Nick Woltemade’s stunning rise has Bayern Munich and Chelsea on alert, with Stuttgart naming their price after his breakout season.

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• Stuttgart striker shines at U21 Euros
• Bayern and Chelsea closely monitoring 23-year-old
• Valuation set after standout Bundesliga season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 23-year-old Stuttgart striker, has emerged as one of the hottest names in European football this summer. After a standout season in the Bundesliga and a goal-laden run at the European Under-21 Championship, several top clubs are circling. Bayern and Chelsea are among those interested, while Real Madrid are also monitoring the towering forward. According to Stuttgart have set an asking price of €60 million (£50m/$64m) to ward off suitors.

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  The German starlet's meteoric rise has been fuelled by a stunning U-21 European Championship campaign where he has netted six goals and added multiple assists. Coming off a strong Bundesliga season where he bagged 12 goals in 28 appearances, the forward's stock has soared. Bayern were encouraged to sign him as Harry Kane's long-term successor, while Chelsea are reportedly considering him as a young backup with key upside. Stuttgart, however, are keen to hold onto their prized asset, at least for another season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Woltemade scored a hat-trick in Germany's first U21 Euros game against Slovenia and added two assists in the 4-2 win over Czech Republic. He then helped fire his side into the last four with a goal and assist as they beat Italy 3-2, and then scored in the 3-0 semi-final win against France on Wednesday. He previously spent four years at Werder Bremen, scoring just two goals before his breakout year at Stuttgart. He also made his senior debut for Germany just days before the U21 Euros, starting against Portugal and France in the Nations League.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Germany will come up against England in the final this weekend and many eyes will be on the rising star of German football.

Kent have the edge on bonus points, meaning victory at Trent Bridge could be only hope of staying up

ECB Reporters Network28-Sep-2023Relegation will surely feel likelier than survival for Middlesex as they contemplate the final day of the LV=Insurance County Championship season, having failed to take the upper hand against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.Anchored by opener Ben Slater’s authoritative 140, a vigil spanning more than seven hours, Nottinghamshire posted 384 in their first innings in reply to Middlesex’s 366, Joe Clarke (70) and Matt Montgomery (52) playing the biggest supporting roles, supplemented by useful late runs from Calvin Harrison and Brett Hutton.Off-spinner Josh De Caires finished with three for 56 as Middlesex took maximum bowling points to go with their three for batting.Yet after picking up seven in total against Lancashire and a first-innings lead of 167 in Canterbury, Kent have the upper hand in the scrap to dodge the final Division One relegation spot, and should now need only to avoid defeat to finish ahead of Middlesex.Bad light cost another 19 overs from the match schedule at Trent Bridge, leaving Middlesex – 10 behind with all wickets in hand – to contemplate offering Nottinghamshire a particularly generous target if they are to have any chance of taking 10 wickets in the last innings to win the match.Their ambitions would have been better served had they managed to conjure a more productive morning with the ball after Nottinghamshire resumed on 92 for two.In the event, the home side had advanced to 201 for three in 31 overs by lunch, the session as a whole suggesting that even if Middlesex were to reach a position to dangle a carrot, they would have only an outside chance of success.Ethan Bamber and Toby Helm found it difficult to make much happen on a slow pitch and Slater and Clarke feasted readily on any width, the former going to fifty from 93 balls with the first scoring shot of the morning, cut to the offside boundary for his ninth four.Clarke completed his half-century from 114 balls with seven fours, having completed his 1,000 first-class runs for the season when he reached 39, his first time to that milestone since 2016, when he announced himself as a batter of outstanding potential by scoring six centuries for Worcestershire.He was not able to add to his 20 hundreds in total, out for 70 when he was beaten by a ball from Jayant Yadav, the Indian off-spinner, that did not bounce as he expected, beating his attempt to whip it through mid-wicket and striking him a couple of inches below the knee roll on the back pad.The partnership with Slater, whom he’d joined at 35 for two, added 134, after which Slater was outpaced by Montgomery, who had been scratching for runs in 10 innings since posting a career-best 177 against Essex in May but found a measure of that form in reaching 50 from 48 balls, as the fourth wicket put on 70.Montgomery was dismissed by De Caires, who had his first bowl of the day immediately after lunch and struck in his fifth over, beating Montgomery on the outside as the right-hander strode down the wicket, handing John Simpson a routine stumping.Now Middlesex did begin to find the inroads that had proved elusive, Tom Helm finding a thin edge as Tom Moores drove expansively in the next over.Slater went to his hundred, his second of the campaign, from 208 balls, but when Lyndon James chopped on to Yadav, Nottinghamshire were in a spot of bother at 274 for six, still 92 in arrears.Harrison, the leg-spinning all-rounder, frustrated Middlesex by sticking around for 25 overs, yet he departed in the last over before tea, caught behind tickling one down the leg-side from Toby Roland-Jones. The visitors smelt an opportunity with the deficit still 47.With Hutton for company, Slater wiped that out in the next 10 overs before the pull shot that had accounted for a good proportion of his 20 boundaries finally let him down and he was caught on the midwicket boundary.Hutton holed out off De Caires, Roland-Jones taking a well-judged catch at mid-off, before Jake Ball departed thanks to an even-better snare at deep point, but instead of the first-innings lead they had craved, Middlesex found themselves 18 runs behind.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com os principais campeonatos do país entrando na reta final, alguns times não possuem mais calendário em 2022 e, com isso, começam a planejar o início da próxima temporada.

Por conta da realização da Copa do Mundo, os torneios acabarão um pouco antes do que o normal, mas isso não traz tranquilidade para as comissões técnicas, já que os estaduais, de acordo com o calendário divulgado pela CBF, começam no dia 15 de janeiro.

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>Casa de apostas ‘crava’ Palmeiras campeão brasileiro

Por outro lado, entre os grandes paulistas que lutam pelo G8, essa antecipação pode favorecer a preparação para a pré-Libertadores. Em 2019, quando o São Paulo foi eliminado pelo Talleres, o clube do Morumbi jogou apenas cinco partidas no campeonato estadual antes de viajar para a Argentina. Em 2023, os brasileiros terão dez datas antes de disputar as fases iniciais da Copa Libertadores.

Nos últimos anos, graças ao número excessivo de jogos, atletas da base também vem ganhando mais espaço, principalmente durante as primeiras rodadas dos torneios regionais. Na estreia do Paulistão de 2022, os quatro grandes do estado relacionaram 34 profissionais com menos de 23 anos. Deste grupo, dez começaram jogando como titular.

– É um período excelente para o processo de maturação dos jovens no profissional. Além de muitos estarem com o preparo físico apurado, já que grande parte dos jogadores também estão disputando a Copa São Paulo, os estaduais também possuem um nível de competitividade um pouco mais baixo para as equipes grandes, o que garante uma tranquilidade maior para testes na time, proporcionando um espaço ainda maior para essa ascensão de categoria – conta Junior Chávare, especialista em categorias de base com passagens por São Paulo, Atlético-MG e Grêmio.

Um dos estaduais mais fortes do país, o Paulistão 2023 terá nove equipes que disputam as duas principais divisões do futebol nacional. O regulamento ainda não foi anunciado, mas a expectativa é que a competição mantenha a fórmula dos últimos anos, com dois classificados em cada chave.

Adalberto Baptista, gestor do Botafogo-SP, equipe que conquistou a vaga da Série C para a Série B do Brasileirão, comentou sobre a importância de uma boa preparação no estadual para a sequência da temporada.

– O Paulistão é extremamente complicado, mais da metade das equipes disputam as Séries A e B, o que eleva o nível técnico ainda mais. Teremos um espaço maior para preparação, mas não podemos pensar que o elenco já estará fechado em janeiro. Temos um intervalo para adquirir mais peças para nos ajudar a fazer uma campanha segura na Série B e, se tudo caminhar como imaginamos, lutar por uma vaga na elite nos próximos anos – comenta o executivo.

Do outro lado da moeda, Portuguesa, Água Santa e São Bento começam a competição na luta por uma vaga na Série D de 2024. A Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) direciona três vagas para a Série D, mas isso não dá a garantia para o trio, já que Inter de Limeira, Ferroviária e Santo André, três equipes classificadas para a quarta divisão no ano que vem, também lutam por um espaço no calendário nacional caso não consigam o acesso à Série C.

– Neste processo de reestruturação, nosso principal objetivo é nos consolidar novamente nas primeiras divisões. Após oito anos, voltaremos a disputar a Série A1, o que significa um aporte maior da televisão, aumento na receita com patrocinadores e a realização de clássicos no Canindé. Apesar da competitividade, o caminho para a Série D fica um pouco mais curto, já que teremos um campeonato à parte com os times que lutam pelo mesmo objetivo – afirma Antonio Castanheira, presidente da Portuguesa.

Manchester United are closing in on signing Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra this summer. The Spaniard has attracted interest from Serie A giants AC Milan but the Red Devils are being considered favourites to secure a transfer for the youngster. United have completed three transfers in the summer window, including the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

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• Man Utd close to signing Valencia's Guerra
• Will face competition from AC Milan, Aston Villa & Atletico
• Guerra to meet Valencia officials this week

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to journalist , Guerra is close to moving to Old Trafford this summer. The 22-year-old came through Valencia's youth system before making his senior debut for the club in 2022. Other than United, Italian giants AC Milan have also shown interest in the player and are reportedly working on a deal that is estimated to cost in the region of €25-30m.

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  has reported that Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa are also keen on signing the young midfielder and could join the transfer race, although the Villans are yet to come up with a formal offer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  further claims that the Rossoneri and the Red Devils are currently waiting for the player to meet his club this week, where the two parties will either discuss a new deal or a potential sale of the player.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Other than Guerra, Amorim's side are also working on a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and are now very close to sealing a move for the attacker.

The allrounder is still recovering from the ACL injury sustained last year leaving the club needing a new captain

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2023Melbourne Renegades’ captain Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the entire WBBL as she continues her recovery from the ACL injury suffered last season.Molineux, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, picked up the injury against Melbourne Stars in November and is now hoping to return to domestic cricket in the second half of this campaign following the WBBL.It was announced on Thursday that Molineux had signed a new two-year deal with Renegades.”I’m really disappointed that my ongoing recovery from an ACL reconstruction means that I won’t be fit and available in time for this season,” she said. “But I’m very much appreciative of the support the club has shown me during the process and I’m very keen to repay their support by helping the team in any way possible over the coming months.”Molineux’s absence means Renegades will need a new captain for the upcoming season, and it could be they look to one of their overseas signings having secured Harmanpreet Kaur and Hayley Matthews at the draft. Another option would be Australia allrounder Georgia Wareham.”While we’d love to have her on the field this year, it’s important Sophie returns to full fitness and her leadership around the group off the field will be just as important,” Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said.Renegades will also be without fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck for the whole WBBL after she underwent shoulder surgery following the Australia A tour of England earlier this year.

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has revealed the crucial support he’s received from team-mate Tosin Adarabioyo after a testing 2025 at Stamford Bridge. Despite a strong start to the campaign, Palmer struggled with form and pressure in the second half of the campaign but has credited the centre-back for being a constant source of encouragement on and off the pitch.

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Palmer reveals support from AdarabioyoCelebrated Palmeiras goal with his teammateLots of expectation placed on Palmer at ChelseaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Palmer has admitted to enduring a challenging stretch in 2025, particularly after January, when his goal and assist tally dropped significantly. The Chelsea forward has now admitted that he leaned on Adarabioyo, a long-time friend and his former Manchester City academy teammate, for emotional and mental support during this time. Earlier this week, Palmer celebrated his Club World Cup quarter-final goal against Palmeiras by running straight to Adarabioyo in a show of appreciation.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT PALMER AND ADARABIOYO SAID

Speaking to the media, Palmer said: “I've had a difficult time these past whatever months on and off the pitch, but he's always been there for me. He's helped me a lot.”

Adarabioyo responded: "I've known Cole since he was a young boy so even me seeing him on those big banners makes me very, very proud. I think people do forget that he's still 22, 23 years of age and he's one of the faces of this tournament. Obviously his life has changed in the past two years.

"I banter him some time and tell him he's a little superstar. But yeah, he handles it very well. He knows his focus is brilliant on football. He loves playing football and that's Cole Palmer for you.

"You say he's receiving a lot of scrutiny. I don't think Cole really looks at that and us as team-mates aren't really looking at that. He performs at a very high level every time he steps on the pitch. So our job is not just to help Cole Palmer but every single player on the pitch perform as well as they can."

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Palmer burst onto the scene last season but struggled to maintain his red-hot form, especially as scrutiny around Chelsea’s inconsistent performances intensified. He still managed to shine in key moments, including the Europa Conference League final and recent Club World Cup fixtures. With added pressure as one of Chelsea’s young stars, Palmer’s ability to manage expectations has been a key talking point.

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Chelsea take on Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-final on July 8, with a shot at their first international title under Enzo Maresca. Palmer, buoyed by renewed confidence and strong support, will be expected to lead the charge as the Blues aim to book their place in the final.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals have retained 15 of their 18 squad members. Among the three released are Tara Norris, who was the only Associate player across teams in the inaugural season, and Jasia Akhtar, the Jammu and Kashmir batter known for her power-hitting in India’s domestic circuit. Capitals will go into the 2024 auction with a purse of INR 2.25 crore to fill up to three slots.Squad: Alice Capsey*, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen*, Laura Harris*, Marizanne Kapp*, Meg Lanning*, Minnu Mani, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniya Bhatia, Titas SadhuReleased: Aparna Mondal, Jasia Akhtar, Tara Norris*

Gujarat Giants

Gujarat Giants, who finished at the bottom of the points table last season, have released more than half of their squad members, including four overseas players: Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth and Sophia Dunkley. Laura Wolvaardt, who was an injury replacement for Beth Mooney, has been retained, as is Mooney.That means they have ten vacancies now, and will have the biggest purse at the mini-auction – INR 5.95 crore – to fill those.Squad: Ashleigh Gardner*, Beth Mooney*, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt*, Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana, Tanuja KanwarReleased: Annabel Sutherland*, Ashwani Kumari, Georgia Wareham*, Hurley Gala, Kim Garth*, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, Parunika Sisodia, Sabbineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley*, Sushma VermaESPNcricinfo Ltd

Mumbai Indians

Defending champions Mumbai Indians released just four players, out of which only Dhara Gujjar had played any part last season. Since they had only 17 players last time, they have five slots available and a purse of INR 2.1 crore, the smallest among the five franchises.Squad: Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr*, Chloe Tryon*, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews*, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong*, Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt*, Pooja Vastrakar, Priyanka Bala, Saika Ishaque, Yastika BhatiaReleased: Dhara Gujjar, Heather Graham*, Neelam Bisht, Sonam Yadav

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Megan Schutt, Dane van Niekerk and Erin Burns were the biggest names released by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Schutt played seven out of eight games last season but could pick up just four wickets at an economy of 8.46, while van Niekerk had spent the whole season on the bench. They have seven slots vacant, and INR 3.35 to fill them.Squad: Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry*, Heather Knight*, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine*Released: Dane van Niekerk*, Erin Burns*, Komal Zanzad, Megan Schutt*, Poonam Khemnar, Preeti Bose, Sahana Pawar

UP Warriorz

UP Warriorz retained their core; Shabnim Ismail, who played just three games last season because of the team combination, was the only overseas player released. Among Indians, the franchise let go of Devika Vaidya, Shivali Shinde and Simran Shaikh. Vaidya, who was signed at INR 1.4 crore, managed just 77 runs and one wicket in seven matches. Warriorz will have INR 4 crore at the auction to fill five slots.Squad: Alyssa Healy*, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris*, Kiran Navgire, Lauren Bell*, Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, S Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone*, Tahlia McGrath*Released: Devika Vaidya, Shabnim Ismail*, Shivali Shinde, Simran Shaikh