All posts by h716a5.icu

You really go off for bad light when you’ve got floodlights? Also, can you re-evaluate your safety rules at the slightest hint of a drizzle?

Aishwarya Kumar in Providence09-Aug-2019As I sat in the press box watching the covers come on for the fifth time during the first West Indies v India ODI in Providence, my thoughts wandered to the summer of 2015, when I watched a baseball game live for the first time. It had rained that night – enough to make me wonder why they continued playing.It was a hot and dry September in Chicago. Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism had arranged a baseball icebreaker for the incoming journalism graduate students. I have always maintained – and still do – baseball and cricket are too similar for people to love them both at the same time.”It’s an experience. We can get beers, hang out and get to know each other,” a classmate had said. Wearily, I agreed.At 9pm, an hour after the game began, it started to drizzle, even as we stood together higher up in the stands, chatting and eating hotdogs. The game was somewhere around the fifth innings and play continued. Had it been a cricket match, the groundstaff would have rushed to cover the pitch and then placed larger covers over the outfield.ALSO READ: Analysing cricket through a baseball lensThe umpires nodded at each other at several points. The game continued, the rain stopped after a while, Chicago Cubs won, and we all went home, having learnt a little more about each other. I’d thought that at several points during the game, but it was too loud to nerd-out and compare cricket and baseball rules on rain.The question kept rearing itself, and during my first week at school, I sat with my sports reporting professor, a big baseball fan, and talked about the rules, comparing cricket and baseball as we always do in America. We spoke about how differently they handled rain. Some rules I remembered, some a friend at ESPN Connecticut, Sachin Chandran, a Guyanese American, helped me recall.In cricket, the umpires call for the covers when it starts drizzling steadily to protect the pitch and parts of the outfield, in some cases like in Sri Lanka, the entire outfield! In baseball, because the ball isn’t , the interpretation is different.The umpires look at conditions and deem it safe or unsafe depending on a player’s ability to grip the ball, their footing on the field, and whether running could increase risks of injuries. Lightning plays a major role too, because fans and players run the risk of thunder and lightning strikes. This was a major issue in Florida when the second T20I between West Indies and India had to be called off (at least there was a winner).In baseball, if a result is around the corner, play continues through mild or moderate rain•Getty ImagesIn cricket, the DLS method decides the winner if a target is set and a specific part of the second innings has been played. In baseball, the umpires try to get the game to five innings – or 4.5 if the home team is leading – which would then mean the team that’s leading at that point will take the win if rain halts play. And, if they’re close to getting a result, the umpires generally let the players play through mild or moderate rain. There’s no hard rule with this one – umpires take a judgment call on safety.And here’s a fascinating tidbit: If it starts raining mildly or moderately before the match begins, the home team gets to decide if the game starts on time or if it’s going to be delayed. (This could never be a thing in cricket – it would put way too much power in the hands of the home team). The logic here is that the home team knows the conditions and the environment best. Delays cost money, so they don’t use that power lightly.And, if there’s heavy rain forecast, they have the power to call off the game way before it begins so as to not upset fans. Last-minute cancellations causes chaos with sold tickets and offended fans. The power moves to the umpires only once the game is about to begin or has already begun.So, then, what happens if the match is called off due to rain and there’s no result? Most of the time in cricket, unless it’s a knockout World Cup game or a tournament final, it’s just abandoned and nobody thinks twice about it. In baseball – particularly in Major League Baseball – it is much more thorough (and comprehensive, in my humble opinion). If the baseball game is abandoned before it starts or becomes official, they play a make-up game on a common off day. Sometimes it so happens that the two teams are scheduled to face each other the next day – in that case, they make it a double-header and play two games in one day. Alternatively, if they are scheduled to meet later in the season, there’s the flexibility to stage the double-header then. If there’s a possibility that the result won’t impact the standings, the two teams sometimes decide to do away with the make-up game, although it happens rarely.In cricket, though, such things aren’t welcome, because they are bound to be rigid. We’ve got rules that sometimes state play can’t go beyond 6pm on days when the forecast is for clear weather at the time. We’ve also got rules that don’t permit the use of floodlights even if the facility is available, with players going off for “bad light”.Anyway, the broader point is that timing plays a key role. In baseball, three-and-a-half hours, and you’re done. They can afford a double-header. In cricket, unless it’s a T20, doubleheaders are out of question.People who follow sport in America love results. I’ve attracted befuddled stares when I say there could be five days of play in cricket, with the game ending in a draw. Unfathomable to many. So why not revise the DLS rules and have a reserve day for short formats, at least? More work for players, certainly a little more work for journalists, and everyone’s happy.

The score was 93 for 4, then 130 for 6. You’d call most centuries from that situation gritty, or tenacious, but not a century from this dude

Andrew Fidel Fernando at the P Sara Oval24-Aug-2019So you think you have style. People compliment you on your outfits. You’re at a high-end hairdresser a couple of times a month. In between the visits, there is never a strand out of place. When you go out, you order the classiest drinks – spirits, neat. Your vehicle is the envy of your peer group, washed, waxed, vacuumed, scratch-free: immaculate. At weddings, you’re cutting up the dance floor, admirers staring from all corners of the room, the bride and groom feeling thoroughly outshone. It’s understandable. You are convinced you are smooth in civilian life. You think you’re the shit. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you’re no Dhananjaya de Silva. Next to him on a cricket field, you’re trash.The P Sara Oval is among the most testing venues on the planet, for batsmen. There’s a bit of pace, a bit of bounce, a bit of seam and swing, a bit of spin, and a lot of wickets. It’s been 16 years since the last drawn Test at this venue. De Silva arrived into a 93 for 4 situation, which quickly deteriorated into a 130 for 6 situation. A century from a No. 6, from here, would generally have to be gritty, and if you’re batting with the tail, farming the strike, and pushing the score out to much further than it should have got, your innings has got to be tenacious, right?But you’d never use these adjectives for this de Silva innings. You’d never use them for any de Silva innings. He slinks down the pitch, long-sleeved, limbs relaxed, a stream meandering in paddies. He strokes a lofted four over cover, raps gloves, goes back, slouches into his stance. Against the quicks, in this innings, he was majestically languid. They kept trying to bounce him. He kept hooking them casually for six.There is no more casually graceful player right now, because every act, even the mistakes, are imbued with an air of indifference. So he nailed that shot but it went straight to the fielder. No big deal. There’s another ball coming. So he dropped an offbreak short and the batsman bashed it for four. Relax. It’s just cricket. Nobody died. This is merely superficial, of course, because deep down, he genuinely cares. He was yanked up and down the order like a marionette for years – a process that sent his batting average into a nosedive. In the meantime, he improved his bowling to such an extent that he began being picked primarily for his offspin in limited-overs cricket.Dhananjaya de Silva runs one through point•Getty ImagesIn the field, Sri Lanka have no one else of his quality – a player who can be reliably deployed almost anywhere. He rides the boundary like an Old West outlaw passing on a mustang through the middle of a dusty town. When he is in the slips, it is less a cordon, more a Sunday afternoon hangout sesh in a coconut grove. He leaps, catlike, to make another a spectacular save at point, and when teammates rush up, he holds out his palm out for only lowest of low-fives. It’s cool, fellas. Just a saved four. Don’t lose your minds.Then he’s called up by the captain to send a few overs down. There are spinners who wear sunglasses when in action. Sometimes they even look suave. De Silva doesn’t need the shades. His action isn’t classical, but like with everything he does, it seems entirely effortless. You know in your mind that he’s participating in an elite sport, and in some spells, like the one in Port Elizabeth in February, making vital contributions to an eventual victory.You understand that to get to this level, there must have been sweat and sacrifice. But aesthetically, de Silva has his feet up, in a hammock. Later in the day, Tom Latham produced a hundred that was objectively more impressive, because unlike de Silva he had not been dropped in single figures, and there were far fewer edges for four behind the wicket, but Latham is basically the anti-de Silva – he always looks like he’s hard at work.Occasionally de Silva held the pose after a cover drive, but where this, for other batsmen, is their most visually pleasing state, de Silva is just as nonchalantly glorious when in actual motion. Like he is made of liquid rather than flesh and bone.Maybe you are an important person. Maybe you fight for human rights, help protect the environment, drive your nation’s economy, make decisions in parliament, pass judgement in court. De Silva is only a cricketer, but he would look way cooler than you doing any of that.

What’s that smell lingering in the air over Newlands?

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town07-Jan-2020If a brain fart had an odour, it would be what Quinton de Kock smelt like after he hit a Joe Denly long-hop straight to midwicket in the post-tea session. It would reek of regret, pong with impatience and give off a whiff of what-could-have-been.It lingered in the Newlands air, with the inevitable realisation that even South Africa’s longest fourth innings in more than four years was not enough to hold onto their series lead. That was long after Dean Elgar’s self-confessed first-innings “big one” and de Kock’s more recent fluff.De Kock is not the batsman South Africa would have expected to be at the forefront of a block-a-thon, especially after he flicked the first ball he faced fine for four, but he has never scored fifty runs slower in a Test than he did at Newlands. His relative restraint against the spinners, especially with the ball spitting out of the rough outside his offstump, suggested a maturity de Kock has previously been thought to lack. He spent two hours and nine minutes at the crease, faced 107 balls and did not score off 83 of them.ALSO READ: Seven things we learnt from a memorable match”He was going really well and we felt he had it under control,” Faf du Plessis said. Until that long-hop. De Kock could have hit that anywhere and he knew it. As the catch was claimed, de Kock stood motionless in disbelief, both hands on the top of his bat handle, a slight squat to his stance, in a position that said “oh no.”England celebrates the wicket of Quinton de Kock•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesHis was the first of five wickets South Africa lost for 11 runs in 17 overs to fall 50 balls, or maybe 40 minutes, short of saving the match. While de Kock’s wicket added the final stench, the fumes emerged much earlier.If a brain fart had a smell, it would be what du Plessis smelt like after he swept Dom Bess straight to square leg having batted with restraint for 57 balls, with memories from Adelaide 2012, Johannesburg 2013 and Colombo 2014 mushrooming. Du Plessis doesn’t need to listen the war stories, he was on the front line on all three occasions. If there was one player in the South African XI that the rest would have bet their houses on to secure the draw, it would have been du Plessis.For 79 minutes, he absorbed pressure, most of the time showing only defensive intent. As deliveries from James Anderson jagged off the seam, du Plessis dead-batted them to put himself out of harm’s way. He played one risky shot – a splice over gully – and one aggressive shot – a drive through point, and was readying to take the shine off the second new ball. But, 3.4 overs before it was due, Bess dangled a delivery outside off, du Plessis went at it with hard hands, thinking it would go over the fielder, but found him.”With everyone around the bat, with square leg and midwicket up, I [was trying to] go over the guy. To sweep it in the middle, was a mental error,” he said. “When you have a few guys around the bat and the ball spinning out the rough, you try and manipulate the field a little and spread it but all we needed was for me to drop anchor.”Faf du Plessis sweeps and is caught at square leg•Getty ImagesThat may not be where the match was actually lost, however.If a brain fart had a smell, it would be what Elgar smelt like after he threw away a beckoning hundred and a strong position in the first innings when he mowed Bess to mid-off. South Africa had recovered from 40 for 3, to 157 for 3, Rassie van der Dussen had bedded in and a partnership was developing. Though the first innings seems like an unfair place to start working through the fog of this defeat, it is actually where the indigestion came from.South Africa were building the foundations of a lead before they lost 7 for 66 and conceded a 46-run first-innings deficit. Elgar’s dismissal sparked the collapse and though blame cannot, and is not, being laid at one player’s feet, Elgar knows he got that wrong. So do the rest. Asked where the game was lost, du Plessis said: “First-innings runs. We got ourselves into a position where we should have got a little bit more.”All that means the performances of the senior trio in South Africa’s top six will have wrinkled a few noses and furrowed a few brows while the men themselves will look at their junior members and blush. Pieter Malan on debut, Rassie van der Dussen in his second Test and to a lesser extent Zubayr Hamza in his fourth all showed the temperament the situation demanded. Malan played a knock that may confine Aiden Markram to the domestic system for the foreseeable future, van der Dussen has almost certainly laid claim to the No.5 spot and Hamza’s technique should set him up for a long stint at No.3.The new players are what du Plessis said is “needed for us to move forward. You need guys to come through in a transitional period and put their hands up and say, ‘I am going to make this spot my own.'” The same thing is happening to England, where Dom Sibley’s century changed the complexion of the game.Before this series started, it was seen as a contest between which problem-riddled line-up could cobble together more runs, with good reason. Since the beginning of 2019, England have played 25 Test innings and being bowled out for less than 300 some 15 times, including nine scores under 200. South Africa have batted in 18 and been dismissed 14 times for less than 300, with five scores under 200. Compare that to India, who have only been bowled out twice in 11 innings over the same period, once for under 300, and Australia, who have had five out of 23 innings under 300, and you will understand why the ICC Test Championship points table looks the way it does.While England’s 2019 was studded with batting blowouts, South Africa were consistently poor. The former speaks to issues in approach, the latter, issues of personnel. Already, though, both problems have showed signs of being resolved. In South Africa’s case, it may even be the turning of a corner.”Two months ago, we were very weak mentally. We exploded quickly. Sometimes you will improve by losing,” du Plessis said.So maybe if a brain fart had a smell, it would not be as putrid as it sounds. It may carry the scent of change.

Leeds United are back in pole position in the intense automatic promotion tussle unfolding in the Championship, with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday night sending them straight back to the top of the unpredictable division.

However, nothing is set in stone just yet, with Daniel Farke’s Whites in an equally promising position last campaign, only for playoff final misery to greet them at the hands of Southampton.

This promotion near-miss had the potential to completely break the West Yorkshire outfit – considering the amount of notable sales that were later signed off on – with the likes of Georginio Rutter and many more heartbreakingly swapping the second tier for luxurious Premier League pastures.

How Leeds' record sales are now performing

Leeds did hold onto Rutter for longer than they would have anticipated, with the enigmatic 22-year-old not actually leaving Elland Road for good until the middle of August last year.

Still, even with all that time to prepare for the exciting Frenchman’s departure, his eventual £40m exit to Brighton and Hove Albion would prove to be a difficult pill to swallow.

After all, Leeds have never really replaced Rutter’s firepower in the number ten position back at Elland Road, with the Seagulls number 14 now up to an impressive eight goals and five assists this season, whilst Farke persists with the likes of Brenden Aaronson.

At least Farke has full-throttle wingers such as Manor Solomon and Largie Ramazani to call upon to make the £25m sale of Crysencio Summerville less painful, with the Dutchman experiencing an up-and-down spell at West Ham United to date.

Summerville has only picked up a meagre one goal and two assists from 22 appearances this season at the Hammers, with injury difficulties getting the better of him this year so far.

Whilst both Rutter and Summerville have blown hot and cold, there is one former Leeds man who has transformed into one of the world’s best away from West Yorkshire, leading to some bold valuations appearing above his head.

The "special" Leeds ace now worth £100m

It won’t come as the greatest shock to see this ex-Whites favourite excelling so much far away from England, considering he is their record sale at a hefty £55m when Victor Orta signed off on his exit to Spain.

As has been seen in the unfortunate tale of Kalvin Phillips, sometimes a more opulent environment can work against you, but Raphinha is now regarded as one of the shining stars in world football at Hansi Flick’s treble-chasing Barcelona.

In Europe’s elite competition alone this season, the spellbinding Brazilian has managed to match Lionel Messi’s ridiculous Barca numbers, with Raphinha now up to a staggering 19 goals and assists from just 11 outings.

Moreover, the constantly captivating 28-year-old has a ridiculous 50 goals and assists in total from 45 overall appearances, with the Barca superstar more than living up to Marcelo Bielsa’s claims now that he was “special” when playing out of his skin week in week out at Leeds.

24/25

Barcelona

45

28

22

23/24

Barcelona

37

10

13

22/23

Barcelona

50

10

10

21/22

Leeds

36

11

3

20/21

Leeds

31

6

9

His consistent excellence at the Camp Nou has even led to bids worth around €100m (£86m) reportedly being made, with these insane numbers tallied up also leading to lofty FBref comparisons being drawn to well-known names across Europe.

Those include the likes of Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, who are worth around the £128m and £111m mark respectively, according to Transfermarkt.

Flick and Co will just be savouring the brilliance of Raphinha for as long as they can, whilst his ex-employers find themselves far more removed from the grandeur of European football fighting it out to return to the Premier League.

Perhaps, the Whites may be ruing Orta’s failure to rake in an even bigger transfer fee…

Leeds have an "unplayable" star but he's in danger of being Costa 2.0

Leeds will be hoping he can turn up in the Premier League

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 10, 2025

Glasgow Rangers showed plenty of fighting spirit under Barry Ferguson once again during his interim period in charge as they came back from 2-0 down to draw against Aberdeen.

The result was made even better by the fact that Ross McCausland was sent off for the Ibrox outfit after receiving a second yellow card just five minutes before the interval.

With the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie coming up against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, it was evident that Ferguson was thinking ahead to that game, making nine changes to his team.

In the grand scheme of things, the result wasn’t important, especially as the domestic season is all but done for the Light Blues.

The game did present an ideal chance for several fringe players to make an impression against the Dons. The likes of Danilo, Rafael Fernandes, Findlay Curtis and McCausland were all given starts at Pittodrie.

Given the most important match of the season is fast approaching, none of the aforementioned players took their chance to shine against the Dons.

In McCausland’s case, his brief cameo on the pitch could well turn out to be one of his last games for the Ibrox side.

Why Ross McCausland was sent off against Aberdeen

The Northern Irish winger was given his first league start since the 2-1 loss to the same opponents all the way back in October 2024.

He received an early yellow card before he chopped down Aberdeen player Topi Keskinen in what was a senseless challenge that saw him receive a second yellow and ensured the Gers would play the rest of the game with ten men.

After breaking into the first-team squad last season due to an injury crisis, McCausland looked to have a bright future ahead of him, although there were certainly a few things to work on.

The current campaign hasn’t exactly been much of a success, as the winger has featured 25 times for the club, with only seven of those coming in the starting XI.

A tally of just three goals and a solitary assist has been registered from those matches, hardly numbers which have given the Ibrox faithful much confidence in his abilities.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Across his 13 league matches this term, the youngster has registered only 1.2 shots per game while creating no big chances, averaging just 0.6 key passes per match and succeeding with only 0.8 dribbles each appearance for the Light Blues.

In Europe, these numbers decrease even further, as he has averaged no key passes per game while succeeding with 0.7 dribbles and recording only 0.4 shots a match in the Europa League.

Goals

3

0

Assists

4

1

Key passes per game

1.4

0.6

Big chances created

3

0

Successful dribbles per game

0.9

0.8

It has become evident that he isn’t up to the required standard to be a regular at the club, especially if the new manager wishes to embark on a title challenge next season.

If a decent offer arrives this summer, then McCausland should be offloaded at the first available opportunity, no doubt about that.

He isn’t the only one who must be sold when the summer transfer window opens either, as someone who was signed just last summer must headline the list of those expected to depart Rangers.

Bajrami's performance against Aberdeen in numbers

Nedim Bajrami was making his first start for the club since a 3-1 victory over Dundee United in January. With a chance to make a solid impression ahead of the second leg against Bilbao in midweek, it’s fair to say that the Albanian failed to take his chance.

Deployed in a deeper role than he is perhaps accustomed to, Bajrami struggled throughout the match, taking just 44 touches and completing only 25 of his 32 passes against the Dons.

Bajrami lost possession ten times, registered no shots and failed to deliver an accurate cross throughout his time on the pitch. The former Sassuolo man was subbed off with 25 minutes remaining and quite frankly, must not start again in Light Blue.

Journalist Ben Banks of Glasgow World gave Bajrami a match rating of just 4/10 for his performance on Sunday and it is clear he has regressed massively since arriving at Ibrox last summer.

With yet another lethargic display for the Light Blues, Bajrami may have started his last game for the club.

Why Bajrami could be sold this summer

The midfielder joined Rangers in a deal worth around £3.4m towards the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.

It appeared as though Philippe Clement had landed a decent signing, as Bajrami did showcase his talents during his first few months at Ibrox.

He scored on his first European start for the club against Malmö in September, adding goal involvements against Aberdeen, Dundee and Motherwell, with his goal against the latter sending the Gers through to the League Cup final.

Since the start of 2025, however, Bajrami has recorded only four assists in all competitions, with none coming in Europe.

Stevie Clifford, who runs the Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the player back in January after a string of poor performances, saying: “I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all. We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again. £4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”

He hasn’t become any more influential since Clifford said this and his spell in Glasgow may be short-lived, especially if a new coach comes in who wants to sell a few players to raise transfer funds.

If an offer comes in that would see Rangers recoup the majority of the £3.4m they paid for him, then the board will certainly be keen on accepting this, without a shadow of a doubt.

Some transfers work out well, while others don’t. That is the nature of the beast. In Bajrami, Rangers thought they had a player who might take them to the next level, especially considering he had shone at Euro 2024 and in Serie A. Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

As bad as McCausland: Ferguson must instantly drop £5m Rangers man

Rangers fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, but one flop in particular came in for scathing criticism.

ByBen Gray Apr 13, 2025

Manchester City are now preparing an offer for an “excellent creator”, as Pep Guardiola believes the midfielder would be a perfect fit in his system, according to a report.

Man City eyeing Kevin De Bruyne replacement

Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end this summer, and there is now a feeling he could end up remaining in the Premier League, as Aston Villa are ready to back Unai Emery with a move for the Belgian.

As such, Guardiola will be tasked with bringing in a replacement for De Bruyne at the end of the campaign, and a number of top-level attacking midfielders have been identified as potential targets, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue recently emerging as an option.

Doue will not come cheap, with the Blues preparing a £102m offer for the Frenchman, and he is not the only expensive signing they are considering, as Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is also of interest, and the £129m German would be keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Development: Man City now close in on move to sign "world-class" £54m star

The Blues have received a boost in their pursuit of a defender, who they are expected to make a move for this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 29, 2025

Man City have set their sights on some renowned attacking midfielders from across Europe, but there is also an indication they may take a gamble on an up-and-coming talent, with a report from Spain revealing they are preparing a super offer for River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono.

Guardiola believes Mastantuono would be a perfect fit for his system, which means City chiefs are now seriously considering making a big offer for the 17-year-old, who has caught the eye with his performances for River Plate this season.

A number of other major clubs have set their sights on the Argentine, including Manchester United, but he is protected by a €45m (£38m) release clause and isn’t expected to leave his current club until 2026 at the earliest.

"Excellent" Mastantuono could be De Bruyne heir

De Bruyne has a remarkable assist record during his time with City, setting up 177 goals in 417 games, so it will be a very difficult task to replace the 33-year-old, but there are signs the River Plate youngster could be the ideal heir.

Football scout Ben Mattinson believes the teenager is an impressive playmaker, while also taking the time to praise his ability from free-kicks.

Most recently, the starlet scored a remarkable free-kick for River Plate in his side’s 2-1 victory against bitter rivals Boca Juniors.

At 17-years-old, it would be a tall order for Mastantuono to replace De Bruyne any time soon, but there is every indication that he could be a future star.

Liverpool’s full-backs have been some of the major talking points ahead of the summer transfer window, with Arne Slot needing to add to his squad to sustain their recent success.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to depart Anfield this summer after announcing he won’t be extending his current contract with the club, looking set to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Andy Robertson has been the Reds’ main left-back over the last few years, but at the age of 31, he’s entering the back end of his professional career, with reinforcements needed in such an area.

Kostas Tsimikas is Slot’s backup to the Scotsman, but both could yet depart the club this summer, opening the door to added investment from the hierarchy to improve the department.

Multiple names have already been tipped to strengthen their defensive unit, with various names in the mix ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders

Centre-back Dean Huijsen is a player who has been on Liverpool’s radar over the last couple of months, even holding talks with the defender’s representatives over a move to Merseyside.

However, it appears as though they’ve fallen behind in the race for the Spaniard’s signature, with Chelsea edging ahead by making a proposal to land his services ahead of 2025/26.

He’s not the only player who’s appeared on their shortlist as of late, with Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri the latest name to emerge as an option for Slot’s side, according to The Telegraph.

The report claims that the 23-year-old is admired by the Reds, but that Vitor Pereira’s side are wanting to hand him a new contract to prevent any interest in his services.

However, if they are unable to come to terms over a new deal, they would have to sell the Algerian international, but would demand a fee in the region of £50m to part ways with the talented ace.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target would be the dream Kerkez alternative

Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez is a player who’s been at the top of Liverpool’s shopping list over the last few months, as Slot looks to add depth to the left-back department.

The Hungarian has been a star in the Cherries’ unlikely push for European football, starting every single game throughout the 2024/25 Premier League season – the most of any player in the squad.

After such consistent showings, Andoni Iraola’s side have placed a £40m price tag on the youngster to part ways with him during the off-season.

He could be an excellent option and one that could nail down the role for many years to come, but the club may be better off targeting a move for another star instead.

When comparing Kerkez’s stats to those of Ait-Nouri’s, the Wolves star has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be for the Reds.

The Algerian, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Gary O’Neil, has registered more combined goals and assists this campaign, whilst also notching more key passes – showcasing the attacking threat he carries.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted, aiding players in forward areas to improve their own tallies.

Games played

34

35

Goals & assists

11

7

Pass accuracy

84%

75%

Key passes completed

1.2

0.9

Tackles won

1.6

0.7

Blocks made

1.3

1

Take-ons completed

1.8

0.5

Aerials won

42%

34%

However, Ait-Nouri has been just as impressive, winning more tackles and making more blocks per 90, handing Slot the added defensive solidity to win the division for a second successive year next season.

Whilst Kerkez will remain many supporters’ number one option for this summer, it’s evident that the Wolves star has all the qualities to thrive in the left-back role on Merseyside.

He could be the answer to their long-term ambitions at the back, potentially allowing the fans to forget about the Hungarian and take the side to the next level in the process.

Better signing than Sesko: Liverpool plot move for "world-class" £64m ace

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As concerns over William Saliba’s future continue, Arsenal are now reportedly eyeing a summer move to sign a potential replacement for the Frenchman in a deal worth a hefty £68m.

Arsenal's Saliba concern

After another season without a Premier League title and potentially without a major trophy altogether, Arsenal could face consequences for failure that they’ll be all too familiar with. Real Madrid, meanwhile, could land one of Europe’s best centre-backs.

The Spanish giants have reportedly set their sights on signing Saliba this summer, with likely new manager Xabi Alonso a fan of the central defender.

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The Madrid call is rarely one that players turn down and that should send alarm bells ringing around The Emirates. It’s a call that even Liverpool academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold is on course to accept and one that Kylian Mbappe accepted last summer. Now, Saliba could be next.

There’s no overstating the damage that the defender’s departure would do to Mikel Arteta’s side who have already struggled defensively when without Gabriel recently. Losing Saliba would be a whole new struggle for their backline as they look to make it a fourth-time lucky in the hunt for Premier League glory next season.

Known for their attacking prowess from set pieces, Arsenal’s struggles to defend such scenarios at the opposite end have gone under the radar this season. After Bournemouth came from behind to seal victory over the Gunners using two set pieces, however, it’s clear that with or without Saliba, Arteta’s side must improve on that front.

So, although losing Saliba would be a major blow, his exit would at least allow new sporting director Andrea Berta to welcome a fresh defender capable of turning that set-piece record around.

Arsenal set sights on £68m Diomande

According to Defensa Central in Spain, Arsenal have now set their sights on signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Club this summer as Berta plans for the worst-case Saliba scenario, should he leave for the Bernabeu. Alas, any deal won’t come cheap in the coming months. The Portuguese side have reportedly slapped a price tag worth as much as €80m (£68m) on their centre-back.

Whether the 21-year-old “monster” is at the necessary level to replace Saliba is the big question. When compared, it’s clear that the Sporting man would need plenty of patience if he did step in and replace a player who some may believe is irreplaceable at Arsenal.

Starts

27

33

Progressive Passes

79

134

Tackles Won

20

36

Aerial Duels Won

78

58

However, what does stand out as a positive to take note of is Diomande’s aerial success compared to Saliba’s. Winning 20 more aerial duels in six less games, the Sporting man may have stood a far better chance of preventing Bournemouth’s two set piece goals in a frustrating Arsenal defeat last time out.

Also dubbed a player with “great” pace by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Diomande looks set to be one to watch if Saliba does swap Arsenal for Real Madrid in the coming months.

Football pundit Micah Richards believes a Leeds United target who the 49ers have made an approach for will “light it up” should he leave Man City this summer, according to a new report.

James McAtee’s Man City career could be coming to an end amid Leeds links

James McAtee has been at the Etihad for his entire football career, but he has yet to nail down a regular starting spot. The 22-year-old has played just 34 times for City in total, 15 of which have come this season in the Premier League.

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McAtee’s most successful time in recent seasons came on loan at Sheffield United, where he was a regular starter and thrived in the second tier.

After his latest spell with the Blades, City decided to keep hold of McAtee, but it is a move that has seen his career stall, as he’s struggled to win over Pep Guardiola, and it’s now been reported that he is ready to leave the Etihad.

The attacking midfielder is out of contract in 2026, and given his situation at the Etihad, Premier League-bound Leeds United have made an enquiry over the possibility of securing a transfer for McAtee this summer.

Premier League apps (starts)

15 (3)

FA Cup apps (starts)

4 (3)

Champions League apps (starts)

5 (0)

Carabao Cup apps (starts)

2 (2)

The Whites are not the only team chasing McAtee, as Nottingham Forest are also keen on landing the England under-21 international. It could be a costly deal for the Yorkshire side, as City are said to value the midfielder at around £35 million.

Micah Richards: McAtee will "light it up" should he leave Man City

The latest development in McAtee’s situation at Man City saw the midfielder left out of their FA Cup final squad on Saturday, and according to pundit Micah Richards, McAtee would “light it up” should he leave the Blues.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes McAtee needs to leave City if he wants to play regularly. Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Rest Is Football’, via Leeds Live: “He [McAtee] is not getting in their team. He’s another one that is going to have to leave.”

Richards went on to agree with Shearer’s comments and added that “he’s got something special” and will “light it up” in a new team.

McAtee has played 48 times in the Premier League, scoring six goals in the process, and if Leeds do sign him, they will hope his experience of the division, even though it is limited, will help them next season, and he can be a creative force in their forward line.

If there is one position that Arsenal desperately need to address this summer, it’s centre-forward.

Mikel Arteta might want to add other players to his team as well, but ask the fans, and we reckon the vast majority will want the club to add a reliable goalscoring nine to the squad, someone who can put away the chances created by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.

The board appear to share this opinion, as the last few months have seen a slew of top-quality forwards linked with the North Londoners, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko perhaps being one of the most consistent and significant of the lot.

However, while the Slovenian would be a fine addition to the Gunners’ squad, recent reports have now touted another, far more impressive centre-forward for a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal's striker search

As there have been so many strikers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, it’s only right we go over a couple of them, like Ollie Watkins and Viktor Gyokeres, before getting to the player in question.

Transfer Focus

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

The Gunners made an offer for the former during the winter window but failed to match Aston Villa’s £60m valuation, and even if they want something similar again in the summer, it might be a deal worth revisiting, as in 53 appearances he has scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists this season.

On the other hand, while Gyokeres isn’t Premier League-proven, his incredible tally of 53 goals and 13 assists in 51 games this season suggests his upside may be far higher than the Englishman’s and more than justify the reports that he could cost the North Londoners around £55m.

However, if Arteta and Co want to sign a better alternative to Sesko, they might want someone younger than the aforementioned strikers and who is proven in a top-five league, someone like Hugo Ekitiké.

Fortunately, according to a recent report from French publication RMC Sport, Arsenal are indeed interested in the Eintracht Frankfurt star.

The report has revealed that, alongside fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Liverpool, the Gunners have already approached and held talks with the player and club.

However, on top of dealing with the competition, Andrea Berta and Co will have to stump up a fee of up to €100m – £84m – to get their man.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Ekitiké’s unreal ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he’d be a way better signing than Sesko.

How Ekitiké compares to Sesko

So, if the choice for a new striker this summer comes down to Ekitiké and Sesko, who should Arsenal sign? Who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output – what matters most for a striker – it’s the Frankfurt star who comes out on top.

For example, in just 48 appearances, totalling 3645 minutes, the “incredible” Frenchman, as dubbed by teammate Rasmus Kristensen, has scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.20 minutes.

In contrast, the former RB Salzburg gem has scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Unfortunately for the Slovenian international, this is once again another area in which the comparisons heavily favour his competition.

For example, the 22-year-old comes out on top in almost all relevant metrics, including but not limited to actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key passes, passing accuracy, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.91

0.40

Non-Penalty G+As

0.77

0.61

Progressive Passes

1.86

1.74

Progressive Carries

3.26

1.78

Shots

4.00

2.50

Shots on Target

1.55

1.10

Passing Accuracy

75.5%

67.6%

Key Passes

1.54

0.72

Shot-Creating Actions

3.55

1.93

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.34

Successful Take-On %

1.82

1.48

Aerial Duels Won

1.82

2.65

Ultimately, it’s abundantly clear that Ekitiké is a significantly better striker than Sesko, even notably described by journalist Graeme Bailey as “the next Mbappe”, and therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.

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