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Liverpool, in many ways, are evidence of money not being everything in football. The club had always spent wisely when led by Jurgen Klopp, cashing in for big money and carefully picking budding talents to develop into superstars.

This summer, having won the Premier League so spectacularly with Arne Slot last year, FSG felt it was the right time to hit the big button and indulge in a spending spree. Many high-level signings have arrived at Anfield.

However, Liverpool may still be frustrated to have missed out on Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, especially now that Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for a year with a knee injury.

Liverpool may well return for the England defender, but Guehi isn’t the only Premier League talent they plan to bid for in 2026.

Liverpool still interested in Premier League star

There’s no question that Liverpool need to reinforce their central defence next year. However, Slot might also feel his midfield needs some work. Tactical imbalances have knocked the Reds out of kilter.

That’s why FSG dream of signing Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton next summer, retaining an interest in the England international. That’s according to the Daily Mail, who believe the Eagles hope to tie the 21-year-old down to a new deal to ward off persistent suitors.

Valued at £75m, Wharton has been a revelation at Selhurst Park, instrumental under Oliver Glasner.

Liverpool will be confident that they can secure the maestro’s signature, but his performances have also attracted the likes of Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

The competition is thick, but this is a player worth pushing for. It might even prove to be a signing that eclipses all others the Merseysiders could make, even landing Guehi.

What Adam Wharton would bring to Liverpool

Described as “the best U21 player in the Prem” by one analyst, Wharton has been exceptional since joining Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers for £22m in February 2024.

A master of the pass and tenacious when winning the ball back, Wharton has played 53 times for his London-based club, nestled in the centre of the park.

He has been vital in constructing an enviable style of play, Glasner utilising him as an all-encompassing engine.

Crystal Palace

9

26

Man City

15

21

Arsenal

14

19

Chelsea

13

19

Liverpool

13

19

Palace have not the same calibre of firepower in the final third as some of the Premier League’s biggest hitters, but they aren’t half bad in front of goal.

Much of this stems from slick build-up play from midfield, and Wharton has been at the very heart of this, with no player matching his five big chances created so far.

As per FBref, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for through balls and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Liverpool are suffering from a degree of isolation between the thirds right now. This has been accentuated blindingly by Alexis Mac Allister’s poor form.

And that’s why Wharton could be such an incredible addition, opening up a dimension and weaving together the disjointed midfield and frontline parts.

Liverpool have an elite group of players capable of dominating English and European football for many years. But something is missing, to be sure, and a player of Wharton’s style could work wonders in easing the midfield load on Ryan Gravenberch’s shoulders and restore the title-winning fluidity that worked so well last season.

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ByDan Emery Oct 6, 2025

Mumbai Indians (MI) restricted Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to 176 in an innings that largely remained intent-less at the Wankhede. In the last match on this pitch, RCB scored 221 and had to work hard to defend it. That CSK got to a respectable total was down to Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja targeting certain pockets of the innings, and the 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre’s eye-catching debut.Ashwani Kumar and Trent Boult went for 85 runs in six overs between them. The other 14 overs, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner, produced just 91 runs. There was a 27-ball period in the middle overs when not only was a boundary not hit, but there was not even an attempt made to hit one. Then, even after Dube broke free with a 30-ball fifty, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja presented plum match-ups to Bumrah and Santner, who went through overs 17 and 18 without a boundary.Dhoni’s dismissal in the 19th over to Bumrah resulted in the return of Boult for the final over – otherwise MI could have bowled Santner – and Jadeja could finally get a couple of big hits in to reach his half-century and unfurl the sword celebration.Hardik Pandya, MI’s leading wicket-taker this IPL, bowled only two overs for only 13 runs. He could have perhaps bowled at least one of the overs bowled by Ashwani and Boult. However, this was the only blemish on a night of excellent planning and execution for MI, which began with Deepak Chahar bowling four overs in a row at the top and ending with the wicket of Mhatre with a slower legcutter after the debutant had given CSK the only impetus in the powerplay for 32 off 15.Santner then tied down Shaik Rasheed and Jadeja before the arrival of Dube meant he was taken off with two left-hand batters at the wicket. Especially when one ofn them was Dube, whose slow start again underlined the lack of batting power in the CSK line-up.

Mikel Arteta revealed why he substituted Bukayo Saka against Port Vale as the Arsenal star suffered a fresh injury scare during the Carabao Cup win. The Gunners marched into the next round of the domestic cup competition with a late 2–0 victory over their lower-league opposition, but the sight of the England international hobbling after a bruising challenge left fans concerned.

Gunners win but hearts skip a beat

The Gunners got off to the perfect start with new signing Eberechi Eze bagging his maiden strike for the club just eight minutes in. Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to kill the game off until the dying minutes, when the contest was finally sealed with a goal from Leandro Trossard in the 86th minute. Saka looked sharp on the flank, linking up well in attack, but the big talking point came when he crumpled under a heavy challenge shortly after the restart. After some treatment, he continued, but Arteta wasted little time in taking him off. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAnother injury setback for Saka?

Saka, only just back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three matches, looked in pain before being replaced on 63 minutes with 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman. However, after the match, Arteta reassured fans that his talisman had not suffered a fresh blow and the plan had always been to give Saka just an hour on the pitch as part of his careful comeback programme.

Arteta calms the panic

Speaking on Saka to Arteta said: "Yeah, it was always the plan. The maximum we wanted him to play was 60 minutes; there is a lot of games coming up. He is coming back from an important injury, and again we need to manage his load. He will be around for the weekend, yes."

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Injury room still crowded

While Arteta can breathe easier over Saka, the treatment table at London Colney remains crowded. William Saliba featured for the second time in a week after recovering from an ankle knock, while Martin Odegaard continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury. Adding to the woes, Noni Madueke, who arrived from Chelsea to bolster the wide options, has now been ruled out for up to two months with a knee issue. That absence stretches Arsenal’s resources at a time when the fixtures are piling up.

Chelsea certainly bounced back from their opening day bore draw in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace when making the short trip to West Ham United on Friday night.

Despite initially going 1-0 down to the Hammers, the Blues never looked short on confidence at the London Stadium, with a 5-1 demolition job the final outcome, which left ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter shellshocked in the home side’s dug-out.

Away from the impressive displays of Joao Pedro and many others against the Irons, however, Chelsea do look to still be in the market for an exciting attacking addition or two.

Indeed, they look to be close on landing long-term target Xavi Simons’ signature, but he isn’t the only statement addition up top that the Blues seem to be interested in.

Chelsea tempted to make bid for £80m star

It has been a long, drawn-out saga involving BlueCo and the Dutchman this summer.

This could soon come to an end, though, with the Blues – according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg – planning to offer the captivating 22-year-old a contract until 2031, with personal terms already verbally agreed between RB Leipzig and his potential new employers.

Chelsea will have to wave goodbye to reserve figures such as Christopher Nkunku before a move for Simons can be finalised; however, with Aston Villa now touted a surprise next destination for the out-of-sorts Frenchman, as Unai Emery’s men are reportedly interested in a deal.

The Blues could test relations between the two clubs even more by finally landing the services of Villans superstar Morgan Rogers, with GIVEMESPORT revealing that the West London outfit are tempted by a last minute splurge for the Englishman.

Having just been awarded PFA Young Player of the Year, a deal for Rogers to leave Villa Park behind for Stamford Bridge wouldn’t be cheap, with the report stating that a move would only get off the ground if Chelsea were willing to fork out an amount in the excessive £80m ballpark.

How Rogers is a dream Simons alternative

Maresca’s ambitious Blues might well view this as a better deal to chase after than persisting with Simons, with Rogers more than a dream alternative to the Leipzig number ten, when you consider his Premier League capabilities already.

Of course, Simons did have a standout 2024/25 season himself in the Bundesliga.

Across a mere 25 games, the breathtaking 22-year-old would consistently dazzle German top-flight defences, culminating in him picking up a hefty tally of ten goals and seven assists just in league action.

However, Chelsea have been burnt here before – with both Nkunku and Timo Werner going on to be major flops in the Premier League after leaving Leipzig behind – leading to the same anxieties popping up involving Simons.

Therefore, despite the fact Rogers will cost a weighty £80m or more to get through the door, the “sensational” attacker – as he’s been previously lauded by journalist Eduardo Hagn – could be the preferred last-minute option, particularly if Villa are willing to part ways, while the Simons transfer saga rumbles on.

Rogers vs Simons (24/25 league)

Stat

Rogers

Simons

Games played

37

26

Goals scored

8

10

Assists

10

7

Big chances created

16

12

Stats by Sofascore

Rogers very much came into his own donning Villa claret and blue last season, with the Stamford Bridge-linked midfielder actually picking up one more goal contribution in the demanding Premier League than Simons managed across his 26 Bundesliga outings.

Moreover, the “unstoppable” gem – as he was dubbed by Jamie Carragher – created four more big chances than his Dutch counterpart, with the addition of the stunning 23-year-old perhaps making Maresca’s men even more genuine title-challengers, after their walk-in-the-park victory at West Ham.

Chelsea won’t turn their noses up at Simons joining, with the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder clearly ready for the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

But, landing Rogers would be a dream move if that expected arrival goes awry, with Chelsea poaching a sensational talent from a top-flight rival to try and be on the same pedestal as the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal near the very top of the ladder.

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Australian also expected to be available for County Championship window

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2025Lancashire have signed Australia allrounder Ashton Turner for the Vitality Blast group stage. Turner will also be available for Lancashire’s two County Championship fixtures at the end of June.Turner, 32, has been capped 28 times in in limited-overs internationals but his most recent appearance for Australia came in 2023. He spent the last three seasons playing county cricket for Durham, averaging 33.00 with a strike rate of 148.07 in the Blast, as well as making an unbeaten century in one of his two first-class outings.He also featured in the Hundred in 2022 and 2023, making 13 appearances for Manchester Originals, whose home ground is Emirates Old Trafford.”To have the opportunity to join one of the biggest county cricket clubs in England is a really exciting one for me,” Turner said. “Emirates Old Trafford is a stadium that I know well, following my two years with Manchester Originals – I am looking forward to making it home again this summer and pulling on the red rose for the first time.Related

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“The Blast is a competition that I have loved playing in, while testing myself in the County Championship is something I have always wanted to do, so I can’t wait for that.”Turner will join fellow Australians Marcus Harris, who has signed a season-long deal, and Chris Green (T20 Blast), as well as West Indies quick Anderson Phillips (first 11 rounds of the Championship), in the overseas contingent at Old Trafford.Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, said: “We are really pleased to get the signing of Ashton over the line for the full group stage of the Vitality Blast, while he will also provide another high-quality overseas option for the County Championship matches throughout that period.”Ashton fits the role of a powerful middle-order player that we have been looking to add into our T20 side, who also provides another spin bowling option. He knows Emirates Old Trafford very well following his time with the Originals, which means he will feel at home with conditions right away.”From my conversations with Ashton, I got the impression that he was very keen to come and play for Lancashire. He is a strong leader who has captained Perth Scorchers for a number of the years in the Big Bash and his experiences around the world will serve our dressing room well.”

Rodri has picked out four players that could succeed him as the Ballon d’Or winner in 2025, with Lamine Yamal considered to be in the mix.

Spanish midfielder took the crown in 2024New recipient lined up for prestigious prizePSG & Barca superstars leading that raceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

On the back of helping Manchester City to the Premier League title and Spain to European Championship glory, all-action midfielder Rodri was named the best player on the planet in 2024.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

He has endured a tough time since then, with knee ligament damage writing off much of his 2024-25 campaign, and that means a prestigious Golden Ball will be passed on to a new recipient when another glitzy ceremony takes place in Paris on September 22.

DID YOU KNOW?

Paris Saint-Germain’s exploits last season, as they broke their Champions League duck, are considered to make Ousmane Dembele a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or. Barcelona wonderkid Yamal remains part of that conversation at 18 years of age.

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Getty/GOALWHAT RODRI SAID

Asked to pick out his leading contenders, City talisman Rodri told reporters: “The Ballon d’Or is difficult. PSG has been the team of the season, and it would be hard not to give it to someone from that team. I’m happy for Luis Enrique. I’d like to see Lamine or Pedri win it for my affinity with them, but on sporting merit, Dembele or Vitinha.”

Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, with emphasis on the word ‘last’.

Ruben Amorim didn’t mince his words when talking about the need to turn things around and use the 2024/25, and all the baggage that came with it, as a springboard for the future, finally ending these endless years of frustration for one of the game’s biggest superpowers.

Fixing the frontline was always going to be among the chief priorities for the Old Trafford side, and INEOS started on a strong footing there, signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a £62.5m fee, the Brazil forward rejecting interest from a host of Premier League suitors to join the Red Devils.

Efforts for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo are ongoing, but the pointers suggest that the right-sided forward will join up with Amorim’s squad in the coming weeks, having expressed a burning desire to make the switch.

This is all well and good, but Man United still need to sign a central striker.

Why Man Utd need a new striker

By all accounts, Amorim wanted to commence pre-season with Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho all sold. That hasn’t happened, and they have all informed the hierarchy of their wish to depart.

More concerning, perhaps, is Rasmus Hojlund’s continued presence in the Man United senior squad.

The Danish striker, 22, was well out of sorts last term, and has been heavily linked with a summer exit, Inter Milan showing the most interest in his signature.

​​​​​

Hojlund is clearly a talented forward, but after such an abject run across the recent campaign, it might be a good idea for him to leave, not least because Sir Jim Ratcliffe openly admitted that the young talent was inherited from the past regime, and that he would “have to sort that out”.

Well, whether Hojlund goes or not, United’s movements in the market thus far suggest that a central frontman is on the agenda.

And they’ve been locked in talks for one of the best that Europe has to offer.

Man Utd open talks for new striker

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United have made a fresh enquiry for Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward Hugo Ekitike, who is one of the hottest commodities in the market this summer.

Ekitike has been coveted by a host of Premier League sides this summer, with United joined in their interest by Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

However, with the Gunners closing in on Gyokeres, Jason Wilcox might feel he has a good shot at securing the talented Frenchman’s signature.

Transfer Focus

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

Frankfurt value their man at €100m (£85m), a figure they are unwilling to budge on and suitors are as yet unwilling to meet.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Man United

Ekitike is only 22 years old, but he’s already established himself as “one of the best strikers out there”, as said by analyst Ben Mattinson.

After leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Frankfurt in January 2024, initially on loan, he’s only gone from strength to strength, scoring 22 goals and supplying 12 assists across 48 matches in all competitions last season.

Ekitike’s natural finishing ability is neat and all, but his high-speed movements and all-round presence in the final third have led journalist Graeme Bailey to dub him “the next Mbappe”, with such a skill set surely perfect for the frontline Amorim is trying to build, namely with Mbeumo circling in on the Theatre of Dreams.

Runners – and confident ones at that – were in short supply at Old Trafford last season. Adding Mbeumo and Ekitike would do wonders, building back up a will to win and work which would pour over to the rest of the squad.

He’s certainly performing at a superior level to Hojlund, and could in that sense prove the perfect centre-forward for Mbeumo to combine with and rekindle the United attack.

Hugo Ekitike vs Rasmus Hojlund (League – 24/25)
Stats (per 90)	Ekitike	Hojlund
Goals scored	0.53	0.18
Assists	0.28	0.00
Shots taken	4.00	1.44
Shot-creating actions	3.55	1.53
Touches (att pen)	6.88	3.32
Progressive passes	1.86	0.82
Progressive carries	3.27	1.26
Successful take-ons	1.83	0.40
Ball recoveries	3.06	1.57
Tackles + interceptions	0.81	0.22
All data via FBref

Quite comprehensively, Hojlund was outstripped by his French counterpart, like bark from a sun-weathered tree.

Ekitike’s dynamic movements and innate creative flair suggest he could be perfect for a pair of goal-focused wide forwards such as Cunha and Mbeumo.

Of course, Mbeumo isn’t only about goalscoring. The Cameroonian racked up seven assists in the Premier League last season, creating 17 big chances across the campaign and averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

He also finished the campaign ranked among the top 9% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for crosses completed per 90 (FBref), so he would be well equipped to turn provider for the rangy striker when required.

The fact that the Red Devils have tweaked their strategy and appear to be intent on signing Prem-proven quality alongside the rising phenoms from overseas like Ekitike bespeaks the new era, incipient but inspired by the struggles of recent years, of ensuring that a corner will be turned.

United were at their nadir last season, and no mistake. However, Amorim is a tactician worth his salt, and he might just piece together a squad capable of competing at the top once more, with the likes of Mbeumo playing with the perfect frontman in Ekitike.

Let’s see how this one pans out over the coming weeks.

Cunha 2.0 for Amorim: Man Utd in talks to sign "unstoppable" £35m star

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2

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Jul 8, 2025

Lord’s will host two men’s Tests this summer, with England’s third Test against India slotted for the venue as well

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Sep-2024

Pat Cummins poses with the Test mace after winning the previous edition of the WTC•ICC/Getty Images

The final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 will be played at Lord’s from June 11.India and Australia are currently the top two teams on the points table with 68.52 and 62.50 percentage points respectively, but the identity of the finalists will not be known till next year. For India, who were the losing finalists in both the previous WTCs, there are ten Tests left to play in the cycle – two at home against Bangladesh, three at home against New Zealand, and five away in Australia; Australia, the defending champions, also have an away series of two Tests in Sri Lanka.”Winning the World Test Championship was, and still is, a big goal for this team,” Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain, said in a statement. “It is the culmination of hard work and consistency over the two-year cycle for all teams. So hopefully we will be there again, there’s a lot of cricket still to be played between now and then, and the fans can get a chance to watch us defend the title.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

New Zealand (50.00) are currently at No. 3 on the nine-team table and, after their historic 2-0 series win in Pakistan, Bangladesh (45.83) are at No. 4. They are followed by England (45.00) and South Africa (38.89). Sri Lanka, Pakistan and West Indies are the bottom three teams at the moment.England has been picked as the venue for all three WTC finals so far, the first having been in Southampton and the second at The Oval.”We’re delighted to be working with the ICC to bring the World Test Championship final to Lord’s for the first time,” Guy Lavender, the MCC chief executive and secretary, said. “It is our great privilege to be asked to host a final of any kind but to welcome the two best men’s sides in Test cricket – our most cherished format – is a singular honour. It will be an experience not to be missed, adding to the storied 140-year history of Lord’s Tests.”Lord’s will host two Tests next summer, the other being the England vs India Test from July 10 to 14. That is the third Test of that tour, which will start at Headingley on June 20, followed by Tests at Edgbaston (from July 2), Lord’s, Old Trafford (from July 23) and The Oval (from July 31). If India make the final of the WTC, it will mean six Tests in a row for them in England.

Blain recently accused Cricket Scotland of “rewriting history a week after I was forced to go public to clear my name”

Melinda Farrell20-Jun-2024Trudy Lindblade, Cricket Scotland’s CEO, has described public comments made by John Blain at the formal conclusion of independent investigations into allegations of racist behaviour as “very disappointing”.Blain, the former Scotland and Yorkshire bowler, claimed last week that he had been “exonerated” of allegations of racism after making public a letter he received from Lindblade’s predecessor, Peter FItzboydon, in January.On Tuesday, Blain issued a subsequent statement, pre-empting Cricket Scotland’s formal conclusion of the independent investigations process that had stemmed from the ‘Changing the Boundaries’ report in 2022 (which had found Cricket Scotland to be institutionally racist). In it, Blain threatened legal action against the board, and accused Cricket Scotland of “a craven, disingenuous and despicable attempt… to rewrite history a week after I was forced to go public to clear my name.”At the centre of the row is Fitzboydon’s letter to Blain, dated January 12, in which he stated that allegations of racism against him had been “unfounded”. Cricket Scotland clarified in its statement on Tuesday that those allegations against Blain had not been progressed further “due to a combination of insufficient evidence, a lack of an applicable rule at the time of the complaint, and/or a lack of jurisdictional remit or authority to take formal action”.Related

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But Blain has accused Cricket Scotland of making “a desperate attempt to reinvent history and to row back from an unequivocal exoneration”, and alleged Lindblade had confirmed the claims were “unfounded” on a phone call shortly after she replaced Fitzboydon in February.”Not only did Pete Fitzboydon, the CEO of Cricket Scotland, write to me in January to say that all of the claims against me were unfounded, that I had no case to answer, and my case was closed, but that position was clearly confirmed by his successor Trudy Lindblade in a phone call with me in February,” wrote Blain in his statement.”She reiterated on the call that the claims against me were unfounded and the case against me was closed. I am sure that, if asked, she will publicly confirm that to be the case.”Lindblade confirmed she made the phone call to Blain in February and, while unwilling to give specific details of the conversation, said Cricket Scotland would take up the matter with Blain and his legal representatives.”It’s disappointing to have such a personal comment made in a public space,” Lindblade told ESPNcricinfo. “I had a conversation with John in the first weeks of starting in my role. It’s very disappointing that lines have been drawn. We can’t get into specific cases and it’s something that we should speak to John and his representatives directly.”Lindblade said she has had contact with both complainants and those accused in the allegations under investigation since taking up the role, although the processes in place prevented her from contacting everyone involved.”I tried to meet with whom I could work with, what was appropriate to do,” said Lindblade. “These are confidential cases and I have a role to play. But certainly, it was impossible to meet with everyone and due to the confidential nature of the processes sitting within the investigation team, that was not able to be done. But if someone reached out to me, I looked within a very busy schedule to try and communicate back in whatever way, shape or form that was.”Cricket Scotland’s concluding statement said five of the 51 completed referrals had proceeded to disciplinary processes. Most of the referrals failed to meet the criteria required to proceed further, Blain’s included, which centred on allegations made during an ICC-sponsored tour of Kenya in 2007.Lindblade believes the wholesale changes made within Cricket Scotland since the publication of the Changing the Boundaries report are sufficiently robust to deal with any future allegations of racist behaviour.”We have got really strong processes and procedures in place now,” she said. “We have overhauled our code of conduct, we have brought in a Conduct in Sport Manager with significant experience. We have put a number of things in place so, if this was to happen now, we would have a process that it would fit within, but the same principles apply. [If it’s] a rule breach, there needs to be clear evidence of what the rule is and then what the breach of that rule is.”It’s quite technical, but it’s really important because that’s why we have codes of conduct. That’s why we have these processes, to enable us to listen to everyone in the same way. The other thing I would say is that we’re always learning. And that’s really important because the world evolves at such a fast rate, sport is evolving at such a fast rate. What’s really important for us now as Cricket Scotland is that we continue to look at what goes on around us, continue to look at our sport, and make sure as things change around us that we’re changing with that.”While Blain’s statements have overshadowed the conclusion of the referrals process, Lindblade hopes Cricket Scotland could move forward with a reconciliation process, which includes offers of mediation.”We’ve got to try and take what has been a really challenging time for everyone involved and look at the positives and what this period may actually do to the future of Scottish cricket,” she said. “Can we look at it from that perspective, and try to take what is a very difficult time and say, where could we get to in ten years’ time?”But we’re only going to do that if we have got everybody working together. We are not there yet and we have got a lot to do to get there. We have put an offer on the table, we would like to get together and talk to these people through mediation, and through those means to enable us to help push that forward. Because it’s a known and tested form of reconciliation using restorative justice.”However, Lindblade acknowledged the outcomes of the referrals process and any future mediation was unlikely to satisfy everyone involved.”There are no winners in this. This is really emotive. I think there will be relief. I think there will be anger. I think there will be emotions that are part of us all being human beings. We are talking about people here and people react to things differently because everyone’s different. It’s been very divisive. How do we find a way to get everybody back to make sure the future of Scottish cricket is bright and that’s going to take a really long time. So, anyone who expects that to take place in months, or even the next 12 months, it’s going to take much longer than that.”

Florian Wirtz is in the process of signing for Liverpool this summer in what will likely prove a British-record deal, with Bayer Leverkusen demanding £120m to part with their prized possession.

It’s droning on a bit, the transfer saga, but then engineering a record deal for a world-class superstar was never going to be a walk in the park, and it bears testament to sporting director Richard Hughes and his team that Liverpool have batted off rival interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to take the lead in what is now a one-horse race.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold now officially a Real Madrid player, it was always going to be important that Liverpool replace him not just positionally but creatively as well, and Wirtz is “unbelievably intelligent” in his passing, says Leverkusen’s former executive CEO assistant, Devin Ozek.

When (if) the Wirtz deal is wrapped up, Liverpool will want to turn their focus to the front of the ship, with a new centre-forward needed after difficult campaigns for Slot’s natural number nines.

However, the sale of one of Anfield’s biggest stars has led Liverpool to rekindle their interest in Anthony Gordon.

Why Liverpool are interested in Anthony Gordon

Gordon signed for Newcastle United in a £45m deal back in January 2023, and despite a slow start across the latter phase of that campaign, Gordon notched 28 goal contributions during the 2023/24 season and was crowned the club’s Player of the Season.

Newcastle would want £80m to let the England international leave St. James’ Park this summer, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool from registering their interest in Gordon, who dreams of returning to Merseyside and joining his boyhood club.

Now, why is this? Well, interest is growing in Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, with FSG already rejecting an offer from Barcelona and stating the Colombian is not for sale, report The Athletic.

However, the Premier League side’s stance is likely far more equivocal, with the right offer sure to open the door for the 28-year-old’s sale. Al-Nassr are also intrigued, and maybe their riches would be more fitting for a summer departure.

Should Diaz depart, it would be because a suitor, likely from the Saudi Pro League, has agreed to meet FSG’s €85m (£72m) valuation.

If that happens, Liverpool will move for a new wideman, but it might not actually be Gordon who gets reeled in.

Liverpool lead race for Gordon alternative

The problem with Gordon is he’s worth £80m, and given there’s a similar player who could be signed for half that sum and placed to challenge Cody Gakpo for the number one spot, it seems silly to go down the more expensive route.

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That player is Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who, according to TEAMtalk, has been heavily scouted by Liverpool in recent months as Slot weighs up a move.

Fofana’s £40m release clause makes him an attractive option. Arsenal and Aston Villa are also interested, alongside Liverpool, with the trio all said to be leading the race.

The player’s agent, Bobo Fofana, however, has previously claimed that Anfield would be his “choice of heart.”

What Malick Fofana would bring to Liverpool

Fofana may only be 20 and with 62 Lyon appearances to his name, but he’s already made quite the name for himself in France, joining from Belgian team Gent for a fee rising to €22m (£19m) in January 2024, when he was only 18.

Across 41 matches in all competitions this season, the wideman scored 11 goals and provided six assists for his teammates, and with his principal position being on the left flank, he’d be ideal to replace Diaz.

That is, unless Gordon signs for the club. Liverpool’s interest in the English star is long-standing, but it might be that moving for the Scouser wouldn’t be in the club’s best interests, not when Fofana’s progress suggests he could do the same job.

Given that he’s four years Gordon’s junior, he might even eclipse him in the years to come.

League Stats 24/25 – Anthony Gordon vs Malick Fofana

Stats (* per game)

Gordon

Fofana

Matches (starts)

34 (28)

29 (16)

Goals

6

5

Assists

5

4

Shots (on target)*

1.7 (0.6)

1.1 (0.4)

Pass completion

81%

84%

Key passes*

1.5

0.9

Big chances created

6

6

Dribbles*

1.1

0.8

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.1

Ground duels (won)*

4.4

2.8 (54%)

Data via Sofascore

As you can see, both wingers enjoyed similar seasons in their respective leagues, but is Gordon performing at a level which proves he should cost double that of his French counterpart?

As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for non-penalty goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 16% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

His athleticism and pace have actually led the data-driven site to record Gordon as one of Fofana’s most comparable players, further evidence that he should be signed instead.

So then, the template for something remarkable might just be there. A natural goalscorer, Fofana has also been praised for his “explosive” running by analyst Ben Mattinson. Moreover, the defensive quality you can see ranks well against Gordon is something that would serve him well in the Premier League.

Given the richness of Liverpool’s attacking options, bringing in Fofana as a long-term project might not be the worst idea in the world, with his crisp passing aligning with the way Diaz plays and his fleet-footedness a further string to his bow.

With Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and the rest of them helping unlock Fofana’s high potential, this could be a shrewd move the Reds look back at fondly indeed in the years to come.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jun 6, 2025