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Crystal Palace are making progress in the transfer market and have now put forward an approach to a two-time Premier League winner in the final days of the window, according to reports.

Crystal Palace look to retain Marc Guehi amid potential incomings

Marc Guehi is the man in focus at Selhurst Park after Eberechi Eze’s exit, and it remains to be seen if the England international will stay or join his compatriot by completing a move away before the window closes.

With his contract expiring next year, Liverpool are in the frame to land Guehi and Manchester City are also reportedly eyeing a late swoop to tempt the former Chelsea man north amid a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Nevertheless, there is some positive news for Crystal Palace fans to sink their teeth into, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed on X that the Eagles are closing in on Villarreal star Yeremy Pino for a club record fee.

He stated on X: “Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign Yeremy Pino from Villarreal, exclusive story from last week confirmed. Negotiations underway between clubs to get the deal done asap, #CPFC pushing. Fee could be close to €50m.”

Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss has been a long-term Eagles target, but it remains to be seen if Oliver Glasner decides to bite before the close of play in the market, where more players will begin to become available over the coming days.

Crystal Palace want to complete £40m double deal to replace Eberechi Eze

The Eagles are ready to plough their summer budget into attacking reinforcements.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 25, 2025

Either way, there is an inevitability that supporters will see incomings at Selhurst Park, and recent developments indicate that Crystal Palace have got the ball rolling over a late swoop for a defender who has led a distinguished career path.

Crystal Palace make approach for Manchester City's Manuel Akanji

Per Sky Sports News on X, Crystal Palace have made an approach to land Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, who they believe could be an ideal replacement if Guehi were to move on this summer.

Defensive reinforcements will be paramount should that sequence of events occur, and the Switzerland international could be available for a cut-price fee due to his contract at the Etihad Stadium being set to expire in 2027.

Labelled “perfect” by Pep Guardiola, Akanji made 40 appearances last campaign for the Citizens, registering two assists, though he is yet to feature under the Catalan boss this term and has fallen down the pecking order.

The 30-year-old may now be set for a new challenge after three years in Manchester and Crystal Palace could be the ideal environment for regular minutes in the prime of his career, especially if Guehi is to depart by next Monday.

Newcastle United are facing a pivotal summer as they brace for the potential departure of star striker Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international, who has rapidly become a fan favourite since arriving on Tyneside, has made it clear that he is open to a move away, and Liverpool are ready to test Newcastle’s resolve with what could be a British-record bid.

Isak’s absence from the club’s pre-season tour of Southeast Asia, attributed to a “minor thigh issue”, has coincided with reports of a breakdown in contract talks.

Newcastle were keen to offer him improved terms, but Isak is believed to have asked for £300k per week, a demand that far exceeds the club’s current wage structure.

Though the Magpies maintain that Isak is not for sale, Liverpool’s growing interest, and Isak’s own openness to the move, has prompted Newcastle to begin preparations for life without him.

In that scenario, they would need a striker who not only shares some of Isak’s traits but also has the potential to grow into an elite Premier League forward.

Newcastle looking at Benjamin Sesko alternatives

According to GIVEMESPORT, one of the candidates to fill that role is Loïs Openda, the Belgian forward currently playing for RB Leipzig. The Magpies are believed to be ‘exploring’ a move for the striker.

Transfer Focus

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

While the club have also expressed interest in Leipzig teammate Benjamin Šeško, Openda offers a more attainable option. One who, despite operating in a struggling side last season, demonstrated the kind of raw output and energy that Newcastle value highly.

Former Club Brugge manager Philippe Clement, who worked with Openda during his development, labelled him “super-fast”, as well as “combative” during difficult spells – precisely the kind of character Newcastle’s recruitment department seeks.

His contract at Leipzig runs until 2028, and a deal won’t be cheap, especially given Club Brugge’s 12.5% sell-on clause.

However, with Leipzig likely to part with Xavi Simons, while Šeško has a much higher price tag, Openda may be the more available of the two.

How Openda compares to Isak

Openda’s playing style is defined by pace, aggression, and sharp movement. While he doesn’t match Isak’s height (1.77m vs. Isak’s 1.92m), he brings a directness that can stretch defences and a physicality that belies his frame.

He’s a centre-forward by trade but is comfortable drifting out wide. Ideal for Howe’s system, which demands positional flexibility in transition.

Statistically, there’s more overlap with Isak than one might expect, with the pair deemed to be similar players among their European peers, as per FBref. According to the data site, Openda averaged 2.82 shots per 90 minutes last season in the Bundesliga to Isak’s 3.10 in the Premier League.

His shots on target per 90 (1.14) and shot-on-target percentage (40.3%) closely mirror Isak’s (1.34 and 43.2% respectively). While Isak recorded more non-penalty goals (19 vs. 9) and expected goals (17.2 vs. 8.2), that comes in the context of Newcastle’s more cohesive attack compared to Leipzig’s disappointing season, which ended with a 7th-place finish and early Champions League exit.

Where Openda truly stands out is in his mentality and off-the-ball work – qualities Howe prizes.

While his defensive stats are modest, just 0.07 tackles in the final third per 90, his pressing intensity and recovery runs have drawn praise from Bundesliga observers. He’s also adept at attacking space in behind, a trait that fits Newcastle’s counter-attacking DNA under Howe.

That said, Openda is far from the finished product. His passing accuracy (63.8%) lags behind Isak’s (75.3%), and he averages fewer progressive passes, carries, and successful take-ons per 90.

With his flaws comes room for growth. Under Howe, a coach known for improving attacking players, those gaps could narrow quickly.

At 25, Openda is entering his prime, and with 27 caps for Belgium already under his belt, he has experience at the highest level.

The Premier League isn’t unfamiliar territory for clubs tracking him either. Aston Villa and Leicester City have previously monitored the Belgian, but neither made a formal approach.

Now, Newcastle appear to be in the strongest position – and in the most urgent need.

While Openda may not yet have Isak’s polish or reputation, he brings a skill set that could flourish under the right guidance. His pace, directness, and goal threat are real, and paired with the right supply line, he could be a devastating outlet in the Premier League.

He’s not an exact copy of Isak, but if they do lose their star striker to Liverpool, Loïs Openda represents a logical and exciting step forward.

More prolific than Wissa & Sesko: Newcastle plot move to sign £40m "menace"

Newcastle United target Ligue 1 striker after summer transfer setbacks

By
Will Miller

Jul 24, 2025

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.

Eberechi Eze’s Crystal Palace by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
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
Data via Transfermarkt

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.

Arsenal's next Auba: Berta opens talks for "one of the best CFs in Europe"

Arsenal are interested in signing a new centre-forward this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 4, 2025

Sunderland are back by popular demand and are now closing in on a statement signing to bolster their engine room, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Sunderland plan ambitious moves ahead of Premier League return

Ambition is the watchword for Regis Le Bris, as his side prepare to do battle in the Premier League and avoid the unfortunate fates of many newly-promoted sides over the last few years.

Looking to add solidity between the sticks, Sunderland are reportedly close to bringing in OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, which may cast some doubt on Anthony Patterson’s long-term future as number one.

Journalist Loic Jego added some context to the situation on social media platform X, stating: “Imminent agreement between OGC Nice and Sunderland for the transfer of Marcin Bulka! A deal facilitated notably by the good relationship between Franck Haise and Regis Le Bris.”

Moving on, Sunderland are also interested in Empoli defender Saba Goglichidze. However, Nottingham Forest and the Black Cats’ arch-rivals Newcastle United are also looking to land the Georgian.

Habib Kieta could strengthen Le Bris’ midfield if the Wearside giants can come to an agreement with Clermont Foot, though he is one of many names that could arrive if circumstances align in their favour.

Romano: Sunderland in talks to sign "superb" player loved by Luis Enrique

The Black Cats are in the hunt for a new stopper.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 26, 2025

Steel is necessary to make Sunderland a difficult outfit to take on, with their form at the Stadium of Light likely to be decisive in whether they manage to avoid the drop in their first season back in the top-flight since 2017.

Enjoying a full-circle moment after years in the doldrums, they could now be about to make a headline addition ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Romano: Sunderland set to sign Strasbourg's Habib Diarra

Taking to social media platform X, Romano, echoing other reports, has also confirmed that Sunderland have agreed a package worth just over £30 million plus add-ons to sign Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra.

Delivering his trademark ‘Here We Go’ tagline, the Senegal international’s current employers will include a sell-on clause in the deal, and he is now set for a medical in the North East.

Dubbed “magnificent” by Liam Rosenior, Diarra registered four goals and five assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last term as Strasbourg secured a place in the Europa Conference League.

Making his presence known in a variety of roles across the engine room, the 21-year-old won 99 duels on Ligue 1 duty and also created 27 chances, illustrating that he can perform several functions.

Sunderland appear to have pulled off a coup should the deal go through without a dramatic last-minute hitch, and supporters will hope for more of the same on the recruitment front over the next few months.

Sunderland are thought to be in talks to sign a new £17m forward who Regis Le Bris already knows well, according to a new update.

Speakman in Sunderland transfer talks after Le Fee deal

The Black Cats have so far been patient when it comes to new signings, with Enzo Le Fee’s loan move becoming permanent the only incoming piece of business following promotion to the Premier League.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is working behind the scenes on deals, though, and admitted last week he was in three different countries in three days discussing transfers with targets.

By the looks of things, one player on Speakman’s list could now be Sassuolo forward Armand Lauriente, with a new update showing there has been a development.

Sunderland in talks for Sassuolo forward Armand Lauriente

According to reports in Italy relayed by Chronicle Live, Sunderland are thought to have begun talks over a ‘sensational swoop’ to sign Lauriente.

The Sassuolo forward has already worked under Le Bris, scoring one goal in four games under the Sunderland boss during their time at French side Lorient. He can also play anywhere across the front three, so would provide plenty of versatility in the final third, should a deal be struck.

The Black Cats are looking to provide competition to Wilson Isisdor and Eliezer Mayenda and seemingly see Lauriente as the man to do just that, with previous claims suggesting he could cost up to £17m.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a fine campaign in 2024/25, scoring 19 goals and registering six assists in 34 appearances in all competitions, mainly as a left winger.

Dan James

Leeds United

Borja Sainz

Norwich City

Wilfried Gnonto

Leeds United

Sontje Hansen

NEC Nijmegen

Liel Abada

Charlotte FC

As per FBref, Lauriente ranks in the top 1% for goals when compared to attacking midfielders and wingers, the top 2% for shots on target and the top 6% for expected goals.

As can be seen, Lauriente has been likened to a number of wingers playing their trade in England, so a move to the Stadium of Light could be one to keep an eye on.

Amid Matheus Cunha’s departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers, it seems as though another high-profile star will leave Molineux this summer. Manchester City are thought to be making a move for Algerian left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, in a bid to boost their defensive quality this summer after a tough campaign.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that the defender “has already said yes” to the move to East Manchester, and negotiations for the transfer will “advance” in the coming days.

He will be a big loss for the Old Gold. Last term, Ait-Nouri played 37 Premier League games, scoring four times and registering seven assists.

However, if they are to lose the 23-year-old this summer, then there could already be a replacement lined up at Molinuex.

Wolves’ search for a full-back

There is no doubt that losing Ait-Nouri, a talisman of this Wolves team and a key man under Vitor Pereira, would be a big loss for the West Midlands side. If they do lose him, Wolves could turn to a newly-promoted outfit instead.

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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A report from Sky Sports on Monday night suggested that the Old Gold are ‘interested’ in signing Trai Hume from Sunderland. However, they will face competition from fellow Premier League side Everton, as well as unnamed sides in La Liga.

A price for the defender has not been made clear this summer. Hume has two years left on his current contract at the Stadium of Light, plus they can extend his deal for a further year.

Last summer, they reportedly wanted £10m, but a year later, perhaps that fee will have risen.

Why Hume would be a good signing

Hume was a key part of Sunderland’s success in the 2024/25 campaign. The Black Cats returned to the Premier League almost a decade away from the top flight, with Hume playing a big role in their return.

In all competitions, Hume featured in 48 games, scoring three goals and chipping in with six assists. He was an integral part of Regis Le Bris’ side, shown in the fact that he played 4230 minutes.

Hume only missed two matches in the Championship last term. One of those came in the disastrous run of five losses in a row to end the season, the 1-0 defeat to Blackburn. He grabbed all nine goal involvements in the second tier, with his most recent this superb cross for Jobe Bellingham against West Brom.

If Wolves were to sign Hume to replace Ait-Nouri next summer, he would add versatility to the club. Not only can the Northern Ireland international play at left-back, but he is a right-back by trade, and has played there more often than not for the Black Cats.

This certainly adds an interesting dynamic to the Old Gold squad. Pereira has the option to play Hume as a touchline-hugging left wing-back, just as Ait-Nouri did, or he can play him as an inverted wing-back, looking to overload the midfield.

Either way, the Sunderland number 32 has the quality to perform well in the Premier League. In fact, he was once described as “one of the best” full-backs in the Championship by former Sunderland interim manager Mike Dodds:

The stats from last season certainly show why Dodds once said that. Compared to other full-backs in the second tier, Hume’s numbers on FBref are exemplary. For example, he averaged 3.87 tackles and interceptions and 1.39 key passes per game, ranking him in the top 13% and top 9% of full-backs, respectively.

Hume key stats vs. Championship full-backs 2024/25

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Key passes

1.39

91st

Progressive passes

5.13

93rd

Tackles and interceptions

3.87

87th

Ball recoveries

4.09

55th

Aerial duels won

2.27

77th

Stats from FBref

Although not an out-and-out left-back by trade, Hume could be a superb replacement for Ait-Nouri. There is no denying how much of a loss he would be to the Old Gold, but Hume has the attributes and tactical flexibility to be a dream successor.

They will face a battle to sign him this summer, but if Wolves do win the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, he could be an excellent addition to Pereira’s squad.

Related After Cunha: Pereira must now sell Wolves flop who earns more than Semedo

Wolves could be losing some big-name stars this summer

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jun 1, 2025

Chelsea are now racing Barcelona for the signature of a highly-regarded young midfielder, who has been likened to Lionel Messi, according to a report.

Blues continue youth recruitment drive

Under BlueCo ownership, there has been a heavy focus on bringing in talented young players, with Sporting CP duo Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo the latest youngsters to be snapped up, and the Blues are showing no signs of slowing down ahead of the summer window.

Talks have now been opened over a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, with the Englishman set to be available for around £43m – £51m this summer, and Enzo Maresca’s side are prepared to double his salary to get a deal over the line.

The west Londoners are seemingly very keen on bringing in a young winger, as they are also pushing to sign Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz, but they may have to fork out as much as £87m to prise the Turk away from the Italian side.

Gittens and Yildiz both have Champions League experience under their belt, while they have also been regular starters for their respective clubs this season, but there are signs the Blues are also keen to take a gamble on more of an unknown quantity.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Chelsea are now in the race to sign Malian youngster Aboubacar Maiga, who is attracting widespread attention from some of Europe’s top clubs, with the Blues ‘determined’ to win his signature.

Offer made: Chelsea now submit £47m bid to sign "world-class" goalkeeper

The Blues have made an opening offer for a goalkeeper, with talks expected to move quickly in the coming weeks.

ByDominic Lund Apr 27, 2025

Barcelona are also vying to sign Maiga, who has been given the nickname “the Malian Messi”, given that he is well-known for his technical ability, creativity and dribbling, sharing similar traits to the Barcelona legend.

The attacking midfielder is said to be regarded as one of the most exciting wonderkids in world football, given his talent in possession of the ball, while he has also displayed his leadership abilities by captaining Mali U16s.

Blues determined to seal Maiga deal

Chelsea are determined to win the race for the 16-year-old, and if he lives up to his nickname the teenager could be a future star, but BlueCo must make sure to also bring in players capable of making an immediate impact.

Over the past few years, the Blues have brought in a number of talented youngsters, but their transfer business has failed to translate to any real success on the pitch, although they are now in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The Blues have clearly identified striker as a position in need of strengthening, given that Nicolas Jackson has been inconsistent, while they may also look to replace Robert Sanchez between the sticks, and several targets have been identified in both positions.

Player

Position

Potential cost

Gregor Kobel

GK

£47m

Yahia Fofana

GK

£15m

Mike Maignan

GK

£67m

Liam Delap

ST

£30m

Serhou Guirassy

ST

£60m

Assane Diao

ST

£43m

Tottenham Hotspur are casting their eyes on a fresh new manager target, as under-pressure head coach Ange Postecoglou reportedly faces the potential sack this year.

Ange Postecoglou comments on future at Tottenham

Credible media sources are reporting that Postecoglou’s future is in real doubt, with Fabrizio Romano also stating that the 59-year-old is heavily relying on an impressive Europa League campaign to save his job.

Contact made: Tottenham targeting "exciting" manager likened to Pochettino

Spurs have reportedly approached his circle.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

Tottenham play Chelsea in their first game after the international break, and before the Lilywhites’ all-important London derby clash, Posfecoglou responded to speculation surrounding his tenuous position at the club.

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

The Australian admitted that there are plenty of outstanding candidates out there to take his place, if chairman Daniel Levy does decide to hand Postecoglou his P45, and he’s taken a seemingly relaxed view on his long-term stay – suggesting other job offers will emerge if Spurs opt to part company with him.

“I know what my responsibilities are. I’m sure if the club decide to go in a different direction, there are some outstanding candidates out there for it,” said Postecoglou on his future at Tottenham.

“And you know what, maybe somebody will think, ‘Ah Ange Postecoglou’s not a bad coach, maybe we’ll take a punt on him’.

“It doesn’t rock my world, it doesn’t consume me. I am here and passionate about what we are doing. I was brought in to change the way the club plays, rejuvenate the squad and bring success. I am focused on that and that’s what I’ll keep doing.”

This comes amid news that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is Tottenham’s number one managerial target to potentially succeed Postecoglou (The Athletic), with other candidates like Fulham’s Marco Silva and Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi also under consideration (Fabrizio Romano).

Another tactician who’s impressed lately, now finding his way onto Spurs’ radar, is Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian recently booked an FA Cup semi-final spot with Palace after a big 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage, with the Eagles set for a trip to Wembley as they seek to make history and win their first ever major trophy.

The south Londoners have enjoyed an excellent run of form in the league as well, ending the season strongly, but Glasner stands to lose a host of key players this summer.

Marc Guehi is attracting serious summer interest as he enters the final 12 months of his contract, among others, so Glasner could well be tempted to jump ship if a suitable offer arrives.

Tottenham eyeing Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are admirers of Glasner amid their hunt for a potential new manager, but they’re not alone as RB Leipzig have their eyes on the 50-year-old as an heir to Marco Rose.

Their head of Global Soccer, ex-Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, is also said to “strongly” like Glasner as an option. Palace, meanwhile, know what they must do to fend off interest in their growingly popular head coach.

Glasner wants assurances that they will try and push on to become European regulars, and is seeking clarity about star midfielder Adam Wharton’s future, as he’d like to keep the England international for another 12 months at least.

While Palace are hopeful of tying the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss down with a new deal, they’re also making contingency plans in the event he departs Selhurst Park this summer.

Called an “underrated” manager by sections of the media, Glasner was interestingly considered by Spurs as Antonio Conte’s successor, before Levy eventually decided to appoint Postecoglou.

After two days of intense bidding in Jeddah, here’s what each squad looks like – and where their strengths and weaknesses lie

George Binoy25-Nov-20241:48

Moody: Ghazanfar could be point of difference for Mumbai Indians

.Mumbai IndiansNo. of players 23/25 (8 overseas)
Hot take: While MI’s contingent of Indian players is strong, their overseas picks were rather unconventional. Apart from Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner, the other six are untested or haven’t been regular starters in the IPL. England allrounder Will Jacks and fast bowler Reece Topley, South African quick Lizaad Williams and Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar are pretty inexperienced in the league, while New Zealand’s Bevan-John Jacobs and South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton haven’t played in the IPL before.
Possible first 12 (including impact player): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Will Jacks, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir/Robin Minz, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Allah Ghazanfar/Mitchell Santner, 10 Karn Sharma, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Trent Boult
SQUAD
Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (retained), Rohit Sharma (retained), Tilak Varma (retained), Bevan-John Jacobs
Wicketkeepers: Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton, Krishnan Shrijith
Allrounders: Hardik Pandya (pace; retained), Naman Dhir (spin; RTM), Will Jacks (spin), Raj Angad Bawa (pace), Vignesh Puthur (spin)
Spinners: Allah Ghazanfar, Karn Sharma, Mitchell Santner
Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (retained), Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, Satyanarayana Raju, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams

****

2:04

Moody: Curran poses a left-hand conundrum with bat for CSK

Chennai Super KingsNo. of players 25/25 (7 overseas)
Hot take: CSK bought back R Ashwin ten seasons after he last played for them in 2015, reuniting him with Ravindra Jadeja. They further strengthened their spin attack with the addition of Noor Ahmad, and otherwise stacked their squad with allrounders and fast bowlers.They’ve also bought a fair number of players whose IPL careers are in need of a revival: Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Deepak Hooda and Shreyas Gopal.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 2 Devon Conway/Rachin Ravindra, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Sam Curran, 6 Vijay Shankar, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (wk), 9 R Ashwin, 10 Noor Ahmad/Nathan Ellis, 11 Khaleel Ahmed/Gurjapneet Singh, 12 Matheesha PathiranaSQUAD
Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad (retained), Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Deepak Hooda, Andre Siddarth
Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway, MS Dhoni (retained), Vansh Bedi
Allrounders: Ravindra Jadeja (spin; retained), Shivam Dube (pace; retained), R Ashwin (spin), Sam Curran (pace), Rachin Ravindra (spin; RTM), Vijay Shankar (pace), Anshul Kamboj (pace), Jamie Overton (pace), Ramakrishna Ghosh (pace)
Spinners: Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal
Fast bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana (retained), Khaleel Ahmed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis

****

5:02

Moody: ‘Bhuvneshwar would probably have mixed emotions’

Royal Challengers BengaluruNo. of players 22/25 (8 overseas)
Hot take: RCB bought the explosive Phil Salt to partner Virat Kohli at the top of the order, and also spent a lot of money to acquire two experienced quicks in Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to try and solve their long-standing bowling problem. They have batting reinforcements in the top and middle order and, for the first time in a long time, their line-up doesn’t seem reliant on a few star players.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Liam Livingstone, 4 Rajat Patidar, 5 Krunal Pandya, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk) 7 Tim David/Jacob Bethell, 8 Rasikh Salam, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Suyash Sharma/Swapnil SinghSQUAD
Batters: Virat Kohli (retained), Rajat Patidar (retained), Tim David, Manoj Bhandage, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara
Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma
Allrounders: Liam Livingstone (spin), Krunal Pandya (spin), Swapnil Singh (spin), Romario Shepherd (pace), Jacob Bethell (spin), Mohit Rathee (spin)
Spinners: Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh
Fast bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal (retained), Rasikh Salam, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi

****

Sunrisers HyderabadNo. of players 20/25 (7 overseas)
Hot take: SRH have an explosive top five and a first-choice bowling attack with plenty of pedigree, but the link between those two parts of their line-up is likely to be a bit inexperienced. Also, their back-up overseas players – Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse and Eshan Malinga – have never played the IPL before.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Nitish Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Rahul Chahar, 11 Mohammed Shami, 12 Adam ZampaSQUAD
Batters: Travis Head (retained), Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby
Wicketkeepers: Heinrich Klaasen (retained), Ishan Kishan, Atharva Taide
Allrounders: Abhishek Sharma (spin; retained), Nitish Kumar Reddy (pace; retained), Kamindu Mendis (spin)
Spinners: Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar, Zeeshan Ansari
Fast bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Pat Cummins (retained), Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, Eshan Malinga

****

Kolkata Knight RidersNo. of players 21/25 (8 overseas)
Hot take: KKR retained six players from their title-winning squad in IPL 2024 and bought back six more. They tried to buy back several others as well but couldn’t, having splurged INR 23.75 for Venkatesh Iyer, who could be their new captain. They replaced Salt and Starc with Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson, which may not seem like an upgrade.Their bids for Manish Pandey and Ajinkya Rahane were a bit of a surprise, with their batting styles at odds with KKR’s crash-bang-wallop methods last season.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Quinton de Kock/Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Varun Chakravarthy, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson, 12 Manish PandeySQUAD
Batters: Rinku Singh (retained), Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane
Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Allrounders: Venkatesh Iyer (pace), Andre Russell (pace; retained), Sunil Narine (spin; retained), Ramandeep Singh (pace; retained), Anukul Roy (spin), Moeen Ali (spin)
Spinners: Varun Chakravarthy (retained), Mayank Markande
Fast bowlers: Harshit Rana (retained), Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Umran Malik

****

3:24

Is Jansen a straight replacement for Curran at PBKS?

Punjab KingsNo. of players 25/25 (8 overseas)
Hot take: PBKS spent INR 26.75 crore to buy Shreyas Iyer, who is likely to be their new captain. The influence of their new coach Ricky Ponting was evident in five of their eight overseas players being Australian. Their starting XII will look dramatically different with only Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh and Harpreet Brar likely to feature prominently from last season.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Josh Inglis (wk), 2 Prabhsimran Singh, 3 Marcus Stoinis, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Nehal Wadhera, 7 Shashank Singh, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Harpreet Brar, 10 Yash Thakur/Kuldeep Sen/Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11 Arshdeep Singh, 12 Yuzvendra ChahalSQUAD
Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh (retained), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash
Wicketkeepers: Josh Inglis, Vishnu Vinod, Prabhsimran Singh (retained)
Allrounders: Glenn Maxwell (spin), Marcus Stoinis (pace), Marco Jansen (pace), Harpreet Brar (spin), Azmatullah Omarzai (pace), Aaron Hardie (pace), Musheer Khan (spin), Suryansh Shedge (pace)
Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Pravin Dubey
Fast bowlers: Arshdeep Singh (RTM), Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett

****

Lucknow Super GiantsNo. of players 24/25 (6 overseas)
Hot take: LSG made history by making Rishabh Pant the most expensive player ever sold at an IPL auction (INR 27 crore) and will likely name him their captain. While they could boast an enviable top six (see below) they didn’t manage to pick up an established Indian opener. Their squad has a wealth of Indian bowling options – pace and spin – so expect them to load their batting line-up with overseas experience.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Mitchell Marsh, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Abdul Samad, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Mohsin Khan, 12 Mayank YadavSQUAD
Batters: Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ayush Badoni (retained), Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke
Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran (retained), Aryan Juyal
Allrounders: Adbul Samad (spin), Mitchell Marsh (pace), Shahbaz Ahmed (spin), Yuvraj Chaudhary (spin), Rajvardhan Hangargekar (pace), Arshin Kulkarni (Pace)
Spinners: Ravi Bishnoi (retained), M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh
Fast bowlers: Mayank Yadav (retained), Mohsin Khan (retained), Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav

****

Delhi CapitalsNo. of players 23/25 (7 overseas)
Hot take: Who will lead DC this season – Axar Patel, or their new signing KL Rahul? With Rahul likely to slot in at the top of the order, there are dashers around him and all the way down the DC line-up. Their fast bowling was a concern last season but it looks far more potent this year.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Abishek Porel (wk), 4 Harry Brook, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Sameer Rizvi, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 T Natarajan, 12 Mukesh KumarSQUAD
Batters: Jake Fraser-McGurk (RTM), Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs (retained), Faf du Plessis, Karun Nair
Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Abishek Porel (retained), Donovan Ferreria
Allrounders: Axar Patel (spin; retained), Ashutosh Sharma (spin), Sameer Rizvi (spin), Darshan Nalkande (pace), Vipraj Nigam (spin), Ajay Mandal (spin), Manvanth Kumar (pace), Tripurana Vijay (spin), Madhav Tiwari (pace)
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav (retained)
Fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera

****

Rajasthan RoyalsNo. of players 20/25 (6 overseas)
Hot take: After retaining five batters and only one bowler, RR went shopping for many bowlers and picked up quality in Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, though Archer and Hasaranga have been rather injury prone. Their two overseas back-up players are rather low key – Kwena Maphaka and Fazalhaq Farooqi – so IPL 2025 could prove to be a test of their Indian bench strength.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Dhruv Jurel, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Shubham Dubey/Akash Madhwal, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Tushar DeshpandeSQUAD
Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal (retained), Shimron Hetmyer (retained), Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson (retained), Dhruv Jurel (retained), Kunal Singh Rathore
Allrounders: Riyan Parag (spin; retained), Nitish Rana (spin), Yudhvir Singh (pace)
Spinners: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Kumar Kartikeya
Fast bowlers: Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma (retained), Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Ashok Sharma

****

Gujarat TitansNo. of players 25/25 (7 overseas)
Hot take: GT did well to pick up three out of 12 marquee players – Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada – and adding Prasidh Krishna to their attack was a coup as well. It’s crucial these players remain fit, though, because their Indian fast-bowling back-up is thin. Their middle order doesn’t have a star cast but GT will hope Washington Sundar will shrug off his indifferent IPL form and have an impactful season with bat and ball.Best 12 (including impact player): 1 Jos Buttler (wk), 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Sai Sudharsan, 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Sherfane Rutherford/Glenn Phillips, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 M Shahrukh Khan, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Arshad Khan/Sai Kishore/Mahipal Lomror, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Prasidh KrishnaSQUAD
Batters: Shubman Gill (retained), Sai Sudharsan (retained), Rahul Tewatia (retained), Sherfane Rutherford
Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat
Allrounders: Rashid Khan (spin; retained), Washington Sundar (spin), M Shahrukh Khan (spin; retained), Mahipal Lomror (spin), Nishant Sindhu (spin), Arshad Khan (pace), Jayant Yadav (spin), Glenn Phillips (spin), Karim Janat (pace)
Spinners: Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore
Fast bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gerald Coetzee, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya

Back at the top of the order, he scored a quick fifty and later chipped in with a wicket, making a persuasive case to be given a longer rope

Karthik Krishnaswamy30-Apr-20231:25

Moody: Abhishek’s boundary-hitting abilities a real threat

Abhishek Sharma is just the kind of player you’d want in and around your T20 squad: clean striker of the ball, left-handed, capable of batting in multiple positions, and a useful left-arm spinner with interesting variations.He’s also the sort of player, however, who has been thrust into an existential crisis this season, thanks to the Impact Player rule: a batter of promise but not one with a settled role, and not enough of a bowler to merit selection for his secondary skill.Assessing the Impact Player’s effect on the IPL on ESPNcricinfo’s , Tom Moody had referenced Abhishek when he expressed his concern over the development of all-round players.Related

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“I still struggle within me as a former allrounder to see some players that have all-round skills sort of suffer with opportunity,” Moody said. “We’ve seen plenty of them. And one of them [who] recently voiced it in the media, I think, is Abhishek Sharma, the left-hander from Sunrisers.”He’s put so much work into his left-arm spin for Punjab in the off-season and performed really well – he doesn’t even like getting a bowl [in the IPL]. So that concerns me with what’s happening with the future of those allrounders.”Abhishek bowled 30 overs in ten T20 games for Punjab during the 2022-23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, picking up ten wickets while going at an economy of 5.10. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo before that tournament, he had spoken about developing variations that would help him bowl with the new ball. As it turned out, he ended up bowling the first over in every game Punjab played, including their semi-final at Eden Gardens, where he dismissed both Himachal Pradesh openers.Having done all that, Abhishek hasn’t bowled a single over in his first five games of IPL 2023.Sunrisers Hyderabad aren’t obliged to do what’s best for Abhishek’s long-term growth, of course. They, like any other IPL team, are in it to win matches and tournaments, and it’s a feel-good byproduct if they happen to develop young talent in the process. Every team would use a frontline bowler ahead of an improving part-timer if a new rule gave them that option.On Saturday night, however, Sunrisers felt the need for Abhishek’s bowling. They were defending 197 on a pitch where the slower ball was stopping on the batter and the spinners were getting a bit of grip, but where on-pace deliveries from the fast bowlers were sitting up to be hit.4:16

Has the Impact Player rule led to a high-scoring IPL so far?

Abhishek came on when Delhi Capitals were 85 for 1 in eight overs; he was replacing Umran Malik, whose pace was proving to be just what the batters needed on this surface – Phil Salt and Mitchell Marsh had hammered him for 22 in his first over.Malik wouldn’t bowl another over in the match, with Abhishek sending down three overs while going at below nine an over. He took his time finding his length – he allowed the batters to attack him off the back foot and went for a four and a six off his third and fourth balls – but settled into a reasonable rhythm thereafter, and even managed to chip in with a wicket when he spun one past the advancing Manish Pandey to have him stumped.It was a competent display, and a valuable one for a team needing to fill a hole that had opened up without warning, and it was a useful reminder that there can still be a place for a less-than-genuine allrounder in the Impact Player era.But that place only exists if the allrounder is really pulling his weight with his primary skill. Abhishek had done far more than that on Saturday. Long before he did what he could with the ball to help Sunrisers close out a hard-fought win, he’d set the game up perfectly with an innings of unusual poise on this unusual surface.”It was a bit low, slower balls were coming a bit low, and it was stopping a bit,” was Abhishek’s assessment of the conditions when he was interviewed by the broadcaster between innings. “Our plan was just to look for balls that we can hit. Just don’t try anything fancy, just play according to the ball and react to the ball.”Watching his innings in isolation, it felt as if Abhishek batted in exactly the manner he described. He stood still at the crease, waited for errors in line or length, and put them away while making full use of the powerplay field restrictions.Watching the game in its entirety, though, the fluency of Abhishek’s ball-striking seemed extraordinary. At the halfway point of Sunrisers’ innings, he was batting on 57 off 31 balls, and he’d hit ten fours and a six. By that time, the batters at the other end had scored 23 off 29 for four dismissals, and hit one four and one six.You often hear of gifted batters having an extra split-second at their disposal. Here, because of the slowness of the surface, every batter had an extra split-second, but it was an unwelcome split-second for most of them, a split-second that disrupted the rhythm of their movements and bat flow.Somehow Abhishek seemed to be able to hold his shape through that extra split-second and meet the ball on his terms, striking it only when it entered what AB de Villiers refers to as the “box”. It allowed him to swing compactly through the line without reaching for the ball and losing his balance. And he did it ball after ball, whether flat-batting over extra-cover or swatting over mid-on, giving you the illusion of simplicity and effortlessness.Abhishek Sharma had Manish Pandey stumped•BCCIA few things went his way, of course. On this day, it seemed to help him that he was the only left-hander in Sunrisers’ top order, and that the Capitals bowlers fed him width that his right-handed colleagues only rarely got. But batters can’t choose the bowling they get to face; given a choice, anyone would pick bowling that allows them to free their arms.Abhishek just happened to possess the eye and balance to take full toll even when the ball wasn’t really coming onto his bat. It surely can’t be as easy as he made it look.Along the way, and over the rest of the night, Abhishek seemed to show Sunrisers that this was perhaps where he belonged.This was his 42nd IPL game in his sixth season, and he’s batted nearly everywhere in that time: it was his 19th innings as opener, but he’s also batted 17 times at Nos. 5 and 6. You can see why teams have used Abhishek everywhere: in the IPL, he strikes at 134.63 against pace and 145.95 against spin, while averaging in the 20s against both styles. He’s shown his ability wherever he’s batted, but he’s shown it in cameos rather than 70s and 80s, and those sorts of players take longer to establish themselves in a role.Abhishek seemed to settle into the opening role last season and began IPL 2023 there, but he missed Sunrisers’ second and third games with an injury. When he returned, he was down at No. 5 again, scoring 32 off 17 while Harry Brook, who had taken his place at the top, smacked an unbeaten century.With Brook scoring 9, 18 and 7 in his next three innings, all in Sunrisers defeats, he swapped roles with Abhishek again. Here he was once more, then, up top, and his game just seems to belong there: the stillness, the timing, the ability to find gaps, the willingness to go over the infield.It’s anyone’s guess whether this sense of belonging translates into a longer run in the role, but he’s done what’s within his power, and made a persuasive case for it. Along the way, he may even have convinced his team to give him a bowl every now and then.