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Next court hearing tentatively scheduled for August 17

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Jul-2020The question of whether the BCCI’s top two officer bearers – president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah – can carry on in their positions remains unanswered with the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday saying after a short hearing that it will take up the matter again in two weeks’ time. It has been listed “tentatively” for August 17.The BCCI has filed its plea – twice since last December – proposing several amendments to the board’s constitution, which, if adopted, could undo some of the most significant reforms recommended by the Lodha Committee. The case was listed to be heard on Wednesday by a two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde and Justice L Nageshwar Rao. During a short hearing, conducted virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the court said it would sit again in a couple of weeks to discuss it.The questions now are: can Ganguly and Shah carry on as office bearers, and in case they do without the court’s nod, will it count as an offence? While Ganguly’s term reportedly comes to end on July 27, Shah’s term has ended in the past month or so, although an exact date could not be confirmed.Both Ganguly and Shah have been participating in all important BCCI meetings and have also been the board’s representatives at various ICC meetings since being elected last October. The next meeting where they could, potentially, make an appearance is the IPL Governing Council meeting this weekend.As per the BCCI constitution, an office bearer is allowed to serve for two consecutive terms spanning six years (at BCCI or state level or a combination of both) after which a cooling-off period of three years is mandatory. That rule was approved by the apex court in 2018, when it modified the clause concerning the cooling-off period to two terms (six years) instead of the just one (as stated in its 2016 order).In its second plea filed in April, the BCCI had requested the court to consider the amendments to the board’s constitution, including tweaking the cooling-off period of the board’s office bearers, modifying the disqualification criteria, giving unprecedented powers to the BCCI secretary, and stopping the court from having any say if the board wants to alter the constitution. The amendments were unanimously approved by the state associations that comprise the BCCI general body.

Despite Sunderland's dreadful run of form going into the away contest at Cardiff City on Good Friday, Mike Dodds' Black Cats managed to stroll to a surprise 2-0 victory in the Welsh capital.

The Wearside outfit were winless in their last seven Championship games before picking up a much-needed three points at the expense of the Bluebirds, with Adil Aouchiche and Jobe Bellingham sharing the goals.

It was a masterstroke of a decision from Dodds to play Bellingham in the lone striker role, but this ingenious switch working so effectively could consequently put a nail in one underwhelming Sunderland man's career as he continues to fire blanks up top.

Luis Semedo's season in numbers

Joining from the Benfica U21 ranks last year with a reputation for being prolific in his native Portugal (with 21 goals in total for Benfica in that age bracket), it's fair to say Luis Semedo's time in England has not gone to plan.

The 20-year-old striker is yet to find the back of the net for the Black Cats at senior or youth level, amassing 23 appearances in the process without a single strike to his name.

In stark contrast, Bellingham's goal away at Cardiff on Good Friday means the traditional attacking midfielder is on to seven strikes in his debut season.

Dodds' patience could, therefore, begin to run very thin regarding the ex-Benfica hot prospect with Bellingham starring in his role.

The former Birmingham City teenager notched up three key passes as a lively presence in attack on top of his all-important goal, winning ten duels as a figure constantly wanting to make things happen.

Semedo's hefty pay packet could also be a sticking point soon, with the misfiring youngster currently earning £1k more per week than Pierre Ekwah, according to Capology.

Luis Semedo's wage at Sunderland

Amazingly, despite Ekwah being present in every Sunderland clash since the end of November in the second tier, the Black Cats No 39 finds himself earning £3k per week to Semedo's £4k-per-week salary.

Ekwah has also been far more effective from midfield this campaign than Semedo, helping himself to four goals and two assists when his team have needed him to step up and be impactful.

Semedo also remarkably finds himself earning a healthier wage than regular first-team ace Trai Hume, with the Northern Irishman also coming in at a paltry £3k per week.

Even Chris Rigg earns just £1k per week in contrast to Semedo's bumped-up salary, with the electric Sunderland hotshot starring against Cardiff all whilst still only being 16 years of age.

The homegrown Black Cats product would miss one big chance from midfield in the 2-0 win, on top of making two tackles as an energetic option down the wing.

1. Jack Clarke

£16.9k per week

2. Daniel Ballard

£15k per week

3. Bradley Dack

£15k per week

4. Patrick Roberts

£12.5k per week

5. Anthony Patterson

£10k per week

Sourced by Capology

Semedo is some way off entering into the top five list of wage-earners at the Stadium of Light, but with his lack of goals still irking those with connections to the Wearside club, his salary is arguably burning a hole in Sunderland's pocket.

Dodds will hope he's cracked the conundrum over who should be the starting striker for Sunderland in Bellingham after his standout showing against Cardiff, with Semedo falling further down the pecking order as a result.

Six New Zealand players – Williamson, Neesham, Boult, Ferguson, Santner and McClenaghan – have IPL contracts

Press Trust of India23-Jul-2020New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to each of the six New Zealand players contracted with IPL franchises, but said that “due diligence” on health safety protocols will have to be done by the players themselves.The players contracted with the IPL this year are Kane Williamson (SRH), Lockie Ferguson (KKR), James Neesham (KXIP), Mitchell Santner (CSK) and the duo of Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan (both MI).”Regarding the IPL, NZC will be issuing NOCs to the relevant players and it”s up to them to decide,” NZC spokesperson Richard Boock told via email.The IPL is likely to be held in the UAE between September 26 and November 7, a window thrown open by the ICC”s decision to postpone the October-November men’s T20 World Cup in Australia due to the covid-19 pandemic.While the NZC will be updating its players about health safety protocols and the latest covid-19 related developments, the onus will be on the six individuals to do their own due diligence.”Well, yes, the issuing of NOCs is considered on a case-by-case basis and it”s rare that they are ever refused. However, the due diligence is something for the respective players to shoulder – although we are happy to pass on as much info as we can to assist in these matters,” Boock added.Recently, New Zealand captain Williamson spoke about wanting to know more about the safety protocols that will be in force.Boock said NZC “doesn’t have an opinion on the IPL being staged in the UAE” because it was not within the board’s remit.New Zealanders have a considerable presence in the IPL apart from those playing too, with several former cricketers part of the support staff of teams or involved in commentary. Stephen Fleming is CSK’s head coach, Shane Bond is MI’s bowling coach while Mike Hesson is RCB’s director of cricket operations. Both Danny Morrison and Simon Doull have been regulars on the commentary panel.Meanwhile, Boock also confirmed that the New Zealand A team’s tour of India which was scheduled in August, has been cancelled. “My information is that the A tour of India will not be happening. It was decision taken by mutual agreement between both the boards.”

Falling against Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals stung Liverpool supporters, but one bad result should not detract from a remarkable resurgence under Jurgen Klopp, who has revived his high-class squad and is now preparing to step down from his position at the end of the campaign.

The German has brought illustrious success to an outfit that had fallen, quite dramatically, off its perch in the years before his appointment, but Liverpool's struggle last season was a by-product of inaction in the transfer market.

Since the influx of influential players in the earlier days of Klopp's reign, the £25m deal to bring Thiago Alcantara to Anfield was the lone midfield acquisition before last summer's frenzied activity.

The distinguished Spaniard has enjoyed a career laden with prosperity but, while winning silverware with Liverpool, he has failed to replicate the same lofty heights due to incessant injury problems, with the 32-year-old out of contract in the summer and having played just five minutes of football this season. It's unknown if he will feature again.

Still, as harsh as it may be it's probably for the best that he is headed for the exit, ageing and costing the club a large sum with a £200k-per-week contract. The fresh faces are relishing their responsibilities at the crest of the new wave.

Alexis Mac Allister is an elite talent; Domimik Szoboszlai is an elegant workhorse. Surprise signing Wataru Endo has been a bona fide success in the holding midfield. Ryan Gravenberch, aged 21, was the final piece of the puzzle and the last to join the project – immensely talented, he's yet to grow into his skin fully.

Why Liverpool signed Ryan Gravenberch

Gravenberch has been regarded as a top talent for several seasons now but he fell by the wayside after transferring from Ajax to Bayern Munich last season and started just three Bundesliga matches, failing to win over both Julian Nagelsmann and his successor Thomas Tuchel.

Klopp was a big admirer nonetheless and swooped in to secure the Netherlands international for £34m just before last summer's transfer deadline, with his multi-functionality and sublime technical quality speaking of his potential to succeed at the apex of the European scene.

As per FBref, the rangy midfielder ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 6% for progressive carries, the top 5% for successful take-ons and the top 6% for blocks per 90.

1.

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

2.

Federico Valverde

Real Madrid

3.

Alexis Mac Allister

Liverpool

4.

Ilkay Gundogan

Barcelona

5.

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

These skills place him alongside some of the game's most creative and influential midfielders, with his likeness to Jude Bellingham particularly eye-catching.

Liverpool missed out on the prodigious England international last summer, pulling out of the race in April given the need to spread funds across multiple areas of the central midfield, with Bellingham thus completing a transfer to Real Madrid, rising to £115m.

The greatest faculty Gravenberch shares with Bellingham is probably his sublime quality on the ball, and while he doesn't boast the same prolificness as the man who has scored 20 times from his first 31 matches in a Los Blancos shirt, he's rounded and dynamic in a way that few can rival.

For example, the 20-year-old has completed 89% of his passes in La Liga, averaging 1.7 key passes, 1.4 tackles, 4.5 ball recoveries, 1.8 dribbles and 7.1 successful duels per match, as per Sofascore, proving that he's not just poaching goals in the final third.

While he's ebbed and flowed in performance for the Reds so far – described as a "passenger out of possession" at one stage by one Liverpool writer – Gravenberch is undoubtedly a high-calibre player and he might just have found the perfect stomping ground at Anfield.

Make no mistake, Gravenberch still perches in the maiden stage of his professional career but he's already worth a sizeable amount and could see his worth skyrocket in the years to come.

Ryan Gravenberch's market value in 2024

Since arriving on Merseyside, Gravenberch has seen his value rise, but the most exciting part is that he's barely scratched the surface of what could flower into a rich career at Liverpool.

Market Movers

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

According to CIES Football Observatory's valuation model, Gravenberch is currently valued at £51m, marking a 50% rise in price since his entry.

Moreover, he's worth more than goal machine Mohamed Salah, who is valued at £34m, which does seem a little low for the 31-year-old, who has wreaked devastation on defences this season and boasts 21 goals and 13 assists from just 31 matches in all competitions.

Salah is not exactly enjoying a rogue campaign of brilliance either, having netted 207 goals and added 92 assists across 337 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Roma for £34m back in 2017, near the start of the stunning rise under Klopp's management.

Interestingly, Salah arrived at the club for the same amount as Gravenberch, with the latter now capable of emulating his peer and seeing his market price balloon as he develops his qualities under the Anfield lights. Klopp might be closing the door on his tenure at the club, but Liverpool have everything that Gravenberch needs to grow into a world-beater at the forefront of the European scene.

There are of course teams that would pay a far greater fee to procure Salah's signature, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad even offering £150m to snatch the Egyptian away from Liverpool last summer, but it's a testament to Gravenberch that he has risen in value nonetheless.

With so much room for growth, the Dutchman will have delighted Anfield bosses so far. With tweaks and refinements over the coming years, he might turn into a world-class machine down the line.

Canada Women's coach Bev Priestman says she is "absolutely heartbroken" after a drone scandal rocked their Olympics title defense

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Canada spy on New Zealand with drone at OlympicsTeam deducted six points & Priestman suspendedHead coach "absolutely heartbroken" for playersWHAT HAPPENED?

Canada were sanctioned after a drone was used to spy on a New Zealand training session, one of their group stage opponents at the Paris Olympics. Coach Priestman received a one-year ban from FIFA and Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander were also suspended for the same period. Now, Priestman has reacted to the fallout of this episode.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BEV PRIESTMAN SAID

In a statement on Sunday, she said: "I am absolutely heartbroken for the players, and I would like to apologise from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them.

"I know how hard they have worked following a very difficult year in 2023, and that they are a group of people who care very much about sportsmanship and integrity. As the leader of the team on the field, I want to take accountability, and I plan to fully co-operate with the (CSA) investigation."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Canada's women's team won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago but this is a dark day for them. Canada's government said it would withhold funding for the women's football officials who were banned by FIFA and Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker said there appeared to be "information that could tarnish" their Tokyo gold, too.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Canada beat New Zealand 2-1 in their first group stage match but after their six-point deduction, they are on minus three points. They face France next in a must-win match and then round off their group stage campaign against Colombia.

Manchester United are reportedly hoping to land Xavi Simons as the Red Devils look set for a Dutch revolution at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.

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United want Simons at Old TraffordBayern and Leipzig also keen on the playerCould be another loan deal with obligation to buyWHAT HAPPENED?

The young Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who scored a spectacular goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final against England, spent last season on loan at RB Leipzig. He was one of the brightest players in the Bundesliga which has helped him attract interest from several top clubs like United and Bayern Munich.

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According to should Simons leave PSG, it is anticipated that his departure would initially be on a loan basis with a mandatory purchase option. This approach is partly due to a significant sell-on clause owed to his former club, PSV Eindhoven, which expires at the end of 2024. PSG re-signed Simons from PSV in 2023 for a modest £5 million ($6.5m) but would now demand around £70m ($90m).

The 21-year-old Simons is eager for regular first-team action, making his future at PSG uncertain. Manager Luis Enrique has yet to decide on Simons' role in the squad, especially given the abundance of attacking options available to him and the potential arrival of new talent this summer. If Enrique cannot guarantee him minutes, the midfielder is likely to seek a move away from the Parc des Princes.

DID YOU KNOW?

During his loan spell at Leipzig, Simons made a substantial impact, scoring ten goals in 43 appearances. His contributions were also pivotal in the Dutch national team's journey to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, where he recorded three assists, the highest in the tournament, matched only by Spain's Lamine Yamal.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

In addition to Simons, Manchester United also target two other prominent Dutch players: Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee. Bologna's Zirkzee is reportedly on the verge of joining United in a £34 million ($44m) deal. The young striker is expected to undergo a medical soon and sign a five-year contract with the club. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway to bring Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich to Old Trafford. The Dutch defender is keen to finalise the move and has urged Bayern to expedite the transfer process.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made a few changes to his playing squad during the recent January transfer window in a bid to improve his options.

The Hoops boss brought in Nicolas Kuhn on a permanent deal from Rapid Wien and Ireland international Adam Idah on loan from Norwich City until the season of the season.

He also allowed a number of players to head out on loan to gain regular first-team football; including Mikey Johnston, who has six goals and one assist in seven starts for West Brom, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Marco Tilio, and Alexandro Bernabei.

The Northern Irish head coach will be hoping that they all return to Parkhead as better players who can compete for a place within his squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

With this in mind, there is one player out on loan who has thrived for his temporary club since being sent there last summer to spend an entire season playing regular football away from Glasgow.

Bosun Lawal was sent to League One side Fleetwood Town in England and his impressive performances this term suggest that the potential is there for him to emerge as Rodgers' new Wilfred Ndidi, and as an upgrade on Tomoki Iwata.

Wilfred Ndidi's defensive brilliance for Rodgers

The Nigeria international made 138 appearances for the Northern Irish boss during their time together with Leicester City down south, and only six Foxes players played more times under him.

Ndidi largely operated at the base of the midfield as a defensive anchor in front of the back four, as he showcased his ability to win duels and cut out opposition attacks at an impressive and efficient rate.

The 27-year-old titan was also deployed as a centre-back at times under Rodgers, which speaks to both his defensive quality and his superb versatility.

During their last full Premier League season together, Ndidi made 19 league appearances and caught the eye with 7.1 duels won per game, including 2.2 aerial battles per match, during the 2021/22 campaign.

He won 54% of his physical contests in total, and won possession back 0.6 times per outing, which shows that he came out on top more often than not against opposition players.

The Nigerian ace also ranked within the top 3% of Premier League midfielders for tackles won (3.34) per 90, and the top 2% for clearances (3.0) per 90, as the Foxes giant was one of the most active defenders in his position within the division.

Ndidi only completed 80% of his attempted passes that term with 0.1 key passes per game and zero assists to his name, which shows that the Leicester star did not offer too much on the ball.

Why Bosun Lawal could be Rodgers' next Wilfred Ndidi

Lawal joined Celtic from Watford as a centre-back and started the 2023/24 campaign with Fleetwood at the heart of their defence but has emerged as a defensive or central midfielder.

Like Ndidi, the 20-year-old star has the quality to either drop into the backline to start as a central defender or to play at the base of the midfield to protect the backline.

He has made 35 appearances in League One for Fleetwood so far this term and showcased his impressive defensive qualities in both positions.

Lawal has won 6.0 duels per game, including 2.7 aerial battles per match, and won 62% of his physical contests in total. This shows that he is a dominant force in the middle of the park who is strong in the air – with a success rate of 75% in aerial duels – just like Ndidi.

The Celtic loanee has a way to go before he can claim to be as good at tackling, however, as the Fleetwood star has only won 1.8 tackles per game. He has, though, made an impressive 3.1 clearances per outing, which puts him on par with the Leicester gem's displays under Rodgers during the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics suggest that both players are similar in what they do out of possession as they both compete to win plenty of duels, are dominant in the air, and make a lot of clearances by being in the right place at the right time to cut out dangerous attacks from the opposition.

Lawal has, however, offered quality on the ball with four goals, five 'big chances' created, and 0.5 key passes per game for his side, which suggests that the Ireland U21 international could offer more in possession than Ndidi did for the manager at the King Power.

Why Bosun Lawal could be a Tomoki Iwata upgrade

Iwata has emerged as a first-team regular for the Hoops this year and has played at the base of the Hoops midfield, with the likes of Callum McGregor, Paulo Bernardo, and Matt O'Riley playing either side of him at times.

The Japanese maestro has caught the eye with a pass accuracy of 92% across his 11 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that he rarely gives the ball away when attempting to find a teammate, but has left a bit to be desired with his defensive work.

He has lost 56% of his duels in the division so far this season, and has only won 1.6 battles per game. This suggests that opposition players have found it too easy to get the better of him at times, whilst the 26-year-old gem is also not putting himself about the park enough to compete in many duels.

Appearances

35

11

Big chances created

5

1

Goals

4

1

Key passes per game

0.5

0.6

Tackles per game

1.8

0.7

Interceptions per game

0.7

0.4

Ground duel success rate

55%

38%

Aerial duel success rate

75%

67%

As you can see in the table above, Lawal, who has been dubbed a "powerhouse" by analyst @HCfootball01 on X, has significantly outperformed Iwata in a host of key defensive metrics, whilst also offering more at the top end of the pitch.

The Fleetwood titan could dominate opposition forwards in a way that the current Celtic regular has not been able to, due to his exceptional success rate in physical duels – particularly in the air – to prevent teams from exposing the Hoops defence.

You could point to the fact that the 20-year-old gem is playing in League One but Matt O'Riley was signed directly from that league with MK Dons and has racked up 19 goals and 31 assists in 111 games for the club to date, which suggests that players can make the jump from the third tier in England to the Premiership.

Lawal, who also has plenty of time to develop and improve at the age of 20, is more combative and effective as a defender in the middle of the park in comparison to Iwata, which is why he could emerge as an upgrade on the Japanese midfielder and become Ndidi 2.0 for Rodgers at Parkhead.

Car park to be used as drive-through test site by NHS

George Dobell02-Apr-2020Warwickshire have donated their Edgbaston stadium for the use of the NHS in a bid to help in the battle against COVID-19.The ground – more specifically, the car park – will be used as a drive-through testing centre for NHS staff. Those requiring tests will drive in through the Edgbaston Road entrance and undergo the procedure while remaining in their vehicle. They will then leave via the Pershore Road exit.Warwickshire also plan to offer NHS staff free entry to a Vitality Blast fixture later in the summer. Details of this offer will be released as and when the schedule for the 2020 season is announced.The UK has witnessed something of an outpouring of gratitude towards NHS staff in recent weeks. As details of the severity of the crisis have become clear, it has also become apparent that many staff – some of whom are not especially well paid – are working in desperately demanding conditions without adequate protective equipment or access to testing. Sam Curran and Jos Buttler are among the England players who have begun their own fund-raising efforts for NHS related charities.With little immediate prospect of cricket or any of the events that usually occupy Edgbaston, staff at Warwickshire have been looking for ways in which they could help the community through the pandemic. The offer to host a testing centre was gratefully accepted by the Department of Health and Social Care and will be utilised by staff throughout the West Midlands region.”With our county cricket programme and conference and events business closed until 29 May, our staff have been exploring various options which enable the club to keep supporting our local community during these difficult times, whether that be through making calls to our elderly members and ex-players, volunteering and by offering Edgbaston Stadium for use in the wider civil contingency effort,” Neil Snowball, the Warwickshire chief executive, said.”Whilst it is a small part to play in grand scheme of things, we are pleased that our stadium can be utilised to support the fantastic efforts being made by all of our NHS staff in response to the coronavirus crisis.”We are also very grateful for the support that we have received in delivering this project from Patrizia and Homes England, our development partners.”The NHS staff COVID-19 testing station will start operating within a few days and will remain at Edgbaston until further notice. While these are not the type of tests anyone expected to see at the ground, they will, at least, ensure Edgbaston continues to play some part in helping the local community.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni won't hesitate to play Lionel Messi against Canada in Copa America semi-final despite fitness concerns.

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Argentina coach defiant over MessiVeteran star subject of fitness concernsPreviously missed Peru clashWHAT HAPPENED?

At a pre-match press conference, Scaloni said there is "no doubt" about Messi's availability to face Canada, insisting that he will always pick the 37-year-old, even when not quite fully fit.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi was an injury doubt for the quarter-final against Ecuador due to a thigh complaint that ruled him out of the last group stage fixture against Peru. He ultimately made the game and completed 90 minutes, although did miss from the spot in the penalty shootout. Scaloni has no concerns about his availability now.

WHAT LIONEL SCALONI SAID

Scaloni said: "99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play. It's never happened to me that he's not fit to play. Every time he's come out on the pitch, he's fit to play. For [Canada], he's fit to play, without a doubt. It's a very easy decision for me, because it's a very frank decision, that if he's fine, he plays; and if he's not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It's that easy.

"When he's fit, he always plays. There are no doubts. Who would have any doubts? I'm the coach, so I have no doubts. I'm the one who decides and when I see that he's fit to play, even if he's not 100% fit, he's going to play. I take responsibility for that but I have no doubts. It's true that that won't ever weigh on me, I know what he can give us even if he's not in optimal condition, I wouldn't make the grave mistake of not putting him on the pitch knowing that he gives us a lot, so that's indisputable."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & ARGENTINA?

Argentina are just one game away from reaching a fourth Copa America final in the space of five tournaments in the last decade. For Messi, who will be 39 by the time of the next World Cup in 2026, this could even be his last international competition. But with a third place play-off included, Argentina are guaranteed at least one extra game regardless of the Canada semi-final result.

Manchester United's pursuit of a Lionel Messi-like star could have been given a recent boost, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd transfer news

This season has once again highlighted the improvements that need to be made to United's squad this summer, with Erik ten Hag's side falling well behind the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. It seems clear that Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems keen to address the transfer situation as quickly as possible in the summer as he looks to make his presence felt while in charge of football-related activity.

Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez is among those linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford, perhaps with him being seen as a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw, who turns 29 years of age later this year having struggled with injury problems in the past.

Ten Hag could feel that defensive additions are also needed, with the likes of Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire past their best, and Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva is believed to be one primary target for the Red Devils. Still only 20, he has become a fixture of his current side's starting XI, making 21 Primeira Liga starts this season.

Sporting CP favourite Goncalo Inacio is another potential target, with the 22-year-old one of Portuguese football's brightest young prospects, having already racked up 157 appearances for his current club. This season, he has enjoyed an 88.3% pass completion rate in the league, as well as winning an average of two aerial duels per game across eight Europa League appearances.

Man Utd have scouted Roony Bardghji

Speaking to CaughtOffside, Romano admitted that Manchester United have scouted Roony Bardghji extensively, with the 18-year-old a huge talent at FC Copenhagen.

However, while he started well this season, he has not featured for the club in recent weeks. Romano provided some insight into why this is – and it could hand United a helping hand in their potential transfer pursuit:

"According to my information, it’s because the player has no intention of signing a new deal at Copenhagen. This is the situation as of now, his current contract expires in December 2025. So it means that if nothing changes in the summer, he will be available with 18 months left on his contract. Already clubs like Tottenham for sure, but also Manchester United and Barcelona, have sent scouts multiple times to follow the player’s progress."

United know all about Bardghji from earlier this season, with his late winner against them for Copenhagen in the Champions League proving to be hugely damaging to Ten Hag's side's hopes of getting out of their group.

Player

Appearances

Goals

Roony Bardghji

18

7

Bruno Fernandes

25

3

Scott McTominay

23

7

Casemiro

13

1

Kobbie Mainoo

12

1

Christian Eriksen

16

1

Mason Mount

8

0

The teenage maestro has even been dubbed the "Swedish Messi", which says so much about his natural ability, and a huge future looks to be ahead of him. If United could snap him up over others, it could be a masterstroke over time, as they look to acquire the best young European talent around.