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Bumrah had a significant say with three wickets although it was Australia who edged the honours with their top four all passing fifty

Andrew McGlashan26-Dec-20241:51

Manjrekar explains how Konstas took down Bumrah

Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old making his Test debut, lit up the MCG with an audacious display of strokeplay against Jasprit Bumrah which in the process riled Virat Kohli on a compelling Boxing Day at the MCG. The world’s best fast bowler still had a significant say with three wickets although it was Australia who edged the honours with their top four all passing fifty.By stumps, Steven Smith was the key figure in how much further Australia’s first innings would be able to extend as he eyed his second hundred in three innings after Bumrah had sparked a middle-order wobble. Yet it was the opening passage of the Test that could well go down as defining.Within an hour of his first Test innings Konstas, who became his country’s fourth-youngest men’s player, was the most talked-about figure in the game having brazenly taken 32 off two overs from Bumrah. While he was stopped on 60 off 65 balls, he had already written himself a chapter among the most remarkable debuts and more than repaid the selectors’ desire to provide something different at the top of the order after Nathan McSweeney’s struggles.Related

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Bumrah still pocketed key top-order scalps of Usman Khawaja, the prolific Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh although it did little to downplay talk India are over-reliant on him. The latter two came as Australia lost 3 for 9 in the final session with Akash Deep then claiming a much-deserved wicket with the second new ball when he removed Alex Carey to end the fourth significant partnership of the innings.Khawaja, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne all brought up half-centuries at more sedate tempos than Konstas. It was the first time since Rawalpindi in 2022 that Australia’s top four had all reached fifty in the same innings. Khawaja and Labuschagne will have been left wondering what could have been but Smith played a vital role in keeping Australia ahead.Sam Konstas celebrates his fifty•Getty Images

But it was all about how the day started. Konstas’ first over in Test cricket was against Bumrah and consisted of four plays and misses. Off his eighth delivery he worked a brace into the leg side to a loud ovation and two deliveries later signaled his intent with an attempt to reverse scoop Bumrah which brought a combination of cheers and gasps.He missed another an over later and with Mohammed Siraj also troubling Khawaja, Australia were 12 without loss after six overs when Konstas unleashed a passage of play that will never be forgotten. Off Bumrah’s fourth over he scooped to fine leg, reverse scooped for six over deep third and was an inch away from repeating it three balls later.He had dispatched the world’s leading bowler for 14 but wasn’t done there. In Bumrah’s sixth over he took him for 18, this time by peppering the boundary with drives including lofting a slower ball over wide long-on. By this point, he had been shoulder-checked by Kohli between overs with Khawaja trying to act as peacemaker with all eyes on how the match referee would adjudicate the confrontation.Not long after, a quickly run two brought up his fifty from 52 balls and he grabbed the Australian emblem on his shirt while pointing to the name on the back. What were you doing as a 19-year-old on Boxing Day? The mind started to wander towards something even more spectacular, but Ravindra Jadeja trapped Konstas lbw in a manner many a more experienced batter has been removed.The tempo then reverted to something more traditional: the stand of 89 between Konstas and Khawaja took 116 balls, the next of 65 between Khawaja and Labuschagne required 150. The afternoon session started with four consecutive maidens from Bumrah and Akash, the latter again bowling without luck. Both batters had edges fall short of slip and another from Khawaja which bisected the cordon took him to just his second fifty of the year.Jasprit Bumrah removed Travis Head for a duck•Getty Images

India were largely keeping the scoreboard under control but were not overly threatening, only for Khawaja to toe-end a pull against the first ball of Bumrah’s third spell to midwicket which left the bowler a little embarrassed to celebrate.Labuschagne was still not quite at his fluent best, but was looking as good as he had all series with some delicate glides to third off Jadeja and the types of drives to suggest better days lie ahead for Australia’s No. 3. There was a shift in gears after tea with Labuschagne and Smith adding 41 in the first six overs of the final session against the older ball, although there remained enough assistance from the surface to challenge the batters as another luckless spell from Akash showed.However, the door was opened for India by offspinner Washington Sundar, who had been brought into the side in place of Shubman Gill, when Labuschagne picked out mid-off with a skimming drive the ball after a drinks break. Labuschagne threw his head back as Kohli took the catch, knowing the chance of a first Test century since last July had gone begging.Rohit Sharma sensed a moment and immediately brought back Bumrah and against his third delivery Travis Head shouldered arms to one that clipped his off stump. A batter who has caused India nightmares with his attacking strokeplay departed not offering a shot. In Bumrah’s next over Mitchell Marsh, having slotted away one thumping cover drive, edged an expansive pull to continue what has been a lean series after the summer of his life in 2023-24.As the ground rose for the hats-off commemoration of Shane Warne at 3.50pm (to match Warne’s Test cap number), Smith had slotted consecutive boundaries off Jadeja when Australia looked to be taking control but now his presence was vital in ensuring the innings didn’t lose its way. He and Carey added 53 before Akash produced a terrific delivery from round the wicket. Smith remained firm and walked off to warm applause from those who remained of an 87,242 crowd but it was nothing compared to the ovations earlier in the day.

Nabi, 39, is Afghanistan’s highest capped ODI cricketer and has been a constant since their debut in the format in 2009

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2024

Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi has said he wants to retire from the ODI format after the Champions Trophy 2025. Nabi revealed his plans at the end of the ODI series against Bangladesh in the UAE, while claiming his Player-of-the-Series award in Afghanistan’s 2-1 series victory.”In my mind, from the last World Cup, I was retired but then we qualified for the Champions Trophy and I felt if I could play that, it would be great,” Nabi told the host broadcaster after the third ODI.It is understood he has communicated the decision to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and will continue playing T20Is. To the ACB media team, he said: “We will see, but no, I will not play for long. God willing, after the Champions Trophy, we will say goodbye to the ODIs.”With 167 appearances in the format, Nabi is Afghanistan’s highest-capped ODI cricketer and the current World No. 1 ODI allrounder according to the ICC rankings.He has represented Afghanistan ever since their debut ODI against Scotland in 2009. With the bat, his 3600 ODI runs puts him at second on the list of Afghanistan’s highest run-getters. He has also hit 17 fifties and two centuries at 27.48. As an offspinner, he has 172 wickets, the second-highest for Afghanistan, at an average of 32.47.The 2025 Champions Trophy will be Afghanistan’s maiden appearance at the event. They made the cut by virtue of finishing sixth at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The eight-team Champions Trophy features the top seven teams from the latest ODI World Cup, along with hosts Pakistan.In both T20Is and ODIs, Nabi has been a constant in Afghanistan’s rise up the ranks that culminated in ODI, T20I and Test recognition. He was ODI captain in Afghanistan’s maiden 50-over World Cup appearance in 2015, and featured in the 2019 and 2023 editions too. He retired from Tests in 2019.

His 10th Test ton took him past Tamim Iqbal for most centuries by a Bangladesh batsman

Mohammad Isam06-Feb-2021By reaching his 10th Test century, Mominul Haque now holds a significant record in Bangladesh cricket.Related

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Haque will be tussling with Tamim Iqbal for the top position for most Test tons for a few more years, just like Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim are neck-and-neck for Bangladesh’s most Test runs. Bangladesh’s highest individual Test score has also exchanged hands quite a few times between Rahim, Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.Iqbal is currently in top position among Bangladesh’s ODI run-makers and centurions, with Shakib and Rahim not too far behind. These three names feature in nearly every Bangladeshi batting chart, but Haque is closing in. He has valuable milestones to his name, and two in particular that were unheard of before Haque got them.With his ton at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Haque is now tied with Michael Clarke (Adelaide Oval), Mahela Jayawardene (Galle) and Kumar Sangakkara (Galle) for scoring seven centuries a single ground. Among current players, he is best placed to challenge the world record. Haque also got near the top of another record with his eleven fifties in consecutive Tests from 2013 to 2015. In addition, he is Bangladesh’s highest scorer in Tests since his debut, and holds the Bangladesh record for most runs in a two-match Test series. He is Bangladesh’s highest run-getter at No. 4 and second highest at No. 3, also having the most hundreds in both positions.No Bangladesh player has scored more Test runs than Mominul Haque since his debut•BCBFor most Test teams, these are highly valued records. But most teams play far more Tests than Bangladesh where one-day cricket is favoured. Still, Haque’s contribution in red-ball cricket cannot be overstated enough; all of his previous Test hundreds have come in Bangladesh wins or draws .On the third afternoon in Chattogram, Haque walked in with his team having lost two wickets for just one run. They had a handsome first-innings lead but another batting collapse would have handed West Indies the advantage. Going by how both batting line-ups looked to be heading towards a freefall, Haque’s innings was priceless.He saw off the two major threats to his batting: fast short-pitched deliveries and orthodox offspin. He tackled both Shannon Gabriel and Rakheem Cornwall in tandem. Notwithstanding the Shadman Islam dismissal to a peach of a bouncer, Haque’s own survival till stumps on the third evening itself was a huge boost to the team.Bangladesh were actually thinking of a 250-plus lead as West Indies’ fourth-innings target, but by the time Haque added 133 for the fifth wicket with Liton Das, the lead had swelled to more than 375.Mominul Haque acknowledges the applause on getting to a landmark•AFP via Getty ImagesCornwall, who couldn’t dislodge Haque having bowled 90 deliveries to him in a long tussle, said that the left-hander forced him to bowl to his strengths.”I think he played spin well. I think he hangs back a lot, forcing me to bowl a bit fuller and bowl to his strength. We just have to keep working. There’s another Test coming up so we know how to bowl to him,” Cornwall said.Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo said that Haque gave them the sound platform needed to win a Test match.”He has been fantastic. He has back-to-back hundreds. In the last Test in February last year, he got a hundred against Zimbabwe in Dhaka,” he said. “He has backed it up with another good hundred today. He has set the game really well for us, so we are very pleased with the way he is playing at the moment.”Haque’s pragmatic approach, in which he often sacrifices style over substance, is one of the major ways he has distinguished himself from other flashier Bangladesh batsmen of his generation. He has worked out ways to tackle the short ball, as well as a perceived weakness against offspin, and yet has kept his shape as a largely positive batsman. His average strike-rate in Test hundreds is 65.By moving into the higher stratums of Bangladesh’s batting, he has also left daylight between himself and those who, like him, made their Test debuts since 2011. Forget about 10 hundreds, only Shamsur Rahman and Soumya Sarkar have made a Test century each batting in the top six from that list.Among the batsmen other than Iqbal, Rahim and Shakib in the current Bangladesh line-up, Das, who made his debut in 2015 with a huge billing as the next big thing in Bangladesh cricket, has so far made six fifties in his 21 Tests. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who now has supplanted Haque as the Test No. 3 just because he showed promise in domestic cricket, has hit a single half-century in five Tests over four years. Shadman Islam is in the revolving door of Iqbal’s opening partner, having returned to the team in this game with a second half-century.Haque has showed that through sheer will and mindfulness that a young Bangladeshi player can rise through the ranks to not just to be an international cricketer, but to give the seniors in the side a run for their money. This, despite being tagged as a Test-only cricketer who is yet to make a real mark away from home. When he had scored his sixth hundred at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, the running joke was that a stadium should be named after him. Maybe now a serious thought that can be given to the matter.

There is a view that the mega auction should only be held once every five years, and not three

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Jul-202413:31

Runorder: Is the mega auction good for the IPL?

Conduct a mega auction only once in five years. Allow teams to retain between four and six players. Give each franchise eight right-to-match (RTM) options. These are some of the significant suggestions franchises have shared with IPL officials during feedback sessions on player retentions ahead of the 2025 auction. The next steps will be discussed when IPL officials meet the franchises, possibly as early as next week though a date is yet to be finalised.According to a senior official at a franchise, there is more than one advantage in having the mega auction every five years instead of the present three-year cycle. A longer gap between mega auctions would help teams build continuity by developing young players, especially uncapped Indians. Franchises that have been around since the first IPL season in 2008 have invested heavily in this area, by building academies to find talented players at grassroot level and develop them into international quality. A mega auction every five years would incentivise teams to keep doing this, whereas in a three-year cycle there is a risk of losing a player that they have nurtured to a rival franchise.Incidentally, the IPL had four-year cycles between mega auctions twice in the last decade. The first was in 2018, which was the first mega auction since 2014, when Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals returned after two-year suspension. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the 2021 mega auction to be deferred by a year. On both occasions franchises extended their player contracts by a year.As part of the same suggestion, the franchise official said teams could also be allowed to work directly with its players to renegotiate salaries between mega auctions. This would help teams to not just retain core players but also help them reach better terms with players who were bought at base or lower prices at previous auctions. While the negotiation would be transparent and the new contract declared to the IPL, the official wanted the franchise to have control of proceedings without the player having the option of getting released.The 2025 IPL auction will be the first mega auction since 2022•BCCIThe RTM optionA CEO at another franchise said teams could be allowed to retain one big player, possibly the captain, and the rest could be through RTMs. Such an approach would allow the market to determine a player’s price, and also remove any monetary disappointment a player may have if they are last in the retention pecking order.What about a combination of retaining players and RTMs? It was the method used in the 2018 mega auction, when a maximum of five players could be retained by each team. Of the five, a maximum of three players could be retained before the auction, and up to three could be bought back by a team through RTM options during the auction. If a franchise did not retain any players before the auction, it would still have only three RTM options at the auction. A RTM option gives the franchise the ability to buy back their player during the auction by matching the price once bidding for the player is over.While such a combination is favoured by some franchises, at least one team official said it had potential to cause disgruntlement among the players retained ahead of the auction, if those bought back via the RTM option happened to secure higher bids. In 2022 mega auction, when Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants entered the IPL, the eight other teams were allowed to retain four players via two different combinations: three Indians and one overseas, or two Indians and two overseas. RTM options were not available three years ago because the IPL wanted Titans and Super Giants to have a larger player pool to choose from.The challenge for all teamsSeveral players, especially those who were uncapped and bought at low prices, have gone on to play for India or grown into match-winners since the previous auction. They might want to go back into the auction instead of being retained so that they could get a higher price. While that might seem fair for the player, it may not be so for the franchise, especially one that spotted and developed the player.A possible solution, proposed by one franchise to the IPL, is to have eight RTM options and no retentions. The idea has received mixed response from other franchises: some agree it creates a level-playing field, others don’t want to put their biggest players in the auction. There’s also the concern that rival teams will drive up prices to disrupt auction strategy.One of the key points, something the franchises have highlighted increasingly over the years, is creating a loyal fan base. There’s a word for that in sport: tribalism. But how can a franchise accomplish this if, even after 17 years, they are being asked to overhaul their squads every three years? It’s a question being asked by a few of the top officials who have been part of the IPL for 15-plus years. Officials agree the IPL needs to find a way for players to be retained long term to cultivate better fan engagement. The official in favour of mega auctions every five years said it is time teams stop being selfish and look at the bigger picture.At the upcoming meeting between the IPL and the franchises, team officials expect that all ideas will be discussed further. They are also likely to discuss the Impact Player rule, which has got a mixed reaction from teams, the purse for the 2025 auction, and perhaps the salary cap deduction for retained players.

Rain in Rawalpindi may impact the Test as well with the visitors leading 1-0

Danyal Rasool29-Aug-2024

Big picture: Pakistan in perilPakistan cricket, right now, isn’t exactly going through a golden era, but few expected the bloody nose Bangladesh gave them last week.For much of that Test match, Pakistan’s chief frustration appeared to be they would end up with a draw, a draw would inhibit their efforts, which captain Shan Masood bullishly talked up in the build-up, at having a real crack at reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Five days later, Pakistan would lose, and to add insult to injury, have half-a-dozen points docked for slow over rates, placing them ever so close to the bottom of the table. A home series defeat to Bangladesh would bring its own ignominy, which has little to do with whether they’re in the race to prove themselves the best Test side in the world. Bangladesh had, until last week, won just six away Tests in a quarter century of being Full Members, two against an enfeebled West Indies in 2009, and another two against Zimbabwe.Related

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Masood suddenly finds himself in a battle for the captaincy so soon after assuming it, having lost each of the four Tests he’s been in charge. While flashes of quality against Australia over the winter meant the overall result could potentially be overlooked in favour of a long-term plan, such forgiveness will not come if Pakistan drop a home series against Bangladesh. With a busy time ahead that includes the sterner challenges of England and South Africa, ensuring they avoid handing this Test trophy over next week remains the bare minimum for this red-ball side to retain credibility with its supporters.Bangladesh played the Rawalpindi Test at their own pace and won•Associated Press

That task is complicated by the weather in Rawalpindi once more. Rain forced the cancellation of practice sessions on the eve of the game, with more forecast for the first day. It has led Pakistan to hesitate before officially confirming a spinner for the Test, naming a 12-man squad with Abrar Ahmed and Mir Hamza both in contention. Masood pointed out Pakistan were the more proactive side last week, and with Bangladesh only needing a draw, his side will have to find a way to repeat that while also ensuring they get a better result.And what, really, can you say about the position Bangladesh have created for themselves? Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side outplayed as well as outthought the hosts, doing the basics right. Like making sure they had spinners in case they came in handy on the final day, which they did. Or not leaving runs out by declaring early owing to ultimately unrealised concerns it might rain, which it did not. They let Pakistan’s wobbles do the rest, and the ten-wicket win was as clinical as it was merited.There are more important things going on back home, but the uncomplicated joy of last week was as welcome as it was unexpected. This, remember, is not a vintage Bangladesh side, and did not come in saddled with high expectations. They came in last week, saw an opponent making unforced errors and didn’t interrupt them. They didn’t get sucked into playing fashionably aggressive cricket, or bullied into doing anything they didn’t want to do. They had no qualms about batting at under three runs an over for large parts of the first innings, and when Pakistan turned to declaration bowling, they simply didn’t decare.It secured Bangladesh arguably their greatest Test win, but they will know they need to hold off on wild celebrations for now. With one Test on the horizon and no clear signs Pakistan will be able to produce the pitch they want, all Bangladesh may need to do is pick up where they left off in the first Test. Pakistan must make all the moves, and as Bangladesh demonstrated, they are not going to be displaced too easily.Babar Azam’s recent form has been a big concern for Pakistan•Associated Press

Form guidePakistan: LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Bangladesh: WLLLWIn the spotlight: Babar Azam and Mushfiqur RahimBabar Azam’s slump aligning perfectly with the team’s nosediving Test form has been aggravating. Pakistan are used to dry patches and players out of form, but it isn’t quite obvious why this generation’s best batter is now struggling to achieve the big scores that came so easily to him. There isn’t a particular type of bowling or kind of shot that’s ailing him nor does he have other responsibilities now that he has been relieved of the armband. Babar fell to two basic unforced errors in the first Test, a squeeze down leg side and a drive without footwork doing for him. Home runs on flat surfaces against Bangladesh seemed like a no-brainer, and he now has one more Test to try and fix that.Mushfiqur Rahim played the role of the senior pro to a tee in the first Test. He used his strong defensive technique to good effect over the course of three partnerships that allowed the batters at the other end to operate with more freedom. Shadman Islam only opened up his repertoire in a 52-run stand with Mushfiqur, while Litton Das finally showed some form, after Mushfiqur allowed him to bat his way. Mehidy Hasan Miraz continued to shine with his batting mentor, playing out 178 balls in his innings. Mushfiqur continuing this role is bad news for Pakistan.Team news: Taskin in, Nahid out?Shaheen Afridi has been omitted from the squad for the second Test, with Abrar and Hamza part of the 12-member squad Pakistan have announced.Pakistan: 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Babar Azam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Ali Agha, 8 Abrar Ahmed/Mir Hamza, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Mohammad Ali, 11 Khurram ShahzadMushfiqur Rahim tunes up for the second Test against Pakistan•PCB

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is back fit, and should replace Nahid Rana. Having secured one of their greatest Test wins, Bangladesh are unlikely to make further changes.Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Taskin AhmedPitch and conditions: Rain on the radarPakistan have made no secret of their desire for a pace-friendly wicket, though achieving it proved difficult in the first Test. There will be more than a tinge of grass on this new pitch, but monsoon rain lashed the city in the days since the end of the first Test. More rain is forecast during the game.Stats and trivia: Babar’s slump Mushfiqur, who was named Player of the Match in the first Test, is the only Bangladesh player to have taken part in all seven of his nation’s away Test wins Since the start of 2023, Babar averages 21.15 in 13 Test innings with a highest score of 41Quotes”We’re loathe to make a decision [on who to play] purely on over rates. Our over rates were poor in the first Test and unacceptable. We need to be better and get through our overs quicker. Our opposition like to call for gloves and drinks at very regular intervals so we need to be mindful of that but we can’t control that. What we can control is our energy levels and making sure we’re getting through our overs as quickly as possible.”

Leeds United are currently preparing for their final match in the Championship, hopefully for a long time, against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday.

The Whites can hit 100 points in the second tier for the first time in their history with a win against the Pilgrims this weekend, which will also confirm their position as champions of the division.

Daniel Farke’s side hammered Bristol City 4-0 last time out at Elland Road to set themselves up for a chance to hit a century of points in their final match.

Leeds will be beginning to think about how they will prepare for a season in the Premier League next term, as they aim to avoid an instant relegation back down to the Championship.

The official confirmation of Ipswich Town’s relegation from the top-flight last weekend means that all three newly-promoted sides have gone straight back down in the last two seasons, which illustrates the difficulty of the task ahead for the Whites.

Recruitment will need to be spot on from the club to give Farke and his staff the best possible chance of avoiding relegation, and signing loanee Manor Solomon could be one of the first bits of business on the agenda.

Why Leeds should consider signing Manor Solomon

The Israel international is currently on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season, which means that the clash with Plymouth this weekend could be his last outing for the West Yorkshire outfit.

TEAMtalk recently reported that the Whites are planning to pursue a permanent deal for the former Fulham star, and that Spurs are open to cashing in on the winger in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Leeds may look to press ahead with a swoop for the 25-year-old dynamo because of his impressive form in the Championship this season, as he has displayed his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Whites.

The Spurs loanee has been particularly impressive in recent weeks, during the business end of the campaign, with a return of two goals and five assists in his last five matches in the second tier.

As you can see in the table above, Solomon has been directly involved in 21 goals in 38 appearances in the Championship so far this season, which speaks to how influential he has been in the final third for Farke throughout the campaign.

This is why he could be an excellent addition to the squad ahead of promotion to the Premier League, as the Spurs loanee could be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch.

Leeds lining up move for 33-goal star

Leeds, however, could land an even better signing than Solomon if they can win the race for their latest reported transfer target in the summer window.

Transfer Focus

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

According to The Boot Room, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs lining up a move for Celtic winger Daizen Maeda to bolster their attacking options.

The report claims that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool have been keeping tabs on the Japan international, who has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season.

It also reveals that Aston Villa, Brentford, Leeds, Crystal Palace, and West Ham United are among the other Premier League clubs interested in a deal to sign the Celtic superstar in the summer transfer window.

The Boot Room adds that the Scottish Premiership sensation is set to be available for a fee in the region of £25m, which means that he will not come cheap, and Leeds must push to win the race for his services because he could be an even better signing than Solomon.

Why Daizen Maeda could be an even better signing than Manor Solomon

Both Maeda and Solomon are right-footed forwards who predominantly cut in from the left flank and attempt to impact matches with goals and assists on a regular basis.

The Celtic star has racked up a staggering 33 goals and 11 assists in 47 games in all competitions, including four goals in nine Champions League matches.

Solomon, on the other hand, has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 40 matches in all competitions for Leeds, which immediately suggests that Maeda could offer more consistent quality, particularly as a goalscorer, for the club next season.

It is not only their quality in possession that should be taken into account, however, as the Whites are going up to the Premier League knowing that the last six teams have come straight back down, which means that they will have to do plenty of defending and are likely to be on the back foot in plenty of matches.

With this in mind, the Celtic star could be an even better signing than Solomon because of the work that he puts in out of possession to be a positive for his side defensively, whether that be tracking back to help his full-back or in counter-pressing situations.

As you can see in the table above, Maeda offers more than the Leeds loanee from a defensive perspective, with more tackles, interceptions, and clearances made per game, whilst being dribbled past less often.

Maeda, who has been described as a “machine” by coaches, can also defend the back post when dropping in to help his full-back out, as shown by his aerial duels won, whereas Solomon struggles a lot in those situations.

Therefore, Leeds could be better of pursuing a deal for the Celtic star, despite there also being a lot of reasons why Solomon could be a great addition, because of his potential to offer more than the Spurs loanee both in and out of possession in the Premier League next season.

Farke could sign Piroe upgrade in Leeds swoop for "electric" £40m "monster"

Leeds could immediately land an upgrade on Joel Piroe by swooping for this £40m star.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 29, 2025

da heads bet： Liverpool have made a shock offer for a £400k-a-week star who is now keen to play in Europe next season, according to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Reds' summer transfer plans taking shape

da realbet： After two quiet transfer windows since replacing Jürgen Klopp in the dugout, Arne Slot will be tasked with strengthening his squad in a number of key areas this summer, and FSG are prepared to back their manager with significant financial backing.

A new striker could be required, with Darwin Nunez’s future in doubt, and the aforementioned report names Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as a potential option, alongside RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and prolific Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold recently confirming his decision to leave his boyhood club this summer, the Reds have also ramped up their pursuit of a new right-back, and David Ornstein believes Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is keen on a move to Anfield.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 7, 2025

Having perhaps overrelied on Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, there have also been suggestions that Slot could look to bring in a new midfielder this summer, and there is serious interest in Stuttgart maestro Angelo Stiller.

However, a surprise move for a Premier League attacking midfielder could also be on the cards, according to Di Marzio, with the Sky Sports journalist recently stating Liverpool have now made a shock offer for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne is set to leave Man City on a free transfer this summer, with Pep Guardiola’s side taking the decision not to extend his contract, but the Belgian wants to remain in Europe, despite widespread links to the MLS.

Napoli are making a concrete attempt to sign the 33-year-old, so there could also be competition for his signature from some of Europe’s top clubs.

"World-class" De Bruyne likened to Gerrard

In truth, the Man City legend moving to Anfield doesn’t seem particularly realistic, given that he was in direct competition with the Reds for a number of years, during which time he impressed Klopp, who described the maestro as “world-class”.

Wayne Rooney has also likened the Belgium international to Steven Gerrard in the past, saying: “De Bruyne reminds me a bit of Steven Gerrard. He drifts out to that right-hand side and plays some brilliant balls whipped in, like Stevie used to. What I like most is he takes chances, he takes risks, he doesn’t go for the easy ball – he plays the hard pass.”

The £400k-a-week star is evidently in the twilight years of his career, given City’s willingness to sanction a departure, but he has still impressed in the Premier League at times this season, while also catching the eye in the FA Cup.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

25

4

7

FA Cup

3

2

1

As such, De Bruyne could still be a difference-maker for a top club, but a move to Anfield would be extremely controversial.

The summer transfer window is fast approaching, and Liverpool are set to spend big as they prepare for Arne Slot’s second, Premier League title-defending season at the helm.

Of course, the top-flight trophy isn’t yet wrapped up, but the Reds need just two wins from their remaining six fixtures to put things beyond Arsenal’s reach.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has wrapped up Mohamed Salah’s new contract; captain Virgil van Dijk’s fresh deal is soon to follow. Now, focus can be turned to the upcoming transfer window, with Liverpool expecting flurries of activity through the summer months.

While signing a centre-forward, left-back and central defender are the priorities for the Reds, Slot would be wise not to neglect his midfield.

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King Power Stadium

Leicester City

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Tottenham Hotspur

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Chelsea

11/05/25

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Liverpool’s midfielders have been immense through the 2024/25 campaign, but they aren’t infallible. There’s been a lack of bite and physicality at times of late that suggests a new addition to the engine room could go down a treat.

Why Slot shouldn't neglect Liverpool's midfield

When Liverpool fell from grace under Jurgen Klopp in 2022/23, the German manager knew he needed to repackage his side’s long-serving midfield.

Jordan Henderson was a first-standard leader but was starting to look a weak link from a technical standpoint, while Fabinho’s legs had gone after so many years serving as a world-class anchor at the heart of one of the highest-octane squads on the globe.

Their replacements, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, have been immense this season (and last) as Liverpool’s mainstays in the middle, but there’s no denying Liverpool have lacked a combative sheen and that extra bit of dynamism at times recently, namely being overrun by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United at Wembley.

Liverpool have won more duels than their opponents in just one of their past 11 matches across all competitions, denoting fatigue and a lack of sharpness that opponents are capitalising on.

Though packing quality across more needy areas will ultimately hold sway for Liverpool, there’s no question that a high-class midfielder would elevate an already immense team.

It’s something FSG are bearing in mind.

Liverpool lining up marquee midfielder

According to Italian outlet InterLive.it, Liverpool’s interested in signing Nicolo Barella this summer is said to be ‘serious’, with Inter Milan anticipating offers for their midfield linchpin after yet another standout campaign.

Now, Barella, 28 years old, is contracted to the San Siro until 2029 and thus Inter are in a commanding position regarding his future and have listed him at €100m (about £87m).

Liverpool’s interest is confirmed to be serious, however, and given the Serie A leaders are keen on Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa, a deal wouldn’t be out of question.

What Nicolo Barella would bring to Liverpool

Described as “the best Serie A midfielder of the 2020s” by journalist Zach Lowy, Barella has already won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles with Inter Milan, joining from Cagliari in 2019.

Having featured 277 times for I Nerazzurri, Barella has scored 25 goals and supplied 59 assists. He’s not the most prolific of midfielders, but then that’s not really his jurisdiction.

With Simone Inzaghi’s side battling it out with Napoli for the Italian title, Barella has been the architect of his team’s challenge, averaging 1.9 key passes, 4.7 successful duels and 5.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore, illustrating his wide range of quality.

Of course, the Italian has also been immense in Inter’s quest for the Champions League trophy, with outlets stating that he delivered a career-defining performance at the Allianz Arena last week, taking a 2-1 lead over Bayern Munich back to the San Siro.

Talent of this level suggests that Liverpool could be getting their mitts on one of the most gifted midfielders in many years, one who could stand out above the current Anfield crop.

He might even prove to be Liverpool’s best midfielder since Fabinho.

For the uninitiated, Fabinho was absolutely spellbinding in his role as Klopp’s number six, so cultured and commanding as he held together a hard-grafting midfield that worked around the clock to facilitate the attacking successes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Bobby Firmino.

Once hailed as “one of the best in the world” by Klopp, Fabinho truly was a core part of the most illustrious era in Liverpool’s modern history, joining from Monaco for roughly £40m in May 2018 and going on to play 219 times for the Reds before his legs finally failed him.

When in his pomp, the Brazilian was truly one of the most dominant forces out there, and now Barella could emulate him and become Liverpool’s new centrepiece, perhaps unlocking the next level in Slot’s existing options.

Tough-tackling, tenacious and iron-willed, Fabinho performed dutifully and blended his natural qualities with a sharpness of mind and quickness of reaction that differentiated him from his positional rivals.

The Italy international has the experience and the multi-skilled ability to be a real standout for Liverpool over the next several years, with his FBref data discussed above suggesting the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Pedri are among his most statistically similar players.

Such ball-playing specialists, maestros and conductors wrapped into one, would fit snugly into Slot’s system – just look at how Gravenberch has got on this term.

Barella, then, would fit right in. He’s a world-class player, dubbed a “genius” on the pitch by sports editor Mike Pielluci, and a trophy winner besides, and if Inter are willing to discuss deals containing the likes of Nunez and/or Chiesa, Liverpool might just sign their best midfielder since Fabinho.

Awful Trent repeat: Another Liverpool "superstar" is now wanted by Madrid

Liverpool need to make sure they keep their best players this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 14, 2025

Mumbai broke Vidarbha’s resistance on the fifth afternoon and secured their 42nd Ranji Trophy title and first since 2015-16. Spin-bowling allrounder Tanush Kotian and fast bowler Tushar Deshpande crushed Vidarbha’s dream and dismissed them for 368, in an unprecedented chase of 538, after captain Akshay Wadkar and rookie Harsh Dubey had played out a wicket-less morning session.Fittingly, it was veteran Dhawal Kulkarni who sealed victory for Mumbai in what was his last game for them. With his captain Ajinkya Rahane and the Wankhede crowd warmly cheering him on, Kulkarni bowled Umesh Yadav to give himself a winning send-off. Having picked up a fourth-innings five-for in his first Ranji final, against Uttar Pradesh, back in 2009, Kulkarni signed off as a bona fide domestic stalwart for Mumbai.He leaves Mumbai’s seam attack in the safe hands of Deshpande, who bullied Vidarbha with around-the-wicket bouncers on the fifth day and Mohit Avasthi, who was Mumbai’s joint-highest wicket-taker this season with 35 strikes in eight games. Avasthi wasn’t available for the final because of injury, with Kulkarni taking his place.