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With one La Liga star yet to sign a new contract in Spain, Aston Villa are reportedly looking to take full advantage and have already registered their interest in securing his signature.

Aston Villa's summer plans taking shape

It’s set to be an interesting summer at Villa Park. Even with European qualification secured for another season, those in the Midlands will likely have to sell players in order to buy in the coming months amid growing PSR concerns. And that could force Unai Emery to be ruthless. Already, names such as Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers have been linked with shock departures in deals that could make room for potential incomings.

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On that front, the rumours have also been coming thick and fast. Names such as Alexander Sorloth have most recently stolen the headlines as clubs begin to battle over his signature. Alongside a number of others in the race to sign the Atletico Madrid forward, Aston Villa could yet swoop in and finally sign their replacement for Jhon Duran.

Whether Villa’s transfer stance changes in the remaining two Premier League games is something to keep an eye on, too. The Villans still have a chance of securing Champions League football, which would hand them an instant boost financially.

Emery is, of course, well aware of just how important his side’s final two Premier League games are and reiterated the need to stay focused when speaking to reporters last weekend.

The Spaniard said: “To play in Europe is very fantastic and is very difficult through the Premier League. We have points to play (for) and we are going to push other teams, but it (Champions League) is not in our hands. But, of course, if we are winning, we will have more chance.”

Aston Villa register interest in Mosquera

With or without Champions League football, those in the Midlands are beginning to form their summer transfer plan. According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa have now registered their formal interest in signing Cristhian Mosquera, who is proven to be somewhat of a contract rebel at Valencia after failing to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Available for around €18m (£15m) this summer, Mosquera is not a target that should leave Aston Villa concerned about PSR, given his affordable valuation. A player who Emery reportedly sees as the perfect fit, the Valencia defender could yet become the Spaniard’s first signing of the summer.

Described as a “dominant ground dueller” by analyst Ben Mattinson, 20-year-old Mosquera is more ready than ever to step into a side of Aston Villa’s quality when the summer arrives.

With some luck in the form of Hales’ self-inflicted absence and Morgan’s backing, Roy has manufactured England’s magic formula

George Dobell at Lord's 13-Jul-2019It tells you something about Jason Roy’s confidence right now that his ears prick up when he hears nobody has hit a six over the Lord’s Pavilion since 1899. “Oh, really?” he asks. “Let’s try to get an opportunity tomorrow (Sunday).”While England cricketers of an earlier vintage might have viewed a World Cup final with stifling trepidation – Phil Defreitas, for example, admitted “the occasion got to me” in the 1987 final – Roy talks of “excited energy” and eyes an opportunity to star on the biggest stage of all.And why wouldn’t he be confident? He is averaging 75.27 in ODI cricket this year. Perhaps even more remarkably, his strike-rate in that period is 119.13. He has made three centuries and six half-centuries from the 11 innings he has played.It’s no coincidence that England have won eight of the last nine ODIs in which Roy has batted. He has passed 50 in all eight of those victories and scored two centuries. Equally, it is telling that England lost both the World Cup matches that he missed through injury – against Australia and Sri Lanka – and that they lost the only game in which he has failed this summer; he made eight in the defeat against Pakistan.Only four times in his career – and not at all since January 2017 – have England failed to win once he has made 50. And he has passed that landmark 27 times. He is fast developing a reputation as one of the most dangerous batsmen in a team studded with them.

“I didn’t realise Bairstow’s dismissal wasn’t umpire’s call. I didn’t realise it was absolutely dead. That’s where the first conversation started. To get out like that was slightly disappointing and I probably showed it more than I should have.”Roy explains his semi-final anger

Just ask Australia. His assault on their bowlers – and on Steve Smith, in particular, who was plundered for three successive sixes – was brutal and served to “deflate” their entire side, as Roy sees it. He thought, for a moment, one of the sixes he hit off Smith was going to sail over the Edgbaston Pavilion – nobody has done that since the ground was redeveloped.”It was a case of staking a claim,” he says. “One big over at that stage was going to deflate them. I said to myself before the start of the game if a spinner comes on from that end and it’s full, it’s got to go. I thought it was going over. Can I hit a bigger six? Absolutely not.”That ‘staking a claim’ was perhaps more relevant in his batting against Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon. If Australia were to defend their total of 223, they surely needed that pair to dominate. But whereas an earlier generation of England openers would have reacted with anxiety inducing caution in such a situation, Roy decided to ensure it was the bowlers feeling the anxiety.Twice in Starc’s second over he thrashed him through the covers; in his third he flicked him off his legs for six. By the time he had bowled five overs, he had conceded 50. When Lyon came on, his first ball was driven back over his head. He was given no time to settle and no chance build any pressure.Roy’s success is all the remarkable for the contrast with his form in England’s previous global ODI campaign. After a grim run of form that saw him endured six single-figure scores in eight ODIs innings (and fail to pass 20 in nine), he was dropped during the 2017 Champions Trophy. Had it not been for Alex Hales’ self-inflicted absence, it is not impossible he may have struggled for a recall.”It does feel like another world,” Roy says of his change of fortune. “I feel like a completely different person; a completely different player. I had played some good cricket leading up to that tournament, but I got dropped, came back stronger and now I’m in a World Cup final. I couldn’t have asked for any more.”And what has he done differently?”I think I’ve just trusted my training a bit more,” he says. “I’ve not worried too much about the outcome. I’ve just got my processes in order. I’ve started well and played some good cricket.”Getty ImagesThere’s no doubt that playing with Jonny Bairstow has helped. As Eoin Morgan has pointed out previously, they manage to take the pressure off one another by scoring at a rate that allows the other to go through fallow periods. And, so destructive have they been, they can make bowling attacks wilt under the onslaught. They have made century stands in the last four ODIs in which they have opened together with strike-rates in stark contrast to England’s openers in the 1979 final: Geoff Boycott and Mike Brearley put on 129, which sounds great, but they took 38 overs to do it, which doesn’t.”It’s about playing off each other,” Roy explains. “So one guy might be struggling or we both might be going guns blazing. But it’s a case of telling him, ‘mate, it’s alright.’ Like that India game at Edgbaston, where Jonny made that hundred: he felt terrible for the first 20 balls. I told him, ‘mate, relax, you’re a gun, you’ll come out the other side. Keep that intensity to the spinners and don’t go internal.’ And he ended up banging it out of the park.”The influence of his captain is important, too. Morgan has backed Roy, on good days and bad, and encouraged him to continue to take the aggressive approach. So even after barren runs of form – not least in his debut series against New Zealand where he failed to reach 40 in five innings – Morgan made it clear he was part of England’s future plans.”He’s unbelievable,” Roy says of Morgan. “As you’ve seen on the pitch, he’s a very cool customer, very methodical and very good with his emotions. It doesn’t matter what the state of the game is. It doesn’t matter what someone’s done to him. He’s able to look forward and look past that. He looks for the best in everyone. He’s a great man-manager and a good friend of mine as well. He’s a good guy.”He admits his reaction to his dismissal in Edgbaston was over the top, but insist there were extenuating circumstances. In short, he thought Bairstow’s leg before dismissal had only been given on the basis of ‘umpire’s call’ so believed England had retained their review; a belief reinforced when the umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, incorrectly signalled for that review. As it was, there was no review and, once Dharmasena’s finger had gone up, he had to go. Even though he knew he was nowhere near the ball.”I actually got it wrong,” he says, “I spoke to Kumar and said I thought we had the review – I didn’t realise Bairstow’s dismissal wasn’t umpire’s call. I didn’t realise it was absolutely dead. That’s where the first conversation started. To get out like that was slightly disappointing and I probably showed it more than I should have. But it’s professional sport. I was on course for a century. Emotions run high.”England will need to control those emotions on Sunday. They will have to find the balance between allowing their natural positivity to flow without becoming over excited and reckless. It is, arguably at least, the biggest games in the careers of all involved. It is, arguably, the biggest match in which England have been involved for many, many years. Cricket in England needs this.”We’re dealing with it pretty well,” he says. “We went into the tournament as No. 1 and with a lot of expectation on our shoulders but it doesn’t affect any of us in the changing-room. It doesn’t matter what the outside noise is saying, the white noise as we call it. We’ve just got to go out and perform. We’re weirdly pretty relaxed. We’re in a very good place with our cricket.”Indeed they are. New Zealand are a fine side and can certainly win this match. But if they are to do so, they will surely have to dismiss Roy early.

The opener confirmed on Friday morning that his original cap had been located

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2024David Warner’s missing baggy green has been located four days after he announced it had been lost in transit between Melbourne and Sydney ahead of his final Test.The backpack containing two caps, including Warner’s original from his Test debut in 2011, was found at the team hotel in Sydney although how it got there remains unclear. Warner posted a video on social media on Friday morning holding his original baggy green and thanked those involved for finding it.Related

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“Hi everyone, I am very pleased and relieved to let you all know that my baggy greens have been found, which is great news,” he wrote alongside the video. “Thanks to all involved and I am extremely grateful. Qantas, the freight company, our hotels and team management. Thanks [sic] you.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Warner (@davidwarner31)

In the video he added: “Any cricketer knows how special their cap is and I will cherish this for the rest of my life.”A Cricket Australia spokesperson said: “The bag in which they were packed was found at the team hotel, with all the contents inside. The movements of the missing bag are unknown despite extensive searches and the review of CCTV footage at multiple locations and the efforts of numerous parties since Tuesday.”When Warner revealed the cap, which had been inside luggage transported separately to the players after the second Test, had not arrived in Sydney he said that if the backpack had been taken by someone they would not be in trouble if it was returned.Ahead of his final Test, Warner used a loaned fresh cap from Cricket Australia for various photoshoots then when Australia fielded on the opening day.”It’s a huge relief David’s cap has been located and a big thank you to everyone who was involved in the search,” Nick Hockley, the CA CEO said. “We really appreciate it.”

Goalkeeper Rob Green joined Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer of 2016, linking up with the Whites during the latter years of his professional career.

The now-retired 45-year-old featured in every single Championship outing during his only season as a player at Elland Road – catching the eye with his performances between the sticks.

He kept 15 clean sheets, the joint-third highest of any player in the division, but was unable to propel the side into the play-offs as they finished in seventh place.

Green would depart at the end of the 2016/17 season, with the club struggling to replace the former international after his departure – leading to their current goalkeeping situation.

However, this summer, boss Daniel Farke has the opportunity to end the goalkeeping situation, already targeting a move for one player when the window opens in a couple of months.

Leeds targeting move for PL goalkeeper

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are plotting a summer move for Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who’s currently spending the season on loan at French side Strasbourg.

The 25-year-old cost the Blues £14m back in the summer of 2023, but has failed to break into the first-team given the added investment from the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

The report claims that the Premier League outfit won’t consider any moves for the Serbian until the summer, giving boss Enzo Maresca a chance to evaluate the goalkeeping situation.

However, the Whites remain on red alert over a potential move in the summer, but it’s unclear whether any deal would be on a temporary or permanent basis.

Given Petrovic’s form in Europe this campaign, he would be a stellar addition to Farke’s side, certainly providing an upgrade on one player plying his trade in Yorkshire.

Why Petrovic would be an upgrade on Meslier for Leeds

Illan Meslier has been Farke’s first choice for Leeds between the sticks this season, a decision that may come back to bite the club come the end of the season.

The Frenchman has dropped numerous clangers throughout 2024/25, producing two errors in the most recent outing against Swansea City – with the side dropping two points as a result.

He’s also been accountable for various mistakes against the likes of Sunderland, Portsmouth and Hull City, with all of his failures taking multiple points away from their tally.

Promotion is undoubtedly still the aim for the Whites, but it’s safe to say that they would already have one foot in the Premier League if it wasn’t for the 25-year-old’s blunders.

Regardless of what division they find themselves in next season, reinforcements are desperately needed, with Petrovic providing the perfect upgrade on Meslier.

The Chelsea loanee, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, has managed to make more saves per 90, whilst also having a higher xG prevented – showcasing his shot-stopping ability.

He’s also managed to achieve a higher pass completion rate this campaign, more than capable of building attacks from the back should Farke demand that from the ‘keeper.

Games played

24

39

Goals conceded

29

27

Saves made

3.6

1.6

Shots on target faced

4.8

2.3

Pass accuracy

81%

79%

xG prevented

0.3

-2.7

Whilst it remains unclear how likely a move for Petrovic will be this summer, it’s evident that he would provide the quality between the sticks the side has been devoid of this campaign.

Regardless of whether a deal is completed for the 25-year-old, it’s pivotal that the hierarchy back Farke in the market, handing him the funds to finally replace Meslier.

If the club were to achieve promotion in the next few weeks, his mistakes would be even more costly in the top-flight, with his errors undoubtedly pushing the Whites closer to an immediate return – especially considering the unforgiving nature of the Premier League.

The next Ben White: Leeds set to make bid for new "superstar" this summer

Leeds United are wasting no time in improving the squad ahead of the summer window.

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Setting their sights on summer reinforcements, Aston Villa are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a Ligue 1 midfielder who recently kept Morgan Rogers quiet in the Champions League.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have been among the toughest sides to predict in the Premier League this season. Whilst at times they’ve looked untouchable, recent defeats against the likes of Crystal Palace exposed a side to Unai Emery’s team which has reared its head far too often in recent months. And as they battle for Champions League qualification for the second season on the bounce, it’s the type of consistency that those in the Midlands can’t afford.

That said, the Villans did at least return to winning ways last time out by comfortably seeing off Cardiff City courtesy of Marco Asensio’s second brace of strikes since completing a January loan move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Following the success of Asensio on loan from Ligue 1, it looks as though the Villans could be about to make a return to France’s top flight in search of another reinforcement.

According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now plotting a summer swoop to sign Lamine Camara, who recently stifled Rogers in a 1-0 victory for AS Monaco against the Midlands club in the Premier League.

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Limiting the Manchester City graduate to just 0.25 expected goals, 0.13 expected assists and just two successful dribbles, Camara certainly passed what could have been his Aston Villa audition.

Completing eight recoveries on that night, the Monaco star is exactly the type of tireless midfielder Aston Villa arguably lacked up against the likes of Adam Wharton in their 4-1 defeat at Selhurst Park, making him one to watch this summer.

"Agile" Camara is a rising star

As part of a Monaco side which defeated both Barcelona and Aston Villa in the Champions League this season, Camara is undeniably a rising star and could soon find himself pushing John McGinn all the way for a place in Emery’s strongest side, should the Villans come callng this summer.

Dubbed “agile” and “tireless” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old could be an ideal partner for the more technical Youri Tielemans.

Crucially, Camara would also add further midfield depth at Villa Park. With the added responsibilty of Champions League football this season, Emery’s side have gradually seen their top four ambitions fizzle out, which injuries to the likes of Amadou Onana have far from helped.

Having learned a harsh lesson over the importance of squad depth, Aston Villa should add Camara to their summer wishlist in the coming months.

In what could deal the 49ers an instant blow at Ibrox, one European club are reportedly now prioritising a move to sign one of Rangers’ best players when the summer transfer window swings open.

49ers could be dealt instant Rangers blow

The 49ers certainly have a hefty task on their hands when it comes to catching Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. The Bhoys have raced away towards yet another league title this season in a reign of dominance which has looked unlikely to end since the beginning of the campaign. Rangers, meanwhile, have struggled on the domestic front yet again.

That said, the Gers did at least manage to get one over on their rivals in the Old Firm derby last time out, scoring late on to win a five-goal thriller 3-2 in front of the Celtic Park faithful.

The hero of the hour, Hamza Igamane, has been a rare bright spark in a season to forget for the Scottish giants. At just 22 years old, the forward looks destined for big things, however, and that could yet see the Gers suffer a frustrating exit.

According to French news outlet But, Marseille have now made signing Igamane a summer priority in a deal that would cost them just £8m in the coming months. The Ligue 1 giants aren’t alone in their interest though, with the likes of Everton also linked with the forward’s signature in recent weeks.

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From Old Firm hero, Igamane could break Ibrox hearts this summer. Having only just arrived last summer, the in-demand striker may well be forced to make the most important decision of his career so far when the transfer window opens. Rangers, meanwhile, could be left fearing the worst.

Rangers must keep hold of "brilliant" Igamane

With 14 goals to his name in all competitions, including four in eight Europa League games, it’s not just in the Old Firm derby that Igamane has stolen the headlines at Rangers this season. The Moroccan has been the main man at Ibrox and could yet fire the Gers to another European outing to remember when Athletic Club come to town in April.

Earning plenty of praise as a result of his fine form, former Rangers man Derek Ferguson told reporters when asked about Igamane earlier this season: “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man.

“The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games, he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

Whether it’s Everton, Marseille or another interested party, Rangers must keep hold of Igamane if they are to stand any chance of catching Celtic next season. As the 49ers look to make their mark, the young forward is likely to be their biggest star.

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If Sri Lanka had aimed too high in their Super Four game against Bangladesh, they could have ended up with a sub-par score. These are the thoughts of Sadeera Samarawickrama, the star of Sri Lanka’s batting innings, who struck 93 off 72 balls.Across the match, Samarawickrama was the only batter to make more than 20 at more than a run a ball. But he lauded Pathum Nissanka, who hit 40 off 60, and Kusal Mendis, who made 50 off 73, for setting the foundation.”When Pathum and Kusal were batting, the pitch seemed a bit slow and they did really well,” Samarawickrama said. “If they had taken risks at that point and got out, maybe I would have got out cheaply too. But because they took the game a little deeper and gave us some momentum, I found it easier too.Related

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“When I saw the pitch, we talked about how this wasn’t a 320 pitch – it’s a 250 surface. Even that you just have to get in the last eight overs or so. If we had gone too hard early, we might have been out for 220. So what I tried to do after getting a start was to get the team to 250.”Samarawickrama, who made his Sri Lanka debut in Tests in 2017, has clearly worked on his white-ball batting since then. On Saturday, he frequently shuffled towards off stump to access the leg side, and backed away to leg to hit through off – often behind point.These were skills he had developed and used in last year’s Lanka Premier League, he said. In that tournament, he was second on the run-scorers chart, with 294 runs and a strike rate of 131.25. It was that performance, in fact, that had launched him back into the conversation as an international player.”Moving around the crease is something that I started in the LPL last year – playing with the bowler’s mind and figuring out how to put pressure on him,” Samarawickrama said. “However the pitch plays, I have to back my strengths, one of which is to back away and hit. It’s something I learned with a lot of hard work, so I back myself to do that.”Sri Lanka have now also won 13 ODIs consecutively, second only to Australia, who had won 21 in a row.”When you play as a team, your own performances are lifted,” Samarawickrama said. “If we had lost, my performance today wouldn’t be highlighted either. If the top order isn’t doing well, the middle order gets it done. If the middle order can’t do it, the top order has scored runs. We’re playing as a team.”

Newcastle United will be offered three players in exchange for Alexander Isak by a huge European club this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

Newcastle sweating over Isak's future

Isak is enjoying a fantastic season for the Magpies, standing out as not only their star but also one of the best players in the Premier League currently, causing defenders nightmares with his pace, finishing and all-round game.

The 25-year-old has scored 19 league goals in 2024/25 to date, with only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland ahead of him in the charts, which says a huge amount about the sort of company he is now in.

Isak’s blistering form is understandably seeing him being linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer, however, with some huge clubs battling to snap him up. Chelsea and Arsenal have both been mentioned as potential suitors to sign the Sweden international, while Liverpool are also reportedly pushing to sign him in a possible £148m deal.

The Magpies are understandably desperate to keep their most prized asset at St James’ Park for as long as possible, but there will be concern that he could eye a move elsewhere, feeling he could reach another level at an even bigger club.

Newcastle to be offered attacking trio in Isak swap deal

According to RMC Sport [via NUFC Blog], Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer Marco Asensio, Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani to Newcastle this summer, in a swap deal that allows them to sign Isak.

The bottom line is that the Magpies would surely rather retain the services of the Swede than lose him, even if it means three players heading in the opposite direction.

Granted, he hasn’t been without injury problems, so there is a tiny element of sense in cashing in on him, but he needs to be viewed as the fulcrum of Eddie Howe’s attack for the foreseeable future.

Should the worst happen and Isak move to PSG, however, Newcastle would at least be bringing in three top-quality players who have proven themselves at a high level throughout their respective careers, with the Ligue 1 champions currently paying the trio a combined £383,000 per week.

In Ramos, the Magpies could have a particularly exciting option, having been hailed by Ian Wright after a stunning hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup:

“It was very impressive, he played very well, scored a hat trick and takes all the headlines and rightly so. He held the ball up brilliantly but the first goal it set the stall for him. ‘He scores a goal that he’s not meant to score (his first goal). He hits it so well, he’s not meant to score that side of the goal but that kind of set them on the road really.”

Meanwhile, Asensio is a three-time Champions League winner from his Real Madrid days, and is currently doing well on loan at Aston Villa, recently scoring a late winner against Chelsea in the Premier League.

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Kolo Muani was famously denied by Emiliano Martinez in the dying seconds of extra-time for France against Argentina in the last World Cup final, and he has five goals in as many Serie A starts on loan at Juventus this season.

Legspinner signs three-year deal after finding opportunities limited at his boyhood county

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Jun-2023Matt Parkinson will leave Lancashire at the end of the season to join Kent on a three-year-deal.The 26-year-old legspinner has found his opportunities limited at his boyhood county, despite starting the season with a five-wicket haul in the first round of this season’s County Championship against Surrey. He then played one match on loan at Durham before returning for Lancashire’s Vitality Blast campaign.Parkinson made his Test debut last summer as a concussion substitute for Jack Leach during the Lord’s Test against New Zealand but has since fallen down the pecking order for club and country. That remains the last of 12 international caps as other spin-bowling options, such as Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, came to the fore over the winter.Parkinson’s travails were compounded when he was overlooked for the Hundred draft, despite taking 20 wickets for Manchester Originals across the first two seasons of the men’s competition. In the end, a move suited all parties, with the emergence of finger spinner Tom Hartley at Lancashire, who also offers greater value with the bat.Nevertheless, Parkinson still boasts exceptional first-class and Twenty20 records, with 151 dismissals at an average of 25.92 and 139 at 18.96 respectively.”The time is right for me to embrace a new challenge and environment,” said Parkinson in a Kent statement. “I’m so excited that this will be at Kent.”I’m proud of my record in the game so far & I believe my best years as a leg-spin bowler are ahead of me. I’ve heard very positive things about the squad and I’m looking forward to working with Matt Walker and the other coaches.”I promise my new team-mates and the Kent supporters that I will throw myself into this new challenge and I can’t wait to get down to Canterbury to get started.”I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the Lancs members for the support they have given to me during my time at Old Trafford. I thank my teammates for their friendship and wish them the best.”Kent’s Director of Cricket, Paul Downton, said: “Everyone at Kent is really excited that Matt has decided to join the club on a long-term contract.”To have a proven match-winning leg-spinner in our ranks will be a major boost to the squad. Matt is also a feisty competitor who will bring a lot to our dressing room. We look forward to welcoming him to Canterbury.”Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, said: “On behalf of everybody connected with Lancashire Cricket, I would like to thank Matt for all of his commitment and efforts since making his first-class debut in 2016, having progressed through our academy.”Matt has found first-team opportunities limited this season and we respect the decision that he has made to move on at the end of his contract, in order to seek a new challenge elsewhere. We would all like to wish Matt well for the next stage of his career at Canterbury.”It seems unlikely Parkinson will move on loan for the remainder of the season, as is usually the way with these sorts of deals. The fact Lancashire (seventh) and Kent (ninth) are separated by 20 points at the foot of Division One makes that an awkward proposition.