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He had broken his right thumb while playing in the BBL last week, but has been able to bowl in training this week

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2025

Matthew Kuhnemann is one of three frontline spinners in the squad•Getty Images

Matthew Kuhnemann has been cleared to join the Australia Test squad in Sri Lanka after recovering sufficiently following surgery to repair a thumb fracture.Kuhnemann, the left-arm spinner, had broken his right thumb while playing in the BBL last week, but has been able to bowl in training this week. He will reach Sri Lanka over the weekend along with Oliver Peake, the young Victorian batter, who has been invited as a development player.On Thursday, around 24 hours before confirmation he would join the tour, Kuhnemann had said that his surgically repaired thumb was almost pain-free as he bowled, batted and fielded in Brisbane.Related

Smith cleared to rejoin Test squad after elbow scare

Kuhnemann has 'no pain' after batting and bowling

Kuhnemann, 28, is a key member of the Australia side for the two Tests in Sri Lanka, with both Tests in Galle on what are expected to be turning pitches. But his tour looked in jeopardy when he was struck on the thumb during Brisbane Heat’s game against Hobart Hurricanes last Thursday.He was driven to the hospital that night by Heat team-mate Daniel Drew, and he had the dislocation put back into place before having surgery the following morning to put a pin in the fracture. His recovery since then has been quick.At Allan Border Field on Thursday, Kuhnemann bowled eight overs and also batted, facing throwdowns from Heat and Queensland bowling coach Andy Bichel. While fielding, he took a few catches, all overseen by Heat physio Adam Smith.Kuhnemann is one of three frontline spinners in the Australia squad, alongside Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, though the squad does have a number of part-timers, Travis Head the best among them.Steven Smith will lead Australia in the Sri Lanka Test series•Getty Images

Steven Smith, the stand-in captain for the series with regular captain Pat Cummins on paternity leave, was the other injury concern for Australia after he picked up an elbow injury during the BBL. Smith, who has a history of elbow problems, sustained the injury to his right arm, the one he had surgery on in 2019, while throwing in the field for Sydney Sixers in their match against Sydney Thunder last week.He was also cleared to join the squad at their training camp in Dubai after seeing a specialist about the elbow issue.The two-match World Test Championship (WTC) series doesn’t have a bearing on the final after Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India 3-1 to book their place in the WTC final, where they will take on South Africa, but the visitors are aiming for a first series win there since 2011.The two Tests will be played from January 29 and February 6, and will be followed by two ODIs – on February 12 and 14 – that will help Australia prepare for the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19. Sri Lanka haven’t qualified for the tournament.

Manchester United are now moving quickly to finalise deals for a £69m striker and a £22m midfielder, according to a report.

Man Utd now looking to sign new striker

Ruben Amorim has set out to bring in a new striker this summer, given that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were subjected to widespread criticism last season, and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is still in the manager’s sights.

Gyokeres had been expected to seal a move to Arsenal, but the deal has now stalled, potentially opening the door for a move to Old Trafford, although Fabrizio Romano believes the centre-forward has little interest in signing for United.

As such, the Red Devils may be forced to move on to alternative options, and they are now stepping up their pursuit of a different striker, alongside Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra, who reportedly reached a verbal agreement over a move to Old Trafford last week.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United are now moving quickly to finalise a €25m (£22m) deal for Guerra, alongside a €80m (£69m) deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, meaning their total spending would amount to £91m for the duo.

Amorim is said to have personally requested the addition of a new striker and a midfielder to complement his double pivot, with Guerra and Sesko now emerging as serious targets.

Royal Antwerp braced and expecting Man Utd bid to arrive for their star player

United made contact over the weekend…

By
Brett Worthington

Jul 22, 2025

Marcus Rashford is now Barcelona-bound, which will free up space in the squad, while the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony could also be moved on if significant offers arrive.

Sesko and Guerra could be statement signings for Man Utd

A number of the Premier League’s top clubs have been linked with Sesko this summer, and for good reason, given that the Slovenian has been lauded as a “monster” by journalist Eduardo Hagn.

The 22-year-old amassed a very respectable 13 goals and five assists in 33 Bundesliga outings last season, and given his age, there is likely to be plenty of room to develop even further.

With Casemiro ageing, it will also be important for Amorim to bring in a new central midfielder this summer, and Guerra could have what it takes to be a success at Old Trafford, having been lauded as an “intelligent” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The Valencia star amassed six goal contributions in La Liga last season, showcasing his attacking talents, while he was one of just six U23 central midfielders to complete 50+ tackles and 50+ take-ons, indicating the Spaniard is a very well-rounded player.

It’s hard to think of a summer which has felt more positive for Chelsea.

Not only are Enzo Maresca’s side Conference League champions, but they are also World Champions after they demolished Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain over a week ago.

Add to that the fact they’ve already completed the seriously exciting signings of Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, and it feels like they could achieve something seriously special in the Premier League next season.

Moreover, the Blues have been heavily linked with the exciting Xavi Simons, although if reports are to be believed, they could now be targeting someone who’d be an even better signing.

Chelsea target Simons upgrade

Even though Chelsea have already been incredibly busy in the transfer window this summer, the club continue to be linked with potentially game-changing acquisitions, such as Simons.

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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The RB Leipzig gem enjoyed another stellar campaign in Germany last season, but has made it clear he now wants to leave for a fresh challenge, and alongside teams like Arsenal, the Blues have been one of the teams most liked for a move for him.

Based on reports from earlier this week, it looks like the West Londoners would have to pay as much as £95m for the 22-year-old’s services, and while that isn’t a crazy amount, it now looks like they’re eyeing up another young star, someone who’d be an even better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has confirmed that Chelsea are still very interested in Morgan Rogers.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Pensioners are now preparing an offer for the Aston Villa star that would see them offer Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, plus a small fee, to try and secure the Englishman’s services.

It might sound like overkill to offer three players plus money, but that might be what is required, considering other reports from this summer claim the Claret and Blue value their young star at up to £100m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Rogers would certainly be worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Simons.

Why Rogers would be a better signing than Simons

While both players are incredibly talented and look like they’re set for brilliant careers at the very highest level, there are a number of reasons why Rogers would be a better signing for Chelsea than Simons, and the first is due to his experience.

While the Dutchman has played plenty of top-flight football across his career to date, he’s never played in the Premier League, and that is a significant disadvantage, as it would likely take him some time to adapt, whereas the Villa ace could potentially slot right into Maresca’s side with no problem at all.

Moreover, while the Bundesliga is a great competition in its own right, it is only the fourth-toughest league in world football, whereas the Premier League takes the top spot, and quite comfortably so.

In fact, when we compare their output from the one competition they both played in last season, the Champions League, the difference in their effectiveness is really quite stark.

For example, in 12 appearances in Europe’s top competition, totalling 1025 minutes, the Claret and Blue’s game-changing “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored four goals and provided three assists.

Rogers vs Simons in the 24/25 UCL

Players

Rogers

Simons

Appearances

12

5

Minutes

1025′

337′

Goals

4

0

Assists

3

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0

Minutes per Goal Involvement

146.42′

N/A

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, the England star managed to average a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 146.42 minutes, which is all the more impressive given that it was his first time playing in it.

In contrast, the former PSV Eindhoven gem made five appearances, totalling 337 minutes and failed to score a single goal or provide a single assist.

Ultimately, Chelsea would do well to sign either Simons or Rogers this summer, but given his experience in the Premier League and his proven ability in Europe, the latter would be the better signing.

Related Their new Hazard: Chelsea set to hold talks to sign £95m "superstar"

Chelsea could be set to hold talks to sign a Dutch superstar

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jul 21, 2025

Big Picture: West Indies, South Africa look to go back to winning ways

That competitive edge we were hoping for in the series opener showed itself on the last day of the rain-affected match, where both teams did all they could to avoid a draw. In the end, too much time was lost to rain and they had to settle for Test cricket’s first draw in 28 matches. The teams will want to get back to winning ways in Guyana.Happily, the elements are not expected to have as much of an impact and more play should be possible. Both teams have plenty of things to work on. At the outset: getting a batter (or two) to convert a start into a three-figure score will be top of mind. Three South Africans – Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs – and one West Indian – Alick Athanaze – scored half-centuries in Trinidad and there were nine other individual scores in the 30s, which suggests that getting in was less of an issue than staying in. The placidity of the pitch aside, batting in this series appears to be a test of patience and the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite and David Bedingham, who are known for their ability to hold vigils in the middle, could be among those to watch out for.For bowlers, the challenge of Test cricket is always time-based as they seek to stay disciplined for long periods. This series appears to demand more than most as Jayden Seals – who bowled eight spells in South Africa’s first innings in Trinidad – and Keshav Maharaj – who sent down 40 successive overs in West Indies first innings – showed. We’ve seen excellent examples of persistence and quality of skill which should continue into the second Test, where there’s plenty at stake.Keshav Maharaj put in long shifts during the first Test•AFP/Getty Images

West Indies remain rooted to the bottom of the World Test Championship points table and are seeking their second win. Their next assignments are against Bangladesh in the Caribbean followed by a tour to Pakistan, and they will want to maximise all the home advantage they can. The drawn first Test means South Africa will face each of their next seven Tests in this World Test Championship cycle as a must win. If they manage a perfect record, their chances of qualifying for the final will be almost certain. If they slip up somewhere, they could still get to Lord’s but will have to rely on other results, among teams who play far more than they do, to go their way.

Form Guide

West Indies: DLLLW ()
South Africa: DLLLW

In the Spotlight: Alick Athanaze and Kyle Verreynne

Alick Athanaze fell eight runs short of a first Test hundred in Trinidad, helped save the Test and looked comfortable against the short ball, and used the sweep shot well. His composure against South Africa’s more experienced players – Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada – was also impressive. He has already been identified as a key cog in the revival of West Indies’ long-format fortunes and could underline that with another big performance at a place in which he has historically done well: Guyana. Athanaze has played two first-class matches in Providence and crossed fifty three times. He scored 66 against Guyana in 2019, and 81 and 97 against Jamaica in March 2023.Kyle Verreynne will hope to find form in Guyana•AFP/Getty Images

If South Africa want the option of playing only six batters, they will have to believe Kyle Verreynne can score big runs when needed. He’s had a stop-start time in the Test squad, was dropped for the now-retired Heinrich Klaasen, and faces some competition from Ryan Rickelton. So, Verreynne will want to make use of the opportunities he gets quickly, he has not gotten past 39 in his last five innings. But he will want to draw from his first-class success, where he averages almost fifty, to find form in Tests.

Team News: Burger, Shamar likely to return

It would seem amiss not to play Shamar Joseph at home, especially as he is yet to play an international at Providence. After Gudakesh Motie went wicketless in Trinidad, Shamar may be in, leaving Jomel Warrican as the primary spinner.West Indies (Probable XI): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Alick Athanaze, 5 Kavem Hodge, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Jomel Warrican, 9 Jayden Seales, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shamar JosephSouth Africa were comfortable going into the first Test a bowler short but with the series on the line, they may have to sacrifice the length of their line-up to equip themselves with enough firepower to push a win. That could mean benching Ryan Rickelton and choosing between left-armer Nandre Burger or an extra spinner in Dane Piedt to give them a 6-5 split.South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 David Bedingham, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Wiaan Mulder/Dane Piedt, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Lungi Ngidi, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Nandre Burger

Pitch and Conditions: Tough outing for the batters?

With only two Tests played at this ground, and the last of those 13 years ago, there is scant data to go on for what to expect here, but the first-class numbers may tell us something. In 2023, it hosted three red-ball matches and the average first-innings score of 206, which suggests that batters are in for another tough outing. The venue seems to offer enough for both seam and spin with quicks taking 67 wickets in 2023 at 20.20 and an economy of 3.35 and spinners 49 wickets at 21.20 with an economy rate of 2.55.There are some afternoon thunderstorms forecast throughout the match, but the outlook is mostly sunny and dry. The players may need a few extra drinks breaks, though as temperatures will hover in the upper-30 degrees range but with humidity above 90%, so the real feel will be closer to 40 degrees.

Stats and Trivia:

• There have only been two Test matches played at Providence before and West Indies have a 1-1 record. They lost to Sri Lanka by 121 runs in 2008 and beat Pakistan by 40 runs in 2011.
• Aiden Markram had never been part of a drawn Test before the Trinidad match. He was part of a 37-game streak in which games have either been won or lost by South Africa.
• Kagiso Rabada needs five wickets to get to 300 in Tests. If he gets there in this Test, he could be the fastest South African to reach the landmark by number of balls. Rabada has bowled 11,596 balls in Tests so far. Dale Steyn, the quickest South African to 300 wickets by number of matches, got there in 12,605 balls. That gives Rabada 168.1 overs to get to 300 quicker than Steyn.
• In 15 home Tests between 2018 and 2021, Jason Holder took 64 wickets at an ave of 16.4. Since 2022, in six home Tests, he has seven wickets at 58.85.

Quotes

“On the previous game, there was obviously a little bit of frustration. We felt that with a little bit more time, a result could have been possible. Games ending as draws are few and far between and it wasn’t the case of both teams playing super well over five days. I’m yet to be in that situation. It would be nice to be involved in a test where both teams play at their best and at the end of the day, you can’t get a winner. Test cricket has become attacking. That’s an obvious thing because of T20 cricket. But in these conditions, I think it can be a bit tough to be overly attacking in slow wickets.”
“Batting-wise, in the first innings we could’ve put more runs on the board. I think that’s a big focus of ours and bowling-wise, the pitch didn’t offer much, especially the fast bowlers. They [the bowlers] didn’t get much spin in the first innings as well, but we were quite disciplined.”

Celtic are in the market to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch during the summer transfer window, having already added defender Kieran Tierney to the group.

The Hoops are reportedly closing in on the signing of Sweden international Benjamin Nygren from FC Nordsjælland to add to Brendan Rodgers’ attacking arsenal.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the left-footed star, who usually plays on the right wing, scored 15 goals in 30 matches in the Danish Superliga for his club.

This suggests that the 23-year-old forward could provide a good goal threat for Rodgers on the right flank next season, if he can adapt to Scottish Premiership football.

Celtic keen to sign another winger

Nygren may not be the only wide option added to the Hoops squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, though, as they are also eyeing a left-sided attacker.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha ahead of next season.

The reporter claims that the deal has slowed down in recent weeks, but that all parties, including Royal Antwerp and the Belgian dynamo, are keen for the 24-year-old forward to sign for the Hoops before the window closes.

Tavolieri adds that the Pro League side are demanding a fee in the region of £5m for their star winger, and it is now down to the Scottish giants to stump up the cash to get this deal done.

Why Balikwisha would be as exciting as Nygren for Celtic

If the Scottish giants can wrap up a move for the Belgian wing wizard in the coming days or weeks then he would be a signing that would be as exciting as the pending addition of Nygren.

As aforementioned, the Swedish star is an exciting purchase for the Hoops because of the potential he has to deliver goals on a regular basis from the right wing for Celtic.

Balikwisha, meanwhile, is a winger who carries a dual threat on the left flank as someone who can both score and create goals at a fairly impressive rate, albeit he is coming off the back of an injury-laden year that restricted him to just 12 starts in the Belgian top-flight.

The Royal Antwerp star had scored seven goals and provided five assists in 33 outings in the division during the 2023/24 campaign, before a disrupted season this term.

Starts

12

28

Goals

4

15

Assists

3

2

Goals*

0.31

0.53

xA*

0.22

0.21

Assists*

0.23

0.07

Chances created

1.99

1.62

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian star’s performances in limited minutes this season suggest that he has the potential to offer more to the team as a creator than Nygren does.

Balikwisha, who was described as “creative” by analyst Will Glavin, can consistently create high-quality opportunities to assist his teammates, whilst still offering a threat as a goalscorer.

Therefore, Celtic could have a good balance on the flanks as they would have Nygren to provide a huge goal threat and Balikwisha to be the main creator, whilst both players can also chip in with assists and goals respectively.

This means that both wide players are exciting in their own right, as they offer quality in different departments, and that is why Hoops fans should be excited by the prospect of both stars ending up at Parkhead this summer.

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Celtic are in talks with a European team over a deal for one of their star players.

ByDan Emery Jun 23, 2025

Even the best managers spend time out of the game, with some waiting for the right opportunity to reignite their careers, while others just want a break from the high-octane life of being a top-level boss.

Several high-profile managers who find themselves out of work could be options for clubs in the Premier League and across the continent to replace those under pressure.

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Here, Football FanCast takes a look at a selection of active managers who are out of work at the moment.

1

Massimiliano Allegri

Last job: Juventus (May 2024)

The veteran Italian coach Massimiliano Allegri has a glittering CV. Not only has he won six Serie A titles across spells at Juventus and Milan, but the 57-year-old has won five Coppa Italia trophies, too.

A serial winner indeed, but Allegri left the Old Lady at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and is still without work, making him one of the standout options on this list.

2

Francesco Farioli

Last job: Ajax (May 2025)

Francesco Farioli has been quietly making his name as an up-and-coming manager in recent years, with his early career already taking him to Turkey, France and the Netherlands.

His most recent spell at Ajax had the Dutch giants on the brink of an Eredivisie title, but a sensational collapse saw them win just one of their final five games to let PSV – who themselves had a commanding lead at one stage – off the hook.

Farioli resigned in the aftermath of their dramatic season conclusion despite qualifying for the Champions League.

3

Jurgen Klopp

Last job: Liverpool (May 2024)

Jurgen Klopp called time on his dazzling nine-year stay at Liverpool in 2024, leaving the club having restored them as champions of England in 2019/20 after earning their sixth European Cup a year earlier.

Klopp has since taken up a role at Red Bull, where he was appointed as global head of soccer at the start of 2025. Since then, he has been linked with the vacancy at Roma, who recently bid farewell to Claudio Ranieri.

However, Klopp had insisted that he had run out of energy upon his Liverpool exit, so perhaps he will take some time yet before deciding his next coaching role.

4

Julen Lopetegui

Last job: West Ham United (Jan 2025)

Julen Lopetegui has been unemployed since being let go by West Ham United in early 2025, having been unable to improve the Hammers’ fortunes after replacing David Moyes at the London Stadium.

A Europa League winner with Sevilla, the Spaniard’s CV remains an impressive one, and had previously displayed his managerial prowess in the Premier League with Wolves, so perhaps a better match-up can bring the best out of the ex-Real Madrid and Spain boss.

5

Thiago Motta

Last job: Juventus (Mar 2025)

Thiago Motta announced himself in the managerial world by steering Bologna to an unlikely Champions League place in 2023/24. His success led him to joining Juventus, who had parted with Massimiliano Allegri.

However, his spell as Bianconeri boss was underwhelming, and was dismissed with their Champions League qualification hopes under threat, while their European campaign also had its struggles, exiting the play-off round to PSV.

Motta was sacked in March as results in Serie A continued to disappoint.

6

Marco Rose

Last job: RB Leipzig (Mar 2025)

Marco Rose has had a relatively chequered history when it comes to success in the dugout.

After enjoying league success at Red Bull Salzburg, Rose had mixed spells at Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, his most recent club.

His tenures saw a mixture of Champions League qualifications and mid-table finishes, with the 2024/25 campaign seeing RB Leipzig fail to get out of the league phase in the Champions League as well as a drop-off in form in the Bundesliga. As a result, he is looking for a fifth job in eight years.

7

Roger Schmidt

Last job: Benfica (August 2024)

Roger Schmidt has been out of work since leaving Benfica in August 2024. Across two seasons with the Portuguese side, the German led the club to the league title in his maiden campaign, also winning the Portuguese Super Cup.

Benfica could only finish second behind Sporting CP last year, and after winning 7 points from 12 in the 2024/25 campaign, Schmidt departed the club.

He is no stranger to the pressures of managing a top side, also enjoying spells at PSV and Bayer Leverkusen, but it remains to be seen where he ends up next.

8

Gareth Southgate

Last job: England (July 2024)

Gareth Southgate bowed out after eight years of service as England manager, having twice taken them to the brink of European glory.

The end of the European Championship campaign in the summer of 2024 brought about the end of his tenure, with Southgate calling time after securing two runners-up medals and a first World Cup semi-final since 1990.

Despite him being linked to vacancies at Manchester United and former club Crystal Palace in the recent past, he had originally claimed that he would take a year out after cutting ties with the national team. Does that mean his next role is around the corner?

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9

Erik ten Hag

Last job: Manchester United (October 2024)

Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United having led them to a League Cup triumph in his first season and the FA Cup in his second, but it wasn’t good enough to save his job.

Premier League finishes of third and eighth proved to be what Ten Hag was judged on. Adding in the fact that the Old Trafford side ended bottom of their Champions League group in 2023/24, it was clear he couldn’t get the team playing to his desired style on a consistent basis.

Perhaps a spell at a club with less pressure will allow him to restore his reputation. Having said that, he was linked with the vacant role at Bayer Leverkusen in May, with Xabi Alonso recently departing the German Bundesliga club.

10

Edin Terzić

Last job: Borussia Dortmund (June 2024)

Edin Terzić led Borussia Dortmund to a surprise appearance in the 2023/24 Champions League final. A 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid was perhaps expected, but it looked like it could usher in a new era for the German side.

Just a week later, Terzic left Dortmund after three seasons in charge across two separate spells. Still young in managerial terms, he could be an ideal candidate for any major job that opens up across Europe.

Fulham have a good chance of signing an “incredible” midfielder this summer, with it now looking increasingly likely he leaves his club, according to reporter Christian Falk.

Cottagers keen to strengthen in multiple areas

The Cottagers have been inconsistent in recent weeks, which has hampered their European push somewhat, but they are likely to look back on this campaign as a success regardless, given that they are on course for a top-half finish in the Premier League.

However, Marco Silva may fancy his side’s chances of qualifying for Europe next season, should he make the right additions to the squad in the summer transfer window, and targets have been identified in a number of key areas.

Amid doubts over Antonee Robinson’s future, Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu could be brought in to bolster Silva’s options at left-back, while Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters has emerged as an option on the opposite side of the defence.

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Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis and AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze are among the targets in attacking areas, with the west Londoners also keen to strengthen in the engine room, according to BILD reporter Falk.

Speaking to BILD, Falk has now revealed Fulham have a good chance of bringing Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha back to Craven Cottage this summer (via Sport Witness), but there could be competition from their London rivals.

West Ham United are also in the race for Palhinha, who is now looking increasingly likely to leave Bayern at the end of the season, given that he has struggled to force his way into the side since completing a €51m (£44m) move last summer.

Falk believes the Portugal international could be keen on a move back to England, adding: “I think he would consider, if an offer comes in, whether it makes sense for him to perhaps return to the British Isles.”

"Incredible" Palhinha could reignite career at Fulham

The 29-year-old may have struggled to make a name for himself in the Bundesliga, but he put in some top performances during his time at Craven Cottage, with journalist Kyle Bonn once comparing him to Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.

Silva knows he can depend on the 6-foot-3 colossus, given their time working together, and he has continued to impress at times when given the opportunity at Bayern, ranking highly across some key defensive metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

3.70 (97th percentile)

Blocks

1.74 (90th percentile)

Aerials won

1.96 (92nd percentile)

It is promising news that Fulham could stand a good chance of signing Palhinha this summer, and they should be well-positioned to beat West Ham to his signature, given that they have vastly outperformed their London rivals in the Premier League this season.

The title is within reach….

Scottish champions Celtic closed in on yet another Premiership crown after recording a resounding 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon, with the Hoops responding in perfect fashion following last week’s disappointment at St Johnstone.

That 1-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park highlighted what has been a sticky spell for the Glasgow giants, with three defeats in six league outings, yet those woes were quickly forgotten this time around, as Brendan Rodgers’ men raced into a 4-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

Having put in a disappointing showing last week, Reo Hatate opened the scoring with a thunderous effort from range, before compatriot Daizen Maeda tapped home at the backpost for his 31st goal of the campaign.

Another stunning strike, this time from a surprise package in Cameron Carter-Vickers, was then followed by Hatate’s second of the day, with the Japanese playmaker calmly converting inside the penalty area.

Further gloss was then put on proceedings at the death – following a Killie consolation late in the first-half – as substitute Anthony Ralston lashed in from the angle to make it five. All eyes on Rangers now tomorrow…

Celtic's key performers vs Kilmarnock

It’s certainly worth giving another shout-out to that man Maeda, with the 27-year-old becoming the first player since Henrik Larsson to score in eight successive starts at Parkhead.

That finish may rank among the simplest of 2024/25 thus far, although the same can’t be said of Hatate, with the diminutive midfielder bending home in expert fashion to open the scoring on the day.

The 25-year-old’s second was also further evidence of his class as he delightfully made space for himself inside the area, having also claimed an assist for Ralston’s strike with a delicate dink round the corner.

Elsewhere, it was another fine showing from young Arne Engels, who came close to scoring himself after rattling the crossbar, while Alistair Johnston was also a real outlet again at right-back, with the Canadian teeing up Hatate’s second, having earlier played the pass that led to Maeda’s tap-in.

The former Montreal man – who chalked up 109 touches and achieved a 94% pass accuracy – is among those in Rodgers’ ranks who are simply undroppable, even despite Ralston’s late heroics, with the same also true of another of his teammates.

The Celtic star who showed why he's undroppable

As the Old Firm side slipped to a narrow defeat in the derby, there was perhaps a clear reason for the limp nature of their first-half display, in particular – the absence of Callum McGregor.

It was perhaps no surprise that the league leaders endured an off day without their long-serving skipper in tow, with the academy graduate simply vital to everything that is good about Celtic.

As club legend Chris Sutton noted, the Hoops “missed his leadership” and “missed his quality” in that defeat to Rangers, with McGregor – who was replaced by Engels in that deep-lying role on the day – making “everything look so easy in that position”.

McGregor’s stats vs Kilmarnock

Stat

Record

Touches

155

Pass accuracy

97%

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

2/2

Long balls

2/2

Possession lost

5x

Fouls won

1

Aerial duels

1/3

Ground duels

5/5

Dribbled past

0

Stats via Sofascore

Such class was again on show on Saturday afternoon, with the experienced Scotsman quietly pulling the strings in his usual serene style. He may not have stolen the headlines, but the 31-year-old was again the man making everything tick.

Indeed, the one-time Notts County loanee racked up a mammoth total of 155 touches and achieved a stunning 97% pass accuracy rate, having lost possession on just five occasions despite that heavy involvement.

That impact in the centre of the park also saw McGregor complete 100% of his attempted dribbles and register two key passes, having also won all five of his ground duels, thus showcasing the steel to match the silk.

In truth, such a showing was a captain’s performance in every sense of the word, with the question remaining as to how Rodgers will manage to replace his leading figure in the years to come, amid the current lack of genuine alternatives in that number six berth.

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That is a problem for another day, however, with all focus now on just when it will be that a record-equalling 55th league title can be secured.

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Posts ByBen Gray Apr 10, 2025

Doubt has flooded the environment as the Stokes-McCullum cult credo reaches its fiery endgame

Andrew Miller08-Dec-20256:09

‘Australia have sat back, waited for England and pushed them over’

The Ashes are not yet over, but Bazball most emphatically is. It died, to all intents and purposes, with Ben Stokes’ shockingly frank admission after another crushing defeat, that his team of mindset-driven genre-benders have been found wanting in the heat of a battle that their entire ethos had been geared towards.Specifically, it received its terminal diagnosis under the floodlights on the third evening at the Gabba. England’s display up to that point had been deeply flawed, not unlike so many other Tests of the Bazball era, but this abject passage of play – six wickets in a session, when the daylight resumption promised a flat deck and rich rewards for any batter who could apply themselves – was its point of no return.Theologists have spent thousands of years examining belief systems, watching their rise and fall, and who rightly knows what gives some concepts more stickability than others. England don’t even acknowledge that their curious but compelling cult is actually a thing, let alone that it has a universally recognised name.Related

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But fundamentally, if you believe that there is belief within a system, then there is belief. Cogito Bazball sum, as it were. Right now, there is no sense that England believe in their methods any more. Ergo, the entire philosophy crumbles, or worse. A fiery demise always seemed a plausible endgame.And with it goes every remaining defence of the preparations that went into England’s tour. The cosiness, the togetherness, the lackadaisical attitude to warm-up matches … all of it could be justified by the knowledge that this team, with full-bore mental focus, could be capable of truly extraordinary deeds: specifically of going where their timid, samey forebears could not, and pulling off a series win in Australia for the first time in four dismal visits.That’s not to say, however, that the series has yet been surrendered. Not after a contest in which Stokes and Joe Root were England’s two stand-out performers, it hasn’t.But the circumstances for this team could not be more different from their last 2-0 deficit in an Ashes campaign, at the very height of Bazball in the summer of 2023. Back then, their surety of purpose was intoxicating – nauseating, even, to Australians who still grumble about the pursuit of moral victories – but there was simply nothing that could penetrate their firewall of self-affirmation, not even (at that heady stage of the cycle, at least…) defeat itself.Now, however, if England are to win from here, it can only be through a reversion to type: through a reliance on the sort of miracle-working that Bazball was designed to do away with, with the greats in England’s midst driving every step of the agenda, and with the rank and file falling into lock-step to meet their needs, as Will Jacks did so gamely in the opening session of Brisbane’s final day.Downed under: Ben Stokes conceded his side have not stood up to pressure in Australia•CA/Getty ImagesWhile that seventh-wicket stand was stretching into its fourth hour, we could have been thrust back into the guts of any given show of English resistance from yesteryear: Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe batting through to the close at the Gabba in 1994-95, for instance, or Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen compiling a similar stand on the same stage 12 years later. Resistance was futile then, as it is likely to be now, as England find themselves hauled back to the standard rules of Ashes engagement, after a three-and-a-half year experiment that is already being derided down under as an absurd flight of fancy.Despite all the I-told-you-sos around England’s under-taxing preparations, there’s not a lot of point in being wise after the event. This was their plan, and they were entitled to stick to it, but only on the assumption that the players were still responding to such a permissive environment. To cut Brendon McCullum some slack, that was more or less the point he was trying to make in his post-match comments: that, in the wake of the Perth defeat, England’s sudden switch from calm visualisation to hyper-intensive net sessions was a factor in their subsequent mental fraughtness. Unfortunately, in the circumstances that have just played out, such a takeaway sounds delusional.Far more revealing was Stokes’s own declaration, that “Australia is not for weak men, and a dressing-room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either”. He might as well have been priming any number of his team-mates (and Ollie Pope in particular) for their collective launching beneath the bus. But moreover, he was reframing the debate so far as the rest of this campaign must pan out. The kid gloves are off now. Crisis has engulfed this tour, just as it did each the three previous Ashes trips that span Root’s and Stokes’ careers. They’ve never yet found so much as an emergency exit, but those players at the very least already recognise that this is not a drill.There’ll be time enough for affectionate remembrance of Bazball when its ashes have been cremated (through hours of toil in the field) over the coming three Tests. But for now, it’s worth recalling Stokes’ sentiments, in the calm before the storm at the start of 2023, when the team was riding high on nine wins out of ten, and long before its subsequent stack of missed opportunities (P33 W16 L15 since) had begun to chip away at its foundations.

“The sadness for Stokes in particular is that he has been conditioning his team to walk this tightrope for three-and-a-half years. They’ve run towards the danger, they’ve explored their line and taken it “too far”, all with half an eye on a challenge that he was willing to risk losing in order to win”

“I’m at a stage now where I would much prefer to leave a mark on other people’s careers than look to make mine more established,” Stokes told reporters on the eve of England’s last pink-ball Test, against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. “That’s one of my goals as England captain: to hopefully let some of these guys in the dressing room here just have an amazing career and if I can influence that in any way shape or form then I’ll be happy.”It sounds positively Kumbaya, compared to his latest growl from the trenches. By ceding some of his main character energy – with Root, in spite of some acknowledged struggles, doing likewise – Stokes knew he had the means to make the collective stronger, and guard himself against the burnout that almost ended his career four years ago. There is absolutely no doubt that he achieved his aim, for as long as the vibe endured.And yet, England really hadn’t bargained for the collateral that they’ve picked up along the journey. Their failure to win any five-Test series since 2018 is deeply galling, but if Old Trafford 2023 stands out as the great what-if of Bazball’s first iteration, then their loss to India at The Oval last summer will probably come to be regarded as the moment that crushed the concept once and for all.England’s failure to close out the Oval Test against India now looks like a critical moment in the team’s development•Getty ImagesAt the time, and in keeping with so many of this regime’s ickier elements, the shattering nature of England’s six-run defeat was initially lost in the “isn’t-Test-cricket-great?” narrative. And while images of Chris Woakes’ shoulder-in-a-sling heroism abounded, rather less was made of, say, Jamie Smith’s terrible slog off his third ball of that final day, or Gus Atkinson’s inability to grind his team over the line.Even Harry Brook’s bat-flinging departure attracted less eyebrow-raising than it might have done, thanks to the magnificent century that preceded it. You can’t have the one without the other, was the takeaway he brought down under with him, en route to a truly rank dismissal in England’s first innings at Brisbane for which Australia’s tail went out of their way to shame him two days later.And as for Pope, the vulnerability that has stalked him all year long – from Jacob Bethell’s competing claims to the loss of the vice-captaincy – confirms a fact about the Bazball mindset that hasn’t been fully acknowledged since England’s first attempts to “reset” the approach after their 4-1 loss in India. Bubbles pop when you poke holes in them. The doubts had flooded into the environment months ago – including, in all likelihood, from the white-ball set-up that McCullum took over (to deeply unspectacular effect) before the Champions Trophy in January.The sadness for Stokes in particular is that he has been conditioning his team to walk this tightrope throughout these three-and-a-half years. They’ve run towards the danger, they’ve explored their line and taken it “too far”, all with half an eye on a challenge that he, as captain, was willing to risk losing in order to win.Stokes will not get another shot at repairing his legacy in the country that has so defined his career. After two ill-balanced steps, his team’s challenge is already plunging towards the abyss. England need miracles from hereon in. But when you’re all out of faith, that’s easier said than done.

Opportunities for players has never been higher but fixture clash undermines tournament

Matt Roller17-Jan-2024Laurie Evans is the fastest-scoring batter in the Big Bash League this season and blitzed 72 off 34 balls in Perth Scorchers’ final-ball defeat to Sydney Sixers on Tuesday, their final game of the regular home-and-away portion. But when Scorchers face Adelaide Strikers in Saturday’s Eliminator, he will be 9,000km away in Abu Dhabi.Evans is one of seven players who will miss the BBL’s knockout stages in order to feature in the early stages of the ILT20 in the UAE. It is a scheduling clash which leaves three Englishmen – who have a single international cap between them – as the only overseas signings left standing in Australia, and one which diminishes a season that has reinvigorated the BBL.Strikers are the worst-affected club: they will lose this season’s joint-highest wicket-taker in Jamie Overton and the third-highest run-scorer in Chris Lynn, as well as Adam Hose. Brisbane Heat will be without Sam Billings and captain Colin Munro for Friday’s Qualifier against the Sixers, who themselves will have to cope without James Vince.The principal reason does not take long to work out: the ILT20 pays players more than the BBL. “All the way through my career I’ve made a name for myself in finals and big games,” Evans said on Tuesday night. “It’s absolutely the worst time to be leaving, but I’ve got a job to do and a family to feed. It’s just the nature of the beast.”Despite a 50% increase in the BBL’s salary cap ahead of this season, the ILT20 has more financial muscle. ILT20 franchises can spend up to US$2.75 million – including two ‘wildcard’ players – on salaries for a four-week tournament, while BBL teams are capped at US$2m for a seven-week period. Put simply, players earn more money for less work.But wages are not the only consideration: most players had signed ILT20 contracts long before the BBL’s overseas draft. When Overton signed off from the Big Bash with an Instagram post on Monday, he denied a fan’s comment that Gulf Giants will pay him more. “They aren’t,” he said. “I had signed for them before I got drafted with the Strikers.”The first two overseas drafts have split opinion and have added needless uncertainty for players who would otherwise have been retained directly. Billings, for example, has spent the last two seasons with the Heat, but had to go through the uncertainty of a televised draft between them rather than simply signing a contract extension.

Some people forget that a draft literally has zero guarantee of being picked up…

All players want to play finals

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) January 16, 2024

Evans believes that there is also a “general consensus” among players that the BBL’s 44-match season could be played in a tighter timeframe: “I certainly feel that the BBL could squeeze some more games in. We’ve had a lot of downtime and I think that way, you’ll get the best players coming back over without any clashes, and get the finals done.”It’s great that I can go and play as many tournaments as I can in a year,” Evans said. “I just think you need to move with the times. You’ve seen it in England with the Hundred: they want it done inside a month and it’s a brutal schedule, but that’s the game we’re in. The 10 games [per team] is about right, but I definitely think we could shorten the start and end.”Several ILT20 franchises have the advantage of a global footprint. Evans will be aware that if his form continues in an Abu Dhabi Knight Riders shirt over the next month, it could result in contracts with their affiliates in the US (Los Angeles), the Caribbean (Trinbago) and even India (Kolkata) down the line. There is no equivalent with Scorchers.The game is at saturation point worldwide: from Friday, the BBL’s finals will compete for attention not only with the ILT20, but also the Bangladesh Premier League, the SA20 and a swathe of bilateral international series, including Australia’s Test series against a West Indies side missing several players to those leagues.The status quo is not working. Take Nicholas Pooran: he played three games in five days for Durban’s Super Giants in the first week of the SA20 but has since joined MI Emirates, whom he will briefly captain before flying to Australia for a T20I series. Players have never had so many opportunities to earn a living, and the global market has never been more competitive.Even still, the BBL remains an attractive league for overseas players: they can base themselves and their families in Australia over Christmas, play for established teams in front of engaged crowds, and earn a competitive wage while doing so. Holding onto a set of high-quality overseas players for the knockout stages should not be an impossible task.The BBL has been a major success this year, with the decision to reduce the number of games vindicated by a significant spike in crowd numbers and a compelling narrative that has sustained the league’s 13th season. But the talent drain to the UAE should remind its administrators that there is no room for complacency.