Delhi Capitals have lost three out of their four games so far at the Feroz Shah Kotla, only managing to tie the fourth and win in the Super Over

Srinath Sripath18-Apr-2019Capitals at the Kotla: P4 L3 T1
Delhi Capitals were second on the IPL 2019 points table before Thursday night, and that’s despite their record at home, which now reads: Played 4, Lost 3, Tied 1. It is the tournament’s worst win-loss ratio at home after the bottom-placed Royal Challengers’ Bangalore, who have lost all their games.The Kotla pitch has been a mystery over the years, and Capitals’ coach Ricky Ponting has admitted how visiting sides like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings have made use of the conditions much better than they could.Once again, Capitals were out-thought by the visiting side, who seemed to read conditions better from the get-go. Rohit Sharma won the toss, opted to bat first for the first time this season (and only the second time since 2018), a “good move” which left home captain Shreyas Iyer “surprised”.Rohit mentioned how their “struggle to chase 160 [175]” last time as the reason for his decision to set a target. They also picked a fingerspinner in Jayant Yadav to take on Capitals’ left-hander-laden batting order.Delhi Capitals’ poor record at home•ESPNcricinfo LtdMumbai, though, had thought through their plans down to the last detail. Mahela Jayawardene, their coach, said in a chat with , the host broadcaster, that “conditions dictate” plans and selections, and “we use different guys in different scenarios”. They shuffled their batting and bowling line-ups, throwing in Ben Cutting at No.3, Hardik and Rahul Chahar to open the bowling, and at one point, made five bowling changes in five overs to turn the game on its head. Some of them failed, but they always had back-up plans, adapting on the go and eventually sealing a convincing win.What’s the deal with Mumbai holding Pollard back?On what looked like a tricky Kotla pitch, Mumbai Indians got to 168 for 5, thanks to Hardik Pandya’s manic acceleration in the final overs once again. A look down their scorecard, though, and you’ll spot an odd stat at the bottom.Kieron Pollard 0* (0 balls)For the second consecutive game, Pollard finished unbeaten, without facing a ball, having walked into bat with three balls remaining. Why one of T20 cricket’s most prolific strikers has gotten to bat so few balls for Mumbai, has been a question for a while now.This season, though, Hardik’s brilliance has put Mumbai at the top of the run-scoring charts in the final overs. They’ve scored at 12.66 runs an over in the last four overs, powered in large part by Hardik’s astounding rate of 15.12, only behind Andre Russell among batsmen who’ve faced 50-plus balls. Hardik’s consistency and Pollard’s night out against Kings XI Punjab – the one time Hardik failed – have meant Mumbai haven’t borne the brunt of holding their biggest hitter back.Getty ImagesAnd more often than not, their long-standing belief in left hand-right hand combinations has meant Krunal Pandya has batted ahead of Pollard. Krunal has blown hot and cold with the bat so far, but on Thursday night, his 37 off 26 balls did the job on this track: play out the spinners, consolidate and max out in the final overs.Jayawardene admitted as much in a chat with the host broadcaster. Having sent Ben Cutting, their third big hitter apart from Pollard and Hardik, up the order with a view to accelerating early, they switched to their back-up plan of rotating the strike and going big at the death after Cutting fell for 2.Amit Mishra bosses the middle overs but why didn’t he complete his quota?Amit Mishra struck with his first ball – a slow legbreak – to rattle Rohit Sharma’s stumps. It was his 150th IPL wicket, and a reminder of his years bowling for the erstwhile Daredevils at the Kotla, which has always had something in it for the slower bowlers.Mishra was acing the middle overs against Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav, conceding just two boundaries in his first three overs. With the run rate under control and a new batsman in Krunal Pandya at the crease, Delhi Capitals’ captain Shreyas Iyer took Mishra off and brought seamer Keemo Paul back into the attack.If that was done to hold him back for Kieron Pollard’s arrival, it didn’t come to pass. Mishra finished with figures of 3-0-18-1, not coming back to bowl his final over. Iyer’s use of Mishra has been puzzling at times: against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game, he didn’t come on to bowl till the 11th over, after the fall of Jonny Bairstow, who has struggled against wristspin this season.Mishra wasn’t the only one to go with an over unbowled – Ishant Sharma didn’t came back to bowl his final over, after having gone for 17 off his first three.

A look ahead to what’s at stake in Saturday’s double-header

S Rajesh04-May-2019The Delhi Capitals v Rajasthan Royals game is vital for both teams, although for different reasons. Royals need to win to stay in contention for the last playoffs berth, while a victory will give Capitals a reasonable chance of finishing in the top two.Capitals‘ net run rate (NRR) currently is -0.096, the worst among the top three teams, thanks to their 80-run loss to Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. To give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top two, Capitals need to win by a big margin, so they can offset some of their NRR damage and sneak past Super Kings’ run rate if they lose their last match, on Sunday. That can happen if Capitals defeat Royals by 40 runs on Saturday, and Super Kings lose by the same margin to Kings XI Punjab on Sunday. Should both matches produce the aforementioned results, Capitals can take the second spot ahead of Super Kings even if Mumbai Indians win their last game to finish as table-toppers.However, if both Super Kings and Mumbai win on Sunday, Capitals will need to have a better NRR than Mumbai to make it to the top two, which will be a tall order, given the currently second-placed Mumbai’s NRR is 0.321, the best among the top three. If they beat Kolkata Knight Riders even by only five runs on Sunday, Capitals will need to beat Royals by around 115 runs to go past Mumbai’s NRR. Capitals, therefore, will almost certainly be relegated to third place if both Super Kings and Mumbai Indians win on Sunday.Meanwhile, if Capitals lose on Saturday, it is a near-certainty they will miss out on the top two spots. Even if they lose by only five runs, they will need Mumbai to lose by around 115 runs to finish ahead of them on NRR.For Royals, the equation is quite clear: beat Capitals and finish on 13 points, and hope that Sunrisers Hyderabad and Knight Riders both lose their last match and remain on 12 points. If that happens, Royals will take the fourth playoff spot.Sunrisers can clinch the last knockouts berth in the second game on Saturday, should they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their current NRR of 0.653 is so far ahead of Knight Riders’ 0.173 that almost any margin of victory for Sunrisers should see them through. If Sunrisers win by five runs, Knight Riders will need a victory margin of around 125 runs against Mumbai to go past Sunrisers’ NRR.If Sunrisers lose to Royal Challengers, they could still qualify if Knight Riders and Royals both lose their last game.

Not the ideal weather for a game of cricket, but Bangladesh’s performance made it worth a visit

Tawhid Qureshi08-May-2019Choice of game
The tri-series being played in Dublin gave the perfect excuse to travel across the Irish Sea during the May Day bank holiday weekend. The incentive, to catch sight of potential World Cup stars at close quarters in a laidback setting, was an overwhelming one. Bangladesh and West Indies have been familiar and well-matched foes over recent months, with strong World Cup ambitions. I was excited to see how they would both compete and was hopeful of seeing plenty of runs scored on the relatively small Irish grounds.I was also hoping for a big improvement in Bangladesh’s performance following a disappointing outing against Ireland Wolves a couple of days ago. That game was set against a view of rustic fields in the quaint village of Milverton, about an hour drive north of central Dublin. The venue, somewhat misleadingly named “The Vineyard”, which normally plays host to The Hills Cricket Club, stood out for its hospitality – the seemingly endless supply of home-baked scones with clotted cream being a particular highlight!The Bangladesh-West Indies clash, though, was taking place at Clontarf Cricket Club, in a leafy suburb of Dublin. The ground and adjacent houses were only separated by neatly trimmed hedges, with the prospect of damaged windows from a well-struck six.Key Performers
The world-record opening stand between Shai Hope and John Campbell on the same ground just a few days ago was always going to be a tall order to surpass or even match. The partnership couldn’t be repeated as Campbell wasn’t in the starting XI due to a sore back. Hope performed in a similar vein, looking untroubled during a patient start to his innings, accumulating runs at will in a classy manner. His second consecutive century was warmly applauded and when his innings came to an end it looked to me that tiredness had crept into his game, entirely understandable given the number of overs he had batted in his last two innings, besides his wicketkeeping duties.All of the Bangladesh bowlers chipped in with wickets, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz initially doing well to slow down the run-scoring and Mashrafe Mortaza picked up three wickets with his clever bowling. The way the bowlers, backed up by astute fielding, sparked a West Indies collapse, was great to watch.Chasing 262, the opening stand of 144 between Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar meant that the batsmen who came in later were never under pressure to score quickly. Everyone knows what Tamim is capable of and hopefully Soumya’s innings will be the start of a consistent run ahead of the World Cup.Wow Factor
As a seasoned follower of the Bangladesh cricket team, I’ve never been totally convinced of their fielding ability. There certainly are good athletes in the team but all too often fielding displays are typified by lapses and a lack of aggression. I was genuinely surprised by how accomplished they looked in the field in this match; the ground fielding was tidy and the catching in the deep was really impressive. Shakib’s full-length dive and catch on the long-off boundary was the standout moment of the fielding display. Moving quickly to his left he expertly pouched a straight hit from Jonathan Carter that looked destined for the boundary boards. The handful of spectators in the stand behind Shakib had an excellent view of the catch, a reward for the grim weather that they had to endure.One thing I would have changed
The last time I watched these two teams play each other was six months ago. It was a grey and unseasonably cool day in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This prompted a good amount of grumbling from me. However, the weather conditions in Dublin were in an altogether different league. During my entire stay, I’m convinced the temperature never reached double figures. Biting winds coming off the Irish Sea coupled with skies in varying shades of grey made it for testing conditions.The players appeared to find it equally uncomfortable. The Bangladesh team were in several layers of clothing, including woolly hats and gloves during practice. During the game against Ireland Wolves, I even spotted the Bangladesh team management returning from a hastily arranged shopping trip with several bags of thermal clothing. They can only hope that the weather drastically improves. In any case, the conditions experienced in Ireland will certainly help them acclimatise and be ready to face the vagaries of the weather in the United Kingdom.I would also have changed the scheduling of the game. By playing a day after the Monday bank holiday, Cricket Ireland surely missed out on the prospect of more spectators filling the stands. Curiously all of Bangladesh’s fixtures in the tri-series fall on weekdays with Ireland and West Indies facing each other on the weekends. Perhaps it was felt that the West Indies players would draw in the crowds, but I noticed plenty of interest among the sizeable Bangladeshi community.Crowd Meter
As mentioned, the poor weather combined with the weekday schedule meant that only a very moderate number of spectators turned out. As the day progressed the few spectators that were in the stands became even fewer as they sought shelter from the increasingly oppressive chill.Marks out of 10
This was a surprisingly routine victory for Bangladesh and I enjoyed in particular their bowling and fielding display. The terrible weather was the only thing that detracted from my enjoyment. I’ll certainly be watching cricket in Dublin again, although next time I hope it will be in the mid-July heat!

In his first press conference, the new head coach singled out Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Kumara as potential world-class talents

Madushka Balasuriya05-Dec-2019Discipline, hard work, developing young talent, creating a unique brand of cricket. Mickey Arthur struck all the right notes in his first media conference as Sri Lanka head coach, but his optimism could turn out to be more than the usual new-coach bluster if SLC’s rejigged national coaching structure works out as expected.While all the spotlight was understandably on Arthur – arguably the biggest name to take over the national team reins in its history – a slew of other appointments made alongside points to more concerted long-term planning. While ESPNcricinfo had previously revealed the appointments of Grant Flower, David Saker and Shane McDermott as batting, bowling and fielding coach respectively, it can now be confirmed that Flower will also take over as head coach of the Sri Lanka A team.SLC has also appointed Tim McCaskill to the newly created post of head of national cricket development, with SLC’s former chief operations officer Jerome Jayaratne taking over as chief cricket operations officer.The posts of Jayaratne and McCaskill will be complementary. McCaskill will overlook the development of Sri Lanka’s youth, provincial, district, and women’s teams, while Jayaratne will be tasked with overseeing the development of the national, emerging, and A teams – all of whom will have access to Flower, Saker and McDermott’s expertise.The idea behind the restructuring is to ensure that players at all age levels are developed in a holistic manner so that the transition to the international stage is as smooth as possible. For Arthur, who was so effusive in his enthusiasm for developing young talent, the plans SLC had put in place did play a key role in his decision to take up the role.”Everything that I’ve seen so far has been very, very good. It’s been outstanding,” Arthur said. “It’s a whole new structure and a very unique structure – I think it’s pretty unique in world cricket. It’s why I prefer coaching internationally to coaching the T20 leagues, because you set up a programme for players 12 months of the year, instead of just walking into a T20 league, work there for a month, and you move on to the next gig.”The thing that really attracted me was that I looked at the talent that was available and that’s the key motivating factor. It’s coming to watch these young players and help these young players fulfil their potential. And it was great to be at training this morning, because the amount of talent that we have here is great.”Lahiru Kumara’s lbw appeal is turned down•Getty ImagesAmong the players available to Arthur will be Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Kumara, two men that he singled out as potentially world-class talents. Kumara has impressed with his express pace over the last year but is still raw, while Mendis more often than not has flattered to deceive, showing glimpses of his potential but frequently allowing outside criticism – mainly from social media – to affect his form. Arthur knows that his biggest task will be to make sure the players perform at the highest level more consistently.”In the past, I knew that if I performed the role to the best of my ability we’ll have longevity here, and we’ll have some success,” Arthur said. “And the success will be seeing Kusal Mendis become one of the best players in the world, it’ll be seeing Kumara become one of the best bowlers in the world. If I can get those players believing in themselves and getting better and better, that’s all I’m worried about because ultimately it’s going to lead to wins, lead to good performances.”The secret is hard work, there’s nothing else. When we go out on the training ground, we work hard, we train to get better. I always say the intensity that you train with is what you take into a game. Intensity is not a light switch, you can’t switch it on and off, you have to be at that level all the time.”While Arthur’s first task will be a return to Pakistan, the home of his previous employers, later this month, one eye will undoubtedly remain on the T20 World Cup in Australia next year. Arthur explained that his goal in the build-up to the tournament would be to identify and build an “effective” brand of cricket over the course of the next eight months.”I think it’s a very important time for us, we’ve got about eight months. And you can’t just a month before the event try and put a team together, so after that little T20 tour of India in early January it’s going to be a very important time for us. We’ve got to get a brand that we want to play, we’ve got to get a brand that we think is going to be successful in Australia, and then we’ve got to put the players around that brand and make sure we can then give them clarity, and give them opportunities, and stick with those players, give them consistency in terms of their selection.”And hopefully we can go there and do particularly well. But that’ll be an eight-month phase in order to try and get us to where we need to be.”‘I sit here being the best coach I can possibly be now’ – Mickey Arthur•AFPArthur also opened up on his time working with Australia, where his tenure ended abruptly after two years following a blow-out with several players in what has since come to be known as “Homeworkgate”.”That was an interesting time. I felt at that time that was what Australian cricket needed,” Arthur said. “It needed just to be pulled together just a little bit. And yeah, I took the can for it. But when people call it Homeworkgate, there’s a stigma to that that I don’t like very much. Because it wasn’t that. I’m not a guy that sets homework.”What it was, was them understanding what they needed to do to be professional cricketers. And understanding the sacrifice and the work ethic and the disciplines that go into being professional cricketers. And those are things that I never compromise on; you can never compromise on discipline, values, standards. And I was disappointed at that point in time because I felt the standards weren’t where they needed to be, and it almost needed a jolt to try and get it right.”Now if I sit back and think about it, it was far too drastic a move, but I felt it was the sane move. But if you ask me now would I do it again, I wouldn’t do it exactly that way but it needed that jolt at that time.”Following on from his Australian sojourn Arthur took over the Pakistan head coach role, and enjoyed three immensely successful years, which were soured by a poor run in his final few months in the job. Prior to taking over at Australia, Arthur had been head coach of South Africa for five years. Now a decade on from his first international coaching role, Arthur feels he’s at the peak of his powers, and is confident of taking Sri Lanka where they need to go.”I sit here being the best coach I can possibly be now,” Arthur said. “When I coached South Africa I was very young, we were a very young side sort of finding our way in the game, I had five very good years there. I had two years of Australia, first year was very good, second year wasn’t that great. And then I had three wonderful years with Pakistan. I loved every minute of working with those players, because very much like Sri Lankan players, they were very humble boys, they had great values, and to see them develop and fulfil their potential was fantastic.”The one thing I’ve learnt though is to just to have a look, understand the culture first and foremost, and then once you understand the culture and the environment, is then to get it going in the direction you want.”SLC has developed a reputation for parting ways with coaches at the first sign of trouble, and not without reason; Arthur is the 11th head-coach appointment since 2011. No matter how well-laid its plans may be, therefore, the challenge for SLC will lie in sticking to them.

From the town of Bhor to the global stage, this Captain America fan has made quite a journey

Sreshth Shah28-Jan-2020India U-19 allrounder Siddhesh Veer loves Captain America more than any other superhero. And he sees a little bit of the Marvel character in himself too.”He’s the oldest but also the smartest,” Veer tells ESPNcricinfo. “The other superheroes have a lot of power, but he? He has a lot of willpower.”He may not have all the superpowers, but he maximises his limited potential. Captain America appears to be the weakest, but he can extract the most out of himself. That’s why I like him, because I play with the same mindset. I am not the strongest, but whatever strengths I have, I know them, like backing my sweeps, scoops and cuts.”Veer is in South Africa with the national team under unusual circumstances. Two months ago, Veer was in Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy, recovering from a shoulder muscle tear. It had come at an inopportune time, just a few weeks before India’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup was to be announced. He had taken 20 wickets and struck three half centuries at the U-19 Challenger tournament that was held before the squad announcement, but the injury had dashed all hopes of Veer going to South Africa. Then came news that allrounder Divyansh Joshi had gotten injured, and in came Veer just a week before the World Cup began.His cricketing journey began in Bhor, 50 kilometres from the Maharashtrian city of Pune, at around the age of 11. Growing up, he was a star in his apartment complex. None of his friends could dismiss him, but his parents didn’t quite notice. They were busy at work, five days a week, and so it took an intervention from his neighbour to let the parents know how good he was.”My parents didn’t pay heed to the neighbour’s words at first,” Veer says. “I told my dad, ‘I want to go to an academy’, but he thought I was just throwing a tantrum, thinking I’ll forget about my cricketing ambitions after a few days. But when I started to cry, he finally gave in. There was no club in Bhor, but there was one in Pune, so he made me join an academy at the Nehru Stadium, where I would go on the weekends.”In the academy, they made me play in the senior group. I had no idea about the leather ball back then, but playing against really quick bowlers swiftly removed the fear within me. To continue playing, I had to settle in Pune. Things were getting serious and my father realised I had the potential, so we took a family friend’s flat on rent where he and I started staying.”

“In India, there are so many young players. But we 15 are here because we are consistent match-winners. That’s my aim. Whatever I need to do, at whatever batting position, to make the team win, I’m here.”SIDDHESH VEER

Father Ashok’s devotion towards his son impacted the Veer family significantly. A respected lawyer at Bhor, he had to take his son to training every day, so he told his clients he was no longer going to represent them. Veer’s mother, a middle-school teacher at a government school, took the onus of being the family’s breadwinner. While Veer and his father stayed in Pune, his mother Shraddha and sister stayed back in Bhor. All the sacrifice seemed to bear fruit as he grabbed headlines at the Challenger tournament, but then came the injury.”Since everyone’s taken my cricket so seriously, when I got injured, my whole family was affected,” Veer says. “I remember both me and my father talking to each other on the phone and crying together.”Before my shoulder tear, I was confident of making it to the squad because I had done well and the selectors had acknowledged my performances. But the injury before the Afghanistan series made things difficult. You know… guys like Prithvi Shaw have made it to the Indian team from the U-19 World Cup stage, so at that moment, I felt very sad.”At that stage, thoughts of giving up on cricket crossed my mind. I thought I can’t go forward, but my parents reminded me why I started playing cricket. To play for India, and not necessarily India U-19. The first week I was in rehab, but after that, I went straight back practice.”Rahul Dravid sir spoke to me a lot during my injury. He said that the U-19 isn’t the only route to make it to the Indian team. Asked me to continue giving my best for my state. And that ‘you never know what happens next. Don’t get demotivated.'”ALSO READ: The Rahul Dravid interview – U-19 World Cup is not the be all and end all of everythingNow Veer is a key cog in the Indian team. In their World Cup opener against Sri Lanka, the batting needed impetus to close out the innings with a blaze when the fourth wicket fell. The score read 234 for 4 in the 44th over, and Veer struck six fours and one six – including an outrageous reverse-sweep off a fast bowler – in his 27-ball 44 to lift the team to 297. His cameo deflated Sri Lanka, and India won by 90 runs.But Veer isn’t just a finisher; apart from being a handy offspinner, he can also bat anywhere, and successfully. In a quadrangular tournament in South Africa ahead of the World Cup, Veer showed his versatility. Against New Zealand in Durban, he scored a match-winning 71 as an opener and two days later struck a 37-ball 48 from No. 6 to help India beat South Africa in the final.”I used to be a regular opener,” Veer says. “When I first played for India U-19 in Trivandrum, I was playing as opener. After that, because I bowl offspin and score at a good strike-rate, they chose to keep in the middle order as a finisher. So I’ve always been fluctuating between opener and middle order. Once I realised my bowling is an asset, I started focusing more on my bowling. My selectors and coaches told me to work on my bowling because it’s an advantage for the team.Siddhesh Veer in action at training•ICC via Getty”If I have a set batting partner, then I have the license to go for the shots. I rely on my shots, the scoops, slogs. I play (carefree).”And if I don’t have a batsman at the other end, then I like to take it deep before slogging for the last three overs. In the death, bowlers either deliver full, short or slow. So I decide areas on the field for each delivery, and then back myself.”Whatever I play, scoops or paddles, the team has backed me, because these are my legitimate shot options. When you see AB de Villiers play them, it doesn’t prove you’re technically weak. At the end of the day, runs are what matter, doesn’t matter how you get them. I am equally strong at the straight drive and the scoop. At the death, you can’t just rely on sixes over the bowler’s head because he will vary things. And importantly, the shots – even if they look outrageous – are low-risk shots, because I’m playing them on the ball’s merit and the field.”In India, there are so many young players. But we 15 are here because we are consistent match-winners. That’s my aim. Whatever I need to do, at whatever batting position, to make the team win, I’m here. If regular bowlers aren’t doing well, and the captain reaches out to me to stabilise the innings, I’ll raise my hand.”Veer is the kind of player you can’t judge off the scorecard. He’s the team’s man for all seasons. You may not find him on the list of top run-scorers or wicket-takers, but ask anyone in the team, he’s a bonafide match-winner.

In need of an attacking overhaul, Manchester United could now reportedly offer Rasmus Hojlund in a summer swap deal to sign an instant upgrade for Ruben Amorim and his side.

Amorim bemoans Man Utd's attacking struggles

Manchester United’s attacking problems couldn’t have been summed up much better than just how much more dangerous Harry Maguire looked when leading the line compared to the likes of Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee against Nottingham Forest.

The central defender offered the physical presence that Zirkzee and Hojlund otherwise lack and even moved with the attacking intelligence both forwards have failed to show consistently this season.

Minutes

1,479

1,328

Goals

3

3

Assists

0

1

Expected Goals

3

4.5

Amorim is well aware of his side’s attacking struggles too, telling reporters when asked what needs to change after Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat against Forest: “Yes, because if you look at some games, we cannot create situations where they create. The opponent sometimes create more opportunities and today was not the case.

“They scored one shot maybe two shots at goal and we manage not to score again. We have to improve in the last third. We are improving the way we build up. We are pushing the opponents more to their half, but there’s a lot to be given.”

Man Utd now open to selling star to fund move for "world-class" £62m striker

The Red Devils could cash in on a first-team player, following a very disappointing performance against Nottingham Forest.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 3, 2025

That improvement, at this stage, looks unlikely to come by relying on Hojlund and Zirkzee which is destined to end in an attacking overhaul at Old Trafford. And whilst it remains to be seen just who arrives to solve Amorim’s problems, names such as Benjamin Sesko and Samu Aghehowa have already threatened to steal the headlines once or twice.

There’s no doubt that both would offer United instant upgrades, but there remains questions over their ability to lure such players to Old Trafford in current circumstances. Amid that doubt, the Red Devils have seemingly turned towards an option closer to home.

Man Utd could offer Hojlund in Mateta swap deal

Whilst Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled this season, Jean-Philippe Mateta has continued to thrive and may yet find himself on his way to Old Trafford as a result this season.

According to Football Transfers, Manchester United could even offer Rasmus Hojlund in a shock swap deal to sign Mateta this summer, landing an instant solution to Amorim’s attacking problems in the process.

Dubbed “amazing” by Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, the Frenchman has outscored United’s two struggling strikers in the current campaign with 12 Premier League goals to his name providing more than enough evidence of his quality.

With talks reportedly already open over a move worth €50m (£42m), INEOS could save themselves some vital funds by ending Hojlund’s Old Trafford nightmare and signing Mateta whilst doing so this summer.

It’s set to be all change this year in terms of left-backs at Celtic for Brendan Rodgers.

Neither of the Hoops’ current players in that position are contracted to the club beyond 30 June, more on both shortly, while a local hero is poised to return to Parkhead.

However, did Celtic let go the best left-back of them all for just £39k, after he never made a competitive appearance for the club?

The latest on Greg Taylor's future at Celtic

Following Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Hearts, manager Rodgers admitted that left-back Greg Taylor is likely to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract in June, stating “it’s probably more likely now that Greg will move on than stay”.

Rodgers added “we know we’ll need to have someone else if Greg moves on… which is a big shame for me because I love him”.

Davorin Olivari of Croatian outlet Jutarnji List has previously reported that GNK Dinamo Zagreb have ‘sent an offer’ to Taylor, seeking to snap him up on a free transfer, with this his most-likely destination at the moment.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Schlupp has usurped Taylor in the pecking order, starting the last four Premiership matches, as well as the away leg in Munich, albeit the Ghanian international’s future is up in the air too, given that he’s only on loan from Crystal Palace.

Regardless, Kieran Tierney is set to commence next season as Celtic’s first choice, having reportedly agreed to rejoin his boyhood club on a Bosman from Arsenal.

Of course, Tierney is undeniably a fans’ favourite in Glasgow, and his return will bring with it much fanfare once it is announced, but did Celtic sell an even more impressive left-back for just £39k?

Celtic's forgotten former left-back on fire in MLS

Back in January 2019, Celtic signed a 22-year-old defender by the name of Andrew Gutman from Indiana Hoosiers, after the American had been on trial at fierce rivals Rangers.

Gutman said he was “really honoured” to make the move, adding “I can’t wait to join Celtic and be part of such a storied institution.”

Well, unfortunately for Gutman, he did not play much of a part, never making a competitive appearance in hoops, loaned out to both Charlotte Independence of USL League One and then FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, before moving permanently to MLS outfit Atlanta United for only $50,000 (£39k) in General Allocation Money in March 2021.

Since then, Gutman has rather bounced around MLS, spending time at both New York Red Bulls and then Colorado Rapids, before joining the Chicago Fire ahead of the start of the 2024 season.

Back in his home state of Illinois, Gutman has really looked at home under Gregg Berhalter this season, scoring during victories over both FC Dallas and Toronto, earning rave reviews, including from Felipe Cárdenas of the Athletic, who labels him ‘incredible’.

So, let’s assess how his statistics compare to Taylor.

Taylor vs Gutman league comparison (24/25)

Statistics

Taylor

Gutman

Appearances

22

19

Minutes

1,598

1,257

Goals

0

3

Assists

6

1

Chances created

29

10

Passing Accuracy %

88.1%

76%

Tackles

34

32

Interceptions

13

17

Clearances

37

52

Blocks

1

16

Stats via Transfermarkt, Squawka & FBref

As the table outlines, during a similarly sized sample size, Gutman’s performances in MLS are similar to those of Taylor in the Premiership, with the American actually coming out on top when it comes to most defensive metrics.

Also worth noting that, according to Global Football Rankings, Major League Soccer is the ninth strongest division on the planet, with the Premiership down in 34th place.

So, perhaps letting Gutman leave for a small fee was a mistake, as he could’ve been an upgrade on Taylor had he been given an opportunity, especially considering Transfermakt believe his current market value to be around £586k, around 15 times more than he was sold for.

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Crystal Palace are now eyeing a move for a “sensational” midfielder, but there could be competition for his signature from a number of their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Palace keen on a midfielder amid Wharton uncertainty

Had Palace made a better start to the campaign, they could be major contenders for the Europa League this season, although they still have an outside chance of pushing for the European places, given their fantastic form over the past few weeks.

The Eagles are undefeated since February in the Premier League, picking up some impressive victories over the likes of Aston Villa and rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, so it is little wonder some of their key figures are starting to attract attention.

One such player is midfielder Adam Wharton, who has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, and should the 21-year-old leave this summer, Oliver Glasner will be tasked with bringing in a replacement.

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SC Freiburg’s Martin Rohl is one option for the south Londoners, having emerged as shock contenders for the 22-year-old, alongside Liverpool and Newcastle United, with the German potentially set to be available for £21m.

There is a clear focus on bringing in talented young players at Selhurst Park, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed Crystal Palace are eyeing a summer move for Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham.

However, a whole host of top Premier League clubs are also in the race for the 19-year-old, with Chelsea currently showing the strongest interest, so it may be a tough ask for the Eagles to win the race for his signature.

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund headline the interest from abroad, and a move to the latter club could appeal, given his older brother’s impressive stint at Signal Iduna Park, which earned him a move to Real Madrid.

"Sensational" Bellingham would be exciting addition for Palace

It remains to be seen whether the 19-year-old can go on to achieve what his brother Jude has in the game, but he has certainly been showing promising signs at Sunderland in the Championship.

The Black Cats are vying for promotion this season, and the teenager, who is thought to be valued at £20m, has been one of their key players, picking up four goals and three assists in 36 league games.

Not only that, but the young midfielder has caught the eye of journalist Josh Bunting, who previously lauded him as “sensational”, and his performances this season indicate he is now ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

It could be very difficult for Palace to win the race for Bellingham, particularly if European football is not on offer next season, but it would certainly appease Glasner if they secure a deal, given that the manager wanted the youngster last summer, indicating he is a fan.

Chelsea have now joined the race to sign an “unbelievable” defender, alongside two of their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Blues looking to bolster defensive options

As we approach the summer transfer window, it is becoming clear the Blues will look to bolster their defensive options, with AFC Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen of particular interest, having recently made contact over a deal for the 19-year-old.

However, with Real Madrid also interested in Huijsen, it could be tricky to win the race for the teenager, meaning the west Londoners may have to move on to other targets, with versatile Barcelona defender Jules Kounde thought to be among them.

Kounde could also be brought in to play at right-back, with Enzo Maresca also keen to strengthen in the full-back area this summer, despite already being relatively well-stocked in that position.

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Reece James and Malo Gusto are already on the books at Stamford Bridge, although Maresca’s side are arguably a little weaker on the opposite side of the defence, given that Marc Cucurella is one of the only options at left-back.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are seeking a solid alternative to Cucurella, and they have now joined the race for AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez, who is also a target for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

A huge transfer battle could be on the cards this summer, with Hernandez’s contract set to expire in 2026, which means AC Milan could look to cash-in this summer, although they may not hold out for a huge fee.

The “unbelievable” Frenchman’s valuation is around £30m, which seems like a reasonable figure for the left-back, given that he has proven himself in the Serie A over the course of a number of seasons.

"Unbelievable" Hernandez could be Cucurella upgrade

Cucurella has been impressive on the front foot at times this season, having picked up four goals and two assists in the Premier League, but there are signs Hernandez could be capable of providing even more of an attacking threat for the Blues.

The 27-year-old has amassed 34 goals and 45 assists in 256 appearances for Milan, while also ranking highly across some key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.10 (80th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

3.83 (98th percentile)

Progressive carries

3.34 (92nd percentile)

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson is a big fan of the France international, describing him as “probably the best” attacking left-back in the world, while members of the media have stated the defender has “incredible speed”.

Hernandez could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, and the Blues shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to sign him for the bargain fee of just £30m.

Whilst Leeds United have only managed to win one of their last five Championship matches, Daniel Farke’s side still remain on course to secure promotion come the end of the season.

The Whites sit second, just two points behind leaders Sheffield United, with striker Joel Piroe deserving a lot of credit for his performances in the first team throughout 2024/25.

The Dutchman has notched 15 goals in the league throughout this campaign, sitting as the club’s top scorer and second-highest in the division – highlighting his impact.

Jayden Bogle has also cemented his place at right-back in Farke’s side, featuring in 37 outings, with the £5m forked out for his signature in the summer now appearing to be a bargain.

However, high hopes were held for numerous players in recent years, with none of them able to feature at Elland Road anymore after failing to reach their full potential.

Leeds talents who failed to live up to their potential

Midfielder Lewis Bate joined Leeds in a £1.5m deal from Chelsea back in the summer of 2021, with high hopes of becoming a first-team regular in Yorkshire.

However, the 22-year-old would only make five appearances at Elland Road over a four-year period, before leaving on a free transfer and joining Stockport County last summer.

Cody Drameh was another player tipped to have a key role for the Whites as a youngster, having the potential to be a crucial player in the club’s backline after arriving from Fulham in 2020.

After just 10 first-team appearances and three separate loan spells, he also departed on a free transfer in the summer, looking to kick-start his professional career at division rivals Hull City.

The aforementioned pair aren’t the only players to fail to deliver in Yorkshire, with one other star sold after being unable to match the ambitions placed on his shoulders.

The former Leeds star who could’ve been their own Van Dijk

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been a leading talent in world football over the past few years, being a leading figure in the Reds’ success under various managers.

Many argue the Dutchman is the best centre-back of all time, winning eight major honours during his time at Anfield, including a Champions League title – helping him finish in the top three of the Ballon d’Or.

Stars like him don’t come around very often, but Leeds could’ve had their own version in the form of Leo Fuhr Hjelde, who was sold to Sunderland back in January 2024.

The 21-year-old originally joined the Whites from Celtic back in 2021, with the potential to emulate the success of Van Dijk given the praise previously heaped on him.

Former Ross County boss John Hughes tipped him to be “the next Van Dijk” before his move to Yorkshire – highlighting how impressive the addition of the defender was at the time.

Games played

10

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

78%

Chances created

1.2

Tackles won

1.2

Duel success rate

55%

Interceptions made

1.7

However, during his first two years at the club, he was restricted to just six appearances, unable to break into the side given their Premier League status.

An impressive loan stint at Rotherham United saw him return to the fold under Farke in 2023, but would only last six months before being permanently offloaded – joining the Black Cats in a £2m deal.

Whilst he’s only made 12 appearances this campaign, at the age of just 21 he still has bags of time to fulfil the hype that was placed on him as a teenager.

However, any success he will achieve won’t be for the Whites, with the club potentially living to regret their decision to sell him should he get anywhere near Van Dijk’s level.

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