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This will be the third successive year when the IPL auction is being held overseas

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Nov-2025The 2026 IPL auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. This will be the third successive year when the IPL auction is being held overseas. The 2024 auction in Dubai was the first time it was held overseas. The two-day mega auction for the 2025 season was held in Jeddah in November 2024.Like all mini auctions, the 2026 edition, too, will be a day-long exercise. Franchises have to first sort the list of players they want to release and retain from their 2025 squads, by 3pm IST on November 15. After that they will be sent a registered pool of players to shortlist. That long list will then be pruned for IPL to finalise the auction pool.The trading window, which opened after the 2025 season, will continue until a week before the auction and then resume to go on until a month prior to the IPL start date in 2026. The 10 franchises cannot trade a player who will be bought at the 2026 auction.So far there have been four confirmed trades among five teams. That includes the most high-profile player swap in IPL history which involved five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) getting Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals, who have traded in the allrounder pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.On Thursday, Mumbai Indians, also five-time champions, procured India allrounder Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford in all-cash deals from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 2 crore and Gujarat Titans (GT) for INR 2.60 crore, respectively. In a separate trade, LSG got Arjun Tendulkar at his base price of INR 30 lakh from MI.The tentative window for IPL 2026 is March 15 to May 31.

AC Milan have stepped up their pursuit of Robert Lewandowski, scheduling a new round of talks with his agent Pini Zahavi as the Barcelona striker weighs his future as his contract nears its end. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic pushing internally to bring the 37-year-old to San Siro and Milan rebuilding under Max Allegri, the Rossoneri sense an opening, but salary demands remain a major hurdle.

• Milan accelerate pursuit as Lewandowski weighs future

  According to , Milan are preparing a fresh approach for Lewandowski, with a new meeting scheduled between sporting director Igli Tare and the striker’s agent Pini Zahavi in the coming weeks. The Rossoneri have made the 37-year-old a priority target for June, convinced that his arrival could transform the club’s rebuild under Allegri. Lewandowski’s contract with Barca runs until June 2026, but uncertainty around his long-term role coupled with the club’s plan to sign a new No.9 next summer has placed his future firmly in play.

  Milan rejected the idea of approaching him last year due to salary constraints, but with Champions League qualification now a central objective, the Rossoneri believe the timing may be right to formalise negotiations. The San Siro hierarchy have already tested the waters with Lewandowski’s entourage. This next meeting is expected to focus on possible salary parameters, with the Pole currently earning €20 million (£17m/$22m) net at Barcelona, almost triple the wages of Milan’s highest earner, Rafael Leao.

  With Barcelona evaluating replacements and Lewandowski keeping all options open, the situation is edging into a crucial phase, one that could reshape the summer transfer market.

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  Ibrahimovic’s influence and Barcelona’s search for a new No.9

  This renewed push from the Rossoneri comes with the backing of their former striker Ibrahimovic, now a senior advisor at RedBird and one of the most influential voices behind Milan’s sporting strategy. He views Lewandowski as the type of elite striker who can immediately elevate the squad, much like his own transformative return to the club in 2020.

  On the Barcelona side, their search for a new striker highlights how the club is preparing for life after Lewandowski. Reports indicate that Harry Kane sits at the top of their shortlist, with the England captain scoring 108 goals in 113 games for Bayern Munich since 2023. Other names include Julian Alvarez, long admired by Barca, and even a dream move for Erling Haaland, described internally as Joan Laporta’s “obsession”. Financial realities, however, mean the Catalan giants are also analysing cheaper alternatives such as Etta Eyong, underlining the scale of the transition being planned.

  Lewandowski’s reduced role this season, a result of injuries and the emergence of Ferran Torres has only added to uncertainty. Despite this, he remains Barca’s leading scorer with seven goals in nine La Liga matches, second only to Mbappe in the Spanish scoring charts.

• Lewandowski speaks out and Milan’s project takes shape

  The ex-Bayern striker has been open about his indecision regarding the next step in his career. While on duty with Poland, he made it clear that he does not intend to rush any decision: “I still don’t know the answer. That’s why I’m not in a hurry, I’m at peace with myself. Even if, for example, the club contacted me now, I still wouldn’t answer that question. Because I also have to feel what’s best for me. Now I’m calm, I’m not in a hurry and, at the moment, I don’t expect anything else.”

  His stance aligns with Milan’s long-term approach under Allegri and Tare, who are intent on recruiting experienced leaders to stabilise the squad. Zahavi’s strong relationship with Milan further strengthens their position. For Milan, landing Lewandowski would represent both a sporting coup and a symbolic statement that their project is entering a new era.

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  The next meeting could shape the summer market

  The Rossoneri's upcoming talks with Zahavi will be pivotal. If the two sides can find common ground on salary structure, potentially through bonuses or multi-year guarantees, negotiations could accelerate rapidly ahead of June. Barcelona, meanwhile, are expected to continue planning for a major reshuffle in the forward department, with the Lewandowski decision acting as the first domino.

  As interest from multiple European clubs quietly grows, all eyes now turn to Milan’s next meeting. The battle for Lewandowski is only just beginning and the outcome could define one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas.

Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership table, albeit only just.

On Sunday, the Hoops required a very controversial penalty to beat Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park; Kelechi Ịheanachọ marking his debut by converting a 96th-minute spot-kick in Ayrshire.

This means Brendan Rodgers’ side remain above Hearts by virtue of goal difference, albeit they’ve scored just eight goals in five Premiership fixtures so far, which has to be a concern ahead of their Europa League opener against Crvena zvezda at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade next Wednesday.

The departures of Kyōgo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kühn this year explain why the Celts are finding goals hard to come by, so would they actually have been better off keeping hold of a forgotten flop sold for just £500,000 by Ronny Deila?

Celtic's messy striker situation

Having not replaced the aforementioned Kyōgo, who was sold in January, it then came as a massive surprise when, on deadline day, Celtic sold Adam Idah to Swansea City for £7m.

Supporters assumed the club must have a replacement lined up but, well, that just wasn’t the case, seeing multiple low-ball bids rejected by Anderlecht for Kasper Dolberg, who never had any intention of moving to Glasgow, instead re-joining Ajax.

The window closed and Rodgers’ squad featured no senior centre-forward so, in a state of panic, the Celts signed Ịheanachọ, the Nigerian international having become a free agent after his contract had been terminated by Sevilla, showing how far from desperate the Spanish side were to have him around.

Well, considering Ịheanachọ scored zero La Liga goals for los Nervionenses, it is easy to understand why.

So, while the 28-year-old did convert that penalty at Kilmarnock, the jury very much remains out on whether or not he’ll be a success at Parkhead, so would a forgotten ex-Celtic flop actually have been a better option, still banging the goals in at 35?

Forgotten former Celtic striker still prolific

Back in August 2013, another classic late-summer signing, Celtic bought a 23-year-old by the name of Teemu Pukki from Schalke for a reported fee of £3m.

The Finnish international did score during his first two Premiership appearances, on target against Hearts and St Johnstone, but didn’t make much of an impression after that, netting just nine times in 38 outings for the club, loaned out to Brøndby a year later, before joining the Danish club permanently for around £500k, to no outrage or fuss whatsoever.

Well, since he was last seen in Glasgow, Pukki has scored 210 club goals, as well as becoming Finland’s all-time record goalscorer, smashing Jari Litmanen’s record, firing the Eagle-owls to their first-ever major tournament by netting ten times during Euro 2020 qualifying.

He is most well-known for his five seasons at Norwich City, scoring 29 and then 26 times as the Canaries won two separate EFL Championship titles, also bagging a respectable 11 Premier League goals in both 2019/20 and 20221/22.

During his peak at Carrow Road, teammate Marco Stiepermann labelled him a “special” player, adding that he “is much colder in the 18-yard box than Robert Lewandowski”, who the German had previously played alongside at Borussia Dortmund.

After leaving Norfolk, Pukki joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, scoring 14 times in 43 outings for the Loons, helping them reach last year’s MLS Western Conference semi-finals, most notably bagging four during a 5-2 victory over LA Galaxy in October 2023.

Since 2009, only ten players have scored 4+ goals in a single MLS match.

Not satisfied with his output in 2024 though, Minnesota allowed him to leave earlier this year, with Pukki thereby returning to his homeland in January, re-joining HJK Helsinki, a move that has certainly revitalised his career.

Pukki has bagged 18 goals in 2025, and counting, netting ten times in the Veikkausliiga, also on target when HJK were dumped out of Conference League qualifying by Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali on penalties.

The table below fully documents Pukki’s scoring exploits since joining Celtic.

As the table documents, aside from his miserable year in Saint Paul throughout 2024, Pukki has been prolific everywhere he has been since his one-year stint at Parkhead.

His 18 goal haul in 2025 is more than Idah’s tally of 12, while you have to go back to January 2023 to find Ịheanachọ’s 18th goal ago, having not bagged eight in a single campaign since 2020/21.

Thus, Pukki’s short-lived Celtic career proves that players should never be written off and may simply find themselves in the wrong environment at the wrong time.

Worth more than Tounekti: Celtic are brewing the new Reo Hatate at Parkhead

Celtic have a brilliant midfield star who could be the club’s next Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 16, 2025

With only 150 to chase, he could have taken a safer route. Instead, he smashed 98 not out off 47 balls to take down KKR

Sreshth Shah12-May-20234:50

Dasgupta: ‘Jaiswal’s innings was absolutely flawless’

On Thursday, if Yashasvi Jaiswal had started his innings with caution, you would have understood why. With only 150 to chase, there was merit in the opening batter to have a watchful start, protect his wicket against the new ball, and get his bearings before cashing in. With Jos Buttler at the other end, there was little reason to go too hard at the top, and in an era of data-driven cricket, even more so against an offspinner who can take the ball away.Therefore, it seemed to be a smart ploy from Nitish Rana to bowl the first over for Kolkata Knight Riders. Rana is a handy part-time spinner with a somewhat golden arm, and the idea to sneak in a quiet first over wasn’t a bad one. Worst case for Rana, if the over didn’t go as planned, at least it was a brave attempt to buy an early wicket since that was the only way in for KKR in their defence of 149. Instead, it turned out to be an expensive decision. Jaiswal hit Rana for 26 runs, the most by a batter in the opening over of an IPL innings.But you can’t blame Rana for bowling that over; you can only praise Jaiswal. The batter came down the track first ball and hit it for a six, and followed it up with another next ball. In all the years of IPL cricket, only once had that been done before – Virat Kohli in 2019 against Varun Aaron in a five-over match – and even after the 12 runs off the first two balls, Jaiswal was only whetting his appetite. Three of the next four balls in the over went for boundaries, the fourth ball very nearly did too.Related

• Sunrisers in must-win territory; Super Giants' margin for error fast closing

• Jaiswal and Chahal smash records and KKR

• Stats – All the records that Jaiswal broke during his 13-ball fifty

• Jaiswal takes a big step towards becoming a complete batter

Those six balls showed such pristine form that even Buttler did not hesitate to sacrifice his wicket next over. On zero, Buttler had turned down Jaiswal for a single but the youngster hadn’t spotted it and had run through. Once Buttler noticed that, he made the split-second decision to cross Jaiswal so that Jaiswal would not be out.”When I saw Nitish bowl, I thought that if I can get runs off him with my shots then I should go for it,” Jaiswal said after the match. “You never know how someone will bowl their first ball, but after spotting the field placements, I calculated what my shot options were.”Between Jos and me, I am learning a lot. Today, he sacrificed his wicket because of my error, and I really respect that. We all know that it happens in the game, nobody does it purposely. But that was the moment where I decided to take responsibility, thinking ‘it is okay’ but I need to take responsibility from here on.”

“I also know that I will not bat like this every day. I have to accept that on some days my shots will pay off and on other days they won’t. So it is important to continue learning irrespective of how my innings pans out”Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal did not let Buttler’s sacrifice go to waste. He pulled Harshit Rana for a six, enjoyed some luck to earn four overthrows, and then tore into Shardul Thakur with a hat-trick of fours.He first hit Shardul by moving leg side and driving an inswinger, then by pulling through midwicket and finally following it up with another drive through the covers. On 49 off 12 balls, Jaiswal had very nearly broken the all-time record for the fastest T20 fifty. On the next delivery, he shaved one ball off the IPL record.”I was very excited,” Jaiswal said. “When I reached the 13-ball fifty, for a brief moment I thought there was a chance it was the fastest IPL fifty, but I wasn’t sure till I found out after the game. I enjoyed that moment, I celebrated also, I did this [flexes his right arm] and this [flexes his left arm]. I told myself, ‘Let’s celebrate.'”The quality of the shots he played and the fluency with which they travelled to the boundary was the highlight of Jaiswal’s fifty, but even more impressive was his clear thinking. Jaiswal did not approach his innings based on what the target was. Neither did he change his style in the aftermath of the Buttler dismissal, nor was it a case of ‘see ball, hit ball’. Instead, Jaiswal’s mantra was to scan the field, identify scoring options and then remain wholly committed to it. It is that sort of mindset that has made Jaiswal the frontrunner for the orange cap and the emerging player award, and holistically takes him closer to becoming a complete batter.Coming into the KKR game, Jaiswal’s ball-per-boundary ratio of 3.1 in the powerplay this season was the best. He is also extremely quick off the blocks, possessing the second-best strike rate (175) and an even better ball-per-boundary ratio (2.9) in his first ten balls of an innings. Even though he scores faster against pace bowlers, he is yet to be dismissed by spin in IPL 2023. These quick bursts have set him up for success this season, with the KKR innings now giving him his fifth 50-plus score in 12 innings and very nearly a second IPL 2023 century, having already hit 124 against Mumbai Indians.Yashasvi Jaiswal takes a bow after hitting the winning runs•BCCI”Every wicket has a different behaviour and you play according to that wicket and the ball being bowled,” Jaiswal said on his consistency this season. “I try to understand what they [the bowlers] can do, where they can bowl, and what the field is. And I try to understand the wicket also. Because sometimes that can go in your favour if you understand the wicket. My preparation has been focused around my discipline lately. Because after fielding for 20 overs with high intensity, you have to go bat. That’s why I am working on my fitness and the mental aspect of the game.”I also know that I will not bat like this every day. I have to accept that on some days my shots will pay off and on other days they won’t. So it is important to continue learning irrespective of how my innings pans out. Around me, there are many experienced players and I keep talking to them about how to keep your mindset as a batter. The legends like MS [Dhoni] sir, Virat Kohli sir and Jos and Sanju [Samson] … whenever I meet them, I try to learn what more I can add to my game and how I can control my mind.”In his last 20 balls, Jaiswal caught on to the fact that Samson was timing it better and therefore took a back seat. Samson pumped five sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 29-ball 48, but that also meant there were not enough runs left for Jaiswal to reach his century. Needing six to get the century but only three to finish the game, the winning runs from Jaiswal could only be a four, leaving him stranded on 98 off 47 deliveries. For all intents and purposes, it was a century, with Jaiswal also treating it like that, removing his helmet and bowing to the camera after the game was buried.”I thought that I will go for a six to get the hundred if I could, but it is okay,” Jaiswal said. “The other thing I had in mind was that I have to play long and finish the games, so even at the end, that was the only thought in my mind, to leave the field by finishing the game. I will remember this innings a lot. It was short-lived but also very intense.”

Glasgow Rangers perhaps delivered their finest victory of the season over the weekend as they dismantled an in-form Hearts side who had taken 28 points across their previous ten matches.

Not only did the Light Blues register another confidence-boosting win, but they scored five against the Gorgie outfit without reply, and it piled the pressure on Celtic ahead of their clash against Motherwell on Sunday.

They ended up securing a late win, but the Parkhead side were far from their best and Rangers now have the momentum for the first time in a while.

Much has been said about the recruitment of both teams over the previous few years, but Philippe Clement’s three January signings all scored against Hearts and this injection of freshness might just prove to be the difference in the chase for the Premiership crown.

One incoming in particular has already made such a positive impact that there is no doubt he could become one of the finest players in the squad over the next few years; Mohamed Diomande.

How much Mohamed Diomande cost Rangers

Prior to Christmas, Clement had to endure an injury crisis that deep at the club that he was forced to play Dujon Sterling – a natural full-back – in the heart of the midfield in a major domestic cup final, and it gave him an idea of just how much the squad needed to be bolstered.

Having added Fabio Silva to his side in the winter window, it looked as though the Belgian manager was going to focus on further strengthening his attacking options, but he pulled off a major surprise with a move for Diomande.

The Ivorian midfielder had starred for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, ranking in the top five among his teammates for big chances created and interceptions per game in the Superliga, and it looked as though Clement had secured a talented young maestro.

The 22-year-old was signed on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy for a fee in excess of £4.3m, and it looked like a wise move for the Gers.

"I am really pleased to have been able to add Mohamed to our squad, and I am excited to see what he can bring to our team," beamed Clement after the announcement that he had signed.

"In our conversations and what I have seen of him as a player, I believe he will be a real asset to us, not only in what remains of this season, but in the seasons to come also.”

After just five matches, this statement from the manager is already coming true.

Mohamed Diomande's season in numbers

The midfielder was given just 16 minutes of action in his first two league matches, but between those games, he started in the 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Ayr United at Ibrox and gave the supporters a demonstration of his talents.

This earned him a first Premiership start against St Johnstone last weekend, and he certainly delivered a wonderful display when it was needed most.

Against the Saints, he opened the scoring with a fantastic low drive just before the interval, along with making two key passes, succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts and winning every single one of the ground duels he contested.

This showed that not only can he be a threat going forward, but he also won't be bullied off the ball easily and can chip in from a defensive viewpoint, which could be crucial in tight matches between now and the end of the season.

Diomande was given another start against Hearts on Saturday, and he scored his second goal in a week to open the scoring once again, and it set the tone for a dominant display from Rangers.

Furthermore, he also won all of his ground duels while completing 86% of his passes, and it was another solid showing from the new boy.

His performances may certainly keep Nicolas Raskin out of the team, but could he even be better than the Belgian gem?

How Diomande compares to Nicolas Raskin

Following the win over Hearts, Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack hailed the signing and said that the call from Clement has certainly “paid off so far” with regard to bringing him to Ibrox last month.

Raskin has plenty of talent, yet fitness has disrupted his campaign so far during 2023/24. He has missed 18 games due to a couple of injury problems and failed to really build any momentum.

The midfielder has scored just one goal in 20 appearances, while Diomande has two in just five games, demonstrating his positive instant impact.

The Ivorian has also registered more key passes per game (1 vs 0.8) than Raskin and succeeded with more successful dribbles per game (0.8 vs 0.6), showing that he certainly possesses a greater attacking threat than his fellow teammate.

Clement needed a player to come in last month and make an immediate impact, and Diomande has done just that, which could be the boost the Gers need to get over the finishing line.

The onus is now on the manager and his side to continue winning and putting in solid performances to fend off Celtic, while also potentially going far in the Europa League, although this would be a bonus.

Signing Diomande for just over £4.3m is already beginning to look like a major steal and if he continues to maintain his impressive start to life at the club, then he will become one of the first names in the starting XI as the season reaches its crescendo.

Could he be the driving force which sees the Light Blues end a three-year wait for the league title? Only time will tell.

He was taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle collision in Jamaica

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2020West Indies fast bowler Oshane Thomas has escaped serious injury after being involved in a motor accident in Jamaica late Sunday.According to a statement by West Indies Players’ Association, he was involved in a two-vehicle collision and was taken to a hospital. quoted Thomas’ agent, Mark Neita, saying he was “at home resting” after he was discharged following treatment and scans.”The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) extends best wishes to West Indies and Jamaica fast-bowler Oshane Thomas who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday, February 16 in Jamaica,” an official statement said.”Thomas was reportedly involved in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 2000 near Old Harbour in St. Catherine and was taken to hospital. WIPA’s executive and staff would like to extend our sympathies to Oshane. We wish for him a speedy and full recovery.”Thomas, who turned 23 on Tuesday and last played for West Indies in an ODI against Ireland last month, was left out of the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. He has played 20 ODIs and 10 T20Is, picking up 27 and nine wickets respectively in the formats.

Liverpool are looking to retain their Premier League title and are now set to try and enact an intriguing deal at Anfield that could see a versatile star arrive.

Liverpool prepare for return to action against Man Utd

The international break may still be ongoing, but the Reds are verging towards a return to action against Manchester United in a fixture that will evoke plenty of emotions as they aim to get back on track.

Arne Slot has had to suffer an unusual sequence of three consecutive losses, though club football’s recent pause has enabled some much-needed time to reset at Anfield.

Despite a poor run of form, Michael Owen has backed Mohamed Salah to rediscover his mojo after the international break, claiming his recent displays are merely a bump in the road.

He said cited via The Mirror: “In terms of their forwards, going through them individually. Mo Salah’s obviously not going through his best of patches now, but you can never write him off. He’s still fit and healthy and injury-free and been top of his game for years. There’s no doubt, surely in anybody’s mind, that he’ll be banging him in again soon.”

However, defence could continue to be an issue for Liverpool after Ibrahima Konate pulled out of France’s squad due to a muscle problem, joining Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether the Reds can recover after a bruising period. They started the campaign well, but a series of late winners masked the inconsistency in their early performances.

Either way, Liverpool are a side with character in abundance and would appeal to anyone, so it is no surprise to hear that they are now in the market to secure the signature of a premium French talent.

Liverpool vying to sign Tylel Tati

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are among a clutch of clubs eyeing FC Nantes defender Tylel Tati, who is capable of operating at the heart of the backline, left-back or as a defensive midfielder.

Known for sliding into a full-back position when the natural wide players in Nantes’ backline invert, he is a versatile presence who could resemble the style of full-backs deployed by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, given he is more of a dominant ball-winner than a wide player by trade.

£870m release clause: Chelsea join race to sign "top class" Liverpool target

The Blues are looking to sign a new defender, following an injury crisis at centre-back.

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 12, 2025

Reflected in the fact he has won 12 duels and made six interceptions this season, per Fotmob, the 17-year-old is also being eyed by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa in England.

Making his breakthrough this term, Tati has managed to add six senior appearances to his tally and is growing in stature on the field, showcasing his qualities as a rare commodity amid his existence as a left-footed central defender.

Scouts have been sent to watch the youngster by Liverpool, who have clearly been doing their work on him in the background, and he could well be the next cog in Slot’s machine if all goes to plan.

‘He is tactically very knowledgeable. We all know what qualities he has as a man as well’

Firdose Moonda14-Dec-2019Graeme Smith, South Africa’s acting director of cricket, has chosen “hardened, experienced” former team-mate Mark Boucher as coach of the men’s national side until the 2023 World Cup. Enoch Nkwe, the interim team director (a term that has now been scrapped), has been appointed Boucher’s assistant for the same period while former convenor of selectors Linda Zondi has been brought back until April 2020 and Ashwell Prince will coach the South African A side.Boucher, Zondi, Nkwe and Test captain Faf du Plessis make up the selection panel for now, whose first task is to choose the squad that will face England in a home series starting on Boxing Day. The squad for the first two Tests will be announced on Monday, before the Mzansi Super League final. A batting and bowling consultant will also be finalised in the coming week.The radical changes to the South African national structure were made in the last four days after Smith accepted the director of cricket position in a temporary capacity on Wednesday. Smith has signed a three-month contract after which he has a commentary stint at the Indian Premier League and confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he would then consider a more permanent deal with CSA.Smith’s appointment comes after more than three months of negotiation, during which time he withdrew his interest before being re-engaged following the suspension of CSA CEO Thabang Moroe. While Smith confirmed he still has “no relationship,” with the under-pressure CSA Board, he explained that the changes in the CSA executive administration played a major part in his accepting the role.”I didn’t have a lot of confidence in the leadership of CSA,” Smith said. “With such an extensive job description, I didn’t feel I could achieve in the role with the leadership that was there at the time. You need a robust CSA to be able to challenge each other, you need trust and you need to have an environment that was ready for that, and I didn’t feel the environment was ready before I took this job.”If I am going to come in, I want to be able to do the best that I can do. I feel that is slightly better now. The opportunity is there. I have got a lot of confidence in Jacques [Faul] as the CEO.”Faul has also been appointed in an interim capacity for the next six months while Moroe undergoes a disciplinary process. With Smith making clear his allegiance, it would appear his future involvement with CSA is tied to Faul’s and will be decided as the summer ends. Similarly, the position of Zondi, whose short-term contract was a result of what Smith called “a budget thing”, will also be up for discussion when the 2019-20 season is over.However, the positions of Boucher and Nkwe are confirmed until after the 2023 World Cup, a decision that aims to provide both expertise and continuity for the national side. “I felt at this stage, the Proteas needed a really hardened, experienced international guy,” Smith said. “I feel that Mark, from a cricket perspective, is very knowledgeable. He is tactically very knowledgeable. We all know what qualities he has as a man as well. I felt those were the decisions best needed for the current Proteas set up.”Smith indicated the long-term plan would be to prepare Nkwe to take over from Boucher in the future. “We have had a couple of chats with Enoch in terms of his pathway going forward and developing him as a high-standing international coach. We feel he has got a lot of qualities that will be very useful to Mark and that will help him progress in international cricket.”Asked whether the demotion of Nkwe, South Africa’s first black African coach, and the appointment of Boucher above him could be seen as a whitewash, Smith disagreed. “My job is to create cricket excellence. I feel I have made the right decision for the Proteas. I think for Enoch’s future as well it is the right appointment. We need to think about managing people sometimes and not just a number,” Smith said. “I am very aware of transformation. I led my the country for 11 years and I had to be very much a part of managing those processes. A number of discussions need to happen behind the scenes but I disagree with the statement [that it’s a whitewash].”Ashwell Prince ‘is full of opinions which we love’ – Graeme Smith•Getty Images

Smith is also still in discussions with CSA around the transformation targets and the policy going forward but for now wants to focus on getting the South Africa team back on stable ground following a rocky 2019. South Africa lost five successive Tests, including a home series in Sri Lanka and a 0-3 defeat in India, where Smith indicated off-field problems appeared to bleed onto the field. “The disappointing thing has been how South African cricket has been run of late. That has been the most challenging aspect. That’s filtered into the environment and made life difficult for the guys that have been in that position. Hopefully in the short term we can turn it around.”For Smith, it is key to “bring leadership back into the game”, which can be provided by former internationals. Smith singled out Prince’s involvement with the A side as particularly important. “I am very happy that we have Ashwell involved. He has got a lot of international experience, he is a hardened international cricketer. He is full of opinions which we love,” Smith said. “The A side needs to be the second-best men’s team in the country.”If Smith takes on the role post the IPL next year, his job will include developing a strategy that will include the A side, looking at the domestic structures, the Under-19 side, the women’s game, and even cricket at grassroots level. For now, Smith’s sole focus is the national men’s team and the England series and creating the blueprint that will put South Africa on a path to success.”We want the Proteas to play well and start winning again. Faf is happy that there is a bit of leadership around. Both him and Enoch have had very frustrating times over the last period. There has been almost no communication with them [from CSA] for a lengthy period of time. I’m glad we were able to come in and provide some direction for them,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can take away some of the drama from them and Faf and the team that is selected can focus on playing cricket and doing the job well. That’s what’s expected of them. It’s going to be our responsibility to clean up the rest.”

West Ham have pulled off one deal so far in the January transfer window, signing midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season. However, that wasn't all that David Moyes wanted to do at the start of the month.

The Scotsman also wanted to recruit a new striker, with the position described as a "priority" in the latter part of that year, but despite an injury setback for Michail Antonio that will keep the frontman out until the middle of next month, there hasn't been any movement so far.

One potential candidate for the Irons is Armando Broja, a player who's long been admired at the London Stadium. His future was expected to be one of the big stories of the window's final phase, and that's proving to be the case on deadline day.

West Ham make final bid for Broja

According to journalist Dean Jones, West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Broja on loan on Thursday, as have fellow Premier League suitors Fulham and Wolves, with all three teams making a new bid.

In an attached article for SportsLens, he adds that Chelsea had been insistent on a loan deal followed by a £35m obligation to buy, but their stance has now changed at the last minute, and they got in touch with the trio of clubs to ask whether they'd be interested in a straight loan instead.

However, Fulham have now won the race, securing a deal with a £4m loan fee, meaning both Wolves and the Hammers' offers have been rejected.

"Clinical" Broja could have been Lingard 2.0

Broja really made a name for himself during a loan spell at Southampton in the 2021/22 season, when he scored six Premier League goals and earned praise from the competition's all-time top scorer in Alan Shearer. “Let me tell you, this lad is clinical,” he said. “His goal against Brentford made him the youngest player in Premier League history to score in each of his first four home starts."

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While the Albanian has only scored once in the top-flight this season, Shearer's verdict still holds true across his whole career, where he's netted 18 times from an xG of 16.1.

The last time West Ham signed an attacker on loan from one of the 'big six' in January, it was a resounding success as Manchester United's Jesse Lingard lit up the league. Lingard would score nine goals and set-up five more in 16 appearances, and win the Premier League's Player of the Month award for April too. If West Ham want a new striker now though, we're really getting into the panic stations stage of the window.

With Newcastle United firmly in the mix for European football this season, PIF's emphasis is now on making the right signings to ensure that the Magpie's foray into the Champions League is not a one-off.

Newcastle's defensive inconsistencies

Despite sitting eighth in the Premier League, Newcastle have struggled on the defensive front this season. The Tyneside outfit have conceded 45 goals this season, almost twice as many as the league's best defensive side Arsenal who have only conceded 23.

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Much of this inability to keep the ball out of the net has stemmed from injuries to key players. Nick Pope's absence between the sticks has been noticeable, whilst first choice central defender Sven Botman has only managed fourteen starts this season. Useful backup Matt Target has also been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

This defensive headache for Eddie Howe has seen the Newcastle boss deploy a wide array of players to plug gaps in the defence. Once outcast Jamaal Lascelles has seen regular game time this season, whilst Dan Burn has been a regular fixture at full back, starting 21 times this season.

It is clear that PIF feel that the next step for Newcastle is to upgrade on these areas and ensure that the Magpies are ready to compete with Europe's elite.

Magpies eye Burn replacement

Speaking to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, sources around Newcastle state that the club are in the market for a new left back this summer. With regular European football the hope of those at St James' Park, O'Rourke states that the club want a “more productive” left-back option who can provide a greater attacking threat than Burn.

This news will have a mixed reaction among Newcastle fans with many of the Magpies' faithful having fond memories of the 31-year-old's goal in this season's historic 4-1 victory over PSG in the Champions League. Even in recent games, Burn has impressed, with the defender earning a 7.5 WhoScored rating in Saturday's win over Wolves, the joint highest of any defender on the pitch.

A diligent servant at Newcastle, the Blyth-born fullback has been a fan favourite at his boyhood club since arriving from Brighton in January 2022. In a world in which fullbacks are often measured by their attacking output, the 6'5 tall Burn is something of an unorthodox figure in the modern game.

Having a fullback that cannot progress the ball has often left Newcastle hamstrung in attack. Playing opposite Kieran Trippier, who is arguably more comfortable attacking than defending, Burn leaves the Magpie's attack feeling a little uneven at times.

Whilst there is no denying Burn's defensive qualities, elite sides can no longer get by with fullbacks who are ineffective in the final third. Regardless of whether he's a regular starter or bit-part player, there is no doubt that Burn will continue to cement his legacy as a favourite at his boyhood club.