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There could be plenty of change at Manchester United this summer as Ruben Amorim prepares for his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils and INEOS may have to move some players on before splashing the cash to comply with PSR, especially after the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham didn’t help with the club’s finances.

Amorim also now knows that he will be leading his Man Utd side against Arsenal at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

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Posts 1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

Marquee signing Matheus Cunha will be expected to feature on the opening weekend, but who else will be in that side? Well, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted Man Utd’s 25/26 starting line-up, with three more new faces backed to join the Brazilian.

AI predicts Man Utd’s 2025/26 starting line-up GK: Emiliano Martinez

According to Grok, the new goalkeeper for the 25/26 season at Old Trafford will be Emiliano Martinez.

The Red Devils are seemingly on the search to replace Andre Onana two years after he arrived, and the Argentine is thought to be open to joining Amorim’s side. A fee of £40m has been mooted in the media for Aston Villa to sell.

RCB: Noussair Mazraoui

Versatile defender Noussair Mazraoui has been predicted to start on the right-hand side of a back three after making 20 appearances as a central defender last season.

AI says that the Moroccan ‘adapted well to Amorim’s right centre-back role, offering defensive solidity and attacking contributions’.

CB: Leny Yoro

Still just 19 years of age, Leny Yoro looks set to be a regular at the back over the coming years, and he made 33 appearances in his first season at Old Trafford.

His ‘long-term potential make him a starter’ under Amorim, according to Grok, providing he stays fully fit.

LCB: Matthijs de Ligt

With Lisandro Martinez still sidelined through injury, Matthijs de Ligt has been predicted to make up the back three alongside Mazraoui and Yoro.

Despite being right footed, the Netherlands international has bundles of experience at the highest level and should continue to help Yoro and Mazraoui.

RWB: Amad Diallo

In a 3-4-2-1 system, Amad Diallo impressed as a right wing-back in the early days of Amorim’s Man Utd tenure.

Amorim also praised Diallo, saying the Ivorian has “improved so much defensively”, and he has been backed to feature there on a regular basis, starting against Arsenal ahead of Diogo Dalot.

LWB: Patrick Dorgu

On the other side, January signing Patrick Dorgu could get the nod ahead of his first full campaign as a Red Devils player.

The Denmark international was a regular in the second half of the 24/25 campaign and will be looking to add to his 20 Man Utd appearances.

CM: Manuel Ugarte

The first of two midfielders is Manuel Ugarte, who, despite being known for his defensive work, contributed to eight goals under Amorim in 24/25.

Ugarte is described as a ‘guaranteed starter’, providing a major midfield signing isn’t made, as he ‘brings energy and defensive nous to midfield, aligning with Amorim’s desire for dynamism’.

CM: Bruno Fernandes (c)

After snubbing interest from Saudi Arabia, Bruno Fernandes was always going to start in Grok’s Man Utd predicted XI.

Bruno Fernandes’ Man Utd stats

Games

290

Goals

98

Assists

86

Trophies won

2

The Red Devils captain is into his sixth year at Old Trafford and despite the club’s struggles, will go down as an iconic Man Utd star. AI says Fernandes ‘will anchor the midfield, likely playing slightly advanced’.

RW: Matheus Cunha

After triggering Matheus Cunha’s £62.5m release clause, it is no surprise to see Man Utd’s new signing thrown straight into the starting line-up.

The Brazilian contributed to 19 goals last season as an attacking midfielder or second striker, with the remaining four contributors coming as a winger or centre-forward. Grok has predicted that Amorim will use Cunha as one of two No.10s behind a striker.

LW: Bryan Mbeumo

Joining Cunha in behind a forward is another new face in Bryan Mbeumo. The Red Devils have a major interest in the Brentford star, who is valued up to £60m.

Grok says Mbeumo ‘pace and goal-scoring’ will offer a ‘balance to the attack’, and after a career best season in front of goal with the Bees in 24/25, it’s hard to argue against that.

ST: Viktor Gyokeres

Finishing off the side could be Man Utd’s most exciting and expensive signing of the summer in Viktor Gyokeres. The goalscoring machine starred under Amorim with Sporting CP and a reunion has been spoken about, although he does have an £85m release clause in his contract.

Grok says Gyokeres ‘could be the answer to their goal-scoring woes, outshining Rasmus Hojlund’ in the process.

During Burnley’s heyday in the Premier League under Sean Dyche, the Clarets were well-known for being an attritional side defensively.

Indeed, come the end of the memorable 2017/18 campaign that saw Burnley finish in an unbelievable seventh spot, Dyche’s brave troops had only shipped a slim 39 goals in total. To add more context, Arsenal would amazingly ship 12 more strikes, despite finishing in fifth.

This could well mean Parker’s camp in the here and now stand a fighting chance at Premier League survival, having only just leaked a remarkably low 16 goals themselves on the way to sealing automatic promotion in the Championship.

But, all the publicity surrounding Burnley’s rock-solid defence has come back to bite them, with valiant Clarets centre-back CJ Egan-Riley now heading for the exit door.

Egan-Riley's situation at Burnley

Egan-Riley was a key component of the Clarets’ formidable defence in 2024/25, culminating in the former Manchester City defender picking up a bumper 26 clean sheets from 41 Championship ties.

Unfortunately, his contract situation at Turf Moor has become Burnley’s own undoing, with the 22-year-old’s current deal at the club expiring later this month, leading to him seeking out other employers in the form of RC Strasbourg and West Ham United.

This would be a disorienting loss for the Clarets to come to terms with, considering his crucial spot in the promotion-winning side under Parker, but they could win themselves a dream replacement by securing the services of an experienced Premier League centre-back.

Burnley's "outstanding" Egan-Riley replacement

Burnley will be well aware that adding in experience here and there could be vital in boosting their survival chances, with the Clarets of old relying on seasoned heads such as Ben Mee and James Tarkowski to get them out of sticky situations.

Joe Gomez could come in and offer that same level of protection, with a recent report from the Empire of the Kop revealing that amid interest from Leeds and the Clarets, Liverpool wouldn’t stand in the way of the 28-year-old if he did fancy leaving Anfield behind this summer, having now placed a £25m price-tag above his head.

Whilst the London-born centre-back has been troubled by recurring injury issues in recent seasons – as seen in him missing a combined 29 games across the last two campaigns – he has shown in the past for the Reds that he can be an imposing presence at an elite level.

This is evident in Gomez only leaking 106 goals from 149 Premier League contests and counting, with the Liverpool number two’s calm and composed presence potentially critical in easing Burnley’s nerves up a division with Egan-Riley no longer around.

Gomez’s overall PL numbers

Games played

149

Goals conceded

106

Tackles

211

Tackles won

72%

Recoveries

720

Duels won

590

Aerial battles won

253

Passes per match

53.79

Wins

99

Clean sheets

47

Stats from the Premier League

When glancing at the table above, it’s even clearer that Gomez would be a welcome addition to Parker’s ranks to replace Egan-Riley.

Indeed, the “outstanding” defender, as he was once praised by Reds teammate Virgil Van Dijk, averages a 72% tackle success rate across his wealth of top-flight experience.

Moreover, he didn’t look out of place either last season when thrown into the deep-end by Arne Slot, with a high 89% pass rate averaged across his nine league contests. Egan-Riley, despite being front and centre of the Clarets’ defence all season long, only averaged an 86% pass rate on the contrary.

Of course, Gomez has been helped on Merseyside by the exceptional calibre of the teammates around him.

But, to try and immediately plug the hole left behind by Egan-Riley, Burnley could do far worse than snapping up the consistent Liverpool number two in their efforts to try and secure survival.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jun 3, 2025

Liverpool typically sought to strengthen with untapped potential when under the wing of Jurgen Klopp. But Klopp has left his long-held manager’s post last year, and things feel different at Anfield.

That’s not to discredit the German’s dynasty, taking the reins on Merseyside when the Reds were a pale shadow, reduced to a colourless, rudderless state. Klopp made Liverpool whole again, winning a fair amount of silverware along the way.

However, FSG have undergone a refurb and are now looking to strengthen Arne Slot’s Premier League-winning squad with some of the finest that Europe has to offer.

One of those targets is Florian Wirtz, 22, whose playmaking quality knows no bounds. Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman will fetch a considerable figure this summer, but Liverpool are very much intent on staying in the race.

Why Liverpool want Florian Wirtz

At the start of the season, former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes claimed Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world,” with his vision, awareness, and magic touch proving invaluable for Xabi Alonso’s side over the past few years.

He might not have hit the same stratospheric heights of last year, but Wirtz has retained his world-class level across the 2024/25 campaign, outperforming Liverpool’s positionally similar players.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid when his contract expires, Liverpool are going to need to find a new way to maintain their matchless creative flair in the Premier League.

As you can see below, no English team has created more than Liverpool across the past five campaigns. Trent played a defining role in achieving this.

24/25*

Liverpool

105

23/24

Liverpool

102

22/23

Liverpool/Man City

103

21/22

Liverpool

97

20/21

Liverpool

82

Liverpool want to reinforce their successful season by bringing in new signings, and Slot’s aiming for the best. Though it would require another significant outlay, the Reds are also planning to move for a new name at number nine.

With Darwin Nunez set to be sold, this is one to start getting excited about.

Liverpool make contact to sign prolific striker

Liverpool desperately need a more reliable marksman. Nunez is consistently inconsistent, while Diogo Jota’s long injury issues have finally seeped into his game this year.

FSG are ready to move incisively. According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have opened contacts with Sporting Lisbon regarding the potential transfer of Viktor Gyokeres, though Arsenal are favourites in the race.

It’s felt the Gunners are closing on a £9m-a-year agreement with the Sweden striker, but that Liverpool – and Manchester United – have shown strong interest and are ready to pounce on any opportunity, should Mikel Arteta’s side fumble.

Gyokeres has been one of the most prolific players in Europe over the past several years, and Sporting are looking to fetch £60m for his sale.

Why Viktor Gyokeres could be a great signing for Liverpool

When Sporting signed Gyokeres from Coventry City for £20m after a failed promotion push to the Premier League, it was felt that English football had lost an interesting attacking profile capable of playing at the top level.

Two years later, the 25-year-old may return to English soil as “one of the best strikers in Europe,” as he has been described by Fabrizio Romano.

Across 100 matches for Os Leões, the one-time Brighton prospect has scored 95 goals and laid on 28 assists. Powerful and athletic, he’s surely tailor-made for a role at one of the Premier League’s top competitors.

The £62k-per-week star has bagged 52 goals from 50 matches in all competitions this season alone, meaning he’s significantly outscoring Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Isak is an incredible goalscorer and very much on Liverpool’s shopping list, but with a £150m price tag, it’s hrd to argue that he, with 27 goals from 41 games in 2024/25, would be the more prudent signing at an outlay some £90m more than Gyokeres. Liverpool have work to do across a number of positions, after all.

Only a few weeks ago, Gyokeres netted four goals in a single game for the Liga Portugal champions, who are level in first place with Benfica, superior goal difference owing largely to the centre-forward’s clinical shooting.

Given that he’s scored 57 league goals across his two terms in the Iberian division, Gyokeres has proven himself capable of leading the line at Liverpool, for sure. And when you consider he’s missed only 34 big chances in that timeframe, as per Sofascore, the argument only strengthens.

As per FBref, Gyokeres ranks among the top 1% of forwards this season in divisions similar to the Portuguese top flight for goals scored, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for assists per 90. Not bad at all.

Now think of all this, think of how efficient and deadly and “insane” all this is, as the 6 foot 2 striker has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Now imagine all that with Wirtz in behind him.

The fusion of skill sets could take a Premier League-winning Liverpool team to a whole ‘nother level entirely. Indeed, with Wirtz’s remarkable supply line finding Gyokeres, whose movements and intelligence get him in perfect positions from which he can let his predatory instinct take over, would allow Slot to challenge for the biggest trophies once again.

There was a decided lack of impetus across tournamental fronts this season: in the FA Cup, a rotated Liverpool fell to Plymouth Argyle, who have just been relegated from the Championship; after a dominant Champions League group phase, PSG got the better over two legs in the last 16; Liverpool did reach the Carabao Cup final, but were turned over by Newcastle.

In the Bundesliga this season, Wirtz might not have succeeded in defending Leverkusen’s title, but he has given a stellar account of himself once again. As per Sofascore, he’s hit 22 goal contributions from only 24 starts, creating 17 big chances and averaging 2.7 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per game.

Last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year knows his stuff, all right, and still so young in his career, he’s got the world at his feet.

The prolific performances of Gyokeres alongside Wirtz’s creative mind would surely spark the kind of success Slot is searching for next season, allowing Liverpool to take their fantastic campaign and shape it into a period of sustained, trophy-winning success.

He'd be amazing with Wirtz: Liverpool enter race for "magical" £100m star

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair May 15, 2025

Liverpool are the Premier League’s Champions-Elect, defeating Everton on Wednesday evening to restore their 12-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.

Eight games left. To fall now would be to become the biggest laughing stock in Premier League history, such is the gap which the Gunners surely won’t be able to bridge.

Arne Slot has been a revelation in the dugout, but his prowess in the coaching department must now be met by summer investment to ensure Anfield can do it all over again next season.

Sadly, FSG’s parameters can only stretch so far, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contractual renewal feels like an unattainable thing.

Liverpool's right-back conundrum

Alexander-Arnold was all smiles as Liverpool won the Merseyside derby at Anfield, beaming from the sidelines as he recuperates from an ankle injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month.

But Real Madrid have come knocking and it looks like Liverpool’s vice-captain is going to answer the door. Approaching the end of his contract, Trent is expected to sign for the Spanish giants and end a lifelong affinity with Liverpool.

It’s a bruising blow, one that will sting for a while, but dismay is tempered somewhat by Conor Bradley’s emergence, the Northern Irish defender having been lauded by Alexander-Arnold for his “absolutely phenomenal” performances since breaking from the academy ranks.

Alexander-Arnold may need replacing, though, and reports suggest that Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is the man for the job; Sky Sports actually claim that direct contact has already been made between Liverpool and the player’s representatives.

Frimpong is expected to cost around £40m to prise away from Xabi Alonso, and given Liverpool’s need for sweeping changes this summer, Slot may be tempted to make do with his current options at right-back, even if the star player does indeed depart.

And yes, that is plural. Bradley isn’t the only man capable of a strong performance on the right wing of the backline, as we saw in the Merseyside derby.

Why Liverpool don't need to sign Frimpong

FSG might have a bit of a cost-cutting reputation but Liverpool are built on the American owners’ diligent and sustainable model. Simply look at some of the club’s divisional rivals as a barometer, should frustrations ever threaten to boil over.

Strikers are needed, as is a left-back. Recent performances have perhaps shown us that Liverpool don’t pack a powerful enough punch in the middle of the park either, in spite of Slot’s midfield triumvirate being among the finest on the continent.

One of those midfielders is Curtis Jones, who doesn’t start every week but is a highly valued member of the squad. Events this summer may even see him take the mantle as Liverpool’s star and most experienced Scouser.

The 23-year-old has made 37 appearances this season, directly involved in ten goals and playing across a vast range of different positions. His tactical bendability is most impressive, making him a priceless part of the tactical process.

His most recent reshift came at right-back against Everton, a role that he performed with aplomb as Alexander-Arnold, Bradley and Joe Gomez all sat on the sidelines.

Curtis Jones – Liverpool Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Central midfield

14

0

3

Attacking midfield

14

2

3

Defensive midfield

4

1

1

Centre-forward

1

0

0

Left midfield

1

0

0

Right-back

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

There’s little question that Jones is one of the most underappreciated players in the Premier League, ranking among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, and the top 1% for pass completion.

Not only is he creative, but he’s typically unerring in his distribution, maintaining a metronomic style while driving play forward with darting, energetic runs and a playmaker’s touch.

These are translatable skills, indeed convincing Slot to field him in defence against the Toffees. For extra context, this was not a hasty decision, with Liverpool’s boss revealing that “it’s something I’ve thought about” for a long time, suggesting that early tactical plans were mapped out “in the first-half of the season.”

Keeping a clean sheet, the England international looked composed and convincing in his makeshift berth, with The Liverpool Echo handing him a noteworthy 8/10 match rating and hailing the willingness to play out from the back while upholding a combative sheen.

Given that Bradley is on the cusp of a comeback and that Gomez (for now) and Quansah reside in the ranks too, it seems like Slot might have sufficient options to charge into the upcoming campaign with.

Frimpong’s a fine player, for sure, but is his signature actually necessary? Perhaps in more conventional circumstances, it would be, but Liverpool are about to attack the market with a vicious hunger, and resources may be better directed toward other areas.

Jones is underrated in some ways, but he’s also receiving new waves of recognition for his talents. Hailed as a “truly special” player by one hawk-eyed analyst, the versatile ace is everything you’d want in a midfielder.

He’s also on the rise from a financial standpoint, with Transfermarkt hiking up his projected market price of late to a valuation of about £42m. That’s more than the £40m-rated Frimpong, by the way.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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Whether Liverpool opt to enrich their Dutch contingency this summer remains to be seen, but Jones has proved that he’s a priceless part of this soon-to-be title-winning team, and financial attention might be better off turned elsewhere.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 2, 2025

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.

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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.

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✅ 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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RED BULL BRAGANTINO (Técnico: Pedro Caixinha)
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BahiaBrasileirãoRB Bragantino

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.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 8, 2025