Manchester United are making progress in their mission to strengthen under Ruben Amorim and could now be set to move forward in their pursuit of a high-pedigree defender, according to a report.

Manchester United urged to break the bank for quality additions

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha would fit the definition of breaking the bank for elite talent, but Premier League giants Manchester United are aware that more signings are needed to match the output of their domestic rivals on the market.

Reports suggest Manchester United would be willing to offer £22 million for Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra, which would be another signal of intent, though Rio Ferdinand believes the Red Devils should go all out for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba to bolster the spine of their team.

He stated: “Who would you go and get?”, and there’s only one name I’m thinking about, I’m going to be honest, guys, who I think fits the bill for what we need.

“He’s an Amorim-type player as well. Physically, he’s great. He can drive with the ball, he can take it in all areas, very good tactically, great energy, great legs, Premier League experience, central midfield… Baleba.”

Without putting too fine a point on it, Manchester United’s lack of solidity in the Premier League last term was evident for all to see, hence why Amorim is also targeting defensive reinforcements in the form of Lucas Beraldo.

Manchester United’s defensive frailties in 2024/25

Goals conceded

54

Defeats

18

Clean sheet percentage across 38 league matches

26%

Ultimately, a failure to secure the back door is a recipe for chaos, leading to a growing appetite for an overhaul within the Red Devils’ backline.

After months of searching, Manchester United could now have found one part of a solution to remedy the well-documented faults within their rearguard.

Manchester United make contact for Inter defender Benjamin Pavard

According to Transferfeed, Manchester United have made contact by enquiring about Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard, who may be allowed to leave San Siro this summer for a fee between £26.1 million and £30.5 million.

Despite the Nerazzurri not officially listing the France international for sale, they are looking into potential replacements for the ex-Bayern Munich star, including Genoa’s Koni De Winter.

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Labelled “brilliant” by Les Blues boss Didier Deschamps, Pavard, who is outfitted by Adidas, registered one goal and a solitary assist in 37 appearances last campaign, operating almost entirely in central defence.

The 29-year-old also won 78 duels in Serie A, cementing himself as an important factor behind Inter’s ability to go deep both in domestic competitions and the Champions League.

Now, it appears he could be set for a new challenge in the prime of his career, which has piqued Manchester United’s interest as they look to seal a marquee deal to strengthen their backline.

Alec Stewart will retain his official role at Surrey into the new season after being appointed as the club’s new High-Performance Cricket Advisor from January 2025.Stewart, 61, last week completed his 11-year stint as the club’s director of cricket, after overseeing their third County Championship triumph in consecutive seasons, and the fourth of a tenure that began in 2013.He resigned from that full-time role for personal reasons, with his wife Lynn currently undergoing treatment for cancer – a situation that caused him to take a leave of absence in January 2023.However, the club have chosen not to appoint a direct replacement, a move they had hinted at earlier in the year when mooting a management restructure to fill the void he was set to leave.”You’ve got to understand this club,” Stewart said back in April, when the club’s thoughts first turned to succession planning. “That is a big thing: the expectation, the size of it, the perception of this place. Therefore, if you have been in and around this place… I think it gives you a real headstart, if you understand everything that is expected of Surrey and the Kia Oval.”Now, under the new arrangement, Stewart will work at the club for a fixed number of days a year, charged with overseeing the continued success of the men’s elite game alongside the men’s head coach Gareth Batty and club captain Rory Burns.Related

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“Everyone knows my love of the club and what it means to me and therefore I’m very pleased that the club wanted me to continue in this new role that has been created,” he said.”With this new set-up, I firmly believe that we can continue the success at Surrey that we’ve seen in recent times. I look forward to continuing my working relationship with Gareth, Rory and the team.”A total of 12 cricketers have made England debuts during Stewart’s tenure at the club, nine of whom have come through the club’s Talent Pathway, which is more than at any other county in the country. These include Ollie Pope, England’s Test captain in the recent series against Sri Lanka, as well as Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith, the two breakout stars of England’s 2024 summer.Stewart’s role in nurturing these players has been widely credited, with Pope – whom he first encountered as an Under-9s player – saying at the start of the summer he “couldn’t imagine” life at the Kia Oval without him.As a consequence, Stewart will continue to advise on the Surrey Talent Pathway, with the aim of maintaining the flow of talented cricketers who have the ability to represent the club across formats, and ultimately England.”We completely understood and accepted Alec’s decision to step back from his Director of Cricket role at the start of the season but we always wanted to retain his expertise and his impact at Surrey,” Oli Slipper, Surrey’s chair, said. “We’ve had excellent conversations with Alec around a common ground that worked for him and for the club and I’m thrilled to say that we have found a role that works for all parties.”Steve Elworthy, Surrey’s CEO, added: “Alec has played a pivotal role in the success of the club over many years, not just lifting trophies but the conveyor belt of talent that has progressed through the Talent Pathway. That he will continue to shape the men’s professional set up, albeit in a changed role, is brilliant for the club.”We will not be replacing Alec but will be looking to individuals already at the club to take on new responsibilities. The foundations of the success of the elite group have been built by Alec and we are very pleased that we will retain his support in the future.”His appointment means the Stewart family’s association with Surrey will extend into its eighth decade next season. Alec’s father Micky, after whom the pavilion at the Kia Oval is named, began his 18-year playing career at the club in 1954, before taking over as manager from 1979 to 1986.Stewart himself played for the club between 1981 and 2003, and had the main gate at the Vauxhall End renamed in his honour in 2006, while his brother Neil is a longstanding coach in the club academy.

Nottingham Forest have struck a “verbal agreement” with a “complete” forward, and they are now “pushing” to get a deal done, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Nottingham Forest set sights on forwards amid Gibbs-White saga

Forest fans may have been given some hope that Morgan Gibbs-White could remain at the City Ground, when the attacking midfielder was selected in the starting XI for the 0-0 draw against AS Monaco on Saturday.

However, Gibbs-White could still be on the move this summer, with The Boy Hotspur saying: “I’ve been told that the Premier League have received a complaint, and ultimately they will give direction, but to repeat the well-worn phrase, slavery was abolished in the 1830s in the UK. Gibbs-White will be a Spurs player, it’s done.”

However, one bonus for the Tricky Trees is that Tottenham will have to pay over the £60m release clause to get a deal for the England international over the line, providing Nuno Espirito Santo with additional funds for the manager’s own transfer business.

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With Anthony Elanga joining Newcastle United earlier this summer, it is important that Nuno gets a new winger through the door, and Forest now appear to be making progress in their pursuit of a potential replacement for the Sweden international.

Taking to X, Plettenberg stated Nottingham Forest are now “pushing to sign” Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, having already struck a “verbal agreement”, with the forward in line to move to the City Ground on a five-year deal until 2030.

With Ndoye giving the move the green light, the Tricky Trees are now preparing an opening bid, but they may have to spend big to get a deal over the line, as the Italian club are set to hold out for €40m (£35m). Fabrizio Romano has since added that an opening bid has been made, although doesn’t state how much a proposal is worth.

Nuno’s side will also have to contend with rival interest from Serie A champions Napoli, who are also pushing to get a deal done.

"Complete" Ndoye could be ideal Elanga replacement

It will be a tall order to replace Elanga, but the Bologna star could be the man for the job, given that he performed remarkably well last season, regularly chipping in with goals and assists across all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Serie A

30

8

4

Italian Cup

3

1

2

Italian agent Lodovico Spinosi has also spoken fondly of his client, saying: “It is true that he is doing very well and everyone is realising how decisive he is in one-on-one situations, thanks to his speed. He can also play as a wing-back, despite being born as an offensive player.

“He is a complete player who, if he manages to be more decisive up front, will be at a top-tier club.”

Despite being versatile, Ndoye has most commonly featured at right-wing throughout his career to date, suggesting he could be the ideal replacement for Elanga, so it is exciting news that he has reached a verbal agreement over a move.

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin confirmed that there will be further changes to the playing squad after the 2-2 draw at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Scottish head coach has revealed that there will be more signings to be added to the group to bolster his team, and that means that there will be players who have to move on as well.

Martin has brought in Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Thelo Aasgaard, and Emmanuel Fernandez, but is ‘expecting’ more recruits to arrive at Ibrox in the coming weeks.

It now remains to be seen who will remain at Rangers and who will be allowed to move on from the club, whether that be star players who may earn big moves or those on the fringes who are looking for more game time.

The Scottish Premiership giants have not always made the best decisions on player exits, as they have fumbled the chance to rake in huge profit on stars, such as Ryan Kent.

How Rangers fumbled millions with Ryan Kent

After an initial loan spell at Ibrox, Rangers swooped to sign the English winger from Liverpool for a reported fee of £7.5m in the summer of 2019 to bolster Steven Gerrard’s squad.

The electric left winger certainly proved his worth during his time in Glasgow, as he played a key role in the club’s Premiership title win in the 2020/21 campaign.

Kent ended that season with a return of 13 goals and 14 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which included ten goals and ten assists in the top-flight.

In the summer of 2020, Gerrard revealed that the club had “strongly rejected” an offer from a team for the winger, which was reported to be a £10m bid from Leeds United.

The Daily Mail then reported that Leeds were ‘unsuccessful’ in an attempt to sign the forward for a fee of £15m after his performances during the title-winning campaign for the Light Blues.

As you can see in the table above, it may have been a mistake by the Gers to turn down that second offer from the English side, as he went on to be released for nothing just two years later.

His value continued to plummet before he left Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, and they may wish that they had cashed in on him when they had the chance to.

Rangers reject offer for forward

The Light Blues must avoid any similar mistakes with their star players this summer, after Martin confirmed that the club have turned down a bid for one of their forwards

Transfer Focus

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

Cyriel Dessers watched on from the stands as Rangers played against Club Brugge on Sunday, and the manager revealed after the match that the club have officially rejected a bid for the striker already.

Martin explained: “Cyriel, he’s just been injured his ankle. So, he’s here today. We turned down a bid a while ago for him that was nowhere near the valuation for the football club.

Martin added: “So, that [deal is] nowhere near happening. He’ll get on the training ground this week and start enjoying it.”

No price tag or club was mentioned by the manager, but Greek side AEK Athens have been heavily linked with the forward. Journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos claims that they are set to make contact with Rangers once again this week over a deal for the number nine.

Why Rangers should cash in on Cyriel Dessers this summer

Rangers reportedly paid a fee of £4.5m to sign the Nigeria international from Cremonense in the summer of 2023, and the club should cash in on him this summer if any team comes in with an offer of more than that – £5m or more.

They turned down two bids for Ryan Kent, of £10m and £15m, that would have seen the Gers make a significant profit on the initial £7.5m that they paid for him, and they lived to regret that as the forward went on to leave for nothing in 2023.

The Nigerian forward turns 31 in December and his current contract at Ibrox is due to expire in the summer of 2027. That suggests that this summer may be the peak of his value at the club, because he is now heading towards the latter stages of his career and the latter stages of his contract.

This is their last chance to cash in on Dessers at peak value, as he will only have 12 months left on his contract next summer, and that is why they should look to move him on amid interest from AEK Athens.

As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old striker has been an unreliable forward in front of goal for the Scottish giants in his two seasons in the Premiership.

Goal returns of 16 and 18 respectively are very solid hauls on paper, but 47 ‘big chances’ missed shows that the striker, who former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness described as “marmite”, has not been dependable enough.

Dessers is an incredibly wasteful finisher and Martin could improve his Rangers team by cashing in on him this summer to then bring in a more efficient marksman to lead the club back to glory.

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Therefore, the Light Blues must cash in on the forward in the coming weeks to avoid a Ryan Kent repeat and to potentially improve the squad.

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to pay over £50 million for another transfer target after finalising their deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

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Gyokeres has become Arsenal’s sixth signing of the window after their confirmed deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera, following a breakthrough in talks with Sporting earlier this week.

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

25/26 – summer

£153m

Negotiations were dragging on over the structure of bonus payments, despite reaching an agreement in principle nearly a fortnight ago (The Athletic), but all issues have now been quashed and Gyokeres will sign in as a new Arsenal player.

According to David Ornstein, the 27-year-old’s medical will take place today, and he’s set to don the iconic number 14 shirt once worn by Thierry Henry.

Mikel Arteta is poised for a major boost with the arrival of Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in all competitions last season, with Arsenal ending their drawn-out search for a prolific number nine at long last.

Gyokeres’ initial £55 million capture, which could rise to £64 million with add-ons (The Athletic), takes Arsenal’s summer spending to over £200 million.

Berta hasn’t been afraid to splash the cash over his debut summer window as Arsenal sporting director, and it is widely reported that he could spend even more on the potential signing of Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal are expected to advance their pursuit of Eze after signing Gyokeres, with Berta and Arteta keen to add more creativity to their central attacking midfield (Ben Jacobs).

Arsenal prepared to bid £55 million for Eberechi Eze

TEAMtalk have another update on the situation this week. According to their information, Arsenal are prepared to offer Palace £55 million for Eze as they seek to strike a deal below his release clause, with the Gunners also ready to propose a four-year contract to the player himself.

They’re apparently “pushing” for the 27-year-old, who scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists for Palace last season, and helped the club win their first ever piece of major silverware.

The Eagles, in the meantime, are holding firm on his full price tag, but Arteta’s side view Eze as a key target due to his attacking versatility.

Reports from as far back as last month claimed that Arsenal have held talks with Eze’s representatives, and Football Transfers believe that the England international loosely agreed personal terms some time ago.

Eze’s demands are unlikely to be Berta’s major obstacle. His club will make things difficult, and Palace have already showcased they won’t be bullied around in negotiations, as evident by their stubbornness to sell Marc Guehi in the past 12 months.

Chairman Steve Parish rejected multiple bids from Newcastle last summer for Guehi, not to mention an audacious £70m offer from Tottenham in January, so Palace are stern negotiators.

سجل الدولي الإسباني ماركوس يورينتي، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي أتليتكو مدريد هدف التعادل لصالح فريقه أمام ليفربول في المباراة التي تجمعهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويفتتح أتليتكو مدريد مشواره في دوري أبطال أوروبا بمواجهة ليفربول الإنجليزي، على ملعب “آنفيلد” في الجولة الأولى لمرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتقدم ليفربول في النتيجة وأحرز هدفين في أول 6 دقائق بالمباراة بأقدام روبرتسون ومحمد صلاح لتذهب المباراة في اتجاه النادي الإنجليزي الذي سيطر على كل مجريات اللقاء.

لكن رجال سيميوني رفضوا الاستسلام وسجل يورينتي الهدف الأول في الوقت بدلًا من الضائع من الشوط الأول بعد تسديدة نفذها بشكل مهاري على يمين الحارس البرازيلي أليسون بيكر.

ولأن “آنفيلد” ملعب السعد على الدولي الإسباني، أحرز يورينتي الهدف الثاني لصالح فريقه في الدقيقة 85 من عمر اللقاء بعد تشتيت دفاع ليفربول الكرة على حدود منطقة الجزاء سددها يورنتي ببراعة ارتطمت باللاعب ماك أليستر وسكنت مرمى أليسون. يورينتي يسجل هدف التعادل لصالح أتليتكو مدريد أمام ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا

As Liverpool showcased last season, ‘winning the window’ doesn’t always equate to on-field success, with Arne Slot’s side romping to the Premier League title despite only adding Federico Chiesa to their ranks.

Having lain dormant in the transfer market, however, the Reds appear intent on building on their position of strength this time around, having already spent £256m this summer.

Further additions are almost certain to lie in store too, with recent reports even claiming that wantaway Newcastle United man, Alexander Isak, has agreed personal terms with the Merseysiders.

There is undoubted excitement brewing at the prospect of adding yet another marquee name to their forward ranks, although the Anfield must not forget to ensure that the foundations are steady too, with solid and perhaps more unsung signings also in order. James Milner, anyone?

Indeed, with Jarell Quansah joining Bayer Leverkusen, and Joe Gomez struck down with injury, Slot has been left with just two senior centre-backs, a pairing that includes contract rebel – and Barcelona target – Ibrahima Konate.

Having front-loaded the squad so far then, the Reds can’t risk being exposed at the back. Enter, another quietly crucial acquisition.

Liverpool hold advantage in race for £50k-p/w talent

Liverpool have, of course, already moved to bolster the backline this summer, with the signing of full-back pairing Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, while Giorgi Mamardashvili has also finally arrived on Merseyside.

That said, as already stated, the dearth of options in the centre of defence remains a reason for concern – even after Virgil van Dijk’s contract extension – with that an area that still needs to be addressed.

With that in mind, Football Insider’s Mick Brown has suggested that the champions still have the advantage over top-flight rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, in the race to sign Marc Guehi.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Brown, despite Spurs showing interest again in the England international, it is Liverpool who are still the “favourites” to sign him, having been heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old throughout the summer.

The insider goes on to add that the former Chelsea defender has his “heart set on a move to Liverpool”, with the Reds seemingly ready to make a bid for him “at some stage”.

With just 12 months left on his current deal, the alternative is that the £50k-per-week centre-back remains at Selhurst Park for next season, before making the switch on a free transfer.

Why Liverpool could be targeting the new Milner

As already stated, there has been a sense of glamour to Liverpool’s signings so far this summer, with Slot and co notably gambling on three exciting young talents from the Bundesliga, in the form of Kerkez, Frimpong and £116m man, Florian Wirtz.

That said, there remains the need for ready-made, proven Premier League talents who can slot in somewhat under the radar, with Guehi perhaps the perfect fit in that regard, considering his recent experience at Palace.

Indeed, there could well be shades of the aforementioned Milner about the move, with Guehi’s compatriot having been a muted arrival from Manchester City on a free transfer back in 2015, before going on to assume cult hero status at Anfield.

A jack of all trades, the versatile machine racked up 332 appearances in all competitions for the Reds across the next eight years, having notably been hailed as a “role model” by then-boss Jurgen Klopp in 2022.

The German even went as far as to state that “nothing we have achieved in the last few years would have happened without [him]”, with the underrated midfielder having been a vital, albeit at-times unsung cog in the Anfield machine.

In Guehi – who is currently the captain at Selhurst Park – the Reds would be able to acquire another leader-like figure to bolster the ranks, providing stability and consistency amid a summer of perhaps more marquee additions.

Such qualities have been noted by ex-interim England boss Lee Carsley, who said back in November that the defender “is a player who shows leadership qualities in his career so far not only off the pitch but on the pitch”.

Non-penalty goals

0.09

0.08

Assists

0.06

0.03

Pass completion

83.5%

91.6%

Progressive passes

3.94

5.35

Progressive carries

0.65

0.59

Successful take-ons

0.35

0.08

Tackles

1.79

1.03

Interceptions

0.82

1.51

Aerial duels won

2.00

3.22

Like Milner – who has turned out for an array of top-flight clubs – Guehi is no stranger to Premier League action, having racked up 132 appearances in the competition to date.

A standard-setter and a guiding presence at Palace, even when perhaps outshone by the likes of Eberechi Eze ahead of him, the in-demand talent would be a relatively risk-free and cost-effective signing. Indeed, if he does ultimately end up arriving next summer, he could replicate Milner’s move as a bargain free transfer.

That’s not to say that Guehi doesn’t also have a high ceiling, however, with Palace reporter Bobby Manzi noting that he is simply a “monster in defence”. In all, the 6 foot sensation helped to keep 11 clean sheets in the league last season, while averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside boasting five goal involvements.

An asset in both boxes, the Eagles skipper would be a more than worthy addition amid a hectic summer of activity for the Reds. Yes, there might be more exciting deals being done, but much like Milner proved to be under Klopp, Guehi could prove to be the glue holding things together.

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India coach Gautam Gambhir has vehemently backed KL Rahul to come good amid mounting scrutiny on his recent form in Test cricket. After making a duck in India’s 46 all out in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test, Rahul was dismissed for 12 in the second as India lost to New Zealand by eight wickets.”You don’t pick players on social media because of social media or for that matter even what the experts are saying,” Gambhir said on while addressing Rahul’s form on the eve of the second Test in Pune. “What the team management thinks and what the leadership group thinks is very, very important. Ultimately, everyone is judged.”International cricket is all about being judged, to be honest, because everyone’s performance will be judged eventually. But I feel that he [Rahul] is batting really well. Obviously, he has had a decent knock in Kanpur [against Bangladesh] obviously, on a difficult wicket. And obviously, he played according to the plans as well. And I am sure, I think, he would also be knowing that he wants to score big runs and he has that capability of scoring runs. That’s why he has been backed by the team management.”While Rahul has built a strong body of work overseas – he has hundreds in South Africa, England and Australia – his average of 33.87 is the lowest among all specialist batters to have played at least 50 Tests for India.With Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test because of neck stiffness, set to bat at No. 3 in Pune, India will have to make a choice between Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, who scored his maiden Test century in Bengaluru. Sarfaraz, who took a short break after the first Test because of the birth of his child, rejoined the India side and trained in Pune on Wednesday.While Sarfaraz might have the edge over Rahul after his 150 in Bengaluru, Gambhir did not reveal which way the team was leaning.0:54

Manjrekar: Feel sorry for Rahul, but he will have to make way for Gill

India also have another choice to make between left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav and offspin allrounder Washington Sundar, who was added to squad after the defeat in Bengaluru. Apart from boosting India’s spin stocks on a dry, black-soil surface, Washington could add depth to the batting line-up. In his most recent red-ball game, in the second round of the Ranji Trophy, he made 152 at No. 3 for Tamil Nadu against Delhi.”We just felt that probably they [New Zealand] have four or five left-handers in the playing XI,” Gambhir said of Washington’s inclusion in the squad. “That if we want to have another bowler who can take the ball away from the left-handers, it is always going to be useful for us. But we haven’t still decided what is going to be the playing XI.Related

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“We believe that probably there are two [left-hand] opening batters and Rachin [Ravindra] in the middle order. So, we feel that if Washy can give us more control in the middle, it is always going to be good for us.”While managing the workload of the fast bowlers remains a priority for India’s team management heading into a five-Test tour of Australia, Gambhir suggested it won’t be done when the series is on the line against New Zealand in Pune and when crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points are at stake. For India to seal their place in the WTC final, irrespective of other results, they need at least four wins and one draw (52 points) in their remaining seven Tests, which will give them 65.79 percentage points.Gambhir, though, said the team was monitoring the workload of Jasprit Bumrah, who has played each of India’s three Tests so far in this home season.”Once the [New Zealand Test] series is over, we still have around 10 or 12 days before the Test starts in Australia,” Gambhir said. “So, that’s enough break for our fast bowlers. But we will still monitor after the Test match where Jasprit Bumrah is. But it’s not only about Jasprit Bumrah. It’s about all the fast bowlers. We want to keep them fresh. We know that obviously we’ve got a long tour and an important tour of Australia.”But workload management will definitely depend on what the outcome of this Test match is and how much have they bowled in this Test match.”

Chelsea are still in the market for new signings after sealing deals for Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, despite their immediate need to sell players, and they could be on for an end-of-window surge.

£130k-a-week ace in talks to leave Chelsea as BlueCo prepare "ruthless" axe

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1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 16, 2025

Their triumph in the Club World Cup and subsequent £87.5 million cash prize has practically paid for both Delap and Gittens – who cost a combined £85 million – so BlueCo do have money to spend.

They’ve also sold Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli and Djordje Petrovic for a combined, estimated and reported total of around £96 million, with midfielder Mathis Amougou joining sister club Strasbourg for an additional undisclosed fee.

In terms of PSR, Chelsea are actually in line to make a profit right now and sailing comfortably under the limit, but they were recently sanctioned by UEFA for breaking their separate, more strict FFP rules.

The Blues need to sell players and balance out their squad, or face the prospect of not being able to register new players for the Champions League next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

With many players facing uncertain futures on the chopping block, Chelsea’s business for the rest of the window hinges on managing to get rid of certain squad members, but if they do, the west Londoners could still be on for a late-window flurry of incomings (Simon Phillips).

BlueCo remain keen on backing Enzo Maresca in the transfer market, and journalist Simon Phillips reports that the Italian is prioritising further attacking additions, due to Chelsea’s struggles playing against teams with a low block last season.

Chelsea hold new talks with Eberechi Eze's representatives this week

Writing via his Substack, the Chelsea reporter claims £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is among their key targets.

They face stiff competition from Arsenal, who are about to formally approach Palace over signing Eze after holding talks on the player’s side for weeks (Ben Jacobs), but Chelsea have now reached out to the 27-year-old’s camp as well.

“SPTC sources have heard that yesterday, Chelsea held new talks with the agents of Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace,” said Phillips on Wednesday.

“However, there has been no club-to-club contact yet, but it looks like Chelsea are seeing if they can get the player buy-in first. Eze has a release clause believed to be around £65m. So if Chelsea get the player buy in, they can just trigger this.

“However, we know that it’s not just about the fee, it’s about how it can be paid, and other aspects. Chelsea may also look to bring that fee down by offering players as they do with most deals at the moment. Palace have a number of Chelsea players on their wish list, with Trevoh Chalobah being the main one.

“Let’s see if this goes any further but for now, just talks with Eze’s agent to establish if any deal is possible on that side.”

The England international netted 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, including Palace’s match-winning goal against Man City in the FA Cup final, and he’s been a star player for Palace since his move from QPR in 2020.

تحدث خالد بوطيب، لاعب الزمالك السابق والكوكب المراكشي الحالي، عن فترته السابقة مع القلعة البيضاء، مُشددًا على أنه تعرض لأزمات وتشويه لصورته في مصر.

وقال خالد بوطيب، في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب”، على قناة “mbc masr”: “هذه هي الحياة قد تكون الأمور هكذا في جميع بلدان العالم وفي جميع أندية العالم، هناك من لعب لبرشلونة ثم لريال، هكذا هو الأمر إنها من تبعات اللعبة ولا ينبغي أن نلمهم على هذا فهذه هي الحياة”.

وتابع: “الأمور جيدة لأنني الآن أكتشف دوريًا جديدًا وناديًا جديدًا وكذلك أيضًا زملاء جدد، إنني سعيد بعودتي إلى بلادي وعلي الآن أن أتأقلم مع أسلوب اللعب مع الفريق وكما قلت فإنني أحاول أن أقدم إضافة جديدة”.

عن فترته القصيرة مع الزمالك، قال خالد بوطيب: “نعم حقًا إنها قصيرة ولكن كان ذلك بسبب المشاكل مع الإدارة وأيضًا بسبب إصابتي”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير: يانيك فيريرا ارتكب كارثة قبل مواجهة الأهلي.. ويُهاجم إدارة الزمالك

وأضاف: “كنت أرغب في تقديم أداء جيد وتحقيق إنجازات مع الزمالك حتى وإن فزت ببطولتين، إلا أن التجربة بقيت ناقصة وتركت لدي طعمًا مرًا هنا في مصر”.

وبسؤاله، هل مشاكلك تم حلها مع نادي الزمالك؟ أجاب: “لقد قلتها من قبل إنه قيل عني في وسائل الإعلام أشياء كثيرة وسيئة، وصورتني على أنني شخص غير نزيه مع أنهم يعلمون جيدًا أنني فعلت كل ما بوسعي للعودة بسرعة ومساعدة النادي قدر المستطاع، بعد ذلك لن أبوح أبدًا بكل ما حدث لأنني لا أريد أن أنزل إلى ذلك المستوى”.

واختتم: “كما قلت هناك بعض الأشخاص في النادي وبعض اللاعبين لا ذنب لهم، والمشجعون أيضًا لا ذنب لهم وعلى الرغم من كل شيء فقد كانت تجربة مهمة، أنا لا أقلل أبدًا مما عشته هناك إنه نادي سيبقى في قلبي رغم كل شيء وأمل أن يحققوا الكثير من الانتصارات”.