Manchester City are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Benjamin Pavard during the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Is Pavard off in the summer?

This summer is hopefully going to be another fruitful one for City in the transfer market as they look to make their squad even more formidable by adding fresh legs. Full-back could be an area of the pitch to strengthen with Kyle Walker now in his thirties and Joao Cancelo's future up in the air after joining Bayern Munich on loan.

One player who could potentially be on the move at the end of the season is Pavard, who is currently a key figure for Bayern. The France World Cup winner has started 20 Bundesliga matches this season, as well as appearing seven times in the Champions League.

The 27-year-old is out of contract in the summer of 2024, so this year could be the last opportunity to receive a decent amount of money for his signature, meaning he could move on to pastures new this summer. It looks as though there could be a scrap to sign Pavard in the upcoming window, following a fresh update.

Could Frenchman head to Man City?

According to 90min, City are in the hunt to sign Pavard from Bayern, although they are far from alone in expressing their interest. Manchester United and Real Madrid are the other top clubs who are believed in the conversation. All three clubs are keen on "bolstering" their right-back options and they see the France international as a strong option to bring in.

He may not be the most attack-minded full-back in the game – he has only registered one assist in the league this season – but he is a defensively astute player with a wealth of experience and a winning mentality, as highlighted by his World Cup triumph back in 2018.

With Uli Hoeness lauding him as "wonderful" in the past, Pavard could be seen as a strong option to rival Walker for minutes moving forward, easing the Englishman's workload as he gets older in the process and proving to be an intelligent signing who learns the City system quickly.

Having great squad depth can be key for a team like City who are battling on maximum fronts each year, and the Bayern defender could be someone who comes in and simply does a solid job – possibly even enjoying his best years of his career at the Etihad.

Sheffield Wednesday forward Callum Paterson has made a huge step on his road to recovery from injury, Alex Miller reports.

What’s the latest and Paterson’s injury?

The Owls still currently sit top of League One, however, the have failed to win any of their last five fixtures, which has resulted in the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Barnsley all breathing down their neck ahead of the run-in.

Darren Moore’s side have seven league fixtures remaining and will be hoping to clinch one of two automatic spots instead of dropping into the playoffs over the coming weeks.

Wednesday have been without Paterson since February, with the 28-year-old missing the last 11 games due to a hamstring injury. However, it looks as if he may be able to play some part in the run-in, with Miller sharing comments from Moore regarding the forward.

The Star reporter stated that Paterson has made a ‘huge leap’ in his recovery and should be back in training this week, with Moore saying:

“It’s all dependent on the individual. First and foremost it’s his health but he needs the volume and to be back in with the main group. He has to get used to the quick-thinking, reacting to the ball.

“That’s down to speaking to the medical team about whether he’s having reactions. If we don’t get any of them then I start to get a little bit giddy in terms of getting him back into a squad. At the moment I’m reserved in my view on it because I know the process that he has to go through first.”

Could Paterson make a difference?

Paterson, described as an "important" player by Moore, has been a regular for Wednesday since arriving back in 2020, making 119 appearances and contributing to 30 goals.

The Scot has mainly played through the middle as a centre-forward this season but has also turned out in a number of other attacking positions under Moore when required, scoring the winner against rivals Plymouth as a right-midfielder in his last appearance.

Therefore, his return before the end of the season would surely be welcomed by Moore, especially with the club desperate to get back to winning ways, and it looks as if it could be possible following this update.

Ahead of South Africa’s departure for the World T20, coach Russell Domingo feels that his side’s consistency in the shortest format will hold them in good stead at the tournament

Firdose Moonda10-Mar-20164:14

‘We have to learn from our mistakes’ – Du Plessis

For all the unwanted accolades Russell Domingo earned this summer – he oversaw South Africa’s longest winless streak in Test cricket since readmission in which they were also bowled out for their two lowest scores – he remains their most successful major tournament coach and therein lies the chance for him to declare this season a success. Domingo has been in charge for two ICC tournaments, the World T20 in 2014 and the 2015 World Cup. South Africa reached the semi-finals in both tournaments and he has reason to believe they can go one, or even two better at the World T20 in India.”We’ve got a chance. We are one of the most consistent sides in this format. We can go there very confident,” Domingo said on the eve of South Africa’s departure for India. “We have prepared very well. We have some of the best players in the world. We’ve got a seriously good side. We’ll be there and thereabouts.”

Cleared action doesn’t guarantee Phangiso spot in XI

Despite having his bowling action declared legal, Aaron Phangiso may still be on the sidelines for the World T20, as he was during the 2015 World Cup. Phangiso was the only member of South Africa’s 2015 party who did not play a single game and has since struggled to establish himself against an array of personal problems. He remains back-up to Imran Tahir.
“I can’t guarantee anybody a spot. We need to get there and play our best starting XI,” Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach said.
Phangiso’s remodeled action has not yet been tested in international cricket. He was rushed through two tests after being reported for a suspect action during a domestic game last month. Phangiso’s action was found to be illegal after a first round of tests.
Domingo explained Phangiso will get a chance to put his new action to the test in the warm-up matches before South Africa decide on their final XI.
Phangiso is one of only two black African players in the squad and there could be pressure to play him as the country’s sports minister got involved in the controversy around the bowler’s action.

South Africa signed off on their home season with a 2-1 series defeat to Australia, but victories over England and India in India in the shortest format would seem to put them among the favourites. However, a difficult few months headlined by Test defeats and talk of AB de Villiers’ workload management means they will fly under the radar for a change and Domingo is quite happy with that. “We are all pretty chilled. I don’t think there is a weight of expectation around our team or any of the teams because of the nature of the competition,” he said.The structure of the tournament – two groups of five teams with each team playing each other only once – means the chances of slipping up are greater, so Domingo is encouraging his team to “keep it simple,” and not look for a special formula. “You can’t get too fancy, you can’t get too funky. There is no magic wand to wave. The sides that do the basics really well in high-pressure games, they usually come out on top,” he said.South Africa were that side for five successive limited-overs matches at home when they came from behind to beat England 3-2 in an ODI series and win the first two T20s. All those wins and the first against Australia came chasing, which has allowed South Africa to bury one ghost but resurrect another. “We’ve chased really well which is a big bonus but we need to defend a score. We need to find ways of scraping,” Domingo said.Domingo’s way of helping them find that is to ensure they have clarity of thought rather than an overload of technical expertise. “I can’t hit my players if they bowl a no-ball, or slap them on the wrist,” he said. “If you make a mistake, the last thing a player wants to hear is, ‘Why did you bowl that?’ Encouraging them and working on their thought processes is the key. If your thoughts are clear you have got a better chance of executing your plan.”Faf du Plessis has already bought into that philosophy and emphasised that the fundamentals should be South Africa’s focus as they head to into the World T20: “This team has had really good results in the subcontinent but we’ve got some of work to do to make sure we are ready for that first game. We’ve got to work on the basics.”

ScorecardShaun Marsh scored a 119-ball 109 to go with his first-innings 95•Getty Images

A four-wicket haul from Joel Paris gave Western Australia a thrilling 24-run win over Queensland, after centuries from Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger had powered their charge to a third-innings declaration. Paris had replaced Nathan Coulter-Nile in the Western Australia side on the third day of the match.Chasing 282, Queensland were well on course thanks to Charlie Hemphrey, who added 77 with Marnus Labuschagne (52, 49b, 6×4, 1×6) for the second wicket and 97 with Chris Lynn (44, 68b, 8×4) for the third to take the score to 2 for 182. But wickets fell steadily thereafter, as Queensland slipped to 7 for 228, before Hemphrey and Mark Steketee steadied the chase with a 28-run eighth-wicket stand. With Queensland needing 26 with three wickets in hand, Michael Hogan struck, bowling Hemphrey for 102 (144b, 16×4). The end came in the very next over, as Paris broke through the defences of No. 10 Mitchell Swepson and No. 11 Peter George off successive deliveries.Western Australia began the day 1 for 79 in their second innings, their lead 69. They lost Cameron Bancroft in the second over of the day, for 45 (95b, 5×4) before Marsh and Klinger took over, adding 149 off 116 balls for the third wicket. Jack Wildermuth then dismissed Marsh for 109 (119b, 11×4, 4×6) and took the wickets of Ashton Agar and Ashton Turner soon after. Western Australia declared on 5 for 291, with Klinger unbeaten on 102 off 86 balls (10×4, 4×6).

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a summer move for Leeds United defender Robin Koch, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Summer rebuild needed?

Antonio Conte accused his players of lacking ‘spirit’ in his post-match press conference after the 3-3 draw against Southampton yesterday afternoon, indicating the club could be in need of a summer rebuild, regardless of whether the manager stays.

The Lilywhites have been linked with new options at the back for quite some time now, with versatile Stuttgart defender Borna Sosa said to be of interest, while RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol is a more outlandish target.

However, Spurs could also look at bringing in a new option that has proven Premier League experience, with Koch emerging as a potential signing in recent days…

The Latest: Koch targeted

As per a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are in the market for a new centre-back this summer, and they have shortlisted the Leeds defender as a target, in light of him still not committing to a contract extension beyond the end of next season.

The Yorkshire club could look to cash in on the 26-year-old at the end of the current season to ensure that he doesn’t end up leaving for free in 2024, opening the door for a potential move to north London.

Spurs believe the centre-back could be available on the cheap this summer if Leeds are relegated to the Championship, so they are expected to continue to monitor the situation.

The Verdict: Get it done?

After the 3-3 draw against Southampton at the weekend, it is evident Spurs have glaring deficiencies in defence, with Eric Dier putting in a very poor performance, while Clement Lenglet has also been unconvincing this season, being heavily criticised by John Wenham.

Koch has been hailed by sections of the media for some of his performances this season, with pundit Clinton Morrison describing him as ‘outstanding’ after his performance against Brentford back in January.

However, the 6 foot 3 colossus has not stood out for Leeds, recording an average Sofascore match rating of just 6.72, ranking him as just the sixth-best performing defender in the squad, below the likes of Maximilian Wober and Rasmus Kristiansen.

As such, the eight-time Germany international may not be the huge upgrade that Spurs need in defence, and so he could only be targeted as a rotation option, rather than as the club’s main target to strengthen the centre-back area.

Liverpool are among several Premier League clubs eyeing up a move for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: Midfield additions essential

The Reds have a huge summer transfer window ahead of them, with major reinforcements required in order to overcome a huge slump this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s squad has started to grow old together, and with a lack of younger signings coming in, it seems to have taken its toll both physically and mentally.

Liverpool’s midfield has been particularly out-of-sorts, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looking past their best and the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita, James Milner, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all not offering enough, both in terms of consistency and availability.

Jude Bellingham continues to be linked with a big-money move to Anfield, with the Borussia Dortmund sensation one of numerous midfielders linked with a summer move, but more than one player needs to come in in that area of the pitch.

The Latest: Liverpool scouting Ward-Prowse

According to Football Insider, Ward-Prowse has emerged as a potential option for Liverpool, with the report stating that the Reds have ‘sent scouts’ to watch him in action.

Newcastle United and Manchester United are also mentioned as possible suitors, however, with the 28-year-old almost certain to leave Southampton if they are relegated from the Premier League.

Ward-Prowse’s current deal with Saints runs until the summer of 2026, so it seems unlikely that he would be able to arrive on the cheap.

The Verdict: Is he too old?

There is no denying Ward-Prowse’s ability as a top-flight player, having been such an influential star for Saints over an extended period of time, making 399 appearances for them in total.

In that time, he has scored 53 goals and registered 51 assists, catching the eye with his free-kick ability.

Ward-Prowse could easily be a good signing for Liverpool – Oriol Romeu called him an ‘unbelievable’ player last year – but the one issue is his age, with the Reds in need of younger midfielders who can be long-term signings.

The two-goal England international turns 29 in November and is only a year younger than Fabinho, for example, and there is a risk that he comes in and drifts past his peak too quickly.

It could be that Ward-Prowse comes in and plays at a top level for five years but it isn’t a risk worth taking, with the likes of Bellingham (19), Matheus Nunes (24) and Mason Mount (24) younger, more sensible options.

The Delhi High Court has refused to permit the contentious RP Mehra Block of the Ferozeshah Kotla ground to be used for the first semi-finals of the World Twenty20, on March 30

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Mar-2016

The Delhi High Court has refused to permit the contentious RP Mehra Block of the Feroz Shah Kotla ground to be used for the first semi-finals of the World Twenty20, on March 30. This puts a question mark over the match venue, and officials of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) are due to meet the ICC on Wednesday to try and resolve the issue.On Monday the DDCA approached the court with a petition seeking to open the stand, in an attempt to avoid the semi-final being shifted to an alternate venue if the issue related to the Mehra Block was not resolved.Ravinder Manchanda, the DDCA treasurer, meanwhile said that the DDCA had sent a letter to Justice (retired) Mukul Mudgal, appointed as the observer by the court for the World T20 matches in Delhi, assuring him the safety of the Mehra Block. “We have withdrawn the petition. We have given an undertaking to the Justice Mudgal as far as safety of the structure is concerned, and the safety and security of the spectators is concerned. Justice Mudgal would do the needful now,” Manchanda told ESPNcricinfo.The court had, in an earlier oral order, said that the Mehra Block would remain an unauthorised structure until the DDCA had got the clearance from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). On Tuesday, the court reiterated that stand when it told DDCA that it would not open the Block for public use unless the SDMC granted the completion certificate.The court also reminded the DDCA counsels that Justice Mudgal was not there to give clearances, and it was the SDMC approval that the court wanted to see. “We can’t grant use of any building without completion certificate,” a two-judge division bench of the High Court told the DDCA counsel. Duly the DDCA withdrew its petition.According to a key official involved with the conduct of matches in Delhi, Justice Mudgal is highly unlikely to change his stance on the Mehra Block. “Since it [Mehra Block] is not an authorised structure, Mudgal has not permitted anyone else except the media. And that, too, because the angle of the cameras cannot change. The stand is right behind the bowler’s arm,” the official said.The official also clarified that Mudgal had not raised any issue with respect to hoardings in front of the Mehra block as certain media reports indicated. “He only said no person would be allowed there except for media,” the official said. It is understood that Mudgal made his stand clear to ICC chief executive Dave Richardson recently.

Reporter and Leeds United fan James Marshment has been reacting to an injury to forward Wilfried Gnonto during the international break.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Gnonto’s injury?

The Whites haven’t had much luck when it comes to injuries over the last two weeks. Tyler Adams was the first to encounter a problem, with the club confirming prior to the Premier League win over Wolves that he had suffered a hamstring injury in training. The midfielder missed the trip to Molineux and the chance to captain his country, with Phil Hay reporting that he needed to see a specialist.

Max Wober was the next to pick up an issue, with the centre-back needing to be replaced during the first 45 minutes of Austria’s first European Championship qualifier. The defender has returned to Leeds for an assessment, with things going from bad to worse now as Gnonto joins the club.

The teenager started for Italy in their European Championship qualifier against Malta, but like Wober, failed to make it to half-time due to an ankle injury. Roberto Mancini was hoping that it was just a sprain, with Gnonto returning to Yorkshire as a result. Marshment took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to relay the news of Gnonto’s ‘urgent assessment’ following the injury on Sunday evening. He said that alongside the news on Wober:

“It never rains, it pours…”

What will Leeds do without Gnonto?

Javi Gracia may not have Gnonto available in the short term, however, the head coach has a number of options out wide. He actually has started Gnonto in just two of his four Premier League games in charge, although the 19-year-old has provided assists in the last two top-flight fixtures against Brighton and Wolves.

His absence could prove to be a big blow, but Gracia should have the likes of Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville to call upon, starting against Arsenal this weekend. Who knows, Gnonto’s issue could prove to be minor, with Hay saying that both the forward and Wober have had ‘positive assessments’ since returning to Yorkshire.

The club might not want to take any risks, especially as Gnonto is the most fouled player on the books at Elland Road this season, as per WhoScored, but hopefully, they will be able to feature in crucial back-to-back home fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace next month, games which could prove crucial to the club’s Premier League status.

Rising Pune Supergiants – on the brink of elimination – will be desperate for a win when they take on an in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam

The Preview by Shashank Kishore09-May-2016

Match facts

Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)5:24

Match Day: Can R Ashwin spin things Supergiants’ way?

Big Picture

MS Dhoni is known for being a step ahead of the game, and yet in this IPL, he has been searching for answers. His team Rising Pune Supergiants have won only three out of 10 matches and a loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, currently second on the points table, could leave them in the cold.Supergiants have four games left, and they can get to 14 points if they win them all. IPL history is replete with teams sneaking into the playoffs on 14 points. And even that may not be enough this year, given the huge differences in net run-rates. So a win on Tuesday is non-negotiable for Supergiants; they might not even be able to afford a rained-out fixture, which could well happen as the monsoon advances.Sunrisers, in their three years so far, have had to rely on late dashes to make the playoffs. This time, they have benefitted from their India internationals – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra and Shikhar Dhawan – complementing the overseas professionals to deliver plenty of match-winning performances. The return of Yuvraj Singh, whose 23-ball 39 lent the finishing touches to the Sunrisers’ innings against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, also augers well for the side.David Warner’s brazenness upfront has given Dhawan an opportunity to reconstruct his game, and his tactful use of Mustafizur Rahman, the team’s trump card, has elicited comparisons with how Lasith Malinga and Sunil Narine have been used at Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.Based on form, Sunrisers seem miles ahead, but Supergiants are at that stage where playing an uninhibited game seems their only option. Such teams generally tend to be dangerous.

Form guide

Rising Pune Supergiants LWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad WWWLW

In the spotlight

Originally considered a misfit in the shortest format, Usman Khawaja silenced the critics by becoming the second-highest run-getter in the 2015-16 Big Bash League despite playing just four matches. He was also Australia’s highest run-scorer at the World T20. Khawaja has had a couple of starts in the IPL, but hasn’t been able to build on them. Still his timing has been impeccable.Shikhar Dhawan has scored 294 runs in his last six innings, just 59 short of his entire tally in the 2015 season. That combined with his strike rate of 116.54 indicates the change in his role from a basher to an accumulator. That it has been a successful switch is clear from the fact that five of his last six knocks have resulted in wins.

Team news

A slew of injuries to their first-choice foreign players have left Supergiants with very little choices. The captain MS Dhoni is nursing a sore back and a tight hamstring but is likely to play. However, it is unclear if legspinner M Ashwin has recovered from the side strain that forced him out of their previous game on Saturday.So Adam Zampa, who had dismissed KL Rahul and AB de Villiers in the same over on IPL debut, may be given a longer run. There is a case for adding freshness to the seam attack by giving Irfan Pathan and Ishwar Pandey a game in place of Rajat Bhatia and RP Singh. The two bowlers finished with combined figures of 8-0-82-1 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Rising Pune Supergiants: 1 Ajinkya Rahane 2 Usman Khawaja 3 Saurabh Tiwary 4 MS Dhoni (capt, wk) 5 Thisara Perera 6 George Bailey 7 Rajat Bhatia/Irfan Pathan 8 R Ashwin 9 Adam Zampa 10 Ashok Dinda 11 RP Singh/Ishwar PandeyExpect Sunrisers to field an unchanged XI, barring last-minute injuries at training on match day. Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 David Warner (capt) 2 Shikhar Dhawan 3 Kane Williamson 4 Yuvraj Singh 5 Moises Henriques 6 Deepak Hooda 7 Naman Ojha (wk) 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 9 Barinder Sran 10 Ashish Nehra 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

A fresh surface that encouraged pace and bounce was rolled out for Visakhapatnam’s tournament opener on Sunday. A 4pm start negated the effects of dew. However, with this being a night game and the high levels of humidity in coastal cities, the toss could be crucial.

Stats and trivia

• Sunrisers economy rate of 6.44 is the best among all teams in the Powerplays. An economy of 8.66 in the last five overs is marginally better than second-placed Kings XI Punjab, who concede an average of 9.12.
• Warner and Dhawan have put together three fifty-plus stands – 137*, 90 and 85 – in winning causes this season

Quotes

“A lot of people have asked me (about the India bowling coach job) but I haven’t thought about it. I’m still playing, and haven’t thought about what I will do after retirement. But let’s see. You never know, maybe one day.””I guess we are still quite clinging on to the fact that if we could put four games together and get across the line in a couple, then we are an outside chance to get through to the semi-finals. I have been in this situation before and got through, and I still believe we can have a go”

Tottenham Hotspur have 'definitely' looked at Marcelo Gallardo as a potential option to replace Antonio Conte, according to Alasdair Gold.

What's the latest on Tottenham's manager search?

In the last fortnight, names linked with the Spurs managerial position have been in no short supply, with an array of coaches both in and out of work emerging as contenders.

Chairman Daniel Levy may already have his ideal candidates and recent reports suggest that the likes of Arne Slot (Feyenoord) now stand a real chance of succeeding Antonio Conte.

Beforehand, former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino had been tipped as a hot contender, with reliable news outlets indicating he would be very open to talks with Spurs.

Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Zinedine Zidane and even Brendan Rodgers, despite his disastrous final season at ex-club Leicester City, are also in the running. Meanwhile, currently employed tacticians like Eintracht Frankfurt's Oliver Glasner and Brentford's Thomas Frank are said to have admirers at Tottenham.

Their next manager after Conte comes as Levy's most crucial decision of this year and he will be eager to avoid an embarrassing repeat of Tottenham's 72-day search for Jose Mourinho's replacement in 2021.

Now, reliable reporter Gold has suggested that a new name has been looked at in former River Plate boss Gallardo – who has also attracted interest from Chelsea.

While the 47-year-old isn't a 'leading candidate' at this stage, Gold also wouldn't rule out a move for him entirely.

The journalist explained in a football.london Q&A:

"I wouldn't rule out Marcelo Gallardo entirely but I think he'd be an outlier in the running. For one reason or another he hasn't been linked with a move to the Premier League too much, or at least he wasn't until there was some suggestions from Brazil about him being a potential Chelsea candidate.

"I think he's one Spurs have definitely looked at but I don't get the impression he's a leading candidate at this stage. As with Nuno in 2021 though, who knows what can happen to the order of candidates as others fall away."

What would Gallardo bring to Spurs?

The South American has won trophies galore from his spells at both Club Nacional and River Plate – boasting a grand total of 10 pieces of silverware across the Atlantic.

For Spurs supporters who wish to see the return of possession-based, forward-thinking football – Gallardo could be the manager for them as he encourages a 4-3-3 attacking formation similar to Pochettino.

His status as a free agent comes as yet another reason to consider moving for Gallardo, and if their search continues to drag on, we wouldn't be at all surprised to see him become a more solid option.