Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to pay £70m to sign AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, as they believe he would be perfect for Thomas Frank.

It is little wonder Tottenham are looking to bring in a new forward, given that some of their current attacking options have been far from impressive so far this season, with Jamie O’Hara left fuming by Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani after the Chelsea defeat.

Mathys Tel has also found it difficult to adapt to life in the Premier League, with the 20-year-old being dropped to the bench in recent weeks, having now scored just one goal in his opening 10 matches in all competitions.

Spurs’ attacking woes were particularly apparent in the 1-0 defeat against their London rivals on Saturday, failing to craft a single big chance, while also having just three shots in the entire match.

Tottenham willing to make offer for Antoine Semenyo

Having struggled in front of goal, Tottenham are now willing to make their club-record signing in one of the stars of the Premier League this season, with a report from Spain revealing they are prepared to make a bid of around €80m (£70m) for Semenyo.

There is a belief the Bournemouth forward would be ideal for Frank, given that he is fast, powerful and clinical, but there could be competition for the Ghanaian’s signature, as several unnamed European clubs are also keen.

The Cherries value the 25-year-old highly, but they may be willing to cash-in for the right price this winter, with a £80m fee being touted.

The Bournemouth star has shown signs of year-on-year development since first emerging as a regular starter in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season, and he is already over half-way to matching his goal and assist tally from the previous campaign.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

33

11

2024-25

37

17

2025-26

10

9

Scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the Ghana international in the past, urging Arsenal to sign him back in February.

Semenyo has earned a move to a top club, with his performances this season indicating he is ready to make the step-up, and it would be a real statement of intent from ENIC if they were able to get a deal done.

Tottenham now leading race for Samu Aghehowa Tottenham leading race for Samu Aghehowa with FC Porto now willing to sell

Spurs have set out to sign a new striker.

ByDominic Lund Nov 2, 2025

Newcastle United didn’t rest on their laurels after winning the Carabao Cup and restoring their place in the Champions League last season, breaking their transfer record for expenditure in a summer transfer window.

Of course, Eddie Howe’s side parted ways, rather acrimoniously, with centre-forward Alexander Isak, who had refused to train throughout August in order to force his way out and to Premier League champions Liverpool.

There is no two ways about it: this was a big blow for a club on the up. However, if you are going to lose your star man, swap him with an elite-class replacement.

Having banked £125m for the Sweden star’s signature, funds were redirected toward Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, who completed a £69m move at the end of August.

Why Woltemade could be one of Newcastle's best signings

Given that he’s Newcastle’s club-record purchase, you’d hope that Howe would be receiving bang for his buck when welcoming the striker to the fold, not least because he is stepping into Isak’s boots.

But seven games into his career in black and white, the German international has scored four goals from seven matches and is grasping the opportunity to nail down his spot as Yoane Wissa continues to recover from a knee injury suffered before he could make his debut.

Praised by Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor in the past as “the two-metre Messi”, the 6 foot 6 striker is as rangy as they come, but he’s anything but ungainly.

Endowed with a deft technical skill and an awareness that allows him to link up fluidly with his teammates, there’s so much potential for Howe to tap into over the coming years, and if he continues as he has started, Toon fans will remember Isak as little more than an afterthought.

It’s hard to hit the ground running in the Premier League, and the likes of Isak and Anthony Gordon stand as evidence at St. James’ Park as to why it’s important to give players time to integrate.

Howe's original Woltemade-type signing

Though his first foray into English football was heavily disrupted by a ten-month fan as a result of betting breaches, Sandro Tonali started as he would eventually go on, netting on his debut for Newcastle against Aston Villa in August 2023.

It was clear from the off that Howe had signed a high-quality midfielder, welcoming Tonali from AC Milan in Italy for a £55m fee. Hailed by Italian reporter Carlo Garganese for his “world-class” potential when cutting his teeth in his homeland, Tonali has rebounded from that first-season setback and now plays as the linchpin at the heart of the Magpies’ engine.

Elegant and effortless on the ball, the 25-year-old works perfectly alongside Bruno Guimaraes, with his control and reading of the game opening up avenues for the Brazilian, whose athleticism and ability to cover vast stretches of ground have seen Howe nudge him into a slightly more advanced berth.

As with Woltemade, Tonali’s signature came at a heavy financial cost, but he is playing with a gusto and quality that suggests he could be one of the key pillars of Howe’s tactical vision for many years to come.

Both players have yet to hit their prime, and that’s an exciting thing. Moreover, Tonali is becoming ever more important as the architect of Newcastle’s ball-playing fluency, just as, with Wissa injured, Woltemade is tasked with scoring the goals for this title-chasing team.

Kieran Trippier

6

10.4

Sandro Tonali

7

7.31

Jacob Ramsey

2

7.14

Bruno Guimaraes

6

6.33

Lewis Hall

3

6.00

He’s been ever-present in the Premier League so far this season, and there’s a reason Howe has entrusted him with such an important role.

Tonali, like Woltemade, faced questions upon completing a big-money move to Tyneside, but his quality on the pitch has prevailed and he has risen to a standing in Howe’s squad as one of the most significant cogs in the machine.

Forget Gordon: Newcastle's "Geordie striker" could be England's next superstar

Newcastle have replenished their academy system in recent years.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025

Initially signed to play two red-ball and ten List A games, Khaleel flew back after just two County Championship matches citing personal reasons

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2025

Khaleel Ahmed, the India bowler, has ended his time with Essex after playing two first-class matches for them in the ongoing County Championship.The pacer had initially signed with the club for a two-month stint, which would’ve seen him playing six first-class matches – the remainder of Essex’s first-class season – as well as a maximum of ten possible List A games in the One-Day Cup.The club announced his signing in June, after he had impressed for India A with a spell of 4 for 70 during a red-ball game against the England Lions. He flew out to join the side for a stint that was supposed to last till late September and played in two matches, taking just four wickets at an average of 64.50.However, Essex released a press statement saying that Khaleel had returned home ahead of his remaining fixtures with the club. “While we are disappointed to see him leave,” a statement said, “we fully support Khaleel’s decision and are grateful for the contributions he made during his time with us.”Khaleel, who last played for India in 2019, has taken 15 wickets in 11 ODIs at an average of 31.00. On the other hand, he has been in action for his domestic side, Rajasthan, and was also picked for last year’s Duleep Trophy. Across 22 first-class matches, he has taken 60 wickets at an average of 30.13.He will also be in contention for a spot for the inter-zonal Duleep Trophy competition, which kickstarts India’s red-ball domestic season on August 28.

Glamorgan squander promising position at 199 for 3 as offspinner finds life in Old Trafford deck

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Glamorgan 260 for 8 (Tribe 61) vs Lancashire Australian spinner Chris Green managed to take six wickets on the much-criticised Emirates Old Trafford pitch as Lancashire had the better of the first day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan.After just four wickets fell during the last day-and-a-half of the recent Test match between England and India, the home side’s bowlers looked to be facing another uphill task in Manchester until the introduction of Green turned the proceedings the Red Rose’s way with the Welsh outfit 260 for 8 at the close of play.For Glamorgan, half-centuries from opener Asa Tribe (61) and Kiran Carlson (77) had put them in a relatively good place and from a position of 199 for 3 after winning the toss and electing to bat they will be rueing their inability to cope with Green’s off spin which claimed 6 for 82 off 34 overs.Earlier and under leaden skies, the decision to bat looked a brave one, but opening bowlers James Anderson and Tom Bailey failed to make much headway against a resolute first wicket pair of Zain-ul-Hassan and Tribe.George Balderson, who received his county cap before play from legendary Pakistani allrounder Wasim Akram, also sent down five fruitless overs and it took until the introduction of Green for Lancashire to threaten the Glamorgan openers. Zain was the first to fall, caught behind by Phil Salt for 31, ending a partnership of 76 runs for the first wicket.Green was suddenly threatening the wickets with every ball, extracting turn and bounce and inducing a number of false shots from Tribe and skipper Sam Northeast, who became the Australian’s second victim when he was trapped in front for 10.Tribe fell 22 balls later soon after completing a well-made half century which should really have been more but for the Channel Islander picking out Bailey perfectly on the leg-side boundary with a sweep.With Tom Hartley tying down the other end, Glamorgan looked in peril but Carlson and Colin Ingram took the opportunity to counter attack with 86 runs coming from the fourth-wicket pair either side of tea until Green raised hopes of taking all 10 for by snaring the latter lbw for 33.Bailey returned to dash that dream when he clean bowled Ben Kellaway for a duck to leave the lower middle order exposed and Green needed no further invitation to complete his third career five-for when Carlson’s innings ended with an edge to Luke Wells.The visitors were subsiding quickly and Chris Cooke was the next to walk after he was stumped by Salt to hand Green his sixth wicket with Glamorgan having suddenly lost four wickets for 30 runs and in danger of undoing their day’s work.With 10 overs of the day left James Harris was dropped by Salt off Bailey while on 8 as he and Mason Crane painstakingly looked to eke out some runs after Lancashire took the second new ball. But after surviving one chance Harris played across the line to Hartley and lost his off stick to the England spinner who is fresh from taking 10 wickets in his last outing for Lancashire.Crane and Ned Leonard managed to see out the remaining overs but Lancashire will be hoping to begin their reply sooner rather than later come the second morning.

تحدث محمود حسن تريزيجيه، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن تسجيل ركلة الجزاء أمام الزمالك في الدوري المصري.

وقال تريزيجيه عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “ركلة الجزاء في مباراة قمة الدوري كانت تحديًا كبيرًا، لكن منذ صغري وأنا أتعلم الضغوطات وتحمل المسؤولية في الأهلي، أخطأت في وقت سابق، وسددت وكان ليس دوري لكن تلك المرة دخلت ولم تفرق معي الضغوطات”.

وتابع: “زملائي في الملعب دعمونني، دخلت للتسديد وفكرة إضاعتها لم تكن في حساباتي”.

وأضاف: “الأهلي أعظم نادي في العالم بالنسبة لي، وكنت أحلم بالعودة يوم من الأيام، وأنا أحب اللعب تحت الضغوط”.

طالع.. طريق الأهلي في كأس مصر 2025-2026

وأشار: “أنزل أي مباراة وأنا أقدر جمهور الأهلي، وأعلم ماذا يعني هذا القميص، لقد جئت من الاحتراف وعدت لبيتي، وألعب كل مباراة أمام أي خصم وكأنه ريال مدريد أو نهائي، أهم شيء شعب الأهلي يكون مبسوط، وعندما نخسر أقسم بالله لا أنام”.

واستكمل: “الفترة الأخيرة كان هناك سوء توفيق كبير، هناك ناس بعد المباراة تكون الأمور عادية بالنسبة لهم، لكن أنا بعد الخسارة لا أريد أن يراني أحدًا وأفكر في المباراة التالية، كل ما يهمني هو إسعاد جماهير الأهلي”.

واسترسل بشأن مباراة السوبر: “بعد مواجهة المصري التي لم يحالفنا فيها التوفيق، تحدثنا مع بعض في الطائرة أنه يجب التتويج بتلك البطولة، وكان الكل في صوت واحد يقول نحن معك وسنعود بالبطولة من أجل إسعاد الجماهير، والحمد لله التوفيق كان حليفنا”.

وأفاد: “مباراة سيراميكا كانت صعبة جدًا بقيادة علي ماهر، الذي اكتشفني وأظهرني على الساحة، والحمد لله تخطينا المباراة وتأهلنا، الزمالك فريق كبير ومواجهته في النهائي شعور مختلف، وأحب تلك المباريات جدًا، هاك ناس خلقت لتلك الظروف وأنا واحد منهم”.

وأشار: “الزمالك يمتلك لاعبين كبار، والتوفيق كان معنا، و زيزو لاعب كبير، وكنت أتكلم معه قبل المباراة ووضعنا سيناريوهات كثيرة، وقال أنا أعلم ماذا سيحدث لكني سأركز في المباراة، بالتأكيد كان متأثرًا من داخله، لكن في الملعب كان عنده ثبات انفعالي وقدم مباراة كبيرة”.

وعن طاهر محمد طاهر: “لاعب الأهلي مخلوق للضغوطات، ويعرفون طموحات جماهيرهم، لكن هناك لاعبين تحت الضغوط لا تأخذ منهم أفضل شيء، لكن طاهر كل مرة يثبت أنه لاعب كبير”.

واسترسل: “لا أسعى لأي أرقام فردية، أسعى للفوز بكل بطولة فقط، وعندما كنا في الناشئين، بعد خسارة أي بطولة نعلم أن هناك 4 لاعبين على الأقل سيرحلون، تربينا على المكسب وتفكيري دائمًا في البطولات”.

وأضاف عن انتقاله للأهلي: “الكابتن محمود الخطيب أول من تحدث معي، في الساعة 5 صباحًا، لنضع حلًا خاصة وأن النادي التركي كانت مطالبه كبيرة جدًا، وكانت هناك عروض كبيرة جدًا من أندية أخرى”.

وأردف: “الخطيب قال لي النادي يحتاجك الآن، وهذا الوقت الذي يجب أن تعود فيه، وقلت له يا كابتن سآسعى للعودة وكان عندي عروض بـ5 أو 6 أضعاف للنادي التركي ولي شخصيًا، لكن رغبتي كانت الأهلي”.

وتابع: “قلت لـ طرابزون إما الأهلي أو عدم اللعب، أنا سأنهي عقدي مع الريان وستكون السنة الأخيرة، وأنا لاعب كرة قدم فقط، وحياتي كلها كرة فقط، وحبي للنادي الأهلي كبير، تركت كل شيء في الخارج وعدت للنادي”.

وأتم ردًا على سؤال كيف لم تفكر في الأموال: “أنا لا أزايد على الأهلي، عندما أقول أنا تحت أمر الأهلي ليس بالكلام ولكن بالأفعال، وعندما قررت العودة كنت في قمة مستواي، وأظهرت للكابتن الخطيب هذه العروض، وقلت له سأعود للنادي الأهلي”.

Samuel Umtiti slammed Barcelona as he opened up about his 'rift' with the Catalan club and his 'bouts of depression' during long injury spells in Spain. The French defender, who joined Lille in 2023 after seeing his Blaugrana contract mutually terminated, retired from professional football this summer at the age of just 31 after years of knee problems.

Umiti ended his career this summer

Umtiti started his professional career in 2012 at Ligue giants Lyon and spent four seasons with the Ligue 1 side before heading to Spain to sign for Barcelona. The French international had a bright start at the Blaugrana and was a regular starter under Luis Enrique, winning multiple trophies including back-to-back La Liga titles between 2017 and 2019. During this period, he also won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus and was experiencing a high in his career. 

However, he was soon plagued by several knee injuries that started to limit his playing time for club and country. Umtiti was eventually released by the Spanish giants in 2023 after mutually terminating his contract. He returned to France to join Lille but his career was cut short due to persistent injury, which prompted him to announce his retirement in September this year.

AdvertisementAFPUmtiti reveals 'rift' with Barcelona

Due to the recurring injury issues, the centre-back barely played following the World Cup success as he battled hard to get back onto the field. However, disagreements with Barcelona over treatment options and the mental toll of dealing with his physical issues caused problems between the player and the club. 

Umtiti, who now works as a pundit for DAZN, recently told : "After the World Cup, I wanted to take some time to find out exactly what I had and make the right decisions about my treatment. We weren't necessarily in agreement with the club, so I decided to look elsewhere, to see specialists so that everyone could give me their opinion. Most of them told me that I didn't need to have surgery. In the end, Barcelona listened to my choice, to what I wanted.

"But I think there were things that happened internally that people didn't necessarily appreciate, whereas I have enormous respect for everyone. Just because I'm not doing my rehabilitation with you doesn't mean I don't love you. No, it's just that I had decided on something else because what you offered me didn't work out. But ultimately, from that moment on, I think the rift was created and people started talking, saying things that weren't necessarily true, putting all the blame on me. The most important thing for me was to come back."

Injury hell 'affected' French defender

Umtiti added: "Looking back, I know that mentally I was very, very, very affected by it, perhaps by the bouts of depression. There were so many things… I didn't even leave my house. People didn't know all of this. They thought: 'Anyway, if he doesn't show anything on social media, it means he's not doing anything.'" But I worked so hard, I was doing two or three training sessions a day, I had a prep course… It was incredible what I was doing, I didn't even really have a life, I didn't see my friends. When I read everything that came out in the press, I thought to myself: 'How can they think that about me? I'm not like that, money isn't what motivates me. I just wanted to play football

"I tried to do things the way the club wanted, but it didn't work; my knee was always swollen. I decided to do things differently, but I still followed the advice I was given because I'm not a doctor. I also read books about the problem I had, I stopped eating meat and fish, I followed an incredible diet that helped me get rid of the inflammation. My inflammation was so severe that I had to change my diet. Some people didn't necessarily do what they should have done, and for me, when you're a professional, you can't be that incompetent. I had a lot of resentment before, but I've done a lot of work and I don't hold a grudge against anyone. I'm at peace with all of that."

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AFPWhat does Umtiti wants to do next?

While he is currently working as a pundit, his ultimate ambition is to become a coach as he told "I'm so passionate, I watch every match. I know I’m going to get my diplomas in the next few weeks. It’s going to take a few years, but being a coach is the ultimate goal I’ll set for myself. He added that his 'inspiration' will come from 'a bit of everything' he has learned throughout his career, underlining his passion to stay connected to football."

MatériaMais Notícias

Eduardo Coudet explicou as mudanças que realizou no Internacional durante a vitória contra o Cruzeiro por 2 a 1 neste domingo (5). Durante a coletiva de imprensa, o treinador também rebateu as críticas que recebeu por ter sacado Alan Patrick.

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O treinador disse que, a partir do momento que a Raposa começou a pressionar mais, sua estratégia foi entrar com atletas ‘mais combativos’ para tentar matar o jogo. Com a vitória, o Internacional chegou aos 42 pontos e está na luta para conquistar sua vaga na Copa Sul-Americana na próxima temporada.

– Tenho cinco substituições e fizemos um grande esforço. Tiramos os jogadores mais de jogo com a bola e entrou gente de característica mais combativa, de fechar o jogo. E acho que deu certo – explicou.

➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Sobre Alan Patrick, Coudet assumiu um tom mais incisivo. Ao ser questionado sobre o motivo de ter sacado o atleta, esclareceu que foi uma opção técnica.

– Tirei outra vez Alan Patrick. Na última vez, brigamos. Brigo muito bem e ele não pôde comigo. Brigamos outra vez. Sempre perguntam por que tiro os jogadores, mas eu o coloquei também – disse.

Agora, o Internacional se prepara para enfrentar o Fluminense na quarta-feira (8), no Beira-Rio.

In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United are enjoying the rise of a truly special player. Walk around the city and ask fans for their opinion of the Italian maestro, and many would say he is the very best they have witnessed at St. James’ Park.

It’s just one masterclass after another. Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t cope on Wednesday evening, dumped out of the Carabao Cup following Tonali’s brilliant midfield performance.

Eddie Howe engineered a covert contractual renewal when the star was serving a suspension for betting breaches, and so the Magpies need not worry about their central talisman playing elsewhere any time soon.

But Tonali alone cannot uphold the midfield, and it looks like change is afoot in the engine room, with United gearing up to sign a new central midfielder.

Newcastle angling for new midfielder

Joelinton has been a stalwart at Newcastle for many years, but the 29-year-old has come under fire at times already this season, with his questionable performances leaving some, such as blogger Thomas Hammond, to question whether this is “the start of the end” for the powerful Brazilian, who seems the weak link in this evolving midfield.

The emergence of Lewis Miley certainly suggests Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up is not as secure as it once was, and the continued question marks over Joe Willock’s long-term future in the Newcastle midfield add fuel to the fire.

Well, given that Howe is determined to re-sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, it does seem the cabinet could be set for a reshuffle.

As per Spanish sources, Newcastle are rivalling the mighty Real Madrid for the Three Lions star, who has been valued as high as £120m by Evangelos Marinakis. Technical director Ross Wilson will know he needs to act swiftly.

Moreover, Football Insider have followed reports with the claim that Liverpool and Manchester United have both placed the 22-year-old at the top of their lists.

Why Howe wants Elliot Anderson back at SJP

In the summer of 2024, Newcastle were being pressured by the Premier League’s PSR parameters, and sold two top talents – Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to divisional rivals, easing away from financial bother.

Anderson signed for Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £35m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength at the City Ground, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “powerhouse” of a “midfield warrior”.

Indeed, you need only look at the metrics to see how he has evolved in his short time in red, with the current campaign seeing him take so many touches of the ball, creating and defending and leading by example.

Matches (starts)

37 (33)

9 (9)

Goals

2

0

Assists

6

1

Touches*

54.2

98.2

Accurate passes*

28.7 (82%)

66.4 (88%)

Chances created*

1.0

1.3

Dribbles*

1.0

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.6

7.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

3.7

Duels (won)*

6.5 (52%)

7.8 (56%)

He is the complete number eight, and in this, just like Tonali, who is now considered “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by English legend Paul Scholes.

Anderson isn’t there – yet. However, he is earlier in his development and surely on track to rival the likes of Tonali if he continues to add strings to his bow.

Now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up, Anderson is finding a home alongside the more adventurous Declan Rice. Perhaps Bruno Guimaraes could serve as this type of partner, with Tonali elegantly keeping things moving from the side.

This is all to say that Anderson could be a stunning addition to Howe’s team, and maybe even come to surpass Tonali down the line.

Pulling him back over to Tyneside won’t be easy, but Howe has already shown his hand, speaking of his desire to bring the talent back home in a press conference last month, and must now hope that Anderson is swayed toward the nostalgia of returning to his boyhood club.

In any case, that aside, Newcastle might actually be able to canvass the most compelling proposal to the English talent.

New Tonali: Newcastle's 8/10 ace has been an "incredible piece of business"

Newcastle have proved their skill in the transfer market once again this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 30, 2025

It will be Trent Rockets, not Northern Superchargers, who face Oval Invincibles in Sunday’s Hundred final at Lord’s after a soggy night in south London ended in an abandonment. Showers delayed the start by 20 minutes, prompted two hour-long interruptions, and eventually wiped the game out altogether, with Rockets progressing by virtue of their higher group-stage finish.The final call came at 9.52pm, nearly four hours yet only 80 legal balls after the scheduled 6pm start. Rockets twice started to chase adjusted targets – 134 off 75, then 105 off 55 – only for the drizzle to turn into rain, and the crowd had thinned by the time a final heavy downpour prompted umpires James Middlebrook and Martin Saggers to finally pull the plug.The final will start barely 20 hours after the Eliminator ended, and a stop-start night hardly served ideal preparation. “It’s been a long day… I thought you had to wait until the rain stops before you start,” reflected Rockets’ Marcus Stoinis, who removed Harry Brook and David Miller before the rain took over. “It’s a bit of chaos, but I think it will be fine.”Invincibles, by contrast, have had since Monday to prepare for Sunday’s final as table-toppers, and will welcome back Stoinis’ close friend Adam Zampa as a handy replacement for Rashid Khan. Jordan Cox and Sam Curran helped them to surge home against Rockets in the stand-out match of the group stage, and they are gunning for a third successive title.David Willey struck with his third ball to remove Zak Crawley•ECB/Getty Images

“It was a good contest last time,” Stoinis said of their meeting at The Oval earlier this month. “We probably had the better of them for the majority of that game and they played really well. Credit to them for winning… It was some of the best hitting that there’s been in any cricket, really. But to be honest, we haven’t really thought about it – we haven’t had a chance!”This was a cruel end for Brook’s Superchargers, but one they could have avoided. These two teams were level on points heading into the final week of the group stage, but Superchargers lost their last fixture on Tuesday, and Rockets clinched second place with a win on Wednesday. With no reserve day for the Eliminator, it proved enough for them.”I think everybody in the world knew that was going to happen,” Brook said, ruefully. “Everyone saw the forecast was going to be shocking from about five or six o’clock. It is what it is. We can’t do anything about it.”It’s easy to say loads of things when you’re sat on the losing side. You could say we could have played last night, knowing that it was going to rain tonight; or we could have brought the game earlier, say the girls play at 11 and we play at 2. But this is how they’ve set the schedule… There’s so many things you could say.”Harry Brook was cleaned up by Marcus Stoinis•ECB/Getty Images

Rockets shaded the limited action there was, with captain David Willey setting the tone after winning what looked like an important toss. He struck with his third ball, which Zak Crawley edged to slip, and frontloaded his 20-ball allocation into the first 40 in the knowledge that the innings was unlikely to last its scheduled duration.Dan Lawrence top-scored with an unbeaten 44 from No. 3 around cameos from Dawid Malan and David Miller as Superchargers reached 76 for 3 after 50 balls at the first rain break, and 119 for 5 after 75 at the second. Lawrence was unusually due to keep wicket, but the discarded Michael Pepper took the gloves as a substitute fielder after Malan tweaked a muscle.After the first long delay, Jacob Duffy pushed the first ball of Rockets’ chase past Tom Banton’s pad; after the second, Banton slashed him over slip for four and picked up four leg-byes from an attempted scoop. But no sooner had Matthew Potts removed his cap to bowl the second set, than the rain returned with a vengeance, sending Superchargers’ season down the drain.

The New York Yankees on Tuesday continued their furious upgrade after losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes to the New York Mets, as the club acquired two-time All-Star and 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Bellinger, who plays two positions (first base and center field) the Yankees desperately need upgrades at, has a left-handed swing made for Yankee Stadium, and whose father won a pair of World Series titles in the Bronx in the 1990s, would seem to be a perfect fit for the pinstripes.

But Bellinger might just be a perfect fit for the Yankees for another reason. Shortly after news of the trade broke, an old interview of Bellinger from February of 2020 resurfaced, when the then-Los Angeles Dodgers star was very critical of the Houston Astros for their sign-stealing scandal, which had come to light in December of 2019, leading to discipline from MLB in January of 2020.

At one point, Bellinger even says that Astros star Jose Altuve "stole an MVP" from Yankees star Aaron Judge.

If looking for a trip down memory lane, here are Bellinger's full comments on the Astros.

Yankees fans still haven't forgiven the Astros, who defeated New York in the 2017 American League Championship Series when they were allegedly still stealing signs, for the scandal, which they feel denied them a chance at a World Series title. Heck, even Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is still miffed about it seven years later.

Of course, the Astros added fuel to the fire of Yankees' hatred when they went on to eliminate New York from the postseason two more times after 2017.

So, Astros' dislike seems to be a commonality among the organization and fanbase. Bellinger seems to check that box, among others.