Arsenal are reportedly considering a shock swoop to sign Chelsea winger Noni Madueke this summer.

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Chelsea have not put Madueke on the marketArsenal believe Blues will be forced into saleArteta impressed with winger's versatilityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Arsenal are believed to be weighing up a surprise move for Madueke as Mikel Arteta looks to reinforce his wide options ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Though no official contact has yet been made between the clubs, the Gunners are among several teams reported to be keeping tabs on the England international’s situation at Stamford Bridge.

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Madueke is not on Chelsea’s transfer list at the moment. However, it’s understood that he is not viewed as indispensable by the west London club either, prompting interest from potential suitors, including Arsenal.

The former PSV Eindhoven star enjoyed a solid season at Stamford Bridge, notching 11 goals and providing five assists across all competitions. His performances earned him a call-up to the England national team, and he notably assisted Harry Kane’s decisive goal against Andorra during the last international break.

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Madueke’s appeal lies in his ability to operate effectively on either wing, offering tactical versatility that aligns with Arteta’s attacking philosophy. With Bukayo Saka an ever-present threat on the right but often lacking sufficient backup, the addition of Madueke would provide a much-needed option either as cover or to stretch defences from the opposite flank.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MADUEKE?

Enzo Maresca has plenty of other wingers to rely upon at Chelsea, with Pedro Neto currently preferred on the right. The Blues will also welcome Estevao Willian to the team after the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Aston Villa have expressed their interest in signing an African attacker who prefers an assist to scoring a goal.

Rashford and Asensio starring for Aston Villa as NSWE eye permanent moves

Into the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and pushing for another top-four finish in the Premier League, it has been a positive start to 2025 for Unai Emery’s side.

The Spaniard was backed by NSWE in January with loan deals for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio from Manchester United and PSG respectively. Both have starred in recent weeks for Villa, and there have already been claims that Villa are plotting a permanent move for Asensio that could be worth £25m.

With Rashford, it is believed that Villa are best placed to sign the forward on a full-time basis. Those in the Midlands have a £40m option to buy, and ex-scout Mick Brown thinks Villa are in pole position to sign Rashford.

“Marcus going out on loan has been a win-win. There was no way his situation at Man United was going to improve, so from that point of view he’s gone away and improved his position. There’s never been any doubt about Marcus’ talent, and now he’s found a platform to display that.

“Aston Villa have gained from it because they were brave enough to take him on loan. Now, I think they’ll be in the best position to keep him on a permanent deal even though there’s going to be interest from elsewhere.”

Ahead of the summer, NSWE and Villa have been identifying new targets, and they may have found a star in the making who is catching the eye across Europe.

Aston Villa make approach for 18 y/o attacker Rodolfo Aloko

According to reports from Spain, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are one of the clubs circling to sign Rodolfo Aloko, who is currently plying his trade in Croatia with NK Kustosija.

The 18-year-old is primarily an attacking midfielder but has been described as a very fast and powerful striker who is difficult to stop when at full speed.

Villa have seemingly made an approach by expressing their interest in Aloko, however, they are not alone, with RB Salzburg and PSV Eindhoven doing the same. Sevilla have also scouted Aloko in action for Benin and are thought to be ahead in the race, with the attacker in and out of Kustosija’s first team and reserves.

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It is added that Aloko actually enjoys assisting more than scoring goals and that Kustosija will want a ‘decent fee’ to part ways with their talented African over the coming months.

By the looks of things, a move to Villa for Aloko could be one to keep an eye on, where he may join the likes of Rory Wilson in the club’s academy looking to eventually progress into the first team.

Everton have been a day late and a dollar short far too often in recent memory, but things are beginning to look up. David Moyes brings with him a sort of confidence, exuding a winning mentality that has been absorbed by players desperate for something more.

While the summer transfer window will bring Everton, who are all but certain to be plying their trade in the Premier League next year, a sense of clarity, fans will hope that incoming Director of Football Angus Kinnear can ship out the deadwood and ensure the signings made hit the ground running.

He’ll do his best, no doubt. However, the Toffees may also need to cash in on one or two of their prized possessions in order to make the sweeping changes anticipated. Sadly, one such player might be Jarrad Branthwaite.

Jarrad Branthwaite's Everton future

Branthwaite is probably Everton’s best player; certainly, he’s the most valuable in the present market. Interest in his signature was rife last season, Manchester United launching a succession of bids but failing to even brush the £75m ballpark that Farhad Moshiri and Kevin Thelwell deemed just for the centre-back’s sale.

Everton are within their rights to demand a king’s ransom for Branthwaite’s departure. After all, the 22-year-old has been described as “pretty special” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

And rightly so. In the Premier League last season, Branthwaite won 67% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore. This year, that success rate has risen to a staggering 74% average. At 6 foot 5, he’s commanding and imperious in his defending, bearing the mark of a future superstar.

He’s one of the very best and Everton’s most valuable player right now, but there’s actually another rising star in the English top flight worth more than Branthwaite.

That man is Anthony Gordon, not the flavour of the month on either half of Merseyside right now.

The ex-Everton star now worth more than Branthwaite

Part of the Newcastle United squad (albeit not featuring at Wembley due to suspension) that defeated Liverpool in this month’s Carabao Cup final, Gordon has gone from strength to strength since leaving Everton.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

But while Toffees will have allowed a smirk at Gordon-involved celebrations, seeing the Reds in ruin, the England international is not very well liked at Goodison after forcing his way out in January 2023.

Frank Lampard had been dismissed and Sean Dyche appointed in his stead, with the upheaval and overall turbulence at Everton seemingly convincing Gordon that he needed to jump ship. And so, having handed in a transfer request, he signed for the Magpies in a deal worth £45m.

Newcastle

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22

17

Everton

78

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Preston

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England

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Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24, Gordon came close to moving back to Merseyside before the current campaign kicked off. Indeed, Liverpool were perusing the market for a left-sided forward and the Toon needed to raise money due to PSR complications.

They circumvented through other means, largely because Newcastle chiefs placed an incredible £100m price tag on the Three Lions winger, which would have seen him become one of the most expensive players in Premier League history if acted upon from Anfield, very much above Branthwaite in that regard.

Iliman Ndiaye’s success this season after joining from Marseille last summer has put Gordon’s frustrations firmly to bed, but it’s still disappointing to think he was so quick to flee after spending a decade at the club, joining from Liverpool’s academy aged 11.

Gordon is a “special” player, as said by producer Andrew Musgrove, and losing his quality remains a bitter pill to swallow.

Given that his performances have led to claims of a potential £100m transfer fee, it’s one Everton will rue for a while. It could have been so much more.

Moyes can forget Branthwaite by unleashing Everton's "special" academy gem

Everton might need a replacement for Branthwaite if he leaves

2 ByJoe Nuttall Mar 26, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A temporada de 2023 já começou para o Corinthians. O clube se planeja com antecedência para a construção do elenco para o ano que vem e vê os atacantes Paulinho e Pedro Raul como opções para reforçar o elenco.

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+Manto do Corinthians: veja os modelos finalistas para quarta camisa do Timão em 2023

No entanto, a diretoria corintiana ainda não se mexeu para contratar nenhum desses atletas e isso não deve ocorrer antes de uma definição sobre quem será o treinador do clube no ano que vem.

Vale lembrar que Vítor Pereira tem contrato até o fim de dezembro e só comunicará a sua permanência, ou não, no comando técnico corintiano ao fim do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Mesmo assim, o Timão já buscou informações sobre os dois atacantes e o saldo foi diferente em relação a cada um.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os jogos do Timão

Inicialmente, Pedro Raul parece estar mais dentro da realidade corintiana. O nome agrada muitas pessoas dentro do Parque São Jorge. E como o jogador pertence ao Kashiwa Reysol, a situação para compra é vista com bastante otimismo.

Segundo informações obtidas pelo LANCE!, a equipe japonesa ainda não definiu a pedida pelo jogador, mas trabalha com valores em torno de 2 a 5 milhões de dólares (R$ 10 a 26 milhões, na cotação atual).

Já Paulinho, atacante que se destacou no Vasco em 2018, é enxergado como um ativo mais distante para compra por parte do Corinthians.

O atleta tenta se desvincular do Bayer Leverkusen, da Alemanha, e pode ter êxito nisso até o fim da temporada, já que o seu contrato com os alemães vence no meio do ano que vem. O intuito de Paulinho é retornar ao Brasil. Porém, times com maior poderio financeiro que o Timão sonham com o jogador. O principal deles é o Atlético-MG.

continua após a publicidade

Ainda assim, o Corinthians não descarta fazer uma investida ao atleta, caso se confirme o fato dele ficar livre no mercado. Com a saída de Willian e empréstimo de Mantuan ao Zenit, da Rússia, até o meio da próxima temporada, o Timão busca um atacante de beirada.

يعيش مهاجم فريق مانشستر يونايتد، ماركوس راشفورد، أجواءً سامة داخل أروقة النادي الإنجليزي، في ظل رغبته الحثيثة في الانتقال إلى صفوف برشلونة هذا الصيف.

ولم يعد ماركوس راشفورد جزءًا من خطط مانشستر يونايتد، وهو ما ظهر بشكل واضح الموسم الماضي عندما قضى النصف الثاني على سبيل الإعارة في صفوف أستون فيلا.

وعاد راشفورد من جديد إلى مانشستر يونايتد بعد انتهاء فترة إعارته مع أستون فيلا، ولم يبدِ الأخير رغبته في شرائه بشكل دائم.

ويرتبط اللاعب الإنجليزي بشكل مستمر بإمكانية الرحيل إلى صفوف برشلونة، حيث يرغب في اللعب تحت قيادة المدرب هانز فليك.

وأكدت تقارير صحفية، قبل عدة أيام، أن راشفورد ضمن عدة لاعبين أبلغوا مسؤولي مانشستر يونايتد برغبتهم في الرحيل عن النادي الإنجليزي في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي الحالي.

وحسبما ذكرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، فإن المعركة بين راشفورد ومانشستر يونايتد أصبحت ضارية، بعدما أكد النادي للاعب بأنه خارج حسابات المدرب روبن أموريم ويجب أن يرحل في الميركاتو الجاري.

وأوضحت أن المشكلة هنا تتمثل في كون راشفورد يريد اختيار وجهته وشروط رحيله، وهو الأمر الذي لم ينل قبول مانشستر يونايتد ودفع النادي إلى فرض شروط قاسية عليه خلال فترة ما قبل الموسم.

وأشارت إلى أن راشفورد امتثل لتلك الشروط طواعية لتجنب تجميده، وتتمثل تلك القيود في تحديد مانشستر يونايتد جداول تدريب واضحة للاعب حتى لا يضطر للقاء روبن أموريم في ملعب كارينجتون.

ويتعين على راشفورد التدريب من الساعة الخامسة مساءً يوميًا، بمجرد مغادرة جميع أعضاء الفريق الأول للمبنى، وامتثالاً للوائح، يوفر مانشستر يونايتد المرافق والمعدات والمساعدة الفنية لمساعدته على الاستمرار في خطة تدريب فردية.

ليس هذا فقط، بل حدد النادي نفسه جدول تدريبات راشفورد، حيث يتعين عليه، على سبيل المثال، التدرب منفردًا يوم السبت بينما يسافر الفريق إلى ستوكهولم لخوض مباراة ودية ضد ليدز يونايتد.

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واضطر راشفورد إلى مغادرة مجمع التدريب من الباب الخلفي، قبل أيام، قبل دقائق من مغادرة أموريم من الباب الأمامي، حيث لن يكون هناك أي تواصل بينهما حتى يتم الاتفاق على رحيل اللاعب.

وأفادت الصحيفة أنه يتم الآن مناقشة الوضع بشكل قانوني، حيث بدأ ممثلو راشفورد التحقيق فيما إذا كانت حقوقه كلاعب كرة قدم محترف، بموجب العقد، قد تعرضت للانتهاك، وهو الأمر الذي قد يمنحه سببًا قويًا لمقاضاة النادي من أجل إنهاء العقد والحصول على راتبه كاملًا حتى عام 2028.

ووضع مانشستر يونايتد خطة صارمة بشأن راشفورد، في انتظار امتثاله، حيث أن عدم الإيفاء بها يعني فرض عقوبة عليه، في ظل رفض اللاعب أي عروض من أندية أخرى، حيث يريد الانتقال إلى برشلونة فقط، وهو ما جعل الجانب الإنجليزي يفقد صبره.

ويرفض راشفورد الاستماع إلى أي عروض في المملكة العربية السعودية، ولا يفكر في الانضمام إلى فناربخشة تحت قيادة جوزيه مورينيو، رغم اهتمام الأخير بإقناعه، إلى جانب وجود اتصالات من بايرن ميونخ وإنتر ميلان.

ويصر راشفورد على ارتداء قميص برشلونة، وسينتظر حتى نهاية فترة الانتقالات إذا لزم الأمر.

وقد يؤدي ذلك إلى الأمر في النهاية إلى تخفيف شروط رحيل راشفورد، من قِبل مانشستر يونايتد، حيث طلبت الإدارة في البداية 40 مليون يورو مقابل رحيله.

وبدأ مانشستر يونايتد يفكر في إمكانية قبول رحيل راشفورد على سبيل الإعارة، بشرط ألا يضطروا إلى دفع أي جزء من راتبه، وهو ما فعلوه خلال فترة تواجده مع أستون فيلا.

واختتمت الصحيفة قولها إنه من المرجح جدًا أن يزداد الوضع صعوبة، مما ينتج عنه في النهاية رحيل راشفورد بشروط سهلة للغاية، وهو ما يعتمد عليه برشلونة بالفعل.

Bumrah has also joined the side after missing the game against Nepal for the birth of his child

Deivarayan Muthu09-Sep-20233:49

Urooj Mumtaz: Pakistan’s fifth- and sixth-bowling options need to find form

Big picture: Rain threat in ColomboRain, scheduling constraints, and a last-minute change to playing conditions have all thrown the 2023 Asia Cup into chaos.The tournament has moved to Colombo, with India and Pakistan looking to resume their rivalry after rain had held sway in Pallekele. The weather, however, continues to be a threat. It could be another wet day on September 10, with chances of precipitation up to 90%. The is a reserve day now for this game – the only match apart from the final to have that luxury – but the forecast once again is similarly bleak.India’s match against Nepal too was affected by rain. If the weather clears up in Colombo, India will test out the readiness of KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah for the ODI World Cup.Related

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Naseem suffers injury scare against Bangladesh

Rahul hasn’t played in an ODI since March while Bumrah hasn’t bowled in one since July. And in order to accommodate Rahul in the XI, India’s team management might have to bench Ishan Kishan, who has reeled off four half-centuries in his last four innings in the format. Decisions, decisions.For the duration play was possible in Pallekele, India’s batters and Pakistan’s attack teased a gripping contest. There could be more of the same in Colombo or perhaps just rain across two days.Form guideIndia WWLWL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Pakistan WWWWWIn the spotlight: KL Rahul and Naseem Shah After spending four months on the sidelines, KL Rahul is set to slot back into India’s ODI XI. Kishan has shaken things up in the recent past and has grabbed almost every opportunity, but Rahul has got the vote of confidence from the selectors and the team management. At a recent press conference, India’s captain Rohit Sharma saw the possibility of having both Rahul and Kishan in the XI, but that appears unlikely. It will be Rahul vs Kishan in the lead-up to the World Cup. Sunday’s fixture against Pakistan could well be Rahul’s first chance to prove his fitness and form.1:43

Akhtar: ‘Rauf, Afridi and Naseem remind me of the old days’

Naseem Shah doesn’t often find banana swing like Shaheen Shah Afridi and doesn’t often breach 150kph like Haris Rauf. But the 20-year-old can get the ball to really skid off the pitch as he isn’t as tall as the other two. On his T20I debut against India, at the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, he had Rahul chopping on for a first-ball duck and then almost had Virat Kohli in the same over. Can Naseem best Rahul in the 50-overs Asia Cup on Sunday as well?Team news: Bumrah is backAfter missing the game against Nepal for the birth of his first child, Bumrah has rejoined the side for the Super Four round, and is set to return to the XI along with Rahul. There could be no room for both Mohammed Shami and Kishan.India (probable): 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajNaseem had had an injury scare against Bangladesh in Lahore, but he later returned to the field after some treatment from the physio. He has been passed fit for the match against India. Pakistan have named an unchanged XI from their victory against Bangladesh, which means seam-bowling allrounder Faheem Ashraf retains his place ahead of spin-bowling allrounder Mohammad Nawaz.Pakistan (probable): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Agha Salman, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Haris RaufPitch and conditionsAll eyes will be on the skies, as has been the case throughout this tournament. The pitch that was used for the LPL final at the Premadasa was fairly two-paced and the one for the Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI in late August wasn’t particularly batting-friendly either. There could be some juice for both seamers and spinners on Sunday too.Stats and trivia Babar is one hundred away from drawing level with Saeed Anwar as Pakistan’s most prolific ODI centurion. Ravindra Jadeja is three strikes away from 200 ODI wickets. He will become the third Indian spinner to the landmark after Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. On Wednesday, Rauf reached 50 ODI wickets in his 27th ODI. Among Pakistanis, only Hasan Ali (24) and Afridi (25) have been quicker than Rauf to the milestone. Quotes”They are very different fast bowlers and they have their own specialities. Shaheen gets the ball to swing a lot. Naseem is all about pace and likes help from the wicket. They present different challenges in different conditions.

أصبح مستقبل المهاجم السويدي ألكسندر إيزاك محل الكثير من الجدل والتكهنات، حيث يرتبط اللاعب بالرحيل عن صفوف نيوكاسل يونايتد هذا الصيف.

وقد أبلغ إيزاك نيوكاسل يونايتد برغبته في دراسة إمكانية الرحيل هذا الصيف، ويعد النادي الإنجليزي على دراية بخطط اللاعب الفترة القادمة.

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وبدأ نيوكاسل يونايتد يعمل على التعاقد مع مهاجم بديل، ويعد إيزاك هدفاً للانتقال إلى أندية ليفربول والهلال السعودي وقد ارتبط أيضاً بالانضمام لصفوف تشيلسي.

وكشف صحفي سكاي سبورت “فابريزيو رومانو” حقيقة ما يثار حول اهتمام تشيلسي بالتعاقد مع ألكسندر إيزاك الموسم المقبل.

وأكد رومانو أن تشيلسي لا يعمل على صفقة مهاجم نيوكاسل يونايتد، ولا يرغب في المضي قدماً لإتمام الصفقة.

ويشعر تشيلسي بالسعادة بمهاجميه الحاليين، ويركز الفريق تماماً على صفقتي التعاقد مع جوريل هاتو من صفوف أياكس أمستردام وتشافي سيمونز من لايبزيج.

وأضاف أيضاً أن ليفربول يعد النادي الذي يعمل على التعاقد مع إيزاك، ويبقى أكثر الأندية المهتمة بالحصول على خدماته.

وسجل إيزاك 23 هدفًا وصنع 6 تمريرات حاسمة في 34 مباراة مع نيوكاسل يونايتد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز الموسم الماضي.

His match-winning partnership with Agar meant Bavuma’s unbeaten 114 went in vain

Firdose Moonda07-Sep-2023Australia 225 for 7 (Labuschagne 80*, Agar 48*, Coetzee 2-44, Rabada 2-48) beat South Africa 222 (Bavuma 114*, Hazlewood 3-41, Stoinis 2-20) by three wicketsMarnus Labuschagne responded to being left out of Australia’s World Cup squad and their XI in the first ODI in Bloemfontein as only he can: with a hugely influential performance as a concussion substitute. Much like the impression he made during the 2019 Ashes, when he replaced Steven Smith halfway through the Lord’s Test before going on to top the series run charts, Labuschagne gave the selectors a timely reminder of what he can offer in the 50-overs format.He replaced Cameron Green, who was sconed by a Kagiso Rabada bouncer in the sixth over, and got to the crease with Australia on 72 for 5 in their chase of 223. They slipped to 113 for 7 before Labuschagne and Ashton Agar put on an unbroken 112 in 145 balls, a record for the eighth wicket in Bloemfontein, to seal a comprehensive win.Their efforts trumped Temba Bavuma’s third ODI hundred in six matches this year and successive centuries in Bloemfontein as he stood man alone. Bavuma was dropped on 2 and 88, scored only 30 runs off his first 50 balls, had only one partner who stayed with him for longer than 10 overs – Marco Jansen – and saw South Africa slip to 185 for 9, but dragged them past 220 with an unbeaen 114 off 142 balls. He became just the second South African to carry his bat in an ODI innings after Herschelle Gibbs in Sharjah in March 2000.But his efforts were in vain and also left an unanswered question for the rest of the series and the World Cup that follows. Bavuma suffered from cramp towards the end of his knock, on a not especially hot day in early spring, and was only in the field for a short while during Australia’s chase with T20I captain Aiden Markram making most of the tactical decisions on field.Australia have now won four matches in a row on this tour, and have now also snapped a run of five successive ODI defeats to South Africa.Cameron Green went off with a concussion after being hit by a Kagiso Rabada bouncer•AFP/Getty ImagesThinking caps were needed on a Bloemfontein surface that did not play to its reputation as laden with runs. The surface was slow and had evidence of variable bounce, which evened out as the match grew long.Australia’s chase started just before sunset, when there was still a little something in the surface. But the pitch had nothing to do with David Warner’s dismissal. He tried to crack a wide Marco Jansen ball through point but played on instead and was dismissed for a duck.Rabada started out off-colour and missed his lengths in his first two overs but roared back to take two wickets in two overs and Green out of the match with a concussion. With the first ball of his third over, Rabada managed to find late away swing and Mitchell Marsh’s leading edge as the Australian captain tried to hit him through midwicket. Marsh was caught behind. Two balls later, he fired in a 140kph bouncer that angled in from off stump and hit Green on the left ear flap as he turned his head to the offside. There was swelling behind his ear which was visible immediately and he left the field for treatment. In Rabada’s next over, he offered some fuller deliveries before going back of a length and Josh Inglis inside-edged him onto his stumps.Lungi Ngidi was brought on at the other end and, after a T20I series in which he went wicketless, had Travis Head caught at square leg by Rabada. Australia finished the Powerplay on 69 for 4.Gerald Coetzee was brought on the 12th over to bowl his first international delivery in his hometown and thrilled the locals with a wicket with his first ball. He beat Alex Carey’s flick, made a mess of the stumps, and pulled out a vein-popping celebration. That brought Labuschagne to the crease, with Australia in need of a partnership. Marcus Stoinis did not help him provide one. He was rushed by Coetzee’s pace and his pull shot found Heinrich Klaasen at midwicket.Coetzee’s emotions were only matched by those of Keshav Maharaj, who made his ODI comeback after recovering from a ruptured Achilles sustained in March while celebrating a wicket in a Test against West Indies. His third ball spun past Sean Abbott’s bat onto his off stump and Maharaj pulled out a fist pump but did not set off on a victory run. That was where South Africa’s success stopped.Australia’s scoring rate in those first 16.4 overs, thanks in large part to Head’s 28-ball 33, was seven an over, well above the required 4.46. That meant there was little pressure on Labuschagne and the lower order to score quickly, and they did not have to take many risks. He and Agar punished anything that erred on length but were also happy to go 13 overs without a boundary from the 23rd to the 37th over, as South Africa applied something of a squeeze. They were unable to stop the strike rotation, though, and that’s how Australia wore them down. Labuschagne eventually found four off Rabada and Australia only needed 15 runs in the last 13 overs. They got there with 9.4 overs to spare.Temba Bavuma became the second South African to carry his bat through an ODI innings•AFP/Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s innings was played in exactly the opposite way. They started slowly, with only 25 runs in the Powerplay – the lowest at this venue – and the loss of Quinton de Kock. Bavuma was fortunate to survive after he edged Abbott’s first ball to point but Agar went for the catch with one hand and put it down.Rassie van der Dussen was run out cheaply when he Abbott straight to mid-off and hesitated before deciding on the run while Bavuma was ball-watching. Van der Dussen motored towards the non-striker’s end and by the time he turned back, the ball was on its way to Carey who broke the stumps.Aiden Markram looked more composed and managed two signature cover drives before he top-edged Green miles into the bright blue sky. A sunglass-less Carey judged the catch well. Heinrich Klaasen was bowled by a Stoinis delivery that kept low and David Miller nicked off second ball to open up the lower order with only 100 on the board.Jansen is the only genuine allrounder in South Africa’s World Cup squad and he showed why he deserves that tag. He put on 57 with Bavuma and looked in control until he played a Josh Hazlewood delivery onto his stumps. Coetzee, Maharaj and Rabada fell within 17 runs of each other to leave Bavuma with the No.11, Ngidi, for 6.4 overs. Bavuma farmed the strike and even refused runs and reached his hundred off the 136th ball he faced before adding 14 more to his name. In total, he scored 114 runs of South Africa’s total while the rest of the line-up contributed only 88.

Reyna was front and center in Dortmund’s CWC marketing campaign, but his on-field role remains limited – casting doubt on his future

After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign in which Gio Reyna made just 16 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund, there appeared to be a shift in tone heading into the summer. With the Club World Cup set to kick off in his home country, the United States, Dortmund prominently featured Reyna in its pre-tournament marketing. He appeared in social media promos, starred in the club’s flashy kit launch, and even sat down for an interview with FIFA.com ahead of the tournament.

Naturally, expectations followed. When a player becomes the face of a campaign, fans anticipate more than a cameo. It’s like seeing Brad Pitt plastered across movie trailers – you expect him to play a major role, not show up for a single scene. For many, that’s the draw.

But in Reyna’s case, the spotlight faded quickly. Across Dortmund’s first two group-stage matches – draws against Fluminense and a narrow win over Mamelodi Sundowns – he remained on the bench. On Matchday 3, he finally saw the pitch, coming on for a late 12-minute stint in a dull 1–0 victory over Ulsan HD.

Now, as Dortmund prepare for the Round of 16, Reyna finds himself at a crossroads. At just 22, the American midfielder’s time with the club seems all but over. According to reports, he's been told he has “no future” at Dortmund. If the Club World Cup was the final straw, then it’s time for Reyna – and his camp – to start planning what’s next.

For Reyna's future, both internationally and at the club level, it's time for him to depart the club that gave him a platform and search for bigger and better things. Dortmund have made it clear he's not in the picture, and it's now or never for the midfielder to prove he still has what it takes to compete at a high level.

If Reyna still wants to be a part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup USMNT squad under Mauricio Pochettino, while furthering his career at the same time, he has to prepare for an exit this summer.

GOAL US dives into what this CWC has been like for Reyna, why he sits where he does with the Bundesliga side, the national team implications, and who potential suitors might be.

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  CWC Poster boy

  Ahead of their opening match against Fluminense, he was the first photo in a carousel showing players arriving in the NY/NJ area for the match, while his face was on their pre-game graphic, too.

  After the match, FIFA shared that his alma mater came to support him at MetLife Stadium for the match – with 30 representatives, including current students from Green Country Day School, in the stands watching him. The American, however, went unused as a sub in a scoreless draw.

  Used as a marketing image for the competition by the German club in the buildup, there was genuine excitement that this might be a competition where Reyna finds himself again. A tournament where he received competitive minutes to show the footballing world that he still has the immense talent he displayed earlier in his career, before things started to head towards the relative standstill he's at currently.

  Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case.

  After his first appearance on Matchday 3 against Ulsan, manager Niko Kovac noted how competitive the midfield is with the club at the moment, and with that, how Gio has fallen down the pecking order.

  "Gio and also Juju [Julien Duranville] played their first couple of minutes during this Club World Cup," manager Niko Kovac said after Dortmund's victory over Ulsan. "We try to give minutes to every single player, of course. We want to win, and in the first half of the match, we put in a top-level performance, so I was ready to bring on new players. In the midfield, we have a high competition.

  "There is [a] great set of players, and Gio is one of them. He does have good qualities, but if you look at the other players, I think they are a little bit more ahead."

  However, that begs the question, then. If Gio isn't in the picture, why display him as the face of your team in the competition? Why treat him as the poster boy of the franchise for the tournament, only for him to sit on and watch when meaningful matches are being played?

  He's had a rough go of it over the past few years, and the handling of all of this only adds to a puzzling situation over the past few years.

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  Reyna's time at BVB: Teen star to benchwarmer

  It's been nearly five years since Reyna broke out as a teenage star in Germany, and over the past two, the question needs to be asked: What have we learned about him since then? What has he done to further himself and become a better footballer?

  The answer? Relatively little.

  It's always been known that he is one of the most talented American players the world has ever seen, but the past two seasons have been nothing but a hindrance to his growth as a footballer. After playing nearly 2,000 minutes during the 2020-21 season for Dortmund, Reyna has played fewer than 2,000 minutes in the last four seasons combined, with the last two in particular really seeing him fall off. Most recently, across the 2024-25 campaign, he played in 16 Bundesliga games, totaling just 341 minutes for the .

  From the start of the 2019 season through December 2023, Reyna logged 121 games for Dortmund, scoring 17 goals. In January 2024, he was sent on loan to Premier League side Nottingham Forest, but the move was nothing short of a disaster, as he made just 10 appearances for the club in a period that he will long push to the back of his mind as he grows as a footballer.

  Since returning from that loan, he's made 26 appearances for BVB, scoring twice, but nothing has come from it.

  Now, just over one year out from the start of the 2025 FIFA World Cup, Reyna is at a standstill.

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  Gold Cup opportunity thrown aside

  The Club World Cup presented itself as an opportunity to give it one last go with Dortmund, but due to FIFA's strict tournament rules, that was really his only option unless BVB didn't include him in their traveling squad for the tournament.

  However, if Kovac knew that he wasn't in the midfield picture ahead of the competition, why wasn't he released? Why waste a roster spot on a player who could get meaningful minutes with his national team?

  Italian Serie A side Inter did so with midfielder Tajon Buchanan, who did not compete at the CWC with the club, and instead played in the Gold Cup. They released him to do so due to being out of the fold with the senior team, and Reyna's situation isn't all that different. Buchanan played in all six games for Canada this June before their quarterfinal elimination in the Gold Cup, including the June international window.

  It's a situation that is a lose-lose for both parties. Reyna doesn't get minutes and likely further hurts any potential transfer value he still has for Dortmund, while the USMNT misses him for a Gold Cup that really could have handed him the confidence boost he needed ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

  ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez, a former U.S. international, added they Reyna has now even fallen out of the first-strength XI with the USMNT behind Malik Tillman, who has been the breakout star of the Gold Cup this summer for Pochettino and his squad. Tillman, who is reportedly on the verge of signing for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, has four goals this tournament.

  Reyna, meanwhile, last scored for the USMNT in the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League under Gregg Berhalter, and has only received one call-up under the Argentine manager since, in March of this year. During the March camp, Reyna went unused in the semifinals of the 2025 Nations League against Panama, and then logged 21 minutes off the bench in the third-place game against Canada.

  However, the Gold Cup roster for the USMNT camp has mainly consisted of second and third-string players. The Dortmund midfielder would have likely had his best shot at impressing Pochettino this window, but instead, has been watching along from the sidelines with the German club.

  So now, things are at a standstill. Reyna wasn't given a chance to bolster his transfer value this summer, wasn't handed an opportunity to showcase his talent, and really, hasn't played much over the past year. So with that, where in the world does he end up, and what clubs are willing to take on the risks involved?

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  Who's ready to gamble?

  In March, it was announced Reyna was leaving his agent Jorge Mendes for ROOF Agency, who also manages Tillman, along with world-class footballers like Virgil Van Dijk and Kai Havertz. With that, this summer will be crucial to finding his next landing spot, and Reyna will be relying on ROOF to find him a spot where he can secure regular playing time at a highly competitive level so that he is at his best before the World Cup next summer in the United States.

  A report surfaced in June that three Eredivisie clubs in Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord, were all offered Reyna. Previous reports in May also surfaced that Brazilian side Flamengo, who were one of the standout performers of this summer's CWC, inquired about his services, while La Liga side Real Sociedad also showed interest.

  Former U.S. international and current FOX Soccer analyst Alexi Lalas endorsed a potential move to Sociedad, but claimed that if that transfer were to come to fruition, the 22-year-old would need to answer "through his work."

  What we do know about Reyna and this summer, though, is that a move has become an increasingly clear choice that he needs to make. If the midfielder wants to find a way to make himself onto next summer's World Cup roster, the only possible route is through regular playing time. No matter where that arrives, as long as Reyna is allowed to play with a ball at his feet, the opportunity to impress will arrive.

A brilliant display of fast bowling from Darcie Brown helped Australia close out the T20I series against West Indies at Allan Border Field despite another one-woman show from Hayley Matthews who was hobbled on one leg.Defending a total of 190 for 9, set up by a stunning 65 off 34 balls from Tahlia McGrath and a reverse-sweeping and switch-hitting masterclass from Phoebe Litchfield, Brown produced a match-winning spell of 3 for 20 from four overs to swing the game and the series in Australia’s favour as Matthews threatened to rip it away from them.West Indies’ captain had raced to 79 from 39 balls, despite being severely hampered by a right quad injury, to lead the visitors to 97 without loss after 10.3 overs even with the anchor of her opening partner Shabika Gajnabi who had crawled to 16 off 24 balls, after Kim Garth and Megan Schutt had bowled frugally upfront. Matthews could barely run and even struggled to hold her shape at the crease. But she still somehow muscled 11 fours and four sixes with a stand-and-delivery strategy that had Australia fearing a rare home series defeat.But after conceding consecutive boundaries from the first two balls of the 11th over, Brown responded with a clever back-of-the-hand slower ball to deceive Matthews. She skied it high to cover where Litchfield took the catch and let out a huge exhale, having dropped Matthews in the same spot in the last match to cost Australia the game.Matthews became the first player in women’s T20I history to score more than 300 runs in a three-match series, scoring 310 for just two dismissals at a ridiculous strike-rate 174.15. She was named player of the match for the third straight game of the series and for her eighth consecutive match overall.But it wasn’t enough for West Indies. Her dismissal sparked a calamitous collapse as they lost 5 for 7 in 12 balls. Georgia Wareham picked up Stafanie Taylor as she miscued to mid-on and Gajnabi ran herself out mindlessly to end a torturous 27-ball innings of 16. Brown then cranked up the gas, rattling Chinelle Henry’s stumps before Shemaine Campbelle chipped a catch to mid-on.West Indies were bowled out for 143 in the 20th over with Aaliyah Alleyne the only other batter to make double figures outside of the two openers. Garth picked up two late wickets to finish with 2 for 24 from four overs having put West Indies behind the required rate early on. Ash Gardner claimed 3 for 32 after being put under severe pressure by Matthews.Earlier, McGrath, Litchfield and Ellyse Perry produced a powerful display with the bat to underpin Australia’s total after they were sent into bat, despite a few wobbles throughout their innings.McGrath struck the ball with extraordinary power in her 65. She thumped 11 fours and two sixes, skipping down the track to the spinners and backing away to the quicks. Perry provided good support with 40 off 30 after Australia had slumped to 31 for 2 in the powerplay following the early loss of both openers.Their partnership had put Australia on track for another 200-plus score before a mini-collapse threatened to derail them. But once again, Litchfield lit up the late overs with a jaw-dropping array of switch-hits and reverse sweeps to find all parts of the off-side rope in a 17-ball 36.Annabel Sutherland made 19 off 13 to help Australia edge towards 200 but an excellent final over from Shamilia Connell saw them fall 10 runs short. She took two wickets, including Litchfield, and conceded just three runs to finish with 3 for 25 from three overs.