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Tottenham Hotspur are attempting an ambitious end to the summer transfer window by backing Thomas Frank with multiple key additions.

Spurs have a few key areas of the first team to reinforce, especially following James Maddison’s long-term ACL injury and club legend Son Heung-min’s departure to MLS.

Dejan Kulusevski is also expected to remain out for a long time yet too, after injuring his knee towards the back end of last season, while defender Radu Dragusin’s own ACL tear in January means he might not be back until December.

As Tottenham’s injury nightmare continues into the Frank era, it is reliably believed that Spurs are targeting three major signings before deadline day on September 1 – a new centre-back, winger and attacking midfielder.

This is backed up by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge in a Q&A from last week, with the Lilywhites since identifying Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie as their ideal central defensive target (Paul O’Keefe).

Before any move for the Ecuadorian, though, it is more likely that Tottenham will put pen to paper on a deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Eze has already agreed personal terms to join Spurs, according to reliable media sources, with Daniel Levy and Steve Parish holding fresh talks over the 27-year-old’s transfer this week (Fabrizio Romano).

A move for the England international is on the verge of being completed, but final details remain before Spurs can fully seal an agreement for Eze, with Palace also on the hunt for a replacement, which could be Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss.

Alongside Eze, Tottenham have been pursuing Man City winger Savinho in a separate deal (Fabrizio Romano).

The player’s own agent, Frederico Moraes, told Jorge Nicola last week that City rejected a £42 million bid from Spurs for the Brazilian, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding out for closer to the £67 million mark.

Savinho is currently out injured for weeks and missed City’s opening day 4-0 win over Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, and Guardiola is personally keen for the 21-year-old to remain at Eastlands.

Savinho adamant he'd join Tottenham with Levy ready to spend over £60m

The former Girona star would be an absolutely excellent addition for Frank.

Savinho was a key member of the Girona side that shockingly competed for a La Liga title in 2023/2024, bagging 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions that year, and he managed double digits for assists again last season at City.

He can play both on the right and left-hand sides too, as well as through the middle on occasion, so the South American would be an adept replacement for Son and cover for Kulusevski.

Despite Guardiola’s stance, City’s price tag and his injury, journalist Graeme Bailey has told TBR Football that Spurs have no intention of throwing the towel in when it comes to signing the player.

It is believed that Tottenham held fresh talks over a deal for Savinho on Sunday, and the forward is adamant behind-the-scenes that a move to Spurs is something he’d be open to.

As well as this, Levy is apparently ready to spend over £60 million on his potential signing, and any fee beyond that mark would come much closer to City’s reported asking price.

This is definitely still one to watch in the coming days, as Savinho will want guaranteed game time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Over the years at Manchester City, a celebrated few have managed to bag a goal on their debut for the Premier League giants.

Notably, both Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland registered goals on their first appearance in City’s sky blue, with Tijjani Rejinders now a part of this exclusive club after stroking a superb effort home against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He was also directly involved in the opener when delicately laying it off to Rico Lewis to assist the aforementioned Haaland, before putting it on a plate for the deadly Nordic centre-forward himself to close the one-sided game at 4-0.

Already, it looks as if City have struck gold on a Premier League-ready star, with the hope now that another statement signing can also go through before September’s deadline to try and replicate the immediate success of this £42.5m deal.

Man City make £86m superstar their main target

City aren’t having it all their own way in the chaotic transfer window.

It seems as if they will miss out on long-term target Xavi Simons, with the in-demand RB Leipzig attacking midfielder reportedly more interested in a switch to Chelsea than moving to the Etihad.

Transfer Focus

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

That won’t knock their confidence for too long, as another statement move looks to be in the offing to further enhance City’s potent attacking personnel that tore Wolves to shreds.

Indeed, as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, City hold Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo in high esteem, with Pep Guardiola and Co singling out the £86m-rated Brazilian as a main target, if Savinho does decide to leave City behind for Tottenham Hotspur.

City will hope that the entertaining South American attacker can be an instant hit in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, much like Reijnders displayed at Molineux, with the pair holding many similarities, away from just potentially lining up alongside each other in England.

How Rodrygo can be Reijnders 2.0

Before embarking on this new adventure in Manchester with Guardiola’s men, Reijnders had managed to establish himself as an easy-on-the-eye midfield figure in some tough European terrains.

Across 232 appearances for both AZ Alkmaar and AC Milan, the much-talked-about Dutchman would tally up a mightily impressive 56 goals and assists, leading to him then picking up a goal and assist on a magical debut in the Premier League, with football pundit Chris Powell naming him as City’s “star-man” post-match.

Rodrygo has similarly lit up the pitches of La Liga with dynamic displays from the midfield ranks, as seen in his bumper 68 goals and 51 assists across 270 clashes in Madrid, with the Brazilian also capable of playing as a centre-forward, away from being a comfortable performer down either wing.

Reijnders has also shown off a similar adaptability across his playing days to date, with a standout five-goal contributions coming his way from only 16 career appearances on the left flank.

Away from just this similarity, the numbers below again show correlations between the two players and their constant desire to make openings and goals happen.

Total shots

2.54

21.5

Shot-creating actions

4.56

3.13

Attempted passes

50.35

44.37

Pass completion %

85.7%

88.2%

Progressive passes

4.69

6.35

Progressive carries

5.07

3.02

Successful take-ons

2.15

1.02

Touches in the attacking penalty area

5.84

2.33

Progressive passes received

11.33

3.53

Rodrygo’s arrival on the scene could see the goals rain even heavier at the Etihad, with the Brazilian attacker far less focused on the build-up play – compared with the brand new City number 4 – and more focused on driving forward with purpose, as seen in him averaging more shots and shot-creating actions over the last year per 90 minutes than the 23-time Netherlands international.

The two new signings together in Guardiola’s XI could push City to stay at the summit, with Rodrygo’s blistering exploits at the Santiago Bernabeu even seeing him be dubbed “world-class’ by Madrid teammate Luka Modric, on top of being labelled as a “jewel” by one analyst.

Man City now targeting "fantastic" Chelsea gem who Maresca wants to keep

The Citizens could deal their rivals a blow.

ByTom Cunningham Aug 17, 2025

Everton are in the thick of their pre-season preparations, and David Moyes is looking to recapture the form that allowed him to make such an impressive (second) start to life as the Toffees boss.

The exodus on the blue half of Merseyside was needed at the end of the 2024/25 season, even though Everton rallied and leapt away from the relegation zone in the half-season with Moyes in charge, finishing 13th in the Premier League.

More is needed, but the seeds have been planted. The Blues have welcomed Thierno Barry to the fold for a £27m fee, replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin at centre-forward.

But Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom were both carried away in the stream of summer exits, loan spells wrapped up. Both flattered to deceive last season, but now a right-sided forward is needed.

Everton searching for new winger

Everton have been locked in talks with French club Lyon for their talented winger Malick Fofana in recent days, and though a breakthrough is close, the Belgian is holding out for a suitor with the allure of Champions League football.

But the 20-year-old would have the chance to nail down a starting berth at Everton, fostering his dynamic attacking qualities over the next few years.

Should the Friedkin Group’s effort prove fruitless, however, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Everton have made an enquiry to Real Sociedad for Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo, who has a €60m (£51m) release clause.

The 24-year-old principally plays down the right wing, and so would be an ideal positional fit for Moyes’ side.

What Takefusa Kubo would bring to Everton

Kubo has 41 goal contributions for Real Sociedad across 137 appearances, having played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid’s youth academies.

He’s a talented man, endowed with ferocious athletic skills and charged with a tenacity which once led Spanish-based journalist Kiyan Sobhani to say this: “Kubo is dusting defenders this season and has been an unrelenting offensive menace. Constantly in attack mode.”

While Kubo might not be the most prolific winger on the block, he ranked among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in La Liga last season for progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Fofana is also a high-speed runner with a burgeoning sharpness in the final third, but Kubo may well have a bit more about him, a bit more completeness.

Matches (starts)

36 (27)

29 (16)

Goals

5

5

Assists

0

4

Shots taken*

1.2 (0.4)

1.1 (0.5)

Big chances missed

2

4

Pass completion

77%

84%

Big chances created

9

6

Key passes*

1.3

0.9

Ball recoveries*

3.3

2.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

1.1

Dribbles*

2.1

0.8

Total duels (won)*

5.3 (52%)

2.9 (50%)

Sure, Kubo didn’t register an assist in La Liga last season, but his creative numbers bespeak his playmaking ability. Moreover, he dribbles forward with far more consistency than the electric Fofana, who has already garnered a reputation for his ball-carrying ability.

He’s also far more active in the duel, something that would please Moyes as he constructs a balanced and hard-working outfit, capable across the different phases of play.

If Fofana proves unattainable this summer, Everton must push ahead for Kubo. He might even prove the better pick.

He could be Ndiaye 2.0: Everton make enquiry to sign "electric" £43m star

Everton are looking to overhaul their attack this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 31, 2025

Warwickshire bundled out for 78 on home soil

ECB Reporters Network17-Sep-2024

Essex’s seamers bowled Warwickshire out for just 78 to take immediate control of their Vitality County Championship match at Edgbaston.Put in on a bowler-friendly track, the home side was skittled in 27.4 overs by Shane Snater – with 5 for 13 – Jamie Porter and Sam Cook. Sustained resistance came only from Will Rhodes (29) on his last home appearance before joining Durham.Essex then dipped to 50 for 5 but recovered to close the opening day on 189 for 9 thanks to astute contributions from Michael Pepper (37), Snater (33 not out) Matt Critchley (32) and Simon Harmer (31). Ed Barnard took 3 for 36 and Craig Miles 3 for 53 but a lead of 111 already looks decisive.Essex have laid the platform for a second successive emphatic win while Warwickshire’s supporters digest one last moderate instalment of a deeply uninspiring home championship campaign.Porter and Olly Hannon-Dalby started the day as the country’s joint leading wicket-takers on 46 and the former took just 16 balls to move to 48 by removing Warwickshire’s openers; Rob Yates lbw and Alex Davies caught at third slip. When Sam Hain, trapped in the crease, was lbw to Cook, Warwickshire were 18 for 3.Eighteen-year-old Hamza Shaikh got stuck in for 37 balls for eight runs before Snater struck twice in seven balls. Shaikh’s off-stump was sent flying and Barnard’s would have been if his pads hadn’t been in the way.Rhodes, warmly applauded to the crease by supporters aware of the void he will leave in Warwickshire’s top order, eked 29 from 98 minutes of toil before edging a peach of an away-cutter from Snater to wicketkeeper Pepper. Any Bears’ hope of recovery vanished with the last ball of the morning when Cook knocked out Michael Burgess’s middle stump.From 73 for 7 at lunch, the innings imploded in another 16 balls, Snater wrapping it up with an lbw decision against Hannon-Dalby to secure his eighth first-class five-for.Batting remained troublesome at first when Essex replied and they lost Robin Das, lbw to Hannon-Dalby, to the 13th ball. Westley decided that positivity was the solution and struck seven fours in a 22-ball 30 but was then also trapped in front by the big Yorkshireman.When Barnard broke through twice in three balls – Dean Elgar caught at first slip and Paul Walter played on – and Noah Thain edged Chris Rushworth airily to second slip, Essex were 50 for 5, but the lower order batted wisely and patiently as the pitch eased in the late afternoon sunshine.Critchley reined in his attacking instincts, taking 23 balls to get off the mark, and with Pepper added 55 in 18 overs against an attack which lost Rushworth injured. Critchley edged Barnard to second slip and Pepper leading-edged a return catch to Miles but Harmer and Snater added a valuable 39.Miles removed Harmer and Cook in three balls but Snater’s cameo, including three successive fours off Miles, lifted the lead over 100.

As it is every year, this summer has already been incredibly busy for Chelsea.

It feels like Enzo Maresca’s men were lifting the Conference League trophy only a week ago, but in reality, they’ve already made it to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup and have made a real splash in the transfer market.

The likes of Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo were already through the door before the team jetted off for the United States, and now Joao Pedro is set to join up with them.

However, the Blues aren’t finished yet, and now it looks like they are set to chase another Premier League star, although this potential deal could be bad news for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace.

Chelsea to move for Premier League star

After being linked with the club, as well as some others, for several weeks, Pedro was finally officially announced as a Chelsea player yesterday afternoon.

Transfer Focus

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

The former Seagulls’ star completed his medical with the Blues out in the States, signed a seven-year deal, and reportedly cost the club a cool £60m, which is twice the fee Brighton paid for him only two years ago.

However, while it’s a lot of money, it would be hard to deny that his arrival makes the West Londoners stronger, as he was his former side’s joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League last season.

Yet, it now looks like the Pensioners are set to target another exciting player from the Premier League, someone who could be bad news for the Brazilian: Mohammed Kudus.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Chelsea are one of several clubs incredibly interested in the West Ham United star.

In fact, the report claims the West Londoners are looking to make a move to sign the Ghanaian international, who is also a serious target for London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The good news is that the Hammers are likely to accept offers below the player’s £80m release clause, with some reports from last week suggesting a fee in the region of £70m could be enough.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Kudus could be an excellent addition to Chelsea’s squad, albeit one that could spell trouble for Pedro.

Why Kudus could be trouble for Pedro

When it really comes down to it, the reason Kudus’ joining Chelsea could be bad news for Pedro is the same reason his arrival could be considered far from ideal for Delap: competition.

As things stand, the Blues now have three out-and-out centre-forwards in the former Brighton man, the former Ipswich Town ace and Nicolas Jackson.

So, when you then also take into consideration the Kudus’ ability to play up top, among other positions, that role starts to look rather crowded.

In fact, it’s not hard to see a world in which the Brazilian has a slow start to life at the Bridge and immediately begins to see himself falling down the pecking order, potentially even behind the former Ajax gem.

We say it’s not hard to imagine, as since moving to England, the “electric” talent as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in 65 Premier League appearances.

That means he’s averaging a goal involvement every 2.6 league games at West Ham, despite being asked to play all over, from out wide to midfielder and then also up top.

In contrast, the former Watford poacher has scored 22 goals and provided ten assists in 89 Premier League appearances, which actually comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.78 games.

Appearances

65

89

Goals

13

22

Assists

12

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.38

0.35

That’s already a little worrying, but becomes even more so when you consider he has played up top, as a striker in the vast majority of those games.

Ultimately, Chelsea have a talented player in Pedro, but if they also sign Kudus, and he starts to outscore him, the Brazilian’s role in the squad might start to shrink very early on.

Pedro will love him: Chelsea in talks to sign £60m PL "superstar"

The talented prospect could reach the next level at Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 1, 2025

Newcastle United are confident that they will keep Alexander Isak in the squad this summer, but a new striker is being chased all the same.

Eddie Howe wants more firepower in the attacking third, with Callum Wilson ageing and out of contract, and William Osula, 21, drifting through his maiden year as a Magpie.

Well, The Telegraph understand talks with Brighton & Hove Albion are on the brink of kicking off for the transfer of Joao Pedro, who is valued at £60m and who the Seagulls are willing to sell this summer.

Newcastle open talks for sought-after star

Pedro, 23, is proven in the Premier League and has the dynamic faculties to complement Isak, rather than outright replace him. However, there may be an even bigger fish Howe could add to the Tyneside pond.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, putting their name in the hat as Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all tussle for the striker’s signature.

Ekitike might be the talk of the town, but it doesn’t seem like any suitor would be willing to meet the Bundesliga club’s €100m (£85m) valuation of the 22-year-old. Saying that, the player’s entourage have informed the relevant parties that a reduced figure may yet be agreed.

Newcastle agreed an initial £26m deal to sign Ekitike when he was at Stade de Reims way back in 2022, but he rejected their interest when Paris Saint-Germain came calling.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle might have felt the force of Ekitike’s rejection in the past, but he was a teenager who had been presented with a proposal to remain in his homeland with the cream of Ligue 1’s crop.

PSG didn’t work out for him, only scoring four times across 33 senior showings before being rehoused in Germany with Frankfurt, but it’s here where the striker has found his feet, with his first full campaign at the club ending with 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.

His displays have actually led analyst Ben Mattinson to praise him as “one of the best strikers out there.”

As far as Pedro’s concerned, Ekitike is the superior player, and if Bailey’s on the money (quite literally) with his claims that Frankfurt’s £85m demands might be slashed, putting every effort into convincing the Frenchman feels like a no-brainer.

Goals scored

0.53

0.46

Assists

0.28

0.28

Shots taken

4.00

1.94

Shot-creating actions

3.55

3.33

Touches (att pen)

6.88

5.64

Progressive passes

1.86

3.60

Progressive carries

3.27

3.05

Successful take-ons

1.83

1.34

Ball recoveries

3.06

2.73

Tackles + interceptions

0.81

1.16

As you can see, the two forwards are matched up rather well, but Ekitike clearly has the edge, outperforming his South American counterpart across most relevant metrics.

Indeed, should you strip away Pedro’s penalties in the Premier League last season, he would rank among the bottom 21% of the division’s forwards for goals scored per 90.

Oh, Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has praised the Brighton man’s “magical” ability on the ball, but Ekitike might just be ‘Europe’s most elegant striker’, so say the Bundesliga, in any case.

But the proof is in the pudding, and Frankfurt’s number nine passes the eye test, all right. There’s a certain lightness to his dribbling, with an underlying creativity that would see him hit the ground running on English pitches, in Howe’s system.

Pedro is a talented footballer, but Ekitike is simply that bit better, and Newcastle have got to aim for the stars as they go from strength to strength.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig believes Ekitike “could reach world-class striker levels.” Pedro is a talented guy, but is the same scale of potential also applicable to him?

This is a tough case, with Frankfurt proving stubborn in their appraisal of the striker and rival interest against top-drawer outfits making PIF’s task difficult.

But just imagine if they pull it off; it would remind the footballing world that there’s a new superpower on the block.

Schar upgrade: Newcastle among favourites to sign "unbelievable" £40m star

Newcastle will be looking to improve their defence this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 16, 2025

Manchester United have a make-or-break summer under boss Ruben Amorim, needing to make the overhaul he desires to get the best out of his first-team squad.

The 40-year-old took the reins back in November from Erik ten Hag after he was sacked, looking to lead the side back up to the top of the Premier League table.

However, with just a handful of games to go, the Red Devils sit in the bottom half of the table, closer to the relegation zone than a place within the European spots.

They could still secure a place in the Champions League next season should they win the Europa League, potentially having a final against fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur.

Regardless of whether they are in Europe again next season, Amorim will want new signings to improve their league standing and push for a top-four spot in 2025/26.

An update on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Given the cost-cutting operation currently in place at United, it remains to be seen how much funds the manager will have at his disposal to make the signings he desires.

Whilst Matheus Cunha will remain the club’s number one option, Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has once again emerged on their shortlist ahead of the summer.

The Swede has once again been subject to interest from the Red Devils, with talks already being held over a possible switch to see him reunite with his former boss.

However, further progress has already been made elsewhere in an attempt to secure the signature of Real Madrid’s star forward Rodrygo, with reports in Spain putting United firmly in the race for his services.

They’ve reported that the Red Devils have already submitted a €80m (£68m) offer for his services, but it remains to be seen whether the LaLiga giants will accept such a bid.

It also states that the Brazilian wants to stay in Madrid but could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, needing to make a decision whether or not he’s keen on the transfer.

Why United’s £68m target would be perfect with Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been United’s shining light in attacking areas over the last few months, playing a pivotal role in their success in the Europa League – as seen on Thursday night.

The 30-year-old registered two goals in the win over Athletic Club in the first leg, handing them an advantage over the return leg at Old Trafford next week.

His subsequent double has taken him to a staggering 19 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, by far and away the highest of any player within the first-team squad.

However, such a tally could be bolstered even further next year should the club conduct a deal for Rodrygo, with the Brazilian having all the tools to thrive alongside Fernandes at Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old has registered 14 goals and nine assists for the LaLiga giants, a figure that would certainly see United increase their output within the final third.

He’s also managed to complete 2.3 successful dribbles per 90, along with 2.3 chances created – potentially partnering the Portuguese international behind the strikers and providing endless opportunities.

Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “one of the best” by current boss Carlo Ancelotti, has also starred without the ball, winning 67% of the tackles he’s entered alongside 5.3 duels won per 90 – fitting perfectly into Amorim’s hard-working and relentless system.

Should the club pull off such a signing over the summer transfer window, it would be an excellent piece of business that would add needed quality to the forward line.

£68m may seem like another hefty fee forked out by the hierarchy, but given his age and his form, he’s only going to develop further, potentially being the Red Devils’ leading talisman for many years to come and leading them back to Premier League success.

Amorim must offload 5/10 Man Utd dud who’s becoming the new Van de Beek

Manchester United took a huge step towards the Europa League final last night with a 3-0 win over Athletic Club.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 2, 2025

La Liga leaders and Champions League semi-finalists Barcelona are readying a £30m+ offer to sign a Manchester United player.

Players who could leave Man Utd this summer

It has been a difficult 2024/25 campaign for the Red Devils and Ruben Amorim, who are looking to rescue their season by winning the Europa League.

Man Utd are set to take on Athletic Club in the semi-finals after a dramatic quarter-final triumph over Lyon, however, it is promising to be a busy summer in the transfer market ahead of Amorim’s first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

Previous reports claimed that Man Utd and INEOS could move on up to 10 Red Devils players who currently pick up £1.8m per week at the club.

Casemiro (£350,000-a-week), Marcus Rashford (£300,000-a-week), Mason Mount, (£250,000-a-week), Jadon Sancho, (£250,000-a-week), Antony (£200,000-a-week), Christian Eriksen (£150,000-a-week), Victor Lindelof (£120,000-a-week), Rasmus Hojlund (£85,000-a-week), Jonny Evans (£85,000-a-week) and Tom Heaton (£45,000-a-week) may all exit Old Trafford, with some out of contract and others out on loan.

Man Utd in regular contact with agents of £60m physical specimen striker

United are in desperate needs of reinforcements.

ByBarney Lane Apr 21, 2025

Rashford is one of those currently out on loan and has been impressing at Aston Villa, which has led to plenty of praise from Unai Emery.

“He is a good guy – humble, a very good professional, and he is really happy with his teammates. He is being demanding on himself and with everything we want to work on with him, with the team. He is playing free, he feels comfortable and this is the most important thing.

“We try to connect with him as a person first of all, and afterwards as a player. His process here is getting better, playing in two different positions. He started with us as a left-winger and now he is playing more as a striker. It’s about how he can exploit his qualities as well as he can.”

Aston Villa have an option to sign Rashford on a permanent basis for £40m but are yet to make up their mind, and it looks as if Barcelona are readying their move as a result.

Barcelona ready £30m+ bid to sign Rashford from Man Utd

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are preparing a €40m (£34.4m) offer to sign Rashford from Man Utd this summer. The Spanish giants are ‘willing to make a significant move’ to bring Rashford to the Nou Camp, and it is added that Rashford has dreams of playing for Barcelona.

Games

24

16

Goals

7

3

Assists

3

6

Minutes played

1,500

864

The report also claims ‘the Red Devils would have to seriously consider’ an offer of €40m as Barcelona look to take advantage of Rashford’s situation.

Rashford has starred for Villa since joining on loan in January, and by the looks of things, a move to Spain could be one to keep an eye on for the England international, especially if Villa decide against signing him permanently.

In the absence of their first-choice attack, South Africa’s bowlers were found wanting against West Indies

Firdose Moonda28-Aug-2024West Indies did as West Indies have done and won another T20I series – their third against South Africa in 18 months and fifth out of six matches in that time – and remained what coach Daren Sammy called a “series-winning team.” They won’t be able to test whether they can repeat that in tournaments until an actual tournament, but there the signs they can cope with changes in personnel.West Indies’ bowling depth shines through They were without Alzarri Joseph, Jason Holder and Andre Russell but Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph and Romario Shepherd stepped into their spots seamlessly. While Shepherd was not really required with the bat, he filled the role of the third seamer to perfection and was a threat every time he had the ball in hand. Forde and Joseph had each only played two T20Is before this series but each picked up – and in Forde’s case equalled – career-best figures and showed an ability to take wickets at the top and bottom of the innings. Between them, Shepherd, Joseph and Forde were the three highest wicket-takers in the series and collectively ensured West Indies won the series.Their standout performances, according to captain Rovman Powell, was the way his bowlers responded when defending 179 in the second match. South Africa were 129 for 3 in the 14th over and on course to level the series when Akeal Hosein started a collapse that caused them to lose 7 for 20. Shepherd and Joseph both took wickets in that period as well. “When we put on the pressure in that second game, the way the bowlers replied was fantastic,” Powell said.Related

Shepherd, Pooran and Hope help West Indies sweep South Africa 3-0

Shepherd, Joseph seal West Indies' third consecutive T20I series win over South Africa

Pooran and Forde lead West Indies' demolition of South Africa

But South Africa’s needs work In the absence of their entire first-choice attack – Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi were rested for the series while Gerald Coetzee and Lungi Ngidi were ruled out through injury – South Africa’s back-ups were found wanting. Nandre Burger was expensive in his only outing, Ottneil Baartman did not have enough firepower around him to be effective and 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka faced a baptism of fire. Still, white-ball coach Rob Walter was pleased to give Maphaka a run at the highest level impressed by his pace (he often bowled above 140kph), his confidence to change it and the movement he got.”He bowled well in different periods as a young cricketer and this will be a great experience for him,” Walter said. “Left-arm always gives a different angle, he is able to swing the ball when there is a bit of shape, we saw some really exciting change-ups, and he bowled some seriously good overs in the death phase of the game, which has shown his ability to deal with the pressure of T20 cricket. It is early days, so we don’t want to put too much pressure on a young cricketer and just allow him to make his way into international cricket. But all the attributes are there for him to be a really good cricketer for South Africa.”Maphaka will return home to complete his final school exams and has spent most of the tour studying, but allowed himself to completely soak in the experience of being around some of his heroes. “Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi are some of the best players in the world and it’s always nice to share a change room with guys like that,” he said. “A year ago, I was watching these guys on TV so being in the change room with them and chatting about the plans that I’ve seen them execute on TV is definitely something quite surreal.”Tristan Stubbs finished as the leading run-scorer in the series•AFP/Getty ImagesBatting blunders abound The rest of South Africa’s line-up do not have the excuse of inexperience and have shown how much is lacking when Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller are not in the XI. Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton were unconvincing as an opening pair and both are struggling with form, as is captain Aiden Markram. Hendricks has only scored one half-century in 15 T20I innings this year, and three other scores over 30. Rickelton has played 13 internationals across all formats and is yet to score a half-century, and Markram has not scored fifty in 12 T20I innings this year. That meant the middle order was constantly under pressure and without Klaasen and Miller, South Africa did not have the firepower to step up.Stubbs was the exception and finished as the leading run-scorer in the series and also had South Africa’s highest strike rate. His 76 in the first match meant West Indies had to chase the highest successful total at the venue and his 15-ball 40 in the shortened third match meant South Africa could put a competitive score on the board. Walter singled him out as a “standout in terms of his personal performances with the bat,” which also extended to the Test series, where he scored his first fifty in his new role at No.3.South Africa’s problem was that they did not have anyone to support Stubbs as Rassie van der Dussen struggled and the allrounders barely contributed. Patrick Kruger had one good innings – in the first T20I – but on the evidence of this series, it is difficult to see how either he or Donovan Ferreira will displace Jansen.Overall, Walter described it as a “tough series,” which South Africa will have to use as a building block in their journey to 2026. Their next T20Is are against Ireland in September.

The teams, and their support staff, are in place, and the action starts on October 6

Umar Farooq05-Oct-2022What does the league hope to achieve?
“A young apprentice can be moulded into a genius with the right environment, which we intend to create in this format,” Raja had said at the time of launching the tournament. The league is meant not only to identify talent, but to nurture them, and close the gap between the Under-19s level and the highest level of cricket.All this, one might say, is what the higher levels of domestic cricket do. There is a structured pathway for age-group players in most parts of the world, from the Under-15s to the Under-19s. In Pakistan, historically, age-group players come through playing the longer formats of the game – two- and three-day matches, alongside one-dayers. It is then narrowed down and, if all goes well, there is a chance to play the Under-19 ODI World Cup, after which players break into the first-class circuit.Pakistan cricketers have traditionally not been exposed to the T20 format during their development phase. But since the start of the PSL in 2016, where each franchise is required to field at least one emerging player in every game, a few new faces have come to the fore. The PCB is hoping that the PJL will build on that.Wasn’t there something about it being a franchise-based league?
Yes, that’s how the PCB had envisaged it, anticipating a lot of commercial interest. In fact, after an initial tender from the PCB seeking expressions of interest, 24 companies had reached out. But not much came of it, and the PCB has decided to take full ownership of the tournament.To avoid clashing with the PSL eco-system, the PJL has picked other cities with which to associate the teams. The names of as many as 12 cities were released for bidding, out of which six – Bahawalpur (Royals), Gujranwala (Giants), Gwadar (Sharks), Hyderabad (Hunters), Mardan (Warriors) and Rawalpindi (Raiders) have been finalised.Ramiz Raja: “A young apprentice can be moulded into a genius with the right environment, which we intend to create in this format”•AFP/Getty ImagesBut the senior Pakistan team is also playing – will the PJL catch any eyeballs?
It is a concern, isn’t it? In fact, scheduling has been a challenge, as the tournament overlaps with the Pakistan senior team’s tour of New Zealand for a triangular T20I series. Right after that, the first round of the men’s T20 World Cup begins in Australia. The PJL was originally scheduled to run from October 1 to 15, but that would have led to a clash with the last bit of the Pakistan vs England T20I series.What do the teams look like in terms of personnel?
A total of 90 players, including 24 from 11 other countries, have been selected through a draft. The roster has Under-19 players from four Full Members – Afghanistan, England, South Africa and West Indies. Each team must compulsorily have a player from an Associate Member, so there are Charlie Tear and Gabriel Gallmann-Findlay from Scotland, Matthew Tromp from the USA, Kushal Malla from Nepal, Ali Naseer from the UAE, Burhan Niaz from Belgium, Nathan Edwards and Isai Thorne from the West Indies, Archie Lenham, George Thomas, Tom Aspinwall, Danial Ibrahim and Joseph Eckland from England, and Hassan Eisakhil from Afghanistan.Each squad contains 15 players, including four from overseas. Selection was done by the head coaches of the teams, who have all been appointed by the PCB: Gordon Parsons (Bahawalpur), Toby Radford (Rawalpindi), Ijaz Ahmed (Gujranwala), Mushtaq Ahmed (Gwadar), Abdul Razzaq (Hyderabad), and Abdur Rehman (Mardan).Each side can pick a maximum of three and a minimum of two overseas players in their XIs.The PCB has lined up a stellar cast of mentors, one for each side•Getty ImagesAre the players being paid?
They are, which sets it apart from the regular Under-19 circuit. The 15 players in each team are in three different categories: Elite (four players), Premier (five) and X-Factor (six). The salary slabs are US$ 16,000 for Elite, US$ 12,000 for Premier, and US$ 6000 for X-Factor.The PCB will be covering all costs, including the players’ salaries. Its board of governors had approved a PKR 15 billion (US$ 66.33 million approx.) budget for the 2022-23 season, out of which 78% has been allocated for cricket activities. The PJL expenses – logistics, salaries, broadcast – will presumably come from that.Isn’t there a clash with the players’ academic schedules?
The PCB has kept a portion of the day aside to allow the players to join their schools and take tutorials online. In a separate session, PCB-appointed mentors will have discussions with the players on various subjects.Mentors?
Mentors. The PCB has appointed six stars to mentor each side. The line-up is stellar: Imran Tahir (Bahawalpur), Shoaib Malik (Gujranwala), Viv Richards (Gwadar), Daren Sammy (Hyderabad), Shahid Afridi (Mardan), and Colin Munro (Rawalpindi). Separately, as a “roving umbrella mentor”, will be Javed Miandad, helping and assisting everyone.Where does one watch the matches?
In Pakistan, the league will be broadcast on PTV Sports. Matches will start at 6pm local time, with a 1.30pm start on days with two games. Start times have been planned to encourage school children to attend.