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The ALCS matchup is set for 2024. After the Cleveland Guardians outlasted the Detroit Tigers in a maximum fifth game of the ALDS, they move on to face the No. 1 seed New York Yankees in the ALCS to determine who will represent the American League in this year's World Series. The Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in the divisional round.

The schedule, barring changes due to weather:

Game No.	Date	Home team
1	Monday, October 14	Yankees
2	Tuesday, October 15	Yankees
3	Thursday, October 17	Guardians
4	Friday, October 18	Guardians
5*	Saturday, October 19	Guardians
6*	Monday, October 21	Yankees
7*	Tuesday, October 22	Yankees

Here's a quick glimpse at how the two teams matched up this year in both the six games they played as well as key season-long stats.

Yankees vs. Guardians Record 2024

During the 2024 regular season, across two three-game series, the Yankees walked away victors with a record of 4-2. But thanks to a nine-run explosion by Cleveland in one of its wins, the Guardians outscored the Yankees in those six games 22-19.

These two franchises faced off two years ago in the ALDS, with the Guardians losing in six games. That year, New York won all but one of the six regular season matchups.

Yankees vs. Guardians Stats in 2024

Matchup Facts

The Yankees tallied the fifth-most home runs per plate appearance and the fewest strikeouts per plate appearance against Cleveland compared to all other teams in 2024.

Cleveland's relief pitching was 13th-best in MLB in terms of ERA against the Yankees, allowing several on base (of all bullpens against New York, Cleveland allowed the ninth-most hits) but sitting above-average in left on base percentage (74.7%).

Batting Stats

Here's how the two teams stack up in key offensive stats:

Stat	Yankees	Guardians
BA	.248	.238
OBP	.333	.307
SLG	.429	.395
Runs per game	5.03	4.37
Hits per game	8.34	7.80
Strikeouts per game	8.22	7.44
Home runs	1.46	1.14
Triples	0.09	0.11
Doubles	1.5	1.51
Singles	5.29	5.03
Walks	4.30	3.06

Pitching Stats

Here's how the two staffs face up in selected pitching metrics, split by starter vs bullpen.

Starters

Stat	Yankees	Guardians
ERA	3.85	4.44
Opp. SLG	.403	.444
K%	23.7%	22.2%
BB%	8.4%	8.4%
WHIP	1.25	1.32

Relievers

Stat	Yankees	Guardians
ERA	2.57	3.62
Opp. SLG	.371	.328
K%	23.9%	26.0%
BB%	9.1%	8.1%
WHIP	1.24	1.05

Enjoy the series.

MatériaMais Notícias

Sob forte chuva no Estádio Pascual Guerrero, o Corinthians segue com 100% de aproveitamento e está na semifinal da Libertadores Feminina. As Brabas venceram o América de Cali por 4 a 0, com gols de Tarciane, Millene, Vic Albuquerque e Fernandinha.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoEx-Corinthians, Jorge Henrique relembra vacilo com Tite: ‘Ele não guarda rancor’Fora de Campo15/10/2023CorinthiansDo artilheiro ao jogador com mais cartões: Veja os números do Corinthians na temporadaCorinthians15/10/2023CorinthiansMano ‘ignora’ cenário caótico e já pensa no planejamento do Corinthians para 2024Corinthians15/10/2023

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

O América de Cali perdeu grande chance no primeiro minuto da partida, e o Corinthians conseguiu impor sua superioridade e abriu o placar na bola parada, após Duda Sampaio quase anotar um gol olímpico.

A forte chuva afetou o desempenho das Brabas na etapa final, mas as colombianas também sentiram o efeito do gramado encharcado e não conseguiram produzir muitas chances de gol. Aos 26 minutos do segundo tempo, Yantén cometeu pênalti em Millene.

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A própria atacante cobrou e converteu a cobrança. Seis minutos após o gol de Millene, a lateral Daniela Arias fez falta dura em Gabi Zanotti e foi expulsa. Nos minutos finais, Vic Albuquerque e Fernandinha deram números finais ao jogo. As Brabas irão enfrentar o Internacional ou o Colo-Colo na semifinal da Libertadores Feminina.

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CORINTHIANS 4 X 0 AMÉRICA DE CALI
QUARTAS DE FINAL – LIBERTADORES FEMININA

Data:15 de outubro de 2023, domingo
Horário:17h30 (horário de Brasília)
Local:Estádio Pascual Guerrero, em Santiago de Cali, na Colômbia

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CORINTHIANS (Técnico: Arthur Elias)
Lelê; Tarciane, Mariza e Yasmim; Luana, Duda Sampaio, Gabi Zanotti, Gabi Portilho e Tamires; Millene e Jheniffer.

AMÉRICA DE CALI (Técnico: Gustavo Pineda)
Giraldo; Arias, Natis, Ospina e Bahr; Pineda, Usme e Cortes; Restrepo, Castañeda e Candelo

Tudo sobre

Corinthians

Crystal Palace have now expressed an interest in signing an “extraordinary” forward, who has made a fantastic start to the 2025-26 campaign.

Palace looking to sign another top-level forward after Pino

It was always going to be a tall order to replace Eberechi Eze, after losing the attacking midfielder to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, but the statement signing of Yeremy Pino from Villarreal went some way to allaying Palace fans’ fears about losing the talisman.

Pino led the Eagles to victory in their opening Europa Conference League match, chipping in with two assists in the 2-0 victory, and the Spaniard is not the only forward off to an impressive start, with Ismaila Sarr already on three Premier League goals.

Despite Oliver Glasner already being blessed with a number of top-quality attacking options, however, it has now been revealed the Eagles have expressed an interest in another forward, with Steve Parish proving he means business.

According to a report from Spain, Crystal Palace are now keen on signing AS Monaco star Ansu Fati, following his impressive start to the season, but there could be competition for the 22-year-old’s signature, with Everton and Newcastle United also keen.

It is unclear what sort of fee Monaco would be looking to receive for Fati, but FC Barcelona have a buy-back clause of around €28m (£24m), which provides a potential reference point.

Palace are said to be looking to bolster their squad with young talent, meaning the Monaco forward would be an ideal addition, and his displays in Ligue 1 this season suggest he could make a real impact at Selhurst Park…

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ByDominic Lund Oct 12, 2025 "Extraordinary" Fati fulfilling his potential at Monaco

Once widely regarded to be the next big thing, the former Barcelona man flattered to deceive at the Camp Nou, but he has since gone on to prove he still has the potential to become one of the best wingers in the world since signing for AS Monaco.

Indeed, the Spaniard has made a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign, scoring six goals in five matches in all competitions, including his side’s only goal in a 4-1 defeat against Club Brugge in the Champions League.

The left-winger has also received high praise from Xavi in the past, with the ex-Barca manager once lauding him as “extraordinary”, which suggests he has the ability to be a real difference-maker for Palace.

With it being widely reported that Parish has held talks with Glasner about a contract extension, making a statement signing in January could play a major role in convincing the Austrian to stay, and Fati could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Newcastle United and PIF may have spent big on a number of new signings over the years, but the club have also sold a plethora of stars in recent history, dealing with clubs from all over the world.

But who is the Magpies’ record sale in their history? Here’s a look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.

Newcastle United's most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a look at the 10 most expensive signings in Newcastle United’s history.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

1

Alexander Isak

£125m

Liverpool

2025

=2

Andy Carroll

£35m

Liverpool

2011

=2

Elliot Anderson

£35m

Nottingham Forest

2024

=4

Yankuba Minteh

£30m

Brighton

2024

=4

Ayoze Perez

£30m

Leicester City

2019

=4

Moussa Sissoko

£30m

Tottenham

2016

7

Georginio Wijnaldum

£25m

Liverpool

2016

8

Allan Saint-Maximin

£23m

Al-Ahli

2023

9

Aleksandar Mitrovic

£22m

Fulham

2018

10

Yohan Cabaye

£20m

PSG

2014

11

Lloyd Kelly

£15.2m

Juvents

2025

12

Chris Wood

£15m

Nottingham Forest

2023

13

Jonathan Woodgate

£13.4m

Real Madrid

2004

14

Andros Townsend

£13m

Crystal Palace

2016

=15

Mathieu Debuchy

£12m

Arsenal

2014

=15

James Milner

£12m

Aston Villa

2008

=15

Sean Longstaff

£12m

Leeds

2025

18

Mikel Merino

£10.5m

Real Sociedad

2018

=19

Dietmar Hamann

£9m

Liverpool

1999

=19

Jermaine Jenas

£9m

Tottenham

2005

Here is a detailed look at Newcastle's 10 biggest departures… 10 Yohan Cabaye £20m to PSG, 2014

Central midfielder Yohan Cabaye spent two and a half years at St James’ Park after signing for Newcastle from Lille in 2011.

The Frenchman took the No 4 shirt and was a regular in black and white, scoring 18 goals before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £20m in January 2014.

9 Aleksandar Mitrovic £22m to Fulham, 2018

Newcastle gave Aleksandar Mitrovic his first taste of English football in 2015 after signing him from Anderlecht. The Serbian couldn’t help keep the club in the top flight during his first season, but did play his part in the title-winning squad of 2016/17.

In 2018, Mitrovic was loaned to Fulham before making his move permanent and won promotion to the Premier League with the Cottagers on three separate occasions after his £22m transfer.

8 Allan Saint-Maximin £23m to Al-Ahli, 2023

Tricky winger Allan Saint-Maximin was a fan favourite during his four-year stint at St James’ Park, getting supporters off their feet with his ability on the ball.

Newcastle also made a profit on the Frenchman when selling him to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for £23m in 2023, a transfer which helped balance the Magpies’ books.

7 Georginio Wijnaldum £25m to Liverpool, 2016

Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum only spent one season with Newcastle in 2015/16 after joining from PSV.

The Dutchman’s displays were enough for Liverpool to come calling under Jurgen Klopp, with Wijnaldum going on to win the Premier League and Champions League wearing the No 5 shirt for the Reds following his £25m transfer after Newcastle had been relegated.

6 Moussa Sissoko £30m to Tottenham, 2016

Powerful central midfielder Moussa Sissoko had his first taste of English football with Newcastle when he joined from Toulouse in 2013, and will go down as an extremely shrewd signing.

Sissoko only cost the Magpies £1.5m and went on to make more than 130 appearances in black and white before being sold to Spurs for a huge £28.5m profit.

5 Ayoze Perez £30m to Leicester City, 2019

Like Sissoko, Ayoze Perez also only cost Newcastle £1.5m and was sold for £30m. The forward joined from Tenerife in 2014 and went on to score 48 times in 195 appearances.

Leicester City splashed the cash on the attacker in 2019, with Perez going on to win the FA Cup with the Foxes.

4 Yankuba Minteh £30m to Brighton, 2024

The most recent player to leave for an initial £30m was winger Yankuba Minteh, who signed for Brighton in 2024.

Minteh signed for Newcastle from Danish club Odense in June 2023 and spent the next year on loan with Feyenoord. He never made a first-team appearance at St James’ Park, but still brought in an eye-catching fee.

3 Elliot Anderson £35m to Nottingham Forest, 2024

Elliot Anderson’s big-money move to Nottingham Forest may read £35m in the transfer books, but with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading to St James’ Park from the City Ground for £20m, the true value of the deal is up for debate.

It was a transfer that helped the Magpies and the Reds when it came to the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, with Anderson a homegrown academy product and therefore representing pure profit.

2 Andy Carroll £35m to Liverpool, 2011

Also bringing in an official £35m transfer fee – without the complications – was Andy Carroll’s move from Newcastle to Liverpool.

The boyhood Magpies fan impressed after coming through the club’s academy and sealed a deadline-day move to Anfield in January 2011. Carroll would only spend 18 months with Liverpool, moving on loan to West Ham in the summer of 2012, where he stayed for a number of years before briefly returning to Tyneside on a free in 2019.

1 Alexander Isak £125m to Liverpool, 2025

14 years on from Carroll’s deadline day move to Anfield, Alexander Isak also swapped St James’ Park for the Reds in a British record £125m deal.

Isak went on strike at Newcastle for weeks and eventually got what he wanted with a move to Liverpool, with his transfer going through on the final day of the summer window. The Magpies did bring two forwards in with the Isak money in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

If we just ignore the minor injury crisis, this looks set to be an incredibly exciting campaign for Chelsea.

Granted, Enzo Maresca’s side did drop points in their Premier League season opener, but back-to-back wins against London competition have proven that they’re a better team than last year.

That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, though, as the Blues made a host of brilliant signings over the summer, including Joao Pedro, who already looks more than settled.

That said, Todd Boehly and Co will hope he keeps up the good form as they’ve already made a significant loss on someone who’s been compared to him.

Joao Pedro's start to life at Chelsea

Chelsea were quick to sign Pedro this summer, paying Brighton & Hove Albion around £60m and bringing him in before the end of the Club World Cup campaign.

It was a good thing they did, as the Brazilian made an instant impact, scoring three goals in three appearances in the competition, including one in the final against Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain.

His brilliant form continued into pre-season with a couple of goals against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, before his first blank in the season opener against Crystal Palace.

However, you can’t keep such an incredible player down for too long, and away to West Ham United, the former Watford ace got back up and running with a headed goal, and then he grabbed another goal at home to Fulham on Saturday.

In all, it’s hard to think of another signing in the Premier League this season who has got off to as good a start as the prolific forward has.

It’s not just the goals either, as the 23-year-old dynamo has also provided two assists in the league so far, and his overall play makes him stand out wherever he is on the pitch.

Interestingly, Chelsea signed a player who has been compared to Pedro, but instead of him becoming a success in West London, he was just sold for a sizable loss.

Chelsea's former Pedro

Given the number of players Chelsea have signed over the years, it’s no surprise that they’ve had more than their fair share of duds.

Where Are They Now

Yet, unlike many teams, the Blues are remarkably good at either minimising their losses on these players or even making a small profit on them.

Unfortunately, that did not happen with Christopher Nkunku.

The French international joined the Blues under former boss Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around £52m, and after two disappointing years in West London, was sold for up to £36m to AC Milan this summer.

While that isn’t too bad a fee to get for the player, it does represent a £16m loss, which is quite sizable for a player who has been compared to Pedro.

Yes, the former RB Leipzig gem, who could only muster a tally of 18 goals and five assists in 62 appearances for the Blues, has been likened to Maresca’s new star.

The comparison stems from FBref, which has concluded that the new Milan man was the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the former Brighton ace in the Premier League last season.

We can see how such a conclusion was reached by delving into some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked so closely.

These include metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.51

0.49

Key Passes

1.39

1.37

Shot-Creating Actions

3.32

3.32

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.39

Ball Recoveries

2.73

2.84

These numbers do suggest that the underwhelming Frenchman is still a talented attacker, but just someone who could not get to grips with life in the Premier League and turn good underlying numbers into concrete results.

Away from the stats, the other similarity between the two players is their ability to start in various positions, from up top to out wide and even in attacking midfield.

Ultimately, Pedro looks like the real deal for Chelsea, and while there is always a chance things don’t work out, it feels like he’ll succeed where Nkunku failed.

Chelsea ended Guiu's loan for nothing; they've got a better teen to unleash

Maybe Chelsea didn’t need to end Marc Guiu’s loan at Sunderland?

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 3, 2025

Kemar Roach, the West Indies fast bowler, will return to Surrey for his fifth consecutive season of County Championship cricket after signing a deal to play in the first four rounds.Roach has taken 93 wickets at 25.60 in 28 first-class appearances for Surrey, the defending champions, playing a key role in the club’s three consecutive title wins. He will be available for the season-opener against Essex, starting next Friday, as well as games against Hampshire, Sussex and Somerset.”I’ve enjoyed every moment of my time with Surrey over the last four years and I’m excited to join up with the team again,” Roach said.Related

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“The Kia Oval is my second home and the environment led by Alec Stewart, Gareth Batty and Rory Burns is one of the best I’ve been a part of. I’m looking forward to contributing to more success for Surrey in whatever way that I can.”Roach’s arrival adds further depth to a bowling attack that has been strengthened by the signing of Matt Fisher from Yorkshire over the offseason, with New Zealand allrounder Nathan Smith also due to join the club from May.Alec Stewart, Surrey’s high performance cricket advisor, said: “Kemar has been a big part of our dressing room in the last four years and it is great to have him back. His quality, work ethic, and commitment to the club speak for itself.”I am confident he will once again play an important role at the start of this season, and the group is looking forward to working with him again.”

Arsenal fans were promised an unprecedented summer. They have got an unprecedented summer.

The Gunners came into this window needing to strengthen big time. Last season was full of ifs, buts and maybes. What if they had a centre-forward? Enter Viktor Gyokeres. What if they had a backup for Bukayo Saka? Enter Noni Madueke.

What if they had a maverick playmaker? Enter Eberechi Eze. Andrea Berta has had a remarkable first transfer window at the Emirates Stadium and as the north Londoners gear up to face Liverpool, another new signing could be on the horizon.

After the confirmation of Eze’s move eight days ago, it looked as though Arsenal were done. Berta had other ideas.

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Premium Arsenal Experiences Arsenal's late arrival before the deadline

Arsenal’s spending this summer is heading in the direction of £300m. Pundits will say that they now have no excuses when it comes to winning a major trophy. They may well be right.

Berta wasn’t just required to add first-team-ready players to the squad this summer, but it was a crop of players that simply needed adding to.

Transfer Focus

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

Injuries ripped through Mikel Arteta’s side last term like a knife through butter and together, they have now made the squad bulletproof for 2025/26. Saka will miss the trip to Anfield but it says a lot that the Arsenal fanbase are still confident. Fear not, Madueke and Eze are here now.

At the back, the depth has only got stronger and that’s where Arsenal are set to add next. Jakub Kiwior is on his way to complete a permanent move to Porto.

His replacement is well documented now. It’s Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen.

On Friday evening, the news broke that Arsenal had now agreed an initial season-long loan for the player with a move then set to become permanent next summer for a fee of around £45m.

So, what’s the latest? Well, Hincapie was on the bench for Leverkusen on Saturday but didn’t play a single minute. He then waved farewell to the supporters at full-time.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the defender will now sign for the club “in the next 24 hours”, with club insider Hand of Arsenal, reporting that Hincapie will travel to London on Sunday and undergo a medical. Exciting times indeed.

Why Hincapie is shades of Granit Xhaka

How nice is it to see Granit Xhaka back in English football? After the Swiss left Arsenal behind in 2023, incidentally heading to Leverkusen, it looked as though his days in the Premier League were over.

Xhaka enjoyed a fine time of it in Germany, winning the Bundesliga and very nearly winning the Europa League too, only downed by a remarkable hat-trick by Ademola Lookman in the final.

32

2

2

38

1

7

29

4

2

31

1

2

31

1

2

27

1

2

37

7

7

It was a brilliant stint, but he’s back in England for one last go at it, and he’s having fun at Sunderland who have six points from their first three games.

But, it was at Arsenal where he made himself a household name, sometimes for the wrong reasons. Who can forget that moment against Crystal Palace? It should have been a point of no return for Xhaka. He tossed the armband to the floor and his career in north London looked done.

But, the midfielder’s warrior spirit shone through. Xhaka is no mug and he bounced back in incredible fashion. He may not have been wearing the armband anymore but his leadership skills were in evidence during every game. The Switzerland international was the beating heart of the team, he was the voice on the pitch.

That campaign in 2022/23, where he scored nine and assisted seven, will not be forgotten in a hurry.

So, what’s the relevance here? How is a midfielder similar to Hincapie, a defender by trade? Well, there are technical differences, of course, but the 23-year-old has a similar mentality.

Last winter, the player’s agent stated that Hincapie, like Xhaka, is “a warrior, he’s a leader”.

He continued: “Hincapie is, for me, one of the best left central defenders in the world. One of the best left-backs and the best hybrid players for sure.”

Xhaka may not be South American like Hincapie is, but the 32-year-old certainly has the same never-say-die attitude that we associate with a lot of players from that part of the world.

Arsenal’s Ecuadorian recruit undoubtedly has that about him. He’s strong in the duel like Xhaka too. When playing at left-back, only 17% of positionally similar players in the Bundesliga won more tackles than he did throughout 2024/25.

Albeit from a different position on the pitch, he’s a fantastic progressive player. In 2023/24, no player made more progressive passes in the entirety of the German top-flight than Xhaka.

This is an area Hincapie also thrives in. Compared to centre-backs last season, he ranked inside the top 18% and versus left-backs, he ranked among the best 15%.

There’s plenty to like about Berta’s latest target here. He’s not just a flying full-back, he’s a colossal centre-half, and he possesses the Xhaka-like trait of battling until the last minute for every ball. As his agent outlines. he’s a true warrior.

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Eze 2.0: Arsenal now chasing Spurs target who's "one of the best in the PL"

The talented international would help make Arsenal even stronger this season.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 27, 2025

Wolves are “talking” with a “very good” Spain international over a summer move to Molineux, according to a fresh update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Wolves planning for friendly as Fosun chase signings

Wanderers host Celta Vigo in a pre-season friendly this weekend, as they continue to prepare for their return to Premier League action, with the opener at home to Manchester City edging closer all the time.

Having lost 2-1 away to Girona last Sunday, a return to winning ways would be a welcome boost for Wolves, but Vitor Pereira will know that fitness and tactical work are more important than any result in the summer games.

The Wanderers boss will also know that further reinforcements are needed in his squad in the final three weeks or so of the summer transfer window, with a host of names linked in recent days.

Wolves have reportedly made contact with Borussia Dortmund ace Julian Ryerson, who is capable of thriving as a right-back and a wing-back, perhaps being seen as a strong replacement option for Nelson Semedo. Meanwhile, Liverpool winger Ben Doak is also said to be a target, with the Reds potentially sanctioning his exit this summer.

Wolves "talking" with Spain defender over move

Now, speaking to Molineux News, Bailey has talked up the idea of Wolves signing Celta and Spain defender Oscar Mingueza this summer, mentioning talks taking place after being a target for two Premier League clubs back in January.

“I know they’re talking. Oscar Mingueza they quite like at Celta Vigo. He was on the radar of West Ham and Villa in January. The problem is, with him, is that they’re trying to give him a new contract, so that’s not going to be easy. We’ll see where that one goes.”

Mingueza is a top-quality player who has now won four caps for European champions Spain, proving to be a strong potential long-term successor to Dani Carvajal at right-back.

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ByDominic Lund Aug 6, 2025

The 26-year-old has also made a combined 166 appearances for Celta and Barcelona, with scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as “very good” in the past.

Mingueza has been a highly-rated player for some, as the above post from Kulig outlines, but at 26, Wolves would be signing a player at the peak of his powers, rather than a young player who may take time to hit the ground running.

The Spaniard bagged four goals and six assists in La Liga last season, showing the quality he can offer in the attacking third, and he would help fill the void left by the departed Semedo.

Rayan Cherki has been tipped to be as successful at Manchester City as Kevin De Bruyne by Gael Clichy. The former City left-back used to coach the maverick attacking midfielder when he played for France's under-21 side and gave special insight into what he can offer Pep Guardiola's side. And he outlined the one aspect of his game that he needs to improve upon in order to truly shine at the Etihad Stadium.

• Clichy hails Cherki's potential under Guardiola

  Cherki scored on his debut for City against Wolves following his £30m ($40m) move from Lyon in the summer although he picked up an injury in his second game against Tottenham, knocking him out of action for two months. And Clichy, who played for City between 2011 and 2017, believes the midfielder can be a massive success for Guardiola's side.

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• Clichy: Cherki can reach KDB levels

  Clichy told GOAL, via : "If we talk about the quality of the player, I haven't seen anyone that good. That's a big quote, but I do feel that if he can bring his off-the-ball game to a certain level, I think we could be talking about a player that can can reach Kevin De Bruyne’s numbers, because in tight spaces, in key areas of the pitch, he can create danger. And this is what you want at City. When you play against a low block team with a defence of five, there's not much space. So you need to have the quality on the on the wing, which I think City are lacking a little bit. You know, you go from Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane which for me, as a full back, were a nightmare to play against. I think they lost that."

• Getty Images
  

  Man City star still has room for improvement

  As well as lavishing praise on Cherki, Clichy pointed to one aspect of his game which needs work. He explained: "He will need to be able to show that off ball, out of possession, he can perform. Because we know this is his problem. This is his weakness. It was his weakness when he was with us in France. So far, what I've seen in England, this is what people are thinking about him. So if Pep manages to take him to a different level out of possession, I think he will be a tremendous player for City. And I think this is the kind of player that Pep wants. Now in the Premier League it's not just about having the ball, it's also how you deal with transitions. And there is the big job for for Pep."

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• Cherki can thrive under 'brilliant signing' Donnarumma

  Clichy was also excited to see how City's new signing Gianluigi Donnarumma can improve the team, even though he is a different profile of goalkeeper to Ederson and unlike the type of shot-stoppers Guardiola has previously favoured such as the Manuel Neuer and Victor Valdes. He said: "I think it's an amazing signing. A goalkeeper first of all is there to make saves, and he's the kind of guy that will make big saves in big games. So I can see why people are saying that Pep is going against his own philosophy, but he's a goalkeeper who just achieved a treble in a season that we've never seen in France, with a coach that is from Spain who has the same philosophy as Pep. And surely, if Luis Enrique has done it with Donnarumma, I'm pretty sure Pep will find a way to work with him."

Punjab Kings have parted ways with Trevor Bayliss and Sanjay Bangar, their head coach and head of cricket development, respectively, in IPL 2024. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the decision was taken recently by the franchise board on which the four co-owners sit.The development is a part of Kings revamping their coaching staff. Earlier this month, they appointed Ricky Ponting as their new head coach.While Bayliss took over as Kings head coach after IPL 2022, Bangar joined the franchise in December 2023. Kings, who have never won the IPL, finished eighth in 2023 and ninth last season.Related

• Ponting: 'We are not going to sit back and just accept mediocrity'

• Ponting appointed Punjab Kings head coach

Incidentally, Bangar’s first stint with Kings, in 2014, was as their head coach, a position he served in till the end of 2016. Post that, he was appointed India’s assistant coach. In 2021, he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore as their batting consultant before being promoted to the head coach’s role. In December 2023, he rejoined Kings.Bayliss had replaced former India captain Anil Kumble, who was the franchise’s head coach from 2020 to 2022. In a desperate search for the winning formula, Kings have constantly churned out coaches in the last decade.Kumble was the fifth coach Kings had appointed in five seasons after Sanjay Bangar (2014-16), Virender Sehwag (2017), Brad Hodge (2018) and Mike Hesson (2019).Recently, Kings signed former Australian captain Ponting for a four-year contract (2025-28). In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Ponting said, “The biggest thing that I want to do at Punjab Kings is make everyone aware that it’s going to be a different place. We are not going to sit back and just accept mediocrity and finish down the bottom and have other people sit back and talk about the way the franchise is going. It is going to be more dynamic. And people are going to be talking about this team and this franchise in a different way than ever before.”