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Manchester United have joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, and the Bundesliga club’s stance on cashing-in has now been revealed.

Man United have taken major strides over the past month or so, having taken 11 points from their last five matches, but it would be fair to say their defensive record still needs major improvement.

Ruben Amorim’s side have shipped 18 goals in their opening 11 games, the joint-highest number of any side above 16th in the Premier League table, failing to keep a clean sheet since the 2-0 victory against Sunderland at the beginning of October.

Both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt have impressed in an attacking sense, with the former scoring the winner at Anfield, while the Dutchman recently received high praise from Rio Ferdinand, who said: “De Ligt’s been our best defender this season”

“I think he’s been outstanding for us. He’s even adding goals like the last-minute equaliser the other day.”

That said, Amorim clearly needs to tighten things up at the back, given the sheer number of goals his side have conceded, and the Red Devils have now set their sights on a new target.

Man Utd join race to sign Nico Schlotterbeck

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United have now joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck, who is about to enter the last 18 months of his contract with the German club, meaning a bidding war could be on the cards.

Liverpool have also emerged as potential suitors for the centre-back, who has earned comparisons to Virgil van Dijk, in light of his composure under pressure, which has been on display in the Champions League.

Dortmund may need to cash-in due to their financial situation, as they are currently at risk of losing the 25-year-old on a free transfer, and there is no shortage of interest, with Barcelona currently believed to be leading the race for his signature.

The defender’s ball-playing ability, coupled with the fact he is left-footed, is said to make him perfect for Amorim, and the Dortmund star has earned high praise from former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown.

Brown said: “He’s a dominant centre-back, a regular for Germany, and a very defensive option who likes to win tackles, win headers and take charge of the back line.”

Impressively, the German is also very comfortable in possession of the ball, as displayed by his performance across some key passing and dribbling metrics over the past year.

Schlotterbeck is experienced at the top level, having amassed 22 caps for Germany and 35 Champions League appearances, and he could be the ideal option for Amorim at left centre-back.

What Man Utd plan to do to hijack Real Madrid's move for Marc Guehi

What Man Utd are ready to do to hijack Real Madrid's move for Marc Guehi

He could be a superb signing for the Red Devils.

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 4, 2025

West Ham United have now submitted an offer of around £20m for a “natural goalscorer”, with Nuno personally a big fan.

West Ham targeting new striker with Fullkrug heading for exit

It has recently been revealed that Niclas Fullkrug is heading for the exit door this winter, having struggled to find the back of the net consistently since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, scoring just three goals in 28 appearances for West Ham.

Callum Wilson has been the man leading the line as of late, and the Englishman has impressed, bagging a brace in the 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth, but there are also question marks over his long-term future at the London Stadium.

Given that Wilson is set to turn 34 in February, and his contract expires at the end of the season, it would be a shrewd move to bring in a younger striker, and the Hammers are desperate to sign at least one new centre-forward in the upcoming window.

That is according to a report from Hammers News, which states West Ham have failed with an opening bid of £20m for Al-Hilal striker Marcos Leonardo, with the Saudi Pro League side adamant they won’t sanction a departure.

However, the Irons may return to the negotiating table with another offer, such is their determination to get a deal done, with Nuno personally a big fan of the Brazilian, who was linked with a move to Nottingham Forest during the manager’s time in charge there.

Nuno has made bringing in a new striker the number one priority for the January transfer window, and if the Hammers were able to get a deal for the 22-year-old done, they would be signing a player in red-hot form.

West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after holding discussions

The Al-Ahli striker is fielding enquiries ahead of January.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025 "Natural goalscorer" Leonardo on fire in Saudi Arabia

Indeed, the Al-Hilal star has been fantastic since the Club World Cup in the summer, scoring four goals in five matches in the new-look competition, and he has since impressed considerably domestically too.

Marcos Leonardo’s goalscoring record

Appearances

Goals

Saudi Pro League

6

6

AFC Champions League

5

3

King’s Cup

3

2

The former Santos man also earned high praise from scout Jacek Kulig courtesy of very impressive attacking numbers during his time in Brazil.

With Fullkrug heading for the exit door, West Ham undoubtedly need to bring in a new striker this winter, and Leonardo could be capable of leading the line for Nuno’s side for years to come.

Thrilling century stand with Seren Smale reels in revised target with five balls to spare

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025

Lancashire 172 for 5 (Lewis 75, Smale 47) beat Warwickshire 283 for 7 (Freeborn 60, Surenkumar 49, Kalis 43) by five wickets (DLS method)Lancashire Women won an exciting rain-affected Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Warwickshire Women at Sale by five wickets.Warwickshire had posted 283 for 7 from their 50 overs but the Lancashire innings was halted halfway through the sixth over with the score 20 for 1 due to increasingly heavy rain. Set a revised target of 172 to win in 22 overs, a thrilling partnership of 106 off 73 balls between Gaby Lewis and Seren Smale set Lancashire on their way with victory achieved with five balls to spare.That outcome leaves Lancashire, who had already clinched a top-four spot, in third place, one point behind second-placed The Blaze going into the final round of group games on Saturday when they travel to face leaders Hampshire, who they trail by four points. Warwickshire finish their campaign with a trip to Taunton to face Somerset.Emma Lamb and Lewis began the Lancashire reply just as light drizzle began to fall and the pair had made 13 when Lamb drove Phoebe Brett to Issy Wong at mid-on for 4 midway through the fourth over. The rain began to fall more heavily at that point and after twelve further deliveries had been bowled the umpires halted play with Lancashire 20 for 1.Play resumed after a two-hour delay with Lancashire now needing a further 152 off 16.3 overs, and Lewis and Smale put bat to ball in emphatic fashion, reaching their 50 partnership off 45 balls with Lewis reaching her half-century off 42 balls.The century stand arrived just 25 balls later as Warwickshire struggled to contain the pair, Lewis smashing ten fours in making 75 off 53 balls before hitting Amu Surenkumar to Sterre Kalis at point with Lancashire 119 for 2 and five runs ahead on DLS.Fi Morris added a whirlwind 14 off eight balls while Smale was bowled by Georgia Davis for 47 off 39 balls to reduce the hosts to 143 for 4 with 29 needed from 23 balls.Ailsa Lister and Ellie Threlkeld steered Lancashire to within two runs of that target when Lister was caught for 16, but Threlkeld (13 not out) hit the winning runs at the start of the last over to seal victory.Warwickshire had built a strong-looking total of 283 after being put in to bat, built on a series of good partnerships.Abbey Freeborn top-scored with 60 and marshalled the visitors innings beautifully, while Surenkumar and Kalis contributed 49 and 43 respectively before captain Davis thumped a rapid unbeaten 31 over the closing overs.After Kate Cross had Ellis caught at midwicket with her fourth delivery, Meg Austin and Surenkumar fashioned a good recovery with 61 runs in 11 overs until Austin was drawn forward by left-arm spinner Hannah Jones and smartly stumped by Threlkeld for 32.Surenkumar had driven and pulled effectively in hitting eight fours before lbw for 49 after misjudging the length to pull against Fi Morris with Warwickshire 115 for 3 midway through the 20th over.Kalis was quickly into her stride, hitting her fourth ball faced for six off Morris, to up the tempo alongside Freeborn as the pair struck the ball positively in posting their fifty partnership off 65 balls.Kalis was undone by spin and bounce from Emma Lamb’s second ball and bowled for 43 off 52 balls, but Freeborn and Nat Wraith quickly established another good partnership to take the visitors past the 200-mark in the 38th over.The pair had added 52 inside nine overs before Wraith attacked the first ball of Jones’ second spell and was stumped for 29 with Warwickshire 220-5 in the 42nd over.And the visitors lost further wickets in the quest for late runs. Issy Wong made 12 while Freeborn – Warwickshire’s leading run scorer this season in the competition – reached her half century from 74 balls before falling for 60 off 86 balls.But Davis added a final flourish by hitting an unbeaten 31 off 21 balls alongside Hannah Hardwick to set Lancashire a challenging target.

With the 13th season of the CPL set to kick off on August 14, here’s a primer to bring you up to speed

Deivarayan Muthu13-Aug-2025

So, the biggest party in cricket is back?

Yep, the six-team league will start on August 14 and will run until September 21, with six venues set to host 34 games. The top four sides in the league phase will qualify for the playoffs, which will be held at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Just like the IPL, the top two teams will get two tilts at the final.

Okay, how many countries are hosting the tournament?

CPL 2025 will be played in six countries: St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia, Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana.Related

• CPL 2025: Pooran replaces Pollard as Trinbago Knight Riders captain

• Tahir: 'It doesn't matter how good you are, you always learn about the game every single day'

• David Wiese to captain St Lucia Kings in CPL 2025

• Five rookies who could make a splash in CPL 2025

Are you excited about the reunion of the Bravo brothers?

Dwayne Bravo, who has been one of the faces of the CPL for a number of years, had retired from competitive cricket after an injury had cut short his CPL season in 2024. He has since coached the Knight Riders’ franchises around the world, and this will be his first stint in the CPL as head coach. He will take over the role at Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) from Phil Simmons, who is now in charge of Bangladesh.Can the most decorated player in the CPL – he has won five titles – add another to his kitty, this time as TKR’s head coach?Dwayne Bravo was appointed TKR head coach earlier this year•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesUnder Dwayne, his brother Darren Bravo, who has won four titles, will return to the CPL, having last featured in the league in 2022. Darren has not played any competitive game in senior cricket since 2023, but after taking a break from cricket, the 36-year-old is ready to return to action.

The league of ageless wonders

Imran Tahir, who turned 46 this March, showed that he still has it in T20 cricket, taking 14 wickets in five games at an outstanding average of 9.28 and economy rate of 6.61 in Guyana Amazon Warriors’ run to the Global Super League title. He remains the only overseas player with 100 or more wickets in the CPL and hopes to bring home a second CPL title for Amazon Warriors.Faf du Plessis, who had led St Lucia Kings to CPL glory in 2024, will miss the tournament this year. The 41-year-old had originally prioritised the Hundred over the CPL, but has now withdrawn from that competition too for groin surgery. David Wiese, who turned 40 earlier this May, has been appointed as the new captain of Kings. He brings a wealth of T20 experience, having played 400 T20s around the world, including 39 in the CPL.Then, there’s Moeen Ali, 38, who has opted to skip the Hundred for the CPL, where he will team up with Tahir.After winning the MLC with MI New York, 38-year-old Kieron Pollard is back in the Caribbean with TKR. Colin Munro, also 38, and Alex Hales, 36, lend more experience to TKR. Hales is 41 runs away from surpassing Pollard as the second-highest run-getter in the history of T20 cricket.Shakib Al Hasan, 38, was Falcons’ second-round pick at the draft and is now just two strikes away from 500 T20 wickets. He is set to become the fifth player to the landmark.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

New captains in the spotlight

Four of the six franchises have new captains*. Nicholas Pooran will take over as TKR captain from Kieron Pollard. Apart from Tahir, Imad Wasim (Falcons) and Wiese (Kings) are the overseas captains in the league. Meanwhile, Jason Holder, who had exited Royals after 13 years, has been appointed as the captain of Patriots. Holder will work with head coach Simon Helmot, who had replaced Malolan Rangarajan. Helmot had coached Patriots and the Trinidad & Tobago franchises to CPL titles in the past.

Who are the defending champions?

Kings are the reigning CPL champions, having won their maiden title in 2024, when they toppled Tahir’s Amazon Warriors in Guyana. USA international Aaron Jones, who cracked an unbeaten 48 off 31 balls in the final last year, has been retained by Kings for the upcoming season. Jones qualifies as a local player in the CPL through his Barbados passport.

Which are the strong teams?

It’s hard to look past TKR, who have a number of T20 stalwarts such as Andre Russell, Pooran, Sunil Narine in addition to Pollard, Hales and Munro. They’ve added more variety to their attack by recruiting the Pakistani pair of Mohammad Amir and Usman Tariq.Under Tahir, Amazon Warriors won the title in 2023 and came close to successfully defending it last season. They have lost a key signing, Glenn Phillips, to injury, but the depth in their spin attack makes them one of the favourites.The absence of left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who has opted for the Hundred over the CPL, and injury to allrounder Matthew Forde has depleted Kings, but count Daren Sammy’s team out at your own peril.Jediah Blades is one of the players to watch out for•Randy Brooks

How many overseas players can be part of the XIs?

In CPL 2025, each franchise must play at least one player from the breakout league, a new tournament that was held earlier this year to identify emerging talent from the region, in every game. This gives the franchise the option of picking five overseas players in their XI to go with their ‘breakout’ player.

Any unknown local players to keep an eye on?

The depth below the first-choice West Indies T20I XI isn’t particularly encouraging, but do watch out for Amazon Warriors’ Jediah Blades who swings the new ball and is also capable of operating with the older one. Barbados Royals’ Kofi James, who goes hard in the powerplay with the bat and can also pitch in with offspin, might emerge on West Indies’ radar, especially if he has a good CPL season.

Does the CPL clash with any other franchise tournament?

Of course. What’s a franchise league without a schedule clash these days? It overlaps with the Hundred.

How can fans outside the Caribbean follow the action?

Every match of CPL 2025 will have ball-by-ball commentary right here on ESPNcricinfo. Fans in India can watch the CPL on JioStar (linear TV) or Fancode (digital). USA and UK viewers can watch it on Willow and TNT Sports respectively. Sky NZ will be broadcasting in New Zealand and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa.*GMT 2pm, August 14: The story was updated following TKR’s announcement of a captaincy change

Russell Domingo, the former South Africa and Bangladesh coach, has been named Hampshire men’s head coach on a two-year contract. He will be joined in the club’s new coaching set-up by another South African, Shane Burger, who previously coached Scotland before moving on to Somerset.Domingo was in charge of South Africa between 2012 and 2017, followed by a three-year stint with Bangladesh. He has been head coach of Johannesburg-based Lions since 2023, and has also worked in the PSL. ESPNcricinfo understands Domingo will continue in his Lions role, splitting his time between the UK and South Africa.He succeeds his countryman Adrian Birrell at Hampshire, with Birrell stepping down at the end of the 2025 summer after seven seasons on the south coast.Burger joins as assistant coach (bowling), while former Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams will continue in his role as assistant coach (batting).Related

• Hampshire target white-ball double as coach Birrell prepares to step down

• Timeline: Domingo's stint as head coach of Bangladesh

• Domingo replaces Gough as Lahore Qalandars coach

• Men's county ins and outs 2025-26

“I’m thrilled to be joining Hampshire Cricket,” Domingo said. “This is a club with incredible history, outstanding facilities at Utilita Bowl, and a clear vision for success both on and off the field.”I’ve been genuinely impressed by the ambition here and the strong cultural values that underpin everything Hampshire does. The combination of developing young talent whilst competing for trophies is exactly the challenge I’m looking for, and I can’t wait to get started.”I’m looking forward to working alongside Jimmy and Shane and getting to know the players as we prepare for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.”Burger said: “I’m really excited to be joining Hampshire Cricket. The quality of young bowlers coming through here is exceptional, Sonny Baker, Eddie Jack and Scott Currie have already earned England recognition, and I’m looking forward to helping them continue that development.”I love the ambition and vision of the club and the future seems bright. I’m excited to be part of that journey alongside Russell and Jimmy and I can’t wait to get started.”Hampshire endured a turbulent finish to last season, losing in both the final of the Vitality T20 Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. They appeared destined for relegation to Division Two of the County Championship, after suffering a points deduction for a substandard pitch, before being reprieved on the final day by Durham’s collapse against Yorkshire.Hampshire’s director of cricket, Giles White, added: “We’re delighted to announce our coaching team for next summer. Russell Domingo will serve as head coach, with Jimmy Adams and Shane Burger joining him as assistant coaches. Together, they form a strong and experienced unit that will continue to champion the cultural framework that has underpinned Hampshire cricket over the years.”We exist to win and to develop, and I’m confident this team will continue to drive that ethos as we move into an exciting future. It’s a fantastic place to be at this moment in time, and the season ahead promises great opportunities.”

Marsh fell for 4 as WA slumped to 98 for 4 on a day when only 30 overs were bowled due to rain

AAP06-Dec-2025Mitchell Marsh’s Test audition has failed, dismissed cheaply for the second time in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.In his first red-ball game since being dropped by Australia following last year’s Boxing Day Test, Marsh made just 4 in WA’s second innings on Saturday after managing 9 on day one.Related

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• Stobo's stunning spell helps NSW seize control at SCG

He lasted just six balls as he fell to Victorian seamer Sam Elliott, who is enjoying one of the best games of his first-class career.Marsh, who last played a Shield match in October 2024, had been touted as a potential shock factor at the top of Australia’s order in this summer’s Ashes.But another Test call-up seems unlikely with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald making a promising start to their opening combination for Australia.Marsh had to wait more than half a day on Saturday to get an opportunity to bat, with no play possible until midway through the second session due to rain in Melbourne.With WA starting day three on 5 for 1, Marsh was quickly in the game after nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli was trapped lbw by Elliott.The visitors crumbled to 17 for 3 when Marsh exited, before captain Sam Whitemanand fellow veteran Hilton Cartwright rallied.The pair got WA to 75 for 4, a lead of 14, when bad light stopped play midway through the final session. But play was able to resume again, with WA getting to 98 for 4 at stumps and Whiteman unbeaten on 56.With the weather likely to be fine on Sunday, Victoria will still fancy their chances of running through WA and securing an outright win.

Very few players dig as deep as he does and over this India series and the Ashes coming up, he’ll need to

Sidharth Monga09-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes is an irrepressible presence•Getty Images

There are many compelling sights in our sport. Right up there is a batting team on the top, the conditions flat, the ball not doing anything at all for the other bowlers, and then Ben Stokes charging in and drawing life out of nowhere in a long spell.Stokes has the rare ability to take you along on the ride. You don’t need to be a cricket connoisseur to know something special is taking place in front of your eyes. You can almost feel the strain he puts himself through, the stretching of every sinew, the twisting away of the torso to create the unusual angle, the high pace eked out of a battered body, the unusualness he extracts from dead conditions, and the satisfaction of having achieved something when it hadn’t seemed possible.It is not magic. In this series, for example, Stokes has swung the ball more than any other fast bowler. His release is wider than most – only Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Tongue have gone wider in this series – and the swing creates problems coming from that angle.Related

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Stokes' batting in focus as England count cost of Edgbaston errors

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McCullum: 'I've asked time and time again for us to be more aggressive'

Brook moves up to No. 1 in ICC Test rankings

When Stokes is nearing the top of his mark, it seems like he is dragging his feet and has no gas left. They hardly seem to leave the ground, and seem like they are being thrown forward by force. Then he picks up pace and leaves a piece of himself on the pitch. It is tempting to wonder how much better his numbers would have been had he just been a bowler.Every time you feel this must be it for him, he comes back for another over, against the wishes of the coaching staff as his workload needs to be managed. It just doesn’t seem possible for Stokes to have a measured go. Even at press conferences, he is not finishing a chore, but gives thoughtful answers. Despite all his injuries, only a small percentage of his spells is short. Among 27 fast bowlers who have bowled 100 or more spells since 2021, only James Anderson, Matt Henry, Kagiso Rabada and Ollie Robinson have bowled a lower percentage of spells of four overs or fewer.Ben Stokes has made 86 runs from four innings at an average of 21.50 in this series•Getty ImagesThis is also part of the reason why Stokes is rated highly as a captain. His tactics on the field can yo-yo between the astute and a random smokescreen, but he has the ability to drag his team-mates with him, much like Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff before him. He doesn’t take the new ball, still bowls long spells, and batted against nature just to get a buy-in into the style of play he and Brendon McCullum wanted England to adopt.Stokes batted at 57.07 per 100 balls before Bazball, and has gone at 66.83 since. At the start, he batted frantically just to drive the message home despite being the one batter in the line-up who was more at home playing traditionally. It is the fall in the batting average from 36.05 to 33 during Bazball era that is starting to hurt England. In matches that Stokes has played in the Bazball era, top seven batters have averaged 38.25 overall. Of course he could ease his own batting load a little by getting in a better batter than Zak Crawley, who averages only 31.79 on some of the flattest tracks of the last decade, but Stokes the captain is not one for half measures.In opting for this way of playing the game in the first place, Stokes has shown courage of conviction to go against the grain. Captains are known to design pitches to suit their bowlers to win matches; Stokes and McCullum saw a weakness in their batting and asked for surfaces that played to their strengths instead, asking batters to make up for it with quick scoring. It hasn’t turned them into world-beaters, and the surfaces haven’t all been the same, but it has improved the results.Stokes will continue to rouse us with those bowling spells and will keep inspiring his team, but eventually the game is won by runs and wickets. He is one of the players who can get away with some leeway because of the way he plays, but the next eight Tests that Stokes plays have the ability to overshadow even that reputation. Especially because it is quite plausible that Stokes retires at the end of the Ashes.A lot – disproportionately so – rides on the next eight Tests. Stokes could perhaps drop down a slot if he feels mentally spent. Jamie Smith has shown signs he can bat in the top six. Alternatively Stokes could perhaps reinforce the batting and drop Shoaib Bashir. A home series against India on the line and the Ashes at the end of the year, runs not coming, rest of the bowling struggling, a body to manage, this is going to be some ride that Stokes will surely take us along on.

George Hill steers hosts on shortened day with both dressing rooms eyeing Hampshire result

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Sep-2025Yorkshire 465 for 9 (Hill 88, Raine 4-79, Ghafari 4-114) lead Durham 346 (Raine 101, White 5-69) by 119 runsYorkshire are closing in on Division One survival in the Rothesay County Championship, but Durham are not quite sure of the size of their task heading into day four at Headingley.Should Hampshire – 148 for 9 chasing 181 to beat Surrey at the Utilita Bowl – lose, seventh-placed Yorkshire would be safe no matter the result here in this season finale. Second-bottom Durham would need a draw to be safe.Should Hampshire win – they are eighth in the table – Yorkshire would need to draw here, which they are very well placed to do. But Durham would need a miracle victory to get out of trouble.Yorkshire, replying to a first-innings 346 all out, started a weather-affected day on 314 for 5 and advanced to 465 for 9 in the 51 overs possible, with George Hill compiling a skilful season’s best 88.It’s difficult to see how Durham can win, so they desperately need Surrey to do so down on the south coast.Bad light interrupted play on three occasions at Headingley, with the bulk of the evening lost. No play was possible beyond 3.25pm.Hill impressively supplemented Indian batter Mayank Agarwal’s superb 175 on day two with his fourth fifty of a season which has seen him excel with the ball. His seamers have accounted for 47 Championship wickets.He shared in half-century stands with fellow allrounders Matthew Revis and Jordan Thompson, the latter contributing an unbeaten 44.The morning session was a relatively quiet affair, with Yorkshire advancing to 365 for 7. Ben Raine, who has been excellent with 4 for 71 from 33 overs added to his first-innings century, and Matthew Potts struck for Durham.Raine broke a sixth-wicket stand of 50 between Revis, 38, and Hill. Revis, crowned Yorkshire’s members’ player of the year at the end of day two here, was trapped lbw by an in-ducker before Dom Bess pulled Potts to deep backward square-leg.Hill was a calming presence for Yorkshire as they stretched their lead. In all, he hit 14 fours in 175 balls. Thompson was more expansive, whipping Will Rhodes over deep midwicket for six.Hill moved to a fifty off 105 balls shortly before the hosts reached 400 for 7 in the early stages of the afternoon. By this stage, Yorkshire led by 54 and Durham’s need for wickets was becoming more desperate.Hill did fall short of what would have been his season’s first century when bowled trying to attack the legspin of Afghanistan’s Shafiqullah Ghafari. But Yorkshire’s lead was 97 at 443 for 8.Hill and Thompson had shared an eighth-wicket 86, the latter allrounder playing his last match before a winter move to Warwickshire.Matt Milnes edged to slip to hand Ghafari a fourth wicket before the third bad light stoppage at 3.25pm was the last. With the players off the field at that stage, Durham’s dressing room would have been buoyed by news from Southampton.Yorkshire will head into day four in a much more relaxed state given their strong performance here. Durham, on the other hand, will be on tenterhooks not quite knowing the size or shape of their task in hand.

ATLANTA — Clayton Kershaw has skipped vacations and injury rehab to be at past All-Star Games, but when he found out he made this year’s roster, he initially didn’t want to come. 

On Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gathered his team to announce who had made the National League All-Star team: catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, and DH Shohei Ohtani, as fan selections; righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as a league selection; and Kershaw, whom the commissioner chose as his “Legend Pick.” While his teammates cheered, Kershaw, 37, scoffed. “What is this?” he asked. “A senior citizen’s discount?”

He considered declining the invitation—his 11th, the most in franchise history, but his first that has not come amid an exemplary season. 

No, Roberts insisted. It’s actually one of the highest honors you can receive, because it comes amid an exemplary . Kershaw’s 2.52 career ERA is best in the live-ball era for a pitcher with at least 1,500 innings. He has won three Cy Young Awards, an MVP Award and two World Series. He notched his 3,000th career strikeout last week, making him only the 20th pitcher to hit that mark. (And for what it’s worth, in 50 ⅔ innings this season, he has an ERA+ of 121—21% above league average.)

Kershaw remained skeptical. “It’s uncomfortable,” he says now. “I want the All-Star Game to mean something. I want it to be: If you deserve to be here, you should be here. The way that I got to be here is probably not how I would want to make a team.” And he dislikes the terminology: is “a weird word,” he says. “It’s a little embarrassing. But whatever they have to call it, I’m excited to be here.”

Freeman laughs. “He is a legend,” he says. “He’s one of the greatest lefthanded pitchers of all time. I saw his numbers on the board earlier—216 wins, two-five ERA. Yes, he deserves to be here.”

In the end, it was Kershaw’s wife, Ellen, who persuaded him. She was not interested in litigating who deserved to be where. She canceled the family’s planned trip to Colorado. “You’re going to have a lot of summers to do whatever you want,” she told him. “If you get invited to an All-Star Game, it could be your last one.”

Roberts loves that attitude. “In this day and age where players are opting out, he’s still living in a world where you never know when it could happen again, and [you should] relish every opportunity and be grateful,” he says. 

Kershaw says, “I think my wife’s the best at that of anybody, especially if I don’t want to do something. And she’s right, because stuff like this, having my kids come and watch, that’s special.”

Indeed, that was ultimately the deciding factor. Kershaw likes being around the other All-Stars, he says, although he says he can’t point to anything he has learned from them. He likes the chance to face some of the game’s best—a chance Roberts, who is managing the NL squad, says he plans to afford his pitcher on Tuesday for an inning. But “at the end of the day,” Kershaw says, “All-Star Games are for your family.”

So at Monday’s autograph session, he had 8-year-old Charley hand him baseballs to sign, and at the Home Run Derby that night, he clutched 3-year-old Chance, watched as 10-year-old Cali hung out with teammates’ children and facilitated autographs for 5-year-old Cooper. Kershaw was beaming the whole time.

In many ways, this year will not compare to his first All-Star Game, in 2011, or the one he started at Dodger Stadium, in ’22, or even the one he attended despite injury in ’16. But in some ways it will be better: His kids will likely remember it. So on the whole, he’s glad he listened to Ellen. 

He grins and says, “That’s usually the case.”

Arsenal have now been approached over a January move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, following a new update on the forward’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite strengthening the squad considerably in the summer, Mikel Arteta currently finds himself light on options in attacking areas, with Viktor Gyokeres recently joining fellow strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the treatment table.

Arteta has admitted he is worried about the extent of Gyokeres’ injury, which was sustained in the 2-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor, saying: “I am concerned because he hasn’t had many muscular issues, and he had to leave the pitch as he was feeling something. That is a concern for a player who is very explosive.”

Gabriel Martinelli is another player who has been struggling on the injury front, missing the victory against the Clarets, with Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke also not expected to return until later this month.

It is almost unbelievable just how many of the Gunners’ forwards are currently sidelined, but the crisis is yet to have a negative impact on results, with Arteta’s side sitting pretty, six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

However, given the scale of the injury problems, the north Londoners may want to improve their strength in depth in January, and they have now been offered the opportunity to sign a new forward.

Arsenal approached over January move for Rodrygo

According to a report from The Boot Room, Arsenal have now been approached over a January move for Rodrygo, with intermediaries informing them the forward could be available, having struggled to receive consistent game time at Real Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur have also been contacted over a potential deal for the Brazilian, who is now starting to accept that he may have to leave the Spanish club for the good of his career.

Journalist Graeme Bailey adds: “I am told that Rodrygo is again considering his options, and one possibility is a switch to the Premier League, which could become a real option in January. He is certainly one to watch as we approach the New Year.”

Lauded as a “world-class finisher” by journalist Kyle Bonn, the Madrid attacker, who can play on both wings and through the middle, has a wealth of top-level experience, having amassed 25 goals and 16 assists in 66 Champions League appearances.

Consequently, it is no surprise that Arteta is said to hold a positive opinion of the 24-year-old, who scored 14 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions last season.

That said, there are some doubts over whether the 35-time Brazil international would be a necessary signing, given that both Madueke and Odegaard are expected to return later this month.

If Arteta is still light on options in January, it could make sense to bring in Rodrygo, but on paper, Arsenal are very well-stocked in attacking areas, and the current situation should pass.

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ByDominic Lund Nov 2, 2025