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Patrick Vieira has stayed tight-lipped on AS Roma links, asserting that his only priority right now is ensuring Genoa’s survival in the Serie A.

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Vieira took charge of Genoa in NovemberHas managed to script a turnaround with the RossobluIs being viewed as a successor to Ranieri at RomaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Vieira's arrival in Liguria came at a crucial time. Genoa were flirting with the relegation zone, but under his guidance, the club has shown renewed tactical discipline and a defensive resilience that has lifted them away from immediate danger.

AdvertisementGOALWHAT VIEIRA SAID

Vieira addressed the growing speculation about his future during a pre-match press conference where he insisted that his attention remains firmly on securing the club’s Serie A status and is not letting transfer talk derail his mission.

“The future is always a very difficult thing in football. Because we all know that a coach’s life is measured in those 95 minutes,” Vieira said. "The most important thing is to stay focused on our goal, and our goal is to remain in Serie A. We have a new president, we have fans who hope to see Genoa in Serie A next year. Mathematically, nothing has been achieved yet, and until that happens, I don’t want to waste any energy. What I can tell you is that I have absolutely never spoken with any other club.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Since hanging up his boots in 2016, Vieira has been steadily building his managerial résumé. The former Arsenal and France midfielder started his coaching career in Major League Soccer with New York City FC before taking on roles in Ligue 1 with Nice, and later in the Premier League with Crystal Palace. More recently, he led Strasbourg before taking the reins at Genoa in 2024.

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DID YOU KNOW?

According to Sky Italia, the capital club are weighing up multiple profiles, with Stefano Pioli, Maurizio Sarri, and Vincenzo Montella reportedly among the names being discussed. While Vieira is said to be on that list, sources indicate that he ranks behind the more experienced trio in Roma’s pecking order.

Liverpool are now ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign a Premier League star in the months ahead, a fresh report has revealed, with the star making Anfield his preferred destination.

Liverpool's Premier League lead cut

A 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground saw Liverpool lose ground in the Premier League title race, with Arsenal’s north London derby win cutting their lead to four points at the top, though that could extend to seven points should they win the rearranged Merseyside derby next month.

Having already qualified for the next stage of the Champions League too, it is has been a monumentally successful first half a season in charge for Arne Slot, who has tasted defeat just twice across all competitions and whose side have scored the most goals in the Premier League while conceding just once in six Champions League games.

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Despite this, there is longer term concern at the club with all of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold becoming free agents this summer as things stand and set to rob Liverpool of three of their key men should they not agree new deals.

They have already begun planning for the future in some areas, with Giorgi Mamardashvili being signed last summer to join the club in 2025 from Valencia, but there will need to be more additions across the frontline, in midfield and in defence in the windows ahead to rebuild what is becoming an increasingly ageing squad in places.

One area that Liverpool will undoubtedly need to bolster is left-back, where Andy Robertson is beginning to show his age and Kostas Tsimikas is offering litttle challenge to his place in the team on a weekly basis. Now, they have been handed a massive boost in their hunt for a replacement.

Liverpool in pole position to land Premier League defender

That is according to iNews, who report that Liverpool have moved into pole position to sign Hungarian defender Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.

The full-back, dubbed as a player with a “unique skillset” by former teammate Mathew Ryan, has caught the eye with a series of excellent performances for Andoni Iraola’s high flying Cherries.

Andy Robertson

Milos Kerkez

Goals/Assists

0

4

Tackles and interceptions per 90

2.25

2.62

Take on success

28.6%

40.9%

Progressive carries per 90

2

2.57

It has sparked serious interest in him from across the Premier League, and the report claims that Liverpool have the advantage over their rivals, with Kerkez preferring the idea of an Anfield switch.

“Liverpool, City and United have already started to make contact with the player’s representatives, but it is understood the 21-year-old favours a move to Anfield over the Manchester clubs,” the report reveals.

As for why, Liverpool have to look no further than their Sporting Director Richard Hughes, who was responsible for signing Kerkez for Bournemouth and who “is understood to play a major part in the Hungary international’s thinking”.

So far, there have “been no concrete proposals”, but it is added that “offers in the region of £50m is where they are understood to be willing to do business” having already signed Kerkez’s long-term replacement this month despite the Hungarian still having three and a half years left to run on his £30,000 a week deal at the Vitality Stadium.

Freya Davies and Amelia Kerr chip away to set up straightforward run chase

ECB Reporters Network24-Aug-2022Freya Davies and Amelia Kerr starred with the ball as London Spirit broke their duck at the fourth attempt in this year’s Hundred with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over still-winless Welsh Fire.England quick Davies struck twice in two balls on her way to figures of 3 for 25, while New Zealand legspinner Kerr took the crucial wickets of Sarah Bryce and Nicola Carey in a miserly spell of 2 for 14 to restrict Fire to a below-par 119.Australian legend Beth Mooney made light of the chase, finishing unbeaten on 61 after sharing an opening stand of 66 with pinch-hitter Danielle Gibson as Spirit got home with 14 balls to spare.Having failed to chase down a score in their three previous matches Fire understandably chose to bat on winning the toss, but their innings followed a familiar pattern.Bryce, promoted to fill the shoes of Hayley Matthews, who had departed to the Caribbean Premier League, gave early impetus, latching onto some short pitch bowling from Spirit to score boundaries either side of the wicket and despatching a full toss from the otherwise impressive Kerr over the ropes for the only six off the innings.Freya Davies removed Tammy Beaumont and Annabel Sutherland off successive deliveries•ECB/Getty ImagesSkipper Tammy Beaumont too flourished briefly in an opening stand of 46 before missing a straight one from Davies which flattened her middle stump. Davies then made it two in two with a peach of an inswinger which castled Annabel Sutherland.Spinners Grace Scrivens and Kerr tightened Spirit’s grip by attacking the stumps and pressure told when Bryce lofted the latter to long-on to end an enterprising knock. Thereafter only Carey broke the shackles, taking three fours off one set from Gibson, but Kerr returned to have her stumped by Mooney.Their total of 119 looked light and Gibson, opening for the first time in the tournament, set about the chase with relish with some brutal hitting, including hoisting Carey for a glorious straight six.Related

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An ugly tennis shot to a short ball from Sutherland looked to have ended the fun on 24, but Fire’s luck was out as a no-ball was called. Gibson celebrated the reprieve by thrashing one from Alex Hartley to the long-off boundary to raise the 50 stand.Mooney had played second fiddle to this juncture, but joined in the fun with a lofted drive over cover, before a cut shot bisected two fielders to the fence at third. By the time a repeat of the tennis shot proved Gibson’s undoing, Spirit had 66 on the board and needed just a run a ball.Sophie Luff, who might have been run out for nought, didn’t stay long, but Mooney reached 50 with her ninth four as the hosts cantered home.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer delivered a hilarious "just a Sunday League player" response to claims that his dad taught him everything he knows.

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Manchester native showed early potentialLeft City for Stamford Bridge in 2023Now an award-winning England internationalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In his early years, Palmer spent many happy hours working with his father in their family garden. It was there that he honed the skills that would one day make him a Premier League hero and senior England international.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Natural ability obviously played a part, with the Manchester native showing enough potential to join the academy ranks at City from Under-8 level. He went on to take in 41 appearances under Pep Guardiola, before heading to Stamford Bridge in 2023.

DID YOU KNOW?

Palmer has become a talismanic presence in west London, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his debut campaign, and the plan is – at just 22 years of age – to take his game to even greater heights.

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WHAT COLE PALMER SAID

While enjoying another kickabout with his father, smirking Palmer said on the ‘The New Generation’ documentary series from Amazon Prime after learning that his dad was claiming to have taught him how to become a star: "Nah, he did teach me but… he’s just a Sunday League player, it’s not like he was good."

Everton are now looking to inject some pace into their side as they open talks over a potential January addition for Sean Dyche, it has been reported.

Everton struggling for results

With just one win in their last 11 Premier League games, Everton are drifting towards the relegation zone once more. The Toffees have picked up credible draws against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in that run, but back to back defeats and a tough fixture list ahead has left the club looking nervously over their shoulder, with just a point separating themselves from Wolves and Ipswich, who occupy 17th and 18th place.

Aston Villa (Home)

Tottenham (Home)

Brighton (Away)

Leicester (Home)

Crystal Palace (Away)

With the January transfer window now open, Everton have a chance to strengthen their ranks ahead of another attempt at a great escape in the second half of the campaign, but it may not be as easy as that. Speaking to the media at the turn of the year, Dyche admitted he was not hopeful for new faces in the winter window despite the club takeover.

The Toffees had been linked with a move for winger Jaden Philogene, but that move has since broken down with Ipswich closing in on his signing. However, fresh reports have claimed that Everton have identified a potential bargain, and have opened talks over bringing him to Goodison Park before the end of the month.

Everton in talks with Premier League midfielder

That comes courtesy of Caught Offside, who report that Everton have opened talks to sign Jakub Moder from Brighton ahead of the January transfer deadline.

The Polish midfielder has been restricted to just three Premier League appearances so far this season under Fabian Hurzeler, totalling just eight minutes of action.

Now down to the final six months of his £10,000 a week deal at the Amex Stadium, he is thought to be keen to leave in search of more regular minutes, while Brighton for their part are also keen to cash in on the 25-year-old rather than lose him for free at the end of the season.

Everton made "important bid" to sign massive upgrade on Dwight McNeil

Everton are in talks to sign Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene, with a permanent deal most-likely, as the Blues aim to bolster their forward options.

ByBen Gray Jan 8, 2025

To that end, the report claims that relegation candidates Everton and Leicester City are both keen to land him this transfer window as the pair seek more midfield reinforcements. Able to play as a number six, central midfielder or creative midfielder, the Toffees are “in talks” over a potential move to land the Brighton man on a cut-price deal.

Though not renowned for his goalscoring threat, one thing that Moder would certainly provide is pace. According to last season’s statistics, the Poland international was the fifth fastest player in the Premier League, clocking up an impressive top speed of 36.84KM/H, higher than the likes of Anthony Gordon, Callum Hudson Odoi and Gabriel Martinelli.

That speed would also make him faster than anyone in the Everton squad this season, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin the quickest player Dyche can currently call upon, and his top speed a full 2 kilometres an hour below that of Moder’s from last season. Bringing fresh energy to the Toffees, could Moder prove a low-cost gem for Dyche’s side?

England seamer impresses on comeback after Dane Paterson, James Pattinson share all 10

ECB Reporters Network27-Jul-2022Nottinghamshire 240 and 284 for 7 (Hameed 94, James 56, Robinson 3-55) lead Sussex 143 (Paterson 5-43, Pattinson 5-56) by 381 runsEngland’s Ollie Robinson increased his wickets haul to seven in the match but Nottinghamshire were in full control at the halfway stage of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Sussex.Robinson proved deadly with the new ball for the second time, reducing the Division Two leaders to 40 for 3 in their second innings. But after Haseeb Hameed made 94 and Lyndon James 56, Nottinghamshire finished on 284 for 7, with a lead of 381.Earlier, Nottinghamshire pace bowlers James Pattinson and Dane Paterson finished with five wickets each as Sussex, who sit next to bottom of the table, were bowled out for 143 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s first innings 240.To add to their woes, any points take from this match – they have three thus far – may be lost, as they stand at minus six on their over-rate.Nottinghamshire needed just under an hour first thing to take the final five Sussex wickets, the key breakthrough coming in the sixth over when Paterson trapped Cheteshwar Pujara with an inswinging ball that was too good even for a player of the Indian Test star’s calibre.His wicket, ending a partnership worth 71, more than compensated the South African bowler for a chance missed earlier when Archie Lenham, the 18-year-old son of Neil Lenham and grandson of Les, who had battled courageously alongside Pujara in the face of a high class attack, was put down at second slip.With Pujara gone, Paterson and Pattinson ripped through the remainder so quickly that all five wickets fell for 23 runs in the space of 34 deliveries.Pattinson removed Lenham for a gutsy 31, the youngster looking disappointed to be given out leg before after the ball rolled away to third slip. Robinson was strangled down the leg side, prompting Luke Fletcher to appear alongside Pattinson to congratulate him on his first five-wicket haul of the season.Not to be outdone, Paterson knocked out Sean Hunt’s off stump before having Ari Karvelas plainly leg-before to finish with 5 for 43, Pattinson having taken 5 for 56.As on day one of a breathtakingly fast-moving contest, Robinson came up with a superb opening spell as Sussex, trailing by 97 on first innings, made early inroads.Again, his fourth and fifth overs were productive as Ben Slater, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke departed in the space of six deliveries, the last-named pair without scoring.Slater went after a short ball with little chance of controlling the shot and was caught at fine leg. Duckett was caught behind off an inside edge before Clarke, offering no shot, was lbw to a ball that kept low.If they had winkelled out Hameed at that point, Sussex might have felt they were back in the contest but the sometime England opener, closing on 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time since his sensational breakthrough year at Lancashire in 2016, looked in splendid touch.A superbly timed straight drive for four in Robinson’s opening over was evidence of that and by the time he pulled Brad Currie to the fence for his ninth boundary he had 50 from 71 balls. Having seen the back of Robinson for a while, he and James added 138 in 33 overs.Hameed missed out on a hundred when a ball from Hunt, the 20-year-old left-armer, nipped away to have him caught behind. In his best spell of the match, Hunt also dismissed James, lbw trying to work him to leg.Currie removed Tom Moores shortly after tea with another delivery that found the edge and Steven Mullaney, whose 70 was the key innings in Nottinghamshire’s first innings, added another 42 before he was leg before sweeping another 18-year-old, the left-arm spinner.Pattinson and Liam Patterson-White added 34 before bad light brought the close forward by two overs.

Sat 14th and forced to admit that the reality of a relegation battle is no longer a world away, Ruben Amorim is reportedly demanding that Sir Jim Ratcliffe welcomes a reinforcement worth £80m for Manchester United this month.

Man Utd transfer news

Creating history that no one wants to be remembered for by losing five of his first eight league games in charge of Manchester United, the difficulty of the task at hand has never been more apparent for Amorim at Old Trafford. A third consecutive Premier League defeat looked inevitable from minute one against Newcastle United last time out, as does the departure of Marcus Rashford, who was back on the Manchester United bench but unused against the Magpies.

Just seven points clear of the dropzone following Ipswich Town’s victory over Chelsea last time out, Manchester United’s trip to Anfield this weekend couldn’t have been poorer timed as they look to avoid dropping closer and closer to disastrous circumstances.

In such a position, those at Old Trafford must find a way to welcome reinforcements even if they’ve previously seemed reluctant to do so this month, with Amorim desperate for fresh faces.

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So much so that, according to The Daily Star, Amorim is now demanding Ratcliffe to sign Viktor Gyokeres this month, telling the Manchester United co-owner that he cannot wait for the summer transfer window and he needs a reunion with the Sporting Club star now.

It’s not always as simple as that, however. Gyokeres’ hefty £80m release clause means that, no matter how much Amorim demands his signature, the Swede may well be out of reach for Manchester United right now.

Likely left stranded with a striker who fans ironically cheered off the pitch in the first-half against Newcastle United – Joshua Zirkzee – and Rasmus Hojlund, who is yet to show more than glimpses of his potential, Amorim must simply survive the season.

Man Utd must back Amorim with "Rolls-Royce" Gyokeres

With the fear of a relegation battle growing more and more of a reality, United may be left with no choice but to spend their way out of trouble. It’s clear that the squad Amorim inherited is far from one built for success in his 3-4-2-1 system, but the Red Devils knew what their new manager required when they hired him and must now back their man in the transfer market.

Dubbed a “Rolls-Royce” by journalist Zach Lowy, Gyokeres would drag Manchester United out of the embarrassment of a relegation battle and onwards at least, but INEOS must first reach his valuation.

A player who starred under Amorim at Sporting, scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City in a Champions League thrashing of the Citizens and hitting 27 goals in 27 games this season, Gyokeres is a must-buy for United in 2025. Whether Ratcliffe will listen to Amorim’s demands remains to be seen, however.

Ollie Pope cashes in on extra life to build spirited England response after early wobble

Valkerie Baynes11-Jun-2022Stumps Daryl Mitchell’s prize innings put New Zealand in a commanding position at stumps on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test, despite a couple of late blemishes proving he’s only human and that England must take whatever chances they get.Led by Mitchell’s 190, New Zealand posted a first-innings total of 553, their highest score on English soil, after he and fellow centurion Tom Blundell put on a 236-run stand, their country’s highest-ever fifth-wicket partnership.England wobbled, losing Zak Crawley in the second over of their response, but then Ollie Pope showed intent with an unbeaten half-century as he made use of an excellent batting pitch – and some good fortune.Mitchell, dropped on 3 and 104 amid a rash of fielding errors by England, soured a memorable day somewhat when he put down a simple chance at first slip off Tim Southee when Alex Lees was on 12. England were already one down after Trent Boult had Crawley caught behind for just 4 with an excellent cross-seam delivery.Pope pressed the accelerator after facing 45 balls for his first 11 runs, racing to 37 from 56 as he twice pulled Matt Henry for six, the second instance prompting a ball change. Pope should have been gone shortly afterwards but Mitchell spilled another slips catch off Boult which raced away to the rope at third man.Pope set about making New Zealand pay as he moved to fifty with two fours in three Kyle Jamieson deliveries, driven with aplomb through the covers and cut through backward point. Lees, meanwhile, got in on the boundary action too, with five fours on his way to 34 not out at the close.It wasn’t until well into an extended evening session after rain had forced an early tea break that England finally broke the tourists’ stride after they had marched on from Blundell’s dismissal for 106.His exit brought debutant Michael Bracewell to the crease and he played impressively during a 91-run partnership with Mitchell before falling one run shy of his fifty.It was James Anderson who struck first after tea, drawing an outside edge from Bracewell and Joe Root held on firmly at slip, still clenching the ball tightly in his right fist as he animatedly gestured that it was staying put this time after contributing two of England’s five costly missed chances for the New Zealand innings.Joe Root reacts after taking a catch to dismiss Michael Bracewell•AFP via Getty ImagesSo began a run of dismissals in which New Zealand lost four wickets for 24 runs in the space of 3.4 overs and, all told, their last five wickets for 57 runs. Stuart Broad claimed two in an over when he had Jamieson caught behind gloving a short ball then removed Tim Southee with another short ball which bobbed up off the splice and sailed to Root at gully.Jack Leach chimed in when he had Matt Henry out slashing to Crawley in the covers, but then Boult added 33 runs with Mitchell, during which time Boult drew level with Muthiah Muralidaran for the most career Test runs scored at No. 11 with 623. Boult remained unbeaten with 16 from 18 balls when Mitchell finally perished for 190 reaching for a slow, wide ball from Matthew Potts and edging to Ben Foakes behind the stumps.Earlier, Mitchell had backed up his century in last week’s first Test at Lord’s by reaching his second consecutive ton in the morning session after resuming on 81.He stared in slack-jawed astonishment when another fielding error saw him survive – then cash in – shortly after posting his ton. On 104, Mitchell lofted Leach down the ground and Potts, running round to his left from long-on made the distance comfortably but somehow managed only to get a fingernail to the ball before it bounced onto his knee and over the rope for four.Potts bowled the next over, only to concede back-to-back fours to Mitchell, the first bringing up the 200-partnership that had narrowly eluded him and Blundell at Lord’s, via an outside edge behind point and the second a crunching drive through mid-off.Having moved to 90, Blundell paused for treatment after copping a heavy blow to his finger whilst facing Potts. After that, however, he made fast work of reaching his hundred with two fours from three Leach deliveries, the latter as he advanced down the pitch and pummelled the ball back over the bowler’s head for one bounce over the rope, and then a scrambled single off the last ball of the over.Blundell, who managed 96 in a 195-run stand with Mitchell at Lord’s, fell when he took Leach on once more and chipped to Ben Stokes at mid-off.Mitchell carted Leach for 17 runs in the second over after lunch, striking fours through cover and long-on and six down the ground. He launched another six over wide long-on in Leach’s next over and by the end of New Zealand’s innings they had plundered 84 boundaries. That included four sixes in all to Mitchell and nine fours to Bracewell, who impressed on his first Test outing.

América's coach says potential move to the Brazil national team unlikely, but that 'hopefully, one day I can be worthy'

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América defeated Tigres 3-0 on Matchday 13

Las Águilas secured their spot in the Clausura 2025 final phase

André Jardine reached 100 matches with the club

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

The dismissal of Dorival Junior as Brazil's head coach has brought names such as Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and even América’s André Jardine into the conversation as a potential replacement.

Jardine is enjoying an exceptional moment, leading América to the top of the Clausura 2025 with 30 points. Las Águilas have already secured their spot in the tournament’s final phase, where they will aim for their fourth consecutive Liga MX title.

But is Jardine’s move to the Brazil national team even a possibility? Here’s what the coach had to say about the rumors linking him as Dorival Junior’s replacement:

"Obviously, I did a job in Brazil with the Olympic gold, and that is valued in Brazil," he said. "But, to be completely honest, Brazil is looking for top-tier coaches – [Carlo} Ancelotti, [Pep] Guardiola. I’m a step below that level. Hopefully, one day I can be worthy of that seat, which is a hot and heavy one.

"Brazil is thinking about a world-class coach. Right now, things are heated, but I’m happy. I enjoy the moment, every match, every day, and the achievement of every tournament."

AdvertisementAFPWHAT ANDRÉ JARDINE SAID

"First of all, I want to say that I appreciate the great value the Mexican press gives me today. I’m very happy with how I’ve been embraced here – it fills me with pride. I’ve felt welcomed in this country since day one in San Luis, loved by the fans. My son is Mexican, and I feel happy and fulfilled in this league. This is an important point – earning the respect of everyone, from the press and fans to rival coaches."

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

André Jardine has reached 100 matches as América's head coach, an impressive milestone in his tenure with the club. Since his arrival in mid-2023, the Brazilian manager has led Las Águilas to a historic period of dominance, securing three Liga MX titles in a row and positioning the team as a powerhouse in Mexican football.

Jardine's Record with América (first 100 Matches):

Wins: 66

Draws: 21

Losses: 13

Goals Scored: 191

Goals Conceded: 78

Titles Won: 3 (Liga MX Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, Apertura 2024)

Under his leadership, América has established itself as the strongest team in Liga MX, currently leading the Clausura 2025 with 30 points. Jardine has also emphasized squad depth, rotation, and tactical flexibility, ensuring the team's consistency despite injuries and fixture congestion.

Jardine and his team remain focused on their primary objectives: securing a fourth consecutive Liga MX title and winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the only major club trophy missing from his tenure.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR AMÉRICA?

After their 3-0 victory over Tigres on Matchday 13 of the Clausura 2025, América return to training to prepare for the first leg of the Champions Cup quarterfinals against Cruz Azul Tuesday at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.

Following that match, Jardine’s squad will train on before traveling to Pachuca, where they will face Tuzos on Saturday for Matchday 14.

Adani’s foray into the league makes them the fifth franchise owner in the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2022Adani Group, an Ahmedabad-based Indian infrastructure biggie, has bagged the rights to one of the six franchises in the newly-launched UAE T20 League.Adani’s foray into the league, through their subsidiary Adani Sportsline, makes them the fifth franchise owner in the tournament. The other four firms that have already brought franchise rights comprise: Capri Global, a non-banking financial company based in India, Lancer Capital, the owners of Manchester United Football Club, Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, the owners of Mumbai Indians and GMR Group, co-owners of Delhi Capitals.”We are excited to be part of the UAE T20 league,” Pranav Adani, the managing director of Adani Enterprises Limited, said. “The UAE is an amazing amalgamation of several cricket loving nations. It provides an excellent platform for enhancing the visibility of cricket as the sport goes increasingly global.”The Adani Group had last year put their hat in the ring to buy the Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises in the IPL, bidding INR 5100 crores, though they were eventually outbid by corporate giants RP Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG) and CVC Capital Partners (Irelia Company Pte Ltd).”We are extremely pleased to have one of Asia’s leading corporates as our franchise team owner,” Mubashshir Usmani, the general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), said. “This is a resounding thumbs up to the unique opportunity that the UAE T20 league offers to experienced and established business owners. We are confident that this association will be mutually beneficial for both the Adani Group and the League. UAE’s T20 League will attract some of the biggest names in world cricket while also giving a platform and international exposure to local and upcoming players.”The six-team league, comprising 34 matches, was originally meant to be played in the February-March bracket, but the ECB remains confident it will host the inaugural edition of the league in 2022.ESPNcricinfo understands that one probable window would be in June, immediately after the IPL which is scheduled to end on May 29.