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Australia allrounder Neser joins for County Championship stint, while Lehmann agrees two-year deal as local player

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2025

Michael Neser played for Hampshire in 2024•PA Photos/Getty Images

Hampshire have announced the signings of Australians Michael Neser and Jake Lehmann. Neser, who claimed his maiden Test five-for against England at the Gabba last week, will join for the first six rounds of the County Championship in April-May, while Lehmann has agreed a two-year contract as a locally registered player using his UK passport.Neser, 35, had a previous stint with Hampshire in 2024, playing seven games in the Blast alongside one Championship appearance. He has also enjoyed success with Glamorgan, taking 80 first-class wickets at 23.00, as well as recording his highest score of 176 not out.Lehmann, 33, the son of former Australia batter and coach, Darren, has never been capped but is a steady performer for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. He was the competition’s third-highest run-scorer as South Australia won the 2024-25 Shield, with 750 at 44.11, and is currently leading the way for his state in the current season down under.Related

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Hampshire will be his third county, having played for Yorkshire (in 2016) and Lancashire (2019).”I’m excited to join Hampshire on a two-year deal, it’s great to return to county cricket,” Lehmann said. “Hampshire has a fantastic history of Australian players and to follow in the footsteps of Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and the like is really special.”I look forward to joining up with the team at Utilita Bowl and hopefully contributing to the trophy cabinet.”Although Lehmann is likely to have to give up his status as a domestic player in Australia to qualify as a local in county cricket, states are allowed to play one overseas player in a Shield XI.Hampshire narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2025 County Championship, thanks to Durham’s defeat to Yorkshire. They will go into the new season with Russell Domingo as head coach, with the South African taking over from long-serving Adi Birrell.Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said: “In Michael Neser and Jake Lehmann, we have two players who have the ability to make a significant impact. Michael brings valuable runs alongside his quality with the ball – he will partner Kyle Abbott as one of our overseas players.”Jake is in outstanding form and is the leading run scorer in Shield cricket over the past 18 months. With a British passport, he is eligible to play as a locally qualified player, allowing flex in strengthening the squad.”Both players possess a great attitude and bring quality and experience; it’s a big boost as we look to finalise our plans ahead of 2026.”Gloucestershire bring in Australia A allrounder ScottLiam Scott celebrates his maiden Shield century•Getty Images

Another Australian heading to the UK in 2026 is allrounder Liam Scott, who has signed to play for Gloucestershire in the T20 Blast. Scott, 25, will also be available for two rounds of the County Championship in June.Scott was a team-mate of Lehmann’s in the South Australia side that won the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield. He has also played for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash, and been capped for Australia A. Last week, he scored his maiden first-class hundred, an innings of 147 off 171 balls that helped set up a ten-wicket win.Jon Lewis, Gloucestershire’s director of cricket, said: “Liam is an exciting young allrounder from South Australia who plays for the Strikers in the Big Bash. He’s a cricketer whose stock is on the rise and is highly regarded across Australia. We’ve done extensive research into the best young allrounders available, and adding a third overseas player with a different skillset will help balance our T20 squad throughout the tournament.”We’re really excited to welcome him over. We’ve heard so many positive things and look forward to seeing him join the group.”Liam will also be available for two County Championship matches at the height of the summer. We’ve had a number of impressive Australian allrounders with the club in recent years, and we’re confident Liam has the ability to be the next big overseas star for Gloucestershire.”

Chelsea are now preparing a club-record bid to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, with it being revealed Enzo Fernandez could play a key role in the potential transfer.

The Blues’ interest in signing a new centre-forward comes amid a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge for Liam Delap, with the 22-year-old failing to score in his opening four Premier League games since making the move to west London in the summer.

Joao Pedro has been more promising, picking up four goals and three assists in the league, but the Brazilian was given the nod in a slightly deeper role against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, upon Delap’s return from a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old excelled in attacking midfield, scoring the second in the 3-0 rout, and Enzo Maresca has suggested he is also better-suited to playing with a partner, saying: “We know that he can play as a number nine or he can play as a number 10,”

“In both positions, I think Joao is very good, but probably when he has another number nine next to him, he is playing better.”

As such, there may be space in the squad to bring in another new centre-forward, and a huge offer is now in the works…

Chelsea preparing club-record bid for Julian Alvarez

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now preparing an offer of around €150m (£133m) for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, which would make him their record signing, should they manage to get a deal over the line.

Fernandez could play a key role in the transfer, as the Blues are hoping the Argentinian’s presence at Stamford Bridge will convince Alvarez to make the move, given that they are international teammates.

BlueCo clearly mean business, but it looks unlikely that a deal will be straightforward, given that FC Barcelona are also in the race, and Atletico Madrid are reluctant to enter negotiations over a sale.

Should the Spanish club soften their stance, the 25-year-old could be a fantastic addition to Maresca’s forward line, having made a flying start to the campaign, chipping in with 13 goal contributions across his opening 15 matches in all competitions.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Pablo Gonzalez, the 49-time Argentina international also found the back of the net 17 times in La Liga alone during his debut campaign, while a tally of 11 goals and ten assists in the former Manchester City man’s final campaign at the Etihad Stadium indicates he is very well-rounded.

Signing Alvarez would be a major statement of intent from Chelsea, and if they were able to get a deal done this winter, the World Cup-winning forward could be a real difference-maker in the Premier League title race.

Julian Alvarez has been named as one of the best strikers in the world The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Do Arsenal lack attacking firepower?

The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres this summer was supposed to end the Gunners’ search for a centre-forward but, so far, the Swede has scored just four Premier League goals, with supporters yet to be truly convinced by their new number nine.

The Swede, as well as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are all likely to remain sidelined ahead of Sunday’s North London derby, meaning Mikel Merino will continue as the makeshift centre-forward.

So, could Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta address this issue in January by targeting “one of the best strikers in Europe”?

Arsenal searching for more attacking firepower

The January transfer window is often a quiet one for Arsenal, albeit they have pulled off some memorable winter signings down the years.

Nacho Monreal, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor, Leandro Trossard and Andrey Arshavin all arrived in various Januarys, as did current club captain Ødegaard, albeit the most exciting mid-season addition surely remains Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January 2018.

So now, in a deal that would be very reminiscent, reports in Spain claim that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a January move for another Dortmund centre-forward, this time Serhou Guirassy.

They claim that the Guinea international has a €50m release clause (around £44m) in his contract, making him an attractive proposition for any potential suitors, including Arsenal.

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Former national team head coach Kaba Diawara is the only Guinean to ever feature for Arsenal, scoring zero goals in 14 appearances in 1999, infamously hitting the woodwork with pretty much every shot he took, so Guirassy would certainly surpass that legacy, should he swap North Rhine-Westphalia for North London.

How Serhou Guirassy would repeat Aubameyang's success

When Aubameyang joined Arsenal, he was 28 years old and had just scored 141 goals in 213 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, winning the previous season’s DFB-Pokal, scoring the winning penalty against Eintracht Frankfurt in the final at Olympiastadion.

Once at Arsenal, the Gabonese international netted 92 times in 163 outings, sharing the Premier League golden boot in 2018/19, while only five players have ever scored more goals for the Gunners in the competition.

For those wondering, this quintet are: Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Olivier Giroud.

Now 36, Aubameyang is proving that goal-scoring instincts never fade, having netted six times for Olympique de Marseille already this season, most recently breaking the deadlock during Friday night’s 5-1 demolition of Nice, having also scored when les Phocéens crushed Ajax 4-0 at Stade Vélodrome in the Champions League in September.

So, with Gyökers earning mixed reviews, Arsenal might just lack a striker with that killer instinct, but could that be Guirassy?

Well, let’s compare his and Aubameyang’s time at Borussia Dortmund to see if he would be able to replicate the ex-Gunners star’s career?

Guirassy 24/25 vs Aubameyang 16/17

Stats

Guirassy

Aubameyang

Appearances

50

46

Minutes

4,244

3,959

Goals

38

40

UCL Goals

13

7

Assists

9

5

Shots per 90

2.9

3.4

Shots on target per 90

1.8

2.2

Shot accuracy %

60.54%

63.11%

Big chances missed

31

32

% of touches in the box

15.9%

20.5%

Stats via Transfermarkt, SofaScore & Squawka

As the table documents, Guirassy’s form last season is remarkably similar to that of Aubameyang during his final campaign with die Schwarzgelben.

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The current Dortmund centre-forward scored two fewer goals than peak Aubameyang, albeit he did net 13 times in last season’s Champions League, thereby picking up the competition’s golden boot.

Other numbers that are similar are the pair’s shots per 90, shooting accuracy and the percentage of their touches that come in the opposition’s penalty area, while the duo both missed more than 30 Opta-defined big chances, which, statistically speaking, is a lot!

Nevertheless, Guirassy’s form at Westfalenstadion​​​​​​​ led to Germany’s all-time record appearance holder Lothar Matthäus asserting that he has become “one of the best strikers in Europe”, underlining how highly rated he is by regular Bundesliga observers.

Thus, should Guirassy arrive at Arsenal in January, he would undeniably have a massive impact, one that could fire Arteta’s team to that elusive first Premier League title in 22 years.

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Posts ByBen Gray Nov 21, 2025

MLB free agency began approximately two and a half months ago, but Alex Bregman still doesn't have a contract. The two-time All-Star third baseman has spent his entire career in Houston where he's won two World Series, but the two sides have not been able to make a deal. Bregman and agent Scott Boras turned down a six-year, $156 million offer from the Astros earlier this winter, but remains unsigned.

The Astros still appear optimistic that something can get done with a pitchers and catchers due to report in less than a month. Houston manager Joe Espada was asked about Bregman last week and revealed that he considered the player a friend and had been in contact with him throughout the offseason.

"Well, he has not signed with anyone right? So, we here still open… our arms are still open. The door's still open. There's always a chance, right? But right now we are still in conversations with not only him, but with other free agent players. So we'll see. We'll see.

Bregman hit 26 home runs in 145 games last season.

Phil Salt top-scored with an opening 44 off 35 balls in Lancashire’s 178 for 6 before Wood’s hand in hosts’ defence

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Jul-2025

Luke Wood celebrates the wicket of Caleb Jewell with the first ball of the Derbyshire innings•Dan Adams/Lancashire Cricket

Lancashire Lightning 178 for 6 (Salt 44, Chappell 3-23) beat Derbyshire Falcons 136-6 (Madsen 53, Wood 3-25) by 42 runsEngland limited-overs pacer Luke Wood struck twice with the first two balls of Lancashire’s defence of a 179-target as they beat struggling Derbyshire by 42 runs at Emirates Old Trafford to put one foot in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.Wood’s international team-mate Phil Salt top-scored with an opening 44 off 35 balls in Lancashire’s 178 for 6.He was supported by valuable contributions from England white-ball captain Jos Buttler with 23, Liam Livingstone’s 35 off 23 and Australian Ashton Turner’s late 31 not out, setting Lightning up for their seventh win in nine North Group matches.Their elevation to top spot in the table was then all but confirmed from the moment left-armer Wood ousted Caleb Jewell and Martin Andersson at the start of the Falcons’ reply, which stuttered to 136 for 6 despite Wayne Madsen’s entertaining 53 off 40 balls. Wood finished with an excellent 3 for 25.This was bottom side Derbyshire’s seventh defeat in nine games.Unfortunately, Livingstone suffered a suspected hamstring injury and needed to use captain Keaton Jennings as a runner from 23 onwards.Earlier, Livingstone became the 12th Englishman to reach 7,000 career runs in T20 cricket. Two others in that dozen include Buttler and Salt.Lightning raced out of the blocks and were in a position to potentially swamp the Falcons at 124 for 2 after 13 overs.Salt and Livingstone had just taken a six apiece off Pat Brown’s seam, and they shared 68 in seven overs for the third wicket from 65 for 2 early in the eighth over when Buttler departed caught and bowled off Samit Patel’s left-arm spin.Opener Jennings, who hit 22, had taken four fours off Ben Aitchison’s seam in the second over of the match having been inserted.Derbyshire limited the damage impressively during the final seven overs, which saw pacer Zak Chappell remove both Salt and Livingstone caught at deep cover en-route to an excellent 4 for 23.Lancashire started this fixture, at 3pm, having only returned home at 3.45am from their winning trip to Northampton last night following issues on the M1.But there was no sign of rust.In fact, with four wickets falling in succession at the end of the Northamptonshire innings last night, including a Saqib Mahmood hat-trick, Lancashire had struck six times in six balls combining that with Wood’s double strike early here.Wood had opener Jewell caught at first slip and then bowled Andersson with a sumptuous in-swinging yorker.The first-ball wicket even won a lucky couple in the crowd a Dubai holiday as part of Lancashire’s Fly Emirates sponsorship.Wood later had opener Aneurin Donald caught at short fine-leg trying to ramp – 28 for 3 after five overs.Wood also helped the leg-spin of Luke Wells remove Brooke Guest with a smart catch at long-on.Madsen reached 50 off 36 balls with back-to-back swept sixes off Wells, but he sliced a full toss to cover as one of two 14th-over wickets for Australian off-spinner Chris Green as the score fell to 86 for 6.Chappell finished with a belligerent 34 not out to cap a handy personal performance which went unrewarded.