The summer transfer window is due to slam shut at the start of next month and Aston Villa have made four additions to their playing squad to date.

Who have Aston Villa signed?

Unai Emery has bolstered his defence and midfield with the signings of Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby, and – most recently – Nicolo Zaniolo on loan from Galatasaray.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Villans are also interested in signing Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto to add to their attacking options.

Fellow Premier League side Everton are also interested in the Italy international, who is currently not for sale but a loan move could be on the cards before the deadline.

He has handed in a transfer request at Elland Road and made himself unavailable for their matches. However, the Whites have maintained their position that the talented teenager will not be sold.

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

The 19-year-old whiz is still learning his trade and developing but his performances for Leeds last term suggest that the potential is there for him to be an exciting player for Unai Emery.

Gnonto could be a dream partner for Diaby as either the starting number nine ahead of him or as a supporting striker or attacking midfielder to link-up with him in the build-up phase, due to his immense versatility across the frontline.

The Leeds forward, who was once described as "pure gold" by scout Jacek Kulig, racked up two goals and four assists in 14 Premier League starts last season.

He also ranked within the top 13% of his positional peers for progressive carries per 90 (4.39) and in the top 19% for assists per 90 (0.27) during the 2022/23 top-flight campaign.

These statistics show that the £20k-per-week wizard was well above average for players in his role for progressing his team up the pitch with the ball as well as being able to create good enough opportunities for his teammates to score.

The Villa head coach could also look to unearth the Italian dynamo's goalscoring potential as he did strike 13 goals in 22 games for Inter at U16 and U17 level combined before finding the back of the net 12 times in 74 matches for Zurich's first team.

If he can build on that and use his experience with Leeds to kick on and develop then Gnonto could be a lethal partner for Diaby in the final third, as the France international is a player who has proven himself to be a terrific player at the top end of the pitch.

The French magician, who has scored one goal in two Premier League games for Villa, racked up 22 goals and 20 assists across 65 Bundesliga outings during his final two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

These statistics show that the summer signing has the ability to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis from out wide and having another attacker who can drive forward to create chances for him could help the talented ace to thrive in England.

Therefore, Gnonto, who the aforementioned Kulig also hailed as a "nightmare" for defenders, could form an exciting relationship with Diaby in the final third if Emery and Monchi are able to snap him up this summer.

Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur are set to fight it out in the transfer market to secure the signature of Swedish wonderkid Lucas Bergvall.

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Bergvall likely to join either Spurs or BarcelonaSet to sign for a new club in the next few daysDjurgardens set to demand record feeWHAT HAPPENED?

According to , several top European clubs were chasing the 17-year-old Swedish player during the January transfer window but the youngster is likely to choose between Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona as his next destination. His current club, Djurgardens IF are expected to demand a record transfer fee in the region of €19m (£16m) for the player. A part of that transfer fee will go to his first professional club in Sweden which was IF Brommapojkarna.

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The report further claims that the teenager was spotted in London earlier this week but is currently in Barcelona. Bergvall is expected to finalise his decision and sign for his new club in the next few days on a five-year deal.

DID YOU KNOW?

The youngster joined Djurgarden in December 2022 and in the ongoing season, he has made only one appearance for the club which came in a Europa Conference League qualifying game. On January 12, 2024, he made his international debut for Sweden against Estonia in an international friendly match.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LUCAS BERGVALL?

The Sweden international was absent from his club's pre-season game against Vasteras SK last Saturday. He is likely to move away from the club before they begin the new season next month.

Neymar took time out of his rehabilitation to pay a visit to his former team Santos, where he watched the Brazilian side beat rivals Corinthians.

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• Neymar paid visit to Santos
• Watched former team in action
• Star out with serious injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar turned up at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira on Wednesday night wearing a T-shirt with the Santos logo on it. The Al-Hilal attacker looked on as Joao Schmidt fired the Alvinegro to a 1-0 win, lifting them to the top of the Paulista after six matches – though Sao Paulo could overtake them with a win on Thursday.

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  WHAT SANTOS SAID

  Neymar's appearance at Santos sparked suggestions that he could return to his boyhood club in the near future. Asked about the prospect of signing him, coach Fabio Carille said: "It would be great [to have Neymar]. We know it's difficult, a different player who can solve it… It's a distant dream, but let's dream."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Santos will likely have to wait until next year if they want to bring the 32-year-old back to the Brazilian league. He has a contract with the club until 2025, having joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window. The ex-Barcelona star managed just five games for Al-Hilal before he suffered a cruciate ligament injury and was ruled out for months.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  The attacker will continue his recovery and was initially expected back before the end of the season. However, Brazil's team doctor has ruled him out until the start of next season, meaning the star will likely miss the Copa America this summer.

Heart of Midlothian suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat to Greek side PAOK in their Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday evening.

With the match finely poised at 1-1, Lawrence Shankland scored a stunning goal which looked to have given Hearts the lead. It was chalked off, however, and Andrija Zivkovic netted the winner 15 minutes from time with a wonderful strike.

It wasn’t the result Steven Naismith would have hoped for, yet it showed that there wasn’t much between the two teams, and given how many young talents he has at his disposal such as Alex Lowry, Hearts could respond well next week.

How has Alex Lowry performed at Hearts?

The young midfielder joined on loan from Rangers, and it could turn into a stroke of genius from Naismith.

He has played five times so far and grabbed two assists while demonstrating glimpses of his vast talent during his two appearances in the Premiership.

Averaging just 45 minutes per game, the 20-year-old has taken 33 touches per match while making one key pass and one tackle per match, suggesting that he is comfortable getting on the ball and trying to make things happen, while also looking to win the ball back.

Having burst onto the scene in January 2022 by scoring on his Gers debut in the Scottish Cup, he couldn’t quite become a regular starter last term due to injury issues, and a loan spell looked like the best option.

There is no doubt a move to Hearts will aid his development. Naismith will only benefit from his presence for a year – however, could he perhaps unearth his own Lowry with a teenage starlet from the B side in Callum Sandilands?

Who is Callum Sandilands?

The 17-year-old joined the Gorgie side back in 2021 following his release from Rangers, and was previously lauded by John Rankin, who was the Hearts U18 manager at the time.

He said: "Callum first came in on trial back in June and really impressed us.

"He’s a goalscoring midfielder who brings so much energy to the team and he can also play in a number of positions across midfield.

"He’s got good vision and technical ability and, equally as important, has a fantastic attitude.

"I believe Hearts is the perfect place for him to continue his development and I look forward to seeing him progress over the coming months and years."

High praise indeed for someone so young, and his time in Edinburgh has enabled him to gain some crucial game time for the B team.

He has played across a few positions over the previous two seasons, most notably in an attacking-midfield role, yet the teen can also operate wide on the right or slightly deeper if required.

Like Lowry, Sandilands is a goalscoring midfielder who tends to push forward as often as possible, and across 41 matches for the B side, he has racked up an impressive 18 goals and four assists.

Yet to make his senior bow, Naismith could change that this term, especially if they do make the group stages of the Europa Conference League, with squad rotation vital to keeping the starting XI fresh.

The manager should enjoy Lowry for the single campaign he will spend at Tynecastle, but in Sandilands, he could unearth his very own wonderful talent who could go on to emulate what Lowry has already achieved.

adidas are reportedly set to make a signature boot for Jude Bellingham, with the midfielder's trademark celebration a template for the logo.

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• Bellingham to get boots with own branding
• Already has a relationship with adidas
• Starred in advert for new Predator boot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham has become one of the most recognisable faces in world football after starring for Los Blancos this season. He is set to be rewarded for his fame, with his outfitter adidas reportedly preparing a signature boot for the star midfielder, according to .

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  WHAT JUDE BELLINGHAM SAID

  Bellingham is the star of adidas' ongoing promotional campaign for the new Predator boots, which are a throwback to some of the classic silhouettes of the iconic design from years gone by. He most recently teased the new model in an Instagram story with a wry comment: "The tongue is back.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Predator 24 has made a splash in the footballing world, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jose Mourinho and Xabi Alonso all pictured wearing the boots. There is no release date scheduled for Bellingham's supposed special edition pair.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  The midfielder figures to be in the Madrid XI for the foreseeable future. Los Blancos take on Girona in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, before facing RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16 next week.

The Monterrey striker can't stop scoring and is already proving his doubters wrong after making the big move in the winter

As the ball floated through the night sky at the Estadio BBVA, there was no way anyone in the Atletico San Luis defense sensed any danger. How could they? A long and hopeful cross from the left was too far away from goal to cause any harm, surely.

Enter Brandon Vazquez. Just weeks into his Monterrey career, the 25-year-old must have been the only one in the stadium who knew he was about to create a signature moment, one that would announce to Liga MX that he had truly arrived.

To be fair, his headed golazo, a legitimate masterpiece, wasn't the first time he'd found the back of the net since making the move from MLS to Monterrey. It was his second, and a third soon followed. Just weeks into his time in Mexico, Vazquez already seems like a player who could very well make a difference at the very top of Liga MX. And, with an early-season clash with fellow title hopefuls Club America on the horizon, Vazquez has a big chance to prove that he can be the guy for Monterrey and, perhaps, the U.S. men's national team.

Getty ImagesA controversial move

The reaction to Vazquez's move was far from universal acclaim. In fact, many in the American soccer scene immediately blasted the decision as an unnecessary step.

After never fully breaking through at Atlanta United, Vazquez found his feet in Cincinnati, even if it wasn't immediate. After scoring six goals combined in his first two seasons in front of the Bailey, Vazquez netted a combined 36 in 2022 and 2023 to assert himself as one of MLS' best strikers.

Ever since that 2022 MLS breakout, Vazquez looked like a player destined for a big transfer. A move to Borussia Monchengladbach never came to fruition, and they weren't the only suitors. Reports indicated that Cincinnati wasn't in a rush to sell to anyone as they chased glory in MLS.

They fell short. A Supporters' Shield-winning campaign ended prematurely with a loss in the Eastern Conference finals. After that, it felt like a matter of time for Vazquez.

Monterrey, ultimately, won out, and Vazquez was criticized for it. The move was seen by many as a sidestep, with MLS seemingly closing the gap on Liga MX in recent years. In a tight USMNT striker race, Vazquez didn't make the big leap to a European team

Instead, he joined a Mexican giant, and, in the first few weeks of the season, he's proven to be exactly what they needed.

AdvertisementA goalscoring start

It didn't take long, did it? We're just three games into the Liga MX season and Vazquez already looks like a legitimate force.

His first appearance for the Liga MX giants came in a 2-0 win over Santo Laguna on January 21. It was a 69th-minute substitute appearance, a first taste for a player that had much more to offer.

In his first start, he needed just 41 minutes to get a goal, giving Monterrey the lead against Queretaro. The goal was a fantastic header, although it was nowhere near as audacious as the one that would come in his second start. More on that later, though.

Against Queretaro, Vazquez showed how physically dominant he can be. The cross in from Jorge Rodriguez was pinpoint and the finish from Vazquez was perfect. Stationed just outside of the six-yard box, he needed just a simple flick of his neck to place the ball into the back of the net and give his side the lead.

Seemingly content to ease in the club's new signing, Monterrey boss Fernando Ortiz took Vazquez out early in the second half. They ultimately would squander the advantage the new striker gave them, conceding in an eventual 1-1 draw.

Vaquez would make sure that wouldn't happen in his second start as he proved that his initial goal was far from a fluke.

Heading home a golazo

It's about as good of a headed goal as you'll see. Power, precision, distance… it was the perfect combination of just about everything.

Vazquez's opening goal against Atletico San Luis was his real 'Welcome to Liga MX' moment. It was the goal that solidified him as a dangerman. Monterrey will hope it's the real start of something special, as will Vazquez, who surely brought his goalscoring ability south of the border after his big move.

It wasn't his only goal that night. No, there was a second. This one came with his feet, proving that Vazquez is much more than a target man.

With the score level at 1-1, Rayados pounced on a turnover, quickly working the ball to Vazquez. The American striker picked a corner and struck, once again placing the ball where no goalkeeper could reach.

It was his third goal in two starts, and a vital one at that as Monterrey made it three wins and a draw from four games thanks to the 3-1 triumph.

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Getty ImagesA huge match ahead

For those that don't follow Liga MX, there is a universally recognized Big Four. Monterrey are not one of them. They do get to face one on Saturday, though, in a match that gives them a huge early-season chance to prove that they belong right up there with the title contenders.

On Saturday, Vazquez and Monterrey will face Club America. Entering that match, Monterrey are top of the table, as one of four teams on 10 points. The winner of Saturday's match will feel pretty good about themselves at this early stage of the Liga MX season.

Make no mistake, though: Monterrey are no plucky underdog. This is a team that finished second in last season's Apertura before ending the Clausura phase in first. The club has won the CONCACAF Champions Cup five times and has lifted a Liga MX trophy three times since 2009.

For much of the past decade or two, Monterrey have been among the very best CONCACAF has to offer. The club is still searching for a bit more domestic success against the teams seen as Mexico's elite. And that pursuit continues on Saturday, with Vazquez expected to play a big part in the marquee match of the Mexican season so far.

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Santos striker Deivid Washington and a new update has provided more details on his imminent move to the Premier League.

Who is Deivid Washington?

Washington is an academy graduate at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to Paulo Turra’s first team back in April, but despite still having another three years remaining on his contract, he’s been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

At the start of August, Fabrizio Romano reported that the Blues had agreed personal terms with the 18 year-old centre-forward and had submitted a bid which was set to be accepted by his club, with the idea being that he would immediately join Todd Boehly’s Strasbourg on loan where he could be closely monitored as part of the owner’s multi-club project.

The Brazilian, however, is yet to have wrapped up his move to SW6 as a result of the Blues focusing all of their attention on big-money deals for the likes of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, though with those players now successfully through the door, it sounds as if the attacker could be the next to follow in their footsteps.

Are Chelsea signing Deivid Washington?

Taking to X, Romano revealed that Chelsea have everything in place regarding the arrival of Washington, whilst sharing the last stages that need to happen in order for him to be announced as the newest member of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. He wrote:

“Deivid Washington already completed medical tests at Chelsea — it’s about final documents, formal steps then the Brazilian striker will be unveiled as new #CFC player. Santos to receive €16m fixed fee plus €4m add-ons [£17m total]."

How many goals has Deivid Washington scored?

Since the start of his career, Washington has scored eight goals in 29 appearances, so there’s no doubt that he’s a real star in the making and has a bright long-term future ahead of him. But, right now, Chelsea would be making the correct decision to send the striker out on loan to aid his development and increase his exposure.

The youngster has recorded a total of 17 shots over the course of the current campaign which is the third-highest tally throughout his squad, via FBRef, not to mention that he has the qualities to become a physical presence up top where he's averaging 1.1 aerial wins per league game.

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

Santos’ “talented” prospect, as lauded by football scout Jacek Kulig, also has the ability to operate out wide on the left wing alongside his usual role through the middle, so should he return to become a member of the first team when he's matured, he would provide the boss with welcomed versatility.

The Blues are believed to be closing in on the signing of New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who is set to undergo his medical today, but he’s not the only fresh face likely to be introduced to supporters before September 1st.

Inter Milan teenager Kevin Zefi has been seen as a potential summer signing by Newcastle United in the summer transfer window and a big update has now emerged.

How old is Kevin Zefi?

The Irishman is just 18 years old currently and moved to Inter from Shamrock Rovers two years ago, such was his ability as a young and emerging footballer.

While Zefi is yet to make a senior first-team appearances for the Serie A giants, he has shone in the youth teams, scoring six goals and registering seven assists for the Under-17 side, as well as an incredible 16 strikes in just 13 games for the Under-18 outfit.

The young winger signed his first professional deal last years and is contracted at Inter until the summer of 2024, but it could be that he moves on before the current transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Newcastle have emerged as strong potential suitors for Zefi and a fresh update further suggests that he could be plying his trade at St James' Park in the very near future.

Will Newcastle sign Kevin Zefi?

Eddie Howe revealed Lewis Hall would be the last first-team signing, but according to NUFC Blog, Newcastle are now expected to sign Zefi for the academy:

"Newcastle United look set to follow the signings of AC Milan youngster Cathal Heffernan and Chelsea’s Lewis Hall with the arrival of fellow 18-year-old Kevin Zefi.

"Zefi is being advised by former Toon defender Stephen Carr and is set to join our U21s after a breakthrough in talks. He also plays at international level alongside Toon duo Alex Murphy and Reece Byrne; two players Dan Ashworth has brought to the club’s academy over the past 12 months."

This is a very exciting update for Newcastle, as they continue to show that they are not only planning for the present, instead making sure they sign young players with big futures in the game.

In Zefi, they have someone who is considered something of a wonderkid, with former coach Shane Robinson explaining what makes him so special:

“Kevin is that type of player that catches the eye easily – he backs himself 100% in possession of the ball. He has lovely balance and uses his body very well to protect the ball.

"He has worked very hard on his overall game over the last number of years and deserves credit for that, he has gone up through the levels impressively from U15 to U19 with First Division appearances last season also."

While Zefi clearly wouldn't be arriving as an important member of the senior setup to begin with, given his lack of experience, he is someone who could continue to start at youth team level, gradually blossoming into a top-level footballer who can cut it on the biggest stage.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

It is always hard to gauge how a youngster will develop, with injuries and work ethic always potentially getting in the way, but the former Shamrock ace has all the tools to make it and could be a future hero on Tyneside.

With player feedback calling for no compromise on other formats, and travel and training requirements to be factored in, ACA’s chief executive calls CA’s home-and-away proposal a “significant change over a short space of time”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2018With an increasingly cramped playing schedule, the Australia Cricketers’ Association (ACA) has called for a careful approach to Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland’s proposal to expand the Big Bash League season. Should Sutherland and the CA board have their way, the Big Bash will evolve into a full home-and-away league in 2018-19. More significantly, this would mean teams would play 14 games each instead of the existing 10. Also, the semi-finals and final would be moved to the middle of February so as to give the tournament more breathing space and greater play as far as airtime is concerned.The ACA, however, felt such changes needed to find the right balance to ensure all stakeholders are happy. ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson pointed out that the BBL was an eight-round competition as early as in 2016-17, and that these changes were “significant over a short space of time.” He also cautioned against favouring one format of the game over the others. “The players love playing Big Bash cricket, and it’s great for the sport,” he said in a statement responding to Sutherland’s proposal. “It’s one of the best examples of the partnership between CA and the players working well, and highlights how the players have driven innovation and the growth of cricket.”Our feedback from the players is moving from the current 10-round season to an expanded competition must consider the potential impact on other aspects of the schedule,” Nicholson said. “One format of the game shouldn’t compromise another is a clear message from the players. And the 2018/19 summer is going to be a tough schedule to balance. But, with both a 50-over World Cup and an away Ashes series in mid-2019, it is vital all formats are taken in to consideration.”In January, Sutherland had told ESPNcricinfo that the BBL hadn’t reached a “proper climax” in the past, and was as such sandwiched between ODI cricket and T20s that are played during the end of the month. In 2016-17, for example, Australia played Pakistan in an ODI in Sydney on January 22. The two BBL semi-finals were played on January 24 and 25. Another ODI took place on January 26, and then the BBL final was held in Perth on January 28. With a new cycle of television rights coming up, Sutherland reckoned that stretching the tournament to the first two weeks of February would create greater interest around the knockout games.”We’ve seen clearly that the BBL and international cricket can co-exist and do at this time of year, particularly through the peak summer period, and then in February as we go into touring in other parts of the world. I think the climax of the BBL season can come through the first couple of weeks of February. Ultimately, we’ll play more games, it may well mean we play more double-headers. We certainly don’t want to be, by having more rounds, extending the season by a month. That’s not the intention. It’s about finding that balance.”Nicholson, though, felt that apart from balancing the three formats, the players’ welfare, training and travel requirements, existing schedule, and the fans’ appetite for the competition needed to be factored in. The players’ feedback, according to the ACA, includes the desire to retain the Sheffield Shield final in March in the long term. It also highlighted the reluctance of a majority of the players to play BBL or WBBL cricket on Christmas Day.Nicholson also batted for an increase in the number of games in the 50-over Women’s National League from the existing six games-a-side format, while also making a case for more longer-form games after a successful women’s Ashes Test. “Australian domestic cricket continues to produce the best high-performance environment for our elite players,” Nicholson said. “Our women’s domestic competition is the best in the world, and it produces an outstanding national team. Women’s cricket continues to break new ground and this should be across all formats of the game. The female players simply want to play more 50-over cricket to complement the ongoing success of the WBBL.”

Jos Buttler top-scored for England in the opening ODI at Seddon Park, but two fumbles behind the stumps aided New Zealand’s path to a final-over victory. Between well-matched sides, Buttler conceded that England need to be better at converting those chances into wickets.Buttler’s first mistake gave Tom Latham a life on 47, a thin edge down the leg side off Adil Rashid, then late in the chase he couldn’t cleanly glove a stumping opportunity that would have dismissed Tim Southee first ball – the delivery after Ross Taylor was stumped – and left Mitchell Santner with the less secure support of Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult to try and secure victory.He also failed to gather a return that would have run out Colin de Grandhomme, but that didn’t prove costly – save for the one extra run – as de Grandhomme fell to Ben Stokes next ball, the moment when the returning allrounder appeared to be winning the match for EnglandButtler, though, wasn’t the only culprit with Jonny Bairstow spilling a chance – albeit a tough one – in the deep off Latham, although again the cost was minimal as Latham fell next over. However, in a game decided with just four balls remaining every run mattered. England’s ground fielding also became a touch ragged during the latter part of the chase, although the dew may have been a factor.”I think we can be sharper in the field,” Buttler said. “I think we were a little bit sloppy for our standards – especially on small grounds like that, defending the boundary and shot-stopping in the ring obviously highlights it because the ball runs away. That’s an area we need to improve. We missed a few chances as well. To try and create wicket-taking opportunities when two good players get in in a partnership in one-day cricket, the half-chances we need to try and take them.”Buttler’s innings – 79 off 65 balls – did not include the late onslaught that is so often a feature of his game, and was witnessed with such impact at Sydney last month. That was largely due to the skill of Southee and Boult in the closing overs, with Buttler saying he felt back to somewhere near his best after a scratchy T20 tri-series.Southee, who Buttler spent two years with at the IPL as part of Mumbai Indians, made smart use of slower deliveries which, coupled with a sluggish pitch, meant the batsman had to do all the work. Southee only erred once to costly effect against Buttler in his final three overs, dragging down the first ball of his last over which was deposited for six, but otherwise didn’t go for more than a single against him at the death.”It’s quite a fun battle having spent a lot of time with someone who knows the strength of your game, but I’ve also tried to read his game and stuff like that,” Buttler said. “But he bowled really well and it’s something I’m very aware of – sides try and take pace off to me.”That’s the name of the limited-overs game: always staying one step ahead.