Alfalah University Men. Marwari College Women. Remember these two names, because you might just find yourself hunting for more on them at some point in the future to look up the backstory of the next men’s or women’s cricket star.These were the two colleges who won the final of the Red Bull Campus Cricket India tournament, on June 11, in Mohali. While Marwari College Women beat Rizvi College Women by 36 runs in the morning, Alfalah University Men saw off New LJ College Men by 35 runs under lights.The women’s triumph was an incredible story in itself, a team from Ranchi winning the final, having overcome the “big” teams from established centres like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In the final, Marwari College Women made 125 for 5 in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Player of the Final Anamika Kumari (60 off 54), with her opening partner Priyanka Sawaiyan (37 off 44) playing a fine support role with 37 off 44 and then going on to claim 3 for 9 with her offspin. Rizvi College Women’s chase hardly took off and they eventually ended up on 89 for 6. Marwari College’s hunger for victory and what this stage meant to them was illustrated by captain Shanti Kumari, who hared across the turf and put in a dive to save a boundary, even when the result was a mere formality with the chasing team too far behind.

In fact, the women from Ranchi were terrific in the field throughout, and smart with their tactics too. They set a six-three field and bowled wide outside off, choking the runs expertly.The experience gained here would only help women’s cricket, current India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and former India player Snehal Pradhan felt.”It was an amazing experience for the girls,” Mandhana said. “It’s something that will help them in their careers and make them feel ‘I want to do this. I want to go out there and do it for India as well’. These girls are going to go back and tell others about their experiences here, and the other girls will be like ‘Oh, I also want to experience this.'”Brands like Red Bull help a lot because they want to grow with the athlete. They want to provide the infrastructure, or whatever we ask for, for us to go out there and perform… Everyone has ideas, to start this and that, but they’ve actually started a women’s team. They thought about it and started.”Red Bull Campus Cricket 2022: Smriti Mandhana with the triumphant Marwari College Women•Red Bull Campus Cricket

Pradhan, who has established herself as a commentator after retiring from the game in 2013, said Red Bull’s arrangements for the finals were impeccable, offering players facilities that are usually available only at higher levels.”You think that to play at stadiums like [the PCA Stadium in] Mohali, you have to play for India or maybe you’ll have to play for your state – to play at this kind of venue and get this kind of an experience, where people are taking care of you so well…” Pradhan said. “The hotels, teams have been flown out… Only players who play for their country or state get this kind of experience.”More matches, better exposure in matches, they become better cricketers. And they are getting an experience of what cricket has to offer if they can maximise their talent in the future. Anu [Anamika Kumari] was telling me how she’s only getting a couple of games a season for her state. She’s getting this platform now where she can put up a score. Great to see that even below state cricket we have a structure for girls where they can express themselves.”There’s plenty of talent, not just in the big centres, but also in smaller towns like Ranchi.”The men had plenty of notable performances too.Dheeru Singh led the charge for Alfalah University Men, smashing 67 off 43 balls from No. 4 to drive his side to a commanding 162 for 8. Dheeru put on 44 runs for the fourth wicket with Aniket Singh during a tricky period, after early wickets had left the side 47 for 3 inside six overs. The stand came at only a run a ball, but the two batters negotiated the phase where the floodlights were switched on, and steered their team to calmer waters. Dheeru hit five sixes and as many fours during his innings. His range-hitting in particular, was impressive, with the boundaries being cleared with ease.Red Bull Campus Cricket 2022: The victorious Alfalah University Men’s team•Red Bull Campus Cricket

Alfalaha University Men then restricted New LJ College Men to 127 for 9, a good bowling performance backed up by excellent fielding. Faizan Alam took 3 for 26 in his four overs, while Boby Yadav, adjudged the Player of the Series, took 3 for 25.Rajasthan Royals allrounder Riyan Parag was all praise for the stage the tournament and these finals in particular provided the young players with.”As a kid I always dreamed of playing under lights,” Parag said. “So I think having a stage like this to showcase your abilities is going to be very big for them. I hope they have lots of fun and learn a lot from this… A platform like this, with sponsors, under lights, with a white ball – it’s a dream for any young cricketer.”For many cricketers who took part in the Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament, the dream has only begun. They now have a wealth of priceless experience to draw on as they work towards realising those dreams on an even bigger stage.

MatériaMais Notícias

Além de sair de campo derrotado por 1 a 0 pelo São Paulo, o Corinthians sabe que terá um desfalque importante para a próxima rodada do Brasileirão-2021. Trata-se de João Victor, que levou o terceiro cartão amarelo no Majestoso e está fora do duelo com o Internacional, em confronto direto por Libertadores.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO! Veja os melhores momentos de São Paulo 1 x 0 CorinthiansVídeo18/10/2021CorinthiansFábio Santos lamenta início do Corinthians no clássico e já projeta ‘confronto direto’ com o InterCorinthians18/10/2021CorinthiansATUAÇÕES: Corinthians vai mal e tem desempenhos individuais sem brilho no MajestosoCorinthians18/10/2021

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O zagueiro entrou em campo pendurado com dois cartões e acabou sendo advertido ainda no primeiro tempo do clássico, quando entrou em um confusão entre Du Queiroz e Liziero. João foi defender o companheiro, deu um empurrão no meio-campista são-paulino e foi punido pela arbitragem.

Cássio, Fábio Santos e Cantillo também estavam pendurados, mas passaram ilesos de punição e estarão disponíveis para Sylvinho no próximo domingo. Quem deve substituir João Victor é o também zagueiro Raul Gustavo, que é o único reserva da posição no atual elenco corintiano. No início do trabalho do treinador, o jovem chegou a ser titular da zaga ao lado do próprio João.

Quem retorna ao time é Fagner, que cumpriu suspensão pelo terceiro amarelo contra o São Paulo e foi substituído por Du Queiroz. No entanto, Willian, que sofreu uma lesão na coxa esquerda, segue fora e deve ficar afastado por mais de um mês. Roni é outro que está em recuperação, mas pode voltar em breve.

O Corinthians terá um confronto direto pela zona de Libertadores no próximo domingo, contra o Internacional, às 16h, pela 28ª rodada do Brasileirão-2021. Com 40 pontos, permanece na sexta posição na tabela, um ponto a mais do que os gaúchos, que estão no sétimo lugar e podem superar o Alvinegro.

Star allrounder is among 11 Australians in the competition, joining a strong line-up at Edgbaston

Valkerie Baynes18-Mar-2021

Ellyse Perry is set to return to international action this month•AFP

Ellyse Perry has joined Birmingham Phoenix for the inaugural edition of the Hundred, starting in July.Perry, who was recently named the ICC Women’s Player of the Decade, joins a strong Phoenix contingent, including fellow Australian Ashleigh Gardner, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine – who will also lead the Birmingham side – and, from England, wicketkeeper Amy Jones, allrounder Georgia Elwiss and rising pace bowling prospect Issy Wong.”I can’t wait to come over to the UK and get involved in The Hundred this summer,” Perry said. “It’s fantastic to see how it’s put women’s cricket in the spotlight and attracted so many of the world’s top players to come and play in it. I’m looking forward to helping introduce a new generation to cricket and hopefully inspiring them to pick up a bat and ball themselves.”Related

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Perry is the 20th overseas player to join the Hundred women’s competition, leaving four more overseas slots, which the ECB are hopeful of filling at least in part with players from India, subject to approval from the BCCI. So far, 11 Australians have signed up for the competition, including Perry, alongside five South Africans and two each from New Zealand and West Indies.Perry is poised for a return to the international stage for the first time in a year when Australia kick off their tour of New Zealand with the first of three T20Is on March 28, followed by three ODIs. Perry was absent when Australia hosted New Zealand in September and October after sustaining a new injury to the same hamstring she tore during the T20 World Cup last March.She will be reunited at Birmingham Phoenix with head coach Ben Sawyer, whom she credited with helping Australia to an emphatic victory over England in the 2019 Ashes series as an assistant coach. Sawyer also led Perry’s side, Sydney Sixers, to four WBBL finals including back-to-back titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18.”Ellyse is a world-class cricketer who would improve any team and we are thrilled that she will be turning out for us at Birmingham Phoenix this summer,” Sawyer said. I’ve been lucky to work with her over a number of years and I know her quality and work ethic will be a huge asset to us and the whole competition.”Beth Barrett-Wild, head of the women’s competition, said: “Ellyse’s participation in the Hundred shows that the competition continues to attract the best players from around the world. I truly believe that the Hundred will be a game-changer for women’s sport.”By showcasing the most talented female cricketers on the planet, on a big stage, alongside the men, we have an opportunity to continue to normalise cricket as a sport for women and girls, as much as it is for men and boys, helping to inspire the next generation of players and fans.”The Hundred, which was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will start with a women’s match between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals in London on July 21 before their respective men’s sides meet the following day. Phoenix begin their campaign with a double-header involving the women’s and men’s sides against London Spirit at Edgbaston on July 23.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has personally set his sights on signing a £50m+ player, however, Manchester United are in talks over a transfer.

Aston Villa's summer signings so far

NSWE and Monchi have backed Emery after he guided Villa to a top four finish in the Premier League last season, ensuring Champions League football will be on offer during the 2024/25 campaign. Eight new signings have been made, however, one of those, Cameron Archer, is already on the way out to Southampton.

Aston Villa summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Amadou Onana

Everton

€59.35m

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

€44.5m

Cameron Archer

Sheffield United

€16.65m

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

€16m

Samuel Iling-Junior

Juventus

€14m

Lewis Dobbin

Everton

€11.8m

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

€8m

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

€5.9m

Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen have been the biggest in regards to transfer fees, but it looks as if more could be on the way before the August 30 deadline.

For example, Fabrizio Romano has recently claimed that Aston Villa are in advanced talks with right-back Lutsharel Geertruida, however, a fee is yet to be agreed with Feyenoord.

"It's ongoing [Geertruida negotiations], it's not that close yet, it's well advanced on the player's side, because the player is keen on the move to the Premier League and to the Champions League. Also in this case, with Aston Villa, he's really attracted by the project of Unai Emery.

"But with Feyenoord it's always complicated to negotiate for Geertruida. He's a really important player for them and every time important clubs try to approach Feyenoord in recent years, Leipzig last year, PSG at the beginning of this summer transfer window, it has always been a tough story.

"He's a player they love at Feyenoord, and it's never easy to negotiate with Feyenoord for Hanchko, for Geertruida, all their superstars, they love to keep those players at the club."

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Alongside Geertruida, Villa are also closing in on an academy addition in Manchester City’s Kane Taylor, but by the looks of things, Emery is eyeing another midfielder valued at more than £50m.

Emery wants to sign Ederson for Aston Villa

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa and rivals Man Utd are in the frame to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson before the deadline.

It is claimed that Emery personally ‘wishes’ to sign the 25-year-old, however, those at Old Trafford are in talks over a deal. Atalanta value Ederson at €60m (£51m) and it is added that Atletico Madrid are also in the picture for the player and even made a €45m (£38.3m) bid which was rejected.

The Brazil international can play as a central, holding or attacking midfielder and has been with the Serie A side since 2022. South American football expert Tim Vickery has heaped praise on him earlier this year, describing him as “strong” and “versatile”.

"24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues."

Manchester United are set to pull off an exceptional double deal to strengthen Erik ten Hag's ranks ahead of the new Premier League season, it has been reported, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe ready to back his manager with more additions.

Manchester United's transfer window so far

After early promise, Manchester United's first transfer window under INEOS ownership looked like it was threatening to stall. The Red Devils signed Joshua Zirkzee in a £34m deal from Bologna, before moving for young defensive sensation Leny Yoro, who arrived for £52m despite interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid.

However, departures have been holding up further investment, with only Mason Greenwood, Alvaro, and Willy Kambwala having left for fees over £1m this summer despite reports suggesting that the entire squad was up for sale. They are still hoping for more exits, with Victor Lindelöf, Casemiro and Scott McTominay among those that the club are seeking buyers for.

Manchester United exits (summer 2024)

Player

Fee

Mason Greenwood

£22m

Willy Kambwala

£8m

Alvaro

£4m

Donny van de Beek

£800k

Raphael Varane

Free

Anthony Martial

Free

Omari Forson

Free

Any midfielder that departs may allow the Red Devils to finally bring in a fresh face in their engine room, with Manuel Ugarte a player that they have held protracted talks with PSG over the signing of, only to balk at the price tag despite having agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old Uruguayan.

But for now it is the defence that needs the most work, with Manchester United's Community Shield squad demonstrating the issues at the back. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof and Yoro were all absent from the matchday squad at Wembley, leaving Harry Maguire to partner veteran defender Jonny Evans and Lisandro Martinez starting at left-back. Now, United have moved to reinforce their backline.

Triple move in progress for Manchester United

That comes as the reliable David Ornstein has revealed that three transfers to bolster the Manchester United backline are close to completion. The Red Devils have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui after weeks of speculation, with both players set to pen five year deals at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag's side have agreed to pay €45m (£38.6m), plus a further €5m (£4.1m) in potential add-ons for De Ligt, who will add further depth at centre back and likely speed up any potential exit for Lindelof. His five-year deal includes an option to extend it by a further 12 months should the club wish to.

Meanwhile, Mazraoui will join in a separate deal worth up to 20m euros (£17m), of which £13m will be paid up front. His arrival will, like De Ligt's, be on a five-year deal with the option for another year, though his move hinges on the departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

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Fortunately, that is now a formality, with Fabrizio Romano having confirmed that the defender is set to join West Ham, with the right back undergoing his medical on Sunday.

It is unclear how much the pair will take home at Old Trafford, though it is likely to be less than the mammoth £390,000 a week Bayern paid the duo during their time at the Allianz Arena.

Ten Hag has worked with both incoming defenders at Ajax previously and knows them well, which should help him introduce a more sustainable style of football at Old Trafford after clinging on to his job last season.

Liverpool are bracing themselves for a late flurry of transfer activity this summer as they look to hand new manager Arne Slot a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League come the end of the season.

Transfer rumours persist at Anfield

As it stands, Liverpool are one of two Premier League sides yet to make a permanent signing this summer, with Fulham the other. But with the Craven Cottage outfit in advanced talks over a move for Arsenal man Emile Smith-Rowe, the Reds could soon be the only side with the same squad as last season.

So far, the club have waved goodbye to Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip, while Adrian has also departed for first-team football in his native Spain.

Liverpool could land Jones upgrade with swoop for £60m PL star

The Reds have been linked with an interest in the Premier League maestro this summer.

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Dan Emery

Jul 25, 2024

Meanwhile, speculation has surrounded plenty of their stars with Mohamed Salah persistently linked with Saudi Arabia once more, and the Pro League sides now also thought to be keen to take Alisson as well.

Captain Virgil van Dijk has sounded less than assured about his own future too as the 33-year-old centreback heads into the final 12 months of his Anfield deal. After his side's semi-final loss at EURO 2024, the Dutchman admitted he “hasn't the slightest idea right now”. “I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international player,” he added. “Then we'll go for it again, but first recover from this."

Another concern has been Real Madrid's rumoured interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold, though the Englishman is keen to stay for at least another season, according to reports. It all paints something of a potentially messy picture for Slot, and with Liverpool yet to welcome any fresh faces in, there is a fear that their ageing side may be left behind by those around them.

Liverpool's over 30s
Player	Age at start of 24/25 season
Alisson	31
Mohamed Salah	32
Andy Robertson	30
Virgil van Dijk	33
Wataru Endo	31

Now, those fears may have been eased.

Liverpool set for late transfer window blitz

That comes as a report from Football Insider, who claim that Liverpool are "set for a late-window signing blitz" as they look to bolster their ranks before the transfer deadline on 30th August.

It is claimed that the Reds and by extension, FSG, have "talks advancing on multiple deals", with the club looking to bring in a "wide forward, centre-back and defensive midfielder" ahead of the end of the summer.

Slot's side missed out on Leny Yoro, who opted to move to Manchester United earlier in the window for a fee in excess of £50m, something that the Reds weren't willing to match.

The Reds have been linked with free agent Adrien Rabiot, as well as Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes and Atalanta's Ederson as they look to bolster their midfield just 12 months on from signing four new midfielders.

In defence, they have been reportedly chasing a left-footed centre-back but there have been no recent updates on who that could be, while there have also been links with Andriy Lunin should Alisson depart. All in all, it promises to be a busy few weeks for the Liverpool hierarchy, and they could find themselves going from the least busy side in the division to one of the most following this new update.

With big talent and bigger ambitions, the 18-year-old Campbell has become American soccer's next one up

Cole Campbell is still adjusting to it all, and he's had to do so on the fly. Life has been one big change lately. All for the better, he'll tell you, but even good change can be challenging to navigate – especially as an 18-year-old.

The young dual-national is already thriving with a giant club, recently making his debuts for Borussia Dortmund in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League. He's playing at one of the world's best talent factories, which is a pretty damn good place to be, isn't it?

But the most unexpected adjustment of all? The attention. It can be overbearing. It hasn't quite reached that point for Campbell, but it has been … different. The social media posts, the Instagram highlight reels, the interviews, the hype – he sees it, he knows it, he feels it. Six months ago, he was a rising Iceland youth international. Now, he's something very different.

Very suddenly, Campbell has become American soccer's next one up.

Across all sports, the U.S. is a country continuously looking to anoint its next young star. We've seen it happen time and time again, including multiple times at Campbell's own club. Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna have ridden their own hype machines straight to U.S. men's national team stardom, and the expectation is that Campbell is next. The eyes of American soccer are now fixed on a player with just 74 senior minutes for Borussia Dortmund.

"I've been training for such a long time with no one watching, and now that everyone is, I'm just confident in my abilities," Campbell tells GOAL. "Even if there are people watching, it doesn't really make me nervous. Obviously, it is so much different now, where I'm being followed and everything, but as far as that, I don't really feel much pressure. Obviously, I now have to perform and do well when I step on the field, but really, I just feel joy whenever I step on the field. I don't really feel too much pressure, I just enjoy it."

For several of his predecessors, such pressure has proven too much. For others, it's been what's sharpened them to push the game further than those that came before. Pulisic is the model case. Like Campbell, he arrived at Dortmund as a kid with big dreams and, in the years since, he's become a world-renowned star unlike any American before him.

Now, it's Campbell's turn. He's living with that pressure well, largely because Campbell expects even more from himself than others do. Everything that American soccer fans are dreaming of, well, he's dreaming of it, too.

"My goal was to debut in the Bundesliga and eventually the Champions League," he says. "Now that I've done that, I'm just trying to work hard and obviously earn more minutes throughout the rest of the season. That's my short-term goal. As far as long-term goals for my career, I want to win a Ballon d'Or. That's something that I want to do in my career. I want to win the Champions League and I want to win a World Cup as well. That's something that would be absolutely amazing and I think that, in the future, I think it's all possible."

Campbell is still new to this and, as good as he's been so far, it remains almost impossible to predict the future of an 18-year-old. He's still far from a finished product and he still has a lot of learning and growing to do before he reaches the expectations that those on the outside have thrust upon him, let alone the ones he's now putting on himself.

He's still adjusting, but Campbell truly believes anything is possible.

• Getty Images
  

  Beginnings at Dortmund

  It's easy to see why Dortmund made the move to sign Campbell from relative obscurity. Watch him for just a few seconds and you see it. There's a different skill level and, more importantly, a different speed to his game. He's been compared to Pulisic and Leroy Sane due to his ability to dart through defenses. He has the type of pace you can't teach, and the type of ruthlessness needed to make the most of it.

  Since arriving at Dortmund, Campbell has thrived at every level he's played at to earn his first-team place. He scored a brace in his U17 debut, adding four more in the following 10 games, too. He scored 10 while assisting 11 for the U19s in 2023. Campbell's rise may seem meteoric, but it's also been carefully crafted by the Dortmund system.

  "Cole is a very young and extremely exciting player, who took huge strides in the past year," Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said of the American forward. "We see so much potential in him."

  Campbell's Dortmund move was announced in the summer of 2022. At the time, he'd made just two senior appearances for Icelandic side FH. He made two further appearances for Breidablik before heading to Germany. He wasn't signed for his resume or experiencd – he was signed for potential.

  Dortmund have moved him along slowly. He was called up to a January camp last season and has been in and around first-team training. It was in those moments that Campbell learned what it takes at that level, and just how much work he still had to put into get there.

  "I started training with the first team a few times last year," Campbell recalls, "and, to be honest, Marco Reus was just amazing. His touch on the ball and everything, there were so many little things that he did. He's just an amazing player, and that made me like, 'Wow, OK'. I remember we were playing four against four, and he told me to just run. There were three players standing there, and I was like, 'How's he going to get me the ball?' He put it through all of their legs. That's crazy.

  "When I was younger and coming up, you see the quality and what is expected. Every pass has to be perfect, every touch, everything."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Big adjustments

  Reus provided that on-field lesson. There were also the off-field ones. Campbell moved to Dortmund at just 16. There were things he had to learn, about himself and his career. He was thrust into a new environment in a new country with a new language.

  That led to moments of solitude in which Campbell says he leaned on his faith to figure things out.

  "Football is not all easy," he says. "You see it from the outside world and it looks like everything's just a smooth road, but my path was definitely not that way. It was ups and downs, and it was definitely very difficult at times. Jesus has been with me and carried me through those hard times, and that's something that is a part of me that I want everyone to know."

  His German's getting better, too. That'll help as he continues to adjust to life at Dortmund.

  "I can understand everything [in training] now," he adds with a smile. "That was the most important thing. All the trainings were in German, everything, and I didn't understand a word. It was difficult, but after about eight to nine months, I started to understand what they were saying, and now I can speak pretty well, too."

  Heading into the 2024 season, Campbell's chance was coming. And it arrived in a big way.

• Getty Images
  

  The breakthrough

  By the time a player hears that Champions League anthem in person for the first time, they've likely heard it a million times in their dreams. Campbell was no different. And it came with a sense of accomplishment.

  Campbell heard that anthem for the first time on Oct. 22 ahead of Dortmund's clash with Real Madrid, a match in which he remained an unused substitute. He made his Bundesliga debut four days later against Augsburg, thrown in to help Dortmund chase down what ended as a 2-1 defeat.

  “We want to get the young players as close to the team as possible, because they are the future of the club," Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin said of Campbell after that match. "Of course, there are more ideal scenarios than making your debut in Augsburg when you're behind."

  His Champions League debut came a few days later as he came on for the final 13 minutes in Dortmund's 1-0 win over Sturm Graz. It was during those anthems that Campbell took a moment to sit back and think about it all.

  "It made me realize how far have I've come from when I was just a little kid playing and dreaming about this moment, you know? It was just a surreal moment," Campbell says. "It doesn't feel real. You're like, 'Wow, I'm here, I'm actually in a Champions League game.' "

  In the month or so since, Campbell has hovered around the Dortmund first team while also thriving for the club's second. After sitting on the bench in this past weekend's 4-0 win over Freiburg, he went on to score one day later in Dortmund II's win over Erzgebirge Aue in the third division.

  "Coming in [to the first team], I was just feeling mostly just excited to come in, " he said. "I know I just have to work hard and do my best with what I'm given."

  Campbell finds himself fighting for more minutes in the Borussia Dortmund attack, and he'll now be fighting against another American star.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Following in footsteps

  Dortmund's reputation as one of the game's best at developing talent is well-earned. Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Robert Lewandowski all arrived and reached superstar status at BVB. So, too, did Pulisic, who emerged as the first in what is now a legacy of American stars.

  "As far as when I was deciding which club I should go to," Campbell says, "obviously with the other players who have made it through, you see that there's a path through the academy to the first team, and that was a big thing for me. They really prepare you, not just what you can do, but also mentally, and that's something that has helped me a lot."

  That preparation helps reduce the pressure, and keeps Campbell calm. Well, mostly.

  "It's just preparing and not being too nervous," he says. "It's always good to have a little bit of excitement but if you're too nervous, you won't perform at your best, best potential. The mental side of things was something that I didn't have before I came here, and when I came here, that was a big switch. It took me some time to get used to everything, but in the end, the mental aspect, that's helped me a lot with getting me to where I am today."

  With his ascension to the Dortmund first team, Campbell has joined up with another American in Gio Reyna, who is now looking to rebuild his own career after some difficult moments. Just 22, Reyna is now the elder American at the club compared to Campbell. Due to Reyna's recent injury woes, the two haven't gotten to spend much time on the pitch together, but Campbell does see the USMNT midfielder as a role model.

  "He's a great guy, Campbell said. "I've talked to him every now and then. Obviously, it really sucks that he's been injured these last last few months, but I've talked to him and he's helped me. It's just here and there, but I'm glad that I also have another American on the team that I can talk with."

  They'll have plenty more to talk about going forward, as Campbell looks to carve out his own USMNT career.

The allrounder is working her way back at international level but has an outstanding record in the 50-over format

Andrew McGlashan01-Apr-2021Meg Lanning expects Ellyse Perry to play a more significant role in the ODI series against New Zealand than she did in the T20Is, but also stressed the importance of building a varied attack around the young pace bowlers who are coming through.On her return to international cricket after the hamstring injury which ended her T20 World Cup last year, Perry batted at No. 6 and bowled just one over in the two completed matches. Her innings in Hamilton alongside Ash Gardner was a useful contribution to the partnership that got Australia over the line, but it has been her limited role with the ball that has sparked debate.”She’s played a massive role for us particularly in ODIs over the last five years and has an exceptional record,” Lanning said. “I dare say she will play a bigger role, there’s more overs to bowl as well. She’ll get her chance throughout the series.”People who can bat long periods of time and make those match-winning contributions are extremely important to have in your side. Ellyse has shown over a long period of time that she can do that so she’ll play a really big role for us.”Related

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Her bowling returns in the WBBL and WNCL were underwhelming and in the latter competition she was working on some tweaks to her run-up which have taken time to settle. She took a wicket in the one over handed to her in Napier but significantly was not given the last of the match when New Zealand needed nine to win.On the studio coverage prior to the final match, Mel Jones suggested that in a shortened game Perry could be surplus to requirements. Ultimately she was picked in the XI, becoming the most capped T20I player in the process, but it highlighted that the next phase of Perry’s career could require an evolution, especially in the shortest format.”The interesting one for me is…there’s a bit of weather around and if the overs get reduced a bit I’m looking at this team line-up and I actually think it’s Ellyse Perry that’s coming out,” Jones said on . “She’s batting at six, normally you average seven or eight deliveries if it’s reduced, and if they aren’t going to use her with the ball who do you bring in.”It’s just that anomaly where her bowling hasn’t quite hit the straps yet so Meg isn’t turning to her as a first choice.”The allrounder has made tweaks to her run-up in recent months•Getty ImagesFellow analyst Elyse Villani added: “Not sure how many times Ellyse Perry’s name would have been up in terms of potentially not playing so it’s not something Australia have really had to deal with before.”As it was, rain prevented a chance of seeing whether Perry would have an impact on a 13-over game, but the three-match ODI series takes her back to the format where she is ranked the No. 1 allrounder and holds a batting average of 52.10 – she has not batted lower than No. 4 in an ODI since 2014 – and where bowling-wise there could be a chance to settle into a spell.”Ideally if you are an option in all three phases of the game then that allows you to bowl more overs,” Lanning said of Perry’s T20 role. “That’s something we’ve spoken with Ellyse about, think she’s been working really hard on her bowling and consistency coming back from a serious injury…but ultimately for me it just comes down to match-ups and the game situation in terms of who I go to. She’s definitely there as an option.”The fast bowling side of things is the area at the moment where we’ve got a couple of new players in Tayla [Vlaeminck] and Darcie [Brown]. It’s been really exciting to see. Ellyse still has a really big role to play for us but the more variety we can have that will play a big role for us moving forward. So it’s been great to see those young players take the game by scruff of the neck and really be aggressive.”Ellyse is extremely competitive…she works extremely hard on her game and I’m sure she’d love to be batting higher and bowling more overs. She’s doing everything she can to get herself into that position. It’s been great to have her back, she’s very experienced and hope to see the best of her in the one-day series.”

With less than two weeks to go until Southampton's return to the Premier League is marked by a trip to Newcastle United, the higher ups at St Mary's are still looking to add to Russell Martin's squad.

Saints continue their search for new signings

The latest news out of St Mary's has suggested that Southampton's summer spending spree is anything but over. Having already brought the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Flynn Downes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to the club this summer, the Saints are still looking to open their chequebook and bring some big names to the South Coast.

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The name that has been inescapable around St Mary's as of recent has been that of Matt O'Riley. Celtic's midfield star has been linked with a move to Southampton for some time now with the two parties struggling to agree on a fee for the Dane. Whilst the Saints are yet to give up on the deal, the Scottish giant's stubbornness may push them in the direction of other targets.

Whilst the saga around O'Riley's next move continues to unfold, Saints look like they have found themselves in another tough transfer battle as they make a new bid to sign a highly-rated attacking midfielder.

Southampton making new bid for Carvalho

As first reported by Football Insider's Wayne Veysey, Southampton are preparing a new and improved bid for Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho. This news comes after the Saints saw their initial £15million offer for the Portuguese midfielder rejected by the Anfield outfit.

This latest development from Football Insider suggests that Southampton have upped their bid to around £20million with the potential for additional add-ons. The higher ups at St Mary's are hoping that this improved offer will be enough to tempt the 21-year-old to the South Coast.

Carvalho spent the previous campaign on two seperate loan spells with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and Championship side Hull City. Whilst the midfielder's time in Germany did not go to plan, Carvalho excelled during his latter spell at the MKM Stadium.

Under the tutelage of former Tigers' boss Liam Rosenior, Carvalho hit the ground running, scoring nine times during his twenty appearances in black and amber. Some of the Saints' faithful may have unhappy memories of the 21-year-old's time at Hull after the player found the back of the net during Southampton's 2-1 loss to the Tigers back in February.

Speaking shortly after Carvalho's arrival in East Yorkshire, Rosenior spoke on the midfielder's obvious talents: “He brings a level of quality and consistency, his game intelligence is outstanding and coupled with his technical ability, his ability to see passes and finish actions, he is unselfish, he likes to link with players, he is what a perfect No 10 is for me as a manager.”

With the Saints still looking to add to Martin's squad before the August 30th deadline, bringing Carvalho to the South Coast could end up being their best bit of business this summer.

Leeds United fans will hope that they watch a far more dogged display from their side against Middlesbrough this mid-week in the EFL Cup after collectively shaking their heads at the defensive mess they were subjected to versus Portsmouth in the Championship.

Those packed into Elland Road from the home side's perspective would have loved the free-flowing football being served up, as three goals were scored, but three strikes were also leaked as John Mousinho's men somewhat fortuitously collected a share of the points.

Jayden Bogle was one that majorly underperformed in defence, on his debut no less in West Yorkshire, and so Daniel Farke and Co could now end up capturing a new target to give the summer signing some added competition.

Leeds showing interest in young defender

As per football transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Leeds hold concrete interest in young Chelsea defender Bashir Humphreys as a way to further solidify their backline.

The Whites aren't alone in their interest of the highly tipped England U21 international, however, with fellow Championship side Burnley also keen on adding Humphreys to their ranks, as Scott Parker goes about assembling his own promotion-ready squad at Turf Moor.

Previously out on loan in the EFL with Swansea City, the exciting 21-year-old could well view a move to Elland Road as a huge one for his personal development, having seen what Farke managed to get out of Joe Rodon when the Welshman left the glamour of the Premier League behind for a promotion fight in the league below.

This sale, however, could end up being a permanent one as per Romano, over a temporary loan switch, with Humphreys' worth coming in at around the £4m mark when looking at Football Transfers' most up-to-date valuation.

What Humphreys can offer Leeds

With Maximilian Wober also now reportedly heading for the exit door out of Elland Road, bringing in another body at the back would make sense and one that can switch to playing down Bogle's right flank if necessary.

Humphreys made 24 appearances for the Swans last campaign whilst out on loan, acclimatising to the demands of the tough and unforgiving division, readying himself for a new challenge to come potentially with Leeds.

The time could be right for the 21-year-old to call the Championship his permanent home now, therefore, after he has been completely absent from Chelsea's pre-season plans under Enzo Maresca, and he did also shine out in Wales last season in spurts.

Humphreys' Championship numbers for Swansea

Stat (* = per 90 mins)

Humphreys

Games played

24

Games started

22

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches*

67.1

Accurate passes*

47.8 (87%)

Interceptions*

0.9

Tackles*

0.9

Ball recoveries*

4.2

Clearances*

2.7

Total duels won*

3.2

Stats by Sofascore

Scanning the numbers above from this loan spell at Swansea, Humphreys could fit into the system at Leeds well, with the Chelsea youth product more than comfortable with playing the ball out from the back.

Humphreys would manage an impressive 87% pass accuracy per Championship clash last season for Luke Williams' men, before returning back to Stamford Bridge.

Best pass accuracy @ Leeds: 2023/24 Season

Player

Pass success rate

1. Glen Kamara

92.7%

2. Ilia Gruev

92.6%

3. Joe Rodon

90.7%

4. Pascal Struijk

90.3%

5. Liam Cooper

90.1%

6. Ethan Ampadu

89.1%

Stats via WhoScored.

Moreover, his ball recovery numbers are promising and are the exact same as what Rodon managed last campaign on average for the Whites in the league, who was heralded as a star for Farke's men at the back.

Competition for places might also be a reason why Humphreys is being targeted, with the possibility that the former Tottenham Hotspur man could even find his spot taken up by the Blues centre-back soon, based on his dire opening-day display.

Bogle will be more fearful, however, as he hasn't quite been able to win over the Elland Road masses yet, and the former Blades man was also way below par versus Pompey, with possession squandered 15 times by the underperforming full-back across the frantic 90 minutes. To make matters worse, he also gave away a late penalty.

With Humphreys also adept at filling in here, with three career games to date seeing him take up this makeshift spot, Farke could well have the depth he wants by capturing the £4m-rated gem.

That depth could come in crucial if Leeds are to challenge near the top-end of the division again, after putting the disappointing 3-3 draw versus Pompey behind them. Described as an "unreal" talent by writer Natalia Tavares, Humphreys could be just the man to solidify things again.

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