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Liverpool are looking for new additions this summer who can improve upon their performances seen this season and now a new update has emerged on one of the club's top targets.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Kouadio Kone?

According to Football Transfers, Liverpool are in talks to sign Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Kouadio "Manu" Kone this summer.

As per the report, discussions have been held with Kone and his representatives in the club's pursuit to identify players who can be part of Jurgen Klopp's midfield rebuild at Anfield.

It is claimed that the Bundesliga club are commanding a transfer fee of up to €40m (£34m) to part ways with their talented player and will need to compete with Newcastle United for his signature.

Would Kone be a good signing for Liverpool?

The German coach has made no secret of his desire and intentions to improve the squad this summer after an incredibly disappointing campaign both in the Premier League and Champions League this season, which has ultimately led to the club falling into the Europa League next season.

One of the key areas of concern is the midfield with not only a number of players either out of contract or reaching the latter stages of their careers at this point but the output in the centre of the pitch has lacked energy and dominance over the last 12 months.

As a result, the signing of Kone is a great place to start for the Merseysiders with the Bundesliga sensation potentially the perfect alternative to former transfer target Moises Caicedo for a fraction of the Brighton star's £90m asking price.

The 22-year-old Frenchman – hailed as "monstrous" and a "warrior" by Jacek Kulig – is an extremely talented midfielder with Caicedo coincidentally named as one of his most comparable positional peers – as per FBref – and it's not hard to see why.

When comparing the midfield pair's outputs this season they share many similarities in key attributes including pass completion rate (86.2% v 88.5%), tackles and interceptions completed (106 v 106), take-on success (48.3% v 51.9%), ball recoveries (221 v 248) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.17 v 0.14).

Not only that, the former Toulouse talent ranks ninth for tackles and tenth for progressive passes, passes into the final third and shots on target in the entire Bundesliga this season, which is a testament to his strong box-to-box abilities allowing him to be a huge presence in both attacking play and defensive transition.

These comparable traits will be of huge interest to the Liverpool hierarchy after interest in the Seagulls midfielder, as the potential to bring in a young midfielder who possesses a very similar profile without the need to spend heavily will certainly capture the attention of the well-renowned tight-spending club owners this summer.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to snap up the services of Kone if Liverpool remain keen to bring in a player who can offer the qualities needed to improve ball retention and the performances in midfield next season.

Indeed, at such a young age he can be moulded to become a superstar under Klopp's guidance like many before him.

Several big names could move on from the Gunners during the transfer window as part of Mikel Arteta's ongoing rebuild

It’s set to be another busy summer at Arsenal as the Gunners prepare for their first season back in the Champions League since 2017. Some big-money new additions are expected to arrive, but there could also be some high-profile departures as Mikel Arteta continues to rebuild his squad.

From experienced names such as Granit Xhaka, to up-and-coming youngsters like Charlie Patino, there are several players who head into the transfer window with their long-term futures up for debate in north London.

GOAL takes a look at some of the players who could move on to pastures new…

• Emile Smith Rowe

  Should Smith Rowe leave this summer, it would be a move that would hugely divide opinion. The Hale End graduate may have barely featured this season, but he remains a massively popular with the fanbase.

  It’s clear, though, that he’s way down the pecking order under Arteta at present, and with Arsenal expected to bring in more than one midfield addition this summer, Smith Rowe could be deemed as expendable, should a decent offer arrive.

  Arsenal have held talks over signing Mason Mount, a player very similar to Smith Rowe in terms of where he plays, which again does not bode well in terms of the 22-year-old’s long-term future.

  The Gunners firmly rejected multiple bids from Aston Villa for Smith Rowe two years ago, insisting he was not for sale. It remains to be seen whether their stance would be different this time around if some big offers arrive.

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  Granit Xhaka

  It would be strange if Xhaka left this summer, but there is expected to be interest in the Switzerland international when the season comes to an end. And with Arsenal looking at the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, there is a possibility they could be open to letting Xhaka leave to free up space and bring some money in.

  Arteta remains a big fan of Xhaka and he has been hugely influential this season, taking his game to a new level in a more advanced midfield role. But should the 30-year-old push to leave this summer and return to Germany, Arsenal’s manager might not stand in his way.

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  Charlie Patino 

  Arsenal’s young midfielder is set to leave following talks with the club. It has been agreed that the academy graduate can move to seek regular first-team football following his impressive loan spell at Blackpool.

  There is already strong interest in the 19-year-old, both from clubs in England and abroad. Arsenal and Patino’s representatives will now work together to find the best move for the teenager, with the Gunners expected to include several clauses in any deal they agree.

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  Kieran Tierney

  Ideally, Arsenal would like to keep Tierney ahead of the club’s return to the Champions League. But the Scotland international has lost his place in the starting XI this season to Oleksandr Zinchenko and is expected to push for a move.

  Newcastle and Aston Villa are believed to be interested and could make some big bids for the left-back once the season comes to an end.

  Arsenal do need to bring in some money this summer and Tierney is a very saleable asset, so it could be that the former Celtic man will be allowed to leave, bringing to an end his four-year stay in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur managerial candidate Vincent Kompany has a friend at Spurs who'll be 'pushing the merits of him'.

What's the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

The 37-year-old is thought to be a real target for chairman Daniel Levy as he continues the search for a new permanent manager. Antonio Conte left the club last month, with Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason taking charge until the end of this Premier League campaign.

The latter duo are tasked with sealing a top four finish and Champions League qualification, no easy feat, yet it could seriously determine which elite coaches will be attracted by the idea of joining Spurs.

There have already been reports that other candidates, like former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, see Europe as a deal-breaker.

In the event Tottenham cannot tempt names like Nagelsmann, the other solution is hiring a young, exciting project manager to build them from the ground up – and Kompany arguably fits the bill.

His Burnley side have stormed to automatic promotion this season and could still become one of the few Championship teams to reach over 100 points in a single campaign. There have even been some suggestions that Levy views Kompany as a top target after being blown away by his work at Turf Moor.

As per reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, responding in a football.london Q&A to the links with Kompany, Man City's legendary former captain has a colleague at Spurs, Simon Davies, who is head of methodology. The pair worked together at both City and Anderlecht, and Gold believes Davies will be 'pushing the merits' of him at Tottenham.

"Spurs have certainly considered Vincent Kompany and he's someone that Simon Davies, who works at the club's head of coaching methodology, knows well from their time together at City and Anderlecht, and he would be pushing the merits of him," explained the reporter.

"It would also be a gamble, with the 37-year-old having not managed in a major top flight division yet. He may well want to see what he can do with Burnley next season in the Premier League and watching clubs might want to wait to see how he does first. Of course you could miss out via that route.

"I would say the closest thing Spurs have to Arteta is probably Ryan Mason, if you're looking at a young former player who has only had assistant manager experience thus far (other than those seven matches in charge in 2021)."

Should Kompany go to Spurs?

While Kompany has experienced real joy as manager of Burnley this season, taking them back to the big time at their first attempt, he should also weigh his next move carefully.

Serial winners like Jose Mourinho and Conte have gone to Spurs in recent years only too, ultimately, go away trophy-less with a small dent in their reputations.

Kompany's stock is high right now, having been called 'unbelievable' by the media in Lancashire, and we believe he would be better placed remaining at Burnley to help continue their real momentum.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is expecting his next Manchester United offer to be accepted, according to The Guardian.

What’s the latest Man United takeover news involving Jassim?

Jassim has made two bids for the Premier League giants so far, with the latest coming last month after initially missing the deadline. The Qatari banker’s revised offer was thought to be a world-record figure at more than £5bn, but as we know, he is yet to receive the green light to proceed with a takeover.

The Glazers have now scheduled a third and final round of bids, with a deadline set for next Friday. Sky Sports have reported that Jassim remains committed to taking full control at Old Trafford, and it looks as if he is confident of doing just that despite recent reports suggesting the Glazers could stay as majority owners by securing outside investment.

The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson shared an Old Trafford update regarding Jassim on Tuesday, stating that he ‘remains confident he will succeed with his bid to buy Manchester United’.

He believes his offer, which would be debt free, will be accepted, whereas Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid would include borrowing.

Down to the Glazers…

As mentioned, the Glazers feel they could stay in Manchester and look to double the value of the club over the next ten years by bringing in investment. The likes of Ares Management Corporation, The Carlyle Group, Elliot Investment Management and Sixth Street Partners all want a stake in the Red Devils, but Jassim is seemingly upbeat about the chances of a full takeover.

His next offer will more than likely need to reach the Glazers’ £6bn asking price to stand a chance of a takeover going through over the coming months. We should find out more over the coming weeks, but with time ticking, Jassim may be looking to get things done quickly in order to help Erik ten Hag in the transfer market.

Among the plethora of positives that have come out of the season so far for Manchester United under manager Erik ten Hag, one of the more notable success stories has been the emergence of teenage sensation, Alejandro Garnacho, with the 18-year-old having established himself as a vital member of the squad since the World Cup, in particular.The promising “game changer” – as hailed by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst – has registered nine goal involvements in all competitions in what has been a breakout campaign thus far, memorably scoring away at Elland Road and providing an assist for Marcus Rashford in the Manchester derby in what were two of his more notable contributions.The rapid and meteoric rise of the Madrid-born speedster – who had been included in Argentina’s senior squad prior to his recent injury blow – is yet another marker of the benefits of having such a star-studded youth set-up, with United undoubtedly masters at continually churning out potential gems of the future.For all the warranted hype surrounding Garnacho, however, the beauty of football is that there is always another youngster who can emerge as the next poster boy, with 15-year-old Shea Lacey seemingly the player who is sparking “lots of excitement” among those at the club, according to journalist Tom Maston.

Who is Shea Lacey?

Although both club and supporters will no doubt be wary of talking up the teen ace too greatly – with the case of Ravel Morrison still firmly in the minds of those at the Theatre of Dreams – it is hard to ignore the buzz that is surrounding the fleet-footed maestro.

While the precocious talent – who has been likened to Manchester City sensation, Phil Foden – may have to bide his time for a first-team berth due to his tender age, it does appear that United are keen to elevate him up the age groups, with the playmaker having already featured for the club’s U18 side this season, scoring once and registering two assists in just six league outings.

That is an indication of just how highly rated Lacey is by the Premier League giants, with that excitement beginning to bubble among those outside of the club, with the forward having set tongues wagging after producing a scintillating, solo goal for the U16’s earlier this month.

The manner in which the Liverpool-born menace weaved his way through a sea of bodies with breathtaking skill and trickery ensured that it is easy to see why the comparisons to Foden have come about, with Lacey truly having a “left foot made of gold” – according to talent scout, Jacek Kulig.

Football Transfers reporter Jacque Talbot even when as far as to suggest that the Old Trafford outfit may have stumbled across the “next [Lionel} Messi” in the form of the teen starlet, with the club’s current first team figures likely to be running scared at the prospect of losing their place in the side in the coming years.

Summer signing Antony, in particular, could well be fearing for his starting berth more than most, with Lacey potentially set to prove a direct rival to the Brazilian’s position on the right flank, with the duo both able to wreak havoc by cutting in onto their stronger left foot.

In the case of the former Ajax man, the 23-year-old has endured a mixed start to life in England, in truth, since his £86m arrival, having registered just eight goal involvements in all competitions thus far, including only three goals and no assists in the league.

It is no stretch to stay that Antony has not received a wholly warm welcome to the Premier League, with club legend Paul Scholes branding him a “clown” after the 15-cap enigma produced his trademark spin in the Europa League win over FC Sheriff, while talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor also labelled him a “bluffer”.

Although it is that individualistic nature that has seemingly led the one-time Sao Paolo man to become a favourite of Ten Hag, the £200k-per-week wizard will need to begin proving himself more reliable in the final third or find himself ousted from the side.

If the 5 foot 9 ace is not careful, he could well be displaced by young Lacey not too far down the line…

The decision not to sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal evoked memories of the Chelsea of old. A ruthlessness that famously saw Carlo Ancelotti given the sack after missing out on the Premier League title in his second season – just a year on from guiding the club to the double

In the case of Sancho, the Englishman had notably scored a stunner in last month’s Conference League final, albeit while ending 2024/25 with just three goals and five assists to his name in the league. Good, but not good enough.

That has been a commendable motto for the Blues over their glorious last 20 years or so, having repeatedly hired and fired, all while increasing the competition in their playing ranks with successive statement signings.

Take Nicolas Jackson, for instance, the Senegalese striker hardly disgracing himself – suspensions aside – with 24 league goals across his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, albeit with just ten of those coming last term. Again, good, but not quite good enough.

£30m man Liam Delap looks to have swiftly usurped the former Villarreal man in the pecking order, all while being acutely aware that failure to perform himself could see yet another fresh face acquired – a certain Hugo Ekitike springs to mind.

As the old adage goes, pressure makes diamonds, with Enzo Maresca and co no doubt hoping that more exciting additions can thrive in this pressurised environment in west London…

Latest on Chelsea's search for new forwards

Sancho is gone, but in his place, young Jamie Gittens could be set to arrive, with Chelsea still working to bring the 20-year-old back to England from Borussia Dortmund, amid his prior stint in Manchester City’s youth ranks.

Despite reports that Gittens has agreed a seven-year contract with the Blues, there appears to still be club-to-club negotiations taking place regarding his reported £55m price tag.

With that deal yet to get the green light, it is still worth the west Londoners seeking alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that they are among the clubs to have made an enquiry over Lyon starlet, Malick Fofana.

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That contact has come amid the Ligue 1 side’s recent relegation – something they are set to appeal – with clubs lining up to potentially pounce on their ongoing financial woes and apparent need to sell.

As per the report, the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also made their move for the 20-year-old, with those suitors hoping to strike a deal for less than the Belgian’s previous £42m price tag.

Why Fofana could be Chelsea's next Eden Hazard

The signing of an exciting, young Belgian talent from Ligue 1 – ring any bells?

Of course, Chelsea famously won the race for a 21-year-old Eden Hazard back in the summer of 2012, with the then-Champions League holders plucking the winger from Lille for a reported fee of £32m.

198 goals and assists would follow in a Chelsea shirt for the now-retired wizard, although that doesn’t quite tell the full story. This was a player, at his pomp, who was a match for any opposition or opponent.

A man who could win a game on his own – take his solo stunner against Arsenal in 2017, for example – Hazard at his best was simply a sight to behold, jinking his way past defenders with consummate ease. It’s no wonder he was hailed the “best player in the Premier League” at one stage by pundit, Paul Merson.

Young Fofana has a way go to hit the levels of his sparkling compatriot, although the comparisons are – unsurprisingly – already being made, with GOAL noting that he has been described as ‘Eden Hazard-like’ by those in his homeland.

As per The Athletic’s Alex Barker, what particularly sets the 20-year-old apart, in a similar mould to Hazard, is his dribbling prowess, having been noted as “one of the best” in Ligue 1 in that regard.

Indeed, he notably ranks in the top 3% among his peers in France’s top-flight for progressive carries made per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 2% in that same metric among attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Jamie Gittens – Borussia Dortmund

8

4

12

Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

7

5

12

Eliesse Ben Seghir – Monaco

6

3

9

Malick Fofana – Lyon

5

4

9

Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig

3

4

7

Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Frankfurt

2

3

5

Jesus Rodriguez – Real Betis

2

1

3

Mamadou Diakhon – Stade Reims

2

1

3

Yan Diomande – Leganes

2

1

3

Bazoumana Toure – Hoffenheim

0

3

3

For context, Hazard ranked in the top 1% of Premier League wingers in that regard during his final season in English football (2018/19), having simply been a master ball-carrier for the Blues.

Like the 126-cap Red Devils star too, Fofana also boasts an end product to match that devastating flair, having ended 2024/25 with 11 goals and six assists to his name in all competitions, included six goals in just ten Europa League outings.

Described as a “starboy” by writer Zach Lowy, the Lyon gem looks destined to reach the top over the coming years, with Chelsea able to offer him the chance to follow in Hazard’s footsteps at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca's next Cole Palmer: Chelsea enter race to sign £50m PL "machine"

The incredible talent could be a star for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 28, 2025

The Sussex openers added an unbeaten 86 in the 21 overs possible on the opening day

ECB Reporters Network27-Apr-2018
ScorecardSussex openers Phil Salt and Luke Wells made an impressive start to their Specsavers County Championship game against Gloucestershire before rain swept in to ruin the first day at Hove.Salt, 21, was unbeaten on 54 and Wells had contributed 25 to a stand of 86 for the first wicket before rain arrived at 12.30pm. Umpires Martin Saggers and Russell Warren abandoned play at 4pm with no sign of an improvement in conditions after taking an early tea.After losing Chris Nash to Nottinghamshire during the winter Sussex are giving Salt, who is making only his tenth first-class appearance, a run as opener and although he played some false shots there was a lot to admire in his aggressive approach after Sussex had batted first following an uncontested toss.Australian Dan Worrall troubled both batsmen during a lively nine-over burst with the new ball up the slope. Salt came down the pitch to try and smear him through the off side and was then struck on the helmet by the next delivery when he misjudged a bouncer and needed to make repairs to his headgear.But in the last over before the rain arrived, Salt drove Matt Taylor for four then pulled his next ball over square leg for six. A single off the next delivery took him to his second Championship half-century from 59 balls which has included nine boundaries. Earlier, in the tenth over, he had taken three fours off Taylor with two drives through the off side and a pull to the midwicket rope.Wells, fresh from an unbeaten 102 on Monday in Sussex’s last match against Leicestershire, batted with more reserve but looked solid enough. His innings, from 66 balls so far, has included four boundaries.Gloucestershire, who won their opening Division Two game against Kent before losing to Glamorgan last week, used just Worrall, Taylor and Craig Miles and although Worrall in particular beat the bat on several occasions their trio of seamers could not make a breakthrough.Sussex made one change with left-arm spinner Danny Briggs making his first appearance of the season with legspinner Will Beer dropping out. Gloucestershire were without last year’s leading wicket-taker Liam Norwell and David Payne because of injury.

Sunderland were dealt a blow in their pursuit of a new centre-forward option this week as one of their reported transfer targets moved to another Championship club.

What's the latest Sunderland transfer news?

The Sunderland Echo had claimed that the Black Cats held talks with Premier League outfit Fulham over a possible loan deal for 20-year-old marksman Jay Stansfield, who spent last season on loan at Exeter.

However, Tony Mowbray and Kristjaan Speakman were unable to get a deal over the line for the talented youngster as Birmingham City officially announced his arrival on loan on Thursday.

The club could quickly get over that disappointment, though, as they are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Ukrainian striker Nazariy Rusyn from Zorya Lugansk, who is said to be set to put pen to paper on a four-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

How good is Nazariy Rusyn?

Mowbray could be on the verge of securing a dream alternative to Stansfield by bringing the 24-year-old marksman to Wearside after his impressive performances throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Rusyn enjoyed a terrific season with Zorya and proved himself to be capable of scoring and assisting goals from a number nine position, which could make him a fantastic addition to the squad for Sunderland.

The exciting whiz, who is reportedly valued at £2.5m by the Black Cats, racked up 13 goals and six assists in 30 Premier Liga outings last term, which means that he was directly involved in a goal every 1.88 matches on average.

Stansfield, on the other hand, produced nine goals and seven assists in 38 League One games for Exeter last season, which is an average of one goal contribution every 2.36 clashes.

These statistics show that Rusyn provided more quality at the top end of the pitch for his respective club due to his ability to score and assist goals more frequently than the 20-year-old talent.

Neither player is a proven Championship performer and this means that there would have been a risk, in terms of their adaptation to playing at this level.

Still, the Ukraine U21 international's record suggests that the potential is there for him to be an excellent player for Mowbray if he can adapt to life in England.

Rusyn, who has scored one goal in two league games this season, could be an outstanding performer for the English head coach if he can replicate his Zorya performances for Sunderland.

Last term, no current Black Cats player managed more than ten Championship goals and no striker produced more than three league assists.

This suggests that Rusyn, with his 13 goals and six assists during the 2022/23 campaign, has the scope to be a superb option for the ex-Blackburn Rovers manager at the top end of the pitch. His ability to score and assist goals could improve Sunderland's attack and help them to push up the table this season.

Therefore, the £2.5m-rated finisher could be a dream alternative to Stansfield due to his superior record in front of goal last term and the fact that he would come in on a permanent deal rather than a loan, which means that the talented marksman has room to grow over the course of several years.

Joe Root has defended England’s coaching staff after what appeared to be some criticism from James Anderson

George Dobell in Perth13-Dec-20172:33

‘We’re so close to getting it right’ – Root

Joe Root has defended England’s coaching staff after what appeared to be some criticism from James Anderson.Anderson, writing in his column, had admitted he “bowled too short” on the first day of the Adelaide Test after Root had won the toss and inserted Australia. But while Anderson accepted England “should have bowled fuller”, he also suggested the coaches could have stepped in.”It was an oversight from the players on the field, but also from the coaches who could have had an input too, which is frustrating,” Anderson wrote.That left Root, the England captain, feeling the need to defend the coaching staff in his pre-match press conference in Perth on Wednesday.”It’s probably slightly harsh to put the blame on to the coaches,” Root said. “The relationship between coaches and players has been really good. Us guys on the field, we’re the ones responsible for what we are doing out there.”It’s easy to look back and say ‘bowl that little bit fuller’ but we all knew that was the case. I think we got it wrong on the field. We have to be smarter, react quicker. I take responsibility for that as well, as captain.”Anderson comments do seem a little odd. Not only might you think that Anderson – as a 35-year-old veteran of 135 Tests – had the experience to know how to bowl in such circumstances without the interference of anyone in the dressing room, but it seems strange that he has felt the need to make his views public. Only one ball in the first 13 overs would have hit the stumps.It also remains unclear about whom Anderson was referring. Shane Bond was the seam bowling coach in Adelaide – his interim spell in the position ended after the game – while England also have various analysts as well as the main coaching pair of Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace, who could have sent messages out on to the field as required. Anderson had previously praised Bond for his input in formulating plans of attack for each of the Australia batsmen.Either way, Root’s comments meant that, for the second time in successive days, the England captain had felt the need to mildly rebuke his vice-captain. The previous day Root had answered, “Yes, maybe a little bit” when asked whether Anderson needed to set a better example. Anderson was one of the players to return to The Avenue bar – the scene of Jonny Bairstow’s now notorious greeting of Cameron Bancroft at the start of the tour – at the end of last week where, in the early hours of Friday, Ben Duckett deliberately poured a drink over him.While it would be wrong to overstate the level of conflict – these were two gentle remarks, after all – any public disagreement between such senior players on the eve of what Root has called “one of the biggest games of our lives” is not ideal. Just the previous day, Root had said: “We are all in this together and we are only going to win if we stick together.””It’s staring you in the face that the Ashes are on the line,” Root said on Wednesday. “We know what’s at stake. We have to deliver. We have to make sure we put in that rounded performance which we know we can. We know what we need to do. We just have to go out there and perform.”Meanwhile, Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, won’t return to Australia as originally planned due to a family health problem.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAssociated Press

In a year in which Sri Lanka have continued to sink further into the depths of ODI ineptitude, they surely hit rock bottom today. In a performance that put an exclamation mark on their run of 12 straight ODI losses, they illustrated why they have struggled so badly in the format.They couldn’t bat, dismissed for 103 in 26 overs. They couldn’t bowl all that well, taking only one wicket as Pakistan cruised home with over 30 overs to spare. It is another whitewash for Sri Lanka, the third they have suffered this year alone. South Africa and India were the othertormentors.The prospect of a damning defeat was writ large over the contest after the very first over, in which Usman Khan took the first two wickets of astaggering opening spell. He had come to prominence with a scintillating performance in a domestic T20 final in 2013, but after today, thatdomestic admiration can turn to international acclaim. It tends to happen once you complete a five-for in 3.3 overs.Maybe there’s a peculiar curse Sharjah has cast on Sri Lanka – they’ve been bowled out below 100 four times at this ground. It could have been five; they were 85 for 9 at one point, before Dushmantha Chameera and VishwaFernando put together an 18-run partnership and rescued their side from that ignominy.For the third straight game, Upul Tharanga won the toss and chose to bat. But Sri Lanka’s luck has remained confined to the toss this tour. One over into the innings, it was clear that wasn’t going to change today.The dismissals themselves were something to behold; it was Pakistani fast bowling at its most exhilarating. Sadeera Samarawickmara failed to adjust to the moving ball and inside-edged onto his middle stump. Dinesh Chandimal was utterly helpless against one that swung away, edging to Sarfraz Ahmed.In Usman’s second over, Tharanga – just like the previous game – was unable to prevent one from sneaking in between his bat and pad. Niroshan Dickwella fell lbw to another prodigious inswinger. Siriwardana tamely scooped to cover point, and in under 7 overs Sri Lanka were 20 for 5.Thoroughly dispirited and broken all series, Sri Lanka had dug themselves into a hole in the first half hour of the game, and were already reduced to respectability restoration. Then Thirimanne edged Hasan Ali to the wicketkeeper and Seekkuge Prasanna ran himself out in a horribly amateur way, failing to ground his bat in a bid to avoid a throw in his direction. Pakistan didn’t need that sort of charity, but it was welcome.Thisara Perera struck a few boundaries en route to 25, the top score for his side. But in an innings where wickets were the currency of choice, that sort of resistance was merely pennies on the dollar. Hasan and Shadab Khan cleaned up the tail, and Pakistan were left with 104 to get to sweep the series.There was no drama to be had, with Sri Lanka coming out looking like a boxer for whom the knockout punch would be a blissful release. The second innings was a case of two teams going through the motions. But while Fakhar Zaman fell short of a half-century, reasons for joy were in short supply for the visitors. Pakistan looked almost embarrassed to complete the whitewash, so wide was the chasm between the two sides.However, the major discomfort all belongs to the visitors, who will be left pondering how on earth to salvage some pride in the upcoming T20series.