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Wrexham are, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney on board, the most ambitious of outfits, but a move for Thomas Muller is considered impossible.

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• Hollywood co-owners bankrolling Red Dragons
• World Cup winner leaving Allianz Arena
• Expected to continue career in the United States

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons are in the process of piecing together recruitment plans after seeing a historic third successive promotion lift them into the Championship. Hollywood co-owners continue to make the funds available that allow marquee additions to be sought.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Welsh outfit have already been linked with the likes of Jamie Vardy and Tom Cairney, while being urged to consider an approach for England international striker Callum Wilson, with every corner of the transfer market being explored.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  World Cup winner Muller is among those about to hit free agency, as his contract at Bayern Munich runs down, but the legendary 35-year-old forward is expected to favour a move to MLS over any potential challenge in the EFL.

• Getty
  

  WHAT DIETMAR HAMANN SAID

  Ex-Bayern midfielder Dietmar Hamann has told : "Thomas Muller is 35 now and his game time was very limited in the last few weeks. But he came on against Inter in the quarters, scored a goal, so he still knows where the goal is.

  "He's got a few offers and clubs that he thinks are outside the box, he said he had offers where he thought that's a bit ambitious, but that he liked them. Moving to England though at this age won’t be an option, so I can’t see him at Wrexham.

  "The most likely destination is probably the MLS. They've got a partner club with LAFC, Bayern Munich, and the way he is talking I think he is going to carry on playing."

Fast bowler Darcie Brown has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against West Indies with a hamstring injury which also potentially leaves her in doubt for the start of the WBBL.Brown left the field after three overs in the first one-dayer in Brisbane, where she claimed the key with of Stafanie Taylor, with tightness in her left hamstring. She had previously produced a matchwinning 3 for 20 in the deciding T20I.”Brown will undergo further assessment in the coming days and an update on her availability provided in due course,” a CA statement said.Related

• Australia start early prep for December pink-ball Test in India

• 'Brave' Darcie Brown impresses Australia coach after stopping Hayley Matthews

• Australia win with 211 balls to spare after West Indies skittled for 83

Heather Graham, the Tasmania allrounder, has been called in the squad for the two matches in Melbourne which conclude West Indies’ tour. She will arrive on Wednesday having played against ACT in the WNCL.Australia may consider altering the balance of their attack in Brown’s absence by recalling Jess Jonassen who missed the first ODI having been dropped for the final T20I.With Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland and Tahlia McGrath there are plenty of seam-bowling options in the side. Ellyse Perry previously said she may not be able to bowl before the WBBL following her knee injury in Ireland and now her return with the ball may extend further.”The start [of the WBBL] will probably be pushing it, but hopefully not too far into the season,” Perry said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Scott Prestwidge, our bowling coach.”We were doing some really great stuff over in England in the nets and it was sort of a bit of a bummer to have to cut that over the last couple of months. I’m really looking forward to the rest of summer and hopefully being able to contribute with the ball.”Adelaide Strikers, the defending WBBL champions, will have a close eye on Brown’s fitness with their tournament getting underway on October 21 against Melbourne Stars.Australia lead the ODI series 1-0 having bowled out West Indies for 83 at Allan Border Field.

Arsenal have been hit with several huge injury blows in recent weeks that have left Mikel Arteta with little to choose from when selecting his attacking options in matches.

Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli are all out injured for the foreseeable future, and the Gunners did not swoop to bring in any reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Gabriel Jesus

ACL

August 31st 2025

21

Bukayo Saka

Hamstring

April 1st 2025

18

Kai Havertz

Hamstring

June 30th 2025

14

Gabriel Martinelli

Hamstring

Unknown

1

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Knee

Unknown

29

Whilst it remains to be seen how the London giants will resolve their issue in the number nine position, the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri has helped to deal with the loss of Saka to injury.

The 17-year-old whiz, who turns 18 in March, has emerged as a genuine first-team option for Arteta this season, with some eye-catching performances on the right flank.

Ethan Nwaneri's emergence this season

Nwaneri made his Premier League debut at the age of 15 years and 181 days against Brentford in September 2022, which made him the youngest player in the history of the division.

Two seasons later the England U19 international has become a regular in the senior set-up. He has made 24 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season, including 15 outings in the top-flight.

Appearances (starts)

15 (4)

xG

0.74

Goals

3

xA

1.01

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Nwaneri has produced four direct goal contributions in four starts in the Premier League, with his latest being an assist for Mikel Merino in the 2-0 win over Leicester at the weekend.

The teenage sensation, who has scored seven goals in all competitions, may soon have another incredible teenage talent alongside him in the first-team, as Arsenal have 15-year-old Max Dowman rapidly rising through the ranks.

Arsenal could hit gold with Max Dowman

Arteta, as he already has with Nwaneri, could hit the jackpot by unearthing the young attacking midfielder in the coming seasons, as he is emerging as an incredible prospect who could be as good as the current first-team academy graduate.

Back in November, Fabrizio Romano reported that the then-14-year-old was already training with the first-team at Arsenal, and that the club consider him to be a “huge” talent.

In the same month, analyst Ben Mattinson claimed that Dowman has stood out at U19 and U21 level, despite his incredibly young age, and described his talent as “insane”, whilst he added that it would not be a surprise for him to make his debut this season and beat Nwaneri’s Premier League record.

The 15-year-old starlet has already made his U21 debut and has racked up three goals and two assists in eight appearances for the U18s this season, which shows that the youngster is starring well above his age bracket.

Dowman is shining in the academy and has clearly caught Arteta’s attention, hence why he has been in first-team training as young as 14, which is why he could be as big of a talent as Nwaneri, who has emerged in the senior set-up at the age of 17.

Arsenal now make contact for "composed" £50m striker with 20 league goals

The Gunners have made the first move to sign a striker who is the top scorer in his league this season.

ByDominic Lund Feb 16, 2025

It is now down to the manager to plot the perfect pathway to the first-team for the left-footed playmaker, who is yet to make his senior bow, to ensure that the club can strike gold with the teenage ace, who could eventually become a regular for the Spanish tactician in the future.

خطف منتخب بوركينا فاسو فوزًا من إفريقيا الوسطى بنتيجة 4-2، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين 2024،

وأقيمت المباراة بين بوركينا فاسو وإفريقيا الوسطى على أرضية ملعب بنجامين ماكابا في دار السلام، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية للمجموعة الثانية من البطولة القارية.

وافتتح بابوس أوتارا التسجيل لبوركينا فاسو في الدقيقة 11، لكن سيدني تشيبيندا أدرك التعادل لإفريقيا الوسطى في الدقيقة 15.

وفي الشوط الثاني، سجل عبدول عباس جيرو الهدف الثاني لبوركينا فاسو من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 61، قبل أن يعزز باتريك مالو التقدم بالهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 78.

طالع | منتخب السنغال يحقق فوزه الأول في كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين على حساب نيجيريا

وأضاف عبدول باجويان الهدف الرابع في الدقيقة 84، فيما قلص أنجي زومارا الفارق لإفريقيا الوسطى بهدف في الدقيقة 90+5.

بهذا الفوز، رفع منتخب بوركينا فاسو رصيده إلى 3 نقاط في المركز الثاني، محققًا فوزه الأول في دور المجموعات، بينما يقبع منتخب إفريقيا الوسطى بالمركز الأخير دون نقاط.

Wednesday is always an exciting day of betting action in Major League Baseball with a full serving of games, including day baseball.

However, all eyes will be on Pittsburgh Wednesday night as No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes is slated to face the vaunted Los Angeles Dodgers offense. Can Skenes keep his momentum rolling with his stiffest test yet?

I'm not so sure.

Check out my betting preview for every big league game below!

Braves vs. Red Sox Prediction and Pick

Pick: Red Sox (-110)

The results are middling for Nick Pivetta, a 4.08 ERA in seven starts, but the underlying metrics are enticing, as he is striking out 30% of batters with a career low walk rate of just five percent. 

In a projected coin flip, I’ll take the home team. 

Cardinals vs. Astros Prediction and Pick

Pick: Astros (-165)

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas’ inability to strike batters out, a meager 18%, is going to be trouble against an Astros team that is the best hitting team in the big leagues at home (.802 OPS). 

Give me the home favorite. 

Reds vs. Rockies Prediction and Pick

Pick: Reds (-125)

Cincinnati is swinging a sweet bat right now, fifth in OPS over the last 15 days, per MLB.com, and now faces Dakota Hudson of the Rockies, who has a ton of red flags on the mound. 

Hudson ranks in the bottom 10 percentile in strikeout rate and chase percentage as well as xBA, per MLB Statcast.

Giants vs. Diamondbacks Prediction and Pick

Pick: Giants (+105)

Jordan Montgomery hasn’t been the same since helping pace the Rangers’ to a World Series title last fall. He is in the eighth percentile in terms of strikeout rate and sixth percentile in xBA. 

Against a Giants team that is 12th in OPS against lefties this season, and has its most effective pitcher in Jordan Hicks on the mound (2.70 ERA), I’ll lean towards the road underdog. 

Mets vs. Nationals Prediction and Pick

Pick: Mets (-140)

Luis Severino has revived his career with the Mets, posting a 3.52 ERA, and New York’s shaky offense gets a reprieve against Patrick Corbin, who has a 5.83 ERA. 

I see little reason to take a flier on the Nationals with Corbin on the mound, the team is 4-8 when he starts. 

Brewers vs. Phillies Prediction and Pick

Pick: Brewers (+155)

Milwaukee has lost both games in Philadelphia by a combined three runs, and now face Aaron Nola, who has posted a 3.03 ERA on the year. 

Aaron Ashby will counter, who struggled in his first start of the year, allowing four earned runs in less than four innings. I’m willing to give the southpaw a pass for that one and will back him as a big underdog with the Brewers top five hitting offense in terms of OPS behind him. 

Rays vs. Marlins Prediction and Pick

Pick: Rays (-120)

Zach Eflin returns from the injured list to face a bottom five offense in the Marlins, a great landing spot for him after showing some upside in the first handful of weeks of the season. 

Eflin has walked fewer than two percent of batters this season through 10 starts, but needs to raise his strikeout rate back above 20% as he is sitting at the lowest mark of his career since 2019 (17.9%). 

Against the Marlins, a healthy Eflin should be in line for a quality start and for the Rays to snag a road win. 

Royals vs. Guardians Prediction and Pick

Pick: Guardians (-125)

Cleveland is in good shape to build on its AL Central lead on Wednesday against Kansas City with Nick Sandlin on the mound. 

The right hander has found his control, posting a career best walk rate of sub-nine percent while striking out 28% of batters. He ranks in the 98th percentile in terms of xBA with a nasty set of offspeed pitches that includes a sinker and a slider. 

This is also partially a fade of Royals’ starter Brady Singer, who has 2.63 ERA but is due a ton of regression with an xERA of 4.35. 

Dodgers vs. Pirates Prediction and Pick

Pick: Dodgers (+100)

Paul Skenes is getting a ton of respect by being favored over the Dodgers, but I can’t trust the Pirates to take advantage and close out a win with a bullpen ERA of 3.95 since the end of May. 

Skenes has passed every test with flying colors thus far, but the Pirates are getting too much respect in this game against a Dodgers team that is still the best lineup in baseball. 

Twins vs. Yankees Prediction and Pick

Pick: Twins (+155)

Carlos Rodon is a major concern for the Yankees pitching staff, far from his Cy Young candidate level in 2022. 

He is striking out 22% of batters, right around the big league average while allowing a ton of hard contact (23rd percentile). With his inability to get past hitters anymore with what was a nasty curveball, Rodon has seen his underlying metrics balloon despite solid surface level marks. 

Rodon has an ERA of 3.09 but an xERA of 4.32. 

Against a Twins team that is 11th in OPS against left handers, I’ll back the visitors to pull an upset. 

Orioles vs. Blue Jays Prediction and Pick

Pick: Orioles (+105)

Jose Berrios is untrustworthy against a high quality lineup like the Orioles. 

The veteran righty has been lucky all season, striking out fewer than 20% of batters while allowing hard contact on 44% of balls in play (19th percentile), but only a 2.79 ERA. Meanwhile, his xERA is up to 4.15. 

Tigers vs. Rangers Prediction and Pick

Pick: Rangers (-135)

Kenta Maeda’s ERA may be a bit unlucky, but part of that is due to his diminished velocity. 

He is striking out a career low 17% of batters and has been unable to keep runners from crossing home, posting a 6.25 ERA despite a 4.84 xERA. 

I can’t trust him to find his form against a Texas team that has an edge at the plate and a resurgent Jose Urena, who has limited his walk rate to eight percent and has posted a 3.75 ERA. 

White Sox vs. Cubs Prediction and Pick

Pick: White Sox (+150)

The Cubs continue to be untrustworthy in the Windy City Showdown, losing at over -300 favorites on Tuesday. 

The team will send out Jameson Taillon on Wednesday as big favorites, but I’ll fade the Cubbies again. 

Taillon is striking out a career low 15% of batters and has an xERA of 3.56, far higher than his surface level ERA of 2.84. 

Meanwhile, the White Sox counter with its most effective pitcher this season in Erick Fedde, who has an ERA of 3.12 on an increased strikeout rate (career high near-23%). 

Over the last 13 games, the Cubs are 26th in OPS and the White Sox are 29th. The gap isn’t that much between the two teams at the moment. 

Padres vs. Angels Prediction and Pick

Pick: Padres (-150)

Dylan Cease has joined the Padres and performed at an incredibly high level, posting a 3.42 ERA with a 30% strikeout rate, setting up nicely against an Angels team that lacks the pitching prowess to match. 

Jose Soriano is on a run of three straight starts pitching six innings or more, but I expect a short outing for him against a Padres team that can make hard contact against Soriano, who is in the eighth percentile in that metric. 

Mariners vs. Athletics Prediction and Pick

Pick: Athletics (+135)

A’s rookie Joey Estes has some upside, striking out 23% of batters with a sub-seven percent walk rate, but his ERA has been crushed by hard contact, resulting in a 6.10 ERA, but his xERA is at 3.46. 

I’ll take a flier on the home underdog.