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Arsenal have agreed to tie rising star left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly down to a new long-term deal, in what is a major boost for Mikel Arteta, but according to Fabrizio Romano, he’s not the only one poised to commit his future at the Emirates Stadium.

Related Arsenal offered 21-goal striker who's a "priority signing" for Tottenham

The north London clubs could go head-to-head.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

The teenage defender enjoyed a stellar breakout season over the course of 2024/2025, cementing himself as Arteta’s preferred left-back option with a string of impressive displays, which included excellent showings against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

He also scored his first senior goal for Arsenal during their 5-1 win over Man City, and his big-game displays have earned Lewis-Skelly an official nomination for this year’s PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Lewis-Skelly earned his first senior caps for England at international level along the way too, so you’d be hard-pressed to find another player who’s enjoyed the 2025 this young man has.

The versatile full-back/midfielder was so convincing, in fact, that Real started to express an interest in Lewis-Skelly amid their repeated links to fellow star Gunners defender William Saliba.

His contract was set to expire in 2026, which would’ve undoubtedly piqued Xabi Alonso’s interest further, but according to reliable media sources, Lewis-Skelly won’t be going anywhere any time soon.

The Athletic claim these fresh terms could see Arsenal’s sensation become “one of the best-paid young players in the world”, and you can argue this lucrative new pay-packet is very much deserved.

News of Lewis-Skelly’s extension comes as more welcome news for Arteta, who recently saw Gabriel put pen to paper on a new deal until 2029.

Talks are ongoing over more new contracts, with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, and Ethan Nwaneri all set to be rewarded with new offers to remain in N5 for the foreseeable (Charles Watts).

Ethan Nwaneri set to sign new Arsenal deal with Myles Lewis-Skelly

According to Romano, Lewis-Skelly’s new contract could be immediately followed by Nwaneri penning new terms.

According to the reliable transfer journalist, it is merely a “matter of time” before Arsenal’s fellow PFA Young Player of the Year nominee also signs his extension, following Nwaneri’s own impressive campaign.

The 18-year-old became Arsenal’s youngest-ever debutant in 2022, and he’s followed up that early promise with an array of convincing outings across 2024/2025.

Nwaneri scored nine goals and notched more assists over 37 appearances in all competitions last term, and he’s likely to play an even more regular role in 2025/2026, as Arteta seeks to end the club’s long wait for a league title.

“That’s what we love about him – he’s very aggressive. Before that [goal], he had another action where he made the right choice, he went for it,” said Arteta after Nwaneri scored his first ever Champions League goal in January.

“He never [looks nervous], he’s so composed, calm and confident in his ability. At 17, scoring a really important goal in the Champions League is not very common.”

If Manchester United are to claim silverware for the third season in succession, then once again the Red Devils will largely have Bruno Fernandes to thank for that success, with the club’s talismanic skipper simply dragging his side to the Europa League final.

The 30-year-old has scored seven times in the competition this term – six of which have come in the knockout stages – alongside chalking up five assists, with the Portuguese’s ice-cold penalty notably kickstarting the stunning late comeback at home to Lyon.

Of course, as the captain of a side currently residing in 16th in the Premier League table, the playmaker is not exempt from blame. No player in the current squad is above criticism.

And yet, the murmurings surrounding a potential offer from Saudi Arabia for the former Sporting CP star have only served to reinforce just how vital Fernandes is to this struggling side. As Ruben Amorim put it, he is “one of the top players in the world”.

Perhaps the modern-day equivalent of the great Bryan Robson, a shining figurehead in a far from glorious era for United, Fernandes deserves to be part of a side truly challenging for Premier League and Champions League glory.

Bruno Fernandes’ 24/25 season in numbers

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Premier League

34

8

10

Europa League

13

7

5

FA Cup

3

2

1

EFL Cup

3

2

2

Community Shield

1

0

1

Total

54

19

19

Stats via Transfermarkt

First, however, major surgery is needed to strengthen the side around him…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

After the dismal Erik ten Hag-led transfer policy, which revolved around Eredivisie-based or Dutch imports, it would appear that the INEOS regime are seeking a change in tact this time around, amid reports that the club are ready to raid the Premier League for high-profile talents.

Indeed, the two leading candidates to arrive at Old Trafford this summer appear to be Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, with the exciting pair – who have scored 27 league goals between them – looking set to depart Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, respectively.

Aside from that duo, however, Football Insider are also reporting that Amorim and co are now in ‘pole position’ to sign Bournemouth sensation, Antoine Semenyo, amid the Ghanaian’s standout season on the south coast.

Transfer Focus

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

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As per the report, the chances of United landing the 25-year-old are ‘likely to be boosted’ if they secure Europa League glory next week, with the club potentially needing to fend off Arsenal and Newcastle United in the battle for his services.

This comes amid recent speculation which suggested that INEOS were willing to fork out £38m to sign the former Bristol City man, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the Cherries would accept anything less than their £60m asking price.

If United can win the race for the forward’s signature, he could represent the perfect addition to help revive Amorim’s limp forward line.

Why Semenyo could thrive at Man Utd

As the defeat to West Ham United showcased, this is a Manchester United side devoid of energy and athleticism. As Amorim himself admitted, there was a real “lack of urgency” from his charges.

A particular problem, something which the 40-year-old has also regularly pointed to, is the club’s struggles with ‘physicality’, a factor that has perhaps explained the difference between their success domestically and on the continent.

Bringing Semenyo into the fold could then go some way toward changing that dynamic, with the 25-year-old a simply explosive and electric presence in attack, having been described as “almost unplayable” at times by journalist Ed Aarons.

As former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson stated in the past, the 6 foot 1 ace is “very difficult to play against” due to his “pace and power”, having scored nine league goals this season while operating as a striker or on the flanks.

A player who can stretch a difference with a searing run in behind, Semenyo could then strike up a devastating partnership with that man Fernandes, with United’s “creative machine” – as hailed by Kevin De Bruyne – simply a master at picking out his teammates with a lofted or threaded pass to unlock a defence.

That was notably evident with regard to the Portuguese’s relationship with Marcus Rashford in the past, having jointly contributed to 26 goals alongside the Englishman, while notably providing six assists for his exiled teammate in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign.

Interestingly, Rashford is actually noted as a similar player to Semenyo among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, thus further outlining that he has the attributes to potentially thrive in partnership with Fernandes next season.

While the captain’s long-term role in the side is yet to be decided, he is a creative weapon wherever he is deployed, be it as a number six or a number ten, having again topped the division this term for chances created (88).

All he needs now is teammates to properly thrive on those opportunities. Could Semenyo fit the bill?

Related Man Utd could sign £150k-a-week Aston Villa star if Bruno Fernandes leaves

He has enjoyed an outstanding season for his current team.

Posts 2 ByHenry Jackson May 12, 2025

2025 is set to be a year of mass overhaul in terms of Manchester City’s squad.

Numerous sky blue stalwarts are set to be moved on, while the Citizens have already spent big in the January transfer window to recruit younger players, with this forecast to be just the start.

So, with arguably the club’s greatest-ever player amongst those heading out the exit door, could Man City’s “best academy player” be poised to make an impact at first team level?

Kevin De Bruyne's Manchester City farewell

Following Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, Kevin De Bruyne now has just two matches left at the Etihad, hoping to depart by hoisting silverware aloft, ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

The Belgian revealed last week that his departure was the club’s decision, stating that he was “a bit surprised” not to be offered a new contract, refusing to rule out the possibility of staying in Europe, perhaps even joining a rival Premier League club.

Jamie Jackson of the Guardian describes De Bruyne as Man City’s greatest-ever and most-decorated player, so he will certainly be a difficult man to replace, but do the Sky Blues have a youngster or two ready to fill his rather large void?

The Manchester City youngster who could replace De Bruyne

In recent weeks, James McAtee has seen his role increase in importance, starting Man City’s last two home games, scoring his first-ever Premier League goal for the club during the comeback 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace.

However, back in January, it was reported that the 22-year-old was unhappy with his lack of first team opportunities, pushing for a move to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, who were very interested, but this move was blocked by Pep Guardiola.

Once again, James Ducker of the Telegraph is reporting that Nottingham Forest are now targeting a move for McAtee who, despite those recent starts, could be forced to move in search of more regular first-team action.

So, could it be a different Manchester City youngster who gets properly integrated into the first team picture?

Given that he’s only 17 years old and yet to make his senior debut, Divine Mukasa may not be a name you’re familiar with just yet, but you surely will be soon, and these statistics emphasise exactly why.

Man City U18s

45

3,479

19

26

Man City U19s

9

495

Zero

4

Man City U21s

4

77

Zero

1

As the table outlines, Mukasa has been starring at under-18 level this season, with only Nicholas Oyekunle (Southampton), Lucá Williams-Barnett (Tottenham) and teammate Reigan Heskey having scored more goals in the U18 Premier League this season.

This has led to journalist Nassali Sandrah labelling Mukasa “the best academy player in Europe”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout is impressed by his ‘passing, vision, ball control, creativity, dribbling and first touch’, all useful attributes!

So, while Mukasa may not be ready just yet to become a regular fixture in the Manchester City first team, he certainly appears to be a star in the making.

Even better than Costa: Pep has already sold "world-class" Man City GK

As Manchester City’s interest in Diogo Costa continues, did Pep Guardiola sell an even better goalkeeper?

ByBen Gray Apr 23, 2025

A big European club have joined the race to sign a Liverpool player who the Reds are willing to move on ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Busy summer on the cards at Liverpool with multiple exits possible

It promises to be a busy summer at Anfield, despite Arne Slot’s side being on course to lift the Premier League title over the coming weeks.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all out of contract at the end of the campaign, with the former of the three looking on course to join Real Madrid in a free transfer.

Liverpool make contact to sign "world-class" £62m striker ahead of Arsenal

The Reds are now in the race to sign a “world-class” striker, having made the first move towards getting a deal done.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 1, 2025

Van Dijk and Salah could follow the right-back out of Merseyside, however, Liverpool could also cash in on a number of players. Darwin Nunez has been linked with an Anfield exit, whereas Newcastle United have also made an offer worth more than £50m to sign Harvey Elliott.

Another player linked with a move away from Merseyside has been Federico Chiesa, who scored Liverpool’s consolation goal at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final last month.

Picking up £7.8m per year at Anfield following his move last summer, Chiesa has been of interest to Serie A side Lazio, with Liverpool ready to accept a loan offer for the Italian.

However, Lazio may not be able to afford his £150,000 per week salary, and it looks as if another Italian club has made their move for the attacker.

AS Roma make contact to sign Chiesa on loan from Liverpool

La Repubblica journalist Giulio Cardone, relayed by Sport Witness, shared a transfer update on Chiesa, this time involving AS Roma. He stated that Roma, who won the Europa Conference League in 2022, have made contact over a loan move for the forward, something Liverpool have been willing to approve.

Former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, now in charge in the eternal city, is the one who appears to be pushing for a deal.

“A mission that Ranieri has in mind is to regenerate Federico Chiesa. Contacts have already been initiated for the loan of the player from Liverpool to Roma. We will see if it is a negotiation that can develop and in what way.”

Chiesa has made close to 300 appearances in Italy for Fiorentina and Juventus, however, it hasn’t gone to plan in England with Liverpool.

Games

153

131

Goals

34

32

Assists

26

23

Minutes played

11,657

8,127

The 27-year-old has played just 387 minutes of action for the Reds, scoring twice and providing two assists in all competitions.

Now, with Liverpool and FSG ready to move him on in the summer, Chiesa could benefit from a loan move back to Italy for the 2025/26 season, making a transfer to Roma one to watch.

From being knocked out even before they knew it, they’re one game – and a little bit of luck – away from the playoffs

Shashank Kishore13-May-20244:04

McClenaghan: RCB’s whole bowling unit made contributions

Three weeks ago, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru fell one short of an epic chase at Eden Gardens, they slumped to their seventh defeat in eight games. Rooted to the bottom of the 10-team table then, you didn’t think a miracle was possible.Glenn Maxwell, their most prolific overseas allrounder, was woefully out of form. Their costliest pre-auction signing, Cameron Green, wasn’t clear about his role. Virat Kohli, their biggest brand captain or not, was under the spotlight for his post-powerplay slowdown. Faf du Plessis, the captain, was coming to grips with the challenges of juggling retirement with three months of franchise gigs.Andy Flower’s proven track record as coach – he has won titles as a coach in the PSL, CPL, Hundred, T10 League, ILT20 – is perhaps why he was signed in the first place. But the lack of a big Indian presence in the back room left you wondering if they had tactically erred many times over by not picking Mahipal Lomror in the middle order.Related

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You asked what more Vyshak Vijaykumar, who had dream figures of 4-0-23-1 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against KKR, had to do to be considered regularly. Why wasn’t Anuj Rawat, one of your scouting picks from three years ago, far from assured of a spot in the XI despite proving his batting chops in the very first game at Chepauk, where RCB haven’t won in 15 years?The lack of a genuine spinner after the infamous calls around Yuzvendra Chahal first and Wanindu Hasaranga next left them scraping the sides for somebody who could turn his arm over. Karn Sharma, the most experienced of the lot, had played two games. You didn’t quite know if they trusted Swapnil Singh, 33 and barely with any IPL experience prior to this, enough.Rajat Patidar, who could’ve so famously been consigned to the sidelines if not for a mid-season injury to Luvnith Sisodia in 2022, was amid a form crisis that seemed to have blown over from the India-England Tests. He was a floater without a proper batting number, adjusting to the demands of the format while battling his own demons.In short, way too many pieces of the jigsaw, spread across corners RCB thought they’d never be able to access, needed to be pieced together for this dysfunctional outfit to once again compete, forget about conjuring magic.Rajat Patidar has been key to RCB’s turnaround•Associated PressYet, here we are, 13 games into the league phase, beginning to wonder if the stars are aligning. Is this their year? A question asked of RCB consistently every year pre-auction. Perhaps it wasn’t a legit enough debate this year, but they’ve shredded that theory to bits, and how! Essentially, way too many results had to go their way, along with them winning, of course, for RCB to even be in the conversation.Did they believe in this miracle? Their calculators, which they unfailingly dust back to life at this time every year, have been working overtime. There’s now a realistic possibility of them securing that fourth playoff spot from under Chennai Super Kings. Or maybe with some help from Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, maybe they can edge out Sunrisers Hyderabad? There are so many possibilities.Who can understate luck amid all this? Sunday evening was meant to be a washout, one of those annual rituals that leave RCB fans tearing their hair out at times for the loss of a point, celebrating in jest at other times for salvaging one point. There was a 60% chance of thunderstorms. Three hours prior to the start, it rained in torrents for an hour.Miraculously, it cleared up for the entire duration of the game, to give RCB a chance of playing without looking at the DLS. And within an hour of the game finishing, the rain was back. Again in torrents, as if to say even the rain gods didn’t want to come in the way of this miracle.Kohli was out of the blocks in a jiffy – no look six swag and all that. Keenness to prove a point to those in the box? Who knows. Perhaps it was just the feeling of being unshackled and playing with a high tempo on a surface where RCB needed the extra runs to play for the net run rate. In any case, the change in intent has been marked. From going at 9.39 in the powerplay at an average of 34.69 in the first eight, they were now going at 11.10 while averaging 47.57 in the last five.Kohli was enjoying it so much that even his dismissal didn’t quite stir him. It elicited a cheeky sledge from Ishant Sharma, who broke the news of his India call-up many moons ago when they were room-mates, and they exchanged a friendly elbow nudge as he walked off. But while he was there, the hair-raising tempo was evident in his approach.Ishant Sharma celebrates the wicket of Virat Kohli•BCCIRCB were denied the Kohli show alright, but Patidar came out all guns blazing. Disdainfully treating Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, hitting them repeatedly into the stands. As luck would have it, he kept getting dropped too. Shai Hope grassed one at long-on, and Axar let one go at covers. Will Jacks got two reprieves, too. Axar had shelled one around the mid-on region and Tristan Stubbs misjudged one backpedalling at cover. It wasn’t just a slice of luck; they were having dollops of it.RCB had motored at 110 for 2 at the halfway mark, before the Capitals came storming back. Deliveries suddenly began to hold onto the surface, batters began going harder than before, and at times kept losing their shape. Mukesh Kumar was nailing his yorkers and Rasikh Salam was executing his cutters and back-of-the-hand variations from around the wicket. Khaleel Ahmed’s lengths were proving hard to get underneath.This gun all-Indian attack came about only because Anrich Nortje has far from been the threat he once was. And they’d found their mojo, spearheaded by Ishant, the smiling assassin. The end overs were perhaps the only passage when you genuinely wondered if RCB had let things slip. From looking good for 230, they had finished with 187.Yet, the gods were with them. David Warner nailed a slog sweep but found the lone man at the wide long-on boundary. Jake Fraser-McGurk, the first batter to hit three IPL fifties below 20 balls in a single season, began like a runaway train, hitting 21 off seven. You wondered if he was onto something, until you saw Yash Dayal’s palm come in the way of a rasping straight hit that deflected onto the stumps at the bowler’s end to run him out.How lucky could RCB get that they didn’t then have to see Rishabh Pant walking out to bat? Out suspended for poor over-rates, he was replaced by a nervous Kumar Kushagra, who was out to a wild Mohammed Siraj in-ducker. The umpire’s finger went up even before Siraj turned around to belt out an appeal.Hope flickered briefly for DC, but Green snuffed that out with a direct hit to run out Stubbs with a clean pick-up and throw back to the non-striker’s end. With Axar threatening a coup, there was a wisp of thunder, the rumbling of clouds gathering overhead. The winds picked up and you wondered if there was another twist.It wasn’t to be. The rains held off for RCB to conjure magic of the kind not many expected. Their batting tempo that was unlocked in despair – they found themselves chasing 277 and 232 back-to-back – will now possibly be a fascinating case study. On Saturday, it could be put to one final test against CSK.The stakes couldn’t have been higher. From being knocked out even before they knew it, they’re one game, and a little bit of luck, away from the playoffs.

Legspinning allrounder has only just turned 18 but ECB already keen to nurture his talent

Matt Roller29-Oct-2022Rehan Ahmed, the teenaged legspinning allrounder, took everything in his stride during a breakthrough 2022 season. He has already impressed in county cricket – last month, he recorded his maiden first-class hundred and five-for in the same Championship game – and played in the Hundred and for England Lions; Mo Bobat, the ECB’s performance director, says Ahmed has already been “inundated” with opportunities from franchises around the world.But next week, he expects to feel starstruck when he boards a plane to the UAE along with James Anderson for a training camp which will present him with an opportunity to break into England’s Test squad for their tour to Pakistan. “He’s played international cricket longer than I’ve been alive,” Ahmed, who was born in August 2004, says with a grin. “It’s crazy.”Ahmed is only 18 years old but is one of three spinners in the Lions training group that will spend November in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with Jack Carson and Liam Patterson-White. He will play against an England XI in a three-day friendly at the end of the camp, and a successful month could see him taken to Pakistan as a net bowler, or even a back-up spinner.Related

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“I am trying to stay in the present, not thinking too far ahead,” he says. “If they take me along to train with them, great; if not I will come back and train with Leicester. Personally, I feel mentally ready. They have not said ‘we are taking you’ or this or that, but I feel like I always have to be ready for that moment.”Ahmed has caught the eye with his quick, modern style of legspin, particularly in short-form cricket, but describes himself as “more of a batsman” and wants to become “a proper allrounder”. He spent the summer asking Paul Nixon and Claude Henderson, Leicestershire’s coach and director of cricket, to move up the order; in the final round of Championship game, he hit 122 off 113 from No. 5.He admits that he is cricket-obsessed. “I can’t go a day without picking up a bat or a ball,” he says. “It’s not possible.” During the Hundred, his Southern Brave coach Mahela Jayawardene told him to take a day off after seeing his insatiable appetite for training; he snuck in an early-morning session in the indoor school while Jayawardene wasn’t looking.He is also a keen cricket watcher, and thinks that England’s ultra-positivity suits his own game. “It’s the only thing I’m interested in, in my life,” Ahmed says. “I watched most of the Test matches this summer. It’s a great entertaining style and it’s not reckless either – just a very fun way to play cricket.

“My dad is from Pakistan and I have family there. It would mean the world to represent England in Pakistan. It would be great”

“I just never get sick of it, really. Even on a bad day, I’m like, so what? I just keep shadow-batting. I keep thinking about the game. People say sometimes it can get you mentally drained but as much as I try to not to, I just keep thinking about it. I just think it’s the best thing ever. I don’t really think of studies, movies, anything like that. It’s just cricket.”Perhaps that is no surprise: his father Naeem was an allrounder growing up in Pakistan but moved to the Midlands to work as a taxi driver. “He couldn’t really play cricket when he wanted to, so he wanted his sons to do it. He’d work long hours in the night and then take us to games in the morning. He sacrificed a lot for us, and my mum has been behind us the whole time.”Ahmed is one of three brothers and insists that Raheem, a left-arm seamer who has played for Leicestershire’s second XI and the eldest at 19, is the best player in the family, though his progress has stalled due to injury. Farhan, the youngest, is only 14, but bowled offspin for Nottinghamshire’s seconds this summer, with Luke Wood among his victims.Ahmed, who views himself as more of a batter, scored his maiden first-class hundred last month•Getty Images”He’s a proper cricketer,” he says of Farhan. “I don’t know why he’s an offspinner but you don’t want two legspinners in the same team. If we want to play for England, we’re going to have to do two different things. We have all had dreams about all three of us playing.”Clearly, England will have to take good care of him. “He’s someone we have a really high opinion of,” Bobat says. “He hasn’t played a huge number of games but he’s someone I’ve been speaking to quite a lot, trying to map out his winter. He’s in that category of player where he’s young, high-potential, and has done some things on TV that people get excited about.”Bobat is keen to find a balance between finding him opportunities in franchise cricket and ensuring he develops as a red-ball player. “I’ve already spent time with Leicestershire trying to map out a medium-to-long-term plan for him. English cricket has a real responsibility to manage him carefully.”Ahmed adds: “The ECB will try to do what’s best for me. I have a lot of trust in them.”If he does get an opportunity in Pakistan – in December, or in 2024 when England return for another three-Test series – it would be a special moment. “My dad is from Pakistan and I have family there, so I’ve been a few times,” he explains. “We’re from a place called Mirpur. Whenever I’ve been, I’ll go to the stadium and train and you’ll have a load of bowlers ready to bowl to you, and a load of batters ready to bat.”Every time I’ve been, it’s always been great: the way they look after you there is crazy. It would mean the world to represent England in Pakistan. It would be great.”

No team in the IPL bowls the short ball better than the four-time IPL champions, and it shows in their results

Karthik Krishnaswamy07-Oct-2020Sanju Samson has a love-hate relationship with the short ball. He scores quickly when fast bowlers go short at him, but he’s also likely to get dismissed in the process.Since the start of IPL 2018 and before Tuesday’s game against the Mumbai Indians, Samson had scored 53 off 22 balls from fast bowlers that ESPNcricinfo’s scorers had logged as “short”. That’s a strike rate of 240.90. He hadn’t scored quicker against any other length. But four of those 22 short balls had also led to his dismissal, giving him an average of 13.25 – lower than his average against any other length.The Mumbai Indians would have known all this, and would probably have more sophisticated data than ESPNcricinfo’s numbers to back up their knowledge. They would have known to attack him early with short balls.But knowing is one thing. Bowling the perfect short ball is another. Trent Boult did just that on Tuesday night: left-arm over, slanting across Samson, pounding the pitch hard, climbing towards the batsman’s right shoulder, still rising when ball met bat. Samson shouldn’t have tried to pull it, perhaps, but instinct is instinct. He met it with bat face pointing almost skywards, and the ball ballooned gently to mid-on.Samson c Rohit Sharma b Boult 0.This was the high point of a Mumbai performance that emphasised just how much their fast bowlers own the shorter lengths in the IPL. Nine of the ten wickets Mumbai took went to their seamers – calling Kieron Pollard a “fast bowler” would stretch the definition too far – and six of those nine wickets went to balls pitching short or short of a good length.This is T20, and most dismissals don’t have a grand plan behind them – you can’t plan for Steven Smith, for instance, to be dismissed hoicking across the line for the third time in a row – but Mumbai’s use of the shorter lengths against the Royals was part of a larger pattern. No team in the IPL does it as well as them.This season alone, Mumbai have enjoyed success by going short and aggressive – like the Samson delivery, or the one from James Pattinson against the Kolkata Knight Riders that chalked up another victory for bouncers against Sunil Narine – as well as with slower bouncers, like those that uprooted Sunrisers Hyderabad’s top order in Sharjah. They’ve bowled short balls at the batsman’s body, and they’ve bowled them wide outside off stump to make them reach out and lose their shape. They’ve used short balls to attack, and they’ve used them to defend by forcing batsmen to take singles to deep fielders patrolling the long boundaries.ESPNcricinfo LtdIt’s nothing new. Since the start of the 2018 season, Mumbai’s fast bowlers have bowled more short and short-of-good-length balls than those of any other team, and bowled those balls better than any other team, taking the most wickets and achieving the best average and economy rate.It’s always been part of their wider strategy. Mumbai play their home games at the Wankhede Stadium, which offers more pace and bounce than the average Indian pitch in the IPL, and their best squads have always included fast bowlers who can use short balls effectively. The defining image of Mumbai’s bowling attacks over the years might be Lasith Malinga’s yorker or Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker, but their fourth-highest wicket-taker of all time is the persistently short Mitchell McClenaghan.McClenaghan, now in his sixth season with Mumbai, hasn’t got a game yet in IPL 2020 because he’s in the back of their fast-bowling queue behind Boult, Bumrah and Pattinson, who could form a tasty Test-match pace attack, and probably also behind Nathan Coulter-Nile, who also favours the hard lengths.It’s an attack built for the Wankhede, but it wasn’t clear before this season began whether it would suit the pitches in the UAE. The team management probably saw enough upon their arrival in the country to pick Pattinson, rather than a spinner, as Malinga’s replacement when he opted out for personal reasons, and conditions – at least in the first half of the tournament – have definitely given the fast bowlers something to work with.ESPNcricinfo LtdMumbai have exploited those conditions better than most other teams so far, with their fast bowlers picking up 32 wickets in six matches, with a best-in-the-league collective average and economy rate. The Delhi Capitals, who have Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje leading their pace attack, are the only comparable team across those measures.Mumbai and the Capitals occupy the top two spots on the IPL table currently, and own the two best net run rates too. It can’t just be a coincidence.

Aaron Boone and his Yankees are heading north of the border for the AL Division Series after taking care of the Red Sox. Now, they have another rival in front of them in the AL East champion Blue Jays.

Toronto and New York finished the regular season with the same record (94-68), but the Blue Jays took the division and a bye to the ALDS thanks to owning the tiebreaker over the Yankees. During the division race, Blue Jays broadcaster and former big leaguer Buck Martinez didn't hold back his true thoughts on the Yankees.

"Ya know, the Yankees, they're not a good team," Martinez said on a broadcast Sept. 9. "I don't care what their record is. They have a lot of wild pitches, they make a lot of mistakes in the field, they don't run the bases very well. If they don't hit home runs, they don't have a chance to win."

Boone certainly recalled those choice words and is using them as motivation ahead of Game 1 against the Blue Jays Saturday.

"I feel like the last couple months, we started to play really well. Contrary to some thoughts up here, we're a really good team," he said to reporters Friday via SNY.

After a follow-up question, the Yankees manager addressed Martinez's shade directly. "I know Buck had some thoughts, that's all I was responding to. He's wrong," he continued.

The Yankees won a decisive Game 3 against Boston Thursday at Yankee Stadium to keep their season alive. And ironically, they didn't hit a home run in the big 4-0 win. Now, Boone's squad has an opportunity to prove Martinez wrong with a trip to the ALCS on the line.

MLB's inaugural Rivalry Weekend kicks off on Friday with a slew of competitive matchups. The weekend is highlighted by Juan Soto's return to Yankee Stadium for the first time as a member of the New York Mets, but the slate contains a bunch of intriguing matchups for baseball fans to watch. Eleven of the 15 series are interleague matchups, and two are between division rivals.

Below is our ranking of the weekend's rivalry matchups in terms of how exciting and competitive they should be. All home teams are listed second.

1. New York Mets vs. New York Yankees

All-time record: 84–67, Yankees

Two of baseball's best teams will battle in the rivalry known as the Subway Series, a rematch of the 2000 World Series. The big storyline will be Juan Soto returning to Yankee Stadium for the first time since ditching the Bronx to join the Mets on a $765 million contract. I'm sure he'll be welcomed back warmly by Yankees fans.

2. Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres

All-time record: 68–63, Mariners

This “rivalry” doesn’t have much notable history, but these teams do have the second-best combined records in 2025 of this weekend’s matchups. It features two of the best, most dynamic center fielders in baseball in San Diego’s Jackson Merrill and Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez. Plus, this is the first official edition of the 2025 Vedder Cup. A can't-miss series.

3. Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

All-time record: 50–44, Red Sox

Both teams are hovering around .500 but should be far better and could combine for some quality baseball. Boston is bringing its Rafael Devers drama into the weekend. The new lefty ace the Red Sox acquired from the White Sox (Garrett Crochet) will face the old lefty ace they acquired from the White Sox (Chris Sale) on Friday night.

4. Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Guardians

All-time record: 76–59, Guardians

Former Guardians manager Terry Francona is set to face his former team with his new squad this weekend in the Ohio Cup. It'll be his first time on the other side of this rivalry, as he compiled a 32–19 record against the Reds with Cleveland.

5. Washington Nationals vs. Baltimore Orioles

All-time record: 64–52, Orioles

Both teams have been bad this season, but they also possess two of the best young cores in the game. Washington's James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Dylan Crews, and Baltimore's Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson are 24 years old or younger. The Beltway Series should be exciting for years to come.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies

All-time record: 1,230–1,085–8, Pirates

The Pirates are terrible, but at least this series is giving us an elite pitching matchup. On Sunday, Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes (3–4, 2.63 ERA) will go head-to-head with Cristopher Sánchez (4–1, 2.91 ERA). Plus, it's a chance to watch Kyle Schwarber (NL-leading 14 home runs) continue to mash baseballs. Pittsburgh won last year's season series between the Pennsylvania rivals for the first time since 2017. Fun fact: Despite having by far the most head-to-head matchups of any teams on this list, the Phillies and Pirates have never met in the postseason.

7. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals

All-time record: 79–56, Cardinals

This rematch of the 1985 World Series, which the Royals won in seven games, will feature a great pitching matchup on Sunday as former Cardinal Michael Wacha (3-4, 2.96 ERA) will duel with southpaw Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 3.11 ERA), who’s enjoying a long-awaited breakout campaign.

8. Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays

All-time record: 247–212, Blue Jays

On paper, this feels like one of the leftover matchups, considering these two American League teams have never met in the playoffs. The Tigers are excellent this season, however, and the Blue Jays’ top three starters have ERAs under 4.00, which gives them a fighting chance against an elite Detroit rotation.

9. Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

All-time record: 75–73, Angels

Shohei Ohtani will be facing his former team again, but the Angels are missing Mike Trout (again), which puts a damper on the possibility this series will be competitive.

10. Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers

All-time record: 144–142, Rangers

These two underachieving teams will face off for four games in Arlington and whoever wins could wind up near the top of the tightly bunched AL West. The Lone Star State rivals played against each other in the 2023 ALCS, which the Rangers won in seven games–their only playoff matchup.

11. Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants

All-time record: 89–79, A’s

The longtime interleague foes have faced off in the World Series four times, most recently in 1989, with the A’s winning three of those matchups. But this rivalry lost a significant amount of juice when the A's left Oakland. Both teams are better than expected this season, but it's hard to get fired up about San Francisco vs. Sacramento/Las Vegas.

12. Milwaukee Brewers vs. Minnesota Twins

All-time record: 255–242, Twins

Don't expect offensive fireworks in Minneapolis. The Twins rank 22nd in OPS (.679), while the Brewers are 27th (.656), though Minnesota’s eight-game winning streak entering Wednesday gives this series some extra juice if that’s still active entering the weekend.

13. Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs

All-time record: 78–74, White Sox

The White Sox have the Pope, the Cubs have Pete Crow-Armstrong. I'll leave it up to you to decide which is more important to the city. The Pale Hose are better than last season, but that's not saying much. Expect the Cubs to win the Crosstown Classic again.

14. Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies

All-time record: 262–209, D-Backs

The Rockies look like one of the worst teams in baseball's modern era. No amount of Corbin Carroll raking is going to save this matchup.

15. Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays

All-time record: 81–60, Rays

Perhaps the novelty of this game being played at the Yankees’ spring training facility will get more fans to show up than usual for these teams, but there's not much to get excited about when it comes to two of MLB’s cheapest franchises.

If the Los Angeles Dodgers want to repeat as World Series champs, they'll have do it without a key cog in their bullpen machine.

Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss at least the rest of the 2025 season, manager Dave Roberts announced Friday ahead of the team's series against the New York Yankees.

"It's surprising," Roberts said via Sonja Chen of MLB.com. "More disappointed for Evan, but he just wasn't responding to the rest and then (trying) to ramp back up. Ultimately, that was kind of the advice and the route he decided to go."

Phillips ends '25 with a 0-0 record and 0.00 ERA to go with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

He last pitched on May 5, working a scoreless inning in a 7–4 win over the Miami Marlins. A move to the injured list with right forearm discomfort followed, and that snowballed into a shift to the 60-day injured list Thursday as Los Angeles traded for a potential replacement.

A valued member of the Dodgers' bullpen since 2021, Phillips saved 42 games for Los Angeles from 2023 to '24.