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Baroda have made the title round despite missing three stalwarts – the Pandya brothers and Deepak Hooda

Shashank Kishore30-Jan-2021

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After a lot of uncertainty, the 2020-21 Indian domestic season approaches its first major milestone – the successful completion of the T20 tournament for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy without any hiccups, after having to organise bio-bubbles for 38 teams, of which two are standing: Tamil Nadu and Baroda.Tamil Nadu have rewritten their batting template for white-ball cricket. Abhinav Mukund, one of their most prolific red-ball players, doesn’t feature in a young squad. M Vijay opted out of this season, allowing them to give two young openers in C Hari Nishanth and N Jagadeesan – both proven performers at the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) – an uninterrupted run.B Aparajith plays the role S Badrinath did so successfully: stem damage if wickets fall in clutches and keep the innings together, while Dinesh Karthik, KB Arun Karthik and Shahrukh Khan play the big roles in the second half of the innings. They have shown continuity with the bowling too, keeping faith in M Mohammed, M Ashwin, R Sai Kishore and Sonu Yadav. They have been so efficient that it’s hard to imagine this is a team without several first-choice players: Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, R Ashwin, and T Natarajan.Related

• N Jagadeesan steps up at the top for Tamil Nadu

• No Ranji Trophy in 2020-21, but BCCI to hold domestic 50-over games for men, women, and U-19 boys

Baroda have been growing as a domestic force over the years, their rise mirroring that of the progress of the Pandya brothers and Deepak Hooda. But those men, the ones who make the team as good as it is, are not around.Much of their build-up was chaotic. Hardik wasn’t available to start with. Then, their designated vice-captain Hooda left the camp after a tiff with Krunal. Then Krunal himself had to leave the camp after two games following the death of the Pandyas’ father. But the team devoid of any star power has punched well above its weight under the leadership of Kedar Devdhar, the third-highest run-getter so far this season with 333 runs in seven innings.Whenever they have had their backs to the wall, they have found ways to wriggle out. In the quarter-final, for example, they nearly miscalculated a straightforward chase and found themselves needing 15 off the last three balls, despite being only two down. They found a saviour in Vishnu Solanki, who went 6, 4, 6 to seal victory. In the semi-final, Devdhar made a plucky 64 on a tricky surface with variable bounce to set up a target for the bowlers to defend. They need one last hurrah from someone to cap off a dream season.

Form guide

Tamil Nadu: WWWWW
Baroda: WWWWWVishnu Solanki and Abhimanyusingh Rajput celebrate after Baroda’s thrilling quarter-final win over Haryana•BCCI

In the spotlight

R Sai Kishore is making it a habit of delivering frugal spells for Tamil Nadu with his left-arm spin. While he isn’t classical, he does have an excellent arm ball, gets bounce owing to his height of well over six feet, and uses the crease and angles tactfully. He can bowl tight overs with the new ball, hold one end up in the middle and keep a lid on runs overall. Last season, he picked 12 wickets in six games at an economy rate of 3.86 – the best among bowlers who bowled at least ten overs. This year, his eight wickets in seven games have come at an economy of just 5.86. The Chennai Super Kings, who didn’t play him in IPL 2020, have retained him. Performances like these could become hard to ignore for the team management.Kartik Kakade only made his T20 debut for Baroda this season at 25. A late bloomer then, but he has a bit of Sunil Narine in his bowling, something that is sure to have been noted by the IPL talent scouts. He hides the ball while running in and then uses his fingers to flick them across to turn it both ways. In the semi-final, he also showed off his batting ability in striking a maiden T20I fifty in his first outing with the bat. With the ball, he has got five wickets in five innings at an economy of 6.70

Stats and trivia

• Tamil Nadu won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2006-07, in the pre-IPL era, before coming closest last season, when they were beaten by Karnataka in a last-ball finish in Surat. Dinesh Karthik, the only man standing from that triumph a decade-and-a-half ago, has been captain in each of the three final appearances.
• Baroda, in contrast, know how to get here, even though they may be the rank underdogs going into the final. They are two-time winners – in 2011-12 and 2013-14 – apart from having finished runners-up to Uttar Pradesh in 2015-16.
• The battle to be the highest run-getter of the season could decide who wins. Jagadeesan tops the tally with 350 runs, but Devdhar isn’t far behind with 333. Both are openers too, and will fancy a good crack at the top.
• Left-arm seamer Lukman Meriwala’s 5 for 8 against Chhattisgarh has been the best performance with the ball among all those who could potentially feature in Sunday’s final. With 14 wickets overall, he has got the most wickets among those who should turn out on Sunday too. Overall, he is the fourth-highest wicket-taker this season. Three more wickets will help him pip Bihar’s Ashutosh Aman for the top spot.

Quotes

“Heartening to see an understated team play with their heart. Baroda have played like caged tigers. Players, coaching staff – this is your win, be in the moment.”
“We’re missing out on a lot of names, but the same time we have a good bunch of [young] players. Everyone is very hungry and wants to do well. We’re all aspiring to become Indian cricketers one day and that’s something that drives us. And Dinesh Karthik is someone with tonnes of experience and he has managed the team really well.”

Alexi Lalas has blasted the USMNT's 'inferiority complex' after their humiliating Copa America exit.

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• USMNT eliminated in group stages
• Lost to Panama and Uruguay
• Lalas savages culture in country

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The USMNT lost to Uruguay and Panama in the group stages of the Copa America, having opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Bolivia. Their humiliating exit led to the departure of Gregg Berhalter as coach, and Lalas has now taken aim at the culture in the country, insisting an "inferiority complex" is to blame for their recent struggles, as fans "degrade" their best players.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT are ranked 11th in the world by FIFA; by comparison, Panama are 43rd and Uruguay are 14th. Although they won the CONCACAF Nations League in March, their most recent tournament showing may see them tumble down the standings.

• WHAT LALAS SAID

  Lalas wrote on X: "Our American soccer insecurity and inferiority complex is nothing new. We've long degraded/devalued our own American soccer players, coaches, and culture out of some misguided belief that our relative late entry into the world's game somehow makes us unworthy. We need to stop."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The USMNT must find a new manager before their next fixture on September 8, when they play Canada in a friendly. They have already been turned down by ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after making contact with the German.

Real Sociedad president, Jokin Aperribay, has addressed the transfers rumours linking Takefusa Kubo with a move to Liverpool.

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• Liverpool are hunting for a right-winger
• Have reportedly zeroed in on Kubo
• Real Sociedad want his release clause activated

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Japan international is a star at the Basque club and his consistent performances have grabbed the attention of the Merseyside club who are looking to strengthen their right wing. Egyptian forward, Mohamed Salah is the undisputed starter on thee right at Anfield but there are questions about his future as the 32-year-old has been regularly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool seem to be preparing themselves for life without Salah and are analysing the market for a suitable replacement. They have reportedly zeroed in on Kubo, who has been impressive for Real Sociedad and boasts a record of seven goals and four assists in 30 league appearances in the previous campaign.

• WHAT APERRIBAY SAID

  However, Real Sociedad president, Aperribay, informed that the club have not received any enquiry about Kubo and insisted that they would like to hold on to their prized asset.

  “There is no issue. There are no negotiations with any club," he told

  "We’re in the market, anything can happen, but Take is very happy here and he’s going to continue. We love him very much, let’s hope he stays at La Real forever.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kubo has a €60m (£50m/$65m) release clause in his contract and it's been reported any potential suitor will have to pay the amount in full to lure him away from the Liga outfit. Real Sociedad have been tipped to sell Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino this summer and hence are resigned to losing a third superstar in the same window.

Celtic took on FC Midtjylland on Thursday evening. One of these clubs is a former European champion; a UEFA Cup finalist as recently as 2003. You wouldn’t have thought it was the team in green and white.

Yes, the trip to Denmark saw the Hoops’ season reach yet another low following a dismal 3-1 defeat in the Europa League, with a late Reo Hatate consolation doing little to help lift the mood among Martin O’Neill’s side.

It was men against boys stuff at the MCH Arena, in truth, evoking memories of last season’s humiliation at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, with the home side scoring three times in an eight-minute first-half blitz.

From the highs of Sunday’s extra-time triumph over rivals Rangers, the Parkhead outfit were very much brought crashing back down to earth, with such a display only heightening the need to wrap up this ongoing managerial search sooner rather than later.

It was a night in which anything that could go wrong did go wrong, a fact epitomised by the sight of Hampden hero Callum Osmand being stretchered off late on, cruelly cutting short what had been a lively cameo from the teenage striker.

Until that abrupt withdrawal, Osmand had been perhaps the only positive for O’Neill and co, coming amid a string of otherwise dour performances – including from a certain Anthony Ralston.

Ralston's game in numbers vs Midtjylland

The unfortunate blow of losing the ex-Fulham forward has further emphasised just how depleted Celtic are right now, with the Scottish champions faced with a raft of key absentees to add to their growing woes.

Indeed, there remains no Cameron Carter-Vickers, nor Jota. No Kelechi Iheanacho or Alistair Johnston. On the evidence of Ralston’s Danish display, the return of the latter man can’t come soon enough.

That may appear a harsh assessment for a player who has been a solid servant since his surprise rise under Ange Postecoglou, although the right-back’s shortcomings were brutally exposed amid the first-half onslaught last night.

The Scotland international was notably at fault for the home side’s second of the night, having almost watched as the impressive Mikel Gorgoza skipped past him, before curling a delightful effort into the far corner.

On the receiving end of an undoubtedly debatable handball call at the weekend, Ralston’s luck doesn’t seem to be in right now, with his woes also evident as he lost the ball on nine occasions from his 55 touches, while boasting a limp 79% pass accuracy, as per Sofascore.

While the typically committed full-back did win four of his five tackles, there was little in the way of any attacking impetus, having failed to even provide a single key pass or cross on the night, nor attempt a single dribble.

Limited would be the word to describe the 26-year-old, unfortunately, with the Glasgow giants desperately in need of Johnston’s return before too long.

That’s not to say Ralston was the only villain in Denmark, however, with issues cropping up all across the park.

How Celtic were let down by experienced faces

Scrutiny over the club’s new faces or emerging talents, be it Benjamin Nygren or Johnny Kenny, is no doubt justified following the limp showing of the pair in midweek, although much of the criticism should be centred around O’Neill’s core of experienced figures.

Indeed, while having had little chance with any of the three goals, Kasper Schmeichel was again somewhat erratic when playing out from the back, with that also the word to use for summer returnee, Kieran Tierney, as the struggling star notably lost the ball on 14 occasions from his left-back berth.

Long-serving hero, James Forrest, meanwhile, was hooked at the break having repeatedly run into trouble when cutting in from the right flank, albeit with perhaps the biggest frustration having been the performance of skipper Callum McGregor at the base of the midfield.

So often the shining light for Celtic, as he was at Hampden just a matter of days ago, McGregor at his best is central to everything good about the team, pulling the strings in metronomic fashion from his deep-lying berth.

Unfortunately, this latest outing was far from the captain in his pomp, with much of the away side’s woes stemming from the Scotsman’s inability to dictate proceedings, having been no match for the physicality of the towering opposition.

Up against the likes of ex-Bournemouth star Philip Billing, McGregor simply couldn’t get a foothold in the game, failing to make a single tackle or win any of his five attempted duels, while being dribbled past twice.

In an attacking sense too, the 32-year-old was also found wanting, having failed to successfully complete a single dribble or cross, while losing the ball on ten occasions from just 41 touches.

For a man who has averaged 81.8 touches per game in the Premiership this season, as per Sofascore, such a drop off only serves to emphasise his struggles, with the typically reliable midfielder enduring a real off night in truth.

At a time of so much chaos and uncertainty surrounding the club, O’Neill – or his permanent successor – are in need of figures like McGregor to step up to the plate.

As Thursday’s outing showcased, however, he is currently the captain of something of a sinking ship.

Postecoglou 2.0: Surprise target emerges to now replace Rodgers at Celtic

Celtic’s search for a new manager continues, with a new Ange Postecoglou figure under consideration…

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Robbie Walls

Nov 6, 2025

England name 14-man squad to face Australia in the Ashes

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2019Jofra Archer is in line to make his Test debut against Australia during the Ashes after being named in England’s 14-man squad on the strength of his star turn for the World Cup champions.Ben Stokes has been re-appointed England vice-captain, while Olly Stone was named in the squad for the first Test starting at Edgbaston on August 1 as a fast-bowling option and Joe Denly was also included.Archer, who revealed he had bowled in “excruciating” pain with a side strain throughout the second half of the World Cup, is poised to make his Test debut as part of a whirlwind summer which saw him play his first international match in May. He went on to take 20 World Cup wickets, a record for an England bowler in the tournament, which also saw him bowling the dramatic tied Super Over that enabled the hosts to win the title on boundary countback.After the World Cup, there had been a suggestion he may be rested until the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, but the ECB said upon announcing the squad for the first Test, that “his readiness for five-day cricket will be assessed at Edgbaston”. Archer has played 28 First-class matches taking 131 wickets at 23.44.National Selector Ed Smith said while it was unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home Test, there were “compelling reasons” to do so in this case, given the demands of the recent World Cup campaign.”Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles,” Smith said. “In addition, some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being closely monitored to assess their preparation for Test match cricket.”The wider circumstances – a successful home World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series – are unprecedented. It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection.”Archer was involved in another tied match on the eve of England’s Ashes squad announcement, taking 2 for 21 for Sussex against Surrey in the Vitality Blast on Friday night, his return to action after taking a short post-World Cup break.Also returning to the squad after resting from England’s one-off Test against Ireland are Jos Buttler and Stokes. Jack Leach, who made 92 as nightwatchman against Ireland, missed out on an Ashes place but will train with the Test squad in the lead-up to the opening match of the series.ECB Chairman Colin Graves approved Stokes’ reappointment as England vice-captain, the role he lost during investigations into the fight outside a Bristol night club in 2017, over which Stokes was ultimately found not guilty of affray. He will resume the vice-captaincy from Buttler.James Anderson, who missed the Ireland Test as he continues his recovery from a calf injury was expected to be fit to face the Australians in the Ashes opener. As expected, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad, who claimed six and four wickets respectively as England skittled Ireland for just 38 in their second innings to win by 143 runs at Lord’s on Friday, were included in the Ashes squad, as was Sam Curran.Despite only making his Test debut against Ireland in the past week, Jason Roy’s selection was not a big surprise, given his form with the bat at the World Cup and in the lead-up series against Pakistan. Opening batsman Rory Burns was also named in the squad.Denly was called up after making his Test debut on England’s tour of West Indies in January but missing out on a World Cup place. Stone earned his place in the squad after taking three wickets on his Test debut against Ireland, having returned home early from the tour of the Caribbean with a stress fracture in his back.The squad will report for duty in Birmingham on Monday.England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

When Granit Xhaka left Arsenal in the summer of 2023, Mikel Arteta and Edu knew they needed to go to great lengths to replace his extraordinary output last season.

A £105m move for Declan Rice was signed, sealed and delivered while Kai Havertz, certainly to less fanfare, arrived from another part of London in Chelsea.

The £65m addition hasn't quite made the grade after moving to the north of the capital, with it taking until November for the German to finally score a goal in Arsenal colours from open play.

Perhaps realising the error of their ways, the Gunners have been looking at signing another midfielder according to reports.

Arsenal's midfield shortlist

Two names on the club's shortlist for 2024 reside in the Premier League with Amadou Onana, touted at £60m, interesting Arsenal, while Joao Palhinha of Fulham is another to be tipped with a move to join the ranks at the Emirates Stadium.

A wildcard option could well be that of Joao Neves, Benfica's next hot property in the middle of the park after Enzo Fernandez.

The teenage sensation has been strongly linked with Manchester United in recent months but Arsenal are another casting their eyes towards Neves. Reports in the build-up to the January window suggested that the Gunners were tracking the 19-year-old but with a release clause of £103m and no intention of selling, any move is incredibly unlikely, at least for now.

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Luke Randall

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Yet, if the Kroenke's were to dip their hands into their pockets again for another mega midfield signing, Neves would offer some extreme quality to Arteta's side. Does anyone fancy another round of Santi Cazorla?

How Joao Neves compares to Santi Cazorla

Who is Neves we hear you ask? Well, a quick look at his FBref scouting profile indicates what a fine young individual this budding teen is.

Compared to positionally similar players across Europe's top five leagues and the top continental competitions, he ranks among the best 11% for passes into the final third (via FBref), indicating his progressive nature in possession of the ball.

Further sitting inside the top 17% for passes attempted, it's clear Neves is a player who offers plenty of protection and composure on the ball. However, he's more than just about passing play. Neves happens to be adept in the defensive and offensive phases of play.

Indeed, the Benfica starlet is in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe for goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, the best 1% for tackles won (3.95) and the finest 13% for interceptions (1.58 per 90). To put that into context, Rice makes 2.01 tackles per 90 and 1.73 interceptions.

Can you imagine the thought of the two playing together, therefore? Yeah, it's a dreamy picture to envisage. The progressive and classy nature of the two is a tantalising prospect.

Already we're getting a sense of why Neves is similar to Cazorla though. He's intricate with his passing play, progressive and capable of doing his fair share of the dirty work. The comparison is supplemented by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Cazorla was one of the most gifted players in the Emirates Stadium era and is remembered particularly fondly by those of an Arsenal persuasion. He played a key hand in ending the club's trophy drought in 2014, scoring a scorching free-kick in the FA Cup final versus Hull City but overall, he was just marvellously gifted at football.

The Spaniard left in 2018 after a period of sustained injury hell that nearly ended his career but he did so with a mighty fine record in Arsenal colours, scoring 29 goals and supplying 45 assists in 180 outings.

With such a creative marvel in mind, let's dive a little deeper into how he compares to Neves.

Despite there being some differences in the volume of each stat, you can see how their playstyles are alike. Both registered a high number of progressive passes and shot-creating actions, showcasing a preference for getting on the ball and creating openings for teammates.

Cazorla was one of the finest in the Premier League era at such a quality and thus, signing Neves would be truly exciting for supporters. With such a huge asking price, however, we might never see him in Arsenal colours.

The Blues could be about to spend north of $128M on the two Portuguese attackers in what would be another serious transfer misstep

Chelsea's dizzying transfer window took another twist this week as, out of pretty much nowhere, the Blues swiftly wrapped up a deal for Wolves' Pedro Neto, paying their Premier League rivals a cool £54 million ($69m) for the winger despite his injury troubles. The 24-year-old became the west Londoners' most expensive new arrival of a bewildering summer of business to date and, remarkably, already the player signed in just over two years under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership.

And they might not be done yet. The same day that Neto's switch was announced, it emerged amid a muddle of transfer rumours that his new club were in talks over bringing his compatriot and former loanee Joao Felix back from Atletico Madrid. That, in turn, would enable the Spanish side to finally complete the separate signing of Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, after striker Samu Omorodion's proposed move in the opposite direction collapsed.

That means the Blues could be poised to spend more than a combined £100m ($128m) on the two Portugal internationals, who are far from reliable, in what has the potential to be yet another grave transfer misstep for the club's hierarchy and another damning indictment of their decision-making.

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  Cause for concern

  "I’m very excited, he can offer many things. He can play on the right side, he can play on the left side, he’s very good one-on-one." That was Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca's enthusiastic reaction to Neto's £54m arrival from Wolves, but he notably ignored the elephant in the room.

  There is no doubting Neto's quality, a player who made 14 goal contributions in just 24 appearances in 2023-24, but when you delve into the reason why he was limited to so few outings there is serious cause for concern.

  A glance at the 24-year-old's injury record have given Chelsea pause for thought, especially after their now-infamous struggles with incessant fitness problems across the squad in recent times. The winger suffered two separate serious hamstring injuries last term, which sidelined him for around four months of the season as a whole. He also missed a significant portion of the 2022-23 campaign with an ankle problem.

  In his five years at Wolves, Neto averaged just 15 Premier League starts per season and was absent for as many as 108 games, per . As much as he is one of the best wingers in the league when fit, Chelsea's recent injury history should have resulted in a far more cautious approach to signing Neto, with the costly transfer seemingly agreed in no time at all as Wolves jumped at the chance to cash in.

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  Jury's out on Joao

  A possible return to Chelsea for Felix poses similar questions: is he worth the money? Do Chelsea need yet another attacker who operates predominantly from out wide? And will he actually be a difference-maker?

  Felix's value is arguably at an all-time low following an unspectacular loan at Barcelona, where he failed to earn a dream permanent transfer after contributing six goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances. Atletico Madrid remain desperate to sell, as they have been for the past couple of years, and the player is said to be keen to return to Stamford Bridge having had chants of 'son of a b*tch' aimed at him by his own fans in Spain.

  The chance to sign Felix for a relatively cut price – at least against Atletico's valuation – could be what is motivating the unexpected pursuit of the player, as well as facilitating Gallagher's move the other way, but it's hardly like Chelsea need him. Having literally just added his compatriot Neto, the Blues are overstocked for wide forwards or those who operate in the half space, with Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku already on the books.

  Ultimately, Felix is a player who passes the eye test but does not make a tangible impact, which has been his biggest problem since leaving Benfica for €126m (£113m/$138m) in 2019. His six-month loan at Chelsea last season encapsulated his career as a whole, albeit he was at the club at a time when standards reached a nadir under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard; although he oozed class and demonstrated his obvious talent with flicks, tricks and dazzling dribbles, he only showed his ability in flashes and would often drift out of games without making telling attacking contributions, while his defensive work rate has been called into question.

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  Directors deserve scrutiny

  A trend of Chelsea's recent transfer windows has been sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart avoiding much of the scrutiny as they work away from the spotlight, with co-owners Todd Boehly and – to a lesser extent – Behdad Eghbali more often than not the butt of the joke on social media.

  However, attitudes towards the two men who have been put in charge of recruitment are beginning to shift despite the unwavering backing of the owners. They will face the scorn of the fanbase if they don't get it right this time around, especially after hiring and swiftly letting go of Mauricio Pochettino despite the progress made in the second half of 2023-24.

  Winstanley and Stewart only officially started work at the end of the January 2023 transfer window, notably after the Blues had extraordinarily splurged £290m ($370m) on the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mudryk and Madueke, although Winstanley was heavily involved in that recruitment drive.

  The summer 2023 transfer window was therefore the first they oversaw as Boehly and Eghbali bankrolled a spend that soared beyond £400m ($505m). Palmer emerged as the biggest hit, but the fanbase will reserve judgement on the rest; supporters revelled in the ruthless double capture of midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia ahead of Liverpool, but the former struggled for form for a long period and the latter missed almost all of the season through injury.

  A deal for Nkunku had been long pre-agreed, but he too fell foul of Chelsea's injury curse as he damaged knee ligaments in pre-season. Meanwhile, further additions Axel Disasi and Nicolas Jackson impressed at times but are widely considered to be quite raw.

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  Questionable decisions

  After a quiet January transfer window, Chelsea have followed a different strategy in what has been a busy and often baffling window so far. While Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga have supposedly been signed to fit Maresca's tactical system, the Blues have otherwise insisted on almost exclusively going after what the recruitment team consider to be low-cost, high-potential young players, shelling out tens of millions of pounds on the likes of Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman and Filip Jorgensen, while prodigious Palmeiras talent Estevao Willian will join the club in 2025.

  Both 24, Neto and Felix are still technically yet to reach their respective peaks, but both feel like a departure from the policy of targeting less established names for relatively low fees, with the latter's potential return in particular hinting at possible intervention from Boehly or Eghbali. Recent reports suggest Felix's asking price still stands at €60m (£51m/$66m), meaning the Portuguese pair could cost north of £100m ($128m).

  The club's own academy products will continue to be the victims of the outlay, which is a sure-fire way to lose the favour of fans as the connection between the playing staff and those in the stands is eroded. Ian Maatsen and Lewis Hall have already been sold off for pure profit amid the threat of breaching the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSR), and Gallagher – a star of the team last season, stand-in captain and fan favourite – is set to suffer the same fate despite being Chelsea through and through, as the club try to emotionlessly flog him to Atletico.

  Although amortisation of some transfer fees muddies the waters, the strategy of almost solely targeting youngsters deserves to be called into question, too, when players such as Carney Chukwuemeka and Madueke – both of whom only joined in the 2022-23 season – are already being touted for an exit; the former was signed from Aston Villa for £20m ($26m) and has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace for the same fee, while Newcastle supposedly hold an interest in the latter. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic only joined from MLS last summer and enjoyed a good first season, but he has already been put up for sale.

Talk of innovations is a “good discussion” although the paceman not keen on free hits for wides

Andrew McGlashan11-Jun-2020Kane Richardson believes on-field innovations for the Big Bash are worth discussing but ultimately the tournament will be judged on the quality of the cricket.Since the tournament expanded two seasons ago there has been a debate about whether it has diluted the league with a slip in average attendance and viewing figures. With the competition set to retain its expanded 61-game format, which is locked in as part of the broadcast deal, any changes will be seen in the middle with a range of tweaks being considered ranging from bonus points to free hits for wides.Richardson was not particularly enthused by the idea of being penalised further for letting go a wide, but sees the value in looking at bringing new elements to the game if it adds to the experience for fans on TV and in the ground. However, fundamentally, high-quality cricket played on good pitches with the bat dominating is what will get people coming back or tuning in again.”I think with all the innovations, it’s a good discussion to have but in the end the best selling point will be the standard of cricket,” he said. “When people turn on the TV at night or come to the ground they want to see high-scoring games, full of skill, albeit knowing as a bowler that means better pitches, faster outfields, even smaller boundaries. I think we are all used to it, been that way for a while now.”The quality of pitches is something that’s maybe lacked in the last couple of years and they started to get that right last year. As long as the skill and the runs are there then think anyone will be happy.”I saw a few things had been mentioned. Bonus points, that would be great, think it would make the ladder more interesting towards the backend of the tournament. Think I saw free hits if you bowl a wide, which I’m obviously not that keen on because we get that wrong occasionally so don’t think we should be punished that harsh. It’s a good conversation to have to make the BBL the best product we can, so I’ll be keen to see what they can come up with so long as it’s not something that’s just punishing the bowlers.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The T20 format is the priority for Richardson at this stage of his career, although he is also part of Australia’s ODI set-up and is still keen to play first-class cricket whenever possible for South Australia having made just two outings in the last two seasons. He is one of the players who would likely miss a chunk of the Australian domestic season if the T20 World Cup was postponed due to Covid-19 and replaced by the IPL later this year.”From my point of view, what’s going to be the best competition to play in? It’s going to be the IPL behind the World Cup,” he said. “If it clashes with the start of the domestic summer then that’s up for debate and above us players on what decision will be made. I’ve read a lot of commentary around a lot of past players saying that maybe it’s better if we stay back here and play in Australia. So there’s probably no wrong answer as long as we’re playing cricket, everyone is keen on doing that right now.”Whether this year’s T20 World Cup takes place as planned or not, Richardson has made himself a regular part of Australia’s side having played nine matches in a row against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa as the team notched seven wins and just one defeat in those series.”You feel more comfortable and confident the more you play and the more success you can have but I’m probably at an age now where I understand my game and understand my body. When I was in my early 20s, I was trying to bowl a 145kph and not want to bowl a slower ball because I thought that was a weaker option. You want to be the firebrand who swings them around and bowls really fast.”But I think I’ve learnt in the last couple of years that there’s a role in most T20 teams where you can be adaptable in terms of your variations, what’s going to be successful on any certain day, on any certain surface. It’s just something I’ve got better at and I’ve learnt a couple of different slower balls from a couple of different guys over the years. But still got a lot of improvement in myself and hopefully I can keep getting better.”

Barcelona sporting director Deco has rejected the idea of Neymar returning to Barcelona in the summer.

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• Neymar won't return to Barcelona
• Deco ruled out Neymar's dream move
• Neymar wants to come back to Europe in the summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar, who left Barcelona in 2017 to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world record fee, has been linked with a move back to Catalunya as the Brazil is eyeing a return to Europe ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The 33-year-old forward spent six years in the French capital before heading to Saudi Arabia, where he had a nightmare outing as he spent the majority of time on the sidelines due to an ACL injury. In January 2025, Neymar mutually terminated his deal with Al-Hilal to move back to his homeland and sign for boyhood club Santos.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amid the Brazilian star's transfer links to the Blaugrana, claims that sporting director Deco has reportedly ruled out any chance of re-signing Neymar in the summer. The reason stated by the ex-Portugal is reportedly Neymar's declining form in recent years. The club also do not want Neymar in their dressing room as they feel that his influence could prove to be negative for several budding superstars in the team.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The former PSG star enjoyed a lot of success during his first stint at Camp Nou as he scored 105 goals and provided 76 assists across all competitions in 186 appearances. He won La Liga twice and also bagged the Champions League title.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  The 33-year-old will be back in action for Santos on Sunday as they take on Corinthians in a Paulista A1 semi-final clash.

Manchester United have massively struggled to find the back of the net over the last couple of years, which has massively held the side back in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on numerous attackers under multiple managers, but largely to no avail, as seen by their measly goal tally from 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim’s men only notched a total of 44 league goals last campaign, with two centre forwards, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, only netting seven goals combined.

The latter has rapidly fallen down the manager’s plans, leaving on a season-long loan to join Serie A side Napoli during the off-season, with such a deal having an option to buy in the summer of 2026.

In an attempt to improve the current first-team squad, many of the fanbase will have been craving a move for one talent who set England’s top-flight alight in recent years.

Alexander Isak’s form against Manchester United

Alexander Isak has been one of the Premier League’s leading attackers over the last couple of years, often being a player to be feared when coming up against the Magpies.

The Swede has registered 54 league goals in his three years in England, ending last year on 23 goals, sitting second in the goalscoring charts as he helped the Magpies secure Champions League qualification.

He is unbeaten in 63% of his matches against the Red Devils, scoring a header in the clash at Old Trafford as Eddie Howe’s side claimed a 2-0 win back in December.

Isak stated his desire to leave St James’ Park this summer, subsequently joining United’s rivals Liverpool in an English record £125m transfer on deadline day.

Such a move has massively strengthened Arne Slot’s side for the 2025/26 campaign, which could inflict more pain in the Derby matches for Amorim’s men in the near future.

The prospect of the Swede linking up with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitiké is a dangerous one for the rest of England’s top-flight, with such a trio making the Reds favourites to retain their league title.

However, despite the business conducted elsewhere, the Red Devils have also landed numerous top-quality talents who could also make themselves fan favourites at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United's Isak-level signing

In an attempt to avoid a repeat of 2024/25, the United hierarchy splashed £200m on three new attackers during the summer to inject the needed added quality to the frontline.

Matheus Cunha was the first to make the move, joining in a £62.5m transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers after scoring 15 times in England’s top-flight last campaign.

The Brazilian has been joined by Benjamin Sesko in the final third, costing a fee in the region of £74m from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig – filling the void left by Hojlund’s departure.

The third and final player added to the attacking department was Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian arriving from English outfit Brentford as an “unplayable” star in the words of Thomas Frank.

His addition set the club back £71m, including add-ons – a mammoth sum of money, but one that could prove worthwhile after he scored 20 times in the top-flight last time around.

The 26-year-old was one of just five players in the division to achieve a total of 20 goals or more in the Premier League – highlighting the talent the club have on their books at present.

Such a move is similar to that of Isak to Liverpool this summer, with both players falling into the aforementioned bracket for goals scored in 2024/25.

Both players will be hoping to repeat similar feats at their new clubs this campaign, but for the Red Devils’ sake – they will hope Mbeumo can add further goals to add to his dominance over the Swede.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats in the league from 2024/25, Mbeumo managed to better Isak in numerous areas, subsequently highlighting the excellent addition made by Amorim and Co.

The Cameroonian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Statman Dave, posted a better shot on target accuracy rate (44%) and a higher goal per shot on target rate (0.5).

Such numbers highlight the clinical edge he possesses within the final third, arguably making him a more threatening option than the English-record signing.

He also completed more of the take-ons he attempted (47%) whilst carrying the ball into the opposition’s box per 90 (2.1) – further highlighting his talent when in possession.

If he can replicate such numbers during his time at Old Trafford, Mbeumo may have all the tools to help the Red Devils return to their former glory in the near future.

It remains to be seen if he can once again outperform Isak in 2025/26, but if he does, his £71m transfer fee may be a bargain – especially if he can lead the side to any form of silverware.

Worth more than Baleba: Man Utd have struck gold on "generational" talent

Manchester United already have a big-money talent on their books despite missing out on Carlos Baleba.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 10, 2025