Says he will take a call on whether he plays IPL 2025 after the rules and regulations around retention – which are currently up for review – are firmed up
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2024
The questions around MS Dhoni’s future are still around•Associated Press
MS Dhoni has resorted to a wait-and-watch approach before deciding on his IPL future. As the IPL chalks out the auction and retention plans ahead of the 2025 season, Dhoni wants to see what rule changes come into effect, especially with regard to player retention, before he makes a decision on whether to play another season or not.”There is a lot of time for it,” Dhoni, who turned 43 in July, said at an event in Hyderabad. “We have to see what decision they take on player retention etc. Right now, the ball is not in our court.”So, once the rules and regulations get formalised, I will take a call, but needs to be in the best interest of the team.”Related
Decks cleared for 'uncapped' Dhoni to be retained
IPL 2025: Zaheer Khan joins LSG as mentor
Zaheer Khan in talks with LSG to take over as mentor
Retired players in uncapped category? IPL mulls retention rule change
DC want Impact Player scrapped, SRH say retain seven players
The BCCI met franchise owners and officials on Wednesday evening in Mumbai, to discuss a host of rules. On the meeting’s agenda was the Impact Player rule, how many players are to be retained, and the existence and frequency of the mega auction (one is due before next season) among other points.Questions on Dhoni’s future at the IPL have cropped up at the end of and between seasons for the previous few years now, and one part of those questions – regarding the succession plan at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – was answered earlier this year when he handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad days before the season started.CSK narrowly lost out on a playoffs berth under Gaikwad when they finished fifth on the table with 14 points, the same as RCB on fourth spot but behind on net run rate.Dhoni played the role of six-hitting specialist in the death overs last season. He mostly walked out in the dying moments of the CSK innings and smoked 13 sixes and 14 fours in the 73 balls he faced across the season, translating to roughly three balls per boundary. His strike rate was a whopping 220.54 – the first season where he struck at over 200 – and he finished unbeaten in eight of his 11 innings.
Southampton are now in advanced talks to sign an international striker who is represented by the same agency as midfielder Flynn Downes.
Southampton are expected to lose one or two key players over the coming months and therefore will have to enter the market to find replacements as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Will Still.
Done deal: Southampton have "agreed" £6.8m exit of "incredible" attacker
He has played his final game for the club.
ByHenry Jackson Jun 20, 2025
Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be considered their most important player, as he managed to stand out last season in what was a diabolical campaign for the club. His performances for the Saints earned him a call-up to the England national team, and that has now earned him the attention of Portuguese giants FC Porto.
Southampton's TaylorHarwood-Bellislooks dejected as he applauds fans after the match
According to Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, Southampton have turned down a bid worth £19 million for Harwood-Bellis from Porto. Despite being under contract until 2028, the Saints are open to selling the defender in this transfer window, but they believe he is worth much more.
Southampton paid £15 million to sign the player from Manchester City last summer, so the likelihood is they’re going to want closer to double that price.
Southampton in advanced talks to sign £7m striker
But while Harwood-Bellis may eventually be on his way out of St Mary’s Stadium, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reports some good news – Southampton are closing in on the signing of Damion Downs from FC Köln.
The 20-year-old is considered to be a top target for Saints this summer, and they have submitted a bid worth €8 million, which is roughly £6.85 million, to the German side. Downs is currently away with the USA for the Gold Cup, so a deal for the forward is likely to be completed once that competition is finished.
Downs, who has earned two caps for the USA national team, has been at FC Köln since 2020, when he joined their under-17 team. The young forward worked his way through the age groups and was finally promoted to the first team during the 2023/24 season, where he played 10 Bundesliga games. Downs became even more of a regular last season, as he played 29 games, this time in Bundesliga 2, and scored an impressive ten goals in the process.
Damion Downs’ FC Koln stats
Apps
42
Goals
13
Assists
6
Downs has just one year remaining on his contract, and Saints will be hoping that can work to their advantage, as the German side are likely to want to sell the player before he leaves the club for nothing in 12 months.
They may hold another advantage in the race to sign Downs too, as the striker is represented by agency Wasserman, who also represent current Southampton midfielder Downes, perhaps smoothing negotiations when it comes to agreeing personal terms.
Sri Lanka haven’t beaten England in a Test since 2014 but hope to exploit hosts’ disruption
Alan Gardner20-Aug-20241:28
Miller expects ‘prototype Stokes approach’ from Pope captaincy
Big picture: Can Sri Lanka test injury-hit England?And now we return to our regular programming… After three weeks of bright lights, big city action in the Hundred, England’s men resume Test commitments with a three-match series against Sri Lanka. Which is the bigger deal is arguable, of course. Test cricket might still be the main economic driver in this part of the world but the ECB’s hopes for a significant injection of cash through its marque white-ball competition, and a low-profile summer for the longest format, mean the runes are harder to read than usual.Can Sri Lanka, whose last Test engagement outside the subcontinent came almost 18 months ago, provide more of a contest than West Indies, who were soundly beaten 3-0 inside just ten days of cricket last month? Should their ability to compete – or otherwise – be taken as a marker for the health of Test cricket as a whole? Could the absence of Ben Stokes, who suffered a torn hamstring during his first stint playing in the Hundred since 2021, leave England’s rejigged Test team more vulnerable than they might otherwise have been?Certainly, the evidence for Sri Lanka springing a surprise is thin on the ground. Although they have a 100% win record in Test matches this year (and currently sit above England on the World Test Championship table), the last of their three fixtures was in Bangladesh in March. Their only tour match in the build-up to Old Trafford saw them defeated by an inexperienced England Lions side, having been bundled out for 139 in the first innings. And while a rare chance to play in England in late summer offers the enticing prospect of warmer weather and worn surfaces for their spinners to exploit, the forecast for the first Test in Manchester is as grim as anything faced on previous trips to chilly northern outposts in May.Related
Mathews fights after Smith's maiden hundred, but England close in on victory
Jamie Smith stays in the moment to give England a glimpse into the future
Jamie Smith digs deep in the gloom as Asitha Fernando keeps Sri Lanka in the contest
Chris Woakes 'wouldn't shy away' from attack-leading role in overseas Tests
Sri Lanka dig deep through de Silva, Rathnayake after top-order collapse hands England control
Add to that a record that has seen Sri Lanka lose seven of their last eight Tests against England, with more than ten years elapsing since their last win – albeit a famous performance in which three members of the current squad participated – and you might be left fearing the worst.Key to their chances of competing, most likely, will be the ability of the batters to put runs on the board. Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s interim head coach and a Bazballer before the term was invented, enjoyed plenty of success in England and can call on the expertise of Ian Bell, the former England batter brought in as batting coach. Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal will bring the experience of tours in 2014 and 2016, while Dhanajaya de Silva has a solid Test pedigree that has only been enhanced since taking on the captaincy earlier this year (average: 56.20).The squad is well stocked with seam options, with Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando both possessing county experience, while only two spinners – Nathan Lyon and R Ashwin – have taken more wickets than slow left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya since his debut in 2022. The fact that Jayasuriya has taken 63 at 24.28 at home, compared to eight at 57.25 away, gives a sense of the challenge to adapt that the tourists will nevertheless face.Matthew Potts chats to Ben Stokes ahead of his Test recall at Old Trafford•Getty Images
In their favour is the fact that, all of a sudden, they are set to take on an England team that looks strikingly different. The loss of Zak Crawley to a fractured finger suffered during the third West Indies Test three weeks ago was then compounded by Stokes’ injury, meaning that England’s XI at Old Trafford will feature both a first-time Test opener, in Dan Lawrence, and an untried captain, with Ollie Pope’s previous experience limited to a handful of England warm-ups and games for Surrey.Stokes will still be around the changing room to provide leadership but the absence of the architect of Bazball on the field is bound to have an effect – and not just in shortening the batting order. With Matthew Potts named as Stokes’ replacement ahead of Jordan Cox, bringing the Durham seamer only his second cap since the summer of 2022, it means a shuffle up the order for each of Jamie Smith – who impressed so much batting at No. 7 in his debut series against West Indies – Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson.The unexpected disruption, with England having also called up Olly Stone after Dillon Pennington picked up an injury in the Hundred, adds to the sense that this might not be such a straightforward assignment – particularly if Sri Lanka, who are unbeaten in six London Tests going back to 1998, can emerge from this week unscathed. For some, the fact they have the opportunity to perform in a three-Test series in England at the height of summer for the first time is something in itself to be savoured. Just don’t say that the future of the format depends on the result.Form guideEngland WWWLL (last five Tests, most recent first) Sri Lanka WWWLLIn the spotlight: Dan Lawrence has a more exotic range of shots than most and played his best Test innings, an effervescent 91 in Barbados, two games before losing his place at the start of the Stokes-McCullum era in 2022. Since then he has had to bide his time for a taste of Bazball, featuring as the spare batter pretty much throughout – and it has taken an injury to an opener for him to finally get back in the side. Lawrence has opened just seven times in 203 first-class innings but, as he put it, would have “snapped their hand off” for any opportunity. Now he just has to take it.During a lengthy career across all formats, Angelo Mathews has been there, done that and got the t-shirt. Now 37, and unlikely to play much of a part of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs sides, he shapes as the rock of the Test middle order and a key man to their hopes of putting England under pressure this time around. It was Mathews’ majestic second-innings 160 that helped turn the 2014 Headingley Test and bring Sri Lanka their most-recent victory over England; he averages 47.88 in the country, having also got himself on the Lord’s honours board on that tour.Team news: Lawrence, Potts back; Rathnayake to debut England named their team two days out from the start, confirming that Potts would come in for Stokes as part of a rebalanced XI. The loss of their captain and star allrounder means Smith moving into the top six and Woakes at No. 7, with Potts joining a four-man seam attack supplemented by Shoaib Bashir’s offspin. Lawrence, whose promotion to opener was inked in a few weeks ago, could also be called on to bowl.England: 1 Dan Lawrence, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Shoaib BashirSanath Jayasuriya finds a reason to smile during Sri Lanka’s training session•Getty Images
Sri Lanka largely have a settled top six, and given Kamindu Mendis’ start in Tests (he has passed fifty in four of his five innings so far, with two hundreds), he takes the No. 7 spot. Vishwa and Asitha have been their most reliable long-form quicks recently, while left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya will play against an England XI made up of 10 right-handers. The biggest surprise, however, is the inclusion of Milan Rathnayake, who has been picked for a debut ahead of Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara, both of whom were good against Bangladesh earlier in the year, though they played only one Test apiece.Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Nishan Madushka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kamindu Mendis, 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Asitha Fernando, 10 Vishwa Fernando, 11 Milan RathnayakePitch and conditions: Weather watch in storeHard and bouncy with the expectation that it will assist spin as the game goes on. That is the usual fare at Old Trafford, where few captains ever consider sticking the opposition in (see trivia below). But an extremely dodgy forecast, with a strong possibility of rain on all five days, may mean Pope and de Silva need to get creative in pursuit of a positive result. In addition to the weather, an extra layer of grass persuaded Sri Lanka to pick three quicks.Stats and trivia This will be the first time Sri Lanka have played a Test in England during the second half of the summer since 1998, when they took advantage of dry conditions at The Oval in late August to secure their first win in the country. No team has ever been victorious at Old Trafford after winning the toss and choosing to bowl – although England were denied a chance of breaking that record by the weather during last year’s Ashes Test. The 11 occasions on which it has been attempted have led to eight draws and three defeats. Sri Lanka have played one Test in Manchester previously, losing by 10 wickets in 2002. Joe Root starts the series 446 runs from passing Alastair Cook as England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer. He needs 374 to pass Kumar Sangakkara in sixth on the overall list. Dimuth Karunaratne is 101 runs from becoming only the fourth Sri Lankan to reach 7000 in Tests. Sri Lanka allrounder Kamindu is not only an ambidextrous bowler, he currently has a higher batting average than Bradman: 107.00, albeit from just five Test innings.Quotes”It’s still Stokesy’s team. I think everyone’s pretty clear how they want to go about this week and this series in general. Having Stokesy in the changing room is great … If I want to lean on him, I can lean on him and I think he’s going to let me do my own thing for the course of this test series as well.” Ollie Pope won’t be changing too much as captain“It could be overcast conditions for a few days, so it might help the seamers, and we have one world-class spinner with us. If he comes into the game in the second innings, we have a good chance to win.” Dhananjaya de Silva sets out his team’s plan to take 20 wickets
يشهد اليوم الثلاثاء 16-9-2025 العديد من المباريات القوية والمرتقبة، سواء على صعيد بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا أو منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا، حيث ينتظر عشاق كرة القدم مواجهات من العيار الثقيل.
في القارة الأوروبية، تبدأ أولى جولات مرحلة المجموعات بدوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث تدخل أندية الصفوة معركة إثبات الذات في بداية المشوار القاري، وسط ترقب جماهيري لمواجهات كبرى.
أبرز مواجهات اليوم ستكون في ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، حين يستضيف ريال مدريد الإسباني نظيره أولمبيك مارسيليا الفرنسي، في مباراة يطمح فيها الملكي لبدء البطولة بأفضل صورة ممكنة أمام خصم صعب يملك طموحات كبيرة.
كما تتجه الأنظار إلى إنجلترا حيث يواجه آرسنال اختبارًا صعبًا أمام أتلتيك بيلباو الإسباني، فيما يدخل يوفنتوس الإيطالي مواجهة قوية أمام بوروسيا دورتموند الألماني، بالإضافة إلى مباريات أخرى أبرزها توتنهام ضد فياريال، وبنفيكا ضد كاراباخ.
أما في قارة آسيا، فتُقام عدة مباريات ضمن الجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات بدوري أبطال آسيا، حيث يشهد اليوم مواجهة نارية بين الهلال السعودي والدحيل القطري على استاد المملكة آرينا، في صدام كبير يجمع مرشحين دائمين للمنافسة على اللقب.
الهلال يدخل اللقاء بطموحات كبيرة لاستعادة لقب دوري أبطال آسيا، بعدما قدّم مستويات قوية في النسخة الماضية ووصل إلى الأدوار النهائية، بينما يسعى الدحيل لفرض نفسه بقوة في البطولة القارية من خلال ضربة بداية مثالية.
طالع أيضًا | أرتيتا يكشف 5 غيابات عن آرسنال أمام بلباو.. ويؤكد: بدوري الأبطال تفشل كثيرًا لتنجح مرة واحدة مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 16-9-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أوروبا اليوم
أتلتيك بيلباو ضد آرسنال، الساعة 7:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports 1.
آيندهوفن ضد يونيون سانت جيلواز، الساعة 7:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports 4.
ريال مدريد ضد مارسيليا، الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports 1.
يوفنتوس ضد بوروسيا دورتموند، الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports 4.
بنفيكا ضد كاراباخ، الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports 5.
توتنهام هوتسبير ضد فياريال، الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports 3. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال آسيا اليوم
ميلبورن هارت ضد سان فريتشي هيروشيما، الساعة 10:45 صباحًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 2 HD.
ماتشيدا زيروبيا ضد إف سي سيؤول، الساعة 1:00 ظهرًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 3 HD.
غانغوون ضد شانغهاي شينهوا، الساعة 1:00 ظهرًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 2 HD.
بوريرام يونايتد ضد جوهور، الساعة 3:15 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 2 HD.
الأهلي الإماراتي ضد تراكتور سازي تبريز، الساعة 7:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 3 HD.
الهلال السعودي ضد الدحيل، الساعة 9:15 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 2 HD.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا
Sunderland chiefs are now in talks to sign an experienced “leader” for around £8.5 million as the Black Cats join the race to secure his signature, according to a recent report.
Sunderland eyeing new midfielders with spending spree set to continue
Sunderland are set to make their long-awaited return to the Premier League, and Regis Le Bris and co. have been busy in their preparations as they look to make a good go at remaining in the division. The play-off winners have already added six new players to their ranks, which has seen them surpass the £100 million barrier, and it looks as though the spending is set to continue.
£26m release clause: Sunderland considering move to sign "outrageous" ace
He’s reportedly been granted a summer exit by his current club.
ByTom Cunningham Jul 15, 2025
Strengthening their midfield options appears to be a top priority for the Black Cats, as last week it was reported that Sunderland had made an approach to Marseille over the signing of Valentin Rongier. The midfielder is in the final 12 months of his contract with the French side.
The Premier League newcomers are keeping their options open, and at the start of this week, L’Equipe also reported that Sunderland have approached Leicester City over signing Bilal El Khannouss.
Leicester City's BilalElKhannoussin action
The 21-year-old also has interest from AS Monaco and West Ham United, as the Foxes are open to a sale as long as they receive a fee of £22 million. But the list of options to strengthen their midfield doesn’t stop there…
Sunderland in talks to sign £8.6m ex-Arsenal star Xhaka
According to Sky journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Sunderland have joined the race to sign Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, with Kristjaan Speakman and Florent Ghisolfi in talks with the former Bundesliga champions over a deal worth €10 million, which is roughly £8.5 million.
The Black Cats are not the only team chasing the Switzerland international, as Saudi Arabia side NEOM SC are also keen on striking an agreement. However, this isn’t putting Sunderland off, as they have already offered Xhaka a three-year contract.
Xhaka, who has been labelled a “leader” by football writer Craig King in the past, is under contract with Leverkusen until 2028, but he is expected to leave the club this summer after two seasons, one of which saw his Leverkusen team win the treble in an undefeated domestic season.
Last season, Xhaka scored two goals and registered seven assists in 33 Bundesliga games, as they finished runners-up to Bayern Munich.
Granit Xhaka’s Premier League stats
Apps
225
Goals
17
Assists
24
Before moving to Germany, Xhaka spent seven seasons at Arsenal, during which he won the FA Cup and Community Shield twice. A potential move to the Stadium of Light would see him return to the Premier League, where Sunderland would hope his experience and leadership skills would help them in their bid to beat the drop.
شهدت مباراة ليفربول وأتلتيكو مدريد مساء أمس على ملعب أنفيلد، واقعة مثيرة للجدل بين دييجو سيميوني مدرب الفريق الإسباني وجماهير الريدز، عقب تسجيل فيرجيل فان دايك لهدف الفوز الثالث في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ووفقاً لما أفادت به صحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية فإن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا” سيدرس تقرير الحكم والمندوب الرسمي قبل اتخاذ قرار بشأن الإجراءات المتخذة ضد أتلتيكو مدريد بعد طرد دييجو سيميوني في ملعب أنفيلد.
وسيكون مسؤولو الانضباط في الاتحاد الأوروبي على استعداد لعرض أدلة فيديو تظهر أن أحد أعضاء الجهاز الفني لأتلتيكو بصق على جماهير ليفربول والنظر في توجيه اتهامات إضافية.
وكان المدرب الأرجنتيني دييجو سيميوني قد حصل على بطاقة حمراء بعد هدف الفوز الذي سجله قائد ليفربول في الوقت بدل الضائع في الجولة الافتتاحية لمسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
اقرأ أيضاً.. “لم أحدثه عن حرب فوكلاند”.. أول رد من مشجع ليفربول على اتهامه بالعنصرية تجاه سيميوني
وكانت الواقعة قد بدأت عندما استدار دييجو سيميوني غاضباً ليهاجم جماهير الفريق المضيف التي كانت تهاجمه قرب مقاعد البدلاء، وقام مراقبو المباراة بجر الأرجنتيني بعيداً ثم اقتادوه للحكم الرابع.
وقد ادعى سيميوني أنه تعرض لإشارة غير لائقة وطالب بطرد المشجع، ولم يكن ذلك كافياً لمدرب اتلتيكو مدريد وقام مراقبو المباراة باتخاذ مزيد من الإجراءات.
وخلال ما حدث من تدافع قبل إطلاق صافرة نهاية اللقاء، تم تداول مقطع فيديو يظهر أحد أعضاء جهاز سيميوني الفني يبصق على جماهير الفريق المضيف وقد تم تداول أيضاً أنه قام برش زجاجة مياه على جماهير ليفربول.
وقد تم تحديد هوية الرجل الذي بصق وهو أخصائي التغذية في أتلتيكو مدريد ديفيد لاجوس، وقد يؤدي ذلك لتوجيه تهم منفصلة له وهناك احتمالية إلى جانب ذلك لإيقاف سيميوني مباراة واحدة وتغريمه.
وقد طلبت لجنة الرقابة والتأديب التابعة للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم والمختصة بالنظر في جميع مزاعم سوء السلوك داخل وخارج الملعب وجمع المعلومات المتاحة.
The security assessment became necessary because of the political turmoil in Bangladesh in July-August
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2024
The last time South Africa and Bangladesh faced each other in a Test series was in 2022•AFP/Getty Images
South Africa’s two-Test series in Bangladesh will be played on schedule, with CSA okaying the tour following a security assessment by its experts. The first Test will be played from October 21-25 in Dhaka, and the second in Chattogram from October 29 to November 2.A CSA statement on Monday said that it had given the tour the go-ahead after “an in-loco inspection” on the part of the board’s operations manager, team security manager, safety and security consultant, and a representative of the South African Cricketers’ Association, who submitted their recommendations to the board after visiting Bangladesh last week.South Africa will reach Dhaka on October 16. The squad for the series is expected later on Monday.Bangladesh vs South Africa
Oct 21-25: 1st Test, Dhaka Oct 29 to Nov 2: 2nd Test, Chattogram
South Africa’s concerns about the security situation in Bangladesh were because of the anti-government protests in the country in July-August, which led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, and, later, the women’s T20 World Cup moving out of the country to the UAE.CSA sources had told ESPNcricinfo earlier this month that they had been told the situation in Bangladesh had “settled”, but the tour wouldn’t go on if any risks were identified in the security assessments.South Africa only have six Test matches left in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. They have already played six games, having won two, lost three, and drawn one. They are currently sixth on the points table, and need to win at least five of their remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for next year’s final at Lord’s. All six of their series in this cycle have been limited to two Tests, as CSA prioritised the launch of the SA20, their domestic T20 franchise competition, and cost-cutting.The last time South Africa and Bangladesh had faced each other in a Test series was in South Africa in March-April 2022. South Africa’s white-ball squads are currently in the UAE to take on Ireland.
Everton’s summer rebuild is picking up pace, and midfield is a clear area of focus.
With the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Ashley Young all leaving at the end of their contracts, the Blues are working to refresh their squad ahead of the new campaign.
David Moyes has been handed greater transfer flexibility under the Friedkin Group’s ownership, and while Everton will not spend extravagantly, they are being bold.
Everton manager DavidMoyesreacts
One of the names linked in recent weeks is John McGinn, who could leave Aston Villa after an impressive campaign that saw Unai Emery’s side reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
The 30-year-old Scotland international made 49 appearances in all competitions last season, tallying four goals and six assists, and remains a respected leader at the Midlands club.
On paper, McGinn offers experience, work rate, and a level of maturity that Everton’s midfield currently lacks. While he might seem like the safe choice, the club’s recruitment team appear to be targeting a player with greater quality and long-term upside.
A midfielder with a proven Premier League track record, a broader skill set, and the potential to immediately lift the technical standard at Goodison Park.
Everton targeting a midfield upgrade
According to journalist Gianni Balzarini, the club are exploring a deal for Douglas Luiz, who is expected to leave Juventus after a torrid time in Turin.
Transfer Focus
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As per Balzarini, Luiz’s agent is currently in England and “touring English clubs”, albeit with the Toffees said to be the frontrunners in the hotly-contested race:
“Everton has an advantage over other teams. There’s a feeling that the deal could be concluded soon.”
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
The 26-year-old joined the Italian giants from Aston Villa in a €50m (£42m) deal last summer but failed to register a goal or assist across 27 appearances and missed 20 games due to injuries.
After failing to report for the first day of pre-season, Juventus are now prepared to offload the Brazilian for a fee in the region of €40m (£34m). Despite his underwhelming stint in Serie A, there is no doubt about Luiz’s pedigree.
Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz.
His five-year spell in the Premier League with Villa made him one of the most highly rated central midfielders in the division – a player equally capable of controlling tempo, breaking up play, and progressing the ball up the pitch.
Statman Dave once described him as an “engine in midfield,” and his numbers back that up.
Why Luiz can bring more to Everton’s midfield
When compared with McGinn, Luiz comes out on top in almost every key metric from their respective most recent seasons in the Premier League.
According to FBref, Luiz completed passes at a higher rate (85.7% vs. 81.9%), created more shots per 90 (3.52 vs. 3.08), and registered more tackles (1.74 vs. 1.34), blocks (0.96 vs. 0.89), and defensive interventions in the middle third (0.81 vs. 0.57).
He combines technical security with defensive steel, offering balance and fluidity – qualities that Moyes’ midfield setup could sorely benefit from.
Crucially, Luiz’s best form came in the Premier League. This isn’t a case of betting on potential. At his peak, he was dictating midfield battles against some of the league’s best sides.
He also has youth on his side. At 27, he’s three years younger than McGinn and entering what should be the prime of his career, having already registered 38 goals and assists in 175 Premier League outings.
That would represent a coup for the Merseyside club, particularly in light of expected competition from elsewhere in the Premier League.
While Luiz struggled to establish himself under Igor Tudor and Thiago Motta at Juventus, the dip in form is being viewed as circumstantial rather than terminal.
Juventus’s systemic issues and tactical instability last season made it difficult for any one player to truly shine, a belief that is shared by legendary former coach, Fabio Capello:
From Everton’s perspective, this is an opportunity. Luiz is proven, hungry to re-establish himself, and potentially available at a cut-price. While McGinn would add fight and familiarity, Luiz offers control, versatility, and greater upside.
Midfield has long been a problem area for Everton. Despite Idrissa Gueye extending his contract, the club’s depth remains thin.
Luiz would bring a blend of technical precision and combativeness – the kind of profile capable of transforming the way Everton build play from the back and transition through midfield.
The dream squad Everton can build: £88m quintet & "beast" sign after Barry
A look at how Everton’s dream squad could shape up next season
1 ByJoe Nuttall Jul 10, 2025
If Everton can close a deal, they’ll not only have landed a better player than McGinn, they’ll have done so ahead of several top-flight rivals.
That would send a signal that under the Friedkin Group, Everton aren’t just surviving anymore, they’re planning to compete.
He's a dream for Barry: Everton open talks to sign £50m "superstar"
Everton initiate talks to sign LaLiga star in bold bid to strengthen attack
Rangers’ busy summer of spending is seemingly set to continue.
So far, following Russell Martin’s appointment as manager at Ibrox, the Gers have brought in seven new recruits, most recently acquiring Djeidi Gassama for a reported fee of £2.2m.
Now though, they are targeting another winger, who might be even better, available on a free, having once been signed for a humongous £18m.
Rangers' looking to bolster their winger options
We’re just days away from the start of Rangers’ season, welcoming Panathinaikos to Ibrox on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie, before visiting Athens for the return leg a week later.
Despite coming in July, this could be a season-defining tie for the Light Blues so, given its importance, Martin might be concerned by the array of wingers available to him in a squad that was submitted to UEFA on Thursday.
Rangers’ current winger options
Players
Year joined
Rangers appearances
Rangers goals
Djiedi Gassama
2025
0
0
Nedim Bajrami
2024
44
5
Óscar Cortés
2024
18
1
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
First and foremost, Rabbi Matondo misses out due to injury, while Ross McCausland has not been included in the squad either, and it is not the most frightening list of wide-attackers you’ve ever seen, is it, even with the arrival of the exciting Gassama?
Gassama
Ibrox News recently reported that Grady Diangana is likely to pass a medical, despite previous injury concerns, if the Gers decide to make a move for him, having made contact with the player’s representatives earlier this month.
The 27-year-old is a free agent, having left West Bromwich Albion following the expiration of his contract last month, after making over 200 appearances for the Baggies across six seasons.
Despite last Thursday’s deadline, Rangers can still add two players to their squad for the Panathinaikos tie up until 24 hours before kick off, so 7:45pm (BST) on Monday, so can they get this deal over the line in time?
How Grady Diangana will improve Rangers
Diangana, who was once hailed as “unplayable” by pundit Michael Brown, began his career at West Ham United, joining the Irons as a 12-year-old before debuting in September 2018, marking the occasion by scoring twice during an 8-0 EFL Cup demolition of Macclesfield Town.
He then spent the 2019/20 season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, before the deal was made permanent for £18m in September 2020, which remains the Baggies’ record fee.
This sparked outrage and furore in East London, with club captain Mark Noble stating that he was “gutted, angry and sad” to see Diangana sold, while then teammate Jack Wilshere labelled him a “big player with a big future”.
Well, he hasn’t quite lived up to that hype, scoring 26 goals and registering 22 assists in 202 appearances for West Brom, but writer Kai Watson still believes he is “talented” and a “good ball carrier”, while concluding he will represent an upgrade on Rangers’ current right-wing options.
Meantime, Steve Madeley of the Athletic asserts that he possesses ‘real ability’ and the ‘confidence to take defenders’, while Ricky Lee Griffiths of Breaking the Lines outlines how, given that he’s left-footed, Diangana likes to dribble inside from the right, making him a dangerous chance creator and a goal threat.
Now, though, how do his statistics compare to those of Gassama?
Let’s find out.
Grady Diangana vs Djeidi Gassama 24/25 Championship comparison
Statistics (per 90)
Diangana
Gassama
Appearances
34
43
Minutes
1,488
2,993
Goals
0.24
0.21
Assists
0.18
0.03
Shots
1.1
1.5
Chances created
1.1
1.2
Shot-creating actions
2.83
3.03
Goal-creating actions
0.42
0.21
Take-on success %
47.7%
41%
Touches
57.2
44
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and Squawka
Worth noting that Diangana’s season was, somewhat, blighted by a calf injury, hence why he played around 1,500 fewer EFL Championship minutes than Gassama.
Grady Diangana for West Brom
Nevertheless, on a per 90 basis, their statistics are largely very similar, with the DR Congo international coming out on top in terms of goals and assists, as well as take-on success percentage, goal-creating actions, and touches.
Thus, while Gassama is clearly a superbly talented player, Rangers require players who can come in and make an immediate impact, and, if he can rediscover his best form, Diangana certainly fits that bill.
Rangers considering "ambitious" Ibrox swoop for Dessers upgrade
Rangers are reportedly eyeing up a move for a star who would be an upgrade on Cyriel Dessers.
Allrounder fears he might not ‘fit the mould’ in Brendon McCullum’s England regime
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2024
Sam Curran was England’s star player at the 2022 T20 World Cup but has struggled for impact since•AFP/Getty Images
Sam Curran says he was a “bit gutted” to be overlooked for a Test recall in the wake of Ben Stokes’ hamstring injury this summer, but hopes that a central role on England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean will restate his credentials across formats.Despite being named Player of the Final and Tournament during England’s T20 World Cup triumph in Australia two years ago, Curran’s international career is at something of a crossroads at the age of 26 – both because he has lacked the role clarity in white-ball cricket that has been a feature of his success on the franchise circuit, but also because he senses he doesn’t quite “fit the mould” of what England are looking for now that Brendon McCullum has taken over as head coach in all formats.Curran struggled to make an impact in England’s disappointing T20 title defence in the Caribbean earlier this year, taking three wickets at 38.33 while batting for a total of 11 balls in five matches, and he hasn’t featured in the ODI format since December 2023, having been a fall-guy for England’s doomed World Cup campaign earlier that winter.In red-ball cricket, meanwhile, Curran’s most Test appearance came against India in August 2021, meaning he hasn’t featured in any of the 30 matches to date of McCullum’s England tenure. This is despite his uncanny knack of contributing to winning causes, with 16 victories in his 24 caps to date, including seven in a row from the start of his breakthrough summer, as a 20-year-old, also against India in 2018.Partly that is a consequence of Stokes’ status as England’s senior allrounder. But Curran also suspects that his physical limitations are not helping his cause. Though his left-arm line is a point of difference, his 5ft9in medium-pacers do not chime with the zeitgeist, as shown when Leicestershire’s 20-year-old left-armer, Josh Hull (6ft7in and high-80s pace) was called up for a surprise Test debut at Curran’s home ground, the Kia Oval, last month.”The way the teams are being set up now, guys are getting picked for certain skills and a bit out of the unknown,” Curran told talkSPORT. “As a county player, it’s an interesting one, because you’ve got to hope that you fit that mould right now. And if you don’t, you’ve just got to crack on and win games for your franchise and your counties, and just hope that that call comes.”There’s actually nothing you can do about it. If you fit what they’re looking for, you’re great. But if you don’t, it actually might not be an ability thing.”That sense that Curran’s face doesn’t currently fit was exacerbated by his omission for the recent Test series against Sri Lanka. When Stokes tore his hamstring during the Hundred in early August – an injury that has also kept him out of the ongoing first Test against Pakistan in Multan – Curran allowed himself to believe his chance for a Test recall had arrived.Curran got the better of Kohli, among others, during his breakthrough Test summer in 2018•Philip Brown/Getty Images
“I’ll be totally honest, when Stokesy got injured, I did probably think that was my way back into the Test team,” he said. “A couple of weeks back, I had a meeting with Keysy [Rob Key, director of cricket] just to get a bit of understanding of where the group is, and how I see myself getting back into the Test side.”Being a young player who experienced Test cricket so young, I feel like I had an advantage to know what it’s about, to know what winning a Test match is, and the grind and the grit and attitude that you need … so I was a little bit gutted. Selection is selection, but I thought that was my way back into the side at the minute.”They’ve got their own structure at the minute, and they’re picking the guys that fit that environment, and there’s a big thing going on at the minute about extra pace and stuff like that. And I guess for 12 months’ time, and the Ashes, these are the guys they want, so you can’t question it until the plan comes to an end.”For the time being, however, England’s eight-match tour of the Caribbean offers Curran an opportunity to take centre stage – not least because the timing of the tour, between the end of the Pakistan Test series and the start of the subsequent tour of New Zealand, may give him the chance to bat up the order in the absence of several multi-format stars.”At the Oval Invincibles and Surrey, and a couple of the franchise teams, I feel like my role has been pretty nailed on, whereas with England, there’s been myself, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone … Woakesy [Chris Woakes] as well, all these allrounders at 6, 7, 8 and 9, and it can be confusing.”Sometimes you take the new ball, and then [the selectors] go to four seamers, and you’re the one to lose out, so it’s a frustrating role. My strongest role in most teams is batting in the top six and bowling, but I love playing all sorts of roles.”My goal is always to try and get back into the England sides, and there’s only one way of doing that … scoring runs, taking wickets and winning games for England or the franchises. There’s no doubt I’d love to be on an Ashes tour or in a Champions Trophy victory. I’m someone who likes to prove a point, so fingers crossed the next couple of months go well.”