All posts by h716a5.icu

Rangers’ busy summer is already in full swing at Ibrox.

Russell Martin was appointed as the new manager earlier this month, while both Lyall Cameron and Max Aarons have been unveiled as new signings, with plenty more to follow for the new Rangers boss.

So now, following on from new owners, a new sporting director and a new coach, could the Gers actually have a new captain?

Rangers changing centre-backs

Rangers’ central defensive options are set to be completely overhauled this summer, first with Leon Balogun joining Aris Limassol on a free transfer, where he’ll be reunited with Connor Goldson in Cyprus.

Meantime, Robin Pröpper is edging closer to a return to FC Twente, from whence he came just a year ago, while John Souttar is a doubt for the start of Champions League qualifying, following ‘hernia surgery’, facing a race against time to be available for the first leg against Panathinaikos on 22 July.

With all that in mind, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider is reporting that Rangers are ‘in advanced talks’ to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City.

They claim that the Gers are ‘confident’ of finalising a deal ‘early next week’, and that the England international will ‘bring vast experience’ to Martin’s squad.

Transfer Focus

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

Meantime, as outlined by Rob Tanner of the Athletic, following the Foxes’ relegation back to the EFL Championship, they’re looking to offload a number of players, including Coady, given that he has just one year remaining on his contract, while, according to Capology, only four Leicester players earn more than his £75k-per-week salary.

Those wages would surely decrease significantly, should Coady choose to move to Glasgow, but his on-pitch experience and quality could be invaluable.

Why Conor Coady should become Rangers captain

Since signing from Wigan Athletic a decade ago, James Tavernier has been a Rangers stalwart, making 513 appearances to date, only ten men in the club’s entire history have accumulated more, scoring a staggering 130 goals from right-back, on top of his 142 assists.

He was named club captain by Steven Gerrard in 2018, and is a bona fide Rangers legend, although his form did come under intense scrutiny last season, with Clive Lindsay of BBC Sport noting that he was left on the bench for November’s Europa League tie against Olympiacos, something that would’ve been unthinkable not so long ago.

Still only 33 years old, Tavernier still has a key role to play in Martin’s side, but the table below does show his slight decline.

Appearances

46

58

55

58

53

Minutes

3,923

5,255

4,864

5,211

4,433

Goals

19

18

18

24

5

Assists

16

17

10

12

13

Chances created

71

130

112

123

96

Take-on success %

41%

59%

41%

44%

51%

Ground-duel success %

53%

56%

48%

53%

54%

Touches per 90

87

90

83

89

71

As the table shows, Tavernier played fewer minutes last season than he had in any campaign since the title-winning year of 2020/21, also failing to reach double figures in terms of goals for the first time in five seasons.

On top of this, his chances created and touches per 90 numbers were notably down too, emphasising that he is no longer the focal point of Rangers’ attacking play.

So, with Tavernier no longer undroppable, could we see Coady donning the armband next season?

Well, analyst Kai Watson describes him as a natural “leader”, while Sean Dyche, who was his manager at Everton, praised Coady’s “immaculate” professionalism, with Jamie Carragher describing his performances for Wolves as “brilliant”, adding that he is second only to Virgil van Dijk “in terms of passing from the back”.

In support of this assertion, Adrian Clarke of the Premier League documents how, in the 2019/20 season, no player accumulated more ‘accurate long passes’ than Coady across the entire division.

On top of this, Adam McNulty of Breaking the Lines praises the centre-backs ‘elite’ ability to ‘pick out a runner using a diagonal’, believing his passing range to be one of his strongest attributes.

In a Martin team, that prioritises control through possession, Coady will be an invaluable asset, suggesting he will be a favourite of the new manager, potentially usurping Tavernier in the captaincy hierarchy.

He'd be perfect for Aarons: Martin has exciting "colossus" on Rangers radar

Russell Martin is looking to sign another defender or two for Rangers

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 28, 2025

Both teams have seen enough of each other in recent times to treat the contest as a serious game of cricket, and not much more

Sidharth Monga08-Jun-20244:48

Rohit: Only openers’ batting position is fixed

The 2011 ODI World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan in Mohali was such a significant occasion that the then India coach Gary Kirsten and the rest of the staff left the meeting room to give the players a moment to themselves.”After the show [a presentation by the team analyst] is over, Gary says the support staff is mostly non-Indian,” R Ashwin writes in the book . “They value this team, and it’s a big game for them too, but they can’t even begin to imagine how big playing Pakistan in a World Cup is for us players. He says they’re all leaving now, so we can be alone and conduct the rest of the meeting ourselves.”That was about two hours before the match, which was to be played in the presence of the highest political leaders of both countries, many celebrities, and packed stands. Sachin Tendulkar gave a rousing speech, about how he had been thinking for the last two-three years of facing Pakistan in the semi-final or the final and winning the trophy. Everybody left the meeting with goosebumps.Related

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India versus Pakistan, but different

2011, though, was a different world. These matches used to happen rarely and organically. Now, there’s a World Cup every year and groups are planned so India and Pakistan play in the league stage. The occasion remains significant, but the edge is taken off a little.Results in ‘big matches’ have become a millstone around the current Indian team’s neck, though they don’t necessarily play poorly in such fixtures. On the eve of the match against Pakistan, Rohit Sharma was asked whether anything was different about games where expectations and stakes are higher. Small markers such as how their brains work in the lead-up, how well they sleep, how they feel during warm-ups. Not much, said Rohit.”Nothing has changed from last seven months because we played them [Pakistan] in the Asia Cup, the ODI World Cup, and now the T20 World Cup,” Rohit said. “Earlier it was a different ball game because we used to play them every maybe once in four years, or two years, now it’s a different ball game. We literally played seven months back in Asia Cup and the World Cup and here we are again now.”So, for me, I think nothing changes. I want to approach this as another international game where I get myself collected and make those decisions on the field. I am sure everyone will have their own way of dealing with games like these, but I have my process. Being a captain, I have to make decisions on the field. So, I think what’s more important for me is to just think about what I need to do right now, or this particular over – not to even think of how much do we need to get after 20 overs, or how much we need to bowl them out for. I think it’s about that one over, how we want to finish that over, staying in the present, and literally just nailing down maybe over by over, and think about what you need to do in that particular over, and that is where the skill of captain comes into play.”I’m sure other captains think differently. Everyone has their own way but this is how I like to think about that one particular over. Because this is literally a place where you can’t think too far ahead. Game changes every over here. So, you need to think about that particular over and how you can win that one over and then move on to the next over. I know there’s a lot of thinking that needs to go in this kind of thought process, but I’m okay with that.”Gary Kirsten has been on both sides of the India-Pakistan rivalry•ICC via Getty ImagesRohit was not part of the semi-final 13 years ago but he has won a World Cup final before and a few games against Pakistan too. India’s coach in 2011 is Pakistan’s coach in 2024. A bowler who took a five-for that day in Mohali is now a selector, and Wahab Riaz couldn’t keep himself from bowling in the nets on Saturday.Not only has he been India’s coach in the past, Kirsten has also worked with players such as Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill as director of cricket at Gujarat Titans in the IPL. When asked if his experience brings valuable intel, Kirsten said Pakistan’s players didn’t need it.”That’s a good question and the way I’d answer that is I think these players have seen enough of each other and how they play,” he said. “In the end we want to make sure that we get our game right. Look at the conditions and what is required on the conditions because I think that’s going to be a big day tomorrow.”Kirsten said the vibe also felt different. “I think it is a little bit different because it’s not in India or Pakistan,” Kirsten said. “I went for a ride early this morning, which I like doing most mornings, and I certainly rode around the stadium a little bit and I kind of felt that there’s going to be a good vibe there tomorrow. So that’s going to be exciting for us all to have that many people that have come out to support the two teams.”If Rohit is going to approach it as any other international match, Kirsten’s advice is to embrace the occasion. “Well, not to hide from the fact that it’s a big game, but to treat cricket like cricket should be treated,” he said. “Every game you need to play well, you need to hit the ball in the right areas, you need to score enough runs, you need to take your catches and field well. I don’t think it’s ever changed the game. It changes a little bit because of the formats, but that’s certainly what we’re going to go out and try to do tomorrow. If we play a really good game of cricket with our abilities, we have a good chance of winning the game.”

Sunderland are the early big spenders out of all the newly promoted teams heading up to the Premier League.

Leeds have secured three new buys in the form of Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw, but the Whites’ promising business has been blown out of the water by the Black Cats’ lavish approach, as seen in Sunderland forking out a combined £50m to land both Enzo Le Fee and Habib Diarra.

Plenty more luxurious buys could soon be on the menu away from this club-record £30m deal, as Regis Le Bris eyes up Ligue 1 and beyond to improve his budding squad.

More transfers expected at Sunderland

Le Bris must know the French top division inside and out, having previously been at the helm of ex-employers Lorient in the division.

Transfer Focus

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

He’s certainly clued up on those who he thinks could take the Premier League by storm, with Sunderland reportedly interested in the likes of Lyon’s electric attacker Georges Mikautadze and standout Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell to immediately improve their first-team options, while they are also allegedly keeping close tabs on 20-year-old starlet Arthur Evom Ebong.

Yet, his next buy could see him venture out to Serie A to try and link up with Matteo Guendouzi.

Indeed, reports from Italy suggest that Lazio are scared about the prospect of keeping their star Frenchman around this summer, with Aston Villa, neighbours Newcastle United and Sunderland named as interested parties.

19/20

34

0

3

18/19

48

1

2

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Although it is reported that Sunderland may have to splash out a club-record £43m to land Guendouzi, it could be a worthwhile splurge to make, even as the Black Cats edge closer to adding Noah Sadiki to their plentiful midfield options.

His wealth of Premier League experience could potentially be invaluable to the Wearside underdogs as they climb back up to the top-flight, alongside the fact that the 26-year-old has turned into an even more formidable central midfield option in Italy.

Why Guendouzi would be a better signing than Sadiki

Of course, Sadiki could go on to be another youngster that Sunderland manage to get the very best out of, with the Congo international no doubt joining the Stadium of Light ranks dreaming of becoming the Black Cats’ next Jobe Bellingham-style project.

Last season, the 20-year-old undoubtedly impressed those out in Belgium, with the versatile Saint-Union Gilloise number 27 helping himself to two goals for his Europa League-competing outfit across the 2024/25 campaign, leading to Sunderland making their £17.75m move.

Yet, if it’s immediate success Sunderland are after – instead of waiting around for a youngster to learn the Premier League ropes – Guendouzi is their next best possible buy.

The 6-foot-1 battler is very much well-versed in what it takes to be a competent performer in some top leagues, having now made a mammoth 151 appearances in both Ligue 1 and Serie A, away from just his 57 top-flight outings in North London.

He will no doubt be chomping at the bit to return to England, too, considering he wasn’t always the star of the show at the Gunners. Still, even from just 23 Premier League starts during his final Arsenal season, he still showed off his presence as a “monster” – as he’s been glowing labelled by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – winning 4.8 duels per game.

Games played

37

Goals scored

1

Assists

3

Touches*

68.3

Accurate passes*

52.1 (91%)

Ball recoveries*

4.7

The 26-year-old has since refined other aspects of his varied game at the Stadio Olimpico, with the table above showing off his well-rounded characteristics as a far more confident and assured performer when averaging a mightily impressive 91% pass accuracy last season in the hustle and bustle of Serie A.

If there’s any manager that could get even more of Guendouzi, too, it’s Le Bris, with the popular Wearside boss once coaching the Frenchman during the early stages of his football education at Lorient.

Also hailed as possessing “something special” by journalist Aaron West in the past, it does feel as if the time is right for the ex-Gunners midfielder to return to England and be a star, whilst Sadiki waits for his moment in the spotlight down the line.

Shades of Cresswell: Sunderland now in advanced talks to sign £4m star

Sunderland will be looking to the future if they successfully snap up this £4m gem.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 3, 2025

Dravid sent a touching message to his successor wishing him luck which featured advice and some humour

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2024″Even if it’s difficult for you, crack a smile. Whatever else happens, that will shock people.”Outgoing India head coach Rahul Dravid did what many consider the unthinkable – he made Gautam Gambhir smile with the above message. Dravid sent out a touching message to the new head coach, who takes over with the T20I series against Sri Lanka starting on Saturday. In a video posted by the BCCI on social media, Gambhir was made to sit in front of a laptop to play the message which he didn’t know came from Dravid.”As your team-mate, I saw you giving it your all on the field,” Dravid said to Gambhir. “As your batting partner and fellow fielder, I saw your resilience and refusal to surrender. Across many IPL seasons, I noted your desire to win, your assistance to younger players and your drive to extract the best out of your team on the field.”I know how dedicated and passionate you are about Indian cricket and I am sure you will bring all these qualities into the new job.Related

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“As you know, the expectations will be high and the scrutiny will be intense. But even in the worst of times you will never be alone. You will have the support of the players, your support staff, the leaders of the past, the management and never forget for whom you play – for fans who are very demanding but will always be behind the team.”Soon after winning the T20 World Cup final last month in Barbados, Dravid had mentioned the role of “luck” that had helped his team lift the trophy and he hoped the same would help Gambhir too.”I also wish you a little bit of luck, as you know that all of us coaches need to make us look that little bit wiser and smarter than we actually are,” he said.Dravid’s dry humour also gave an appearance to elicit a smile from Gambhir. “Even if it’s difficult for you, crack a smile. Whatever else happens, that will shock people,” he said.

“I don’t get too emotional but I think this message actually made me a lot emotional which normally I shouldn’t. But it’s a great message.”Gambhir’s reaction to Dravid’s message

“From one Indian cricket coach to another, one last thing. In the most heated of times, exhale, take a step back. I wish you the very best, Gautam. I am sure you will take the Indian team to even greater heights.”Reacting to Dravid’s message which made him “emotional,” Gambhir said there was a lot to learn from his predecessor not just for him but for the entire generation.”I don’t know how to react because this message means so much to me,” Gambhir said. “The reason is not because it comes from the person who I have succeeded but from a person who I have always looked up to when I was playing.”I have always felt that and I said it in a lot of my interviews – I think the most selfless cricketer I have actually ever played with. Rahul has done anything and everything Indian cricket needed.”I think there is so much to learn from, not only for me but for the next generation and the current generation as well. That’s how important Indian cricket is, not me, not individuals.”I don’t get too emotional but I think this message actually made me a lot emotional which normally I shouldn’t. But it’s a great message.”It’s massive shoes that I can hopefully fill. Hopefully, I can do that with absolute honesty, transparency and hopefully, I can make the entire nation and more importantly, the person I have always looked up to – Rahul – proud,” he said.

Partnerships between Markram and de Zorzi and then Verreynne and Mulder help South Africa take a big lead

Firdose Moonda16-Aug-2024With a lead of 239 and five wickets in hand on a surface that got better to bat on as the day went on, South Africa put fingertips on the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy.Eight wickets fell on another action-packed day in Guyana where the advantage ebbed and flowed. South Africa took two early on but West Indies’ last pair got them close to drawing level in the first innings. Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph shared a 10th-wicket stand of 40 – the second-highest in the West Indian innings – to turn the match into all but a one-innings game and in that game, South Africa will feel they have the advantage.An opening stand of 79, half-centuries from Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne and an unbeaten 84-run sixth-wicket partnership between Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder – the highest of the series so far – all put South Africa in a strong position. But, with plenty of time left in the game, West Indies will not be too disheartened, especially as they have seen how quickly wickets fall early on.South Africa lost four in the first session of day one and West Indies three on day two, which could provide West Indies with an opportunity early on the third day. The pitch is expected to be at its best on the third afternoon and West Indies will want to be batting by then, especially with a big chase in their sights. Before they get there, West Indies will rely on their attack, particularly hometown hero Joseph, and Jayden Seales, who took 2 for 7 in his third spell, to get rid of South Africa’s middle and lower order. So far, they have held up well after a mini-collapse which saw South Africa lose 4 for 19 in nine overs after a solid start of 120 for 1.South Africa’s openers were tested upfront with seam movement from Seales and tight lines from Holder. Markram edged Holder short of first slip at the end of his first over but settled when he drove Seales for four through cover point five balls later. Tony de Zorzi was hit on the back pad by Seales and flirted with a run-out chance when he pushed a single off Holder but pulled Seales off his toes to announce himself. South Africa went to lunch unscathed on 30 without loss.Runs came quickly after the break and South Africa had more than doubled their morning score to 66 in 4.4 overs after the interval when they offered their first real chance. De Zorzi edged Holder to the left of wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, who dived low to try and take the catch but could not hold on. De Zorzi was on 36 off 41 at the time and added only three runs off the next 31 balls he faced before he nicked off to give Seales a well-earned reward. De Zorzi punched his bat in frustration as he walked off when the opening stand was broken.Markram and Tristan Stubbs eked out six runs off the next four overs while they bided time but Stubbs’ patience seemed to be tested when he edged Gudakesh Motie past slip for three. Stubbs’ first boundary came off the 21st ball he faced when he reverse swept Motie through third but he did not look entirely comfortable at any point in the session. He survived an lbw appeal off Holder and held his end through to tea. Markram was lucky to get there when, on 42, he drove Motie to Alick Athanaze at silly mid-off but was put down. South Africa were 111 for 1 at the tea break, 127 runs ahead.Three overs into the final session, Markram reached 50 off 104 balls but seven balls after that was struck on the back foot to a Motie delivery that straightened and was given out lbw. Temba Bavuma could have been out on his third ball when he edged an away seamer from Joseph but it did not carry to slip. Motie had better luck when Bavuma went forward to a length ball, was hit on the pad. The umpire didn’t think it was out, but West Indies successfully reviewed to have the decision overturned.Jayden Seales and Gudakesh Motie brought about wickets in a cluster•AFP/Getty ImagesThat wicket sparked a mini-collapse. In the next over, Stubbs edged Seales to Da Silva and two overs after that David Bedingham was bowled to give Seales a second wicket in three overs and give the hosts a chance of keeping South Africa’s lead under 200. Mulder and Verreynne took them over that mark. They were in danger of being separated 12 minutes before the end of play when Mulder was given out lbw in Seales’ fourth spell but he reviewed and ball-tracking showed it was missing leg. The pair accelerated towards the end of the day with 26 runs off the last four overs, which included Verreynne’s fifty off 71 balls – his third in Test cricket. All of his half-centuries, and his only Test hundred so far, have come away from home.Earlier, the last-wicket stand between Holder and Joseph meant West Indies finished just 16 runs adrift of South Africa’s first-innings score of 160. After resuming on 97 for 7, Jomel Warrican chipped an overpitched delivery from Kagiso Rabada to Keshav Maharaj at mid-on to depart for a 16-ball duck.Left-arm seamer Nandre Burger shared the day’s opening duties with Rabada and started off bowling full but in his second over, began a short-ball assault to set up Seales. The first three deliveries of Burger’s third over of the day were increasingly short in length but his fourth was full on the stumps and Seales was struck on the pad and given out lbw.South Africa could have ended West Indies’ innings on the next ball when Joseph edged Burger to Markram at second slip but he could not hold on to a head height catch. The drop proved costly as Joseph went on to score 25 – but was dropped again on 15 by Mulder a third slip – and provided strong support to Holder, who approached the first hour of play with aggression. Holder hit the last ball of Mulder’s first over on the day over long-on for six, to bring up the first half-century of the match and his 14th in Tests. Joseph took on Burger, and hit his short ball behind square leg and past point and then, just for laughs, sent the full one out of the ground. In his first over of the morning, Maharaj beat Joseph’s sweep and had him out lbw and South Africa were batting again 90 minutes into the day.

Celtic are starting to accelerate their summer business and now find themselves in the hunt for a proven operator with plenty of Premier League experience, according to a report.

Celtic see off Sporting in statement pre-season victory

Rounding off their pre-season camp in Portugal, Celtic saw off Primeira Liga champions Sporting Clube de Portugal 2-0 courtesy of goals from Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan.

After a promising performance that will quell some anxieties experienced by supporters in relation to transfer business, Brendan Rodgers confirmed Celtic are close to making their sixth summer signing — Kawasaki Frontale forward Shin Yamada.

He stated: “He’ll have a medical over the next couple of days and we’ll have a look at him. We’ve lost a lot of goals, so we need to replace that. Hopefully, this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect.

“He’s got intensity and workrate. It’s something the scouts have seen. In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he’s a bit older, he’s probably one that can give us that intensity and pressure.”

Contact has reportedly been made by Celtic in relation to Odsonne Edouard. However, Rodgers also appeared to distance himself from a move for the Crystal Palace forward during his post-match duties.

Balikwisha will love him: Celtic exploring deal to sign "exciting" star

Celtic could land a dream signing alongside Michel-Ange Balikwisha by landing this star.

ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2025

Clearly, adding one or two alternatives through the middle has become a key priority for the Irishman, though he will also be keen to offer competition for Kieran Tierney on the left-hand side of defence.

With the Bhoys veering towards the start of their Scottish Premiership title defence, Celtic may have identified the man to fill their vacant slot.

Celtic plot surprise return for Jeffrey Schlupp

According to Africa Foot, Celtic could move to re-sign free agent Jeffrey Schlupp after he left Crystal Palace upon the expiration of his contract at Selhurst Park.

The Ghana international spent the second half of last campaign on loan in Glasgow, acting as a rotational figure alongside Greg Taylor as the Bhoys claimed the Scottish Premiership title.

Jeffrey Schlupp at Celtic – is he worthy of a permanent deal?

Schlupp’s record at Celtic

18 appearances, one goal, one assist.

Pros

Experience at a high level (280 appearances in the Premier League, FA Cup winner). Capable of featuring at left-back, in central midfield or as a left winger. Familiarity within Brendan Rodgers’ system.

Cons

Likely a stop-gap signing at 32 years old. Little sell-on value and doesn’t fit stereotypical transfer model. Any deal would be a sign Celtic have failed to land other targets, i.e. Flavio Nazinho.

Labelled “wonderful” by Rodgers, an added caveat to a potential transfer comes in the form of Schlupp having the same agent as Celtic forward Adam Idah.

However, some would argue bringing in a younger player would cover more bases in the long-term rather than someone approaching the twilight of their career.

Either way, Celtic will face competition for Schlupp, given that Hull City, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion are also circling for the veteran defender.

Allrounder was reported to be struggling with a finger niggle during the first Test in Chennai

Alagappan Muthu25-Sep-20242:18

Manjrekar: Mushfiqur, Shakib must be mentally tougher in marquee series

There has been uncertainty around Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in the second Test between India and Bangladesh starting on Friday, but the head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe dispelled them as he confirmed the allrounder is “eligible for selection”.Shakib was at Bangladesh’s training session in Kanpur on Wednesday although his stint didn’t last too long. His performance was noticeably below par in the first Test in Chennai, where he did not bowl until the 53rd over of India’s first innings and was uncharacteristically expensive. While it was mentioned on the broadcast that Shakib may have been struggling with a finger injury, Bangladesh’s batting coach David Hemp said he was unaware of that in Chennai and Hathurusinghe reiterated that stance in Kanpur.”I haven’t heard anything officially or any complaints (about Shakib),” he said. “There is no doubt about that at the moment. I haven’t heard from my physio or from anyone. He’s still eligible for selection.”Shakib had figures of 0 for 50 in eight overs and 0 for 79 in 13 overs in Chennai, and scored 32 and 25 in Bangladesh’s 280-run defeat. When asked whether Shakib’s performance had upset him, Hathurisinghe replied, “I’m not. I’m upset not about his performance but our overall performance, we could have done better. I’m sure that he also thinks that he can perform better. We all know what he’s capable of. I think he batted really well in the second innings. He couldn’t go on. Not because of lack of pride. It’s sheer quality of the opposition.”Trailing the two-match series 0-1, Bangladesh are in need of a better batting performance, particularly in the first innings. Conditions in Kanpur may help, with the pitch expected to be less lively than the one in Chennai.Hathurisinghe said the players had talked about their shortcomings and it was about “whether we’re able to do that in the middle. We have our KPIs, what we want, and we normally talk about if you make a start, make it big. That’s the biggest concern, because some of the guys got 30 balls (and then got out). In cricket, it’s the hardest thing to get in. But then, this team, India, has been posing different challenges, so we know that as well. So we have to be better for longer.”Bangladesh had their left-hand heavy top-order picked apart by India’s quicks in Chennai. They have the option of bring in the right-hander Mahmudul Hasan Joy but that decision will not be a knee-jerk one.”Just because of the left-handers, right-handers, is not the thing that we will take into consideration. If we are making a change, whether that batsman, whether Mahmudul Joy or whoever is coming in, what he can bring and who will miss out, and we look at it holistically like that, rather than left or right.”

Tottenham Hotspur recently splashed the cash to sign Mohammed Kudus from London and Premier League rivals West Ham United for a reported fee of £55m.

The 24-year-old star, who provided an assist in a friendly against Reading on Saturday, will be hoping to offer a big threat at the top end of the pitch for Thomas Frank’s side next season.

He will need to improve on his output from the 2024/25 campaign, though, as the Ghana international only managed five goals and three assists in 32 games as a winger or attacking midfielder for the Hammers. Kudus did produce 14 goals and six assists in all competitions in his first season in England, though, so it is more of an issue around consistency rather than quality.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are reportedly eyeing up a deal for another proven Premier League player who would be an even better signing than the £55m addition.

Spurs in talks to sign Premier League star

Whilst Kudus is somewhat of a gamble, given his unimpressive return in front of goal last term, Spurs are also eyeing a top-flight star who was superb last season and could come in to hit the ground running.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are willing to pay the full asking price for Bournemouth central defender Illya Zabarnyi to bolster their options at the back.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are already in talks to reach an agreement to sign the Ukraine international, and that they are prepared to pay what is required, which is said to be around £61m.

It adds that Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the defender and have had multiple offers turned down by the Premier League side, as they have only offered up to around £52m.

Caught Offside reveals, though, that Zabarnyi favours a move to PSG and the French side are confident that they can complete a deal, which makes it a difficult one for Spurs to get over the line.

Why Spurs should sign Zabarnyi

Tottenham should continue to push to convince the centre-back to make the switch to London this summer, though, because he would be an even better signing than Kudus.

The club’s need for an extra body at the heart of the defence is obvious when you look at the time that Cristian Romero and Micky Van De Ven have missed in the last two seasons.

Premier League appearances

73

51

40

Injuries

0

4

6

Days missed through injury

0

127

210

Games missed through injury (all comps)

0

30

48

Games missed through suspension

3

3

0

As you can see in the table above, Zabarnyi has not missed a single game through injury in his two seasons in the Premier League, which suggests that he would be the reliable centre-back option Frank is currently missing.

His performances in the top-flight last season also suggest that the Ukraine international has the quality to hit the ground running as an instant star for the Lilywhites.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed that Zabarnyi, who was once described as a “complete” defender by Jacek Kulig, went “under the radar” with his performances, as the defender won 63% of his duels and made zero errors that led to goals in 36 starts in the division.

The 22-year-old colossus is a reliable, error-free, and dominant central defender who rarely gets injured and always delivers on the pitch, which is exactly what Spurs need at the back.

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This is why Zabarnyi, if Spurs can get a deal done, would be an even better signing than Kudus, who is coming off a disappointing season and may not hit the ground running as an instant star, as the Bournemouth gem could do based on his form last term.

“I can promise you, they [are] going to get looked after amazingly well. The young cricket fans adore them”

Alex Malcolm31-Oct-2024Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes India will get looked after “amazingly well” if they travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in February next year and reckons it would be a great thing for cricket.”I think whatever I’m reading, there are positive vibes from [the] Indian government and [the] BCCI,” Akram said. “I also read somewhere they will play probably all their games in Lahore. They will probably come to Lahore and travel [back] the same night. I’m all for it, as long as India is comfortable.”And I can promise you, they [are] going to get looked after amazingly well. I mean, Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, [Hardik] Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, they have fans in Pakistan. The young cricket fans adore them.”Related

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains intent on hosting the entire Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan between February 19 and March 9. It has even proposed to have all of India’s matches take place in Lahore, which is close to the Indian border and makes logistics and security hurdles less complicated. The PCB also said that it would grant about 17,000 visas to Indian fans who wanted to follow their team. The final will be held in Lahore, as will any semi-final that India play, if they qualify.Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s six-match ODI and T20I tour of Australia that begins on Monday, Akram was hopeful India would come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.”People-to-people contact is very important in this day and age,” he said. “In this social media age, there’s so much negativity all over the world, unnecessary negativity in my opinion, and I think if India come, it will be great for cricket, and of course, it’ll be great for Pakistan too.”India have not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008, and the UAE is believed to be the likeliest – though not only – alternate venue should any part of the Champions Trophy be moved out. The BCCI did not send a team to Pakistan last year for the Asia Cup, prompting the tournament to be shifted to a hybrid model with the latter stages played in Sri Lanka.But Pakistan did travel to India right after that for the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they missed out on a semi-final spot.Earlier this month, the ECB’s chief executive Richard Gould and chair Richard Thompson, said that there are “lots of different alternatives and contingencies available” in the event that India do not travel to Pakistan, raising the possibility of a hybrid model being used.The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams, with two groups of four, followed by semi-finals and a final. The competing teams are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

Leeds United were not short of goals last season in their sensational Championship campaign. The Whites were the dominant side in England’s second tier, reaching 100 points and finishing top of the table on goal difference, ahead of fellow centurions Burnley.

Daniel Farke’s side were the dominant team in front of goal, scoring 24 more goals than any other side. In total, they found the back of the net 95 times, and it was that clinical instinct that helped them become the dominant force they were last term.

After already signing one attacker this summer, Felix Nmecha, now the Yorkshire side are looking to add to their depth in forward areas by dipping into the transfer market once again.

Leeds' next attacking target

With Nmecha already through the door, Leeds’ focus has shifted to wingers. They failed in a bid to sign Igor Paixao from Feyenoord, with the 25-year-old making the move to French side Marseille. Interestingly, this could have opened the door for Leeds’ next move to materialise.

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According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Farke’s side are looking to bring Marseille and England under-21 international Jonathan Rowe to the club.

Having targeted him last summer before his move to France, they are now ‘reigniting their pursuit’ of the former Norwich City star.

Described as a ‘key objective for the 2025 summer window’, a move for 22-year-old Rowe is not going to be straightforward. Leeds are one of four Premier League sides that want to sign the forward this summer, with Marseille said to be looking for a fee of £17m.

Why Rowe would be a good signing

After impressing in the Championship for Norwich a couple of seasons ago, Rowe got his big move to Ligue 1. In a Marseille shirt, he showed great promise under former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Last term, the London-born winger played 30 games for the nine-time French champions, scoring three times and assisting four. However, he managed just 846 minutes, equivalent to nine full 90-minute games, resulting in an impressive average of 0.7 goal involvements per game.

The Norwich academy graduate previously shone in the 2023/24 Championship campaign. Playing on both the left and right wing, he scored 12 goals and assisted twice in 32 appearances, including this sublime strike against Hull City on the opening day of the season.

He showed that he’s “got that bit of magic” for the Canaries, as noted by then-teammate Shane Duffy. Could he well have shades of Raphinha about him?

If Farke had the pick of any former attacker to add to his squad this season, he’d surely choose the former Stade Rennais star.

The Brazilian has been sensational for Barcelona this term, with their manager Hansi Flick saying “he’s in the running” for the Ballon d’Or.

Before his big move to La Liga, the Brazilian spent two memorable seasons at Leeds. He played 67 times for the club, scoring 17 goals and assisting 12.

His final goal came away to Brentford on the last day of the 2021/22 season, which helped keep his side in the Premier League.

Well, Farke can’t have Raphinha this term, but there are similarities between a deal for Rowe, and one for the Barca star back in 2020. Not only would the pair have both moved to Elland Road from Ligue 1, but they can both operate on each flank and as a number nine.

Statistically, they put up strikingly similar numbers from their sole seasons in France. As per FBref, Marseille star Rowe averaged two key passes and 3.33 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to 2.11 key passes and 3.11 progressive carries each game for Raphinha.

Goals and assists

0.67

0.44

Key passes

2

2.11

Shot-creating actions

4.24

4.39

Goal-creating actions

0.78

0.26

Progressive carries

3.33

3.11

Take-ons completed

2.22

2.32

The stats suggest that Rowe could become Farke’s own Raphinha. Not only would both players have joined from France’s top flight, but the stats behind those campaigns are remarkably similar, as is the versatility they offer.

For just £17m, this could be a fantastic way for Leeds to upgrade their side and add more threat in attack at Elland Road.

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