Fulham have cemented themselves as contenders for continental qualification under Marco Silva and signings could be on their way at Craven Cottage this summer to bolster his talented squad.
Fulham take break from push for European qualification
FA Cup weekend is nearly here and Marco Silva will be feeling optimistic as his side travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford with a place in the last eight of the competition at stake.
The long-serving boss has done a remarkable job in establishing the Cottagers as a Premier League force once again, leading the West Londoners to 13th last campaign despite losing Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack.
Marco Silva
This campaign, Fulham have emerged as contenders to seal European qualifcation. Sitting five points outside the top four, they have won four in five domestically and wouldn’t be a side to count against in the race for European football when evaluating the form of others around them.
Fulham’s next five fixtures – all competitions
Manchester United (A)
FA Cup
Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Premier League
Arsenal (A)
Premier League
Liverpool (H)
Premier League
Conceivably, Shahid Khan would be willing to invest in the playing squad should their aspirations turn into reality between now and the end of the campaign. Recently, AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze has been profiled as a Fulham replacement for Adama Traore.
Following his burst of form this campaign, the Spain international has interest from several La Liga sides, which could signify the need for a successor during the off-season if he leaves once his contract expires at Craven Cottage.
Following the theme of right-sides stars, Fulham could be set for a new look on that flank following new insight from none other than David Ornstein.
David Ornstein: Fulham have Scottish Premiership star on radar
In a Q & A with subscribers from The Athletic, Ornstein stated Fulham are among Celtic defender Alistair Johnston’s admirers as the Cottagers look to firm up their defensive line this summer.
He explained via transcription from Johnston’s homeland: “I know Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston is generating attention from clubs in England, with Fulham among his admirers.
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“The Canada international recently signed a new contract at Parkhead and isn’t known to be unhappy – but there there was firm interest in January. From what I hear it’s not only Fulham but also Ipswich and others who are looking at him.
“Johnston was named in the Best FIFA Men’s XI last year, so this is probably no surprise and I’d expect more suitors to emerge from the Premier League and across Europe in the summer.”
Enjoying a wonderful campaign north of the border, Johnston has registered four goals and nine assists in 38 appearances as Celtic remain in contention for another domestic clean sweep. The former CF Montreal right-back has also created 36 chances on league duty this term, forming a handy partnership with in-form winger Nicolas Kuhn.
Labelled “fantastic” by Brendan Rodgers, the Canada international signed a new contract last November tying him to the Scottish Premiership champions until 2029. The Bhoys would be in a strong position to negotiate should Fulham follow up on their interest.
However, the lure of Premier League football is something every successful performer in Scotland will have in the back of their mind. Would the 51-cap Canada star trade in Parkhead for Craven Cottage? Only time will tell.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired Chelsea to a narrow 1-0 win as they edge closer to silverware with a Conference League semi-final win against Djurgarden.
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Chelsea won 5-1 on aggregate
Dewsbury-Hall sealed the tie in the first half itself
Back in a European final for the first time since 2021
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Chelsea booked their place in the final of the European competition with minimal resistance from Swedish outfit Djurgarden, securing another victory at Stamford Bridge to follow up their commanding 4-1 win from the first leg. The second leg proved to be a formality, with the Blues controlling the tempo and the territory from the opening whistle.
Manager Enzo Maresca once again placed his trust in the club’s younger stars, opting to rest key senior figures such as Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson. Despite fielding a relatively youthful line-up, Chelsea never looked in danger, and their opponents struggled to make any headway.
The breakthrough came just before half-time when Chelsea’s dominance finally paid off. In the 38th minute, Tyrique George unlocked the Djurgarden backline with a sublime pass. His through ball found Dewsbury-Hall in stride, and the midfielder finished with aplomb, driving his effort low into the corner after it kissed the inside of the post. The goal effectively ended any remaining hope the visitors had of mounting a miraculous comeback. With the aggregate score standing at 5-1, Chelsea were able to coast through the remainder of the contest.
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Chelsea’s journey to the final has been nothing short of dominant. They navigated the league phase with a perfect record, winning every match and scoring 30 goals while conceding just six. That incredible form translated into a goal difference of +24 by the time the group stage ended.
Their momentum continued in the knockout rounds. A comfortable 3-1 aggregate win over Copenhagen in the round of 16 set the tone. Against Legia Warsaw, Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win away from home, which proved decisive even though they were unexpectedly beaten 2-1 in the return leg at Stamford Bridge. Across all matches in the competition, Chelsea have scored 42 goals and conceded only 10 — a remarkable feat that highlights their dominance.
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The standout performer on the night was undoubtedly Dewsbury-Hall. His first-half strike sealed the tie, but it was his all-round display that caught the eye. The midfielder was involved in every phase of Chelsea’s attacking play, linking up well with teammates and carving open the Djurgarden defence multiple times.
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THE BIG LOSER
On the other hand, it was a night to forget for Jadon Sancho. The Manchester United loanee was handed another chance to make an impression but struggled to impose himself. Barring a few provocative runs on the flanks, it was another flat performance from the winger until he was replaced by Genesis Antwi.
Glasgow Rangers were left embarrassed as Philippe Clement’s men exited the SFA Cup at the fifth round stage with a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Queen’s Park on Sunday.
The Light Blues were booted out of the competition by the second-tier side, thanks to a brilliant second-half goal from Sebastian Drozd, who dribbled inside the box before slotting past Liam Kelly.
Clement’s side will now have to either overcome a 13-point gap to Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership or win the Europa League to avoid ending the season without any silverware.
The Light Blues did have the chance to give themselves a lifeline in the dying embers of added time, though, after Cyriel Dessers was pushed to the floor in the box, which presented captain James Tavernier with a chance from the spot.
James Tavernier's miss against Queen's Park
He has netted 69 penalties in his career and had only missed 18 prior to his kick of the ball on Sunday, although five of those misses came in the 2023/24 campaign.
James Tavernier’s last ten penalties
Opposition
Result
Queen’s Park
Missed
Ross County
Scored
Dundee
Scored
Kilmarnock
Missed
Ross County
Scored
Celtic
Scored
Hibernian
Missed
Hibernian
Missed
Motherwell
Scored
St Johnstone
Scored
Stats via Transfermarkt
VAR confirmed the penalty and Tavernier put the ball down, ready to take his kick, only for the referee to pause the process again for VAR to do another check of the attacking phase of play, which disrupted the right-back’s run-up.
The English full-back finally stepped up to take his penalty and produced a tame effort at a good height for Will Ferie, down to his left, to make the save.
Tavernier’s weak effort, ultimately, spoiled any chance for Rangers to get back into the match to go on and progress through to the next round.
Performance in Numbers
However, the former Newcastle United defender was far from the only poor performer for the Light Blues, as Brazilian left-back Jefte was just as bad as his captain.
Jefte cost Rangers a potential trophy
The summer signing may just have cost Clement a chance at winning any silverware this season, due to the difficulty of winning the Europa League or closing a 13-point gap on Celtic, due to his error for the Queen’s Park winner.
Jefte stood up Drozd when the ball dropped to the winger at the back post and he was stuck on his heels as the forward dribbled past him with ease in the box, which then allowed him a free shot to bury an effort past Kelly.
Glasgow World awarded the left-footed flop a player rating of 2/10 and lamented his poor defending for the goal, as well as his lack of quality at the top end of the pitch when pushing forward to put crosses into the box.
Jefte has created 22 chances and registered two assists in 22 appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season, which shows that he does have the ability to provide good deliveries into the box, but the Brazilian did not create anything of note in the defeat to Queen’s Park.
Overall, the 21-year-old defender was just as bad as Tavernier, due to his poor defending for the match-winning goal, and his mistake may well have just massively contributed to Rangers potentially ending this season without any silverware.
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At the age of 21, hopefully, Jefte will learn from moments like that and eventually develop into the kind of defender Rangers can rely on in moments like that, rather than being a defensively liability, as he was on Sunday.
In 1995, Belgian footballer Jean-Marc Bosman won his battle in the courtroom, which led to players being able to leave their club on a free transfer as soon as their contract expired.
Before the Bosman ruling, players could not leave their current club when their contract expired unless their club agreed to let a player go for free or received a fee from a buying side.
It placed many footballers in a predicament, most notably Bosman, whose career fizzled out. A five-year legal battle ended in 1995, meaning the players had more power when coming towards the end of their careers, thus changing football forever.
Over the previous 30 years, thousands of players have left their current club at the end of their contract, signing for another without any fee being involved. Additionally, players can also sign a pre-contract agreement when they are heading into the final six months of their current deal.
Several of these free transfers stand out more so than others. As such, we have delved into the memory bank to take a closer look at what we believe are the 12 best free transfers of all time. Involving some of the finest players in the history of the game, many a club has missed out on significant transfer fees.
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ByRoss Kilvington May 27, 2025 12 Gianluca Vialli Juventus to Chelsea (1996)
Gianluca Vialli enjoyed a wonderful 1995/96 campaign for Juventus. Not only did he help the Old Lady win their second European Cup title, but he also scored 14 goals during the season.
Winning Serie A titles with both Sampdoria and Juventus ensured the Italian striker emerged as one of the finest players in the top flight, so it was certainly a signal of intent by Chelsea when they announced Vialli’s signing on a free transfer.
He went on to become their player-manager after the departure of Ruud Gullit, with the Italian ushering in a new era at Stamford Bridge, leading the club to the FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup.
11 Esteban Cambiasso Real Madrid to Inter (2004)
Esteban Cambiasso
Esteban Cambiasso made 67 appearances for Real Madrid between 2002 and 2004, but with the Galactico policy in full throttle, he eyed opportunities elsewhere.
As such, he joined Inter and went on to spend 10 years at the San Siro, enjoying plenty of success along the way. The Argentinian midfielder was a key member of the squad under José Mourinho as they won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League during the 2009/10 season.
Overall, he made 431 appearances for the club – not bad for a free transfer.
10 Steve McManaman Liverpool to Real Madrid (1999)
Having turned down the advances of Barcelona two years prior, Steve McManaman signed a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid in 1999, joining the club that summer.
The midfielder enjoyed success in the Spanish capital. Not only did he win La Liga twice (2001 and 2003), but he became the first Englishman to win the Champions League with a foreign club, doing so in 2000 (scoring in the final) and 2002.
After four years in Madrid, he returned to England, joining Manchester City. His success on the continent paved the way for countless others over the next few years.
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ByBrett Worthington Jan 30, 2025 9 Michael Ballack Bayern Munich to Chelsea (2006)
Michael Ballack Chelsea
Throughout his spells with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, Michael Ballack proved himself to be the finest midfielder in Germany, winning a host of honours with the latter club in particular.
Chelsea signing him for nothing was seen as a major coup, especially considering Ballack had captained Germany to third place at the 2006 World Cup.
Despite winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time in west London, Ballack missed out on the Champions League, losing the 2008 final to Manchester United.
8 Raul Real Madrid to Schalke (2010)
Raul is a bonafide Real Madrid legend. Making his debut in 1994, the Spaniard became the talisman of a new era at Los Blancos. Over the next 16 years, Raul would win three Champions League titles, six La Liga crowns and a handful of other trophies.
Furthermore, he scored 323 goals in 741 appearances for the club, ensuring his place as one of the best players in their history. However, all good things come to an end, and when his contract expired in 2010, Raul moved to Schalke.
19 goals in his first season proved his move was a success, especially as he helped the club win the German Cup and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. The veteran forward left in 2012 to join the New York Cosmos.
7 Zlatan Ibrahimović PSG to Manchester United (2016)
Zlatan Ibrahimović’s playing career had taken him from Sweden to the Netherlands, before stops in Italy, Spain and France, enjoying plenty of domestic success in the process.
In the summer of 2016, ex-Inter boss José Mourinho reunited with the striker at Manchester United by signing him on a free transfer – and it proved to be a positive move.
The Swede scored 28 goals in his debut season, winning the League Cup and Europa League, suggesting the move worked out rather well. He moved to MLS in 2018, but the 2016/17 season – in which he won the League Cup and Europa League – was a wonderful one from a personal point of view, ensuring the move worked out.
6 Sol Campbell Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal (2001)
Out of all the free transfers on this list, Sol Campbell’s decision to move across north London from Spurs to Arsenal is the most contentious.
Emerging as one of the best centre-backs in England during his spell with Spurs, it looked as though a move abroad might be the next step for him. That was until Arsène Wenger made his move.
After months of speculation, he joined the Gunners in 2001, and it proved to be the right move for him. Over the next five years, he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
Despite the acrimonious circumstances, Campbell cemented himself as one of Wenger’s most trustworthy players during that era.
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ByRoss Kilvington Nov 5, 2024 5 Lionel Messi Barcelona to PSG (2021)
At one stage, it looked as though Lionel Messi would play for Barcelona until the day he retired. In the summer of 2021, he finally left the club after they were unable to afford a new deal under La Liga’s financial rules.
PSG didn’t take long to snap him up, as the Argentinian maestro sealed a two-year deal with the capital club.
During both seasons he played for PSG, they won the Ligue 1 title, with Messi scoring an impressive 32 goals while chipping in with 35 assists across 75 appearances.
Unfortunately, failure to lead the club to a historic Champions League crown suggests the move didn’t go as planned, but the former Barcelona star showed there was still life in the old dog with some wonderful performances.
4 Cafu Roma to Milan (2003)
It was perhaps a surprise that Cafu – who had won two World Cups with Brazil – had never played for one of the biggest teams in Europe, but that changed in the summer of 2003.
After six years with Roma, winning the Serie A title in 2001, Cafu joined Milan on a free transfer, despite his advancing years.
It turned out to be one of the best free transfers in history. During five seasons with the San Siro club, the defender won another league title, reached two Champions League finals – winning in 2007 – and claimed a Coppa Italia trophy.
3 Paul Pogba Manchester United to Juventus (2012)
Paul Pogba at Manchester United.
Paul Pogba was earmarked as the next best thing to come out of Carrington, yet he couldn’t turn potential into consistency at first-team level for Man Utd.
Juventus swooped for him in the summer of 2012, sealing a move for the talented midfielder on a free transfer, which turned out to be a lucrative piece of business.
Pogba won four Serie A titles in a row while improving with each passing season, and it wasn’t long before Man Utd came calling to bring him back to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils paid a world-record fee of £89m for the Frenchman, ensuring Juventus made a significant profit to add to their bargain.
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Looking to repeat their transfer genius of the past, Brighton & Hove Albion have now reportedly opened talks to sign another South American youngster ahead of European giants Real Madrid.
Brighton transfer news
As arguably one of, if not the best, ran club in the Premier League, Brighton relish the transfer window and they could yet prove exactly why once again this month. For any side looking to become an established top flight side, those at The Amex have created the blueprint to follow by creating stars, selling them for huge profit and then welcoming replacements capable of enjoying a similar rise.
As a result, they once again find themselves on course for a top half finish in what would be a fantastic first season under Fabian Hurzeler – the youngest manager in Premier League history at just 31 years old.
Now, having previously welcomed Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso, the Seagulls look set to make a return to the South American market to land another young star.
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Brighton have opened talks to sign Vitor Reis from Palmeiras in a deal that could cost as much as £25m. Despite interest from Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea, the Sussex side look set to act early enough to secure another impressive coup.
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Just 18 years old, Reis could yet prove to be an Enciso repeat, given that the midfielder also arrived at a young age and from his home country of Paraguay in the summer of 2022.
Vitor Reis for Palmeiras
A central defender rather than a midfielder on this occasion, Brighton may have found their eventual replacement for ageing captain Lewis Dunk for years to come.
Brighton can land "heir to Thiago Silva" in Reis
At just 18 years old, Reis has found himself at the centre of some impressive praise, including from Ben Mattinson. The analyst even went as far as claiming that the defender is “Brazil’s heir to Thiago Silva” before describing his aerial ability as “strong” and dubbing the teenager a player with “ice-cold composure” back in October.
Real Madrid’s interest should paint quite the picture of just how highly Reis is rated across European football and, therefore, the significance of Brighton’s potential January swoop.
For the young central defender himself, meanwhile, Brighton represents an intelligent move. It’s a move that Mac Allister made – a player on course to become a Premier League champion at Liverpool these days.
It’s also a move that Caicedo completed before becoming one of the most expensive midfielders in football history by joining Chelsea in 2023. Now, it’s a path that Reis could follow to become the latest young South American to sign on the dotted line at The Amex.
World Cup-winning captain to call time on era-defining seven-and-a-half-year reign
Matt Roller27-Jun-2022
Eoin Morgan poses with the World Cup trophy after the 2019 final•Getty Images
Eoin Morgan is expected to step down as England’s white-ball captain and retire from international cricket on Tuesday after seven-and-a-half years in charge.Morgan was appointed in 2014 and has spearheaded England’s revolution in limited-overs cricket, transforming the one-day sides and leading them to their first World Cup in 2019, but his form and fitness have left him considering his future.He has been unable to play games on back-to-back days this year due to regular muscle injuries in his right leg, and missed Wednesday’s third ODI against the Netherlands with a “groin niggle” after consecutive ducks in the first two games of the series.The reported on Sunday night that Morgan was considering his future and he looks set to announce his international retirement. Jos Buttler, who has regularly deputised as captain, is expected to replace him.”He obviously feels like he’s done with international cricket,” Moeen Ali told the BBC’s Test Match Special, “and the team for him still comes first, which just shows how unselfish he is. He’s done a remarkable job and he’s the best we’ve ever had, for sure.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
“It is and it isn’t [a surprise] at the same time. It is because of the World Cup not being too far away at the end of the summer and he for us is our perfect leader. He’s done an amazing job, he knows what it takes to win. It’s a shame, it’s strange to comprehend the side without him at the moment. Obviously things move on and you kind of get used to it, but it is sad.”And I’m not surprised at the same time because he’s a very selfless person and he’s thinking about the team more than anything. We’ve been so strong over the years and he probably himself feels like his time is done and he’s given enough time for Jos or whoever the captain is going to be to embed his way.”Morgan enjoyed some of the best form of his career in 2019 and 2020 but his returns have nose-dived in the last 18 months. He has scored a single half-century in 48 innings across domestic and international white-ball cricket since the start of 2021 and failed to score a run in two innings against the Netherlands.It remains to be seen whether Morgan will remain involved with the set-up in some capacity under Matthew Mott, the new white-ball head coach, and whether he will retire from all cricket or continue to play in franchise leagues.Moeen has also deputised for Morgan on occasion, but threw his support behind Buttler. “The great thing is he has captained before,” he said. “Obviously when Morgs doesn’t play, Jos captains when he’s playing and he’s got extreme experience now. He’s been around the world playing franchise cricket and he’s been part of this whole journey. He knows what it takes and he’s tactically fantastic.”Reacting to the news ahead of the final day’s play of the Headingley Test, Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, told Sky Sports: “Eoin Morgan has been the most influential white-ball cricketer England have ever had. He’s been our best white-ball captain, and he has been a fantastic player. And he gave us the best moment in English white-ball cricket that we’ve ever had, at Lord’s. It was an incredible day, an incredible finale, and a lot of it was down to the skipper.”
Hampshire signing hopes for Hundred wildcard gig after missing out on squads for Sri Lanka tour
Matt Roller06-Jun-2022
Ben McDermott crashes one over the off side•Getty Images
When Australia play the first of three T20 internationals against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday, the man who hit the winning runs in their most recent game will be more than 5000 miles away in the Hertfordshire village of Radlett, playing for Hampshire in the Vitality Blast.Ben McDermott flicked Haris Rauf off his pads for four to seal a three-wicket win over Pakistan in Lahore two months ago, finishing on 22 not out from No. 7, but the leading run-scorer in last season’s Big Bash finds himself squeezed out of the squad with several big guns returning, and is not part of the Australia A squad shadowing the main tour either.”Guys like Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith and David Warner are all back in the mix which pushed me out,” McDermott told ESPNcricinfo. “You get a go through injuries, stuff like that: Mitch Marsh got injured in Pakistan, Maxwell and Warner weren’t there. You’re aware that when those guys come back they have first preference.”It’s not the worst back-up plan to come to a really good club, play a full season in a T20 league different to the Big Bash and experience new conditions and expand my game. It’s always been a dream of mine to play county cricket.”I was signed with Derbyshire for two years: the first was deferred because of Covid and last year I was called up by Australia. I ended up playing two Championship games for Derbyshire – which was a bit of a surprise really because I was over for the Blast. It was an easy decision to come over – I jumped at the chance.”Related
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McDermott, 27, had a breakthrough season in the BBL for Hobart Hurricanes, scoring 577 runs with an average of 48.08 and a strike rate of 153.86 and breaking up one of the competition’s most established opening partnerships between Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short.But despite a maiden international hundred in Pakistan – he made 104 from No. 3 in a tight defeat – he remains on the fringes of the Australia set-up, with sporadic opportunities in a number of different roles culminating in a T20I average of 15.82 and a strike rate of 94.38.Along with Alex Carey, Josh Inglis and Josh Philippe, he is one of a number of wicketkeeper-batters looking to stake a claim to be Wade’s long-term successor in the T20I team, and even took the gloves ahead of Wade in the most recent BBL.”It’s a really good side: it’s pretty packed,” he said. “They won the T20 World Cup so I don’t see it changing too much. It would be really nice to be in that squad and experience what those guys did in Dubai – it looked spectacular – and if I do well here it’s not going to do my case any harm.”But it’s going to be tough to crack into. I’ve had 25 [23] international T20s now and haven’t really taken those opportunities. I’ve had a good crack at a lot of different batting positions as well so hopefully I can really nail down a gameplan at the top of the order and keep being consistent with it.”McDermott made his first international hundred in Pakistan•AFP/Getty Images
McDermott has had a solid start to his Hampshire career: after five games, he is their leading run-scorer, with a top score of 60 off 35 balls in their first win of the season against Sussex on Saturday night.”I’ve had some starts here and there but hadn’t been able to do it for long periods of time,” he said after that innings. “Tonight was an exception and hopefully it is a kickstart for things to come. Tournament cricket is about momentum and I’ve never played in a tournament which is so congested, where games are coming thick and fast.”He is due to be available throughout the Blast along with his Hurricanes team-mate Nathan Ellis and both men have a secondary incentive to perform this week: they are both registered for Thursday’s wildcard draft for the Hundred and hoping to spend another month in the UK if selected.”They’ve both made big strides in the last two years and are key players for us at Hobart, as well as good friends,” Tim David, who has impressed for Lancashire in the Blast, said. “Ben is a high-class batsman and hopefully he’ll get a gig for the Hundred through that wildcard draft which is coming up.”McDermott said: “There seemed to be a lot going on with replacement players last year and I’m sure there will be some players coming and going with international duty too. I’m definitely in that wildcard draft; at this stage I’m focused on the Blast, but the Hundred looks like a serious competition so hopefully I can pick something up.”
Bangladesh team director feels that the players shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose the formats as they wish
Mohammad Isam07-May-2022Khaled Mahmud, the Bangladesh team director, feels Mustafizur Rahman should not have been allowed to pick and choose the formats he wished to play, as it has led to a fast-bowling vacuum in the Test side. Mustafizur is currently playing in the IPL for Delhi Capitals, having taken eight wickets in as many matches this season.Ahead of this year’s IPL, the BCB gave Mustafizur the clearance to play in the tournament even when Bangladesh were playing Tests in South Africa.It wasn’t a topic of particular interest at the time because Bangladesh had already won the ODI series, and they still had Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam around. While there has been debate about who decides on the format, the BCB president Nazmul Hassan has been saying since mid-2021 that the centrally contracted Bangladesh players will be allowed to pick and choose their formats, regardless of their experience.It started as a verbal promise last year, and the players have since signed the 2022 contracts by providing their choice of format in some cases. Mustafizur was given the IPL No Objection Certificate (NOC) this season after the Bangladesh selectors didn’t pick him in the squads for the South Africa and Sri Lanka Tests. Mustafizur has not played a Test since February last year, having taken just four wickets in the last four years.”(BCB president Nazmul Hassan) Papon said that the players can discuss which format they want to play but this was only applicable to the senior players, not all players,” Mahmud said in a press briefing at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.”Would it be okay if (Mahmudul Hasan) Joy said that he doesn’t want to play Tests? How old is Mustafiz? How long has he been playing for? He is not Shakib, Tamim, Mashrafe or Mushfiq. These players have provided service for many years. I don’t know why Mustafiz doesn’t want to play Tests. The board should decide which format a player plays.”Shakib and Tamim are 34-35 years old. They deserve breaks. But Litton Das doesn’t need breaks. When he becomes Shakib or Tamim, I will say that he deserves rest. Mustafiz must play Tests. It is his peak time. I am not saying he should play all the Tests but he should definitely be available for six to eight matches per year. I used to hear that he doesn’t want to play due to bio-bubbles, but now things have changed so that can’t be an excuse anymore. If Taskin and Shoriful can play (Tests), he should too.”Capitals are currently just outside the top four with four games remaining in the league stage, so Mustafizur will be available for them till May 21 at the very least. There’s still no movement from the BCB or the selectors to bring him into the Test side, but Mahmud said that with Taskin Ahmed already out of the Sri Lanka series due to a shoulder injury and Shoriful Islam’s availability still subject to a fitness test, the home side are missing out on their best bowler, regardless of the format.”With Taskin injured, one of our main bowlers is out. Shoriful could be injured any time soon. Both Taskin and Shoriful are injury-prone bowlers. In that case we need Mustafiz who, when you consider his experience, skills, technique and tactics, is Bangladesh’s best fast bowler. Mustafiz would have provided balance to the side.”There’s a lot of cricket in the three formats so everyone needs time off. Taskin and Shoriful also deserve rest. When we have enough bowlers, we probably won’t need Mustafiz in this format but till then he should provide support. He is dangerous in white-ball cricket but I also know that he can be a handful with the red ball too.”Mahmud came down strongly on Mustafizur’s commitment towards red-ball cricket and Bangladesh, but also felt that someone should have gotten in touch with him to clarify the situation.”He might get two or four crores in the IPL, but isn’t cricket bigger than the money? Isn’t the country bigger than money? We never played for money. Now a cricketer needs the BCB’s help when he is dying. (Mustafizur) won’t need the BCB (in that situation). They can themselves help others (financially). Why won’t I want to play for Bangladesh?”Cricket board means Mustafiz, and Mustafiz means the cricket board. They are both in the same place. There’s no distance. Maybe nobody spoke to him.”
It feels like things are starting to come to a head down Anfield Road. Contractual concerns have descended on Liverpool’s season like a brooding cloud, and time is now running out.
Admittedly, such issues have failed to disrupt the brilliant football being played by Arne Slot’s men, who are four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand, also first-placed in the Champions League and awaiting a Carabao Cup last-eight tie against Southampton.
It’s all rather exciting, not least because this is starting to look like a campaign that, at the very least, presents an incredible opportunity to win the biggest silver prizes.
But skipper Virgil van Dijk can talk to suitors from overseas in just three weeks; as can Liverpool’s homegrown vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Trent, Salah, Van Dijk
And so can Mohamed Salah, whose own contract, set to expire at the end of the season, has attracted the most noise. He’s been vocal, but recent reports suggest that all is not lost on this pivotal front.
Mohamed Salah's contract update
When David Ornstein speaks, the Premier League’s legion of fans listen. The Athletic correspondent has recently revealed that FSG are accelerating talks to extend the stay of, perhaps, Liverpool’s three biggest superstars.
By the time he is enjoying pre-season ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, the Egpyt star will be 33. There is an understandable hesitance on FSG’s part.
But Salah’s astounding potency simply cannot be overlooked. Having played 21 matches this term, the right winger has scored 15 goals and added 12 more assists. It’s Ballon d’Or-winning form, to be sure.
1.
Mohamed Salah
£350k-per-week
2.
Virgil van Dijk
£220k-per-week
3.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
£180k-per-week
4.
Andy Robertson
£160k-per-week
5.
Alisson Becker
£150k-per-week
5=
Alexis Mac Allister
£150k-per-week
5=
Ryan Gravenberch
£150k-per-week
5=
Federico Chiesa
£150k-per-week
Liverpool need to accept that Salah leaving is a possibility. Should that unthinkable scenario become a reality, a prize-winning replacement will need to be brought in.
Liverpool eyeing Salah replacement
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are thick in the battle for Juventus prodigy Kenan Yildiz, who the Serie A side would consider selling for a mammoth €80m (£69m) figure.
Yildiz, aged 19, has been among the finest breakout stats in Italy over recent years, with Liverpool joined by Manchester United, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund in sending scouts to watch him in action.
A versatile forward, Yildiz would be a worthy successor for a superstar like Salah, albeit one who would need time and patience to give rise to the height of his potential powers.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Why Kenan Yildiz could be a star at Liverpool
Yildiz might still be a teenager but he’s already earned a range of experience in Italy’s top flight, racking up nine goal contributions from 42 matches since leaving Bayern Munich’s youth set-up for Juventus.
Though he more frequently cuts inside from the left wing, Yildiz has been said to be “almost perfectly two-footed” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and it might be that as he develops, the young Turk becomes Slot’s starring focal frontman.
Although this is a player with the quality to replace Salah, he may actually assume the positional role of someone like Darwin Nunez, whose continual struggles for goals suggest that he won’t be the star number nine over the coming years.
But then again, the Turkey international isn’t someone who exists solely to score goals himself; instead, he brings a multi-dimensional technical arsenal that suggests he will become one of the silkiest and most dynamic forwards in Europe, should he continue to place sufficient blocks for his development.
As per FBref, the nifty teenager ranks among the top 7% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 6% for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries and successful take-ons and the top 1% for tackles per 90.
This is quite a lot of data to consume, but succinctly, it reveals a many-layered approach to Yildiz’s craft that is coated in natural-born prolificness.
Indeed, the up-and-coming talent has notched five goal contributions from just 11 starts in the Serie A this season, while also averaging 1.1 key passes, 1.6 dribbles and 5.0 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.
It’s been such an exciting rise that Yildiz has even been compared against players of the highest calibre.
The Turkish native’s former coach, Sokyan Baskar, has actually claimed that his protegee is “more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Whether that is actually the case is dubious, but it does make for an interesting comment on the player’s capacity for success at the very highest level of the game.
And anyway, a natural liking for a header perhaps suggests that the 6 foot 2 ace is endowed with some of the athletic qualities that have shaped CR7 into one of the greatest sporting figures of his generation through a long and storied career.
Salah may well pen an extension to his lucrative Anfield deal, but the plain fact is that the 32-year-old will skid onto a downward curve at some point, and it would be prudent to land a young gun with the qualities to take his mantle.
Yildiz wouldn’t be expected to hit the same staggering heights from the offing, but he could find great success in learning from one of the greatest Premier League players to do it, before stepping up as Liverpool’s main man down the line.
Gravenberch replacement: Liverpool want "one of the best" midfielders
Liverpool have been excellent under Arne Slot but could do with a bit more in midfield.
Pakistan’s captain was thrilled by the crowd that showed up at the National Stadium to watch the final day unfold
Danyal Rasool16-Mar-2022
Babar Azam batted for just over 10 hours while compiling his fourth-innings 196•AFP/Getty Images
Babar Azam has acknowledged that Pakistan’s pragmatic approach to the final day in Karachi had been shaped by the magnitude of the target Australia had set them. When the fifth day began, Pakistan needed to survive 90 overs, or, more improbably, score a further 334 runs to gun down the fourth-innings target of 506.But with the game stretching into the final hour and Babar and Mohammad Rizwan looking fairly comfortable having put on 115 for the fifth wicket, the prospect of a remarkable late dash to the target was beginning to take shape. But Babar and Rizwan appeared to resist the temptation, and while Babar explained that the chase was never quite on, it didn’t stop him from taking great pleasure in his knock.Related
Babar's 196 and Rizwan's hundred earn Pakistan epic draw
Stats – Babar's record knock, Pakistan's marathon effort
'If we took a couple of catches it might be a different scenario' – Cummins
When Babar, Shafique and Rizwan made Karachi dream
“This innings holds a lot of meaning for me, because the team needed it,” he said. “We were realistic about the chase. We wanted to bat normally till tea, and then if we found ourselves in a situation where we could go for the chase, we were good. But we lost wickets, unfortunately, so we didn’t really think of the chase. We needed to save the game. If I’d stayed for longer we might have tried to chase it.”When Babar and Faheem Ashraf fell off successive balls, any ideas about a chase were immediately killed off, with Pakistan facing a final-hour battle to stave off defeat. “Rizwan and I were discussing what the situation demanded because the wicket wasn’t easy for the new batter,” Babar said. “The spinners were getting help. I had belief the way Sajid [Khan] and Nauman [Ali] batted, so I had trust in them to save the game for us.”‘Abdullah Shafique was outstanding in the way he played the new and old ball and the patience he showed’ – Babar Azam•PCB
The pitches for the series have been a perpetual point of focus, with further scrutiny on the Karachi strip after the one in Rawalpindi was rated “below average” after a dull draw that saw just 14 wickets fall over five days. There was more assistance for the bowlers in Karachi, though it was reverse-swing that provided the most salient threat rather than the cracks in the pitch assisting spin. Babar said the conditions were the same for both sides, and thought the pitch had plenty to offer the bowlers.”You get reverse for the fast bowlers here; they found it and so did we. The spinners found turn, too. I don’t think there was a difference in the reverse-swing they got in both innings. They got plenty here, too. There were a lot of soft dismissals in the first innings which can make you think it was reversing a lot. It was happening in the second innings too, but our batters were at their best. You get reverse-swing here in first-class cricket too, so they have an idea how to tackle it. When you’re playing against one of the best teams, they’ll give you a tough time.”Babar revealed how he had motivated his side after a dispiriting third day, which saw Pakistan bowled out for 148 in 53 overs, giving Australia a 408-run lead. “You get motivation from your teammates,” he said. “In the first innings, we didn’t bat like we wanted but in the second innings, we had belief that we could save the game. We told the boys ‘What’s gone is gone and we have to focus on the present.’ The veteran players showed their experience. We told each other that ups and downs happen in Tests and to play session by session. I tried to give them confidence. Abdullah Shafique was outstanding in the way he played the new and old ball and the patience he showed.”This tour’s hype isn’t just about what happens on the field, but also what surrounds it. With Australia in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, a large, frenzied crowd came out to watch Pakistan pursue history, either by chasing down the target or surviving more overs to save a Test than any side since 1939. It embellished an already dramatic day, and its value wasn’t lost on the Pakistan captain.”When you play in front of your crowd and they support you, that feeling is so good I can’t explain it,” he said. “When the whole stadium backs you, it’s brilliant. We’re so happy that cricket is back, and we’re playing against such a big team here.”