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Elsewhere, Jharkhand picked up a bonus point against Haryana through a ten-wicket win

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2017Left-arm orthodox spinner Sijomon Joseph took his maiden five-wicket haul to help Kerala notch up their second win of the season, a 131-run win against Rajasthan in Thumba.Rajasthan were set 343 to win after Sachin Baby’s counterattack – 30 off 16 balls – lifted Kerala’s score from 217 for 2 to 250 for 5 in less than five overs on the morning of the final day. Overnight batsman Jalaj Saxena was unbeaten on 105 when Kerala declared; Sanju Samson couldn’t add to his overnight score of 72, falling in the first over of the day.Rajasthan’s innings was plagued by recurring collapses. They had lost both openers withing seven balls of the start of their innings, before a 63-run stand between Robin Bist (70) and Rajesh Bishnoi (35) brought stability to the innings. But Joseph broke that stand and followed it up with the wicket of Ashok Menaria to reduce Rajasthan to 64 for 4 with more than 70 overs still to play. Nearly 40 of those overs were absorbed by the fifth-wicket pair of Bist and Mahipal Lomror (53) but the former’s wicket brought yet another collapse – they fell from 160 for 4 to 190 for 9. Deepak Chahar and Aniket Choudhary then attempted a final resistance, batting out 62 balls and bringing Rajasthan close to pulling off a draw. But Joseph trapped him in front in the 84th over to seize the win for Kerala.Jalaj, who made scores of 79 and 105* in the game, took two wickets in the second innings to also finish with a ten-wicket match-haul.Jharkhand walked away with a bonus-point win against Haryana in Ranchi, after chasing their 80-run target without losing any wickets.The win was set up by Shahbaz Nadeem, whose six-wicket haul inflicted a collapse on Haryana, who had begun the day on 141 for 4. Overnight batsmen Rajat Paliwal (93) and Rohit Sharma (71) added 107 runs on the final day before Nadeem dismissed the former, seven short of a 14th hundred. Haryana lost the rest of their wickets for the addition of only 48 runs and were bowled out for 296, having conceded a first-innings lead of 217.Jharkhand promoted wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, who struck an unbeaten 46 off 45 balls and took them home in the company of Nazim Siddiqui (24*).

James Anderson produced his best figures at Old Trafford as England reduced South Africa to 220 for 9 at the close, still well behind their first-innings 362

The Report by Andrew Miller05-Aug-20172:21

Moonda: Anderson doing what SA would want from Steyn

Honours conferred on active sportsmen don’t always work out as their instigators might have intended – Sir Andy Murray, for one, hasn’t had much to cheer about since being asked to arise in the New Year’s Honours. But for James Anderson, Lancashire’s most prolific Test wicket-taker, the chance to ply his trade from the newly conferred James Anderson End at Old Trafford merely raised his game to heights he has rarely matched in six previous matches on his home ground.By the close of the second day, Anderson’s figures of 4 for 33, his best in Tests at Old Trafford, allied to a brilliant display of ball-striking and strike-farming from Jonny Bairstow in the morning session, had pushed South Africa to the brink of surrender in the series. They limped to the close on 220 for 9, still trailing by 142, with Kagiso Rabada’s last-ball dismissal summing up their futile situation.Anderson’s day was split into three acts, all of them originating from in front of his new fiefdom by the ground’s grand old pavilion. First he strode out with the bat to a hero’s welcome from the crowd, and responded with a vital and undefeated cameo at the end of England’s first innings – 4 not out from 15 balls providing an obdurate foil to the brilliant Bairstow, who reeled off the bulk of a 50-run stand in 9.1 overs for the last wicket before being adjudged lbw for 99 by the tightest of margins. On Bairstow’s watch, England had added 102 runs to their overnight 260 for 4 to turn a dicey position into a dominant one.

Bairstow’s 99, Moeen’s best series

15 Players from England to be dismissed for 99 in a Test. Jonny Bairstow is the latest addition to this rather unlucky set. Bairstow also become the first player since Ricky Ponting in 2008 to be dismissed for 99 against South Africa.
12 Average runs addedThree different pairs have been tried by South Africa during this period but the highest stand has been 21.
3 Number of instances Toby Roland-Jones has dismissed Hashim Amla in this series. In 21 balls he has conceded 7 runs and has got him out three times.
20 Wickets for Moeen Ali in the series so far – the most he has taken in a series. His previous best was 19 wickets against India in 2014.

Then, armed with the new ball and doubtless eager to christen his end of the ground with a wicket worthy of the name, Anderson wasted no time in making his mark. Dean Elgar, South Africa’s anchorman, lasted just three balls before being pinned on the shin by a trademark Anderson inswinger to the left-hander. South Africa reached lunch on 12 for 1 after four testing overs.His most telling intercession, however, came midway through the evening session, when he returned in the 39th over to lively up what had been a meandering South Africa innings. His team-mates had, by that stage, fronted up to keep England in command: Toby Roland-Jones continued his improbable stranglehold over the mighty Hashim Amla by dismissing him for the third time in as many innings – appropriately enough, with a strangle down the leg side – while Moeen Ali, enjoying a superb run of form with the ball, applied a mercy killing to a tenacious but teetering stay from Heino Kuhn, inducing a low edge to slip in the second over of his spell.At 131 for 3, Temba Bavuma had been settling into a dogged but essential stay, in partnership with his captain, Faf du Plessis. But in the whirr of a bowling arm, Anderson accounted for both in the space of three balls – first, a snarling inswinger on a full length, that Bavuma attempted to leave but instead saw kiss the top of off stump, before du Plessis was late coming forward to another perfect-length delivery, and inside-edged on to his own stumps for 27.James Anderson produced a three-wicket burst from the James Anderson End•Getty Images

With the wind behind him, Anderson could have made it three in nine balls as Theunis de Bruyn flinched a searing lifter into the gully off the splice, where Keaton Jennings made brilliant ground to his left but couldn’t cling on with one hand. And then, to compound England’s momentary frustration, Quinton de Kock was reprieved from the very next ball, dropped by Ben Stokes at slip as he squeezed a cramped cut off Moeen.But England’s progress wasn’t dented for long. With fizzing full-length discipline, allied to a threat of movement and a short ball up his sleeve, Anderson ensured that South Africa’s only instinct remained survival. He conceded a solitary run from his next three overs, and that off a yorker to de Kock that all but wriggled through his defences.De Bruyn, who had got off the mark with an unexpectedly emphatic reverse sweep off Moeen, eventually dented Anderson’s figures a touch with a firm clip for four through midwicket. But, as if affronted, Jimmy made him pay with his very next ball – full, straight and bursting off the edge to Joe Root at second slip, as he completed a brilliant, innings-wrecking spell of 7-3-13-3.England’s erratic dominance continued straight after the evening drinks break, when Keshav Maharaj, on 1, edged Moeen off the tip of Bairstow’s gloves and away through his legs to safety. Maharaj briefly cast off his shackles – and surprised a crowd who seemed to be having a post-prandial snooze – by crashing Moeen over long-on for a vast six to save the follow-on, but three balls later, he was pinned plumb in front of the stumps and had given himself out before umpire Kumar Dharmasena had a chance to raise his finger.At 167 for 7, the ever-dangerous de Kock was South Africa’s last real hope of parity, but he seemed as muted, as he had earlier been in the field. He needed 39 deliveries to reach double figures, scored the second of his two boundaries via a thick edge through third slip, and had already survived a tough stumping opportunity on 16 when Stuart Broad found his outside edge for Bairstow to atone with a well-judged leap to his left.The final overs were a mishmash of intent and reticence from England, who were keen to wrap up the innings, but not so keen that they would be required to face any overs before the close. Dawid Malan even entered the fray for an exploratory over of all-sorts, before Broad set the seal on a day of largely unchecked dominance, Stokes swooping brilliantly in the gully to break a determined ninth-wicket stand of 31.The only minor note of discord in England’s day – at least where a hugely contented crowd was concerned – came when Bairstow missed out on what would have been a richly deserved and wildly acclaimed century.Having resumed on 33 not out overnight, Bairstow lost Roland-Jones and Moeen to an aggressive spell from Rabada in the first half-hour of the day, but took it upon himself to counterattack with the confidence of a man who is in the midst of an 18-month golden period. He was especially harsh on Morne Morkel, cracking him for four fours in 12 balls, and Duanne Olivier, whose first over included a towering six down the ground as he charged into the 90s, but despite Anderson’s most worthy efforts, three figures would prove elusive.With just a single needed for his fourth Test century, Bairstow elected for the sweep against Maharaj. He planted his foot outside off stump, but not far enough to satisfy Dharmasena, whose on-field verdict was upheld on review with the edge of the ball just satisfying the parameters of DRS. A groan of anguish went up from the ground, but Bairstow had done his bit. Not least, in setting the stage for the man that the crowd had really come to watch.

Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes relations between players and Cricket Australia will take a long time to heal after difficult negotiations over the MoU

Daniel Brettig19-Jul-20173:46

What exactly is the Cricket Australia-ACA pay dispute?

Negotiations between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are continuing at a snail’s pace but the damage has already been done, the former Test paceman Mitchell Johnson has said.Talks between the two warring parties – including the chief executives James Sutherland and Alistair Nicholson – resumed in Melbourne on Wednesday with time fast running out to avoid major dislocation to the game, both in terms of commercial deals with sponsors and broadcasters, and also the Bangladesh tour in August.While discussions are now taking place on the sort of level that should lead to an eventual resolution, little movement is discernible from CA’s strong desire to end the fixed revenue percentage models at the core of past collective agreements, and likewise the ACA’s intent to keep the model in place. Johnson, who retired from the international game in 2015, said relationships would take a long time to heal whatever the outcome.”It’s been pretty disappointing and once it’s all dealt with, the player and CA relationship is going to be a struggle … it’s going to be very ordinary,” Johnson said in Sydney. “Even if it gets sorted, the damage has already been done. There’s been personal insults about the players being greedy. That’s not the case.”The relationship is going to have to build again. The last time I felt this way – not to this extent – was the Argus Review [in 2011]. That was the last time we had a little bit of trouble between the players and CA.””If we lose this battle as players, does then the ACA start getting their legs chopped from underneath them and the players lose the ACA?” – Mitchell Johnson•Getty ImagesCommercial pressure is mounting in terms of players looking at signing deals with sponsors competing against CA’s major corporate partners. It has been reported that both Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith are close to signing deals with Mercedes to follow on from Mitchell Starc’s newly unveiled contract with an Audi dealership in western Sydney. The ACA’s commercial manager, Tim Cruickshank, is currently in India for talks about the collective intellectual property passed on from CA to the players’ commercial arm, the Cricketers’ Brand, when the most recent MoU expired on July 1.”The players have fought so hard, the ACA, for the last 19 years, and got this model that we have in a really good place, and other things as well,” Johnson said. “From the CA point of view, I know David Peever, ex-Rio Tinto … no unions. So that is the thing that concerns me a lot. If we lose this battle as players, does then the ACA start getting their legs chopped from underneath them and the players lose the ACA?”That is the scary thing from my point of view. Cricket will still go on but I don’t know what sort of input the players will have in the future. I saw Nathan Lyon this morning and I think he’s as disappointed as everyone. The way it has been dealt with in the media, it probably should have been more of a private matter … it could have been dealt with very differently.”Speaking at the launch of a new app called BowlFit for young fast bowlers, Johnson also said England’s recent loss to South Africa at Trent Bridge would place doubts in the minds of the team led by Joe Root ahead of a likely pace-based Australian assault in the forthcoming Ashes series.”They’ve got a few issues to sort out,” Johnson said. “It’s only one game but it’s the way they got beaten that you see the score line. Joe Root being a new captain; they’ll try and put a bit of pressure on him to see how he handles it. Australia are a huge chance. It’ll be a great series but there are some scars there as well.”You want to be consistent and they probably haven’t got that consistency at the moment. It’s going to be hard for them now because they have been beaten, there’s pressure on them. I don’t care too much about England to be honest. I don’t care what they bring as long as it’s a good contest.”Another area Johnson found intriguing was the selection of Gary Ballance at No. 3, though a finger fracture has ruled him out of the next Test against South Africa. “England have Gary Ballance at No.3 and when you’re at No.3, you’re meant to be one of the best players in the team, if not the best,” Johnson said. “I don’t think he is.”If you’re a bowler and you see Gary Ballance at No.3, then you actually get a lot of confidence from that. Australia would have a lot of confidence. They [England] have changed their team a little bit over the past. They’re trying to find the right squad. It’s getting close to an Ashes series, so you want to lock that in.”

Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, has defended his decision to allow key England players to participate in the IPL despite subsequent injury concerns

George Dobell30-May-2017

Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, has defended his decision to allow key England players to participate in the IPL despite subsequent injury concerns.Both Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes were obliged to sit-out games during the recent ODI series against South Africa after sustaining what have been described as minor knee and quad “niggles” respectively.But with the Champions Trophy starting in a couple of days, the decision to allow such important players to spend almost the entire IPL season in India is sure to come under more scrutiny. While the England team management remain confident both men will be fit for their opening Trophy match against Bangladesh on Thursday, there is a possibility that Stokes will be fit to play only as a specialist batsman.Strauss, however, is confident there are many benefits in IPL experience. Echoing comments made by Stokes and Woakes – and before them, the likes of Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen – Strauss felt the experience in India could help.”The players who have gone over there have benefitted massively from the experience,” he said. “We’ve seen that already with the maturity that Ben is playing with the bat. And it looked like he’s improved his bowling at the death tremendously, too.”I think Chris Woakes was saying that to go there, to learn from the best players in the world and pit themselves against the best players in the world…they come back from that experience knowing they’re as good as anyone out there. The deep-rooted belief they get from that is massively important.”I’ve always seen the massive advantages of our players going out there. And that was on the back of us under-performing in white-ball cricket for year after year after year, and clearly falling behind some of the other teams.”There is no evidence that either injury was sustained in India. Indeed, you could argue that both men would have been required to play far more had they remained in England and been utilised by their counties. Moeen Ali, another of England’s allrounders, also missed the final ODI against South Africa with a minor groin strain and he did not play in the IPL.”That is the slight risk you take when you make people available for a chunk of cricket that is outside the international schedule,” Strauss said. “Injuries are part and parcel of life, but on one hand you weigh-up the potential risk and on the other you ask what they can potentially gain from that experience. That’s what forms the decision.”Thankfully I don’t think any of those injuries are of massive concern at this stage. It’s very much precautionary that they’re not playing at this stage. We want them to hit the ground running in the Champions Trophy.”Having said that, we’ve always got to balance that great opportunity for them with the schedules and workloads. And we just need to keep looking at this on a year by year and case by case basis. There will be times where it may be the smart thing not to play and at other times it might be the smart thing for them to play in the IPL.”Up until now, we’ve had mature, adult conversations with players about their availability. That’s why some of the guys came back for those Ireland internationals and some of the guys stayed at the IPL. And that’s what we’ll continue to do. When the opportunity is right for players to go – and when we feel they’ll benefit from that experience – we’ll try and make it possible.”While Stokes, Woakes and Jos Buttler were permitted to miss the two ODIs against Ireland in order to remain at the IPL this year, Strauss baulked at the suggestion that players would ever be allowed to miss a Test in similar circumstances.”Personally, I think that’s unlikely,” he said. “When you get to the stage where you’re missing Test matches to play in IPL that sends out a very strong message about where your priorities are and I would be uncomfortable with that.”It is a delicate balance Strauss must strike. As well as providing opportunities for players to benefit from experience in overseas leagues, he is also keen to help them benefit financially. And while there is no sense of the contractual wrangles that are currently clouding Australian cricket, as more money floods into the game, it is an issue on which the ECB will have to remain alert.”There are always negotiations between players and employers around what is a fair structure for salaries and pay,” Strauss said. “Our current agreement is tied in with our TV deal that runs till 2019. There will be conversations over the next couple of years to ensure we put together something that’s fair and everyone is happy with.”I’m in no way commenting on what’s happening in Cricket Australia, because I don’t know the ins and outs of it. But I’d be very surprised if anything other than a full-strength team turned out at the Gabba. I would have thought the Ashes will focus people’s minds to make sure they get a conclusion to where they are at the moment.”Then I’d like to think we can have some sort of mature conversations with TEPP [The Team England Player Partnership; the branch of the PCA that negotiates on behalf of England players] and the players themselves early enough to prevent us going down that sort of route. And as much as possible, behind closed doors and in the right sort of spirit.”What I’m focused on is making sure the relationships between ourselves as the national governing body and our players who are contracted to us are as good as they possibly can be. That’s the best way of ensuring that those conversations happen in good faith.”

AC Milan are reportedly discussing a sensational return to San Siro for retired Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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Former frontman retired at the end of last seasonEnjoyed two memorable stints at San SiroCould fill post alongside coach PioliWHAT HAPPENED?

The enigmatic 41-year-old hung up his boots at the end of last season as injuries finally caught up with him. The curtain came down on his remarkable career while in Italy, with a second Serie A title-winning spell being enjoyed with the Rossoneri.

AdvertisementGOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ibrahimovic was recently spotted back in Milan ahead of a Champions League clash with Newcastle, and reports that talks have been held between the former Sweden international and club owner Gerry Cardinale regarding a possible role for him.

DID YOU KNOW?

Milan are eager to bring Ibrahimovic’s experience and character on board – as someone that knows all about the pressures of performing under the brightest of spotlights and a figure capable of bridging the divide between the dressing room and dugout.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

There have been suggestions that – following the departure of club legend Paolo Maldini over the summer – Ibrahimovic could be handed a role as team manager, allowing him to work alongside head coach Stefano Pioli. Ibrahimovic will not be rushing into a decision, as he seeks greater clarity over the structure of the club and what his new role would entail, but further meetings are planned for either November or December.

New Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney considered studying law after he became obsessed with the Wagatha Christie trial involving his wife Coleen.

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• Rooney was obsessed with case
• Considered studying law
• Suggested legal arguments for lawyers

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rooney supported his wife throughout her defamation case against Rebekah Vardy and became intrigued by the law.

  The former Manchester United and England star attended daily briefings with lawyers and had many questions about the case, resulting in his interest in applying to law school.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The famous lawsuit, dubbed the Wagatha Christie, erupted after Coleen discovered one of her Instagram followers was leaking private information to the press and eventually identified the culprit as Rebekah Vardy, wife of Leicester star Jamie.

  Vardy launched a defamation suit and denied leaking any stories, but she lost the case, with the judge ruling that Rooney's claims were "substantially true".

• WHAT THEY SAID

  New Birmingham boss Rooney became obsessed with the case and even suggested arguments for the lawyers, resulting in his wife shutting him down. "Wayne shut up and let David [Hurworth] or Paul [Lunt] speak," she said during a newly released Disney+ documentary on the trial.

  Coleen later added: "He was then going to apply for law school and he had all these plans."

  Rooney himself also explained why he became so fascinated with the intricacies of the legal world. "Yeah, it was interesting because I do like crime documentaries and in particular the different techniques the two barristers used," he said.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Rooney, 37, appears to have dropped his desire to study law as he was recently appointed Birmingham City manager. His side will play their first game since his arrival on Saturday when they take on Middlesbrough.

Arsenal have been "informed" on the conditions of a potential deal to sign Galatasary defender Sacha Boey, namely that he is set to cost around £22 million this summer.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners and manager Mikel Arteta are looking to shore up a number of key areas of the squad, coming after they missed out on their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years.

Arsenal had been in pole position for much of the 2022/2023 campaign but were eventually beaten to the punch by champions Man City, who are also on course to potentially clinch an historic treble.

It's back to the drawing board in north London with Arteta and sporting director already drawing up plans to make major signings this summer.

"Our planning has already been done," said sporting director Edu in April (ESPN via 90min)."It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

In terms of who Arsenal could sign, it is believed that the Gunners are targeting multiple midfield additions, with West Ham's Declan Rice and Brighton star Moises Caicedo attracting serious interest.

Defensive signings are also firmly on the agenda, especially at right-back, with Real Valladolid starlet Ivan Fresneda and Boey being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Sharing an update on the latter target, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has some news for supporters.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano claims that Arsenal have been "informed" that they can sign Boey for around £22 million, but as of yet, there is yet to be any serious talks or contact with the player's agents.

"For Boey at the moment, I'm just told that they are informed on the conditions of the deal, €25m price tag."I'm not aware of any direct contract between Arsenal and his agent in terms of negotiations, so at the moment it's still a quiet situation."

Who is Sacha Boey?

The 22-year-old has been a key player for Galatasary, especially last season, with only Victor Nelsson and Fernando Muslera playing more league minutes (WhoScored).

Boey also averaged their joint-highest rate of tackles per 90 and second-highest number of interceptions domestically – emphasising his importance to the Turkish Super Lig side (WhoScored).

Former Gunners defender Bacary Sagna, commenting on the links to Boey recently, also believes that he would fit in "perfectly" under Arteta.

Arsenal's fine season came to a triumphant end on Sunday, as they blew away Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-0 in front of a gracious Emirates crowd. Many had turned out to deliver their thanks to Mikel Arteta and his playing staff, for staging the most unlikely title charge that fell just short.

Regardless of how it ended, it makes for a bright future in north London, where a few key additions could help them take that final step in the battle with Manchester City. Not only that, but they also now have Champions League football to look forward to once again.

This was particularly important given the pulling power such an attraction draws in the transfer market, affording them a head start over any club without European football, or in a lesser version of their competition.

It could also prove decisive in luring other talent from lower down the Premier League, with the promise of minutes in that elite competition sure to tempt many.

One such name that could be intrigued by such a prospect is Michael Olise, who reports are now linking with a €40m (£35m) Emirates switch.

How good is Michael Olise?

Although it might seem questionable to sign someone with such a similar profile to Bukayo Saka, as a tricky, dazzling and elegant right winger with a wicked left foot, the extent to which their England international has been worked is ludicrous.

Featuring in all 38 of their league games this season for the second term running, Arteta must be worrying about when his young superstar will burn out.

In an attempt to avoid such an occurrence, the acquisition of Olise could provide suitable competition without altering the makeup of the team much.

After all, Crystal Palace's mesmeric maestro has too enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring two goals and assisting a further 11 in the league.

Although a far cry from Saka's levels, who recorded 25 goal contributions this season, the gulf is not so big as to suggest that they could not battle for the spot. Additionally, a move up the table would surely see Olise's numbers improve too whilst supplying the likes of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.

During that run of form in 2023 which rocketed the Eagles to comfortable safety, the 21-year-old was instrumental in such a turnaround. Statman Dave first branded the winger a "stunner" in January before pundit Clinton Morrison suggested he had been "outstanding" and a "joy to watch" in April.

Ironically enough, the two would come up against one another often at youth level, with Michael Richards, Olise's youth coach, emphasising their similarities and ability above everyone else: "It was basically the Michael and Bukayo show. You could see that both of them were exceptional, far above everyone else."

OneVersusOne serve to compliment this notion further, as the two are also similar in their crosses made per 90 (3.18 v 3.29), dribble success percentage (78.66% v 73.39%) and assists (0.24 v 0.31). Their shared creativity is arguably unparalleled.

If Edu is serious about affording Saka some much-needed rest midway through the season, there are arguably few better value-for-money signings on the market than Olise, who would allow the switch to be made with minimal fuss and maximum quality in the starter and the substitute.

Todd Boehly has shown that he has no problem with shelling out huge fees on new players as he looks to turn Chelsea into one of the top sides in Europe, but the American must avoid another transfer disaster with Joao Felix.

How has Felix performed at Chelsea so far?

Chelsea signed the Portugal international on loan from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, with the Blues paying a £10m loan fee as well as the forward's wages in order to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

Boehly was desperate to add attacking quality at Chelsea given the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling had struggled for form in the first half of the season, with the two experienced attackers managing just five goals and two assists between them in the Premier League so far this campaign.

Felix arrived with a big reputation despite never really living up to his potential in Madrid, notching just 34 goals and 18 assists in 131 appearances following a £113m switch from Benfica in 2019.

Sadly, he has shown little to prove that he would be a worthwhile signing at Chelsea this summer, with the 23-year-old unable to turn the Blues' goalscoring woes around, with just two goals and zero assists in his 11 Premier League outings thus far.

WhoScored has awarded the versatile attacker a disappointing 6.68/10 rating for his performances in the top flight, and that sees him ranked as the 11th-best performer in Frank Lampard's squad, which again suggests that he would not be worth signing on a permanent basis this summer given his price tag.

It is perhaps understandable that Felix has struggled so much when you consider that the Blues have managed just 30 goals in 31 Premier League fixtures this season, but the former Benfica man has been one of the most culpable strikers, as he has averaged 3.3 shots per game – the most of anyone in Chelsea's squad.

Should Chelsea sign Felix permanently?

He has an expected goals ratio of 3.6 goals in the Premier League, which suggests that he is also guilty of missing big chances, and the Blues cannot afford to be so wasteful in front of goal again next season if they want to re-establish themselves as a top-four club.

Frank Leboeuf was less than impressed with the Portuguese forward's performance in the 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu when speaking on ESPN.

He said (via BeSoccer): "Some [Chelsea] players did well, but most of them switched off, I'd say. What happened to Joao Felix today? It was not a derby between Atletico and Real Madrid. It was Chelsea. Yet he disappeared."

Considering the 23-year-old could set Boehly back around a reported £125m this summer, we think the American must focus his attentions elsewhere and ensure that he spends his money wisely, or else risk another disastrous season.

Fans online have flocked to Twitter to praise Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus after he delivered a stunning piece of skill in the club’s most recent game.

What’s the latest on Arsenal and Gabriel Jesus?

It was a huge outing in the Premier League on Easter Sunday for the Gunners as they made the trip to Anfield.

Indeed, with title rivals Manchester City already beating Southampton 4-1 the day before, Mikel Arteta’s men were under great pressure to win.

And things got off to a brilliant start as Arsenal took an early lead through Gabriel Martinelli and then doubled it before the 30-minute mark thanks to Jesus.

However, Liverpool ace Mohammed Salah pulled one back and then missed a second-half penalty as the Reds began to build up more and more momentum.

In the end, the pressure told as Roberto Firmino came off the bench to head in an 87th-minute equaliser.

Despite plenty more excitement at the death, the Gunners held on for a draw as the game finished 2-2, leaving Arteta and co now only six points clear at the top of the table.

In the midst of all the drama, however, Arsenal star Jesus pulled off a piece of trickery that has subsequently left fans drooling over his quality.

Indeed, as seen in this video, the Brazilian can be seen displaying his samba roots as he flicks the ball deftly over Thiago Alcantara’s head, before juggling it with a couple of sharp touches and then volleying a no-look pass through to Martinelli as the Gunners race off on a counter.

It’s safe to say, supporters looking on were more than impressed by this stunning bit of skill from the

£265k-p/w forward.

Here are some of the best reactions online…

The praise didn’t stop there…

He certainly got the better of Thiago.