This is a chance for Test regulars to find form or hopefuls to stake claim for selection

Sidharth Monga16-Jan-2025

Players wanting to stake claim or to regain form for India’s tour of England will get three four-day matches against England Lions between the end of the IPL on May 25 and the start of the Tests on June 20.India’s batters playing hardly any multi-day cricket outside Test matches has emerged as a point of contention in the fallout of a disastrous season. In 2024-25, India ended their dominant unbeaten series streak at home with a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand followed by a 3-1 defeat in Australia, the first time they have lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 10 years. For the first time in three editions, India failed to make the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will now open up time for even Test regulars to play for India A.The batting was in such disarray in Australia that the captain Rohit Sharma even “opted out” of the Sydney Test. He also said he was not retiring and not “going anywhere”. It can be a long way back into the side when you consider yourself to be not good enough to play a specific Test. The obvious question can be: what has changed between then and now that you return into the squad and potentially be the captain?The heat is also on Virat Kohli, who has averaged 30.72 and scored only three hundreds since 2020, to work on his game after he was dismissed off the outside edge in each of his innings in Australia and had no off-side scoring options off the back foot.There is only one Ranji Trophy game they – and indeed the youngsters – can play before they join the ODI side for the series against England. The English County Championships go into a break to provide a window for the T20 Blast exactly during the gap between the IPL and the Tests in England.The window for the T20 Blast might raise a question over the quality of opposition India A might get but the BCCI is confident that the ECB will reciprocate after the Lions were given a strong opposition on their shadow tour alongside the Test tour of India in 2023-24. The BCCI has an arrangement for shadow tours of the A team around the Test tours with both ECB and CA.England Lions’ opposition last year included Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna, all of whom went on to play Tests for India later in the year. When India toured Australia, their opposition included Scott Boland, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Nathan McSweeney, all of whom played during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The exact dates and opposition remain to be finalised, but the BCCI expects a Lions team of similar strength in the lead-up to the Tests in England in 2025. It is learnt that the BCCI has offered the batters these matches as an opportunity to present their case for selection. Whether they play and how they do there is likely to be considered by the selectors when they pick the squad.

Tom Moffat, the CEO of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), has blasted the BPL for being “a repeat offender” in failing to pay the players on time. The reaction comes a day after Durbar Rajshahi’s overseas players boycotted their BPL match on Sunday because of non-payment of dues.Even Rajshahi’s captain Taskin Ahmed had joked after the match that he hoped the cheques issued to the Bangladeshi players, hours before the match, wouldn’t bounce like the pitch. The BCB’s media chairman Iftekhar Rahman said that the board is planning to take legal action against the Rajshahi franchise.On Monday, Ryan Burl and Aftab Alam, two of Rajshahi’s overseas players, appeared for the team’s last league match against Sylhet Strikers. It is however not clear whether the franchise owner Shafique Rahman has paid them fully yet.Related

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Moffat expressed his shock on the matter, and called the lack of payment unacceptable.”It’s disappointing to hear about more non-payment issues in the Bangladesh Premier League, which has been a repeat offender over a number of years, ” Moffat told ESPNcricinfo. “These issues are unacceptable, they aren’t getting better, and it’s the players who make the event that are impacted. In any league that is officially sanctioned, players should have confidence that their contracts have some basic protections and minimum standards in them, and that they can be enforced efficiently.”The game is not currently capable of solving transnational issues like this at the moment, and that needs to change if it wants to continue to claim to be a leading global sport in 2025.”The BPL’s first two editions – in 2012 and 2013 – were mired by non-payment issues, with many players remaining unpaid by the franchises. The BCB even stopped the tournament for a season after there were corruption scandals.The payment issue cropped up this year after Rajshahi’s local players boycotted a training session last week, after going totally unpaid for the first two weeks of the tournament. Rajshahi reportedly also initially failed to pay their team hotel in Chattogram, with their owner Rahman getting into trouble with hotel authorities. They also had booking issues in Dhaka where they had to change hotels suddenly.

Gambhir makes it clear that he wants Test hopefuls to take domestic cricket seriously, and play the Ranji Trophy if they are not committed elsewhere

Alagappan Muthu05-Jan-2025Following India’s defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questions loom over the futures of India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who stood himself down in the Sydney Test, and senior batter Virat Kohli, who fell for his seventh score of 20 or less in the series.Head coach Gautam Gambhir offered them support but left the big decision to the players.”I can’t talk about the future of any player,” Gambhir said at the press conference after the series. “It’s up to them as well. But yes, what I can say is that they still have the hunger. They still have the passion. They’re tough people. And hopefully they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. But ultimately, as we all know, that whatever they plan, they will plan for the best interest of Indian cricket.”Related

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India and Australia will have to make tough selection calls to future-proof their Test sides

Prasidh, Abhimanyu, Padikkal available for Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts

India did many good things, but the less-good things outweighed them

Konstas, Webster and Boland, the unusual suspects in Australia's moment of glory

Rohit has averaged 10.93 over his last eight Test matches with only one fifty-plus score. He spoke to at lunch on the second day and said that he had taken the decision to sit out the fifth Test because he thought it would have been hard for the team to win carrying so many out-of-form batters.He also clarified that he wasn’t retiring from Test cricket yet.Kohli, meanwhile, has been left frustrated by his vulnerability outside the off stump. He made an unbeaten hundred in Perth but all eight of his other trips to the crease have ended with his outside edge being snaffled up by the wicketkeeper or in the slips. In Melbourne, when that happened, he slumped over his bat. He had been playing an innings that looked, in Steven Smith’s words, like a masterclass until then. In Sydney, when it happened again, he yelled at himself and punched his leg.”First of all, every individual knows where their game and hunger is,” Gambhir, who had himself gone through a phase late in his career where he was out of form but battling to make the team. “That’s the most important thing for any sport and any profession. It’s not just about the sport.”It’s about how hungry you are, how passionate you are, and whether the team is moving forward with your contribution or not. Because ultimately, it’s neither my team, nor your team, it’s the country’s team. I believe, as I said, there are very honest players in our dressing room who know how hungry they are.”But yes, as far as my question is concerned, my biggest responsibility is that I have to be fair to everyone in that room. Not only one or two individuals. If I’m fair to only two or three individuals, and not to everyone else, then I’m being dishonest to my job. So whether it’s a player who hasn’t debuted yet, or a player who has played 100 Test matches, my simple goal in my job is that I have to be absolutely fair and equal to everyone.”India do not have another Test match to play until June 2025, when they tour England for five games. Rohit will be 38 by then and Kohli will be pushing 37.When asked about his thoughts on a long-term roadmap for the team in red-ball cricket, and whether it was time to invest in youngsters, Gambhir said, “Look, it’s too early to talk about it. The series has just got over. I think we still have five more months to plan where we want to head towards. But it’s not the right moment right now for me to talk about that. Where are we going to be after five months?”A lot of things change in sport. Forms change. People change. Attitude change. Everything changes in sport. And we all know that five months is a long time. So, let’s see before the [England] series what’s going to happen. But whatever will happen, will happen for the best interest of Indian cricket.””If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players what you want in Test cricket”•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesGambhir: ‘I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket’India next play England in a T20I and ODI series at home in January-February before moving to the UAE for their share of fixtures in the Champions Trophy, which is being hosted by Pakistan. For the players who do not make those squads, there is the option of playing the Ranji Trophy, which resumes after a break on January 23.”I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket,” Gambhir said. “That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game. If they’re available and they have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. As simple as it can get.”If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players what you want in Test cricket.”

Manchester United are issuing the perfect response to a 2024/25 campaign that left everything to be desired.

Though INEOS’ efforts to bring in new signings proved protracted at the start, there has been an impetus on strengthening with genuine quality, the frontline revamped through deals for Premier League stars Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, followed by the £74m acquisition of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, one of the most talented young strikers in Europe.

Ruben Amorim was dealt a tough hand when leaving his high-flying Sporting Lisbon project and taking over an Old Trafford side in disrepair, but he’s weathered the storm and has hunkered down, reshaping the team, stamping his mark on the squad.

Man Utd confident they will sign PL star

Technical director Jason Wilcox remains hard at work. Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been slated to replace the beleaguered Andre Onana between the sticks, while talks continue over the sales of several first-team drifters, chief of which being Alejandro Garnacho, who is expected to join Chelsea before the end of the window.

However, it’s clear that Amorim is also hoping to sign a dynamic number 6 before the end of the month, viewing a robust profile in the role as being perfect to take his side to the next level and leave a significant impression on the Premier League, pushing United back into the ascendancy of European football.

According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, via TEAMtalk, Manchester United are growing in confidence as they chase a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

The all-action midfielder, 21, has previously been reported by Fabrizio Romano to be the focus of new talks between the Premier League rivals, though the Seagulls don’t want to sell and will make any bid extremely difficult, pricing their star at £104m.

Transfer Focus

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

Baleba, however, is attracted by the thought of joining the Old Trafford side and Amorim is intent on bringing players who want to fight for the badge.

What Carlos Baleba would bring to Man Utd

One of Man United’s most fatal flaws throughout the post-Fergie era has been signing established ‘superstars’, who perhaps have the headline name but have been there and done that, and thus don’t have the fire in their belly that the club need.

Baleba is the perfect profile to buck that trend, and what’s more, so are the already-made deals completed over the past few months. Whisper it quietly, but something feels different about the Red Devils this time.

Brighton have a knack for identifying and developing midfielders. Their talent ID is superlative and mistake-free. And with Baleba eager to switch the sandy south coast for Manchester’s bustling streets, INEOS and Amorim have a glorious opportunity to take this Man United team into their next phase.

The 21-year-old powerhouse is a holding midfielder with bags of energy and an attacking flair, lending itself to an influential position in Fabian Hurtzler’s Seagulls team.

And considering the player’s “colossal” performances so far in the Premier League, as have been noted by Brighton reporter Aden-Jay Wood, he could revolutionise United’s midfield, maybe even turning out to be their own version of Manchester City sensation Rodri.

Rodri’s is a name that we all know. The Spain international is one of the greatest players of his generation and has won the full gamut at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 26 goals and supplying 32 assists across 265 matches in all competitions.

But he started somewhere, and that first campaign in the Premier League proved tricky, with City losing their Premier League title to Liverpool.

Rodri still made an exciting impression, though, and it’s curious to note that Baleba for Brighton last season ranked up quite nicely against that version of the Iberian midfielder.

Rodri might be a Ballon d’Or-winning superstar, but when he first arrived on English shores and got to work under Pep Guardiola’s wing, he had much to learn, and it’s promising to note that Baleba in his youthful period is on the same level as the Spaniard’s one-time iteration.

FBref recorded that the Cameroonian midfielder ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90 too, thus illustrating his capacity to slide forward and progress play for his team.

Though it would take much time and effort to build Baleba up to a position where he could be considered the finest midfielder in the Premier League, one of the best in the world, he certainly has the potential to be just that.

There’s plenty of rocky terrain still to traverse before Man United crest this mountain, which has loomed before them for so long, but it’s not unjust to suggest that things are changing, and that the signings being made have the potential to drive an exciting new era.

Were Baleba to join, Amorim’s midfield would be revolutionised, with a centrepiece carrying all the potential to emulate Rodri and become an all-powerful presence in a Manchester midfield.

Man Utd's new Carrick: INEOS set to make bid for £100m + star this week

Manchester United look ready to splash the cash on a player who possesses shades of Michael Carrick’s assured game.

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Kelan Sarson

Aug 11, 2025

وجه مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، الدعوة لانعقاد الجمعية العمومية للنادي، وذلك لتوفيق الأوضاع، ووفقًا لتعديل بعض أحكام قانون الرياضة الجديد.

وحدد مجلس إدارة الزمالك، موعد انعقاد الجمعية العمومية، يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 21 أكتوبر الجاري، بمقر النادي.

طالع.. خاص | وكيل محمود بنتايج يهدد مسؤولي الزمالك: الصبر بدأ ينفد

ويتضمن جدول أعمال الجمعية العمومية الآتي:

إعتماد التعديلات المقترحة على لائحة النظام الأساسي للنادى لتتوافق مع تعديل بعض أحكام قانون الرياضة رقم ۷۱ لسنة ۲۰۱۷ والصادر بموجب القانون رقم ١٧١ لسنة ٢٠٢٥.

– يكون الاجتماع صحيحاً بحضور 4000 عضو على الأقل من الأعضاء الذين لهم حق حضور الاجتماع الخاص لـ الجمعية العمومية وتعتمد التعديلات المقترحة بأغلبية الأصوات الصحيحة من الأعضاء الذين أدلوا بأصواتهم.

– تبدأ عملية التسجيل والتصويت لحضور الاجتماع الخاص بدءاً من الساعة التاسعة صباحاً وحتى الساعة السابعة مساءً بموجب بطاقة العضوية بالإضافة إلى بطاقة الرقم القومي أو جواز السفر.

– يكون التصويت حضورياً ولا يجوز للعضو أن ينيب غيره في الحضور والتصويت، ويكون التصويت والتوقيع في كشوف الاجتماع.

Bernardo Silva has claimed that Arsenal had an "unfair advantage" over Manchester City during their Premier League clash at the Emirates on Sunday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after Gabriel Martinelli's dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser cancelled out Erling Haaland's early goal in the first half, with the Gunners extending their unbeaten run against City to six matches.

Martinelli spoiled Man City's party with late equaliser

City were just minutes away from securing a crucial win against Arsenal on Sunday but Martinelli spoiled Pep Guardiola's party as the Brazilian winger came off the bench to score a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser. The result ensured the Gunners stay second in the Premier League table while City are down in ninth.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSilva bemoans lack of recovery time

Arsenal went into the key Premier League fixture after playing Athletic Club last Tuesday in the Champions League, while City took on Napoli two days later.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after the match, Silva bemoaned the lack of recovery time for City, saying: "I am saying this because we didn’t lose. If we lost, I wouldn’t say this. But the reality is, we cannot come to one of the most important games in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right. They had five days, and we had two-and-a-half days. In one of the most important games, this cannot happen.

"I wasn’t feeling in a perfect condition to play like this, and people who have not played at the highest level don’t know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best condition. We saw [Abdukodir] Khusanov getting injured because these games demand a lot. I feel it is just frustrating that we couldn’t be at our best level simply because of the decision of someone that thinks it is fair to come away after two-and-a-half less days than Arsenal. But in the end we did well in terms of fighting, resilience and sticking together and sticking to the plan. It is just frustrating we conceded very late in the game."

He added: "I felt the difference in the first half. If you play at the highest level you know that two days playing against one of the best teams in the league, away, with the travel, you need at least one more day to recover. It doesn’t matter if Arsenal had four, five or six days [to recover], just give us one more day, and that gives us three-and-a-half days. Then you make it an even game. Two-and-a-half days is not enough to recover our bodies and to perform at the highest level. It is just not enough."

Calls for 'common sense' to prevail

The Portugal international once again hit out at the congested fixture schedule, which is taking a toll on the fitness levels of players across Europe. "We have tried, they don’t listen to us. It is what it is. We would like to change something, but it never changes," Silva said. "It does not really matter, but for the fans, for the respect of the clubs, and for the fairness of the competition, I don’t think what happened today [on Sunday] was good. Look, the schedule is the schedule and I understand you have different competitions and UEFA, the Premier League, and the broadcasters want to make their money and I understand all those sorts of things.

"What we ask is that we don’t mind playing every three or four days, and we don’t mind playing 60 games because we are used to that. But what we ask for is common sense because this is one of the biggest games of the season. And it is not because of us. I don’t think that they are trying to make us lose a game. It could happen to Arsenal or Liverpool in a few months. But when you are playing an Arsenal vs City or a City vs Liverpool or Liverpool vs Arsenal, you need to have a bit of common sense, and understanding of these situations and in such an important game, the players need to be in the same physical conditions otherwise, I don’t think it is fair. I know it might have happened to other teams in the past. It did not feel like we were in the same physical condition as them."

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Getty ImagesUp next for City: Huddersfield then Burnley

Guardiola will be expected to rotate his starting lineup heavily for City's Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Huddersfield Town on Wednesday. City are due to host Burnley in their next Premier League fixture three days later.

Unai Emery will be praying that his Aston Villa team puts their slow Premier League start behind them when Crystal Palace comes to town.

After all, much like the Villans this summer, Crystal Palace have had to grow accustomed to the prospect of their top assets being poached by sides higher up the top-flight food chain, with Eberechi Eze now donning Arsenal red and white.

Thankfully, the West Midlands outfit still has Morgan Rogers available for selection – despite new interest in his services coming from Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur – with a hope he can kickstart his own individual season against the Eagles to steer Villa to a win.

Away from speculation about those who could exit Villa Park between now and September’s looming deadline, there is also a long list of faces that might well relocate to the claret and blue half of Birmingham shortly.

Aston Villa lodge bid for new midfielder

However, it does now look increasingly unlikely that Nicolas Jackson will be one of those faces pulling on a Villa strip.

Indeed, reports from Germany indicate that Bayern Munich has agreed a loan deal for the hit-and-miss Chelsea forward to move to Bundesliga giants, over sealing a return to work under his ex-Villarreal boss in Emery.

The early Premier League underperformers might well feel lady luck could be on their side more by trying to land Christopher Nkunku instead from the West London outfit, but there will also be competition from the German top-flight here as well, with Nkunku’s former side RB Leipzig keen on a reunion.

Villa have also been gifted the opportunity to land Adrien Rabiot to enhance their midfield personnel, with French outlet L’Equipe revealing that Emery and Co. have sent an offer for the wantaway Marseille ace, who is on thin ice at the Ligue 1 side owing to a bust-up.

Other sides, such as West Ham United, Galatasaray, and Inter Milan, are also among those to have lodged a proposal, with Villa hopeful they can get a statement deal over the line that is a far better late foray into the market than snapping up Nkunku or Jackson.

Why signing Rabiot is a better buy than Nkunku & Jackson

The argument in favour of both Nkunku and Jackson will be that they’ve at least been exposed to the intense pressures of the Premier League, with the Frenchman only ever plying his trade on faraway European shores, in contrast.

Yet, it’s been well-documented at this point how tricky both the ex-Leipzig attacker and his Senegalese counterpart have found it to be consistent in the English top-flight, with Nkunku only finding the back of the net a sheepish six times in league action from limited starts.

Jackson does have more credit in the bank, arguably, with the 24-year-old boasting a promising 24 goals in the Premier League to date, but it’s his staggering 43 big chances missed across his two top-flight seasons that will seriously worry Emery.

After all, if Rogers or Watkins were to both leave at the death, the Spaniard would certainly want instantly successful replacements, not unpolished projects who have struggled to regularly make an impact in the testing division.

PSG

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Whereas, despite Rabiot never setting foot onto English soil, his consistent excellence in both Ligue 1 and Serie A should stand him in good stead to be an instant success story at Villa Park, with an outrageous collection of 23 trophies coming his way in Paris and Turin when being an important cog in the middle of the park.

He has even been dubbed “world-class” by French great David Trezeguet, with his efforts for Marseille last season – before his time at the club publicly unravelled – also showing off a star still performing at the peak of his powers, away from both Nkunku and Jackson flopping at Chelsea.

Nine goals and four assists would fall into Rabiot’s lap last campaign in Ligue 1 action, with his manager in Roberto De Zerbi, going as far as to herald the number 25 as an asset who “gives everything” for the cause.

With Boubacar Kamara now out of the Villa side owing to injury, adding in a composed midfielder such as Rabiot into the group could prove to be a very smart next buy.

It certainly does feel as if it would be a better investment than gambling on Nkunku or Jackson to come good, that’s for sure.

Aston Villa make approach for World Cup finalist who is available for move

The Villans could be set to do battle with other clubs…

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 25, 2025

Following a difficult start to life at Ibrox, Russell Martin is reportedly expected to ditch a Rangers flop who he has already played five times across all competitions this season.

Rangers confirm Jefte sale

The Gers couldn’t have asked for a much more frustrating start to what is meant to be a new era. They’re yet to win in the Scottish Premiership and now have one foot out of the Champions League following a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Club Brugge. The Belgian side raced into a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes at Ibrox and were only pegged back by Danilo’s effort in the second half.

Despite his outburst following his side’s opening day draw against Motherwell, however, Martin chose to take a different approach after Tuesday’s humbling evening against Club Brugge – reiterating the pride that he has in his side for how they reacted.

Whilst the former Southampton boss chose to remain positive with his words, he has since acted ruthlessly in the transfer market to sell struggling left-back Jefte.

The Gers confirmed the news that the Brazilian has completed a move to Palmeiras, which coincides with the arrival of new left-back Jayden Meghoma. It’s the type of decision that Ibrox may need to get used to, with Martin seemingly in no mood to keep hold of any passengers in his Rangers squad.

Martin expected to ditch Bajrami

According to Albanian outlet Gazeta Blic, Martin is now set to ditch Nedim Bajrami in ruthless fashion this month. The attacking midfielder was left out of Rangers’ squad to face Club Brugge and has reportedly been shown the door by the Gers just one year since arriving for a hefty £3.5m fee.

Related Rangers now submit opening enquiry to sign "unique" Premier League winner

He would transform Rangers’ frontline…

Posts 4 ByTom Cunningham Aug 21, 2025

After scoring the opening goal in Rangers’ 4-2 win against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup recently, the former Sassuolo man may have thought he’d done enough to keep hold of his place, but a swift exit is now reportedly drawing near.

Even that goal is not enough to mask what has been a difficult year for Bajrami at Rangers and he’s now, ultimately, destined to become one of several transfer flops signed by Philippe Clement.

After just five appearances under Martin, the midfielder looks set to be heading for the exit door with just under two weeks left to secure a move away from the Scottish giants.

On Thursday, Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal agreed an initial £46m deal with Liverpool for the transfer of Darwin Nunez, who has yet to complete his move but has said his goodbyes on Merseyside and jetted off to the Gulf for a medical.

What a ride. Entertaining at times, excruciating at others, Nunez leaves Liverpool as a Premier League campaign, but also having failed to ever live up to the promise that led Jurgen Klopp to champion his initial £64m signing from SL Benfica.

Arne Slot has worked wonders at Liverpool, but cracking this code proved beyond even his managerial capacity.

Nunez has been replaced by Hugo Ekitike, who left Eintracht Frankfurt and joined the Reds for £79m last month. Aged 23, the Frenchman arrived with similarly untapped potential, though confidence from the data analysts that they have hit the jackpot.

With Florian Wirtz having signed for a £100m fee too, which could rise to a British record £116m with add-ons, you’d think Liverpool are well equipped for the season ahead, but FSG still want another star to complete the set.

Especially since Luis Diaz has been sold to Bayern Munich for £65.5m, leaving space for the right player to join.

Alexander Isak, anyone?

The latest on Liverpool's search for forwards

Isak has achieved great things across his three years at Newcastle United, but his head has been turned by Slot and Liverpool and he has informed Eddie Howe of his wish to purchase a one-way ticket to Merseyside this summer.

Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, has already lodged a formal £110m offer for the Sweden striker, which was rejected, but efforts are ongoing, and those in the Anfield offices must be tacitly confident that they will secure the coveted signature.

The intensity with which Newcastle are fighting to sign a new centre-forward does make an interesting comment on Isak’s future, with his position at St. James’ Park surely untenable at this stage.

However, nothing is certain in the summer transfer window, the least of all Newcastle’s capacity to secure a suitable replacement for a striker as prolific as Isak.

Given that Diaz has departed and is now warming to life with Bayern Munich, Liverpool may not make their final offensive signing a number nine, should Isak slip through Hughes’ fingers.

Instead, Liverpool might choose to target a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, with reports dated earlier this week revealing that the Merseysiders have started their bid for the France international.

Barcola, 22, played an instrumental role in PSG winning the quadruple with Luis Enrique last season, and he has been priced at €100m (about £87m) as the Parisians attempt to ward off suitors.

Why Liverpool should sign Bradley Barcola

Barcola might still be young, but he dazzled as PSG laid ruin to European football last year, posting 21 goals and supplying 21 assists across 64 matches in all competitions.

The France international is principally a left-sided forward, but his clinical nature also lends itself to a role at centre-forward, having played on the alternate flanks before too.

It’s interesting to consider how he likely has plenty of levels left to scale, and more curious still that Slot has the track record of bringing the best out of up-and-coming talents like Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch.

But Barcola’s artistry and obscene numbers across direct and creative berths suggest that he might even become Liverpool’s new version of Wirtz, who has yet to play a competitive fixture for the club but has demonstrated across recent years in his homeland that he is one of the most talented players of his generation.

Barcola’s fleet footwork and trophy-laden start to his career could see him emulate Wirtz and indeed become Slot’s latest version of the German superstar, who has actually been described as “probably the best midfielder in the world” by one-time Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes.

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But then Barcola, too, has catapulted himself into the elite sphere since swapping Lyon for PSG in 2023, with analyst Ben Mattinson even naming him as “one of the best left wingers in Europe.”

And it’s clear through the data that he has the same X-factor that Wirtz uses to produce such awe-inspiring performances with regularity.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 2 star ranked among the top 7% of positional peers last season for direct goal involvements, the top 16% for pass completion, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

There’s no question that he’s got what it takes to thrive for Liverpool in the Premier League, having run roughshod over Premier League opposition – including Slot’s Liverpool – en route to the Champions League title last season.

Though Liverpool have authorised the sale of Nunez, they have a player in Ekitike who has the potential to become one of the deadliest goalscorers in the world.

But having lost Diaz to the Bundesliga champions, the very dynamism of Slot’s frontline has taken a hit, with the Colombian ace playing as a makeshift striker on numerous occasions throughout the 2024/25 season.

Barcola is versatile and balanced in his output, and would be the perfect addition to complete a remarkable summer of spending, should Hughes and the rest of the powers that be fail to seal the signature of Newcastle’s star man.

Another Ekitike: Liverpool in talks for "sensational" £50m Isak alternative

Liverpool are planning to sign a forward before the end of the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 8, 2025

Barcelona have confirmed their highly anticipated Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain will not be played at the Camp Nou, with the iconic venue still not ready to host matches. Instead, the fixture will be staged at the stadium in Montjuic, extending the Blaugrana’s exile from their historic home.

• Champions League tie moved away from Camp Nou

  Barcelona have announced that their October 1 showdown with PSG in the Champions League will not take place at the redeveloped Camp Nou. Instead, the game will be staged at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, with a capacity of 55,000. The news comes just one day after the Blaugrana opened their European campaign with a 2-1 win over Newcastle, but they are still waiting on administrative permits to open their main stadium despite earlier optimism about a September return.

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• AFP
  

  Club statement confirms relocation

  "FC Barcelona announces that the second match of the Champions League group stage, scheduled for Wednesday 1 October at 9 p.m. against Paris Saint-Germain, will be played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.," the club said in an official statement.

  "The Club continues to work intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of Spotify Camp Nou in the near future. FC Barcelona thanks its members and fans for their understanding and support during such a complex and exciting process as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou."

• Setbacks continue to delay Camp Nou reopening

  The Catalan giants' homecoming has already been pushed back several times. Their September league games against Valencia and Getafe were moved to the Estadi Johan Cruyff due to missed deadlines, though UEFA restrictions meant it could not host European matches. While construction company Limak has nearly completed the stadium works, the club remain without the official completion certificate or the required licence from the City Council.

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• What this means for Barca’s European campaign

  The news comes as a blow to Barcelona as they will now have to play all of their home Champions League matches at the Montjuic Stadium until the end of the League phase. With over 27,000 fans expected to miss out compared to a Camp Nou crowd, the relocation represents both a financial and sporting setback. Still, the club remain hopeful of being able to play La Liga games in their spiritual home by the end of September.