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Sheffield United are now closing in on one of the biggest signings of the January transfer window so far, according to an update from reliable journalist Alan Nixon.

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The Blades face another hugely important Championship game this weekend, as they welcome Norwich City to Bramall Lane, having won 2-1 away to Watford in their most recent league assignment, prior to being knocked out of the FA Cup at home to Cardiff City last weekend.

Chris Wilder’s side go into the action just one point off top-of-the-table Leeds United and level on points with second-place Burnley, highlighting the importance of the match.

New signings in the January window could be essential, in order to give them the best possible chance of sealing a quickfire return to the Premier League, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain recently emerging as an exciting target – they are reportedly in talks with the former Arsenal and Liverpool man.

United have also been backed to complete the loan signing of Shea Charles, which would be a controversial transfer, considering Southampton have only just recalled him from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month.

Sheffield United leading race to sign attacker as fee agreed

According to Nixon on Patreon [via The Bladesman], Sheffield United have agreed a fee with Leicester to sign Tom Cannon, with a bid of £13m including bonuses accepted.

The Leicester City striker is a wanted man this month, with Sunderland among those who are interested in acquiring his signature on loan, but it looks as though the Blades are the clear favourites to get their man, as they now move on to try and agree personal terms with the player.

United fans will likely be buoyed by this update, considering Cannon is a young footballer with so much quality, being hailed by Liam Rosenior back in 2023: “I thought Tom Cannon was outstanding, one of the best we’ve played against by far.”

The Englishman has done well for Stoke this season, scoring nine goals in 22 Championship appearances, showing that he knows how to score at an impressive rate in the division.

Appearances

22

Minutes played

1863

Goals

9

Assists

1

Shots per game

2.5

Tackles per game

0.6

Key passes per game

0.5

Cannon is also now a two-cap Republic of Ireland international, making the step up to representing his country, and there is still so much more to come in his career.

For United, there are going to be tight games between now and the end of the season when one moment of attacking brilliance could turn a draw into a win. For that reason, snapping up Cannon for the remainder of the campaign could make all the difference in the promotion battle.

Sheffield United in talks to sign incredible ace who's better than Charles

Sheffield United could soon welcome in this star before the January transfer window is out.

1 ByKelan Sarson Jan 17, 2025

Should the young striker help inspire the Blades back into the Premier League, they could even look to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer window.

Manchester United are investigating claims supporters were pepper sprayed by police during their Europa League game at Lyon.

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Supporters became ill and dizzy after being sprayedFans also complained about pre-match treatmentClub trying to establish what happenedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Supporters reported vomiting, feeling dizzy and struggling to breathe after a substance was allegedly sprayed at them by police at the end of the Red Devils' 2-2 draw at the Groupama Stadium.

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Duncan Drasdo, the CEO of Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), told the : "It was the worst experience in terms of policing and restrictions on freedom in 34 years of European away football travel. It's totally over the top. The host club should not be given licence to host matches if they cannot guarantee the safety of away supporters."

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The chaotic scenes, which were filmed and posted on social media, came after fans also complained of over-zealous treatment by the French police, who obliged match-goers to travel to the stadium only by shuttle bus after collecting a wristband from the Eurexpo Conference Centre, located eight miles outside the city centre. However, problems with the metro service meant many supporters were unable to get to the buses on time, leading to scores of them missing the start of the game, with some not being able to access the stadium at all.

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Drasdo said "there are almost always problems with the French police" on European away trips. The French police were fiercely criticised for their behaviour during the chaotic scenes which overshadowed the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. On that day the police were filmed pepper spraying women and children with tickets while doing nothing to stop people climbing over the fences around the Stade de France and into the stadium.

Ange Postecoglou is expected to leave Tottenham regardless of whether his team wins the Europa League this season.

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Postecoglou set to leave Spurs at end of seasonEuropa League win will not be enough to save coachTottenham down in 16th place in Premier League tableFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tottenham have endured a miserable season and are set to part ways with Postecoglou even if he wins the Europa League, according to . Spurs sit down in 16th place in the Premier League table but could still end the campaign on a high by winning the Europa League. Yet time is running out for Postecoglou in north London and there is a "growing sense" he will depart at the end of the season even if he does secure a trophy.

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Tottenham will take on Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals of the Europa League, with the winners set to play either Manchester United or Athletic Club in the final. Postecoglou has spoken proudly of his record of winning silverware in his second season at clubs and remains on target to deliver again. But even if he does guide Spurs to European glory it's unlikely the trophy will save him from the sack.

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Postecoglou has admitted he has "no idea" if he will remain in charge of Spurs past the end of the current campaign, and an 18th Premier League defeat of the season on Monday against Nottingham Forest will have done little to help his cause. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva have both been touted as potential replacements should Postecoglou leave Spurs.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

Tottenham return to Premier League action on Sunday with a trip to Anfield to take on champions-elect Liverpool. Spurs then host Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, May 1.

Cameron Green, Tim David’s fifties in vain as India hunt down 187-run target

Deivarayan Muthu25-Sep-20221:54

Hodge: ‘It looks like Kohli has his mojo back’

Half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli trumped fifties from Cameron Green and Tim David as India chased down 187 and clinched the series 2-1 in front of a sell-out crowd in Hyderabad.Suryakumar got together with Kohli after Daniel Sams and Pat Cummins had bounced out KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma respectively. Whenever the bowlers hit the Hyderabad pitch hard, the ball either kicked up or stopped on the batters. Case in point: the first ball to Suryakumar, from Cummins, reared up from a back of a length and zipped away past his outside edge.Suryakumar, however, rose above the conditions and Australia’s attack, proving a potent point of difference in India’s line-up. He struck up a 104-run partnership off 62 balls with Kohli and disrupted the bowlers by manufacturing swinging room or jumping out of the crease.After Suryakumar ultimately fell for 69 off 36 balls, with India 53 away from victory, Australia staged a mini-fightback and dragged the game down to the last over in which the hosts needed 11.Kohli shovelled the first ball from Sams over long-on and holed out next ball for 63 off 48 balls. Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya, though, got the job done for India with one ball to spare.8:05

Rohit: ‘We still need to be more aggressive and clinical’

Green’s opening salvo
With the new ball sliding onto the bat, Green immediately teed off in the powerplay, muscling his way to a 19-ball fifty in the fifth over. Much like Suryakumar, Green often backed away outside leg and lustily swung at the ball. Only David Warner and Glenn Maxwell have hit faster fifties for Australia in T20Is.Green was responsible for 52 off the 66 runs Australia had scored in the powerplay. He once again unfurled his range against spin when he cracked Axar Patel for three successive fours in the fourth over, with the pick of those being a hard, flat sweep to the midwicket boundary.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had conceded 12 runs in his first over, however, returned to the attack in the next over and hid one away from his reach to have Green caught at backward point for 52 off 21 balls. Axar steps up once again
After being picked apart by Green, Axar got his arm ball fizzing against Maxwell and varied his pace well to make it even more effective. He had already dismissed Aaron Finch for 7 and claimed 1 for 31 in his three overs in the powerplay.Axar then returned to the attack with a double-wicket 14th over. He had Josh Inglis lobbing a catch to backward point and drew a return catch from Matthew Wade. Axar went over the wicket to the left-handed Wade, got a shortish ball into the pitch and had him spooning a punch back to him. Axar ended the series with figures of 8 for 63 in ten overs at an economy rate of 6.30. No other bowler got more than three wickets in the series.2:36

Has Tim David cemented his place in the Australia XI?

David’s end-overs bash
That Australia reached 186 for 7 from 117 for 6 was largely down to David’s big-hitting. In his first international series for Australia, David showed why he is in demand in franchise T20 leagues. Despite India posting fielders at both long-on and long-off for the most part, David took 27 of his 54 runs down the ground with Kieron Pollard-esque blows. When Bhuvneshwar marginally missed his yorker, David took him for 6, 6, 4 in the 18th over. Jasprit Bumrah, too, couldn’t control the damage, finishing with 0 for 50 – the most he has conceded in a T20I.The Suryakumar-Kohli show
India lost both their openers within four overs, but Suryakumar and Kohli quickly changed the mood and tempo of the chase. Both batters were proactive against legspinner Adam Zampa, using their feet and hitting him against the intended turn for sixes.Zampa could’ve cut Kohli’s innings short at 23 had he hung onto a tough return catch. Suryakumar soon overtook Kohli and surged to a 29-ball fifty. He then hit two sixes and a four off his next five balls and threatened to rush India home. Hazlewood and co. though applied the brakes and made India work hard for victory.India managed only one four and a six between overs 16 and 19, but Suryakumar’s early assault ensured the chase was always within their grasp.

Arsenal’s season continues to be full of ups and downs this year.

It looked like Mikel Arteta’s side were set to drop more points in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card saw them reduced to ten men.

However, the North Londoners rallied and came out in the second half as the better side, and when Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes’ was also sent off, they took advantage and all three points thanks to a goal from the returning Ricardo Calafiori.

Now, while it was an example of the Gunners’ impressive resilience, it was also another game in which Kai Havertz missed a couple of really good chances in front of goal, which has only further fueled discussions about the team’s need for a new number nine.

Fortunately, recent reports have touted one of the continent’s most informed marksmen for a move to the Emirates this month, although such a move would undoubtedly be bad news for the former Chelsea ace.

Arsenal offered in form striker

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are keen to add another striker to the squad this month and have been offered several potential options.

One of the options is Atalanta star Mateo Retegui, who has been in sensational form for the Bergamo-based side this season.

A potential price that the Gunners may have to pay for the Italian international is not mentioned in Bailey’s report, but stories from late last month revealed that offers in the region of €55m, which is about £46m, would be enough to get the Serie A side to come to the table.

It could be a rather costly transfer to get over the line this month, but given Arsenal’s acute need for goalscorers and Retegui’s impressive form this season, it’s one worth pursuing, even if that is bad news for Havertz.

How Retegui compares to Havertz

So, if Arsenal do stump up the cash and are able to get their hands on Retegui this month, then it seems unlikely that he would be joining just to sit on the bench and play the odd minutes here and there.

Instead, he’d almost certainly join with the intention of competing with Havertz for a starting berth up top, but who would come ahead?

Well, if we are judging them off their output this season, which is what matters most for a centre-forward, then it is a relatively comfortable win for the Italian ace.

For example, in just 29 appearances, totalling 1621 minutes, the “lethal” sharpshooter, as dubbed by Italian manager Luciano Spalletti, has scored 19 goals and provided four assists, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.26 games, or every 70.47 minutes, which is an absurdly impressive rate of return.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 29 has scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 31 appearances, totalling 2576 minutes, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 143.11 minutes, which is still impressive, but significantly less so than his potential competitor’s average.

Unfortunately for the Aachen-born forward, the one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers from this season.

For example, the Atalanta star comes out on top in practically every relevant metric, including, but not limited to, actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes received, shots and shots on target, goals per shot and shot on target, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.72

0.58

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

1.34

0.51

Progressive Passes

1.42

2.78

Progressive Passes Received

8.11

5.31

Shots

4.18

2.47

Goals per Shot

0.26

0.17

Shots on Target

1.65

0.98

Goals per Shot on Target

0.67

0.42

Passing Accuracy

75.6%

77.6%

Key Passes

1.42

0.77

Shot-Creating Actions

2.76

2.06

Goal-Creating Actions

0.63

0.10

Ultimately, be it through raw output or their underlying numbers, it is clear that Retegui is the more dangerous striker, at least this season.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the Emirates this month, as his prowess in front of goal could be the key to catching Liverpool.

He could revive Odegaard: Arsenal pushing to sign £120m "nightmare"

The unreal goalscorer would supercharge Arsenal’s attack.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 28, 2025

Jayawardene appointed head of performance for the three teams, Zaheer becomes head of cricket development

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Sep-2022Mahela Jayawardene has taken up a broader role at Mumbai Indians, as the franchise’s global head of performance. In his new position, Jayawardene will oversee the coaching and scouting at all the three teams the franchise owners now have – Mumbai Indians in the IPL, MI Emirates in the ILT20, and MI Cape Town in the SA20. Zaheer Khan, earlier the director of cricket operations, is now the global head of cricket development for the three teams.In a statement, the group said that the team management recognised the need for a central team at the helm of affairs because of the company’s expansion to “ensure consistency […] on ethos, values, and learning, that have made MI one of the most loved cricket brands across the globe”.ESPNcricinfo has learnt that the franchise will shortly unveil the new head coach for the IPL team, a job Jayawardene held since the 2017 edition of the IPL, overseeing three title wins.Related

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Big-hitting Tim David proves his worth

Elaborating on the roles and responsibilities of the two men who will be right at the top of the backroom staff, the statement said that Jayawardene would be involved with “overall strategic planning, the creation of an integrated global high-performance eco-system, as well as responsibility for each team’s coaching and support structures, working closely with the team head coaches to ensure synergies, a consistent brand of cricket, and implementation of best practices set by MI.”Jayawardene has already started work in his new role. Jayawardene was also involved in the process to identify the five direct acquisitions for the SA20 team in August.Calling the elevation “an absolute honour”, Jayawardene said he looked forward “to this new responsibility to build a strong cohesive global brand of cricket”.As for Zaheer, he would be “responsible for player development, building on MI’s robust programme around talent identification and grooming and adopting the same across geographies, which has been core to MI’s philosophy and success”.”MI has been home for me as a player and as a coaching team member, and now as we embark on a new journey, I look ahead to working closely with all the stakeholders in the global network to unearth new potential that can join the family,” Zaheer said.The streamlining of the top roles in the coaching staff came after the Mumbai Indians owners bought the two new teams.Mumbai Indians have been the most successful team at the IPL over the years•BCCI”I’m happy to have Mahela and Zak as part of our global core team. Both have been an integral part of the MI family and embody the spirit of the cricket MI stands for,” Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, the owners of Mumbai Indians, said. “I’m confident that they would be able to ensure the same flows through all our teams globally and make a difference in the cricketing ecosystems across the globe.”The ILT20 and the SA20 will both have their inaugural seasons in January-February next year. The owners felt that the changed circumstances needed one person in charge of the coaching arm globally, a role that best suited Jayawardene because of his extensive experience as an international player and captain, as well as a coach in franchise T20 cricket.In the IPL, Jayawardene has been the second-most successful coach after Stephen Fleming, who has been with Chennai Super Kings since 2009 and has won four IPL titles with them. The Jayawardene-Rohit Sharma [Mumbai Indians captain] combine has made three IPL playoffs in six seasons and, remarkably won the title each time. They are the only team with five IPL titles and the only team apart from Super Kings to successfully defend the title, in 2020.Jayawardene and Zaheer have worked closely since the latter joined the support staff at Mumbai Indians in 2018. In 91 matches since then, Mumbai Indians’ win-loss ratio of 1.289 has been the best among the original eight IPL teams. However, Mumbai have struggled for form and consistency in the last two seasons, and finished last in the ten-team event in 2022 where they won just four out of their 14 matches.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has personally earmarked a highly-rated forward as one of his top targets for the end of the January window, with NSWE responding by planning a late move for him.

Aston Villa open to making another January signing

Speaking ahead of Villa’s clash against West Ham United on Sunday, Emery hinted at the possibility of his side making another January addition, especially considering Diego Carlos has now sealed a move to Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbache.

Aston Villa set to make fresh bid for £25m Olympian after January talks

Unai Emery’s side have been in negotiations for another signing.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 25, 2025

Villa have already signed Donyell Malen in a £21 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, with Andres Garcia soon following the Netherlands international after putting pen to paper on a switch to the Midlands from Levante.

However, Carlos’ departure, alongside any other potential outgoings, could force Villa back into the January market – confirmed Emery on Friday.

West Ham United (home)

January 26

Wolves (away)

February 1

Ipswich Town (home)

February 15

Chelsea (home)

February 22

Crystal Palace (away)

February 25

“We are open to trying to improve the squad until the last moment, and as well, we are open in case someone is leaving,” said Emery.

“Of course, Diego Carlos left in the last week, and we have to replace him, and of course we are as well focusing on which players could be potential players to replace Diego Carlos.”

Some reports suggest that Villa are poised to submit a second January bid for Sevilla defender Loic Bade, following claims that they had a previous offer rejected and have been in talks throughout January.

However, Emery’s side are not just eyeing up new additions to their backline, as it is believed by some that another new forward accompanying Malen through the door is entirely possible as well.

Besiktas starlet Semih Kilicsoy could be that man, with the versatile 19-year-old attacker standing out as one of the Süper Lig’s brightest young talents over the last two campaigns.

The teenager can play out wide and up front as a natural striker, which may come as attractive for Emery. Kilicsoy’s form at Besiktas even prompted a call-up to Turkey’s national team squad for Euro 2024, where he briefly featured in their quarter-final against the Netherlands.

Aston Villa plan late move for Semih Kilicsoy after Unai Emery call

As per Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Villa are planning a late January move for Kilicsoy, coming after Emery personally identified the Turk as a top transfer target over the coming days.

He’s scored two goals and assisted six others in all competitions so far this campaign, but while these numbers aren’t exactly mind-blowing, Kilicsoy has been called one of Turkey’s most exciting ones to watch in recent years.

“I want to say that he will play for Beşiktaş for many years, but I don’t think we can keep him,” admitted Besiktas chief Feyyaz Uçar in an interview with Fanatik. “He is one of the most talented Turkish players in recent years,”

Tottenham were linked with a swoop for Kilicsoy after scouting him last year, as were other Premier League sides, so a move to England could be on the cards for him if Villa up the ante. However, it has also been reported that he could cost up to £25 million.

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor is "not concerned" about Lauren James' hamstring injury but has admitted she cannot put a timeline on her return.

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Chelsea boss Bompastor "not concerned" by James injuryBut admits there is no timeline for Lionesses star to returnAlso provides updates on Girma & Kerr fitnessFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

James withdrew from the England squad in between the Lionesses' two April fixtures against Belgium, having come off at half time in the first of those matches with a hamstring issue. Chelsea last week confirmed that the winger "will be out for a period of time" with the injury but did not specify how long for, raising concerns among England fans ahead of this summer's European Championships.

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James' absence has come at particularly tough timing for herself and Chelsea, too, as it meant the 23-year-old missed the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Sunday, which the Blues lost 4-1. As well as the second leg of that tie on Sunday, Bompastor's side have four Women's Super League outings remaining in their season, as well as an FA Cup final against Manchester United next month. It's unclear at this point if James will be able to be involved in any of these games.

WHAT BOMPASTOR SAID

On Tuesday, Bompastor admitted she couldn't give a timeline for James' return, but did say she wasn't "concerned" by the blow. "I think she'll come back quite well from that injury," she said. "It just takes time because hamstrings in women's football are sometimes quite big injuries, but I think Lauren will be fine. It's difficult to put a timeline [on it], because everyone is different and in the rehab I think everyone can react in a different way. But I'm not concerned about LJ. She will be back. It's just a question of time."

Bompastor was speaking in a press conference ahead of Chelsea's squad WSL clash with bottom side Crystal Palace on Wednesday, for which she confirmed the squad will be the same as the one that faced Barcelona. That is with the exception of centre-back Nathalie Bjorn, who will be "managed". Fortunately, that coincides with the return to fitness of Naomi Girma, who made her injury comeback at the weekend. "I don't think she will be fit enough to play 90, but she's fit enough to start the game, if she has to start," the Blues' boss added of the United States star.

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That means that Sam Kerr is still not back from her ACL injury, either. The striker sustained the devastating blow in January of last year and has been working through a long rehab ever since. When Chelsea added her to their Champions League squad ahead of the knockout stages, fans were hopeful that it was a sign that the Australia international was almost ready to return. However, when asked if Kerr will play at all this season, Bompastor couldn't be sure.

"It's a difficult one for me to say, because again, everyone is different," she said. "Everyone reacts differently. So Sam is progressing in her rehab but I don't have enough elements to say if we will see her this season. Hopefully, yes, but it's difficult for me to say."

Shikhar Dhawan to lead a side that does not include any of the players in India’s main T20 World Cup squad

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2022Batter Rajat Patidar and fast bowler Mukesh Kumar have received their maiden India call-ups for the three ODIs against South Africa. Shikhar Dhawan will lead the 16-man squad, while Shreyas Iyer has been named vice captain.The series gets underway in Lucknow on October 6, the same day that India’s T20 World Cup squad leaves for Australia for a preparatory camp. Barring Shreyas, Ravi Bishnoi and Deepak Chahar, who are part of India’s T20 World Cup campaign as reserves, none of the other players in the World Cup squad are part of the ODI series against South Africa.Related

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Mukesh's old-school virtues make immediate impact on India A debut

Patidar’s selection completes a fairy tale run to the India cap. He has been in top form since the IPL, where he scored 333 runs in eight innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate of 152.75. A month later, in June, he scored a hundred in the Ranji Trophy final, helping underdogs Madhya Pradesh upset Mumbai. Patidar’s golden run continued last month in the A series against New Zealand, where he top scored for India in the red-ball leg of the tour, with 319 runs in four innings including two centuries and a highest score of 176.Mukesh, on the other hand, comes in with limited List A experience but an impressive first-class record that includes a five-wicket haul on India A debut against New Zealand A. He finished the three-game unofficial Test series as the joint highest wicket-taker with nine wickets, and got his India call-up despite not having played the IPL. Mukesh was Bengal’s joint leading wicket-taker in the 2021-22 Ranji season with 20 wickets and has been among their best bowlers over the last couple of seasons.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe absence of the World Cup-bound Axar Patel and the injured Ravindra Jadeja means another chance for Bengal’s left-arm spinning allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed. He had his first stint with the Indian team on the tour of Zimbabwe in July but did not play a game. Shahbaz, like Patidar, was impressive for RCB since joining them in 2020. Over the past two years, he has also become a vital player for Bengal across formats.Gill, meanwhile, has an opportunity to further build on his burgeoning white-ball credentials. He has scored three half-centuries and a career-best 130, his maiden international ton, in his last six ODIs for India. Following the Zimbabwe series, Gill signed up with Glamorgan for a short county stint and his most-recent knock was a century against Sussex in a Division Two fixture.The ODI series is also an opportunity for Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson to put behind them their disappointment of not making the World Cup squad. Only a year ago, Kishan was seen as India’s reserve opener and he even played in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, but an underwhelming IPL followed by a series of low scores for India have pushed him back in the pecking order. Samson, meanwhile, is coming off a decent run of form for India A in the series he captained against New Zealand A.There are four changes to the ODI squad that made the trip to Zimbabwe in August. KL Rahul and Axar Patel are part of the T20 World Cup side and are missing, while Deepak Hooda and Prasidh Krishna are nursing injuries.India and South Africa kick off the ODI series in Lucknow on October 6, before playing the second and third matches in Ranchi and Delhi on October 9 and 11. The series is part of the ODI Super League.ODI squad: Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubhman Gill, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar

Ipswich Town have now made an approach to sign a “monstrous” Premier League midfielder ahead of the transfer deadline, according to reporter Alex Crook.

Ipswich in need of reinforcements

Ipswich’s 2-1 home defeat against Southampton at the weekend underlined the need to bring in some new additions before the transfer window closes, if they are to stand any chance of avoiding being relegated back to the Championship.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2-0 victory against Aston Villa leaves the Tractor Boys three points from safety, having lost their last four games on the spin, and they are now urgently working on bringing in some new options.

A £2m deal has been agreed to sign West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who is now travelling to complete his medical before signing a contract, but Kieran McKenna is also keen to strengthen in a number of other areas.

The report states Ipswich could also add a midfielder and striker to their ranks before the window closes, but only if they find suitable options, and they have now set their sights on a Premier League player to strengthen in the middle of the park.

Ipswich Town agree £2m deadline day deal to sign 6ft 2 player for McKenna

Ipswich Town’s transfer business is not over yet, as they eye a last minute deal.

1 ByBrett Worthington Feb 3, 2025

According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, the Tractor Boys have made an approach to sign Southampton’s Flynn Downes, who didn’t feature in the match at Portman Road at the weekend, with Ivan Juric hinting at a fallout.

However, the Saints have knocked back the approach from their relegation rivals, meaning McKenna may now have to move on to other midfield targets.

Downes could be a solid signing for Ipswich

Although the initial approach has been knocked back, there is still plenty of time for twists and turns before the transfer deadline, so it is not out of the question that Downes makes a return to Portman Road, having previously made 99 appearances for Ipswich.

There are signs the 26-year-old could be a solid signing, too, having received high praise from former manager Russell Martin during his time in the Championship last season: “Flynn has been monstrous. Physically he is a beast and he has so much composure on the ball. His teammates really appreciate the role that he has because it’s so tough being that guy.

“He is huge for us. He has really stepped up and been brilliant. He gives the team an edge and keeps the ball ticking over. He has aggression driving the ball forward. The next step for him is to impact games that way.”

Ipswich Town’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Aston Villa (a)

February 15th

Tottenham Hotspur (h)

February 22nd

Manchester United (a)

February 26th

Crystal Palace (a)

March 8th

Nottingham Forest (h)

March 15th

The £30k-per-week midfielder has a decent amount of Premier League experience as a result of spells with West Ham United and the Saints, making 39 appearances in the competition, and he ranks in the 95th percentile for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year.

At the moment, however, it seems as though Southampton have no interest in potentially strengthening a rival near the bottom end of the Premier League table.