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Chief executive spells out players’ union position as negotiations with ECB

George Dobell13-Jun-2018

Daryl Mitchell, the chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, has warned that a rise in the salary cap is a “non-negotiable” part of any deal with the ECB.Mitchell, the players’ union boss, is one of the team negotiating a new deal for players for the period from 2020 to 2024, as part of both the Team England Player Partnership (TEPP; which effectively decides the value of central contracts for international players) and the County Partnership Agreement (CPA; which decides how much money each county should receive and guidelines over how it should be spent). The PCA are also negotiating the women’s pay deal, both domestically and internationally.And, with the new broadcast deal injecting more money into the game than ever before, Mitchell expects a “fair share” of that revenue to find its way to the players.So he admits he was “very surprised” to read reports that the ECB had told county chief executives that there would be no rise in the salary cap as part of the CPA.”The salary cap has to rise,” Mitchell told ESPNcricinfo. “That is non-negotiable.”You can’t have a situation where a huge amount more money comes into the game and the players do not benefit from it. We have made thatvery clear to the ECB and we are going to be very strong on this issue. It really is non-negotiable.”The salary cap – currently set at around GBP2million a year – dictates the total amount that counties can pay their players. While it is notrelevant to a majority of counties – some spend less than half that amount and it is understood that only one, Surrey, argued for a riseat the chief executives’ meeting – there is an expectation that salaries will rise as more money comes into the game. The ECB hasalready promised the counties an extra GBP1.3million a year each from 2020.The PCA are also insisting upon a rise in the salary collar (the minimum amount paid by a county in salaries to players; the current figure is GBP750,000 a year), a rise in the minimum wage – and the means to force counties to stick to it – and assurances that all current players will benefit in a tangible way from the new broadcast deal. At present the PCA recommend a minimum wage (it starts at GBP17,897 for 18-year-olds and rises to GBP25,354 for 24-year-olds) but found widespread abuse of the system as part of a recent survey.”Those are the four principles,” Mitchell confirmed. “The salary collar figure is very low at present and must rise. Some counties are only just above it. And we’ll also be looking for the CPA to have some teeth to compel counties to ensure they respect the minimum wages requirements.”We also want to make sure that all our members – and we have 420 current players to consider – benefit from the new broadcast deal. Not just the England players; not just those involved in The 100 and not just those on minimum wage: all our members in the middle of those groups.”In any negotiation process, you have some wins and you make some concessions. But these four principles are very simple and we won’t be budging from our stance on them.”News of the ECB’s comments at the chief executives’ meeting come at an awkward time in their relationship with the PCA. A few weeks ago, the ECB chairman, Colin Graves, appeared to contradict his chief executive, Tom Harrison, in insisting plans for the new 100-ball tournament were “set in stone.” A few days earlier, Harrison had told the PCA the competition was only at the conceptual stage.And, while there has been much talk of late of the ECB’s need to tighten the purse strings, their recently-published accounts show that on top of the salaries of top executives (and the highest paid executive at the ECB earns GBP605,000 a year before pension contributions), an incentive plan has been set up that will see up to GBP3.2million extra paid to those executives by the end of 2022.”Our relationship with the ECB is still good,” Mitchell said, “but there are times I think their communication could be better. All the conversations we’ve had with them should have left them in no doubt over our views and at no stage have they led us to believe that there will be no more money. We’re still confident this can be resolved amicably.”

da fezbet： Leeds United now hold an advantage in the race for a £17m midfielder, who Red Bull will know “all about”, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed.

Leeds eyeing midfielder after missing out on Diarra

da dobrowin： After being promoted from the Championship alongside Sunderland, it is no surprise that Leeds have identified similar targets to the Black Cats, and they will be extremely disappointed to have lost out to the play-off final winners in the race for two midfielders.

Habib Diarra had been on the Whites’ shortlist prior to the 21-year-old’s move to the Stadium of Light, and they now appear to have missed out on a deal for Noah Sadiki, with the Union Saint-Gilloise maestro set to complete a move to Wearside.

As such, Daniel Farke’s side will now be forced to move on to different options in the middle of the park, and Bailey has dropped a more promising update on their pursuit of Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach.

The transfer expert told Leeds United News that the Whites’ Red Bull connection should give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in the race for the German’s signature, given their minority owners’ involvement in the Bundesliga.

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Bailey said: “He’s on the list I’m told. Hoffenheim are not keen for him to go. Leeds aren’t the only ones interested from what I’m told. A very good player and obviously through Red Bull, Leeds are well-versed on him.

“They’re ahead of many other Premier League teams when it comes to German-based talent. So, it’s not a surprise, you know, it’s not going to be a huge surprise. If there’s a good one, Leeds know all about it.”

"Underrated" Stach could be better signing than Sadiki

Leeds will be frustrated that Sunderland were able to pip them to Sadiki’s signature, but there are signs that Stach could be a better signing than the Belgian-born midfielder.

Firstly, the two-time Germany international is more experienced in a top league, having made 122 Bundesliga appearances, while Sadiki remains unproven outside Belgium.

Not only that, but the “underrated” Hoffenheim star excels defensively, outperforming the new Sunderland signing across a number of key metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Anton Stach

Noah Sadiki

Interceptions

1.65 (93rd percentile)

1.08 (55th percentile)

Blocks

1.60 (85th percentile)

1.34 (64th percentile)

Clearances

3.65 (99th percentile)

1.34 (38th percentile)

Aerials won

1.83 (88th percentile)

0.30 (8th percentile)

Stach should be available for a fee of around £17m, which seems a reasonable fee, given the level of his performances for Hoffenheim, and it could be a blessing in disguise that Leeds missed out on Sadiki and Diarra.

da betobet： Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will be keen to strengthen his side in January and is now reportedly in pole position to sign a talented player, according to a report.

Man Utd prepare for Chelsea…

da aposte e ganhe： Heading into a busy run of fixtures over the festive period, Manchester United will face off against Chelsea on Wednesday night as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

Coming into the clash, the Red Devils have had two disappointing results against Galatasaray and Newcastle United, which have dampened the mood at Old Trafford; nevertheless, football always gifts a chance for retribution and the Premier League giants will be keen to secure an important three points on home soil before taking on Bournemouth on Saturday.

Nevertheless, there is a general consensus that all is not well in the North West and recent reports from ESPN add weight to this notion, as the outlet indicate that several Manchester United first-team players are becoming more and more frustrated with their situation under Ten Hag after suffering a tenth defeat of the campaign on Tyneside last weekend.

Furthermore, the report states that some of the Red Devils' players don't take too kindly to public criticism, which is something Ten Hag has tried to avoid despite the inconsistent form of the likes of Andre Onana and Marcus Rashford. Despite this, it is unclear where the situation will reach a stalemate. However, their current realm's unhealthy nature would worsen if they were to lose upcoming matches against Chelsea, Bournemouth, Bayern Munich or Liverpool.

Delving into the transfer market could be key if United have designs on reversing their present cycle. Some new information has now come to light detailing that they are now in pole position to sign one of Europe's most in-form strikers.

Man Utd in pole position to sign Serhou Guirassy

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are in pole position to sign Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy, who could be a potential bargain due to his £15 million release clause.

Serhou Guirassy's 2023/24 campaign – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

12

Goals

17

Assists

2

Newcastle United are also keen on the Guinea international alongside other clubs across Europe; however, in a new development, Fulham now look to have turned their attention elsewhere after previously holding an interest in his services due to the fact they aren't confident they would be able to compete with the Premier League elite for his signature.

Previously labelled "incredible" by journalist Dean Jones on the Ranks FC Podcast, the 27-year-old's potency has shone through this campaign in the Bundesliga, evidenced by the fact he has averaged 3.7 shots and 1.7 key passes per fixture (Guirassy statistics – WhoScored).

United have Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial to choose from as natural striking options, though the former has yet to register his first Premier League goal in ten outings. As for the latter, he has copped major criticism over the last few months and may be set to depart the club before too long as his contract expires next summer at Old Trafford, albeit he does have the option of an extra year extension, which could still be activated.

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Bringing in some proven goalscoring nous in the form of Guirassy could be a masterstroke by Ten Hag as he aims to improve the fortunes of his underperforming side.

da lvbet： QPR are on the lookout for a new manager after Gareth Ainsworth's sacking, and a fresh report claims they are eyeing an individual who Pep Guardiola thinks is "incredible".

QPR sack Ainsworth

da mrbet： The Hoops were hoping for a positive season in the Championship during the summer, having finished 20th in the table last time around and only narrowly missed relegation, but things have gone badly to date in 2023/24. On Saturday, Ainsworth was relieved of his duties as QPR boss, following the 2-1 win defeat at home to league leaders Leicester City, as the 10-man hosts failed to get anything from the game.

While the result in itself was far from a disastrous one, it was the final straw for Ainsworth, who has lost 10 out of the last 14 Championship matches, leaving his side languishing in 23rd place in the division and only above Sheffield Wednesday. With the Englishman no longer in charge at west London, the key now is to find the perfect replacement to come in and guide QPR away from the relegation zone in the coming months, avoiding a return to League One in the process.

A host of names could well emerge in the coming days, but a new rumour suggests that there could be an early front-runner to take the job at Loftus Road.

QPR want Warnock

According to a significant update from Sky Sports, QPR are keen on making Neil Warnock their new manager, seeing the veteran as the right man to come in and change the team's fortunes for the better, having enjoyed a stint there in the past:

"Sky Sports News understands QPR are expected to approach Neil Warnock to take over from Gareth Ainsworth, who was sacked as head coach early on Saturday evening. Ainsworth departed the club after they were beaten 2-1 at home by leaders Leicester.

"Warnock managed QPR for nearly two years between 2010 and 2012 and led them to promotion to the Premier League in his first full season. He has been out of work since leaving Huddersfield Town a little over a month ago."

This is certainly an eye-catching update, and while some QPR supporters may want to see a younger manager with fresh ideas come in, it is hard to ignore Warnock's record throughout a long career – one in which he has become an expert at steering teams away from relegation.

Not only that, but legendary Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has even spoken of his admiration for the 74-year-old in the past, saying of him:

"I want to be honest. Look what happened with Neil Warnock in Huddersfield. There’s a tendency for these incredible managers, they have [put] this Premier League or this competition in a better position. They are really good and help us to be what we are. Roy Hodgson for Crystal Palace, look what they have done, they are really good, they have incredible experience and they know the game perfectly."

Warnock is a big character and he will surely be chomping at the bit to take charge again at Loftus Road, and it could be exactly what is needed at a critical time for the club, making this one to watch.

Nottingham Forest are on the lookout for new additions this summer and could now step up their efforts to land an England international, according to a report.

Nottingham Forest set to lose Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United

Unfortunately, departures are part of football and big-money sales from any club essentially prove that their recruitment structure is in working order when it comes to profiling talent.

However, Fabrizio Romano’s confirmation that Anthony Elanga is set to join Newcastle United will come as a bitter blow to Nottingham Forest supporters, even if links have went on to grow arms and legs in recent weeks.

Taking to social media platform X, Romano stated: “Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, here we go! Deal in place club to club with Nottingham Forest for £55m. Agreement also in place with player’s camp on long term deal. Excellent addition for NUFC.”

With his move to Tyneside all but confirmed, Nottingham Forest have lined up Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman as an Elanga replacement.

Nevertheless, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are also in the hunt to sign the Nigeria international, who could cost as much as £52 million to prize away from the Serie A outfit.

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Lyon’s Malick Fofana could also arrive at the City Ground due to the French giants suffering relegation to Ligue 2 amid financial troubles, albeit Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli could offer the Belgium international Champions League football.

In a strange sequence of events, Nottingham Forest are still yet to find out whether they will be in the Europa Conference League or Europa League next term as Crystal Palace wait patiently for their verdict.

Either way, Evangelos Marinakis is now eyeing a statement arrival in the East Midlands that would make headlines nationwide.

Nottingham Forest look to pull off move for Jack Grealish

According to CaughtOffside, Nottingham Forest want to pull off a statement deal to sign Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, but they face competition from several clubs to land the Three Lions international.

Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Napoli are all keen on offering him an escape route from the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli, Al Hilal and Neom SC have made contact with his entourage to discuss the possibility of finding an agreement.

Jack Grealish at Manchester City – has his spell been a success?

Appearances

157

Goals

17

Assists

23

Trophies won

3x Premier League

1x FA Cup

1x UEFA Champions League

1x UEFA Super Cup

1x FIFA Club World Cup

1x FA Community Shield

Labelled “unbelievable” by Pep Guardiola, Grealish is said to be available for £40 million and his main priority is becoming a first-team regular after seeing his minutes dwindle at the Citizens.

Nottingham Forest have a vacancy needing filled on the left-hand side and will feel they have every chance of tempting Grealish to the City Ground this summer.

The last two years has seen the resurgence of one of English football's truly great clubs, Newcastle United.

The Magpies used to be a side that challenged for the top honours, dazzled fans with brilliant football and fielded some of the best in the game, and following their takeover in 2021, they look to be back on that path once more.

The halcyon days of Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand, Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer could be just around the corner.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of the very best number nines to don the famous black and white stripes of the Toon.

10 Papiss Cisse

Right, so we're kicking off with a player that might raise a few eyebrows given the Toon's extensive history of brilliant nines, but hear us out.

Papiss Cisse was signed from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012 for a fee in the region of £10m, and for those first six months, he was nigh unstoppable in the league.

He would go on to score 13 goals and provide two assists in just 14 Premier League games in that first six months, a streak of red-hot form that included that incredible goal against Chelsea.

In all, he scored 44 goals in 131 games for the club, which might not be outstanding, but he is still a firm fan favourite to this day, and we don't think anyone is going to have quite as good a sixth-month spell as he did for some time.

9 Callum Wilson

Coming in as the ninth-best number nine in Newcastle United history is the club's current number nine, Callum Wilson.

Now, this one might be an easier sell than Papiss Cisse, but there might still be a few people outside of the Newcastle fan base surprised by Wilson's inclusion, such is the extent to which he is underrated.

The former Bournemouth man joined the club in January 2020 in a deal worth around £20m, and ever since then, he has been an essential member of the Toon team.

Since his arrival, the England international has scored 42 goals and provided ten assists in just 90 appearances for the club, giving his a goal involvement every 1.7 games – more than every other game.

This would be incredibly impressive in isolation, but the fact that he has achieved numbers like these while also dealing with consistent injuries is genuinely outstanding.

The arrival of Alexander Isak might mean that Wilson won't be the player to lead them to domestic or Continental glory, but his contribution should not be overlooked.

8 Kevin Keegan

We're going back to the 1980s for this one, and it is none other than two-time Ballon d'Or winner and England great Kevin Keegan.

Now, Keegan only played for the Toon for two seasons between 1982 and 1984 and only wore the number nine for part of the 1983/84 season, but for our money, that makes him eligible for this list.

In his 85 games as a Magpies player, Keegan scored 49 goals and provided one assist, giving him a goal involvement more than every 1.7 games. However, more important than just his goalscoring, he played an essential role in taking the Toon back into the First Division and giving the fans some tremendously exciting football to watch once again.

It may have only been a short moment in the grander scheme of football, but Keegan more than made his mark and would be welcomed back with open arms when he took over the team as manager in 1992.

7 Malcolm Macdonald

We're going even further back in time for this one, back to the early 1970s.

Newcastle United broke their club record transfer fee when they signed Malcolm Macdonald in 1971, but there was never any doubt from those who wanted him whether he was worth the money or not.

In all, the London-born dynamo scored 138 goals in just 258 appearances for the Toon. He was a dazzling player to watch and was a firm fan favourite at the time.

While he didn't win anything in the northeast he did help the club reach the 1974 FA Cup final after his brace knocked Burnley out in the semi-final.

He was sold to Arsenal in 1976, much to the dismay of the Toon faithful.

6 Hughie Gallacher

Once again, we are heading even further back in time for the next Newcastle great on our list, 98 years back, to be specific.

In December 1925, the Magpies desperately needed a new number nine, so they looked north of the border, to Airdrieonians to be exact, and signed their star striker, Hughie Gallacher.

The Scotsman made an immediate impact and ended his first season with 23 league goals as the team's top scorer despite only joining the side halfway through the campaign.

In all, the Toon legend scored 463 goals in his career and captained the Magpies to the First Division title in 1927.

There was also an evident love between fan and player as when he joined Gateshead in 1938, Gallacher said: "My heart has been here ever since I left United eight years ago. I intend to spend the rest of my life with my adopted folk in Gateshead."

5 Andy Cole

We're jumping back into the Premier League era once again here, and to one of the best strikers the top flight has ever seen, Andy Cole.

The Nottingham-born talisman signed for the Toon in February 1993 when the club paid Bristol City a club-record-fee of £1.75m to secure his services.

Cole would partner Peter Beardsley in attack and tear Premier League defences apart for fun. In Newcastle's first season back in the Premier League, Cole would score 41 goals in 46 games across all competitions.

He would end his time at St James' Park with 68 goals in 84 matches, and the only reason he isn't higher on this list is because he left too soon.

4 Les Ferdinand

Coming in at number four is another '90s Toon icon, Les Ferdinand.

He was signed from Queens Park Rangers for £6m in the summer of 1995, and while a price tag such as that would've been pressure enough for most players, Ferdinand also had to deal with the pressure of being Andy Cole's replacement.

Somehow, he coped with both and spent two fantastic years terrifying the league's best defences while donning the famous black and white stripes. He helped the club to two second-placed finishes in the league and scored 50 goals in just 84 appearances across all competitions.

3 Len White

We're into the top three now, and the bronze medalist on this list is actually Newcastle's third-highest goalscorer of all time, Len White.

White joined the Toon in 1953 after a two-year spell with Rotherham United, and while he made an instant impact on Tyneside, he wasn't given the coveted number nine shirt until Jackie Milburn left the club.

Once he pulled on that shirt, his goalscoring went from remarkable to unbelievable, and he ended his career with a staggering 153 goals over nine years at the club.

2 Jackie Milburn

The runner-up on our list is, without doubt, not just one of the best forwards in Newcastle history, but one of the best forwards in English football history.

Born in 1924, Jackie Milburn would start his footballing career with Newcastle in 1943 and stay at the club for 14 years, until eventually moving on to play for Linfield in Northern Ireland.

During his time with the Toon, he would play across the front line, but it was in the post-war years, when he was played as a traditional number nine, that he helped transform the club into perennial winners.

In all, Milburn helped the club win three FA Cups during his time there and scored a mind-boggling 200 goals in 397 appearances. At the time, he was the club's all-time leading goalscorer until another man came along four decades later.

1 Alan Shearer

Come on, really, who else could it have possibly been?

When you ask the average football fan to name an iconic Premier League striker, the chances are that Alan Shearer will almost certainly pop up among a swath of names. However, if you ask someone to name an iconic Newcastle United forward, there is no chance they will name anyone before they name Shearer.

Few football players are as loved by their fans as Shearer; almost two decades on and a failed stint in the dugout, he is still revered to an almost religious degree by the St James' Park faithful.

The Newcastle-born phenom joined his boyhood club in 1996 for a then-world-record fee of £15m, and to say he lived up to the price tag would be a colossal understatement.

He may have ultimately left his boyhood club without a team honour, but he retired as the Premier League's all-time top scorer with 260 and as the Toon's all-time leading scorer with 206.

Newcastle may never see a player quite like him again, and we reckon the fans are probably okay with that.

The former Afghanistan coach is on a three-month deal, which might be extended based on results

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2018Former India batsman Lalchand Rajput has been appointed Zimbabwe head coach on a three-month deal, which might be extended based on the results.Rajput replaced Heath Streak, who, along with the entire coaching staff, was sacked in March after the team failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.Rajput’s first assignment will be a rather challenging one, with Zimbabwe set to play a home T20I tri-series against Australia and Pakistan in July.Rajput had also coached Afghanistan in the last two years. “They [Zimbabwe Cricket] called me up and showed an interest in me. For now, the deal is for three months. After that, if both parties agree, it will be extended,” Rajput told the ICC. “I am really happy with this, because this is what I was looking for after the job with Afghanistan.”Afghanistan did exceptionally well when I was the coach there, so the people in Zimbabwe must have seen something that impressed them. But yes, it’s a challenge. Challenges get the best out of me. I think people know me for that.”Zimbabwean cricket has been marred with crises in the last few years, especially on the financial front. In the current climate, Rajput said he needed to ensure the players playing as a unit.”My first job will be to get the players ready for the triangular series. I have not yet met the players; I will go there and slowly find out everything, meet them, understand them, motivate them,” he said. “There is a lot of talent there, but I need to turn things around quickly and hopefully take them to the next level. The main thing is to get the players together and get them to perform as a unit.”Rajput also coached India U-19s previously, and was the senior team’s manager at the inaugural World T20 in 2007, which they won. He has also coached IPL team Mumbai Indians. Rajput was in the race to become the India coach in 2017, before Ravi Shastri was appointed.

Everton will be reeling from a recent verdict that has seen them punished with a ten-point deduction in the Premier League, the Toffees alleged to have breached Financial Fair Play rules.

This points deduction would see Sean Dyche's side slide down the division into the top-flight drop-zone, level on points with bottom-of-the-table Burnley and into a dog-fight to stave off relegation in a blink of an eye.

This damning news has come at the worst possible time for the Blues, who had been rejuvenated by recent positive form with a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park last time out in league action against Crystal Palace meaning Dyche's men were only eight points off Manchester United in sixth spot.

Transfer rumours linking star Everton players away from Goodison Park could intensify as a result of this points deduction revelation, with Jarrad Branthwaite being eyed up by a number of clubs according to reports.

As a result, Dyche might start putting together a list of targets tentatively for his side to go after if their star 21-year-old defender does indeed end up moving on.

Here are three potential centre-backs the Toffees could look at signing if that eventuality occurs…

1

Ben Cabango

Shopping in the EFL market for centre-backs has proven to be a fruitful endeavour for Everton in the past, John Stones joining from Barnsley the obvious example but Branthwaite was also signed by Everton from Carlisle United who now play in League One.

The Toffees will hope that they can pick up another top talent by exploring this pool of players once more, with Ben Cabango standing out at Swansea City this season whom Everton should look to target for a bargain price. At present, Football Transfers' xTV model values him at £7m.

A regular first-teamer with the Swans for a number of seasons now – coming through the Academy ranks at the club before becoming a key senior player – the 23-year-old's strengths lie in his ability to pass out from the back and give his team an added attacking threat going forward when necessary.

Averaging 1.33 progressive carries per 90 minutes over the last year according to FBRef, Cabango would be an exciting addition to the Toffees group if signed that could competently fill the gap left behind by Branthwaite and offer something more unique as a result.

2

Wout Faes

The next target Everton could potentially go after is Leicester City's dominating presence Wout Faes, the Belgian centre-back excelling at Championship level this season after a tricky introduction to the Foxes' first-team in the Premier League.

Averaging a 7.36 Sofascore rating this campaign for Enzo Maresca's promotion-chasers, Faes has helped himself to five clean sheets from the 13 games he's played in with crucial interventions and tackles nullifying opposition attackers effectively.

Winning the ball back 6.4 times per game according to Sofascore, Faes would slot straight into the Toffees set-up in the wake of Branthwaite's exit and provide Dyche's men with some needed steel and defensive resilience.

Question marks could arise about whether or not the £22m-rated defender is cut out for Premier League football, but with his form in the Championship at the moment currently excellent, he deserves another crack at top-flight action to prove himself.

3

Jorrel Hato

The most left-field option out of the three transfers that could be lined up, Jorrel Hato is standing out in the Ajax ranks as an exuberant and confident centre-back at just 17 years of age. As a young talent, he certainly fits the Branthwaite bill when it comes to youthful energy.

It's led to Hato being linked with Liverpool and Arsenal in recent memory, but the Toffees could offer Hato an opportunity to impress straight away in the first team set-up if Branthwaite departs rather than waiting it out for a spot at Anfield or the Emirates.

The Dutch giants find themselves uncharacteristically languishing in 12th spot in the Eredivisie, but Hato is still gaining plaudits for his individual displays amidst the collective mess at the club.

The teenage starlet's performance last match versus Almere showcased his talents at the back, winning nine out of ten aerial and ground duels in the contest as per Sofascore.

The £22m-rated starlet would even wear the captain's armband for the Dutch club in this contest, the world Hato's oyster currently.

Everton gave a young Branthwaite a chance in the first team whilst he was still learning the ropes and never looked back, the Toffees hoping lightning could strike twice if they pursued a deal for Hato.

Celebrating Kohli’s finest moments as a T20I batter, from the mayhem in Mohali to the party at the Wankhede

Sruthi Ravindranath28-Aug-2022Mayhem in Mohali
82* vs Australia, 2016 T20 World CupLet’s get this out of the way: 2016 was Kohli’s year, period. Within that, some innings stood out. In the group match against Australia at the T20 World Cup that year, for example, he handled a tricky chase expertly, with a place in the semi-final at stake. He started off in characteristic manner, seemingly in cruise control, and then shifted gears. A chase of 161 was looking tough on the slow pitch in Mohali and India’s top two had fallen within the powerplay. Adding to the worry was Yuvraj Singh’s twisted ankle, which made taking twos hard. While it seemed like the match was slipping out of India’s hands, MS Dhoni joined Kohli at the crease, and the two started picking up runs with some helter skelter. It was in the 18th over – when the required rate had touched 13 – that Kohli finally unleashed mayhem, starting with a superbly-timed pull off James Faulkner’s slow short ball. The yorker next ball missed its mark, and Kohli guided it for four through point, followed by a six over long-off. Nathan Coulter-Nile was then taken for four boundaries in the 19th over. Game over. And Kohli stood in the middle, soaking in the adulation.What they said: “He likes a fight, he likes a scrap as well, and he loves playing against Australia” – Nasser Hussain on commentaryWhat Kohli said: “It [the innings] certainly has to be in the top three. Probably the top right now, because I’m a bit emotional, so I would like to put this on top.”That familiar, old cry of delight!•ICCThe ‘gift’ of Dhoni
72* vs South Africa, 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final, DhakaThe match is perhaps best remembered for Dhoni’s gesture of defending the final ball of the penultimate over so that Kohli could hit the winning runs. But what came before was a masterclass. From Kohli. As he constructed a match-winning innings under pressure to take India to the final of the World Cup. And he was not feeling “too good” before the game.Kohli came out when India were in need of a lift – India were 77 for 2 in nine-and-a-half overs chasing 173 for victory – and calculated the chase perfectly. He followed his usual template of scoring most of his runs upfront in ones and twos, stroking the ball into the gaps and putting the bad balls away. His first shot in anger came only off the 18th ball he faced, coming down the pitch to swing a JP Duminy delivery to the long-on boundary. He started taking his chances after that, with the pressure easing, celebrating almost every shot – his or his partner’s – with trademark animation. Kohli finished off the match with a flick to the midwicket boundary after Dhoni gave him the strike in the 20th over and celebrated with a vein-popping roar.What they said: “The least I could offer Virat was the winning shot so I played out the last ball of the 19th over without a run.” – Dhoni at the post-match presentation ceremonyWhat Kohli said: “I have struck the ball better in T20s in other games. I have also timed the ball better than I did today and have managed to score five or six boundaries very fast. Today it was difficult as I had to work hard for the knock. But as per the importance of the game, this knock tops it.”‘That’s how I do it in my notebook’ – Virat Kohli to Kesrick Williams•BCCIIt’s payback time, Kesrick!
94* vs West Indies, 1st T20I, 2019 in HyderabadKesrick Williams had dismissed Kohli in 2017 and sent him off with his notebook celebration. A couple of years later, Kohli decided it would be payback time. But the knock didn’t come easy. It was not a typical Kohli innings – at least at the beginning – as he could hardly time the ball. Kohli lost his cool – at himself, at the umpires, at Williams – as he struggled his way to 20 off 20 balls in a chase of 208. The asking rate was climbing and Kohli was struggling, and showing it, but the Hyderabad crowd never dialled it down. And Kohli seemed to feed off the crowd as he turned it around in the 15th over. He brought up his half-century with a lofted shot into the stands and followed it up with a slash to the deep-third boundary. The 14-run over brought the equation down to 54 off 30 and Kohli cranked it up further in the next over, hitting a four and a six off Williams. He didn’t hold back on the theatrics, mocking Williams’ signature celebration as he sent the crowd into frenzy. Off the last 25 balls he faced, Kohli scored 68 runs. He finished the match with eight balls remaining with a magnificent drive for six over long-off off Williams, cracking his career-best T20I score in the process.What Kohli said: “To young batsmen watching, don’t follow the first half of my innings. I was batting poorly that time. Luckily got that one over from [Jason] Holder [the 15th, which went for 15], and then I began to analyse why I’m going wrong. Realised I’m not a slogger but a timer instead, and then changed my playing style.”All that bottom-hand power, and the damage is done•Associated PressHaving fun at the Wankhede
70* vs West Indies, 3rd T20I in 2019, MumbaiOn a belter at Wankhede in the series decider, India turned up looking very West Indian, with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul putting up a blistering 145-run stand. Kohli joined the fun after back-to-back wickets and seemed keen to bring back the momentum that had been slipping away. He came in at No. 4 in the 13th over after Rishabh Pant’s dismissal and sent the fifth ball he faced for a wristy slog over long-on. He took no time to settle in, as he usually does, bringing up his fastest T20I fifty, off 21 balls. He seemed to be continuing from where he left off in the first T20I: cutting loose against Holder and pointing to Williams at short fine-leg on reaching his fifty. He smashed 24 runs off Kieron Pollard in the 19th over, and pulled out one big hit after the other as he went along. He finished with a strike rate of 241.37, which is his highest in T20s (min 25 balls faced), taking India to a match-winning total of 240.What Kohli said: “It was about going out on the field and executing. I had the opportunity to do something different, which I don’t usually do.”Pakistan, Eden Gardens, Kohli.•Associated PressClassy Kohli does it again
55* vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2016, KolkataOn a testing pitch at Eden Gardens, a cool-headed Kohli showed impeccable judgment and masterminded yet another chase. India had allowed Pakistan to score more than they would have liked in the 18-overs-a-side rain-affected game – 118 for 5 – and were reduced to 12 for 3 in the chase. While every other batter struggled to time the ball, or even connect with it, Kohli was in full control on a pitch that offered sharp turn. He resisted any temptation to cut loose – until the ninth over, he had only struck one boundary – as he focused on rotating the strike. But when he got his chance, he showed his class: be it the slog-sweep for six off Shoaib Malik in the 11th over, or his back-to-back boundaries through extra cover off Shahid Afridi, or the punch to the sweeper-cover boundary off Mohammad Amir. He eventually brought down the asking rate. The fifty came up, off 34 balls, and he bowed to Sachin Tendulkar, who was in the stands, in celebration. The win was sealed with 13 balls to spare.What they said: “He [Kohli] takes everything as a challenge. He wants to improve, he wants to contribute in each and every game. And that’s what it’s all about, because he wants to contribute, he wants to score runs, he prepares well, he takes care of his fitness.” – Dhoni at the post-match presentation ceremonyWhat Kohli said: “I was confident that I needed to play with a straight bat so that the strike keeps rotating. Luckily my heart rate was low when we lost three wickets, it could have shot up as it was a big game and a full stadium at Eden Gardens. I am just grateful I was able to do it.”The Adelaide love story
90* vs Australia, 1st T20I in 2016, Adelaide A blistering Kohli knock in a high-octane clash [with a dash of drama, of course]. Familiar, right? It happened yet again, this time at one of his favourite venues, in the first T20I against Australia in 2016. Kohli was coming off an incredible run in the format and was all charged up on the day. In Suresh Raina’s company, he took over the mantle of chief aggressor and picked runs off offspinner Cameron Boyce as easily as he did off the quicks. He was electric, running aggressively between the wickets and sticking to playing good cricket shots. He hardly slogged, used his feet well, and identified areas he wanted to target. The timing was spot on as usual. He spared no-one as he got into his zone and amped up the scoring rate to take India’s total to 190: the top strokes included a back-foot drive over cover for four off Kane Richardson and the wristy flick off Shane Watson placed between long-on and cow corner, as he scored a 55-ball 90.What they said: “By the time he ends his career, quite a few Australian grounds will have his stand.” – DhoniWhat Kohli said: “I could take this stadium with me wherever I bat. This stadium is right up there with anywhere in the world.”

Manchester United's season has been impacted by injuries and underperforming individuals.

However, the United faithful's biggest concern will be their team's lack of identity with boss Erik ten Hag having failed to really set the world alight with his management this season.

Indeed, the Red Devils are currently eighth in the Premier League, and therefore, the Dutchman will look to bolster his squad in an attempt to salvage the rest of the season.

Man United eyeing Championship star

According to The Standard, Man Utd are interested in signing Hayden Hackney from second-tier club Middlesbrough.

The Championship side recognises that the youngster will be on the move soon, but it is more likely to be in the summer than this month with a host of suitors for the player.

Joining the Red Devils in their pursuit of the player are the club's two rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Those interested will have been keen to note that the midfielder scored against Premier League opposition just this week as Boro beat Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

The player is estimated to be worth around £6m, as per Football Transfers.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 How Hayden Hackney compares to Michael Carrick

During his 12-year career at Man United, Michael Carrick was often underappreciated by spectators and fans, but not by those playing alongside him.

The defensive midfielder made 464 appearances in a United shirt, yet it is only recently that he has been recognised as one of the "most underrated" players – as was noted by author Michael Cox – to wear the Red Devils badge.

Today, Carrick is the manager of Middlesbrough, where he has coincidentally overseen and influenced the development of Hackney, who has become a “special player," as per football writer Ben Mattinson, under the 42-year-old's guidance.

The 21-year-old has become a key cog in Carrick’s system, and Hackney has mainly played as a Carrick-esque defensive midfielder in a double pivot, featuring 22 times across all competitions.

Despite not being known for his ability in front of goal, his two goals and one assist prove he can come up with a contribution in the final third every now and again, just like his boss did at United, netting 24 times during his stay at Old Trafford.

Nonetheless, the table below shows Hackney’s stats from the 2023/24 Championship campaign. As you can see, Hackney is one of the best controllers in the division.

Passes completed

67.42

Top 6%

Passes into final third

9.01

Top 1%

Progressive passes

8.19

Top 1%

Shot-creating actions

3.50

Top 18%

Touches

87.19

Top 5%

Tackles

1.75

Bottom 57%

Ball recoveries

7.69

Top 7%

His technical ability, eye for a progressive pass, and capability to dictate the play are immense, and when the ball is at his feet, he can simply do anything. The above is very reminiscent of his boss, who was known as a 'master of passing' by Paul Hayward of the Guardian. United have missed that type of classy midfielder since Carrick’s departure.

Although he isn’t the most tenacious player out of possession, Hackney reads the game extremely well, which allows him to recover the ball for his side.

However, his biggest trait is arguably his “fearless” attitude, as per scout Antonio Mango, which is highlighted by the fact that Carrick has handed him the captain’s armband at just 21.

Overall, there is no cap on how good Hackney could become, but if he did join United he would most certainly become Carrick 2.0 for the Red Devils. Therefore, Ten Hag must sign the 5 foot 10 engine.