All posts by h716a5.icu

Atapattu’s questions to Harmanpreet, a crash course on ‘culture’ for Ecclestone, and more from the high-voltage four-match series

Annesha Ghosh in Jaipur12-May-2019Atapattu’s got her eye on Harman’s willowHalfway through the tournament, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Atapattu had a long-cherished dream fulfilled. Soon after Supernovas’ nets session ended on Wednesday evening, Atapattu, who played under Harmanpreet Kaur, joined her captain near the pavilion. As the Indian batsman started removing her gear, Atapattu drew Harmanpreet’s attention to the latter’s bat, and we witnessed an animated chat between two of the hardest hitters in women’s cricket.”I play against Harman very often [in internationals, at the Kia Super League and the Women’s Big Bash League], but never quite got an opportunity to touch her bat,” Atapattu told ESPNcricinfo later that evening. “I have often wondered, ‘how someone so wiry can hit such long sixes just like that?’ When I learnt last month I would be playing for Harman’s side, I made up my mind I’d get a feel of her bat no matter what.”So what was the feel like, what did Atapattu make of one of the most feared weapons of destruction in the women’s game?”The weight [of Harmanpreet’s bat, around 1170-1180 grams] seemed more or less the same [as mine], but Harman says she particularly likes this bat because of the ease of pick-up [for her high back-lift] it offers,”Atapattu explained. “When a great batsman like Harman holds a good bat, the wood works wonders beyond ways imagined. I’m just happy I was able to touch it.”Suzie Bates cleaves one through the off side•BCCI’Smriti sleeps’, Ecclestone is caked, Bates soaks it all inAmong the many things Suzie Bates found out about her 22-year-old Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana was how she “absolutely loves to sleep”.Bates’ curiosity about cultural differences gave her a peek into Mandhana’s, and the other Indians’, habit of getting a little shut-eye as often as they can.”We are just so different how we go about our day sometimes,” Bates said. “I’d ask them if they’d like to go for lunch, go do dinner, but they would be sleeping most of the time (laughs).”I am like, ‘Smriti, what have you done today?’ ‘I slept till 12,’ she’d say. And, yes, Smriti absolutely loves to sleep. And then, ‘Harleen [Deol], how about you?’ ‘I was sleeping, too.’ So, I had to give them a time in late afternoon so they could be up.”Bates was also involved in rescuing young England spinner Sophie Ecclestone from a cake attack on her 20th birthday, the same day as the Trailblazers v Supernovas tournament opener.”Sophie is young, she is not quite as [clued into the culture in India] as some other players,” Bates said. “On her birthday, they brought a cake, which was a lovely gesture, and when the Indians started rubbing it on her face, she just didn’t know what to do (laughs). I told her, ‘You just embrace it as part of the culture.’ It was one of my favourite change-room memories.”Sushma Verma and Amelia Kerr in conversation•BCCITake it easy, like Hayley MatthewsSushma Verma was part of the Indian side that, to this day, struggles to come to terms with their epic meltdown at the 2017 World Cup final. During the Women’s T20 Challenge, when Verma watched a world champion from West Indies up close, the difference between how the two camps approach adversity struck her.”Two days ago [in Velcoity’s second game], I was padded up from the seventh over, and I was waiting for my turn,” Verma recounted. “[Hayley] Matthews (the 2016 World T20 Player of the Match in the final), who just got out and walked back into the dugout, [was so calm]. An Indian player would have probably been upset, but Matthews kept talking to me, and I didn’t even realise that I am up for batting next. When the last ball of the match was sent down, it struck me again that I was next.”It was so chilled out, and I liked the fact that they have such a positive approach. Their plans don’t change because of quick wickets. At the end of the day, you’re targeting 150-160, and you cannot change your approach if you lose a wicket or two. That’s the main learning I would like to carry forward. Personally I have learnt how to stay tension-free and chilled-out in all situations.”Jemimah Rodrigues raises her bat after getting to fifty•BCCIYoung Harleen Deol and Rodrigues play mentors to the seniorsIndian youngsters Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues, all of 20 and 18 respectively, impressed with not only their batting but their mentorship skills, underscored West Indies and Sri Lanka captains Stafanie Taylor and Atapattu.”She’d say initially: ‘Take your time, play yourself in, and then switch it up’,” Taylor, the 2016 World T20-winning captain, said about Deol taking up the aggressor’s role in the second game. “And then when we decided we need to up the ante and go for runs, she was like, ‘I’ll go, you stay’. And I went, ‘Okay’. It’s reverse (laughs). As the senior pro, I liked how she asked me to take a step back and took responsibility.”Atapattu, meanwhile, took note of Rodrigues’ support during the third game. “Jemi was discussing how we should aim for small targets from the fifth over to the eighth over,” she said. “When I was struggling with the timing, she advised I try and just time it instead of hitting the ball hard. She is confident, multi-talented, and a very helpful girl.”

Without reading ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary or watching the highlights again, can you get all six right?

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2019You can read our ball-by-ball commentary of Yuvraj Singh’s feat here.And relive all the sixes below:

#OnThisDay @YUVSTRONG12 caught

in the 2007 #T20WorldCup. pic.twitter.com/1hvwKE2CBf

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) September 19, 2019

Most want to, with the exception of one Australian, who has a very good point

Valkerie Baynes18-Jul-2019Talk to any woman who has had a chance to play a Test match, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find one who doesn’t wish she could play more.But while there has arguably been no better time to be a woman playing cricket, the shift towards shorter formats within the game as a whole puts rare women’s Test matches – like this week’s Ashes contest between England and Australia – in a curious position. Is now the time to seize on recent growth in women’s cricket and allow Tests to blossom, or will the long form be left to rot on the vine?Katherine Brunt, the 34-year-old England fast bowler who has played 11 Tests – eight of them against Australia, believes the nuances of Test cricket cannot be replicated anywhere else, and that’s what she loves.”I absolutely love a Test match,” Brunt said. “I think it’s my favourite format and I think it’s a favourite amongst a lot of our team, and there’s a lot that haven’t had the opportunity to be a part of it yet, so what I would say is, it’s a game of patience and when the opportunity comes along to be in a fight, [it’s important] that you know you’re ready for it.”Because there can be quite long periods of play that are quite boring or not much is happening when the ball stops swinging or somebody’s got themselves in. You’ve just got to stay ready for that, that opportunity to take the ball again or with the bat to get your head down and see your team through a tricky period.”It’s full of ups and downs. Even though It’s long and mind melting sometimes, you’ve got to stay ready, you’ve got to stay on top and be raring and ready to go for when can make impact on the game and that’s what I love about it.”Brunt could be describing any Test match – men’s or women’s – both can be “mind melting”. But when women’s matches enter a lull it seems to spark more controversy than when men’s matches do. It’s not often questioned whether men “should” be playing Tests because for them to play the purest, most traditional form of the game is accepted as a given.But while women’s Test matches raise the excitement levels of the players, they can spark indifference and even opposition among observers. And a key factor is that women play so few of them. Unlike the men’s game, Tests are not the “norm” for women – how can they be when one is played every two years or so? And the fact that women play so few is, of course, going to impact on the skill level.The latter point is not something the players shy away from. Tammy Beaumont scored 70 and 37 against Australia in 2017 – the most recent of her three Test appearances – where Australia’s Ellyse Perry notched an astonishing 213 not out at North Sydney Oval but the tourists held out for a draw on the back of captain Heather Knight’s unbeaten 79 off 220 balls and 41 not out off 190 by Georgia Elwiss.”I do love the Test match,” Beaumont said. “I almost wish we played more. I actually remember saying on the night of the third day last time, ‘I think I’m getting the hang of this Test match now’. All the girls enjoy the novelty but I think it’s something that if we did more of we’d be better at and know what we’re trying to do.”(l-r) Nat Sciver, Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor of England•Getty ImagesPitch preparation is also crucial to enhancing the spectacle – more so even than in the men’s game, where the balance between bat and ball is a regular bone of contention. Think the 2014 Women’s Ashes Test at the WACA, which England won by 61 runs after both sides were bowled out twice and where each team barely managed to post first-innings totals beyond 200. That was a vastly more compelling spectacle than we saw on the slow surfaces which prevailed in the Ashes Test immediately before and those since. Only time will tell if a Taunton pitch which is expected to spin this week will yield the result both sides crave and, in England’s case, keep the Ashes contest alive.So, will there come a time when women play more Tests? Again, ask any player and their responses are as universally pragmatic as their professions of love for the long format are enthusiastic.Brunt said: “Because I’ve not seen it now, I’m not sure how I can see it in the future. With The Hundred ball around the corner, things are getting less rather than more, which doesn’t show us any signs of there being a future in Test cricket for women.”It’s really sad and something I don’t want but, I don’t know, the calendars sometimes aren’t big enough – which I’m not complaining about because my body hurts and I’m not sure I can do any more,” she added with a laugh. “We have to look after the fans and we have to have a certain amount of followers because even though we love it they might not necessarily so we need to stick with what people love for the most part and then go with that really.”What they saidEngland opener Tammy Beaumont: “To be honest, I don’t really see that happening. You only have to look at the fact that England and Australia are the only two countries that are willing to play it. It’s easy to invest in T20 cricket and one-day cricket and that’s actually quite marketable now. You could see at the last couple of World Cups that people actually come to watch that, whereas at the moment Test cricket probably isn’t something of an investment, which is unfortunate because I think our players would definitely like to play more of it.”Australian quick Megan Schutt: “You ask anyone in the team and they’re going to say they want to play more Test matches. It’s the absolute pinnacle of cricket and it’s what you grow up wanting to play. There’s some absolute greats out there from other countries who will never get the opportunity to play a Test match in their career, and that’s really disappointing. It’s the shorter formats that are the most marketable for bringing young kids into the game and, especially for trying to drive young girls to the game, Test match cricket isn’t always the best way to do it, with kids in general.”Australian allrounder Ellyse Perry: “As an Australian cricketer, knowing that you’ve got the opportunity to wear the baggy green, which is synonymous with playing for Australia, it’s really special and it’s the true test of your ability as a cricketer, hence the name, so everyone really enjoys it. We play a lot of white-ball cricket, it’s been a great way to progress the game, further develop it, particularly T20 cricket. I think we all enjoy that format and enjoy playing it but certainly to add a few more Test matches in there – it doesn’t have to be a lot – but almost landmark fixtures within a series where we still have that longer format of cricket would be really cool.”But Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes has a different take. She wants to see the growing gap between the top women’s nations and the rest closed first.”My honest answer is that I think there are some more steps that need to happen in the game before we do play more Test cricket,” Haynes said. “As much as I would really love to do that, I think the game is still professionalising at the moment and there’s some international teams who aren’t even necessarily whole squads of full-time athletes.”I’d like to see those sorts of things become a bit more of a priority, a bit more support for domestic structures that are supporting our international teams as well. I think once those things are in place, not just in one or two countries but across the board, then that would really open up an opportunity to play more Test cricket. At the moment, with where the game’s at, there’s probably some other priorities, to be honest.”Rachael Haynes bats•Getty ImagesThe ICC’s position is that it sees growth in the women’s game through the shorter formats, such as T20, as that is the growth vehicle for cricket globally. However, it says it encourages Member nations who want to organise bilateral Test matches to do so.This year’s Ashes combatants, including Haynes, agreed that they have a responsibility relish the chances they do get to play Tests, starting in Taunton on Thursday.”I guess in some respects it’s a little bit of a travesty that we don’t get to play more of them,” Haynes said. “But it’s such a unique opportunity and for an Australian cricketer it only really happens when we play an Ashes, so when you get the opportunity it’s one we really cherish and it’s your time to walk out and be able to wear the baggy green.”Schutt said: “Everyone kind of should be able to have an opportunity at some point but at the same time I know that we have to respect the Tests that we’re playing and really play it in a true form so that there is incentive to bring Test matches into other countries. We have a real responsibility to put on a good show with this Test match to kind of give any incentive to bring it to other countries.”

Steven Smith is now the quickest to 7000 Test runs in terms of innings played

Bharath Seervi30-Nov-20197 – The number of Australians to score a triple-century in Test cricket has gone up to seven after David Warner got there against Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. The last was Michael Clarke against India at SCG in 2012. Warner is the fourth batsman to score a triple ton versus Pakistan, the last being Virender Sehwag in Multan in 2004.10 – Warner’s 335* is the tenth-highest individual score in a Test innings.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 – It is also the second-highest among Australia batsmen, behind Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003. When he got his 335th run, Warner also eclipsed Bradman and Mark Taylor’s scores of 334 (unbeaten in Taylor’s case). Australia declared at that point.80.14 – Warner’s strike rate in his innings, which is the fourth-highest in the 31 triple-centuries scored in Test cricket. Both of Virender Sehwag’s triples and Hayden’s 380 came at better strike rates than Warner’s 335*. He scored his first 100 off 156 balls, the next 100 came off 104 deliveries, and the last 135 runs came off 158 balls.2 – Number of triple centuries in day-night Tests. Before Warner, Azhar Ali had scored 302 not out against West Indies in Dubai in 2016. It is also the first triple at Adelaide Oval, eclipsing Don Bradman’s 299 not out against South Africa in 1932, and fourth in Australia. The last triple century anywhere in the world was Karun Nair’s unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai in 2016.3 – Number of Australia batsmen to make multiple 250-plus scores in Tests. David Warner joined Bradman (5) and Clarke (2) in doing so. Among openers, only one batsman has hit more 250-plus scores: Sehwag, with four. Sanath Jayasuriya, Graeme Smith, Chris Gayle and Alastair Cook are the other openers with two 250-plus scores.111 – Runs scored by Warner off Yasir Shah from 110 deliveries. Since 2001, where ball-by-ball information is available, there have been only three instances of a batsman scoring more runs than Warner’s 111 off a single bowler in a Test innings.

Most runs by a batsman against a single bowler in an innings (since 2001)

Batsman Bowler Runs Balls SR MatchCH Gayle S Randiv 143 154 92.85 SL v WI, Galle, 2010BC Lara GJ Batty 130 161 80.74 WI v Eng, St John’s, 2004DPMD Jayawardene N Boje 125 221 56.56 SL v SA, Colombo (SSC), 2006DA Warner Yasir Shah 111 110 100.90 Aus v Pak, Adelaide, 2019Younis Khan M Muralitharan 111 187 59.35 Pak v SL, Karachi, 2009361 – The stand between Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, which is Australia’s second highest second-wicket partnership in Tests. Overall, it is the eighth-highest partnership for any wicket for Australia and eighth highest for the second wicket for any team.126 – Number of innings taken by Steven Smith to complete 7000 Test runs – making him the quickest to get there in terms of innings. The previous fastest was Wally Hammond, who got there in 131 innings. Among Australia batsmen, the fastest before Smith was Matthew Hayden in 142 innings. Smith is the 50th batsman to score 7000 or more runs in Test cricket and the only one of them to average above 60.

As interest continues to arrive over Eberechi Eze’s signature, Crystal Palace have reportedly turned their attention towards a talented attacking midfielder who could replace their star man.

Man Utd interested in Eze

Among the clubs interested in Eze are Manchester United. The Red Devils are desperate for reinforcements this summer, and as Ruben Amorim searches for the perfect attacking midfielder to slot straight into his 3-4-2-1 system, Eze could be an ideal choice.

The Crystal Palace star has once again been vital for Oliver Glasner’s side, who find themselves in an FA Cup semi-final and pushing for a top-half finish.

Glasner is certainly well aware of Eze’s importance too, albeit in a “strange season”, having told reporters after Crystal Palace thrashed Fulham 3-0 in their FA Cup quarter-final tie: “I think Ebere has had a strange season, he hasn’t had many goals in the Premier League and he has been unlucky, but he keeps going, he’s also struggled with strange injuries.

“The goal against Latvia and his first for England means a lot for him. He always has the confidence, we know he’s an amazing finisher to cut inside on his right foot with an amazing finish. We need this quality, he helped us today massively.”

Mateta swap deal: Crystal Palace could now get chance to sign £70m+ striker

He desperately needs a move.

2 ByTom Cunningham Apr 4, 2025

It’s the type of quality that has attracted those at Old Trafford, who will reportedly have to splash out as much as £60m if they are to lure the England international away from Selhurst Park this summer.

Palace, of course, have eventually managed to cope without Michael Olise following his departure to Bayern Munich last summer. Now, they’ve reportedly set their sights on a player who could replace Eze in the event of his exit this time around.

Crystal Palace racing to sign Sem Steijn

Already preparing for the worst, the Eagles have reportedly set their sights on replacing their star man. According to The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now battling to sign Sem Steijn from FC Twente this summer, having already sent their scouts to watch the talented attacking midfielder in action in recent months.

The 23-year-old has got better and better in recent seasons, culminating in an incredibly impressive campaign and his best yet in the Netherlands. Scoring 26 goals and assisting a further six goals in all competitions prior to this weekend, it should come as no surprise to see the likes of Jacek Kulig sending praise the Dutchman’s way.

The football talent scout rightfully described Steijn’s season as “amazing” following a campaign which has attracted the interest of Palace, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, among others.

If Eze does depart this summer, the impressive Dutchman should sit top of Crystal Palace’s list of potential replacements.

What did we witness last night at Old Trafford? Manchester United reached the Europa League quarter-final in the most incredible circumstances, beating French side Olympique Lyon 5-4 on the night, and 7-6 on aggregate, in what will go down as an all-time classic at Old Trafford.

It’s hard to know where to begin describing the action, but United were 2-0 up at half-time, thanks to goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot. However, they let that lead slip in the second half, with Lyon clawing it back to 2-2 on the night, taking the game to extra time.

The French side, who were down to 10 men after Corentin Tolisso was sent off for a second bookable offence, went 4-2 up on the night in extra time. The impressive Rayan Cherki scored their third, and Alexandre Lacazette the fourth, from the penalty spot.

However, this is Man United; they are never down and out. With 114 minutes on the clock, Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for the Red Devils, also with a penalty, before Kobbie Mainoo equalised in the 120th minute of the game. Enter Harry Maguire, who gave United a 5-4 lead in the 121st minute. His fantastic header met Casemiro’s cross and rifled into the back of the net, winning the game for the Red Devils.

It was an extraordinary night, with Mainoo making a huge impact off the bench.

Mainoo’s stats vs. Lyon

United fans will always get behind their academy graduates, so for Mainoo to score the equaliser in an instant classic, it must have been special for the United midfielder, who actually played at centre-forward, and the fans. What a goal it was, too.

Getting on the end of a smart touch by Casemiro, the England international showed exceptional composure to bring the ball down with the outside of his right foot.

He then created space and took a couple more touches, shifting the ball into a favourable position to shoot, before he let fly. Mainoo’s strike nestled in the far right corner, a sublime goal in extraordinary circumstances.

Tyler Fell, a journalist for GiveMeSport, was incredibly complimentary of Mainoo, giving him a 7.5/10 for his efforts against Lyon. The journalist praised the United number 37 for his ‘phenomenal’ effort.

After a performance like that, the 19-year-old surely has to become a more prominent starter under Ruben Amorim, especially now that he’s over his recent injury issue. The same can certainly be said for another of United’s top performers in the historic clash with Lyon.

The player who should be a key starter under Amorim

You might struggle to find a performance with as much character this season as the one Leny Yoro put in against Lyon. After scoring a crucial first goal in the first leg last week, he was sensational at Old Trafford on Thursday, putting his body on the line and showing excellent ability with the ball at his feet.

Fell clearly thought that Yoro was excellent against the French side. Just as he did for Mainoo, the GiveMeSport writer gave him a 7.5/10, exclaiming that he ‘defended heroically’ and ‘used his pace to bail his side out’ if Lyon found a way past United’s defensive line.

Indeed, the 19-year-old’s stats from the game show just how well he played. As per Sofascore, Yoro had 66 touches of the ball, made nine clearances and won four out of his five attempted tackles.

Touches

66

Pass accuracy

93%

Passes completed

43/46

Clearances

9

Ground duels won

5/9

Tackles won

4/5

Interceptions

2

Chances created

1

Described as a “generational” player by writer Liam Canning, it felt like a statement performance from the United number 15 against Lyon. In high-pressure moments, he was there, throwing his body on the line to stop the opponents from finding a way through.

It was a colossal showing from the teen sensation, who showed once again why he should, and has, become such a key player under Amorim. United have made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they face a tough tie against Athletic Club.

It certainly feels like Yoro will be a pivotal part of this Red Devils side if they are to go all the way and lift the trophy in Bilbao at the end of the season.

Saved by Maguire: Man Utd must axe star who lost the ball every 4.8 touches

Harry Maguire proved to be Man Utd’s unlikely hero in Thursday’s crazy game at Old Trafford

ByRobbie Walls Apr 18, 2025

Newcastle United are now targeting a move to sign a former Arsenal defensive midfielder who manager Eddie Howe personally admires, according to a recent report.

Howe returns to Newcastle training after illness

The Magpies suffered a bitter blow in the race to finish in the Champions League places over the weekend, so fans will be delighted to hear that Howe has now officially returned to work at the club’s training ground.

Barcelona and Deco choose £120k-p/w Newcastle star to replace key player

Those at the Nou Camp have identified a Newcastle United star as a top target this summer.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

The Newcastle boss missed games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa while he was in hospital with pneumonia, and while the Magpies took to X to announce that Howe has returned to his duties, it remains unclear if he will be in the dugout for their upcoming game against Ipswich Town at the weekend.

Newcastle have four games remaining in the Premier League, and they know that work is still needed to be done if they are to finish in the top five at the end of the campaign, after which they will hope to use their Champions League status to lure in top transfer targets.

Newcastle now targeting Matteo Guendouzi

As the Magpies welcome Howe’s return, club chiefs are already looking ahead to the summer despite not knowing if they are going to be in with Europe’s elite or not. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, relayed by The Hard Tackle, Newcastle are interested in signing midfielder Matteo Guendouzi from Lazio.

The report states that the Magpies remain interested in signing Guendouzi, as they looked at signing him during last summer’s transfer window. It is claimed that Newcastle could look to sign the former Arsenal midfielder if Sandro Tonali leaves St James’ Park, as he’s recently been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Newcastle are unlikely to prioritise signing a new midfielder in the summer, but if Tonali leaves, then it will become a priority, as Howe is a big admirer of the Frenchman.

It isn’t stated how much Lazio would demand for the tough tackling midfielder, but given he is under contract until 2028, the Italian side could be asking for a hefty fee, especially if they know Newcastle have money to spend.

Apps

32

Starts

32

Goals

1

Assists

3

Touches per game

67.3

Tackles per game

1.0

Clearances per game

1.3

The 26-year-old, who has been dubbed a “monster in the making” by analysts, joined Lazio on a permanent basis in July 2024. He has been a key player for them in Serie A and in the Europa League, but if Newcastle do qualify for the Champions League, the offer of that competition and to return to the Premier League may be too hard to turn down for Guendouzi.

Aston Villa are keen on completing the signing of a speedy attacking player who Virgil van Dijk has spoken highly of, according to a new transfer rumour.

Aston Villa edging towards Champions League

The Villans picked up another priceless three points in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, winning 1-0 at home to Fulham to enhance their hopes of sealing a place in the Champions League once again.

It proved to be a good weekend for Villa away from their own result, too, with rivals Newcastle United only managing to draw 1-1 away to Brighton, further boosting their hopes of securing a top-five finish.

If Unai Emery’s side do achieve that goal, it will give them a better chance of signing top-level players in the summer transfer window, with Omari Hutchinson mentioned as an option this summer. The 21-year-old may wish to leave Ipswich Town ahead of their return to the Championship, and would be a long-term attacking signing.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been linked with a switch to Villa, potentially coming in as a replacement for Emiliano Martinez, should the Argentine move on. The Ukrainian may like the idea of a fresh challenge, with Thibaut Courtois ahead of him in the pecking order.

Aston Villa learn Yilmaz price tag as Galatasaray make demands

According to Fotomac [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa are interested in signing Galatasaray attacker Baris Alper Yilmaz this summer. West Ham and Napoli are also said to be in the race to sign the 24-year-old ahead of next season.

His current club have ‘contacted the player’s agent to inform him that they will only accept a non-negotiable offer’ of £30m for his signature.

Yilmaz is a gifted player who could be a superb signing for Villa, having scored 11 goals in 27 starts in the Turkish Super Lig matches this season, as well as bagging one goal and assist apiece in the Europa League. The Galatasaray ace has also netted twice in 26 caps for Turkey at international level, with Liverpool captain Van Dijk lauding him after facing him for the Netherlands.

“Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”

At 24, Yilmaz is still a fairly young player, and his ability to thrive on both the left and right wing would make him a versatile option for Emery, adding depth and quality to his attack.

Aston Villa love "talented" £35m Rashford alternative as Monchi eyes move

There’s no guarantee that Rashford completes a permanent move…

ByTom Cunningham May 4, 2025

The fact that the Turk has been compared to Wales and Madrid legend Gareth Bale, in terms of playing style, says all you need to know about what an exciting signing he could be for Villa.

With Champions League football still up for grabs through the Europa League, Daniel Levy is now reportedly positioning Tottenham Hotspur among the strongest contenders to sign an impressive defender.

Tottenham ease past Bodo/Glimt in semi-final first leg

Up against underdog Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt, there was plenty of room for Spurs to suffer a shock upset in North London before Brennan Johnson instantly put any doubts to bed within the first minutes. Ruthlessly dispatching their opponents, the Lilywhites raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of the aforementioned Johnson, who was joined on the scoresheet by James Maddison and Dominic Solanke.

Ulrik Saltnes’ effort has handed Bodo/Glimt a glimmer of hope ahead of the return leg in Norway, but it would now take a monumental collapse for Spurs not to book their place in Bilbao.

Having famously claimed earlier this season that he always wins something in his second season at a club, Ange Postecoglou praised his side after watching them put one leg in the Europa League final.

The Australian told reporters: “I thought our supporters were outstanding tonight, from the moment we walked out, and I think they added the energy to the team.

“Even us scoring an early goal came from the fact that as soon as the boys walked out, there was a buzz in the stadium – and that’s a credit to our fans.

“We’ve obviously had a tough season, but the European nights this year have still been pretty special and they played their part tonight, a massive role in us performing in the way we needed to.”

Tottenham may sign £300k-p/w Premier League star if they win Europa League

A lot is on the line.

ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025

By winning the Europa League, Spurs would qualify for the Champions League and that would undoubtedly go a long way towards convincing summer targets into a move, including one particular defender.

Levy positioning Tottenham to sign Bisseck

According to Caught Offside, Levy is now positioning Tottenham among the strongest contenders to sign Yann Bisseck from Inter Milan, who will allow their defender to leave for a reported €55m (£47m) this summer.

Amid competition from West Ham United and Manchester United, those in North London should act fast to secure Bisseck’s signature in the coming months. The central defender would certainly be an instant upgrade in Postecoglou’s backline, given that he found himself starting from the off in a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Part of a frantic affair, Inter were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw against the Spanish giants after initially racing into a 2-0 lead and then leading 3-2. It’s now the job of Bisseck and his teammates to finish what they started at the San Siro.

Praised for his “athletic frame” and “spectacular speed” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Bisseck is someone that Spurs should do everything to sign in the coming months.