Hosts cruise in chase after England had scrapped a score from the depths of 24 for 4

Alan Gardner06-Nov-2024

Keacy Carty celebrates reaching his maiden ODI hundred•Getty Images

West Indies made light work of their run chase under the Kensington Oval floodlights, centuries from Keacy Carty and Brandon King setting up a dominant eight-wicket win that sealed a 2-1 series victory over England.Carty’s maiden hundred, from 97 balls, made him the first cricketer from St Maarten to reach the landmark for West Indies. He was followed to three figures by King, who made the most of being dropped twice with a timely knock, his first 50-plus score in ODIs since the World Cup Qualifier in July 2023. Their double-century stand, eventually worth 209, was the highest for West Indies against England in the format.England had scrapped their way up to what might have been a competitive total after a nightmare start saw them 24 for 4 at the end of the first powerplay. Phil Salt knuckled down to play his longest international innings, in terms of balls face, while Dan Mousley was inventive on the way to a maiden ODI fifty. With an injury to Romario Shepherd forcing Shai Hope to turn to Sherfane Rutherford – whose 3.5 overs at the death disappeared for 57 – England had at least given themselves a glimmer.It took one ball of the reply to suggest that conditions for batting had eased, as King spanked Jofra Archer’s opening gambit through the covers. He did the same to the second delivery, with Archer’s first three overs eventually costing 24 – and although Jamie Overton claimed a first ODI wicket with his third legitimate ball, Evin Lewis bounced out for 19, West Indies were already up and running.King finished the powerplay by bashing Reece Topley for two fours in three balls, putting West Indies ahead of the asking rate at 65 for 1 after ten. And while Carty, who picked up his first four by gliding Topley behind square in the same over, had some uncertain moments against the legspin of Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone early on, the second-wicket pair were soon motoring towards the target.Rashid’s first three overs had gone for just seven, but King pumped him down the ground for six to mark a shift in the mood. An edge off Livingstone evaded Salt’s gloves when King was on 44, and the West Indies opener went to a 60-ball fifty in the next over, clubbing Rashid emphatically through midwicket.Carty had been given out lbw to Livingstone’s first ball, but reviewed in the knowledge that there was bat involved. He cut and swept consecutive boundaries in the same over, and later launched Rashid over the deep midwicket boundary as West Indies steadily brought the required rate down while negotiating England’s seven bowling options. After bringing up a 61-ball fifty, Carty again took back-to-back fours off Livingstone, before doing the same to Sam Curran.A muscular pull for six off Topley ended up in the crowd at deep midwicket, as Carty overtook his partner, followed up by a flat-batted four down the ground. Having surpassed his previous ODI best of 88, he reached his hundred with a glide for four off Jacob Bethell’s left-arm spin – removing his helmet and raising his arms aloft as applause rolled around the ground.The moment was repeated at the start of the following over as King, who also saw a cut off Archer burst through the hands of Jordan Cox in the covers on 86, swatted the same bowler through fine leg to raise his third century in the format. King was bowled by Topley with 13 required but the result was beyond doubt.The alacrity with which West Indies hunted down their requirement amply demonstrated why both captains had wanted to bowl first at the toss. Shai Hope, who grew up at Kensington Oval, said he was “not sure what we’re going to get” from the surface – but his seamers certainly knew how to exploit the conditions, leaving England four down and tottering inside the first powerplay.The main source of discomfort for West Indies early on came via an extraordinary on-field contretemps between Alzarri Joseph and Hope, the fast bowler seemingly unhappy with the field set for England’s No. 3, Cox. Joseph could be seen repeatedly remonstrating with his captain from the top of his run-up, and he took his frustration out on the batter, Cox barely seeing a 148kph/92mph lifter that flicked the glove on its way through. Joseph didn’t celebrate and walked off at the end of the over, briefly leaving West Indies with 10 men on the field.Matthew Forde had already struck in his second over, responding to being driven for four by Will Jacks with a similar delivery that went away just enough to take the outside edge. Shepherd then enjoyed immediate success when replacing Joseph, as Bethell slashed at a wide delivery only to be spectacularly held by the leaping Roston Chase at point. When Livingstone fell to another catch at the wicket trying to force a drive off Shepherd, England were flatlining at 24 for 4 with one ball left in the powerplay.One of the England batters still standing was Salt. His half-century in the second ODI was the first time he had batted through the powerplay since June 2022, but he backed up that effort in Barbados – albeit 11 not out off 26 balls told of England’s struggle.He found useful allies in Curran and Mousley, adding consecutive stands of 70 for the fifth and sixth wickets. Curran, again up the order at No. 6, was proactive from the outset but fell looking to take on Chase’s offspin. Mousley then continued the rebuilding effort, with Salt grinding away to a 79-ball fifty – by far the slowest of his five in ODIs.England were 163 for 5 at the end of the 40th but lost Salt in the following over, King’s athleticism at deep midwicket resulting in a comfortable relay catch for Joseph. Shepherd then collapsed after catching his studs in the turf and had to be helped from the field, as the momentum shifted again. Mousley fell shortly after reaching fifty but lower-order cameos from Overton (32 off 21) and Archer (38 not out off 17) saw Rutherford’s medium-pace take a battering and 100 runs bleed from the last ten overs. That ended up as a footnote after King and Carty took charge.

There were some tension that boiled over during the fourth innings between Cartwright and Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald

Tristan Lavalette23-Oct-2024By the time Hilton Cartwright fronted the media post match, he looked understandably exhausted after a whirlwind few days capped by guiding Western Australia to victory over Tasmania in a tempestuous Sheffield Shield clash.Cartwright had expected to get through the match with his wife Tameka only 37 weeks pregnant. But just as he arrived at the WACA ground before day two, Tameka called him and said she would need to be induced due to complications.They worked out a plan and agreed that she would be induced at around 3.30pm, so that Cartwright could dash from the ground at the tea break. He gave the heads up to WA coach Adam Voges, who was “extremely supportive”.Related

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“I was going to be leaving at tea, regardless of whether I was in, out or we were still bowling,” Cartwright told reporters after the match.As it turned out, No. 3 Cartwright was at the crease and in sublime touch having helped lift WA out of trouble in their first innings before retiring on 52 not out at tea.”My mind was probably a bit elsewhere,” he said. “The only thing I was really thinking about was getting through to tea to give myself an opportunity and the team an opportunity for me to bat later, or for someone to bat later after me.”After Tameka gave birth to their second child early on Tuesday, Cartwright managed just one hour of sleep before fronting up for day three of the match. He was able to resume his innings at the fall of a wicket after Tasmania had agreed as per the rules.Cartwright gave the thumbs up to Tasmania skipper Jordan Silk on his way to the crease, but was understandably scratchy and managed only a further 13 runs before holing out.Having mostly survived the day through adrenaline and caffeine, Cartwright finally crashed later at the hospital and had some desperately needed sleep.There appeared to be some tense scenes between Hilton Cartwright and Tasmania•Getty ImagesWith a little bit more energy, Cartwright played a starring role on the final day and scored a vital 39 not out from 50 balls to combine with Josh Inglis as WA overcame a top-order collapse to run down the 83-run target with six wickets in hand.But tensions boiled over on-field with Cartwright and Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald engaged in a war of words. They had a long exchange while shaking hands just after the match.”It was just clearing some air that I think might have got a bit misjudged while we were out there and we were able to clear what happened over the last couple of days,” Cartwright said.Tasmania quick Kieran Elliott said “that’s the game, we made our call”.”Without being entirely across what was discussed, if he was out, great result for us. He is obviously a class player,” he said. “For him to come back and get a few more away before we eventually got him in that first innings was important for them.”WA skipper Sam Whiteman believed the laws over retiring batters should be re-evaluated.”It’s a pretty unique situation and I think probably the laws of the game need to change a little bit to take the decision off the captains,” he said.”That will be discussed in the post-match, but at the end of the day the right decision was made and credit to Tassie for letting Hilts come back out and bat. That’s the right decision for the game of cricket.”

West Ham United have now opened talks to sign a “phenomenal” Tottenham Hotspur target, who is tempted by a move to the London Stadium this summer, according to a report.

West Ham looking to get revenge for Kudus

It will, of course, be a huge disappointment that Mohammed Kudus decided to join one of West Ham’s biggest rivals, and the forward has continued to make the headlines since sealing a move across the capital.

Upon arriving in north London, Kudus insisted he “only wanted Spurs” in his first interview, and there could be justified anger about the way in which he went about getting the move in the first place, having allegedly refused to return to pre-season training.

Losing a player of the winger’s quality to one of their bitter rivals will be a bitter pill for Hammers fans to swallow, but there has now been a suggestion that they could get instant revenge by swooping in and signing one of Tottenham’s transfer targets.

According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), West Ham have now entered negotiations to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, and they are more determined to get a deal over the line than any other club in the race for his signature.

Luiz is also on Spurs’ transfer shortlist, with reports suggesting the midfielder would be keen on a move to north London, however, it has now been revealed that he is tempted by a move to the London Stadium, with the Irons currently working to find an agreement.

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A deal will not be cheap, with Juventus setting an asking price of €40m (£35m), but the Italian club are also open to more creative ways of getting the Brazilian off the books, with an expensive loan also on the table, including an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met.

"Phenomenal" Luiz could be statement signing for West Ham

Of course, it will be difficult to compete with Tottenham, given that Champions League football is on offer in north London next season, but the Juventus maestro could be a real statement signing if the Hammers are able to get a deal over the line.

Crucially, the former Aston Villa man is already proven in the Premier League, catching pundit Lee Hendrie’s eye during his spell at Villa Park.

Hendrie said: “He continues to have an absolutely unbelievable season doesn’t he, scoring goals? But that’s his bread and butter, getting back, doing the horrible side of the game and having quality amongst that is absolutely phenomenal.”

As pointed out by Hendrie, the 27-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder, having particularly impressed going forward in his final season with Villa, regularly chipping in with goals and assists in all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

35

9

5

FA Cup

3

0

1

Conference League

12

0

4

Consequently, Luiz could be a fantastic signing for West Ham, with the central midfielder now desperate to seal a return to the Premier League.

شارك النجم المصري محمد صلاح، في هزيمة فريقه ليفربول الأولى أمام كريستال بالاس، بهدفين لهدف واحد، على ملعب سيلهرست بارك في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتوقف رصيد ليفربول عند النقطة 15، وعلى الرغم من ذلك، ما زال يحتل صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وارتفع رصيد كريستال بالاس للنقطة 12.

وجاء هدفا كريستال بالاس عن طريق إسماعيلا سار وإيدي نكيتياه في الدقيقتين 9 و97، وأحرز فيدريكو كييزا في الدقيقة 87 لصالح ليفربول.

وشارك محمد صلاح في مباراة اليوم كأساسي، حيث اعتمد عليه المدرب آرني سلوت ولم يتم إخراجه من الملعب طوال الـ90 دقيقة وبقى حتى النهاية. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وكريستال بالاس

اقرأ أيضاً.. تقييم محمد صلاح بعد هزيمة ليفربول أمام كريستال بالاس

وعبر منصة “إكس” جاءت أبرز ردود فعل جماهير ليفربول على أداء محمد صلاح ضد كريستال بالاس في الدوري الإنجليزي:

“محمد صلاح سيعود”

He will be back!😤👏👏 — Tropez (@unb0there_d) September 27, 2025

“محمد صلاح يبقى الملك”

He’s a king okay — Léxis✪ Ω (@Heyylexis) September 27, 2025

“يوم سئ لمحمد صلاح”

Bad day for him — Francis🍀 (@Francis133k) September 27, 2025

“السعودية تتصل بك”

Saudi is calling — juicyjay| (@crypt_juicyjay) September 27, 2025

“قد يضطر لمغادرة ليفربول”

Might have to leave Liverpool — juicyjay| (@crypt_juicyjay) September 27, 2025

“صلاح لا يزال أفضل لاعب لدينا ولكن لا أعرف لماذا لم تتاح له فرصة ضئيلة لتسجيل هدف”

Salah lowkey still our best player but idk why he hadn’t so low chance to get a goal — SVJ (@SVJ147) September 27, 2025

David Moyes didn’t return to Everton to make up the numbers.

With the club in need of smart squad-building, his second spell promises a more ambitious approach. That outlook has already shaped Everton’s summer.

The permanent signings of Carlos Alcaraz from Flamengo and Thierno Barry from Villarreal, along with Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich, suggest a clear shift towards technical, mobile players who can play through pressure.

But Moyes still wants one more key addition – a player with the composure to dictate rhythm in attack, and the tactical awareness to protect the defence.

Someone who can carry the creative burden left behind by the likes of Abdoulaye Doucouré, who departed the club alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ashley Young this summer.

That figure could soon arrive. And while he’s not yet an established name in Italy, he’s no stranger to the Premier League.

Everton's priority midfield target emerges

According to GIVEMESPORT, Douglas Luiz, who once thrived at Aston Villa, is firmly on Everton’s radar as Juventus prepare for a late-window departure.

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The Old Lady, for their part, are holding out for a £39m fee but are open to loan arrangements if no permanent buyers emerge before deadline day.

Everton are monitoring developments closely and the club is prepared to move in the final weeks of the window – particularly if Luiz remains on the market – having already made a loan enquiry.

A deal would likely be structured around an initial loan with an option to buy, given the financial limits imposed by Everton’s ongoing compliance with FFP regulations.

Such interest has been corroborated by Fabrizio Romano, who stated that three Premier League clubs are in direct contact with Luiz’s camp – Everton and Nottingham Forest among them.

Luiz’s time in Italy has been underwhelming.

Since making a £42m move from Aston Villa, he has struggled to impose himself under either Thiago Motta or Igor Tudor, making just six starts in Serie A last season and featuring for only 45 minutes at the Club World Cup.

Still, his technical quality remains undisputed – It’s no surprise that Luiz continues to attract admirers. In 2024, ESPN Brazil’s Leonardo Bertozzi described him as world-class.

“On the national team level, he will be one of the leading names for the 2026 World Cup.”

For Everton, the prospect of acquiring Luiz on loan, with a view to a permanent move, would represent an astute piece of business.

He wants to return to England, and Goodison Park could give him the platform to rediscover his best form.

Why Luiz could be Moyes' new Arteta

If Everton do get their man, comparisons to a certain former blue won’t be far behind. In his pomp under Moyes, Mikel Arteta was the heartbeat of Everton’s midfield.

A graceful and intelligent operator, he could switch tempo, pick out a pass, and arrive late in the box to score.

His 2006/07 campaign, marked by nine goals and nine assists in 35 games, remains a benchmark for midfielders in blue. Douglas Luiz offers similar potential.

Despite limited minutes, according to data from FBref, Luiz ranked fifth last season in the Juventus squad for both passing accuracy (89.5%) and successful dribbles (72.2%), while also contributing three big chances created and a solid 0.69 key passes per game.

Those numbers, while not elite, reflect a player capable of impacting games even when on the fringes.

Like Arteta, he came through under Guardiola’s influence, albeit at Manchester City rather than Barcelona, and shares a similar mix of technique and tactical intelligence.

During his peak at Aston Villa, Luiz was an all-action midfielder.

He pressed high, recycled possession with ease, and regularly contributed in the final third, with nine goals and five assists in the 2023/24 Premier League season.

Statistically, Luiz offers a slightly different skillset to Arteta, with a greater emphasis on carrying and dribbling through midfield rather than serving purely as a distributor.

But his ability to dictate games from deep, maintain high pass accuracy, and play through pressure makes him an ideal fit for Moyes’ system.

He may not tackle with the frequency of Idrissa Gueye, but his intelligent positioning and ability to escape tight spaces provide a more rounded midfield profile.

Perhaps more importantly, Luiz is a player with something to prove. At 27, he’s entering his prime years and eager to re-establish himself as a key figure for Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Everton, with a stable role and clearly defined structure under Moyes, could provide the perfect stage.

While the financials may be tight – Luiz still has four years left on a contract worth over £150k per week – a well-structured loan move could make the deal viable.

Juventus want to offload him, Luiz wants to play, and Everton need a man in midfield.

Back in 2005, Moyes signed a young Spanish midfielder who would go on to define his Everton side for the next five years. In 2025, history may be about to repeat itself.

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1

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Angus Sinclair

Jul 31, 2025

He was Australia’s reserve batter in their last two series but had drifted down the pack early this season

AAP17-Nov-2024

Matt Renshaw celebrates his century•Getty Images

Queensland opener Matt Renshaw reminded Test selectors that he is no spent force with a vital century to frustrate Tasmania’s quest for a Sheffield Shield victory.The 28-year-old had been the forgotten man in the debate over who should open for Australia in the India series before Nathan McSweeney ultimately got the nod but his unbeaten 120 for Queensland has sent a message about his class.Related

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Queensland finished day three on 274 for 7 and need 37 runs to avoid the follow-on with a day remaining.A lack of Shield runs had been Renshaw’s problem in recent times but his approach on the third day at Allan Border Field was one of confidence as he led a Queensland fightback.His first boundary, a delightful whip through mid-on, came after he walked out of his crease to meet the ball with purpose. He continued in that vein and brought up his 22nd first-class century with a punch through cover to the boundary.Renshaw said he had taken steps to block out the hype around Australia’s opening slot.”Deleting a lot of apps and not reading any news has been a big one,” he told AAP. “It feels like every summer there is a circus about something and it is usually about the openers because Australian cricket wants another opener.”I am really happy for Nathan. I think he is going to do a terrific job but for us openers I think [the decision] last week might have hurt a lot of us.”We know how tough opening is and the satisfaction of batting for a long period of time is why we do the job, facing the toughest bowlers with a brand new ball at their freshest.”Renshaw said he had ultimate belief he would add to his 14 Tests for Australia.”Definitely. I feel like I am not too far away,” he said. “Obviously timing is huge in cricket. I missed my time on this occasion but there will be another time in the future when I have to be ready.”This is my 10th season now and it feels like I have been through it seven or eight times about this Test spot. I feel like I am getting better and I am happy with where my game is at.”I felt really good the last few games but every time I have got to the spot where I wanted to I got out, so today once I got in I wanted to make sure I committed to the way I want to play.”Having good intent really helped me today. I have been drilling into myself that I am a player able do the job in any conditions against any team. I had been trusting that something magic was around the corner and today was that magic.”Renshaw had willing allies in Ben McDermott,  the ever-reliable Jimmy Peirson and 19-year-old seamer Tom Straker.Most of day two was washed out but Tasmania elected to continue from their overnight 394 for 5 in pursuit of quick runs and were bowled out for 461. Allrounder Beau Webster upped the ante as wickets tumbled.

Juan Cuadrado has lifted the lid on a tense transfer negotiation with Antonio Conte, revealing he was reluctant to sanction his move to Juventus

• Cuadrado says Conte tried to block Chelsea exit due to Juve fallout
• Colombian reflects on eight years at Juventus and Champions League regret
• Criticised the way his departure was handled by the club’s management

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Cuadrado has revealed that his permanent transfer from Chelsea to Juventus in 2017 was almost scuppered by then-Blues manager Conte due to the Italian's acrimonious relationship with his former club. In an interview with , the Colombian detailed the tense negotiations that secured his move to Turin.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cuadrado joined Chelsea in 2015 but failed to establish himself before moving to Juventus on an initial loan. The move was made permanent during Conte's tenure at Stamford Bridge, a period in which the Italian manager still held a strained relationship with the Juventus hierarchy following his own departure in 2014. Cuadrado went on to spend eight successful seasons in Turin, winning five Serie A titles and becoming a fan favourite.

• WHAT CUADRADO SAID

  The former Bianconeri player also recounts the negotiations that led him to Juventus and his relationship with Conte, he said: "Conte didn't leave Juventus on the best of terms, so there were some problems; he didn't want to let me go. Other teams were also interested in me, especially abroad, but when I heard about Juve, I told my agent that I only wanted to play for the Bianconeri.

  "I became a Juventus fan. My mother still lives there, my children were born in Turin. Lucas is six, Lucia is nine. I experienced eight magical seasons, winning five league titles and several cups. Compared to Cuadrado in Florence, I was more complete and, above all, more mature. My only regret is losing the Champions League final in Cardiff."

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• ON JUVENTUS DEPARTURE

  The 37-year-old ended up leaving Juve in 2023 and signed a one-year deal with Inter, but the decision to leave Turin was not his.

  "De Sciglio's injury had increased my chances, [coach Massimiliano] Allegri wanted to keep me," he added. "For my part, there was no doubt: I would have stayed. Then the management changed, the coach left and I was left waiting. While I was waiting for a call, I read on social media that my adventure with Juve was over. I would have preferred a word or a private message. I was upset, it was very sad. But that's football. The fans are and always will be in my heart."

Having already seen one bid rejected, Celtic are reportedly expected to submit a second offer to sign a Premier League midfielder ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers.

Celtic take early advantage over Rangers

After just two games in the Scottish Premiership, Celtic are already four points ahead of Rangers following the Gers’ two frustrating draws. Whilst Russell Martin’s side slipped up, the Bhoys defeated St. Mirren and Aberdeen with new signing Benjamin Nygren even netting his first goal for the club in the latter.

Only Hearts have matched the Scottish champions by winning both of their opening games, but Celtic will be hoping to pull away from any potential title rivals to continue their dominance under Brendan Rodgers this season.

After scoring his first goal for the club, the summer arrival told reporters: “That’s how I want to play. I can run a lot so I want to be involved as much as possible and help the team to win, so I’m very pleased with my performance and the team’s performance today.

“It was amazing (his goal) – a perfect cross from Kieran and a solid finish, and I ran over to celebrate with the fans and the team. I’ve said it many times but, for me, football is nothing without the fans. Celtic is such a big club with lovely fans so they’re a part of the team and part of the club, so I’m so happy to celebrate with everyone.”

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Even after a solid start to their campaign, however, Celtic are reportedly still on the hunt for reinforcements and are expected to launch a second offer to sign a Premier League midfielder.

Celtic expected to submit second Irving offer

As reported by Claret and Hugh, Celtic are expected to submit another offer to sign Andy Irving from West Ham United after seeing an opening bid worth £2.5m turned down by the Hammers. The London club are reportedly holding out for £3.5m to sell their midfielder amid interest from the Bhoys and their rivals, Rangers.

A source told Claret and Hugh: “There’s a lot of interest but only one bid so far, and that was last month. I think they’ll get another offer soon.”

Despite their £3.5m asking price, it is also believed that West Ham would accept £3m to sell Iriving this summer. In a transfer tussle against their Old Firm rivals, that’s a price tag that Celtic should be able to match before deadline day arrives at the start of September.

Even as he has struggled to match the pace of the Premier League, Irving has still seemingly shown enough to earn the praise of Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham star told reporters in February: “Andy’s worked incredibly hard and been incredibly patient. I get on really well with Andy. I’ve had a lot of chats with him and always told him that I know his time will come because I’ve seen it in training.”

Leeds United’s summer rebuild is gathering pace, and it could soon involve a high-profile departure from one of their Premier League rivals.

It has been reported that Leeds and Daniel Farke are preparing a formal offer for Everton striker Beto, in a deal expected to cost between £20–22m.

The Guinea-Bissau international, who joined the Toffees from Udinese last summer for €25m (£21m), is now set to leave after a behind-the-scenes fallout.

Sources suggest manager David Moyes has been left unimpressed by Beto’s attitude during pre-season.

While Everton will sanction a sale, they will not do so without lining up a replacement.

Beto’s departure would leave a void up front for the Merseyside club, but it could open the door for a fascinating tactical development at Leeds.

Farke already boasts new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who spurned interest from Sunderland to join the 49ers-owned project, but the club wants a second striker who can both complement and compete with the England international.

And it’s here where a certain Greek international could come into play.

Leeds targeting another striker after Calvert-Lewin

According to BBC Sport, Fotis Ioannidis, the 25-year-old Panathinaikos striker, has emerged as another leading target, with the Yorkshire side closely tracking the player amid their bid to bolster the centre-forward ranks.

The Greek forward stands at 1.87m, slightly shorter than Beto but with a more rounded technical skill set.

He has been capped 17 times by his national team, scoring six goals, and has built a reputation in Greece as a “complete” centre-forward, as per analyst Ben Mattinson.

Over his Panathinaikos career, he has netted 51 goals and registered 15 assists in 188 games, including four strikes in last season’s Europa Conference League.

The player is also attracting interest from Norwich City, Sporting Lisbon, and Porto, underlining his growing reputation.

Why Ioannidis could outshine Beto & thrive with Calvert-Lewin

For all of Beto’s physical attributes – 1.94m tall, 5.81 aerials won per 90, and a 46.9% shot accuracy – his spell in England has been marked by inconsistency.

In 60 league appearances for Everton, he has scored just 11 goals.

While his eight strikes in 30 games last season suggest improvement, his game remains limited when it comes to interplay and creating for others.

Games

30

30

Goals

3

8

Big chances missed

8

12

Goal frequency

324min

193min

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

3

2

Key passes*

0.4

0.4

Total duels won*

44%

44%

Possession lost*

5.3

8.1

Ioannidis, by contrast, offers a more complementary skill set to Calvert-Lewin.

The former Everton man is at his best when receiving service into the box or operating as a focal point for crosses, using his strength and leaping ability to dominate in the air.

To maximise his output, he needs a partner who can stretch defences horizontally, combine in tight spaces, and carry the ball into dangerous areas.

Ioannidis fits that mould.

Where Beto offers aerial dominance (ranking in the 97th percentile for aerials won per 90), Ioannidis brings more intelligent link-up play and positional versatility.

His movement allows him to drop deep, combine with midfield runners, and create space for a partner – attributes that could prove invaluable alongside a target man like Calvert-Lewin.

According to FBref, Beto outshoots Ioannidis (2.87 shots per 90 compared to 2.13), but the Greek forward’s higher involvement in build-up phases and his intelligent off-ball runs suggest he would allow Calvert-Lewin to remain central, rather than drifting wide to link play himself.

That could be the key to Leeds getting the most out of their marquee forward signing. And this isn’t just about the numbers, it’s about the fit.

Leeds’ Championship dominance last season was built on fluid attacking movements, rapid transitions, and a willingness to commit players forward.

In the Premier League, they will face more organised, physically imposing defences, making quick combinations and creative runs even more essential.

Ioannidis’ ability to operate between the lines could be the tactical tweak that helps Farke’s men bridge the gap in quality.

The financial element also plays a role. At a market value of €15m £13m), as per Transfermarkt, Ioannidis would cost significantly less than Beto’s original fee, allowing Leeds to invest in other key areas.

That value could rise sharply if he adapts quickly to English football, making him a potential long-term asset rather than a short-term gamble.

If the move happens, it would also carry symbolic weight.

Leeds’ return to the top flight has already been marked by ambition – the arrival of Calvert-Lewin, the free transfer of Lukas Nmecha, and continued pursuit of talents like Noah Okafor and Manor Solomon signal intent.

With Everton set to visit Elland Road on the opening weekend, there is a subplot in the making.

Beto could be lining up in white rather than blue – or perhaps not at all – while his potential replacement is unveiled as the man to lead the line alongside Calvert-Lewin.

Should the Greek forward adapt as well as Leeds’ recruitment team believes, this could be the start of a formidable partnership.

Calvert-Lewin’s aerial power and hold-up play, paired with Ioannidis’ mobility and link-up ability, would give Leeds a blend of physical presence and tactical intelligence few Premier League sides could match.

For Farke, who has shown a willingness to tweak his system to suit his personnel, it could be the difference between another fight for survival and a push towards mid-table respectability.

And for Leeds fans, who have seen enough false dawns in recent years, it might finally be a strike duo worth getting excited about.

He’s Gnonto 2.0: Leeds exploring move to sign "electric" £13m forward

Leeds are not done signing attackers this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 15, 2025

Beth Mooney will take the gloves for the three-match series but the opening match is threatened by the weather

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2024Australia captain Alyssa Healy’s niggling knee will prevent her from keeping wicket in the ODI series against New Zealand.But she is hopeful she can play as a batter in all three games to ready herself for the Ashes in January. Beth Mooney will continue filling in for Healy behind the stumps, starting in Thursday’s series-opener at Basin Reserve in Wellington.”I won’t be wicketkeeping this series … but there’s not a lot of cricket leading into the Ashes, so for me, it’s an opportunity to try and get back on the park, as a batter, and try and find some runs more importantly,” Healy said on Wednesday.”I feel like I’ve hardly played any cricket for the last eight or nine months and there’s a good opportunity to do that. The knee’s tracking well, it’s just a day-by-day thing, and we’ll just assess as we go.”Healy’s frustrating run with injury opened the door for Australia to debut Georgia Voll in the recent home series against India. Voll, who hit scores of 46 not out, 101 and 26 in her first three ODIs, is set to be the unlucky player to drop out with Healy returning.”We’ve been transitioning for a little while, getting some youth in the side,” Healy said. “But obviously forced hand with some injuries at the moment. I think we’re in a really great space, the depth in Australian cricket is really strong.”And everyone who keeps stepping in, to take my job in particular, seems to make my runs or take wickets, so we’re in a good space at the moment.”New Zealand will enter the battle for the Rose Bowl on a high after winning the T20 World Cup in October with this their first home cricket since that historic moment. However, they have not beaten Australia in a bilateral one-day series 1999 or in an ODI since 2017.”I just remind them we pumped them in the round game, but they’re okay to have the trophy,” Healy said. “There is an air of disappointment around our group after the World Cup, I don’t think there is any way to beat around that.”I think the discussions that have come post that have been really promising, and where we want to take our cricket moving forward and how we want to play our style of game, as sad as that may seem.”New Zealand are in danger of missing direct qualification for next year’s ODI World Cup with this three-match series their last of the current Women’s Championship. They are currently sixth in the table with two automatic spots to claim alongside hosts India and already-qualified Australia, England and South Africa. Bangladesh and West Indies, who are below them, still have matches to play.A crowd of 4000 is expected at the Basin Reserve on Thursday although the forecast is poor before being more promising for the matches on Saturday and Monday.”It’s well overdue [beating Australia], but we also know the challenge we’re up against and we know that we’re going to have to be at our best to win at least two games to get that cup back,” New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said. “This is our first opportunity to play back up at home as T20 world champions…so now we just need the Wellington weather gods to play ball as well.”