After Aston Villa lost Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United earlier in the window, they would not have intended to lose any more players before Deadline Day next Monday.

However, there is still a possibility that one or two more could depart Villa Park, with star man Morgan Rogers regularly touted with an exit.

A few days ago, it was revealed that Unai Emery’s side could lose Rogers to Chelsea. The Blues are said to be plotting a move worth up to £80m for the Villans forward, potentially as an alternative to one of their primary targets this summer, Xavi Simons.

Well, whether Rogers stays or goes remains to be seen, but Emery would need to replace him before Monday’s deadline.

Aston Villa’s last-minute plans in the window

It could be a frantic few days at Villa Park, with the West Midlands giants looking to do some more transfer dealings before the earlier-than-normal 7pm deadline.

A last-gasp move for Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United could be something Villa look to get over the line, if recent rumours are to be believed.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Well, one player that Villa have ‘opened talks’ to sign late on, according to journalist Patrick Berger, is Borussia Dortmund and Germany striker Maximilian Beier.

They are said to be ‘very interested’ in bringing the striker to Villa Park, but would need to sell due to FFP restrictions.

However, this is a deal that Villa seem keen to get over the line. So much so, in fact, that Emery’s side have readied a £30m bid for the versatile forward. It is unclear if that will match Dortmund’s asking price or if they will have to return to the negotiation table.

Why Beier would be a good signing

At just 22 years of age, Beier, an “exceptional” forward according to football scout Antonio Mango, has developed a fantastic reputation. He is already a full international with Germany and a key player for Dortmund.

Last term, his versatility was key for the Bundesliga giants. The forward can play right across the frontline, and whilst he excels most as a centre-forward, Beier also operated on both flanks and as a number 10 last season.

Despite a tough campaign for Dortmund, 2024/25 was strong personally for Beier. He played 46 games across all competitions, finding the back of the net ten times and assisting six goals.

His record of 16 goal involvements is even more impressive when you consider he played just 2,423 minutes, the equivalent of just under 27 full games.

Villa certainly need a like-for-like replacement for Rogers if he leaves, or, failing that, a squad player capable of challenging him for his spot in the side. There are certainly similarities between the pair, including their versatility and age profile, with both in their early 20s, meaning there is plenty of time to develop as a player.

Last season, the 23-year-old England international shone for the Villans. He bagged 14 goals and assisted 16 in 54 games, including a wonderful hat-trick in the Champions League group stage over Celtic.

One of the real selling points for Villa when it comes to signing Beier is his versatility, which is one way he is like Rogers. Just like the German forward, Villa’s number 27 can operate on both flanks, as a second striker and can lead the line.

The underlying stats also suggest that Beier could be Rogers-esque. For example, Dortmund’s forward averaged 1.36 key passes and 3.11 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes last season, close to the Villa star, who averaged 1.47 key passes and 3.04 shot-creating actions each game.

Beier & Rogers key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Beier

Roger

Goals and assists

0.73

0.52

Key passes

1.36

1.47

Shot-creating actions

3.11

3.04

Goal-creating actions

0.40

0.46

Ball recoveries

2.77

3.44

Stats from FBref

A fee of £30m is certainly not going to break the bank for Villa at the end of the transfer window, provided they sell where possible. Although it is unclear at this stage whether Beier would replace or play alongside Roges, he seems like an ideal fit.

This could be a huge addition for Emery as they look to challenge on all fronts domestically and in Europe this season.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Aug 27, 2025

It is fair to say that the mood among the Glasgow Rangers fanbase is less than optimistic after the opening few weeks of the 2025/26 campaign under Russell Martin.

Two draws in two Scottish Premiership matches, a 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Plzen away from home, two goals conceded at home to Alloa, and, most recently, a 3-1 drubbing against Club Brugge at Ibrox.

There are, quite simply, a lot of reasons not to be positive for the future under Martin at Rangers, although it is still very early days and there is plenty of time left for this season to still be a success.

The summer transfer window is still open for business, for example, and that provides the Light Blues with an opportunity to dip into the market to improve their squad in the next couple of weeks.

One player that the Gers should be looking to upgrade on in that time is Brazilian centre-forward Danilo, despite his goal in the 3-1 loss to Club Brugge on Tuesday night.

Rangers may need a reliable number nine if they want to win trophies and enjoy a successful season this term, and the former Feyenoord man has yet to prove that he can be that player.

Why Rangers need to replace Danilo

Danilo’s goal from close range against Club Brugge helped to mask what was a largely unimpressive performance from the 26-year-old attacker aside from that.

The former Ajax man only won one duel and completed seven passes in 61 minutes on the pitch as the main number nine for Rangers, per Sofascore, which shows that he was not offering enough of a presence up front to hold onto the ball or bring his teammates into the game.

Danilo has produced one goal and one assist in six appearances in all competitions so far this term, per Sofascore, which shows that he has not been consistently delivering in front of goal to make up for the deficiencies in his all-round game.

The Brazilian forward has also only scored nine goals in 35 appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues since his move from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023.

Type of injury

Broken cheekbone

Knee injury

Knee injury

Date of injury

September 2023

December 2023

September 2024

Return date

October 2023

May 2024

November 2024

Days out

43

171

65

Matches missed

9

32

12

As you can see in the table above, his availability has been severely restricted by injury issues throughout his time at Ibrox, missing 53 games in his first two seasons at the club.

Therefore, the Light Blues could do with bringing in a striker who is more likely to be reliable, from a fitness and quality perspective, than Danilo has been in the past two years or so.

Supporters should be pleased to read that the Gers are now interested in a striker who could come in as an upgrade on the number 99, who Kris Boyd stated is not “working” for Martin.

Rangers in the race to sign LaLiga forward

According to El Chiringuito TV, Glasgow Rangers are one of a number of teams in the race to sign Villarreal centre-forward Karl Etta Eyong before the end of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claims that the LaLiga outfit have already turned down an offer from Swansea to take the 21-year-old striker on a season-long loan.

It adds that Leeds United, Rangers, and Levante are also interested in signing the Cameroonian marksman to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The Villarreal youngster is valued at around £4m by Transfermarkt, but it is unclear as to how much the Spanish side would demand to sell him to Rangers this summer.

Why Rangers should push to sign Etta Eyong

The Light Blues should be pushing to win the race to land an Ibrox deal for Etta Eyong this summer, whether that is on loan or on a permanent deal, because he could be a big upgrade on Danilo.

His durability plays a huge role in that assessment because the young forward has not had any notable injuries in his senior career, per Transfermarkt, and may be more reliable for the Gers from an availability perspective.

The 21-year-old starlet’s performances on the pitch for Villarreal’s B team and first-team in the past 12 months or so also suggest that he could be an upgrade on Danilo because of the quality that he can offer in front of goal.

Etta Eyong has scored two goals in five matches in LaLiga for Villarreal and found the back of the net against Premier League opposition in Arsenal and Leeds in pre-season, per Sofascore, after earning the senior call-up because of his outstanding form for the B team.

Appearances

30

Goals

18

Conversion rate

25%

Minutes per goal

140

Penalties scored

5/5

Assists

3

Duels won per game

7.7

As you can see in the table above, the £4m-rated centre-forward was a prolific scorer in the third tier of Spanish football last season, with 21 goal contributions in 30 games, which earned him a place in the senior set-up.

A return of two goals in five games in LaLiga since his call-up to the first-team also shows that he is not out of place in one of Europe’s major leagues, which is why he could be an excellent signing for Rangers in the Premiership.

Etta Eyong, who has been described as a “powerful” striker by analyst Kai Watson, carries more of a physical presence than Danilo, having won 7.7 duels per game for Villarreal’s B team last term.

This suggests that he can put himself about to cause problems for opposition defenders in physical battles, which is something that Rangers are not getting from the Brazilian at the moment.

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Therefore, Etta Eyong could come in as a big upgrade on Danilo because of his durability, his goalscoring prowess, and his physical profile in the number nine position, which is why signing him could be a shrewd move by the club.

Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Oviedo 3-1 on Thursday, but summer signing Joan Garcia’s early mistake put the Blaugrana on the back foot. Hansi Flick’s side recovered thanks to the influence of Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong, with the win keeping Barca’s title race alive as they remain just two points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Barca recover from shock start to claim 3-1 win

The Catalan giants fell behind at Oviedo after a costly early error, but rallied to win 3-1 thanks to a dominant second-half display. Flick’s side were blunt in the opening 45 minutes, creating chances but paying for a defensive lapse; however, the comeback demonstrated Barca’s depth and resilience as they converted pressure into goals after the break.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick defends Joan Garcia after costly pass

Garcia's misdirected pass to Alberto Reina led to Oviedo’s opener in the 33rd minute to put Barca on the back foot, but Flick was quick to shield his summer signing and stress the thinking behind his goalkeeper’s style.

"It's the style we want him to play, and it can happen, that's what I have to say," said Flick after the match. "He's a fantastic goalkeeper, the one who defends our back line, and he always does it very well. It was a mistake, and they took advantage of it, but it's football, and the important thing is that we won."

Lewandowski and De Jong swing game in Barca’s way

After a sluggish first half, Flick turned to his stars. De Jong replaced Marc Casado at half-time, giving Barca more control in midfield, while Lewandowski came on for Raphinha, and quickly made the difference by scoring the second goal to put Barcelona ahead. The Dutchman assisted the Polish striker and the pair were decisive in turning the match around.

"That's why they're here in the team [Lewandowski and De Jong]. In the first half, we played well, even though they scored, but we had a lot of chances. In the second half, I told them we had to keep going, play calmly, and be confident in playing with the ball, and we did well. Of course, we made the substitutions at the right time, with Frenkie and Lewy, and we were able to earn three points."

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Getty Images SportWhat’s next: Real Sociedad, then PSG

The Catalans now turn their attention to hosting Real Sociedad at the Montjuic Stadium this weekend, with another stern challenge awaiting them in midweek when they meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

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O São Paulo venceu o Tigre (ARG), por 2 a 0, na noite desta terça-feira (27), pela última rodada do Grupo D da Copa Sul-Americana. Com o resultado, o Tricolor encerra a fase de grupos invicto, com cinco vitórias e um empate.

Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

No entanto, a escolha de Dorival Júnior por escalar uma equipe com alguns titulares gerou queixas de torcedores, muito por conta da lesão de Pablo Maia, sofrida ainda no primeiro tempo, além da situação de Calleri, que reclamou de dores nas costas após uma pancada. Dorival explicou a sua decisão por uma equipe mista.

ATUAÇÕES: Crias de Cotia resolvem para o São Paulo contra o Tigre

– Era um jogo importante, a gente briga pela classificação geral. A gente respeita todas as competições e para o momento achei ideal. Seria um jogo pesado, difícil, eles tinham a expectativa de poder passar em primeiro e a gente não podia perder essa chance. Não daria para poupar porque o jogo era de risco, ainda queremos a primeira posição na classificação geral. O Newell’s ainda joga – afirmou.

O treinador elogiou a atuação da equipe e ressaltou que mesmo com uma equipe mista, o São Paulo conseguiu colocar em prática aquilo que vem sendo treinado no CT da Barra Funda.

– Não abro mão em competição nenhuma. Vai ter mescla porque confio nos jogadores. Sempre que possível seguro um ou outro jogador. Fico feliz porque tudo o que treinamos está sendo feito, como inversão, jogadas passando de pé em pé, outras saindo do goleiro – finalizou Dorival.

Sam Konstas fell cheaply as NSW lost three wickets late in the day in a game that will have a huge bearing on the Shield final

Tristan Lavalette06-Mar-2025

Joel Curtis made the joint top score for Western Australia•Getty Images

Sam Konstas started cautiously on a tricky surface before falling late on day one as another low-scoring Sheffield Shield match at the WACA appeared to be in the works.After Western Australia was bowled out for 196 in their first innings, New South Wales slumped to 17 for 3 in the pivotal fixture.Less than a month since WA crashed to South Australia in the shortest outright result in Shield history, the green-tinged pitch was again difficult to bat on with significant seam movement on offer.Related

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There was much intrigue over how Konstas would approach the situation having to come out to bat an hour before stumps. He started in orthodox fashion, playing straight and hitting a couple of elegant drives. There was no sign of anything fancy in his first 15 balls but he fell in tame fashion on the next delivery when he chipped left-arm quick Joel Paris to mid-off.Nic Maddinson and nightwatchman Ryan Hadley were dismissed by quick Lance Morris just before stumps to leave the match in the balance.Veteran Jackson Bird and captain Jack Edwards were standouts with five wickets between them. No WA batter reached fifty, but in an encouraging sign opener Cameron Bancroft was resolute with 22 off 66 balls in his return to the field after a horrific head-on collision in the outfield during a BBL game on January 3.Just 0.24 points separates second-placed NSW and WA with a victory for either team putting them into pole position to reach the final.With the remarkable events of the ground’s last Shield match still fresh, Edwards had no hesitation in bowling first despite the hot conditions. The calendar might have flipped into autumn, but March is essentially an extension of summer in Perth and the pitch was baking with temperatures already in the mid-30s Celsius by the time the first ball was bowled.All eyes were on Bancroft in his long-awaited return and he was intent on showcasing his trademark steely defence against accurate new ball bowling from Bird and Edwards. WA only scored two runs off the first six overs with Edwards starting off with three consecutive maidens.The ball wasn’t quite zipping off the surface like the South Australia match, but Edwards did occasionally produce sharp bounce and he had captain Sam Whiteman fending agonisingly short of leg gully.Whiteman had a torrid time, hit on the helmet by Hadley after attempting a pull shot before edging over the slips for a fortuitous boundary. But after battling through early trouble, Whiteman and Bancroft blunted the bowling in a sedate period through the middle part of the first session.The hardnosed openers have a knack of leaving bowlers flustered and they appeared set to bat through the first session as NSW’s quicks started to lose patience. But Liam Hatcher provided a spark 30 minutes before lunch when he nicked off Bancroft before having a huge appeal for caught down the legside off Jayden Goodwin turned down.Goodwin made it through to the long break, but Whiteman didn’t after he chopped on to a back of a length delivery from Edwards. WA reached lunch at 62 for 2 in a total that was eerily similar to the same stage of the South Australia match. On that occasion WA fell apart after the interval and there was a sense of déjà vu when they lost 3 for 27.Edwards was in the midst of a terrific spell and had Goodwin nicking off before Hadley clean bowled Hilton Cartwright, who had an error of judgement when he didn’t play a shot.Ashton Turner was unperturbed and decided to back his attacking instincts as runs flowed quickly for the first time in the day. He drove powerfully, but was fortunate on 21 when he was dropped by Bird in his follow through with the ball almost parrying to mid-off.But Turner couldn’t regain his rhythm after tea and he nicked off to Bird although he was unhappy with the decision. After dismissing Paris on the next delivery, Bird came within inches of completing his hat-trick when Cameron Gannon almost chopped onto his stumps.There was mock applause from several hard-bitten fans in the terraces when WA reached 150. But their mood brightened when wicketkeeper-batter Joel Curtis flourished after a sluggish start to lift the home side to what appears a competitive total.

Manchester City are now in talks to hijack Chelsea’s move for a “spectacular” midfielder, who the west Londoners were hoping to sign very soon.

Man City rivalling Chelsea for new midfielders

Despite Pep Guardiola repeatedly making it clear he wants to work with a smaller squad this season, Man City remain interested in bringing in at least one new midfielder before the deadline, and they have been credited with an interest in signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

However, Simons is seemingly set on joining Chelsea, despite having to wait a long time for the west Londoners to get a deal over the line, which means City have now been forced to more on to alternative targets.

With a deal for the RB Leipzig attacking midfielder looking unlikely, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now revealed that Guardiola’s side could hijack a move for a different Chelsea target, namely Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey said: “Chelsea were made aware of Lopez possibly being available, and he is a player they love, indeed, most clubs in Europe love him as a talent.

“Lopez has not been agitating to this point, but the camp has been talking to other clubs, and that includes City and Spurs. Nothing advanced at this point, but merely exploring possible options.”

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It was recently revealed that Enzo Maresca’s side are hoping to sign Lopez very soon, having already submitted a £50m bid for the Barca maestro’s services, but there could now be a twist in the tale, with Man City in talks with his agents.

"Spectacular" Lopez could be exciting Simons alternative

City seemingly stand little chance of winning the race for Simons, but the Barca midfielder could be a fantastic alternative, given that he also flourishes in an attacking midfield role, regularly providing goals and assists since making a breakthrough in the 2023-24 campaign.

Season

Appearances

G/A (all comps)

2023-24

42

12

2024-25

46

18

Former Barca boss Xavi has previously praised the Spaniard’s shooting ability too, claiming he has a “terrific shot from distance”, while also adding: “Fermin has a spectacular mentality. He’s always listening, always thinking and I really like his mentality – when you tell him things, they go in and he applies them.”

Lopez clearly has all the tools required to be a success at the Etihad Stadium, and given that he is just 22-years-old, the Barca star could be a key player for City for years to come, so it is exciting news that talks have now been opened over a deal.

It wasn’t a perfect opening night for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, so captain Smriti Mandhana was “really happy” to be on the winning side. Her team, the defending champions, conceded what was the fourth-highest total in the WPL, then went one better, chasing down 202 in exhilarating fashion. They chiefly had Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja and Ellyse Perry to thank for this, and Mandhana heaped praise on her middle order for delivering after an early wobble.”It was brilliant to watch,” Mandhana, who was out for 9 in the second over of the chase, said after the game. “They [Ahuja and Ghosh] have been doing that in the nets in the last seven to eight days to all our bowlers. So, really happy that things clicked on. But yeah, I think after the first innings we knew with the dew coming, it was going to be tough to bowl. So we always thought that we were in the game.”The way Richa batted and Pez [Perry] batted was amazing to watch.”Related

• Blow by brutal blow, Ghosh slays Giants on WPL opening night

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RCB had been up against it after Ashleigh Gardner dented the visitors with the bat first, smashing a 37-ball 79, and then with the ball, removing Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the second over. But from thereon Giants had an awful time in the field with dropped catches, misfields, a missed run-out chance, overthrows and a flurry of full tosses. Perry, who was out in the 13th over, had done a repair job with 57 off 34, before Ghosh (64 not out off 27) and Ahuja (30 not out off 13) proceeded to snatch the game away.Ghosh took her time initially – she scored just 15 off her first 12 balls. A lot of match simulation before the tournament helped her deal with the high-pressure situation, she said later.”The plan was to take some time, and see how the pitch is reacting,” Ghosh said. “I wanted to take it deep, and I focused on my game. We [Ahuja and I] thought we could get to the total, and that we would play a positive game.”The preparation we did with sir [head coach Luke Williams] really helped us. We had a lot of match situation during practice matches. We kept targets that if the situation is so and so then what should we be doing. That helped me a lot.””Yes, the boundaries were uneven, but I didn’t have that in mind. I knew I could clear [the boundaries] so I was just reacting as the ball came.”Ahuja, who missed the last edition due to injury, was elated. In addition to her match-turning knock, she had returned 1 for 19 from three overs with her offspin.”It feels great. I’m really happy as I’m playing after a year,” Ahuja said. “All the visualisations and the rehab that I did seemed to have helped me mentally. I tried to become a better player.”I thought I’ll go for whatever is in my reach. We were looking at a [required] run rate of 10 or 12 runs an over, and that worked out. Thankfully, we won.”RCB had lost key players like Sophie Devine (unavailable), Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana and Sophie Molineux (all injured) ahead of the season, so they had to dig deep into their squad here. This resulted in three debutants: Prema Rawat, VJ Joshitha and Raghvi Bist. The inexperience in the bowling unit showed, and sloppiness in the field did not help. Mandhana backed her young players but said there remained “a lot of things to work on” if they are to defend their title.”I think we lost pretty much the top-three wicket-takers of last year,” Mandhana said. “And we had to start, but luckily we had good options. And whoever came in for the injured people, I think they were all brilliant replacements.”[But] I think definitely a lot of things to work on as a bowling unit and fielding unit. And we have two days off before the next match, so we’ll have good discussions around it.”

Looking to ease Nuno Espirito Santo’s recent concerns, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly on the verge of signing a Juventus defender ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Nuno laughs off Nottingham Forest doubts

Who could have seen this coming? Nuno and Nottingham Forest seemed a match made in heaven after a fairytale campaign saw them qualify for European football last time out.

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Since then, however, things have rapidly changed. Evangelos Marinakis has invited a third man into the partnership in the form of Edu Gaspar, transfers are no longer so agreeable between all parties, and the boss has made his feelings publicly clear.

So, what now? Nuno, for all his complaints, has laughed off the idea that he could resign as Nottingham Forest manager and a meeting is reportedly scheduled between Edu, himself and Marinakis in an attempt to clear the air. Yet, reports have continued to arrive that any damage done to the relationship between the manager and sporting director may be irreparable.

Whether things are salvageable at this stage is the big question. Nuno does want “harmony”, but that may only come courtesy of further arrivals before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Nottingham Forest agree Savona deal

Italian media revealed on Thursday morning that Nottingham Forest were readying a bid to sign Juve defender Nicolo Savona, and Fabrizio Romano now reports the Reds have agreed a deal worth at least €15m (£13m).

Marinakis was personally keen to sign the youngster, and given the Italian club reportedly valued their right-back closer to the €20m (£17m) mark, this looks like quite the coup depending on what add-ons are included.

Nuno outlined Forest’s need for fullbacks last weekend and Savona would certainly tick that box, capable of playing anywhere across the defence. The 22-year-old wouldn’t just be any option, either. He’s full of potential and earned plenty of praise from Juventus boss Igor Tudor, who said last season: “He understands what is happening on the pitch, and he has great speed.

“So we’re talking about a player with so many skills. He is a humble guy who listens to advice. These are things that may seem obvious, but they are not at all. He has those values ​​that are getting a bit lost, so they are precious now.”

On another WACA surface that offered bowlers help, the visitors were able to defend 208 against struggling Western Australia

Tristan Lavalette13-Feb-2025Four days after the shortest outright result in Sheffield Shield history, considerable pace and bounce was still evident at the WACA ground as South Australia continued their stranglehold over Western Australia with a pivotal One-Day Cup victory.South Australia, who have not won the title since 2011-12, moved to the top of the table with one match to play before the final after dismissing last-placed WA for 164 in the 39th over with quick Liam Scott taking 3 for 16.Related

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The pitch used for this match had limited grass coverage and contrasted with the nearby green-tinged surface, which had just 763 deliveries bowled on it during South Australia’s six-wicket victory in the Shield.But the quicks still relished the conditions with 19-year-old WA paceman Mahli Beardman bowling with rapid pace to finish with 4 for 46 in his second List A match as South Australia reached a seemingly modest total.Tall offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli also enjoyed the bounce and finished with 2 for 38 off 10 overs in his List A debut. It was a tonic for him after missing out on the tour of Sri Lanka.”The wicket was fine, don’t think you can read [the low scores] too much into it…just one of those weeks,” said Rocchiccioli, who also said he’s eyeing playing in the UK during the off-season.Chasing 209 was never going to be easy for WA, who had five of their top six batters looking to make amends after being part of the side that capitulated for 120 and 66 in the Shield.Opener Sam Fanning did not have nightmares with his 49 in their first innings being the top score of that match. And his form continued as he drove well and attacked short-pitched bowling to dominate an opening stand of 40 with Jayden Goodwin.But Fanning was cut short on 34 after Jason Sangha took a brilliant one-handed catch above his head in the slips to trigger a collapse of 4 for 4. Skipper Ashton Turner has rescued his side plenty of times over the years and appeared to be on a mission with D’Arcy Short as they combined for a 77-run stand.But Turner almost out of nowhere on 43 was clean bowled by Scott in a misjudgement after he decided to let the ball go. WA’s slim hopes rested on Short, who notched the first half-century between the teams across the Shield-One-Day Cup double.The task proved too difficult with Short holing out on 55 to effectively ice the match for South Australia.Earlier, openers Henry Hunt and Mackenzie Harvey scored quickly against the new ball after the visitors were sent in to bat. There wasn’t the tennis ball bounce and prodigious sideways movement that was evident throughout the five sessions of the Shield.But speedster Lance Morris bent his back and Hunt was late on a short ball to hook straight to fine leg. Beardman entered the attack and almost matched Morris’ pace as he reached speeds of around 140kph. He got through the defences of Daniel Drew and hit the top of off-stump in a sign of things to come.South Australia slumped to 51 for 3 when Harvey fell to Rocchiccioli. With left-arm spinner Ashton Agar sidelined with a calf injury sustained in the ILT20, Rocchiccioli finally got his opportunity having been WA’s frontline spinner in the Shield in recent seasons.South Australia recovered with captain Nathan McSweeney, on his return from the Sri Lanka tour, and Sangha playing with relative ease in a 54-run partnership.Sangha had been the standout batter during the Shield match with 45 and 24 not out as his technique and application thwarted the minefield. He raced to 38 before throwing his wicket away out of nowhere after hitting a short and wide delivery from Morris straight down third man’s throat.McSweeney had toiled to 28 before uncharacteristically losing patience and being stumped after missing a straighter Rocchiccioli delivery. South Australia appeared in danger of a score of under 150, but Scott held the backend together with 47 as they batted through the 50 overs.South Australia, however, didn’t have a late flourish with Beardman completing an eye-catching performance with a further three wickets, including clean bowling Scott and Harry Matthias with piercing yorkers.But they had more than enough on the board as their quicks went about once again tormenting WA’s beleaguered batters.

AC Milan cruised into the Coppa Italia round of 16 with a 3-0 win over Lecce at San Siro, but the biggest cheer of the night was for Santiago Gimenez. The Mexican striker finally broke his goal drought with his first of the season, ending months of frustration following the rumours about his future at the Serie A club.

• Gimenez ends drought in Lecce win

  The 24-year-old opened the scoring in the first half, tapping in from close range after a Davide Bartesaghi assist. The goal came just two minutes after Lecce saw Jamil Siebert was sent off, leaving the visitors with 10 men. Milan took full advantage, with Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic adding goals to complete a comfortable 3-0 win.

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  Gimenez’s Milan journey so far

  Gimenez joined AC Milan from Feyenoord in a €37 million deal in January this year, making him one of the most expensive Mexican players ever. He burst onto the scene with quick goals in his first two games, but things soon got tougher as his form dipped and talk of an early exit started doing the rounds, with Roma, Brentford and Newcastle all linked. However, the 24-year-old rejected the move and made it clear that he wants to stay at San Siro and fight for his place. The Mexican international received backing from new manager Massimiliano Allegri, who praised his key contribution in the win over Bologna last week.

• Mexican striker fully committed to Milan dream

  Speaking to after Tuesday's game, Gimenez admitted the relief of finally finding the net, saying: “As a striker, you have to score goals. In the last few games, I’ve had chances, but the ball just wasn’t going in. The important thing is that one goes in so the others can follow.” 

  On speculation linking him with a move away in August, he was clear: "As a child, I dreamed of playing for AC Milan. I'm in my dream team, and I want to fulfill my dreams wearing this jersey. I never thought about leaving."

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  When do AC Milan play next?

  The Rossoneri now have two big games ahead in Serie A, facing league leaders Napoli on Sunday before travelling to Juventus on October 5. Gimenez has seven goals in 25 appearances since joining Milan, and with his first of the season behind him, fans will hope he can rediscover the form that made him such a big signing.