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A new update has emerged regarding Manchester City’s pursuit of Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning attacking midfielder Arda Guler, with Pep Guardiola’s stance made clear.

The Turk is arguably one of the most talented and exciting young attackers in Europe currently, gradually becoming more of a key man for La Liga giants Madrid.

Guler has started 10 league games so far this season, scoring three goals and bagging five assists, while Madrid legend Toni Kroos has lauded him, also discussing comparisons between the pair.

“But I don’t believe in comparisons. Arda is also a different type of player than me. His best position is much more attacking than mine, so it’s not about me succeeding him at all. But I’m generally pleased because he’s a good lad. I’ve played alongside him.

“He has a really delicate touch, which he’s already used very effectively for Real this season. That’s why I hope he continues to get consistent playing time, because that’s the only way to improve. Then I’m sure he can make his mark at Real for many years to come.”

At 20 years of age, Guler has an enormous amount of potential, and while Madrid are no doubt hesitant to allow him to leave, it looks as though he remains on City’s radar.

Guardiola wants Man City offer for Guler increased

According to a report from Spain, Manchester City are readying an offer of £88m for Guler, but that won’t be accepted by Madrid, who will demand more for his signature.

Guardiola has asked ‘whether it’s feasible to increase the offer’, though, no doubt considering him a player who he values greatly, as he looks to snap up some of the biggest young talents in the game.

The idea of Guler in a City shirt is a mouthwatering prospect, with the Turkey star someone who could fit perfectly into Guardiola’s style of play, with his technical ability right up there with the best in Europe.

Like Phil Foden, he possesses an effortless class with his left foot, being capable of drifting in off the right flank or adopting a No.10 role, while Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has lauded him.

“With his quality, he’s a mix between Ozil and Guti. Guti had that vision and finesse to link play or operate closer to goal, and with Mesut I enjoyed football so much. Arda has that something special – that natural talent you can’t teach.”

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For now, it looks as though Madrid are going to be stubborn in allowing Guler to leave the club, but City and Guardiola should continue to pursue him as a top target, given his world-class long-term potential.

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Pakistan brought in Hussain Talat and Faheem Ashraf for Hasan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2025Toss India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to field in the Asia Cup Super Fours match against Pakistan keeping in mind the dew in Dubai. He said there was a lot of dew around when India trained on the eve of the match.India went back to their first-choice XI, bringing back Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy. Out went Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, who played against Oman once India had ensured their qualification for the Super Fours stage. As expected, Axar Patel was fit for the match after he went off the field with a blow to the head during the game against Oman.Pakistan, who had chosen to bat first in historically bowl-first conditions in their group game against India last Sunday, were looking to correct themselves had they won the toss, but didn’t get the opportunity to make that choice. Pakistan made two changes themselves, bringing in Hussain Talat and Faheem Ashraf for Hasan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah. That meant Haris Rauf stayed in the XI. Both Talat and Ashraf are seam-bowling allrounders.The captains didn’t shake hands with each other or match referee Andy Pycroft at the toss.Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Salman Agha (capt), 5 Mohammad Haris (wk), 6 Hussain Talat, 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed.India: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.

Dewald Brevis has been ruled out of South Africa’s three-match ODI series against Pakistan starting on Tuesday with a low-grade shoulder muscle strain. He injured himself during the third T20I of the tour in Lahore on Saturday.South Africa haven’t named a replacement for Brevis yet. The 22-year-old batter will be undergoing rehabilitation while remaining with the side in Pakistan ahead of South Africa’s trip to India later this month, which features two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is.Before getting injured, Brevis had played all the matches on the tour of Pakistan. His highest score across six knocks in Tests and T20Is, however, was 54, which he got in the second innings at Gaddafi stadium. Brevis hasn’t had a bright start to his ODI career either, having scored 110 runs in six matches, with a best of 49. He remains highly rated though. Temba Bavuma in his recent ESPNcricinfo column wrote “[Brevis] can kind of make a bad wicket a good one because that is the talent of the boy.”Related

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Brevis’ injury depletes South Africa’s ODI side further. While they chose to rest most of their all-format players – like Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada – for the limited-overs leg of the tour, injuries to quicks Kwena Maphaka and Anrich Nortje has weakened their squad. Matthew Breetzke captains the ODI side having only made his debut earlier this year and might rely heavily on Quinton de Kock, who will be playing 50-overs for the first time since reversing his retirement.While South Africa drew the Test series against Pakistan 1-1, the hosts won the three-match T20I series 2-1. The ODI leg of the tour takes place in Faisalabad, which last hosted men’s international cricket back in 2008. South Africa will then embark on their tour of India, which begins with the first Test on November 14.

Manchester United’s central midfield department has been one that has come into huge question over the last couple of months, with Ruben Amorim needing improvements in such an area.

The 40-year-old has often had to rotate the options to the heart of the side, with Bruno Fernandes often the man to start as a number eight on a regular basis.

The Portuguese international has mainly been joined by Casemiro in the two midfield roles in 2025/26, which has allowed the latter to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

However, at 33, the Brazilian is now entering the latter stages of his professional career, with the player set to leave at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract.

As a result, the hierarchy will desperately need to target added reinforcements in the midfield department, especially with the January transfer window now approaching.

Man Utd looking to sign mega-money midfielder

Over the last couple of days, United have been named as one of the sides interested in a deal to sign RB Leipzig star Assan Ouedraogo in the January window.

The German star has endured a phenomenal start to the 2025/26 campaign, featuring in 11 Bundesliga outings and already posting a total of six goal contributions in the process.

However, it’s been reported that Ole Werner’s side are extremely reluctant to offload the 19-year-old, who is seen as a player with huge potential to explode into an elite-level talent.

He’s not the only player currently in the Red Devils’ sights at present, with Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson still firmly in their sights ahead of the winter window.

According to journalist Andy Mitten, Amorim’s men “would love” to sign the 23-year-old midfielder who has been a shining light at the heart of the Reds side in 2025/26.

It’s also been reported that such a deal could rise to around the £100m mark, which would be a club record for United, passing the figure forked out for one player in 2016.

Why Anderson could be Man Utd's new Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba joined United in a staggering £89m deal back in the summer of 2016, with such a deal becoming the most expensive in the club’s long-standing history.

The Frenchman arrived for his second spell at Old Trafford, amassing over 225 appearances and often catching the eye with various impressive moments over his six-year period.

From long-range strikes to vital efforts in Manchester derbies, he truly did capture the hearts of the supporters – that’s despite concerns over his fitness and attitude at certain times.

However, there’s little denying he’s one of the most technically gifted players to operate in the deep-lying midfield roles, as seen by his tally of 86 goals and assists for the Red Devils.

Despite Bruno operating in such a role, there’s little denying the first team have lacked a technical player of Pogba’s quality, but that could be about to change with a move for Anderson.

Like Pogba, he would be a massively expensive addition, but his underlying stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcase his incredible technical ability with and without the ball.

The Englishman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has completed 8.3 progressive passes per 90, with 8.2 of his efforts being made into the final third.

Games played

12

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

8.3

Passes into final third

8.2

Take-ons completed

1.3

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.8

Duels won

7.2

Such numbers showcase his incredible ball-playing ability, with such talents allowing him to pick out numerous of the club’s £200m additions in attacking areas.

He’s also completed 1.5 key passes per 90 to date, with 1.3 of his passes being into the opposition’s 18-yard box, further highlighting his world-class talents in possession.

However, without the ball, Anderson has been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 2.8 tackles made and 7.2 duels won per 90 in the Premier League this campaign.

The aforementioned figures showcase why he would be the perfect box-to-box option for Amorim’s side, which could get the best out of Bruno once again in the near future.

£100m for a player in the modern market is slowly becoming an acceptable choice, as seen by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, who have all spent such a figure on players in years gone by.

However, if United are to do it, Anderson would be the perfect player to spend such an amount on, with the midfielder having the immediate quality to impress, whilst potentially improving tenfold in the years ahead.

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Germany survived an unsettling evening in Luxembourg as a Nick Woltemade brace proved decisive in a match that will raise far more questions than it answers for Julian Nagelsmann. A 2-0 win was ultimately enough to keep Germany on track in their qualifying campaign for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, but the performance itself was scattered, lethargic and lacking cohesion.

• Woltemade brilliance bails out lacklustre Germany

  Luxembourg pressed with intent to disrupt Germany’s rhythm, and created the better opportunities during a chaotic first half in which the visitors ran out of ideas in the attacking third. Nagelsmann’s players appeared stunned by Luxembourg’s speed and physicality, particularly in midfield, where the home side flew into challenges and repeatedly halted German build-up with tactical fouls high up the pitch. The first warning arrived after just 20 minutes. Augsburg’s Aiman Dardari drifted inside onto his stronger foot and unleashed a low effort that had Oliver Baumann completely beaten. The ball skidded inches past the far post, much to the relief of the German bench. 

  Germany, by contrast, looked passive and disjointed. Their passing was erratic, and their confidence alarmingly fragile when they had the ball at their feet. Baumann was called upon twice more in quick succession as Luxembourg’s front line surged forward with belief. Nagelsmann’s side, meanwhile, struggled to close down space and seemed half a step behind every loose ball. In fact, they were fortunate not to be trailing at the interval. 

  Yet, Germany drew first blood riding on Woltemade's individual brilliance. Aleksandar Pavlovic spotted space in behind and unleashed a superb pass, which was read early by Leroy Sane. He cushioned the ball with a gorgeous first touch before accelerating beyond his marker. Instead of shooting, he squared unselfishly into the path of Woltemade, who swept home first time from close range. It was a move of ruthless efficiency and a stark contrast to everything that preceded it. 

  Germany’s grip on the game improved only after the hour mark, as Luxembourg’s intensity gradually waned. Still, the contest remained precarious until Woltemade delivered the insurance goal in the 69th minute. The young forward, who scored the decisive goal against Northern Ireland in the previous qualifier, found himself in the right place again and made no mistake to double the lead that settled German nerves. 

  Scorelines are sometimes deceptive, and it was one of those occassions. A 2-0 victory might indicate a comfortable evening for the Germans, but it was hardly so. Luxembourg pushed them to their limits, and until Woltemade's second goal, they were firmly in the contest. However, Nagelsmann couldn't care less as Germany remain on course to seal a direct qualification berth for the 2026 World Cup. They are set to host Slovakia next at home on Monday evening, and a win in that fixture will help them seal the top spot in Group A. However, one must note that they were beaten by Slovakia in Bratislava and if they do not improve, the four-time world champions might have to settle for a playoff spot.

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  The MVP

  It was Woltemade's first brace at international level, and on a night when Germany lacked spark almost everywhere else, his composure stood out. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe will be impressed with his performance. Woltemade will now have his sights firmly set on scoring goals at next summer's tournament. 

• The big loser

  While Woltemade impressed, Florian Wirtz, one of Germany’s biggest stars, endured another difficult evening. The playmaker, who is already under scrutiny at Liverpool after a disappointing start to life in the Premier League, did little to silence his critics. Deployed wide on the left, he often drifted inside in search of space but made little impact. Even with David Raum overlapping regularly to support him in attack, Wirtz appeared out of rhythm. It was a match crying out for control and creativity, but the 22-year-old remained on the periphery. With Liverpool facing Nottingham Forest after the international break, Arne Slot may be forced into tough decisions regarding Wirtz’s role in the starting XI if he doesn't show improvements in the final group game against Slovakia.

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  Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐

Worcestershire 123 and 270 for 6 (Libby 72) lead Sussex 350 (Simpson 129*, Taylor 4-106) by 43 runsJohn Simpson’s unbeaten 129 and six second-innings Worcestershire wickets kept Sussex in command on day two of the Rothesay County Championship clash at Visit Worcestershire New Road.A glistening fourth century of the season from the away side’s skipper saw Sussex add 122 runs to their overnight score, before they were bowled out for 350.With a deficit of 227, Jake Libby and Rehaan Edavalath added a century stand for the first wicket to throw the Pears a lifeline.Six wickets across the second half of the day however saw Worcestershire cling onto a slender lead of 43 runs heading into the third day with just four wickets intact.A resplendent morning at Visit Worcestershire New Road saw the home side land the first blow of the day when Tom Taylor bowled Jack Carson in the first over of the morning.A 53rd wicket of a remarkable season followed soon after for Taylor as Danny Lamb feathered a nick through to Rob Jones at second slip, to check the visitors progress at 245 for 7.Simpson registered his fourth hundred of a memorable Division One campaign, reaching the milestone in 138 balls and scoring 18 boundaries in the process, shortly after Ollie Robinson had departed for a brisk 24.Simpson kicked on as the visitors reached 350 and strengthened their grip on the match, before Matthew Waite’s introduction into the attack saw him take two wickets in four balls as he dismissed both Ari Karvelas and Jayden Unadkat, with Sussex all-out for 350 possessing a healthy lead of 227.Simpson finished unbeaten on 129, with his 19th first-class century the standout innings of the game.Libby surpassed 1000 first class runs for the season in the Rothesay County Championship early into the afternoon session as the Worcestershire reply got off to a cautious start.The shackles were freed by Libby however, as he moved through the gears with some dismissive pull shots through midwicket as Sussex’s opening bowlers grafted to no avail in the sunshine.Libby pressed on in fine style, reaching a third Division One half-century of the season in just 63 deliveries, as he and Edavalath added 113 for the first wicket on a pitch showing signs of flattening.Edavalath made 45 and Libby a superb 72, before the pair were dismissed inside four overs of one another, with Edavalath first lbw off a straightening Unadkat delivery and Libby following soon after having edged a ball behind to James Coles at slip to give the Indian seam bowler his second of the innings.Robinson collected his first wicket of the innings when he hurried Isaac Mohammed with a short ball to dismiss the teenager for 4.First-innings top scorer Dan Lategan and number five Rob Jones came together midway through the afternoon to add 63 for the fourth wicket with the hosts working hard to find a foothold in the game.Despite making it to the tea interval unscathed, Tom Haines ended the partnership in the 46th over of Worcestershire’s reply, as he pinned Lategan lbw for 30, with the hosts still 40 runs in arrears.Jones produced a gritty knock of 46, with Worcestershire heading towards the close at parity, but his wicket and the dismissal of Ethan Brookes handed Sussex back the initiative late on.

The ICC released the schedule on Tuesday, with the tournament less than three months away

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-20254:07

Suryakumar Yadav: There will be pressure, but excited

India have been grouped with Pakistan; Sri Lanka with Australia and Ireland; England with West Indies and Bangladesh; and New Zealand with Afghanistan and South Africa at the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in February and March.The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7 and ends on March 8, with the marquee India-Pakistan fixture scheduled for February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The ICC revealed the groups and fixtures at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday.The complete first-round groups are as follows:Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B: Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
The final of the tournament will be played in Ahmedabad or Colombo on March 8 – if Pakistan qualify it will be in the latter. Similarly the two semi-finals are in Kolkata – or Colombo if Pakistan qualify – on March 4, and Mumbai on March 5.The other venues for the event are Delhi and Chennai in India, and Kandy in Sri Lanka. Both the R Premadasa Stadium and the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo will host games, and all the group matches involving Sri Lanka or Pakistan will be played in Sri Lanka. The other teams in Group B – Australia, Ireland, Oman, Zimbabwe – will also play all their group matches in Sri Lanka. India and Netherlands are the only teams with group matches at four different venues, including one in Colombo. The games start at 11am (0530 GMT), 3pm (0930 GMT) and 7pm IST (1330 GMT).The format for the tournament is the same as the previous edition in 2024 in the USA and the West Indies, where the 20 teams were divided into five groups of four. The group stage runs from February 7 to February 20. The top two teams from each of the groups progress to a Super Eight phase from February 21 to March 1 where they will be further divided into two groups of four each.The Super Eight groups are as follows assuming these teams qualify from the first round; if another team qualifies, they will take the place of the team from their group that failed to make it:Super Eight Group 1: X1 (India), X2 (Australia), X3 (West Indies), X4 (South Africa)
Super Eight Group 2: Y1 (England), Y2 (New Zealand), Y3 (Pakistan), Y4 (Sri Lanka)
Each team will play the other three in their Super Eight group, with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.Unlike at the 2024 World Cup, where teams like India played two matches in three days including a travel day, in the 2026 tournament teams will have a gap of at least two days between matches if they are at different venues. Also, unlike in 2024 when New York hosted six matches in five days and the pitches became an issue, the ICC has decided not to hold multiple matches at a venue within a short span of time. One exception though is the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where four matches will be played in six days – on February 7,8, 11 and 12.Click here for the full T20 World Cup schedule.