Tottenham informed of Everton's Ndiaye stance as club-record price named

Tottenham Hotspur now know how much they’ll have to pay to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton as they look to add an extra spark to Thomas Frank’s attack.

The Lilywhites went through all the emotions against Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, having initially come from behind to take the lead late on before Matthijs de Ligt’s last-gasp equaliser.

With the North London derby up next, Tottenham have now picked up just one win in their last four games in all competitions and problems are beginning to emerge for Thomas Frank’s side.

That said, Frank chose to take the positives from the draw in a game that saw his side fall behind in the first-half. He told reporters: “Of course, the emotions inside me are high, but I take the positives out of this game. That’s what I believe and how I believe in building a good team and keep adding layers to it.

“Overall, a fine/good performance against a good Man United team which is definitely in flow. We are talking a bit about our, how can you say, level of defensive, attacking threats and to play against a Man United team that play with confidence with Cunha, Amad, Mbeumo and Sesko coming on and we kept them to five shots.

“It’s just another example on the other way around that it’s not that easy to create in the Premier League even though they had all their big boys out there. Second half, I was extremely happy with our response.

Frank thinks two Tottenham stars are "expendable" with January exit on the cards

The Spurs boss has made his feelings known behind-the-scenes.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 8, 2025

It was a particularly disappointing afternoon for Randal Kolo Muani, who spurned several chances against Copenhagen in midweek before failing to make his mark against Man United.

The forward’s goalscoring struggles are beginning to become a problem for Spurs, who had been looking at Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers to add an attacking spark before he penned a new deal in the Midlands – forcing the Lilywites to pivot towards Merseyside.

Tottenham learn record Iliman Ndiaye price

As reported by TeamTalk, Tottenham have now been told that Ndiaye will cost them over £70m if they want to secure the winger’s signature from Everton in 2026. This means that the North London club will have to break their transfer record, which was previously set by Dominic Solanke’s £65m move, to add yet another attacking spark.

TeamTalk revealed that Everton have set a premium price in an attempt to keep their star man, saying: “Recent reports have floated a potential £30m price tag for Ndiaye, but TEAMtalk sources close to Everton have dismissed these figures as ‘laughable’.

“Drawing financial parallels to defender Jarrad Branthwaite, whom Everton value at over £70 million, the club has set a premium on the Senegalese international that aligns with market trends for similar profiles.”

That price tag shouldn’t come as a big shock for Tottenham, however, following the impressive start that Ndiaye has made to the current campaign. His skillset was on full show last weekend against Sunderland when he scored a stunning individual goal.

Dubbed “outstanding” by David Moyes after his effort against Sunderland last week, Ndiaye is the type of player that could get Tottenham’s frontline firing on all cylinders under Frank.

Frank must never start £130k-per-week duo together ever again

Can Kamindu overcome fresh hurdles after a stellar 2024?

Sri Lanka will hope his form and class doesn’t taper off, like it did for some of the promising young batters in the last 10 years

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Jan-2025To start with, the whole idea just feels off. A sober stock-take on the career of Kamindu Mendis at the beginning of only his second serious Test year? Yah, who asked for this?So much more fun to be stuck in that Kamindu Mendis fever dream. An average of 74 after 17 Test innings? Uff! Five hundreds out of nine 50-plus scores? Yes please. All 1110 of his runs from No. 5 or lower? That’s the stuff. And have you seen how this brother flicks even the fastest Test bowlers through the air over square leg? Right off his toes, sometimes all the way for six.But there are potentially universes where worse things happen. In one of the more cursed timelines, there might exist a pre-series column focusing on Kamindu, in which there is significant bringing back to reality, a ruining of the vibe, a killing of the buzz.Related

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Such a column might point out that Kamindu had his first less-than-stellar series in South Africa, where he averaged an unusually human 26.50 across four innings. He got some excellent deliveries from South Africa’s quicks, but there did also seem to be a tiny weakness to the shorter ball in the channel, angling across him from the right-arm seamers.There could also be warnings. Kamindu is not the first Sri Lankan batter to emerge in the last 10 years from whom greatness was expected. Many of those expectations haven’t quite panned out, with several batters unable to consolidate careers after starting well, and others plataeuing earlier than expected. There is the not wanting to thrust the mantle of greatness on him too early, but also the hard facts of middle-order runs needing to be scored if Sri Lanka are to improve, and Kamindu being pretty well-placed to score them.Or perhaps that column would draw attention to the greatest buzzkill subject of all – the Test schedule. Tests, the only format in which Kamindu has truly excelled at international level, are in short supply for Sri Lanka this year. Following this two-match series against Australia, there is a two-Test series against Bangladesh mid-year, and then nothing on the books until the middle of 2026, when Sri Lanka travel to the West Indies. Sri Lanka’s next World Test Championship cycle features exactly 12 Tests – the minimum required.(In the second Test of this Australia series, Dimuth Karunaratne is set to play his 100th Test. It may ultimately not matter how consistently Kamindu scores big runs, it seems unlikely he can play 100 Tests if Sri Lanka average only six matches a year.)Such a column might conclude that although Kamindu has had the best possible start to his Test career, the year ahead may be the definitive one for him. For starters, anyone who has had a year like Kamindu’s 2024 will now have had their technique pored over by opposition analysts and coaches. Bowlers will come with theories on how to get him out. Too often in the last 10 years, opposition bowlers have been right about young Sri Lanka batters.Beyond this, another exam. With Sri Lanka’s Test schedule likely to dwindle, there is also now the heat to become a more productive limited-overs player. Kamindu’s domestic T20 career in particular suggests that he has the range and skill to become a success in white-ball cricket, but he is yet to crack the shorter formats in international cricket.It is not often that a batter who has scored more than a thousand Test runs in the previous calendar year has this many hurdles still to overcome. But cricket’s sands are shifting, and these are the breaks.On Kamindu’s side is his obvious talent for expanding his game. But also, the fact that the next challenge is one he should relish – playing two Tests in his home town, in the format he has already made a name for himself in. He also averages 123.33 in Galle, after three Tests there.But Australia’s tall fast bowlers will have watched the footage from South Africa, and will try him where they think he is weak. And this next step is where many Sri Lanka batters have stumbled.Or so at least that column would say.

Manuel Neuer and Serge Gnabry in doubt for Bayern Munich as Vincent Kompany reveals fitness issues ahead of Arsenal clash

Manuel Neuer’s illness and Serge Gnabry’s fresh fitness concerns have unsettled Vincent Kompany’s preparations for Bayern Munich's upcoming matches against Freiburg and Arsenal. With squad fatigue and strategic decisions piling up, Bayern face fitness concerns ahead of the Bundesliga and Champions League clashes.

  • Neuer and Gnabry add to Bayern’s worries as Kompany reassures

    Bayern’s stupendous league form faces its first real moment of strain as Kompany confirmed that both Neuer and Gnabry are doubts heading into the Freiburg match and, more critically, the Champions League showdown with Arsenal. Neuer has been struggling with a gastrointestinal infection and missed consecutive training sessions, leaving Bayern unsure whether their veteran captain will recover in time. But the uncertainty around his condition comes at the worst possible moment for a side preparing for one of their biggest European nights.

    Gnabry’s status is even more worrying. After picking up a knock during Germany duty, he has not responded well to early treatment and has already been ruled unlikely for Freiburg, and possibly Arsenal as well. Kompany admitted the winger “isn’t looking so good” and stressed that the medical team would determine the next steps.

    "We'll have to see about Manuel; he had a bit of a cold," Kompany told reporters. "Serge Gnabry's situation isn't looking so good. He's had some problems since returning from international duty. The medical department will have to provide details."

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    Diaz suspension clouds Bayern’s plans before Arsenal clash

    If injuries were not enough, Bayern must also navigate the fallout from Luis Díaz’s suspension, a consequence of his reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi during the Champions League match against PSG. The tackle, first shown as a yellow but upgraded to a straight red via VAR, left Hakimi with a severe syndesmosis injury and ligament damage that will sideline him for weeks. Diaz expressed remorse publicly, but UEFA’s disciplinary panel is now reviewing the case, and Bayern privately expect the ban to extend beyond the minimum.

    The rules allow for a three-match suspension, but both Kompany and sporting director Christoph Freund doubt he will be handed such a severe punishment. 

    “My information is one match. I don't know when it will be communicated, but I would be disappointed if my information is not correct," Kompany said.

    "For Diaz, load management is definitely out of the question. He has to give it his all tomorrow and help us. Then it's up to the others on Wednesday against Arsenal. The Arsenal game doesn't really have much of an impact on Freiburg anyway. The lads are coming into the Freiburg game with a lot of energy. We want to win the game and aren't thinking about Arsenal yet," Kompany reveals.

  • Kompany glad to have Kimmich back

    Several players have returned fatigued from international duty, something Kompany acknowledged but refused to use as an excuse. With Hiroki Ito only just back from a long injury spell, Alphonso Davies still being eased in, and the schedule crammed, Bayern’s depth will be tested more than at any point this season. Kompany praised Freiburg’s consistency and warned that even with Arsenal in sight, his team “cannot afford to look beyond the next match.”

    "Joshua Kimmich will definitely be available, and Hiroki Ito is also returning. Alphonso Davies is also making progress; he's probably already the fastest player in the squad again. If he could play one or two more games this year, that would be a great success. However, we need to be patient with him," said Kompany.

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    Bayern brace for Arsenal test

    Ahead of the crucial matches, Kompany has emphasised tunnel-vision focus, win the league match, stabilise rhythm, and adjust the plan for Arsenal depending on Neuer, Gnabry and Diaz’s final availability. The Belgian made it clear that Bayern’s strength lies in preparation and adaptability, not excuses. His message to the squad has been consistent control what you can, manage what you must, and keep the standards of a team built to compete on every front.

NWSL Championship: The case for how Trinity Rodman, Tara McKeown and Gift Monday can beat Gotham FC

With everything on the line, here's how the Spirit can top the Gotham FC for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

San Jose, Calif. – For the second year in a row, the Washington Spirit are headed to the NWSL Championship. Their journey to the final this year has been a bit different, with several setbacks, staffing changes, transfers, and more. Yet, the Spirit have made one thing clear, they're not about to repeat history in the finals. Last year, the Spirit fell to the Orlando Pride in the Championship 1-0. This year, they finished second overall in the league standings, and just last wee,k they punched their ticket to the finals after a 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns at Audi Field. 

So, how will the Spirit do against a Cinderella-run team like Gotham? Let's break it down.

Getty ImagesNo. 1: The Gift of Monday

Nigerian international Gift Monday has been the secret weapon to the Spirit's success this season. Monday has a team-best seven goals this season, and one of her most important goals came in the semifinals against Portland. 

In just the 27th minute of play in the semis, Monday slotted home the game's first goal to push the Spirit ahead 1-0. It was the connection between Rosemonde Kouassi to Monday that truly set the tone for the match. 

This is Monday's first year in the league, and she's now heading to her first final. She's known for her cheeky goals and celebrations, and mentioned Lo'eau LaBonta at media day as being her inspiration for goal celebrations. 

Monday has been a natural fit for the Spirit's frontline, gelling naturally with Kouassi, Brittany Ratcliffe, Trinity Rodman, and, of course, the crafty midfielders like Croix Bethune, Leicy Santos, and Hal Hershfelt. Finding Monday hasn't been hard for any of her teammates, as she naturally finds space and has a nose for the goal.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNo. 2: Defensive prowess

Tara McKeown took home the 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year award, being instrumental in leading the Spirit's backline all season. She had a total of 140 clearances, 55 interceptions, and 44 blocks so far. She's also been in this position before, being a critical defender during the playoffs last year, too. 

McKeown's chemistry with the rest of her backline is obvious and one of the reasons they are going to be challenging to break down. Aubrey Kingsbury has been the tried and true keeper for the Spirit, and her calm presence keeps the entire team organized and in line. English international defender Esme Morgan has been a threat both on the attack and in the back, showcasing the versatility on the team. An important factor of this Spirit squad is the way they play defense all over the field. The defense truly starts with the attacking group, who put endless pressure on the ball and set the tone. 

Hershfelt is bullish in the midfield and won't let anyone through unscathed.

From top to bottom, the Spirit have made their case as a shutdown team and even with the star power up top, the pride is in the defense and will be crucial as they look to take home the 2025 NWSL Championship.

Getty ImagesNo. 3: Cohesive grit

The Washington Spirit finished second in the NWSL in goals scored (45) and first in shots on target (146) – numbers that reflect their all-in approach. If they need a goal, they’ll claw their way to one. If they need to protect their own box, they defend with a body-on-the-line mentality.

During Media Day, nearly every Spirit player echoed the same ethos: “connected,” “family,” “team.” When one steps, another follows. The way they talk about each other is rooted in genuine admiration and respect. Great teams are built on that foundation, and the Spirit have found the balance between veteran leadership – like Andi Sullivan’s steady influence – and the new energy brought by players such as Gift Monday.

Against Gotham FC, the Spirit will need to win individual battles without drifting from what’s worked all season. As Paige Metayer Hershfelt told GOAL on Media Day, preparing for a championship game “means not going away from what you’ve been doing – because it’s worked.”

A win on Saturday would give Washington just their second NWSL Championship, and their first since 2021.

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Getty ImagesLooking ahead

The Spirit will face Gotham FC on Saturday, November 22 at 5pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.

Pep's a fan: Man City keen on Rafael Leao, AC Milan's asking price revealed

Manchester City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, with Pep Guardiola personally a fan, and the Italian club’s asking price has been revealed.

Man City made a real statement by defeating reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Guardiola was left particularly impressed by Jeremy Doku’s performance, describing the winger as “outstanding.”

Doku completed a remarkable seven dribbles throughout the match, six more than any other player, in what was a top performance, but the 23-year-old was not the only City forward that caught the eye.

Indeed, Erling Haaland once again found the back of the net, with the Norwegian putting his first-half penalty miss behind him and bagging his 14th Premier League goal of the season, which puts the 25-year-old six clear of nearest-rival Igor Thiago in the goalscoring charts.

Guardiola is clearly blessed with a number of top-quality attacking options, but the manager remains keen on strengthening his forward line even further…

Man City closely monitoring Rafael Leao

According to a report from Caught Offside, Man City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Leao, who has a €150m (£131m) release clause included in his contract, although the Serie A club have set a more affordable asking price of €80m – €85m (£70m – £75m).

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are also in the race for the Portugal international, with Mikel Arteta personally an admirer, but City could rival their Premier League title rivals for his signature, given that Guardiola is a fan.

Indeed, the Spaniard admires the 26-year-old’s versatility, given that he is capable of playing out wide, in attacking midfield or even at striker.

At the moment, Milan are hopeful they will be able to keep hold of their star forward, but a January exit could be on the cards if talks over a new deal do not progress.

There are signs the Portuguese forward could be capable of taking City’s attack to the next level, having been lauded as “world-class” by journalist Carlo Garganese, while also proving himself as a reliable goalscorer over a number of years at AC Milan.

The Milan star has amassed a whopping 75 goals and 63 assists in 268 games for the Serie A giants, scoring a brace in what was a fantastic display against Fiorentina earlier this season.

The former Lille man clearly has the ability to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, but Doku’s recent performances suggest the Belgian winger could now be entering his prime, with his all-round display against Liverpool particularly eye-catching.

Jeremy Doku’s statistics vs Liverpool

Number completed

Dribbles (successful)

8 (7)

Duels (won)

14 (11)

Key passes

3

Shots on target

3

As such, Leao would perhaps be a luxury signing, rather than a necessary addition to Guardiola’s squad.

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R Ashwin: the unlikely superstar who is never quiet

A long-time team-mate remembers growing up and playing with the offspin legend – who gave little indication he would be one

Abhinav Mukund20-Dec-2024I first met Ashwin when I was six and he nine, rocking up on his dad’s Hero Honda CD100. He was big for his age. We were under the tutelage of CS Umapathy, who was a disciplined man. When 6am practice started, for batters it would be all about one thing – judging length. Half-volley: drive. Good length: defence. Short: back foot. It was as monotonous as the wax-on-wax-off drill, but it was our morning routine every day.I didn’t pay much heed to Ash then. We were all just regular kids playing cricket because we loved it. The next time I saw him was at an Under-12 tournament in his school. He was injured and was, in fact, the scorer when I made my first-ever hundred in school cricket. It is a vivid memory because I celebrated once on 90-odd and then I heard applause about ten or so runs later. It was then I realised the scorer had messed up the numbers. My team-mates were relieved I’d completed my hundred and did not throw it away after the first celebration.Ashwin went to a school that was known to produce academically accomplished students. I thought at the time that he was done playing the sport because of his injury and was now focusing on his studies. Little did I know! Mostly I remember thinking, “Couldn’t he have scored properly?”Related

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We were in the same school in 2004-05. He was in Grade 11 and I in Grade 8. He was a much bigger boy then, who was just coming back from a serious injury. We opened the batting together. He was taller than most boys in that age group and was a very good player of short-pitched bowling, and the matting wickets helped his play. His cuts and pulls were so good. I thought to myself that maybe it was his dad’s fondness for Gundappa Viswanath showing up. Chennai dads have for long been united in their professed love for Vishy. “Play the cut like him!” Ashwin’s and my dad’s generation was no different. Still, I didn’t think Ashwin would go on to be a professional cricketer, because there was nothing extraordinary about his game.Back then he would hardly bowl due to his injury, just some part-time offspin, and we already had two good offspinners playing for our team.But we had a problem. St Bede’s, our school, was close to the beach, and it was extremely windy in the afternoon. The faster bowlers would struggle to control the swing in the first 15 overs and we would just leak extras because of it.So we came up with a temporary fix. Throw the ball to Ash, who would come in with his Harbhajan Singh bowling action, with six fielders on the off side – three behind square for the cut. Not a single ball would turn, but they would drift away at pace. It was impossible for schoolkids to get bat on, and if they did, they would find the cordon of three fielders near point. It was a great strategy for our school team: we found success with Ash at the top, and the other two offies would finish off the middle and death. But even so I thought, “How can an offie who doesn’t turn a single ball make it big?” There is a great bit in his book about this time.We graduated from school and met once again as opponents in league cricket. It was a young Alwarpet side he turned up for, led by D Vasu, another man who could bowl pace and spin. Ashwin got five in that game, but we were a rookie side. The ball was turning, though, and he had his own action by then. I started to take him a bit seriously as he was batting at No. 4 for this team and also churning out those five-fors.

I would be begging Ashwin to turn the temperature up and volume down, so I could sleep. “Please Ash, match ” Things would be quieter for a few minutes and then he would burst out laughing at a scene in the film, much to my annoyance

He was called up to the Ranji side towards the end of 2006 and led Tamil Nadu to a famous win over Baroda in a must-win game when we were fighting relegation. The TN team was going through a transition at that point, after several players went to the Indian Cricket League. They handed over captaincy to Ash for the MJ Gopalan Trophy game against Sri Lanka. He had just played four first-class games till then, and this match was one where five of us, myself included, were making our first-class debuts. We got hammered by a strong Sri Lankan side by an innings, but what stood out for me in that game was how Ashwin had matured into a thinking offspinner, one who wasn’t scared to innovate. Michael Vandort was an unusually tall opener – he would plant his front foot forward and block the good balls. For him, Ashwin placed me at an unconventional silly point/mid-off very close to the pitch, and Vandort ended up blocking one straight into my hands. It was the beginning of a fruitful partnership with Ashwin for me under the helmet.By 2008 we had become team-mates in club cricket, turning out for Vijay CC. The three years from 2008 through 2010 were some of the best we had as a club. Looking back, I was thankful I never had to face him anywhere other than in the nets – not then and not at other times in my career.We were room-mates as well, when playing for TN during that period. I remember once we were playing a semi-final in Nagpur against UP, and the night before the game, Ashwin pulled his diary out and had a long conversation with his mother about his plans for the next day. Once the clock struck eight, the TV went on, and he settled down to his favourite routine: watching the 8pm Tamil movie on TV. The AC would be on full blast, and between that and the loud noise of the TV, I would be begging Ashwin to turn the temperature up and volume down, so I could sleep. “Please Ash, match ” [There is a game tomorrow.] Things would be quieter for a few minutes and then he would burst out laughing at a scene in the film, much to my annoyance. He was always the good student who was over-prepared for a game and wanted to take it easy the day before the game by going through his movie routine.That actually got him in trouble quite a lot. He just wouldn’t show up for the optional practice sessions the day before the game. For a young cricketer, that kind of thing gets you questioned about your work ethic, and can be interpreted as slacking off. Ash wouldn’t budge despite all that. His only response would be: question me if I don’t perform in the game. This says so much about his stubbornness and will to perform. I don’t think any cricketer I have seen in the last decade was always on the “could be benched” list throughout his career like he was.Eventually when Ash became captain, he would turn up for optional practice sessions to help the other guys out but never for himself. And his brain was in overdrive throughout. You could never keep him quiet.During long bus rides when travelling for the Ranji Trophy, he was always a back bencher. He would put together a bunch of guys and play a ridiculous game called Mafia – a simple game of deduction, where he would be the moderator and watch the action unfold.I also remember during our early years in club cricket, sitting in the dressing room with him and he would bring a pen and a paper and we would do these mock auction picks and drafts for every IPL team, and plot how the sides would balance out.The boys in yellow: Ashwin, Srikkanth Anirudha, Mukund and Robin Uthappa (from left) in CSK yellow in 2012•Prashant Bhoot/SportzpicsThat restless intelligence means he never fails to surprise you every time you speak to him. For instance, I called him during the last IPL and he went on for 45 minutes about neural networks and AI and how it was making an impact in the shortest form of the game. He texted me just before the auction, sending me ESPNcricinfo’s Impact numbers list split for the two halves of the IPL season.His many interests have created multiple avatars. There is the cricketer who keeps his notes handy, the guy who runs a YouTube channel, the coach at his academy, and I am sure he keeps up to date on the latest movies while every now and then enjoying an old classic at 8pm. (I’m glad he didn’t take up cricket scoring, though!)About three months ago, Dinesh Karthik, Ashwin’s dad and I were chatting, watching the Test at Chepauk. India were 144 for 6 against Bangladesh when Ash walked in, and you could suddenly see some tension working its way across his face. DK and I said to his dad, “Uncle, this is your son’s day. If he hangs around, he is definitely going to score big.” And it wasn’t said lightly. Ash at Chepauk brings his A game, and he is at his best when batting on red-soil pitches, which suit his natural game of cut and pull. I thought to myself then of how the D Stand crowd of future generations might talk about the innings the way our dads used to talk about the great GRV’s 97 not out.I met him after that Test, in which he made his fastest Test hundred with his family watching from the stands. I ordered a cup of coffee and his wife ordered a coconut water for him. I teased him, saying, “Do you need the electrolytes, old man?” He just smirked before going back to asking his daughters about their day. They said the best part was how their dad looked up to them when he celebrated the hundred. You could tell that meant more to Ashwin than the century itself – that family time meant more to him than achievements on the field, which is why I know he has been thinking about retiring for months now, and it wasn’t a hasty decision. No journey to the top is easy but I know his life has been tougher than most, both physically and mentally. The many long days spent in hotel rooms alone with his thoughts will have influenced his decision to call time.I’ll say again that I never expected Ashwin to become what he is today. He wasn’t genetically gifted like an Usain Bolt or a Michael Phelps. He was just a middle-class boy who had the smarts to become a doctor or an accountant – or the engineer he eventually became. He had no business becoming an elite athlete and one of the best at that. It meant taking the road less travelled, using every inch of an advantage he could get, and trying to innovate and adapt all the time. I said this once on commentary: R Ashwin is like your latest smartphone; his software is always up to date.Speaking of phones, his ringtone for the longest time was a Tamil song that went “” Which loosely translates to: I am going ever upwards, the earth is under my feet. Quite apt now, looking back at his career. Ashwin is a flagbearer for millions of middle-class boys and girls in the country who aren’t hugely physically or technically gifted, telling them to make the most of what they have by working hard and smart; to follow their dreams and achieve greatness.We grew up idolising movie stars in Tamil Nadu and a common first-day ritual for any big movie there is a , borrowed from a religious ritual where a deity is bathed in milk. Only, in this case, it is a life-size cutout of the movie star that is bathed in milk. I am sure there is one waiting for Ash as he embarks now on a journey with CSK.

Aaron Boone Makes Definitive Statement on Idea of Sending Anthony Volpe to Minors

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe has struggled mightily defensively this season.

Volpe leads the American League in errors with 18 through 132 games. As an everyday player, his inconsistent glove has drawn the ire of Yankees fans as the team looks to lock down a playoff spot in the closing stretch of the regular season.

When asked if he has considered sending Volpe down to the minors to get right defensively, Yankees manager Aaron Boone scoffed at the idea.

"First of all, he's a more productive offensive player than he gets credit for," Boone told "We just hammer the struggles because on some level, there were people that anointed him and expected so much. Even though he hasn't come close to realizing what we expect and what he expects offensively—and acknowledging a few weeks this year where he struggled even defensively—he's still a frontline defensive player at a premium position that is offensively somewhat productive. Now obviously, he's had a 10-day stretch here where he's gone from over a .700 OPS four months into the year to below. We want to send that guy down? What planet does that guy get sent down that's a shortstop? I don't know what planet?"

Maybe this planet.

Leading the American League in errors and hitting a meager .207 is justifiable cause for concern for a team trying to make it back to the World Series. But Boone is right – the Yankees have invested a lot in Volpe's development, so seeing it through is the best long-term option for the team.

Whether or not it costs the Yankees down the stretch remains to be seen.

مران الزمالك | رسائل أحمد عبد الرؤوف للاعبين.. وتصعيد لاعب جديد استعدادًا لـ كهرباء الإسماعيلية

عقد الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف جلسة مع اللاعبين قبل انطلاق مران اليوم الجمعة، على استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد للقاء كهرباء الإسماعيلية المقبل في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر.

وتحدث المدير الفني عن أهمية مشاركة الفريق في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر، وشدد على ضرورة استغلالهم للفرصة لإثبات أنفسهم.

وفي نفس الوقت شرح أحمد عبد الرؤوف برنامج تدريب اليوم، استعدادًا للقاء المقبل أمام كهرباء الإسماعيلية، ومنح اللاعبين بعض التعليمات الفنية التي سيتم تنفيذها في المران، كما طالبهم بالتركيز وبذل أقصى جهد.

طالع.. خاص | موقف أحمد حمدي من الاستمرار مع الزمالك.. وخطة بيضاء

وركز الجهاز الفني على الجوانب الفنية، خلال مران اليوم الجمعة، الذي على استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد لمباراة كهرباء الإسماعيلية المقبلة في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر .

وخاض اللاعبون فقرة تدريبات بدنية في بداية المران، تحت قيادة نونو كوستا ريبيرو مدرب الأحمال.

وبعد ذلك قسم الجهاز الفني اللاعبين لمجموعات لخوض تدريبات فنية وخططية، وحرص أحمد عبد الرؤوف على توجيه اللاعبين باستمرار خلال هذه الفقرة.

وصعد الجهاز الفني للقلعة البيضاء اللاعب زياد مدحت لاعب وسط فريق الزمالك مواليد 2007. 

وكانت تدريبات الأمس شهدت تصعيد عدد من لاعبي قطاع الناشئين وهم، محمد عبد الفتاح حارس مرمى فريق مواليد 2005، وهشام فؤاد مدافع فريق مواليد 2005 ويوسف الطباخ مدافع فريق مواليد 2009 و محمد إبراهيم ظهير أيمن فريق مواليد 2005، وأنس وائل جناح هجومي فريق مواليد 2005، ويوسف وائل الفرنسي لاعب وسط فريق مواليد 2005، ومحمد حمد صانع ألعاب وجناح هجومي فريق مواليد 2008 وأحمد صفوت صانع ألعاب فريق مواليد 2009.

ويستعد فريق الزمالك للقاء كهرباء الإسماعيلية المقرر له يوم 9 ديسمبر الجاري في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر.

Baseball Players Suddenly Breaking Bats on Check Swings

The Mariners beat the Athletics,11-4, on Sunday. Jorge Polanco added two runs as he reached on both a walk and single in the game. However, it was during his fourth and final plate appearance of the day that something truly notable happened.

Polanco was down 0-1 when A's pitcher Joey Estes threw a pitch that was a little low. Polanco started to swing, but tried to check his swing. That's when something remarkable happened.

The bat broke on a check swing without making contact with anything.

The barrel of the bat flew out onto the field and all Polanco could do was look on through his fashionable sunglasses. You can watch the replay in much higher clarity on Reddit.

seems to be a common reaction to this incident. The thing is, it also happened in a minor league game very recently.

Just last week Payton Green, an infielder for the Marlins' Double A affiliate Pensacola Blue Wahoos, did the same exact thing. He tried to check his swing and the bat just broke and flew into the infield.

Just one more thing for players to have to worry about.

Flamengo x Bolívar: onde assistir, horário e escalações do jogo da Libertadores

MatériaMais Notícias

Flamengo e Bolívar, da Bolívia, se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (16), pela quinta rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. A bola vai rolar a partir das 21h30 (de Brasília), no Maracanã, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ), com transmissão da Globo e do Paramount+.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoAndrey Santos, ex-Vasco, marca primeiro gol na Europa e garante vitória do Strasbourg em clássico na FrançaVasco14/05/2024Atlético MineiroApós 12 jogos de invencibilidade, Atlético-MG perde para o Peñarol na LibertadoresAtlético Mineiro14/05/2024Futebol NacionalVitória anuncia a contratação do técnico Thiago CarpiniFutebol Nacional14/05/2024

➡️ Assine agora e assista esse e mais jogos da Liberta pelo Star+

Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Flamengo e Bolívar (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
FLAMENGO X BOLÍVAR
5ª RODADA – FASE DE GRUPOS DA LIBERTADORES
🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 15 de maio de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ);
📺 Onde assistir: Globo e Paramount+;
🟨 Árbitro: Andrés Matonte (URU);
🚩 Assistentes: Carlos Barreiro (URU) e Horacio Ferreiro (URU);
🖥️ VAR: Carlos Orbe (ECU).

➡️ Vapo! Com R$100, você fatura R$298 no Lance! Betting se Gerson balançar as redes pelo Flamengo contra o Bolívar-BOL

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES:

FLAMENGO (Técnico: Tite)
Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira e Ayrton Lucas; Erick Pulgar, De la Cruz e Arrascaeta (Gerson); Luiz Araújo, Everton Cebolinha e Pedro (Bruno Henrique)

continua após a publicidade

BOLÍVAR (Técnico Fabian Guedes)
Lampe; Rocha, Orihuela, Jesús Sagredo, José Sagredo; Justiniano, Bruno Sávio, Saucedo, Vaca; Algarañaz e Da Costa.

Tudo sobre

BolívarFlamengoFutebol NacionalLibertadoresSTARPLUS

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