All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool are preparing for the 2025/26 campaign by packing Arne Slot’s squad with high-quality additions. After winning the Premier League last term, the Reds are looking to defend their title and challenge for silverware across other fronts.

As you will likely have seen, Liverpool have agreed a £116m deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Florian Wirtz, who has been described as a “game-changer” with a skillset that is “dangerous for every opponent” by former Bayern Munich technical director Marco Neppe.

With Darwin Nunez’s sale expected at some point in the coming months, Anfield will surely welcome a new number nine through the gates, but there are other areas of the field that need attention too.

Indeed, the Reds have already tried to sign one of the best young centre-backs in the world in Dean Huijsen.

Why Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen

Why did Liverpool want Huijsen? Well, for the same reason as everyone else: the Dutch-born Spain star was immense for Bournemouth after joining from Juventus for £15m, with analyst Ben Mattinson even declaring him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”

The problem, as ever, was that Real Madrid also wanted the 20-year-old, and when they came knocking, the youngster’s decision was set.

Activating his £50m release clause, Los Blancos have added one of the finest young defenders to their ranks, and Liverpool will now need to turn their attention elsewhere, for more depth is needed in the rearguard following a paucity of defensive signings in recent years.

Ah well, he’s not the only young defender worth their salt playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues right now. In fact, he might not even be the best up-and-coming centre-back from the recent Premier League season.

There’s another, albeit with a bit more experience, who is on Liverpool’s radar and could prove an upgrade on the Spain international.

Liverpool in race for new centre-back

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still concerned about Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation, with the Frenchman entering the final year of his deal.

Transfer Focus

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

As such, FSG have stayed in the race for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. The 22-year-old has been fantastic over the past couple of years on Merseyside, taking another step in his development since David Moyes was appointed in January.

Liverpool are not alone in their interest. Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the £70m-rated star, while Manchester United have a historic interest and would be certain to make their name known if more clarity were to be provided on the Englishman’s future in the coming weeks.

A move wouldn’t be made until Konate’s future is sorted, but if a breakthrough cannot be found, Branthwaite could become a hot topic on Merseyside this summer.

Why Liverpool want Jarrad Branthwaite

Standing at 6 foot 5, Branthwaite is a powerful and menacing defensive presence, protecting his backline with iron-clad resolve and steel-tipped challenges.

Though he’s less at home in a pass-heavy environment than Huijsen, there’s a strong case to be made that the Evertonian could have the brighter future ahead of him, with the Toffees actually valuing their prized possession at £75m when the Red Devils came calling last year.

Looking at the data from the English top flight last year, you can see that while Huijsen outperformed his positional peer from an attacking standpoint, Branthwaite was more confident in the duel and maintained a similar passing crispness despite his tactical deployment.

Matches (starts)

32 (26)

30 (28)

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Touches*

63.9

51.9

Pass completion

84%

83%

Key passes*

0.5

0.1

Ball recoveries*

3.3

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

2.1

Clearances*

6.1

6.3

Ground duels (won)*

3.6 (56%)

3.9 (63%)

It’s worth noting that more active defensive numbers don’t automatically qualify for superiority as a centre-back. In fact, Branthwaite’s ability to read the game like a scholar and act only when the situation demands is not too dissimilar to Virgil van Dijk’s approach.

Given the Everton man’s left-footedness, he might be the Dutchman’s perfect heir, albeit one who would arrive in contentious circumstances.

But no matter. Liverpool, after all, are currently dealing with a potential double swoop from the Toffees for two of their first-teamers: Ben Doak and Joe Gomez have been reported to be on their rivals’ radar.

And for Branthwaite’s part, there’s a subtle undertow to his actions this year that suggests he would be up for the cross-city switch. In March, the English defender expressed concerns after being overlooked by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who once again neglected to call him up for the recent (difficult) camp.

In all likelihood, Tuchel was wary about bringing a defender into the fold whose club-level tactics are at such variance to the on-the-ball style the Three Lions are looking to implement.

16th

Leicester

45.4%

17th

Crystal Palace

42.8%

18th

Nott’m Forest

41.2%

19th

Everton

40.9%

20th

Ipswich

40.6%

Huijsen, sure, has already established a ball-playing game to admire, but Branthwaite isn’t against the kind of tactical principles that would see him hit his stride at Liverpool.

Indeed, when out on loan at PSV Eindhoven in 2022/23, he completed 87% of his passes, averaged 0.3 key passes per game and also completed an impressive 64% of his long balls, as per Sofascore.

Of course, Branthwaite is also just an “absolute monster” of a central defender, as he was called by talent scout Jacek Kulig after his exemplary breakout campaign in 2023/24.

A major player for Everton once again over the past 12 months, Branthwaite has surely proved enough over the past couple of years to convince Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, and the rest of the transfer team that he could be the perfect addition.

Perhaps not quite so attuned to a ball-playing style as Huijsen, the hulking defender may yet sharpen that element of his game, and under Slot’s wing, his overall ability would surely see him prove an upgrade on Real Madrid’s new recruit.

A bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool now in talks to sell £50m star

Liverpool should think twice about parting ways with this talented first-teamer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 12, 2025

An exciting transfer update has emerged regarding Liverpool’s quest to build a squad capable of retaining their Premier League crown, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool closing in on stunning Wirtz move

The Reds appear to be edging closer to completing the most exciting signing of the summer in England, with Florian Wirtz on the verge of joining from Bayer Leverkusen.

He is expected to smash Liverpool’s transfer record, with a move of £116m mooted, in what could be among the club’s most significant signings of the past decade or so.

Wirtz has been voted as the best player in the Bundesliga in each of the past two seasons by his peers, highlighting his brilliance, and Reds supporters will be hoping that he can enjoy the same level of world-class influence that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have at Anfield.

Once the German superstar is confirmed as a Liverpool player, it will be time for the Reds to turn their attention to other targets.

Romano: Liverpool "on fire" with Kerkez set to join

Speaking on TikTok late on Sunday evening, Romano confirmed Wirtz will join the club once he finishes his holidays and completes a medical, but he also had news on Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez, revealing the Reds are “on fire”.

At this point, it would be a huge surprise if the Reds didn’t bring in Kerkez this summer, with the Hungarian at the top of their list for a long time now, and it’s not hard to see why.

The Bournemouth man, on just £30,000-a-week on the south coast, already looks like such a polished footballer, despite his tender years, and the energy and competitive edge in his game have echoes of a young Andy Robertson, with former teammate Mat Ryan once heaping praise on him.

“Milos is a great boy. A crazy dude, in a good way. He is always positive and smiling. Hopefully he can develop even further in England and become even more mature. He is aggressive, powerful and has so many qualities. A unique skill set. Bournemouth is going to get stronger because of him. Milos still has a great career ahead of him.”

Liverpool could easily get close to a decade of great service from Kerkez, assuming he avoids serious injury, and regardless of whether Robertson stays or not this summer, the Cherries ace must be considered the Reds’ first-choice left-back.

New manager Russell Martin may have only been at Ibrox a matter of weeks but he will certainly be thrown in at the deep end right at the very start of his Rangers tenure.

On Wednesday lunchtime, Martin’s first competitive opponents of the new season were confirmed, Rangers drawn against Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round, the pair set to meet at Ibrox on 22/23 July, with the return leg a week later.

Should they progress, the Gers face another qualifying tie before entering the league phase of the competition.

Rangers looking to bolster their back line

Thus, with that huge tie, and others to follow, under five weeks away, Martin will want to get some signings through the door and soon, so could Rangers be about to land an experienced Premier League defender?

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 a report by Sky Sports News, Rangers ‘have approached’ Leicester City over the possibility of signing centre-back Conor Coady.

Following the Foxes’ relegation back to the EFL Championship, as outlined by Rob Tanner of the Athletic, Leicester’s budget has been ‘slashed’, thereby looking to ‘move on high earners’, and Coady very much falls into that category, especially with just one year remaining on his contract.

Coady joined Leicester from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported £8.5m fee two summers ago but, now 32 years old, could certainly be available at a cut-price.

How Conor Coady would improve Rangers

Leadership is undoubtedly Coady’s greatest quality, with Sean Dyche having previously praised his “immaculate” professionalism, something that was severely lacking at Rangers last season, hence why the England international could be an excellent addition both on and off the park.

Yet, would he be better than Harry Darling? Many outlets this summer underlined that Martin was hoping to sign centre-back Darling for a third time, having previously worked with him at both Milton Keynes and Swansea.

However, it was announced earlier this week that the 25-year-old had decided to join Norwich City as a free agent instead, meaning Martin and the Rangers hierarchy will be forced to look elsewhere.

This has seen the Gers step-up their interest in Coady, but how do these two defenders compare? Let’s find out.

Appearances

43

39

Minutes

3,103

3,337

Pass completion %

92%

87.4%

Interceptions

0.6

0.6

Tackles

0.6

0.8

Clearances

3.2

5

% of ground duels won

57.2%

66%

Ball Recoveries

3.5

4.1

Touches

80.5

78.5

Statistics from the last two seasons were used for Coady for two reasons, to give him a bigger sample size, but also because this year’s data was massively skewed by the fact that he was playing for a historically terrible Leicester team.

Also, the EFL Championship, ranked 11th in the world by Global Football Rankings, is more comparable to the Scottish Premiership (43rd) than the Premier League.

That preamble aside, the table shows that Coady and Darling’s statistics are broadly similar, with the Leicester defender coming out on top for in-possession statistics, namely pass completion percentage and touches.

Then-Wolves teammate Fábio Silva has described the defender as “amazing” and “the best captain” he’s ever had, while Adam McNulty of Breaking the Lines praised his reading of the game and ability ‘to pick out a runner’ with his excellent distribution.

In the 2019/20 Premier League season, Coady completed more accurate long passes than anyone else in the division, hence why his outstanding on-ball skill-set would fit into a Martin team perfectly, given that the new Rangers boss’ style prioritises possession and control, underlining that this is a signing the Light Blues need to do everything in their power to finalise.

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ByDan Emery Jun 19, 2025

The Bangladesh head coach felt that Rishad’s bowling was the “most pleasing thing” to come out of the Sri Lanka game

Mohammad Isam09-Jun-20242:00

Tamim: Bangladesh must make new ball count against South Africa

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe is thrilled with the way the bowling unit took “ownership of the situation and plans” in their opening game of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka were well placed on 100 for 3 in the 14th over in Dallas but the Bangladesh bowlers stormed back to restrict them to 124 for 9. It was a collective effort from the bowlers with Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain taking three wickets each while Taskin Ahmed picked up two.”I think Mustafizur Rahman is bowling really well,” Hathurusinghe said ahead of Bangladesh’s second game of the tournament, against South Africa in New York. “He is confident about his own plans. He comes from different angles. The way the bowling unit has taken ownership of the situation and plans, it was very impressive. My coaching staff is doing a good job by giving them a lot of information but they are the ones making all the decisions in the middle.”Related

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A battle between in-form bowlers and brittle top orders

Hathurusinghe called legspinner Rishad’s bowling the “most pleasing thing” to come out of Bangladesh’s win. Rishad was the one who started the Sri Lanka slide, picking up three wickets across two overs to send Sri Lanka from 100 for 3 to 109 for 6.”We backed him [Rishad] for a year. We knew that he is going to win games for us,” Hathurusinghe said. “Winning that game was important. It was very satisfying. You know how challenging it is for us to get a legspinner into the team. I don’t blame anybody. It is the culture. We don’t understand the value of a legspinner.”Even in this game [vs Sri Lanka], he went for runs in the first over, so I give credit to [Najmul Hossain] Shanto for bringing him for the last two overs to change the game. I think we are understanding the value of legspin, and he is growing in confidence.”Hathurusinghe: Out of form batters ‘need to calm down’Hathurusinghe, however, said that the batters who are struggling with form should remember how they felt when they were doing well. Soumya Sarkar, captain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan were the ones who got out cheaply against Sri Lanka before Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah shepherded the team home.”We talk about their game, their strength and their opposition. But once they [the batters] get into the middle, they are on their own. They need to understand their game and how they feel,” Hathurusinghe said. “It is not technical. If you look at the dismissals, they are not getting out in a certain way.”I think they need to calm down and think about their strength. When you are confident, you play to your strength. That’s the message for any batter: remember your actions when you are doing well.”Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha celebrates with Mahmudullah after their two-wicket win•ICC/Getty ImagesIn the chase, Bangladesh had slipped to 28 for 3 inside the powerplay before Hridoy and Litton Das settled the nerves with a 63-run stand. There was another collapse, from 91 for 3 to 113 for 8, but Mahmudullah held his own with 16 not out to end the chase with No. 10 Tanzim Hasan.”I was always impressed with his [Mahmudullah’s] ability to finish games, that’s why he is batting where he is batting,” Hathurusinghe said. “He has a lot of experience. He is one of the calmest guys in the middle under pressure in our team. He knows his role. I was very pleased. I always want him to be there in the end, whatever happens. He is a big match performer. He has done well for us in previous World Cups.”Hathurusinghe was also glad that Litton got among the runs after a drought, scoring a steady 36. But the other batters need to stand up too.”Lately, we have been inconsistent. It is a difficult format to take time to get in form. You have to get going from the start. Confidence plays a big part in T20 cricket,” he said. “Some of the batters are short of runs. They train well, but it is the lack of confidence due to lack of runs. The good thing is Litton spent time in the middle to score runs. He played according to the conditions. We are expecting more from them.”

Captain’s 76 not enough as Gloucestershire defend 251 at York

ECB Reporters Network02-Aug-2024Ollie Price’s watchful 98 off 118 balls plus a feverish bowling display led by three-wicket quick Matt Taylor led Gloucestershire to an entertaining win over Yorkshire at York as they successfully defended a 252-target to triumph by 36 runs.Price had underpinned Gloucestershire’s 251 for 9, while opener Miles Hammond leant support with 54. But the visitors added only 85 runs in a damaging final 15 overs which saw seven wickets fall.The Vikings responded on a challenging batting pitch, with new-ball seamer Ben Coad (2 for 27 from 10 overs) particularly impressive as one of four bowlers who struck twice.Shan Masood and James Wharton hit 76 and 56 respectively to leave Yorkshire well placed, but they slumped from 137 for 2 to 215 all out inside 48 overs. Left-armer Taylor finished with 3 for 35 off 10. Both counties have now won two, lost two in Group B.Gloucestershire elected to bat on the same hybrid pitch used for Yorkshire’s Wednesday win over Sussex, and they showed early caution against accurate bowling. After Cameron Bancroft’s early departure, caught behind off Coad, Hammond and Price advanced impressively as extra bounce was evident without extra pace.They rotated strike amidst an 88-run partnership, and a feature of Price’s innings was his sweeping and reverse-sweeping against spin. But the reverse against Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin was Hammond’s undoing, bowled shortly after reaching his 84-ball fifty. By then, Price had also reached 50 off 65.Price beautifully drove two boundaries almost arrow straight off Ben Cliff’s seam in the 34th over before, at the start of his next, James Bracey hoisted the same bowler over long-on for one of only two sixes in the entire innings. However, Gloucestershire’s acceleration was shackled, as four wickets fell for 19 from 172 for 2 in 36th over to 191 for 6 in the 41st.Cliff struck twice in an action-packed 36th as Bracey played on and Ben Charlesworth was caught behind. Coad then forced Jack Taylor to play on, as did Moriarty to Graeme van Buuren. Tom Smith added a useful 27, but Price was yorked by George Hill as the visitors only just crept over 250.Wickets continued to fall as Yorkshire replied. Fin Bean was bowled off the inside-edge as he left Matt Taylor alone before Ajeet Singh Dale bowled Will Luxton shortly afterwards, the Vikings 24 for 2 in the seventh over.Masood and Wharton set about a no-frills recovery, sharing a third-wicket 113. Masood hit 63 in Wednesday’s Sussex win, and by the time his latest half-century arrived off 52 balls, Yorkshire were on a healthy 94 for 2 in the 21st.Acceleration came when they hit three leg-side sixes off the spin of Price and van Buuren, taking the score to 117 for 2 in the 23rd. It was now Yorkshire’s game to lose. But that’s exactly what happened.Matt Taylor had Masood caught behind and bowled Hill in successive overs before Harry Duke pulled Dom Goodman’s seam to midwicket – 147 for 5 in the 33rd.Wharton reached his fifty off 78 balls, but him crawling through the 40s heightened home nerves. It was, therefore, no great surprise when he miscued Smith’s left-arm spin to backward point, leaving the Vikings six down at 163.That became 176 for 7 in the 39th when Singh Dale trapped Dom Bess lbw. Now it was Gloucestershire’s game, and they didn’t let things slip.Coad was run out before Matthew Revis, for 41, and Moriarty were caught in the deep off Goodman and van Buuren.

Leeds United are reportedly close to completing their third signing of the summer transfer window with the addition of central defender Sebastiaan Bornauw from Wolfsburg.

The Belgian colossus was due for his medical at Thorp Arch on Monday and is now set to add more depth to a defensive unit that already includes Pascal Struijk, Max Wober, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and recent signing Jaka Bijol.

Daniel Farke looks set to have plenty of options to choose from at the heart of his defence next season in the Premier League, and he is also looking to add more quality at the other end of the pitch.

Leeds pushing to sign new striker

Bornauw will be the second centre-back added to the squad, after Bijol, and the Whites are now in the market to make further attacking reinforcements.

Rodrigo Muniz appears to be one number nine target who is off the table for the club, though, as Fulham reportedly see him as not for sale amid interest from the West Yorkshire outfit.

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 the print edition of Corriere Dello Sport (30/06/2025), as relayed by MOTLeedsNews, Leeds United are pushing to sign Lecce centre-forward Nikola Krstovic in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the club’s interest in the Montenegro international has forced the Serie A clubs to start pursuing striker targets of their own to replace the forward, which speaks to the level of interest shown by the Championship champions.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds will be able to get a deal for the £21m-rated number nine over the line in the coming weeks.

Nikola Krstovic could be the next Chris Wood for Leeds

If the Whites can secure the 25-year-old striker’s signature, then they could find their next version of Chris Wood, who scored 44 goals in 88 matches during his time at Elland Road in the Championship.

After leaving Leeds to sign for Burnley, Wood proved himself to be a dependable Premier League goalscorer, with a return of 89 goals in 263 games for the Clarets, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United combined. That is a return of between 12 and 13 goals per 38 appearances.

In Krstovic, Leeds could find a physical and mobile centre-forward, like Wood, who can also consistently deliver that level of quality in front of goal in the top-flight.

The 25-year-old star ended the 2024/25 campaign with a haul of 11 goals in 37 Serie A outings for Lecce, which shows that he can score goals at a respectable rate in a major European league.

As well as being a striker who has the potential to add a goal threat to Farke’s squad in the Premier League next season, Krstovic is also similar to Wood in the sense that he provides a physical presence in the number nine role.

Appearances

37

36

Goals

11

20

Big chances created

5

3

Assists

5

3

Duels won

4.9

3.5

Ground duel success rate

40%

35%

Aerial duel success rate

41%

39%

As you can see in the table above, the Lecce star offered even more physicality to his team in the Serie A than the New Zealand international did for Forest in the Premier League, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck and in the air.

Krstovic, who was hailed as “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, stands at 6 foot 1 and, clearly, has the attributes to compete with physical centre-backs at the top level.

A Bijol repeat: Leeds make one of the "best in the world" a priority target

Leeds United could soon seal another fantastic defensive deal by landing this cut-price star.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 30, 2025

Therefore, Farke could land his own version of Wood by landing a deal for the Serie A marksman, who could provide goals, assists, and physicality in the Premier League next term.

Whilst a lot of the Sunderland conversation this summer has centred on the number of new signings arriving through the door, the crop of talent already at Regis Le Bris’ disposal before this whirlwind business kicked off will feel they have what it takes to compete in the Premier League as well.

The likes of Chris Rigg – who is nearing an extended Black Cats deal – will be raring to go up a league having already proven himself in the Championship as a bold 18-year-old asset, whilst French marksman Wilson Isidor will be aiming to add to his 13 second-tier strikes in the challenging division.

Of course, he will have plenty of competition in the attacking positions to contend with, as plenty more fresh recruits are expected to join the Stadium of Light ranks up top before the chaotic transfer window slams shut.

Sunderland showing strong interest in £22m attacker

Sunderland have never looked back this summer after both Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson deserted Wearside in quick succession, with more cash expected to be splurged soon to boost the newly promoted side even more.

Leicester City attacker Bilal El Khannouss is now reportedly on the Black Cats’ radar, with French outlet L’Equipe even going as far as to suggest that Le Bris’ men are out in front for the Moroccan’s coveted signature, ahead of the likes of West Ham United and AS Monaco.

Alongside shopping close to home, Sunderland also has their eye on some promising attacking talents in Ligue 1, with a report from journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that the Premier League new boys are showing a “strong interest” in OGC Nice forward Evan Guessand.

Both Leeds United and Brentford are also keen on the £22m-rated attacker’s services, with the report further revealing that Guessand would be tempted by a switch to England as he weighs up leaving his current employers.

Off the back of a promising season in France, Guessand might well explode into life even more under Le Bris’ tutelage on Wearside, as the Nice number 29 attempts to replicate Isidor’s rapid rise at the Stadium of Light, considering Isidor was also once viewed as being a slightly risky star to sign last summer.

How Guessand could be the next Isidor

In the end, Isidor would instantly settle in right at the top of the Championship, which was a surprise considering the Rennes-born forward never tasted the high intensity of the English game before linking up with Le Bris and Co last August, initially on loan.

Still, that wouldn’t matter as Isidor led the line with confidence for promotion chasers all season long, culminating in him collecting 13 Championship strikes. Before this breakout moment, however, the towering 24-year-old only had a mediocre 48 career strikes next to his name as a nomadic presence playing out in Russia and France.

24/25

42

13

9

23/24

38

7

2

21/22

25

1

3

20/21

3

0

0

19/20

1

0

0

Guessand had an equally formative experience with Nice this season just gone, with the powers that be at the Cote D’Azur club having to exercise plenty of patience before fully reaping their rewards, as seen in the 6-foot-3 striker registering a blistering 13 strikes in all competitions last campaign, after only eight goals had been tallied up over the prior three seasons.

Even more could soon come from Guessand, therefore, knowing what Le Bris has managed to do for a striker with a similar approach to himself in Isidor, with Isidor also a lofty presence coming in at 6-foot-1, but equally content with speeding through on goal to finish off a well-crafted counter-attack.

The £22m attacker has even been hailed as “electric” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango for his devastating burst of pace, which might well work in his favour in such a demanding and taxing league like the Premier League.

Le Bris will see Guessand as a project – much like he did with Isidor – and if the success story of the former Zenit St. Petersburg man is anything to go off, landing the Ivorian might well be deemed a capture as impactful as Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fee joining for some mega bucks down the line.

Mepham upgrade: Sunderland plotting deal for "incredible" £18m star

Sunderland are reportedly interested in signing a star who would be a big upgrade on Chris Mepham.

ByDan Emery Jul 12, 2025

The ECB has reportedly given the go-ahead and is satisfied with the venues

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2024PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has appeared to confirm that the entirety of Pakistan’s three-Test series against England in October will take place in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters after inspecting development work at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, he was reported as saying Multan and Rawalpindi would host all three Tests.Naqvi’s spokesperson Mohammad Rafiullah confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the ECB has given the go-ahead to hold the series in Multan and Rawalpindi, and that they are satisfied with the venues.Construction work at multiple cricket stadiums in Pakistan has complicated the hosting situation ahead of England’s three-match series. Karachi, which was officially scheduled to host the second Test, will not do so because of renovations the National Stadium is undergoing. A Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad from October 15-16 rules out any chances of the second Test being played in Rawalpindi. The heads of several member nations are scheduled to arrive, and the security and accommodation demands that entail hosting that Test in the capital’s twin city are untenable.Related

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PCB considers moving one Test against England offshore due to ongoing stadium work

As a result, the PCB had mooted moving one Test out of Pakistan altogether, with Abu Dhabi being the preferred option in such a scenario. Pakistan last played there in 2018 before moving their home Tests back to Pakistan after a decade of Test cricket in the UAE. The other two UAE venues, Dubai and Sharjah, will not be available owing to the Women’s T20 World Cup in the country.While Naqvi’s comments should, in theory, rule out any notions of a Test in that series taking place outside Pakistan, there has been no official comment from the PCB at this stage. The board is yet to officially finalise venues for each of the three Test matches for this series.The pressure to do so urgently is considerable. A substantial number of England fans are expected to arrive for the series, but any logistical arrangements cannot be made until venues are finalised. England head coach Brendon McCullum also pointed out his side needed to know the venues in advance to be able to pick a squad that suited the conditions.England are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, with the first Test starting on October 7.

Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a 2-1 win over Premier League rivals West Ham United in America on Saturday night.

Bruno Fernandes scored both of the team’s goals in a narrow win over the Hammers, scoring from the spot in the first half before delivering a fantastic finish in the second.

There was another outing for new signing Matheus Cunha, who played the opening 66 minutes of the game, but Bryan Mbeumo was not ready to don the shirt for the first time.

Whilst fans have had the chance to watch last season’s team, along with Cunha, ramp up their preparations to improve on last year’s dismal showing, there are a number of players who have not been part of the travelling party.

Ruben Amorim decided to leave several players at home for this tour and the Premier League summer series, as the club are looking to move on from them this summer.

One of the players in the ‘bomb squad’ is Brazilian forward Antony, who spent the second half of last season on loan with Real Betis in Spain.

Why Man Utd should sell Antony

It simply has not worked out for the left-footed dud in England and it appears to be the right time to allow him to move on from Old Trafford on a permanent basis, after a successful loan spell.

United reportedly agreed an £85m deal with Ajax to sign Antony in the summer of 2022 to bolster Erik ten Hag’s options at the top end of the pitch, but he has only mustered up 12 goals and five assists in 96 appearances for the club to date.

The 25-year-old star has not offered enough in the final third to suggest that he has much of a future in English football, rarely scoring or creating goals in his three years in Manchester so far, which is why it could be the right move to cash in on him this summer.

It could also be a smart time to cash in on the winger because he is fresh off the back of a successful loan spell with Real Betis, which shows that he does have the quality to make an impact in other leagues in Europe.

Appearances

17

9

xG

2.87

1.41

Goals

5

4

Big chances created

8

5

Key passes per game

2.2

1.1

Assists

2

3

As you can see in the table above, the former Ajax star caught the eye with nine goals and 13 ‘big chances’ created in 26 appearances for the Spanish side, which may help United to attract interest from other clubs this summer.

Whilst it remains to be seen where Antony will end up by the conclusion of the summer transfer window, there is an even bigger United flop closing in on a move away.

Man Utd flop agrees personal terms on exit

According to the print edition of Corriere dello Sport (26/07/2025), as relayed by Tutto Mercato Web, Jadon Sancho has agreed personal terms with Italian giants Juventus.

The report claims that the England international, who is not part of the club’s pre-season tour, has verbally agreed to a five-year contract with the Old Lady, which would see him earn around £5.2m-per-season.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that Sancho is aware that his race is run at Manchester United and he is willing to drop his wage demands from the £8.7m-per-season he is said to earn at Old Trafford in order to seal a move to Italy.

However, the sticking point is currently the transfer fee. United want a fee of around £22m for the former Borussia Dortmund star, whilst Juventus are currently offering up to £17m.

This is a move that appears to be heading in the right direction, though, given that he has already agreed personal terms, which means that flop could be closing in on an exit from Old Trafford.

Why Sancho is even worse than Antony

Cashing in on Sancho would be a great move for United because he has flopped in Manchester and is currently even worse than Antony as a wide option.

The English forward joined from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £73m in the summer of 2021 and has scored 12 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils in the subsequent four years, which is as many as Antony has scored for the club in three years.

Sancho was not a part of Ten Hag’s plans at the start of last season and the Dutchman sent him out on loan to Chelsea for the 2025/26 campaign, but he struggled to offer consistent quality for the Blues.

Appearances

26

42

xG

4.28

2.60

Goals

9

5

Big chances created

13

11

Assists

5

8

Games per goal/assist

1.85

3.23

As you can see in the table above, Sancho only averaged a goal or an assist every 3.23 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last term, as Antony outperformed him during his five-month spell with Real Betis.

These statistics show that the Brazilian winger was far more effective during his loan spell away from Old Trafford, as he scored more goals and created more ‘big chances’ in 16 fewer appearances.

As Jamie Redknapp said in the clip above, Sancho simply does not do enough in the final third to produce goals and assists to help his team win matches.

The 25-year-old flop has scored 12 goals in four years at United and only managed five goals in 42 games on loan at Chelsea, which backs up the pundit’s point about his lack of output at the top end of the pitch.

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Therefore, United should be delighted that Sancho has agreed personal terms with Juventus and is now closing in on an exit, with the finer details of the transfer fee just to be ironed out, because he is even worse than Antony, and possibly a bigger flop despite a smaller fee.

Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk shared seven wickets, as SA surged to the top of Group B

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Oct-2024South Africa’s openers put on 64, a middle order led by Marizanne Kapp crashed 70 off the last eight overs, and South Africa motored to 166 for 5, the highest total of the tournament.Scotland’s reply was in tatters in the first seven overs. They lost both openers for single figures, captain Kathryn Bryce was out inside the powerplay, before Alisa Lister and Priyanaz Chaterji departed soon after. They were soon 45 for 6 at the start of the ninth over, and continued to collapse, sliding eventually to 86 all out in the 18th.South Africa’s left-arm spinners were the prime destroyers. Chloe Tryon was the first to strike, dismissing the Bryce sisters – Katherine and Sarah – caught-and-bowled in successive overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba was a menace through the middle overs, as she has been all tournament, and collected the game’s best figures of 3 for 12 from her four overs, with Nadine de Klerk also getting two wickets in addition to Tryon. Thus, the 80-run victory pushed South Africa to the top of Group B, their net run rate rising to 1.317.Wolvaardt, Brits start strongFor the second time in three matches, South Africa’s openers were outstanding in the early going (they’d also put on an unbeaten 119 together against West Indies). Laura Wolvaardt had given an early chance, slapping a full toss straight to Katherine Fraser at mid-off, only to be dropped on 2.She took full toll of the mistake, hitting three fours and a six off the next 13 balls she faced. With Tazmin Brits also joining the boundary-frenzy in the sixth over, South Africa sped to 60 for no loss by the end of the powerplay.Tazmin Brits scored quickly at the top•ICC/Getty ImagesKapp marshals the middle orderKapp arrived at the start of the 12th over, and quickly began to dominate. Her first two boundaries came from drives through cover, and then long-off against legspinner Abtaha Maqsood. Then she settled into a rhythm of singles to the leg side, with the occasional lapped sweep with the short fine leg inside the circle. Kapp holed out against the bowling of Kathryn Bryce in the 18th over, but she had cracked 43 off 24 balls – the best knock of the game.Scotland’s top order failsWhile a target of 167 was always going to be incredibly challenging, Scotland will be displeased with how meekly their top order fell. The Bryce sisters both provided leading edges to the bowler, and Saskia Horley gave a simple catch to extra cover. That exposed the middle order to South Africa’s in-form bowler Mlaba, whose first wicket came from a beautifully-flighted delivery to Alisa Lister, who was beaten in the air and walked past the ball.Scotland were 34 for 3 by the end of the powerplay, and had soon sunk to 39 for 5 and 56 for 7, with a big defeat all but assured.South Africa’s players top the chartsOnly South Africa and Scotland have played three matches so far, but key players seem to be finding form for South Africa, as they head towards the bigger matches to come. Lead among these is Mlaba, who even bowled Darcey Carter around the legs for her second wicket, and bowled 19 dot balls from her 24 deliveries. She has a tournament-high eight wickets, with an economy rate of 5.25.Wolvaardt, meanwhile, is the tournament’s highest run-scorer, with 141 runs at an average of 70.50, and a strike rate of 116.52.