Girona star Savinho revealed his dream to play for Manchester City one day despite transfer interest from Barcelona.
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Manchester United are in the market to find their next superstar to take on the number nine role at Old Trafford and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target who could be perfect for the role.
Will Randal Kolo Muani sign for Man United?
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are continuing talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani this summer.
As per the report, Erik ten Hag is keen to have a new striker in place before his squad returns for pre-season training and the Red Devils are continuing to hold discussions for their main centre-forward targets with Kolo Muani named alongside Rasmus Hojlund.
Is Kolo Muani a good prospect for Man United?
There is no doubt that the signing of a striker will be the top priority for Ten Hag in his pursuit to rebuild the squad and lead the club back to dominance in both domestic football and on the European stage.
The Red Devils failed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese superstar made a shock departure just a few months into last season and instead secured a six-month loan for Wout Weghorst which spectacularly failed with the Dutchman only finding the back of the net twice during his short spell.
As a result, the signing of Kolo Muani would be a major coup for Ten Hag if he can secure a deal for the talented titan this summer and could spark a dangerous goal-threatening partnership between the Frankfurt ace and Marcus Rashford next season.
Over 46 appearances last term, the 24-year-old France international scored 23 goals and delivered 17 assists in all competitions, with a goal contribution every 91 minutes, an output that would be incredibly valuable to Ten Hag.
In fact, no Man United player was able to match Kolo Muani's impressive output in front of goal with Rashford the only player coming close to his numbers with 39 goal contributions in all competitions last season.
Therefore, combining the England international's goal threat with Kolo Muani's could set the team's attack up as a devastating force for years to come.
The talented 6 foot 1 goal machine – who has a reported €90m (£77m) price tag – has been the recipient of high praise for his standout performances in the Bundesliga, with former Bayern Munich ace and Sky Sport pundit Lothar Matthäus claiming:
"Kolo Muani is a major asset for the Bundesliga. He has remarkable technical ability, he's ice-cold in front of goal and he really throws himself into challenges.
"The most impressive thing is that he's performing in every game. I can't remember a match where he's played badly. That's the mark of a future superstar."
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Ten Hag to snap up the services of Kolo Muani this summer.
Indeed, combining his strengths with the prowess of Rashford next season could prove to make Man United unstoppable against their opponents in the Premier League and on the biggest stage of all; the Champions League.
Celtic have scheduled discussions with Kyogo Furuhashi regarding a new contract extension at Parkhead, according to reports.
When did Kyogo Furuhashi join Celtic?
Furuhashi first arrived in the Scottish Premiership from Vissel Kobe back in July 2021 where he went on to become a regular feature of Ange Postecoglou’s first team making 83 appearances to date, but with the former boss having now left to join Tottenham Hotspur and Brendan Rodgers being back in charge, his future is up in the air.
The Japan international was the Hoops’ top-performing offensive player and indeed the division’s highest-goalscorer last season so was a standout star north of the border, and this form has already started to attract significant interest from the Premier League.
Crystal Palace have primarily been the side most linked with a summer swoop for the 28-year-old striker, but Spurs appear to have more recently entered the race to secure his services with Postecoglou eyeing a reunion in N17, and whilst that will be an attractive opportunity, the hierarchy are keen to stop him from leaving.
Is Furuhashi signing a new contract?
According to Football Insider, Celtic are set to hold “talks” with Furuhashi over a new deal when he returns from his current break in his homeland. The Glasgow outfit are “keen to tie down” their prized asset to a “new and improved agreement” in the hope of fending off outside attention, with the aim being to extend his contract that runs until 2025 by at least one more year.
Alongside Palace and Spurs, it’s reported that he’s also become a target for Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and several unnamed clubs in the Serie A and Bundesliga. Furuhashi was believed to be “stung” by Postecoglou’s exit, but it’s stated that he’s “happy” where he is and “won’t rush into any decision” in the weeks ahead.
Does Furuhashi deserve improved terms?
Celtic will recognise the hugely positive impact that Furuhashi has made since joining and also how much he’s appreciated by his teammates having been hailed “world-class” by Jota, so offering the centre-forward a new contract would be nothing less than he deserves.
The £19k-per-week earner clocked up a remarkable 26 goal contributions (23 goals and three assists) in 31 Scottish Premiership outings last season whilst recording 85 shots over the course of the campaign which was more than any other of his fellow peers, as per FBRef.
Furthermore, Furuhashi has not only helped the side secure five trophies following his arrival but he’s also been rewarded for his individual performances by being named the Hoops’ Player of the Year for 2022/23 so it’s clear to see how loved he is, making this a decision that the board shouldn’t even have to think twice about.
ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the third day of the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and South Australia in Hobart
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Callum Ferguson top scored with 90•Getty Images
Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper were instrumental in setting Tasmania a target of 300 for victory in Hobart, where South Australia must win to have any chance of making the Sheffield Shield final. The Redbacks began the third day at 0 for 69 and were dismissed in the final over the day for 406, an innings that was based around a 173-run fifth-wicket stand between Ferguson and Cooper.Opener Jake Weatherald fell early for 28 to the bowling of Sam Rainbird, before debutant John Dalton was caught behind for 71 off fellow first-gamer Gabe Bell, the Tasmania fast bowler who finished with 4 for 97 and seven wickets for the match. South Australia’s hopes faded when Bell snared both Travis Head and Jake Lehmann for single-figure scores to leave the total at 4 for 120.But Ferguson and Cooper then settled in for a long stay before Cooper was eventually caught behind for 83. Ferguson had the opportunity to push for his second century in consecutive matches but instead was caught behind off Rainbird for 90. However, there were still plenty of runs to come, with Adam Zampa striking 63 to lift the total to 406.
Manchester United still have some work to get through in their endeavours to sign defender Kim Min-jae from Napoli this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Kim Min-jae?
According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, Manchester United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Kim due to Napoli looking to offer the 26-year-old a new contract at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Taking to Twitter, the reporter stated: "Napoli have offered Kim Min-jae new contract. Clubs in Premier League believe he has buyout clause under £50m, to be removed/replaced with fresh terms. No bids made despite him being discussed by clubs as one the best centre-backs in Europe this season."
talkSPORT also understand that Newcastle United are 'tracking' Kim this off-season and may be willing to rival the Red Devils for his signature as Eddie Howe eyes defensive reinforcements.
Club captain Harry Maguire's desire to remain at Manchester United despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur in his services may also hinder any deal to bring Kim to the North West, as per 90min.
Capology detail that Kim is said to make around €61,731 (£53,011) per week on his present terms at Serie A champions Napoli on a deal that runs until June 2025.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones doesn't think that Kim joining Manchester United is as far along as some media outlets have intimated over the past few weeks.
Jones told Give Me Sport: "It's funny because some parts of the media really play it up like it's on the verge of happening, whereas you speak to some people close to Man United and they're not certain that it's a guaranteed thing yet, but it'd be a great addition if it can happen."
Would Kim Min-jae be a good signing for Manchester United?
Kim is a fantastic defender who would solidify Manchester United's backline significantly heading into 2023/24 if his exploits for Napoli this season are anything to go by.
In 2022/23, Kim made 45 appearances in all competitions for Napoli, notching two goals and two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.
The South Korea international also recorded an average match rating of 7.07/10 this term, making him Napoli's fourth-most consistent performer behind Mario Rui, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, according to WhoScored.
FBRef also demonstrate that Kim has been able to establish himself as a domineering presence in defence, maintaining a tackle success rate of 86.2% in the Italian top flight.
Manchester United will be desperate to get a deal over the line for Kim; however, this transfer saga looks like it may drag on for a while yet as the 26-year-old considers his next steps.
Leeds United are interested in making Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson their next manager this summer, according to a new update.
Who is in the running for Leeds job?
The Whites are experiencing a busy time of things at the moment, with so much happening both on and off the pitch, including 49 Enterprises' potential takeover of the club.
The search is also on to find a new manager before the start of next season, with Sam Allardyce departing earlier this week after a short stint in charge, in which he failed to keep them n the Premier League.
A number of individuals are believed to be in with a chance of landing the job, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Corberan all thought to be in the running. A new name has now been thrown into the hat, though, as Leeds look to ensure that they nail their next appointment and seal a quickfire return to the Premier League.
Is Tomasson a target for the Whites?
According to Football Insider, the Whites "have shortlisted Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson in the search for their next manager", with the Dane "on their shortlist of targets". The report goes on to add that "Blackburn are braced for an approach from the recently-relegated giants and are already drawing up a list of potential replacements for the 46-year-old", with those inside Elland Road viewing Tomasson as "the next Bielsa".
Tomasson, who plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been in charge of Blackburn since last year, arriving in June, having previously been in charge of Swedish side Malmo, and he guided the former to a seventh-place finish in the Championship and within touching distance of finishing in the playoff positions.
He could be an interesting appointment by Leeds, not necessarily being as big a name as Gerrard and Rodgers, for example, but showing in a short space of time that he knows how to get positive results in the Championship, averaging 1.6 points per game in the competition. Tomasson also has experience at international level, albeit in an assistant manager role with Denmark between 2016 and 2019, meaning he knows how to work around big personalities and help get the best out of them.
It could be argued that a more proven manager could be needed at Leeds, such is the importance of this appointment, but the former striker did win two Swedish league titles in charge of Malmo, further highlighting his pedigree and why he is a contender to head to Elland Road.
In the space of three balls on the second morning in Visakhapatnam, India made two errors with the DRS
Alagappan Muthu18-Nov-20162:08
Compton: India need to take a second to discuss every dismissal
First dates are hard, and the one India are having with DRS has thrown up its share of adorable and awkward moments.Batting for the first time in front of his home crowd in a Test match, Cheteshwar Pujara used the system to overturn an lbw decision against him and score a “special century” in front of his family and friends. That high, however, dissipated in the second innings when he was again caught in front of the stumps again but did not realise the ball had pitched outside leg. His wingman M Vijay was no help, and his coach Anil Kumble gave him an earful for not being brave enough to take the plunge. Poor Pujara.In Visakhapatnam, India’s difficulties in judging when to use the system came out in the span of three balls from Moeen Ali. A ripping offbreak took Wriddhiman Saha’s pad and after an eternity Kumar Dharmasena raised his finger. Perhaps the delay encouraged Saha to review, but replays showed it was three reds.Ravindra Jadeja should have reviewed his lbw decision•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Two deliveries later, Ravindra Jadeja went forward to defend the second ball he faced, expecting turn from Moeen bowling around the stumps. Instead he was met by a full delivery that held its line and struck him low on the front pad. Dharmasena upheld the appeal for lbw, and it was time to engage the temptress.Jadeja strode down the pitch to get some advice from R Ashwin, his partner, who wasn’t sure it was a good idea. India now had only one review left. But they had just lost one of their best lower-order batsmen. It was probably worth the gamble. When the replays came on, it confirmed as much, with the ball missing leg stump by a whisker.England and DRS have had a much longer fling, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they do not have their own issues. Alastair Cook, in the first morning of the series, was given out lbw after he missed a flick to a delivery from Jadeja that seemed like it would clearly miss leg stump. Here too the non-striker was consulted, but Haseeb Hameed, the 19-year old on Test debut, had enough to worry about without having to calculate the ball’s trajectory.India managed a happy ending though. Jayant Yadav, on debut, struck Moeen on the pads in the first over after drinks in the final session. The batsman had come down the track, but the offspinner had seen that he hadn’t really covered that much distance and more importantly the ball had straightened. Umpire Dharmasena had ruled against the on-field appeal but Jayant knew a debut wicket was only a ‘T’ sign away and convinced his captain to go for a review.The ball pitched in line, hit the batsman on middle and went on to hit leg stump, three reds when so often in such cases the umpire’s call comes into play. The Indians’ celebrations – Virat Kohli, who just about raised his bat on scoring a century earlier, was punching the air in triumph – were indicative of an unfamiliar job very well done.
KL Rahul, who completed his third Test hundred and went on to score a career-best 158, reckoned that West Indies’ bowling discipline on day two had made it difficult for India’s batsmen to score quickly
Karthik Krishnaswamy in Kingston01-Aug-20163:25
‘I am in a good space’ – Rahul
India had ended day one of the Sabina Park Test 126 for 1 in reply to West Indies’ 196. They had scored at a run rate of 3.40 per over. On day two, India added 232 to their overnight total, at a scoring rate of 2.64 an over, to go to stumps 162 ahead with five wickets in hand. KL Rahul, who went on to score a career-best 158, reckoned that West Indies’ bowling discipline on day two had made it difficult for India’s batsmen to score quickly.”Well look, you probably have to give a little credit to the West Indies bowlers as well,” he said. “They came in with a set plan this morning, to keep it tight and not give away easy runs. They tried to bowl the fourth-fifth stump channel. The wicket obviously isn’t the easiest to bat on. It is a little spongy sometimes, and two-paced. So you couldn’t play through the line or go after the bowlers when they bowled those channels.”It’s a Test match, you have all the time in the world. We have bundled them out for 180 (196), and we still had four days to go. We were in no hurry, so we could take our time and wait for the loose balls. I think we played really well in the first session. We gave the West Indies bowlers and the lengths and lines they were bowling the respect it demanded. At the end of the day, we have still gotten the amount of runs we wanted to get. We are very happy as a batting unit.”In the first session, Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara scored 59 runs at 2.27 an over, and denied West Indies the early breakthroughs they must have hoped to make. Having moved to 46, Pujara was run out in the tenth over after lunch, continuing a sequence of innings in which he has failed to convert starts into bigger scores. Rahul said Pujara was “doing all the processes right”, and was confident a big innings was around the corner.”I think he’s batting really, really well,” Rahul said. “I think his judgment outside the off stump was fabulous and his discipline was really good. When the bowler keeps bowling the fourth-fifth stump channel, the easiest thing to do is to try and place down to third man or try and go over cover or point. You may connect one or two, but you could give a catch to the slips.”He did the hard thing [by leaving as many balls as he could]. He did the hard yards, but unfortunately he got out at the wrong time. Had he stayed till the end, he would have scored 100 more runs in the next two sessions. It’s unfortunate, but I think he’ll be happy that he is doing his processes right. The outcome is sometimes not in our hands.”We know how much of a run-hungry guy he is and it will make him hungrier and I’m sure big runs are coming his way in the third and fourth Tests.”Rahul’s hundred was his third in Test cricket, and had come in only his sixth match. He has had to wait for his opportunities, with M Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan established as India’s first-choice opening combination, but he came into the match with form behind him, in the shape of a breakthrough IPL season and an ODI hundred on debut.”The last couple of months, I’ve been performing well,” he said. “I’ve been consistent in all the three formats and that’s what I want to do as a cricketer, to be consistent in all the three formats. Go out there, and play to the best of my abilities, and play my roles and responsibilities for the team.”Right now I’m in a good space. I’m only watching the ball and trying to judge the ball and if I think the ball is there to be hit, I’m hitting the ball. That doesn’t change. That’s the only thing that doesn’t change with T20, one-day or four-day cricket – when the ball is there to be hit, you hit the ball. That’s the only thing that runs in my mind. I’m very happy with the space I’m in and the focus levels have been great.”
Newcastle United are reportedly once again keen on signing Watford sensation, Joao Pedro, having previously been linked with the Brazilian last summer.
What's the latest on Joao Pedro to Newcastle?
According to Football Insider, the Magpies are believed to have 'concrete' interest in the 21-year-old ahead of the summer window, having seemingly been 'closely monitoring' his progress throughout the current campaign.
As the piece also outlines, the northeast side reportedly had a £30m offer rejected for the young forward back in August, with the player subsequently going on to sign a new six-year deal at Vicarage Road.
With it looking unlikely that the Championship side will earn promotion this term, however – with Chris Wilder's men currently six points off the play-offs – Newcastle may have an improved chance of striking a deal this time around.
Would Joao Pedro be a good signing for Newcastle?
The former Fluminense ace has enjoyed another standout campaign in the second tier for the Hornets, having scored ten goals and provided four assists in 32 league outings, emerging as arguably "one of the Championship's best players", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.
As Kulig also noted, the 6-foot starlet is "capable of playing anywhere along the front line", ensuring that he would prove a wise investment for the St James' Park outfit and a truly useful attacking weapon in a variety of forward positions.
That versatility is just one reason why Pedro could potentially prove something of a long-term upgrade on current Newcastle man, Callum Wilson, with the 31-year-old – who solely operates as a centre-forward – having proved somewhat unreliable in recent years due to his frustrating injury woes.
While the Englishman has been in red-hot form of late with three goals and an assist in his last three Premier League games, it remains to be seen if he can be a long-term partner to club-record signing, Alexander Isak, with Eddie Howe suggesting following the recent win over Brentford that the duo "probably" can't feature together every week.
Pedro, by contrast, could prove a better partner for Isak due to his ability to comfortably play in a number ten berth or on the flanks, with the emerging gem possessing the creativity to thrive in that free role after creating seven big chances this season and registering 1.3 key passes per game – a far better record than that of Wilson who has created just three big chances and averages only 0.8 key passes per game.
Equally, the Watford man is a potentially more dynamic option as he is a "superb dribbler", according to Kulig, showcased by the fact that he averages 3.9 successful take-ons per 90 – as per FBref – while Wilson has averaged just 0.29 for the same metric.
With young Pedro also providing the benefit of his possible longevity on Tyneside – in contrast to Wilson – and it is easy to see why the signing of the exciting talent could prove a real masterstroke for Howe and co.
Gautam Gambhir’s side is an established one with proven match-winners, but they need to brush up their finishing and death bowling skills – two key areas in T20 cricket where they faltered last season
Nagraj Gollapudi08-Apr-2016
Kolkata Knight Riders had the opportunity to make the playoffs if they managed to win one of their last two matches, both away games. But they failed to chase targets in Mumbai. The defending champions eventually finished fifth, having recorded seven wins (only two away), six defeats (five away) and one match that ended in no result.
Gautam Gambhir (captain), Robin Uthappa (wicketkeeper), Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jayadev Unadkat, Ankit Rajpoot, Sheldon Jackson, R Satish, Manan Sharma, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Lynn, Morne Morkel, Brad Hogg, Jason Holder, Colin Munro, John Hastings
In 2012, they won their first IPL title. The following season, they finished seventh. In 2014, they won their second title. Last year, they finished fifth. Will Kolkata Knight Riders be third-time lucky this season?If they are to become the first team in the IPL to win three crowns, the Knight Riders need to polish their finishing skills and end-over bowling, two areas they were vulnerable in last season. In those crucial away games at the end of the tournament, Mumbai looted 72 runs after being 99 for 4 in 15 overs and Rajasthan started in dominant fashion and had passed 100 by the halfway stage before scoring 53 in the final five overs. Even though Knight Riders lost both matches by a small margin – five and nine runs respectively – it exposed their fragility in the lower order and the inability of the top order to create a solid platform.Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir and his opening partner Robin Uthappa need to take the responsibility of establishing a strong start. Last year, Knight Riders’ top-order batsmen (Nos. 1 to 3) averaged 25.44 with just four fifties in 38 innings. Only Kings XI Punjab were worse.There is bound to be a change in mindset with Jacques Kallis having migrated to the head coach position after his retirement. He took the seat vacated by Trevor Bayliss, who moved on to become England coach last year. The big advantage is the familiarity between Kallis and the team as well as the franchise management and owners, a key aspect in T20 leagues. Kallis will be assisted by former Australian batsman Simon Katich.One advantage Knight Riders have is being one of the few teams with an established set-up. Only Mumbai Indians, and to an extent, Kings XI Punjab have retained their core players, while making minor changes to the existing squads from previous years. Gambhir has been at the helm since 2011, and all his senior lieutenants know their roles and are proven match-winners. It is about reminding themselves of those basics in crunch situations.
Will Sunil Narine 2.0 be as effective as his old self?With the focus on his bowling action likely to be as severe as it was last year, the West Indies offspinner could play a restricted role till he becomes totally confident with his new action. In the interim, the onus is on senior Australian left-arm chinaman Brad Hogg. Hogg showed last year that he can share the workload with Uttar Pradesh spin twins Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav. Chawla, with his legbreaks, and Kuldeep, the chinaman bowler, with his effective googlies, helped Uttar Pradesh win the Syed Mushtaq Ali title in January, and they will once again play a crucial role in the middle overs.
No doubt Andre Russell, last IPL’s MVP, will be up there but it is his overseas team-mate Shakib Al Hasan who might play a lead role this season for Knight Riders. Unlike last year, when he was forced to play the home series against Pakistan and missed the first half of the tournament, the Bangladesh allrounder will be available for entire season. Shakib was the only player with more than 200 runs and ten wickets when the Knight Riders won the IPL in 2014. He is one of four KKR allrounders to have done across all IPL seasons. Shakib fits into any rung of the batting order: he can build a platform or explode towards the end. Also, with his left-arm spin, he has the knack of pushing the opponent on the back foot and sneaking past the edge or the defensive bat frequently.
If you have seen Colin Munro switch-hit an international fast bowler into the stands, you would understand how brutal this left-hand batsman can be. Munro is the owner of the second-fastest fifty in T20 internationals, which came off 14 deliveries against Sri Lanka at Eden Park in January. As New Zealand captain Kane Williamson put it, it was like watching a highlights package. The innings was enough to get Munro into the World T20 squad, and possibly played a role in Knight Riders picking him late in the auction for just INR 30 lakh (US$44,000 approx). Since January 2015, Munro’s strike-rate of 156.55 is fourth best among those who have faced 500-plus balls. The players ahead of him are Russell, Chris Gale and AB de Villiers. Knight Riders can do with Munro’s ballistic launches, especially in the Powerplay where they struggled last season.
Sunil Narine‘s father died recently and he had to head back home to Trinidad. Kallis said Narine would be given as much time as he needed to decide when he wants to play. And when he returns, Narine is likely to be given enough time to adjust to his remodelled bowling action.
Jacques Kallis (head coach), Simon Katich (assistant coach), Wasim Akram (bowling consultant), Andrew Leipus (physio), Adrian le Roux (trainer)
“I suppose it is an advantage going into coaching soon after retirement. The game has changed. For the last couple of years, it has jumped up a level… It’s nice to be part of the modern-day game as I need to see what works and what doesn’t.”
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