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CA is looking into an incident during the BBL game between Thunder and Strikers after the broadcasters passed on tactical information to Strikers captain Brad Hodge during the game

Will Macpherson19-Jan-2017Cricket Australia’s integrity unit is looking into an incident during Wednesday’s Big Bash League game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers after the broadcasters, Channel Ten, passed on tactical information to Brad Hodge, the Strikers captain, during the game. The governing body said it was “disappointed” with the incident.After his team posted 178, Hodge was miked up in the field – as he has been all tournament – by Ten. Statistician Lawrie Colliver revealed on air that one of Hodge’s bowlers, Ben Laughlin, had a strong recent record against Thunder captain Shane Watson, information that commentator Mark Howard then passed on to Hodge when they next spoke. An over later, Hodge brought Laughlin into the attack. Laughlin’s introduction did not bring about Watson’s wicket, though, and Thunder eventually lost by 77 runs.The full on-air exchange

Mark Howard: “Just before we let you go Hodgey, our master statistician Lawrie Colliver tells us Laughlin has got Watson twice in the last eight balls he’s bowled him in this competition.”
Brad Hodge: “Really.”
Howard: “I’ll leave that with you.”
Hodge: “I’ll bring him on next over then, let’s get him into the game.”

Howard: “Blow me down, Ben Laughlin comes into the attack.”
Kevin Pietersen: “Very naughty. Very, very naughty Howie.”

“Australian cricket has a long-standing, proactive approach to sports integrity management,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said. “We educate our broadcasters at the beginning of each season in the area of Cricket Australia’s Integrity codes and policies so they fully understand the extent we take to ensure the integrity of cricket in the country.”We are disappointed with the comments made on the BBL broadcast last night, and expressed this concern immediately to Channel Ten when it occurred.”Cricket Australia’s integrity unit is looking into the matter further to ensure the comments made during the broadcast did not jeopardise the integrity of last night’s match.”On Thursday, Network Ten apologised for the incident. “Network Ten apologises to Cricket Australia for comments made during last night’s KFC Big Bash League match,” a Ten spokesperson said.”The comments were in no way intended to advise Adelaide Strikers captain Brad Hodge on game tactics or influence the outcome of the game. Network Ten ensures that all commentators are educated on Cricket Australia’s integrity codes and policies.”After the game, Watson had been left nonplussed when asked about the on-air conversation.”No,” said Watson, when asked if he had an opinion on the issue. “That’s what happens. There are always guys who have success against you, and some guys don’t. No, I’ve got no comment.”

South Africa’s ODI captain AB de Villiers will sit out the one-off match against Ireland on September 25 as he completes his recovery from an elbow injury

Firdose Moonda22-Sep-2016South Africa’s ODI captain AB de Villiers will sit out the one-off match against Ireland on September 25 to allow himself more time to recover from the elbow injury that kept him out of the New Zealand Tests. Faf du Plessis will captain the team in his absence while Rilee Rossouw, who has recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the triangular series in the Caribbean in June, was added to the squad as batting cover.De Villiers’ participation in the first ODI of the five-match series against Australia, which follows the Ireland game, hinges on a fitness test which he will undergo early next week. Should he fail that test, not only will he be ruled out of the remaining matches in that series, but he will have to undergo surgery which will keep him out action for six to eight weeks and force him to miss South Africa’s Test tour of Australia.”AB has an impingement syndrome, so when he plays certain cricket shots, he gets excruciating pain in the left elbow. Sometimes, it does settle with a conservative approach, but unfortunately, in AB’s case it hasn’t been so,” Mohammad Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, said. “We are giving him another week, and thereafter a call will be made. He needs to pass the fitness test, the elbow needs up to stand up to the rigours of international cricket. If he does not come through the fitness test, a date for surgery will be set. We don’t want to pre-empt that, we want to give him every opportunity to try and recover from that injury. But if he has surgery, he will be out of the Test series.”When asked whether de Villiers’ injury was a result of overuse, Moosajee conceded that the cluttered cricket calendar may have had something to do with the problem. “We refer to it as overload, whether that’s doing too much and playing different shots, or related to overuse. The fact that there have been some other tournaments like the IPL has added to the load, but we need to understand that having played more than 10 years of international cricket, there are going to be challenges where you will have some sort of injury.”As a consequence, Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, who blamed the schedule for player fatigue after South Africa failed to reach the final of the Caribbean triangular series in June, was forced to reiterate the impact of mushrooming T20 leagues on the national side. “When I said so after the West Indies tour, I took a beating from a lot of people in public and the media, but I am saying again, there’s no doubt guys are playing too many games, too many formats and too many competitions,” Domingo said. “And at the end of the day, we, as a national side, sit with issues because we are sort of keeping guys fit to go and play in other tournaments, which sometime can be a bit painful for me.”De Villiers is not South Africa’s only major absence. Morne Morkel also missed the New Zealand Tests with a back problem and has not been included in the ODI squad at all, while Hashim Amla will not play the Ireland game and may not be available for the first ODI against Australia as he awaits the birth of this third child. Temba Bavuma, one of South Africa’s three new caps, will open the batting in Amla’s place, as South Africa look to groom him for that role in future.”Temba has got really good attributes for an opening batter. He is really good in terms of his technique. He is a guy that can bat for long periods of time, he can hit the bad ball for four,” Domingo said. “Maybe, at this stage in his one-day career, he is probably not suited coming in at 5 or 6 and trying to hit fours and sixes at the back end. This allows him a nice start in international one-day cricket because he can just pay normally. If he hits a good cricket shot in the first five or six overs, it will go for four, whereas if he hits a good cricket shot in the last ten overs, it might go for one. It’s a nice spot for him to try and find a niche in one-day cricket. I am very excited to see what he can offer.”Bavuma, allrounder Dwaine Pretorius, and bowler Andile Phelukwayo are all looking to make their debuts against Ireland, with only Phelukwayo being retained for the Australia matches.

Manchester United have enjoyed a positive campaign in Erik Ten Hag's first year in charge and stand on the brink of being able to secure Champions League qualification for next term.

The Red Devils have already achieved silverware in the form of the Carabao Cup and also have the chance to claim the FA Cup trophy if they can get past Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in early June.

Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, bringing in a few quality additions will be on the mind of Ten Hag as he looks to build a squad capable of taking Manchester United back to the top of the tree in English football.

Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane has been linked with a blockbuster move to Old Trafford and could provide the x-factor in attack that has been missing at times in 2022/23.

From a defensive standpoint, The Sun claim that Napoli man Kim Min-Jae could be on his way to the Premier League giants, with Manchester United said to be keen to 'table an offer' to try and entice the 26-year-old away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

What's the latest transfer news on Kim Min-Jae and why is he so highly regarded?

The Sun report states that Paris Saint-Germain also have a keen interest in the South Korea international and have held talks with his entourage amid the fact that he has a release clause worth £40 million that activates in July. Manchester City are also keeping an eye on his situation, though RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is their preferred choice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones thinks that Kim would be a statement signing by Manchester United that could help to take them to the next level after hearing he could be on his way to Old Trafford.

Jones told FFC: "I just think having someone on that level would be hugely significant in terms of upgrading the squad if they could actually make it happen."

In 2022/23, Kim has made 44 appearances in all competitions for Napoli, registering two goals and two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

ESPN estimate that Red Devils boss Ten Hag will have between £100-£150 million to spend on rebuilding his squad in the summer, though this may dramatically increase if a deal is completed by the Glazer family to relinquish their majority ownership of the club.

In terms of who Manchester United could upgrade on by bringing Kim to Old Trafford, Harry Maguire springs to mind as an obvious candidate, as he has been linked with a move to either West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur, as per FootballTransfers.

Comparing the two players via WhoScored, Kim comes out on top in aerial duels won, clearances completed, pass success rate and average match rating, scoring 2.7 in aerial duels, 3.6 clearances, 91% pass completion and earning a match rating of 7.10/10.

On the other hand, Maguire comes in at 1.3 successful aerial duels won, 2.5 clearances per match, 85.8% passing success and being given a match rating of 6.57/10.

€61,731 (£53,637) per week earner Kim has also excelled in the art of passes attempted compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, having tried an average of 80.23 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the third percentile for this metric, according to FBRef.

As per Tuttomercatoweb via OneFootball, former Manchester United favourite Ji Sung-Park was full of praise for Kim's qualities as a domineering defender, stating in an interview: “Extraordinary, what a talent." He then added: “There is no doubt that he is doing extraordinary things, as a technical leader and personality in Naples.”

Journalist Fabrizio Romano shared quotes from Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti claiming that nobody in the world is a better defender than Kim at present, which read: "Kim Min-Jae is the best centre-back in the world right now. Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game. When he starts the run with the ball at his feet, he can get it into the opposition penalty area in 5 seconds flat!"

Manchester United are set for a huge summer as they find out who will control the purse strings at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future and Kim would be a major signing to kick off a new era for the club.

Another match, another rout. At least for Pakistan they can leave this one knowing home is not too far away. It has been a tour to forget

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Chelmsford07-Jul-2016
ScorecardLauren Winfield top-scored for England with 63 off 40 balls•Getty ImagesAnother match, another rout. At least for Pakistan they can leave this one knowing home is not too far away. It has been a tour to forget: a sizeable 6-0 blemish on the last six months that saw them turn over India, in India, at the World T20. From their inability to counter England’s top-order assaults, to their oversized playing kit, which billowed with every misfield and misguided hack across the line – this tour has shown they have much more work to do.A fifth won toss in six and Heather Knight had no qualms batting first: England had won all 11 previous matches at Chelmsford and, with that in mind, Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield ensured a 12th was sewn up early with an opening stand of 108.Across the six matches, the first England wicket has been worth 801 – more than half of their team’s runs. When Pakistan do return to their own beds, a few of their bowlers might want to check under them to ensure Beaumont and Winfield are nowhere to be seen. Both their half-centuries were typical of their play over the last month: Winfield willing and on the front foot, Beaumont wristy and devastating.The familiarity spread right through to the game’s conclusion. Pakistan were run ragged in the field and, facing a total they had no intention of chasing – Danni Wyatt pilfered 11 from the first four balls of the final over to help England set 170 – it was just a matter or whether they would be bowled out in the allotted time. In the end, they finished seven wickets down and 57 short.England rang changes with the ball, the most noticeable being left-armer Tash Farrant coming in for Katherine Brunt. Having made her debut at the age of 17, Farrant spent two years on the sidelines from January 2014 to February 2016, when Mark Robinson gave her a run out in England’s final T20I before the World T20.Hers is an example he was keen to address: a player picked young yet too young to cope with being dropped and overlooked for a prolonged period. Now 20, she looked at ease, cycling through her variations and even nabbing the wicket of opener Nahida Khan with a slower ball that was flat-batted back to her. There were first international wickets, too, for Alex Hartley.Talking about how easy you find things is one of cricket’s great taboos, but even Heather Knight, a measured individual who seems to cringe at her own success, might wonder what all the fuss of captaining your country is about.From the early part of Robinson’s tenure as head coach, it was evident that both he and Knight were on the same page. In one of their first coach-player interactions, Knight said she wanted to move away from feeling like the onus is on her to bat for as long as possible. She wanted freedom.As captain, she has been able to afford that to the rest of her team. All this while questions were being asked of whether life after Charlotte Edwards would really be so rosy. Those answers will not be able to be given just yet, but Knight was understandably punchy in the press conference.”There was a lot of noise around the squad before the series and the girls have responded. The cricket we have played has been really entertaining to watch. Everyone is feeding off the success of each other and it’s been a really nice place to be.”That last point is key. Perhaps one of the most noticeable elements of this England side is how much more open they seem. And while players young and experienced have commented on how Robinson has created a relaxed atmosphere, it has been particularly clear to former players no longer in the system.Caroline Atkins, who represented England between 2001 and 2011, was taken aback at how at ease the players were when she was around the team at Taunton as they prepared for the third ODI. It was not an atmosphere she was used to. Isa Guha and Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent have also presented caps to debutants during this tour, something that has rarely happened in English women’s cricket. Rainford-Brent, who  presented Hartley with her T20 cap before this match, was even invited into the team huddle – a ringed haven usually reserved for squad members.There are of course elements that still need work. On a personnel level, Kate Cross’ return to international cricket, after an impressive pre-season tour of Sri Lanka with the England Academy, was disappointing, as she took 1 for 56 from the 11 overs she bowled across the first two ODIs. Cross will spend the next few weeks up to the inaugural Women’s Super League fine-tuning some technical aspects of her game, such as her front arm, before leading the Lancashire Thunder in what is hoped to be a testing fortnight of high-level cricket. She will hope her name will be added to the long list of seamers Robinson has healed.Long term, it will be interesting to see whether the confidence gained from these six matches can carry through into something more sustainable. This is not a team that likes to blow their own trumpet. But after six matches of runs, wickets and outright dominance, and given the manner in which they are looking to play their cricket, they might have to get used to it.

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said that communication within the BCB selection panel will improve once he becomes a part of it

Mohammad Isam02-Jun-2016Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said that communication within the BCB selection panel will improve once he becomes a part of it. Although not yet official, Hathurusingha’s inclusion will be one of the major changes to the selection committee, which is likely to be approved at the next board meeting.”BCB are going to speak to me in the next couple of days about the plan they have,” Hathurusingha said. “I think it is a good concept. At the end I am responsible for the outcome. If I have a say in selection it will make things easier for everyone, the players as well as the selectors. The communication will be much better.”Hathurusingha will not be the first Bangladesh coach to be included in the selection panel. Dav Whatmore was also a selector when he was Bangladesh’s coach between 2003 and 2007. Jamie Siddons, Stuart Law, Richard Pybus and Shane Jurgensen were advisors to the panel, although not appointed as selectors during their stints as Bangladesh coach.Amid growing concerns within the BCB, chief selector Faruque Ahmed had offered to resign if the panel expanded to seven members without a chief selector. However, he welcomed Hathurusingha to the committee. Earlier this week, BCB president Nazmul Hassan had said Hathurusingha would be tasked with staying abreast with domestic cricket.”I want the coach to watch matches rather than sitting idle,” Hassan said. “He will have a role to play. Someone or the other must watch each domestic match so that we know about the emerging cricketers. I don’t want a situation where the coach doesn’t know anything about a new player. Our contract with him is based on ‘number of days’ but he is not taking advantage of it.”Hathurusingha, who returned on Wednesday from a holiday in Melbourne, said he was looking forward to seeing the Bangladesh players’ performance in the Super League phase of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.”I want to see the performance, especially the national players stepping up,” he said. “I have been following how they are doing on the internet. I hope the national players step up in the Super League and dominate with the bat and ball.”Hathurusingha, who is likely to have his contract renewed with the BCB for two years, said Bangladesh’s foreign tours will be a test of their improvement. Apart from Bangladesh’s scheduled tour to New Zealand later this year, there are talks of at least three tours in 2017, excluding the Champions Trophy in England in June.”I think the next two-three years will be Bangladesh’s golden era. Players of the caliber of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah are all at their peak now,” Hathurusingha said. “This is the time they have to use their experience and consistently perform in international cricket.”That is going to be an exciting era as well as challenging for Bangladesh cricket, because in the next two years we play more cricket overseas. In my last two years, we played a lot cricket at home and in Bangladesh conditions. So it is going to be a challenge as well to see our development in Bangladesh cricket.”Hathurusingha said one of his main challenges was to develop a good bowling unit needed to perform consistently in Tests. Bangladesh last played a Test in July last year.”Playing matches is the best way to improve. If you look at our record, we have not played much of Twenty20 cricket,” he said. “Test matches also the same, we have not played Tests for a long time.”We also need to find good bowling unit, [that is] the main challenge for next two-three years. Whoever comes they have to find good bowlers who can take 20 wickets. We are on the right path. We have found few good bowlers as well as a few good young youngsters and the seniors are coming to their prime.”

Australia need only a draw to become the world’ No. 1 ranked Test team, but they must contend with overseas inconsistency, a green pitch, and a Brendon McCullum farewell

The Preview by Daniel Brettig19-Feb-2016Match factsFebruary 20-24, 2016
Start time 10.30 local (21.30 GMT)5:58

‘New Zealand need to put external pressures behind them’

Big PictureAustralia need only a draw to become the world’s No. 1 Test team. Easier said than done, for a few reasons. First, it has been an awful long time since Australia have been consistent away from home. Australia won consecutive Tests in the Caribbean against the woeful West Indies in early 2015, but the previous time they managed that was in New Zealand as far back as 2010. Plenty of times – think England 2009, Pakistan (in England) 2010, South Africa 2014, England 2015 – an Australian touring team have followed resounding victory with abject defeat. Well as Steven Smith’s team played in Wellington, they have this mental hurdle to negotiate over the next five days.Secondly, it is an essential part of this Australian team’s DNA to play for a win. Thoughts of absorbing New Zealand’s efforts to force a win through self-preserving tactical decisions are unlikely to enter the minds of Smith and the coach Darren Lehmann. Instead they will be going for victory and a 2-0 margin, on a pitch likely to favour the seam bowlers for even longer than the Basin Reserve did. New Zealand’s coach Mike Hesson made no secret of his desire to see the Hagley Oval surface prepared to be as lively as possible, so the ball seams around for more than the first morning. Such an outcome may lessen the importance of the toss, but it should also cut the draw out of the equation, making Australia’s chance of a successful series closer to 50/50 than 66/33.Lastly, this is of course Brendon McCullum’s final match for New Zealand, an occasion weighty with emotion for every player in the home side and every spectator expected to turn up at a sold out Hagley Oval. The Australians know from personal experience that retirements don’t always inspire great Test match performances, but there remains the chance of an exceptionally steely New Zealand display not only for McCullum, but to try to keep intact the team’s proud record of not having lost a series at home since 2012. In replacing the injured Doug Bracewell with Matt Henry, they also have the added benefit of including a bowler who was critical to the ODI series win – his duel with Smith will be particularly bracing.Form guideNew Zealand: LWWLD (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Australia: WDWWW
In the spotlightIn Australia last year, Kane Williamson was close to impassable. This time around, Smith’s team have found him somewhat less difficult to dislodge, as disciplined plans to keep Williamson pinned down around the off stump have been rewarded consistently. Equally, Williamson’s eagerness to get off to a firm start by capitalising on full deliveries down the ground was penalised by the early seaming conditions at the Basin Reserve. In the final match before he likely takes over the mantle of all-format leadership from McCullum, Williamson will be hoping to set the batting example for his team – substance is required, and he is the best man to deliver it.Amid the batting feast in Wellington, David Warner sat and watched, doubtless wondering what might have been without his early slash at a Tim Southee delivery angled across him. Such dismissals have seldom been glimpsed when Warner has batted at home over the past three seasons, but they have become increasingly prevalent abroad. Not since Pakistan in October 2014 has he made an overseas Test hundred – in Australia over that period he’s made two at the SCG alone. As vice-captain, Warner’s enormous ability needs to be melded with responsibility, and to make a century in Christchurch, thus helping Australia to global supremacy, would be a strong step in that direction.Team newsDoug Bracewell’s injury absence will open up a chance for Matt Henry, while the hosts are still mulling over the possible inclusion of Neil Wagner in place of Mark Craig.New Zealand (possible) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Brendon McCullum (capt), 6 Corey Anderson, 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Mark Craig/Neil Wagner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent BoultJames Pattinson will come into the Australian side in place of the injured Peter Siddle.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 James Pattinson, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jackson BirdPitch and conditionsHagley Oval’s pitch looks similarly green to that of Basin Reserve, and both teams are curious as to how it will play. “I think it actually looks pretty similar to the last wicket the day before the game,” Smith said. “It’s quite hard to tell how it’s going to play until you get out there on the morning of the game when they’ve given it a roll and you see it for the last time.”Stats and trivia Australia will become the world’s No. 1 ranked Test team with a win or draw in Christchurch New Zealand have twice come back from 1-0 down to tie a Test series with Australia, at home in 1993 and away in 2011 New Zealand won the only previous Test played at Hagley Oval, against Sri Lanka in December 2014Quotes”The goal of this team is to be No. 1 in all formats of the game, and if we win this week, we tick off two of those formats. But for me it is about making sure we are improving and being better.”

Liverpool head of recruitment Dave Fallows is being lined up as Julian Ward’s successor as sporting director at Anfield, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Ward’s shock exit

Ward took over from the much-praised Michael Edwards as sporting director last year, as the Reds lost arguably one of their most influential figures of the Jurgen Klopp era.

The hope was that the 41-year-old would be a key long-term replacement for his predecessor, but instead, Liverpool were rocked by the news that he will also leave his role at the end of the season.

Since that shock announcement late last year, the club have been on the lookout for an eventual replacement and a key update has now emerged regarding the situation.

The Latest: Fallows in pole

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, Fallows is the front-runner to take over from Ward and is currently ‘in every meeting’ and is ‘involved in every decision’ at the club.

He is described in the report as a ‘strong candidate’ at worst, and it could be that he is being ‘lined up by the Liverpool hierarchy’.

The Verdict: Good in-house decision?

There may be some who want a new sporting director to come in from fresh surroundings but bringing in Fallows could represent a more seamless transition.

[freshpress-quiz id=“419074″]

He knows Liverpool inside out already and has been present to see Edwards and Ward going about their jobs, hopefully learning from the duo in the process.

If the Reds are to get back to the level they were at last season, they need to be getting every decision right both on and off the pitch, so this sporting director appointment is crucial.

Liverpool must be absolutely sure about Ward’s successor, ensuring he works with Klopp to identify the right signings and make tough decisions.

Potentially in a position to spend again at long last this summer, Newcastle United have now reportedly joined the race to sign a £51m striker who’s already received high praise from Alan Shearer.

Newcastle preparing for crucial Arsenal clash

There were stages in the first half of the season in which it seemed like Newcastle could miss out on Champions League football, as though their transfer failure was going to catch up to them. Now, however, with the Carabao Cup under their belt, the Magpies could finish as high as second in the Premier League. In fact, if they beat Arsenal this weekend, then Eddie Howe’s side will go above the Gunners and into the top two.

Newcastle battle Arsenal to sign star for less than £50m after scouts sent

What a signing he could be for the Magpies.

ByHenry Jackson May 17, 2025

Howe is well aware of the importance of his side’s trip to The Emirates this Sunday, too, as they look to take a major step towards Champions League qualification. He told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “It’s not done yet. The picture can change game to game and I think we’ve got to be really focused on our next game and trying to win it.

“We have been, our preparation has been good and the focus is there from the players. Nothing is achieved until it’s achieved. We have to be single minded in that and not get distracted.”

Liverpool (C)

83

36

Arsenal

68

36

Newcastle United

66

36

Chelsea

66

37

Aston Villa

66

37

Manchester City

65

36

Nottingham Forest

62

36

Those at St James’ Park need no reminder about the impact that Champions League football could have on their summer transfer window, either. A place among Europe’s elite could help convince Alexander Isak to stay put amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, whilst also helping to attract key upgrades for Howe in the coming months.

Newcastle join race to sign "superb" Pedro

The Magpies could even attract a Premier League rival with Champions League football to offer. According to Caught Offside, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Joao Pedro, who Brighton & Hove Albion have valued at a hefty €60m (£51m) amid interest from Tyneside as well as Liverpool, Aston Villa and others.

Whilst a deal to sign the forward won’t come cheap, Pedro would provide Newcastle with an instant fail-safe in the event that Isak departs. The Brazilian, who has scored 10 goals and set up another six this season, has the potential and quality to replace the Swede in the long-term. What’s more, he’s also already got a fan in the form of Newcastle legend Shearer.

The iconic goalscorer sung Pedro’s praises on Match of the Day after he scored in Brighton’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in November, saying: “He was superb today and they just edged it in those forward positions. They are really strong with him, Rutter, Mitoma and Welbeck. Their understanding and they linked really well today in Rutter and Joao Pedro.”

The approval of Shearer certainly goes a long way in Newcastle, but whether it’s enough for PIF to make their move for Pedro remains to be seen this summer.

Newcastle United are reportedly in a strong position to bring in an "excellent" defender during the January transfer window, but Real Madrid are also in the mix.

Newcastle eyeing January signings

Next month's window could come at a perfect time for the Magpies, who have started to look increasingly jaded in recent months, with Eddie Howe's squad depth tested to the max.

It was always going to be tricky to juggle the addition of Champions League football this season, but unfortunately for Newcastle, life has been made even harder by the constant injury problems they have faced. Howe's options have become limited and rotation has become so difficult, with key figures such as Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Alexander Isak all out at different times, among many others.

It has shown in the performances, with a lack of consistent results, and for that reason, it is no surprise to have seen Newcastle linked with a number of different players in recent times as the club prepare to potentially spend in January.

The Magpies have been looking at defensive options, with Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio a target who is thought to be wanted by a number of Europe's top clubs, while Bayer Leverkusen ace Piero Hincapie is another who could move to St James' Park.

Newcastle have also been backed to seal the signing of Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips next month as they look to make up for the loss of the suspended Sandro Tonali, who won't return to the setup until the early part of next season.

Key Goncalo Inacio to Newcastle update

According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are well-placed to complete the signing of Inacio, with the report describing them as "best positioned" amid apparent interest from the likes of Real Madrid. The Toon have made "frequent" observations regarding a move for him.

Sporting will only allow the 22-year-old to move on to pastures new if his €60m (£52.1m) release clause is triggered, though, so the Magpies know that he won't be available on the cheap.

Inacio is clearly a defender with the world at his feet, considering the level of interest in him at the moment and the fact that he is already making a big impression at such a young age. He is a key man for one of Portugal's biggest clubs, making 144 appearances already, not to mention chipping in with 14 goals and eight assists along the way.

The youngster has been hailed as an "excellent central defender" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig as recently as this month, and while at his best in a centre-back role, he is also adept at filling in at left-back, meaning that Howe could see him as someone who can cover for Dan Burn from time to time.

Newcastle now ready to make offer to sign "extraordinary" player

The PIF would guarantee him a big salary.

ByHenry Jackson Dec 23, 2023

Granted, having to spend over £50m for any player is asking a lot, but given the long-term potential that Inacio has in his boots, Newcastle would be wise to sign him in January, snapping him up before another European powerhouse swoops in instead.

Liverpool are much-improved this season after toiling last year, but still seek improvements over the next few years to return to the very top of the game.

Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were all signed to combat the summer exodus, but this well-wrought midfield could be bolstered further.

Who are Liverpool interested in signing?

According to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Schalke 04's teenage sensation Assan Ouédraogo is attracting Jurgen Klopp's attention after bursting onto the scene in prodigious fashion, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton also interested.

Any deal would not materialise until the end of the 2023/24 campaign, when the 17-year-old's €20m (£17m) release clause would no longer be dormant.

Plettenberg does also claim that AC Milan currently hold the most "concrete" interest in the youngster's services, with the Serie A side's officials set to meet Schalke bosses for negotiations this week.

Who is Assan Ouédraogo?

The versatile midfielder is playing with age-belying confidence and swagger in Bundesliga 2, very much integral in Die Knappen's travails.

Also pursued by Bayern Munich, the rising star is robust and positive in possession, completing 81% of his passes this season, succeeding with 61% of his dribbles and winning 55% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Given that he also ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across similar divisions over the past year for goals, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, his aptitude in surging forward and providing a creative threat is clear.

Such qualities could put him in good stead to become Liverpool's starring member of a burgeoning youth fold, surpassing even the talent of 18-year-old Spaniard Stefan Bajcetic, who was so important for the struggling Reds last season.

Having made 19 appearances last term, scoring against Aston Villa in the Premier League, the dynamic midfielder saw his season curtailed in March due to injury, though he is wedging his way back into the team at present and earned a start in the Europa League against LASK.

Described by journalist Zubin Daver as a "special" talent, Bajcetic is impressive but might see his ability surpassed by such a precocious talent as Ouédraogo, who is attracting the attention of some of Europe's goliaths.

He's even been touted as the next Xabi Alonso by the German Bundesliga's official website, with the former Liverpool star and current Bayer Leverkusen manager among the crispest, most refined midfielders of his generation.

Lauded as a "proper champion" by Steven Gerrard, who revealed that he misses playing alongside the Spanish maestro at Anfield, Alonso was renowned for his all-encompassing midfield game, elegance and defensive application, which are attributes both Bajcetica and Ouédraogo would do well to absorb.

It would be a fantastic prospect to see the second coming of one of the most beloved stars in Liverpool's modern history back in the centre.

Dubbed the "stand-out” by reporter Ben Bocsak, Ouédraogo is very young and remains in the embryonic stage of his development, but he boasts all of the skills to cement his stature as one of Europe's foremost prodigies and could do so over the coming years. Just hopefully at Liverpool.