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Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from ODI cricket and returns to both ODI and T20I squads

Firdose Moonda22-Sep-2025South Africa’s Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of South Africa’s first assignment of their World Test Championship title defence, against Pakistan, with a calf strain. Bavuma sustained the injury on the recent white-ball tour of England and is expected to need six to eight weeks of recovery. Aiden Markram will captain the side in his absence.The squad also includes a recall for offspinner Simon Harmer, who has not played a Test since March 2023. He joins Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen in the spin department. First-choice spinner Keshav Maharaj is only available for the second Test after suffering a groin strain in England.In other major news, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from ODI cricket and returns to both ODI and T20I squads against Pakistan. De Kock last played for South Africa at the T20 World Cup final in Barbados last June.Related

De Kock is back on his own with 'no strings attached'

De Kock reverses ODI retirement

Concern for South Africa as Bavuma suffers calf strain

South Africa opted to rest all their all-format players, except Corbin Bosch and Dewald Brevis, for the white-ball leg of the Pakistan tour. David Miller will captain the T20I squad while Matthew Breetzke will lead the ODI squad.South Africa also play a T20I in Namibia, to inaugurate their new stadium in Windhoek, the day before the first Test against Pakistan, and will have a makeshift squad for that match. Allrounder Donovan Ferreira will captain that side, which includes de Kock, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Rivaldo Moonsamy, who earned a maiden call-up.Simon Harmer last played a Test in March 2023•AFP/Getty ImagesFerreria has also been named in the ODI squad to face Pakistan, alongside Burger, Coetzee and de Kock, while left-arm spinners George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin have been recalled. Legspinner Nqaba Peter completes a strong spin contingent but Tabraiz Shamsi, who opted out of a national contract, is not in any of the squads. Neither is seamer Anrich Nortje, who has also not agreed to a national contract.The Test squad retains the core that won the WTC mace against Australia in June. Brevis, Subrayen and Zubayr Hamza are new to the group with no room for Dane Paterson or Lungi Ngidi, who is part of the white-ball squads. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder make up the pace contingent.”Temba’s calf strain will unfortunately keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks, but the focus is on giving him the best chance to be fully ready for the India tour in November,” head coach Shukri Conrad said. “Naturally, we are disappointed not to have Temba available. He has been such an important leader and batter for us in the Test side, and his presence on and off the field will be missed.”At the same time, the majority of the Test squad have experience of playing in the subcontinent and understand the demands that come with it, so I’m confident they will embrace the challenge. Pakistan is one of the tougher places to tour, and with spin-friendly conditions expected and Keshav only available from the second game, it was important to have an experienced campaigner like Simon in the squad to provide extra depth in the spin department.”Speaking about the choice of stand-in captains, with Markram resting from the white-ball series, Conrad explained that Breetzke’s experience at domestic level and Ferreira’s growth have resulted in their temporary appointments. “Matthew has really come into his own in the 50-over space and has led SA A and the Warriors in this format before, and I have no doubt he’ll captain the ODI side with that same character and composure which he brings to his game. During the T20I series against England, I was impressed by Donovan’s maturity, his understanding of the game, and the way he connects with the younger players in the squad. His appointment as captain for the T20I against Namibia presents an exciting challenge, one that I believe will only enhance his development as a cricketer.”Asked about the bowling combination South Africa expect to play, Conrad said it would come down to conditions in Pakistan, with “extreme spin” expected as has been the case in recent Tests there involving England and West Indies.”We’ve got to look at how we structure our line-up in terms of balance,” Conrad said. “We expect extreme spin in Pakistan. It’s about whether we go with two quicks – KG [Rabada] and Wiaan, KG and Marco, and then how many batters, how many spinners. We’ve got three spinners available for the first Test. Wiaan has made the No. 3 spot his own but it could change based on what we see in Pakistan. Its comes down to the balance of our bowling attack and which seamers there are. I can’t tell you who will be No.3, 4 and 5 in the line-up but it will be similar to what we had in Bangladesh.”Quinton de Kock has reversed his ODI retirement•ICC via Getty ImagesOn Ngidi’s absence from the Test squad in Pakistan, Conrad felt his skillset wasn’t quite suited to the conditions expected. “We don’t think Lungi will be as effective in Tests in Pakistan. Hence, not including him.”Bavuma’s injury is particularly concerning for South Africa given that it occurred soon after he had missed their most recent Test series – two Tests in Zimbabwe – with a hamstring strain that he suffered during the WTC final. An injury to the left elbow – a joint that has troubled him multiple times since a fracture in 2022 – had put him out of action for two months before the WTC final.”Very concerned about Temba,” Conrad said. “Every series has been an injury and it is not for want of him of trying. He is doing everything in his powers to make sure he remains injury free. His form is definitely good enough and he is definitely worth managing. Age is not on his side so it is a concern but I am confident in the medical staff and Temba’s desire to get him fit.”On Shamsi’s absence from the white-ball squads, Conrad said the left-arm wristspinner still had a future with South Africa, but for now they were looking to give the younger spinners a run in the side.”Shammo and I chatted during that Zim series,” Conrad said. “He was fully understanding about what I explained to him. We wanted to see more of the spinners. We know what we’ve got in Shammo. I told him to keep playing in the leagues so we can monitor his form and fitness. Post-Pakistan, we’ve got the India series and if Shammo’s name pops up, we will discuss him. Shammo remains in the conversation. We haven’t ruled him out.”South Africa play two Tests, three T20Is and three ODIs in Pakistan before two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is in India, which will make up the bulk of their preparation for the T20 World Cup. They have no home Tests in the 2025-26 season but host West Indies for the five T20Is before the T20 World Cup.South Africa squad for Pakistan Tests Aiden Markram (capt), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj (second Test only), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle VerreynneSouth Africa’s squad for Pakistan T20IsDavid Miller (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad WilliamsSouth Africa’s squad for Pakistan ODIsMatthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba QeshileSouth Africa’s squad for Namibia T20IDonovan Ferreira (capt), Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Kwena Maphaka, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Lizaad Williams

After Paris Saint-Germain hard-fought 3-2 win over Lyon, manager Luis Enrique hinted at possible January transfer activity but admitted that “very few players” could actually improve the reigning European champions. While praising the team’s resilience and Warren Zaire-Emery’s growing influence, Enrique stressed the need for defensive refinement, even as PSG’s new wage model and sustainable transfer strategy redefine how the club operates.

• PSG edge Lyon in tense encounter as Enrique calls for ‘resilience’

  PSG reclaimed the top spot in Ligue 1 after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Lyon, sealed by Joao Neves’ stoppage-time header. The contest, filled with quick goals and controversy, showcased PSG’s offensive sharpness but also exposed defensive lapses that Enrique was quick to highlight.

  The decisive moment came deep into injury time when Neves converted a corner to give PSG the win, moments after Lyon’s Nicolas Tagliafico was sent off for a reckless challenge on Vitinha, a decision that sparked post-match protests from Lyon players and staff.

  Speaking after the match, Enrique said, “Resilience is what I wanted to see. We fought until the end, but we need to defend better. Both goals came from poor alignment. You can’t push the line up when there’s no pressure on the ball.” Despite defensive flaws, he commended his squad’s mentality and composure in closing out the win.

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• AFP
  

  Enrique hints at January plans

  Addressing questions about the upcoming January transfer window, Enrique struck a measured tone. He reaffirmed that PSG are “always open to strengthening,” but emphasised the difficulty of finding players capable of elevating an already elite squad. “Reinforcing a team of this quality is very difficult. There are very few players who can truly strengthen this team,” he said.

  "We have complete confidence in our current players. We won't make any signings if someone else thinks we need them. We clearly hope to have a well-thought-out team and a balanced squad. There are many young players who can develop and contribute even more."

  Among potential targets, PSG have been linked with Barcelona’s Eric Garcia, a player Enrique knows well from his time as Spain’s manager. PSG are reportedly preparing a €5 million winter bid, though Barcelona remain hesitant to sell. The 24-year-old’s tactical intelligence and composure on the ball fit Enrique’s possession-oriented system, particularly given injuries to key defenders like Achraf Hakimi.

• PSG building smarter, not flashier

  Under sporting director Luis Campos, PSG have undergone a major philosophical shift. Gone are the days of splashy, high-salary signings; the club now focuses on sustainable spending and versatile players who fit Enrique’s tactical model. Campos has worked to flatten the wage structure, introducing merit-based pay tied to performance and appearances rather than star status.

  Campos explained that the new policy ensures “you earn more when you deserve it, when you play.” This change was central to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure in summer 2025, as his salary demands exceeded the club’s revised framework. Campos defended the decision, stating, “Donnarumma wanted a PSG that no longer exists. The club is now more important than any player.”

  The result is a leaner, more cohesive squad built around tactical flexibility. Even without marquee transfers, PSG maintain depth across positions and rely on internal development to sustain success. The approach reflects a broader modernisation trend in elite football, where financial discipline and squad balance outweigh individual star power.

  Campos and Enrique’s collaboration ensures that signings now serve a clear tactical purpose, a stark contrast to the past era of impulse buys driven by branding and marketing value.

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• AFP
  

  PSG’s new balance hangs on success, sustainability, and long-term vision

  PSG’s victory over Lyon underscored the balance the club is striving for, excellence on the pitch paired with responsibility off it. Despite injuries and fixture congestion, the team remains competitive at the top of Ligue 1 and continues to show resilience in crunch moments.

  Coach Enrique, while pleased with the win, maintains that PSG “must keep improving,” particularly in defensive transitions. His emphasis on structure, discipline, and adaptability mirrors the club’s broader off-field restructuring under Campos.

  After the Lyon match, Enrique summed up the club’s direction succinctly: “We’re happy to be at the top, but it’s not enough. We want to play better, defend better, and grow together. The goal is not just to win, it’s to build something lasting.”

The sixth edition will run from November 27 to December 23, with SLC keen to prepare batting-friendly pitches ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup

Madushka Balasuriya01-Aug-2025

Jaffna Kings are the LPL defending champions•AFP via Getty Images

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2025 will be held from November 27 to December 23. Now in its sixth edition, the tournament will take place across three venues – Colombo, Kandy and Dambulla.This will be the fourth time in six years that the LPL is scheduled for the November-December window rather than its preferred July-August slot. The last two seasons took place during July and August, however this year, with the 2026 T20 World Cup set to begin in February, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) felt the later window better suited their needs.”The idea to conduct the LPL during this time frame is aimed at aligning the tournament with the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” LPL tournament director Samantha Dodanwela said.ESPNcricinfo also learnt that talks are underway to incorporate a sixth team into the tournament. The first five editions saw five teams representing Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna compete.”Potential owners for a sixth team are currently being vetted,” Dodanwela confirmed.The inclusion of a sixth team has long been discussed, though SLC’s cautious approach to introducing new ownership might be understandable. The LPL has struggled with long-term franchise ownership over the years.Earlier this year, Jaffna Kings – formerly the longest-standing franchise, having joined in the tournament’s second edition – and Colombo Strikers were terminated by SLC for “failure to uphold contractual obligations.” As a result, the LPL currently has no franchise owners with a history stretching back beyond 2024. New owners for both the Jaffna and Colombo teams are yet to be announced.Dodanwela also elaborated on SLC’s desire to curate more batting-friendly surfaces, with a view to better prepare players for the kind of wickets they are likely to play on during the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.”We were quite happy with the wickets during the last edition, particularly in Dambulla and Kandy,” Dodanwela noted. “We saw lots of high scores and even some centuries during that portion of the tournament. It was only in Colombo where batting was a little harder.”Backing up Dodanwela’s assessment is the fact that the pitches at the R Premadasa Stadium are currently in the process of being relaid. Several national players, such as Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva, also recently voiced the need for more batting-friendly surfaces.

Manchester United are now planning to push for an “amazing” midfielder, who has been identified as their top target in the middle of the park, and a £52m offer is in the works.

Man United made it three Premier League wins on the spin for the first time under Ruben Amorim at the weekend, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2, which means Frank Ilett, also known as ‘The United Strand’ is just two wins away from finally getting a haircut.

The United supporter has already gone over a year without getting a trim, having vowed not to do so until Amorim’s side win five games on the bounce, and only Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur stand in their way after the victory over the Seagulls.

Things are finally looking up for the Red Devils, who have overtaken Liverpool and moved up to sixth in the Premier League table, and Gary Neville has revealed the players have fully bought into Amorim, who has finally staved off some speculation about his future.

Neville said: “The players really like him, they like him a lot … The players really like him and want to do well for him, and I think that’s come through in the last week or so.”

That said, Amorim is still keen to make improvements to his squad, with it well-known the manager wants to bring in a new central midfielder, and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher has emerged as a target, with the United boss approving the move last week.

There has now been a new update on Man United’s pursuit of Gallagher, with a report from Spain revealing the former Chelsea man is their top target in midfield, and they are considering submitting an offer of around €60m (£52m) for his services.

Casemiro replacement: Man Utd prepare to make offer for £60m "duel monster"

Manchester United are preparing to make a move to sign a star who could replace Casemiro in midfield.

ByDan Emery Oct 27, 2025

The Red Devils are planning to push for the midfielder’s signature, and could make a move in the January transfer window, although it is unclear whether Atletico would be willing to sanction a departure.

"Amazing" Gallagher could be solid option for Amorim

Once lauded for his “amazing character” by Frank Lampard, the Englishman is well-known for his stamina, with Nathan Dyer saying: “His work rate is insane. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. He just doesn’t stop.”

However, not only does the 25-year-old have a good attitude and work hard, but he is also very skilled at winning possession, placing in the 97th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

The 22-time England international isn’t prolific in front of goal, but he is certainly capable of contributing on the front foot, chipping in with 18 goals and 13 assists in 136 Premier League appearances, while also scoring once at international level.

Gallagher arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of signings, but he could be a solid option for Amorim in midfield, given his ability at both ends of the pitch.

Delhi Capitals are still unsure on the availability of first teamers like Starc, du Plessis and Stubbs

Nagraj Gollapudi14-May-20252:26

Jaffer: Fraser-McGurk’s high-risk style difficult to sustain

Australia batter Jake Fraser-McGurk has become the second overseas player after Jamie Overton, Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) English recruit, to confirm his pull-out from IPL 2025, which will resume on May 17. Fraser-McGurk, who was signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) at the mega auction for INR 9 crore (USD 1.07 million approx.) is understood to have informed the franchise that he will not rejoin the squad.The IPL has announced that Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has replaced Fraser-McGurk at DC for INR 6 crore. Mustafizur has previously played for DC in IPL 2022 and IPL 2023, picking up nine wickets across those seasons. However, he will not be eligible for retention by DC for IPL 2026 as per the tweaked replacement rules.The IPL’s original regulations permit teams to sign replacements in the event of illness or injury provided it occurs during or before their 12th match of the season. But the league has taken the call to change those rules, enabling temporary replacements to be signed for the remainder of the rearranged season.The Mustafizur signing, however, has run into complications, with the BCB stating that it hasn’t yet been approached for an NOC. Mustafizur has flown out to Dubai with the Bangladesh squad for the first of two T20I series – the other is in Pakistan – that are due to clash with the rejigged IPL schedule.From being indispensable towards the end of IPL 2024, Fraser-McGurk became dispensable for DC by the halfway mark this season after poor returns with the bat. Fraser-McGurk, 23, opened in DC’s first six matches, but returned single-digit scores in five of them with a highest score of 38 in an overall tally of 55 runs before he was benched.Despite that, the development won’t help DC, who remain in contention for the playoffs, as it is understood they are still waiting for confirmations from several of their first-choice overseas players.That list includes Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Starc and the South African pair of Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs.Stubbs is part of South Africa’s squad for the World Test Championship final, which begins on June 11 at Lord’s, and CSA has said that the WTC-bound players will have to abide by the initial NOCs, which run up to May 25 – the original date for the IPL final.

Dhoni, the CSK captain, said the dew had already set in, which made it a no-brainer to chase

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-20252:45

Rayudu: Slower balls have worked for ‘wicket-taker’ Hardik

Mumbai Indians won the big toss at Wankhede Stadium, and decided to field first in the so-called El Clasico, in IPL 2025. MS Dhoni, the CSK captain, said the dew had already set in, which made it a no-brainer to chase.A day after the 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi dazzled for Rajasthan Royals as the youngest player to play the IPL, Chennai Super Kings handed out a debut to Mumbai’s Ayush Mhatre, now their youngest player at the age of 17 years and 278 days. It was also a T20 debut for Mhatre, who is yet to play T20s for his domestic team Mumbai. He made a big impression with 458 runs at an average of 65.42 and a strike-rate of 135.5 in his debut season in Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-over tournament.Mhatre replaced Rahul Tripathi, who has averaged 11 and struck at under a run a ball this IPL. CSK resisted the temptation of blooding in the former MI player, Dewald Brevis, whom they drafted in mid-season. Interestingly, they did name R Ashwin in their possible Impact Players. If Ashwin were to be brought in to bowl later, Anshul Kamboj would be the casualty.Related

IPL 2025 mid-season review: The importance of mega auction and local leagues

Fleming says poor results have forced CSK to 'bring all squad members into play'

Mumbai Indians made a forced change to their side. Karn Sharma split open his hand during the last match, which paved the way for fast bowler Ashwani Kumar. Their bowling-first XI didn’t have the name of Rohit Sharma, who was expected to come in as the Impact Player later.Chennai Super Kings: 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Shaik Rasheed, 3 Ayush Mhatre, 4 Ravindra Jadeja, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Vijay Shankar, 7 MS Dhoni (capt. & wk), 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Matheesha PathiranaPossible Impact Players: Anshul Kamboj, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sam Curran, R AshwinMumbai Indians: 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Will Jacks, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt.), 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Ashwani KumarPossible Impact Players Bench: Corbin Bosch, Rohit Sharma, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, S Raju

Arsenal just can’t catch a break this season.

Mikel Arteta has already lost Kai Havertz, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Piero Hincapie and others to injury since the start of the campaign.

The latest name on that list now is Noni Madueke, who looks set to miss up to eight weeks of action due to a knee injury.

So, with a League Cup clash against Port Vale tonight, the manager needs to decide who’s going to replace him, and we don’t think it should be Saka.

Arsenal's recent League Cup form

It would be fair to say that, since taking over at Arsenal, Arteta has not had a great time in the League Cup.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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In his first stab at the competition, the side fell to a humbling 4-1 home defeat at the hands of eventual winner Manchester City.

Things actually improved the following season, as the club advanced to the semi-finals.

However, a nil-nil draw away to Liverpool in the first leg, followed by a 2-0 defeat in the home leg, saw the Gunners dumped out of the competition.

Even though the club mounted their first title challenge the following season, they did terribly in the cup, losing 3-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

It was another disappointing effort in the 23/24 campaign as the North Londoners lost a Fourth Round tie against West Ham United by the same scoreline.

Interestingly, even though Arteta’s side made it to the semi-finals last season, the terrible manner in which Newcastle United knocked them out almost made it the worst exit of the lot.

In all, Arsenal have massively underperformed in the League Cup for a long time and need to win it this year.

With that said, Arteta should be bold when replacing Madueke in the lineup tonight.

The Arsenal star Arteta should start over Saka

Firstly, it is clear that Saka is the best player at Arsenal and should therefore play as many games as possible.

However, therein lies one of the primary reasons he shouldn’t start tonight: he already plays too many games.

Moreover, he only just returned from his second hamstring injury in as many seasons on Sunday, and therefore cannot be risked ahead of another hugely important game against Newcastle at the weekend.

Finally, even with Madueke out injured, Arteta has another option he can pick instead of the talismanic winger: Max Dowman.

Yes, it would be an incredibly bold move from the manager, but given the need to keep Saka fit, the level of opposition and the teenager’s incredible talent, it’s one he should make.

After all, this isn’t just your run-of-the-mill academy player we are talking about here; this is someone that respected talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed is the “most exciting prospect” he has seen “since Lamine Yamal.”

Dowman in 24/25

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, in just 23 appearances across several youth teams last season, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 goals and provided five assists, averaging 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Finally, we’ve already seen what he’s capable of against Premier League teams.

For example, in pre-season, he looked incredible against Newcastle, and then in the league proper, on debut, he earned a penalty against Leeds United.

As respected analyst Ben Mattinson puts it, the 15-year-old is an “insane” talent, and even if Madueke were fit, there would be a genuine argument for starting him tonight.

Ultimately, some may say it’s too early, but Dowman looks like a future superstar and deserves to start against Port Vale.

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Posts ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025

Manchester United are now determined to sign a “world-class” striker, who is interested in a move to the Premier League, and Ruben Amorim approves of the signing, according to a report.

Man Utd keen on new striker despite signing Sesko

Although there was rival interest from Newcastle United, the Red Devils were able to come out on top in the race for Benjamin Sesko, and Amorim is very happy his side were able to win the race for the striker, despite admitting he is not yet the finished article.

The United boss said: “He has the characteristics that we needed. Ben is a player – with all the information that we have – that we need to stop the guy from working, not the opposite!

“So that is also important. He’s really young. He’s good in the air, he’s good at running the channels, good on the ball. I think he has great potential. I think he can improve a lot and, for sure, he is going to feel at home in our club.

Man Utd identify £166k-a-week Bayern star as priority target, contact made

The Red Devils want to sign a “strong leader” this summer, and they have now been offered the chance to sign him.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 14, 2025

However, Rasmus Hojlund’s output last season underlines just how difficult it is for a young striker to adapt to life in the Premier League, particularly if they are the first-choice option for a club the size of Man United, with the Dane scoring just four goals.

As such, according to a report from Spain, United are now determined to sign another, more experienced striker, namely Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, who is thought to be interested in returning to the Premier League.

Kane’s £56m release clause is set to become active next summer, at which point Amorim’s side are planning to make a move, having been long-term admirers of the former Tottenham Hotspur man.

Amorim fully approves of the signing, given that the Bayern star would be sure to provide goals, as well as leadership, and he has plenty of experience playing in big games.

"World-class" Kane would be statement signing for Man Utd

Once lauded as “world-class” by Graeme Souness, the England captain has been remarkable in front of goal throughout his career, and he has continued to impress at Bayern, picking up a whopping 111 goal contributions since joining.

Season	Goals	Assists
2023-24	44	12
2024-25	41	14

The 32-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in Premier League history, sitting behind only Alan Shearer on the all-time top scorers list, and a move to Old Trafford would give him the opportunity to overtake the Newcastle United legend.

Kane could walk into any team in the world, so it would be a major statement of intent if Man United were able to sign the Bayern Munich star next summer, despite already bringing in Sesko.

The new protocols will also mandate that all players travel in the team bus to and from practice and matches

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2025

Limits on families’ presence have been part of player contracts but were relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic•Associated Press

The BCCI is all set to implement stricter protocols with the Indian cricket team which include limiting the time players spend with their families on tour and barring independent transport for players while commuting for practice and matches.On tours of 45 days or more, players’ immediate families – partner and children – can be with them for no more than 14 days and not at all during the first two weeks of the tour. On shorter tours, families can accompany players for up to a week.These directions have been part of player contracts but were relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic when players were given the option to make their families part of the team bubble, keeping their mental health in mind.India captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar met the BCCI office bearers in Mumbai on Saturday for the first time after the tour of Australia. The team leadership was informed of the return to the earlier protocols.Part of these protocols will also mandate that all players travel in the team bus, a time-honoured practice which is said to be have been flouted by some players in the recent past.As things stand, the BCCI pays for the families’ accommodation on tour but not their travel. There will be no change made to that policy provided the duration and the timing of the stay meet the protocols.Sports associations have long grappled with the issue: should players’ partners and children be allowed to travel with them and for how long? Chennai Super Kings in the IPL is an example of the families’ presence working for the team, but there have been countless examples of teams banning partners at the team accommodation. Brazil won the 2019 Copa America when partners’ visits were banned. Then there is the case of Australia’s swimmers, who openly criticised a similar ban during the 2012 Olympics, complaining of loneliness and demotivation.Indian cricket has had no set answers to this question. The last time the presence of families was discussed was in 2018, when the then captain Virat Kohli was reported to have requested relaxing the norms.The current coach, Gambhir, told then: “The player opinion varies. Only an individual can say because the individual has to play a Test match. Some want family to be there for the whole tour while others want little family time and they try to concentrate. Whatever the decision, it should be taken in the best interest of Indian cricket.”

Chelsea fans will be optimistic heading into the new Premier League season after watching their side lift the Club World Cup during an eventful summer.

Already, new signing Joao Pedro has stuck out by hammering home three goals from three games in the summer tournament, with the same excitement levels in the air regarding what Jamie Gittens could be capable of in the English game moving forward after his bumper £48.5m switch from Borussia Dortmund.

With the might of Arne Slot’s Liverpool in the way, it will be viewed as a tall order to expect Enzo Maresca’s men to be title-challengers.

However, Maresca and Co. could send ripples through the Premier League still by landing this in-demand talent who is touted to be available for an eye-watering £104m.

Chelsea in race to sign £104m star

Only the aforementioned title-winning Reds have splashed the cash more this off-season, with Liverpool spending a whopping £295.5m, which is £45m less than Chelsea’s own high amount of £250m.

Expect that spending to increase before September’s cut-off point, too, with £35m potentially forked out to snap up rising Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman amid Levi Colwill’s horrific ACL injury.

That is nothing when contrasted with Chelsea’s chase for coveted Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, however, with that weighty £104m expected to be enough to tempt the 21-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

It won’t be that straightforward, though, with Caught Offside now reporting that the intense race for Baleba’s services also involves not just Chelsea, but Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst it is further stated that a move for Baleba to join Chelsea this summer is unlikely, it would be quite the statement move to make if it were to suddenly accelerate into motion.

Why Baleba is a better signing than Simons

Snapping up the £104m-rated midfielder would surely be seen as a better signing than Xavi Simons joining the building, with Baleba already well-versed in what it takes to be a success in the Premier League, among other standout reasons.

That isn’t to say Simons wouldn’t make an instant impact if he were to swap RB Leipzig for the Premier League imminently.

After all, he hasn’t just amassed a hefty 77 goal contributions by fluke for both Leipzig and PSV Eindhoven, with his adaptability to play down the left flank – as well as through the middle as a number ten or down the right – gifting Maresca multiple options in the attacking positions.

However, there is no guarantee that Simons would be able to gain a spot in the Italian’s starting XI straight away, particularly if he was trying to usurp Cole Palmer, who managed to collect five more goals and assists last season than his Dutch counterpart.

Whereas, Baleba could stand more of a chance at making a name for himself in the holding midfield positions at Stamford Bridge immediately.

After all, the Cameroonian possesses a fierce effort such as the one above in his back pocket, which varies his game away from just being known as a solid midfield presence.

Moreover, he has also matched and even bettered the likes of Blues stalwarts Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez all across last campaign when assessing their respective numbers, lending credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he is “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.”

Baleba vs Caicedo & Enzo (last 365 days)

Stat per 90 mins

Baleba

Caicedo

Fernandez

Total shots

1.49

0.54

1.62

Shot-creating actions

2.23

2.63

4.49

Attempted passes

44.44

58.93

58.03

Pass completion %

87.4%

89.7%

79.9%

Progressive passes

3.99

5.77

6.47

Progressive carries

1.45

1.15

1.83

Successful take-ons

1.12

0.78

0.79

Tackles

2.67

3.06

1.99

Interceptions

1.56

1.32

0.40

Blocks

1.59

1.32

1.31

Stats by FBref

Amazingly, despite being well-known for their anchor roles in the Chelsea set-up, over the last year, Baleba has actually trumped both Caicedo and Fernandez when it comes to interceptions and blocks registered per 90 minutes.

Boasting the highest number of successful take-ons when weighed up head-to-head, too, landing the 21-year-old might just gift the Blues some youthful exuberance in the middle, with Mattinson further labelling Baleba as “exceptional” for his well-rounded approach centrally.

Winning his services against all the odds really feels as if it would be a summer pick-up that would send shockwaves through the division as Chelsea aim to be bombshell title hopefuls.

On the contrary, with Gittens already in through the door from the Bundesliga, and with Palmer fresh off a goal-and-assist laden Club World Cup, Simons might be an unnecessary splurge of money, as the Blues roll ever closer to the window slamming shut.

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Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 10, 2025