

81

19 + 15

Arsenal

28

1 + 5

Sourced by Transfermarkt

It’s clear from the table above that Sterling can be a “world class” star on his day – as he was once lauded by ex-City teammate Frank Lampard – with a mammoth 174 goals up his sleeve playing for some of the Premier League’s elite clubs, with a further 124 assists also catching West Ham’s eye. Incredible, 123 of those goals have come in the top-flight.

The 82-time England international might not lead the line in the same imposing manner as Antonio, but his creativity and efforts down the right wing might just enable the Hammers to get out of some sticky situations and soar up the league, with the likes of Niclas Fullkrug perhaps able to put his shaky start to the campaign behind him, knowing he has the expertise of the 30-year-old by his side.

Further dubbed as “outstanding” by football pundit Paul Merson when showing off flashes of his excellence at Stamford Bridge, Sterling will hope he can show there’s life still in his legs at the London Stadium, much like Antonio did during the 2023/24 season with seven goals next to his name, before his unfortunate Hammers exit.

After all, Sterling’s former Three Lions boss in Gareth Southgate did once herald him as a “fighter”, with a hope he can become a bright spark for West Ham during some testing times, too, leading to a sharp rise up the table imminently.

Related West Ham submit opening offer to sign "exciting" 6'2 Alvarez replacement

The Hammers have made their first move…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Aug 23, 2025

Manchester City are now leading the race for a “world-class” player, who is very keen on sealing a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Guardiola keen on new goalkeeper amid Ederson concerns

Man City crashed out of the Club World Cup at the round of 16 stage, which left Pep Guardiola dissatisfied, and the manager is reportedly growing particularly tired of Ederson’s performances, with the Brazilian failing to reach his usual lofty heights.

Consequently, Guardiola is now looking to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, with it recently being revealed the Blues are ready to submit a £51m bid for FC Porto’s Diogo Costa, who has been identified as one of their top targets.

However, Costa is not the only option on the shortlist, as James Trafford is also of interest, and contact has been made over a deal for the Burnley shot-stopper, with City looking to hijack their Premier League rivals, Newcastle United.

Newcastle have been in the driving seat in the race for Trafford’s signature for quite some time, and a report last week suggested the Magpies were closing in on a deal, but it now looks like he could re-join the Blues.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Etihad Stadium is the goalkeeper’s most likely destination this summer, indicating Man City are now leading the race, with Newcastle now at real risk of missing out on a deal entirely.

City have a £40m buy-back clause for their former player, although they are looking to negotiate a fee below that figure, given that £40m would be a large fee to shell out for a goalkeeper yet to prove himself at the very highest level.

Man City plot £147m bid to sign Chelsea ace with the same agent as Rico Lewis

Manchester City are readying a huge bid to sign a player they and Pep Guardiola know very well.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 21, 2025

Crucially, the Burnley star is “very keen” on a return to the Etihad Stadium, which means it could be easy to negotiate personal terms if the Blues are able to agree a suitable fee with the Clarets.

"World-class" Trafford could be ideal Ederson heir

The 22-year-old, on £25,000-a-week, is clearly now ready to test himself at the top level, given that he performed remarkably well for Burnley in the Championship last season, shipping just 16 goals in 45 appearances and keeping 29 clean sheets.

The former City man clearly has plenty of self-belief too, having described himself as “world-class” last season, and the Englishman’s performances for the Clarets over the past year suggest he could certainly be at that level.

Statistic

Average per 90

Goals against

0.36 (99th percentile)

Save percentage

84.5% (99th percentile)

Save % (penalties)

100% (95th percentile)

Clean sheet percentage

64.4% (99th percentile)

Clearly, Trafford could be an ideal long-term replacement for Ederson, but he will have big shoes to fill, given that the Brazilian has been a fantatsic servant to City, winning six Premier League titles during his time at the Etihad Stadium.