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da luck： Brendan Rodgers has had to oversee a lot of change on the left side of his Celtic squad, at left-back in particular, during the summer transfer window so far.

da winzada777： The Hoops have already added one new left-back to the team in the form of Kieran Tierney, who has returned to Parkhead on a free transfer from Premier League giants Arsenal, six years on from his initial move to the Gunners from Glasgow.

Tierney, who won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first spell at the club after coming through the academy, will be aiming to nail down a position as the first-choice left-back at Celtic once again.

The Scotland international looks set to replace compatriot Greg Taylor, who is leaving the Scottish giants this summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Fabrizio Romano, as shown in the post above, recently confirmed that the full-back has agreed a deal to sign for Greek side PAOK ahead of next season.

Another left-back who has moved on from Parkhead this summer is Jeffrey Schlupp, who spent the second half of the season on loan from Crystal Palace, and the club must now avoid a permanent deal for him.

Why Celtic should not sign Jeffrey Schlupp

The Eagles confirmed at the end of May that the left-back would not be getting a new contract at Selhurst Park, which means that he will be available on a free transfer.

Schlupp made 14 appearances, starting eight of those games, in the Premiership and the Champions League for the Hoops, and his best performance for the club came in the second leg of their Champions League play-off clash with Bayern Munich.

Vs Bayern (A)

Jeffrey Schlupp

Minutes

90

Clearances

9

Blocks

1

Interceptions

5

Tackles

6

Dribbled past

1x

Ground duels won

7/8

Aerial duels won

1/2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Palace loanee was incredibly dominant defensively up against the mercurial Michael Olise on the right wing for Bayern, winning the majority of his duels and making 11 tackles and interceptions, whilst being dribbled past just once.

Despite that impressive showing from the Ghana international, Celtic also have to plan for the future and signing a 32-year-old, who turns 33 in December, on a permanent multi-year contract may not be the best move that they can make this summer.

Therefore, supporters should be happy to read that the Hoops are reportedly closing in on the signing of an alternative target who could be an even better signing than Schlupp.

Celtic schedule medical to complete new signing

According to Sponichi, Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Albirex Niigata defender Hayato Inamura to bolster their options at the back ahead of next season.

The report claims that the left-footed star’s last match for his club was the 4-0 defeat to Machida on Sunday, as he played 90 minutes as a centre-back in the loss.

Transfer Focus

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

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It adds that the two clubs have already reached an agreement in principle over a transfer for the 23-year-old talent, and that a move will officially go through in the coming week.

Sponichi reveals that the Japanese defender will travel to Scotland at the start of the coming week to undergo a medical with the Hoops before putting pen to paper on a permanent switch to Glasgow.

This means that Celtic are set to sign the versatile Niigata ace in the coming days, with a medical scheduled and a fee agreed, and he could come in as an even better signing than Schlupp.

Why Inamura will be a better signing than Schlupp for Celtic

As aforementioned, the former Palace loanee turns 33 later this year and would only come in as a stop-gap signing to provide cover in the short term, which is also what he did during his loan spell.

Schlupp would not be a signing with a view to the future because, at his age, he is unlikely to develop much further, if at all, and does not have the potential to grow into being the first-choice after Tierney’s second spell comes to an end.

Inamura, however, is nine years younger than the Ghana international and, therefore, has far more time on his hands to develop and improve as a player during his time in Glasgow.

He is five years younger than Tierney and could, therefore, eventually be his successor if he kicks on and improves at Celtic, whilst initially coming in as a back-up option.

Inamura is usually deployed as a centre-back by Niigata, but Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph noted that he can also play as a left-back. His statistics in the J1 League this season also suggest that he would be well-suited to playing that role for the Hoops.

2025 J1 League

Hayato Inamura

Percentile rank vs CBs

Assists

0.07

Top 8%

Pass accuracy

87%

Top 29%

Accurate long passes

5.75

Top 5%

Long pass accuracy

47%

Top 19%

Chances created

0.42

Top 18%

Cross accuracy

50%

Top 15%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the soon-to-be Celtic signing ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of possession-based metrics, which speaks to his ability on the ball.

His ability to successfully complete crosses at an impressive rate and to consistently create chances for his teammates from a centre-back position suggests that he could be well-suited to playing as a left-back for the Hoops, which would allow him to showcase his in-possession qualities.

Inamura, who analyst Rio Nakagawara claimed has “fantastic ball progression” as a passer and carrier, appears to have the technical qualities to thrive in Glasgow.

His positional flexibility also makes him an attractive target, as he can play at centre-back or left-back, and that is another reason why he would be an even better signing than Schlupp, who was not a central defensive option for Rodgers.

Related Dream signing for Nygren: Celtic targeting move for "promising" £2m star

Following Benjamin Nygren’s arrival from Nordsjælland, Celtic are in the mix to sign one star who’d be a dream teammate for the Swede.

Posts ByBen Gray Jun 29, 2025

Overall, signing Inamura seems to make more sense for the Premiership champions because of his age profile, his positional flexibility, and his quality on the ball.

Saurashtra captain talks about his evolving journey and how making an Indian comeback remains his priority

Interview by Saurabh Somani11-Jan-2020Your thoughts on the IPL auction – you’re back with your old team. At a reduced price but in a familiar setting?I think this is the first time I’m answering a question about the auctions. I consciously didn’t want to speak about it because I felt this has to be taken as lightly as it can be. I haven’t thought about it as much as I did previously. All I know is I’m going to play in the same team, and I’m happy I’m going to play in the same set-up where I know the people, the management, the captain. But auctions, pressure and the things that people talk about – I’m just over all that.Does it give you confidence that even though Rajasthan Royals released you, they had enough faith to want you back?That has been a trend with me for whatever team I’ve played in. People have been looking to get me back. All I can make out from that is that I must be doing something good for the team and with my performance. All I want is to be better at it, maybe not give them a chance to put me back in the auction again and prove that I’m worth more than what people think I am. But having said that, I am in a happy space about my cricket. If you would have asked me this question two years back, I would have talked a lot about it, but at the moment, it doesn’t affect me at all, even if I talk about it.

“Earlier, it used to play on my mind that I need to get X number of wickets in a season to make my name, but those things don’t really play on my mind anymore. I’m above that now. It’s just about bowling at my best, bowling hostile spells where you can feel the batsmen don’t like playing you”

This is a T20 World Cup year. Are you aiming at something specific, like being in that tournament?If I take it that way, it’s not going to help me. The competition is such that whoever is getting chances, people are doing well. So I just need to focus on my skills. Of course, whatever efforts I’m putting in, it’s all about getting my place back in the Indian team, but it’s not all about the World Cup. It’s a personal goal that I’ve set, and it’s a process that will go on till I prove that I’m worth getting my place back in the team.Everyone knows what one tournament can do for a player, especially for someone who is on the verge of being in and out of the team. So be it IPL or this Ranji Trophy, everything is crucial.You had told me recently that you are at peace with your game, even though you aren’t making the India A squads?Yes, you can say that. Although recently, it did disappoint me a bit, that after starting the season on a great note, I was a bit hopeful of being given a chance in the India A tour that’s coming up. So it’s not that I’m not at all bothered about that, these things do come in the mind, thoughts like: ‘when is the next selection happening, and when am I going to get my chance?’ Especially when I’m doing well. But like you said, I am in a state of peace in the sense that it does not affect my mindset at all when I play a game. Being the captain actually helps because I’m thinking about the team, strategies and all that and it’s not just about me. That’s helped me a lot to be in a good space.You got the captaincy mid-season last year and ended up having your most successful season as a bowler.I think captaincy added a whole new dimension to my game and to myself as a player. I am someone who loves taking on leadership roles. I’ve loved it since I was quite young. I am fortunate that I’m playing for a team like Saurashtra. It’s not a team with lots of ‘big’ players, it’s a well-knit unit, and it’s always good to captain a side like that.I’m excited for the guys in my team. The way we played last year was something I cherish, and would love to repeat. I don’t really care if anyone else noticed it or not, but the way we were enjoying ourselves, coming back from behind to win [in the quarter-final against Uttar Pradesh and the semi-final against Karnataka], I think there’s no better feeling. I can do this throughout my career if given the chance.You said Saurashtra is a team without ‘big’ players, but you have two pretty big ones in Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja.Yes, of course. But then they are not always available. Cheteshwar was there for the knockouts last year and he was a big help. We’ve been best friends since 8-9 years now and he’s the guy with whom I talk cricket the most. It was really good to have him around in the first year [of my captaincy]. When I wanted any help from someone in the middle, he was there. And as a batsman, you can’t ask for anything better than Cheteshwar. And Ravindra as well, whenever he has played for Saurashtra, he has won matches single-handedly. He’s obviously one of a kind, cannot be matched.But now we have a team that is doing well even when they are not available, which wasn’t the case before. We wanted to do that as a team, and we’ve been able to do that last season.

“We had a deal that if he [Pujara] gets a century in any of the innings there [in Australia], I would give him a gift worth INR 5000. And if I would take a fifer here [in the Ranji Trophy that was going on], he would give me a gift worth INR 5000. So we had a friendly battle to see who would come on top and get more gifts. He got three centuries in that tour, but after the 193 in Sydney he told me that was actually deserving of a 200 so I should give him 10,000 for that!”

You’ve been great friends with Pujara. You and he must have had some interesting conversations when he was in Australia, putting in a Man-of-the-Series performance, and you were leading Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy?We had a deal that if he gets a century in any of the innings there, I would give him a gift worth INR 5000. And if I would take a fifer here [in the Ranji Trophy that was going on in India at the time], he would give me a gift worth INR 5000. So we had a friendly battle to see who would come on top and get more gifts. He got three centuries in that tour, but after the 193 in Sydney he told me that was actually deserving of a 200 so I should give him 10,000 for that!I had a good season as well, I had four fifers here. So he gave me a gift and I gave him one. So it was quite memorable.Since you said you enjoy captaincy, do you think there was a case for you to get it sooner, and not just when Jaydev Shah retired? [Jaydev Shah retired midway through the 2018-19 season after having captained Saurashtra in 111 games, a Ranji Trophy record]I think this is the right time, because I have matured as a player. Maybe if it had come to me a couple of years earlier, I would still be fighting my own way about how I want to be as a player. I was still figuring out what my strengths and weaknesses are. But now I’m at a stage where I’m really clear about those things. So now I can really focus on the captaincy as well because it’s something that demands a lot of attention. If you want to be the captain of a , if you want everyone in the team to do well, there are a lot of things you can do as a captain. Keep everyone together, keep the atmosphere good. At the same time, guys who are not playing, keep them on their toes and aware about where they stand. If you want to do all that, you have to be clear in your mind as a player, so I think it’s come to me at the right time.What went right last season for Saurashtra, and for you?Before the fourth-innings chase in the quarter-final, I spoke and Cheteshwar spoke about how important it is for a side like Saurashtra, who don’t really have the kind of players that Mumbai or Karnataka have had, that we qualify for the knockouts every year without the help of guys like Cheteshwar and Ravindra. So it was an opportunity that we thought we could not miss, and everyone believed in themselves more. That was one thing I really loved about our team last season: we started believing we can beat any team, and win from any position.As for my bowling, my strength has been to use the angles and swing it both ways. A couple of wickets were helpful, but apart from that, not many were. I got a couple of fifers in Rajkot on flat wickets where I really bowled my heart out. The only plan there was to reverse the ball. If you’re playing in Rajkot, it’s bound to reverse, and if you have the skills it can reverse in 15-20 overs.You spoke about the hurt of missing out on India A selections. Is it tough to find motivation to play domestic cricket, having tasted international cricket?I don’t agree with that. I would say it’s actually easier if you have played at the highest level because you’ll always know that you have it inside you to once again perform and reach there. If you haven’t been selected even once, you might still have doubts about whether you are good enough to play at that level or not. The aspiration [to play for India] is always there, but for me, every season has been really exciting at the start. Earlier, it used to play on my mind that I need to get X number of wickets in a season to make my name, but those things don’t really play on my mind anymore. I’m above that now. It’s just about bowling at my best, bowling hostile spells where you can feel the batsmen don’t like playing you.ESPNcricinfo LtdYou last played for India A in 2013 with the red ball. The stats say you’ve been arguably one of the top two or three pacers in domestic cricket from then to now, but you’ve still not got an opportunity after that.I feel whoever has got a chance in my place in the past has been doing well, or probably deserved to get a call-up at some point – like I did when I was doing well. I still feel that I have it inside me to come back in the team and be successful as well. I don’t just want to get a spot, I want to do well at the international level. I’ve reached there in all three formats, so it’s not about being picked anymore. Now it’s about being picked and being relied upon as one of the premier fast bowlers in the country. The standards are high. The way the current crop of fast bowlers is doing is something I try to imitate. When I saw [Jasprit] Bumrah bowling in the West Indies, it inspired me to be as hostile as him. If I want to be at that level, I have to be as good as him. You have to be above everyone else if you want to be successful at that level.Does the thought of increasing your pace ever come?Not really. I’m obviously not as quick as some of the other guys, but it’s different skill sets. To be honest and realistic, I cannot aim to bowl at 145kph. That hasn’t been my strength since the start of my career, so I don’t really want to focus on just increasing my pace. Yes, if the fitness levels increase, pace is bound to increase by a few kilometres, which I can feel has happened with me in the last two-three years. I’ve started to train specific to my bowling style. It’s about what I need technically in my bowling to be good. Say I have my back foot collapsing, I would work on my calf strength, or of the muscles needed while jumping in the delivery stride. Steffan Jones, who was our fast bowling coach at Rajasthan Royals, has been helping me a lot. I went to train at his academy in the UK for ten days specifically to tailor my training, and I found that it is helping me.Speaking of Rajasthan Royals, you have had to deal with a fair amount of trolls on social media, because you’ve been in the spotlight for the prices you’ve fetched in past auctions?At some point, I do feel that people become so harsh they don’t realise we are humans as well. But having said that, you can’t really go to every individual and see what their mindset is. They [trolls] do it for fun, or just to get attention. People have told me to not bother about that and that social media is something I shouldn’t really look at.Does it happen in real life ever?I haven’t had anyone coming up to me and telling me anything on my face. I think those people only mention you on social media. Face to face, they won’t speak anything. That itself shows that those things don’t really matter as much as you think they do at times.We play this beautiful game for fans, for people to follow it and love it. But in our country, it happens that a minority do it out of hatred or jealousy. Critics can help you at times, tell you things that you don’t see in your game. But people who just abuse you all the time don’t really matter. When it started, it was difficult because I wasn’t used to it. But I’m pretty much immune to all that now. You have to develop a thick skin if you are playing cricket in India.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Everton future is still unresolved, but that saga will have no bearing on David Moyes’ pursuit of a new centre-forward to take to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Moyes took the reins from the beleaguered Sean Dyche in January and steered Everton toward a comfortable 13th-place finish, bagging 48 points.

But scoring goals has always been the crux of Everton’s wider problems, and that’s where the Toffees boss wants to make improvements this summer.

Everton approach club for new striker

According to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, Villarreal’s Thierno Barry has been added to Everton’s shortlist, with the Toffees believed to have made an approach after asking about his situation.

Transfer Focus

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

This comes amid the Merseysiders missing out on Liam Delap, who has signed for Chelsea in a £30m deal.

Barry, meanwhile, has club-hopped for two successive years and could be on the move once again, with a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract.

However, the Yellow Submarine are keen to keep hold of their man. That said, The Friedkin Group were willing to green-light a move for Delap, and could now turn to Barry instead, with Villarreal sure to evaluate offers if their clause is indeed met.

What Thierno Barry would bring to Everton

Standing at 6 foot 4, Barry is a tall and powerful frontman whose efforts over the past several years have spoke of incremental progress.

Hailed for his “menacing” profile by talent scout Antonio Mango, the 22-year-old Barry appears to be the perfect kind of player for a Moyes system, having won 5.1 duels per La Liga game this term, as per Sofascore.

Indeed, FBref record Barry to rank among the top 1% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues this season for percentage of aerial battles won (67.3%) per 90, furthering the argument that he’s the man for the job.

He’s not quite so progressive a ball carrier as Delap, who ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, but he’s every bit as brutish a talisman.

24/25 – Villarreal

35

11

4

24/25 – Basel

3

5

0

22/23 – Basel

35

9

5

22/23 – Beveren

31

20

4

Barry began life on the senior stage prolifically indeed, although his term with Beveren was contested in the second tier of Belgian football. In any case, he’s showcased an exciting growth that could now be translated to life in the Premier League.

Delap, similarly, landed when making the big jump, having enjoyed a decent breakthrough campaign in the Championship with Hull City last year, scoring eight goals and adding two assists across 31 games for the Tigers.

However, he’s only gone from strength to strength across the past year, unable to prevent Ipswich Town’s relegation but impressing with a 12-goal return across 32 starts.

Barry, with his strength and confidence, might just prove to follow in Delap’s footsteps, even becoming a better version of the English talent. The Frenchman has a higher release clause, after all, while his 20 league goal involvements for 2024/25 ranked him ahead of Delap’s own return of 14.

There would be an element of risk in bringing a young and unproven talent over to Merseyside, but Everton appear to have turned a corner over the past six months, and if Moyes gets this one right, it could make the Toffees faithful forget all about Delap.

Perfect Branthwaite replacement: Everton considering bid to sign £30m star

Everton could lose Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, but appear to have the perfect replacement lined up.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 5, 2025

كشف مصدر بـ منتخب مصر الأول، عن تفاصيل الجلسة المقررة بين حسام حسن المدير الفني وهاني أبو ريدة رئيس اتحاد الكرة وأحمد دياب رئيس رابطة الأندية خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وأنهى منتخب مصر مشواره في تصفيات كأس العالم متصدرًا للمجموعة الأولى برصيد 26 نقطة، جمعها من 8 انتصارات وتعادلين، ليحسم التأهل رسميًا إلى نهائيات كأس العالم 2026 التي ستُقام في الولايات المتحدة وكندا والمكسيك.

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “حسام حسن سيعقد جلسة مع هاني أبو ريدة وأحمد دياب من أجل التنسيق للمرحلة المقبلة”.

طالع أيضًا | إبراهيم حسن يكشف لغز البكاء عند سماع النشيد الوطني: أنا وحسام قلبنا ضعيف

وتابع: “حسام حسن يرغب في وضع جدول إعداد قوي لـ مصر قبل كأس العالم، وهذا يتطلب توفير المباريات الودية التي سيحددها من قبل اتحاد الكرة”.

ومن المقرر أن يخوض منتخب مصر منافسات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا خلال شهري ديسمبر ويناير المقبلين.

Club Brugge CEO Bob Madou wants AC Milan to recognise 'the elephant in the room' and up their bid should they wish to sign Ardon Jashari.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Club Brugge rejects AC Milan's first bid for Jashari
• Midfielder disappointed with the rejection
• Belgian side's CEO asks Serie A team to pay more

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Belgian club rejected Milan's initial bid of €35 million (£30m/$38m) for their star midfielder. The feeling within the Brugge camp is that they can command a record transfer for the Swiss star. However, this has disappointed Jashari, as a move to San Siro would be a dream transfer for the 22-year-old. Brugge's CEO claims the Italian side needs to accept that they'll have to pay significantly more than their initial bid to bring Jashari to Milan.

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• getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Jashari caught the eye of top clubs in Europe after his impressive performances last year with Brugge, where he won both the Belgian Pro League Player of the Year and the division's Young Player of the Year. The Swiss midfielder scored four goals and provided six assists in 52 games for the club, leading the team to a second-place finish in the Belgian league and to the round of 16 in the Champions League. After Milan's pursuit of Javi Guerra failed, the club identified Jashari as the replacement for Tijjani Reijnders. However, the Belgian club are playing hardball, as they recognise Jashari's potential and won't part ways with him easily.

• WHAT MADOU SAID

  Speaking on rejecting Milan's bid and emphasising the club's stance on Jashari, Madou told : "We met with AC Milan. Out of politeness. And without mentioning money.Three hours without talking about money was a long time in this case. No, seriously – that matter is the elephant in the room. The elephant in the room. Everyone knows what Ardon has achieved, but we don't see this as the end of a cycle as far as he's concerned."

  Madou further added on Jashari's disappointment stating: "I understand he's disappointed, but it has to be right. I'm convinced he'll make a move to an absolute top club, but today it doesn't feel right."

• getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR JASHARI?

  Milan sporting director Igli Tare's stance on transfers remains the same: the club will not overspend to bring in a player and may switch to a Plan B should they decide it's not worth it.

Manchester United now appear to have one foot in the Europa League final after claiming a 3-0 triumph over Athletic Club in the semi-final first leg away from home.

Bruno Fernandes’ double and Casemiro’s header secured the triumph for Ruben Amorim’s side ahead of next week’s return leg at Old Trafford – needing to hold on to secure their place in the final.

Should the Red Devils reach such a stage, it would be a superb achievement, especially considering the side was on the brink of elimination with a handful of minutes to go against Lyon in the previous round.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the manager to claim his first trophy in the role after taking the reins back in November, potentially securing a place in the Champions League as a result.

Numerous players produced performances to remember in Spain last night, playing a huge role in the success which led them to a three-goal advantage after 90 minutes.

United’s star performers against Athletic Club

As previously mentioned, captain Fernandes managed to get himself on the scoresheet twice, taking his goal tally to 19 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

However, his underlying stats from the win were just as impressive, making 12 passes into the final third, along with three chances created – enabling other players the opportunity to impress in attacking areas.

Manuel Ugarte was another player who starred in Bilbao last night, registering two assists for Casemiro and Fernandes – offering a presence at both ends of the pitch for Amorim.

He also managed to win 100% of the tackles he entered, along with five recoveries and five ground duels won – highlighting his impressive showing in Spain once more.

However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils talent failed to deliver, putting his position within the side at huge risk with the summer rapidly approaching.

The United dud who’s becoming the new Van de Beek

Midfielder Donny van de Beek joined United in the summer of 2020, looking to be a key player in the side’s ambitions of returning to former glory.

However, the Dutchman, who cost a remarkable £40m, would make just 62 appearances during his four years at Old Trafford, with injuries also preventing him from being a regular.

He would depart the club in the summer of 2024, joining Spanish side Girona for just £500k, seeing the side lose 99% of their investment, highlighting how poor their business has been in recent years.

Amorim may have unearthed another version of the midfielder in the form of Mason Mount, who has massively failed to deliver since his £60m move from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.

Like Van de Beek, injuries have hampered his progress, making just 41 appearances in the last two seasons, but also failing to deliver when fit – as seen in his showing against Athletic Club last night.

He was brought on with 25 minutes remaining, but could only muster a total of 23 touches, completing a tally of just 12 passes – unable to have the desired impact.

Mount also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles or his attempted crosses, losing possession seven times – looking wasteful when having the ball at his feet.

Mason Mount’s stats for United against Athletic Club
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	25
Touches	23
Passes completed	12/16 (75%)
Dribbles completed	0/1 (0%)
Crosses completed	0/1 (0%)
Possession lost	7x
Fouls committed	1
Stats via SofaScore

The 26-year-old picked up a booking to top off his showing off the bench, before being handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst – highlighting his lack of impact off the bench.

Throughout this season, Mount has been unable to make an impact, especially since Amorim’s arrival, often being injured but also unable to provide the goods when fit – as seen with his cameo last night.

Given his decline, the club desperately need to sell him this summer, avoiding a repeat of Van de Beek and losing a whole load of money on their investment, with any funds allowing the manager to make the changes he desires.

97% passing: 8/10 Man Utd star is now as undroppable as Bruno & Casemiro

Man Utd romped to a superb 3-0 win on the road on Thursday evening in the Europa League…

By
Robbie Walls

May 2, 2025

Guy Whittall, the former Zimbabwe allrounder, has undergone emergency surgery in Harare after being mauled by a leopard while on a hunting expedition.The incident, which occurred earlier this week, comes several years after Whittall survived another brush with the local wildlife, when an eight-foot crocodile was found to have been under his bed while he slept.Whittall, who played 46 Tests and 147 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1993 and 2003, now runs a safari business with his family in Humani, in the South East of the country, where it is understood he was tracking a leopard that had previously been wounded by a client.His wife, Hannah Stooks-Whittall, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post, accompanied by graphic pictures of Whittall being treated in the bush after sustaining cuts to his arms and legs, as well as a 5-inch gash to his head.A later picture showed Whittall in hospital with his head heavily bandaged, but giving a thumbs-up to the camera. He lost “a lot of blood” in the attack, Hannah added, but his injuries might have been even more severe had it not been for his “faithful K9″, Chikara, who helped to wrestle the leopard off him.”Chikara [is] coming up tomorrow to the vet after being mauled by the leopard and getting the cat off Guy!” she wrote. “Very special boy.Look what’s under the bed: Guy Whittall had an unexpected guest in 2013•Twitter/Guy Whittall

“Guy and I are overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages of well-wishers after Guy’s run in with a wounded leopard earlier today,” she added. “We are very fortunate that he was stabilized at Hippo Clinic by wonderful staff. He was then Airlifted from Buffalo Range by Ace Ambulance to Harare, then transferred to Milton Park Hospital for treatment.”Whittall’s post-cricket career hit the headlines again in 2013 after he discovered an eight-foot, 165kg Nile crocodile had made its way from the nearby Turgwe river into his bedroom at the game reserve and spent the night there.Speaking at the time, Whittall recalled how he had dangled his feet over the side of the bed before leaving the room, and had only been alerted to the intruder by the terrified screams of the housemaid.”He really is one lucky man,” Hannah told MailOnline. “First he had the crocodile and now the leopard, he really is the cat with nine lives.”

Scenes from an alternate universe where Dale Steyn is playing Tests, and charging in to bowl at Virat Kohli

Alagappan Muthu29-Sep-2019He looked so tiny. Until he started running in. Then he was a blur. And so was the ball. Eventually he made his way down to the boundary and suddenly he was larger than life. So close to the crowd and me that the only sensible thing to do was that old third grade trick. “Tell him to tell her to tell him to tell her to tell that guy in the green shirt that I love him”.Dale Steyn was right there, within throwing distance of a piece of paper with the words, ‘Will you be my bowling hero?’ and yes or no check boxes. The message tree technique wasn’t quite as foolproof as I thought. One ill-timed glass of champagne had been enough for it to crash and burn. He was probably too busy to notice anyway.But maybe now he has a little more time on his hands. Isn’t it ironic that the greatest fast bowler of our generation had to retire just when things are starting to get awesome? Helpful pitches. Insane new talents. Riveting head-to-heads. We’ve already been spoiled rotten but to think we could have had Dale Steyn v Virat Kohli to follow Jofra Archer v Steven Smith… Come on, Dale-aaa. Ambati Rayudu un-retired. Couldn’t you? I want to see you at the top of your mark again, and the batsman trying so very hard to look everywhere but in your eyes.Everyone has their own reasons to be swept away by genius. And Steyn, in 14 years of playing Test cricket, offered us a free for all. The wickets (439). The skill (an outswinger nicked from the gods). The aura (even the great Michael Holding rates him one of the best ever). The wit (Rohit Sharma: Come to India, we’ll show you. Steyn: Shut up, I have more runs than you. Rohit: X-over-mouth emoji. Us eavesdropping: jaw-drop emoji) But for me, the thrill of Steyn was in the anticipation.Watch cricket on ESPN+

India v South Africa is available in the US on Hotstar and ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the three Tests.

Back when I had an arm that didn’t turn into soggy rice pudding every time I bowled, I’d go out to the backyard, little brother in tow, to mimic/mutilate his action, his celebrations, his stare, and, on a good day, his vein. There was one time when I rode this high for weeks: the 2009 Australian summer when South Africa went over with Steyn as the ICC’s Test Player of the Year, won and then invited them back home for the re-match. That series got done in January and the return bout was only in February and I dragged lil bro out every single evening until eventually he threw his bat into the bushes, picked up a stray rock, drew three squiggly lines on the wall and yelled, “What the eff do you need me for?! Hitting that is all you care about.”I felt a semblance of this rush taking hold again as this India v South Africa series approached. Steyn had broken down again at the World Cup and, until the announcement, everything was lining up to make his comeback perfect. We were all hopped up on quality fast bowling thanks to Archer, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and more. And as fun as it was watching the pretenders, I couldn’t wait until it was time for the king to reclaim his throne.It was destiny that it was India, too. This rivalry, though never cutthroat, has been endlessly compelling because it plays out in conditions that are almost always bowler-friendly. And while even the prospect of walking onto those sun-roasted turners at Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi has to be exhausting for most seamers, it seemed the most natural backdrop for a man who has never needed any help from any pitch.All it ever took to turn Dale Steyn on was putting a cricket ball in his hand.Now just close your eyes and imagine the first day of this series. India two down early (Che’s still at the crease, obviously) and runs out into the sunshine. That bat is just gleaming in his hands, hungry for runs, and he soothes it by practicing a couple of punchy straight drives. Bam! Four! Bam! Four again!And over by the pitch, is impatiently waiting, his body in proper fighting order. It feels like the one that helped him play 85 of the 111 matches that South Africa played since his Test debut in December 2004 all the way up to that day in Perth when he walked away clutching his shoulder. The crowd has gone quiet. The tension keeps building. Eventually that bat starts tapping on the ground and those feet start pounding the turf.Kohli v Steyn. One of the best now v One of the best ever. And it doesn’t even need actual cricket to be gripping.Would’ve been nice though. Especially considering the other subplot. It took shape in the West Indies earlier this year. The birth of a new outswing demon. Jasprit Bumrah says he always had it, that he just needed time to polish it so that it fit at international level. Well it does. There’s a brow-beaten off stump somewhere in Antigua that is non-living proof of that. How cool would it have been to watch him square off against Steyn? Stupid frail human physiology. You’ve robbed us of not one but two absolute superstars. Sigh. At least we still have Kagiso Rabada, the bowling armada.So where was I? Ah yes. Constructing an elaborate alternate universe where Steyn is still playing Test cricket. Come back, Dale-a. I miss you so much I started making weird memes and posting them on reputable cricket websites.Come back, Dale Steyn•ESPNcricinfo LtdSee.#PostYourSteynMeme #BringHimBack

Hawks needed 42 off last three overs but three maximums in a row from James Fuller turned the game

ECB Reporters Network02-Jun-2024

Joe Weatherley anchored Hampshire’s run chase•Getty Images

James Fuller, Benny Howell and Liam Dawson’s late sixes gave Hampshire Hawks a stunning comeback victory over Kent Spitfires to get their Vitality Blast campaign going.The Hawks required 42 off the last three overs but three maximums in a row from Fuller turned the game before Howell and Dawson smashed over the ropes in clutch circumstances to win by three wickets.Allrounder Joey Evison picked up 3 for 31 – his second-best T20 figures – to put Kent in control before the late efforts handed Hampshire their first T20 win of the season.Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings’ 40s were the foundations for the Spitfires’ 165 for 9 but it didn’t quite prove enough as Spitfires have one win and one loss so far.Chasing 166 to win, Ben McDermott and James Vince were circumspect, with barely a shot in anger during a 42-run powerplay, as timing became a struggle.Australian McDermott attempted to accelerate things but while his pulled six worked, his hoick two balls later only picked out the deep midwicket-positioned Zak Crawley.Nick Gubbins was drafted in to replace Ali Orr – who broke his arm while batting against Surrey – but his second T20 appearance for Hampshire ended identically to his first, a duck, which gave Evison his second in an over.Evison grabbed his third when Vince tried a slog out of desperation to end his stodgy 35 off 32 before Friday night hat-trick taker Matt Parkinson joined the party when Toby Albert reversed to point.Joe Weatherley and Fuller continued to tick under the rate until the 18th over as the game looked lost.But with 42 still required, and Beyers Swanepoel bowling, Fuller bludgeoned to long on, straight then straight again for three sixes in a row – bringing up a fifty stand with Weatherley.Even though the South African found an edge the following ball the momentum had swung with 18 needed off the final two overs.Weatherley fell for 49 when he picked out long on but a Howell six off the final ball of the penultimate over moved the dial to the hosts again.With nine now needed in the last, the previously expensive Grant Stewart had Howell caught but was smashed over the ropes by Dawson, before a scampered single gave Hawks an unlikely victory.Earlier, Kent piled on the runs in the powerplay under blue skies. Chris Wood – in his testimonial year – was the only one to stem the early runs with his two overs going for just five.At the other end, Bell-Drummond blitzed 42 off 27 balls with hardly anything avoiding the middle of his bat – with the four overs not bowled by Wood in the powerplay going for 52.But things swung when Fuller had Bell-Drummond caught and bowled after a six-second hang time – after a 59-run opening stand – and bowled Tawanda Muyeye.Fuller would have to wait another five overs for his hat-trick ball, which was keenly dealt with by Joe Denly, although Howell spread Crawley’s stumps.Sam Billings and Denly rebuilt with some smart running in a 60 stand, but they both fell in a Dawson over – the former caught behind while reverse sweeping on 43 and the latter holing out to long-off.From then, the Hawks cramped the Spitfires with 31 runs coming off the final four overs, which all saw a wicket fall.

A fortress is made impregnable not through the initial conquering but the success in defending the territory claimed over so many years, and that means Liverpool will need to strengthen their ranks this summer.

It’s clear at this point that Arne Slot is going to win the Premier League in his first term in the hot seat, an incredible feat given Liverpool were effectively written off following Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

But Slot will want an abiding position at the forefront of English and indeed European football, and Liverpool’s frontline has looked a little out of kilter over recent months.

It’s clear that FSG are going to authorise one or two exciting summer bids.

Liverpool targeting new forwards

Mohamed Salah has meted out punishment on near every opponent he has faced this season, but Liverpool need more up front, with The Athletic among those to report Red interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

However, number nine isn’t the only spot on the club’s radar.

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze; further suitors are in the running but the Premier League’s top two share the lead here as well.

Eze’s strong and potent performances under Oliver Glasner suggest he has what it takes to thrive at a top-performing club like Liverpool, who could do with such a dynamic attacker.

Last summer, the Eagles anticipated a swarm of interest in their silky star but no one came forward. Now, the ball is in their court and demands worth £60m have been put in place.

Why Liverpool want to sign Eze

Eze packs a punch. The 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength since leaving Queens Park Rangers in the Championship in 2020 and joining the Selhurst Park ranks for a £20m fee.

Hailed as a “superstar” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Eze has hit 12 goals and 12 assists apiece under Glasner’s wing, featuring 48 times in total.

This season alone, he’s been in fine fettle, playing a more creative role than in 2023/24 but doing so to a fine effect.

Eze’s broad skill set lends itself to multiple positions, and while he’s been fielded routinely in the middle of the park this year, he has ample experience out on the left flank.

With that in mind, Eze could be the perfect signing to upgrade on Luis Diaz, whose uncertain future at Anfield suggests a replacement will be required sooner rather than later.

Matches (starts)

25 (23)

29 (23)

Goals

2

9

Assists

6

5

Shots taken*

3.4

2.0

Pass completion

82%

86%

Big chances created

9

6

Key passes*

2.0

1.6

Dribbles*

2.1

1.6

Ball recoveries*

4.6

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1 8

1.2

Duels won*

5.4

3.8

While Eze hasn’t chalked up the greatest numbers in front of goal this season, his underlying data suggests that he’s outstripping Diaz across almost every department.

This is important. Diaz isn’t exactly revered for his clinical touch, instead effusively praised for his tricks and slicks, skill and will toward driving play forward and leaving defenders munching dust.

To sign a player who produces such qualities but to a higher standard, more relentless in the duel, creative in his playmaking duties, active in carrying the ball, it’s an intriguing proposition, one which might just dynamise Liverpool’s already progressive attacking outfit.

Moreover, Eze’s clinical side was on full show last season, firing 11 goals home across 24 Premier League appearances, missing just five big chances in an immense display of potency.

Indeed, the Englishman halted Jurgen Klopp’s bid for a farewell league triumph after scoring at Anfield in the 1-0 win in April, with journalist Keifer MacDonald noting that the playmaker had left Trent Alexander-Arnold “furious” due to his slow walk off the field when substituted late on.

Whether the Three Lions star, who scored his first international goal off the bench in a 3-0 win over Latvia last week, is bid for remains to be seen, but Eze has everything that Slot’s Liverpool need, especially if a clinical centre-forward is welcomed to the fold this summer.

In a more distinguished team like Liverpool, Eze may even find himself unlocking his full goalscoring potential. As per FBref, the £100k-per-week talent actually ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken per 90.

Having been described as a “wizard” by Arsenal’s Declan Rice in the past, Palace’s main man may just be on the move this summer. Diaz has been a fantastic servant for Liverpool over the past several years and will be duly rewarded with a Premier League winners’ medal in the coming months, but the time might be right for a change.

The Colombian has only scored one goal across his past 19 fixtures in all competitions for the Reds – albeit assisting in four of his past six top-flight games – and at 28 is heading into the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week deal with sights set on a new bumper package or change of scenery.

There have been whispers of late that Diaz could be sold this summer to fund a freshen-up. Barcelona have a long-standing admiration and the Saudi Pro League are also there, quietly lurking.

How much of a vested interest sporting director Richard Hughes has in Eze at this stage, we don’t know. However, his efforts in south London over the past few years certainly indicate a future at one of the division’s European competitors, and Liverpool will be right there, ready to pounce if the right opportunity presents itself.

Slot could boldly axe "special" Liverpool star who's the new James Milner

Who will stay and who will go in the transfer market for Liverpool this summer?

1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 1, 2025