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Aston Villa have submitted a £26m bid for a “world-class” forward, with the move receiving the green light from manager Unai Emery.

Villa return to form in victory against Forest

Villa’s 11-game winning run was brought to an end by Arsenal in their final match of 2025, but they kicked off 2026 in very promising fashion, securing a 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Ollie Watkins continued his improved form in front of goal, scoring for the fourth time in his last three Premier League outings, and Emery was clearly impressed by the performance, saying: “For him it is much, much better. Even when he wasn’t scoring, others were scoring. We need every player focused like him, and doing his task like him.”

The Spaniard then went on to describe the centre-forward as “fantastic”, while Donyell Malen, who has also been utilised at striker this season, has impressed too, chipping in with seven goals in all competitions.

However, with Aston Villa potentially looking to bolster their hopes of making a title push, they are keen to bring in another striker this month, and a €30m (£26m) offer has now been submitted for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia.

That is according to a report from Spain, which reveals Emery has now given the green light for Villa to make a move for the Spaniard, as he believes the Madrid ace is capable of making an immediate impact at Villa Park.

The Villans want to finalise a deal as quickly as possible, as they are keen to avoid being dragged into a bidding war, and they are confident the offer is high enough to tempt the La Liga club into a sale.

"World-class" Garcia may need to leave Real Madrid

When given the opportunity at Real Madrid, the 21-year-old has often impressed, most recently scoring a hat-trick as his side demolished Real Betis 5-1 in La Liga, while he also caught the eye at the Club World Cup in the summer.

Indeed, the youngster picked up four goals and one assist in six games in the USA, and journalist Zach Lowy believes his performances were top drawer.

However, consistent game time has been hard to come by for the centre-forward, who has largely been used as an impact sub late on in games this season, which suggests he may need to leave Madrid for the good of his career.

Related Aston Villa making "fascinating" move for £295k-per-week Man City star

The Villans mean business.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

Although Watkins has returned to form as of late, the England international recently turned 30, which means it may be a savvy move to start thinking about potential long-term replacements, and Garcia has proven he could be up to the task.

What a whirlwind start to 2026 it has been for Chelsea Football Club.

In what is perhaps a surprising turn of events, Enzo Maresca has left after a string of poor results and has been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge with immediate effect.

As is the done thing when a manager is removed from his post, the Blues released a club statement to confirm the news. It clarified that the club “believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track,” with half of the season still to go.

A new manager has yet to be confirmed, but rumours are already flying around.

Chelsea target Premier League manager to replace Maresca

One of the names flying around to replace the Italian in West London is Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior. Of course, the two clubs are linked, with the French side also under the same BlueCo ownership as Chelsea.

However, those owners might instead look within the Premier League to find their new boss.

According to a report from the Mail, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is ‘being considered’ by the club, with Chelsea set to have an interim manager this weekend against Manchester City, and thus more time to find a manager.

Iraola is clearly one option that the Blues have as they hunt for Maresca’s replacement. What makes things slightly easier is the fact that he is out of contract down on the South Coast this summer.

That might reduce the compensation fee if he were to switch to Stamford Bridge mid-season.

Why Iraola would be a good appointment

There is no doubt that Cherries boss Iraola, a close childhood friend of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, is one of the most highly rated managers in the top flight. Journalist James Horncastle even went as far as saying that he is the “best coach in the Premier League,” which is huge praise indeed.

Well, whether or not you agree with that statement, there is no denying that the Spaniard has impressed at the Vitality Stadium. In 107 games in charge of the club, he’s won 40 of them, and has a positive goal difference, with his side scoring 166 times and conceding 160.

Iraola key stats at Bournemouth

Stat

Number

Games

105

Wins

40

Draws

27

Losses

38

Goals for

166

Goals against

160

PL points per game

1.35

Stats from Transfermarkt

Across the board, the 43-year-old has managed to get the Cherries somewhat punching above their weight. There have been some memorable results in there, which included a wonderful 3-0 win away from home against Manchester United.

It would certainly be a different appointment compared to if the Blues were to go and get Rosenior. The former Hull City gaffer has also impressed at Strasbourg, helping them to reach the Conference League this term.

The ex-Brighton and Hove Albion player certainly has a good record in charge of Le Racing out in Ligue 1, winning 51.61% of his games so far. He has also helped guide his side to some iconic wins along the way. In the Conference League this term, they beat Crystal Palace 2-1.

However, there is one thing that might swing it in Iraola’s favour, and that is the fact that he has Premier League experience. Rosenior, of course, has never managed in the top flight of England, just like Maresca hadn’t done before.

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Perhaps BlueCo will not want to risk making the same mistake which has ultimately led to Maresca’s demise despite success on a more global scale. Even though the Strasbourg manager would be easier to appoint, there might be a view that it’s a riskier move.

Provided Iraola adapts and plays more of a possession-based game as Maresca looked to implement, rather than focusing on quick vertical transitions, this might be a masterstroke of an appointment from the Blues.

Rosenior might be a more logical appointment, but Iraola could be the dream alternative. One thing is for sure, it is going to be a fascinating few days down at the Bridge.

Related Chelsea could finally sack Maresca & hire "one of the best coaches ever"

Chelsea could finally get rid of Enzo Maresca by appointing this standout replacement.

Posts ByKelan Sarson

	Yasir Arafat: Headed for Kent again © AFP

Kent have signed Yasir Arafat as their overseas player for the 2008 season. Arafat has received clearance from the Pakistan board, and is expected to be available for the entire season unless on international duty.”We are delighted that Yasir is coming back to play for us again,” Graham Ford, Kent’s director of cricket, said. “He made an immense contribution to the playing squad last year and I know he is keen to repeat his performance for the club again this year.”Arafat was one of Kent’s overseas players along with Andrew Hall last season, but the rules this season allow for only one overseas signing. Arafat was Kent’s second highest wicket-taker during their successful campaign in the Twenty20 Cup, and also played for Pakistan during the ICC World Twenty20. He subsequently made his Test debut against India in Bangalore, and picked up a five-for on debut.

Latest league tableEasterns put themselves on course for the Logan Cup title with a crushing nine-wicket win over Westerns at Bulawayo. Their success was, however, marred by a scuffle between Hamilton Masakadza, the Easterns captain, and Westerns batsman Thabo Mboyi.The pair clashed during a ninth-wicket stand which ensured Easterns avoided an innings defeat. Masakadza, who had already appeared to sledge Mboyi, clearly blocked the batsman as he looked for a second run and the two clashed and had to be separated by team-mates. The umpires penalised Easterns five runs and at the end of the match the pair were summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee. Masakadza was subsequently fined his entire match fee and banned for his side’s crucial last-round match against Centrals. Mboyi was also fined but not banned.The incident overshadowed an excellent result for Easterns who started the match trailing Westerns. They batted first and made 432 for 8, their top five all passing 40 with Masakadza leading from the front with 84. Westerns, who had won all three of their games in the competition coming into this match, were always struggling, and only Tawanda Mupariwa, who made 64 not out and 50, looked likely to steer his side to safety.At Kwekwe Sports Club, Kenya Select ended their losing streak in a tame draw with Centrals, the home side meandering to 78 for 4 in the second innings after the Kenyans opted for batting practice rather than trying to force a result. Click here for a more detailed report.Southerns and Northerns drew their match at Masvingo Sports Club.

We regret that we do not have scorecards or more details for some of the matches. This is entirely down to Zimbabwe Cricket which refuses to make details available to the media.

29Dec

Raina: cheeky, yet calm under pressure

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Logan Cup

	P	W	D	L	Pts
Easterns	4	3	1	0	34
Westerns	4	3	0	1	30
Centrals	4	2	1	1	24
Northerns	4	0	2	2	8
Kenya Select	3	0	1	2	4
Southerns	3	0	1	2	4

Rahul Dravid on Raina: ‘For a 19-year-old to have such a temperament is something special’ © Getty Images

In mid-April last year, in the final of the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament at Mumbai, one batsman, touted by many as an India prospect, made a couple of selectors’ jaw drop. He walked in at 12 for 1, with Uttar Pradesh chasing 249, spanked nine fours and a six in his 33-ball 48 before rushing off to catch a flight to complete his class 12 exams. One year on and he delivered a performance, on the international stage, that had both captains gushing. When Andrew Flintoff uses the word “fantastic” three times, you know you have witnessed something special.Suresh Raina’s was a calculated effort; one where sense blended beautifully with cheek. He made sure he cashed in on the lollypops; but occasionally summoned the courage to walk right across the stumps and execute lap sweeps to the vacant fine-leg region. “It was a tough time to bat when he came in at 90 odd for 5 but he got his head down,” said Flintoff at the post-match press conference. “We tried to squeeze him and try and get him to hit through the off side but he stayed patient. He works hard for his runs and it was a fantastic knock.”The secret probably lies in the cricketing nurseries of Uttar Pradesh. Raina, like Mohammad Kaif before him, was groomed in the state’s hostels and matches him not only on the field, but also with his calm temperament. “For a 19-year-old to have such a temperament is something special,” said Dravid, who has used adjectives like “stupendous” and “extraordinary” in his past references to Raina. “He’s an exciting talent and we’re happy that he’s developed into such a good player in his first year of international cricket.”Raina surged India to their 14th successful run-chase on the trot, a record that comes as a pleasant shift from the days when they invariably choked while faced with a target. “It’s got a lot to do with the good learning environment we have,” Dravid explained.” These young guys have come in and shown that they enjoy pressure situations. It’s also got to do with us trying to be flexible in the past. We have given the guys different challenges in different positions and it comes of use when put under pressure.”England might have gone down but Flintoff will be encouraged by the “mightily improved” batting performance after the Delhi debacle. “Andrew Strauss batted well at the start and I thought Kevin Pietersen played magnificently,” Flintoff continued. “We can take a lot of heart from this performance, taking India down to the wire. Their bowlers tied us down and it wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on. Ramesh Powar took the pace off the ball and we found it hard.”Powar’s effort might have been overshadowed by Raina’s spunk but it was an impressive return for a man playing in just his fifth one-day game. It must be tough to be perennially on the fringes but Powar, extracting considerable turn and varying his pace, showed virtues which had made him the highest wicket-taker in this year’s Ranji Trophy. “I thought he bowled beautifully,” said Dravid, “and with a bit more luck he could have had more wickets.”It was a triumph of sorts for Powar, ending with his best figures in one-dayers. One of cricket’s strengths lies in accommodating men of all shapes and sizes, and the roly-poly Powar, sporting red goggles and increasingly looking like a modern-day Duleep Mendis, managed absolutely fine in athletic company. If one had to pick the moment of the day, it had to be when he tried to run-out Ian Blackwell, when the pillars in the stadium creaked and when every single cricketer silently applauded.

Scorecard
Khuram Khan and Syed Maqsood took just eight overs to knock off the 41 runs needed as UAE completed a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in the Intercontinental Cup at Sharjah. Resuming at 144 for 3, UAE reached the target without the loss of further wickets with both Khuram and Maqsood managing half-centuries.Khuram, who had made a crucial 56 in the first innings, carried on his fine form with a breezy 55, which contained seven fours and a six. Maqsood was more patient during his 51 but managed to strike six fours and a six.Both teams had fallen for 127 in their first innings before Hong Kong appeared to be seizing the initiative on the second day. But Ali Asad, who ended with four wickets, and Khuram Khan triggered a collapse and Hong Kong mustered only 184, a target that UAE easily surpassed.

Scorecard

Karen Rolton’s century set up Australia’s win © Getty Images

A superb hundred from Karen Rolton, a devastating spell of fast bowling from Cathryn Fitzpatrick, and a tremendous allround display from Kris Britt inspired Australia to a comfortable 78-run victory over New Zealand in the first of six one-day internationals at Eden Park in Auckland. Having made 4 for 225 from their 50 overs, Australia then bowled out New Zealand for only 147.Fitzpatrick, considered by most to be the world’s fastest female bowler, made the early inroads, and finished with 4 for 11 from eight overs. Britt, a legspinner, then drove home the advantage by dismissing both Haidee Tiffin and Aimee Mason. Tiffin top-scored with 39, and Mason made 26, while Maia Lewis, the captain, was run out for 33.Britt had earlier made an impact with the bat as well, slamming 34 from only 28 balls as Australia finished strongly. Melanie Jones contributed a steady 36, but the undisputed star was Rolton, who made 102 off 133 balls, with 11 fours. Coming to the crease at the fall of Lisa Sthalekar’s wicket (17 for 1), she was unconquered at the end as Australia finished with a total that was well beyond New Zealand.It was Rolton’s fifth one-day hundred, and her third against New Zealand.

Shane Warne has arrived back in Australia after being sent home from the World Cup following the news of his positive drugs test. The leg-spinner, who is fighting to save his career in the game, was obviously tired after his flight and the traumatic events of the past two days.At a press conference at Melbourne airport, he said, "I still feel a bit in shock and devastated at the news."Obviously, I would prefer to be in South Africa congratulating Andrew Symonds on a wonderful innings and the rest of the boys on the great start to the World Cup. While my best wishes are with the team and I wish I was there being my last one-day international for Australia. I felt it was important to address these issues personally.”Warne had to chose his words carefully with a formal hearing to be faced, probably next week, but he was able to confirm some of the facts of the case."I can confirm that the fluid tablet I took before appearing to announce my retirement from one-day cricket was given to me by my mum," he said. "Contrary to speculation, taking it had nothing to do with the treatment for my shoulder injury or for masking any banned substance."I did not give it another thought until contacted by the ASDA (Australian Sports Drugs Agency) this week. My most recent previous ASDA test was on 12 December and it was negative."He reiterated his stance on drugs. "I do not, never have and never will take any performance enhancing drugs. They have no place in cricket and I do not condone them in any way.Warne then gave details about the next stage of the formal process. "The B sample test is to be held as soon as it can be arranged, which will, hopefully, be before the end of the week. I don’t know yet how long the tests will take or when the hearing will be held, but hope it is sooner rather than later."The Australian Cricket Board has confirmed that Warne himself notified the team management in South Africa of the test results, at which point it was agreed that he should return home to deal with the issue. It is not a matter for the ICC because the events in question occurred in Australia and not at the World Cup.If the test on the B sample proves positive, Warne has a period of seven days in which to challenge the validity of the test. He can waive this right, in which case the ACB will receive immediate notification of the result. If found guilty, Warne faces a ban from cricket of at least two years. At the age of 33, he would find it hard to get back to increase his tally of Test wickets, currently standing at 491.The drug he is accused of taking – a diuretic known as Moduretic – is available on prescription and is widely used in the treatment of hypertension, high blood pressure and fluid retention. It is banned because it has the potential to act as a masking agent for steroids. It achieves this by diluting traces of the substance in the urine.Even if found guilty of taking a prohibited substance, there is a chance that his ban might be less than two years. ACB Anti-Doping medical advisor may provide reports, statements and evidence to the committee which it may use to consider lowering the penalty.There is even an outside chance that he could return to South Africa to take part in the later stages of the World Cup, as he said himself. "I am hopeful of returning back to South Africa to play a part in the World Cup."Although the ACB is considering an approach to the ICC’s World Cup Technical Committee to draft in a replacement, no final decision will be taken until after Warne’s hearing and, should he be cleared of any offence, the ACB can apply to have the player reinstated to the squad.It has to be said that this is a long shot and a moment of stupidity might well have cost Warne the chance to end his one-day international career on the great stage of the World Cup – and robbed that stage of one of its most charismatic players.

One-day cricket is the best!

Zimbabwe- will brighten the occasion Photo CricInfo

Well, before complaints come flooding in or wiser voices point out the error of the above statement, let me say that from a photographer’s angle, pardon the pun, one-day cricket played in coloured clothing and under lights is the best. Why?Some of the answers are obvious. Cricket is normally played in whites, so the appearance of coloured uniforms gives the photographer something else to capture. The vivid yellow of the Australians against the rich red of the Zimbabweans is an extra challenge. Colours bring an added dimension to the coverage. And there is revenue generation for the photographer. One-day uniforms often change, sometimes subtly, sometimes less so, and with the constant demand for up-to-date quality images, there is no shortage of work for the lensman.Photographing the one-day game played in colours requires the photographer to make adjustments to obtain the “correct” exposure. Slight over-exposure is normally used when photographing cricketers in whites, to combat the effect of glare from the clothing. But with coloured clothing, for example the rich green of Pakistan, the photographer may under-expose, to reduce the risk of misleading exposure readings. In both cases the photographer must cater for the effect of light on the players’ clothing.Photography under lights can also produce spectacular results, providing opportunities that simply don’t exist by day. The image you see here of Trent Bridge, Nottingham, taken at the recent lively encounter between Pakistan and Australia in the NatWest series, shows the ground bathed in the fading light of day, while the increasing influence of the eight floodlights creates a remarkable effect.

TrentBridge under lights Photo CricInfo

The aim was to show the ground under lights, but without creating silhouettes of the players, or making the picture so dark that it is difficult to spot the stands. An image taken about 30 minutes later would not have shown such a spectacular sky, but would have drawn a more dramatic contrast between the artificial lights and the darkening night.Exposing for images in low light is not always easy, and care must be taken in judging exactly what you want the end result to be before releasing the shutter.Test cricket sorts out the cricket lovers amongst the photographic fraternity from those who just turn up to do the job. Most sports photographers aren’t keen on the longer version of the game, and see the one-day bash as tolerable at a time when there is no football to photograph. For those of us who love cricket in all its forms, the limited-overs version is another opportunity to show how much the game has to offer.

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side have been dealt yet another setback ahead of Sunday’s Premiership meeting with Old Firm rivals Rangers.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, former Celtic midfielder Simon Donnelly claimed that, despite being pictured back in training ahead of the Bhoys’ trip to Ibrox this weekend, Kyogo Furuhashi will not feature against Rangers.

Hinting at possessing behind the scenes information on the current condition of the centre-forward, Donnelly said:

“He’s been out for three months and three days. I’ve heard that he is back training, but I think Sunday may come too soon for him. I think maybe they are looking more at the Scottish Cup semi-final. I think that might be more realistic.”

Bad news

Considering just how impressive Kyogo has been for Celtic since his £4.6m move to Parkhead last summer, should Donnelly be correct in his claim that the 27-year-old will be unavailable for selection against Rangers this Sunday, it would be extremely bad news for Ange Postecoglou and his side.

Indeed, over his 14 Premiership appearances this season, the £4.95m-rated forward has been in breathtaking form for the Hoops, scoring eight goals, registering two assists and creating four big chances for his teammates.

That’s as well as taking an average of 2.1 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game – with these returns seeing the Japan international average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.03.

The £52.5k-per-week hitman was also in exceptional form over his five Europa League appearances this term, over which he scored two goals, provided two assists and created two big chances for his teammates – with these metrics seeing the centre-forward average an even more impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.10.

As such, while Kyogo never looked likely to start at Ibrox, should the Japanese sensation not be fit enough to play any part against Rangers this weekend, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Celtic’s chances of leaving Govan with all three points.

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And, following the news that Stephen Welsh is now also a doubt for the potentially title-deciding clash, Postecoglou will certainly be hoping that no more of his squad pick up knocks or suffer further setbacks between now and kick-off on Sunday afternoon.

AND in other news: Ange could unearth the new Havertz as Celtic make move for “aggressive” £500k “threat”