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Remember when it felt like very little was happening with Newcastle United in the summer transfer market?

That’s changed. For better or worse, chaos has erupted on Tyneside over the past few weeks, with the £55m signing of Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga the precursor to a flurry of transfer-related activity that has yet to reach an outcome.

Alexander Isak wants to leave the club and sign for Premier League champions Liverpool, who last weekend saw a £110m bid rejected for the Sweden international. However, he has since returned to United’s training facilities, his future uncertain.

Such an offer would have been insulting were it not so blatantly an unsettling tactic, and the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on Eddie Howe, who at least is buddied with Sudarshan Gopaladesikan, United’s new technical director and successor to the contentious Paul Mitchell.

Dealing with the unwanted sale of Isak, arguably the Magpies’ best player, marks a testing start for Gopaladesikan, but he certainly seems to be making the most of a bad situation, pushing full throttle for a fitting replacement.

Newcastle pushing to sign striker

There’s a bleak sense that Isak, 25, will play Premier League football in red for the upcoming season, though his sale to Liverpool, of course, hinges on Newcastle signing a suitable successor at number nine.

And the first-choice target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with a formal offer already lodged. What comes next is unknown; the Slovenian is assessing his options with Manchester United ready to table a bid of their own.

Should Sesko wind up at Old Trafford, it will feel like yet another blow for the Tynesiders, who have faced their share of rejection across the past few months. That said, there’s an alternative forward who might end up being the better pick.

According to Portuguese journalist Eduardo Burgos, Newcastle have revived their interest in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, and while they have yet to make an offer, Howe’s transfer coterie have been monitoring him across 2025.

The Liga Portugal giants will hold out for €80m (equating to £68m), putting him in the same ballpark as Sesko.

So then, which one to go for?

Why Newcastle should sign Samu Aghehowa

Aghehowa is a 21-year-old centre-forward who left La Liga and joined Porto from Atletico Madrid in a bargain deal worth €15m (about £13m). The Madrid-based side retained a whopping 50% sell-on clause.

Curiously, Chelsea had agreed a £34m deal for the powerful goalscorer, only for the move to collapse and for him to join Porto for a cheaper fee.

He’ll be grateful for that turn of events, no doubt, for the past year has been one of fundamental development for Aghehowa, whose maiden campaign with the Portuguese giants yielded 27 goals and three assists across 45 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse ranked among the top 14% of strikers across Europe last year for goals scored per 90 (0.71), which certainly bodes well for his future success as a goalscorer at the forefront of the global game.

Newcastle might want to consider raising their interest higher still, as Aghehowa could even turn out to be a better signing than Leipzig’s Sesko.

Sesko is unquestionably a talented forward with prowess lying in his athleticism and power. That said, he’s raw, and there’s no telling as to whether his potential will be reached.

A detractor could argue that Samu plies his trade in Portugal, regarded a division of inferior quality to the Bundesliga. Although it’s clear that the Porto talent has an aptitude for scoring goals on any field of green, for he previously did well in La Liga, netting nine times across 35 games in his breakout term, and bagged six times across last year’s Europa League campaign too.

Most Goals + Assists from U21s (Top 10 Leagues – 24/25)

Player

Club / League

Apps

Goals

Samu Aghehowa

Porto / Liga Portugal

30

19

Bradley Barcola

PSG / Ligue 1

34

14

Luca Stassin

St. Etienne / Ligue 1

33

14

Aleksey Batrakov

Loko Moscow / Russian PL

29

14

Emanuel Emegha

Strasbourg / Ligue 1

27

14

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig / Bundesliga

33

13

Data via Transfermarkt

Aghehowa’s league goals alone placed him above all within or beneath his age bracket across Europe’s major leagues, and that includes Sesko, who has since turned 22.

And it’s not as if the former Chelsea target hasn’t made his mark against those competing on English shores. After all, he bagged a brace against Man United on the continental stage last year, winning five aerial duels and covering much ground besides.

Given that Newcastle need a striker who will promise goals with consistency, it might be worth switching focus to Aghehowa, who is shaping into quite the formidable focal frontman, sinewy and tall and clinical in the danger area.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has remarked in the past that the Spaniard is a “monster in the making”, and with similar strengths in physicality and ball-striking, who could truly argue that Sesko has the higher potential, given that he’s yet to truly announce himself as a prolific marksman?

With 27 goals and seven assists across 64 Bundesliga outings, Sesko has a lot to prove, but he’s a big talent, for sure, and Howe has the tactical nous and interpersonal skills to will him toward elite status.

Just imagine what the acclaimed manager could do with Aghehowa leading his Magpies line.

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India’s T20I captain expected the Gwalior pitch for the first T20I to be conducive to run-scoring

Hemant Brar05-Oct-20242:03

Suryakumar Yadav ‘enjoying’ his role as captain

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is aware of the impact Mayank Yadav can create with his express pace but he says it is important to “manage him well”.Mayank took everyone by storm with his 155kph pace during IPL 2024. Playing for Lucknow Super Giants, he picked up the Player-of-the-Match award in his first two games but was ruled out of the tournament soon after with an abdominal injury. He has not played any cricket since then but Suryakumar said he was back to full fitness.”He definitely has the X factor – it was evident when he played franchise cricket,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior. “He has that extra pace. I didn’t face him in the nets; our net plan was such that someone else faced him. But I have seen what potential he has and what difference he can make for the team. From that point of view, I feel he is a good addition to the Indian team and I am hoping he will do well.Related

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“It’s important to manage him well because of the amount of cricket being played. Everyone is playing for their state too. There was the Duleep Trophy recently. So it is important to pay proper attention and the BCCI is doing that.”Sunday’s match will be the first international at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium. In fact, the venue has not hosted any domestic cricket either. So there is an element of surprise about the conditions.While Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy expected the pitch to be “slow and low” with not much chances of a high-scoring game, Suryakumar Yadav had different views.”As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not”•Associated Press

“The pitch looks good,” he said. “We practised on the centre wicket, just two pitches away. We didn’t find it that low and slow – we practised all three days. So it [the match pitch] should not be much different.”For T20 cricket, these are good wickets. There will be good competition [between the bat and ball] but at the same time it looks good [for run-scoring]. The rest we will get to know tomorrow.”Yes, it’s a new ground but having practised here for three days, we know what the conditions are, how the pitch is, how the outfield is, what the wind factor is like, whether the dew settles in or not. We will like to play the way we did in the last T20I series. And if everyone does their job, you will get the desired results.”Until recently, India had the problem of their batters not chipping in with the ball in white-ball cricket. But that seems to be changing now, with India’s T20I squad including a plethora of allrounders and part-time bowling options.”It’s good if your batters can bowl an over or two,” Suryakumar said. “I think there is hardly anyone in this squad who doesn’t bowl. That gives you more bowling options on the ground. As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not.”

Leeds United have added Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw to their first-team squad ahead of their return to the Premier League next season.

The Whites have quickly moved to bolster their defensive options with Bijol and Bornauw, who are both centre-backs with experience in major European leagues, in Italy and in Germany.

Daniel Farke and the recruitment team are not done with the defence there, though, as the club are also looking to add to their left-back options after Junior Firpo’s exit.

Journalist Graham Smyth claims that the West Yorkshire outfit are closing in on the signing of Sweden international Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille, although it remains to be seen how much money they will have to spend to bring him to Elland Road.

The Championship champions are in dire need of a left-back, with zero senior players in that position at this moment in time, which is why this is a deal that could make a lot of sense.

Why Gabriel Gudmundsson is a good signing for Leeds

With the caveat that there is no potential transfer fee to judge the deal on at this stage, Gudmundsson could be a very shrewd signing for Leeds to cover the hole at left-back.

The 26-year-old ace would come in as a proven performer at the top level, having played 103 times in Ligue 1 for Lille, which means that he could hit the ground running at the start of the season, as opposed to a young and inexperienced player who may need more time.

This suggests that he will be ready to perform immediately for Leeds and that is what they need after Firpo’s exit from the club was confirmed, as it will allow Farke to slot the defender straight into the team.

His performances in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 campaign also suggest that Gudmundsson will be a solid, if unspectacular, addition to the squad for next season.

Appearances

30

Starts

20

Goals + assists

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.8

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

Ground duel success rate

54%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

Duels won per game

3.7

As you can see in the table above, the Swedish brute did not deliver outstanding performances defensively or offensively, but he was incredibly solid, rarely being dribbled past whilst winning the majority of his duels.

This suggests that the Lille full-back could be a dependable and reliable option for Farke at left-back in the club’s bid to avoid relegation, which is why the defender could be a valuable signing, despite not being an exciting one.

If they can get Gudmundsson through the doors at Thorp Arch this week, then it could provide them with a chance to go with a riskier, more exciting, player as competition for him.

Leeds eyeing £22m full-back signing

According to the Sunday Mirror (6 July, page 77), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds United are one of a number of teams interested in signing El Hadji Malick Diouf this summer.

The report claims that the Whites, West Ham United, Atalanta, and Nottingham Forest all want to secure a deal to sign the Slavia Prague full-back in the coming weeks.

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It states that the Hammers have already had an opening salvo of £17.25m turned down by the Czechia-based outfit, who are looking for a fee closer to £22m (£21.6m) to allow their star youngster to depart.

However, it now remains to be seen who is leading the race for the versatile full-back, or if West Ham are prepared to go back in with another offer for him.

If Leeds can strike a deal for the Senegal international in the coming weeks, though, they could land an even better signing than Gudmundsson at left-back.

Why Diouf would be an even better signing than Gudmundsson

Diouf could be an even better piece of business for the Championship champions if they can get a move over the line because of his quality, his versatility, and his potential.

Gudmundsson may be a better addition in the short-term, given that he could hit the ground running as an experienced addition, but the Sparta Prague youngster could be a better long-term signing.

At the age of 20, he is six years younger than the Sweden international and has more potential, therefore, to grow and develop as a player, which could lead to his value soaring as well.

Diouf, who analyst Rohit Kumaran described as “physically dominant”, has yet to prove himself in a major European league like Gudmundsson has, which is why it is a riskier signing, but he has shown signs of immense potential, particularly in the Europa League.

xAG

0.23

Top 11%

Assists

0.15

Top 21%

Shot-creating actions

4.21

Top 6%

Progressive passes

6.77

Top 6%

Progressive carries

3.31

Top 16%

Successful take-ons

1.51

Top 11%

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old starlet showed plenty of attacking and progressive quality in possession in the Europa League last season, whilst the Lille defender only managed two goals and zero assists in Ligue 1.

Diouf also scored seven goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 27 matches in the Czechia top-flight for Slavia Prague, whilst playing as a left-back, a left wing-back, or as a left winger, which further speaks to the quality he can provide in the final third.

The versatile dynamo clearly offers more of an attacking threat than Gudmundsson, who is more of a solid and steady option, which is why he could be even more exciting for supporters.

If Diouf can translate his performances for Slavia Prague over to the Premier League, the young gem could be an electric player for Leeds for many years to come, as a full-back who can score and create goals on a regular basis.

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However, as aforementioned, he is unproven in a major league, and that is why Gudmundsson could start over him initially, but with a view to Diouf being the superior and more exciting left-back option in the long-term, making him a better signing overall.

We don’t know exactly when, but in the near future, Liverpool could welcome three stunning acquisitions to Arne Slot’s title-winning squad.

The defensive flanks will be restored through deals for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Dutch speedster Jeremie Frimpong, while Florian Wirtz is on the verge of becoming Anfield’s record signing, looking likely to join Frimpong in moving from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Premier League champions have scarcely strengthened at all across the past three transfer windows, making their 20th top-flight title all the more sweet, but it has been tainted with some poignancy, with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving next month.

Trent's emotional goodbye

Alexander-Arnold has been criticised on social media for his supposed lack of emotion in the build-up to his show-stopping finale at Anfield on Sunday, but the 26-year-old has never really been one to wear his heart on his sleeve.

However, who could say he was not freighted with ruefulness after Liverpool drew with Palace to wrap up the title, then finally lifted the league trophy in front of their fans?

The vice-captain will relinquish his position next month when he joins Real Madrid on a free transfer, his £180k-per-week contract set to expire.

At the end of the day, Alexander-Arnold’s rise from the academy has been synonymous with the period of sustained success across nearly a decade.

He made his professional debut, under Klopp’s wing, in the League Cup, starting during a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round.

Alexander-Arnold has since swept up the lot with his boyhood club, leaving the Premier League with more assists than any other defender in the division’s history. He’s won it twice, and indeed departs with a gold medal around his neck.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool Stats by Competition
Competition	Apps	Goals	Assists
Premier League	259	18	67
Champions League	60	2	13
FA Cup	13	1	3
League Cup	10	–	6
Europa League	5	–	2
Community Shield	2	1	–
CL Qualifiers	2	1	–
FIFA Club World Cup	2	–	1
UEFA Super Cup	1	–	–
Data via Transfermarkt

Trent’s glittering Liverpool legacy is incontrovertible, set in stone. However, it’s been dulled just a bit by his actions.

Indeed, there’s been a certain slyness to the way he’s ducked interviews across the year, his abject performance against Manchester United, his pointed celebration at West Ham United, retorting to fans questioning his love for the club.

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Had he shown more candour from the beginning, the whole fiasco might have been avoided. Alexander-Arnold, for sure, could have taken a leaf from Caoimhin Kelleher’s book, for the shot-stopper should also leave this summer but will do so having given his all and with transparency.

Liverpool must part ways with Kelleher

Out of contract at the end of next season, it looks like Kelleher is going to leave Liverpool this summer, having clearly expressed his desire to take a more senior role to “be a number one”.

Aged 26, the Republic of Ireland international has featured 67 times for Liverpool’s first team, with his efforts as Alisson Becker’s deputy leading skipper Virgil van Dijk to hail him as a “world-class” player.

Alisson is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, but his biggest weakness has been his inability to tread water on the fitness front.

Caoimhin Kelleher – Liverpool Stats by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps (PL)	Minutes
24/25	20 (10)	1,800′
23/24	26 (10)	2,400′
22/23	4 (1)	360′
21/22	8 (2)	750′
20/21	5 (2)	450′
19/20	4 (0)	360′
Stats via Transfermarkt

In truth, the fact Kelleher has enjoyed such regularity of action across his years as a Liverpool player underscores why Slot needs a steady number two to challenge Alisson for that top spot between the sticks.

Kelleher has performed the role incredibly well, with Jurgen Klopp even declaring him “the best number two in the world” after winning the Carabao Cup against Chelsea in February 2024.

Rising through the academy ranks after joining way back in 2015, leaving Ringmahon Rovers in his Irish homeland, Kelleher has now completed, instrumental in winning, notably, two League Cup titles and more besides.

However, he wants first-team football this summer and Liverpool cannot offer him that. He must be sold, with recent reports suggesting the likes of Aston Villa are interested in making their move as Emi Martinez prepares to leave for pastures new.

With FSG having acted pre-emptively last summer, agreeing a £29m fee with Valencia for Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, 24, there simply isn’t room for Kelleher anymore.

As per FBref, Kelleher ranks among the top 1% of goalkeepers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for clean sheet percentage (50%), but only among the top 38% for save percentage, making a comment on the strength of Liverpool’s backline.

He’s still a good goalkeeper, one with the potential to achieve greatness, but he pales in comparison to Alisson, and that’s not to his discredit.

Valencia’s star in front of the net, however, has been cherry-picked due to his potential to reach Alisson’s level. Indeed, having been described as an “absolute monster” of a shot-stopper with a commanding presence by Spanish journalist Paco Polit, capable of making “impossible saves.”

He proved his worth and then some during EURO 2024, a veritable wall for a Georgia side whose success in reaching the quarter-finals after beating Portugal led to him being awarded the Best Goalkeeper accolade, and deservedly so.

Already believed to be “one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe” by hawk-eyed talent scout Jacek Kulig, Liverpool might be onto a winner with this one, and it’s understandable that Kelleher should be allowed to search for a new chapter in his career, FSG playing a long game which might just see fans nodding their heads in appreciation of their owners’ shrewdness down the line.

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Another season gone, and another second-place finish in the Premier League for Arsenal.

In their defence, Mikel Arteta’s side have had to deal with a seemingly never-ending stream of injuries this term, but even then, it’s undeniably disappointing to fail to win the title at the third time of asking.

Moreover, instead of losing to Manchester City, Liverpool comfortably beat the Gunners this time, with Mohammed Salah stepping up and taking Erling Haaland’s crown as the most dangerous attacker in the league.

PL Top Scorers

#

Player

Team

Games

Goals

1

Salah

Liverpool

37

28

2

Isak

Newcastle

33

23

3

Haaland

Man City

29

21

4

Wood

Forest

35

20

5

Mbeumo

Brentford

37

19

5

Wissa

Brentford

34

19

All Stats via BBC Sport

Unfortunately, outside of maybe Bukayo Saka, the North Londoners don’t really have a forward player capable of racking up as many goals as those two, although that could be about to change, as, based on recent reports, the club are looking to sign a goalscoring phenomenon who could be their own Haaland.

Arsenal's striker search

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other strikers who have been liked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro.

Transfer Focus

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The former could reportedly now cost up to £75m due to his release clause increasing, but considering he’s scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 games at just 21 years old, he may well be worth it.

Pedro’s price tag of up to £100m might not be, as while he is talented, a tally of ten goals and six assists in 27 games isn’t exactly game-breaking.

Moreover, if the club are going to sign their own Haaland, they need an unbelievably prolific striker, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Swedish striker and are now ‘prepared to make a serious effort’ to get a deal over the line.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are currently leading the race to sign the Sporting CP ace and have already offered him a long-term contract until 2030 worth up to £10m a year, or around £192k-per-week.

Moreover, the report claims that the North Londoners are hopeful of getting their man for a fee of around €70m, which is about £59m.

It will be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gyokeres’ immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Arsenal’s own Haaland.

How Gyokeres would be Arsenal's Haaland

So, if Arsenal can get ahead of the other interested parties and bring Gyokeres to the club this summer, why could he turn into their own Haaland?

Well, by their own version of the Norwegian goal machine, we simply mean an attacker who is such a tour de force up top that he becomes a talisman and someone who can be the difference between winning it all and falling short.

For example, even though he’s been injured for large parts of the season, the Manchester City star has still scored 30 goals and provided four assists, while last season, he racked up 38 goals and seven assists, while he managed an astounding 52 goals and nine assists in the Sky Blues’ treble-winning 22/23 campaign.

Now, we aren’t saying that the Sporting CP “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is going to quite hit those numbers for the North Londoners next year, but based on his performances in Portugal, he could still be a huge source of goals for them.

For example, in his first season in Lisbon, the 23-year-old “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes, which comes out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game, or one every 71.87 minutes.

He has somehow been even better this season, scoring 53 goals and providing 13 assists in 51 appearances, totalling 4128 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.29 games, or every 62.54 minutes.

Add to those numbers the fact he’s also managed to score 15 goals and provided six assists in 26 national team appearances, and it’s impossible to deny the fact that he’s a striker of the highest calibre and stands every chance of having a similar impact on Arteta’s side that Haaland has had on Pep’s.

European Golden Boot

#

Player

Games

Goals

Goals per Game

1

Gyokeres

33

39

1.18

2

Mbappe

33

29

0.88

3

Salah

37

28

0.76

4

Kane

31

26

0.84

5

Lewandowski

33

25

0.71

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Therefore, while it won’t be cheap, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as he could be the difference between finishing second again next year and finally getting over the line.

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Posts ByMatt Dawson May 19, 2025

This summer is a huge one for Nottingham Forest if they are to sustain the success they’ve enjoyed throughout the 2024/25 campaign under Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Reds are still in with a huge opportunity to secure Champions League football, whilst also reaching the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1991.

Such achievements would’ve been laughed at during the start of the season, especially after the club only just managed to stay in the Premier League in the two previous campaigns.

However, signings are needed in all areas of the pitch to hand Nuno the depth and quality he needs to balance the side in the league and in European competitions next season.

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, numerous names have already appeared on their radar, with multiple being strongly linked with a summer switch to the City Ground.

The latest on Forest’s hunt for new signings this summer

Wolves star Matheus Cunha was Forest’s main target during the January transfer window, with his name remerging as a possible target for the summer market in recent weeks.

However, a deal for the Brazilian now looks unlikely, with the attacker now looking almost certain to move to Manchester United after they held positive talks with his representatives.

Such a move has seen the Reds’ hierarchy shift their attention to other targets, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap the latest player they’re targeting, according to Football Insider.

The report claims that he’s seen as an excellent option in forward areas, potentially a cheaper alternative to other targets given his £30m relegation release clause.

It also confirms that Nuno’s side could offer regular minutes in Europe, which could hand them an advantage in the race to land his signature – but will have to work tirelessly given the interest from elsewhere.

Why Forest’s £30m target would be perfect with Gibbs-White

Over the last week or so, Forest fans have all been on edge after journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Manchester City were positive about completing a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White’s signature this summer.

However, the Reds are said to have placed a £100m price tag on his shoulders, showcasing how highly the club rates the star who cost them £44.5m in the summer of 2022.

Given his tally of 12 combined goals and assists this campaign, it’s no secret that he’s been one of the club’s most important players within attacking areas.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, creating 1.7 chances per 90 this campaign, along with 1.1 successful dribbles per 90 – subsequently able to progress the ball into forward areas.

He’s also completed 80% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 61% of his long passes – as seen by his extraordinary assist to Callum Hudson-Odoi against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Such figures could fall perfectly into the hands of Delap next campaign should he complete a switch to the East Midlands, potentially building on his excellent debut year in the Premier League.

He’s managed to achieve 1.2 shots on target per 90, whilst also completing 1.4 successful dribbles – able to play off the shoulder of the backline, handing the Reds an added dimension at the top end of the pitch.

Liam Delap’s stats for Ipswich in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

34

Goals scored

12

Shots on target per 90

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.4

Fouls won

1.8

Aerials won

2.1

Duels won

5.5

Stats via FotMob

The 22-year-old has also won 1.8 fouls per game, along with 2.1 aerials won per 90 – handing the club the perfect all-round option in attacking areas to help balance the load between current talisman Chris Wood.

Delap, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by teammate Jens Cajuste, has the ability to progress under Nuno’s guidance, potentially being the club’s main centre forward for many years to come.

His pace and power are a real bonus for the Reds, handing them an option they’ve desperately lacked throughout the majority of the campaign despite their success.

If they are to be in Europe throughout 2025/26, they will need added quality, with Delap certainly providing that – but if they are to secure a deal for his services, they will need to act quickly to avoid losing him to a rival.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham May 7, 2025

She’s arguably the best bowler in the world at the moment, but Sophie Ecclestone says she has a lot of unfinished business to take care of

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2024Sophie Ecclestone, England’s indomitable left-arm spinner, has been at the top of her game for years, but tells Valkerie Baynes and Firdose Moonda that there’s plenty left to achieve.

“When we don’t play well, we should be ready for criticism; but we have to start talking about success, we have to believe”

Mohammad Isam05-Oct-2022 • Updated on 07-Oct-2022There is something refreshing about Nurul Hasan. Whether it’s his flat-bat shots down the ground, or the way he handled himself, and the Bangladesh team, after being thrust into the T20I captaincy in July this year.It was a stop-gap arrangement; he was keeping the seat warm for Shakib Al Hasan at the time. *He was expected to do the same in New Zealand, now, for the triangular series, but Shakib has been cleared to make the trip and join the team the day before their first game. Not where he expected to be when, for a long time, he was a giant in the Bangladesh domestic circuit struggling to move up to the next level.That could have pulled Nurul down, but he reinvented himself, and his game, to cater to the needs of top-level cricket. It’s the sort of attitude that’s often lacking in Bangladesh cricket, and exactly what they need after having started the year well but declined quite dramatically since.Related

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Nurul agrees; he feels the right attitude is what the current team as well as future teams need.”Our culture is such that we don’t want to talk about our goals or ambitions, fearing failure,” Nurul told ESPNcricinfo. “If I say today that we want to win the World Cup, we don’t necessarily have to win it right away. But by saying such a thing repeatedly, maybe our next batch will feel more confident about winning the World Cup. Maybe I won’t be around then, but the belief will be there.”We have to create this culture, notwithstanding the negative reactions. When we don’t play well, we should be ready for criticism. But we have to start talking about success; we have to believe it. If three or four of us start getting into form, it could get Bangladesh good results.”When Nurul was made T20I captain after Mahmudullah was sacked, it was a toss-up between him and Litton Das. What worked in Nurul’s favour were firstly the perception, from domestic cricket where he has led Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi, that he was a good captain, and secondly, that he was a team man through and through.”I don’t think there was a lot of joy [when I became the captain], but I had a duty towards fulfilling the responsibility,” he said. “I like taking on challenges. I didn’t think too much about it, which meant I was not emotional. I think I was mainly thinking about the challenge at hand. I try to enjoy whatever challenge I am facing.”

“Only six-hitting doesn’t bring runs on the board. If I hit a six but play three dot balls, it doesn’t help the team. We have to find our area of strength”Nurul Hasan

Sentiments such as these are unusual in Bangladesh cricket, where players and administrators try not to raise expectations for being ridiculed when results don’t go their way.Nurul’s positive attitude comes from own experiences in the last few years. He impressed in the Dhaka Premier League T20 last year to earn a recall to the T20I squad after close to four years. But despite the early promise, he couldn’t find form at the T20 World Cup in the UAE. An ill-timed shot in the Chattogram Test against Pakistan meant another long pause. But he fought back through another tremendous showing in the Dhaka Premier League, which led to his side Sheikh Jamal winning their first title in the competition.”I have emotions, but I don’t get as excited as I used to,” he said. “Maybe I was different earlier, but now I take it match by match. I am used to a mindset of moving on from one performance to the next. I feel bad when I don’t do well, but it is important to recover well from it.”Part of his secret is his adaptability. Nurul isn’t too bothered by how he looks when playing a shot, as long as he gets the right result. Among Bangladesh batters who have batted at least thrice in the last five overs in T20Is in 2022, Nurul’s strike rate of 160.97 is the best. Since last year, he has also batted at five different positions, a factor that needs to be looked at.”I believe 200% that it is a team-first game. If you think otherwise, the results won’t come”•AFP/Getty Images”To be honest, I don’t think it does any good for the team if my mindset is fixed on a batting position,” he said. “In that case, you are carrying individuals. Situations keep changing, so you have to keep adapting. I believe 200% that it is a team-first game. If you think otherwise, the results won’t come. If [me] batting at No. 11 benefits the team, so be it. The team comes first.”Considering where I bat in white-ball cricket, I think it is important to have more impact rather than just scoring runs. I think it is better to contribute for the team’s win, rather than scoring runs when they lose. I want to work harder at it. I don’t listen to what’s being said or what’s happening outside. Contributing for the team is foremost in my mind.”When the thorny topic of six-hitting is broached – Bangladesh have hit fewer sixes this year than Suryakumar Yadav – Nurul is unfazed.”Only six-hitting doesn’t bring runs on the board,” he said. “I can hit a four, and then rotate the strike. If I hit a six but play three dot balls, it doesn’t help the team. We have to find our area of strength. Other teams are doing it, we should too.When Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan’s role will change, and he is ready for it•AFP/Getty Images”I also don’t believe in the fuss about big-hitters. Big-hitting doesn’t solely win you games. If you bat according to the match situation, if you can find the gaps and hit boundaries, it will get you close to the target. Six-hitting is easy when you have the right ball in front of you.”There has been a marked shift in Nurul’s stroke-making in the last two years, particularly down the ground and behind the wicket. He uses the pace of the ball more, even though there have been times when he has bludgeoned the ball – more long-on than midwicket.”There was a time when I used to work on my areas of strength in the past, but during a match, a bowler will not allow me to play those shots. I have to be aware of the match situation, what it demands from me,” he said. “Scoring runs and understanding the match situation is more important than playing a nice shot that has no runs or impact from it. My focus is to find runs in the middle.”The bottom line for Nurul is to make the most of his opportunities. Once Shakib returns, Nurul will go back to being the wicketkeeper-batter who has to get Bangladesh big runs in the last five overs.”At this moment, I don’t want to leave anything to chance,” Nurul said. “I don’t want to regret later that I could have worked harder or improved a little bit more through the training that I am doing now. I want to prepare very well. Allah decides all, I will get exactly what I deserve. I want to achieve the team’s goals, and I hope that as long as I play cricket, that’s how I want to play.”

Also, why did Kane Williamson open for the Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Karthik Krishnaswamy18-Oct-2020Why has it taken Knight Riders so long to play Ferguson?The ability to bowl 90mph yorkers as well as slower, into-the-pitch legcutters, without a discernible change in action. Three wickets in regular time, two in the Super Over. An economy rate of 3.75 in the regular time.Why did the Knight Riders wait so long before unleashing Lockie Ferguson?The reason is fairly simple. You can only play four overseas players in your XI, and when everyone’s fit and available and their actions aren’t under suspicion, it’s hard for the Knight Riders to leave out either Eoin Morgan – who’s now their captain – Andre Russell, Sunil Narine or Pat Cummins.Cummins hasn’t lit up the tournament with the ball, yes, but he provides lower-order hitting ability that the Knight Riders – who often pack their team with bowling options – definitely need. Cummins has even batted at No. 7 on occasion this season, including in the Knight Riders’ previous game against the Mumbai Indians, in which he came in at 61 for 5 and top-scored with an unbeaten 53 off 36.Ferguson doesn’t have a single fifty in either first-class, List A or T20 cricket, so he wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement in this Knight Riders line-up. And he didn’t have a particularly good IPL in 2019, playing five games, picking up just two wickets and conceding 10.76 runs per over.The issues around Narine’s action have given the Knight Riders an opportunity to pick their other overseas players, and after trying Tom Banton and Chris Green for a game each, they finally gave Ferguson his chance on Sunday.Why didn’t Narine play?With the IPL’s Suspect Bowling Action Committee clearing his action, the Knight Riders did have an option to play Narine, but they chose not to. This was probably because the committee’s decision was only communicated to the team hours before the match. By then, the Knight Riders would probably have already decided on their combination and drawn up plans for the game.Why did Williamson open for the Sunrisers?When the Sunrisers chase began, they threw what seemed a curveball by sending in Kane Williamson, rather than David Warner, to open alongside Jonny Bairstow. It soon emerged that Williamson was carrying an injury that he sustained while fielding, and wasn’t able to run quickly between wickets.With field restrictions in place for the first six overs, the Sunrisers had an opportunity to bat Williamson in a phase that allowed him to look for boundaries constantly without having to worry too much about running between wickets. He did exactly what he was sent out to do, smacking 29 off 19 balls and getting the Sunrisers off to a flier.Why did Russell bat at No. 4?The Knight Riders have played a fairly settled top three through the tournament, but have rotated their three big-name middle-order batsmen – Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell – according to the match situation and match-ups with the opposition’s bowlers.On Sunday, the Knight Riders sent in Russell when they lost their second over, with their score 87 for 2 in the 12th over.With Shubman Gill having struggled to force the pace while scoring 36 off 37, the Knight Riders possibly felt the need to send in their biggest hitter at that point. Russell hadn’t had a great tournament with the bat before this game, only managing one 20-plus score in seven innings, and perhaps his team felt it would help him to have a bit more time than usual to play himself in.And as for match-ups, the Sunrisers didn’t have any outright quick bowlers who could have potentially discomfited Russell with the short ball, and they had already used up three overs from Rashid Khan, their most dangerous wicket-taker.On all these counts, it was a punt worth taking, but it didn’t quite come off, with Russell dismissed early, hitting a powerful shot straight to deep midwicket.Why did Russell bowl the last over despite being injured?Russell has been a key death bowler for the Knight Riders, and they suffered a major blow when he injured his hamstring while swooping to field a ball during the 12th over of the Sunrisers’ chase. He hobbled off the field, and returned at the start of the 17th over but didn’t look particularly comfortable moving around.When the final over began, the Sunrisers needed 18 runs, and the Knight Riders’ other fast bowlers had all finished their quotas. The only options left were Russell and left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav. Most teams don’t bowl spinners in this situation, and the pitch in Abu Dhabi, though slow, wasn’t offering much turn, so there was a distinct threat of either Warner or Rashid Khan – both capable six-hitters – taking Yadav apart.The Knight Riders, therefore, went with Russell even though he was clearly not fit to bowl at full pace. He hobbled in and bowled at just about medium pace, and the move seemed to backfire when Warner hit him for three successive fours, but two decent deliveries at the end ensured the match went into a Super Over.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot conceded Ibrahima Konate has been “a bit too much at the crime scene” this season as the defender’s struggles continued in Saturday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds United. The Reds twice threw away the lead as they dropped more Premier League points at Elland Road, with the France international at fault on two occasions.

• Liverpool were in fine fettle after Ekitike netted quickfire double

  Aiming to get back to winning ways after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with in-form Sunderland, Liverpool took a two-goal lead early in the second half against Leeds when striker Hugo Ekitike netted a quickfire double. 

  Having not scored in the league since bagging in September’s 2-1 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby, the former Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-Germain forward – starting ahead of the benched Alexander Isak – scored two goals in as many minutes.

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  Konate struggles as Reds twice throw away lead against Leeds

  However, while Liverpool looked to be in complete control of proceedings, Konate handed Leeds a route back into the match from the penalty spot after he brought down winger Wilfried Gnonto inside the area. 

  Former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted the resulting spot-kick, before Reds centre-back Konate then backed off Leeds midfielder Anton Stach as the German let fly, beating goalkeeper Alisson with a powerful drive from inside the box.

  With Elland Road rocking, Liverpool showed great character to wrestle the momentum back, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring what looked to be the all-important winner for his side following a lung-busting run from midfield.

  But Konate appeared to be at fault again in the dying embers of the game, ducking from the ball as a deep corner found its way to Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka, who scored for the second time this week in the sixth minute of injury time.

• Slot admits Konate has made a number of mistakes in 2025-26

  Speaking in his post-match press conference following a disappointing result, while Liverpool manager Slot defended Konate’s endeavour, he admitted the former RB Leipzig man has often been the key culprit in an incident-packed season for his side.

  “Unfortunately for him [Konate] he does a lot of things well but he has been a bit too much at the crime scene,” said Slot. “Today it was a tackle that came from effort, he tried everything to block the cross.”

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  Reds boss says dressing room in 'disbelief' following Leeds draw

  And speaking to following the final whistle, the Dutchman added: “There's a sense of disbelief. I think we played quite well or very well during large parts of the game and we went 2-0 up. I don't think we had any problems and I don't think we conceded a chance until the moment we made a foul, which is not even a chance.

  “It's then 2-1 and not many moments later they made it 2-2 with the first chance they had. Then we go up [again] and you think you've done enough to win the game, but then a set piece leads to the 3-3.

  “It's not about me. It's about us, it's about the fans. The players have worked so hard and to concede from a set-piece again – the 10th or 11th this season. If you concede so many like this, you cannot be higher up the table than we are.

  “To go away with a 3-3, I don't think that's what we deserved. We conceded without the other team even having a chance. It's so difficult to play a game of football if you don't even concede a chance and it goes in.

  “We can only look at ourselves because we are the ones that are doing it. That's the situation we are in.”