Football is about moments, but create enough of these moments and you have something enduring that can conquer the tallest orders in a season. Liverpool have encapsulated this message under Arne Slot.

Few – if any – foresaw the Merseysiders’ success this season, effortlessly skipping into the new Jurgen Klopp-less era and assuming command in the Premier League title race, six for six in the Champions League group phase too.

And all without addressing the ostensible problems in last summer’s transfer market, Federico Chiesa being the only incoming to complete an already vibrant frontline.

It seems like FSG spin round in a perpetual cycle of signing new forwards and neglecting the more pressing concerns around defensive and central areas of the field.

Without a doubt, such issues are real and need attention this year, but Liverpool would actually score a significant boost if they wrapped up a new striker this month.

Why Liverpool need a new forward

Last week, surprising news emerged that Liverpool were interested in signing Khvicha Kvaratkskhelia after Paris Saint-Germain expressed an interest in the Napoli winger.

PSG seem set to richen their ranks with the Georgia sensation, so there is a question as to why the Reds revealed their hand given that the 23-year-old was likely moving toward the French capital.

Liverpool are opportunistic, is the thing. Though Slot’s frontline carries depth and dynamism and highest-level quality, Mohamed Salah is out of contract at the end of the season and efforts are being made to sell the struggling Darwin Nunez.

Revelations on Monday claimed that Liverpool have been locked in discussions with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal for the transfer of the 25-year-old, who has largely failed to impress this season, and while The Athletic’s James Pearce has confirmed this is not the case, Gulf intrigue is very much real all the same.

If Liverpool bank a pretty for their club-record signing this month, it seems certain that a replacement would have been lined up. Maybe that’s what’s behind the links to Kvaratskhelia.

Transfer Focus

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

However, Liverpool may have a different forward in mind.

Liverpool eyeing sensational hijack

For all the world, it seems like Manchester City are going to front their much-needed rebuild with the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Pep Guardiola’s side have tabled an official offer.

However, Caught Offside have also reported that Liverpool and Arsenal have ‘interest’ in the player and are lingering in the shadows as City struggle to close the deal, with Frankfurst standing firm on their €80m (£67m) valuation.

It might feel far-fetched to imagine Liverpool could stun Man City by hijacking their deal, but stranger things have happened, and there are still more than two weeks of frenzied transfer rumours ahead of us.

Why Liverpool should sign Omar Marmoush

Marmoush has been one of Europe’s standout forwards this season, incredibly notching 31 goal contributions across 25 matches in all competitions for Frankfurt this year, thus praised as “one of the best strikers in the world” by content creator and German football expert Fiago.

He clinched a respectable tally of 17 goals and six assists over 41 appearances for Frankfurt last season, but it’s quite clear that the 25-year-old has now entered the beginnings of his prime and would be a credit to Liverpool’s frontline.

Not least because he’s only behind his countryman Salah regarding goal contributions across the 2024/25 campaign.

Though Marmoush’s positional flexibility has been a major strength across his career, the Eagles have found a new level to his attacking potency by unleashing him as their principal striker, and if Liverpool are to sell Nunez, this might be the perfect deal.

Slot employs an interchangeable attacking system, evidenced by Luis Diaz’s recent success in a creative number nine role, and this could be perfect for Marmoush’s success.

As per FBref, the Egypt international ranks among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive passes, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, showcasing the many-layered threat that would dynamise and electrify Liverpool’s attack.

So then, are Liverpool leading the race for this player? They are not. Manchester City will be confident that they can get the deal over the line but Liverpool – and Arsenal – could pounce if further issues prevent the player from moving to the Etihad Stadium.

Nunez is a likeable Liverpool star with a frustrating amount of natural ability that hasn’t been applied in the right manner for Slot and his system.

Marmoush is at the top of his game and certainly capable of adapting to the rigours of English football. Let’s see what FSG are made of. If the Uruguayan is sold, a striker will need to replace him – and Marmoush is the gold standard on the market right now.

Liverpool plot move for £50m Nunez replacement who shoots more than Salah

FSG are willing to make a brazen move to get this deal over the line.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 14, 2025

Leeds United have conducted some excellent pieces of transfer business over the last couple of years, aiding their ambitions of securing Championship promotion at the end of the season.

Last season looked as though Daniel Farke would secure a return to the Premier League at the first attempt, but unfortunately fell at the final hurdle in the play-off final.

The German’s task of returning with the same ambitions this season were dealt a blow over the summer, after losing star men Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville to teams higher up the football pyramid.

Whilst the pair netted the club in the region of £65m, it saw two crucial components of last season’s side ripped away from them with replacements needed if they were to bounce back from the Wembley defeat.

It’s safe to say Farke and the hierarchy did just that in the form of one player who’s greatly impressed after his summer switch to Elland Road to join the Whites.

Manor Solomon’s stats for Leeds United

Winger Manor Solomon arrived on loan at Leeds over the summer with supporters not knowing what to expect from the forward after making just six appearances for his parent side before the switch.

However, the 25-year-old has surpassed all expectations, allowing the fanbase to temporarily forget about Summerville – producing countless moments of magic in the final third.

The Israeli international has netted seven goals and seven assists to date, the third most goal contributions of any player in the first-team squad throughout 2024/25.

He’s managed to score or assist in three consecutive matches, helping the club maintain their status at the top of the table with just 14 games remaining.

After his form in Yorkshire, it’s to be expected that the Whites faithful will want a permanent deal for Solomon in the summer, regardless of whether they will be playing in the Championship or Premier League next season.

However, despite his good form since his move to the club, one other player has starred under Farke, seeing a huge spike in his market value as a result of his form.

The player who’s worth more than Solomon at Leeds

Given Leeds’ 14-game unbeaten run that has led them to top spot, numerous players will have played their part in the success – endearing themselves to the supporters as a result.

One of which is utility man Ethan Ampadu, who’s taken the armband over the last couple of months, a signal as to how quickly he’s taken to life at the club.

The Welsh international joined the Whites in a £7m deal from Chelsea back in the summer of 2023, a fee that appears to be a bargain given his consistent performances in Yorkshire.

The 24-year-old, who’s been previously been dubbed “top-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, featured in every single Championship outing last season, playing a huge role in their promotion challenge, but a knee injury halted his progress – forcing him to spend a large chunk of this season on the sidelines.

Ampadu was missing for over two months, starting every single game across all competitions since the start of the calendar year, slotting back into the side as though he’d never left.

Games played

20

Minutes played

1,508

Pass accuracy

89%

Dribble success rate

80%

Tackles won

1.3

Duels won

6.2

Aerials won

2.2

His ability to feature at centre-back or the base of the midfield has made him a valuable option for Farke, with his price tag rising as a result of his outings in 2024/25.

The former Exeter academy star is now valued at £13.3m by Transfermarkt, a figure higher than Solomon who’s currently only valued at £7.5m despite his recent form at Elland Road.

It’s no surprise that the Whites have remained unbeaten in the league since his return to action, highlighting his importance to the side in their quest for promotion.

Whilst £7m may seem like a hefty fee for a Championship player, it now appears to be a quality pick-up, with the Welshman’s price tag undoubtedly going to increase further should he maintain his current level of performance.

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Southampton have now submitted a “formal bid” to sign a defender on a loan deal, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Glimmer of hope for Saints after Portman Road victory

In truth, it is going to be extremely difficult for the Saints to dig themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone between now and the end of the season, as they still remain 10 points from safety.

However, there is a glimmer of hope that survival could be achievable after a maiden victory away from home this weekend, with Ivan Juric’s side prevailing 2-1 away at fellow strugglers Ipswich Town.

The task at hand remains daunting, however, and if Southampton are to stand any chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship, they must improve their defensive record, having shipped 54 goals, the highest amount of any side in the league.

Southampton now plotting last-minute deal to sign "clinical" young forward

The Saints desperately need fresh faces…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 1, 2025

With that in mind, an approach has now been made to sign a new defender, as reported by Romano, who claims the bottom-placed side have submitted a “formal bid” to sign Abakar Sylla on loan from Strasbourg.

Southampton’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

AFC Bournemouth (h)

February 15th

Brighton & Hove Albion (h)

February 22nd

Chelsea (a)

February 25th

Liverpool (a)

March 8th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

March 15th

There is no buy option included in the proposal, with it likely to be a straight loan deal until the end of the season, but there may be competition for Sylla’s signature, as Serie A side Lazio have been interested in his signature since last week.

What Sylla could offer Southampton

The 22-year-old is a very impressive tackler, ranking in the 88th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, while he is also a threat at the opposite end of the pitch, placing in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty goals.

During his time with Club Brugge, the Ivorian received praise for his ability to win back possession, as well as his passing, being hailed as a “powerhouse” in the media.

As such, there are clear signs the Strasbourg ace could make a real difference for the Saints in a defensive sense, having seriously struggled to keep the opposition at bay so far this season.

The only slight concern over the signing of the centre-back will be the fact he has slipped down the pecking order at Strasbourg since the end of November, featuring for just two minutes in Ligue 1 since the turn of the year.

That said, Southampton’s options are likely to be limited, in light of their perilous league position, so it may be worth taking a risk on Sylla to try and resolve their defensive issues.

أبدى جمال حمزة، نجم الزمالك السابق، رأيه في استعدادات الفريق الأبيض للموسم الجديد، مشيرًا إلى إعجابه بالصفقات الجديدة، لكنه في الوقت نفسه عبّر عن قلقه من بعض المؤشرات الفنية التي ظهرت في المباريات الودية الأخيرة.

وقال حمزة في تصريحات عبر إذاعة “ميجا إف إم”: “تعجبني صفقات الزمالك الجديدة، خامات جيدة، لكن ما أقلقني هي نتائج المباريات الودية، رغم أنها لا تُعبر عن الأداء الحقيقي، لكن الأهداف التي استقبلها الفريق كثيرة”.

وتحدث عن بعض الملاحظات الفنية المرتبطة بطريقة اللعب، قائلًا: “هناك تهور عند يانيك فيريرا في بداية الهجمة، هذا ما سمعته ولكني لم أر بعيني، لكن هذا مؤشر إن المدرب يريد أن يبدأ الهجمة من عند حارس المرمى، وبالتالي الكرة تعود للحارس كثيرًا وهذا مؤشر ليس جيدًا”.

وحول اندماج الصفقات الجديدة مع الفريق، قال: “لو المدرب دفع بالصفقات الجديدة كلها في بداية الدوري، بالتأكيد سيأخذون وقتًا من أجل الانسجام مع بعض، لكن لو تم الدفع بهم تدريجيًا مع اللاعبين القدامى سيكون الانسجام أفضل، والزمالك رغم أنه يكون فريقًا جديدًا، إلا أنه مُطالب بتحقيق الفوز”.

طالع أيضًا | وكيل آدم وناس يوضح لـ “بطولات” حقيقة مفاوضات الزمالك

وعن الهيكل الإداري الجديد داخل النادي، علّق حمزة قائلًا: “الزمالك تعاقد مع مدير رياضي (جون إدوارد)، لكن فصل ملف كرة القدم عن مجلس الإدارة ليس أمرًا طبيعيًا، ولا أعتقد أن المجلس مُنفصل عن ذلك، لأنهم في النهاية من سيحاسبون، هم يتركون المدير الرياضي يعمل بحرية، لكن الجماهير عندما تُحاسب فسوف تُحاسب مجلس الإدارة”.

وشدد على مكانة الزمالك كمنافس دائم، قائلًا: “الزمالك أيًا كانت الظروف واللاعبين، فهو دائمًا مُنافس، بالتأكيد الصفقات الجديدة ستكون جيدة، النجاح ليس أن تضم 10 لاعبين (سوبر)، ولكن النجاح أن تصنع توليفة من اللاعبين تساعد الفريق”.

واختتم: “أرى إن تواجد ثلاثة حراس مرمى كبار في الفريق ليس قرارًا موفقًا، لأن في النهاية أحدهم سيكون خارج قائمة المباريات، كنت أرى أن يكون هناك حارسان، ومعهما حارس شاب”.

06-May-2016Dwayne Smith fell in the third over, before Shikhar Dhawan made a mess of a chance offered by McCullum. McCullum was on 3 then and Lions were 12 for 1•BCCISuresh Raina played a brief cameo before popping a return catch to Bhuvneshwar•AFPSoon after Kane Williamson’s sharp catch got rid of Dinesh Karthik, an air-borne David Warner plucked a stunner at long-off to see the back of McCullum. Lions were 34 for 4•BCCISunrisers had several moments of brilliance on the field. Substitute fielder Vijay Shankar’s stunning boundary catch sent back Dwayne Bravo who had helped rebuild through a 45-run fifth-wicket stand with Aaron Finch•BCCIRavindra Jadeja chipped in with 18 and added 27 for the sixth wicket with Finch•BCCIFinch stayed not out on 51 to steer Lions to 126 for 6•BCCIMustafizur Rahman and Bhuvneshwar starred with the ball for Sunrisers. Bhuvneshwar took 2 for 28, while Mustafizur ended with 2 for 17•BCCIDavid Warner scored a typically quick 24 before he mistimed a pull shot and picked mid-on•AFPLions’ bowlers continued to make inroads. When Moises Henriques was caught behind for 14, Sunrisers were 55 for 3•BCCIBut Dhawan played a watchful innings to keep Sunrisers afloat•BCCIYuvraj Singh could not make an impact on his Sunrisers debut and managed just 5 off 14 balls•BCCIWhen Bravo had Deepak Hooda caught behind in the 18th over, the equation narrowed down to 19 from 16 balls•BCCIWhile Bravo took 2 for 14 in three, Dhawal Kulkarni finished with 2 for 17 in four overs•BCCIBut their efforts went in vain as Dhawan smacked back-to-back fours to help the hosts reach the target with an over to spare•BCCI

da bwin： Tottenham Hotspur sealed a loan deal to sign Kevin Danso from RC Lens in a last-gasp January window move, which includes a £21 million obligation to buy, but one pundit has shared a “concern” for Spurs in regard to their new arrival.

Kevin Danso set for Tottenham debut against Liverpool

da casino： With both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero ruled out of Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Liverpool, and Radu Dragusin out for at least six months after sustaining ACL damage, manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Danso is set to play a role at Anfield tonight.

Related £165k-per-week Tottenham star set to miss Liverpool with Micky van de Ven

Spurs will be without the Dutchman and another key player tonight.

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You couldn’t ask for a tougher debut than a baptism of fire at Anfield, with Spurs holding on to a precious 1-0 lead from the first leg of their semi-final and Postecoglou desperately looking not to concede easy chances.

“He will play,” said Postecoglou on Danso’s inclusion against Liverpool. “Whether he starts or not we will take a look because we have another game three days later and that has been our existence for quite a while now.

“You are right, Ben (Davies), Archie, Pedro (Porro) has played every minute of football we have had for the last three months, but the boys are handling it okay, and the performances are still stacking up.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

“It’s great to get Kevin in. He is ready to play. Whether he starts or he comes on, we will make a decision. It’s really important he is part of it now because losing Radu was a massive blow so having him available is good.”

When asked if Danso was a reactionary signing from Spurs, given just how late it was on in the window, not to mention how they hijacked Wolves’ deal for the Austrian, Postecoglou assured supporters he’s there for the long-term.

“I don’t think we’d be signing 21-year-olds and 19-year-olds reactively,” said Postecoglou in his pre-Liverpool press conference.

“If it was reactive we’d be signing 35-year-olds. So the nature of the players signed shows they’re not just about now, they’re about us continuing to build. I certainly see Toni, Mathys and Kevin very much part of a short, medium and long-term strategy here, for sure. They’re all really good fits for what we’re doing.”

Pundit shares Kevin Danso "concern" for Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham shared a “concern” he holds with Danso signing for Tottenham.

“Danso isn’t actually someone that I know too much about,” Wenham said. “However, I do think to myself that he is 26, he’s been playing in the French league for a long time, and none of the other clubs have touched him.

“Some of these scouts have been on extensive missions in France scouting the likes of William Saliba, Wesley Fofana and Leny Yoro. However, nobody has picked up on Danso before. As a result, that is a bit of a concern for me.

“I hope I’m wrong, and he comes in and smashes it. However, that does ring some alarm bells for me.”

While the 26-year-old didn’t quite make it at Southampton, his Ligue 1 form for Lens shows exactly why Tottenham brought him to N17.

According to WhoScored, Danso stood out as Lens’ second-best performer before making the switch to Spurs, all while making more clearances and blocks per 90 than any other player in Lens’ squad. The defender also won more aerial duels per 90 than any of his former teammates in that time.

Well, that was just what Tottenham Hotspur needed.

After Sunday’s dreadful defeat to Leicester City in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s side had to pick up all three points in their home Europa League clash with Elfsborg last night, which is just what they did.

Now, genuine chances were few and far between for the Lilywhites in the first half, but the team stuck to their plan and eventually ran out 3-0 winners.

The victory, on top of news about an offer for Bayern Munich’s sensational Mathys Tel being accepted yesterday, has really lifted the mood around the club.

That said, while youngster Dane Scarlett has understandably grabbed the headlines for his impact off the bench, another standout performer showed why he could save Daniel Levy and Co from spending millions on the Frenchman.

Dane Scarlett's game vs Elfsborg

So, while the mood after the game was an understandably positive one, and the win was fully deserved, it would be fair to say that for the entirety of the first half and much of the second, it felt like Spurs were never going to score.

However, in the 66th minute, Postecoglou was forced into a substitute when Radu Dragusin went off injured – yes, another one – and opted to bring on the recently returned Scarlett. What a decision that was.

Just four minutes after stepping onto the pitch, the 20-year-old forward found himself perfectly positioned between two defenders in the opposition’s penalty area, jumped to meet a pinpoint accurate cross from Dejan Kulusevski and headed the hosts in front.

He wasn’t done there, though, as 14 minutes later he was involved in a lovely passing move that saw him provide fellow academy graduate Oyindamola Ajayi with the assist for his first senior goal to take the game out of sight for the visitors.

The Hillingdon-born poacher left quite an impression on Spurs writer Alasdair Gold, who awarded him a 9/10 match rating at full-time and wrote that the academy graduate was ‘terrific’ during his time on the pitch.

However, while Scarlett was certainly superb, there was another youngster who shone on the night, a youngster who played the full 90 and might have put in a performance good enough to tempt Levy into not splashing the cash on Tel this month: Mikey Moore.

Mikey Moore's game vs Elfsborg

Yes, the player in question is, of course, none other than academy star Moore.

The 17-year-old prodigy started the game out on the wing and looked entirely at home in senior football, so much so that he was undoubtedly one of the Lilywhites’ best players.

The “outrageous” talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was a constant threat throughout the game, making a couple of dangerous dribbles in the first half and then topping off his performance with a sensational run in the final minute of the game that ended in a goal; his first in senior football and the third scored by an academy graduate on the night.

Now, we would argue that this is the wrong conclusion to take from the incredibly exciting attacker’s display, but there is a chance the board might reassess their need for a new wide player after watching him boss the game from the word go.

With that said, someone who was very impressed with what he saw was Gold, who gave the teenage dynamo an 8/10 at full-time and praised him for his close control, goal and application.

Minutes

94′

Expected Goals

0.23

Goals

1

Expected Assists

0.09

Shots on Target

3

Shots Blocked

1

Successful Dribbles

3

Touches

64

Key Passes

1

Fouls Won

2

Unsurprisingly, the Southwark-born gem’s statistics from the game more than back up the praise he’s since received, as in 94 minutes of football, he produced a combined expected goals and assists figure of 0.32, took three shots on target, took 64 touches, completed three dribbles, played one key pass, won two fouls and, of course, scored the final goal.

Ultimately, for his goal and assist, Scarlett deserves all the praise he’s received since full-time, but for his efforts across the 90 minutes, Moore’s display was arguably just as impressive.

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Bundesliga changed their rule to give special permission to Harry Kane for title celebrations during Bayern Munich's clash against RB Leipzig.

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Article continues below

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Kane was on pitchside to celebrate Bundesliga titleDFL changed their rules for the strikerBayern were held to a 3-3 draw by RB LeipzigFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Kane was suspended in Leipzig but was watching the game from the stands as Bayern Munich took a 3-2 lead in the 83rd minute. It looked as though the England captain was finally about to secure the first major trophy of his career as he made his way pitchside to celebrate with his team-mates. However, Yussuf Poulsen spoiled the striker's party as he scored a last-gasp equaliser.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Kane looked dejected on the pitchside after the last-minute equaliser, but as per Bundesliga rules, the star striker ideally should not have been on the pitchside immediately after the match. Per BILD, DFL laws suggest that a suspended player cannot be on the pitch 'half an hour before kickoff and half an hour after the final whistle'. However, an exception was made for the ex-Tottenham forward so he could celebrate his first-ever trophy in professional football.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Three Lions captain joined Bayern in 2023 to win trophies, having never won a single title during 10 seasons in Tottenham's first team, and then shockingly didn't collect any silverware during his debut campaign in Germany. In the 2025-25 campaign, the club was knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in December and fell at the quarter-final stage in the Champions League.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

Vincent Kompany's side can still celebrate a title win on Sunday if the reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen drop points at SC Freiburg. Or else, they will get a chance to seal the title next weekend when they take on Borussia Mönchengladbach on May 10.

There’s an interesting fight going for the wicketkeeper’s slot in the Bangladesh team

Mohammad Isam03-May-2017In the first three months of 2017, Mushfiqur Rahim scored 515 Test runs, which is more than he has made in a calendar year since his debut in 2005. He now looks like an assured batsman on pitches that have extra bounce, spin or both. But that improvement in batting has come at the cost of his wicketkeeping, and two young keepers are snapping at his heels.Nurul Hasan and Liton Das have had limited international exposure but in that time they have shown glimpses of their abilities. Nurul is the better wicketkeeper, while Liton is considered the better batsman, but neither has been able to yet nail down the keeper’s spot in the national team.Nurul was first tried out in T20s, and then nearly a year later given a chance in ODIs. Liton, meanwhile, made his debut in all three formats in 2015, but despite coming to the national side after a purple patch in domestic competitions, he couldn’t do justice to his immense potential. His most recent opportunity came in March this year, when Mushfiqur was asked to play the Tests in Sri Lanka as a specialist batsman. Liton played the Galle Test, scoring 40 runs and taking two catches, but was ruled out of the Colombo match – a historic win for Bangladesh in their 100th Test – due to a rib injury he suffered during net practice.Mushfiqur returned to his post behind the stumps and kept better in that game than he had done for five years. He followed that up with great work in the ODIs and T20Is, forcing the Bangladesh board president, Nazmul Hassan, supposedly the man who takes all the decisions in Bangladesh cricket, to say that Mushfiqur had bounced back superbly.Just like Tamim Iqbal has had to fight off competition from Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes for the opening batsman’s position, Mushfiqur has had to work hard to keep the wicketkeeping slot. Liton and Nurul will just have to wait, but for how long?

****

Liton was born and raised in the north-western town of Dinajpur, more than 300km from Dhaka. He was sent to BKSP, the famous sports institute that produced Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur and many other international cricketers. He impressed the scouts and quickly became part of age-group teams, ending in two Under-19 World Cup sides, in 2012 and 2014and , averaging over 50 in those tournaments.In the 2014-15 season, he was the second-highest run scorer in the Dhaka Premier League one-day competition, with 686 runs, and the leading run scorer in the first-class National Cricket League, with 1024 runs at 85.33.Liton Das is known more for his batting than his keeping•AFPLiton impressed as a keeper-batsman, making 44 on debut in the drawn Test against India in 2015, but the selectors decided to drop him after he managed only one international fifty in his first 15 innings. He had to wait more than a year to make his comeback – on the back of a first-class double-hundred – but the rib injury cut that short.While Liton can make spectators gawk at his strokeplay, Nurul, now being considered for the Bangladesh keeping job, is a more debonair late-order batsman. He came to attention while batting 85 minutes to save a four-day game for Bangladesh A in Barbados in 2014. Protecting the No. 11, Robiul Islam, Nurul dealt with bouncers and yorkers from Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins and Carlos Brathwaite, at one stage even heading a short ball intentionally to take a single and keep the tailender off strike.Born in Khulna, Nurul, inspired by his footballer father, played as a goalkeeper. One day the neighbourhood cricket team needed a wicketkeeper, so they summoned Nurul. Under the watchful eye of Bangladesh international Sheikh Salahuddin, Nurul slowly grew into a dependable presence behind the stumps.He too became a regular in the age-group teams but from an early age was considered a better wicketkeeper than Liton and many others around him.Nurul’s international appearances consist of nine T20Is, a couple of ODIs and one Test between January 2016 and January 2017. He has not batted higher than No. 7 in any format, and his only innings of note came in the Test – a 98-ball 47 in Christchurch.Those in the Bangladesh management are now placing greater importance on quality keeping, which is an advantage for Nurul.

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Mushfiqur got his first big break when he was picked over Khaled Mashud for the 2007 World Cup, for the value he offered as the better batsman. He repaid the faith the selectors had in his skills by hitting an unbeaten fifty in the famous win over India in Port-of-Spain.Mushfiqur Rahim has struggled with his keeping form recently, but the pressure he’s facing from the younger keepers has forced him to work harder to keep his place in the side•Getty ImagesMashud felt let down by the axe, especially since he had been given a guarantee by the selectors that he would be picked for the World Cup. He played three more Tests after the 2007 World Cup but had lost his form by then, and Mushfiqur naturally took over.Mushfiqur now finds himself in a similar situation, where talented young keepers vie for his position in the side. And there are others waiting in the wings, like Zakir Hasan, who only just graduated out of the U-19 team and is doing well in domestic cricket.But Mashud says that Mushfiqur doesn’t really have to think about the competition and needs only focus on his own work at the highest level.”Mushfiqur is a really consistent cricketer and has been around for a long time,” Mashud said. He can only think about his own performance and not care about what the other wicketkeepers are doing. He is in a big place, and with cricketers like him, it is more about becoming a better international cricketer than thinking about who is knocking on the door. He has raised the standard of wicketkeeping to a higher level, which the next guys have to start at. It is not going to be easy replacing Mushfiqur.”Liton is a fine batsman and [Nurul Hasan] Sohan isn’t too far behind him either; he is also a good wicketkeeper, no doubt. But they have to be consistent, as much as Mushfiq is. I know it is hard, but Mushfiq has maintained a quality that is hard to match.”While Mashud backs Mushfiqur’s glove work, everyone else is impressed by his batting progress. In the last six years he has had only one dip in his batting form as he has transformed himself into a middle-order mainstay. His batting gained a much-needed edge during tours of New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka, where the team looked stable whenever he was in the middle. He handled everything that was thrown at him, even when it landed him in a Wellington hospital with a head injury.The competition behind the stumps will sharpen his focus to develop his all-round skills. Whoever survives or perishes in this battle, Bangladesh cricket will gain big.

With Chelsea looking to clear any deadwood still lurking from past transfer failures, Italian giants Milan are now reportedly plotting a January move to sign a defensive addition who could quickly follow in Fikayo Tomori’s footsteps.

Chelsea transfer news

Having forced several players to watch on from the reserves in the first half of the campaign, Chelsea must now use the January transfer window to show any struggling players the door. That should include the likes of Ben Chilwell, who has gone from vice-captain to nothing more than a Stamford Bridge outcast in a shocking fall from grace.

In desperate need of a move – especially if he wants to regain his England place in time for the 2026 World Cup – former club Leicester City have reportedly shown interest in Chilwell’s signature this month.

Approach made as Chelsea hold initial talks over £60m Premier League star

Enzo Maresca’s side have held initial talks.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 19, 2025

He’s not the only one who needs a departure, either. The likes of Carney Chukwuemeka must also seek minutes away from Stamford Bridge this month. Still just 21 years old, the attacking midfielder represents a young player who can’t afford to waste away his development in the Chelsea reserves.

The same can be said for one of Enzo Maresca’s defenders, who is long past the developmental stage and at the peak of his powers – but still in need of the minutes that Milan could yet swoop in to hand him this month.

According to TEAMtalk, Milan are now plotting a January swoop to sign Tosin Adarabioyo (among three Chelsea teammates) in what could quickly turn into a Tomori repeat. The 27-year-old only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer, but has struggled to gain a consistent starting place ever since.

In Italy, meanwhile, Milan have seen just how successful such a signing can be after benefiting from the arrival of Tomori before his recent struggles began. Now, as a former Chelsea defender potentially leaves the San Siro, Adarabioyo could arrive as a fresh face from the Blues’ backline.

"Special" Adarabioyo needs move

With Trevoh Chalobah recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace, Adarabioyo could yet find himself further down the Chelsea pecking order than ever before, and he does not have time to wait around on Maresca’s bench. If Milan come calling, it’s a move that the 27-year-old simply must make at this stage of his career, especially given the success that Tomori has enjoyed in Italy.

It’s at the San Siro that the former Fulham defender could rediscover the form that resulted in quite the praise from Marco Silva last season. The Fulham boss told reporters (as relayed by beIN Sports): “He is a key player for us. He is one of the leaders in our dressing room and we need these guys to step in in the right moments and he did it.

“We missed him a lot, we missed him because he didn’t play the first three months of the season. Tosin is a special player for us, I can’t hide that situation.”

With just over two weeks until the transfer window slams shut, Adarabioyo may well be one to watch if Milan decide to make their move.