Man Utd can make Hojlund a monster by signing £26m star who Tuchel likes

da realsbet: The future of the Manchester United dugout remains rather uncertain, yet for whoever is in charge at Old Trafford next season, an overhaul of the current squad will certainly be needed following what has been a drab and disappointing campaign on the whole.

da brwin: Amid reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are willing to listen to offers for almost every member of the side – excluding the promising trio of Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – there could well be something of a mass exodus this summer.

That possible raft of outgoings will then spark the need for a wave of quality incomings in Manchester, with INEOS needing to showcase a change in tact in the transfer market, following the years of malaise under the Glazer ownership.

One area that may require strengthening is the full-back ranks, with the likes of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia hampered by injury and with Aaron Wan-Bissaka having just a year left on his current deal, leaving Diogo Dalot as perhaps the only reliable option on the flanks.

Diogo Dalot

The Portuguese could be set to receive some welcome competition this summer if the Red Devils get their way, amid reports that a new right-back could be on the agenda for the new United regime.

Man Utd eyeing Serie A sensation

According to reports in Italy earlier this week, as per Gazzetta.it, United could be in the picture to snap up Inter Milan star, Denzel Dumfries, with the Dutchman seemingly up for grabs with just 12 months remaining on his existing contract at San Siro.

The report indicates that the 28-year-old could be available for a fee in the region of €30m (£26m), making him a relatively astute and affordable option in the modern market – particularly considering the Red Devils splashed out £50m on Wan-Bissaka almost five years ago.

The suggestion is that it is the player himself who is keen to make the jump to the Theatre of Dreams, albeit with that switch likely to be dependent on whether his compatriot, Erik ten Hag, remains at the helm.

Having been a target for United in the past, however, there may be wisdom in pushing for Dumfries even if there is a change in manager, with the flying wing-back boasting the credentials to dazzle in the Premier League.

Dumfries stats in 2023/24

Dumfries has been a central part of Inter's remarkable Serie A dominance this season, racking up three goals and five assists in the league as Simone Inzaghi's side swept the Scudetto.

That takes his total to 30 goal involvements in 130 games in all competitions for the Italian giants, having previously chalked up a similar return of 36 goals and assists in 124 games during his time at former club, PSV Eindhoven.

The Red Devils may be wary of snapping up another figure with Eredivisie connections, but Dumfries' attacking intent is cause for excitement, even if he has typically operated in a more advanced wing-back berth in recent years.

That freedom to bomb forward at will has also seen the in-demand ace create six 'big chances' this season, with Dalot, for instance, creating only five 'big chances' in the Premier League, while the Inter star also ranks in the top 12% among his European peers for assists per 90.

There may be concerns over whether the Rotterdam native can adapt to a more traditional full-back berth, although one solution could arise in the appointment of reported target, Thomas Tuchel, with the German said to be among the contenders to replace Ten Hag this summer.

The Bayern Munich boss did notably deploy a back five during his successful stint at Chelsea, which gleamed a Champions League trophy, thus ensuring Dumfries could slot in comfortably in the Reece James role on the flank.

As Fabrizio Romano reported back in 2022, the Netherlands international was actually a target for those at Stamford Bridge and was "appreciated" by Tuchel, having been described as the "exact profile" that the one-time Paris Saint-Germain boss wants by analyst Ryan Gunness.

Not then just a possible dream signing for Tuchel, Dumfries could also get the best out of one star currently at United, in the form of Hojlund.

How Dumfries could slot in at Man Utd

It's fair to say it's been a mixed bag of a debut season for young Hojlund, with the £72m arrival from Atalanta having scored just eight league goals to date, as part of 14 goals in all competitions in total.

For a 21-year-old to reach that tally is hardly the worst return – particularly when considering Dimitar Berbatov also only scored 14 goals in 2008/09 following his move from Tottenham Hotspur – but as United's current main man in attack, more is certainly needed.

Debut seasons of selected Man Utd strikers – all competitions

Player (season)

Games

Goals

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (1996/97)

46

19

Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001/02)

49

36

Louis Saha (2004/05)*

22

2

Wayne Rooney (2004/05)

43

17

Dimitar Berbatov (2008/09)

43

14

Javier Hernandez (2010/11)

45

20

Robin van Persie (2012/13)

48

30

Anthony Martial (2015/16)

49

17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2016/17)

46

28

Romelu Lukaku (2017/18)

51

27

Edinson Cavani (2020/21)

39

17

Rasmus Hojlund (2023/24)

39

14

Stats via Transfermarkt

*(Signed in Jan 2004 – Scored 7 in 14 games in 2003/04)

The biggest issue has perhaps been the lack of service that the Dane has received, with The Athletic reporting that between 18 February and Hojlund's goal against Sheffield United last month, he had been restricted to just seven shots.

Perhaps a higher profile striker should be able to create chances for himself, alla Harry Kane, but Hojlund is in desperate need of support from the flanks, something that has not been provided with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Antony typically cutting in on either wing.

Having an overlapping full-back or wing-back who is a natural right footer, like Dumfries, could certainly help to heighten the striker's service, with Rio Ferdinand previously outlining the defender's ability to create:

"He’s not putting balls in willy-nilly, he’s picking people out, those cutbacks have been ever so dangerous. "

As his assist record shows, Dumfries can pick out his teammates with ease from the flanks, ensuring that Hojlund would have far more to work with – a scary prospect for a player who is a "monster in the making", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

With only Bruno Fernandes (11) providing more assists among the United squad than the former PSV man (six) has in all competitions in 23/24, there is clear evidence as to why his arrival could benefit United's forwards and Hojlund in particular.

As such, whether or not Ten Hag remains in charge for another season, Dumfries would be a worthy target for Ratcliffe and co.

Man Utd now leading the race for "fast" star who has same agent as Hojlund

Ratcliffe means business…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 28, 2024

Celtic messed up by releasing a star who could’ve been sold for £13m

Celtic have made a habit out of cashing in on some of their best talent over the years, including exciting Portuguese forward Jota last summer.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Kristoffer Ajer, Odsonne Edouard, and Moussa Dembele have also been sold on by the Hoops after enjoying successful careers in Scotland.

Current Bhoys star Matt O'Riley has been linked with a move to Leeds United ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, and Brendan Rodgers may need to fight to keep hold of the Denmark international.

Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.

However, the Hoops must also be aware that there is no guarantee that a player's value will stay the same or increase if they opt against selling them, as they found out the hard way with Olivier Ntcham, who they had a nightmare with.

The bid Celtic rejected for Olivier Ntcham

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the central midfielder from Premier League side Manchester City in the summer of 2017 for a reported fee of £4.5m, with Rodgers hailing him as "gifted" and "powerful" at the time.

Ntcham enjoyed a terrific debut campaign with the Bhoys, scoring nine goals and assisting six in 49 appearances in all competitions, and this led to interest from elsewhere.

Scottish Premiership

30

5

2

League Cup

2

0

0

SFA Cup

5

3

1

Champions League (including qualifiers)

9

1

3

Europa League

2

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the Cameroon international played regularly domestically and in Europe for the Hoops, and chipped in with goals and assists on a semi-regular basis.

GOAL reported in the summer of 2018 that Portuguese giants Porto came in with an offer of £13m to sign the dynamo but it was rejected by Celtic, who were not willing to sell him, and that turned out to be a howler from the club.

Olivier Ntcham's Celtic career after 2018

The talented whiz missed 24 matches for club and country through injury during the 2018/19 campaign, which restricted him to 37 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops.

After another 18 months of action with the Scottish side, Ntcham left to join Marseille on loan for the second half of the 2020/21 season in Ligue 1, where he played just four times in the league.

Olivier Ntcham

His contract with Celtic then expired in the summer of 2021 and he moved to join Swansea in the English Championship on a free transfer that year.

He departed from Parkhead after four years, 147 competitive appearances, 24 goals, 13 assists, and nine trophies won after his move from Manchester City in 2017.

Whilst the club may look at his achievements on the pitch, with his attacking contributions towards their impressive trophy haul during that period, as justification for the £4.5m they spent on him, it is hard to argue against them having messed up with the rejected bid from Porto.

They turned down a chance to make a huge profit, of £8.5m, on the Cameroon international and then allowed him to walk away for nothing three years later.

This shows that they had a nightmare as they did not have a chance to benefit financially from the success he had on the field, despite having the chance to do so when the bid arrived at their desk, as his value dropped from £13m to £0 when Ntcham left for nothing.

India's domestic 2020-21 season: Only Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali for men?

No 50-overs games for men in proposed plan; overall match count down to 1183 from 2036 last season

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2020The BCCI is mulling a truncated domestic season in 2020-21, with the men starting from November 19 with the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and ending with the Ranji Trophy on March 10. The tentative plan, seen by ESPNcricinfo, is yet to be ratified, but has no 50-overs competitions – neither Vijay Hazare Trophy nor Deodhar Trophy – in a season that also has no place for the first-class Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup.Senior women’s cricket will feature both the One Day League and the T20 League, albeit with fewer games than the 2019-20 season, and is scheduled between November 1 and April 12. Challenger Trophies across all categories – men and women, senior and junior – find no place in the proposal.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var e in a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var t=document.getElementById(“datawrapper-chart-“+e)||document.querySelector(“iframe[src*='”+e+”‘]”);t&&(t.style.height=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][e]+”px”)}}))}();

This news follows on from a board official telling ESPNcricinfo last week that a “priority list” of tournaments was being made with the Ranji Trophy on top.As per the proposed plan, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be held first, starting ten days after the IPL, from November 19, ending on December 7. The Ranji Trophy is then scheduled to begin from December 13 and will go on till March 10, just before the scheduled 2021 IPL.Like in the past, the order of tournaments means that players could effectively be using the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament to impress the IPL franchises ahead of an auction, which in this case is scheduled to be held in December 2020 or January 2021.A zonal system was originally being thought about for the Ranji Trophy, with one city from each zone hosting teams across four or five venues, but that format isn’t to be found in the proposal. There will be five groups. The top 24 teams of last season will be split into groups A, B, and C, with the top two from each qualifying automatically to the quarter-finals. Among the third-placed teams, the team with the highest “quotient” will also go through. The eighth quarter-final spot will be decided after a playoff between the winners of Group D, which will have up to eight teams, and Group E, which consists of the six teams from the north-east.The bottom teams from groups A, B, and C will be relegated to Group D, with the top three teams from Group D going the other way. The bottom placed team from Group D will go down to Group E, and the winner from Group E will compete in Group D next season. Teams in each group will play on four grounds across two nearby cities and each team will travel “at least once, at most thrice” between venues.In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the women’s T20 league, 38 teams will be divided into six groups and each group’s matches will be held on two grounds in one city.A total of 2036 games, across various age groups in the men’s and women’s categories, were played during the 2019-20 season. In normal circumstances, the season would have started in July-August and run till around March. That number will fall to 1183 next season based on this new proposal, which is still contingent on how the pandemic situation plays out in India.

Corinthians se reapresenta e inicia preparação para enfrentar o Bahia

MatériaMais Notícias

da aviator aposta: Na tarde desta quinta-feira, no CT Joaquim Grava, o Corinthians iniciou a preparação para encarar o Bahia, pelo Brasileirão. A partida acontece no próximo domingo, às 16h, no Estádio Pituaçu, em Salvador, pela quinta rodada da competição nacional. Léo Natel iniciou tratamento para luxação no ombro.

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GALERIA
>Relembre o desempenho do Corinthians no Brasileirão por pontos corridos

Os atletas que atuaram por mais de 45 minutos na derrota por 2 a 1, diante do Red Bull Bragantino, na última quarta, realizaram um trabalho regenerativo. Os demais foram ao Campo 1 para o aquecimento.

Depois, no Campo 2, o técnico Sylvinho comandou um treino técnico em campo reduzido. Por fim, houve um treinamento de passes, cruzamentos e finalizações a gol.

Vale lembrar que os jornalistas não podem acompanhar as atividades in loco por conta dos protocolos de saúde em decorrência da pandemia de Covid-19. As informações são fornecidas pela assessoria de imprensa do clube.

O atacante Léo Natel, que sofreu uma luxação no ombro esquerdo no jogo da última quarta-feira, deu início ao tratamento com o departamento médico. Ele se machucou sozinho, com apenas cinco minutos após ter entrado em campo no lugar de Luan, no segundo tempo, e precisou ser substituído por Ramiro.

Na tarde desta sexta-feira, o Corinthians faz o segundo treino de olho no duelo diante do Bahia. Já no sábado, na parte da manhã, o elenco finaliza a preparação antes da viagem para Salvador, no mesmo dia, à tarde.

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Sri Lankan government gives LPL green light; likely to start on November 27

The Lankan Premier League (LPL) has been given the green light by the Sri Lankan government, following Thursday’s discussions with health authorities and the nation’s president. The tournament is now likely to start on November 27 – six days later than presently scheduled – and will almost certainly be played entirely at Sooriywawewa stadium.SLC said it had now secured permission for less-stringent quarantine protocols, which had been the sticking point for the tournament – as well as international cricket on the island – so far. Where previously health authorities had insisted that incoming players would have to spend 14 days in isolated quarantine, players now only have to spend seven days in such a quarantine, after which they can join the training bubble SLC plans to set up around the LPL.The new start date may also allow players featuring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs in mid-November to travel to Sri Lanka for the LPL. Several LPL franchises are still on the lookout for foreign talent.”Even after the PSL, which ends on the 17th, some players are coming,” tournament director Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo. “They’ll be here on the 18th or 19th, and they can train with their teams a few days before our tournament.”Despite changes to the LPL start date and the decision to play in just one venue, SLC still hopes to host 23 matches as originally planned, meaning the tournament will likely end on December 17. This is likely to put pressure on the Sooriyawewa facilities however, with five teams in the tournament. There is no separate training ground attached to the venue, nor is there a ground in the vicinity that may be feasibly used for training, as Sooriyawewa is in a remote part of the island. It is understood SLC is working towards upgrading the floodlights at the practice nets, so teams can train there in the evenings.There was other good news for the LPL, however. Wickramaratne said T20 specialist Andre Russell had again agreed to play the tournament after having pulled out in previous weeks over a hamstring injury, which now appears to have healed.SLC now hopes to move quickly ahead with operational and logistical arrangements, which could include chartering a flight from Dubai to the airport in Mattala, which is close to the Sooriyawewa ground.

Man Utd make key breakthrough in Manuel Ugarte pursuit as PSG soften transfer stance

Manchester United have made progress in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to a report.

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United still pushing to sign Ugarte from PSGRed Devils feel the asking price is too highFrench side willing to come to a compromiseWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the Uruguay international in recent weeks but have so far been unable to come to an agreement with the French giants. However, reports that the two teams have accepted they will have to reach a compromise over a transfer fee, giving United a significant boost as they look to get a deal wrapped up.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

United's efforts to land Ugarte hit a snag because they felt PSG's demands of a £51 million ($67m) transfer fee were excessive. According to the report, the 23-year-old is 'desperate' to make the switch to Old Trafford and the English side reckon a £40m ($52m) fee would be a fair price for him, but PSG are not currently willing to accept that deal for a player they only signed last year.

DID YOU KNOW?

After signing Joao Neves from Benfica in a big-money deal, PSG are overstocked in midfield, with the likes of Danilo Pereira, Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Carlos Soler and Ayman Kari all available to play in central midfield. United, on the other hand, are eager to strengthen in the middle of the park to ensure coach Erik ten Hag has enough options at his disposal as they look to improve on last season's eighth-placed Premier League finish.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

The English and French clubs will continue negotiations over a potential deal for Ugarte as they look to get one over the line before the transfer window closes on August 30. In the meantime, Ten Hag and his players will continue preparing for Saturday's Premier League match against Brighton.

Arteta could already have Arsenal’s answer to Endrick in Hale End star

Handing the youth an opportunity is key to the long-term success of any club, but even more so for a side like Arsenal.

Bukayo Saka is by far the biggest prospect to have thrived in the first team since progressing via the Hale End academy in recent years, but there’s plenty of talent waiting for a chance to shine.

Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners’ number seven will without doubt be a role model to those keen to replicate his exact footsteps, but the academy players will also be inspired by the rise to stardom of a certain Endrick.

The Brazilian has always been a one-of-a-kind prospect, but he truly announced himself in Europe last week on international duty, scoring against both England and Spain.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at an Arsenal U21 diamond who could be their answer to Endrick.

Endrick’s rise to success

At just 16 years of age, highly-rated wonderkid Endrick made his competitive debut for Brazilian side Palmeiras, becoming the club’s youngest debutant.

However, the centre forward was far from suffocated by the hostile atmosphere and experienced opposition, also taking on the status of the second-youngest goalscorer ever in the Serie A, Brazil’s top flight.

Endrick scores for Brazil

During his first real campaign in the first-team setup, Endrick helped Palmeiras achieve a consecutive league title, scoring 11 goals in 31 matches.

This form saw the youngster attract attention from across Europe before eventually signing a £60m deal to join Real Madrid this summer.

But what if Arsenal had their own version of Endrick, who’s just waiting to be given a break?

Arsenal's "golden" Hale End sensation may be the perfect Partey replacement

The exceptional youngster could form a brilliant partnership with Declan Rice.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 22, 2024

Arsenal’s answer to Endrick

With the fight for Champions League glory and Premier League triumph set to continue until the end of the season, finding an opportunity to give the youth a chance has been difficult for Mikel Arteta.

However, just like Endrick, Ethan Nwaneri made his competitive debut at an extremely young age, which clearly highlights just how talented the special ace is and how much the Spaniard believes in him.

The now-17-year-old was handed his first competitive appearance for the Gunners against Brentford in 2022, where the versatile ace took to the pitch at just 15 years of age, the youngest ever Arsenal debutant.

Despite holding such a prestigious record, Nwaneri has continued to work tirelessly in the academy to impress, mainly playing as an attacking midfielder this campaign.

Nwaneri's 23/24 Stats

Competition

Matches

G/A

Premier League 2

9

9

EFL Trophy

2

1

UEFA Youth League

2

1

FA Youth Cup

1

6

Premier League

1

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see by the table above, the “special” gem, as described by U23 Scout Antonio Mango, has been on fire, taking on more goal-scoring responsibility than creativity, with 14 goals and three assists in just 15 matches.

The number 63 is on a particular hot streak at the moment after being handed a short cameo by Arteta during the 6-0 win over West Ham United, scoring in his last five matches for club and country.

Although the next step for Nwaneri may be away from the Gunners, potentially on a loan, Endrick is the prime example that if you’re good enough, then opportunities will present themselves.

Arteta has certainly shown his intent to include the youngster in his squad, and with the England U-17 international signing his first professional contract this week, Arsenal well and truly have a superstar in the making.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

'No alcohol, no nightlife' – Joao Felix to benefit from lack of distractions in Saudi Arabia as Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus admits forward is at 'much lower level' than he should be

Joao Felix’s move to Al-Nassr offers a unique opportunity for the Portuguese forward to focus solely on football, his new coach says.

  • Felix joined Al-Nassr despite links to Benfica
  • Coach admits forward is currently below his potential 
  • Says lack of distractions will help him
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Felix, who recently completed a permanent move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr from Chelsea, is poised to benefit from the distraction-free lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus. Jesus highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s absence of nightlife and alcohol creates an environment where Felix “just has to play” without other outlets or distractions, which could help the forward reach his potential. Jesus noted that although Felix does not drink or party, the lack of other distractions will allow him to focus solely on football. However, Jesus admitted that Felix is currently at a “much lower level” than what his talent demands and needs to improve under the club's guidance. The Portuguese forward, 25, joins a star-studded Al-Nassr squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo and recently showed flashes of brilliance.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Felix’s move to Saudi Arabia represents a fresh start after challenging spells at Chelsea and AC Milan, where he failed to make a significant impact. His transfer to Al-Nassr reportedly cost the club an initial €30 million (£26m/$35m) plus €20m (£17m/$23m) in add-ons. Ronaldo has dismissed rumours that he was instrumental in convincing Felix to join Al-Nassr, while Jesus sees a promising partnership developing between the compatriots, which could benefit the Portuguese national team in future tournaments like the 2026 World Cup.

  • WHAT JORGE JESUS SAID

    Speaking on Ronaldo and Felix's relationship, Jesus revealed: "Although they already know each other, they're getting closer and closer. They play off each other. Félix is much better than in other games, physically, positionally, technically. We're all here looking for our place to be a strong team."

    He added: "As I said recently, he didn't steal from anyone. What did I say to him that made him come? As you said, I didn't steal from anyone. He wasn't a Benfica player, he was a Chelsea player. He was on the transfer market, so he could come to Al-Nassr, he could go to another team, depending on the conditions they offered him. I believe in his football; he has characteristics that fit my offensive approach. Last year, I wanted to take him to Al-Hilal, but he chose not to go; he chose to go to Chelsea. And this year, I invited him, practically when I signed, no, but I assumed he would coach Al-Nassr. I invited him right away, and then it was only after a month or so that he was able to go. And thank goodness, because I think he made the right choice, because he's in a country where you either play or you don't play. What do I mean by this? There's no other option; you just have to play; there's nothing else. There 's nothing else. Saudi Arabia is a country where there's no alcohol, nor does he drink alcohol. There's no nightlife, not that he goes out at night either. There are no other distractions. There are no distractions, he goes to Saudi Arabia, he only has one option: to play and rest and be with friends and family. There's no other option."

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    WHAT NEXT FOR JOAO FELIX?

    Felix will look to raise his fitness and performance levels under Jesus’s management during the preseason and the upcoming Saudi Pro League campaign. His immediate challenge is to secure a starting role alongside Ronaldo and other star players. Al-Nassr’s squad is actively strengthening, with the club reportedly finalising new signings such as defender Inigo Martinez to bolster their defence. Felix’s progress will be closely monitored as Al-Nassr aims to challenge for domestic titles and make an impact in continental competitions. 

Dane Vilas, Cameron Delport face tricky times as UK's transition period with EU nears conclusion

These players would not be exempted from the cancellation of Kolpak registrations after this year

Matt Roller and Firdose Moonda29-Sep-2020

Dane Vilas celebrates with the Division Two trophy•Getty Images

South African Dane Vilas and Cameron Delport’s hopes of continuing to play in county cricket as local players courtesy their ancestry visas have been dealt a terminal blow, after the ECB confirmed that they would not be exempted from the cancellation of Kolpak registrations when the UK’s transition period with the European Union (EU) ends on December 31, 2020.Alan Fordham, the ECB’s head of first-class cricket operations, sent a letter to the counties, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and the relevant boards last week, setting out the changes that would be made to eligibility registrations following the end of the transition period. That included the long-anticipated cancellation of Kolpak registrations and confirmation that EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK would continue to qualify as local players.After lobbying from the PCA, the ECB had confirmed this July that counties would be able to field two overseas players rather than one in both the County Championship and the One-Day Cup in order to protect the jobs of players on Kolpak deals.ALSO READ: ECB clarifies player retention plans for postponed HundredBoth Vilas and Delport had appealed to the ECB in the hope that their ancestry visas would mean they remained eligible to play as non-overseas players for Lancashire and Essex respectively, and both remained optimistic when contacted by ESPNcricinfo last week.But Fordham’s letter, published on the ECB’s website, affirmed that the cancellation of Kolpak registrations would “apply regardless of whether such player currently holds, or is able to obtain, an ancestral or family visa giving them the right to work in the UK”.ESPNcricinfo understands that the changes have been approved by the ECB board and are not pending appeals. It is unclear, however, whether the ruling will face any legal challenge from players affected at this stage.Vilas, 35, is expected to stay at Lancashire next season despite the ruling. Since signing for the club in 2017, he has settled in London with his wife Pippa, whose ancestral visa means that he has – and would continue to have – the right to live and work in the UK. Lancashire have previously given him guarantees that he would stay on as an overseas player. That said, he is unlikely to retain his top-bracket contract in the Hundred with the Manchester Originals, competing for one of three overseas spots rather than being one of the better local players available.For Delport, meanwhile, the ruling could be the first step on his return to the international fold. He has previously held conversations with South Africa’s director of cricket Graeme Smith and head coach Mark Boucher about the possibility of playing for his native country in the 2021 T20 World Cup, and publicly revealed his intentions to represent them while speaking to ESPNcricinfo last month.In practice, many players on Kolpak registrations – including Simon Harmer, Duanne Olivier and Stiaan van Zyl – will become their respective counties’ overseas player next year, while a handful – like Fidel Edwards and David Wiese – are expected to be released at the end of the season.Confirmation that EU nationals would only be eligible if they have settled or pre-settled status came as a blow to Dutch cricket as well, seemingly ending the pathway for young players to gain experience at the county level – much like the now first-class-veteran Ryan ten Doeschate – unless they move to the UK on a permanent basis.

Elgar, Linde, de Bruyn, Shamsi, Erwee, Maharaj shine as Dolphins, Knights, Titans register wins

Top-order batsmen getting runs will be good news as the international season approaches

Firdose Moonda05-Nov-2020 Results Summary The Knights became the first team to record a win in this year’s first-class competition when they beat the Warriors by 179 runs in Bloemfontein. The match was Allan Donald’s first in charge of his home franchise and first as a head coach in South Africa.Whether the win would have been as resounding had the Warriors had a fully-fit squad to pick from is a matter of debate after six players were forced to withdraw ahead of this round of matches. As a result, the Warriors were without a significant number of their first-choice bowlers and it showed. Batting first, the Knights piled on 430 for 6, with all of their top five in the runs. In response, the Warriors managed only 158. The Knights’ 272-run lead gave them the luxury of being able to declare their second innings on just 93 for 8, setting the Warriors 366 to win. Given their first-innings effort, that was always going to be a bridge too far and they fell short by a distance.In Cape Town, the Titans came back from a first-innings deficit of 114 runs to beat the Cape Cobras by two wickets. They chased down 316 in the fourth innings of the game despite being bundled out for 150 in their first innings. The Cobras set the tone by declaring on 264 for 9 on day one, and took a big advantage into the second innings, where they scored 201. They would not have been too unhappy with setting the Titans a target over 300, but with several international batsmen and time on their side, the Titans won after lunch on the final day.Not long after that, the Dolphins joined the victory parade. They defied a rain-affected first-day to topple defending champions the Lions, who started proceedings with 258 in the first innings. If the Lions were wondering that was a middling total, the Dolphins replied with 458 for 3 declared, taking exactly the lead they would need – which was worth 200 runs – to push for an innings win. They didn’t get that, but needed just 11 runs to seal victory in a chase that lasted only 16 balls.Theunis de Bruyn plays the sweep•Associated PressOn the national radarPerhaps the best news for the new national selector Victor Mpitsang was that top-order batsmen performed well. Dean Elgar’s hundred made up more than two-thirds of the Titans’ first-innings total, while Theunis de Bruyn’s 127 took the Titans to victory.De Bruyn was dropped for last summer’s Tests but could force his way back in with form this season. Aiden Markram and Pieter Malan, two others competing for the openers’ role, could only manage scores of 2 and 48, and 51 and 1, respectively. Worryingly, Rassie van der Dussen’s returns were just 1 and 10 and Temba Bavuma, who was also captaining his franchise, made 43 and 25. Keegan Petersen, who trained with the South African squad last summer, made a strong case with his 173 for the Dolphins against the Lions.None of South Africa’s frontline Test bowlers were in action at home with all of them occupied at the IPL, but spinner Keshav Maharaj showed his ability to close out games. He opened the bowling for the Dolphins in the Lions’ second innings and took 6 for 101 to bowl his team to a win. George Linde, who made his Test debut in India last year, took nine wickets for the Cobras to become the early leader on the wicket charts, followed by Tabraiz Shamsi and Maharaj with seven wickets each, making the top three bowlers after round one all spinners.International allrounders Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius were in action, with Pretorius carrying a heavier bowling load. He bowled first change for the Lions – after Beuran Hendricks and Sisanda Magala – and delivered 21 overs, which brought him 1 for 44. Phehlukwayo only bowled in the Lions’ first innings and sent down 13 overs, with a return of 1 for 49.Reeza Hendricks gets behind the line•Getty ImagesTop performers The Knights’ Jacques Snyman became the first batsman to score a century in this first-class competition before lunch since Rilee Rossouw did it back in 2010 to register his first century at the franchise level. His opening partner Matthew Kleinveldt scored 73, as Raynard van Tonder got 85 at No. 3.Also at the top of the order, Sarel Erwee’s 199 set the Dolphins up for their big win. Reeza Hendricks made 76 for the Lions and although the Warriors did not have much success with the bat, Matthew Breetzke’s 77 at the top of the order also sent a message to the selectors. In the middle order, Kyle Verreynne’s second-innings 85 for the Cobras stood out in an otherwise lean scorecard.Lizaad Williams, who moved upcountry from the Cape this season, is the leading seam bowler after the first round with six wickets. He took 4 for 51 in the Cobras’ first innings and 2 for 23 in the second to finish with an average of 12.33.

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