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da pinup bet： Arsenal love signing a defender. Even this summer, with the Gunners’ need for more quality and depth in attack abundantly clear, it’s not stopped them from looking at more defensive options.

da luck： Dean Huijsen was regularly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium after a fabulous debut campaign at Bournemouth, one that even saw him score against Mikel Arteta’s side.

Yet, he ended up heading back to his native country where the Spanish centre-back signed for Real Madrid in time for the Club World Cup.

Also on their radar is Ajax’s young superstar defender, Jorrel Hato.

Why Arsenal want to sign Jorrel Hato

Last summer, there was interest from Arsenal in signing the Dutch starlet from Ajax, but he ultimately stayed put in Amsterdam.

The Gunners turned their attention to another hybrid defender instead, signing Italian star Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.

Well, a year on, the interest remains in the 19-year-old sensation. That’s according to Fabrizio Romano who reported last week that Arsenal have been in contact with the Dutch side about potentially signing him.

So, why do they want him? Well, in the words of scout Jacek Kulig, Hato is “one of the most talented centre-backs of his generation in Europe”, rubberstamping the teenager’s simply frightening potential.

Despite being a centre-back by trade, it was actually at left-back where the youngster thrived for Ajax in 2024/25, playing 46 games in that role.

From that position, he put in some seriously impressive performances. Indeed, compared to full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues and the continent’s premier competitions, he ranks among the best 9% of players for pass accuracy per 90 minutes, the top 14% for aerial duels won and the best 14% for interceptions.

As data analyst Ben Mattinson also outlined, he’s a bit of a “Jurrien Timber 2.0”. That’s not just because he can play competently in the middle and on the sides, but he’s also incredibly hard to beat.

Timber was very rarely beaten by a defender in 2024/25, only losing 0.34 challenges per 90 minutes, enough to rank him among the best 5% of full-backs in the Premier League. Hato is even better in this regard, ranking in the finest 1% of players in the top five leagues for his metric, losing just 0.10 challenges per 90.

So, he’s really one of the best in his position, even before he’s reached his 20th birthday. There wouldn’t be many better Huijsen alternatives out there, that’s for sure.

But, what would his arrival mean for those already at the club?

What Hato's arrival would mean for Arsenal

Well, it’s safe to say that Arsenal don’t have a bottomless pit of money this summer and if they are going to spend big, it surely has to be on strengthening the forward ranks.

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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Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres continue to be linked with a move to bolster the striking ranks at Arteta’s disposal. Thus, how can they free up room for Hato, both in terms of game time and financially?

Well, with Kieran Tierney already out the exit door, heading for Celtic, there’s one less competitor for a place at left-back. Myles Lewis-Skelly could also be moved into midfield, his more natural position.

But, as far as sales go, we’re looking at Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Kiwior looked certain to leave a few months ago but after Gabriel’s hamstring injury, the Pole came in and deputised to an exceptional level.

He notably kept a clean sheet in the win over Real Madrid at the Emirates and looked the more assured of the two between him and William Saliba at the Bernabeu, where it was the Frenchman’s error that led to a Madrid consolation goal. He even scored in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Game time of Arsenal’s left-sided defenders in 2024/25

Player

Games

Minutes played

Gabriel

42

3,500

Jakub Kiwior

30

2,155

Riccardo Calafiori

29

1,497

Myles Lewis-Skelly

39

2,306

Oleksandr Zinchenko

23

789

Kieran Tierney

20

447

Data via Transfermarkt.

So, with Kiwior now more likely to stay, it will surely be Zinchenko to depart. According to new reports, he could now be ‘closing in’ on an exit.

Back in January, the £30m signing from Manchester City attracted the interest of Borussia Dortmund but a move ultimately didn’t happen.

Six months down the line and a deal could finally materialise with Dortmund once again monitoring the situation, according to Caught Offside. The same report notes that Zinchenko has a fellow suitor in the form of AC Milan who view him as a possible reinforcement.

Arsenal would now be happy to sell the Ukrainian, but only if they receive a fee in the region of £10m-£15m.

A departure this summer would be unsurprising, particularly given his waning minutes over the season that’s just concluded.

Indeed, the 28-year-old has gone from one of the first names on the teamsheet back in his debut year in London to someone who can barely get a game.

He revolutionised the style Arteta’s side played with, inverting from his left-back position but the manager has now found fresher blood capable of doing that, chiefly Lewis-Skelly.

Zinchenko only played 23 games in all competitions in 2024/25 and only started five league games all season long. It’s safe to say it wasn’t the finest year of his career, even if he did score a Champions League goal against PSV Eindhoven.

So, if the former City title-winner does move on, not only will it free up funds for more transfer business but it would also free up a space in the squad for Hato to fill.

For Andrea Berta, this is surely a no-brainer if the stars align.

Related He's a dream for Rice: Arsenal are about to submit bid for £84m "magician"

The outrageously talented international would be game-changing for Arsenal.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 12, 2025

Liverpool mean business this summer. The season isn’t yet over, and Trent Alexander-Arnold has not yet completed his free transfer to Real Madrid, but sporting director Richard Hughes has already tied Conor Bradley down to a new long-term deal and is finalising a move for Jeremie Frimpong.

That’s only scratching the surface, too. Developments earlier in the week, confirmed by The Athletic, have revealed a vested Liverpool interest in Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, with contacts made as Manchester City and Bayern Munich also race for the playmaker’s signature.

Wirtz would be a staggering signing, one of indisputable intent and ambition from FSG. The German’s creativity is exactly what is needed to replace Alexander-Arnold’s unique output.

The 22-year-old might be “the best midfielder in the world” to former Leverkusen star Patrick Helmes, but he’s not the deeper profile Arne Slot may yet require to truly complete his title-winning team.

Why Liverpool should sign a midfielder

Up until the Premier League title was clinched at the end of April, Slot had only employed four different midfield rotations across the league campaign, more often than not utilising the same trusted trio.

Alexis Mac Allister has been a monstrous all-round star, sixth in the division for tackles (with 95), while also creative and influential. A real general for Jurgen Klopp and now Slot.

Further forward, Dominik Szoboszlai’s output still leaves something to be desired, but his matchless energy and enthusiasm as an overwhelming attacking midfielder have been crucial facets behind the seasonal success.

The star of the show, it must be said, has been Ryan Gravenberch, whose rise within his countryman’s project has been a startling thing.

Ryan Gravenberch in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)	26 (12)	35 (35)
Goals	1	0
Assists	0	4
Touches*	28.8	66.4
Pass completion	83%	89%
Key passes*	0.6	0.7
Dribbles*	0.9	1.0
Ball recoveries*	2.8	5.3
Tackles + interceptions*	1.5	3.5
Duels (won)*	2.8	5.0 (58%)
Data via Sofascore

Gravenberch has been nominated (alongside Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk) for the PFA Premier League Player of the Year, and rightly so.

He’s lifted himself from a middling maiden term after Liverpool failed to sign their one midfield target last summer and has been the centrepiece of a title-winning season.

After struggling in the wake of Fabinho’s sale to the Saudi Pro League last season, Liverpool have surely found their heir for the ages, with the Brazilian anchor leaving Merseyside in 2023 with his head held high, one of the greatest defensive midfielders of his generation.

But now, to add the depth and dynamism needed to compete across multiple fronts, Slot is ready to sign some competition.

Liverpool plan bid for new midfielder

As per TEAMtalk, the powers that be at Anfield are preparing to lodge a formal offer for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who has been a revelation in south London over the past 15 months or so.

Wharton, 21, is also being targeted by Chelsea, with his modern, dynamic role in the middle of the park bespeaking a future at the very highest point of the footballing pyramid.

It’s understood the Eagles value their touted prospect at more than £60m, with Palace chairman Steve Parish notorious for his tricky negotiating at the business table.

Why Adam Wharton would be perfect for Liverpool

If Chelsea stumble and fall in their bid to return to the Champions League, Liverpool may well find themselves in pole position to complete a deal for Wharton, a player considered to be a “special talent who will soon bring Palace a lot of money” by scout Jacek Kulig.

After his role in Crystal Palace’s incredible FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, you can bet his stock has skyrocketed. It was a fine illustration of the kind of dynamic quality Liverpool would be securing, winning five duels, making four clearances and three tackles, as per Sofascore.

The ace has only made 36 Premier League appearances, but he’s already established himself as not only a key part of Oliver Glasner’s team, but an attractive option for the finest outfits across the continent.

He would be the perfect competition for Gravenberch, potentially with the skill set to outstrip Liverpool’s Dutchman. Maybe he even has the potential to overtake Fabinho in the all-time power rankings, too.

Wharton isn’t the finished product, but he’s on his way to becoming one of the most exciting midfielders in England. For sure, his smooth ball-playing skills, intelligence, and silkiness when carrying the ball forward himself are all facets that point toward an elite future.

Respected journalist Henry Winter has already hailed the former Blackburn Rovers prospect as a “passing machine,” swinging his deliveries forward carefully, surgically.

As per FBref, Wharton ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues this season for progressive passes and shot-creating actions, the top 18% for through balls and the top 6% for ball recoveries per 90.

Might it be fair to claim he could be as good as Fabinho, bringing his own deep-lying style to a new Liverpool chapter?

He’s athletic and composed, having also. In his heyday, Fabinho did the basics to a tee, working so hard to protect his backline and charge the centre so too enable Klopp’s patent gegenpressing style.

So too does Wharton flourish away from the limelight, operating in the unseen spaces in the very centre of the pitch, but performing with such seamless aplomb that he invariably draws attention for his twists and turns, his skips, his lunging challenges.

Sofascore have recorded Wharton to have averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.0 interceptions per top-flight match this season, while also avoiding a single error across the campaign.

Fabinho, before his late-Liverpool-career decline, was similarly dependable, covering plenty of ground and playing the ball forward with conviction. During Liverpool’s title-winning campaign of 2019/20, the South American completed 87% of his passes and averaged 0.7 key passes per game, highlighting a crispness but also a determination to progress play.

Stars like Wataru Endo and ex-captain Jordan Henderson have played important roles, but neither drew upon the natural ability of Fabinho, a player whose signing made such an impact on Klopp’s legacy.

Ultimately, Liverpool’s engine room is already well stocked for the next few years, but if there’s room in the transfer chest to pull out some coins to sign Wharton, this is a deal Slot would relish, getting his hands on a player capable of lifting Liverpool to the next level, maybe even mirroring Fabinho.

He plays a lot like Wirtz: Liverpool plot huge move to sign £85m "magician"

Liverpool are ready to throw the kitchen sink at a marquee attacking signing this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 17, 2025

SEATTLE — The revelers, those starved, curious and resilient creatures known as longtime Mariners baseball fans, packed Occidental Avenue on Saturday morning, two hours before first pitch. They carried exceedingly optimistic “World Series” signs, shouted “God hates the Astros,” and jammed into every inch of every store for blocks, all while balancing rally shoes atop their heads. They wore Ken Griffey Jr. jerseys, Big Dumper T-shirts and rare expressions—? ?—across their faces.

They didn’t care about things like logic, reason, elite opposition or tortured franchise history. Didn’t care that the Astros, their hated rivals, held a 2–0 lead in their division series. Didn’t care that Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez had rendered 18 taut, tactical, fairly even playoff innings little more than a painful learning experience. His moonshots in Games 1 and 2 reminded Seattle of the gap that remained—between the Mariners and the Astros, yes, but also between the M’s immense promise and the future World Series title they envision.

Still, this marked a fall weekend when local sports fans clogged the traffic-less street that runs the length of Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seahawks and their roaring crowds. Except that, on this particular fall weekend, those fans weren’t heading into Lumen. They were streaming it—and right toward the first postseason baseball game held in these parts in 21 long, fraught, wait-until-next .

Nothing could dim their sanguinity, an optimism borne from two decades of enduring bad luck, bad seasons and, worse yet, the occasional year that sprinkled promise on their cornflakes only to knock cereal bowls right out of their hands. These revelers seemed to grasp the significance, the possibility, however slim, that the Mariners could right this season once more, at home, against the team they disdain but wouldn’t mind becoming, if that meant five American League West titles and three World Series appearances in the last six seasons. Not to mention their larger aim—closer than ever, nowhere near certain—that, after ending the longest playoff drought in professional sports, they can, they will, not simply advance to but win their first championship.

Even then, for fans who had waited longer than any fans in professional sports for this precise moment, no one packed onto that street, eating hot dogs and marching toward T-Mobile Park, knew just how long the afternoon would extend.

Félix Hernández would throw out the first pitch.

The Mariners and Astros would play 17 innings of scoreless baseball that somehow managed to entrance a sellout crowd. They would tie three other games for the longest-ever in an MLB postseason, based on innings, a full 18.

Afternoon would give way to evening.

Light would become dark.

A few hours would become six hours and 22 minutes.

Only two things didn’t change. The Mariners played the Astros to a near standstill. It wouldn’t be enough. But those stands, the ones packed with the revelers, remained full to the bitter-and-hopeful end.

MLS sides were believed to be leading the chase, but Rapid Vienna have surprisingly entered the mix with a competitive offer for Thomas Muller.

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Rapid Vienna approach Muller with higher salary than MLSBayern legend reportedly earns €1.7m in American proposalFree transfer possible in coming daysFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from , the Austrian club have made a surprise move to sign Bayern Munich icon. The Bundesliga legend has received an approach from the Vienna-based side, who are reportedly prepared to offer a higher salary than Major League Soccer clubs, with some Austrian sources claiming Rapid could table a deal worth up to €3 million per year. Muller is said to have been offered €1.7m annually by MLS suitors.

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Muller, 35, has yet to confirm his future beyond Bayern, where he has spent his entire professional career. The attacker’s contract expires at the end of the month, and he will be available for a free transfer after that. While a switch to MLS appears more likely, Rapid’s interest adds a new twist, especially as they continue to search for a high-profile forward amid ongoing uncertainty in their pursuit of Marko Arnautovic.

DID YOU KNOW?

Muller played over 700 matches for Bayern and won 33 major trophies, including 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns. Despite reduced minutes last season, he featured in 49 matches, contributing eight goals and eight assists.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MULLER?

Muller will likely weigh his options in the coming days. While Rapid are pushing for a sensational move, the veteran attacker may favour a switch to the United States, but nothing is confirmed apart from the fact that he made his last appearance for the German club in the Club World Cup.

CSK captain breaks down where they lost the game against LSG

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-20241:51

Jaffer: ‘Dube finds a way to score runs even against fast bowlers’

After Lucknow Super Giants pulled off the highest successful chase at Chepauk, the Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said that excess dew took the home team’s spinners out of the game.Even though Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali conceded only 37 runs in four overs, both spinners delivered only half their quota of overs in CSK’s unsuccessful defence of 210. LSG achieved victory with three balls to spare on the back of Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten 124.”Tough pill to swallow,” Gaikwad, who scored an unbeaten 108 after CSK were sent into bat, said. “But good game of cricket. LSG played really well in the back end. We had the game in control till the 13th-14th over but hats off to Stoinis. He played brilliantly.”Dew played a part. I feel it was a slightly huge amount of dew and took our spinners away from the game. If there was no dew, we could have controlled the middle phase and taken the game deeper. It’s part of cricket. You really can’t change the non-controllable. Long way to go in the tournament.”Gaikwad also explained why Shivam Dube, CSK’s second-highest run-getter of IPL 2024 and the tournament’s most-prolific six-hitter, came into bat only in the 12th over.Dube walked in at No. 5 with CSK losing steam through the middle overs, but upped the run scoring rate with a 27-ball 66 that helped lift the hosts to 210 for 4. Before his arrival, Jadeja and Daryl Mitchell combined to score only 21 in 29 balls.”Well, obviously Jaddu [Jadeja] is batting at No. 4 and we lost the second wicket in the powerplay. So he was the one to come at that stage,” Gaikwad said. “We have a pretty much clear process and clear thinking and that after the powerplay if wicket comes then he [Dube] will come. You cannot force yourself to get out and ask him to come in.”Even though Dube had said at the halfway stage that CSK’s total was ten runs above par, Gaikwad said later that he felt the target of 211 was just about par.”Batting first, we couldn’t have got more than that,” he said. “To be honest, I never thought it was enough, just about par with the kind of dew we’ve been having in the last few practice sessions. I knew it will go down to the last over but credit to them, they batted really well.”Rahul on beating CSK in Chennai: ‘Super special’After completing the double over CSK in the league phase, KL Rahul said LSG’s victory at Chepauk felt “super special.””Very special, especially when it’s a game like that,” Rahul said. “A total of 210-plus runs scored on either side. Felt like, for most of the innings when we were batting, we were way behind in the game and just to pull off a victory like that…. super special.”[Beating CSK earlier] didn’t make a difference, it was a fresh start. Both teams start on zero and there were different conditions here. They got off to a really good start here. And put pressure on our bowlers to get 210 on that pitch, I didn’t think it was a 200+ wicket, felt 170-180 was a good total on that pitch.”They batted well and we didn’t start well, but all credit to Stoinis. The way he batted. Phenomenal to watch from outside. Not just power hitting, but also very smart batting.”After suffering back-to-back defeats against LSG – and their third loss in their last five matches – CSK have slipped to fifth on the points table after eight games. LSG have climbed to fourth with ten points from eight games.

In pursuit of making an instant statement this summer, The Friedkin Group have now reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive striker for Everton who could be worth as much as £80m.

Friedkin plotting big Everton summer

A fresh attacking lead certainly seems on the agenda for the Toffees this summer, who have already been linked with a shock move the in-demand Liam Delap. The Ipswich Town star is set for Premier League relegation but could earn top-flight redemption following an excellent individual campaign.

That said, he’s not the only one on Everton’s reported radar. Friedkin have also reportedly set their sights on Liverpool’s Ben Doak in what would certainly steal plenty of headlines.

The Anfield academy star impressed on loan at Middlesbrough this season before injury disrupted an otherwise successful spell. That form may still not be enough to earn a place in Arne Slot’s first-team, however, potentially resulting in a move across Stanley Park.

Everton boss David Moyes recently had his say on what could be a busy summer at the club, telling reporters: “There’s going to be a change, and all those bits are still being pieced together at the minute.

“I’ve had one short conversation with Angus, that was all because he’s got his job to do at Leeds. And I don’t want to disrupt him whilst he’s working there. But we’re getting things together, we’re starting to plan, but obviously again the league position and league you’re in is all important.”

Everton poised to rival Liverpool in move to sign "superb" £40m DCL heir

He’s outscored Calvert-Lewin this season.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 8, 2025

Just how much Friedkin will spend this summer remains to be seen, but if they want to take the Toffees back into the top half then they’ll certainly need to make a statement or two. And that could yet include the arrival of a big-money striker in the coming months.

Everton join £80m Pavlidis race

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to depart as a free agent this summer, those at Goodison Park have reportedly set their sights on an impressive replacement. According to The Boot Room, Everton have now joined the race to sign Vangelis Pavlidis from Benfica this summer alongside the likes of Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

The deal won’t come cheap though, given that the forward reportedly has a release clause worth as much as £80m in his current Benfica contract. Such a deal at such a price would certainly make the intended statement for Friedkin, especially if they fend off interest from their rivals, but whether they have that budget to spend is the big question.

It should come as no surprise that Benfica boss Bruno Lage – formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers – described Pavlidis as “important” earlier this month. After all, the big-money forward has scored 24 goals in all competitions and assisted another 10.

Lage told reporters following the forward’s hat-trick in a 4-1 thrashing of Porto: “He has done a lot of important work for us. It is important to have men who score a lot of goals, but in the end, this was mainly a real team effort.”

India’s dominance continued in Sylhet as they went 4-0 up in the five-match series

Srinidhi Ramanujam06-May-2024

Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur put up a solid stand•BCB

Harmanpreet Kaur and India’s spinners combined to hand the visitors a comfortable 56-run win against Bangladesh in the rain-hit fourth T20I. India’s dominance continued in Sylhet as they went 4-0 ahead in the five-match series.Harmanpreet, playing her 300th international game, top-scored with a brisk 39 to lift the visitors to a competitive 122 for 6 in 14 overs after being asked to bat on a cloudy day. Chasing a revised DLS target of 125, Bangladesh lost a flurry of wickets to post 66 for 7. S Asha – India’s oldest debutant in women’s T20Is at 33 – and Deepti Sharma starred with two wickets each.Bangladesh made three changes from the XI that played the third game, but were never in the chase on a sluggish surface. After Deepti handed the first breakthrough for India with the wicket of Murshida Khatun in the fourth over, she went on to dismiss Dilhara Akter (21 off 25). Rubya Haider (13 off 17) was also run out after a mix-up with captain Nigar Sultana in the eighth over.Asha’s maiden wicket was the prized scalp of Sultana, who couldn’t read a googly on the stumps and ended up being trapped lbw. The legspinner added one more wicket when she dismissed Shorna Akter, having the batter mistime a slog-sweep only to be caught by Richa Ghosh off a leading edge. Asha finished her quota of three overs with figures of 2 for 18.Bangladesh’s batting collapse continued to haunt them in the series as they slid from 38 for 1 to 47 for 6 to lose the plot and the game.India lost Shafali Verma early for a four-ball 2 in the second over. D Hemalatha played a cameo of 22 off 14, hitting two fours and as many sixes, which included two powerful lofted drives over extra cover. However, her stay was cut short by the young fast bowler Marufa Akther who trapped her lbw with an inswinger. India reached 48 for 2 in 5.5 overs before rain halted the game for an hour.Once the play resumed, Smriti Mandhana got going to make an 18-ball 22 but was bowled by Rabeya Khan. But India did not slow down, thanks to Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh.The duo put on 44 runs off just 28 balls for the fourth wicket. Harmanpreet picked up pace after Mandhana’s dismissal as she went from 10 off 8 to 39 off 26 balls, hitting five fours. Ghosh played a 15-ball 24 and hit three fours and a six as India accumulated 52 runs in the last five overs. Though several shots were coming off edges, India scored quickly to put up a solid target in 14 overs.India will be eying a series sweep when they take on the field for the final game on May 9.

Abhishek Nayar says the KKR captain has been positive despite all the challenges and disappointments he’s faced in recent months

S Sudarshanan02-May-2024

Shreyas Iyer has overcome his back issues to play every game for KKR so far•PTI

Shreyas Iyer has been on a rollercoaster side. He scored two hundreds and three half-centuries in India’s run to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup in November, then suffered a recurrence his back troubles, had his commitment to red-ball cricket questioned, lost his BCCI contract, and was not even talked about among the contenders for selection to India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad.He also came into this IPL season having missed the last one with injury and took back the captaincy of a team that finished seventh in 2022 and 2023. After nine games, he’s led Kolkata Knight Riders to second place in the points table with six wins, ahead of their contest against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Friday.KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who knows Iyer from the domestic circuit in Mumbai, said he had dealt with his setbacks with a positive attitude.”He is one of the strongest people, mentally, I have ever known, just in terms of how he has accepted certain things that have happened with him,” Nayar said on Thursday. “I would have seen a lot of people cribbing and talking about it, but I haven’t heard him whine about it or complain about it at all. The way he has approached life is in a positive manner – what is in front of you, you try and accept it.”Related

Can KKR end their 12-year hoodoo at Wankhede?

Iyer missed IPL 2023 after undergoing a back surgery. He made a comeback in the Asia Cup but suffered back spasms before the match against Pakistan. He made a comeback to play the ODI World Cup, where he scored 530 runs at a strike rate of 113.25 batting at No. 4.After scores of 31, 6, 0 and 4 not out in the Test series in South Africa, Iyer warmed up for the home series against England with a 48-run knock in the Ranji Trophy match against Andhra. But following returns of 35, 13, 27 and 29, he was dropped for the last three Tests against England. He then missed the Ranji Trophy quarter-final, despite BCCI’s directive against skipping it, due to a back spasm but returned for the semi-final. After scoring 95 in the first innings of the final against Tamil Nadu, Iyer complained of back pain and missed the rest of the game. He then linked up with the KKR squad and has played game so far.”Certain things are not in under his control but his fitness is in his control, and he is feeling a lot better now,” Nayar said. “He is great on the field, he is batting longer hours, he has trained really hard. Our S&Cs (strength and conditioning) and physios have worked hard with him.”Mentally, to have a mindset like that after being rejected or not getting his due, he has taken it very positively. Even when he talks about it, he is not negative, he understands he needs to go back and do well.”Iyer has not had a terrific time with the bat in IPL 2024, but he hasn’t been poor either: he has 251 runs -third most for KKR – at a strike rate of 137.15. He has largely batted at Nos. 4 and 5 and has had the luxury of coming in after one of the most explosive opening combinations this season – Phil Salt and Sunil Narine – has done its thing.”His mindset is to score runs, whether he plays the IPL, the Ranji Trophy or for India,” Nayar said. “He looks to score runs, it has affected him but the way he has handled it, kudos to him because I can imagine a lot of people reacting very differently than he has.”The floodlights had taken full effect at the Wankhede when Iyer geared up for a final stint in the nets on Thursday. He focused on power-hitting with Andre Russell slanting the ball full and wide outside off stump from around the wicket. Iyer took a moment to reflect after facing every delivery from Russell as well as the other bowlers, before joining MI captain Hardik Pandya, KKR bowling coach Bharath Arun, and KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit – all standing right behind the nets Iyer was batting in – for a chat.Iyer may not be part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, or the reserves, but his immediate challenge is to try and lead KKR to victory at a venue where success has eluded them for 12 years.

Tom Latham to lead while Kane Williamson has been rested for the three-match series

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2023New Zealand have called up three uncapped players – allrounder Josh Clarkson, fast bowler Will O’Rourke and legspinner Adi Ashok – in their 13-man squad for the ODI series at home against Bangladesh.Tom Latham will lead the side as regular ODI captain Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, and Devon Conway have been rested ahead of the home season.Michael Bracewell (achilles), Matt Henry (hamstring), Lockie Ferguson (achilles), James Neesham (ankle), Ben Lister (hamstring) and Henry Shipley (back) were unavailable for selection due to injury. Trent Boult made himself unavailable.Ashok, the 21-year old from Auckland, had made his T20I debut against UAE in August and will be part of the squad for the second and third ODIs, when legspinner Ish Sodhi takes a planned break after the first game. Ashok has 24 wickets from 18 List A matches.Clarkson, 26, has played 68 List A games, averaging 32.37 with the bat at a strike rate of 99.48. As a medium-pacer, he’s taken 27 wickets in 23 innings at an average of 26.55 with an economy of 5.31.Canterbury’s O’Rourke, 22, has played 17 games, and taken 27 wickets at an average of 23.25 and economy of 5.01.”The volume and intensity of the cricket over the winter this year means we need to strike a balance with workloads for players, particularly those that play multiple formats,” New Zealand selector Sam Wells said. “That need for balance also creates opportunities and it’s great to be able to give some players their first call-ups.”Josh is someone who, while still only young, has played over 150 matches for the Stags, developing his skills with bat and ball to become a consistent contributor. Adi and Will are both still fresh to domestic cricket but have been impressive in their early efforts and stepped up well this year in the New Zealand A matches against Australia A.”Both offer valuable skillsets, Adi with impressive control as a young legspinner, and Will with natural bounce and variation as a tall pace bowler.”The squad will assemble on December 14 in Dunedin, the venue for the first ODI against Bangladesh on December 17. The second ODI is in Nelson on December 20 and the third in Napier on December 23.New Zealand squad for Bangladesh ODIsTom Latham (capt), Adi Ashok (games 2 & 3), Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi (game 1), Will Young

A Manchester United regular under Ruben Amorim is unsettled at Old Trafford and is set to be sold by INEOS.

Man Utd regret signing player who could now leave

It looks set to be a busy summer in the transfer window ahead of Amorim’s first full season in charge, with the manager, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co ready to move on 10 Man Utd players this summer.

Talking earlier this month, Ratcliffe didn’t hold back on some signings in the past who the Red Devils are still paying for today.

“If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho. These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.”

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One of those who Ratcliffe named, goalkeeper Andre Onana, has been heavily linked with an exit in recent weeks. In fact, there have been claims in 2025 that Man Utd regret signing Onana, who is on £120,000 per week, which works out at more than £6m per year.

He has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia with Man Utd set to sell the shot-stopper, and now, another update has emerged on Onana and Amorim’s thoughts on an exit.

Andre Onana unsettled at Man Utd and set to be sold

According to talkSPORT, Onana is ‘unsettled’ at Man Utd and has been for some time. Therefore, he is open to a move away from Old Trafford and the club are willing to let him go.

The report adds that the Man Utd boss ‘is not against selling Onana to bring in his own man between the sticks’ and there is serious interest in the Cameroon international from the Saudi Pro League.

The 28-year-old has been a regular under Amorim, starting every Premier League fixture this season, however, he has come in for criticism in the media for a number of errors he has made.

Former Man Utd forward Louis Saha didn’t hold back earlier this season when talking about Onana, saying: “If you don’t have a confident goalkeeper he has to be challenged. Those performances are unacceptable, it’s not normal!

“There is a need for every player at Manchester United – apart from Bruno Fernandes – to feel threatened with competition. No one has shown that they deserve anything in the next game. The manager can challenge and criticise them because it’s not good enough.

Games

91

Goals conceded

136

Clean sheets

22

“Unless you can guarantee that you’re not going to make mistakes, you should not be considered as a guaranteed starter in any position. None of those players should be guaranteed anything.”

Now, it looks as if his days are numbered in Manchester, and it seems as if all parties involved are happy to part ways.