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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has a reputation for doing work on numerous transfer targets before eventually formalising that interest, and the Italian currently has many different avenues he’s exploring right now.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as confirmed by the reliable David Ornstein and others, despite the player’s cryptic comments recently, is closing in on a move to Arsenal with all details of the deal agreed.

Star's agents fume over rejected Arsenal bid amid "constant contact"

The Gunners are in touch all of the time.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 14, 2025

Arsenal regard the 26-year-old’s capture as “done and signed”, with Real Madrid posing no threat after all following their decision to back off in the race for Zubimendi, coming as fantastic news for Mikel Arteta.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is also poised to join Arsenal as David Raya’s understudy, and now that the Spanish duo appear on their way to N5, attention is turning to Berta’s pursuit of a winger and striker.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal talks remain ongoing for RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko, while some reports claim the north Londoners are preparing another offer for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, after their opening bid was rejected (Mais Futebol).

Berta has apparently been working to discover the conditions of deals for both Sesko and Gyokeres before deciding which deal would suit Arsenal best (BBC), so it is little surprise we’re seeing leaks of serious Arsenal talks for the strikers.

Arsenal are also chasing a new winger, and £170,000-per-week Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams remains on their agenda.

Arsenal approach Nico Williams with Berta ready to pay release clause

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, despite reports to the contrary, the 22-year-old’s release clause is actually £53 million.

Nevertheless, Sport’s information is that Arsenal are ready to pay the £53 million for Williams, and are making “real moves” by knocking on his door. Berta is also ready to offer the Spain international a marquee salary, but there is an err of caution, as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are prepared to do exactly the same.

Intriguingly, Williams’ ideal plan is to remain in Spain and join Barcelona. His agent, Felix Tainta, even held crucial talks with Barca sporting director Deco this week to explore a potential move to the Camp Nou.

However, while the Catalans were keen on Williams last summer, Sport suggests he won’t have much luck this time around, given Barca’s priority attacking signing is actually Liverpool star Luis Diaz.

Arsenal’s willingness to meet both Bilbao’s release clause and pay Williams a large salary could open the door for Arteta’s side to tempt the exciting wide player with a move to the Premier League instead, and former Chelsea boss José Mourinho’s plaudits suggest he could be worth the effort.

“Nico is unique, he is wonderful,” Mourinho said. “During the European Championship, people were talking a lot about Lamine Yamal, who is obviously another wonderful kid, but I personally prefer Nico.”

Newcastle United are active in the hunt for reinforcements and internal discussions are ongoing at St James’ Park over a potential move for an exciting attacker, according to a report.

Newcastle United discover opening Premier League fixtures

The Premier League fixture schedule has landed ahead of the new campaign, and it is fair to say Magpies fans will be salivating over the prospect of their side being back in competitive action.

Facing Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Liverpool within their first few matches won’t be easy, but there will be plenty of confidence within the camp that a strong platform can be built ahead of another enthralling season.

With a trip to Villa Park first up, intrigue will start to grow over potential activity in the North East over the next couple of months. Simon Jordan believes Newcastle’s position of relative strength should be more of a talking point as they gear up to go to battle in the top-flight.

He stated: “I think the answer to the question is where is there not an intriguing story? Look around the league. Look at all the teams that are in there. Look at Newcastle.

“Newcastle are now in the Champions League. They have got the spending restrictions probably back into play now and they can go again hard.”

Joao Pedro has emerged as a key target for Newcastle in their mission to juggle domestic football and Champions League participation, with talks open over a move for the Brazil international.

Roma’s Evan Ndicka could join Howe’s revolution, but it appears that extending their pool of depth across the front four position has become the main priority for the Geordies if recent reports are anything to go by.

Newcastle discuss West Ham United man Mohammed Kudus

According to The Athletic, Newcastle have internally discussed a move for West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus amid uncertainty over his future at the London Stadium.

Previously, reports came to light detailing that Magpies owners PIF feel they can afford a swoop for Kudus as a cheaper alternative to Brentford star Bryan Mbuemo.

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The Ghana international has a release clause of around £75 million. However, it is widely acknowledged that he won’t move for as high a fee, and Newcastle appear to have taken encouragement due to the fact his name has been mentioned in the corridors of power.

Labelled “brilliant” by Graham Potter, Kudus registered five goals and four assists last campaign in 35 appearances across all competitions, which isn’t bad going given the Hammers endured a disappointing season.

Making his presence known in attack, the 24-year-old created 31 chances in the Premier League and fits the bill as a versatile attack-minded addition for Howe due to his ability to function on either flank or through the middle.

Newcastle’s targets are beginning to evolve this window and Kudus is now near the front of their mind amid his potential availability.

Liverpool are in the market for forwards this summer, and they’ve already agreed a £100m deal for Florian Wirtz (which could rise to a British-record £116m).

Wirtz, 22, is a “truly generational talent”, as per sports media professional Cristian Nyari, and he’s only going to get better, having led Bayer Leverkusen to the 2023/24 Bundesliga title (winning the division’s Player of the Year), and breathing life into his side whenever he collects the ball, gambolling his way into the danger area.

Liverpool have got themselves a player, all right, and Arne Slot now has an elite-level playmaker in the attacking third of the field – all the more important with Trent Alexander-Arnold signing for Real Madrid.

Though FSG would like to turn their attention toward the front of the pitch, there’s little question that a replacement for Luis Diaz would need to be sourced, should he leave this summer.

It’s for this reason that rumours have gathered apace regarding Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon

Last summer, Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Gordon as Newcastle sweated over PSR; after failing to qualify for Europe, the Magpies were forced to stare at their jewels and decide which to sell.

Liverpool were curious, but Newcastle found other ways to offset their troubles, selling more outlying members of Eddie Howe’s squad.

Now, the Merseysiders are keen once again, and Newcastle might be open to selling if their £100m valuation is met.

Liverpool are hardly going to meet such exorbitant demands, but if Diaz does leave, with suitors in Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League, then Reds intrigue in their former academy member, who left and joined Everton when he was 11, could take a more solid shape.

Would Liverpool be getting bang for their buck by signing Gordon for such a figure? Would they really? What about an alternative, one who would arrive for a similar fee but pack a far meatier punch under Slot’s wing?

Liverpool leading race for Diaz heir

Liverpool could sign an even bigger talent than Gordon if they advance their long-standing interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with Spanish reports claiming that the Brazilian forward could be sold for €90m (£77m) this summer.

More to the point, the Anfield side are considered alongside Manchester City to be the favourites in the race for the talented winger, though further Premier League sides are keen. Arsenal, in previous reports, have been credited with an interest.

Coming off the back of a difficult year, both Slot and Pep Guardiola believe a poor Club World Cup campaign could leave Rodrygo isolated, and with his valuation slashed toward a more agreeable €75m (£64m) ballpark.

How Rodrygo would perform for Slot

Picture this: it’s a decade ago, and Liverpool have fallen by the wayside under Brendan Rodgers. The staple of Liverpool’s summer 2015 transfer window was the £32.5m acquisition of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa.

Ten years later and Liverpool are among the frontrunners for superstars like Rodrygo, having won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and plenty more across the intervening years.

It was over ten years ago that Liverpool released Gordon when he was a youngster, and though the England international is talented and a boyhood fan of the club, Rodrygo is the superior player, even if he only notched 14 goals and ten assists across 51 matches last season.

That’s not exactly a terrible haul, though the 24-year-old did only score six goals and six assists across the La Liga season, albeit missing just one big chance in front of goal, as per Sofascore, to emphasise his clinical ability.

The crux of Rodrygo’s Madrid malaise is that he’s routinely fielded out on the right, despite feeling the alternate flank as being his best position. Indeed, the right-footer has been far more prolific when playing as a left winger.

Right winger

29

7

4

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

0

0

The problem, however, is that Vinicius Junior holds down the fort in that area, with focal frontman Kylian Mbappe also preferring the left side to the right, as can be observed through his league season heatmap.

Given that Mohamed Salah is staying at Liverpool for the next two years, it hardly seems likely that Liverpool would make a marquee move and bring Rodrygo into the fold just for him to play second fiddle to the Egyptian.

Instead, he could replace Diaz, who, at 28, isn’t indispensable, and prove an upgrade on Gordon, with the 24-year-old also enduring something of a tough term in front of goal for the Toon, equal to Rodrygo in that he posted six goals and six assists in the Premier League.

As Liverpool plan to foray deep into next year’s Champions League knockout stage, putting themselves on a platform to claim number seven, Rodrygo would be the perfect fit, for his pedigree on the biggest stage speaks for itself.

Gordon failed to register a goal involvement across his six games in the 2023/24 Champions League, and while he’ll have the chance to rectify that over the coming year, Rodrygo is tried and tested, hailed as a “special striker” who can “play in all positions” by former Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti.

A fierce blend of speed, skills and strength, Rodrygo would be a statement signing for a Liverpool side who are undergoing a good amount of change this summer. While the Brazil star would be a new part, he’d arrive with a wealth of experience at the highest level, and Slot’s sharp tactics would surely whip him back into an elite standard.

Slot's own Mane: Liverpool enter race to sign "unbelievable" £51m star

Liverpool are presented with a unique market opportunity to sign a talented youngster.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 16, 2025

Chelsea are not short of options in attack, and Enzo Maresca certainly has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. The Blues’ key man in forward areas is Cole Palmer, who, despite a lean run of form, has managed 14 goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season.

The other player to hit double figures for league goals is Nicolas Jackson, who has managed ten, as well as five assists. Noni Madueke has also surpassed ten goal involvements in the top flight, too, with 11 to be specific.

If reports are to be believed, the Blues are looking to add more attacking talents to their squad this summer.

Chelsea targeting another teen superstar

One of the most highly sought-after players in world football right now seems to be 17-year-old attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono. The River Plate star has caught the eye during his short career so far, and is now wanted by a multitude of clubs.

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According to a report from Clarin, via Sport Witness, Chelsea are one of the sides hoping to bring him into the club this summer, continuing their trend of raiding the South American market.

Fellow Premier League side Manchester United are also showing strong interest, and Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also believed to be considering a move.

Mastantuono has a reported release clause of £38m, and a move will likely happen when he turns 18 in the middle of August. River are reportedly looking to renew his contract, which could alter his release clause.

Why Mastantuono would be a good signing

Should the Blues manage to bring Mastantuono to the club, it would be another exciting young talent they have managed to add to their ranks. He has impressed in his short professional career for River, and has also been recognised by Argentina at under-20 level.

In 13 games in 2025 so far for the Argentine giants, he already has four goals and two assists to his name. He has featured for 997 minutes, and is currently averaging a goal involvement every 166 minutes, which is impressive for someone as inexperienced as he is.

The other standout thing to note about Mastantuono is his versatility. The River number 30, who is left-footed, can play as a right winger or a number ten, which is certainly something Maresca could lean upon at times.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson described the youngster as someone in the “Palmer mould”. However, he even goes on to make the claim that he is “he best of the lot”, suggesting Mastantono is someone to really get excited about.

Well, Chelsea fans have two young South American talents they can watch in action before too long. The Blues also signed Estevao Willian almost one year ago from Palmeiras, who will join the club for £29m this summer.

He has seven goals and one assist in all competitions in 2025, having featured in 23 matches for the Brazilian giants. Like Mastantuono, he is a hybrid between a winger and a number ten, able to play both positions.

Well, the pair could become a force to be reckoned with in a Chelsea shirt, over the next few seasons. The stats on FBref show just how good they are, and as a duo, they could become unstoppable.

One of the stats that sticks out is their creative passing numbers. Mastantuono averages 2.59 key passes and 5.47 shot-creating actions each game, with Estevao averaging 2.36 key passes and 4.03 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

Goals and assists

0.49

0.42

Key passes

2.59

2.36

Shot-creating actions

5.47

4.03

Carries into final third

3.33

3.33

Ball recoveries

3.33

4.44

There is no doubt that Mastantuono is an exciting talent. Not only do Europe’s biggest clubs want to sign him, but he is putting up excellent numbers in a River shirt already, and has some impressive underlying stats.

If this is a deal Chelsea manage to do, he could be a fantastic addition, and form a deadly partnership with Estevao at Stamford Bridge.

Big upgrade on Sancho: Chelsea confident of signing £35m "wonderkid"

Chelsea are looking to add to their attack before the Club World Cup

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 30, 2025

Everton are “working” on a potential deal for an “outstanding” defender in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Moyes eyeing new signings for Everton

The Toffees continue to be linked with possible new signings this summer, with Greece and Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis emerging as an exciting option to make David Moyes’ side more of an attacking force.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring a combined 21 goals in the Champions League and Primeira Liga, registering seven assists across those competitions.

Meanwhile, Everton have also been linked with a shock move for Liverpool winger Ben Doak at the end of the season, which would send shockwaves across Merseyside.

The Scot is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough and there is no guarantee that he has a long-term future at Anfield, which could lead to Everton pouncing for one of their rivals’ most exciting young players.

Whether the Reds would allow him to join their arch-rivals is up for debate, though.

Everton want to sign "outstanding" left-back

Speaking to Everton News, Bailey said that Everton want to sign Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin at the end of the season, with other Black Cats players also mentioned:

“They are one of the teams who are looking at Dennis Cirkin, the left-back at Sunderland. We know Crystal Palace and Tottenham like him.

“Obviously, Everton are looking at Sunderland with Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil. The Championship is a division which David Moyes knows very well.

“Cirkin is someone on their list, and they are doing work on the full-back position, I know that.”

Cirkin may be a Championship player, but he could be a great addition for Everton, having been such a consistent performer for Sunderland over an extended period.

Prior to this weekend’s action, the 23-year-old has scored three goals and bagged two assists in the league this season, highlighting the quality he can provide from left-back, which is five times the amount of goal contributions Vitalii Mykolenko had managed in the Premier League (zero goals and one assist).

Stat

Cirkin

Mykolenko

Appearances

34

29

Starts

29

29

Minutes played

2632

2544

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Clearances per game

2.6

4

Tackles per game

2.5

1.8

Aerial duel wins per game

1.2

1.5

Cirkin is a player with plenty of admirers, including former striker Sam Parkin, who has described him as an “outstanding” footballer, saying:

“I think he has been one of the most outstanding players in the division this season. When you watch him live, he is a very good athlete. I think he gets up and down; it is eye-catching, the way he moves with the ball, but his decision-making on the ball and his ability on the ball have been top-class this season.”

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BySean Markus Clifford Apr 11, 2025

At 23, Cirkin still has lots to offer, and the lure of the Premier League could be great if Sunderland fail to earn promotion, so Everton should be looking at him as an excellent option.

The India left-arm spinner has worked hard on channelling her aggression positively, and is now eyeing a T20 World Cup spot

Srinidhi Ramanujam05-May-2024Radha Yadav is a much calmer person these days. She admits she used to lose her rhythm because of her aggression earlier. But in the last year or so, the left-arm spinner has worked hard on channelling this aggression in a manner that yields good outcomes. This shift was visible in her performances in WPL 2024 which led to her earning a recall to the India squad for the tour of Bangladesh, five months ahead of the T20 World Cup.She has looked more assured than ever and has been “really enjoying” her game in Sylhet, where the five-match T20I series is being played. Three games in – all of which India have won – she has six wickets at an economy of 5 and an average of 10 to be the leading wicket-taker.”It’s quite similar to India, we get turn on this wicket – really, really enjoying [myself],” Radha said after India won the third T20I to take the series with two games to play. “We are really happy in the change room. The management has given us certain roles to follow, and we are doing it properly. Feeling happy.”Related

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Having found her way back to the India team after last playing an international game in February 2023, Radha has become a vital cog in the spin attack that also has Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil – the uncapped S Asha and another left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque are waiting for their chance.In two of the three matches, Radha has provided crucial breakthroughs, including two double-wicket overs. After 1 for 19 in the opening game, Radha starred with 3 for 19 in the second. In that game, the Bangladesh batters had started with good intent, keeping the scorecard moving despite losing two wickets in the powerplay. Radha then trapped captain Nigar Sultana and Fahima Khatun lbw in successive deliveries to leave Bangladesh four down by the end of the tenth over. This triggered a collapse as Bangladesh were bowled out for 119.In the third T20I, she once again dismissed Sultana and Shorifa Khatun in the space of three balls in the penultimate over to return 2 for 22 as Bangladesh posted a below-par 117.

“I try to stay calm, and I am generally very aggressive. Because of the aggression, I used to lose my rhythm at times. So, now I try to be calm with a smiling face”Radha Yadav

Radha became a regular in the India XI after making her T20I debut in 2018. However, there was a period of lull. From the start of 2022 till the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa, she played a total of 27 games and took just 16 wickets at an economy rate of 6.84. At the last T20 World Cup, she picked up three wickets in four games at an average of 30.33.The lean run stretched to WPL 2023 where she played for Delhi Capitals. While Capitals were largely unaffected by her performances – or the lack of them – as they finished runners-up, Radha was one of the few players to have fallen short. She lacked control and accuracy, getting just four wickets in nine games with an economy rate of 7.20.With Patil and Ishaque then getting into the India team, Radha moved down the pecking order. Away from the limelight, Radha streamlined her approach and focussed on staying calm in the heat of a cricket match.Radha was someone who tried to bowl at the stumps, but has now started to bowl wider lines too. She is also slower through the air at times, taking pace off to deprive the batters runs. Against Bangladesh, she has bowled 39 of her 72 balls outside off stump, though the ones that got her wickets were largely at the stumps.Radha Yadav was a very different bowler in WPL 2024•BCCIThe shift was on evidence in WPL 2024, where she bowled 79 of her 150 deliveries outside off stump and picked up five out of her ten wickets when pitching the ball away from the batters. With this, Radha also ended WPL 2024 as the fourth-highest wicket-taker as Capitals again finished runners-upRadha has learnt to use her aggression positively.During WPL 2024, she had revealed in a post-match chat with Jemimah Rodrigues that she used to search for “Virat Kohli aggression videos” on YouTube to keep herself pumped up.”I try to stay calm, and I am generally very aggressive. Because of the aggression, I used to lose my rhythm at times,” she explained. “So now, I try to be calm with a smiling face.”Since the start of 2019, Radha is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is, behind Deepti. She has worked her way out of a period of lull, and the new, improved version could work very well for India come the T20 World Cup in a few months’ time.

Allrounder heaps praise on head coach Aavishkar Salvi for his development as Punjab crush Baroda in Mumbai

Shashank Kishore15-Nov-2022Ramandeep Singh, the Punjab allrounder, had a moment to cherish on Tuesday when he picked up a hat-trick at the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Baroda. He finished with figures of 5 for 17 as Punjab shot out Baroda for 81 and then chased down the score with nine wickets in hand and 228 balls to spare in Mumbai.The match wasn’t televised, and those following it through scorecards would only know each of his three wickets in the hat-trick were “caught” by a fielder. Where was it caught? What balls did he bowl? What was his thought process? Here’s Ramandeep in his own words.Related

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“The first wicket, I got a little lucky,” he recalled to ESPNcricinfo. “I wanted to bowl an inswinger, but ended up straying down leg, and [Vishnu] Solanki flicked it straight to fine leg.”The second ball, I decided I’ll bowl short. On red-soil decks in Mumbai, if you hit the deck hard, you get good purchase. So, I knew if I bang it in properly and beat them for pace, I could have a chance if they went for a hook. He [Ninad Rathva] went for a hook and top-edged a catch to fine leg.”From the corner of his eye, as Ramandeep watched Ambati Rayudu take guard for the hat-trick ball, he decided to bluff the batter. The square leg fielder went back, fine leg remained where he was, and the field was positioned for a short ball.”I just had a hunch the short ball was probably at the back of his [Rayudu’s] mind, so I set fields for it, but wanted to bowl full and get the ball to move away. I happened to land it in the right area – bowled full, it nipped away a bit – and he nicked behind to our wicketkeeper Anmol Malhotra. I’ll remember the wicket because it happened to be a quality batter.”It’s all the more special because this is my first hat-trick at the senior level.”After the game, having done his job with the ball, Ramandeep went out range hitting at the Bandra Kurla Complex for a better part of the next hour before returning to his Mumbai hotel to take congratulatory calls.Among the first things he found out when he returned was that Kieron Pollard, the man who had given him his Mumbai Indians cap in Pune earlier this year, had retired from IPL. Ramandeep was, however, delighted to know Pollard wasn’t going anywhere and that he’d continue to be able to pick his brains when he joins the IPL camp in March.Ramandeep Singh was picked up by Mumbai Indians at last year’s auction•BCCIRamandeep is an allrounder, like Pollard. Until recently, he was a gentle 125kph “trundler” – in his own words. Last year, a 23-ball 54 against Odisha at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy proved to be a turning point as he was soon invited to trial with Mumbai Indians. At the February auction, Ramandeep was picked up at his base price of INR 20 lakh.Having made his way into the setup, he quickly realised the need to be multi-skilled and began working on his bowling. But it wasn’t until August this year, when Aavishkar Salvi, the former India fast bowler, took over as Punjab coach, that Ramandeep began working on his bowling seriously.”Among the first things he [Salvi] told me when he took over and watched me bowl in one or two training sessions is, ‘you can’t be a medium pacer. There’s no way you’re a part-timer. I will play you as a third pacer in the team. You’re that good. You should be bowling 140kph, not military medium. But I can’t make it happen unless you believe in yourself.'”No amount of praise is enough for him. Whatever issues I’ve had with my bowling, whether its rhythm or consistency, it’s a lot better now and it’s because he’s spent time and effort into making me the bowler I am. His simple message was: ‘don’t worry about looking for swing or nipping the ball around. You just focus on hitting the deck hard, you have the height, if you can do that, rest will take care of itself.’ I’ve just followed that,” Ramandeep said.

“We have seven or eight players who feature in the IPL, so there’s definite quality. Now, there’s belief too.”Ramandeep Singh on Punjab’s chances

Three months on, the results are slowly bearing fruit. Ramandeep believes he’s a lot more confident, less shy and on top of his game. In July, a month after his maiden IPL stint with Mumbai, Ramandeep captained Reliance, the owners of Mumbai Indians, on their tour of the UK.It was a preparatory tour aimed at giving their local Indian players, along with some of their overseas players, like Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brewis, exposure as they toured the country for multiple T20 games against several counties.”Just the captaincy was such a big boost, I loved having that extra responsibility,” he said. “I got a pair of 40s as a finisher, with the ball in one of the games, I conceded just four runs off the penultimate over with us defending 18. Playing on different wickets, working on skills, training to play with specific goals – it was a lot of fun.”Ramandeep’s immediate goals are now to win a domestic title for Punjab, something that eluded them at the Syed Mushtaq Ali this year, where they lost in the semi-finals to Himachal. With two wins in as many games, Punjab are second on the points table in their group. He knows there’s a long way to go but is confident they have the team to lift the title.”We have seven or eight players who feature in the IPL, so there’s definite quality. Now, there’s belief too. Not that it wasn’t there earlier, but the vibe within this group is different. Salvi sir deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s turned around a group of motivated players into a winning unit. Hopefully, if we can go all the way, that’ll be the best reward we can give ourselves.”

Skipper’s woes show state of South African cricket, and the magnitude and multitude of roles they ask him to fill

Firdose Moonda29-Nov-2020″Get me outta here,” Quinton de Kock seemed to gesture as he attempted to escape a toss-time interview. The technical difficulties and the repetition of who was in and who was out aside, de Kock had a real reason to want to run away. This captaincy thing is getting tough.De Kock has been in charge for 10 T20s, and South Africa have lost seven of them. That is not necessarily an indictment on de Kock, it is an illustration of the state South African cricket finds itself in, and the magnitude and multitude of the roles they have asked de Kock to fill.Not only does he have to open the batting and keep wicket (although Kyle Verreynne could relieve him of that if Verreynne ever makes it into the XI), but he also has to field pre- and post match questions, when it is clear public speaking is not his forte, and jump through South Africa’s many selection hoops. He doesn’t do the last of those alone and is doubtless being guided by coach Mark Boucher and the selection convener Victor Mpitsang, but it is quickly becoming the trickiest part of the job.ALSO READ: Malan fifty sees England home for 2-0 series leadSouth Africa have had overt transformation targets since the Vernon Philander/Kyle Abbott drama at the 2015 World Cup and which they usually meet. They are required to field, on average over the course of a season, six players of colour of which at least two must be black African. That means tough decisions have to be made on occasion, like the one to bench Anrich Nortje for the series opener, for example.Few other teams would have been able to excuse leaving out someone who clocked 156.2 kph on a speedometer a month ago, and the conditions at Newlands almost gave South Africa the reason they needed, but the threat Nortje posed immediately at Boland Park, suggested otherwise. Of course, there are all sorts of other combinations of the XI that could have seen Nortje slot in at Newlands (like playing Reeza Hendricks ahead of Pite van Biljon) but that causes other problems in the line-up like the one we saw today.In order to play both Temba Bavuma and Hendricks in this match, they had to bat Hendricks out of place. Previously, Hendricks has opened in 92 of his last 93 T20 innings but today he came in at No.3. That may not be such a big deal except that it also pushed Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s best batsman from Friday, to No.4. Du Plessis has not batted outside the top three in a T20I since the first game of the 2016 World T20.And all that’s is not even getting into what would need to happen if they also wanted to fit Janneman Malan in. The problem is that South Africa’s squad is top-order heavy and middle and allrounder light which continues to leave them unbalanced. Then, layer the impact of the coronavirus and how that affects player availability and you have a perfect storm.Quinton de Kock looks on as Dawid Malan is interviewed as Player of the Match•Getty ImagesOn Friday, du Plessis explained that the issue is that South Africa don’t have enough allrounders, and in this series, that’s true. Dwaine Pretorius is out with a hamstring injury. Andile Phehlukwayo, who is the other frontline two-in-one player is unavailable for selection at the moment. If not for George Linde, the margin of South Africa’s defeats may only have been bigger. Other players they have to consider in the squad are Jon-Jon Smuts, who is in the squad and Wiaan Mulder, who is not. All but Phehlukwayo are white.South Africa’s franchises are not producing enough batsmen of colour and it is beyond the scope of this piece to analyse the various socio-economic or circumstantial reasons why. Suffice to say that Hashim Amla and JP Duminy’s retirements have not helped, neither has overlooking Zubayr Hamza, who was the second leading run-scorer in the domestic one-day cup last season.And that’s just what’s happened in the last 18 months. Historically, actions like taking Khaya Zondo on a tour to India and not playing him, even when an opportunity an arose, or not finding room to cap Henry Davids more than twice in T20Is can also be pointed out as examples of where a different decision may have resulted in an entirely different calibre of player being available for South Africa now. But it is not too late to start changing the way things are being done.Of the batsmen of colour on the scene, apart from Hamza, there is at least one other player worth discussing. Sinethemba Qeshile played two T20s against Sri Lanka in early 2019 and does not have a huge amount of experience in domestic T20 cricket but is being talked about as one of the most exciting prospects for the future. Keeping him close to the national side won’t hurt, and though it might not solve immediate problems, South Africa have to play the long game.They can’t say the same about this series, which is gone, or the questions that are going to be asked of some of de Kock’s on-field decisions. On Friday, his choice to give Heinrich Klaasen an over, against Ben Stokes, opened the door for England’s victory; today, the last-minute decision that saw Lungi Ngidi bowl the 18th over in place of Nortje all but ended the game.T20 cricket is about these seemingly small decisions that ultimately make the difference between winning and losing. Get too many of them wrong, suffer too many defeats and suddenly a team that was able to explain mistakes away as part of the process of rebuilding is looking like one that can’t get off the starting blocks.De Kock is hamstrung by what is available to him. South Africa have gone into both matches with only five frontline bowlers which (and apologies for bringing him up again) du Plessis has repeatedly said is not enough. A team only needs one of those bowlers to have one bad over and the game could be lost. This series is a case study in that.It’s difficult to say what South Africa need more of apart from consistency from their quicks and the ability to land the yorker. In this match, they could also have used another over or two of spin and because it’s unlikely they will have room for three spinners, a batsman who could turn his arm over would be useful. And we don’t mean Klaasen. Smuts is a good candidate and has been overlooked so far, which may also have something to do with the top-heavy nature of the squad.The dead-rubber might give South Africa the space to experiment with some of the combinations mentioned here and others we haven’t thought of. But unless it brings a win, it probably won’t allow de Kock to get any closer to piecing together the puzzle he needs to be complete in a few months, for the T20 World Cup. And the more the losses mount up, the more he might feel like he just wants to get out of the position he is in, and of all the things South Africa can ill afford, that is the biggest one.

Ahead of Manchester United’s trip to face Liverpool, club legend Paul Scholes has taken aim at three Old Trafford stars who are “not capable” of playing their part.

Fernandes calls for "stability" at Man Utd

While a trip to Anfield will bring back bad recent memories for United, Ruben Amorim’s side are actually facing the Reds at a good time.

Liverpool entered the international break off the back of three-straight defeats in all competitions, and are potentially vulnerable to another upset on Merseyside.

United, meanwhile, defeated Sunderland in comfortable fashion before the break in a game that featured a second goal in as many games for Benjamin Sekso and a solid debut performance from Senne Lammens. The victory has, at least somewhat, eased growing pressure on Amorim — but club captain Bruno Fernandes is still calling for more “stability”.

For the time being, Amorim’s job is safe even after another disappointing start.

As the rumours continue to surround potential candidates to replace the former Sporting CP boss, including the likes of Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, INEOS are seemingly ready to back their man.

That’s not to say that things won’t change, however, and club legend Scholes has now slammed three players who are “not capable” of helping to save Amorim’s job.

Scholes slams Man Utd trio who are getting "found out"

Speaking to The Times, Scholes slammed Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Casemiro — describing them as “not capable” and “not strong enough” in a scathing review.

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All in their 30s, Scholes may have a point. Although Maguire has rediscovered some of his best form at times, questions are still asked about his ability to take United back into European football.

Shaw, meanwhile, continues to struggle on the injury front and remains a player that United should have replaced at this stage. Similar can also be said for Casemiro, even after he put a very bad run of form behind him not so long ago.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was thrown in at the deep end at Ibrox after the Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin double act lasted less than half a season.

The former Gers sporting director left the club a few weeks after Rohl’s arrival, and the German manager will now have an opportunity to spearhead recruitment heading into the January transfer window.

It will be interesting to see which areas of the squad he deems need to be added to after working with the group for the last couple of months, as a central defender will surely be on his agenda.

Why Rangers need to sign a centre-back

Rangers currently have Derek Cornelius, John Souttar, Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga, and Clinton Nsiala as their centre-back options, whilst Dujon Sterling and James Tavernier are full-backs who can also play at centre-back.

On paper, that is a healthy set of options when they are all fit and available. However, the Gers have conceded 11 goals in six Europa League outings and 13 goals in 15 games in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that they have not had a tight defensive unit.

Nsiala has not played a single minute in any competition this season, per Transfermarkt, and may want to move on from Ibrox to pursue game time elsewhere.

That could open the door for Rohl to target a new centre-back addition, perhaps an experienced operator, because Fernandez and Djiga’s collective efforts have left a bit to be desired in recent weeks.

The German boss must find a way to drop both of them from the starting line-up because they look like they belong in the Pedro Caixinha era together.

Why Rohl must drop Fernandez and Djiga

Football FanCast recently noted that Djiga looked like the most improved player under Rohl, after he was dubbed a “rotten” player by Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar earlier this season.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unfortunately, the Burkina Faso international, who is off to the African Cup of Nations after Monday’s game, regressed to his old self against Ferencvaros.

The Wolves loanee looked shaky throughout the match, losing 100% of his aerial duels (3/3), per Sofascore, and his central defensive partner, Fernandez, was arguably worse.

The English defender lost five of his nine aerial duels and five of his ten ground duels, per Sofascore, whilst he was caught out by Varga’s movement for what turned out to be the winning goal.

Fernandez left Ally McCoist, as shown in the clip below, lost for words as he somehow ended up facing the wrong way as their forward scored from close range in a bizarre moment.

Unfortunately, that mistake came only a couple of matches after he was beaten far too easily by Zac Sapsford in the 2-2 draw with Dundee United for the opening goal in that game, making it two high-profile errors in the last three matches.

During Caixinha’s time at Rangers, the club finished third in the Premiership in the 2016/17 campaign and were sat in third when he was sacked at the start of the 2017/18 season, per Transfermarkt, which speaks to the state that Ibrox giants were in before Steven Gerrard came through the door.

Djiga and Fernandez’s performances in recent matches suggest that they belong in that era of the Gers, as they have not shown that they can deliver consistently quality performances befitting of a team that wants to win trophies.

The English defender made two high-profile errors in the games against Dundee United and Ferencvaros, whilst Djiga lost three of his four aerial duels against the former and all three of his aerial duels against the latter, per Sofascore.

This shows that neither of them have shown that they have the consistency or quality, at this moment in time, to be relied upon by Rohl in the present day, which is why the manager should ruthlessly ditch both of them from the starting XI.

Djiga, of course, will have to come out of the team after the clash with Hibernian because of international duty, but Fernandez should also come out to provide another player with an opportunity to play, whether that is Sterling or Nsiala, or both of them.

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Then, when the January transfer window opens, Rangers will have an opportunity to find a permanent solution to that position by signing a new option.