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Nottingham Forest fans must be having sleepless nights over the long-term future of Morgan Gibbs-White.

It looked nailed on that the 25-year-old was going to be the next through the exit door at the City Ground after Anthony Elanga, as Tottenham Hotspur smugly activated his release clause, yet this move looks to be fraught with controversy now, with the Tricky Trees even threatening legal action over Spurs’ cloak-and-dagger approach.

Whatever does occur between now and the entertaining transfer window closing involving Gibbs-White, Forest know they will need to press on with more incoming signings joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s group, with an ambitious midfield move now reportedly in the pipeline.

Nottingham Forest prepare move for £50m battler

Talk about fresh, new signings entering the fray has taken a backseat somewhat due to the drama of Elanga leaving and Gibbs-White nearly following suit.

Transfer Focus

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

However, there have been some notable links here and there, with Ben Doak allegedly on the Forest radar for around the £25m mark as the Scotsman contemplates a move away from Liverpool.

Another standout rumour comes in the form of ex-Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz who could make a return to the Premier League with Forest.

talkSPORT are reporting that Nuno’s men are ‘exploring’ a move for the former £50m Juventus buy, as Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis fancies the idea of bringing the top-flight-experienced Brazilian back to the Midlands.

It is stated that his £100k-per-week wage could be a potential stumbling block, but this might well be a standout signing Forest need to pursue in order to potentially convince Gibbs-White to remain put over favouring Champions League opportunities elsewhere, with the pair perhaps striking up an exciting midfield partnership very soon.

Why Gibbs-White could love playing with Luiz

Before flopping in Turin, starting just three Serie A games last term, Luiz was a dependable performer week in week out for Unai Emery’s Villans, with a sumptuous effort such as this one against AFC Bournemouth in his back pocket.

Not just an energetic battler in the middle of the park, Luiz has proven himself to be more than capable of chipping in with a goal and an assist in the final third.

Indeed, he collected a sizeable haul of 22 goals and 24 assists for Villa, with Gibbs-White coincidentally on the exact same tally at this point in time for Forest as another livewire in the centre of the pitch.

Games played

175

154

Goals scored

20

18

Assists

18

27

Passes completed

7,744 (87%)

4,106 (78%)

Dribbles completed

202 (66%)

298 (48%)

Duels won

775

591

Tackles won

285

123

Looking at the table above, it’s clear there are differences between the duo, however, that would help them form a healthy working relationship, with Luiz more than content sitting deeper in the pitch when viewing his high number of 775 duels being won across his Premier League career to date, alongside his 285 tackles.

On the contrary, Gibbs-White excels when bombing forward, with Luiz’s addition to the group gifting Forest more stability in the middle, alongside an equally combative Elliot Anderson, to allow for the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker to express himself even more.

During his final season at Villa Park, Luiz averaged a mightily impressive 5.3 ball recoveries in league action to be that tireless presence for his side, with football analyst Statman Dave even going out of his way to label the Brazilian as an “engine” for his relentless drive.

Away from competently completing his dirty work, Luiz would also be an addition that would stand out to the wantaway Englishman. Forest clearly need to showcase their ambition to Gibbs-White and the Brazilian’s pedigree in European competitions, as seen in the six Champions League appearances, would potentially be the type of signing to prove that.

Rather than deserting Forest, therefore, Gibbs-White might well believe Europe’s grandest stage can come to the City Ground shortly if Luiz’s expertise is added to the mix.

With new pictures coming out of Forest also showing Gibbs-White returning to training, it might not be a foregone conclusion anymore that the 25-year-old is on the move, especially if the “world-class” Luiz, as he was once labelled by ex-Villa teammate John McGinn, heads to Nottingham.

Dream Elanga replacement: Nottingham Forest in contact to sign £25m "menace"

Nottingham Forest now need to replace Elanga after his move to Newcastle

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 15, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta appear to be creating quite the squad ahead of a vital 2025/2026, where the Gunners are under pressure to clinch a piece of major silverware.

Arsenal have "submitted an offer" to sign "strong" £30m Premier League star

The north Londoners are opening talks.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi’s arrival at N5 is expected to be confirmed shortly, but in the meantime, supporters can now officially welcome new second-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

The 30-year-old had his medical last week ahead of a £5 million switch from Chelsea, and the shot-stopper’s signing has now been announced by Arsenal as Berta unveils his debut deal for the club.

“We are really excited to have Kepa join our Arsenal family,” said Berta about Kepa’s arrival in an official statement.

“He is a player with great experience, someone who has already won major trophies, and we cannot wait for him to join the group and help the club win.

“Kepa knows it is an exciting time to be at Arsenal and we know he is a player who will bring with him a winning mentality. We welcome him and his family to the club, and look forward to him meeting the players and staff, with everyone excited to see him.”

Arsenal are by no means done with Zubimendi and Kepa, either, with Brentford captain Christian Norgaard poised to join Arteta after the north Londoners agreed a potential £15 million deal for him to replace Thomas Partey.

Meanwhile, Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera has reportedly agreed personal terms over a move to Arsenal too, with Arteta’s side attempting to agree a club-to-club fee.

While the La Liga side have offered Mosquera a new contract in an attempt to ward Arsenal off (Fabrizio Romano), the 21-year-old is clear – he wants a switch to the Premier League.

Arsenal are extremely busy right now, and all of this is happening while they make an approach to £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal hold "positive" talks with Eberechi Eze

Berta has many attacking midfielders and wide players on his list of targets, including Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, but Eze remains chief among them.

That is according to GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, who shared an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of the England international this week.

Jacobs reports that Eze is keen to join Arsenal after “positive” talks with his representatives, which occurred over the weekend, and their main attraction to the 27-year-old is down to his versatility, given he can play both as a CAM and out wide.

Berta has the option of paying his £68 million release clause through installments as well, so Palace chairman Steve Parish won’t demand the fee be paid in one lump sum, and that may help Arsenal when it comes to erring on the cautionary side of PSR.

Jacobs describes their interest in Eze as “serious” and “advancing”, following a 2024/2025 campaign where he bagged 14 goals and 11 assists, with one of his strikes coming in the FA Cup final against Man City – ending Palace’s history-long wait for a major trophy.

The former QPR sensation has been an elite-level Premier League player for some time, and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown is among those who’ve praised his quality in recent seasons.

“This guy is an immense talent, there’s no doubt about that,” said Keown about Eze.

“He was released by Arsenal as a kid. I wonder if that will come back to haunt Arsenal here today? He said he cried for a week. He realised when it hits you really hard as a young man, you think, ‘Ok, I’m coming back from this.’ It proves that he’s made of really strong stuff.”

With Newcastle United still chasing a deal to sign Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest have reportedly set their sights on signing a young Premier League gem who could replace the Swede.

Nottingham Forest battling to keep Elanga

Those in the Midlands managed to keep hold of Elanga last summer and that victory quickly paid dividends in an excellent season at the City Ground. The interest in the winger hasn’t gone away, however, and this time Newcastle have money to spend. The Magpies have already reportedly made an enquiry about signing the former Manchester United man and Forest face another fight to keep hold of one of their star players.

Elanga, himself, chose to remain coy when asked about his Nottingham Forest future whilst on international duty with Sweden recently, telling reporters: “There’s a lot of talk. I’m focusing on what I can do and my focus today was on the game. In football there are always rumors. The most important thing is that I focus on what I can control.”

After missing out on the Champions League even after a fantastic campaign, there may be some concern around the City Ground that Nuno Espirito Santo could lose his top players this summer.

Nottingham Forest submit bid to sign "brilliant" £13m ace from Norwich

Nottingham Forest have now made an official bid to sign a player from the Championship.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 12, 2025

As ever, Evangelos Marinakis has already set his sights on incomings of his own, though. The Greek owner and Nottingham Forest have recently been linked with moves for the likes of Igor Jesus and Real Valladolid star Raul Moro. What’s more, the Tricky Trees are also reportedly interested in signing an impressive Premier League gem if Elanga chooses to leave the club in favour of Newcastle this summer.

Nottingham Forest assessing Oscar Bobb move

According to Football Insider’s Mick Brown, Marinakis is now assessing a Nottingham Forest move to sign Oscar Bobb from Manchester City this summer. The young winger returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines towards the end of last season and will be desperate to get up to speed with some much-needed game time.

Brown, a former Premier League scout, told Football Insider: “A Premier League loan move is exactly what Bobb needs. After the injury he had, he has to prove to everybody that he is still capable at this level.

“It’s difficult to come back from something like that, he has some proving to do, but he has to be playing regularly to do it. If you take him out of that Man City side and put him in another Premier League team, a Crystal Palace or a Nottingham Forest, it will show where he’s at. Palace and Forest are both clubs I’ve heard are having a look at the deal.

The 21-year-old is a player who Pep Guardiola believes has “incredible potential”, but his short-term future could lie at the City Ground. It’s there that he could step into Elanga’s role and discover his best form following a frustrating injury setback.

It will be fascinating to see whether Jadon Sancho will remain at Chelsea beyond this season. The England international is currently on loan at Stamford Bridge from Manchester United, and has a £25m buy obligation in his contract.

However, a recent report from the Mirror suggested the Blues will not activate the option and will instead send Sancho back to Old Trafford this summer. His record in West London is respectable, with four goals and ten assists in 39 games for the club this season. Eight of those goal involvements came in the Premier League.

If Chelsea decide not to keep Sancho beyond this season, they will be in the market for a new winger and could make a move for one former Premier League star.

Chelsea’s search to replace Sancho

One of the most interesting sagas in the summer transfer window will be that of Leroy Sane. The Bayern Munich star, formerly of Manchester City, could well be on the move again this summer, with a return to the English top flight on the cards.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Football Insider, Chelsea are thought to be ‘are intensifying their interest in the winger’ and could make a move for him this summer.

With a view to replacing Sancho, the German could be one of their primary targets.

However, they will not be alone in the race for Sane, who is out of contract next month. London rivals Arsenal are also interested in the 29-year-old, with the Gunners and Enzo Maresca’s Blues considered the ‘frontrunners’ this summer.

Why Sane would be a good signing

Should Chelsea sign Sane this summer, there is no doubt about the experience and quality he would bring to Stamford Bridge. The German international has had another impressive season, helping Bayern reclaim the Bundesliga title under his former teammate, Vincent Kompany.

In 44 appearances this season for the German giants, Sane has managed 13 goals and six assists across all competitions. 17 of those goal involvements have come in the Bundesliga, in just 29 appearances.

The former Schalke academy star is a consistent goalscorer, too. He has only ever gone four games this term without a top-flight goal or assist, although he managed just one goal and no assists in 13 Champions League games.

What a player Sane was during his first stint in England, for City. He managed 39 goals and 44 assists in 135 games. According to Statman Dave, the 29-year-old was “phenomenal” at his peak for City.

Well, his Premier League numbers speak for themselves. Not only did he help City to two top-flight titles during his three full seasons at the club, but he managed to score and assist 55 goals in 90 appearances in the competition.

Games

26

32

31

Minutes

1787

2424

1867

Goals

5

10

10

Assists

4

15

11

Mins per G/A

198

96

88

Chelsea will surely be hoping Sane can replicate the impact Cole Palmer has had at Stamford Bridge. Of course, there are parallels between the two, given that they both played for the Citizens, although Palmer’s opportunities were few and far between at the Etihad Stadium.

He played just 41 times for Pep Guardiola’s side, and since his move to West London, has become “the best player in the Premier League”, which Jamie Carragher claimed back in October.

If Sane can somewhat replicate the England international’s 40 goals and 25 assists in 88 appearances in Blue, he will be a successful signing, to say the least.

Palmer has certainly been an excellent addition to the club, and Sane would surely hope to follow in his footsteps in that sense.

For what would be a free transfer, this seems like a deal Chelsea can’t miss out on. They would be signing a proven Premier League player who can still contribute at the highest level.

A better signing than Osimhen: Chelsea in talks to land the "next Haaland"

Chelsea appear to be making moves to land a star who would be better than Victor Osimhen.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

Arsenal have been handed a boost in the race to sign an “exciting” player for manager Mikel Arteta, with his transfer preference coming to light ahead of what will be a crucial summer window for new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Arsenal planning to make seven major signings this summer

Berta is expected to have a busy debut window at the Emirates Stadium, with as many as seven major signings anticipated, according to some reports.

Related Arsenal "ready to pay" asking price for Prem star who Arteta and Berta want

The Gunners boss and director are in agreement.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025

GiveMeSport believe £300 million could be spent on the acquisition of a new second-choice goalkeeper, full-back, potentially two midfielders, a new left-winger, right-winger and striker, although some of these plans may have changed.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

With Arsenal now attempting to tie Thomas Partey down with a new contract, the need for two central midfielders has been pushed aside for now, but perhaps it could come back to the forefront if an agreement can’t be found on fresh terms.

The need for another left-back is obvious, with Kieran Tierney joining Celtic on a free transfer in July and Oleksandr Zinchenko likely to be sold. Jakub Kiwior can play in that position when required, as can Riccardo Calafiori, but Arteta has admitted that Arsenal need strength in depth if they’re to mount a more successful Premier League title challenge next season.

Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with the exit door and Leandro Trossard’s deal expires in 2026, while both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s injuries exposed Arteta’s lack of depth up front recently – forcing Arsenal to use Mikel Merino as an emergency striker.

Goalkeeping number one David Raya also needs competition to keep him on his toes, and Neto is due to return to Bournemouth when his loan deal expires.

Joan Garcia likely to choose Arsenal move over Man United and Man City

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, promising young Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia remains on the club’s radar under Berta’s leadership.

The 23-year-old agreed personal terms with Arsenal last summer (Fabrizio Romano), but a move ultimately fell through. Garcia is set to have plenty of options again this year after another excellent season at Espanyol, and elite Premier League sides are in the mix, including Arsenal, Man United and Man City.

As per Sport, Garcia is likely to choose a move to Arsenal over City and United, with the Gunners seen as English favourites to sign him. However, Berta must also be wary of competition from abroad, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also keeping firm tabs.

Garcia’s contract includes a £21 million release clause right now, but it could rise to £25 million if a club chooses to snap him up 15 days before the window shuts.

“An uber-athletic keeper with dominant cross-claiming, composure on the ball, standing at 6’3” tall, García is an exciting keeper ready for a step-up,” wrote Football Analyst Ben Mattinson about the keeper.

“García is such an athletic GK. His legs are so powerful and springy enabling him to generate more power to reach the ball. Good flexibility, agility and his proactiveness enable him to be an alert shot-stopper in the box and recover to make double saves.”

No picks in Hundred draft continue global trend. But poor results and board intransigence are also to blame

Osman Samiuddin14-Mar-2025Forty-five Pakistani players registered for the Hundred draft for the 2025 season. On Wednesday, exactly none of them were picked for any of the eight teams. That means that this season, the fifth, will be the first to not have any Pakistani players. Given the last two seasons had seen six and four Pakistani players respectively in the league, it is a notable disappearance.This season, you may have heard, is also going to be the first after the equity sale of Hundred franchises, four of whom are now either part-owned or majority-owned by owners of IPL franchises. Ah, you might think. This is starting to make some sense now. The IPL has long excluded Pakistani players from appearing. Its satellite franchises in leagues in South Africa, the UAE and the USA have also (mostly) excluded Pakistani players.Relations between the PCB and BCCI (more representative of their governments than ever before) have rarely been worse, or more given to pettiness, as the shenanigans at the recent Champions Trophy prove. It naturally follows that another league with incoming IPL ownership will begin to freeze out Pakistani players. This was exactly the scenario, after all, that the PCB spelt out two-and-a-half years ago. To believe in this sequence of logic is not at all to be a conspiracy theorist.But – and especially in the context of this Hundred draft – it doesn’t help to pretend there aren’t other factors, equally compelling if not more so, at play here. For one, the schedule (it’s almost always the schedule). Pakistan have two bilateral white-ball commitments in August that clash directly with the Hundred’s dates – the first two weeks of August, when they are in the Caribbean for three ODIs and three T20Is, and then a home series with Afghanistan that starts in the third week of that month (and a T20 Asia Cup that starts in September). Given Pakistan are undergoing yet another transition, and there is a T20 World Cup next year, their top players will almost certainly be involved in those series and, so, unavailable for the Hundred.Another terrible ICC tournament has left Pakistan’s reputation in the dust•AFP/Getty ImagesAlso, about those top players: it’s not as if Pakistan’s white-ball players are exactly hot property at this moment. Three abysmal ICC tournaments in a row have taken all the sheen off a generation of players once expected to abound in, and enrich, these leagues (of course, it could be argued they wouldn’t have performed so poorly had they been playing more regularly in those best leagues in the first place). Instead, Pakistan are outdated and stagnant, jarringly out of sync with the game as it is played today.More than all of this, though, is the wider truth, that the PCB itself is to blame. Successive administrations have flailed between being restrictive and gormless in dealing with player NOCs. The modern landscape demands a flexibility and deftness from boards in player management and the PCB has been as flexible as an iron rod. In fact, in an alternate reading, Pakistan’s white-ball regression over the years can be traced directly to how poorly the board has handled NOCs.A relevant case was revoking Naseem Shah’s NOC for the Hundred last year at the last minute, despite there being no clash with any international commitment (and likewise denying three others permission to play in Canada’s GT20).It was done in the name of workload management ahead of a busy season of international cricket, including nine Tests. How did that management turn out? Naseem played in three of those Tests, despite not suffering injury, and none of them consecutively. He wasn’t even in Pakistan’s last Test squad of the season (Shaheen Afridi, one of those whose NOC was revoked for the GT20, only played two of the nine Tests and wasn’t in Pakistan’s last two Test squads).Related

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James Anderson undrafted for 2025 men's Hundred

No PCB official at Champions Trophy final presentation, host board asks ICC to explain

Aaqib Javed's post mortem: Lack of experience in the ranks hurt Pakistan

Gould: Hundred IPL links won't affect Pakistan player involvement

Naseem’s is far from the only case. There was Usama Mir. And Azam Khan. And Haris Rauf . And a whole bunch of others.The PCB will point to the 20 players that did receive NOCs last November, but the stickier conclusion from the last few years is that they have made Pakistani players unattractive options in the marketplace. Why would a franchise take on a Pakistan cricketer when the PCB might abruptly revoke an NOC, or when a training camp call-up cuts a contracted stint unexpectedly short, or when a deal falls through because an unscheduled bilateral series has been shoved into the calendar, or when a player will summarily be called back from a league for a fitness test?None of this is to deny a looming, creeping reality. With the existing political climate as it is between India and Pakistan, and the continuing spread of IPL franchises around the world, it isn’t difficult to see a future in which Pakistani cricketers are marginalised and restricted to a second tier of T20 and T10 leagues (and in that light, who knows what impact going up against the IPL will have on the PSL).Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, insists it won’t be the case in the Hundred at least, and it bears repeating that a packed calendar is the likeliest reason for the kiboshing of a high-profile Pakistani presence this year. Nevertheless, it was also Gould who introduced a new NOC policy last November which ends up hitting the PSL hardest in terms of English player availability, while protecting the IPL. Those words might feel cheap to Pakistani ears.In any case, it’s not as if there has ever been a formal bar on Pakistani players from the IPL. Nobody says that bit out loud. It’s just been that way forever now. And evidence from the other leagues with IPL ownership is, at the least, suggestive that it is contagious. No Pakistanis in the SA20 in three seasons. Only two Pakistanis in a franchise owned by an IPL owner in the ILT20 in three seasons. Only two Pakistanis in a franchise owned by an IPL owner in MLC in two seasons. Four Pakistanis in franchises owned by an IPL owner in the CPL over many more seasons. Nobody says anything about a bar… and yet.There are still four Hundred teams not owned by IPL franchises, so there is every chance Pakistani players might be picked up in next season’s draft (by which stage the new ownership structures will have kicked in properly). But it would feel like a bucking of a wider trend. And before anything else can happen, it would require the PCB to start helping itself and its players.

Mitchell Starc goes level with Brett Lee as the Australian with the most five-fors in ODI cricket

Sampath Bandarupalli19-Mar-2023117 India’s total against Australia in Visakhapatnam is their fourth-lowest in ODIs at home. Their lowest is 78 all out against Sri Lanka in Kanpur 1986, followed by 100 all out against West Indies in Ahmedabad 1993 and 112 all out against Sri Lanka in Dharamsala 2017.ESPNcricinfo Ltd234 Balls remaining when Australia reached the target, making it the biggest margin of victory – in this category – for any team against India. New Zealand had recorded the previous best when they beat India with 212 balls remaining in Hamilton 2019. This is also the third-biggest ODI win for Australia in balls remaining.3 This is India’s third-lowest total against Australia in ODIs behind their 63 all out in Sydney 1981 and 100 all out at the same ground in 2000. India’s previous lowest ODI total at home against Australia was 148 all out in Vadodara 2007.26 Overs that India batted before being bowled out, making it their fifth-shortest all-out innings in all ODIs and second-shortest all-out innings at home, behind the 24.1-over collapse against Sri Lanka in 1986.9 Five-wicket hauls for Mitchell Starc in ODI cricket, the joint-most by any bowler for Australia, alongside Brett Lee. Starc’s nine five-fors are also the joint-third most for any bowler in this format. He is now only behind Waqar Younis (13) and Muthiah Muralidaran (10), and level with Shahid Afridi (9).Mitchell Starc rattled India again•ESPNcricinfo Ltd222 Balls bowled in Visakhapatnam, the second-fewest in a completed men’s ODI hosted by India (excluding shortened games). The shortest was between Kenya and New Zealand during the 2011 World Cup in Chennai, which lasted only 191 balls.10 Indian wickets shared by the Australian pacers in this match, only the second instance of India losing all their wickets to pace bowlers in a home ODI. Australia’s pacers took all ten wickets in the Guwahati ODI in 2009 while bowling out the hosts for 170.4 Wickets for Starc in the first ten overs of the Indian innings. It is only the second time a bowler has taken four or more wickets for Australia in the first ten overs of an ODI innings in the last 15 years. The other instance was also provided by Starc, who took four wickets against West Indies in the 2013 Perth ODI.4 Indian batters dismissed for a duck during their 117 all out, the joint-most for them in an ODI innings. There have been five previous instances of four ducks in the same ODI innings for India, with the last of them coming against Sri Lanka in 2017.

We assess the chances of the teams in Group One in our County Championship preview

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-2021

Derbyshire

Matt Critchley consults with captain Billy Godleman•Getty ImagesLast season: 2nd in North Group
Head of cricket: Dave Houghton
Captain: Billy Godleman
Overseas: Billy Stanlake
Ins: Brooke Guest (Lancashire)
Outs: Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul (released)
Few clubs embraced the euphoria of last season’s Bob Willis Trophy quite like Derbyshire. The glee of release was two-fold in their case, from the constraints of lockdown on the one hand, but also from their pre-ordained struggle for survival on the other, as they unleashed a hungry crop of youngsters on a host of Test-match grounds in the North Group, and were still in the hunt for a Lord’s final berth ahead of their final-round loss to Lancashire.
The retention of the conference system for 2021 gives Derbyshire another dart at the big time this year – with champions Essex among their rivals in Group One – and if Billy Godleman can coax similarly ambitious displays from his squad, then there’s no reason to think they can’t strike a few similar blows.
Certainly, Dave Houghton has moulded a squad with many of the punch-above-weight attributes of the Zimbabwe team of his playing days. Wayne Madsen, Derbyshire’s captain when they last confounded expectations to earn promotion in 2012, remains a pivotal figure at the age of 37, while the balance that Luis Reece offers while opening the batting and bowling with his left-arm angles is invaluable.
Among the coming men in Derbyshire’s ranks, Leus du Plooy and Fynn Hudson-Prentice both made strides in the BWT, while Matt Critchley’s emergence as a legspinning allrounder did not go unnoticed either. No Derbyshire bowler fared better than his 17 wickets at 26.88.
One to watch: If he can stay fit – and, sadly, it has been a big ‘if’ in recent years – then Billy Stanlake could prove to be one of the signings of the summer. His 6ft 7in cloud-snagging action offers natural attributes that make him a threat in all conditions, and his desire to prove his stamina in red-ball cricket gives an eye-catching focal point to a seam-bowling attack that was arguably Derbyshire’s weak link last summer. Andrew Miller
Bet365: 33-1

Durham

Paul Coughlin is one of a number of Durham returnees•Getty ImagesLast season: 6th in North Group
Director of cricket: Marcus North

Coach: James Franklin
Captain: Scott Borthwick
Overseas players: Will Young (April-May), Cameron Bancroft (May onwards)
Ins: Scott Borthwick (Surrey)
Outs: Scott Steel (Leicestershire), James Weighell (Glamorgan), Sol Bell, Josh Coughlin, Gareth Harte, Nathan Rimmington, Ben Whitehead (all released)
Scott Borthwick’s return north as Durham’s Championship captain will further inspire hopes that Durham are on the up, the after-shocks of their near-bankruptcy in 2016 now departed. The regional loyalties that are at Durham’s heart are also exemplified by the recent return of two bowling allrounders, Ben Raine and Paul Coughlin, but when all is said and done it is cricketing statistics that matter. Departures of two top-order batsmen, Gareth Harte and Scott Steel, have been presented as blows but Harte had a first-class average under 30 and Steel, only 21, had only played two first-class matches. Far more important is that David Bedingham, the former South Africa U-19 batsman, builds on an excellent maiden season in 2020 and that Jack Burnham, Ned Eckersley and Sean Dickson address the poor returns that saw them make only two half-centuries between them last season.
Durham look a seam bowler light so Chris Rushworth, who is 23 wickets shy of becoming Durham’s most prolific first-class bowler, needs Matty Potts to take his T20 form into the four-day stuff. And then there is Borthwick’s unpredictable legspin: as captain, at least he can bring himself on at the right time. Durham’s toughest fixtures are up first – away trips to Nottinghamshire and Essex with the opener at Trent Bridge particularly intriguing.
One to watch: Matty Potts, a Sunderland-born seamer, became the latest homegrown product to catch the attention with a strong Vitality Blast last season and he will now hope to make a more regular impact in the Championship. David Hopps
Bet365: 50-1

Essex

Alastair Cook and Tom Westley will be key figures once again•Getty ImagesLast season: 1st in South Group, BWT winners
Coach: Anthony McGrath
Captain: Tom Westley
Overseas: Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle
Ins:
Outs: Rishi Patel (Leicestershire)
Defending County Champions from 2019, Essex also pocketed “the Bob” during last year’s truncated season and will go into the summer as the team to beat in red-ball cricket. The strategy that underpins their success is deceptively simple: a largely homegrown squad, blending youth and experience, spearheaded by one of the most potent attacks on the circuit. Over the last four seasons of Championship and Bob Willis Trophy cricket, no bowlers can touch Simon Harmer (250 wickets) and Jamie Porter (208) at the top of the tree; Sam Cook and Aaron Beard, two 23-year-olds, provide sharp support and the return of Peter Siddle, once his involvement with Tasmania in the Sheffield is concluded, will add further cutting edge.
Stability has also been a key feature of their success. Tom Westley succeeded Ryan ten Doeschate as captain last year, but of the group that won the 2017 Championship, the only significant departures have been Ravi Bopara (now at Sussex) and James Foster (retirement). Alastair Cook continues into the third year of his contract post-England, Dan Lawrence will be looking to burnish his Test credentials after showing glimpses of his ability on the winter tours of Sri Lanka and India, and the familiar outlines of Nick Browne, Westley and ten Doeschate will help fill out the batting order. Worryingly for the rest, their appetite to extend the title-winning dynasty at Chelmsford seems as strong as ever.
One to watch: Feroze Khushi received unwanted attention after having beer poured over him during last year’s Bob Willis Trophy celebrations (Khushi is a Muslim), but the 21-year-old batsman had caught the eye with a couple of attractive innings in victories over Kent and Surrey, and will be looking to force his way into Essex’s settled top order. Alan Gardner
Bet365: 11-2

Nottinghamshire

Blast champions Notts are looking to regain that winning feeling in red-ball cricket•Getty ImagesRelated

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Last season: 4th in North Group
Director of cricket: Mick Newell
Coach: Peter Moores
Captain: Steven Mullaney
Overseas players: Dane Paterson
Ins: Brett Hutton (Northamptonshire), Lyndon James (academy), Toby Pettman, Dane Schadendorf
Outs: Chris Nash, Jack Blatherwick (Lancashire)
June 23, 2018 is etched into the minds of Nottinghamshire members: the date they last felt the joy of victory in a first-class match. They are winless in 27 fixtures since that victory at Chelmsford, and as a result, any optimism for the 2021 season should be cautious in the extreme. There were glimmers of hope in the BWT last summer, with runs for recent recruits Ben Slater, Haseeb Hameed, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke – who are likely to form the top four at the start of this season – but they were unfortunate with the weather and lacked a ruthless streak in crunch moments, most notably in the defeat against Derbyshire.
The club have built a deep pool of seamers too, both homegrown and imported. Zak Chappell and Jake Ball were both in the wickets last summer and Stuart Broad is likely to play a handful of early-season fixtures. Dane Paterson – eventually signed as an overseas player after 12 months in limbo – looks like a smart pick-up, while the underrated Brett Hutton has returned from Northants. For all the club’s white-ball success during the Peter Moores era, the first thing to tick off this season will be that elusive four-day victory.
One to watch: Samit Patel has not officially retired from red-ball cricket, but is not expected to feature in the Championship this season unless injury strikes. As a result, there is a vacancy for a left-arm spinner who can hold a bat, and Liam Patterson-White is the ideal candidate to fill it. He will play a holding role in the early rounds, but a pre-season five-for against Warwickshire suggests he will have no trouble running through the tail when required. Matt Roller
Bet365: 8-1

Warwickshire

Olly Stone breaks through for Warwickshire•Getty ImagesLast season: 3rd in Central Group
Director of cricket: Paul Farbrace
Coach: Mark Robinson
Captain: Will Rhodes
Overseas: Pieter Malan
Ins: Danny Briggs (Sussex), Manraj Johal, Jacob Bethell (both academy), Jacob Lintott
Outs: Jeetan Patel, Ian Bell, Tim Ambrose (all retired), Liam Banks (released)
This is the start of a new age at Warwickshire. With a host of familiar faces – Bell, Ambrose, Patel, Jim Troughton and Jonathan Trott among them – having departed in recent years, there is a new look to the playing and coaching staff. So, while some experience has been brought in – Pieter Malan (or Hanuma Vihari) should add some solidity to the batting, Danny Briggs the bowling and Tim Bresnan a bit of both – there is still a green look to the batting, in particular. But Warwickshire, a club whose youth system has underachieved for a long time, feel that in the likes of Dan Mousley, Rob Yates and Matt Lamb they have the nucleus of a team that could build into something pretty exciting.
At full strength, the seam department boasts impressive pace and promise. But Henry Brookes, Ryan Sidebottom and Olly Stone will rarely play together so Briggs, the man charged with replacing Patel, and Oliver Hannon-Dalby will be relied upon to hold things together.
There’s a new head coach in Mark Robinson and a nearly new captain in Will Rhodes, too. So while Warwickshire will hope to improve on some pretty modest Championship form over the last few years – they have only won one Division One or BWT match at Edgbaston since September 2016 – it will probably pay for supporters to retain modest ambitions in the short term. This is a rebuilding process that could take a while.
One to watch: Dayle Hadlee famously once described Ian Bell as “the best 16-year-old I’ve ever seen”. Well, now it’s Bell’s turn. He has described Jacob Bethell as “the best 17-year-old” he has ever seen. A Barbadian, Bethell’s primary skill is his batting but his left-arm spin is highly rated, too. He might have to wait for an opportunity, but he really is an exciting prospect. George Dobell
Bet365: 14-1.

Worcestershire

Jake Libby enjoyed a prolific Bob Willis Trophy•Getty ImagesLast season: 2nd in Central Group
Coach: Alex Gidman
Captain: Joe Leach
Overseas: Alzarri Joseph
Ins: Alzarri Joseph, Gareth Roderick (Gloucestershire)
Outs: Wayne Parnell (Northants), George Scrimshaw (Derbyshire), Ben Twohig, Olly Westbury (both released)
Worcestershire go into the Championship season with a bit to prove. Although they had a decent BWT, they finished ninth in Division Two in 2019. Even without Josh Tongue and Pat Brown, who are unlikely to feature before May as they come back from injury, they look to have an impressive seam attack with Alzarri Joseph, available for the first seven Championship games, adding pace with the ball and the prospect of lower-order runs. Adam Finch, who impressed on loan at Surrey, should challenge some more established seamers for a place, too.
The spin bowling is less strong. With Keshav Maharaj having pulled out of a deal and Moeen Ali’s availability severely limited, Brett D’Oliveira will be required to provide the spin option and avoid over-rate fines. The club may well recruit an overseas spinner later in the campaign.
Gareth Roderick, who is expected to bat at No. 3, should add some solidity to a batting line-up that was noticeably improved by the recruitment of Jake Libby last year. The likes of Jack Haynes and Rikki Wessels, in the last year of his contract, may be fighting it out for the final batting spot, though the number of bowling allrounders – Leach, Joseph and Ed Barnard among them – should provide lower-order runs.
While qualifying for Division One will, no doubt, be the aim, reaching Division Two would probably represent a season of progress.
One to watch: Kane Williamson and Morne Morkel were among those impressed by Dillon Pennington’s first season in 2018. And while a foot injury appeared to rob him of his outswing and slow his progress the following year, he has looked back to his best in pre-season. Strong, sharp and blessed with an ability to move the ball away from the right-hander, he has the potential to enjoy a long career. GD
Bet365: 12-1

MatériaMais Notícias

O Internacional conquistou a vitória sobre o Nova Iguaçu por 2 a 0, nesta quarta-feira (13), pela segunda fase da Copa do Brasil. Enner Valencia foi o autor dos dois gols da equipe de Eduardo Coudet.

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Com o triunfo, o Colorado aguarda o sorteio da próxima fase para conhecer seu adversário no torneio. Os próximos confrontos serão disputados em jogos de ida e volta.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

Na etapa inicial, o Internacional teve controle da partida e mereceu a vitória parcial. O Colorado saiu na frente do Nova Iguaçu com Valencia aproveitando um rebote do goleiro Fabrício após cabeçada de Wanderson para abrir o placar. A equipe do Rio de Janeiro teve uma boa oportunidade com Yago, mas esteve mais perto de sofrer o segundo gol na reta final com Maicon impedindo uma finalização de Alan Patrick em cima da linha da meta.

No segundo tempo, as duas equipes entraram em uma intensidade menor, e o Nova Iguaçu ficou com um jogador a menos com a expulsão de Igor Fraga. Logo na sequência, o Internacional ampliou o marcador com Valencia recebendo passe de Bustos em posição irregular e finalizando para marcar o gol. Como essa fase da Copa do Brasil não tem VAR, a jogada foi validada.

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✅ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

No domingo (17), o Nova Iguaçu encara o Vasco pelo jogo de volta da semifinal do Campeonato Carioca em busca de uma vaga na decisão do estadual. Por outro lado, o Inter enfrenta o Juventude, pelo jogo de ida da semifinal do Gauchão.

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Copa do BrasilInternacionalNova Iguaçu

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is facing a potentially defining week in his career at the club ahead of Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool at Elland Road.

The Guardian reported on Monday that Farke’s job may be on the line in these next two matches, because senior figures at the club believe that two losses could lead to his dismissal.

It added that his position in West Yorkshire could be ‘untenable’ if he does not pick up at least one point, as the report states that his job hangs ‘in the balance’.

The Guardian, though, also revealed that some sources have expressed sympathy for the German manager because the results have not been as positive as the performances have been.

Leeds exploring move for English head coach

Whilst a final decision has not been made on the former Norwich City head coach’s future at the club, a fresh report has named one of the managers already in the frame to take his place.

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According to Football Insider, Leeds United are exploring the possibility of a move to appoint former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil as Farke’s replacement at Elland Road.

The report claims that the English tactician is ‘firmly’ in the running to be the next Whites manager if they decide to part ways with the German this week.

It adds that Farke will be in the dugout for the clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night, as the earlier report from The Guardian backs up, but his future beyond these next two games remains in doubt.

However, the 49ers should change their mind and avoid a deal to appoint O’Neil as their next manager if they opt to move on from Farke, because he could be a Javi Gracia repeat for the club.

Why Gary O'Neil could be a Javi Gracia repeat for Leeds

The Whites appointed Gracia to replace Jesse Marsch in February 2022 in an attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League, and it seemed to be a shrewd move on paper.

Prior to joining Leeds, the Spaniard had finished 14th and 11th in the Premier League with Watford in his first two seasons with the Hornets, per Transfermarkt, before losing his job after three defeats in four games at the start of his third campaign.

He, therefore, arrived as a ‘proven’ Premier League manager, but that did not stop him from losing six of his 11 games in charge before being sacked by the Whites, who then brought in Sam Allardyce.

O’Neil would arrive at Elland Road with a similar reputation because he finished 15th and 14th with Bournemouth and Wolves in his first two seasons in the division, before being sacked after a run of 11 losses in 16 games in his third top-flight campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The English boss, who typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation, per Transfermarkt, lost his job with the Old Gold for a run of form that was even worse than Farke’s current performance at Leeds.

As you can see in the table above, Farke would still have a better record than O’Neil did last season if he loses these next two games against Chelsea and Liverpool.

These statistics suggest that there is no guarantee that the ex-Wolves manager would be an upgrade on the German in the dugout, as Gracia wasn’t, despite his Premier League experience, when they sacked Marsch in 2022.

With this in mind, the 49ers should avoid moving for the out-of-work head coach if they decide to sack Farke, because it could be a repeat of the mistake that former sporting director Victor Orta once made with Gracia.

Instead, they should look to appoint a manager who is a clear upgrade on the German boss, whether they have Premier League experience or not, to help them in their battle against relegation.

Leeds lining up January spending spree for "phenomenal" Farke replacement

Daniel Farke will reportedly be sacked if Leeds lose their next two matches.

By
Ben Goodwin

Dec 1, 2025

Of course, it would be remiss of us to ignore the possibility that Farke can turn things around in these next two games to save his job, which would alleviate any need for the board to step in and make a decision on a replacement for him in the coming weeks.