Category Uncategorized

Glasgow Rangers are now in talks with a European club over the sale of a “brilliant” key player, who has already agreed personal terms to go, according to a recent report.

Martin wants more defensive reinforcements at Rangers

The Gers are closing in on their return to pre-season action, as it is less than four weeks away until they return to competitive action in the Champions League second qualifying round. Before that, Russell Martin will hope to have as much transfer business wrapped up as possible, as he will want to make a strong start as the new Rangers boss.

The Scottish giants announced the signing of Max Aarons on a season-long loan deal from AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday. The defender is “delighted” to be joining Rangers, as he describes the Gers as a “huge club”.

Aarons told the club’s media team: “I am delighted to be here; as you can see, it’s a huge club, and you realise that when you walk through the doors. I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve got a lot of experience now in different leagues, and I have played a lot of games. I think I can bring that experience; I can bring a new energy, and I think Rangers fans can be excited – I am really looking forward to it.”

Rangers bid made: 49ers table offer to bring "spectacular" 22 y/o to Ibrox

The Gers want a permanent transfer.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 26, 2025

Aarons may not be the only defender to arrive at Ibrox this summer, as the Gers are in talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City. Meanwhile, Rangers are also looking into the possibility of a deal to sign Owen Beck from Liverpool, with the new boss making it clear he wants to improve his defensive ranks.

Rangers now in talks to sell Hamza Igamane

Deals for Coady and Beck may soon become more financially viable too, as according to Sacha Tavolieri, Rangers are in talks to sell Hamza Igamane to French outfit Lille.

Tavolieri states that Lille have made Igamane a top target, as they see him as the person to replace Jonathan David, who is leaving the club on a free transfer.

He adds that the Rangers forward has spoken to the club and has now agreed personal terms, and all that remains is the two clubs, who are in talks, to agree a transfer fee.

Earlier this week it was reported that Rangers were “at risk” of losing Igamane, as teams such as Marseille and Lazio were circling with interest. In fact, it was claimed that Marseille had made an approach to sign the 22-year-old, which had rocked the Scottish club.

Rangers have set a £20 million asking price on Igamane, but it remains unclear if Lille would be willing to pay that much.

Apps

46

Goals

16

Assists

3

The Morocco international was sensational for the Gers last season, as he netted 12 goals in 33 league games, as well as a further four in the Europa League. A standout moment was him netting the winner in the 3-2 win away at Celtic, an impact that Derek Ferguson lauded as “brilliant”.

“Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff, and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

Bryan Mbeumo rapidly appears to be the latest player to be edging closer to completing a move to Manchester United this summer, looking to add to their first-team overhaul.

Matheus Cunha has already completed his own switch to Old Trafford, costing a fee in the region of £62.5m – with the Brentford talent potentially being next in line.

The 25-year-old has already chosen the Red Devils as his next destination, leaving the hierarchy to agree a deal with Thomas Frank before he can complete a medical.

It’s been reported that they’ve already placed a £45m offer with £10m in add-ons, but it’s expected to be rejected with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £70m to sell the Cameroonian.

It appears that the move is heading in the right direction, but he’s not alone in being wanted by the club this summer, with multiple other stars also on their radar ahead of 2025/26.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new additions

As previously mentioned, United have wasted no time in identifying options to help improve Ruben Amorim’s squad, in his attempts to transform the club during his first full season in charge.

Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap are just three names who’ve been on their list, but have had to look elsewhere – with the latter joining Premier League rivals Chelsea.

However, such a transfer could massively help the Red Devils in their latest pursuit, with Blues talisman Nicolas Jackson another name they’re targeting, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The report claims that Amorim’s side are seriously interested in a move for the 23-year-old forward, who managed to find the net 10 times in his 30 league appearances this season.

It also states that the Senegalese international could be available for the right price this summer, but doesn’t state how much they could demand, with Aston Villa also credited with a strong interest.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s own Isak

Alexander Isak is a player who has torn up the Premier League over recent years, being one of the most feared attackers after joining Newcastle United back in the summer of 2022.

The Swede has since scored 54 league goals in just 86 appearances, with 23 of his efforts coming in 2024/25 – with only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah registering more goals this campaign.

His subsequent tally from this campaign is nearly three times higher than the Red Devils’ top scorers Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes – showcasing how impressive the Magpies ace has been in front of goal.

However, given his goalscoring record, he would cost a pretty penny, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a £150m valuation on the 25-year-old’s head this summer.

The Red Devils could be about to land their own version of the Swede in the form of Jackson, with FBref labelling the Chelsea talent as a similar player to Isak based off their respective figures in 2024/25.

When delving into the stats and comparing them, the Blues star has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas, handing Amorim his own version of the talisman should he move to Old Trafford.

Jackson, who’s been labelled “special” by journalist Rahman Osman, may have registered fewer goals this season, but has posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate – showcasing his ability to get his efforts on target, which could lead to added goals down the line.

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

15

29

Shot-on-target accuracy

45%

43%

Pass accuracy

76%

75%

Aerials won

37%

32%

Shots on target per game

1.4

1.3

Fouls won

1.2

0.4

He’s also managed to win more aerial battles, whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted, handing Amorim an all-round option within the final third at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old’s talents don’t stop there, winning more fouls per 90, offering a constant nuisance to the opposition backline, which could make him a real threat alongside the likes of Cunha and Fernandes at the Theatre of Dreams.

It’s safe to say that Jackson won’t be many supporters’ first choice for the centre forward role this summer, but he has that raw ability that could shape him into an elite-level talent.

Should he make the move to the North West and get anywhere close to the goal tally produced by Isak, it would be one hell of an addition – pushing the club one step closer to returning their former glory in the coming years.

As exciting as Mbeumo: Man Utd ramp up move for "better version of Haaland"

Man Utd’s swift start to the window could be followed by the signing of a new centre-forward

ByRobbie Walls Jun 5, 2025

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer found himself in the spotlight with his recent heroics in the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain making waves far beyond the pitch. The 23-year-old Englishman was filmed snapping a selfie with a New York Police Department officer outside the Peninsula Hotel on Monday, a day after Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

• Palmer basking in CWC glory
• Winning hearts in the USA
• Was stopped for a selfie by an NYPD officer

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer’s new-found status in the Big Apple comes after his sensational performance at the MetLife Stadium, where he scored twice and assisted another in Chelsea's 3-0 dismantling of the French champions. His dazzling display earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament accolade, an honour which was presented by none other than U.S. President Donald Trump.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palmer paused to engage with a member of the NYPD as he exited his hotel in midtown Manhattan. Captured in a video shared by the Palmer smiled for a selfie with the officer, an interaction that symbolised his rising stardom in the U.S.

• WATCH THE CLIP

• WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

  Following their Club World Cup triumph, Chelsea players and staff were treated to a private celebration to toast a remarkable end to their campaign. The trophy was their second piece of silverware as they previously earned Conference League glory, beating Real Betis in the final.

After losing Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Championship forward this summer.

Cunha officially joins Man Utd

In one of the earliest, though perhaps least surprising moves of the summer, Cunha has now officially swapped Wolves for Manchester United. In truth, as soon as the Brazilian’s £63m release clause came to light, his exit seemed inevitable. For Wolves, it’s now more important than ever that they spend the money well and replace their talisman in seamless fashion. That, however, is easier said than done.

Appearances

92

Goals

33

Assists

15

Cunha’s record speaks for itself. The former Atletico Madrid man particularly found his best form throughout the 2024/25 campaign and replacing his impact will undoubtedly be Wolves’ toughest task this summer.

Whilst it’s easy to assume the worst, Wolves already experienced a glimpse of life without Cunha throughout the season when he was missing through injury and suspension. It was then that Vitor Pereira’s side proved that they’re more than just the Brazilian, securing three of their six impressive consecutive wins to send a statement in the battle to secure their Premier League status.

With that top-flight status secured and £63m to spare, Wolves should ensure that life without Cunha remains blissful rather than the nightmare many have envisaged in the past.

To that end, who could arrive remains to be seen. Stars such as Harvey Elliott have already threatened to steal the headlines in recent weeks and signing a Premier League champion would certainly do no harm.

Whether the former Fulham gem is capable of producing the same output as Cunha is the big question, though. Instead, Wolves could push on to sign a proven goalscorer in the coming months.

Wolves "monitoring" Ivanovic

According to South London football reporter Richard Cawley, Wolves are now “monitoring” Mihailo Ivanovic following his excellent debut season at Millwall. The Serbian striker scored 12 goals in his first Championship campaign and only looks set to get better at just 20 years old.

Given how he starred in his first season, Millwall may naturally be reluctant to let their forward leave so soon after he initially arrived. But the Premier League call is certainly a difficult one to turn down.

Millwall manager Alex Neil has been among those full of praise for Ivanovic in recent months, telling reporters in April: “Any 20-year-old that leads the line in the Championship and can get nearly [10 goals], and he’ll get double figures before the end of the season.

“If you do that, that’s an unbelievable season and it won’t be surprising me if people start talking about him. I’ve already seen something the other day talking about the top 10 young talents in Europe – he’s one of them.”

Having lost a top talent in Cunha, if Wolves managed to sign one of the top 10 young talents in Europe – as Neil believes Ivanovic is – then that should be seen as excellent business.

Together against Bangladesh, Chatara and Jarvis produced a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts

Liam Brickhill04-Nov-2018Many of the best fast-bowling double-acts have been built around variation. Wasim and Waqar, Donald and Pollock, Marshall and Garner, Anderson and Broad – their differences are a vital ingredient in their shared success. So after Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis shared five wickets to dent Bangladesh and secure a first-innings lead on the second day in Sylhet, Zimbabwe bowling coach Douglas Hondo settled on exactly the right word to describe his quicks’ complementary relationship: synergy.”They have got synergy,” Hondo said. “They’ve played a long time together. Chatara takes it away, Jarvis a little bit in, so that’s a good mix.”Though Jarvis is two years older, he and Chatara made their first-class debuts within two weeks of each other in 2009. They bowl at similar speeds, though both men started their careers in tearaway mode and had to re-adjust after major injuries, Jarvis to his back while Chatara broke his leg playing football. Both men have had breaks from the international game: Jarvis when he went to Lancashire for four seasons, and Chatara when he was out for more than six months after his horrific leg injury. But that is where their similarities end.Jarvis was always destined for cricket. Born into a famous cricket-playing family – his father Malcolm played five Tests and 12 ODIs for Zimbabwe as a left-arm medium pacer in the 1990s, and would have taken the first wicket by a Zimbabwean in Tests were it not for a dropped catch – he grew up in Harare’s leafy northern suburbs, hanging out with Mitchell Marsh when he lived in Zimbabwe for a time while his father Geoff was coaching the national side.Chatara was born in Dangamvura, a poor, high-density suburb in Mutare, nestled in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands. He never attended any of Zimbabwe’s main cricket-playing schools, and turned up at his first Under-17 cricket trial wearing basketball sneakers. Indeed, basketball and athletics were Chatara’s primary sports until he was picked for the national Under-19 side.Their bowling actions speak to their contrasting paths into the game: Jarvis bowls with an orthodox action lacking in frills, while Chatara’s action is one of homespun lopsidedness. But together, against Bangladesh, they produced a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts.Before this Test, Hondo worked hard with them to alter their lengths to suit the longer format. Where they had tried to keep batsmen on the back foot in the ODIs, to prepare for this game he placed the bowling target mat on a much fuller length, attacking the stumps. Jarvis, in particular, stuck firmly to this tactic virtually throughout his spells, making the batsmen play a high percentage of deliveries, while Chatara – who had also worked on honing his line to left-handers, offered the temptation of a line outside off stump. On game day, the bowling coach’s instructions were: “Just bowl enough balls in the right area to ask enough questions and don’t give up, don’t let up. Just keep bowling in the right areas. The pitch has enough natural variation, the pitch will do enough.”With Bangladesh stuck in one-day mode, batsmen played at deliveries they might easily have left alone, with Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah playing on and Nazmul Hossain Shanto nicking a distinctly short-format drive against Chatara. Jarvis, meanwhile, had Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind poking at outswingers, having kept the batsmen tied down with a constricting wicket-to-wicket line.”They had a good series in the ODIs, so we knew that they were going to come and play in that one-day mode, which will present us with a lot of chances in the Tests because the field sets will be quite attacking,” Chatara said. “I think they haven’t really adjusted from ODI cricket to playing Tests, where you leave many balls, whereas in ODIs you’ll be looking for scoring shots.””Early on I was just trying to hit a good area, because there’s so much talk about Bangladesh [pitches] being flat,” he added. “So hitting a good area early on, and making the batsman play as much as possible.”Chatara and Jarvis did just that, but Bangladesh’s top order also obliged them with an overly attacking mindset. The end result of that impatience was that, while there are still three days left in the match, the game moved on very swiftly on day two and it is now Zimbabwe who hold an unlikely ascendancy.”It’s Test cricket, sometimes you have to leave some balls, sometimes you have to hold yourself in,” explained Hondo. “There’s five days of play so you have to play accordingly. If you ask enough questions and they’re obliging, things will happen like that. We’re just trying to complement our batters, who took a lot of time at the wicket. So we have to complement them by bowling in the right areas.”Chatara admitted even he was a little surprised by how easily Bangladesh slipped into the seamers’ traps to put Zimbabwe in a good position. “Considering the fact that we won the toss and batted first, we really wanted to bat deep, to tea today,” Chatara said. “With Bangladesh batting before lunch, it actually felt like we gave them too much time to bat today. So I actually thought they were going to bat well. But the way we bowled, we bowled very well to restrict them to the score they had at the end of the day.”

The Frenchman is set to move to the Stade Louis II on a free transfer, while Barcelona's No.10 could arrive on loan with an option to buy

Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro revealed last September that his goal was "to have 50 percent of the first-team squad made up of academy players" within the next three years. It's an ambitious but arguably achievable goal for a club long renowned for developing homegrown talent, such as Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Kylian Mbappe.

However, Scuro remains acutely aware of the importance of continuing to scour the market for potential bargains in order to ensure that Monaco maintain the requisite blend of youth and experience to compete at Champions League level.

For that very reason, the Brazilian is willing to take a punt on Paul Pogba and Ansu Fati, two fallen stars desperately hoping to shine again at the Stade Louis II…

• Popularity unaffected by doping ban

  Because of their focus on unearthing hidden gems and polishing rough diamonds, Monaco haven't made many waves in the transfer market since the summer of 2013-14, when club president Dmitry Rybolovlev spent just under €150 million (£128m/$174m) on new players, including Colombian stars Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez.

  One could easily argue, then, that Pogba would represent Les Monegasques' most high-profile signing of the past decade. For example, the former Juventus midfielder has 63 million followers on Instagram – more than 30 times as many as Monaco – and that's in spite of the fact that Pogba hasn't played a competitive game of football since September 3, 2023 because of a doping ban.

  Right from the start, the Frenchman accepted his share of the blame for taking a supplement prescribed by a doctor in Florida that led to elevated levels of testosterone in his system, which was picked up by a drugs test after a Serie A game against Udinese, but Pogba insisted all along that he had never "knowingly or deliberately" ingested a banned substance. As a result, he fought the four-year ban initially imposed upon him by Italy's anti-doping committee (Nado), and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ultimately reduced his suspension to 18 months, ruling that while "Mr Pogba was not without fault, and that, as a professional football player, he should have paid a greater care in the circumstances," the breach "was not intentional".

  "Finally the nightmare is over," Pogba said after his appeal was "partially upheld". "I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again. I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's judges who heard my explanation. This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold."

  Now, though, he's free to resume a top-flight career that appeared to be over.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  The fall of Fati

  At 22, Ansu Fati is 10 years younger than Pogba – and yet there is just as much concern over whether the Spaniard is also finished at the highest level.

  It now feels like an eternity ago but, back in 2019, Fati was the most exciting young player in world football, a 16-year-old striking sensation breaking one record after another at Barcelona and wowing the world in much the same way as Lamine Yamal is now.

  Then came the injury that changed everything. On November 7, 2020, just a fortnight after Fati had become the second-youngest goal-scorer in Clasico history, he tore the meniscus in his left knee. Barca said the teenager would be out of action for four months. He didn't return for nine, though – and even when he did, he wasn't the same player.

  There were flashes of Fati's former self during the 2022-23 campaign, in which he scored 10 goals in all competitions, but the mere fact that Barca loaned him to Brighton the following season showed that the club had lost faith in a forward upon whom they had bestowed the ultimate honour by giving him Lionel Messi's iconic No.10 jersey.

  Unfortunately, Fati failed miserably to impress in the Premier League, meaning there was never any chance of his temporary stay the Amex materialising into a transfer.

• Getty Images
  

  The Flick factor

  Hansi Flick's appointment as Barca boss last summer hardly improved Fati's fortunes, as the German was charged with making Barca not only better, but fitter. It, thus, came as little surprise to see the injury-plagued Fati afforded just three starts last season – and just 298 minutes of total game time.

  According to , the attacker was deeply affected by the way in which he was treated by the German and has now reluctantly accepted that there is no longer any future for him at Barcelona.

  Of course, the Catalans have been trying to sell Fati for some time now, in order to create some wiggle room on their wage bill and generate some pure profit to alleviate their ongoing financial fair play problems. The problem is that they've been unable to find a buyer for the fragile forward. Monaco, though, are willing to take Fati on loan with a view to permanent move.

  So, what hope do both Fati and Pogba have of kickstarting their careers in the principality?

• AFP
  

  'Inspiring brand of football'

  There are certainly few more privileged places to play football than Monaco. However, the glamorous tax haven is also home to one of Europe's most attractive teams thanks in no small part to the work being done at the Stade Louis II by Adi Hutter.

  After winning domestic titles in his native Austria and Switzerland, with Red Bull Salzburg and Young Boys, respectively, before reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, the 55-year-old coach took charge of Monaco in July 2023 and immediately led the club back into the Champions League via a runners-up finish in Ligue 1.

  Hutter's side immediately announced themselves as a team to watch by beating Barcelona last September, while they also beat Aston Villa on their path to the knockout phase play-offs, where they were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Benfica after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Estadio da Luz.

  French football followers were utterly unsurprised by the exciting nature of Monaco's campaign, given Hutter's willingness to afford creative talents such as Eliesse Ben Seghir, Maghnes Akliouche and George Ilenikhena the freedom to express themselves.

  "For me, football is entertainment," Hutter told earlier this year. "I hate boring football: 15 passes around the backline and then back to the goalkeeper. I like to play an inspiring brand of football. It doesn't mean you win every game but the spectators expect you to play the ball forward. In the offensive third, I say: 'Guys, you are creative players.' I don't say: 'You have to play this ball and this ball. Guys, you earn money for your creativity.'"

  One would imagine, then, that Fati and Pogba would relish playing under such an offensively-minded coach.

He will join CSK after clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket, while Shivam Dube has linked up with the side after rehab at NCA

Deivarayan Muthu and Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Mar-2024Chennai Super Kings’ designated death bowler Matheesha Pathirana will miss the initial stages of IPL 2024 with a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old Sri Lanka slinger sustained the injury during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet earlier this month, when he was unable to finish his spell.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Pathirana is likely to be unavailable for at least two weeks and will travel to the IPL only after getting clearance from SLC medical staff. Currently, he is undergoing rehab at the high performance centre in Colombo. With the T20 World Cup set to begin on June 1 in the USA and the Caribbean, just days after the end of the IPL, SLC want to manage Pathirana carefully. Pathirana is the second Sri Lanka fast bowler on the sidelines, with left-armer Dilshan Madushanka, who was due to make his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians, ruled out of the entire IPL season.Pathirana’s injury is a major blow to CSK, who are already without New Zealand opener Devon Conway, who has been sidelined until May with a thumb injury. Pathirana’s economy rate of 8.00 at the death (between overs 16 and 20) was the best among bowlers who had bowled at least 90 balls during this phase in IPL 2023. He also emerged as the leading wicket-taker during that phase, with 18 strikes in 12 innings.Related

Fleming on CSK captaincy change: 'We weren't ready for Dhoni to move aside in 2022, but the timing is right now'

CSK coach Fleming: 'Our strength is delivering on our philosophy'

Dhoni makes way for Gaikwad as defending champions CSK return with a distinct NZ flavour

ChatIPL – An AI-powered peek at the league that defies logic

On the eve of the IPL season-opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, head coach Stephen Fleming focused on the positives, pointing out that CSK had gone through a far bigger injury crisis last season.”Injuries-wise, we’re going pretty good. Compared to last year, we’re flying,” he said. “But we’re a practice [session] away from a couple, so we’re always realistic. But what we do like is the depth of our squad, in particular, in the bowling this year. And the challenge will be getting those combinations right, based on form. But at this point, Pathirana is not with us [at the moment], but everyone else is going pretty well.”Pathirana’s absence could potentially open up a slot for Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman, who also operates at the death. Mustafizur had suffered cramps, and a stretcher was required to carry him off the field in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Chattogram on March 18. But he has since recovered to join CSK in Chennai, and is available for the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22. If the Chepauk pitch is a turner, though, CSK also have the option of including Moeen Ali in their team ahead of Mustafizur, along with Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Maheesh Theekshana.Dwayne Bravo, CSK’s bowling coach, had stressed on the importance on death bowling in the lead-up to the tournament. Shardul Thakur, who has returned to CSK after two seasons, is among their options in Pathirana’s absence.”Death bowling is my speciality. I believe that in T20s, [death overs] is a very important segment of the game,” Bravo had said at an event in Chennai last week. “It requires a lot of skill, bravery and planning – from preparation in practice to the games, match awareness, and situations.”You have to implement it in practice and get these guys to believe in philosophy and work towards it. Last year, we had the best death-bowling team, and we look forward to repeating it… Shardul [Thakur] is also back, which gives more depth. It is always good to have depth in the squad.”Meanwhile, CSK’s designated spin-hitter Shivam Dube, who had missed the Ranji Trophy knockouts with injury, has also linked up with his IPL side after completing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.CSK, the defending champions, begin their IPL 2024 campaign with back-to-back home games against Royal Challengers (March 22) and Gujarat Titans (March 26).

Known as the tournament’s ‘entertaining team’, Rajshahi suffered due to a lack of form and seemingly team spirit too

Mohammad Isam07-Dec-2017Tournament reviewRajshahi Kings, last year’s runners-up, did not make it to the top four in this year’s BPL. They had only four wins, hardly looking like a contender for the play-offs.Darren Sammy, who continued as captain, tried his best this time too, but to no avail. A captain is only as good as his team and the likes of Mushfiqur Rahim, Luke Wright and Samit Patel hardly delivered.
Particularly disappointing for Rajshahi was how their two local big guns – Mushfiqur and Mustafizur Rahman – didn’t fire. Mushfiqur made only 185 runs in 11 innings with one fifty, while Mustafizur took four wickets in five games. Among their overseas recruits, Sammy fired at times while James Franklin made some important runs, but batting lower down the order did not always give him enough deliveries to score off.What didn’t workInjuries to Sammy, Luke Wright and Lendl Simmons may have frustrated them during the different stages of the tournament but Rajshahi, as they showed in 2016, are supposed to be a different breed. Spirit alone could have taken them through, but that too was missing this season.What workedThere were some impressive performances from Sammy, Zakir Hasan, Qazi Onik and Mominul but it was all individual; there was hardly a game in which two or three performed in unison. Mominul was their highest run-getter but with just 230 runs, while the veteran Mohammad Sami’s 11 wickets was the most among their bowlers. Sammy, Patel and Dwayne Smith topped the strike-rate charts but the last two weren’t regular in the XI.Tips for 2018A higher investment on run-getters should be Rajshahi’s priority for next season. Better research on local players would be helpful.

The DC head coach also called Jake Fraser-McGurk one of the “standout powerplay batsmen” of IPL 2024 along with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma

ESPNcricinfo staff11-May-20242:34

What’s clicked for Abishek Porel?

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has lavished praise on Abishek Porel, the left-hand batter who has sparkled in multiple roles during IPL 2024, and indicated that he will don the keeping gloves against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday in the absence of the suspended Rishabh Pant. Capitals signed Porel in 2023 as a replacement for Pant, who missed the entire season after sustaining multiple injuries in a car crash, and Ponting has predicted that the Bengal keeper-batter has “a really bright future”.Porel has scored 267 runs in ten innings this season at a strike rate of 157.98. He began the campaign batting at No. 9 against Punjab Kings, coming in as an Impact Player and smacking an unbeaten 32 off just ten balls. Since then, he has been promoted to a top-four role, and in DC’s last game against Rajasthan Royals, he opened the batting and put on 60 in just 4.2 overs with Jake Fraser-McGurk. Porel went on to score 65 off 36, his first IPL half-century, studded with seven fours and three sixes.”I’ve seen extreme growth in Abishek Porel in this IPL,” Ponting said in Bengaluru ahead of the match against RCB. “In fact, looking back to the start of last season, obviously [with] Rishabh’s accident, we needed to bring in some wicketkeepers into our squad after the auction. We tried a lot of guys, a lot of guys that played, more senior guys than Porel, but the moment that I laid eyes on him, I knew that he was a very special talent.Related

• Aussies at the IPL: Green's growth, Warner's return, as eyes turn to T20 World Cup

• Porel makes quiet impact in star-studded Capitals line-up

• Pant to miss crucial game against RCB due to over-rate suspension

• 'Don't feel like I've earned that yet' – Fraser-McGurk fine with missing T20 World Cup

“I think, what we’ve seen in the last half a dozen games in particular, that talent’s really starting to shine through. He’s starting to work out what IPL cricket is all about. He’s had a couple of different roles as well. In the first game of the season for us, he came in as a No. 9 batsman, Impact Player, and made [32] off ten balls there, and now we see him opening the batting and he’s got better and better every game.”I’ve got huge raps on him. I think he’s a very, very good young player, obviously we’ll probably get to see him with the keeping gloves on tomorrow as well, with Rishabh not being there. And then we’ll work out, when we finalise our team, with the batting order and stuff, but I’ll be surprised if he’s not at the top of the order again, because he has played really well, and he’s someone that I think has got a really bright future.”Porel has hit 31 fours so far this season, the joint-most for DC along with Pant, even though he has scored only 267 runs to Pant’s 413. Until this IPL season, he had played just four games in the tournament – all in 2023 – scoring 33 runs at a strike rate of 106.45. He was among the retained players for DC coming into this IPL.Ricky Ponting has termed Jake Fraser-McGurk’s IPL performances ‘electrifying’•Getty Images

‘Fraser-McGurk among the standout powerplay batsmen this IPL with Head and Abhishek’

Ponting also hailed Jake Fraser-McGurk, the swashbuckling 22-year-old batter who has taken this IPL by storm, but didn’t find a place in the Australia squad for the T20 World Cup next month. Fraser-McGurk himself had said he felt he hadn’t earned a place in the final 15-member squad.Fraser-McGurk was picked by DC as a replacement player just before IPL 2024, after fast bowler Lungi Ngidi was ruled out. Fraser-McGurk has since then, in many ways, reset the T20 batting template in the powerplay, just like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have while batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. Fraser-McGurk has scored his 309 runs while striking at 235.87 and averaging 44.14, with the help of four half-centuries. That strike rate is even better than Abhishek’s 205.64 and Head’s 201.89.”I don’t think Jake expected to get picked in the first place,” Ponting said of his absence from the T20 World Cup squad. “It was only a few weeks ago that he turned up here as a replacement player, and probably the furthest thing from his mind was actually getting a chance to be in that World Cup squad. It’s just been how electrifying he’s been in this IPL. Some of the things he’s done – I think he’s made three 20-ball fifties in this tournament, so he along with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been the stand-out powerplay batsmen in this entire tournament.”I saw some quotes from him the day that the squad was announced or the day after – he wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t in the squad, he wasn’t disappointed at not being there. I’m sure he would have liked to have been in it, but I think he would have been more surprised to be named than left out. He’s focused now, like all of us, he’s making sure that we’re ready to go tomorrow. For us, it’s not about what happened yesterday, it’s about what we can do today to get better, and then make sure that we’re ready to play our best game of cricket tomorrow.”

Claude Makelele believes Chelsea can emulate Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League triumph even with a young squad.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Chelsea have qualified for UCL after a brief hiatusThey have one of the youngest squads in the PLMakelele wants further reinforcements at Stamford BridgeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea wrapped up their 2024–25 campaign with a flurry of positive results, including Champions League qualification secured with a dramatic victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day. Just days later, the Blues capped their season by lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy following an emphatic 4-1 triumph over Real Betis.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Remarkably, Chelsea achieved these feats while fielding the youngest average starting XI in Premier League history – a clear indicator of their long-term vision under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime. With a roster full of emerging stars and a revamped backroom structure, the club has embarked on a new chapter of strategic rebuilding, with Maresaca masterminding their progress.

WHAT MAKELELE SAID

Reflecting on Chelsea’s recent progress, Makelele expressed that the managerial turnover and sweeping changes at the club initially raised concerns, but he now sees signs of growing stability under new head coach Maresca.

"I think Chelsea are doing well. They are starting at the beginning [of their project], very slowly," he said to .

"In the beginning, they changed a lot of players and managers. The new manager [Enzo Maresca] made sure Chelsea finished the season in a good way. They qualified for the Champions League and won a trophy. I think this new Chelsea can be successful now."

DID YOU KNOW?

Makelele emphasised the importance of allowing Maresca the time to implement his ideas. Drawing parallels with PSG’s decision to back Luis Enrique, the Frenchman suggested Chelsea should follow suit by giving Maresca the room to grow and lead.

"We need to wait for Chelsea to win the Premier League again, and they are starting to build a strategy and some stability," he said. "But, for me, the most important thing is they need to leave Maresca working in a good way, like Paris St-Germain did with Luis Enrique.

"They need stability if they are to fight for a title. I am a Chelsea fan, and I was worried when I saw Chelsea struggling in the beginning [under new owners Clearlake-Boehly], but now they are on a positive path and can return to the Chelsea of the past, which was at a high level."