West Ham United are searching for reinforcements this summer and have now made contact over a bargain move for a striker with a proven track record who is available on a free transfer, according to reports.
West Ham United seek to recruit a goalscorer
Graham Potter hasn’t enjoyed the most fruitful spell since taking charge of West Ham. However, the Irons are set to be active on the market to address their fundamental issues.
Above all, the lack of a prolific striker at the London Stadium has led to a dependence on Jarrod Bowen, and it is fair to say the Irons are now moving in on targets to fill the vacancy available through the middle.
Hamza Igamane for Rangers against Fenerbahce.
Reports suggest Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is being targeted by West Ham following a breakthrough season in Scotland. However, Brentford, Everton, Lens, RC Strasbourg, Lille, and Stade Rennais are among alternative interested parties.
Further back, Burnley’s Josh Brownhill could add goals from midfield for the Hammers as his Turf Moor future becomes increasingly uncertain with his contract set to expire.
Potter’s men endured an uninspiring campaign last term and require some inspiration, which has prompted Carlton Cole to urge West Ham land Jack Grealish ahead of their Premier League counterparts.
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Circling the wagons, West Ham have now made contact to sign an alternative England international who is set to be a free agent this summer.
West Ham make contact to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin
According to Football Transfers, West Ham have made contact to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and they are prepared to better his current £100,000 per week salary in order to secure his services.
Michail Antonio is on course to depart the London Stadium after failing to agree terms on a short-term extension, and Potter believes the Toffees forward would be an ideal addition to strengthen his forward line without paying a transfer fee.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s record at Everton
Appearances
273
Goals
71
Assists
22
Dubbed a “proper number nine” by David Moyes, Calvert-Lewin is viewed as a low-risk high reward signing and has previously been offered to the Hammers, albeit they passed on the chance last summer due to his injury history.
Niclas Fullkrug didn’t set the heather alight last year and Evan Ferguson’s short loan spell didn’t have the desired impact, which may explain why West Ham have plumped for Premier League experience as they close in on a new striker.
Just when you thought Manchester City were back, they went and did what?
On Saturday, despite having 26 shots and accumulating an xG figure of 2.4, Pep Guardiola’s team were held to an ignominious goalless draw by the Premier League’s bottom club Southampton at St Mary’s.
This means the Citizens are still not guaranteed Champions League qualification, while this could be a confidence-denting result, ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
What is clear is that the Sky Blues require a major squad overhaul, so are they in the market for one of the Premier League’s hottest properties?
Manchester City seeking to sign a new right-back
According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento is one of the options “under consideration” as Man City seek to sign a new right-back, adding that he is part of a “four-man shortlist”.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Livramento joined Newcastle from Southampton just two years ago for a whopping £40m, viewing this as a long-term investment, considering the Magpies believed he would go on to become England’s first-choice full-back, as noted by Chris Waugh and Conor O’Neill of the Athletic.
Well, fair to say, the 22-year-old has impressed on Tyneside, with Jacob Whitehead of the Athletic labelling him “outstanding” while, speaking on Match of the Day, Newcastle’s all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer described him as “sensational”.
Tino Livramento in action against Arsenal
So, he certainly won’t come cheap, but all the indications are that Livramento would be a fantastic signing for Man City, should they be able to get the deal over the line.
Manchester City's right-back issue
In that aforementioned Romano report, he notes that Kyle Walker “will 100% leave” Manchester City this summer, even if AC Milan do not make his current loan move permanent, which is certainly in doubt, given that I Rossoneri have failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Nevertheless, Man City are very much in the market for a new right-back, given that Matheus Nunes has primarily been filling in there throughout the season.
Michael Cox of the Athletic described Nunes as an “uncomfortable… makeshift right-back”, while Graham Ruthven of Forbes agrees, adding that the Portuguese international “doesn’t have the defensive instincts of a natural full-back”.
Guardiola meantime, stated that Nunes “can become a good right-back” but the reason that he’s not been deployed in midfield is because “he’s not clever enough”, adding that he has “physicality”, but lacks “composure”.
That does not suggest Guardiola believes the 26-year-old will become a Man City stalwart long-term, even though he continues to be used regularly in the starting lineup.
So, let’s assess how Livramento and Nunes compare this season.
Nunes vs Livarmento 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
Nunes
Livramento
Appearances
37
43
Minutes
2,500
3,279
Goals
4
0
Assists
9
1
Expected assists
6.3
2.5
Progressive carries
90
74
Progressive passes
107
150
Attempted take-ons
54
50
Take-on success %
50%
44%
Pass completion %
87.2%
85.2%
Shot-creating actions
61
41
Tackles won
38
42
Interceptions
21
25
Clearances
40
103
Blocks
19
35
Duels contested
166
255
% of ground duels won
47%
55%
Touches per 90
62
49
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and Squawka
As the table outlines, Nunes is more of an attacking goal-threat, scoring more goals, providing more assists, attempting more dribbles, completing a higher proportion of his passes and registering a greater number of touches per 90.
Livramento, on the other hand, is a significantly more solid defender, underlined by the fact he boasts better statistics when it comes to tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances and duels.
Nevertheless, the England international’s in-possession statistics are comparable to Nunes’ across the board, actually accumulating more progressive passes, for example, suggesting he would not be a downgrade in that regard.
Thus, all available evidence suggests Livramento would be an excellent signing for Man City; the biggest challenge will be persuading Newcastle to sell.
Better than Walker: Man City pushing ahead with deal for "exceptional" star
Many Liverpool fans will likely be hoping that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak will be playing Premier League football in red next season, but it doesn’t look likely.
The Magpies are third in the standings with five games to play, two points ahead of sixth-place Aston Villa, who sit just outside the Champions League-qualifying zone.
26/04/25
Ipswich Town (H)
18th
04/05/25
Brighton (A)
10th
10/05/25
Chelsea (H)
7th
18/05/25
Arsenal (A)
2nd
25/05/25
Everton (H)
13th
Having beaten Arne Slot’s side in the Carabao Cup final and set to restore their place at Europe’s elite table, Newcastle hold all the cards, and they aren’t willing to sell, even listing Isak north of £150m.
FSG, quite rightly, won’t entertain such talk and are gearing up to turn their attention elsewhere.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
After all, Liverpool will bring in a new number nine this summer, with Darwin Nunez all but confirmed to have entered the final weeks of his Merseyside career.
Liverpool set to sell Darwin Nunez
It’s been clear for several months, Liverpool having rejected winter approaches from Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League due to the importance of keeping the title-challenging squad together.
Fabrizio Romano has now updated the situation, claiming that Liverpool’s plan is to sell their club-record signing, Nunez having scored just seven goals across 42 matches for Slot’s Reds.
Nunez has only started once in the Premier League since Boxing Day, scoring in a win over bottom club Southampton last month.
Having missed 53 big chances in the Premier League since his 2022 arrival, Nunez hasn’t responded to Klopp and Slot’s tactics and can’t shake the erraticness from his final play, thus consigning him to a bittersweet exit, leaving disappointed but with a winner’s medal around his neck.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
Isak may well be out of reach, but Liverpool are open to looking elsewhere. Now, news has emerged that FSG are in for a somewhat left-field forward.
Liverpool lining up Nunez replacement
As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing Brentford’s star man, Bryan Mbeumo, this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
In fact, the Champions Elect have received a boost in their pursuit, with Brentford – who are believed to be open to offers – willing to discuss Mbeumo’s sale for the right price this summer.
Mbeumo, 25, has been one of the Premier League’s standout forwards this season and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Brentford's BryanMbeumolooks dejected after the match
The Cameroon international supposedly has a £50m price tag, something that has caused Newcastle United to pull out of the race.
Why Liverpool should sign Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo has proved over a number of years his capacity for goals and success in the Premier League, having been involved in 68 goals across 131 divisional outings.
This year alone, the versatile forward has netted 18 goals and laid on six assists across 32 top-flight appearances, a haul bettered only by Salah, Isak, Erling Haaland and Chris Wood.
Right winger
28
14
6
Centre-forward
6
4
1
Attacking midfield
1
0
0
Though he’s principally a right-sided forward, Mbeumo has been known to play as the focal frontman and has done so to a prolific effect.
We’ve seen throughout the campaign Slot’s willingness to reshape typical widemen – like Luis Diaz – into central attackers, and who’s to say it hasn’t worked out? Liverpool are on the cusp of the title, after all.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
Affectionately described as a “mini-Salah” by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, Mbeumo carries the air of a goalscoring forward who brings much more to the table.
As per FBref, Mbeumo ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 12% for crosses made per 90.
This takes a step toward underscoring Mbeumo’s dynamism, chiefly a goalscorer but also willing to hang wide and whip crisp deliveries in.
The 32-year-old Salah might be staying put for the next couple of years, but he won’t be around forever. The Bees forward could eventually take the veteran’s berth in the years to come.
But for now, he’s more than capable of taking Nunez’s place as Liverpool’s centre-forward, perhaps sharing the berth with Diaz and Diogo Jota.
Given that Mbeumo has only missed eight big chances in the Premier League this term, having scored a whopping 18 times, fans won’t need to worry about Nunez-esque profligacy to hinder Liverpool in their efforts to retain their expected title.
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates for Brentford
But like all great forwards, those capable of starring for a top-performing outfit such as Slot’s Liverpool, Mbeumo isn’t a one-trick pony either.
He’s averaged 1.8 key passes per top-flight fixture and has created 16 big chances. He might take his share of set-pieces, but this denotes a ranged approach to his play that very much aligns with the role Salah performs with such matchless aplomb.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has recently dubbed Mbeumo as “one of the most deadly players in transition in the Prem,” further evidence – if you needed it – that he’s perfect for this Reds team.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Slot arrived in the Premier League with a reputation for being more ball-focused than his Anfield predecessor, but title-surging Liverpool only rank third in those standings with a 58% average.
This is, of course, not counter-attacking football, but Slot commands one of the deadliest teams in world football when on the break, making that final statement on the myriad reasons behind why this would be a good deal to end Nunez’s frustrating stay and sign the perfect Salah heir at the same time.
Firmino 2.0: Liverpool make "one of the best STs out there" a top target
FSG are going to reward Arne Slot’s Liverpool with a new centre-forward this summer.
Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title, but Arne Slot has no time for sentiment and is now set to replace one of his star names this summer by bringing in an in-form player, per reports.
Liverpool set themselves up for exciting summer with title almost guaranteed
Despite Everton’s valiant effort at Anfield, Liverpool prevailed in Wednesday night’s Merseyside Derby to restore their 12-point advantage over Arsenal at the Premier League summit.
Arne Slot will have witnessed his side produce better performances this campaign, though few have yielded such an important result as the Dutchman leads his side ever-closer to a second title of the modern era.
Liverpool manager ArneSlotbeing interviewed before the match
Uncertainty reigns over the future of Liverpool trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. The former is reported to be on his way to Real Madrid, while the other two mentioned have yet to put pen to paper on deals that expire in only a couple of months.
Prompting action on the transfer front, Slot wants to bring Rayan Cherki to Anfield this summer and the French playmaker could be available at under £25 million after striking an agreement to leave Lyon.
Working on the premise that Alexander-Arnold does depart for Spain, Freiburg right-back Kiliann Sildillia is also on Liverpool’s radar despite alternative interest from Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Careful consideration needs to be applied to any arrivals that do come in to replace established squad members on Merseyside. The Reds will likely head into next term defending the Premier League title, making them a prime target for scalps in Slot’s second season.
Leaving nothing to chance, the ex-Feyenoord boss is now in the hunt to sign an in-form defender who could become the long-term successor to one of their star assets.
Liverpool want Milos Kerkez to become Andy Robertson successor
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are on track in their pursuit of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez replacing Andy Robertson at left-back, and the Hungary international may arrive at Anfield this summer should they meet his £45 million evaluation.
Seeking competition within his backline, Slot and company are aware the 21-year-old is ready for a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs, even if the Cherries plan to play hardball in negotiations.
Andy Robertson vs Milos Kerkez – Premier League statistics in 2024/25
Andy Robertson
Appearances
28
Chances created
38
Successful crosses
32
Tackles won
21
Duels won
53
Milos Kerkez
Appearances
30
Chances created
27
Successful crosses
26
Tackles won
23
Duels won
116
Broadly speaking, one or the other hold the monopoly on certain statistical metrics. However, having both compete for the first-choice left-back berth at Liverpool for the next while to come would be exciting for supporters to witness.
Eventually, Kerkez will take over the mantle due to his status as an upcoming star, so it makes sense for the Reds to address £160,000 per week earner Robertson heading into his twilight years soon enough rather than ignoring the inevitable possibility that he will succumb to age-based decline.
West Ham United have reportedly submitted a contract offer to a “beautiful footballer” ahead of a potential London Stadium free transfer.
West Ham preparing for summer after costly 2024/25 season
The Hammers are making preparations ahead of Graham Potter’s first full season in charge of the Irons, with the club having nothing to play for in the remaining Premier League fixtures.
The current campaign hasn’t gone to plan for West Ham, who spent big last summer when Julen Lopetegui was in charge. He didn’t last long and was sacked at the beginning of the year, with Tim Steidten also following him out of the London Stadium door shortly after.
Max Kilman
Wolves
€47.5m
Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United
€29.3m
Niclas Fullkrug
Borussia Dortmund
€27m
Luis Guilherme
Palmeiras
€23m
Mohamadou Kante
Paris FC
Undisclosed
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Man Utd
€18m
Wes Foderingham
Sheffield United
Free transfer
Guido Rodriguez
Real Betis
Free transfer
Jean-Clair Todibo
Nice
Loan transfer
Carlos Soler
PSG
Loan transfer
Evan Ferguson
Brighton
Loan transfer
Now, with Potter in charge and Mark Noble still as sporting director, West Ham have been linked with a number of new signings.
Up to 10 players could be on the way out of West Ham and in regards to incomings, the likes of Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg and Udinese defender Oumar Solet are just two targets.
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A striker is also on the agenda, with Lille’s Jonathan David, Fiorentina’s Moise Kean and Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto three attackers thought to be of interest to West Ham.
West Ham make offer to sign Kyle Walker-Peters
Now, according to talkSPORT, West Ham have made their move to sign Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters this summer. The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and with the Saints already relegated, is set to be on the way out of St Mary’s.
Southampton'sKyleWalker-Petersapplauds their fans after the match
It is reported that West Ham have made a contract offer to Walker-Peters via his reps, and the Irons are thought to be leading the race to sign the defender.
Potter feels like Walker-Peters can be a shrewd addition and provide an option at both right-back and left-back, with the boss currently happy with Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right-hand side. As well as Walker-Peters, the Hammers are also keen on Southampton duo Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Aaron Ramsdale.
Should Walker-Peters make the move to London with West Ham over the coming months, he would arrive with plenty of Premier League experience under his belt.
Called a “beautiful footballer” by former Saints manager Russell Martin, he has made 144 appearances in the top flight after previously coming through the ranks at Tottenham.
Interestingly, Football Transfers have likened Walker-Peters to West Ham left-back Emerson Palmieri, and soon, he could be rivalling the Italian and Wan-Bissaka for a starting spot.
A transfer looks like one to keep an eye on, as West Ham await a reply from the defender over a move to link up with Potter.
Friday night’s takedown of Adam Zampa showed why the 20-year-old is so highly rated by England
Matt Roller14-Sep-2024It was a takedown that showed why English cricket is so excited about a precociously talented allrounder. Jacob Bethell is only 20, but his assault on Adam Zampa’s legspin showed exactly why England’s stand-in coach, Marcus Trescothick, believes he will become “a superstar”.Bethell had played second fiddle to Liam Livingstone in their fourth-wicket partnership, focusing on trying to get his senior partner back on strike. But when Livingstone hit three consecutive boundaries off Marcus Stoinis, Bethell spotted an opportunity to assert England’s dominance.Facing Zampa – the outstanding bowler in an understrength Australian attack – Bethell skipped down to the first two balls of the 14th over, whipping the first through midwicket and launching the second over wide long-on. Zampa’s response was a fast, flat googly, which Bethell had the presence of mind to spot and slap through cover.The fourth ball was shorter, and dragged hard through the leg side: Cameron Green sprawled at full stretch to cut it off, but replays confirmed it was a fourth consecutive boundary. A raucous Friday night Cardiff crowd greeted each one with a louder cheer: in the space of four balls, Bethell had turned an equation of 62 off 42 into 42 off 38.Bethell fell two overs later for 44, his partnership with Livingstone worth 90. They dovetailed to great effect: Livingstone targeted Australia’s seamers throughout his innings of 87, scoring heavily over midwicket, while Bethell tucked into the spin of Zampa and Cooper Connolly.The gameplan was simple. “Livi was going well, so I just didn’t want to put any pressure back on him,” Bethell explained. “[I thought] just play strong shots and get off strike, until the opportunity came to take advantage of a match-up, and I did that. He [Zampa] is a great bowler, so to be able to do that against him was brilliant.”Bethell and Livingstone are Birmingham Phoenix teammates and have worked closely over the past two months. Livingstone has acted as a mentor and presented Bethell with his maiden England cap at the Utilita Bowl on Wednesday night. “He’s been brilliant,” Bethell said.”Obviously, Livi is one of the most hard-hitting batsmen in the world. He’s got a reputation and has done it all over the world, so to be able to bat with him, train with him and just be around him has been brilliant. I’ve been lucky enough to have a few partnerships with him in the Hundred, and then I really enjoyed playing with him tonight.”Livingstone saw Bethell’s treatment of Zampa as “the real turning point” in England’s chase. “For a lad that’s 20 years old to take down one of the best bowlers in white-ball cricket over the last two years just shows what he’s got,” he said. “As an England player, it’s great to have someone like that in our team. But as an England fan over the next 10 or 15 years, I think we’ve got an incredible talent on our hands.”Phoenix friends – Liam Livingstone has taken Bethell under his wing•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesIt might sound like a lofty prediction for a batter who is yet to score a professional hundred, but Bethell has long been marked out as a special player. He was considered a childhood prodigy in Barbados, where he spent the first 13 years of his life, and has been highly rated in the English system since moving over to become a sports scholar at Rugby School. With a peroxide-blond perm, he exudes self-confidence.Moving over at a young age has meant Bethell has rarely played in front of his family. They had planned a trip over from Barbados around Warwickshire’s end-of-season dinner, which they quickly brought forward in order to watch him play his first internationals. “They landed just before the first game,” Bethell said.It was not a convincing debut: three wicketless overs of left-arm spin and losing his leg stump to Zampa for a six-ball two. But his second cap was much more impressive. “It is quite hard to focus on the cricket,” Bethell reflected. “It was nice to get that out the way. It was a special evening, but nice to then hit the ground running today and put a good performance in.”They’ve given up so much to give me this opportunity to come over here. To do it in front of them – they’ve not watched me play a lot of cricket live, so to finally watch me, and it being in international colours, is unreal. They just said they’re proud: emotions spill out on nights like these, but they’re happy and I’m happy, so it’s good.”Next week’s ODI series will provide Bethell with a new challenge: he has only played 16 List A games, the most recent coming in August 2023, and will have to adjust to the tempo of 50-over cricket. But it would be no great surprise to see him thrive: Bethell has made taking every opportunity that comes his way an early theme of a hugely promising career.
Familiar names and a handful of bolters will line up at Lord’s for McCullum’s appraisal
Andrew Miller18-May-2022It was a case of mindset over matter as England unveiled their first squad selection of the Brendon McCullum era. Many of the same notes, in a slightly different order, like the set-up for a Morecombe and Wise sketch, but hopefully without quite the same element of farce in the final analysis.McCullum, currently at the IPL overseeing the final vestiges of Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign, is due to link up with England’s 13-man squad for the first time late next week, where he can begin to lay down his vision for the Test team’s reboot. And to that end, there wasn’t really much to be gained from excess radicalism at this stage – instead, in naming a squad for the first two Tests only, there is perhaps still scope for the new coach to make a firmer mark before his fellow countrymen leave the stage.For the time being, however, it was over to Rob Key – the director of cricket and de facto chairman of selectors – to talk through a squad containing eight of the men who were thumped by ten wickets in their last outing in Grenada in March, plus the two most controversial recent omissions and only two genuinely new faces in Matthew Potts and Harry Brook, county cricket’s stand-out performers of the season’s opening weeks.Related
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And for all that Key is adamant that a new philosophy can unlock the potential of a team that is currently propping up the World Test Championship table with its lowest ICC ranking since 1995, this selection might have been designed to prove that there can be no quick fixes to England’s flagging fortunes.In a summer that has brought about a glut of runs for batters up and down the country – most particularly for openers – England have opted for continuity at the top with Alex Lees, the highest run-getter in adversity in Grenada, once again partnering Zak Crawley, whose solitary fifty in eight county outings this summer is quite the anomaly given the riches elsewhere.Both England incumbents, in fact, have been comprehensively out-performed by their partners at Durham and Kent respectively, Sean Dickson (four hundreds) and Ben Compton (three), while Sam Robson and Keaton Jennings are among the tried-and-tested candidates who will have to wait and see if there’s any hope of another opportunity.Where things begin to get a bit more funky, however, is with the naming of Ollie Pope at No.3. It is a position he has never filled for his county Surrey, albeit he averages close to 100 in his home appearances at the Kia Oval, and it has echoes of his odd deployment in his debut series against India in 2018, when he was pushed up to No.4 despite, again, never having batted that high in his then-fledgling career.Harry Brook has been the stand-out English batter in the County Championship•Getty ImagesKey, however, considers both Crawley and Pope among the cream of England’s coming crop of batters, and is adamant that they can thrive in a reconfigured Test environment that will trust them to trust the mindsets that have got them noticed in the first place.”I get the feeling sometimes that people think the Brendon McCullum era of English cricket is going to be about people who run down the pitch from ball one and bat exactly like he did,” Key said. “It’s not at all actually. He’s pretty clear on his philosophy, he wants people whose default position is looking to score runs as a batsman, who can transfer pressure back onto the bowler when needed, but also have the courage and fortitude and temperament to be able to soak up pressure when that’s required.”[McCullum and Ben Stokes] are two cricketers with the same philosophy, but they are not just go-out-there-and-play-shots merchants. Ben just wants selfless cricketers that don’t take a backward step. That’s pretty clear.”We want bowlers who can look to take wickets and are prepared to change the plan to try and make sure they get each player in the opposition out, and fielders who chase the ball hard to the boundary at all times, and that’s sort of it really.”That’s how we want to play winning cricket. That’s the philosophy we think will turn us into a winning Test match team. It’s not about having ten Virender Sehwags, although that might be quite a good thing if we did, it’s just no-one has that luxury.”Matthew Potts has claimed four five-wicket hauls this season•Getty ImagesNever mind ten Sehwags, one Harry Brook might prove to be quite the asset to England in the long run – his astonishing haul of 758 runs at 151.60, with three centuries and a lowest score of 41, brooks no argument. Nor does the call-up of Matthew Potts, whose 35 wickets at 18.57 are 13 more than the next most prolific England-qualified quick, Craig Overton, whose retention is justified on that score, even if his brother Jamie – by all accounts bowling very quickly for Surrey – might have been the more imaginative pick.Ultimately, however, this initial squad selection is an understandably odd mishmash of hunch, conservatism and solid reward for service rendered – be it long-term excellence in the recalls of James Anderson and Stuart Broad (whom Key, tellingly, seems prepared to bowl to a fitting standstill rather than manage into an interminable future) or short-term returns in the County Championship – the competition, after all, upon which England will still be relying for their raw materials while they seek to reinvent their wheels.”It’s very important. Ollie Pope wasn’t in the side and he’s managed to get back into the squad on the back of his county form as much as anything else,” Key said. “The same with Harry Brook and Matt Potts. I know we’ve got injuries but had he not done that, [Potts] wouldn’t be in this set-up at all. County cricket this year has informed quite a few of our decisions, to be honest.”There’s some seriously talented cricketers in this country. We just need to unlock them and get them playing to the best of their ability,” he added. “I’m betting on the fact that someone like Brendon McCullum, or Ben Stokes, and a clear vision for how we want to play is the way to do that. We want that to go through our system.”
Also, so far it’s been a case of win toss, lose match, and pace being preferred to spin in the powerplay
Gaurav Sundararaman30-Sep-2020Each team has played three matches so far in IPL 2020, and it has not been short of entertainment. So far we have witnessed two Super Overs, a record chase and some majestic sixes. Let us look at some of the early trends that have developed in this tournament.ESPNcricinfo LtdWins all around, no runaway leader Not often would you see the champion teams from each of the last five seasons languishing in the bottom half of the table. With no home advantage this year, the results are favouring teams that are adapting the quickest to the unfamiliar conditions. By the 11th match, every team has at least one win. Barring the 2009 season, this is the least number of matches taken for all eight teams to register at least one win. Incidentally both the 2009 (South Africa) and the 2020 season are at neutral venues. Only one win separates the first and the last placed team so far this year.
ESPNcricinfo LtdWin toss, lose match Over the last two IPL seasons, we have seen teams winning the toss and choosing to field first in the first half of the tournament. This year teams are reluctant to bat first in spite of results favouring the sides defending. In fact, only once has a team – the Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Kolkata Knight Riders – won the toss and chosen to bat. And, they lost that game.Almost every single time the reason stated for the team winning the toss and bowling has been dew. Although dew has played a part, it has not been very significant in most games. In Dubai, the team batting first has won all the matches so far but still teams have chosen to chase all the time. Similar to previous seasons, teams are likely to slowly start batting first as we reach the second half of the tournament and the pitches get slower.ESPNcricinfo LtdBatting away the impossibleWould you have ever imagined teams scoring 79 runs from the last four overs to tie the game, or a bowler conceding five sixes in the 17th over to let the opposition back into the game? It’s early days in the tournament yet, but death-over batting has been taken to new heights. In the last four overs, teams have scored at an average run rate of 11.94. Incredibly, we have seen 70 sixes and just 74 fours in this period. This run rate is the highest at the death at any T20 tournament so far. On six occasions, teams have scored in excess of 60 runs in the last four overs.It is not just that relatively weaker bowlers are getting hit at the death – we have seen the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Dale Steyn concede in excess of 25 runs in an over. In the entire IPL season last year, there were only six occasions in which a bowler conceded in excess of 25 runs in an over. This year we have already seen six instances, in just 12 matches.The average run rate in the 20th over in the tournament so far is a monumental 14.24 and, interestingly, four of the ten most economical overs are in the powerplay. With the way the season has started, teams need to double down on their death-bowling strategy to bring in some balance between bat and ball.
Different venues, different strategies One trend that is quite evident this season is that teams need to think completely differently based on the ground they are going to be playing at. The pattern of scoring, the length, and the end from which to attack are all very different across each of the three venues. Sharjah is a bowler’s graveyard while Abu Dhabi’s long boundaries have kept the bowlers more in the game. Dubai so far seems to be the most balanced for both batsmen and bowlers, giving everyone an equal chance of success.In Sharjah, a six has been hit once in eight balls while in Dubai and Abu Dhabi it is once every 20 and 23 balls respectively. Interestingly, if we look at fours in Sharjah and Dubai it is once every nine balls while in Abu Dhabi it is once every 10 balls.The small ground in Sharjah needs different tactics in terms of balls and length bowled for bowlers, while for batsmen it’s pretty straightforward: see ball, hit ball. In Abu Dhabi the batsmen need to do a lot more running and have to manage the heavy wind and take into account the long square boundaries.ESPNcricinfo LtdEven in the fielding department, the grounds provide different challenges. Catching in Dubai has seemed a tad harder than the other grounds. The reason why more catches are dropped in Dubai than the other grounds is still not clear – there are a few players who believe that the “Ring of Fire”, as the stadium’s floodlights have been nicknamed, is not the cause. So far, 15% of the catches on offer have been dropped at this venue. In comparison, Sharjah has seen just 8% dropped, and Abu Dhabi 11%.Pace in the powerplay, but not among the batsmen With the tournament moving from India to the UAE, one major change has been the way the teams have approached the powerplay. Due to the lack of familiarity with the pitches, batsmen have been conservative with their choice of shots and have looked to preserve wickets and attack later on with set batsmen. The batting average of 35.80 in this phase is the second highest across all IPL seasons.From a bowling point of view most teams have attacked with their overseas quicks. Teams like the Delhi Capitals, the Mumbai Indians, the Kings XI Punjab and the Kolkata Knight Riders have used raw pace and swing to trouble the batsmen in the powerplay. The likes of Kagiso Rabada, Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami have impressed.Teams have been so reliant on pacers that the spinners have hardly been used in this phase. Only 11% of the balls bowled in the powerplay have been by spinners, while at the same time in the last three seasons spinners had bowled close to 25% of the deliveries in the powerplay.
It is likely that the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and R Ashwin will play a much bigger role in the powerplay as the tournament reaches its halfway stage and the pitches start to tire.
Sunderland fans will be hurriedly counting down the days now until their beloved Black Cats do battle again in the Premier League.
In an ideal reality, those of a Wearside persuasion love to have seen their high-flying team continue to play during the international break, instead of having to take an enforced pause.
Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ men find themselves in an uncharted fourth position in the Premier League table at the time of writing, which is some feat, considering the Frenchman has only just guided the Black Cats back up to the big time.
A huge part of their whirlwind success story so far has been Granit Xhaka, who is already being viewed as one of Sunderland’s most cherished figures of recent years.
How Xhaka compares to other Sunderland captains
Before delving deeper into Xhaka becoming an instant fan favourite at the Stadium of Light, he isn’t the only notable recent captain who plied his trade on Wearside.
Just last season, Luke O’Nien would bravely battle for the Black Cats all campaign long, donning the armband, with Sunderland’s former number one goalkeeper in Anthony Patterson, even going out of his way to hail him as a “leader.”
With three goals and 16 clean sheets under his belt, it’s clear why he was described in such glowing terms, with O’Nien arguably as important to his side’s promotion efforts, as Xhaka has proven to be in punching above their weight in the league above.
Other notable faces who have been given the weighty pressure of the Black Cats armband in recent years include John O’Shea, who made 256 appearances for the Wearside outfit, all of which came in the Premier League.
Of course, there was also the no-nonsense approach of Lee Cattermole, but not even his full-bloodedness for the cause, nor his six-goal contributions in the big time, could keep Sunderland from eventually slipping down to League One.
This is where Sunderland has undoubtedly hit the jackpot with Xhaka, with his £13m arrival through the door in the summer raising the standards of everyone around him, so much so that relegation already feels very unlikely.
The Swiss has also singlehandedly been a force to get Sunderland over the line in tense matches, too, with a goal fiercely put away against Everton at the start of November, securing a 1-1 draw, which was also collected off the back of the ex-Arsenal warrior, winning five duels to keep the Toffees at bay.
The concern will be that Xhaka, despite looking like a fine wine now, is 33 years of age, meaning he won’t be a long-term captain option.
Thankfully, Le Bris may already have a future captain on his hands.
Sunderland's future captain
While the majority of the talk so far this season has centred on the number of brand-new signings that have made the step-up to the Premier League look effortless, Le Bris should also be commended for what he’s managed to get out of stars who have been there since the club’s Championship days.
Wilson Isidor is already up to four Premier League goals after bagging 13 in the second tier last season. Moreover, Daniel Ballard has looked formidable in the heart of Le Bris’ defence when handed opportunities to shine, having been noted as a “diamond” for how much he puts his body on the line, early into his Sunderland career by his former Stadium of Light boss in Tony Mowbray.
In the here and now, much like Xhaka, he has become a dependable warrior for Le Bris to trust in, with the Northern Ireland international firing home that effort past David Raya last time out in league action to hand the hosts a shock one-goal advantage over top-of-the-table Arsenal.
His underlying numbers aren’t that far off the 33-year-old’s either, with his similar fight and passion, as Sunderland try to gain as many early-season victories as possible, standing him in good stead to succeed the midfield veteran as the Black Cats’ next dominant and assured captain.
Ballard vs Xhaka in 2025/26
Stat (* = per 90 mins)
Ballard
Xhaka
Games played
9
11
Goals scored
2
1
Assists
0
3
Touches*
42.2
70.4
Accurate passes*
24.3 (83%)
44.9 (83%)
Clearances*
6.6
3.8
Total duels won*
6.6
6.1
Stats by Sofascore
Amazingly, despite starting just six Premier League games this season, owing to injury problems popping up, Ballard has trumped Xhaka notably in terms of duels won per match, with a mighty six won just against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
He isn’t a million miles away in other areas, either, with Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley highlighting Ballard’s sharp rise to become a Premier League-calibre defender as “phenomenal”.
For the time being, the Black Cats will continue to rely on the experience and know-how of their Basel-born midfielder.
Still, the commanding number five is definitely a worthy heir to Xhaka’s intimidating throne.
Talks open: Sunderland willing to make record £70m offer for Barcelona star
The Black Cats’ potential record pursuit could hinge on one key factor.
Danny Rohl is close to being named as the new Rangers boss, and Sky Sports have shared a live update from outside Ibrox after an “11th hour and 59th minute” twist.
Rangers on brink of Rohl announcement after late breakdown in talks
“Let’s start with the huge developments in the last half hour,” said a Sky Sports presenter live on TV on Monday afternoon. “Danny Rohl looks set to be named as the new head coach at Rangers.”
The 36-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday head coach had ruled himself out of the race to become Russell Martin’s successor last week when Kevin Muscat appeared to be front runner.
However, it emerged on Sunday night that no agreement could be reached with Muscat, which threw the Ibrox club into managerial limbo ahead of the Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Brann in Norway.
Sky’s Adam Binnie has now reported live from outside Ibrox, shedding some light on just how close they were to appointing Muscat: “The club continued into advanced talks with Kevin Muscat which fell through at the 11th hour, or the 11th hour and 59th minute.
“After all that falling out, that meant that Rohl was back in contention… now he is the leading candidate and is expected to take over.”
Rohl, who Binnie confirms was third choice after Steven Gerrard and Muscat, led The Owls to a 12th-place league finish in his only full season as a manager before leaving the troubled Yorkshire club in July.
Rangers’ Under-19 boss Stevie Smith was in interim charge for the 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday. Former Gers defender Smith took over first-team training along with B team coach Brian Gilmour, goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo and head of performance Rhys Owen, on Martin’s departure.
The Ibrox club sit sixth in the William Hill Premiership with nine points from eight fixtures and are 13 points behind leaders Hearts.
Gers fans disgruntled by the failure of Martin, the start to the season where Rangers were also bounced out of the Champions League play-off on a 9-1 aggregate defeat by Belgian side Club Brugge, and latterly the new boss recruitment process, have turned against chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
A banner was held up at half-time during the Dundee United game which read: ‘Stewart, Thelwell pack your bags and go before we pack them for you’.