Thomas Frank will be the latest Tottenham Hotspur boss tasked with the responsibility of making the club Premier League title challengers in 2025/26, after taking the reins following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal.

Whilst only being in the role for a matter of weeks, he’s already seen the challenges he faces in the role, with the Dane already embroiled in a saga over the addition of Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.

A deal for his signature appeared to all be in order, after the Lilywhites decided to pull the trigger and activate the £60m release clause within his deal at the City Ground.

However, this is Spurs we’re talking about, and nothing ever comes easy – resulting in a missed opportunity after the player remarkably signed a new deal, in a move spearheaded by Reds’ owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Being unable to land the star will undoubtedly leave a sour taste in the hierarchy’s mouth, but ultimately, the show goes on, with other targets now being considered to help strengthen the squad this summer.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

In an attempt to forget about the failed move for Gibbs-White, the Spurs board have since turned their attention to a potential deal for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott.

It’s been reported that the Lilywhites have made an approach to the 22-year-old’s representatives over a move to North London, with Arne Slot’s side demanding £40m for his signature.

However, he’s not the only Englishman currently on their radar, with want-away Manchester City star Jack Grealish another name being considered, according to GIVEMESPORT.

Their report claims that enquiries have already been made for the 29-year-old forward, who joined Pep Guardiola’s side for a then-English record £100m back in the summer of 2021.

The article also goes on to state that the player himself would be keen on a move to North London this summer, subsequently leading West Ham United in the race for his signature.

A move could cost £40m if previous reports are to be believed.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a better signing than Gibbs-White

Given the addition of Mohammed Kudus already this summer, along with the offer for Gibbs-White, it’s evident the Spurs hierarchy are targeting Premier League-proven options for Frank’s side.

The Englishman has been key in Forest’s remarkable rise in England’s top-flight, notching 15 combined goals and assists last season, subsequently securing European football for the first time in 30 years.

Such a season saw him make his senior England international debut, making £60m an excellent deal had they managed to get it over the line before Marinakis’ intervention.

However, the Premier League is a ruthless division, with other sides able to completely bypass you if you rest on your laurels – something which the Lilywhites aren’t currently guilty of.

Their disappointment will be undeniable, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise if they manage to pull off a deal for Grealish in the coming months.

There’s no denying his move to the Etihad has halted his progression; only starting seven league outings last season after falling down Guardiola’s pecking order.

However, he managed to outperform Gibbs-White in multiple key areas last season, handing Frank a proven winner and arguably a better option given his trophy collection and experience in major European competitions.

How Grealish & Gibbs-White compare in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Grealish

MGW

Games played

20

34

Goals & assists

2

15

Progressive carries

8.6

2.2

Progressive passes

6.5

5.2

Pass accuracy

88%

78%

Key passes made

3.1

1.6

Take-on success

45%

40%

Carries into opposition box

5.8

0.4

Crosses completed

2.5

1.4

Stats via FBref

Grealish, who has previously been dubbed a “monster” by Joe Cole, showcased his excellent ball-carrying ability last campaign, completing more progressive carries, with the vast majority being into the opposition’s box.

Such figures would massively bolster Frank’s side, as would the 29-year-old’s tally of key passes per 90, bettering Gibbs-White in such a department, able to provide a creative threat off the left or in central areas.

He also has the end product at the end of his mazy runs with the ball, completing more crosses per 90, having the talent to provide others in forward areas to improve their own goalscoring tallies.

It’s unclear whether a move for Grealish would be a temporary or permanent one this summer, but they could massively take advantage of his lack of game time with the Citizens.

The former Villa star has showcased he’s still capable of outperforming a £60m star despite his lack of action, potentially playing a huge role in any success endured during the Frank era.

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Striker appears ready for the upcoming rivalry clash against Chivas

• Jonathan dos Santos missed Tuesday’s session
• Allan Saint-Maximin could start against Chivas
• América trained without their internationals

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Henry Martín looks to be finding light at the end of the tunnel after a frustrating stretch of injuries – from Achilles issues last season to recurring muscle problems and, most recently, a knee setback. The América captain has endured the toughest run of his career, limited to just 20 appearances and two goals so far in 2025. But signs point to the No. 9 being ready for Saturday’s Clásico Nacional against Chivas.

  The 32-year-old returned to full training Tuesday, a key step for a striker who has scored 97 goals for América since arriving in 2018. He also played in his club's friendly against D.C. United on Sunday – a 3-1 loss. 

  @soyalexorellana

  Henry Martín apunta al Clásico este fin de semana contra Chivas El capitán sigue realizando algunos trabajos por separado de sus compañeros pero entrenó al parejo este martes No deberían existir contratiempos 🔥 #clubamerica #clubamerica🦅💛💙 #LigaMX #chivas #henrymartin

  ♬ sonido original – Alex Orellana

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Las Águilas head into the clásico sitting second in Liga MX with 17 points, while Chivas languish near the bottom on just four. Still, history shows the Clásico rarely follows form – often, the bigger the gap between the clubs, the likelier the upset.

  At Tuesday’s session in Mexico City, several regulars were missing. In addition to internationals Luis Ángel Malagón, Erick Sánchez, Brian Rodríguez, Rodrigo Aguirre, Sebastián Cáceres, and Alejandro Zendejas, veteran midfielder Jonathan dos Santos was absent for a routine medical check. Club sources stressed Dos Santos' availability for Saturday isn’t in doubt. Jardine expects to have all of his call-ups back by Thursday to rejoin the squad ahead of the match against Chivas. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  One of the biggest storylines could be French winger Allan Saint-Maximin. Fresh off scoring two goals in two substitute appearances, he earned a start against D.C. United Sunday and may well feature again from the opening whistle against Chivas.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?

  The 262nd edition of the Clásico Nacional between América and Chivas, set for this Saturday, could mark a historic milestone in Mexican football’s biggest rivalry.

  América enter the match with the chance to record their 100th victory over their archrivals. The all-time head-to-head currently stands at 99 wins for Las Águilas, 80 for Chivas, and 82 draws across official competitions.

The Stadium of Light is likely to be a sight to behold on the Premier League opening day as Sunderland fans pack out their beloved home ground to the rafters.

West Ham United are the first opposition this season that gets to sample the high-energy Wearside crowd, as Graham Potter’s Hammers go about souring the feel-good factor in the air by clinching an away day win, at the expense of Regis Le Bris’ men.

Granit Xhaka could even be handed the responsibility of being Sunderland’s captain for such a hotly anticipated occasion, having worn the armband with pride during his side’s last pre-season test versus Real Betis.

He is the logical choice, having garnered a reputation for being a no-nonsense battler when on the books of Arsenal, but the Black Cats will be well aware they need even more grit and experience in their ranks to ensure survival is comfortably reached, away from just relying on their new £17m purchase.

Why Xhaka's signing is a coup for Sunderland

The 32-year-old returning to the Premier League to link up with the newly promoted Black Cats would have come as a shock.

After all, Xhaka had moved away to Bayer Leverkusen and managed to breathe new life into his playing days, as the trophy-shy midfielder held the Bundesliga title aloft during his debut season out in Germany.

During his celebrated stay in Germany, too, Xhaka would add to his growing collection of wonderstrikes, with six goals and nine assists coming his way from 99 games in the middle of the park.

Yet, it will be the Basel-born enforcer’s previous tough performances for the Gunners that will have caught his new side’s eye even more as they venture back up to the intimidating Premier League, with Arsenal-based writer Connor Humm even dubbing him a “monster” for his physical prowess in North London.

Indeed, across 225 games in the top division with the Gunners, Xhaka would win a steep 1001 duels in total, on top of also launching himself into 368 tackles.

With Habib Diarra’s £30m arrival into the building potentially boosting Sunderland’s attacking output centrally – as seen in his tally of nine big chances being created in Ligue 1 last season – Xhaka has certainly been purchased to toughen up a Black Cats side who were often viewed as youthful to a fault under Le Bris’ wing in the Championship.

Still, the Sunderland masses will be hoping that an elusive centre-back presence finally enters through the door before September’s approaching deadline…

Sunderland's ongoing transfer hunt

Staggeringly, despite signing off on eight high-profile signings this summer so far, only Xhaka – and Simon Adingra – will be entering into the action against the Irons with Premier League experience on his side.

Of course, the likes of Enzo Le Fee have been there and done that in equally tough divisions such as Ligue 1, alongside brand-new goalkeeper addition Robin Roefs helping himself to ten clean sheets in the Eredivisie last season. But, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether, especially when a relegation dog-fight is potentially on the cards.

To further add to the worry, Sunderland are yet to recruit a Premier League-capable centre-back so far this summer – even as tenous links have previously tipped them to sign the likes of Liverpool colossus Joe Gomez – despite splashing in the region of £140m elsewhere on fresh recruits.

This will be very concerning, therefore, as talk has also dried up regarding the Wearside outfit securing the signature of Bologna titan Jhon Lucumi, who would undoubtedly boost Le Bris’ options in the heart of defence, too, having just collected ten clean sheets himself last campaign in Serie A.

For the time being, Sunderland will have to hope Xhaka can be an effective anchor that helps to keep the ball out of their net, alongside offering the top-flight newcomers a whole lot more.

Sunderland's search for a centre-back

While Xhaka has been an obvious success in the Premier League, he will also hold some scars still, knowing his Arsenal stay was full of bumps.

Indeed, his aggressiveness often got the better of him, as seen in his collection of four red cards in the bruising division. Le Bris and Co. cannot afford to constantly be worried about the Swiss international’s hot-headedness turning ugly.

This is where centre-back target Loic Bade could come to the rescue in offering Le Bris’ men an assured coolness under pressure at the back, while also being a towering figure unafraid to duel when needed.

French outlet Foot Mercato has recently revealed that Bade is the priority target now for the Black Cats as they continue to hunt down defensive reinforcements, with £26m the desired amount they need to hit to seal a deal for the 6-foot-3 colossus.

Games played

19

28

32

Goals scored

1

0

1

Assists

0

1

1

Touches*

55.1

60.5

68.3

Accurate passes*

38.6 (87%)

39.6 (83%)

48.6 (86%)

Tackles*

1.4

2.3

1.5

Clearances*

3.9

4.0

5.0

Total duels won*

3.7

5.8

4.3

Clean sheets

7

5

8

This feels like a fair amount to pay when you consider his consistent battling performances for Sevilla, with this season just gone seeing Bade register five clearances per league match, as his never-say-die attitude just about kept Matías Almeyda’s men afloat in 17th spot, one point above the relegation spaces in La Liga.

He could well fancy his chances at another relegation scrap, therefore, in England, with his wealth of experience in this field no doubt coming in handy, when you further consider Le Bris’ usual centre-back pairing in Daniel Ballard and Luke O’Nien have zero top-flight games next to their names across their EFL-heavy careers to date.

On the flip side, the “elite” Frenchman – as he was once dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – has 125 appearances in La Liga and Ligue 1 under his belt, which has also led to him being labelled as a “warrior” by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

If Xhaka hadn’t arrived, Le Bris would at least be content that he has the aforementioned Le Fee and Diarra at his disposal.

Whereas, missing out on Bade feels as if it will be an opportunity Sunderland will rue in the long run, as the Black Cats prepare to defend for their lives to ensure an immediate return to the EFL doesn’t occur.

Sunderland could land Le Bris his own Isak by signing “terrifying” £51m ace

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ByKelan Sarson Aug 5, 2025

Leeds United have spent the first part of the summer transfer window attempting to improve the depth and the quality of Daniel Farke’s defensive options.

Three of their four signings are defenders, as Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Jaka Bijol have all been added to the squad, alongside striker Lukas Nmecha.

The Championship champions are also looking to improve their options in the middle of the park, though, as they were recently linked with a move for Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff.

Sky Sports reported that the Whites were interested in a deal to bring the English maestro to Elland Road this summer, and made three bids to tempt the Magpies into cashing in on him.

However, all three offers were turned down by Eddie Howe’s side, with the most recent proposal worth up to £12m, and Leeds are said to be weighing up where to go next.

The Whites will be hoping that whoever they sign to fill that central midfield role can be as effective as Kalvin Phillips was for Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

Why Kalvin Phillips was so important for Leeds

When Leeds were promoted to the Premier League under Bielsa in 2020, Phillips stepped up from the Championship and showed that he could compete at the top level with brilliant performances in the middle of the park.

The England international sat at the base of the midfield and provided consistent quality with both his use of the ball in possession as well as his destructive play off the ball to break up opposition attacks on a regular basis.

Phillips, who came up through the academy system at Thorp Arch, played 29 of the club’s 38 games in the Premier League that season, and used his defensive quality to help the team avoid relegation back down to the Championship.

The English enforcer was terrific at making tackles, interceptions, and blocks to prevent Illan Meslier from being worked too often in the Leeds goal, as shown by the statistics in the table below.

Tackles

2.74

Top 12%

Interceptions

1.67

Top 18%

Blocks

1.82

Top 9%

Clearances

1.96

Top 9%

Aerial duels won

1.11

Top 39%

Passes blocked

1.30

Top 15%

Phillips ranked incredibly highly in pretty much every major defensive metric, which speaks to how important he was to Bielsa’s team in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the clip above, though, Jamie Carraghe also explained why the midfielder was an important player in possession with his ability to dictate games with his passes.

Leeds have held talks to sign Bundesliga star

Leeds may be on course to land their next version of Phillips, though, as they are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Anton Stach from Hoffenheim.

Transfer Focus

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

According to the Sunday Mirror (13 July, page 76), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds United have already held talks with Hoffenheim over a potential deal for the central midfielder.

The report also reveals that the Bundesliga club are willing to cash in on the German talent if a club is willing to pay a fee of around £17.25m for the 26-year-old titan.

It also states, though, that Eintracht Frankfurt are plotting a possible bid for the 6 foot 4 colossus, which means that Leeds could face some pretty stiff competition to get a deal over the line for the midfielder in the coming weeks.

Why Leeds should sign Anton Stach

The Whites should push to beat Frankfurt to his signature before the end of the summer transfer window because Stach could be Farke’s own version of Phillips.

As aforementioned, the current Manchester City man was so important for Bielsa because of the defensive insurance that he provided in front of the back four, coupled with the technical quality that the English star offered on the ball.

Stach, who also offers a physical presence at the height of 6 foot 4, is a defensive or central midfielder who could arrive at Elland Road to bring similar qualities to Phillips in the middle of the park.

The 26-year-old star averaged 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game, without making a single error that directly led to a goal or penalty for the opposition, in 30 appearances in the Bundesliga last term.

Appearances

29

30

Goals

1

1

Assists

2

2

Tackles per game

2.6

2.2

Interceptions per game

1.6

1.5

Duels won per game

5.3

5.6

Ground duel success rate

53%

59%

Aerial duel success rate

47%

57%

As you can see in the table above, Stach’s defensive numbers last season in the German top-flight are incredibly similar to the numbers that Phillips put up for Bielsa in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign.

These statistics suggest that the German talent would offer similar qualities out of possession in the present day Leeds team for Farke, as a destructive defensive midfielder who can consistently win duels, tackles, and interceptions, whilst dominating opposition players in duels on the ground and in the air.

The £17m-rated maestro, who former teammate Dominik Kohr claimed has an “incredible” shot, also completed 83% of his attempted passes and contributed with two goals and four ‘big chances’ created, which shows that he can also make an impact in possession.

Therefore, Stach could be as important to Farke’s Leeds team as Phillips was to Bielsa’s newly-promoted side in 2020, due to his qualities on and off the ball in midfield, having proven himself in a major European league in Germany.

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That is why the Championship champions should be pushing very hard to beat Frankfurt to the signing of the Hoffenheim man before the opening game of the Premier League season against Everton.

It’s safe to say no Tottenham Hotspur fan could’ve predicted what the club have been through over the last couple of weeks, with Thomas Frank enduring quite the start to his reign at the club.

The Dane was appointed as the Lilywhites’ new boss back in June, looking to build on the Europa League success achieved by Ange Postecoglou at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

He’s certainly looked to add to his squad, completing the £55m deal of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United last week, with the Ghanaian becoming the first major signing of his spell in charge.

It looked almost certain that the 24-year-old would be joined by Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White in North London, but a deal has appeared to hit a huge stumbling block.

Such a scenario is something you would usually see when watching a Hollywood movie, but it’s something that has to be taken into consideration when dealing with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Spurs decided to trigger Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause in his contract last Thursday, with a deal rapidly developing, so much so that he was set for a medical the following day.

However, a deal has been far from ideal to date, with Forest threatening legal action over an illegal approach, which could be seen as an added money-making exercise given the bargain clause.

Whilst that deal appears on hold for the time being, the same can’t be said for centre-back Koni de Winter, with progress being made for his signature, according to The i Paper.

They claim that the Lilywhites have made an approach to land the Belgian international who could be available for as little as £22m during the ongoing window.

However, it also states that they face tough competition from Intern Milan for the 23-year-old’s services, potentially leading to a battle to land the star in the coming weeks.

Why Spurs’ £22m target would be a better signing than Gibbs-White

Given his tally of seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season, there’s no denying that Gibbs-White would be a superb addition for Frank’s side ahead of 2025/26.

He has the opportunity to further his career, playing in the Champions League whilst also potentially cementing his place within Thomas Tuchel’s England set up on a consistent basis.

However, despite the work of Marinakis to stop such a move, there’s also the question of where the 25-year-old would feature in North London, given the addition of Kudus and the current option of James Maddison.

There’s no denying that his best position is in the number ten role behind the striker, potentially being a waste of money, should the manager land him and decide to play him out of position.

Such a decision could make De Winter a better addition this summer, especially considering the lack of depth currently available in the centre-back department.

The Belgian would offer a superb option for Frank’s side ahead, potentially having the tools to cement his place in the side in the long term, given his tender age.

De Winter, who’s been labelled “imperious” by journalist Sacha Tavolieri, won 58% of the tackles he entered last year, whilst winning 3.2 aerials per 90, handing Frank’s side a talented defensive option to help bolster the backline.

Koni de Winter’s stats for Genoa in Serie A (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	25
Goals scored	3
Pass accuracy	87%
Passes into final third	1.7
Tackles won	58%
Aerials won	3.2
Recoveries made	4.8
Stats via FotMob

He also made 1.1 interceptions per 90 and 4.8 recoveries, helping the Italian side keep double figures for clean sheets – something which is desperately needed in North London, given their measly tally of 65 goals conceded.

At just 23, he’s already racked up over 100 senior appearances, having the ability, but also the potential to be a real asset for the club in the present and the years ahead.

Gibbs-White would certainly excel in North London, but the need for added reinforcements at the back is just as important during the current window.

De Winter would provide just that, and at just £22m he would be a massive bargain, one that could also see the hierarchy make a tidy profit on their investment in the near future.

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Chad Bowes scored the fastest List A double-century on Wednesday for Canterbury against Otago in the Ford Trophy. Bowes brought up the milestone in 103 balls, before eventually falling for 205 off 110 deliveries.The record was previously held by Australia’s Travis Head and India’s N Jagadeesan, who both took 114 deliveries each to get to their respective double-centuries. Head achieved the feat for South Australia against Queensland in the 2021-22 Marsh Cup, while Tamil Nadu’s Jagadeesan did it during his record-breaking 277 against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy.Playing his 100th List A match, Bowes hit 27 fours and seven sixes as he helped Canterbury post 343 for 9 after they were put in to bat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.”It might sink in over the next day or two, but obviously a great day here at Hagley and a good occasion to do something special,” Bowes said after his innings. “These things happen naturally, organically. You don’t plan for it or try to do it, so I’m glad it was my day. Probably not [hit he ball] consistently that well, so it was nice to get most of them out of the middle and hit it around the park. It started off really nicely so I just kept going and it was working so I didn’t try to rein it in too much and just kept the foot on the gas.”The 32-year-old got off to a quick start and continued to show his aggression despite losing his opening partner Henry Nicholls for a five-ball duck in the second over. He got to his half-century in 26 balls and brought up his century in 53 deliveries. He took another 50 deliveries to complete his double, before being trapped lbw in the 39th over by Matthew Bacon, who registered a five-for. This was Bowes’ best List A score, comfortably going past his previous high score of 126.Only two other batters in Canterbury’s top seven reached double-figures, with captain Cole McConchie’s 40-ball 27 the next highest score. However, No. 8 Zakary Foulkes gave them a late boost with a 46-ball 49 to take them close to 350.Canterbury bowled Otago out for 103 to complete a 240-run win.

Arshdeep and Jansen have suggested that Centurion and Johannesburg will have more assistance for the quicks than Gqeberha and Durban

Hemant Brar12-Nov-20241:29

Arshdeep is ‘enjoying what India’s spinners are doing’ in South Africa

Pace and bounce. Those are the words that come to mind when one thinks of cricket in South Africa. However, things have been completely different in the first two T20Is of the current series. There was so much help for spinners that India looked more at home than the hosts.South Africa’s batters had no clue against Varun Chakravarthy, now an overspin bowler with more tricks in his bag than a magician. His eight wickets – and an economy rate of 5.25 – are the most in the series so far. Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi is the joint second on that list with four wickets and an economy rate of 6.12.In all, spinners from both sides have a combined 16 scalps and gone at 6.51 per over. Fast bowlers, despite bowling almost seven overs more, have 12 while going at 8.58.Related

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Arshdeep Singh, a fast bowler himself, does not mind that. Even though he went for 41 in four overs in the second T20I in Gqeberha. “I’m enjoying what the spinners are doing. I will be really happy if they take all ten wickets and I don’t have to do my job,” he said on the eve of the third T20I in Centurion.The conditions in the third T20I, though, are expected to be different from the first two. The first two were played in coastal cities, Durban and Gqeberha, and the teams could breach the 150 mark only once in four innings.The next two games will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg, high-altitude venues where the ball flies off the bat. In the most recent T20I in Centurion, in March 2023, West Indies posted 258 for 5, only for South Africa to pull off a record chase with more than an over to spare.So what is India’s plan for Wednesday? “The South Africa batters are struggling against spin,” Arshdeep said. “So the idea is to contain early on and give a good platform to our spinners to attack and take wickets.”Varun Chakravarthy bamboozled South Africa’s batters in the first two T20Is•AFP/Getty ImagesBut it will not be easy for Varun and Bishnoi to replicate their performance, and South Africa know this. “Playing spin here is a lot different than playing it in PE [Port Elizabeth, Gqeberha’s earlier name] or Durban,” their allrounder Marco Jansen said. “There is a lot more bounce here and they will probably try a fuller length. How we go about that is different for each individual.”I think we didn’t play spin as well as we wanted to in PE. There were a few soft dismissals where we felt we could definitely make better decisions and execute better.”It’s important we look to score straight against spinners. It’s the same for them; they don’t want to go too full because then it’s easier to play. They want to be shorter. It’s not turning a lot; the ball just skids on. So they know if they go fuller, it is easier to score. If it’s full, we can step out. If it’s short, we can stay back.”With the ball, South Africa’s plan looks different from India’s. Their lead fast bowlers – Jansen and Gerald Coetzee, both returning from injuries – have been quicker and more accurate than their Indian counterparts and will aim to strike early.”In the Highveld, the ball travels a lot more than at the coast,” Jansen said. “So it’s important to take wickets at regular intervals, because it’s very difficult to restrict the scoring rate.”Arshdeep is aware he may have to play a key role for India. “I am looking forward to what the wicket offers here,” he said. “It all depends on the conditions, the pitch, the situation whether to go for wickets or look to contain.”When you are bowling two overs at the start and two at the end, a lot depends on you – you can win a game or lose it. So there’s a lot of responsibility. When you bowl at the death, some days are good, some days are bad. You try to stay level-headed and not overthink. The endeavour is to keep things simple, not complicate them, and fulfil what the team demands from me.”

An emergency meeting of the ICC Board will be convened to discuss this matter, with fewer than 100 days left to the expected start of the tournament

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Nov-2024

The winners’ trophy on display in Karachi, in the lead up to the 2025 Champions Trophy•Getty Images

The ICC Board will convene next week for an emergency meeting to discuss the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the single-point agenda for the meeting, which is likely to be held on November 26, is to reach a consensus on whether a hybrid model should be adopted for the tournament with matches being spread between Pakistan, the host country, and a second overseas venue, which is yet to be confirmed.While several people privy to discussions confirmed the development to ESPNcricinfo, an ICC spokesperson said there had been no official communication confirming the meeting next week. It is not clear how many boards have been informed of the meeting at this point. A PCB official also said they had received no such information at the moment.The ICC Board comprises representatives from the 12 Full Member countries, three representatives from Associates, an independent director along with the ICC chairman and CEO.The meeting has been called for after the BCCI told the ICC that the Indian government has denied Rohit Sharma’s team permission to travel to Pakistan. That decision only came a fortnight ago; the PCB was awarded hosting rights for the eight-team ODI tournament three years ago, in November 2021, and has been steadfast about conducting the entire event in Pakistan, at three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.Related

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BCCI objects to PCB's Champions Trophy tour to Muzaffarabad

PCB draft schedule has all India games in Lahore

The impasse has meant that with under 100 days to the expected start of the tournament – as hosts, the PCB have penciled it in to run from February 19 to March 9 – there is still no official schedule from the ICC for the event.Speaking to media in Pakistan this week, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said he retained “positive expectations” about the Champions Trophy taking place in the country. Naqvi, who is also the head of the Interior Ministry of the Pakistan government, said he was willing to have a dialogue with the BCCI to break the deadlock, even while the PCB awaits a response from the ICC to a set of questions about why India cannot travel to Pakistan for the tournament.This is the second time in successive years the PCB has been confronted with the hybrid model to host a multi-national tournament to accommodate India. The 2023 Asia Cup was played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the Indian team was refused permission to travel to Pakistan. It was Pakistan that travelled between their country and Sri Lanka where the tournament final was played. Pakistan travelled to India for the ODI World Cup soon after that tournament, a decision the PCB has said it expected to be reciprocated for the Champions Trophy.Earlier this week the India team was also forced to withdraw from the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in Pakistan, after failing to secure the Indian government’s clearance for the squad to travel to Pakistan.

Big Picture: Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line

This is big. If India win at the MCG, they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If Australia win, they remain on track for a first series win over India in a decade. A defeat for the home side would trigger significant questions while if India lose, their World Test Championship (WTC) fate is out of their hands, although retaining the series trophy would remain possible. With a good forecast, a draw would appear an unlikely result, particularly given the ground’s recent history. And whatever unfolds on Boxing Day could take place in front of more than 90,000 spectators.It’s only been six days since the damp end to proceedings at the Gabba, but a lot has happened. If you weren’t aware of the scoreline, it may feel like India are ahead given Australia have been forced into a change at the top of the order to try and counterpunch against Jasprit Bumrah. It means 19-year-old Sam Konstas will make an extraordinary debut after just 11 first-class matches.But it’s also been a curious few days for the visitors. Virat Kohli had a run-in with a reporter at the Melbourne airport; Ravindra Jadeja only took questions in Hindi at a press conference which got some people annoyed; and there were suggestions of a conspiracy when India were given used pitches to train on at the MCG.Related

• Rohit doesn't want to 'complicate too many things' for Gill and Jaiswal

• MCG pitch to have 'pace, bounce and excitement', but what about runs?

• Konstas' MCG debut confirmed, Head faces a fitness test

• WTC final race – How can India, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka qualify?

• Should India opt for bowling depth over batting insurance?

Meanwhile, in terms of the important things, they are still trying to find enough support for Bumrah and more runs from a misfiring top order. There does not appear much India can do about the batting order in terms of personnel, instead they will hope someone can follow the lead of KL Rahul.There has not been a lot of actual cricket played in the last two Tests: Adelaide was over little more than an hour into the third day and rain was a constant menace in Brisbane. But since Perth, Australia have dominated. Yet it sits at 1-1 and there is not much wriggle room for them to have a bad day.Australia’s top order remains under scrutiny amid the call to drop Nathan McSweeney in favour of Konstas at such a crucial moment in the series while senior batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain low on runs. Travis Head, who picked up a quad niggle in Brisbane but is good to go, has been the game-changer while Steven Smith’s hundred was timely and by the end of it he was playing very fluently.The fact that Scott Boland can slot back in at a ground he has enjoyed so much success on (headlined by his 6 for 7 against England in 2021-22) shows the pace-bowling depth Australia have. It may just be what makes the difference, although don’t count out Bumrah being able to win it almost on his own for India, who have not lost a Test at the MCG since 2011.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia DWLWW
India DLWLL

In the spotlight: Usman Khawaja and Virat Kohli

Usman Khawaja is coming towards the end of what is his leanest Test year since 2013 (when he averaged 19.00 from just three matches). In 2024 he has a return of 337 runs at 24.07 including just one fifty. However, the Australia camp is taking the view that he is out of runs rather than out of form, similar to Smith before his Gabba century. Khawaja has spoken about having next year’s Ashes on his radar with a potential finishing point of the SCG in just over 12 months’ time, but whether he gets there may depend on these next two Tests and the Sri Lanka series.There has been one India great retire in this series. And the rumours are bubbling about who might be next. Virat Kohli ended a century drought with his second innings in Perth but at the moment it is looking like an outlier with a pattern in his dismissals aside from that – pushing hard at the ball outside off stump. In Brisbane he was reaching out to drive a particularly wide delivery. In 2014 he enjoyed a spectacular Test at the MCG with 169 and 54, then in 2018 made a hardworking 82 as captain to help lay the foundation for a famous victory which ultimately decided that series. He missed 2020 when India won again. What will 2024 bring?

Team news: Konstas debut, Boland back; India’s balance question

Konstas’ debut was confirmed on Christmas Eve while Boland will return in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood. Head passed a fitness test on Christmas Day after coming out of the Gabba with a quad strain.Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott BolandRohit Sharma’s batting position remains a hot topic and he did not confirm where he would slot in ahead of the game, but it seems unlikely India will break up the opening pair. The other key debate is what to do at No. 8: stick with Nitish Kumar Reddy, pick another specialist quick (which would lengthen the tail) or play Washington Sundar as an alternative allrounder and opt for a 3-2 balance of pace and spin?India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Rohit Sharma (capt), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj1:57

What’s the blueprint for winning a Test at the MCG?

Pitch and conditions: Sizzling temperatures on Boxing Day

The MCG pitch, which has become a goldmine for the quicks, has been in focus. Curator Matt Page said he will follow the formula which has been a success in recent seasons, leaving around 6mm of grass on the surface. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said it’s normally a surface where you bowl first, but things may be different this time. The forecast for a hot opening day, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, may see the pitch quicken up earlier than normal. There is a chance of showers on the second day but otherwise the forecast is fine and a more pleasant temperature from day three onwards.

Stats and trivia

• Bumrah needs six wickets for 200 in Tests. If he did it at the MCG, in his 44th Test, he would be the joint second-fastest for India behind R Ashwin
• Since the 2018-19 season, there have been six Test centuries scored at the MCG – the lowest of all Australian venues to host more than a single match
• Australia’s current average from their top three is their lowest ever for a home series of at least three Tests (note: includes Pat Cummins as nightwatcher in Perth)

Quotes

“Every game starts afresh…different teams, different structures. Think both teams have similar challenges at the moment. How do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top. I’m not a big believer in history repeating itself.
“After three Test matches, if I had to look at it being one-all, it’s a fair reflection of how both teams have played. There has been solid cricket being played by both teams.”

Arne Slot has lifted the lid on Liverpool's failed attempts to sign Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi while admitting "it happens to our players as well". The Reds' dramatic deadline-day move sensationally fell apart in the final moments of the transfer window, despite the England star completing a medical and agreeing terms at Anfield.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A fee of around $47 million (£35 million) had been struck between the two clubs, with paperwork even submitted to the Premier League. Guehi, who is out of contract next summer, had prepared to commit to a five-year deal with the Reds. But Palace, unable to secure a replacement in time, pulled the plug at the eleventh hour, leaving Liverpool empty-handed.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT SLOT SAID

Speaking for the first time about the failed swoop, Slot said: "A lot happened on the final day. I am most pleased that we got the deal for Alexander Isak over the line. Everyone at the club worked so hard to get it done. It would be a bit ridiculous to deny that we were close to signing Guehi. That is so out in the open. But these things happen. It probably happened to our players where they were close to signing for other clubs and then things change in the last moment. 

"We would have liked to sign him, of course. If we feel we can strengthen the team, we never hesitate to do so, and that is what we tried to do. It is a pity for us and the player but he is in a good place at Palace, where he won the FA Cup and Community Shield. Let’s see what the future brings for him and us."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite the setback, Slot insisted Liverpool are not short of centre-back options. Giovanni Leoni, signed earlier in the window, is still awaiting his debut, while the established trio of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez remain reliable choices.

He added: "Against Arsenal, Ibou and Virgil were outstanding and then Joe Gomez came in and was outstanding, too. Giovanni Leoni had his first call up, Ryan and Wataru can play there so it isn’t like we don’t have options there."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Away from transfer drama, attention turns to Turf Moor this weekend, where newly-promoted Burnley await. Liverpool have made the perfect start to their Premier League campaign, winning all three of their opening fixtures, and Slot is eager to maintain momentum.