After spending big on Matheus Cunha and soon Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have now turned their focus towards much-needed sales and are reportedly negotiating the departure of a £200,000-a-week star.
Players Man Utd could sell this summer
After finishing 15th and failing to qualify for European football, many expected Manchester United to endure a difficult summer transfer window. So far, that has not proved to be the case, however.
Instead, INEOS have been splashing the cash – first welcoming Cunha for around £63m and then pushing on with an offer worth over £60m to sign Mbeumo from Brentford. But those arrivals are unlikely to come without sacrifice this summer.
On the exit front, the Red Devils must get busy and open the exit door for several players – starting with Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford. Both players are almost certain to leave Old Trafford this summer, but there remain question marks over their next destinations.
In an ideal world, Aston Villa would have the finances to sign Rashford on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell in the second half of last season, but the reality is that their PSR issues are likely to provide an obstacle in the way of any potential deal.
Instead, reports suggest that United could be forced to rely on interested parties such as Barcelona to come swooping in.
Meanwhile, Garnacho’s next destination could come closer to home this summer amid interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea. The Blues could reportedly come calling for a player that Ruben Amorim desperately wants out even if it is to the Blues.
Be it Rashford, Garnacho or one £200,000-a-week star, the Red Devils simply must undergo a significant clear-out before the end of the summer transfer window.
Man Utd now negotiating "complex" Antony exit
As revealed by Real Betis chief Manu Fajardo, Manchester United are now in “complex” negotiations to sell Antony to the Spanish club in a big-money deal this summer. The winger endured a revived spell on loan at Betis in the second half of last season and is now keen to complete a return to the La Liga side.
Farjardo told local reporters as relayed by Sport Witness: “We all have to be aware that this is a very complex operation. Given the player’s level and his recent career at Real Betis, it’s not an easy transaction.
“But, as long as Antony hasn’t committed to a third party, we, with the utmost humility, will play our cards to be able to opt for Antony. I insist, despite this being a complex operation, we will try to carry it out in different ways without compromising the club.”
INEOS in contact for "phenomenal" £86m star who wants to join Man Utd instead of Arsenal
He’s reportedly made a shock transfer U-turn this summer…
ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025
As the Betis sporting director reiterated, it won’t be an easy deal to sign Antony – not least because of his £200,000-a-week salary – but it is one that they’re still negotiating nonetheless this summer.
Manchester United’s Europa League final woes have not only exposed the task at hand for manager Ruben Amorim moving forward, but have also put the decisions of the previous regime even further under the microscope.
Indeed, on Wednesday night, goalkeeper Andre Onana couldn’t keep out Brennan Johnson’s scruffy effort, with the Cameroonian hardly inspiring much confidence in a season in which he has made five errors leading to a goal in Europe and in the Premier League combined.
In attack, meanwhile, the decision to start Mason Mount failed to work out, with the Englishman producing an ineffective performance in which he was restricted to even fewer touches than Onana, with just 25 in total.
Mason Mount
Ahead of the ex-Chelsea man, Rasmus Hojlund was even more peripheral as he recorded just 15 touches of his own, with the Dane again firing a blank in a season in which he has scored just ten times in total.
The common thread between that trio? Well, they were all signed in what now looks like a sliding doors summer for the Red Devils in 2023. Fresh off the back of a promising first campaign under Erik ten Hag that yielded a third-placed finish and Carabao Cup success, the club needed to kick on again with marquee moves.
The likes of Harry Kane were touted, although Hojlund and co arrived instead – the Old Trafford side are still paying the price for that decision…
Analysing Hojlund's two seasons at Man Utd
For all the talk of Kane, for a fleeting moment it looked like the correct call had been made by plumping for the youthful Hojlund, with the £64m signing – rising to £72m – enjoying an impressive cameo on debut against Arsenal.
Unleashed off the bench, the promising speedster ran Gabriel and William Saliba ragged, playing his part in the eventually disallowed ‘winner’ from Alejandro Garnacho, while drawing a clumsy foul from the former that surprisingly didn’t result in a penalty.
That bright start culminated in a standout Champions League group stage run that yielded five goals, including a breakaway effort against Galatasaray that even sparked comparisons to a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Frustratingly, however, it took until Boxing Day for Hojlund to notch a first top-flight goal for the club, albeit with that breakthrough sparking a run of seven goals in just six games at the turn of the year.
Despite ultimately ending 2023/24 as the top scorer for Ten Hag across all fronts, injuries and a lack of consistency saw him slip out of the starting lineup as the campaign progressed, with the Dutch coach opting for a strikerless system in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.
Perhaps, on reflection, Amorim should well have attempted a similar tweak in recent weeks, with Hojlund coming to the end of a simply wretched campaign that has yielded only four league goals.
In truth, as last season showcased, the 22-year-old does appear more effective in Europe, although even then his impact has largely come in bursts, notably netting four times across successive outings against Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen.
Rasmus Hojlund
A streaky striker, and an expensive one at that, the former Atalanta man could be set for a swift return to Serie A this summer by all accounts, having failed to live up to expectations and the burden of being United’s leading number nine.
For all the frustration over what now looks like a costly mistake, it’s fair to say that Hojlund – who has 26 goals in 94 games – isn’t the biggest transfer misfire of the last decade or so…
Man Utd's bigger mistake than Hojlund
Dishing out £64m on a player who had scored just ten goals in Italy the year prior remains a simply headscratching decision, although so too does forking out £86m to sign Antony a year earlier.
Reportedly valued at around £25m at one stage, amid prior interest during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure, the Brazilian was earmarked as a key signing for Ten Hag in the summer of 2022, amid their prior relationship at Ajax.
With that window quickly heading to a close, and United losing their opening two games under the new boss, the desperate decision was made to plump for Casemiro and then Antony at the death, with the latter man arriving on deadline day.
Despite a lively start, which yielded three goals in his first three league appearances, the 24-year-old has been simply a disaster since then, with pundit Micah Richards notably highlighting his “lazy” approach in the dismal 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
An at-times headless and petulant presence on the pitch, Antony was also dubbed “embarrassing” by club legend Gary Neville for kicking out at Jeremy Doku in the final knockings of the 3-0 Manchester Derby defeat last term, a moment that could well have resulted in a red card.
Man Utd record for selected wingers (past and present)
Player
Games
Goals
Assists
Total G/A
Antony
96
12
5
17
Anthony Elanga
55
4
4
8
Amad
63
13
11
22
Jadon Sancho
83
12
6
18
Alejandro Garnacho
144
26
22
45
Dan James
74
9
9
18
Angel Di Maria
34
4
12
16
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
63
13
11
24
Memphis Depay
53
7
6
13
Stats via Transfermarkt
Of course, there has been the odd bright moment – such as his Europa League efforts against Barcelona and Real Betis – yet those have been few and far between, with the exiled winger racking up just 17 goals and assists in 95 games for the club to date. To put that into perspective, even Jadon Sancho boasts a better return, with 18 goal involvements in 83 games.
Like Sancho, Antony is now something of a forgotten man after being shipped out on loan, with not even his mini-revival at Betis enough to spark hope of a fresh start in Manchester next season, despite scoring eight times in just 24 games in Spain.
As revealed by the MEN, even while a review of the current campaign and Wednesday’s showpiece defeat is likely to take place, the priority at present is cashing in on Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony, with funds needed to spark yet another rebuild at Old Trafford.
Hopefully, lessons will have been learned from the bumper deals for the likes of Hojlund and Antony, with INEOS now needing to ensure that they can at least claw back some sort of substantial fee for Ten Hag’s dismal duo.
Not just Hojlund: 4/10 dud must now never play for Man Utd again
Man Utd’s grim season ended with a whimper in Bilbao on Wednesday evening
Tottenham Hotspur have seemingly been offered the chance to sign a noteworthy Chelsea player this summer, and he could prove a very useful addition for Ange Postecoglou or his potential replacement next season.
Tottenham transfer plans amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty
Spurs are on course for their worst ever Premier League season, resulting in uncertainty surrounding Postecoglou’s long-term future, and reports suggest the former Celtic boss could be shown his P45 regardless of their campaign in Europe (The Telegraph).
Tottenham: Levy now plotting surprise bid for "underrated" West Ham player
It would be a real head-turner.
By
Emilio Galantini
Apr 30, 2025
A succession of managerial candidates have been tipped to potentially succeed Postecoglou, but as technical director Johan Lange and Daniel Levy assess Spurs’ options in that regard, they must also begin preparations for the summer transfer window.
Tottenham’s final Premier League fixtures
Date
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Tottenham are reportedly in the market for a forward, and have even been linked with a surprise move for West Ham star Jarrod Bowen this week.
Levy is apparently willing to bid around £51 million to sign Bowen for Spurs, even if this may not be anywhere near enough, but the England international isn’t their only rival player to be mentioned as a possible incoming in the last few days.
Christopher Nkunku holds talks to join Tottenham via agents
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, £195,000-per-week Chelsea winger Christopher Nkunku is actively looking to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
The Frenchman, who’s actually scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, verbally agreed terms over a move to Bayern Munich in January (Florian Plettenberg), and looks set to be one of the many men sold or loaned out by Enzo Maresca’s side when the window reopens.
Bailey writes that, while a move to Europe is more likely, Nkunku’s camp have reached out for talks with Tottenham recently, as the ex-RB Leipzig sensation’s representatives attempt to offer him to a host of clubs.
“I am told that a move to Europe is the most likely option – but his people are touching base with clubs in England,” said Bailey.
“Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham have all been spoken to in the past few months. Chelsea want to recoup as much of their plus £50m outlay, but that looks difficult at this juncture.
“I am told the player is very happy in London, and so would a move to a Arsenal or Tottenham appeal? I believe it would but as it stands those options are not advanced – but Arsenal and Spurs both have an historic interest in the player. Both want a wide forward, so you could see the fit.
“There is interest back in Germany – Bayern Munich like him, a new deal for Leroy Sane doesn’t rule out them making a move but it is not pressing. Former club RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen also admire him.”
The versatile 27-year-old has displayed real quality on occasion since his switch to London, and was a revelation in the Bundesliga. However, this could prove to be a costly operation, especially for a price around £50 million, not to mention his lofty salary.
With Spurs in for a ‘sell to buy’ summer, as per The Telegraph, these factors may well deter Levy.
Chelsea could look to bring back a former player in the summer transfer window, and it is believed he’s very much open to a Stamford Bridge return.
Chelsea seal huge Champions League boost after win over Liverpool
Enzo Maresca was a happy man after Chelsea sealed their arguably most important win of the Premier League season on Sunday.
Talks held: Chelsea now discussing move for "world-class" £400k-a-week star
The Blues are internally discussing a move for an attacker, who has scored 72 Premier League goals.
ByDominic Lund May 5, 2025
Chelsea’s 3-1 home win over English champions Liverpool handed the club an almighty boost in their race for Champions League qualification, with goals from Enzo Fernández, Jarell Quansah (OG) and a late Cole Palmer penalty sealing a vital three points.
Chelsea’s final four Premier League fixtures
Date
Newcastle (away)
May 11th
Man United (home)
May 16th
Nottingham Forest (away)
May 25th
The west Londoners are now in the top five, and as things stand, they’re on course to seal a place in next season’s Champions League draw with a minor gap now bridged between Chelsea and sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.
“I really think that Liverpool deserve to win the Premier [League],” said Maresca on Chelsea’s win over Liverpool.
“First of all because they have been consistent. Second of all because they had consistently the [whole] squad available, something that unfortunately the rest [of the teams] have not.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescalooks on before the match
“Today again they show the reason why the have won the Premier League. We did not plan, I promise you, the game to defend deep. We plan the game to high press in the way we always [do] but sometimes the opposition is so good that you have to defend deep, and you have to adapt, and the players dealt with that very good.”
This result could be looked back on as the match which helped them on their way to Europe’s most prestigious competition, with Champions League qualification also set to have a big impact on Chelsea’s summer transfer plans.
Chelsea’s pursuit of a new centre-back will be altered by their success in sealing a top five place, with many names reportedly on BlueCo’s agenda heading into the next transfer window.
One of them, according to numerous media sources, is Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts
The England international’s contract is set to expire in 2026, opening the door for his potential sale this summer, but Palace could still demand up to £60 million for Guehi regardless.
Reports have claimed that Chelsea chiefs are confident they can strike a deal for Guehi and lure him back to west London, following the Cobham academy graduate’s departure to Selhurst Park in 2021.
Marc Guehi open to making Chelsea return this summer
As per journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Guehi is open to making a Chelsea return this summer, but the 24-year-old is yet to make a final decision.
He’s also believed to be waiting on the results of this year’s race for Champions League qualification, adding further importance to Chelsea’s goal of sealing their spot in the competition, while Newcastle are seriously tempting Guehi as well.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
As per Phillips, Chelsea haven’t laid as much groundwork on a move for Guehi as they have for alternative centre-back target, Dean Huijsen, either.
That being said, there is little denying the Three Lions ace, called a “sensational talent” by Palace chairman Steve Parish, would be a stellar addition to Maresca’s backline.
An ankle surgery kept Tushar Deshpande out of the game for a while, but the wickets are coming again and so is the confidence
Deivarayan Muthu30-Aug-2025Mumbai fast bowler Tushar Deshpande is keen to make up for lost time after missing the entire 2024-25 domestic season with a major ankle injury.After undergoing surgery for it last October, Deshpande was hoping to return to action for the Ranji Trophy knockouts in February 2025, but his rehab needed more time. The 30-year-old eventually made his comeback in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and then proved his red-ball fitness for India A against England Lions in Northampton in June.More recently, in the lead-up to the Duleep Trophy, Deshpande bowled 18 overs in Chennai’s unforgiving heat against Haryana in a three-day Buchi Babu fixture.Related
Iyer, Jaiswal in strong West Zone line-up against Central Zone
Ankit, Rasheed added to South Zone squad for Duleep semi-final
From Lonavala to the limelight – Vicky Ostwal eyes step up across formats
'Cricket's just a game' – How Tanmay Agarwal's new mindset is fuelling his run spree
'I can push my body again' – Mavi puts setbacks behind him
“I have put in a lot of effort, actually,” Deshpande said in Chennai. “It was a major ankle surgery and that being my landing foot, it was necessary that I get operated at that moment of time because coming ahead are a lot of international tours as well. I’m aiming for that and I’m feeling good now for the start of the season.”The aspiration is always to play Test cricket for India, but I’m taking one match at a time, one day at a point, and just following a good process and keeping myself fit because I’ve lost considerable time off the game last year. So just keeping myself fit so I can again hit the hard yards for Mumbai.”With an India A series coming up against Australia A at home from September, Deshpande hopes to perform well in the Duleep Trophy and stay in the mix for the two unofficial Tests in Lucknow.”Absolutely, like I said, now I’m fit and fine,” Deshpande said. “So any challenge which comes up, I’m ready for it. Playing in England also… I was ready for the challenge. Even if I would have been called for the Test squad, I was ready for it because I did well in the second game which I played for India A.”So everything revolves around my fitness. Last year I wasn’t fit, I had a surgery that’s why I was away from the game. Now I’m fit and fine, so I always wanted to play the game and play for India.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Tushar Deshpande (@tushardeshpande_24)
Ahead of the Buchi Babu tournament and Duleep Trophy, Deshpande had built up his loads by working with Troy Cooley, the bowling coach at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as part of a targeted group of fast bowlers.”I’ve been working with Troy since last season as well and his input has been good revolving around the workloads for the multi-day format,” Deshpande said. “Like if you see in a four-day match, a fast bowler needs to bowl around 30-35 overs to put in intensity. We worked on it for a week, like how we go about [bowling] 35 overs, which I’m able to bowl in the two innings of a four-day match [now]. So most preparations were revolving around that alone.”Deshpande is a fairly capable batter too – he had scored a maiden first-class century against Baroda from No. 11 in the Ranji quarter-finals last year. Having started his cricket as a batter, it comes naturally to him, he said, and he has also been working on it to become a better-rounded player.Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian, batting at Nos. 11 and 10 for Mumbai, scored centuries in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy•PTI “Fast bowling was the second thing which I later picked up in my career when I was at Under-13. So, I feel batting comes naturally to me, but my dad always told me that if you bat with patience you’ll be a good batter,” Deshpande said. “He just told me ‘don’t throw your wicket away and let the bowler earn your wicket’.”During my hundred, Tanush [Kotian] trusted me and rotated the strike – so credit goes to him as well. I had scored 70-odd runs [62 from No. 7] against MP [Madhya Pradesh] back in 2016 in my debut season.”Deshpande had an up-and-down IPL 2025 for RR, picking up nine wickets in ten matches at an economy rate of over 10. With the Impact Player rule encouraging batters to go harder, Deshpande wasn’t reading too much into those numbers.”The IPL is a high-pressure environment and the way after the Impact Player where the game is going, you cannot judge a bowler by a single game or the runs he gives or the wickets he picks,” Deshpande said. “I always bowled in the powerplay and the death. Those are the tough situations of the game.Two IPL seasons in a row – 2023 and 2024 – Tushar Deshpande was CSK’s highest wicket-taker•AFP/Getty Images”And some or the other game will go my way or the batsman’s way. So it was very important for me to be level-headed because earlier for CSK [Chennai Super Kings] I was the highest wicket-taker [17 in IPL 2024]. A year before that also I was the highest wicket-taker for CSK [21 in IPL 2023]. Bowlers can’t be a lot harder on themselves because even good balls are going for runs.”In isolation, Deshpande had finished his IPL season well by keeping his former CSK team-mates MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube quiet in a 19th over that cost RR just six runs on a flat surface in Delhi.”[Got] a lot of confidence from that over,” Deshpande said. “It’s always pressure bowling to Mahi because he’s the best finisher in the world. I was kind of trying to impress him and just wanted to bowl my best ball to him. Before last season, I had never bowled to him in an official game.”In July 2024, Deshpande made his international debut in T20Is and held the trophy aloft after his team had won the series in Harare. Injury then set him back, but fit and firing again, Deshpande is ready to put himself back in the national reckoning.
Rashid, the master of deception, might be off his best, but his 3 for 14 on Friday showed that he is still a cut above the rest
Matt Roller05-May-20232:09
Muzumdar: Noor and Rashid didn’t allow batters time to adjust
R Ashwin crouched forward and took two small, tentative steps with his front foot, first planting it with his toes pointing towards cover, then towards mid-off.After being beaten on the outside edge by consecutive legbreaks – one just outside off stump, one much wider – Ashwin played for the googly, rolling his wrists as he looked to work a single through midwicket.He heard the clunk of ball on wood, then looked around to see his off stump lying flat, thrown back towards fine leg. Rashid Khan ran away with his brow furrowed and his tongue out, pointing towards the uprooted stump. As Rahul Tewatia caught up with him for a high-five, he broke into a familiar grin.Related
Pandya vs Pandya as LSG look to break out of mid-table jam
Rashid, Noor run through Rajasthan Royals in Gujarat Titans' perfect game
In his next over, Rashid had Riyan Parag in his sights. At 63 for 4, Rajasthan Royals felt as though they had no choice but to add to their batting line-up, but that meant bringing in a batter who had not played in two weeks after a lean start to the season to face T20’s leading spinner.Parag, like Ashwin, had no idea which way the ball was about to turn. And how could he? Even the world’s best players will tell you how difficult it can be to pick the white ball under floodlights, let alone when facing Rashid. Parag played down the wrong line, was smashed on the pad by a googly; a reluctant review projected the ball would have taken out middle stump.Soon after Parag’s dismissal, the TV broadcast showed a split-screen of Rashid’s legbreak and his googly, which illustrated just how hard they are to tell apart. Viewed from the batter’s stance, his wrist position looks fundamentally the same for both deliveries. Unless you can spot the seam – under lights, from 20 yards away – then it is like guesswork.”It’s just about making sure you don’t give that much of a signal to the batsmen to pick you and make it easy for them,” Rashid explained at the post-match presentation. “I am just trying my best, for the last one-and-a-half, two years, to minimise that difference between the legspinner and the wrong one… I’m trying my best to hold that in the same grip.”The one possible tell is his left hand. When Rashid bowls his googly, he tends to point his left forefinger towards the direction the ball will spin, perhaps as a signal to the wicketkeeper; when he bowls his legbreak, his forefinger and middle finger are both slightly bent.Rashid Khan takes off after cleaning R Ashwin up•BCCIIt sounds like something that batters should be watching – that is, until you remember that his left hand is at thigh height, about three feet under the ball itself, which batters are fixated on. You could study footage of Rashid for weeks and still be deceived.”The speed with which he bowls [means that] if you don’t pick it up that early, you’ve already missed it,” Aashish Kapoor, Titans’ assistant coach who has worked closely with their spinners, explained. “If you’ve not picked his googly, and you’re going to play off the wicket, it’s going to be really difficult.”It’s not like the days where we used to play, where you’d plant your leg in front, it would hit your leg, and the umpire would give you not out. These days, the moment you miss in line with the stumps, 99% [of the time] you’re gone. It’s hitting the stumps.”When Rashid was brought back for his final over, the 15th, Royals were just trying to bat the full 20. They were 96 for 7 with Shimron Hetmyer, their lone remaining recognised batter, on 7 off 12 balls. Hetmyer lunged forward, survival his only intention, but the hint of turn meant he was beaten on the inside edge.Rashid threw his right arm up in the air like a goalscorer wheeling away to celebrate, and was nearly in line with the popping crease as he turned around to implore umpire Virender Sharma to give him the verdict. He did, and with no reviews left, Hetmyer had to trudge off forlornly; either way, the decision would have been upheld on umpire’s call.At 24, Rashid has already played 400 T20 matches around the world.
On Friday night, Rashid returned to his Jaipur hotel room as the joint-highest wicket-taker this IPL and his franchise three points clear at the top of the table. If this is meant to be a decline, just wait until he’s back to his best
“Sometimes, if you’re playing day in and day out, in every league in the world, then you’re playing for your country, it becomes monotonous,” Kapoor said, “and you forget that you’re doing some mistakes. Some bad habits just creep in.”What he felt was, he was running in a bit too fast, because of which, his hand was dropping and the ball was falling short. All we wanted was, the ball should pitch on the good length, and you’ll see what happens after that.”Rashid said that he had studied his pitch maps from earlier this season, and responded by “spot-bowling” in training on Thursday evening. “He bowled at a single stump for one hour,” Kapoor said with a smile. “I just keep it simple,” Rashid said, straight after that simplicity had bamboozled the batting line-up of last season’s runners-up.Meanwhile, his compatriot and protege Noor Ahmad was doing his best to emulate Rashid at the other end. Both of Noor’s dismissals – knocking out Devdutt Padikkal’s off stump and pinning Dhruv Jurel lbw – were mirror images of Ashwin and Hetmyer’s dismissals. No wonder Kapoor described Noor as “a left-handed Rashid”.Hardik Pandya, Titans’ captain, leaves Rashid and Noor to speak to one another in Pashto when they are playing alongside one another. “He is so happy that I am there with him [Noor] and can translate those things into Pashto for him,” Rashid said. Noor asks Rashid so many questions that he says he is “like Google for me”.4:24
Aashish Kapoor: Noor Ahmad is a left-handed Rashid Khan
When Trent Boult heaved Noor over midwicket in the 16th over for one of only three sixes in Royals’ innings, the ball dropped on a cameraman, named Manoj, who doubled over in pain. Without a second thought, Rashid jumped over the advertising display to see if he could help. He is much more than just a bowler.If you’ve been following IPL 2023 closely, you might have heard some chatter about Rashid. That he’s struggling for control this season. That batters have realised they can camp on the back foot against him. That he’s leaking more runs than ever before.And there has been some truth to it. Rashid has had two expensive outings this year, conceding 46 against Royals and 54 against Kolkata Knight Riders; they rank fourth and second among his costliest IPL spells.Imbued with extra batting depth on flat pitches, teams have attacked him more than they used to, particularly off the back foot. His highest economy rate in a full season is the 6.73 he recorded in 2017, his debut year. This year, he has gone at 8.05.Yet, on Friday night, as Rashid returned to his Jaipur hotel room, he did so as the joint-highest wicket-taker this IPL – along with his Titans team-mate, Mohammed Shami – and his franchise three points clear at the top of the table. If this is meant to be a decline, just wait until he’s back to his best.
Five matches give plenty of time for various strands to play out and here are a few things to watch for
Andrew McGlashan21-Feb-2021Australia’s finisherThere’s no shortage of options to bat at the top of Australia’s order – it’s almost a problem of plenty – but the big question is whether they can bed in a stable No. 6 ahead of the World Cup. Mitchell Marsh was recalled for the final match of the series against England last year and struck an unbeaten 39 to secure a consolation victory in the troublesome position. He has not played since, however, due to an injury which kept him out against India. If he’s able to bowl he brings further balance to the side so may get the first crack in New Zealand. Ashton Turner, the Perth Scorchers batsman, is another option having earned a place in this squad largely on the strength of being seen as a specialist finisher. There will likely remain some flexibility over who takes the role on a match-by-match basis depending on the circumstances of an innings, but Australia would like some clarity on their first-choice option.Martin Guptill’s formHe is under some pressure heading into this series having not made a T20I half-century in his last 10 innings and scoring 85 runs in five innings against West Indies and Pakistan this season. Four innings in the Super Smash last month brought three single-figure scores before injury curtailed his tournament and put him doubt to face Australia. Guptill’s overall record will buy him credit, but with the development of Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert plus the uncapped Finn Allen pushing very hard after a prolific domestic campaign a slump in form could prove costly – Ross Taylor has already been moved aside from the T20I squad this season. “Gup is a class player,” coach Gary Stead said ahead of the series. “If you watched him bat in the nets [on Saturday] you wouldn’t have known there was any issue at all. He hit it like a million dollars.”Related
Kane Williamson admits missing England Tests for IPL 'not the preferred thing'
Agar itching to put injury frustrations behind him on NZ tour
Finch: New Zealand T20Is a fact-finding mission
McDermott realistic about opportunities in 'pretty stacked' top order
Aaron Finch seeks lightness on feet after missing IPL, wary of Martin Guptill resurgence
Plentiful pace bowlingPace bowling is another area where Australia do not lack for options. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are not on this tour because they had been due to be touring South Africa, but this squad features two recent IPL millionaires in Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, the experience of Kane Richardson and the left-arm pace of Jason Behrendorff who has impressed in white-ball cricket for Australia before. Daniel Sams and Andrew Tye, the latter having found an extra gear to his bowling, have also enjoyed considerable BBL success. Even if the World Cup squads need to be larger later in the year due to Covid-19 there is huge competition for spots. Cases can be made in this series.Who makes way for Ferguson?New Zealand will have a bit to ponder as well when all their players are fit. Lockie Ferguson, who took 5 for 21 against West Indies late last year, is sidelined with a stress fracture of the back but will likely be a first-choice pick when fit. With two spinners almost a certainty in India, there will probably only be room for three frontline quicks – at most – in the final XI. Trent Boult will be a lock, so Tim Southee (nine wickets in his last four T20Is), Kyle Jamieson (another big IPL earner) and Hamish Bennett, plus a few from outside this current squad, including Adam Milne who was recently at the BBL, could be playing off for positions.Are the gloves on or off?Matthew Wade will be the first-choice Australia wicketkeeper in this series and would now appear to have the inside track for the World Cup following the dropping of Alex Carey (who was included in South Africa tour squad) during the series in England. It would now appear that Australia will look to have their wicketkeeper in the top three, although that’s still far from certain given the absence of David Warner and Steven Smith from this series. If Josh Philippe scores runs in New Zealand he will make a strong claim for further selection after two prolific BBL campaigns. Ben McDermott can also take the gloves but would appear to be a back-up on this trip and still an outside chance of the World Cup.New Zealand’s seam-bowling allrounderThis is Jimmy Neesham’s position at the moment but it’s a role that could come under scrutiny for the World Cup and it could come down to how New Zealand balance their side. Colin de Grandhomme, who isn’t part of this series, has been sidelined for much of this season and has only recently returned to bowling in domestic cricket but his T20I strike-rate (143.23) makes him an attractive option in the middle order although his last five T20I innings (albeit a long time ago) were 7,6, 0, 3 and 5. However, it could be that they look to Jamieson, who has yet to face a delivery in T20Is, and there is likely to be close attention paid to how his batting goes at the IPL as much as his bowling.
Already thinking about 2026 reinforcements after an inconsistent start to life in North London, Thomas Frank and Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly eyeing an impressive Champions League star.
Thomas Frank praises "dangerous" Grealish before Everton clash
Following defeat against Aston Villa and a disappointing draw in Monaco, Tottenham will be looking to avoid ending a frustrating week on their most sour note yet against Everton.
In many ways, however, victory after a draw in midweek and defeat last weekend would sum up Frank’s start fairly well. There’s been plenty of signs that he’s the man for the job, but also one too many that suggest there’s a long way to go. Ahead of visiting the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time, the Dane heaped praise on Sunday’s opponents and Jack Grealish, in particular.
Three points could see the Lilywhites rise to as high as second if results go their way and there’s no doubt that would send quite the statement so early into Frank’s tenure.
Securing Champions League football should be seen as the ultimate priority, especially if those in North London want to attract some impressive European stars.
Tottenham eyeing Kalulu move
As reported by Tutto Juve, Tottenham are now eyeing a move to sign Pierre Kalulu, who has played every single minute for Juventus so far this season.
The defender, who can play both wing-back and centre-back, is not someone that Juventus want to sell but they may have no choice. Amid financial constraints, the Italian giants could show the 25-year-old the door for as little as €30m (£26m) in the January transfer window – allowing Spurs to come swooping in.
Dubbed “phenomenal” by scout Jacek Kulig during his AC Milan days and now thriving at Juventus, Kalulu even impressed in defeat against Real Madrid in midweek.
"Impressed me a lot" – Thomas Frank says he's been thrilled by benched Tottenham star
The Dane had kind words for his player who’s been struggling for minutes.
ByEmilio Galantini Oct 25, 2025
Although Juventus eventually lost out courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s goal, the defender kept Vinicius Junior quiet on the night. Up against one of the most tricky wingers European football has to offer, he stifled the Brazilian to zero shots on target, zero successful crosses and just one key pass.
Martin O’Neill’s time in charge of Celtic couldn’t have gone much better really.
The legendary manager saw his beat their Old Firm rivals, reach a cup final and draw level with Hearts at the top of the SPFL table.
It took the Hoops a while to find their new manager but they finally have their man in the form of Wilfried Nancy who arrives following a stint in MLS.
That said, for those at Parkhead, chiefly Liam Scales, he’s not had much time to think about what could be in store under the new boss.
Scales preparing for new era at Celtic
Republic of Ireland international Scales was asked after the 1-0 victory over Dundee on Wednesday evening whether he had been doing his research on the 48-year-old Nancy.
“No, I haven’t had time,” the defender said. “It’s been so busy. Obviously we know bits and pieces but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to focus on the games that we have and now is the time where we’re going to have to really focus on the tactical changes and whatever he wants us to do.
“It’s hard to do homework on someone you’ve never met because you don’t want to create a false idea of them. It’s better just to wait and really learn from them in person.”
Nancy arrives ahead of a crucial run of games. Celtic will go top of the Premiership if they beat Hearts on Sunday before facing St Mirren in the League Cup final a week later.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than the week he has come in. It’s probably ideal. You want to come in and be part of massive games and he has a chance to win a trophy early on.
“If you come in and do well over the next three games, it’s the best way you can start a job. We’ll be doing our best to make that happen for him because we want to be successful as a team.”
Scales could be set for new role under Nancy
Scales was in excellent form under O’Neill, notably hailed as Celtic’s “player of the year” by some. Evidently, he thoroughly enjoyed his time with the interim manager in the dugout.
The defender said of O’Neill: “He’s been really good. It’s been a positive four weeks or five weeks. We’ve won a lot of games. We’ve obviously won a cup semi-final and won an away game in Europe as well. They were big wins. It’s just been really enjoyable and positive.
“In the game now, the defenders are on the ball a lot and you need to link play. But to go back to basics and just be told that you need to win your headers, you need to win your duels, I’ll keep that with me.”
Liam Scales in action for Celtic.
Whether the centre-back continues his form remains to be seen. After all, Scales could be set for a modified role given Nancy’s preference for a back three. “I’ve played in back threes, I’ve played in back fives, I’ve played in back fours. I just want to be in the team. That’s all I care about.”
Better than Maeda: Celtic star is going to be undroppable under Nancy
This Celtic star who was even better than Daizen Maeda against Dundee should be Wilfried Nancy’s first undroppable star.
Sunderland aren’t going to rest on their laurels now that they’ve tasted success in the Premier League.
The hope will be that the Black Cats continue to punch above their weight and secure safety effortlessly, even if the 1-0 defeat away at Fulham last time out saw Regis Le Bris’ men return to league action, after the international break, looking rusty.
Still, with five impressive league wins already under their belt, the Wearside outfit have more than shown that they belong at the very top of English football.
To get over the line, though, and remain in a comfortable mid-table position, Sunderland could be prepared to flex their spending powers once more, as the January transfer window becomes the talk of the town.
The main incoming being hyped up at the moment is Matteo Guendouzi coming to the Stadium of Light, with Le Bris yet to rule out a statement deal.
Why Guendouzi would be a perfect signing
Once upon a time, Guendouzi worked under Le Bris at Lorient, before the French battler would seal a move to England with Arsenal.
While he wasn’t always showered with praise at the Gunners, he did bow out from his final Premier League season in North London with 4.9 duels won on average across 24 league outings, with more grit centrally perhaps what is required, alongside the likes of Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki.
Guendouzi has also matured now into a regular in Serie A with Lazio, away from his previous 57 Premier League appearances at the Emirates, with inviting deliveries such as this one last season, perfect for a commanding Daniel Ballard to latch onto.
In total, the Lazio number eight has six goals and ten assists for the Italian giants.
With an 89% pass accuracy also averaged this season in league action, on top of a high 4.3 ball recoveries being averaged, it’s clear that he won’t move back to England for cheap, as reports suggest that a fee around the £26m mark could do the job.
Sunderland won’t be put off too much, if their excessive summer spending is anything to go by, but a deal in the works for a new star-man might ultimately shove this fan favourite closer to the exit door.
Sunderland's "proper leader" could be on borrowed time
The strange side-effect of winning promotion is that several of the players who clinched Sunderland’s unbelievable return to the Premier League now aren’t quite cut out for the pressures of the big time.
Dan Neil has definitely experienced this first-hand this season so far, with the mega-money arrivals of the aforementioned Xhaka and Sadiki plummeting him down the pecking order, so much so that he has only managed a mere two minutes of action in the bright lights of the Premier League to date.
Staggeringly, if you turn the calendar just back to May, Neil was the memorable captain figure who lifted Sunderland’s jubilant playoff honours at Wembley.
In the regular season, too, the Stadium of Light prodigy also lined up for the Black Cats 44 times, with two goals and three assists coming his way.
Sunderland youngster Harrison Jones would even herald him as a “proper leader” for the club, with Neil rising the ranks to become his boyhood club’s captain figure.
On top of that, he also had admirers in the form of Everton in the bumper summer window, which might be a move he now regrets not accelerating into motion, as he begins to stare the exit door in the face more through lack of gametime than inspired performances.
Journalist James Copley summed it up well when he called him a “bit part” player recently, which is a far cry from his Wembley heroics.
Neil’s last minutes for his hometown club actually came for the U21s as he continues to be frozen out by Le Bris, and with his contract expiring next summer, it’s not a good omen at all for his long-term future at the Premier League newcomers.
Games played
200
Goals scored
12
Assists
20
Promotions
1x
Contract expiry date
June 2026
To make matters worse, if Guendouzi were to arrive, Neil would find himself even further down the Frenchman’s selection list, with the 23-year-old simply unable to compete with the wealth of top-flight experience the Lazio man has under his belt.
It will be intriguing to see if any club gambles on Neil’s services in January, with a cut-price deal potentially on the table for a Championship-experienced promotion winner, who is currently valued at around £7m by Transfermarkt.
If no one does come in for him, expect Sunderland to just run his contract down, particularly if Guendouzi is added to the ever-rising wage bill.
An Isidor repeat: Sunderland line up move to sign "special" £4.7m star
Sunderland could win their next Wilson Isidor by going after this star in January.