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Back from the IPL, both batsmen attended their first full day of training with the Australian team since their ball-tampering bans ended on March 29

Andrew McGlashan in Brisbane05-May-20190:42

Smith and Warner join Australia net session

It was another small and slightly symbolic milestone. For the first time in more than a year, Steven Smith and David Warner were hitting cricket balls as part of an Australian squad. Warner middled more than Smith, which is pretty much what it has been like for the past six weeks at the IPL.Both have been ill over the last few days so while the camp in Brisbane officially started on Friday this was the first full day for them. It remains to be seen whether they both play the opening match against New Zealand on Monday – Australia are certainly not short of players this week with members of the Australia A squad also in attendance – or are staggered across the three games.There are, it’s probably worth reminding, a few other things for Australia to settle on before the World Cup than just the return of Smith and Warner.However, it remains the main story in town for now. The bans officially ended on March 29, but it has been the slow comeback: a quick meeting in the UAE, the IPL, now Brisbane, with more warm-up matches to come in England before the World Cup opener against Afghanistan on June 1.Warner had an easier afternoon that Smith under the pristine blue skies of a perfect Brisbane autumn day. He faced a bit of spin and then plenty of throwdowns from head coach Justin Langer. As at the IPL, most of his shots came out of the middle.”You rarely see him out of form,” Glenn Maxwell said of Warner before the session started. “He’s such a good player and you look at his stats over there in the IPL, what he’s done for Hyderabad – he’s got an unbelievable record. I think he’s scored over 500 runs every time he’s been over there, which is amazing consistency and hopefully that continues in the one-day stuff here.”David Warner and Steven Smith look on before the start of the match•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesSmith, his troublesome elbow still well strapped and occasionally being flexed, also began in the spinners’ net before facing the challenge of the pacemen. Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott and Michael Neser ran in hard (the latter two part of the Australia A squad) with more deliveries squirting off both edges of Smith’s bat than the centre – which didn’t escape Smith’s notice at one stage – but a couple of leg-side flicks showed promise.”They’re both superstars,” Maxwell said. “Steve made back-to-back fifties at the end there [at the IPL] as well and I watched both of them go about it as well, and they were absolutely brilliant over there. They’re striking the ball really nicely so there’ll be no worries about them coming back in.”Starc looked especially impressive after recovering from the pectoral injury he sustained in the second Test against Sri Lanka in February, which ruled him out of the one-day tours of India and UAE. He produced a searing delivery which climbed at Shaun Marsh to hammer into the gloves and was constantly testing Smith’s technique as he got to the ball to shape back.The main injury concern in the Australia camp remains Jhye Richardson after the dislocated shoulder he sustained in the UAE. On Friday, Langer said he hoped to have a better idea early in the week about Richardson’s prognosis. Kane Richardson and Josh Hazlewood, the latter who didn’t make the World Cup squad due to his back injury, are the first-choice reserves and are both attending the camp although Hazlewood won’t be available for the New Zealand matches.One final point worth noting about these three games is that they are scheduled to finish at 5pm. At this time of the year in Brisbane, even on a perfectly clear day, the light was barely playable at that point. While the results of these matches are not the important thing, it could be worth the chasing side having the DLS score handy. Which, coming into a World Cup, perhaps is not a bad practice anyway.

New Zealand got to 2 for 1 after four overs, while India had 5 for 3; it wasn’t the prediction at all

Jarrod Kimber at Old Trafford10-Jul-2019Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s hands are in the air, Martin Guptill is looking down at his feet, and Richard Kettleborough is shaking his head under the Morrissey grey skies of Old Trafford.It’s clear from the first ball of the match that this is a different kind of pitch. A few days back, Australia and South Africa didn’t bat that well here, and both cleared 300.At times, it looks like the best batting pitch of the World Cup. The kind of surface that England had been hitting 350-plus on. But Guptill isn’t standing on a 300 pitch, the first one moves a touch in the air, straightens when it lands, and Guptill is nowhere near it. His bat is moving like a sliding door across the line trying to find the ball. He is so square that his back foot is outside off stump, his hand comes off the bat, and he overbalances.After the not-out decision, India get together to use their full 15-second DRS timer, before finally deciding to review. It isn’t out, not straightening enough, but that one ball changes how people see the pitch.The following ball is defended with a straight bat and head over ball; it’s Test Guptill. The next delivery is an in-control push into the covers, followed by another ball nipping around that takes his hand and flies to the slips. Then the perfect ball, moving like a legbreak and beating the bat.The first over of the semi-final is a maiden, one that Guptill barely survives.When India bat, it starts with an excellent inswinger from Trent Boult, curving back sensuously, and KL Rahul drops the ball on the off side and takes off. He runs with a sense of urgency, and perhaps a little panic. No more thoughts of a good pitch; now it feels like every run should be taken, forget prettiness and stroking through the covers, scamper if you get a chance. Rohit Sharma turns the ball around to square, and they sprint another run.For the rest of the over, they survive. They have two runs; Boult is curving the ball, there are two catchers on the off side, and two around midwicket. A few dot balls are needed and perfectly acceptable.Matt Henry celebrates the wicket of KL Rahul•IDI via Getty ImagesNew Zealand have already batted out one maiden when they face Jasprit Bumrah. The first ball, the very first ball, is fast, back of a length, and explodes off the pitch. Every bowler loses pace when their deliveries hit the pitch; Bumrah seems to find more. His bowling defies cricket logic, and this first ball is brutal, as it explodes through to MS Dhoni. The next ball is exactly the same, brutal back of length that just misses Henry Nicholls’ outside edge.The New Zealand openers had passed 50 once together this tournament, that was when they were chasing Sri Lanka’s 136 and got there no wickets down. In the rest of the tournament, they made 84 runs in all the opening partnerships combined. Nicholls is not even an opener, he is there because Colin Munro failed too often, and now he is facing Bumrah in a World Cup semi-final.Another danger ball from Bumrah finds the middle of Nicholls’ bat, and he pushes towards point. Both batsmen think of the run, but it’s Ravindra Jadeja – India’s omnipresent circle fielder. For the rest of the over, Nicholls pushes to the bowler or fielder; no runs.Against Australia, New Zealand used Colin de Grandhomme with the new ball; Matt Henry had been dropped for Ish Sodhi. Here, first ball, Henry takes one away from the bat, Rohit pushes to point. The next delivery is poor, slipping down leg, and they take two leg byes.On the third, not everything goes right for Henry, the line is good, around fourth stump, and it’s on a good length, but the seam is all over the place, not cross, but wobble. But the ball reacts as if it had a perfect seam, it moves away, and Rohit, he of five World Cup 2019 hundreds, is gone.Virat Kohli enters, and his first two balls take the outside edge, one bounces to slip, the other flies down to third man. Rahul finishes the over.Guptill gets on to the front foot against Bhuvneshwar, ensuring he doesn’t get caught on the crease. The balls go back to the bowler, into the covers and to midwicket. But after 16 deliveries, New Zealand have not scored. Nicholls has only faced six of them, but Guptill, the leading scorer in the last World Cup, has faced ten. India have not bowled a poor ball yet, not even an average ball, just probing areas, movement, or explosions from the pitch. Bhuvneshwar finally pauses for a moment, angles into the legs, and Guptill steers it to the right of midwicket. The 17th ball brings the first run. The next ball Nicholls blocks.Kohli, world No. 1 in anything he wants to be, flashes at a wide length ball like he’s a kid playing his first game of seniors. A couple of balls later, he flicks in the air just near Guptill. One of the most famous people in the world is out in the middle doing what has made his name, and he looks unsure. He doesn’t look right. Then Boult straightens another one – how many times has Boult curved one into Kohli in his life – but this one means more. And Kohli falls over as he tries to flick away, the ball hits above the knee roll, rebounds up to his chest. Kohli isn’t even sure where the ball is, but while he looks around, Richard Illingworth gives him out. He will review and will be told it’s umpire’s call. Kohli is gone.Rishabh Pant, the most famous absentee from the original 150 players at this World Cup, is now coming out to bat. The whole country demanded his selection, and New Zealand’s bowlers have brought him in early.With Guptill finally at Bumrah’s end, he is beaten straightaway. He lasts only two more balls when Bumrah gets another exploder off the length to fly through, take the edge and almost remove Kohli’s fingers at slip. Kane Williamson – who has been most of New Zealand’s batting this tournament – is so put off by Bumrah’s first ball that he doesn’t quite play or leave the ball as it flies outside the edge.Rahul was supposed to bat four this tournament, but Shikhar Dhawan’s thumb was crunched against Australia. Rahul opening the batting is the only time he’s ever looked okay in ODI cricket, and he is back there, but now he’s facing Henry, who again is around off stump and moving away again. Rahul’s bat is unsure of what it wants to do, his legs have moved across the crease, but his bat is somewhere between a leave and a back-foot defence, the ball takes the edge, and it reaches Tom Latham with the gloves.Dinesh Kartik walks in; he wasn’t in the XI when India were unbeaten early in the tournament, he’s in the team now to bolster the lower order. Now he’s dead batting a ball in the fourth over.There was a time when New Zealand were dotting up the first few overs of this match, where they looked completely outclassed. When India had finished their first four, Dhoni is biting his bat in the change rooms, Ravi Shastri is taking big breaths on the balcony, and New Zealand’s dot balls are now different.This is not the pitch or match that we thought we’d have.

On his decision to retire, we look at Brendon McCullum’s five most memorable T20 knocks

Deivarayan Muthu07-Aug-2019158* off 73: Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2008, Bengaluru innings in the inaugural game of the Indian Premier League was a microcosm of his career: smash the ball fearlessly. The ferocity of the assault is such that his score has been bettered only once – by another T20 superstar Chris Gayle – in 11 seasons of the IPL. McCullum later said that his 158* changed his life; it changed the T20 landscape as well.He began by playing out five dots against the moving ball in the first over, but exploded in the next, carting Zaheer Khan for four successive boundaries. There would be no stopping him. He unleashed familiar down-the-track swings and rasping slog-sweeps, but it was the outrageous scoop over his left shoulder off Zaheer that left some of our collective jaws on the floor.His first fifty took 32 balls, the second only 21 and third a mere 17 balls. Sure, the boundaries at the Chinnaswamy Stadium are small, but it was a mighty innings that headlined the advent of the IPL and provided a peek into the future.158* off 64: Warwickshire v Derbyshire, T20 Blast 2015, BirminghamReprising his otherworldly hitting in the first game of the IPL, McCullum marked his home debut in Birmingham with the then highest individual T20 score in England. After Warwickshire were sent in, Baz(ooka) launched himself on Derbyshire’s attack and never let up. By 10 overs, Warwickshire were 117 for 0 with McCullum claiming 71 off those in 31 balls. He more than doubled that score in the last 10, propelling Warwickshire to 242 for 2 – their highest T20 total.Getty Images103* off 54: for Otago v Northern Districts, HRV Cup 2012, HamiltonNorthern Districts had an international-quality attack comprising Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Scott Styris and Daniel Vettori, but McCullum’s brutal ball-striking made a mockery of them and a target of 188. He walked out to bat at No.3, after opener Hamish Rutherford was run-out for a duck in the first over, and wasn’t dismissed as Otago secured the chase with nine wickets and 16 balls to spare.McCullum teed off – like only he can – against Southee and Boult, leaving the sparse crowd, scoreboard and even the food and bar tent in danger. The shot of the day came when he came down – no, raced down the track – and clouted Southee way beyond the midwicket boundary.100 off 56: Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2015, ChennaiMcCullum’s ultra-fast hands came to the fore again, this time on a scorching day in Chennai at the IPL. He regularly dashed down the track against Boult and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and even stood just outside the leg stump against legspinner Karn Sharma to throw them off their lines and lengths.McCullum ticked off nearly every shot: slog-sweeps into the deserted leg-side stands, drives over covers, pulls over square leg and even a scarcely-believable ramp over the keeper’s head off a slower bouncer from Boult in the final over of the innings. He reached his second IPL hundred – and first for Super Kings – off the last ball of the innings and vaulted them to 209, which proved 45 too many for Sunrisers Hyderabad.72 off 35: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, BBL 2016-17, BrisbaneTwenty-four hours out from the 2017 New Year celebrations, McCullum provided the fireworks along with his Bash brother Chris Lynn. In a chase of 174, McCullum swung through his hips and began with a signature first-ball four. His second ball, bowled by left-arm spinner Clive Rose was then rifled behind point for four, but it was the down-the-track 104-metre six off Stuart Broad that turned out to be the portent for the carnage that was to follow.He could have been dismissed on 22 had Kumar Sangakkara clung onto a catch, and McCullum ran up a 27-ball half-century instead. By the time he holed out for 72, Heat needed 56 off 60 balls, and Lynn finished the job.

Pat Cummins was the only seamer to bowl more balls than Rabada in international cricket last year

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town01-Jan-2020While England wait on the fitness of their fastest bowler Jofra Archer, South Africa can relax knowing their own superstar, Kagiso Rabada, is rediscovering his form.Archer barely bowled in training on New Year’s Day due to a sore elbow while Rabada entered it on the back of his best performance of 2019, after taking seven wickets in South Africa’s win at SuperSport Park. There, Rabada played a solid supporting role in the first innings before sparking an England collapse of 6 for 46 against the second new ball in the second innings, where he attacked with intensity and found a hint of swing.ALSO READ: South Africa embrace the struggle to re-embark on road to success“There’s definitely a lot more fire in KG’s eyes at the moment,” said Quinton de Kock, who played franchise cricket with Rabada for several seasons.Rabada’s effort came at the end of his leanest full calendar year in wicket terms since his debut in 2019, with 33 wickets from eight Tests at 27.39. By way of comparison, in 2016, he played nine Tests and took 46 wickets at 23.24 and he claimed more than 50 wickets in both 2017 and 2018.A combination of being overbowled – Rabada played the full IPL in 2019 and returned with a back injury ahead of the Word Cup – and being out of ideas – South Africa did not have a dedicated bowling coach in the Ottis Gibson era – are the likeliest causes of Rabada’s slump, although Vernon Philander believes it was also inevitable, and valuable.”He was going to get a knock at some stage, a dip in form, whatever you want to call it, but the only way to get through it is to go through it yourself,” Philander said. “I am glad he has gone through it because there’s no greater learning than learning yourself. The most important part was for him to go through it and to really feel what it feels like and to now come out and identify what’s going to work for him moving forward.”As an earnest learner, Rabada has been trying to add to his arsenal from a young age. Given his athleticism and his height, pace and bounce come naturally to him and he has spoken about working on the cutter and the inswinging yorker and the IPL provided evidence that he had learnt a lot about bowling both.But at the World Cup and then in India, Rabada looked out of sorts, down on pace, and frustrated. Theories were hatched about how his overuse as an up-and-coming quick was impacting his longevity. Philander didn’t think that was the issue. “The longer you play the more you realise that the simpler you keep it, the more results you will get. He went through that phase where he wanted to try a few things and it didn’t quite worked, and now he has gone back to the old simple self and it seems to be working again.”At SuperSport Park, Rabada’s performance resembled much of what we saw of him from the early days of his career. For the most part, he pitched the ball up on off stump and let the movement he found do the rest. Occasionally, he held his length back but he didn’t overcomplicate his approach. For that, new (old) bowling coach Charl Langeveldt may deserve credit.Langeveldt worked with the South African attack under Russell Domingo between 2015 and 2017 but was dispensed with when Gibson came on board. He was re-recruited to join Mark Boucher’s coaching staff and at the team’s training camp before the series, Rabada said he was looking forward to Langeveldt’s guidance, especially his directness. “Tactically I think he’s really good,” he said. “Technically he doesn’t force things upon you. He’s really simple. He gets to the point. I just like how natural he is. He gets to the point really quickly.”It was also there that de Kock noticed the Rabada of old returning. “At the camp before the first Test, it seemed like he was really excited to get going and play. He was very motivated,” de Kock said.ESPNcricinfo LtdThat may not be the best news for England, especially with the way Archer has begun 2020. But they may be lessons from Rabada’s experience for Archer and they’ve come from a player whose bowling style is not quite the same as theirs but who has years of experience to lean on. Philander warned Archer, who was England’s most expensive bowler at Centurion, that being fast is not enough and being focused is just as important.”Extreme pace is not going to get you across the line. You need to be able to be consistent at what you do. And in international cricket guys will work you out. You can have extreme pace, rush batters and make life uncomfortable for them but at some stage, guys are going to get used to your pace and they are going to be able to play you,” Philander said.”It’s finding what works for you on different surfaces and saying, ‘I can actually hold the game as well, at whatever pace’. You don’t want to be the one guy going at five or six an over and putting the rest of the attack under pressure because you are going at five or six. It’s making sure that you have aggression but also that you can hold the game.”That’s the kind of bowler Rabada is being allowed to develop into because South Africa have found raw pace in other players, like Anrich Nortje, control from Dwaine Pretorius and space in the team for both of them, which allows them to play with four frontline quicks. “We’ve got a nice balance now,” de Kock said. “We’ve got Anna [Nortje], who bowls high 140s and is not really the most pleasant guy to face, then Vern with steady pace, Dwaine, who can hold one side and then KG who is always picking up wickets.”

Everton scored a late, late winner against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon to secure a deserved 1-0 win over Nuno Santo’s top four contenders.

Despite Forest sitting third and the Toffees in 14th prior to the match, David Moyes’ men performed incredibly well throughout the match, with the late winner by Abdoulaye Doucoure ensuring they headed back to Merseyside in a great mood.

Everton dominated possession throughout (58% to 42%) while registering 13 shots, claiming seven corners and taking 29 touches in the opposition penalty area, compared to just nine for the home side.

Doucoure has had his critics recently, but his goal to seal the victory will go a long way to redemption, that’s for sure.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's game in numbers vs Forest

The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, with his future at their new Bramley more Stadium rather uncertain at this moment in time.

Before the Forest clash, the Malian star had scored only two goals in the Premier League this season and not many expected him to pop up and net the winner on Saturday afternoon.

However, he popped up like a seasoned striker, bursting onto the end of Dwight McNeil’s counter-attacking pass to find the back of the net. His celebration? Rather cryptic, let’s put it that way, pointing to his head and then appearing to sign an imaginary piece of paper. Perhaps a new contract is incoming?

While the goal was vital, the midfielder completed 33 of his 37 passes – a success rate of 89% – took 50 touches, succeeded with 100% of his long balls and crosses into the box plus made a solitary tackle.

Will this display be enough to convince Moyes to extend his Everton contract for at least another season? Who knows, but he certainly bailed out a few players during the game.

Everton star saved by Doucoure must be dropped

While many of Everton’s forward line have flattered to deceive this term, a certain Jack Harrison has been notably poor throughout the campaign and failed to influence the side again against a team chasing a Champions League place next season. As a result, he must be axed from the starting XI.

Chalkboard

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

The winger had missed only four Premier League matches before the match on Saturday yet had registered only one goal and one assist during that time.

Those are hardly the best returns for the current Leeds United loan player, and he won’t be returning to the club next season. That’s a certainty.

Harrison did look lively in spells against Forest, delivering 14 crosses into the opposition’s penalty area, although only four were accurate. He even set up Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner for chances, yet both players missed their opportunities.

His antics going forward meant the winger lost the ball a staggering 25 times throughout the game. Given he took 60 touches, this works out as losing the ball once every 2.4 touches.

Journalist Chris Beesley gave the Englishman a match rating of 7/10 for his display, writing in the Liverpool Echo, notably criticising an effort he had that was blazed over the bar. It rather summed up his stint at Goodison.

Thus, with the man who replaced him, McNeil, actually registering the game-winning assist, perhaps it is the former Burnley man who should start instead of Harrison next time around.

Friedkin table offer in race to sign "perfect" £25m+ defender for Everton

They’ve had a response…

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 10, 2025

Liverpool will lift the Premier League title this season – maybe even this month.

Arne Slot will lift the trophy in his first season as first-team boss, and Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will get their hands on it for a second time before gearing up to defend their title after signing much-anticipated contract extensions.

Though Trent Alexander-Arnold looks to be just one month away from finishing his playing career on Merseyside, FSG will be delighted with their success in tying down the outfit’s two biggest legends ahead of Slot’s second term.

Liverpool will be looking to defend their Premier League title while challenging for the other pieces of silverware, which proved too much to secure this year.

New signings will flow through, for sure, but the importance of extending the skipper’s stay cannot be understated and deserves a closer look.

Van Dijk's new Liverpool contract

Van Dijk’s new deal will see him stay as the leader of Slot’s squad for the next two seasons, earning a rather decent salary too, some £400k per week.

The 33-year-old always wanted to remain at the club but for whatever reason talks dragged on interminably. It also bears noting that he was approached by a number of hopefuls – including the lucre of the Saudi Pro League’s heavyweights – but made it clear that Liverpool is his home and that FSG had promised him investment and a project apt for silverware over the next few years.

He’ll go down as one of the definitive defenders – if not the – of his era, inspirational and effective at Liverpool’s back.

With Alexander-Arnold expected to move to Madrid and Robertson in danger of being replaced this summer, Van Dijk could consolidate his Liverpool career with a staggering number of appearances, eclipsed only by Salah and Jordan Henderson since the Klopp era began.

He’s a true legend and will go down as one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s long history. Van Dijk certainly isn’t done yet, but FSG would be prudent to replace him this summer, signing a new star who can be willed into shape over the next few years alongside the Dutchman.

Before finally taking his place.

Liverpool chasing Van Dijk heir

Van Dijk might be staying put, but he’s not getting any younger and Liverpool will need to prepare for his eventual departure. Signing Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen this summer would be a pretty good way to go about that.

The young Spain international has been riding the crest of a wave since transferring from Juventus to England’s south coast last summer, and according to Chelsea insider Simon Phillips, has been placed right at the top of Liverpool’s wish list.

Chelsea have made contact with the 20-year-old’s reps but it’s FSG who lead the race at the moment, having held discussions with the player’s camp for several weeks.

A wide range of suitors are keen, though, for Huijsen has been incredible under Andoni Iraola this year and has a £50m release clause that all parties expect to be activated this summer.

Why Liverpool are desperate for Dean Huijsen

Huijsen is young and his data pool shallow, but from the evidence of the past few years, for Roma (on loan) and now Bournemouth, it’s already clear that he’s got the potential to become a superstar.

Dutch-born, Huijsen was reared in Spain before making the move from Malaga’s youth scene to join Juventus’ academy aged 16.

He looked promising, alright, but the Old Lady could do with an extra penny and cashed him in to Bournemouth last summer, claiming £15m for their young prospect.

Huijsen has flourished on English soil, and no mistake. Already labelled a “world-class” player in the making by one analyst, he’s featured prominently for the Cherries this term and indeed attracted the attention of every high-profile club worth their salt as the market beckons.

As per FBref, the rangy star actually ranks among the top 15% of defenders in the Premier League this year for goal involvements, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for interceptions and clearances and the top 20% for aerial battles won per 90.

He’d contrast nicely with Van Dijk over the next couple of years before finally taking the Netherlands captain’s place in the seasons to come.

It’s also worth noting that Huijsen is a two-footed centre-back who has plied his trade on the left side of the pitch this season, further material for the argument that he should be a priority for the Reds this summer.

Huijsen might not be as commanding in the duel but he shares many technical and defensive qualities with the Anfield captain, thus in good hands to maximise his potential if moving to Liverpool instead of, say, Chelsea.

There is also, of course, the elephant in the corner that is Ibrahima Konate’s Liverpool contract.

Konate has been a formidable partner alongside Van Dijk this season, but he’s a meagre year away from free agency and negotiations for an extension have become protracted.

Liverpool won’t want to lose the Frenchman on a free, and thus could cash in this summer, something that might strike Huijsen as compelling, for he would be in with a great chance of slotting right in as Van Dijk’s star partner in the rearguard.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that Huijsen is “the most in-demand centre-back in the world,” but Liverpool’s current position at the front of the race makes a telling comment on the state of things at Anfield.

It’s a big summer up ahead, and if Huijsen is brought in to shore up an already impressive backline, Liverpool might just be able to reach even higher next year.

Slot's own Saka: Liverpool step up move for "special" £85m key target

Liverpool are set to reward Arne Slot and his squad with a host of exciting signings this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 17, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou was gifted a rare bit of breathing room after Spurs’ statement performance in the Europa League, but there remains the possibility that he won’t be at the helm next season.

Tottenham in Europa League semi-finals after Eintracht Frankfurt win

A penalty from striker Dominic Solanke, who cooly slotted home beyond the Spurs-linked Kaua Santos in Eintracht Frankfurt’s goal, ended up being enough for Postecoglou’s side to edge into the Europa semi-finals after a hard-fought battle.

Tottenham: Lange personally holds talks over signing £50m player for Spurs

The technical director has a plan.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 17, 2025

Postecoglou earned rare praise after his Lilywhites side put in the dogged, mature display which they’ve sorely lacked all season – shutting Eintracht out with some truly exceptional defending and putting bodies on the line to preserve Tottenham’s slender one-goal advantage.

The atmosphere was hostile right from the off, but while the home crowd did their utmost to unnerve Postecoglou’s side in Germany, Spurs kept their cool and booked their place in the next round, where they will face off against unlikely semi-finalists Bodø/Glimt, who knocked out Serie A side Lazio on penalties.

There is a very strong chance that the north Londoners will put Bodø/Glimt’s fairy tale Europa League journey to an end and become European finalists for the first time since 2019, but even that might not be enough to save Postecoglou.

The Tottenham boss has been under mounting pressure after an historic low Premier League season, where they’ve tasted defeat on 17 separate occasions and currently lie 15th in the table.

Reports in the build up to their quarter-final second leg claimed that Postecoglou could be sacked by Tottenham regardless of their Europa League campaign (The Mirror), and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is believed to be among the contenders to replace him.

Tottenham have reached out to the representatives of Glasner to express their interest recently, according to media sources in Germany, but face competition from RB Leipzig for the £4.5 million-per-year Palace boss.

John Wenham makes Oliver Glasner claim after Tottenham contact

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham stated his belief that Glasner would be an “exciting” appointment for Tottenham, above other linked candidates like Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

“He has an aura about him, the way he charges around on the touchline, I quite like him,” said Wenham.

“He was flying with Palace last season. I know they made a slow start this season, but they lost some key players. However, since then, he has rebuilt well.

“He has led Palace to an FA Cup semi-final, and he is far more exciting than most names that have been linked. Therefore, he is someone I would be happy for Tottenham to appoint. I think with better players he would excel, and I find him more exciting than Marco Silva or Thomas Frank, to be honest.”

The ex-Eintracht boss also guided his former club to Europa League glory in 2022, and is one of the only trophy-winning coaches rumoured to be on Spurs’ managerial shortlist.

His “outstanding record” has also been lauded by Palace chairman Steve Parish, that being said, if Postecoglou ends up winning Tottenham their first piece of silverware since 2008, the club will still have a majorly tough decision to make.

Manchester City have submitted a £55m offer for a “wonderful” midfielder, who has been identified as the heir to Kevin De Bruyne, according to a report.

Man City eyeing replacement for De Bruyne

De Bruyne is set to leave Man City at the end of the season, but rival Premier League clubs clearly seem to believe the Belgian has a lot left to give, with a number of sides recently expressing an interest.

Arsenal are now holding discussions over a shock deal for the 33-year-old, alongside Aston Villa, with club chiefs willing to back Unai Emery if he decides he wants to snap the City midfielder up on a free transfer this summer.

As such, Pep Guardiola will need to bring in a suitable heir, and although it will be a tall order to find any player capable of replicating what De Bruyne has done in a City shirt, a number of targets have now been identified.

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By
Henry Jackson

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River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono is one player of interest, although, given his age, the 17-year-old Argentine may not be ready to go straight into the side, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz may be more of a ready-made replacement.

Man City are also looking at options from within the Premier League, and according to a report from Spain they have now submitted a €65m (£55m) offer for Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison.

Guardiola is known to be a huge fan of Maddison, and City have now made a concrete approach for his services, with the Englishman viewed as the ideal successor to De Bruyne in attacking midfield.

The 28-year-old is deemed to fit into Guardiola’s style of play perfectly, given his creativity and ability to connect with the attack, while his ability from set-pieces is also outlined as a major strength.

"Wonderful" Maddison impressing at Spurs

It has been an extremely disappointing season for Spurs in the Premier League, but the attacking midfielder has been one of their stand-out players, picking up 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 matches in all competitions.

As such, the former Leicester City man ranks highly across a range of key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

The England international has also been singled out for high praise by BBC Five Live’s Ben Haines in the past.

Maddison is clearly a quality player, but the Tottenham star is set to turn 29 in November, meaning he is unlikely to be a long-term heir to De Bruyne, and his attacking numbers suggest he is not at the same level as the City legend, so there should be some reservations about the move.

Manchester City are set to be in the market to bolster their squad when the summer transfer window officially opens for business in the coming months.

The Cityzens dropped points once again in the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton, who had 11 points in the top-flight heading into the game.

Pep Guardiola’s side have already missed out on the Premier League title, though, and that may be why the club are eager to bring in fresh recruits, with a fresh report detailing their interest in a Serie A star.

Manchester City make Serie A star a serious target

According to The Telegraph, Manchester City are interested in a deal to sign Tijjani Reijnders from Italian giants Milan in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Cityzens have made the Netherlands international a ‘serious’ target to come in and bolster their options in the middle of the park, as they aim to revitalise the squad.

It also reveals that Milan would want a club-record fee for the central midfielder, which means that it will be in excess of the £57m they once raked in from Real Madrid for Brazilian icon Kaka.

Manchester City should, now, splash the cash to sign the Dutch talent because he could come in as a big upgrade on Ilkay Gundogan in the middle of the park.

Why Reijnders would be a better option than Gundogan

Guardiola swooped to bring the German midfielder back to The Etihad, after a one-year stint at Barcelona, last summer, and it has been a difficult season for the veteran, who has failed to live up to the standards he set in his first spell at the club.

Gundogan had hit double figures for goals in each of his last three seasons at City, combining for 38 goals, but has only produced two goals and five assists in 47 matches in all competitions upon his return.

Reijnders, meanwhile, has racked up 15 goals in 51 matches for Milan in all competitions this season, including three goals in ten outings in the Champions League.

He has provided a regular goal threat from the middle of the park for the Serie A giants, whilst Gundogan is heading into the final two matches of the league campaign without a goal to his name in the Premier League.

As you can see in the table above, Reijnder has scored ten more goals, despite missing half as many ‘big chances’, and has created more ‘big chances’ for his teammates in midfield.

These statistics suggest that the 26-year-old star, whose performances were described as “insane” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has the attacking quality to be miles better than Gundogan for City by offering a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

The Milan star has also won 63% of his ground duels, compared to Gundogan’s 48%, and could also offer more to the Cityzens out of possession as a strong midfield presence by winning a higher percentage of his battles with opposition midfielders to regain or retain the ball.

It is now down to City to strike a deal with the Italian team because Reijnders appears to have the quality to be miles better than the German midfielder for Guardiola next season and beyond.

Instant Marmoush upgrade: Man City targeting "world class" £85m star

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By
Ross Kilvington

May 10, 2025

Everything now rests on Manchester United lifting the Europa League in Bilbao to salvage some pride.

The Red Devils’ abysmal domestic season in the Premier League – away from potential European success – continued last time out versus Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca’s Blues dishing out a dire 18th loss of the league campaign.

A major revamp is needed at Old Trafford this summer, therefore, with Ruben Amorim needing to get this summer’s vital transfer window spot on.

Man United's busy summer ahead

It won’t just be hectic with a whole load of incomings entering through the door, with reports suggesting that Rasmus Hojlund could be on his way out of the Theatre of Dreams alongside Marcus Rashford.

Transfer Focus

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

But, away from ongoing talk involving who will be leaving the red half of Manchester, and the excitement levels begin to be raised, with both Matheus Cunha and Viktor Gyokeres routinely linked to Amorim’s men to spice up the attacking personnel.

The flashy names being linked don’t stop there though, with a new report from journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that United hold ‘substantial interest’ in 17-year-old River Plate hotshot Franco Mastantuono and have held talks with the player’s representatives this week.

This could be a tricky deal to get done this summer, however, with United having to fork out a high £38m to activate the South American’s release clause, amidst additional interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and various other keen onlookers.

How Mastantuono could be Man United's own Lamine Yamal

If United were successful in their pursuit of the enthralling teenager, Amorim and Co could be about to land their very own version of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, with the Argentine winger also making insane waves in his native country.

Much like Yamal at the Camp Nou, Mastantuono has been heavily in the spotlight at River Plate from a very early age.

After all, the Buenos Aires-born attacker is immortalised forever now into the South American club’s rich history, with Mastantuono going down as the team’s youngest ever goalscorer when firing home a strike last year at just 16 years of age.

He hasn’t looked back since that landmark goal, with the left-footed ace now up to seven goals and nine assists in the senior team at River Plate, which included a sublime free-kick finding the back of the net against arch rivals Boca Juniors back in April.

Yamal – who operates down the same right-hand side as Mastantuono – is way out ahead with 24 goals and 34 assists next to his name in Hansi Flick’s starting XI in Spain, but it’s undeniable how similarly electric the two young attackers are, considering the amount of havoc they are both capable of with their dynamite left foot.

Heading to Old Trafford could also be a worthwhile environment for Mastantuono if he wants to advance his game, with a whole host of youngsters developed at the Red Devils for some time now handed their first senior opportunities this campaign under Amorim.

Moreover, the Portuguese boss has also taken a shine to Amad Diallo since arriving, meaning the “crazy” 5 foot 10 attacker – as he’s been labelled by Thierry Henry – could stand a chance at immediate first-team action with both the Ivorian and the South American blistering in style down the right flank.

Winning such a sought-after starlet could also boost United’s reputation after such a harrowing 2024/25 campaign, with Amorim’s approach of shifting on deadwood allowing the Red Devils to hopefully enter into a new era spearheaded by some immense future talents.

Amorim's own Wirtz: Man Utd chasing "future Ballon d'Or winner"

Man United are ready to make wholesale improvements in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 17, 2025