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India’s stand-in ODI captain is looking to fight his way back into the Test and T20I XIs

Shashank Kishore16-Dec-20233:33

KL Rahul: Samson will bat at No. 5 or 6

Will KL Rahul follow his ODI template and move into a middle-order role to revive his Test and T20I careers? With India set to play seven Tests over the next two-and-a-half months, that question has cropped up a few times already. On Saturday, Rahul, India’s stand-in captain, addressed those lingering questions ahead of the first ODI in Johannesburg.”I don’t know about all formats, right now my focus is on this ODI series,” Rahul said. “Yes, I’ll be doing the same role. I’ll be wicketkeeping and batting in the middle order. After that, yes, I would be happy to take up that role even in the Test matches.”Related

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Rahul last played a Test in February 2023, and lost his place at the top of the order to Shubman Gill after four low scores in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A hip injury in the IPL then ruled him out of contention for the WTC final and the subsequent Test series in the Caribbean.In this time, Yashasvi Jaiswal has had an excellent Test initiation as opener and Gill has been anointed as India’s new No. 3. With Shreyas Iyer also set to reclaim his middle-order spot, Rahul’s only immediate way back in could be if he keeps wicket.”I’ve always been open to doing new roles and accepting whatever role the team wants me to perform,” Rahul said. “So I’m happy to do whatever the management, coach and captain ask of me. If that’s the role the team sees me in, I’m happy to do that.”What about T20s? As things stand, India have only three more T20Is against Afghanistan to narrow down their combination ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, so IPL form is likely to have a massive bearing on the squad composition.KL Rahul and the keeping gloves – coming soon to a Test match near you?•BCCIThis has the potential to make things tricky for Rahul, since he opens the batting for Lucknow Super Giants. Is there a chance, then, that he might move to the middle order there too? For Rahul, it’s about doing whatever helps him make up for lost time after enduring his fair share of injuries.”Yeah of course, I want to play for the country, I want to play as many games as I can,” Rahul said. “Unfortunately I’ve missed a lot of cricket due to injuries. So yeah, I would like to make the most of my time and play as many games as I can whatever the role is.”Whatever is expected out of me, I’ve done that throughout my career so far, I don’t think that is going to change, whatever is expected of me. For me the team always comes first. When we started playing the game one of the first things that was taught to us was it’s a team game.”It’s a cliched line, but as you play more you understand no position is yours. But as you play more, you understand when it’s a team game no position is yours. You have to be able to perform whatever the team requires. You have to be flexible, and adjust and do your best for the team.”Before the Test series, Rahul will lead India in the ODIs. It’s a role he performed on India’s previous tour too, in 2021, where India were beaten 3-0 in the format. This time around, Rahul leads a predominantly young squad, without seniors such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.He’ll also have a new support-staff group – comprising Sitanshu Kotak, Rajib Datta and Ajay Ratra – to work with, with Rahul Dravid overseeing India’s preparation for the two-Test series. Rahul admitted to feeling a bit strange when asked about the prospects of playing ODIs again in the aftermath of a draining World Cup campaign with players and coaches coming in and out.’Unfortunately I’ve missed a lot of cricket due to injuries. So yeah, I would like to make the most of my time and play as many games as I can whatever the role is’•ICC/Getty Images”Yeah, it does feel a bit strange, but that’s how the game is going,” he said. “The schedule is such that not every player can be available for every format. Unfortunately the coach also has a bigger responsibility. The Test series is obviously the focus, but having said that, it gives some of us players a good opportunity to take up the extra responsibility and play our best cricket and still win the game.”Nothing changes for us. Every time we represent the country, we want to play well and win. The guys that are here are all very deserving of their call-up to the national team. They’ve all performed really well and I trust each of them. The selectors have shown faith and given them this opportunity. So we trust all of them to do the job and compete really hard here and win the series.”Will India look to carry forward the same template they displayed at the World Cup? Rahul suggested they would look to, though it would be difficult to expect the younger group to take on certain roles, such as the all-out aggression adopted by Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.”I don’t think a lot will change in terms of of how we want to play ODI cricket,” he said. “But there are a few new faces, so to expect them to play the role that Rohit Sharma played in the World Cup will be too soon. You have to make them feel comfortable. So there’s no added pressure from our side.”We need to focus on what’s in front of us. How we played in the World Cup was really good, was very exciting. But we need to figure out here what works for us, what works for this Indian team in these conditions and try and adapt.”

Shevon Daniel replaces Nissanka, who will miss the T20Is if diagnosed with dengue

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Jan-2024Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the ODI series against Zimbabwe, with a suspected case of dengue. If his illness does turn out to be dengue, he will likely be out of the three-match T20I series that follows the ODIs as well.A board release said that Nissanka has been admitted to hospital for treatment.Shevon Daniel, a 19-year-old who has played one T20I but no ODIs, has been named as a replacement. Daniel is typically an opener, but with Avishka Fernando and captain Kusal Mendis both capable of opening the batting, he does not have a guaranteed place in the XI for the first ODI on Saturday. Daniel has a half-century in his most recent List A innings, while opening for Sinhalese Sports Club in the Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament, but has mostly been picked on potential.The loss of Nissanka, though, is a substantial blow to Sri Lanka. In 2023, he hit 1151 ODI runs at an average of 44.26, with a strike rate of 87, and was one of the team’s most consistent batters. In the four innings he’s played against Zimbabwe, he has averaged 82.33.All three ODIs will be played at Khettarama, as will the T20Is to follow.

The Italian side have offered $6.95 million for the permanent transfer of Reyna from Borussia Dortmund, according to reports

Parma reportedly offer BVB close to $7 million for ReynaSerie A side has American ownershipUSMNT midfielder subject of summer transfer talksFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. men's national team midfielder Gio Reyna is reportedly the subject of a $6.95 million offer from Serie A club Parma, according to multiple reports. Sky Sports' Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano both report Reyna has greenlit a potential transfer to the club, and now, it's up to Dortmund and the Italian club to come to an agreement over the permanent sale of the 22-year-old U.S. international.

The contract Parma has reportedly offered Reyna is a three-year deal with a $29 million release clause that has a one-year option clause as well.

Parma is owned by American Kyle Krause through the Krause Group. He purchased the club in September 2020 and is also the chairman and CEO of the popular American convenience store chain Kum & Go.

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Reyna was a breakout star as a teenager for Dortmund, but has fallen down the pecking order at the club in recent years. During the 2020-21 campaign, he logged nearly 2,000 minutes for the club, but in the four seasons since, he hasn't even reached 1,800 minutes of playing time for the German outfit. At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, he played just 12 minutes for the Bundesliga side.

In the 2023-24 season, he spent the second half of the season on loan at Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League, but made just 10 appearances for the club.

Internationally, Reyna was a member of the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad, and at the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League, was handed the Golden Ball for the competition. Under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino, he has been called in for one camp and has made one appearance, playing 21 minutes in the 2025 Nations League third-place match against Canada.

A move to Serie A with Parma would see Reyna become the latest American to sign in Italy, following in the footsteps of Juventus duo Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, AC Milan's Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, as well as Venezia's Gianluca Busio.

Parma finished the 2024-25 Serie A campaign, Parma finished in 16th the league on 36 points. They are managed by Carlos Cuesta, who was recently appointed as head coach, having been brought over from Arsenal. He is set to be the youngest manager in Europe at 29 years old. Romano reports LAFC are not in active talks with the midfielder.

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Internationally, Reyna has made 30 appearances for the USMNT, scoring seven goals and recording five assists.

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Reyna is currently in the middle of enjoying a brief holiday after returning from the CWC with Dortmund. The club and players will report for preseason this July, with Dortmund's first game coming in the DFB Pokal on Monday, Aug. 18, against RW Essen. Their first Bundesliga match comes against FC St. Pauli on Aug. 23.

Parma, meanwhile, begins their Serie A campaign against Juventus on Aug. 24.

CSK move to third on the points table but are tied with four other sides on ten points

Sidharth Monga28-Apr-20243:51

Finch: Gaikwad stays consistent despite fickle nature of T20s

Call them conservative, but Chennai Super Kings successfully backed their method despite not being able to defend 210 in their previous home match against Lucknow Super Giants. The power-packed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s drought in Chennai – they have never beaten CSK at Chepauk – continued as they fell short comprehensively despite batting in dewy conditions.The slowest team in the first two overs and the third-slowest in the powerplay, CSK looked like they were playing the same game again: lose the toss (their eighth lost toss in nine matches), lay a cautious platform, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring around about a hundred, Shivam Dube pushing them over 200… But then it changed in the second innings. CSK must have figured they had got done in by excessive dew, a special innings from Marcus Stoinis and some ordinary fielding from themselves the other night, a combination of events that won’t be repeated every night.On Sunday, it wasn’t repeated, after Tushar Deshpande rocked SRH with three wickets in the powerplay. Both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma found the sweeper on the off side. The big win took CSK from sixth to third on the points table, tied on points with SRH and LSG. SRH were left with questions around their chasing methods: they have lost only one when defending but won only one when chasing. Their run rate when chasing falls three points from their 11.74 in the first innings, and the average comes down from nearly 40 to 23.Conservative Super KingsThe CSK openers made only one boundary attempt in the first two overs, and then gradually pushed up, largely thanks to expert gap-finding by Gaikwad. The first eight overs brought CSK just 67 runs, out of which Gaikwad scored 44 off 25 with seven fours.Ruturaj Gaikwad got to a 27-ball fifty with a six•BCCIThe middle-overs pressCSK went the first 10 overs of the last match without a six. Here, they hit the first at the start of the ninth over when Daryl Mitchell welcomed Pat Cummins to the bowling crease by off-driving a slower ball over mid-off. In the same over, Gaikwad repeated the dose to get to 51 off 27. CSK’s other end, including extras, had got just 31 off 27 till that point.However, Mitchell joined the party now, and played a part in keeping CSK going even as Gaikwad managed just 10 off the next 10. In that period, Mitchell made his way to fifty off 29 before holing out to leave CSK at 126 for 3 in 13.3 overs.The finishShivam Dube continued his exceptional season despite good defensive bowling from SRH. He ended up with 39 off 20, hitting four sixes and a four. Gaikwad found a second wind, taking 29 in 10 balls immediately after Mitchell’s dismissal. Towards the end, though, he was gassed and kept mis-hitting everything. The mis-hits kept falling safe, bringing down his strike rate. The 19th over, bowled by Jaydev Unadkat, brought no boundary.MS Dhoni whipped a first-ball four•BCCIMS Dhoni came out for a customary 5 off 2, and Dube ended with a huge six, but the question remained: had CSK done the right thing by playing in identical fashion to the other night?The Deshpande blitzUnlike CSK, Travis Head began with a boundary first ball and a six off the first ball of the next over. Abhishek Sharma matched him with a six off his own. Deshpande, though, came back with a wide slower ball, which Head could send only as far as the sweeper on the off side. Impact Player Anmolpreet Singh fell first ball with a leading edge to one that shaped away.In his next over, Deshpande had Abhishek caught by the sweeper on the off side again. Abhishek and Head have not put up unbelievable numbers without taking fielders on, but they will be slightly disappointed they both found one of the only two men out.The middle-overs squeezeThis is where CSK changed their fortunes as compared to the last match. LSG didn’t let the CSK spinners bowl in the last match, especially with the dew. Here Ravindra Jadeja got into his work. He conceded just one boundary in his four overs, bowled on the trot. He and Mustafizur Rahman managed to find just enough grip from the surface. A frustrated Nitish Reddy top-edged a short ball from Jadeja before Matheesha Pathirana broke the stump camera with a laser-guided middle-stump yorker to Aiden Markram.CSK were right. There wasn’t to be a repeat of a special chase as they closed out efficiently for a 78-run win.

Newcastle United were actively pursuing RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa but internal sentiment at St. James' Park suggests that Sesko is edging closer to a move to Manchester United, as revealed by The Daily Mail. This is another massive blow to Newcastle’s recruitment plans given how highly they rate the Slovenian talent.

Newcastle were keen on Sesko Man Utd might hijack the move Magpies forced to look for an alternativeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Magpies' admiration for Sesko has been no secret, but United’s aggressive approach this summer, having already secured the signatures of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, has complicated matters significantly. With the Red Devils now believed to have made Sesko a key part of their planning, Newcastle may have to turn their attention elsewhere.

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If Sesko indeed ends up at Old Trafford, Newcastle are prepared to pivot to alternative targets. One name high on their list is Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. The England international has been a consistent performer for Villa and represents a proven Premier League option. Also featured on Newcastle’s shortlist is Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson. The young striker has shown flashes of potential at Stamford Bridge, but sources close to the club indicate that Jackson is not among their leading options at the moment, with several other names currently ranked above him in the pecking order.

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Newcastle are also keeping tabs on Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz. While no direct negotiations have taken place with Fulham, the Tyneside club has made an initial approach through intermediaries to explore the feasibility of a deal. A valuation of around £40 million has been floated in these preliminary discussions.

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Newcastle’s summer struggles continued in South Korea, where they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against a K-League All-Star side at the Suwon World Cup Stadium. The game once again underlined a troubling trend for Eddie Howe’s men—a lack of goals and cutting edge in the final third.

Without Alexander Isak, the Magpies looked toothless in attack, failing to convert several half-chances and unable to break down a well-organised K-League side. The defeat further emphasised the urgency to reinforce their attack before the season kicks off. Their next pre-season fixture comes on August 3, when they face fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Several leagues ran simultaneously at the start of 2024, and the ICC Champions Trophy is expected to further complicate the picture in February 2025

Matt Roller08-May-2024The Caribbean Premier League (CPL)’s chief executive has described overlaps between franchise leagues as “a nonsense”, and has called for regular meetings among their owners and administrators in an attempt to solve cricket’s global scheduling crisis. The CPL has overlapped with the Hundred in recent years but will avoid a clash this season after holding talks with the ECB earlier this year.And Pete Russell, one of CPL’s co-founders and the league’s CEO since 2021, believes that such collaboration should be commonplace to minimise the frequent clashes between the T20 leagues.”[The ECB] have a defined window that they have to play in, and it happened that we could move everything out to ensure that we didn’t clash [with the Hundred],” Russell told ESPNcricinfo. “It makes absolutely zero sense if you’ve got [Sunil] Narine and [Andre] Russell having to fly back the day before the final of the Hundred. That’s in no one’s interests, and certainly not the Hundred’s.Related

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'A broken sport': Franchise free-for-all compromises players' incentives

“I hope that [collaboration] continues. It’s not rocket science; it’s what should happen with all leagues. It’s just a nonsense that we’ve got all this overlap when it just needs to be worked through. Scheduling is a challenge, I know, but it can’t be that you have two leagues going at each other at the same time. To my mind, it doesn’t make any sense.”There is a precedent for leagues negotiating to manage potential clashes as shown by the PSL and ILT20.Several different leagues ran simultaneously at the start of 2024. Australia’s BBL and New Zealand’s Super Smash finished in mid-January; South Africa’s SA20 and the UAE’s ILT20 started in January and ran into February; the Bangladesh Premier League started in January and finished in March; and the Pakistan Super League ran from mid-February to mid-March.The ICC Champions Trophy is expected to further complicate the picture when it returns in February 2025. The ILT20 is expected to confirm its dates for 2025 in the coming days following recent discussions with franchises, while the PCB has stated its intention to stage the PSL alongside the IPL in April-May 2025.There is broad support among players worldwide for global scheduling windows for franchise leagues and international cricket, thus minimising overlap between the two. The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) player survey will be published soon, and as confirmed to ESPNcricinfo by Tom Moffat, FICA’s CEO, will show that 84% of the 330 respondents support introducing windows.The MLC this year is set for a six-day clash with the Hundred•Sportzpics”Unless the game can come together to find a system in which the domestic leagues and international cricket can co-exist, we will end up with two separate calendars running in parallel,” Moffat told ESPNcricinfo.”That will split the player employment-market, given most of the leagues rely on the inclusion of international players to be successful commercially. We currently don’t think that’s the right thing for the whole sport given it – and most professional players’ employment – is still largely funded by international cricket.”While representatives of national governing bodies meet regularly at ICC level – most of whom control their own leagues – there is no specific forum for the owners and administrators of franchise leagues to discuss scheduling.”It’s the logical way to go – because we’re all maturing, and we’re all getting to a point where we are sustainable,” Russell said. “They are generally regarded now as being part of the domestic calendar, wherever they are played. I think it is a case of, ‘OK, let’s have that group of people and say how do you figure out the schedule to the benefit of everyone?'”I think it’s workable. Others might think it’s not, but I just think the conversations at least need to take place, just to make sure [there’s no clash].”

“Where leagues were overlapping, a player who got knocked out before the semi-finals or finals could actually make more money by going to another league. That shouldn’t be a thing”Pete Russell

Moffat said: “With the exception of CPL and a couple of others, the controlling stake in most of the major leagues is generally owned by the same national governing bodies who schedule international cricket. That means co-ordinating scheduling between the leagues and international cricket to avoid scheduling overlap is possible – if there is a will to come together and do that.”Russell used the recent release of Major League Cricket (MLC)’s 2024 fixture list – two months before the tournament starts – as evidence of a shortage of “joined-up thinking” among administrators. MLC begins on July 5, and is thus set for a six-day clash with the Hundred.”They’ve only just come out with their schedule,” he said. “Why does it take leagues so long to put a schedule together? We have all year to figure it out.”Russell also encouraged administrators to find a solution to the perverse incentives that emerged for players earlier this year.”It can’t be right: I saw the other day that where leagues were overlapping, a player who got knocked out before the semi-finals or finals could actually make more money by going to another league. That shouldn’t be a thing.”

The Spanish players' union reached out to Marc-Andre ter Stegen and offered their support to the player in his dispute with Barcelona.

Players' union offer support to Ter StegenGoalkeeper refused to sign medical consent formBarca opened disciplinary proceedingsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ter Stegen and Barcelona are at war with each other, embroiled in a tense dispute over the player's refusal to sign the consent form which will allow Barcelona to share his medical report with La Liga's medical commission. Now, reports the Spanish players' union (AFE) has offered its support to the goalkeeper amid his standoff with the Catalans. 

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La Liga are now preventing the club from submitting the goalkeeper’s medical report without his consent. According to , Barca management confirms they won’t send the report to the Medical Commission without the player’s approval, despite believing they have legal grounds to do so. Sports law expert Miguel Angel Galan argues that exceptions exist for assessing a worker’s fitness, which may justify Barca's stance. However, he notes the final decision lies with the league.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) has reached out to Ter Stegen, offering support and confirming that Barca’s disciplinary action against him cannot be appealed. In a shift of tone, Barcelona, previously open to reconciliation, have opted against meeting with Ter Stegen unless he initiates it. A scheduled meeting is now on hold, underscoring the widening rift between club and player.

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Ter Stegen’s absence from Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Asia, following lower back surgery, has added further tension to his relationship with the club. The situation escalated after the German international released a personal statement about the procedure, reportedly without notifying Barca in advance. In his announcement, Ter Stegen indicated a recovery time of around three months, notably shorter than the club’s internal estimate of four to five months. This discrepancy frustrated Barcelona, who had intended to submit medical documentation to La Liga reflecting the longer timeline. The club did so recently, aiming to activate a financial provision that would allow them to allocate 80 per cent of the goalkeeper’s salary toward registering new signings, in accordance with La Liga’s financial fair play regulations. The lack of coordination has deepened the rift between player and club, complicating an already delicate situation surrounding his recovery and Barca’s registration strategy. Now, without Ter Stegen's signature, the league will not classify his injury as long-term. 

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Legal proceedings are likely to follow, with the club not ruling out imposing sanctions on Ter Stegen, which could even include the termination of his contract. Ter Stegen, per reports from Spain, has completely cut off all contact with the club. With the league set to begin in less than 10 days, it remains to be seen whether the club and the 33-year-old can find a middle ground, or if the situation ends up exacerbating.

Jude Bellingham FaceTimed England team-mate James Maddison after the Tottenham forward underwent surgery on his ACL injury. In a touching moment away from the pitch, the Real Madrid star checked in on his compatriot through video calling, delivering a message of strength and support.

Bellingham FaceTimes Maddison after ACL surgerySpurs eye replacement for sidelined midfielderBoth stars are facing lengthy injury lay-offsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

What began as a routine pre-season outing against Newcastle last week quickly turned sour for Tottenham as Maddison went down with what was later confirmed as an anterior cruciate ligament injury. It’s a crushing setback for Thomas Frank’s side, who had been counting on the 28-year-old to be a key creative force in their new campaign.

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While Maddison begins his long road to recovery, one of the first calls he received was from Bellingham. The Madrid midfielder, who is also sidelined with an injury, reached out over FaceTime to check in on his fellow England international after his operation.

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Maddison shared a screenshot of their chat on social media with the caption: “Some fella for one fella, the sheriff @judebellingham.” Bellingham reposted the image to his own account, adding: “My sheriff. Back even better! 0 doubt.”

@judebellingham Instagram

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Tottenham’s response to Maddison’s absence has been swift. With the Premier League season fast approaching, the club have already tested the waters in the transfer market. Their first move was a €40 million (£35m/$47m) bid for Como’s Nico Paz, but the Italian side swiftly rejected it. Spurs also remain strongly linked with Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze. The 26-year-old has a release clause of £68m ($91.9m/€78.6m), but it will only remain active until August 15, leaving the north London club in a race against the clock to seal a deal.

Antony has signalled he is open to extending his contract at Manchester United in order to facilitate his move to Real Betis this summer.

Real Betis prioritise Antony's signatureWinger also inclined to move to VillamarinClub offer Brazilian a way outFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After Antony's amazing loan stint with Betis, the Spanish club are trying their best to clinch a deal with United for the winger. The Brazilian has reciprocated their interest, as he has rejected every move that has come his way this window. However, the two clubs are unable to reach a common ground, with United's €40 million (£34m/$46m) valuation of the player acting as a hurdle. With the final days of the transfer window approaching, United are discussing plans of Antony's contract renewal to safeguard their asset in the next window, according to

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Betis have always been interested in securing another loan deal for the winger. This stance has been further strengthened by Antony's desire to play for them. United are aware of the strategy both parties are playing out but are not going to budge and want to offload the player permanently as his contract ends in 2027. 

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The 25-year-old had a resurgence in Spain after moving to the Villamarin for half a season. The winger went on to play an integral part in the team, taking them to their first European final, scoring four goals and providing three assists in the competition. The player has since formed a good relationship with the club and its fans. The Spanish club's president has publicly declared his desire to work out a deal while his former club mates Natan and Marc Batra are also hopeful of playing with the Brazilian again. 

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The deadline day is drawing closer and the clubs need to sort out their squads before the window shuts. Betis have sidelined their other plans in hopes of signing Antony but have cleared one thing that they would not hurt the club's stability to sign Antony. The club are confident enough to reserve a non-EU registration spot for the winger. The negotiations are underway as the Premier League kicks off on August 16.

Thomas Frank has outlined his plan to keep Richarlison fit after the forward's brace in Tottenham's 3-0 win over Burnley.

Tottenham beat Burnley 3-0 Richarlison bags brace Frank reveals plan to keep him fit Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After impressing in Tottenham's agonising UEFA Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, the Brazilian scored twice, the second of which was a superb bicycle kick, as Spurs began their Premier League campaign in style on Saturday. The former Everton man missed the vast majority of last season through various injuries, and now head coach Frank has revealed he wants to slowly build up Richarlison's game time as the season progresses.  

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He told reporters: "He was very good against PSG and today he was exceptional, with his work-rate, driving the team, link-up play, hold-up play, just dominating and then the two finishes. So happy on his behalf and again performance department, medical department did a top job to build him. I think a few of you know he was not involved in the first friendly because we had to build him. That will be continuous and something we need to look at throughout the season. It is only the second game of the season, there is a long way to go but very positive with him."  

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Richarlison missed a whopping 37 games through various hamstring, groin, and calf injuries last season, but this goalscoring performance shows he can still deliver for Tottenham. The 28-year-old has taken his chance while fellow forward Dominic Solanke tries to get back to full fitness. And the Brazil international could keep the ex-Bournemouth star out of the starting lineup if he builds on this strong start.  

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Former Brentford boss Frank will hope Richarlison is fit and firing next weekend when they travel to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who dispatched Wolves 4-0 in their Premier League opener on Saturday.