All posts by h716a5.icu

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has offered the Red Devils some transfer advice and has one key target in mind.

Man Utd linked with more signingsTipped to bring in a striker or midfielderFerdinand reveals his top choice for the Red DevilsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United have brought in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon in the summer transfer window but continue to be linked with other targets. Amorim's side are one of several clubs believed to be interested in Benjamin Sesko, while Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

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Financial issues means that the Red Devils may not go for a striker this summer and could rely instead on Rasmus Hojlund to lead the lead. Ferdinand feels that if his former club can only sign one more player this summer, then they should go all out for 21-year-old Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.

WHAT FERDINAND SAID

He said on his YouTube channel: "I think you've got to look at the here and now at the moment with Man United. That's what I said about a No 9. I'm not really doubting [Sesko] as a player. I'm saying Man United need experience at the top of the pitch. They've got Hojlund, they've got Zirkzee, they've got Chido. Young, inexperienced players. They need someone to look at and go, "That's how you play as a No 9. That's how you do it. When you're going to buy somebody who hasn't got as much experience as I'd like, I think that's another risk. Is it worth taking with inexperienced players at this level?"

"If I don't get a striker, I'd go midfield. There's only one name I'm thinking about, I've got to be honest, who I think fits the bill for what we need. An Amorim-type player as well. Physically great, can drive with the ball, can take it in all areas, very good tactically, great energy, great legs, Premier League experience, centre midfield. (Carlos) Baleba. That's who I go and get. That's my man. That's the one I go and get. I go and break the bank.

"So if I got the money for the four players that are surplus to requirements now, would I get a No 9 or would I get Baleba? Would I get a No 9 I'm not sure about, who's a bit young, inexperienced, or would I get Baleba with Premier League experience and know what he can do here? I'm going Baleba, sorry. I'm going to go with Baleba. I think he'll have a huge impact on this squad, on this team. You free up a few people in that midfield area as well to have a little less responsibility defensively because I think he's all-action. He can do it all."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

Manchester United fans will have to wait and see if any more players arrive at Old Trafford in time for the new campaign. In the meantime, the Red Devils are currently in the United States and preparing for a friendly clash against West Ham.

A £2.5m Rangers player has agreed terms with a new club to leave Ibrox as he doesn’t feature in Russell Martin’s plans.

Rangers announce Martin as new manager

The Gers finally brought their long-running search for a new permanent manager to an end on Thursday, with Martin unveiled to the media as Philippe Clement’s successor.

Martin, who had a brief spell on loan at Rangers during his playing days back in 2018, has signed a three-year deal in Glasgow and is confident he can silence the critics.

Looking to win just Rangers’ second Scottish Premiership title in 15 years in 2025/26, Martin has plenty of work to do in a short space of time, with the Gers’ first Champions League qualifier scheduled for July 22/23.

With the transfer window now temporarily open, Rangers will be looking to make their mark in the window, having recently been linked with a move to sign South American midfielder Vicente Pizarro as the first signing of the Martin era.

Rangers can sign best striker since Morelos in move for "world-class" star

Now that Russell Martin has officially been appointed the new Rangers manager, could they sign a “world-class” striker on a free transfer?

ByBen Gray Jun 6, 2025

However, there could also be a number of Ibrox departures ahead of the new season, and an update has emerged on Robin Propper amid claims he is looking to leave the club.

Propper agrees three-year deal to leave Rangers for FC Twente return

According to reports in the Netherlands, relayed by Sport Witness, Propper, who joined Rangers last summer from FC Twente, could be about to make his return to the Eredivisie side.

The Gers paid £2.5m to sign Propper, however, they are now ready to sell the centre-back for half of that figure, with the player himself already agreeing a three-year deal to return to Twente.

An agreement between Twente and Rangers is expected to be finalised quickly, with Propper not in Martin’s Ibrox plans.

Games

40

Goals

2

Yellow cards

9

Red cards

1

Tackles per game

1.4

Clearances per game

3.9

As can be seen, Propper featured regularly under Clement and interim boss Barry Ferguson, but his days in Scotland look numbered.

A move will be one to keep an eye on, especially as the transfer window is set to shut on June 10 and re-open again on June 16.

Jhulan Goswami, Lisa Sthalekar, Mel Jones and Tushar Arothe share their ideas

Annesha Ghosh19-Feb-2019How many teams should be in action?Jhulan Goswami (India ODI player): There are enough domestic players for four or five teams because in the Elite Group itself [in the inter-state domestic tournaments], every team has three-four good players. And four-five teams will also let you include more domestic players because at the end of the day, the objective is to strengthen Indian women’s cricket at the grass-roots level, right? To include more girls to take up cricket professionally. So unless there’s a big motivation ahead of them, I don’t see them taking that route.Why not check with the IPL franchises if they are willing to start a women’s team of their own. If four teams are willing, we should be starting a women’s IPL with four teams, and involve the best foreign players and our local and international Indian cricketers.Lisa Sthalekar (Former Australia captain, broadcaster): If they are going to keep it to two teams, then I’ll play a series of three-to-five matches and make the squad as big as you want, and expose the young Indian domestic players to international stars.The aim should be to align it with the IPL franchises somehow, and you’ve got to make the franchises buy into it, so the stadiums have the same colour, same vibe. One of the reasons why BBL-WBBL have been successful is because whatever you see on TV is what you see on the ground. The dressing up of the game is the same, and that’s great from a fan-engagement point of view because there’s nothing different between how the two leagues are carried out.Tushar Arothe (Former India women head coach): I am okay with having two quality teams or even three because I think there are good spinners and wicketkeepers in the domestic circuit to start off with three teams, but not enough for a full-fledged six- or eight-team league. I would love to see more Smritis, Harmans, Jhulans and Mithalis in the Indian team, and that can happen when you have more girls playing cricket, for which these exhibition games are going to be very important.Mel Jones (Former Australia player, broadcaster): The first year, if it has to take place in the heat of the day in Mumbai with the IPL going on, getting that kind of traction may not be easy. Having a couple of teams can help focus on what can really help the women’s game grow. Or, if you have three teams, and split the current Indian squad into three sides and have some of the next-best young guns and probably a couple more senior players outside of the squad as well.

The only other way you could have double-headers is if you have weekend games, where the men can play the 4 o’clock game, while the women’s game can start at 7pm, as it happened in the 2010 World T20 finalLISA STHALEKAR

When WBBL started, because they had five years of Big Bash behind it, there was a clear structure path Cricket Australia followed, with the Women in Cricket strategy. Until the BCCI have a similar idea about where they want to take women’s domestic cricket in India, perhaps they may be looking to create an okay product so that the best of women’s cricket is put up on display.How many overseas players should each team have?Goswami: Having four-five overseas players means you can accommodate more uncapped players alongside the current India players.Sthalekar: Instead of cutting it up the same way as the men’s IPL, the women’s teams in these exhibition games could have a couple more overseas players, to ensure it is more competitive and exciting, it could be flexible. Five players in a two-team structure.Arothe: I’d say five is good as it was last year.Jones: Four overseas players in each squad, if you have three teams, but doesn’t mean all have to play in the XI in each game.Where should the matches be played?Jones: I think there’s great potential to build a connection with the local community. A lot of it might be about putting out an expression of interest; to place it out there and see who really wants it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of cities go, “This would be fantastic to have.” Then you start to build long-term relationships with these cities.Goswami: Take these games out of the metros and try to connect with the smaller towns. If we are playing in stadiums with 30,000 capacity, you’ll barely be able to make it appear full. They better take the games to state associations which do not have IPL teams at the moment, like Vadodara, Lucknow, Vizag and Ranchi, to name a few.Arothe: Ideally, it should be organised in two-three legs if there are three teams. Say, you take the eight league games to two cities – big or small – and the final elsewhere, over a period of two weeks. That will give your uncapped players substantial time to learn and interact with the foreign players or even those in the current Indian squad. But ensuring the smaller cities are given as much or more preference as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, etc will play a big part in how these games are received.Smriti Mandhana and Suzie Bates have a chat during training•Annesha GhoshWhen to play – afternoon or evening?Jones: If you’re trying to get the regular IPL-watchers to follow these games, you’ll have to keep their mindset in mind – they’re all working in the day on weekdays – and do evening games. If you want to model it after the WBBL, their whole marketing campaign is about family, that means weekend games, family-friendly time, and engaging local schools. So there’s good opportunity to look at it as something to drive women’s empowerment or inspiring the next generation of boys and girls in India.Goswami: If there are 2pm starts in April-May summer like last year’s game, I won’t expect too many people to come in. Either do it on the weekends with 5pm starts, or host them on IPL match eve.Double-headers: yay or nay?Goswami: I don’t think double-headers are or will be encouraged in our country anytime soon.Sthalekar: To have double-headers in the afternoon, in that time of the year, it’s not nice to be out and watching cricket. The only other way you could have double-headers is if you have weekend games, where the men can play the 4 o’clock game, while the women’s game can start at 7pm, as it happened in the 2010 World T20 final. What happens is the crowd in the stadium is already there. In the WBBL, too, there was a game in Perth where women played after the men, and there were 17,000 of the 30,000 people from the men’s game watching the women’s.How should the games be promoted?Goswami: Bring in Bollywood and regional movie stars, famous ex-cricketers, just like the IPL did when it started. Hyderabad had involved their local stars, and Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Preity Zinta, Shilpa Shetty, Akshay Kumar were all there. Why not try to do the same?Jones: When you have a Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni introduce these players as such and such or the teams, people will automatically want to know more about them and start following these games. So you’re in a way piggybacking on the association to give the competition a leg-up.Arothe: Last year, so many came to watch the India-Australia ODIs because there was a separate event management company that had been employed to publicise these games. Do you remember how many hoardings were put up across the streets? And there were results for everyone to see.Sthalekar: If you buy a ticket for a men’s IPL game, it should certainly have a mention of the women’s game – whether it’s before or after – like in a concert. The supporting act is always mentioned. We should all be educated on what’s happening on that day.

Lamine Yamal sent out a clear message to his naysayers as he headed off into vacation mode after starring in Barcelona's domestic double.

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Yamal sends message to his critics Posted a series of photos on social media while enjoying vacation Well-deserved break for youngster after playing big role in Barca's success Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal wrote the latest chapter of his book of confidence, all that while enjoying a nice helicopter ride and then hitting the beach, as he sent a defiant message to his naysayers after starring in Barcelona's domestic treble success and playing a key role in Spain reaching the final of the Nations League.

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The soon-to-be 18-year-old took to Instagram to post a series of photos in a carousel, one of which read: "They complain about the bad ones and abuse the good ones."

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Yamal is one of the favourites to lift this year's Ballon d'Or accolade, and he only further rubber-stamped his credentials following an impactful performance in Spain's dramatic 5-4 semi-final win over France in the Nations League. After the game, the Barcelona superstar attended the press conference with his usual nonchalance. Former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Guti, however, was not too pleased with the young winger sporting his cap backwards while addressing the media.

“I don't know if this is the first time I've seen a guy with a cap backwards. I don't like that because he's with the Spanish national team!", Guti told . “When he goes to Ibiza, or wherever he wants, he can do it. But not with the Spanish national team at a press conference. I don't like it.”

Yamal's message on his social media platforms seems to be his way of answering his critics.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LAMINE YAMAL?

The youngster is set to return to action next month, when the entire Barcelona squad will gather to begin their pre-season.

Chelsea are now determined to move ahead of Real Madrid in the race to sign a “phenomenal” £50m defender who’s been compared to Sergio Ramos, according to a report.

Blues considering defensive rebuild

The Blues have continued their approach of signing up-and-coming talents, recently sealing out-of-window moves for Sporting CP youngster Dario Essugo, who operates in central midfield, alongside 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda, who is set to arrive in the summer of 2026.

However, there are also indications Enzo Maresca’s side could look to upgrade their defence this summer, with targets being identified at both full-back and centre-back.

There could be a departure from the west Londoners’ usual focus on youth, with a deal for 28-year-old Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina now being worked on, following the defender’s impressive performances in the Premier League this season.

Talks opened: Chelsea now willing to pay £50m to sign "relentless" forward

The Blues are now in contention to sign a highly sought-after attacker.

ByDominic Lund Mar 25, 2025

Another Premier League defender enjoying a solid campaign is AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, with David Ornstein recently revealing the centre-back is being looked at closely by the Blues ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop.

There has now been a further update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Huijsen, with a report from Spain revealing they are now determined to move ahead of Real Madrid in the race for the 19-year-old’s signature.

Maresca’s side could be the club most willing to shell out the €60m (£50m) release clause included in the defender’s Bournemouth contract, despite widespread interest in his signature, with Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool also keen.

Interestingly, the report states the Blues could look to make an ‘aggressive’ offer to ensure they win the race for the Spaniard, which may include tabling a more financially appealing contract than Madrid would be willing to offer.

"Phenomenal" Huijsen likened to Ramos

The teenager spent time with Malaga as a youth player, where he attracted attention from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, so it is perhaps a little surprising he ultimately ended up at Bournemouth, arriving on a six-year deal last summer.

However, the youngster’s decision to sign for the Cherries has been validated by the amount of game time he has received this season, making 23 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has scored two goals.

The Spain international’s goal-scoring ability has drawn comparisons to Madrid legend Ramos, who was his idol growing up, and he once scored 12 goals in half a season during his time with Malaga, despite featuring at centre-back.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded Huijsen as “phenomenal” after a solid performance against Newcastle United earlier this season, and his performance on several key defensive metrics over the past year indicates he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

2.16 (99th percentile)

Blocks

1.66 (87th percentile)

Clearances

6.73 (96th percentile)

Gavi has made it clear he wants to spend his entire career at Barcelona amid rumours linking him to Paris Saint-Germain.

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Gavi shuts down fresh PSG linksVows lifelong commitment to BarcaMidfielder "very close" to Hansi FlickFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old midfielder quashed the rumours about a move to PSG and said he remains fully committed to succeeding at Barca under new coach Hansi Flick.

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Gavi was sidelined with a serious knee injury in the 2023-24 campaign, which saw him miss the three months of the latest campaign. Despite regaining full fitness, the midfielder failed to regain a regular place in the starting XI in Flick's debut season. Since his return from injury, he has played in 42 matches but started just 14 in La Liga and three in the Champions League. It had been reported that PSG manager Luis Enrique is keen on bringing Gavi to the French capital. However, he says there is no chance of that happening.

WHAT GAVI SAID

Gavi told : "People believe what they read in any media. I understand people who might believe it. But it's not going to happen. I'm very calm. My dream and my mentality is to spend my entire career at Barca. It's the club of my life and where I want to succeed. I don't want any other, and I'll give everything I have to make it happen."

When asked about his relationship with Flick, Gavid said: "Very close, I think you can see it. But not just with me, but with the whole team as well. He's a man who's always there for you when you need him, and that's very important. I think it's part of what we've won this season."

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR GAVI?

Gavi has returned to Spain squad for the first time since suffering the knee injury on international duty in 2023. The reigning Nations League champions will face France in the semi-finals of the tournament at MHPArena in Stuttgart on Thursday night.

England find reverse-swing to make key inroads after Leach’s early breakthroughs

Andrew Miller15-Oct-2024There has been precious little for Pakistan cricket to cheer in recent months, but on the opening day of the second Test in Multan, Kamran Ghulam provided a moment of unbridled joy as he brought up a gutsy century in his maiden Test innings, to carry the fight for his embattled team.Though he fell late in the day for 118, bowled by Shoaib Bashir as he looked to stay proactive with the close of play looming, Ghulam’s debut efforts helped to lift Pakistan to 259 for 5 – scarcely riches by the standards that England were dishing up on this very same surface last week, but the beginnings of a score nonetheless.Despite Pakistan’s experience in the first Test, when their first-innings 556 ended up on the wrong side of an innings defeat, Ghulam’s resolute efforts – allied to a career-best 77 from Saim Ayub and an atypically entrenched 37 not out from Mohammad Rizwan – kept Pakistan on course for the sort of 300-plus score that could yet be competitive if their spin-heavy attack can take advantage of a pitch that had been heavily watered and dried with industrial fans in the four-day turnaround between Tests.The danger for Pakistan, however, may yet come from the weapons that they won’t be able to deploy. Despite two early wickets for Jack Leach, who has now claimed nine in three innings on this surface to reassert his status as England’s senior spinner, their most pronounced threat came through a mid-afternoon spell of reverse-swing, excellently harnessed by a three-pronged seam attack. Uniquely, all three hail from Durham, among them Ben Stokes, who was back to lead the team for the first time since his hamstring tear in August. In opting to ditch both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for this contest, much will be resting on their lone quick, Aamer Jamal, if Pakistan hope to utilise similar skills.All such considerations can wait for now, thanks to the efforts of Ghulam, who – at the age of 29 – was the second oldest Pakistani to record a debut century. He achieved the feat with a gleeful swing through the leg-side off Joe Root, after an anxious wait in the 90s that had encompassed the evening drinks break. A few more moments of delay could not perturb him, however, after more than a decade of service in Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, in which time he might have assumed that his haul of more than 4500 runs at 49 would forever be overlooked.His innings had begun at 19 for 2 in the tenth over, after Leach – thrown the ball early after Stokes’ quick assessment of the surface – had become the first England spinner to strike twice so early in a Test match since Johnny Briggs in 1889. His impact threatened another meltdown to match Pakistan’s fourth-evening collapse in the first Test, but Ghulam proved his mettle from the outset, showcasing his familiarity with the arid conditions and his faith in the methods that had finally got him noticed.His first boundary was a composed launch for six back over Leach’s head, and in easing through to his first half-century from 104 balls, he recorded a milestone that had eluded his more illustrious compatriot, Babar Azam, in the 18 out-of-form innings that had resulted in his omission.Brydon Carse produced a key breakthrough with the old ball•Getty ImagesGhulam had faced just two deliveries of fast bowling in his first 120, however, when Stokes brought himself into the attack midway through the afternoon, and the challenge instantly went up a notch. In his first over, Stokes found a fat edge that flew at a catchable height through the vacant slip cordon, and when a second edge fell short soon afterwards, Root found himself donning a helmet four yards from the bat in a bid to make any further chance count.The breakthrough, however, arrived at the other end. Ayub’s reputation had suffered in this series, largely as a consequence of his hopelessly misfiring opening partnership with Abdullah Shafique, which at least reached double-figures for the first time in nine innings. It didn’t get much further, however, as Leach bowled Shafique for 7 to reduce Pakistan to 15 for 1, before Shan Masood clipped on the up to Zak Crawley at midwicket for 3.In isolation, however, Ayub has been a qualified success at the top of Pakistan’s order, and this was his third half-century in four first innings, following his twin fifties against Bangladesh last month. But, with tea approaching, and England beginning to make the ball talk, Matthew Potts threatened his outside edge with a diet of hooping outswingers from over the wicket, before Stokes pouched a firm push through the line at a very straight silly mid-off (168 for 3).After tea, Brydon Carse, energetic as ever, roughed up Saud Shakeel with an excellent short ball, then found his edge for 4 with an even better 140kph/87mph delivery that fizzed through to Jamie Smith behind the stumps. And England’s position could have been stronger still had Ben Duckett clung on to a loose slap from Ghulam, on 79, as he chose to take the attack to the returning Leach and almost paid the price at mid-on.The value of Stokes’ economy with his seamers throughout a morning session was brought to bear in the evening, with Carse helping to keep Rizwan under the cosh for 19 deliveries without scoring before Potts took over and so nearly landed an innings-altering blow. His first delivery to Rizwan, on 6 at the time, zipped past the outside edge and into Smith’s gloves, but England declined to use a review – even though replays showed that the ball had grazed the splice of his bat.England’s endeavours were worthy of another breakthrough before the close, and though he had once again been the weaker link in the attack, Bashir obliged with a critical strike late in the day. Armed with the second new ball, he skidded a good-length delivery past Ghulam’s tired charge, and clipped the top of leg to prise a critical opening that could yet make the difference in Pakistan’s quest for a serviceable first innings.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has dismissed calls from Gunners legend Tony Adams to replace Martin Odegaard as captain with Declan Rice, revealing the Norwegian was the unanimous choice in a fresh squad vote. The north London side's boss insisted there is 'no question' over Odegaard’s leadership, with players and staff fully backing him ahead of the new season.

Adams backed Rice to be made Arsenal captain

Arteta confirms Odegaard easily won Arsenal captaincy vote 

Begin new season away to Man Utd on SundayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Adams had earlier urged Arteta to hand the armband to Declan Rice, claiming the Gunners needed a “winner” to finally secure the Premier League title. The Basque coach rejected that view, stating the decision reflected the overwhelming confidence the squad has in Odegaard. Arteta revealed that Arsenal conducted a new vote to decide their captain ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, with Odegaard winning comfortably.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT ARTETA SAID

Speaking to the media, Arteta said: “My opinion is clear. It’s not just my opinion, it’s all the staff and especially the players. I asked them to vote the captain and I got the result yesterday. And by a mile, by a big, big 100 marks, everybody’s choosing the same person, which is Martin Odegaard. That’s the clearest sign you can have of how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win the matches that we want to win.”

Arteta explained the vote was part of a wider refresh of the squad’s leadership group. He added: “We change a lot and we change all the leadership groups because a lot of the players that were there, they are gone. So we need to re-establish that, and it gives you so much information, how they feel about themselves and who they see as a leader. It was really interesting to analyse all the data and gather that information.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Odegaard has been Arsenal captain since 2022, overseeing three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League. His leadership has drawn praise for composure and professionalism, though some critics – like Adams – believe the role should go to a more vocal figure. With the Gunners aiming to finally secure the league title under Arteta, the captaincy debate has added extra intrigue before the season kicks off.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Odegaard will lead Arsenal out at Old Trafford in their opening match against Manchester United on Sunday. Rice, meanwhile, will remain a key figure in midfield as the Gunners chase domestic and European glory.

The intent machine Mohammad Haris and the extraordinary Rashid Khan also find a place in the XI

Danyal Rasool and Umar Farooq19-Mar-2023Mohammad Rizwan (wk) Rizwan will go down as a PSL legend, and it’s because of seasons like these. Not only did he retain his incredible consistency – he was the highest run-getter of the tournament – he also demonstrated he can continue to add layers to his batting. Often criticised for his strike rate, it was up to 142.85 this year from under 127 the previous year. His magnum opus was an unbeaten 64-ball 110 against Karachi Kings. He flew from 50 to 100 in 18 balls, and was the only player to score a hundred this PSL at a ground other than Rawalpindi. He was, expectedly, flawless behind the stumps, all while leading Multan Sultans to their third straight final, and ending up agonisingly close to another title.Saim Ayub Not quite the find of the PSL, since he’d already been lighting up the domestic circuit, but the effortless step up was still a sight to behold. Having struggled with Quetta Gladiators as a teenager in 2021, Ayub’s reinvention as an aggressive top-order ball-striker was instrumental to Peshawar Zalmi’s successful season. A 37-ball 53 was a statement of intent, but he hit the heights during the Rawalpindi leg, taking full advantage of the shorter boundaries and flat pitches. Three successive fifties ignited Zalmi’s campaign, propelling them through to the play-offs and earning him a maiden call-up to Pakistan’s T20I side.Mohammad Haris This isn’t Pollard’s finest T20 season by any means, but then again, he sets high standards. Deployed mainly as a lower-order bludgeon, the West Indian produced several useful cameos. They might not have grabbed headlines, but they won games. An unbeaten 6-ball 15 and another undefeated 21-ball 32 gave Sultans crucial wins early on, while a 25-ball 52 in Rawalpindi helped them chase down 243 with relative ease. He saved his best for the first Eliminator, though, his 34-ball 57 coming in a remarkable counterattack that blew the Lahore Qalandars away. It included smashing Shaheen Afridi for 20, his most expensive PSL over, and he even chipped in with three wickets through the campaign.ESPNcricinfo LtdAzam Khan What he lacked in consistency he made up for in pure, exhilarating power hitting. Playing with an Islamabad United side that’s best set up to maximise his ability, the free license he had in the middle order was used to devastating effect. It was all evident in two blistering innings: his 42-ball 97 against Gladiators was probably the innings of the tournament, pulverising an attack that comprised Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain at the death. He followed it up shortly after with an unbeaten 72 in 41 balls that helped chase down 201 against Kings, earning himself a call-up to the national T20 side.Imad WasimKings’ captain endured seven losses out of ten matches after taking over from Babar Azam. Though Kings finished fifth, Imad’s all-round performance helped him earn a recall to the Pakistan side for the T20I series against Afghanistan.Rashid KhanRashid’s economy rate of under seven stood out in a campaign where he also ended as the third-highest wicket-taker. Only Zalmi took him for 40-plus runs this season. He played a crucial role with Qalandars winning seven out of ten group games.Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt)Shaheen lifted the PSL trophy for the second time in succession, thus establishing his credentials as leader. He also scored a lot of valuable runs, with 133 at a strike rate of 168. to stun the opponent. That included a half-century against Zalmi, before smashing 44 not out from only 15 balls in the final. As for his bowling, he was the tournament’s fourth-highest wicket-taker, with one five-for and two four-wicket hauls.ESPNcricinfo LtdZaman KhanA last-over specialist, seems to have a knack for defending a handful of runs. He bowled the 20th over in both the opening match and the final, defending 14 and 12 runs respectively. In only his second season, he showed temperament and control to become a part of Qalandars’ core. He and Rashid bowled the joint-second-most dot balls – 106. He did not pick up a player-of-the-match award, but there’s no denying the impact he had. He was rewarded with a maiden call-up for Pakistan, in the T20I side for the Afghanistan series.IhsanullahPakistan unearthed another bowling talent this season. Ihsanullah was picked by Sultans last season, but was injured after one game; this season he has come back as the finished product. The 20-year-old bowled some furious spells, clocking 150kph and announced himself in his second game with figures of 4-1-12-5 against Gladiators. He tested almost every batter he came up against this season and was top of the bowling charts all through before his team-mate Abbas Afridi pipped him at the end, pushing him down to second. He registered his trademark “archer” celebration, and was also rewarded with a national call-up for the Afghanistan series.Abbas Afridi

Chelsea have now submitted a £50m proposal for a “generational” forward, who could be in line to join along with Joao Pedro, according to reporter Simon Phillips.

Pedro set for medical ahead of Stamford Bridge move

The Blues have certainly been busy in the opening stages of the summer transfer window, with a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens believed to be edging closer to completion, and the Englishman is not the only forward in line to move to Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro is edging closer to a move to west London, with a deal worth over £50m being agreed on Sunday evening.

Phillips has since taken to X to praise BlueCo for the way in which they have gone about business this summer, saying: “I applaud Chelsea for the speed of the Joao Pedro deal, no messing about there. Also, this is the club backing Enzo Maresca by the way.

“He put new attackers as the priority, and the club are getting players to match his footballing vision. More will follow, far from done here.”

With bringing in new attackers of key importance to Maresca, Chelsea have now made an approach for another forward, having submitted a £50m verbal proposal over a deal for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, Phillips has revealed (via The Chelsea Chronicle).

The proposal, which is not classed as an official offer, was knocked back by West Ham, however, with the Blues’ London rivals seemingly holding out for a higher fee, having previously valued the forward at £85m.

Despite the rejection, the Blues remain interested in signing Kudus alongside Pedro and Gittens, indicating they could return to the negotiating table with an official offer.

"Generational" Kudus could flourish at Chelsea

The Ghanaian struggled to stand out in a poor West Ham side last season, but he has proven himself in the Premier League in the past, picking up eight goals and nine assists in 33 matches during the 2023-24 campaign.

Not only that, but the 24-year-old is regarded as a “generational” talent by journalist Gary Al-Smith, indicating he could be capable of kicking on at a top club, should the Hammers be willing to sanction a departure this summer.

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Enzo Maresca won’t be signing him.

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There may be some concerns the winger is not a necessary signing, given that fellow winger Gittens is already set to move to Stamford Bridge, but the Blues are in a healthy PSR situation, having effectively sold their women’s team to themselves.

As such, if Chelsea have cash to splash this summer, it could be worth bringing in Kudus, although the proposed £85m price tag is way too high, given that he is yet to prove himself at the very highest level.