Manchester United is reportedly looking to acquire 22-year-old defender Tomas Araujo from Benfica, with a potential £50m bid to rival Chelsea. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is also interested in rejoining Chelsea while Newcastle United is keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old centre-back. In other news, Enzo Maresca has denied rumors that Christopher Nkunku is up for sale despite limited playing time. Stay tuned for more transfer news and rumors, and get the latest updates on the Premier League including Guardiola's news conference before Liverpool trip. Plus, England makes a strong comeback against New Zealand in the Test series and Amorim celebrates his first win as manager of Manchester United.
Chelsea and Manchester United Engage in Transfer Market Battle
As the transfer window heats up, Chelsea and Manchester United are set to go head-to-head in a bid to acquire sought-after defender Tomas Araujo from Benfica.
Manchester United's Bid for Araujo
Manchester United is reportedly preparing a £50 million bid to secure the services of 22-year-old Araujo. The Portuguese international has impressed for Benfica, earning plaudits for his performances in the Champions League. With United in dire need of defensive reinforcements, Araujo has emerged as a top target for manager Erik ten Hag.
Chelsea's Interest in Araujo
Chelsea is also thought to be interested in Araujo. The Blues have been linked with a move for the defender since the summer, as they look to bolster their backline following the departure of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. Chelsea could face a bidding war with Manchester United for Araujo's signature.
Guehi and Newcastle's Interest
In other transfer news, Chelsea is also keeping tabs on former academy product Marc Guehi. The 24-year-old center-back has impressed for Crystal Palace and could be a potential target for the Blues. Newcastle United is also believed to be monitoring Guehi's situation.
Nkunku's Future at Chelsea
Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's loan manager, has denied rumors that Christopher Nkunku is up for sale. The French forward has struggled for playing time at Chelsea but Maresca insists that he remains a valued member of the squad.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q: What is the potential transfer fee for Tomas Araujo? A: Manchester United is reportedly preparing a £50 million bid, potentially rivaling Chelsea's interest.
Q: Which other clubs are interested in Araujo? A: Chelsea and Newcastle United are also monitoring the defender's situation.
Q: Is Marc Guehi likely to return to Chelsea? A: Chelsea is interested in re-signing Guehi, but Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are also in the running.
Q: Is Christopher Nkunku up for sale at Chelsea? A: Enzo Maresca has denied rumors that Nkunku is up for sale, despite limited playing time.
Q: Who is the manager of Manchester United? A: Erik ten Hag is the current manager of Manchester United.
England secured a dominant eight-wicket victory against New Zealand in their first Test match in Christchurch. Brydon Carse led the way with back-to-back six-wicket hauls, while newcomer Jacob Bethell's debut fifty sealed the win with a flurry of boundaries off Nathan Smith's bowling. England's strong performance was supported by key contributions from Harry Brook and Ben Stokes, while New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips also put up a good fight with their respective scores of 93 and 58.
In a surprising move, Jason Gillespie has resigned from his role as the coach of Pakistan's Test team, with Aaqib Javed set to replace him for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa. Gillespie's contract was set to expire in 2026 but he decided to step down after the PCB didn't review the contract of another coach brought in on his recommendation. This news comes after the recent resignation of Gary Kirsten, who had joined as the white ball coach along with Gillespie.
Pakistan's hopes of victory in the first T20I against South Africa were dashed despite a steady innings by their captain, Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan's cautious approach saw him score a 62-ball 74 runs but unfortunately it was too little too late as Pakistan fell short of their target of 184 by 11 runs. This was Rizwan's third-lowest strike rate in an innings where he scored over 50 runs, showcasing his slow yet steady play. However, it was not enough to secure Pakistan a win against South Africa.
Led by the dynamic duo of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, England successfully chased down a revised target of 153 in just four overs to defeat South Africa and claim the series victory. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt put up a valiant effort with 61 runs but the English bowlers, including Katherine Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone who both took two wickets, proved to be too much for the visitors. Unfortunately, England's Captain, Heather Knight, suffered a back spasm early in the match, but her team's exceptional performance was enough to secure the win. The teams will now turn their attention to the upcoming four-day test starting on Sunday.
Two evenly matched teams in the Bundesliga, SC Freiburg and VfL Wolfsburg, will face off in an exciting match at Park Stadion on Friday night. Both teams are tied with 21 points on the table, making this a crucial game that will potentially impact their rankings. While Freiburg has had a mixed season so far, Wolfsburg has been on an impressive winning streak, fueling their confidence and determination to secure a victory in this match. Football fans can expect a thrilling match between these two competitive teams.
Afghanistan avenged their previous loss to Zimbabwe by putting up a solid performance in the second T20 match of the series. Darwish Rasooli scored his maiden international fifty while Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan each took three wickets to clinch a 50-run victory. The teams will face off in one final match to determine who takes the lead in this closely contested series.
In a thrilling match at Centurion, South Africa triumphed over Pakistan to win the three-match T20 series with one game still remaining. After facing an embarrassing defeat in the first T20, South Africa bounced back to claim victory by six wickets in the second match, showcasing their resilience and determination. This win marks South Africa's dominance in the series and sets the stage for an exciting final game between the two teams.
The ICC has found a solution for the conflict between India and Pakistan in terms of hosting cricket matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board has ultimately agreed to play their games at a neutral venue in exchange for a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in India in 2026. It has been reported that ICC Chairman Jay Shah will hold a virtual meeting with PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday to finalize the details of this agreement.
Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, Madhya Pradesh convincingly beat Delhi by seven wickets to enter their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final in 13 years. Opting to field, MP's bowlers, led by Venkatesh Iyer's 2/12, restricted Delhi to a modest 146/5. In the chase, Patidar's unbeaten 66 off just 29 balls, supported by Harpreet Singh Bhatia's 46 not out, helped MP reach the target in just 15.4 overs. Delhi's hopes of a comeback were dashed as they were unable to defend their total against MP's strong batting display.
The Pakistan national cricket team, led by captain Mohammad Rizwan, is all set for a three-match T20I series against South Africa. The first match will be played at Kingsmead, Durban, with start time of 09:30 PM IST. Despite a recent loss to Zimbabwe, Pakistan aims to bounce back and secure a 1-0 lead in the series. On the other hand, South Africa will be led by Heinrich Klaasen and boasts a strong squad including players like David Miller and Anrich Nortje. Fans can catch all the action live on Sports 18 channels or through the Jio Cinema app.