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Chelsea have missed out on a transfer target, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano sharing news that the player is poised to remain at his club instead.

Enzo Maresca has watched BlueCo orchestrate a fairly productive transfer market thus far.

Maresca is now pushing Chelsea to sign £150k-per-week World Cup winner

The Italian and his staff are big fans.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 28, 2025

The Blues sealed a £30 million move for highly-rated young English striker Liam Delap, who’s already got on the scoresheet with his first-ever goal for Chelsea at the Club World Cup, and it is believed that optimism is growing over a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season	Average match rating
Cole Palmer	7.33
Moises Caicedo	7.02
Enzo Fernández	6.95
Nicolas Jackson	6.88
Noni Madueke	6.82
via WhoScored

They haven’t had it all their own way, though, as Dortmund rejected three bids from Chelsea for the 20-year-old before the last transfer deadline on June 10.

Chelsea also failed with an attempt to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with the Rossoneri insisting on a far higher price tag than Maresca’s side were willing to pay, and talks surrounding a pre-CWC move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké didn’t go anywhere either.

Maresca’s side are in the market for a centre-back too, but according to Romano, they’ll have to move on from Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite – who’s now been added to the list of players who Chelsea won’t be signing.

Jarrad Branthwaite set to reject Chelsea and sign new Everton deal

Earlier this month, journalist Simon Phillips reported that Chelsea were planning to push for Branthwaite, and there was a possibility that the 23-year-old could ask to make the move to Stamford Bridge.

“Chelsea intend to push for him [Branthwaite] again and there is a possibility that they offer players to Everton in an attempt to get the fee down and make the deal more appealing on both sides,” said Phillips.

“We’ve also heard that he is a little frustrated, on Everton putting such a big valuation on his head. We had initially heard that Branthwaite would not actively push for a move. But it has now transpired that he is keen on Chelsea and could end up asking for the move.”

However, despite Chelsea’s intention, the £70 million-rated centre-back has just been put out of Maresca’s reach.

Romano confirms that Branthwaite will commit his future to Everton by signing a new long-term deal until 2030, dealing a blow to Chelsea and other suitors, who are poised to miss out on the Englishman tipped for a very bright future.

The former PSV Eindhoven loanee was also a wanted man at Tottenham, according to some reports, but any potential move to London will have to be put on the back-burner for a long while.

Everton are now in a race with Manchester City to sign a “crazy” homegrown talent, according to a recent report.

Everton in Bayern Munich tussle to sign Woltemade

The Toffees are looking to take advantage of the fact that the transfer window has opened early and are interested in adding to their attacking options next season. The situation around Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future is still very unclear, and with that, Everton appear to be keeping their options open.

According to SportBild, relayed by Sport Witness, Everton have joined the race to sign striker Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart. The 23-year-old made his international debut for Germany in Wednesday night’s defeat to Portugal after his performances this season left Julian Nagelsmann impressed.

But the German manager is not the only one impressed, as Brighton & Hove Albion, Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid are all interested in signing Woltemade, as well as the Toffees.

Perfect Branthwaite replacement: Everton considering bid to sign £30m star

Everton could lose Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, but appear to have the perfect replacement lined up.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 5, 2025

The forward doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, though it has been claimed he could leave for around £16 million. But given he has now made the international stage and he is under contract until 2028, Stuttgart may be looking for a bit more than that, which could be bad news for Everton.

Everton looking to beat Man City in race to sign Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri

As well as looking at a more senior striker, the Toffees also have their eye on a more up-and-coming forward. According to The Star, Everton have now submitted an offer to sign Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri from Sheffield Wednesday.

The Toffees have submitted a bid which is in the region of £1.5 million plus add-ons, but Everton are not the only team to submit an offer, as Man City and Chelsea have also done the same. This report states that Wednesday’s chairman, Dejphon Chansiri, is now in discussions with the clubs about the specific terms of the deal, as the Owls want a substantial fee handed over up front, despite agreeing to the £1.5m valuation.

City are the team leading the race to sign the 15-year-old, but as of now, the young forward has yet to give any indication of which team he would prefer to join.

Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri’s career stats
	Apps
Sheffield Wednesday Under-18	1
England Under-16	2

Cadamarteri, who has been dubbed “crazy” for his rapid pace, came through the academy at Wednesday, and while he has yet to appear in the first team, he has impressed in youth football.

The Toffees have obviously seen enough from Cadamarteri that they want him to join their academy, with the view of him making the step-up into their first team in the next few years, and that is likely what the player is going to make the decision on – which club will give him the best pathway to make the jump into the first team.

Everton have not been afraid of giving young players a chance in the first team, and they will hope that helps them when it comes to getting this deal over the line.

Newcastle United are now in pole position to complete the signing of a “fearless” attacking player this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Newcastle focusing on signing attackers

Eddie Howe will be eyeing reinforcements all over the pitch ahead of next season, but adding extra firepower to the attack is vital, even though Alexander Isak appears more likely to stay than leave.

Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo has been a leading candidate to come in and strengthen the right-hand side of Newcastle’s attack, despite Jacob Murphy enjoying a fantastic 2024/25 season there. The Bees winger scored 20 times in the Premier League, but now appears set for a move to Manchester United after David Ornstein revealed the player’s preference is Old Trafford.

A separate update has already emerged regarding a potential alternative to Mbeumo, with journalist Pete O’Rourke saying West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus is a backup option.

“Newcastle can afford a deal for Kudus. As it stands, Bryan Mbeumo is their top target for that right-sided forward position. Kudus is on their list and has admirers within the Newcastle hierarchy, and is somebody they feel could come in and strengthen their attacking options.

“He obviously has that release clause of around £75million, but I don’t think many Premier League clubs will be willing to pay that. Due to West Ham’s situation, his suitors feel they can get him for a cheaper fee.”

Newcastle lead the race to sign "fearless" star

Now, according to Calciomercato‘s Daniele Longo [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are in pole position to sign Fiorentina striker Moise Kean this summer, with the 25-year-old having a £44m release clause in his contract. The Magpies are reportedly “very interested” in acquiring the Italian’s signature, with Napoli also believed to have made an enquiry about him.

Kean represents a good choice for Newcastle – one who could come in as an upgrade on the ageing Callum Wilson, providing healthy competition for Isak next season.

Newcastle already sold Kudus & Mbeumo hybrid who can 'reach Mane's level'

Newcastle are pursuing Mohammed Kudus and Bryan Mbeumo this summer – but have they already sold an alternative?

ByRobbie Walls Jun 1, 2025

Granted, the Italy international didn’t fare well in the Premier League the first time around – he only scored twice in 32 appearances in the competition for Everton – but he has matured as a player since then, being hailed as both “fearless” and “courageous” by Thomas Tuchel, who lauded him during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain.

Kean is now a more established footballer than he was in England in his first stint, netting seven times in 21 caps for Italy, so Newcastle would be wise to make a move for him.

Appearances

32

Starts

31

Minutes played

2712

Goals

19

Assists

3

Shots per game

3.3

Dribbles per game

1.4

Key passes per game

0.6

He is coming into his best years and will take some of the pressure off Isak, following a campaign that saw Kean score 19 times in 31 Serie A starts, highlighting his prolific nature for Fiorentina.

Celtic clinched their 55th league title and their fourth Scottish Premiership title in the last four seasons with a 5-0 win over Dundee United last weekend.

The Hoops only needed a point at Tannadice Park to rubber stamp their place at the top of the division, but they claimed the trophy in style with a convincing victory.

It was a big afternoon for Brendan Rodgers and his side, as they won the league title, but it was also a big game for Ireland international Adam Idah, who made a big impact off the bench.

The former Norwich City marksman scored two goals after coming on for the injured Jota, and will now be hoping to land a regular spot in the starting XI between now and the end of the season.

He has only started 16 of his 31 appearances in the Premiership so far this term, which shows that the Irish forward has been unable to nail down a place in the side throughout the campaign.

Idah is yet to prove that he has what it takes to be the main man for Celtic in the number nine position, despite Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit in the January transfer window.

Why Kyogo Furuhashi was a success at Celtic

The Japan international joined the club from Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2021, signed by Ange Postecoglou, and hit the ground running at Parkhead with 20 goals and five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.

Kyogo did not fit the prototypical centre-forward mould, standing at 5 foot 7 and being fairly weak in his physical duels, but he made up for that with lethal finishing and exceptional movement.

The Japanese star, who scored 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, did not need to be a 6 foot 3, powerful, number nine who could bully opposition defences week-in-week-out, because he had the technical ability to impact matches without getting involved in physical tussles.

Kyogo ended his Celtic career with a return of 85 goals and 19 assists in 165 matches in all competitions, which illustrates just how effective he was at the top end of the pitch.

Kyogo’s three full seasons at Celtic
Premiership	21/22	22/23	23/24
Appearances	20	36	38
Goals	12	27	14
Duels won per game	1.7	1.2	1.5
Ground duel success rate	43%	44%	45%
Aerial duel success rate	20%	13%	26%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic striker consistently struggled with the physical side of the game throughout his three full Premiership seasons, yet still managed to consistently score goals.

This shows that he was a success at Parkhead because of his movement and his technical quality, and is proof that Celtic do not need a tall, physical, experienced number nine if they opt to recruit one in the summer.

Celtic eyeing Premiership striker

In fact, Celtic may be able to unearth their next version of Kyogo by signing a Premiership player whom they are now, reportedly, showing an interest in.

According to the Chronicle Live, the Hoops are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop for Hearts centre-forward James Wilson ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops have ‘checked’ the 18-year-old striker out this season, in what has been his breakthrough year at senior level with the Jam Tarts, as Rodgers lines up a move for the youngster.

However, the Scottish giants will face some significant competition for his services because the outlet adds that Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, are also interested in the forward.

Transfer Focus

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

It also reveals that fellow Glasgow club Rangers have also checked out the teenage sensation’s performances for Hearts this term, but Celtic may have the upper hand over their rivals because they have just won the Premiership title and may be a more attractive proposition.

Why Celtic should sign James Wilson

The Hoops must, now, swoop to sign Wilson ahead of Rangers and Newcastle, and any other Premier League teams, because he has the potential to be an exciting addition to the squad.

Celtic would be signing a young player with so many years left ahead of him to develop and improve in the future, because the Scotland international only turned 18 in March, which means that there would not be too much emphasis on him needing to be an instant success.

Like Kyogo, Wilson has a lean build and is not your prototypical, physical, Scottish centre-forward who is going to win aerial duels and hold the ball up under pressure constantly.

Instead, the Scotland international is an effective finisher who has clever movement and clean technique in front of goal, which allows him to make an impact at Premiership level.

24/25 Premiership	James Wilson
Starts	15
Goals	5
Big chances missed	4
Duels won per game	2.6
Ground duel success rate	45%
Aerial duel success rate	29%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Wilson does not win many duels per game and he has been dominated by opposition defenders in duels on the ground and in the air throughout this season, which has been his first of regular football in the league.

This shows that he is similar to Kyogo in the sense that they both struggle with the physical side of the game, but his goal return speaks to his ability in possession.

Wilson, whose appearance as Scotland’s youngest ever debutant was described as “incredible” by Neil Critchley, scored five goals from 4.77 xG, which shows that he has been efficient in front of goals in the top-flight.

This suggests that he has the potential to be similar to Kyogo at Celtic as a centre-forward who can provide a clinical touch in the final third, without offering a physical presence, by using his movement and technical qualities to make a big impact.

Worth less than Nawrocki: Celtic must axe flop who "wants to be at the club"

Celtic must ruthlessly bin this player who is now worth even less than Maik Nawrocki.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 29, 2025

Couple that with his age profile and potential to improve, and this is why the Scottish giants should push to bring him to Parkhead in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Can Celtic move three points closer to securing a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title?

If the Hoops beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, and then Rangers are beaten by Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday, the Celts will have rubber-stamped a record-equalling 55th Scottish top division title, as well as their 13th in just 14 seasons.

This is actually despite the fact the Bhoys have lost three of their last six Premiership games, having lost only two of the previous 46, most recently beaten 1-0 at St Johnstone last weekend, their first defeat against the side bottom of the table since November 2005.

So, as Brendan Rodgers’ side seek to get back to winning ways, with one eye on a Scottish Cup semi-final date with the Saints at Hampden on Easter Sunday, the boss should make changes to his starting lineup, unleashing his “on fire” wide-man.

Nicolas Kühn's season of two halves

Nicolas Kühn was absolutely outstanding during the first half of this season, very much on course to be named Celtic’s player of the season, with David Irvine of the National even suggesting he was being considered by Julian Nagelsmann for a call-up to the German national team.

However, he has not been able to sustain this form, as the table below outlines.

Nicolas Kühn 2024/25 season statistics
Statistics	Kühn in 2024	Kühn in 2025
Appearances	25	19
Minutes	1,713	1,242
Goals	14	4
Minutes per goal	122	311
Assists	11	3
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As shown, Kühn’s statistics have fallen off a cliff since New Year’s Day, scoring only twice in 15 outings since bagging a brace against St Mirren on 5 January.

The German has started each of the Hoops’ last eight fixtures, hooked at half-time at McDiarmid Park last Sunday, and we believe he should begin Saturday’s meeting with Killie on the bench, considering this major downturn in form.

The Celtic star who should replace Kuhn

Yang Hyun-jun was introduced as a substitute at the interval in Perth last weekend, replacing Kühn as part of a double alteration, but the South Korean deserves to be in from the start this time.

Yang joined Celtic from hometown club Gangwon FC for a reported fee of £2m two summers ago, but made very little impact in Glasgow until recently, as the table below outlines.

Yang Hyun-jun’s Celtic career in numbers
Statistics	Yang in ’23 & ’24	Yang in 2025
Appearances	45	16
Minutes	1,753	651
Goals	1	5
Minutes per goal	1,753	130
Assists	4	5
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As laid out, since the turn of the year, Yang’s statistics have exponentially improved, scoring five times, most notably bagging a brace at St Mirren Park during a 5-2 victory, with Korean journalist Joel Kim describing his compatriot as “on fire”.

After this win in Paisley, Rodgers credited Yang’s girlfriend for his recent resurgence, telling the BBC that she has been in the country for “a little while”, adding that he’s had a chat with the translator and will do everything in his power to ensure she can stay for a bit longer.

When compared to Kühn, Yang is certainly the man in form, hence why the South Korean deserves to start against Kilmarnock on Saturday to see what he can do at the top end of the pitch in place of the faltering left-footed forward.

Rarely-seen Celtic flop is fast becoming their new James McCarthy

The rarely-seen Celtic flop could end up becoming the new James McCarthy at Parkhead.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 10, 2025

Playing her first international game since October 2022, the allrounder played a match-winning hand in a rain-curtailed contest

Srinidhi Ramanujam01-May-2024There’s an air of confidence around D Hemalatha of late. The allrounder had had to wait for more than 18 months before stepping into international cricket again. But when she finally got the opportunity to do that on Tuesday, against Bangladesh in the rain-hit second T20I, she ensured she made a case for herself with a blistering 41 not out off 24 balls. It came in an India innings of 47 for 1 in a curtailed chase lasting just 5.2 overs.It feels like a long time ago when Hemalatha made her T20I debut as a 23-year-old in 2018, at the T20 World Cup (then called the World T20) in the Caribbean. For someone who had shown so much potential at the domestic level for Tamil Nadu and Railways, Hemalatha had found it hard to translate it into runs in international cricket. Before her comeback game, she had played 15 T20Is and had scored a total of just 90 runs, shuttling between No.3 and 7 in the batting line-up with the highest score of 20.Related

• How Radha Yadav levelled up her game with a 'smiling face'

• Asha, Sajana earn maiden call-ups for Bangladesh series

• Renuka Singh finds her mojo ahead of T20 World Cup

• Radha and Hemalatha seal victory in rain-hit game

In those 15 games, she had come in at No.3 only twice, in 2022, and notched up 10 off 15 and 9 off 10 against England. This was a time when Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues were not part of India’s squad. In this series against Bangladesh, with Rodrigues out with a back niggle, the left-handed Yastika was India’s first-choice No.3. Yastika top-scored for India with 36 in the series-opener but had to miss the second game with a niggle. That’s when the stars aligned for Hemalatha.”Feeling great, playing for India and giving some contribution from my side,” Hemalatha would say after taking away the Player-of-the-Match award.At 29, she forced her way back into the India squad on the back of impressive performances in the domestic circuit and the WPL. In the senior women’s T20 trophy in October, Hemalatha scored 199 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 130.06 while batting at No.4 for Railways. This included an unbeaten 98 off 61 against Jharkhand, including 11 fours and five sixes. Her ability to negotiate spin and score quickly was on display for Gujarat Giants in WPL 2024 as well. After playing four matches in the middle order, the Chennai-born allrounder was promoted to No.3 against Mumbai Indians. The result: 74 off 40 at a strike rate of 185.A promotion to No. 3 during the WPL brought Hemalatha a 40-ball 74 against Mumbai Indians•BCCIIt was this big-hitting ability that took India over the line in Sylhet to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. After India had bowled Bangladesh out for 119 in overcast conditions, Hemalatha was out on the field for the third ball of the chase with Shafali Verma caught behind for 0. She scored four off her first seven balls, before dancing down the track and lofting offspinner Sultana Khartun high over the cow corner fence, bringing up the first six of the match. She then struck three fours off seamer Marufa Akther and left-arm pacer Fariha Trisna – a drive through backward point, a powerful cut, and a lofted shot straight over the bowler’s head.This was before she muscled left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter for a six over long-on and a four through the covers. Marufa came back to bowl the final over of the powerplay, and off the last ball before it started raining again, Hemalatha pierced the gap between extra cover and mid-off with a pleasing drive. In all, she hit five fours and two sixes.India were 19 runs ahead on the DLS calculations when the match was abandoned. At the post-match press conference, Hemalatha – usually a person of few words in media interactions – revealed that she was practising with the new ball at the WPL and that had given her the confidence to bat in the top order for India.”It’s really amazing. It always feels amazing when you are playing for your country,” she said. “In the domestic [circuit], I used to play at No. 4 and 5 in the [batting] order. When I came to GG [Gujarat Giants], I was playing at No.3. For that, I started playing with the new ball in WPL, and it has worked for me here also because I was confident playing against the new ball. We were planning to play just according to our strengths, it was a run-a-ball game, 120 was chaseable. We didn’t plan that much.”Rain might have robbed Hemalatha of a big innings, but it was a day to remember, nonetheless. Whether India persist with her when Yastika returns to full fitness is something to look at. But if she keeps firing like this when the management throws opportunities at her, and with four months to go for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, India will have a happy headache fitting in Rodrigues, Yastika and Hemalatha.

Where Sri Lanka trusted Jayasuriya and Mendis to win the game for them, Pakistan always kept chopping and changing

Danyal Rasool28-Jul-2022It was almost exactly midway through this second Test, midway through the third innings, that Sri Lanka decisively pulled away from Pakistan. The 40th over had just been sent down by Yasir Shah. A poor one, with two loose balls put away by Dhananjaya de Silva, who was then in single digits; he would finish up in three figures. Five wickets down, two new batters at the crease and the skies darkening, Sri Lanka’s lead looked particularly vulnerable.Babar Azam had five spin options at his disposal, and Yasir’s ordinary over was more an aberration than anything else; he’d been fairly solid in his preceding seven, and also removed Oshada Fernando early on. Agha Salman at the other end was operating with impressive consistency, landing the ball in the danger area more frequently than perhaps any other Pakistan bowler; one drifting, non-turning offbreak had taken Angelo Mathews’ outside edge just before tea. Babar, however, opted for a change from that end.He didn’t bring on a fast bowler, or any of the other five spinners. Suddenly, there was the Pakistan captain, cap off and ball in hand, against two new batters who could barely believe their luck. Hindsight, foresight, and indeed sight at that moment could all tell you what was about to unfold and yet, seemingly oblivious to the magnitude of the moment, Babar began to bowl.Related

• Jayasuriya: 'I gave my everything to play for Sri Lanka'

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• Jayasuriya, Mendis run through Pakistan as Sri Lanka level series

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Across a wretched over, Sri Lanka were presented 10 runs on a golden platter, with the pressure release palpable across the Galle Fort ramparts. Babar took himself off, but the spark for that embryonic stand had been lit; de Silva and Karunaratne added 126 runs for the sixth wicket, stomping on any final hopes Pakistan had nurtured for another dramatic fourth-innings heist.To say Sri Lanka’s win represented justice being done would be something of an understatement; it is perhaps a travesty the hosts were ever made to sweat on a win in a contest they grasped by the scruff of the neck from the first session. Sri Lanka’s approach to this second Test demonstrated a clarity of strategy wholly absent from Pakistan’s game from day one, something Mohammad Nawaz admitted to when expressing frustration with Pakistan’s first-innings bowling plans.Sri Lanka had a multitude of spin options to choose from, too, but Karunaratne and Dhananjaya, who stood in for him for large swathes of the Test match, would not allow themselves to get lost in the maze of choice. Identifying Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis as their key spinners, Sri Lanka let them operate for extended lengths in each innings, backing them to stick to Plan A even while Pakistan built up frustrating partnerships. Today, as time ran out and rain and bad light both threatened to play spoilsport, Dhananjaya would not panic in the face of a seemingly impermeable Babar-Rizwan partnership that saw Pakistan sitting pretty at 176 for 2 in 53 overs.Pakistan lost eight wickets for 85 runs in the final innings•AFP/Getty ImagesAside from seven overs from Dunith Wellalage, Ramesh and Jayasuriya were nigh on the only game in town. From the 50th onwards, no other bowler sent down a single over, the entire 8 for 85 collapse scripted by that most traditional of combinations: a left-arm orthodox spinner and a right-arm offspinner operating in tandem with the confidence of their captain and a patience that stemmed from trusting the process they had followed to the point of muscle memory.”Patience” was a word Babar continued to return to in the post-match press conference. He ascribed a lack of it to his batters, and praised Jayasuriya for possessing it in spades. “Even if he gets hit for a boundary, he doesn’t deviate from his length,” Babar said.Pakistan may not currently possess the spin bowling quality that always feels like it’s bursting at the seams in Sri Lanka, but the part a captain plays in enabling them to put their best foot forward is difficult to overstate. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-tracking figures, nearly half of Jayasuriya’s deliveries on the final day – 52 off 114 – landed full on the stumps, rather than the safer shorter length wider outside off stump. He would concede a run-a-ball operating that line and length, but continued to work away on that tactic.It was responsible for three of his four wickets on the day, including the match-defining ones of Babar and Rizwan. Babar’s struggles against Jayasuriya in an otherwise excellent innings were also laid bare, with the batter not in control of 33.3% of all deliveries the left-armer bowled. Ramesh, too, was more productive when he operated along the fuller line that gave batters the opportunity to score runs, three of the four wickets he took falling that way.The notion that Karunaratne, who has exactly as many wickets at Test level as Babar, would have even considered bringing himself on for an over for whatever reason bordered on risible, and Dhananjaya – a far more accomplished bowler than either – only sent down two overs in the final innings; yet Pakistan have often felt chained to their bowling choices rather than feeling liberated by them. The longest any two of their spinners operated in tandem all Test amounted to 17 overs, and never once did a Pakistan spinner lay siege to an end, as Sri Lanka so successfully did.It might have to do with the quality of the personnel, but as a theme across his captaincy, Babar’s ideas on management of spin resources have felt strategically light. In Karachi, Pakistan had asphyxiated the Australian middle order around tea on the first day, allowing just 16 runs in 13 overs. Instead of keeping that pressure on, the next 26 overs were bowled by the ineffectual Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Azhar Ali and, of course, Babar himself. Australia did not lose a single wicket during that spell, and went on to amass 556.It’s much easier when you have Jayasuriya and Ramesh in this kind of form at your disposal. But Karunaratne, and Sri Lanka, know exactly what to do with them, while Babar, and Pakistan, have much of their figuring out ahead of them.

They spent countless hours together as kids learning “correct cricket” and they brought all of it on Tuesday

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot10-Mar-2020As kids, Cheteshwar Pujara and Arpit Vasavada spent countless hours in each other’s houses at Railways Colony in Rajkot. When not summoned to do homework, they’d train together, wanting to out-do each other with the bat. Arvind, Pujara senior, wanted them to channel their cricketing pursuits better and would have them alternate at the nets. Then over countless meals, he would drill into them the need to play “correct cricket” and to prove themselves on tough wickets outside Rajkot.On Tuesday, Vasavada and Pujara exhibited those very virtues that were ingrained in them as young players wanting to make a name in Saurashtra. And in doing so, Saurashtra took another step closer to their Ranji Trophy dream, after three failed attempts.Sure this final wasn’t being played outside Rajkot – regarded widely as a wicket by casual cricket observers in the country – but Arvind, a keen watcher from the stands, would’ve been delighted because this was far from a typical Khanderi surface they grew up on. This could’ve well been a surface in Kalyani or Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi, one that needed both batsmen to dig in and exhibit substance over style. And they did.Pujara and Vasavada are the artisans of this team. There is a reason why the batting revolves around them. The more flamboyant artists were back in the pavilion. Sheldon Jackson looked a dream, but flattered to deceive. Vishwaraj Jadeja set himself up and was bowled through the gate. Such dismissals can potentially cause doubts for batsmen at the other end.Vasavada soaked it all from the non-striker’s end on Monday, even as Pujara battled throat infection, dizziness and fever. Pujara didn’t come out for pre-match warm-ups and the usual batting routines on Tuesday to preserve his energies. But when it was time for him to use them, he did it the way he knows best. Bengal’s fast bowlers kept trying to land the punches. Pujara had one answer: block.Short ball on the body: block. Left-arm over from outside leg: pad away. Left-arm spin from around the wicket: step-out-smother. Bouncer from around the stumps: duck and weave. He had answers to all questions the bowlers tried to ask of him. The approach comes out of years of training and knowledge of the surface, where batsmen, especially those from outside, can be worn down by demons they can’t see. In all fairness, conditions were tough and runs came in a trickle in the morning. It needed batsmen to fight and these two were prepared for the hard grind without the worry of being made to look ugly.They came together at a crucial time on Tuesday morning, with Saurashtra resuming on a dicey 206 for 5. A few quick wickets and Bengal’s hopes of restricting them below 300 would’ve been a real possibility. The onus was on them to see off the first hour at least. They added 25 in the first 15 overs of play, Pujara on occasions having mild discomfort against Shahbaz Ahmed’s left-arm spin. Once, he was even referred to the TV umpire for an lbw decision but survived because of his intent to try and get to the pitch of the ball, which got him outside the nine-feet mark. And while the impact was in line, he was too far down the pitch.Vasavada, at the other end, was equally watchful. Playing behind the line, rising with the bounce, weaving away from short balls, and resisting the temptation to sweep, a shot he plays very well. Most knocks of his generally has a good portion of runs square of the wicket through the sweep shot. But this was different. His determination to not play it as often seemingly evident.From time to time, Pujara kept walking up to him in between overs, sometimes in between deliveries, at the first sign of him trying to do something outside the manual. But these instances were few in a dogged effort. The mantra was clear: ‘There are no points for grace. Time and runs are our currency’.There was a poignant moment when Vasavada got to his century, though. Vasavada was consumed by emotion as he roared towards the dressing room, whipped off his helmet and waved his bat animatedly. Pujara had started to run towards him to give a big hug but stopped, held himself back and allowed Vasavada to let his emotions flow. And once he regained his composure, Pujara walked up to him and gave him a quiet hug and handshake. It was the hug that validated Arvind’s “tough runs outside Rajkot” philosophy.All along, Pujara was hardly been deterred at his own scoring rate. There was not even an inkling of that word ‘intent’ being heard from any corner. He didn’t get to his fifty until his 191st delivery, when he put away a long hop to the point boundary with all his might. It was sane batting, dour batting but a masterclass in putting mind over all else.Then a release shot came off his 200th ball, a length delivery that had him take a big stride forward and disdainfully crash on the up for four through cover point. But such luxuries of letting instincts take over were very limited, and the beauty of his knock lay in his self-restraint, like Vasavada, fully aware that while he wasn’t a 100%, he couldn’t afford to not give anything but 100% for his team. In four innings in the final, Pujara had a best of 27. This was his space, his home and he wasn’t going to pass another chance.The partnership was worth 142; but its value far greater than many stands they’ve had on flatter wickets. Pujara only made 66, off 237 balls. Vasavada 106, before being stumped. But as stumps approached and shadows lengthened in Rajkot, they had more than done their bit to give Saurashtra a real shot at history.On Holi, it wasn’t quite a colourful batting display you’d expect from an Indian mainstay, but the bloodymindedness to get the job done showed his steely resolve and how much the old virtues of occupying the crease and bail the team out meant to him.

Hansi Flick has delivered a crushing blow to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's hopes of reclaiming his starting spot at Barcelona. The German coach publicly confirmed Joan Garcia's status as the undisputed number one, leaving the club legend facing a January exit if he wants to keep his World Cup dream alive.

Flick's brutal honesty

The goalkeeping hierarchy at Barcelona has been the subject of intense scrutiny for months, but Flick has finally moved to end the debate with a ruthless declaration of intent. Speaking ahead of his side's return to La Liga action, the former Bayern Munich boss made it abundantly clear that there is no rotation planned between the sticks. Despite Ter Stegen's return to fitness and his inclusion in the matchday squad against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League midweek, the door to the first team appears firmly shut.

When asked about the situation and whether the veteran German could expect minutes soon, Flick was blunt. He reaffirmed his faith in summer signing Joan Garcia, dismissing the notion that the position is up for grabs.

"Joan is number one," Flick stated emphatically. "I am not going to talk about the number two or number three goalkeeper. Joan plays, we believe in him and I have no idea of changing Joan. And he has done very well."

He added: "Of course I've spoken to him. It's my job, but it's something between him and me."

AdvertisementAFPA legend out in the cold

This public vote of confidence in Garcia represents a dramatic fall from grace for Ter Stegen. For the best part of a decade, the 33-year-old was an untouchable figure at Camp Nou, wearing the captain's armband and saving the team on countless occasions. However, the landscape shifted violently during the summer.

Ter Stegen's troubles began with a recurring injury that plagued him for much of last season, raising doubts about his long-term durability. These doubts were compounded by the club's aggressive move to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol. The arrival of the Olympic gold medallist was reportedly met with hostility by Ter Stegen, leading to reports of a 'feud' behind the scenes. The German shot-stopper viewed the signing not as competition, but as a direct lack of respect for his legacy, and he was soon informed he would not be the first or second choice options in 2025-26, with Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny ahead of him. His attempt to make it difficult for Barca to register Garcia resulted in him being stripped of the captain's armband, though that issue was soon resolved.

Ter Stegen returns to the fold

Hopes of a reconciliation or a sporting comeback were briefly raised earlier this week. Ter Stegen was named in the squad for the Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, marking his first involvement since his latest fitness setback.

Ter Stegen watched from the bench as Garcia played the full 90 minutes. Flick's comments today confirm that his inclusion was merely for depth rather than a signal of intent. The manager's refusal to even discuss the "number two or number three" suggests that Ter Stegen is now viewed purely as a backup option, a status that is untenable for a player of his calibre and salary.

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AFPWorld Cup dreams hanging by a thread

The timing of this demotion could not be worse for Ter Stegen. With the 2026 World Cup in North America looming on the horizon, the goalkeeper is desperate to cement his place as Germany's number one following the retirement of Manuel Neuer. However, Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear that he will only select players who are playing regularly for their clubs.

Sitting on the bench in Catalonia will effectively hand the German jersey to rivals like Alexander Nubel or Oliver Baumann. As a result, the January transfer window has become a critical juncture. Reports suggest that Ter Stegen's representatives are already sounding out potential suitors, with clubs in the Bundesliga and perhaps even the Premier League monitoring the situation. He knows that he must move in the winter window to secure the game time needed to convince Nagelsmann he is still the best option for the national team.

For Barcelona, the situation presents a financial and diplomatic headache. Ter Stegen remains one of the club's highest earners, and having such an expensive asset sitting on the bench is a luxury they can ill afford given their perpetual economic balancing act. Flick's comments may be a strategic move to push the player towards the exit door, accelerating a separation that now feels inevitable.

For Ter Stegen, the message is clear: the era of his dominance at Barcelona is over. If he wants to lead his country out at the World Cup in 2026, he will likely have to do so as a former Blaugrana player. The "undisputed" reign of Joan Garcia has begun, and Hansi Flick has no intention of looking back.

Lionel Messi finally got to play in front of Indian fans after his India tour took a chaotic turn in Kolkata. The fans at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium were left fuming with the Argentina legend's brief 20-minute appearance as they ripped up seats and hurled objects onto the pitch. Messi, however, finally got to play in front of his fans in India during his second stop in Hyderabad.

• Euphoria turned into chaos

  When Messi landed in Kolkata in the wee hours on Saturday, thousands of fans turned up at the airport to welcome the football legend. The Inter Miami captain was accompanied by his team-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, as the Herons trio headed to their hotel amid massive euphoria.  

  Similar enthusiasm was visible among the fans since early morning as nearly 85,000 fans visited Salt Lake Stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite star. However, Messi's visit to the stadium was cut short and the footballers were rushed out of the venue due to reported security concerns. The thousands of fans at the stadium could hardly see Messi's face during his short 20-minute appearance, which left them disgruntled. Seats were ripped up and thrown onto the Salt Lake Stadium pitch, while video footage from Indian news agency ANI showed fans who had climbed over a fence to hurl objects onto the field. The prime organiser of the event, Satadru Dutta, was detained due to mismanagement following the stadium chaos, and the chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, has ordered a high-level enquiry.  

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  Messi finally gets to play in front of Indian fans

  Messi, who is in India as part of his 'GOAT Tour 2025', a four-part event, was scheduled to travel to Hyderabad next before visiting Mumbai and the national capital Delhi. In Hyderabad, Messi was welcomed by a thunderous crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. At the second venue, Messi finally touched a football, as he, along with Suarez and De Paul, exchanged a few passes among themselves. They were also joined by a few youth footballers from the state of Telangana and the chief minister, Revanth Reddy.   

• Messi thanks Hyderabad fans

  At the conclusion of the even in Hyderabad, Messi took the microphone to address the buzzing crowd at the venue as he said: "Thank you very much for all your affection. It's an honour for us to be able to spend these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful. Thank you so much." 

  De Paul and Suarez were also elated to visit India as the Argentine added: "I've enjoyed a lot. This has been a very special night. Thank you so much for your love and affection." Suarez then said: "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for the love. A big hug!"  

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  What next for Messi?

  The World Cup-winning Argentina legend will next travel to Mumbai on Sunday morning, where he is supposed to meet a host of celebrities, including members of the Mumbai film industry and several other dignitaries. On Monday, He will jet off to Delhi before heading out of India.