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After a fantastic end to a worrying overall campaign for Manchester United, winning the FA Cup and therefore securing Europa League football, the Red Devils will now be looking to strengthen in areas ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

One of the shining lights of the season for Erik ten Hag's side was 19-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who made 33 senior appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists in the 2023/24 campaign.

The youngster has even gone on to earn a start at EURO 2024 for Gareth Southgate's England side, impressing on the international stage.

The task is now for Manchester United to find the perfect pairing for Mainoo, to unlock his full potential and allow him to flourish even further, with PSG's Manuel Ugarte one of the names being mentioned.

Manchester United transfer news

According to reports from le10sport, PSG do not wish to sell Ugarte this summer, and Manchester United could turn their attention to Youssouf Fofana of AS Monaco as a result.

Fofana is believed to be a much more financially affordable option than Ugarte, for a player of a similar profile. According to Transfermarkt, Fofana is valued at €30m (£25m).

Bringing a player like Fofana in on a cheaper deal than Ugarte would make better sense financially for the club, whilst also solving a position of need with the right profile.

How Fofana compares to Ugarte

First, let's compare their numbers for their respective sides, both competing in Ligue 1. Fofana made 35 appearances in all competitions for Monaco last campaign, scoring four goals, and providing four assists.

Ugarte made 37 appearances in all competitions for PSG, scoring zero goals, but providing three assists. However, Fofana did also play 500+ minutes more than Ugarte, despite his two fewer appearances.

But these players should not be judged on their G/A output for their teams, as their primary job is to protect the defence and provide a platform for the other midfielders to excel.

Ugarte excels as a box-to-box ball winner, and this is amplified by his defensive action metrics. The Uruguayan midfielder makes 4.11 tackles per 90, ranking him in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for tackles per game. Fofana, on the other hand, only makes 2.04 tackles per 90, only ranking him in the top 48% of midfielders for tackles.

But the "monster" profile of Fofana – as he was described by analyst Ben Mattinson – gives you a bit of everything in that defensive midfield position. The 6 foot 1 Frenchman is all action, making 1.23 interceptions, 1.17 blocks, 1.03 clearances and 0.57 aerials won per 90, showing his impact on the defensive end.

But he is also one of the most progressive passers in Europe, making 8.31 progressive passes per 90, ranking him in the top 5% of midfielders for that statistic. Ugarte only makes 3.91 of these passes in comparison.

Whilst Ugarte excels as one of the best ball-winning midfielders in the world, Fofana has that same capability in defensive duels due to his frame and ability to cover ground. But what he also offers is that top level of ball progression via both passing and carrying of the ball.

Having a player who can cover for Mainoo, to allow him to affect the game higher up the pitch, but also dictate from deep to allow the teenager to pick up the ball more in advanced receiving zones, could be a recipe for success in Manchester United's midfield.

Dan Ashworth start date at Man Utd revealed as Ratcliffe reaches agreement

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sealed a massive addition.

3 ByHenry Jackson Jul 1, 2024

German media have brutally mocked England for appointing ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel as their new national team boss.

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Tuchel takes over as England bossFirst German to take on the roleThree Lions blasted for appointment by German mediaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Thomas Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract as England manager and will take charge of the team at the start of 2025. The decision has already made plenty of waves, as England appoint a German coach for the first time. There has been criticism of the decision from fans on social media, while former West Ham boss Harry Redknapp has claimed the Three Lions should have looked for an English manager. Even former striker Gary Lineker has claimed Tuchel was not his choice to succeed Gareth Southgate.

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England's move for Tuchel has not gone unnoticed in the 51-year-old's homeland either. The editor of German newspaper Bild, Matthias Brugelmann, has mocked the appointment and claims England's long search for a trophy will not end anytime soon.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Brugelmann wrote: "Let's talk about Thomas Tuchel and the English. The motherland of football is getting a German dad. Crazy! Since 1966 – since 1966!!!! – the proud football nation has been waiting for a title (and sorry, even the World Cup victory was only possible because the referee made a mistake on the Wembley goal). So it will soon be 60 years without a title. In that time we have become world champions three times and European champions three times. Oops. The desperation on the island must be enormous if they admit that only a German can help now. What a tribute to Tuchel and German football that the English are overcoming their fears despite the huge rivalry."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND

England have famously failed to win a trophy since lifting the World Cup in 1966. Under previous manager Southgate, the team did reach the last four of World Cup 2018 and the finals of both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. The hope will now be that Tuchel can take a talented squad one step further and finally deliver some glory for the Three Lions.

Shakib Al Hasan returns to preliminary Test and ODI squads after serving his one-year ban

Mohammad Isam04-Jan-2021Bangladesh’s selectors picked a 24-man preliminary squad for the ODI series against West Indies later this month, and the one player they didn’t pick has become the main talking point: Mashrafe Mortaza, the country’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs and longest-serving captain. This is the first time Mortaza has been dropped from the ODI squad since making his debut in November 2001, though he has missed a lot of cricket over the years because of injuries.One high-profile name that did make it, into both the preliminary Test and ODI squads announced on Monday, was Shakib Al Hasan, back in the national reckoning after his one-year ban for not reporting a corrupt approach. Shakib was Bangladesh’s Test and T20I captain before his ban, but now returns as an ordinary member of the side.Those selected will, from next week, take part in a training camp and play two practice matches on January 14 and 16, before the squad is trimmed closer to the ODI series that begins on January 20. This is going to be Bangladesh’s first international series since the Covid-19 pandemic stopped cricket in the country in mid-March. There have been two domestic tournaments but a number of home series and away tours have been postponed. Last month, West Indies agreed to this shortened tour.Bangladesh’s preliminary squads

ODIs: Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Al-Amin Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shoriful Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, Liton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Nasum Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Yasir Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Naim, Rubel Hossain
Tests: Momimul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Tamim Iqbal, Khaled Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain

The decision on 37-year-old Mortaza has come at a significant time as the Bangladesh team builds towards the 2023 ODI World Cup. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said the decision on Mortaza was a collective one, taken by the selectors and the team management.”We respect him, he has done a lot for the country,” Abedin said. “I have spoken to him in detail, so there’s not going to be any misunderstanding. It was a tough decision but we have to consider the reality, and keep looking forward. We took a combined decision after long discussions with team management, and considering everything [decided to] to put off Mashrafe. We discussed everything. We didn’t leave anything out. Everyone participated in the discussion including the fitness trainer and bowling coach. For the player who replaces him, it will be a fresh start. We have to expose our young players.”Abedin also said that the decision on whether to retire or play on lay with Mortaza. “Whether he continues playing or not, is entirely up to him. We cannot really say anything about what his performance is going to be.”Speculation over Mortaza retiring has been a long-running affair, with the topic first cropping up during the 2019 World Cup. But Mortaza has been adamant about continuing to make himself available in ODIs, even though he resigned from captaincy last February following Bangladesh’s 3-0 ODI series win against Zimbabwe, their last international series before the pandemic-forced lockdown.Related

Mashrafe Mortaza unfazed by ODI snub: 'Everything has an end'

Life in the time of Mashrafe Mortaza, by Tamim and Mahmudullah

Mortaza left 'embarrassed' by BCB plan to 'remove' him

As recently as in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup last month, Mortaza took a five-wicket haul after joining Gemcon Khulna belatedly in the tournament. But there have been growing calls from within the BCB and the team management for him to retire from international cricket. Bowling coach Ottis Gibson even said in a interview that Mortaza was no longer in head coach Russell Domingo’s plans for the ODI side.Shakib Al Hasan returned to competitive cricket at the Bangabandhu T20 Cup•Getty Images”I think if Russell is now trying to build a team for the future, then I don’t know what part Mashrafe will have to play in that. Perhaps now is his time, with all that’s going on in the world, to move on,” Gibson had said. “He can find other ways to pass on his vast knowledge and experience to the young guys. I don’t think he has to be on the field to be able to pass on what he has learned over his career. He needs to find other ways to pass on that message.”More recently, BCB president Nazmul Hassan held a similar view when asked about Mortaza’s potential selection for the West Indies series.”If his fitness is taken into consideration, he is unlikely to be selected,” Hassan told the Dhaka-based Ekattor TV last week. “But he loves taking on challenges. Whether he will play or retire, only he can decide. I haven’t had any discussions with him about it. I think he is having indecision, which is a surprise because as long as he was the captain, his decision-making was clean and clear.”Even if he is in the squad, I think it will be difficult for him to be in the playing XI. We are building towards the future, so don’t really know how long we will get his service. There’s no guarantee that if he get him in one series, whether we will get him in the next one. We also have to consider who we are going to drop to make room for Mashrafe, so these are not easy decisions.”Abedin said that the selectors had decided to take a look at a larger pool of players for the ODIs with the 2023 World Cup very much in mind. “We are focused on the 2023 World Cup. We have a lot of ODIs from this year, in all formats, which is why we made a bigger pool.”The selectors have called up Shoriful Islam and Parvez Hossain Emon in the preliminary ODI squad, following performances in last year’s Under-19 World Cup and recent domestic games. There were no such rookies in the 20-man Test group, which instead focused on tried-and-tested first-class performers.

Football icon Sergio Ramos is mulling over an offer from Boca Juniors following his departure from Sevilla.

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Ramos left Sevilla in the summerHas several offers on the tableTempted by move to ArgentinaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ramos is currently enjoying a short break from football after running out his contract with Sevilla. The Spanish defender returned to the club where he made his breakthrough and enjoyed a reunion in La Liga, despite spending his best years at Real Madrid. Now, he is weighing up his options as he prepares to sign what could be his last professional contract. According to reports, the 38-year-old is considering a move to Boca Juniors in Argentina.

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Plenty of speculation has been up in the air about where Ramos might go next. The MLS, Saudi Pro League and Serie A have all been mentioned, but the defender has not given any indication as to where he would prefer to go. He currently remains in Spain, specifically his residence in Madrid, where he remains in top shape, actively posting his workouts on social media. All of this suggests a return to football is imminent for Ramos.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ramos once joked that he would like to play for Boca Juniors in an interview, but added he could not go as he would be sent off in every match. The season in Argentina runs until mid-December, meaning he could arrive ready for the new season in February if he chose to make the switch to Argentina.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RAMOS?

So what is next for Ramos? That is anyone's guess. Wherever he does end up will be acquiring a seriously talented defender, even at his age. He would bring experience and leadership to any club, making him an attractive proposition for most clubs around the globe.

Aston Villa have been busy in the transfer window so far, but there is still plenty of work to be done if they aim to replicate the highs of last season.

Unai Emery’s side will take part in the Champions League next season, which means the squad will have to be strengthened over the coming weeks.

The likes of Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen and Lewis Dobbin add some depth to the squad, but could Emery be eyeing another move?

Aston Villa eye move for Saudi Arabian defender

According to TEAMtalk, Villa are one of the teams currently in the race to sign Saud Abdulhamid this summer.

Talks have yet to start between the clubs but they have approached the player's entourage. Interest is high and with the player in the final year of his contract at Al Hilal, now could be the perfect chance to strike in order to sign the defender at a reasonable price.

Nottingham Forest are also showing interest, while AS Roma are currently looking for a new right-back and have earmarked the Saudi gem.

With Matty Cash the only senior recognised right-sided defender, it is imperative Emery adds some quality to this area of the pitch.

How Saud Abdulhamid could be perfect for Watkins

The 24-year-old enjoyed a wonderful 2023/24 campaign for Al Hilal, providing a consistent attacking threat from right-back throughout the season.

Across 51 matches in all competitions, Abdulhamid scored four goals and registered nine assists, proving he enjoyed bursting forward as often as possible during games.

Goals

3

Assists

4

Key passes per game

1.8

Big chances created

4

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

Accurate crosses per game

1.6

Total duels won per game

4.1

In the Saudi Pro League alone, the defender also created four big chances, averaged 1.8 key passes and delivered 1.6 accurate crosses per game – a success rate of 36% – across the entire season.

Compare these stats with Cash and it is clear who looks like the more reliable option going forward. The English-born Poland international may have created six big chances, yet he only averaged 0.6 key passes per game while delivering just 0.3 accurate crosses per match – a 23% success rate – hardly wonderful figures.

This clearly demonstrates that the 5 foot 7 star would be an exciting signing this summer as could be ideal for England star Ollie Watkins.

The striker – who is fresh off the back of a semi-final goal at Euro 2024 – scored 27 goals last season, but if Emery added the attacking prowess of Abdulhamid to his starting XI, this tally could certainly increase during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Saudi Arabian defender is clearly capable of providing a dangerous threat in the final third, not only in terms of grabbing assists but by delivering accurate crosses into the opposition penalty area, which Watkins could feed on next term.

French football writer Killian claimed that Abdulhamid was “going to have a titanic 2023” last year and the defender certainly delivered on the big stage as his club won a league and cup double during 2023/24.

If Emery could secure his signature for a bargain fee, then it might be one of his finer pieces of transfer business this summer.

Aston Villa must cash in on deadly star who’s worth more than Onana

He’s attracting attention from some opulent suitors.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2024

It's been an awfully quiet transfer window from Arsenal so far this summer, but with just over a month remaining, it could be about to change.

For example, Ajax's highly rated young goalkeeper Tommy Setford joined over the weekend, Riccardo Calafiori's move from Bologna looks to be edging ever closer, and a move for Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino is still a distinct possibility.

However, based on recent reports, Edu Gaspar and Co might have found the perfect alternative to the Spaniard in a player who has shades of former Gunners great Patrick Vieira about him.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides keen on landing French international Adrien Rabiot this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report revealed that the player's representatives are in talks with Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United, with the latter currently leading the way.

The good news for the North Londoners is that with the 29-year-old's Juventus contract expiring last month, they won't need to pay a transfer fee to secure his services. The bad news is that he's after an annual wage between €10m and €15m, which converts to between £8m and £13m.

It could be challenging to get ahead of United, but given Rabiot's ability and experience, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to N5 this summer, as he could be the perfect alternative to Merino, and his similarities to Vieira are certainly a nice bonus.

How Rabiot compares to Merino and Vieira

Now, before we compare Rabiot to Merino, let's examine how he mirrors former Arsenal great Vieira, who left the club with three league titles, four FA Cups, and 405 appearances to his name.

So, the first and most obvious similarity is that, like the former Gunners star, the 29-year-old is a prominent French international who operates best at the heart of midfield, where he can demonstrate his incredible ability on and off the ball.

For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Saint-Maurice-born star sits in the top 11% of midfielders for aerial duels won and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.

This demonstrates that, like the World Cup winner, the "monster" midfielder, as football writer Robin Bairner dubbed him, uses his impressive physicality to win the ball off opponents before driving through the middle of the park to help at the sharp end of the pitch.

Speaking of their physicality, while the former Paris Saint-Germain ace isn't quite as tall as the 6 foot 4 retired superstar, he's still an imposing midfielder thanks to his 6 foot 2 frame, which would undoubtedly come in handy in the Premier League.

So, with his similarities to the Invincibles legend clear to see, how does the "extraordinary" dynamo, as described by French icon David Trezeguet, compare to Merino?

Well, when we look at their underlying numbers, it becomes clear that both midfielders are fantastic players and would bring a great deal to Mikel Arteta's side, but unsurprisingly, the Frenchman just edges things.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.25

0.19

Progressive Carries

2.44

0.94

Progressive Passes

4.07

5.91

Shots

1.29

1.09

Shots on Target

0.54

0.40

Passing Accuracy

82.2%

76.2%

Key Passes

0.88

0.72

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.34

0.11

Shot-Creating Actions

2.17

2.36

Tackles

1.97

2.79

Blocks

0.88

1.30

Interceptions

0.85

0.58

Errors Leading to a Shot

0.00

0.11

Successful Take-Ons

0.95

0.87

Miscontrols

1.76

2.21

Dispossessed

0.64

1.52

Ball Recoveries

5.08

7.14

For example, he comes out ahead in more relevant metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, carries into the penalty area, key passes and passing accuracy, interceptions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Moreover, he is dispossessed less often, makes fewer errors leading to a shot, and miscontrols the ball less, all per 90.

Arsenal hit gold on sensational star who's worth way more than Pedro Neto

The immense talent could become a legend at the club.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 21, 2024

Ultimately, even with a higher-than-average salary, signing Rabiot seems like a great idea, as he offers more than Merino, and the comparisons to Vieira also work in his favour.

Los Blancos' season is already going down the pan following humiliations in La Liga and the Champions League, and the manager is usually the fall guy

When you're Real Madrid, you only have one of two moods: 'simply the best', or 'total crisis'. After taking their place as 15-time champions of Europe in June, they have drastically drifted into the flames of calamity.

The Spanish giants are already nine points off the pace set by early leaders Barcelona in La Liga – a 4-0 loss at home to their Clasico rivals didn't exactly do them the world of good – and currently sit in the bottom half of the Champions League's new table, behind the likes of Brest, Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb, after losing 3-1 at home to AC Milan on Tuesday.

Nearly every starter at Santiago Bernabeu has faced the brunt of the local media, been scapegoated and dug out for either a lack of quality or commitment to the cause. Now, manager Carlo Ancelotti is starting to feel the heat.

The Italian has won two Champions Leagues since his return to Madrid in 2021 and is heading for GOAT conversations for the next few generations, yet even he is not without fault. There are legitimate questions to put at Ancelotti's door.

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Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportShort shelf life

Outside of an eight-year spell in charge of Milan in the 2000s, Ancelotti has largely operated as a short-term manager, whether by design or accident. In seven of his 11 managerial roles, he lasted just two years, and has tended to bounce around from one super-club to the next.

Reaching a fourth season in charge of this Madrid side makes this Ancelotti's longest reign in charge of any club other than the Rossoneri. Even after winning the 2013-14 Champions League in his first stint with Los Blancos, he was cast aside a year later when they only narrowly failed to meet expectation. There was no good grace afforded, no sentiment to fall back on.

History tells us that Ancelotti likely won't have much left in the tank to activate his proverbial second wind, while Madrid are typically not a club who are patient with their managers. The dressing room wouldn't turn on him per se, but it's a results business for Madrid more than any other club and they will act swiftly if things don't pick back up again.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Badly organised'

Ancelotti, at least, is not blind to Madrid's plight. He isn't rocking up to press conferences filled with misplaced bravado and trying to convince the masses that everything is hunky dory, that his side have actually been really, really, unlucky like the last days of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

Speaking after their most recent loss to Milan, Ancelotti said: "I don't think it's unfair that they question me, I think it's normal. When the team doesn't perform, the coach has the responsibility. We don't defend well. We're badly organised. Yes, we should be worried… This is not an individual problem."

Performances have been ropey all season long, and if anything, Madrid are a tad fortunate to not be in an even worse position. Late goals and inexplicable collapses from opponents (looking at , Borussia Dortmund) have papered over the cracks of a team that has lost its way and diminishing its own sparkle.

If Ancelotti isn't even bringing the vibes to the table, then he will quickly grow redundant in this new age of the club. It's not only the results that need improving upon.

Getty Images SportDoomed to fail?

You know those old Madrid teams featuring the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Michael Owen, Raul and so many more? They didn't win as many trophies as you'd believe.

After success in the 2001-02 Champions League, Los Blancos won only a single domestic or European title over the next five years. Champions League club were routinely dumped out in the last 16 and fell way behind Barcelona on home soil.

Florentino Perez, for as much as he is a sporting and marketing genius today, struggled to build a balanced enough team to suit his superstars. They would still combine for moments of brilliance and pictures of these legends together are fawned over to this day, but they were not the best Madrid teams of this century. Sounds all too familiar a tale, right?

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Getty Images SportUnderperforming superstars

When so many key players are failing to hit their usual levels, the blame tends to be on the manager. Ancelotti's extra problem is that nothing – from tactics to personnel to injuries – seems to be working in his favour.

Kylian Mbappe has been the centre of attention since his free summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. A return of eight goals and two assists in 15 matches across all competitions isn't awful, though if he has ambitions of winning the Ballon d'Or and continuing Madrid's rich history of winning the biggest honours, then that's not enough. That's before you even begin to question his negative impact on the team's chemistry and his unsuitability as a lone striker.

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham, fresh from scoring 23 in his first season at the Bernabeu, is without a goal through 12 games this term. But again, he's an example of an out-of-form player who's struggling regardless of what the stats are saying. Goals are drying up across the team even beyond the main attractions.

The retirement of Toni Kroos has also proven difficult for Madrid to navigate. It's abundantly obvious that Aurelien Tchouameni is not ready to control a midfield alone, and Ancelotti overlooking his France team-mate Eduardo Camavinga is a story gathering momentum in the European press.

Last year, CSA made public a decision to give preference to consultants of colour as part of their transformation drive, effectively ruling Kallis out of roles within the structures

Firdose Moonda14-Jan-2021South Africa will look to re-engage Jacques Kallis in a batting consultancy role as early as next month, ahead of their three-Test series against Australia, after Cricket South Africa’s affirmative action hiring policy was put in abeyance by the interim board.Last year, CSA made public a decision to give preference to consultants of colour as part of their transformation drive, effectively ruling Kallis (and others such as Paul Harris) out of part-time roles within the structures. Kallis, who worked as a batting consultant for the South African men’s team in the 2019-20 summer, has since signed a short-term deal with England but said he was “sad” not to be working with his home country. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-in-sri-lanka-2020-21-jacques-kallis-sad-to-be-surplus-to-sa-requirements-as-england-coaching-stint-begins-1247716 That could change as soon as he returns from England’s tour to Sri Lanka, with coach Mark Boucher suggesting Kallis should be used for the Australia series.Although no one from Cricket South Africa has communicated with head coach Mark Boucher about their employment policy, he “picked it up from the media,” that white consultants can be used, and hopes to entice Kallis to become involved as soon as possible. “Now that the rules have been changed a bit, he is someone we would like to get back into a consultancy role,” Mark Boucher, South Africa’s coach said. “I haven’t had any major conversations with Jacques because he is in Sri Lanka now but, in the next short period of time, if we can get him involved somewhere soon, maybe against Australia, we must.”

“A lot of the media have been saying that Jacques is my mate and it’s a buddy selection. Yes, he is a mate of mine but Jacques is also a very good cricketer with a lot of knowledge. Why wouldn’t we want him in our set-up?”Mark Boucher

The exact dates and venues of the Australia series are yet to be confirmed but indications are that the three Tests will be played between Johannesburg and Centurion, both venues known for spicy surfaces. Though South Africa’s batsmen fared well over the festive period against a depleted Sri Lankan side, they have endured three summers of lean scores and someone like Kallis is seen as central to helping them improve.”Jacques was working with guys on an individual basis. He is a massive loss, the reason being that a lot of our batters were working with him. Even during the off season, he was having chats over Zoom. He had a session with Temba Bavuma here in Cape Town. Temba speaks very highly of him. There’s a lot of knowledge that Jacques can pass on, to not only Temba but other batters as well,” Boucher said.”The batting knowledge that he has got, along with a couple of other guys in this country, needs to be utilised. The start was there, and then it was taken away from the players. Unfortunately, my hands are tied behind my back. Sometimes you get messages passed down to say this guy can’t be selected to fulfil a role that you want him involved in.”Kallis’ stint with South Africa ended after last summer’s England series, several months before the affirmative action policy was put in place. During Kallis’ time with the team, the South African set-up faced criticism for having several white men in senior position (then acting CEO Jacques Faul, director of cricket Graeme Smith, Boucher and Kallis) and for appearing to favour a particular clique, an accusation which has been denied. “A lot of the media have been saying that Jacques is my mate and it’s a buddy selection. Yes, he is a mate of mine but Jacques is also a very good cricketer with a lot of knowledge. Why wouldn’t we want him in our set-up?” Boucher asked.The answer lay in the former board’s determination to make cricket more representative as quickly as possible. In addition to their stance on consultants, the former board also proposed increased transformation targets for the national team which have since been suspended. They did not, however, apply the same policy to full-time employees and in fact hired both Dillon du Preez (assistant coach to the national women’s team) and Neil McKenzie (batting lead), who are both white over the winter.McKenzie’s job is not limited to the national men’s team and involves overseeing batting at all levels of South African cricket – the national men’s, women’s, under-19 and high-performance. As such, he will not travel with the national men’s team to Pakistan, meaning they do not have a specifically appointed batting coach. It is not known whether Kallis was approached for the same role.Instead, Kallis has been courted by England but confirmed he did not apply for the elite batting coach’s position, potentially leaving him open to working with South Africa again. However, Boucher warned that South Africa needs to treat Kallis “with care,” if they hope to be able to make use of his services.”He is on my radar. I’m trying to get him back involved with the Proteas set-up. I just hope we treat him with care. He has shown he has got a lot of other opportunities in world cricket. We would be stupid not to try and hang on to him as long as we don’t mess him around,” Boucher said. “I know Jacques would love to be working in South African cricket. I’m sure that after the conversations we’ll have, we will hopefully see him back here.”

James McClean has sent a “don’t even joke” warning to Wrexham team-mate Ryan Barnett amid talk of Rangers showing interest in a January transfer.

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Wing-back starring for Red DragonsAttracting admiring glances from afarCeltic fan wants an end to the rumoursFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Barnett, who joined the Red Dragons from Solihull Moors in February 2023, has been catching the eye in League One this season. He has one goal and five assists to his name, while his work off the ball has also contributed to Phil Parkinson’s side occupying a lofty standing in the third-tier table.

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Admiring glances from afar were always going to arrive at some stage, with the first round of gossip suggesting that Barnett was registering on the recruitment radars of Championship sides Stoke and Preston. He is now seeing a switch to Scottish Premiership giants Rangers speculated on.

WHAT MCCLEAN SAID

Wrexham are reluctant to part with any prized assets, and club captain McClean is eager to see Barnett stay put. The boyhood Celtic fan has shared an image of him interacting with Barnett at training alongside the message: “Don’t even joke about such a thing!”

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WHAT NEXT?

That would appear to be a nod towards the rumours emanating out of Ibrox, with McClean disgusted by the thought of seeing Barnett end up on the blue half of a fierce Old Firm divide. There is no indication that a deal is in the pipeline, with no transfer window open, but rumour mills in Glasgow and North Wales appear set to rumble on towards the new year.

Chelsea have now submitted a "concrete" bid for an "incredibly fast" player in their efforts to secure more signings before deadline day next month.

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The west Londoners, financed by Todd Boehly and BlueCo, have made nine new signings so far this summer as the club show yet again that they're not afraid to spend.

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There been intermediary talks behind-the-scenes.

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Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham), Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa), Renato Veiga (FC Basel), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City), Filip Jorgensen (Villarreal), Marc Guiu (Barcelona), Estevao Willian (Palmeiras), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United) and Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors) have all signed for Chelsea, but more could follow them.

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri claimed this week that Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal for highly-rated young goalkeeper Mike Penders, who BlueCo believe could be the next Thibaut Courtois (X).

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They're offering in excess of £17 million to sign the 19-year-old, who made his senior debut for Genk last weekend in their 0-0 draw at home to Standard Liege. Meanwhile, Chelsea have also opened talks with Napoli over Victor Osimhen, with Romelu Lukaku agreeing a three-year deal to head the other way (Ben Jacobs).

A new senior forward, whether that be a striker or winger, looks to be on the agenda at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea attempted to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, before the 22-year-old joined Bayern Munich, with Maresca's side holding an interest in Nico Williams and others as alternatives.

In terms of a natural number nine, Osimhen is a name that will excite plenty of Chelsea supporters, given his stellar reputation and prolific goal-record since joining Napoli from Lille in 2020.

The Nigerian has scored 76 goals in 133 appearances across all competitions at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, but signing him could still be a costly operation, even if Lukaku could be used as a sweetener for the deal.

A cheaper alternative could be Hoffenheim striker Maximilian Beier, and it is believed Chelsea have wasted no time in testing the water in a potential move for the Germany international.

Chelsea submit concrete bid to sign Maximilian Beier from Hoffenheim

Indeed, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea have now submitted a "concrete" bid to sign Beier from Hoffenheim, and they're joined by Aston Villa in the race for his £25 million signature.

The 21-year-old, who scored 16 goals in all competitions for Hoffenheim last season, has also been called "incredibly fast" by Hoffenheim director Alexander Rosen.