After causing a major stir in the 2023 World Cup by beating defending champions England on Sunday, Afghanistan briefly harboured hopes of upsetting the 2019 runners-up too. But the New Zealand brand of professionalism and experience came to the fore once more as they managed to keep their unbeaten record intact to make it four out of four in the competition.Sent in to bat, New Zealand slipped from a comfortable 109 for 1 in the 21st over to a not-so-comfortable 110 for 4 in the space of nine balls. However, captain Tom Latham and the do-it-all man Glenn Phillips revived the innings with a 144-run stand for the fifth wicket. They were also helped by Afghanistan’s sloppiness in the field with as many as six chances – five catches and a run out – going a begging as New Zealand racked up 288 for 6.Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson then continued their excellent run of form with three wickets each as Afghanistan collapsed in a heap in the chase. Only Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai put up a semblance of fight before Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for just 14 runs in 24 balls to be bowled out for 139 and go down by 149 runs in Chennai. The win not only gave New Zealand’s NRR a huge boost but also solidified their position at the top of the points table.Related

• New Zealand's do-it-all man Glenn Phillips shows he can play the waiting game

• New Zealand's six lives

• ODI World Cup digest: Dutch delight; Pakistan team hit by virus

• Presenting Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the allrounder in the making

On a humid Wednesday afternoon, Afghanistan’s decision to bowl first raised eyebrows, but it was their efforts on the field that hurt them more. Fazalhaq Farooqi found Will Young’s outside edge on just his fourth ball of the day but Rahmat at wide slip failed to hang on to what was a regulation catch to his left. Young, on 1 at the time went on to score 54.With Young struggling initially, it was Devon Conway who set the ball rolling with a few eye-catching fours. Young soon found his mojo as he lofted Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman over long-on. But the bowler soon exacted revenge, albeit on Conway, trapping the batter in front of the stumps. The decision referred upstairs after the on-field umpire gave it not out, went Afghanistan’s way.Rachin Ravindra, who took 13 balls to get off the mark, got a life on 0 when Hashmatullah Shahidi dropped a straightforward catch at midwicket. He made sure to make Afghanistan pay as he added a brisk 79-run stand for the second wicket with Young.Afghanistan looked bereft of options before Shahidi turned to Omarzai and the medium-fast bowler delivered right away. Ravindra missed a cross-batted swat to find his middle stump flattened while four balls later Young fell courtesy a stunning one-handed take by wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil. Young pushed at a wide length ball outside off, but could only manage a thin inside edge. Alikhil’s anticipation was on point as he moved to his left and plucked out a one-handed stunner inches from the turf. Daryl Mitchell was then sent packing by Rashid as New Zealand’s innings turned upside down in nine balls.Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips put on 144 off 153 balls•ICC/Getty Images

The ball started turning that bit more, and the pacers also found movement. Afghanistan conceded only 29 runs in the ten overs between 21 and 30, which had just two fours and three wickets.But, while all this was happening, Latham and Phillips held their own. There were a few nervy moments but the duo stuck to the basics well. It was the over after drinks when the two decided to take the more attacking route. Latham paddled Mujeeb fine past the stumps before Phillips took Nabi over deep midwicket. Even then, New Zealand could only reach 185 for 4 after 40 overs but two dropped catches turned the game their way.Latham was put down by first by Mujeeb in the 41st over at short fine leg, before Shahidi put down a sitter at short cover in the 43rd, both off Rashid. And New Zealand took their chances. They wallopped 103 runs off the last ten overs to breach the 280-mark. Mark Chapman with an unbeaten 12-ball 25 did his bit as well.Chasing 289, Afghanistan’s chase never really took flight. Trent Boult got the swing working for him from the get-go. He had both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in early strike but it was Matt Henry who drew first blood. Having just been pumped by Gurbaz straight over his head, the quick came back with a length back that seamed sharply back in breaching the batter’s defences and crashing into his stumps.Rahmanullah Gurbaz didn’t account for inward seam movement and got knocked over•Associated Press

Two balls later it was Ibrahim’s turn to depart when he closed the face of the bat too early to a Boult scrambled-seam delivery and lobbed a simple catch to Santner at cover. Shahidi and Rahmat Shah took 47 balls for the 16-run stand which was ended by Santner’s worldie. Lockie Ferguson’s sharp bumper was fended awkwardly by Shahidi, but he seemed to have got enough bat on it to clear the fielder at square leg. Santner, though sprinted back, kept his eye on the ball before leaping with his outstretched left hand to complete a blinder.Afghanistan were reduced to 43 for 3 after 14 with their chances getting slim. Rahmat and Omarzai did add a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket but at no point did New Zealand let the game drift.The boundaries were hard to come by and even strike-rotation wasn’t always on point. Azmatullah somewhat broke the shackles in the 25th over with two fours but was accounted for by Boult in the very next ball and when Rahmat fell in the 29th over, the Afghanistan innings slid quickly.Santner reached 100 ODI wickets by sending back Nabi with an absolute ripper before Ferguson removed Rashid and Mujeeb in the 34th over. Santner then closed the game in the 35th as New Zealand won comfortably.

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Uma torcida que coloca 27 mil pessoas para apoiar os jogadores, num treino em plena tarde de segunda-feira, merece muito ver o seu time campeão. E, nesse caso, se o futebol fosse disputado nas arquibancadas, o título da Copa do Brasil deveria ser do Corinthians.

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+ Confira detalhes da terceira camisa e a nova linha do Corinthians em alusão ao Mundial do Japão

Aqui poderia ser dito que só verdadeiros malucos largariam tudo para apoiar o seu clube do coração em um treino aberto em meio ao horário comercial, como foi ontem (17), mas o que é insanidade para todos se torna natural quando se entende que a nação corintiana é o verdadeiro bando de loucos.

Para o torcedor do Timão, fidelidade não é mero adjetivo, é estilo de vida. Colocado em prática cada vez que o time precisa do combustível que vai além do tático, técnico e físico: é o espírito. E a alma do Coringão está fora das quatro linhas.

+ Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil e simule a final entre Flamengo e Corinthians

Escutei de algumas pessoas que o título corintiano começou a ser conquistado no treino aberto, e não dúvido. A Fiel tem essa capacidade de tatuar na mente e coração dos atletas que é sangue no olho, e o Corinthians não é brincadeira. Mas também digo que qualquer conquista que venha ocorrer começou muito antes da final.

Através de cada louco do bando, o Timão deu um bico em qualquer possibilidade de vexame na Copa do Brasil contra a Portuguesa-RJ, ainda na terceira fase; abriu vantagem em um clássico, contra o Santos, nas oitavas de final; virou um ‘duelo perdido’ contra o Atlético-GO, nas quartas; fez valer a grandeza corintiana contra o Fluminense, na semi; e agora está prestes a fazer história em um Maracanã lotado de rivais.

É natural que nos momentos de decisão a atenção se volte aos torcedores dos clubes envolvidos, mas para a Fiel a final começa desde o primeiro jogo do campeonato. E nessa Copa do Brasil não foi diferente.

أصدر نادي برشلونة بيانًا بشأن بث مباراة الفريق الأول أمام فيسيل كوبي الياباني في اللقاء الذي يجمعهما، حاليًا، في إطار تحضيرات الموسم الجديد 2025/2026.

ويواجه رجال الألماني هانز فليك، نظيره فيسيل كوبي، في أولى مباريات الفريق الإسباني التحضيرية للموسم الجديد خلال جولة الفريق الآسيوية.

وتعرضت منصات النادي الإسباني لهجوم من قبل صفحات مجهولة حاولت سرقة البث المباشر للمباراة، وبالتالي اضطر النادي لبث المباراة على موقع “يوتيوب” لكي يتمكن الجميع من مشاهدتها. بيان برشلونة بشأن مباراة فيسيل كوبي

“يعلن نادي برشلونة لكرة القدم أنه تعرض خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية لهجوم واسع النطاق على منصات البث الخاصة به من صفحات كانت تحاول التقاط البث المباشر لمباراة الموسم ضد فيسيل كوبي”.

وفي مواجهة هذا الكم الهائل من الطلبات، لقد تم تفعيل آليات الحماية اللازمة، مما أثر على بث الموقع الإلكتروني وتطبيق Culers، وقد تم اتخاذ قرار بعرض المباراة بشكل علني على منصات “يوتيوب” لضمان مشاهدتها.

يعتذر النادي عن أي إزعاجٍ قد يتسبب به هذا الأمر، وسيتواصل مع جميع المتضررين”.

He made his first Shield century since February 2021 while Jack Clayton made 96 and Michael Neser was promoted to No. 5

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2023A classy Joe Burns century put Queensland in the box seat against Tasmania on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart.The 34-year-old was unbeaten on 127 at stumps with allrounder Michael Neser also in ominous form, as the Bulls reached 293 for 3 after the hosts elected to field at Blundstone Arena.It was the first Sheffield Shield century in 980 days for former Test batter Burns. His previous ton was at the same venue against the same opposition on February 18, 2021, with Burns making 171 in the first innings of a match Queensland won by three wickets.Related

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How Matthew Short turned himself into an all-format asset

Batting at No. 3 on Thursday, Burns unfurled the full array of strokes from his repertoire against the Tasmanians and brought up his 20th first-class century from 213 deliveries.He had previously failed to reach 50 in all of his 11 first-class innings for Queensland in 2023.Burns and left-hander Jack Clayton added 187 for the third wicket after openers Bryce Street and Matt Renshaw both fell cheaply as the Bulls slumped to 10 for 2.Burns drove through the covers and behind point off the seamers with grace and control. A late cut from the bowling of offspinner Jarrod Freeman took him into the 90s and was a shot full of class. Burns was equally strong on the leg side and looked every bit the former Test batter who boasts four centuries at the highest level.Queensland were without Test opener Usman Khawaja for the second time in as many Shield games after he was again rested by Cricket Australia to manage his workload.Clayton had made 109 against Victoria in his last Shield innings and was looking good for consecutive centuries. But a short ball by Brad Hope hurried on to the 24-year-old and he spliced his pull shot straight to mid-on. Clayton made 96 off 175 balls in an innings that featured 10 boundaries.In-form allrounder Neser was promoted to No. 5 for the first time in his first-class career and was given a life on 5 when Jordan Silk uncharacteristically dropped a sitter at slip off Freeman.Neser rode his luck but played with aggression. In the closing overs, Tasmania had nine fielders on the fence, but Neser continued to try to clobber just about each delivery he faced.

Big picture: 4-1 or 3-2?

After three run-fests, Raipur finally provided an even contest between bat and ball as India sealed the five-match series with a game to go. But expect the runs to start flowing again, and with some intensity, as India and Australia travel to Bengaluru for the fifth and final T20I.A turnaround time of under 48 hours isn’t ideal but the Australians, Travis Head and Tanveer Sangha, in particular, might not complain. The duo are the only ones in the current squad who have been in India since the start of the ODI World Cup – Head as part of the 15-man squad, Sangha as travelling reserve – and will keenly be looking forward to going back home.Australia have tried as many as 19 players so far in the series, ringing in the changes in a bid to give some of their exhausted players a break. They made five changes for the Raipur T20I but the reinforcements coming in failed to level the series. While they’ve taken the fast bowlers to the cleaners consistently, the Australian batting has been found wanting against the spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel.Related

• Five-horse race – who will open for India at the 2024 T20 World Cup?

• Axar, Bishnoi, Rinku give India series win

• Axar and Bishnoi's spin charge leaves Australia with little answers

They could, however, expect some respite from the Bengaluru pitch, which has historically not aided spin as much as some of the other surfaces they’ve played on as Australia look to end their tour of India on a high.While India haven’t been as clinical, what would please Suryakumar Yadav the most is the individual players standing up under pressure. Jitesh Sharma, playing his first game of the series came in and smashed a 19-ball 35 in Raipur while Rinku Singh showed that he was not just a finisher and had the technique to set up a total as well.The fast-bowling unit is probably one area where the boxes haven’t been ticked, but Deepak Chahar’s return after an injury layoff will give India reasons to be happy. He didn’t have the best of starts to his spell but came back well later and struck two important blows. The team management will hope for a more rounded show from the fast-bowling attack come Sunday.

Form guide

India WLWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Australia LWLLWYashasvi Jaiswal has a powerplay strike rate of 174.62 in the series so far•Associated Press

In the spotlight: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Aaron Hardie

Barring the third T20I, Yashasvi Jaiswal has given India a quick start in every game this series, but is yet to make it out of the powerplay. No other batter in the series has scored more runs in the first first six overs than Jaiswal while his strike rate of 174.62 during this phase is only second to Head’s 194.11. However, the Indian management might want him to convert his starts into something more substantial. Jaiswal has had a terrific start to his T20I career – two fifties and a century in 11 innings. Bengaluru gives him a chance to add to those numbers.Aaron Hardie hasn’t set the T20I stage on fire yet, but the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is probably one venue where he will feel most at home. He likes pace on the ball and the ball coming onto the bat, and the conditions in Bengaluru are likely to provide him with that. Hardie had a tremendous 2022-23 BBL season, finishing as the top run-getter. He hasn’t fully shown that big-hitting potential in the two T20Is that he has batted this series, but the surface in Bengaluru and the boundary dimensions could help him unleash some of those hit-through-the-line maximums. A few wickets with the ball, and Hardie could well be the player to watch out for.

Team news: Expect more changes

India made four changes to their side for the fourth T20I, and with the series in the bag could well make a few more for the final game. They might be tempted to give Washington Sundar a game in place of one of Axar or Bishnoi, while Tilak Varma could also get a game, in case the team management wants to rest any of the players in the top order. India went with Mukesh Kumar, Chahar and Avesh Khan as their fast-bowling options in Raipur and are unlikely to make any changes on that front.India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Shreyas Iyer/Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel/Washington Sundar, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Mukesh KumarAustralia don’t have the scope to make a lot of changes, considering they have only 13 players in the squad left. They could consider bringing in one of Kane Richardson or Nathan Ellis in place of Sangha.Australia (probable): 1 Josh Phillippe, 2 Travis Head, 3 Ben McDermott, 4 Aaron Hardie, 5 Tim David, 6 Matthew Short, 7 Matthew Wade (capt,wk), 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Chris Green, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Tanveer Sangha/Nathan Ellis/Kane Richarson

Pitch and conditions: Another run-fest in the offing

Runs, runs and runs have been the theme at the Chinnaswamy Stadium of late. With short boundaries and a placid surface, another run-fest could well be on the cards on Sunday. In the IPL this year, scores in excess of 180 were breached in nine of 14 innings, and even in the ODI World Cup batters enjoyed their time here.While the overhead conditions are likely to remain cloudy, there is no threat of rain with the temperature expected to hover around the 18 to 22 degree mark on the Celsius scale.

Stats and trivia

• Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored all his runs (117) in this series in the first powerplay, at a strike rate of 174.62.
• Jason Behrendorff has the best economy rate of all bowlers – 5.75 after three matches. He has also picked up four wickets.
• Rinku Singh has scored 49 runs off 20 balls in the death overs in this series, striking at 245.00.
• Suryakumar needs just 20 runs to reach 2000 runs in T20Is. If he gets there on Sunday, he will be the quickest Indian to the mark.

Quotes

“Throughout the series, he has been bowling very well. And our partnership has also been great. He’s bowled in the powerplay so have I, and that combination has been good.”

Teeger has been cleared to continue playing after being the subject of an enquiry for his comments in support of Israeli soldiers

Firdose Moonda08-Dec-2023David Teeger will captain South Africa at next year’s Under-19 World Cup, which will be played on home soil. The tournament was moved from Sri Lanka to South Africa after the SLC was suspended by the ICC last month, and is expected to be played on the same dates – January 13 to February 4 – with venues yet to be confirmed.Given it will take place alongside the SA20, it is likely the matches will be staged at some of the country’s smaller grounds, such as Benoni, Potchefstroom, Kimberley and East London. South Africa had finished seventh at the last U-19 World Cup, in the West Indies in 2022. Only one of their squad members – Kwena Maphaka, who was 15 in 2022 – will feature in next year’s event.Teeger leads a side that includes two players who were on rookie contracts with the SA20 sides last year: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who was with Paarl Royals, and Steve Stolk, who joined Pretoria Capitals and is coached by Malibongwe Maketa, the former assistant coach of men’s senior team. Justin Sammons, the former batting consultant for the men’s senior team, and Paul Adams are also among the support staff for this tournament.On Thursday, Teeger was cleared to continue playing after being the subject of an enquiry into whether he had breached the CSA and Lions’ Cricket codes of conduct by making comments in support of Israeli soldiers. Teeger’s comments came two weeks after Hamas’ attack on Israel, and amid the ongoing war in Gaza, when he was named the Rising Star at the ABSA Jewish Achiever Awards ceremony on October 22. In his acceptance speech, he said the following:”But more importantly, yes, I’ve been awarded this award, and yes, I am now the rising star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel… So I’d like to dedicate this award to the South African family that married off one son whilst the other is still missing. And I’d like to dedicate it to the state of Israel and to every single soldier fighting so that we can live and thrive in the diaspora.”Teeger’s comments were reported in the South African Jewish Report on October 26 and have since been widely published across South African media.In response, the Palestinian Solidarity Alliance (PSA) lodged an official complaint with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. Subsequently, CSA, Lions (the domestic union where Teeger plays), four Johannesburg-based cricket clubs, one concerned cricket supporter, the Abu Asvat Institute of National Building (a civil society group), and a director of a company that sponsors Lions all issued statements of grievance. These were referred to advocate Wim Trengrove, who conducted an independent adjudication. Trengrove found that Teeger acted in accordance with his constitutional right to freedom of expression and did not engage in any unbecoming or detrimental conduct. CSA has accepted the report.ESPNcricinfo understands there are some concerns within CSA that there may continue to be a public reaction to Teeger’s comments. In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the PSA said Teeger’s comments caused a “significant rift within the cricket community” and that they continue to question whether he is “fit to represent a diverse South African team and more so, whether he has the necessary capacity to lead any such team”. The PSA has called for Teeger’s suspension from the U-19 World Cup squad and has indicated there could be protests at the tournament.The team will begin preparations for the tournament this week with a camp in Durban and two practice matches against Zimbabwe U-19.South Africa squad for 2024 U-19 World CupDavid Teeger, Esosa Aihevba, Juan James, Martin Khumalo, Kwena Maphaka, Dewan Marias, Riley Norton, Nqobani Mokoena, Romashan Pillay, Sipho Potsane, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Richard Seletswane, Oliver Whitehead, Steve Stolk, and Ntando Zuma

Luis Enrique is fired up to beat Real Madrid as the Barcelona-loving Paris Saint-Germain boss hopes to beat his old team to the Club World Cup final.

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• Luis Enrique speaks about his Barca allegiance
• Admits Barca link might motivate his team
• Aiming for second Club World Cup success

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Luis Enrique's Champions League winners come up against Madrid in the semi-final of the competition on Wednesday and despite having played for Los Blancos, the Spaniard admitted his love lies with Barcelona and those ties provide extra motivation for him ahead of the big game.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 55-year-old, who caused a stir when he left Madrid to join Barcelona as a player in 1996, started his coaching career working Barca's youth setup before taking up his first head coach role Roma in Serie A in 2011. He returned to Barca three years later and won the European and domestic treble in his first season and retained their La Liga crown the following campaign. As a member and fan of the Catalan club, the Gijon native will take extra enjoyment from a victory this week.

• WHAT LUIS ENRIQUE SAID

  He told reporters: “It's a pleasure to play against Real Madrid. It always has been, always is, and always will be because of what it means to play against a team that is the most successful in the world. You already know that I'm a Barca fan, I'm still a Barca member and a Sporting [de Gijon] fan, so it's always motivating to play against Madrid.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PSG AND BARCA?

  PSG will take on Real at the MetLife Stadium on Wednesday in the Club World Cup semi-final, while Barca will commence their pre-season on 13 July.

يستعد نادي برشلونة لخوض مباراته التحضيرية الأخيرة للموسم الجديد، بلقاء كومو على كأس خوان جامبر بعد غد الأحد.

ووفقاً لصحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية فإن داني أولمو قد يلتحق بزميله البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي بعد غيابه عن التدريبات الجماعية بسبب زيادة الحمل العضلي.

أقرأ أيضاً.. بعد مارتينيز وفليكس.. لاعب بايرن ميونيخ على أعتاب النصر السعودي

وتدرب الدولي الإسباني بشكل فردي مما يثير الشكوك حول جاهزية داني اولمو لمواجهة كأس خوان جامبر في الوقت المناسب.

ويبقى برشلونة حذراً ونظراً لموقف هانز فليك الحازم بشأن لياقة اللاعبين، فإن أولمو لن يشارك في المباراة إذا كان هناك خطر عليه من تفاقم شكواه.

وتم استبعاد روبرت ليفاندوفسكي من مواجهة كومو، وسيحدد تطور حالته جاهزيته حيث إن مشاركته في المباراة الافتتاحية للموسم لا تزال غير مؤكدة.

وذكر الصحفي تشافي نافارو أن ليفاندوفسكي قد يغيب عن الملاعب لمدة أسبوعين بسبب إصابة عضلية، وتحيط الشكوك بمشاركة اللاعب ضد ريال مايوركا بعد أكثر من أسبوع بقليل.

يذكر أن ليفاندوفسكي أنهى الموسم الماضي كأفضل هداف في برشلونة ولعبت مساهماته دوراً في ترشيحه لجائزة الكرة الذهبية إلى جانب لامين يامال وبيدري ورافينيا.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo já tem sua escalação confirmada para a partida de logo mais, contra o RB Bragantino. Nesta quarta-feira (26), no Nilton Santos, às 19h30, o técnico Luís Castro optou por fazer uma variação no setor ofensivo para tornar sua equipe mais impetuosa.

O Alvinegro conta com o retorno de Tchê Tchê, que cumpriu suspensão automática no empate em 2 a 2 diante do Fluminense. O camisa 6 substitui Eduardo.

O técnico Luís Castro também optou por uma formação ofensiva ao lançar Victor Sá no lugar de Patrick de Paula. Sá atua ao lado de Junior Santos, Jeffinho e Tiquinho Soares.

O LANCE! transmite a partida em tempo real. Os botafoguenses têm 44 pontos e veem a zona de classificação da Copa Libertadores ao horizonte. O Massa Bruta, por sua vez, está com 41 pontos e, após voltar a vencer na rodada anterior, projeta sonhos maiores.

Brighton are open to loaning Evan Ferguson to Roma, but are waiting for a final green light from the striker.

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Roma pushing to sign Evan Ferguson on a loan dealBrighton open to move but awaiting striker's approvalThe 20-year-old struggled during loan stint at West HamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Calcio Mercato, Roma have made progress in talks to bring the 20-year-old striker to Serie A on loan. Brighton are reportedly open to letting the Irishman leave, but are yet to receive approval from the striker himself. The Italian club has reportedly started initial contacts with the English club and is keen to get Ferguson on board.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Once dubbed “the next Harry Kane,” Ferguson was flying high at Brighton. The young Irish striker, at one point, was even valued at a staggering £100 million after a breakout season with the club in 2023.

But fast forward to 2025, and Ferguson no longer appears to be in Brighton’s plans for next season. Injuries and a disappointing loan spell at West Ham, where he made only eight appearances, have cast serious doubt over his future on the south coast.

At Roma, new manager Gian Piero Gasperini is looking to add more firepower in front, and the Italian front office feels Ferguson could fill a crucial backup role. Chelsea and Everton have also been linked with the striker, but Roma now appear to be the frontrunners.

DID YOU KNOW?

Evan Ferguson became one of just four players to score a Premier League hat-trick at the age of 18 and netted 10 goals in 25 appearances during the 2022-23 season. Only Michael Owen (28), Wayne Rooney (15), and Francis Jeffers (12) scored more Premier League goals before their 19th birthday than the Irishman.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BRIGHTON?

With Joao Pedro departing and Evan Ferguson expected to head out on another loan, Brighton will now actively look for fresh attacking options. One name that has recently emerged is Rodolfo Aloko, an 18-year-old attacking midfielder currently playing for Croatian side NK Kustosija. According to the Daily Mail, Aloko is valued at around £4.75 million, and Brighton are keeping a close eye on his progress.