Hampshire secured a rare win against Surrey in the Vitality Blast when rain brought an early close to their game at the Kia Oval with the visitors 15 runs ahead under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.Miserly bowling from Scott Currie and Chris Wood restricted a subdued home side to an underwhelming 141 for 7, Jason Roy top-scoring for the third time this season with 37, while Sam Curran and Laurie Evans made 34 and 33 not out respectively.Hampshire were cruising at 63 for 0 in reply when the rain came with skipper James Vince 33 not out and Toby Albert unbeaten on 28. It was only Hampshire’s second win in their last 11 meetings with Surrey in the Blast.As with their first two batting efforts in the Blast this season, Surrey struggled for fluency after being put in by Vince. Dom Sibley smote an early six, but the former England Test opener fell in the next over, a wicket for debutant South African slow left-arm bowler Bjorn Fortuin.Ollie Pope, unsure if he’ll retain the England No. 3 shirt for next week’s first Test against India, was starved of strike and made only 11 before an attempted ramp off Currie found the gloves of wicketkeeper Albert.Even Roy with scores of 92 and 69 behind him in the Blast struggled to break the shackles, two successive fours off John Turner from the last over of the powerplay the best of his contribution.Eyes were now on captain Curran, who laboured until unleashing successive sixes off Turner, the first of which disappeared down the exit steps beyond the midwicket boundary onto the concourse. He too though fell attempting a third big hit on the spin and only some late blows from Evans carried Surrey to a third successive score in the 140s.The first over of the chase brought drama, Dan Worrall finding the edge of Albert’s bat, only for Roy to grass the chance at second slip.Vince’s dismissive cover drive to end the over though suggested he was in the groove and he soon caressed another from Nathan Smith to the fence at point.Rain was now falling but three boundaries, one from a misfield on the fence helped raise the 50 partnership and put Hampshire well ahead of the DLS par score. Albert, growing in confidence, cut one from Surrey debutant, Kiwi international Mitchell Santner, to the fence just before the increasing rain brought a halt to proceedings.
Manchester United fans came into this season with optimism that, after a summer of big signings and time dedicated to learning Ruben Amorim’s system, things at the club may improve. However, inconsistencies and poor performances here have continued this season, with the latest defeat coming at the hands of Brentford in the Premier League.
Following the defeat, Amorim was asked whether he is confident that he can turn things around.
“It’s like ups and downs. When you win, you feel that everything, the momentum is there.
“When you lose, you go back to the same place, and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum. Guys, I’m always doing my job. If I win, I’m in a different state of mind. That is normal. I’m always confident because I know what to do.”
Despite the manager’s refusal to admit defeat, Sir Jim Radcliffe and INEOS are not taking any chances and are already preparing alternatives in case Amorim can’t turn things around.
Parish keen to keep hold of Glasner
Reports are indicating that high on Manchester United’s list of potential replacements for Amorim is Crystal Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner. In the summer, it was reported that tensions were high between Glasner and Club chairman Steve Parish following Liverpool’s approach for club captain Marc Guehi.
Despite Guehi remaining at the club following the closure of the transfer window, he still looks set to leave with less than a year left on his contract. Guehi would be the latest in a string of high-profile departures from Palace that included Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. United may exploit this tension to try to bring Glasner to Old Trafford if they decide to part ways with Amorim.
However, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that Parish is still working hard to keep Glasner beyond the end of the season.
“Oliver Glasner is still Crystal Palace manager, he still has ambitions in South London – but ultimately the club need to match them. If Glasner is a top-four quality manager as he looks to be, can Palace keep him? Maybe, but it is going to be very difficult.
“Palace would love a new deal now, but it looks like that is a non-starter until the New Year. Palace know Man United are interested, they know others are looking, and that is a concern, but as they have seen with their players in recent years – when big clubs are circling, it is hard to fend them off. But Steve Parish has not given up on Glasner being Palace manager beyond this season.”
How Glasner could turn things around at United
Despite having the same controversial tactical set-up as Amorim, Glasner has already proved that he can win trophies at multiple clubs. His silverware includes the FA Cup, which he won with Crystal Palace and the Europa League, which he won with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Glasner has also proven himself a cut above Amorim in terms of managing Premier League clubs. Glasner has managed more games to a greater level of success than the Portuguese manager, with the Palace boss overseeing 71 games with an average points per game of 1.77 compared to Amorim, who has only managed 1.35 points per game in his 49 managerial outings.
One thing that might cause concern with appointing Glasner is that he favours a similar 3-4-2-1 formation to Amorim. While Glasner has found success with this at Palace, his squad seem more suited to it, and United have struggled to adapt to the system. This means that Glasner runs the risk of facing the same problems that Amorim has, and he may have to adapt his system.
Overall, it seems like Glasner is the better manager than Amorim, but his style of play doesn’t suit the United squad, and the club may find itself in the same situation if they appoint him.
Following a defeat in the first Test against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh have had to make changes to their Test squad ahead of the second match in Chattogram next week. Anamul Haque returns to the fold while Nahid Rana steps aside to fulfil PSL commitments.Anamul replaced Zakir Hasan, who didn’t play in Sylhet. He is in line to play his first Test match in nearly three years, forcing his way back into the reckoning with his recent form. Anamul is the highest scorer at the ongoing Dhaka Premier League 50-over competition, having hit four hundreds – three of them unbeaten – in his last ten innings. He will hope to use that form to make a better impression for Bangladesh in the longest format considering he has played only five Tests since making hist debut in 2013 and has a highest score of 23.Rana’s exit – he has been picked to play for Peshawar Zalmi – provides room for uncapped left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam. Tanvir has played 41 first-class matches to pick up 134 wickets at an average of 27.06. He has six five-wicket hauls with a best of 8 for 51.Bangladesh, who are 1-0 down, play Zimbabwe in the second Test of the two-match series from April 28.
Bangladesh squad for second Test vs Zimbabwe
Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-capt), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
The win – their biggest in ODIs in terms of runs – gave Bangladesh an NRR boost and put them top of the points table
Firdose Moonda10-Apr-2025
[File photo] Nigar Sultana scored 101 in Bangladesh’s 271 for 3•ICC/Getty Images
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana scored her first ODI hundred, off just 78 balls, and led her team to their highest total in the format and a thumping win over Thailand in their women’s World Cup Qualifier in Lahore on Thursday. Sultana was ably supported by Sharmin Akhter, who shared in two century stands and was unbeaten on 94, as Bangladesh posted the highest total of the tournament so far. The Bangladesh spin twins Fahima Khatun and Jannatul Ferdus did the rest.Fahima, the legspinner, and Ferdus, the offspinner, shared all ten Thailand wickets between them, both recording five-fors. Ferdus was playing in just her third ODI and bowling in this format for the first time and ended with figures of 5 for 7, which included a double-wicket maiden in her opening over. The more experienced Fahima, in her 45th match, took her first five-for to finish with 5 for 21.Thailand were bowled out for 93 inside 29 overs, their lowest ODI total, while Bangladesh secured their largest victory by runs in this format – 178.As the result suggests, Thailand had little joy from the fixture, though it started with an early wicket. In the fourth over, Ishma Tanjim reached for a wide delivery from Phannita Maya and got a thick edge through to the wicket-keeper Nannapat Koncharoenkai. From there, it was all Bangladesh. Fargana Hoque and Akhter put on 104 runs off 141 balls for the second wicket in a partnership that set Bangladesh up. Hoque brought up her fifty shortly after the halfway stage, off 75 balls, and then showed an intent to accelerate. But she top-edged an attempted slog sweep off Onnicha Kamchomphu and was caught at midwicket.That brought Sultana to the crease and her energy immediately upped the tempo. She found boundaries with the cut and the sweep and then began her charge against the spinners, with confident strikes through the leg side. Her fifty came off 45 balls, and she needed just 33 more to get to her century. Impressively, Bangladesh scored 77 runs in the last ten overs and topped their previous highest ODI score of 252 by 19 runs. The 152-run stand between Sharmin and Sultana was Bangladesh’s highest third-wicket partnership in ODIs.[File photo] Fahima Khatun picked up her first ODI five-for•CWI
The only thing they were unable to do was give Sharmin enough of the strike to get to a century. She was on 92 and facing in the final over but could only get a couple of singles. Four of Thailand’s seven-bowler attack conceded at six runs an over or more, including three of their spinners. Bangladesh’s attack was much tighter and more difficult to get away.They opened with spin at one end in the form of Nahida Akter and Thailand negotiated the early exchanges well. Their opening pair put on 38 in eight overs before Fahima was brought into the attack. She struck with her first ball, which she tossed up as Chanida Sutthiruang played down the wrong line and was bowled. Fahima continued to puzzle Thailand as Koncharoenkai played for turn against a delivery that straightened and Nattaya Boochatham missed a sweep and was trapped lbw. Thailand were 47 for 3 inside 15 overs, and things were about to get much worse.Ferdus bowled Natthakan Chantham with her second ball when she took out middle stump with a perfect offspinner. She ended that over with an almost identical ball to dismiss Maya. Before she conceded a run, Ferdus took a third when Naruemol Chaiwai offered a catch to Rabeya Khan at slip. Aphisara Suwanchonrathi scored the first run off Ferdus and then became her fourth wicket, at the start of the next over. She snuck through Suwanchronrathi’s bat-pad gap to find leg stump. Ferdus completed her five-for in her fifth over when she accepted a caught-and-bowled chance from Sunida Chaturongrattana.Fahima already had her fourth by then and was kept on in search of a five-for. She got there with the penultimate ball of her eighth over, when Onnicha Kamchomphu was hit on the pad in front of leg stump.All six teams have now played a match each and Bangladesh, by virtue of their superior net run-rate, top the table. The top two teams will qualify for the ODI World Cup to be held in India later this year.
Xabi Alonso believes Franco Mastantuono has the Real Madrid "gene" as the manager waxed lyrical about the 18-year-old's bright start since his summer transfer from River Plate. Madrid’s swoop for Mastantuono had been in the works for months. They agreed a deal but had to bide their time until the wonderkid turned 18. Once the birthday candles were blown out, the six-year contract was sealed, tying him to the Bernabeu until 2031.
Argentine wonderkid takes Madrid by storm
Snatched from River in a blockbuster €45 million ($53m/£39m) deal, Mastantuono has wasted no time announcing himself on the biggest stage. In La Liga, he has already found the net against Levante, becoming the fourth youngest player ever to score for Los Blancos. In Europe, he’s broken records too: the youngest starter in Madrid’s glittering Champions League history, surpassing Endrick’s previous benchmark. For a teenager fresh from South America, the speed of his rise has been nothing short of breathtaking.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMadrid "gene" that sets him apart
Ahead of the Madrid derby, Alonso hailed the impact of Mastantuono and said: "Franco has a lot going for him. He's only 18 years old. The adaptation has been very good. I love how competitive he is. He has a lot of energy. Then we have to get him in order. But that competitive gene is fundamental to our team. We're going to enjoy it. We have everyone ready. Everyone has recovered well. There's no injury or anything. We'll decide tomorrow."
The Messi link
Mastantuono's CV already reads like a fairy tale. He was the youngest player ever to pull on the Argentina shirt, making his debut at just 17 years and 296 days. Earlier this month, he even wore the sacred No.10 in Lionel Messi’s absence, a shirt that carries the weight of a nation.
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AFPThe big derby test
All eyes now turn to the Metropolitano, where Madrid face cross-city rivals Atletico this Saturday. Diego Simeone’s side are floundering, but derbies in this city are never a dull affair. For Mastantuono, it’s a chance to prove he can handle the intensity of Madrid’s fiercest battle. And should he sparkle in the cauldron of a derby, the hype will explode to even greater heights.
When a player goes from being described as the heartbeat of one team to a forgotten figure in another, it’s rarely down to a simple drop in talent.
Often, as Chris Wood demonstrated, a change of scenery can make all the difference.
Wood left Newcastle as an apparent misfit, having struggled to make an impact after his move from Burnley, but found a fresh start at Nottingham Forest.
There, he reminded everyone of his qualities, scoring 20 Premier League goals last season and helping Forest to their first European campaign since 1996.
Football is filled with such stories: players who are able to flourish once more under the right conditions. One midfielder currently making headlines fits that mould almost perfectly.
Once a key performer in the Premier League, he has endured a frustrating year abroad, hampered by injury and an unstable tactical environment.
But with several English clubs circling for his signature this summer, there’s every chance he could engineer a comeback in the same spirit as Wood.
Latest on Nottingham Forest's transfer search
The midfielder in question is Douglas Luiz, who swapped Aston Villa for Juventus in a €50m (£43m) deal only to see his first season in Italy collapse into disappointment.
He failed to register a single goal or assist in 27 appearances, missed 20 games through injury, and never looked settled under either Igor Tudor or Thiago Motta.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
He played just 45 minutes at the Club World Cup, and Juventus are now reportedly ready to let him go after he missed the opening day of pre-season training – a disciplinary issue that looks set to force his exit.
The Old Lady are now hoping to recoup around €40m (£34m), accepting things haven’t worked out as planned.
According to Corriere dello Sport in Italy, Nottingham Forest have been in direct contact with his camp, sensing an opportunity to acquire a player with proven English top-flight pedigree. The report suggests that ‘a five-year offer with an increased salary is on the table’.
Luiz’s numbers at Juventus paint a stark picture of how things fell apart. He ranked 19th in minutes played with only 841, starting just six matches.
His 0.69 key passes per game put him 9th among Juventus midfielders, while a meagre 0.77 tackles per game ranked him 21st.
Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz.
For a player described by Statman Dave as an “engine in midfield,” these struggles were uncharacteristic.
Instead, he is on the periphery in Turin, his World Cup 2026 ambitions in danger of being derailed. Could he follow Wood in being revived in Nottingham?
Another Forest revival could be on the cards
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Luiz could thrive again with the right manager, system, and consistent game time.
At Aston Villa, Luiz was the definition of a modern, dynamic midfielder.
According to FBref, stats from his final Premier League campaign in 2023/24 underlined that: an 85.7% pass completion rate while attempting over 71 passes per 90, and nearly four shot-creating actions per match.
He consistently progressed play, averaging 5.49 progressive passes and 2.15 progressive carries per 90.
Defensively, he contributed too, with 1.74 tackles per 90 and almost one block per match, using positional discipline and work rate to cover ground effectively.
The numbers made clear why Villa fans valued him so highly – a player who could link defence to attack seamlessly while breaking up opposition transitions.
Douglas Luiz at the Club World Cup with Juventus.
His last season at Villa saw him start nearly every game, a sharp contrast to the chaos of Juventus, where managerial turnover and persistent injuries destroyed any rhythm.
His 89.5% pass accuracy at Juve, still ranking him fifth-best at the club, suggests his technical quality remains intact. But without a consistent role, he looked lost.
The interest from Forest – as well as from Everton – makes perfect sense therefore.
Both clubs would welcome a midfield presence with ball-winning skills, tempo-setting passes, and Premier League experience.
Forest in particular could look to repeat their Chris Wood rescue mission by offering Luiz a stable platform and a clear tactical purpose. Wood had netted just five times in 39 games at St James’ Park, although has since showcased his prior form at Burnley, where the New Zealander scored 53 goals in 165 games.
Ola Aina with Chris Wood for Nottingham Forest.
As for Luiz also suits the style of English football far more naturally than the slower, more congested patterns he faced in Serie A.
His progressive passing, intensity out of possession, and capacity to make third-man runs all align with how many Premier League teams want their midfielders to operate.
What Luiz needs, just like Wood before him, is a manager willing to make him central to the team’s structure.
Wood rediscovered his confidence and instinct for goals at Forest, showing that a so-called failed signing can become an effective weapon when valued.
It is easy to forget how highly he was rated not long ago.
Leonardo Bertozzi’s prediction that Luiz could be a “leading name” for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup still has every chance of coming true, provided he finds a stable environment to rebuild his confidence.
With a Premier League return looking increasingly likely, fans might yet witness a redemption story worthy of Wood’s – proof once more that the right club, at the right moment, can revive even the most stalled careers.
Fermin Lopez stole the day while Raphinha and Robert Lewandoswki struck a devastating brace off the bench each to brush aside Valencia 6-0, as Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga. La Blaugrana put on a true five-star display as the visitors were put to the sword.
La Masia graduate Fermín rejected attempts from the likes of Chelsea to sign him over the summer and was on top form in Barca's first home game of the campaign with a stunning finish in either half. The 22-year-old swept the ball home after Ferran Torres' delicate touch through for his first, before striking the ball left-footed from range to beat goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala in the second half.
Raphinha was introduced at half-time and scored his first from an impressive Marcus Rashford assist, stretching to poke home a delicious whipped cross to the far post. The Brazilian's second goal was more of his own making, as he took down Marc Casadó's long pass and powered the ball in at the near post.
Despite being without Lamine Yamal through injury it was Barca domination from start to finish, as the visitors could boast barely an attack – with the "olés" beginning to come out just after the hour mark. With just under a quarter of an hour to play it was five, as Robert Lewandowski made his own impact off the bench with a lethal finish in the box. Soon after, the Polish striker had his second in just a short cameo, Marc Bernal this time with the clever through ball on his return from an ACL injury.
GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Estadi Johan Cruyff…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Joan Garcia (6/10):
The summer signing was rarely needed in such a dominant victory. Did not make a save until deep in the second half as Valencia had just two shots in the entire game.
Jules Koundé (6/10):
The Frenchman was solid while not needing to bring his A-game, facilitating a constant flow of attacks with passes into the midfield.
Eric García (7/10):
Made a key clearance in the first half and was part of a solid, though largely untested, defensive unit.
Pau Cubarsí (7/10):
Still just 18 years-old, Cubarsí is a fixture in the Barca defence and returned to the starting XI with effortless poise.
Gerard Martín (5/10):
Martín looked to get forward in his 74 minutes on the pitch and contributed to attacks, though he was caught out of position once or twice on the counter.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield
Pedri (8/10):
A wonderful footballer, Pedri dictated play from an often deeper position as Barca were utterly dominant in the centre of the park.
Marc Casadó (8/10):
Celebrating his 22nd birthday today, Casadó grabbed two assists in the second half and shone alongside Pedri.
Fermín López (9/10):
Fermín showed just why he was determined to stay at La Blaugrana this summer with two classy finishes, whipping the ball just out of the reach of Agirrezabala and into the net once in either half. Typically confident on the ball and finished expertly to open his account for the season.
Getty Images SportAttack
Roony Bardghji (5/10):
Making his competitive Barca debut, the Swedish winger showed a couple of flashes but was not used by team-mates as much as he would have liked. Taken off at half-time without having influenced the game.
Ferran Torres (6/10):
Starting ahead of Lewandowski through the centre, Ferran's assist for Fermín was outstanding – but the Spaniard had two gilt-edged chances to score and will be disappointed not to have his name on the scoresheet.
Marcus Rashford (7/10):
The Man United loanee's cross into Raphinha was the highlight of a display which showed flashes of quality, though he is still getting used to the league and to his team-mates. There are positive early signs.
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Raphinha (8/10):
Came on at half-time and was clinical in front of goal with two top finishes. Not fit enough to start, Raphinha made a big difference in the time he was on the pitch.
Robert Lewandowski (8/10):
Only on the pitch for just over 20 minutes, the great Polish striker helped himself to two late goals to rub salt into Valencia wounds. The 37-year-old remains one of the most devastating strikers around.
Dani Olmo (7/10):
Registered an assist for Lewandowski's first and looked to get on the scoresheet himself as the home side ran riot late on.
Marc Bernal (7/10):
Making his first appearance since returning from an ACL injury, the 18-year-old assisted the sixth and final goal in what was a meaningful end to the game for Barca.
Jofre Torrents (6/10):
Replaced Martín late on at left-back as Barcelona looked to add to their advantage.
Hansi Flick (8/10):
His selection and substitutions paid off as Barca were utterly dominant. The German will hope this display sets up another imperious season in La Liga.
Good things come to those who wait. That’s an aphorism firmly printed in the minds of Newcastle United’s fanbase, for sure.
The Magpies have endured another frustrating start to a summer transfer window, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro all opting against moves to St. James’ Park.
But Eddie Howe has bounced back from last summer’s failed bid for Anthony Elanga by signing the Nottingham Forest winger for £55m, thus filling a gaping hole in his first-team squad.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Now, he’s planning something special. Something emblematic of the club’s ambitions, their desire to not just to upset the Premier League hegemony but to destroy it, establishing themselves as part of a new ‘big six’.
Having won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three years, the Toon are well on their way to achieving this, and the signing of Hugo Ekitike would only rubberstamp this new position of strength.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Newcastle
Make no mistake, Newcastle would send shockwaves rippling across the footballing world if beating Liverpool and Chelsea, among others, to Ekitike’s signature.
The Frenchman is a rare breed of centre-forward, truly dynamic and creative in his approach to his craft. Already, he has been described by analyst Ben Mattinson as being “one of the best strikers out there”, and yet we’re looking at a player who still has a mountain to climb before completing his development.
And it’s hard to imagine that evolution will simply cease upon a move to Tyneside. Eintracht Frankfurt have overseen the 23-year-old’s progress since he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2024 as a loanee before becoming a fixed feature at the prow of the ship.
Newcastle’s interest runs deep, of course, for United had a £33m bid accepted back in 2022, but for the Reims prospect’s head to be turned by PSG’s late interruption.
And now, according to top sources such as The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle are pushing ahead, looking to close a deal.
Such news represents a double-edged sword: Ekitike has the makings of a world-class forward, but his acquisition heightens fears surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, with Liverpool having already made an attempt to lure him to Anfield in a staggering £130m deal. That’s the word of Times journalist Martin Hardy, anyway.
Especially since Howe is looking to take Newcastle’s summer expenditure to the next level, with a move for a Premier League star in the pipeline.
Newcastle discussing move for Premier League star
According to The Athletic, Ekitike isn’t the only former transfer target back on Newcastle’s radar, with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi’s name being continually discussed in internal recruitment meetings.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
Newcastle saw four bids for Guehi rejected by Eagles chairman Steve Parish last summer, but they could now return, with the Three Lions star in the final year of his contract and with no plans to renew.
Liverpool are also firm admirers, looking to sign the 25-year-old for £40m. However, as with Ekitike, Newcastle’s long-standing interest could hold sway in negotiations.
Why Marc Guehi would be a brilliant signing
Over the past several years, Guehi has established himself as one of the leading central defenders in English football, crowning his time at Crystal Palace, 155 senior appearances deep, with a reputation-raising victory over Manchester City to win the FA Cup in May.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
His time at Selhurst Park looks to be reaching its end, though, with the Eagles likely to want to cash in on their “elite” talent, as he’s been called by writer Eddie Gibbs, rather than lose him on a free next year.
Hailed as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi is quite literally the perfect defensive profile for Howe’s system: he’s combative, collected, and quietly authoritative.
Moreover, the England international’s surpassing technical qualities could see him charge the transitional emphasis, enhancing the system to a degree that could see him prove to be a signing just as exciting as any move for Ekitike, which is certainly saying something.
Ekitike is one of the most talented young strikers around, but he’s also got work to be done. There are blemishes in his ball-striking, weaknesses in his intuitiveness, though these are small things, outweighed by the scale of his potential.
Guehi, conversely, has shaped into the complete package under Oliver Glasner’s wing in the capital and would be expected to hit the ground running at Newcastle.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehiin action
When fit and fully functional, Sven Botman is patently Newcastle’s best centre-half. His 2022/23 campaign was a thing to behold, but his last two terms have been disrupted by setbacks.
Looking at how Guehi ranks up against that giddy height is quite a thing. This might be a player who moves over and instantly establishes themselves as the cream of Newcastle’s crop.
Matches (starts)
36 (35)
34 (34)
Goals
0
3
Assists
0
2
Clean sheets
11
11
Touches*
58.4
64.9
Pass completion
87%
84%
Key passes*
0.3
0.5
Dribbles (success)*
0.1 (100%)
0.4 (86%)
Tackles + interceptions*
2.0
2.6
Clearances*
3.3
4.6
Duels (won)*
3.5 (67%)
4.9 (59%)
We can extrapolate the data above to posit Guehi’s signature being of equal merit, equally as exciting, to any deal for Ekitike in the coming weeks.
Guehi, after all, has been named as “England’s best centre-back” by one analyst, the evidence of which lies in his fixed position in the Three Lions starting line-up over the past couple of years.
As is starting to become a frustrating theme, it looks like a deal for Guehi will indeed include fending off Liverpool. But, with Howe building an incredible project and Guehi sure to assume a leading role under the St. James’ Park lights, the Englishman might just feel that a move to Newcastle represents the best move for his career at this stage.
Considering the calibre of player the Palace man is and the need for a centre-back, there’s certainly an argument that Guehi could be the defining success of a tremendous transfer window on Tyneside.
A dream for Bruno: Newcastle likely to see £50m bid accepted to sign new CM
As Newcastle United look to bolster their midfield options, the Mapgies are reportedly set to see a £50 million bid accepted to sig a great “leader”.
India fast bowler Akash Deep has given a ringing endorsement of the country’s domestic system, saying it is so rigorous that players who make the step up from there to international cricket have already been battle-tested.”The structure the BCCI has for domestic cricket is so strong that by the time you get to this level, you have already played a lot of good-quality cricket,” Akash, who has played two Tests so far, said in Kanpur. “You know what your bowling is like and what you need to do. So I don’t find anything new here. The processes we follow to get here, we just need to follow those and take those forward.”India have invested a great deal into their pathways to create a strong pool of players capable of stepping into the national team in any format. Akash came through it himself, taking 35 wickets in the Ranji Trophy in 2019 at an average of 18.02 as Bengal made the final. From there he was picked to play for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy in 2022, the Deodhar Trophy in 2023, then onto India A cricket and, on the back of 11 wickets in two games against England Lions, a Test debut in February 2024. He picked up three wickets in his first spell, dismissing Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, and 2 for 19 in the first innings of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh.Related
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Akash Deep uses Shami's advice for impressive Duleep Trophy outing
One-Test-old Akash Deep determined for more
The seniors in the Indian team also help newcomers feel at ease in a new environment. “I am very fortunate to play for India under [Rohit Sharma],” Akash said. “He keeps things so simple. I had some hesitation when I came to the Indian team, about the pressure, some confusion… but when I got to the ground, [Rohit] made things so simple for me that I didn’t know if I was playing domestic cricket or international cricket. I don’t think in my life I could have asked for a captain who makes things so simple.”Having been put at ease, Akash drew on all that he had learnt on his way up to international level – he had come in on the back of 30 first-class, 28 List A and 41 T20 games, where he picked up 104, 42 and 48 wickets respectively – and worked on how to improve further.Akash Deep already feels at home in international cricket•BCCI
“I have played a lot of cricket in the last two years,” he said. “Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, so we are used to playing cricket for long periods. I think that as a cricketer, it’s important to understand yourself. Suddenly if we are selected for a new team, there shouldn’t be any confusion. ‘I have done this in the Ranji Trophy, what am I supposed to do here?'”I have worked on that, worked on my strengths. What can I add to my bowling? I have spent time thinking about those things. It’s about the simple things. I don’t put pressure on myself, that I have to play in [November’s tour of ] Australia, or in any other big series. I stay in the present. I think about today, this match, which helps me keep things simple.”Akash was asked about “this match” and in particular the pitch in Kanpur. “Whatever the wicket is like, if I play, my job is to put the ball in good areas,” he said. “Even if the wicket is not favouring fast bowlers, I need to find a way to pick up wickets. From what I have seen, it’s a sporting wicket, not a batters’ wicket.” India face Bangladesh at Green Park for the final game of the series after taking a 1-0 lead in Chennai.Akash also opened up on a little connection that he has with the ground here. “I am from Banaras, which is not far from here. I had heard of the stadium – Green Park – when I was young, and I thought that it’s because the whole ground was green. I hadn’t seen any stadiums at the time. I remembered it after coming here, that the first stadium I had heard of was Green Park. It feels nice, that I am here, at the place I had heard of as a kid.”
Durham 344 for 4 (Lees 111, de Leede 72, Ackermann 59) beat Lancashire 287 (Bohannon 147, de Leede 3-33, Ackermann 3-37) by 57 runsCaptain Alex Lees starred with a superb 111 added to impressive all-round contributions from Dutch internationals Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann as Durham claimed an opening day Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over Lancashire at Sedbergh School.Opener Lees cleanly struck eight fours and a six in a 126-ball innings which underpinned 344 for four – Durham’s sixth highest List A total. De Leede contributed 72 off 63 and Ackermann 59 off 33.In ideal batting conditions, and in front of approximately 2,000 spectators, Lancashire’s task of chasing was tall. Josh Bohannon top-scored with an excellent career best 147 off 119 balls, an even better innings than Lees’s. But Ackermann and de Leede equally shared six wickets in 287 all out – a Durham win by 57 runs.Lees made the most of his decision to bat first, hitting all of his boundaries on the leg-side and driving George Balderson’s seam over long-off for his only six.Every Durham batter contributed. Fellow Under 19s international Ben McKinney opened with a pleasing 43 – he shared 87 with Lees – before Scotland international Michael Jones added a late 41 off 21 against his birth county.Durham paced their innings beautifully against a Red Rose attack who failed to gain control. Only Balderson – one for 57 from 10 overs – went at less than six in over in a six-man attack.Lees and de Leede shared 129 inside 20 overs for the second wicket, advancing from 87 for one in the 20th. It was a Durham partnership record for the second wicket in List A matches against Lancashire.Lees reached a 117-ball century but didn’t last much longer.He followed de Leede’s departure, the skipper caught at long-off against Harry Singh’s off-spin – 250 for three in the 44th over.After that, 81 came from the last six overs as Ackermann and Jones set about a thrilling acceleration.New ball seamer Tom Bailey conceded 27 off the 47th – 308 for three. Jones hit a six and four and Ackermann two sixes and a four.Lancashire’s reply started well despite George Bell’s early departure. He cut Paul Coughlin to backward point.At 91 for one in the 16th over, their hopes would have been high as captain Keaton Jennings and Bohannon both approached fifties.But their second-wicket partnership was cut short at 72 when the former was run out for 44 at the non-striker’s end going for a third to deep midwicket, sparking a match-defining collapse of four wickets for 46 – Lancashire now 137 for five in the 23rd.Ackermann’s off-spin (three for 37 from six overs) accounted for three of them, bowling Balderson and Tom Bruce added to George Lavelle caught at backward point. The latter two fell in as many deliveries in the 23rd over.Bohannon shared a calming 61 for the sixth wicket with Singh, but the latter was one of two wickets to fall in the 34th to de Leede’s seam, leaving the hosts 202 for seven.Singh pulled to deep midwicket for 25 and Tom Aspinwall was bowled.De Leede (three for 33 from eight) bowled Bailey shortly afterwards before Bohannon reached a second List A century off 93 balls.But a win was the prize he craved. Unfortunately for him, that ship had long sailed as no team-mate could support him until it was too late.He also shared 62 for the ninth wicket with Will Williams, who fell to Jonathan Bushnell’s seam.The same man completed the visiting success when he bowled Bohannon in the 45th over after the England Lions captain had struck 13 fours and half a dozen sixes.