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Mithali Raj looks back on the highs and lows of her T20I career, and talks up the young players who will take India forward in the format

Annesha Ghosh03-Sep-2019When did you first consider retiring from T20Is?Retiring after the home series against England [in Guwahati in March] is something I had already decided during the New Zealand tour. So accordingly, I had kept the coach, WV Raman, and the chief selector (Hemlata Kala) in the loop during the tour. When I was having a chat with the coach [in New Zealand], I realised he was planning for the next T20 World Cup (in February-March 2020), and I didn’t see myself playing that World Cup. So it fully made sense for me to keep the coach in the loop about my plan, and that is when I shared my plan with them.Precisely at that point of time [in February-March], there were also articles doing the rounds about my retirement. So it was already out in the media. So as things stand today, it wasn’t a decision I took all of a sudden, driven by emotions or impulse, because I’m still an active member of the one-day side and the captain. This decision to quit this format [T20Is] was made a long time ago and both the coach and the selector were aware.

The highlight of my career would always be opening the innings for India. It will be at the top because that’s a kind of feeling only a player can understand, as to what it really is to open an innings for her country.

Did you discuss your retirement with any team-mates before making the announcement today?When I make a decision, it is solely and wholly mine. Once I make up my mind, I don’t discuss much, or with anyone. When I made this decision in New Zealand, the only person I discussed this with was my dad. He had said I should not be retiring on foreign soil, which is why I had made up my mind that England would be my last series.ALSO READ: Mithali Raj’s top T20I hitsIt was just a matter of when I would have made the decision known to the BCCI and make it public. I knew all through that this announcement is something I wanted to come up with after the England home series because at that point there was no confirmation around the scheduling of the South Africa series.What comes to your mind today as you look back at the closing phase of your T20I career, which also includes the controversy that broke out in the wake of the India’s T20 World Cup exit last November?A dear friend told me, “There’s nothing you can get holding on to the past.” So I don’t have any bitterness at this juncture thinking about the controversy. Yes, it did project the sport in a bad light for those few months, but I don’t have any negativity about the controversy or any not-so-good things that I may have gone through in my T20I career.What about the good things?I would roll back the clock to 2016, when we defeated Australia in Australia. It was the first time we achieved that feat. Leading the Indian team on that tour is something I cherish. That was the point when things started to roll for the Indian team, and a lot of good players have come up after that. That series win gave us a lot of confidence as a team. All of a sudden, we realised we do have the potential to be a better T20I side than what had been before that.That was a turning point in the journey of Indian women’s cricket. I look at it as a big stride forward for the Indian team. Since that tour, the team has really improved series by series and we have had more players getting opportunities in overseas T20 leagues, starting with Smriti [Mandhana] and Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur).Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana pose for the cameras in Jaipur•PTI Would you be available for selection in the BCCI’s domestic inter-state T20 tournament and the next edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge?At some level, yes. The other leagues [such as the WBBL and the KSL] have been up and running for four-five years, so they are on a better platform, so in the Women’s IPL – or whatever form the Women’s T20 Challenge takes up next year – we need established players to keep the tournament in a good space, given the last edition [where Raj captained Velocity to the final] has garnered a lot of attention. People are now keen to have a women’s IPL, and it’s something that will help our domestic players in a big way, so I will be available for that.Who are the young talents you think have a good chance of making up the core of the T20I side over the next few years?It all depends on the role that the young players are given. In my opinion, it doesn’t only depend on the players’ individual performances. Over a period of time, you have to give them opportunities in a given role, and if they do well, they should be picked because it will help the team perform as a cohesive unit and perform better.We have had players who have done well individually, but in a format that’s evolving so fast, you need those individual performances to fit into the larger needs of the team. Of course, you have Smriti, Harmanpreet, Jemimah [Rodrigues], and there’s Deepti [Sharma], who, I read, has done really well in the KSL. That performance should give that girl a confidence boost because she’s one player who’s immensely important for the one-day side, and I believe in the future she will play a very important role in the T20 side.Since the start of 2018, there has been a lot of debate – and uncertainty – around the best candidate for Smriti Mandhana’s opening partner. Among those that T20I captain Harmanpreet has tried, who do you think is best suited for the role?It depends on what team they select. They tried out [Priya] Punia in New Zealand, and then in the home series [against England] they tried out Harleen [Deol]. In the Asia Cup, Pooja [Vastrakar] also opened for us.Jemimah’s got a lot of runs at No. 3 in T20Is. I am not sure about promoting her to the opener’s slot because someone else then will have to fill Jemimah’s No. 3 spot. So I would not disturb her at this juncture to push her to the opening slot. But Shafali [Verma, who Raj captained at the Women’s T20 Challenge] is a good prospect.Mithali Raj taps the ball late behind square•ICCWhat sets Shafali apart from the players you mentioned earlier?Shafali is a really good prospect we have got after a long time who is so fearless. If moulded well, guided well, and given a good platform by the coach, the captain and the team, she will be a good option. She needs that guidance because she is still very young, only 15-16 [years old] and her first big experience was the Women’s T20 Challenge. Besides, she is a wicketkeeper-bat, so it’s again a question of how they can utilise the talents of a young girl.You started out young yourself and were part of the side that played India’s first T20I. What are your most memorable knocks from your T20I career?The match in Sydney against Australia… It was in 2008. We were in no position to win [from the outset] because we were not that good a T20I side, but we ended up losing by only two runs. I got some 50-odd runs in the middle order [51 not-out, at No. 4, in only her second T20I], and that is one match I would rate highly because even though we lost the game, it made me realise that despite our limitations as a T20I team, we can always take a match closer in the format, and probably eventually win. I also remember that Jhulan [Goswami] was leading us in that game and there is a picture of us walking back.What kind of a future do you picture for the Indian T20I side which is now without you and Jhulan, two of the country’s most experienced cricketers?It had to happen someday, didn’t it? Jhulan retired [from T20Is] last year, it’s my turn now because nobody can play on forever. Everyone has to call it a day some day or the other, and the team will move forward because it has to move forward.The way the current crop of players are performing, I’m sure they will do very well in the upcoming series and also in the T20 World Cup. Most of the players in the T20I side are mature adults. Most of them have 25-plus games under their their belt, and the BCCI will be organising a few series to ensure others to get that many games under their belt before the World Cup, so they have that maturity to deal with situations you require at top-level international cricket.Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami talk during a training session•Getty ImagesIs there anything you particularly enjoyed about batting in T20Is?The highlight of my career would always be opening the innings for India. It will be at the top because that’s a kind of feeling only a player can understand, as to what it really is to open an innings for her country. Apart from that, the runs I scored in Bangladesh [including three fifties on that tour] during the 2014 T20 World Cup.Is there any advice you would like to give to the inexperienced players in the T20I side?Look, we all must understand that the current players have a lot of challenges because the way the ICC is promoting the T20Is and one-dayers, especially the World Cup platform, everyone’s eyes will be glued to both the Indian teams – no matter the format. So it’s very important that the players remain calm, and just focus on what they are supposed to do, especially on their preparation. Preparation is everything. That’s one aspect they shouldn’t compromise on.I believe our Indian T20I side has what it takes to perform well in the T20 World Cup because Smriti and Harman have played two-three seasons in the WBBL and they are the most experienced players in this side. They will be heading into the World Cup with a lot of experience and they should be able to share that experience with the other players, especially the youngsters, and I see that helping that team. As an Indian, I will be rooting for our team, and I want them to do well. At the end of the day, you want the sport to grow, you want more girls in our country to play cricket, take up the sport, and there’s no platform better than the World Cup to inspire a generation.If it were possible to turn back time, would you have done anything differently in your T20I career?If I would have done anything differently, the outcome would have been different (smiles). As a player, I don’t know if I would have got any different kind of knowledge had I done things differently, but I am happy the way things have turned out. Whether it is good or bad it doesn’t matter as long as it helped me move forward.

In his first year as coach of a team in Pakistan’s first-class competition, Wasim took an inexperienced Northern to the final

Danyal Rasool08-Jan-2020Mohammad Wasim isn’t intimidated by weak squads, and that’s probably just as well, because the Northern’s head coach arguably had the weakest squad in the competition to work with. In the new, revamped structure of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy that saw just six teams compete in Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, there was no side as light on Test match experience as the one Wasim was coaching.It showed in the first half of the competition. After each team had played six of their ten scheduled matches, Northern were bottom of the table, with four draws and two losses, and yet to register victory in the tournament. Their young starlet, 18-year old Rohail Nazir, who, in his commitment to youth, Wasim appointed captain early on in the tournament, hadn’t yet found the form that has earned him that reputation. Central Punjab had beaten them soundly by an innings, twice. The gulf between them and the best teams in the competition was, to put it mildly, distinctly discernible.But these are precisely the sort of situations that Wasim feels stimulate his strengths. You might deem a squad that had Umar Amin (four Test caps) as its most experienced exponent of international red-ball cricket, a little light in quality, but Wasim has worked with less. A year earlier, he was coach of the Swedish national team (current T20I ICC ranking: 42) that finished third in the World Cup Europe Qualifier, only just missing out on progression to the next stage. As such, he wasn’t complaining about the challenge he had been presented as Northern coach.”I’ve been coaching for three seasons in one place or another, but this was my first assignment as a PCB employee,” Wasim told ESPNcricinfo. “When the format changed, I thought I had a chance of working within the system. What pleased me was the squad I was handed played to my strengths. Some people work better with senior players – Central Punjab for example where almost everyone has Test caps – but give me a young team and I feel I know how to extract performances from them. That has been my strength in the past, wherever I worked.”I had a lot of youngsters, and we formed a core of young players. No one gave us a chance, and halfway through the season, we were at the bottom, but I had the feeling we could peak at the right time. I thought after six matches, we began to peak, and the way we won our final three matches [three of the last four] was a big turning point. But overall, it was a great experience. Not only the fact the team achieved great results, we also identified a few youngsters who are performing and I think they are the future of Pakistan.”PCBThey did peak at the right time. Two of their last three wins were final day heists, including a dramatic showdown with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the final game of the competition. Needing to force a result, they declared twice and gave
themselves just under a full day to bowl out KP on surfaces not known for their cooperation with the bowling side. But in fading light in 76.4 overs, they worked their way through KP, winning by 39 runs and pipping them to second place, which earned them a place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.They would fall, by an innings once more, to Central Punjab, who boasted ten players capped by the Pakistan Test side as opposed to Northern’s two (Amin and Muhammad Musa). But Wasim was heartened by the way his side responded to adversity, and detected a change when compared to the relationship between coaches and players at domestic level in the past.”The most important challenge for us was that in the past, players didn’t perhaps trust domestic coaches to the extent that our team did this season. There’s no point blaming anyone, but that’s what I felt. It took some time to earn that trust and confidence level where players could understand the coaches knew what they’re doing. After that, things become easier and the boys started listening to us. I’m not singling anyone out, but our system was such that the role of coaches wasn’t what it should have been.”Whether that is down to the players, the system, or the coaches I don’t know. But that has improved – at least in my team. If you give them certain plans, they try to execute them. When I used to be an analyst, I worried about the culture of selfish cricket that was developing in Pakistan cricket, a trend we needed to arrest. My main focus was to eradicate that in the Northern team, and I don’t think we saw any of that this season. We played for the team and that got us results, and it’s something I take great pride in.”But for all the talk of young players – and there’s been plenty around the Northern team – the side’s highest run-scorer and wicket-taker are both over the age of 30. Thirty-one-year old Faizan Riaz scored 857 runs at 71.41, including a hundred in the final while 33-year old left-arm spinner Nauman Ali’s 54 wickets were 11 clear of the second-most prolific bowler across all teams.Nauman Ali and Faizan Riaz celebrate their team’s sensational win•PCBIt hasn’t been a case of throwing youngsters in and building for the future; the concoction of youth and experience that Northern have managed to brew have produced results in the here and now. Wasim even believes they could yet become Pakistan prospects.”You can’t write anyone off, especially batsmen and spin bowlers. For me, whoever is scoring runs and has a good technique can be selected, particularly if they’re in form and keep good fitness standards. This is another thing I believe needs to change in Pakistan cricket, where once a player turns 27 or 28, a player is considered to be past it in terms of international cricket. A lot of batsmen and spin bowlers who’re doing well internationally are mature, older players. If they have the fitness to thrive in international cricket, then why not?”I told Faizan, ‘I don’t care how you score runs as long as you’re fit and have the technique to survive in tough conditions.’ That’s what matters in the end. I don’t think you can say a guy like Faizan can never play for Pakistan.”As for the tournament as a whole, Wasim accepted there were flaws within it that needed fixing – the flatness of the pitches has received some scrutiny – but he was more interested in what it had revealed about the state of Pakistan cricket. “The best thing about this format is the system has exposed the problem areas in Pakistan’s cricket. We’ve identified a dearth of fast bowling in this country. We don’t have many spinners either. We need new spinners, particularly legspinners. These are the things the sides will work on in the off-season, and you can expect to see the results in the next season.”For Wasim personally, the central message remains unchanged. “I’d like to see more youngsters in all teams. In Northern, there were plenty, but in some of the other teams, there weren’t perhaps as many. But I don’t see the gulf in quality between Central Punjab and us being a problem. This gives me extra motivation. I tell myself in two years, Northern should have five players in Pakistan’s Test side.”

Over the last day or so, Liverpool fans received the news they’ve been waiting for all season long, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both edging closer to extending their contracts at Anfield.

Both players were set to leave Arne Slot’s side at the end of the campaign with their deals set to expire, but the latest news has shed positive light on their futures on Merseyside.

It was reported that both stars are set to extend their stints with the Reds until the summer of 2027, with tying the pair down arguably the best business they could do this summer.

However, there’s no denying that Slot will still want to delve into the transfer market to further bolster his first-team squad, looking to build on the success achieved in the Premier League during his debut year at the helm.

One player has already emerged on their shortlist ahead of the summer, but they will face huge competition from another English side for his signature.

Liverpool plotting summer move for £40m sensation

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are firmly in the race to land Ajax’s 19-year-old sensation Jorrel Hato this summer, offering more depth at centre-back and left-back. Bailey states that ‘Liverpool like him’, but they won’t be alone in their pursuit.

Indeed, Arsenal are also said to be hugely interested in landing the teenager, with his versatility key to the interest from both of the English outfits.

He’s made 44 appearances across all competitions, registering nine combined goals and assists despite his defensive role, building on his progress in the Eredivisie after making his debut at just 16.

The report claims that Hato could be available for around the £40m mark this summer, with Slot keen on securing a move for his compatriot given his showings in recent months.

Despite his tender age, he would be a superb addition to the Reds first team squad, potentially becoming even better than one other star should he complete a move to Anfield in the coming months.

Why Hato could become a bigger talent than Van Dijk

Centre-back Van Dijk has been one of the leading factors to the success endured at Liverpool this season, being a key figure in Slot’s starting eleven, starting every single Premier League outing.

The same can be said for his entire spell on Merseyside, making over 300 appearances in his seven years at the club, cementing himself as one of the best defenders in the world – as seen by his Ballon d’Or standing a few years ago.

He may be 33, but remains as a pivotal member of the side, with his contract extension a boost to Slot, the squad and the supporters in their ambitions of building on their success in 2024/25.

Such a decision won’t scupper a move for Hato this summer, with the Ajax youngster able to learn off his compatriot and potentially become even better than the former Southampton star.

Hato, who’s been labelled “immense” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was named in the top ten of the NXGN 2025 wonderkid list, having the potential to explode in Europe’s top five leagues should he move to the Reds.

Despite his tender age, the teenager has thrived in the Eredivisie, producing countless impressive stats that could allow him to catapult him to a level above that of Van Dijk.

When comparing his stats to the Reds’ captain, he’s managed to win more duels per 90, whilst also being dribbled past on fewer occasions – highlighting his defensive qualities.

He’s also won more tackles and registered more goals and assists, showcasing the threat he possesses at both ends of the pitch – having the opportunity to improve further as he continues his development.

With Van Dijk entering the final years of his professional career, it’s crucial that the hierarchy plot for his eventual departure despite his new contract, with Hato certainly the perfect player to learn off the elite talent.

Whilst £40m may seem a huge investment in such a young star, it could be a bargain if lives up to his potential, setting the side up for further success in the years to come.

Slot must axe struggling Liverpool star who's becoming the new Sturridge

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Apr 10, 2025

Following their heroics against Real Madrid, there is now a real chance Arsenal’s season could end in Champions League glory.

However, while that would be all fans will remember this campaign for years down the line, it would still be fair to describe their domestic season as a disaster.

While a significant reason for that has been the near-constant stream of injuries Mikel Arteta and Co have had to deal with, it’s also been down to several star players not performing at their best, with club captain Martin Odegaard perhaps the worst offender in this regard.

Since returning from his ankle injury in November, the Norwegian hasn’t been able to hit the heights of the last two years, and that may cost him next season, as recent reports have linked Arsenal to someone who could be a significant upgrade this summer.

Arsenal transfer news

On top of a new midfielder, Arsenal have also been linked with a plethora of wide talent in recent weeks, with perhaps the most consistent being Nico Williams.

The Athletic Bilbao star was touted for a move to the North Londoners last summer as well, but it seems like he could really be available for around £50m this year, and given his tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 42 games this season, that may be a fee well worth paying.

Likewise, the Gunners have long been linked with Raphinha, even before his move to Barcelona, and those rumours have once again reemerged this year, with reports suggesting he could be available for around £80m.

Transfer Focus

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

While that’s an awful lot of money, it doesn’t seem too unreasonable considering he’s amassed a sensational tally of 30 goals and 23 assists in just 48 appearances this term, although if the North Londoners are going to sign Florian Wirtz, they might not be able to afford the Brazilian winger.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several top sides keen to sign the Bayer Leverkusen gem this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all interested in the German international, who could cost up to €130m, which is about £111m.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Wirtz’s immense quality and potential, one well worth fighting for, even if his arrival would be bad news for Odegaard.

How Wirtz compares to Odegaard

So, if Arsenal were to get ahead of the chasing pack and splash the cash on Wirtz this summer, they’d likely do so with the intention of having him start most games as an attacking midfielder, which would put him in direct competition with Odegaard.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them both? Well, from a pure output perspective, it’s an overwhelming victory for the Leverkusen star.

For example, in just 41 appearances this season, totalling 3040 minutes, he’s scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.46 games or every 108.57 minutes.

In comparison, the former Real Madrid gem has only been able to amass a tally of five goals and nine assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2896 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.71 games of every 206.85 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Unfortunately for the Gunners’ captain, he once again comes out on the losing side of this comparison, as the Pulheim-born gem, whom former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has described as “the best midfielder in the world,” does better in most relevant metrics.

For example, he does far better in metrics like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it would require a club-record bid, Arsenal should be doing all they can to bring Wirtz to the Emirates this summer, even if it sees Odegaard relegated to a squad role.

Kiwior upgrade: Arsenal want to sign "the most in-demand CB in the world"

The tremendously exciting prospect could be incredible for Arsenal.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 21, 2025

Mikel Arteta decided to star Leandro Trossard up top again for Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth on Saturday, and it would be fair to say it didn’t really pay off.

While not terrible, the Belgian international was pretty anonymous throughout the match, failing to score or assist a goal and fully deserving of the 6/10 match rating he received from the Standard’s Simon Collings.

Like most of his fellow attackers, it’s not been as good of a campaign for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace as it was last season, when he managed to rack up a tally of 20 goal involvements in 46 games.

So, it’s not surprising to see the club linked with an exceptional international winger ahead of the summer transfer window, a winger who’d be a significant upgrade on Trossard.

Arsenal's winger search

With their attack being the biggest problem this season, Arsenal have been linked with a number of top wingers in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Francisco Trincão.

Transfer Focus

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

The former, who has racked up 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this season, has been a long-term target, and with a £50m release clause in his current deal, could finally make the move to North London this summer.

The latter is a more recent target, and while his reported £66.5m price tag seems steep, he’s been nothing short of spectacular for Sporting CP this season, chalking up a tally of nine goals and 18 assists in 51 games.

However, to take the club to the next level, the Gunners might have to make a statement signing and bring in an established superstar, someone like Rodrygo Goes.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have inquired about the £204k-per-week star, who Real Madrid are actually considering selling.

Alongside the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Premier League rivals Manchester City are also keen and that the winger should be available for around €100m, which is about £85m.

It would be a costly and potentially complicated transfer to get over the line, but it’s one Andrea Berta and Co should push for, as Rodrygo is one of the “best players in the world” in the eyes of Carlo Ancelotti.

How Rodrygo compares to Trossard

While Rodrygo’s most played position is right wing, he’s also incredibly accomplished playing off the left, and, with Bukayo Saka being as essential as he is to Arsenal, the left is undoubtedly where the Brazilian would play.

Therefore, one of his primary competitors for a starting berth would be Trossard, so who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes down to their output, it’s the Real ace who emerges victorious.

For example, in 50 appearances, totalling 3290 minutes, the 24-year-old has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games, or every 143.04 minutes.

In contrast, the Belgian has scored ten goals and provided eight assists in 52 appearances, totalling 3241 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.88 games, or every 180.05 minutes.

The one-sided nature of the comparison continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, in almost every metric, the “spectacular” Champions League winner, as dubbed by manager Carlo Ancelotti, comes out ahead, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key passes, shots and shots on target, passes into the final third, shot-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Trossard remains a useful player for Arteta and Arsenal, it’s clear that, in practically every way, Rodrygo is a massive upgrade and, therefore, someone the club should be going all out to sign this summer.

He'd revive Odegaard: Arsenal aiming to sign "the new Mbappe" in £85m deal

Arsenal need to sign a player who could revive the fortunes of Martin Odegaard.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 5, 2025

Newcastle United are enjoying some special times under Eddie Howe and they could now beat elite competition to land an in-demand player this summer, per a report.

Newcastle United look to enjoy productive summer

The Magpies are firmly in contention for a Champions League slot and will hope to rubber-stamp a place in Europe’s premier competition to boost their scope for recruiting talent this summer.

Eddie Howe has done a tremendous job in the North East and will play in the Europa Conference League at a minimum after their EFL Cup victory over Liverpool. Still, there is plenty of work to do on Tyneside.

Heading into the window, Newcastle could launch a move to sign Bryan Mbeumo following his sensational form at Brentford, even if his £60 million price-tag means they have to take stock before fully committing to the pursuit.

On the same token, the Magpies are hopeful they can beat Real Madrid to Albacete’s Christian Kofane after making contact over a potential £4 million deal that could see the Spanish champions ousted.

Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson is another Newcastle target, following a similar trend to Kofane in the sense that they would likely be brought in as developmental players as opposed to first-team starters.

Newcastle ready to launch move to sign lead target after year-long mission

The Magpies are ready to attack the transfer market…

By
Tom Cunningham

May 2, 2025

Clearly, there is space for both types of profile to exist at St James’ Park, with PIF’s ambition likely to attract some of the world’s best talent alongside untapped potential from lesser-known markets.

Footballing excellence can exist in all types of climates, and Newcastle are now reportedly looking to edge Barcelona to the signing of a talented youngster from the continent of Africa.

Ryder: Newcastle look to sign wonderkid Aboubacar Maiga

According to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, Newcastle United want to sign Academie Africa Foot wonderkid Aboubacar Maiga, who has been likened to global superstar Lionel Messi in his homeland of Mali.

Despite Barcelona’s offer of a pre-contract agreement for the 16-year-old, he dreams of starring in England one day and thus would prefer a move to Tyneside, though he has also been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea.

The attacking midfielder is also the captain of Mali’s Under-16 side and could now have a shot at life at one of the world’s elite clubs should the Magpies manage to force a deal over the line.

Admittedly, it is difficult to judge the pull of clubs as a direct comparison when it comes to youth stars, but if Newcastle were able to beat Barcelona to his signature, it would say a lot about PIF’s ambitious project in the North East.

Securing developing talent is crucial to any club with aspirations of establishing themselves as a dominant force and can also save millions down the line. Now, supporters will wait patiently to see how this one plays out, with the prospect of Newcastle shoving Barcelona to one side alive and kicking.

Liverpool have made a shock offer for a £400k-a-week star who is now keen to play in Europe next season, according to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Reds' summer transfer plans taking shape

After two quiet transfer windows since replacing Jürgen Klopp in the dugout, Arne Slot will be tasked with strengthening his squad in a number of key areas this summer, and FSG are prepared to back their manager with significant financial backing.

A new striker could be required, with Darwin Nunez’s future in doubt, and the aforementioned report names Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as a potential option, alongside RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and prolific Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold recently confirming his decision to leave his boyhood club this summer, the Reds have also ramped up their pursuit of a new right-back, and David Ornstein believes Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is keen on a move to Anfield.

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Liverpool could be about to land a star who could allow fans to forget about Alexander Isak.

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May 7, 2025

Having perhaps overrelied on Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, there have also been suggestions that Slot could look to bring in a new midfielder this summer, and there is serious interest in Stuttgart maestro Angelo Stiller.

However, a surprise move for a Premier League attacking midfielder could also be on the cards, according to Di Marzio, with the Sky Sports journalist recently stating Liverpool have now made a shock offer for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne is set to leave Man City on a free transfer this summer, with Pep Guardiola’s side taking the decision not to extend his contract, but the Belgian wants to remain in Europe, despite widespread links to the MLS.

Napoli are making a concrete attempt to sign the 33-year-old, so there could also be competition for his signature from some of Europe’s top clubs.

"World-class" De Bruyne likened to Gerrard

In truth, the Man City legend moving to Anfield doesn’t seem particularly realistic, given that he was in direct competition with the Reds for a number of years, during which time he impressed Klopp, who described the maestro as “world-class”.

Wayne Rooney has also likened the Belgium international to Steven Gerrard in the past, saying: “De Bruyne reminds me a bit of Steven Gerrard. He drifts out to that right-hand side and plays some brilliant balls whipped in, like Stevie used to. What I like most is he takes chances, he takes risks, he doesn’t go for the easy ball – he plays the hard pass.”

The £400k-a-week star is evidently in the twilight years of his career, given City’s willingness to sanction a departure, but he has still impressed in the Premier League at times this season, while also catching the eye in the FA Cup.

As such, De Bruyne could still be a difference-maker for a top club, but a move to Anfield would be extremely controversial.

Leeds United will have to be ambitious and clear in what they want if they want to be successful in building a squad that can avoid instant relegation from the Premier League.

The facts are there for all to see. The last six teams to be promoted from the Premier League have all been relegated in their first season in the top-flight, which means that it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Whites to beat the drop.

Daniel Farke knows more than most about how difficult it is, because he managed Norwich during their relegation in the 2019/20 campaign, and was relieved of his duties before they succumbed to another relegation in the 2021/22 season.

One route the West Yorkshire outfit could go down is to sign players with Premier League experience, as they know the division and know what it takes to avoid relegation.

There are several former Leeds players who now fall into that category of star, although some of them are now beyond the club’s reach, including Nottingham Forest centre-forward Chris Wood.

Why Chris Wood is unattainable for Leeds

The New Zealand international is now unattainable for the Whites because there is a chance that Nottingham Forest could be playing in the Champions League next season, and they will be playing in a European competition no matter what.

Wood played for Leeds in the Championship between 2015 and 2017, after joining from Leicester City, and caught the eye with his goalscoring exploits in the second tier.

As you can see in the graphic above, the towering striker averaged a goal every other game for the Whites, before being sold to Burnley for £15m.

Wood has gone on to cement himself as a reliable and consistent Premier League goalscorer throughout his career, playing in the top-flight in every season since his exit from Elland Road in 2017.

As you can see in the table above, the impressive marksman was remarkably consistent for Burnley up until the 2021/22 campaign, in which he joined Newcastle United in the January transfer window.

His time with the Magpies did not go to plan, with four goals in 35 Premier League appearances, but his previous form for Burnley was clearly enough for Forest to put their faith in him, and he has paid them back in a big way.

His incredible form for Forest, with 34 goals in 66 league matches to date, illustrates why he is beyond the club’s reach at this moment in time, but that does not mean that Farke cannot sign his own version of Wood.

Leeds considering deal for Premier League star

According to Football Insider, Leeds United are considering a bargain swoop to sign Callum Wilson from Premier League side Newcastle United in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites are looking to add Premier League experience to their squad, and the England international would fit the bill for the newly-promoted side.

Transfer Focus

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It states that the Championship champions are exploring the possibility of a deal to bring the experienced centre-forward to Elland Road ahead of the 2025/26 campaign to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Football Insider reveals that Wilson is poised to walk away from St. James’ Park at the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of June, and that Leeds view him as potentially smart business on a free transfer.

With this in mind, the 49ers must act upon this interest to snap up the 33-year-old veteran, because he could arrive as Farke’s own version of Chris Wood in the 2025/26 campaign, to bolster the team’s chances of avoiding an instant relegation from the top-flight.

Why Callum Wilson could be Chris Wood 2.0

As aforementioned, Nottingham Forest hit the jackpot with Wood because they were willing to overlook his struggles in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns.

They banked on him being able to recapture the form he displayed at Burnley earlier in his career, and his 20 Premier League goals this season at the age of 33 prove that they made the right decision.

Wilson could be a similarly successful signing for Leeds after a difficult season with the Magpies on Tyneside, as he has failed to score in 17 Premier League appearances this term, albeit with only two starts to his name.

The veteran striker, once described as “incredible” by manager Eddie Howe, would be arriving at Elland Road off the back of a poor campaign, just as Wood was when he left St. James’ Park to sign for Forest.

Just like the New Zealand international, though, Wilson also has an impressive history of scoring goals in the Premier League for Newcastle and Bournemouth that predates the current term.

As you can see in the table above, the English marksman has, typically, scored goals on a regular basis when given plenty of starts by his manager.

These statistics show that he knows how to find the back of the net at an impressive rate in the Premier League, which is why he could be an excellent and much-needed signing for a Leeds squad that are looking to avoid relegation at the first time of asking.

They also show that Wilson has the potential to be Farke’s own version of Wood as an experienced and Premier League-proven striker who could come in and make a big impact in the final third if given enough game time to shine, as the ex-Leeds striker has been at the City Ground.

Leeds make enquiry to sign Premier League star who'd leave Bogle worried

Leeds United are plotting a move to sign a Premier League star who would leave Jayden Bogle worried.

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By
Dan Emery

May 19, 2025

As a potentially free agent signing, he could be a shrewd addition to the group for Farke and a player who could pass on his experience to the younger players in the squad, which is another reason why this could be an excellent piece of business.

Manchester United have now entered shock talks to sign another “unbelievable” forward after Matheus Cunha, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing new forwards despite agreeing Cunha deal

Man United’s deal for Cunha is now edging closer to completion, with Fabrizio Romano recently confirming that a £62.5m fee has been agreed, with the Brazilian poised to sign a contract until 2030, which includes the option for an extra year.

It will be welcome news that the Wolverhampton Wanderers star is still keen on a move to Old Trafford, despite the fact that European football will not be on offer next season, but he is not the only forward United have their eye on.

In fact, a whole host of strikers have been identified as potential targets for the Red Devils, given that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled in front of goal throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United and INEOS are also stepping up their pursuit of a different Premier League forward, having now entered shock talks over a deal for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

Mbeumo has just one year remaining on his contract with the Bees, which means his current employers may feel the need to cash-in this summer to avoid losing him on a free, and the London club are expected to hold out for a fee of around £50m.

Thomas Frank has also admitted that Brentford would consider a sale this summer, saying: “I would like to keep him, but we are a selling club so if someone comes in with the right price.”

Mbeumo could be "unbelievable" signing for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim desperately needs a proven goalscorer, considering Hojlund and Zirkzee amassed just seven Premier League goals between them during the 2024-25 season, and the Cameroon international certainly fits the bill in that regard.

After scoring in his side’s final game of the season against Wolves, the France-born winger reached the 20-goal mark, taking his total to 29 goals and assists in all competitions, which is a fantastic return.

Man Utd also ready to pay £44m release clause for "king of kings" after Cunha

The Red Devils are now willing to trigger the release clause for another striker to partner up with Cunha at Old Trafford.

By
Dominic Lund

May 26, 2025

Journalist Sam Tabuteau has also lauded the 25-year-old for his “unbelievable” attacking numbers, which undoubtedly played a big part in being nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award.

That said, while Mbeumo is capable of playing at striker, the former Troyes man is more accustomed to playing on the wing, so Man United should look to bring in an out-and-out centre-forward alongside him.

It remains to be seen whether Viktor Gyokeres will be keen on a move to Old Trafford, given that Champions League football is not on offer, but the Swede would be an exciting signing, having now scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP.