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Manchester United managed to return to winning ways in the Premier League last night, after a dominant 4-1 thrashing of bottom-placed side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ruben Amorim’s men produced one of their best performances of the campaign to date, to put themselves into sixth place and just a point off the top four.

Hearts will no doubt have been in the mouths of all supporters at the break, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde ensured the game was level going into the break.

However, three goals in the second half secured a seventh league victory of the 2025/26 campaign for the Red Devils – now extending their run to just one loss in the last nine outings.

One player deserves massive credit for his showing at Molineux on Monday night, with the first-team member massively excelling during the well-deserved triumph.

Bruno Fernandes’ stats against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has often struggled throughout the ongoing campaign, as Amorim has decided to utilise him in a deeper-lying midfield role rather than the number ten position.

It’s required the Portuguese international to think more defensively, which has no doubt had an effect on his output within the final third in the Premier League.

However, his showing against Rob Edwards’ men was arguably his best of the season to date, with the 31-year-old notching two goals and an assist in the triumph.

Such a tally takes him to 10 combined goals and assists in his first 15 appearances of the season, but it was his underlying figures that highlighted his impressive display.

He featured for the entirety of the contest and registered 55 completed passes, whilst creating five chances for his teammates – with both the highest of any player in the meeting.

Bruno also completed 12 passes into the final third, and only misplaced eight passes in total, further highlighting his incredible performance with the ball at his feet.

However, without the ball, the midfielder was just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 100% tackles won, seven recoveries made and a total of five combined aerials and ground duels won.

The United player who is as undroppable as Bruno

As seen by his tally of 15 starts out of a possible 15 in 2025/26, there’s little denying that Bruno is undroppable and certainly one of Amorim’s most important players.

Numerous other players are starting to force themselves into such a bracket, with Bryan Mbeumo just one player who should be a starter week in and week out.

The Cameroonian international netted once again in the clash in the West Midlands, subsequently taking his league tally to six this campaign – the most of any player in the squad.

He registered four shots on target against the hosts, whilst also completing two dribbles – largely being a menace to the Wolves backline during the victory last night.

However, the backline has been a cause for concern over the last couple of weeks, especially with the absence of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the last two matches.

As a result, youngster Ayden Heaven has been thrown in at the deep end, but he’s managed to impress – with his showing at Molineux certainly one to remember.

It was just his second start of the season, but the 19-year-old appeared unfazed and produced numerous impressive figures that could make him undroppable within the manager’s current side.

The teenager registered 36 passes during his minutes on the pitch, subsequently achieving a completion rate of 100% – the highest of any player who started the match.

Minutes played

69

Touches

49

Passes completed

36

Pass accuracy

100%

Blocks made

1

Clearances made

7

Duels won

100%

Fouls won

2

He also made seven clearances, three of which were with his head, whilst making three recoveries, which enabled him to be in the right place at the right time when called upon.

Heaven’s dominance at the heart of the three-man defence was further highlighted by his impressive tally of six combined duels won – also at a success rate of 100%.

It’s no mean feat for such a young defender to start in the middle of a Premier League defence, but Heaven has made it look routine over the last couple of weeks.

Given his tender age, expectations will no doubt need to be managed by Amorim, but it is certainly hard not to get excited by the youngster after his showing at Molineux.

He’s certainly done enough to cement his place in the starting eleven for the run-up to Christmas, potentially being a huge asset for the club in their hunt for Premier League glory in the years ahead.

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Earlier in the match, Haris Rauf went off the field with what was later confirmed to be a low-grade side strain

Danyal Rasool08-Feb-2025New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra is unlikely to feature in the ODI against South Africa on Monday, after sustaining a blow while fielding during Saturday’s tri-series ODI against Pakistan.Fielding at deep square leg in the 37th over, Ravindra steadied himself to take a catch as Khushdil Shah slog-swept Michael Bracewell towards the on side. But Ravindra seemed to lose the ball, struck flat and low, mid-flight, and took no evasive action as it struck him square on the forehead. He was seen staring at the ground, apparently in a daze, as blood streamed down his face while medical staff rushed onto the field.New Zealand Cricket [NZC] has since released a statement saying that Ravindra is “otherwise well” and will continue to be monitored.Related

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“Rachin Ravindra sustained a laceration to the forehead after being struck by the ball in yesterday’s ODI tri-series win over Pakistan in Lahore,” the release said. “Ravindra passed the initial head injury assessment and the laceration, which required stitches, was addressed and treated at the ground. He is otherwise well and will continue to be monitored under HIA (Head Injury Assessment) protocols. He is unlikely to feature in tomorrow’s match against South Africa.”A stunned silence took hold of the ground after Ravindra went down. A stretcher was brought on as well, though it was ultimately not required. The Pakistan team doctor, nearest to the incident, also rushed on to provide first-aid assistance. After lying down on the ground while receiving a few minutes of treatment, Ravindra got up with the assistance of medical staff, and walked off the field, holding a towel to his head, to warm applause from what had just recently been a packed Gaddafi Stadium.New Zealand, riding on Glenn Phillips’ maiden ODI ton, won the opening game of the tri-series comfortably by 78 runs. Ravindra had earlier opened the batting and scored a brisk 25 off 19 balls to get his side up and running and sent down three overs.Haris Rauf walked off the field with a side strain•Associated Press

Earlier in the match, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf went off the field two balls into his seventh over, and the PCB later revealed he had complained of “sharp pain in the left side of the chest and abdomen muscles”, which was later confirmed to be a “low-grade side strain”. Rauf, it was confimed, would not come out to bat during Pakistan’s chase.These developments come just 11 days before the start of the Champions Trophy, which begins when these two sides meet in Karachi on February 19. New Zealand’s next game is on Monday, when they take on South Africa in the second match of this tri-series, while Pakistan are scheduled to meet South Africa on Wednesday.As the Champions Trophy looms, New Zealand could also be without the fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who suffered a hamstring injury while playing in the ILT20 in the UAE. As yet, the team is awaiting reports of a scan on Ferguson’s injury.GMT 0925 The news report was updated following NZC’s statement on Ravindra’s injury.

Having put pen to paper to officially become the new Rangers manager, Russell Martin has instantly reportedly shifted his focus towards what would be a bargain swoop for the Gers.

Martin already targeting Rangers incomings

The former Southampton boss has got straight to work with the 49ers and is already looking to build a Rangers squad in his vision and one capable of catching Old Firm rivals Celtic. Together with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, Martin will be desperate to get off to the best possible start at Ibrox in the summer transfer window.

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Speaking to the club’s official media channels, Thelwell reiterated that success won’t come easy but it is a must at Rangers. He said: “This is a new chapter for Rangers, and while we recognise success won’t come easy, our goal is clear: we need to win. My focus is on delivering that, with discipline and ambition. We’ll give everything to move this club forward as quickly and sustainably as we can.”

The start of a new chapter may yet see the introduction of more new characters too. The rumours have been coming thick and fast as to who could become the first arrival of the Martin era, from Dor Turgeman to a player who the manager knows very well in Flynn Downes.

Using Martin’s Premier League links will likely prove key this summer if the Gers are to bridge the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. And Downes wouldn’t be a bad start. Martin worked with the midfielder at both Southampton and Swansea in a partnership which could be renewed at Ibrox this summer.

The midfielder’s not the only Premier League target that Rangers have on their radar, however. The Scottish giants have also reportedly turned their attention towards a free agent who just left Nottingham Forest.

Rangers and Martin targeting Toffolo

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Rangers and Martin are also targeting a deal to sign Harry Toffolo not long after he left Nottingham Forest at the end of his contract this summer.

The experienced left-back will therefore be available for nothing and could instantly jump ahead of the likes of Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz in Rangers’ pecking order down that side. Meanwhile, if there are any concerns that negotiations will be difficult, then the fact that Toffolo is represented by the same agent as Rangers forward Danilo may ease those concerns.

From the very start of his Nottingham Forest career in 2022, Toffolo found himself at the centre of praise. Welcoming the defender to the City Ground, former manager Steve Cooper said at the time: “Harry is an excellent addition to the squad and adds quality and depth to a position that we were keen to strengthen this summer.”

Now, it could be Martin’s turn to welcome the 29-year-old to his squad in what would be a solid way for Rangers to commence their summer business. An experienced defender who’s available at a bargain price, Toffolo is not one that the Gers will want to miss out on.

He’s cool and his batting is easy on the eye, but he’s also developing a habit of scoring tough, ugly runs

Andrew Fidel Fernando17-Jul-2023This being an article about Dhananjaya de Silva, one of Test batting’s foremost stylists, it must necessarily begin with an overwrought appreciation. (I don’t make the cricket-writing rules.)Let’s get the imagery out of the way. His batting brings to mind a cool, sweet drink on a scorching day, a dip in a babbling mountain stream, the sound of birdsong on a still morning, silk moving through air… look, you get it. You’ve probably read it before… batters whose movements at the crease are gloriously economical, whose cover drives reduce old men to tears, and whose lap sweeps fill the hearts of orphans.It helps that in de Silva’s case, he commits to the coolguy aesthetic completely. Long sleeves even in the suffocating Sri Lankan heat, plus the signature popped half-collar. These are reminders that while the rest of us collapse into sweaty puddles, de Silva’s got ice in his veins. When he is fielding, there are the shades. If you’ve watched him once, you could look over any field in the world on which he is playing and instantly pick him out.Related

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The fast bowling poetry of Naseem and Afridi

If this was all de Silva brought to Sri Lanka cricket, it would have been plenty. Sri Lanka doesn’t swoon over graceful batters in the way, say, England does. The island’s tastes have long run towards the M Sathasivam, Duleep Mendis, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya types – batters better defined by their audacity. But still, there is a separate bloodline, populated by Roy Dias’ flicks, Sidath Wettimuny’s drives, and Mahela Jayawardene’s late cuts. Y’know. The artists.Artists aren’t all fragile cut-your-own-ear-off types, though. And right now, de Silva is trying to prove it. Increasingly, he is making tough runs.In this match, he arrived at the crease with the score on 54 for 4, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah in glorious rhythm. He edged his first ball into his pad, poked nervily down the ground second ball, and clung white-knuckled (light-brown-knuckled?) to his wicket for the first 24 balls, during which he made eight. An artist forced to descend into the trenches. It doesn’t always look natural.

“It’s easy to put a gameplan together when you’ve played in one spot for a while. You figure out how to bat when wickets have fallen, and how to bat when a partnership is under way. These are things that naturally enter your body and your head when you play consistently in one spot”Dhananjaya de Silva

But then the game eases, and de Silva feels the flair come back into his fingers, and the bat is a paintbrush again. Pakistan’s quicks went short at him, on a Galle surface that had more bounce than most. De Silva’s pulls and hooks were imperious. To the spinners, he largely stayed at home, late-cutting often, sweeping sometimes. When he slunk down the track to lift Abrar Ahmed high over long-off, the casual ease had returned to his batting.Several overs later, he did the same to Noman Ali. That’s how he got to fifty, off 89th ball faced. Not long after that, a breezy sweep over cow corner, a slicing late cut off Abrar, then a flick through midwicket when the bowler went too full and straight, overcorrecting. These are the tropes. The Dhananjaya de Silva areas.Meanwhile, having quelled high-quality fast bowling on a pitch that has seen some rain, he was in the midst of a vital 129-run stand that revived his team. When Afridi and Naseem came back with reverse swing, he saw those spells out too. When Sadeera Samarawickrama came out for his tenth Test innings, de Silva was constantly in his ear, the pair putting on 57 together. When he got to his tenth century, he was batting in the company of the tail – something he’s become accustomed to.He had to do it ugly at the start, but by the time he got to his century, he was looking like the Dhananjaya de Silva we know•Associated PressIn 24 innings at No. 6, he averages 50.90 – his best in any position, by a distance.”I think the best chance I got was to bat in the same spot – at No. 6,” de Silva said after this innings. He’d been yanked up and down the order in the early part of his career. “I’ve been there for three or four years. It’s easy to put a gameplan together when you’ve played in one spot for a while. You figure out how to bat when wickets have fallen, and how to bat when a partnership is under way. These are things that naturally enter your body and your head when you play consistently in one spot.”On other recent occasions, he’s helped provide substance to what is – let’s be fair – a decidedly non-elite batting order. Some examples of this includes his Wellington 98 in an innings defeat, a 46 and 47 not out in the previous match in Christchurch that helped Sri Lanka stay in the match, and the 109 against Pakistan in Galle last year, when Sri Lanka sought to level the series.And then there are the other things. The catching behind the stumps off the spinners. Today, a sharp diving take, low to his right, sent Abdullah Shafique packing off the bowling of Prabath Jayasuriya. Plus the handy offspin overs, which come with the very occasional breakthrough (he has 34 Test wickets, one more than Angelo Mathews, by the way).For someone who makes the game look so easy, this is no insignificant body of work.

“She can accelerate as well as play the defensive role, which is great as a batter to have”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2025

Pratika Rawal has scored 444 runs in her first six ODI innings, at an average of 74.00•BCCI

Pratika Rawal has made one of the strongest starts to an ODI career by any batter, male or female. No woman has scored as many runs in their first six innings as Rawal has – 444 at an average of 74.00 – and only one man, South Africa’s Janneman Malan, has done better.On Wednesday, Rawal made her biggest splash yet, stroking 154 off 129 balls, adding 233 with her opening partner Smriti Mandhana, and helping India smash multiple records – including their biggest ODI total, 435 for 5 – during the third ODI against Ireland.Related

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Mandhana, India’s stand-in captain in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, was full of praise for Rawal after the match, and noted her versatility as one of her biggest strengths.”Yeah, really pleased with the way she’s batting,” Mandhana said of Rawal. “I feel [she] has a really calm head on her shoulders, knows what she’s doing, has I think both sort of games, where she can accelerate as well as play the defensive role, which is great as a batter to have.”To see her rise from the first one-dayer against West Indies [last month] to now is really nice, and good runner between the wickets as well, converts the ones into twos, which always helps in one-day cricket. So really happy for her, and I hope she keeps continuing her form, because it’s a big year for us [India are due to host the ODI World Cup in August-September].”‘Sometimes you have to go out and respect the conditions, but [on] wickets like these – if it’s in your slot, you have to go for it’•BCCI

India’s batters enjoyed a hugely productive series against Ireland, chasing down 239 in less than 35 overs in the first ODI and posting 370 in the second before Wednesday’s record-obliterating events. Mandhana felt that the Rajkot pitch was the kind where batters could play their shots with utmost freedom, and she certainly did on her way to scoring India’s fastest-ever ODI century, off 70 balls, and finishing with 135 off 80 balls.”I would love to carry this wicket [everywhere I go] as a batter for sure, but as a captain I don’t know. It’s a hard wicket to bowl on. But for me it was very clear than I wanted to go out and try and play shots which are in my arc, because it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to do that as an opening batter, because sometimes you have to go out and respect the conditions and play, but [on] wickets like these and the outfield – if it’s in your slot, you have to go for it.”There was no clear plan. I just said, if it’s in my arc, I’m going to go for it. Some days it comes off, some days it doesn’t. Today I’m happy that it came off.”Having posted a record total, India went on to defend it with aplomb, with spinners Deepti Sharma, Tanuja Kanwar and Minnu Mani sharing six wickets and help bundle Ireland out for 131. The 304-run win was India’s biggest in ODIs.Tanuja Kanwar picked up 2 for 31•BCCI

Ireland had batted through their 50 overs in the first two ODIs, but Mandhana felt India’s bowlers had been just as good in those two games – it was just that there was a bit more help for the spinners in the third ODI, with the same pitch being used through the series, and that Ireland’s batters had tried to play more shots in pursuit of their steep target.”I think today the wicket also gave a lot of assistance to our spinners, because it was the same wicket which was used in the first two ODIs as well, so there was a little bit of spin on offer,” Mandhana said. “I think first two one-dayers, there was not much in it, and also today they came out and were trying to play some shots, and sometimes, when the batters play shots, that’s the best time to get opportunity to get them out.”In the first two one-dayers I thought they were just trying to take a single or double, which again… it’s a hard wicket to bowl and try and get them out. I wouldn’t say that the bowlers did not do [well] in the first or second ODI. I think they bowled brilliantly in the first and second ODI as well, but today there was a little bit more in the wicket for them and, as I said, the batters playing shots helps.”For all the damage the spinners did, it was fast bowlers Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare who set the tone, taking two of the first three wickets to begin Ireland’s slide.”Yeah, I think they both bowled really well, got us the first two early wickets, which is always good to get with the new ball, sets the foundations for the spinners to come,” Mandhana said. “Saima [Thakor], Sayali, Titas, all three bowled really well throughout the three ODIs, and it’s a pretty difficult wicket and outfield to bowl [on], so really happy for them.”

They have opened together only 28 times in ODIs, but their numbers are staggering

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Feb-20252:26

Gill: ‘The way Rohit and I play in powerplay quite different’

Shubman Gill averages 63.73 in ODIs at the top of the order. Rohit Sharma averages 55.21 when opening. Together, their numbers are approaching all-time great territory.They’ve only opened together 28 times in this format, so the sample size is small. But in those innings they’ve put on 1943 runs at an average of 71.96. Only in ten of those 28 innings have they failed to get India to 50 for no loss or better. To this dependability, they have also braided in aggression. India travel at more than seven an over on average when these two are together.Their numbers put this pair at the top of the all-time list for players that have opened together at least 25 times in terms of average and strike rate*, with daylight between themselves and the next-best pair (Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, who memorably helped deliver England the 2019 World Cup). Part of their effectiveness, Gill said on the eve of India’s match against Pakistan, was down to their varying but complementing methods.Related

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“The way we play the game in the powerplay is quite different to each other,” Gill said. “Rohit likes to play more aerial shots, and tries to hit those big sixes. And I like to play along the ground, and I like to pierce those gaps. In between, if I see the bowler is under pressure, I like to go over the circle. I think that’s the hallmark of us as a pair. We score boundaries with different shots. The bowlers really have to think which areas to target for us, because the areas we play the shots are different from each other.”It’s a delight to watch [Rohit] from the non-striker’s end. He has his own style and if at all it helps me to find my own groove.”Much of this was in evidence on Thursday, when they put on 69 for the first wicket against Bangladesh, in the 9.5 overs they were together. Rohit’s rapid start had given Gill the space to play a more sedate innings, as he made 101 not out off 129 balls. The key stat for Rohit is the strike rate – he has gone at 120 in the four ODIs he’s played this year. Gill, meanwhile, has gone at less than a run-a-ball (strike rate 96.46 as opener in 2025). But he’s averaged a mammoth 136.50, scores of 112 and 60 preceding the latest hundred (to go with one score of 87 from No. 3).Gill had had a rough time in the Tests in Australia, making a top score of 31 in the five innings he played there during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But a return to his favourite format has led to a spectacular return to runs.”I don’t think there was any flaw in my batting in Australia that I couldn’t score runs,” he said. “But, definitely, sometimes there is a mental aspect and we start focusing on the batting, which leads us to think there has to be some fault in the batting that the runs aren’t coming.”But, I don’t think every time it has something to do with batting. It is possible, we are lacking in some other facet. I haven’t worked on any area in particular, but knowing I am going to play white-ball format now and then T20s, so I practised accordingly.”

Celtic are a club that have been come used to cashing in on their top players once they have developed and impressed at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership.

You only have to look as recently as last summer to see when Matt O’Riley left to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion after winning the club’s Player of the Year award in the 2023/24 campaign.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Premiership champions have a rich history of selling players for big money, including three players who have left for £25m.

The Hoops also cashed in on Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi in the January transfer window, selling him to Rennes for a reported fee of £10m, which placed him on par with Liel Abada’s exit.

Brendan Rodgers, now, is set to have to deal with more exits in the current transfer window, as Nicolas Kuhn is reportedly closing in on an exit from Parkhead.

Journalist Anthony Joseph reports that Como have agreed a deal worth an initial fee of £16.5m to sign the German attacker, who has already agreed a long-term contract with the Italian side.

Why selling Nicolas Kuhn is a good deal for Celtic

Firstly, selling Kuhn will come as an initial blow to Rodgers and Celtic because of the attacking quality that he provided at the top end of the pitch last season.

The 25-year-old winger ended the campaign with a return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 matches in all competitions, which shows that the Hoops are set to lose a player who can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

However, it is also a deal that also makes a lot of sense for Celtic, given the money involved, and his form in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Scottish giants reportedly paid a fee of £3m to sign the winger from Rapid Vienna, which means that the club are making at least £13.5m in profit just 18 months on from when they snapped him up.

Appearances

15

17

Goals

7

6

Big chances created

7

4

Assists

6

3

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn’s form in the Premiership also dropped off in the second half of the season, with fewer goals, fewer ‘big chances’ created, and fewer assists despite playing two more games.

These statistics suggest that Celtic could be cashing in on him at the right time, because there is the risk that his form will continue to drop after that lightning start to last season.

Meanwhile, there is reported interest in another Hoops superstar whose exit would come as an even bigger blow to Rodgers and the club this summer.

Celtic set price tag for star forward

According to Football Insider, there are a number of teams interested in signing versatile Celtic forward Daizen Maeda before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Fenerbahce, and Brentford are all keen on a deal to sign the Japan international to bolster their respective attacks.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Celtic are in ‘no mood’ to lose their star attacker this summer, though, on top of already being about to sell Kuhn, and that they have placed a huge price tag on his head.

Football Insider reports that the Scottish giants are not willing to part ways with the 27-year-old winger, who can also play as a centre-forward, for anything less than a fee of £25m, which would be a joint-record sale for the club.

It now remains to be seen whether or not any of the three Premier League teams or Fenerbahce eyeing up are willing to spend that much money on the Japanese dynamo this summer.

Why Daizen Maeda would be a bigger loss than Nicolas Kuhn

If one of those interested clubs swoop to sign Maeda from the Premiership champions for a fee of £25m in the coming weeks or months, it would be a bigger blow than Kuhn’s impending exit is set to be.

The Japan international ended the season with a haul of 33 goals in 51 games for Celtic in all competitions, which means that he scored 12 more goals than the German winger in the same number of appearances.

Maeda, dubbed a “special player” by Alistair Johnston, also has more positional value to Rodgers because he has shown that he can be deployed on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, whilst Kuhn made 52 of his 55 starts for the club as a right winger.

This means that Celtic would lose depth in several positions if they cashed in on the Japanese marksman this summer, but they are only set to lose an option on the right wing with Kuhn’s move to Como.

Appearances

34

32

Goals

16

13

Goals per game

0.5

0.4

Big chances created

10

11

Assists

10

9

Assists per game

0.3

0.3

Cross accuracy

17%

5%

As you can see in the table above, Maeda also outperformed the £16.5m-rated winger in the Premiership with more goals and more assists for the Hoops.

This suggests that the £25m-rated forward’s exit would leave an even bigger hole for Rodgers to fill at the top end of the pitch, from a quality perspective as well as the positions that he can play.

Overall, Maeda offers more to the team, with his quality and versatility, and that is why his transfer would be an even bigger blow than Kuhn’s transfer to Como, which is also reflected in the respective reported fees.

Celtic wanting £25m for Maeda, whilst they have accepted £16.5m for Kuhn, speaks to how important they view them within the squad, and that is backed up by their respective statistics.

It'd be Ryan Christie 2.0: Euro club open talks to sign £2m Celtic ace

A European team are interested in a deal to sign a star from Celtic this summer.

ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025

Hopefully, Celtic will be able to fend off interest from the likes of Spurs and Fenerbache in order to keep hold of their star attacker before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

Wrexham have reportedly held talks over a stunning move for former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, with the Danish star’s agent confirming direct contact with the Red Dragons’ ambitious Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The 33-year-old is a free agent after leaving Old Trafford and has been courted by a number of clubs around the world.

• Wrexham approached Eriksen after Man Utd departure
• Agent confirms talks with Reynolds and McElhenney
• Midfielder prefers a top-tier move in Western Europe

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham have made an audacious attempt to sign Eriksen, as per the Dane's agent, just weeks after his Manchester United departure. The newly promoted Championship side are keen to bolster their midfield as they gear up for life in the second tier of English football. While Eriksen was impressed by Wrexham’s pitch, he currently favours a top-flight move.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Backed by Hollywood superstars Reynolds and McElhenney, Wrexham have enjoyed a meteoric rise from the National League to the Championship in just three years. Their transfer activity this summer reflects their ambitions, with signings of stars like Liberato Cacace, Danny Ward, and Ryan Hardie already completed. The pursuit of Eriksen signals their intent to compete with the league’s best, and that is exactly what the midfielder's agent, Martin Schoots, said.

• WHAT ERIKSEN'S AGENT SAID

  Speaking to Mail Sport, Schoots said: "Wrexham are really upgrading everything both on and off the field, and it is a hugely impressive project, as you can see from the presence of people like Michael Williamson (Wrexham CEO) there.

  "But Christian still wants to play in a first-tier competition, and he absolutely wants to stay in Western Europe. There are some contacts going on, but it has to suit both sides."

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ERIKSEN?

  The former Manchester United midfielder is still weighing his options and is likely to explore other offers from first-division clubs across Europe. Wrexham, meanwhile, will continue to pursue top-level talent as part of their Championship push. A deal for Eriksen remains unlikely but not entirely off the table.

With another accomplished performance with bat and ball, he may have leapt above Jadeja, Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar in the T20I pecking order

Sruthi Ravindranath05-Aug-20191:38

Quite happy with the way I’ve bowled – Krunal Pandya

Keemo Paul is running in to bowl the first ball of the 20th over. He bowls a full toss, which Krunal Pandya flicks over deep square-leg for a six. The next ball, he stays deep in his crease and lofts a full delivery straight over the long-off boundary.Those, and another six that Ravindra Jadeja, his partner for the sixth wicket, launched a couple of balls later turned out to be match-defining hits. And following this cameo, Krunal starred with the ball as well, and bagged the match award in India’s DLS win.In November last year, India were in trouble while chasing a modest 110 against West Indies at Eden Gardens, and out came Krunal, on debut. India were 83 for 5 after 15 overs, and with 27 more to get, he took a couple of balls to settle in, and took charge of the chase almost all by himself, winning the match with more than two overs to spare with a nine-ball 21. Earlier in the match, his frugal spell of 1 for 15 in four overs had kept West Indies in check. It was a memorable international debut.In Lauderhill on Sunday, Krunal’s consecutive sixes off Paul came when the pitch had slowed down considerably during the second half of India’s innings. He finished with a 13-ball 20, having come in at No. 6 after India’s middle order had failed for a second successive match, and day.Krunal has been a consistent contributor for India in T20Is. Of course, there has been the odd blip – for instance, when he gave away 55 runs in his fourth match, in Brisbane last year, just weeks after his debut. But he bounced back just four days later in Sydney, when he picked up the best T20I figures for a spinner in Australia.Krunal made his IPL debut in 2016, and his career-defining moment came in the 2017 final, when he established himself as a valuable middle-order contributor with a 38-ball 47, which helped Mumbai Indians recover from 78 for 6 and win a low-scoring game. As a lower-order hitter, partnership-breaker and a reliable wicket-taker, he has been indispensable for Mumbai. At IPL level at least, he is no longer just the lesser-known Pandya brother.It does not stop there either. Just before the T20Is in Lauderhill, he impressed against the West Indies A team, picking up seven wickets in three games, including a five-for, and scoring a 56-ball 45 in the second unofficial ODI. He bats up the order – usually at No. 3 – for Baroda in domestic one-dayers, averaging 39.22 at the position.Krunal Pandya’s twin strikes derailed West Indies•AFPWhich is why, on being asked how he is enjoying his role with the bat, Krunal said that it wasn’t new to him.”I guess that role I’ve been doing for my team in IPL as well,” Krunal told the host broadcaster after the match. “I’ve been playing domestic cricket and, for India A, I guess that’s my role and when you bat at No. 6 and 7 sometimes you click sometimes you don’t. But it’s important to be in a good frame of mind and work on your game.”So I guess today I was lucky to go there and hit two good shots, I was happy with the way I bowled, especially, because it helps when you score some runs. You carry some confidence to your bowling, so it goes together.”On the two-paced pitch, Krunal kept Rovman Powell and Nicolas Pooran in check just when they had begun building a promising stand in a chase of 168, and snared both of them in the same over.”This was our second game [at this ground] so I knew the pace of the wicket well,” Krunal said. “I was trying to bowl outside off stump to left-handers because the wicket was double-paced. Some were sticking and some were skidding, so I thought I’d make sure I won’t bowl in the arc and just bowl outside off stump and that worked.”India’s long-standing middle-order issues are now creeping into the T20I side as well, with Rishabh Pant not cashing in on his chances yet in the absence of MS Dhoni. With the T20 World Cup just over a year away, India’s main focus would be to hunt for the perfect middle-order fits, one of whom is a second allrounder alongside Hardik Pandya.At the moment, it seems like Krunal’s closest competitors are Washington Sundar, Jadeja and Vijay Shankar. The injury-hit Vijay might get more opportunities when he is back to full fitness, while Jadeja’s return to the T20 side hasn’t been noteworthy so far. Washington, meanwhile, is yet to prove himself with the bat for India. At the moment, with the kind of performances Krunal has been putting up for all his teams, and his regular inclusion in the India side, it seems like the second allrounder’s role is his for the taking.

The manager also touched on Messi's current fitness as the team has a packed schedule following the Club World Cup

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• Inter Miami to play seven games in July
• Mascherano plans some rotation
• The Herons currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter Miami continue to be linked with a move for Rodrigo De Paul, with reports now suggesting the Argentine star midfielder has agreed to personal terms with the Herons. After a week of speculation, ' head coach, Javier Mascherano, addressed the rumors of a potential transfer for the Atletico Madrid star.

  "Everyone knows the kind of player Rodrigo is, but I don’t think it’s right to talk about someone who isn’t part of this squad. It would be disrespectful to those who are here and working every day," he said, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s MLS clash against the New England Revolution.

  Even if De Paul has greenlit the move, there are still obstacles for the South Florida club to overcome. There isn't an open designated player spot as Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets currently occupy those spots, and Atleti are asking for $17 million, which would be one of the highest transfer fees in MLS history. Miami have also had failed transfer pursuits of both Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne, which led to star striker Luis Suarez complaining about the restrictiveness of MLS's roster rules.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reports have mentioned the pursuit of De Paul is directly tied with Messi's current contract negotiations to extend his stay at Inter Miami. Mascherano, a former teammate and friend of Messi, touched on the Argentine legend's future as well.

  When asked about Messi’s current state, Mascherano noted that his star seems content and at peace in Miami: "He looks happy. I think he’s found a place where he can enjoy life, something he might not have fully had at other clubs. In the end, it will be his decision how long he continues."

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  WHAT MASCHERANO SAID

  Inter Miami head into the second match of a grueling seven-game stretch in July, traveling to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, where they’ll face New England on artificial turf. While Mascherano acknowledged that the surface isn't ideal, he downplayed injury concerns.

  "It’s not the best, but it’s also not something we’re overly worried about. Anyone who steps onto the field will be 100 percent ready to compete," he said.

  The Argentine manager also hinted at some squad rotation to manage the heavy schedule, but emphasized his desire to keep a strong core.

  "We’re not only thinking about Wednesday's match, but about the next three games coming in the next 10 days," Mascherano said. "We'll try to manage minutes wisely, but I don’t intend to rotate heavily either. The goal is to field the strongest lineup possible."

  Mascherano has made it clear: If Messi is in good condition, he will be on the field. The manager praised Messi’s unique ability to manage himself during games and said he has no plans to rest his captain unless absolutely necessary.

  "If there’s one player who knows how to manage himself during a match, it’s Leo," Mascherano told reporters. "If he’s feeling good, my intention is always to have him play. We’ll take things day by day, but he knows his body better than anyone."

• WHAT'S NEXT?

  Inter Miami face New England Revolution Wednesday night before returning home to host Nashville in a battle between two of the Eastern Conference's elite teams.