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If KL Rahul is not fit to play the Asia Cup, India face quite a juggling act with Kishan, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill – here’s Ravi Shastri, MSK Prasad and Sandeep Patil’s take

Shashank Kishore17-Aug-20236:15

Shastri: India need three left-handers in the top seven

Where does Ishan Kishan fit in to India’s ODI jigsaw if KL Rahul is not ready in time for the Asia Cup? This will be one of the big decisions the team management and the selectors face when they pick India’s Asia Cup squad later this week.Kishan has scored 425 of his 694 ODI runs so far at the top of the order. These have come in six innings at an average in the vicinity of 80 and strike rate of 125, with a best of 210 against Bangladesh late last year.So the numbers clearly suggest Kishan best fits in at the top, but that’s where Rohit Sharma bats alongside Shubman Gill, whose ODI numbers for 2023 are particularly compelling too: 750 runs in 12 innings, including three hundreds and two half-centuries.Related

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Is there a workaround, then? Where does Kishan bat?”At the top of the order, nowhere else,” former India allrounder and coach Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports’ show . “The others have to be flexible. Between Rohit, Virat and Gill, that can be 2-3-4.”Like Shastri, former India keeper and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, who picked India’s 2019 World Cup squad, also felt Kishan needed to be given a run in a spot he’s most comfortable in, even if that meant Rohit dropping down the order.”I think that’s the tough part right now,” Prasad said, on the same Star Sports show, of India’s top-order juggling. “If you’re looking at Gill to open with Rohit, then where to send Ishan Kishan is a cause for concern. If you see some of the roles he’s played at No. 4 or 5, I don’t think he has justified his place there.”The best thing is he enjoys batting up the order. Somehow, we need to accommodate him at the top of the order. Probably that left-right combination of Rohit and Ishan Kishan might come in handy.”Because Rohit always enjoyed the wonderful company of Shikhar Dhawan (they put on 18 century stands together). If you see, post-Dhawan, the form of Rohit has also been a cause of concern. The best place for Ishan Kishan to bat is up the order.”ESPNcricinfo LtdShastri, who was coach during the 2019 World Cup, said Dhawan missing the latter half of that tournament was a major miss. Dhawan fractured his finger during the course of his century against Australia and was replaced in the squad by Rishabh Pant. India opened with Rohit and KL Rahul for the remainder of that World Cup.”People don’t give the credit that Dhawan deserves,” Shastri said. “That guy was an amazing player. You mention the World Cup, when we lost the semi-final [to New Zealand at Old Trafford] after a brilliant World Cup, he was the missing man there. That made such a big difference.”A left-hander at the top of the order as opposed to three right-handers with the ball just swinging away, and allowing teams to get a grip on where to bowl and bowl consistently, was missing. And Rohit is a different player when he has a left-hander at the other end. He’s a totally different player altogether.”We’ve seen the stats, stats don’t lie over a period of time, so I think a left-right batting combination at the top will help. If you tinker with his [Kishan’s] batting position, if you put him at 5-6, it’s useless. He doesn’t know how to play. The pressure is on him to bat differently. He’s got a double-hundred at the top of the order, he’s got some runs, he scores quickly. The thing with Kishan is if he’s there for 30-40 balls, he’ll go, he’ll get you off to a flier.”Former India batter and chief selector Sandeep Patil, another guest, differed. Patil, who chaired India’s selection panel from 2012-2016, felt making a change at this juncture, with the World Cup less than two months away, was unwarranted, especially given the kind of year Gill has had across formats.”I’ll go with Gill [at the top],” he said. “I’m not sure if I agree with Ravi and MSK’s point where they say Rohit is comfortable if his partner is a left-hander. Like they say, [I agree] only position Ishan can bat is No. 1. So it’s a big decision to take.”Shastri cut in here, saying Rohit would play a very important role in the whole process. “It’s a very good point… Shubman has had a fabulous 2023. This where flexibility comes in. Rohit as captain is vastly experienced. He can go at 1-3-4. This is where you have to see the frame of mind of the player.”How will Gill feel if he’s asked to bat at 3-4 as opposed to batting at the top? If he feels he’s best at the top – and the runs he’s got of late is phenomenal – this is where flexibility comes into play and the captain will have to take a hard decision.”

Tottenham are now set to spark into life late in the transfer window as they look to improve what has been a dismal Premier League campaign under Ange Postecoglou so far.

Tottenham announce Danso deal

After astonishingly hijacking Kevin Danso’s move to Wolves at the 11th hour, the Austrian has officially become a Tottenham player. The Lilywhites agreed a loan move for the RC Lens star, which also includes an obligation to buy the right-footed centre-back, who will wear the no.4 shirt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Danso, who already has Premier League experience courtesy of a short loan spell with Southampton, arrives to bolster a defence that has been crippled by injuries so far this season.

Though Spurs welcomed back Micky van de Ven in midweek, they lost Radu Dragusin to a knee injury, with fears that he could miss the remainder of the season after being forced off in the win over Elfsborg.

Danso is capable of playing on either side of defence, which will allow Posteoglou more opportunity to manage the minutes of both Van de Ven and Cristian Romero when the Argentine returns from injury.

It is reported that the Austrian will set Spurs back a total of €25m (£21m), with Danso likely to pen a long-term deal when his loan move becomes permanent in the summer.

His arrival could spark a flurry of late activity in north London too, with the club once again looking to the future as much as the present after being turned down by Mathys Tel last week.

Tottenham have bid rejected for winger

Sport Witness have relayed reports that Tottenham have had a bid rejected to sign Valencia teenage forward David Otorbi as they look to continue their plan to recruit elite young talent from around Europe.

The 17-year-old Spain U18 international has reportedly caught the eye of both Tottenham and Aston Villa, despite not making his debut for Valencia’s senior team yet. It is claimed that the winger’s “performances and profile” have convinced at least Tottenham to try and land him early, despite regulations meaning that he cannot move to England until January 2026, when he turns 18 years old.

Described as a “powerful” winger who has “insane speed matched with agile running and footwork” by one U23 scout, Otorbi has grabbed two assists in 12 outings for the Valencia second team this season.

Tottenham make surprise late approach to sign £195k-per-week Chelsea star

Spurs are looking to raid their London rivals.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 1, 2025

Now, Tottenham have reportedly tabled a €4m (£3.3m) offer to take him away from Los Ches and bring him to north London. However, it has been knocked back by Valencia, with the Spanish outfit asking for a fee of €5m (£4.1m) to allow him to leave, “plus a percentage on a future sale” should Spurs look to cash in down the line.

Of course, given Otorbi’s age and the fact that a move would not occur for another 12 months, there is no rush to beat the transfer deadline in the coming hours for a deal for the Spanish youth international, which may see Spurs look elsewhere in the more immediate term as they hunt for a new forward, before returning to a deal later in the season.

اتخذ الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، بقيادة الدنماركي ييس توروب، قرارًا غير متوقع قبل أيام قليلة من انطلاق بطولة كأس السوبر المصري، وذلك في إطار استعدادات الفريق للسفر إلى الإمارات لخوض المنافسات المرتقبة.

وبحسب الموقع الرسمي للنادي الأهلي، فقد قرّر ييس توروب، اصطحاب جميع اللاعبين المقيدين في قائمة الفريق، بمن فيهم المصابون، ضمن البعثة المتجهة إلى الإمارات ظهر اليوم، استعدادًا للمشاركة في بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

ويستعد الأهلي لخوض مواجهة قوية أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا مساء الخميس المقبل، في إطار الدور نصف النهائي من البطولة، حيث يسعى الفريق لتحقيق الفوز والتأهل إلى المباراة النهائية المقرر إقامتها مساء الأحد القادم.

طالع أيضًا | رمضان السيد يهاجم لاعبي الأهلي وتوروب: زيزو “العملاق” اختفى.. وسنحتل المركز الأخير في السوبر

ويدخل الأهلي البطولة بطموح الحفاظ على سجله التاريخي، إذ يُعد الأكثر تتويجًا بكأس السوبر المصري برصيد 15 لقبًا، ويأمل في تعزيز رقمه القياسي من خلال إضافة النجمة السادسة عشرة في النسخة الحالية.

يذكر، أن الفائز من مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا سيلاقي الفائز من مواجهة الزمالك وبيراميدز في نهائي كأس السوبر.

The committee will have seven days to submit its report

Mohammad Isam30-Jan-2025

The Bangladesh government has formed a fact-finding committee to look into the BPL’s non-payment of players during the 2024-25 season. The country’s sports ministry made the announcement on Thursday, amid the payment issue heating up.”The attention of the National Sports Council (NSC) has been drawn to various media reports about the players’ payment issue in the ongoing BPL,” the sports ministry said in a press release. “The country’s image, through the BCB and BPL, will be hurt if the payments are not made according to the contracts.”The three-member committee comprises the NSC director (sports) Humayun Kabir, assistant director (sports) Sajia Afrin and the NSC chairman’s private secretary Saiful Islam. The committee will have seven days to submit its report.The payment issue has become a major headache for the BCB, who reportedly didn’t take bank guarantees from all the BPL teams before the tournament. There are reports of more than one team not having paid their players. The Durbar Rajshahi players have led the protest so far. Their local players boycotted a practice session in Chattogram, and the overseas players boycotted the match against Rangpur Riders in Dhaka.The BCB has said it will take legal action against the Rajshahi franchise, while the World Cricketers Association’s chief executive Tom Moffat expressed his disappointment over the issue.

da supremo： Having already agreed a deal to sign Jaka Bijol, Leeds United are now reportedly keen to solve their left-back problem by signing a Champions League-level defender.

Leeds discover Premier League opener

da blaze casino： The chaos of the transfer window isn’t the only thing stealing the headlines this week. The Premier League fixtures have officially been announced and Leeds now know where they’ll be and when at the most important stages of their top-flight return.

Opening the season at Elland Road against Everton, Leeds will then face their first top six side of the season when they travel to Arsenal, before Newcastle United at home rounds off a tough start.

If the Whites do find themselves in a relegation scrap, meanwhile, then games against Sunderland in March and Burnley in one of their final fixtures in May could prove to be all-important in their battle to survive.

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Alas, the 49ers have known the challenge that lies ahead for some time now and have been making moves away from the pitch in the hope of building Daniel Farke a side capable of avoiding the dropzone.

The first to arrive on that front looks set to be Bijol. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, all documents are signed and sealed for the defender to complete his move from Udinese this summer and become Leeds’ second signing back in the Premier League after Lukas Nmecha.

After Nmecha and Bijol, however, Leeds are still not done on the transfer front. Yet to solve their left-back problem, reports are now suggesting that the Whites are keen to sign a Champions League-level solution.

Leeds keen to sign Gudmundsson

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are now keen to sign Gabriel Gudmundsson from LOSC Lille this summer. The Swedish left-back would instantly solve Farke’s biggest problem area with Firpo set to leave and Sam Byram also heading for the exit door to leave the German without a viable option down that side of his backline.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much Lyon demand to sell their defender this summer, Gudmundsson hasn’t hesitated to share his own verdict about his future now that he’s into the final year of his contract, telling reporters: “I’m very likely to leave. It will be a very interesting summer.”

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Gabriel Gudmundsson

Junior Firpo

Minutes

1,785

2,616

Assists

0

10

Tackles Won per 90

1.26

1.17

Ball Recoveries per 90

4.19

3.92

Whilst the 26 year-old would not replace Firpo’s attacking output, he would provide a better option defensively and that’s arguably more important in the Premier League.

What’s more, the Swede’s experience of playing Champions League football for Lille last season, which included games against Real Madrid and Liverpool, means that he would likely take no time to adjust to the level required in the Premier League.

This IPL has seen a few feisty reunions, featuring Warner, Rashid, Kuldeep, Chahal, and others

Yash Jha07-May-2022A player-franchise association of years breaks down every few years. Now with a new home side, a player meets his old friend and turns up big against them. It’s a script that plays out often and with much interest around it. Like in football, the IPL, now that it is a decade-and-a-half into existence, is seeing its own share of feisty reunions, and a fair few players have turned the heat on their past employers this season. We pick the most notable such contributions so far in IPL 2022:David Warner (Delhi Capitals): 92* (58) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Brabourne StadiumDavid Warner scored a match-winning knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad•BCCIIt’s hard to think of a more publicly acrimonious fallout in the IPL than the one between Sunrisers and Warner in 2021: team legend, he led them to the 2016 title, three Orange Caps in six completed seasons alone for Sunrisers, and yet reduced to a reserve.Warner quashed any arguments of how much was left in the tank with a Player-of-the-Tournament medal in Australia’s title win at the T20 World Cup that followed the IPL season last year. Well into this IPL campaign came his chance to take on his team of the previous seven years.He grabbed it with both hands, playing that quintessential Warner knock that had heralded so many Sunrisers victories in the past: cautious to begin with, unaffected by wickets at the other end, upping the gears with ease, and batting it out till the end. He took his time and picked his battles – 15 off 13 balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but 47 off 25 versus Umran Malik and Kartik Tyagi combined – and was the fulcrum of Capitals’ charge to 207 for 3, which proved too good for his old team.Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans): 31*(11) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Wankhede StadiumRashid Khan finished on 31 in 11 balls•BCCIThe absence of Rashid from Sunrisers’ list of retained players ahead of the 2022 auction sparked off the most blazing debate with many questioning the franchise owners and team management’s logic.It turned out to be an evening to forget for Rashid when he came on to bowl against Sunrisers. It was probably the familiarity that helped Sunrisers’ batters taking Rashid apart: he conceded 40-plus runs for only the third time in the IPL, with Abhishek Sharma smashing him for 34 from just 15 balls.But Titans – who had gleefully lapped Rashid up as one of their three draft picks – would have the final laugh.The tie seemed beyond Titans with 56 needed from the final four overs when Rashid joined Rahul Tewatia in the middle. The equation became 37 off 14 after Rashid hit his first six – a helicopter flick off Bhuvneshwar – and some blows from Tewatia brought it down to 15 off four, with Rashid on strike, facing Marco Jansen. Six, dot, six, six: a stunning sequence left Sunrisers seething, the usually-calm Muthiah Muralidaran fuming, and Titans extending their stay at the top of the table.Wriddhiman Saha (Gujarat Titans): 68 (38) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Wankhede StadiumWriddhiman Saha reached fifty in 28 balls•BCCIThat Titans were still in the hunt in the back-end of that chase was down to another ex-Sunrisers man. Saha got a late entry into the XI after the move to play Matthew Wade at the top didn’t work, and he hadn’t done much in his first two outings (11 off 18 and 25 off 25).But he took the attack to Sunrisers, comfortably outscoring Shubman Gill in a strong start to Titans’ pursuit of 196. The openers faced 18 balls each in the powerplay – Saha scored 39 and Gill 15. Saha brought up a 28-ball fifty and continued to motor on, leaving Titans with 74 to get off 40 balls by the time he was done.Saha was fluent against his former Sunrisers team-mates, taking 10 from seven balls off Bhuvneshwar and 13 off six off T Natarajan, while taking Marco Jansen to the cleaners: 26 off nine balls, laced with four fours and a six.Kuldeep Yadav (Delhi Capitals) : 4 for 35, Brabourne Stadium and 4 for 14, Wankhede Stadium, both vs Kolkata Knight RidersKuldeep Yadav was a thorn in KKR’s side•BCCIFrom 2019 to 2021, Kuldeep Yadav had bowled 270 balls for Knight Riders in the IPL and picked up just five wickets. By the time he bowled his 27th delivery against them this season, the Capitals’ lead spinner had crossed that tally, and he is the second-highest wicket-taker this IPL right now.The first rubber was a high-scoring clash at Brabourne, and Kuldeep had gone wicketless while conceding 28 runs from his first 16 balls – but his last eight deliveries would decisively turn the game in Capitals’ favour. He had Shreyas Iyer stumped for 54 off 33 before dismissing Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine and Umesh Yadav in the space of four balls – the last an excellent caught-and-bowled effort.Kuldeep took it to another level 18 days later. After getting rid of B Indrajith and Narine off consecutive deliveries in his first over, he got the wickets of Shreyas and Andre Russell in his third. It could have been more than a four-for, but Capitals – for some reason – didn’t bowl out Kuldeep’s quota.Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals): 2 for 15 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Wankhede StadiumYuzvendra Chahal also struck against his former side•BCCIChahal’s exclusion from Royal Challengers’ shortlist was one of the talking points when the retentions were announced ahead of the mega auction. Between 2014 and 2021, Chahal picked up 139 wickets in 113 games for Royal Challengers; no bowler took more wickets in the IPL in that period.That provided enough intrigue as the legspinner lined up against his old unit early in the 2022 season, and although his new team – Royals – couldn’t get the win, Chahal was arguably the best bowler on the night. He returned superlative figures of 2 for 15 from his four overs, accounting for Faf du Plessis and David Willey, and also playing a part in the run out of his former captain Virat Kohli.Rahul Tripathi (Sunrisers Hyderabad): 71 (37) vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Brabourne StadiumRahul Tripathi brought up his half-century in just 21 balls•PTI With 397 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 140, Tripathi was key to Knight Riders’ run to the final last season and second only to Gill on their run-scoring charts. Knight Riders did stay in pursuit of him till the INR 6-crore mark at this year’s auction, before seeing Sunrisers eventually acquire the 31-year-old for INR 8.5 crore (USD 1.1 million approx.).Tripathi walked out early in Sunrisers’ chase of 176, and took the attack to Knight Riders. Sunrisers went from 15 for 1 at the end of the third over to 105 for 2 after 11, with Tripathi flaying 53 of those runs off just 23 balls. He was particularly severe on Varun Chakravarthy, taking 19 runs from six balls off him, including two magnificently-driven sixes on the off side.Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Punjab Kings, DY Patil Stadium
Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran took their side home•BCCIMarkram and Pooran had been part of the Punjab Kings line-up that found ways to not finish over the line in 2021. The pair, most notably, was in the middle for that Kartik Tyagi over last year when Kings contrived to lose to Royals in Dubai.So what could be more IPL than the same duo being tasked to finish off a chase against Kings? It wasn’t the most nerve-wracking equation – 75 needed from 57 balls when Pooran joined Markram in the middle – but they assembled knowing there wasn’t a lot to follow for Sunrisers. Shashank Singh, who hadn’t batted in the IPL until then, was slated at No. 6, and J Suchith at No. 7.They took Sunrisers home with little trouble. Markram was fluent in his 41 off 27, Pooran solid in his 30-ball 35, and Sunrisers were over the line with seven balls to spare.

As the pandemic wreaks havoc in India, the IPL marches on. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but can the BCCI make it count for more?

Jayaditya Gupta25-Apr-2021On Sunday afternoon, as the captains of Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore waited for the toss, the commentator Ian Bishop put out this public service announcement: mask up, keep a safe distance, self-sanitise. The simple message, repeated several times during play, was the first high-visibility sign of the IPL as an institution addressing the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc in India.There have been occasional statements by commentators and some franchises on similar lines – mask up, stay safe – and some individual players have gone further. But this was the first time the IPL used the high-profile toss segment of its broadcast to spread this message, the recognition that outside the bio-bubble was a country fighting a desperate battle against the pandemic.India is currently in the grip of an especially vicious wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Countrywide, there are 300,000 new cases every day – the most by any nation since the pandemic first broke out last year – and the effect has crippled healthcare and allied services, even in Delhi, the national capital. Just for context, there have been 26,000 deaths since the IPL began on April 9.Related

• Delhi Capitals hold all the trumps but cornered KKR could yet spring a surprise

• RCB recruit Scott Kuggeleijn as replacement for Kane Richardson

• Sinking Sunrisers look for lift against rising Super Kings in Delhi

• BCCI reassures IPL teams: 'You are totally safe within the bubble'

• Australia suspends flights from India; Chris Lynn hopes for post-IPL charter home

The IPL’s tepid response till very recently has prompted the perception that it is a bubble within the bubble – that the entire system is cut off from the world outside to the extent almost of tone-deafness. This cannot be the reality, of course, because the players are in virtual contact with life outside and have had family and acquaintances affected by the virus. But it is the perception, helped by the silence emanating from the tournament itself.Indeed, it has led to a line of thinking that the IPL should be called off. That in a time of national tragedy as this is – and a tragedy that, by all estimates, will get worse before it gets better – sport is irrelevant, perhaps even disrespectful. This is not a time for light entertainment.That is debatable, because there are clearly takers for the IPL as entertainment or distraction from the surrounding grimness. Anecdotal evidence, perhaps, but I can hear the TV commentary from apartments around mine every evening, and I know of people – including one 80-year-old aunt – who wait for that match every day to offer some relief.Equally important, though, is to see the IPL as not merely a sporting activity, 22 men playing cricket under floodlights. It is an economic activity that brings in millions of dollars, which are then spread around the wider cricketing ecosystem and to the country at large. Think of hotel rooms occupied, chartered flights booked and the IPL gig economy – social-media teams, cameramen, commentators, security and catering and housekeeping staff, and all the people they support in turn – that keeps the wheels turning. A distressed economy needs whatever cylinders that can keep firing.Crucially, it is a well-managed bubble, as it was in the UAE last year; two weeks in, there have been positive cases, but largely before the tournament started. The lack of crowds and the caravan concept – two venues at a time, instead of teams criss-crossing through the tournament – make it easier to manage logistics.It is precisely this immense soft power, though, that the IPL needs to wield at this moment.

If you have beaten COVID-19, you have the power to save a life. #ProjectPlasma – A joint initiative by #DelhiCapitals and @FeverFMOfficial encourages you to donate your plasma.

And as @SDhawan25 says, let's defeat this pandemic with positivity #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/gCzH2FIsBh

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 24, 2021

There have been individual, perhaps oblique, statements. Royal Challengers Bangalore have a short public-service video about basic bio-safety protocols; on Saturday, Delhi Capitals released a message about plasma donation in the Covid-19 context. R Ashwin, who plays for them, has also been tweeting about plasma availability. Harbhajan Singh hasn’t merely expressed his anguish – he has helped set up a mobile testing lab in Pune and has retweeted some of the thousands of cries for help on social media, hoping his influence can open doors.

Everything coming to an END.. we are clueless..No one is to guide don’t see any light.. it’s getting dark.. people are dying.. someone care ? NO #COVIDEmergency #COVID19India #Covid

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 16, 2021

Even Shoaib Akhtar – the Pakistani bowler Indian fans loved to hate – issued a simple, heartfelt appeal for help.

India is really struggling with Covid-19. Global support needed. Health care system is crashing. Its a Pandemic, we are all in it together. Must become each other's support.
Full video: https://t.co/XmNp5oTBQ2#IndiaNeedsOxygen #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/vX1FCSlQjs

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) April 23, 2021

There is plenty more that the IPL can do even now – sponsor the distribution of N95 masks or sanitisers; setting up vaccine camps or announcing that some percentage of their income will go to a specified fund. And, easiest of all, using the big names – especially those on its payroll – to reinforce the same simple message.Abhinav Bindra, the only Indian to win an individual Olympic gold and now part of various high-level athletes’ commissions, spoke about this issue on Sunday. Writing in , he said the players should acknowledge the enormous privilege they enjoy to be able to play sport in these times. If he was BCCI president, he said, and “had the capability”, he would “give a large amount to do, say, the vaccination right or help out in any other way. This is one way to acknowledge that to conduct the IPL right now is a huge privilege and everyone should act responsibly.”The BCCI is famous for its ability to think on its feet, to change or create or tweak plans to suit the situation. It has responded with alacrity to many crises in the past, usually when cricket is under threat. This threat is far greater and more serious – it’s a country in crisis.

Bayern Munich have reportedly decided to keep teenage sensation Jonah Kusi-Asare as Harry Kane’s backup for the upcoming season, blocking all loan offers for the 18-year-old. The Swedish striker has impressed during pre-season, scoring against Tottenham and Grasshoppers, prompting Vincent Kompany to fast-track him into the senior squad.

Bayern block all loan moves for teenage striker Jonah Kusi-AsareKompany impressed by Swede’s pre-season goals and physical presenceContract extension talks are underway Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per Sky Germany, Bayern Munich have informed Kusi-Asare that he will remain with the senior squad this season as Kane’s understudy. The club has rejected all loan approaches from PSV Eindhoven, RSC Anderlecht and Rapid Vienna. The Bavarians are also said to be working on extending the striker’s current contract, which runs until 2026.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Kusi-Asare joined Bayern from AIK Solna in January 2024, initially playing for the U19s before stepping up to the reserve side. He made his Bundesliga debut last season, appearing briefly in a 3-0 win over Mainz. Standing at 1.96m (6ft 5in), the Swedish forward of Ghanaian descent has caught the eye with his physical presence and composure in front of goal.

TELL ME MORE…

Bayern have endured a quiet transfer window so far, with only three major signings – Tom Bischof, Jonathan Tah and Luis Diaz. Manager Kompany is leaning on academy talent to fill squad gaps. Kusi-Asare’s pre-season form has convinced Die Rekordmeister that the 18-year-old can contribute in a backup role while continuing his development at Allianz Arena.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KUSI-ASARE?

Bayern Munich will continue contract extension talks with Kusi-Asare in the coming weeks. The youngster is set to feature as a bench option in the Bundesliga and Champions League. His development will be closely monitored as the Bavarians also explore moves for Christopher Nkunku and Nick Woltemade.

da spicy bet： Leeds United are ready to arrive on the Premier League stage once again and could now be lining up a swoop for a captain in one of Europe’s top five leagues, per a report.

Leeds United urged to bring in Premier League quality

da bet7k： Daniel Farke was lauded for the magnificent job he did at Elland Road last term after his side gained promotion to the top flight. However, the German coach knows more than most how big the jump is between the Championship and Premier League.

Back in 2021, the 48-year-old was sacked by Norwich City after the Canaries endured a tough start to life as a newly-promoted outfit, which will be a scenario the Whites will be desperate to avoid this time around.

With bringing in Premier League quality on the agenda, Paul Robinson has urged Leeds to sign Kyle Walker-Peters after he departed Southampton under freedom of contract following their relegation last term.

He stated: “I think he’s given himself a real opportunity now of being the master of his own destiny as to where he wants to go. I think the important thing is he just doesn’t go into a squad and be a bit-part player, but he goes into a team where he gets the opportunity to play every week.

“That could be Leeds, and it’d be a very good signing. With Firpo looking like he’s moving on, there’s an immediate opportunity to get in the team, though Tottenham will also be in for him, and it may depend on regular football.”

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He is ‘really appreciated’ at Elland Road.

Posts 1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 27, 2025

Versatile Juventus star Timothy Weah could also join Leeds after he turned down the opportunity to join Nottingham Forest, potentially presenting a coup if the Whites can put forward a compelling offer to the United States international.

Now, there is every chance Farke and company could now swoop to land a midfielder from France who would fit the bill at Elland Road.

Leeds prepare bid for Himad Abdelli

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Leeds are preparing a £12 million bid for Angers captain Himad Abdelli after scouting the Algeria international for an extensive period.

Farke is said to be a huge fan of the 25-year-old, who recorded 112 ball carries in Ligue 1 last term, drawing level with the likes of Florian Wirtz and exceeding Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

Five similar players to Himad Abdelli (Fotmob)

Mateus Fernandes

Southampton

John McGinn

Aston Villa

Iliman Ndiaye

Everton

Tete Morente

Lecce

Omari Hutchinson

Ipswich Town

Labelled “powerful” by Angers manager Alexandre Dujeux, Abdelli registered six goals and a solitary assist in 36 appearances last term and could become the Whites’ third signing of the summer after sealing deals for Lukas Nmecha and Jakub Bijol.

Leeds are in the market for attacking midfielders to bolster their chances of survival, and the man in question may be a cost-effective solution if all parties can come to agreement over a deal that sees Abdelli pitch up at Elland Road.

قد يبحث مانشستر يونايتد عن التعاقد مع لاعب حر خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة، حيث يرغب روبن أموريم في ضم مهاجم مميز لتعزيز هجوم الفريق.

ولا يزال فريق روبن أموريم بحاجة لضم مهاجم يسجل العديد من الأهداف، ويتساوى مانشستر يونايتد مع برينتفورد من ناحية الأهداف المسجلة بـ11 هدفًا، ويحتل المركز التاسع في الدوري الإنجليزي.

وقد يتطلع روبن أموريم لضم مهاجم خبير، على غرار ما حدث مع زلاتان إبراهيموفيتش وإدينسون كافاني، واللذين ارتديا قميص مانشستر يونايتد سابقاً.

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ووفقاً لـ”ديلي ستار” البريطانية، فإن التعاقد مع روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مهاجم برشلونة والذي ارتبط أيضاً بالانتقال لإنتر ميامي الأمريكي، سيكون صفقة رائعة للمدرب البرتغالي روبن أموريم.

ومن المقرر أن ينتهي عقد الدولي البولندي الصيف القادم، ولم يقم برشلونة بتفعيل خيار تمديد عقده بعد، ويشك هانز فليك مدرب البلوجرانا في قدرة اللاعب على اللعب في الضغط العالي.

وقدم ليفاندوفسكي بداية رائعة مع برشلونة، حيث أحرز المهاجم البولندي الدولي أربعة أهداف في سبع مباريات، على الرغم من أنه لا يلعب أساسياً في غالبية المباريات لصالح فيران توريس.