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Hosts reach 119 target against Middlesex with seven wickets to spare before lunch on last day

ECB Reporters Network16-Apr-2023Northamptonshire 198 (Keogh 75*, Roland-Jones 4-53) and 120 for 3 (Whiteman 60*) beat Middlesex 149 (Higgins 70, Sanderson 3-19, Tremain 3-34) and 167 (Roland-Jones 37, Eskinazi 37, Tremain 3-41) by seven wicketsSam Whiteman hit his maiden half-century for Northamptonshire to steer the county to their first LV= Insurance County Championship victory of the season against Middlesex.Whiteman, the Western Australian captain who lifted the Sheffield Shield just last month, played positively for his unbeaten 60, striking seven fours and a six as Northamptonshire reached their target of 119 with seven wickets to spare just before lunch.Northamptonshire had resumed on 30 for the loss of one wicket needing another 89 more to record their first victory of the season. Middlesex needed to take quick wickets to give themselves a chance of winning and their hopes were raised when skipper Toby Roland-Jones removed Hassan Azad with just the second ball of the day. But despite conditions favouring the bowlers, only one further wicket fell before the hosts reached their target.Conditions were testing early on and Middlesex’s bowlers worked hard, finding plenty of movement on a slow surface to restrict scoring and keep the pressure on the batting side who were repeatedly drawn into playing and missing outside off-stump.Azad’s early departure, leaving a ball which nipped back and trapped him in front, brought together Northamptonshire’s Australian duo Whiteman and Chris Tremain. Tremain, who had come in last night to perform nightwatch duties, hit the first boundary of the day in the sixth over, but fell leg before wicket, shuffling across his crease to a ball from Ethan Bamber.At that stage, Northamptonshire still needed another 67 to win but Whiteman, who had managed just 26 in his first three innings for Northamptonshire, took the attack to Middlesex, striking consecutive boundaries off Roland-Jones, cutting him behind square and then clipping him through the on-side. He treated a short ball from Tom Helm with disdain, pulling it authoritatively for four before driving the same bowler through mid-off for another boundary.Middlesex thought they had made the breakthrough when Whiteman cut Helm just short of gully on 32 but he continued to play freely, greeting the late entry of Luke Hollman by cutting the leg-spinner away for four and then pulling Helm for six before bringing up his half-century off 75 deliveries. He was well supported too by his captain, Luke Procter, who was happy to play the anchor role and finished 16 not out.With just five needed to win for Northamptonshire, Middlesex turned to part-time bowler Sam Robson before Whiteman pulled him through midwicket for four to seal victory.

While there is a strong chance that this season is another that ends without any silverware, Arsenal have an exceptionally talented squad.

When fit, Bukayo Saka is one of the most dangerous wingers in world football, and now, in Ethan Nwaneri, he has a genuine understudy who looks like he could reach the same level a few years from now.

In the middle of the park, an inform Martin Odegaard can be near enough unplayable while Declan Rice continues to run games from central or defensive midfield.

Finally, the team’s strongest area, the defence, is bursting with world-class talent, but without a doubt, the jewel in the crown is William Saliba, and based on recent reports, the club are now looking to sign someone who could be the next version of the Frenchman.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in signing Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all preparing to make an offer for the youngster this summer.

How much the defender might cost is not mentioned in the report, but his final price tag varies dramatically, with some stories claiming he could be available for as little as £25m, while others suggest he’d cost around £40m.

It could be a complicated and potentially costly transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Hato’s impressive ability and immense potential, one well worth pursuing, especially if he can be the next Saliba.

Why Hato could be the next Saliba

Now, we know that comparing a young defender who can thrive as a full-back or centre-back still playing in the Eredivisie to someone like Saliba, who is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in the business and has proven himself in the Premier League, might sound absurd.

Nevertheless, there are some key similarities between the pair.

The first is that, like the Frenchman before he joined Arsenal in 2019, there is an awful lot of hype, excitement and expectation about what Hato could develop into in the coming years.

For example, respected football analyst Ben Mattinson has described the teenager as an “exceptional athlete” who has “the potential to be an elite lockdown full-back”, while U23 scout Antonio Mango simply described the defender as an “insane” prospect and talent scout Jacek Kulig went a step further, dubbing him “one of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe.”

On top of that, the Rotterdam-born gem has also been named in ninth place, ahead of Archie Gray, on GOAL’s 2025 NXGN list, which looks at the most exciting young players born on or after January 1st 2006.

Appearances

103

Starts

94

Minutes

8457′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.12

Minutes per Goal Involvement

650.53′

Points per Game

1.86

Moreover, this belief that the Dutchman is going to be something special is why the Gunners are set to have some serious competition for his signature this summer, as they did when both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign Saliba before they got their hands on him.

Finally, if the North Londoners were able to get their hands on the Ajax star this summer, then like the Frenchman in 2019, he’d be making the big move before he was even 20, as he’ll still be a teenager until March 7th next year.

Ultimately, Arsenal already have a sensationally talented defence, with Saliba at the heart of it, and while it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, they’d only be making it even better by signing Hato at the end of the season.

Arsenal struck gold on amazing star worth more than Trossard & Lewis-Skelly

The incredible ace will be a star for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 19, 2025

The trial of Diego Maradona's medical staff has collapsed after a judge involved in the case was found to have taken part in a documentary about it.

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Argentina legend Maradona died in 2020Judge Julieta Makintach stepped down over documentaryTrial will have to restart from beginningFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

An Argentine court declared a mistrial on Thursday in the case of seven healthcare professionals who were accused of negligence in the death of legendary World Cup winner Diego Maradona. Judge Julieta Makintach stepped down earlier this week after it emerged she had taken part in a documentary about the case.

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The trial began on March 11 and was expected to last until until July, but it will have to start over again after the recent revelations. A trailer for the documentary, called Divine Justice, was played in court and was audibly criticised by defence lawyer Rodolfo Baque, who shouted "trash" at Makintach.

WHAT MARADONA'S FAMILY SAID

Speaking after the ruling, the late icon's daughter, Jana Maradona, said: "I'm angry, I'm angry, I hate them."

"I trust we could have a sentence by the end of the year," added Fernando Burlando, a lawyer for Dalma and Gianinna Maradona.

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Maradona was recovering at home after brain surgery for a blood clot when he died of a heart attack at the age of 60. A date for the new trial has not yet been announced and no new judges have been nominated. The seven members of his medical team who were charged with negligent homicide were facing sentences of between eight and 25 years.

Ollie Robinson says England’s short-ball attack was calculated move

Andrew McGlashan18-Jun-2023Australia’s lower order was an immediate target for England with Ollie Robinson terming them as having “three No. 11s” after they successfully ran through the tail on the third day at Edgbaston.Though Pat Cummins, batting at No. 8, contributed 38 – his highest score as captain and best since he made 63 against India at the MCG in 2018 – Australia’s last four wickets fell for 14 when Usman Khawaja was dismissed by a fired-up Robinson.Nathan Lyon, batting at least one spot higher than he normally would, hooked to deep square leg and Scott Boland fended to silly point as Ben Stokes’ field surrounded the No. 10. With last man Josh Hazlewood for company, Cummins then swung into the deep to end an innings which suggested he could provide important runs in this series after a significant decline in his batting returns.Related

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“It’s something we spoke about as a group,” Robinson said. “We said once we get past Cummins, we feel like they’ve got three No. 11s. It’s something that we can target through the series and try and wrap up their innings quite quick and try and give us that momentum into our batting innings.”Although Australia have enjoyed a successful two years in Test cricket, culminating in their World Test Championship title against India, their tail has not been a productive source of runs. It was further weakened for this Test with Mitchell Starc’s omission. Starc batted at No. 8 against India last week – having been promoted above Cummins in the past year – where he made 41 in the second innings, and overall he has an average of 25.85 against England with four of his 10 half-centuries.England also approached bowling at the lower order vastly differently to the Australians on the first day, opting to go at them with the short ball which proved effective despite the slowness of the surface.”I think it’s pitch dependent, really,” Robinson said of the tactic. “Obviously Pat Cummins is a really good player and I think we felt like bowling full to their tail would give them a chance to maybe score some more runs, so it’s a wicket ploy, but also it’s harder to score when it’s two-paced.”On the first day, Hazlewood had said there was “nothing there” for the bouncer, but Australia may reassess their plans if or when they reach England’s lower order in the second innings”I’m sure the strategy group will come up with a plan knowing what we know now with the wicket,” Alex Carey said. “Hopefully spin can play a big role for us tomorrow. Thought Gaz bowled outstandingly in the first innings and there’s probably a little bit more on offer for him now as well. It’s up to the attack, the leadership group, to come up with a plan to run through their tail hopefully.”Whether the lower-order contributions prove important in this game remains to be seen. England closed with a narrow lead of 35 after a high-octane 20-minute session between the rain in which they lost openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in quick succession.The highest successful chase at Edgbaston is England’s Bazball-inspired 378 for 3 against India last year, but before that it was South Africa’s 283 for 5 in 2008.

Thomas Tuchel says he has the "greatest respect" for Ange Postecoglou, but has hinted he understands why Tottenham chose to sack the Australian.

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Spurs wield axePostecoglou sacked despite winning trophyTuchel weighs inFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

England boss Tuchel was asked about Postecoglou at his press conference ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup qualifier against Andorra, with the news breaking minutes before. The former Chelsea boss says he has the utmost respect for the Australian, but has hinted he understands the club's decision to wield the axe.

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Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League – a record-low finish in the modern era – and lost 22 of their 38 games; despite winning the Europa League, and ending a 17-year trophy drought, the club's performance in the league has left his position untenable. Tuchel admits he has sympathy, but says managers are "responsible" for the results.

WHAT TUCHEL SAID

Tuchel told reporters: “I have the biggest respect for him. He’s a huge character. But we are responsible for the results. I feel for every manager, and have huge sympathy, especially in this spot (being sacked) I was in the same spot and it was horrible.”

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England play Andorra this weekend before taking on Senegal in a friendly in midweek. For Postecoglou, it may take some time for his future to become clear.

In what is a growing concern for Regis Le Bris, AS Roma have now reportedly joined the race to sign one of his most important Sunderland players ahead of this summer.

AS Roma racing to sign Sunderland star

Sunderland could yet fall victim to what has been a successful season if the current campaign doesn’t end in Championship promotion. As things stand, the Black Cats sit fourth and all but secure in the play-offs. But that’s just the start of their race to win a spot in the Premier League.

Set to compete in the play-offs, Sunderland will be well aware of just how heartbreaking Wembley can be and as talents continue to rise throughout their squad, the pressure will be on if they reach that final hurdle come May.

Sunderland in talks to agree deal to sign 18 y/o gem before end of season

Talks has been held over a move to the Stadium of Light.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 23, 2025

Players like Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have both been the subjects of Premier League interest in the last year and both are players who should have their sights set on the Premier League.

As the summer approaches, however, they’re not the only ones who could be heading for the exit door in Wearside. According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, AS Roma have now joined the race to sign Dan Neil after officials spotted his talent whilst keeping an eye on current loanee Enzo Le Fee.

The Italians aren’t alone in their interest, either. They are reportedly joined by both Everton and West Ham United to form a three-club race which could yet end in the ultimate frustration for Sunderland.

Promotion could be key to "fantastic" Neil's stay

Whilst his role as captain would make any exit more complicated than it otherwise would be, Neil is a rising talent who should want to play at the highest level sooner rather than later. With just one year left on his current contract too, Sunderland may be left with no choice but to make a decision this summer if that issue remains unresolved.

The midfielder has earned plenty of praise during his time at the Stadium of Light, including from former manager Michael Beale, who told reporters: “Dan’s a fantastic player.

“There’s a lot of eyes on Dan because he’s got a lot of potential. Hugely important player in our squad and I’ve been super impressed with him since I joined the club. It’s important for him that he focuses on his game and plays well because this is the level he wants to play at regularly, you know, against these players.”

As the current campaign nears a conclusion, the future of several key players may well rely on whether Sunderland find themselves back in the Premier League next season.

Leroy Sane is set for a surprise final run with Bayern Munich at the Club World Cup even after sealing a move to Galatasaray.

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Sane to still play for Bayern at Club World CupGerman winger signs for GalatasarayKompany pushed to keep him for tournamentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Sane has officially agreed to join Galatasaray on a free transfer after his contract with Bayern expires on June 30. However, according to Sky Germany, there is a mutual agreement between the clubs that will see Sane feature for the Bavarians in the Club World Cup.

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The 29-year-old winger will join the squad for group matches and possibly the round of 16, but won’t stay beyond that, with his contract expiring at the end of June. Despite rejecting multiple contract extensions and falling down the pecking order under Vincent Kompany, Sane remains a valued figure for the Bundesliga winners, and his presence is expected to boost the attack in the Club World Cup.

WHAT EBERL SAID

Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl said: "If the player then has another offer and accepts it, that's completely normal. That's legitimate, and the joint decision that he will still be with us for the group matches and the possible round of 16 at the Club World Cup also shows that there is no resentment. He had a choice. We negotiated. Then there was the change of advisor. We simply didn't adjust our numbers much after that. We tried to build bridges in talks – without him or Bayern Munich losing face. He totally understood what we did."

On Sane's presence at the Club World Cup, he added: "It's a strange situation for all of us. He's up for it, and we said: 'If you're up for it, then you should come.' We want a player who's up for playing the tournament, because we're hopefully here for four weeks now. Then you need guys who have fire, energy, and enthusiasm. He said he'd like to be part of this group. And then it was clear to us that we would say: Leroy is in. We decided this together."

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Sane will link up with Bayern’s squad to prepare for the Club World Cup, where they will face Auckland City (15 June), Boca Juniors (21 June) and Benfica (24 June). After his final matches for the club, he’ll officially join Galatasaray.