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Alan Hutton has been left buzzing over what he has now heard from a Glasgow Rangers source.

The Lowdown: Lowry deal close

As per Football Insider’s RFC sources, the Ibrox faithful are now close to tying Alex Lowry down to a new deal, amid strong interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League.

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The youngster had rejected an initial contract offer back in February, but now it looks as if the club have persuaded him to stay at Ibrox.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Teddy Bears defender now Rangers TV pundit Hutton has now given his reaction to the news, claiming that it is ‘brilliant’ both for Lowry and his old team:

“I think it’s brilliant for both sides. We know what he’s all about. He’s definitely one for the future.

“He needs to know there’s a pathway into the first team. I think that’s the biggest thing to come out of this. The flip side is that the grass isn’t always greener.

“Yes, there’s an opportunity to go down south but he’s very young. You can also get lost down there. It’s difficult to break into a Liverpool team or a Man City team. That’s got its own challenges.

“So to stay where you are, you know what it’s all about to play with Rangers. There are opportunities that are going to arise. If you work hard, he has seen that the pathway is there.

“He can find the first team, he has done it in the past. I think it’s good for him moving forward to be where he is. Be comfortable and see how he develops from there.”

The Verdict: Right call

It is easy to forget that Lowry is still just 18 years of age, and so he has his whole career ahead of him.

The pathway has been there for him, as he has already managed a total of four senior appearances in a Light Blues shirt this season, and more opportunities are sure to come for him next term under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Nonetheless, he is highly thought of at the club, as former manager Graeme Murty even went as far as to call him ‘remarkable‘, and so staying at the Gers seems like the right thing to do for now, until he makes more of a name for himself outside Scottish football.

In other news, find out which ‘really exciting’ attacker RFC could now lose this summer here!

The new BCCI president on Kohli, Dhoni, and his vision forward for Indian cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2019It must be a big challenge to take over after these 33 months when the Supreme Court had to intervene.It’s an honour that I’ve been asked to take this role by the members. It’s a new start for the BCCI. Coincidentally – fortunately or unfortunately – when I became captain it was a similar sort of a situation and I captained India for six years. And this is a similar sort of situation. Things need to be brought back in place, reforms need to be done, huge amounts of money needs to be paid to state associations. So it’s a completely new start. From that point of view, I find myself in a position where I can make a change, and it’s a challenge. I’ll do it the way I know, in the way I feel is best for BCCI, with no compromise on credibility, and corruption free. That’s the way I led India and that’s the way I will take forward this organisation in whatever time I have. It’s a pretty young group, Jay [Shah] is the secretary, Arun [Singh Dhumal] is the treasurer, Jayesh [George] is the joint-secretary. It’s a pretty young team so we will have to do a lot of hard work. We don’t know what’s happened in the last three years, there was no AGM or working committee meeting, there were no committee meetings so we have no idea how it has happened. So we’ll take note of everything and then do what is required for BCCI and Indian cricket. We all must understand that we’re here to work for Indian cricket, that’s what the job of the BCCI is. The game on the field – international cricket, domestic cricket, IPL cricket, and we will do that to the best of our abilities.ALSO READ – Meet the BCCI’s new office bearersWhat’s your view on Virat Kohli’s comments on having only five Test venues or centres in India?I’ll speak to him tomorrow. He’s the captain of India, he is the most important man in Indian cricket. We’ll have a word with him, and as I said, we’ll support him in every possible way. He wants to make this team the best in the world. It’s been a great team to be honest with you, the way we have played cricket in the last three-four years. It’s a fantastic side, yes, you can say they haven’t won the World Cup but you don’t win World Cups every time. We’ll support him for whatever he wants and make sure that Indian cricket goes ahead smoothly. In terms of the Test venues, we have a lot of space and venues so we’ll have to sit with him and see what he wants and take it forward.Due to a lack of institutional check, there’s a sense that the Indian team management was becoming very powerful and there was nobody to check that. How do you look at that?I really don’t know what had transpired with the CoA and Virat and Ravi (Shastri). But the new body has taken over, the new office bearers have taken over, so it will be a proper discussion and everything would be mutually discussed. But be rest assured that we are here to make their life easier, not make their life difficult. And everything will be on the basis of performance. Performance is the most important thing and that’s what will decide the future of Indian cricket.As I said Virat Kohli is the most important man in this entire context. We will be there to support him. We will listen to him, because I have been a captain myself and I understand (what is needed) from that position, and we will deal with it. It is a mutual respect which will be there, so discussions will be there and we will do what is best for the game.BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and other new BCCI office bearers – joint-secretary Jayesh George (L), secretary Jay Shah (2R), and treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal – at the board’s headquarters, Mumbai, October 23, 2019•Getty ImagesWill there be greater connectivity between you and the team since you’ve been a player?I don’t think there was a gap in connectivity earlier. When I was the captain, (Jagmohan) Dalmiya was the Board President. I don’t remember a day when we asked for something and it was refused to us. When (N) Srinivasan was the president, MS Dhoni was India’s captain, and you know how good their relation has been. Now Virat is captain, and I will have the type of relation with him where he will get whatever he needs for India to play well. And he is a very big player. Just see his game from the last four-five years, he’s just taken Indian cricket to a different level. We have been with him, and we will remain with him and give him everything that his team needs to be the best.Have you given any thought to whether split captaincy is needed for India?That is the job of the selectors. And when that issue comes up we’ll decide. Right now, India is winning. So there is no need for that question. Right now, perhaps India is the best team in the world, so I don’t think that question is needed.Have you spoken to MS Dhoni yet?No, I haven’t spoken with him yet. I have just taken over today so hopefully we will meet soon and have a word with one of the greats of Indian cricket.You have had a lot of comebacks, so are you rooting for a comeback for Dhoni as well?It depends on him. I’ve always said – even when I was left out and when the entire world said that, ‘he’ll never make it’ – I believed in myself and came back and played for four years. You know champions don’t finish very quickly. I don’t know what’s in his mind, what he thinks about his career, so we’ll deal with that. He’s one of the greats of the game. India is very proud to have MS Dhoni. His achievements, when you sit down and take note of what he’s done, you say, ‘Wow, MS Dhoni!’ So, till I’m around, everybody will be respected. That doesn’t change.

“It depends on him. When I was left out, I believed in myself and came back and played for four years. You know champions don’t finish very quickly.”Sourav Ganguly on MS Dhoni’s future

Has it been decided who will represent India at the ICC?No, it has not been decided. We’ll take a call. But I think the ICC matter, it’s important for everyone to know. Don’t just go on hearsay. India is supposed to get 372 million (USD) from the ICC in the five-year cycle, which very heavy at the back end, because there are two world tournaments. There is a 2021 [2020] World Cup in Australia, and then they come to India for the Champions Trophy, which is a T20 in any case [2021 T20 World Cup], and then the World Cup. So a lot of the ICC money is the back-end money. Till now we’ve got whatever it is, but we’ll make sure that we get our due. We will work with the ICC and take this forward.Have the BCCI’s accounts been passed?No, the accounts haven’t been passed. This was a general body meeting, not the annual general meeting so accounts need to be passed at the AGM. We’ll call an AGM in three weeks’ time and pass it. We also need to go through it because we are new so we don’t have an idea of what expenses have happened in the three years. We’ll call an AGM and then pass it. We’ll send a notice for the AGM soon.1:05

‘Ganguly is in a more influential position than I am’ – Sangakkara

Domestic cricket has suffered on many counts in the last few years. Would that be your priority?That will be the first thing we’ll do and we’ll get it done before the actual Ranji Trophy season starts. The structures are there, the tournaments are there. In the last three years the matches have doubled actually. When I played for Bengal and some of my colleagues played for the other states, there were about 1000 games to be played. Now there are 2000 games between states and the affiliates. So we have to account for it. We have to make sure the best tournament in the country is competitive, and it remains important to everyone now because that’s where you get the Kohlis and MS Dhonis, Ajinkya Rahanes and Rohit Sharmas of Indian cricket. So that structure has to be the best, both structure-wise and financially, and that will happen. That will be the first thing that will be done by the Apex Council.ALSO READ – Punjab captain Mandeep Singh questions Vijay Hazare rulesThe way Mumbai, Punjab were knocked out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, wasn’t that wrong?See these are rules. At the end of the day, when the Vijay Hazare started, the rules were put down and sent to all state associations. It’s a similar thing to what happened in the World Cup final. When New Zealand lost, everyone started jumping up and down with the rules, but New Zealand were aware of the rules. It’s just unfortunate that they were on the wrong side of the rules. So we will assess it, try and make it simpler.The rule was that whoever won more matches went through, which is also a way of saying you give value to your performances in the group stages. So it’s not something which is completely wrong. Yes, the pertinent point is whether a reserve day could be kept for the knockouts. The quarter-finals, semi-finals are very important, which is a practical thing. So yes, that could be an option which could be taken. But you must remember, whatever happened, it was as per the basis of rules that were there form the start of the tournament.There have been complaints about the fan experience in the South Africa Test series.Yes but the same fans turn up for IPL isn’t it? Where it’s choc-a-block in the same stadium. So it’s a bit more than just stadiums. Test cricket needs a revisit of how it can be popularised. Eden Gardens will host Bangladesh on November 22, and we don’t know what’s going to happen in that Test match. But you see an IPL game – and I was involved with the Delhi Capitals last year – you just couldn’t keep people happy by giving tickets. Same stadium, same toilet, same ground, and people come in and turn up in huge numbers. I think the problem is somewhere else. But at the same time, infrastructure has to be done properly. But if you look at some of the new stadiums, they are remarkable. You go to Hyderabad, you go to Nagpur, the new stadium in Mumbai, Ranchi – it’s fantastic. As much as you say that part needs to be looked at, and rightly so that part needs to be looked at.

“I was involved with the Delhi Capitals last year – you just couldn’t keep people happy by giving tickets. Same stadium, same toilet, same ground, and people come in and turn up in huge numbers.”Sourav Ganguly on fans’ experience in Indian stadiums

Has the Apex Council replaced the working committee? Have the powers of secretary and joint-secretary been curtailed?No, it’s not correct, the Apex Council can give any powers to the office-bearers. It’s not the right interpretation of the (Supreme Court) order. If you look at the Apex Council powers, it will designate powers to the president, secretary and the treasurer and it can give them any power. All the office-bearers are very important for the functioning of BCCI… I wouldn’t use the word control, I don’t like that word. It’s about proper functioning of the BCCI. We have to be in the thick of things because at the end of the day, the responsibility has been put on us to get things going in the right direction.Sourav Ganguly, N Srinivasan, Niranjan Shah and Rajiv Shukla pose at the BCCI headquarters•Associated PressHow are you looking at the CAC (Cricket Advisory Committee) now after those resignations?Conflict is still an issue. I have seen the last status report filed by the CoA, they have addressed the conflict issue. I don’t know when it will be heard and when it will be solved. We have to create the CAC because they will appoint a lot of selectors and other members which are important parts of Indian cricket. So we will do that and we will make sure that they don’t have any conflicts of interest.What do you think of Clause 38 (the conflict of interest clause)?Conflict? That has to change boss. It’s already done by the CoA. The administrators who vacated office today have already put it in the Supreme Court, so we’ll see how far it gets modified.Kumar Sangakkara said you’re a fan of having cricket at the Olympics. Will you be looking to have it a part of the 2028 Olympics?That’s a decision that has to be taken collectively. It’s also got to do with the Indian Olympic Association.Are you confident of the Bangladesh tour happening?I hope so because two days before I spoke to the honourable prime minister of Bangladesh and she has agreed to come and visit the Test match on November 22. When the the honourable prime minister has given the consent, I don’t see the national team not turning up. It’s their decision, it’s their internal matter where I don’t think we have any say or we should have any say.Differently-abled cricketers are also part of the BCCI now, how do you plan to take it ahead because it’s not an organised space right now?Yes, we’ll try and organise it. It’s a part of the constitution. Just like women’s cricket has got organised over the years, I’m sure this will also get organised with time. We’ll speak to the general manager of cricket operations and see how it has been so far and try and see how we can do it better.

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso is happy with Kylian Mbappe's impact since he regained the weight he lost due to illness at the Club World Cup.

Mbappe scored two goals in win over OviedoCoach says Mbappe has gained four kilosClaims the overall feeling is goodFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe led Madrid to a comfortable win as he scored two goals in the 3-0 win against Real Oviedo on Sunday. The striker has looked agile and sharp in his last two fixtures, but coach Alonso claims the French forward has gained a few kilos that he previously lost during the Club World Cup when he was hospitalised with gastroenteritis.

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Alonso previously praised Mbappe as he highlighted noticeable positive changes in his mindset and ambition. He further claimed that the reason he is backing the player's form is because of a combination of two things: first, he has already spent a season at Madrid and now wants more, and second, maybe because of donning the iconic No. 10. Mbappe's two-goal contribution further cements his form and provides Alonso a much-needed confidence boost.

WHAT ALONSO SAID

Asked about what has changed about Mbappe, the Spanish manager told reporters: "He's gained four kilos back. He had lost four at the World Championships. He looks good; I love watching him do those laps. When we manage to maintain those distances, everyone closer to each other, we find each other. He did very well today, and the other day too. We're still looking at what to correct, but the feeling is good."

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MADRID?

The ex-Bayer Leverkusen coach was clear about making changes in the future. He stressed that every player will get the opportunity to play. The substitutions depend "game to game", and his intention is for "everyone to contribute." Madrid will face Mallorca next in the league on August 31 before the international break kicks in.

Simpson’s 167* means Middlesex may inflict first defeat on a team they had hoped to join in the First Division next year

Paul Edwards17-Sep-2019
Early morning mist lies like cotton wool on the rich earth between Southport and Burscough. At Deansgate station passengers spill from commuter trains like clothes from holiday suitcases. Lancashire stewards grunt kindly good mornings in the suddenly chill autumnal air. As the players warm up on the outfield at Old Trafford in readiness for a 10.30 start queues form at the coffee shop attached to the ground. A day’s cricket stretches beyond itself even as it is self-contained. All these things we will miss in less than a fortnight’s time; they have framed our lives. And we shall also miss like hell great days like this and brilliant unbeaten centuries such as that played by Middlesex’s John Simpson on this most memorable of September afternoonsIt would, though, have been understandable if even Lancashire supporters had viewed Middlesex saving the follow-on this Tuesday morning with strangely mixed feelings. Their bowlers’ failure to capitalise on an evening in which they had taken six wickets for a song could be balanced against the near certainty that the match would now stretch into its last possible day. Such relief seemed to define irony by close of play, when Middlesex had taken a 78-run lead and then removed Alex Davies caught at long leg for a duck with only one run on the board.Quite early, though, an acceptable fightback had become disagreeable resistance and by mid-afternoon the regulars in Old Trafford’s 1864 suite had been put off their Pont-l’Évêque and claret. It hardly made things any better that the principal author of their unhappiness was Simpson, a cricketer as soaked in Lancastrian heritage as any of his opponents.When Simpson trotted off the Old Trafford outfield at just gone five o’clock he had a career-best 167 not out against his name. He had hit 26 fours, many of which were stroked through the covers or clipped with Germanic efficiency through midwicket. His one six was eased over long off when Liam Livingstone tossed a ball up at the start of the afternoon session. By then, though, Simpson and James Harris had already ushered their side towards respectability. For one thing, the follow-on had been saved; for another, the whole temper of the match had altered.There were many signs of this change: lbw appeals, two of which were successful on Monday evening, were now greeted with impassive expressions or murmured ‘not outs’ from the umpires. A match that had been filled with Lancastrian joy now saw Middlesex progress smoothly past modest landmarks: the 50 partnership, a total of 100, the century stand. False shots, barely remarked on when the innings was crumbling, now attracted fresh interest.Lancashire made their first breakthrough – though it betokened no great change in the day’s pattern – when Harris was bowled for 32 by a high-class leg spinner from Matt Parkinson. He had put on 107 with Simpson. Toby Roland-Jones also made 32 before skying Parkinson to Graham Onions but by the time that wicket fell hope had replaced expectation for Lancashire’s bowlers. Nathan Sowter put on 94 with Simpson and his fresh range of stroke drained further energy from Dane Vilas’s attack. When Sowter departed for 52, slashing Saqib Mahmood to Livingstone at slip, Middlesex were in the lead and the county’s ninth-wicket record against Lancashire had been broken. Shortly after the visitors were bowled out another statistic was unearthed: their 337 is the largest total ever scored in a first-class match by a side who have lost their first six wickets for under 40 runsBut this day also carried with it a sense of Lancastrian pride. Simpson’s century was his seventh in first-class cricket but his first against Lancashire. One imagines the latter consideration matters to him. Simpson, you see, was born in Bury and played Lancashire League cricket for Haslingden before spending a couple of seasons broadening his cricketing experience with Ormskirk in the Liverpool Competition. He was also in Lancashire’s Academy but once it became clear that Gareth Cross and Alex Davies were blocking his progression he moved to Middlesex and put down roots in the metropolis. It must also be noted that Simpson’s father, Jack, also a wicketkeeper-batsman, was a Lancashire League legend, making over 300 appearances for Ramsbottom and Haslingden and having 463 dismissals to his credit.And so a match which has already followed an utterly unlikely course is set for a fascinating conclusion, one that befits the season’s end at a great ground. Lancashire are still on course for their first unbeaten season since 1974, when their invincibility hoisted them to a majestic eighth place in the old 17-team championship. But Middlesex, with little to play for but pride, may inflict a first defeat on a team they had hoped to join in the First Division next season.That aspiration is dead but pride and professionalism matters to almost all county cricketers. If Middlesex’s players needed any reminding of that, it was available to them on the first evening of this game when the club president, Mike Selvey, spent time in their changing room, perhaps making the players aware of a few first principles He then, as is the hospitable nature of these occasions, took the players for dinner. Twenty-four hours later Middlesex had recovered magnificently and are involved in one of the championship’s great games. And John Simpson had made a century which will stay in the mind even as the season of soups and stubble fields advances upon us.

Kevin De Bruyne has opened up on the key differences between Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte after joining Napoli from Manchester City.

De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free after leaving Man CityHighlights two major differences between Conte and GuardiolaDismisses "king" label, insists he’s just another footballerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

De Bruyne signed for Napoli on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City this summer and already has a few minutes under his belt for the Serie A side, having featured in three friendly clashes for Conte's team.

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The Belgian playmaker has played under some impressive names across his spells at Genk, Chelsea, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg and City. Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Dieter Hecking all had him under their wing before he teamed up for a long period of success with Guardiola at City. The 34-year-old spent eight years under Guardiola, winning multiple titles, including the Champions League in 2023. After the Premier League side decided against renewing his contract this summer, he opted to unite with Conte and ex-team-mate Romelu Lukaku in Serie A. After just a few weeks, he has already observed some key differences between his new coach and his old one.

WHAT DE BRUYNE SAID

In an interview with , De Bruyne reflected on the differences between working under Guardiola and Conte: "I'd say they're two different ways of playing: Pep is probably a little more focused on ball control and possession, while Conte is a little more structured in his game and focuses a lot on mentality. Pep works more on the zonal area. There are a couple of different things, but every coach has his own principles and characteristics."

He was also asked about the grand welcome he received upon his arrival in Serie A, where some dubbed him "the king". 

"I'm not the king, I'm just a footballer," he said. "I don't pay much attention to certain things, I try to do my job as best I can, but obviously it's nice to be appreciated. I hope I can continue to have a great career."

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE AND NAPOLI?

De Bruyne will make his debut in Serie A soon and hopes to secure the Scudetto with Napoli. The veteran playmaker is also eyeing a Champions League run under Conte.

A big Newcastle United injury claim has emerged over central defender Fabian Schar…

What’s the latest?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has played down fears that the blow sustained by the Switzerland international against Liverpool is a serious one, although it remains to be seen how long it will keep him out for.

The defender was forced off in the first-half after a collision with Reds midfielder James Milner and the Toon manager is waiting on further news regarding his condition.

He told The Chronicle: “I don’t know – it was related to the tackle, I don’t know what it is, I haven’t spoken to him or the medical team yet. We hope it’s nothing serious, but obviously it was enough for him to come off.”

Supporters will be buzzing

The supporters will be buzzing with this update as Howe’s comments suggest that Schar has not been hit with a major injury setback.

If the centre-back had suffered a season-ending injury then the head coach would surely know because of the reaction from the medical staff and the player at half-time and full-time.

Whilst Schar has not had the opportunity to have any scans, an initial assessment would have been made on the pitch during treatment and then in the changing room after he was substituted, with Howe’s quotes suggesting that it was not immediately obvious that it was a big injury.

Of course, the head coach may be playing it down to keep fans from worrying about it until they have a conclusive assessment of his situation but, for now, the supporters will be buzzing with the idea that it is not a serious blow for the Swiss as he is a key player for the club.

Schar has averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.90 across 24 Premier League appearances this season, showing that he is a reliable player for Howe at the back. He has consistently delivered good performances in defence for the former Bournemouth boss and that is why losing him for a significant period of time would leave fans and the manager concerned.

The 30-year-old is crucial to what Newcastle want to do because his defending, alongside Dan Burn, provides a solid platform for the rest of the team to build off. His play at the back allows the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin to express themselves moving forward and, hopefully, we will see him in action again this season.

AND in other news, Won 67% duels: 62-touch Newcastle dynamo was “on point again” vs Liverpool…

The midfielder has run into a familiar problem of struggling to weave his usual magic for the Three Lions at Euro 2024

England were off to a winning start in a European Championship, but there was an overall sense of disappointment after the game and a focus on Phil Foden. We're not talking about the 1-0 victory over Serbia on Sunday, however, but when England beat Croatia at the last Euros.

Foden's quiet and at times sloppy display was one of the main talking points in Gelsenkirchen after he was billed as one of the players to watch at Euro 2024 following a blistering campaign with Manchester City. It was a similar story after England's unconvincing 1-0 win over Croatia at Wembley three years ago, when Foden hit the post before being the first player to be substituted by Gareth Southgate. Foden had also been tipped to light up that tournament after scoring nine goals and providing five assists for City in the campaign that preceded it, but he made just three appearances in England's run to the final.

The circumstances then were different to now, but the outcome was the same: Foden flattering to deceive on the international stage despite a stunning season with City. So why can't he do for Southgate what he has been doing for Pep Guardiola for years? And is the Catalan coach to blame?

Getty ImagesSignificant drop-off

Foden shrinking when putting on an England shirt is nothing new. He has played 35 games since making his Three Lions debut in 2020, scoring four goals while setting up eight. That's an average of 0.34 goal involvements every game. By contrast, he has played 270 games for City and contributed to 140 goals, an average of 0.52 per match. And in the last season, he contributed to 39 goals in 54 games, an average of 0.72.

Even considering the big difference in overall quality between City and England and the gulf in coaching ability between Guardiola and Southgate, it's a significant drop-off. Especially when putting Foden's numbers next to those of his fellow midfielders at City, who tend to replicate their club form at international level.

Kevin De Bruyne has an average of 0.75 goal involvements per game for Belgium compared to 0.71 for City; Bernardo Silva's average is 0.44 for Portugal and 0.37 for City; Rodri's is 0.1 for Spain and 0.22 for City; Erling Haaland's average is 1.1 for both Norway and City; Jack Grealish's England average is 0.28, for City it's 0.26.

Julian Alvarez is 0.52 for City but 0.25 for Argentina, also a big drop-off, with the important caveat that he starred at the 2022 World Cup and was his team's second-top scorer behind Lionel Messi.

Foden's former City team-mates also had similar trajectories at club and international level. Ilkay Gundogan's average for City was 0.32, for Germany it's 0.33. Raheem Sterling's was 0.6 for City, only marginally higher than his 0.57 for England.

AdvertisementGetty Struggling out wide

A lot has been made of the fact that Foden tends to play out on the left wing for England while last season with City he enjoyed more freedom, operating as a No.10 when De Bruyne was unavailable or playing off the right. In a number of games, he also started out on the left, the position he used to play in his first four seasons after breaking into the first team.

Indeed, Southgate gave a sarcastic response when asked last year why he didn't play Foden more centrally for England. "He doesn't play there for his club, so presumably there's a reason for that," he said. "It depends on the level of the game really. You'd have to speak with Pep Guardiola, the best coach in the world, who plays him from wide."

The big difference between City and England, however, is Guardiola encourages his players to move all over the pitch and rotate with their team-mates, confusing the opposition and opening up more space for each other. Positions are much more rigid in Southgate's side, even if the manager would not like to admit it.

Getty Lacking freedom

Southgate said a month before the tournament "the key with Phil is where he ends up, not his starting position." He added: "It's where these players arrive and where they are allowed to drift to. We never pin these forwards to the touchline. There is this freedom."

But that freedom was not on display in Gelsenkirchen. With Luke Shaw still not fit and Kieran Trippier forced to play at left-back on his weaker foot, England did nearly all of their attacking down the right flank.

Bukayo Saka mostly stuck to that, while Kyle Walker, who is encouraged to come into midfield more at City, stayed close behind him, doubling England's threat down that side.

That combination provided the only goal of the game for Jude Bellingham, but it also meant that Foden could not get into the space in which he thrives the most, coming off the right wing on the half-turn and cutting onto his deadly left foot.

getty imagesMissing Shaw

Of the 27 goals Foden scored in all competitions last season for City, just three came while attacking from the left. Ten came while attacking from the right, with 13 coming from attacks through the middle or arriving in the middle of the box. It is unsurprising, therefore, that he was not able to cause as much damage operating in a different sphere.

Foden's capacity to drift inside was further reduced due to a lack of support from Trippier, who was not able to get forward with the same regularity as Josko Gvardiol did for City in his spectacular end to the season.

The absence of Shaw, the only natural left-back in the squad Southgate took to Germany, has badly affected Foden, and the Manchester United defender looks unlikely to start against Denmark on Thursday, which does not bode well for Foden's prospects against Kasper Hjulmand's side.

The India pacer had been charged with attempt to murder and cruelty by his wife, Hasin Jahan, last March

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Sep-2019A West Bengal court has issued an arrest warrant against Mohammed Shami in a case of domestic violence, filed by his wife Hasin Jahan. Shami, who turned 29 today, has been asked by the court to surrender within 15 days of his return from the West Indies.In March last year, Jahan had filed criminal charges against Shami, including attempt to murder, cruelty, and violence.The chargesheet had been filed under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code – relating to a woman being subjected to cruelty by her husband or his family – by the detective branch of Kolkata Police this March.According to Salim Rahman, Shami’s lawyer, the chargesheet did not contain any of the serious criminal offences Jahan had pressed against the player and his family. Rahman said Shami was among the various people who deposed before the police finalised the chargesheet.”The police chargesheet says there was no attempt to murder, no poisoning – all serious charges filed by Hasin Jahan,” Rahman said. “Also the allegations against (Jahan’s) mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law of conspiring against her were discharged [dismissed] by the police.”Jahan’s lawyer Anirban Guha Thakurta said the onus was now on Shami to fight the charge or choose not to. “It’s in the court notice that Shami is playing abroad and so it was giving him a 15-day window to surrender,” Guha Thakurta was quoted as saying by the . “It is written in the court order that if he fails to appear, then law will take its own course. The warrant against Shami would be kept in abeyance for 15 days.”Rahman said that the arrest warrant would come into play subject to Shami opting to challenge the court’s order. “The court issued a warrant against Shami saying he would need to surrender 15 days upon returning to India. The warrant will come into effect only if Shami does not take a legal recourse (challenging the order).”The case is unlikely to affect Shami’s professional career at the moment. The BCCI is believed to be treating it as a domestic matter and will wait for the final court order.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta’s latest move for an attacker has been hijacked by Premier League champions Liverpool, with the Gunners now resigned to losing out in the race for his signature despite reaching an initial agreement.

Club identify replacement for £60m star who's agreed terms with Arsenal

The Gunners are working towards signing him.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 29, 2025

Over the weekend, Mikel Arteta was handed a major boost with the arrival of prolific striker Viktor Gyokeres – subsequently ending a long-winded transfer saga and Arsenal’s search for a proven goalscorer.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

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£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Gyokeres, who scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 total appearances for Sporting CP, also spearheaded their charge to a first domestic double in around 20 years last season, and Arteta will be hoping he can inspire similar trophy exploits in north London.

“We do have plans, we do have a lot of options and we are increasing the quality of the squad and the depth of the squad with all the signings that we’ve done,” said Arteta about Gyokeres’ arrival.

“We are super happy to have Viktor with us, it’s been a long journey to get him over here. He’s been incredible, he was very clear from the beginning where he wanted to play and how passionate I felt from him from day one when we first spoke. You can see the boys, you can see the environment as well, very excited with his arrival.”

The 27-year-old was unveiled before a Singapore crowd of Arsenal supporters just prior to their 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle United, and Gyokeres could make his debut against Tottenham on Thursday.

The ex-Coventry City star joins Noni Madueke as Berta’s two major attacking signings of the window, but there is a belief that Arsenal could soon open talks with Crystal Palace over a deal for Eberechi Eze after contacting the England international’s camp on a regular basis (Fabrizio Romano).

Multiple reports have already claimed Eze’s agents and Arsenal are in broad agreement over personal terms – so this could be one to watch.

Liverpool hijack Arsenal deal for Salford City striker Will Wright

However, while it’s been an excellent window for the north Londoners, with Berta making a serious splash in his first summer at the club, they won’t be having it all their own way.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have hijacked Arsenal’s deal for Salford City striker Will Wright.

Arteta’s side verbally agreed a deal to sign the teenager a fortnight ago, but the Reds have now swooped in to beat them in the race for his signature.

Wright even completed his medical on Merseyside yesterday, with there being zero hope of Arsenal fighting their way back.

The 17-year-old is now a new Liverpool player, coming after a phenomenal pre-season at Salford – a club owned by members of Man United’s class of 92.

Wright made his senior debut for them in an FA Cup defeat to Man City last season, and made three more competitive senior appearances before sealing his move to Anfield.

According to The Mail, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Rangers also made late enquires, but the trio, like Arsenal, are set to miss out on the highly-rated young forward.

Nottingham Forest now hold a strong interest in signing a “superb” defender, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Manchester United, according to a report.

Nottingham Forest's ambition underlined by Gibbs-White renewal

Evangelos Marinakis has made no secret of the fact that he has big aspirations for Forest, and Morgan Gibbs-White made it clear that the owners’ ambition was one of the main reasons he decided to extend his contract, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

With the Tricky Trees set to take part in the Europa League next season, it is important they have tied Gibbs-White down to a new contract, and one of the key tasks to follow will be bringing in a replacement for Anthony Elanga.

Bologna’s Dan Ndoye has emerged as the main target, and the deal is now edging closer to completion, with Fabrizio Romano giving his trademark ‘here we go’ on Monday afternoon.

As such, Nuno Espirito Santo can perhaps now turn his attention towards strengthening other areas of his squad, and the Europa League side have now joined the race for a defender.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which reveals Nottingham Forest now hold a strong interest in signing Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo, who is also being targeted by Man United and Sunderland.

Given Comuzzo’s impressive performances last season, he is attracting strong interest from the Tricky Trees, although none of the interested Premier League clubs have submitted an offer as things stand.

Should Forest decide to formalise their interest, it could take a big offer to prise the centre-back away from Fiorentina, as the Italian club value him at £38m.

"Superb" Comuzzo could be ready for Premier League move

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described the 20-year-old as “superb” last season, while also praising his composure and consistency, and for good reason, given that the youngster managed to hold down a regular spot in the Fiorentina starting XI.

Nottingham Forest now "join the race" to sign £50m+ Premier League forward

The Tricky Trees are now in the race for the signature of a forward, journalist Sebastien Vidal has revealed.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 27, 2025

The Italian made 44 appearances in all competitions, which is no mean feat at such a young age, and he scored a remarkable goal in Fiorentina’s 3-2 victory against Udinese back in May.

Comuzzo is showing very promising signs at Fiorentina, and he could be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, but a £38m asking price is a little on the pricey side, given that the starlet is yet to prove himself at the highest level.