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For the second year running, frustrations bubbling from the summer transfer window have threatened to slam the brakes on Eddie Howe’s project. But Newcastle United are made of sterner stuff.

Blunted by the absence of Alexander Isak at Villa Park last weekend, Newcastle kept a clean sheet and played well, albeit shaking hands with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa after failing to move forward from parity. But there was much to like, the visitors showing signs of eliteness maintained.

Tougher tests lie ahead – not least the clash with Premier League champions Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Monday night – but there’s every reason that the Tynesiders will find success once again in their travels this season.

As Arne Slot’s side continue to pursue the wantaway Isak, so too does PIF’s resolve remain taut. We’ve only a week until the transfer window slams mercifully shut, but whether the Sweden international remains on Tyneside is anyone’s guess.

The latest on Isak's Newcastle future

Isak’s incendiary comments last week put to rest any confusion or hopes regarding his stance: he is desperate to leave Newcastle and sign for Liverpool.

But ‘I want’ does not always get. The 25-year-old is contracted for three more years, and while he believes it had been intimated that he could leave for a new challenge this year, external forces have made that difficult, and he has little power from which to leverage his position.

While Isak will not play a part against Liverpool, a fixture seemingly dated by fate, all things considered, Howe is firm in his belief that Isak can still be reintegrated, if and when.

And PIF? Their stance has not changed: Isak isn’t for sale. Many figures have been bandied about, but it truly seems like an offer in the region of £150m is required if Newcastle are to part with their prized piece.

But the transfer market is a vicious beast, and every eventuality remains on the cards. With this in mind, Newcastle continue to push for new recruits at number nine.

Newcastle's search for a striker

The protracted bid for Yoane Wissa still hasn’t come to a head. There are parallels to Isak’s situation, for sure, with the DR Congo forward desperate to leave Brentford and join Newcastle within the week.

Transfer Focus

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

However, Isak’s future at Newcastle and the prospect of Wissa joining are not mutually exclusive; Callum Wilson left the Toon at the end of his contract last season, and so two strikers must be signed for Isak to leave.

And in the dreaded event of that happening, Italian outlet Tuttosport have claimed – via Sport Witness – that Newcastle have made a late approach for Paris Saint-Germain star Randal Kolo Muani, who has been slated to join Juventus after his recent loan spell.

Differences between French and Italian terms have proved a sticking point, with PSG looking for €70m (£61m), and if a breakthrough cannot be found, Newcastle could swoop in, having already made an official approach, along with an unnamed Saudi club.

What Randal Kolo Muani would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle need a striker. Kolo Muani would be a fantastic buy in replacing Isak, especially if welcomed along with Wissa, who is far less dynamic and athletic, yet a reliable marksman in front of goal.

In September 2023, Kolo Muani left his rich career at Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for PSG in a £76m deal, but his time back in his homeland has been disappointing, posting only 11 goals and seven assists over 54 matches.

However, a short-term move to Juventus in January has built the 26-year-old back up, eight goals scored in Serie A, 13 goal involvements racked up in all competitions, just 22 matches played.

The Les Bleus star’s big move to PSG hasn’t worked out, but that’s okay. He’s still one of the most dangerous strikers around, proven across other divisions, hailed as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus during his Frankfurt days.

With Wissa adopting a more straightforward role in Howe’s system, Kolo Muani could step into Isak’s boots, taking the veritable form of the £120k-per-week sensation and preserving his presence, that style of play which has served United so well.

Nick Pope once described Isak as being “like a wizard” after setting up that goal against Everton, but Kolo Muani has a similarly creative slant to his game.

Across his 13 matches in the Serie A last year, the Frenchman averaged 1.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, and regularly sparked chances when taking on his man, beating him.

Actually, looking at Kolo Muani’s metrics across the past year in comparison to Isak’s, Newcastle’s interest becomes clearer. He’s the real deal, all right, and has the mobility and roundedness to replace the Swede, should he leave.

Goals scored

0.48

0.78

Assists

0.11

0.17

Shots taken

2.45

3.21

Touches (att pen)

6.28

6.31

Shot-creating actions

2.34

3.04

Pass completion

70.2%

75.3%

Progressive passes

1.49

2.94

Progressive carries

1.54

2.80

Successful take-ons

1.54

1.42

Ball recoveries

2.24

1.79

Tackles + interceptions

1.28

0.44

These are centre-forwards with skill beyond that of merely scoring goals, complete strikers both. While Isak is clearly the more confident and productive man, it’s worth noting that Kolo Muani spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign languishing in Paris, scoring twice and assisting once across ten Ligue 1 games.

Would Kolo Muani replicate Isak’s output? Perhaps not. Isak scored 27 goals and assisted six more across all competitions last season, with his clinical edge a large part behind his billing as England’s record-breaking man, should Liverpool sign him.

But Kolo Muani would be a more than adequate replacement, retaining some of the Scandinavian star’s same style. With Wissa joining too, it could be a fantastic deal for Howe’s side.

He's perfect for Elanga & Gordon: Newcastle offered "monster" CF for £35m

Newcastle United offered chance to sign Juventus outcast who’s ideal for Elanga and Gordon.

ByWill Miller Aug 24, 2025

The two new arrivals from Bayer Leverkusen have had fitness issues whereas the Hungarian has hit the ground running this season

Liverpool made a succession of significant signings during the most sensational transfer window in the club's history. The summer-long pursuit of Alexander Isak obviously dominated the headlines, given the saga was only concluded on deadline day, but the acquisition of Florian Wirtz was the deal that nobody saw coming.

The common consensus was that if Bayer Leverkusen were to actually sanction the sale of their most prized possession, he would go to Bayern Munich or Manchester City. However, Liverpool suddenly and surprisingly emerged as the frontrunners in the race to sign Wirtz at the start of June before agreeing to pay an initial £100 million (£135m) for the attacking midfielder.

The news understandably sparked mass excitement around Anfield. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had finally decided to splash the cash – and one of the finest young players in world football was on his way to Liverpool.

Amid all of the hype and hysteria, Dominik Szoboszlai was largely forgotten. The Hungarian had played a pivotal part in last season's title triumph yet the presumption was that he'd simply accept a supporting role in Arne Slot's squad.

Szoboszlai, though, has been Liverpool's star performer during the first three rounds of the new Premier League season – and even with Isak now on board, there's no reason to think that he'll suddenly be relegated to the bench.

On the contrary, Szoboszlai has arguably made himself un-droppable – because he's not just posing a threat to Wirtz's status as a starter, he's also emerged as an attractive alternative to another summer signing from Leverkusen, Jeremie Frimpong, at right-back.

Getty Images'Runs for two players'

Jurgen Klopp once described Szoboszlai as "a joy to work with" – and Slot quickly came to understand why. As the Dutchman said in January, "Dom's work-rate is un-be-lievable! He just keeps on running with the highest intensity and that is so important for a team that wants to compete for something."

Slot wasn't wrong. Szoboszlai's pressing was a key component in Liverpool's game plan all season long, while he also made some decisive contributions in massive matches – most notably his goal and ingenious assist in the 2-0 win at Manchester City on February 23, and the opener in the victory over Newcastle three days later that effectively sealed a record-breaking 20th championship.

"He wins the ball back for us, he runs for two players," Slot enthused at the time. "That probably deserves even more credit than him scoring a goal."

Despite pointing out that Szoboszlai's importance to Liverpool was "underestimated", the £60m (£81m) signing still came in for criticism last term for his perceived lack of end product. The 24-year-old may have been directly involved in more Premier League goals during the 2024-25 campaign than the likes of Declan Rice, who was nominated for Player of the Season, Martin Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne, but his numbers still became a big topic of debate.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesOminous arrival

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, for example, made no secret of the fact that he was "not Szoboszlai's biggest fan" and felt that the Reds were entitled to expect more from a player who was regularly deployed as an attacking midfielder.

"I know he's a completely different player, and he's got great energy, but when you think of what Arsenal have got in Odegaard, what Man City had in De Bruyne in the past, what Chelsea have got in Cole Palmer, you want someone who’s going to get you close to 15, 20 goals a season from that position," Carragher told the 'Stick to Football' podcast. Essentially, the England international was arguing that Liverpool need to sign a more productive No.10 during the summer – which is exactly what they did.

Unbeknownst to the fans, Liverpool had been exploring the possibility of signing Wirtz for some time and their interest in the 22-year-old's services made perfect sense. The Germany international is a very different type of attacking midfielder to Szoboszlai. He's a proper No.10, an old-school trequartista with a very modern approach to pressing.

As well as being a wonderful dribbler, Wirtz has a wonderful gift for finding space and picking out passes in between the lines – as he demonstrated during the first half of the Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace.

Getty Images SportSlot's masterstroke

Given his cost and his qualities, then, Wirtz was always going to play in his preferred position when Liverpool began their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on August 15. Szoboszlai started, too, of course but as part of a midfield pivot with Alexis Mac Allister due to the unavailability of the suspended Ryan Gravenberch. It was, thus, thought that when the latter returned to the starting line-up for the game at Newcastle on August 25, Szoboszlai might drop to the bench.

Slot had a problem, though. Not only was Mac Allister missing for the trip to Tyneside due to the birth of his first child, Frimpong was ruled out through injury and the obvious replacement at right-back, Conor Bradley, wasn't match fit. Consequently, Slot picked Curtis Jones to replace Mac Allister in midfield and asked Szoboszlai to fill in for Frimpong. Remarkably, it proved a masterstroke. 

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Getty Images Sport'Absolutely outstanding'

Szoboszlai was sensational at St. James Park, first doing an outstanding job in nullifying the threat posed by Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes, and then, after being moved into midfield, effectively creating the winning goal for Rio Ngumoha with an outrageous dummy.

As he didn't touch the ball, Szoboszlai wasn't credited with an assist (Thierry Henry argued he should have been!) – but his characteristic selflessness was rightly and widely lauded, with even Carragher lauding him for an "absolutely outstanding" all-round display. As for Slot, he felt Szoboszlai personified his side's winning mentality.

"It is not easy to play as a full-back if you've only been a midfielder in your career," the Reds boss said after the 3-2 victory. "He played there once in pre-season – I think it was against Stoke when we played behind closed doors – but in that game we only had the ball and now he had to defend a lot. For him to put in a performance like that, you can say a lot about his character."

Kicking on with their summer business, West Bromwich Albion have now reportedly reached an agreement to sign an attacking reinforcement worth around £5m.

Since appointing Ryan Mason and signing Nat Phillips from Liverpool, West Brom’s summer business has slowed down somewhat. And with just one month until the Championship gets back underway, the Baggies must rediscover their momentum to welcome some key additions for their new manager.

That’s not to say the rumours haven’t been coming thick and fast, though. Whilst West Brom haven’t acted since signing Phillips, there are still several names on their reported radar.

Among them includes the experienced Barry Bannan. The veteran midfielder is currently at Sheffield Wednesday, who remain in a precarious spot financially and struggling to pay staff on time. Failure to solve that problem will likely to result in an exodus of players, allowing West Brom to take full advantage.

Any signing would be following Phillips through the door, who expressed his delight after putting pen to paper at The Hawthorns last month, saying: “A big factor was that this is obviously a big club with high aspirations – and I’d say those aspirations align with mine. I think everyone at the club and involved would like to see it competing for promotion and pushing for Premier League football – and that’s the same as me.

“I’m really looking forward to it and as soon as I found out about the interest I just wanted to get here and get going. Throughout my career I’ve always wanted to develop a rhythm and continue to play week in, week out. I feel like I did that in the second half of last season, and I want to continue that rhythm and try to take that into the season coming up.

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“I’ve had a number of loans over the past few years and it’ll be really nice for me and my family to go somewhere and know we’re staying there to develop a relationship with the club and the fans.”

As impressive as the defender is, the Baggies require more reinforcements and have now reportedly turned towards a fresh name in pursuit of exactly that.

West Brom agree deal to sign Heggebo

According to Fabrizio Romano, West Brom have now reached an agreement to sign Aune Heggebo from Norwegian side Brann. In a deal worth around €5.5m (£5m), the 23-year-old striker will hand Mason an instant attacking boost to kickstart the Baggies’ summer business.

The young forward will be a new name to most, but those in Norway will know him as the player who scored seven goals in just 13 league appearances last season and eight goals in all competitions.

Whether those numbers translate to the Championship will be the big question next season, especially as Heggebo enters the peak of his powers in the coming years.

Bangladesh allrounder could be in England for a four-day game on September 9 and then fly to Chennai for the start of a Test series against India

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2024

Shakib Al Hasan played a key role in Bangladesh’s win in the first Test against Pakistan earlier this month•AFP/Getty Images

Shakib Al Hasan could be in line to play one County Championship game next month with Surrey working on a deal to bring him in, before he leaves for Bangladesh’s tour of India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reportedly issued him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the match, set to be played from September 9, against Somerset in Taunton. Surrey will be without all of their England players as that round coincides with the end of the ongoing Sri Lanka Test series and the start of the Australia white-ball series.From London, Shakib will fly to Chennai where Bangladesh play their first Test against India from September 19. Bangladesh are set to play two Tests and three T20Is against India, before their home series against South Africa in October. Shakib is currently playing in the Test series in Pakistan.A former member of parliament in Bangladesh’s previous government, Shakib is among 147 people against whom charges have been filed in connection with an alleged murder during the protests in Bangladesh in early August. At that time, Shakib was out of the country, playing in the Global T20 Canada.Related

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The BCB had said that Shakib can continue playing for Bangladesh since the investigation is in its nascent stages. “It’s an FIR (first information report), there are a lot of legal procedures left to prove someone guilty following the filing of FIR,” new BCB chief Faruque Ahmed told the Dhaka-based the on Tuesday. “At this moment there is no bar on Shakib to continue playing. We have responded to the legal notice served to us and we have said the same thing (no bar on Shakib playing in the UK) there too.”ESPNcricinfo has learned the ECB has the right to withhold Shakib’s registration to play in their domestic system even if he is granted a UK visa.Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs adviser, Asif Nazrul, said on Wednesday it was unlikely for Shakib to be arrested.”This is a matter for the police administration,” Nazrul told reporters in Dhaka. “We have tried to say as much as we can. Filing a case does not mean an arrest. I believe our Ministry of Home Affairs will take steps to ensure that no one becomes overly enthusiastic about making an arrest. I hope Shakib will not be arrested. As far as I know, our police force has been given certain instructions.”Bangladesh posted a historic win against Pakistan in the first Test in Rawalpindi, with Shakib taking three important wickets on the fifth day. He is also part of the second Test, whose first day, on Friday, was washed out due to rain.

Aston Villa are leading the race for a promising young defender, who is expected to cost over £17m, and they are now pushing to get a deal over the line, according to a report.

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As a result, Unai Emery should hopefullyhave more money to work with in the transfer window, and the manager is particularly keen to bolster his options in the middle of the park, with a £17m bid being made for Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara.

According to a report form France, Aston Villa are also leading the race for versatile Toulouse player Jaydee Canvot, who is able to play at both defensive midfield and centre-back, and they are now pushing to get a deal over the line.

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Toulouse are undecided about whether they are willing to cash-in on Canvot this summer, but should the French club choose to sanction a departure, it is expected that they will hold out for a fee of €20m (£17m).

The Villans are said to have had a scout at the Maurice Revello tournament, which was won by France U20s, and they were clearly impressed by the defender’s performances, although it remains to be seen whether they are willing to stump up £17m.

Canvot could be excellent long-term signing for Villa

The Toulouse ace is only 18 years old, so it is an impressive feat that he has already managed to force his way into the first team, making 20 appearances in all competitions last season, which indicates he may not be too far off Villa’s first-team level.

One scout was also left impressed after watching the teenager in a midfield role, praising him for his ability in possession of the ball.

It is too early to say definitively whether the youngster would be a success at Villa Park, but he is certainly displaying good signs, and the Frenchman’s versatility is an added bonus.

As such, it is promising news that Villa are pursuing a deal, but £17m would be a large fee to pay for a player yet to prove himself over a sustained period.

Liverpool won the Premier League this season but already FSG are planning for the future. Arne Slot came and conquered English football when none beyond Merseyside’s red reach thought he had the capacity, and he did it with minimal transfer investment.

Now, though, is the time for action. This is the squad Jurgen Klopp build over so many years, carefully created and layered to now stand among Europe’s elite.

That’s not to say Slot has ridden the coattails of his predecessor, who failed to add to his one Premier League triumph across each of the previous four campaigns.

The Dutch coach has taken the tools handed to him and built something new, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold now officially a Real Madrid player and Liverpool’s fiercest rivals at home and abroad gearing up to strengthen, it was always going to be important to build.

The latest Liverpool transfer targets

Liverpool have acted with consummate efficiency in the build-up to the summer transfer window, already announcing the signing of Jeremie Frimpong as Alexander-Arnold’s direct replacement at right-back.

Bayer Leverkusen have lost their electric right-sider, and their star playmaker is set to follow. Florian Wirtz is one of the most talented midfielders on the planet, and FSG have entered the final stages of what should become a club-record €130m (£110m) signing.

Next up, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez should join the Anfield rebuild, with Kostas Tsimikas mooted for a departure and Andy Robertson, 31, taking a step back, handing the Hungarian Kerkez the keys for the long-term berth.

When all this is wrapped up, you’d think the Reds would turn toward exits, with Darwin Nunez expected to depart and the futures of younger squad members like Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah uncertain too.

Such financial gains would lead Liverpool toward a new number nine, but they may not stop there. Extra cover at centre-back has been discussed, and sporting director Richard Hughes may even move for a new centre-midfielder.

Liverpool enter race for new midfielder

Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre of the park, but Ryan Gravenberch’s qualities were exhausted in the deep-lying role across the campaign, and some competition would do nicely.

That’s why – according to GIVEMESPORT – Liverpool are prepared to hijack Manchester United’s potential move for Atalanta’s Ederson, 25, whose performances in Italy have earned praise, leading to a stunning Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Though the Brazilian would cost around £50m, this could be a worthwhile investment for a Liverpool side determined to challenge for silverware across a range of various fronts.

Why Liverpool want to sign Ederson

It may not be a priority position this summer, but the beauty of Liverpool completing the lion’s share of their transfer business is that they can turn toward bonus deals, and Ederson would surely be the icing on the cake.

An athletic and robust player, Ederson thrives at the heart of the field, flying in with challenges, recycling possession and driving the ball forwards.

A man of different parts, then. Ederson completed 87% of his passes in Serie A this season, winning 4.9 duels per game at a success rate of 56%, suggesting he has the physical strength and technical crispness to succeed in the Premier League.

As per FBref, Ederson ranks among the top 12% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 19% for ball recoveries and aerial battles won per 90, emphasising a rounded approach that ‘Slotball’ would welcome with open arms.

Ederson’s powerful eye for goal and Brazilian heritage suggest he could become Slot’s own Fabinho, with the iconic Klopp favourite doing the dirty work in the middle of the park for Liverpool, allowing the forwards to flourish and steal the headlines.

Liverpool signed Fabinho from AS Monaco in a deal worth £44m back in May 2018, the Brazil international going on to feature prominently across five campaigns, winning the full gamut.

Fabinho might not have had the flair of, say, Gravenberch, who is more of an elegant, shoulder-dropping maestro of a number six, but his industrious approach to his craft bred rich results for the Anfield side, anchored as he was in the middle, dispossessing opponents and calmly picking out teammates in opportune areas.

Now, it’s time to bring in the next version, one who could give Slot a greater width of possibility to pick from in the centre of the park. Described as a “machine” of a midfielder by journalist Carlo Garganese, Ederson is the real deal, a proven winner in Italy with the physicality and dynamism to make a positive impression with Slot’s champions.

He’s also tuned to the modern way of things, with a broad tactical reach that could see Liverpool’s boss shuffle him across a variety of positions to best serve their goals, maybe even discovering a formula which could see Gravenberch and Ederson playing together on the field.

Central midfield

151

16

6

Defensive midfield

62

5

1

Attacking midfield

20

–

–

Right-back

3

1

–

Centre-back

2

–

–

Left midfield

1

–

–

Given Liverpool fell by the wayside across tournament fronts this season, it might be wise to bring in a different profile to jockey with Gravenberch, who has performed remarkably well and was crowned the Premier League Young Player of the Year; however, sometimes a grittier style is required.

It’s the kind of profile Fabinho utilised so expertly across the span of his Liverpool career. Wataru Endo has been brilliant since arriving as a stop-gap replacement, but becoming a cult hero and a Premier League champion besides, but the 31-year-old doesn’t bear his predecessor’s completeness.

Transfer Focus

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It’s clear: if Liverpool manage to complete their business this summer and recoup some lost money through the sales of several fringe stars, Ederson is the man to go for, especially if it foils Man United in their pursuit of a much-needed rebuild.

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The Tottenham Hotspur board have decided to showcase ambition in their hunt for a new manager, with an “elite” name now on their shortlist as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

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There is a growing sense behind-the-scenes that chairman Daniel Levy will part company with Postecoglou, regardless of whether Spurs end up winning this year’s Europa League (Matt Law).

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This follows a seriously lacklustre 2024/2025, where Postecoglou hasn’t been dealt the easiest hand, thanks largely to injury issues which have swept through the squad on a consistent basis all season long.

However, 16th in the Premier League after 18 top flight defeats is closer to relegation form than that of a ‘big six’ side, and critics have been arguing that Spurs should be doing far better – regardless of their luck with player availability this term.

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

With Postecoglou now heading towards the exit door, which is more likely than not as things stand (The Telegraph), the Lilywhites are making contingency plans and performing due-diligence on managerial candidates to succeed the Australian.

Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all been linked with the job within this past fortnight, while there is some belief that Mauricio Pochettino would be keen on a return to Tottenham after a tough start to life in charge of the USA.

Further abroad, Spurs are big fans of Simone Inzaghi and his work at Inter Milan over the last few seasons (Fabrizio Romano), but the Nerazzurri won’t be keen to lose their successful tactician, who is currently attempting to guide them to a second consecutive Serie A title.

According to reports in Germany, Tottenham have also made contact with Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac, but the former Croatia captain has no interest in leaving the Bundesliga for N17 as things stand.

Tottenham now targeting Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti

Now, in a surprise update, it is believed Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is being targeted by Levy and Spurs.

The Italian is one of world football’s most decorated ever managers, having won five Champions League titles across spells at the Bernabeu and AC Milan, with Ancelotti also boasting Premier League title-winning experience from his time at Chelsea.

The 65-year-old also has a Bundesliga title on his CV, having managed Bayern Munich as well, so there is no question Ancelotti brings success wherever he goes. His £8.3 million-per-year contract expires in 2026, and amid Real’s links to Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, he faces an uncertain future.

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham’s board have internally discussed moving for Ancelotti, after “key decision-makers” at the club decided to be “bold” and mean business in their pursuit of Postecoglou’s potential replacement.

However, even if Spurs’ interest is there, they would need Ancelotti to be brave enough to consider a switch to Tottenham, and the “elite” head coach will be mindful that other proven winners like José Mourinho and Antonio Conte have come away empty-handed.

Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez is very keen for Diego Simeone to bring in one Chelsea star this summer, and has privately urged his club to do so, according to reports this week.

Enzo Maresca attracting criticism at Chelsea

Having led the club to just five wins from their last 16 Premier League games, it’s been a tough time for manager Enzo Maresca as of late, and this run of form has attracted criticism.

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While Maresca is believed to retain the backing of Chelsea’s board for now (The Mail), sections of supporters are starting to question the Italian’s leadership, with boos ringing around Stamford Bridge after their 2-1 defeat to Polish minnows Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Chelsea are in the Conference League semi-finals regardless, and remain firmly in contention to qualify for next season’s Champions League, but the manner of their recent performances are drawing some concern.

Speaking in a post-match press conference after their loss to Legia on Thursday, Maresca suggested he is fully aware of the dissatisfaction right now.

“No, for sure in terms of setback, for sure it’s a setback tonight for us, no doubt, first of all because we lost the game,” said Maresca.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 10th

Man United (home)

May 18th

“But I said yesterday, I think probably the other clubs, as you said, in this moment they can feel more confidence around them, not only Aston Villa, Newcastle, all the clubs around us, but this is football and can change very quickly, so it depends a lot on us. As I said, Sunday for us is one of the finals, and winning that game can give us a final boost to reach our target.

“So in this moment, you win games, you see yourself and you are very happy. If you don’t win, no-one is thinking that you can finish in the right way, but for me it’s just how we manage the emotion.”

Despite an electric start to the campaign, when many viewed Chelsea as potential title contenders, Maresca’s side remain very much a work in progress.

They’ll need their star players to step up and take a leading role during this transition phase, but one of them already is.

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Club-record signing Enzo Fernandez is well and truly justifying his price tag right now, becoming an indisputable member of Maresca’s team with some outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

Maresca has entrusted the captain’s armband to him this term, with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi-Mikel praising Fernandez and stating he’s “becoming” a true leader at Cobham.

Some members of the media have even called the Argentine’s contribution “underrated”, but his quality isn’t lost on international teammate Alvarez, who is desperate for Atlético to strike a deal for the midfielder this summer.

That is according to reports out of Spain, which state that Alvarez has privately urged Atlético to sign Fernandez from Chelsea, amid claims the west Londoners will demand a minimum of £69 million to let him go.

However, it is believed that even this figure is beyond Atletico’s capabilities right now, so a transfer is unlikely, even if Maresca’s side entertained the notion of parting company.

After a tough start to life in west London, the player has now fully found his feet, with Fernandez even attracting praise from Lionel Messi during his time at Chelsea.

New Zealand haven’t beaten Bangladesh at their backyard in 13 years, and will aim to do so without several of their heavy-hitters

Mohammad Isam20-Sep-2023

New Zealand bring one-third of their World Cup team

New Zealand have sent only five World Cup-bound players to Bangladesh. Lockie Ferguson leads the side that also includes Trent Boult, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi and Will Young.Related

• Sriram returns as Bangladesh's technical consultant ahead of World Cup

• Stand-in captains blank out the past as they look to the future

• Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah return for New Zealand series; Shakib among those rested

• Bangladesh's unlikely heroes step up as race for World Cup spots heat up

• Southee fractures bone in right thumb during Lord's ODI

Boult returned to ODIs this year only last week when he played against England, and was later picked in their World Cup squad. Ravindra has impressed as an allrounder in 2023, taking 11 wickets while scoring 179 runs at 29.83 average. Sodhi has taken seven wickets in nine games this year while Young is their second-highest scorer in ODIs in 2023.Ferguson’s choice as captain is an interesting one as he has only led in one game in his competitive cricket career – a warm-up T20 between New Zealand and Gloucestershire last month.Dean Foxcroft is the only uncapped cricketer in the squad while Dane Cleaver’s only ODI appearance was in July last year. The rest of the squad has been involved in ODIs this year.Tamim Iqbal is back in the ODI side after reversing his decision to retire in July•AFP via Getty Images

Hosts bring back the stalwarts

Bangladesh have rested several of their World Cup squad members including captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and the pace trio of Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mamhud and Shoriful Islam have also been given a break. But, they have dropped Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim from the Asia Cup squad.Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah have returned to the ODI side. Tamim reversed his retirement decision in July, but quit the ODI captaincy last month. He missed the Asia Cup due to his injuries but has since recovered well for the New Zealand series.Bangladesh have also called up wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, and the uncapped trio of Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Khaled Ahmed. The biggest surprise is Soumya Sarkar’s inclusion, as the left-handed batter had hardly done much in the two-and-a-half years out of the ODI setup.

Bilateral relevance

Often, these bilateral ODI series have little meaning. The hype ahead of the World Cup, however, has turned it into a necessary encounter between two teams who could take a second look at their backups. New Zealand are still waiting on Tim Southee’s availability for the World Cup. The fast bowler will undergo surgery on Thursday for the thumb injury he sustained against England last week but New Zealand remain hopeful that he will recover in time for the marquee event.Bangladesh, too, have plenty to ponder as they are without the injured Najmul Hossain Shanto and Ebadot Hossain. Shanto could return in time for the World Cup but Ebadot is out for a long period. They need to find a backup at No. 3, while one of the fast bowlers must grab Ebadot’s place and replicate his performance.New Zealand have a notoriously poor record in Bangladesh•BCB

New Zealand’s poor record in Bangladesh

Bangladesh are on a long unbeaten run against New Zealand at home. They won 4-0 in 2010 and 3-0 in 2013, leaving the visitors with just one win in eight outings in Bangladesh. That came in the 2011 World Cup quarterfinals against South Africa. Bangladesh also beat New Zealand 3-2 in a bilateral T20I series in 2021, although that touring team from New Zealand also bore a similar experimental look.

Pace and bounce in Mirpur?

Bangladesh have preferred the more batting-friendly pitches of Chattogram and Sylhet for home ODIs in the last two years. Shere Bangla National Stadium’s reputation as the spin bastion changed slightly during the Afghanistan Test in June this year when the fast bowlers took 14 wickets. The ground average for the side batting first in a day-night game is a surprising 254 in the last seven ODIs here. On five of these occasions, the team batting first has won the game too.A bit of pace and bounce won’t be surprising in Dhaka this time as well. The weather, though, could be a concern as rain is in the forecast for all three ODIs.

Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga were the milestone men, as Sri Lanka scripted a remarkable comeback

ESPNcricinfo stats team20-Oct-20210 – Number of times a team has managed to score 150-plus in men’s T20Is after losing three wickets for less than ten runs, before Sri Lanka scored 171 for 7 against Ireland. The previous highest was Panama’s 148 for 6 against Mexico. Panama had lost their first three wickets by 8, the same score as Sri Lanka today.. The previous highest by a full-member nation from 8 for 3 was Australia’s 147 for 6 against England in the 2010 World T20 final.8 – Score at which Sri Lanka lost their third wicket, their lowest score for the first three wickets in a T20I innings. Their previous lowest was 11 runs against Australia in 2007 and against New Zealand in 2009. Only once had Ireland taken the first three wickets in a T20I innings at a lower total – 6 runs against Scotland in 2010.123 – Partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, the highest for the fourth wicket (or lower) in men’s T20 World Cup matches. The previous highest was 119* by Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik against Sri Lanka in 2007.Nissanka and Hasaranga’s partnership was also only the third century stand for the fourth wicket (or lower) in men’s T20Is that began with fewer than ten runs on the board.3 – Number of higher partnerships for Sri Lanka in T20Is than the 123 between Nissanka and Hasaranga.1 – Number of higher individual scores by Sri Lanka batters in their first T20 World Cup innings than Hasaranga’s 71 in this match. Sanath Jayasuriya had hit 88 off 44 balls against Kenya in their first-ever World T20 fixture, which remains their highest.