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And with that, the Premier League is done and dusted for another year. Arsenal, the division’s second place side, ended things with a win but the real work starts now for new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Mikel Arteta declared post-game on Sunday that work for the new season would commence quickly.

Where do they need to strengthen?

It’s pretty obvious unless you have been living under a rock.

For the first time since the 1923/24 season, yes, over 100 years ago, Arsenal failed to find a player who scored double figures in a league season.

Injuries have no doubt led to this but so has the club’s poor recruitment over the last 18 months.

A new striker and potentially also a winger simply has to be sourced this summer.

Arsenal’s transfer plans post-season

It’s set to be out with the old and in with the new this summer for the Gunners.

Kieran Tierney scored on his final outing for the Gunners at Southampton but it may not have been just his final outing.

Indeed, Raheem Sterling will head back to his parent club while Thomas Partey and Jorginho see their contracts expire in a few weeks time.

Leandro Trossard – linked with Saudi last January – could sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium this summer, but that is unlikely to have an impact on whether or not they sign a new forward.

For that central berth, the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko seem the most likely of candidates but there’s also the potential for a new winger to arrive in the shape of Real Madrid star, Rodrygo.

The Brazilian isn’t the only wide player on their shortlist with reports in recent weeks suggesting that Arsenal have been working on a deal for Rafael Leao.

The Milan star is also wanted by Bayern Munich this summer but there’s has been a new development in Arsenal’s chase.

Transfer Focus

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

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That’s according to French publication, Foot Mercato, who suggested over the weekend that while the Portuguese winger is on the club’s ‘shortlist’, Berta actually had a phone call with the player in the last two weeks.

The purpose of that call was to tell Leao that there is definite interest in him from the Gunners.

Arsenal don’t have an endless supply of cash this summer, and with other areas needing to be improved, they will have to spend wisely. Thus, a reported £145m release clause is unlikely to be met too well by the club’s recruitment team.

How Rafael Leao compares to Rodrygo

Speaking last week ahead of the game with Southampton, Arteta was actually asked about the prospect of signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid.

While he didn’t explicitly reveal that Arsenal were interested, he was slightly more open to the prospect of discussing transfers than he was a week or two ago, stating: “If you want to win titles, you have to be the best in the market. The teams that win have the best players.”

Well, speaking of the best players, who would be the better option here?

Rodrygo is an electrifying talent and there is a belief that if he moved away from the Bernabeu and was the main man, he’d be a genuinely scary proposition. After all, this is a player who has scored 50 goals since the beginning of the 2022/23 season.

In comparison, Leao – who’s actually been compared to a young Thierry Henry for his play style on the left flank – has scored 43 times in the same time frame.

So, with fewer goals, why is the Portuguese more exciting?

Leao vs Rodrygo since 2022/23

Stat (per 90 mins)

Leao

Rodrygo

Goals

0.40

0.34

Assists

0.31

0.24

Shot on target %

36.0%

36.3%

Key passes

2.06

1.91

Progressive passes

4.12

3.76

Shot-creating actions

4.60

4.71

Successful take-ons

2.64

2.56

Progressive carries

5.20

5.63

Stats via FBRef.

A genuine speedster, the Milan forward has notably been described by the Athletic’s Alex Barker as “one of the best dribblers in the world”, the numbers certainly showcase that.

He ranks within the top 5% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues this season for successful take ons per 90 minutes with 2.84. In contrast, Rodrygo only ranks among the best 23% with 2.08 per 90 mins in 2024/25.

Evidently both very capable dribblers, over the last three seasons it’s the Milan superstar who comes out on top in most areas, most importantly producing more end product (goals and assists) every 90 minutes.

Leao isn’t just a dribbler and a goalscorer, but he’s also capable of providing assists, delivering more key passes and progressive passes than Madrid’s wing sensation.

It’s likely the latter would be a cheaper acquisition but based on the numbers it’s the Portugal international who looks like the more exciting talent.

Combine that with comparisons to Henry and you have a genuine world beater here capable of getting Arsenal fans off their seats again.

It’s safe to say they’ve lacked that star quality and X factor on too many occasions this season.

Related Arsenal struck gold on "unplayable" star worth way more than Nico Williams

The incredible talent is going to be a superstar for Arsenal.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Chelsea are now eyeing a summer move for a “composed” defender, with manager Enzo Maresca believed to be a keen admirer, according to a report.

Blues eyeing centre-back amid latest Disasi update

Axel Disasi has spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, and it looks as though the 27-year-old could be heading for a permanent exit at the end of the season, with the Villans now opening talks over a summer deal.

Maresca’s side have been faring well in their pursuit of the Champions League without Disasi, and they are now just one win away from securing qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, with the crucial trip to Nottingham Forest pencilled in for next weekend.

As such, it could make sense to sanction the Frenchman’s departure, but Maresca may be keen on bringing in a top-level replacement, should his side return to the Champions League, with FA Cup-winning captain Marc Guehi among the potential targets.

After leading his Crystal Palace side to FA Cup glory, Guehi is likely to have no shortage of interest this summer, but the 24-year-old is not the only English centre-back of interest to the west Londoners.

According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Chelsea are now interested in signing Leicester City defender Ben Nelson, who caught the eye with his impressive performances for Oxford United in the Championship last season.

£172k-per-week star keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League race

He’d want the move to Stamford Bridge no strings attached.

13 ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025

The Blues have been keen on Nelson for quite some time, having also considered a move back in the January transfer window, and their interest seems like it stems from their manager, with Maresca believed to be an admirer.

The Italian has previously described his former player as “ideal”, while also adding: “He’s quick. He can play right or left – it’s perfect.”

"Composed" Nelson destined for the top

Not only is Maresca a big fan of the Leicester ace, but he also impressed teammate Peter Kioso during his time with the U’s, with the fellow defender saying: “Nels has come in and done what he’s needed to do. Credit to him, he’s still a young lad and I feel like he’ll go to the very top in football, just from his mentality and how he reads the game, and how composed he is.”

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

£60m

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

Unknown

David Hancko

Feyenoord

£42m

Ousmane Diomande

Sporting CP

£68m

The 21-year-old missed large parts of the campaign with injury problems, but he remained a key player when fit, making 17 appearances for Oxford in the Championship, featuring at centre-back on every occasion.

Having put in some solid performances in the second tier at a young age, the £5k-a-week defender may soon be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, but Chelsea should also make sure to bring in a more experienced centre-back, having identified a number of targets.

Tottenham Hotspur are now fighting to sign “one of the best left-backs in Europe”, but there could be competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing left-back amid Udogie uncertainty

There have been few standout players for Tottenham this season, given what has been a very disappointing Premier League campaign, but Destiny Udogie has clearly done enough to catch the eye.

Manchester City are now pushing to sign the left-back, with new sporting director Hugo Viana believed to be a long-term admirer, although it remains to be seen whether Spurs would be willing to strengthen a direct rival.

Cristian Romero’s future in north London also remains in doubt, with the Lilywhites contacting AFC Bournemouth over Dean Huijsen, who could be brought in as a replacement for the Argentine.

Tottenham in race to sign £74m Premier League star who PSG are in talks for

The transfer would turn a few heads.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 12, 2025

With a move also potentially on the cards for Udogie, Ange Postecoglou could also be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, should the Australian keep his job, and an exciting target has now been identified.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now in the race to sign AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez, but there could be stiff competition for his signature, given that Chelsea and Man City have also expressed an interest.

Hernandez’s contract is set to expire in 2026, which means this summer could be Milan’s last opportunity to receive a sizeable fee for his services, with the Frenchman’s value believed to be around £30m.

The 27-year-old is believed to be a key target at left-back, but with a number of top clubs queuing up for his signature, it remains to be seen whether Spurs will be able to lure him to north London.

Hernandez could be "brilliant" addition for Tottenham

It would be fair to say the Milan defender is not enjoying the best of seasons, but journalist Zach Lowy states he has been “one of the best left-backs in Europe over the past decade”, having particularly impressed in an attacking sense.

The France international has chipped in with a remarkable 34 goals and 45 assists in 256 appearances for Milan, during which time he has been lauded as “consistently brilliant” by football writer Carlo Garganese, which indicates this season may just be a blip.

Hernandez has proven he could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham, and £30m could be a bargain fee, given the level of his performances in the Serie A over a number of years.

However, Spurs’ number one priority should be to keep hold of Udogie, which they should be in a strong position to do, given that the 22-year-old is contracted until 2030.

Sai Sudharsan’s remarkable season, and one to forget for Rashid Khan also feature

Sampath Bandarupalli30-May-20251:29

Two lives for Rohit ‘unlocked the freedom’

228 for 5 – Mumbai Indians’ (MI) total on Friday is the second-highest in the IPL playoffs (or knockouts), behind only the 233 for 3 posted by Gujarat Titans (GT) against MI in 2023.4 – Totals in the IPL for MI higher than their 228 in the Eliminator. Three of those four totals came in the 2024 season. MI’s 228 is also their third-highest while batting first in the IPL.7038 – Runs scored by Rohit Sharma in the IPL. He is the second batter to complete 7000 IPL runs, after Virat Kohli, who leads with 8618 runs.Related

• Calm Ashwani fills the gaps in MI's Bumrah-centric bowling plans

• Sai Sudharsan: I have 'a lot of things to improve' in my T20 game

• MI eliminate GT to set up Qualifier 2 with PBKS

302 – Sixes hit by Rohit in the IPL. He is only the second batter to hit 300-plus sixes in the league, after Chris Gayle (357). Two-fifty-one of those sixes by Rohit have been for MI, while the remaining 51 were for Deccan Chargers. Only Kohli (291 for RCB) has more sixes for one team in the IPL.759 – Runs scored by B Sai Sudharsan in IPL 2025, the fifth-highest by a batter in an edition of the IPL. Only Shubman Gill (890 in 2023) has scored more runs for GT in an IPL season than Sai Sudharsan.11.45 – Run rate of the opening partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Rohit, who added 84 in 7.2 overs. It is the second-fastest in terms of run rate for a 50-plus opening stand in the IPL playoffs (or knockouts), behind 11.80 by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler’s 61 off 5.1 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2022.Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow gave MI the perfect start•BCCI18-0 – MI continue their winning streak of defending targets of 200 or more in the IPL. In all T20s, they have a 19-0 record while defending 200-plus targets, which is also a record.436 – Runs scored by GT and MI on Friday in New Chandigarh. It is the highest aggregate for an IPL match in the playoffs (or knockouts), surpassing the 428 by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2014.33 – Sixes Rashid Khan conceded in IPL 2025, the most by any bowler in one edition of the IPL, going past the 31 conceded by Mohammed Siraj in 2022. The 33 sixes conceded by Rashid are also the joint-highest by a bowler in a men’s T20 tournament, alongside Dwayne Bravo in CPL 2018 (where ball-by-ball data is available).

Cold swims and close family, complemented by a happy dressing room on the same page, have seen 36-year old Sean Williams hit a purple patch

Firdose Moonda23-Jun-2023With midday temperatures in the upper 20s, Zimbabwe in June is no-one’s idea of winter. But when Sean Williams gets into the swimming pool at 6am each morning, that’s the season he experiences, all year round.”A lot of people don’t like the cold but once you get in it and you’ve done it for a while, it’s almost something you can’t do without,” Williams told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s basically about learning not to fight the situation. If you fight the cold water, you are going to feel the cold. But if you keep still, concentrate on your breathing and just relax and take it easy, you can be there for a while.”This has been Williams’ approach to life over the last 18 months, a period of time in which he lost his father Ray to cancer and welcomed his second daughter, Rylee-Rae (named in honour of her grandfather) into the world. The juxtaposition of these two life-altering events made Williams realise the importance of persistence in moments when things get tough. “Quite often I will get agitated and frustrated and a situation will get the better of me. Learning how to breathe and control and just be calm is something I have been practicing quite a bit of,” he said.Related

• Harare gets its jig on as old favourites West Indies are conquered

• Ervine, Williams tons thump Nepal in World Cup Qualifier opener

• Sikandar Raza clubs Zimbabwe's fastest ODI century in crushing win over Netherlands

• Fire at Harare Sports Club: ICC inspects and clears the ground for further use at World Cup Qualifiers

As it happens, the ability to show staying power is what Zimbabwe’s coach Dave Houghton identified as the main thing for Williams to focus on ahead of the Qualifiers. Houghton called Williams “the most talented” batter in his squad because of the ease at which he gets starts but also the one who could then play a rash stroke and be dismissed. So far, not so.Williams scored what was then the fastest hundred for Zimbabwe, off 70 balls, in their chase of 291 against Nepal in their tournament opener last Sunday and followed it up with 91 in their third-highest successful chase of all time, against Netherlands. He still doesn’t waste time when he gets to the crease: he was 15 off 13 balls against Nepal and 17 off 10 against Netherlands, but he picks his shots with more precision.”We are trying to be a lot more positive and a lot less reckless. There’s quite a big difference between the two,” Williams said.The proof is in the game plans. Against Nepal, he watched offspinner Rohit Paudel’s flight before he judged that he could take it on; against Netherlands, he worked left-arm spinner Clayton Floyd around before going for the big shot. In both instances, he could rely on a middle and lower order that are in form, equally unafraid and have been empowered to handle tricky match situations.”Sometimes, previously, we were told what to do. Now, we’ve been taught how to think for ourselves and make decisions. We don’t have to send a message out onto the field anymore because the guys are seeing for themselves what to do,” Williams said.That’s all part of a culture of change that has come under Houghton, who has championed a more mature style of player management. “There’s a lot of thought that goes in and measured decisions made for the players around family time or taking a break,” Williams said. “For example, Sikandar Raza had come back from the IPL and management said you’re important to us so you should go home for a few days before the qualifiers. We’d rather see you not tired because you are valuable. That makes a huge difference.”Sean Williams walks out with his daughter, Charlotte, ahead of his 150th ODI game•ICC/Getty ImagesAnd it paid off. Against Netherlands, Raza broke the record Williams set in the previous game and smashed a century off 54 balls. Was Williams, who was dismissed for 91 off 58 balls, a little annoyed that Raza had broken his record? “No, not at all.””I had an opportunity to do it myself and if I had, Raza might not have had the opportunity to do so. The biggest thing for me at the end of the day is all as we are winning.”For now, Zimbabwe are doing exactly that. With two big wins from their opening two games, they are all but into the Super Sixes. Three teams from each group advances and carries the points and the net run-rate from the teams who progress with them from the first round.That makes Zimbabwe’s match against West Indies on Saturday vitally important. The winner of that game will likely take the most points into the next stage, where they are highly likely to face a clinical Sri Lankan side, a plucky Scotland team – who Zimbabwe tied with in the 2018 edition – and one of Oman, Ireland or the UAE and Williams is wary of them all.”Every team in the tournament has got a very good squad but those you have to watch out for are the ones who have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I find those teams dangerous,” he said.Williams has first hand experience of what teams like that can do. He was part of the XI that lost to UAE five years ago and that slip up cost them their World Cup place. After that heartbreak, reaching the World Cup this time would be both a balm and a boon for this Zimbabwean side.It would show they have properly moved on from the team they were five years ago and the World Cup participation fee is substantial, especially for players living through some of the worst hyperinflation in the world. But Williams will not allow himself to look that far ahead right now.”We can’t do that,” he said. “We’re focusing on our environment right now. It’s relaxed, which gives us freedom to play but that freedom also gives you responsibility – that responsibility of being professional, doing the right things and staying in the moment. If we can continue doing the things we are doing now well, and improve in certain areas, we can do well in this tournament.”For Williams, the memories he has made so far at this competition could well be career-defining. His century came in his 150th ODI with his mom Patricia, his wife Chantelle and his daughters Charlotte and Rylee-Rae in attendance. “It was just wow. One hell of a day. The perfect day,” he said.It was also Father’s Day and he dedicated the hundred to Ray, and celebrated it with his children. “It went from being an emotional day to a happy day and if there was one day of cricket I will remember, it will be that one,” he said. “Having my kids here has been helpful for me because I am not on my phone as much. I am trying to spend more time with them and they take me away from things I don’t need to worry about. They help me to stay in the moment.”Them, and the cold water, has got Williams, who is now 36, thinking about the cricketing legacy he’d want to leave behind. “I’d like to leave the Zimbabwe Cricket shirt in a better place than what I found it. And that’s something you can’t do alone. We are all contributing, and learning and growing along the way.”

83 tells a classic underdog story and tries to make myths out of memory

Nishi Narayanan28-Dec-2021It has been nearly 40 years since India’s first World Cup title. That must feel like ancient history to fans who came of age this century, who have been spoilt by three world titles and the rise of a team that not only wins but dominates abroad. For those viewers, watching the movie is probably like looking into a bizarre parallel universe, where no one gives their side a chance in hell.I was born not long after India won the World Cup, so in a way it’s a chapter of history for me too, like studying about the Mauryas or the Mughals. Every time a World Cup comes along, I go back to India’s first title, looking up scorecards and players’ accounts of the event, often as part of my work at ESPNcricinfo. If you ask me what I thought about it, I’d probably say something like: India’s victory changed the course of the game itself. Maybe not entirely incorrect but certainly a reductive opinion.Still, while watching the film, which chronicles all eight of India’s matches at the World Cup, it struck me: this journey was so incredible, it could easily have been dreamed up by a scriptwriter, one with a fondness for high drama. Even if you ignore all the times India’s underdog status is waved in your face like a giant flag and underscored by inspirational music, it’s hard not to wonder: how did they do it?Related

The sightseers who won a world title

A journey of self-discovery – for India and one sportswriter (2014)

The 1983 World Cup final on TV – watching, hoping, praying

1983 World Cup – the year everything changed

Tunbridge Wells: hallowed ground (2008)

India, whose only win in World Cups till then had come against a cobbled together East Africa side in 1975, were grouped with Australia, world champions West Indies, and Zimbabwe, in the tournament, scheduled to play each team twice before the semis. They opened with an unexpected win against West Indies and beat Zimbabwe, but were thrashed by Australia and (quite literally) bloodied by West Indies. Under pressure to win their fifth match, against Zimbabwe once again (a “do and die” as Kapil Dev, played by Ranveer Singh, says in the movie), they slipped to 17 for 5 before… if Ron Howard heard this pitch, he’d be dreaming of another Oscar already.When film-makers adapt books, like the series, or , or the Harry Potter ones, they take and transform what till then has only resided in the fan’s imagination. Recreating a real-life event, especially one as popular as a sporting tournament, must be trickier. The retelling is always going to be a visually paler version of the original, and there is no payoff to build towards because the outcome is already known – often by a larger number of people than have read a book, in the case of novel-to-screen adaptations.Tense times in the pavilion•Getty ImagesWhile a movie like , which has some similar odds-stacked-against-them themes, could get away with amateurish-looking cricket because its Indian protagonists are meant to be novices and their English opponents aren’t pros either, the suspension of disbelief is harder in . It’s a bit jarring to watch a bowler complete his action, the ball land on the pitch, and then whoosh past the batter as three separate shots. The longer-range shots are more watchable than the close ones, but at no point can you slip into believing you’re watching a cricket match as opposed to a film.The film-makers probably understood that showcasing an elite level of the game would be beyond them. It feels like they instead chose to use cricket as a tool to tell a classic underdog story, focusing more on the little character moments than the big action.If you have watched YouTube videos of various 1983 squad reunions over the years, you’ll be familiar with many of those little moments we see in the film: Kapil’s team meetings in his idiosyncratic English (“Cheeka, you hit; Sunny, you bat; Yashpal, you are a lion; Kiri, you have to keep”). Kris Srikkanth talking about how many of them had seen the World Cup as just a stopover on the way to a holiday in New York. Sandeep Patil’s role as the team’s entertainment director – “the night captain”. (In a nice touch, Patil’s son, Chirag, plays his father in the film, and Mali Marshall is cast as his dad, Malcolm.)Players disagree with the authenticity of each other’s recollections in these videos, but over time, many stories have solidified into narratives – like Srikkanth saying all the players thought Kapil was mad to suggest India could win the World Cup, and how that showed you the depth of his self-belief. And now, with the film, those memories will probably ascend to the level of myth, where many fans will struggle to believe it could have happened any other way.Among the most legendary of the milestones before the win is Kapil’s 175 not out at Tunbridge Wells, made all the more captivating here because it largely resides in the imagination of fans – the BBC didn’t telecast the game*. The scorecard itself tells a pretty incredible story. India went from 9 for 4, when Kapil walked in, to 17 for 5 and 78 for 7, before getting all the way to 266 for 8. The script chooses to gloss over the fact that Zimbabwe, playing their first World Cup, would have been considered underdogs in this contest, focusing instead on the emotions of those experiencing Kapil’s innings.Yash and Kiri have a moment: Jatin Sarna (left) plays Yashpal Sharma, and Sahil Khattar wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani•Getty ImagesMight the re-enactment replace parts of what you have conjured up of the 175 in your mind’s eye? Did Potter fans feel the same way when they saw Daniel Radcliffe in the role for the first time? And would that be aggravating?I thought it was going to be, but although I was wary of being emotionally manipulated by the histrionics, I got a fleeting sensation of what Kapil’s innings would have meant to those who watched it that day at the ground, and that appealed to me. If even a second-grade imitation could move me all these years later, how special must the original have been.It’s the peeks inside the dressing room, the camaraderie between the players, that delighted both the cricket fan and the movie fan in me. The charming detail of team manager PR Man Singh, blocked by the tall Ravi Shastri, leaning to his left to be visible in the squad’s photo, and the camera cutting to the actual photo. Yashpal Sharma and Kirti Azad panicking when Lala Amarnath calls on the phone looking for his son, Jimmy. Kapil getting annoyed with his wife (played by Deepika Padukone) for demanding extra tickets to the final for their acquaintances but gently acquiescing to Sunil Gavaskar’s request for the same.I began to imagine listening to such anecdotes from today’s cricketers – jokes between Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant; Mohammed Siraj clowning around in the dressing room and Jasprit Bumrah secretly feeling jealous of all the attention he’s getting; Cheteshwar Pujara pretending he’s dreaming about cricket when he was really dreaming about lunch. Which obviously made me wonder: which modern Indian series would translate well into a movie? Desert Storm in Sharjah? The 2000-01 Australia series? The 2007 T20 World Cup? It might be recency bias, but none of those seem to offer emotional highs and lows quite like the 2020-21 tour to Australia does- a hostile setting, countless misfortunes, protagonists who are bruised but not beaten, and a climactic will-they-won’t-they ending. That’s going to be my elevator pitch, if anyone’s interested. Working title: .How closely must a sports movie be linked to the real event to appeal to you? What sort of cinematic license are you willing to give the film-makers? Like life, sport can often be random and disorderly while it happens and later arranged by us into slick little stories that make sense. is like that, a neat little tale of no-hopers triumphing against the odds – fiction and reality bleeding into each other even in the minds of those who lived through it. That doesn’t take away from what Kapil and Co achieved, but it makes it harder to tell the story any other way.*December 28, 2021, 7.32 GMT: A previous version of the article stated that no television footage of the match exists because of a strike at the BBC. This has been changed

The New York Yankees’ path back to the World Series is as subtle as a six-ton wrecking ball. They are going to hit as many balls into the air as possible. They take an average of 69 swings per game. If two of them produce fly balls that go over the fence they win about 70 percent of the time.

It is that simple. The finer points of their game matter little. Like no other team in baseball except perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers, their brothers in playing Airborne Baseball, the Yankees are leaning heavily into hitting the bottom third of the baseball to launch fly balls.

Up and down its lineup, New York has adopted swing changes and attack angles to get the ball in the air. They are doing so at such a preposterous rate that our traditional measurements of what makes a good October team—such as avoiding strikeouts and hitting with runners in scoring position—are meaningless. In fact, these 2025 Yankees are way worse at strikeouts and RISP than the 2024 Yankees—and that is by design.

The highlights:

• The Yankees hit 59 home runs in August. Only the 2019 Yankees ever hit more in the month. Thirty-two teams have hit 50 homers in August. The Yankees did it with the fewest hits (227).

Most Home Runs in August, All Time	HR	Hits	Pct.
1. 2019 Yankees	74	292	25.3%
2. 2025 Yankees	59	227	26%
2. 2023 Phillies	59	267	22.1%
2. 2019 Twins	59	284	20.8%

• The Yankees have the biggest increase in fly ball rate (+3.9%) in MLB, the greatest average bat speed (73.1 mph), the second biggest increase in launch angle (+2.7%, behind only the White Sox) and the highest fly ball rate other than the Dodgers.
• The four teams who hit the most fly balls (Dodgers: 31%; Yankees: 30.6%; Cubs: 29.8%; Tigers: 29.3%) are all in playoff position, led by the Dodgers, who lead MLB in fly ball rate for a fifth straight year:
• The team that is last in fly balls? That’s the team with the best record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers (22.8%). They zig while everyone else zags.
• The Yankees have increased their reliance on hitting the ball in the air, as an incredible 13-game stretch to close out last month showed; they hit 38 home runs compared to 30 ground ball hits and 118 fly balls compared to 117 ground balls over that span.

Why and how are the Yankees leaning into this style of hitting? Here are some of the underlying reasons.

1. The Yankees sacrifice contact for power.

It sounds heretical, but RISP and strikeouts are overrated in today’s hitting world. RISP often is misused. The industry has devalued batting average and yet it still gets used in RISP. Move a runner over from second base with no outs or get someone in from third base with less than two outs on a fly ball and neither helps RISP batting average.

When the Yankees led the world in home runs in August, they were 17th in RISP (.253), 20th in batting average (.221) and 26th in strikeouts (263). And they were 16–12.

New York is far worse this season than last at making contact and RISP, which sounds like a problem but it’s not. It’s a tradeoff they make willingly to hit that magic threshold of two home runs per game.

Yankees Year-to-Year Comparison	K% (Rank)	RISP (Rank)	HR/G (Rank)
2024	21.2% (9)	.261 (10)	1.46 (1)
2025	22.9% (20)	.248 (17)	1.70 (1)

2. It’s all about the second home run.

Being a one-path-to-victory team is risky. If their opponent keeps them in the park, the Yankees are in trouble. This breakdown defines how important the home run is to New York.

Yankees’ Record by HR Hit	Games	W-L	Pct.
1 or fewer	75 (T-1 w/ Dodgers)	33–42	.440
2 or more	62 (T-1 w/ Dodgers)	43–19	.694

3. The Yankees are swinging up on the ball much more than last year.

Yankees hitting coach James Rowson and assistants Casey Dykes and Pat Roessler are masters at teaching controlled aggressiveness: Limit chase, but when you get a pitch in your zone don’t hesitate to put your “A” swing on it. And this year, that “A” swing includes a mechanical emphasis to bring the barrel to the baseball on an upward track.

Here is how much the Yankees’ offensive approach has changed:

Yankees Hitting Profile Comparison	Fly ball% (Rank)	Launch angle (Rank)
2024	26.7% (16)	12.7° (26)
2025	30.6% (2)	15.4° (5)

4. Yankee player acquisition and development are influenced by fly ball hitting.

Three of the five players with the biggest increase in fly ball rate this year are Yankees, two of whom were acquired last year or this year.

Player	Increase in fly ball rate
1. Corbin Carroll, D-Backs	+11.6%
2. Jazz Chisholm, Yankees	+11.3%
3. Anthony Volpe, Yankees	+9.1%
4. Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals	+8.2%
5. Ryan McMahon, Yankees	+7.6%

That’s not all. Austin Wells (+5.7%), Paul Goldschmidt (+3.2), Jose Caballero (+2.5) and Cody Bellinger (+1.8%) all have boosted their fly ball rates this year. That gives the Yankees .

VERDUCCI: How Former Top Yankees Prospect Anthony Volpe Became Unplayable

Bellinger started hitting fly balls as soon as he joined the Yankees in spring training. He moved closer to the plate—back where he was in 2019—and emphasized getting the ball in the air to the pull side, a skill he had lost. Now he is hitting more fly balls than ever in his career (36.7%).

Aaron Judge made his swing change in 2022, the year he hit 62 home runs, to get the ball in the air more. He has been a model of consistency since then in terms of keeping the ball off the ground using a 15° attack angle, well above the average of 10°, which you can see every time he takes a practice swing.

Over the past three years, Judge has grounded out to the right side of the infield just four times (not including topped balls in front of the plate fielded by the pitcher or catcher). He has not grounded out to first base since Sept. 21, 2022.

5. Jazz Chisholm is a good example of how the Yankees tailor swings to get the ball airborne.

Before he was traded to the Yankees, Chisholm was a ground ball hitter. Now he is an extreme fly ball hitter who, like Bellinger, is hitting a career-high rate of fly balls (36.3%, well above MLB average of 24%).

How did the Yankees do this? They changed the path of his barrel to the ball.

We can measure that path change with Statcast. Chisholm has increased both his attack angle and attack direction.

Think of attack angle as a vertical gauge—how far the barrel works in an upward plane to meet the ball. You can see in the measurements below that Chisholm is swinging in a more upward path to the pitch—much steeper than the MLB average of 10°.

Think of attack direction as a horizontal gauge. Chisholm made a major adjustment with his attack direction. Last year he was at 2°, which is the MLB average. He was a neutral hitter in terms of where he hit the ball. But this year his bat is moving much more in a path toward the right side of the field—hitting the ball out front. It is the path of a pull hitter.

Chisholm has hit a career-high 26 home runs. Here is what the changes look like in terms of data:

Chisholm Swing Metrics	Attack Angle	Attack Direction	MPH	SLG
2024	14°	2°	72	.436
2025	16°	5°	74	.487

And here is what the changes visually look like. He is dropping the barrel lower as it enters the hitting zone so that he can swing up more on the ball. He is trying to catch the bottom third of the baseball and to hit it more out front of the plate, the better to generate pull-side balls in the air.

These are two nearly identical pitches: fastballs from a righthander down and middle. The one from last season is a ground ball single up the middle. The one from this season is a pull-side home run.

I highlighted the angle of his bat so you can see his descent angle is less steep this year, allowing him to work his barrel more underneath the baseball (greater attack angle).

The contact point pictures are somewhat similar, but the greater attack direction means he is catching the ball more in front and staying connected through contact, which you can see with how his hands and arms remain closer to his body. 

6. Giancarlo Stanton jumped aboard the airborne baseball train.

Yes, even a 35-year-old, five-time All-Star with 446 career home runs has joined the fly ball party. Stanton always has hit the ball as hard as just about anybody in baseball. But he deployed such a flat swing he hit too many ground balls for a guy with so much power. Until last year, he hit balls on the ground at a rate greater than the major league average.

Those days are over. It’s only a 55-game sample, but Stanton is slugging at a rate (.624) topped only by his 2019 MVP season. He is hitting a career-low rate of ground balls (32.7%) and a career-high rate of fly balls (29.2%).

How is that possible at age 35? Like Chisholm, Stanton has learned to drop the barrel lower behind him and bring it to the hitting zone in a sharper upward angle. He is hitting the bottom third of the baseball more often—and when you do that with the highest average exit velocity in the sport, look out.

Stanton Swing Metrics	EV	Attack Angle	Launch Angle
2024	81.0	9°	14.7°
2025	80.5	11°	18.2° (career high)
MLB Average	72.0	10°	12.4°

Those are the data. Now here is a visual to see how Stanton has changed his setup to get more underneath the baseball. Both pitches are splitters from Kevin Gausman. The one last year is a foul ball. The one this year is a home run.

Stanton has closed his stance farther. This year you can see the entire 7 of the 27 on his back. At foot strike/ball release, the stride foot is closer to the plate. And Stanton is in a more erect posture, which is more common among tall power hitters to create more leverage.

7. Trent Grisham and Ben Rice are having career years by … you guessed it,

Grisham hasn’t changed his swing. He hunts fastballs in the zone and is more apt to put a home run swing on it when he gets it. He has talked about how playing with Judge and Stanton has encouraged him to take more big swings, depending on count and situation. Grisham has reached career highs in pulling the ball and pulling the ball in the air while hitting a career-low rate of balls to the opposite field. And here is what every scouting report says about him: He devours fastballs.

Grisham by pitch type, 2025	BA	SLG
Fastballs	.289	.557
Non-fastballs	.188	.389

Rice has almost the same profile: a pull-side, fly ball hitter who hunts fastballs:

Rice by pitch type, 2025	BA	SLG
Fastballs	.275	.520
Non-fastballs	.207	.441

Like or not, traditionalist or not, the Yankees do have a path to win the World Series by relying on getting the ball in the air and over the fence. What’s to stop them? An age-old antidote: a well-executed pitching plan.

Three of the five teams that have best limited the Yankees’ slugging this year are in playoff position and on their immediate schedule horizon: the Astros, Tigers and Red Sox. The Yankees begin a huge get-ready-for-October stretch Tuesday in Houston with the first of 12 straight games against the Astros, Blue Jays, Tigers and Red Sox.

The teams that have throttled the Yankees’ power have done so primarily by not feeding them four-seam fastballs and by boosting their off-speed use. The Yankees slug .497 against four-seamers, the best in the past two seasons except Arizona this year. The five teams who have pitched the Yankees the toughest all threw the Yankees fewer four-seamers than they usually see.

Meanwhile, except for Boston, they showed the Yankees more off-speed stuff than they normally see. 

Lowest SLG Allowed to 2025 Yankees	SLG	Four-Seam%	Off-speed%
1. Astros	.250	25.0%	16.9%
2. Tigers	.263	28.9%	18.1%
3. Angels	.329	24.0%	19.2%
4. Rangers	.373	22.6%	18.0%
5. Red Sox	.380	24.4%	12.1%
NYY Average	.456	30.2%	14.9%

Yes, there is likely to be a game here or there where the Yankees don’t get a single with a man on second or strike out with a man on third and it costs them. It’s not to say the finer points of baseball are not important . Hey, all you need to do is go back to Game 5 of the World Series last year. The Yankees hit three home runs. They had been 16–2 in World Series games when they hit three homers, including 5–0 at home.

And they lost because they kicked the ball around on defense.

The Yankees bank on the finer points mattering less if they can hit the ball in the air and out of the park. The Brewers, who hit the ball on the ground, run and defend, have more ways to win. The Yankees choose the more narrow but easier path. To repeat the basic math: The Yankees take 69 swings per game. If two are home runs, they win 70% of the time. That’s why they swing up on the baseball.

The Yankees are the greatest show above earth. Can they be stopped? Of course. All you must do is keep them in the park.

Curtis Jones has shed light on how the Liverpool squad feel about Mohamed Salah following last week's outburst at Elland Road. Salah dropped a bombshell in his post-match interview following the 3-3 draw and claimed he had been "thrown under the bus", having started from the bench for the third successive match. The Egypt international is now being linked with a January exit from Anfield.

Getty Images SportHas Salah played his final game for Liverpool?

The 33-year-old, who penned a two-year contract extension earlier in the year, has potentially played his final game for Liverpool. Salah came off the bench to register the assist for Hugo Ekitike's second in the Reds' 2-0 win over Brighton Saturday afternoon.

Salah will now link up with the Egypt national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco later this month. The Pharaohs are one of the pre-tournament favourites, meaning the Liverpool forward could miss six games should Egypt go the distance at the tournament and the Premier League champions opt against selling the former Roma man next month, but he is being strongly linked with a winter move to the Saudi Pro League.

Virgil van Dijk has revealed that he has told his team-mate that he wants him to stay at the club, while midfielder Jones has downplayed Salah's comments and insists that the Liverpool players "all love Mo".

Advertisement'We all love Mo', says Jones

Speaking after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, Jones told : "We all love Mo. I love Mo. At my hardest times at the club, you know, he was always one of the ones who was there. I could always speak to (him). And it's exactly the same now.

"Mo's his own man, he's got his own opinions. And, you know, I don't think his intentions were to affect the team or anything like that. It was just a personal thing. And as everybody knows, the team, the fans, the staff, we all love Mo. He's a great guy.

"I don't really like to speak on another man's issues or his business and stuff – that has to do with Mo. But at the end of the day, I think the important thing that Mo made clear was that it's not against the team or anything like that, just a personal issue, and that's it."

Jones' quotes echo what Van Dijk said of Salah over the weekend. The Liverpool captain has revealed that he has spoken to Salah, stating: "Of course I speak to him. I speak about everything with him. Of course I've told him I want him to stay. The rest I'm not going to tell you.

"I wish him all the best and come back hopefully. I have no control over that. He is one of the leaders. I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders. But obviously the fact is he is going to AFCON. I wish him absolutely all the best. We will be in contact over the next days and weeks, we always are. And then let's see."

Getty Images SportJones follows in Liverpool icon's footsteps

Jones started the 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday to bring up his 200th Liverpool appearance, becoming the youngest Reds player to reach that mark since Steven Gerrard in 2003. Gerrard coached Jones at both U18 and U19 level, and the current Liverpool star has revealed that rough treatment from a club icon helped guide him.

"Not a bad person to follow, is it? Steven has obviously been a huge part of my career and life," Jones told LFC TV. "And I say life because he was probably the first man to really have a pop at me at the academy! And that changed me to think I'm not better than anybody else or anything like that. It was a reality check in terms of how I played and the role that he gave me.

"Steven would be the first to say that once I overcame a thing where I'd complicate things and I thought I was the man because I had the 10 on my back and all things like that, that I'd be the first man that he'd pick on his team.

"I'd always been a kid who was top of the age group and all things like that. At times you can become a little bit passive, I'd say. And Steven was the first one to give me a real, real check. Coming from a man like him, a man who has played the game, a man who I idolised, I've got to change if it's him who is telling me."

Jones continued: "From there, he stuck with me and I stuck with him and we worked. A year after I'm around the first team and now I'm stood here on 200 games so he's obviously a man who I would like to thank.

"It's mad. I actually had a chat with Trey [Nyoni] and Rio [Ngumoha] was there as well. I just said, 'Boys, I know you will hear it all the time from staff and family around you, about how fast it goes. But my God, it goes so fast'. If I think about my first game, Wolves away, and how fast the whole thing has changed.

"I can only thank the staff around me and the team-mates around me who have always got the belief in me to keep me at the club and when I play, to trust that I can play in that many games."

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AFPVictory over Brighton eases pressure on Slot

Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton marked the first time the Reds have won back-to-back matches in over a month, and just the second time they have achieved the feat since September to ease pressure on head coach Arne Slot.

The defending champions have a week now to prepare for their trip to Tottenham next weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo is making a move into MMA, with the Portugal icon announcing a new job in a link-up with UFC legend Ilia Topuria. At 40 years of age, and with his glittering football career entering its final chapters, Ronaldo has made one of the clearest statements yet about life after football. The Al-Nassr star says the new project "represents values I truly believe in – discipline, respect, resilience."

• WOW FC’s rapid rise aligns with Ronaldo’s global influence

  Founded with modest ambition, WOW FC has exploded into one of Europe’s fastest-growing MMA promotions. Over the past year, attendance has surged by over 400 per cent. The events have consistently sold more than 5,000 tickets, and live broadcasts now reach 170+ countries. The arrival of Ronaldo is expected to accelerate WOW’s push into Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. His involvement will also extend beyond sport, with WOW aiming to intersect culture, fashion, entertainment, and education.

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  What did Ronaldo & Topuria say

  In a statement, Ronaldo said: "MMA represents values I truly believe in – discipline, respect, resilience, and the constant pursuit of excellence. WOW FC is building something unique and powerful, and I’m proud to join this project to help elevate the sport and inspire the next generation."

  Meanwhile, in a tweet, he further added: "I’m excited to share some big news: I will become a shareholder of @wowfcmma! We share values I truly believe in – discipline, respect, resilience, and the constant pursuit of excellence. WOW FC is building something unique and powerful, and I’m proud to join this project to help elevate the sport and inspire the next generation."

  Topuria welcomed Ronaldo with enthusiasm: "Having Cristiano Ronaldo join WOW FC is a powerful moment for the sport. He represents the highest standards of professionalism, hard work, and global excellence. Together, we will push MMA to new heights and inspire athletes and fans around the world to believe that anything is possible."

• From rivalry to partnership: Ronaldo and Topuria’s surprising alliance

  The partnership marks a remarkable shift in the relationship between Ronaldo and Topuria, who exchanged barbs just a year ago. Before UFC 308 in October 2024, Ronaldo publicly backed Max Holloway to dethrone Topuria, claiming the Spaniard "spoke too much" and had not beaten "the top guys."

  Topuria fired back sharply at the time: "The one I'm going to personally invite there [in Miami] is [Lionel] Messi because he lives there, so screw Cristiano as long as Messi exists. I didn't understand it, to be honest. I saw the clip that came out talking about me talking too much. If Cristiano says it, something doesn't add up to me. Cristiano always talks."

  Alongside his MMA venture, Ronaldo has quietly been building an extensive portfolio outside football. The latest addition is the Vega Private Members Club, set to open in Madrid before the end of the year. According to Spanish outlet , the project is being developed with entrepreneur Inigo Onieva and the hospitality group Mabel, co-owned by Ronaldo and businessman Manuel Campos Guallar. The ultra-exclusive club, located on the Golden Mile, will cover 1,000 square metres, feature a mobile-phone ban, private offices, co-working areas, and even a podcast studio by day. By night, it will transform into a private dining and cocktail hub.

  When asked about retirement, he said in an interview with Piers Morgan earlier this month, "Soon. I think I will be prepared. It will be tough, of course. Will be difficult, yes. Probably I will cry, yes… It will be very, very difficult but I've prepared my future since [I was] 25, 26, 27 years old. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure."

  He added: "Nothing will compare to the adrenaline we have for football to score a goal. But I have other passions. [When I retire] I'm going to have more time for me, have more time for my family, to raise my kids. I want to be more a family person, more present. Also, to have my own hobbies. I like to see UFC, the fights. I like padel. I like and I want to learn more about my companies. I'll never be a [full-time] YouTuber, of course, but I want to be there. I'm going to spend more time on that to learn. I think I'm going to do funny things and things I'm not used to doing before. Because I live football 24 hours [each day] to do the right things and perform."

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  What comes next for Ronaldo?

  Ronaldo has a contract with Al-Nassr that runs until 2027 and is expected to lead Portugal to global glory during the World Cup in 2026. However, before that, he remains determined to inspire Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title that has remained elusive since he moved to the Middle East. They are currently at the top of the league standings with 27 points from nine matchdays and will return to action against Al-Najma on December 21. 

Division Two leaders edging closer to promotion despite Gloucestershire racking up 482

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay09-Sep-2025Leicestershire’s march towards promotion may be in danger of becoming something of a shuffle, but a resilient batting performance saw the Foxes go a long way towards securing the draw that depending on results elsewhere, could prove enough to see them over the line on the second day of their Rothesay County Championship match against Gloucestershire.Big half-centuries from Lewis Hill, his fifth of the season, and Shan Masood, on his Championship debut for the county, saw Leicestershire recover from 86 for 3 and secure a batting bonus point before closing on 270 for 4. Both achieved personal landmarks in the course of their innings, Masood passing 12,000 first-class runs, and Hill 5000.Leicestershire still trail the visitors by 212, and need another 63 runs to be sure of not being asked to follow-on, but a poor weather forecast for days three and four means the draw is now strong favourite, and there should be enough play for Leicestershire to secure at least two more batting bonus points.A return of 14 or 15 points could prove sufficient to confirm their return to the top division.A sunny morning at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road, saw Gloucestershire resume their first innings on 382 for 7, but play began with one of those somewhat unedifying periods of county cricket when the bowling side opts to hurry through a few overs to improve a negative over rate, which in this case saw Leicestershire opening batsmen Rishi Patel and Sol Budinger squeezing 11 overs of their occasional off-spin into the first 20 minutes of play.While on one hand this meant the Foxes were no longer in any danger of being deducted any points at the end of the game, it also meant they had little chance of taking the two wickets they needed for a third bowling bonus point, and Zaman Akhter and Matt Taylor happily and comfortably built a half-century partnership before, with the seamers now back into the attack, Taylor top edged a pull at a short delivery from Logan van Beek, and Hill took a good catch at deep square leg.Van Beek then produced a fine delivery to bowl Josh Shaw, but Akhter and last man Ajeet Singh Dale laid about them to good effect, Akhter registering a third half-century of the season to underline his status as aspiring all-rounder before edging an Ian Holland out-swinger to wicket-keeper Ben Cox.Having made important contributions with the bat, Taylor and Singh Dale then looked dangerous with the ball, finding sufficient movement to beat both Patel and Budinger in impressive spells before lunch. Budinger could consider himself unfortunate however, when having hit Taylor for consecutive boundaries, the left-hander got a delivery that kept markedly low before thudding into off stump.Patel, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, followed shortly after the break, an uncertain defensive push at Shaw giving Ben Charlesworth a straightforward catch at second slip, and though Holland tried to dig in, the Leicestershire captain’s inclination to stay on the back foot cost him when a fullish Taylor delivery stayed low and pinned him leg before.Hill, however, has been one of Leicestershire’s most consistent run scorers this season, and having played himself in, the 34-year-old former captain began to unfurl some fine shots, including four boundaries in five balls before a glorious on-drive off Shaw took him past 50, the half-century coming off 57 deliveries.Masood, coming in to the side in place of Peter Handscomb (the Victorian having returned to Australia to prepare for the forthcoming season down under), also began slowly, but as the ball got older and the bowlers began to tire, he too began to show his class, with one particular late cut verging on the exquisite. The partnership had passed 150 when Hill, to his dismay, was given out caught behind on 88 off the bowling of Matt Taylor.His dismissal brought in another making his Championship debut for Leicestershire, Steve Eskinazi, and the tall right-hander gave Masood solid support in steering their side to the close without further loss.