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Eddie Howe wants to ‘press the button’ on three transfer deals ‘at the earliest possible opportunity’ once he takes over at Celtic.

That’s according to Andrew Smith, a journalist at The Scotsman.

The lowdown

The report said that ‘it is hardly revelatory’ that Howe is expected to be appointed in the coming days. He is set to become the long-term successor to Neil Lennon, who resigned at the end of February.

Celtic finished a full 25 points off their arch-rivals Rangers in last season’s Premiership, their run of nine consecutive titles ended in spectacular fashion.

The combination of a new managerial appointment, the need to strike back from this desperately poor campaign and the potential departures of players like Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer, as well as the exit of long-serving captain Scott Brown, means that a ‘comprehensive squad overhaul’ may be in the offing at Parkhead.

The latest

Smith reported that Howe wants the ‘jigsaw pieces to fall quickly into place’ when he takes over.

As well as transfers, that includes the appointment of his backroom team and of a sporting director to ‘synergise’ the new operation.

Howe, whom the Daily Record also expect to take up his new role this week, is tipped to greenlight a flurry of moves straight off the bat once he takes the reins at Parkhead.

The verdict

Howe may already have been identifying targets for a number of weeks. After all, it was first reported back at the start of April that he had held constructive talks with the club.

It wouldn’t be a surprise, then, if it was simply a matter of ‘pressing the button’ when he’s officially in his post.

For Celtic fans, multiple early signings would constitute an encouraging statement of intent and symbolise the beginning of a new era.

In other news, a third source has weighed in on the reported Eddie Howe timeline. 

LAHORE, April 27: Former captain Wasim Akram Saturday said he would say goodbye to international cricket after next year’s World Cup in South Africa

Our Special Representative28-Apr-2002LAHORE, April 27: Former captain Wasim Akram Saturday said he would say goodbye to international cricket after next year’s World Cup in South Africa.”That’s the plan and I don’t think there can be a better occasion to hang up my boots,” Wasim told Dawn at Gaddafi Stadium during the third and final One-day International against New Zealand.Wasim, the Sultan of Reverse Swing, was rested from the last game along with Saqlain Mushtaq and Imran Nazir.”I think I had one of the most fascinating careers. I had my good times and also bad times. But I think at the end of the day, it was worth representing the country and achieve what many can only dream of,” Wasim, 36, said.Wasim made his Test debut against New Zealand Christchurch in 1984-85 and had his first haul of 10 wickets in the match in following Test at Dunedin. There was no looking back after that and currently he stands at 414 Test wickets from 104 games and a record 459 wickets from 331 one-dayers. Wasim also spent a decade with English county side Lancashire.”I might continue to represent my employers PIA in the domestic circuit and play a few club games in England. But, I want to stay close to the game in the form of grooming and helping budding cricketers, particularly the fast bowlers.”I believe I am morally obliged to pay back something to this country that has given me the recognition, respect and above all, an identity,” Wasim said.Immediately after the World Cup, Pakistan is to host India for three Tests and five One-day Internationals from April 7. But Wasim said it was highly unlikely that he would face India again.”I would love to say my last hurrah against India in the home series. But you don’t always get what you dream of. At the moment, I have decided to quit after the World Cup and unless something strange happens, I am unlikely to appear against India,” Wasim said.India’s tour to Pakistan is subject to New Delhi’s approval. But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was confident that the tour would materialize. Their belief is based on the three-man Indian Olympic Association (IOA) delegation that attended the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games meeting in Islamabad and confirmed their participation in the gala planned in March.Wasim said World Cup was more important to him than the series against India.”It’s my dream to help Pakistan regain the World Cup and go home with pride. I know all the eyes are focused on World Cup and for me, it is the ultimate challenge,” he said.Wasim was member of the 1992 World Cup-winning squad. The deliveries that sent Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis are still considered as the most lethal ever bowled. He was captain of the Pakistan team that reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 1996 and then lost a one-sided final to Australia at Lord’s in 1999.Wasim was in Imran Khan’s team that won the 1987 Test at Bangalore than gave Pakistan a historic 1-0 series win. Wasim returned to India as Pakistan captain in 1999 and won Tests at Chennai and Kolkata. However, the Kolkata Test was part of the inaugural Asian Test Championship match. The only defeat on that tour was at New Delhi where Anil Kumble equalled Jim Laker’s record of a perfect ten.

Sri Lanka A team skipper, T.M

Rex Clementine10-May-2002Sri Lanka A team skipper, T.M. Dilshan, is looking forward to a chance toimpress the selectors before the one-day side is picked for the NatwestTriangular series in June, whilst India A coach hopes to solve the seniorside’s wicket-keeping problems, as the India A and Sri Lanka A prepare foran unofficial Test and one-day series.Dilshan, speaking to the journalists at a media briefing held at the Boardof Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) headquarters in Colomboyesterday, said: “Some of the players in the squad have played Test Matchesand some are up and coming good young players. This will be a goodopportunity for everyone to impress the selectors. Personally, I’m lookingforward to the series, especially with the triangular tournament in Englandcoming up shortly.”Indian coach, Yaspal Sharma expected his young squad to do well despitetheir inexperience: “This is a young squad that lacks experience. Theselectors have picked them so that they can have some exposure in playingagainst foreign teams and in different conditions. This will also help us toidentify the players who have the potential to represent the country.”The coach hopes the tour will help resolve India’s wicket-keeper problem:”We are going to search for a player who’ll resolve our problems in thewicket keeping department at the international level. That’s one of the maintargets. We have brought in Parthiv Patel who’s only 18 years old and haslot of potential. We want to groom him and see how he fares.”India A had arrived for a 30 day tour in which they will play threeunofficial Test Matches and three one day games after a three-day warm-upstarting Saturday.They arrive fresh from a tour to South Africa, although some of the playerswho featured during that series like Yuvraj Singh, Debasis Mohanty, MohammadKaif, and Jacob Martin have remained in India expecting a recall for theupcoming one day series in the West Indies after impressive performances.Dinesh Mongia, who captained the side during that series, is already in theCaribbean.Speaking at the briefing, the manger of the Indian side, S.Haridas, calledon for the players to make the most of the series and to press for theirclaims in the national side.In his brief speech, Anura Tennakoon, the CEO of the Board of Control forCricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), stressed the importance of A tours and calledon the players to play competitively within the spirit of the game.All the matches during the series are to be played in and around Colombo formonetary reasons. The series will start off with a three-day warm up game atR. Premadasa Stadium.

Sunderland could strike gold as they are reportedly set to pursue a deal for 22-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Sunderland are set to make a move to sign Baxter from Chelsea after his impressive spell on loan to Accrington Stanley during the 2020/21 campaign. The report claims Sunderland are in the market for a goalkeeper to challenge Lee Burge for the number one shirt, with the 28-year-old recently signing a one-year contract extension with the club.

Sunderland are said to be open to signing Baxter on loan or on a permanent basis. He is contracted to Chelsea until 2023 and the report does not outline the Premier League club’s thoughts over Baxter’s long-term future amid interest from the Black Cats.

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman revealed that he was given “glowing reports” on Baxter upon the goalkeeper’s arrival at the club on loan last summer. He told the Lancashire Telegraph:

“He has trained with top-class players at Chelsea, it’s now a big test for him. He has had a couple of loan spells, this is the highest level he has played at in England.

“They have high hopes for him at Chelsea and I have got high hopes for him. Everyone who I have spoke to who has managed him have given me glowing reports.”

Could strike gold

Sunderland could strike gold if they are able to land Baxter on a permanent basis. The report has not closed the door on the club signing Baxter to a long-term deal instead of just on a temporary one-season loan, which could be a coup for Lee Johnson’s side.

Baxter has proven himself at League One level after keeping seven clean sheets in 16 starts for Accrington, conceding 14 times. This shows that he is currently performing to the standard Sunderland require heading into next season as they prepare for a promotion push.

The £3k-per-week shot-stopper could offer significant competition to Burge after Remi Matthews failed to take his chance to impress. Sunderland signed Matthews on a one-year deal last summer and the former Norwich man struggled in his five starts for the club, averaging a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.41 as he failed to keep a single clean sheet in League One. He is now set to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the month, vacating a space for Baxter to fill.

Baxter’s real value for Sunderland, though, could be in his potential. Burge turns 29 next season and may not be Johnson’s number one as part of the long-term planning, whereas Baxter turns 23 in November and has many years ahead of him to develop as a player.

This means that Sunderland could strike gold by bringing Baxter in as he is a proven League One performer with the right age profile to continue to improve, which could lead to him being the club’s first-choice for years to come.

AND in other news, Speakman offers major update on “brilliant” £4.3k-p/w star, Johnson will be delighted

Berkshire batted positively, Fray (57*) and night watchman Patel (78*), addedanother 140 runs in 22 overs before declaring at 153-1

Gordon Child03-Jul-2002Berkshire batted positively, Fray (57*) and night watchman Patel (78*), addedanother 140 runs in 22 overs before declaring at 153-1. Berkshire forfeited batting bonus points in order to go for an outright win. But again the rain, which finally ended play, denied them the opportunity of a final assault on the Welsh bowling.Wales were reduced to 119-9 off 42.1 overs before a declaration at tea left Berkshire a target of 240 to win in just 28 overs. Theunisson got his due reward in their second innings taking 4-42 with a fine spell of bowling and Denning once again, gave it everything.Berkshire take 4 bowling points from the game to Wales’s 2 batting points.Hardly just reward for a side that had played such positive cricket only to be thwarted by the elements. Eight hours play had been lost up until the start of play on the final day.

Ipswich must seal a deal for 6ft 2 Preston North End centre-forward Jayden Stockley this summer. 

What’s the talk?

According to the Lancashire Post, Ipswich are one of the clubs interested in signing 6ft 2 Stockley from Preston North End. Charlton and Rotherham are also keen on the attacker, with him having been on loan to the former last season, and Portsmouth have been given permission to discuss personal terms this week.

The Lancashire Post had previously reported that Stockley’s preference was to join Charlton on a permanent basis at the end of the season. Portsmouth, however, are now leading the race for his signature and Ipswich are looking to get involved in the chase.

Former Charlton boss Lee Bowyer lauded Stockley upon his arrival at The Valley on loan in January. He told Charlton’s official website:

“There was a lot of interest in him, he’s a good striker and normally in these transfer windows good strikers don’t become available.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Peter Ridsdale at Preston and I have to thank him for his help and obviously the manager and their owner. He’s a Championship striker and with their help and a lot of our persistence, we were able to fend off interest from other clubs.

“We know what problems he caused us last season, so I’m delighted to have him here. With his experience, his goals, he is definitely going to add to us.”

Cook needs him

Paul Cook is desperately lacking in quality options at the top end of the pitch and he needs a player like Stockley to bolster his squad this summer.

James Norwood ended the season as Ipswich’s top goalscorer in League One with a paltry nine strikes and was one of only two players with more than four league goals for the club. Gwion Edwards’ tally of six placed him second on the list, emphasising the need for Ipswich to dip into the market to add more goals to their side ahead of next season.

Stockley could be the perfect man to bring in as he has proven that he has the quality to score goals at an impressive rate at League One level.

He picked up eight goals in the second half of the campaign for Charlton, one fewer than Norwood managed all season, and vastly outperformed the Ipswich man in terms of his all-around game. Stockley averaged an eye-catching WhoScored rating of 7.41 for Charlton, whilst Norwood’s score of 6.68 appears unimpressive in comparison.

The £5.1k-per-week ace has also been a goal machine in the EFL prior to his spell with Charlton. He scored an impressive 35 goals in two League Two seasons with Exeter, showing that he has the quality to score goals on a consistent basis in the EFL, which could solve Cook’s goalscoring problems and add the attacking flair he is lacking at the moment.

Ipswich must do all they can to convince Stockley to make a move to their club.

AND in other news, Major transfer update emerges on “fantastic” £3.5k-p/w ace, Ipswich fans will be livid…

Jack Grealish has once again told friends he would be keen on joining Manchester City from Aston Villa this summer, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: City’s interest

Pep Guardiola’s side have been linked with a move for the Villa captain for a number of months.

The Daily Mail claimed back in March that City were the frontrunners to sign the 25-year-old this summer, with the attacking midfielder reportedly excited at a possible Etihad switch.

He allegedly told his friends in April over his interest in a move to the blue side of Manchester, and it appears as if he has reiterated his stance again.

The Latest: Source shares Grealish update

Football Insider shared a story on the Villa captain on Thursday morning, claiming Grealish has told friends he remains very interested in a move north.

A source informed the site that the England international has had his head turned due to the strength of City’s interest.

His future won’t be resolved until after this summer’s European Championships, with the report adding City’s Champions League final defeat to Chelsea last month won’t stop them in their bid to sign Grealish.

The Verdict: Villa in trouble?

Should Football Insider’s latest story prove accurate in regards to Grealish having his head turned, then Villa may well be in trouble.

The creative star wants to play Champions League football regularly, something Villa cannot offer him at this moment in time.

Guardiola’s side can give Grealish that opportunity, and should he have his heart set on an exit, it feels hard to begrudge him that move, now approaching the prime of his career.

Villa would need to make sure they are getting the best deal financially for Grealish, should they sell, and an impressive Euros under Gareth Southgate over the coming weeks could drive up his price tag to astronomical levels.

In other news: Many AVFC fans react as club close in on second summer signing, find out more here. 

He might have collected over £8,000 at a recent benefit match against club side Hartley Wintney, and more than £1,000 at a blanket and bucket collection on the second day of the tour match against the Indians, but Hampshire’s Shaun Udal will be best

Anand Vasu23-Jul-2002He might have collected over £8,000 at a recent benefit match against club side Hartley Wintney, and more than £1,000 at a blanket and bucket collection on the second day of the tour match against the Indians, but Hampshire’s Shaun Udal will be best pleased by the gift Sachin Tendulkar gave him – probably the most cherished wicket in world cricket, Tendulkar was dismissed by Udal for just three at the recently completed three-day match at the Rose Bowl.It was the second day of the match and just a touch overcast when the veteran Hampshire offie came on to bowl. After getting Virender Sehwag to tickle one on, Shaun deceived Tendulkar with a straight one that Saqlain Mushtaq would be proud of. Playing for the turn, Tendulkar only managed an edge as the ball swirled up to short third man for Dimitri Mascarenhas to catch. Amidst yells of `catch it!’ from the players, and `drop it!’ from sections of boisterous Indian fans, Mascarenhas made no mistake.Five times the Rose Bowl echoed with cries of `Well bowled Shaggy!’ Udal is a popular bloke in these parts and it’s easy to see why. In 13 years of first class cricket he has served Hampshire admirably, scoring over 6,500 runs and taking over 800 wickets in all forms of the game. He will certainly remember his latest haul. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day I picked up Sachin’s wicket,” said Udal. “There are some that always stick in your head and this will be one of them. Like how I cherish the first wicket I took for Hampshire and my first international wicket.”Hampshire and England apart, Udal seems a good old-fashioned club cricketer at heart. He’s always having a chat to a steward or signing an autograph for a young fan. At the end of the day, he’s happy to sit down with a lager and wind down.”It certainly helps to say you’re a Hampshire and England player. Especially in your benefit year when you’re talking to the corporates. It’s a bit of a shame it has to be that way, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t help. I can’t really envisage me fading out from cricket as soon as I retire from first class cricket. It’ll be back to my club, Camberley, for me then. That’s where I started and that’s where I’d like to finish.”Mind you, Udal is no stranger either to either international cricket or cricketers. When Shane Warne turned out for Hampshire in 2000, the pair strung together quite a partnership. “Obviously, it was brilliant bowling with Shane. There were three county championship games we won when Shane and I picked up a few wickets. It’s a shame we didn’t put on so many runs on the board that season. We’re doing that now and if Warne was back I think we’d have quite a bit of success together,” said Udal.And just because it’s his benefit year this time around, don’t believe that we’re seeing the end of Udal. “I’d definitely like to play for another five or six years,” he said.Hopes of making a comeback at the national level too have not quite died down. “Deep down, I’d love to play for England again. Last winter when the tour party to India was selected, I thought I had an extremely good chance of getting a call up. I have to say I was very disappointed when I was overlooked. Through my career, I’ve been as consistent as anyone in the limited overs games and thought I should have been part of the team.”On the evidence of the considerable achievements of Richard Dawson and Martyn Ball, and no disrespect to either, it certainly seems as though Udal would have given the Indians a bit more to think about. David Graveney listening?Whether he is or not, young offies in England should sit up and take notice when Udal says to them: “Good luck you, lads. With the lbw laws being as they are, it’s a bit rough on the finger spinners. Struck just outside the line, is the answer to most appeals! I’d actually say, if you could bowl brisk spin or wrist spin you’d be more successful, at least in the shortened version of the game.”No wrist spin for Udal though. “I know that Murali (Mutthiah Muralitharan) and Harbhajan Singh are great performers, I won’t take anything away from that. But I’ve always admired the genuine finger spinners rather than the wrist spinners. When I was growing up, it was always John Emburey and Tim May that I looked up to.”You can see that he means it. His easy loping glide to the wicket, the little skip-jump before delivery stride and that delightfully high arm action all tell you that he’s a cricketer in the classical mould. God knows we need more of that kind in world cricket.

Test pacer Darren Powell picked up three wickets as West Indies A recorded a comprehensive victory in their tour match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Sean Beynon22-Jul-2002Test pacer Darren Powell picked up three wickets as West Indies A recorded a comprehensive victory in their tour match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.The Jamaican quick returned figures of 3/55, with Tino Best collecting 2/40 and Ryan Hinds 2/47 in a professional performance. Mark Wagh’s accomplished 86 was the highlight of a disappointing Warwickshire effort.Despite Wagh’s knock, and cavalier efforts from Dominic Ostler and Dougie Brown, Warwickshire were never realistically in the victory hunt. Theyeventually succumbed at 6pm, losing by 120 runs. James Spires and AlexanderAllen battled hard at the death, before Hinds trapped Spires leg before justas time was running out.Set 371 to record an unlikely victory, Warwickshire lost wickets steadilythroughout the day. First to go was skipper Michael Powell, trapped leg-before to an in-ducker from his West Indian namesake. Jim Troughton, a young batsman whose free-flowing game has attracted much attention, hit a couple of pleasing boundaries before he snicked Powell through to keeper Lendl Simmons.Dominic Ostler, clearly thinking the win was a possibility, however remote, set about the bowling with ferocity. He blasted seven fours in 22 balls, Marlon Black proving particularly expensive. On 31, going for one big shot too many, Ostler played around a straight one from Best.Dougie Brown, who hit an expansive 65 in the first innings, batted with similar vigour in the second. With the elegant support of Wagh, Brown saw the innings through to lunch. He hit four boundaries in his 35, only to be grabbed close in by Daren Ganga to give Ryan Hinds a wicket.Graham Wagg had his stumps uprooted by Powell soon after, while Mohamed Sheikh latched onto some loose deliveries to make 16. Best accounted for the all-rounder though, hitting the stumps for a second time.Wagh, having survived hostile spells from Best and Powell, fell victim to Gareth Breese’s off-spin. Wagh, who captained Oxford University in 1997,showed his class throughout his four-hour knock. Shortly after he struck his14th crisp boundary, he was adjudged lbw to Breese.Nick Warren and Alan Richardson went early, leaving too much for the pluckylast wicket pair of Allen and Spires.Earlier, West Indies A had looked for quick runs. Breese, along with Dwayne Bravo, did not disappoint, extending their partnership to 65 before Ganga called his men in. Breese remained unbeaten on 54 (eight fours, one six) while Bravo’s run-a-ball 37 included five boundaries.

Adama Traore had a rather frustrating season for Wolves with a lot of his running and crosses coming to nothing, however teams will still be looking to take him from Wolves, according to former striker Steve Bull.

Last season, Traore managed just two goals and three assists and a lot of that could be down to not having the ever-reliable Raul Jimenez in the box to finish off the chances he usually creates.

Despite a relatively poor season, Chelsea reportedly have him on their transfer wish-list this summer and with their wealth of attacking options, Traore would have no problem racking up the assists, even if his game time was limited.

Traore often cut a frustrated figure last season and that may have triggered teams such as Chelsea to take a serious look at him this summer, with Bull expecting there to be a lot of interest in their speedy winger when he spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern on the topic:

“I think he’s a talented player but he is very hit and miss on the pitch, but when he’s on the hit side he’s also absolutely top drawer and I can understand why a lot of teams are interested in him, because he can either win or change a game for you.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if more clubs than just Chelsea came in for him, even if he doesn’t have a good Euros, because he’s done enough to say to teams, ‘come and get me.’ “

Wolves are reportedly looking to receive a significantly lower amount than the £70 million they were quoting clubs such as Liverpool last year with the pandemic appearing to have hit them very hard.

Bruno Lage may have a huge rebuild on his hands with the likes of Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Trasore all reportedly on the club’s list of players they are willing to move on.