Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the club will bring in another central defender before the transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

The Hoops swooped to sign Hayato Inamura on a permanent deal earlier this month, but the Japanese defender is one for the future and another option in that area of the pitch is expected.

Rodgers already has Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Dane Murray, Stephen Welsh, and Cameron Carter-Vickers in the centre-back positions, on top of the signing of Inamura, and they are looking for another.

CelticWay have reported that the club are weighing up a possible move to sign Dutch central defender Justin De Haas from Famalicão to add to their ranks.

The 25-year-old, left-footed, titan is valued at £3m by the Portuguese outfit, and could come in to compete for a place at the heart of the Hoops defence.

The role that Justin De Haas could play for Celtic

The potential signing of the Famalicão titan is an interesting one for the Scottish giants, because it would leave Rodgers with three left-footed centre-back options, in him, Scales, and Trusty.

Last season, the manager said that he prefers to play centre-backs on the side of their stronger foot because it “allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward”, which suggests that De Haas will be competing with Trusty and Scales.

Based on their respective performances at league level in the 2024/25 campaign, De Haas’ biggest hurdle to making the starting XI could be the Ireland international.

Trusty joined from Sheffield United last summer and endured a difficult campaign in Scotland, as he ended the season as a back-up option behind Scales, and the Dutch star could come in as an upgrade on him.

24/25 season

De Haas (Liga Portugal)

Trusty (Premiership)

Scales (Premiership)

Appearances

29

22

26

Goals

2

1

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.0

2.3

1.9

Dribbled past per game

0.3x

0.5x

0.2x

Clearances per game

5.4

4.0

4.8

Error led to shot

0

4

1

Error led to goal

1

1

0

Penalties committed

0

0

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, De Haas could even offer more to the team than Scales, with more defensive actions and fewer errors leading to shots, goals, or penalties overall.

This suggests that he could be a starting-calibre left-sided centre-back option for Celtic if he can translate his form over to the Scottish Premiership, but there is also the possibility that he is a second-choice to Scales, with Trusty demoted to a reserve.

Overall, given he will need to adapt to the league, De Haas could be a back-up centre-back at first, which is why their pursuit of a new winger is an even more exciting prospect.

Celtic in talks to sign new winger

According to the Daily Record, Celtic want to spend the money they are set to rake in from Como for Nicolas Kuhn to sign two new wingers this summer.

The German forward is set to sign for the Italian side for a reported fee of £16.5m, which will provide the Hoops with funds to dip into the market themselves.

Transfer Focus

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

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This latest report from the Daily Record states that the Scottish Premiership champions are locked in talks with Royal Antwerp over a deal for Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

The outlet states that Royal Antwerp value the forward at a fee of around £5m, but they may lower it in order to push a transfer through in the coming weeks.

It adds that the 24-year-old attacker, who predominantly plays on the left flank, is keen on a switch to Parkhead this summer, which suggests that personal terms would not be too much of a problem if a fee can be agreed.

Why Balikwisha would be an exciting signing

Balikwisha would be an even more exciting signing than De Haas for Celtic this summer because he could slot straight into the starting XI from the first match.

Jota is set to miss the first half of the season with a knee injury, having suffered an ACL blow last term, and that has left a vacant spot on the left wing ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Until a new senior centre-forward is in the building, Daizen Maeda could continue where he left off as the starting number nine, which means that he would not be the starter on the left flank. Therefore, Balikwisha could have a free run at the left wing position to be a starter in the Premiership.

This means that, unlike De Haas, Celtic supporters could expect to see the Belgian wizard in the starting line-up when the Hoops host St Mirren at Parkhead on the opening day in August.

As well as being a potential frontline starter, which the Dutch defender may not initially be, Balikwisha could also be a more exciting signing because he is an attacking player who has the potential to deliver goals and assists.

Balikwisha (Pro League)

23/24

24/25

Starts

27

12

xG

6.46

2.65

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha has produced 11 goals and 13 ‘big chances’ created in his last 39 starts in the Belgian top-flight for Royal Antwerp.

The 24-year-old star was described as a “creative” talent by analyst Will Glavin, which is backed up by his return of seven ‘big chances’ created in 12 starts in the Pro League last season.

Balikwisha is a winger who has shown that he has the ability to deliver goals and assists at a fairly impressive rate in Belgium, which suggests that he could thrive in a dominant Celtic team that wins week-in-week-out.

The £5m-rated star could get supporters off their feet with his quality in the final third, as the anticipation could build whenever he picks the ball up in space out on the left flank.

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Therefore, the Royal Antwerp wing wizard could be an even more exciting signing than De Haas due to his potential to be an immediate starter, as well as him being an attack-minded player, rather than a centre-back.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore powered his way to a match-winning half-century as Somerset beat Vitality Blast South Group leaders Surrey by six wickets beneath the floodlights at Taunton.Set 183 to win, Somerset chased down their target with six balls to spare thanks to a forthright knock of 51 in 32 balls from Kohler-Cadmore, who hit three sixes and a trio of fours and shared in a crucial stand of 67 for the third wicket with Tom Abell.Academy product George Thomas impressed on his debut, raising an eye-catching 25-ball 40, while Sean Dickson scored a nerveless unbeaten 20 at the death to see Somerset home in front of a sell-out crowd at the Cooper Associates Ground.Surrey’s innings of 182 for 5 was built around a partnership of 107 in 12.2 overs between Sam Curran and Rory Burns. Returning from England duty, Curran raised 59 from 42 balls, Burns top-scored with 62 off 44 deliveries and Jamie Overton smashed a quickfire unbeaten 30 at the death.Somerset made light work of the chase to achieve an inside-the-distance victory that cemented their position in the top four and kept them on track for a place in the quarter-finals. Despite losing for only the second time this season, Surrey remain top of the table and on course to reach the knockout stages.Surrey won the toss, elected to bat and quickly plummeted to 24-3 inside four overs. Making his first T20 appearance at Taunton, Jack Leach saw off Dom Sibley, persuading him to hole out to Dickson on the mid-wicket boundary. Dickson again demonstrated safe hands when Will Jacks hoisted the next ball, sent down by Riley Meredith, to deep third man, while Laurie Evans miss-cued high to cover as Craig Overton made further in-roads.Curran and Burns made a decent fist of repairing the damage, advancing the score to 44 by the end of the powerplay, achieving a 50 partnership in 36 balls and lifting Surrey to 77 for 3 at halfway. Although boundaries were in relatively short supply by Taunton standards, the fourth wicket pair ran hard and Curran suggested a change in tempo when depositing Jake Ball over the long-on boundary for six and hoisting a Ben Green full toss high over square.With the innings still in the balance at 105 for 3 at the end of the thirteenth, Curran attempted to force the issue, going to 50 from 34 balls, guiding Meredith behind square to attain the landmark with his fourth four. Although less expansive in his approach, Burns nevertheless proved mightily effective, the former England man raising his 50 from 38 balls.Somerset badly needed a breakthrough and skipper Lewis Gregory obliged at the start of the seventeenth over, Curran finding Overton at long-on with the score on 131, having dominated a revitalising partnership. Burns departed in the penultimate over, offering a return catch to Ball, but former Somerset all-rounder Jamie Overton ensured there was no respite for the home side, mustering 2 sixes and a brace of fours in a hard-hit innings of 30 not out from 13 balls.Somerset needed to win to be sure of preserving their place in the top four and Tom Banton plundered three boundaries in one Tom Lawes over to set the tone. Encouraged by his partner’s example, debutant Thomas made a mockery of his rookie status by taking Dan Worrall for a six and 3 fours in an opening stand that yielded 42 in 3.2 overs.Surrey responded, Jordan Clark having Banton caught at mid-on for 17, but Thomas continued to take a liking to Worrall, harvesting another six and a further two fours off the Australian as Somerset advanced to 61 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Chancing his arm once too often, Thomas hit Cameron Steel high to mid-on and departed for a 24-ball 40, having announced himself on the Blast stage in style. Tom Kohler-Cadmore now took up the cudgels, greeting the advent of Chris Jordan by hoisting the England man high over backward square for six as the home side continued to exert pressure. The Yorkshireman smashed a straight six and two fours off Lawes, whose first two overs went for 35, as Somerset moved menacingly to 104 for 2, requiring a further 79 off 10 overs.Kohler-Cadmore went to his half century via 28 deliveries and he and Abel raised a 50 partnership from 31 balls to bring the required rate down below eight an over for the first time. But Surrey refused to lie down, Jordan and Jacks removing Kohler-Cadmore and Abell in quick succession to ask questions of the home side.Casting all doubt aside, Dickson struck an authoritative 20 off 12 balls with two fours in partnership with Gregory, who contributed 12 off seven deliveries in an unbroken partnership of 34.

Celtic are set for a very busy summer in the transfer market.

Kieran Tierney is back, re-joining the club six years after leaving, and supporters cannot wait to see one of their favourite players back in green and white hoops again.

Now, could Brendan Rodgers be about to add further defensive reinforcements?

Celtic targeting a new defender

The Hoops are very active in the market at the moment with a move for Swedish star, Benjamin Nygren, all but confirmed.

So, who’s the Hoops’ next target?

Well, according to a report by Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports, Celtic “are in talks” with J League club Albirex Niigata over the possibility of signing Hayato Inamura.

He describes the 23-year-old as a “left-footed centre-back” who is also capable of playing at left-back.

Inamure came through Japan’s college system, representing Maebashi Ikuei High School and then Toyo University, before joining Albirex Niigata a year ago, making 33 appearances to date for the side currently in the J League relegation zone.

So, could he become the latest Japanese player to call Parkhead home?

How Inamura could replicate Celtic's Japanese heroes

As the table below outlines, Celtic have a rich tradition when it comes to Japanese players, many of whom have enjoyed massive success.

Shunsuke Nakamura

2005-09

159

Kōki Mizuno

2008-09

12

Tomoki Iwata

2022-24

42

Yūki Kobayashi

2023

7

Yosuke Ideguchi

2022

6

Kyōgo Furuhashi

2021-2025

165

Reo Hatate

2022-present

142

Daizen Maeda

2022-present

158

Of course, the vast majority of the Japanese players Celtic have had were signed by Ange Postecoglou, but this tradition goes back to Shunsuke Nakamura in the mid-2000s, who certainly made a huge impact, described by Tom Hancock of Four Four Two Magazine as one of the best free-kick takers of all time.

In the more modern era, few Celtic players of any nationality have been as impressive as Reo Hatate, making 142 appearances in hoops to date, scoring 27 goals and providing 28 assists, winning eight major trophies.

Manager Rodgers described the midfielder as “top class”, adding that he has been “absolutely brilliant” since the boss re-joined the club in 2023.

Meantime, Martin Crawford of Breaking the Lines labelled him the ‘best player in Scotland’, describing Hatate as a ‘complete, elegant talent’.

Signed for just £1.4m, these performances have seen the midfielder’s valuation skyrocket, with Transfermarkt estimating he is worth around £10m, hence why the Celts’ actually rejecting a £10m bid for Hatate from a Ligue 1 club last summer, according to The National.

While no fee is currently known for Inamura, the club would surely hope he could make a similar impact in Glasgow, which would result in a similar exponential increase in value.

Analyst and scout Will Glavin describes Inamura as “tactically intelligent…composed and comfortable building from the back”, praising his defensive discipline and “positional awareness”, concluding that this deal is a “smart, low-risk investment”. That’s certainly true of the deal to bring Hatate to the club all those years ago under Postecoglou. It was low-risk and he’ll undoubtedly pay the club back when he leaves.

Stephen McGowan of the Herald outlines how he will provide competition for Auston Trusty and Liam Scales, seeking to start as the left-sided centre-half, while also able to cover at left-back when Tierney requires a breather.

So, this once again appears to be a sensible signing from Celtic and, even though Inamura is very inexperienced, this does not mean he cannot be the club’s latest Japanese superstar.

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Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 season have now officially been released, as Blues fans everywhere begin to feverishly jot down where and when their beloved team will play all across the 38-game marathon.

Amazingly, Enzo Maresca’s men won’t have to leave the comforts of London behind for their first four top-flight clashes, with Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Fulham, and Brentford all coming in quick succession in August and September, before fierce ties with Manchester United and Liverpool then appear on the stacked calendar.

Before the Premier League excitedly kicks back into gear, however, Chelsea still have a Club World Cup tournament to compete in, alongside the hectic transfer window being in full swing.

The chaotic window is already throwing up lots of tasty transfer rumours involving Maresca’s men, with another high-profile name now being linked to enhance their attacking options even more.

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

Now, as per a report from the Daily Mail Online, Chelsea are reportedly said to be keen admirers of Aston Villa superstar Morgan Rogers this summer.

The report does clarify that Unai Emery’s men aren’t entertaining the prospect of selling their standout performer, but with PSR issues lingering in the air, Villa could well need to sell up, with Rogers arguably their most valuable asset.

After all, it had been previously noted that Rogers could be available for an eye-watering fee around a £100m figure, with Arsenal also keen on the former Middlesbrough midfielder, according to the Mail.

It remains to be seen whether Maresca’s side or Mikel Arteta’s outfit would be willing to fork out such a high amount, but if Chelsea were ultimately successful in this ongoing race for the in-demand 22-year-old, they could well land a perfect partner for a growing Liam Delap to bounce off of.

How Rogers could make Delap even better

Delap is already up and running wearing his new Chelsea blue as opposed to his Ipswich Town colours, with his assist helping the Blues pick up a comfortable 2-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup.

Still, the new £30m striker will be excused for feeling slightly nervous about Premier League action kicking off at Stamford Bridge, having only ever tasted top-flight football on the books of Kieran McKenna’s relegation-threatened minnows.

He will feel less apprehensive about the task ahead of improving his overall game, knowing Rogers has been in the same anxious boat and come out the other side stronger, with the 6-foot-2 attacker having to get up to speed with the Premier League mid-way through the 2023/24 season.

Rogers is definitely at home with the pressures of the top-flight now after firing home an encouraging three goals from 13 games during his debut campaign and then recording a stunning 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season. That led to Jamie Carragher calling the in-demand 22-year-old “unstoppable” during this standout patch of form.

Rogers’ PL numbers (24/25) vs Delap’s (24/25)
Stat	Rogers	Delap
Games played	37	37
Goals scored	8	12
Assists	10	3
Big chances created	16	3
Big chances missed	11	10
Stats by Sofascore

Delap will pray he undergoes a similar transformation to Rogers, with the poacher clearly capable of being a reliable fox-in-the-box presence for a relegation-threatened outfit when collecting 12 league strikes for Ipswich.

But, with a sublime teammate such as the Villa number 27 by his side – who created a bumper 16 big chances last campaign – he could soon soar to even loftier heights.

Alongside being a potentially phenomenal comrade to the ex-Manchester City attacker, Rogers could also slot into the Chelsea XI down the left wing if needed, away from the Blues’ ongoing pursuit of Gittens.

If Chelsea wants to kick on this forthcoming season and be genuine title challengers, adding in faces such as Rogers could be the next impressive move, with a top-flight foe in Villa severely weakened in the process.

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Arsenal’s pre-season is on the horizon, and technical director Andrea Berta is now pushing forward to complete Mikel Arteta’s squad well ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Smart signings have been made in central midfielder Christian Norgaard (pending the completion of his medical) and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who will be expected to play back-up to David Raya between the sticks.

Furthermore, Martin Zubimendi’s arrival will add genuine star quality to the middle of the park, the Real Sociedad maestro coveted by many of Europe’s top outfits in recent years due to his intelligent, deep-lying midfield performances.

However, we’re yet to see Arteta welcome some new forwards to the fold. Heading into the summer market, this would have unanimously have been agreed to be the Gunners’ chief objective.

It hasn’t happened yet, but expect a flurry of movement in the coming weeks.

Arsenal's offensive transfer plans

Arsenal’s centre-forwards shortlist is comprised of four parts: Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak.

The latter’s exorbitant price tag likely puts him out of reach, but the English giants desperately need a new number nine, and it’s likely one of the four will arrive at the Emirates soon.

How Arsenal's striker targets compare in 2024/25.

Sesko and Gyokeres are the frontrunners, with it revealed by David Ornstein on Sunday that the Swede “only wants” Arsenal now that Sporting and the Gunners are locked in advanced talks concerning a move.

However, Arteta is set on signing more than just a new frontman as he looks to bring silverware back to Arsenal next season, five years on from the club’s last triumph.

Chelsea’s Noni Madueke has emerged as a top target for the club. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that contacts between the clubs are set to take place for the versatile winger, with personal terms having seemingly been agreed.

However, there’s another Premier League star on the cards in north London who’s been riding the crest of a wave of late.

Arsenal pushing to sign Premier League star

As per Football Transfers, Arsenal are internally weighing up an official bid for Crystal Palace hero Eberechi Eze, who scored the winning goal as his side defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May.

The Londoners are felt to have taken their curiosity up a notch after cooling their interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, and Eze has a £68m release clause that the Eagles expect to be met.

Kay has revealed that the 26-year-old “wants to join Arsenal”, his close friendship with Bukayo Saka factoring in. Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the England international.

Why Arsenal want Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace have been a mainstay in the Premier League since achieving promotion in 2013. For over a decade, they have been regarded as an entertaining and stable club, but Eze turned them into something greater with his driven finish against City at Wembley.

Five years earlier, he joined from the Championship’s Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m. The maverick’s rise has been an incredible thing, having now bloomed into the “superstar” that analyst Ben Mattinson had crowned him as over a year ago.

An electric attacking midfielder with a tendency to drift over to the left, Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s own version of Florian Wirtz, with the German sensation joining Liverpool in a British-record £116m deal this summer.

Wirtz’s remarkable blend of vision, intelligence and technical quality make him a one-of-a-kind playmaker, and while he’s not a carbon copy, Eze has the skill set to mirror that of the Premier League champions’ new talisman.

The data certainly suggests the Three Lions man could bring his own firebrand style to the Emirates. As per FBref, Eze ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the 2024/25 English top-flight season for shots taken, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for ball recoveries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

In this way, we can observe that the Palace star, ever-improving, could be a “magician” – as he has been dubbed by pundit Micah Richards – of similar proportions for Arteta’s title-chasing side.

24/25

43 (40)

14

11

23/24

31 (26)

11

6

22/23

40 (30)

10

4

21/22

19 (7)

1

1

20/21

36 (31)

3

6

In a similar vein, Wirtz, 22, has been described as a “genius” in the past by his former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who had drawn notice to his Mesut Ozil-esque qualities.

But it’s not just the Liverpool star’s ability on the ball, his faculty for a fleet-footed surge or a thunderous strike, but his physicality too.

Luckily, Eze would bring similar athletic abilities to Arteta’s door, having averaged 4.8 successful duels, 1.1 tackles and four ball recoveries per Premier League match last term, as per Sofascore.

Given the existing options in Arsenal’s first team, it feels like Eze could be a game-changer, someone arriving with fresh ideas and a different style of quality to open up a dimension that was lacking last term.

It’s easy to blame the club’s issues across the 2024/25 campaign on the lack of a focal frontman, but the £100k-per-week Palace star could have made a world of difference too.

There’s an early sense that the Premier League title, sure to be tighter next year, will be determined, or at least influenced, by moments of magic, players of unique ability who can drive their side toward an extra three points here or a rousing draw at the most ominous enemy ground there.

In any case, Arsenal fans have plenty to look forward to next season. If Berta can oversee the signing of Eze along with a first-rate central striker and maybe another left winger too, there’s every chance Arteta could lead the Gunners to glory.

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يستعد منتخب مصر، لخوض مواجهة قوية وهامة ضمن مشواره الإفريقي بـ بتصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026، أمام نظيره بوركينا فاسو غدًا الثلاثاء.

وتأتي مباراة مصر وبوركينا فاسو، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثامنة للمجموعة الأولى من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس العالم.

وكان منتخب مصر قد نجح في تحقيق فوز مستحق على إثيوبيا بهدفين دون رد في الجولة السابقة، ليقترب خطوة كبيرة نحو حجز مقعده في نهائيات كأس العالم.

طالع أيضاً.. كاف يُعلن حكم مباراة مصر وبوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم

ومن المقرر أن تقام المباراة مساء غد الثلاثاء 9 سبتمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

ويخوض الفراعنة تلك المباراة راغبين في الفوز بالثلاث نقاط من أجل حسم التأهل بشكل رسمي إلى نهائيات كأس العالم للمرة الرابعة في تاريخه، دون الانتظار لمواجهتي الجولتين التاسعة والعاشرة.

ويخوض منتحب مصر اللقاء متصدراً ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 19 نقطة، بعد خوض 7 مواجهات، فاز في 6 وتعادل في لقاء.

وتضم المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، منتخبات مصر، بوركينا فاسو، غينيا بيساو، جيبوتي، إثيوبيا وسيراليون.

ويقود المباراة جيسي نكونكو كحكم ساحة، ويعاونه ستيفن دانيك موتاسي كحكم مساعد أول، مالوندي تشاني يانيس حكم مساعد ثاني، تشيمالا كابونجو كحكم رابع.

Yorkshire fall narrowly short in chase of 215 on high-scoring night at Headingley

ECB Reporters Network05-Jul-2024Sam Hain’s stunning 98 off 48 balls set Birmingham Bears on their way to a fifth straight win in the Vitality Blast as they beat Yorkshire in a high-scoring thriller by four runs to take a significant step towards the quarter-finals.Hain crashed eight sixes in an innings more power than poise on an excellent Headingley surface as the Bears amassed 214 for 7.The North Group leaders then wrapped up a seventh win in nine matches, but not without drama. Dawid Malan opened with an excellent 54 and Donovan Ferreira blasted 66 off 32 balls with seven sixes. But George Garton brilliantly defended 11 off the last over and six off the last ball, the Vikings finishing on 210 for 5.Yorkshire lost their fifth match in nine and will see this as a missed opportunity given they needed 18 off the last two overs.Meanwhile, Hain’s fourth fifty of the ongoing campaign took him to the top of the Blast runs chart on 395.Bears captain and opener Alex Davies, who elected to bat, also contributed a brisk 43, though he later left the field with a finger injury sustained whilst keeping wicket.Hain was more powerful than he is known for and hit the majority of his sixes to the leg-side, though not exclusively to the short side over towards the Western Terrace. He left Yorkshire faced with what would have been a club record chase in this format.Vikings, who now have significant work to do for a top-four finish, made the perfect start as left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty bowled Ed Barnard with the fixture’s first ball.Birmingham’s innings kicked into life in the fourth over as Davies took the lion’s share of 24 off Matthew Revis. And after Davies was trapped lbw by a Jordan Thompson yorker – 79 for 3 in the eighth over – Hain, having come in at No. 4, took on the lead role in stunning fashion.Hain hit three leg-side sixes off seam in reaching his fifty off 34 balls on a true pitch with a fast outfield. By that stage, Bears were 141 for 4 in the 15th over.Hain looked nailed on for a second career T20 century as he went into the final over on 98. But he didn’t face another ball.In fact, he watched New Zealander Zak Foulkes whip his first ball as a Bear for six off Conor McKerr over fine leg and over the imposing Howard Stand into the neighbouring rugby ground.Seam bowling allrounder Foulkes continued his excellent start to his short-term overseas spell with the Bears when he had Adam Lyth caught behind with his third ball – 18 for 1 in the second. Davies took the catch but immediately left the field having taken a blow moments before.But, despite the wicket, Yorkshire started nicely thanks to classy Malan and inventive James Wharton. They shared 62 in six overs for the second wicket, the latter reverse sweeping a six off Dan Mousley’s spin in a rapid 29.Like Birmingham had been, Yorkshire were 98 for 3 after 10 overs, with left-arm spinner Danny Briggs having removed Wharton caught at deep midwicket and George Hill bowled.With those dismissals, Vikings’ task was getting tougher. Not that Malan agreed. He lofted Briggs over long-on for six and reached his second fifty of 2024 off 38 balls.He found a partner in ferocious South African Ferreira, and they shared 57 inside six overs for the third wicket before Malan slapped a Briggs full toss to deep midwicket – 155 for 4 in the 16th.But Yorkshire had plenty of batting left, not least Ferreira, who hit four sixes in a five-ball period off Jake Lintott’s spin and Foulkes’ seam. He reached his maiden county fifty off 26 balls.Yorkshire needed 18 off the last two overs, but Ferreira was caught at long-off against Mousley at the start of the penultimate – ultimately the key moment, leaving Vikings 197 for 5. Left-arm quick Garton then expertly closed things out, with Shan Masood failing to hit the final ball for six.

Neither player was able to take a full part in the first T20I between India and South Africa in Chennai on Friday

Srinidhi Ramanujam05-Jul-2024

Richa Ghosh took a blow to her face after dropping Tazmin Brits•BCCI

Richa Ghosh suffered a concussion on the field during the first T20I between India and South Africa in Chennai on Friday. The 20-year-old wicketkeeper was subsequently ruled out of the game with batter S Sajana subbing in to take her place from the chase onwards.Ghosh, who was playing her 50th T20I, had symptoms of “neck pain and dizziness” as per a BCCI statement after attempting a catch in the 16th over of the first innings. Tazmin Brits heaved a length ball from Pooja Vastrakar across the line and got a top edge. Ghosh ran forward, put in a big dive and reached out with both hands but the ball rebounded off her gloves and into her face. Ghosh immediately sought the help of India physio and went off the field.Initially, the uncapped Uma Chetry came on as substitute and kept wicket, but then at the change of innings Sajana was announced as the official concussion substitute. She would’ve been allowed to bat had there been the need but the match ended before that with South Africa securing a 12-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Brits also suffered an injury, a contusion in the right lower leg and had to be stretchered off the field in the second innings. It seemed like a cramp initially when she went off the field after the fifth over. This was after the South Africa opener spent 92 minutes during the first innings top-scoring for her side with a 56-ball 81 that helped the visitors to 189 for 4. Masabata Klaas replaced Brits in the field.

Manchester United are now in talks to sign an “incredible” striker who Ruben Amorim thinks is a perfect fit, according to a report.

Man Utd's striker pursuit takes new twist

Man United have set out to sign a new striker this summer, with Viktor Gyokeres being identified as a potential target, having recently made calls in an attempt to lure the Sweden international to Old Trafford.

The 27-year-old is determined to leave Sporting this summer, even threatening to speak to the media himself if the Portuguese club continue to stand in his way.

The Sporting star is worried that the £68m asking price could deter potential suitors from making a move, with the forward dreaming of making a move to Arsenal, and there has now been a new update on his future.

According to a report from The Mirror, United have now accepted defeat in the race for Gyokeres, as they are convinced he would rather sign for Mikel Arteta’s side, meaning they have now moved on to alternative targets.

The Red Devils are now stepping up their interest in Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, having held tentative talks over a deal for the England international, with Amorim of the belief he would be the ideal player to lead the line.

A deal will not be cheap, however, with Villa set to hold out for a fee of £60m, which Man United are unwilling to pay, considering he is now 29-years-old, which means there is a lack of re-sale value.

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There had been a willingness to use Marcus Rashford in a swap deal, but Unai Emery’s side are no longer interested in signing their former loanee.

Watkins could be "incredible" Gyokeres alternative

Of course, Amorim knows all about Gyokeres from their time working together at Sporting, and his goal record last season speaks for itself, but there are plenty of signs that Watkins could be a solid alternative.

Unlike Gyokeres, the Torquay-born forward has already proven himself over a number of years in the Premier League, picking up 75 goals and 36 assists in 184 appearances in the competition.

The Englishman also has experience at the highest level, most notably scoring a dramatic late winner to send the Three Lions to the Euro 2024 final.

Man United have made the mistake of signing players without Premier League experience in the past, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to adapt to life in England, while Watkins has already proven himself to be a reliable source of goals.

Manchester United haven’t been a club shy to spend money in the transfer window over recent years, with the hierarchy handing various managers the funds to transform the side.

The Red Devils have spent around £800m on new additions since 2020, many of which have struggled to make an impact, leading to yet more funds being dropped in this window.

Matheus Cunha is the first player to move to Old Trafford this summer, with Ruben Amorim needing key additions if he is to lead the club to glory in the years ahead.

The Brazilian cost a staggering £62.5m, but he will no doubt be the first of multiple signings made in an attempt to avoid a 15th-placed Premier League finish once again in 2025/26.

All areas of the pitch will need to be subject to investment given the lack of depth and quality currently at the manager’s disposal, which could see another huge amount of money spent between now and September 1st.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Bryan Mbeumo has been a name on all supporters’ lips over the last couple of weeks, but it appears as though he will finally be a United player after the Red Devils and Brentford moved closer to an agreement.

He’s not the only player who could complete a move to the Theatre of Dreams, after talks were held with Juventus over a potential swap deal that would see Dušan Vlahović move to Manchester, with Jadon Sancho moving in the opposite direction.

However, a new name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with PSG’s talented teenage midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery now a target for Amorim’s side, according to TEAMtalk.

They claim that the Red Devils have made an enquiry to sign the 19-year-old Champions League winner, who’s already racked up 125 appearances for the Parisians despite his tender age.

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It also states that Luis Enrique’s side have slapped a £85m price tag on his shoulders to prevent any interest and won’t be entertaining any offers for the French star unless a bid of that amount is submitted.

Why United’s £85m target would be Amorim’s own Bellingham

Jude Bellingham has been one of Europe’s leading talents in recent seasons, subsequently taking his career to the next level after joining Real Madrid back in 2023.

The 21-year-old has already racked up 96 appearances for the Spanish giants, scoring 38 times from his midfield role, carrying a huge threat at both ends of the pitch.

However, his career could’ve played out very differently, with United interested in signing the Englishman twice already in his career, once at Birmingham City and the other at Borussia Dortmund.

They were never able to convince the star to move on either occasion, leaving the side without that young, exciting prospect they’ve been craving in the middle of the park.

That could all be about to change in the coming months, with a move for Zaire-Emery this window, with the PSG star labelled as a similar player to Bellingham by FBref.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, the Frenchman has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas, subsequently handing Amorim his own version of the Madrid star should he move this window.

Zaire-Emery, who’s been described as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by his agent Jorge Mendes, has registered a higher pass completion rate this season, along with more passes into the final third per 90 – highlighting the creative ability he possesses at his tender age.

How Zaire-Emery compares to Bellingham in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Zaire-Emery	Bellingham
Games played	29	28
Goals & assists	4	25
Pass accuracy	93%	88%
Passes into final third	5.4	5.3
% of tackles won	51%	33%
Interceptions made	1.1	0.8
Take-ons completed	54%	51%
Recoveries made	5.9	4.5
Stats via FBref

He’s also dominated without the ball, winning more of the tackles he’s entered in 2024/25, whilst completing a higher tally of interceptions per 90 – handing Amorim the perfect box-to-box option he’s been hunting for.

Whilst he’s still a teenager making his name in the game, the youngster has still managed to complete more take-ons this campaign, having the composure and skill to effortlessly glide past opponents should he move to Old Trafford.

£85m would be a mammoth sum to drop on such a young talent, but he’s already showcased that he’s capable of developing into an elite talent should he continue on his current trajectory.

If he could get to Bellingham’s levels in the years to come, it would be a phenomenal piece of business and one that could catapult United one step closer to their former glory.

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