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Weekly Waiver Wire Report

Catcher

Dalton Varsho, ARI

I’m going to kick the Varsho tires one more time as I’m sure he remains in the free-agent pool in most shallow leagues. After delivering four hits over his first nine at-bats after his call up, Varsho only has one hit over 20 at-bats. He looks on the verge of getting sent back to the minors, but the Diamondbacks had two injuries (Carson Kelly and Asdrubal Cabrera) to clear his path for more playing time. Arizona should have playing time open at catcher and outfield, even with Ketel Marte scheduled to be back this week. My intrigue with Varsho is his combination of speed and power at the C2 position. His job now is to hit his way into more playing time.

Adley Rutschman, BAL

Over the first nine games at AA, Rutschman has seven hits in 32 at-bats with seven runs, two home runs, and six RBI. His walk rate (25) continues to be elite, but he does have 11 strikeouts. With a hot bat, he should push his way to AAA by the summer with a chance at the majors later in the year. For now, Rutschman is just a player to follow for the fantasy team's desperate for an upgrade at the catcher position.

First Base

Bobby Dalbec, BOS

Dalbec is available in 46 percent of 12-team leagues. His swing and miss style led to a quiet start to the year (15-for-86 with three runs, one home run, and six RBI while whiffing 33 times). Over his previous seven games, he hit .360 over 25 at-bats with six runs, three home runs, 11 RBI, and one steal. His hot run should continue with six games next week in hitter’s ballparks (@TOR and @PHI). For a power-starved team, Dalbec offers help as long as he is making contact.

Second Base

Jonathan Schoop, DET

A month and a half into the baseball season, there hasn’t been much to get excited about Schoop. Coming into this week, he only hit .180 over 111 at-bats with 10 runs, two home runs, and eight RBI. Schoop has three multi-hit games over his last five starts (8-for-21 with two runs and two RBI), signifying that a power run is on the way. From 2016 to 2019, he pounded 101 balls over the fence with 307 RBI over 2,143 at-bats. Schoop is worth a short-term ride for a fantasy team looking for power or covering an injury.

Jonathan India, CIN

After playing his way out of a starting job (5-for-48 with five runs, one home run, and three RBI), India capitalized on a Nick Senzel injury to put his name back into the lineup conversation for the Reds. He went 4-for-8 in games in Colorado with three runs, two home runs, and five RBI. India has more of a trick-or-treat feel with questions with his long-term value.

Shortstop

Elvis Andrus, OAK

There hasn’t been an Andrus sighting since 2019 in the fantasy market. He quietly has a seven-game hitting streak (8-for-23), with almost no production (one run and two RBI). Over his last 231 at-bats, Andrus hit only .186 with 19 runs, three home runs, 13 RBI, and six steals. The chase here is the possible uptick in stolen bases. Andrus has been dropped in all kinds of formats, but he is only viable in deep leagues where there is a much weaker player pool.

Wander Franco, TB

The Franco watch looks to be on track over his first nine games. He has 11 hits over his first 35 at-bats with seven runs, two home runs, six RBI, and one steal. He looks ready for the majors, but the Rays tend to restrict their top prospects early in their careers. Franco is a clear hold and a buy if somehow he was dropped in shallow leagues.

Third Base

Josh Fuentes, COL

Some home cooking in Colorado unlocked Fuentes’ bats over his last three games (7-for-13 with four runs, two home runs, and nine RBI). Before his uptick, he only hit .191 over 94 at-bats with 10 runs, two home runs, and 10 RBI. The Rockies lost C.J. Cron this week with a back issue, which helped his playing time. Fuentes tends to be a free-swinger who will hit for average while looking to develop his power-stroke. He is a free agent in 65 percent of 15-team leagues. Ride him while he is hot and keep him if his hits continue to leave the yard.

Outfield

Yonathan Daza, COL

Heading into action on Saturday night, Daza has a five-game hitting streak (10-for-14 with four runs, three RBI, and one steal) at home. He raised his batting average from .274 to .337. In 2019 at AAA, Daza hit .364 over 387 at-bats with 11 home runs, 48 RBI, and 12 steals. The Rockies will give him starting at-bats as long as Garrett Hampson starts at second base. Brendan Rodgers will be back in the majors soon, which adds another bat to mix in the infield.

Jo Adell, LAA

Over his first eight games at AAA, Adell hit .265 with nine runs, four home runs, nine RBI, and two stolen bases to create intrigue when the Angels call him up. His issue with Los Angeles in 2020 came from a high number of strikeouts (55 over 124 at-bats). He already has 14 whiffs in the minors over 34 at-bats, which means fantasy owners may need to pump the brakes on his arrival. Adell has a high upside when he figures out how to control the strike zone better. For now, Adell is only a player to follow.

Jesus Sanchez, MIA

The hottest outfield hitter at AAA over the first 10 days of the year is Sanchez. He has 17 hits over 35 at-bats with nine runs, five home runs, and 15 RBI. He comes with a right-field profile, which creates a problem for him reaching the majors if Corey Dickerson and Adam Duvall are healthy. Over his six seasons in the minors, Sanchez hit .300 with 55 home runs, 319 RBI, and 29 stolen bases over 1,830 at-bats. His bat should help in batting average while showing developing power.

Starting Pitching

Luis Patino, TB

Tampa shifted gears with Patino over the last week, which points to him working in a starting role. Over his four appearances (two short starts), he has a 1.54 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 11.2 innings. In his last outing, he went four innings while throwing 65 pitches, putting him one more game from pitching at least five innings. Patino posted a 2.35 ERA and 279 strikeouts over 234 innings in the minors. The Rays will limit his innings, but his arm has a high ceiling. In the high-stakes 15-team market, he was a popular pickup last week.

Matt Manning, DET

The next young pitching prospect to make it to the majors should be Manning. Over his five seasons in the minors, he went 22-17 with a 3.15 ERA and 423 strikeouts over 342.2 innings. Manning shined at AA in 2019 (11-5 with a 2.56 ERA and 148 strikeouts over 133.2 innings), which should have put him on a path to reach AAA in 2020 if there was minor league baseball. In his two starts this year at AAA, he picked up an impressive 13 strikeouts with one walk over 11 innings, but six of his nine hits allowed landed over the fence. Tarik Skubal needs a drop-down in class, and Jose Urena may have suffered an ankle issue in his start on Saturday. Manning needs to clean up his home runs if he is going to help fantasy teams in 2021.

Logan Gilbert, SEA

The Mariners called up Gilbert on Thursday to make his major league debut, and top-hitting prospect Jarred Kelenic. His career with Seattle started with a subpar showing (four runs, five hits, and two home runs over four innings with four strikeouts). His arm looked sharp in his first appearance in the minors (one run over five innings with five strikeouts). In 2019 over four levels, Gilbert went 10-5 with a 2.13 ERA and 165 strikeouts over 135 innings. He will be a top pitcher picked up in the high-stakes market this week. 

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Qatar are set to host the FIFA Arab Cup and the FIFA U17 World Cup later this year.

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The upcoming 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar will feature record prize moneyThe next five editions of the FIFA U17 World Cup will also be held in QatarWith multiple events across various sports lined up, Qatar are positioning themselves as the capital of sportsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup and the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cups headline the FIFA football calendar later this year, with Qatar set to host both the tournaments.

The Arab Cup will be held from December 1-18 while the U17 World Cup, scheduled in November, will precede that.

With Qatar set to attract global footballing eyeballs, Jassim Abdulaziz Al-Jassim, CEO of the tournaments, is confident of delivering successful tournaments and elevating Qatar's profile as a 'sports capital'.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Apart from the next three editions of the FIFA Arab Cup and the next five FIFA U17 World Cups, Qatar have also lined up multiple other tournaments to be hosted by them, including the Basketball World Cup in 2027 and the Asian Games in 2030.

This is apart from tournaments like the Intercontinental Cup which Qatar hosted earlier.

All this comes on the backdrop of the hugely successful 2022 World Cup in Qatar which was a gamechanger iin terms of innovation and infrastructure.

WHAT JASSIM ABDULAZIZ AL-JASSIM SAID

When asked if hosting the FIFA U17 World Cup and FIFA Arab Cups are part of the country's push to be the 'capital of sports', Al-Jassim said,"It shows the alignment that we have in Qatar right now. So for sure, we are trying to increase the tourism for the country. And we have realized that sports tournaments and sports tourism is huge for us. We've already established that relationship with the fans. And also have the experience to organize any tournament.

"So next, in 2027, we have the Basketball World Cup. We have the Arab Cup for three editions until 2033. We have the U-17 for five years. And we're also working on bringing other tournaments as well. So for sure, sports tourism is one of the main targets for us as a country."

On why Qatar played a key role in increasing the prize money for the FIFA Arab Cup, Al-Jassim said, "This tournament is really, really important to us and to all the Arab nations and teams. So you need to have something that is also taking it to the same level. So that's where we came with the prize money that we have. We discussed it with FIFA and we increased. So it brings this kind of value to the tournament itself."

Al-Jassim also spoke about why Qatar were ready to host the next five editions of the FIFA U17 World Cup and how committed they are to developing the next generation of footballers.

"So the U-17 World Cup, I think it was every two years before. Now it's on a yearly basis to give more chance for the youth to shine and show and come here. So what we and FIFA together discussed was this was the best way to do it because it gives more chance for players to shine, to play more football, to play the best football. And also to increase it to 48 teams, similar to the World Cup in 2026.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Interestingly, the FIFA Arab Cup will see record prize money for a regional tournament. It was announced earlier this week that the total pool will amount to almost $36.9 million which is a signifcant rise from the 2021 edition.

The FIFA U17 World Cup, set to held annually for the next five years in Qatar, will also see a change in format, expanding it to 48 teams from 2025. The tournament, which will feature 104 matches, will be held exclusively at Qatar's Aspire Academy with only the final set to be held at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha.

"We have a new concept as well, the tournament is going to be played in Aspire Academy, except for the final which will be in Khalifa Stadium. So we will have more of a carnival festival kind of concept that all the matches are happening at the same place. Every half an hour you have a match starting. It's going to be a big huge festival where 104 matches are going to take place. We'll see how it goes this year. We are very, very confident that it will be a huge success," Al-Jassim added.

They haven’t won a Test against India in the last 21 years but the Queen’s Park Oval pitch could help them change that

Hemant Brar19-Jul-2023Big pictureIt’s a historic occasion. The second Test between West Indies and India, in Port-of-Spain, will be the 100th Test between the two teams. Of the 99 played so far, West Indies have won 30 and India 23, while 46 have been draws.In the last 21 years, however, West Indies have not managed a single win against India. Their previous victory came in 2002, when Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player of the Match in the first Test of the current series, was not even five months old.Since then, the two sides have met 24 times, with India winning on 15 occasions and drawing on the other nine. Given how the first Test went – India winning by an innings and 141 runs – West Indies will have to put in a serious effort to end that streak.Related

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Having said that, this could be one of their better chances to do so. The pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval has been, traditionally, conducive to fast bowling, and West Indies have a far more experienced seam-bowling attack in this series.Neither West Indies nor India play another Test for the next five months at least. So both teams will be looking to make the most of this opportunity, apart from pocketing some World Test Championship points. West Indies will be looking to achieve some stability with the bat, and India will hope that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan spend a considerable time in the middle.Form guideWest Indies LLLWD (last five Tests, most recent first)
India WLDLWIn the spotlightThe world first took notice of Alick Athanaze when he topped the runs chart at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. Last month, against UAE, he smashed the joint-fastest fifty by a batter on ODI debut. Then on his Test debut last week, against R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and a turning track, he showed he had the temperament for the long format as well. With wickets tumbling at the other end, he top-scored for West Indies in each innings with knocks of 47 and 28. Ian Bishop said he could be “a leading light in the years to come”, and West Indies will hope he proves Bishop right.In Dominica, Athanaze was impressive on a pitch that offered turn and bounce to spinners•Associated PressAt the same U-19 World Cup where Athanaze was the leading run-scorer, Shubman Gill was second on the list, and was named the Player of the Tournament. While it took Athanaze five years to make his international debut, Gill is already seen as the heir apparent to Virat Kohli. In the first Test, by asking to be moved down to No. 3, he took another step in that direction – experts believe the middle order is his natural home. But a failure in India’s only innings in Dominica meant he now averages 31.96 after 17 Tests. The good thing is he has all the time in the world and the backing of the team management.Team newsWith Raymon Reifer out of the squad, left-hand batter Kirk McKenzie could be in line for a debut. West Indies may also be tempted to bring in Shannon Gabriel for either Jomel Warrican or Rahkeem Cornwall. Meanwhile, uncapped offspin-bowling allrounder Kevin Sinclair will be on standby as a like-for-like replacement for Cornwall in case the latter is yet to fully recover from his chest infection.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Jermaine Blackwood, 5 Kirk McKenzie, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Rahkeem Cornwall/Kevin Sinclair, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel/Jomel WarricanTwo days out from the Test, India captain Rohit Sharma said he was not looking to make “any drastic changes”. He also backed Ishan Kishan, saying he was “very impressed” with the wicketkeeper’s glovework. So it will not be a surprise if India field an unchanged XI.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Ishan Kishan (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Mohammed SirajPitch and conditionsWhile the Queen’s Park Oval has not hosted a Test since 2018, fast bowlers have always enjoyed the conditions here, registering a much better average (27.39) and strike rate (61.0) as compared to spinners (36.57 and 88.7). Rain is forecast on all five days of the Test, though.Stats and trivia Kohli (8555) needs 32 runs to go past Virender Sehwag’s Test tally of 8586. Among Indians, only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman have more Test runs. Ashwin is 14 short of 500 Test wickets. In Dominica, Athanaze became only the second West Indies batter to top-score in each innings of his Test debut. The first was Lawrence Rowe, who scored 214 and 100 not out against New Zealand at Sabina Park in 1972. India have won three of their 13 Tests at Queen’s Park Oval. Another win here will make it their joint-most-successful overseas Test venue alongside the MCG. England and Australia are the other two teams West Indies and India have met India 100 times in Tests.

Arsenal are looking at new forward options ahead of the summer transfer market, with Mikel Arteta’s side now believed to be in contention for a homegrown, marquee attacker.

Arsenal identifying transfer targets before next season

The Premier League title race is out of Arsenal’s hands, and while there is still an outside hope they could catch Liverpool amid the Reds’ drop in form, the odds are stacked against Arteta’s injury-ridden side.

Arteta identifies £83m Real Madrid player as "key" possible Arsenal signing

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ByEmilio Galantini Feb 21, 2025

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both out for the rest of this season after sustaining long-term injuries, while Arteta is also waiting to have both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka back in contention for their final run of matches.

This has left Arsenal short of top-quality options in the final third, with Arteta forced to deploy a front three of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri in their last Premier League clash against Leicester City.

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Emergency striker Mikel Merino saved the day with a dramatic brace in the final 10 minutes after coming off Arteta’s bench, and the Gunners board will be very keen to ensure they won’t have to resort to such desperate measures next season.

Arsenal are believed to be shortlisting forward targets ahead of another potential title challenge next term as the club look to bolster Arteta’s options.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Juventus star Dušan Vlahović, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, Eintracht Frankfurt gem Hugo Ekitiké, ex-Liverpool talisman Roberto Firmino and even Real Madrid duo Endrick and Rodrygo are all strikers linked with moves to Arsenal following reports from this last week alone.

Arsenal "said to be offering £83m" for Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens

Now, as per reliable Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens is attracting interest from the Emirates as a potential wide alternative to the likes of Saka, Martinelli and Trossard.

The England Under-21 international has been in fantastic form this campaign, scoring 11 goals and registering 4 assists across all competitions, with Premier League sides taking note.

Arteta’s side are among them, with Falk claiming that Arsenal are “said to be offering” €100m (£83m) for Gittens.

“Dortmund crashed in the league, the Champions League is getting further and further away, and with that, the income from the Champions League next season,” said Falk on SportBILD (via Sport Witness).

“They have to win it to be in it again. If they miss out, they’ll have to sell players and Gittens is highly regarded. Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be offering €100m. You have to say that would be nice money.”

Falk went on to add that “a transfer for Gittens could happen”.

The 20-year-old played for both Man City and Chelsea’s academies before pursuing regular first-team football at Dortmund. Former BVB manager Nuri Şahin praised Gittens’ development this season, calling him a “very important” player.

“He’s a very important player for us,” said Sahin.

“Jamie himself wants to take the next step, and we want him to take that step. Now he’s scoring goals and playing more mature football.”

أسفرت قرعة الدور التمهيدي لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية، موسم 2025-2026، عن مواجهة الزمالك لـ الفائز من مواجهة فريقي ديكيداها الصومالي والزماله السوداني.

وأقام الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، اليوم السبت، مراسم قرعة الأدوار التمهيدي من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية في الموسم الجديد 2025-2026، في دار السلام بتنزانيا.

طالع | نتائج قرعة كأس الكونفدرالية 2025-2026

وكان نادي الزمالك قد خرج من مسابقة كأس الكونفدرالية الموسم الماضي من دور ربع النهائي بعد خسارته أمام الفريق الجنوب إفريقي ستيلينبوش.

وتوج الزمالك ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية من قبل مرتين عامي 2019 و2024. موعد مباراة الزمالك في كأس الكونفدرالية

أسفرت قرعة الدور التمهيدي الثاني “دور الـ32” لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الأفريقية، عن مواجهة فريق الزمالك للفائز من مواجهة فريقي ديكيداها الصومالي والزماله السوداني .

ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراة الذهاب في الفترة من 17 إلى 19 أكتوبر 2025، على أن تقام مباراة الإياب في الفترة من 24 إلى 26 من الشهر ذاته.

MatériaMais Notícias

da supremo： O Internacional encerra o ano com destaque e sucesso também fora das quatro linhas ao receber o prêmio mais importante da publicidade brasileira. Na noite da última quinta-feira, o case da camisa preta lançado pelo clube no mês da Consciência Negra, em novembro de 2021, foi escolhido o melhor no Profissionais do Ano 2022, realizado pela Rede Globo.

Pioneiro em causas sociais, o Colorado foi a única ‘marca’ gaúcha a ganhar a premiação na categoria nacional, e também o primeiro clube de futebol do país a receber um troféu respectivo aos Profissionais do Ano 2022, em parceria com a agência Hoc – House Of Creativity, que foi quem promoveu a ação.

Ao chamar para compor seu quadro de colaboradores os publicitários Liana Bazanela, também diretora de marketing e comunicação do Internacional, e Ubirajara Sagaz Júnior, o clube apostou na diversidade para ocupar posições de liderança no marketing. Liana é a primeira mulher em um cargo de direção, e Ubirajara está à frente da coordenação de marca do departamento.

– Estamos falando de algo inédito no futebol ao receber esse troféu. Fico muito feliz em fazer parte de um presente que continua lutando e quebrando paradigmas. Sou a primeira mulher diretora de marketing de clubes do Brasil, e essa campanha foi idealizada por um publicitário, negro, integrante da nossa equipe – Ubirajara Sagaz. E é pra ele – e cada um dos negros e negras colorados que dedico este prêmio. Agradeço tb a agência HOC, e a Mythago Produtora nossas parceiras que compartilham das mesmas crenças que o Inter: diversidade gera resultados -, afirmou Liana Bazanela.

Dessa forma, a campanha amplificou o pensamento que o Colorado tem sobre a causa. A campanha começou com lançamento do patch contra o racismo, criado pelo artista Gonza Rodriguez, onde os jogadores entraram em campo em um Gre-Nal utilizando a peça na manga da camisa.

O patch, segundo Rodriguez, traduzia a força contra o preconceito. – A ideia que quis colocar neste selo foi a de mostrar o punho apertado, símbolo de luta e de resistência, nascendo da parte central do monograma, fazendo parte dele e elevando-se para representar o forte vínculo que o Inter sempre teve o contra o racismo no futebol -, disse.

O passo seguinte da campanha foi o uso da camisa preta contra o Cuiabá, lançada pela parceira adidas. O uniforme foi inspirado no manifesto “Excelência Negra”, produzido por Marcelo Carvalho, um dos criadores do projeto Observatório Racial de Futebol, e homenageou homens e mulheres negros do futebol brasileiro e todas as suas conquistas. Pela primeira vez em sua história o Inter atuou com um uniforme totalmente nessa cor.

Além da cor predominantemente preta, a camisa trazia detalhes do manifesto aplicados nos números, com frases como “o negro no futebol brasileiro é a marca do Brasil”, “jogadores negros ganharam o mundo”, entre outras. No peito, há um patch de um cabelo Black Power com a frase “É a Coroa” estampada por todo o desenho.

– O Inter sempre foi o Clube do Povo e a história mostra isso. Fomos reconhecidos pelo prêmio mais importante da publicidade brasileira com o case que trata de algo marcante para a historia do povo brasileiro, a luta contra o racismo. É a origem do clube do povo presente no futuro do futebol -, enalteceu o presidente Alessandro Barcellos.

O Prêmio Profissionais do Ano, que chegou à sua 44ª edição, é uma iniciativa da Globo que, há mais de 40 anos, reconhece e celebra talentos da publicidade brasileira. O mote desta edição, “do break ao click”, faz referência ao posicionamento da Globo, “do plim ao play”.

Ao todo, foram mais de 600 trabalhos inscritos em todas as categorias do prêmio. São elas: Integrada, Ações em Conteúdo, Valor Social, Filme de até 15″, 30″ e 30″+ e Campanha na Classe Nacional, e Filme e Campanha na Classe Regional.

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Fulham have now opened talks to sign a “spectacular” U21 European Championships star, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Cottagers set sights on U21 Euros star

Several players put themselves in the shop window courtesy of their performances at the recent U21 Euros, with former Fulham man Harvey Elliott playing a vital role in England’s triumph, picking up five goals throughout the tournament.

The Cottagers have expressed an interest in signing Elliott in the past, and the midfielder’s recent performances are only likely to have driven up his value, with Liverpool now thought to be holding out for a fee of £40m.

However, the Liverpool ace was not the only midfielder who excelled at the tournament, with a report revealing Marco Silva’s side have now taken steps towards securing the signature of a different midfielder…

Leeds leading Fulham in race to sign £8.5m defender alongside Bornauw

Leeds United are now in a race to sign a defender who has been impressing in Germany.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 1, 2025

According to Sky Sports (via Sport Witness), Fulham have now expressed a concrete interest in signing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz, submitting an enquiry over a potential summer deal.

Reitz has a £17m release clause which becomes active next summer, and he is attracting widespread interest from within the Premier League, with West Ham United thought to be leading the race for his signature.

Monchengladbach are worried by the interest in one of their key players, with the German club determined to retain his services, but the fact the midfielder is set to be available for £17m next year could lead them to auctioning him off this summer.

"Spectacular" Reitz impressing for Germany U21s

Germany ultimately came up short in the U21 Euros final, with England prevailing 3-2 after Jonathan Rowe’s extra-time winner, but Reitz impressed throughout the tournament, being singled out for high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Fellow scout Antonio Mango has lauded the maestro as “spectacular” in the past, and he has proven himself to be exceptional at winning back possession, ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

After losing Joao Palhinha last summer, Fulham brought in Sander Berge, but there are signs the Mönchengladbach midfielder could be more of a like-for-like replacement for the Portugal international, considering his defensive qualities.

As such, Reitz could be a shrewd acquisition for Silva this summer, and the manager will be hoping that Fulham finishing higher than West Ham last season will give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in negotiations.

Jhye Richardson believes he could play Test cricket this summer if needed having progressed to bowling off his full run coming off shoulder surgery

Alex Malcolm09-Oct-2025Mitchell Starc believes Pat Cummins won’t need much preparation to play in the first Ashes Test in Perth, saying the skipper remains upbeat despite not yet being cleared to bowl with six weeks to go before the series starts.Doubts are growing over Cummins’ availability for the first Test of the Ashes as he continues to rehab the hot spot in his lower back having not bowled a ball since Australia’s last Test against West Indies in July.While it is understood that Cricket Australia has made no decisions on Cummins’ return to bowling and his availability for the first Test of the Ashes and beyond, the tightness of the timeline for the skipper to build-up his bowling loads adequately has become a major talking point.Related

• Cummins says he's 'less likely than likely' to play in the first Ashes Test

• Cummins 'running out of time' as Perth D-day looms but Ashes hopes alive

• Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

• Hazlewood, Starc in line for SCG Shield outing before Ashes

• Doubts over Cummins' fitness for first Ashes Test grow

Starc, who will return to the BBL for the first time in 11 years in the upcoming season, believes Cummins is so unique that he could play a Test match off very limited preparation.”Playing with Pat and being close with Pat, he doesn’t need much,” Starc said. “Whether he bowls three warm-up balls and the first over the game, he’s on the money, he just knows when to switch on or how to switch on really quickly. So what it looks like for him in his prep, it’s going to be certainly different to what mine feels and looks like, and that comes with experience and age.”Having spent so much time with Josh [Hazlewood] and Pat and myself and Scotty [Boland], we all prepare slightly differently. We all feel like we need different things. I feel like at times I need to bowl more around preparation stuff, whether it be training or after layoffs.”Starc has returned to bowling ahead of the ODI series against India after a lengthy pre-season having not played since the Caribbean Test tour. Both Starc and Hazlewood are also set to play in New South Wales’ round four Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG from November 10-13 in preparation for the first Ashes Test which starts on November 21 in Perth.Starc said he had been in touch with Cummins but had seen less of him since returning to NSW training as the skipper continues to do his gym rehab.Mitchell Starc expects Steven Smith to be “the logical choice” to lead if Pat Cummins isn’t fit•BCCI

“He’s in good spirits,” Starc said. “He’s ultra-positive as always, and there’s still some weeks to go before we get to Perth for the Test prep. So we’ll see where that lands. Hopefully we see a lot of him through the summer, and we’ll see where we get to in Perth.”If Cummins were to be ruled out, the question of who replaces him as captain will be raised but Starc said Steven Smith would be the logical choice given he has captained Australia in 40 Test matches including deputising for Cummins in six over the last four years.”We’ve got a group of us that have played cricket with Steve as captain anyway,” Starc said. “And then the times that he’s filled in over the last few seasons for Pat, whether it be for personal reasons, for illness or for injury, it’s an easy transition for Steve. He’s obviously a very experienced cricket brain and thinks heavily about the game, and we have a team of experienced guys that can give their two cents worth along the journey as well.”Cummins’ potential absence has also raised questions about Australia’s fast-bowling depth beyond the big four of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Boland.Starc cited Michael Neser and Sean Abbott as two experienced options and also mentioned another man who has played for Australia previously and took five wickets in an Ashes game in his most recent Test appearance.”There’s been a little bit of noise around Jhye Richardson coming back from his shoulder as well,” Starc said. “We know what skills he has. We’ve got a fairly talented group of 19-20-year-old bowlers, and then a lot of depth from there up to us that have played a lot of domestic cricket. I think the depth is there.”Richardson, speaking at another BBL event in Melbourne on Thursday, was confident he could play a Test this summer if required despite still progressing his bowling in the nets following shoulder surgery earlier this year.Jhye Richardson last played a Test match in December 2021•AFP/Getty Images

“I think so,” Richardson said. “Body’s really good. At this stage of the recovery what we wanted was for everything else to be right, and the only limiting factor to be my shoulder, which is the case at the moment, which is really good. I’m bowling off a full run, just waiting for a bit of ball speed to come back, which I think is a pretty good position to be in this time of year, or what we were hoping for anyway.”There’s no specific timeline in place at the moment, but I think returning to some sort of competitive cricket, whether it’s club cricket or second XI [for Western Australia] sometime in November I think would be a good start, and then build up from there, and then see where it takes us.”Richardson revealed he was still only bowling at speeds in the low 120s but expected the speed to come with more mobility and confidence in the shoulder, having been through the process before after previous shoulder surgeries. He is hoping to play round five or six of the Sheffield Shield, with WA’s two games starting on November 22 and December 4 respectively.”You never really know how linear the process is going to be,” Richardson said. “I think at the start of the year, we were sort of speaking around that [round] five or six mark leading into the Big Bash and potentially back-end Ashes.”But I don’t want to think too far ahead.”

When Arne Slot spoke in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United, it was pretty sobering for the head coach to suggest that the focus is on securing a place in next year’s Champions League proper, and not battling to defend their hard-won Premier League title.

Slot’s right, of course, with Liverpool so far removed from last year’s indomitable success that talk of mounting a challenge against high-flying Arsenal would be scoffed at by even the most ardent supporters.

Among Liverpool’s biggest problems this season has been a struggle in the build-up, especially on the right side. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence is keenly felt, and sporting director Richard Hughes is looking to replace the former vice-captain’s creativity.

Liverpool looking to replace Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool have technically replaced Alexander-Arnold already, signing Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m this summer. However, neither Frimpong or Conor Bradley boast the same playmaking ability as the 27-year-old, who plies his craft for Real Madrid after leaving Anfield at the end of his contract in June.

The £116m signing of Florian Wirtz was meant to help the passing of the creative torch, but Wirtz’s struggles have been well-documented this season, and, as analyst Raj Chohan puts it, “the build-up combination is horrible” on Liverpool’s right-hand side this season.

Those around him know Wirtz has world-class potential in the Premier League and could become a superstar playmaker, a poster boy. However, he doesn’t really operate down the right lane, and this is where Slot and Hughes need to fix Liverpool’s progressive passing.

Perhaps that’s why FSG are showing an interest in signing Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, having shortlisted the France international this week, according to German outlet BILD.

Olise, 23, has only gone from strength to strength since swapping Crystal Palace for the Allianz Arena in 2024, and if Liverpool want to secure his signature, ostensibly as Mohamed Salah’s long-term replacement, they will need to pay over £100m.

BILD believe that Liverpool have placed Olise back onto their shortlist despite Bayern’s not-for-sale stance.

What Olise would bring to Liverpool

Alexander-Arnold’s influence at Liverpool cannot be understated. Quite simply, he is a one-of-a-kind type of player, and his departure to Santiago Bernabeu was always going to be more than just a blow to the Anfield side’s pride.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

60

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

Olise might not be a right-back, but he would prove the perfect Salah replacement at right wing in that he would not try to mimic the Egyptian’s clinical output, and instead bring his own flavour to Merseyside.

At Bayern, the former Palace star has posted 29 goals and 34 assists across 76 matches. He is regarded as “one of the best players in the world” by teammate Serge Gnabry.

Physical and athletic, Olise is also near matchless when it comes to creating for his peers, setting up passing patterns and adding pressure in the final third with unplayable passing.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.

That is not to say he’s a one-trick pony, with fearsome ball-striking qualities that the Premier League’s many defenders and goalkeepers know only too well.

He has proven himself to be a superstar in the English game, and since levelling up in Germany, Olise has fostered the playmaking brilliance that would see him reinvent Slot’s right flank and rekindle the presence of Trent at Anfield.

Huge Gakpo upgrade: £70m "superstar" now keen to join Liverpool in January

Arne Slot’s Liverpool frontline is not quite right this season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair 6 days ago

The allrounder will go under the knife in a bid for a long-term solution to his back problems

Alex Malcolm13-Oct-2024Australia allrounder Cameron Green will undergo lower spine surgery and looks set to miss at least six months of cricket after being diagnosed with his fifth stress fracture in his lower back.After lengthy consultations with Cricket Australia medical staff over the past two weeks following the initial injury in the UK on September 24, Green is set to follow the same path that Jason Behrendorff, James Pattinson, Ben Dwarshuis and New Zealand quicks Shane Bond and Matt Henry have taken by having screws and a titanium cable fused into his lower back to stabilise the stress fracture and prevent future occurrences. Green has spoken to WA and club team-mate Behrendorff about his experience.Related

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Mitchell Starc: Green absence changes dynamic for quicks

Marsh ready to bowl as much as Cummins needs him against India

Steven Smith's Test opening stint over with middle-order return for India

The recovery ranges depending on the player but it is usually a minimum of nine months, although CA believes it will only take six months. That rules him out of the entire summer of cricket, which includes the five Tests against India, the tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy. The IPL, the World Test Championship final in June, if Australia make it, and the three-Test tour of the Caribbean in June and July of next year are possible given CA’s timeframe, especially as a batter only but bowling is a different story.Scans had shown the fracture in the UK but further assessments were required back in Australia as it is understood to be a different fracture to his previous stress injuries. Green has previously had four stress fractures in his lower back, which were recurring through his junior days all the way up to 2019, a year prior to his Test debut.CA’s medical staff are understood to be flummoxed by how this fracture has occurred after successfully managing Green through the past four years of international cricket, although he has always been vulnerable to another fracture given his history. CA released a statement outlining the reasoning for the surgery.”Cam has a unique defect in an adjacent area to the fracture that is believed to be contributing to the injury,” the statement said. “After thorough consultation it was determined Cameron would benefit from the surgery to stabilise the defect and reduce the risk of future recurrence.”He had a routine scan in August, something he does regularly, that showed up clear. That paved the way for him to bowl in the UK. He sent down 21.2 overs in the UK across five T20Is and two ODIs. The most he bowled in a match was the six overs at Chester-le-Street where he did deliver a barrage of short balls as Australia chased wickets, before pulling up sore.There are conflicting views within Australian cricket over his loads in the UK considering how carefully Mitchell Marsh was managed by comparison with the India Test series in mind. Marsh only bowled four overs for the whole tour, and they came in the game after Green flew home.But it is understood there were no indicators that Green was vulnerable in the lead-in and his bowling loads this year have been far lower than in 2021, 2022 and 2023. He bowled more than 230 overs in matches in 2021 and 2022, and 190 overs in 2023. But he had only bowled 124.3 overs to-date in 2024, albeit there were four Test matches to come for him. He was coming off a rare 10-week break from playing prior to the UK tour.The particular surgery Green will have has been very successful for many players including Behrendorff, who underwent the procedure in 2019. CA team physio Nick Jones oversaw Behrendorff’s recovery in 2019-20 when he was with WA having done extensive research on the surgery and the recovery process.ESPNcricinfo understands that the specific type of surgery has been performed on 26 patients over the course of nearly two decades by New Zealand-based surgeons Grahame Inglis and Rowan Schouten with 24 of them successfully returning to full fitness. New Zealand quick Kyle Jamieson is one of the unsuccessful ones so far but his specific case is understood to be very unusual and over the weekend Gary Stead said Jamieson was on track for a comeback during the Super Smash which starts in late December.Dwarshuis had the surgery in 2019 and was back bowling in grade cricket just seven months later and played domestic cricket within 10 months. He has played first-class cricket in the years since but has only appeared in nine red-ball matches.Behrendorff had surgery in October 2019 and did not play until December 2020. He has not returned to play first-class cricket but has had no real problems with his back since then.Pattinson took 12 months to return to first-class cricket and it was another 22 months before he played Test cricket, although he had been out of the Australian set-up for 18 months prior to the surgery due to his injury issues. He retired from professional cricket at just 32 as his body wilted.Henry had the surgery in 2012 when he was just 20 years old. His recent success against Australia in Test cricket earlier this year as a 32-year-old is an indicator of the long-term success that can be had.