Sunderland are making some exciting moves in their hunt to consolidate in the top-flight and are reportedly now circling for a talented Real Madrid youngster, according to a report.
Sunderland close in on Marcin Bulka and Habib Diarra
The Black Cats are wasting no time in building a side capable of staying in the Premier League, and it is fair to say that Regis Le Bris is making some serious progress on the transfer front.
Yesterday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Sunderland are set to sign Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra for a package of £30 million plus add-ons, adding a layer of steel to their engine room ahead of the new campaign.
Senegal'sHabibDiarracelebrates scoring their second goal with with teammates
On the same token, the Black Cats are on the brink of adding OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka after an agreement was found between both clubs regarding the Poland international.
Plenty of due diligence has been carried out on Wearside ahead of what promises to be a special campaign for everyone connected to the club. Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji is another reported target amid claims he could be available for £2.5 million.
Off the field, Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith has confirmed Florent Ghisolfi will become Sunderland’s director of football, even if there is a wait due to administrative procedures needing to be fulfilled before he can enter the building.
Deal close: Sunderland on verge of signing "sensational" 25 y/o international
An agreement appears to be close.
ByHenry Jackson Jun 27, 2025
He explained: “It’s thought that Sunderland and Ghisolfi are finalising the deal and as when recruiting a player from abroad, there are administrative processes to go through.
All being well, it will be in place in time for Ghisolfi to begin work as the players return to the Academy of Light in early July and the preparations for the new season begin in earnest.”
Back to on-field matters, Sunderland are reportedly set to step up their pursuit of a talented star who plies his trade at Real Madrid.
Sunderland willing to make offer for Gonzalo Garcia
According to reports in Spain, Sunderland are willing to offer a loan proposal for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia with a mandatory purchase option that could top £17 million.
Real Oviedo, AS Roma and Leeds United are also keen on the 21-year-old forward, who has emerged as a breakout star at the Club World Cup, being likened to Raul by Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso.
Goncalo Garcia’s breakthrough at Real Madrid
Appearances
9
Goals
3
Assists
2
However, Real Madrid could look to negotiate a buyback clause of £25.6 million for the former Spain Under-19 international.
Enjoying a brilliant campaign combining his exploits at first-team level and with the La Liga giants’ second string, Garcia registered 28 goals and six assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.
Sunderland may need to push their negotiation powers to the max to force this one over the line, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get, which will be a mantra they will hope can prove decisive should negotiations ramp up.
This summer is a huge one for Leeds United, with multiple key additions needed across the squad to bolster the ranks and give them the best chance of Premier League survival.
Daniel Farke has done an excellent job in leading the club out of the Championship, but the real test starts now for the German to build on the success he’s endured in his two years in the role.
It’s been reported that he will have around £100m available to make the additions he wants to the first-team squad at Elland Road, hopefully aiding him in his attempts.
However, to make room for such signings, other players currently on the books in Yorkshire may have to be sacrificed to help with the overhaul of the squad.
One player could be set to depart the Whites in the coming months, potentially putting an end to his long-standing stint as a first-team regular at the club.
The latest on Patrick Bamford’s future at Leeds
Striker Patrick Bamford has been a superb servant to Leeds over the years, netting a total of 60 goals since his big-money arrival from Middlesbrough back in the summer of 2018.
However, he’s missed a large chunk of 2024/25 through injury, restricting him to just 17 league appearances – none of which have come from a starting position.
The 31-year-old has also failed to find the back of the net once across all competitions during the recent season, but hasn’t deterred Wrexham from previously being interested in hanging the experienced ace.
He was utilised as a late substitute towards the back end of the campaign after recovering from injury, but given the promotion to the Premier League, now is the perfect time to part ways with the striker.
It would be an emotional departure given his previous impact in England’s top-flight for the Whites, but ultimately it’s a decision that needs to be made, potentially being joined by another player out of the door in Yorkshire.
Not just Bamford: £20k-per-week Leeds man also needs to leave
The previous six promoted teams from the Championship have all been relegated from the Premier League at the first attempt – highlighting the gap between the two divisions.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans
Such situations have proven that huge money needs to be spent to bridge the gap between the two divisions, with the Whites not able to carry any passengers in such a league.
It’s an unforgiving league which will punish you if you’re not at your best, something which the club have previously experienced after relegation back in 2022/23.
If they are to be a success, they will have to be brutal and avoid handing a new contract to full-back Sam Byram despite his impressive campaign under Farke this time around.
The 31-year-old, who joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, has made 76 appearances during his second stint at Elland Road, offering a dependable option in the backline.
However, ultimately, he’s not a Premier League player, with funds needing to be spent wisely if they are to have the calibre of players needed to avoid relegation.
The £20k-per-week earner has started 16 league matches in 2024/25, registering one goal and one assist, but given his £20k-per-week wages, the hierarchy could save £1m a season to invest in other areas with his departure.
Appearances
36
Starts
16
Pass accuracy
83%
Goals & assists
2
Tackles won
1.2
Duel success rate
55%
Fouls committed
1.2
His contract is set to expire at the end of June, with such a situation providing a timely ending to his time in Yorkshire, allowing for fresh blood to enter the club and improve the squad.
It may prove to be an unpopular decision given his squad role under Farke, but unfortunately for Byram, he’s been a victim of their success this season.
He and Bamford departing the club would allow for space and money in the first-team squad, handing Farke added funds to build a competitive outfit for England’s top-flight next year.
Perfect for James: 49ers want to sign "outstanding" PL star for Leeds
Leeds are reportedly interested in signing a star who would be perfect for Dan James.
An Ipswich Town “monster” looks to be interested in leaving Portman Road this summer after two big clubs made new approaches.
Ipswich Town relegation on the cards despite Chelsea draw
The Tractor Boys look to be on course for an immediate return to the Championship from the Premier League despite holding Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Kieran McKenna’s side actually went into half time 2-0 up after goals from Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson, however, an Axel Tuanzebe own goal and a Jadon Sancho equaliser late on ensured the points would be shared.
Ipswich are now 14 points away from safety with just six games remaining, meaning their relegation could be confirmed this weekend if results don’t go their way.
Talking after the draw, McKenna said: “I thought it was a really good game. Really proud of the group again. First half was difficult and our resilience was really good. Second half we played well, really even. It was a big blow them getting a goal so early in second half. It took an incredible strike from Sancho off the bench. We gave everything and showed our quality.”
Relegation could result in a number of Portman Road exits, and one star who looks destined to leave is Liam Delap.
Romano: Ipswich Town eyeing move to sign "fast" new Liam Delap replacement
He’s currently in the Championship.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 11, 2025
It has been claimed that if Ipswich drop down to the Championship, his release clause will lower from £40m to £30m, and some big clubs are making moves for his services.
Liam Delap open to Ipswich Town exit to sign for Chelsea
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea and Man Utd have been making new approaches to sign Delap from Ipswich in recent weeks.
The striker is a top target for the Red Devils, however, it is added that Delap is interested in leaving Ipswich for Champions League football, something Chelsea may be able to offer ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Liam Delap
Delap has scored 12 top flight goals this season and has been praised on multiple occasions this season, including from teammate Alex Palmer, who called the forward a “monster”.
“You look at him and he’s a monster. He’s a young lad that’s got the enthusiasm and energy – and also the talent. So for us to have him and him be playing as well as he is at the moment, he’s going to have a big part to play the rest of the season.
“He’s a proper striker, and I think for us as well he’s an outlet. He’s a big physical boy. He’s not huge but he’s got that raw strength. Even build up, he helps us stick and set, so he’s not just a goal scorer. He’s an all-round striker.”
Games
34
Goals
12
Assists
2
Yellow cards
10
Minutes played
2,422
Unfortuantely, it looks as if Delap’s days as an Ipswich player are numbered, so his next move could be one to keep an eye on, should the Tractor Boys go down in the coming weeks.
Liverpool have reached the business end of the 2024/25 campaign and are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, 12 points clear of second-place Arsenal.
It would take a Herculean effort from the Gunners to topple Arne Slot’s side, and even perfection likely wouldn’t be enough, with the Reds in need of just four wins from eight remaining matches to seal the title.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
A sensational campaign under the Dutch coach, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last summer, took its first bruising blows before the March international break, when successive games against Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain resulted in exits from the Carabao Cup and the Champions League.
However, few – if any – foresaw such performances from the Anfield side this term, such consistency, such confidence. Now, FSG need to repay Slot’s slick tactics and firm coaching to inculcate in Klopp’s squad a winning mentality that is going to result in gold.
The forthcoming summer transfer window, for sure, is going to be a busy one for Liverpool.
Liverpool's transfer priorities
In regard to the upcoming season, it feels like sorting out the contractual issues down Anfield Road marks the first port of call as far as sporting director Richard Hughes is concerned.
Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah
Hope lingers that the 32-year-old Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk, 33, will renew their Liverpool vows and stay put for the next couple of years, though there are complexities aplenty and fears are rising.
However, multiple sources have confirmed that the Reds are going to target a striker – Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is the golden choice, albeit unlikely to leave St. James’ Park this year.
An alternative option may be pursued, but, in any case, it appears to be the end of the line for Darwin Nunez, who is reaching the end of his third campaign after a club-record £85m deal and has just 25 Premier League goals to his name.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to leave at the end of his contract this summer, Liverpool will surely need to target a replacement, even though Conor Bradley will look to stake his claim.
It’s not just Liverpool but the Premier League, too, whose future will lack some of the awe-inspiring creativity it’s been treated to over the past few years. In fact, with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne also leaving the division in a few months, a residency for a new playmaking superstar has opened up.
He’s not a right-back, and it’s not Liverpool’s transfer priority, but Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that FSG are in the running for one of the most exciting number ten prospects in the business.
Liverpool lining up star signing
When Romano speaks on a transfer rumour, you know it carries substance. Discussing the potential summer deals on his YouTube channel earlier this week, the esteemed transfer insider revealed Liverpool are in the running for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.
Xavi Simons celebrates
While Leipzig could demand as much as €75m (roughly £63m) for the sale of the attacking midfielder, who is 21, it’s understood that Liverpool have kept themselves informed on the situation, albeit Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are keen too.
The Bundesliga club disappointingly sit in sixth this season and may be forced to cash in if they fail to qualify for Europe – something they are not averse to given the huge profit they could turn on a player signed from PSG for £42m.
What Xavi Simons would bring to Liverpool
Data analyst Ben Mattinson has described Simons as an “artist” in the past, and it’s clear to see why.
RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons and Lois Openda celebrate after the match
A diminutive player at 5 foot 6, Simons nestles into spaces in the attacking third and wreaks havoc using a number of different tools, ranking among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 10% for progressive passes and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
The data-driven site reveals that Premier League maestros Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard are among Simons’ most comparable players, but it’s actually De Bruyne that he could emulate by ending his time in Germany and moving to the Premier League.
De Bruyne, hailed as “one of the greatest” by his Man City manager Pep Guardiola, failed to cut the mustard as an up-and-comer at Chelsea before moving to Wolfsburg, where he went from strength to strength and earned a return to English soil in 2015, for a club-record £55m fee.
Now 33, he’s about to leave the Sky Blues but does so having immortalised his name as a Premier League hall-of-famer, having won all the biggest prizes, the Champions League, and six league titles.
1.
Ryan Giggs
162
2.
Kevin De Bruyne
118
3.
Cesc Fabregas
111
4.
Wayne Rooney
103
5.
Frank Lampard
102
Simons wouldn’t be expected to reach the same inimitable heights, but if anyone’s going to emerge as the leader of this new wave of attacking talent, it might just be the Dutchman.
Sofascore record that he has notched 12 goal involvements from 19 Bundesliga matches this season, averaging 2.2 key passes and 5.3 successful duels per game.
It’s quite the impressive haul, not least because he’s indeed still only 21. Simons, so versatile, so capable across every angle of the frontline, might just be the perfect piece to fit into Liverpool’s midfield, giving it a new-found creative sheen and setting him up to take De Bruyne’s mantle.
Netherlands'XaviSimonscelebrates scoring their third goal
Simons boasts creative ingenuity à la De Bruyne. He’s ferocious in his ranged attacking ability and he’s tenacious besides. Simons’ spirited performances against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season highlight a penchant for the big occasion, and there’s every chance that he would thrive in the Premier League, as the division’s replacement for the Belgian wizard.
Under the wing of Slot, his countryman, Simons could become a true superstar for Liverpool, drilling the spark into a team set to lose its chief inventive source and looking to make his name as one of the standout attacking midfielders, perhaps achieving that feat now that De Bruyne is set to drape the curtain on his career in English football.
Liverpool must boldly sell "priceless" star earning more than Diaz & Jones
Liverpool, heading for the Premier League title, are set for a summer of change.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was seemingly unhappy after he was omitted from the starting lineup of the Yankees' Game 1 loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, however, after the Bronx Bombers tied the series 1-1, the infielder is standing firmly behind his manager Aaron Boone—who made the decision to sit him.
Following the win, one that saw Chisholm score the winning run and Boone make some smart—and bold—decisions with his pitching staff, the 27-year-old spoke about the relationship he has with his skipper:
"There was never a problem between me and Aaron Boone," he answered when asked if everything was OK between the two. "He's been my manager all year and I've stood behind him all year."
We always have disagreements," Chisholm continued. "I mean, I played third base this year and we had a little bit of a disagreement in that. But at the end of the day, I always stand with Boonie because he understands where I come from. He knows I'm a passionate player and he knows I wear my feelings on my sleeve. He knows that I'm here to compete."
A good answer from Chisholm, who Boone confirmed will remain in New York's lineup for Game 3.
Now tied with a chance to advance to the ALDS, the wild-card series between the Sox and Yankees is a history-making one. First pitch from the Bronx will—in all likelihood—be set for 6:08 p.m. ET.
With the Blades struggling near the bottom of the Championship, Chris Wilder is reportedly ready to axe as many as three Sheffield United players in the January transfer window.
Since losing at the final hurdle in the playoffs last season, Sheffield United have endured nothing short of a nightmare. They showed the door to Wilder in an attempt to commence a new era under Ruben Selles, only to rehire Wilder just months later. But the return of the veteran manager is yet to pay dividends.
The Blades sit as low as 23rd in the Championship. Only rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who entered administration and were handed a 12-point deduction, have earned less points than Wilder’s side. They are on a crash course from promotion favourites to shock relegation candidates.
Without a win in their last three games, the Blades play host to Queens Park Rangers in desperate need of all three points but may have to push on without No.1 goalkeeper Michael Cooper. The shot-stopper was forced off with injury against Coventry City last time out and Wilder has now confirmed that he’ll likely miss the QPR game this weekend.
It’s more frustrating news for the Sheffield United boss, who has already lost his patience with three players ahead of the January transfer window.
Wilder ready to axe three Sheffield United players
As reported by Football League World, Wilder is now ready to axe Louie Barry, Tyler Bindon and Ben Godfrey by sending them back to their parent clubs when January arrives. This means that all three could be going back to Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Atalanta respectively in what should come as no surprise given their game time.
Louie Barry
9
Tyler Bindon
5
Ben Godfrey
4
Barry has been the most disappointing of the three. Having starred on loan at Stockport County in League One last season – scoring 15 goals – there was plenty of hope that the Villa man would be ready for the Championship. That’s simply not been the case under Wilder, however.
That said, if those loan deals are cut short, Sheffield United should at least have room to welcome other, much-needed reinforcements.
The Three Lions have been drawn in Group L for the 2026 World Cup and the draw has served up some lively-looking reunions when the tournament gets underway in America, Canada and Mexico next June. Boss Thomas Tuchel has called it a "difficult" group, but fans have taken to social media to crow over how easy the ride will be for England in the opening stage of football's most coveted prize.
England discover path to World Cup glory
England will clash with Croatia in their opener, offering a chance for revenge after the painful 2018 semi-final loss. Also in the group are the Black Stars of Ghana, a talented side who promise a physical battle with lots of familiar players from the Premier League, and tournament minnows Panama, who England famously thrashed 6-1 in 2018.
Elsewhere, Scotland were handed plum ties against five-times World Cup winners Brazil and 2022 semi-finalists Morocco, in a mouthwatering repeat of their 1998 draw, sparking a wave of anticipation and a challenge that manager Steve Clarke called "fantastic". The Scots have also been drawn against Haiti and face an uphill battle to progress to the knockout phase for the first time in their history, but England fans are very confident of easing into the business end of the tournament.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportEngland fans confident following draw
Three Lions fans queued up to have their say after the group was confirmed and @Rees_wba posted to X, saying: "Easy as you like, it's coming home 🏆"
Elsewhere, @5eanOConnor added: "Relatively easy group. Croatia might be the only stumbling block, but they aren’t the force they once were. It’s the knockout phase that counts."
And @sherratt1876 said: "Nine points. The question is, who will come 2nd in the group behind England."
The votes of confidence kept on coming as @ace_man2574 observed: "Good Group, not like other years where is easy on group stage and then Knockout we are unable to cope with the top teams due to pressure."
And @billielaing1 said: "We should top that group. Excited for next June."
Tuchel: 'We will be well prepared when we arrive'
After the draw in Washington DC, Tuchel told reporters: "It’s a difficult group, a difficult opener. Croatia and Ghana are two regulars in World Cups and are two proud and strong nations. Croatia were the highest-ranked team from pot two and Ghana is always full of talent and can always surprise and have a big history in World Cup football. And Panama will try to make the most in their underdog role. No one can be underestimated, everyone deserves the fullest respect and we can show that."
He added: "For me, I’ve only experienced group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to always give it the biggest respect and to put all the focus into winning the group. It always seems difficult, like our group now, but we are confident and we will be well prepared when we arrive."
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AFPEngland await match locations
The draw is complete, but the specific match dates, venues, and kick-off times are being announced by FIFA in a special program on Saturday. The opening match will be on June 11th in Mexico City, and the final will be on July 19th in New Jersey. And it will be a very different tournament this time round as it will feature a new, expanded format with 48 teams and nations have been divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a new Round of 32 knockout stage. This increases the total matches from 64 to a whopping 104, and the champions this time round will play eight matches instead of seven.
Alexia Putellas has opened up about her contract situation with Barcelona, acknowledging ongoing talks while refusing to rule out a future away from the club. As Paris Saint-Germain intensify their pursuit and Barca navigate financial limitations, the Spain captain’s comments come at a crucial moment for both her career and the Catalan side’s long-term project.
Barca alerted as Putellas contract expire in 2026
For over a decade, Putellas has been the face of Barcelona Femeni, their captain and one of modern football’s most influential stars. Yet, as Spain prepare for another Nations League final, the conversation surrounding her future has intensified. She recently turned down an offer from PSG to stay at the Spanish side, but her long-term future is uncertain.
Speaking to ahead of Spain’s clash with Germany, Putellas remained calm and composed, offering no definitive stance on her next step. “Very well. Happy, content, calm, enjoying the journey and focused on what's next. We have a final ahead of us and two very important matches that could give us a title,” she said.
Putellas is contracted until 2026 with an optional year, yet PSG were prepared to trigger her release clause and could come back in for her. Barcelona want to keep their captain at all costs, but are constrained by the financial pressures that have shaped the club’s recent history.
AdvertisementAFPA foreign adventure for Putellas?
Putellas explained in October that she turned down PSG's advances after the club assured her that she remains an integral part of the team, and it is unlikely that situation has changed.
Nevertheless, she refused to rule out playing in another country in the future, adding: “I don't know. There are so many things in life that may or may not be… I've always said that I'll play for Barca as long as the club is interested and I feel I can continue to push myself and give my all every day to be better. That's how I understand what it means to play for Barça. It involves physical and mental exhaustion that leaves you completely worn out by the end of the season, but at the same time, it's like an addiction."
PSG’s push and Barcelona’s reality
Reports indicate PSG were willing to pay her release clause and offer a substantial salary increase, but could be able to snap her up for free if she doesn't renew her contract. Barcelona, battling financial instability dating back to 2021, simply cannot match such offers. Their priority is sporting continuity, but practical limits loom large.
For Barca, losing Putellas would be a sporting, emotional, and commercial blow. She has helped fire them to a staggering nine Liga F crowns, three Champions League triumphs and three runner-up places and multiple Copa del Rey successees. Her influence reaches beyond the pitch, into attendance records, sponsorship growth and the cultural rise of women’s football in Catalonia.
A move to PSG would instantly transform the French side’s Champions League ambitions and alter the balance of power in Europe.
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Getty Images SportPutellas and the road ahead for Barcelona
While speculation swirls, Putellas remains focused on the immediate challenges. Winning titles with Spain and Barcelona, adapting to new tactical demands under Sonia Bermudez, and continuing to reinvent herself as an elite midfielder.
She spoke candidly about the need to evolve: “My daily goals are to improve every day… A footballer must constantly reinvent themselves, or risk stagnation.” She also reflected on the emotional clarity with which she navigates praise and criticism, emphasising her commitment to internal standards rather than external noise.
Beyond football, her foundation Eleven remains a source of passion and pride. As for her future? It remains open, but not unstable. For now, she is focused on the final. The rest will come when it comes and on her terms.
England’s conduct in the last hour of the Manchester Test came across as moral posturing, and it’s regrettable that it came on the watch of an otherwise great ambassador for the game
Sidharth Monga28-Jul-20251:19
Harmison: ‘A little bit farcical towards the end’
It’s weird what offends cricketers.They work with an opaque internal moral code of conduct. They can legit bully players in the name of sledging after singling out who they feel are “mentally weak”, but hell hath no fury like a batter scorned by a run-out backing up, which is well within the laws of the game. They can desperately appeal for wickets when they know the batter is not out but their side is out of reviews. They can bend the laws for every last bit of advantage and then take offence at someone running the clock out or getting treatment on the field. Or someone batting on for a well-earned milestone after having batted the best part of a day to save a Test and keep his team alive in a series.Ben Stokes is an elite competitor. The game of cricket is immensely richer for him. He leaves everything out on the field even if it means he is absent for his family between Tests. This was his 12th Player-of-the-Match award in Test cricket. Only 12 men have more. Not long ago, he and his team were gracious in victory, checking on a crestfallen Mohammed Siraj practically seconds after taking the last wicket at Lord’s.Related
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Gill on the dramatic end: Jadeja, Washington 'deserved a century there'
And here they were, going on and on about India not accepting their offer for a draw at the start of the mandatory overs.The teams had been at it for hours, days. At that stage, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja had withstood everything England could throw at them. They were 80 not out and 89 not out, respectively. Washington has previously run out of partners on 85 and 96 in Tests. This would be his maiden Test hundred.England went into this righteous fit the moment their offer for the draw was not accepted.There is no specific morally superior way of playing the game. The laws of the game clearly say you can’t consider a game over until the overs are bowled or both captains have agreed on ending the game prematurely.Just like England were right to offer the draw when they didn’t see another result possible, Shubman Gill, the India captain, was well within his rights to let his two rescuers go on and have a moment of personal glory on top of a gigantic effort in the absence of their best batter of the last five years, Rishabh Pant.3:12
‘Would they have walked off?’ – Gambhir on Stokes’ draw offer
The same dressing room stands up and applauds Joe Root, a great Test batter, when he gets to a hundred. They get twitchy when Root has to go to stumps unbeaten on 99.They can’t say with a straight face that personal milestones don’t matter. If they come at the expense of a team’s interests, it is that team’s problem. In this case, there was no such possibility. India would have had to live with it if they had lost wickets in pursuit of the milestones and left open a window for a daring England chase, but they were confident that couldn’t happen.The meltdown that ensued can happen in the heat of the moment. When you are at the absolute brink of physical endurance – like England were – the mind can get frayed. However, even after he had had an hour to think about his actions, Stokes still chose to virtue-signal. When asked if he would have pulled the plug on a young batter a few hits away from a maiden Test century after having batted through the day, Stokes said he couldn’t see how the extra ten runs made any difference to what Washington and Jadeja had already done.If this piece was about whataboutism, it would have pointed out the Wellington declaration, made soon after Root’s century to set New Zealand a target of 583, or the declaration with a 352-run lead against Ireland in 2023, made soon after Ollie Pope’s double-century.Those extra few runs were not making a difference to England’s team goals, but this is not about that at all.It is about not trying to impose your values on others.If this was done to gain some kind of competitive advantage, it would have still been fine. This, unfortunately, came across as moral posturing, which is highly avoidable, at all times. It is regrettable that it came on the watch of an otherwise great ambassador for the game.