Barcelona hope to bring in at least €60 million in player sales before June 30 with the aim of balancing their accounts for the 2018-19 season, sources have told ESPN FC.

Ernesto Valverde would like to add three or four new players to his squad this summer but has been warned that the club's delicate financial situation dictates that players must be sold to allow others to join.

- When does the transfer window close?

Sources told ESPN FC after the Champions League loss to Liverpool that Barca have made record signing Philippe Coutinho available for transfer and are now hoping he has a good Copa America for Brazil as they look to get €100m for his services.

Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti also know Barcelona will study offers for them if they arrive as they look to raise close to €300m before next season starts, although both players have expressed their desire to stay at the club.

But sources have told ESPN FC that it's the fringe players who the club are desperately looking to move on before the end of the month.

The Spanish champions have already committed to paying an initial €75m for Ajax's Frenkie de Jong. They are also keen on Antoine Griezmann -- who has told Atletico Madrid of his desire to leave and will be available for €120m from July 1 -- and Matthijs de Ligt.

Barca have an agreement in place with Ajax to sign De Ligt but are yet to strike a deal with the player. They will re-open contact with his agent, Mino Raiola, this week, but believe Paris Saint-Germain are currently best placed to land the Dutch defender. Signing De Ligt would push Umtiti closer to the exit door.

Andre Gomes could be the first to leave. The Portugal midfielder has several suitors in England after spending the last year on loan at Everton. He has already rejected an offer from West Ham with Everton keen to make his stay permanent. Barca are confident of obtaining around €30m for him.

Barca are seeking new homes for Denis Suarez, Rafinha, Malcom and Jasper Cillessen, too. Valencia and Atletico Madrid have enquired about Denis, while Cillessen has asked to leave in search of regular football. The Catalan club are demanding €30m for the Dutch goalkeeper.

The club believe they can recoup the €40m they paid Bordeaux for Malcom last summer. The Brazilian has had limited opportunities in his first season at Camp Nou and his agents have told ESPN FC they will meet with Barca soon to discuss the options.

Elsewhere, Barca are also looking to make money on left-back Marc Cucurella. Eibar have taken up an option to sign him for €2m after a successful loan spell but the Blaugrana can re-sign him for €4m. They are planning to buy him back and then sell him for a bigger fee, with clubs in Spain, Portugal and Germany all asking about the academy graduate.

Atletico have shown an interest in Nelson Semedo, too, but Barcelona do not want to sell. The Portugal right-back is tied down with a release clause of €100m, but sources at the club said that if a sky-high offer came in, they would have to consider it.

Lionel Messi has topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes as soccer players dominated the podium in 2019.

The Barcelona forward earned $127 million this past year in a combination of his salary and endorsements -- $18 million more than second-place Cristiano Ronaldo, who pocketed a total of $109m.

Neymar was the third-highest on the list, having earned $105m this past year. The Brazil international took in $75m in salary, which was $10m more than Ronaldo, while Messi's income of $92m dwarfed both.

However, the Juventus forward made $44m in endorsements, which was higher than Messi's $35m and Neymar's $30m.

Messi saw his earnings increase by $16m over the past 12 months. The $111m he made in 2018 saw him finish second to Floyd Mayweather ($285m). Ronaldo ($108m) was third with Neymar ($90m) in fifth. Conor McGregor ($99m) had finished fourth.

Boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was the highest-earning non-footballer on the 2019 list, with $94m in total -- just $2m of which came through endorsements, meaning he had the same salary as Messi.

Tennis player Roger Federer was the fifth highest-earner, at $93.4m. He was No. 1 in terms of endorsements, though, with $86m.

Football stars Russell Wilson ($89.5m) and Aaron Rodgers ($89.3m) were sixth and seventh, respectively, on the list, as three NBA players came in next.

LeBron James earned $89m in total with Stephen Curry having made $79.8m and Kevin Durant $65.4m.

Top-10 highest-paid athletes of 2019

1. Lionel Messi, soccer: $127m

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer: $109m

3. Neymar, soccer: $105m

4. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, boxer: $94m

5. Roger Federer, tennis: $93.4m

6. Russell Wilson, football: $89.5m

7. Aaron Rodgers, football: $89.3m

8. LeBron James, basketball: $89m

9. Stephen Curry, basketball: $79.8m

10. Kevin Durant, basketball: $65.4m

The 2019 Gold Cup begins on Saturday, June 15 as Mexico take on Cuba in Los Angeles and the U.S. kick off their campaign to defend their crown next Tuesday with a game against Guyana in Saint Paul, Minnesota. While Mexico look just fine with nothing but wins under Gerardo "Tata" Martino, the same cannot be said of the Yanks: the Gregg Berhalter regime has been uneven since he took over in January, with the recent warm-up defeats to Jamaica and Venezuela causing some panic among the fans.

So, with a week until the Gold Cup hosts' opening game, we decided to take stock of where this team stands and whether there's cause for concern about their worrying form.

ESPN's USMNT experts review the progress so far.

Should we be worried about Berhalter and his squad? Why or why not?

Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle): Definitely. The U.S. players just don't look like they're on the same page at all. Granted, they've been missing the likes of Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore (save for 45 minutes on Sunday). But that does''t excuse the poor execution and basic mistakes.

There has been plenty of talk about Berhalter and his new system but there seems to have been more than enough time to at least lay a foundation, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The attack, meanwhile, has struggled to create much of anything.

Why aren't these concepts getting through?

Kristian Dyer (@KristianRDyer): Yes, we should be worried, but we shouldn't panic quite yet. It is going to take time for Berhalter to learn his team and his players to learn him. Unlike previous cycles under a new head coach, the combination of Jurgen Klinsmann and Bruce Arena left little depth and developed few players to carry over for their successor. So a learning curve is to be expected.

If this team underperforms in the Gold Cup, then there should be genuine concern. But right now, Berhalter should be tinkering and building combinations and depth. Early returns, though, are far from encouraging.

- When is the CONCACAF Gold Cup?
- Full Gold Cup fixtures schedule
- Carlisle: U.S. have many problems to solve before Gold Cup
- Berhalter: U.S. won't scrap tactics after latest loss

Jason Davis (@davisjsn): Yes. Berhalter hasn't had a lot of time to work with his full group due to variety of factors, and while that will buy him some small measure of leeway in certain quarters, it also means that his team enters the Gold Cup having not put a single strong performance together with his best XI. With a simpler approach, that might not be a problem, but because Berhalter's system demands a higher level of understanding and cooperation, it's worrying that that they arrive at the tournament still in progress.

Arch Bell (@ArchBell): Absolutely. This team is an absolute disaster right now. They were outclassed by a Jamaica B side boasting more USL players than MLS talent and were then completely humiliated by a Venezuela team that coasted to victory after putting up three goals in the first half.

Most worrisome are the errors that the U.S. is committing. They're happening all over the field. Passes are being played out of bounds, players are reacting late and they seemingly panic any time there is the slightest bit of pressure. U.S. fans have every right to be concerned.

Noah Davis (@noahedavis): Definitely maybe. They've looked very bad/not good in losses to Jamaica and Venezuela, but Berhalter was without some of his best players, a problem for what is a top-heavy squad in terms of talent. Panic if you must, but don't abandon hope. At least not yet. See what happens during the Gold Cup if the work-in-progress that is Berhalter's plan makes progress or if it looks like the chaotic and lost mishmash of the past two friendlies. If it's the former, take solace. If it's the latter, get worried.

What is the best XI and formation for this team based on the Gold Cup squad?

JC: If it were me, I'd go with a 4-2-3-1 lined up this way: Zack Steffen; Nick Lima, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Miazga, Tim Ream; Adams, Bradley; Tyler Boyd, Weston McKennie, Pulisic; Altidore.

If I'm trying to pick Berhalter's brain and guess what he'll do, it will be a 4-1-4-1 like this: Steffen; Adams, Miazga, Aaron Long, Ream; Bradley; Boyd, McKennie, Pulisic, Paul Arriola; Altidore.

KD: A version of Berhalter's preferred 4-1-4-1 could work well but the personnel seems misplaced. Adams at right-back doesn't deploy him in an ideal setting and Ethan Horvath might be the best goalkeeper in the player pool. Ethan Horvath; Lima, Long, Miazga, Jorge Villafana; Adams; Pulisic, McKennie, Djordje Mihailovic, Boyd; Josh Sargent.

Taking lumps with Mihailovic could be worthwhile, not only to develop him but to put him on display for a European suitor.

JD: It's very hard to know for the reason outlined above, but based on the players Berhalter has chosen for the roster (feeding into his 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 system) the best lineup, while acknowledging that the coach is guaranteed to see it very differently, looks like this: Steffen; Lima, Long, Miazga, Ream; Adams; Boyd, McKennie, Pulisic, Arriola; Altidore.

This lineup has Adams in midfield (Berhalter clearly has him earmarked for the hybrid right-back role) and stays with the imperfect solution of Tim Ream at left-back. Boyd over Jordan Morris is a toss-up.

AB: Steffen; Lima, Zimmerman, Miazga, Daniel Lovitz; Adams, McKennie, Pulisic, Arriola; Altidore, Boyd

Despite his gaffe on Sunday, Steffen is still the best choice ahead of Sean Johnson in goal. Lima wandered all over the place against Jamaica but was slightly better against Venezuela. Berhalter likes to play Adams at right-back but would be better served as the defensive midfielder, like he is for his club, RB Leipzig. The midfield is fairly straightforward with McKennie, Pulisic and Arriola, with Duane Holmes a possible option in place of Arriola. Up top, Boyd and Altidore could make for a decent pairing.

ND: Steffen; Adams, Miazga, Long, Lovitz; Holmes McKennie, Pulisic; Jonathan Lewis, Altidore, Boyd

First observation: Winning the Gold Cup doesn't matter. It's a silly tournament that means nothing. Second observation: given the first observation, take some chances, try some things and build for the future. The lineup above isn't the lineup I'd go with if I needed to win a one-off game, but it's one that might give some ideas about where Berhalter goes from here. We look toward the future, always.

What is the one thing you think this squad is missing?

JC: Easy. They lack creativity. Other than Pulisic, there simply aren't enough difference-makers in the attacking third. Having more creative outlets would take pressure off the backline and off Pulisic, too. As it stands now, when Pulisic is on the field, opponents simply foul him and dare someone else to beat them. When he isn't ... well, you saw the Jamaica and Venezuela games. There isn't really anyone else stepping up (although we'll see if Boyd can add something). Someone needs to though. The U.S. can't always rely on Pulisic to deliver a bit of magic and bail them out.

KD: This squad is missing Tab Ramos as head coach, in my opinion, but that's neither here nor there. On the field, an argument could be made that a left-back who could push forward would be an asset to this team. In the near term, Kik Pierie would be a real asset to this starting XI if he opts to represent the U.S. and would be an ideal left-back for Berhalter's system. Long term, I'd say Efrain Alvarez would be the ideal attacking piece to add either out wide or centrally in the midfield. A full-court press has to be made for the LA Galaxy attacker.

JD: It would be easy to say "leadership" because both warm-up losses showed a decided lack of it. The Americans shrunk in both games and could have used a veteran presence to push the team forward.

Ultimately, the best answer is a ball-winner in midfield. While Wil Trapp has many fine qualities, the Columbus Crew midfielder is not adept at recovering the ball across the middle third. A stronger defensive figure would not only help prevent the sort of goals scored by Jamaica and Venezuela, it would allow the U.S. to attack with more speed and vigor in transition.

AB: The U.S. have still not sorted out their spine. Center-back continues to be a revolving door, but at least there is hope on the horizon with U-20 stud Chris Richards. Also, who slots in as the No. 6? Is it Trapp, Bradley or should it be Adams? Trapp has not been up to snuff, while Bradley is not the future and Berhalter sees Adams more as a right-back. Then there is the striker question. Altidore may frustrate fans, but he's still the best striker the U.S. have. Who should join him? It's up in the air.

ND: Heart, at least if the two friendlies are any indication. The players on the field against Jamaica and Venezuela looked apathetic at best, not going into tackles, pressing lackadaisically and treating the ball like a hot potato. The U.S. player pool isn't good enough to win games in a low gear. A selling point of Berhalter's hire was that he'd be able to reinstall a sense of purpose. His struggle to do so is, by far, the most concerning aspect of his short tenure thus far.

Glamorgan 167 for 5 (Labuschagne 37) v Derbyshire

Glamorgan reached 167 for 5 on a rain-affected first day of their Specsavers Championship match at the St Helen's ground in Swansea. Four batsmen were dismissed between 28 and 37 as a day that started late was ended by bad light 24.3 overs before the scheduled close.

Derbyshire's seamers kept a tight rein and made the batsmen work hard for their runs, Marnus Labuschagne the only man to prosper while hitting six fours and a six in 37 from 36 balls.

There was no play before lunch and following an uncontested toss Tony Palladino struck with the fourth ball of the innings when he had Nick Selman leg before - the batsman attempting to turn a straight ball to leg.

Labuschagne and Charlie Hemphrey then shared a partnership of 54 for the second wicket, with Labuschagne the dominant partner. The Australia Test batsman scored freely and it came as something of a surprise when he edged a catch to slip in Luis Reece's opening over.

Hemphrey played a more patient innings, taking 74 balls to score 32, before he was also trapped leg before by Palladino, who bowled a steady second spell on a pitch where was enough encouragement for the five Derbyshire seamers.

Glamorgan's acting captain David Lloyd, who has been short of runs recently, struck some early boundaries, and started to get into his stride when he drove Logan van Beek to cover, where Tom Lace did well to hold on to a low catch.

After his career-best 229 against Northants last week, Billy Root struck some early boundaries, but after scoring 28, sliced a catch to slip, where Wayne Madsen, in the freezing conditions, held on to a sharp catch.

Owen Morgan, who has deserved his chance in his first Championship game of the season after some impressive performances for the 2nd XI, was undefeated on 28 with Dan Douthwaite on 5 when the umpires mercifully ended play on a day more suited to November than early June.

"We would have taken that score after the uncontested toss," Lloyd said at the close. "It was quite tricky at times and although most of the batsmen got into the thirties, no one managed to kick on. You never felt in, although they bowled well throughout. It is up to us to kick on in the morning and build on the overnight score."

"We put men on the moon, so why can't we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament," Steve Rhodes asked in jest after Bangladesh were forced to split points after a washout against Sri Lanka in Bristol on Thursday.

Rhodes was reacting to a question on the number of rained out matches - three so far in this edition alone, and the second straight day of no results. This left Bangladesh precariously placed, with a win and a washout after four matches. No other edition has seen these many rain-affected matches in the tournament's history.

Rhodes, who hails from Worcestershire, also felt there was a case to fit in reserve days as most sides had at least "two to three days" between matches. Bangladesh, for example, have a five-day gap before their next game against West Indies in Taunton.

"I know logistically it would have been a big headache for the tournament organisers," Rhodes began at the post-match press conference. "I know that it would have been difficult, but we have got quite a lot of time in between games, and if we have got to travel a day later, then so be it.

"The games are spread out. I would say that it's disappointing for the crowd, as well. They have got tickets to see a game of cricket, and you know it would be up to them if they can get there the day after."

Dimuth Karunaratne, the Sri Lanka captain, didn't think Rhodes' suggestion was feasible. "If they could put a reserve day it would have been fine. But it's a major tournament and we're all playing nine games. I don't know if they can keep a reserve day for us," he said.

"The next day you have to travel to a different venue, so it's not easy. If they can put a reserve day, though, it's going to be good for the all the spectators and everyone."

Roll into town. Assess the conditions. Do your homework on the opposition. Play well. Get the win. Forget it. Roll on the next town. Repeat.

Sounds both simple and sensible, doesn't it?

That's been the mantra for New Zealand's campaign and, so far, it's worked a perfunctory treat. Three wins from three games, virtually all players making significant contributions and conditions suiting their strengths nicely. But now their matter-of-fact approach will, weather permitting, face their biggest challenge to date in the World Cup when they, weather permitting, meet India on Thursday. Did I say weather permitting?

The forecast makes it doubtful that either team will be able to do any outdoor training before the match and, while some might think getting a point out of a washout wouldn't be the worst outcome against one of the top-ranked teams, Lockie Ferguson isn't one of them.

"We want to play," Ferguson said on Tuesday. "It's the World Cup. We're playing against India in the World Cup and it's an opportunity to get two points and we don't want to get rained-out games. I don't think any players do but if that happens then so be it. We can't control that but we're looking forward to playing India and getting some confidence against them."

Ferguson has only played three ODIs against India, all of them in January this year. India won all three matches comfortably and Ferguson was the subject of particularly harsh treatment in the second game at Mount Maunganui, where he took two wickets but conceded 81 runs from his ten overs. Now he's keen to use the lessons learned.

"They showed us that they're probably a lot more patient in a way," Ferguson said. "And although we're looking to take wickets, sometimes we got a little bit expensive. I think taking wickets up front is the key to [beating] India but, if not, creating pressure and building dots.

"They're world-class players, you're not going to blow them out of the water, but if you can build up enough pressure against them and then create a half-chance, that could be the wicket and you can then build from there. Obviously, they're playing some great cricket and they're one of the top teams in the competition but we're definitely looking forward to the opportunity of playing them in England and we haven't played them for a while in England."

New Zealand have bowled out all three sides they have faced so far - Sri Lanka (136), Bangladesh (244) and Afghanistan (172) - with Trent Boult arguably the unluckiest in the attack, wicketless despite beating the bat and drawing false shots regularly. Ferguson believes it's only a matter of time before Boult's form is rewarded with wickets.

"If I were to critique his bowling I think he's been bowling exceptionally well, creating a lot of chances for us up front," Ferguson said. "And that's the nature of international cricket; sometimes the chances don't get taken but other times they do. Trent's world-class, very professional guy and the way he talks about his bowling is pretty inspiring if I'm honest. I'm sure it'll turn his way soon and hopefully it's on Thursday, that would be great."

Undoubtedly, the bounce that has been on offer in the matches at Trent Bridge has New Zealand's pacers salivating, just a little, and Ferguson admitted they had watched the results and conditions with interest, although they will not be playing on the world-record pitch that has been used twice so far in this tournament.

"It's exciting for Trent Bridge to have a bit of bounce and hopefully that'll go in our favour," Ferguson said. "It's been an interesting start to the World Cup with the games here obviously we keep an eye on the different grounds and how the matches go.

"But the West Indies showed that there's that extra bounce at Trent Bridge and that caused some trouble for Australia as well, who are good players of the short ball. It's tournament cricket where, if you can create a bit of pressure, it sort of builds up a little bit because you play each team once and you need to win and move on.

"Tournament cricket's one of those crazy ones where, I know in the Black Caps, we talk a lot about turning up to the ground we are playing, working out the conditions, the team we are playing, doing the scouting, playing the team as well as we can and then we've been fortunate to get three wins and play some good cricket and then moving on to our next opponent.

"That's one of our main focusses for the Black Caps. We often talk about it but more in particular at a World Cup where every team you play is worth two points so they're just as important as each other."

Ah, there it is. Win and move on. Rinse and repeat. Simple. Both teams have done it so far; India twice, New Zealand thrice. But only one can win and move on from Trent Bridge.

Weather permitting, of course.

David Warner is a meme in Pakistan now. His face has been superimposed on the face of a model selling a washing powder, and issuing an open challenge to other competitors. The text explanation makes it clear that this is Warner's battle cry against Imam-ul-Haq's claims to be the slowest left-hand opener in the Wold Cup.

At any rate, Imam is now using Warner's slow and cautious starts to vindicate his style: 350 in a World Cup is greater than 350 in a bilateral series, Imam tells ESPNcricinfo. The pitches are slightly more difficult, he says. See, even Warner is taking his time, he points out.

Indeed, among those who have played 50 balls in the Powerplay this World Cup, Warner is the slowest, going at a strike rate of a little over 50 in that phase of the innings. Against Afghanistan, he scored his slowest ODI fifty, and against India, he went ahead and relegated that Afghanistan effort to his second-slowest.

"He's still batting beautifully at the moment. He just hasn't got off to that flow that we're used to" AARON FINCH IS BACKING HIS OPENING PARTNER TO COME GOOD

Except that, unlike with Imam, it is not a team plan because of the grand occasion. Warner is not batting with the mindset of Imam or, say, Rohit Sharma, the second-slowest man on the list. Rohit is, in fact, master of batting this way; his strike rate in the Powerplay this World Cup has been 57, and yet he has an overall strike rate of 83.64. Warner has not been able to kick on after the slow starts, striking at 71.84.

Warner's numbers haven't gone unnoticed in the Australian team management. After the India game, Ricky Ponting said Warner wasn't at his absolute best, and that he knows and admits that. Too many shots were hit straight to the fielders, which is the opposite of a batsman in good form.

"It's not a team plan," Aaron Finch said on the eve of their match against Pakistan in Taunton. "I think the last couple of games, the last game in particular, India bowled really well at the start and he (Warner) hit the field a lot, which as an opening batter, as a top-order player, when the field is in that you do generally face a high percentage of top bowlers. And I suppose when the field went out he still hit them fielders, which didn't give the innings a huge amount of flow, which I know he was disappointed about.

"But at the same time, every evidence suggests he'll be back to his dangerous best. And when you give good players an opportunity, and might be just a little mindset change with Davey… I'm not sure, I haven't spoken to him a huge amount about his batting. I know he's been working a bit with JL [Justin Langer, the coach] and Ricky Ponting [the assistant coach] to just make sure he's in the right mind frame."

After the first game, Warner admitted his feet were not moving that well. Didn't we see the same Warner smash it all over in the IPL, though? Finch says there are two differences: pitches and bowling attacks.

"Totally different wickets," Finch said. "You have to remember that Indian wickets are quite low and quite skiddy with the new ball, which allowed him to use his hands and stand really still and hit the gaps. Whereas, there's been just enough in these wickets first up that it doesn't allow you to just walk out and hit through the line and blast attacks all over.

"And you're talking about world-class opposition here. You're not playing a club team where you can find one target and target them really hard. Each team is super strong. So, at times, it's about taking calculated risks to get your innings and get your momentum in your game. He's still batting beautifully at the moment. He just hasn't got off to that flow that we're used to."

There has been enough rain around to leave enough spice in the pitches to require good footwork to be able to access gaps. By all accounts, Warner hasn't quite reached there yet, but words such as "mindset" and "calculated risk" make it interesting.

Most of the times, for batsmen skilled enough to play international cricket, batting is about managing risk. If a batsman as good as Warner feels there is undue risk in trying to force the pace, the conditions must be that little bit extra challenging or bowling that good.

However, on air, Kumar Sangakkara made an interesting observation. He feared this new Warner might be too worried about wanting to succeed. Might be too afraid to get out. It might have been easier for Warner to take risks earlier, he might be erring on the side of caution. That he needs to be freed of that care.

Probably this is the mindset change Finch talked about. Perhaps it might be just one innings where he starts finding the gaps and everything falls back in place. And being the batsman that he is, Warner backs himself to be able to do it without taking undue risks.

Amid all this, Warner's struggle and his desperation to hang in and not leave things to chance by using his bat like a swinging door is a reminder of things we, as spoilt fans, can take for granted: how much needs to go right for what comes across as effortless batting to us?

Mark Wood believes England have a fast-bowling attack at the World Cup that "ruffles feathers" and creates fear in the opposition.

Wood, who has sent down the fastest delivery of the tournament so far, is one of four England bowlers to have recorded bowling speeds of 90mph in and one of two to have recorded a speed of 95mph. As a result, he believes "opposition batsmen don't get a break".

"When real pace bowling is on show it definitely ruffles a few feathers and changes the momentum of the game," Wood said. "It wasn't long ago that everyone was looking round for quick bowlers while Australia had Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. It is nice to have guys who will fear our team now.

ALSO READ: Archer presence adds spice to England v West Indies

"The opposition batsmen don't get a break if there is pace from both ends. There is no respite from us. It is great that we can pose that threat."

Wood admitted there is rivalry between him and Jofra Archer - the other England bowler to have hit 95mph - over who can bowl quicker, but insists it is friendly and positive. Wood has edged ahead, bowling a ball timed at 95.69mph/154kph against Bangladesh, though he concedes Archer appears to find it much easier to hit the high speeds.

"It is friendly competition, but with a point to it," Wood said. "It pushes us for sure. You're pushing each other to be the best you can be and to as quick as you can be.

"I'm trying to bowl 0.1 mph quicker than Jofra and he's trying to bowl 0.1 faster than me. When you come off the analyst says 'oh, Jofra was quicker today' and you think, right I've got to put the throttle down here, and then the next time he says 'you were quickest' you get a little buzz.

"But all the while though I'm thinking, 'but Jofra's just flicking his wrist and it is coming out like a rocket!' I think there might be a bit more in the tank if he really wants it, I think he's just toying with me at the minute. You have banter about it for sure, but you're helping each other.

"Jof keeps saying that my speeds come up on the big screen and his don't. I just tell him they are putting mine up to tell me to bowl a bit quicker to catch up to him. It is a good competition between us, a friendly one.

"It is great coming up against the West Indies again because it is a team I've had success against. I hope they are worried about facing me" Mark Wood

"Jofra helps me get wickets, too. In the past I was probably the guy that England were looking for to produce those speeds. Having Jof there takes a bit of pressure off.

"It's exciting and frustrating because he makes it look so easy. I have to nearly break my back to get it as fast as him and he's got no problems cranking it up. It looks like effortless pace and it surprises people how quick he is."

Wood suggested there is a good chance that Friday's match against West Indies will turn into a battle of the fast bowlers. Certainly the hostility of West Indies' attack has been a feature of this World Cup to date and, with the Southampton surface expected to offer some bounce, Wood felt there may be a fair amount of short-pitched bowling on display.

"Could short-pitched bowling have a big role to play? I think so," he said. "The pitch in Southampton tends to offer a bit of tennis-ball bounce so it would suggest that the back-of-a-length ball might be more successful than the full ball.

"The Windies in this World Cup have come with a clear game plan and that is a lot of short stuff. We got a taste of that on the recent Caribbean tour and one of the things we spoke about in St Lucia - when we were bowled out for 113 - was that the pitch had tennis-ball bounce and if we come up against it again we will play some smarter cricket. It will be interesting to see how we go about it as a batting group to combat that. We know what we are going to get.

"But I thought that in the West Indies they struggled with the short ball as well. I can remember getting Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer out to short balls so it is a good thing we can fight fire with fire.

"It is great coming up against the West Indies again because it is a team I've had success against. I hope they are worried about facing me and that I can get amongst them again."

Donald Cerrone says he got a relatively clean bill of health after a bloody war with Tony Ferguson last weekend.

"Cowboy" wrote Tuesday on Instagram that he didn't break any bones and did not have a broken or cracked orbital bone stemming from the UFC 238 war Saturday night in Chicago. UFC president Dana White previously stated at the post-fight press conference that Cerrone went to the hospital with a broken orbital.

View this post on Instagram

I'm in Good Health. Thanks for all the message and concerns. Only air was in my eye. No broken bones nor cracked or broken orbital. Sitting and waiting for the Rematch or next fight ?

A post shared by Donald Cerrone (@cowboycerrone) on Jun 11, 2019 at 8:51am PDT

Ferguson won the fight by TKO after the second round when ringside physicians ruled that Cerrone could not safely go on. Cerrone's right eye was completely swollen shut. "Only air was in my eye," Cerrone said. "No broken bones nor cracked or broken orbital."

Cerrone added that he's waiting for a Ferguson rematch or his next fight.

Cerrone (36-12, 1 NC) was on a three-fight winning streak heading into the bout and was closing in on a lightweight title shot. The New Mexico resident earned a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus with Ferguson for the bout. Cerrone, 36, has the most wins (23) and finishes (16) in UFC history.

New Orleans' four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan and the Saints reached agreement on a big three-year contract extension that will contractually tie the two sides together for the next five seasons, through the 2023 season, sources tell ESPN.

Jordan's extension, engineered by agent Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman and the Saints' vice president of football administration Khai Harley, is a three-year, $52.5 million deal with a max of $55.5 million that includes over $42 million in guaranteed money, per sources.

Jordan, who turns 30 on July 10, wanted financial security now, and the Saints wanted to keep one of their top players and leaders happy, with the team trying to ensure that he finishes his career in New Orleans. He now has five years and a maximum value of $74 million left on the deal after Tuesday's extension.

The first-round pick in 2011 had two years left on a five-year extension that he signed in 2015 worth between $55 million and $60 million.

But that was before the 29-year-old really exploded into the player he is now (a first-team All-Pro in 2017 with 13 sacks and a second-team All-Pro in 2018 with 12 sacks). It was before he established himself as one of New Orleans' core leaders in the locker room and in the community. And it was before the NFL's elite edge rushers started getting paid almost as much as quarterbacks.

The Chicago Bears' Khalil Mack is averaging more than twice as much as Jordan at $23.5 million per year. DeMarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark also joined the $20 million club this year.

ESPN's Mike Triplett contributed to this report.