His eight sixes were also the joint-highest by an Indian batsman in a Test innings
Bharath Seervi15-Nov-201912 – Number of innings taken by Mayank Agarwal to score two double-centuries in his Test career. Only one batsman has played fewer innings to achieve the same. Vinod Kambli made his second double-hundred in just his fifth innings, in 1993. Sir Don Bradman made his second double century in his 13th innings. Mayank scored his maiden double-century against South Africa in Visakhapatnam last month.ESPNcricinfo Ltd8 – Sixes hit by Agarwal, the joint-most by an India batsman in a Test innings. He equalled Navjot Sidhu’s eight sixes against Sri Lanka in Lucknow in 1994. All of Agarwal’s eight sixes were off the spinners. Six of them came after he stepped out of the crease. He stepped out nine times in the innings, collecting six sixes and two fours from those deliveries.96 – Mayank’s control percentage in this innings. He was in control of 317 of the 330 balls he faced. It is the highest control percentage in a 200-plus Test innings in the last 10 years among batsmen batting in the top five. The other three India batsmen who scored fifty-plus – Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravindra Jadeja – also had control percentages of at least 94.
Highest control% in an innings of 200+ runs in Tests in last 10 years (top-5 batsmen)
Batsman Score Control% Opposition Venue YearMayank Agarwal 243 (330) 96.06 Bangladesh Indore 2019Shivnarine Chanderpaul 203* (372) 95.96 Bangladesh Dhaka 2012Tom Latham 264* (489) 95.70 Sri Lanka Wellington 2018Kumar Sangakkara 319 (482) 94.81 Bangladesh Chattogram 2014AB de Villiers 278* (418) 94.73 Pakistan Abu Dhabi 2010407 – Runs scored by India on the second day of this Test, in 88 overs. Overall, the batsmen had a control percentage of 94.54 in the day. Out of 531 balls, they were not in control of only 29. The most runs India have accumulated in a day’s play is 443, on Day 2 of the Brabourne Test against Sri Lanka in 2009.4 – Successive Tests in which India have had at least one batsman scoring a double-century. In the three Tests of the South Africa series, Agarwal, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made a double each, and now Agarwal has continued the trend into the fourth Test of the home season. It is the first such instance for India. In 2016-17, India had three consecutive Tests with a double-centurion: Kohli and Karun Nair in the last two Tests against England, and Kohli against Bangladesh.
At the end of a year mostly spent out of the Sri Lanka team, he’s made a potentially series-defining contribution
Andrew Fidel Fernando in Karachi20-Dec-2019There is almost a novel here. A talented wicketkeeper from the southwest gets spotted by a big Colombo school in his teens. Goes on to lead that school to their best season ever. He quickly gets picked up by the national squad, and at first glimpse of this guy, the public is enchanted. He’s organised, but there’s also that manic fun of a schoolboy. He swings so hard at the ball his limbs could go flying off. By 23, he is Sri Lanka’s T20I captain – their youngest ever.So far, the Dinesh Chandimal story is a two-bit paperback.Brace yourself, because here come the twists, the complications, the conflicts, the intrigue, and the nuance. Halfway through his first World T20 campaign, Chandimal is relieved of his captaincy is and ditched from the XI altogether, because he’s not making runs. Officially he steps down voluntarily, but in actual fact, the team management and senior players put an apologetic arm around his shoulder and give him no real choice: “Let the big boys take it from here, Chandi.” Sri Lanka would then go on to win that tournament.In subsequent years, as a weakness against the bouncer reveals itself, and he gets haphazardly thrust into batting positions he is unsuited for, he is at one point pulled out of a Test squad mid-series and packed off overseas to play in a Sri Lanka A tour. Later he is told by a selector to go back to domestic cricket.But the currents of Sri Lankan cricket are as fickle as they are volatile. They can pull you gasping into roiling waters, but just as abruptly they can wash you right ashore. So in mid-2017, long after he has traded his spirited schoolboy aggression for a dour, Test-match stubbornness, he gets handed the Test captaincy. At first it goes okay – a Test series win against Pakistan in the UAE, which no other team had accomplished in seven years. But then eventually, and perhaps through no major fault of Chandimal himself, the dangerous currents are at him again. There are series losses at home against England, and away against New Zealand and Australia. By mid-February this year, he has not only been dumped as captain, he has been axed from the Test squad entirely.Of all the crazinesses of Sri Lanka’s year, one of the strangest images is of Chandimal watching Sri Lanka’s series in South Africa on television. He’s their only batsman with more than 10 Test centuries. He averages over 40, when no one on that South Africa tour does. And yet, there he is at home, for the second time in his career, forced to watch a team he was just captain of surging to an all-time great triumph without him.Dinesh Chandimal struck a crucial fifty•Getty ImagesHis year has been even stranger than the team’s. For nine months, he didn’t appear once for Sri Lanka, in any format. In August he was picked in the Test squad to play New Zealand, but was running drinks, not earning a place in the XI. On his return to Tests, in Rawalpindi, he got that unplayable ball of the match from Mohammad Abbas – one further kick in the gonads. Such has been his luck, it was almost a surprise the selectors didn’t take the opportunity to drop him for his two-ball duck.The 78 on Friday invoked so many pages of the Chandimal story. There was first the inflexibly defensive Chandimal circa 2016-2018, as he played out 14 run-less balls first up. Off his first 20 deliveries, he only had one run. Just when you began to be convinced this was going to be one of Chandimal innings – like his 62 off 195 against Pakistan in Dubai, or his 27 off 83 against West Indies in Port of Spain, a sudden, rasping slash past gully off Shaheen Afridi, and then a flayed cover drive off Mohammad Abbas next over. Could this be a re-awakening of that Chandimal, the one who once came into a hopeless match situation against India, in Galle, and smoked 162 off 169 – an innings of pure anarchy to turn the Test. It is difficult to believe not just that these two Chandimals can inhabit the same body, but that these two types of innings could be produced by the same species.There were tussles with the short ball. The Chandimal of 2014 just yearning to unleash that wild and often fatal hook shot that saw him bounced the moment he came to the crease for at least a year of his career. There were pokes outside off stump, the kind he’d tried to iron out of his game with batting coach Marvan Atapattu all those years back. Like much of his career, Chandimal was doing just enough to survive without ever truly blossoming.He’d scratch around, looking like any moment he would offer a nick to any one of the quicks. Then out of nowhere, one of those manic, hard-swung drives, like the disdainful, top-of-the-bounce shot through cover off Abbas that got him to fifty. A few overs later, against Naseem Shah, he reeled off three boundaries in five balls, through square leg, then point, then another one through cover. As with his career, the only thing that didn’t bring him much trouble was spin.For a Test side that has spent so much of 2019 looking completely out of their depth, and yet somehow repeatedly hauling themselves towards respectability, Chandimal’s day-two innings was a near-perfect fit. Without him, Sri Lanka might have conceded a first-innings deficit. Thanks to him they have a decent chance. What the knock will personally mean for Chandimal – whether it will shore up his place, whether a second-innings failure will put him on the rocks again with the selectors, whether the selectors themselves get dumped and the new set promote Chandimal to a position of leadership yet – those chapters, in a wildly spiraling story, all that is yet to be written.
Can teams afford to go all-out to buy back their players? Is there a premium on certain skillsets? And how old is too old?
Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Sundararaman11-Feb-20229:32
Runorder: Who will be the most expensive player in the 2022 IPL auction?
Could this be the most open IPL auction? While all ten franchises have varying purses, none of them have enough of a core around which they can build the rest of their squads. There are no right-to-match cards, which in the past had allowed teams to retain as many as five players and complete the rest of their squads at the auction. This time, several quality overseas players are also absent. That will put the focus on the Indian talent pool, which remains vast in terms of numbers. The marquee set is small, and some of the most-wanted players will arrive in later sets. The IPL 2022 auction is certainly going to test the planning and strategy of franchises like never before. Here are some key pointers they will pay attention to, as they prepare to raise the paddle.Should teams go all out to rebuild their core? Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders have each retained the maximum allowable limit of four players. The comfort pill of a right-to-match card doesn’t exist anymore, with two new teams added to the IPL. This means teams now need a Plan B, which could include spending more money for a player they want to buy back.Take Mumbai for example. Ideally, they would want to procure the wicketkeeper-batter pair of Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan, who were among their best performers in the 2018-21 period. But while de Kock is in the opening set of marquee players, Kishan is listed in the fourth set as player No. 32. A safe move would have Mumbai pick one of the two. In either player’s case, though, Mumbai may need to spend big money as both are potential big buys, with ESPNcricinfo experts predicting Kishan to be the auction’s most expensive buy. But if Mumbai were to not bid high for de Kock to keep their purse healthy for Kishan, it would be a big gamble, since more than one rival franchise could still have a stronger purse than Mumbai’s, and they might end up missing out on both.Ishan Kishan and Quinton de Kock are both likely to be in high demand•BCCISimilarly, for the Capitals, four of their core group of players from last season – R Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan and Kagiso Rabada – come in the marquee set while Avesh Khan is slotted at 85, in set 10. All these players along with the retained four played key roles in Capitals making their first final last year. Both Mumbai and Capitals have smaller purses in INR 48 crore and INR 47.5 crore respectively. While they could both bid aggressively for one of their former players, they would be wise to acknowledge that rival franchises would want those same players, which will automatically raise their prices. Also both these franchises should expect rivals to up their bids solely to eat into their purses. Understanding and recognising patterns of rival teams in past auctions, and being willing to pick a back-up option in case the first choice player crosses the amount reserved for him will ensure teams stay ahead of their rivals.Is a fat purse a clear advantage? Not really. Take Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who will walk into the auction with the top two purses at INR 72 crore and INR 68 crore respectively. Punjab have retained just two players – one capped (Mayank Agarwal) and another uncapped (Arshdeep Singh). They are starting from scratch, almost.Related
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The building blocks of a good auction strategy
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FAQs: All you wanted to know about the IPL 2022 auction
While they could show keenness to buy virtually every player in the top sets, they could potentially burn their cash quickly if they overspend on a player or two. For Sunrisers, having failed to retain a proven matchwinner in Rashid Khan, they will want to seek a replacement. But if they were to bid hard for, say Yuzvendra Chahal, they would still need to wait for Set 6 where the India legspinner is listed as Player No. 47. And there is no guarantee they will bag Chahal, with plenty of other franchises expected to show interest in him too.The other challenge for Sunrisers is that while they have retained three players, two of them are the uncapped Abdul Samad and Umran Malik. Just like Punjab, they will need to buy players up front, which is likely to bring down their purse by the time Chahal’s name is put up for bidding. Instead, one potential solution could be to bid for Ashwin as their lead spinner, with the India allrounder also capable of being the back-up captain for Kane Williamson.How should the budget be spent? The unique challenge in big auctions for franchises is splitting the purse among all the roles and players they want. When you look at the roster, those who are likely to attract the maximum value are wicketkeeper-batters, Indian quicks and spinners.There are seven teams who could do with an Indian wristspinner, but among the first 55 names in the auction, there are just four. The franchises who miss out on these four players could struggle to find a wristspinner of the same pedigree. So one approach could be for teams to spend a lot of their budget up front to get the best possible players for the roles they want, and then pick up bargain buys as back-ups. This is where player scouting becomes very important. If franchises can identify a few skillsets and players that can be obtained at base price, they can spend more early on in a targeted manner. Teams need to focus on obtaining their first 11-15 players as much as possible from the first few sets, due to a lack of options down the pecking order. The price points at which a franchise can buy the top five players in each skillset could almost be 2-3 times what they would pay to get the next five in the same skillset. As a result, expect teams to spend almost 90% of their budgets on their first 11 players. If all teams think similarly, then the players are the ones likely to gain the most as bids shoot up.Yuzvendra Chahal and Deepak Chahar both offer premium skill-sets in short supply•AFP via Getty ImagesHow valuable are established Indian players? Teams like the Super Kings, the Knight Riders, the Capitals and Mumbai have figured out that the best template to build a successful squad is to build a strong core of Indian players. But are there enough Indian players for all roles and for all teams to have that core of five or six players? Right now, not so much. Therefore, with more teams chasing fewer players, franchises will have to pay a premium. Teams such as Mumbai and Super Kings don’t have the reputation of breaking the bank for certain players, but they may be forced to bid huge this time around. Proven performers such as Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi could fetch high prices with more teams chasing their skillsets. Similarly, there a sheer lack of spinners and wicketkeeper-batters in the auction roster, and that increases the prices of those skillsets. With an eye on the future, teams could also look at investing in a few Indian youngsters who could come at a much lower price. Don’t be surprised if most Indian players rake in a lot more money than you expect.Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar – still worthy? These three players have not just won matches, but have helped their franchises win IPL trophies in the past. But these three, along with other senior players like Amit Mishra, Piyush Chawla, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa and Ishant Sharma, are not only on the wrong side of 30, but have struggled with fitness and form issues. Most of these players have also listed their base prices at the maximum, but are they worth that amount? Is the experience worth it?It’s a difficult question to answer, but experience, as the Super Kings have shown, can help you walk out of difficult situations. If Faf du Plessis was among their best batters last season, Uthappa played the most important knocks in the qualifier and final. While Uthappa was traded from Royals for INR 3 crore, du Plessis was bought for just INR 1.6 crore. Expect franchises to keep these examples, and many others from previous seasons, in mind, and not look at age in a simplistic manner.
With the Premier League still yet to be decided, Liverpool still need to win four games to claim the title after only a second league defeat against Fulham yesterday.
Arne Slot’s men simply weren’t at the races, unable to produce the performance that they have done so many times over the last couple of months, which has led them to the summit of the division.
The Reds will be hoping to make amends against West Ham United next week, aiming to close in on a first league title since Jürgen Klopp’s triumph back in 2019/20.
Despite the heights achieved during the Dutchman’s first year at the helm, the showing against the Cottagers was one of the worst of the campaign with countless players way off the pace.
As a result, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see various players dropped from the starting eleven, with changes needed to prevent such a defeat from occurring in the near future.
Liverpool’s poor performers against Fulham
Curtis Jones has been forced to operate at right-back in recent weeks after the injuries suffered by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley – doing an admirable job against local rivals Everton.
However, the same can’t be said for his showing in the capital yesterday, contributing to an error that led to a goal, whilst also failing to win any of the two tackles he entered.
He wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with Dominik Szoboszlai producing one of his worst displays in recent memories, uncharacteristically so given his rise under Slot.
The Hungarian failed to create a single chance for any of his teammates, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he contested, ultimately being a passenger during the loss.
Despite the showings from the aforementioned players, one other star failed to deliver, with the manager needing to offload him when the summer transfer window opens.
The Liverpool player who’s become the new Fabinho
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho was a fan-favourite during his time at Anfield, starring in the heart of the side and making over 200 appearances during his five years as a Red.
fabinho-liverpool-premier-league
However, his last season on Merseyside was one to forget, falling way below the expectations he’d set for himself given the heights he achieved after helping Klopp’s side win the league title.
He would leave in a £40m deal to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023, with one player potentially suffering the same fate in the form of left-back Andy Robertson.
The Scottish international will go down as one of the biggest bargains in the club’s history, making over 300 appearances and notching 66 assists after joining for just £8m back in 2017.
Whilst he’s achieved some impressive performances over the years, he’s rapidly declined in recent months, with the club targeting Milos Kerkez as a replacement this summer.
Liverpool's AndrewRobertsoncelebrates after the match
The 31-year-old once again failed to impress against Fulham, also making an error leading to a goal before being replaced with just eight minutes remaining.
He also failed to complete any of his attempted crosses, coming out on top in just 50% of his tackles and being dribbled past once in the process.
Minutes played
82
Touches
59
Crosses completed
0/2
Tackles won
1/2
Possession lost
10x
Dribbled past
1x
Errors leading to goals
1
Robertson also lost possession 10 times during the defeat and was unable to produce the goods as he did during his early days as a player on Merseyside.
As a result of his showing, he was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by The Express’ Jack McEachen, with fellow journalist Lewis Steele labelling his showing as “awful”.
Given his age, it’s likely that he’s going to continue declining over the next couple of years, with Slot needing to offload him this summer to allow for fresh blood in the backline.
He’s been an incredible servant to the club, helping them win countless major honours, but ultimately his showing against the Cottagers was further evidence that he’s unable to cut it at the top level.
Kane & Alvarez hybrid: Liverpool open talks to sign "world-class" striker
Liverpool are looking to replace Darwin Nunez in the transfer market this summer.
Turning their attention towards the summer transfer window and navigating any PSR concerns, Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race to sign a South American wonderkid.
Aston Villa facing PSR concerns
As successful as the Villans have been on the pitch, that success may well come at a price amid concerns over profit and sustainability. Those at Villa Park haven’t been afraid to spend big in recent seasons, but after making losses of more than £105m across the last three campaigns, they are in danger of breaching PSR rules, according to reports.
After Chelsea decided to sell their woman’s team to a sister company in an attempt to comply with the rules and find a loophole, Aston Villa seem to have taken note and are now looking at selling similar stakes. Whether criticised or not, it would be quite the way to avoid any punishment.
Amid such problems, meanwhile, Champions League qualification may prove to be more important than ever if Villa want to ease their concerns and avoid having to sanction frustrating sales.
Aston Villa make contact to sign fast African attacker who loves an assist
He’s a youngster in demand.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 5, 2025
The Midlands club already sold Jhon Duran for big money during the January transfer window before welcoming Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on loan, but should look to avoid a repeat of such a departure this summer.
Al Nassr'sJhonDurancelebrates with Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo after the match
Whether that’s in their hands remains to be seen, however. What hasn’t helped ease their concerns is David Ornstein’s recent report that Morgan Rogers is among those attracting big admirers ahead of the summer transfer window. It’s a narrative that Aston Villa must put to bed as soon as possible before turning their focus towards signing one particular star.
Aston Villa set sights on South American talent Rayan
Whilst Aston Villa must spend wisely if they are to spend this summer, one young forward slots into the category of players they should be able to afford in the coming months and one they should do everything to avoid missing out on. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Rayan from Vasco da Gama.
The 18-year-old winger has attracted plenty of attention from interested parties in the Premier League, with Villa joined in line for his signature by Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Described as a “physical, bulldozing forward” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Rayan is still just 18 years old and a player who looks ready to complete his first move into European football.
Unai Emery rarely needs to convince players about his Aston Villa project these days, and Rayan should be no different. Like others before him, the forward would thrive under the Spaniard.
A Rangers manager target is now ready to make his return to the dugout, with those at Ibrox keen on a move, according to a fresh update.
Rangers manager rumours ramp up
The 49ers Enterprises look set to be the ones tasked with appointing a new permanent Gers manager this summer after agreeing a deal in principle to take over in Glasgow.
Barry Ferguson is in charge until the end of the season and has done his chances of landing the job on a full-time basis no harm, especially with impressive performances in Europe and against rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
However, Ferguson isn’t the only name on Rangers’ manager shortlist. Former Newcastle and Everton boss Rafael Benitez was one of the early names mentioned, and recently, ex-Southampton manager Russell Martin and Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior have both been linked with a move to Scotland.
Bye-bye: "Fragile" £416,000-per-year Rangers player now set to leave Ibrox
He’s set to be axed ahead of the 2025/26 season.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 16, 2025
Steven Gerrard has also been mooted with a possible return to Glasgow after leaving Rangers for Aston Villa back in 2021. Things didn’t work out for the 44-year-old in the Midlands and, after an 18-month spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq, Gerrard is currently without a job.
Talking recently, Gerrard said he wasn’t looking to return to the dugout just yet, saying: “I don’t want to be back in work, not at the moment. I’ve just come out, so I am happy waking up, being free, doing the family stuff and being free from the stress.
“I will go back in at some point but when it is round the clock for 18 months, I just want to be free and do normal things that you can’t do when you are coaching like a game of golf or go down the boozer. I want to do normal things that you can’t really do when you’re coaching, so I am all good. I’m good and stress free. I’m out of work in terms of the coaching and management, which is obviously 24/7.”
However, it now looks as if the attacking 4-3-3 boss is willing to return to the dugout ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Steven Gerrard ready for return to management with Rangers keen
Talking to EFL Analysis, reporter Graeme Bailey provided an update on Southampton’s search for a new manager. One of the Saints’ targets is Gerrard, and Bailey added that he is also on “Rangers’ list”, with the ex-Ibrox boss now “ready to return to the UK”.
“Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are both on Southampton’s final shortlist to be their new manager. The two England legends have been on Southampton’s radar for the last few weeks and both are in their sights.
“Lampard only took over at Coventry earlier this season, but has impressed in his short time with the club and it is believed Southampton would be an option he would consider.
“Gerrard, who is on Rangers’ list to return to Ibrox, is out of work following his stint in Saudi Arabia and is ready to return to the UK – we understand.”
Games
192
Wins
124
Draws
41
Losses
27
Players used
65
Average goals scored per game
2.12
Average goals conceded per game
0.72
The former Liverpool midfielder guided Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title back in 2021, their first since 2011, so it is easy to see why the 49ers have their eye on Gerrard, and a move looks like one to watch following this update.
The Southampton hierarchy have now spoken to a 4-3-3 style manager as a possible alternative to the heavily linked Eric Ramsay, according to a recent report.
Latest on Southampton’s search for a new manager
It is now 11 games since the Saints tasted victory, as they were once again beaten over the weekend, this time by Fulham, who came from one goal down to win 2-1 in the final minutes. Southampton are already heading to the Championship, but with four games remaining in the Premier League, they are looking to eclipse Derby County’s lowest ever points tally in the top flight.
But the club’s hierarchy are going to use these coming weeks to find a new permanent manager, with several names being mentioned to the vacancy. Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl is someone who has been linked with a move to Southampton on a couple of occasions, and he is among the names the club are interested in, but they do face competition from fellow relegated side Leicester City, who are also keen on Rohl.
Former Rangers and Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is also on the Saints’ managerial shortlist, but it remains to be seen if he is interested in managing in the Championship.
Al Ettifaq coachStevenGerrardand Demarai Gray
Sky Sports have also reported that former Chelsea and Manchester United coach and current Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay is in the hunt to become the new Southampton manager. Ramsay’s ability to speak French and Spanish has made him an attractive proposition.
Southampton hold talks with Lens boss Will Still
But the list of options that the Saints are currently evaluating doesn’t stop there, as according to TalkSPORT, Southampton have held talks with Lens manager Will Still about becoming their new manager.
The report states that the Saints have met with Still and have held talks over their managerial vacancy but are not going to rush into any decision and will take their time over making an appointment. As well as speaking to Still, Southampton do also hold an interest in former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner and current Coventry City boss Frank Lampard, while it states that Gerrard is not under consideration.
Still, who prefers to play an attacking 4-3-3 style as manager, joined Lens in the summer after having an interview with Sunderland over becoming their new manager. His move to Lens came after impressing with fellow French side Stade Reims, where he was manager for two seasons, averaging 1.44 points per game in 64 matches.
Games
34
Won
14
Drawn
6
Lost
14
Points
48
Points per game
1.41
Still is very early into his managerial career, and except for being a manager in Preston North End’s academy in 2011, he has no experience of managing in England. However, given how well he has done in France, the Saints will hope his managerial pedigree can help him fit into the Championship and build an exciting team to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Leeds United are currently preparing for their final match in the Championship, hopefully for a long time, against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday.
The Whites can hit 100 points in the second tier for the first time in their history with a win against the Pilgrims this weekend, which will also confirm their position as champions of the division.
Daniel Farke’s side hammered Bristol City 4-0 last time out at Elland Road to set themselves up for a chance to hit a century of points in their final match.
Leeds will be beginning to think about how they will prepare for a season in the Premier League next term, as they aim to avoid an instant relegation back down to the Championship.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkecelebrates after the match
The official confirmation of Ipswich Town’s relegation from the top-flight last weekend means that all three newly-promoted sides have gone straight back down in the last two seasons, which illustrates the difficulty of the task ahead for the Whites.
Recruitment will need to be spot on from the club to give Farke and his staff the best possible chance of avoiding relegation, and signing loanee Manor Solomon could be one of the first bits of business on the agenda.
Why Leeds should consider signing Manor Solomon
The Israel international is currently on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season, which means that the clash with Plymouth this weekend could be his last outing for the West Yorkshire outfit.
TEAMtalk recently reported that the Whites are planning to pursue a permanent deal for the former Fulham star, and that Spurs are open to cashing in on the winger in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Leeds may look to press ahead with a swoop for the 25-year-old dynamo because of his impressive form in the Championship this season, as he has displayed his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Whites.
The Spurs loanee has been particularly impressive in recent weeks, during the business end of the campaign, with a return of two goals and five assists in his last five matches in the second tier.
Appearances
38
xG
7.93
Goals
9
Big chances created
21
xA
9.08
Assists
12
As you can see in the table above, Solomon has been directly involved in 21 goals in 38 appearances in the Championship so far this season, which speaks to how influential he has been in the final third for Farke throughout the campaign.
This is why he could be an excellent addition to the squad ahead of promotion to the Premier League, as the Spurs loanee could be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch.
Leeds lining up move for 33-goal star
Leeds, however, could land an even better signing than Solomon if they can win the race for their latest reported transfer target in the summer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to The Boot Room, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs lining up a move for Celtic winger Daizen Maeda to bolster their attacking options.
The report claims that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool have been keeping tabs on the Japan international, who has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season.
Daizen Maeda
It also reveals that Aston Villa, Brentford, Leeds, Crystal Palace, and West Ham United are among the other Premier League clubs interested in a deal to sign the Celtic superstar in the summer transfer window.
The Boot Room adds that the Scottish Premiership sensation is set to be available for a fee in the region of £25m, which means that he will not come cheap, and Leeds must push to win the race for his services because he could be an even better signing than Solomon.
Why Daizen Maeda could be an even better signing than Manor Solomon
Both Maeda and Solomon are right-footed forwards who predominantly cut in from the left flank and attempt to impact matches with goals and assists on a regular basis.
The Celtic star has racked up a staggering 33 goals and 11 assists in 47 games in all competitions, including four goals in nine Champions League matches.
Solomon, on the other hand, has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 40 matches in all competitions for Leeds, which immediately suggests that Maeda could offer more consistent quality, particularly as a goalscorer, for the club next season.
It is not only their quality in possession that should be taken into account, however, as the Whites are going up to the Premier League knowing that the last six teams have come straight back down, which means that they will have to do plenty of defending and are likely to be on the back foot in plenty of matches.
With this in mind, the Celtic star could be an even better signing than Solomon because of the work that he puts in out of possession to be a positive for his side defensively, whether that be tracking back to help his full-back or in counter-pressing situations.
38
31
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.1
1.7
Dribbled past per game
0.6x
0.5x
Clearances per game
0.1
0.3
Aerial duel success rate
0%
40%
Aerial duels won per game
0.0
0.5
As you can see in the table above, Maeda offers more than the Leeds loanee from a defensive perspective, with more tackles, interceptions, and clearances made per game, whilst being dribbled past less often.
Maeda, who has been described as a “machine” by coaches, can also defend the back post when dropping in to help his full-back out, as shown by his aerial duels won, whereas Solomon struggles a lot in those situations.
Daizen Maeda
Therefore, Leeds could be better of pursuing a deal for the Celtic star, despite there also being a lot of reasons why Solomon could be a great addition, because of his potential to offer more than the Spurs loanee both in and out of possession in the Premier League next season.
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With Vitor Pereira having resoundingly guided the Old Gold away from any relegation danger, the goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers now will be that their Premier League campaign doesn’t peter out on a poor patch of form.
Wolves have now lost their last two games in the elite division, but amazingly, the West Midlands side still find themselves above both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in 14th position.
Pereira would have found the task of turning around Wolves’ fortunes a lot trickier if he didn’t have the explosiveness of Matheus Cunha at his disposal, with the Brazilian now a wanted man heading into this summer’s upcoming transfer window.
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Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils are seemingly the frontrunners for Cunha’s in-demand signature at this moment in time, despite finding themselves below the Brazilian’s current employers in the league standings.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhareacts
Indeed, writing for the Athletic lately, the reputable David Ornstein reported that “Man Utd will seek to get personal terms in place” having already “made an offer”.
Cunha would certainly ramp up the entertainment levels at Old Trafford if a move were reached, with the South American superstar helping himself to a sizeable haul of 17 goals and six assists across all competitions this season.
At points this campaign, it could be argued that the “sensational” forward – as he’s been labelled by Micah Richards in the past – has been a one-man machine for his side in their bid to stave off any relegation worries, meaning he could well struggle when he’s not the main focal point in a more pressurised environment.
Well, it’s safe to say that’s been no problem for a former Wolves flop…
Wolves flop is now a bigger name than Cunha
Cunha walked away from Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in 2023 having failed to set the world alight in Spain, culminating in Cunha picking up just seven goals and eight assists from 58 appearances.
Therefore, it could occur that the 25-year-old struggles if the Theatre of Dreams comes calling. But, in the curious case of Vitinha, the glitz and glamour of Paris St. Germain has ended up being a perfect location for him to thrive and grow after a forgettable loan stint at Molineux during the 2020/21 season.
vitinha-wolves
Vitinha would only pick up one goal and one assist from 22 unmemorable Old Gold displays, but the silky number 17 has been strutting his stuff for some time now in the French capital to put any lingering Wolves demons to bed.
He has never looked back since hammering home this first-ever effort for PSG in 2023, with a further 17 goals and 11 assists being tallied up across his three-season stay to date, helping Luis Enrique’s giants reach a deserved Champions League final.
24/25
49
7
2
23/24
41
9
5
22/23
48
2
4
The former Porto man’s standout second season at the Parc Des Princes even saw a Ballon d’Or nomination come his way, amidst talk from his own manager in Enrique that he was an “incredible” asset to the dominant Ligue 1 force.
Whilst Cunha does find himself deep in a spectacular patch of form currently, it’s not a given that the hot-headed attacker will be a rip-roaring success story away from the confines of Molineux, considering he also only lasted around 50 games at past employers RB Leipzig, when offering up an average output of nine strikes.
Whereas, when assessing the £50m-rated Vitinha at this point in time, there could be even more to come still from the Portuguese livewire under Enrique’s wing, with a Champions League medal to follow not the wildest shout.
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West Ham United have come forward to sign an “outstanding” striker, who is now likely to leave his club in the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Hammers set sights on striker after Forest defeat
Graham Potter would have been hoping the 2-0 victory over Manchester United would give his side the platform to have a strong end to the Premier League season, but his side fell to yet another defeat on Sunday afternoon, with Nottingham Forest prevailing 2-1 at the London Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen, who has been one of the only bright sparks for the Hammers this season, was once again on the scoresheet, netting his 12th Premier League goal of the campaign, with the England international featuring as a striker.
Bowen’s output this season indicates he could be capable of remaining the first-choice centre-forward in the 2025-26 campaign, rather than moving back out wide, with Potter currently short on options in that area of the pitch.
West Ham United's JarrodBowencelebrates scoring their first goal
However, with Michail Antonio now 35-years-old and Niclas Fullkrug failing to make an impact in his debut Premier League campaign, it could be wise to bring in another striker this summer, and a forward with top-level experience has now entered the frame.
According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), West Ham have now come forward to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is set to leave the Italian side permanently this summer, upon returning from his loan with AC Milan.
A deal will not be easy, however, with Abraham setting his sights on a move to a ‘top-tier club’, despite his recent struggles, and there are doubts over whether he would be tempted by a move to the London Stadium.
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In truth, the 27-year-old is unlikely to be in a position to be too picky about his next club, given that he has hardly set the world alight in the Serie A this season, picking up just three goals and five assists throughout the campaign.
The Englishman could get his career back on track by moving back to his native country, however, and a move to the London Stadium could be a good fit for all parties, with Potter currently lacking options in the striker department.
Despite his recent struggles, the “outstanding” former Chelsea man also has a lot of experience at the top level, having made 22 appearances in the Champions League, winning the competition during his time with the Blues.
As such, Abraham, who cost AS Roma £34m back in 2021, could be a solid signing for West Ham this summer, should he be willing to change his stance and move to a club of the Hammers’ stature.