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Celtic completed their first signing of the summer transfer window earlier this week when they announced that Kieran Tierney has re-joined the Glasgow giants.

The experienced defender will officially link up with his new teammates when his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the month, returning to Scotland as a free agent.

Tierney came up through the academy system at Parkhead and won five Scottish Premiership titles during his time in the first-team, a haul that he will now be looking to add to.

The 28-year-old full-back amassed 37 assists in 170 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions, and he will be aiming to provide that sort of creativity down the left flank for Brendan Rodgers.

Tierney is set to come in as a direct replacement for Greg Taylor, whose Celtic contract expires this summer, but the Hoops have also lost their second-choice left-back, as Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan has come to an end.

Why Celtic need to replace Jeffrey Schlupp

Celtic will play in four competitions next season: the Champions League, the Premiership, the League Cup, and the SFA Cup. Because of this, having depth across the park in every position is vital for Rodgers.

It is not enough to just have one player in each position, and that is why the Bhoys have to sign a back-up left-back to replace Schlupp, particularly when you take Tierney’s injury history into account.

The Arsenal left-back has missed 45 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that there is a concern that he will not be available on a consistent basis for Rodgers next term.

This emphasises the importance of signing a replacement for Schlupp because the Hoops will need a left-back who is good enough to step in and start when Tierney misses games through injury over the course of the season.

As you can see in the table above, Schlupp was needed to start eight matches in the Premiership and the Champions League, despite only joining in January, which shows how important it is to bring in a quality back-up option in that position.

Celtic, therefore, need a left-back who provided the quality, particularly defensively, that Schlupp provided during his five-month loan spell at Parkhead.

The Scottish giants are in the market for another option in that position and their latest reported target could be an even better signing than the Palace loanee was.

Celtic progressing in deal for Scottish defender

According to a recent claim by journalist Graeme Bailey, Celtic are progressing in their pursuit of a deal to sign Josh Doig from Sassuolo in the summer transfer window.

The reporter was speaking about Harry Toffolo’s situation, after it was confirmed that he is leaving Nottingham Forest on a free transfer, and all but ruled out the Hoops in the race for his signature, due to their interest in Doig.

Transfer Focus

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

Bailey told EFL Analysis: “He’s an interesting one. I did hear a little bit of a squeak for Celtic, but I don’t think there’s anything in that. I do know Celtic are looking at Josh Doig and I think that one’s progressing, to be fair.”

This suggests that the Hoops are moving forward in a deal to bring the Scottish defender back to Scotland, in what would presumably be a permanent move, given that he was just a key part of Sassuolo’s title-winning season in the Serie B.

If Celtic can finalise a transfer to sign Doig from the newly-promoted Serie A outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, then they could have an even better signing than Schlupp.

Why Josh Doig would be a better signing than Jeffrey Schlupp

Perhaps the biggest reason why he would be a better signing than the Palace loanee was would be the permanent transfer aspect of it, as it would be a long-term solution to that position.

Schlupp was only a short-term stop-gap until the summer, whereas Doig is 23 and could be Celtic’s back-up, or first-choice, left-back for many more years to come.

This means that Celtic could get far more long-term value out of this signing, should they sign him permanently, if he adapts well and performs on the pitch as hoped.

Doig, who former boss Gabriel Coffi claimed has “incredible potential”, also put in good enough performances on the pitch in the Serie B this season to suggest that he could be a quality addition to the squad when called upon as a back-up to Tierney.

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star could be well-suited to playing in a ball-dominant Celtic team, particularly in a similar role to the one that Taylor played this term, inverting into a midfield position in possession.

These statistics show that Doig is incredibly comfortable and progressive in possession, excelling as a passer and a carrier of the ball, which suggests that he would thrive under the unique demands that Rodgers places on his left-back.

Therefore, the Sassuolo star, who started 25 Serie B matches, could be a perfect fit for what Celtic are looking for in that position, which is another reason why he would be a terrific signing for the club.

Overall, he would be an even better signing than Schlupp due to his age, with plenty of room left to improve, his long-term potential as a signing due to it being on a permanent deal, and because of the quality that he can produce on the pitch.

Nicolas Kuhn 2.0: Celtic are in talks to sign “underrated” £2m star

Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign a star who could be their next Nicolas Kuhn.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 13, 2025

Leeds United have been given a transfer boost as they eye a move for a new Brazilian attacker who has hailed former Whites star Raphinha.

Raphinha starring for Barcelona after leaving Leeds

Following promotion back in 2020, Raphinha was Leeds’ best signing in recent memory, joining from Rennes and starring at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Brazilian would also almost single-handedly keep Leeds in the top flight in the 2021/22 campaign before sealing a dream £50m transfer to Barcelona.

Since moving to the Nou Camp, the relentless winger has gone from strength to strength and is now a leading contender to win the Ballon d’Or after scoring 34 goals and providing 25 assists in 2024/25.

Leeds: 49ers lead race to sign £20m+ La Liga attacker who Chelsea wanted

He was playing amateur football in 2019.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 4, 2025

Raphinha, who won his second La Liga title and first Copa del Rey in 24/25, still keeps an eye out for Leeds and celebrated the Whites’ recent promotion, reacting to the club’s social media post on Instagram.

Leeds will now be looking for a player of the same ilk as Raphinha as they aim to establish themselves in the Premier League once again, and one wide attacker who has been linked with a move to Elland Road is Igor Paixao from Feyenoord.

There were claims Leeds submitted an enquiry to sign the Brazilian, however, the Dutch club would like a fee of €40m (£34m), but there has been a new update on a potential move.

Igor Paixao now open to Leeds transfer

According to Leeds Live, Paixao is open to the idea of joining Leeds this summer, however, despite previous reports, no contact has been made by the Whites at this moment in time.

Paixao would consider a move to Yorkshire, though, under the right personal terms, following an excellent individual campaign in 24/25 where he produced some impressive numbers, scoring 18 goals and registering a further 19 assists.

Talking earlier in the season, the Brazilian addressed his future and left the door open to a possible exit this summer.

The 24-year-old is a right-footed winger who primarily plays on the left-hand side and previously expressed his admiration for Raphinha, saying: “Raphinha is an example for me and all of us Brazilians.”

Dan James

Leeds

Bertrand Traore

Ajax

Estevao Willian

Palmeiras

Wilfried Gnonto

Leeds

Johan Bakayoko

PSV

Now, should Leeds make their move, they could soon have another exciting Brazilian winger on the books, three years after parting ways with Raphinha.

A Sky Sports reporter has now revealed that Leeds United want to sign a “thriving” Everton star this summer.

One defender in and one out at Leeds?

The Championship title winners are wasting no time in beginning preparations for their return to the Premier League, as the Whites have already been linked with high-profile players who they believe will give them a good chance of remaining in the top flight.

Contact made: Crystal Palace hold talks with agent of £60k-p/w Leeds ace

Crystal Palace are now in the race to sign a defender who is set to become a free agent.

By
Brett Worthington

May 8, 2025

Leeds have been looking mostly at ways of improving their attack, but given recent developments, there could be a few changes in their defence. It was reported on Wednesday that the Whites are preparing to make a £6 million bid to sign Georgios Vagiannidis from Greek side Panathinaikos.

Officials from the Yorkshire side are set to fly out to Greece and watch him in action this weekend, and they are already planning to make an offer, as they try to beat Everton to his signature.

As Vagiannidis emerges as a target for Leeds, it’s becoming increasingly likely that current left-back Junior Firpo is set to leave Elland Road. The defender is out of contract in the summer, and according to a new report, Crystal Palace have now held talks with Firpo’s agent over a move to Selhurst Park.

Palace are not the only team interested from the Premier League or in Europe, as plenty of teams express interest in a transfer.

Leeds want to sign £20m+ Everton star Beto this summer

And it seems signing a new forward is a high priority for Daniel Farke this summer, with Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett revealing Leeds are interested in signing Beto from Everton.

Dorsett claims he’s “told” that Leeds have a £100 million transfer kitty as they prepare for life back in the Premier League. He goes on to add that he is unclear if Everton would be willing to sell Beto, as he’s been an important player for the Toffees since David Moyes’ return.

In fact, since the arrival of Moyes, The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland has described Beto as a player who is “thriving” under new management. The 27-year-old was brought to the club in August 2023 but struggled to make a significant impact last season under Sean Dyche, as he scored just three Premier League goals in 30 games. However, that has changed in this campaign, as he’s scored seven times in 27 games, making him Everton’s top goalscorer.

It’s unclear how much the Portuguese could cost Leeds, but the Toffees paid £25 million for him to join from Udinese, and the Premier League side may look to get at least an equal return on their investment. The forward is under contract until 2027, but he is not their only striker target, as Leeds have been linked to the likes of Jamie Vardy and Troy Parrott.

Liverpool have confirmed a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, fending off interest from the likes of Bayern Munich to keep the captain on Merseyside for two more years.

Liverpool seal new contracts for key stars

The Reds could officially win the Premier League this weekend in what has been a brilliant first campaign under Arne Slot. Should Arsenal suffer defeat against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool could seal the title with a win at Leicester City shortly after.

However, away from the pitch, a hot topic of conversation has been on the futures of star trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. Salah, as we know, has officially signed a new two-year contract at Anfield, whereas Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano had recently said that Van Dijk is set to join Salah in signing a new Liverpool contract through until 2027, and talking recently, the skipper was asked about his pending new deal: “I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. I think that’s the main thing and then we’ll see. The focus will still be on Leicester, but maybe there’s some news. I know … but I don’t know.

“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.”

Club have accepted "brilliant" star's exit as Liverpool line up Mane 2.0

He’s enjoyed an excellent season…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 16, 2025

Van Dijk signs new Liverpool deal worth over £40m

Bayern Munich were keen to sign Van Dijk on a free transfer, seeing the centre-back as a ‘unique opportunity to strengthen its defence with experience, leadership and proven quality’, but it has now been confirmed by Liverpool that Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield.

Rumoured to be on £220,000-a-week beforehand, Van Dijk has become a Liverpool legend since joining from Southampton back in 2017, winning numerous trophies, and David Ornstein reports the new two-year deal is now worth £400,000-a-week.

Ornstein confirms there are no pay cut or break clauses, which will guarantee the Netherlands star is paid £41,600,000 through to the summer of 2027, by which time he’ll be 35. This is even more than the fee Liverpool paid to Brighton for star midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (£35m), but Reds fans will feel their captain deserves every penny.

Talking after penning terms, Van Dijk said: “I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it. “It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

Van Dijk is now the highest paid defender in the top flight and will be the second-highest paid player in any position once Kevin De Bruyne departs Man City this summer, behind only Erling Haaland who sits on £500,000-a-week at the Etihad.

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold looks almost certain to depart Liverpool this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The 26-year-old has largely been touted with a free transfer to join Real Madrid, with numerous publications already claiming that a deal is complete for him to join the LaLiga giants.

Such news has angered supporters, with his potential move leaving Arne Slot’s side shortchanged and unable to receive a fee for a talent who’s been a leading player in their success.

He’s made over 300 appearances for his boyhood side, playing a vital role in various levels of success, claiming one Premier League title, with another set to follow in the coming weeks.

The defender isn’t the only player to depart Anfield on a free in recent years, albeit in different circumstances to another player who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his spell on Merseyside.

Daniel Sturridge’s time as a player at Liverpool

Striker Daniel Sturridge formed a deadly partnership with Luis Suárez during his stint at Liverpool, with the pair firing the Reds to title contention under Brendan Rodgers over a decade ago.

The Englishman scored 67 times in his 160 appearances during his six-and-a-half years on Merseyside, producing countless moments of magic including his effort against former side Chelsea.

However, despite his goalscoring exploits, he was unable to prove his talent on a regular basis, with injuries massively plaguing his time and subsequently spending long periods on the sidelines.

During his stint on Merseyside, the now-retired striker suffered 15 separate injuries, missing a total of 121 matches – missing an average of 18.5 matches per season he was on the club’s books.

Such a record left the hierarchy with no choice but to offload him in the summer of 2019, but six years on, Slot has found a new version of the Englishman, desperately needing to offload him to avoid losing another talent for nothing.

Why Slot needs to sell Liverpool’s new Sturridge this summer

Despite Slot’s impressive first season in England, which has seen him take the top-flight by storm, he may have a job on his hands to sustain such a success next season.

Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah could all depart the club on a free transfer this summer, giving the Dutchman a huge task in replacing the trio given their importance to the side.

However, he may want to offload numerous other first-team members this summer, including Diogo Jota, who’s fallen well beyond the high standards he set for himself during his early days on Merseyside.

The Portuguese international joined the Reds in a £45m deal from Wolves in the summer of 2020, notching 34 goals during his first two years after his big-money transfer.

However, he’s struggled to achieve such levels in 2024/25, scoring just nine times across all competitions, with injuries starting to prevent his progress at Anfield.

2020/21

Knee

85

19

2020/21

Foot

12

4

2021/22

Ankle

15

4

2022/23

Hamstring

32

5

2022/23

Calf

117

24

2023/24

Calf

29

8

2023/24

Knee

52

13

2023/24

Hip

23

4

2024/25

Hamstring

54

14

2024/25

Fatigue

17

4

Total:

10

436

99

Jota has only been able to start 12 league outings so far during Slot’s reign, leading to reports that the club were willing to cash in on him this summer to fund a move for a new talisman.

The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract, but with the former Atlético Madrid ace now entering the latter stages of his professional career, the upcoming window could present the last opportunity to recoup the majority of the fee paid for his signature.

Given his injury issues and lack of form when fit, Slot must look to offload him this window, joining Trent in not featuring in his plans as he looks to continue his impressive start as the club’s manager next season.

It may seem a brutal call, but the football industry is an unforgiving one, with decisions needing to be made for the better of the club, subsequently leading to fresh blood arriving to fill the void.

The next Michael Owen: Liverpool plot move for "phenomenal" £40m striker

Liverpool could be about to land a new version of Michael Owen this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 9, 2025

An out-of-form India captain vs a spinner who’s among the top three wicket-takers but is nowhere close to making the Indian team. Why? Because it’s complicated

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-May-20242:20

Moody: ‘Chakravarthy has grown in confidence with the team’

In a dream sequence for the players who have been picked for India’s T20 World Cup squad, they ease themselves into form against IPL teams in May, and then go on to sweep all before them in the Caribbean and USA in June, storming through the competition, devouring oppositions, playing innings that reverberate for generations, bowling spells that snap top orders in two.As far as dreams go, it is not completely unrealistic. We are in the 17th year of the IPL being the biggest franchise show in a world that has increasingly begun to favour franchise shows. Where in the earliest days of this competition, you might have sniggered at the quality of cricket, but no one has sniggered for many years now.In fact, the IPL has become such a resounding showcase of India’s primacy in the cricket market, that perhaps it has given rise to one of cricket’s ironies. India has the world’s greatest bank of cricketing talent in the world*; India has not won a global cricket title in eleven years. In that time, the Australia men’s team have won four, England two, and even West Indies and New Zealand one apiece.Related

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Rohit Sharma’s progress in the tournament this year is turning out to be a perfect peek into this dichotomy. He is captain of his national team, but no longer leads the franchise, which sought fresher ideas and regeneration through Hardik Pandya. Rohit had rocked the ODI World Cup last year, batting in a gloriously selfless vein that helped power India to that final.But right now, he’s not quite rocking the only franchise tournament he plays in. He’d made an unbeaten 63-ball 105 in a match his team lost by a sizeable margin. (Read that sentence again – it’s not one you are likely to read in the context of any other T20 tournament.) But in the last six matches, his scores have been 6, 8, 4, 11, 4, 19.This 19, against Kolkata Knight Riders, was kinda torturous. Against seamers, Rohit was beaten frequently, particularly when he tried to hit square of the wicket. When KKR’s excellent spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy came on, Rohit was visibly uncomfortable, venturing failed flicks, unconvincing sweeps, and when those didn’t work, reverse sweeps that he kept missing. In the end, a top-edged sweep off Varun had him out for 19 off 24. (This sentence you don’t need to read again; that’s a bad innings in almost any T20, let alone one that was 16-overs-a-side from the outset.)Varun Chakravarthy celebrates after getting Rohit Sharma out•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd so we come back to this irony that Indian cricket and the IPL has created. Varun is a 32-year-old wristspinner with 18 wickets this IPL (third on the tournament charts right now), as he frequently turns matches for his franchise. Varun hasn’t made the India T20 World Cup squad, or its reserves. But he’d likely have played many more than his six international matches if he’d represented almost any other team. He was outstanding in this match against Mumbai Indians, taking 2 for 17 off his four overs despite this being a rain-shortened match.”I’d never taken Rohit ‘s wicket, and I meticulously planned for it, and it worked out,” Varun said after the match. Things tend to work out when you’re on as bright a run of form as Varun is.Meanwhile, national captain Rohit, the first name on the squad sheet, is currently skidding through a tournament in a team playing like it wishes its season was already over. His franchise captain Hardik, who will be his deputy in the World Cup if you haven’t been following, hasn’t had a massively fun time in the IPL either, having experienced substantial ire from crowds that resent him for either leaving Gujarat Titans, or replacing Rohit at the helm of Mumbai Indians, or both.Elsewhere in India squad member news, Yuzvendra Chahal is having a rough run himself. Virat Kohli is being questioned for his strike rate, even as he leads the league in run volume. You begin to wonder how good a lead-in to the World Cup a two-month-long T20 competition is for India players.It has been often thought by administrators in other countries, that when India gets its machine in full swing, they will almost inevitably dominate the sport, perhaps for decades.Right now, though, what we know for sure is that India is dominating the cricket economy almost as completely as any nation has ever dominated it. Is it just a matter of time until they start rolling in the global trophies too? Watch how Rohit and Varun are going right now. It’s complicated.

The quartet stepped up to make up for the lack of penetration from spinners and delivered a 1-0 series win

Mohammad Isam27-May-2022The power cuts and long fuel queues sent the Test series in Bangladesh down the priority list of many Sri Lankans. However, there might be a little smile on their faces when they see the highlights or the scorecard of their ten-wicket win in Dhaka. A joyful moment in an otherwise bleak period in Sri Lankan history.For the cricket team, this is a significant series win sandwiched between a horrible India tour and the upcoming home series against Australia and Pakistan. In the past, Sri Lanka used to ease past Bangladesh in Tests. However, now with an improved side as their opponent, Sri Lanka had to face a few challenges before eventually defeating the hosts 1-0 in the two-match series.Though most batters had a good outing, it was particularly heartening to see seniors Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal deliver, when Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother.Sri Lanka benefited from a good mix of experience and youth. Senior players gave them big runs with match-defining partnerships while the rookie fast bowlers delivered match-winning performances. Mathews deservedly won the Player-of-the-Series award after his best Test series in seven years. Chandimal was among the runs in both Tests, notably scoring his first hundred in four years.But it wasn’t just about individual brilliance. Mathews and Chandimal defied Bangladesh twice in crucial junctures. Mathews put together two big partnerships in Dhaka, including the 199-run stand for the sixth wicket with Chandimal. The pair batted in contrasting fashion, with Mathews trusting his defense above everything. He has a strong defensive technique and he prefers playing straight, which is a recipe for success in Bangladesh, where the pitches are slower and lower. Batters who play straight are often rewarded.Chandimal, on the other hand, is trying to rediscover his aggressive streak, often charging at the Bangladesh spinners to bunt them down the ground. It was demoralising for the bowlers, and he balanced it with solid square-cuts and drives. Dimuth Karunaratne, a usually heavy scorer, also got important runs while Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva pitched in with handy contributions as well.Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were the top two run-getters for Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images”With their experience, Angelo and Chandimal are greedy for their runs,” wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella said. “They knew this is the best opportunity to go for big scores. They did a great job and are taking the pressure off the youngsters. They are doing their job properly.”However, the most remarkable aspect of Sri Lanka’s victory was their bowling. Asitha Fernando became only the second fast bowler in their history to take a ten-wicket haul. The first was their fast-bowling coach Chaminda Vaas, who had two such hauls in 1995 and 2001. Fernando and Kasun Rajitha, who took his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings in Dhaka, combined to take 17 wickets in the second Test.Rajitha and Asitha used the new ball superbly on the first morning of the second Test. In less than seven overs, they exposed Bangladesh’s inability to tackle subtle seam movement. There wasn’t visible swing but there was enough seam movement as the duo picked up five early wickets. Fernando’s use of the short ball, reverse-swing and skiddiness was compelling to watch. Rajitha was slightly more experienced but he too kicked things up a notch.Only Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das resisted them with their batting skills and intelligence. The rest of the Bangladesh line-up scored only 32 runs out of their 365 in the first innings.Related

Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando show their mettle

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal stand up to be counted

“These are not the wickets we played on last time, when the ball was spinning and turning,” Dickwella said. “This time it was dead and flat tracks, good for batsmen. Our fast bowlers came up with their plans. Their execution was good. In both Tests, there wasn’t much for spinners but the fast bowlers did well. Our batsmen also made the job easier for our bowlers.”In the first innings, there was something for the seamers – a bit of movement and swing. We took five early wickets but we couldn’t quite take the other five wickets [quickly]. In the second innings, [the bounce] was going up and down. Seam movement was there. We stuck to our basic line and length. We wanted to bowl stump line in the second innings.”We knew the top-order was struggling in the first innings. We wanted to bowl line and length first. With Asitha’s pace and tactics with the short ball, we knew it would be hard for them. We wanted to spread the field, not to give easy runs, and then attack when possible.”We had a calm dressing room. We knew we were just one wicket away from the tail-enders. We kept our nerves. I think Asitha came up with a brilliant catch. It was the turning point.”Kasun Rajitha created massive impact after coming in as a concussion sub in the first Test•AFP/Getty ImagesThe spinners took only one wicket, taking their tally to just three wickets in the Test series, Sri Lanka’s second-lowest returns by a spin attack (when they have bowled more than 181 overs in a series).Ramesh Mendis played both games and they alternated between Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama, but none of the options worked. Jayawickrama bowled brilliantly against Bangladesh last year, but was a pale shadow of his former self this time.The fact that Bangladesh still couldn’t get into advantageous positions in both Tests is a huge tribute to Rajitha and Asitha.In the next couple of years under Silverwood and Vaas, there’s potential for Asitha and Rajitha to keep improving, while more robust bowlers can come through the system.But it is hard to assume that Sri Lanka still doesn’t have their house in order. After Kamil Mishra’s ejection midway through the tour, Silverwood has to address disciplinary issues among the young players. Undoubtedly, fitness, too, will be near or on top of his laundry list. But in his first series in charge of Sri Lanka, Silverwood also must have found many positives to work with in the coming months.

Our correspondent hangs out with the World Cup winner and his family (plus dogs) at his home in Barbados

Alexis Nunes20-Apr-2020It’s always funny when you get to interview a close friend. You almost work extra-hard to highlight that special thing that makes them your friend.For months, Jofra Archer and I had tried to coordinate our schedules to give this video feature the time I felt it deserved.”How about this Saturday?” I would ask.”Nah, I have training and then I gotta pack for New Zealand. What about the Sunday?” he would ask.”Nah, I’ve gotta go to Liverpool for football,” I would reply.Then the cycle would repeat itself until it was time for him to head to South Africa, where, unfortunately, his tour was cut short when he picked up a stress fracture in his elbow. After that, I knew he was set to head back to see his family in the Caribbean.ALSO WATCH: Getting a Jofra Archer-designed tattoo blindfolded!”Why don’t you guys just come to Barbados?” Jof suggested.We landed in Barbados on a Thursday, four days before Jof was due to head back to England to continue rehab on his injury.I felt like I was visiting a close relative – and in a sense, I was.The only issue we faced was explaining to my English producer just how Caribbean time works. It was only the morning of the shoot that Jof messaged to give us the green light to pop by to his place. My producer had written up a perfectly detailed production plan, times included, prior to the trip. I was certain we wouldn’t stick to any of those times, but I wasn’t complaining. I was back in my natural habitat, having left behind London and its nine-degree weather with a side of fog and rain.Jofra Archer with his mum Joelle•ESPNcricinfo LtdWe set out to get the most important thing for the day, apart from the camera equipment – food. The idea was to have a chat, looking back at the last year with Jof, over a meal with his family. I took orders, which Jof’s sister relayed on text message.”Just waiting for Jofra’s order now,” she said.”I bet he’s gonna ask for the ribs,” I replied.”Yeah, he said get the ribs and chips, please.”Order almost complete, I realised we were missing one side. I texted Jof to see what he preferred between a side of steamed veggies or coleslaw.”Veg,” he said. “I only like my mom’s coleslaw.”Fair enough. After all, moms know everything, right? Well, almost everything, as I soon found out.We pulled up to Jofra’s family home where he paused his intense game of out of Jof to understand what it was like for him to be living through each situation.”But you know, he gives you nothing,” she said with a laugh.Don’t I know it? Even though I’m a few years older than Jof, I always joke that he’s like an older cousin or something. He has been a welcome peace after many storms, whether he’s trying to be or not.I can remember chatting with him during the 2018 IPL. He had a slight injury concern but looked set to take the field again. People wanted to know why the Rajasthan Royals had paid $1.125 million for a player who hadn’t played any international cricket. It felt like everyone was watching and Jof had to cope with the pressure of playing in the world’s top T20 league.Jof’s response? He asked for my prediction for an upcoming Manchester United match. Calm, cool and collected as ever.Fourteen ODIs old and already a World Cup winner•Getty ImagesAs excited as I was to see everyone in his family again, there was one face I was extra-happy to see – Blu, Jofra’s dog, who had made the trip from England to Barbados just a few weeks before our visit. If you haven’t noticed by now, Jof is a huge dog lover. That, along with the fact that we both support Manchester United, is how we got chatting in the first place, sending each other dog memes and videos on a daily basis.Last summer I was looking forward to watching the Ashes live now that I was living in England. That a friend was actually going to be a part of it felt surreal.Jof had missed the first Test while undergoing treatment for a side strain, but now he was raring to go for the second Test, at Lord’s. I made sure I was free to go to the ground on day one. The usual critics had been raising questions about him: sure, he can handle one-day cricket, but can he handle Test cricket?Day one came and we got rain, rain and more rain. Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled. I went to the mall with Jof’s sister. Later that day, we got a text.”When you guys finishing? I wanna go look about a puppy,” Jof said.Before I knew it, we had all jumped into his car and were headed to this mystery location to “view” this puppy. When we got there and he picked up this grey puppy with the most beautiful blue eyes.Jof turned to me and asked, “You have plenty work to do this week?” As we got into the car and headed back to London with the puppy in my lap, I wondered how I was going to explain to my dog, Zlatan, about our new house guest.Over the next couple of days, I managed to make it to Lord’s for the cricket, but only until lunch since I had to keep rushing back to take care of my new Godpup (yes, that’s a thing.) During those days, a lot happened on the pitch. Jofra made his Test debut, took five wickets in the match, and was involved in Steve Smith concussion.In his debut series, in four Ashes Tests, Archer took 22 wickets at 20.27•Getty ImagesJof was back in the headlines once again, but after becoming the Super-Over hero in the World Cup final, this was just a standard day in the office, right? As a fan and a reporter, I tried to pry for details, but he would answer every question in his chill manner, as if his Test debut were just another match, and then follow up with a request to call around to see little Blu.”We were supposed to actually just see him,” he said while we sat on a beach near his family home, with a now not so little Blu. “But when I got there and I saw him in the litter, it was really hard to not take him with me.”Fair enough, I thought. After all, I was there too and I knew at least one of us was leaving with a puppy, whether we planned to or not! I had learnt the day before that at one point Jof had considered becoming a veterinarian if the whole cricket thing didn’t work out. And his mum said he all but enrolled for a course in agriculture in Barbados before he left for the UK to pursue the cricket dream. That other back-up plan would probably have worked out well too.As we sat under the palm trees on the white sands of a perfect beach a stone’s throw away from where he grew up, I noticed a massive rock in the sea in the distance.”That rock wasn’t always in the sea, you know,” Jof explained while our camera crew framed the shot for our interview. “It was a part of that cliff, but fell off maybe four or five years ago.””That’s mental. It’s massive – it must have felt like an earthquake! I wonder what causes that,” I said.”Soil erosion,” Jofra answered.”Okay, Mr Agriculture!” I replied and we all broke out into laughter.That’s Jofra – multitalented, multidimensional and all wrapped up in the most chilled out exterior. So whether you want tips on playing Call of Duty, or on banking with Natwest or HSBC (I’m speaking from experience here), or maybe you want someone to bowl a crunch over on the way to winning a World Cup, Jofra is your guy. His ability to take even the most mind-blowing moments in stride might just be his best weapon yet.

Chelsea no longer look like a frightening Premier League title challenger.

Indeed, after beating Barcelona with ease 3-0 in the Champions League at the end of November, and then battling well with league leaders Arsenal 1-1 to close out the month, Enzo Maresca’s Blues came across as credible rivals to the Gunners.

However, fast forward just a few weeks, and the West Londoners have now lost on the road at Leeds United and were made to settle for an unsatisfactory stalemate away at AFC Bournemouth.

If Antoine Semenyo hadn’t fallen victim to a VAR check early on, too, it might well have been back-to-back defeats.

There’s nowhere to hide, either, for Maresca and Co. as the fixtures come thick and fast in December. Thankfully, the January transfer window is also just around the corner, as Chelsea begin to eye up some reinforcements…

Chelsea looking to sign another South American talent

After only scoring one meagre goal against the Whites and the Cherries, Chelsea will surely look to January to fix their striker woes.

As per reports from Germany, the goal-shy Blues are keen on a deal for Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, with current options at Maresca’s disposal in Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, not “of the level” to steer the faltering Premier League side to a title, as per the harsh words of Sky Sports’ Gary Neville.

That said, the Blues could also look to bolster their side in defensive areas.

Indeed, according to Caught Offside, Chelsea could put their connections with RC Strasbourg, another club owned by BlueCo, to good use once more by going after Valentin Barco in January, with it being stated that the Blues are still closely monitoring the versatile 21-year-old, who can fill in at left-back, after holding interest in his services in the summer.

Yet, it’s his varied ability to be able to line up as a central midfield talent, away from his energetic defensive duties, that has also attracted the likes of Bayern Munich to his services.

Chelsea will hope they can come out on top in any battle that pops up, as the Stamford Bridge titans potentially win their next Estevao by landing another South American treasure who can instantly burst into life in the Premier League.

How Barco could be Chelsea's next Estevao

Like Barco, Estevao was on the radar of many an elite club before Chelsea swooped in, with both Real Madrid and Paris St Germain once eyeing up the exhilarating Brazilian.

Maresca and Co will be over the moon that they snapped up the teenage winger when they did, with the “utterly brilliant” forward – as pundit Pat Nevin labelled him after his outrageous solo effort versus Barcelona – already up to five goals and one assist from just 20 Chelsea appearances.

The expectation will be that Barco would arrive on English soil and be as impactful as instantly, considering the 21-year-old already has plenty of European experience under his belt with Strasbourg, away from also undergoing his early football education in South America.

Games played

13

Goals scored

1

Assists

4

Touches*

69.8

Accurate passes*

42.8 (84%)

Big chances created

7

Ball recoveries*

5.3

Total duels won*

6.8

Noted as being one of “South America’s biggest jewels” when on the books of River Plate by scout Jacek Kulig, with Estevao, of course, also heralded as “world-class” when just 17 years of age in Brazil by the aforementioned Kulig, Barco has come into his own even more in Ligue 1 with Liam Rosenior’s men, as shown in the table above.

With one goal and four assists for the season in the French top-flight, Barco looks more than ready to leap into the Premier League shortly, with the likes of Marc Cucurella no doubt scared for his starting spot at left-back, as the much-talked-about 21-year-old has created seven big chances and won 6.8 duels per game this campaign as a full-throttle force.

On the flip side, Chelsea’s number three only has only created three big chances and won 4.1 duels par match from his collection of league appearances to date, with Barco keen to shake up the Stamford Bridge first team ranks, much like Estevao did instantly on his arrival from Palmeiras.

Capable of also offering Maresca another body centrally, this does really feel as if it has all the makings of being a top-drawer acquisition from South America, much like Estevao was.

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Sunderland have now reportedly made contact in the race to sign a teenage sensation, who is on course to leave his current club as a free agent next summer.

Le Bris praises "demanding" Premier League ahead of Liverpool clash

Sunderland just do not know when they’re beaten in the Premier League. They are writing a blueprint that every newly-promoted side must follow to secure survival and their comeback victory against Bournemouth followed that plan to perfection.

The Black Cats came from two goals behind to secure a dramatic victory and keep hold of their place in the top six after 13 games. With Liverpool at Anfield up next, things don’t get any easier, but Sunderland have relished the challenge of upsetting the odds so far this season.

Regis Le Bris was full of praise for both his side and the Premier League itself following Sunderland’s victory over Bournemouth, telling reporters: “This league is really demanding. You make two mistakes and are punished.

“With the ball, we are good, so just keep pushing. We are able to hit their defence, and it was important to be clinical in the box. I think here we have a great energy in the stands. If we give a lot on the pitch, then they will react. We deserved to win in the end.

“It’s important to play game after game. We went to Fulham last week and we lost. We were dominated. We go again. It’s positive to start this week with three points. It’s an exciting league with tough challenges but we want those challenges.”

Survival, which almost looks guaranteed already, would be a major achievement on the pitch, but it would also make an impact away from the action. The Black Cats are already thinking about the future on that front, targeting Rangers teenager Bailey Rice.

Sunderland make contact to sign Bailey Rice

According to the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones, Sunderland have now made checks on Rice, who is on course to leave Rangers as a free agent next summer after rejecting the Gers’ contract offers.

The 19-year-old became the club’s youngest post-war player to make a Scottish Premiership appearance in 2023, but now looks destined to leave Ibrox with Sunderland, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City all queueing for his signature.

Manchester City were also tracking the young midfielder when he decided to leave Kilmarnock, only for Rangers to jump in and secure his arrival.

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Sunderland once had a star who is now more exciting than Granit Xhaka and one of the best players in the Premier League.

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For Sunderland, it would therefore be a major coup to land a player of Rice’s potential. Man City’s initial interest highlights how highly he’s rated in England and praise from Rio Ferdinand echoed that earlier this year.

The Manchester United legend said on commentary when Rangers squared off against Manchester United last year: “I tell you what, I’m liking Rice by the way, he’s come on and looked composed, the kid’s got something about him, he’s got a lovely left foot on him.”

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