With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Manchester City are now reportedly readying a formal proposal to sign a talented South American defender for Pep Guardiola.
Pep reveals Man City's FA Cup pride
Whilst it’s been a fairly disappointing season in the Premier League and arguably Guardiola’s toughest, Manchester City still have the FA Cup final to look forward to this weekend. In what is the third year in a row that the Citizens have reached the final at Wembley, they will be desperate to avoid an upset against Crystal Palace and fall at the final hurdle for the second consecutive year.
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ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025
Guardiola knows exactly what the occasion means and spoke about how proud he and his side are of their FA Cup achievements in recent years. The Spaniard told reporters earlier this week: “I say it every time we are in this position, but I will say it again: it is such a privilege to be able to play in this incredible stadium and have a chance to win this beautiful trophy,” said Guardiola, ahead of his squad’s trip to north-west London.
“This is our third year in a row in the FA Cup Final, which is something we are very, very proud of. In the FA Cup, you play all the top teams from the Premier League and the Championship and always there are times when it is difficult.
Manchester City managerPepGuardiolacelebrates after the match
“To have made three Finals in a row shows how consistent we have been. It says everything about this generation of players and the club itself. The FA Cup is the most challenging and beautiful domestic cup competition in the world, there is no doubt about that.”
Away from their potential Wembley success this weekend, meanwhile, those at The Etihad have already reportedly set their sights on welcoming a defensive reinforcement when the summer transfer window arrives.
Man City readying Wesley proposal
According to Coluna do Fla, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now readying a formal proposal worth €35m (£29m) to sign Wesley Franca from Flamengo this summer. The Brazilian right-back is reportedly keen on a move to Man City, but has also attracted interest from Manchester United and Liverpool as a result of his impressive campaign.
Their £29m proposal will reportedly fall short of Flamengo’s valuation, however, with the Brazilian club demanding as much as €45m (£38m) to sell Wesley before the Club World Cup begins.
Dubbed “pacy” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Wesley looks set to have quite a decision to make this summer. With a whole host of Premier League clubs chasing his signature, the 21-year-old looks destined for England and may well end up in a Manchester City side who desperately need a right-back.
Liverpool recently confirmed that star attacker Mohamed Salah has put pen to paper on a new two-year contract with the club to extend his stay at Anfield beyond the summer.
His old deal was due to expire at the end of the current season, which would have made him a free agent ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but the Reds will have Salah running down the wing again next term.
That should come as a huge relief to the Anfield supporters because he has scored 243 goals for the club to date, including 27 goals in the Premier League so far this term.
The Egypt international consistently carries a big threat at the top end of the pitch, and his decision to extend his contract will come as a big boost for Arne Slot, who will be able to call upon his services on the right flank again next season.
Salah is not the only key Liverpool star who has decided to remain at Anfield, though, as Virgil van Dijk has reportedly agreed a two-year contract extension, although that has yet to be officially confirmed by the club.
Why keeping Virgil van Dijk is a big boost for Liverpool
Keeping the Netherlands international beyond the summer, when his deal is currently due to expire, is set to be a big boost for the club when it is made official.
The former Southampton defender is on the verge of winning his second Premier League title with the Reds, and his first whilst wearing the captain’s armband.
Van Dijk has played every single minute of the current league season for the Reds, starting all 32 of their matches, and has been a rock at the heart of the defence.
Liverpool have kept 13 clean sheets and conceded 31 goals – the second-lowest tally in the division – in that time, thanks to his exceptional performances at centre-back.
24/25 Premier League
Virgil van Dijk
Starts
32
Pass accuracy
92%
Clean sheets
13
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.7
Clearances per game
5.2
Ground duel success rate
61%
Aerial duel success rate
70%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Van Dijk has dominated opposition attackers in duels on the ground and in the air, whilst being incredibly reliable with the ball at his feet.
The Dutch defender, who scored the winning goal in their clash with West Ham United at Anfield last weekend, has been a consistent and brilliant performer at centre-back, playing a pivotal role in their soon-to-be title success.
This is why keeping the defender at the club is set to be a big boost for Liverpool and Klopp, particularly as he is now at an age – 33 – where it is all about his performances, rather than any sell-on value.
At the time of writing (17/04/2025), Transfermarkt have Van Dijk’s market value at roughly £23.9m, which is even less than they reportedly want for one of their young talents this summer.
The latest on Jarell Quansah's Liverpool future
According to CaughtOffside, there are six clubs interested in a deal to sign Jarell Quansah from Liverpool in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that Newcastle United have a long-standing interest in the England U21 international and that they are one of the six clubs eyeing him up.
Jarell Quansah for Liverpool
It states that Everton, Bournemouth, and Brentford are among the other Premier League teams keen on the versatile defender, who can play at right-back or centre-back.
CaughtOffside adds that there is also interest from abroad in the young starlet, as Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen could emerge as suitors for him.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah
The outlet also reveals that Liverpool would be willing to listen to offers for the academy graduate if any teams come in with bids worth around £30m, but it remains to be seen whether or not any of the aforementioned clubs are prepared to meet their demands.
This latest report shows that the Reds have hit the jackpot on Quansah, who is now worth even more than club captain and leading centre-back Van Dijk.
Why Liverpool should sell Jarrel Quansah
The central defender has been at Liverpool since the age of five, with this year marking 15 years at the club, and this means that they did not have to spend a penny to land the talented youngster.
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He was not an expensive signing at academy or first-team level who has come into the senior set-up with expectations or potential that has to be fulfilled to live up to a price tag.
Quansah, instead, rose through the ranks as a homegrown prospect and enjoyed a loan spell at Bristol Rovers before his emergence in the squad under Jurgen Klopp last term.
As shown in the clips above, the English colossus showcased his qualities in and out of possession in his debut campaign to earn himself a senior England call-up last year.
The 22-year-old ace, who was described as a “monster” by scout Jacek Kulig last term, has failed to kick on after his promising performances in the 2023/24 season, though, as he has struggled for game time under Slot.
Jarell Quansah (Premier League)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
17
11
Goals
2
0
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.5
1.4
Clearances per game
2.3
1.3
Ground duel success rate
60%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
67%
39%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Quansah has played fewer matches, completed fewer defensive actions, and been weaker in duels on the floor and in the air in the Premier League this season compared to last.
Instead of developing and improving with age, it appears as though the English defender has regressed, or stagnated at best, under the Dutch head coach.
Jarrel Quansah
This suggests that now could be the right time for Liverpool to cash in on the 22-year-old, who is now valued at £30m, as this could be the peak of his value.
The Reds could run the risk of his form continuing to regress, resulting in his value dropping, if they do not decide to make the most of the current interest in his services from teams across Europe, which is why they should move on from him this summer.
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Their contribution to ODI cricket has been rooted in identity and belief
Greg Chappell23-Oct-2025Author and Philosopher Bo Bennett once said “Success is not what you have but who you are.”In an era where cricket often bends to the whims of fleeting formats and instant gratification, two Indian giants stood tall, not just for the runs they scored but for the men they became. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two pillars of modern Indian cricket, carved their legacies through distinct journeys, both marked by immense skill, fierce preparation, and an abiding respect for the 50-over format. Their contribution to ODI cricket wasn’t accidental – it was deeply personal, rooted in identity and belief.Kohli was never just a batter, he was a movement. He arrived on the ODI scene in 2008 with raw promise, and by 2017, when he was full-time captain in the format, he had seized the reins of a side in transition and reshaped it. He brought what few dared to – a warrior’s mindset. He turned India’s ODI side into a sharp, focused and supremely fit unit that played to win, home or away.But what truly set him apart, even from the legends who came before him, was his detachment from personal statistics. While the world raved about centuries and aggregates, Kohli cared only about the outcome. He once said that he played for India, not for records – a statement that defined his leadership. Individual feats were often the focal point of India’s cricketing narrative; Kohli sought something larger. His currency was legacy, not numbers.Related
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Under his watch, India beat Australia 2-1 in an ODI series in 2018-19. They held fort at home like a colossus, dominating bilateral contests and ICC events. Kohli made chasing a priority, fielding a crop of finishers who could rattle teams even in high-pressure chases. He transformed India’s attitude from reactive to relentlessly proactive.Where Kohli’s rise was meteoric and defined by intensity, Rohit’s journey was more about a slow-burn path to greatness. For years he dazzled in limited-overs cricket; his timing, poise and flair made him a household name. But it didn’t come easy: though he made his debut in 2007, inconsistency and middle-order struggles kept him from cementing a place, especially in big tournaments.Then came 2013. Promoted to open during a home series against England, he seized the opportunity with quiet confidence. There was a double-century against Australia. Elegant hundreds, of which the first came also against Australia that year. Sudden comfort against the swinging ball. Something had changed – not just in technique but in belief. What followed was one of the most remarkable second winds in Indian cricket. Rohit didn’t just adapt to ODI cricket, he conquered it.
Where Kohli’s rise was meteoric and defined by intensity, Rohit’s journey was more about a slow-burn path to greatness
His batting, so often described as “effortless”, now carried the weight of responsibility. The short-arm pull, the nimble footwork against spin, the patience outside off stump – all made for a batter who could both grind and grace. A blistering 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 cemented his credentials as a record-breaker, while his measured leadership in the 2023 ODI World Cup showed a cricketer at peace with pressure.When Kohli stepped down as captain in 2021, it was Rohit who inherited the mantle – not by clamour but by quiet readiness. Where Kohli roared, Rohit observed. His captaincy was marked by calm decisions, clear planning, and unwavering support for younger players. He doesn’t chase the camera. He lets his cricket speak – and speak it does, fluently.Their captaincies were a study in contrasts, but both chased one of the same ends – Indian excellence in ODIs. Kohli led in 95 ODIs, winning 65 – among the top two highest by an Indian captain. His win rate of over 68% came against the best teams, in the toughest conditions. Rohit, newer in the role, led in just a little under half as many matches as Kohli and had an even better win percentage – 75%. Together they ensured that India remained an ODI superpower, not just a red-ball giant.Technically, Kohli’s game was forged in fire. His mastery of pace, particularly the searing quicks of Australia, England, and South Africa, made him a modern-day gladiator. His cover-drive became a symbol not just of class but of courage. Off the field, his dedication to fitness, diet and relentless improvement made him a trendsetter.Rohit, on the other hand, thrived on rhythm. His strokeplay is a masterclass in timing. Few play spin better; fewer still can pull like he does. He doesn’t impose himself on bowlers initially – he outsmarts them, and then dismantles them relentlessly. Mentally, both men were titans – Kohli driven by the fire of legacy, Rohit by the calmness of knowing his time would come.There were moments when they didn’t just shine, they paused the game itself. Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup, in a high-pressure chase, showed he wasn’t afraid of the big stage. His leadership in the 2018-19 Australia series win remains a defining Indian cricket moment.It’s one last time into the breach in Australia for the two•ICC/Getty ImagesFor Rohit it was the 264 against Sri Lanka, the innings that declared him an ODI phenomenon. Then the five centuries at the 2019 World Cup, where he tamed global attacks with poise. And more recently, his tactical nous through the 2023 World Cup campaign as captain.But beyond individual brilliance in ODIs lay something rarer: their love of and devotion to Test cricket. Kohli wasn’t shy about it – he spoke often, and passionately, about the purity of the format. He made it cool again to care about playing in whites. Rohit, through his transformation, showed that Test cricket rewards those who respect its tempo.In an age where players often chase leagues, fame, and IPL contracts, Kohli and Rohit were naturals who became the face of their franchises for over a decade. No matter the format, they dominated. They were never trying to be viral. They were trying to be vital.Praise for them came from everywhere. Michael Vaughan was effusive in his admiration of Kohli as an ODI player, and Ravi Shastri lauded his obsession with chasing success. Ben Stokes admired Rohit’s calm control. Steve Smith admired Kohli’s competitiveness. Ajinkya Rahane said once that Rohit always made you feel like the team came first. Their team-mates loved them. Their opponents respected them. Their fans, like us, will remember them as more than just batters, as torchbearers.Now, as the cricketing world moves forward, new names will rise. New captains will lead. But this golden chapter – the Kohli-Rohit era – will remain engraved not just in record books but in the hearts of every fan who understood what they stood for. Kohli’s passion, his refusal to settle, his belief in legacy over statistics. Rohit’s elegance, his humility, and his redemption arc, which reminded us all that timing is everything – in cricket, and in life.What they gave the game can’t be fully measured in runs or centuries or wins. They gave it belief, dignity, and character – which, as Bo Bennett reminded us, is the true measure of success.
“Those scoring runs are doing it comfortably. We have skillful batters, so we should do well here,” says Najmul Hossain Shanto
Mohammad Isam12-Oct-20231:06
Shanto: We have a plan against Santner
Najmul Hossain Shanto thanked one of the coaches as he slowly walked away from the nets at Chepauk, having just completed a long batting session. Shanto got nods of acknowledgement from head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, assistant coach Nic Pothas and team director Khaled Mahmud. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin, standing nearby, was in deep thought. Technical consultant S Sriram was minding the nets while Allan Donald, the fast bowling coach, observed his group keenly.These were all tense faces in the Bangladesh practice session on the eve of the game against New Zealand. Bangladesh are on two points from two games. They were found out by England’s powerful batting, and they have in front of them three opponents – New Zealand, India and South Africa – showing formidable form in the World Cup.Related
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England exposed Bangladesh’s lack of a plan B in Dharamshala, but the more obvious problems have been their struggle to match horses for courses. Observing their training session on Thursday, it became apparent that their final XI wasn’t set in stone just yet. Spinners Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed bowled for long sessions on what was an optional training session in Chennai. Fast bowlers Tanzim Hasan and Hasan Mahmud bowled and batted, before doing a separate fielding session inside the main stadium.Shanto, who has been Bangladesh’s most improved batter over the last 12 months, said that they wanted to bat with courage, open-mindedness and freedom in order to get big scores.”We have to bat with courage. We have to bat open-mindedly and with freedom,” Shanto said. “Those scoring runs are doing it comfortably. We have skilful batters, so we should do well here. The coaching staff and captain have given us that freedom.”Shanto’s leadership instincts kicked in when he was asked a question about Tanzid Hasan’s poor form. The left-handed rookie has scored just 40 runs in six ODIs, prompting speculation about his position in the team. Shanto felt that Tanzid should be allowed a bit of time and space.”I think we should stop thinking about the openers. We leave the thought of the openers. Every top order batter came with good preparations. I think one or two good innings will give the batters a bit of confidence. I think nobody is relaxed. They are all trying to do something for the team. We are hopeful there will be more scores from the top order.”I think he has played five or six games. Personally I feel some need more time, some need less time. Everyone should believe him. We should support him. We have a capable side, so I am hopeful we will all perform well.”Bangladesh have also not got the performance from their fast bowling group that they would expect. It has been only two games but given their consistency of the last two years, the lack of breakthroughs have been surprising.Shanto said that the fast bowlers’ good showing of the last two years will not go to waste. “Firstly, none of the fast bowlers are disappointed. Everyone is fine. The wicket is such that there will be a lot of runs. We don’t see our fast bowlers going for 60-70 runs in their ten overs, so suddenly when we see them do it, we might think they are bowling badly. It is certainly not that.”We know how these wickets are, so we have to find ways to get wickets with the new ball or in the middle overs. I believe that the fast bowlers need to improve by 10% to get into a good space.”Shanto said that Mahedi and Nasum showed them in the Asia Cup, against India in Colombo, that they can win through lower-order resistance. “They played well in the Asia Cup. We don’t know how this wicket will behave. The captain and coach will decide on the side after taking a look at the pitch – on the number of pacers or spinners.”Everyone has become a performer. We are all capable players. We won that game against India because the lower middle-order batted well in that game. They certainly have an important role.”Bangladesh, however, don’t have great memories at Chepauk. In their only international match here, they lost to Kenya by 28 runs, in 1998. Abedin, the selector on tour and a former Bangladesh captain, was in that side. Team director Mahmud, too, played that game against Kenya. It’s a good thing the current Bangladesh team is not too caught up with history.
The former South Africa fast bowler has some tips for Bumrah, Shami and Co
Dale Steyn29-Jul-20212:28
Steyn: “You just have to become aware of where batters like to score their runs”
Dale Steyn, one of the best swing bowlers of the modern era, has considerable experience bowling in England, and was part of two South African teams that won Test series there, in 2008 and 2012. He talks to Sanjay Manjrekar about dealing with the weather, learning to control the swing of the Dukes ball, and how India should to bowl to Joe Root and Ben Stokes in their upcoming series.Get your sweat on
I just went out there and tried to get as warmed up as possible. We’d play a little bit of football, I’d do a lot of running around and get a good sweat on. In South Africa, I usually go out and do my warm-ups and then I want to be back in the dressing room 20-30 minutes before the start of play – I might want to have a shower, relax and get ready for a long day’s play. In England, it was kind of the other way around. I’d try and get into the dressing room with about 15 minutes to go to play, so that when I went out there to bowl, I was still a little bit sweaty and good to go and my body hadn’t cooled off just yet.That might sound like we’re playing in Iceland. It isn’t, but you have to get your body going and I would just bowl, do a lot of running around. I wasn’t a big fan of sitting there and stretching for long periods of time, like I was doing yoga or something. I wanted to move around, get the body flowing, so when it was time to go, I was ready and sort of clicked into first gear.Related
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Talk to those who’ve been there, done that
When I was starting off my first-class career, it was a lot more accessible to get yourself over to England, play a bit of club cricket. I know a lot of foreign players that used to go and play club cricket or got themselves into a county – maybe even play for the 2nds, because they play so much cricket: they are playing five, six days a week. When you’re doing that on repeat all the time, you get used to the conditions a lot quicker, you get used to the weather and become acclimatised to everything. Nowadays, unfortunately, it’s not that easy, but it just boils down to training, really.You’ve got to speak to someone who’s been there before, who’s done well there, or a coach that’s been there. Measure the distance where you think the ball is going to be on a good length, get a cone, put it down, and if the only nets you have are indoor nets, practise as though you’re playing at Lord’s or Durham or Edgbaston. You just create your own environment wherever you are through the help of other people who have been there. That seems to be the way we do it now. I know when I’m preparing for an IPL or something like that, I’m not in India but I have to go to the nets and imagine that this is where I am and this is who I’m playing against, this is the length that I have to bowl. It’s different to bowling in South Africa and Australia. I put my cone down and just try and nail it ball after ball.If you don’t control the swing, it’ll run away with you
The Dukes ball does tend to swing more and for longer than the Kookaburra. The Kookaburra swings but really late. You speak to somebody who’s probably one of the world’s best swing bowlers, Jimmy Anderson – I don’t think he particularly enjoys bowling with the Kookaburra. He enjoys the Dukes and he’s figured out a way to control that ball. But for foreigners, going to a place like England, you get there and suddenly you’re swinging it 10 to 15cm more than the ball you’re used to bowling with. Now, all of a sudden, to try and get the ball in the right place is a bit of a mission. So just the ball alone can be quite difficult to learn how to control.In South Africa we used to try and get a bunch of Dukes down here a month before we were going to England or to India with the SG. We’d start bowling with them to acclimatise our fingers – those seams are very pronounced – and just get used to the amount of swing and the volume of swing the balls actually have in them.”Jacques Kallis used to say, ‘What’s the game plan for any batter? Top of off or the odd bouncer'”•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesThe balls these days, especially the white Kookaburra ball, doesn’t swing nearly as much as I found it did a couple of years ago. Then you’ll see guys get into a Test match and get this Dukes ball and it’s swinging. It looks pretty, but the control is a whole other ball game.Get that wobble going
In hindsight, I wish I’d taken some of the advice that Kyle Abbott [former South Africa fast bowler] gave me later in my career. I went to England and bowled okay. I wish my stats would have been slightly better, but I found that if I’d done what I did when I was with Hampshire in 2018 and just held the ball more almost cross-seam and didn’t worry too much about the swing, the ball was still going to swing. It kind of wobbled a little bit and still swung – and it moved a lot later. It looks so pretty when you bowl these big swingers and the guy plays forward and you’re going up, “Ooh he’s played and missed” – I’m kinda hoping that every ball he plays and misses or nicks it, so it shouldn’t really be a surprise for me when he plays and misses!So I wish that I’d done that earlier when I was in England. I think I would have found the edge a lot more. The ball wouldn’t have swung as much, but I think I would have been a lot more effective in the way that I’d taken wickets. We see guys now and they still swing it beautifully but it almost goes too much. Anderson’s a master of it. He swings it, swings it, swings it, and then you just see this wobble seam and it confuses the batter. Then the next one he bowls a big swinger and they chase it and nick it off or something like that. Playing in those conditions, he’s obviously a lot more skilled than the rest of us, but I wish I’d done that earlier in my career.Know where to land it to hit top of off
Jacques Kallis used to say, “What’s the game plan for any batter? Top of off or the odd bouncer.” In every meeting. It just became like this running joke. And it is the truth – top of off or the odd bouncer is going to do many a batter over. The difficult part is trying to find what length top of off is. Different grounds have different bounce. Some are low, some bounce more, and that’s something you have to work out, and obviously why you want to go to a stadium a couple of days or weeks earlier to prep and play a couple of warm-up games to find that length.”I’m not going to say Root is a nick-off candidate, but a lot of the ways I have seen him get out are caught behind or caught at slips, especially in England”•Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesI was always trying to look for that length where I was hitting the stumps. I found that if I was hitting the stumps, especially for a batter’s first 20 balls, that’s where I’m going to cause him the biggest amount of trouble. After that I might want to drag my length back a little so that I can get him more on the back foot and then throw the odd one fuller and hope his weight was on the back foot. But ideally the length you’re always looking at is where it’s going to be clipping the top of the stumps.It was more on feel for me. I wanted to feel the ball out of my hand and I could almost close my eyes and feel, yep, that’s it, I’ve got that length, just make a note in my brain that that’s where I need to let it go. Not everybody can do that and it’s not a very easy thing to coach. However, you get a coach like Ottis Gibson, who was brilliant. You could go to the Wanderers, you could go to Chennai, you could go anywhere and he’d pull out his little book and give you the exact measurements in metres from the stumps as to what length you have to bowl for the ball to hit the top of the stumps. Then he’d go put these little markers out there and say, “Boys, this is your length.” You’d be playing in Australia and you would go from Perth to Hobart and it could change by 30 or 40cm, almost half a metre in length, though you’re playing in the same country. Ottis was fantastic at making a note as to every ground where you went to what was the length bowlers bowled to hit the stumps – especially in the last game you played there.Length, length, length
Different batters do different things. You look at Virat Kohli and others – they are coming out of their crease now and they’re trying to negate that swing. So it feels like you have to drag your length back, but the moment you do that, the ball is not hitting the stumps anymore.So you have to find ways of getting the batter back in his crease. You might go two overs or three overs where you go a little bit shorter and you’re forcing him to say, “Okay, cool, he’s not going to go full, I’m going to have to go back in my crease.” And the guys at point or square leg will send a message to mid-off or mid-on to tell the bowler that the batter is batting a little bit out of his crease or he’s batting deeper in the crease.2:45
“Ideally the length you’re always looking at is where it’s going to be clipping the top of the stumps”
For me, I always felt like it didn’t matter whether the batter was coming at me or going deeper in the crease. I still needed to hit the stumps. I needed to find the length that was going to hit the stumps because regardless of where he was batting, if the ball wasn’t hitting the stumps, my bowled or my lbw was out the window. Then I’m only looking for one mode of dismissal and that’s not what I was about. I was always looking for caught behind, lbw and bowled. So then I’d have to figure out a way of getting the batter into a position where I could find that length again.I think just being absolutely relentless on length will be the biggest thing. In England, it really always boils down to length. The pitches aren’t particularly fast, so when you drop it a bit short, it does tend to be a bit spongy and a little bit slower. Glenn McGrath was absolutely relentless in bowling that length. He made you play every ball. You just felt that every ball he bowled, he was in business and you were in trouble, and that’s why he was so successful.India’s pace line-up: plenty in the quiver
I like what they have got right now. All those bowlers bring something different to the party. My advice is to stay fit. Five Test matches – that requires a lot of bowling. It’s a lot of wickets to take, and if you’re going to rely on your seamers to do a lot of bowling, you have to stay fit.I like Shardul Thakur. He does swing the ball beautifully, and when he learns how to get the ball that stays straight on batters, that’s when he might find a lot more edges. He’s another guy like Tim Southee that can swing it beautifully, but he needs to learn how to bowl that kind of scrambled ball that just holds the line and he can find the edges.Bhuvneshwar Kumar is fantastic. He can bowl in any ground in the world and he could be successful because he bowls such a wonderful length. He can swing it and he’s got the skill in his wrist to be able to seam the ball too. India have all the arsenal they need.”I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis on the seamers when someone like R Ashwin might be the biggest key for India [in England]”•Adam Davy/PA Photos/Getty ImagesMohammed Siraj is somebody who could come in. I think he brings a good attitude to the game. That’s another thing we tend to forget when you’re playing in England conditions. It’s not just about where you put the ball but also the attitude you bring, getting in people’s faces, making them play shots they don’t particularly want to play – I think Siraj is somebody who can do that. I saw parts of that little bit of fight when he played in Australia and I immediately knew he’s going to have a good Test career. Don’t forget about the attitude of a fast bowler too. Maybe that’s something India would have really relished in the World Test Championship final, but it would have come with the sacrifice of some more runs.Umesh Yadav – quick through the air, swings it beautifully. And then you can decide whether it’s Umesh or Mohammed Shami you pick. For me, they do a similar kind of thing – similar heights, both swing the ball. It just boils down to who’s bowling better in the nets, who’s higher in confidence, in the better mental space.How to deal with Stokes and Root
Against the best players in the world, you almost have the same plans – Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, AB de Villiers, you’re looking to get them out with those three modes of dismissal, lbw, caught behind and bowled. You throw in the odd bouncer every now and then.You just become aware of where they like to score their runs. Root might score more runs through third man, so you might go, “Okay, we don’t need the cover [fielder]. We’re going to put him in gully”. I’m not going to say Root is a nick-off candidate, but a lot of the ways I have seen him get out are caught behind or caught at slips, especially in England, where there is a bit of cloud cover. In the three Test matches I have watched so far in England this year, the ball has been swinging. Probably the one area I’d focus on primarily is to get him out caught in the slips or caught behind.Ben Stokes – depends on what mood he’s in! Such a good player. I know that when we played against him, we liked to come around the wicket at him. He’s comfortable against right-arm seamers coming over the wicket, so coming round the wicket and trying to straighten the ball was an option we liked. But it depends on what kind of mood you get Ben Stokes in. If he’s in a free-scoring kind of mood, he could score really quickly, but he’ll give you chances. If he’s in a defensive kind of mood, he can knuckle down. Not in the way Cheteshwar Pujara does, but Stokes puts a lot of value on his wicket.It might come down to the spinners
Maybe it’s out-of-the-box thinking here from me, but I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis on the seamers when someone like R Ashwin might be the biggest key for India. As these five Test matches go on, I think spin will be the difference. Ashwin is the kind of bowler that bowls tons and tons of overs. Teams like England and Australia, who are so good at playing seamers and seamer-friendly conditions, don’t tend to play spin particularly well. So Ashwin might be the biggest trump card that India have going forward. And the same thing for England – can they find somebody who can spin out Rishabh Pant? So it might be the fight of who the better spinners are in the series.
Bahia e RB Bragantino se enfrentam neste domingo (12), pela sexta rodada da Série A do Brasileirão. A bola vai rolar a partir das 18h30 (de Brasília), na Arena Fonte Nova, com transmissão do Premiere.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalpites de HojePalpite: Bahia x Bragantino – Campeonato Brasileiro – 12/5/2024Palpites de Hoje12/05/2024NotíciasPra cima! Aposte R$100 e fature R$515 se o Bahia vencer os dois tempos contra o RB BragantinoNotícias11/05/2024DicasBahia x RB Bragantino: odds, estatísticas e informações para apostar na 6ª rodada do BrasileirãoDicas11/05/2024
➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América
As odds disponiveis no Lance! Betting apontam 1.83 para um triunfo do Bahia, 3.63 no empate e 4.04 para uma vitória do Bragantino no Brasileirão.
➡️A maior cobertura do futebol brasileiro. Aproveite 30 dias grátis e assine o Premiere!!
✅ FICHA TÉCNICA BAHIA X RED BULL BRAGANTINO SÉRIE A BRASILEIRÃO – SEXTA RODADA
🗓️ Data e horário: domingo, 12 de maio de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília) 📍 Local: Arena Fonte Nova 📺 Onde assistir: Premiere 🟨 Árbitro: Gustavo Ervino Bauermann (SC) 🚩 Assistentes: Bruno Raphael Pires (FIFA-GO) e Gizeli Casaril (SC) 🖥️ VAR: Gilberto Rodrigues Castro Junior (PE)
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➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão
⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES BAHIA (Técnico: Rogério Ceni) Marcos Felipe, Arias, Kanu, Gabriel Xavier e Luciano Juba; Caio Alexandre, Jean Lucas, Cauly e Éverton Ribeiro; Thaciano e Everaldo.
RED BULL BRAGANTINO (Técnico: Pedro Caixinha) Cleiton; Nathan Mendes, Pedro Henrique, Eduardo Santos e Luan Candido; Capixaba e Eric Ramires; Henry Mosquera, Gustavo Neves e Vitinho; Eduardo Sasha.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will be relishing his first opportunity to bring in his own players when the January transfer window opens for business next month.
The German manager joined after the summer window closed and has only been able to work with the squad that was put together by previous managers and sporting directors.
With five wins and two draws in seven matches in the Scottish Premiership so far, it is exciting to think about what Rohl could achieve with signings that he has a chance to have a say in.
Rangers pushing to sign Premiership star
After a host of signings from England in the summer, the Light Blues are reportedly looking closer to home to bolster the manager’s options in midfield.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to FootballTransfers, Glasgow Rangers are ‘pushing’ to reach an agreement to sign Kilmarnock central midfielder David Watson in the January transfer window.
The Scotland U21 international’s contract with Killie is due to expire at the end of the season, and the Gers are looking to take advantage of that situation to make him the first signing of the Rohl era.
It adds that Kilmarnock are open to a sale in January, to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer, but it remains to be seen how much they will demand for his services.
FootballTransfers reveals that the 20-year-old starlet has been identified as the club’s top target for the January window, but they will face competition from Lazio and Celtic, which means that this will not be an easy deal for Rangers to get over the line in the coming weeks.
Why Rangers should sign David Watson
With Mohamed Diomande heading off to the African Cup of Nations later this month, Watson could arrive at Ibrox at the start of January as an upgrade on the Ivorian talent.
Rangers will, of course, be without Diomande until the end of his country’s run in the tournament, which could provide a new signing like the Kilmarnock star to come in and take his place in the team before he returns.
Based on their respective performances in the Scottish Premiership this season, Watson would be likely to step into the side and offer more than the left-footed star has for Rangers so far.
Described by Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson as a “box-crashing, goalscoring midfielder that works hard on both ends”, the Kilmarnock star has scored three goals and created two ‘big chances’ for Kilmarnock in the Premiership, per Sofascore, whilst Diomande has only scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ for his team in that time.
This suggests that Watson, on current form, could offer more of a threat at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues if he arrives in January to take a place in Rohl’s midfield, as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the middle of the park.
Appearances
12
16
Goals
1
3
Big chances created
1
2
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
3.1
Duels won per game
2.9
5.7
Ground duel success rate
45%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
31%
41%
As you can see in the table above, the Scottish talent has also provided more quality than Diomande out of possession in the league this season, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the ground and in the air, whilst making more defensive interceptions per game.
Analyst John Walker claimed that Watson had “blown up the league” last year, and the same is true this season with his impressive performances in the middle of the park as a 20-year-old star.
The Killie central midfielder has significantly outperformed Diomande, who was the subject of a £6.5m bid from Besiktas in the summer, and has shown that he can deliver consistent displays in the division.
Watson, who scored four goals in 23 league starts in the 2024/25 campaign, is a proven Premiership performer who could arrive at Ibrox to hit the ground running in January, which is exactly what they need when signing a player midway through the season.
Rangers dud was as "rotten" as Miovski, now he's Rohl's most improved player
This Glasgow Rangers flop who looked as bad as Bojan Miovski is now Danny Rohl’s most improved performer.
ByDan Emery Dec 8, 2025
With Diomande set to jet away to the African Cup of Nations, signing the Scottish star to come in as an upgrade on him at the start of the January transfer window could be a shrewd move by the club and a dream first signing for Rohl.
Throughout the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been truly blessed with the chance to watch numerous elite-level attackers feature for the club.
Players such as Heung-min Son, Teddy Sheringham and Harry Kane all managed to make themselves club-legends in North London, with the latter breaking nearly every record in sight.
The 32-year-old currently sits at the top of the Lilywhites’ all-time scoring charts on 280, which saw 208 of his efforts come in the Premier League – with only Alan Shearer scoring more.
However, Spurs’ lack of success on the pitch ultimately led to his departure in 2023, which has left boss Thomas Frank unable to have the chance to work alongside the talisman.
He will no doubt want his own elite-level talent within the final third, potentially landing a player of that calibre during the upcoming January transfer window.
Spurs’ hunt for new attackers in January
Over the last couple of months, Spurs have been just one Premier League side linked with a potential deal for Porto star Sami Aghehowa in the winter window.
The Spaniard has been in tremendous goalscoring form during the early stages of 2025/26, as seen by his remarkable tally of 13 goals in his first 22 appearances across all competitions.
However, the Portuguese outfit don’t want to lose their star man anytime soon, subsequently slapping an €80m (£70m) asking price onto the 21-year-old’s head.
He’s not the only centre-forward in their sights ahead of the upcoming window, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player being considered by Fabio Paratici.
According to one Spanish outlet, the Lilywhites are seriously considering tabling a bid for the Frenchman in January, as his contract talks at Selhurst Park look to have stalled in recent weeks.
It also states that the Eagles may be forced to offload the 28-year-old in the near future to avoid losing him for nothing, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Mbeumo
During Frank’s time in charge at Brentford before taking the Spurs job, he often had numerous top-level attackers at his disposal, which helped make the Bees an established top-flight club.
The Dane mainly relied on forward Bryan Mbeumo during the latter years of his spell at the GTEC, with the Cameroonian international providing a constant source of goals in the Premier League.
During the 2024/25 season, the 26-year-old netted a career-best 20 league goals, ending the campaign as just one of five players to achieve the feat in the division.
He no doubt thrived under the 52-year-old across the capital, so much so that the manager made a fierce attempt to land his signature after taking the reins in North London.
However, a reunion just wasn’t meant to be, as Mbeumo opted for a move to join Manchester United during the summer, subsequently leading Frank to hunt for a new talisman.
The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison have often provided the goods in attacking areas for Spurs this campaign, but Frank could get his new star forward with a move for Mateta this winter.
The Palace star has registered 30 goals in the last two full seasons in England’s top-flight, whilst already making huge waves during the first 15 games of the new campaign.
Mateta already has seven goals in 2025/26, but it’s his underlying stats from his outings at Selhurst Park that would make him Frank’s next star attacker in the capital.
The French international, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.6 shots on target per 90 this season, which such a tally ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.
Games played
15
Goals scored
7
Shots on target
1.6
Dribbles completed
53%
Crosses completed
75%
Aerials won
2.5
Touches in opposition box
4.1
Recoveries made
3.5
Such a figure showcases his relentless nature in front of goal, handing the Spurs side the constant nuisance and goal threat they have lacked since Kane’s departure.
He’s also completed 53% of his attempted dribbles to date, whilst achieving a 75% cross completion rate – highlighting his all-round nature within the final third.
His biggest asset is his hold-up play, which could allow the Lilywhites to have the needed focal point they’ve craved, with the striker winning 2.5 aerials per 90 so far this season.
It could hand Frank the aerial presence needed to dominate in the 18-yard box, but also an option to help link the play and create intricate moves off a direct ball into the striker.
Whilst he operates in a different role to Mbeumo, the pair have both demonstrated their goalscoring prowess in recent times, with clinical goalscorers often hard to come by in the modern game.
Mateta could provide Frank with exactly what he wants in the January window, with such a move handing the Dane the perfect attacking option to kickstart his career in charge of the Lilywhites.
Their new Son: Spurs have held advanced talks to sign a future £100m player
Tottenham are looking to add fresh quality to their attacking flanks in 2026.
Despite registering an assist against Nottingham Forest, Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson has struggled to find his best form this season. Indeed, that strike he set up at the City Ground was only the second time in 2025/26 he’s chipped in with a goal or assist, despite playing 11 Premier League games.
It might not be a surprise to see the United States international struggling for form in the Premier League. Despite a dominant season in the Championship last term, former Leeds man Jon Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds that he doesn’t think he is “good enough to play in the Leeds United team.”
With Aaronson’s poor form continuing, it might lead Daniel Farke to look at alternative options on the right wing against Aston Villa.
Farke's options to replace Aaronson
One candidate to replace the American international against Villa is Wilfried Gnonto. The 22-year-old Italian is on the cusp of returning from a calf injury which has kept him out for most of the season, but Farke confirmed pre-match that his side have “not one player injured” this weekend.
Assuming the former Inter winger is back, he could get some involvement this weekend. Last term, Gnonto was excellent, scoring nine goals and assisting six in 43 second-tier games, and his direct nature could offer a new threat for Leeds.
However, given his recent fitness issues, this game may have come too soon for him to start.
An alternative option could be Jack Harrison. The 29-year-old Englishman has had a bit-part role this season in the Premier League, playing ten games, but featuring for just 262 minutes in total.
He is a player who certainly splits opinion at Elland Road. The former Everton loanee returned to the club this season after two years on Merseyside. He was not given a warm reception upon that return, though, and was booed by fans in preseason.
With Gnonto’s lack of game time and Harrison’s lack of form, there could be an ideal alternative to replace Aaronson.
Farke’s perfect Aaronson replacement
It would certainly be a fair call if Farke were to drop Aaronson from the side against Villa. He has struggled to have a real impact on the Leeds side this season, and has left a little to be desired creatively.
If the American were to be dropped from the side against the Villans, the man who could replace him is Daniel James. The Wales international has also not been fully fit this season, having racked up just eight Premier League appearances.
Yet, he played an hour for Wales over the last week as they beat Liechtenstein, a game in which he grabbed an assist, and North Macedonia, against whom he scored.
He is back fit and firing and in good form, which is a huge positive for Farke and Leeds.
Despite a lack of involvement this term, the former Manchester United star has previously impressed for the West Yorkshire side. In their Championship title win last term, he chipped in with a strong tally of 12 goals and nine assists in just 36 appearances.
He averaged 0.72 goal involvements per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 2% of Championship attackers.
James – 24/25 Championship stats
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile
Goals and assists
0.72
98th
Passes into penalty area
2.17
97th
Crosses into penalty area
0.9
96th
Goal-creating actions
0.52
90th
Progressive carries
4.04
87th
Stats from FBref
The Welsh international could hurt Villa in transition, too. It is no secret that he is lightning fast, with a top speed of 31kph, according to Speeds Database. Well, if Leeds decide to sit in a low block and hit Unai Emery’s side on the counterattack, James could be imperative to executing those fast transitional moments.
Statman Dave once described the 28-year-old as someone who is “unstoppable on the break.” If Leeds do decide their best way of winning is to try and hit the Villans on the counter, his pace and recent form in the final third could be pivotal.
It would be a bold call for Farke to drop one of his most trusted lieutenants in Aaronson, but James has the skillset to really hurt Villa and help his side pick up a huge win in dire circumstances.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series last season and now they're continuing to win the offseason as they have agreed to a deal with another dominant pitcher.
Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday morning that the Dodgers have reached a tentative deal with closer Kirby Yates. The 37-year-old right-hander spent last season with Texas Rangers where he racked up 33 saves. He also had 85 strikeouts in just 61.2 innings of work.
This past Sunday the Dodgers added another stud reliever in Tanner Scott and a few days before that they signed Japanese phenom pitcher Roki Sasaki.
The Dodgers are clearly not messing around as they prepare to defend their title this season.