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Craig Ervine also starred with an unbeaten 69 as the hosts wrapped up the third ODI with 63 balls to spare

Ekanth18-Feb-2025

Ben Curran raced to his half-century off just 38 balls•Zimbabwe Cricket

Ben Curran beat his brothers Sam and Tom to become the first sibling in the family to score an international century. His unbeaten 118 helped Zimbabwe seal their first ODI series win since March 2023, their first against a Full Member team since August 2022, and their first against Ireland in nearly ten years.Curran came in on the back of low scores in the first two ODIs, but showed exactly why he’s rated so highly while leading Zimbabwe to their target of 241 with 63 balls to spare. As the Harare pitch eased out in the afternoon, he stroked his way to a 38-ball half-century – hitting nine of his 14 fours during that initial burst – before settling into a more relaxed pace as his captain Craig Ervine glided his way to an unbeaten 69 off 59 balls. Curran added an unbroken 122 with Ervine for the second wicket, having first put on a 124-run opening stand with Brian Bennett.It was a perfect day for the hosts from the time Ervine won the toss and elected to field. Ireland’s innings never got going despite fifties from Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, and Lorcan Tucker. Zimbabwe only used five bowlers, with Richard Ngarava and Trevor Gwandu, who picked up two wickets each, applying constant pressure across all phases of the innings.Curran played his shots fearlessly from ball one – his attempted flick off that ball flew away off the leading edge, but it didn’t discourage him from cutting the next ball for four. Mark Adair, who bowled that first over, was on the receiving end again in the fifth as Curran and Bennett hit him for three fours.There were middled pulls, edged slashes, and swipes down the ground as the openers hit Ireland’s bowlers off their lengths. Curran’s scooped four off Graham Hume in the eighth over was a highlight. From overs five to ten, Zimbabwe hit 12 fours while scoring 60 runs off 36 balls. They finished the first powerplay at 77 for 0 with Curran batting on 54.Curran and Brian Bennett put on a century opening stand•Zimbabwe Cricket

The introduction of spin and a 30-minute rain interruption did not break the flow of the batters or affect the conditions. If anything, the pitch got even better for batting.Bennett fell to Hume, against the run of play, in the 20th over. He missed the flick, got hit on the pad, and was given out lbw despite height seeming to be an issue on replay. DRS is not available for the series, so Bennett had to walk.Ervine hit a four and a six within his first ten balls. The four was off a length ball from Hume that he directed through the slips with a tap on its head, and the six an effortless flick off Andy McBrine. The run flow was constant as Zimbabwe cruised to 151 for 1 in 25 overs.McBrine tried to buy wickets by bowling slower and fuller but that didn’t bring any reward as the game kept slipping away from Ireland, with Ervine chipping him over cover and flicking him over midwicket for successive fours in the 28th over. His flowing on-drive for six off Harry Tector in the 33rd was even better, and arguably the shot of the day. He brought up his fifty and Zimbabwe’s 200 soon after with a single to long-on.Meanwhile, Curran coasted towards his hundred. His 10th boundary came off his 40th ball, his 11th off his 65th – when he was on 66 – and his 12th off his 127th – with his score now 108*. He went from 80 to 100 via 18 singles and a two, and even played out a maiden on 99, before bringing up the maiden hundred off his 120th ball, much to his delight and that of his team-mates and the fans in attendance.In the end, the hosts rushed to victory in the 39th over to complete their first series win of this home summer.Andy Balbirnie was one of three half-centurions in Ireland’s innings•Zimbabwe Cricket

Sent in to bat, Ireland started cautiously in the hope of seeing off the new ball under cloudy skies. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava bowled Test-match lengths and challenged the outside edge regularly. Getting beaten by Muzarabani twice in the sixth over didn’t stop Paul Stirling from trying to take another chance off Ngarava in the seventh. He saw width and tried slashing the ball up and over but lobbed it straight to cover. Balbirnie, his partner, finished the first powerplay on 12 off 40 balls, with Ireland 26 for 1.Gwandu, who came on in the 12th over, began by overstepping and conceded seven off two attempts at his first legal ball, but beat Curtis Campher on the outside edge two balls later. In the next over, he beat Campher on the cut with extra bounce before rushing him on the pull to have him caught at midwicket.Tector joined Balbirnie in the 14th over with Ireland 42 for 2. They put on 86 for the third wicket, hitting four fours and two sixes along the way, but took 115 balls to do so. Balbirnie was dropped on 42 in the 29th over and reached fifty off 87 in the 31st. He brought up his first six with a slog-sweep off Wellington Masakadza, but fell next ball when he miscued the same shot to deep midwicket. It left Ireland 128 for 3 in the 33rd over with their run rate still under four.Sikandar Raza bowled quick and varied his lines and lengths in a ten-over spell without a break. He kept Tector quiet after Balbirnie’s dismissal as the batter looked for boundary options. Ngarava was the beneficiary of Tector’s attempts as he miscued a pull to midwicket the ball after reaching an 83-ball fifty.After Gwandu found extra bounce to nick off George Dockrell cheaply, Adair joined Tucker to put on 57 for the sixth wicket in 52 balls. Tucker’s fifty, which came off 44 balls, was the quickest of the innings. However, none of the last ten overs went for more than ten runs or more than one boundary.

Liverpool are less than one week away from returning to action. On Sunday, Arne Slot’s side will commence the 2025/26 campaign against Crystal Palace at Wembley for the Community Shield.

The season’s curtain-raiser counts for very little, but it does provide a chance for Liverpool to set the tone for the term, and for the fans to see some of the new signings in a competitive showing for the first time.

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s record signing at £100m (which will rise to a British-record £116m with add-ons), is sure to have a few eyes on him, while Hugo Ekitike may well start up top with Luis Diaz sold to Bayern Munich and Darwin Nunez anticipated to sign for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

But it’s not only the Redman that fans will be eager to see in action. Indeed, one subplot on the afternoon will be the performance of Marc Guehi, with the Premier League champions having a vested interest in the central defender.

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Last month, Liverpool allowed Jarell Quansah to leave for Bayer Leverkusen in a £35m deal. The 21-year-old was one of the club’s own, but he never found his footing in Slot’s system, and leaving was for the good of his career.

However, his departure has heightened the need to bring a refined talent like Guehi in.

The 24-year-old has become a regular for the Three Lions over the past year, and Liverpool have made it clear to Palace that they want to get a deal done this summer, with Guehi having entered the final year of his contract.

However, Newcastle United are also keen, with it having been reported that they are eager to snap him up after failed bids in 2024. Palace are holding out for £50m, a figure that the Anfield side are unwilling to pay.

However, news has broken that the Magpies are setting their sights on AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw, which might have something to say on their pursuit of Guehi.

Guehi would be the dream for Slot’s side, but there’s no certainty that he will join Liverpool or even leave Selhurst Park this summer. If sporting director Richard Hughes fails to get this one over the line, an alternative option has at least been lined up.

Liverpool lining up Marc Guehi alternative

As per GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are monitoring Brentford centre-back Nathan Collins as Hughes continues to quest for more defensive depth ahead of the new season.

However, the Bees won’t want to engage in talks with suitors as they prepare for life without Thomas Frank at the helm. Brentford signed Collins, now 24, from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a £23m fee in 2023.

Though Brentford want to keep their star defender, we’ve seen how Liverpool making their interest known can entice players, and this is certainly one to keep an eye on, should Guehi remain away from Anfield this summer.

Why Liverpool want to sign Nathan Collins

Republic of Ireland skipper Collins has made 77 appearances across all competitions for Brentford since joining them two years ago, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

Last season in the Premier League, he was the only outfield player in the division to have played every single minute of the term.

Considered by those within Brentford circles to have gone under the radar at the Gtech Community Stadium, Collins is a “high-quality centre-back”, as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with an even distribution of tough-tackling impetus and steady creative passing.

Hailed by journalist Sam Tabuteau for being a “future leader”, Collins would bring the perfect blend of defensive ability on the field and an influential presence on the training ground to ensure that Liverpool maintain their levels across all four fronts last term.

And with this in mind, he might even serve as Slot’s dream alternative to Guehi, who has been described as “England’s best centre-back” by one online analyst.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

38 (38)

Goals

3

2

Assists

2

3

Touches*

64.9

65.7

Pass completion

84%

86%

Big chances

5

3

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

Ball recoveries*

4.3

4.3

Dribbles*

0.4

0.3

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.0

Clearances*

4.6

5.8

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

5.1 (61%)

Errors made

2

3

Curiously, Guehi and Collins ranked up rather similarly in the Premier League last season, both proactive and hardy players with plenty of energy and a knack for organising teammates besides.

As per FBref, Collins ranked among the top 4% of centre-backs in the Premier League last year for assists, the top 3% for blocks, and the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90. This array of ball-playing and steely defensive qualities has actually seen Guehi listed as the Brentford man’s most statistically similar player.

With all this in mind, it’s clear that Hughes and the Anfield data analysts are targeting a specific defensive profile, and that Collins could be an astute alternative, should Palace remain firm on their £50m valuation.

He has, after all, proven himself capable against Liverpool’s frontline at their rip-roaring best, once winning 100% of his duels at Anfield while playing for Wolves.

It’s this kind of big-game mentality and willingness to step up in the face of adversity which differentiates Collins from the lion’s share of Premier League defenders; and which, indeed, led Frank to field him for every single minute of the recent campaign.

It’s a mindset Guehi wears on his sleeve, so commanding in the way he plays, but he’s not the only talented defender in the division, and Liverpool could hit the jackpot by signing Collins instead.

Liverpool clearly want to sign Guehi above all other targets on the shortlist, but if they fail to secure their quarry, Collins has exactly what Liverpool and Slot are looking for.

Imagine him & Ngumoha: Liverpool enter race for "outrageous" £56m striker

Liverpool are hoping to sign a new centre-forward in the transfer market this month.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 5, 2025

Jonathan Trott will continue as Afghanistan men’s head coach till the end of 2025. His next assignment will be the ODI leg of Afghanistan’s multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, but he will not take charge in the other formats for personal reasons. In his absence, Hamid Hassan will deputise as head coach and Nawroz Mangal as assistant coach.The Afghanistan Cricket Board has extended Trott’s contract by 12 months following a highly successful 2024 for the team. The year featured Afghanistan’s first ever World Cup semi-final appearance following victories over New Zealand and Australia in the Group- and Super-Eights stages of the T20 event in the West Indies and the USA. They have since beaten both South Africa and Bangladesh in ODI series in Sharjah.Related

• Jonathan Trott to step down as Afghanistan head coach after 2026 T20 World Cup

• Mujeeb returns for Zimbabwe tour, Akbari earns maiden T20I call-up

• Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi to retire from ODIs after Champions Trophy 2025

Afghanistan’s next major global tournament is a maiden appearance in the Champions Trophy next year. They qualified for the event after finishing among the top eight teams on the 2023 ODI World Cup points table, after a campaign that featured wins over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.Trott’s tenure began in July 2022 with an 18-month stint that was renewed by a year in January 2024. Afghanistan have won 14 of the 34 ODIs and 20 of the 44 T20Is they have played since his appointment.The ongoing stint with Afghanistan is Trott’s first as head coach. He was a consultant with Scotland during the 2021 T20 World Cup. As a player, he made 3835 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 44.08, and was a key figure in England’s away Ashes victory in 2010-11. In ODI cricket, he made 2819 runs at an average of 51.25 with four hundreds and 22 fifties.

New Zealand’s key selection call ahead of the first Test in India will be whether to play three quicks

Andrew McGlashan13-Oct-20241:46

Can India prep for Australia tour in home Tests against New Zealand? Gavaskar, Manjrekar weigh in

Former New Zealand captain Tim Southee will be at the centre of a selection debate ahead of the first Test against India as the visitors ponder the balance of their attack for Bengaluru and weigh up whether to play three quicks.Southee stood down from the captaincy after the 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka last month and there’s a chance he loses his place in the XI straightaway after a lean run in format where he has taken eight wickets at 73.12 this year.Related

Ravindra hopes to do 'what's true to us' with odds stacked against New Zealand

India's problem of plenty – three spinners or three seamers?

Will O'Rourke's Canterbury Tales, ft. Peter Fulton and Brendon Donkers

Southee steps down as New Zealand Test captain, Latham to lead in India

Shami not ready for New Zealand Tests; Bumrah named vice-captain

He is working to discover the “snap” in his bowling action but though be boasts a handy record in India with 20 wickets at 28.70, including his career-best 7 for 64 in Bengaluru 12 years ago, his place will likely be under scrutiny whichever way New Zealand structure their bowling attack.If they opt for just two quicks Matt Henry has a strong case to partner Will O’Rourke who was impressive in Sri Lanka, while if they played three the choice would then be between Southee’s experience or the extra pace of Ben Sears who made a mark on his debut against Australia in March.Head coach Gary Stead said that the discussions between him and Southee after the Sri Lanka series would remain private but acknowledged they were “delicate” and did concede that without Southee as captain it allowed greater flexibility in selection.Matt Henry will be in the mix to return to the side•AFP/Getty Images”Like all Test tours and series we have reviews at the end of it and Tim and I had a conversation around it, then he made the decision to stand down,” Stead said. “He thought it was in the best interests of the team. I supported his decision around that.”It allows different players to be considered in roles and as a selector and coach you are always trying to put what you think is the very best team out there. With Tim as captain, he was the guy who was starting for us and leading that team and think we were always looking at the options that were best for the team going forward.”An additional factor with the balance of New Zealand’s attack is the impact on the lower-order batting. Mitchell Santner batted No. 8 against Sri Lanka while Michael Bracewell would be another spin-bowling option, but Bengaluru turns out to help fast bowlers, and three quicks were selected, then either Henry or Southee would need to take on the role of chipping in with some runs down the order.”They’ve both scored fifties so that’s always the balance that possibly in New Zealand you think about more, especially if it’s going to be real seamer-friendly,” Stead said. “Think here the first thing you want to do is make sure you’ve got the bowlers you think can take 20 wickets.”Southee is working with bowling coach Jacob Oram on trying to rediscover his wicket-taking form and has been studying video from successful periods in a career which has so far brought 382 Test wickets, leaving him on the brink of becoming just the second New Zealand bowler to 400.”From my conversations with Tim he recognised he hasn’t been at his best but there’s certainly no desire to not get back there,” Stead said. “He’s working hard in the background, he’s doing everything he can and trying to rediscover what that little thing he feels is missing is.”There’s a couple of little technical points Tim’s working on. He’s working with [Jacob] Oram around them. We’ve looked back at quite a bit of video from previous years and times he’s played in India and had success. It’s just trying to rediscover that and find a little bit, I guess you could call it snap back into his action.”Stead added that Will Young was likely to bat No. 3 in the first Test in the absence of Kane Williamson who is recovering from a groin strain. There remains hope that Williamson will be available for the second Test with a call likely to be made during the first few days of the Bengaluru game.India will be without Mohammed Shami but Stead noted the depth of talent India were able to call on. “If they have an injury it doesn’t seem to effect them like other teams. There’s someone else who can come in who is equally adept,” he said. “They have the mass of numbers they can call but they are also very skilful and are an experienced team with a lot of Test caps. They play a brand of cricket that makes it very difficult for you over here but that’s the challenge that’s ahead of us.”

India spinner completes nine-wicket match haul after Currie resists with century

ECB Reporters Network19-Sep-2024

Yuzvendra Chahal appeals during his nine-wicket match haul•Getty Images

Scott Currie’s valiant maiden first-class century proved in vain despite helping to stage a remarkable Leicestershire fightback as Northamptonshire completed back-to-back first-class victories for the first time in five years to the day.Sent in as nightwatcher, Currie kept his calm as Leicestershire lost three early wickets on the third morning of this Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road, slumping to 92 for seven, still 88 runs behind. The arrival of Tom Scriven (48 off 66 balls) heralded a complete change of approach though as he and Currie wrestled back the initiative in an attacking partnership of 101 in 21 overs either side of lunch.With the momentum shifting and Leicestershire building a slender lead, Currie was joined in another big stand worth 110 in 23.3 overs by Sam Wood who smashed 57 off 91 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes). Currie’s lengthy vigil eventually ended after more than four hours at the crease, having faced 192 balls and hit 15 fours and two sixes.Those partnerships allowed Leicestershire to set their hosts 137 to win and while they claimed one early wicket, George Bartlett (54 off 91 balls) and captain Luke Procter (68 off 76 balls) both scored half-centuries in an unbroken stand of 120 to seal victory by nine wickets.Earlier Indian international Yuzvendra Chahal (5 for 134) claimed a five-wicket haul for the second match running, while Northamptonshire stalwart Ben Sanderson also nipped in to claim his 400th career first-class wicket.At the start of the day, Leicestershire resumed on 69 for four, still trailing by 111 runs. They soon lost skipper Lewis Hill (14) as Chahal got into his work. Keeper Lewis McManus completed the stumping as Chahal turned one which pitched on middle and beat Hill’s outside edge.Ben Cox (8) then became Sanderson’s landmark scalp when he was trapped lbw before James Sales took a sharp catch at short leg off Chahal to dismiss Liam Trevaskis (2).Currie, meanwhile, on a season-long loan deal from Hampshire, had proved a stable presence at the other end. He played a textbook cover drive off Sanderson but was otherwise content to bat within himself.Scriven however provided the impetus the innings needed as Leicestershire pressed the accelerator rather than wait for wickets to fall. Scriven took the positive route from the outset, striking Chahal over mid-on to bring up Leicestershire’s 100 in the 58th over, before pulling Sanderson for another four.Currie too started to play his shots. He had made just 16 off 72 balls when the seventh wicket fell, but quickly moved up several gears. He took the attack to Chahal, swinging dismissively through midwicket and dispatching him over long-off. The leg-spinner conceded 19 in one expensive over, as Currie pulled for six before Scriven deployed the slog sweep and reverse sweep for consecutive boundaries to bring up the 50 partnership.While Scriven was dropped at short midwicket, he continued to attack, muscling Chahal over long-on for a huge six as Leicestershire went into lunch on 172 for seven, trailing by just eight runs, an unlikely prospect earlier in the day.They resumed after the interval in bright fashion, Currie driving Justin Broad for four to take Leicestershire into the lead. Broad though soon made the breakthrough, denying Scriven a well-earned half-century when he knocked middle stump out of the ground.Currie continued to find the boundary, pulling Broad confidently before smashing him through deep point as he passed his previous highest best score of 72. He eased into the eighties with a fluent cover drive off Chahal and moved on to his century off 159 balls.Meanwhile, Wood picked up where Scriven had left off, crunching Chahal down the ground for three sixes and cutting and driving fluently along the turf.Chahal finally ended Currie’s long stay, picking up his fifth wicket in the process with one that turned and took the edge to be caught behind by McManus. Louis Kimber came out at number 11 after injuring his hand in the field yesterday and made four before Saif Zaib bowled him to wrap up the innings.Gus Miller (11) kicked off Northamptonshire’s run chase by driving Holland for four but had his stumps rearranged by Wood with the hosts 17 for one, but Bartlett and Procter played the seamers with relative ease, starting to knock off the runs required in ones and twos and some streaky boundaries.Procter greeted Rehan Ahmed by sweeping him high over deep midwicket for six, while Bartlett took another maximum off the England leg spinner a few overs later, this time over long-on. Procter hit Wood for consecutive boundaries to bring up the 100 partnership off 124 deliveries before hitting the winning runs with a boundary down the ground off Sol Budinger. Both not out batters finished with seven fours and one six apiece.

Celtic are in the midst of building for the new campaign and are now closing in on a winger who would provide a much-needed fresh face in the wake of a key departure, according to a report.

Nicolas Kuhn's Celtic exit prompts frantic transfer movement

After 18 successful months in Glasgow, Nicolas Kuhn is joining Como from the Scottish Premiership champions in a deal that will see the Bhoys earn a tidy profit on the former Germany Under-20 international, who was brought in from Rapid Vienna for £3 million.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Celtic winger’s departure on social media platform X, stating: “Nicolas Kühn, on his way to Italy as he signs in as new Como player on €19m from Celtic. Agreement done as revealed last week and Kühn on his way with agent Fabian Dingler. Here we go, confirmed.”

Leaving Brendan Rodgers short of options out wide, the Bhoys have reacted by putting in a bid for Rapid Vienna star Isak Jansson, who could follow in Kuhn’s footsteps by leaving the Austrian Bundesliga side for Parkhead.

Their offer is said to be in the £2.5 million range, though an unnamed side have put forward a £3.4 million proposal for the Swede, potentially sparking a bidding war between interested parties.

Attacking reinforcements appear likely to arrive sooner rather than later, with Celtic also focused on deals for Kawasaki Frontale striker Shin Yamada and Napoli’s Giuseppe Ambrosino.

Celtic’s opening five matches of their Scottish Premiership title defence

St Mirren (H)

Celtic Park

Aberdeen (A)

Pittodrie

Livingston (H)

Celtic Park

Rangers (A)

Ibrox

Kilmarnock (A)

Rugby Park

Following an end to last term that felt like a slight grind to a halt, new faces are needed to provide a spark once again and the Bhoys are now close to landing a key target, per recent developments.

Celtic close to signing Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha

According to Voetbalkrant, Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha is close to joining Celtic and Marc Overmars is keen to push through a deal swiftly so the Belgian Pro League outfit can begin to work on incomings.

Financially, Antwerp are in a position where they need to sell before they can buy, and it appears that the Bhoys are now on the verge of taking the 24-year-old off their hands for a ‘hefty sum’ of money.

Celtic can sign a better ST than Kvistgaarden in "complete" £6.8m star

Celtic could forget all about Mathias Kvistgaarden by signing this striker this summer.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 6, 2025

Enjoying a productive campaign, Balikwisha registered four goals and three assists in 18 appearances across 2024/25. However, injuries have limited his scope to make a greater impact over the last couple of years.

Either way, Celtic are now set to land a key reinforcement out wide and one they have targeted for a long time, providing an injection of quality once Kuhn completes his move to Como.

Time is of the essence for the Bhoys ahead of their Champions League playoff tie in August, so fans will be waiting with anticipation hoping an announcement will soon follow.

When Liverpool renewed Virgil van Dijk’s contract, they did more than just tie their star defender down to a new two-year deal.

Van Dijk is more than a world-class centre-back; he’s more, even, than a peerless skipper. The Netherlands icon has transcended his post as one of Liverpool’s star players, immortalising his name in Liverpool lore, right up there alongside Alan Hansen.

Yes, yes, he turns 34 next month. And, well, yes, Liverpool will need to be more careful in managing their captain’s minutes as he reaches the autumn days of his illustrious Premier League career.

But Van Dijk leads by example, and that’s on and off the field. He’s more than a defender; he’s a leader and rousing force. Tune in to Liverpool on the television, and you’ll hear the 6 foot 4 star baying at his teammates before heading out of the tunnel, switching them into gear.

Let’s enjoy him while we can, because FSG’s transfer chief, Richard Hughes, is already hard at work trying to secure a long-term heir.

Liverpool's efforts to sign the next Van Dijk

Dean Huijsen was written in the stars to succeed Van Dijk at Anfield. After a stunning breakout campaign at Bournemouth last year, the 20-year-old became one of the most sought-after young players in Europe, hailed for his incredible potential.

Van Dijk left Southampton to sign for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, and Huijsen could have followed a similar path, each proving a cut above. Moreover, Huijsen, while a Spanish international, was born and reared in Amsterdam to Dutch parents before relocating to Spain when he was five.

It felt like the perfect move for the player, moving to Liverpool, emulating one of the greatest defenders of his generation – and technically a countryman at that.

Well, Real Madrid clearly turned a blind eye to such a poetic story, for they brushed Premier League competition aside to activate the prodigy’s £50m release clause and bring him home.

Arne Slot still needs a new central defender, and while Huijsen is a one-of-a-kind talent, there might just be an alternative option waiting across the continent, having been of a vested interest to Liverpool in the past.

Liverpool enter race for new centre-back

Huijsen’s off the cards, yada yada, but he’s not the only talented centre-back looking to take the next step in his career.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Liverpool are interested in Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio, 23, once again, having been routinely linked with the dynamic defender across the past couple of years.

The left-footed defender has a €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract, but suitors are optimistic that they can engineer a more agreeable figure.

However, with Manchester United and Newcastle United thought to be interested too, FSG will need to up the ante if they wish to find a fitting long-term Van Dijk heir.

What Goncalo Inacio would bring to Liverpool

Inacio has yet to compete away from his Portuguese homeland, but he hasn’t exactly done that badly in Portugal, appearing 213 times for Sporting after graduating from their academy.

Journalist Antonio Mango has drawn attention to Inacio’s “insane” range of passing, and that’s corroborated by the data, for Inacio has completed an average of 89% of his passes across his senior career, as recorded by WhoScored.

Moreover, Inacio’s aerial ability suggests he could offer a similar level of ability in that regard as Huijsen, whose rangy frame and composure, leading to expert timing, is something that would have seen him exceed expectations when stepping into Van Dijk’s boots at Liverpool.

His modern-tailored style is exactly what Liverpool are looking for, and he’s a left-sided centre-back besides. To add further substance to the argument, this is a player who has been tracked by Liverpool for a number of years, and he’s only got better and better.

Having been an influential member of a two-time Liga Portugal-winning backline in recent years, Inacio has fostered the perfect mentality for a place in Liverpool’s first team, and he’s also blessed with a technical level that most other central defenders across Europe can only dream of.

Most, but not all. Huijsen can certainly throw down with the Portuguese ace on that front, and when racking up the respective players’ skills against each other, you can see that both offer similar qualities.

Goals + assists

0.20

0.19

Touches

91.48

74.94

Pass completion

89.7%

83.4%

Passes attempted

83.61

60.26

Progressive passes

7.34

4.89

Progressive carries

1.28

1.52

Shot-creating actions

1.72

1.59

Ball recoveries

4.67

3.89

Tackles + interceptions

2.75

3.23

Clearances

2.91

7.34

Blocks

1.08

1.48

Aeriel duels won

2.04

2.52

Huijsen is a strong defender, but his range of passing and creativity, his ability to play through the lines, are the facets which define him as a future superstar.

Inacio perhaps outperforms him in that regard, and if placed in Slot’s high-flying Liverpool system, you can only imagine the progress he could make, following the likes of Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch in making remarkable progress under the Dutchman’s wing.

Further to the point, Inacio made only one defensive error across his 28 top-flight appearances last term, whereas Huijsen made four playing for Bournemouth in the Premier League, albeit playing at what is considered a higher level, in more intense and rigorous conditions.

He’s not perfect, but the Portugal international has the making of an elite-level defender, and he could prove the dream Huijsen alternative if signed this summer, learning from Van Dijk over the next couple of years before breaking away from the Reds legend’s shadow and becoming a sensation in his own right down the line.

The dream XI Liverpool could build: Wirtz signs & "the next Mbappe" arrives

Liverpool are making sweeping changes in the transfer market as Slot prepares to defend his PL title.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 3, 2025

Whilst Birmingham City’s unbelievable attacking arsenal undoubtedly helped them to stroll to the League One title with 81 goals being scored, the defenders also more than played their part in the Blues’ title-winning success when shutting out some dangerous third-tier attackers.

Chris Davies’ men would boast the sternest defence in the division come the end of their near flawless 46-game campaign, with only 31 strikes being shipped in total courtesy of Christoph Klarer at the back showing off their imposing nature.

Still, the reawakened giants won’t be resting on their laurels moving back up to the Championship, with signings all over the pitch rumoured to join the impressive St Andrew’s ranks.

Birmingham's growing list of transfer targets

Davies’ side won’t be content with simply making up the numbers next season after promotion, knowing full well that chairman Tom Wagner will again give the Blues adequate funds to spend on some top buys.

Birmingham have already been linked with major moves for former star Che Adams alongside League One superstar Kwame Poku to enhance their potent forward areas. Further, a move for Irish shot-stopper Mark Travers has also been rumoured.

But, the ever-growing list of statement targets doesn’t stop there, with journalist Alan Nixon now reporting that the newly promoted side could go back in for the much-admired Harry Darling who Birmingham have previously had on their shopping list.

Davies and Co might well be able to land the experienced Swansea City centre-back for nothing, considering his deal with the Welsh side expires very soon, but fellow promoted outfit Wrexham are also allegedly sniffing around for the 25-year-old.

Amazingly, if a deal was to get over the line, Birmingham would be able to land an instant upgrade on Hannover 96 powerhouse Phil Neumann who is also set to join the Blues this summer from the Bundesliga, meaning competition for places in the heart of defence would be extremely fierce.

How Darling would be an upgrade on Neumann

Winning both Neumann and Darling in quick succession would make sense, with the likes of Grant Hanley exiting St. Andrew’s at the expiry of his contract, alongside Dion Sanderson’s future at the club being up in the air after a loan stint at Blackburn Rovers.

But, if it was a toss-up between the two new potential centre-backs as to who would partner a formidable Klarer moving forward, Darling could well get the nod over the 6 foot 3 German when picking apart their impressive 2024/25 numbers below.

Games played

39

32

43

Goals scored

5

2

1

Assists

3

1

3

Touches*

74.5

64.4

91.8

Accurate passes*

53.9 (88%)

38.9 (83%)

68.4 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

3.9

4.3

3.5

Clearances*

5.0

5.2

5.6

Total duels won*

4.9

4.3

7.5

Clean sheets

12

10

18

Straight off the bat, Darling already possesses a lot of experience of the English game to his advantage, with 108 career games under his belt in the difficult Championship.

On top of that, the soon-to-be free agent has also averaged a better pass accuracy per league clash this season in the second tier than Neumann has managed in the German top-flight, alongside also bettering the Hannover number five when it comes to winning duels.

Klarer has shown in abundance for Birmingham that he can be equal parts classy yet attritional too, meaning the “heroic” Swans centre-back – as he was once labelled by former manager Luke Williams – and the Austrian enforcer could soon be a match made in heaven in the heart of the Blues defence.

Of course, Neumann would still be pushing for a starting spot here, but if Birmingham can win such a distinguished performer at the level on a free transfer, it’s a move they simply must pursue.

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A “very interesting” Newcastle United transfer target is believed to be open to joining the club this summer, potentially coming in as an Alexander Isak replacement.

Isak's Newcastle future still unclear

There have been many standout performers for the Magpies throughout this season, but Isak has been their star man, leading the line superbly and maturing into one of Europe’s top strikers.

Isak has scored 21 goals in 30 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, with only Mohamed Salah (27) netting more times in the competition, and his performances have inevitably seen him linked with a move away from St James’ Park, with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal seeing him as an ideal target.

For that reason, alternatives are already being looked at, should the worst-case scenario happen for Magpies supporters, with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic mentioned as an option- the Turin giants are willing to sell him this summer.

While not a like-for-like replacement for Isak, Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has also been linked with a move to Newcastle at the end of the current campaign, having fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola of late.

Emanuel Emegha open to Newcastle move this summer

According to a fresh update from L’Equipe, Emanuel Emegha is open to joining Newcastle this summer, with the Strasbourg forward seen as a target for the Magpies. The 22-year-old has been identified as a replacement for Isak, should the Swede depart St James’ at the end of the season, with Chelsea also still trying to sign him.

Ideally, Isak will remain at Newcastle for many more years to come, with Emegha coming in as competition, replacing Callum Wilson in Eddie Howe’s attack. Should the Dutchman only arrive as a direct replacement for the Magpies superstar, though, he would still represent an exciting option with a huge amount of promise, with his peak years still some time away.

Emegha has scored 22 goals in 58 appearances for Strasbourg, which is a strong return, and he has been capped across four different age groups at youth team level for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, talent spotter Jacek Kulig has described the young attacker as a “very interesting” player.

The importance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League is huge when it comes to Newcastle signing footballers of his quality, especially if they pip Chelsea to a place in Europe’s leading club competition.

Netherlands Under-21s

9

3

Netherlands Under-20s

1

2

Netherlands Under-19s

7

5

Netherlands Under-15s

1

0

As mentioned, the Magpies not signing Emegha this summer will hopefully mean that Isak has stayed put, but if he departs, the towering 6 foot 5 Strasbourg ace looks like an eye-catching option to replace him.

The allrounder is now a T20 freelancer and struck a deal with the selectors to miss the West Indies and South Africa series

Matt Roller14-Aug-2025It is mid-afternoon on a hot summer’s day in London, and Marcus Stoinis is sitting on the members’ benches in the lower tier of the Lord’s Pavilion. He has spent the last two hours training on the Nursery Ground and, yet to look at his phone, he is anxious to learn the result of Australia’s T20I against South Africa, more than 8,000 miles away in Darwin.”Has it finished?” Stoinis asks. It has: Australia have lost by 53 runs, their first defeat in 10 matches. “I was watching it on the bus, but we just had training so I missed most of our batting innings,” he explains. It is an unusual scenario for him, albeit one that he is growing used to: a regular in Australia’s T20 team since 2018, he has now missed two series in a row.The curious aspect is that Stoinis has not retired from T20Is, nor has he been dropped. His non-involvement owes to conversations he instigated with Andrew McDonald and George Bailey – Australia’s coach and chief selector – earlier this year, and he still hopes to be selected for upcoming series against New Zealand and India with an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup.Related

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Stoinis has been a freelancer – without a national or state contract – for the past year, and remains in high demand in leagues around the world. It is a lifestyle that suits him, and deals like his £200,000 direct signing with Trent Rockets are hard to turn down. “There’s no better place to play,” he says, ahead of Thursday’s fixture against London Spirit at Lord’s.”The nature of it is that you can’t select yourself in an Australian jersey, but you can sign a contract to come and play in the Hundred,” Stoinis explains. “When this opportunity came up, I spoke to Cricket Australia, I spoke to Ron [McDonald] and we made a plan around that, really… When you’re planning it in advance, that makes it easier.”He has retired from ODIs but remains available for T20 selection, and Bailey confirmed last week that he will be “firmly in the mix” for next year’s World Cup. “We are very lucky,” Stoinis says. “We do it very well in Australia. The relationships that I’ve got with both Ron and Bails means you just have those conversations pretty openly.”His absence has created opportunities for 23-year-old allrounder Mitchell Owen in the middle order, who impressed in the Caribbean last month. “Maybe it’s because I’m older, but I want him to do well,” Stoinis, who turns 36 on Saturday, says. “We were just with each other during the IPL [at Punjab Kings] and it’s been good for him to play different roles.Marcus Stoinis’ most recent appearance for Australia came last November•AFP”I’m also fully aware that myself and Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] – and, more recently, Timmy David – have been holding that spot through the middle of Australian cricket for a long time. It’s very hard for other, young people to come through and have a crack at that… You need to bring through the next generation as well. It’s no-one’s spot.”He has found it “weird” watching his team-mates from afar but seems at peace with the decisions that he has made. “You share a few messages after the games and have a laugh… They say playing for your country should be the best time of your life, and for me it has been. But I don’t feel like it’s done yet.”Life as a freelancer has meant the best part of five months on the road for Stoinis. He spent from mid-March to early June in India for the IPL – contracting Covid-19 during a short trip home when the league was suspended – then flew back to Australia to get his visa sorted for Major League Cricket. He had two weeks off after that, then was back to the UK for the Hundred.He occasionally employs a personal chef in India and, along with Tim David, trains with Jim Allenby – the former Glamorgan allrounder, now a coach – when he is back in Perth. But he generally looks after himself and relies on the staff at his various teams, rather than travelling the world with an entourage in tow as a tennis player or a golfer would.Marcus Stoinis shakes hands with Harry Brook•Andy Kearns/Getty ImagesIt is a happy coincidence, then, that his Melbourne Stars coach Peter Moores is involved in the Rockets’ backroom staff, and he has also worked with Andy Flower before at Lucknow Super Giants. Graeme Swann has been arranging the team’s golf days, and they are a happy bunch after starting the season with wins over Birmingham Phoenix and Northern Superchargers.Stoinis played in the Hundred three years ago with Southern Brave, and says that he has wanted to return ever since. He will have family at Lord’s on Thursday night, and his girlfriend Sarah arrives next week: “Whenever an Aussie plays in England, the family sees it as a good opportunity to make the trip over. It’s somewhere where everyone wants to be.”He has noted the presence of new team owners in the Hundred, and expects Cricket Australia will follow suit with the BBL. Players have an obvious vested interest in private investment and Stoinis is unsurprisingly supportive, arguing that it is the obvious direction of travel – even if he still sees the chance to play in next year’s T20 World Cup as his main personal ambition.”Thinking about the IPL owners and what they’ve done with the IPL, you want people that have got a track record of building something that’s very good. If they do that, it’s great for them, but it’s also great for English cricket or for Australian cricket… It’s a pretty clear path to me, as to where most of cricket’s going.”