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Many past Sri Lankan victories have been because of one or two great cricketers shining, but this had strong performances from virtually everyone in the side

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Mirpur30-Jan-20140:00

Fernando: SL used the short ball well

Mathews settling into captaincy

Captain Angelo Mathews said he has become comfortable in his position as captain, in the year he has been in charge. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka have won three Tests, drawn two and lost one.
“The players make me comfortable because if they perform, it always makes the captain better. It’s about the team. We work as a team. We help each other and enjoy each other’s success, so that’s been the secret for all of us.”
The series is against Bangladesh is Paul Farbrace’s first as head coach. Mathews said this of him: “Paul is doing a good job. He’s just joined the team so you can’t really say much, but his thoughts, ideas and input within the team are quite big. He always gives a lot of confidence to the younger guys and he shares his thoughts with the younger guys as well as the seniors . He’s just getting into the groove and we’re happy to have him.”

As cricket fans outside the two competing nations wind down after the boardroom histrionics at the ICC meeting in Dubai, they might note with an eyeroll and a harrumph that Sri Lanka have handed Bangladesh an almighty clobbering in Mirpur. For all their cash and covert planning, the Big Three boards still could not pull off the most one-sided showdown in cricket this week. The only way they might have matched Sri Lanka’s bullying in this innings-and-248-run result, is if they had secretly put whoopee cushions under the seats of the Small Seven directors.Like any bully, Sri Lanka will be mighty pleased at their work. Angelo Mathews said he did not know what his team would do with the extra day they have earned, but if the warm-down football game they played after the match is any indication, they will spend it in good spirits.The scoreline appears impressive, but given the paucity of the resistance their opponents offered, Sri Lanka will be wary of over-congratulating themselves. For the batsmen, 730 for 6 is a once-in-a-career total. The bowlers will probably not expect a scoring rate of 4.82 from a team effectively batting to save the Test, in future.But the victory did show something of the new Sri Lanka that is beginning to emerge – a team that thrives as a collective, not just as hangers-on to a great cricketer’s coattails. This trend is most evident in the bowling, where one man has dominated their history, with help from one capable other.Sri Lanka’s bowling cards from around 1995 to 2010 feature protagonists Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and a conveyor belt of also-bowleds. The likes of Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Ravindra Pushpakumara and Kumar Dharmasena plugged gaps in the XI in the 90s, before giving way to the likes of Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana and Farveez Maharoof in the most recent decade. Many of these bowlers are now more remembered for their quirks, than their exploits. Pushpakumara was a baby Waqar Younis, Dharmasena had a killer appeal, Fernando bowled a lot of no-balls, many while emitting a loud grunt. Rarely was it unclear who Sri Lanka’s real pivots were.That trend persisted even after Murali hung up his bent elbow. Before this year Rangana Herath had been the architect, or at least a prominent co-star, in each of Sri Lanka’s triumphs since Murali. In the last series Sri Lanka played against Bangladesh last March – when, incidentally, the opposition had shown considerably more spirit and application than in this performance – Herath’s 12 wickets had formed the major gulf between the sides.But in Mirpur, Sri Lanka’s quicks not only preserved the discipline they had found in the UAE series, they struck out with more ambition and discovered their armoury had expanded. Even Vaas in his pomp rarely bounced out oppositions, but blessed with height and pace that their bowling coach never had, Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal battered the Bangladesh top order, twice. There is no doubt the batsmen were generous with their wickets, but this was the first occasion a short-ball plan had been formulated by this attack, and their emphatic execution says much about their confidence. Eranga’s brute to dismiss Shamsur Rahman on day four might have had the better of any batsman.”Our bowlers have improved quite a lot in the last few games,” Mathews said. “They’ve been bowling brilliantly. The fast bowlers were in really good rhythm, and they set it up for us in the first innings. They are delivering with the new ball and with the oldish ball, so I’m very happy with them at the moment.”Dilruwan Perera extracted bite and bounce from the day-four surface to finish with a maiden five-wicket haul in his second match, suggesting he can bring balance to the attack, just as he had lengthened Sri Lanka’s batting in their previous Test. Suddenly, in this win and the last one in Dubai, Herath finds himself providing support as the others go hunting for scalps.”I haven’t been in a team where we had all four bowlers equally good,” Mathews said. “I’m really pleased with the way Dilruwan bowled in the second innings because we had to give him that exposure. We knew he was going to deliver. We needed that extra spinner who supports Rangana, and he did the job today.”Even beyond the bowling, Sri Lanka are discovering a chorus of players clamouring to be part of its future. Mathews and the senior players have fostered an environment where humour and good vibes abound. Two weeks ago Kaushal Silva was the protagonist in a challenge against physio Steve Mount, which culminated in a bellyful of laughs for the team and the support staff at the Sharjah nets. Not many international teams have such a keen sense of fun embedded in their identity. It’s no wonder then, that valuable contributions have come from almost every spot in the XI, in this match. Happy, and improving, Sri Lanka appear to be forming new dimensions to their cricket.

Mashrafe Mortaza has hobbled from injury to comeback all through his career. Now 29 and ten operations later, he is back again, and aiming to make it count

Mohammad Isam19-Apr-2012One of the more difficult tasks for a reporter sitting in the press box at the Shere Bangla Stadium, the highest point of the arena, is keeping track of players as they get in and out of the dressing room. The numbers on the players’ backs help a bit, but with someone like Mashrafe Mortaza, it is a disagreeable chore. You don’t want to be the one telling everyone that he has hobbled off, again.In the Asia Cup game against Sri Lanka there were tell-tale signs of distress; he held his calf, bent down a few times, trying to get the blood flow going in his knees, and walked off once or twice. If he couldn’t complete his full quota of ten overs, Mushfiqur Rahim would have the chore of finding another option. But Mashrafe trudged back from the viewing area with some more strapping on his right knee, bowled two spells of two overs each, and finished with a two-run, two-wicket final over as the innings closed with a ball to spare.Mushfiqur asked Mortaza to talk to the side during the break. It was the game that would take Bangladesh into what was only their second tournament final. On a day when inspiration is needed, who better to give the team a boost than a man who has had seven operations on his knees and three on his ankles?Bangladesh’s surprising run at the Asia Cup had a few unsung heroes, and while Mashrafe was one of them, the fact that he had recovered enough to play was startling in itself. Not many would have thought it possible when he sat with journalists between fitness sessions late last year, when Bangladesh were preparing to play West Indies and Pakistan.What followed was a meticulously achieved recovery that went against the grain of what Mashrafe is like as a person. “I was wild back in the day,” he told ESPNcricinfo during a break between fitness sessions in Mirpur. “Never gave two hoots about injuries. I didn’t give any importance to proper time to recover.”I think such positivity helped me. Some might think I’m crazy, but I think if I am not this positive, I wouldn’t be able to come back every time.”Trust Mashrafe to come up with such a pearl. Over the years he has been among the team’s characters, a man who is always comfortable when he is himself: devil-may-care out in the field (he once dived head-on towards the boundary though there was a roller standing just beyond), and impetuous off it.But the strain of a seventh knee surgery (three on the right knee, four on the left) and the strenuous 11-month rehabilitation that followed seem to have altered his brisk ways. Or has it been fatherhood? “Maybe I am changing,” he says, “though I cannot express it to you. I spend a lot of time at home.”Everyone who has played with him knows there are no half-measures from Mashrafe. After playing in the ODIs against Australia last year, he went under the knife in May, fully intending to play for Bangladesh again. It wasn’t going to be anything less for him, and with lots of help from Vibhav Singh, the team physio, and trainer Grant Luden, encouragement from the coach, Stuart Law, and adjustments by Shane Jurgensen, the bowling coach, Mashrafe gingerly became match-fit. His appearance in a Dhaka Premier League game for Bangladesh Biman marked the final stage of his recuperation.Late in January this year, Mashrafe’s strapped-up knees took the heat of batting low down the order, bowling four overs and fielding inside the circle. As is his wont, he hammered a huge six, and slid and dived around – though at least he didn’t ask the captain to be allowed to bowl more, as he had been told to strictly watch how much load he put on his legs.

“Sometimes I feel it is an addiction, love. We are professionals but when we walk out together and stand for the national anthem, such a moment can’t be bought with money”

He slowly graduated to bowling more overs in the 50-over competition, and tested his new limits during the Bangladesh Premier League T20s, where he played 11 games in 19 days. There were no more hiccups before the Asia Cup, a tournament he had set his sights on the day he and Vibhav sat down and decided when he would like to return to international cricket.As he sat inside the viewing area and looked out, Mashrafe spoke about how happy he was just to walk out and play for the country again. “I remembered thanking the Almighty several times that day as I walked out, but more than that I was feeling very proud of myself. I have worked 11 months for this. I wanted to hold on to this.”Sometimes I feel it is an addiction, love. It changes with time. We are professionals but when we walk out together and stand for the national anthem, such a moment can’t be bought with money. Cricket now has IPL, BPL and many other things, but there’s no comparison to this. Money has no place in this. I sometimes feel that I would play for Bangladesh without money,” he said.Having said that, one of his previous returns from injury, in March 2010, wasn’t exactly happy. “It wasn’t a dressing room like it is now. I have played for ten years, so I can say what’s happening in a dressing room as soon as I step in. At the time there was a lot of self-centred behaviour. The difference was like chalk and cheese, with the same group of players.”I feel the dressing room is the mother of cricket. If the home is not in shape, cricket won’t be good. If we can’t enjoy each other’s company… I felt it was missing at the time. But this positive spirit was present in this tournament,” he said.

****

At times Mashrafe is the only cricketer working in the small gym in the empty stadium. He doesn’t want to throw away what has been his best recovery till date.”Our next challenge will be to prepare him for Test matches,” said Vibhav. “I think when we started off, I looked at his history and realised that with a proper recovery programme, he still has five-six years of cricket left in him.”It was not just the fitness side of things – someone like Shane Jurgensen, he made sure Mashrafe’s run-up and follow-through were streamlined and corrected.””I have never had the perfect physio or the best guideline,” Mashrafe said. “I was misguided early on during this injury but I had a very good understanding with Viv. I have worked with him for the last six months.”I am not used to my body so far. I need to gain better fitness for one-day cricket. I haven’t played Tests for two-three years and I’ve had three operations to play limited-overs. I have that in mind, so I am estimating a return to Test cricket further down the line,” he said.The original Bangladeshi tearaway, Mashrafe has missed 32 Tests, 94 ODIs and five Twenty20 internationals over the last 11 years. The image of Grant Flower jumping while facing Mashrafe is still fresh in the minds of those who watched him on debut at the Bangabandhu National Stadium all those years ago. One remembers also the sight of him with a fully strapped up leg, taking lessons from Mohsin Kamal on the correct way to pivot, a year later, after his first knee operation went bust due to a subsequent fall. Both are classic Mashrafe images: he doesn’t give a damn about his body when he’s fit, but when he gets hurt, he will do anything to put it back in shape. It has made him the quintessential symbol of a daring Bangladesh side.

This was not a day to ask questions. This was a day to believe, like Fawad Alam did

Sidharth Monga in Colombo13-Jul-2009It was a day to forget the shuffle. It was a day to forget technique, too, which was perhaps over-rated. It was a day to forget that Fawad Alam had never opened in first-class cricket before this. It was a day to go back to 10.29am yesterday.With three Pakistan wickets down, a desperately hopeful Younis Khan scribbled on a tape-ball something to the effect of “Fawad Alam will get a hundred.” Fawad soon got out, and Younis kept the ball away.After yesterday’s play ended, Fawad called up his father, Tariq Alam, the man who has taught many modern Karachi players how to play spin, but who himself could never win a Pakistan cap. Fawad was obviously disappointed, having scored just 16 on debut. Tariq told him, “So what if you have scored just 16? The next time you call me – just text me, I’ll call you back – you would have got a hundred.”A great turnaround began this morning, after the ball got scratched on one side by an edge. Pakistan spotted it, shone the other side, got it to reverse, and ended Sri Lanka’s innings with a deficit of just 150. Unfazed by his first-innings failure, Fawad came back and scored a century to make sure the good work didn’t go waste this time. When he got to three figures with a delicate late-cut, Younis was batting at the other end. After he had done his , Younis told him he had got something for him which he would show in the dressing room.”I saw the ball and read bit by bit. Fawad Alam … debut … 100 … signed by Younis ,” said Fawad. “To know that the captain believed so much in me is an indescribable feeling.” He put that ball in his bag and wouldn’t let anybody take it away even for a second.So much of this story is difficult to explain, yet so much is easy to understand. Despite a mountain of runs in domestic cricket, Fawad remained on the fringes of the Pakistan team, many times hearing the whole “You are a very good cricketer but we don’t have place for you yet” spiel.During the recent ICC World Twenty20 Fawad began by warming the bench; then he got a chance in four games but didn’t once bat and only bowled one over, conceding 15, in Pakistan’s semi-final victory. According to Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s coach, Fawad didn’t let any disappointment show. “He never loses his focus. He never shows frustration. He stays dedicated.”For the man himself, just being in the Pakistan squad was special. “When young I used to watch Younis , Yousuf , Shahid play. They are such big players, it was enough to be with them.”Cut to Colombo, after a disastrous collapse in Galle. Salman Butt felt low on confidence before the start of the Test and therein, finally, came Fawad’s opportunity. But it came with a risk: Fawad would have to open.Others would have seen it as a gamble but not Fawad – nor, evidently, his seniors. “The coach and captain called me to their room on the eve of the match. They told me they were not playing a gambit here, they had faith in me. This is not a sacrifice. If a man dreams of doing something – and more than me it was my father’s dream to see me wearing a Test cap – he should be prepared for everything.”Tapping the side of his head with his left index finger, he explained: “It’s all here. If you are strong here, you can play anywhere.”If it was a gamble, Younis tried his best to leave as little as possible to chance. From the time Pakistan arrived in Colombo, he had told Fawad that he was going to open. During the nets he spent hours with Fawad, bowling at him with the new ball. “He told me from the off that if I opened the innings, I would make it to among the best. He gave his own example, how he had moved up from No. 7-8 to No. 3,” said Fawad. “He told me he knew I would do well. When the captain is taking so much interest in you, you also feel you must have something.”It’s a different story altogether but this shows in Younis definite shades of Imran Khan. Yet what remains unanswered is how Fawad managed to score a century despite such a pronounced shuffle that got him out on 16 yesterday. “If you want something so badly, you have worked towards it with complete honesty, you eventually get it,” he said.And how did he regroup after such a start to his career? Were there doubts about the risk he had taken? “I can’t think negative. I don’t have doubts.”But this was not a day to ask these questions. This was a day to believe, like Fawad did.

Superstar captains. Interesting sub-plots. A sold-out crowd. There is all to play for at the Brabourne Stadium

Sruthi Ravindranath04-Mar-2023Big PictureSmriti Mandhana vs Jemimah Rodrigues. Ellyse Perry vs Meg Lanning. Dane van Niekerk vs Marizanne Kapp. Brace yourselves. And it will all happen in front of a sold-out crowd at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai as Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Delhi Capitals on Sunday.Both sides have superstar captains. Mandhana, the most expensive player at the inaugural auction at INR 3.4 crore, will be leading Royal Challengers, who look the most balanced side in the tournament. In Lanning, Capitals have a brilliant captain, who comes into the tournament a week after leading Australia to their sixth T20 World Cup title. Ahead of the WPL, she said she’s looking to inculcate that winning culture in this Capitals side.A number of international names linked up with their respective teams just a few days before the tournament following the T20 World Cup in South Africa. While Mandhana is looking to make use of her knowledge of the Indian domestic players to put a solid XI together, Lanning said she would be leaning on her team-mates Rodrigues and Shafali Varma to handle the younger and unknown players.Related

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Players to WatchBoth teams have an enviable mix of overseas and Indian talent. Royal Challengers have Richa Ghosh and Renuka Singh, the two high-profile India internationals. Capitals, meanwhile, have the likes of Shafali, Poonam Yadav and Radha Yadav.Perry, van Niekerk, Heather Knight, Sophie Devine, Erin Burns and Megan Schutt are the overseas options in the Royal Challengers side, which means the team management will have some head-scratching to do over picking just four from this star-studded list. They have captain Mandhana to do the heavy lifting from the top, while Devine, Perry, Ghosh and van Niekerk will be expected to provide the firepower in the middle order. While Royal Challengers’ pace-bowling unit looks solid with Schutt, Renuka and Perry, they do not have an experienced Indian spinner in their ranks.Capitals’ strong top order has Shafali, Rodrigues and Lanning, with Kapp and Taniya Bhatia to follow. They will, however, be left to choose from a largely inexperienced pace-bowling unit, barring Shikha Pandey and Kapp. However, they have the option to bring in USA left-arm pacer Tara Norris, an Associate player who can be included as the fifth overseas player in the XI. Among the spin-bowling options, Capitals have Radha Yadav, Jess Jonassen and Poonam Yadav.Playing XIsDelhi Capitals (possible): 1 Shafali Verma, 2 Jemimah Rodrigues, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Laura Harris, 6 Jasia Akhter, 7 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8 Jess Jonassen, 9 Radha Yadav, 10 Shikha Pandey, 11 Tara NorrisRoyal Challengers Bangalore (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Disha Kasat, 3 Sophie Devine, 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Dane van Niekerk, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Komal Zanzad/Asha Shobhana, 8 Preeti Bose, 9 Megan Schutt, 10 Renuka Singh, 10 Kanika Ahuja/Shreyanka PatilStats and trivia Perry had finished as the second-highest run-scorer during Australia’s T20I series tour of India in December 2022 Mandhana has scored 831 runs, the most in women’s T20Is since January 2022 This game will have three key players who were part of India’s U-19 winning World Cup squad: Shafali, Titas Sadhu and Ghosh.Quotes”I love winning, I’m very competitive and I’m coming here to try and help Delhi win as many games as possible. It would be great [to win], every team is probably thinking the same thing but we’re doing our best, and the biggest challenge is to bring everybody together and making sure we’re working as a team.”
“I just don’t like the kind of comparison because what he has achieved is amazing, and I hope that I can reach that level. But I’m nowhere near him. What he has achieved for this franchise, I’d like to try and do that.”
Royal Challengers captain Smriti Mandhana wants to emulate Virat Kohli’s success with the franchise

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been relieved of his duties as Besiktas manager after the Turkish Super Lig giants crashed out of the Conference League play-offs. The Norwegian coach, who joined Besiktas in January this year, arrived on a one-and-a-half year deal but lasted only eight months in the role.

• Besiktas sack Solskjaer
• Turkish side lost Conference League play-off
• Beaten 1-0 by Lausanne in the second leg

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Turkish giants Besiktas have confirmed the departure of head coach Solskjaer just eight months after the Norwegian joined the club. The decision was taken by the club's board following their exit from the Conference League play-off round. Besiktas lost the second leg of the tie 1-0 at home on Thursday as Lausanne qualified for the league phase, winning the fixture 2-1 on aggregate.

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  WHAT BESIKTAS SAID

  The official statement from the Turkish club read: "Our contract with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been terminated following a decision made at the board meeting. Following the meeting, our chairman, Serdal Adalı, thanked Solskjaer for his services to date. We respectfully present this for the public's information."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Besiktas was Solskjaer's first managerial job since he left United's head coach position in 2021. After joining the Turkish club, the 52-year-old guided them to a fourth-place finish in the Super Lig. The club started the 2025-26 league campaign with a 2-1 win over Eyupspor, but things went south after the clash on August 18 as they first drew against Lausanne before losing the home tie.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BESIKTAS?

  Besiktas are yet to announce Solskjaer's replacement and will next be seen in action in the Turkish league on Sunday against Alanyaspor.

تعرض أحد لاعبي فريق برشلونة للإصابة خلال تدريبات اليوم استعدادًا لخوض مباراة يوم الأحد المقبل ضد رايو فاليكانو، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويخوض برشلونة مباراته في الجولة الثالثة من الدوري الإسباني، يوم الأحد المقبل، ضد رايو فاليكانو.

ويمتلك برشلونة 6 نقاط، أي العلامة الكاملة، بعدما فاز في مباراة الجولة الأولى على مايوركا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، قبل أن ينتصر في الوقت القاتل على ليفانتي بنتيجة 3-2.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لابورتا: برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان أفضل فريقين كرة قدم في العالم

وحسبما ذكرت إذاعة “راديو كتالونيا” الإسبانية، فإن جافي قد تعرض لإصابة في تدريبات برشلونة يوم الجمعة، الخاصة بالتحضير لمباراة رايو فاليكانو.

وأوضحت أن إصابة جافي جاءت على مستوى الركبة، ورغم صدمة اللاعب إلا أن إصابته لا تبدو خطيرة.

وأفادت بأن جافي سيخضع لفحوص طبية اليوم وغدًا، ولكن مشاركته في مباراة الأحد ضد رايو فاليكانو على ملعب الأخير تُعد محل شك.

ويتواجد جافي في قائمة منتخب إسبانيا التي تم الإعلان عنها، اليوم، والمتعلقة بمباراتي فترة التوقف الدولي في شهر سبتمبر المقبل.

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O zagueiro foi anunciado pelo Glorioso em abril deste ano e pertence ao Colorado. Na época da negociação, os dirigentes gaúchos estabeleceram uma cláusula contratual para um eventual enfrentamento do argentino com o Inter.

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Em contato com o L!, o Botafogo reforçou que confia na qualidade de seu elenco e afirmou que não pretende pagar os valores acordados entre as partes previamente. Com isso, Cuesta não deverá ser relacionado e Kanu provavelmente atuará como titular.

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Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams have been included as replacements in South Africa’s 15-man squad

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2023Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala have been ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup with injuries. They have been replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the tournament that begins in India on October 5.Nortje has a suspected stress fracture of the back after experiencing spasms during the second ODI against Australia earlier this month. Magala, who played only the third ODI against Australia and went for 1 for 46 in four overs, has a left-knee injury.”It’s hugely disappointing for Anrich and Sisanda to be missing out on the 50-over World Cup,” South Africa’s coach Rob Walter said. “We sympathize in their omission and will continue to provide all the necessary support as they work towards their return to competitive action.”This provides an opportunity for Andile and Lizaad on the global stage. Both players have been part of our winter programs as well as having represented South Africa in the recent white-ball tour against Australia. They offer great skill sets and we’re excited to have them complete the 15-player squad for this year’s World Cup.”Phehlukwayo played in the second and fifth ODIs against Australia. While he did not make much of an impression in the first game, he scored 38 off 19 balls to finish the innings strongly in the series finale and then took 1 for 44. Williams played three of the five matches, taking 3 for 44, 1 for 17 and 0 for 24.Nortje’s absence is a major blow for South Africa as he is their quickest bowler with substantial experience in India, where he plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He played in the Major League Cricket tournament in the USA over the South African winter and was rested for the T20Is against Australia. He was then ruled out of the first ODI but played the second, bowling only five overs before leaving the field. He missed the third game after he was sent for scans and was then ruled out of the series.Magala had not played any cricket since splitting the webbing in his hand at the IPL in early April and was subsequently ruled out of the T20Is against Australia with infrapatellar tendinopathy – pain in the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone. He experienced discomfort in the knee again after playing one ODI against Australia.South Africa leave for India on September 23, and play their warm-up games against Afghanistan on September 29 and New Zealand on October 2. Their first game of the tournament is against Sri Lanka on October 7.South Africa’s ODI World Cup squadTemba Bavuma (capt), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams

Tottenham Hotspur are doing the groundwork on a deal to sign an “exceptional” winger, who is now one of their key targets for the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Spurs set to strengthen in attack

It is clear Tottenham are keen on bringing in additional attacking options this summer, given that they have identified a number of potential targets in the striker department, recently stepping up their pursuit of Lille marksman Jonathan David, who is soon to be a free agent.

Arsenal are also linked with a move for David, and Spurs may also have to battle their rivals for the signature of Leeds United youngster Harry Gray, younger brother of Archie, with Premier League clubs queuing up to sign the impressive teenage striker.

Bringing in a new striker is of interest to Ange Postecoglou, and the manager also wants to refresh his wide options, with Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman being named as a potential signing earlier this month.

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Tottenham will have to weigh up whether to pursue his signature.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 22, 2025

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany is happy to offload Coman, which could make a deal easier to facilitate, but Tottenham may be more keen on an alternative option from much closer to home.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Spurs are now doing the groundwork on a deal to sign Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, as they look to make a splash in the summer transfer window.

Dibling has now been identified as one of the Lilywhites’ key targets, with the 19-year-old beginning to look more likely to leave the Saints this summer, given that his side are almost certain to be relegated from the Premier League.

Postecoglou’s side could be trying to move ahead of the other clubs in the race for the starlet, who has previously been valued at £55m, with the likes of Manchester United and Crystal Palace also named as potential suitors.

Dibling excelling despite Saints' struggles

It has been a season to forget for Southampton, who are still not safe from the ignominy of recording the lowest-ever Premier League points total, having collected just nine points from 29 games.

However, Dibling has still managed to impress at times, chalking up four goals and two assists in all competitions, in what has been a real breakthrough season for the youngster.

The Exeter-born winger has also managed to impress when he hasn’t been on the scoresheet, being lauded as “exceptional” and a “joy to watch” by reporter Ryan Taylor, following an excellent showing against Manchester United back in September.

It would be a difficult task for any player to stand out in such a poor side, but some of Dibling’s performances this season indicate he deserves another chance in the Premier League next season, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a better team.

It will be a historic few months for David Moyes and Everton. The Toffees are all but guaranteed survival in the Premier League this season, sitting comfortably on 34 points in 15th in the table. In the long run, that will be vital.

A new era is afoot for one of England’s biggest clubs. The Merseysiders are set to leave Goodison Park and move to their new ground, Bramley Moore Dock, at the end of the campaign. The fact they will be playing top-flight football there is huge, for financial and footballing reasons.

Whilst Everton will look to build on this season in 2025/26, they might have to do so without star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been linked with a move away.

The latest on Branthwaite's future

Toffees fans may be in for another turbulent summer when it comes to Branthwaite’s future. The defender was constantly linked with a move away in 2024, with Manchester United and Man City a reported destination, for as much as £60m.

As we now know, the England international ended up staying at Goodison Park but might not be at the club for the first season in the new stadium. Fresh reports from various outlets, including Sky Sports, suggest the defender could leave the club in 2025.

It’s stated that the defender is ‘expected to further consider his Everton future’ in the coming weeks and months. This comes after he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, which could increase his chances of a departure.

Branthwaite will not be short of suitors. Sky suggests the centre-back is a target for Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Real Madrid have reportedly scouted him, and United are also believed to be interested still.

Replacing the 22-year-old won’t be easy. He’s played 90 minutes in every single one of Moyes’ games in charge so far and is a crucial part of a defense which has certainly improved under the Scot.

However, perhaps the replacement for Branthwaite is right in front of Everton’s eyes, in their academy.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The academy star who can replace Branthwaite

Everton have had plenty of success over the years from their academy. Wayne Rooney is, of course, the most famous example, but the likes of Leon Osman are also recent success stories from the Toffees’ youth system.

Well, perhaps Reece Welch will be the next in line to represent the academy in the first team. If Branthwaite departs the club, he could be the man to step into his shoes, with the young centre-back making a real impression in the youth sides.

This term, the 21-year-old has played 11 times at youth level, captaining the side in the Premier League 2 seven times, keeping two clean sheets in that time. He also spent the first half of the season on loan in Belgium, for KMSK Deinze, but played just three games.

However, the Huddersfield-born defender did enjoy a more successful loan spell last season with League 2 outfit Forest Green Rovers. Despite the struggles they endured, he played 23 times for the club and was a key part of their backline.

Indeed, the stats via Sofascore suggest that, although it was a struggle for the team, Welch more than held his own. Per 90 minutes, he completed 43.1 passes, made 3.5 tackles and interceptions and won three aerial duels per 90 minutes.

Minutes

68.5

1438

Passes

43.1

689

Long balls completed

3.3

52

Tackles and interceptions

3.5

55

Aerial duels won

3

48

Welch, who was described as a “special talent” by one tactical analyst, has already played for the Everton first team. With that being said, he only has two games and 65 minutes under his belt.

If Branthwaite did leave the club at the end of the season, Welch could be a ready-made replacement. He has already played first-team football at various levels and is a talented defender with the stats to back that theory up.

He could be the ideal option for the Toffees should their number 32 depart in the summer.

Moyes may already be staring Everton's very own Trent disaster in the face

Everton may lose one of their star players in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 26, 2025