EXCLUSIVE Sam Cook, England's new star - by those who know him best: The model student who trains while everyone else is asleep - and why lack of pace means nothing as he eyes Ashes glory
Sam Cook had just turned 17 when he first came up against Jamie Porter in August 2014. Within three years the two would form a lethal new-ball pairing in county cricket, but for now they were rivals: Cook opening the bowling for Chelmsford in an Essex Premier League game at Chelmer Park, Porter the batting for Chingford.
'The pitch was a real green nipper,' says Porter. 'It was putrid. He didn't miss a length, and the amount of times I came forward to defend and got hit on the arm or the elbow…'
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The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
How every Premier League club's summer business is shaping up
Recruitment was cast as the main reason for the club's disappointment last season. Mikel Merino playing as an auxiliary centre-forward after Kai Havertz had broken down made that apparent. This will be a summer with a marked difference with Andrea Berta ready to go as the club's new sporting director. Berta spent 12 years at Atlético Madrid, supplying the players and foundation behind Diego Simeone's dynasty. Arsenal seek to avoid friction between Arteta dictating as he did previously and Berta wielding the same kind of power that was so effective in Madrid. Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig is heavily linked to the striking vacancy with Sporting's Viktor Gyökeres seen as too costly. Martin Zubimendi is expected to reunite with Merino in Arsenal's midfield, though Real Madrid may yet turn the midfielder's head. Kepa Arrizabalaga will come in as a back-up goalkeeper within a squad well set for success but missing the final pieces. John Brewin There is another profit and sustainability-shaped hole to fill this summer, though the picture is not thought to be as pressing as last year, when Villa's director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, compared the situation to a ticking timebomb before they sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus. At the same time, another big sale would be a welcome relief to the bottom line, which is why Villa are preparing for the departure of Emiliano Martínez. Villa are targeting the additions of two goalkeepers, with Lille's Lucas Chevalier among those on the shortlist, and will need to replace the loanees who arrived in the winter window, with none of Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi expected to return permanently. Villa immediately targeted a young striker after agreeing to sell Jhon Duran in January and have agreed a deal for the 18-year-old Zépiqueno Redmond to join from Feyenoord next month. Ben Fisher No wonder the Bournemouth technical director, Simon Francis, recently conceded they are victims of their own success. Even before last season ended, the club were being mined for their prized assets, with Real Madrid triggering the £50m release clause in Dean Huijsen's contract. Milos Kerkez, who has been a superb signing from AZ Alkmaar, is poised to join Liverpool, so a left-back is high on the agenda. Paris Saint-Germain have also inquired about Illia Zabarnyi, another consistent performer. The official line is Zabarnyi is not for sale but it will be tough to keep him if PSG stump up. Regardless, Bournemouth will generate significant funds to strengthen and view a new goalkeeper as perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle. Kepa Arrizabalaga, who spent last season on loan from Chelsea and remains the world's most expensive goalkeeper, has a modest £5m release clause in his contract but Bournemouth are exploring all options in their search for a permanent No 1. BF This could be a summer of change at the Gtech. Thomas Frank continues to be touted as the next Tottenham manager and there is a possibility that Brentford will be forced to replace the goals and assists of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa. Both forwards have interest from elsewhere – Mbeumo is likeliest to leave, with United circling, while Wissa was targeted by Nottingham Forest in January. But Brentford will back themselves to bounce back. They recovered from losing Ivan Toney last summer and tend to use their funds wisely. They have already made an eye-catching addition in goal, signing Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool after selling Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen. Michael Kayode, the 20-year-old Italian defender, has joined from Fiorentina for £14.8m. Jacob Steinberg Summer 2025 recruitment will have been planned some time ago with the ad-hoc approach some clubs still favour a stranger to Tony Bloom's set-up. Tommy Watson scored the playoff final goal that sent Sunderland to the Premier League when the teenage winger was already set to become a Brighton player. Note that Brighton refuse to loan to other Premier League clubs, which may see Watson returned to the north east. The Olympiakos striker Charalampos Kostoulas, for whom a bid is logged, fits the brand of hot property bigger clubs will end up paying more for in the coming years. Brighton can be a selling club but only at the right price, so moves for Kaoru Mitoma will have to be credible, though could fund a defensive rebuild where Lewis Dunk and Joël Veltman are both 34. Olivier Boscagli, 27, out of contract at PSV, is signed as a centre-back. JB As one of the six clubs to have won promotion to the Premier League and suffered an immediate return to the Championship in the past two seasons, Burnley are painfully aware of the leap they need to make this summer. Two years ago, having won the Championship with 101 points, the Clarets invested more than £100m in Vincent Kompany's squad, only to finish second from bottom of the Premier League with 24 points. This summer, having won automatic promotion with 100 points, Scott Parker intends to keep the core of his squad intact while strengthening in several departments. He may also have holes to fill in goal and in central defence should James Trafford and Maxime Estève depart. Burnley have already signed last season's loanees Marcus Edwards, Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony and Bashir Humphreys on permanent deals and released veterans Nathan Redmond and Jonjo Shelvey. A big summer is required to buck a worrying trend at the top of English football. Andy Hunter Champions League qualification and Conference League glory should be followed by another flurry of activity. The aim is to move quickly given that Chelsea compete in the Club World Cup this month, and there is satisfaction at winning the race to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m. A new striker was the top priority, but other positions are being targeted. Chelsea want a right-footed winger after sending Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United, view Ajax's Jorrel Hato as a good option in defence and have checked on the Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Another striker is a possibility, too. The pace is relentless. Chelsea will look to make a lot of sales – Noni Madueke could leave for the right price – and a lot of business was done before this window, with deals concluded for youngsters such as Dario Essugo, Willian Estêvão, Mamadou Sarr, Kendry Páez and Mike Penders. JS Selhurst spending power is likely to be decided by the ongoing dispute over the club's participation in the Europa League. Should Palace be excluded, their status as a destination – and a place to stay – will be much reduced. Anyone wishing to buy Eberechi Eze will have to pay a release clause of £68m, a hefty premium following the previous practice of pricing Wilfried Zaha highly. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Adam Wharton and Marc Guéhi will have similar premiums; Wharton would cost significantly north of £60m for interested parties like Liverpool. Who makes the decisions? Dougie Freedman was a hugely admired sporting director but departed to Saudi Arabia, a combination of deputy Ben Stevens and the experienced consultant Iain Moody has stepped in, a hotline to Freedman kept open, too. Oliver Glasner needs bodies if European football happens, particularly in defence and midfield. JB The theory that a new stadium plus new owners equals a new start for Everton is appealing, but the reality is not so straightforward. The mess left by the previous regime still lingers. The contracts of 13 members of last season's squad, including loanees, expire this summer. Eight departures have been confirmed and the futures of four others are yet to be resolved. On the bright side, the impressive Carlos Alcaraz has been signed on a permanent deal. A comprehensive rebuild is unavoidable, there are profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) issues to contend with, Jarrad Branthwaite is coveted again and both the club's head of recruitment and director of football have left, the latter at Everton's behest. David Moyes has admitted being worried at the scale of the overhaul required and no wonder. The Friedkin Group need him to perform heroics in the transfer market once again. AH The most important thing is to hold on to Marco Silva. The manager has been linked with Juventus, Spurs and Saudi Pro League clubs in recent months and would not be easy to replace if he leaves. Silva's influence at Craven Cottage is vast and he will want Fulham to show ambition. A new striker is wanted to compete with Raúl Jiménez and Rodrigo Muniz. PSV Eindhoven's Ricardo Pepi has been linked, although he suffered a serious injury in January. The Benfica winger Rafa Silva is also on the club's radar. Fulham need a new wide player following the end of Reiss Nelson's loan from Arsenal. They are also waiting to see if Kenny Tete and Tom Cairney sign new deals. Willian and Carlos Vinícius have been released. JS Daniel Farke will aim to strengthen the spine of his promoted side. The Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and central midfielder Sean Longstaff loom large on his wish list, while the Leeds manager is also a fan of the Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga. A forward is also being targeted, with Lecce's Nikola Krstović under consideration. Manor Solomon, excellent as the Championship was won last season, is likely to return to Spurs after the end of his loan deal and there could be other high-profile exits, including those of Patrick Bamford and Illan Meslier. Farke should have around £100m to spend, although it is not ideal that the transfer window's opening has coincided with the departure of the club's influential chief executive, Angus Kinnear, to Everton. Louise Taylor The busy summer that Virgil van Dijk predicted – or was promised during contract negotiations – has commenced in impressive style as the Premier League champions revamp Arne Slot's squad from a position of strength. The disappointment of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold has been quickly offset by the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, although, Liverpool do not consider the £29.5m signing a like-for-like replacement. Moves are afoot to strengthen on the opposite flank with a deal close for the Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. But it is the pursuit of Frimpong's former Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz that promises to be the most spectacular piece of business by a club that has kept its powder relatively dry in the last three transfer windows. Wirtz will cost Liverpool a club record fee whatever the final sum proves to be and will bring the creativity and finishing touch that Slot believes can elevate his champions next season. And a new striker is wanted. There will be several exits to help fund a statement of intent this summer. AH The Manchester City chair, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, promised the club would be 'aggressive' in this summer window despite the fact they still await the outcome of their hearing into alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. City certainly have not been shy with their early moves in the market, agreeing a £46.3m fee for Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and pursuing Wolves' Rayan Aït-Nouri, who is expected to move for around £30m plus add-ons. City were admirers of Liverpool-bound Florian Wirtz as they eye attacking midfield reinforcements in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne's departure. Lyon's Rayan Cherki looks set to fit the bill instead, although City have until 7pm on 10 June to finalise all three deals if the trio are to feature in the Club World Cup. In terms of outgoings, James McAtee and Jack Grealish could follow De Bruyne through the exit door. Dominic Booth Bruno Fernandes' decision to reject a move to the Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, who were prepared to offer Manchester United £100m for their captain, was an early boost in the window for Ruben Amorim's side. Although the fee may have helped United's delicate PSR situation, the club's priority was always to keep Fernandes. That, coupled with the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, with United meeting the Brazilian's £62.5m release clause, has given supporters cause for summer optimism. Bryan Mbeumo is next on United's radar, but Brentford have rebuffed an initial bid, requiring a fee similar to the one paid for Cunha. The club would still like a striker, central midfielder and possibly a goalkeeper to go with the attacking midfield pair. They won't get them all without significant sales, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho among those deemed surplus to requirements. DB Newcastle are in a state of flux. The club's sporting director, Paul Mitchell, is leaving at the end of June, with chief executive, Darren Eales, also poised to depart on health grounds. While the club's Saudi Arabian ownership consider replacing Eales with David Hopkinson, a Canadian with previous executive experience at Real Madrid, Eddie Howe seeks a new goalkeeper, a right-sided centre half, a right winger and a striker to understudy Alexander Isak. The Burnley keeper James Trafford and the Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi remain at the top of his wish list. Having missed out on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, Howe is likely to target Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga and Brighton's João Pedro. Fraser Forster or Tim Krul could also return as back-up goalkeepers, boosting the squad's homegrown contingent demanded by Uefa's Champions League rules. LT Nuno Espírito Santo wants to add depth after returning Forest to European competition for the first time since 1996. Providing support for Chris Wood is a priority and Forest could revisit a move for Brentford's Yoane Wissa, for whom they bid £22m in January. There is a familiar figure working in the shadows – Edu Gaspar, the former Arsenal sporting director, who, for now, is working for Evangelos Marinakis on an unofficial basis. First up? A triple signing from Botafogo is in the pipeline, with striker Igor Jesus, centre-back Jair Cunha and left-back Cuiabano being pursued. A backup goalkeeper and a central midfielder are also on their wanted list. Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White are of interest to the elite but Forest are hopeful of holding on to their best players. BF Régis Le Bris has already made his first summer signing following promotion, with Enzo Le Fée's loan from Roma becoming a £20m record transfer. Although Sunderland would like to keep Jobe Bellingham, the England Under-21 midfielder is poised to join Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of around £28m, while winger Tommy Watson, scorer of the winning goal in the playoff final against Sheffield United, has already joined Brighton for £10m. While Sunderland's sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, will not be drawn on suggestions that the Ajax captain Jordan Henderson could return to the club where he began his career, he has indicated that a handful of high-calibre recruits capable of stepping straight into Le Bris's youthful team are being sought. The idea is that four or five new arrivals will solidify the spine ofthe starting XI. Those targeted could include the Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. LT There had been only one story at the club since the end of the season – whether Ange Postecoglou would stay on as the manager or go. We now have the answer. However, the hierarchy have been pushing on with moves for transfer targets, with the technical director, Johan Lange, prominent. There is also the possibility that Fabio Paratici, the former recruitment chief, who has been working for them in a consultancy role, will return in a more formal capacity. With a Champions League campaign to come, it will be important to add depth. The future of the captain, Son Heung-min, must be resolved – he has one year on his contract and turns 34 next summer – and a decision must be taken on Cristian Romero, who is a target for Atlético Madrid. Will Mathys Tel be added permanently? The 18-year-old Croatian defender Luka Vušković will join from Hajduk Split in a deal put in place in 2023. Fraser Forster, Alfie Whiteman and Sergio Reguilón have been released. Timo Werner's loan has ended. David Hytner Money is tight because of PSR concerns caused by years of costly, ill-advised deals. The recruitment team have been told that little can be done before sales are made. The problem, though, is that West Ham have few lucrative assets. Much will depend on whether a buyer appears for Mohammed Kudus. Lucas Paquetá could also leave if he is declared not guilty of breaking the Football Association's betting regulations. As it is, though, Graham Potter knows that he has to be creative as he looks to revamp an ageing squad. West Ham need more legs and youth in midfield, and have scouted Sunderland's Chris Rigg, Sheffield United's Sydie Peck and Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney. There is also interest in the Sunderland forward Eliezer Mayenda. West Ham want a goalkeeper but are lukewarm on Southampton's Aaron Ramsdale. A new left-back is needed. JS This summer has so far taken on a familiar theme: headline departures. Matheus Cunha is the latest key player to exit, Manchester United triggering his £62.5m release clause, while Rayan Aït-Nouri is primed to join Manchester City. Twelve months on from Max Kilman leaving for West Ham, Wolves look likely to lose another captain, with Nelson Semedo out of contract this month. It is shaping up to be another rebuild, which Vitor Pereira will oversee. He wants to focus on bringing in at least one forward, while new full-backs will be necessary if Aït-Nouri and Semedo depart. The departure of sporting director, Matt Hobbs will likely give Pereira greater autonomy, with the Italian Domenico Teti, whom Pereira worked with in Saudi Arabia, poised to take on an influential role. The intriguing bit will be whether Jorge Mendes, who represents Pereira, also gains greater control. BF
The Guardian
23 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Jordan Henderson showed the attitude his England teammates were lacking
The tendency is always to gloom. How could it not be? Nobody could have sat through England's 1-0 win over Andorra on Saturday and not felt a profound sense of frustration. Six million years of human evolution has culminated in this? When the England manager shrugs and says he can't blame the fans for booing, you know it was bad. Thomas Tuchel was a short-term appointment. He's not in the post for pathways or development or creating a culture. He's here to win the World Cup next summer. In the boozy, drowsy somnolence of the RCDE Stadium, that felt a preposterous ambition. Look at England's rivals. Argentina are playing mesmerising football and top the Conmebol standing by 10 points. Spain were brilliant European champions having incorporated two young and devastating wide forwards into their passing carousel. France are pumping out teenagers of extraordinary technical quality by the bucketload to elevate the dour structures of Didier Deschamps. Portugal beat Germany in their Nations League semi-final last week, but both looked high-level sides. Even Brazil have finally accepted reality and turned to a foreign coach in Carlo Ancelotti. Everybody else knows what they're doing and there's witless old England struggling to make runs in behind against Andorra. Except … England's position actually improved on Saturday. Albania and Serbia drew, which gives England breathing space. Argentina are beginning to detect in the distance the rumbling of perhaps the hardest question of all: should Lionel Messi still start games? Portugal have been failing to answer their version of that question since the last World Cup, and the fact Cristiano Ronaldo got their winner against Germany last week has only made it harder. Ancelotti began with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador. And nobody could have watched Spain beat France 5-4 on Thursday and thought: 'There are two defences that could win the World Cup.' It's the June international break: everybody's knackered and anything goes. At which point, before descending into a fug of futility, it's perhaps worth looking at what Tuchel has been trying to do and what he has achieved. Results are the great betrayers. England may have reached the final of the Euros in Germany but they played far worse than they had in any of the previous three tournaments. Gareth Southgate's legacy to Tuchel was not as healthy as it may have appeared. After the years of careful planning and gradual progression, Southgate made radical changes for Euro 2024, leaving out a number of stalwarts and selecting young attacking talent he ultimately didn't quite seem to know what to do with. The spirit in the squad was damaged in the process, and that is something that needs to be restored. That's one of the reasons Tuchel arranged a week-long camp in Spain before Saturday's game, and why he took the players to the Barcelona grand prix last weekend. But it's not just about ensuring the players get on with each other, trying to create something akin to a club atmosphere with the national team. It's also about ensuring they approach games with the right attitude, and that was something Tuchel clearly felt was lacking on Saturday. Perhaps it's going too far to suggest England didn't sufficiently respect their opponents, but Tuchel's comments about 'attitude' and 'body language', about his side lacking 'the seriousness and the urgency that is needed in a World Cup qualifier' hinted in that direction. And that perhaps explains one of his decisions that has drawn the most criticism: the selection of Jordan Henderson. Saturday was Henderson's first start since the 2-0 win over Malta in November 2023. He was not in the squad at the Euros, his international career – as well as his reputation as an LBGTQ+ ally – seemingly scuppered by his transfer to Saudi Arabia. That move was quickly aborted, and a year at Ajax has not gone well, notable largely for a late-season collapse that cost them the league title as well as some spiky exchanges with Dutch journalists. The assumption was that Henderson, who will turn 35 later this month, was navigating the fag end of his days as a player, a disappointing coda to an excellent career that would rapidly fade in the collective memory as his achievements with Liverpool were celebrated. And then Tuchel brought him back. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion The details of Henderson's performance against Andorra are largely irrelevant. Some players thrive against minnows, some struggle in a game very different from the high-level fixtures with which they are more familiar. How you play against Andorra is not going to determine whether you have a part in a potential World Cup-winning side. But one recovery run to stymie an Andorra counter after Dan Burn had lost possession caught the eye; Henderson, at least, was switched on. And it was after he was substituted after 63 minutes that England slipped into the individualism that so annoyed Tuchel. Henderson is a professional, the NCO maintaining discipline and morale, ensuring the plan is followed and standards maintained. He has captained a team that won the league and the Champions League. During the Covid lockdown, he emerged as a de facto spokesperson for the players. He has the respect of his peers. And that is no small thing. Whether that's enough to earn Henderson a place in the 11 or even the squad for the US next summer is debatable, but it's understandable why Tuchel would want him involved in some capacity. There's a lot to be said for getting the egos pointing in the same direction.
South Wales Argus
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Wales wing Harry Rees-Weldon out of World U20 Championships
The loss of the 20-year-old for the tournament in Italy is a hammer blow for Wales, who will miss his power running. Rees-Weldon starred with a try-scoring performance in the Six Nation upset of Grand Slam-chasing England in Cardiff. The speedster then crossed on his Dragons debut against the Ospreys and started in the games in South Africa against the Stormers and Bulls. However, Rees-Weldon suffered a leg injury on his return to training with the Welsh youngsters ahead of the world cup and has been ruled out. It is not serious and the promising prospect, who has developed with Ebbw Vale in the Premiership and Super Rygbi Cymru, will target a pre-season return. PROMISING: Dragons wing Harry Rees-Weldon has been ruled out of Wales' World Rugby U20 Championship campaign (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) 'Harry is out after an injury in training,' confirmed Wales head coach Richard Whiffin. 'It's such a shame because he was brilliant at the back end of the Six Nations. 'He then showed that he can step up to the next level with the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship but sadly he won't make the plane. 'Harry is in rehab already and now it's up to others to step up in what is a strong area for us, with Tom Bowen to come back into the mix [after missing the warm-up defeat to England]. One guy's misfortune is another's opportunity.' Rees-Weldon will not feature in the championship but 10 Dragons are in the mix for the final squad, which will now be named after Friday's second tune-up against Italy. The initial plan was to announce those who have made the cut before that friendly at Cardiff Arms Park but that has changed due to a number of injury doubts. TOWERING: Dragons lock Nick Thomas will add physicality to the Wales pack (Image: Richard Sellers) One of those is Dragons lock Nick Thomas, who is making good progress in his return from an ankle injury suffered in the Six Nations opener against France. The 19-year-old, who caught the eye against Newcastle, Cardiff and the Scarlets last season, is set for a return to competitive action. 'Nick has trained with us and hopefully will get some game time against Italy,' said Whiffin. 'He is tracking well to hopefully get the opportunity [at the championship].' The Dragons in the extended squad are winger Ioan Duggan, fly-half Harri Ford, scrum-half Logan Franklin, props George Tuckley and Owain James, lock Thomas and back row forwards Harry Beddall, Evan Minto, Ryan Jones and Cerrig Smith.
