Tag Futebol

La Liga giants Real Madrid have started their brand-new era under Xabi Alonso, and following their disappointment of a 2024/2025 season, Los Blancos are apparently setting their sights on a Tottenham star to help with the rebuild.

Spurs are expected to undergo somewhat of a rebuild themselves, with the Europa League champions ushering in their fifth new manager since 2019.

Levy holds Tottenham talks for "top" player with negotiations started at £50m

The Spurs chairman met with a club chief for talks.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025

Thomas Frank arrives in N17 with the goal of building upon his new side’s triumph in Bilbao against Man United, a result which also gifted them a place in next season’s Champions League draw.

A major thorn in the cap of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was the plethora of injuries his squad sustained last term. The Australian was forced to cope without many key players for extended periods throughout 24/25, and Frank will be keen to avoid a similar scenario as he braces for an equally congested fixture calendar.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

They’ve already moved to reinforce the squad with a permanent deal for Mathys Tel and a £5 million move for Japanese sensation Kota Takai, with Tottenham also widely reported to be in talks for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus.

However, Spurs do face the prospect of losing some key big names before deadline day as well.

Son Heung-min is a reliably claimed target for the Saudi Pro League (The Telegraph), and there is a serious belief that last season could’ve been his final campaign at Spurs – 10 years after he joined from Bayer Leverkusen.

“Son could very well have played his last game for Tottenham, and well, if it was the Europa League final, it would be fitting,” journalist Graeme Bailey told TBR Football last month.

“I am told he still believes he is more than capable of recapturing his best form – but Spurs are ready to make moves this summer and Son leaving could materialise.”

Alongside Son, it is believed star £165,000-per-week defender Cristian Romero is attracting serious interest from Spain.

While reports that Tottenham have reached an “agreement in principle” to sell Romero look wide of the mark, Atlético boss Diego Simeone has publicly confirmed the club’s admiration for him.

Real Madrid expected to make "concrete" move for Cristian Romero

Now, as per CaughtOffside, Atlético are joined by their cross-town rivals in pursuit of the “sensational” Argentine.

Real are “now expected” to make a “concrete” approach to sign Romero from Tottenham, but chairman Daniel Levy won’t be letting him go on the cheap, even if last season’s Europa League Player of the Year has just two years left on his current contract.

Spurs want a minimum £60 million to consider letting him leave, with both Real and Atlético viewing this price tag as excessive for the time being.

The former are boosted by Romero’s openness to joining Real, as is mostly the case when Alonso’s side come knocking, but Tottenham won’t be bullied aside in potential negotiations and are determined to keep hold of him.

It feels like it’s going to be a hectic summer for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

The Europa League champions sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday afternoon due to his horrific Premier League record, and while it’s not been confirmed by the club, Thomas Frank looks set to replace him.

Despite the talent in the squad, the Danish manager will have a lot to do to ensure their domestic campaign is more of a success next season, and the best way for Daniel Levy and Co to help him with that is by bringing in the right players in the coming weeks and months.

One of those players linked with a move to the club has been Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, but recent reports have now touted another wide talent for a move to Spurs, someone who could be the perfect alternative.

Tottenham's interest in Semenyo

Spurs have been linked with a host of talented players in recent weeks, from Crystal Palace’s Eberchi Eze to Brentford’s in-demand Bryan Mbeumo, but earlier this week, Semenyo became one of the latest Premier League stars to be touted for a move to N17.

It’s not hard to see why the Lilywhites might be interested in the Cherries star, as even though he’s playing for a mid-table side, the Ghana international was able to rack up an impressive tally of 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances.

However, with his price tag potentially being as high as £70m and interest from other Premier League sides like Arsenal and Liverpool, this might be a transfer both too expensive and too challenging to get over the line, in which case, Levy and Co might be after an alternative, like Dorgeles Nene.

Transfer Focus

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

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are now one of several top-flight teams now ‘considering a move’ for the RB Salzburg gem this summer.

Alongside the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Lazio, Fiorentina, Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen are all interested in the 22-year-old dynamo who has been seriously impressive in Austria this season.

Moreover, while the competition might be a problem, the fee shouldn’t be, as the report claims that an offer of up to £21m should be enough to tempt Salzburg to sell.

Nene might not be a well-known name or sound like a particularly inspiring signing, but should Semenyo be out of reach, the youngster would certainly be worth bringing in for Spurs.

Why Nene would be a good signing for Spurs

So then, in a market where there are countless wide talents available, why would Nene be a good signing for Spurs?

Well, first and arguably most importantly, his output this season was seriously impressive and made more so by the fact he was primarily playing off the wings.

For example, in 46 appearances, totalling 3043 minutes, the “terrifying” threat, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was able to score 15 goals and provide nine assists for the Austrian outfit.

Appearances

46

42

Minutes

3043′

3562′

Goals

15

13

Assists

9

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.47

Minutes per Goal Involvements

126.79′

178.10′

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games, or every 126.79 minutes, which is better than Semenyo’s average of one every 2.1 games or every 178.1 minutes.

Secondly, with him still being just 22 and not turning 23 until December, there is so much room for growth and development, as according to research carried out by The Athletic, wide players do not hit their peak until 26.

Finally, even though the Kayes-born dynamo is primarily a left-winger, he’s just as capable of playing down the middle or off the right, which would give Frank so much more tactical flexibility next season.

Ultimately, Semenyo will understandably be many Spurs fan’s first choice here, but if he’s unattainable, then Nene would be an excellent alternative, although with a price tag of £21m, why not try to sign both?

Kulusevski upgrade: Spurs "definitely" want to sign £68m star for Frank

The dynamic talent would help make Spurs tick next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 10, 2025

Arsenal’s search for a striker is set to dominate headlines as we enter the first mini-summer transfer window, and it’s an area of the squad which sporting director Andrea Berta is working hard to address.

Arsenal in ongoing talks for Benjamin Sesko in search of striker

Gabriel Jesus’ ACL rupture in their FA Cup defeat to Man United, and Kai Havertz’s lengthy absence due to a hamstring injury, crippled Mikel Arteta’s options up front during the second half of 2024/2025, prompting the Spaniard to utilise Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role.

Related Arsenal given fresh Martin Zubimendi worry as Sociedad president speaks out

The north Londoners are reportedly closing in on a deal for him.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 30, 2025

Merino performed well, but that injury crisis up front brought yet more attention to Arteta’s glaring need for a prolific centre-forward.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

A proven number nine has long been touted as the final missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw, and Berta is said to be laying the groundwork on deals to bring Arsenal’s long search for a new striker to an end this summer.

Arsenal have held talks over signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, according to some reports, and they were heavily linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, until this week at least.

Now, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has entered pole position to become Arsenal’s answer to their goalscoring woes, and “concrete” talks are underway after Berta’s meeting with Leipzig director Marcel Schafer in London.

The Gunners are said to be putting their focus on a deal for Sesko, and discussions are centered around a payment structure for his £67 million release clause.

While Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims Gyokeres is still high on Arsenal’s list despite these Sesko talks, Spanish media sources claim their negotiations for the Slovenian have put an end to their chase for Sporting’s serial goalscorer.

Arsenal pull plug on Viktor Gyokeres deal after opening Sesko talks

According to reports from Spain, cited by Football 365, Arteta has now ‘ruled out’ an Arsenal move for Gyokeres, and they’ve now ‘withdrawn from the bidding’ to sign him – which could open the door for other linked sides like Man United and Barcelona.

This follows their decision to up the ante in pursuit of Sesko, so going by this update, it appears the 22-year-old is now their priority target.

Given the costs involved when it comes to a deal for Sesko, we wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal pull a U-turn on this call, especially considering that Gyokeres could leave Sporting for just £60 million.

The “quality” ex-Coventry City star is fresh off the back of an exceptional campaign, scoring 54 goals in all competitions, and there are reports in Portugal that Arsenal have already offered Gyokeres a contract, so he could just be on the back-burner for now.

“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: he brings a lot to the team, and his teammates are aware of what he contributes, which is why they look for him during games,” said Sporting boss Rui Borges about Gyokeres.

“The collective effort also plays a role, as no one can succeed alone. Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”

Ange Postecoglou declared in August that he always wins a trophy in his second season.

Well, despite the fact his team are 15th in the Premier League table, he’s still on course to deliver on his manifesto.

On Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur reached the Europa League semi-finals, with Dominic Solanke’s spot-kick enough to oust Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion.

Spurs will now face Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, they have become the first-ever Norwegian club to reach the last four of any UEFA competition, with the Lilywhites thereby firm favourites to reach the final in Bilbao.

If Tottenham are going to end their 17-year wait for silverware, aiming to capture the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1984, one player in particular will be key, given that he’s reminiscent of a Spurs star of yesteryear.

How good Mousa Dembélé was at Tottenham

When one thinks of Tottenham at their peak under Mauricio Pochettino, the players who immediately spring to mind might be Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen.

However, no Spurs supporter will overlook or ever forget Mousa Dembélé’s importance to that side.

Back in the summer of 2012, the Belgian joined Tottenham from Fulham for a reported fee of £15m, going on to make 249 appearances for Spurs, before departing for Guangzhou City in the Chinese Super League in January 2019.

During his time at the club, Tottenham went from being a mid-table Premier League outfit to regular top four finishers and Champions League Finalists, and the pivotal role Dembélé played in this transformation cannot be forgotten.

Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic described him as the ‘lynchpin of Pochettino’s’ team, praising his ‘ball-carrying skills’ and ‘ability to evade pressure’.

Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes that, in his prime, Dembélé was ‘the best midfielder in the world’, while his former teammate Kyle Walker would agree, stating that he was “probably the best player I have ever seen play football”.

How Postecoglou would love to have Dembélé at his peak patrolling and controlling his midfield, something Spurs have severely lacked throughout this season, but is one current Spurs star showcasing some of the same qualities?

The current Spurs star who could be replicating Dembélé

Earlier this season, it would’ve been inarguable Dejan Kuluševski was Tottenham’s most dangerous attacker, scoring in five successive matches just before Christmas, on target against Chelsea, Rangers, Southampton, Manchester United and Liverpool during this sequence.

However, more recently, the Swede has spent a few weeks on the sidelines due to a foot injury suffered against Manchester City in February, before making his return at Molineux last Sunday.

This is a major boost for Postecoglou, ahead of the aforementioned Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt, and the table below illustrates why.

Son Heung-min

79

28

22

Brennan Johnson

78

21

18

Dejan Kuluševski

83

18

13

Richarlison

47

16

5

James Maddison

73

15

20

Dominic Solanke

38*

12

8

*joined in summer 2024

As the table outlines, since the start of last season, only Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson have been involved in more Spurs goals than Kuluševski.

However, his similarities to fellow left-footer Dembélé come stylistically.

Jay Harris and Anantaajith Raghuraman of the Athletic praise the 24-year-old’s ‘impressive running power’ as well as his ‘durability’ and ‘defensive work’ rate while, according to FBref.com, only nine players have recorded more progressive carries in the Premier League this season.

Ben McAleer of the Guardian adds that Kuluševski is ‘absolutely vital’ for this Tottenham team, asserting that he has been their ‘most consistent player’ of the Ange-era.

Following Tottenham’s 4-0 demolition of Manchester City in November, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, Gary Neville labelled Kuluševski as “brilliant” and a “serious player”, adding that he uses his “strength and running power” to “subtley beat players” with ease.

So, while there are stylistic similarities to Dembélé and Kuluševski, the biggest overlap between the duo could be the fact they go under-the-radar a bit as Spurs’ pivotal unsung heroes.

He's another Romero: Levy readying Spurs offer for £99k-p/w "monster"

The former PL ace would be a fine addition to Spurs’ squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 19, 2025

Liverpool are believed to be “ready to knock on the door” to sign an impressive midfielder in the summer transfer window, a new report has claimed.

Liverpool need signings despite imminent title win

With Virgil van Dijk still not signing a new Reds deal yet, it is only natural that potential replacements are being looked at, with Barcelona star Ronald Araujo emerging as a reported target.

Liverpool are set to hold talks with the 26-year-old over a summer move to Anfield, with Barca’s financial issues meaning they could possibly be forced into selling one of their most talented players, who has struggled to kick on his career due to injuries.

Meanwhile, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise attacker Mohamed Amoura has also been linked with a summer move to the Reds, as they look to strengthen Arne Slot’s options in the final third. He has scored 10 goals and registered eight assists in the Bundesliga this season, enjoying a fruitful spell out on loan at Wolfsburg.

Trent Alexander-Arnold feels likely to move to Real Madrid currently, so a successor for Liverpool’s vice-captain needs to be found, and Freiburg ace Kiliann Sildillia has been mentioned as an option to come in. At 22, he would be considered a long-term addition to battle with Conor Bradley for playing time.

Liverpool keen on signing "versatile" £50m+ ace

Now, according to Tutto Atalanta [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are “ready to knock on the door” and push to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson this summer. Offers for the Brazilian are expected to be around £50.7m.

They are far from the only big club showing an interest in the 25-year-old, however, with Manchester United, Juventus and Atletico Madrid all thought to be in the picture.

Ederson has arguably been one of Europe’s leading defensive midfielders in recent years, playing a key role in Atalanta winning the Europa League last season.

He has continued in a similar vein in 2024/25, averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.3 aerial duel wins per game in Serie A, as well as scoring three goals. South American football expert Tim Vickery has also spoken of his appreciation for him.

“24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues.”

Appearances

29

Starts

26

Minutes played

2326

Goals

3

Assists

1

Tackles per game

1.5

Aerial duel wins per game

1.3

Pass completion rate

1.0

While Liverpool’s midfield feels well-stocked, there is still an argument to say that a player of Ederson’s ilk would add even more balance, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister not necessarily possessing natural defensive traits.

Liverpool set to hold intense transfer talks to sign £40m+ Barcelona star

Liverpool are in the market for statement reinforcements this summer.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 4, 2025

The Atalanta ace could add more protection in front of the defence, but he is more than just a midfield shield, having lots of quality and an ability to chip in with goals.

The pitch was difficult for batting once again but Bangladesh’s openers overcame the challenge to help win the series decider

Mohammad Isam24-Oct-2025A failing batting line-up and a long run of poor results in ODIs prompted Bangladesh to throw up their version of the Hail Mary this series: a dark, cracked pitch in Mirpur, where the ball spins, spits and makes run-scoring difficult. The highest total in the first two matches was only 213, and Bangladesh and West Indies set a new world record by bowling 92 overs of spin in the second ODI.So when Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar walked out to open the innings in the series decider, the focus was on how they would cope with the surface. Bangladesh hadn’t won an ODI series for 18 months, which is a bad place for a team targeting direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup.It was the batting that had consistently let Bangladesh down, so the pressure was on once again. But over the next 25 overs, Saif and Soumya gave their team hope.They added 176 runs in 25.2 overs for the first wicket; Saif scoring 80 off 72 balls and Soumya 91 off 86. Their attacking approach was in contrast to the struggle of batters in the previous two games, and none of the batters that came after them from either side managed to emulate their success.The partnership helped Bangladesh score 296 for 8, a total that was 179 runs too many for West Indies. Daren Sammy, the West Indies coach, praised the mentality Saif and Soumya had shown in such conditions.Related

• Sarkar, Saif carry Bangladesh to series victory over WI

• Litton Das returns to lead Bangladesh's T20I squad

“I think it’s a mindset,” Sammy said after the game. “You know, for us, when we explain in the dressing room what this game means, you know, we’re looking for automatic qualification [for the World Cup]. We have got two teams fighting for that last spot before the cut-off period, and then you have a series decider on the line. Your mindset must be I’m the one to do that. You saw the mindset of the [Bangladesh] batters.”They were like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna be brave on that wicket, I’m gonna set the tone’. The score didn’t reflect what the wicket was. The batsmen came in, decided to be brave in the powerplay, and that put us under pressure. And then we, we just took so long to answer. We were not consistent enough in the areas that would challenge the batters and then we paid heavily for it.”Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said the Saif-Soumya partnership was a long time coming. “The start is very important for a team. We haven’t had such a partnership from the top order for a long time. The team mentality changes when you get such a start from the top order.”We have to give credit to Saif and Soumya for the way they batted today. They batted aggressively on this wicket, which made it easy for the rest of the team.”Mehidy said he liked how Soumya and Saif went for their favoured shots whenever presented with the opportunity. “It feels good. We have been struggling with our batting for a long time. We however believed that we could make a comeback any time. We have to give them some time.”This wasn’t an easy wicket but they played their go-to shots. Soumya Sarkar played reverse sweeps against their spinners. Saif Hassan attacked their right-handed bowlers. They played with calculative risks.”A batter will do well in three out of five innings. The team will benefit if those three knocks are substantial. It becomes difficult if the batter falls in the thirties after getting set. We have to be more patient with these batters. A good top-order partnership usually helps the batting line-up.”For now, the Saif-Soumya stand is a one-off event. It was Bangladesh’s first 100-plus opening stand in two years. After their dismissals, the rest struggled to maintain the tempo. But Saif and Soumya provided an example of how a bit of courage can overcome the most difficult of batting conditions.

His 51 in Pune won’t be remembered like Tamim’s in Port of Spain, but it will give him reassurance after a tough start to his international career

Mohammad Isam19-Oct-2023When Tanzid Hasan rushed out to Mohammed Siraj and hit him over the covers, it looked like he was sick of getting out for 16. It had happened twice in his nascent international career, and was his best in ODIs to date. The carve over cover got him to 19.It mattered, perhaps. It has been that sort of a month for the young man, after all.Tanzid was caught in the crossfire of the Shakib Al Hasan-Tamim Iqbal spat. He had nothing to do with it apart from being the left-hand opening batter who replaced Tamim Iqbal in the World Cup squad. His nickname also happens to be Tamim, but we will get to it a bit later.Related

• 'Pain-free' Shakib hasn't given up on the semi-final dream

• Jadeja, Kohli lead India to fourth win in a row

• Jadeja, the gladiator who goes to bank

Against India in Pune, Tanzid reached 40 off 28 balls with a flurry of fours and sixes off Siraj and Shardul Thakur. Then to his fifty off 41 balls. Tanzid drove five fours in addition to his three sixes from a whip, a hook and a blast over the covers. Kuldeep Yadav brought an end to Tanzid’s breakout ODI innings, but not before the young batter made a big crowd go quiet for an hour and 15 minutes.It was the innings that Bangladesh’s cricket-watching public had been waiting for.Tanzid came with a big reputation after he helped Bangladesh win the Under-19 World Cup in 2020. In July this year, he struck three fifties in four innings in the Emerging Cup in Sri Lanka. He got a duck on ODI debut in the Asia Cup, and then struggled through the New Zealand ODIs at home, and the first three World Cup games.Every Bangladesh press conferences in the last 12 days had at least three questions about Tanzid or the “opening pair”. The team management stuck by him. Nobody really thought what it was like for Tanzid in the last four weeks.Like most cricket-obsessed kids from the subcontinent, Tanzid was trained very early in his life about tackling high-pressure situations. It starts at home. For Tanzid, it was when he was in sixth grade. In an interview to before the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, Tanzid told the story about the time when his father kicked him out of his house for playing cricket.Tanzid Hasan faced early struggles in his international career•Associated Press”My father, who worked in the public sector, brought me and my sister to Bogra for better education,” Tanzid said. “I was more into cricket, so one day he kicked me out of the house. I had just returned home after playing cricket when he scolded me, and then literally sent me out. My father used to think that playing will cost me my education. ‘I don’t want a son like you – I brought you here for your education, and you are wasting your time playing cricket,’ he told me that day.”Tanzid, though, quickly convinced his father that he was the real deal, with a lot of help from his mother. His big leap was when he joined the Bangla Trac Cricket Academy, 104 kilometres southwest of Bogra, in Rajshahi. Tanzid top-scored in the Dhaka First Division Cricket League in his first season, before making it to the Under-19 side. The country first noticed him after he made 80 off 84 balls against South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final.

****

His name, understandably, sparked curiousity too. Were his parents fans of Tamim Iqbal that they named him after the Bangladesh cricket hero? Tanzid was born in 2000 so there’s no chance of that happening – Tamim Iqbal made his international debut only in 2007. He is an idol, though.Being a left-hand batter, instead, came about following advice from a neighbour.”Sojol , my neighbour who taught me everything about cricket since I was in class three, got me to bat left-handed. He always told me that a left-hander has more opportunities in Bangladesh,” Tanzid said. “I started following Tamim later. I loved playing the cut and pull like him. I want to be a complete left-hand batter like Tamim .

“My parents gave me the nickname Tamim. I recognised Tamim when I started playing cricket in my childhood. I loved that my name was similar to Tamim ‘s, and that I bat left-handed like him. I am also an opener like him. But my parents didn’t name me after Tamim “Tanzid Hasan

“My parents gave me this name Tamim. I recognised Tamim when I started playing cricket in my childhood. I loved that my name was like Tamim ‘s, and that I bat left-handed like him, too. I am also an opener like him. But my parents didn’t name me after Tamim .”A few days before the big Shakib-Tamim fight in Bangladesh cricket, Tamim Sr gave his namesake the stamp of approval. “I have always been his fan,” Tamim Iqbal said. “Maybe everyone says that in press conferences but those close to me know that when the Under-19 team won the title, I always thought he was the best player in that team.”It is unfortunate that it took him so long to come to the national team, but I always believed he was the best batter in the team. It was great to see him score runs. It won’t take long. He is a quality player. Batting, fielding, approach, attitude – everything.”Now, in case you thought the coincidences and the Tamim connection ended there, not quite.Tanzid scored 51 against India in Pune. Tamim had scored 51 against India in Port of Spain in 2007. In 2007, Bangladesh had scripted what remains one of their most famous victories. It wasn’t the case on Thursday, of course.But the similarities end there.Tamim was a (a colloquial Bengali word for a hitter) in his early days, before he transformed himself into a technically strong and heavy-scoring opener. Tanzid is aggressive but only when the situation and opportunity calls for it. This is how the current generation learns from the previous generation and improves a cricket team. The world waxed lyrical about Tamim when he blazed India all those years ago. Tanzid may not get that much attention but his 51 will give him immense confidence, and a way out of the mess he involuntarily found himself in.

If a batter has scored a Test century, he knows how to construct an innings

Ian Chappell20-Jun-2021First there was American guitar legend Jimi Hendrix and his band the Experience. Now we have England cricket coach and selector Chris Silverwood and his inexperienced group.Silverwood’s rationale for England’s abysmal batting displays against New Zealand was the inexperience of the players involved. This assessment – especially considering Silverwood chose those batters – doesn’t bear much scrutiny.A glance at the opposition line-up immediately peels away the layers of credibility surrounding Silverwood’s excuse. New Zealand opener Devon Conway made a double-century on debut at Lord’s – it didn’t take him long to acclimate.Conway is one of seven players to make a double-century on Test debut and he’s not even the first from New Zealand. Mathew Sinclair achieved the feat against the West Indies in 1999.Related

• Fortress Edgbaston falls as England's batters crash party

• England 'not good enough' against NZ – Silverwood

• Joe Root: England were 'outplayed'

• Years of neglect cause England's dam to break

Will Young, New Zealand’ s No. 3 at Edgbaston, made an accomplished 82 in only his third Test innings, when he was drafted in to replace injured captain Kane Williamson. Williamson is another century-maker on debut; he did it against India in 2010, and currently has 24 Test hundreds overall.Making a century on debut doesn’t necessarily lead to a long and successful career. In 1973, New Zealand’s Rodney Redmond made 107 and 56 on debut against Pakistan but inexplicably was never chosen again.Of course, some outstanding debuts have led to glittering careers; Australia’s Doug Walters and India’s Mohammad Azharuddin are two prime examples. Walters made 155 on debut at the Gabba against England and followed it with another century in the next Test, at the MCG. Walters scored 15 Test centuries in all, three of them coming in a session. Azharuddin, in the parlance of Walters’ favourite pastime, card-playing, said, “I see you and raise you one.” Azhar scored centuries in his first three Tests and then amassed a further 19.Coming back to Silverwood’s claim, if you leave aside Joe Root, the one top-class Test batter in England’s line-up, how inexperienced are the rest?Rory Burns has three Test centuries in 46 innings, including one in the first Test against New Zealand. Fellow opener Dom Sibley has two Test centuries in 35 innings. Both Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley have scored a Test century each in their short careers, with the latter’s being a double. That leaves only Dan Lawrence among the top order without a Test century. He was denied the chance of one in the first innings at Edgbaston when he was left stranded on 81 not out.Generally the completion of a first Test century is not only a relief but also provides a batter with the belief he is good enough to compete at the highest level. Not always, but often, this then leads to a successful career.Rather than resorting to the lame excuse of inexperience, Silverwood ought to look at the system that produces these batters and some of the ludicrous theories that are evolving from that environment.Of the four leading Test nations – India, New Zealand, England and Australia – the county competition is the one that suffers most from the escalation of short-form cricket and the convoluted scheduling that produces. This is often cited as the reason for some over-ambitious strokeplay from young English batters.I’d counter by saying: if you’ve scored a Test century, you should have a rough idea how to construct an innings.
Some of the English batting techniques defy logic; their performance in India recently was the worst I’ve seen against spin bowling. The tendency to take off-stump guard as standard procedure is a recipe for failure, as it is designed to avoid dismissal rather than what batting should be about – finding a method to score runs.Short-form cricket may be to blame for some of the England batters’ lack of discipline at Test level but so too is a porous defence, which often leads to panic-stricken shot selection.In 1967, Hendrix released an album titled The answer for a batter who has scored a Test century: “reasonably”.

Manchester United are always on the hunt for top talent and could now be about to strike a deal for one of the world’s best goalscorers after making contact with his camp.

Man Utd sign Charlie Hardy as recruitment drive continues

Despite the transfer window being closed, the Red Devils have completed a deal to sign Derby County youngster Charlie Hardy as they continue to invest in talent for the future at Old Trafford.

The England Under-16 goalkeeper will sign a scholarship and is set to sign professional forms when he turns 17, becoming the latest in a long line of youthful additions, as broken by Andy Mitten of The Athletic.

While the club continue to search for a striker to lead the tline in years to come, Chido Obi-Martin continues to impress behind the scenes, and he isn’t the only one, with Carrington continuing to be a hub of excellence that can one day provide solutions at senior level.

Nevertheless, the here and now is what most Manchester United fans will be concerned with. Benjamin Sesko has made a bright start to his career in England, scoring two goals in eight Premier League appearances, though he is still finding his feet in new surroundings.

Sooner rather than later, Joshua Zirkzee could be on his way out of Old Trafford amid interest from West Ham United. Conceivably, this could pave the way for another striker to enter the building.

Financially, money generated from his sale may well be reinvested into the squad. Either way, movement in one direction will need to be followed with a counteraction to avoid Amorim’s squad being left short, something his side now reportedly plan to execute.

Man Utd make contact with Robert Lewandowski's camp

According to SPORT, Manchester United have made contact with the camp of Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who will be out of contract next summer if La Blaugrana opt not to activate his one-year extension clause option.

The outlet claim they will only do so if he continues to deliver in front of the target, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. are said to see the Poland international as someone who could help Sesko’s development if he were to swap La Liga for the Premier League

Man Utd now eyeing "world class" Brazilian youngster who wants to be the next Casemiro

The Red Devils want to add midfield quality in 2026.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 24, 2025

Labelled a “goal machine” by Raphinha, the 37-year-old has scored four goals in nine matches this term. However, he is currently dealing with a muscle fibre tear and could be out for up to six weeks.

Of course, he will eventually recover, but one does have to wonder whether it would be worth taking a risk on someone who is clearly no longer in their prime from a fitness perspective.

Either way, Lewandowski is one of the best poachers on the planet and if Manchester United could afford his £350,000 per week wages, he may be worth taking a leap of faith for.

تحدث عمرو الجزار، مدافع فريق البنك الأهلي، عن العروض التي تلقاها من الأهلي والزمالك لضمه خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وقال عمرو الجزار، عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “تلقيت عرضًا من الزمالك ونادٍ آخر في مصر وخارج مصر قبل انضمامي للبنك الأهلي، وتلقيت عرضًا من النادي الأهلي”.

وأكمل: “الاتفاق وصل قبل انتهاء الموسم بشهرين، كل شيء بين الخطيب ووليد خليل، رئيس النادي، ولكن النادي لم يكن في أفضل وضع، كنا ننافس على الهبوط، وأجلنا كل شيء لأننا ناد جماهيري ولا يريد الجمهور أن يتحدث، انتهى الموسم على خير، وكنت منتظرًا أن تنتهي الصفقة، ولكنها لم تكتمل مع غزل المحلة”.

طالع.. الزمالك: بنتايج حصل على 75% من مستحقاته.. وهناك إجراء قانوني غير سليم

وواصل: “أبلغت وليد خليل برغبتي وكل شيء كان منتهيًا، ولكن الصفقة لم تتم ولا أعرف السبب، تلقيت أكثر من عرض خارج مصر، ولكن فضلت الاستمرار في مصر وألعب لموسم آخر لأثبت نفسي”.

وأضاف: “الزمالك دائمًا كان يجس النبض، لأن غزل المحلة في ذلك الوقت كان يطلب أرقامًا كبيرة، والأمور المادية لم تكن أفضل شيء في الزمالك، ووقعت قبل ذلك مع حسين السيد عضو مجلس إدارة القلعة البيضاء، ولكن الصفقة لم تتم بسبب المقابل المادي”.

وأتم: “غزل المحلة كان يريد مقابل بيعي 25 إلى 30 مليون جنيه، وانضممت لنادي البنك الأهلي بهذا المقابل، والزمالك في ذلك التوقيت لم يكن قادرًا على دفع هذا المبلغ”.