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Liverpool haven’t pulled their punches in the transfer market this summer, and Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are still planning to throw a few more haymakers before the window slams shut.

Having won the Premier League with ease last summer, some might have felt the Reds should have kept their title-winning squad together, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold now playing for Real Madrid and Luis Diaz on the cusp of signing for Bayern Munich, a £65.5m deal agreed, change is afoot.

And the Merseysiders have, of course, been busy with incomings. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong make a new wide duo; Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike will redefine Liverpool’s frontline.

Giorgi Mamardashvili’s red gloves are on, one year after a £29m package was agreed with Valencia for their fast-rising shot-stopper.

However, despite Wirtz, 22, signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee, Liverpool are primed to smash the record which they set only one month ago, with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak in FSG’s sights.

Why Liverpool want to sign Alexander Isak

The potential for Isak to complete the attacking set remains. It would be quite a thing, and has left many of Liverpool’s rivals incredulous. But the finances are there and if Darwin Nunez is sold, this dream could become a reality.

Napoli pulled out of their bid for the Uruguayan due to financial differences between the two clubs, but he still has suitors over in the Saudi Pro League and is open to getting on the flight to the Gulf nation.

Isak, it goes without saying, would stand as a significant upgrade. After all, due to his 27-goal campaign with the Magpies, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher declared him to be “the best striker in the Premier League right now.”

While Isak is ostensibly Diaz’s replacement, the Colombian is typically a high-speed wide player, only used by Slot last year as a makeshift striker due to the likes of Nunez flattering to deceive.

With this in mind, Liverpool might need another left-sided forward too.

Liverpool in for new winger

According to Spanish reports, Liverpool are preparing a mammoth bid for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who is anticipated to leave the Santiago Bernabeu after falling down in Xabi Alonso’s estimation, only starting one Club World Cup match.

Rodrygo, 24, would cost around €120m (£104m) to sign, but Los Blancos are indeed open to selling. Liverpool are putting a formal proposal together but Arsenal are also keen on the Brazilian.

Liverpool have also had Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon on their shortlist, but it’s highly unlikely Eddie Howe would grant his departure along with Isak, having priced the Three Lions star at £100m.

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

Rodrygo is quite the player, and he ticks a lot of boxes for Slot’s Liverpool side. The Reds head coach demands fluidity and dynamism from his forwards, and he wants them to work hard too.

Rodrygo, hailed for his work-rate and selflessness by pundit Thierry Henry last season, would fit right in, especially as he yearns for more football on the left flank, as opposed to the right-hand side he has so often been deployed on under Carlo Ancelotti’s wing.

The right-footed has a wide span of skills to inflict damage on defenders, but his sharp goalscoring ability is an admirable thing, having been described by journalist Sam Tighe for having a “terrifyingly good” eye for the back of the net.

Playing him on the side which he favours, naturally, would elevate his performances. Slot will know this.

Right winger

29

7

4

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

0

0

Slot will also know that Rodrygo could be deadly alongside Isak at number nine, with his dangerous goalscoring ability only one string to his bow, ranked as he was last season among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 21% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Even coming off a ‘bad’ year, Rodrygo shone as one of the game’s finest forwards, certainly proving himself to be the “world-class superstar” that former teammate Luka Modric has said he is.

His big-game mentality attests to that, and in this way, he could help settle Isak by being his next Gordon, who shall remain at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle signed Gordon from Everton for £45m in January 2023, and he’s made the steady progress toward renown as one of the Premier League’s most talented wide forwards, with Bruno Guimaraes hailing his “unbelievable” ability to bring all the aspects of his game together.

Though Cody Gakpo is a fine player for Liverpool, Gordon plays the out-and-out role of a winger, and that’s something that Rodrygo can do too, even though he’s an excellent goalscorer.

In this way, Rodrygo could prove to be Isak’s dream partner, maximising Slot’s chances of winning the biggest prizes next year.

Gordon has even said that the Sweden striker is “the best in Europe”, when asked about what it is like to combine with him.

The English talent has become quite the player over the past several years, and he would be a credit to Slot’s side.

Across his two full campaigns at Newcastle, the 24-year-old has scored 22 goals and supplied 17 assists across all competitions. Quite an interesting balance of output.

Well, Rodrygo can match that, and actually eclipse both modes of direct involvement. Liverpool could do far worse than sign the Real Madrid mainstay this summer, who would effectively replace Diaz while bearing the specific qualities to create a wonderful partnership with Isak.

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ByTom Cunningham Jul 26, 2025

كشف ياسين الطاهري وكيل المهاجم الفلسطيني أسد الحملاوي لاعب فريق كاريوفا الروماني، حقيقة اهتمام الأهلي بضم اللاعب، خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية القادمة، كما أوضح حقيقة وجود عرض من الزمالك.

وقال ياسين الطاهري في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “كما نعرف جميعاً أسد التحق باللعب في ناد روماني، وكان اللاعب الأول، وبالتالي نحن نركز في أن يقدم أفضل ما لديه بصرف النظر عن اهتمام أي ناد آخر، أنا لا أرى أي ضغوط في هذا التوقيت، هناك اهتمام بتركيز اللاعب مع فريقه”.

وتابع: “فيما يخص الأهلي أو الزمالك، لم يكن هناك أي تواصل رسمي على مستوى الناديين، الأمر لا يتعلق بالأهلي أو فريق بعينه، لكن في الوقت الحالي ليس هذا الوقت المناسب لنتفاوض”.

وأردف: “نحن نلعب كرة القدم طوال الوقت ونشارك في البطولة برومانيا ونركز على حصد البطولات وتسجيل الأهداف، وهذا ليس توقيت الحديث عن أي أمور أخرى”.

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وبسؤاله هل كان هناك اهتمام سابق من الزمالك والأهلي؟ أجاب: “نعم كان هناك اهتمام بالتعاقد مع أسد الحملاوي، وتمت بعض المفاوضات بشكل مباشر وغير مباشر”.

واختتم: “لكن في الوقت الحالي لدينا الكثير من الأسباب تجعلنا نتجنب الحديث عن أي أمور أخرى، هناك الكثير من الأندية الكبرى مهتمة بالتعاقد مع اللاعب، لكن نحن اخترنا التركيز على المشروع الحالي للاعب وهذا كان خيارنا”.

Tottenham Hotspur are now planning to sell Richarlison, in order to fund a move for an “incredible” £55m star, according to a report.

Richarlison struggling to make an impact at Spurs

The Brazilian’s 2024-25 campaign was marred by a number of injury issues, which meant he only managed to make 15 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he provided four goals and one assist.

However, with Dominic Solanke often leading the line, the 28-year-old has found holding down a starting spot very difficult even when fit, often being utilised as a substitute last term, which indicates Spurs can afford to let him move on this summer.

That is exactly what Tottenham are planning to do, according to Football Insider’s transfer correspondent, Pete O’Rourke, who said: “With Son staying, Dibling linked, and Richarlison likely to be moved on… there’s got to be some restructuring at Tottenham this summer.

“The domestic campaign was awful… the squad depth and quality has to be addressed and must improve.”

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The report also states that Spurs plan to sell Richarlison in order to fund a move for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, with the Saints looking to hold out for a fee of £55m for the forward, although the Lilywhites are hopeful a deal can be done for £40m – £45m.

Signing Dibling is said to align with the north Londoners’ transfer strategy “perfectly”, given that they plan on signing the best youngsters to give them first-team football immediately, in order to make an instant impact.

The Brazilian international’s exit could be crucial when it comes to Spurs’ ability to compete for the Southampton star’s signature, however, given the money it would generate, and Richarlison has previously been linked with a return to Everton.

Dibling could be "incredible" signing for Tottenham

Southampton’s 2024-25 campaign was one of the worst in Premier League history, collecting just 12 points across the entire season, but their 19-year-old winger still managed to make a name for himself.

Reporter Alfie House was left particularly enamoured with the youngster, lauding him as an “incredible” player back in November, and he went on to finish the season with four goals and three assists in all competitions.

The Englishman also drew praise from Match of the Day’s Danny Murphy, who said: “It is the quality he has got – the belief in himself and the physical power. He just goes past people with ease. He has got a lovely left foot. He is very brave on the ball and his decision-making is good.”

With Richarlison falling down the pecking order, it could make sense to cash-in on the forward to fund a move for Dibling this summer, given that he showed some very promising signs during his breakout season at Southampton.

A Bayern Munich star would be keen on a move to Chelsea this summer, rather than joining Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.

Blues set sights on new winger

With the summer transfer window edging ever closer, it is becoming apparent that the Blues are keen on bolstering their wide options, and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is among their main targets, although the 25-year-old is unlikely to come cheap.

The west Londoners are the favourites to sign Leao, having held talks over a deal, but the Portugal international’s £148m release clause may be prohibitive, while there is also rival interest from Arsenal and Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

There are also potential options from within the Premier League, with Enzo Maresca’s side still keen on Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, having remained in contact with the 20-year-old’s agents ahead of a potential summer swoop.

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ByEmilio Galantini May 10, 2025

In the aforementioned report, it is detailed that Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams make up the shortlist, but a new update has revealed that a Bayern Munich winger could also be in line to move to Stamford Bridge.

According to a report from Sky Sports in Germany, Chelsea are interested in signing Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, and a move to west London would appeal to the German, who isn’t as keen on joining fellow suitors Tottenham Hotspur or Newcastle.

Sane is out of contract this summer, which means the winger is set to be available on a free transfer, but there could be competition for his signature, with the 29-year-old open to a move to Arsenal.

A move to La Liga also appeals to the Bayern star, whose current employers want him to make a final decision on his future by May 17th, the date of their final Bundesliga match.

"Outstanding" Sane could help take Blues to next level

The Blues remain in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which means Maresca may be keen to bring in players with experience in Europe’s elite competition, and the forward certainly fits the bill in that regard.

The Germany international has 23 goals and 19 assists to his name in 73 Champions League appearances, while his attacking output in the Bundesliga has been impressive ever since arriving at Bayern.

Season

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2020-21

32

6

9

2021-22

32

7

7

2022-23

32

8

7

2023-24

27

8

11

2024-25

29

11

6

Not only that, but the £244k-per-week forward also received high praise from Harry Kane in November 2023, with the England captain saying: “He has great pace and outstanding power. Leroy is probably our best player so far this season. He is fantastic.”

At 29-years-old, Sane is older than the players Chelsea usually sign, but should they qualify for the Champions League, it is important Maresca has a good blend of youth and experience, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus.

Nottingham Forest are in for an exciting end to the season under Nuno Espírito Santo, with their Champions League ambitions firmly within their own hands.

The Reds are just two points off third place with five games to go, with their game in hand against Brentford on Thursday night crucial to any success they could achieve in the near future.

If they were to finish in the top five and secure elite European football, it would be a truly remarkable feat, opening the doors for added investment from owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Given the Greek’s previous tendencies within the transfer market, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him once again delve into the window and splash the cash to sustain such success endured in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

With the window not far from opening, plans have already been put in place to help the side compete at the top level on a consistent basis, resulting in numerous names touted with a move to the City Ground.

An update on Forest’s pursuit of new signings this summer

Qualification for the Champions League could see Forest handed a huge injection of cash to invest further, handing Nuno the tools to try and repeat similar success for many years to come.

Matheus Cunha has been one name constantly touted for a move to join the Reds in recent months, but it appears that the Wolves star is in favour of a deal with Manchester United.

As a result, Manchester City attacker James McAtee has emerged as the club’s top target ahead of the summer window, according to Football Insider’s latest report.

They state that the 22-year-old is in favour of a switch to the East Midlands to kickstart his career after making just two league starts at the Etihad this campaign.

With just over a year left on his current deal in Manchester, Pep Guardiola’s men could be tempted to cash in, with other reports claiming a deal could set the Reds back £30m.

Why the £30m PL star would be perfect alongside Gibbs-White

Morgan Gibbs-White has been one of Forest’s leading stars over the last few seasons in the Premier League, joining in a deal totalling £42.5m in the summer of 2022.

He’s registered 16 goals and 25 assists in his 113 appearances for the club, even taking the captain’s armband in the absence of academy graduate Ryan Yates.

Such form has led to links with Manchester City over the last couple of weeks, but Nuno’s side appear to be holding firm on their £100m asking price for the England international.

Undoubtedly, all supporters will be wanting to keep hold of the 25-year-old this summer, potentially striking up a superb partnership with McAtee in the final third on the banks of the River Trent.

The City talent, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist Zach Lowy, has completed 90% of the passes he’s attempted to date, whilst also achieving 67% dribbles completed – having the tools to provide endless opportunities in the final third.

James McAtee’s stats for Manchester City in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

15

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

90%

Dribbles completed

67%

Duels won

54%

Recoveries made

5

Progressive carries

2.8

Stats via FotMob

However, despite his outstanding attacking figures, he’s also impressed without the ball, winning 54% of duels and completing five recoveries per 90 – fitting into Nuno’s hard-working and counter-attacking system at the City Ground.

The most important aspect of the manager’s tactic is to take the opportunities that present themselves when in attacking areas, something which the City youngster has done, as seen by his tally of three league goals in 2024/25.

There’s no denying that Gibbs-White has been the player the Reds have relied upon to create chances for other attackers this campaign, subsequently putting too much pressure on the midfielder to perform.

A move for McAtee this summer would help balance the attacking output across the squad, handing the manager another superb option in forward areas to cause damage in transition.

£30m may seem like a hefty sum for the 22-year-old, but should he get anywhere close to the levels produced by Gibbs-White in recent seasons, it would be a bargain – potentially allowing for another huge profit in years to come.

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A two-week training camp with the Super Kings academy saw the batters play a variety of spin bowlers, practice on red and black-soil pitches, and also play few games against top locals

Deivarayan Muthu12-Dec-2024While West Indies’ senior players were engaging in a home series against Bangladesh, their next-in-line batters were undergoing a two-week training program thousands of miles away in Chennai. Jewel Andrew, the breakout star of CPL 2024, Kirk McKenzie, who made his Test debut against India last year, Ackeem Auguste, Jordan Johnson, Matthew Nandu, Kevin Wickham and Teddy Bishop all trained at the Super Kings academy, with West Indies academy head coach Ramesh Subasinghe and West Indies Under-19 coach Rohan Nurse and Super Kings academy coach Sriram Krishnamurthy overseeing their progress.After receiving positive feedback from Rachin Ravindra and Ben Sears, who had trained in Chennai in the lead-up to New Zealand’s Test series in India which the Black Caps won 3-0, West Indies decided to send their emerging talent for a camp, where they were exposed to red-and-black-soil pitches and every variety of spin, including wristspin and mystery spin.This was the first time the West Indies Academy players were exposed to overseas training, and it seems to have served them well. On Monday, Andrew, McKenzie, Wickham, Auguste all rolled out a variety of sweeps at training, including the slog-sweep and reverse. On Tuesday they implemented some of it during a 50-over one-day game on a slow pitch. As part of the camp, West Indies’ batters play one two-day game and three one-day matches in Chennai and CSK have made these matches more competitive by calling up some Tamil Nadu players, including Hong Kong-born ambidextrous wristspinner Jhathavedh Subramanyan, who was part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024.For 21-year-old Auguste, this camp was the next step in his development after having won the CPL earlier this year with St Lucia Kings under Faf du Plessis and Daren Sammy.”It’s been good so far in Chennai, trying to adapt to new surfaces and incorporate into my game,” Auguste says. “I think for both black and red clay, you need to come up with a game plan and try to stick to it as much as possible. Naturally, I sweep, so it comes naturally to me here too. So, just deciding on which sweep I’d want to play – a paddle sweep, reverse sweep or just a hard conventional sweep.”Auguste was the standout batter in the two-day match, scoring a pair of eighties amid inhospitable humidity, but he was disappointed not to score a big hundred.Kevin Wickham brings out the sweep•Super Kings Academy”I would have liked to at least convert one or if not both, but I think just taking in whatever we did in practice and just trying to incorporate it into the game and just sticking to a game plan for as long as possible, I felt like that worked out pretty well for me on the day,” Auguste says. “But I think I should have probably tried to convert one, but if I was told I would have gotten these scores, then I would take it.”McKenzie, 24, isn’t a natural sweeper like Auguste, but has been honing the shot to disrupt spin. “I’ve been sweeping a bit more and trying to use the depth of the crease a bit more,” McKenzie says. “I’m here for the first time in India, so I’m trying to broaden my game and get used to the different surfaces here. The ball turns more in the subcontinent and there’s also uneven bounce. So, probably in the future, if I have a Test tour here, this will be beneficial coming here.”

“We don’t have a proper development program in the Caribbean and not a lot of facilities as well for a proud nation that has won six ICC championships, including an Under-19 World Cup. We don’t have a state-of-the-art high-performance facility, so we need to be innovative with our approach and this camp in Chennai was one way of doing it.”West Indies academy head coach Subasinghe

McKenzie grew up idolising fellow Jamaican Chris Gayle and made his Test debut, against India, in Port-of-Spain in July 2023, after having played just nine first-class games at the time. He showed promise with 32 against India and then bettered it with 50 in his next Test in Adelaide. McKenzie, however, had a harrowing experience in England, managing just 33 in six innings. How does he deal with the ups and downs of playing international cricket?”I’m just trying to stay level as possible,” McKenzie says. “Not trying to get too high or too low. I think that’s very important because you can score a hundred today and score a duck tomorrow. I’m just trying to stay level at all times.”Subasinghe, who has also worked with New Zealand’s emerging players, reckons that greater exposure such as this stint in Chennai will ensure that McKenzie is better equipped to cope with the pressure of international cricket.”Sometimes people do get picked for international teams – like especially in a country like West Indies where we don’t have a big player pool compared to somewhere like India – when they aren’t ready,” Subasinghe says. “I’m not saying Kirk wasn’t ready but then Kirk was a very young player, so he’s still learning the game and finding his feet in first-class cricket.West Indies’ emerging players train at the Super Kings Academy indoor nets•Super Kings Academy”So to handle the expectations I would always like to think about individual development; he’s learned good lessons but then it’s important for him to reflect better on what has happened and put plans in place to improve. So by the next time when he comes back to the international set-up, which I know he will, he will have more tools and a bit more experiences like these to call upon him.”With West Indies not playing too many ‘A’ team tournaments, and lacking a robust player-development structure at the level below international cricket, Subasinghe sees this Chennai camp as a “creative” way to nurture their emerging players.”Coach Sri (Sriram) has been influential on the boys who are getting different voices, which they can absorb and then find their own methods,” Subasinghe says. “For a smaller, financially constrained association, we need to be creative. We’ve also brought in the Under-19 coach (Nurse) who can go back and then share the information to the other young players in the Caribbean.”We don’t have a proper development program in the Caribbean and not a lot of facilities as well for a proud nation that has won six ICC championships, including an Under-19 World Cup. We don’t have a state-of-the-art high-performance facility, so we need to be innovative with our approach and this camp in Chennai was one way of doing it. It’s very hard to get pathway international tournaments and mainly the big boards play against the other big boards. So for us, it’s about identifying the targeted players and then exposing them to different learning environments in a creative way, which we are trying to do.”

A summer that began with much gloom and doom has ended with South Africa on the brink of automatic World Cup qualification

Firdose Moonda02-Apr-2023It ended so much better than it began.On the heels of an embarrassing T20 World Cup exit and a chastening Test tour of Australia, without a national men’s head coach, South Africa tiptoed into the home summer wondering how much worse things could get. Now, as the sunshine starts to become diluted with autumn’s first air, and with three months of cricket that has been heart-stopping and heartwarming in equal measure, South Africans are struggling to remember a summer this good.A brass band played the 10,000 strong pink-clad Wanderers supporters home after South Africa did their bit to make automatic qualification for this year’s 50-over World Cup a reality. The rest is in Bangladesh’s hands. As long as they win a game in Ireland in May, South Africa will be on their way to India. But no one was thinking that far this evening.As the sun set in Johannesburg, it was about celebrating the first feel-good summer since 2017-18, when South Africa beat India and Australia in home Tests series, and forgetting about the seasons that have gone by since. The defeat to Sri Lanka in 2018-19. The administrative implosion of 2019-20, the effects of which were felt into this year. The pandemic, and the keeping apart of people who, at their core, are designed to congregate. Now, these are more of South Africa’s people than ever before.Have a glance at the crowds that packed out the SA20, showed up to support the women at the T20 World Cup and attended the series against West Indies and Netherlands and you’d have to agree that it’s the most diverse going group around. And then you have to feel it. South Africa is only place where Afrikaans pop-tracks and kwaito beats both get fans on their feet, it’s a place where a mix of races, genders and ages combine in what can very seldom be described accurately as unity, but this was one of those times and the team knows it.”We’ve spoken about how we’re in a privileged position to inspire our country and unite our country through sport. To see that happening on the banks has been awesome from someone who’s been out of the game in South Africa for seven years,” Rob Walter, South Africa’s white-ball coach who spent seven years coaching in New Zealand’s domestic system, said. “To see the difference in the people who are watching the game has been awesome as well.”Aiden Markram raises his fifty•AFP/Getty ImagesIn Walter’s time away, South African cricket has been through some uncomfortable things, most especially a raw reckoning with race. At the centre of the storm has been Temba Bavuma, the country’s first black African Test batter who was elevated to white-ball captain and struggled in T20Is. Bavuma suffered his worst scrutiny when he was snubbed at the SA20 auction in the lead up and at the World Cup, and under Walter, he has been relieved of that format. In return, he has scored three centuries in three months, two in ODI cricket, and has symbolised South Africa’s revival. “He’s a wonderful human being. He’s a great advocate for our country, So it’s wonderful just to be part of sharing a change room with him. And the fact that he can play the cricket that he’s played, which has been exceptional, is just a sort of cherry on top for a guy who is not given enough credit after what he has gone through,” Walter said.But Bavuma is not the only one. Aiden Markram started 2023 after he was dropped from the Test team, but picked to captain Sunrisers Eastern Cape. He then returned to score a century at SuperSport Park and was named T20I captain. In him, South Africans can see the aggressive, smart style of cricket they are trying to play. “We are on this new journey that everyone speaks about and that brand of cricket everyone wants to play is starting to take some shape,” Markam said. “It’s exciting to be a part of and exciting to watch.”And then there is Sisanda Magala. A player who could not make the squad for fitness reasons is now an integral part of the white-ball sides, has an IPL deal and took a first international five-for to win a series. The Wanderers is where he plays his domestic cricket and the crowd got behind him in a big way as he bowled at the death. Cries of ‘Sisanda, Sisanda,” reverberated around the Bullring and when he took the fifth wicket, the joy in the ground was palpable. Every player celebrated with him, even those in the dugout, where Wayne Parnell did his Cristiano Ronaldo celebration from his seat. Markram, who is Magala’s captain in the SA20, acknowledged that Magala’s success is shared by everyone.”With Sisi, if he’s got backing then he’s going to break his back for you,” Markram said. “Through a few performances, a player feels that now they belong at this level. And they can compete and win games at this level. It’s great for him to have these achievements that he’s getting. The guys love him. He has great value in the changeroom and when he does well, everyone is over the moon.”Sisanda Magala enjoyed success in the ODI series against England•Getty ImagesWhat the SA20 did for Markram and Magala and later even for Bavuma, who got a deal, is what it did for South African cricket in general: it showed it was still alive. When Walter was asked to track the revival, he traced it back to that tournament. “We can’t underestimate the impact of the SA20 on cricket in South Africa. There was some momentum coming out of that and we were able to jump on that,” he said. “We’ve played some nice cricket but by no means our best cricket and that’s the exciting part.”With so much promise, someone like Bavuma said it’s a “pity the summer has to end now” but it’s been far better than anyone expected. Ordinarily, series wins against West Indies and Netherlands – neither of them blockbuster opponents – would not be celebrated with such gusto. But this time it’s been about South Africa. They’ve played entertaining, engaging cricket to sign off a champagne summer with more fizz than anyone could have asked for.

The India No. 3 talks about his partnership with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant in Brisbane, and looks ahead to the England series

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi30-Jan-2021The 21-year-old Shubman Gill was playing a totally different brand of cricket from you at the Gabba, scoring freely and confidently. Can you tell us more about Gill’s batting style?
He is one of the best timers of the ball. He has a natural ability to react to the ball a little earlier. He gets that extra fraction of time to judge the length, the line, and then play his shots, whether it be the pull or a cover drive. He has quick hands and his downswing is so good that even when he defends the ball, with that timing, sometimes, it goes for two or three runs. Sometimes it feels like he is playing with hard hands, but he is so good at his timing.If I speak about his batting technically, it is a double-edged sword. If you remember, he was out a few times against Pat Cummins earlier in the series, caught at gully or slip, but at the same time Gill can play the same ball for two or three. He is managing it really well. He is very talented and I hope he continues to improve because we need good openers. We have been getting good starts in the last couple of Tests matches and that is a big advantage. The way Rohit [Sharma] and Shubman started in Sydney and Brisbane laid a good foundation.Related

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In a recent conversation with R Ashwin, Vikram Rathour, India’s batting coach, said the same – that both Rohit and Gill look for runs. Did it bother you that despite your experience, you were finding it hard to score runs while a youngster like Gill was scoring freely the other end?
Gill’s strength lies in the way he plays and that is why he is successful. If he tries to bat time or tries to defend for longer periods, it could pose a challenge for him. I can take the bowlers on too, but if I feel I need to hang back a little, I can do that as well. I can bat according to the situation. At that time, I felt it wasn’t wise to take the bowlers on because Gill was already doing that.It is important to understand what your partner is doing, as a batting unit, how the team is going forward. There could be occasions where both batsmen are playing their shots, but most of the time, if one is going well, the other has to bat normally and not do anything extraordinary. That is what I was trying to do. That is my strength.From one end you need to make sure there is a lot of assurance, a lot stability, which allows the other guy freedom to play their shots. What ended up happening in that first session was I ended up getting too many balls from the tougher end ().”[James] Anderson is very familiar with the conditions in England and can accordingly set up a batsman. However, when it comes to bowling in India, we have a little bit of an advantage”•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesJoe Root will reach the 100-Test milestone during the first Test in Chennai. What do you like about Root’s batting?
His work ethic. I have seen him bat for long periods of time as a team-mate during my stint with Yorkshire and as an opponent from the time he played against us on England’s 2012 tour of India. As a batsman, he is clear about his game plans, knows his scoring areas, is clear about his strengths, understands his game very well, and all that shows in the success he has had in Test cricket.Having faced the best of fast bowling in Australia, you now have to prepare to have another master quick – James Anderson. He has got you seven times and your average against him is 26.85. What’s the key difference between facing Anderson in England and in India?
The pace and bounce are different, firstly. Then the balls are different. There is some swing with the SG ball, but it doesn’t last and swing as much as the Dukes ball in England. Anderson is very familiar with the conditions and the bowling areas in England and can accordingly plan and set up a batsman. However, when it comes to bowling in India, we have a little bit of an advantage – not just me, but the entire Indian batting unit. We know our strengths and game plans well. When you are familiar with the conditions, it does help.Rishabh Pant was one of the key pillars, a catalyst for India in Sydney and Brisbane. You batted with him on the final days of both Tests. Can you talk about his growth?
He is fearless, not afraid to play his shots. Also, being a left-hander gives him an advantage. It frustrated the opposition bowling when there is a right-left combination. They seemed to struggle with the length. His knock in Brisbane was much, much better than what he did in Sydney. He played a brilliant innings in Sydney, too, when he scored 97 – I am not trying to take away any credit – but I felt this innings was under pressure and he handled it pretty well.I especially liked the way he handled Lyon just before and after tea [on the final day] in Brisbane. During the partnership, unlike his usual approach, where he looks to score runs, he defended in one phase – that was very impressive for me. You need to understand the situation. You need understand the game, whether you have to move away from your usual approach, it is very important.”The most impressive part about Rishabh [Pant] was the way he held himself back when it was needed in the last Test”•Jason McCawley/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesDid you need to temper his approach?
Not in particular, but I always try and communicate to young batsmen that you just need to understand the situation. If he [Pant] is at the crease, the opposition is under pressure. He is so destructive. Even if he is looking to defend, he will end up getting at least one boundary in two or three overs. So I was just telling him to try and make sure you make the right decision. Even if you want to play your shots, make sure you are clear in your mind. I will say this again: the most impressive part, for me, about Rishabh this time was the way he held himself back when it was needed in the last Test.Do you think India-Australia Test series could have five Tests in the future, like the Ashes?
It can be, no doubt about that. But five-Test series in Covid times is not easy. I think it becomes too long, especially because players need to be part of a biosecure bubble. Mentally, it is very frustrating, especially when you are away from home.Sometimes you are with the family, sometimes you are not. It’s not easy. But if it can be scheduled with enough breaks, then I wouldn’t mind it at all.You didn’t score as many runs on this Australia tour as you did in 2018-19, but you got three half-centuries. The last one, in Brisbane, was the slowest of your Test career, but was it also the most important one?
Yes, it is one of the most important fifties I have scored. The other one I remember was also against Australia, in Bangalore in 2016-17 series where I scored 92. The other was Jo’burg [50], which came on one of the toughest pitches I have played on.”Five-Test series in Covid times is not easy. Mentally, it is very frustrating, especially when you are away from home”•Getty ImagesSo Test cricket is the ultimate format?
Without a doubt. It challenges you physically, mentally, emotionally, and in multiple ways. That can’t happen in any other format. If you ask any white-ball player, even in death overs, I don’t think anyone will say they feel more pressure than in Test cricket. This is the toughest format of the game.Every session is different. You can win or lose a game in an hour – like we lost in the first Test in Adelaide. We played really well for the first two days. We were ahead with a 50-run lead and yet we lost the Test because we did not bat well in that one hour.A day after the Brisbane victory, you told the Indian Express that your two-year-old daughter, Aditi, watching you getting hit repeatedly at the Gabba, said: “When he comes home, I will kiss where he is hurt, he will be fine.” Did she do that?
She actually did that – kissed me on my hand. Forget about the injuries, when I returned home, the best part was she was so, so excited. She hugged me for almost a minute or two and she wasn’t letting go of me. I was really, really happy to hold her and be back with my family.Read part one of this interview with Cheteshwar Pujara.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vitória empatou com o Bahia e se consagrou o campeão do Campeonato Baiano no início da noite deste domingo (7). Os gols na Arena Fonte Nova foram marcados por Wagner Leonardo e Everton Ribeiro. No placar agregado o Rubro-Negro venceu o Tricolor por 4 a 3.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras pode ter duas mudanças para final do Paulistão contra o Santos; veja escalaçãoPalmeiras07/04/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras tem três trunfos para acreditar em virada sobre o Santos na final do PaulistãoPalmeiras07/04/2024SantosSantos aposta em retrospecto de Carille e bastidores para bater o Palmeiras no PaulistãoSantos07/04/2024

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⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?
O Bahia estava atrás no placar agregado e partiu para cima do Vitória desde os primeiros minutos. Aos poucos, o Rubro-Negro foi gostando da partida, até que abriu o placar com o zagueiro Wagner Leonardo.

Em seguida, o Bahia saiu em velocidade em contra-ataque. Biel arrancou e cruzou. A bola sobrou para Everton Ribeiro deixar tudo igual.

No segundo tempo, as equipes até que tentaram passar a frente no placar. No entanto, goleiros fizeram grandes defesas. Além disso, os sistemas defensivos de Bahia e Vitória estavam sólidos e consistentes. Ao final, o Rubro-Negro administrou o resultado para gritar “é campeão”.

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➡️ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?
Agora, o Vitória só volta a jogar no próximo domingo, para estrear no Campeonato Brasileiro contra o Palmeiras. A partida será no domingo (14), às 18h30, no Estádio Barradão.

Já o Bahia entra em campo no meio da semana para enfrentar o Náutico pela quarta de final da Copa do Nordeste. A bola às 21h30 de quarta-feira (10), na Arena Fonte Nova.

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Newcastle United dropped more points in the Premier League on Tuesday night, drawing 2-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur in a chaotic game.

Eddie Howe’s side were the dominant team at St. James’ Park, but could not prevent Spurs’ only two shots on target from going in the back of the net.

After a goalless first half, it took until the 71st minute for the deadlock to be broken. It was Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes who opened the scoring. He strolled onto Nick Woltemade’s layoff and fired home to give his side the lead, after good play by Anthony Gordon.

Just six minutes later, Spurs had their equaliser. Cristian Romero got in front of Dan Burn to score a clever diving header at the near post.

However, it did not take long for the home side to get back in front. They won a contentious penalty, which Gordon emphatically scored, his first Premier League strike since January.

Just as it looked like the Magpies might hold on, Spurs equalised, five minutes into added time. It was their captain, Romero, again, whose acrobatic overhead kick somehow found its way through a mass of Newcastle shirts and into the back of the net.

It was a disappointing result for the Magpies in a game they dominated. Indeed, their attack left a little to be desired.

Newcastle’s misfiring attack vs. Spurs

After scoring four goals at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton last weekend, the Magpies might have expected to continue that sort of form.

However, they could only turn their 19 shots, and seven on target, into two goals, which proved to be too few.

One man who struggled to get into the game was Woltemade.

Although he grabbed the assist for Guimaraes’ goal, a neat lay-off into the Brazilian’s path, it was a tough night against the physicality of Romero and Mickey van de Ven.

The summer signing only had 36 touches of the ball and lost possession 12 times, as per Sofascore. He could only muster two shots and was often left fairly isolated against the Spurs centre-backs.

Another attacker who struggled for the Magpies was Jacob Murphy. The winger was unusually sloppy in the final third, completing just three out of ten attempted crosses.

Jordan Cronin, journalist for Newcastle World, said he ‘lacked conviction and concentration’ during the game.

However, it was not just Woltemade and Murphy who struggled against the Lilywhites.

Newcastle’s most disappointing player vs. Spurs

For all their domination, the Magpies struggled to get a real grip on the game. Indeed, Joelinton was another player who looked off the pace and did not have the sort of impact going forward that Howe might have wanted from him.

It was notable just how poorly the Brazilian performed on Tuesday night. Cronin was one of the people who criticised him, giving him a 5/10 for his efforts and explaining that he ‘needlessly gave the ball away’ too many times.

His fellow journalist, Charlie Bennett, also noted that Joelinton was “very sloppy” on the ball. The stats back that theory up, with Newcastle’s number seven losing the ball 11 times out of 49 touches, and having a pass accuracy of just 83%.

Joelinton vs. Spurs

Stat

Record

Touches

49

Pass accuracy

83%

Possession lost

11

Ground duels won

3/10

Number of times dribbled past

3

Key passes

1

Stats from Sofascore

It feels like Howe has an interesting selection call to make ahead of Newcastle’s next game, at home against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

It is a game you can expect the Magpies to dominate, so perhaps their manager will want midfielders who look after the ball better.

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There are options, too. It seems almost certain that Guimaraes will slot back into the side after he only played 45 minutes on Tuesday, replacing Sandro Tonali.

Lewis Miley would deserve to keep his place in the starting lineup, and Jacob Ramsey is another player who could come into the fold.

Joelinton’s poor showing against Spurs may well have cost him his place in the side. Howe has other players at his disposal, all of whom may offer him extra quality on the ball.

It would certainly not be a surprise if Joelinton was rotated out of the side against the Clarets.

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