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Moeen Ali has ended his 15-year association with Worcestershire by returning to Warwickshire on a three-year white-ball contract.Moeen, 35, was born in Sparkhill, Birmingham – a few miles down the road from Edgbaston – and reaffirmed his ties with the city last year by captaining Birmingham Phoenix in the inaugural season of the Hundred, a role that will continue this year.The deal marks Moeen’s return to the club where he started his professional cricket career as a 15-year-old. He developed through the Warwickshire Academy and Second XI ranks, striking a half-century on his first-class and County Championship debuts.In total, Moeen made 16 appearances for Warwickshire, before joining Worcestershire in 2007.Related

• Moeen Ali named as Birmingham Bears captain for Blast campaign

• One of the great county rivalries, stripped of all that's good about the game

• Warwickshire squeeze home Blast quarter-final into Edgbaston's packed schedule

• Warwickshire land long-term target as Ed Barnard signs three-year deal

• Moeen Ali confirms reversal of Test retirement ahead of Pakistan tour

And though Moeen officially retired from Test cricket last year, having recently given an indication that he would be willing to consider a recall for this winter’s tour of Pakistan, his new Warwickshire deal includes a “pay-as-you-play” clause for potential appearances in the County Championship.In his time at Worcestershire, Moeen has become an international star, making 228 England appearances across formats, including 2914 runs and 195 wickets in 64 Tests, plus a key role in the England ODI squad that rose from ignominy at the 2015 World Cup to becoming champions four years later.He is also one of the most sought-after overseas signings at the Indian Premier League, following stints at Royal Challengers Bangalore and now Chennai Super Kings.”I’m delighted to return home to Edgbaston,” Moeen said. “I was born and raised just a few miles away from the stadium, with my life always centred around Birmingham.”When the opportunity presented itself, it was a decision I couldn’t say no to and I believe I have unfinished business at the Bears. I’m incredibly excited to be back and to play in front of the best atmosphere in world cricket.”It’s a place that has so much history and players always have memories and stories of playing here. I’m looking forward to contributing and be part of hopefully something special.”I’m sad to be leaving Worcestershire after so long and have loved every minute of it. I’ve played with some amazing people and owe a huge thanks to the club for bringing me here and giving me the platform to perform. I now feel it’s time to go back to Birmingham for the back end of my career, but I will always love Worcestershire.”Moeen captained Worcestershire to the T20 Blast title in 2018•Getty Images

Paul Farbrace, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, said: “Mo is a huge signing for Warwickshire and a real statement of intent for our ambitions.”Mo is someone I’ve known for many years and is a leader on and off-the-pitch. The experience he will bring to the club will be pivotal in our development as a team.”He says himself that he has unfinished business at Warwickshire and I’m sure the Members and supporters will be excited to see Mo back as a Bear.”Moeen captained Worcestershire to the T20 Blast title in 2018 and to the final the following year but the club have struggled in the competition this season and his appearances have been sporadic due to his various other commitments.Paul Pridgeon, the chair of their cricket steering group, said: “It’s disappointing to lose a player of Moeen’s calibre, but we have expected it could possibly happen for some time. Mo was a big part of the dressing room and had made enormous contributions on and off the field for a long time.”He will be remembered as an iconic Worcestershire player and will always be welcome at New Road. We wish him all the very best.”

Arsenal have reportedly moved to secure the future of promising young goalkeeper Alexei Rojas at Emirates.

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• Rojas set to extend at Arsenal
• GK set to be promoted to first team in 2025/26
• Will sign on improved terms

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Reports from indicate that Arsenal’s management has prioritized Rojas' contract renewal, viewing him as an important part of their long-term goalkeeping plans. The agreement serves as a strong vote of confidence in the teenager's abilities, with the club eager to give him opportunities at the senior level.

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  While Rojas’ contract extension is a significant step for the club, David Raya remains firmly established as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper. However, the Gunners have been exploring options for a strong backup goalkeeper, with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana reportedly pushing for the signing of Espanyol shot-stopper Joan Garcia. The Spaniard has gained recognition for his performances in La Liga, making him a highly sought-after talent. Hence, convincing him to accept a secondary role behind Raya could prove to be a difficult task.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Although an official announcement is still pending, AS Colombia reported that Rojas has already signed the new contract, committing his immediate future to Arsenal. The revised deal improves his contract terms, though the specific financial details remain undisclosed.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  With a crucial summer transfer window approaching, Arsenal are laying the groundwork for a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts next season. In the short term, the Gunners will be in action on Tuesday against Fulham in their next Premier League fixture.

It was assumed Eric Dier would leave Bayern Munich when his current deal expires, but new reports suggest the defender will stay in Bavaria.

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• Dier wants to stay alongside Kane
• The Englishman is viewed as a dependable squad player
• 31-year-old is out of contract in the summer

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to reports by Sky Deutschland, the Englishman's solid performances, leadership skills and popularity with his teammates have made Bayern's top brass reconsider their position on the 31-year-old's future. Talks between Dier's representatives and the Bavarian giants will continue over the next few weeks. The centre back is keen to stay, and feels comfortable in Bavaria alongside his friend Harry Kane.

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  Dier has been content with deputising for first-choice centre back pairing Min-Jae Kim and Dayot Upamecano. His professionalism has led to Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl hinting that an extension is possible.

• WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

  Max Eberl said: "Eric Dier is also a player who, through his performances, has absolutely made it possible to think about what the future might look like."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ERIC DIER?

  Dier will likely take his usual position on the bench for today's away game at Union Berlin. Bayern will hope to strengthen their grip on the Bundesliga title. They hold an eight-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen with nine games remaining.

MatériaMais Notícias

Pela partida de ida das semifinais do Carioca, o Flamengo venceu o Vasco por 1 a 0, nesta quarta, com gol de Gabigol. Conhecido por ser o “Rei dos Clássicos”, Bruno Henrique passou em branco novamente, porém teve a sequência interrompida ao ser substituído por conta de dores no ombro esquerdo.

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Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

Bruno Henrique saiu de ação no intervalo – deu lugar a Lázaro. E, após o jogo, o Flamengo atualizou a situação física do camisa 27, que não teve fratura no local constatada:

– O atleta Bruno Henrique realizou exame, que não constatou fratura, apenas uma luxação. Será reavaliado amanhã (17), no CT – informou o Fla, que passa a ter o atacante como dúvida para o próximo jogo.

> Veja a tabela do Cariocão

A DEFINIÇÃO DO FINALISTA

O jogo da volta será realizado às 16h deste domingo, novamente no Maracanã, sendo que o Flamengo conta com a vantagem do placar igual no agregado – por ter feito uma campanha superior ao Vasco, que perdeu todos os clássicos em 2022, na Taça Guanabara.

Romelu Lukaku has claimed he was forced to change in the youth dressing rooms at Chelsea during his ill-fated second spell at the club.

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• Lukaku returned to Chelsea in 2021
• Struggled to get going in second spell
• Left permanently to join Napoli

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lukaku returned to Chelsea in 2021, becoming the club's then-record signing for a staggering £98 million ($136m) fee. He played just 26 Premier League games, however, scoring eight goals, and was subsequently shipped out on loan, first to Inter, and then to Roma. He joined Napoli last summer.

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  Now, the Belgium international has lifted the lid on his nightmare spell in west London, claiming that he was forced to change in the youth dressing rooms, and has also accused the Blues of trying to tarnish his image in the media.

• WHAT LUKAKU SAID

  Speaking to , he said: "I wasn't alone at Chelsea. [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and [Hakim] Ziyech were also out of the project. They made us change in the youth locker room. It’s business, the club tells you it doesn’t want you anymore and often also where you’ll end up. But if you want to leave, even for serious reasons, you don’t have the option. They drag it out until the last moment, they wear you down. 

  "Clubs have relationships with the media, and it doesn’t take much to put a player in a difficult position or create the wrong image. Believe me, I’ve seen things I never thought I would. One day, I’d like to explain all of this to younger players, who is really working for them and who is working against them."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Lukaku has scored nine goals for Napoli in Serie A this season and will next be in action when they face Fiorentina this weekend.

Mohamed Salah has become the first player to score and assist in 10 games in one of Europe's big five leagues since Lionel Messi in 2014/15.

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• Salah scored and assisted against Villa
• Equalled Messi's record
• His 29th goal of the season

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Egyptian is having an incredible season and his goal and assist in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa put him in illustrious company, as Salah became the first player since Messi to score and assist in 10 separate matches in one season in one of Europe's top five leagues. This record was set when Messi, Suarez and Neymar were firing on all cylinders as one of the most lethal front threes in football history, a sign of the company Salah's now keeping.

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  According to stats gurus OptaJoe, Messi scored and assisted in 11 games that season, a record that you could easily see Salah breaking. So far the Liverpool forward has a whopping 24 goals and 15 assists in 26 Premier League games, plus three goals and four assists in seven Champions League appearances this term. In terms of attacking numbers, he's enjoying one of the most outstanding campaigns of the Premier League era.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  This isn't the only record Salah broke in the game against Villa; his 29th of the season in all competitions was also his 15th goal away from home, the most a Liverpool player has scored away from home in a single Premier League season. Previously, Luis Suarez had the record with 14 away goals in the 2013/14 season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SALAH?

  Given his consistently outstanding performances this season, it seems remarkable that Salah could be leaving Liverpool in the summer. He's out of contract at the end of 2024/25 but Slot and the rest of the Liverpool hierarchy will surely do everything they can to keep him on the books beyond June. That being said, there's a chance he could sign off with a Premier League title, a Champions League win, and a raft of individual records broken — there's no better way to go than that.

The 2020 summer transfer window saw West Ham United make four permanent signings, along with two loan deals to bring six new players to the club. This also saw the Hammers let go of seven players on permanent deals, including the sale of Sebastian Haller for just £20m, despite signing him for £45m in 2019.

The biggest signing that summer was the addition of Said Benrahma from Brentford, who joined for a fee of around £20m plus add-ons. The Algerian made 155 appearances in his time at the club, scoring 24 goals, providing 20 assists, and totalling 8,720 minutes played.

West Ham 2020/21 signings

Player

Fee (£)

Said Benrahma

£19.3m

Tomas Soucek

£13.5m

Vladamir Coufal

£5m

Jesse Lingard

£3.6m

Frederik Alves

£1.3m

Craig Dawson

£922k

Stats taken from Transfermarkt

The signings of Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson were loan deals, with both players making big statements in their time at the club, Lingard making 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, scoring nine times and providing four assists, whilst Dawson made 22 Premier League appearances, scoring three times, and contributing to seven clean sheets, prior to signing permanently.

But it was actually one of the departures that same season that upset club legend Mark Noble, who expressed his anger at one sale in particular.

West Ham's own Cazorla

West Ham sold Grady Diangana to West Brom in 2020, for a fee of around £18m. And Noble was quick to let his thoughts on this be known, writing “as captain of this football club, I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future”.

Just two years earlier (2018), Manuel Pellegrini stated Diangana reminded him of a young Santi Cazorla, saying he had the potential to emulate the Arsenal legend:

As it proved, the winger made just 21 appearances for the West Ham first team, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

Since joining West Brom, Diangana has gone on to make 176 appearances for the club, netting 22 times, providing 19 assists, and totalling 10,232 minutes played. The 26-year-old has only played 420 minutes this season, yet to provide a goal or assist, and his value according to Transfermarkt is down at £3.3m.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

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So West Ham currently look like they made the correct decision, selling the winger for a great fee (£18m), whilst his value was at its peak. But how has the sale of Diangana also impacted the wingers since for West Ham?

West Ham's current crop of wingers

The Hammers have gone on to acquire the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Crysencio Summerville, and even Luis Guilherme as their set of wingers, who all currently look to be outperforming Diangana.

Diangana compared to current West Ham wingers

Stats (per 90 mins)

Diangana

Bowen

Kudus

Summerville

Goals

0.00

0.37

0.26

0.24

Assists

0.00

0.19

0.13

0.00

xG

0.06

0.21

0.38

0.25

xAG

0.06

0.33

0.11

0.21

Progressive Carries

2.13

4.02

5.00

3.75

Progressive Passes

5.11

3.91

2.70

1.67

Shots Total

1.06

2.50

3.64

1.67

Key Passes

0.43

2.53

0.68

2.08

Shot-Creating Actions

1.91

4.02

3.38

5.00

Stats taken from FBref

Diangana ranks last in eight of the nine metrics analysed above, all of which are considered to be important metrics for wingers/attacking midfielders. The 26-year-old does rank highest for progressive passing, with 5.11 per 90, but he also ranks the lowest for key passes, with 0.43 per 90.

Bowen, who was signed just six months before Diangana’s departure, has the best output of all the wingers (both goals and assists), produces the highest xAG (expected assisted goals), and plays the most key passes per 90.

Whilst at the time, Noble and many others were angry and upset about the sale of Diangana, it seems to have worked for the best, with West Ham now having the likes of Bowen, Kudus and Summerville on their books, all of which are valued significantly higher than the 26-year-old Diangana.

Related West Ham wasted £52.8m on flop who earned over 2x more than Summerville

West Ham had a howler on the big-money signing.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2024

Defend a lot. Be clear on whether you’re playing back or forward. And stick around for a couple of sessions. This is West Indies’ batting game-plan for the second Test according to captain Kraigg Brathwaite.With the surface for the second Test expected to be even more spin-friendly than the first, West Indies’ batters technique and application seems set for another major examination.”The plan is to be clear in what you want to do. Believe that you can do it, and do it for long periods,” Brathwaite said. “We’ve got to have the discipline and the fight to do it for 50 overs – more than two sessions, or three sessions.”We had a lot of discussions. One important thing is that you’ve got to defend a lot of balls. Having a straight bat is one thing we discussed.  That’s very important. And sweeping as well – especially the offspinner. It’s just about being clear and confident about whether you’re playing forward or back.”West Indies’ only half-centurions in the first Test were Nkrumah Bonner and Joshua da Silva, who put up a 100-run stand in the second innings, rescuing the side from 18 for 6. Brathwaite said the remainder of the batters had drawn inspiration from that partnership.”Bonner and Josh showed that when you have a solid defence, if you put the effort and energy in, you’ll be successful. Sometimes when doubt comes in, you can slip up a bit. Just trust that defence. When the bad balls come you get runs. It’s important to have that clarity, as to what you want to do here.”In terms of how they were able to manoeuvre different balls, they were a very good example for us. As a batting group, it was good to see, and something to learn from.”West Indies have had a mixed 2021. They began with an excellent 2-0 victory in Bangladesh, before drawing two Tests at home against Sri Lanka. Their worst series was the 2-0 defeat at South Africa’s hands at home, before drawing a home series against Pakistan 1-1. Brathwaite outlined the importance of the next match: if they beat Sri Lanka, they would have won more matches in 2021 than they’ve lost.”To be honest we showed good progress in 2021. It was not a good series against South Africa, but we bounced back decent against Pakistan. In Bangladesh we won that series 2-0. Winning this game will be very crucial from a points perspective for the Test Championship. As a team we’ve made some strides. Once the group stays together and keeps building, that’s crucial.”