Bizarrely, the Nigeria international doesn't seem to be an option for England's big hitters – but signing him would be seismic for either club

Victor Osimhen's name has, for the most part, been conspicuously absent from transfer rumours involving Arsenal and Manchester United, as the two English giants focus their respective striker searches elsewhere. But is that a decision they will live to regret?

Granted, after last year's debacle, the latest transfer saga unfolding around Osimhen might well be off-putting for Europe's elite – but for two teams in dire need of more firepower, pursuing the Nigerian hitman feels like a no-brainer as they look to achieve their wildly contrasting objectives next season.

It may only be a matter of time before he is all over the back pages with his release clause expiring in a matter of days, but Arsenal and United should already be doing everything they can to land a player who guarantees goals.

AFPPremier League 'dream'

Osimhen has demonstrated plenty of times that he isn't afraid of ruffling a few feathers to get his way, and that trend seems set to continue. The latest reports suggest the striker will reject a permanent stay at Galatasaray, with his heart set on fulfilling his 'dream' of playing in the Premier League.

The coveted frontman had already dramatically snubbed Al-Hilal's riches when it seemed as though he was heading for a lucrative move to the Middle East, and now he has turned down his loan club despite a productive relationship, a significant wage offer and the Lions' willingness to trigger his €75 million (£65m/$84m) release clause for overseas clubs.

While claims there is 'no alignment between his desires and reality', Osimhen's long-term goal has always been to play in England's top-flight. "I'm working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League some day," he said in 2023. "But like I said, it's a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well."

AdvertisementGetty/GOALObvious choice

The revelation that Osimhen is determined to finally make that dream a reality this summer should have two Premier League giants who are desperately in need of more firepower on red alert. However, both Arsenal and Manchester United's attentions are fixed elsewhere for the time being. Arsenal have been focused on RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and have featured prominently in the transfer saga unfolding around Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, with United supposedly interested in the latter, too, amid talk of a convenient reunion with Ruben Amorim.

Neither deal has proven to be straightforward, though, with their respective ~£70m ($96m) valuations and high wage demands supposedly causing negotiations to grind to a halt. It has even been reported that Arsenal are ready to look elsewhere, potentially bringing Osimhen into play.

In reality, the Nigerian is the most logical option. Sure, his salary would be substantial, but he would be neither club's top earner and the initial fee promises to be lower than £70m. Osimhen is also a proven goal-scorer in Europe's most elite leagues; there are not the question marks over how he would transition to the Premier League that exist for both Gyokeres and Sesko, with plenty of other imports from Portugal and the Bundesliga flattering to deceive.

AFPSignificant stumbling block

But times are a-changing, and while top Premier League clubs could previously hand out huge pay packets at will, there is the need for more pragmatism in the era of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and financial fair play (FFP). While Osimhen's massive £200,000-per-week wage demands are not technically out of reach, England's leading sides must now think much more carefully about signing new players to such significant contracts, especially with the very real threat of punishment in the form of points deductions.

The Nigerian has shown in the past that he is unwilling to budge on those demands, which probably explains why he doesn't top Arsenal and United's shopping lists, with Gyokeres and Sesko likely to command significantly less. Chelsea had long been linked with Osimhen, too, but new arrivals Liam Delap and Joao Pedro will be far cheaper in the long-term and, even at just 26, he doesn't fit within the Blues' transfer policy of going after high-potential, good value young players.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyTitle trump card

For Arsenal, turning to Osimhen feels like a no-brainer and is definitely worth the expense – especially for a club that is essentially pushing for short-term gain having fallen agonisingly short in both the Premier League and Champions League in recent seasons. He would bring the goals that can ultimately be the difference in a title race, as he showed by rattling in 26 Serie A strikes for eventual champions Napoli in 2022-23, and the same number in the Turkish Super Lig last season.

The Gunners drew more games than any other top-six finisher last season by some distance (14, with nine the second-highest figure), but lost as few as champions Liverpool (four). It's easy to see, then, where a prolific goal-scorer would make the difference; in those marginal situations where you are being held by the likes of Crystal Palace, Brentford or Everton, a striker like Osimhen get you over the line.

Meg Lanning’s successor to be named closer to the tour while Cheatle could make a Test debut in Mumbai

Tristan Lavalette14-Nov-20230:33

Cheatle feeling ‘in rhythm’ after Australia recall

Alyssa Healy and Darcie Brown have been named in Australia’s squad for the upcoming multi-format tour of India despite injury concerns, and left-arm seamer Lauren Cheatle has been recalled for the Test match, but a decision has not yet been made on who will be Meg Lanning’s successor as captain.The 16-player squad was announced just five days after Lanning’s shock international retirement, bringing a close to her near decade reign as skipper during a golden era for Australian women’s cricket.A transition awaits with vice-captain Healy, who filled in during Lanning’s absences over the past year, tipped as the frontrunner and she has put her hand up for the vacated role.Related

Jonassen studies Jadeja ahead of India Test challenge

Australia selectors prepare for life after Lanning ahead of India

Healy '100%' keen on Australia captaincy, lauds 'unmatched' Lanning

Meg Lanning retires from international cricket

Lanning leaves a legacy of generational change and success

Australia’s hierarchy has commenced a process to find Lanning’s full-time replacement with an announcement to be made closer to the tour. The one-off Test – Australia’s first in India since 1984 – starts on December 21 in Mumbai before three-match ODI and T20I series.Healy played just one match this WBBL season before undergoing finger surgery after an accidental bite from her dog.”Alyssa Healy’s finger is healing but remains in a splint and our medical team are continuing to monitor her recovery closely,” national selector Shawn Flegler said. “We’re obviously very hopeful she will be available for the Test, but those decisions are still a while away.”Brown has been on the sidelines since suffering a hamstring injury against West Indies in the first ODI in Brisbane on October 8. She has been unavailable for defending WBBL champions Adelaide Strikers, but has returned to bowling and is set to be fit for the first Test.Brown might share new-ball duties with returning left-arm quick Cheatle, who has not played for Australia since March 2019. Cheatle, who made her international debut as a 17-year-old in 2016, endured a torrid run with injuries, including four shoulder reconstructions in five years.Lauren Cheatle hasn’t played for Australia since 2019•Getty ImagesBut she has won a spot in the squad on the back of a stellar WBBL season yielding 19 wickets from 10 games to spearhead Sydney Sixers.”I just feel in a bit more in rhythm, not just stopping and starting every three or four games,” Cheatle said a few days before the squad was named. “Think that shows performance-wise, feel like I’m in a bit more rhythm and not making silly errors that I may have done in the past.”Think that also comes with experience. I’m 10 years into my career, hopefully with many more to come. I’m just pumped to be on the park and doing my role the best I can.”Cheatle, who was only named in the Test squad, produced an eye-catching performance with 11 wickets in five matches during the Australia A tour of England in June.”Lauren has playing experience in India and provides another fast bowling option, particularly in regard to the Test match which is the format she has been selected for,” Flegler said. “At this stage, we’re planning for Lauren to return to Australia ahead of the white ball formats to play WNCL.”Australia’s squad almost mirrors the line-up that drew the Ashes series in July. Top-order batter Phoebe Litchfield, 20, is likely to step up and fill the shoes of Lanning, while Australia’s slew of star spinners were automatic selections and they loom as keys on expected turning surfaces.The matches will be played across two grounds in Mumbai.”A multi-format series against India in India is exciting and presents a huge challenge for our group,” Flegler said. “Most of our players, through last December’s bilateral series or the WPL, have played cricket in Mumbai over the past 12 months and have experienced the conditions.”We’ll have an opportunity to acclimatise to the conditions and our preparation in Mumbai will include a warm-up match against a local opposition.”Australia squad: Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle (Test only), Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

Asad Shafiq, the former Pakistan Test middle-order batter, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket and is expected to take up a position as a national selector.Shafiq, 37, was a core part of the Misbah-ul-Haq Test side in the 2010s, playing a vital role in their rise to the top of the Test rankings in August 2016. He announced his retirement on Sunday, after captaining the Karachi Whites side to the National T20 title, beating Abbotabad in the final in Karachi. He has agreed to play three games for his department side SNGPL (Sui Northern Gas Pipelines) in the returning Patron’s Trophy – the first-class tournament for department teams – because they will be missing several players away on Test duty. But effectively, the T20 final was his farewell.Related

• Asad Shafiq: Pakistan's fuss-free, low-key, endearing contributor

• The mixed emotions of Asad Shafiq

• Shafiq, unsung but not an underachiever

Shafiq played the last of his 77 Tests for Pakistan in 2020, nearly 10 years after his debut. He had been a regular on the domestic circuit since, though he said after the final that he was no longer feeling as excited about the game as he used to.”I’m no longer feeling that excitement and passion that I did when I first started playing the game,” he said. “I wanted to thank all those who have helped me through my career.”After being dropped in 2020 I kept on playing domestic cricket for three years in the hope of getting another crack at the Pakistan team. But before the start of this season, I had decided this would be my last season because I felt that closing in on 38 years of age this was time to retire instead of people telling me to step down.”Alongside Misbah, Younis Khan and Azhar Ali, Shafiq formed a middle order that was the bedrock of much of Pakistan’s success, especially during their years of exile in the UAE. He ended his career with 4660 runs at an average of 38.19, though in his best phases it hovered near the mid-40s. That was a function partially of him playing the majority of his Tests at No. 6, as a bridge between the engine room and a perennially fragile lower order. Famously, he has the most Test hundreds from that position; he went past Sir Garry Sobers’ record after one of his most memorable centuries, a 137 at the Gabba that nearly took Pakistan home in a mammoth chase of 490.That hundred came soon after his 109 at The Oval, in a win that not only levelled the series but also took Pakistan to the top of the Test rankings. Shafiq had made his international debut in England, in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, playing his first ODIs on that tour and his first Test in November that year, as Misbah took over as captain. “It was quite difficult after the 2010 incident and we had to win the trust of the public back,” he said.A future as a selector in Wahab Riaz’s new-look committee now awaits, as Shafiq waits for his contract to be finalised.

Chelsea legend Thiago Silva, who returned to Fluminense this summer after four remarkable years in London, was recognised in heartfelt fashion by his former club following the Club World Cup semi-final clash. The Premier League outfit progressed to the final riding on the brilliance of Joao Pedro who dazzled with a pair of exceptional goals, one in each half, to seal the victory.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Silva faced his former employers at the CWC
• An emotional reunion for the centre-back
• The Blues presented him with a jersey after the match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following the final whistle, Chelsea took a moment to honour Silva, presenting him with a personalised jersey featuring his name and iconic No.6. The gesture served as a touching tribute to the defender's immense contribution to the club from 2020 to 2024.

  Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream now

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  When Silva first arrived at Chelsea just shy of his 36th birthday, the move was seen as a short-term solution. Yet he quickly defied all expectations, amassing 155 appearances over four seasons and also winning the Champions League in 2020-21. Trevoh Chalobah also took the opportunity to swap his shirt with the Brazilian at the end of the match.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  With the semi-final now behind them, Chelsea’s attention turns to Sunday’s final, where a monumental challenge awaits against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain. The Blues are aiming to capture yet another silverware after winning the Europa Conference League earlier in May.

أعلن نادي الزمالك عن انطلاق راديو من قلب ميت عقبة، معقل القلعة البيضاء، خلال الفترة المقبلة، كمنبر إعلامي يعبر عن أحد أكبر الأندية المصرية.

ويأتي انطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك في خطوة تعكس رغبة مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك ،برئاسة حسين لبيب، في تطوير العمل الإعلامي بالنادي.

طالع| الزمالك يعلن رحيل لاعب جديد في انتقالات الصيف

وتقرر إطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك “أونلاين”، من أجل تقديم خدمة إعلامية جديدة لجماهير الزمالك العاشقة للكيان في جميع أنحاء العالم.

ونشر الحساب الرسمي للزمالك على “فيسبوك”، بيانا بعنوان: ” من قلب ميت عقبة إلى كل مشجع أبيض في العالم، استعدوا لـ انطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك”. بيان بشأن انطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك

في خطوة تعكس رغبة مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب في تطوير العمل الإعلامي بالنادي، تقرر إطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك) أونلاين من أجل تقديم خدمة إعلامية جديدة لجماهير الزمالك العاشقة للكيان في جميع أنحاء العالم حيث يمكنهم متابعة أخبار النادي وكل ما يتعلق به بشكل مباشر من خلال منصات راديو الزمالك على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي عبر المنصات الآتية.. فيسبوك، تيك توك انستجرام ويوتيوب صوت الزمالك – SOUT EL ZAMALEK.

وسيكون راديو صوت الزمالك نافذة أساسية للتواصل مع جماهير القلعة البيضاء في كل مكان بالعالم، إلى جانب الاستفادة من هذه الخطوة الرائدة على مستوى الأندية في مصر والشرق الأوسط لتأكيد الدور الإعلامي الذي يقوم به النادي في توعية الجماهير وترسيخ الانتماء للنادي وفق القواعد الإعلامية المتعارف عليها.

Left-arm quick defends nine runs in final over; McDermott’s fifty in vain for Australia

Tristan Lavalette03-Dec-2023

Spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel relished a turning surface in Bengaluru before left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh bowled a superb final over as India edged Australia to clinch a 4-1 victory in the T20I series.Australia’s chase of 161 was a see-saw on a surface at Chinnaswamy Stadium playing against type with rain a constant threat. The match was on a knife’s edge with Australia needing ten runs off the final over after a late surge from captain Matthew Wade.Arshdeep bowled a short delivery on the first ball that flew past Wade, who was livid that it was not called a wide. After another dot delivery, Wade fell on the third ball as Arshdeep iced the game with clutch bowling to seal India’s tense victory.After being sent in to bat, India recovered from 46 for 3 with Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with 53 from 37 balls.The fifth and final match was effectively a dead rubber but continued the T20 World Cup preparations for both teams. It also ended Australia’s tour of India highlighted by their triumph at the 2023 ODI World Cup.Bishnoi and Axar again starAustralia started strongly in reply with opener Travis Head intent on finishing his unforgettable tour of India. He smashed three straight boundaries off Arshdeep to start the innings as Head powered Australia to 40 for 1 after four overs.It forced India captain Suryakumar Yadav to bring on Bishnoi in the fifth over and he responded by knocking over Head’s off bail. Axar, who was unstoppable in Raipur, came into the attack as the spin duo made it tough for Australia.Bishnoi picked up Aaron Hardie before Axar claimed his only wicket when he dismissed Tim David in the 14th over. The spinners were done, but quick Mukesh Kumar claimed Ben McDermott and Ben Dwarshuis with consecutive deliveries in a game-changing 17th over.Wade threatened to lift Australia to a consolation victory before Arshdeep proved his composure under pressure by landing a slew of yorkers in a brilliant final over.Ben McDermott scored his highest T20I score of 54•AFP/Getty Images

McDermott puts his hand upAustralia have made constant changes throughout this series to give exhausted players a break, but to also test out fringe players with an eye towards next year’s T20 World Cup.McDermott has been a beneficiary after flying to India in a late call-up for the final two games. He made just 19 in Raipur, but batted superbly in a tough situation to notch up his highest T20I score of 54 from 33 balls.He top-edged a towering six early in his innings before playing Bishnoi and Axar calmly in the middle overs. He could not guide Australia over the line, but it’s a tonic for him after enduring a tough BBL campaign last season.McDermott has had little success in T20Is but issued a reminder of his big-hitting abilities.Iyer rescues stuttering India battingOpener Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India another quick start, but once again failed to make it out of the powerplay. His dismissal on the last ball of the fourth over triggered a top-order collapse leaving Iyer to rebuild the innings.He was watchful given the situation, and scored only 12 off 15 balls before launching Dwarshuis for six over mid-off. Iyer found his rhythm and enjoyed support from Axar in a 46-run sixth-wicket partnership.Iyer smashed seamer Nathan Ellis for a six in the last over to complete a well-timed innings in a bounce back after making just eight runs in his series debut at Raipur.Sangha finishes on a highLegspinner Tanveer Sangha can feel justifiably weary having been part of Australia’s white-ball tour of South Africa starting in late August ahead of the World Cup.Sangha then spent the entire World Cup on the sidelines before finally getting his opportunity and playing every game in this T20I series. It was a baptism of fire on flat surfaces and against a rampaging India batting line-up intent on taking him down.Sangha entered the game with figures of 4 of 153 from 16 overs, but he bowled superbly during a three-over spell in the middle overs.He came into the attack at an opportune time after Suryakumar’s wicket and with India stuttering at 46 for 3. Sangha immediately produced drift and spin on a helpful surface to force Rinku Singh into mistiming to mid-on.Such was his wicket-taking threat that Sangha was armed with a slip fielder and he was unlucky not to add a second wicket when Jason Behrendorff dropped Jitesh Sharma at deep backward square.Sangha, who turned 22 earlier in the series, has a habit of bowling one or two bad deliveries an over, but he was mostly accurate to finish with an impressive 1 for 26 off four overs.

Having already signed Florian Wirtz for a nine-figure fee, the English champions are now willing to pay even more money for the Swede

On the eve of Liverpool's Premier League meeting with Newcastle at Anfield on February 26, Arne Slot felt compelled to correct a journalist who pointed out that Alexander Isak was in "fine form". "I think that's an understatement," the Reds manager said during his pre-match press conference. "He is in excellent form!"

Slot had a point. Isak was on fire, having scored 15 times in his previous 13 league games – a remarkable run sparked by a thunderous strike against Liverpool in a thrilling 3-all draw between the two teams at St. James' Park on December 4.

Luckily for Liverpool, Isak missed the rematch on Merseyside with a minor groin problem and the hosts triumphed 2-0 – thanks in no small part to the Swede's understudy, Callum Wilson, missing a one-on-one that Isak would undoubtedly have buried. However, Isak was fit to start the Carabao Cup final at Wembley two and a half weeks later, and scored Newcastle's decisive second goal as Eddie Howe's team stunned the runaway league leaders.

If the 2-1 victory constituted a major shock, Isak's influential role in the upset most certainly was not. The 25-year-old had long since proven himself the one Premier League forward capable of consistently causing Virgil van Dijk problems and the Dutchman's respect for Isak was obvious when the pair embraced after the full-time whistle.

Van Dijk even said something while wearing a cheeky smile on his face that prompted a laugh from Isak. The more excitable element of Liverpool's support interpreted this light-hearted exchange as an expression of Van Dijk’s relief that the pair wouldn't be adversaries the next time they met but team-mates.

More realistic Reds didn't even dare to dream of such a scenario – until now…

Getty Images SportTrepidation on Tyneside

On Tuesday evening, it was revealed by several trusted transfer market reporters that Liverpool had approached Newcastle about signing Isak for a fee in the region of £130 million ($175m).

Every single one of them insisted that Newcastle's stance remains unchanged, that their star striker is not for sale. But the confirmation of Liverpool's long-mooted interest unsurprisingly sparked trepidation on Tyneside.

Newcastle fans were on edge as it was after it was revealed that the club were trying to sign Hugo Ekitike. Usually, a move for a much-coveted young player would be greeted with glee but, in this instance, it only aroused suspicion among supporters.

Despite all of the briefs to the country, it looked like Newcastle were signing Ekitike to pre-emptively replace Isak, rather than play alongside him. Of course, Newcastle were in the market for another forward after Wilson's release, and they were interested in both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.

However, whether Eddie Howe believes Isak and Ekitike could play together or not now seems like a moot point, as it now appears that Liverpool have effectively decided that Newcastle can have one of those forwards but not both.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesLiverpool's power play

The common consensus is that if Newcastle stand firm on their unwillingness to even entertain a deal for Isak, Liverpool will swoop in and sign Ekitike from under them.

After all, the Reds are in dire need of a new No.9 with Darwin Nunez having been deemed surplus to requirements by Slot, and have been tracking Ekitike for some time now.

Things rarely work quite so smoothly in the transfer market, of course.

Maybe Ekitike wants no part in this attempted power play. Maybe he wouldn't even want to join a club that considers him a second-choice signing. Maybe he'll end up alongside Isak at St. James Park and prove just as perfect a partner for the Swede as he was for Omar Marmoush during the first half of last season.

However, the lure of Liverpool is stronger than it has been for some time now – and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are clearly determined to make the absolute most of that fact.

Getty Images SportFSG's prudence paying off

Liverpool's American owners have long been berated for their perceived parsimony. Jurgen Klopp won the Champions League and then ended the Reds' English title drought during his time at Anfield but it was always argued that he could have achieved even more had been given even more money to compete with state-sponsored Manchester City on and off the field.

Liverpool fans were also furious when Klopp's successor Slot was given just one new player to work with before the start of his first season in charge: Federico Chiesa, a basement-bargain buy from Juventus.

However, FSG's prudence has paid off.

Not only did Liverpool win a record-equalling 20th championship last season without spending nearly no money, they've zero Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) worries, meaning they're in a position to spend up to £200m this summer – and that's without taking revenue from potential sales into the equation.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesHow the competition stacks up

The net result is that Liverpool are primed to win the summer transfer window – more than six weeks out from deadline day.

Granted, Manchester City should be much stronger next season than they were last, given they started spending in January, while perennial runners-up Arsenal are finally poised to address the striking problem that has arguably cost them two titles by signing the prolific Viktor Gyokeres.

As for Chelsea, their wild recruitment strategy is starting to reap dividends, with the Blues now being touted as potential Premier League champions after winning the Club World Cup – thanks in no small part to the mid-tournament acquisition of Joao Pedro.

However, Liverpool have already significantly strengthened a squad that won last season's league with four rounds remaining. Basically, the best team in England have just got even better.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians encerrou a 36ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro de volta ao G4. O time de Vítor Pereira, que venceu o Ceará por 1 a 0 no sábado (5), viu o Flamengo tropeçar diante do Coritiba e cair para a quinta posição da tabela.

>Fagner vai passar Rivellino! Veja os 10 jogadores com mais partidas pelo Corinthians

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCorinthians goleia Atlântico e abre vantagem na final da Liga FutsalCorinthians06/11/2022CorinthiansFausto Vera valoriza vaga do Corinthians na Libertadores 2023: ‘Sabemos da importância’Corinthians06/11/2022CorinthiansANÁLISE: Escolhas de Vítor Pereira dão certo, e Corinthians pode brigar pelo vice no BrasileirãoCorinthians06/11/2022

Agora, o Timão tem 64 pontos contra 61 do time rubro-negro. A última vez que o Alvinegro havia terminado a rodada entre os quatro primeiros colocados foi na 33ª rodada, quando venceu o Santos por 1 a 0, na Vila Belmiro.

Agora, o time comandado por Vítor Pereira se prepara para enfrentar o Coritiba, na quarta-feira (9), às 19h, no Couto Pereira. Será o último jogo do Corinthians fora de casa em 2022. O time encerrará sua participação no Campeonato Brasileiro em casa, diante de sua torcida, em duelo contra o Atlético-MG, no próximo dia 13.

> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

It’s a strong-looking squad, to be led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, with the likes of B Sai Sudharsan, Sarfaraz Khan and Navdeep Saini in the mix

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2024Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead India A in the visiting England Lions’ first two fixtures in Ahmedabad later this month. The shadow tour to the five-Test series between India and England starts with a two-day warm-up game on January 12-13, followed by a four-day first-class fixture on January 17-20, both in Ahmedabad.Abhimanyu was reserve opener during India’s recent two-Test tour of South Africa, and is a strong favourite to don a similar role during the home Tests. The squad also has B Sai Sudharsan, who struck back-to-back half-centuries in his first two ODIs against South Africa last month, as Abhimanyu’s likeliest opening partner, with Devdutt Padikkal not included. Padikkal, who featured in the first four-day fixture in South Africa last month, struck 193 against a strong Punjab attack in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy in Hubli on Saturday.The middle order looks formidable, with Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan and Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Tamil Nadu’s highest run-getter from the 2022-23 Ranji season, rewarded for their consistency. Patidar and Sarfaraz could get special attention if the selectors are looking for middle-order options for the Test side – Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul were India’s No. 5 and No. 6 in South Africa behind No. 4 Virat Kohli.KS Bharat, the reserve wicketkeeper on the tour of South Africa, is the first-choice stumper and a likely frontrunner to be in the squad as the second wicketkeeper for the England Tests, with Dhruv Jurel named his understudy. Jurel struck one of three half-centuries for India A in their second four-day fixture in Benoni late last month.Meanwhile, there is a second India A call-up in the spin department for Rajasthan’s Manav Suthar. Whether it is a move aimed at not giving the English exposure to much top-quality spin or Suthar is, indeed, in the selectors’ radar isn’t known at this stage. But Suthar, a left-arm-spinner, enjoyed good returns in the last Ranji season picking up 39 wickets, and subsequently impressed at the Emerging Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July. Pulkit Narang, who plies his trade for Services, is the second spin option.Navdeep Saini, Vidwath Kaverappa, Tushar Deshpande and Akash Deep, all part of the ‘A’ squad in South Africa, have been rewarded with call-ups as the pace attack remains largely unaltered. While Saini, Deshpande and Akash Deep have been in the India A set-up for a while, Kaverappa forced his way in on the back of a strong showing for South Zone in the season-opening Duleep Trophy.These games will be followed by two more four-day fixtures, also in Ahmedabad.India A squad against EnglandAbhimanyu Easwaran (capt), B Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, KS Bharat (wk), Manav Suthar, Pulkit Narang, Navdeep Saini, Tushar Deshpande, Vidwath Kaverappa, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Akash Deep

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco mantém firme seu interesse em assumir a gestão temporária do Maracanã. Com isso, o clube enviou, na última quarta, um ofício ao Estado solicitandoa participação na administração do estádio, visto que a licença do Flamengo acabará na segunda quinzena deste mês. A informação foi inicialmente divulgada pelo portal ‘GE’.

RelacionadasVascoVasco demonstra interesse na contratação de Pedro Henrique, do Athletico-PRVasco10/11/2022VascoVasco renova com Anderson Conceição até o final de 2023Vasco10/11/2022VascoVasco encaminha acerto com Junior Urso, primeiro reforço para 2023Vasco10/11/2022

Dessa forma, o documento oficial foi endereçado a Nicola Miccione, secretário da Casa Civil, e assinado pelo CEO Luiz Mello. Nele, o Cruz-Maltino reforça o interesse em assumir o Maracanã até que aconteça a licitação. Antes disso, o clube já havia enviado um ofício no dia 28 de outubro.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Como a reunião da última terça foi remarcada pelo Estado, o Vasco acredita que a falta de comunicação poderia indicar uma tendência da renovação do TPU (Termo de Permissão de Uso Precário) ao Flamengo. O clube aponta três argumentos no ofício.

1) o Estado não pode ignorar um novo interessado

2) a questão do prazo não pode ser considerada, uma vez que em 2019 a permissão ao Flamengo foi concedida em cinco dias.

3) a temporada do futebol brasileiro de 2022 termina nesta semana. Após sábado, o Maracanã só voltará a receber jogos na segunda quinzena de janeiro.

Com a chegada da 777 Partners, o Vasco demonstrou interesse no Maracanã. No primeiro momento, o clube tentou uma parceria com a dupla Fla-Flu, mas os rivais declinaram da proposta. Sendo assim, o Gigante da Colina se uniu à construtora WTorre e à Legends, que é referência mundial em gestão de estádios.

O nome do consórcio é “Maracanã para Todos”, e o clube requisitou uma proposta ao Governo do Rio de Janeiro no dia 28 de outubro. Contudo, o início de uma nova licitação foi adiada pelo Tribunal de Contas do Estado, em virtude de possíveis irregularidades no edital.

Diante deste contexto, Executivos da 777 Partners estavam no Rio de Janeiro para a possível abertura dos envelopes. Vale destacar que, em 2019, depois do cancelamento do contrato com a Odebrecht, o governo do Rio lançou um edital, mas o então presidente Alexandre Campello não demonstrou interesse.

+Vasco encaminha acerto com Junior Urso, primeiro reforço para 2023

Desde então, a licença vem sendo renovada a cada seis meses, e o Vasco entende que o governo do Rio de Janeiro deve analisar o caso desta vez e abrir os envelopes para uma nova licitação.