Usman Khawaja hopes to start forging something good with Sam Konstas in the West Indies in the lead up to the Ashes

Andrew McGlashan24-Jun-20251:10

Head not fazed by big-name absences

Usman Khawaja won’t overstay his welcome in the Australia team but is adamant he has more to contribute and sees a significant role for himself in helping nurture Sam Konstas on his return to Test cricket against West Indies.Khawaja scored a career-best double-century earlier this year against Sri Lanka but his form returned to the spotlight with twin failures against Kagiso Rabada in the World Test Championship final. That continued a trend of lean returns against pace bowling following the challenges posed by Jasprit Bumrah last season and New Zealand’s quicks earlier in 2024. However, speaking after Lord’s, head coach Andrew McDonald all but confirmed that Khawaja’s position was secure for the Ashes later this year.Khawaja, who was the second-highest-scoring opener in the last WTC cycle, behind Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Australia’s leading scorer overall, stands by his longer-term record and believes any downturn is more a symptom of his role in the side at a time when top-order batting has been a challenging prospect. Since the start of 2024 he averages 25.29 against pace, only a little below the global average of all openers of 27.84, compared to 65.80 against spin.Related

• McDonald asks for 'a bit of patience' as spotlight remains firmly on Konstas

• Australia's new-look batting order 'prepared for anything'

• Konstas keen to settle into Test cricket

• Voges backs Inglis as top-four Test batter

“I can’t understand how I can [have a problem against seam bowling] if I can score so many runs in [Sheffield] Shield cricket or be the highest run-scorer for Australia in the WTC cycle,” he said in Barbados ahead of the opening Test. “I open the batting for Australia. So I get out to seam more than I get out to anyone else. It’s just part and parcel of the game.”I wish I could face more spinners, but you don’t always get that opportunity. So, I’m facing the new-ball bowlers with the new ball every single time. I went back from Sri Lanka to domestic cricket and scored a hundred against Tasmania. I pretty much faced seam the whole time there [and] against Riley Meredith, who is one of the fastest bowlers in the country.””I understand I’m 38 years old. People will be looking for an excuse. [But] I think I’ve got a role to play: open the batting, starting off, and setting a good platform for Australia.”Since David Warner’s retirement in early 2024, Khawaja has had five opening partners: Steven Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas, Travis Head and, latterly, Marnus Labuschagne in the WTC final. Khawaja spoke of the rapport he built with Warner in their 41 innings together at the top, which included almost a sixth sense of what the other was thinking – “I knew when and where he was going to drop and run a quick single, and I was ready for it” – and hoped to start forging something similar with Konstas in the West Indies with an eye to the Ashes.”With young Sammy coming in, it’s an added role [for me],” he said. “To help Sammy along through his journey, trying to impart as much knowledge as I can. I won’t be around forever. But it’s very important that I can do whatever I can, obviously first and foremost, [to] have a solid partnership between us but then bit of stability at the top [and] also guide him through this journey. He’s still very young, he’s a 19-year-old boy, and it’s quite exciting.”There’s obviously this series and then a big Ashes coming up. [You] probably want a little bit of stability at the top. It’ll be tough to chop and change, and opening is a tough place. Mentally it can be very tough. Going out there against the new ball and sometimes just getting a good ball and low scores.Australia are hoping Sam Konstas is the answer to the spot left vacant by David Warner•Getty Images

“I’m just looking forward to playing with Sammy, as much as on the field as helping him off the field. I’ve been through a lot in my life, a lot of ups and downs. There are lots of things I’ve seen throughout my career and most of them are not technical. More mindset things. If I can help Sammy through this journey, especially over the next couple of series, try and impart as much knowledge I can to him.”The Sydney Test at the end of the Ashes is often referenced as a stepping-off point for Khawaja but, unlike Warner, he is not outlining a precise route to retirement. After the England series, Australia won’t play Tests again until Bangladesh visit for a series in the Top End in August.”For me, I feel like I have plenty to give still,” he said. “To be playing this series and the Ashes is the pinnacle. That’s the one we all love winning and being involved in… after that there is a bit of a gap between that and the next Test series. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there but for me it’s about making sure I stay in the moment. Because if I’m not in the moment, I don’t think I’m doing the right thing by myself and the team.”I’m not the guy who’s going, ‘I want to play for another ten years’. I’m very attuned to whatever is best for the team [and that] is what I’m trying to do. I’m not here for myself anymore. I’m here for the team. I could have stopped playing two years ago, really. But I found that I was still contributing, still trying to be the best player for the team at that opening spot, trying to do what I can do, [and] that hasn’t changed for me. When it does, you guys will surely find out.”

The MCA accepts his request to withdraw the NOC for playing for Goa

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2025Yashasvi Jaiswal will continue to be with Mumbai for the 2025-26 domestic season after the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) accepted his request to withdraw the no-objection certificate (NOC) to move to Goa.”Yashasvi has always been a proud product of Mumbai cricket,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik stated in a press release. “We have accepted Jaiswal’s withdrawal NOC application and he will be available for Mumbai in the forthcoming domestic season.”In April, Jaiswal had sought an NOC to play for Goa, a move the MCA had found “surprising”. But a month later, he wrote to them again, saying he had planned to relocate to Goa with his family, but that plan had since changed and he wanted to continue playing for Mumbai.Related

• Sairaj Patil – the six-hitting, seam-bowling Mumbai man to watch out for

• Jaiswal makes U-turn, wants to continue playing for Mumbai

The 23-year-old has played for Mumbai since his Under-19 days. He made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2019 and has since played ten first-class games for them, scoring 863 runs at an average of 53.93, which includes four centuries, two fifties and a highest score of 181 against Uttar Pradesh in 2022.He had played for Mumbai in the recent domestic season, too, in a Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir, which they lost at home. He was set to play in the semi-final against Vidarbha, but was ruled out after injuring his right ankle while training ahead of the game.Jaiswal is currently with India’s Test team in England. His century in the series opener at Leeds ended in vain as India lost by five wickets.

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill fell as England nudged marginally ahead in the Test

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes was pumped up after trapping Shubman Gill lbw•Getty Images

Tea Liam Dawson marked his comeback to Test cricket by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal with his seventh ball to help prise the opening day back open in Manchester.India’s openers batted through the morning session after being inserted but England struck three blows and kept the scoring rate below three an over in the afternoon to leave the fourth Test in the balance.KL Rahul became the fifth Indian player to reach 1,000 runs in England during the first session and played late throughout his innings. But he edged Chris Woakes to third slip for 46 while looking to punch down the ground, bringing an opening partnership of 94 in exactly 30 overs to an end.Jaiswal continued to frustrate England and reached his eighth 50-plus score in 16 innings against them after lunch, but fell soon before drinks. He battled his instincts for much of the morning session to soak up pressure in gloomy conditions, but then became the returning Dawson’s first victim since July 2017, edging to Harry Brook at slip for 58.It was the highlight of a superb spell from Dawson, who had 1 for 21 in seven overs at the tea interval and exerted the sort of control that the injured Shoaib Bashir, whom he replaced in England’s only change, struggled to in the first three Tests. He kept the recalled B Sai Sudharsan quiet, who was then dropped on 20 down the leg side by Jamie Smith off Ben Stokes.Stokes himself struck soon before the interval, pleading with Rod Tucker for an lbw decision – which eventually came – after striking Shubman Gill on the pad as he shouldered arms. Gill’s unsuccessful appeal meant that he has scored 16, 6 and 12 since his epic Edgbaston Test, and left England slightly ahead on day one.

Ellie Anderson three-for trumps Kate Cross’ hard-fought fifty for hosts

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Sep-2025An impressive bowling display set Somerset up for an entertaining five-wicket DLS victory against high-flying Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford as they boosted their Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-finals hopes.Sixth-placed Somerset restricted their second-placed hosts to 169 for nine from 44 overs and chased a revised 164 from the same allocation inside 35 for a bonus point.Ellie Anderson’s seam accounted for three wickets and Amanda-Jade Wellington’s leg-spin two before Niamh Holland and unbeaten Dani Gibson contributed 44 apiece to help secure a fifth win in 11 games. Wellington also added a steadying 25 not out to cap her impressive day.Inserted, Lancashire had been put under early pressure at 69 for seven inside 24 overs before England seamer Kate Cross’s composed 51 off 58 balls led a fightback which ultimately failed to prevent a fourth defeat in 11.Both sides maintained the group-table positions they held at the start of the day.This fixture was interrupted for just over an-hour-and-a-half by rain from 1.10pm onwards.The Red Rose made a disastrous start on an overcast and damp Manchester morning.Anderson – three for 44 from 10 overs – did the early damage with three of the first four wickets, including Ireland overseas batter Gaby Lewis superbly caught low down at cover by Holland for a debut eight.She also bowled Seren Smale and had Fi Morris caught at backward point following a sliced drive. The 21-year-old was bowling from the end named after her fellow Anderson, Sir James.Somerset let a few catches go begging, but none were too damaging.Australian Wellington’s spin then further tightened the screw.She had Ailsa Lister caught behind and a sweeping home captain Ellie Threlkeld caught at short fine-leg, finishing with an excellent two for 19 from 10 overs.But Cross and fellow England fast bowler Mahika Gaur calmly settled the ship with their side’s highest eighth-wicket partnership in List A cricket since the start of the professional era in 2020, including regional Thunder matches.Gaur contributed a determined career best 20, while Cross was more expansive. She was particularly strong against spin in hitting nine fours.It has been a bittersweet few weeks for Cross having been left out of England’s squad for the forthcoming World Cup before – on Sunday – winning the Hundred with the Northern Superchargers.Just after Gaur miscued the left-arm spin of Olivia Barnes to cover – 141 for eight in the 39th over – the rain came.Cross reached her fifty off 57 balls shortly after the resumption before heaving Mollie Robbins’ seam to deep midwicket. Robbins claimed the first and last wickets of the innings.Somerset made a stress-free start to their chase, with Holland and Bex Odgers sharing 64 inside 14 overs for the first wicket.The latter contributed 24 before falling lbw on the reverse sweep to the spin of Hannah Jones.And that was the start of a collapse which threatened their victory as the score slipped from 64 for none to 109 for five.Holland was caught behind off the seam of Danni Collins – 82 for two in the 19th over – before Fran Wilson and captain Sophie Luff both fell cheaply. Cross bowled the latter.But Gibson and Wellington steadied the ship and saw their side home by sharing 58 unbroken. Gibson hit four fours and a six in 36 balls.In the semi-finals race, Somerset are three points behind fourth-placed Surrey with three games remaining. Lancashire, meanwhile, are five points clear of Durham in fifth.

Leicestershire close in on victory that would sign off their Division Two title triumph in style

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Sep-2025Northamptonshire 189 and 120 for 5 (Keogh 42, Trevaskis 3-31) need a further 381 runs to beat Leicestershire 429 and 260 for 5 dec (Patel 76, Cox 51*, Budinger 50)Liam Trevaskis and Chris Wright sliced through Northamptonshire’s top order as Leicestershire closed in on a victory that would sign off their Rothesay County Championship Division Two title triumph in style.The Foxes, already confirmed as champions last week, declared and set Northamptonshire an improbable 501 to win at Wantage Road following Rishi Patel’s 76 and an unbeaten 30-ball half-century by Ben Cox.Left-arm spinner Trevaskis took three wickets, with seamer Wright – playing his final game prior to retirement – capturing the other two to reduce the home side to 120 for 5 before bad light halted play.Northamptonshire’s Rob Keogh top-scored with 42, passing 10,000 runs across all formats in the process, but his side’s slim hopes of staving off defeat largely rest on Saif Zaib, unbeaten on 20 at stumps.Leicestershire resumed with an overall lead of 326 and eight wickets in hand, but they were initially stifled by a tight spell from George Scrimshaw, who found some movement in both directions.However, it was a straight delivery from the seamer that removed Lewis Hill, leg-before for 38 and Patel then took command, punching a series of boundaries and bringing up his half-century with a straight drive off Stuart van der Merwe.Van der Merwe was also slog-swept for six by the Foxes opener, but there was success for his fellow rookie Nirvan Ramesh when Stephen Eskinazi reverse-swept the off-spinner and deflected onto his stumps.Although Patel’s hopes of another century to back up his 114 against Kent last week were dashed shortly before lunch when he nicked Zaib behind, the champions chose to bat on into the afternoon session.Yet Cox’s lightning half-century ensured that the innings continued for only five more overs – enough time for Leicestershire to pile up another 53 runs and extend their advantage to exactly 500.Cox bludgeoned the vast majority of those, scooping Scrimshaw for six and then flicking Ben Whitehouse over square leg and out of the ground before a booming four over the bowler’s head signalled both his 50 and the declaration.Logan van Beek and Wright gave away very little at the start of Northamptonshire’s second innings, with the ball rolling across the boundary rope just once during the first 11 attritional overs.Wright, bringing down the curtain on a 22-year professional career, dismissed both openers as Arush Buchake was caught behind pushing at a ball that left him before Lewis McManus drove straight to gully.Having edged Wright to the third boundary to reach his career landmark, Keogh gained a life soon afterwards when he nudged Josh Hull through the slips for four more, but settled down as he and James Sales steered their side to tea.The partnership progressed to 67, but Keogh’s good fortune ran out soon after the restart as he aimed an ambitious drive at Trevaskis and this time Patel safely pouched the chance at slip.Sales departed in the left-armer’s next over, caught behind off a bottom edge and Trevaskis then trapped Justin Broad lbw in a prolonged spell – partly enforced by the darkening clouds which restricted Leicestershire to slower bowling.Patel came on to deliver a single over of leg-breaks before the deteriorating light brought an end to proceedings, with Leicestershire needing five more wickets to wrap up victory on the final day of the season.

Abhishek Sharma’s 12-ball half-century is the joint-third-fastest in all men’s T20 cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2025Abhishek Sharma has smashed a 12-ball half-century, playing for Punjab against Bengal in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in Hyderabad on Sunday. It is the joint-third-fastest fifty and joint-second-fastest by an Indian in men’s T20 cricket.Opening the batting with Prabhsimran Singh, Abhishek took apart a bowling attack headlined by Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep, scoring at well over 15 runs an over against both of them as well as Saksham Choudhary and Writtick Chatterjee. Abhishek hit five fours and five sixes to get to his fifty, conceding just one dot ball in the 12 balls he had faced to get to the landmark.Though he never really threatened to run the record for the fastest century in men’s T20s close – Chauhan’s, in 27 balls – Abhishek did get to the mark in 32 balls before finishing on 148 in 52, with eight fours and 16 sixes. Abhishek, however, already has the record for the joint-second-fastest T20 century, off 28 balls, the same as Urvil Patel, who scored it for Gujarat against Tripura, also in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, last season.Punjab finished with 310 for 5 in their 20 overs, Prabhsimran smashing 70 in 35 balls, but his innings put in the shade by his partner. Punjab’s total was the second highest in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, behind Baroda’s 349 for 5 against Sikkim in Indore in December 2024. They went on to win the game by 112 runs.The fastest fifty in men’s T20s was scored by Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, against Mongolia during the Hangzhou Asian Games in September 2023. India’s Ashutosh Sharma is at No. 2 on the list for his 11-ball fifty for Railways against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2023-24 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.Abhishek is now the fifth batter to record a 12-ball fifty in the format. Yuvraj Singh was the first, with his innings at the 2007 T20 World Cup against England, which included six sixes in an over against Stuart Broad. Chris Gayle achieved it in the BBL, for Melbourne Renegades against Adelaide Strikers in January 2016. In October 2018 then, Afghaniostan’s Hazratullah Zazai matched it playing for Kabul Zwanan against Balkh Legends, featuring Gayle, in an Afghanistan Premier League game in Sharjah.The last instance was when Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan got there against Cyprus in an international match in Episkopi on his way to an unbeaten 41-ball 144.

It’s fair to say that Leeds United have looked different recently.

The Whites haven’t been at the races whatsoever, and if it weren’t for a late winner against Birmingham City they’d have failed to win any of their previous four matches.

It’s no surprise that this poor run has coincided with a defensive lapse.

Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Leeds still have the joint-best backline in the league, conceding just 20 goals in 25 games, but ten of those have been shipped in their last four outings.

So what’s going on? Ben White’s stats are still as excellent as ever, winning 11 interceptions in the last three games. The same, meanwhile, goes for Liam Cooper, who has amassed 20 clearances in the same time frame. So where is the defensive lapse coming from?

It’ll be hard for United fans to hear it, but blame for the Whites’ poor defensive record as of late may lie on the shoulders of Kalvin Phillips.

The defensive midfielder has often been the rock in front of Leeds’ backline protecting the defence from any possible threats, but in recent weeks he’s been lacklustre.

The 24-year-old averages the third-highest tackles-per-game in the entire division, but in Leeds’ last four matches he’s made just two tackles overall, averaging 0.5 per match which is way down from the 3.1 he has been averaging this term.

That’d be ok if he was making up for it by winning the ball back in other ways, but his interception numbers tell a similar story as he’s made just two in the past four matches.

There’s no doubting that Phillips is one of the main reasons for Leeds’ brilliant defensive record this season – his tackling stats up to this point have been nigh on impeccable, but his recent dip seems to be what has caused United to leak goals.

In other news, Phil Hay has named three positions that Leeds are looking to strengthen in January.

“Results over style” is what is being murmured at Anfield by the likes of creative midfielder Adam Lallana, and you do indeed get the sense that it is now results that are of more importance to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who for too long has focused on style over substance.

The signing of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa was a big indicator that the Northern Irishman was ready to change his ways, and their win over Stoke was another sign that there is a real change in style happening at Liverpool.

That is not to say that the Reds will now be a long ball team, but it looks as though that Rodgers realises that results are key for him in this crunch period. He needs points and needs them on the board early, otherwise he will come under intense pressure from the Liverpool board.

When Liverpool lost the title at home to Chelsea in May 2014, the sight of hopeful crosses into the box from deep were every bit as painful as Steven Gerrard’s painful slip that day. Gerrard acknowledged that the Reds were too desperate to score; their inexperience cost them as they “lost their way” and went too “gung ho.”

In particular. he pointed out the Reds went into the game with the “same tactics” that served them so well in their eleven game winning run and when it failed, they did not know what else to do. They panicked.

A lot has changed since that fateful day. The signing of Benteke could be the most significant change in that time, and judging by his debut against Stoke, the big 6ft 4in striker might well have a major impact on Liverpool’s approach play.

The clear clue lies with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who hit more successful passes into the final third of the pitch at Stoke than in any away game last season.

While it wasn’t exactly hit and hope football that was being played, there was a bigger balance to the Reds’ play. There was more opportunity to mix it up. And it is no coincidence that Rodgers’ men put in the third most amount of crosses in on the opening weekend of Premier League football.

Rodgers even acknowledged that Benteke’s aerial threat opens his side up to new opportunities. He said: “I thought Christian was outstanding.

“He showed all the elements of his game today: his touch, hold-up play, movement in behind. He always really occupies a back four, on his own at times, and it is important to have that ability to be unpredictable.”

The key word there is “unpredictable”, which is something that, under Rodgers’ Liverpool, simply have not been at all in his time at Anfield, and who have always tried to play like Barcelona rather than mix it up. However, Liverpool don’t have Lionel Messi or the likes of Iniesta and Neymar, they can’t try to play like Barcelona all of the time and, if that is all that they try to do, they become far too predictable to play against. That’s why variation in style with Benteke will be crucial this season.

Finally, the fact that players are coming out and saying results are more important now shows Rodgers has got his message across, and now with Benteke on board the Reds look far less predictable; that could well be to their advantage this season.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-poll’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Last Sunday’s defeat against Swansea told us a fair few things about Man United so far this season, one being that the squad isn’t balanced and that they are well in short in the striking department.

It is fair to say that the Reds aren’t well stocked in that striking departments, which has led to United boss Louis van Gaal to suggest that midfielder Maraoune Fellaini could play up front, which was the role the Belgian midfielder played when he came on against Swansea last Sunday.

But is it actually a viable option to play the midfielder up front? Well, when he is deployed in a deeper central defensive midfield role he struggles, and doesn’t really play to his strengths.

This is something van Gaal has recognised by saying that this season Fellaini will be used as a no9 or no10, opposed to the deeper role in which former Man United boss David Moyes fielded the former Everton man.

[ffc-gal cat=”manchester-united” no=”5″]

In his Premier League career so far, Fellaini has been used just once as a target man striker and that was for Everton. But he has had a fairly significant impact coming off the bench for Man United, on the occasions he has been thrown on as a lump it long striker.

On the nine occasions it has happened under van Gaal, United have scored six goals and conceded just twice.

There is no doubting that when Fellaini is used in this way his sizeable 6ft 4in frame causes plenty of problems for the opposing defences, and despite United’s good footballing reputation, van Gaal isn’t worried about playing long balls. Only relegated pair QPR and Burnley played more long balls than the Red Devils last term.

Along with that, their long ball accuracy was the best in the league, with 54% of them finding their target, suggesting van Gaal’s side have the ability needed to make the most of Fellaini’s strengths, too.

He can certainly do it as a striker, but Fellaini would admit himself that his best position is behind the striker in a number 10 role. That is where you get the best out of the Belgium international.

In 40 matches in that position Fellaini has produced the goods, with a hand in 19 goals (11 goals and eight assists). It is where he produces his best form, but despite this, perhaps because of his nature he isn’t often used so much in that position, as the ‘long ball team’ tag could be branded to whoever chooses to play him there.

It is strange as when played deeper, he simply is wasted. Fellaini has been involved in just 15 goals in 97 starts from a deeper role, which proves how ineffective he can be in that role.

This also highlights the way van Gaal should use him, which would be a good decision considering the difference he can have when he is played further forward.

[ad_pod id=’lockerdome’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’eight’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

The sun doesn’t appear to set on the South Coast, despite the miserable weather conditions you might expect as the seasons bypass autumn and bring a wet winter to the area quicker than a trademark Sadio Mane run at petrified defences.

Yes, Southampton are still defying the odds and continue on their quest to break into the long established top order in the higher echelons of the Premier League. The conveyer belt of astute signings is still in motion, more efficient than ever, despite huge player turnover and big name departures.

The Saints are one of the most exciting teams in the top tier, having moulded a side out of under the radar signings across the continent to replace the likes of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and most recently Morgan Schneiderlin.

You would back those in charge of recruitment at St. Mary’s to have a strong sense of who to bring into the philosophy at play, and manager Ronald Koeman to get the best out of each player within its frameworks.

The club know a gem when they see one, so it’s barely surprising to see them linked with a raft of exciting, stylish names ahead of the January transfer window.

Here are FIVE January transfer rumours at Southampton that may actually happen…

Juan Quintero

Reported Arsenal target Juan Quintero is apparently being lined up for a £16m move to Southampton in January. The 22-year old Colombian international has impressed on loan at Rennes from FC Porto, and could be set to add further flair to the Saints’ front line.

He appeared during the 2014 World Cup in the vibrant national team, and would appear to be a natural fit into Koeman’s skilful side. With both Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long out injured, refreshing the squad in the New Year could be a priority as the Dutchman looks to launch another assault on European positions.

He has quite the pedigree for a player his age, and could see a Saints switch as the best possible step in his career.

Joe Allen

Joe Allen is a Welsh international and could slot nicely into the engine room at Southampton. A great passer of the ball, just mostly sideways during his time at Liverpool.

As cover for Jordy Clasie and Steven Davis, the Welsh wizard has been linked with a move, and could help strengthen midfield options. Though it’s not really worked out for him at Anfield, the player was excellent during his time at Swansea, and a move could perhaps spark him back into life.

It would be a sensible signing, rather than a stellar one.

Jorginho

Napoli midfielder Jorginho has been linked with a host of Premier League sides, namely Liverpool and Southampton. The 23-year old Brazilian is hot property in Europe after some classy performances in Napoli’s engine room.

Such showings have seen him linked with Liverpool, though Saints could be looking to steal a march.

He would appear to be exactly the sort of player the South Coast side would prefer to target – young, skilful and potentially an astronomical sell on value should everything go to plan. With Steven Davis ageing, Koeman could see fit to splash out on the Napoli man in order to add further genuine class in the middle of the park.

Tony Vilhena

Long term target Tonny Vilhena has been quoted as saying: “I am definitely open to a foreign club.”

The 20-year old is thought have been on Ronald Koeman’s radar for a while, after coming through the ranks with Feyenoord and a regular in the Dutch under-21 side.

Like the links to Jorginho and Quintero, Vihena is an exciting attacking midfielder, able to take on players as well as score goals. In fact, he is the youngster ever player in the Eredivisie to net twice in a single outing.

Talks are thought to have been underway for almost a year now, though with the player revealing he is open to switch – it could come to fruition at last.

Gaston Ramirez

It’s not really worked out for Gaston Ramirez since his, then club record, £12m move from Bologna almost four years ago now. The Uruguayan has failed to settle, and has seen the club’s stellar recruitment strategy provide strong levels of competition for a starting berth.

The 24-year old is out of contract at the end of this season, and reports suggest a return to Serie A could be on the cards, with Rome giants Lazio lurking. Surely the club will be looking to recoup some money on their investment, rather than lose him for free in the summer.

He was only able to make 24 appearances throughout his time with the club, and spent almost the entirety of last season at Hull.