Liverpool are almost Champions Elect.

It’s a bold claim to make in February, no doubt, but Arne Slot’s side are 13 points clear of second-place Arsenal with ten Premier League games to play.

The ever-tightening grip on the trophy is a product of Slot’s genius, Jurgen Klopp’s craftmanship and the overarching squad’s assimilation of tactical ideas.

Rivals needed Liverpool to drop points against Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday evening, but they were sorely disappointed, with Virgil van Dijk leading his team to a professional and cultured 2-0 victory.

Goals from the in-form Dominik Szoboszlai and industrious midfield general Alexis Mac Allister did the trick, with Merseyside erupting in elated fanfare as they stepped ever closer to glory.

How Liverpool beat Newcastle

If this contest served as an overture for next month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley, Liverpool will feel pretty confident. Newcastle struggled to find an answer to the Slot machine, albeit without Alexander Isak, who suffered a groin injury pre-match but is slated to return well in time for the March meeting.

Liverpool are proving to be box-office super-sellers under Slot’s wing, capable of winning in so many different ways. Against Manchester City at the Etihad last weekend, the Reds only had 34% of the ball, but confidently won 2-0.

This time, they thwarted the Magpies with controlled play, limiting their attacking scope. Indeed, Newcastle only took three shots on the evening, none of which tested Alisson, whose sole defensive involvement was to parry a deflected cross.

As per Sofascore, the home side also won 55% of the match duels and made more tackles, clearances, interceptions and ball recoveries than their guests.

It was a complete display, with reporter David Lynch noting: “They controlled this one from start to finish.”

However, one or two Redmen failed to assert themselves as they’d have liked. Diogo Jota, for one, struggled to rediscover that clinical and dynamic quality that has been a staple of his time at the club.

Diogo Jota's performance vs Newcastle

With Darwin Nunez out of favour and slated for a summer sale, this was an opportunity for Jota to stake his claim as Liverpool’s first-choice number nine for the business months of the campaign.

But he struggled to produce the convincing performance that he needed, having now gone six matches without scoring. It wasn’t a dismal display, but it did leave plenty to be desired, with GOAL giving the Portugal star a 5/10 match rating and writing: ‘Offered nothing as a direct threat and was quiet before he went off after the hour mark.’

It’s an understandable, if unforgiving, assessment. Jota was reduced to a bit-part role for much of the contest, taking fewer touches than his goalkeeper Alisson (36), who indeed wasn’t called upon to make a direct save as Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate marshalled the Isak-less Newcastle frontline.

Diogo Jota’s Performance vs Newcastle
Match Stats	#
Minutes played	62′
Goals	0
Assists	0
Touches	23
Shots (on target)	0 (0)
Accurate passes	11/13 (85%)
Key passes	1
Dribbles	0/1
Ground duels	1/6
Aerial duels	1/1
Stats via Sofascore

The fact the 28-year-old – who also lost 71% of his total duels – was unable to get a shot away typified his struggles right now. For sure, Jota demonstrated some neat and intelligent movement, found Szoboszlai with one clever pass, but he’s not exactly playing at full throttle right now, lacking the killer instinct that has been expected of him across many prolific years on Merseyside.

Liverpool don’t play this weekend given they are out of the FA Cup, but a double Champions League header against Paris Saint-Germain begins next week. Slot will have one or two bold decisions to make, one of which could be demoting Jota to the bench.

Why Diogo Jota should be benched

Jota has suffered yet another injury-disrupted campaign, missing 15 matches across all competitions between October and January, returning for the festive period but picking up another muscular twinge last month.

He’s since started three of Liverpool’s past four Premier League matches but has failed to find the back of the net, also playing from the outset in a drab first-leg defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semi-final and again during the embarrassing FA Cup exit against second-tier Plymouth Argyle.

It’s clear that he lacks confidence right now, so maybe putting him back on the bench could be a good thing. After all, the £140k-per-week talent’s last three top-flight goals have come during off-the-bench appearances.

Luis Diaz has moonlit as a mobile centre-forward on many occasions this season to combat Liverpool’s struggles with an effective out-and-out striker, be that because of Nunez’s on-pitch struggles or Jota’s injury issues. However, the Colombian is at his rip-roaring best when peeling off the left flank.

However, Szoboszlai played excellently at the Etihad when operating in a quasi-striker role, proving his relentless running and ability to close down his opponents is something that can work effectively for Liverpool.

Given PSG will look to bring fire to their contest against Liverpool, it might be worth deploying such an in-form player, especially since Cody Gakpo will be looking to start after returning from injury.

Moreover, Liverpool’s Hungarian engine has scored four times in little over a month of football, denoting a new and improved version who has listened to the comments about his lack of goals to complement a robust and gifted skill set.

Gakpo and Salah are Liverpool’s two most prolific players this year, so it might be worth using a more balanced focal point to act as a gravity centre, allowing them to arc inward and fire at the Parisiens in a three-pronged cannonade.

Jota, as stated, knows where the back of the net is, but this is a skill that seems well suited to off-the-bench action, and Slot may want to act accordingly.

Worth more than Szoboszlai & Gakpo: Liverpool struck gold on "deadly" star

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Chelsea added another two players to their growing collection of sparkling young talent when they officially confirmed the signings of Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo this week.

Both players are poised to join from Sporting at the start of the summer transfer window, although Quenda will return to the Portuguese side to spend next season on loan with his boyhood club.

Essugo, on the other hand, is reportedly viewed as a ‘ball-winner’ who can provide depth for Enzo Maresca next term, as per this report by Sky Sports News.

The Chelsea head coach has a plethora of young talent at his disposal ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and it will be interesting to see which ones will make the step up.

The Chelsea youngsters who could break through next season

Essugo is one of those players who could have an eye on making the first-team, as he has made 17 appearances in LaLiga on loan at Las Palmas in the current campaign.

Tyrique George, who has come up through the academy system, has now played 17 times for the senior side and registered four assists this season.

The 19-year-old sensation, who has one assist in five Premier League outings, may look to use his experience this term to push on and secure a regular spot in Maresca’s side next year.

Andrey Santos, who is currently on loan at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, is another player who could make a breakthrough, having averaged 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game across 24 starts this season.

Another player who could make an impact at Stamford Bridge next season is Brazil international Estevao Willian, who can finally join the club this summer.

Chelsea have the world's second-best wonderkid on their hands

The Brazilian forward turns 18 in April and this means that he can officially make the move to England in the summer transfer window, ready to push for a place in Maresca’s team next term.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Estevao, who was described as a “phenomenon” by his agent Andre Cury, was recently named in GOAL’s NXGN top 50 wonderkids in football in 2025 list.

He ranked second on the list, only behind Lamine Yamal, and was above the likes of Endrick, Pau Cubarsi, and Warren Zaire-Emery, among others, which suggests that the Blues have the second-best wonderkid in the world on their hands.

GOAL.com's 10 best wonderkids in world football.

Yamal has already won the European Championship and LaLiga, whilst racking up 20 goals and 24 assists for Barcelona, before the age of 18, which illustrates what a generational talent he is.

Estevao, who was described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has been capped four times by Brazil and produced 20 goals and ten assists in 59 matches for Palmeiras to date.

Appearances (starts)

31 (26)

xG

10.54

Goals

13

Big chances created

11

Assists

9

As you can see in the table above, the future Chelsea star produced regular quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the Brazilian top-flight in the 2024 campaign as a right-sided winger, cutting in on his left-foot.

These statistics show that the potential is there for him to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer as a player who can make an instant impact, despite the fact that he will have only just turned 18, because the young gem is already shining at first-team level.

Boehly must sell Chelsea's "waste of money" who earns more than Nkunku

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Chelsea must, now, ensure that they provide Estevao with the right environment to develop and thrive at Cobham, to ensure that he can fulfill his potential and be a future Ballon d’Or winner with the club.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na noite da última segunda-feira, a 16ª rodada da Série C foi encerrada com três jogos. Destaque para o Mirassol e Volta Redonda, que venceram seus jogos. Confira abaixo um resumo:

Paysandu x Figueirense

Na Curuzu, o Paysandu aproveitou o fator casa e abriu o marcador na casa dos 25 minutos com Geníson. O empate do Figuera veio na etapa final, quando Gustavo Henrique aproveitou a falha do rival e mandou para a rede, 1 a 1.

O Papão é o vice-líder, com 27 pontos. O Figueirense é o 6º, com 26 pontos.

Mirassol x Confiança

No interior paulista, o Mirassol mostrou a sua força e venceu o Confiança por 3 a 1, com gols de Pará, Camilo e Marcelo. Com o placar, o Mirassol chegou aos 32 pontos e garantiu a classificação antecipara para a próxima fase. O Confiança é o 15º, com 17 pontos.

Volta Redonda x Ypiranga

No Raulino de Oliveira, o Volta Redonda mostrou a sua força dentro de campo e confirmou a boa fase ao derrotar o Ypiranga-RS por 2 a 1. Os gols saíram através de Rafhael Lucas, que marcou duas vezes. O triunfo deixou o time na 4ª posição, com 26 pontos. Os gaúchos estão na 14ª colocação, com 19 pontos.

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Surrey 270 (Pope 91, Abbas 6-64) and 247 for 1 (Pope 122*, Sibley 79*) beat Hampshire 254 (Brown 95, Lawes 4-58) and 258 (Gubbins 84, Worrall 5-40) by nine wicketsSometimes, scorecards can lie. This one for the first meeting of Surrey and Hampshire in the 2023 County Championship is doing just that.Because this was a close game. No, really. At least for the most part. For the first three-and-a-half days, the back-and-forth between these two elite foes was straight out of a Tarantino flick. Unfortunately, so was the finish – a one-way slaughter inflicted by a sole protagonist.Neither had given much away, but Hampshire arrived at the Kia Oval on Sunday in possession of the better hand. Even when their lead of 182 was eventually capped at 242, Surrey’s task of knocking those off was far from certain against an international calibre attack on a pitch now scarred with indentations.And then Ollie Pope happened.There’s no wrong place to start with Pope’s brain-melting 122 not out, but we might as well go straight to the beginning of the evening session. Because, really, that’s what you’re here for – the brutality.That was when this suddenly became a one-sided, nine-wicket pasting. Maybe it’s unfair on Hampshire to describe it as such, but to see their XI powerless to stop an assault that saw the remaining 145 runs ticked off in 20.2 overs underlined the tectonic shift in proceedings. Pope was responsible for 100 of them in 70 deliveries, and who knows how many scars.Perhaps the most damaging offshoot of Pope’s innings was it made you forget how difficult cricket really is.He straight drove Mohammad Abbas for four, then cut him backwards of point the following over. With that, a thought – why don’t more batters try that against a bowler who averages 23 in Test cricket and 18.31 in the Championship?A single after that second boundary took him to 39, level with Dom Sibley’s score but from 54 fewer balls. And though you knew Sibley’s calmness was vital, particularly in an opening stand of 54 with Rory Burns, whose dismissal brought Pope to the crease with 189 left to get, there was a sense he didn’t need to grind so much. Dom, mate, just hit the ball hard in the areas where there aren’t any fielders. The opener did at least win the race to fifty, off 106 deliveries – his first of this homecoming after leaving for Warwickshire in 2017. Pope’s came from 60.Related

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Faced with a bouncer from James Fuller, Pope stepped out of the way and helped it over the keeper’s head, like it was a roll of toilet paper and he was trying to teepee the Pavilion. Given the risk associated with the pull shot – not least to your physical health – why don’t more players do that? This way looks easier and more fun, too.Even those in the stands, hooting and hollering throughout this 11th first-class century at the Oval like it was his first, started taking it for granted. In the last 15 minutes, a botched reverse paddle drew loud sighs from Surrey supporters now drunk on boundaries, as if it were a call for last orders. Pope sorted them out with ones for the road, finishing the match with back-to-back sixes off Felix Organ into the Vauxhall End.It’s important to note this was far more than England’s No.3 indulging in a rascal hand for the sake of it. There was as much application here as in his first innings of 91 in tough conditions across days two and three. The acceleration from a chilled start of 22 off 32 going into the tea break was very much governed by the light. When he and Sibley walked back out at 4pm, it did not look like it would hold until 6pm, which would have left around 16 overs unbowled. Both sides were shaking hands by 5:20pm.Sibley was far more than just a stagehand in Pope’s one-man show, by the way. He offered a useful counter-point for the 63 runs he provided to the match-sealing stand of 193, and a very different right-hander to bowl to. He riffed off Pope with some outrageous shots of his own, at least relative to the tucks to midwicket he had subsisted on before that final break. Beyond more intent with his shots, there was a bit of innovation when he pulled out a switch of feet but not of hands to sweep a rare boundary on the off side. The last 43 of his 79 runs came off 52 deliveries.The manner of the finish belies the situation hours earlier, when it really felt Surrey would need more of the 72 overs left in the day to chase their target of 243. That they had that many to work with was a testament to their bowlers, who polished off Hampshire’s second innings early enough for Burns and Sibley to have a 20-minute taster before lunch.Surrey needed just 22 overs to take the remaining five wickets, and did so with such control that only 45 was added to the overnight lead. That was ultimately achieved with the first dismissal of the day when Tom Lawes had Nick Gubbins caught by Sibley at first slip.Gubbins began Sunday with 79 from the night before, and was understandably watchful, leaving plenty of deliveries Lawes was angling across him. Rather than snare the left-hander with one that came back in, Lawes simply tweaked his line straighter. It was enough for Gubbins to offer the bat – and in turn, the edge – as the 20-year-old found enough seam movement with the old ball.After keeping tabs on the scoring until the new ball, Kemar Roach struck twice, removing the dangerous James Fuller and then knocking back Kyle Abbott’s off stump. At the other end, Dan Worrall rounded out a third five-wicket haul for the club, bouncing out Keith Barker and then finishing off Hampshire by claiming Abbas lbw.Those seamers spent the rest of the day with their feet up, getting on them to salute Pope’s century, which he got to with a four clipped through square leg off his 93rd delivery. They remained standing until the final blows confirmed a win achieved by more than just one man, even if he’s the only one we’re going to rave about.With that sizeable red ink, not only does Pope now average 99.62 for Surrey at his home ground, but he is also averaging 125.88 against Hampshire across 12 knocks. This was a sixth hundred at their expense.More importantly, Surrey are up and running in their title defence. Victory after last week’s stalemate at Lancashire takes them second and is a sizeable blow to a Hampshire outfit gunning for the crown after starting their own campaign with a comprehensive victory over Nottinghamshire.These two will meet again in the season’s final round, which was earmarked as a potential winner-takes-all encounter before the season began. This match does not change that on paper, but the manner of the result will test Hampshire’s resolve. As will the fact that, with Test cricket done by August and international white ball set-up strong enough to not need him, Pope will be back looking to lay it on them again.

After a stellar debut campaign with Real Madrid but a forgettable season from a collective standpoint, Kylian Mbappe is eyeing the Club World Cup.

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Mbappe wants to lift the Club World Cup with Real MadridFrenchman keen to win more silverware with Los BlancosEx-PSG star scored 43 goals in first seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After breaking the record for the most goals scored by a Real Madrid player in his debut season, bagging 43 goals in 56 games, Mbappe has firmly set his sights on the Club World Cup that begins next month. In a revamped version which will be played every four years, the Frenchman wants to achieve global glory and become a world champion with the Spanish giants.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Mbappe had a sensational debut for Madrid after his much-anticipated switch from PSG. Despite having a slow start and evident troubles adapting to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 26-year-old came into his own in the latter half of the campaign, finishing first in the La Liga Pichichi race and also claiming the European Golden Boot for scoring 31 league goals. However, it was a failure of a season collectively, as Madrid finished runners-up to Barcelona in the league, lost the Copa del Rey final, and were ousted from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Arsenal. With the arrival of Xabi Alonso as their new head coach, Los Blancos are ushering in a new era, and Mbappe is determined to help the ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager begin his stint with Madrid on a high.

WHAT KYLIAN MBAPPE SAID

Speaking after winning the Real Madrid Player of the Season award, Mbappe shared his desire of lifting the Club World Cup with Madrid, a tournament which will see 32 teams from across the globe contest for the trophy. “It’s the first time we’re going to play in a competition like this. It’s something new for us, but we’re also looking forward to it because it’s a new opportunity to be world champions with the club,” he said (h/t Forbes).

"It’s a great competition, in the United States, with everyone watching and looking forward to it. As I say, it’s something new for us so we’re going to try to win it."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

The Frenchman is currently on a short vacation, but he is expected to join the French national team next week ahead of their Nations League semi-final against Spain on June 5. He will then travel to the US with Madrid for the Club World Cup, with Alonso's troops scheduled to play their first group stage game, against Al-Hilal, on June 18.

Manchester United have a new £70m forward on their radar who has been called the “next” Kylian Mbappe, as per one Sky Sports reporter.

Man Utd eyeing new forward as Hojlund breaks goalscoring duck vs Leicester

The Red Devils have struggled in front of goal in the Premier League under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim this season with 13 sides netting more than United’s tally of 37 in 29 games.

Rasmus Hojlund, who cost more than £70m back in 2023 from Atalanta, has only netted three times in the top flight in 24 games in 2024/25, although he did end a 21-game wait for a goal in the recent 3-0 win at Leicester City.

Talking after the game, the Denmark international said: “I think it comes down to my performances as well. I think obviously I’ve not been on top of my game as I wanted to and we’re still adapting to a new system and some new positions.

“But I think I’ve been growing into it lately and starting to look a bit better. But I’m just happy to get on the scoresheet and I’m sure they will come more now. I’m happy, but it’s not all about goals. I’m obviously very happy to get my goal and it gives me a lot of confidence.

“I think we’re starting to get a bit more of a connection between myself and the players, then starting to understand what my qualities are even more and playing to them as well.”

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Despite this, Man Utd are still looking to bring in a striker ahead of Amorim’s first full season in charge and have been linked with the likes of Liam Delap, Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko. Now, a new name has emerged on the Old Trafford radar.

Man Utd eyeing £70m forward Hugo Ekitike – Sky Sports

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Man Utd also have their eyes on Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

Alongside, Gyokeres, Osimhen and Sesko, Ekitike is also being discussed as a target by Red Devils officials. Reports elsewhere have claimed that Ekitike, called the “next Mbappe” by Graeme Bailey, is valued at £70m.

The 22-year-old only joined Frankfurt on a permanent deal last summer from PSG following a successful loan spell, and he has continued his fine form in front of goal in Germany.

So far this season, Ekitike has scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in 38 games in all competitions, and by the looks of things, he will be one to keep an eye on for Man Utd over the coming months.

تعرض فريق الوداد المغربي، للهزيمة على يد يوفنتوس، بنتيجة 4-1، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

ويشارك الوداد في النسخة الموسعة من كأس العالم للأندية، التي تُقام لأول مرة بمشاركة 32 فريقًا من مختلف القارات.

ويتواجد فريق الوداد في المجموعة السابعة، بجانب فرق مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، يوفنتوس الإيطالي والعين الإماراتي.

وكان الوداد قد تعرض للهزيمة في أولى مبارياته ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية، أمام مانشستر سيتي بهدفين دون رد.

وبعد الهزيمة في مباراة اليوم، اقترب فريق الوداد من توديع منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، بعد الهزيمة في مباراتين متتاليتين، منتظرًا نتيجة مباراة العين أمام مانشستر سيتي.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة الوداد في كأس العالم للأندية بعد الخسارة أمام يوفنتوس

ومن المقرر أن يخوض الوداد مباراته القادمة ضد العين الإماراتي، على أرضية ملعب “أودي فيلد” بمدينة فيلادلفيا، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من المجموعة السابعة ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية. موعد مباراة الوداد القادمة في كأس العالم للأندية

وتقام مباراة الوداد والعين الإماراتي الإيطالي يوم الخميس 26 يونيو 2025، على أن تنطلق في تمام الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، 08:00 مساءً بتوقيت المغرب.

West Ham United are now well-placed to sign a defender on a free transfer this summer, and he has now emerged as a key target for Graham Potter, according to a report.

West Ham's summer transfer plans

West Ham are currently short on options at striker, with Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug still sidelined due to injuries, and Potter has set out to bolster his attacking options in the summer transfer window.

Tammy Abraham is among the main targets under consideration, with a relatively cheap deal likely to be possible due to the Englishman falling down the pecking order at AS Roma, which led to a loan move to AC Milan.

In the same report, it is detailed that the Hammers are also keen on signing a full-back and centre-back this summer, and Genoa’s Koni de Winter has now emerged as a target in the latter position, having made contact to discuss a deal.

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There have been fewer links to new full-backs in recent times, but a report from Football Insider has now revealed the Irons are looking at options from within the Premier League.

Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters is said to have emerged as a target for West Ham, and they are well-placed to get a deal done this summer, as the right-back is certain to leave the Saints, who are almost certainly set to be relegated.

Walker-Peters has aspirations of getting back into England contention, which means he needs to play at the highest level possible, so dropping down to the Championship isn’t an option.

The full-back is capable of playing on both flanks, making him a versatile option for Potter, and the fact he will be available on a free transfer is particularly appealing, with the Hammers boss now identifying him as a key target.

"Beautiful footballer" Walker-Peters could be a solid signing

Although Southampton are destined to be relegated from the top flight, there are signs the defender could be a solid signing for West Ham, given that he has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years.

The Englishman has made 142 appearances in the top flight, impressing enough to earn a Three Lions call-up in the 2021-22 campaign.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been a regular starter for the Hammers this season, but the signing of Walker-Peters could provide Potter with a different option, given his tendency to push forward.

Russell Martin has previously insisted the Southampton ace is capable of adding more goal contributions to his game, while also branding him a “beautiful footballer.”

Given that the £20k-per-week defender is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, it is a no-brainer for West Ham to make an approach, and it is promising news they are now positioning themselves to get a deal done.

The England pace bowler has also challenged the visitors to match their aggressive approach

AAP27-Apr-20235:28

Moody: It’s going to be a challenge for Warner, others to deal with the Duke ball

Stuart Broad has said Australia’s 4-0 series win over England in 2021-22 does not count as a real Ashes victory, arguing Covid-19 restrictions made it void.Broad will enter this year’s Ashes as one of England’s key weapons, particularly given his record against David Warner and Australia’s left-handers.Seven weeks out from the first Test at Edgbaston, he has fired the first shot across Australia’s bow with his bizarre claim.Related

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Renshaw and Harris earn Ashes, WTC final call to keep heat on Warner

In a lengthy interview, he also predicted Australia will not know how to react to England’s up-tempo style and that the visitors’ batters could struggle.Broad’s comments come after England were comprehensively beaten in four of the five Tests in 2021-22, with only wet weather in Sydney saving them from a third series whitewash in 15 years.But regardless, Broad said the fact England had to endure a quarantine period and the teams spent part of the tour in a bubble meant it was not a true contest.”Nothing was harsher than the last Ashes series,” Broad told the . “But in my mind I don’t class that as a real Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game.Stuart Broad during the previous Ashes series in Australia•Getty Images

“Nothing about that series was high-level performance because of the Covid restrictions. The training facilities, the travel, not being able to socialise. I’ve written it off as a void series.”Broad’s comments are not the first complaints from the English camp about that series. There were suggestions before the tour began some players would withdraw if families were not granted exemptions to enter Australia. England then grew frustrated by wet weather washing out almost all of their preparations.Then-coach Chris Silverwood was also unhappy with his quarantine conditions after he was one of several support staff to test positive to Covid-19 during the Boxing Day Test. Covid is considerably less likely to play a significant role in the lead up to this year’s Ashes.England’s ‘BazBall revolution’ of attacking Test cricket is instead likely to dominate the headlines before the series, with Broad warning Australia’s batters not to try to emulate the home side’s style.”It would be great for us if Australia try to take us on at our own game,” Broad said. “If we can get them playing in a slightly different style they could make mistakes and that would be brilliant for us.”Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are all guys who like to bat time and accumulate. So if we can nibble away at them and just get them thinking, ‘Why are we not scoring quicker? Why are we not moving the game forward?’.”I’d love Smith to dance down the track and sky one to mid-off early doors. That would be classic.”

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a player-plus-cash bid for Victor Osimhen, who spent the past season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.

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• United considering Osimhen-Hojlund swap deal
• Danish striker has attracted criticism
• Nigerian highly sought-after this summer

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Il Napolista, United are in talks with Serie A champions Napoli over a proposed transfer which would send Hojlund to Italy and see Osimhen relocate to Old Trafford. The Nigerian striker is one of the most desired strikers on the market this summer, having left Napoli in acrimonious fashion when he joined Galatasaray on loan.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Holjund, meanwhile, has endured a tough start to his career at United. After signing from Atalanta for an initial £64m in 2023, the 22-year-old has scored 26 goals in 95 appearances in all competitions and has been criticised for a lack of composure in the final third.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Osimhen is expected to return to Naples in the coming days, having lifted the Turkish Super Lig title while at Galatasaray. The 26-year-old, who bagged 36 goals at Rams Park, is also said to have a massive offer on the table from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal which could see him feature in the Club World Cup this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HOJLUND AND MAN UTD?

  After their disappointing end to the campaign, the Red Devils suffered more embarrassment as they lost a post-season friendly to the ASEAN All-Stars. They play Hong Kong on Friday before breaking for the summer.