Bayern Munich have hijacked Manchester United’s move for Napoli defender Kim min-jae, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Kim?

The Red Devils appear to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer and have made Kim their top target in defence.

The South Korea international has a release clause in his contract that can be activated next month, with previous reports claiming that United have agreed to pay the €60m clause and have also agreed on personal terms with the player. However, there seems to have been a twist in the transfer race, in what will come as a blow to Erik ten Hag and co.

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours, claiming that the Red Devils are now worried they could lose out to Bayern in the race for Kim’s services.

The report adds that United made enquiries over a transfer but ‘Bayern have now hijacked the deal and are now moving to seal a quick agreement with Kim’.

Who else have Man United been linked with?

United appear to be on the search for a new centre-back as the futures of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof appear to be up in the air. It was claimed earlier in the year that Ten Hag was willing to part ways with the pair this summer, which could leave United with just Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the only senior centre-back options.

Should Kim opt for a move to Germany over England, United would need to look elsewhere, and one player who has recently been linked with a move is Leeds United’s Robin Koch.

Loose talks have already taken place over a move for the German defender, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, so he could emerge as a real option if United can’t land Kim.

Even if they do somehow secure Kim’s services, another defender could be of use if Maguire and Lindelof departs, but with a new midfielder and striker also wanted at Old Trafford, it could be a busy few months, especially with the ongoing takeover saga still yet to be resolved.

Saha, who made a return from injury after missing most of the England Tests, said that being assured of a spot on his return in the team was a boost

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-20171:36

‘My aim was to bat as long as possible’ – Saha

Wriddhiman Saha waited for years and years to get a decent run in the India Test team. After MS Dhoni’s retirement from Tests, Saha made sure India didn’t miss the legendary wicketkeeper, scoring a century in the West Indies and then winning India the Kolkata Test with half-centuries from tricky situations in each innings. An untimely injury gave Parthiv Patel a look-in, and Parthiv grabbed the chance with both hands. Parthiv’s keeping improved gradually, but it was his selfless batting that would have endeared him to the side.Here we go again, Saha might have thought, but the India selectors and team management brought him right back in as soon as he recovered. They did the same with Ajinkya Rahane even though his replacement Karun Nair scored a triple-century in his last Test innings. Saha was thankful for such clarity in thought both from the selectors and the team management after he capped off his comeback with his Test century.”It’s a great plus for the players,” Saha said. “Because after an injury break when one makes a comeback, if you are clearly told that as and when you recover you will be back in the team, the individual gets more motivated and that helps in your performance.”Saha acknowledged Parthiv’s contribution when he was away, but Saha’s comeback began with a match-winning double-century for Rest of India in the Irani Cup incidentally against the Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat, captained by Parthiv himself.”When I was injured, Parthiv performed and he did well,” Saha said. “Whenever he has got chances, he has performed. But may be after my 200, selectors took a decision, which everybody needed to accept. Now that I was back, my aim was to bat as long as possible and contribute as much as possible for the team.”One of the contributions Saha made was to convince Kohli to review an lbw call when he was on 180. The review was successful, and Kohli went on to become the first batsman in the history of the game to score double-centuries in four consecutive series.”Virat thought that he was out but I told him that he had probably stretched your front foot too far,” Saha said. “Hopefully, the impact may be outside, and the ball had spun sharply, so it might be missing the leg stump. So Virat took the call and was saved.”When Kohli was ruled out again, on 204, Saha couldn’t get a word in because Kohli was absolutely convinced he was out. This time Kohli was hit outside the line, but that is something India took in their stride. Kohli returned the favour later in the day when Saha took a catch diving to his right but didn’t go up in appeal because he didn’t hear anything. Kohli, though, had, and he reviewed to reveal to a faint touch on Soumya Sarkar’s bat’s toe, giving Saha his first dismissal on Test return.

Newcastle United are extremely interested in a deal for Rennes teenager Desire Doue, according to reports in France.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

The Magpies are expected to be busy in the summer transfer market as Eddie Howe prepares his squad to compete in four competitions for the first time in the northeast since a Europa League campaign back in 2012/13 which ended at the hands of Benfica.

Howe seems to be prioritising a central midfielder above all else, with the effects of playing such intense football week in week out clearly taking its toll towards the end of the season, with Joe Willock and Joelinton picking up injuries and Bruno Guimaraes looking lacklustre in the closing few weeks.

James Maddison has been strongly linked with a move, although they will face competition from Tottenham, and then there is Khephren Thuram, who is apparently also attracting interest from Liverpool.

Deals won’t come easy then, but it seems one player the Magpies are out in front for is rising Rennes sensation Doue.

According to L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Newcastle are the main club “particularly keen” on the young attacking midfielder and their “interest is real”. They say he is a “great prospect” and only a “substantial offer” will convince the Ligue 1 outfit to cash in.

Who is Desire Doue?

Delving into what makes Doue so special, it’s his versatility at such a young age that really stands out. According to Transfermarkt, despite being just 18, he played up front, as a number ten, on both wings and in his natural role as a central midfielder for Rennes this season, racking up 26 top flight appearances and seven in the Europa League too, scoring four times.

Going by FBRef’s advanced metrics, his dribbling ability looks incredible, sitting in the 99th percentile against other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, also ranking highly for goals per 90 minutes (97th percentile).

Such is his ability to drive forward and find goals by arriving late in the box, the website actually lists the Magpies’ own Joe Willock as a 'similar player', so fans at St. James’ Park should know what to expect if the youngster arrives on Tyneside.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Victor Osimhen to Chelsea?

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Blues are one of a number of clubs pursuing a deal for Victor Osimhen from Napoli ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have a meeting with the player’s representatives planned as they eye up a swoop for the Nigerian, whose priority is to move to the Premier League, in the coming weeks.

There is no mention of how much the Italian side are prepared to demand for their star number nine but Le Parisien recently reported that it would take a staggering €180m (£155m) to secure his services this summer.

How would Victor Osimhen fit in at Chelsea?

Pochettino typically lines up with a 4-3-3 system and as such, Osimhen could play through the middle as his starting centre-forward, with new signing Nicolas Jackson lining up on the right.

Chelsea are reportedly set to sign the £30m Villarreal attacker this month and the club’s head coach could utilise him off the right flank, despite him predominantly playing as a centre-forward in Spain.

Jackson has experience of playing on the right wing and he could form an exciting partnership with Osimhen in the final third, as both players have showcased their ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The Blues only scored 38 goals in 38 Premier League matches and bringing in two forwards with the potential to explode in the final third would be a huge boost to Pochettino ahead of next season.

Osimhen, who was described as a "goal-scoring machine" by journalist Josh Bunting, enjoyed a fantastic 22/23 campaign as the Nigerian number nine plundered an exceptional 26 goals in 30 Serie A outings for Napoli, which is 19 more than any Chelsea player managed in the top-flight last term.

These statistics suggest that the 24-year-old, who has scored 59 goals in 101 matches in all competitions for the Italian ourfit, would be a phenomenal addition to the squad and one that could finally solve their woes in front of goal.

Jackson, meanwhile, struck 12 times in 16 LaLiga starts for Villarreal and created seven 'big chances' for his teammates, suggesting that the 22-year-old ace could offer a huge goal-scoring threat whilst also being able to provide Osimhen, and others, with opportunities to score.

Indeed, the thought of both effervescent forwards in the same front line must be a mouthwatering thought for everyone associated with Chelsea.

Arsenal have now turned their attention to Romeo Lavia after holding internal discussions about their transfer plans, according to reports…

Arsenal transfer news – Romeo Lavia

The Gunners are believed to be pushing to seal a deal West Ham United captain Declan Rice as their first priority but according to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, manager Mikel Arteta is keen to sign two midfielders, having also been linked to Brighton & Hove Albion gem Moises Caicedo.

It's now thought the north London outfit have shifted their focus onto other players due to the sizeable sum it would take to secure the Ecuador international, as per the aforementioned report. Lavia is one potential alternative, with talks being held about making a potential move to bring the relegated Southampton star to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The Sun, meanwhile, claim the Belgian midfielder is valued at around £45m by the Saints and is viewed by Arteta as 'a better option' than Caicedo.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are also keen to sign Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz, with the German said to be "very close" to joining, whilst the north Londoners are said to be in pole position to land Moussa Diaby of Bayer Leverkusen too.

Should Arsenal sign Romeo Lavia over Moises Caicedo?

Lavia was perhaps one of Southampton's only shining lights in what was a dismal Premier League campaign, one which saw them relegated to the Championship for the first time in 11 years.

The former Manchester City youth product was second to only James Ward-Prowse when it came to the average match rating of the Saints' engine room options and similarly, he ranked second for tackles per game (2.1) too, as per WhoScored.

Such impressive form saw Independent journalist Benjy Nurick hail the teenage sensation as an "absolute monster" and it also led to him picking up his first cap for the Red Devils back in March 2023.

Lavia grew up idolising Spain powerhouse Sergio Busquets and that is quite apparent when watching him play, with the same reporter waxing lyrical about his qualities as a defensive midfielder, taking to Twitter to say: "Always offering himself as an option to the defence, great range of passing, and a devastating turn away from markers with a little drop of his shoulder."

At just £45m, the dynamic 5 foot 11 enforcer would represent a shrewd piece of business, especially with Brighton looking 122% more (£100m) for Caicedo.

Lavia is not only younger, fitting in with Arteta's developmental project, but he has also come through an all too familiar system at City, where the Spaniard was Pep Guardiola's assistant prior to taking the helm at the Emirates Stadium.

These factors could indeed make him a better option than Caicedo this summer.

Sri Lanka face the possibility of playing the remainder of the Newlands Test match with only three frontline bowlers, after the thigh pain that had hampered Nuwan Pradeep on day one continued into day two

Andrew Fidel Fernando at Newlands03-Jan-2017

Sri Lanka face the possibility of playing the remainder of the Newlands Test match with only three frontline bowlers, after the thigh pain that had hampered Nuwan Pradeep on day one continued into day two.Pradeep failed to complete his 16th over – the 70th of the innings – when he left the field with obvious pain in his left thigh. He has not bowled since then, but did return to the field – the team management initially believing it was a minor strain which would be fixed by overnight rest.However, Pradeep reported further pain in his quad as he warmed up on the second morning and has since left the team to undergo a more thorough doctor’s examination than the physiotherapists could provide. The chances of his returning to the bowling crease in the second innings hinge on those results.Pradeep has recently suffered a string of leg injuries. Hamstring strains kept him out of much of the Australia tour, and a recurrence of that injury ruled him out of the Tests in Zimbabwe as well.If he is unable to bowl again in the match, Sri Lanka will have suffered a substantial blow to their bowling stocks as Pradeep represents one of Sri Lanka’s primary wicket-taking options.The visitors will be buoyed by Dinesh Chandimal’s recovery, however. Chandimal had given up the gloves to Kusal Mendis on day one after suffering from a fever ahead of the Test. He took up his position as wicketkeeper again on day two, which may help keep Mendis fresh for his new batting role at No.3, following a reshuffle in the Sri Lanka batting order.Sri Lanka have suggested that Dhananjaya de Silva will bat at No. 4 – the place vacated by Mendis’ promotion – while Upul Tharanga is expected to come in at No. 7.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، عن تفاصيل العرض المقدم من شركة بوما للملابس الرياضية إلى نادي برشلونة الإسباني بهدف الحصول على رعاية الفريق الكتالوني بداية من الموسم المقبل.

وبحسب ما ورد في الصحف الإسبانية، فإن خوان لابورتا رئيس برشلونة يعمل على فسخ تعاقده مع شركة نايكي، بهدف الحصول على عقد رعاية أكبر.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثالث في سلم الترتيب العام للدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم “لاليجا”، برصيد 61 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضاً.. أحدهم من برشلونة.. بيلد: بايرن ميونخ ينقب عن صفقاته الجديدة في الدوري الإسباني

وذكرت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية أن شركة بوما مستعدة لدفع 100 مليون يورو لـ برشلونة بمجرد توقيع العقد، وأن إدارة البارسا لا تمانع من شراكة العلامة التجارية الألمانية.

وتابعت أن بوما مستعدة لدفع 120 مليون يورو سنويًا وهو مبلغ أعلى بكثير مما تدفعه شركة نايكي (85 مليون + 20 متغيرات)، حيث أن هذا الرقم متقلب للغاية لأنه يعتمد على تحقيق أهداف معينة.

يذكر أن عقد برشلونة مع شركة نايكي يمتد حتى عام 2028، وتم توقيع العقد بينهما عام 2016، وحقق للنادي أرباحًا قدرها 155 مليون يورو لكل موسم.

Glasgow Rangers target Cyriel Dessers is keen on making the move to Ibrox this summer, according to reliable reporter Scott Burns.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Dessers?

Michael Beale has made a quick start to the club’s summer transfer plans by bringing in four players already. The Gers have signed goalkeeper Jack Butland, full-back Dujon Sterling and attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell on free transfers. The club have also spent some money by bringing in forward Sam Lammers from Italian side Atalanta for €3.5m.

Despite already bolstering the attacking ranks, Beale and Rangers seemingly want to strengthen their option in the final third even further, with Dessers a real target.

A bid was submitted for the Cremonese forward earlier this month, although a report recently stated that the player has said no to a move to Scotland and favours remaining in Italy.

However, that doesn’t appear to be the case in a fresh transfer twist shared by Burns. Writing for The Daily Record, the reporter said:

“Dessers remains keen on a move to Ibrox and is waiting for Rangers to make another offer.

“Reports in Italy claimed the Nigerian international had turned down a switch to Ibrox. Sources close to all sides of the deal are adamant that is not the case. Dessers is very much keen on a move to Scotland and for the chance to play in the Champions League.

“Rangers have already made multiple bids for the striker but have still to reach an agreement with Cremonese. The Ibrox side are expected to go back in for the 28-year-old but won’t be rushed into a deal.”

Who is Cyriel Dessers?

Dessers, hailed as "phenomenal" by members of the media, is 28 years of age and is an out-and-out centre-forward. The Nigeria international previously plied his trade in Belgium and the Netherlands before moving to Italy with Cremonese last summer.

In total, Dessers has made 280 club appearances throughout his career, scoring 111 goals and registering 40 assists. As per FBref, the striker ranks in the 92nd percentile for touches in the penalty area and 93rd for goals per shot on target, showing how he can be a real danger in the box.

He certainly knows where the back of the net is and has been described as someone who is “awkward to play against” because of his physical strength by journalist Josh Bunting, so he could prove to be a smart signing, joining Lammers in the process.

Jimmy Adams, the newly appointed director of cricket for West Indies, wants to create a structure that will feed, sustain and guarantee not just success, but also a certain standard of cricket all through. According to Adams, the former West Indies captain and wicketkeeper, having a competitive domestic structure will not only groom young talent, but also not allow international players to “relax”.Adams said he was in no rush to achieve this. First, he said, he wanted to sit down and discuss his vision with the WICB’s new CEO, John Gray, who takes over from February, as well as the future head coach, a position that has been lying vacant since the board removed Phil Simmons last September.”I don’t want to say anything premature,” Adams told Line and Length Network, a Barbados-based TV station, in Antigua earlier this week. “Ultimately we want success. We want a structure that guarantees a certain standard of cricket even if you are not winning every day. But you know with what we have, from grassroots to youth cricket to first-class structure, you know the standard will be within a certain range. In terms of sustainability, that becomes critical. We want to see the first team, men’s and women’s, winning, but I would also like to underpin that with a structure that would guarantee a certain standard of cricket going forward.”Adams, who joined Kent in 2012 as head coach, left the county last October. He said he saw similarities in the challenges at Kent and in the Caribbean, especially in the lack of resources. “There are certain similarities with cricket in the Caribbean. We have challenges with resources here that tend to affect almost every decision we make, and trying to find the best way to hurdle those challenges and have the mindset that you can make it enough with whatever you have to create a quality cricket team.”Of the many challenges in front of Adams, one of the bigger ones would be sorting out the damaged relations between the WICB and some of the senior West Indies players who do not play in the domestic tournaments. One of the controversial decisions taken by his predecessor, Richard Pybus, was making it mandatory for all players to play in the domestic tournaments in order for them to be selected for West Indies. Many senior players have objected to that measure and have declined WICB contracts.Adams, who is also the outgoing president of the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA), did not reveal whether he subscribed to such a decision, but disagreed with the view that such players had “abandoned” domestic cricket. “I don’t think anybody has abandoned anything. I think everyone’s individual circumstances are different and I respect decisions people make. It’s not an exact formula, but at the end of the day, you want to see the strongest possible competition in terms of players’ development. If you can do that, it is the last building block before we take players to the international level, in terms of the upward movement. For those who are already playing international cricket, a strong domestic structure ensures there is no time to relax, which I think is a good thing.”Adams did point out that at all times he would like to see the best players contest in the regional competitions. “Part of a strong domestic league is having the best players available. However you look at it, you are always looking to get the best players in a competition to guarantee standards. From that point, it’s good to have a regional tournament. A dedicated block of time for a 50-overs tournament is critical, since preparation process can flow into tournament play, which is very important. I wasn’t of a fan of one-day cricket on a Wednesday and four-day cricket on a Friday, but if guys can dedicate a block of time specifically for 50-overs, T20 and four-day cricket, that’s the best approach possible.”Adams said his vision was a shared one: to make West Indies competitive once again. That, he said, was the main reason he returned home from Kent. “I share a common vision, not just with the people I’m employed to but also the people of the Caribbean. We’d like to see West Indies cricket strong again. I know we have been through some lean years. To share the vision – good competitive cricket coming out of West Indies – is something we all want to see and hopefully I can play some role in helping the region to achieve that.”

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.