Travis Head made 151 as for the second match running South Australia fought for a draw
Andrew McGlashan02-Nov-2020South Australia batted out the final day – and 160 overs in total – to secure their second backs-to-the-wall draw in consecutive matches. Travis Head made 151 but the hero was 19-year-old Liam Scott, in just his fourth first-class match, as he made 61 from 162 deliveries to see the Redbacks through most of the last session.Two vital moments came early in the final hour when Scott was brilliantly caught by Seb Gotch, when on 54, but Zak Evans had overstepped and next ball he struck a boundary to wipe out the 364-run deficit and knock off a few extra vital overs from South Australia’s task.He fell with the job not quite complete – a sixth wicket for the outstanding Scott Boland who hurled his body through 33 overs – unable to keep out a superb yorker, but Daniel Worrall and Wes Agar stood firm for eight overs.Scott, who mixed excellent defence with calculated attack in an innings that included four sixes, had come to the crease midway through the day when it appeared Victoria had made the game-changing incisions either side of lunch. Head had just gone past 150 for the second match running when he turned Jon Holland off the face of the bat to short leg, leaving South Australia 5 for 264 and the lower order exposed.Head and Henry Hunt had extended their third-wicket stand to 226 in 86 overs when Victoria finally broke through with the second new ball, Boland finding Hunt’s outside edge and then doing the same against Callum Ferguson who bagged a pair.Boland, in a herculean effort during the fourth innings, struck again in the first over after tea when he produced a beauty from round the wicket to bowl Harry Nielsen to break a stand of 66 in 23 overs with Scott and reenergise Victoria.Their victory push gathered steam when Will Sutherland claimed a much-deserved wicket as Chadd Sayers played onto his stumps with South Australia still 26 behind, but as they moved into the lead the clock turned against Victoria and Boland’s sixth wicket came too late.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is now very close to sealing his first signing of the summer, in a forward who could reportedly leave for half of his release clause.
Edu and Arteta seek midfield and forward upgrades at Arsenal
Sporting director Edu wants to shore up a variety of key areas for Arteta, as the Gunners look to mount a third-successive Premier League title challenge and thwart long-time champions Man City.
Ex-CEO says £60m player is in talks to join Arsenal from his former club
He’s exactly the kind of player “Arteta likes”.
2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2024
Midfield and further forward are two areas that the north Londoners are keen to address this summer, with engine room ace Thomas Partey looking likely to depart Arsenal amid rumoured talks with Saudi Arabia.
They'll need a midfield replacement for the Ghana international, as Arsenal look to bring in both his heir and an alternative to star man Declan Rice in the midfield. Arteta could also sign a new attacker or two to bolster their forward line, despite Arsenal scoring over 90 goals in the Premier League alone last season.
Bukayo Saka
20
Leandro Trossard
17
Kai Havertz
14
Martin Odegaard
11
Gabriel Jesus
8
Kai Havertz dazzled in a makeshift centre-forward role under the Spaniard last season, with Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka also leading the way in terms of goals scored. However, it is believed Arteta personally wants a young striker to partner Havertz going forward.
Arsenal were in the race to sign RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko for the role, and made a proposal to sign the Slovenia international before he opted to sign a new deal at his current club instead.
Now, they're targeting alternative strikers they could do a deal for, and one is believed to be Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede, who bagged a head-turning 43 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season, averaging one every 97 minutes, is attracting attention across Europe as a result.
There's an £86 million release clause in his contract, but respected Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport recently claimed that Sporting could actually sell Gyokeres for in and around £42 million – as there is a belief the player will be very tempted if some of the continent's biggest clubs come calling.
Arsenal "very close" to signing Viktor Gyokeres
As per Portuguese news outlet Leonino, Arteta's side are doing "everything they can" to seal a move for the striker. They add that Arsenal are actually "very close" to signing Gyokeres, with the deal only being held up by financial details as things stand.
If the 26-year-old does put pen to paper, it could be one of the coups of the summer, with Tony Mowbray having also highlighted Gyokeres' physical attributes as another plus point: “(He) is too fast, too strong and too big."
"You would suggest Haaland is like that and Gyokeres in this league looks a yard faster and stronger than the players he plays against in the Championship. The way he buys himself space to shoot is pretty impressive and Coventry did well to hold onto him, he looks a really talented boy.”
Barcelona beat Bayern Munich after years of dismal results against them, and Raphinha has admitted that the 4-1 win was 'for the fans'.
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Barcelona thrash Bayern Munich 4-1Raphinha says result was 'revenge'Bayern dominant against Barca in recent yearsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona hosted Bayern Munich earlier this week in an early heavyweight encounter of the Champions League's new league phase. The match lived up to the billing as the Catalan side cruised to a 4-1 win thanks to Raphinha's hat-trick on a night where everything seemed to go right for Hansi Flick's men.
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Before this week's 4-1 victory for Barcelona, the last nine matches between the two sides had seen Bayern win eight times, including their famous 8-2 triumph back in 2020. The Catalan side's hat-trick hero, Raphinha, has now revealed that their win at Estadi Olimpic was 'revenge' for the amount of hurt the club had faced at the hands of Bayern.
Getty ImagesWHAT RAPHINHA SAID
Speaking to the media post-match, Raphinha said: "It was revenge for the fans I think. For us on the inside, the players, we don't look at the past. We focus on the next game.
"But I suffered those games as a fan, too. It's been an amazing, special night, scoring [a hat trick] on my 100th game for the club. I am very happy with the performance and how we played. As a team, we played really well and that's the most important thing for me. Getting that second win in the Champions League was important."
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WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Owing to the new Champions League format, Barcelona will not face Bayern Munich again at this stage of the tournament but could possibly face them again in the knockout stages, if both sides qualify. Barca are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Real Madrid in El Clasico.
Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 75 goes in vain as rain-hit match goes the home side’s way
Debayan Sen27-Nov-2020New Zealand hosting West Indies in a T20I at Eden Park always promises drama. It’s where the two teams played out the first ever bowl out in 2006, and then the first ever Super Over, called the one-over eliminator at the time. And on Friday, international cricket returned to New Zealand after a gap of eight months, and the teams served up a night that had it all – towering sixes, fantastic fast bowling, three rain interruptions, and in the end, a five-wicket win for the home side, brought home by a debutant and two allrounders while chasing a revised target.Watch the cricket on ESPN+
New Zealand vs West Indies is available in the USA on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the series
Lockie Ferguson was the first hero of the night, precipitating a collapse of five for one for West Indies, who had raced to 55 without loss from three overs with five fours and three sixes after being put in to bat by Tim Southee. Kieron Pollard then led a stunning rearguard to record a career-best 75 not out, and took West Indies to 180 for 7 off their 16 overs. New Zealand set about their revised target of 176 in right earnest, but lost four wickets including Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor for a combined total of five runs. That’s when debutant Devon Conway combined with Jimmy Neesham to take the attack back to the visitors, plundering 41 and 48 not out, respectively, and Mitchell Santner brought up the winning runs in the final over.Lockie Ferguson celebrates after his five-wicket haul•Getty ImagesThe dramatic start: Take 1 There were two rain interruptions inside the first two completed overs, after Southee opted to field, keeping his seam-heavy bowling combination and the overhead conditions in mind. The first delay took place after just four legal balls by Southee himself, with two wides, and a gorgeous cover drive from Andre Fletcher fetching West Indies seven. Southee handed the second over to debutant Kyle Jamieson, and Fletcher went after his extra bounce and pace on offer with relish, with Brandon King also joining in the fun as 18 came off the second over. The heavens opened up, for another delay, following which Fletcher and King pulled out the drives, cuts, and straight swipes down the ground to pick up 29 off Hamish Bennett’s first over. At the three-over mark, West Indies looked set for a massive total with 55 on the board, and a power-packed batting line-up yet to come out.The dramatic start: Take 2 That’s where Southee handed the ball to Ferguson, and the match swung, soon after King had placed the first ball of his spell through the covers for three. Fletcher had a swipe across the line at one that decked in from outside off, and was bowled. Shimron Hetmyer’s patience lasted all of three balls, as he tried to make room to punch the last ball of the over, and ended up nicking through to Tim Seifert. In the following over, Southee had King drive one down third man’s throat, and surprised Rovman Powell with a short ball, that he played down to Ferguson at fine leg. Ferguson came back to beat Nicholas Pooran with a pacy full toss, and West Indies had lost five wickets for one, ending the powerplay at 60 for 5.Pollard and Allen fight back Pollard and Fabian Allen started with caution, but kept the early tempo going when scoring avenues opened up for them, taking West Indies to 96 for 5 at the halfway mark, when another light shower sent the teams into the dugouts. After resumption, West Indies were left with 16 overs to complete their innings, and Pollard decided to target the fifth bowler’s quota, given to Santner and Neesham. Neesham’s first over produced three sixes and a four for Pollard, and by the time Ferguson returned to remove Allen, he had already added 84 runs off 50 balls with his captain. Ferguson also got Keemo Paul to nick one to Seifert, making him just the second New Zealander after Southee to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is, but the challenge for New Zealand was always to restrict Pollard. Pollard finished with some frenetic hitting, celebrating his fifty with a 100-metre six to the roof off Santner.Unlikely heroes The hosts needed quick runs, and when Sheldon Cottrell got Guptill to edge one through to Pooran behind the stumps, West Indies would have fancied their chances of making inroads. However, Pollard’s bowlers let themselves down, often going too short and offering width, which allowed the likes of Seifert, Conway and Glenn Phillips to keep New Zealand within sight of the required rate. Oshane Thomas briefly sparked West Indies’ hopes, dismissing Seifert and Phillips, who suffered a freak injury when his kneecap popped out as he smacked Allen over long-on for a massive six, and then Ross Taylor ran himself out in his eagerness to get his first runs.Neesham came out to join Conway, and the two of them set about taking the attack to the West Indies bowlers. Kesrick Williams was singled out for special treatment by the two – Neesham hit the first two balls he faced for four square on either side, and then picked up 20 off the first four balls he delivered for his next over. Paul, too, was guilty of missing his lengths far too often, and the batsmen made the most of Eden Park’s angles to keep picking him for boundaries. Eventually, Pollard came on and dismissed Conway, but Paul’s erratic bowling came to the fore with New Zealand needing 29 from the last three. He bowled four no-balls in all, the first for overstepping, and then all of the others for high full-tosses, and though there were no boundaries scored, Neesham and Santner kept the score ticking over.Santner swung two sixes in the last two overs, including one off the last ball delivered by Pollard, to bring up a 1-0 lead for New Zealand in the series.
The Premier League's summer transfer activity is starting to rise in volume, but all is (comparatively) quiet at Anfield. Liverpool have undergone a heavy transformation in regard to infrastructure but the playing squad is presently untouched.
Arne Slot has already revealed that he has been in constant communication with Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes over the past several weeks, vis-a-vis transfers. There's no question that the Reds are going to pounce when the right opportunity presents itself.
Liverpool fell out of form in the final stages of the 2023/24 campaign, and despite winning the Carabao Cup in February a rueful end to Jurgen Klopp's illustrious tenure, spanning the best part of a decade, suggests that one or two impactful additions are indeed needed.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Centre-back and the attacking flanks have been discussed as priorities for Liverpool this summer but the base of the midfield could also do with some investment despite signing Wataru Endo from Stuttgart in a £16m deal one year ago.
On that note, Liverpool are in the mix for one of the finest holding midfielders in the business…
Liverpool lining up first-class midfielder
Endo has done a job at No. 6 but the 31-year-old Japanese is probably not the long-term solution. Lacking somewhat in mobility and technical, progressive acumen, he's a strong member of the team but not the cream of the crop.
That, perhaps, is why FSG have taken an interest in Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich, with the distinguished German shortly entering the final year of his deal at the Allianz Arena.
Sky Sports Deutschland – via Sport Witness – claim that it's unlikely Kimmich will extend his contract with Bayern, and with the 29-year-old valued at €50m (£43m) by his outfit, this could be worth a punt for a Liverpool side that could make good use of his technical quality.
Joshua Kimmich's season in numbers
Kimmich has been at Bayern Munich for an age, completing 390 appearances, scoring 42 goals and supplying 104 assists. He's won the complete gamut of honours in his homeland and played a crucial part in defeating Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League in 2020.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich
While he used to spend his time marshalling the flanks as a full-back, Kimmich's glittering skill set has seen him morph into a deep-lying midfielder for the majority of his senior career, albeit playing in his old role with renewed regularity last season, featuring there 16 times.
Wherever he played under Thomas Tuchel, the Germany international impressed. As per Sofascore, Kimmich was wonderfully creative across his 28 league outings last term, supplying six assists, creating 11 big chances, averaging 2.6 key passes and five ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 60% of his contested ground duels.
He also ranked among the top 13% of positional peers during the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
He also, despite his influential, ambitious range of passing, upheld a pass success rate of 91%, suggesting that he can throw down with some of the continent's sharpest and crispest short distributors when need be.
Given that Slot's brand of football is going to see an extra emphasis on ball retention and build-up passages at Anfield, Kimmich would be a wonderful addition.
Why Liverpool need Joshua Kimmich
Endo did a job last season but Kimmich would arrive with a world-class skill set, tried and tested at the very highest level of European football.
Matches played
28
29
Matches started
27
20
Goals
1
1
Assists
6
0
Pass completion
91%
88%
Big chances created
11
2
Key passes per game
2.6
0.6
Tackles per game
1.6
1.7
Recoveries per game
5.0
3.7
Ground duels won per game
2.8 (60%)
2.9 (41%)
As the table above, Kimmich performed his duties to a superior standard than that of Endo last term, with the Liverpool man failing to be anywhere near as reliable in the duel and replicating a mere portion of the German's playmaking ability.
In that regard, Liverpool would no doubt secure an upgrade on the Japan captain and likely provide Slot with the club's finest defensive midfielder since the halcyon days of Fabinho at his best.
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
The Brazil star was sold to Al-Ittihad for around £40m in January 2023 after falling by the wayside in his final campaign on Merseyside, though this should not detract from a sparkling career that saw him perform as the steely anchor at the base of Klopp's midfield, completing 219 appearances and winning the full sweep of silverware during a highly prosperous period.
The 30-year-old was even described as "the best" holding midfielder in the world by Gary Neville in 2019, such was the level of his game.
He performed his duties industriously but Kimmich would actually prove to be an upgrade for Slot, when considering the circumstances, with few able to perform with the same kind of gusto and all-encompassing brilliance as the German phenom.
With just one year left on his contract, Liverpool would be silly not to attempt to bring one of this generation's finest midfielders to the fold.
He's like Olise: Liverpool could break transfer record to sign £100m star
He’s rumoured to want to play in the Premier League.
Versatile batsman explains importance of “standing still and reacting, to go for the right option at the right time”
Deivarayan Muthu21-Dec-2020Tim Seifert has all the shots in the book, ranging from the scoop over the keeper’s head to the down-the-track leg-side slog to the perfect straight drive. But, until recently, he didn’t seem to have the clarity to pause and reflect on the game-scenario before pulling out his trick shots. For instance, in the Super Over against Chris Jordan at Eden Park last year, he searched for the scoop when he might have been better off trying to clear the shorter straight boundary. Jordan knew that Seifert would go searching for that shot and darted a wide yorker away from his reach. It resulted in another Super Over heartbreak for New Zealand.
****
A year on, Seifert understands his strengths better and knows when to play the right shot at the right time. This mindset change came to fore during his back-to-back half-centuries in the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan.In the series opener at Eden Park, Seifert shelved his scoops and ramps and instead focussed on timing orthodox shots like defensive push off Faheem Ashraf which whistled past extra-cover for four. The in-form Glenn Phillips holed out in the next over, but Seifert still played within himself, gliding a rapid short delivery from Haris Rauf to the third-man boundary. He fell for 57 and after the game said that he was disappointed at not finishing off the chase. Two days later, Seifert remedied that.Watch cricket on ESPN+
New Zealand vs Pakistan is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the series
The conditions at Seddon Park were strange. The new ball didn’t swing, but then Tim Southee got a semi-new ball to move both ways. Then, in the second innings, Pakistan’s seamers got spongy bounce from a good length. Wary of that bounce, Seifert realised that scooping the ball in the ‘V’ behind the wicket would be a better option than looking to hit it in the ‘V’ in front of it.After plays-and misses against Shaheen Afridi and Ashraf, Brendon McCullum, who has coached Seifert at Trinbago Knight Riders and Kolkata Knight Riders, called it on the commentary that the batsman would “pick up the ball” behind the wicket. The scoop found the boundary, as McCullum predicted, and Seifert was off and running. He would be unstoppable on Sunday, finishing with an unbeaten 84 off 63 balls.”There was a tricky little period when Kane [Williamson] came in,” Seifert said at the post-match media conference. “But, you know in T20 cricket if you just ride that wave, the tough little period could just be one or two overs. Then you get one good ball out of the middle – that gets your innings underway.”Personally, [I] felt like I chewed up a couple of balls and then that’s when I did my scoop and got my second half of my innings underway. I just felt on that wicket, hitting through the line over the top of the bowler was a tough option with the ball popping up a little bit. I thought it was a good time to bring the ramp out and it worked.”
There’s a team in yellow (CSK) that might have a look at you as wellStephen Fleming to Tim Seifert on Spark Sport
Seifert felt that he went too hard at the top against West Indies at the start of the international home summer and tossed his wickets away. In the first T20I against West Indies, he backed away and spliced a catch to mid-on, and in the second he jumped across off and dragged the ball back onto his stumps. Against Pakistan, he learnt from those errors, he said, and maintained a stable base while meeting the ball.”Being able to play 360 [degrees] – sometimes a lot of shots are going through your head, which can be a downfall as well,” Seifert said. “So, I think it was a big learning from the West Indies series that I got off to a good start, but I didn’t really push through. The two times I got out, I got myself out with trying things.Tim Seifert hooks during the course of his half-century•Getty Images”So, it’s just a matter of standing still and reacting. You know when you need to bring those shots out like tonight there were a few dots balls that built up, so I knew it was the right time and right option. I’ve just learnt over experience and obviously not doing as well as I wanted last series as to when to actually play those shots and when to go hard and what bowlers to attack.”The experiences that have contributed to Seifert’s evolution include stints under McCullum at both the Knight Riders franchises in the CPL and IPL. Even during Managed Isolation Quarantine (MIQ) in Christchurch following his return to New Zealand, Seifert was doing shadow-keeping with McCullum. Indeed, McCullum was particularly pleased with Seifert’s ability to adapt over a short period of time.”There are people who want to learn and then there are people who go and get what they desperately want in the game,” McCullum told the host broadcaster. “He picked up the phone and tried to get some help around him but then I was lucky enough to spend some time with Seif over the past six or seven months. I’ve seen his work ethic up close and his ability to develop quickly is something very few players have. Not just his batting but his wicketkeeping has been one of the most improved aspects that I’ve seen. His best years are in front of him. The rest of the world needs to see over the next couple of years to see how good this guy can be.”Seifert’s progress has also caught the attention of Chennai Super Kings coach and commentator Stephen Fleming who said: “There’s a team in yellow that might have a look at you as well. Not just Brendon’s team, there are other teams out there!”From having been ignored for the 50-over World Cup in 2019, Seifert is now becoming too hard to ignore.
Ruben Amorim received a mixed reaction from Sporting fans as he took charge of the team just hours after his Manchester United move was confirmed.
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Amorim oversees 5-1 win for Sporting Boos and applause for departing coachWill join Manchester United on November 11Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester United announced on Friday that Amorim has been appointed as the club's new head coach and will start work on November 11. Before then, Amorim still has some Sporting fixtures to negotiate and was back on the touchline with the Portuguese side on Friday night. Amorim oversaw a 5-1 win over Estrela Amadora in a game which saw fans hold up banners directed at their departing coach that read "Judas", but also "Thank You." There were also some boos for the 39-year-old as well as plenty of applause as supporters digested the news of his imminent exit.
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Sporting fans have seen their team win the league title twice since Amorim took charge in 2020, while Friday's win maintains their place at the top of the table and extends their lead over Porto. Yet the search is already on for a replacement for the United-bound head coach who was appointed just four days after Erik ten Hag's sacking by the Red Devils.
AFPWHAT AMORIM SAID
Amorim spoke about his move after the win. He told reporters: "The season started, we started very well, and then Manchester United came, they pay above the compensation clause and the president defends the club's interests. I never discussed anything with the president. For three days I said I wanted to stay until the end of the season, but then I was told it was not possible. It was now or never, or Manchester would go for another option. So, I had three days to make my mind up, to make a decision that changes radically my life."
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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD
Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take interim charge of Manchester United and will oversee games against Chelsea and Leicester in the Premier League and PAOK in the Europa League. Amorim's first game at the helm of the Red Devils will be against Ipswich Town on November 24.
Manchester United have made an offer for a hugely talented young player with a superb international youth record, according to a fresh transfer update.
Man Utd transfer news
The Red Devils are targeting new signings all over the pitch in the current transfer window, but centre-back appears to be a primary position of focus. Barcelona ace Ronald Araujo has emerged as a strong contender to come in for Erik ten Hag, with the Uruguayan considered an alternative to Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, who has been backed to come in of late.
Another Bundesliga signing has also been mooted in Borussia Monchengladbach teenager Winsley Boteli, although the 17-year-old likely wouldn't be considered an immediate key man, instead arriving as a hopeful future star at Old Trafford.
Manchester United transfer target Ronald Araujo in action for Barcelona.
Meanwhile, a surprise rumour claims that Romelu Lukaku could potentially seal a return to United ahead of next season, being seen as an option alongside fellow target Joshua Zirkzee. It would be a huge shock if the Belgian came back to Old Trafford, however, especially as he is now in his 30s.
When it comes to possible outgoings in the approaching months, Harry Maguire is one player who could move on, and the Red Devils are reportedly willing to cash in on the 31-year-old, who has never managed to fully convince the masses since joining back in 2019.
Man Utd make offer for teenage star
According to a new report from Football Insider, Manchester United have made an offer for Tottenham teenager Mikey Moore, looking to snap up the young winger this summer.
The same applies to rivals Manchester City, however, with the 16-year-old receiving a number of offers ahead of his 17th birthday next month. Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned in the update, which also states that Spurs are "pulling out all the stops to prevent Moore from switching clubs", as FA regulations stop him signing a professional deal until he turns 17.
Mikey Moore makes his Tottenham debut
Much like the aforementioned Boteli, Moore wouldn't be seen as someone who can come in and make a big difference in United's first team from the off, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be an extremely eye-catching signing.
At just 16, the Englishman has already made two appearances for Spurs, showing that Ange Postecoglou trusts him, and his manager spoke glowingly about him after handing him his debut earlier this year.
"We’ve had him training with us for a while, I’ve been trying to see if we can get him some game time, because we’ve kept him out of the 21s as well, it’s a bit of a reward for him for working hard in the last two, three weeks as part of the first team squad, to give him that experience. He still has a long way to go, he’s only 16, but he’s a good kid and hopefully that encourages him."
England Under-17s
12
10
England Under-16s
15
7
England Under-15s
4
1
Moore has been electric at international youth level, scoring 10 goals in 12 caps for England's Under-17s, and if United pip City to his signature, it could look like a significant signing in the coming years, as Dan Ashworth makes his presence felt from the off.
The summer transfer window slams shut at the end of next month and Celtic may be hoping that they manage to keep hold of star midfielder Matt O'Riley.
He has been linked with an exit from Parkhead amid interest from Premier League sides Leicester and West Ham United, among others, after a return of 18 goals and 13 assists in the Scottish Premiership last term.
Another midfielder who could move on from Glasgow before the end of the window is academy starlet Daniel Kelly, who has been excluded from the first-team's pre-season plans.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looks on.
Brendan Rodgers revealed that the teenage whiz has not signed a new contract with the club, ahead of his deal expiring at the end of December, despite being offered "really, really good" terms.
Celtic's interest in midfield prospect
The Northern Irish head coach could forget about the B team star, though, by swooping to sign reported target Jakub Kaluzinski from Antalyaspor.
Football Scotland claimed last month that the Premiership champions are keen on a deal to sign the central midfielder from the Turkish Super Lig outfit.
The outlet revealed that the Hoops have been keeping tabs on the talented prospect, who was dubbed a "high-level" player by analyst Miguel Ruiz, for a while now, dating back to his time in Poland.
It added that it will likely take a fee in the region of £3.5m to secure his services, amid competition from Spanish side Real Valladolid, but it remains to be seen whether or not Celtic are willing to pay that price.
The Hoops must now press ahead with a deal for the Polish maestro as he could come in to replace Kelly as an up-and-coming deep-lying midfielder.
Why Celtic should sign Jakub Kaluzinski
Unlike Kelly, Kaluzinski has a wealth of first-team experience already under his belt and could come in with the potential to make an immediate impact on the pitch.
The current Celtic youngster has only made six senior appearances for the Hoops, which all came last term, after he had played 30 times for the B team.
Whereas, Kaluzinski, who is three years older than Kelly, has made over 100 first-team appearances in his career and played 35 times for Antalyaspor last season.
Appearances
31
Starts
25
Big chances created
5
Pass accuracy
88%
Duel success rate
50%
Aerial duel success rate
52%
As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old ace showcased his quality in and out of possession last term by holding his own in physical duels and offering reliability and creativity on the ball.
Whereas, Kelly has not had many chances to show off his ability for Celtic, which makes it hard to assess his potential for the club moving forward.
With Kaluzinski, there is clear evidence that he has the potential to be a solid player for the Hoops, as he has proven himself in the top-flight in Turkey, and that is why he could be a superb signing to help Rodgers forget about Kelly.
Celtic could fix Kyogo by signing a star with "aggression and flair"
The Hoops are reportedly interested in a swoop to sign the winger this summer.
ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2024
At the age of 21, the Polish gem could be the long-term midfield prospect the manager looks to develop and eventually make a key player, rather than the Scottish youngster – who appears to be on his way out of the club.
Batsman sets out stall for winter with impressive display after year out of Test team
Andrew Miller18-Jan-2021Jonny Bairstow has said that the pleasure of sealing victory in the first Test at Galle makes the hardships of life in the England bubble worthwhile, after he and Dan Lawrence soothed the team’s jitters on the final morning to seal an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.Bairstow, back in the Test side for the first time in more than a year, impressed in both innings, with a hard-fought 47 on the first day, and an unbeaten 35 on the fifth, as he withstood the threat of Sri Lanka’s spinners – in particular Lasith Embuldeniya – in an unbroken 62-run stand for the fourth wicket.And while it’s early days in his return to Test cricket, the confidence and proactivity shown by Bairstow on a wearing pitch augurs well for the rest of a tough winter schedule, starting with Friday’s second Test, also at Galle, and moving swiftly on to four Tests in India.”We saw yesterday a lot more balls were raising off a length, there were some chunks coming out just over the five-foot mark,” Bairstow said in the moments after hitting the winning boundary for England. “It was tricky, so I think the big decision was just being precise in your movements. We saw going forward and really stretching, it was bouncing.”Bairstow’s sixth and most recent Test century also came while batting at No. 3 in Sri Lanka two winters ago, and his tally of 82 runs for once out in this contest lifts his overall average from 13 Tests in Asia to 37.63, a higher figure than his overall mark of 35.14.Though his return to the team came about, in part, due to some notable absentees – most particularly Ben Stokes, rested for this leg of the winter, but also Ollie Pope, who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury – Bairstow’s proven ability against spin could yet make him a key part of England’s line-up for the remainder of the winter.Even so, he might have been run out early in his innings, after taking off for an unwise single moments after his captain, Joe Root, had departed in the same manner. But thereafter Bairstow exuded confidence, both in his own game, and in that of his young batting partner, Lawrence, who finished an outstanding debut on 21 not out to go with his first-innings 73.Asked what advice he had offered his team-mate when play resumed on the final morning, Bairstow said: “Look, you need 36 runs. I think that’s the that’s the be-all and end-all of it, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter how you get there. You just need to score the runs and, on a pitch like that, I think if you’re not proactive, if you’re not looking to score in your areas, then I think there’s going to be a good ball that comes your way.”That was the mindset, to go out and be busy, running between the wickets is a huge a huge part of it, especially over here with the outfields being slightly slower. Just making sure that we’re pressing them in the field, and running hard.”
“It’s tough, I’m not going to lie about it. It’s something that does take its toll, because you are going from hotel to the cricket ground and back to the hotel, and unfortunately the guys are not able to see their families, kids, wives, girlfriends over long periods of time”Bairstow on life in the bubble
The win was England’s fourth in a row in Asia, dating back to their 3-0 series success on the last tour of Sri Lanka, and their fourth in a row overseas, following a trio of wins in South Africa last winter, a feat that England have not achieved since the 1950s. And Bairstow was delighted, not just for himself, but for the whole team that has had to adapt its preparations to cope with the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.”It’s absolutely fantastic,” he said. “It’s difficult when you come to the subcontinent. You know the challenges that you’re going to have, but to get a win on the board in the first game, with a pretty short lead-up to be quite honest, is pleasing for all the boys.”Rooty in the first innings, Bessy with the ball in the first innings, Leachy in the second innings, and the efforts that the fast bowlers put in as well, I think a huge amount of credit has to go to them.Dan Lawrence and Jonny Bairstow celebrate the moment of victory•SLC”They properly toiled away, Sam [Curran] got that early breakthrough, there was Broady too in the first innings with his legcutters, and then someone like Woody. The hard toil that he’s put in there, running in and really making it uncomfortable, it puts people on the back foot to try and exploit other options at the other end, so a huge amount of credit goes to those guys.”It’s been tricky,” he added, when asked about adapting to life inside the England bubble. “I was happy that the Christmas break came around because I think I had about six nights at home since the beginning of August.”It’s tough, I’m not going to lie about it. It’s something that does take its toll, because you are going from hotel to the cricket ground and back to the hotel, and unfortunately the guys are not able to see their families, kids, wives, girlfriends over long periods of time.”The lads have all got addicted to Call of Duty, but it’s the Skype chats with people back home who have been with you through thick and thin that keep you going, and it’s wins like this, and moments like this, that really make it even more special when you’re away from home so much.”England may well rotate their options with the second Test getting underway in just four days’ time. James Anderson is likely to come into the side, potentially to give Broad a rest, while Olly Stone is a possibility to replace Wood, whose extra pace was a welcome asset but whose injury record invites caution when it comes to back-to-back Tests.Related
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Jonny Bairstow, Dan Lawrence seal emphatic seven-wicket win on final morning
Root, England’s captain, said the management would use their extra day of rest to assess their options, but paid his own tribute to the efforts of Bairstow and Lawrence in smoothing the team’s path to victory.”That’s exactly what you want to see as captain, guys getting opportunities and really taking them in both hands,” he said. “For a young guy like Dan to come in and play with such maturity, such a calm nature, and to be put in that situation last night and handle it how he did was really impressive for a guy making his debut,”And it’s really pleasing for Jonny as well. I think both innings showed his class, showed he’s got a very good game against spin, and a very good game for Test cricket. It’s lovely to see them both perform so well and start the winter really strongly.”It is great to know that, with a number of guys being rested and out currently, guys are coming into those positions and there is that strength there, and we’re building all the time as a group and as a squad. That’s what you want to see and hopefully that continues moving forward.”Both Bairstow and Root also paid tribute to Rob Lewis, the lone England fan on the fort at Galle, who had stayed in Sri Lanka when the last tour in March had to be postponed due to the Covid outbreak, and who ended up being a rare witness to England’s achievement, seeing as even the travelling media and most of the match commentators have been covering the game remotely.”It’s an incredible story,” Root said, after speaking on the phone with Lewis in the wake of the victory. “To see him struggle to get on the fort the first couple of days, then finally up there enjoying himself and getting to watch some cricket was fantastic. All of the guys really appreciate him being there and the support we get from everyone that comes and watches us. He was almost a beacon for everyone at home watching on the screens.”We are very lucky to get the support we do everywhere in the world. It was nice that at the end of the game I managed to have a little conversation with him over the phone. It’s a really interesting story and it was lovely for him to enjoy that moment with the rest of the group.”