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Thursday's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles was delayed after pitcher Hunter Bigge was hit in the head by a foul ball while watching from the dugout. Bigge received medical care and gave a thumbs-up as he left the field on a stretcher.

The scary moment happened in the top of the 7th with Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman at the plate. During a nine pitch at-bat, Rutschman fouled off three straight pitches before earning a walk. One of those foul balls was pulled hard into the Tampa Bay dugout down the third baseline and hit Bigge.

You can see the foul ball that hit Bigge here.

Bigge has not pitched since May 1 and was recently on the 15-day IL in May.

And when was the last time three batters from the same team topped the ICC Test batting rankings?

Steven Lynch20-Jun-2023At Edgbaston Jimmy Anderson embarked on his tenth Ashes series. Has anyone else played in so many? asked Mark Carlisle form England

Jimmy Anderson has played a part in all ten Ashes series since 2006-07, although he might want to forget 2019 in England, when he managed only four overs before suffering an injury that kept him out for the rest of the summer.There’s a complication here in that the Ashes were not officially at stake in several series (including one-off Tests). For a start the Ashes were inaugurated in 1882, after Australia won a Test at The Oval, so were not actually contested until 1882-83. More recently one-off landmark Tests in 1976-77, 1980 and 1987-88 are not official Ashes matches, while the ECB declined to put the urn up for grabs for the three-match series in 1979-80.And so there are two answers to your question, depending whether you’re talking about all England-Australia Tests, or just official Ashes matches. The only other player to have taken part in ten Ashes series since the Second World War is another Englishman, Colin Cowdrey, between 1954-55 and 1974-75, and including six in Australia. Sticking with Ashes-only for now, the English allrounders Johnny Briggs (1884 to 1899) and Wilfred Rhodes (1899 to 1926), took part in 11 Ashes series, while the famed Surrey opener Jack Hobbs featured in ten. Briggs actually almost made it 12 – he was named in England’s team for the abandoned 1890 Test at Old Trafford, which does not count in the records. The Ashes-only record is held by another Australian, Syd Gregory, who featured in no fewer than 15 different series between 1890 and 1912; in all, he played 52 Tests against England. His sometime team-mate, wicketkeeper Jack Blackham, took part in 11 Ashes series.On balance, I think the overall figures for all England-Australia series are more authentic. In all, Blackham played in 17 series against England, to Gregory’s 15; another early Australian, Alec Bannerman, took part in 13 (only eight of them official Ashes encounters). Two more Australians, Allan Border and George Giffen, also took part in 11 (three non-Ashes each). Apart from Cowdrey and Hobbs, there are nine further players who have appeared in ten series, including Cowdrey and Hobbs, as well as Geoff Boycott, Graham Gooch, Rod Marsh and Steve Waugh, who all featured in at least one non-Ashes series.Surrey scored 501 to beat Kent recently. Is this the highest fourth-innings total to win a match in England, or indeed anywhere? asked Chris Harvey from England

Surrey’s 501 for 5 to defeat Kent in Canterbury last week was the fourth-highest successful run-chase in English first-class cricket, and second in the County Championship only to Middlesex’s 502 for 6 to beat Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1925. At Lord’s in 1896, Cambridge University amassed 507 for 7 to beat MCC, while four years later the Players defeated the Gentlemen at Lord’s by reaching 502 for 8 in the second innings.Worldwide, a side has only successfully scored 500 or more to win on five other occasions. The highest is West Zone’s 541 for 7 to beat South Zone in the final of India’s Duleep Trophy in Hyderabad in 2009-10. The highest fourth-innings total, regardless of result, remains England’s 654 for 5 (chasing 696) to draw against South Africa in Durban in 1938-39. For the full list of the highest fourth-innings totals (not just in wins), click here.The ICC batting rankings going into the Ashes series had Australians in the top three places. When was the last time this happened? asked Jamie Constantine from Australia

The ICC Test batting rankings issued just before the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston last week had Marnus Labuschagne at No. 1, with a ranking of 903. Steve Smith (885) was second, just ahead of Travis Head, whose 163 in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval boosted his ranking to 884, one more than the New Zealander Kane Williamson.The last time three batters from the same team topped the rankings was back in December 1984, when the top three were the West Indians Gordon Greenidge (810), Clive Lloyd (787) and Larry Gomes (773). For more details, click here.All of Graeme Smith’s 27 Test hundreds came in wins or draws for South Africa•Getty ImagesI heard that England never lost when Geoff Boycott scored a Test century. Is that true, and is it a record? asked Michael Richmond from England

Geoff Boycott scored 22 Test centuries, and it’s true that England did not lose any of those matches. It actually equalled the record at the time, which was held by another famous England batter in Wally Hammond. More recently, Ian Bell also scored 22 Test centuries, and England did not lose any of those matches either. The record, however, is now held by Graeme Smith: he scored 27 Test centuries, and South Africa never lost when he reached three figures. Next on the list is Gordon Greenidge, whose 19 Test centuries all came in West Indian wins or draws, with none in defeat.At the other end of the spectrum, five batters scored seven Test centuries, but did not win any of the matches in which they reached three figures: Asanka Gurusinha (Sri Lanka), Vijay Manjrekar (India), Lawrence Rowe (West Indies), and the New Zealand pair of Bevan Congdon and Andrew Jones (whose seven hundreds all came in draws).Louis Kimber was out obstructing the field in a match I was watching last week. How often has this happened in England? asked David Stevenson from Bristol

The Leicestershire batter Louis Kimber was given out obstructing the field against Gloucestershire in Bristol last week, after catching a ball that bounced up against him – he dropped the ball away from the stumps, but was given out on appeal. It’s a dismissal that would have been recorded as “handled the ball” until the Laws were revised in 2017.Kimber’s was the seventh obstructing the field dismissal in a first-class match in England (the fifth in the County Championship). The previous instance was by Surrey’s Mark Ramprakash, also against Gloucestershire, in Cheltenham in 2011. England’s Len Hutton was out obstructing the field – the only such instance in a Test match – against South Africa at The Oval in 1951. Overall, there have now been 35 instances of this type of dismissal in first-class cricket around the world.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Manchester United have had some of the best players of all time come through their famous academy, however, the Red Devils have also signed some icons.

Sir Alex Ferguson won races to bring Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to Old Trafford, with all three becoming Man Utd legends.

However, with those at Old Trafford always on the search for high-profile signings, they have missed out on signing some superstars over the years.

Sir Alex Ferguson named Arsenal star as "perfect" for Man Utd and tried to sign him

The Red Devils and the Gunners have had a fierce Premier League rivalry.

By
Charlie Smith

May 22, 2025

10 stars who almost signed for Man Utd

Virgil van Dijk

Now a Liverpool icon and arguably one of the best centre-backs of all time, Virgil van Dijk was wanted at Old Trafford before his move to Anfield.

Jose Mourinho wanted to make a big centre-back signing and shortlisted Van Dijk, Michael Keane and Victor Lindelof. Instead of splashing the cash on the Dutchman who was starring for Southampton, United spent more than £30m on Lindelof from Benfica.

Ronaldo

Back in 1996, Ronaldo was making his name at PSV Eindhoven at the age of 20, scoring goals for fun in the Netherlands.

He was a man in demand as a result, with Ferguson and co keen to bring him to Manchester. Ronaldo was even offered to United for £20m, however, that was seen as too much at the time, with Barcelona signing the Brazilian star instead. He went on to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1997 and 2002.

Ronaldinho

Another Brazilian icon who could quite easily have been a Man Utd player was Ronaldinho, with Ferguson on the search for David Beckham’s replacement in 2003.

Man Utd were looking to do a deal for Ronaldinho who was at PSG, however, after Barcelona missed out on signing Beckham, they dealt the Red Devils a blow by landing the Brazilian. United did sign an attacker that summer, though, with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Manchester.

Ronaldinho record vs Man Utd
Games	2
Losses	2
Goals	1
Assists	1

Rivaldo

Continuing the trend of Brazil stars who Man Utd missed out on takes us to Rivaldo. The Red Devils had just won the treble in 1999 and Ferguson wanted to sign the forward from Barcelona.

Winning the Ballon d’Or that year, Rivaldo’s relationship with Barca manager Louis van Gaal was not great, but United just missed out on doing a deal.

Patrick Vieira

One of Man Utd’s greatest rivals in the Premier League was Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, and United actually tried to sign the Frenchman from the Gunners on two occasions.

Ferguson believed Vieira wanted to move to Old Trafford in 2001 and 2003, and there was talk of a £22m transfer once Beckham left for Real Madrid. Instead, Vieira signed a new contract to stay with Arsene Wenger.

Eden Hazard

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard looked nailed on to sign for Man Utd in 2012 before a problem with his agent arose.

The Blues paid Lille £32m to sign the Belgian, but a deal with the Red Devils broke down after United refused to pay Hazard’s agent £6m to get the deal done.

Instead of Hazard, Man Utd signed Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund.

Cesc Fabregas

Involved in an altercation with Ferguson at Old Trafford, Cesc Fabregas could have worked under the Red Devils boss after he tried to sign him from Barcelona in 2003.

Man Utd then tried again in 2013 under David Moyes, however, they had two offers rejected by those at the Nou Camp, with Fabregas instead playing for Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Zinedine Zidane

In 1996, Zinedine Zidane was on the move from Bordeaux, and Cantona urged Ferguson and Man Utd to bring him to Old Trafford.

Former United chairman Martin Edwards said that a move failed to get over the line as Ferguson thought Zidane was not what they needed at the time, with the Frenchman instead going on to star for Juventus and Real Madrid.

Erling Haaland

Now a Manchester City superstar, Erling Haaland could have quite easily have signed for the Red Devils during the 2019/20 winter transfer window.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge at the time and knew Haaland from his time at Molde, however, despite talks over a move to Old Trafford, the Norwegian rejected Man Utd and instead signed for Borussia Dortmund.

Alan Shearer

The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, Alan Shearer actually snubbed a move to Manchester United on two occasions. The first came in 1992 when he joined Blackburn from Southampton, and the second came four years later when he joined Newcastle.

Ferguson was personally involved in a deal to sign Shearer in 1996 and looked on course to have won the race, before Shearer’s agent called the Man Utd boss and told him they had decided to join Newcastle.

Gareth Bale

One of the most decorated British players of all time after winning five Champions League titles with Real Madrid is Wales star Gareth Bale.

However, he could have signed for Man Utd instead of Tottenham back in 2007, with talk of a £10m transfer before his move to north London. Ferguson blamed the Saints and not Bale for a deal breaking down.

Two weeks after the Nepal police issued an arrest warrant in Sandeep Lamichhane’s name, the cricketer has come out with a statement that the case has made him unwell, affecting him mentally and physically and added that he is planning to return to Nepal when his health improves.When news of Lamichhane’s arrest warrant was made public – for alleged coercion of another person – on September 8, he was in the West Indies, taking part in the Caribbean Premier League. Back then, he had said he would leave the CPL and would be returning to home to face the “baseless allegations”. This latest statement, put out on Monday, suggests Lamichhane is yet to arrive in Nepal.”The news that a warrant has been issued in my name and that the complaint against me has been lodged, made me upset and unwell,” Lamichhane’s said in a Facebook post written in Nepali on September 26. “I was not able think about what to do and what not to do.”All these things affected me mentally on one hand and on the other hand, I had to go through illness, and due to mental stress and ill health I kept myself in isolation. I have been mentally and physically affected by the portrayal and I have reached a state of imbalance and I have been bringing myself back to a normal state under the advice of doctors. My health is gradually improving, and I am planning to return to Nepal as soon as possible to defend against the false complaint against me.”Lamichhane once again reiterated that the accusations against him were “false” and had “severely damaged” his “character”.”I will fight the legal battle against the false accusations. As far as I understand, according to the constitution of Nepal, I am innocent until proven guilty. I also understand that the constitution provides for the right to live with dignity, the right against torture, the right to privacy, the right to health and the right to consult with my legal practitioner.”Lamichhane, 22, is by far Nepal’s most high-profile cricketer, and the only one to have played in T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL, the Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Lanka Premier League and the CPL.He is also the world’s second-fastest bowler to 50 ODI wickets and third-fastest to 50 T20I wickets, and last played competitive cricket in the T20I series against Kenya, in August 2022. After that, he was set to represent Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL but was unable to take the field.Lamichhane was Nepal’s captain at the time of the arrest warrant, a position he has since lost having been suspended by the board. At the time, Cricket Association of Nepal’s acting secretary Prashant Vikram Malla said that his suspension would remain in place pending a complete investigation.

MatériaMais Notícias

da mrbet： Agora é oficial. Através do seu site, o Coritiba confirmou a transferência do atacante Igor Paixão ao Feyenoord-HOL. O valor do negócio girou em 8 milhões de euros (R$ 41,6 milhões).

– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO

O acordo foi costurado nas últimas semanas e, antes de negociar Igor Paixão com o clube holandês, o Coxa recusou outras ofertas pelo atleta que é considerado uma das joias do Couto Pereira.

Até mesmo o futebol brasileiro chegou a sondar o Coritiba, mas a diretoria do clube paranaense não se animou em vender o atacante em solo nacional.

Valor e porcentagem

Para liberar Igor Paixão, o Coritiba recebeu 8 milhões de euros (R$ 41,6 milhões). Além da verba, o Coxa mantém 20% dos direitos federativos do jogador.

Diante dos valores, o garoto de 22 anos se torna a maior venda da história do Coritiba. Antes de Paixão, Rafinha liderava esse ranking com R$ 33,9 milhões.

Agradecimento

No site oficial do clube, Igor Paixão agradeceu o carinho da torcida e a estrutura do Coxa, que o ajudou a realizar o sonho de atuar no badalado futebol europeu.

‘O sentimento é de gratidão por tudo que eu vivi aqui. Hoje eu dou um passo a mais e realizo o meu sonho de jogar na Europa. Mesmo de longe, eu estarei acompanhando o Coritiba. Eu quero encerrar minha carreira aqui’.

Números

Ao longo da sua passagem com a camisa do Coritiba, Igor Paixão atuou em 95 partidas e anotou 21 gols pelo time do Couto Pereira.

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The closing days of the transfer window have rarely been straightforward on Tyneside. Newcastle United’s summer has already been defined by turbulence, with Alexander Isak refusing to reintegrate with the squad.

Eddie Howe’s side, who finished fifth last season and are preparing for a Champions League campaign, are under pressure to refine their squad while managing the fallout of internal distractions.

So far, the Magpies have done solid business.

The arrivals of Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga have freshened up the squad with youth and Premier League experience.

Most recently, a £69m deal was struck with Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade, the towering German forward who had been courted by Bayern Munich before Newcastle convinced him to make the switch.

Despite the new additions, the midfield remains an area of particular concern.

Joelinton, one of Howe’s most important lieutenants, limped off in the defeat against Liverpool, raising doubts about their fitness in the weeks to come.

In this context, Newcastle’s recruitment team has set its sights astonishingly high, making enquiries about one of Europe’s most coveted defensive midfielders – a player widely regarded as one of the finest in his position.

Newcastle’s make offer for midfield sensation

According to reports from Spain, Newcastle recently lodged a bid with Real Madrid for France international Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Transfer Focus

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

The 25-year-old has long been considered a cornerstone of the Spanish giants’ midfield, and sources suggest Los Blancos wasted no time in rejecting the approach.

Madrid are understood to have already rebuffed a €100m (£90m) bid, setting a firm valuation of over €200m (£185m) to ward off interest.

Club officials, and new manager Xabi Alonso, view Tchouaméni as untouchable.

Having been heavily criticised last season, the Frenchman displayed resilience and tactical maturity, winning back the trust of both teammates and supporters.

He has since emerged as a key figure in Real’s long-term project, combining physicality with intelligence and composure under pressure.

Writer Raj Chohan, speaking on the player’s profile, described him as “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet.”

For Newcastle, the enquiry was little more than exploratory.

The PIF-backed ownership has demonstrated its willingness to pursue ambitious targets, but the reality is that Real Madrid are unwilling to negotiate at this stage of the window.

Still, the move itself reflects Newcastle’s intent to match their lofty ambitions with equally elite personnel, even if such pursuits appear beyond reach in the short term.

Comparing Tchouaméni and Guimarães

The comparison with Bruno Guimarães is inevitable.

The Newcastle captain has been central to the Magpies’ transformation since his arrival, but many observers might suggest that Tchouaméni represents an even higher ceiling in the defensive midfield role.

Both are internationals – Bruno with 35 caps for Brazil and Tchouaméni with 41 appearances for France, including a starring role at the 2022 World Cup – yet their profiles and statistical outputs highlight differing strengths.

In possession, Bruno offers greater attacking thrust.

Bruno Guimarães – 2024/25
Matches Played	38
Goals	5
Assists	6
Progressive Carries	74
Progressive Passes	271
Source: FBref

According to FBref, last season he averaged 1.24 shots per 90, with 0.36 on target, and produced 3.66 shot-creating actions per 90.

His progressive passing numbers were also outstanding, with 7.47 progressive passes per 90 and 216.5 progressive passing distance.

These metrics reveal a player comfortable dictating tempo while also pushing Newcastle forward in transition.

Tchouaméni, by contrast, leans more toward control and precision.

According to FBref, he attempted and completed far more passes overall, averaging 62.5 completed passes per 90 at a staggering 92.3% success rate, compared to Bruno’s 40.8 at 82.3%.

His ability to recycle possession without error is invaluable in a side like Madrid, where maintaining rhythm is paramount.

The Frenchman also excels at advancing the ball over distance, with 357.7 progressive passing distance per 90, underscoring his ability to bypass opposition lines.

Defensively, both players bring tenacity, but in distinct ways.

Bruno averaged 2.29 tackles per 90, highlighting his willingness to press and break up play higher up the pitch.

Tchouaméni, however, demonstrated more balance, contributing 1.57 tackles per 90 alongside 1.14 blocks, while also being one of the top midfielders in Europe for aerial duels.

At 1.88m, his physical presence makes him an imposing shield in front of the back line – a trait Newcastle arguably lack when Bruno is deployed as the deepest midfielder.

The statistics paint a clear picture: Bruno is more adventurous, combining flair and playmaking with defensive graft, while Tchouaméni epitomises composure, efficiency, and tactical balance.

Both are invaluable, but in different contexts. For Real Madrid, the Frenchman’s precision and resilience make him untouchable.

For Newcastle, Bruno remains indispensable as captain, though the speculation reflects a desire to add depth and variation at the base of midfield.

Ultimately, Newcastle’s enquiry may have been quickly dismissed, but it speaks volumes about the club’s ambition.

With a Champions League campaign looming and pressure mounting domestically, the Magpies are aiming for world-class reinforcements to complement their growing project.

While a move for Tchouaméni is off the table for now, the intent shown is unlikely to go unnoticed – both in Europe’s elite boardrooms and among supporters eager to see Newcastle compete at the highest level.

Upgrade on Joelinton: Newcastle in talks over signing “one of the best CMs”

Newcastle are looking to make another addition to their midfield ranks…

By
Will Miller

Aug 30, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur waved goodbye to controversial chairman Daniel Levy after 24 years last week, in a move which sent shockwaves throughout the world of football.

Levy and ENIC’s running of the club during his tenure attracted large protests from supporters, mainly due to a lack of success on the field, with the Lilywhites winning just two major trophies over the ex-chair’s two-and-a half-decade-long spell.

However, away from the pitch, there is little denying that Levy transformed Spurs into a financial powerhouse.

Tottenham are now one of the world’s highest revenue-generating clubs, according to the Deloitte Money League, with Levy overseeing the move to their state of the art new stadium and training facilities.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

via Deloitte Money League

Speaking after the “big news” of Levy’s departure, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham moved to quash rumours of a potential takeover whilst explaining what this means to the club’s overall running.

Credible reports suggest that influential footballing figures were left “stunned” by Levy’s resignation (Miguel Delaney), which was ultimately taken out of the 63-year-old’s hands.

In fact, The Times have stated that Levy was told to resign just hours before Tottenham made it official.

Saudi backers major plan for Tottenham as Levy exit kickstarts restructure

According to TEAMtalk, Levy’s departure is the first domino kickstarting what is a broad restructure of Spurs.

It is also claimed that global investors, including backers from Saudi Arabia, harbor an ambitious plan for Spurs to build a “Premier League powerhouse”, and see the club as a “prime opportunity” to do so.

While making it crystal clear that Spurs is not for sale, the Lewis family are open to minority investments that could help to inject significant capital into the club, with Saudi parties also joined by potential investors from Qatar and the USA.

A new era for Thomas Frank’s side appears to be ushering in, with insiders saying that an “air of change” is brewing within the club and Levy’s exit may not be the big off-field announcement poised to come in the near future.

A spate of defeats for the top three teams has left the top two spots open until the very end of the league phase

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20251:30

Moody: ‘Number of GT’s bowlers are losing form at the wrong time’

None of the four teams that have made the IPL 2025 playoffs – Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) – have sealed a place in the top two yet.The teams that finish No. 1 and 2 in the points table play each other in Qualifier 1 on May 29 and the winner of that match goes straight through to the final. The loser of Qualifier 1 gets a second chance to make the final by playing Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator, which is a knockout match between the teams that finish Nos. 3 and 4 in the points table.Gujarat Titans (Points: 18, net run rate: 0.309)
GT are on top of the points table at the moment but defeats to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their last two league games have ensured they will not finish No. 1.The winner of the game between PBKS and MI on Monday will move to No. 1 ahead of GT, who will slip to No. 3 if RCB beat LSG on Tuesday. If RCB lose to LSG, then GT will finish No. 2, behind the winner of the PBKS-MI game.Punjab Kings (Points: 17, net run rate: 0.327)
Mumbai Indians (Points: 16, net run rate: 1.292)
PBKS play MI in Jaipur on Monday – a game that will definitely decide one of the top two spots. The winner will overtake GT and go to the top of the points table; the loser will not finish in the top two.If PBKS win, they will be guaranteed a top-two finish, and can only be dethroned from No. 1 if RCB beat LSG on Tuesday by a particular margin to overtake them on net run rate.If MI win, they will go to 18 points but overtake GT at No. 1 on net run rate. In that case, RCB could overtake them on points by beating LSG.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Points: 17, net run rate: 0.255)
RCB have the advantage of playing the last game of the league phase, against LSG on Tuesday. They simply need to win to finish in the top two.If PBKS have beaten MI, then RCB will need to win by a particular margin to finish No. 1. If MI have beaten PBKS, then an RCB win by whatever margin will take them top of the table.If RCB lose to LSG, then they will finish third or fourth.

da dobrowin： By the time that the 2026 World Cup arrives, it will be 60 years since England won the World Cup. In that time, the Three Lions have had 18 managers, one or two incredibly impressive golden generations and even a UK number one thanks to John Barnes. But as much as England ‘defend and attack’, the men’s side are yet to bring football home.

da fezbet： The latest tasked with doing so is Thomas Tuchel. The former Chelsea manager’s CV almost speaks for itself. He has taken charge of the Blues as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund – even winning a Champions League along the way. Now, however, his greatest task awaits as England aim to end 60 years of hurt.

The German has already proved that he’s not afraid of making some bold decisions and many will argue that’s exactly what Gareth Southgate was missing throughout his tenure. Whilst the old boss often failed to change his ways and players, Tuchel has already dropped Trent Alexander-Arnold in the first international break of the season and introduced Elliot Anderson to his set-up.

Full of praise for the Nottingham Forest midfielder, Tuchel told reporters: “Elliot Anderson is very physical, a lot of volume, very precise, clean passing, so it’s a good package.”

This time next year, England fans will find out whether Tuchel’s bold nature ends in World Cup victory or whether they really should have called upon a former Premier League manager who believes he’d end the Three Lions’ drought.

Sam Allardyce believes he'd have won World Cup with England

Technically speaking, Sam Allardyce has a better win rate at England than any other England manager. But there is one caveat and that’s the fact that his reign only lasted one game, which featured a late Adam Lallana winner against Slovakia. The FA shocked many when they hired ‘Big Sam’ in 2016 as they looked to move on from a disastrous Roy Hodgson era.

He ticked the box for experience and if anyone knew English football, it was him. As it turns out, we’ll never know whether Allardyce would have created shock history, but he certainly believes that he was denied the chance to end England’s wait for glory.

In the end, the former Premier League manager left his role by mutual consent after just 67 days. His departure followed The Telegraph’s report that he had been seen negotiating a £400,000 fee to represent a firm hoping to profit from transfers involving Premier League transfers as well as making “inappropriate” remarks.

A dream quickly became a nightmare for Allardyce, who never got the chance to prove that his football belonged on the biggest stage.

Chelsea have made a transfer breakthrough after agreeing a deal to sign a new “diamond” attacking player for manager Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea hijacked by Tottenham for Xavi Simons

It has been a busy transfer window for the Blues so far in regards to both incomings and outgoings, with BlueCo currently spending more than £250m.

Joao Pedro

Brighton

£60m

Jamie Gittens

Borussia Dortmund

£48.5m

Jorrel Hato

Ajax

£37m

Liam Delap

Ipswich

£30m

Estevao Willian

Palmeiras

£29m

Dario Essugo

Sporting CP

£18.4m

Kendry Paez

Independiente

£17.3m

Mamadou Sarr

Strasbourg

£12m

Jesse Derry

Crystal Palace

Undisclosed

That figure could increase even further as well, with those at Stamford Bridge looking to make more attacking additions before Monday’s transfer deadline.

One player who won’t be making the move to Chelsea, though, is Xavi Simons. It looked as if the Netherlands international was on course to sign for Maresca’s side for large parts of the summer, however, rivals Tottenham have come in and secured the attacker’s services from RB Leipzig.

Spurs are paying more than £50m to sign Simons from under the noses of Chelsea and has been given a five-year deal contract in north London.

However, despite missing out on Simons, the Blues have had more luck when it comes to another long-term attacking target.

Chelsea agree £40m Garnacho deal with Man Utd

That’s because Chelsea have agreed a fee with Manchester United for the signing of Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea will pay a £40million fixed fee for the 21-year-old, as per the PA news agency, with United retaining a 10 per cent sell-on fee clause. The deal represents Man Utd’s fourth-largest sale after the transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Angel Di Maria, and is the largest fee received for a graduate from the Red Devils’ academy.

The Blues initially offered a fee of £25million for a player who has scored 26 goals in 144 games for United, two of which actually came at Stamford Bridge in 2024. Garnacho will follow Marcus Rashford out of the Red Devils door to become the second member of United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ of unwanted players to secure a move away from Old Trafford.

Chelsea have already signed Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian in a revamp of their attack this summer, and Garnacho is likely to compete with Gittens on the left wing.

Enzo Maresca calling £60m star with Chelsea ready to triple his salary

The Blues boss is personally contacting him.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 28, 2025

The deal for Garnacho, called a “diamond” by Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout, comes as Christopher Nkunku closes in on a move from Chelsea to AC Milan in a deal understood to be worth around £36million.