Category Uncategorized

Leeds United are in the market to add another centre-forward to Daniel Farke’s attacking arsenal before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

The Whites have already swooped to bring Lukas Nmecha in on a free transfer from Wolfsburg to provide depth in that area of the pitch, but they are looking to swoop for another one.

Farke knows that he needs to bolster his options across the pitch after his side won the Championship title to secure promotion to the Premier League, and the German boss is reportedly looking at a number of high-quality number nine targets.

One player who does not look likely to end up at Elland Road this summer, though, is Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz, who is not for sale.

This means that the Whites will have to look at alternative targets to the Cottagers striker, and one player who has been mentioned is Lecce marksman Nikola Krstovic.

What Nikola Krstovic could bring to Leeds

It was recently reported that Leeds are ‘pushing’ to secure a deal for the £21m-rated Montenegro international from the Serie A side, but it remains to be seen whether or not they can get a move over the line in the coming weeks.

If the Championship champions can wrap up a transfer for the 25-year-old centre-forward, though, he could bring a lot of attractive qualities to Elland Road.

Krstovic scored 11 goals in the Serie A for Lecce last season, and provided his teammates with five assists, which shows that he can provide a threat in the final third in a major European league.

The £21m-rated star also won 4.9 duels, at a success rate of 41%, per game in the Serie A, proving that he is a physical striker who can compete in battles with opposition centre-backs.

However, as you can see in the table above, there would be a concern over how sustainable his goalscoring is because of his finishing quality in the last two seasons in the Italian top-flight.

He has underperformed his xG in both seasons in the Serie A, by between five and six goals, and this suggests that he may not be a reliable finisher for Leeds.

Therefore, despite the other qualities he could offer, it might be better for the Whites to look elsewhere for a new striker, and they are reportedly interested in one who would be even better than Krstovic.

Leeds considering move for Championship star

According to Football Insider, Leeds United are currently considering whether or not to bid for Norwich City centre-forward Josh Sargent this summer.

The report claims that the USA international is ‘firmly’ on the club’s radar, as they eye up multiple number nine targets, and that Farke is the driving force behind their interest in the striker.

Transfer Focus

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

Sargent was signed by Farke in the summer of 2021 when the German head coach brought him to Carrow Road from Werder Bremen, but the Canaries sacked the manager after just a couple of months of working with the forward.

Former scout Mick Brown has told Football Insider that the boss is “driving the interest” for the Championship marksman, who made the PFA Team of the Year ahead of Joel Piroe.

Brown added: “They’re not the only ones interested, so if they want him they might have to move quickly. Sometimes that interest from other clubs can force people into making a move even if they weren’t quite certain about it before, so we’ll see.”

This means that Leeds may have to decide whether they want to bid for the £21m-rated striker sooner rather than later, to avoid missing out on him.

Why Leeds should sign Josh Sargent

The Whites should swoop to sign the American centre-forward this summer because he could arrive as an even better signing than Krstovic, despite the fact that he played at a lower level last season.

Whilst the Montenegro international was strutting his stuff in the Serie A, Sargent was grinding it out in the Championship with Norwich and caught the eye with his impressive performances.

Of course, some fans may only remember the forward’s output in his Premier League season with the Canaries, after he scored just two goals in 26 games in the 2021/22 campaign.

But that was his first season in English football, as a young striker, and he often played out wide to accommodate Teemu Pukki, in a team that was relegated to the Championship.

As you can see in the table above, Sargent has thrived since those initial struggles in that Premier League season, outperforming his xG in all three of his second tier campaigns.

These statistics suggest that the 25-year-old star, who was hailed as “phenomenal” by former teammate Ashley Barnes, has the potential to be even better in front of goal than Krstovic, as he has a history of being a clinical finisher, whilst the Lecce ace has underperformed in the last two seasons.

Sargent could also be a better signing than the Serie A marksman because of his pre-existing relationship with Farke and his experience in English football, which could help him to hit the ground running faster than Krstovic.

Leeds may need a fast start to the season to gain enough positive momentum to push them away from an early relegation battle, which is one of the reasons why the Norwich star could be a very shrewd signing for the club and why they should go from considering a bid for him to actually making one.

More pointless than Meslier: £11m Leeds flop set to be sold for millions

Leeds United are reportedly set to sell a flop who is even more pointless than Illan Meslier at Elland Road.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 2, 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now personally requested the signing of an “incredible” goalkeeper as a replacement for Ederson, according to a report.

Guardiola left dissatisfied by shock Club World Cup exit

Few would have predicted the Blues’ shock Club World Cup exit at the hands of Al-Hilal, especially considering Guardiola’s side looked like the City of old in the 5-2 victory over Juventus in their final group game.

However, Al-Hilal ultimately progressed to the quarter-final courtesy of a 4-3 victory, with Ederson making just two saves throughout the match, following on from a 2024-25 campaign which fell below the Brazilian’s lofty standards.

Roy Keane was particularly critical of the goalkeeper last season, claiming he had been “getting away with murder”, before going on to suggest that Guardiola should consider dropping the six-time Premier League winner.

Related Man Utd make approach to sign "sensational" striker; prepared to pay £60m+

The Red Devils are now in contact to sign a forward, and they are willing to match his current club’s asking price.

Posts 3 ByDominic Lund Jul 2, 2025

Crucially, the City boss is also now growing tired of Ederson’s performances, according to a report from Spain, which states Guardiola has been left deeply dissatisfied by his side’s Club World Cup exit and wants to sign a new goalkeeper this summer.

As such, Pep has now personally requested the signing of FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who is protected by a €75m (£65m) release clause in his contract, which is not out of Man City’s budget.

Costa is open to leaving the Portuguese club this summer, despite his contract running until 2027, with the goalkeeper eager to test himself at an elite level prior to the 2026 World Cup.

Guardiola views the Portugal international as a complete player, who would be suited to his style of play, with the Blues now making moves to secure his signature, and the deal could accelerate in the coming weeks.

"Incredible" Costa impressing for club and country

International teammate Diogo Dalot has been left very impressed by the shot-stopper in the past, saying: “I think Portugal’s secret is Diogo Costa. Diogo Costa is the most hidden secret in European football and today he showed up.

“Today I think he reached a completely different level. The one-on-one situation was incredible. Then he had the focus to make three consecutive saves. We have to be very proud of him.”

Not only has the 25-year-old caught the eye for his country, but he has also performed at a high level for Porto over the past year, maintaining a very impressive clean sheet percentage, when compared to other goalkeepers.

Key goalkeeping metric

Average per 90

Clean sheet percentage

50% (95th percentile)

Goals against

0.84 (90th percentile)

Although Ederson’s performances have concerned Pep, it will be a difficult task to replace the Brazil international, given that he has played a major role in City’s recent success, but Costa has proven that he could be a worthy heir between the sticks.

Arsenal’s biggest strength this season, and arguably last season as well, was their defence.

Mikel Arteta’s side may have scored 17 goals fewer than Liverpool in the Premier League, but then, even though they finished ten points off top spot, they managed to concede seven goals fewer than the Reds.

While this genuinely impressive solidity is partly thanks to the entire team, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to describe William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as the chief architects of the Gunners’ almost impenetrable backline.

So, fans should be delighted about recent reports linking the club with an international defender compared to both of them.

Arsenal searching for another defender

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other defensive titans linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, such as Jorrel Hato and Marc Guehi.

Transfer Focus

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

The former seems to be on the radar for a lot of big teams this summer, at a price of around £42m, and it’s not hard to see why, as at just 19 years old, he’s already established himself as a crucial member of Ajax’s defensive setup.

Likewise, Guehi is just as, if not more important, for Crystal Palace, making 44 appearances across all competitions and winning the FA Cup with them this season, which makes his supposed £50m valuation seem more than reasonable.

However, while both of these players are brilliantly talented, another defender who could be an even more exciting acquisition has now entered the frame: Ousmane Diomande.

According to a recent report from Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, as relayed by Caught Offside, Arsenal are now in the race for the Sporting CP star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that London rivals Chelsea are also keen to bring the Ivorian to the Premier League this summer.

While the report makes no mention of how much the centre-back might cost, reports from last month reaffirm claims that he has a €80m release clause in his current deal, which amounts to about £68m.

It would, therefore, be a costly and likely complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Diomande’s ability and the comparisons to Saliba and Gabriel, it’s one Arsenal should fight for.

How Diomande compares to Saliba and Gabriel

So then, given just how sensationally well Arsenal’s defensive duo have played in recent campaigns, it is undoubtedly a bold claim to suggest that Diomande is not just similar to one of them but both.

However, that is just the claim respected analyst Ben Mattinson made when he described the Ivorian international as “a hybrid between Gabriel and Saliba” just last season.

Now, when it comes to his similarity to the former, you can look at things from the fact that the Brazilian is just an inch taller at 6 foot 3 to their goalscoring ability, with the Sporting star finding the back of the net twice in 32 league games to the Gunners’ titan getting one more in 28 games.

How about the Frenchman, then?

Well, interestingly, the most convincing argument for how similar the Abidjan-born star is to the former Saint-Etienne ace comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Champions League this season.

It then created a list of the ten most comparable players for everyone who participated in the competition and concluded that the Bondy-born titan was the number one most similar centre-back to the Sporting ace.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, passing accuracy, expected assists, live passes, interceptions and more, all per 90.

Finally, while Saliba is now three years older, he was also being spoken about as one of the most exciting emerging defensive talents at 21, so there will be some shared experiences between him and the Sporting gem should he move to the Emirates this summer.

Ultimately, it’s a lot of money, but with how highly rated he is and the fact he’s been compared to two of their very best players, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Diomande this summer.

He's a dream for Rice: Arsenal are about to submit bid for £84m "magician"

The outrageously talented international would be game-changing for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 12, 2025

Liverpool are in the final stages of wrapping up a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, having already signed the Werkself’s electric right flanker Jeremie Frimpong after meeting his £29.5m release clause.

Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez should follow, with the two Premier League clubs engaged in advanced discussions for the Hungarian’s transfer this summer.

While bringing in a new centre-forward is also on the agenda, Liverpool may have to contend with one or two reluctant sales, most notably of which concerns Luis Diaz.

The latest on Luis Diaz

Diaz has been a key component of Liverpool’s Premier League triumph this season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists for the Reds across all competitions.

However, aged 28 and entering the penultimate year, it would make sense to cash in if a handsome offer were presented to FSG. With Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League’s Al Nassr both keen, this is something bound to be on sporting director Richard Hughes’ mind.

With a bid worth around €85m (£72m) being pieced together by Al Nassr, Liverpool could take the money and invest in a new star, especially with a world-class player in Wirtz already heading to Merseyside.

Especially when there’s a rising talent who’s been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months who might just be the perfect long-term investment.

Liverpool could sign Wirtz-esque Diaz replacement

While Cody Gakpo has nailed down the left-sided forward spot at Liverpool, Diaz’s departure would require a direct replacement being brought in, even if Liverpool secured a new centre-forward too.

That’s why FSG should consider increasing their interest in Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who has enjoyed a promising emergence in Bundesliga.

The 20-year-old has been hailed as a “very good finisher” by former Yellow Wall boss Nuri Sahin, also noted for being “incredible one-on-one”, and though he’s young, there’s enough there to suggest he could be the perfect Diaz heir.

He’s still got levels to scale, but Gittens has made an impressive start to life on the major stage, with his silky approach even leading data-driven site FBref to liken him to Wirtz.

Jamie Gittens – Bor. Dortmund Stats by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25

48 (34)

12

5

23/24

34 (18)

2

8

22/23

20 (5)

3

1

21/22

4 (1)

0

0

Data via Transfermarkt

Ranked among the top 15% of Bundesliga attacking midfielders and wingers in 2024/25 for goals scored, and the top 1% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, you can see he’s got some of the ball-carrying similarities of Wirtz, though Gittens is more of an out-and-out winger.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley even pronounced him “England’s best left-winger in 2024/25” earlier in the campaign, which is lofty praise indeed, given the calibre of competition he’s against.

Thomas Tuchel’s recently selected summer Three Lions squad perhaps doesn’t reflect that, but then Gittens is still in the fledgling phase of a promising career, having laid the foundations for something special.

As per Sofascore, Gittens averaged 4.9 successful duels per top-flight fixture this year too, showcasing a tenacious side to his game that could bear dividends in the Premier League.

The same could be said for Wirtz, who marries his absurd technical level with a combative underbelly. Given that the German has been profiled by FSG’s analysts and targeted in a club-record deal, Gittens might just fit the bill.

While he won’t be at the top of Liverpool’s shopping list, this could be a shrewd move to keep the champions firing on all cylinders over the coming years.

Related Just another Nunez: Liverpool add "outrageous" £67m forward to shortlist

Liverpool have turned their attention to a new target as they seek out a centre-forward.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 31, 2025

Chelsea could look to bring back a former player in the summer transfer window, and it is believed he’s very much open to a Stamford Bridge return.

Chelsea seal huge Champions League boost after win over Liverpool

Enzo Maresca was a happy man after Chelsea sealed their arguably most important win of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Talks held: Chelsea now discussing move for "world-class" £400k-a-week star

The Blues are internally discussing a move for an attacker, who has scored 72 Premier League goals.

By
Dominic Lund

May 5, 2025

Chelsea’s 3-1 home win over English champions Liverpool handed the club an almighty boost in their race for Champions League qualification, with goals from Enzo Fernández, Jarell Quansah (OG) and a late Cole Palmer penalty sealing a vital three points.

The west Londoners are now in the top five, and as things stand, they’re on course to seal a place in next season’s Champions League draw with a minor gap now bridged between Chelsea and sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.

“I really think that Liverpool deserve to win the Premier [League],” said Maresca on Chelsea’s win over Liverpool.

“First of all because they have been consistent. Second of all because they had consistently the [whole] squad available, something that unfortunately the rest [of the teams] have not.

“Today again they show the reason why the have won the Premier League. We did not plan, I promise you, the game to defend deep. We plan the game to high press in the way we always [do] but sometimes the opposition is so good that you have to defend deep, and you have to adapt, and the players dealt with that very good.”

This result could be looked back on as the match which helped them on their way to Europe’s most prestigious competition, with Champions League qualification also set to have a big impact on Chelsea’s summer transfer plans.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a new centre-back will be altered by their success in sealing a top five place, with many names reportedly on BlueCo’s agenda heading into the next transfer window.

One of them, according to numerous media sources, is Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

The England international’s contract is set to expire in 2026, opening the door for his potential sale this summer, but Palace could still demand up to £60 million for Guehi regardless.

Reports have claimed that Chelsea chiefs are confident they can strike a deal for Guehi and lure him back to west London, following the Cobham academy graduate’s departure to Selhurst Park in 2021.

Marc Guehi open to making Chelsea return this summer

As per journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Guehi is open to making a Chelsea return this summer, but the 24-year-old is yet to make a final decision.

He’s also believed to be waiting on the results of this year’s race for Champions League qualification, adding further importance to Chelsea’s goal of sealing their spot in the competition, while Newcastle are seriously tempting Guehi as well.

As per Phillips, Chelsea haven’t laid as much groundwork on a move for Guehi as they have for alternative centre-back target, Dean Huijsen, either.

That being said, there is little denying the Three Lions ace, called a “sensational talent” by Palace chairman Steve Parish, would be a stellar addition to Maresca’s backline.

Newcastle United advanced their claim to secure a place in the Champions League next season with a 2-1 win over Brentford at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.

The Magpies took the lead through their star striker Alexander Isak, who bundled the ball in from around six yards out after Jacob Murphy whipped a terrific cross in.

Thomas Frank’s team found a leveller, though, after Nick Pope gave away a spot-kick and allowed Bryan Mbuemo to score from the spot to make it 1-1.

Eddie Howe’s men eventually found the winner in the second half when Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali scored a bizarre goal to seal all three points for the home team.

How Sandro Tonali scored his wondergoal

The Italy international found himself in a crossing position out by the corner flag on the right flank, with Joelinton, Callum Wilson, and Joe Willock all in the box awaiting a ball in from the former AC Milan man.

Instead of a cross, though, those three players watched a shanked effort fly into the roof of Mark Flekken’s net, as the Bees goalkeeper was caught out by what appears to have been a mishit from the central midfielder.

It caught everyone, perhaps even Tonali, by surprise but it is a piece of fortune that the Magpies will certainly take, as it puts them one step closer to securing a top-five finish in the Premier League.

The former Serie A dynamo may have secured himself a place as one of the undroppable stars, alongside Isak – who has scored 20 goals and started all 26 of his Premier League appearances, after scoring that either unbelievable or fluke of a goal.

Isak and Tonali are not the only Newcastle players who should be undroppable after that performance against the Bees, though, as Joelinton bossed the middle of the park.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Expand Collapse Why Joelinton is undroppable for Newcastle

The Brazil international showcased his quality in and out of possession in the win over Brentford with a terrific display in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali.

Joelinton, who has started all 25 of his outings in the top-flight this season, reaffirmed why Howe has so much faith in him with a dominant defensive showing, winning six of his eight ground duels and six of his nine aerial contests.

The former Hoffenheim ace also won three tackles without being dribbled past a single time by a Brentford player, which shows that he was a man mountain in midfield for Newcastle.

Vs Brentford

Guimaraes

Tonali

Joelinton

Minutes

90

90

90

Pass accuracy

70%

68%

85%

Dribbles completed

0/0

1/1

1/1

Duels won

4/10

5/7

12/17

Clearances

1

1

3

Tackles

3

2

3

Dribbled past

4x

1x

0x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Joelinton was also far more efficient in possession in comparison to his midfield partners, whilst also outperforming them defensively.

The 28-year-old bruiser has consistently delivered on the defensive end all season with the most combined tackles, interceptions, and clearances (4.7) per game of any midfielder in the squad, providing Howe with an immovable anchor in the middle of the park.

Joelinton’s physicality allows the Magpies to take the game to opposition teams by pressing high and winning the ball back in great areas to create counter-attack opportunities for the likes of Isak and Murphy to make the most of.

He is, therefore, an undroppable cog in Newcastle’s machine, as further evidenced by his sensational display against the Bees, and Howe must continue to select him for the rest of the season.

Related Top 1% for assists: Newcastle join race for £25m "future Ballon D'or winner"

The Magpies are interested in signing a playmaker, who has 18 assists to his name already this season.

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 2, 2025

There was physical courage, there were technical tweaks, and nothing really worked. But the final act showed not all was lost

Alagappan Muthu03-Jan-2025The old saying only mentions sticks and stones. Rishabh Pant might want it amended to include leather as well. He had a big red welt on his left arm where a back-of-a-length ball from Mitchell Starc had reared up off the Sydney pitch to strike him flush.Thanks to his heroics on his last Border-Gavaskar tour, this one began with a lot of focus on him. Even otherwise, with the pitches in Australia getting spicier and the new Kookaburra ball making life more difficult for the top order, the impact of players like Pant and Travis Head, coming down the order, always had the potential to change the course of Test matches.Related

Pant: 'Sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket'

Great Scott Boland, the supersub calling the shots for Australia

Smith '100%' certain he got his hand under Kohli's catch

Boland leads the charge as Australia dominate on green pitch

The conversation around Pant began to shift, though. The risks that he takes to play those unorthodox shots had begun to catch up with him. His scoop in the first innings in Melbourne, where he was trying to pick out the gap at fine leg – he got hit on his body the first time he tried it and was caught at deep third the very next ball when he went for it again – came in for a lot of criticism. Being dismissed by a part-time bowler in the second innings, when India were trying to save the Test, took that discourse to a whole other level. There were other batters not doing their job as well but his wicket was singled out.With that as the backdrop, Pant walked in in Sydney and spent 98 balls being someone else. There were still glimpses of his disdain for that red ball. In the 43rd over, he helicoptered a cut shot. Those usually involve back and across movements. But he couldn’t be bothered. He just trusted his hand-eye coordination and then, at the point of contact, let his wrists go for a whirl, and the ball skipped away behind point. Under normal circumstances, that’s what a Pant highlights reel would be all about.An exchange with Steven Smith, caught on the stump mic, didn’t end well for Shubman Gill•Getty ImagesThese weren’t normal circumstances. His application had come under question. During optional training, reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel had a long net, large parts of it right alongside Pant, and he looked quite good. It took a while for Pant to become a regular in India’s Test team – largely because his keeping needed to improve; his batting was already there – and since then he’s been among the first names on the sheet. Melbourne cast doubt over his temperament. Sydney almost became the scene of his redemption. He took so many body blows. Two back-to-back in the gut. Then another in the gut which left him winded enough he went down to the floor. One right on the side of the helmet, which looked awful. He tried to get out of the way but that bouncer just kept following him. Starc looked extremely concerned and wouldn’t leave Pant’s side until he got a nod of the head from the batter.”I think this is the first time I’ve gotten hit so much,” Pant said, “But you know in cricket you can’t plan anything, so everything happened for the first time for sure at some point of time in your career, but that was me today.”India were showing bravery. They were trying to correct their mistakes. Virat Kohli abandoned his open stance to be more side-on, which in theory would reduce the chances of him playing away from his body because his alignment was putting his front shoulder closer to balls outside off stump. They tried to rely on their defensive skills. Ravindra Jadeja tried to leave as many as he could. They tried to play the situation and ignore their natural instincts.As much as they did all this, though, they seemed to gain little. They still collapsed from 57 for 2 to 148 for 8. The only difference was, it was a slow-burn collapse spread out across 41 overs. It’s back to their bowlers to bail India out, and it is possible that they could. There are frailties in the Australian batting order and the pitch is offering plenty of help.It was edged and taken yet again for Virat Kohli•Getty Images”I feel it was a little tough pitch,” Pant said. He believed India’s 181 was not quite a par score but was close to it. “The ball was doing off the wicket quite a bit especially after the end of second session I would say.”India did expect batting to be difficult when they won the toss and chose to put a total on the board. What they didn’t expect was the consistency of movement and the extra bounce. It gave them zero breathers. When they tried to manufacture shots, it backfired.Shubman Gill wanted to make sure it was the last ball before lunch so he went down to do some gardening. Steven Smith at slip saw that and said, “This is bull****. Oi, let’s play”. Gill turned around and replied, “You take your time, Smithy, nobody says anything to you.” Then he faced up to Nathan Lyon and got caught by Smith at slip. Kohli’s side-on stance seemed to be helping until once again Scott Boland produced a ball that he nicked.India went to stumps in a rage. The penultimate ball of the day sparked a confrontation. Usman Khawaja asked Jasprit Bumrah to wait. Sam Konstas got involved with a couple of words from the non-strikers’ end. Bumrah didn’t like it. The two of them had to be separated by the umpires. The last ball of the day produced a wicket. Khawaja was out caught, and Bumrah whipped around and walked towards Konstas. He knew he couldn’t get in his face. He held his emotions in check and then vented them when Konstas walked off. Veins popping. India haven’t been a happy team on this tour. They’ve felt antagonised. They had come to Sydney damned for all that they did. Sydney damned them when they didn’t, too. That last ball wicket, though, felt powerful. All 11 players ran up to their captain bristling with life once more.

A round-up of the second week of the Bangladesh Premier League

Mohammad Isam21-Jan-2023

Fortunes change for Barishal, Comilla, Khulna

Sylhet Strikers remain on top of the points table but the other teams have also started to revive their respective campaigns. Fortune Barishal are in red-hot form after winning five in a row and are now in second place. Comilla Victorians, after losing their first three games, have gone on to win three in a row. Khulna Tigers too have won their last two matches to open their account after also losing their first three outings.But a spate of injuries has left Rangpur Riders in trouble. They lost their last two games, while Chattogram Challengers haven’t also taken full advantage of their home ground matches. Dhaka Dominators are reeling at the bottom of the table, having lost five of their six games.

Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz and other Pakistan players dominate

Mohammad Rizwan arrived at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram less than 24 hours after playing an ODI in Karachi, and he has made a mark in the tournament.Wahab Riaz has taken two four-wicket hauls in Khulna Tigers’ last two games, while all three centuries in the tournament have been scored by Pakistan players. Tigers’ Azam Khan scored a 58-ball 109 coming in at No. 4 in the match against Challengers. In the chase, Usman Khan responded with a century, taking his side to a win by nine wickets.Iftikhar Ahmed and Shakib Al Hasan notched up a new record for the fifth wicket in T20s – 192 runs, unbeaten•BCBIftikhar Ahmed scored a superb century against Rangpur Riders in Chattogram. He added 192 runs, the highest partnership in T20s from fifth wicket.

Batter of the week: Shakib Al Hasan

After spending the BPL’s first week being involved in on-field drama, Shakib Al Hasan took over the cricket in the second week. He is now the tournament’s highest run-getter, having reached 275 runs at 196.42 strike-rate. Although there’s half of this edition remaining, Shakib’s strike rate is the highest for minimum 200 runs in the competition’s history. His miserly spells has also fired Barishal into second place.

Bowler of the week: Wahab Riaz

You may think Wahab Riaz is past his prime, but the 37-year-old’s last two performances say otherwise. He has gone past 400 wickets in T20s, becoming the first player from Pakistan to do so. Riaz took four-wicket hauls in Khulna Tigers’ last two games, as they staged a comeback in the BPL after their first three matches.

New Zealand’s bowling coach on the quality of the pace attack and his favourite matches

Interview by Mohammad Isam06-May-2021Shane Jurgensen is the quiet but meaningful presence behind New Zealand’s pace battery. He was 32 when he was first appointed as the team’s bowling coach in 2008. He served for three years before taking on the same role with Bangladesh, and then returned in 2016, when the New Zealand pace attack was gathering steam. With his contract now extended to 2022, he is New Zealand’s longest-serving coach. We spoke to Jurgensen about how he has helped shape arguably the best bowling attack in New Zealand history.You have witnessed real change within the team over the last 13 years as the longest-serving coach in New Zealand cricket history.
It all comes down to the players, really. From around 2009, it started with Daniel Vettori wanting to constantly improve and push outside the comfort zone. The attitude to work hard and get uncomfortable are some of the small improvements over the last ten or 11 years.The systems in place, not just around the team but also in selection, have been a strong asset for this side.In terms of performances on the field, I think another big area is the foundation built around the success of the Test side for a number of years. With that success in the toughest format, you have the opportunity to create depth. An important factor has also been that a lot of the players really challenge each other to get better.Given their quality, how much of your work involves offering technical help to Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner?
My role constantly changes around understanding their technique and what drives their success [technically]. It can be from the simple bowling action they have, what they do when they are performing well, and how it looks when they have challenging days. My role is to understand them individually as bowlers.Related

Neil Wagner: 'I pride myself in playing a role when things are tough'

Swing, smile, repeat: the secrets of Trent Boult's success

Stead: 'New Zealand players may leave for UK from Maldives over the weekend'

Trent Boult: 'Reverse swing is a string I want to add to my bow'

New Zealand replace England as the No. 1 side in ODI rankings

It also includes their physical preparation around how many overs they will bowl and how they prepare for not just a match or series but the whole home summer. There’s a lot of planning that goes on behind the scenes, working with other members of the support staff and head coach Gary Stead.For example, how does their bowling action look for certain deliveries? Tim [Southee] and Trent [Boult] are outstanding outswing bowlers, so we are ensuring they are executing that as well as they can, ensuring the little technical things they do before delivering the ball and getting it right.How hesitant or not are you to introduce changes in their bowling action when, for example, you spot something that needs attention?
We play a lot of international cricket at a very high intensity. The guys probably play ten months of the year for New Zealand and in the IPL. So slight little errors might creep into their bowling. Or it might be that they are coming back from a bit of a break. So little things, like a bowling action might be starting too early in relation to their run-up. A front arm isn’t operating as powerfully as they normally would. Or they are not following-through in a certain manner to deliver an outswinger, a yorker or a slower ball.A major part of my role is to identity those things. More importantly, work with the player so they trust I have their best interest at heart to ensure they are executing [their skills].

“We pride ourselves in being a threat to the opposition regardless of the situation of the game. We are trying to be consistent all the time, challenging ourselves and pushing our limits as a bowling unit”

How does Trent Boult manage to switch between formats so often?
With his success in the three formats, he has developed a lot of self-belief in his skills. Trent can basically [switch] very quickly through keeping things quite specific and simple. He has been able to stay in the game for a long period because he is extremely fit. He has a huge focus on his fitness. It has enabled him to bowl long spells in Tests and then adapt to ODI and T20 cricket. He is always a threat. His wicket-taking ability has been a major reason why he has consistently played and done very well in the three formats. What’s your approach with Neil Wagner, who can sustain high-intensity bowling all day long in Tests?
Wags has certainly been very successful over a long period at challenging the batter’s footwork. He works closely with the senior team-mates, like Kane [Williamson]. When he starts to really challenge the batter, it is about the timing of it and making subtle adjustments in the field.To his credit, a lot of wickets in the last 12 months have been through his desire to constantly improve and evolve as a bowler. Along with his attack of banging it in, particularly this summer, he has taken a lot of wickets with his outswingers to left-handers and inswingers to right-handers. That’s down to Neil constantly wanting to improve.I try to manage him with his overs because he loves to bowl. I try to ensure that his bowling action is solid through all those overs. Make sure he is nice and strong, which is a key asset to his overall balance when he delivers the ball.”Along with his attack of banging it in, particularly this summer, Wagner has taken a lot of wickets with his outswingers to left-handers and inswingers to right-handers”•Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images Tim Southee, a bowler you encountered as a youngster in your first stint as coach, is now the senior statesman of the side. How has he managed his role in the bowling attack?
He has certainly evolved as a cricketer and person over a long period to complement his bowling. Recently you have seen him fill the role as T20I captain. He is a very good leader in the bowling group with his experience and success over a long period. He provides some really good messages to the side.A lot of Tim’s success comes down to his resilience and overcoming adversities. He is extremely fit. He is able to adapt and find ways to take wickets. To complement his very good outswinger, now he is well adapted to T20 cricket with various slower balls. He always had a very good yorker. He is extremely accurate at challenging the batsman. He is a very skilful bowler.You have this habit of walking around the ground and speaking to the bowlers from the boundary line. What sort of things are you saying?
We are obviously providing water, but another part is to provide a sounding board for certain players if they are a little frustrated at things when it may not have gone to plan. I might ask them a question about whether they have considered something in particular in their attack – a type of delivery or a field placing.Honestly, it can simply be supporting the player and being someone who listens. A lot of the ideas come from the player, so they talk it through. All of a sudden, they think of something. Or it might be to ensure that they have confidence in what they are trying to achieve. I am just there to provide that support.

“The 2019 World Cup semi-final against India was a unique situation played over two days. I was really proud of the way the bowlers challenged India in defending a 240-odd total”

Does having Boult, Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Wagner, and the string of other fast bowlers around the country make it feel a bit like the West Indies attack of the 1980s?
I saw the four-pronged West Indies pace attack when I was a very young man. I think Boult, Southee, Jamieson and Wagner are similar. It is a real testament to them as a group. They really work hard together. They talk a lot of things through. They have a lot of trust and bonding among themselves.I think they are four different types of bowlers. A batsman is challenged by Kyle Jamieson’s height and length, the swing of Tim and Trent, one being a right-armer and the other a left-armer, Neil’s ability to adapt between being an aggressive hit-the-wicket bowler and constantly improving as a swing bowler. They certainly bring four very different challenges, which puts a lot of pressure on the opposition batter.How does Mitchell Santner fit into this bowling attack, especially at home? Do you work a lot with him as well?
During the first innings of a Test match, he can certainly flick the switch between providing a period of support when the bowlers need a rest and in the second innings when there’s a bit of turn. He is extremely accurate, which is why he has had his success.I was really impressed by his role in our Test win over Pakistan [in December last year]. It was late in the game and we really needed him. He bowled very well.I think he has a very important role. I get a lot of support from head coach Gary Stead and Paul Wiseman with the spinners, as it is a big job with a number of different bowlers.”The bowlers really work hard together. They talk a lot of things through. They have a lot of trust and bonding among themselves”•Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s pace stocks are probably at an all-time high. How do you assess the spin department? Santner is No. 1, but do you see it as a bit of a concern looking ahead to the T20 World Cup?
There are no concerns about the spin stock. We have quite an established bowling group. A number of players have put their hands up for a while. We have had Ish [Sodhi] and Santner. They have been really good T20 bowlers over the last two years. Todd [Astle] has taken his opportunities and done well.In domestic cricket, we have also had success with a number of young players. We have had success with Will Somerville and Ajaz Patel in the Tests in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan in 2018.During the season, Stead singled out Scott Kuggeleijn for special praise after he filled in as the hit-the-deck bowler for Lockie Ferguson. Similarly there was praise for Blair Tickner. But they were relegated to the bench again when the main bowlers returned. How do you deal with those bowlers on the fringe?
I think it is a real credit to the players themselves for coming in and executing the role given. They understand the situation, having been brought in when players are injured or rested. The guys take it really well. They look to do everything that supports the team. Credit also goes to the system in place that supports the players.Where do you rate the New Zealand pace pack currently, compared to India, England, Australia and Pakistan?
The New Zealand bowling unit has been consistent for a number of years in all the formats. We pride ourselves in being a threat to the opposition regardless of the situation of the game. We want to focus on being a threat to all teams. We are trying to be consistent all the time, challenging ourselves and pushing our limits as a bowling unit. If we keep improving, we can be a threat to all teams around the world.

“The systems in place, not just around the team but also in selection, have been a strong asset for this side”

How much of your coaching is data-driven and how much is experience-driven?
We look to use the combination of data and our experiences together with the players’ strengths. Data is always useful and we use as much as we can. If you only have a small amount of information, that’s not really useful unless it is something that really stands out.I think that’s the key with data. You want to pick up on trends and match-ups and anything that really stands out. You balance it out with your experience and the skill set of the bowlers and what we are trying to achieve as a cricket team, and formulate it into one package.What would you say are your top three matches from your time as New Zealand bowling coach, ones where you were really proud of the work put out by the pace attack?
I think three games stand out straight away.First is the 2019 World Cup semi-final against India. It was a unique situation played over two days due to rain interruptions. We had some specific plans and options for the bowlers. I was just really proud of the way they adapted and really challenged India in defending a 240-odd total.The second game is the home series against India in 2020. They are a superb cricket team over a long period, so to defeat them 2-0 in the Test series was amazing. Particularly in the second match, in Christchurch, we executed beautifully for two innings. It is a very special memory.The third one goes back to the 2010 T20 World Cup, against Pakistan in Barbados. I think Pakistan needed two runs to win and we took the wicket off the last ball. It was just a heart-stopping thriller of a game. It was a hard-fought victory. Little things that happened throughout that game and how the guys just hung in there. They put pressure on Pakistan and got over them by just one run. Back then I was just a young bowling coach who had worked a couple of years at the international level.”There are no concerns about the spin stock. A number of players have put their hands up. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner have been really good T20 bowlers over the last two years”•Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesHow much has your experience with Bangladesh shaped your general point of view as a coach?
Coaching in Bangladesh gave me such amazing and valuable experiences. It gave me a different angle, and respect for the international game. I saw the game from a different point of view, in terms of the different styles of the players that I was working with.It was extremely helpful in my development as a coach. I really enjoyed the successful times there. The guys were very talented and worked really hard to overcome so many different backgrounds to become international players.How do you think have you grown as a bowling coach?
Mike Hesson and Gary Stead trusted me, empowered me, and gave me the opportunity to develop a bowling programme. It is an honour and a special opportunity for me to have such a flexible work environment where I can develop the bowling plans. I am working closely with Kane and the senior bowlers to develop systems and programmes around our bowling.I get to work with bowlers at a number of different levels, which means I get to know them before they are in a position for selection for international cricket. It has helped me to develop good working relationships over a long period. It is such a privilege.

Mikel Arteta has built a superteam at Arsenal over the last five years.

While the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba were signed under Unai Emery, and Bukayo Saka made his debut under the former manager, the Gunners’ former captain has signed a host of world-class players since taking the job.

Arguably, the best player to join the North Londoners over the last few years has been Declan Rice, who is now undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, if not the world.

So it’s encouraging that Arteta already looks to have his ideal heir for the Englishman in the squad today.

Rice's development at Arsenal

This season is Rice’s third at Arsenal, and while he’s been a crucial member of the team since his first, his role has changed year-on-year.

For example, he spent most of the 23/24 campaign playing at the base of midfield, as the club’s go-to six, making 31 appearances there, 19 in central midfield and just one at centre-back.

However, towards the end of that first year and most of last season, Arteta decided to move him slightly further up the pitch, into the left-eight.

In all, the Englishman ended up making 37 appearances in the middle of the park and just 15 in defensive midfield, which helped him end the campaign with an impressive tally of nine goals and ten assists, although plenty of the latter came from set-pieces.

Going into this season, most fans and pundits alike expected Arteta to keep playing his £105m further up the pitch, especially as he proved himself to be a brilliant box-crasher last season.

CM

64

12

16

DM

51

5

8

CB

1

0

0

However, while his statistics do show him starting more games in central midfield – eight to five – he is actually now playing that little bit deeper again, often interchanging with the sensationally gifted Martin Zubimendi.

The former West Ham United captain has even said as much, telling reporters after England’s game against Wales earlier this month that the manager has “adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year to give me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but to also get in the box when I can.”

You can see evidence of him playing that little bit deeper at times this season in his underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, he is completing 7.47 progressive passes and 2.91 progressive carries this year, compared to 6.11 and 2.87 last season.

In all, Rice remains one of Arsenal’s most important players and an archetypal all-action midfielder, so it’s good news that Arteta and Co already have his perfect heir in the squad.

Arsenal's Rice heir

Now, upon first glance, it might not be immediately apparent who the Rice heir in Arsenal’s squad is.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

After all, Christian Nørgaard is 31, and Zubimendi is the same age as the Englishman at 26.

However, instead of being among the club’s current crop of midfielders, the ideal long-term replacement for the former West Ham United captain is down as a defender, and it is, of course, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Hale End gem, whose “talent is scary” according to one content creator, might play almost exclusively as a left-back for the first team, but he spent much of his time in the junior game playing in the middle of the park, and the skills he picked up there have shone through for the senior side at times.

For example, against Atlético Madrid, he picked up the ball in the middle of the park, drove past half the side and delivered the ball into Gabriel Martinelli’s feet for the Gunners’ second goal.

That run demonstrated several skills needed to make it as a top-quality central midfielder, such as the physicality to hold off defenders, the close control to get past them, the understanding of space, and, crucially, the weight of the pass at the end.

Moreover, the ability to drive with the ball like he did is one of Rice’s best traits, so while Arteta and the coaching staff will have to work on transitioning the teenager from full-back to midfield over the coming years, they can rest easy knowing he’s already an elite ball player.

There are other reasons why the Islington-born gem could become as sensational an eight in the future, though, such as his mentality.

For example, it’s so easy to forget that he is still so young, as it seemingly does not matter who he is up against, be it Real Madrid or Manchester City, the Hale Ender is, as Rice put it himself, utterly “fearless.”

It’s this willingness to challenge any attacker or try to beat any defender without hesitation that has also led club insider Hand of Arsenal to label the young gem a “future captain,” a title many have also given the former West Ham star.

Ultimately, given Rice’s age, Arsenal do not need to worry about replacing him just yet. Still, when they do eventually have to, they’ve already got the perfect candidate in Lewis-Skelly.

Arteta's £120k-p/w "wild horse" looks like this season's Timber at Arsenal

Just like Timber, the international monster is having an incredible season at Arsenal this year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 28, 2025