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Everton are planning to send loanee Armando Broja back to Chelsea after the striker picked up an injury that will keep him out for 10-12 weeks.

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• Broja to miss 10-12 weeks with injury
• Everton want to terminate loan deal
• Chelsea ask for full payment to terminate

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Everton signed Broja on loan after the striker was told that he was not in Enzo Maresca's plans for Chelsea for the season. The Albanian striker has not had the best time at Goodison Park either as he has only played five Premier League clashes and has not scored or assisted in any of the games. Broja has now picked up an ankle injury and will miss up to 12 weeks of action, as per new boss David Moyes.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Guardian has now reported that Everton are set to discuss terminating Broja's loan this January as they want to free up a loan spot on their roster with the Toffees having used their full allocation of four loan signings this season. However, Chelsea are in no mood to allow the same unless Everton pays the remaining cost of the loan before terminating the deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  When Everton signed Broja, the Albanian striker had been suffering with an Achilles injury and the two sides had come to an agreement that Chelsea would bear Broja's wages for whatever duration he missed with the Toffees. Everton are looking to exploit the same agreement, however, the Blues are clear that the injury is now different and they are no longer liable to pay Broja his wages.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BROJA?

  Regardless of which club is paying him, Broja's season is likely over as he will return in the latter part of April and will likely not hit his fitness goals until the end of the season. If he does stay at Everton, however, there is a slight possibility of him featuring for a game or two.

نجح فريق الاتحاد في تحقيق فوز كبير على الهلال برباعية مقابل هدف، خلال المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم ببطولة الدوري السعودي، وذلك على استاد مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية.

واستطاع كريم بنزيما في تلك المباراة من رفع رصيده التهديفي حيث سجل الهدف الرابع للاتحاد، بينما استطاع ماركوس ليوناردو من تسجيل هدف الهلال الوحيد.

وفي نفس الجولة حقق الأهلي فوزًا صعبًا على ضمك بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري السعودي.

وسجل إيفان توني هدف الأهلي الأول بالدقيقة 4 من عمر المباراة، بينما أضاف زميله جالينو الهدف الثاني بالدقيقة الخامسة من الوقت بدل الضائع للشوط الثاني.

وكذلك أحرز خوليان كينيونيس هدف القادسية الأول أمام الأخدود، خلال مباراة الفريقين مساء اليوم، وأيضًا رفع إيفان توني رصيده من الأهداف إلى 11 هدفًا.

طالع | ترتيب الدوري السعودي بعد فوز الأهلي على ضمك

ويتصدر كريستيانو رونالدو ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي برصيد 16 هدفًا، ومعه الفرنسي كريم بنزيما مهاجم الاتحاد، يليه خوليان كينيونيس لاعب القادسية، وأيضاً ماركوس ليوناردو لاعب الهلال في المركز الثاني، ولديهم 14 هدفاً. ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي

– رونالدو – النصر – 16 هدفًا.

– كريم بنزيما – الاتحاد – 16 هدفًا.

– خوليان كينيونيس – القادسية – 14 هدفًا.

– ماركوس ليوناردو – الهلال – 14 هدفًا.

– عبد الرزاق حمد لله – الشباب – 13 هدفًا.

– ميتروفيتش – الهلال – 12 هدفًا.

– جورج نكودو – ضمك – 11 هدفا.

– إيفان توني – الأهلي – 11 هدفًا.

– ماوليدا – الخلود – 11 هدفاً.

– موسي بارو – الأهلي 10 أهداف.

– أوباميانج – القادسية – 10 أهداف.

– عبد الله ال سالم – الخليج – 9 أهداف.

– سيرجي سافيتش – الهلال – 9 أهداف.

– حسام عوار – الاتحاد – 9 أهداف.

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي بشكل محدث باستمرار من هنا

Barcelona's efforts to register summer signing Dani Olmo for the second half of the season have hit a huge snag after a judge rejected their plea.

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Barcelona signed Olmo in summerFacing registration issues this seasonPlayer could leave after judge rejects pleaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Olmo swapped RB Leipzig for Barcelona in August but the 26-year-old was only registered with La Liga until the end of 2024 due to the club's financial problems. His registration was granted due to Andreas Christensen's long-term injury but as the defender nears a return, Mundo Deportivo state the Spain international may not be able to play in the second half of the season.

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The report adds that Judge Ignacio Fernandez de Senespleda, head of the Commercial Court 10 of Barcelona, rejected the Blaugrana's registration bid for Olmo. As a result, Barca will launch a new lawsuit against La Liga in a Court of First Instance on Monday, December 30. If they are unable to register the attacking midfielder, reports suggest he could leave for free in the January transfer window – six months on from signing for a fee worth up to £51.5 million ($64.7m/€62m).

DID YOU KNOW?

Mundo Deportivo states that Barca will argue that all the registration rules are invalid because they are 'regulated by a body that they consider not competent', such as the Delegate Commission of La Liga.

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Getty Images WHAT NEXT?

Time is running out for Barcelona to register Olmo, who has made 15 appearances for the Catalan outfit so far, for the second half of the campaign. They have been set a deadline of Tuesday, December 31, to get this over the line.

Steven Patterson, Duanne Olivier claim three wickets each to contain Kent as visitors hold healthy lead

ECB Reporters Network16-Apr-2021

Darren Stevens was 49 not out at tea•Getty Images

Yorkshire lead Kent by 120 in the second innings of their LV= Insurance County Championship game at Canterbury, reaching 6-0 at stumps on day two, having bowled the hosts out for 265.The visitors had made 379 in their first innings, Steven Patterson adding 38 before claiming 3 for 43. Duanne Olivier also took three wickets for 55 to leave Kent in danger of following on in the Group Three match, but they recovered from 156 for 6, as Darren Stevens, who had earlier taken 4 for 60, top-scored with 52 and Ollie Robinson made 44.At the close of play, Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were not out on 6 and 0 respectively.The visitors resumed on 358 for 8, but lost Patterson to the fifth ball of the morning when he was caught by sub Fred Klaassen at cover, off Matt Milnes. Stevens then bowled Duanne Olivier for 5 to conclude Yorkshire’s first innings.Kent lost captain Daniel Bell-Drummond for 13, lbw to David Willey, and England’s Zak Crawley had made just 1 when he was bowled by Olivier. Joe Denly was then lbw for 17 to Patterson with the final ball of the morning session, leaving Kent in trouble on 59 for 3 at lunch.When play resumed, the former Yorkshire player Jack Leaning didn’t even survive to the end of Patterson’s over, out lbw for a duck after just three balls, while Jordan Cox, who had looked comfortable, was leg before to the same bowler for 38.The partnership Kent urgently needed came when Stevens, who got off the mark with a six over square leg, was joined by Robinson. They put on 70 for the sixth wicket before the latter was strangled down the leg side by Jordan Thompson and caught by a diving Jordan Tattersall for 44, leaving Kent on 193 for 6 at tea.Stevens reached his 50 with a single from the first ball of the evening session, but was lbw soon after to Harry Brook, who claimed only the second wicket of his first-class career and his first since 2017. Grant Stewart and Milnes steered Kent past the follow-on target, before Stewart was caught behind off Olivier for 40.Miguel Cummins made 13 before he edged Olivier to Kohler-Cadmore, leaving Milnes unbeaten on 29 with Harry Podmore unable to bat due to a side strain. Yorkshire finished with seven bonus points and Kent five.

Home side in trouble after losing 5 for 22 during evening session

ECB Reporters' Network30-Apr-2021Lewis Hill’s second first-class century and four wickets from Chris Wright put Leicestershire firmly in command at Bristol as Gloucestershire closed day two 176 for 6 replying to 421.Hill took his overnight 77 to 121 as Leicestershire ground out 144 overs with Ben Mike also making 54, his third first-class fifty, as the Foxes posted their second-highest total at Bristol.Related

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Wright then helped plunge Gloucestershire from 99 for 1 to 121 for 6 in a calamitous half hour for the hosts that puts their unbeaten start to the season in serious jeopardy.All was well with Gloucestershire’s reply as Chris Dent made a fourth fifty of the summer. But he felt for one sent across him from Wright and edged behind for 53 after James Bracey, on 27, played across the line and was lbw to Callum Parkinson.Ian Cockbain couldn’t get his bat down in time to a full straight delivery from Wright and was lbw for a third-ball duck. Tom Lace, only 4, then nudged at Dieter Klein and edged low to third slip before Ryan Higgins was squared up by Wright and lbw for 5 struck on the back pad.It was a wonderful final session to another excellent day for Leicestershire who resumed 264 for 4 and, though they were only able to claim one more batting point, built well through Hill.When Hill made 126 against Surrey in just his second first-class match in 2015 his career was all before him. Since then only the 2017 season – 554 runs at 30 – has been remotely noteworthy. But talent has clearly never deserted him and he arrived with four half-centuries and a 47 in six innings this season and here reached a long-awaited hundred in 176 balls.A flashing cover drive off Josh Shaw, to a delivery that was by no means a half-volley, was the stroke of the match so far but he fell just short of his career-best, driving at one from Higgins angled in that took out his off stump.Mike passed fifty in exactly 100 balls but Leicestershire lost their last four wickets for 28 as Dan Worrall finished with 5 for 79 – an eighth five-for of his career and first for Gloucestershire.

We might be just over three weeks away from the return of the Premier League, but with the transfer window set to remain open for another five weeks, there is plenty of time for teams to complete their business.

This is great news for Tottenham Hotspur as, aside from signing Archie Gray, they have yet to make any serious additions to the first team.

In fact, Daniel Levy and Co seem to have prioritised sales recently, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg joining Marseille this week, Tanguy Ndombele joining OGC Nice earlier this month and even recent reports that Richarlison could be on his way to the Saudi Pro League this summer.

While the Brazilian striker has been far from great for the Lilywhites, they can't afford to sell him without bringing in a replacement, although, based on recent reports, that could be a problem the club are already addressing.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several sides in the picture for Besiktas wonderkid Semih Kilicsoy.

The report has claimed that the Lilywhites and West Ham United have already sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old in action, while Aston Villa and Fulham have had offers rejected as neither club were anywhere close to the Turkish side's valuation of around €30m, which is about £25m.

It might seem like a lot of money to spend on a teenager because, well, it is.

However, given his recent performances and supposed potential, Levy and Co would be wise to match his price tag and bring him to N17, as he could already be the ideal replacement for Richarlison.

How Kilicsoy compares to Richarlison

Now, an argument could be made that at 18 years old, Kilicsoy would be too young to make a serious impact at Spurs, but as the old saying goes, if you're good enough, you're old enough.

Moreover, if Richarlison is to leave and an older replacement isn't brought in, then Ange Postecoglou's hand will be somewhat forced into playing the exciting forward, but with that said, how does he compare to the former Everton man?

Well, when it comes to the most critical metric for a striker, output, it is a worryingly close-fought competition – worrying for the Brazilian, that is.

For example, in 31 appearances across all competitions, the 27-year-old scored 12 goals and provided four assists, equating to a goal involvement every 1.93 games.

In comparison, the 18-year-old also scored 12 goals but provided three assists in 35 appearances, meaning he maintained a still impressive, but slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 2.33 games.

Appearances

35

31

Goals

12

12

Assists

3

4

Goals Involvements per Match

0.42

0.51

However, when you look at their contributions in the league alone, the teenager comes out ahead with 14 goals and assists in 23 games to the 15 in 28 from the Lilywhites' striker.

Ultimately, while the Turkish "monster," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, is just behind the Nova Venécia-born international at the moment, it's quite evident that he's on track to become a serious proposition.

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The incredible youngster is a real “diamond.”

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 23, 2024

Therefore, if he's given the time to do that in N17, Tottenham could have a real match-winner on their hands and the perfect long-term replacement for Richarlison.

Newcastle United could now kickstart their summer business after reportedly being offered the chance to finally sign a long-term target and an upgrade on Miguel Almiron.

Newcastle transfer news

It's been a slow summer at St James' Park, with Lloyd Kelly, John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos the only new names through the door and Elliot Anderson, alongside Yankuba Minteh, the only standout names to head for the exit door as Newcastle attempted to comply with PSR rules.

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The Swedish striker could be about to get a new partner.

ByTom Coates Jul 17, 2024

Now, with just one month left until the beginning of the new Premier League campaign, the Magpies need to ensure that the next few weeks are busier than ever if they want to improve on last season's seventh place finish. Just who arrives in that regard remains to be seen, however. It could be argued that Newcastle could do with another centre-back following Sven Botman's ACL injury as well as an upgrade on Almiron, who struggled last season.

The 30-year-old's Newcastle future has once again been questioned this summer and given his form last season, the Magpies could do with an alternative option with or without his exit, which may finally see a long-term target arrive.

According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign Raphinha from Barcelona after the winger told his agents that he wants a Premier League return in the next month.

Newcastle, of course, have been linked with a move for the Brazilian in the past, before ultimately failing to secure his signature. This summer could finally be different, however, if they match Barcelona's reported £50m price tag, with his agents reaching out to the Magpies, Arsenal and Chelsea, as they believe English clubs are the most likely to shell out his fee and wages.

Following the sensational rise of Lamine Yamal and the potential arrival of his fellow Spaniard Nico Williams this summer, Raphinha has reportedly become resigned to leaving the Nou Camp in search of guaranteed game time this summer, allowing Newcastle to strike.

"Extraordinary" Raphinha is better than Almiron

If Newcastle want to become a Champions League club on a more permanent basis, then swapping an inconsistent winger in Almiron for a player who knows all about playing on the biggest stage in Raphinha is a move they should complete this summer. As Yamal and potentially Williams leave the Brazilian with little choice but to move on, the Magpies should aim to take advantage and land a deal.

Goals

6

3

Assists

9

1

Key Passes

41

24

Successful Take-ons

46

52

Whilst Almiron's take-on success is better than the Brazilian's, what he did following those take-ons last season often wasted his initial good work. By contrast, Raphinha was far more dangerous on the ball, having a hand in 15 goals where Almiron only managed four goal involvements in the entire Premier League campaign.

The winger earned the praise of former manager Xavi throughout his time at Barcelona, with the legendary midfielder saying via Fabrizio Romano: "I’m the one who has trusted him the most. He’s the player with the most assists of the team. He scores, in the 1v1 he’s daring more… he’s extraordinary. When there was criticism, I had no doubt that Raphinha was going to succeed here."

Having already welcomed five fresh faces so far this summer, Aston Villa have now reportedly turned their attention towards a sixth and lead the race to sign an attacking boost for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa transfer news

With Ross Barkley, Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea, Ian Maatsen and Lewis Dobbin already through the door, Villa don't look like stopping on the transfer front anytime soon.

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The Villans have made their first offer…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 11, 2024

The Villans have since been linked with moves for the likes of Joao Felix and even Ivan Toney as they look to bolster Emery's frontline ahead of next season. Of course, if a forward does arrive, they'll be tasked with partnering Ollie Watkins, who proved once and for all that he's made for the big stage by scoring the winner in England's Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands.

Now, reports suggest that those in the Midlands have turned towards a player who'd make quite the strike partner for the freshly crowned England hero next season.

According to Bild via The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now in pole position to sign Maximilian Beier from Hoffenheim in a deal worth £25m this summer. The 21-year-old enjoyed an outstanding Bundesliga campaign last time out to earn such impressive interest and could now arrive to make his biggest career move to date.

Reportedly ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to sign the young German, a deal for Beier would highlight just how far Villa have come under Emery. From a club scrapping for relegation and then languishing in mid-table, the Midlands have become a side capable of competing with the very best on and off the pitch in the last two years.

"Incredible" Beier would be an upgrade on Duran

As Duran's Aston Villa future continues to be thrown into doubt, Emery could solve a problem before it even emerges by signing an upgrade on the forward in the form of Beier this summer. The Hoffenheim man, at just 21 years old, still has plenty more to come and should only accelerate towards his potential with a move to the Premier League, especially under Emery.

Goals

16

5

Assists

1

0

Expected Goals

11.4

2

Minutes

2,420

475

Credit where it's due, Duran stole the headlines when he did receive an opportunity last season, but that opportunity didn't fall his way nearly enough. Now, if Beier arrives, he could find himself even further down the pecking order, especially after the 16-goal campaign that the young German just enjoyed.

The forward has earned plenty of praise in Germany, including from Bundesliga legend Miroslav Klose, who told the league's official website: "I played against him in my first years as FC Bayern's U17 coach and his qualities were immediately apparent. He runs an incredible amount, works for the team and rewards himself with goals. I'm sure Julian Nagelsmann has him on his radar."

The details have been divulged by the network as part of its ongoing argument for a discount to their rights fees, which has become an increasingly ugly spectacle for the two parties

Daniel Brettig01-Dec-2020

Test cricket and the Big Bash are the two major products for Channel Seven•Getty Images

Private dialogue between Seven executives and Cricket Australia has been divulged by the network as part of its ongoing argument for a discount to their rights fees in what has become an increasingly ugly spectacle for the two parties.An affidavit lodged with the Australian Federal Court on Monday, written by Seven’s head of sport Lewis Martin, outlines the network’s creeping anxiety about the summer schedule and particularly its changes from the originally published fixture – released by CA on May 28 – despite the governing body’s repeated insistence that any plans needed to be subject to change due to coronavirus pandemic.It culminates in the written reproduction of conversations between Martin, CA’s head of commercial Steph Beltrame, its head of cricket operations Peter Roach, and the head of the Big Bash League, Alistair Dobson. The first conversation took place on August 7, a matter of weeks before Seven’s complaints about CA went public on August 25. The more recent exchange, between Martin and Beltrame, is reported to have taken place around November 12.Seven’s quest for a discount to its A$450 million portion of the A$1.2 billion rights deal signed alongside Foxtel in 2018 has taken it from multiple private conversations through the early part of the year, to public criticism of CA from the chief executive James Warburton since the time of its financial reporting in August, a request for independent assessment of the rights fee through the Australian Chamber for International and Commercial Arbitration, and now lodgment of court documents seeking the release of further correspondence between CA, the BCCI and Foxtel.The network’s primary complaint all along has been about the value of the BBL, which the network bought the rights to in 2018 at the same time CA confirmed plans to vastly expand it to a 14-game full home and away fixture, even though broadcast audiences had been trending down since the tournament peaked in 2016 while being aired exclusively on Ten. Much of the early part of 2020 had been devoted to meetings between the broadcasters and CA about how to improve the competition for its 10th edition.However the shift of the IPL from April to October and the subsequent postponement of the T20 World Cup in Australia from this year to 2022, meant CA needed to make substantial changes to its plans, namely to push back the Test series against India – which Seven has rights to broadcast alongside Fox Cricket – and start the home international season with ODI and T20I matches that Seven does not have rights to as a result of the 2018 deal. Seven is arguing these changes were made due to the wishes of the BCCI, rather than circumstances forced by Covid.In the August 7 conversation reproduced by Martin, he discusses the changes with Dobson and Roach.Subsequent to this conversation, Warburton went on a public attack against CA, stating on August 25: “It’s been frustrating with Cricket Australia, that’s for sure. Ultimately … they need to look at what is possible to deliver, stop talking about international borders being closed, or borders being closed, and start to look at what really is the season we are going to deliver. Like we have done with the AFL, our obligation then is to really deliver something for the fans and the players and to put our best foot forward for all of our commercial partners as well.”But, at the moment, you pick up the paper every day and you read four or five different things. You have got the Australian T20 and one-day captain saying one thing, you have got the coach saying another, you have got BBL franchises talking about no international players – or [having more] grade cricketers. We could send the cameras down for free to telecast grade cricket.”On August 28, Warburton escalated his rhetoric further, referring to CA as “the most incompetent administration I’ve ever worked with, and going on to say: “This is not an acceptable product and we will not support the season. Cricket Australia have an obligation to deliver a competition of no lesser standard than the past. What a bumbling, stumbling administration. How stupid to schedule international cricket against the BBL and drain the resources of a competition already under pressure. It’s a joke and it rips off the fans.”The November conversation, again reproduced by Martin, has him debating the schedule with Beltrame, who is left to state the obvious.At the same time as it released these conversations and requested access to more correspondence, Seven argued for privacy in terms of the terms of its media rights agreement with CA. “The terms of the MRA are confidential and many of its terms are commercially sensitive to Seven,” Martin wrote. “The public disclosure of those terms would be likely to prejudice Seven’s ability to negotiate future rights agreements both with CA and other sporting bodies.”Prior to the release of the affidavit, CA’s interim chief executive, Nick Hockley, decried Seven’s approach to seeking a rights discount at a time when the summer was well underway.”With so much positivity around Australian cricket, it is disappointing that Seven West Media has again chosen to use the media to talk our wonderful game down,” Hockley said. “CA has maintained all along our commitment to delivering a thrilling summer of cricket and on behalf of all involved, be that governments, partners, players and staff, I’m proud to say we are doing just that. We remain confident in our contractual position.”We continue to have tremendous respect for the hardworking people across Channel 7’s cricket and news broadcast teams and congratulate them on the substantial increase in ratings cricket has delivered them to date this season. We have, and will continue to, fulfil our obligations to our partners and supporters by scheduling a brilliant summer of cricket, despite the cost and complexity of doing so given the current public health situation.”As for Martin’s public positioning, he told in October: “We love our cricket and we are hoping there will be a sustainable outcome for the sport. Seven is the home of cricket. We love cricket, but we are looking for a sustainable outcome in these dynamic times.”

Bairstow in talks with Cardiff-based team after losing Test central contract

Matt Roller09-Oct-2020

Ollie Pope will represent Welsh Fire in the Hundred•Getty Images

Ollie Pope will represent Welsh Fire in the inaugural season of the Hundred, after England’s centrally contracted Test players were reallocated teams following the postponement of the tournament’s launch until 2021.Pope, signed by Southern Brave in 2019’s draft, won his first red-ball central contract last month, and will replace Jonny Bairstow as Welsh Fire’s Test player, with the Southampton-based team opting to keep hold of Jofra Archer rather than retaining Pope in his place.Bairstow is in talks to secure a top-band deal with Welsh Fire, which would lessen the blow of losing his Test central contract. Salaries were cut by 20% ahead of next season due to the impact of the pandemic, meaning top earners will now be paid £100,000 rather than £125,000, but a deal would mitigate Bairstow’s financial hit from moving to a white-ball, rather than cross-format, central contract.ALSO READ: ECB clarifies player retention plans for the HundredThe ECB also confirmed that Zak Crawley, a £40,000 pick by London Spirit in the 2019 draft, will replace Rory Burns as their Test-contracted player. Burns will move to Oval Invincibles as a supplementary Test-contracted player alongside Sam Curran, while Dom Sibley has joined Chris Woakes as one of Birmingham Phoenix’s two Test-contracted players. James Anderson and Stuart Broad are the two men with red-ball central contracts not involved in the Hundred.Test-contracted players earn a retainer for their involvement in the tournament – expected to be three group-stage games plus Finals Day – plus match fees for any additional games they are involved in, and are treated separately to the main draft. Players on white-ball contracts enter the main draft, but can negotiate with their teams to be retained beforehand.Jonny Bairstow is in talks with Welsh Fire after losing his Test contract•Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Last week, it was confirmed that teams will be able to retain as many men’s players as they want from the squad picked at the 2019 draft, provided they can agree on a salary band during a retention window running until January 2021. Kolpak players would have to be retained as overseas players, with the limit of three per squad still applying for next season.A mini-draft will then follow in early 2021, when it is hoped that there will be more clarity over the international calendar and therefore the availability of overseas players.In Bairstow’s case, Welsh Fire would likely have to lose one of their two Australia internationals – Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc – to accommodate him, after both picked up £125,000 deals in last year’s draft. With Tom Banton also signed on a £100,000 contract in 2019, they face a difficult set of decisions going into the 2021 season.But even if Bairstow does not re-sign with the Fire, he can expect to be the most in-demand English player at the mini-draft in 2021, and would be almost certain to secure a £100,000 payday. Welsh Fire would also be able to use their ‘Right to Match’ card on him at the draft, but only if they had a slot free at the right salary band.”I’m incredibly excited to be joining Welsh Fire,” Pope said. “The side had a really strong squad lined up and I’m sure they’ll be working hard to retain some of the star names and further strengthen the side in the upcoming draft.”In the women’s competition, every player who held a contract for the 2020 tournament before its postponement can opt to roll it over to 2021, with salary bands frozen. Anya Shrubsole has previously confirmed that she had decided to stay at Southern Brave.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Each team has now announced one retained player for next season, including West Indies internationals Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor who will remain at London Spirit and Southern Brave respectively.ALSO READ: Women’s Hundred players given option of contract roll-overKatie George, who re-signed for Welsh Fire, said: “We were building a really strong side… I can’t wait to see how the rest of the team falls into place and I’m really looking forward to getting going next summer. The Hundred is hugely important to the ongoing growth of the women’s game, from both a performance and profile perspective. As a player I am hugely excited to get to play with and against some of the best cricketers in the world.”Sanjay Patel, the tournament’s managing director, said: “Over the next few months we will see world-class players and massive names from around the world committing to the Hundred and we can’t wait to launch the competition in 2021.”