Newcastle United are one of the clubs "showing the greatest interest" in Bayern Munich's exciting young midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, but a deal may prove difficult, claims journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Ryan Gravenberch joining Newcastle United?

It was a fantastic season for the Magpies last year. Not only did they reach the Carabao Cup final, but they also qualified for the Champions League for the first time in over two decades and did so with ease come the end of the campaign.

With European football secured for next year and a level of wealth unmatched by even Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, fans and pundits expected the Toon to finally splash the cash in a significant way this summer. While they haven't spent as flagrantly as they probably could, some brilliant players have already made their way to the Northeast this summer.

The first major signing for Eddie Howe's team was that of Sandro Tonali, who joined from Serie A giants – and his boyhood club – AC Milan for a cool £55m.

The arrival of the Italian international certainly felt like a seminal moment for this new Newcastle side. Not only had they secured the signature of a highly sought-after international, they had prised him from a team that had won the league in Italy just over one year ago – and did so with little difficulty.

The next big name to arrive at St James Park was Leicester City's Harvey Barnes, who joined from the relegated side for a fee of around £39m, which, while not cheap, could represent excellent value should the 25-year-old replicate his Foxes form up north.

However, even with these two brilliant signings, Newcastle look like they will be adding yet more quality in the coming weeks, as Italian reports from back in May claimed that the Toon were preparing a bid of around €50m (£44m) to land Bayern's highly rated Dutch youngster Gravenberch.

The Dutch international made the move to Bavaria just last summer in a deal worth up to £20m but having started just three Bundesliga games since then, an exit looks increasingly likely, but Newcastle shouldn't rest on their laurels here as the Guardian reported that fellow Premier League side Liverpool were also interested in the player last week.

What has Rudy Galetti said about Newcastle United and Ryan Gravenberch?

Galetti explained that the Toon were one of several clubs interested in the youngsters' services, but any deal to sign him would likely take quite some time.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Newcastle are also still looking for a new midfielder and are one of the clubs that have shown the greatest interest in him so far.

"Anyway, any negotiation for Gravenberch, for sure, will take time, and it won't be that fast."

How good is Ryan Gravenberch?

Interestingly, Rafael van der Vaart stated that Gravenberch is "better than Jude Bellingham. At everything", which is high praise coming from a former Premier League star.

There is no getting around the fact that last season was a poor one for the 21-year-old, who is a part of the Raiola agency.

Starting just three Bundesliga games and racking up only 562 minutes across the entire campaign has not done his development or profile any good.

That said, the interest from top sides such as the Reds and the Magpies should be evidence enough that elite clubs are still interested in the player and still view him as a potential future star, and it's not hard to see why when looking at his seasons before his move to Munich.

His two stand-out campaigns for Dutch giants Ajax came in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, when he achieved a seriously impressive season rating of 7.29 and 7.33, respectively, per WhoScored.

Interestingly, despite his limited game time for the Bundesliga champions over the last 12 months, his underlying numbers remain impressive and suggest that he may have been somewhat unlucky on the pitch and deserving of more game time from his coaches.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Amsterdam-born gem sits in the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes received, the top 14% for non-penalty expected goal, the top 15% for total shots, and the top 18% for successful take-ons, all per 90.

He has also won plaudits from analysts and former players, with Jacek Kulig proclaiming him a "top-talent" and former Ajax forward Wim Kieft writing in De Telegraaf (via the Liverpool Echo) that Gravenberch was "the greatest talent in the Netherlands."

There is still a great deal of hope that the young Dutchman, who allegedly earns £194k per week, can eventually live up to the outrageously high expectations so many once had of him, and maybe the best place to do that is at the high-flying Newcastle.

Chelsea has kickstarted their multi-club project by purchasing a majority stake in Strasbourg.

Todd Boehly said this move is a method to make sure “we can show pathways for our young superstars to get onto the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time”.

As well as the Blues’ gloriously talented academy, the purchase of another club can act as another developmental agency, where products can be guaranteed regular game-time away from the English capital.

This practice follows the vastly successful model that has been deployed by Manchester City’s parent company, the City Football Group, and Brighton, who also own Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise, where the wonderful Kaoru Mitoma enjoyed a successful loan spell.

With Chelsea now able to use the same tactic, one of the first beneficiaries could be Elye Wahi.

What’s the latest on Elye Wahi to Chelsea?

According to RMC Sport, Chelsea is set to make an offer of around €32m (£28m) including bonuses for the Montepellier livewire.

If successful, the 2021 Champions League winners would send the 20-year-old to Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in Wahi but are yet to initiate any formal contact.

Mauricio Pochettino already possesses Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and Armando Broja so trying to squeeze Wahi into a squad that isn’t playing European football would be illogical.

Another year of regular minutes in a league to which he is accustomed is a logical plan and could Chelsea in a devilish position next summer.

Is Elye Wahi a good signing for Chelsea?

The Frenchman has just enjoyed the most productive year of his career to date, netting 19 times in 33 Ligue 1 outings at a rate of 0.68 goals per 90.

His impressive campaign included a spell-binding performance against Lyon back in May. In a 5-4 loss, the forward netted four goals from 1.31 xG (expected goals).

This commendable goal-scoring record places the youngster within the best 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals per 90, and he has forged an esteemed reputation throughout his homeland.

Ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo has described Wahi as “powerful” and “athletic”, with a “range of dribbling skills.”

This summer, it seems that Chelsea is making a habit of targeting Ligue 1’s most talented prodigies, with the English Giant also chasing Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.

The playmaker could cost the Blues around £34m, but he’s already been earmarked as one of the world’s most exciting assets.

Since he made his debut, the dazzling technician has consistently broken records.

In the last few years, he has become: the youngest scorer in Lyon history (aged 16 years and 140 days versus Bourg-en-Bresse Peronnas in the Coupe de France in 2020), the youngest player to play in a Champions League semi-final (aged 17 years and 3 days in the 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in 2020), and the second-youngest Ligue 1 scorer for Lyon (aged 17 years and 258 days against Monaco in May 2021).

However, last term was his most productive and influential as he notched ten goal involvements in 21 Ligue 1 starts.

As well as this ruthless efficiency, he was just one of nine players and the only U23, to record more than 100 progressive passes and 100 progressive carries.

As Chelsea pursues its relentless quest to source the globe’s best young players, Wahi and Cherki would be a phenomenal way to continue this trend.

West Ham United are still on the lookout for Declan Rice's midfield replacement, two weeks on from their captain departing for Arsenal in a British-record deal.

Who are West Ham signing to replace Declan Rice?

David Moyes' side have been linked with countless midfielders in the weeks before and since Rice's exit, namely Fulham's Joao Palhinha, Everton's Amadou Onana and Juventus' Denis Zakaria.

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is another name that refuses to go away, even if the England international is not strictly a like-for-like replacement for Rice in terms of their playing style.

According to The Guardian, West Ham are looking to bring in two midfielders with the windfall they received through Rice's sale, and have now stepped up their interest in Ward-Prowse.

How many free-kicks has James Ward-Prowse scored?

Southampton are said to value Ward-Prowse in the region of £40m, which is a large fee on the face of it considering the Saints were relegated to the Championship last season.

The 28-year-old boasts plenty of Premier League experience, however, having played 343 times at that level since making his Southampton debut in the competition on the opening day of the 2012/13 season.

Ward-Prowse has also played 11 times for England – though not since last year – and has scored a couple of goals in heavy wins over Andorra and San Marino in 2021.

With nine goals and four assists in a poor Southampton side last season, Ward-Prowse ranks in the top 13% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, as per The Analyst.

The Portsmouth native is also in the top 15% for chances created, showing that he is more than capable of doing a job in the Premier League, even if he was captain of a relegated side last time out.

Three of those nine goals were scored via direct free-kicks – the most of any player in the Premier League last season. Indeed, only Manchester United legend David Beckham (18) has scored more than Ward-Prowse in the competition's history.

That ability to both score and pick out a team-mate from set-pieces would be a major asset for Moyes, and would also bring back memories of fan favourite – at the time, at least – Dimitri Payet.

Payet has scored 14 direct free-kicks in his career, as per Transfermarkt, six of those during his 18 months at West Ham.

Indeed, after a run of netting via that method for club and country in 2016, Payet revealed he had stopped practising them on the training ground as there was no way to further improve his technique.

It is not too dissimilar in the case of Ward-Prowse, with former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously hailing the midfielder as a "quality" player whose set-piece prowess was – and is, for now – "such a good weapon" for the Saints.

That is not the only similarity between the two players, either. Taking Payet's only full season at West Ham in 2015/16 and potentially Ward-Prowse's final season with Southampton last time out into account, the pair each scored nine Premier League goals.

The only notable difference is in attitude, with Ward-Prowse very much a team player. While he may not be able to replace Rice on his own, the Englishman can at least bring a bit of the past back to the London Stadium should he arrive.

Leicester City are "in the mix" for securing the signature of Manchester City's highly rated Cole Palmer for a season-long loan deal, claims journalist Ben Jacobs

Is Cole Palmer joining Leicester City this summer?

There is no escaping from the fact that the last year has been nothing short of a total disaster for Premier League-winning Leicester, a disaster that culminated in relegation from the top flight.

That said, since relegation was confirmed, the Foxes have been working hard to prepare their squad for life in the second tier, with the club welcoming four new players to the King Power as some of their stars have gone the other way.

Of their new arrivals, it's probably been Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Winks and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Conor Coady that have sparked the most excitement as the pair of them could probably have found moves to stay in the Premier League had they wished to do so.

Another of the new faces is Manchester City youngster Callum Doyle, who has made his way to the East Midlands for a season-long loan to try and make a name for himself before going back to Manchester and fighting for a place in possibly the greatest team the top flight has ever seen.

It looks like the Foxes are trying to maximise new manager Enzo Maresca's connection to the Cityzens, as journalist Alan Nixon has reported that they are now looking to bring striker Palmer to the King Power as well next season.

It won't be an easy deal to pull off, however, as the likes of Burnley – with Vincent Kompany's connection – and Brighton & Hove Albion are both interested in signing the £20,000-a-week gem on loan as well.

That said, the club remain in the "mix" to secure his signature.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Leicester City and Cole Palmer?

Jacobs confirmed that the Foxes were indeed interested in the player but that it could be problematic with clubs from the Premier League also keen to sign him.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "I think Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion are also there. So, there is significant transfer interest, and Leicester will be in the mix there, but he will also have Premier League options.

"So, it will be intriguing to see what happens with that one."

How good is Cole Palmer?

Despite being just a fringe player for City over recent seasons and getting limited minutes to show the world what he can do, Palmer has still managed to impress with the time he's had.

Just last month, he played a leading role in England's triumph at the U21 European Championship, playing five games, scoring one goal and providing three assists while achieving an average rating of 7.26 per Sofascore.

Despite getting limited minutes under Pep Guardiola, the Spaniard is clearly a big fan of the 21-year-old, saying:

"Cole has a special quality in front of the box that is difficult to find."

His underlying numbers are also really impressive and indicate that he could become an outstanding player with a proper run in a team.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 1% for non-penalty expected goals, total shots, progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches in the oppositions penalty area, and progressive passes received, all per 90.

If Leicester can convince Palmer to join them next season, they could well be back in the Premier League in no time at all.

يستعد فريق ليفربول لخوض مباراة اليوم ضد فولهام، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، 2023/24.

تأتي تلك المباراة في إطار لقاءات الجولة الرابعة والثلاثين من الدوري الإنجليزي، على ملعب “كرافين كوتاج”.

ويحتل ليفربول حاليًا المركز الثالث في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 71 نقطة، في حين أن فولهام لديه 42 نقطة في المركز الثاني عشر.

وخسر ليفربول في الجولة الماضية أمام كريستال بالاس بهدف دون رد على ملعب “الأنفيلد” قبل توديعه منافسات الدوري الأوروبي بأيام على يد أتالانتا من ربع النهائي. موعد مباراة ليفربول وفولهام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 5:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6:30 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة ليفربول وفولهام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1. معلق مباراة ليفربول وفولهام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

سيعلق خليل البلوشي على أحداث المباراة اليوم.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their transfer plans for the remainder of the summer window as they prepare for the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Turkish reporter Ahmet Konanç, the Hoops remain active in the race to sign Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic as Brendan Rodgers eyes a swoop for the World Cup sensation.

He has claimed that the Scottish giants are competing with Fenerbahce to secure the 28-year-old titan's signature, whilst the Super Lig side are now in contact with Paris Saint-Germain's Keylor Navas as an alternative option.

This comes as a twist to the tale as Fabrizio Romano reported on the 16th of July that a €9m (£7.7m) deal had been agreed between the Turkish team and Dinamo.

They have failed to get that move over the line in the subsequent ten days and Celtic are seemingly now interested in an attempt to usurp Fenerbahce before the deadline.

How good is Dominik Livakovic?

The 6 foot 2 colossus enjoyed a terrific 2022/23 campaign for club and country and his performances suggest that he would be far better for the Hoops than current no.1 Joe Hart.

For the Croatian giants, Livakovic averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 35 SuperSport HNL matches. He saved 74% of the shots on his goal and did not make a single error leading to a shot or goal for the opposition in that time.

The 6 foot 2 shot-stopper also caught the eye with his performances in Europe. An average Sofascore rating of 6.98 in six Champions League games placed him third within his club's squad.

However, his heroics at the 2022 World Cup for Croatia were arguably the most impressive part of his season.

He averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.33 across seven appearances at the tournament, in which time he saved 78% of the shots against him and did not make a single blunder leading to an opposition shot or goal.

Livakovic also saved a penalty from Real Madrid's Rodrygo in a shootout to help his country knock Brazil out of the competition, which came after teammate Luka Modric hailed him as "miraculous" for his three shootout stops against Japan in the previous round.

Hart, on the other hand, struggled at times for Celtic.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 across 37 Scottish Premiership outings and saved 65% of the shots on his goal to go along with four direct mistakes leading to shots by the other team.

The former England international also endured a dismal Champions League campaign with an average Sofascore rating of 6.23, which placed him bottom of the 22-man squad. During those six matches, the ex-Manchester City saved just 52% of the efforts on target and made one error directly leading to an opposition goal.

These statistics indicate that the Dinamo star would arrive as a far better option than Hart for Rodgers based on their form for their respective club, and country in the Croatian gem's case, last season.

Livakovic has showcased his ability to perform consistently at a considerably more impressive level by saving a higher percentage of the shots against him and being less of a liability between the sticks when it comes to making mistakes.

Newcastle United are reportedly targeting a move for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Jesper Lindstrom this summer, with the Bundesliga club expecting his departure in the current window.

The midfielder would join Sandro Tonali as another fresh face in the middle of the park for the Magpies.

What's the latest on Jesper Lindstrom to Newcastle United?

Newcastle United are eyeing a move for Lindstrom, who would cost €30-35m (£26-30m) this summer, according to Frankfurter Rundschau, via Sport Witness.

The Magpies are reportedly leading the way as the most interested party with their move for the midfielder, but aren't alone in their pursuit, with Arsenal and Juventus also interested in making a move for the 23-year-old.

Eintracht Frankfurt expect Lindstrom to leave this summer amid interest from across Europe, which could see Newcastle complete a move in the coming weeks, as we get closer to the start of the Premier League season.

Their interest comes as a slight surprise, given that they have already welcomed a midfielder in the form of Tonali this summer, but with Champions League football to contend with next season, added depth won't go amiss for Eddie Howe's side. It's certainly a deal to keep an eye on as the summer transfer window ticks by.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

Still only 23, Lindstrom could get even better with his next move, whether that is at Newcastle or not. Last season, he enjoyed yet another impressive season for Frankfurt, scoring nine goals and assisting a further four from a range of positions.

Primarily a midfielder, the Dane can also play on the wing or in more advanced positions up alongside or tucked in behind the striker. With plenty to play for next season, Howe would undoubtedly appreciate a player who can play a range of positions. All it takes is one look at his work with Joelinton to really highlight how the manager gets the best out of versatile players.

Lindstrom has impressed many in the Bundesliga too, with Kevin Trapp saying, via HITC: “Jesper is still very young but is a huge talent.

“He shows it now more often. He’s (playing at) a high level, he’s on top form. The goal he scored last week against Leverkusen was beautiful and I guess he has a lot of confidence right now.”

Statistically speaking, the Frankfurt man has the look of a player who could step into a Howe side. According to FBref, Lindstrom actually outplayed Joelinton in some areas, making more progressive carries and attempting more take-ons than the current Newcastle midfielder.

The 23-year-old would only push on further at St James' Park, too, resulting in the development of an excellent option in a range of positions for Newcastle. For a fairly low fee, too, Lindstrom would be a risk-free deal in many ways, perhaps making it a no-brainer for the Magpies.

As they gear up to do even better than last season, taking on the Champions League, in the process, Newcastle will hope to add more reinforcements before the end of the window. If they get the right players in this summer, then they'll be right up there in the Premier League once again.

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2017
Scorecard</aGloucestershire's players run out at Cheltenham College•Getty ImagesGloucestershire maintained their unbeaten start to the NatWest t20 Blast season with a six wicket victory over Kent at Cheltenham College.Having tied with Middlesex in a thrilling game last Friday, Michael Klinger's side went one better thanks to four wickets for 29 runs from Benny Howell and useful knocks from Phil Mustard, Ian Cockbain and Cameron Bancroft.Kent made a decent start after being put in to bat thanks to Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond. However, when that pair were parted at 45 for 1 in the sixth over, it was Gloucestershire who took the game by the scruff of the neck.Denley followed Bell-Drummond back to the pavilion 11 runs later when he was well caught by Tom Smith on the deep square leg boundary.From 56 for 2, Kent slipped unceremoniously to 87 for 5 in the 12th over with Sam Northeast holing out to Smith, again on the deep square leg boundary. James Neesham edged Chris Liddle to wicket keeper Mustard and when Alex Blake handed Smith a third catch, Kent were struggling.They appeared to be limping towards a rather modest total but Sam Billings and sixth wicket partner Darren Stevens had a different idea. Although Gloucestershire continued to bowl and field well, they progressed at 10 an over until Matt Taylor took a fine catch at backward squareoff the bowling of Howell to send back Billings for 36.Howell, who had already taken the wickets of Northeast and Denly, added his fourth scalp before the end of the 17th over when Matt Coles holed out to Jack Taylor at long on for a first ball duck.Benny Howell wrecked Kent's top order•Getty ImagesFrom that juncture, Kent limped to 152 for 8, leaving Gloucestershire a total that was always well within their grasp.Openers Klinger and Mustard provided the perfect platform on which the hosts could build. The pair kept the board moving in the opening overs, with Mustard punishing anything up to the bat. They were eventually separated when James Tredwell bowled Klinger for 13 in the sixth overCockbain and Mustard added 41 for the second wicket before the latter carelessly drove T20 debutant Imran Qayyum to midwicket where Northeast took a smart catch.Although Coles took an even better catch – one handed – to dismiss Cockbain for 31 at 108 for 3, Gloucestershire had already batted themselves within sight of victory.Qayyum and Coles did their bit to claw Kent back into the game and the former bowled particularly well from the Chapel End, however, Bancroft once again proved his worth and with Howell batting as well as he bowled, the result was never really in doubt.The pair added 40 for the fourth wicket and helped Gloucestershire to victory with six wickets and five balls in hand.

Chelsea have been fairly ruthless with their transfer business so far this summer, having brought in a couple of top talents in Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku while at the same time offloading plenty of deadwood.

However, the Blues are seemingly stalling over whether to bring in another forward – and if so, what type of player exactly should they be going for?

Who are Chelsea's current strikers?

Nkunku and Jackson will battle it out to be Mauricio Pochettino's go-to man up top next season, though there is also a chance that both could be shoehorned into the side.

Assuming Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are each moved on, as is widely expected, the Argentine head coach would be left with Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk to choose from in the attacking areas.

Signing another forward would not be the worst decision, then, though Chelsea do not necessarily need to spend big on another player who will only be happy if playing every single match. After all, that will just cause disharmony in the squad, as was the case last season.

As rumours linking Premier League heavyweights Chelsea with Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic refuse to go away, ESPN reports that the Blues are also now monitoring highly rated Montpellier centre-forward Elye Wahi.

Is Elye Wahi a good player?

Wahi is far from an unknown player given that he has played 84 times for Montpellier in Ligue 1, including 33 appearances last season as La Paillade finished 12th.

The 20-year-old whiz scored 19 goals and assisted a further five in those 33 outings.

Those 24 direct goal involvements put Wahi on a par with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, while only six others in the French top flight Kylian Mbappe (34) and Lionel Messi (32) among them – were involved in more.

As per The Analyst, the Montpellier goal machine ranks in the top 11% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored last season – and all this while still aged just 20.

For context, Vlahovic – who it is looking increasingly likely is a major target for Chelsea – ranks only in the top 26% in that same metric.

The Serbia international scored (10) and assisted (two) 12 goals in 27 Serie A appearances for Juventus last time out.

ESPN reports that Wahi could be available for £26m this summer, which is under half the amount Juventus want for Vlahovic, according to Foot Mercato.

Vlahovic would of course be a huge asset for Chelsea, but his numbers have steadily declined since he joined Juve from Fiorentina in January 2022.

The 23-year-old recorded 0.92 goals or assists every 90 minutes in the first half of the 2021/22 season with Fiorentina, as per FBref, but that dropped to 0.67 in the second half of the same season whilst with Juve, and to 0.56 in his only full campaign at the Allianz Stadium.

Wahi's numbers are only getting better with time, meanwhile, with the French youngster – described as "powerful, athletic and fast" by ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo – surely the better fit as part of Pochettino's Chelsea revolution.

Having warmed the bench in the Champions Trophy, Ajinkya Rahane has said he was eager to perform well in the Caribbean

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-20173:14

‘Perfect innings for me as an opening batsman’ – Rahane

Before the five-match series in the Caribbean, Ajinkya Rahane last played an ODI against England in January 2017. With a fit-again Rohit Sharma reuniting with Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order in the Champions Trophy and Kedar Jadhav bedding into the middle order and providing handy offspin, Rahane was benched for each of India’s five matches in their run to the Champions Trophy final.The decision to rest Rohit for the West Indies then tour paved the way for Rahane’s recall in the XI. Opening the batting with Shikhar Dhawan, Rahane made three successive fifty-plus scores, including a hundred in the second ODI in Port of Spain. His latest contribution – a measured 72 off 112 balls in the third game in Antigua – laid the groundwork for India securing a 2-0 lead in the series. After warming the bench in England, Rahane has said he is keen to ‘make it count’ in the Caribbean.”When I was not playing in the Champions Trophy I was focussing on my fitness training as well as my batting,” he said. “It is good to learn something or the other about your batting and about your fitness as well but when we came here I was hungry and wanted to do well. I was batting well in the nets here as well as in England. So, I wanted to make it count.”Rahane scored 19 off the first 19 balls he faced, but slowed down later on a sluggish pitch. His strike-rate of 64.28 was the second-slowest since 2010 for openers batting first and facing 110 balls.”That was a perfect innings for me as an opening batsman,” Rahane said. “Even before that game I got 62 runs [in the first ODI] and I was batting really well. In the second game I wanted to make it really count, the century felt really good.”Rahane, though, wasn’t flustered about his underwhelming strike-rate on Friday and insisted that sussing out the conditions was the key. “I can make up for it [slow start]. This wicket was completely different,” he said. “I do practice different shots in the nets but in the game situation you have to read the conditions and play according to that. I was completely comfortable in the middle. I knew I took some time but I knew if I stay there I can make it count in the end. I was not worried at all and I don’t take things for granted.”MS Dhoni and Kedhar Jadhav then built on Rahane’s work and smashed 81 together in 46 balls to lead India to 251 for 4. Rahane said that the late blows were vital in stretching India’s total by an extra 20 runs.”Kedar is a completely different player. He is aggressive, he likes to play his shots, express himself,” Rahane said. “Today was the perfect situation for him, last 8-10 overs, just go out there and express himself. I felt that partnership between Mahi bhai and Kedar was very important. We were looking to score 225-230 but we got 20 extra runs in the end.”