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Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a Barcelona star, who is regarded as “the best in the world in his position”, journalist Fabrice Hawkins has revealed.

Man City looking to sign defender amid Akanji uncertainty

Pep Guardiola’s rebuild is well underway, and there could still be a few more departures to make way for new arrivals, with Manuel Akanji now being targeted by Galatasaray, following criticism from supporters for some of his performances last season.

City expert Steven McInerney believes it could be best for all parties if Akanji is moved on this summer, alongside a number of other players, saying: “I’m fine with it. I definitely feel the more (players) that move on right now it’s a good thing. I’m not one for pushing people out the door, but I think Akanji was probably at the scene of the crime far too many times last season.

“He’s obviously a good player, but I think he’s another that has had the post-treble malaise. It’s definitely a thing at City where you can see some players have reached the top of the mountain and the only way is down a little bit.”

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Consequently, Guardiola may need to bring in a new centre-back this summer, while it has been clear for quite some time that the manager is keen on a new right-back, with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento on the shortlist.

As such, it could be a clever move to sign a versatile defender capable of playing in both of the aforementioned positions, and Man City have now made contact over a deal for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, according to an update from Hawkins on X.

Kounde is currently in negotiations over a new contract, with the La Liga club viewing the defender as “the best in the world in his position”, but the Blues are now hoping to lure him to the Etihad Stadium.

Kounde could be statement signing for Man City

The Barcelona star is very assured in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, while he has also received extremely high praise from teammate and major Ballon d’Or contender Lamine Yamal.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

71.73 (96th percentile)

Pass completion %

86.7% (90th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.14 (84th percentile)

Indeed, Yamal described the Frenchman as the “best right-back in the world”, but the £226k-a-week defender has predominantly featured at centre-back throughout his career to date, showcasing his versatility.

With Kyle Walker moving to Burnley, and Akanji’s future up in the air, the 26-year-old could be the ideal addition to Guardiola’s defence, given his ability to play at both right-back and centre-back.

However, it could be very difficult to lure Kounde away from Barcelona, considering he is currently in negotiations over extending his stay at the Camp Nou.

Newcastle United are believed to be “planning a new offer” that could be as much as £40m to sign an “incredible” player in the summer transfer window.

More attacking targets at Newcastle after Elanga

The Magpies have lost Callum Wilson, following the veteran striker’s decision to leave the club, which has heightened the need for attacking reinforcements at St James’ Park this summer, despite the addition of new winger Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest.

The winger has cost PIF up to £55m and Newcastle certainly appear to be targeting more players in attacking areas, with Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi the latest star to be linked with a move ahead of the new Premier League season.

The Magpies are also said to have entered the race to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, with the Englishman’s future at the club up in the air currently. He could be an ideal upgrade on Wilson, providing strong competition for Alexander Isak, assuming he stays put.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa is another exciting target for Newcastle, with the 28-year-old potentially keen on testing himself at a bigger club at this point in his career, especially if fellow attacking ace Bryan Mbeumo also leaves the Bees in the coming weeks. Now, a key update has dropped regarding a PIF target at the other end of the pitch.

Newcastle ready new offer for "incredible" star

According to Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke, Newcastle are now “planning a new offer” for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, with the Englishman one of their most prominent transfer targets in recent months.

Several bids from the Magpies have already been rejected, with an “upfront offer of £22m with add-ons taking it close to £40m” now being prepared in this latest update.

Trafford continues to stand out as the perfect choice for Newcastle between the sticks, with the 22-year-old having so much long-term potential, being hailed by Burnley manager Scott Parker for his “world-class” ability.

“I was quoted in saying that he’s a world-class keeper, which he is and there is no doubt that I see him as a future England keeper. He’s been incredible.”

The 22-year-old Trafford was a star performer for Burnley throughout a triumphant Championship campaign that saw them return to the Premier League, with the Clarets remarkably conceding just 16 goals in their 46 league matches.

While he is clearly still a very young goalkeeper, he already possesses an aura and maturity to his game that suggests there is no reason why he couldn’t oust Nick Pope straight away at Newcastle, even though the current Magpies man remains a good option.

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Trafford is a genuine contender to be England’s next No.1 after Jordan Pickford, assuming he continues on his current trajectory, and while a total of £40m is a lot to pay for a player, it could prove to be a bargain over time. Hopefully, he is desperate to join, putting further pressure on Burnley to accept the offer.

With a new era on its way at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, The Friedkin Group and Everton are reportedly looking to sign fresh stars to match their new ground, which could yet see a £50m+ winger arrive.

Everton eyeing attacking reinforcements

It’s not the first time that the Toffees have been linked with attacking additions so far this summer and their plan of attack is clear. Looking to make a statement ahead of their first full season at the helm, Friedkin’s priority, based on recent rumours, is to add much-needed star power to David Moyes’ frontline.

That plan should come as no surprise, either. Whilst Everton improved their attacking numbers last season, they still lacked a consistent threat within their frontline even after Beto’s form picked up under Moyes. And with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still on course to leave the club as a free agent this summer, the Merseyside club must invest up front.

2024/25

42

2023/24

40

2022/23

34

The main factor behind their struggle is clear for all to see. Last season, although improved, was still not a campaign full of goals to savour and only the bottom three managed to score less than Everton.

That stat, alone, may have been enough to send Everton marching towards the transfer market with rumours coming thick and fast as to who could arrive this summer.

Already, names such as Jack Grealish have already threatened to steal the headlines in what would certainly be a statement move by Friedkin. The Premier League-winner is on his way out of Manchester City, having been left out of their Club World Cup squad, and Everton could take full advantage.

He’s not the only name on their radar, however. Reports are also indicating that those in Merseyside have also set their sights on the “king of Lisbon”.

Everton battling to sign Geny Catamo

If not Grealish, then Friedkin could spend big on a talented alternative. According to Caught Offside, Everton are now battling to sign Geny Catamo from Sporting Club this summer. They are reportedly joined by Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Aston Villa and others in a hectic race to welcome the 24-year-old in the coming months, but the deal won’t come cheap.

Everton fighting Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland for free agent signing

The Toffees are lining up a bargain transfer…

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As reported, Catamo has a release clause worth as much as €60m (£51m) in Portugal and Sporting Club look likely to demand that in full if they are to sell their winger this summer. Of course, that verdict should not come as a surprise, given that the Everton target was dubbed the “King of Lisbon” by scout Jacek Kulig after he scored the winning goal against Benfica last year.

Whether Friedkin and Everton deem Catamo a player who is worth over £50m will be the big question in their pursuit. The winger himself, meanwhile, could yet decide to rescind his crown in Portugal this summer amid several interested parties.

The window might not be officially open yet, but silly season is already in full swing, and it looks set to be a busy one for Arsenal.

The Gunners didn’t make sufficient additions to the first team last year, and it came back to bite them in a big way, with injuries and a lack of cutting-edge subjecting them to a fifth trophyless season and yet another second-place finish in the Premier League.

One of the few positives to come from the campaign was Bukayo Saka’s continually impressive development, as even though he missed almost four months of action, the Englishman managed to rack up a brilliant haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 appearances.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking the club to another Premier League-proven winger who has not only won comparisons to the Hale Ender but also has something distinctly Thierry Henry-esque in his game.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wingers who have been touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Bryan Mbeumo and Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for up to £51m in the coming weeks, and, in all honesty, that’s probably a more than fair price, as in just 42 appearances for Brentford this season, the Cameroonian dynamo scored 20 goals and provided nine assists.

On the other hand, Gittens looks likely to cost somewhere in the region of £46m this summer, which, again, doesn’t seem unreasonable for a 20-year-old talent who scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 48 games this season.

However, neither of these players have been compared to both Saka and Henry, unlike Kaoru Mitoma.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are now interested in the Brighton & Hove Albion star.

Plettenberg revealed that the club have added the Japanese international, who is also of interest to Bayern Munich, “to their list for the summer.”

However, the most significant obstacle to this transfer could be the price, with reports from last month claiming that the Seagulls want up to £80m for their star winger.

It looks like this will be a costly and complicated transfer to get done this summer, but given Mitoma’s ability and the comparisons to Saka, it might be one worth fighting for.

How Mitoma compares to Saka

So, before we get to some of the other reasons why Arsenal might want to sign Mitoma this summer, it’s worth examining this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Premier League this season and concluded that the Arsenal star ranked at the very top.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals, progressive carries, passing accuracy, live passes, tackles and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.32

0.31

Progressive Carries

5.05

5.00

Passing Accuracy

75.8%

75.5%

Live Passes

33.4

33.5

Tackles

1.56

1.51

Ball Recoveries

3.43

3.65

On top of his similarities to the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, there are some other reasons why Arteta and Co should be signing the Seagulls’ incredibly entertaining left-winger, like his output.

For example, in the Premier League alone, the “insane” talent, as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to score ten goals and provided four assists in 36 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.57 games.

Moreover, while the Kawasaki-born maestro has proven himself able to produce a number of finishes, perhaps his most effective sees him peeling off from the left and placing the ball in the far corner, leading to former teammate Christian Burgess claiming he “finishes like Thierry Henry.”

Ultimately, while it would require a substantial financial effort, Mitoma could be just what Arsenal need next season, and therefore, the club should do what they can to sign him this summer.

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In search of boosting their frontline once again, Chelsea chiefs are now reportedly ready to match the £60m asking price of one impressive forward having already made their first approach for his signature.

Chelsea's UCL push going down to the wire

Whilst there would have been plenty of relief around Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford in midweek, Chelsea still have it all to do in the race to secure Champions League qualification. Sat fifth on goal difference and in the last remaining Champions League spot, the Blues may need to win all four of their remaining games to finish above the chasing pack of Forest and Aston Villa.

With Premier League champions Liverpool to face this weekend too, it doesn’t get any easier for Chelsea who may be hoping to come up against a side in celebration rather than the ruthless Reds that English football has become accustomed to this season.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca recently had his say on the Champions League race, telling reporters: “How many times in the last two years has Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? Zero.

“How many times this season? Almost all season. It is an improvement or not? It is already an improvement because we spend all season there. Now, we are going to try our best to finish there no doubt.

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1

By
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May 2, 2025

“We want to finish there, no doubt. We are happy to finish there, yes. Is it enough? No, because we want to compete for titles. But compared to the past two years, I think it is quite clear that there is an improvement. Now, if you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. It depends which way. I see it.”

Meanwhile, should the London club go on and confirm their place among Europe’s elite this month, they could be well placed to welcome an impressive Premier League rival.

Chelsea ready to meet Watkins price tag

According to Football Transfers, Chelsea are now ready to match Ollie Watkins’ £60m valuation to welcome the Aston Villa striker this summer, having already made their first approach for his signature.

Watkins was, of course, at the centre of attention in January when Arsenal came calling. Unlike Chelsea, however, the Gunners were reluctant to meet Villa’s asking price and the England international therefore stayed put in the Midlands.

At 29 years old, the Villa star goes against BlueCo’s usual transfer route of young stars, but an established Premier League goalscorer could be exactly what Maresca’s side need if they are to improve this summer.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Ollie Watkins	Nicolas Jackson
Starts	27	26
Goals	15	10
Assists	7	5
Expected Goals	14.5	12.2

Dubbed “amazing” by Villa boss Unai Emery earlier this season, Watkins’ numbers compared to Nicolas Jackson highlight the upgrade that he would instantly offer Chelsea and Maresca.

Aston Villa have made contact over the signing of an attacking player who is enjoying a superb return to form this season, according to a new transfer update.

Aston Villa eye signings after Champions League exit

Unai Emery’s team produced a brave performance at home to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, beating the Ligue 1 champions 3-2 but crashing out of the Champions League on aggregate at the quarter-final stage.

It was another sign of the strides that this team had made under Emery, and while going out of Europe was hard to take, it shows that they are capable of holding their own against the best teams. Now, it’s a case of knuckling down in the Premier League and ensuring that they are back dining at the top table next season.

In terms of Villans transfer news, Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez has emerged as a target, following an impressive campaign for the Belgian giants. He made 12 appearances in the Champions League, completing 90.9% of his passes and standing out as one of the best young ball-playing defenders in Europe.

Rosenborg teenager Sverre Nypan is another rumoured target for Villa, having caught the eye with his performances at the heart of his side’s midfield. He would be considered one for the future, but a hugely exciting option nonetheless.

Aston Villa enquire over £44.5m Moise Kean deal

According to Tuttomercato journalist Marco Conterio [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa have “already made enquiries” about signing Fiorentina attacker Moise Kean this summer.

The 25-year-old has a £44.5m release clause that is only valid between July 1st and July 15th this summer, so the Villans will need to act fast when that time arrives, with West Ham also credited with interest.

Kean is a player who has really kicked on over the past 12 months or so, enjoying a brilliant season for Fiorentina and threatening to reach his potential. The Italian has scored 17 goals in Serie A, which is three more than Ollie Watkins has managed in the Premier League, as well as netting once for Italy in the UEFA Nations League.

Kean has experience of the Premier League, which may be seen as an added bonus for Emery, admittedly only scoring twice in 32 appearances in the competition, but he has matured as a player since then.

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For that reason, he could be an excellent addition for Villans, coming into his prime years and showing that he can score regularly in one of Europe’s top leagues.

With Watkins turning 30 this year and Marcus Rashford not certain to join permanently, the Midlands outfit should look to snap him up.

Everton are not trundling but charging into the final stretch of the season, not threatened by relegation but thriving under David Moyes.

Last weekend’s stunning result over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground ended a six-match run without win in the Premier League, though a narrow defeat to Liverpool at Anfield was the only loss in that timeframe.

Oh, The Friedkin Group will already be looking ahead to the summer transfer window and to next season, and Moyes will too, but the Scottish manager’s focus will remain on the current campaign as he further shapes his understanding of the tools at his disposal.

19/04/25

Goodison Park

Manchester City

26/04/25

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea

03/05/25

Goodison Park

Ipswich Town

10/05/25

Craven Cottage

Fulham

18/05/25

Goodison Park

Southampton

25/05/25

St. James’ Park

Newcastle United

Change is afoot for the Toffees, and it’s not just the scenery that will be restyled. However, there are some players who are proving their worth, proving they can be key features over the coming years.

Jake O’Brien is very much one of them.

Jake O'Brien's emergence

Last season, O’Brien was called a “revelation in defence” for Lyon in Ligue 1 by European football expert Zach Lowy, but few of an Everton persuasion were revelling in his signing before Sean Dyche received the boot.

Indeed, the 6 foot 6 defender stood on the sidelines for the majority of his time on Merseyside before Moyes saw his worth and fashioned him into a makeshift wide man.

Now, he’s undroppable, very much starting to look like something of a revelation in the Premier League as he helps Everton toward their mid-table resurgence.

Since continuing his dreary role as a bit-parter on Moyes’ (second) Everton debut against Aston Villa, a narrow defeat at Goodison Park, O’Brien has started invariably at right-back, something that seemed patchwork at the start but has become an increasingly comfortable and, in the best way, unnoticeable journey.

Well, largely unnoticeable, with the Irishman actually chipping in with two important goals during recent draws against Brentford and West Ham United.

The 23-year-old’s emergence has come at a cost to another, however, with Ashley Young’s services rendered… not useless, but certainly not worth renewing his current contract as he heads toward his 40th birthday.

Everton veteran is now finished

Young has been a stout presence at Goodison Park over the past few years, signing on as Dyche’s first arrival in July 2023 after his contract with Aston Villa expired.

However, the 39-year-old, who has entered the final few months of his current deal, has waned since Christmas, last starting in the Premier League during the home loss to Villa in January, a game that saw him make a direct error, cede possession 18 times despite only making one key pass and also win just one of three duels.

It’s safe to say he is not the “machine” that Antonio Conte once described him as during his stint at Inter.

The £40k-per-week veteran may not have any plans to retire just yet, but Everton run the risk of stagnating, should they not recognise the need to part ways with such ageing players at this reshaping moment. Especially, in Young’s case, since O’Brien has been in such fine form.

O’Brien excels in doing the basics well, yet to make a mistake in the Premier League while winning 54% of his duels and averaging 4.5 clearances per game, as per Sofascore.

These almost pragmatic patterns of play, carried with a central defender’s air but nuanced enough to bring his own brand to the full-back berth, suggest that Moyes may yet stick with his Irish star across the upcoming campaign, especially with Nathan Patterson there to provide support.

For Young, a somewhat sad ending given he has fallen into the darkness of the sidelines since Moyes’ return to the club, but it’s understandable that he should part ways at this watershed moment in Everton’s history.

Bramley Moore brings with it a new dawn, and O’Brien is proving himself worthy of a star spot.

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Leeds United know that they could have achieved promotion to the Premier League by Monday night if results go their way over the Easter period.

The Whites are currently five points clear of Sheffield United in third place and will officially be promoted if they win both of their matches and the Blades drop any points in their two games.

Daniel Farke’s side beat Preston North End 2-1 at Elland Road last time out to ensure that they had a healthy gap to third place, and they can now get the job done, with a bit of luck from others, in the next few days.

The Whites would still have plenty of work to do to win the title, as they are currently level on points with Burnley, but the main aim of promotion would have been secured.

Farke and his staff could, then, start to think about plans for the 2025/26 campaign and how they will build a squad that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League.

How they set up their midfield in the top-flight, should they get there, will be particularly interesting, given that they currently play with a traditional number ten in Brenden Aaronson.

How Leeds United's midfield could look in the Premier League

The USA international has not done enough this season to suggest that he will be good enough for Leeds to play with an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system at Premier League level.

Aaronson has consistently failed to offer enough quality at the top end of the pitch against the other teams in the current top six in the Championship, as shown in the table below.

Form against the Championship top six

Brenden Aaronson vs

Goals

Assists

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

Given that the script will flip for Leeds next season, fighting at the bottom end of the table instead of the top, Farke could rework his midfield set-up to play with Ao Tanaka in front of two holding midfielders.

The Japan international has scored four goals and provided two assists in a deep-lying midfield role this season, which suggests that he could offer a threat in the final third, but he has also made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match, meaning that the midfield star could provide an added layer of defensive protection for the Whites.

This would, then, allow Ethan Ampadu to play as a defensive midfielder alongside another physical enforcer, with Tanaka ahead of them, and showcase his defensive skills, having won 61% of his duels in the Championship this term.

The Wales international can provide a solid presence at the base of the midfield, and Leeds are reportedly interested in a star who could complete the midfield set-up alongside Ampadu and Tanaka.

Leeds eyeing Premier League colossus

According to Claret and Hugh, Leeds are eyeing up a summer swoop to sign West Ham United defensive midfielder Tomas Soucek ahead of the summer transfer window.

Farke is said to be a fan of the Czechia international and has identified him as a possible target for his Premier League squad for next season, if the Whites are promoted.

Claret and Hugh quote a ‘transfer insider’ as revealing that Leeds are looking at both Soucek and Irish forward Evan Ferguson, who is on loan at the London Stadium from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The insider said: “Leeds are planning for next season — Daniel Farke has already started preparations for the summer window. He likes Souček, but there’s already a Premier League offer in for him. I think Leeds like Ferguson too, and he’d get games there.”

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The claim that there is already another Premier League offer in for the former Slavia Prague midfielder suggests that it will not be an easy deal for the 49ers to get over the line, but they should push to bring him in because he could be an excellent addition to the squad to complement Ampadu in midfield.

Why Leeds should sign Tomas Soucek

Soucek provides a mix of physicality, experience, and quality in the middle of the park, having been a regular in the Premier League for the Hammers since his move to London in the summer of 2020.

Despite being a defensive midfielder, the towering colossus has scored 39 goals in 239 appearances in all competitions for West Ham, including 34 goals in 188 Premier League outings.

This means that he has scored even more goals in the Premier League than former Leeds star and current Barcelona superstar Raphinha, who scored 17 goals in 65 top-flight games in England.

Whilst Soucek has played more matches in the division than the Brazil international, his output at the top end of the pitch, compared to the position he plays, makes him a big threat.

This could make him the perfect partner for Ampadu, who has only scored two goals in 82 games for Leeds, to make up for the Welshman’s lack of quality as a goalscorer from midfield.

Soucek, whose defensive determination was described as “magnificent” by Trevor Sinclair, is also a proven Premier League midfielder when it comes do doing the dirty work out of possession.

24/25 Premier League

Per 90

Percentile rank vs midfielders

Clearances

3.01

Top 5%

Aerial duels won

3.98

Top 2%

Percentage of dribblers tackled

50%

Top 40%

Shots blocked

0.67

Top 7%

Blocks

1.38

Top 32%

Challenges lost

0.71

Top 23%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the Czechia international ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in the division in a host of key defensive metrics.

He rarely loses challenges or allows players to dribble past him and is dominant in the box, making clearances and winning aerial duels on a regular basis.

Therefore, Soucek could be the perfect signing for Leeds to make in the summer because of his experience in the division, with the best part of 200 appearances in the league, the goal threat he can provide from midfield, and the defensive quality to keep opposition teams at bay.

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Farke would then be able to field a midfield including Soucek and Ampadu at the base with Tanaka ahead of them linking the midfield and the frontline.

Despite a poor winter, Jonny Bairstow remains integral to England’s hopes of defending their 2022 title

Matt Roller22-Apr-2024Trevor Bayliss declined to take the easy way out when explaining Jonny Bairstow’s absence when his Punjab Kings side played Mumbai Indians on Thursday night.Asked in a pitchside interview whether Bairstow had “done a Glenn Maxwell” and asked to be left out of the side, Bayliss was unequivocal: “No, that was our call,” he said. “We just had to change things up. It was that time of the competition that we needed to do something a little bit better… just a little bit of a change to try and invigorate things.”It was an honest statement in an era when coaches often sugarcoat difficult decisions. Modern players are rarely dropped – rather rotated, rested or managed due to niggles. Kings opened with Sam Curran, their stand-in captain, instead of Bairstow and brought Rilee Rossouw into the side in his place.Related

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• England at the IPL: 'Refreshed' Buttler, rusty Livingstone, and WC tune-ups for fringe players

• Stokes opts out of England's T20 World Cup defence

Bayliss also made clear that Bairstow was not best pleased with the management’s decision. “Jonny, over my right shoulder here, thinks he probably should have got a bit longer… it’s a difficult one. We want to try and give guys as much of an opportunity as we can but with the situation we find ourselves in, we had to make a bit of a change.”It has been a long offseason for Bairstow, who first flew to India in late September ahead of the World Cup and will have spent the best part of six months there by the time he arrives home after the IPL. He is the only England player who has been involved in the 50-over World Cup, the Test series earlier this year and the IPL, and has struggled to make an impact in all three.He has batted 25 times in India this winter across three formats and has hit only two half-centuries, against Bangladesh and Pakistan in the World Cup. His averages in the World Cup (23.88) and in the Test series (23.80) were almost identical, and in the IPL he has managed 96 runs in six innings, averaging 16.00 with a strike rate of 131.50. It has been tough going.Bayliss stressed Bairstow’s tournament is not necessarily over and Rossouw, his replacement, has made 10 runs in his first two innings. “There’s a couple of guys missing out at the top of the order from this game, but that’s not necessarily the end of it for those guys,” Bayliss said. “We know they’re quality players.”But there is an argument that it would be in Bairstow’s – and England’s – best interests for him to return home for a short break before the T20 World Cup. He is likely to be part of the squad that faces Pakistan in four T20Is at the end of May, and ending his IPL early would give him the chance to refresh mentally and physically ahead of an intense tournament in June.England’s selectors will meet in the next few days to pick a provisional squad for the World Cup, which will be released next week before the ICC’s May 1 deadline. They can make changes before May 25, but after the debacle of Harry Brook’s initial and Jason Roy’s eventual exclusions last year, clear communication is essential.The ODI World Cup, a five-Test series and the IPL – Bairstow has spent close to six months in India this winter•Getty ImagesThere has been no indication that Bairstow is about to be dropped. He has hardly played T20 cricket since returning from his horrific leg injury – just 15 games in the last 12 months – but was player of the series in his most recent T20Is against New Zealand in September, which provided a reminder of how destructive he can be when he is anywhere near his best.Rob Key, England’s managing director, chairs selection meetings and told Sky’s Cricket Podcast last week: “… we need to balance out some of the younger guys, like Will Jacks and Phil Salt coming into it and adding a bit of life. It’s not about all young [players], it’s about having a balance. That’s where we’re seeing the T20 World Cup.”With Ben Stokes making himself unavailable, Alex Hales retired from international cricket and Dawid Malan out of favour, England will need Bairstow – a senior player at 34 – to achieve that balance. He is likely to be carded at No. 4 in a middle order that will have to be flexible: in Stokes’ absence, they are short on left-handed batters, but Bairstow’s versatility has always been a strength.England believe that T20 in the Caribbean rewards power over touch and will set their side up accordingly. Ben Duckett lasted one match in their 3-2 series defeat to West Indies in December before he was deemed surplus to requirements. Bairstow should fit effortlessly into a line-up of six hitters alongside Jos Buttler, Salt, Jacks, Brook and Liam Livingstone.Bairstow has a clear preference to open the batting and generally does so in franchise T20, but England have always valued his ability to hit sixes against spin through the middle overs. Since December 2020, the majority of his T20I appearances have been as a middle-order batter and he can set games up for Brook and Livingstone as finishers.Key often frames selection as making decisions based on what players are like at their best, not their worst. The question for England now is how they can help Bairstow get back to being the best version of himself. The answer? Bring him home from India, give him three weeks off and help him refresh before a shot at the World Cup.

They are back down under for the first time in seven years and playing a bilateral series after nearly 20

Andrew McGlashan24-Aug-2022

1992: World Cup

Zimbabwe first came to Australian shores in 1992 for the World Cup hosted on both sides of the Tasman. Their meeting with Australia was a comprehensive 128-run win for the hosts in which the Waugh brothers and Dean Jones scored half-centuries but they were not without their moments elsewhere, most famously beating England in their final game when Eddo Brandes skittled the top order.

1994-95: B&H World Series

Two years later Zimbabwe returned as part of the quadrangular World Series played among that season’s Ashes series and which controversially included Australia A. They gave Australia a bit of a scare in the opening match when an injured Mark Waugh had to come out with a runner to get them over the line in a small chase after a flurry of late wickets for Grant Flower. Their second match against Australia was a much more comfortable win for the home side in which Stuart Law made his one international century. They were twice turned over by Australia A as well (matches that weren’t classed as ODIs) but again they beat England. In Sydney, Grant Flower carried his bat for an unbeaten 84 then legspinner Paul Strang removed Graham Gooch and Graham Thorpe in his first over as Zimbabwe defended 205.Heath Streak had a day to remember at the SCG in early 2001•Getty Images

2000-01: Carlton Series

Zimbabwe’s appearance in this tri-series was not as forlorn as the scoreline would suggest. They nearly sneaked their opening match against West Indies but were denied by Ricardo Powell. However, they managed to win the next meeting between the teams in a remarkable match at the SCG where they defended just 138. Captain Heath Streak, who had already top-scored with 45, took 4 for 8 and Bryan Strang 3 for 15 as West Indies sank to 31 for 8 before being bowled out for 91. Australia won their first three matches against them with relative ease, despite Alistair Campbell’s 124 in Hobart, but the final match at the WACA was different. Damien Martyn’s superb unbeaten 144 had piled up 302 for 5 then Stuart Carlisle responded with 119. It came down to needing 13 off the final over. Twice in the first three deliveries Doug Marillier scooped Glenn McGrath to leave 5 needed off three balls but they couldn’t quite get over the line.

2003-04: Test series

Zimbabwe have met Australia in just three Test matches and two of them came in this series. It became famous for Matthew Hayden setting a new world-record score of 380 at the WACA (which would only stand for six months before Brian Lara took it again), in what were two victories by predictably hefty margins even though Australia were without McGrath (injury) and Shane Warne (suspension), with further injuries to Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill. Zimbabwe were more competitive in the second Test at the SCG where Carlisle made a first-innings century and Ray Price took six wickets. However, Ricky Ponting’s 169 helped ensure a lead before Simon Katich became a somewhat unlikely matchwinner with 6 for 65 after Brett Lee had joined the injury list.The one Test series Zimbabwe have played in Australia was dominated by Matthew Hayden•Hamish Blair/Getty Images

2003-04 VB Series

Returning a couple of months later for another tri-series, Zimbabwe left without a win on the board. They came close against India in Adelaide, where centuries from Carlisle (his third in Australia) and Sean Ervine were not quite enough. There might have been hope in their first match against Australia when they kept the hosts to 225 for 8 at the SCG, but the top order sank to 17 for 5 against Brad Williams.

2015: World Cup

They were taken for a massive 372 for 2 by West Indies in Canberra where Chris Gayle made 215 off 147 balls. Pakistan were struggling before Wahab Riaz turned things around and there was a controversial note to their defeat against Ireland when replays suggested John Mooney’s foot may have touched the rope when he caught Sean Williams for 96.