Cricket received a jolt with MS Dhoni’s decision to relinquish the captaincy of India’s limited-overs teams, but to the man himself it seemed to be no big deal

Shashank Kishore in Nagpur04-Jan-2017MS Dhoni’s last act before the BCCI issued an advisory to reveal that he had stepped down as India’s limited-overs captain was a 30-minute long meeting with his Jharkhand team-mates on their Ranji Trophy campaign.He chatted with them about the highs and lows in a campaign that, in many ways, was pathbreaking. This was Jharkhand’s first ever semi-final since their entry in 2004. When the world received a typically short message about him giving up the captaincy that didn’t state why he had done so, Dhoni was fiddling away on his Playstation console, challenging his mates to a game of FIFA even as four security guards stood outside the room preventing the hotel staff and bell boys from seeking autographs or selfies.After everyone had dispersed, he rallied his team together for a small dinner. He walked out relaxed, as if nothing in the world had changed for him even if everyone else, particularly in the cricket fraternity, had an evening of hard work ahead, as was the case when he dropped the bombshell of his Test retirement minutes after a post-match press conference in Melbourne where there was no inkling of what was to follow.In Dhoni’s world, though, his decision to relinquish the captaincy might just have been another little thing. Over the last four days in Nagpur, there was little to suggest his hunger had diminished, or that his appetite for batting and those helicopter shots had abated. Much after Jharkhand were bundled out in the final session, Dhoni, with four bats of varying sizes and thickness, strode out for a range-hitting session on the centre wicket. Connect he did, hitting balls to all corners of the old VCA ground in Civil Lines. Oh, and amid all this, there was a long chat with MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors, even as local photographers clicked away, ever so certain that the conversation was about India’s team composition for the England series.Dhoni’s daily routine included 30-minute batting sessions during the lunch breaks, followed by an hour at the gym before he exercised his arms by simply raising them and staying put – waving to 500-odd spectators who religiously turned up every day just to have their hero acknowledge them. A mere glance in their direction was enough to elicit whistles and the familiar chants of “Dhoni! Dhoni!” He may not have been in the limelight for a couple of months now, since India have only played Tests in that time, but that didn’t diminish his star power.

Over the last four days in Nagpur, there was little to suggest his hunger had diminished, or that his appetite for batting and those helicopter shots had abated

His stay in Nagpur was not just about himself but about his state side, with whom he has trained at different times in the last year, most notably during the domestic one-day tournament last year. His last Ranji Trophy appearance may have been in 2004, but the camaraderie he shared with his young group was visible. His team-mates weren’t ignored amid the craze.Wicketkeeping tips were given to Ishan Kishan. Considerable time was spent in demonstrating, or so it seemed, the importance of having soft hands. Batting tips were offered to men who were to follow in the batting order. Catching practice and light throwdowns before play were also part of the routine. He looked every inch a man who didn’t bear the weight of expectation.Dhoni has often underlined the importance of building a team that can succeed without him, of leaving when “the time is right” even though no one could be really sure if he would last till the 2019 World Cup. Mingling with a young group, dining with them and spending time may be intangible contributions to his state side, the moments treasured by all members of the squad. When rookies and senior players alike spoke about the value of having him in the dressing room, one could sense that they weren’t simply empty words.In Nagpur, it definitely didn’t feel like a young team overawed by the presence of an icon, a limited-overs great. They just did fine, happy and cheerful like a young family welcoming an older brother.

He backs Sri Lanka to make a serious push for victory at the Hagley Oval on Monday

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Mar-2023Sri Lanka has the seam-bowling weaponry to make a serious push for victory on Monday. So believes Angelo Mathews, their centurion from day four, who was most responsible for setting New Zealand a target of 285.In the 17 overs Sri Lanka bowled at New Zealand before stumps, the seamers were probing and disciplined. Kasun Rajitha claimed the wicket of Devon Conway, and New Zealand could not score at more than 1.64 an over, finishing at 28 for 1, with Tom Latham and Kane Williamson the overnight batters.In the first innings, Sri Lanka’s seamers had had New Zealand at 188 for 6, before an outstanding Daryl Mitchell hundred, and lower-order hitting from Matt Henry pushed the hosts into a narrow lead.”We’ve got the fast bowlers to exploit the conditions,” Mathews said after play. “We’ve got some fantastic fast bowlers in the group, and we have the belief that if the batters get the runs on the board, the fast bowlers will definitely come into play, with the conditions. They’ve done exactly that.”We’ve given ourselves a great chance to win the Test match. We have to turn up tomorrow and just go for it. The game is evenly poised. Latham and Williamson – we all know they are world class. We need to strike early to get into the game. If we can open one end, we can put a lot of pressure on the Kiwis.”Related

Mathews says SL not getting enough Tests, especially this year

Mathews' 115 helps SL set NZ a stiff target

The surface did not appear especially treacherous on day four – though there was still some movement off the seam for the quicks. The Hagley Oval surface has in the past tended to get lower and slower as a match goes on, though spinners have been effective at this venue late in the game as well.”You can’t predict a wicket 100%, but there was variable bounce today,” Mathews said. “But hoping he [Prabath Jayasuriya] can hit the rough spots. Especially to the left-hander there’s a big rough on either side. The spinner also might come into play – you never know.”His own 115 off 235 balls, which was his 14th Test ton and his second in successive tours of New Zealand, Mathews put down to experience. It was a vital innings, during which he forged a 105-run partnership with Dinesh Chandimal, then put on 60 alongside Dhananjaya de Silva.Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara shared five wickets between them in the first innings•AFP/Getty ImagesAlthough in the first innings Sri Lanka rattled along at almost four an over, they were prevented from scoring freely for much of day four, by some disciplined New Zealand bowling.”The more you play the more you learn, and I’ve played a lot of cricket in New Zealand, and in Christchurch as well,” Mathews said. “I know what kinds of conditions we are getting here. Credit should go to the New Zealand bowlers as well. After Neil Wagner got injured, the other three fast bowlers gave nothing away. It was hard work out there, but they kept pegging away, and we had to work extremely hard to get those runs. We had to keep grinding all day, which we did, I thought.”Scoring was especially difficult before lunch, when New Zealand sent down 28 overs and conceded just 67 (a run rate of 2.39).”You come set to play certain shots because they aren’t giving anything away,” Mathews said. “You kind of know what you get from each bowler, so you kind of mentally plan it out. The first session they gave nothing away at all. We had to keep fighting for sngles and twos – forget about the fours. We all know [Tim] Southee is a world-class bowler, and no matter how tired he is he lands it on the spot. Matt Henry bowled extremely well, as well as [Blair] Tickner though he’s young and new to the Test arena, he bowled with a lot of gas. We knew what’s coming with each and every bowler, and we had to plan accordingly.”Sri Lanka must win this match, and the next one, to stand any chance of making the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval later this year. Mathews lauded the work of coach Chris Silverwood and captain Dimuth Karunaratne for creating a vibe through which a side that is not particularly studded with standout players, has been able to come close to making a major final.”The captain and the coach play a major part in the team’s environment. And us seniors will back it up with them. Chris Silverwood and his support staff and the captain has done a fantastic job in creating a great environment, to play cricket with a lot of freedom. That’s what you want – to put everything aside, and go out there and enjoy yourselves, which we’re absolutely doing.”

Mumbai Indians captain also feels Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera “are going to be huge stars for us and for India”

PTI24-May-2023

Rohit Sharma knows he can’t sixes as big as Kieron Pollard’s, but he also knows he doesn’t have to•BCCI

India and Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma believes T20 cricket has changed and there is no role left for anchors in the format. Subsequently, he has been exploring what more he can do as a batter in the format. Rohit said while power-hitting could never be his forte, as a batter, he wants to do things “differently” now without worrying too much about the outcomes.”As I see it, there is no role for an anchor now. It is just how T20 cricket is played these days, unless you are 20 for 3 or 4, which is not going to happen every day,” Rohit said. “Once in a while, you will be in that position and then someone needs to anchor the innings and finish off to a good score. [But] there is no role for an anchor anymore, guys are playing differently.”Rohit said he felt a change in mindset is mandatory. “If you do not change your mindset, you are going to get smashed,” he said in a conversation with Jio Cinema. “People on the other side are thinking about the game differently and taking it to the next level.”All seven batters need to play their role, I believe that if you get a good score, it is good, but even if you get a good 30-40 off just 10-15 or 20 balls, it is as good because you are doing the role for the team. The game has changed.”Rohit said he has played T20 cricket long enough for him to try new things without worrying about a failure. “I just want to play that way and see what I can do. I have played this format for a long time and in a certain manner. But I want to do different things now. While doing that, [if] I get out, [it] does not really bother me.”If you see, in Chennai and before that in Mohali, I got out for zero. In the third game, against RCB, I stepped down the first ball. I thought I have failed thrice in as many attempts but it is fine, this is what I am going to do.”But, he said, he cannot switch to all-out power-hitting because others are doing so, and would prefer to get the runs in his own way.”I know I cannot match the power of guys like Tim David, Kieron Pollard and Cameron Green. They are powerful hitters; they can hit 100 metres easily.”But my thinking is that if I am getting a six after 65-70 metres, I only have to hit 80 metres. Why do I need to hit 100 metres? I will do that once you allow eight runs for it.”I will hit 80 metres only because I am getting six runs for it, and for that I need to time the ball. I do not need to muscle the ball like the other guys do – that is their strength. My strength is to get the ball in the middle of the bat, which is what we call the sweet spot.”Rohit offered Mumbai Indians and India team-mate Suryakumar Yadav as an example of this type of batting bringing much success. “Look at Surya; he is not hitting it big. He can also hit 100 metres but his thinking is also the same [as me].”Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera will be huge stars, says RohitRohit, who’s Mumbai team is looking for their sixth IPL title, said they are tagged a team of superstars, but the franchise has had to work for this to come about.”Yes, it is a superstar team, but it is because the franchise has worked for it. All these players are part of the big auction pool – we have bought them.”Our team of scouts had worked day and night to get Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel here from Ahmedabad. Hardik [Pandya] and Krunal [Pandya] were spotted in 2015 and we got them here. We have worked hard for it. It was a five-year journey from 2015-2020.”Among the current lot, Rohit reserved special praise for Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera, whom he said will be “huge stars” not only for Mumbai Indians but also for India.”It is going to be the same story with what has happened with Bumrah, Hardik and all these guys. Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera… you watch the next two years. But then people will say ‘it is a superstar team’. Yes it is, we are making them here. These two guys are going to be huge stars for us and for India.”

da bet7k： Manchester United may have secured a last-gasp 2-1 win over Rangers in midweek, but that much-need victory – which has further bolstered their hopes of Europa League progression – appears to have raised further questions rather than answers surrounding the floundering Old Trafford side.

da fezbet： Indeed, Ruben Amorim’s squad selection no doubt had a few onlookers scratching their heads, with Marcus Rashford still left to watch on from the stands, despite no indication that an exit will actually be secured over the next week or so, while £86m flop, Antony, was selected on the bench, even amid the Brazilian’s imminent loan move to Real Betis.

Perhaps the most intriguing call, however, was the Portuguese’s decision to hand Alejandro Garnacho a starting berth for the third time in the last four games, with the Argentine thrust into the attack even despite rampant speculation regarding a potential bid from rivals Chelsea.

Whether it was merely a tactic to help bolster the 20-year-old’s price tag, or a statement of Amorim’s backing of the player, Garnacho certainly provided a reminder of his qualities, going close to getting on the scoresheet on a handful of occasions, having looked United’s most threatening outlet in attack.

The thought then that the former Atletico Madrid man could be sold in the coming days to comply with PSR regulations is a troubling one as far as Red Devils fans are concerned, with it hard to see the wisdom in weakening an already threadbare forward line – unless a suitable replacement is required…

Man Utd's search for a forward

Amid the speculation surrounding Garnacho’s potential switch to Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that a swap deal could be on the cards should that deal go ahead, with talks having been held regarding a move for Christopher Nkunku.

The suggestion from Plettenberg is that the two clubs have been in “direct contact” regarding that possible exchange, with Nkunku potentially up for grabs amid his limited game time in west London, having started just three Premier League games this season.

With rumours of the Frenchman making a move to Bayern Munich having gone relatively quiet of late, Plettenberg claims that the chance is there for United and INEOS to pounce, before the February deadline is at an end.

How Nkunku compares to Rashford and Garnacho

Talk of a January swap deal involving another top-flight rival may evoke worrying memories of the infamous Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan winter trade back in 2018, yet the hope would be that the acquisition of Nkunku would prove far more fruitful.

Transfer Focus

Expand Collapse

It must be said off the bat that the 27-year-old has not enjoyed a particularly impressive time of it in the Premier League thus far, having been restricted to just 30 league appearances since arriving from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, with just five of those outings coming from the start.

That said, the one-time Paris Saint-Germain starlet has still scored five times amid that limited involvement, while he has also taken his chance across a variety of cup appearances, having chalked up 20 goals and assists in just 43 games for the Blues.

The issue that the attacking “monster” – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has found in his current home is the inability to nail down a specific role, having often been deployed as a centre-forward, even despite Enzo Maresca’s admission that his best position is as “a No.10 behind the striker, between the lines”.

Unable to usurp Cole Palmer from that playmaking berth, Nkunku could find a home in one of the two roles behind the centre-forward in Amorim’s system, having played that position previously during his stint at Leipzig.

It was largely in that ‘second striker’ role that the £195k-per-week menace enjoyed his best season to date back in 2021/22, after scoring 35 goals and registering 19 assists in all competitions – eclipsing Rashford’s best-ever return of 30 goals and nine assists in 2022/23.

In all, Nkunku scored 70 goals in just 172 games during his time with the Bundesliga outfit, while he has actually scored more goals than any United player this season, including Garnacho (eight) and Rashford (seven), with 13 to his name in all competitions.

Nkunku vs Rashford vs Garnacho – 23/24 & 24/25 (PL)

Stat (per 90)

Nkunku

Rashford

Garnacho

Goals

0.53

0.30

0.24

Assists

0.11

0.08

0.12

Goals & Assists

0.64

0.39

0.36

Progressive passes

3.09

2.38

2.01

Progressive carries

1.81

3.19

6.10

Pass completion

88.7%

74.8%

76.1%

Shot-creating actions

3.40

3.21

3.80

Tackles

0.85

0.72

0.90

Interceptions

0.64

0.22

0.61

Stats via FBref

Equally, as indicated above, Nkunku also comes out on top ahead of his United counterparts across the last 18 months or so with regard to numerous key metrics, including goals per 90, goals and assists per 90, progressive passes per 90 and pass completion, indicating the quality he could provide if given a consistent run of games.

Of course, few would wish to see Garnacho, in particular, shown the door before the window slams shut, yet that blow would be more than softened if INEOS were to acquire an upgrade on the young winger – and Rashford – with the signing of Nkunku.

Related Van Gaal flops, Ten Hag disasters: The 10 worst Man Utd players post-Fergie

Man United have had some dreadful players since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jan 24, 2025

Rebekah Vardy must pay £10.9k of Coleen Rooney's legal bill as part of the Wagatha Christie court verdict.

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• Court demands Vardy bear legal expenses of Rooney
• The judge found 'no fault' of Coleen
• Ordered Rebekah to pay 75 per cent of bill

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The seemingly never-ending legal drama between Rebekah and Coleen took another turn on Thursday, as a High Court ruling ordered Vardy to pay a portion of Rooney's legal costs – nearly three years after the original verdict in the now-famous Wagatha Christie case.

  The latest ruling, issued by costs judge Mark Wharton, instructed Vardy to pay £10,943.66 toward Rooney's legal bill of £14,591.55 in relation to the latest round of cost disputes. The judgment reaffirmed that Rooney was the "successful party" in this stage of the case, despite Vardy attempting to challenge elements of how Rooney's legal fees were calculated and claimed.

  This phase of the legal battle focused on disputes over VAT repayments and privileged legal documents. Despite her objections, Vardy’s application was rejected by the judge, further strengthening Rooney’s legal position.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The libel case began after Rooney publicly accused Vardy in a viral Instagram post of leaking private information to the media. In a calculated social media sting operation, Rooney posted false stories visible only to Vardy’s account and watched as they later appeared in the press. Her final post concluded dramatically: "It’s ………. Rebekah Vardy’s account." The resulting courtroom showdown became a national sensation.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Initially, Rooney’s lawyers filed a claim of £1.83m for legal expenses – over three times the original cost estimate. That figure has since been reduced to £1.65m following a previous ruling. In another decision made on Thursday, Mr Justice Cavanagh rejected Vardy’s appeal against the claim that Rooney had understated her legal expenses before the trial began. Vardy argued that Rooney had intentionally downplayed her costs in an effort to protect herself from bearing higher expenses if she lost. However, the judge concluded that while there was a "misjudgment" in transparency, it did not amount to serious misconduct.

  Justice Cavanagh said: "There had been a misjudgment in the form of a failure to be more transparent about the basis upon which the defendant’s figures for incurred costs had been prepared, but that was as far as it went."

  Judge Wharton’s ruling also acknowledged significant procedural and evidentiary shortcomings from Rooney’s legal team. While these issues didn’t derail her overall victory, they did lead to scrutiny over how some of her legal costs had been reported and reclaimed.

  The main issue stemmed from VAT errors made by her legal and agency representatives. Brabners, the celebrity law firm representing Rooney, was found to have mistakenly sought a VAT rebate on behalf of CWR 2021 Limited – a media company run by Rooney and her husband, Wayne. This company was involved in production work, including her Disney+ docuseries, The Real Wagatha Story. Rooney’s agency, Triple S Group, also wrongly submitted VAT claims after contributing payments to the legal expenses. According to Rooney’s barrister, Robin Dunne, the errors were "unfortunate" and steps are being taken to repay the amounts.

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Although Thursday’s rulings went largely in Rooney’s favour, the case is not yet fully resolved. A further hearing is scheduled to begin on May 6, during which each line of the remaining disputed legal costs will be scrutinised in detail.

  As the legal wrangling continues, what began as a social media accusation has spiralled into one of the most drawn-out celebrity court cases in recent memory, with legal bills and reputations still hanging in the balance.

After admitting that his side could be the worst Manchester United team in the club’s history, Ruben Amorim has reportedly requested the signing of a key defensive reinforcement this month.

Man Utd transfer news

When Amorim accepted Manchester United’s offer to become Erik ten Hag’s replacement, he would have been aware of just how great a challenge he had on his hands. However, not even he would have believed that, just months later, he’d be making stark admissions about the lack of quality in his side.

Whether the former Sporting Club manager should have made such a statement is up for debate, but he may not have been wrong in his assessment. The Red Devils currently sit 13th after 22 Premier League games and sit closer to the relegation zone than any European place. To say they need reinforcements would be an understatement.

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On that front, names such as Patrick Dorgu have threatened to steal the headlines. The Lecce defender could instantly solve Amorim’s wing-back problem with those at Old Trafford now reportedly set to open negotiations in pursuit of his signature this month. But he’s not the only one who could arrive.

According to reports in Spain, Amorim has now requested Man Utd to sign Ousmane Diomande alongside Dorgu with INEOS now preparing an offer worth €60m (£51m) to hand United a much-needed defensive boost.

What would undoubtedly help Amorim is the fact that Diomande is a familiar face who already knows his system incredibly well, given that the defender enjoyed great success working under Amorim during their time together at Sporting.

Amorim desperately needs "complete" Diomande at Man Utd

Manchester United’s struggles under Amorim shouldn’t really come as too great a surprise. After all, they are playing a back three system with arguably just one defender who arguably suits such a set-up in Harry Maguire and attempting to implement wing-backs without having one natural wing-back within their current squad. The reality is that it’s been square pegs in round holes since the arrival of their new manager.

Diomande could, therefore, ease their problems. A defender who has thrived within a back three under Amorim and a player who is only set to get even better at just 21 years old, £51m could quickly turn into a bargain deal. Dubbed “complete” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Diomande is certainly one to watch.

That said, Diomande must only be the start of Manchester United’s reinforcements as they look to build Amorim a side simply capable of thriving in his preferred system at Old Trafford.

Leicester's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Sunday as they suffered a 1-0 loss to Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

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Leicester were beaten 1-0 by LiverpoolHave dropped to the English second tierWon just one of their last 19 PL gamesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Foxes' latest defeat not only condemned them to the drop but also highlighted their alarming lack of firepower in front of goal. Their inability to score at home has now stretched beyond 12 hours, or nine consecutive games – a damning statistic for a side that once lifted the Premier League trophy in one of the sport’s most iconic underdog stories.

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Leicester's drop to the second tier marks their second relegation in just three seasons. From conquering the league in 2016 and claiming the FA Cup in 2021, they now find themselves oscillating between top-flight hope and Championship reality. They return to the second tier having won only four of their 33 matches.

DID YOU KNOW?

The decision to bring in Ruud van Nistelrooy midway through the season has come under heavy scrutiny. The Dutchman was appointed following the dismissal of Steve Cooper, a change that was intended to reverse the club’s fortunes. Instead, it contributed to their downward spiral. Under Cooper, Leicester had a difficult start but managed to remain above the relegation line for the most part. His record – two wins, four draws, and six defeats in twelve games – was not glittering, but it kept the club afloat in 16th place or higher. Van Nistelrooy’s tenure, however, quickly dragged them into trouble. His short time at the helm has yielded just two victories in the Premier League, with wins coming against Tottenham and West Ham. However, these rare high points were surrounded by consistent defeats, resulting in a staggering losing rate of close to 80 per cent in the league.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LEICESTER?

Despite the gloom surrounding their Premier League exit, Leicester fans can cling to the memory of last season’s dominant run in the Championship. Their campaign saw them collect 97 points and secure the title, proving their ability to rise from adversity. That experience could serve them well as they prepare for another season in England’s second tier. However, whether Van Nistelrooy remains at the helm or if the club opts for another managerial reset remains to be seen.

Celtic are in the market to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch before the January transfer window officially slams shut at the start of next month.

The Hoops have recently been linked with an interest in Lille centre-forward Mohamed Bayo to come in and compete with Adam Idah and Kyogo Furuhashi in the number nine position.

They are also reportedly considering a move to sign Real Valladolid winger Raul Moro to add to their options on the wing, whilst the Scottish Premiership leaders are said to have held talks to land Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden.

One of Celtic’s transfer targets for the winter window, however, appears to be increasingly difficult to get a deal over the line for, with the latest update on their pursuit of a Premier League forward.

Celtic told to pay big money for transfer target

According to Football Insider, the Hoops will need to pay a ‘big fee’ if they want to sign Louie Barry on a permanent deal from Aston Villa this month.

The report claims that several clubs want to sign the winger and that it will take a huge offer to convince the Villans to part ways with him on a permanent basis, as their current plan is to assess him in training before potentially loaning him out for the second half of the season.

It does not reveal how much money it would take to tempt the Premier League side into cashing in on Barry, but the Daily Mail recently reported that Celtic made an offer of £5m, with £5m in add-ons, for the 21-year-old.

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not that £10m bid is the ‘big fee’ that Villa are looking for, the Scottish giants should push hard to bring the Englishman to Parkhead before the end of the window because he could be an upgrade on Daizen Maeda.

Why Celtic should sign Louie Barry

Firstly, Barry would come in as a 21-year-old prospect with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve over the years to come, which means that he would be a long-term asset on the pitch and as a possible future sale for profit.

Also, the English forward spent the first half of the season on loan with Stockport County in League One, the division that Matt O’Riley was once signed from, and caught the eye with his impressive performances at the top end of the pitch.

Barry, whose composure was once hailed as “incredible” by Declan Rice, is a right-footed left winger who has excelled at coming infield to score fantastic goals this term, as you can see in the clip above.

Appearances

23

20

Goals

15

5

Big chances missed

6

12

Big chances created

5

5

Assists

2

5

As you can see in the table above, the Villa youngster showcased his quality in the final third with a staggering return of 20 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 23 League One outings.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for Barry to come in and offer Brendan Rodgers an upgrade on Maeda, because of his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis – something the Japan international has struggled badly with.

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Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the striker this month.

ByDan Emery Jan 18, 2025

Therefore, Celtic should consider upping the bid of £10m they have already made to sign him for a ‘big fee’ before the end of the window, due to the potential quality that he could provide on the pitch for the Hoops in the second half of the campaign.

Sometimes, a result in football shifts a mood dramatically. Some might point back over the past six months. Others could counter the point with evidence of Arne Slot’s incredible start to life at the helm, sending Liverpool into the driving seat for the two biggest prizes.

But football doesn’t work that way. Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool on Wednesday evening and they beat them soundly. So what, Lucas Bergvall’s goal was enabled by contentious officiating that is becoming a staple in this fixture, in this stadium.

The fact is, Liverpool looked leggy and sapped, with Slot’s mastermind tactics falling short this time, perhaps due to a lack of rotation across the campaign that is now catching up with a side that has performed at full throttle and defied expectations in doing so.

In the press-focused overtures of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat – a 1-0 loss that still leaves the Reds with a great chance of overturning the deficit and moving to the final stage – Slot claimed that he is confident in his squad’s quality and is not actively looking to make signings this month.

That’s a boring and expected response from a Premier League manager, but it’s one that Slot needed to make, for Liverpool will only act if the perfect opportunity arises.

Has that dream chance emerged?

Liverpool tempted to seal stunning Jan signing

As per Football Insider, Liverpool have been informed that a bid worth roughly £25m would be enough to convince Bayern Munich to part with Leroy Sane this winter.

Sane is out of contract at the end of the season and has been locked in protracted negotiations for an extension, but he could return to the Premier League with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all interested.

The winger turns 29 in a few days and thus would not be the typical FSG-type signing, but he’s durable, athletic and incisive, and could be a unique opportunity to complete Slot’s frontline.

Sane has previously confirmed that he would not prioritise dealings with other clubs this month, but as January rumbles on, so too do suitors like Liverpool grow in confidence.

What Leroy Sane would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool have been playing against the backcloth of Jurgen Klopp’s shocking departure this season, with many expecting Anfield to fall like many other giants at the end of a dynasty.

But they haven’t. Liverpool are first-placed in the Premier League and Champions League tables, firm favourites on home soil and confident on the continent as they gear up for the knockout rounds.

Sane is a tried-and-tested winner on English shores, endowed with the technical and physical attributes that could see him thrive as one more member of Liverpool’s exciting attack. Indeed, he’s already scored four goals against Klopp’s Reds from just five Premier League meetings.

Though he’s been in and out of the starting line-up under Vincent Kompany this year, Sane reiterated his standing as one of Europe’s finest wingers last season, producing performances that show more roundedness than, say, Mohamed Salah.

Matches (starts)

27 (25)

19 (19)

Goals

8

18

Assists

11

13

Shots (on target)*

2.7 (1.0)

3.9 (2.1)

Big chances created

16

15

Key passes*

2.7

1.5

Dribbles (completed)*

3.6

1.7

Ball recoveries*

3.4

2.6

Duels won*

4.9

3.6

That’s not to say he’s on the Egypt sensation’s level, but it would bring something a little different to Slot’s system. Salah flattered to deceive as Liverpool fell to defeat against Spurs, peripheral and garbled in his efforts, skewing wide with both shots, failing his one attempted dribble and creating only one key pass, as per Sofascore.

Sane – who was dubbed “electric” by Gary Neville – might even be a good shout for Salah’s heir, insofar as a player who can operate in the 32-year-old’s position and provide Liverpool with an extra layer of quality to keep things chugging away across multiple positions.

He certainly has the traits to do so, with new England manager Thomas Tuchel saying this of his countryman’s talent:

With Federico Chiesa lacking fitness and fluency in Liverpool’s system, a player like Sane might have been perfect for that match, widening the scope of Liverpool’s frontline and adding that final bit of quality for matches such as the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Sane actually ranks among the top 14% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 10% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, underscoring mechanics that speak of his suitability at Liverpool.

After all, the number-crunching site reveal that Liverpool’s Luis Diaz is the Germany international’s most similar player.

The 27-year-old is one of the biggest winners from the managerial baton pass last summer, hitting 12 goals and three assists from 26 matches for Liverpool this season, the recipient of praise from correspondent James Pearce for Slot having “taken the Colombian’s game to the next level.”

Diaz isn’t old but he’s no spring chicken, but that proves that Sane could return to English football and unearth latent qualities that would shape him into a brilliant and integral part of Liverpool’s frontline.

Liverpool are not ill-equipped in their fight for silverware, but the fact remains that few – if any – foresaw such remarkable progress in Slot’s first season.

There was a general air of frustration as Red supporters trickled out of N17 like fallen winter rain, but it’s still only half-time against the Lilywhites.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s only half-time regarding the campaign, to be honest, and Liverpool must act to hand their team the best chance of making it a grand slam finish. Salah might be the best player in the world right now, but Sane could add one more dimension.

Fewer touches than Alisson: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool star after Spurs

Liverpool fell to a defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Spurs.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 9, 2025

North Zone and Central Zone all but secured their berths in the semi-finals on day three

Himanshu Agrawal30-Jun-2023

Saurabh four-for shakes East up

Saurabh Kumar’s four wickets helped Central Zone take a big step towards the Duleep Trophy semi-final ahead of the final day’s play against East Zone in Alur. Saurabh’s wickets included the Bengal trio of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Anustup Majumdar and Shahbaz Ahmed, as East ended the third evening at 69 for 6, another 231 runs away from their target of 300.East’s slide began with Saurabh dismissing captain Abhimanyu early in the sixth over to get Abhimanyu for 11. Three overs later, Avesh Khan got into the action by dismissing Sudip Kumar Gharami for a duck. And before Shantanu Mishra and Majumdar had hardly even settled down, Saurabh removed Majumdar for 13, as East started losing their way.Related

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They lost 4 for 33 in a middle-order collapse – losing the last three wickets for just eight runs – as Saurabh ended with figures of 4 for 33, while Avesh and Shivam Mavi got one wicket each. Before that, Central had had a slide of their won, losing all ten wickets while adding only 115 after the opening partnership fetched 124.Himanshu Mantri got 68 while Vivek Singh hit 56, but once Ishan Porel bowled Vivek to break the first-wicket stand, East found a way back. Porel finished with 3 for 15 – he got Upendra Yadav and Saurabh off back-to-back balls in the 69th over – while Shahbaz took 3 for 66 to restrict Central to 239 after they were 60 ahead in the first innings. However, the day eventually belonged to Central.

All-round North decimate North East

North Zone warmed up for the semi-final by continuing to dominate over North East Zone in Bengaluru. Set an improbable 666 to win, North East lost three early wickets on the third evening.The day had begun when they were 65 for 3 in the first innings, where they soon folded for 134 to hand North a huge first-innings lead of 406. Siddarth Kaul and Pulkit Narang grabbed three wickets each to secure that for North.However, North chose not to ask North East to follow-on, instead opting to bat again despite the huge advantage, and their bowlers having bowled only 39.2 overs spread across two days. They were 23 for 2 in their second innings, before the middle order got down to some batting practice. Ankit Kalsi and Prabhsimran Singh added 83 before Kalsi fell one short of a fifty. Prabhsimran went on to hit a quick 59 with nine fours and a six.It was then Ankit Kumar and Jayant Yadav’s turn to entertain, as they formed a union of 113 for the sixth wicket, their partnership coming at above four runs an over. While Jayant remained unbeaten on 55, North declared their second innings on 259 after Ankit was dismissed for 70. And soon after, their bowlers left the result a mere formality.