Douglas Luiz appears to be making the most of an early-season break after holidaying with Vinicius Jr following their Brazil squad snubs.
Luiz joins Nottingham Forest on loanNot included in latest Brazil squad Enjoys Marbella break with Vinicius JrFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
With both Luiz and Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr not in Brazil's latest squad for their World Cup qualifiers, the compatriots headed off to Marbella during the international break. Footballers play very demanding schedules, so getting breaks where you can is not a bad thing.
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Luiz has had a tough year following his move to Juventus. A lack of minutes and disciplinary problems marked his time in Serie A, but now he is back in the Premier League after joining Nottingham Forest on loan. Vinicius Jr is almost nailed on to make Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad but midfielder Luiz needs to have a stellar season to feature in Carlo Ancelotti's plans, so getting breaks in could be helpful.
DID YOU KNOW?
Luiz has 18 caps for Brazil, the last of which came in 2024. If the 27-year-old wants to be at next year's World Cup, he will have to replicate the form that made him a highly coveted player at Aston Villa, where he scored 22 goals in 204 games.
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Former Vasco da Gama man Luiz will now be focusing on making an impact at Forest when the international break concludes this week. He could make his debut for the club away at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Blaze 249 for 4 (K Bryce 87*, Beaumont 59) beat Sunrisers 245 (Griffith 65) by six wickets Double-chasers The Blaze kept alive their chance of qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a six-wicket win over Sunrisers at Derby, where they chased down a target of 246 with 39 balls to spare.Not for the first time, all-rounder Kathryn Bryce was their match-winner, top-scoring with 87 not out for the Charlotte Edwards Cup-holders to go with figures of four for 41 in the Sunrisers innings.England’s Tammy Beaumont (59) shared a 76-run first-wicket partnership with Kathryn’s sister, Sarah Bryce (41) to give the chase a strong platform, Ella Claridge helping Scotland skipper Bryce finish things off with an unbeaten 33 from 27 balls.Cordelia Griffith had been the Sunrisers’ star performer with the bat, making 65 with seven fours and a six, backed up by useful contributions from Eva Gray (37) and Jodi Grewcock (36) in the Sunrisers total.The result was a setback for Sunrisers, who started the day in third place in the group table, although the top-four finish they need to clinch their first semi-final appearance in the history of either of the women’s regional competitions remains in their hands with two matches left.The Blaze have momentum after winning six of their last eight completed matches but will still need other results to go in their favour even if they win their two remaining fixtures.Having opted to bat first on a green wicket after winning the toss, Sunrisers reached a solid 38 without loss before medium-pacer Bryce then removed Scrivens caught and bowled off a leading edge in the last over of the opening powerplay. Jo Gardner was then bowled off her front pad by Gordon as she sought to pull through midwicket.Griffith and 19-year-old Jodi Grewcock regained the initiative for Sunrisers, adding 89 for the third wicket, Griffith completing a 55-ball fifty after hitting Groves for six and four as the leg-spinner conceded 14 from her opening over.But Groves bounced back to have Grewcock leg before and picked up a second success as Mady Villiers top-edged to mid-on. Alice Macleod was run out thanks to Cassidy McCarthy’s smart work on the midwicket boundary.Sunrisers had slipped from 135 for two to 162 for six as Gordon claimed the vital wicket of Griffith when what must have been an optimistic appeal for leg before was upheld.Gray and Flo Miller bolstered the Sunrisers innings by adding an enterprising 60 in 11 overs before Miller (26) was bowled by Ballinger, her dismissal sparking a flurry of wickets in the final five overs as Gray, Kate Coppack and Amara Carr found fielders in the deep, all off Bryce.Beaumont and Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce provided a strong platform for The Blaze reply, putting 76 on the board before the latter was leg before playing back to off-spinner Villiers.With the Sunrisers attack unable to build sustained pressure, Beaumont and Sarah Bryce had doubled the Blaze total almost by the halfway stage of their innings, at which point another 100 runs were needed exactly.Beaumont departed lbw from 71 balls, having hit three fours and a six in a workmanlike performance, missing a pull shot against a ball from Gray that struck her very high on the left thigh.Nonetheless, with 88 needed from 20 overs and eight wickets in hand, The Blaze were in control, even with Gray and leg spinner Abtaha Maqsood, in her first appearance of this year’s competition, beginning to apply some pressure. They lost Kelly, trapped in front as Gray claimed a second success, but still had plenty of batting to come.Ireland’s Orla Prendergast was caught on the midwicket boundary but Claridge hurried things along with three fours in an over off Grewcock before Bryce, who had brought her skill and experience to bear in a superbly measured innings, hit the winning boundary.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca wasn’t hanging about when he acted swiftly to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town in a deal worth £30m.
“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”
Those were the words Delap said upon arriving at Stamford Bridge, and he will have plenty of chances to lift titles next term.
The Blues are back among Europe’s elite and this could give Delap a perfect chance to continue his development.
The 22-year-old is a rising star, no doubt about that. Will Maresca be keen on signing even more young starlets throughout the duration to complement Delap?
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Indeed, Brazilian talent Estevao is set to link up with the Blues this summer. As too is Sporting CP talent Dario Essugo.
It appears as though Maresca is keen on bringing the average age of the squad down, and it might go even lower should he succeed in signing the latest player to be linked with a move.
Southampton'sTylerDiblingcelebrates scoring their third goal
According to Caught Offside, the Blues have now entered the race to sign Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling but face competition from a wealth of sides, namely Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United.
The €60m (£51m) asking price may deter Maresca, especially considering how much the club have spent already this window.
Still only a teenager, Dibling has an extraordinarily high ceiling and may even be a bigger talent than Delap.
Why Chelsea must sign Tyler Dibling
Delap scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich last season in what was his maiden season in the top flight.
Considering the club was relegated, scoring only 36 goals all season, that’s not a bad tally. Such was Delap’s impact, his goal involvement accounted for 39% of the club’s total throughout the season.
Goals
2
Assists
0
Big chances created
3
Key passes per game
0.6
Successful dribbles per game
1.4
Shots per game
0.8
A move to Stamford Bridge will give him the chance in the Champions League, but a move for Dibling could see Chelsea sign an even bigger talent.
While Delap struggled to earn game time at City in his teenage years, Dibling is already a bona fide star despite his young age. He made his debut for the Saints aged just 17 in August 2023, having returned to the Saints after a brief spell with Chelsea U18s.
Southampton's TylerDiblingin action with AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen
His breakthrough came last term. The teenager made 38 appearances in all competitions for the south coast side, scoring four goals and grabbing three assists.
Given how poor the club were in the top flight, Dibling was arguably the brightest spark, but it is unlikely he will want to play Championship football.
Hailed as a “special talent” by journalist Josh Bunting, Dibling put himself in the shop window with his displays last season.
Despite his tender years, the youngster is currently ranked in the top 19% when compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons (2.16) per 90 over the previous 365 days, rubberstamping his exceptional potential.
Given the talent among those divisions, this stat proves that Dibling loves getting the better of his opposite man.
The question is, will Maresca take a gamble on him this summer? If so, then a bigger talent than Delap is set to be unleashed.
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Next season will be huge for Arne Slot during his reign at Liverpool, looking to build on the success he endured after taking over from Jürgen Klopp last summer.
Very few people would’ve predicted that the Reds would win the Premier League title at the first attempt, especially after only signing one player in the form of Federico Chiesa.
However, with Jeremie Frimpong already arriving at Anfield and a whole host of other European stars linked with a switch to Merseyside, the 2025/26 season will bring new pressure on the manager.
Liverpool manager ArneSlot
The club will have gone from the hunters to the hunted, and with huge funds being splashed, it will place added pressure on the side to perform in their attempts to claim back-to-back title glory.
After the arrival of the Dutchman, Slot has continued to pursue players to help improve his first-team squad, with numerous names constantly linked with a summer switch to the Reds.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions
Over the last couple of days, players in a whole host of positions have been linked with a move to join Liverpool, further showcasing Slot’s ambitions for his second year at the helm.
The likes of Marc Guehi, Victor Osimhen and Rayan Cherki have all been touted with a move to Anfield, but as of yet, there appears to be little to no movement on any of those deals.
Rayan Cherki
However, the same can’t be said in a deal for midfielder Xavi Simons, with the Reds keen on a move for the RB Leipzig star, according to TEAMtalk’s latest report.
Their update claims that the Reds have noted the 22-year-old as a viable option ahead of the summer window, following his impressive year in the Bundesliga, which saw him register 10 goals and seven assists.
It also states that Slot is a huge admirer of his compatriot, but they will have to pay a fee in the region of £65m to prise him away from the German outfit during the off-season.
Why Liverpool’s £65m target is the dream Wirtz alternative
It’s been no secret that attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz has been a key target for Liverpool over the last couple of weeks, even placing a £110m bid for the Bayer Leverkusen star.
Whilst such an offer was rejected for the 22-year-old, the Reds are set to return to negotiations with the Bundesliga outfit, willing to pay up to £130m – a fee that would break the English record set by Moises Caicedo back in 2023.
It would be a huge statement from the hierarchy that the club are serious about cementing their place at the top of the table next season after the recent title triumph.
However, given the fact that negotiations have slowed down over recent days, it leaves the door open to a potential move elsewhere for other players also on their radar.
Simons could be the perfect alternative, costing half of the fee that Leverkusen are demanding for Wirtz, whilst also offering a better option in numerous areas.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats from this season, the Dutchman has outperformed him in multiple departments, demonstrating why he is “one of the best 10s in the world”, in the words of one analyst on social media
Simons, who’s also been labelled “exceptional” by Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists this season, but has registered a higher goal per shot on target rate – having a more clinical edge than the German.
Games played
25
31
Goals & assists
17
22
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.2
Pass accuracy
79%
78%
Key passes completed
2.2
2.1
Carries into final third
3
2.7
Aerials won
42%
20%
Fouls won
2.4
1.4
He’s also completed more key passes and carries into the final third per 90, having the creative side to his game that could allow other players around him to thrive to Anfield.
The Dutch star has also won more aerials and won more fouls per 90, offering a constant threat to the opposition backline, handing Slot an impressive option within attacking areas.
There’s no denying that Wirtz is the main option in such a department, but a deal for Simons could prove to be a better signing, costing half the fee but providing just as, if not more, of an impressive option.
Should a deal fall through for the Leverkusen star, the Leipzig youngsters should be the club’s main priority, needing to act quickly to avoid him being snapped up by a divisional rival.
Their own Mbappe: Liverpool make £150m star their dream target after Wirtz
Liverpool could be about to make another huge move for a player during this summer’s transfer window.
One of Newcastle United’s primary targets ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window seems to be Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo. According to recent reports, the Magpies are ‘firmly in the race’ to sign the Cameroon international, who seems set to leave West London in the coming weeks.
More recently, The Telegraph confirmed that the North East giants are ‘ready to swoop’ for the attacker in the coming weeks. Mbeumo is also a target for Manchester United, as per talkSPORT, so to beat the Red Devils to his signature, they must make a move for him quickly.
Having Champions League football, which the Old Trafford side can’t offer, will surely help their cause.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates after the match
If they do lose out to United in the race for Mbeumo, however, then Newcastle seem to have an alternative option lined up – one which would represent an even bigger coup.
Newcastle’s search for a winger
The race for Mbeumo is certainly an interesting one, and whilst the Magpies are undoubtedly one of the sides pushing to sign him this summer, it is by no means a guarantee that they manage to do so.
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Equally, he is not the only target, it would seem, with one Spanish news outlet suggesting that Newcastle could make a move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo. This would be a hugely ambitious move, but he is described as ‘one of the main targets’ at St James’ Park this summer, suggesting they think it is something they can pull off.
One of the most interesting parts about this deal is the fee. Rodrygo has a release clause in his current deal, worth around £1b.
Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on
However, Los Blancos are thought to be willing to negotiate the astronomical fee. Instead, the Magpies might only have to pay £67m if they want to sign the winger this summer.
Why Rodrygo would be a good signing
There is no doubt about just how good Rodrygo is. The Brazilian is “terrifyingly good”, according to freelance football journalist Sam Tighe, and he has certainly showcased that this term at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It has been a disappointing season overall for the Spanish giants, but Rodrygo’s numbers are more than respectable. He has played 50 games in that famous White shirt this term, scoring 13 goals and assisting another ten.
One of the crucial things about the Brazilian is his pedigree in the Champions League. His record in Europe’s premium club competition is exceptional, with 25 goals and 14 assists in 64 games. He is a specialist in the knockout rounds, with 12 goals and assists in the latter stages.
In fact, that is surely one of the things that sets him apart from Mbeumo. The 2025/26 campaign will be huge for Newcastle, as they look to defend their Carabao Cup crown and, of course, return to the Champions League.
Well, with Rodrygo’s record in the competition and the fact that Mbeumo has never made an appearance, perhaps that edges him out as the better signing for the Magpies to make this summer.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal
With that being said, it is not like the Brentford man is not up to the level. Quite the opposite, in fact. He had a stellar campaign for the Bees, scoring 20 goals and grabbing eight assists in 38 Premier League games.
However, there are underlying stats on FBref which also suggest Rodrygo could be a better addition than the Cameroon international. For example, he averages 2.29 key passes and 5.28 progressive carries per 90 minutes compared to Mbeumo’s 1.85 key passes and 3.43 progressive carries each game.
Rodrygo and Mbeumo key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Rodrygo
Mbeumo
Key passes
2.29
1.85
Progressive passes
5.05
3.72
Shot-creating actions
4.95
3.8
Progressive carries
5.38
3.43
Successful take-ons
2.29
1.37
Stats from FBref
There is certainly strong evidence that suggests Rodrygo is the guy the North East outfit should turn to if they are looking for a new winger this season. He is an electric dribbler, a creative outlet – as those key stats outline – and has bags of Champions League experience.
Of course, £67m is a lot of money, but he is a worthy investment, and perhaps will prove to be a better addition than Mbeumo.
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Manchester City are now willing to pay £50m for a “sensational” midfielder, who could be brought in as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne this summer, according to a report.
De Bruyne set to leave this summer
De Bruyne has now confirmed he is set to leave Man City at the end of the season, ending his 10-year stay at the Etihad Stadium, and it has been a period of unparalleled success, with the Belgian playing a major role in winning every major trophy available.
As such, the 33-year-old’s legacy will remain intact regardless of how City finish the campaign, but he will no doubt be hoping to go out on a high by securing qualification for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup.
The attacking midfielder will surely go down as one of the all-time Premier League greats, which means it will be extremely difficult for Pep Guardiola to find a suitable replacement this summer, with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz mentioned as possible options by David Ornstein.
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According to a report from Spain however, Guardiola is a big fan of Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, with Man City identifying the midfielder as the perfect replacement for De Bruyne, given his impressive performances in La Liga.
Such is their level of interest, the Sky Blues are willing to fork out £50m for Olmo, with Guardiola personally of the belief he would be a perfect fit for the tactical system he has put in place, while the Spaniard’s versatility is also appreciated.
FC Barcelona's DaniOlmocelebrates
The 26-year-old is able to play as both a midfielder and a winger, and he is viewed as a key target for City, who are hoping Guardiola’s relationship with the Barcelona star can help them secure a deal.
"Sensational" Olmo could be suitable De Bruyne heir
In truth, it is going to be very difficult for Guardiola to find an attacking midfielder capable of replicating De Bruyne’s attacking numbers over such a sustained period of time, but there are signs the Spain international could be a suitable replacement.
The former RB Leipzig man has been a key player for Barca when fully-fit this season, picking up seven goals and two assists in La Liga, which has resulted in high praise from the media, with journalist Muhammad Butt lauding him as “sensational”.
Not only that, but the maestro was extremely impressive for Spain en-route to their Euro 2024 victory, picking up three goals and two assists in six matches.
Olmo’s performances for club and country indicate the proposed £50m price tag is fully justified, so it is exciting news that Man City are willing to launch a move this summer, but it will certainly be a tall order to surpass De Bruyne’s achievements at the Etihad Stadium.
The allrounder smashed the second fastest ODI hundred for Australia, off 47 balls, in the final ODI against South Africa
Andrew McGlashan24-Aug-20252:14
Green: ‘I was told I was next one ball before Heady got out’
Ask Cameron Green to do a job over the last couple of months and he’s generally made a success of it. Batting No. 3 in Australia’s Test side had a tricky start but he came good during the West Indies tour; then given the No. 4 role in T20Is he earned Player of the Series honours. It was very much in that T20 style that he surged to a maiden ODI hundred from just 47 balls in the third match against South Africa in Mackay.While his promotion to No. 3 from No. 4 had started to be discussed around the 30-over mark, as Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh forged their double-century opening stand, Green had one ball’s notice that it would actually happen before Head was dismissed for 142. “I think it always happens like that,” he said after the game. “You make a decision that doesn’t effect on-field, but for some reason it does. The next ball I was in, so it took me a while to get ready.”He was off the mark second ball, skipping down the pitch at Keshav Maharaj, Australia’s nemesis from the opening game of the series, and hammering a drive wide of long-off. From then on Green was always above a run-a-ball, and the gap quickly grew wider”I think it is that mindset of when you switch positions, kind of your role does change,” he said. “Instead of maybe nudging it around, maybe getting Bison [Marsh] on strike, I think it was just get out there, get on with it straight away.”Related
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One of the most eye-catching moments of Green’s innings came when he faced left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy in the 45th over and turned down a single to keep the strike with an eye on the match-up. It was a continuation of the tactic Tim David had used in recent T20Is and Green responded by depositing the next three balls for six.”We were discussing it before Tim David did it in West Indies,” Green said. “If you get a really good match-up I think the bowler likes when a single gets hit, for example. Try and make the most of the short boundary.”Another curiosity in Green’s innings was that one of his eight sixes came courtesy of the amended boundary-fielding laws that prevent a player from “bunny-hopping” outside the playing area to field the ball mid-air. Green had launched Wiaan Mulder to long-on where Dewald Brevis couldn’t keep himself in the field of play and palmed the ball back having leapt in the air outside the boundary. Previously he would have prevented the boundary, but now it was six.Green’s century came in the next over, putting him between two of Glenn Maxwell’s finest hours in the list of fastest hundreds for Australia. Maxwell is one of the lynchpin ODI figures Australia need to replace ahead of the World Cup in 2027, alongside Steven Smith, with the batting performances in the first two games of this series raising a few questions about the health of the one-day side.It would be unwise to draw too many conclusions from the 431 for 2 in a dead rubber against a weakened South Africa attack and where batting first proved a distinct advantage. But it was an emphatic response, with timely runs for Head and Marsh’s continuing increase in output being the other encouraging signs.Cameron Green high-fives Alex Carey as he completes his hundred in Mackay•Getty Images”It’s been a while since we played one-day cricket so it just took a while to find our groove,” Green, who before this series had also not played an ODI since last September, said. “Shame it was a bit late for this series, but good signs moving forward.”I think you can normally work your way back from Test cricket. I think that’s a reasonably easy way [to go] because your technique’s normally in a good place and then you can open up and expand your game. Potentially going the other way is a bit tougher. You’re really looking to attack and then you have to kind of rein it in a little bit, pick and choose your times when to go.”Australia’s next ODIs are in mid-October against India, the No.1-ranked side, but Green could miss that series as he uses the Sheffield Shield to return to bowling ahead of the Ashes. If so, it will be another lengthy gap in the format for him.There remain some interesting questions for the selectors to ponder. Green’s performance in this match raises the possibility as to whether he could be Australia’s long-term ODI No. 3 or if that role stays with Marnus Labuschagne, who didn’t get the chance to bat after two scores of 1 in the first two matches of the series.Matt Short and Mitchell Owen were initially due to be part of this squad before injury and will likely feature against India. Aaron Hardie, a late call-up, struggled in two outings and his stock may have fallen although time remains on his side. Xavier Bartlett, however, will have done his cause no harm with new-ball wickets.Cooper Connolly, someone the selectors have been keen to expose at the top level, ended the series as an unlikely holder of the best ODI figures by an Australia spinner. He had Labuschagne’s brilliant out cricket to thank for a couple of wickets, and a stream of South African batters swinging in a lost cause, but if he grows into a genuine all-round option then he would be a valuable addition to the next generation of Australia’s 50-over cricketers. A team in which Green will be one of the most important figures.
Returning to the land of his forefathers for the World Cup, the Netherlands opener is hoping to turn his excellent start into something bigger
Himanshu Agrawal07-Oct-2023Vikramjit Singh, one of the biggest positives for Netherlands in their opening match against Pakistan, is briefly lost for words as he thinks back to one of his favourite shots from that half-century. He mimics the flick shot that he picked from a near fourth-stump line off Shaheen Shah Afridi. “That was sweet, I really enjoyed that,” he says with a smile.Vikramjit hit Shaheen for three boundaries, all inside the powerplay, to give Netherlands an excellent start in their chase of 287. His third-wicket stand with Bas de Leede briefly kept Pakistan on tenterhooks, before his toe-ended pull shot that found deep midwicket led to a collapse. A couple of overs earlier, he had cleared the same long boundary by playing a similar shot off legspinner Shadab Khan. He said he didn’t rue attempting the shot, but wished to have timed it better.On Monday, Vikramjit will have another opportunity. Perhaps he will have the chance to put to action the learnings from having watched his “idol” Quinton de Kock make bruising century in South Africa’s World Cup opener in New Delhi. It was an off day for Netherlands, so Vikramjit watched the match closely. He first met de Kock at the T20 World Cup last year, where he couldn’t stop asking him questions.”The backlift, him playing away from his body, the way he cuts the ball – I want to bat like him every time I go out there,” Vikramjit had told ESPNcricinfo prior to the World Cup. “The chat I had with him [at the 2022 T20 World Cup] was about the way he goes about it, what he thinks when the bowler is running in, etc. Then we had a series against South Africa, when again I had a chat with him.”Related
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Vikramjit, like a couple of others from his team, is returning to the country of his forefathers for the World Cup. While there are no games in Punjab, where his family hails from, there is still an air of familiarity about it for him.Prior to coming to Hyderabad, he spent ten days in Bengaluru training on different surfaces. As such, Vikramjit often makes trips back to India to play, and has spent considerable time training with former India Under-19 World Cup winner Taruwar Kohli in Jalandhar. Kohli’s familiarity with Vikramjit grew during his club cricket stint in the Netherlands between 2017 and 2019, when he would often frequent Vikramjit’s house. That eventually grew into a mentor-mentee relation.Vikramjit Singh’s batting is more fearless than his mentor, Taruwar Kohli’s•KNCB/Gerhard van der LaarseSince 2021, the two have trained together at Kohli’s academy, with the help of robo-arms, bowling machines and dedicated coaches. Vikramjit has fed off the knowledge of his mentor-cum-friend, but there is one difference. While Kohli’s batting was mostly orthodox, Vikramjit’s is a little more enterprising.”For me, it’s about getting used to the speed of the game,” Vikramjit says. “In international cricket, everything happens so much quicker. Not only is the ball being bowled faster, but also the game is moving so quickly. Just getting used to that takes a little bit. When you get into the professional set-up, you learn not only cricket-wise but also off the field – like how disciplined you need to be.”Much of Vikramjit’s early learnings were shaped by his father, Harpreet, who was also his first coach. The solid grounding helped Vikramjit make a name in the Under-12s and Under-15s. At 14, he even got a bat sponsorship from Jalandhar-based manufacturers BAS, which was incidentally facilitated by Ramesh Kohli, Taruwar’s uncle and one of the partners in the company.The early age-group promise helped him earn a national cap at 16 when he made his T20I debut against Scotland in 2019 following a strong endorsement from former Netherlands captain Peter Borren. An ODI debut followed in 2022, one that set in motion his trip to the World Cup. This is a fresh chapter in a journey that began in a tiny village near Jalandhar called Cheema Khurd.Vikramjit, who was born there, moved to the Netherlands when he was “three or four” after Harpreet took over a transport business established by his father. Vikramjit remembers watching the 2011 World Cup on TV and dreaming of playing in one.”My grandparents are the ones who migrated to the Netherlands,” he says. “My dad, and all my uncles and aunts, was born there. Dad was an amateur cricketer. I joined him at times, and really walked in his footsteps.”
“In international cricket, everything happens so much quicker. Not only is the ball being bowled faster, but also the game is moving so quickly. Just getting used to that takes a little bit”
Vikramjit went to a Dutch school and made Dutch friends, which meant playing a lot of football, the country’s most popular sport. However, cricket didn’t leave him.The defining moment of his young career came during the ODI World Cup Qualifier this June, when Netherlands were fighting for one of the two qualifying spots. Against hosts Zimbabwe, Vikramjit was struggling on 8 off 23 but picked up pace to finish with a then-career-best 88 off 111 to lay the foundation for Netherlands’ total of 315, at the time their joint-highest in the format.When facing West Indies in the same tournament, he went from 0 off 6 to 37 off 32 in a chase of 375. Netherlands eventually won the game via a Super Over, having tied the game with their highest ODI total. His “best innings” came when he cracked 110 from 109 deliveries against Oman in the Super Sixes and took home the Player-of-the-Match award.”I don’t like remembering my innings, but you still always remember the first hundred,” he says. “That was quite special.” Ultimately, Netherlands – along with Sri Lanka – made it through to the World Cup. Netherlands had finished last in the 13-team ODI Super League but had managed to take down the big boys en route to India for the ten-team World Cup.”The Super League was a great opportunity for us to showcase what we’re made of,” Vikramjit says. “It was great playing big names and bigger teams. But hopefully we can do well in the World Cup, and the ICC looks at us and says, ‘These guys are here to play as well. They are not just an Associate team.'”Perhaps a win or two against the big boys in the coming weeks will further drive home that point. For now, Vikramjit is happy to revel in an excellent start that he hopes to transform into something bigger.
The most-read articles on ESPNcricinfo and the Cricket Monthly in 2021
31-Dec-2021Cricket Monthly
News
1. IPL retention rules: old teams can keep four players ahead of 2022 auction, three early picks for new teams2. R Ashwin: ‘I didn’t know the ball hit Rishabh, but I’d run even if I did’3. Virat Kohli: India were not ‘brave enough with bat or ball’ against New Zealand4. ‘I am not a racist’ – Quinton de Kock apologises, will take the knee5. Boult: ‘Hopefully I can mirror what Shaheen did to India the other night’6. Kohli backs Shami after social media abuse: ‘Attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic thing’7. IPL 2021 postponed as Covid-19 count increases8. Crowd trouble mars Pakistan-Afghanistan clash as ‘thousands’ of ticketless fans attempt to force entry9. IPL 2021 auction: The list of sold and unsold players10. FAQ: All you wanted to know about the T20 World Cup 2021Shaheen Shah Afridi produced some of the best spells of the year – and inspired some of the best writing•Getty Images
Features
1. Avesh Khan wants to be a bowler who can produce what his captain wants
By Nagraj Gollapudi2. The only T20 World Cup preview you need to read
By Andrew Fidel Fernando3. Which team has won the most matches in men’s T20 World Cups?
By Gaurav Sundararaman and Sreshth Shah4. ‘I was wasted, but in a good way’ – Why Moeen Ali felt it was time to retire from Test cricket
By George Dobell5. Are you a T20 opener facing Shaheen Afridi? Be afraid, be very afraid
By Osman Samiuddin6. Lessons from the IPL – how will the UAE pitches play out at the T20 World Cup?
By Gaurav Sundararaman7. ECB’s hypocrisy and double-standards could fast lose them friends
By George Dobell8. Chris Jordan: ‘I try to judge myself on execution, whether I go for a boundary or take a wicket’
By Matt Roller9. Who is Venkatesh Iyer, KKR’s latest debutant?
By Shashank Kishore10. Calling it like Kohli: When India needed their captain to stand up, he stood tall
By Sidharth MongaR Ashwin took no prisoners in his interview with the Cricket Monthly•AFP via Getty Images
The Cricket Monthly
1. R Ashwin: ‘I’ve always been good at assessing batsmen, but now I think I’ve taken it to another level’
By Sidharth Monga2. India’s 2011 World Cup win: ‘I wanted to hug him and hit him at the same time till he confirmed we’d won the World Cup’
By Hemant Brar3. How did India build their world-beating bench strength? They have a system
By Sidharth Monga4. Ten ways T20 has changed since the last World Cup
By Sidharth Monga, Shiva Jayaraman and Girish TS5. Pat Cummins: ‘Once we knew Virat was going to miss the last three Tests, Pujara was the big wicket for me’
By Daniel Brettig6. Hardik Pandya: ‘When I am on the ground, I believe nothing’s impossible. I don’t feel fear’
By Nagraj Gollapudi7. India. Australia. Chennai. 2001
By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan8. Remember the game: the last six balls of the 2016 T20 World Cup relived
By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan9. This is us: New Zealand’s climb to the top
By Andrew Fidel Fernando10. Rashid Khan: ‘You can get form back, but once you lose respect, it’s hard to get that back’
By Nagraj GollapudiMore in our look back at 2021
Newcastle United have now reportedly been offered the opportunity to finally sign James Trafford in a deal that would see Tino Livramento head in the opposite direction to Manchester City.
The Magpies certainly have a lot to think about ahead of 2026. With new sporting director Ross Wilson in place, they’ll be hoping to avoid the chaos of missing out on top targets to hand Eddie Howe some much-needed reinforcements.
He'd revive Elanga: Newcastle could hire "one of the best managers in the PL"
There have been whispers of a potential managerial change at Newcastle after a poor start to the season.
ByAngus Sinclair Nov 20, 2025
Howe’s side enter this weekend’s clash against Man City in desperate need of three points, having entered the international break off the back of a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Brentford. Currently sat as low as 14th in the Premier League, the Newcastle boss reiterated that he’s looking for a response from his players on Saturday night.
There would be no better way to get back on track than a victory against a side with Man City’s quality, but then it’s about consistency for the Magpies. On the pitch, they must turn things around in preparation for what could be a busy January transfer window.
Already, reports are claiming that they’re still interested in signing Trafford and could be handed an interesting opportunity to do so in 2026.
Newcastle offered chance to sign James Trafford
As reported by TeamTalk, Newcastle have now been offered the chance to sign Trafford by Man City, who are looking to strike a swap deal involving Livramento. The Citizens were interested in the versatile right-back in the summer, but were priced out of a move thanks to the Magpies’ eye-watering £80m price-tag.
Now, just months later, it looks as though City are once again interested in a move for the England international and are already willing to cut ties with Trafford to make a move happen.
James Trafford
The shot-stopper returned to the club with the hope of finally becoming their number one, only for Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival to bring an end to those plans. Left to watch on from the bench ever since, he could certainly do with another call from those in Tyneside.
That said, whilst Newcastle’s admiration for Trafford is clear, it remains to be seen whether he’s valued higher than Livramento in Tyneside. The goalkeeper has been described as “incredible” by Pep Guardiola, but even that may not be enough to convince Newcastle to sacrifice their star defender.
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