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Attempting to finally replace Illan Meslier, Leeds United are now reportedly serious about signing a goalkeeper who has been the best shot-stopper in Ligue 1 this season.

Leeds' Meslier problem set to end this summer

Leeds may be a side in celebration right now after winning the Championship and earning promotion back to the Premier League, but that should not take away from their clear Meslier problem. The shot-stopper endured a disastrous year which very nearly derailed the Whites’ automatic promotion hopes, before Daniel Farke had seen enough and replaced his No.1 with back-up option Karl Darlow.

After making that decision, Farke saw his side go from one win in five Championship games to six wins in seven to earn title success in the Championship. And that form without Meslier was no coincidence. His confidence looked lower than ever at times and those around him looked similarly concerned – creating a chaotic backline.

After dropping his goalkeeper, Farke admitted that it was a decision that had to be made at the start of April, telling reporters: “Obviously he was involved in both [Swansea] goals in the last game, and it was a shame because after the penalty save he was on his way to being man of the match.

“So it was clear we had to make a decision. And we had to make it early in the week, because in that position the players need clarity, and Karl [Darlow] needs the time to prepare.

“We had a pretty open, honest conversation. Of course he’s disappointed he won’t start. But he took it very professionally and he was still more disappointed about the Swansea game.”

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Daniel Farke knows him well…

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham May 9, 2025

Now, with an even more important decision to make, the 49ers have reportedly added a goalkeeper to their summer wishlist at Elland Road and have set their sights on a particularly impressive option.

Leeds now serious about Petrovic

According to TeamTalk, Leeds are now serious about signing Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea this summer following his impressive loan spell at Strasbourg, and his agents have been informed of the interest. It’s whilst on loan in Ligue 1 that Petrovic has earned plenty of admirers with the numbers only adding credit to a fantastic campaign.

With two games left to play, no goalkeeper in his division has managed a better save percentage than his 75 per cent, or more accurate passes than the 913 that he has completed. Simply put, Petrovic would offer those at Elland Road an instant upgrade on Meslier this summer.

Now a prime target for Leeds, Petrovic’s agent is reportedly aware of the interest and his client could have a decision to make in the coming months. Fresh from his loan spell in France, whether Chelsea believe that the 25-year-old is ready to become their No.1 ahead of Robert Sanchez is likely to play a large part. What he is unlikely to do is sit on the bench once again following an excellent campaign.

Plans for Tottenham Hotspur’s summer rebuild are already underway.

Having won just one of their last nine, Spurs are languishing 16th in the Premier League, thereby on course for their lowest finish since being relegated in 1977.

However, Ange Postecoglou’s team could, of course, salvage the campaign in a big way, preparing for the Europa League Final against Manchester United later this month, with both silverware and a place in next season’s Champions League on the line.

Of course, Champions League qualification would massively help their summer transfer plans, both financially and in terms of prestige, although, regardless of the outcome in Bilbao, this squad requires serious surgery, but do Tottenham already boast a more valuable attacker than their potential new signing?

Tottenham's search for attacking reinforcements

As previously reported by Danny Rust and Dean Jones of Give Me Sport, Tottenham are ‘planning to make an offer’ to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town this summer.

Having scored 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys this season, the 22-year-old is certainly a man in demand, with Wayne Veysey of Football Insider noting that Chelsea, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are amongst his potential suitors.

This is surely partly due to the fact that, as reported by Jacob Steinberg and Nick Ames of the Guardian, Delap has a £30m release clause, following Ipswich’s relegation, which looks a major bargain for a player Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels an “absolute beast”.

Thus, Delap appears as though he would be an excellent addition for Spurs, but do they already boast a better attacker?

Tottenham's most valuable attacker

When Brennan Johnson joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest for a reported fee of £47m in September 2023, a few eyebrows were raised, but he has certainly proved his worth, as the table below outlines.

Tottenham’s highest scorers 2024/25

Players

Goals

Assists

G + A

Brennan Johnson

17

7

24

Dominic Solanke

15

8

23

Son Heung-min

11

12

23

James Maddison

12

11

23

Dejan Kuluševski

10

11

21

Pedro Porro

4

9

13

Pape Matar Sarr

6

3

9

Richarlison

5

2

7

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table shows, no Spurs player has been directly involved in more goals than Johnson, 11 of which have come in the Premier League, also contributing four en route to Bilbao in the Europa League.

Paul Taylor of The Athletic labels Johnson “electric”, while Ali Tweedale of Opta’s the Analyst, outlines how the Wales international quickly went from Tottenham’s ‘lightning rod’ to their most important, most prolific attacker.

Meantime, Liam Tharme of The Athletic documents how ghosting in at the back post to score with a first-time finish has become Johnson’s trademark goal, making him a pivotal figure in Postecoglou’s team.

These performances mean Johnson is now Tottenham’s most valuable attacker, as the table below outlines.

Tottenham’s most valuable attackers + Liam Delap

Players

Estimated valuation

Brennan Johnson

£60m

Dominic Solanke

£44m

Son Heung-min

£26m

Mathys Tel

£48m

Richarlison

£22.5m

Wilson Odobert

£21m

Liam Delap

£31m

All valuations courtesy of FootballTransfers.com

Based on these market values, Delap’s aforementioned £30m release clause actually offers pretty fair market value, but the £47m fee paid to secure Johnson’s services was, in retrospect, actually a bargain, considering his current value of £60m.

So, while Delap may be a great signing for Spurs, whatever they’re planning for the summer, they need to ensure this gets the best out of their already excelling attacker.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 9, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy personally wants a striker who’s been tipped for great things in north London next season, with the Lilywhites board chief contemplating how best to reinforce Spurs’ squad this summer.

Tottenham set for 'sell to buy' transfer window

According to a recent report from The Telegraph, Spurs won’t exactly be flush with cash to spend on their top transfer targets.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

According to their information, courtesy of journalist Matt Law, Tottenham are facing a ‘sell to buy’ summer and could have to green-light the sales of top players in order to facilitate their own recruitment plans.

Atlético Madrid are seriously keen on Cristian Romero as one nominee to raise funds, and the Argentine is believed to be seriously pursuing a potential move to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano (Marca).

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

However, Spanish media are also reporting that there is a large gap in valuation between the clubs as things stand. Meanwhile, another key first-teamer who could depart is right-back Pedro Porro.

Some reports suggest Tottenham are prepared to sell Porro this summer and value the ex-Man City defender at £50 million. Everton are also expected to open talks for Richarlison, who could potentially leave Spurs in the event of a reasonable bid, following a 2024/2025 campaign blighted by injuries.

It will be intriguing to see which notable players could make their way out of the N17 exit door, as Levy and co look to reinvest funds into the squad whilst erring on the cautionary side of PSR.

One player who they already have an agreement to sign permanently for 2024/2025 and beyond is striker Mathys Tel.

The Frenchman is on loan from Bayern Munich, with Spurs possessing an option to make his stay indefinite for around £51 million.

Levy personally wants Mathys Tel at Tottenham next season

That is according to Sport Bild, who also report that Ange Postecoglou’s side are keen to whittle that price tag down after Tel’s mixed start to life at the club.

However, Levy is personally keen on signing Tel permanently and re-negotiating a deal with Bayern. Vincent Kompany’s Bavarians, for their part, are also willing to restart talks and settle on his final price at a cheaper value, which is good news for the Europa League finalists.

While the 20-year-old boasts just three goals and a single assist from 18 Spurs appearances to date, Tel has displayed flashes of brilliance since his arrival in the Premier League, with ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann once backing him to eventually score “40 goals a season” and sharing an expectation that he could become of the world’s best.

“He could become one of the best strikers one day,” said Nagelsmann. “I have the vision that he can score 40 goals one day. But I would be happy with 10 goals in his first season.

“He’s a young, talented player. He can play in multiple positions: as a centre-forward and on the wings. He’s very quick and strong with his body. He can hold up the ball well with his back to the goal.”

Newcastle United’s fantastic second half of the season ensured they will return to the Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign. Eddie Howe’s magnificent Magpies came fifth in the Premier League and managed to cling onto that final Champions League spot despite defeat on the last day of the season at home to Everton.

Since Boxing Day, the North Eastern giants looked like strong contenders for a top-five finish. They were fifth in the league just one day after Christmas, and never really looked like dropping out of that race in 2025.

With a huge season ahead, it will be an important few months for Newcastle to build a squad worthy of competing with Europe’s elite. Already, they have been linked with some elite-level players.

Newcastle’s latest summer targets

There is a report from one Spanish news outlet that links the Magpies to four players this summer. One of those includes Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo, who could be available for as little as £67m. Former Manchester City winger Ferran Torres, now at Barcelona, is also linked.

Transfer Focus

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

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However, one of the most concrete links for Newcastle right now comes from CaughtOffside. They suggest that the North East side are targeting a move for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lee Kang-in. They are thought to be one side who have ‘made contact’ for the South Korean attacker.

The key phrase there is one of, because the Magpies are set to fight seven other sides across Europe. They include Spanish side Atletico Madrid and Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

Interestingly, the Gunners were linked with Lee by The Athletic back in January, who reported his transfer fee as £36m, double what the French side paid for him. Perhaps it will be a similar fee this summer, too.

Why Lee would be a good signing

It has perhaps been a slightly frustrating season for Lee in the French capital. He has struggled for regular opportunities, given he is fighting to break into an attack that includes Ousmane Dembele, Desiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

He has played 30 games in Ligue 1 in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals and registering the same number of assists. Crucially, Lee has played just 1667 minutes in the top flight of France, the equivalent of just 18 full games. 12 goals and assists in 18 games is a superb return.

One of the standout features about Lee’s game is his versatility. Luis Enrique has been able to rely on him in numerous positions this season. He has played 13 times as a right-winger, 12 times as a number ten, six games as a centre-forward and even once at right-back.

If the Magpies did sign Lee this summer, they would surely hope he could have the same impact at St James’ Park that their last midfield signing from Ligue 1 has done.

Bruno Guimaraes has been a revelation in midfield since his £30m move from Olympique Lyon in 2022.

He has amassed an impressive 154 appearances in that famous black and white shirt, scoring 22 goals and registering 24 assists in that time.

At the start of his time in the North East, he said he had ambitions of becoming a “legend” at the club. After helping to deliver the Carabao Cup this season, he may well have reached that level.

Interestingly, talent scout Jacek Kulig said he believes Lee can become a “future legend” of football, further drawing parallels between the pair. If he can have any sort of similar impact on the club as Guimaraes, it would have been a successful transfer.

There are some standout underlying stats on FBref for Lee, which indicate he could become a key player for Newcastle. For example, he averages 7.69 progressive passes and 5.19 shot-creating actions per game, which rank him in the top 3% and 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, respectively.

Lee key stats and rank vs midfielders in big 5 leagues

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals and assists

0.51

96th

Key passes

3.08

99th

Progressive

7.69

97th

Shot-creating actions

5.19

99th

Progressive carries

2.91

96th

Take-ons completed

1.56

97th

Stats from FBref

The last time Newcastle bought a midfielder from Ligue 1, it turned out to be one of the best signings they have made in recent memory. They will surely hope that, if Lee joins, he can be the second coming of Guimaraes in terms of impact on the club.

At just £36m, this could be the bargain of the summer for the Magpies, if Howe and co can get this deal over the line.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall May 27, 2025

Leeds United are preparing for their return to the Premier League and are now readying a bid to sign an exciting top-flight star this summer, per a report.

Leeds United looking to build ahead of Premier League return

Now the dust has settled on a dramatic season that culminated in the Championship title at Elland Road, Daniel Farke and the 49ers Enterprises will now turn their attention towards potential incomings ahead of the new campaign.

Setting his expectations, the German coach believes survival in the Premier League is a realistic target for the Whites despite the regular occurrence of newly-promoted sides struggling to adapt a level up the pyramid.

He stated: “That’s definitely the plan (survival). I don’t want to come across as arrogant and tell everyone it’s easy. All the recently promoted sides are really good, big names, spending lots of money but not able to stay in the league. But one thing is for sure, we will try.”

Money will need to be spent by the 49ers to ensure Leeds can extend their stay in the Premier League, and there is no shortage of targets in Yorkshire now the off-season is in full swing.

Mjallby goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist has entered Farke’s eyeline, though he is likely to be a backup solution as opposed to a direct replacement for Illan Meslier between the sticks.

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Posts 1 ByDominic Lund May 28, 2025

Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz could add some flair in the engine room for Leeds, but there is every chance they also move for some proven Premier League operators to ensure there is experience in the camp before they kick off the new campaign.

Tapping into that school of thought, the Whites are now lining up a swoop for an exciting addition at Elland Road that would please supporters.

Leeds United prepare £16.8m offer for Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal on X, Leeds are preparing a £16.8 million offer to sign Aston Villa “playmaker” Emiliano Buendia ahead of the summer window.

Farke previously worked with the Argentina international at Norwich City, and it is believed that he will be allowed to leave Villa Park this summer with the blessing of Unai Emery, and the Leeds boss is keen on a reunion at Elland Road.

Enduring a tough time with injuries, Buendia spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, registering two goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.

The 28-year-old may be in need of a revival, but there is every chance Leeds could give him the platform to shine following a difficult period in maintaining consistent availability. Buendia moving to Yorkshire appears to be an agreeable move for all parties and may be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Manchester United fell by the wayside last season, but the early readings from the summer transfer market suggest Ruben Amorim and INEOS are doing all they can to lift Old Trafford back to its feet.

With sights set on driving their way back into the Premier League ascendancy next year, getting their foot back through the European door, the Red Devils acted swiftly to activate Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha’s £62.5m release clause, and that’s despite interest from Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The prestigious outfit needs new goalscoring superstars, and Cunha will certainly add to that department. However, United are also pushing to sign another who could become their new talisman.

And all this before they even sign a striker.

Man Utd still leading race for Premier League star

It’s safe to say that the ongoing transfer window has all been about attacking additions for United. After a move for Cunha was completed, Jason Wilcox and Co have turned their attention to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports.

However, while Gyokeres would allegedly favour a move to Arsenal instead of Old Trafford, that’s not the same story for another of football’s brightest forward players.

As per TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Bournemouth for the transfer of Antoine Semenyo. Why is this relevant? Well, because Spurs also have a vested interest in Bryan Mbeumo having appointed the winger’s former boss, Thomas Frank, as their new manager.

Mbeumo, 25, has been immense for Brentford and is a wanted man. With Frank heading to Spurs, there were fears that he may not sign for United now, but as with Cunha, his preference is still to move to the Theatre of Dreams.

United have already seen an opening offer worth £55m rejected, and are expected to go back in for the Cameroonian with Fabrizio Romano revealing that there is an ‘agreement with the player in place’ on personal terms.

Why Bryan Mbeumo could be Man Utd's answer to Salah

Mbeumo did rather well across the recently finished campaign, only outscored in the Premier League by Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland – not bad competition to be pitted against.

Premier League 24/25 – Top Scorers

#

Player

Apps

Goals

1.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

2.

Alexander Isak

34

23

3.

Erling Haaland

31

22

4.

Chris Wood

36

20

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

Data via Premier League

It certainly makes a convincing comment on Mbeumo’s skillset, not least because he, like Liverpool’s Salah, is a right-sided, left-footed forward, not technically a striker.

In fact, Mbeumo has been described as a “mini Salah” by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy, arcing inward to curl powerful strikes into the back of the net.

Anfield’s Egyptian King has so often been a thorn in United’s side, but in Mbeumo they might just find their own version, one whose prowess could inflict damage not just on Liverpool but the division at large, having ranked among the top 2% of positional peers in the English top flight in 2024/25 for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Moreover, Mbeumo isn’t just a sharpshooter, and would instead dynamise the Red Devils and raise their creative bar through his skilled performances, having created 17 big chances last season, averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Playmaking has increasingly become a defining part of the 33-year-old Salah’s game as his athleticism drips away, and so it’s good to know that Mbeumo already plays with a natural focus on linking play together and helping his team in that regard.

Mbeumo has performed with gamely courage and a confidence in his high-level quality. He’s only 25, which, coincidentally, was the age Salah was when he joined Liverpool from Roma for £34m in 2017.

It’s clear that Man United need to forge ahead with this exciting signing. Mbeumo wants the move and has the English experience to lift the club and propel Amorim toward greener pastures.

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Posts 2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

It remains to be seen if Gurbaz, who hurt his knee against Bangladesh, is fit to play

Deivarayan Muthu26-Jun-20242:11

Fleming: How Klaasen plays spin could decide the game

Match detailsAfghanistan vs South Africa
Tarouba, 8.30pm local time
Big picture: Afghanistan look to continue dream runAfghanistan played their first official fixture in 2004 as part of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy, which featured 15 teams. Twenty years later, they have done the unthinkable by making their first World Cup semi-final in the biggest World Cup featuring 20 teams.In just 20 years, they have achieved what many teams might take 50 years to do. Afghanistan have always had the raw talent. They’ve now married it with elite skills and continue to upgrade them, thanks to global T20 exposure.Their captain and lead spinner, Rashid Khan, is arguably the most sought-after T20 player in the world. Noor Ahmad, their second spinner, is a left-arm version of Rashid while Rahmanullah Gurbaz, their opener, can bruise oppositions in the powerplay. Fazalhaq Farooqi is on his way to becoming the next Trent Boult in T20 cricket while Naveen-ul-Haq has had Dwayne Bravo, Afghanistan’s bowling consultant and T20 legend, grooving and celebrating near the boundary with his variations. Eight of Afghanistan’s XI that toppled Bangladesh on Monday in Kingstown were part of IPL 2024.Related

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Tactics board: Rashid, de Kock, Gurbaz-Ibrahim and Maharaj – the key factors

Then, there is Mohammad Nabi, who of course played in Afghanistan’s first official fixture back in 2004. In a year in which his son made his Under-19 World Cup debut for Afghanistan, Nabi, 39, will turn up for Afghanistan in their first World Cup semi-final. Nabi has defeated 45 teams in his career and will now look to add South Africa to that list.Mujeeb Ur Rahman was sidelined from the tournament after playing a solitary game, but Afghanistan, under Bravo’s tactical guidance, have still had enough depth to roll over oppositions. No attack has taken more wickets than Afghanistan’s 57 in this World Cup and their economy rate of 6.35 is second only to South Africa’s 6.10 among the Super-Eight teams.Afghanistan, however, don’t have as much depth in their batting, especially in the middle order. And while Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have struck up four 50-plus partnerships while batting first, their stands while chasing are eight against PNG, zero against West Indies, and 13 against India.So, there’s a strong case for South Africa to make Afghanistan chase, try to separate their openers early, and put the middle order under pressure. Keshav Maharaj, their left-arm fingerspinner, will look to ace his match-up against a right-hander-heavy Afghanistan line-up on a Tarouba surface that may continue to offer variable bounce. Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wristspinner, could also pose a threat with his variations and knowledge of Caribbean conditions, having spent a number of South African winters in the CPL.Though Reeza Hendricks is struggling for form at the top, South Africa have a dynamic middle order with all of Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen capable of countering spin, and a vastly experienced David Miller around to finish the innings.South Africa have been on the precipice at several points during the World Cup, but they have somehow hauled themselves back to claim seven successive wins across challenging conditions. They need to win two more to secure their maiden World Cup title. No team has ever won a T20 World Cup unbeaten, so South Africa and India have the chance to rewrite history this time.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Form guideAfghanistan WWLLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWWIn the spotlight: Naveen-ul-Haq and Heinrich KlaasenAfghanistan’s spinners need no introduction, so let’s talk about Naveen-ul-Haq. The seamer might not have taken the new ball had Mujeeb been available. But in the absence of Afghanistan’s powerplay spinner, Naveen has stepped up brilliantly to ease the load on Farooqi. His delivery to dismiss Travis Head – slanting in towards leg stump, then swinging and seaming away late to crash into middle – is a genuine contender for the ball of the tournament. With a number of slower balls in his repertoire, Naveen has also been difficult to get away at the death on the Caribbean pitches.Heinrich Klaasen vs Rashid and Co could very well dictate the course of the game. His quasi-pulls and slog-sweeps can disrupt the rhythm of any spinner on any surface. Since the start of 2023, he has struck at 182.12 against spin in T20 cricket. His strike rate is the best among 41 batters who have played at least 40 innings against spin in T20 cricket during this period.Team news: Gurbaz’s fitness under cloudGurbaz had suffered a blow on his knee while keeping wicket in the first over of Afghanistan’s defence against Bangladesh on Monday and immediately left the field with Mohammad Ishaq stepping in as a substitute keeper. Afghanistan didn’t train in Tarouba on the eve of the semi-final, and it remains to be seen if Gurbaz is fit to play. If Gurbaz doesn’t recover in time, Afghanistan might bring in Hazratullah Zazai at the top and perhaps make another change to squeeze Ishaq in as a keeper and middle-order batter.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)/Hazratullah Zazai, 3 Azmatullah Omarzai, 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Karim Janat/Mohammad Ishaq (wk), 7 Rashid Khan (capt), 8 Nangeyalia Kharote, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq FarooqiKeshav Maharaj will be key for South Africa against a right-hander-heavy Afghanistan side•ICC via Getty Images

South Africa might not run the risk of replacing Hendricks with rookie Ryan Rickelton in a semi-final. Considering the variable bounce and purchase for spinners at Tarouba, Shamsi will also likely keep his place ahead of death-bowling specialist Ottneil Baartman.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 David Miller, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiPitch and conditions: More variable bounce?The conditions in Tarouba were characterised by variable bounce during the group stage. But Daren Ganga believes that the bounce will be truer on Wednesday after remedial work over the past two weeks. Dew has been often a major factor in the CPL games at this venue. While the overhead conditions will likely be cloudy in Tarouba, the chances of rain are low on Wednesday night.Stats and trivia: Afghanistan’s brittle middle order Afghanistan bowlers have dominated the powerplay in this T20 World Cup, taking 20 wickets at an economy rate of 7.19 during this phase. In comparison, South Africa have managed only ten wickets though their economy rate (5.85) is lower than Afghanistan’s. Afghanistan’s middle-order batters (Nos. 4-7) have the lowest strike rate (102.21) among the Super-Eight teams in this World Cup. Klaasen has scored 27 runs against Rashid off 21 balls while being dismissed once in T20 cricket. The sample size is slightly bigger for Miller vs Rashid, with the match-up in favour of the wristspinner: 50 runs off 42 balls with four dismissals. South Africa and India are the only two Full Members Afghanistan have not beaten in international cricket so far.Quotes”For us, it’s a new challenge and I think that makes us dangerous in the semi-finals as a side with nothing to lose and obviously a lot of pressure on the opposition.”
“Definitely, it’s always great to dream and I think everyone in South Africa dreams of the time when a trophy gets lifted.”

Newcastle United are reportedly “very interested” in completing the signing of a defender who has been described as “priceless” at his current club.

Newcastle eyeing new wingers and centre-backs this summer

The Magpies enjoyed such a memorable season last time around, not only because of their famous EFL Cup success, but also due to getting back into the Champions League.

That should allow them to target top-quality players, and they have reportedly sent scouts to watch Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn in action, seeing him as a potential alternative to Nottingham Forest wide man Anthony Elanga.

Anthony Gordon struggled to set the world alight last season, leading to potential doubts over his long-term future at St James’ Park, and Lyon star Malick Fofana has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for him.

The 20-year-old Belgian has a big future in the game and could be an electric addition on the left flank.

A new centre-back is also a must, in order to add fresh legs to an ageing area of the pitch, and while Marc Guehi has continued to be linked with Newcastle, Sporting CP ace Ousmane Diomande is arguably more likely at this point, with Liverpool seemingly closing in on Guehi.

Newcastle "very interested" in Italy defender

According to Italian media [via NUFC Blog], Newcastle are “very interested” in signing Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, adding that the “next few days” are key, with his current club not wanting to lose him and rival interest emerging from Antonio Conte’s Napoli.

Scalvini has been linked with Newcastle in the past, being seen as a strong option to come in after Sven Botman suffered an ACL injury, at which point he was valued at around £43m. The transfer failed to come to fruition, but he remains a great option for the Magpies, considering he could come in as both a key player from the off, and someone who could be a mainstay of the defence for many years to come.

Scalvini has already notched up 107 appearances for Atalanta – highly impressive, given his age – also being described as “priceless” by data analyst Sanjay and racking up eight caps for Italy

It is clearly going to be difficult for Newcastle to get their man, however, with Atalanta seeing him as an invaluable player who can continue to develop as the years pass, even though he is fresh off the back of ACL damage of his own.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jun 23, 2025

But given his potential, though, the Magpies should do all they can to try and change the Serie A side’s thinking, acquiring the services of an excellent young player in the process.

Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in the last game of the Super Eight stage to knock Australia out of the T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2024

Rashid Khan’s Afghanistan took the final semi-final spot•Associated Press

After a dramatic end to the Super Eight stage, with Afghanistan winning a thriller against Bangladesh in St Vincent to knock out Australia, the four semi-finalists of the T20 World Cup 2024 have been confirmed: Group 2 toppers South Africa will take on Afghanistan in the first semi-final, while Group 1 leaders India will face England in the second semi-final.The first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan will start at 8.30pm local time on Wednesday, June 26, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The second semi-final between India and England will be at 10.30am Thursday morning, June 27 (local time) at Guyana’s Providence Stadium.India had been allotted the second semi-final in Guyana well before the tournament started, irrespective of their Super Eight finish. That match will start at 8pm India time on June 27.The playing conditions for the two semi-finals, though, are different. The second semi-final, featuring India and England, will not have a reserve day because of a single day’s gap between that match and the final.However, a total of 250 minutes of additional time is available for each semi-final. The first semi-final will have an extra 60 minutes at the end of the day’s play and a further 190 minutes on the reserve day, starting from 2pm local time. The second semi-final will have the entire 250 minutes available on the scheduled day since it doesn’t have a reserve day.Additionally, for a game to be constituted as complete in the semi-finals and final, both teams should bat a minimum of 10 overs per innings, as opposed to five overs per innings in the rest of the tournament. This could be significant as rain has been forecast at both venues, and the playing conditions state that in case of a washout, the team that finishes higher in their respective Super Eight groups (India and South Africa, in this case) will proceed. In case the final is abandoned because of poor weather, the two finalists will be declared joint winners.

Manchester United are on the lookout for a top striker this summer and could now offer a large weekly wage to a prolific but much cheaper Viktor Gyokeres alternative, according to reports.

Viktor Gyokeres is a name that won’t go away for Manchester United, albeit it appears that his price is growing by the day as Sporting CP show reluctance to let him leave for anything less than an absolute premium.

Sharing quotes from club president Frederico Varandas, Fabrizio Romano has given a further insight regarding how the Portuguese champions plan to deal with interest in their star striker this summer.

On top of a bombshell admission from Varandas, Gyokeres is mooted to have a release clause of around £85 million in the current exchange rate that his club want to be paid in full, which is said to be a violation of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between both parties.

Finding it hard to break through on that front, Manchester United have also turned to Genk’s Tolu Arokodare as a striking option who could arrive for a much cheaper fee.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus have also been profiled by Amorim’s men, signalling they are extending their search far and wide for the next centre-forward to lead their line.

Still, Gyokeres was thought by many at the start of the window to be Manchester United’s number one target due to his pre-existing relationship with the manager, but they now may be willing that mantle to someone else if reports are to be believed.

Manchester United set to offer large salary to Moise Kean

According to Corriere dello Sport, Manchester United will make Fiorentina striker Moise Kean one of their top earners if they can meet his £44 million release clause, which is set to expire after the first two weeks of July.

Coming in at over £40 million cheaper than Gyokeres, the Italy international registered 25 goals last campaign and three assists inside 44 appearances across all competitions.

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Saudi outfit Al-Qadsiah and Turkish giants Fenerbahce are also keen to bring the former Everton man to their own parishes, potentially offering up some difficult competition that Manchester United may need to outstrip financially to conclude a deal.

The Red Devils scouted Kean extensively last season and could be forced to move on to cheaper targets if they can’t find an agreement on Gyokeres.

Although Kean doesn’t spring to mind as an obvious contender, his showings of late in Italy may indicate he is an ideal solution to take on the role of being number one striker at Manchester United.