Tag Futebol

Celtic could be in the market to bring in more attackers to bolster their squad between now and when the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

One player who does not appear likely to end up at Parkhead this summer, though, is long-term target and Denmark international Mathias Kvistgaarden.

The Daily Record reported earlier this summer that Celtic cooled their interest in the striker, after they failed to sign him in January and last year, ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Kvistgaarden is now reportedly closing in on a move to Championship side Norwich City, having turned down the chance to sign for Ligue 1 outfit Lens.

What Kvistgaarden could have brought to Celtic

If the Hoops had managed to secure a deal for the forward this year, or last year when they were interested, then they could have had a lethal centre-forward option in the Scottish Premiership.

However, it would have been a gamble for the club because he has yet to prove himself outside of the Danish top-flight, in which the striker has been fantastic.

Kvistgaarden (Superliga)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	24	29
Goals	8	17
Big chances missed	9	17
Big chances created	6	5
Assists	5	5
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kvistgaarden has made a big impact in front of goal in the last two Superliga seasons for Brondby, which suggests that the potential was there for him to be an exciting signing for the Premiership champions.

However, Celtic could find an even better striker for Brendan Rodgers this summer by swooping to sign £6.8m Girona centre-forward Bojan Miovski instead.

Why Celtic should sign Bojan Miovski

The Hoops were linked with an interest in the former Aberdeen man earlier this summer, and they should press ahead with a move for the Macedonia international to bolster their squad.

Miovski could be an even better striker than Kvistgaarden for Celtic because he has already proven his quality in the Premiership, and shown potential in European competitions.

The left-footed marksman scored 32 Premiership goals in two seasons with the Dons, in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, whilst Kvistgaarden has only scored 25 Superliga goals in the last two terms combined.

This shows that Miovski has proven that he can score goals more frequently than the Danish forward whilst already proving himself in the league that Celtic play in.

The Macedonia international has also scored two goals in five Conference League games and two goals in two Europa League qualifiers, whilst Kvistgaarden has never scored above the level of Conference League qualifiers.

This suggests that Celtic could have more confidence in Miovski’s ability to deliver on the European stage, given what he has achieved in his career, which is another reason why he could be an even better centre-forward option for the club.

The Girona striker, who was once dubbed a “complete number 9” by journalist Josh Bunting, has the experience in Scotland to be able to hit the ground running for the Hoops, making him an ideal target.

Kvistgaarden, meanwhile, has never played in Scotland and there are no guarantees that he would adapt to the league, which is not a concern that they would have about Miovski.

Bigger loss than Kuhn: Celtic have set huge asking price for "special" star

Celtic have slapped a huge price tag on the head of one of their star players.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 5, 2025

Therefore, Celtic could forget all about the potential Norwich signing by swooping to bring the LaLiga forward back to Scotland before the end of the summer.

Leeds United are ramping up their transfer activity as the new Premier League season edges ever closer.

Former Manchester City youth starlet Lucas Nmecha has now joined the ranks from Wolfsburg to enhance the Whites’ attacking options. It’s surely only a matter of time before Jaka Bijol is announced too, after he has allegedly undergone a medical at Elland Road.

The next logical step would be to add some reinforcements in the middle of the park, therefore, and Leeds’ wish could be granted if they were to land a former Premier League ace.

Leeds interested in deal for £25m star

Strengthening the midfield ranks is evidently a key priority for Leeds this summer with moves for the likes of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki reportedly lined up.

Diarra seems to be a more concrete target at the moment with fresh claims suggesting that they made a bid worth £21m.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Slow progress is being made on that deal, so the Whites are seeking alternatives. Well, according to a new report from Italian outlet Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Leeds are in the picture to land former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer.

The report states that Luiz will be allowed to leave Juventus this off-season after a mediocre stint in Turin, but Leeds could well be put off by the Serie A giants and their asking price, with Igor Tudor’s men having purchased the Brazilian for a bumper £42m fee.

The move could still have legs on a loan-to-buy basis, however, with the report clarifying that such a deal would only cost Daniel Farke’s men £25m down the line. That marks a sharp decrease from Luiz’s staggering £100m valuation back in 2023.

Thus, that £25m fee feels like a reasonable fee to pay for the South American, with his reputation needing to be repaired, and that could occur back in England, where he once starred for Unai Emery’s men regularly.

Why Luiz could become Leeds' new Raphinha-like star

Luiz could come in and seriously improve Farke’s midfield options, with this deal having a similar feel to when Leeds purchased another Brazilian from Europe in the form of Raphinha for a bargain £16m, with the rest now history on the end of the Barcelona superstar.

Obviously, Raphinha didn’t have the backdrop of flopping at Rennes before he relocated to West Yorkshire, but it would have been seen as a savvy deal at the time, with Leeds only having to fork out a modest fee to win the slick winger.

The 34-time Brazil international would go on to cement himself in Leeds hearts everywhere with his skilful performances throughout his short stay, leading to the now Barca number 11 collecting 17 goals and 12 assists from 67 appearances, with his efforts as the Whites’ top goalscorer during his swansong season at Elland Road helping Leeds to just about beat the drop.

Luiz might well follow in Raphinha’s footsteps and be the energetic presence Leeds need to secure their Premier League status this coming season, with the Rio De Janeiro-born midfielder a proven top-flight performer.

Farke would love to call upon Luiz as an additional central body, therefore, with the vibrant Brazilian capable of getting stuck in when needed. Like Raphinha, who’s now a firm Ballon d’Or contender, he’s got fine pedigree, notably hailed as “one of the best 6s in the Premier League” and “one of the best [midfielders] in the world” by Sky Italia.

That’s showcased perfectly by his numbers for the Villans, where he ranked within the top 7% of midfielders in the Premier League in 2023/24 for goals, demonstrating his attacking flair to go alongside his defensive qualities.

Luiz’s numbers in the PL for Villa by season

Stat (* = per game)

19/20

20/21

21/22

22/23

23/24

Games played

36

33

34

37

35

Goals scored

3

0

2

6

9

Assists

2

2

3

6

5

Touches*

46.1

55.6

56.9

60.6

70.1

Accurate passes*

27.7 (83%)

36.8 (86%)

37.1 (87%)

39.6 (86%)

50.4 (89%)

Big chances created

3

4

2

7

10

Tackles*

1.3

1.5

1.7

2.0

1.7

Clearances*

1.3

1.2

0.6

0.6

0.5

Total duels won*

4.1

4.9

4.4

4.4

4.2

Stats by Sofascore

Luiz only got better and better the more his Premier League journey at Villa Park went on, culminating in him firing home a ridiculous nine Premier League strikes during his final season in the West Midlands.

He would even be labelled as “world-class” during his celebrated stay with the Villans by teammate John McGinn, with Raphinha once also talked about in the same glowing manner in West Yorkshire when heralded as “special” by Marcelo Bielsa.

Everything is pointing in the direction of this being a superb deal, with Luiz potentially going on to be their new Premier League saviour, just as Raphinha was once upon a time.

Related He's better than Diarra: Leeds now looking at deal to sign £26m "threat"

Leeds United are eyeing up a midfield star who could be even better than Habib Diarra.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Jun 19, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will currently be plotting moves to bolster his squad after the summer transfer window officially opened for business on Sunday.

The Northern Irish head coach has already landed one signing in the form of Kieran Tierney, who is set to re-join the club from Arsenal after six years in England.

Greg Taylor’s contract expires this summer and Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan deal has ended, which means that the Scotland international is currently the only left-back contracted to the Hoops heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

However, whilst Rodgers must think about potential transfer targets to improve the squad, the Celtic manager also has to be ruthless when deciding who will be a part of his team next season.

How Celtic's midfield could look next season

Football FanCast recently published an article outlining what a dream starting XI could look like for the Hoops next term, and it included a midfield trio of Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, and Lennon Miller, who could be signed from Motherwell as a potential replacement for Reo Hatate if he moves on.

That would leave Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, and Hyeok-kyu Kwon as the senior central midfield back-ups heading into pre-season, after McCowan and Bernardo played back-up for much of this season.

The former Dundee star and the Portuguese whiz combined for ten goals and 13 assists across all competitions, with seven goals and nine assists for McCowan and three goals and four assists for Bernardo.

This suggests that they both provide enough attacking quality to be solid rotation options behind a first-choice midfield of McGregor, Engels, and Miller, which is why Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Kwon.

Why Celtic should axe Kwon

Kwon was signed from Busan IPark in the summer of 2023 and arrived as the ‘K League Rodri’, having averaged 3.3 tackles and interceptions and 5.0 ball recoveries per game in the K League 2 during the 2023 campaign.

Squawka noted that the midfielder was ‘likened to Rodri due to his similar stature and playing style’, as another towering number six who likes to make tackles and interceptions whilst also getting on the ball to complete passes and dictate matches.

Upon signing for the club, Kwon said: “I will become the best player in Celtic and go to higher places such as the German Bundesliga or the English Premier League.”

The 24-year-old star came to Glasgow with incredibly high ambitions, as shown by these comments, and was clearly plotting to be Rodgers’ own version of Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, as the star anchor of the midfield.

Hyeok-kyu Kwon (Scottish Premiership)	23/24 (St Mirren)	24/25 (Hibernian)
Appearances	8	21
Starts	8	12
Goals	0	0
Assists	0	0
Tackles + interceptions per game	2.5	2.0
Ball recoveries per game	5.0	2.1
Duel success rate	51%	53%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, though, Kwon has yet to play a league match for Celtic in two seasons, playing for St Mirren and Hibernian on loan.

Kwon, who was hailed as “excellent” by Saints boss Stephen Robinson, enjoyed a fairly decent start at St Mirren, starting regular matches, but his form tailed off at Hibs before his season was ended due to injury in March.

The defensive midfielder failed to start games on a consistent basis, and his defensive numbers reflect that with a decline in tackles, interceptions, and recoveries per game.

His lacklustre statistics and his lack of starts for Hibs do not suggest that he is likely to break into Celtic’s midfield next season, or earn a move to the Premier League or the Bundesliga, which is why Rodgers must ruthlessly axe him from the squad this summer.

Celtic could sign their new Dembele with swoop for "outstanding" £10m star

Celtic could repeat their Moussa Dembele masterclass with a swoop for this star.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 1, 2025

If an opportunity to cash in on the 24-year-old flop arises, the Hoops should move on from him, as they already have options in midfield, because his performances do not suggest that Rodgers will be getting his own version of Rodri any time soon.

Aston Villa couldn’t turn down an offer of around £71m for Jhon Duran in January. The striker may have scored 12 goals in just 29 games for the club, but only seven of those appearances came in the starting XI.

It was unlikely the Colombian was going to usurp Ollie Watkins as Unai Emery’s main man.

While it made financial sense to sell, Watkins remains the only senior centre-forward at the club heading into the summer transfer market.

The Spaniard must bring in another one or two options in this department, especially if he wishes to lead the club to the Champions League once again.

Could he be targeting a young sensation who has enjoyed a fabulous season?

Aston Villa target Spanish centre-forward

A host of attacking players have been targeted recently. Tyler Dibling, the Southampton winger, has been linked with a big-money move to Villa.

Jadon Sancho is another wide option that Emery is showing interest in. Both of these talents would bolster the club’s wide options, but it is a more central player that the manager is desperate for.

According to Caught Offside, Villa are now chasing a move for FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.

The Spaniard has spent a single season with the Portuguese giants, but his performances have certainly caught the eye of potential suitors.

They don’t appear in a rush to sell their prized asset, who has a release clause of €100m (£85m) inserted into his current deal.

Despite that, further reports from Spanish publication, Sport, suggest that they have already approached Porto to figure out whether a deal could be done.

Why Aston Villa must sign Samu Aghehowa this summer

Young, an eye for a goal and a desire to succeed in the Premier League. Aghehowa might just be the club’s next Duran.

While Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio came in for the final few months of the season, the club missed the goals and impact of Duran, particularly during the final 30 minutes of games.

Well, Aghehowa scored 25 goals across 42 games for Porto last term, a more than impressive return, especially given it was his debut season at the club.

The striker, who was described as “one of Europe’s most prolific players” by talent scout Jacek Kulig last season, also registered 2.7 shots per game in the league last term, while he also achieved a goal conversion percentage of 23% for Porto.

Put simply, once he gets the ball in the box, the youngster scores more often than not, just as Duran did. He would get more of a chance at Villa than the South American, however, despite Watkins’ stature as the main centre-forward.

Metric

League

Europa League

Goals

19

6

Assists

3

0

Goal conversion percentage

23%

33%

Scoring frequency

119 minutes

228 minutes

Shots per game

2.7

2

Much will depend on the fee Porto are demanding for their star player, but if it is affordable, then Emery must make this deal a priority.

If he manages to lure Aghehowa to the Premier League, he could sparkle for Villa next season and beyond.

Aston Villa join battle for "fantastic" midfielder in cut-price £8m deal

He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 8, 2025

Birmingham City will only be looking up after a triumphant promotion out of League One, knowing that the club is in a far better place than it was when relegation was confirmed at the close of the 2023/24 season.

Indeed, Blues chairman Tom Wagner has managed to regalvanise proceedings away from previous toxic owners by giving the West Midlands giants plenty of cash to spend.

This cash was spent wisely rather than erratically, with Jay Stansfield an instant fan favourite in St. Andrew’s quarters for his 19-goal heroics in the third tier.

Birmingham won’t suddenly start spending frugally now they’re back in the EFL’s top division, however, with plenty of targets already on their mind that could possibly break the bank.

Birmingham pushing to sign EFL star

Much like fellow promoted side Wrexham, the Blues will be eager to flex their muscles again in the transfer market.

Indeed, Chris Davies’ ambitious side are already being linked with a surprise swoop for former star Che Adams, alongside further showing an interest in AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers who has an impressive 76 Championship appearances next to his name.

But, away from signing some distinguished second tier performers, the newly promoted outfit could also shop back in League One for some top gems, with Birmingham reportedly “pushing hard” again for Peterborough United superstar Kwame Poku according to Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett.

Reports in the past have even suggested that Davies and Co have offered a bumper £30k-per-week deal to the Ghanaian, with Birmingham also having to cough up a sum of money for the explosive 23-year-old owing to a compensatory fee, regardless of his current Posh deal nearing to its expiry date.

Clinching a deal for Poku could see the determined Blues win themselves an ideal partner for the potential incoming of Adams, with the pair ready to take the second tier by storm based off their blistering recent form.

Transfer Focus

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

How Poku could shine alongside Adams

Davies could do with more exciting talents down the right flank at St. Andrew’s with ex-Rangers man Scott Wright his only recognised option here at the moment.

This is where Poku would come to the rescue, with the former Colchester United forward picking up 19 of his bumper 23 goal contributions playing down this channel with swagger for Darren Ferguson’s underachievers.

It was only a matter of time before the standout Posh number 11 was poached by a bigger fish, considering he has managed to end the season with this sizeable contribution of 23-goal involvements despite being absent for 23 clashes due to injury.

Also capable of playing just behind the lone striker in Davies’ preferred 4-2-3-1 set-up, the “unplayable” attacker – as he’s been previously lauded by his manager – could be about to give £15m man Stansfield a run for his money too, on top of also offering up chances galore for Adams if he decides to leave Torino behind for familiar pastures back in England.

Poku vs Adams in 24/25
Stat (* = per game)	Poku	Adams
Games played	27	33
Goals scored	12	9
Assists	8	3
Touches*	46.3	24.1
Shots*	2.4	1.7
Accurate passes*	20.3 (80%)	11.0 (75%)
Key passes*	1.2	0.8
Big chances missed	3	11
Big chances created	9	5
Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, the experienced EFL striker and Poku could be about to form a match made in heaven, with both players content with minimal touches of the ball before unleashing havoc. Indeed, Adams has only needed 24 touches on average this season per Serie A clash, yet he still finds himself on a reasonable nine strikes.

With Poku also boasting eight assists despite only averaging a meagre 20.3 accurate passes himself, the duo might end up striking fear into Championship defences out of the blue, which would more than help their new side acclimatise to the tougher division subsequently.

Birmingham could even be eyeing up the prospect of back-to-back promotions if everything goes swimmingly, with the likes of Poku and Adams joining showing they mean business.

Birmingham could sign Stansfield upgrade who's scored 49 Championship goals

Birmingham City could be about to pick up a better attacking talent than Jay Stansfield with this statement buy.

3

By
Kelan Sarson

May 6, 2025

With the Europa League final looming, there no doubt remains a number of selection calls to make for manager Ruben Amorim, with there likely to be few nailed-on starters in Bilbao, not least considering the club’s continued woes domestically.

One position that, unfortunately, almost picks itself is the centre-forward berth, with the Portuguese coach forced to select the struggling Rasmus Hojlund by default, considering the lack of alternatives.

Indeed, the Red Devils suffered the blow of losing Joshua Zirkzee for what looks to be the remainder of the campaign, with the Dutchman notably netting against Real Sociedad and Lyon in successive away trips.

Equally, the decision not to include 17-year-old starlet, Chido Obi, in the Europa League squad has now potentially backfired, thus leaving Hojlund as the only senior striker available in the competition.

With Chelsea – and then Aston Villa – to come in the Premier League, however, it would be worth Amorim experimenting with a different approach, with the 40-year-old potentially overlooking a potential solution in the academy ranks.

How Man Utd can replace Hojlund

With a trip to Stamford Bridge in store on Friday – just five days prior to next Wednesday’s crucial clash with Tottenham Hotspur – it may be a wise choice to take Hojlund out of the firing line, not least with the Dane against drawing a blank against West Ham United at the weekend.

Touches

31

Pass accuracy

9/15 (60%

Shots on target

2

Shots off target

4

Key passes

0

Successful dribbles

0/2

Big chances created

0

Big chances missed

2

Possession lost

13

Ground duels won

1/6

Aerial duels won

3/8

That alteration could potentially see young Obi thrown into the mix, albeit with the teenager still far from the finished article, having also failed to find the back of the net himself in seven first-team appearances this season.

Something of “a goal machine” at academy level, according to analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Arsenal ace has found the step up to life in the senior ranks far more difficult, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst noting that he looked like an ‘an underdeveloped 17-year-old boy among men’, following his first start in the 4-3 defeat to Brentford.

Even Amorim subsequently admitted that Obi had been “naive” with regard to the use of his body against the Bees, with that outing seeing him register just nine passes, while winning just two of his nine attempted duels.

As his absence from the Europa League roster explains, Obi is perhaps not yet truly ready to be leading the line for the first team, having arguably been thrown in too soon due to Hojlund’s woes.

Further options could lie in the form of Kobbie Mainoo in a false nine role, with Bruno Fernandes or Amad also potential solutions in that berth, yet Amorim may wish to consider looking elsewhere in the academy ranks for an in-house alternative.

Man Utd could be brewing Amorim's next Gyokeres

Amorim must be tearing his hair out at the lack of a consistent striker in Manchester. Back in Lisbon, meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres continues to go from strength to strength for Sporting CP, having racked up 95 goals in just 100 games for the club to date.

66 of those strikes came in just 68 games under Amorim’s watch, following the Swede’s arrival from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, with it no surprise that there has been talk of a reunion at Old Trafford ahead of next term.

That said, the new United boss may already have a prolific, exciting attacking talent of his own who he can mould into his next Gyokeres, with 18-year-old, Victor Musa, currently shining in the youth set-up.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

A towering centre-forward – in a similar mould to the 6 foot 2 Gyokeres – Musa has been a revelation this season at U18 level, having previously been hampered by injury last term.

Indeed, the promising marksman has scored 16 times in just 19 games at U18 Premier League level in 2024/25, with that return including a brutal six-goal haul in the 13-1 win over rivals Leeds United last month.

That outing showcased the full array of his striking potential, with Musa leading the line in superb fashion, having regularly cut in off the right flank with devastating effect, while also possessing a poacher’s instinct in the penalty box.

A player who can also operate on the flanks if required – much like Gyokeres has done in his career previously – the versatile talent is now even at the centre of a tussle between Spain and England regarding his international allegiance, having thus far featured for both nations at youth level.

There had been reports that he is even being deemed to be United’s own version of Barcelona superstar, Lamine Yamal, a further nod to just how highly-rated the left-footer is right now.

With Hojlund needing a rest and Obi still looking too raw, Musa could be worthy of his own chance to impress against the Blues, be it off the bench or with a surprise start in west London.

Amorim, either through the transfer market or with an in-house option, needs to find his next Gyokeres-esque attacking figurehead. Why not give Musa the chance to showcase why he could be a homegrown alternative to the Swedish monster?

A worse signing than Ugarte: Amorim must axe "horrendous" Man Utd flop

Man Utd are in need of reinforcements all across the park this summer

1 ByRobbie Walls May 12, 2025

Despite the late collapse, Bangladesh find themselves well placed at the end of day two with Mushfiqur, Litton and Shanto scoring runs

Mohammad Isam18-Jun-2025A batting collapse hastened Bangladesh’s first innings towards its end in the Galle Test but the visitors will be more than happy to take 484 for 9 to start their new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.Bangladesh are trying to get out of a long batting slump, so runs from three of their main batters were a welcome sight. Their top six averaged only 24.38 during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, contributing heavily to the team’s indifferent form in the last two years. In a marked improvement, in the first Test of the new cycle, Bangladesh’s top six added 444 of the 484 runs at the end of day two. This was only the third time in the last five years that the top six have scored more than 400 runs in a Test innings.A particular gripe of Bangladesh has been the quality of pitches back home, where they often play on raging turners in Dhaka. Faced with entirely different conditions in Galle, the batters filled their boots in much the same way as they did in 2013. Galle provided Bangladesh their highest total in Test cricket as they put up 638 on the back of Mushfiqur Rahim’s double-century.Related

• 'These are not easy runs' – Mushfiqur reflects on 'special' century

• SL's newest spinner brings two arms to a format with one foot out the door

• Sri Lanka claw back after Mushfiqur 163, Litton 90

Twelve years later, Galle has proven to be Bangladesh’s happy hunting ground again. Mushfiqur once again led the charge with 163, his seventh 150-plus score in Tests. The century helped him get over a form slump since the Pakistan tour in August last year. Litton Das too struck his first half-century in any format since that tour. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto broke an even longer duck when he got a century for the first time since November 2023.Shanto was quite attacking on the first morning, hitting the ball well down the ground. He focused on playing straight, but also employed the sweep whenever the opportunity was right. The Sri Lankan spinners asked him to play the shot, with two fielders behind square on the leg side, and he resisted. When that gap opened up, he unleashed. It was a sign of his maturity.What pleased the Bangladesh team management was the fight shown by Shanto, who was playing with an injured finger. He hurt himself during fielding drills on the eve of the Test, but Mohammad Salahuddin, the team’s assistant coach, said that Shanto shrugged off the pain.”He did play with a swollen finger, but Shanto is a tough guy, ” Salahuddin said. “I don’t think a lot of people would be able to keep their wits about themselves despite going through so much trolling [during his lean run of form]. He is a mentally tough character as a leader, and that helps the rest of the team.”Najmul Hossain Shanto batted with an injured finger•AFP/Getty ImagesAfter Shanto and Mushfiqur added 264 runs for the fourth wicket, Bangladesh’s second-highest fourth-wicket partnership, Mushfiqur and Litton put on 149 for the fifth wicket. Litton pressed on the accelerator during his 90 off 123 balls, especially after Pathum Nissanka put down a catch when he was on 14. Litton kept the spinners at bay with his square-cuts and dabs, often finding a boundary with Mushfiqur consolidating at the other end.”Litton batted with much control. He batted calmly,” Salahuddin said. “I think it was his only bad shot in the game [his dismissal to a reverse sweep]. It can happen in cricket. He can learn from this and play bigger innings. I think he will not repeat the mistake again.”Bangladesh’s team management is meanwhile looking to shake off the late batting collapse, as they hope the bowlers can take advantage of an already decent score. “We batted really well in the first two sessions. We could have done better later. We still have a pretty good total. Maybe tomorrow, if we can bowl well, we can actually control the game,” Salahuddin said. “Our batting could have been a little better in the last session. I still think we have enough runs on the board. If we bowl well, I think we can control the game. We played some bad shots, which is why we lost some wickets.”Bangladesh lost five wickets for 26 runs at the end of the second day, having earlier slipped to 45 for 3 in the first hour on day one. In between, Mushfiqur, Shanto and Litton have given them a lifeline to get over a long batting downturn. Mushfiqur is heading towards his 100th Test later this year, so he will keep going, but for Shanto and Litton, their scores couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect time.

The team lived down to expectations and now face the usual cycle of politicking and recriminations

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Nov-20232:35

Maharoof: Sri Lanka’s batting has been a massive letdown

At no point in their final league match, against New Zealand in Bengaluru, did Sri Lanka seem like they could win it. At no point across this World Cup campaign have they seemed like serious contenders.It used to be true of Sri Lanka that they would frequently be under-rated ahead of major tournaments. In the years in which Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara formed the core of one of smartest attacks in white-ball cricket, theirs was the team that carved joyous arcs through the competition – Kumar Sangakkara its run-scoring engine room, TM Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene the batters who provided the high notes, Angelo Mathews a force in the lower-middle order.Related

• Mahela Jayawardene turns focus on domestic pitches after Sri Lanka's World Cup flop

• 'Didn't expect him to have such a good World Cup' – Jayawardene on Madushanka's chart-topping haul

• Court issues stay order to prevent Ranatunga-led interim committee from taking over

• Sports minister looks to replace SLC officials with Ranatunga-led interim committee

• Boult all but leads New Zealand into semi-finals; SL's Champions Trophy hopes fade

So much has passed in Sri Lanka cricket since then that those days feel like they were several lifetimes ago. In any case, this team arrived in India with expectations already low; the shellacking they had received at India’s hands in the Asia Cup final having sent what hopes there had been into a nosedive. And yet, they have still found ways to underwhelm, losing to teams they have never lost to in World Cups before, crashing to seven defeats in nine games.Unlike say for England, the reasons for whose unraveling takes a little investigation, Sri Lanka’s woes are more obvious. In no particular order:

• The top order has been fragile, with only two batters averaging more than 35.
• They have struggled to get middle-overs wickets, averaging 51.65 between the 11th and 40th overs, while conceding 6.19 runs per over; Maheesh Theekshana’s lack of penetration playing a serious part.
• They have been thin on death-overs firepower (a long-standing problem made more acute by the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga).
• They have dropped more catches than almost any other team this tournament, their completed catch percentage down at 70.21% – the worst for any team.
• They have had a rough time of injuries (but then when does a Sri Lanka team not?)

As the men’s team slid to another deflating defeat, the news cycle at home was aflame with every kind of opinion, voiced chiefly by politicians. There were suggestions of pro-India conspiracies, opinions about how this team was being led, players that should be scoring more runs or taking wickets, selectors accused of favouritism.While a parliamentary session abounded with loud and emphatic evidence that Sri Lankan politicians know very little about cricket, there was also a reminder that this does not stop them from intruding on the sport. On Monday the sports minister sacked the entire cricket board and installed an interim committee led by Arjuna Ranatunga, yes, but which also contained two sons of politicians, with no known cricket or administrative experience. One day later, this committee was struck down by the courts, and the old board reinstated.For these kinds of people, Sri Lanka’s on-field losses serve only as opportunities to gain political capital. The same crowd has been jockeying for position for decades, board members forever in the laps of politicians, politicians making hugely publicised “interventions” when they feel the national mood will tolerate it.New ideas? A taking stock of global standards and a sober restructuring of domestic cricket to bridge skills gaps? A long-term strategy to spread the game more meaningfully in a country in which you basically have to live in Colombo to play senior cricket? These are topics frequently ignored in favour of self-serving speeches and comments.A tenth-wicket stand of 43 was Sri Lanka’s best of the innings against New Zealand•Associated PressSome have long said that we are witnessing the slow death of a once-great cricketing nation. The men’s team has not, after all, made a single ICC tournament semi-final since 2014, up to which point they had been a dynamic and steadfast presence in the knockouts.But to begin printing eulogies is also glib, because Sri Lankan cricket is not without signs of periodic regeneration. In this tournament, Dilshan Madushanka has broken out, as has Sadeera Samarawickrama and, to some extent, Pathum Nissanka. Between these three, plus the likes of Kusal Mendis, Hasaranga, Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, Sri Lanka have the core of a team that could play one more ODI World Cup cycle, maybe two.More broadly, the women’s team has had its best year ever in 2023. An aging Chamari Athapaththu still carries them, but team-mates have begun to support her more readily.But we are in an era in which Sri Lanka fans have begun to subsist on the meagrest positives. A magic ball there, a spectacular innings here, a furious chase two months later. A couple of young players coming through, even though the team is failing. It’s not just the men’s team that is failing to match the excellence it once embodied; everyone’s standards have fallen.What it is that Sri Lankan cricket needs has been detailed on these pages on many occasions, the first and most important of which is a complete restructuring of domestic cricket, and far greater investment into the domestic game.What Sri Lanka is getting instead is a parliament that has lost the faith of its public (as polls have said outright and last year’s mass protests strongly suggested) quarreling over the running of SLC, which is an institution that inspires even less faith. Who will emerge in charge of SLC over the next few weeks remains to be seen. Right now, it is all a whirl.But the country’s cricket has been through enough cycles of this now, and it is difficult to be hopeful about meaningful change. The men’s team has just wrapped up its worst World Cup campaign of Sri Lanka’s professional era. But then they were never expected to make the semis anyway.

The rationale behind his dipping strike rate is not clear, but he would want to try and find a way out

Shashank Kishore12-Apr-20224:49

Is Hardik Pandya’s batting position dictating his approach in IPL 2022?

When Virat Kohli said one “can’t create overnight what Hardik Pandya brings at No. 6” last October, he was referring to his middle-order power-hitting specifically. Over time, Hardik has been able to marry this ball-striking with the game-smarts that have made him a feared white-ball destroyer.Hardik, who has largely batted in the lower middle order, has notched up the seventh-most number of sixes in the IPL since 2017, with 92 hits.Related

• Williamson, Pooran help Sunrisers hand Titans their first defeat

• Nehra: 'From year one, you should be looking to win the tournament'

This fearless hitting was witnessed during the Champions Trophy final in 2017, where Hardik swatted six sixes against spin – almost immediately from the get-go – to make a whirlwind 43-ball 76 in a crumbling chase. We have seen that in Australia, where his finishing act – a 22-ball 42 – in a 195-chase helping India seal the T20I series in December 2020. He has done it numerous times for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.So, what makes Hardik tick? When in full flow, He can line up his scoring zones with a touch of brutality to his game. His powerful wrists and bottom-handed power have added different scoring zones to his repertoire. He can scythe wide yorkers behind point with the same efficacy as playing a helicopter to a yorker-length delivery.But so far this season, this version of Hardik hasn’t yet surfaced. His 141 runs in four innings this season have come at a strike rate of 122.60. This pales in comparison to his overall strike rate of 150.5 in the IPL. In the death overs, specifically, he strikes overall at a mind-boggling 187.60.This time around, Hardik has tried to take his innings deep, before trying to pull off a late jailbreak. This hasn’t worked, like it didn’t on Monday night against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he remained unbeaten on a 42-ball 50, with Gujarat Titans “finishing seven to 10 runs short” by his own admission.Barring the one knock against Punjab Kings where he made 18 off 27, Hardik has largely looked to build an innings. At Mumbai Indians, the presence of enforcers in Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, and at times Kieron Pollard, left him with a clear mandate: of going out to take down attacks.2:15

Is No. 4 Hardik Pandya’s best position?

At Titans, it’s easy to assume it’s perhaps the added captaincy responsibility that is making him restrictive in his approach. But there could be a bigger factor at play: the auction. Titans made a splash when they signed Shubham Gill and Rashid Khan along with Hardik as their core group of players, but the batting is still thin on experience.Abhinav Manohar is a middle-order finisher, who hadn’t played a single T20 game until six months ago. B Sai Sudharsan has been picked on the back of one prolific Tamil Nadu Premier League season. It makes for a great story to tell how the franchise has backed two new players to rise to the occasion, but when it affects the overall batting dynamics, it’s hard not to look at the fault lines.Both Manohar and Sudharsan are now playing the role of enforcers. While Gill has been in scintillating touch, Matthew Wade has managed just 56 runs in four innings. Vijay Shankar, a batter they would’ve hoped a lot more from, finds himself out of the mix, firstly because of injury and then due to team combination.The top order isn’t brimming with alternatives either. Hardik’s move up to No. 4 has meant leaving the role he dearly loves to the likes of David Miller and Rahul Tewatia. There is one problem, though. Miller is not the same player that he has been. Since IPL 2016, Miller has the second-lowest strike rate among 59 batters who have faced over 500 balls,For Hardik, as a young captain, this can be a massive sacrifice, but it boils down to a lack of options. With only one other young batter in Rahmanullah Gurbaz to potentially fill in, the dearth of options may have fired Hardik to be a pillar at 4.Hardik’s captaincy mantra has revolved around “taking pressure off youngsters and asking them to play freely.” What freedom does he enjoy? It’s quite striking to look at the significant dip in strike rates of first-time Indian captains in the IPL as compared to the previous two seasons. Hardik’s dip from 151.67 in the previous two seasons to 122.6 currently is the biggest.As the season enters the second half and pitches tire, average scores could come down. Spinners may have a bigger say. The dew factor could be negligible, and Hardik may have to re-look at his approach.Even though it might not be his most ideal role, as a team man, one can understand his rationale behind doing it. But he would want to try and find a way out.

Erling Haaland made a dig at Jamie Carragher amid the Mohamed Salah row as he labelled the Liverpool legend "a loose cannon" after Manchester City edged out Real Madrid in the Champions League. The Norwegian striker’s first-half penalty completed City’s comeback in a tense 2-1 victory over Los Blancos, which tightened their grip on a direct qualification spot for the round of 16 in Europe.

City seal crucial Bernabeu victory

Rodrygo had put Madrid ahead on 28 minutes, finishing sharply after a sweeping counter-attack to end a prolonged goal drought. But City, as they so often do, responded almost immediately. A chaotic scramble in the Madrid box allowed 18-year-old Nico O’Reilly to stab home from close range, levelling the match and stunning a restless Bernabéu crowd. Just before the interval, Haaland was bundled over by Antonio Rudiger, and he dispatched the resulting penalty, sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way. Madrid pushed hard in the second half as Jude Bellingham saw his lofted, delicate effort sail over the woodwork and Endrick’s late header skimmed the crossbar, but Pep Guardiola’s side held firm to leave Spain with vital three points.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHaaland lights up post-match interview

The entertainment did not stop at full-time. Appearing on , Haaland joined Kate Scott, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Carragher for an interview that quickly veered into playful chaos. 

Richards began by asking the striker how he was feeling. Haaland smirked: "I’m getting nervous with Jamie Carragher in the studio!" The comment triggered a burst of laughter before Carragher reassured him, perhaps not entirely convincingly, "You don’t need to be nervous, Erling."

When asked to choose between Carragher and Rudiger, his bruising marker for much of the match, Haaland fired another shot. He said: "I mean, I think I have to say Rudiger now because Carragher is a bit of a loose cannon now."

The jokes continued when Carragher invited Haaland onto his podcast alongside Roy Keane. With a grin, the striker replied: "I mean Jamie Carragher in this moment, and Roy Keane, I think I need to bring my father." Haaland’s comment referenced the infamous clash between Keane and his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, over two decades ago in the Manchester derby when a rash tackle from the United midfielder almost ended Haaland senior's career. Carragher could only laugh and seal it with: "It’s a deal."

Angry Carragher aimed fiery rant at Salah

Carragher's explosive criticism of Salah after Liverpool’s weekend draw has stirred controversy. Speaking on Sky Sports' Carragher accused Salah of deliberately fuelling tension by giving a rare mixed-zone interview that took aim at Slot and the club officials. 

"I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game," Carragher said. "Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst, I do not think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he's done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it is choreographed by him and his agent to cause maximum damage and to strengthen his own position.

"He did that 12 months ago and I called him out on this show about it. He played on the heartstrings of the Liverpool supporters. Liverpool were top of the league and he'd scored the wining goal at Southampton. That was the time to come out and put pressure on the Liverpool ownership. For the rest of the season you have banners in the crowd saying 'Give Mo his dough'. He's chosen this weekend to do this now and he's waited for a bad result, they've conceded a last minute goal. The Liverpool supporters, the manager, the whole club feels like it is in the gutter at the moment, and he's chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe try and get him sacked. That's the way I felt about it."

The former defender softened his stance slightly after Liverpool’s Champions League win over Inter Milan, addressing Salah directly: "Mo, I apologize if I’ve upset you. I love you as a Liverpool player, but you need to behave yourself off the pitch."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Goal ARSaudi interest in Salah intensifies

With the forward benched for three straight Premier League matches and talk of a move to Saudi Arabia has accelerated.

At the World Football Summit in Riyadh, Saudi league executive Omar Mugharbel openly acknowledged interest in the Egyptian superstar. "Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League," he said. "The clubs are responsible for negotiations, but he is certainly one of the targets."

According to , Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad are preparing to test Liverpool’s resolve, believing they can tempt Salah with a package that could eclipse previous offers rejected by the Premier League club.