Category Uncategorized

In search of their replacement for Raphael Varane, Manchester United are now reportedly in pole position to sign a European star for Erik ten Hag in this summer's transfer window, having been given the green light by the player this week.

Man Utd transfer news

Whilst they're yet to officially get their summer business underway, Manchester United have been linked with plenty of names, including Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte. Both players would instantly help Ten Hag solve two major problems in his current side, with Casemiro struggling in defensive midfield and United's attacking options far from thriving last season.

Replacing Casemiro is particularly important this summer, given that he sits at the heart of Ten Hag's side. The Brazilian, now 32 years old, began to show signs that he's past his best last season and has since been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Even without that move, however, United should prioritise welcoming a replacement in the form of Ugarte in the coming months.

Imagine him & De Ligt: Man Utd scouting "electric" Shaw replacement

The impressive full-back could be a game-changer for United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 3, 2024

Casemiro isn't the only player who will need replacing, either, following the departure of Varane at the end of last season. The Frenchman left as a free agent to create a gaping hole in United's defence that one European star could now fill.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are now in pole position to sign Matthijs de Ligt this summer and have opened negotiations with Bayern Munich over a potential deal. The Dutchman, meanwhile, has reportedly given the green light regarding a move to Old Trafford in the coming months.

With De Ligt seemingly keen on the move, Manchester United have the chance to sign a defender who is more than capable of replacing Varane and more next season.

"Wonderful" De Ligt can lead Man Utd's backline

Earning a reported £261k-a-week, De Ligt already has plenty of experience at levels that some Manchester United players are yet to even see for themselves, having played in Champions League semi-finals and won league titles at both Ajax and Bayern Munich.

The Dutchman, currently at the Euros with his country, now has the chance to become the defensive leader that the Red Devils are so desperately crying out for next to Harry Maguire, or when fit Lisandro Martinez.

Progressive Carries

16

20

Progressive Passes

98

73

Tackles Won

12

17

Ball Recoveries

73

78

It's a surprise that Bayern Munich have so willingly entered talks with Manchester United, given the praise that former sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic had for De Ligt when the central defender arrived in 2022, saying via the Bundesliga website: “We wanted to bring Matthijs to Munich three years ago. We were convinced of his qualities as a defender then, and we are even more so today.

"With his professionalism, his desire and his wonderful character, Matthijs fits our team as well as our ambitions. He will play an important role at Bayern on and off the pitch. He was already a leading player at Ajax as a youngster, and he is still capable of development at the high level he is at, at the age of 22.”

PCB says it’s pleased the coach has “promptly and swiftly” resolved the issues that led to the NOC being denied earlier

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2020Faisal Iqbal is set to rejoin the Balochistan team for the National T20 Cup tournament that starts on Saturday, after he was granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), his parent organisation, on Friday.Faisal is already in isolation in Muridke and ready to join the squad in Multan. He was initially withdrawn as the head coach for the Balochistan first XI when PIA had delayed in issuing him an NOC. ESPNcricinfo understands the reason for the delay was an inquiry about discrepancies in his date of birth in two official documents he had submitted to PIA. Iqbal also had to extend his stay in a bio-secure environment by five days after he violated protocol alongwith assistant coach Wasim Haider.However, the PCB said – via a statement issued by Junaid Zia, the general manager for domestic cricket – on Friday that Iqbal had “promptly and swiftly” resolved the matter and will rejoin the Balochistan side now.”The PCB is pleased Faisal Iqbal has promptly and swiftly resolved an ongoing matter that could have resulted in distraction during an important period for his side and the tournament,” Zia said. “Hopefully, Faisal will now fully focus on the job at hand and make meaningful contribution as head coach of the Balochistan cricket team.”Balochistan will play their tournament opener against Sindh on October 1.

Several top Premier League clubs are all set to grill PGMOL chief Howard Webb over poor refereeing in the ongoing season.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• English clubs to grill Webb
• PGMOL chief to be called on over poor refereeing
• Arsenal and Man City left furious after Sunday's clash

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Premier League referees have come under scrutiny after just five rounds of the league in the current 2024/25 campaign due to some controversial decisions that have left top English clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester City angry. Per The Times, the clubs are now planning to call on Professional Game Match Officials Ltd chief Howard Webb and vent out their frustrations.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The report further claimed that both Arsenal and Manchester City are furious with Michael Oliver's way of conducting the mega Premier League clash between the two title rivals at Etihad on Sunday. While Arsenal are unhappy with Oliver's decision to show a second yellow card and send off Leandro Trossard in the first half for kicking the ball, after Jeremy Doku got away without punishment for doing a similar thing earlier, the Cityzens were left astonished by the official in the buildup to Riccardo Calafiori's equaliser.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Earlier PGMOL had stopped Anthony Taylor from refereeing in any of the 10 matches that were held last weekend after officiating in Chelsea's feisty win at Bournemouth where Taylor had handed a Premier League record 14 yellow cards. The official was subject to severe social media abuse in the wake of the match.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The Premier League will be back in action this weekend with Newcastle United kicking off the game week with a blockbuster clash against reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday.

Juan Roman Riquelme has backed Lionel Messi to lead Argentina at the 2026 World Cup after "reinventing himself" at Inter Miami.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Riquelme confident Messi will play at 2026 World Cup
• Hailed the 37-year-old's commitment
• Scored a brace for Inter Miami on his return from injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentina skipper bagged his first major international trophy in 2021 when he guided his team to the Copa America. The following year, Messi helped La Albiceleste to their third World Cup crown in Qatar as the legendary player completed football, admitting that he had achieved all of his goals in the game.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the summer of 2024, Messi and Co. successfully defended their Copa America title in the U.S. and are already being billed as one of the favourites for the 2026 World Cup. While there have been doubts over Messi's participation in the flagship competition for the sixth time in his career, his former Barcelona and Argentina team-mate Riquelme claimed that he has no doubts that the 37-year-old will grace the global stage again.

• WHAT RIQUELME SAID

  Riquelme said on the channel: "Messi is reinventing himself. You never know what he can do. And I have no doubt that he will play in the next World Cup, he has to play. We will all be rooting for him to play. I don't tease him too much, but we talk a lot. That's why I think he's going to play. He's very good, it's something that's not normal. And to that, he adds that he really likes to compete. He's won a lot and he still wants to keep winning."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI?

  Messi made a triumphant return to the pitch after a long injury layoff on Saturday, as he scored twice in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He will next be seen in action when the Herons take on Atlanta United in another Eastern Conference fixture this week.

The eye-watering salary Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli have reportedly offered Napoli star Victor Osimhen has been revealed.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Osimhen linked with Napoli exitChelsea in talks over transferAl-Ahli offer incredible salaryWHAT HAPPENED?

According to , a meeting between Al-Ahli representatives and Osimhen's agent will occur soon. Moreover, the 25-year-old is set to be offered a whopping €30 million (£25m/$33m) per year for four years to tempt him to the Middle East.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The report adds Al-Ahli will offer Napoli €65m (£55m/$72m) for the Nigerian international, who is also wanted by Chelsea, and there will also be a termination clause in the contract – something Osimhen is reportedly keen on. Despite the Blues' efforts, the ex-Lille man could be heading to Saudi in the coming days.

DID YOU KNOW?

Osimhen, who has a contract with Napoli until 2026 and has a release clause of £113m ($149m), has scored 76 goals in 133 games for the Italian outfit since signing in 2020. He helped them to their first Serie A triumph in 33 years in 2023 thanks to 26 goals in the league.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Chelsea have just over 24 hours to secure the services of Osimhen before the transfer deadline passes, whereas Al-Ahli and other Saudi sides have until September 2 – as that is when their transfer window shuts.

The three players will look to prove their form and fitness ahead of ODI series at home against SA and the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2020

Hardik Pandya targets the leg side•BCCI

Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan will look to prove their form and fitness when they return to action in the DY Patil T20 tournament, which began in Mumbai on Monday.The invitations tournament, which is in its 16th edition, is usually utilised by the Indian players to tune up for the IPL. This time, it will also serve as a selection precursor for the three-match ODI series at home against South Africa, which will be played between March 12 and 18.Pandya, India’s premier allrounder, hasn’t played competitive cricket since September 2019, having undergone surgery for a long-standing back injury. He was initially slated to return during the A team’s tour to New Zealand – and later the senior side’s tour of the country – but was eventually pulled out of both tours as he hadn’t attained full match fitness.Bhuvneshwar, who had undergone a hernia operation after being sidelined from the ODI series against West Indies last year, is set for his first taste of competitive cricket in two months. Dhawan, who is coming back from a shoulder injury which he sustained during the ODI series at home against Australia earlier this year, will turn out for the Reliance 1 team along with Pandya and Bhuvneshwar.Fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who has been sidelined with injury for almost two years, will represent the DY Patil B side. Despite being prone to injuries and not having played for KKR over the past couple of seasons, the franchised had opted to retain him for the upcoming season.Dinesh Karthik, Nagarkoti’s captain at Knight Riders, and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who last played a competitive game in March last year, will also feature in the tournament.The 28-year-old Tamil Nadu mystery spinner was sold for big money in the IPL auction for a second successive year, emerging as the highest-paid uncapped Indian, with Knight Riders shelling out INR 4 crore (USD 563,000 approx.) for his seven variations.Atharva Ankolekar and Divyaansh Saxena, who were part of India Under-19’s run to the World Cup final in South Africa, will also feature in the competition.However, the availability of both Manish Pandey and K Gowtham are subject to their Ranji Trophy commitments. Karnataka will face Bengal in the semi-finals at Eden Gardens from February 29.In addition to the big names, the Reliance team will also have former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan in the dugout along with James Pamment , both of whom are now part of the Mumbai Indians’ coaching staff. Zaheer is the Mumbai team director while Pamment is the fielding coach.Reliance 1 team: Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Anmolpreet SinghBPCL: Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi, Divyaansh SaxenaDY Patil A team: Dinesh Karthik, Mandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Tewatia, Ruturaj GaikwadDY Patil B team: Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Varun Aaron, Manan VohraCAG: Jalaj Saxena, Prashant Chopra, Ishwar Pandey, Sachin BabyIncome Tax: Atharva AnkolekarIOC: Aditya Tare, Abhishek Sharma, Siddhesh Lad, Avesh KhanBank of Baroda: K Gowtham, KC CariappaRBI: Dhruv Shorey

One of Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle players has opened up on the "surreal" experience of working with the former Manchester United star.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Rooney took charge of Plymouth in May 2024
• Pilgrims just secured survival in the Championship
• Plymouth open their league campaign on Sunday

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rooney is set to take charge of his first game as Plymouth boss on Sunday against Sheffield Wednesday but he has already made an impact among his players early on in pre-season.

Advertisement

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Plymouth director of football, Neil Dewsnip said to The Daily Mail: "There are times I will find myself saying “Oh my God!” when he does something in training,’ says 23-year-old midfielder Adam Randell. ‘It’s all surreal. I never thought that he would come down here but now he is here, I want to learn as much as I can from him.

  "There are times he will drop a name or tell a story from his career and you realise the level he was at. He’s so into the tactical side of things and he is more than happy to have a conversation with you. He’s so approachable."

  Plymouth director of football, Neil Dewsnip, added: "He’s got great people skills and that’s important to us. The squad have taken to him incredibly well. They obviously respect him for what he was as a player, one of the best three of his generation — you don’t need me to say the names of the other two.

  "But respect has to be earned as a coach and his way of doing that is to show his great personal qualities. He is an excellent communicator, brilliant in one-to-one situations. I don’t think he’s realised yet how powerful he is with his words."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This is Rooney's fourth job as a head coach, and despite a positive start to managerial life at Derby, his stock has dropped considerably after a spell in MLS and a disastrous 15-game stint in charge of Birmingham City. He has impressed so far and will have his first proper test today against Sheffield Wednesday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR ROONEY?

  He will hope to guide Plymouth to a more fruitful season in the Championship, and keep them further away from relegation then his predecessors had. He has kept hold of Morgan Whittaker who had a resounding season in the second division, and will hope to bring the best out of him.

Glasgow Rangers enter the international break with the chance for a much-needed rest.

The Ibrox side have been ravaged by injuries of late and with the prospect of nearly two weeks without a fixture, it gives Philippe Clement the opportunity to nurse some players back to full health.

Being knocked out of the Europa League may be a blessing in disguise as the Gers chase Premiership and Scottish Cup glory in the coming weeks.

Led by James Tavernier, the Gers are hitting form at precisely the right time, with the captain front and centre of the recent rejuvenation under Clement.

James Tavernier’s statistics for Rangers this season

Last season, under Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Tavernier scored 18 goals and registered ten assists, although the club failed to secure any silverware.

Three goals in the Champions League qualifiers was not enough to see Rangers secure a place in the group stage after a defeat to PSV Eindhoven. Tavernier was uncharacteristically barren in front of goal domestically under Beale during the embryonic stages of the season, scoring just once.

James Tavernier's statistics at Rangers
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2023/24	47	21	10
2022/23	55	18	10
2021/22	58	18	17
2020/21	46	19	16
2019/20	46	3	16
2018/19	57	17	20
2017/18	46	9	9
2016/17	44	2	7
2015/16	50	15	23
Via Transfermarkt

Following his dismissal and Clement’s appointment, the captain has been on a different level to anyone else in the squad. Not only has he found the back of the net on 15 occasions under the Belgian in just 32 games, but the defender has also chipped in with eight assists.

These goals have seen the 32-year-old take his tally to an impressive 122 since signing for the club in 2015. Add in the fact he has also grabbed 127 assists, and it is fair to say the Gers may never see his like again.

Tarvernier's contract expires in 2026, when he will be closing in on turning 35, and it is clear he does not have much longer at the very top, suggesting Clement may need to start searching for a successor sooner rather than later.

Could he potentially have someone right under his nose? As Adam Devine is enjoying a promising loan spell at Motherwell.

How Adam Devine is doing on loan at Motherwell

Having made just one appearance for the Light Blues during the opening six months of the season, Clement allowed the youngster to join fellow Premiership side Motherwell on a loan deal until the end of the campaign in order for him to gain some game time.

“Adam is a promising, young talent,” said Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell upon his arrival.

“I hope he brings energy and enthusiasm. This is a chance for him to prove himself at this level and I look forward to working with him.”

So far, Devine has played six league ties for the Steelmen, scoring once, averaging 0.5 key passes per game, succeeding with 100% of his dribbles and winning 63% of his ground duels for the club, indicating how well he has settled in.

This temporary spell could be just what he needs to build up some confidence ahead of 2024/25 as he will be aiming to secure more opportunities at the Light Blues and fully realise his true potential.

Adam Devine’s record at Rangers

The right-back was hailed as “highly rated” by then Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall after he joined for a brief loan spell in 2021, but a year later, he made his debut for the Ibrox side.

Van Bronckhorst gave him his first start in the final league game of the 2021/22 season as he was resting players ahead of the Europa League final days later and Devine was solid.

He succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, made six clearances, made two tackles and took 79 touches during the game as he looked to get involved at every possible opportunity.

An injury crisis at left-back during the festive period the following season saw Devine start three consecutive matches, performing above board in place of Borna Barisic.

During his six league appearances that term, the 20-year-old provided a clear attacking threat, creating two big chances, averaging one key pass per game and once again succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts as he looked to support the team when they were attacking.

His flexibility in being able to play either on the left or right side of the defence is a big bonus for Clement, and in the coming years, he could be perfect for Ross McCausland on the right wing.

Ross McCausland's season in numbers

The Northern Irishman has enjoyed a fabulous breakthrough campaign at Ibrox during 2023/24, taking his opportunity following injuries to key players.

From making his first appearance of the season against Aris Limassol in October to the time of writing, the 20-year-old has made 30 appearances for the Light Blues, scoring twice and registering three assists.

While he is an excellent talent, placing too much pressure on his young shoulders could have a detrimental effect, as just one bad performance for Rangers can see certain sections of the fanbase jump to criticise him.

Devine at right-back and McCausland on the right wing is a duo which could be formed over the coming years if both live up to their vast talents.

There is no doubt Clement is all for developing youth talent, with McCausland and Cole McKinnon obvious recent examples, and if the player is good enough, then he should be given at least a chance to showcase his worth in the first team.

Establishing a player trading model will be key for success in the transfer market over the next few years, as the club simply cannot afford to keep splashing out fees on players who are not at the required standard.

This could see several players from the academy make a step up to the first team and fill in gaps in the squad that otherwise may have gone to journeymen or seasoned professionals.

Devine’s loan spell at Motherwell is going well so far and without putting too much pressure on the Scot, if he continues to shine, his confidence levels will be on a high heading into pre-season prior to 2024//25.

Leny Yoro will wear the same shirt number as a Manchester United icon as the French defender embarks on his Red Devils career.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Yoro's shirt number revealed
• Teenager joined in £52m deal
• Trained for first time on Friday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The centre-back will follow in the footsteps of United legend Nemanja Vidic by taking up the No. 15 shirt. It's the same number that he wore during his time with Ligue 1 outfit Lille, and the conclusion of Sergio Reguilon's loan spell in January freed the new arrival to take it at Old Trafford.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United fans would love for the similarities between Yoro and Vidic to extend beyond more than just a shirt number. The Serbian became a club legend during his nine-year spell, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League, and Yoro will do well to replicate a fraction of his success. But there's a reason INEOS forked out £52 million (£68m) to sign the teenager, who has "all the qualities and potential to do something huge" according to a former team-mate.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The No. 15 shirt has also been worn in recent years by loanee Marcel Sabitzer, Andreas Pereira, Adnan Janujaz and Daley Blind at United.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR YORO?

  Yoro was named in the starting line-up for United's pre-season friendly against Rangers on Saturday afternoon, giving Erik ten Hag and the club's supporters their first glimpse of the defender in action.

BCCI president also said he was waiting to have a word with MS Dhoni on his future

Nagraj Gollapudi23-Oct-20197:18

Will support Kohli in every way possible: Ganguly

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has assured the Indian team management led by captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri that his board will make “life easy” and not “difficult” for them but pointed out that performance would be the ultimate yardstick. Ganguly also said he was waiting to have a word with MS Dhoni on his future, pointing out “champions don’t finish quickly.”The 47-year old former India captain was speaking after his formal election as BCCI president, marking the end of the 33-month tenure of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Others elected today were Jay Shah (secretary), Arun Singh Dhumal (treasurer), Jayesh George (joint secretary) and Mahim Verma (vice-president).ALSO READ – Meet the new BCCI officialsGanguly was all praise for Kohli who he said had taken Indian cricket to a “different level” since he took over as captain in 2015. India are currently the No. 1 Test team and are perched comfortably atop the World Test Championship table. In ODIs, they are behind England and in T20Is they are ranked fourth.In light of that success, Kohli and Shastri became two of the most powerful people in Indian cricket. Ganguly is scheduled to meet them on Thursday at the BCCI office where the teams to play the home series against Bangladesh would be picked.

Champions don’t finish very quickly. I don’t know what’s in his mind, what he thinks about his career. When you sit down and make note of what he has done, you still say wowGanguly on Dhoni

“I really don’t know what had transpired with the CoA [the previous regime] and Virat and Ravi,” Ganguly said in his first media briefing as BCCI president in Mumbai. “But the new body has taken over, the new office bearers have taken over, it will be a proper discussion and everything would be mutually discussed. But be rest assured that we are here to make their life easier, not make their life difficult. And everything will be on the basis of performance. Performance is the most important thing and that’s what will decide the future of Indian cricket.”Ganguly made it clear that Kohli was the “most important” person in Indian cricket at the moment. “We will be there to support him. We will there to listen to him because I have been a captain myself and I understand from that position and we will deal with it. It is a mutual respect which will be there, so discussions will be there and we will do what is best for the game.”MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly share a light moment•AFPOn Tuesday, after India’s 3-0 Test series win over South Africa, Kohli felt Test cricket should be hosted by a maximum of five key venues, a system which is followed in England and Australia. Kohli said it helped bring in better crowds and add to the Test-match culture in those countries and it might be something for the BCCI to look into.The issue had come up in light of poor crowds in two of the three Tests (Pune and Ranchi) and there had already been a precedent – Dhoni had made a similar suggestion in 2010. Ganguly was open to a discussion around it, saying “in terms of the Test venues, we have a lot of space, lot of venues. So we will have to sit with him [Kohli] and see what he wants and take it forward.”With a selection meeting scheduled for Thursday, the question on Dhoni’s future came up once again. The 38-year old hasn’t played for India since the end of the World Cup in July and it doesn’t seem likely that he will be back to play the series against Bangladesh. “It is unlikely Dhoni would be picked for the Bangladesh series which comprises three T20Is and two Tests considering he has not played any cricket after the World Cup.”When asked if he had reached out to Dhoni, Ganguly said, “I have not spoken to him yet. Hopefully we will meet soon and have a word with one of the greats in Indian cricket.”Ganguly was not shy about recalling instances from his own career – which began in 1992 and ended in 2008 -when asked about how long Dhoni could continue playing for India.”It depends on him,” Ganguly said. “I’ve always said that even when I was left out [in 2005] and when the entire world said he’ll never make it I believed in myself and came back [in 2007] and played for four years [domestic cricket included]. You know champions don’t finish very quickly. I don’t know what’s on his mind, what he thinks about his career. So we will deal with that. He is one of the greats of the game. India is very proud to have MS Dhoni. When you sit down and make note of what he has done, you still say “wow”.”Ganguly also brushed aside the question of whether India needed to look at the split captaincy. “It is the job of the selectors (to decide that),” he said before adding, “India is winning, so the question is not necessary at the moment. India is the best team in the world right now so that question is not necessary right now.”