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We finally seem to be at the end of the summer’s biggest saga so far, with Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike seemingly ended by Liverpool. It was confirmed by journalist Julien Laurens that Eddie Howe’s side are ‘out of the race’ to sign the Frenchman.

Whilst that is a blow to the Magpies, with the striker seemingly set to move to the Reds now, it does increase the chances of Alexander Isak remaining at St James’ Park this season. Fabrizio Romano reported that Newcastle ‘insist’ on the fact that their first-choice striker is not available for sale this summer.

To help supplement Isak up front, it still seems as though the North East outfit will pursue a new number nine.

Newcastle’s new striker target

Whilst their move to sign Ekitike this summer failed to materialise, it still seems apparent that the Magpies wanted to sign a centre-forward this summer. Well, if the new reports to break are true, then that is still very much the case.

Transfer Focus

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

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A recent report from talkSPORT confirms the fact that Newcastle are after another number nine this summer, and claim they ‘are ready to join the race’ for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.

Howe and the higher-ups at St James’ Park might see an opportunity to sign the DR Congo because he is ‘pushing to leave’ the Gtech Community Stadium this summer.

However, there is fierce competition for the 28-year-old. He is wanted by former manager Thomas Frank, now at Tottenham Hotspur, with Nottingham Forest also showing keen interest, and have even placed a bid of £25m. However, that fell way short of Brentford’s valuation, which is double that, at £50m.

Why Wissa would be a good signing

There are clear signs of major improvement in Wissa’s game, who continues to get better and better the more Premier League football he plays. Back in June, journalist Zach Lowy described the attacker as a “remarkable” forward.

In 137 English top-flight games for the Bees, he has amassed an impressive goal tally of 45 strikes, chipping in with 13 assists. He’s managed double-figure goal involvements in three of his four Premier League seasons, and has hit such a milestone simply for goals in the last two seasons.

The 2024/25 campaign saw Wissa explode and have the season of his career so far. In 35 Premier League games, the Brentford number 11 found the back of the net 19 times and registered five assists. It is easy to see why they want £50m for his signature this summer.

Simply from a goalscoring point of view, the Brentford attacker actually had a better campaign than Ekitike managed last season. Whilst the Frenchman, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, did contribute eight assists in 33 Bundesliga games, he was not as clinical as Wissa.

The 23-year-old, who was born in Reims, only bagged 15 league goals for Eintracht in the 2024/25 campaign, four fewer than the DR Congo striker managed.

On top of that, Wissa had a better goalscoring streak, bagging goals in four consecutive league games, whilst Ekitike’s best was three. There are certainly stats which back up the fact that Wissa is a more clinical striker than Ekitike.

Looking at the numbers on Squawka, he has a better conversion rate, with 27.54% compared to the Frenchman’s 17.24%, showing just how well he takes his chances, and has more non-penalty goals per game, with 0.6 as opposed to 0.5.

Wissa and Ekitike key shooting stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Wissa

Ekitike

Shot accuracy

62.32%

55.17%

Conversion rate

27.54%

17.24%

Non-penalty goals

0.6

0.5

Goals from inside the box

0.6

0.6

Winnings goals

0.2

0.1

Stats from Squawka

Although it is a shame that the Magpies have missed out on signing Ekitike, Wissa could be the perfect player to rotate with Isak.

The Swedish attacker scored 23 Premier League goals last term, so they need a clinical number nine to match his goalscoring form.

Thus, Wissa could be the dream signing for Howe’s side this season, to help take Newcastle to the next level and continue their rise up the Premier League table.

Related Bigger talent than Ekitike: Newcastle targeting £70m "menace of a striker"

Newcastle are on the hunt for a new striker amid the interest in Alexander Isak

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jul 16, 2025

After closing the 2024/25 campaign with a draw against Crystal Palace, and then lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool boss Arne Slot pledged to invest this summer, albeit without “radical changes”.

Such a pragmatic response is to be expected from an esteemed head coach, one whose businesslike approach has allowed him to fit right in as Jurgen Klopp’s successor on Merseyside.

However, the rumour mill is filled with reinforced claims that Liverpool are moving swiftly to conclude some (pre)summer business: Florian Wirtz is in the process of moving from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield for a club-record fee, while Werkself teammate Jeremie Frimpong has already completed his medical.

Frimpong is being signed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose free transfer to Real Madrid is imminent, and in a way, his German peer is too, hailed as “a genius” by Xabi Alonso for his immense creative capacity.

However, the Reds are keen to make further frontal signings to help Mohamed Salah, who has dominated the awards ceremonies after his incredible year, but surely needs a bit more help if he’s to go again, aged 33, next season.

Liverpool's frontline in 24/25

Salah finished the campaign rather timidly, with two goals and one assist from his final nine Premier League fixtures, but then so did the rest of the team, who claimed two points from 12 after the title had been sealed.

Late-season slumps make for a faulty barometer when it comes to assessing Salah’s form, predicting future success. However, the Egyptian King turns 33 in a few weeks, so concerns are understandable.

Actually, are they? Salah has just scored 34 goals across 53 matches in all competitions for Liverpool, playing 23 assists too. He has cemented his status as one of the division’s all-timers, and after penning a new contract on Merseyside, needs 29 top-flight goals from two more terms to replace Harry Kane as the Premier League’s second-highest goalscorer in history.

However, he needs support. Liverpool’s forwards have welled up like the rising tide this season, making gains, but they’ve also ebbed away, with the need for a new number nine evident given Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz’s bouts of inconsistency.

Liverpool’s Frontline in 2024/25 (all comps)
Player	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
Mohamed Salah	52 (50)	34	23
Cody Gakpo	49 (32)	18	7
Luis Diaz	50 (38)	17	8
Diogo Jota	37 (22)	9	4
Darwin Nunez	47 (17)	7	7
Federico Chiesa	14 (4)	2	2
Stats via Transfermarkt

Salah doesn’t just need a striker, though; he needs more cover. The veteran superstar was backed up by the untrusted Federico Chiesa this year, who has started just once in the league.

While Wirtz will help Salah toward a new season of prolific returns, and while the addition of an out-and-out goalscorer would ease his heavy burden, some support on the right wing, to help Liverpool across numerous different tournaments, wouldn’t go amiss.

Liverpool in the race for Salah rival

According to Spanish paper AS (Wednesday edition, via Sport Witness), Liverpool are interested in signing Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo, who has changed his agent ahead of the summer window after his side missed out on European qualification.

Transfer Focus

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

With a €60m (£50m) release clause, the winger wouldn’t come cheap, but Liverpool and Arsenal are believed to be the biggest contenders in the race for his signature after efforts from the Saudi Pro League were rebuffed.

Indeed, the Premier League duo are said to have made contact regarding the move, amid the claim that they are ‘knocking on the door’ of the in-demand talent.

The 23-year-old would play second fiddle to Salah, but with Chiesa’s future uncertain, this could be a shrewd and prudent move. Salah isn’t getting any younger, after all.

Why Liverpool should sign Takefusa Kubo

Liverpool were frustrated when trying to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi last summer, and will be wary of engaging in a protracted and ultimately unsuccessful bid for another top player from the Basque Country this summer.

However, Kubo has changed his agents, and that suggests he’s open to moving this summer. Moreover, having rejected a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, he wants to play at the highest level.

Liverpool can offer just that, offering further enticement through the fact that Salah will be playing at AFCON next season, running from December to January.

It would certainly add some new electricity and athleticism to the right flank, especially when considering Jeremie Frimpong should be in the mix too.

As per FBref, Kubo ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers this term for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, very much bearing the pace of a man some ten years younger than Salah.

More to the point, former Mallorca CEO Maheta Molango has said he has “the ingredients to one day be a superstar”, with Liverpool hero Wataru Endo, Kubo’s Japanese teammate, suggesting the fleet-footed ace could succeed – or “replace” – Salah at Anfield one day.

We can’t dispute that Kubo needs to produce more in front of goal, having only scored seven goals and assisted four more across 52 matches in all competitions this season, but the underlying data suggests he’s indeed a ‘superstar’ in the making.

As per Sofascore, the diminutive winger might have scored only five times in La Liga this year, but he also squandered just two big chances, winning 5.3 duels per game, indicating a combative approach that would serve him well in the Premier League.

He averaged 1.2 shots per game. He needs to do more. But – and it’s a big but – Slot knows his stuff on the tactical front, can develop his confidence in the final third while utilising Kubo’s noteworthy physical metrics to allow him to challenge Salah for a starting berth on the right flank.

Of course, while some of Kubo’s ability would harbour reservations about joining a team like Liverpool only to play as the understudy of another, Kubo will likely recognise the benefits of learning from a master craftsman such as Salah.

He’s got work to do, but the Japan international is young and talented and would be the perfect counterpoint on the right flank, one whose potential suggests he could even replace Salah and make the position his own down the line.

Mac Allister 2.0: Liverpool working on another amazing signing after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to replicate a deal for Alexis Mac Allister durng the upcoming summer window.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 28, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers know they will enter the 2025/26 season without the services of Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth £62.5m in the coming weeks and this will leave the Old Gold short in the attacking department.

Cunha was arguably the reason why Wolves remained in the Premier League last season. All good things must come to an end, however, and Vitor Pereira will now be looking to replace the former Atlético Madrid man when the transfer window opens.

Matheus Cunha's Wolves record

Cunha was the club’s biggest attacking threat last season. Not only did he top the scoring charts with 17 goals, while finishing second in the squad for assists with six in all competitions.

Indeed, Cunha registered the most goal involvements (21) in the squad during the Premier League, while also ranking first for big chances created (13), key passes per game (1.8) and successful dribbles per game (1.8).

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

17

6

2023/24

36

14

8

2022/23

20

2

1

If it weren’t for his contributions in the final third, Wolves might have found themselves in graver danger towards the end of the season, that’s for sure.

Now the onus is on Pereira to find a suitable replacement for the Brazilian talisman. One who can hit the ground running at Molineux at the start of next season.

Could the manager target a player from a fellow Premier League club?

Wolves could land Premier League star as Cunha replacement

Last week, Birmingham World claimed that the Old Gold were considering making a move for James McAtee of Manchester City this summer.

A fee of around £25m appears to be what Pep Guardiola is set to demand for the youngster. Given that Pereira will have money to play with upon Cunha’s sale, this shouldn’t be a problem.

McAtee has already made 48 Premier League appearances throughout his embryonic career, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists.

Despite playing 27 times last term, only nine of these came in the starting XI. If McAtee wishes to fulfill his potential, moving to a club like Wolves will allow him to play every week.

Hailed as a “special player” by Guardiola, the Englishman would certainly offer something extra to the Wolves side next term.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, McAtee ranks in the top 1% for goals (0.78) and the top 6% for total shots (3.53) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

If given chances, he will certainly score plenty of goals for Wolves. Furthermore, he also created two big chances and had a goal conversion percentage of 25% in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

This was despite averaging just 24 minutes per game for City. He might not be at the same level as Cunha just yet, but the English talent certainly has the tools required to eventually get there one day.

Transfer Focus

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

Pereira will need to act swiftly, as there are a few other teams also seeking a move for the City starlet this summer.

Offer made: Wolves submit bid for £42m star who "never puts a foot wrong"

The Old Gold have now made a move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

Andrea Berta has only been in his role as Arsenal’s sporting director for a matter of months but he is already faced with one of the most important summer’s in the club’s recent history.

While injuries, bizarre officiating and a lack of firepower have all contributed to the Gunners’ perplexing season, the fact of the matter is they have regressed.

Their title challenge petered out in January and although they did go further in Europe, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, their reason for exiting was the same as last year; they lack players capable of scoring goals.

So, with that in mind, it’s just as well Arsenal are signing a midfielder first…

The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of Martin Zubimendi

We jest, of course, but Arsenal are now already on the verge of securing their first major addition of the Berta era.

The Gunners have been hot on the tail of Martin Zubimendi for a while now with reports emerging in January that they were set to get a deal over the line.

However, the Real Sociedad midfielder has been here before. Liverpool thought they had signed him last summer, only for the Spaniard to stay in LaLiga.

A year on, and it does look as though the 26-year-old will finally be leaving Spain behind with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Saturday that Arsenal have ‘agreed a deal’ to sign the player this summer, now set to trigger his €60m (£51m) release clause.

It’s reported that the midfielder has ‘verbally agreed’ to sign a long-term deal.

Despite all of that excitement, according to reports, Zubimendi isn’t the only player they are working on right now.

Arsenal move closer to striker signing

This weekend has been a pretty frantic one as far as transfer news is concerned, with Arsenal also looking to improve their options in the final third.

While the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak continue to be linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, it’s Viktor Gyokeres who seems to be the most likely at the moment.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to reports in Portugal, via Sport Witness, Arsenal have ‘submitted’ their first official offer for the Sporting CP striker, a bid worth €75m (£63m).

It’s suggested that fee is unlikely to be accepted with the club’s president, Frederico Varandas, believing he can get more for a player with an €100m (£85m) release clause.

While that might dampen the spirits of those at Arsenal, there is hope that a deal can be struck with Gyokeres actually having already agreed personal terms with the club.

Why Gyokeres is more exciting and important than Zubimendi

With Jorginho leaving north London behind at the conclusion of his contract and the ageing Thomas Partey yet to pen new terms, signing a new midfielder this summer is actually of utmost importance, particularly one who can play just in front of the defence.

It’s safe to say that Zubimendi can do that perfectly. It was he who was subbed on for Rodri in last year’s European Championship and the fact Spain went on to win it without the Manchester City midfielder on the pitch speaks volumes of how good the Sociedad star was.

During that game, he completed 92% of his passes and won all five of his ground duels. While Zubimendi isn’t as physical as someone like Partey, he’s very Jorginho-like in his play style. He dictates the game, presses well and rather crucially, would give Declan Rice the freedom to play as the attacking number 8 on a more regular basis.

But, for all the positives of signing Zubimendi, it’s Gyokeres who is the most important deal here.

Why? Well, the plain and simple fact is that Arsenal absolutely have to sign a new striker this summer if they want to challenge next season.

Even before Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus got injured over the winter, the Gunners needed more in attack but that has only been made even more obvious over the last few months.

While Leandro Trossard has been used as centre-forward on a few occasions, it’s Mikel Merino who’s largely been tasked with playing as a makeshift attacker.

To his credit, he’s done a solid job, notably scoring against Real Madrid. That was one of six goals he’s scored in 11 matches so far up top.

However, it’s pretty clear this isn’t sustainable and that was made more obvious against PSG. Merino didn’t have a poor second leg but time and time again Arsenal put a dangerous ball into the six yard box, only for no one in red and white to be there.

Well, in comparison, Gyokeres is always in the right place at the right time. Previously of Coventry City, where he scored 22 in 50 outings during the 2022/23 campaign, he’s only hit another level after moving to Sporting.

1. Viktor Gyokeres

38

2. Mo Salah

28

3. Harry Kane & Robert Lewandowski

25

4. Biereth, Mbappe & Retegui

24

5. Alexander Isak

23

6. Dembele, Haaland & Marmoush

21

The Swedish sensation has been the most profilic forward in Europe during his time in Lisbon, bagging a whopping 43 goals in 50 games last season and finding the net on 52 occasions in another half a century of matches this term.

Very few do it better than Gyokeres and whether or not his profile is the most ideal for Arsenal, perhaps they just need to keep things simple. Arsenal need goals more than anything else and the “monster” striker – as he was described by journalist Alex Turk – does goals.

While Isak – valued at £150m in some circles – is reportedly the dream signing, Gyokeres is more prolific and he’s more cost-effective.

Arsenal's £30m dud is very quickly becoming their new Xhaka & Aubameyang

The mercurial Arsenal star looks like a different player this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 11, 2025

As Manchester United get set to take on Chelsea in the penultimate game of their miserable Premier League season on Friday night, one man who won’t be involved in proceedings is Old Trafford exile, Jadon Sancho.

The 25-year-old loanee – who is ineligible to feature for the Blues against his parent club – is set to head into a summer of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, with it yet to be seen whether the west London side will secure his services on a permanent basis.

With talk in recent months indicating that Enzo Maresca’s side could actually pay a £5m fee in order to send him back to Manchester, despite agreeing to a £20m-£25m obligation to buy last summer, the Red Devils face the very real prospect of being lumped with the £195k-per-week winger once again.

In truth, even with a change in the dugout following Ruben Amorim’s arrival, the England international should have no future back at the Theatre of Dreams, having proven a simply wasted venture following his £73m arrival in 2021.

Perhaps hampered by a long, drawn-out saga that began in 2020, the former Borussia Dortmund man has been unable to replicate his Bundesliga heroics, having chalked up just 18 goals and assists in 83 games for United to date.

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

61

13

11

24

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

146

26

22

48

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

Alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony, Sancho is a player who INEOS need to cash in on this summer. What they must not do, however, is sign a talent of a similar ilk…

Man Utd's search for a forward

Whether it pays off or not remains to be seen, although it is encouraging to see that United are looking to target current Premier League stars this summer, ensuring there should be less of a need for adaptation next season.

Transfer Focus

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

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Indeed, both Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap appear to be at the top of the shopping list, while recent reports have also indicated that Amorim and co are interested in Bournemouth’s £60m-rated sensation, Antoine Semenyo.

With the Red Devils intent on strengthening the 40-year-old’s attacking options, Sky Sports have since revealed that United are also keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.

As per reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Englishman currently has just a year left on his contract at the City Ground, with talks currently “ongoing” with the Champions League hopefuls regarding an extension.

Reading between the lines, INEOS appear ready to pounce should those negotiations hit a stumbling block, with Forest perhaps willing to cash in, considering that they signed the ex-Chelsea man for a fee of just £3m back in 2023.

Alongside former United academy graduate, Anthony Elanga, Hudson-Odoi has no doubt flourished for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side – but is he what Amorim really needs?

Why Man Utd could be targeting another Sancho

The journey of a young footballer is rarely a smooth one, as Sancho, in particular, has come to learn.

Plucked from Manchester City by Dortmund on a £10m deal in 2017, the wing wizard went on to sparkle in German football over the next four years, with his total record for the Bundesliga side – when factoring last season’s loan spell back at the club – standing at 120 goals and assists in 158 games.

For all that talent and potential, it just hasn’t worked out since then, with Sancho now a forgotten man in Manchester, having also provided only eight goal involvements in the league this season for the Blues. His last Three Lions outing came as far back as October 2021.

It has been a similar story for Hudson-Odoi too, with the one-time wonderkid touted for big things after making his senior international debut at the age of just 18, having also been the subject of a £70m offer from Bayern Munich in 2020.

Injuries and limited game followed back at Chelsea, however, while he was also shipped off to Bayer Leverkusen for an unsuccessful loan in 2022/23, which yielded just one goal and one assist.

After recording 16 goals and 22 assists in 126 games for the west Londoners, the decision was made to cash in on the fleet-footed winger two years ago, while on the international scene, he has been unable to build on his three caps – all of which came in 2019.

To his credit, the man once described as a “monster of a talent” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella has found his feet at Forest, with 13 goals and six assists in 68 games in all competitions, including the winner against Manchester City earlier this year.

Hudson-Odoi vs Sancho – 24/25 PL stats

Stat (per 90)

Hudson-Odoi

Sancho

Non-penalty goals

0.21

0.16

Assists

0.08

0.21

Shot-creating actions

3.93

3.59

Pass completion

82.2%

82.5%

Progressive passes

2.76

4.65

Progressive carries

5.31

5.28

Successful take-ons

1.51

2.38

Touches in penalty box

3.01

6.39

Progressive passes received

7.78

11.68

Stats via FBref

That said, like Sancho, he hasn’t exactly pulled up any trees – if you’ll pardon the pun – in Nottingham, having matched his compatriot’s record of only eight goal contributions in the top-flight this term.

Interestingly too, the two widemen – both of whom can play on either flank – are noted as statistically similar players among those in their position in the division, as per FBref, with United at risk of landing another mercurial and inconsistent talent.

Perhaps, for a bargain fee, Hudson-Odoi could prove worth the gamble, although having witnessed Sancho struggle so greatly in recent years, targeting a player of similar quality and ability may well need to be avoided.

Related Forget Obi: Amorim can finally axe Hojlund for Man Utd's homegrown Gyokeres

Man Utd could have another academy sensation up their sleeve…

Posts 1 ByRobbie Walls May 14, 2025

He is still the greatest cricketer Bangladesh has ever produced, but he might never play for the country again, whether he wants to or not

Mohammad Isam06-Nov-2024Brendon McCullum miscues one and it’s caught at mid-on. The young bowler punches the air in celebration. On that crisp afternoon of October 18, 2008 in Chittagong (now Chattogram), McCullum becomes Shakib Al Hasan’s fourth wicket of the innings. He ends with 7 for 36, Bangladesh’s best bowling figures in Tests till Taijul Islam topped it with 8 for 39 in October 2014.That feat, Shakib’s, came four weeks after Bangladesh cricket’s biggest tryst with controversy till that point. It was the 21-year-old left-armer’s seventh Test. He was just breaking in, just a cricketer. No stardom. Simpler times.Exactly 16 years later, on October 18, 2024, everything is different. Shakib is Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer ever, but he is coming to the end of a stellar career. He is the country’s best-known face, the darling of brands. That’s the good part. There is also infamy.Related

• Shakib suspended from bowling in all top-level cricket, domestic and international

• The champion is back – whither the Bangladesh hero?

• Pro-Shakib and anti-Shakib groups clash outside stadium

• BCB chief: Shakib unlikely to play ODIs against Afghanistan

• Bangladesh look to begin post-Shakib era on winning note

Shakib is now, by dint of an aborted political career, an accomplice to tyranny. An enemy of the people.

****

When he was in Dubai in the third week of October, getting ready to travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh’s government officials told him not to board the flight as planned. He was expected to be part of the squad against South Africa, and to retire after playing his farewell Test, the first of two in that series. But protests against his participation made it unsafe for him to go back home.The protesters, from the student group Mirpur Chhatro Janata, camped outside the Shere Bangla National Stadium, chanting slogans, holding up posters, spray-painting the stadium walls with strong words against Shakib. It was a small bunch of students but they represented widespread outrage against Shakib, who is a member of the Awami League political party, which was overthrown following a students’/people’s protest in August. Shakib hasn’t returned to Bangladesh since.The world outside Bangladesh might find all this quite unfathomable. He is a cricketing hero, after all. Just keeping this to Test cricket, Shakib has had a glittering career.He was instrumental in their first overseas Test series win, in 2009. His century was vital in Bangladesh’s win in their 100th Test match. His ten-wicket haul got them their maiden Test victory against Australia. Remember the salute to Ben Stokes after dismissing him in Bangladesh’s epochal Test win over
England in 2016? Two months ago, Shakib’s spell on the final day in Rawalpindi proved crucial in their maiden Test win over Pakistan.

The cricket-loving Bangladeshi public took a dim view of his participation in the controversial general elections. He was greeted with boos in the BPL this year – a first for Shakib, for the public had always been on his side

However, the events of July and August are still fresh in the minds of those who lived through them. Shakib has always divided opinion, but usually over cricketing matters. His joining politics changed things. He is still their best cricketer. He isn’t their hero anymore.

****

Shakib’s entry into politics surprised many, given how busy his cricket calendar has been, and the fact that he didn’t live in Bangladesh anymore, having moved to New York with his family since the pandemic. He only flies back to Bangladesh to play cricket and to shoot commercials for his many endorsements.But if you are a star in Bangladesh – and they don’t come much bigger than Shakib – it’s difficult to not get into politics, and particularly to not join the Awami League. A recent study showed that 67% of lawmakers in the country are businessmen, and 90% are millionaires. In the last two general elections, the Awami League brought luminaries from various fields under their umbrella, including actors, singers and sports personalities. Former Bangladesh captains Naimur Rahman and Mashrafe Mortaza were already part of Team Awami League.Cricket is important to politicians in Bangladesh, as it is in the neighbourhood in general. The government of the day handpicked the BCB’s bosses before Nazmul Hassan became the first elected board chief in 2013. That the BCB’s directors would unanimously vote for Nazmul was never in doubt, given his political background: his father, Zillur Rahman, was the country’s president when Nazmul was the interim board president before he was elected to the position officially. Nazmul’s mother, Ivy Rahman, herself a political heavyweight in Bangladesh in the late 1990s and early 2000s, died of injuries suffered in a grenade attack at a political rally in 2004, where the intended target was Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League chief, who was the country’s prime minister till August this year.Shakib Al Hasan at an election rally in Magura earlier this year•AFP via Getty ImagesNazmul ramped up the political influence in the BCB during his 11-year reign. There were ministers, a mayor, and Sheikh Hasina’s cousins among the board directors. Second-level appointees, in the sub-committees, also had political connections and clout. During home international matches, BCB hired Awami League cadres as “security volunteers”.

****

Sheikh Hasina was more than involved. Nazmul told stories of how, once, the then prime minister abandoned her work files to spend time on the prayer mat when Tamim Iqbal was batting in the 90s. A young cricketer once spoke of how a mild scolding from Sheikh Hasina for bowling a couple of full tosses gave him sleepless nights. When Tamim retired in 2023, Hasina’s intervention forced him to reverse the decision within 24 hours. She was at matches in Mirpur often.Shakib was one of her favourite cricketers.He reportedly showed an interest in joining the party in 2018. Mashrafe got the Narail ticket that year but Shakib was in contention for it. Apparently Sheikh Hasina told Shakib to concentrate on his cricket at the time, with the promise that he would get a ticket to contest the 2024 general elections. She kept her promise. And Shakib won. From Magura. In an election widely reported to have been rigged in favour of the Awami League.When things turned bad for the party in July-August, Shakib automatically came in the line of the people’s fire.

Only ODIs remain on Shakib’s horizon, but now that he has opted out of the Afghanistan series, the likelihood of him finishing his international career at the 2025 Champions Trophy, as he wanted, looks faint too

The cricket-loving Bangladeshi public took a dim view of his participation in the controversial general elections. He was greeted with boos in the BPL this year. That was a first for Shakib. He has, in the past, shouted at umpires and even chased one with a bat once, but the public had always been on his side. Not anymore. Especially with Shakib not returning to Bangladesh and not issuing a statement at any stage during or immediately after the revolution in the country.On July 30, while playing a Global T20 Canada match in Brampton, Shakib was heckled by Bangladeshis in the crowd. He argued with a fan who had asked him about his silence on the unrest back home. Two weeks after the fall of the Awami League government, Shakib was among 147 people against whom charges had been filed in connection with an alleged murder in Dhaka. This happened when he was playing the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

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In an interview to aired in June this year, Shakib said that when the BCB banned him for six months for “serious misbehaviour” with the head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe in 2014, he got a fair understanding of the Bangladeshi psyche. He said that being kept away from cricket tore him apart and the first few days of his suspension were the toughest. But he learnt later how to behave with certain individuals and convinced them to reduce the ban, he said.So what has he learnt this time?Shakib Al Hasan’s fans show their support for the cricketer outside the Shere Bangla Stadium•ESPNcricinfo LtdShakib hasn’t visited Bangladesh since May this year. He was with the national team until the T20 World Cup, before linking up with teams in MLC and the Global T20 Canada. He played Tests in Pakistan and India, and in between played a county game in Taunton. He announced his retirement from Test and T20I cricket during the Kanpur Test, where he said he wished to play his last Test in Dhaka, starting October 21.Not long after, in a Facebook post, Shakib apologised for his silence during the political protests. His fans felt that that he had done what was expected of him after the tragic deaths of students and others in the country, but his detractors thought it was mere lip service.Soon after, the protesting students were back on the streets, asking the BCB to remove Shakib from the Test team. On October 18, Hasan Murad took Shakib’s place in the squad. There is still no final word about Shakib, but it is looking increasingly likely that Kanpur was his last Test match. Only ODIs remain on his horizon but now that he has opted out of the Afghanistan series, the likelihood of him finishing his international career at the 2025 Champions Trophy, as he wanted, looks faint too.Why did a giant like Shakib have such a fall? Did he deserve what has come to him? Did he invite it?Shakib willingly added the roles of politician and businessman to his primary job of celebrated sportsperson. He has given Bangladeshis several reasons to be proud of when it comes to the game, but he might have failed in other areas – as a role model, a hero, to millions in their moment of crisis. The opinion of the people might change one day, but this will remain a big part of his legacy, which he can’t shed whether he likes it or not.

The Punjab batter had not played a single T20 game before this season, but has quickly become a mainstay for his IPL franchise

Daya Sagar10-May-20233:28

Moody: Wadhera ensuring the chase wasn’t entirely on Suryakumar was critical

Nehal Wadhera had not played a single T20 game before IPL 2023. A largely unknown entity coming into the tournament, Mumbai Indians made sure to back him, giving him a consistent run in the side, and he repaid the franchise’s faith with a 21-ball 40 against Gujarat Titans, followed by a 51-ball 64 against Chennai Super Kings.On Tuesday, with Mumbai chasing 200, Wadhera went a step further, scoring an unbeaten 34-ball 52 as he forged a 140-run stand off 66 balls with Suryakumar Yadav to take his side home. Coming in at the end of the fifth over, with Mumbai having lost both openers in the space of three balls, at no point did Wadhera seem out of his depth. Even with Suryakumar going berserk at one end, the 22-year-old kept his cool to stay till the end. But, who is Wadhera and how did he end up with Mumbai despite not having any prior T20 experience?Wadhera was called up for trials last year by Rajasthan Royals, but he could not make the cut. He went back to his home state of Punjab, where he took part in an U-23 tournament. Playing for Ludhiana, in one of the innings, he smashed 578 off just 414 balls, which included 42 fours and 37 sixes. The innings elevated him into the limelight and he was spotted by the Mumbai scouts who called him for trials.Related

• Mumbai discover uncut gems to make it farther than expected

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• Mumbai mow down 200 to jump from eighth to third

“When Nehal came to me, he was a very small and chubby kid,” says his childhood coach Charanjit Bhangu. “He was a very quick learner and used to apply whatever I used to say to his game. Whenever a player does that, he immediately draws attention. After finishing practice, he used to come to my room and ask me for inputs on how to improve his game. He used to carry his bat everywhere so that he could shadow practice.”Wadhera slowly moved up the ranks in Punjab age-group cricket. In 2018, he was selected in the India U-19 team and was also named captain of an India A U-19 side that played a Quadrangular series in 2019 which had India B, South Africa and Afghanistan taking part. He then found a place in the squad for the U-19 Asia Cup in September 2019 but was overlooked for the U-19 World Cup that took place in early 2020. That came as a blow to Wadhera.Nehal Wadhera scored back-to-back fifties, the second coming in a winning cause for Mumbai•BCCI”It was a very challenging time for Nehal, but he never doubted himself,” Wadhera’s father Kamal Wadhera says. “He is a very positive boy. Whenever there are any problems, he always tries to search for ways to get out of them and not overthink about it.”To be honest, we are a middle-class family and we don’t have any stories of struggles. Whatever he (Nehal) asked for, we provided him with that. But the good thing is that he never misused his time or money.”During Covid-19, he worked on his fitness, both mental and physical. He started to read a lot as well. He now has even more self-belief than before.”Despite putting in consistent performances in age-group cricket, Wadhera had to bide his time before the senior call-up came, and he made sure to capitalise as soon as he got one. He scored a century on his first-class debut against Gujarat in January this year, and soon after compiled a match-winning 214 against defending Ranji Trophy champions Madhya Pradesh to further his credentials.Wadhera is yet to play a T20 game outside of the IPL, but the way his 2023 is going, he could soon become an all-format middle-order asset for Punjab.

The inconsistency of England’s top three batsmen may tip the scales slightly in India’s favour

Ian Chappell31-Jan-2021No sooner is one serious challenge accepted and robustly brushed aside than another is on the doorstep.The upcoming India versus England Test series has the potential to be an enticing contest similar in intensity to the one recently completed in Australia.India will start as favourites after an exhilarating victory over Australia, overcoming all obstacles. When you add the name Virat Kohli to the batting order, the team suddenly assumes a bulletproof cloak. In also adding the names R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya and Ishant Sharma to the list of available players, India take on an unbeatable appearance.Likewise, England can point to improvements they can make to the side that won convincingly in Sri Lanka. The availability of a premium player in Ben Stokes who, like Pandya, provides all-round ability and selection flexibility, albeit at a higher level than the Indian, is a big plus. And Jofra Archer adds substantially to the quality of an already strong pace attack.However it’s the top of the England order, where another returning player, Rory Burns, will reside, that the scales tip in India’s favour.India’s top three feature an impressive Shubman Gill, a talented but flawed Rohit Sharma and the indomitable Cheteshwar Pujara, which places them well ahead of England’s top order.Dom Sibley possesses the grit and determination required for success at the highest level but there are questions about his technique against the best international bowlers. In India and Australia he will face two of the best in fairly quick succession so that question will be answered in the next 12 months.Burns is another in the same category as Sibley, and if both players fail the challenges England will be in trouble unless Joe Root continues to score at his current freakish level.Related

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• Bess and Leach have their work cut out for them in India

Zak Crawley, like his Indian counterpart Gill, is talented and has great potential. Nevertheless his failure to contribute in Sri Lanka raises concerns that need to be put to rest quickly and there’s no better place or time to do that than in India.Unfortunately, any advantage England might gain from Root’s incredible form at No. 4 is immediately negated by India’s best batsman also holding down a similar position. Rarely does a series feature two such well-credentialed No. 4 batsmen.The middle order of both teams are a mixture of explosive stroke play with a touch of steadiness for good measure. Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and the possible addition of Pandya have India well placed to take full advantage of any good start. The ability to swiftly accelerate the scoring is nearly as important to winning Test matches as the capability of taking 20 wickets.England are similarly placed with Stokes and Jos Buttler as their lethal weapons. The possible return of Ollie Pope would add some dependability to the threatening nature of that section of the batting order. However Buttler’s departure after just one Test and the possible return of Ravindra Jadeja to the Indian line-up would swing the scales further in favour of the home team.The presence of Archer, along with the skill and experience of stalwarts Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, would normally provide England with an advantage in the pace department. However India’s improvement in that category is amply illustrated by their performance in matching Australia’s much-vaunted pace attack in two successive away series.Not only does India now have quality pace bowling but they also have it in comforting quantities following the depth displayed in Australia.For years now the rest of the cricketing world has rested uneasily in the fear that India would finally utilise its population advantage by nurturing and selecting its best talent. That day has finally arrived.These mouth-watering Test series are to be savoured. With all the challenges Test cricket faces – Covid-19 just being the latest – the future of the format is not guaranteed to be as generously giving as it has been in the last few months.

Premier League title winner Jamie Vardy has made history in Italy by becoming the first English player to win the Serie A Player of the Month award. The evergreen striker, who is now 38 years of age, is currently on the books of Cremonese. He linked up with them over the summer and has enjoyed a productive start to life outside of his comfort zone.

• Italian job: Vardy to star in documentary alongside wife Rebekah

  Vardy became a free agent when seeing his contract at Leicester expire. He helped them to a stunning title triumph in 2016 and took in 500 total appearances for the Foxes, scoring 200 goals and earning 26 England caps.

  With no plans to hang up his boots any time soon, Vardy has embraced a new challenge alongside wife Rebekah and their children. They are set to star in their own documentary series, which will lift the lid on a surprising Italian job.

  Vardy will have plenty to smile about on camera as he has landed a top prize in Serie A. He starred across the month of November, with a memorable goal being recorded against Turin-based giants Juventus. He was nominated for a monthly gong alongside AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, Napoli winger David Neres, Genoa's Leo Ostigard and Nicolo Zaniolo of Udinese.

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• History made: Vardy lands top Serie A prize

  Vardy topped the poll, with Serie A chief executive Luigi de Siervo saying: "Vardy is truly a player from another era. One of those talents who, with their history, their achievements and the indomitable spirit with which they live every match, best express the romance of football.

  "His arrival at Cremonese was greeted with great enthusiasm by all Serie A fans, and Vardy is repaying them with top-level performances, innate leadership and important goals, the result of the competitive spirit and shooting skills that have always distinguished him."

  Vardy has become the first Englishman to win a prize that was first handed out in 2019. Since then, countrymen such as Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ashley Young and Tammy Abraham have graced the Italian top-flight.

• Just like Ronaldo: Vardy tipped to play into his 40s

  He has four goals in total for Serie A new boys Cremonese through 10 appearances. Vardy is just the second player, after Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, to net more than three goals for a promoted team at the age of 38 or over – with Zola achieving that feat for Cagliari prior to ending the 2004-05 campaign with nine efforts to his name.

  Vardy may go on to better that total, allowing another entry in the record books to be secured. He has been showing no sign of slowing down, with his game all about high energy and clever movement.

  It is being suggested that Vardy could have several seasons left in him yet, with there every reason to believe that he can emulate the efforts of Portuguese GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo – who is still playing at the age of 40 with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

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• Getty
  

  Vardy contract: When deal at Cremonese expires

  European football expert Andy Brassell has told : "There's still plenty in there, I feel. To have that sort of pressure off, I suppose in a way it must make him feel like going back and achieving stuff with Leicester.

  "Leicester, who were never fancied to stay up. Then they were never fancied to be in the European mix. Then they were never fancied to win the league, win the FA Cup. And I guess, obviously, Cremonese is very different.

  "Culturally, he's at a different point in his career. But I do think there's a little bit of him that feels, yeah, this is the perfect fit for me. With Serie A as well, it's got an incredible history of strikers in their mid to late 30s scoring a lot of goals.

  "I mean, straight away, if you're Vardy, and you know anything about Italian football history, you're thinking I'm modern-day Antonio Di Natale or Fabio Quagliarella or any of those guys. Why can't I keep going until I'm 40, 41?"

  Vardy only signed a one-year contract when heading to Italy, which is due to expire in the summer of 2026, but Cremonese have a performance-related extension option that can be triggered at any stage.

Florian Wirtz was denied a first strike for Liverpool after the Premier League's goal accreditation panel judged his effort against Sunderland to be an own goal from Nordi Mukiele. The German midfielder showed great close control to weave his way through the penalty box before shooting, with his effort taking a significant deflection off the Black Cats defender on its way into the back of the net.

Wirtz's deflected strike earns Liverpool point

Liverpool were staring down the barrel of another disappointing result on Wednesday night after falling behind to Sunderland courtesy of Chemsdine Talbi's effort. The defending for that goal was poor, with captain Virgil van Dijk giving the ball away and then backing off before the shot deflected off his side and past goalkeeper Alisson. The Reds once again looked short of confidence and failed to create too many opportunities against the resolute visitors, but a driving run from Curtis Jones and Wirtz's fine dribbling ability resulted in a desperately needed equaliser. 

AdvertisementWhy the strike was deemed a Mukiele own goal

It looked to be clean off Wirtz's boot on first viewing, but replays soon showed the former Bayer Leverkusen star had completely mis-kicked his effort, which was heading well wide of the goal. However, his side got the slice of luck they so urgently needed as the shot deflected off Mukiele and over Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Wirtz has been the subject of much criticism and mockery since arriving at Anfield in the summer, having failed to contribute much in the way of goals and assists since his £116 million ($155m) transfer to the English champions. This latest decision means the derision may continue until he finally gets a goal which cannot be debated, but there was no doubting he was still one of Liverpool's better performers on a night where few of them played with much freedom or creativity. That line of thought was echoed by former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher, who said on : "It feels like a real step back tonight to what you saw at West Ham at the weekend. They didn't look like scoring a goal at any moment of the game tonight. Missing the energy, zip, pace power. Really worrying."

AFPWhen will Wirtz finally get off the mark?

After his extraordinary exploits with Leverkusen, few would have predicted Wirtz would still be waiting for his first Liverpool goal by December. He got an assist in his first competitive outing for the club in the Community Shield and has another couple in the Champions League, but there is clearly so much more to come from the silky 22-year-old. Even with the lucrative price tag, he has been thrown into a malfunctioning Liverpool side, with Mohamed Salah, so often their reliable figure in attack, looking well short of match sharpness after an incredible 2024-25 campaign. There have also been issues in the central striker position, with Alexander Isak being short of fitness after he forced through his record-breaking transfer to Merseyside from Newcastle, while Hugo Ekitike has had to battle back from injury worries after a hugely promising start to his Reds career.

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What comes next for Wirtz and Liverpool?

It's only December but Liverpool already look out of the Premier League title race, with this latest result seeing them fall 11 points behind current leaders and favourites Arsenal. There is little time for Slot's squad to lick their wounds, however, with the famously hectic Christmastime schedule creeping up on teams throughout England. They next have a tough-looking trip to Leeds United, who will buoyed after earning a much-needed victory over Chelsea, and then there is a daunting journey to San Siro when they resume their Champions League campaign against Inter. The Merseysiders need more points if they are to progress to the round of 16 and avoid a European play-off, having suffered a damaging 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven the last time they played in the competition.