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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke is aiming to follow in Marcelo Bielsa’s footsteps by keeping the team in the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The Argentine boss is the only manager in the last 20 years to keep the Whites up in their first season back in the top-flight, as Jesse Marsch only managed it in the club’s second year in the division.

Farke was relegated from the Premier League with Norwich City in the 2019/20 campaign, after winning the Championship title with the Canaries, and was sacked in the 2021/22 season after winning the second tier a second time.

The German boss will need to be backed in the transfer market by the board, as Bielsa was after he won the Championship. Sporting director Victor Orta provided him with the tools he needed to build a successful Premier League outfit.

Orta smashed the club’s transfer record to sign Rodrigo from Valencia for a reported fee of £30m, and he went on to score 28 goals in three seasons, as shown by the graphic above.

However, it was the signing of Raphinha from Rennes that proved to be the difference-maker for the West Yorkshire outfit, as he fired the team to safety in both of his seasons a Elland Road.

Why Raphinha was a huge signing for Leeds

The Brazil international was a huge signing for the Whites because his contributions at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League helped the club to avoid the drop on two occasions.

Raphinha’s ability to create things out of nothing in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Leeds won many valuable points for Bielsa’s team, and Marsch’s in the 2021/22 season.

In fact, Farke felt the full force of the Brazilian star in one of his last games in charge of the Canaries, as the winger scored a sensational solo goal, as shown in the clip above.

That goal sums up Raphinha’s time as a player at Leeds. He had the quality to beat opposition players at will, despite their best efforts, whilst also having the end product to make the most of the chances he created for himself.

Raphinha (Premier League)

20/21

21/22

Appearances

30

35

Goals

6

11

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

12

10

Key passes per game

2.1

1.9

Assists

9

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

1.8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed sensation produced 17 goals and 22 ‘big chances’ created in his two seasons in the Premier League, which helped the Whites to avoid the drop both times.

Leeds then sold him to Barcelona in the summer of 2022, for a reported fee of £55m, and they were relegated from the top-flight in the following season, which further illustrates how important he was to the team.

Leeds closing in on attacking midfielder

Having confirmed the arrival of Jaka Bijol on Monday, the Whites are now reportedly eyeing up a new signing for Farke who could come in as the club’s biggest deal since they snapped up Raphinha from Rennes in 2020.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to Le Nouvel Echo, as relayed by La Gazzetta Express, Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign RB Salzburg playmaker Oscar Gloukh before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Championship champions are ‘close to securing’ a transfer for the Israel international to bolster their options in the number ten position.

It adds that Salzburg value the 21-year-old starlet at a fee of around £21m and that Leeds have expressed an interest in bringing him to Elland Road ahead of next season.

The outlet reveals that the Whites are looking to improve the creativity within their squad and have identified Gloukh as a player who could add more quality to the team in the final third.

Why Leeds should sign Oscar Gloukh

Farke should push for the club to get a deal over the line because the young talent could be the club’s biggest signing since Raphinha, due to his potential to shine at Elland Road.

Gloukh, who scored a stunning goal against Pachuca in the Club World Cup earlier this month, is a player who has the potential to lead Leeds to safety with his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the attacking midfield positon.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once claimed that the playmaker has “exceptional” vision for passes and is a “two-footed” player who is “destined for big things”, which speaks to both his quality in the here and now as well as his potential for the future.

At the age of 21, the Whites would be signing an incredible young talent who has the scope to be worth millions more in the future, as was the case when they signed Raphinha, who went on to be sold for a whopping £55m.

As well as having long-term potential, Gloukh’s performances for Salzburg in the 2024/25 campaign also suggest that he would come in as an instant upgrade on Brenden Aaronson.

24/25 season

Gloukh (Austrian Bundesliga)

Aaronson (Championship)

Appearances

26

46

Goals

10

9

Big chances missed

6

11

Key passes per game

2.5

1.6

Big chances created

15

9

Assists

5

2

Dribbles completed per game

3.0

1.1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Israel international could provide more quality in front of goal than the American dud, given that he scored more goals, created more ‘big chances’, assisted more goals, and completed almost three times as many dribbles per game.

Gloukh is an attacking midfielder who has the ability to influence matches on a regular basis, thanks to the threat he provides as a scorer and a creator, which is why he could be a huge signing for Farke this summer.

The young playmaker could be crucial to the team’s survival in the Premier League by winning vital points for the side with goals and assists from a number ten position, if he can translate his form over to English football.

This is why the £21m-rated star could be the club’s biggest signing since Raphinha because no player has kept the team up since the Brazilian ace left in 2022, and Gloukh has the potential to replicate the success the left-footed whiz had in West Yorkshire.

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Celtic are looking to retain their Scottish Premiership title next term and could look to bring in a talented competitor for Kieran Tierney at left-back, according to a report.

Kieran Tierney's Celtic return kicks off busy summer of transfer activity

Brendan Rodgers could be a busy man at Celtic this summer in the transfer window. Tierney’s homecoming at Parkhead should officially be announced any minute as fans wait for confirmation of his return to Glasgow’s east end.

Joining on a free transfer from Arsenal, the Scotland international comes back to his boyhood club on a mission after winning eight trophies during his first spell and establishing himself as a modern-day icon.

Bowing out with a goal in his final appearance for the Gunners at Southampton, Tierney is expected to be joined by Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan at Celtic.

The Lennoxtown academy graduate came through at the same time as Tierney and will report back to Parkhead once his contract at Aberdeen expires.

Speculation over Rodgers’ future as he enters the final year of his deal has become a talking point in the off-season. Regardless, former scout Mick Brown expects Celtic to spend big this summer following their Scottish Cup final defeat last weekend.

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He stated: “There’s been some talk about the manager’s future as well, and I’m sure he expects to be backed. The board have to show that they’re behind him and they share his ambitions.

“So I think they’ll be prepared to spend big this summer, it’s something they have to do because otherwise they risk that gap closing.”

Tapping into that theme, Celtic are now reportedly eyeing a swoop for a competitor to Tierney who could arrive to strengthen the ranks at left-back.

Celtic enter race to sign Peterborough United left-back Harley Mills

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic have entered the race to sign Peterborough United full-back Harley Mills as they seek depth to supplement Tierney’s arrival.

The 19-year-old started the campaign at Enfield Town on loan, but returned to his parent club and scored in their famous 2-0 victory over Birmingham City in the Vertu Trophy final at Wembley Stadium earlier this year.

Harley Mills in League One for Peterborough United (Fotmob)

Duels won

53

Tackles won

16

Dribble success

66.7%

Interceptions

11

Aerial duels

17

Recoveries

26

Combining his outings at both clubs, Mills made 25 appearances across all competitions this term and has previously been labelled “outstanding” by Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Fulham have been interested in the youngster and Peterborough are said to be mulling over a £1 million offer made for his services, though Celtic may now hope to swat aside rival suitors to land their man.

Greg Taylor appears set to leave Parkhead under freedom of contract and no indication has come forth regarding Jeffrey Schlupp returning after his loan spell, which has opened up a space for Mills to potentially join Celtic and rival Tierney if they can push a deal over the line.

According to broadcast giant ESPN, Arsenal are demanding a major concession from Thomas Partey as talks continue over a new contract for the midfielder.

Thomas Partey could now stay at Arsenal with talks ongoing

The £200,000-per-week star has stayed relatively injury-free throughout an impressive 2024/2025 campaign which has seen him dazzle in multiple roles under Mikel Arteta.

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Utilised at right-back during the absences of key players, as well as partnering the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield to great effect, Partey’s been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers throughout the season.

Last term, the Ghana international could barely get a look-in due to fitness issues and falling down Arteta’s pecking order, and was widely tipped to leave the club four years after his £45 million transfer from Atlético Madrid.

However, this campaign, Partey has made more appearances than in any of his previous seasons at the Emirates Stadium, now proving indispensable to Arteta.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Partey’s resurgence has now sparked the club into action, with Arsenal opening talks to extend the 31-year-old’s contract as his current terms are due to expire this summer.

Arteta has confirmed to the press that he wants to keep Partey at the club for next season, with sporting director Andrea Berta now handed the task of agreeing an extension.

“Yes, there is progress with all the players. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to decide and to talk about,” said Arteta when asked if there has been progress over a new deal for Partey.

“The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.”

If contract talks go south, Barcelona are among the clubs eyeing a Bosman deal for Partey, so the African won’t be short of prestigious options.

Arsenal demand major concession from Thomas Partey in contract talks

As per ESPN, it is now believed that Arsenal will demand one major concession from Partey in “any” deal for a new contract, despite his exceptional form.

The suggestion is its pretty non-negotiable, with the concession being that the midfielder will need to take a pay cut to remain in north London.

This comes as Arsenal attempt to finalise a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Berta is widely rumoured to also be negotiating fresh terms with the likes of Bukayo Saka, so it appears the club wish to trim their wage bill where possible.

Partey is keen to remain at Arsenal, according to credible news outlets like The Telegraph, but it remains to be seen whether he’s willing to be paid less than his illustrious teammates – especially considering he’s put in consistently outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

Liverpool are cruising to the Premier League title under Arne Slot and have now sent scouts to watch a clutch of potential summer targets, per reports.

Liverpool's summer activity begins to gain traction

The Reds have managed to put themselves in pole position to claim the Premier League, but what comes next after celebrating their second top-flight triumph of the modern era?

Slot appears on the surface as a man who won’t be keen for any complacency to creep in, though he has serious work to do regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s contract situations.

Taking internal matters to one side, Liverpool have Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman on their radar as experience on the flanks becomes a priority to bolster depth across the Reds’ front four positions.

Vasco Da Gama star Rayan Vitor could also be en route to Anfield. Nevertheless, his prospective arrival is likely to be categorised as a long-term commitment while he develops at his own pace.

Darwin Nunez could make way for a new centre-forward amid his frustrating campaign through the middle. Diogo Jota and Luiz Diaz have been ahead of the Uruguayan in the pecking order at times, which hasn’t exactly helped his case in trying to win over Slot.

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Exploring options to add extra firepower will stand Liverpool in good stead for next season. Salah’s uncertain situation may create a need for someone to fill his goalscoring boots, so it is only fair the champions in waiting do their due diligence on potential targets.

Now, Liverpool have reportedly set their sights on a quartet that could be on their way to Anfield after the Merseyside giants carried out a scouting mission.

Liverpool watch four Premier League stars, one scores under their nose

According to The Boot Room, Liverpool sent scouts to watch Liam Delap score for Ipswich Town against Wolverhampton Wanderers as the England Under-21 international netted under their nose in a 2-1 defeat for the Tractor Boys.

Intriguingly, the visiting side had Joao Gomes, Andre and Rayan Ait-Nouri under observation from the Reds. The latter doesn’t have a release clause in his contract at Molineux despite previous suggestions to the contrary.

Liverpool’s next five fixtures – Premier League

West Ham (H)

Anfield

Leicester City (A)

King Power Stadium

Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Anfield

Chelsea (A)

Stamford Bridge

Arsenal (H)

Anfield

Rated at £50 million in some quarters, Ipswich striker Delap has become a standout in the top-flight after putting forward a return of 12 goals and two assists in 30 appearances.

Ait-Nouri is a target who Liverpool have had eyes on for a while, and Andre has been scouted previously as the club weigh up midfield additions to elevate their exciting talent portfolio.

Heading into the window, it is interesting to see where Liverpool feel they can find value for money on the market. The Premier League is a difficult industry to get plates spinning in, though the fact they will head into 2025/26 as reigning champions bodes well for business.

England spinner stepped into big shoes for the Hundred, but has guided her side to the Eliminator

Andrew Miller30-Aug-2025Twelve months on from London Spirit’s victory over Welsh Fire in the 2024 Women’s Hundred final, Charlie Dean breaks into a grin as she recalls Deepti Sharma’s winning six over long-on, and her team’s agog reactions in the dugout by the boundary’s edge.”Every time you look at that clip, you see something different,” Dean tells ESPNcricinfo, thinking back to Spirit’s tightly fought four-wicket win, sealed in euphoric style with two balls to spare, and with Dean herself 1 not out at the non-striker’s end.Cordelia Griffith was the star of the subsequent meme: eyes out on stalks as she tracked Deepti’s shot, all the way off the bat and just out of the reach of a backpedalling Shabnim Ismail, but every player in the frame lived the moment in a different way.”There’s Eva [Gray] taking her helmet off, then putting it back on, then throwing it away,” Dean recalls. “I’d faced one full-toss and hit it straight to the fielder, so when Deepti hit the ball over the boundary there’s just a lot of relief. I’ve seen so many replays of the girls celebrating off the bench. It brings back a lot of good memories, a lot of good feelings. That’s why you play the game, isn’t it? To win big games like that. If we can replicate any of those feelings again this year, that would be amazing.”Spirit have certainly done the needful to give themselves a shot at back-to-back titles. For the second year running, they have qualified third in the table, meaning they will once again have to come through Saturday’s Eliminator at the Kia Oval to give themselves a chance to face Southern Brave in the Lord’s final.If there’s a slight nervousness about the weekend’s weather forecast, and the danger that a washout could send second-placed Northern Superchargers straight to the final without a ball being bowled, then Dean is unfazed. Not only has her team been in this position before, but now – as captain, in the wake of Heather Knight’s season-halting hamstring injury – she feels all the more ready to cope with whatever circumstances crop up in the coming days.Grace Harris opened the tournament with a blistering 89 not out•ECB via Getty Images”I’ve really enjoyed this year,” she says. “I’m in a place where I know my game quite well, and I can think about other people, and I feel like I’ve had a lot of personal development. I’ve gained a bit more confidence with my public speaking, and bits like that … things that would probably have challenged me a lot more in previous years.”The core group of girls is pretty similar to last year and the year before, with a few brilliant changes, so be able to lead this group is a bit of an honour,” she adds. “It’s lovely to have Heather still here with us, offering a bit of guidance and advice, then there’s Chris Liddle – it’s his first time being head coach, but you wouldn’t know it – so I’m incredibly lucky that I’m really well supported.”We work really well as a core leadership group, and that just makes my job so much easier. I trust my gut and go with how I see the game playing out on the pitch. The girls have performed really well, and different people have stood up at different times, so it certainly makes a captain’s job easier when that is the case.”The chance to captain Spirit – untimely though it has been for Knight – has the potential to transform Dean’s standing within English cricket. Back in March, when Knight left her role as England captain, Dean’s name had been one of many tentatively mentioned for the succession, but everywhere you looked, the problem was the same. Knight’s sheer longevity – eight years in the role – had inadvertently prevented anyone else within the England set-up from honing their leadership skills.Related

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It’s an issue Dean recognises and accepts. “It’s hard, as an England player, to be in and out of domestic teams and still be a leader. You can’t captain a domestic team if you’re not there all the time. So opportunities to captain are few and far between, but I always relished the chance to step up in other leadership ways. This has been a perfect opportunity for me to test out how I’ve grown, and see where it takes me.”In the immediate future, Dean hopes it will take her north of the river once again, after this afternoon’s Eliminator, and back to the base-camp that she has been proud to call her midsummer home for the past five seasons.”Lord’s massively feels like home for us,” she says. “It really does feel like the norm to be able to go out and play there, which is crazy when you think, 5-10 years ago, you really wouldn’t be able to say that at all. Women’s cricket deserves that platform … the skill levels are increasing, day in, day out, with more professionalism and the chance to showcase our skills.”Even so, the Lord’s factor is a very real aspect of Finals Day, and so the chance for Spirit to have familiarised themselves with the surroundings, and the ground’s idiosyncrasies (“I don’t know if you know, but there is a slope here,” Dean jokes…) is undoubtedly a bonus.Lord’s ‘massively feels like home’ for London Spirit women, Dean says•ECB/Getty Images”It does give it a little home advantage, but a final is a final,” she adds. “You have to be the better team, but you also have to be smart. It’s not like The Oval or Headingley, where it’s a batter’s paradise most of the time. But equally, those are the games of cricket that really excite you as a player, when you have to engage a bit more, and plan for different scenarios – left-hand, right-hand, a smaller boundary, or whatever it is. Those are the things that really excite me as a player. It gets the brain ticking.”As Dean acknowledges, many of the same characters from the 2024 victory are still present in the Spirit dressing-room, from Georgia Redmayne at the top of the order, via Griffith and Dani Gibson in the middle, through the spin duo of Dean herself and Sarah Glenn, and with Gray topping their averages with nine wickets at 17.77.But Kira Chathli’s arrival as Knight’s replacement has been a revelation – 214 runs at a strike-rate of 150 has helped to propel their powerplays – while the return of Grace Harris alongside the marquee signing of Issy Wong has given Spirit a sprinkling of extra impetus as they seek to become only the second team after Oval Invincibles to land back-to-back women’s Hundred titles.”We picked up Kira before the wildcard draft, and that was gold-dust, really,” Dean says. “She’d had brilliant form in the Vitality Blast for Surrey, so it was a no-brainer for us to promote her to the top of the order and just encourage her to play the way that she’s been playing for Surrey.”As for Harris, she announced her return in irrepressible fashion in the tournament opener against Invincibles, where she clubbed a matchwinning 89 not out from 42 balls. Her returns since then may have been more hit-and-miss, but her threat has been ever-present, along with her indefatigable dressing-room attitude.”She’s a fantastic cricketer to have in your team,” Dean says. “The energy that she brings and the way she goes about her business, she just cracks on and gets it done. She set the tone with that opening game, and has been just fantastic for us. We let her go and express herself. And she does it really well, even though at times you may be like, ‘Wow, she really doesn’t stop!’ But it is fantastic to have someone in your dressing-room who just exudes energy, because it really brings everyone up with her.”And then there’s Wong, a player whose personal journey in recent seasons has arguably epitomised that of the women’s game as a whole. The huge promise, the inflated expectations, the inevitable dip in performance amid the glare of ever-building scrutiny. But now, still only 23, she’s been on the comeback trail for Warwickshire, England and Spirit all season long, and after a series of critical contributions with bat and ball alike, Dean believes she’ll be ready to deliver when her team needs it most.”Issy is someone that will always stand up under pressure,” she says. “That’s one of the qualities you really want in a player. She thrives in the battle and she’s really become resilient, and developed ways of bouncing back, because she’s had a few struggles.”She’s a fantastic bowler to have in our armoury. She’s come in and really owned what she’s doing, and she’s back with a bang, which is so exciting for English cricket. And for her, on a personal level, knowing how much work that she’s put in over the past couple of years.”

Fireworks, loud music, a near sellout crowd, and a special knock from a special player: the opening night had it all

Zenia D'cunha05-Mar-20236:29

A curtain raiser to rival the IPL opener?

The first match of the long-awaited Women’s Premier League (WPL) is at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the venue that set the record for the highest crowd for a women’s cricket match in India last December.Walking up to the stadium from the main road, you can already feel the buzz. The buzz of the crowds lining up to enter, and the buzz of excitement to see what’s in store.If one had to paint a visual to describe this buzz, it would be blue.Related

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Blue, the colour of the Mumbai Indians’ jerseys worn by a large section of fans. Blue, of the Indian team’s jerseys a few others, are wearing. A whole shade card of blue in the usual knock-off kits being sold on the streets, both men and women trying the Mumbai Indians one for size. They belong to different editions of the IPL, but it’s the dress code of the day.The team flags, horns, tri-colour memorabilia, face-painters and long queues that circle the outside of any cricket stadium on match days are omnipresent as well.As far as signs of public interest go, this is a good one in Indian cricket.Blue was probably also what Gujarat Giants were feeling after an all-round capitulation against Mumbai Indians.But the crowd wouldn’t mind, they had after all come for two main things and they got exactly that: A historic occasion and a Harmanpreet Kaur special.”This is history in the making, it’s the first-ever women’s match like this and because it’s in Mumbai and this is our team, it feels very good. I’m getting goosebumps already,” one fan outside the stadium said. “It was decided, we had to come for the first match,” another one said.Most people entering the stadium had the same answer when asked the player they are most excited to watch at the WPL – Harmanpreet.1:51

Buzz and anticipation abound in Mumbai as the inaugural WPL kickstarts

One superfan, conspicuous by his vintage Mumbai Indians jersey from the 2013 edition of the IPL – the year they won their first title – wanted Harmanpreet & Co to end a strange jinx.”Mumbai Indians are known to lose their first match, it’s actually a pretty good omen for them. But I hope that’s not the case today, I want them to win.”They did win, and in a way fulfilled the many expectations. The Indian captain delivered a memorable knock to start the tournament on a high, smashing a boundary-studded, 22-ball 50 that helped Mumbai cross 200 in the first game.It was the kind of innings that got the home crowd involved from the beginning – the gasps when she smacked the ball, the cheers when she effortlessly found the gaps, the roar for her shots and the acknowledgement after her dismissal, and the constant chants of her name.With the inaugural WPL taking place entirely in just two venues, Mumbai are the only team to have a home crowd at all their matches and to start it with a bang is exactly what the tournament needed.”We keep discussing how we want to enjoy this moment because we waited for this for a long time,” Harmanpreet said about the atmosphere after the match.”Personally, it was very special to me because whenever I played other leagues, [the crowd] went more towards the local players, but today the Punjabi singer came [AP Dhillon] and it felt like home. The Mumbai crowd was special for all of us, it felt like the whole family came together cheering for this big moment.”Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Alyssa Healy pose with the trophy•BCCIThe others played their part too, the opening fireworks by Hayley Matthews, the handy cameo by Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar and Nat Sciver-Brunt keeping the boundaries coming, the dominant bowling in the powerplay. And the crowd loved every moment.They may have come for the Indian players they know, but as the game progressed, the Mumbai crowd adopted the others also their own. Issy Wong, the fire-cracker fast bowler from England, got her own chant of ‘Wong, Wong, Wong’ as she started a run-up. All of 20 and not as well-known yet in the international circuit as yet, it was her spectacular first-ball six and second-ball wicket of Ashleigh Gardner (on a golden duck) that endeared her to the cricket-lovers watching.Before the match began, the playing XIs of both teams were announced in the stadium with corresponding images on the big screen – a nice touch given how new all this is. One would hope this player introduction with photos continues through the WPL.Not all was perfect, of course. The one-sided second innings saw the crowds thin out midway through the innings and the stands were almost empty by the end. Already, despite the sold-out sign while booking online, the stadium was not completely full and there were some walkouts after the opening ceremony too.But even at the death overs, nearing 11 pm and long after the stadium announcer and music had stopped at the deadline, there was a sizable cheer when Harmanpreet was fielding at long-on boundary. It’s the power of good, old-fashioned cricketing excellence.”It was a different experience and I hope that we continue to get the kind of crowd support we got today,” she said.That may be difficult in the stadium on weekdays and when the home team is not involved, but what her knock has ensured is that WPL has begun well and will be followed.

Like Australia’s recall of Chris Rogers in 2013, it could be the right solution for the short term

Danyal Rasool03-Feb-2021A month shy of his 36th birthday, Chris Rogers had only ever played one Test match for Australia. This wasn’t a travesty of justice; for the best part of his career, the opener had to wait his turn behind Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, and latterly a combination of Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich and David Warner, each of whom were either better, sexier or younger than him. So the New South Welshman bided his time building up a rock-solid domestic career in both Australia and England, content that it was likely just about as far as his talent would take him.Fast forward to the 2013 Ashes series in England. Katich had been removed from CA’s contracts list two years ago, controversially, and Hughes’ inconsistent returns had led Australia to push him down the order in an attempt to get more out of his unquestionable ability. Watson had moved up and down the order too, and his most recent act in Test cricket had been his departure from India in the wake of Homeworkgate. Warner, meanwhile, had just punched an opposition player in a bar.Australia had a decision to make. They made one that didn’t look too far into the future or signal any long-term intent in terms of the direction they were taking. But calling up Rogers to plug a gap at the top proved a pragmatic and brutally effective step.He had over 20,000 first-class runs over the best part of 15 years, and more experience playing in England and Australia than most of his more established teammates. He lacked the boyish charm of Hughes, or Watson’s wrecking-ball drives down the ground, but he was a decent, honest professional who had built up a decent, honest career. He was also, if for the extremely short term, the best opener in the country.What might that have to do with Pakistan? Well, they’ve tried a plethora of opening combinations over the past decade, and looked about as likely to stumble upon a solution as a toddler fiddling with a Rubik’s cube. The trend continued with Abid Ali and Imran Butt against South Africa in Karachi, where they put on 5 and 22. They’ll almost certain retain the same pairing in Rawalpindi, but it remains to be seen for how long they endure.The most compelling argument for Azhar as opener?•ESPNcricinfo LtdSince the start of 2016, Pakistan have tried 14 different openers. Only India (16), and Sri Lanka and Australia (15 – remember, Rogers retired in 2015), have played around at the top more, and all three teams have played significantly more Tests than Pakistan in this period.In fairness, other Test sides – other than New Zealand (who have used just four) – have all had to juggle around at the top too, so for once, this isn’t a uniquely Pakistani problem. We appear to be in a golden age of Test match opening bowling partnerships, but that has spelled trouble for their batting counterparts. Opening partnerships have averaged 30.91 in the decade that’s just begun, and 34.51 in the 2010s. They’re the two lowest-averaging decades for opening stands since – wait for it – the 1900s.Since, arguably, the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012, no Test side has managed to lock in two set-and-forget openers, and the days of Langer and Hayden or Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs seem like fuzzy, faraway memories.What makes Pakistan’s case so intriguing, however, is that they might have at least one half of the solution hiding in plain sight. Sometime during the past five years, Pakistan decided Azhar Ali was better suited at No. 3, where he has the majority of his career (110 of 158 innings). Perhaps Azhar, or Pakistan, or both, believe it’s his best position.But in batting him at No. 3, Pakistan have ignored his record as opener: his average of 45.76 at the top of the order is better than those of Alistair Cook or Andrew Strauss or Marvan Attapattu or Gautam Gambhir, among a host of other distinguished names. His accumulation methods might not be pretty, but his numbers certainly are.There is some nuance to those numbers, of course, not least because since January 2010, openers have averaged higher in the UAE and Pakistan than anywhere else, and while he’s yet to open at home, 10 of Azhar’s 37 innings as opener have come in the UAE. But Pakistan’s other openers in this period have also played a lot of their cricket in these two countries, and most have struggled to make the most of those favourable conditions.Azhar Ali has been part of some of Pakistan’s most durable opening pairs in recent times•ESPNcricinfo LtdShan Masood has struggled to buy a run since a superb 156 at Old Trafford, while just under 60% of Abid Ali’s Test runs came in his first three innings; he has since averaged less than 20. Imam-ul-Haq, meanwhile seems to have faded from contention, having last played Test cricket in 2019. Sami Aslam, who combined with Shan Masood relatively successfully – albeit briefly – has his eyes set on a career in the USA.It might be time to sit back and wonder, as presumably the bigwigs at Coca-Cola did a few decades ago, what was wrong with the old formula after all. Azhar Ali’s average as opener is higher than any other Pakistani batsman’s since January 2010. In that period, three of Pakistan’s seven highest-averaging opening partnerships have included him. He has a triple-hundred in the UAE from the top of the order, and he’s the only visiting opener in history to score a double-century at the MCG; no other current Pakistan opener has a double-hundred anywhere. If this wasn’t a batsman reputationally associated with the middle order, he’d be at the front of a fairly short queue of contenders making a persuasive case to face the new ball. It isn’t like he doesn’t face the new ball as things stand anyway, given he bats almost exclusively at No. 3 and Pakistan’s openers haven’t hung around for too long of late.And while Azhar is 35, the same age as Rogers before that 2013 call-up, this might not be the worst time to consider returning him to the top. Stripped of the captaincy with signature Pakistan insensitivity – for the second time in his career, his removal was known to the media before being officially communicated to him – Azhar has decided against doing his talking off the pitch, and has quietly begun building up a head of steam on it. A potentially career-saving hundred against Sri Lanka last year was followed by a likely match-saving century against England in the summer, a 93 in Christchurch, and two steely knocks against South Africa in Karachi in sticky situations that received less attention than they perhaps deserved.It certainly would be typical of his career to expect Azhar to bail Pakistan out just after Pakistan themselves bailed on him, but it’s also a reminder of what a versatile asset he has been over the years. Sure, his absence in the middle order would need serious plugging, but with Haris Sohail and Asad Shafiq currently out, and Agha Salman and Saud Shakeel among the squad, that is an area Pakistan could cover far more effectively than the opening positions.t the sIt’s not the sexiest idea or the longest-term solution. But Rogers, once recalled ended up playing 24 further Tests over two years, scoring 1996 runs at 44.35, including four Ashes hundreds and one in South Africa. That’s not a swansong. It’s a second career.About to turn 36, Azhar might not so much have been stripped of the captaincy as liberated from it. Pakistan have searched high and low for a man who might be half-decent at facing the new ball. It may be worth giving that dressing room one final look after all.

Television presenter Laura Woods is due to return to screens following her dramatic collapse live on air ahead of the Lionesses' friendly win over Ghana at the start of December. Woods subsequently issued a positive update, allaying fears over her health and thanking all those who had helped her at St Mary's Stadium. The popular star is now heading back to work and is set to be part of this week's Champions League coverage.

• Woods to return after scare

  Good wishes were quick to flood in after Woods collapsed on live television and was caught by co-presenters Ian Wright and Anita Asante. ITV promptly cut to an advertising break, with Katie Shanahan taking over hosting duties and telling viewers: "As you may all be aware, Laura Woods fell ill at the start of the programme. We want to reassure you that she's doing OK. We all send her our love."

  Woods subsequently offered an update of her own on social media, allaying fears over her health. She posted on Instagram: "Gosh that was a bit weird. Sorry to worry everyone, I'm OK, the wonderful paramedics at Saints have said its probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration. I'm really embarrassed that happened on TV, but a big thank you to my colleagues at ITV who have really looked after me tonight. And to Wright and Neets for catching me and sorry again x."

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  Blockbuster clash up next for Woods

  Woods is now set to return to screens on Wednesday in time for Manchester City's huge Champions League tie with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, according to . The popular presenter will front the live coverage for TNT Sports and is set to be joined by pundits Steven Gerrard, Joleon Lescott and Steve McManaman for the crunch fixture in Madrid. Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist are set to provide the commentary as the two European heavyweights clash once again. 

• Wright and Keane make light of collapse

  Wright and fellow pundits Roy Kane, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Jill Scott have been talking about Woods' collapse on podcast. The panel said that Woods "would want" them to make light of the incident and proceeded to do exactly that.

  The former Arsenal star said: "She’s fine. I got a message from her this morning. It was worrying at the time but she’s fine. People have been really nice about it. I’m glad she’s okay." Scott added: "She said that she thinks she’s got a virus but it must have been horrible for that to happen, on live TV as well.”

  Meanwhile, Keane couldn't resist poking fun at the ex-Arsenal man. He joked: "I’m guessing she’s not the first woman to fall into your arms Ian. That’s just your knack. She’s okay and that’s all that matters, that’s the most important thing, obviously. You’ll get a knighthood or an award for that, Wrighty."

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  Dramatic night expected in Madrid

  A dramatic night of action is expected in Madrid as the two teams meet for the fifth straight season in the Champions League. The hosts come into the game fresh from a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo in La Liga that also saw two red cards for the Spanish giants. The loss leaves Los Blancos now four points behind Barcelona in the title race and with serious questions being asked of manager Xabi Alonso. Another defeat would pile more pressure on Alonso, and the Real Madrid coach heads into the game after seeing Eder Militao ruled out for several months with a torn hamstring and star striker Kylian Mbappe a doubt for the game due to a leg injury.

For the fourth consecutive Sunday, an India team may choose not to shake hands with a Pakistan team.India Women meet Pakistan Women in Colombo on October 5 in the ongoing Women’s World Cup. On Wednesday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia did not rule out the possibility that Harmanpreet Kaur’s team could take cues from Suryakumar Yadav’s.”Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything [at] this moment,” Saikia told the BBC’s podcast. “I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country is the same. There is no change in the last week.”Related

• Handshakes and rain in focus as India look to continue unbeaten run against Pakistan

• 'Focus is only cricket' – India, Pakistan on mood ahead of World Cup clash

• India can come and collect Asia Cup trophy if they want it, says Naqvi

• Agha: India are 'disrespecting cricket' with their conduct

• India refuse to accept Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

India’s men played Pakistan three times at the recent Asia Cup and chose not to shake hands at the toss and after the game. That tournament also ended in acrimony after India refused to accept their Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is Pakistan’s Interior Minister in addition to being the PCB’s chairman and the ACC’s president. Naqvi, for his part, refused to cede the handing over of the trophy to anyone else. The standoff caused a 90-minute delay to the post-match presentation, at which no trophy was ultimately lifted.Saikia said the team would play to the “regulations of cricket”.”India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed,” he said. “I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket – that will be done.”There have been no indications yet from the women’s teams themselves as to how they will negotiate the politics around their match on Sunday.

West Ham United are now looking to sign a “sensational” £35m midfielder who’s won the Premier League title two times, amid growing uncertainty surrounding his future…

West Ham eyeing new midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta recently admitted that he wanted to return to Brazil during the summer transfer window, saying: “Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying this, but I had some conversations with Filipe (Luís), who is a friend, in addition to the work he’s doing at Flamengo,”

“I really expressed my desire to return and also showed it to my agents.”

Ultimately, the attacking midfielder ended up staying put, however, and he has since gone on to put in some impressive performances in the Premier League, scoring three goals, most recently finding the back of the net in the 3-1 victory against Newcastle United.

That said, the Hammers won’t be particularly reassured by the fact one of their key players was angling for a move, and they have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder, who could be brought in next summer.

That is according to the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (via West Ham Zone), with a report stating West Ham want to be kept informed about Harvey Elliott’s situation, having failed to make an impact since arriving at Aston Villa on loan from Liverpool.

Villa have an obligation to pay £35m for Elliott if he plays ten matches this season, but he hasn’t been getting a look-in as of late, which means Liverpool may recall the Englishman during the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old, who is represented by the same agency as Niclas Fullkrug, is viewed as a target for the summer, rather than this winter, but the Hammers may have to fend off rival interest, with RB Leipzig also named as potential suitors.

"Sensational" Elliott could reignite career at the London Stadium

The attacking midfielder’s move to Villa simply hasn’t worked out, but he is still very young, and there are plenty of signs he could be an exciting acquisition for West Ham, having impressed at times during his spell with Liverpool.

West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after holding discussions

The Al-Ahli striker is fielding enquiries ahead of January.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

The London-born midfielder made 149 appearances for the Reds, amassing 15 goals and 20 assists and playing a role in his side winning two Premier League titles, while the 28-cap England U21 star has also caught the eye at international level.

As such, West Ham should continue to monitor Elliott’s situation as the season goes on, ahead of potentially launching a move next summer, with the former Fulham man in need of a move to a club where game is guaranteed, if he is going to fulfill his potential.