Tottenham Hotspur could soon find themselves on the hunt for a new head coach, with chairman Daniel Levy set to communicate his all-important managerial decision to Ange Postecoglou “this week”.

Ange Postecoglou set to learn Tottenham fate imminently

Reliable club insider Paul O’Keefe has claimed that Levy has already decided whether he’s going to stick or twist with Postecoglou after a very mixed campaign, and the Australian is apparently set to learn his fate imminently.

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Sky Sports report that Postecoglou’s future will be resolved “this week”, with critics and supporters alike set to find out the result of what must have been a very tough call behind the scenes at Hotspur Way.

The former Celtic boss made history by guiding Spurs to their first European trophy since 1984 and first piece of silverware generally since 2008 by beating Man United 1-0 in the Europa League final, which also gifted the club a spot in next season’s Champions League draw.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

However, Tottenham’s domestic form across 2024/2025 was quite simply unacceptable, with Postecoglou’s side breaking the record for most league defeats recorded by Spurs in a single Premier League season (22).

If they hadn’t secured a narrow victory against Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils in Bilbao, there would be no debate about sacking the tactician, but the raw emotion that comes with ending Tottenham’s trophy-winning hoodoo has given Levy plenty to ponder.

Players have also spoken out in support of Postecoglou – including the likes of Pedro Porro, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray – making the decision even harder.

If Levy does opt to hand the 59-year-old his P45, £4.5 million-per-year Brentford boss Thomas Frank is tipped as a prime contender for the job.

Tottenham are said to have held “multiple meetings” with Frank over the role, with journalist Pete O’Rourke now claiming that the Dane has entered pole position to succeed Postecoglou.

Thomas Frank "emerging" as top Tottenham target to replace Postecoglou

Writing for Football Insider, the reporter states Frank is “emerging” as Tottenham’s “number one” managerial target to replace Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites are apparently “increasingly convinced” of the 51-year-old’s credentials to do a job at Spurs and lead them into the Champions League next term, following his excellent job at Brentford on a shoe-string budget compared to more elite Premier League sides.

Frank has just guided the Bees to a solid mid-table finish, despite losing star striker Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli last summer, with the Dane also steering his injury-ravaged Brentford squad clear of relegation in 2023/2024.

Brentford have also registered a net-spend of just £96 million over the last five years, with Frank’s side holding their own in Europe’s most competitive division without having to splash that much on recruitment.

This will undoubtedly be attractive to Levy, and Man City boss Pep Guardiola is on record stating that Frank is “one of the best” managers around.

His appeal is clear, but it is still just a hypothesis as we await the result of Levy’s crunch Postecoglou call.

Russell Martin was officially unveiled as the new head coach of Glasgow Rangers earlier this month, and he is tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox.

The Light Blues have not won the Scottish Premiership title for four years and ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

Martin and Kevin Thelwell must build a team that can challenge Celtic for the title next season, and there is already work going on behind the scenes to bring in fresh recruits.

Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale, Leicester’s Conor Coady, and Swansea’s Harry Darling are just a few of the reported targets that the Gers boss is looking to snap up from the English market that he is familiar with.

Whilst they are in the market to improve the defence, with those two centre-backs and a goalkeeper, Rangers must also bolster their attacking options before the window slams shut.

They confirmed earlier this summer that Ianis Hagi’s contract would not be renewed, making him a free agent this summer, and his exit will leave a hole to fill.

Why losing Ianis Hagi is a blow for Rangers

Allowing the Romania international to move on from Ibrox was a bold decision and one that means the Gers have lost a proven Premiership performer who provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Hagi, who returned to the fold under Philippe Clement during the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, after spending the previous year on loan at Alaves in Spain, caught the eye with his performances off the left flank or as an attacking midfielder.

The 26-year-old, as shown in the clip above, stepped up in big moments for the Scottish giants and Martin is going to need to find another wide attacker who can make a similar impact at the top end of the pitch.

Losing a quality player on a free transfer also means that the Gers may need to make sales in other positions in order to raise the funds to sign a replacement, as it will not be easy to find a star of Hagi’s quality.

Starts

16

Goals

4

Big chances created

6

Assists

5

Key passes per 90

2.5

Assists per 90

0.3

As you can see in the table above, the Romanian magician was particularly impressive as a creator, but also showed his class as a goalscorer for the Light Blues.

This is why it is so important for Martin to recruit a new winger, or attacking midfielder, who has the potential to deliver goal contributions on a regular basis next season.

With this in mind, the former Scotland international should push the club to seriously pursue a deal to sign one of their reported transfer targets, Leeds United ace Largie Ramazani.

Rangers' reported interest in Largie Ramazani

At the start of this month, TEAMtalk claimed that Rangers are interested in a swoop to sign the Belgian winger from the Championship champions during the summer transfer window.

The outlet reported that the Scottish giants have ’emerged’ as possible suitors to land the former Almeria flanker, who signed for Leeds for a fee of £10m in the summer of 2024.

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It added, however, that Rangers were simply monitoring the situation and that a transfer was not at any advanced stage, to which there has not been any update in the subsequent few weeks.

TEAMtalk claimed that Daniel Farke had not made a final decision on the attacker’s future at Elland Road, because he would like to see how the winger does in pre-season before making the call, which suggests that the Gers may have to play the long game with Ramazani.

If the Light Blues can eventually get a deal done for the Belgian star, whether that is a loan or a permanent move, then Martin could have a brilliant replacement for Hagi in the building, as he is also a left-sided attacker who can also play centrally.

Why Rangers should sign Largie Ramazani

Martin should sign Ramazani for Rangers as a perfect replacement for the Romania international because his performances for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he has the potential to explode as a regular starter in Scotland.

The former Manchester United academy graduate first made a name for himself with Almeria, scoring 22 goals in 128 matches, before his move to Leeds last year.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig even compared him to Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and described the Belgian sensation as an “explosive” forward who can be a “counter attacking weapon” for his team.

Ramazani did not get too many opportunities to showcase that quality in the Championship this term, starting seven of his 29 appearances, but the 24-year-old whiz caught the eye in his limited minutes on the pitch.

Non-penalty xG

0.54

Top 2%

Shots on target

1,84

Top 2%

Goals

0.69

Top 2%

Assists

0.23

Top 20%

Chances created

1.50

Top 32%

Dribbles completed

2.07

Top 15%

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds winger ranked very highly among his positional peers in a host of key attacking metrics as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Ramazani ended the season with six goals and two assists in the league, despite starting just seven times, which speaks to the kind of quality he could provide Rangers with if they give him an opportunity to play week-in-week-out as a starter.

This suggests that the Gers target could perfectly replace Hagi, as another right-footed forward who can play off the left or centrally in a number ten role, whilst he can also play on the right if needed.

Ramazani has the quality, as shown by his spell in Spain and his impressive performances in limited game time in England, to fill the hole that Hagi’s release has left at Ibrox.

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It is now down to Martin and Thelwell to seal a deal for the Whites attacker if Farke decides to make him available for a transfer in the coming weeks.

Celtic find themselves in the market for reinforcements this summer and have now moved closer to landing a new target amid recent developments.

Celtic begin to motor in the transfer market

On the face of it, Celtic fans will attest to the fact that the last few days have become a whirlwind in their search for new additions, with several names mentioned in connection with a move to Glasgow’s east end.

Josh Doig could replace Greg Taylor at left-back following Kieran Tierney’s arrival at Parkhead, which would add significant depth on that side of the backline alongside strengthening the Bhoys’ homegrown quota.

Casting the point of focus to Brendan Rodgers’ hunt for a striker, Shay Given has recommended a loan move for Evan Ferguson to Celtic as the Brighton & Hove Albion striker searches for consistency after an unfortunate spell at West Ham United.

He stated: “I just feel he’s ready now to burst onto the scene for a full season with somebody. For us with Ireland it would be great too.

“I don’t know (what) the finances would be to buy him, but if you said for a loan for the season it would be perfect. But I’m not the financial power at Celtic or Newcastle, so I don’t know!”

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The Champions League qualifiers will soon be on the horizon for Celtic. Being seeded will help, but potential opponents such as Basel and Sturm Graz aren’t to be sniffed at.

Finding value for money on the market is paramount. The Bhoys have a proven track record of bringing in talent with sell-on value, so it will come as no surprise to hear they are heading down the right lines on that front.

Celtic granted permission to speak to Benjamin Nygren

According to Sky Sports, Celtic have been granted permission to speak to Nordsjælland playmaker Benjamin Nygren, and they are now in talks with his representatives to try and convince him to move to Glasgow.

The Sweden international is out of contract in December and is free to explore a transfer due to a gentleman’s agreement with his current employers. It is mooted that he will be available for just £2 million.

Should Celtic agree terms with Nygren, negotiations will then begin with Nordsjælland to agree on a fee. However, it remains to be seen if other players come to the table.

Enjoying a fantastic campaign, the 23-year-old registered 16 goals and four assists in 32 appearances across all competitions this term, operating mainly off the right flank.

Showcasing his versatility, Nygren is also capable of fitting in as an attacking midfielder, centre-forward or on the left-hand side, carrying a level of appeal due to his multi-functional nature.

Now, it remains to be seen if Celtic can push this one over the line as they aim to prolong an era of domestic dominance in Scotland that nobody has been able to match.

Glasgow Rangers are currently searching for their next head coach after they ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

The Light Blues had to watch on as Aberdeen secured silverware by beating Celtic on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup, a competition the club were knocked out of by lower league outfit Queen’s Park in one of Philippe Clement’s last matches in charge.

Rangers opted to relieve the Belgian head coach of his duties shortly after that dismal result in the cup, and Barry Ferguson came in as the interim head coach until the end of the season.

The former Scotland international, who played for Rangers in his playing days, only won six of his 15 matches in charge in all competitions, and ended his tenure with a 2-2 draw away at Hibernian.

It has since been confirmed that Ferguson will not be offered the job on a full-time basis and that he will return to his ambassador role at Ibrox.

This means that the job is still available to a head coach from elsewhere, and Davide Ancelotti is a name that continues to be linked with a switch to Glasgow.

Why Rangers should not appoint Davide Ancelotti

RangersReview reported that claims from Spain that the Italian coach is close to being appointed as the next manager are premature, but that there are further talks planned with the former Real Madrid assistant.

Ancelotti and his father Carlo said their goodbyes to the Real Madrid supporters after their final match against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Saturday, with his dad set to join the Brazilian national team.

It remains to be seen whether or not Davide will join him in Brazil or take up a post elsewhere, but Rangers should opt against a move for him this summer.

The Light Blues need a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox and hiring the former Real assistant would be a massive risk, because he has not managed a team in his senior career to date.

Davide Ancelotti’s coaching career
Club (role)	First-team manager	Matches
Real Madrid (Assistant manager)	Carlo Ancelotti	233
Everton (Assistant manager)	Carlo Ancelotti	67
Napoli (Assistant manager)	Carlo Ancelotti	73
Bayern Munich (Assistant manager)	Carlo Ancelotti	60
Real Madrid (Fitness coach)	Carlo Ancelotti	119
PSG (Fitness coach)	Carlo Ancelotti	77
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Ancelotti has only worked under his father as a fitness coach or as an assistant to date, which means that he is unproven as the main man leading a team.

His vast experience at gigantic European clubs, like PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, is a plus in his column, but there is no guarantee that he can use that as a head coach in his own right.

That is why Rangers should not appoint Ancelotti as their next head coach, particularly when they are reportedly eyeing up a manager who would be a much better option on paper.

Rangers have held talks with 3-4-3 manager

According to the BBC, Danish head coach Brian Priske has emerged as a contender for the vacant managerial position at Ibrox ahead of next season.

The report claims that the manager, who was sacked by Feyenoord earlier this season, has already held talks with the Scottish giants over a possible move to Glasgow.

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It states that the process is ongoing and that Priske is one of a number of candidates they have lined up to permanently replace Clement, following on from Ferguson’s departure at the end of the season.

The BBC adds that Ancelotti and former Southampton head coach Russell Martin have also been named as managers who could be in the frame alongside the Danish tactician.

With this in mind, the 49ers, Patrick Stewart, and Kevin Thelwell must all agree to pursue Priske further, beyond the initial talks that have been held, because he would be miles better than Ancelotti.

Why Rangers should appoint Brian Priske

Rangers should swoop to appoint the 48-year-old tactician because he is a proven winner who has won league titles in the top divisions in multiple other countries.

Priske, who typically deploys a 3-4-3 system, is an experienced manager who has been there and done it. Whereas, Ancelotti has it all to prove and is yet to show that he has what it takes to lead a team to success on his own.

Rangers will want to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership to prevent Celtic from winning a fifth title in succession, which is why they should appoint a manager who has a proven track record of success when it comes to winning leagues, or at least coaching a winning team.

Priske won two league titles during his time with Sparta Prague in Czechia and won a league title in his first season in management with Midtjylland in the 2019/20 campaign in his home country.

Season (Club)	League matches	Points	Position
24/25 (Feyenoord)	21	39	3rd
23/24 (Sparta Prague)	35	87	1st
22/23 (Sparta Prague)	35	78	1st
21/22 (Royal Antwerp)	40	67	4th
20/21 (Midtjylland)	32	50	2nd
19/20 (Midtjylland)	30	65	1st
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Danish boss has never finished below fourth in a league season, although Feyenoord dismissed him earlier this term with his side in third, so it could have gone either way if he had been kept on.

This shows that Priske has won two league titles in the last three seasons, and three in six seasons as a manager, which is why he would be miles better than Ancelotti as an option for the Gers.

He has the relevant experience and success to suggest that Rangers would be making a brilliant decision to bring him in, whilst Ancelotti would be a huge gamble given his lack of experience as a first-team head coach.

Priske also won the Dutch Super Cup with Feyenoord and the Czech Cup with Sparta Prague, which shows that he can also handle cup competitions and has the potential to deliver success in the League Cup and the SFA Cup.

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Therefore, the Light Blues must swoop to appoint the Danish head coach as their permanent replacement for Philippe Clement because he appears to be the ideal candidate on paper.

Manchester United are now ready to accelerate their move for an “extraordinary” striker, having already made an initial approach, according to a report.

Scholes urges Man Utd to sign two strikers

After missing out on the Champions League, there were some concerns that Man United would be unable to spend big this summer, but they have certainly been splashing the cash so far, having signed Matheus Cunha, while a £60m offer for Bryan Mbeumo is in the works.

A new striker also remains of interest to Ruben Amorim, given Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee’s struggles last season, and Paul Scholes has made the bold claim that two top centre-forwards should be brought in this summer.

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Scholes said: “I think Osimhen [is free to leave Napoli summer], it sounds like a doable one. When you talk about financial problems, he could be doable. But I’d keep [Rasmus] Hojlund. I know he’s not been great, but he’s a 22-year-old kid playing on his own for Man United the last two years.

“He’s had to play every week, he is the only one. Man United should have at least three top centre forwards. I’d have him and Osimhen and Gyokeres.”

It would be a real statement of intent if the Red Devils were able to bring in both Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres this summer, but they certainly hold an interest in signing the Sporting CP striker.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man United have made informal contact over a deal for Gyokeres, and they are ready to accelerate the move for the Sweden international, with formal negotiations possible after also pursuing a deal for Mbeumo.

Should United become increasingly fearful of missing out on a deal for the Sporting CP star, they are prepared to step up their interest, but a deal may not be cheap, with the Portuguese club set to demand up to £70m.

Gyokeres could be "extraordinary" signing for Red Devils

Lauded as “extraordinary” by Sporting boss Rui Borges, the 27-year-old scored a remarkable 54 goals in 52 games last season, while he also caught the eye at international level, finishing as the top scorer in the UEFA Nations League.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that a deal could have been wrapped up quickly, had Man United qualified for the Champions League, but Mbeumo still wants to move to Old Trafford, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, indicating the Red Devils still have pulling power.

Romano also states that Benjamin Sesko is “the clear favourite” to join Arsenal, rather than Gyokeres, potentially opening the door for the Swede to reunite with Amorim, in what would be a real statement of intent from the Red Devils heading into next season.

Daniel Farke will be hoping he can finally earn his stripes as a Premier League-worthy manager situated in the Leeds United dug-out next season.

The German is certainly a well-regarded manager at Championship level, considering he can boast three promotions up to the big time with Norwich City and now the Whites, but he has also only ever won a mere six top-flight ties from 49 contests when jumping up a level.

He won’t feel too weighed down by the pressure of keeping the West Yorkshire side afloat if improvements are made all across the pitch, however, with a new goalkeeper surely a must after a rocky season or two with Illan Meslier as his number one stopper.

Moreover, as much as Joel Piroe did finish as the Championship golden boot winner this season just gone, upgrades could be fancied in the striker department still, with this new sharpshooter reportedly on the agenda.

Leeds' search for a striker

After all, Farke already knows too well how challenging the new division can be, even for those once seen as the cream of the crop in the EFL’s elite league.

Off the back of this, the promotion winners are now reportedly in the race to sign up AC Milan attacker Tammy Abraham to seriously enhance their firepower, as per journalist Graeme Bailey.

Bailey elaborates that Abraham is keen on a move back to England after calling Italy his home at both parent side AS Roma and loan outfit AC Milan since 2021, with the likes of Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and more all interested in adding him to their respective rosters.

The Whites are keeping an eye out to see how the situation develops, but if they were to amazingly beat all this competition and land the £34m star, they would secure themselves a big upgrade on their current Dutch marksman when venturing into the Premier League.

Why Abraham could be an upgrade on Piroe

This isn’t to say Piroe won’t be given chances to impress when moving up to the tough division, with his 19 league strikes undoubtedly helping Farke’s men to lift the title.

But, Abraham would surely get the first team nod over the ex-Swansea City man on his arrival, with the 27-year-old now a seasoned machine in front of goal, having left Chelsea so early into his career to perfect his clinical edge.

AC Milan

44

10

7

AS Roma

120

37

13

Aston Villa

40

26

3

Swansea City

39

8

4

Bristol City

48

26

4

The £93k-per-week marksman does have 26 Premier League strikes next to his name, ahead of former Leeds hero Raphinha (17), for instance, as well Patrick Bamford (24), with that mainly down to his short-lived Stamford Bridge stint.

That said, Abraham would truly blossom into a lethal finisher away from the familiarity of England, as seen in his bumper 67 combined goals and assists lining up for Milan and Roma.

Piroe does have his plaudits too, considering he has bagged 79 strikes in total for both Leeds and one of Abraham’s many loan sides in Swansea, but the Dutchman has been prone to long stretches of barren form too.

In the Championship this season just gone, for example, the division’s top scorer still managed to squander a hefty 13 big chances.

On the contrary, despite playing for an underperforming Rossoneri on loan after finding his time in the Italian capital to be injury-ravaged, Abraham would only waste ten big chances in Serie A action.

He is in many ways a goalscoring “monster” – as he once referred to himself after improving under Jose Mourinho.

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Therefore, the former Blues youth product has the potential to be the centre-forward Farke and Co are longing for as they embark on their daunting Premier League adventure, with the likes of Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto no doubt excited by the prospect of linking up with their brand new teammate.

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It is set to be a very busy summer for Arsenal.

After three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team are determined to finally take the next step.

With that objective in mind, could they be about to make yet another statement signing from Spain?

Arsenal's incoming transfer business

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Kepa Arrizabalaga will arrive from Chelsea for a reported fee of £5m, to be the back-up to David Raya, while, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Arsenal are ‘finalising’ a deal to sign Brentford captain Christian Nørgaard for £9.3m.

The Dane, however, is not the only central midfielder heading to North London, given that Martín Zubimendi is set to be unveiled next week, after the Gunners paid his £51m Real Sociedad release clause.

Nevertheless, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both departing on free transfers, this is an area of the team they do require multiple reinforcements, so are seemingly not done yet.

That’s because, according to reports in Spain, the Gunners are ‘preparing an offer’ of around £35m to Barcelona, as they attempt to sign Marc Casadó.

They also claim that Arteta believes the 21-year-old ‘fits his style of play’ perfectly, hence why the la Másia graduate ‘has become a priority’ for Arsenal.

Given Barcelona’s ongoing financial crisis, they have not ruled out sanctioning a departure, especially one that facilitates Nico Williams’ arrival from Athletic Club which, as Pol Ballús of the Athletic outlines, still faces financial obstacles.

How Marc Casadó would improve Arsenal

As alluded to earlier, Casadó joined Barcelona’s academy as a 13-year-old, making his senior debut for the first team during a Champions League dead rubber against Viktoria Plzeň in November 2022.

Since then, he has accumulated 41 appearances for Barça, but only establishing himself as a key figure this season, a regular starter before suffering a ligament injury in March, as the table below outlines.

Marc Casadó Barcelona statistics 2024/25

Statistics

Casadó

Barça rank

Appearances

36

16th

Starts

29

10th

Minutes

2,447

11th

Completed passes

1,682

7th

Progressive passes

154

8th

Passes into the final third

182

6th

Shot-creating actions

64

9th

Tackles

77

2nd

Interceptions

25

8th

Touches

2,122

8th

Ball recoveries

120

8th

Average SofaScore rating

7.03

10th

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table outlines, Casadó ranked very highly for every metric included at Barcelona this season, including both passing, as well as defensive statistics, namely tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, underlining that he is an all-rounder.

Following his international debut against Denmark in Copenhagen, in which he came off the bench to replace Zubimendi, teammate Bryan Zaragoza described the midfielder as “barbaric”, adding “I don’t even know what to say about how he played​​​​​​​…. he’s an animal”.

Meantime, Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis believes he is the heir to Sergio Busquets’ throne, stating that Casadó is ‘mostly a ball-recycler’, praising his ‘crisp close control and great decision-making in possession’.

Meantime, Price of Breaking the Lines outlines how the youngster ‘always wants to make progressive passes’, noting that he is almost never dispossessed​​​​​​​ and has the ability to ‘dominate’ any midfield battle he is involved in.

So, we all already know what Zubimendi is all about, with Ogunniyi Abayomi of Breaking the Lines stating that he too is ‘capable of making line-breaking passes​​​​​​​’ as well as dictating the tempo from the base of midfield.

Thus, together, the Spanish duo – both potentially arriving from LaLiga – could form an unstoppable partnership, finally ending Arsenal’s interminable 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

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The north Londoners mean business this summer.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2025

Northamptonshire 169 for 4 (Zaib 44, Raza 42, Bashir 2-38) beat Worcestershire 163 for 9 (Roderick 39, Zaib 3-20) by six runs Northamptonshire all-rounder Saif Zaib starred in front of the TV cameras, plundering an unbeaten 44 off just 21 balls and bagging three wickets for 20 runs as the Steelbacks won out by just six runs against over Worcestershire Rapids in a Vitality Blast thriller at Wantage Road.Zaib smashed six fours and two sixes, to propel Steelbacks to 169 for four, sharing an unbeaten stand of 79 in six overs with Sikandar Raza (42*) to help his side recover from a mini collapse.England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, playing the first of five T20 loan games for Worcestershire, took two for 38.In the chase, the visitors slumped to 120 for eight in the 16th over before an extraordinary cameo from Gareth Roderick almost won the game. Blasting 39 off just 22 balls (1×4, 3×6), his highest T20 score, Roderick took the game to the wire with Worcestershire needing 11 off the final six balls. But Raphy Weatherall, bowling a brilliant final over, held his nerve, conceding just four runs and ending Roderick’s resistance.Amidst action, Steelbacks captain and former England all-rounder David Willey took his 300th career T20 wicket.Earlier Matthew Breetzke (26) struck Bashir for back-to-back sixes in the second over, the first into the board room bar in the Spencer Pavilion. Ricardo Vasconcelos (28) too was soon into the action, taking consecutive boundaries off Adam Finch.Nathan Smith pegged things back with five dot balls, but Vasconcelos found the ropes twice in the sixth over off former teammate Tom Taylor, including a ramp over the keeper’s head as the Steelbacks finished the powerplay on 47 without loss.After that solid start, Northamptonshire lost three wickets for 14 runs in 17 balls, stuttering to 63 for three.First Vasconcelos missed an attempted pull against Hayden Walsh and was bowled. Next Breetzke (26) looked to continue his six-hitting spree against Bashir, getting one away to take the Steelbacks past 50, before picking out deep midwicket. Finally Bashir grabbed a second wicket when he had Willey caught at long-off.Ravi Bopara (18) fought back, powering Walsh through cover before miscuing a strike down the ground off Finch, Taylor taking a running catch.That brought Zaib and Raza together in a blaze of boundaries. Raza muscled Brett D’Oliveira twice over deep midwicket. Particularly strong on the drive, Zaib powered Bashir and Taylor through cover and reverse swept Bashir for four.The twentieth over from Smith proved most costly. Zaib smashed two sixes and with Raza top-edging another, the Rapids conceded 21.Zaib struck quickly when Worcestershire batted, removing D’Oliveira in the third over as he hit straight to mid-off.Ed Pollock top edged Willey for four and then crunched him through the covers before he swung and missed and was bowled. Two balls later Ben Sanderson had Matthew Waite caught behind as Worcestershire finished the powerplay on a precarious 39 for three.Ethan Brookes (24) and Adam Hose steadied the ship, putting on 38 in just over four overs before Brookes was pinned lbw when Bopara bowled a knuckleball.Adam Hose posed a big threat, hitting a four and six off left-arm spinner Freddie Heldreich’s first over, before smiting a huge six off a free hit from Bopara. It took a world-class effort from Raza to remove Hose with a brilliant diving boundary catch when the batter smashed Zaib down the ground.Zaib then bowled Taylor off his pads before Heldreich (2-22) had Smith caught by a diving Sanderson and bowled Walsh later in the over. If it all seemed over, no-one told Roderick though, setting up that final over thriller.

Cricket consultant Sanath Jayasuriya’s role seemed to have some overlaps with Jayawardene’s

Madushka Balasuriya26-Jun-2024

Mahela Jayawardene started in his role as consultant coach in 2022•AFP/Getty Images

Former Sri Lanka batter Mahela Jayawardene, who had signed a one-year extension as their consultant coach in January, has handed in his resignation six months into his contract.”Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that Mr. Mahela Jayawardene, who served as the ‘Consultant Coach’ of the SLC, has tendered his resignation with immediate effect,” an SLC media release said. “Jayawardene, during his tenure, helped implement significant changes to the structure of the national team ecosystem and the High-Performance Center.”Jayawardene, who started his role from 2022, had seen mixed results during his time with SLC, with an unexpected win in the 2022 Asia Cup followed by a run to the final a year later being the highlights. But poor showings at the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups, and the 2023 ODI World Cup, had brought his position under scrutiny, though SLC themselves had been keen to extend his role citing his good work behind the scenes.Related

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His primary role, however, had been in overseeing an overall cultural shift within Sri Lanka cricket. What was notable was his championing of the National Super League, Sri Lanka’s domestic competition in both first-class and List A cricket, and technical improvements brought to the High Performance Centre, as well as an increased focus on data and performance analytics.Even within the national side, Jayawardene’s role had been more pronounced in recent years – he had accompanied the side on tour for major tournaments 2022 and 2023 – but his absence was conspicuous at the ongoing T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, where Sri Lanka couldn’t make it to the Super Eight.ESPNcricinfo understands that the plan had initially been for Jayawardene to travel with the side, but as it transpired, recently-appointed cricket consultant Sanath Jayasuriya travelled with the team instead. Jayasuriya was announced in the newly-created role in December last year. On the face of it, the position seemed to have some overlaps with Jayawardene’s, with it understood to range from strategic and technical planning to the overall development of the national team.”It has become apparent to me that current decision-making is no longer fully aligned with the direction we were taking in some of these areas, and after careful consideration, I have concluded that it is best I step down,” Jayawardene had stated in his resignation letter, which ESPNcricinfo has seen.Jayawardene, who remains the second-most successful coach in the IPL, is currently the global head of performance at Mumbai Indians and its franchises.

A £140,000 a-week Liverpool player is now excited about leaving the Premier League champions after his agent met with a top European club, according to a new report.

Liverpool announce Kerkez and close in on Marc Guehi transfer

Liverpool announced their third major signing of the summer on Thursday, as Milos Kerkez joined the Reds in a deal worth £40 million from AFC Bournemouth. His arrival now takes Liverpool’s spending to £170 million so far this summer, but the Reds and Arne Slot are not finished there.

Liverpool set to send nearly £10m to Chelsea as they close in on centre-back deal

Liverpool are closing in on another signing following Kerkez’s arrival.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

According to Daveockop, Liverpool are now close to signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The England international is in the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, and the Reds are hoping that can work in their favour as they try to bring Guehi to Anfield in a deal between £40-45 million.

It’s been reported that the Premier League champions are close to agreeing personal terms with the defender, and that could see this deal progress as they now switch their attentions to their next transfer target.

But these big arrivals mean Liverpool are going to be looking to move some fringe players on, and they have now received a boost in their bid to see one player leave this summer.

£140,000-per-week Liverpool ace excited to leave

According to Corriere dello Sport, relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez is now keen on joining Napoli after a meeting between the Serie A club and his agent on Wednesday.

The report states that Nunez is “fired up” by the idea of playing under Antonio Conte and sees a move to Naples as a chance to rediscover his best form. While his agent and the Italian side have held numerous rounds of talks, there is still a long way to go for the two clubs to agree a transfer fee.

It is claimed that Liverpool are now looking to sell Nunez for around €58.6 million, which is roughly £50 million. This is still considered high for Napoli, and they are trying to reduce this transfer fee through intermediaries.

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Nunez, who currently earns £140,000 a week at Anfield, joined the Reds back in August 2022 from Benfica. The forward came with a promising reputation after scoring 26 goals in 28 Liga Portugal games in his final season with Benfica. However, while Nunez has scored goals, he has struggled to replicate the form he showed in Portugal.

Last season, Nunez scored just five times in 30 Premier League games, which was a considerable drop-off from the 11 he scored in the previous campaign. The Uruguay international is still under contract until 2028, but his departure for around £50 million would allow Liverpool to balance the books in what has been a summer of heavy investment.