تغزل أحمد حسام ميدو، لاعب الزمالك السابق، في صانع ألعاب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالقلعة البيضاء، كما وصفه بأنه “مودريتش الكرة المصرية”.
وقال ميدو، في برنامجه أوضة اللبس على قناة النهار : “عبد الله السعيد أسطورة بمعنى الكلمة، وصل لأربعين سنة ويكون أفضل لاعب في الملعب في معظم المباريات، ويقدم كرة مختلفة عن كل لاعبي الدوري المصري، من حيث الرؤية والمجهود والتركيز والقيادة ويكون نموذجا لكل اللاعبين الصغار، السعيد أسطورة”.
طالع| مران الزمالك | يانيك فيريرا يحاضر اللاعبين فنيًا.. وتدريبات خاصة استعدادًا لمباراة الإسماعيلي
وتابع: “عبد الله السعيد أسطورة ومثال لكل اللاعبين، عندما كنت أشاهد مباراة لميلان الإيطالي، أول ما شاهدت مودريتش يلعب تذكرت عبد الله السعيد”.
وأضاف: “عبد الله السعيد مودريتش الكرة المصرية هو شبهه في كل شيء الذكاء وأسلوب اللعب والالتزام وأنه قدوة، وأحيي مسؤولي الزمالك لأن كان لديهم إصرار باستمرار عبد الله السعيد، وأحيي السعيد أنه قدوة للجميع، عبد الله السعيد (كل ما بيكبر بيحلى)”.
وفيما يتعلق بالنادي الأهلي، قال: “على الجميع أن يحترم خصوصية محمود الخطيب بعدم دخوله الانتخابات المقبلة، هذا الرجل هو أسطورة، لو أخذ قرارا أنه لن يدخل دورة مرة أخرى، ستكون خسارة للأهلي وهو قدم للأهلي أشياء كثيرة جدًا كلاعب وكمسؤول، واحد من أعظم رؤساء الأندية في تاريخ الأهلي أتمنى له الشفاء”.
وكشف: “الأهلي غني بأبنائه، طاهر أبو زيد ومحمود طاهر وياسين منصور الثلاثة قادرين على النجاح ويصلحون لرئاسة النادي، وأكثر واحد أتمنى له يكون رئيسا للأهلي تعويضا له عن أشياء كثيرة حدثت في حياته هو طاهر أبو زيد، هو أسطورة وعاشق للنادي للأهلي”.
وعلق على انتقال أحمد سيد زيزو للأهلي: “صفقة زيزو لها أبعاد كثيرة جدًا عن أكثر من الكرة، زيزو لاعب كبير وإضافة للأهلي، ولكن في رأيي أنها صنعت روحا داخل غرفة الملابس بسبب راتبه، ولو كان جدد للزمالك بـ 80 مليون جنيه كان سيدخل في نفس الأزمة، لأنه رقم مبالغ فيه ولن نقدر نجدد لكل اللاعبين، هذا الرقم يهز أي اوضة لبس”.
وعن تصريحات حسام غالي، لاعب الأهلي السابق، بشأن رغبته في تولي رئاسة الأهلي، اختتم: “خانه التوفيق ولم يخدمه في تصريحاته، أعرف حسام منذ ان كان عمره 14 سنة، لا يخرج ويقول هذه التصريحات إلا عندما يكون لديه ألم وحزن كبير جدًا، جمهور الأهلي يجب أن يعرف ومصر كلها، حسام غالي أنقى شخصية في كرة القدم بمصر، وأطلب من جمهور الأهلي ألا يقسوا عليه، قرارات كثيرة جدًا ليس له أي دخل فيها وتم تشويه صورته بالفعل، لأنه خطر على ناس كثيرة، لأنه نجم وقائد ويده نظيفة، لو سار في طريقه الصحيح يفوز على أي أحد”.
This week, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe finally signed a new right-sided forward after several transfer windows of fruitless efforts.
Anthony Elanga’s much-covered £55m switch from Nottingham Forest to Tyneside has provided Newcastle with genuine quality and athleticism to challenge in the Premier League and abroad, Champions League-bound as they are.
But there are still gaps in the Magpies squad which demand attention. Namely, Howe has been searching for a striker to challenge and complement Alexander Isak.
A range of names have been mooted, but there’s one man above all else who would send shockwaves through English football and beyond, should he wind up on Tyneside this summer.
The latest on Newcastle's search for a striker
Newcastle have been knocked back once or twice this summer, but then Howe has instilled a winning mentality and a togetherness at St. James’ Park, which allows the club to bounce back from adversity.
Brighton’s Joao Pedro was the top target to add some depth and dynamism up front, but he’s signed for Chelsea in a deal worth £60m.
The likes of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, valued at £50m, have since been touted as an alternative, but Newcastle appear to have their eyes on a bigger prize.
And now, the Telegraph have corroborated news from Fabrizio Romano that Newcastle are targeting Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, in spite of the French forward’s £86m release clause.
Newcastle are looking to beat Liverpool to Ekitike’s signature, with the 23-year-old having previously been on the radar in 2022, when a £33m deal was agreed with Reims before Paris Saint-Germain hijacked the transfer.
The Telegraph reveal that Newcastle have already held talks with the player’s reps, making them aware of their desire to sign him and now hope they can agree a fee with the Bundesliga club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Why Newcastle want Hugo Ekitike
You might think that Newcastle’s interest in Ekitike speaks of the looming sale of Isak, but this isn’t the case. United need another high-level goalscorer, and this would be a significant statement of intent.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike, while young, proved his worth in Germany last season, scoring 22 goals and supplying 12 assists across all competitions. His complete attacking performances and high-speed running even led journalist Graeme Bailey to describe him as “the next Mbappe”, a comparison unlikely to be lost on this ambitious Toon side.
He has the physicality and sharpness to succeed in the Premier League, no doubt, especially when considering he would be playing with wide men like Anthony Gordon and new recruit Elanga.
Bundesliga Stats 24/25 – Hugo Ekitike
Stats (* per game)
#
Matches (starts)
33 (31)
Goals
15
Assists
7
Shots (on target)*
3.5 (1.5)
Big chances missed
16
Pass completion
76%
Big chances created
12
Key passes*
1.3
Dribbles*
1.6
Duels won*
4.2
Stats via Sofascore
Across his two campaigns with Forest, Elanga, 23, has racked up 20 assists in the Premier League, very much the “electric” presence, as he has been described by Statman Dave, needed to add a new dimension to Howe’s project.
Elanga’s pace and focus on creativity could play to Ekitike’s strengths. The Frankfurt star might be multi-faceted, with eye-catching link-up and athletic qualities, but at his core he’s a goalscorer, having ranked among the top 7% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shots taken (3.74) per 90, as per FBref.
And, in turn, Ekitike’s natural bent for playmaking and team fluency will allow Elanga to approach his craft with more versatility, using overlapping runs to find space to shoot on goal himself, for example.
Ultimately, Ekitike’s will be a signing that proves incredibly difficult to pull off, but if Newcastle manage to beat off the competition and bring him over, there’s every chance that he, Elanga and the rest will lead the club toward new-found heights, beyond even the elation of the 2024/25 campaign.
A new Tonali: Newcastle likely to see £34m bid accepted for "monster" CM
Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign a former Premier League star this summer
Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell both have a lot on their plate in the summer transfer window as they look to build a Glasgow Rangers team that can compete for the Scottish Premiership title.
The Gers have failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons and the new Light Blues duo are tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox in the years to come.
They recently made their first signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth to bolster their defensive options. Lyall Cameron has also joined the Scottish giants, but he had agreed to sign from Dundee on a pre-contract deal in January.
As well as potential incoming signings, Martin and Thelwell will also have to deal with the potential of some of the club’s key players moving on from Ibrox.
Nicolas Raskin, for example, is a reported target for Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as they aim to snap him up from Ibrox in the coming weeks.
Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers
If the Belgium international completes a move to England before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, Martin’s squad could be weaker.
The 24-year-old star walked away from last season with the Men’s Player of the Season and the Men’s Players’ Player of the Season awards to show for his efforts on the pitch for the Gers.
This demonstrates the high regard in which he is held at the club, among players, and by supporters, and it is well-deserved following his impressive displays in the Premiership and the Europa League.
Raskin did produce four goals and ten assists in the Premiership for Rangers, flexing his attacking quality, but it was his defensive work that really caught the eye domestically and in Europe.
Nicolas Raskin (24/25)
Premiership
Europa League
Appearances
33
12
Tackles per game
2.8
3.7
Interceptions per game
0.6
1.3
Ball recoveries per game
5.6
7.4
Ground duel success rate
57%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
56%
55%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfielder offered defensive protection in front of the back four with plenty of tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries.
These statistics illustrate why losing the former Standard Liege star would be a big blow for Martin, as he is a combative and quality midfield operator, but the Gers are reportedly interested in a gem who could be a dream replacement for him.
Rangers eyeing deal for Brazilian midfielder
According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are lining up a move to sign Troyes central midfielder Metinho on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report claims that the Light Blues are long-term admirers of the 22-year-old talent, and have been eyeing him up as a target throughout this summer.
It states that the Scottish Premiership giants are now ready to ramp up their efforts to bring the former Basel loanee to Ibrox, who joined Troyes for a fee of £4m from Fluminense in 2021, ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Russell Martin watches on whilst in charge of Southampton.
The Scottish Sun adds that Troyes are willing to cash in on the Brazilian star and that Basel are ‘desperate’ to win the race for his signature, which may be why Rangers are now looking to speed up their pursuit of the midfielder.
It now remains to be seen whether or not Thelwell will be able to do enough to beat the Swiss giants to his services before the end of the summer window.
Why Rangers should sign Metinho
The Ibrox side should push to beat Basel to this signing because the 22-year-old midfielder has the potential to be a dream replacement for Raskin this summer.
Nico Raskin
Metinho spent the first half of last season on loan at Sparta Rotterdam and only started two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, in what was a frustrating few months for the midfield talent.
However, a move to Basel in January helped him to kick on and flourish in the second half of the campaign, as he caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Swiss top-flight as a combative midfielder.
The right-footed star played 12 league matches for the club and completed 86% of his passes, whilst delivering two assists, but his most impressive contributions on the pitch came out of possession in the middle of the park.
24/25 Super League
Metinho per 90
Percentile rank vs CMs
Tackles made
2.77
Top 10%
Tackle success rate
71%
Top 20%
Duels won
6.66
Top 24%
Duel success rate
65%
Top 3%
Interceptions
1.51
Top 15%
Ball recoveries
6.66
Top 20%
Dribbled past
0.50x
Top 14%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, the Troyes loanee ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics, which show that he excelled off the ball as a screener in front of the back four.
His tackle and duel success rates are particularly impressive because they show that he is efficient with his defensive work, rather than competing in and losing a lot of duels. The Brazilian gem is tough to get past, which is why he is a formidable defender.
These statistics also suggest that he would be a dream replacement for Raskin to take up the defensive responsibilities that the Belgian has in midfield at Ibrox. The current Gers star averaged 2.84 tackles and interceptions and was dribbled past 0.86 times per 90 in the Premiership, whilst he won 66% of his tackles.
Metinho, who was once described as an “exciting” prospect by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted more impressive defensive numbers than that in the Super League, as shown by his aforementioned statistics, which suggests that he has the potential to offer even more than Raskin out of possession.
A Bassey repeat at Ibrox: Rangers agree deal to sign a new "sensation"
Rangers have reportedly agreed a deal to sign a star who could be a repeat of Calvin Bassey.
ByDan Emery Jun 30, 2025
Of course, the £4m-rated star needs to add a goal threat to his game, as Raskin managed four league goals to go along with his ten assists, but he is only 22 and has time left ahead of him to develop into the dream replacement for the Belgian.
Pat Cummins is rested from the entire tour, while Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will join for the ODIs against England
Andrew McGlashan15-Jul-20241:23
Clarke: Some Australia players might walk away from T20Is
Perth Scorchers and Western Australia allrounder Cooper Connolly has been handed his first international call-up for Australia’s T20I squad to face Scotland and England, while Jake Fraser-McGurk has been included in both the T20I and ODI squad as the selectors start to glance towards the future.Australia will play three T20Is against Scotland and England from early September, and the squad reflects the start of the transition from the group that exited the recent T20 World Cup in the Super Eights. The ODI squad is more stable with an eye on next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan.Fraser-McGurk’s inclusion had been expected, and he now has the chance to establish himself as David Warner’s successor at the top of the order in both limited-overs formats. He has yet to make his T20I debut, but played two ODIs against West Indies last season.Related
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Connolly, the 20-year-old left hand batter, has only featured in 15 domestic T20s, but played a starring role in the BBL 2022-23 final to secure Scorchers the title. He strikes at 145.80 in T20s, and also provides a useful left-arm spin option. Connolly also made 90 on his Sheffield Shield debut, in the final, earlier this year.”We haven’t had that many bolters for a little while,” national selector George Bailey said. “He’s an exciting young talent. Hasn’t played a great many games yet, but we really like his versatility. His work through the middle order for the Scorchers has been really impressive. Handy left-arm spin as well which, as a secondary skill, is something we are really keen to keep exploring and see where that goes with his cricket.”Mitchell Marsh remains the T20I captain, and will also lead the ODI side in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is rested from the entire Scotland and England tour ahead of the home summer. Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will also miss the T20Is before joining for the ODIs, while allrounder Matthew Short, who was a traveling reserve at the T20 World Cup, will remain at home for the birth of his first child before arriving for the five ODIs against England.Cummins is currently among the group of Australians taking part in the ongoing MLC, but Bailey said missing the Scotland and England tour had been in the planning for around 12 months with an eye on a condensed schedule that comes once the home summer begins.”He’s got a couple of things he wants to work on physically,” Bailey said. “He’s had a lot of cricket over the past period, and this is an opportunity to get on top of those and set him up for the next period of time; it’s more a management of that. The MLC opportunity came reasonably late, [and] as far as the plan went, it’s an extra 18 or 19 days that he’s up for, [so] it doesn’t fundamentally change the plan we had for him.”2:32
Bailey impressed with Connolly’s ‘versatility’
From those who featured in the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies last month, Ashton Agar and Matthew Wade have been dropped from the T20I squad, while Warner has retired.In the T20I squad, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis will be part of the pace attack alongside the experience of Josh Hazlewood. Allrounders Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie are included across both formats with the former likely to see far more opportunity. Josh Inglis will replace Wade with the gloves in T20Is.Alex Carey is back in the ODI squad as Inglis’ understudy, having lost his place in the XI during last year’s World Cup.The T20Is against Scotland, which replace the tour of Ireland which was cancelled by the hosts for financial reasons, take place on September 4, 6 and 7. Three T20Is against England follow on September 11, 13 and 15, followed by the five ODIs.Australia T20I squad vs Scotland and EnglandMitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Spencer Johnson, Marcus Stoinis, Adam ZampaAustralia ODI squad vs EnglandMitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis (wk), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
تواصل إدارة النادي الأهلي مفاوضاتها لاختيار المدير الفني الأجنبي الجديد، وسط ترقب جماهيري كبير بعد رحيل المدرب الإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو، حيث تسعى لجنة التخطيط لحسم الملف سريعًا قبل ازدحام جدول الفريق بالمباريات المحلية والقارية.
وارتبط اسم الإيطالي الألماني دومينيكو تيديسكو، المدير الفني لمنتخب بلجيكا السابق، بالانتقال إلى القلعة الحمراء، في ظل ما يمتلكه من خبرات أوروبية بارزة سواء على مستوى المنتخبات أو الأندية الكبرى.
اقرأ أيضًا.. خالد الجوادي: كولر تخلص من لاعب الأهلي السابق بسبب الخيانة
مصدر مقرب من المدرب كشف في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات أن مستقبل تيديسكو لم يُحسم بعد، مشيرًا إلى وجود عروض فعلية على طاولة المدرب لكن جميعها من القارة الأوروبية.
وأوضح المصدر أن تيديسكو سمع بالفعل عن وجود اهتمام من جانب الأهلي، ولكن لم يتم ترجمة ذلك عن طريق عرض رسمي والأمر متوقف على مدى قوة المشروع الرياضي.
وشدد المصدر على أن تيديسكو يرى مستقبله بشكل أكبر في أوروبا، خاصة مع استمرار العروض الجادة التي تصله من أندية مختلفة خلال الفترة الحالية.
وأكد أن المدرب البلجيكي يفضل خوض تجربة جديدة داخل القارة العجوز قبل التفكير في أي خطوة خارجها.
واختتم المصدر تصريحاته أن قرار المدرب النهائي لم يتحدد حتى الآن، وأن جميع الاحتمالات تظل قائمة، لكن فرص بقائه في أوروبا تبقى هي الأقرب في المرحلة الحالية.
الجدير بالذكر أن تيديسكو منذ رحيله عن منتخب بلجيكا في شهر يناير الماضي، لم ينتقل إلى أي تجربة أخرى قبل بداية الموسم الحالي.
New manager Russell Martin may have only been at Ibrox a matter of weeks but he will certainly be thrown in at the deep end right at the very start of his Rangers tenure.
On Wednesday lunchtime, Martin’s first competitive opponents of the new season were confirmed, Rangers drawn against Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round, the pair set to meet at Ibrox on 22/23 July, with the return leg a week later.
Should they progress, the Gers face another qualifying tie before entering the league phase of the competition.
Rangers looking to bolster their back line
Thus, with that huge tie, and others to follow, under five weeks away, Martin will want to get some signings through the door and soon, so could Rangers be about to land an experienced Premier League defender?
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 a report by Sky Sports News, Rangers ‘have approached’ Leicester City over the possibility of signing centre-back Conor Coady.
Following the Foxes’ relegation back to the EFL Championship, as outlined by Rob Tanner of the Athletic, Leicester’s budget has been ‘slashed’, thereby looking to ‘move on high earners’, and Coady very much falls into that category, especially with just one year remaining on his contract.
Coady joined Leicester from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported £8.5m fee two summers ago but, now 32 years old, could certainly be available at a cut-price.
How Conor Coady would improve Rangers
Leadership is undoubtedly Coady’s greatest quality, with Sean Dyche having previously praised his “immaculate” professionalism, something that was severely lacking at Rangers last season, hence why the England international could be an excellent addition both on and off the park.
Yet, would he be better than Harry Darling? Many outlets this summer underlined that Martin was hoping to sign centre-back Darling for a third time, having previously worked with him at both Milton Keynes and Swansea.
However, it was announced earlier this week that the 25-year-old had decided to join Norwich City as a free agent instead, meaning Martin and the Rangers hierarchy will be forced to look elsewhere.
This has seen the Gers step-up their interest in Coady, but how do these two defenders compare? Let’s find out.
Coady vs Darling player comparison
Statistics (per 90)
Coady (23/24 & 24/25)
Darling 24/25
Appearances
43
39
Minutes
3,103
3,337
Pass completion %
92%
87.4%
Interceptions
0.6
0.6
Tackles
0.6
0.8
Clearances
3.2
5
% of ground duels won
57.2%
66%
Ball Recoveries
3.5
4.1
Touches
80.5
78.5
Stats via FBref, SofaScore & Squawka.
Statistics from the last two seasons were used for Coady for two reasons, to give him a bigger sample size, but also because this year’s data was massively skewed by the fact that he was playing for a historically terrible Leicester team.
Also, the EFL Championship, ranked 11th in the world by Global Football Rankings, is more comparable to the Scottish Premiership (43rd) than the Premier League.
Wolves defender Conor Coady.
That preamble aside, the table shows that Coady and Darling’s statistics are broadly similar, with the Leicester defender coming out on top for in-possession statistics, namely pass completion percentage and touches.
Then-Wolves teammate Fábio Silva has described the defender as “amazing” and “the best captain” he’s ever had, while Adam McNulty of Breaking the Lines praised his reading of the game and ability ‘to pick out a runner’ with his excellent distribution.
In the 2019/20 Premier League season, Coady completed more accurate long passes than anyone else in the division, hence why his outstanding on-ball skill-set would fit into a Martin team perfectly, given that the new Rangers boss’ style prioritises possession and control, underlining that this is a signing the Light Blues need to do everything in their power to finalise.
Joe Aribo repeat: Rangers star agrees terms to leave Ibrox for £30k-a-week
Rangers could repeat their Joe Aribo masterclass as one of their stars looks set to move on from Ibrox.
Teenage batter following in footsteps of father Andrew, who spent his career at Lancs
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2024
Rocky Flintoff gets a handshake from Mark Chilton•Getty Images
Rocky Flintoff, son of former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff, has signed his first professional contract with Lancashire at the age of 16.Flinfoff, who was earlier this week named in the England Under-19s squad to face Sri Lanka, joined the Lancashire academy last year. He has featured four times for the 2nd XI this season, hitting a half-century against Durham and a hundred against Warwickshire.Clips of him batting went viral on social media due to the similarity of his technique to that of his father.”I’m very happy and excited to have signed my first professional contract with Lancashire,” Rocky Flintoff said. “It’s something that I’ve been working towards since I started playing cricket, so to sign for my home county is a dream come true.”I’ve been with the club since I was 8 years old, so to have the opportunity to keep representing the Red Rose is a big honour. I have loved playing for the Second XI so far this season and I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard on all aspects of my game.”Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, said: “I would like to congratulate Rocky, his family and everybody who has been with him on his journey in cricket so far.”He has impressed the coaching staff with his performances and determined attitude for the Second XI already this season. He is a grounded individual and knows the work starts now for him to fulfil his potential in the years ahead.”Rocky will be away with the England U19s for the next couple of weeks, and we look forward to welcoming him into the professional squad after that.”Andrew Flintoff made his Lancashire debut in 1995 before going on to become one of England’s most-pivotal allrounders, playing more than 200 times across formats and famous for his role in helping to regain the Ashes in 2005, after 16 years in Australian hands.
Ghosh struck a quick 86 as India declared their first innings on 603 for 6
Srinidhi Ramanujam29-Jun-2024
Marizanne Kapp scored a fighting half-century•BCCI
South Africa showed great fight to reach 236 for 4 on the second day of the one-off Test in Chennai after India declared their first innings at a record 603 for 6. At stumps, the visitors were still 367 runs behind. But on a pitch where Indians bowlers were able to extract sharp turn and bounce from the second session of the day, Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, with their half-centuries and a 93-run stand for the third wicket, displayed commendable resilience and technique.After a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series and conceding 525 on the first day of the Test, South Africa did not let India dent their confidence on Saturday.Related
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After India declared their innings in the morning, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch looked composed in the six overs before lunch, with the captain punishing a half-tracker from Sneh Rana and an overpitched delivery from Pooja Vastrakar for four. This was before Wolvaardt struck a confident drive through mid-off in the first over of the innings by Renuka Singh.However, Rana – who got the ball to spin more than any other spinner – got the first breakthrough in the eighth over when she bowled one rare short ball. But it kept low and Wolvaardt completely missed her pull to be trapped lbw. Bosch and Luus stayed on for the next 23 overs, stitching 63 runs. However, Bosch, who hit four fours and a six, fell a few overs before tea. Rana was at it once again. After the previous ball spun sharply, Rana bowled one full outside off. Anticipating the turn, Bosch leaned forward and nicked it to Deepti Sharma at slip.Richa Ghosh took just 54 balls to bring up her half-century•BCCI
At 96 for 2, South Africa found stability via Kapp and Luus who blended caution with aggression. Luus respected the good deliveries, scoring almost equally on the off and leg side. In all, she scored 65 off 164 balls that included six fours and one six over long-on against Rana.The duo put on 93 before Deepti broke the stand when she beat Luus’ inside edge and trapped her lbw. Luus reviewed the on-field decision but it was in vain. Delmi Tucker became Rana’s third victim when Richa Ghosh took a sharp catch to dismiss her for an eight-ball duck.Kapp, like Luus, played more off the back foot and scored predominantly on the off side, with seven of her eight fours coming in that area. She reached 50 off 87 balls and remained unbeaten on 69 off 125 at stumps. She fought cramps and a stiff back towards the end of the final session, but didn’t throw her wicket away.Once Tucker departed, Nadine de Klerk joined Kapp with the pair stitching an unbroken 38-run stand off 56 balls. De Klerk showed good intent in the final hour and hit five fours in her unbeaten 27 off 28 balls.Earlier, Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur started sedately but soon converted their starts into half-centuries. The pair stretched their stand to 143 runs. Harmanpreet made 69 off 115 balls before being dismissed in the 15th over of the day when fast bowler Tumi Sekhukhune trapped her in front to leave India at 593 for 5.Ghosh hit seven more boundaries on Saturday, 16 in all, her 90-ball innings, using her strong wrists to good use to play powerful cut shots. She fell for her career-best 86 when she missed a sweep off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and was lbw.
We’re now just a week away from the start of Celtic’s pre-season fixtures.
Next Friday night, Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops will make the short three-mile journey to Glasgow’s south side to take on Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden, having demolished the Spiders 6-4 in a friendly almost exactly 12 months ago.
After that, Celtic to Cork, Lisbon, the north of England and then face Ajax and either Al-Ahli or the hosts at the Como Cup.
So, just how many new signings will the Parkhead masses have the opportunity to cast their gaze at during these fixtures?
Celtic's star attacker set to depart
Both returning hero Kieran Tierney and new third-choice goalkeeper Ross Doohan have already signed for Celtic this summer, with deals for Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren close to being finalised too.
However, due to Celtic’s position in the global football food chain, they’re always in danger of losing a star player, and this summer is no different.
As has been widely reported by Josh McCafferty of the National and elsewhere, RB Leipzig have ‘intensified their interest’ in Nicolas Kühn, who is supposedly available for around £15m.
Well, now, according to Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Como have ‘made an approach’ as they target a move for Kühn.
I Lariani finished tenth in Serie A last season under Cesc Fàbregas, their first top-flight campaign since 2002/03, but are not your ordinary newly-promoted club, given that they are owned by the Djarum Group, making them the wealthiest club in Italy, as noted by James Horncastle of the Athletic.
So, potentially creating a bidding war could be good news for Celtic, as they seek to drive up the price for, what is set to be, one of their biggest sales of all-time.
Regardless, it appears very likely that Kühn will be sold in the coming weeks, so has Rodgers identified a potential replacement?
Who Celtic should sign to replace Kühn
As reported by Glasgow World, Aston Villa are open to selling youngster Louie Barry, to ease their ongoing concerns about breaching the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.
Thus, they add that Celtic are ‘weighing up a potential offer’ for the 22-year-old, given their long-standing interest in Barry, who they have been ‘keeping close tabs on’. Previous reports have suggested he could be available in and around the £12m mark.
Barry first made headlines by joining Barcelona’s fabled la Masia academy in 2019, before returning to England a year later, signing for Aston Villa for a reported £880,000.
He’s since been loaned out no less than seven times, making the biggest impression at Stockport County, scoring 24 goals in 43 league appearances for the club, with Sam Byrne of the Manchester Evening News describing his performances for the Hatters as “absolutely electric”, adding he “captured the imagination” of all supporters.
So, let’s assess his senior career statistics so far.
Louie Barry season-by-season statistics
Season
Tier
Games
Goals
Assists
2024/25*
Championship
4
0
0
2024/25*
League One
24
16
3
2023/24
League Two
22
9
4
2022/23**
League Two
21
2
1
2022/23**
League One
32
1
3
2021/22
League Two
16
6
1
*moved to Hull City in January 2025.
**moved to Salford City in January 2023.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, Barry very much burst onto the scene at Stockport this season, scoring 16 goals in just half a campaign, before moving to Hull in the EFL Championship, featuring just four times for the Tigers before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘highly-rated prospect’, while Mick Brown of Football Insider believes that Barry is ready to take the next step in his career and make a permanent move away from Villa.
Barry can be deployed centrally or on either flank, a position that Celtic might have vacancy to fill in the coming weeks, thus making him an ideal replacement for Kuhn.
The young attacker is certainly an extremely talented player, so the Hoops should do all they can to secure his signature, especially if they can do so at a reduced rate, with Villa needing to raise funds and fast.
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Manchester United will quickly want to forget the 2024/25 campaign with the club registering their worst ever Premier League finish and points tally – ending the year on a measly 42 points.
Ruben Amorim took the reins back in November, but he was unable to transform their fortunes, with this summer vital if he is to be a success at Old Trafford.
The January window was his first opportunity to make the changes he desired to the squad, but ultimately it wasn’t long enough to make the wholesale transfers needed.
However, work has already commenced this summer to make key additions, with attacker Matheus Cunha the first player to make the move, joining in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
If they are to push up the table and return to any form of European football at the end of 2025/26, more signings are needed across the board, with work already being conducted behind the scenes.
The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new striker
Over recent days, United have been pushing hard to try and land the signature of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, looking to secure a reunion between the forward and the Red Devils boss.
However, it was confirmed that the Swede is only interested in a move to Arsenal this summer, with the hierarchy desperately needing to pursue other options before the end of the summer.
It appears as though Jason Wilcox has wasted no time, already making a move to land Eintracht Frankfurt’s talisman, Hugo Ekitiké, according to Foot Mercato.
The report claims that United are leading the race for the 22-year-old striker, who also has interest from Liverpool and Chelsea after netting 22 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.
It also states that they have commenced talks, overtaking the other English sides in the race for his signature, but any deal could set the hierarchy back €100m (£84m) during the off-season.
Why Ekitike could be United’s answer to Kane
Harry Kane has been a striker who has been a thorn in United’s side over the years, often producing the goods against them and stopping them from success.
The England international has scored 213 goals in England’s top flight throughout his career, before making the switch to Bayern Munich back in the summer of 2023.
Despite departing for Germany, the 31-year-old has still managed to haunt the Red Devils, scoring against them in the Champions League, registering 11 combined goals and assists in his 21 outings against the club.
It’s safe to say United have been lacking such a goalscoring presence over the last couple of seasons, but that could be about to change with the signing of Ekitike this summer.
The Frenchman has been labelled as a similar player to Kane by FBref, with the Frankfurt star matching or bettering him in numerous key areas – showcasing why he would be an excellent addition despite the mammoth price tag.
Ekitike, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but he’s managed to post a higher goal per shot on target rate – subsequently demonstrating his edge in front of goal.
He’s also managed to complete more take-ons and carries into the final third, highlighting the threat he poses when getting at the opposition with the ball at his feet.
Most combined goals & assists in the Bundesliga (2024/25)
Player
Team
Games
G&A
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
31
34
Michael Olise
Bayern Munich
34
27
Omar Marmoush
Eintracht Frankfurt
17
24
Hugo Ekitiké
Eintracht Frankfurt
33
23
Serhou Guirassy
Borussia Dortmund
30
23
Tim Kleindienst
Borussia Mönchengladbach
31
23
Florian Wirtz
Bayer Leverkusen
31
22
Stats via FotMob
The former PSG star has also come out on top in more aerial battles this campaign, offering Amorim the focal point that he’s craved since taking the reins back in the winter.
Whilst £84m may appear to be a small fortune for a player who’s never played in the Premier League, it presents a fresh opportunity to land a star that could take them to the next level.
Should he get close to the levels produced by Kane in England’s top flight, it would be an excellent pick-up, with his skillset certainly pushing the club back in the right direction.
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