Wolverhampton Wanderers will be desperate to pick up their first Premier League victory of the new season when travelling to AFC Bournemouth this coming weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold were torn to shreds 4-0 by Manchester City on the opening day, as Rayan Ait Nouri returned to his old side to deliver a killer blow, while Matheus Cunha’s absence was there for all to see, too, as the weak hosts struggled in the forward areas.

With Jorgen Strand Larsen also now reportedly on Newcastle United’s shortlist of striker targets, the hectic transfer window could soon go from bad to worse for the depleted West Midlands outfit.

Yet, there are a few players also catching the Old Gold’s eye, away from the constant chatter about those departing the building.

Latest on Wolves' midfield search

Wolves have been active in the window with incoming signings.

Fer Lopez joined the Molineux ranks for £19.5m, having previously played alongside Strand Larsen at Celta Vigo, while Jackson Tchatchoua has also just completed a switch to the Premier League side from Hellas Verona to strengthen Pereira’s personnel in the right-back spot.

Up next, Wolves could soon welcome Barcelona number 17, Marc Casado, to their ever-growing camp in the middle of the park, if reports are to be believed.

Indeed, as per reports from Spanish outlet Marca, Casado is attracting interest from both the Old Gold and West Ham United, having been left out of Hansi Flick’s first team plans last time out versus RCD Mallorca as La Liga kicked off. The Premier League pair are said to be ‘closely monitoring’ his current situation.

The report does state that the 21-year-old ace only has eyes for Barca, but a £26m bid could soon come Flick and Co.’s way for the La Masia academy product.

Pereira will hope he can get an ambitious deal over the line for the Spanish youngster, with Casado perhaps capable of offering the same level of class and excellence on the ball that Ruben Neves once gave Wolves in spades during his celebrated stay at Molineux.

Why Casado can be Pereira's own Neves

Neves would arrive at Wolves in the summer of 2017 as an undoubted coup, having arrived at the then-Championship club for just £15m from FC Porto, despite having suitors from the Premier League in both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Wolves certainly got themselves a stunning bargain by landing the Portuguese star when they did, with Neves going on to be an integral part of the Old Gold jigsaw over many a season, culminating in 30 goals and 13 assists coming his way from 253 total appearances.

Casado’s potential arrival onto the scene does have a similar Neves feel, considering the 21-year-old has reportedly had eyes watching him from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this summer, on top of the Spaniard being more used to Champions League contests at the Camp Nou assisting Raphinha than any Premier League basement battles.

Still, much like the Al-Hilal midfielder routinely steered Wolves to comfortable mid-table finishes – with Neves’ lowest final position in an Old Gold shirt coming in at 13th – Pereira will hope Casado’s addition to the group means defeats such as the one suffered at the hands of the Citizens don’t crop up all campaign long, as more successful days lay ahead.

La Liga games played

23

League goals scored

1

Assists

3

Champions League games played

10

Champions League goals scored

0

Assists

2

After all, despite limited first-team opportunities, Casado has shown he can cut it at the very top with Barca, with one goal and five assists falling into his lap last season in La Liga and Champions League action.

Therefore, the 5-foot-8 star shouldn’t find the step-up to the Premier League to be too overwhelming, with a hope he can instantly settle in, like Neves managed all those years ago.

Moreover, he even possesses elements of Neves’ game when it comes to stepping up as a leader, with the 28-year-old going on to don the Old Gold armband regularly across his lengthy spell at the club.

Former Barca great Rafael Marquez would herald Casado as a “total leader” when first making waves in the Camp Nou senior set-up, while further being branded as a “machine” by ex-Spain teammate Yeremi Pino.

Transfer Focus

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

All this positive talk points in the direction of this being a worthwhile purchase to pursue, particularly if he goes on to be as effective as Neves.

Offer will be accepted: Wolves now very keen to sign "superb" La Liga star

He’s a wanted man.

1 ByTom Cunningham Aug 19, 2025

Mohamed Salah. Three-time PFA Player of the Year.

His colleagues recognise his greatness, and the Egyptian forward is hungry to add more depth to his Liverpool legacy this season.

How to achieve such a thing? Well, after his extraordinary 2024/25 campaign, spearheading Arne Slot’s title charge and clinching 34 goals and 23 assists across all competitions, Salah has immortalised himself as one of the Premier League’s greats, now knocking on the door of the top three in the all-time scoring charts.

Premier League – All-time Top Scorers

#

Player

Goals

1.

Alan Shearer

260

2.

Harry Kane

211

3.

Wayne Rooney

208

4.

Mohamed Salah

187

4=

Andy Cole

187

Data via Premier League

Having turned 33 in June, the forward is entering the autumn phase of his career; he’s lost a yard, and no mistake.

However, Salah’s intelligence and technical ability allow him to maintain an elite level, and he showed as such on the division’s opening night.

But, FSG might be wise to sign another forward before the closure of the market, adding an attacking partner with whom the £400k-per-week star can combine with.

Liverpool targeting another forward

Liverpool’s vested interest in Alexander Isak is no secret. To condense the sprawling, convoluted saga into something packageable: Isak wants Liverpool, Liverpool want Isak, Newcastle have doubled down on their negative response.

The Sweden striker, 25, is refusing to reintegrate into Eddie Howe’s side and feels promises have been broken, but the Magpies have failed to sign a centre-forward this summer, and so their stance is understandable, if regrettable for those of a Reds persuasion.

Liverpool have already seen an initial offer worth £110m knocked back in August, and will not advance again unless given encouragement from Tyneside.

With that in mind, sporting director Richard Hughes might want to turn to another earmarked option, lest Liverpool find themselves short over the coming year.

According to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola, as translated by Sport Witness, Liverpool are alongside Manchester City as the frontrunners in the race for Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

Man City are trying to sell Savinho to Tottenham Hotspur, and that would open the door to Rodrygo’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium. But Liverpool have a long-standing interest of their own, and they need depth up top after selling Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.

The 24-year-old is expendable, but Los Blancos won’t let him go on the cheap, valuing their player at €90m (about £76m).

Why Rodrygo would benefit Mo Salah

Rodrygo sat on the bench as Real Madrid slenderly defeated Mallorca in their La Liga opener on Tuesday evening. He was unused as the Xabi Alonso era got up and running on Spanish soil.

The 2024/25 campaign was one of toil and frustration for the Brazilian forward, who blanked across his final 17 league matches and, in fact, scored just the six goals in La Liga all year.

Data via Sofascore reveals he missed only one big chance though, and when considering he scarcely played out on his favoured left flank, it’s clear that Rodrygo could prove a jackpot signing at Liverpool, combining with Salah on the wings and teeing up Hugo Ekitike in the centre.

Hailed as “the jewel in the crown” at Real Madrid by one analyst, Rodrygo is a dynamic and gifted player. To wit, he’s a deadly finisher on his day, but also a crisp passer with an underlying creativity that has proved effective across a range of attacking positions. His quality lends itself to multi-positionality.

But Salah isn’t going anywhere, not yet, and so Rodrygo would hope to play with regularity on the left, having scored six goals and supplied six assists from only 12 games in the role last year.

That potent output (from Rodrygo) would only advance in a wide partnership with a player like Salah, who created more big chances (27) than any other player in the Premier League last season.

Renowned as one of the deadliest finishers of his generation, Salah has long borne an all-encompassing skill set, but Father Time has hit his pace and athleticism, and he has now heaped even more of an emphasis on his playmaking.

How often have we seen Salah take a deft touch, cut back, gear up, whip in a fierce delivery? Now that Trent Alexander-Arnold plies his trade for Real Madrid, that task will be heightened, especially with a striker of real quality added to the fold in Ekitike.

Rodrygo’s pace and off-the-ball movement would see him thrive alongside Salah in such a situation.

As per FBref, the versatile forward ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 20% foer shot-creating actions per 90, and that’s while playing the lion’s share of his football on the right, his unfavoured yet prinicipal area of attack.

Salah’s wish for a second Premier League title came true last season. He made it so. Now, it wouldn’t be unfair to posit that another Champions League title would be the jewel in his crown in 2026.

With Rodrygo, a master on Europe’s elite stage, alongside him, that vision might just be realised.

Whether Liverpool manage to pull this one off remains to be seen – Isak is surely still the top priority for the Anfield side – but if that door is slammed shut and locked in the coming days, don’t be surprised if Liverpool raise their intrigue in Rodrygo, giving Salah a new dance partner for his final few shows in a Red shirt.

Related New Van Dijk: Liverpool in strong position to sign £23m Guehi alternative

Liverpool are looking for a new centre-back and it might not be Guehi

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Aug 21, 2025

Newcastle United remain without Alexander Isak, with the Sweden international still refusing to play for the club this season. It meant Eddie Howe had to get creative in their Premier League opener, with Anthony Gordon leading the line and Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga operating out wide.

For Isak’s Sweden teammate Elanga, it was an impressive debut. According to the stats on Sofascore, he made 23 sprints and showed his electric pace, clocking in at 35.3km/h as his quickest speed. He also created two chances and was a bright spark going forward for Newcastle.

However, their attack feels unbalanced with Gordon up front. They are still targeting a striker this summer, with Isak’s future still very much hanging in the balance.

Newcastle’s striker target

There have certainly been plenty of names bandied about when it comes to Newcastle’s search for a striker. One of the latest targets is Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, with fellow Premier League centre-forwards Yoane Wissa of Brentford and Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea also viable options.

Transfer Focus

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

However, another name from within the Premier League has once again cropped up. According to a report from TBR Football, the Magpies are said to have made Aston Villa and England star Ollie Watkins a ‘prime target’ ahead of the final ten days of the window.

The former Brentford attacker could leave Villa Park if they themselves can sign Jackson from Chelsea. Given Waktins is ‘one of the names high on their list’, Newcastle could pounce.

As for the price, it was reported earlier in the window that the Villans would demand as much as £50m for the 29-year-old.

Why Watkins would be a good signing

There is no doubt that, if Watkins makes the move to Tyneside this summer, his potential new club would be signing a ready-made Premier League striker. He has garnered a reputation as one of the Premier League’s biggest threats in front of goal.

Watkins has become an incredibly potent Premier League striker. Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley described the England star as a “dangerous” number nine, and it is easy to see why. He has 75 goals in 185 games in the English top flight, assisting a further 36.

Consistency has been key for the Exeter-born attacker. In the five full seasons of Premier League football he has played, Watkins has reached double figures for goals in all of them. The 2023/24 season was his best, a campaign in which he scored 16 top-flight goals.

2020/21

37

14

2021/22

35

11

2022/23

37

15

2023/24

37

19

2024/25

38

16

Well, Watkins might be a player that Elanga loves playing with. Newcastle’s new recruit, who signed from Nottingham Forest, had an impressive season in Garibaldi Red in 2024/25, scoring six goals and assisting 11 in 38 Premier League appearances.

Newcastle’s number 20 had a big role to play in their 0-0 draw against Watkins’ Villa last weekend.

His line-breaking pass on the counterattack to Gordon led Villans defender Ezri Konsa to haul down the makeshift striker, with the result a red card for the centre-back.

The winger loves to play with space ahead of him, as he said in an interview last season. He explained after a stunning solo effort against Manchester United that “attacking the space” is a key part of his game.

The fact that he can exploit that so well must be music to Watkins’ ears. The England striker has previously said himself that “running in behind and causing the defence trouble” is his “bread and butter”, as this goal against Everton last season showed.

It is easy to see why Elanga and Watkins could work so well together. Elanga is a player who loves to carry the ball and find runners in behind, and with Watkins’ ability to stretch play, this could play into his hands perfectly.

For a fee of £50m, pairing up a deadly Premier League striker and a proven assist-maker could be the perfect move for Howe.

He's Isak 2.0: Newcastle in race for £56m "future star" who wants the move

Newcastle are still searching for a striker if Isak leaves

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 20, 2025

Former MLS forward and current CBS Sports analyst Mike Grella praised Christian Pulisic's impact at AC Milan, suggesting that the USMNT star’s success at one of Europe's most storied clubs represents a milestone for soccer development in the U.S. Grella said Pulisic, who scored twice Saturday for Milan, has changed perceptions of American players in Europe.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Standard bearer reshaping perceptions

  Grella said that Milan's Rafael Leao might have questioned Pulisic’s ability when he first arrived at the club.

  "Imagine you're Leao – 100 percent this went through his head," Grella said on CBS Sports. "And I don't want to put words in his mouth but 100 percent. I know this for a fact because I was an American playing in Europe. Pulisic comes and he (Leao) goes ‘I'm the guy here, I'm the man, I’m the most talented player,' right?

  “There was rumors of how much he was worth year one after he got the MVP, he was saying he's worth $100 million, right? No doubt in his head, he goes. ‘Who's this American kid coming here? Thinking that he can play at AC Milan with me.' Right? One hundred percent, there was that thought in his mind. And now with Pulisic, year three, constantly being this steady?"

  Grella said Pulisic is now setting standards for U.S. internationals.

  “Scoring goals constantly, look at him," he said. "Just gets his job done, hard worker. That sends a shockwave through the entire team, especially to guys like Leao. 'Look hey pal, you have to play, you have to perform, you have to work.' Like, this is a standard now at Milan.

  "And the fact that Pulisic is setting that standard for AC Milan tells you where American football is going. Hopefully in the right direction, with obviously things going on with the national team, not so great. But him leading the flag for American football… is an awesome storyline. Credit to Pulisic."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pulisic is a complete player

  Grella praised Pulisic after his brace helped the Rossoneri to a 3-0 win over Udinese.

  “He can do it all,” Grella gushed. “Both feet, he can score with his head if it’s not a contested header. He can beat guys on the dribble. He’s just a guy you want in the changing room. With so much change in the team, managers, players… he’s been the guy that’s been, ‘No I’m here and this is my job, and this is what I do.' He’s been the one steady at a club that’s been trying to figure things out over the last couple of seasons.”

• AFP
  

  Marco Messina on Massimiliano Allegri’s influence

  Analyst Marco Messina also praised Massimiliano Allegri’s influence on the team. The Italian was appointed as the Rossoneri’s new coach before the season.

  “What stands out to me most is how professional they they were,” Messina said on CBS Sports Golazo. “Even at 3-0, they were going to get the fourth goal, they didn’t want to concede, you could see the anger in them. That’s a touch of Max Allegri and we’ve said before, he was exactly what they needed.

  “Milan’s management have gotten things wrong in the past, and we’ve sat here and we’ve said ‘They got this wrong, they got this wrong.' In this summer, we all sat here and said, 'They got the best possible coach for this exact situation.' Yes, it’s only a few games into the season, but you can see the writing on the wall, that this Milan is headed in the right direction.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pulisic now with three goals

  With three goals in four league appearances in the Serie A, Pulisic will hope to continue his run of form.

Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League last season, in case you didn’t know.

It saved Ange Postecoglou’s season, if not his job, and ensured that Tottenham will compete in the new term’s Champions League.

The baton has been passed to Thomas Frank, who has done such fine work in west London with Brentford. The Danish manager has overseen the £55m signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

With Joao Palhinha set to arrive imminently from Bayern Munich, things are starting to take shape down N17, but more might be needed in the attacking department.

Especially as captain Heung-min Son has announced that he will be leaving the club this summer.

Why Son is leaving Spurs

Son has been at Tottenham for a decade, joining from Bayer Leverkusen for £22m in 2015.

Across his 454 appearances at the club, the South Korean forward has scored 173 goals and has provided 101 assists.

To have won the Europa League in his final competitive month at the club, ending 17 years of searching for silverware at Spurs, marks a wonderful sense of poetic justice. Son is one of the finest wingers of his generation, after all.

But the 33-year-old has deteriorated over the past couple of years. Still a winger of high quality, he has made the decision to close this door amid talks with LAFC over the pond.

And he’s earned the right to make such a call. But if Son does leave, Frank and Daniel Levy must come together to sign a successor in the next month, even having already landed Kudus.

Spurs getting confident about signing Son heir

As per Spanish sources, Tottenham’s chances of signing Rodrygo this summer are growing, with the Real Madrid forward anticipated to join a new club this summer.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have been named as suitors in recent months, but it’s understood that such clubs’ intrigue is cool, whereas Levy is engaged in promising talks with the Brazilian’s entourage.

Rodrygo, 24, has fallen out of favour in the Spanish capital, but he remains one of the most talented forwards in world football, and Los Blancos know it. He carries the weight of a £69m initial price tag.

Why Spurs should sign Rodrygo

The 2024/25 campaign left something to be desired for Rodrygo, no doubt. However, this shouldn’t dissuade the Tottenham faithful: he is “the most gifted and the most talented player” at Real Madrid, says Jude Bellingham.

Furthermore, Rodrygo has spent more time with the Spaniards on the right flank than on the left, which, as a goalscoring right-footer, is his preferred wing.

As you can see below, his return of six goals and six assists from just 12 matches as a left winger in 2024/25 illustrates his potential. Vinicius Junior’s presence precludes him from playing there with regularity.

Right winger

31

8

5

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

10

–

–

At times, Rodrygo’s goalscoring numbers leave something to be desired, but he’s a prolific player all the same, having missed just one big chance in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore. Albeit he scored just six goals.

In this way, the Brazil international could be the perfect replacement for a player like Son, who, according to xG (expected goals), has been the most clinical finisher in the world since 2014.

Kudus, conversely, lacks composure and accuracy with his ball striking.

Described by former teammate Luka Modric as being a “world-class” and versatile forward, Tottenham must surely throw the kitchen sink at signing Rodrygo, if they truly wish to turn a corner and challenge at the forefront of domestic and European football with consistency.

Looking at how the South American compares to Son over the past year (having routinely been fielded out of position), you begin to see why he’s so highly coveted, balanced in his output, strong on the ball, electric when charging forward.

Goals

0.35

0.32

Assists

0.22

0.32

Shots taken

2.54

2.46

Shot-creating actions

4.56

4.89

Pass completion

85.7%

78%

Touches (att pen)

5.84

4.70

Progressive passes

4.69

4.28

Progressive carries

5.07

5.41

Successful take-ons

2.15

1.59

Rodrygo carries himself in a similar tactical fashion to Spurs’ soon-to-depart skipper, and it’s interesting to note that he still chalked up 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last year in spite of his woes, going 17 La Liga matches before the close of play without a single goal involvement.

But he’s also crisper and more athletic than the ageing great, understandably so. Aged 24, Rodrygo’s best years are surely ahead of him, and given what the two-time Champions League winner has accomplished thus far, it’s an exciting thought to think he could don a new shade of white over the coming years.

Moreover, Rodrygo’s pedigree in the Champions League speaks for itself, and what finer way to take strong steps back onto Europe’s elite stage than by signing one of its superstars?

With Dominic Solanke leading a frontline that does have its range of quality, adding a player like Rodrygo feels like it could complete the set.

An industrious and, as Bellingham says, ‘gifted’ winger with an eye for goal, the pieces could come together with this one, to be sure.

This might be the end of the line for a Tottenham great, but Frank has his wits about him and could ensure that an exciting upgrade is signed if Levy is convinced to go all out for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

Their best CF since Kane: Spurs enter talks for "extremely dangerous" star

Tottenham Hotspur are starting to make a move for a forward who could follow in Harry Kane’s footsteps.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 2, 2025

Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings and Tom Curran were picked up in Monday’s draft

Matt Roller13-Jan-2025

Tom Kohler-Cadmore is set to return to Peshawar Zalmi•PSL

English players are seeking clarity from the ECB over whether they will be granted No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) after they were signed to play in the PSL at Monday’s draft in Lahore.Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Peshawar Zalmi), Sam Billings and Tom Curran (both Lahore Qalandars) were signed in Monday’s draft, while James Vince (Karachi Kings), Chris Jordan and David Willey (both Multan Sultans) were all previously retained. The PSL has moved into an April-May window for 2025, meaning it will clash with the start of the English season for the first time.Players reacted furiously in late November when the ECB announced a new policy on NOCs, which chief executive Richard Gould said was designed to “defend our game”. The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) were blindsided by the policy and said that their sense of “genuine collaboration” with the ECB had vanished.Related

Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars to kick off PSL 2025 on April 11; final on May 18

PSL 2025 draft – Williamson among seven New Zealanders drafted; Warner, Mitchell among Platinum picks

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'Anger and resentment': PCA holds crisis talks over NOC policy

Players threaten legal action over new ECB stance on NOCs

The new policy will see players denied NOCs for all overseas leagues that take place during the English summer, including the PSL, the CPL and MLC – with the notable exception of the IPL. Players on white-ball contracts with their counties will be granted NOCs for competitions that do not clash with the T20 Blast or the Hundred.The ECB initially planned to block players with any provision for red-ball appearances from missing County Championship fixtures to play overseas, but have since softened their stance after pressure from players, their agents and the PCA. At this stage, Billings, Curran, Jordan and Willey are all expected to be granted NOCs for the PSL.The board’s stance is that its NOC “consultation group” will consider all requests against the criteria set out in November. ESPNcricinfo understands that in the case of the PSL, this will mean players will be eligible for NOCs if they are on white-ball contracts, or if they choose to renegotiate existing multi-format deals after the draft.James Vince was retained by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL draft•PCB

Kohler-Cadmore and Vince are on all-format contracts with their respective counties – Somerset and Hampshire – and both are understood to be considering their available options. The PSL is due to run from April 8 until May 19, and both players will miss at least the first six Championship games of the season if they fulfil their PSL deals.ESPNcricinfo understands that six players with England central contracts registered themselves for the draft, but were marked as “unavailable” on a longlist sent to franchises on Sunday after the ECB clarified it would not grant them NOCs. These included Jonny Bairstow – who has not played for England since June – and Adil Rashid, who is a white-ball specialist.A PCA spokesperson said: “Following the announcement of the NOC policy and its proposed implementation, the PCA has been engaging with its members, legal team and the ECB, collectively representing current players to find solutions on restrictions. Progress has been made across a number of implementation areas, however, each NOC request is on a case-by-case basis and there remains ongoing consultation.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians fez uma sequência de três jogos seguidos fora de casa e obteve aproveitamento de 11%, com duas derrotas e um empate. Após o 0 a 0 com o Argentinos Juniors, o Timão chegou ao terceiro jogo consecutivo sem balançar as redes. Somando ao segundo tempo do Majestoso, são 349 minutos sem marcar um gol.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCorinthians se interessa por Yan Couto, que pertence ao Manchester City, mas vê empecilhos para empréstimoCorinthians25/05/2023CorinthiansCorinthians marca exames de Paulinho para sexta; Luxemburgo pode ganhar ‘dor de cabeça’ no meio-campoCorinthians25/05/2023CorinthiansSem os titulares, Corinthians treina no CT do Boca Juniors e mira nova rodada para sair do Z4 do BrasileirãoCorinthians25/05/2023

+ Ataque faz jogo apagado e a “luz” do Corinthians na Libertadores começa a falhar; veja notas

Juntando as partidas contra Argentinos Juniors, Flamengo e Atlético-MG, o Timão deu apenas três chutes ao gol, segundo o SofaScore. A queda de produção ofensiva pode estar atrelada com o pensamento tático de Vanderlei Luxemburgo, que vem organizando o time de maneira mais defensiva, quase “estacionando o ônibus” em determinados momentos dos jogos.

+ Todos os jogos doBrasileirãovocê encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe os jogos do Timão

Mas o jejum de gols também passa pela figura central do ataque: Yuri Alberto. O camisa 9 é responsável pelo último gol de bola rolando do Corinthians, contra o Fortaleza, mas não se encontrou jogando de costas para os defensores, tendo que ser menos móvel.

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Apesar disso, Luxa acredita que o seu 4-4-2, com Róger Guedes mais próximo de Yuri Alberto, ainda vai encaixar e resultar em gols do centroavante.

– Quem proibiu o Yuri de ser centroavante? Ninguém proibiu. Eu estou chegando em um clube mudando a parte tática, eu não consigo fazer tudo ao mesmo tempo porque não tenho tempo para treinar. Eu estou procurando facilitar a vida dele, coloquei o Guedes mais próximo para eles jogarem. Mas a bola tem que chegar. Devagarinho a gente vai encaixando as coisas – disse Luxa na coletiva após o jogo contra o Argentinos Juniors.

continua após a publicidade

+ Timão vivo na Libertadores? Veja os resultados e como ficou o grupo do Corinthians após a rodada

Independente do esquema tático, Yuri Alberto não vive bom momento no clube. O atacante perdeu duas chances claras contra o Flamengo, que poderiam ter impactado diretamente o resultado no Maracanã, e a torcida está cada vez mais no pé do camisa 9.

Em comparação com a temporada passada, Yuri teve uma queda na conversão de chances claras, de 70% para 50%. Ainda, sua pontaria caiu de 56% para 41%, segundo o SofaScore.

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansLuxemburgoYuri Alberto

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been assured that “Wrexham won’t struggle” this season, meaning that they can relax a little, but the Red Dragons have been told what they need to do in order to be competitive in the Championship. Phil Parkinson is being backed to steer the Welsh outfit away from any kind of danger during the 2025-26 campaign.

Meteoric rise: History made in promotion run

Having made EFL history with a run of three successive promotions, Wrexham find themselves in the second tier of English football ahead of schedule. Big money is having to be invested in a bid to ensure that no backwards steps are taken.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALSpending spree: Big window for the Red Dragons

Hollywood co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney helped to fund a £33 million ($45m) spending spree in the summer transfer window, with Premier League pedigree being added to the ranks at SToK Racecourse.

Slow start: Questions asked of Parkinson

A slow start to the new season was endured, leading to the odd question being asked of Parkinson’s future, but a return to winning ways was made last time out at Norwich. Wrexham are considered to have more than enough to keep them clear of any relegation dogfights.

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GettyChampionship advice: Pulis talks Wrexham

Experienced Welsh tactician Tony Pulis told : “Wrexham won’t struggle, they've got enough. Phil Parkinson has done a fantastic job there. They certainly have enough to compete, though I'm not sure if they'll be in the top six this season.

“He's made some good signings. If they can get the momentum they've had year after year and bring it into this league again, it's an unbelievable and difficult ground to visit. Phil knows the league, having played in it himself, so he understands what's coming. He'll have it all planned out.

“It's just about momentum. If they can pick up results home and away and gain self-belief and confidence, that's one of the big things after promotion. Players will be wary of whether they're good enough. They'll be going into different, bigger grounds with a different atmosphere. It's about having that self-belief and confidence, and there's nothing better for that than winning games.”

Christian contributed with both bat and ball, but Bryant and Renshaw’s 108-run stand turned the game on its head

Tristan Lavalette06-Jan-2025Dan Christian rewound the clock in his first match since coming out of retirement, but Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant produced a blistering century partnership to lift Brisbane Heat over Sydney Thunder in a pivotal BBL result.Chasing 174 at the Gabba, Heat were in big trouble at 43 for 3 before Bryant and Renshaw combined for a belligerent 108-run partnership to turn the match on its head. Bryant smashed 72 off 35 balls, while Renshaw whacked 48 not out off 33 balls as Heat reached the target with seven balls to spare.It was a vital win for Heat, who reignited their title defence and moved to a 3-3 (one no result) record. After their attack fell apart in the backend of Heat’s innings, with quick Wes Agar suffering the brunt with 1 for 61 from 3.5 overs, the shorthanded Thunder (4-2) missed their chance to claim the top spot on the BBL ladder.Renshaw, Bryant turn match on its headHeat’s top-order struggles reared again and their hopes of victory looked forlorn at 53 for 3 after ten overs. The required run rate ballooned to over 12 an over as Bryant and Renshaw were forced to take the power surge earlier than Heat would have hoped.It worked as a treat with Renshaw setting the tone by whacking Agar -for consecutive boundaries in the 11th over, which yielded 20 runs. Heat plundered 32 runs in the power surge and their momentum continued with Bryant and Renshaw trading massive blows.Renshaw showcased his improved power game against spin with a huge six off Tom Andrews that sailed over deep midwicket. They smashed 72 runs in just five overs, as Bryant raced past Renshaw to reach his half-century off 26 balls.Bryant fell in the 17th over, but Renshaw ensured Heat held their nerve at the death.Dan Christian utilised his wealth of T20 experience to good effect•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesChristian contributes with bat and ballThe 41-year-old Christian had not played a professional cricket match since BBL 12 and had spent the past two seasons as Thunder’s assistant coach. But he had to answer an urgent call for Thunder after injuries to Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft following their horror collision in the field against Perth Scorchers.Christian had been keeping fit in local NSW cricket and it showed with a terrific all-round performance. Coming in at 125 for 6 after Thunder were sent in, Christian wisely gave himself a few sighters, scoring just six runs off his first seven balls, before blasting a huge six off quick Xavier Bartlett that sailed 92m over the square-leg boundary. Christian added another six, fortuitously through a top edge, but his cameo proved he had not lost his power hitting.He then came into the attack in the fourth over of Heat’s innings and dismissed Nathan McSweeney, who feathered an attempted lap shot. Christian also bowled tidily at the death to finish with 1 for 25 from four overs as he utilised his wealth of T20 experience to good effect.Neser returns in styleAmid Scott Boland’s burgeoning popularity and strong form of numerous fringe international quicks in the BBL, Michael Neser has become the forgotten paceman of Australian cricket. He had started the domestic season brilliantly and claimed 4 for 27 against India A at the MCG in early November before suffering a significant hamstring injury in that match.After being on the sidelines for almost two months, he was raring to go and opened the bowling along with Bartlett, ahead of left-arm quick Spencer Johnson who was held back until the seventh over. Neser’s new ball prowess came to the fore in the third over when he dismissed Ollie Davies, who could only inside-edge an attempted ramp shot. It was a tame end for Davies, elevated to open in the absence of Bancroft.David Warner continued his good form•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesNeser returned and claimed the vital wicket of Sam Billings in the ninth over. He dug in a short-of-good-length delivery that Billings charged at but could only sky high in the air for Tom Alsop to complete an easy catch with the gloves. Neser finished with 2 for 25 from four overs and later hit the winning run.Warner fires againAfter a slow start to his captaincy reign, David Warner rediscovered his belligerent best with scores of 86 not out and 49 heading into this match. He produced again with 50 off 36 balls to hold together Thunder’s innings.Warner batted in mostly orthodox fashion in the powerplay and was determined to be Thunder’s anchor as they lost consistent wickets. He made his move in the sixth over against legspinner Mitchell Swepson, sweeping him to the boundary on the first delivery before reverse-sweeping the next ball for another four.Warner’s placement was a feature as underlined by drilling a cover boundary off Johnson to bring up his half-century. But he was clean bowled on the next ball after unsuccessfully reverse sweeping a Johnson yorker. Thunder appeared set to fall well short of a strong total until Christian’s late flurry.

Rishabh Pant has come under criticism for the risks he has taken during this Border-Gavaskar Trophy, risks that have left him with scores of 37, 1, 21, 28, 9, 28, 30. Perception from both outside the Indian team, and inside it, is that he doesn’t rein in his natural game when he needs to.Pant showed he could bat differently in Sydney where Australia’s discipline on a pitch with seam movement and bounce resulted in him taking body blow after body blow in an innings where he faced 98 balls and hit only four of them to the boundary. He came in to bat just as India lost a little bit of their advantage, losing a wicket the last ball before lunch, to become 57 for 2 after 25 overs.Pant took them to tea for the loss of one more wicket, batting in a way he normally doesn’t. India were 107 for 4 after 50 overs.”I think in this innings I was not in a frame of mind where I wanted to take charge of the game because the wicket was doing too much,” he said. “And the kind of situation we were in and while playing inside I felt like I could do like play a little bit of defensive cricket yes there is a time to attack but when you have to feel that from inside. I can’t just pre-meditate that I’m going to play this way whatever the game asked me to do on that given day that’s what I try to do and that was the mindset.”Following the defeat in Melbourne, Gautam Gambhir, the India coach, had communicated the need for a team-first approach where all the players need to decide whether their natural game would help their cause or hinder it. Four days ago, Rohit Sharma had placed the onus on Pant to figure out what was best for both himself and the team.”I think it’s a little bit not very difficult,” Pant said as he spoke about prioritising survival over strokeplay. “Yes, initial part would be very difficult because when you see a ball which you can hit but sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket, I would say. Like there might be 50-50 chance which I could have taken early on in this innings but sometimes you have to play more secure cricket especially the way [SCG] wicket was behaving we knew that if we get one more wicket here we might lose two-three in a quick succession so that was the idea behind the way I was playing and last match there was nothing much to do the kind of target we had I think I had to play that [defensively] way so I think pretty fine with the way I’m playing.Related

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Pant is in no mood to sacrifice his gifts entirely. “I think mostly you want to back whatever the way you have played game but eventually you gotta keep on evolving. There is, I feel, there is not one way to play cricket but whatever comes more naturally is always better but you’ve got to find that balance between playing aggressive cricket and having that balance when you play all those shots and that’s what I’m trying to do.”Just trying to make most out of whatever the way I’m playing and just keep it simple not to overthink because you know when you’re not having best of the tours you might overthink too much but I just try to keep it simple and give my 200% on the field and that’s the idea about playing cricket for me.”

Rohit decision was a management call – Pant

India went into the Sydney Test with their captain Rohit sitting out after a prolonged spell of bad form, alongside poor results. “I think definitely it was an emotional decision,” Pant said, “Because he’s been captain for a long time we see him as a leader of the team but I think there are some decisions which you are not involved with and it’s a very management call so I was not part of that conversation so can’t explain anything other than that.”Bumrah who took over in Rohit’s stead had a simple message for India. “I think mostly the message is like be positive all the time don’t think what has already happened just give your best on the field,” Pant said, “And that’s what you want from your captain like being in a positive frame of mind and keep moving the game forward each and every day.”India felt they ended up on the wrong side of a DRS call, when an on-field decision of not-out was overturned in the last session and Washington Sundar was eventually adjudged caught behind. There was a murmur on Snicko as ball passed the glove. Umpire Joel Wilson took that as confirmation of contact. In the previous Test, Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind and there he definitely hit the ball but Snicko did not corroborate that evidence. Pant felt technology needed to get better.”I think there is not much to say because technology is one part which as a cricketer you can’t control,” Pant said, “But I feel whatever decision we make on the field it has to stay with the on-field umpire that’s the only thing until unless it’s so conclusive to change the decision I think we should stay with on-field umpire rest is umpire’s decision end of the day I can’t challenge that every day but technology can be a little better I guess.”