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Manchester United are "planning to sell" a £115,000-a-week player this summer and replace him with a Premier League ace, according to an update from journalist Rudy Galetti.

Man Utd transfer news

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come in and made an instant impact, masterminding changes behind the scenes such as new CEO Omar Berrada, making it clear that his vision is to see his boyhood club return to the top of English football. He is expected to ensure that plenty of funds are available to make new signings during the summer transfer window, and United continue to be linked with a host of players.

Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is reportedly wanted by United in the summer, having become an important figure for the Cottagers, while AC Milan star winger Rafael Leao is a big-money option whose arrival could even spell the end for Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe is also thought to be keen on securing the signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who could get the best out of Bruno Fernandes in a United shirt. The Brazilian has shone at Molineux this season, featuring 28 times in the Premier League and averaging 3.8 tackles per game.

Adarabioyo is one centre-back option for the Reds Devils, but Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite could be a more high-profile addition, with an £80m switch to Old Trafford mooted. Meanwhile, Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is considered a possible upgrade on Scott McTominay, as United look to strike a deal in the summer window.

Man Utd aiming to sell £115,000-a-week ace

According to Galetti on X, Manchester United are keen on selling Antony this summer, replacing him with Crystal Palace star Michael Olise in the process:

This is exactly the type of business that United should be looking to do in the coming months, with Antony offering nowhere enough since arriving for a whopping £85m from Ajax back in 2022, especially as his £6m per year salary means he is earning £115,000 per week.

In that time, he has scored just 10 goals in 77 appearances – only four of those have come in the Premier League – with a disappointing five assists to his name in that time, too.

Olise could represent an upgrade on Antony, with his end product for Palace standing out far more than the man he could replace for the Red Devils. Despite playing in an inferior team, the Frenchman has six goals and three assists in 12 league matches in 2023/24, with injuries preventing him from registering an even more imposing tally.

Antony vs. Olise in the Premier League this season

Antony

Olise

Appearances

25

12

Starts

12

8

Goals

0

6

Assists

1

3

Shots per game

1.2

2.6

Key passes per game

0.7

2

Dribbles per game

0.9

2.3

At 22, Olise still has most of his career ahead of him, too, and his quality cutting onto his left foot from the right wing could be everything that United hoped Antony would be.

There was little Multan Sultans could do in the face of a proper onslaught

The Report by Danyal Rasool22-Feb-2020

That’s the Islamabad United we all know. It might have been predictable, but there was little Multan Sultans could do in the face of a blistering onslaught from Luke Ronchi and Colin Munro to bring down the target of 168. Both raced to half-centuries, and the game as a contest appeared to be over well before the final runs were actually taken, with 3.2 overs to spare. Ronchi (74 off 45) fell just two runs short of the target, looking to hit the winning runs.The top order has been key to Islamabad’s success so often across the PSL, and with both openers firing, they got off to a flyer. Imran Tahir, introduced in the second over because Ronchi and Munro ostensibly struggle against leg spin, was instead hounded out of the attack after an over in which the batsmen plundered 22 runs. Forty-seven came off the first four, and when the first wicket fell, the partnership already read 92 in 59 balls.The wicket didn’t stymie the run chase much, with Dawid Malan happy to carry on in Ronchi’s slipstream. Multan tried everything, including bringing on Moeen Ali, who had been the trump card against Lahore Qalandars in the last game. But, he was carted for 19 in his first over and Islamabad raced towards a first win of the tournament.Islamabad had been tighter with the ball earlier on, helped by how, for the second time in as many days, the Multan captain Shan Masood fell after getting a start. The further loss of Moeen and Rilee Rossouw within three balls was a profound blow to Multans’ momentum, and when James Vince fell in the next over thanks to an exquisite yorker from Amad Butt (4-27) the game was on its way to its very predictable conclusion.A tale of two PowerplaysThe contrast between the two sides’ opening six overs was essential to the outcome of the match. Whereas Islamabad went on the attack straightaway, Multan took time before the scoreboard began to tick over. Masood and Vince don’t have the explosive abilities of their Islamabad counterparts, and they had managed just 10 runs in the first 3 overs, a whopping 28 fewer than Islamabad at the same stage. And while Islamabad didn’t lose a wicket in the first six, Multan lost Masood, who holed out to fine leg off the final ball of the sixth over.Turning pointDespite Masood’s early departure, Multan weren’t in too troublesome a position after the first nine overs. That was the only wicket that had fallen, and Moeen was alongside Vince, who appeared to be growing in confidence. With Multan having accumulated 69 in the first nine, it was high time to accelerate.Islamabad, though, saw their chance to strike. Butt came on, and first ball of the over, deceived Moeen with the pace, forcing the England batsman to slice the ball up into the air. It was an easy catch for extra cover, and an early departure for Moeen, who, at this early stage of the PSL hasn’t quite been at his best.The killer blow came a couple of balls later. When Rossouw, who has often saved his best for the PSL, came on strike for his first ball, the variation in pace worked again. He would scoop the ball to the same spot, with Faheem Ashraf once more taking the simplest of catches. Islamabad were suddenly into the middle order and Multan found themselves having to make serious adjustments around the kind of target they had expected to set.Star of the DayWhile Islamabad knocked off the runs without a single Pakistan player so much as coming out to bat, the ease of the victory had been made possible by a local lad yet to take his international bow.Butt, 24, had suffered a pounding at Quetta Gladiators’ hands, going for 50 in four overs, but he grasped the chance to make amends with both hands. Not many bowlers make complete mugs of Moeen and Rossouw in the same over, and yet that’s precisely what sliced open the game for Islamabad in the 10th over.Incredulously, that wasn’t by his finest moment of the day. In his following over, he knocked Vince off his feet with a perfect yorker that Waqar Younis, who was on commentary at the time, would have been proud of. It went through the batsman’s legs to take out the leg stump. Vince was then 42 off 30 balls, and Multan needed him to be the anchor for the final eight overs, only for Butt to decisively uproot him. He would return at the death to dismiss Sohail Tanvir to claim his fourth wicket of the day and register his best-ever T20 figures.Where the teams standBoth Multan and Islamabad now have one win each, joining Quetta and Peshawar Zalmi, who are in the same situation. Karachi Kings remain the only team with a perfect record, while Lahore are the only side yet to win after the first three days.

كشفت تقارير صحفية بريطانية، تطورًا في مفاوضات تجديد عقد محمد صلاح مع نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، مع اقتراب نهايته الموسم الجاري.

النجم المصري لديه عقد مستمر مع ليفربول حتى نهاية الموسم، ولا صوت يعلو فوق صوت مستقبله مع الريدز، في ظل رغبة عدد من الأندية في ضمه.

طالع أيضًا.. ذا تايمز: كلوب أراد ضم لاعب مانشستر يونايتد بدلًا من تجديد عقد محمد صلاح

الصحفي الإنجليزي الموثوق والمقرّب من نادي ليفربول، بول جويس، أكد في مقالة عبر صحيفة “نيويورك تايمز” الأمريكية: “لا يمكن أن يكون توقيت صلاح أفضل من هذا، فهو لا يزال طموحًا كما كان دائمًا، ويحتل ليفربول معه صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي ودوري أبطال أوروبا”.

وأضاف: “أول ما يفكر فيه محمد صلاح هو البقاء مع ليفربول، ولا يرغب في الرحيل، يسعى للاستمرار هنا، حيث وجد استقرارًا لعائلته في شمال غرب إنجلترا”.

وواصل: “محمد صلاح يستمتع بالثناء والإشادة من المشجعين، ووجد أن سلوت شخص ممتاز للتعامل معه، ولكن حتى الآن ينتظر صلاح العقد المرضي من النادي”.

ويستعد محمد صلاح للمشاركة مع ليفربول أمام ساوثهامبتون الأحد المقبل، بعد نهاية فترة التوقف الدولي، حيث لم يتم استدعاء النجم المصري لمنتخب الفراعنة في مباراتي كاب فيردي وبوتسوانا.

MatériaMais Notícias

Titular do Confiança, o meia-atacante Willians Santana quer a equipe crescendo de produção na temporada. Segundo o atleta, com passagens pelo Vitória, Bahia, Palmeiras e Fluminense, o desejo de todos é fazer grande segundo semestre.

Veja os melhores memes da derrota do Flamengo para o Juventude

– Estamos fazendo bons jogos, buscando essa evolução e melhorando no dia a dia. Temos que manter uma intensidade agora para chegarmos aos nossos objetivos neste segundo semestre. A equipe está muito focada nisso. – disse.

VEJA TABELA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DA SÉRIE B DO BRASILEIRÃO

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Segundo Santana, individualmente tem sido um grande ano.

– Estou trabalhando para ajudar o Confiança nesta temporada. Tenho lutado para melhorar meu rendimento em campo nos treinos e jogos para fazer um grande segundo semestre com todos aqui. – afirmou.

One of the biggest clubs in Europe are reportedly worried that incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot could hijack a move for a player he knows well this summer.

Liverpool manager & transfer news

The Reds' Premier League title challenge may have fallen apart in recent weeks, with both performances and results nowhere near good enough, but there is so much going at the club that excitement is still in the air. Granted, the exit of Jurgen Klopp will be an extremely sad moment next month, but it looks as though Slot is in place to be his successor, with the start of a fresh era always bringing a great sense of anticipation.

The 45-year-old has worked wonders at Feyenoord, not only winning the Eredivisie title last season but also clinching Dutch Cup glory this time around, and he could bring with him a possession-brand brand of football not dissimilar to Pep Guardiola's style of play.

It is clear that Slot will want to bring in the right players to suit his system during the summer transfer window, being aided by the likes of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, and one player who has emerged as an option is Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville. He has been a big part of the Whites' impressive season in the Championship and the incoming new Liverpool boss reportedly wants him at Anfield.

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is another rumoured target for the Reds, with the Brazilian far from certain to stay at St James' Park this summer. The likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also eyeing him up.

Slot could hijack signing for Liverpool

According to an update from Sport Mediaset [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are still keen on signing Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners this summer, with the report stating that Juventus must "beware" of a hijack from Slot and the Reds.

The Serie A giants are seen as strong contenders to complete the signing of the Dutchman, but Slot could get there first, having worked with his compatriot at AZ Alkmaar during the 2019/20 season.

At this point, it does feel as though Koopmeiners is a genuine target for Liverpool, considering how often he has been linked with a move to the club in recent months. The Slot factor could now only add to the speculation, given their past together, and he looks like a brilliant option.

The 26-year-old Netherlands international is one of Atalanta's most influential players, helping them knock the Reds out of the Europa League earlier this month, and he has 11 goals to his name in Serie A this season. Liverpool's highest-scoring midfielder in the Premier League this term is Alexis Mac Allister with four, going to show how much attacking threat Koopmeiners could add in the middle of the park.

Related Slot can move on from Salah by sealing "dangerous" Liverpool signing

The German forward has been linked with a move to Anfield ahead of the summer.

Posts ByDan Emery Apr 28, 2024

Admittedly, the Reds have only recently made significant changes to their midfield, but Wataru Endo is 31 years of age, Ryan Gravenberch has been hit-and-miss and Dominik Szoboszlai is still maturing, so bringing in Koopmeiners makes perfect sense.

اختتمت اليوم الثلاثاء مباريات الجولة الخامسة من منافسات مرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال آسيا (النخبة) 2024-2025.

ونجح فريق الأهلي السعودي في مواصلة سلسلة انتصاراته أمام العين الإماراتي محققًا الفوز الخامس تواليًا بالبطولة.

وانتزع فريق الأهلي الفوز من منافسه العين حامل اللقب على ملعبه ووسط جماهيره باستاد هزاع بن زايد بالإمارات، بهدفين مقابل هدف.

فيديو | الأهلي يخطف فوزاً ثميناً من العين بثنائية في دوري أبطال آسيا

وحقق فريق النصر السعودي فوزًا على الغرافة القطري بثلاثية مقابل هدف، سجلها أنجيلو بورجيش وكريستيانو رونالدو (هدفين) للعالمي، بينما أحرز خوسيلو هدف الغرافة الوحيد.

فيما فرض التعادل السلبي كلمته على مباراة فريقي استقلال طهران الإيراني وباختاكور الأوزبكي.

وانتهت مباريات الأثنين بتعادل الريان القطري أمام بيرسبولس الإيراني بهدف لكل فريق، ليزداد موقف الريان صعوبة.

ونجح فريق الوصل في تحقيق فور على الشرطة العراقي بثلاثية مقابل هدف، فيما تعثر الهلال بتعادل أمام السد القطري.

وتقام مباريات مرحلة الدوري بمشاركة 24 ناديًا موزعين على منطقتي الغرب والشرق، حيث يتواجد في مجموعة الغرب كل من (الهلال السعودي- الأهلي السعودي- النصر السعودي- السد القطري- الوصل الإماراتي-الغرافة القطري- الريان القطري- استقلال طهران الإيراني- بيرسبوليس الإيراني- باختاكور الأوزبكستاني- الشرطة العراقي- والعين الإماراتي).

فيما يتنافس في المجموعة الأخرى أندية شرق آسيا، إذ تقام منافسات مرحلة الدوري في الفترة من 16 سبتمبر 2024 وحتى 19 فبراير 2025.

وتُلعب المنافسات بحيث يتقابل كل فريق مع ثمانية أندية مختلفة، بواقع 4 مباريات على أرضه، و4 مباريات خارج ملعبه.

وتتأهل أفضل ثمانية فرق في كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ16 ببطولة  دوري أبطال آسيا، المقرر إقامة مبارياته في شهر مارس 2025. 

وبداية من دور ربع النهائي وحتى المباراة النهائية ستقام البطولة بنظام البطولة المجمعة (التأهل من مباراة واحدة)، تقام في المملكة العربية السعودية، ذلك خلال الفترة من 25 أبريل وحتى 4 مايو 2025. ترتيب دوري أبطال أسيا

1- الأهلي السعودي- 15 نقطة.

2- النصر السعودي- 13 نقاط.

3- الهلال السعودي- 13 نقطة.

4- الوصل الإماراتي- 10 نقاط.

5- السد القطري- 9 نقاط.

6- الريان القطري- 4 نقاط.

7-استقلال طهران الإيراني- 4 نقاط.

8-الغرافة القطري- 4 نقاط.

9- بيرسبوليس الإيراني- 3 نقاط.

10- باختاكور الأوزبكستاني- 3 نقاط.

11- الشرطة العراقي- نقطتان.

12- العين الإماراتي- نقطة واحدة.

بهذا الترتيب يحسم 3 فرق الأهلي والهلال والنصر الصعود لدور الـ16 رسميًا.

The PCB chief said they are exploring alternative revenue streams with the broadcast deal set for renewal

Umar Farooq14-Apr-2020

Pakistan is preparing to enter a new broadcasting landscape this year, planning a new deal for the first time in recent memory without a bilateral series against “unreliable” India – according to the PCB chairman – to sell. Though they have not played a full bilateral series against their neighbours since 2007-08, the value of each of their broadcast deals this century has included series with India.That deal is due to be renewed this year, and with a shrinking broadcast market to boot, the value of the PCB’s media rights from 2020 to 2023 is likely to be lesser than the last deal – worth USD 145 million when it was signed but it was hit by the cancellation of two series against India. However, the PCB’s senior management, including chairman Ehsan Mani, remains optimistic about finding new ways to create alternative avenues of revenue.”Definitely [not playing against India] is a loss but we are not thinking about it,” Mani said in a PCB podcast. “It’s like a pie in the sky… if it’s not happening that is fine, we have to live with it. We don’t need to survive on it. I am very clear about planning on the basis of the fact that we are not playing them. Because in the past they had promised twice, thrice that they will play but pulled out… so they are unreliable. We cannot rely on them for resuming against playing India anywhere in the foreseeable future. If it happens, let it be like in Asia Cup and ICC events. We are interested in cricket and we always kept sports and politics separately, unlike India, so it’s the same this time.”A bilateral series against India forms the financial cornerstone of every country’s broadcast rights, but over the last decade and more, with the additional hit of not being able to play at home, the PCB has managed to not only survive, but to a degree, thrive. Over the last five years, the PSL has also emerged as a critical commercial product, the current three-year broadcast deal for it worth USD 36 million. Additionally, the PCB also earns USD 15.65 million annually from the fee the six PSL franchises pay, and USD 25 million in annual sponsorships that run till 2021. Between 2015-23, the board is also set to earn approximately USD 115-120 million from ICC revenue.Not playing India has hit revenues – it is estimated the loss of two series in the last cycle cost the PCB as much as USD 80 million – and affected investments in domestic cricket and pathway systems. But it has not crippled the board.”We need to be innovative and creative on how we look at our next rights cycle,” PCB chief executive Wasim Khan told ESPNcricinfo’s podcast last week. “India is not on the table so we’re going to have to look at other ways. But you know we’ve got good international markets, a huge diaspora in the UK, huge in the US and I think we really need to think differently about how we sell our rights.”We’ve been focusing without India for a while now. We won’t really know the impact in terms of the values that we can get until we get into the marketplace. But we’re looking at what we need to be doing differently rather than just going out in your conventional way in terms of selling your broadcast rights. So many different platforms, different players out there now. We’ve been planning very hard over the last 12 months. We started our contingency planning a while ago, looking at what the broadcast deal might look like, what we might lose on that and looking at what we need to do internally.”ALSO LISTEN: Podcast with Wasim KhanBilateral ties between the two countries were snapped after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 and other than a limited-overs series in 2012-13, they have only faced each other in multi-team tournaments. The PCB pushed for ties to resume before seeking compensation for those losses by going for arbitration but that backfired as the Pakistani board ended up paying almost USD 2 million in legal costs after losing the case.Pakistan’s current broadcasting deal ends with the Bangladesh series that was scheduled this year. They have no home series scheduled in the next seven months, though there is a fairly packed international calendar next year that includes tours by England and Australia. However, given the current global scenario that could well be subject to change.”Our most important commercial contract is the media rights of our bilateral series and it has expired recently,” Mani said. “Until 2023 we have England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa [touring], and all are good series. But it’s a big challenge today (due to the coronavirus pandemic) how we are going to market it and monetise it. For instance, broadcasters in England are suffering. In fact, the sports broadcast industry itself is undergoing tremendous economic pressure. They might not able to pay much this time so we have to think about alternatives.”We have a commercial contract with Pepsi ending next year after 19 years. They have been our major partner, so all stakeholders need to have some certainty to renew our deals. There is a cost impact after our commercial contracts expire, and we are assessing which sponsors are ready to come on board with us, not knowing what we can offer during this uncertain period. So there are challenges but we have to find an innovate way to deal with these things, like why not use digital platform to keep supporters engaged. We have to show some flexibility to meet their expectations and merge it with our aspiration.”

Another Arsenal player is leaning towards the exit door this summer, amid the uncertainty surrounding both Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey.

Arsenal open to selling Partey and Jesus amid Saudi interest

Having both signed for a combined £90 million, the aforementioned Gunners duo could well find themselves at different clubs this summer, according to recent reports.

Related £40,000-per-week star hints at exit after claim Arsenal are preparing a bid

He’s been in scintillating form this season.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2024

Indeed, it is believed Jesus and Partey are attracting serious interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia, who could make lucrative contract offers to lure them away from England and to the Middle East. Arsenal are also willing to listen to offers for them (GiveMeSport).

Partey has suffered from reoccurring injury problems throughout 2023/2024, which have only allowed him to feature in 12 Premier League games this season compared to last season's total of 33.

The Ghanaian has been an excellent asset since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2020, but with his contract also expiring next year, the time could be nearing for him to wave goodbye.

Meanwhile, Jesus' role in the team has diminished somewhat this season compared to last, thanks in part to the excellent form of Kai Havertz in a makeshift forward role under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal are also looking to bring in a clinical new striker when the summer transfer window opens (Fabrizio Romano), which could hand Jesus an even bigger problem long-term when it comes to game time.

Both Jesus and Partey are on a combined salary of around £465,000-per-week, so it would make little sense to keep hold of them if Arteta doesn't see either playing major first-team roles past this season. Their sales could also help to fund Edu's transfer activity, which will be crucial for Arsenal as they look to maintain their place among England's most elite sides.

Alongside the big-name pair who now face potentially having to leave the Emirates Stadium, another player in Eddie Nketiah is now said to be attracting Ipswich Town interest.

Eddie Nketiah leaning towards Arsenal exit

According to TEAMtalk, Nketiah is leaning towards an Arsenal exit this summer as he bids for more opportunities. The Englishman has actually played fairly regularly, making 27 league appearances in total this campaign, but only 10 of them have come as full starts.

Eddie Nketiah's best games for Arsenal this season

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United

9.86

Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal

7.92

Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest

7.66

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal

7.00

Arsenal 2-2 Fulham

6.96

Valued at around £43 million, newly-promoted Ipswich would surely be looking to whittle down that price tag, as they apparently eye up a hugely ambitious move right off the back of their climb from the Championship.

“One of the best athletes we’ve got on our books in terms of his attitude and commitment,” said Athletic Development Club director Chris Varnavas to ESPN via talkSPORT on Nketiah.

“He’s just on another level. His goal was to build a bit of muscle, build some strength, improving his overall athleticism so his strength, his speed, his power. I’m really happy for his progress so far and the opportunity he’s been given at the moment too and I definitely can see him staying at the highest level."

MatériaMais Notícias

A bruxa continua solta no Grêmio. Se a lanterna do Brasileirão não fosse o bastante, Felipão e seus pares não terão a presença do atacante Ferreira por um longo período.

No jogo do fim de semana, quando o Tricolor ficou no empate sem gols diante do Inter, o atacante sofreu uma lesão no ligamento colateral do joelho direito e fica fora de combate por pelo menos um mês.

A ausência será muito sentida, pois o jovem costuma dar velocidade ao sistema ofensivo junto com Douglas Costa.

Sul-Americana e Copa do Brasil

Sem Ferreira, Luiz Felipe Scolari terá que quebrar a cabeça e montar o Grêmio sem um dos principais jogadores nos duelos do Brasileirão e eliminatórias da Sul-Americana e Copa do Brasil.

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England’s Test captain prepared for possibility summer could be drastically hit

Alan Gardner30-Mar-2020Joe Root, England’s Test captain, has admitted that he is prepared for the possibility that there is no cricket played at all during the 2020 summer, with the UK currently under lockdown as it battles the coronavirus outbreak. Root also said that he expects conversations to take place “in the coming weeks” about the possibility of players taking pay cuts in order to safeguard the game’s financial future.England returned early from their tour of Sri Lanka earlier this month, as the pandemic began to take hold around the world, and the ECB has already said there will be no domestic cricket played before May 28. While the governing body is looking into the viability of holding games behind closed doors, Root conceded that scheduled home series against West Indies, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland may not go ahead.”It has definitely crossed my mind, it is a possibility,” he said. “But I think we have to try to stay optimistic, try to take things day by day, not get too ahead of ourselves, we’ve just got to be ready for whenever that opportunity to play again is.”We’ve got to stay fit, obviously can’t do much in terms of actual practice, hitting balls and bowling and stuff like that. Might be that my wife has to start giving me some throwdowns in the back garden but until things become that drastic it will be simply sit tight and wait. If that happens, then we’ll just have to adapt, make the most of those circumstances as a cricket community by coming together and doing the best for the game.”ALSO READ: PCA seeks collective solutions as players face prospect of pay cutsThe ECB is expected to announce measures aimed at propping up the professional game in England and Wales, with several counties contemplating “furloughing” their playing staff – effectively placing them on leave, with some of the costs met by the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme. It was also reported at the weekend that centrally contracted England players could be asked to give up around 20% of their earnings, although Root said such matters would be in the hands of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).”I’m sure at some point in the coming weeks there will be a discussion,” he said. “That’ll probably take place between the PCA and the ECB, and until those happen, that’s not my area of expertise. I think we just have to concentrate on making sure we are as fit and as ready to go as we can be for whenever it is we get back to playing cricket.”While there are graver issues at stake over the coming weeks and months, cricket’s current shutdown could have several knock-on effects beyond the purely financial – from impacting on the 2020 T20 World Cup to delaying the World Test Championship, with the final currently scheduled to take place in England next year.Root, who said that over the last two weeks he had “been in touch with every single player” on England’s winter tours, was understandably frustrated at the interruption after overseeing an encouraging 3-1 Test series win in South Africa. But he suggested the enforced break would see an increased appetite for the game among players and spectators when cricket does resume.”It is frustrating. There are more important things to concern ourselves with but, from a cricketing point of view, we were preparing ourselves well for the two Test matches in Sri Lanka and we made big strides in South Africa. Of course very different conditions but you saw how the warm-up games panned out and how the younger guys adapted with the bat and readied themselves for those Tests – it felt like we were in a very strong position to do something again.ALSO READ: ‘We’re going to cherish getting back out there’ – Anderson”It would have been nice to get those games in to test ourselves out there against a side on the rise, to see if we could keep building our away form and build on the three brilliant Tests we had last time [in 2018-19]. Going into the summer, the six Test matches [against West Indies and Pakistan] will be crucial points, as the home games seem to be really important in the Test championship. It might be that changes now. When it comes to those games they might have to be rescheduled, play them abroad. I am sure there are a number of different scenarios we may have to find ourselves looking at down the line. Of course it would have been nice to play those two games [in Sri Lanka].”When you get time like this away from the game when it is unscheduled, guys will be even more determined to come back and play. When that opportunity comes, all the guys will be desperate to start playing again and all of the pent-up energy that will be there from spending time at home will be expended on the field and into performances. Whenever we get back to playing again there will be some very excited players playing it and people watching it.”Joe Root reacts to the cancellation of England’s Test series•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Like the rest of the country, Root and his family are observing guidelines to stay at home – he conducted his media duties via video conference call – with cricket activity currently limited to giving his three-year-old son, Alfie, throwdowns.”I’ve got an exercise bike at home and have generally been using that for my aerobic stuff. I’ve tried to stay isolated as much as possible, trying to get Alf running around the garden or doing something outside with the kits the ECB have kindly sent us. I’m taking this very seriously, trying to stay indoors as much as possible, avoid contact at all costs. It’s pretty impossible to get online shops at the minute. We’ve had one booked for three or four weeks. We’re literally trying to get out as little as possible, be efficient with what we’re buying and use, try to be creative with our cooking, finding different ways of using what we’ve got in the fridge, not wasting anything.”Having announced at the weekend that he has become a patron of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Root has also written an open letter to cricket supporters, jointly with England women’s captain, Heather Knight, calling on people to “stay strong and united” and praising those on the frontline in the coronavirus fight.”It is motivating seeing how powerful it is when people come together and show support for a fantastic organisation like the NHS. We are very lucky to have it. We should appreciate it and not take it for granted. The work they are doing right now is amazing and they deserve all the support and care they are getting. Hopefully that continues long after this pandemic finishes as well.”