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Arsenal could now make an opening bid for a Gabriel and William Saliba “hybrid” in the coming days, according to a report.

Gunners eyeing new centre-back amid Saliba uncertainty

Gabriel has recently reaffirmed his commitment to Mikel Arteta’s project by agreeing a new deal, but Saliba is yet to sign a new contract, amid widespread reports that Real Madrid are interested in signing the Frenchman.

Despite signing AFC Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, Madrid retain an interest in Saliba, with the 24-year-old thought to be a dream signing, and they remain attentive to his contract situation.

As such, while Arteta will surely be determined to keep hold of the centre-back, it may be a wise move to start thinking about potential replacements, and the north Londoners could soon make an opening bid for a Liga Portugal star.

Twist: "Extraordinary" £60m+ star now plans to snub Man Utd to join Arsenal

The Gunners have received a boost in their pursuit of a forward, who Andrea Berta has already held talks to sign.

1 ByDominic Lund Jun 8, 2025

Indeed, according to a report from A Bola (via Arsenal News), the Gunners may submit a proposal for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande in the coming days, having recently learned that he will be available for a fee below his release clause.

Although Diomande has a £67m release clause in his contract, Sporting recently informed Crystal Palace they would be willing to sanction a departure for £51m, but there are a number of other top clubs in the race for his signature.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich also said to be ‘very attentive’ to the 21-year-old’s situation, highlighting just how highly he is regarded.

Diomande could be a Gabriel and Saliba "hybrid"

Gabriel and Saliba have struck up quite the partnership at the heart of the Arsenal defence, although Jamie Carragher has suggested the France international is not the same when playing alongside Jakub Kiwior.

Carragher said: “I think Saliba is the better player but Gabriel is the better leader, and he needs to bring that to his game if he wants to get to the levels of Virgil van Dijk. Saliba needs Gabriel. Since Gabriel has come out of the team, that’s not the same Saliba I’m watching.”

Given that the two defenders complement each other, it should be exciting news that the Gunners are in the race for Diomande, as he has been described as a “hybrid between Gabriel and Saliba” by data analyst Ben Mattinson.

Despite being just 21-years-old, the Ivorian already has 101 first-team appearances to his name for Sporting, indicating he could slot right into Arteta’s backline, while journalist Zach Lowy has been left very impressed by his performances in the past.

Of course, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Saliba commits his future to the club, but there is no doubt that Diomande could be an exciting long-term heir.

With a big summer ahead, Aston Villa have reportedly made their first approach and opened talks to sign an impressive Champions League star in the event that Emiliano Martinez departs.

Emi Martinez could leave Aston Villa

As Aston Villa look to comply with profit and sustainability rules, one player they may sacrifice is Martinez. The talented shot-stopper seemed to be saying his goodbyes to Villa Park last Friday in Unai Emery’s side’s final home game of the season. Clearly emotional in what could have been his final farewell, the rumours around the Argentine’s future have been coming thick and fast ever since.

Martinez has instantly become a wanted man in the transfer market, with reports indicating that Barcelona, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are all interested in his signature ahead of the summer transfer window.

Villa will, of course, be keen to avoid selling to a rival club which may well open the door for both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to come swooping in. Meanwhile, those in the Midlands will need to find themselves a new No.1.

To that end, a number of names have already threatened to steal the headlines. The main name mentioned has so far been Joan Garcia. The Espanyol goalkeeper has enjoyed an excellent season in La Liga and now looks destined for the Premier League.

Whether Villa decide to go all out for his signature remains to be seen, however. Instead, amid fresh reports, sporting director Monchi could choose to sign a Champions League star who is full of potential.

Aston Villa open Chevalier talks

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Monchi has now opened talks to sign Lucas Chevalier from LOSC Lille for Aston Villa in the event that Martinez departs this summer. Having made their first approach, Villa will be hoping to sign one of the most talented young goalkeepers that European football has to offer and instantly ease their Martinez concerns in the process.

Starts

34

36

Saves per 90

2.68

2.60

Save Percentage

74.6%

67.9%

Clean Sheets

11

8

Outperforming Martinez in several departments, it could even be argued that Aston Villa would be landing an impressive upgrade by signing Chevalier this summer. At just 23 years old, the Lille shot-stopper still has his best years to come too, which could yet take place in the Midlands.

Unsurprisingly earning a lot of praise over the last year, scout Jacek Kulig described Chevalier as an “excellent young goalkeeper” back in March as he continued a solid campaign in Ligue 1.

Aston Villa in pole position after talks to sign "powerful" 18 y/o sensation

He’s a rising star.

ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

As Martinez potentially heads for the exit door, Aston Villa should go all out to sign the Chevalier in this summer’s transfer window, with all signs pointing towards the very top for the Lille star.

While the Afghanistan captain nears a special milestone, Zimbabwe will hope their returning former captain still has it at 39

Alagappan Muthu28-Oct-2025The 2026 T20 World Cup may be three months away – it is set to begin in February, in India and Sri Lanka – but it will be at the forefront of both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe’s minds as they prepare to engage in a three-match T20I series that starts on Wednesday.Hello again, RashidRashid Khan will return to action, although he was only ever away for two weeks. The 27-year-old legspinner is on the cusp of a significant record – 500 T20 matches. Should he play every game of this series, he will join that coveted group, which currently includes seven players.Related

Rashid rested for one-off Test against Zimbabwe, will return for T20Is

Cremer returns to Zimbabwe cricket after seven years

Rashid, Afghanistan’s captain, will be looking for improvements considering his team exited the Asia Cup at the first group stage and then lost 3-0 to Bangladesh. His bowling form is on the up, though, which seems to be an effect of his taking some time off from the game.Over the first five months of this year, Rashid picked up 21 wickets in 26 T20s at an average of 36.80 and an economy rate of 8.40. He took a break after IPL 2025, and since his return has gobbled up 35 wickets in 20 T20s at an average of 14.17 and an economy rate of 6.70. Rushing back into cricket from back surgery in 2023 had adversely affected his wicket-taking ability; putting his body under less pressure now has rekindled the old fire.Cremer’s returnGraeme Cremer quit cricket in 2018 to support his wife’s career as an airline pilot in the UAE and raise their kids. Now that they’ve grown up, he’s back.The 39-year-old former Zimbabwe captain has 35 wickets from 29 T20Is at an average of 18.85 and an economy rate of 6.94. That presents the picture of an accurate bowler, and these games might provide answers about whether he still remains so after all his time away.A wristspinner who turns it both ways, and who has plenty of prior international experience, could be very useful in 2026 when Zimbabwe return to the T20 World Cup having missed out on qualifying for last year’s event.Zimbabwe will only play a limited number of T20Is in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup•Zimbabwe CricketZimbabwe’s time crunchLess than two weeks ago, these three T20Is represented the only short-format cricket Zimbabwe had in the lead-up to the World Cup. Then Afghanistan pulled out of a tri-series that Pakistan will be hosting in November due to the death of three local cricketers in a cross-border attack. Zimbabwe were brought in to fill the vacancy. These three games at home, and the four coming up in Lahore and Rawalpindi, will prove invaluable as Zimbabwe prepare to set some records straight. They haven’t been part of an ICC tournament since 2022, missing two World Cups and a Champions Trophy.Young talentsAfghanistan’s rise is tied to their players being really, really good even at a really young age. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai (22-year-old allrounder with hundreds in first-class and List A cricket), Abdollah Ahmadzai (22-year-old fast bowler who was with the Afghanistan squad at the Asia Cup) and Bashir Ahmad (20-year-old left-arm quick who could be a long-term replacement for Fazalhaq Farooqi) are the three to watch out for in this series.Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat and Farooqi all lost their place after Afghanistan’s Asia Cup exit. It remains to be seen if they can fight their way back into contention.

When Hardik Pandya counterattacked with the bat the boos briefly turned to cheers, but another defeat meant the tensions remained

S Sudarshanan02-Apr-20242:26

McClenaghan on the Hardik booing: ‘Lack of maturity from fans’

“When Mumbai Indians had zero trophies, he came in, and now they have five trophies,” gushed Nikhil outside Gate 6 of the Wankhede Stadium as he held up a poster. It had photos of Mumbai Indians’ IPL wins under the text “The Empire”, alongside some of Rohit Sharma captioned “The Emperor”. Rohan, who was heading to Gate 7, has tried to make it to at least two MI home games every season since 2016. The prime reason is evident in the poster he holds: “U Will Always Be My Captain – Rohit Forever”.Ahead of Mumbai’s first home match of IPL 2024, the MI jerseys that were selling like hot cakes outside the stadium had “Rohit 45” written on them. Scores of fans who made their way over from the Churchgate Station or from Marine Drive wore MI jerseys with the former captain’s name and number on the back.Related

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Shane Bond on Riyan Parag: 'He reminds me of Suryakumar'

Ashwin defends Hardik: 'Fan wars should never take an ugly turn'

The People vs Hardik Pandya – why, what, and the way out

Boult, Chahal and Parag make it 3-0 for Royals and 0-3 for Mumbai Indians

The stadium was still slowly filling in when Hardik Pandya completed a lap of the ground. He spotted Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was out on ground for the pre-match show with the official broadcaster, and walked up to greet him. Just as they were about to go their own way, Sidhu pulled Hardik closer for a few animated words. Hardik was smiling through it all and gave a bear hug to Sidhu before joining his team-mates.Mumbai were coming into this game having had a usual-yet-unusual start to their IPL 2024 season. They had lost two successive games – Mumbai have started campaigns with losses in the past – but, unusually, the fans, the MI faithful, were mounting pressure on their new captain Hardik for replacing the much-loved Rohit, having been traded in from Gujarat Titans. He had been booed in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, and whether the “home” crowd would back him was one of the storylines ahead Monday’s fixture against Rajasthan Royals.By toss time, the venue was more than half-filled – Mumbai’s blue dominating. When Hardik was introduced, the crowd jeered him and cheered for Rohit, prompting Sanjay Manjrekar to ask fans to “behave!”. But the crowd’s hostility only increased when Manjrekar interviewed Hardik. Even when the names and photos of each player from the two XIs were displayed on the big screen, the loudest cheer was reserved for Rohit, and boos rung out when Hardik’s name was announced.Things continued to go wrong for Hardik Pandya, and Mumbai Indians•Associated PressMumbai were asked to bat first, and so the crowd expected a Rohit special. Huge cheers rang across the arena as he walked out to open. They only grew louder when he came on strike for the fifth ball of the game. The anticipation – as he took guard, looked around at the field – only made the decibel levels rise even more. But Rohit was unable to keep out an away-curler from Trent Boult, and was caught behind first ball, thanks to a stunning dive from Sanju Samson.Left-armers Boult and Nandre Burger ran through the Mumbai top order as 1 for 1 soon became 20 for 4. And so, Hardik found himself in the middle in the fourth over. More groans from the stands. The plot was perfectly set up for the new Mumbai captain to win the hostile crowd over with his heroics.The sixth over, bowled by Burger was an eventful one, with Hardik in the thick of it. He pulled the first ball through square leg to get off the mark with a couple. He then danced down to go over off but got a thick outside edge over backward point for four. Undeterred, he charged again to power one through covers off the meat. And then, on the penultimate ball, he once again skipped down and smoked one that landed just short of the long-on boundary. At the end of the powerplay, he had the fans hollering in the stands.He then played a couple of delicate glides to the deep-third boundary before exhibiting the power of his wrists to slap a carrom ball from R Ashwin – who had voiced his support for Hardik – away from the cover fielder for another four. With each of these deliveries, the MI flags in the stands went up, and so did the cheers for Hardik. It was like he had turned the tide and managed to win the crowd over. But it was short-lived.Hardik Pandya threatened a Mumbai fightback but was cut short by Yuzvendra Chahal•BCCIThe crowd was silenced when he miscued one to wide long-on off Chahal to finish on 34 off 21. From there Mumbai added only 49 more in the last 11.3 overs to post 125 for 9, their third-lowest total batting first at the Wankhede.Unlike the previous two outings, Hardik did not open the bowling and had Jasprit Bumrah on from one end in the powerplay. Every over that he did not bowl drew cheers. But the boos were always hanging in the air. First, when he failed to hang on to a catch of Jos Buttler in the fourth over, despite a spectacular dive, at mid-off. And then in the last over of the powerplay, despite making a diving stop at cover off Bumrah. Rohit applauded the effort, but not a large section of the Sachin Tendulkar Stand.Boult and Chahal’s three-fors, followed by Riyan Parag’s fifty, would extend the wait for Mumbai’s first win of IPL 2024. And perhaps for Hardik, too, to make space in the MI fans’ hearts.

Guileless display from England quicks does little to change the Anderson-Broad narrative

Andrew Miller10-Mar-2022Chris Woakes belongs to a select band of cricketers to have bowled the first ball in a World Cup final. He knows what it’s like to have the eyes of the world boring into the back of his skull as he approaches his delivery stride and, when it comes to Test cricket, he even knows what it’s like to marshal an unlikely run-chase from five-down for spit. But he’s surely never felt pressure quite like his opening spell on the second day in Antigua.As Woakes trotted in with that familiar arrow-straight approach, buzzing his way through the crease with the neat, incisive lines of a sawblade in a timber-mill, he would have known that he was about to be judged like never before in his international career. And by the time he trooped from the field with the bruised figures of 12-2-54-1, he might have been entitled to wonder if he’d been set up to fail.An awful lot of platitudes have been trotted out by England’s management in the weeks since they chose to dispense with James Anderson and Stuart Broad and their 1,177-wickets-worth of Test-match knowhow. But nothing has jarred with the evidence of a nine-year international career quite like the suggestion – voiced with little conviction by England’s captain Joe Root – that a sustained run with the new ball was all that Woakes needed to transform his status from priceless team player to golden-armed attack leader.The true reasons for Anderson’s and Broad’s binnings may never be publicly aired – are they really too old, or are they simply being challenged to fight for their places in the summer? Are the shadows that they cast too immense for others to flourish (the charge that was levelled at the women’s captain Charlotte Edwards after her ruthless culling in 2016), or was Root’s complaint about the lengths that they bowled in England’s defeat in Adelaide the final proof that the captain and his star bowlers had reached a fork in the road?Whatever the truth, this void in England’s reasoning – and the inevitable speculation that it has caused – has been thoroughly and damagingly distracting. Even a throwback to that very 2021 chestnut, rest and rotation, would have been preferable to the death by innuendo that Woakes, and to a lesser extent Craig Overton, have endured in the series build-up. Woakes, after all, went more than 12 months – between August 2020 and September 2021 – without a single Test appearance despite being England’s reigning Test cricketer of the Year. If this chance to lead the line had been presented as a reward for long service during lockdown, there might have been a few raised eyebrows, but surely a lot more understanding.Instead, the reasoning has been so weird, even the player himself didn’t really seem to believe he warranted it, after his six wickets at 55.33 in the Ashes had exacerbated the gulf between his home and away Test stats – 94 wickets at 22.63 in English conditions, and 31 at 52.38 overseas. Instead, it’s as if the post-Ashes intention of the England management had been to rip the players out of their comfort zones, and expose them to the harshest sink-or-swim realities of top-level professional sport – and if that’s the case, then fair play, they nailed the brief.And so it came to that fateful new-ball spell – a Dukes ball, no less, Woakes’ weapon of choice in his frequent excursions on home soil. In he charged, with conviction and with the occasional pretty-looking zip past the outside edge. But, assuming Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell had kept even half an ear to the ground in the Ashes fall-out, there was never going to be any mystery about his methods.Full and fuller was the requirement, in a guilelessly gung-ho bid for hooping swing – a display, in fact, that served only to reinforce the wisdom of ages that England have chosen to dispense with on this tour. Anderson and Broad would never have put up with this nonsense, whanging an unresponsive ball into the blockhole time and again, to be drilled back down the ground at an initial rate of seven an over. They’d have dragged those lengths back – much as it seems they did, to Root’s chagrin, in Adelaide – and conceded their runs at one an over while priming their orb for that display of reverse-swing that did, briefly, look like transforming England’s fortunes in the afternoon session.”It’s obviously going to be talked about, Anderson and Broad, because they are legends but we just have to admit we didn’t get it right to start with, and we’ll be out to get it right next time,” Mark Wood said at the close of playCraig Overton veered away from a full length to bounce out John Campbell•Gareth Copley/Getty Images”I don’t think it’s about being patient, we set higher standards than just being patient,” he added. “We’re out here to win. We’re trying to get it right now but, as can happen with any bowler, we just didn’t get it right to start. We maybe tried a little bit too hard, with the void of Anderson and Broad we wanted to try hard and prove we could do it, maybe that was it. But the way we came back showed good character as a group.”According to Cricviz’s Expected Wickets model, England’s new-ball effort was their third-least threatening of the past decade, a display outdone only by England’s efforts at Melbourne and Sydney at the fag-end of the 2017-18 Ashes – the former on one of the most disgracefully dead drop-in pitches in history; the latter in an asphyxiatingly hot dead-rubber at the SCG, a match in which Root would later keel over with sun-stroke.England’s lack of penetration was exemplified by the 1.5 degrees of swing that their openers located – compared to the 2.5 degrees that West Indies had found in routing England for 48 for 4 on the first morning. You would not have believed that West Indies have been starved of runs in recent encounters as Brathwaite galloped to the fastest fifty of his career, and in the process added his team’s first half-century opening stand … since they faced the same opponents in the final Test of their 2018-19 series win. In case Root was unaware, these guys tend to raise their game when England are in town.England’s lack of situational awareness was at times staggering. On the one hand, Root has clearly learned to treasure the pace and penetration of his last remaining 90mph bowler, Wood, and not bowl him into the ground as he did with Jofra Archer in 2019-20. On the other hand, limiting Wood to three overs out of the first 23, while West Indies galumphed to 95 for 1 with close to a boundary an over was another baffling misallocation of his resources.Related

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When finally thrown the ball, Wood duly struck in the second over of his comeback spell, luring Brathwaite with the wide one after tucking him up with another off-the-peg display of sustained pace. That’s the sort of lack of guile that pays dividends on surfaces as slow as this, not the sort of optimistic lollipops that Woakes felt obliged to fling at his opponents, as he strained for that elusive swing. By the close, his over-exertions had sent ten deliveries – or nearly one an over – sliding down the leg side, as well as one rank full-toss outside off that Jermaine Blackwood flicked contemptuously for one of the ten fours in Woakes’ day’s work.At least Overton got the memo before it was too late. His own England credentials may be hanging by an even more slender thread than his new-ball partner’s, but at least having been driven for two fours in his third new-ball over, he swiftly dispensed with the pleasantries when called upon again, and bombed out Campbell with a bouncer just when he was threatening to put the hammer down.Overton later delivered a useful display of reverse swing as back-up to Wood and Ben Stokes – who was restored to being an actual bowler here, rather than that spurious bang-it-in enforcer who succumbed to a side strain in the Ashes. But as if emboldened by the start that they had been given, as well as the knowledge that all things must pass, Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder rode out the threat with broad-batted resistance to inch their side ever closer to parity by the close.”Of course it’s weird,” Wood admitted, when asked what it was like to take the field with neither Broad nor Anderson. “They have been there every time. We can’t compare ourselves to them, because we are not them. We have to bring what we can do. Unfortunately the best we can do wasn’t that first bit. The second bit was a lot better. We have to bring our best next time, so we are on it.”

Henry Nicholls has been called up as cover while Mark Chapman is also part of the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-2025

Daryl Mitchell walks back after scoring a 118-ball 119•AFP/Getty Images

Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out* of the remainder of the ODI series against West Indies having picked up a groin strain during his match-winning century in Christchurch.Mitchell, who made 119 off 118 balls in New Zealand’s seven-run victory, remained in Christchurch to undergo a scan, which confirmed a minor left groin tear. He is expected to need two weeks of rehabilitation but should be in contention for the first Test, also at Hagley Oval, starting on December 2.”It’s always tough being ruled out of a series early on with injury, particularly when you’re in hot form like Daryl is,” New Zealand head coach, Rob Walter. “He has been our standout performer in the ODI format so far this summer, so he’ll be missed for two important matches.”The positive is that the injury is only minor, and we should see Daryl recovered and fit for the Test series.”Left hander Henry Nicholls, who played the most recent of his 81 ODIs in early April, has been called into the squad for the second match in Napier on Wednesday. Nicholls is currently the leading scorer in the Ford Trophy with 306 runs at 76.50 including back-to-back centuries against Otago and Auckland.”Henry has been in top form in the Ford Trophy and is an experienced international cricketer, so it’s great to welcome him back into the side,” Walter said. “It’s always pleasing to be able to reward players who are in good touch, and we know Henry will be raring to go if given an opportunity.”Mark Chapman is the other spare batter in the squad and is averaging 101.33 from four ODIs this year.Mitchell has been in fine form this season, taking the player of the series award against England.”He is a man for crisis,” captain Mitchell Santner said after the century. “He played extremely well, on one leg at the end.”New Zealand are without several players for this series including Mohammad Abbas (ribs), Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring).Kane Williamson, who picked up a groin niggle against England, was also not considered as he focuses on preparing for the Tests against West Indies.*8pm GMT – This story was updated with confirmation of Mitchell being ruled out

Chelsea made their return to Premier League football in fine fashion on Saturday afternoon, comfortably dispatching Burnley 2-0.

That victory, followed by the rest of Saturday’s results, has left the Blues as the closest competitor to Arsenal, sitting six points off them and facing them on Sunday.

However, while Enzo Maresca has a squad full of incredible players, some might argue that they are just a bit short in certain areas compared to the Gunners.

Fortunately, that looks like something Chelsea are looking to address, as reports have linked them with one of Arsenal’s transfer targets, someone who could help make them serious title contenders.

Chelsea enter race for Arsenal target

Even with the transfer window not opening for over a month, Chelsea have already been linked with a plethora of unreal, difference-making players.

Transfer Focus

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

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For example, while he’s inexperienced, Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız would be an excellent signing for the Blues, having already scored three goals and registered four assists in 15 games this season.

Likewise, Antoine Semenyo, who is one of the most sought-after players in the country at the moment, would be an incredible addition to Maresca’s side.

However, if a player is going to come in and help turn the Blues into serious title contenders this season, they are likely going to be a defender, like Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of several sides interested in the Brazilian international.

Alongside the West Londoners, Arsenal and Barcelona have also been credited with interest in the 23-year-old centre-back, who Nottingham Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Murillo’s ability and potential, Chelsea should fight for him, especially as he could help make them serious title contenders.

Why Murillo could help Chelsea win the Premier League

As things stand, Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League, six points behind Arsenal, having scored just a single goal fewer than them.

However, while their attack is certainly comparable, the Blues have conceded 11 goals to the Gunners’ six, and you are conceding almost twice as many goals as your rivals, you aren’t going to finish above them in the table.

Now, one of the key reasons for the West Londoners’ middling defensive record – in the context of a title challenge – is that their best centre-back, Levi Colwill, has been out for the whole season so far, and the likes of

Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah have not been anywhere near the same level in his absence.

Therefore, for Maresca’s side to become true contenders for the league, they need more and higher-quality defensive reinforcements, which is where Murillo comes in.

Despite having practically no stability at Forest this season, the Brazilian titan has still put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of centre-backs in the league for blocks, the top 5% for interceptions and successful take-ons, the top 7% for ball recoveries, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and more, all per 90.

Murillo’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

All Stats via FBref

Add to that the fact that he played a massive role in the Tricky Trees having one of the best defensive records in the country last season, and it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

On top of all of that, the “monstrous” international, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is both young at just 23 and experienced, having made 87 appearances for Forest, 27 for Corinthians and one for Brazil.

Now, with all that said, there is still a chance the Sao Paulo-born star wouldn’t be a starter when everyone in Maresca’s side is fit, but he would be an exceptional cover, and all title-winning sides need that.

Ultimately, it wouldn’t be cheap, but Chelsea should do what they can to sign Murillo, as he could be one of the final pieces to Maresca’s puzzle.

Related Chelsea now ahead of Arsenal in race for "unpredictable" striker, talks opened

The Blues have taken the lead in the race for a new centre-forward

Posts ByDominic Lund Nov 24, 2025

England have set up a Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final clash against South Africa in Guwahati on Wednesday, while defending champions Australia will meet hosts India at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium on Thursday. The semi-finals line-up is a repeat of the 2017 edition of the tournament.Australia finished the league stage of the competition undefeated – the only team with no losses at this World Cup – with six wins from seven games. They topped the points table with 13 points following their latest victory against South Africa in Indore on Saturday. South Africa, meanwhile, are second with ten points, having registered five wins and two losses.With nine points from six matches, England – currently placed third – can move up to second if they beat New Zealand. India have won three and lost as many games in six matches, with one fixture remaining against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai. Both matches are scheduled for Sunday.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

As far as the weather is concerned, showers are expected in Guwahati on the day of the first semi-final. In Navi Mumbai, too, conditions are likely to be cloudy, with a thunderstorm forecast in the evening, followed by a few late showers. The semi-finals and the final – scheduled for November 2 in Navi Mumbai – will have reserve days, which will be used to continue the incomplete match from the scheduled days. However, “every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs,” and only if the match does not produce a result on the scheduled day, despite reduction in overs, will it continue into the reserve day.The ICC’s playing conditions also cited two examples that if the match starts as a full 50-over game on the scheduled day and, say, a rain interruption at 19 overs reduces it to 46 overs per side. But if no further play takes place after the reduction of overs on that day, the action will resume on the reserve day for a full 50-over match. But in case the overs are reduced to 46 per side because of rain and play does resume on the scheduled day for a truncated match, and rain arrives again to abandon play for the rest of the scheduled day, the reserve day will resume the match for a truncated game, 46 overs, subject to further reduction if there is more rain.In case of a no-result in either semi-final, the team that finished higher on the points table will progress into the final. If no result is possible in the final, the trophy will be shared.Australia have met India three times in Women’s World Cup knockout games, winning twice and losing once. England have defeated South Africa twice in knockout matches in 50-over World Cups.

Siddique and Simranjeet picked up seven wickets between them for UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025

Shaheen Shah Afridi cracked 29* off 14 balls•Getty Images

UAE fast bowler Junaid Siddique picked up 4 for 18 while left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh took three wickets to restrict Pakistan to 146 for 9 in a must-win game for both teams in the Asia Cup.That Pakistan reached 146 for 9 was down to Shaheen Afridi’s late burst: he thrashed an unbeaten 29 off 14 balls, including two fours and six in the last over.Related

PCB clears Pakistan to play UAE; says Pycroft apologised

The start of the match was delayed by an hour. PCB cleared the Pakistan team to play after the board claimed that match referee Pycroft had apologised to their players for his actions during the India-Pakistan game on Sunday.Siddique vindicated UAE’s decision to bowl first on a grassy surface by sending Saim Ayub back for a third consecutive duck. Sahibzada Farhan survived an lbw appeal, which was overturned on DRS but fell soon after top-edging a pull to long leg as Pakistan slipped to 9 for 2 in three overs.Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha had the most profitable stand for Pakistan, adding 61 off 50 balls for the third wicket. Fakhar was the aggressor in the partnership as he smashed offspinner Dhruv Parashar for back-to-back sixes, reaching his half-century off 35 balls.Pakistan, however, lost wickets regularly. Agha, looking to go inside-out over covers, sliced Parashar to deep cover before Simranjeet picked up two wickets in an over. Fakhar fell soon after his half-century, caught off a leading edge at short extra cover, while Hasan Nawaz was trapped lbw. Siddique picked up his third wicket when he dismissed Mohammad Nawaz and then removed Haris with a legcutter.

Elwiss responds with fighting 87 in lost cause for The Blaze

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-Jul-2025

Freya Kemp smacked her maiden career century•Getty Images

England starlet Freya Kemp smacked her first career century as Hampshire reclaimed top spot of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition from The Blaze with a bonus point win.Kemp turned around Hampshire’s batting having arrived at the crease at 34 for three to dispatch 109 in 92 balls, with Nancy Harman celebrating her PB of 77 after a 136-run partnership.In reply to 291, The Blaze hung their hopes around Georgia Elwiss’ impeccable 87, but exciting quick Daisy Gibb’s three for 21 and Ellyse Perry’s farewell three for 40 trumped her as Hampshire won by 80 runs.It ended a downbeat four days for The Blaze having lost in the Eliminator of the Women’s Vitality Blast on Sunday.The Blaze, and more specifically Cassidy McCarthy, dominated the powerplay after Hampshire had chosen to bat first.The former Utilita Bowl-based seamer ripped through the top three, taking three for 17 in the first 10 overs.Rhianna Southby couldn’t keep down a bouncer to square leg, Maia Bouchier was caught at mid on, and Perry – on her last Hampshire appearance – was wonderfully caught by Kathryn Bryce at midwicket.Kemp came to the crease at 34 for three, and immediately went into recovery mode with her captain Georgia Adams.They ticked along without taking risks and set the platform which allowed Kemp and Harman to fire Hampshire to a good score in the second half of the innings.They put on 80 before Adams was stumped by the incredibly fast hands of Sarah Bryce, with Abi Norgrove lbw to give Elwiss a quick-fire brace of wickets.But from there, Kemp found a fluency that brought boundary after boundary, while Harman ran hard to keep up.Kemp past 50 for the second time in a week, and fourth time in her last five List A innings, in 48 balls before securing her best score with back-to-back sixes, as the century stand zoomed up in 86 deliveries.Her maiden hundred came up in 86 balls before she fell with 22 balls to go to end a 136-run alliance with Harman.Harman, now with Linsey Smith in tow, had already reached her maiden half-century but made sure those last 3.4 overs went for 36 runs to take the momentum into the second innings.It worked as Gibb dislodged both Blaze openers within the first five overs.Marie Kelly cut straight to point, before Georgie Boyce swung uppishly to extra cover to give Hampshire an ideal start.But Kathryn Bryce and Elwiss recentred the visitors’ innings with a 98-run partnership, with the latter notching a 53-ball fifty at her former home.Just as they looked the favourites, Hampshire went bang-bang as Kathryn Bryce clothed to mid on, before Gibb’s return had Sarah Bryce stumped.Elwiss’s classy innings ended when she was bowled for 87 by Bex Tyson and then Ella Clarridge was castled by Perry as The Blaze were choked for runs.The Australian then had Kirstie Gordon caught scooping and Josie Groves comprehensively bowled, with Smith picking up Lucy Higham caught at mid off.Smith finished things off with 31 balls to spare when McCarthy slapped down the ground.