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India fast bowler Shikha Pandey is set to represent Canterbury Magicians in the ongoing Women’s Super Smash 2024-25 in New Zealand, the club announced on Thursday. She will be the first player from India to play in the Super Smash.The six-team T20 tournament kickstarted on Thursday and will run till February 2. Magicians will be play against Otago Sparks in their opening game in Alexandra on Friday, with Laura Hughes leading the team.Pandey is fresh off her maiden stint at the WBBL, where she picked up 12 wickets in 12 matches for Brisbane Heat at an economy rate of under seven. A key bowling option with the new ball, Pandey was central to Heat finishing the competition as the runners-up. She also finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker for the side.Earlier, this year she also played for Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).Pandey last represented India at the T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa where she played only three games and took three wickets. She has been overlooked in the format since then with the Indian team management preferring younger crop of fast bowlers. Overall, she has 43 wickets in 62 T20Is at an economy rate of 6.49 and in ODIs, she has played 55 matches and scalped 75 wickets.Apart from Pandey, Australia’s Madeline Penna is the other overseas players in the Magicians’ squad this season.

Manchester City are aiming to reclaim the Premier League title this season and could take a step in the right direction if they can push their latest pursuit over the line, per reports.

Manchester City set to seal deal for James Trafford

Earlier this week, it was reported that Manchester City were in advanced talks to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, and it is now more of less confirmed that he will be on his way to the Etihad Stadium courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Taking to social media platform X, he stated: “More on exclusive story on James Trafford joining Manchester City: understand medical tests will take place early next week, main part on Monday. Man City to pay £27m fee to Burnley for the goalkeeper, as revealed.”

Now that the saga of bringing in a new goalkeeper is over, Pep Guardiola will be keen to swiftly move onto other targets and the Citizens are looking to bolster their backline.

In what would be a statement signing, Manchester City are preparing a £69 million bid for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, though the Catalan giants are said to be working on tying him down to an extension.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are among rival sides that have moved to strengthen their ranks ahead of the new campaign, laying the gauntlet down to Guardiola’s men after a disappointing campaign last time out.

Man City in talks to sign £34m PSG star, Pep once said he has "huge skill"

The Blues have stepped up their interest in a Paris Saint-Germain player, who Pep Guardiola rates very highly.

ByDominic Lund Jul 23, 2025

Undeterred by the challenge, the former Barcelona man could now look to sanction a deal to bring one of England’s brightest talents to the Etihad Stadium from one of their domestic rivals.

Manchester City make fresh Tino Livramento approach

According to TBR, Manchester City have made a fresh approach for Tino Livramento and would be willing to pay over £50 million to sign the Newcastle United full-back.

With three years left on his deal on Tyneside, the Magpies are keen to offer him a contract extension. Should he opt to remain in the North East, the Citizens could turn their attention to either of Juventus duo Andrea Cambiaso and Nicolo Savona.

Five similar players to Tino Livramento (FBRef)

Dennis Appiah

Saint-Etienne

Joe Scally

Borussia Monchengladbach

Destiny Udogie

Tottenham Hotspur

Pep Chavarria

Rayo Vallecano

Gideon Marsh

Auxerre

Labelled someone who is “developing into a top player” by legendary Premier League star Ashley Cole, Livramento registered a solitary assist in 45 appearances across all competitions last term as Newcastle secured Champions League qualification and won the EFL Cup.

Eddie Howe has no intention of selling the right-back this summer, but he is at the top of Manchester City’s shortlist, creating an intriguing scenario that may last the length of the window.

Time is of the essence as the league season draws closer, so it will be interesting to see if Guardiola and company can successfully progress in negotiations.

Newcastle United must act swiftly if they are to have a squad strong enough to compete in both the Premier League and Champions League next term.

So far, only Anthony Elanga has made the move to the Magpies this summer. That was an excellent piece of business, but more is required for Eddie Howe.

There has been no shortage of links, that’s for sure, but other clubs have beaten them to the punch for players such as Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitiké and Bryan Mbeumo.

Although adding another striker or two to the squad is a priority for the manager, there are other areas which could do with strengthening.

Newcastle's search for a new midfielder

The midfield area has not been earmarked for improvement, especially not compared to the attacking and defensive departments at the club.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s not to say Howe won’t consider a move for someone who could offer the right qualities, however.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are looking at the possibility of bringing Conor Gallagher back to the Premier League this summer.

That being said, the Toon face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, with Thomas Frank said to be an admirer.

The player’s agent has already started putting the feelers out to determine the midfielder’s options but he would ideally stay with Atletico Madrid if he had the choice.

The Atleti star could be available for around £50m, which might be tempting for Howe. The manager can call on several midfield options, but adding in Gallagher could be a wise move, particularly considering the former Chelsea man offers the same sort of qualities as Bruno Guimaraes.

Why Newcastle must sign Conor Gallagher

Guimaraes is the fulcrum behind this Newcastle side that not only won the League Cup last term, but also secured a Champions League place for the second time in three seasons.

He scored five goals and grabbed eight assists throughout 2024/25, and Howe will be looking for him to continue this fine form into next season.

Gallagher may have played 50 times for Atletico, but only 27 of those came from the starting XI. He has qualities similar to Guimaraes, however, especially when comparing their stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season.

That term, Guimaraes was the most comparable player, via FBRef, to Gallagher, and they both performed well.

Metric

Guimaraes

Gallagher

Goals

7

5

Assists

8

7

Big chances created

12

11

Tackles per game

2.4

2.3

Total duels won per game

7.7

5.7

Key passes per game

1.7

1.4

The pair also registered similar statistics with regard to goals and assists (12 vs 15), shots per 90 (1.38 vs 1.32), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.14 vs 3.94), tackles won (52 vs 53), successful take-on percentage (58.5% vs 54.5%) and touches in the attacking penalty area (79 vs 75) domestically that season.

On this evidence, Gallagher would be an excellent signing, offering Howe the all-round package in the middle of the park that Guimaraes also provides.

Not only can he contribute in the final third, but the Englishman is more than able to chip in defensively and help his team off the ball.

He was even hailed as a “machine” by former Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo, signifying how important he was to their style of play.

Will Howe be willing to shell out £50m for a midfielder when he is in urgent need of a striker and defender this summer? Only time will tell, but Gallagher would certainly be worth the money.

Newcastle send scouts to watch "electric" star who'd be their very own Gakpo

He has impressed with his end product of late.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 21, 2025

In only fourth match since taking the captaincy, Fatima Sana played a vital role with bat and ball

Valkerie Baynes03-Oct-2024

At one point, it looked like Pakistan had no business escaping Sharjah with victory.All out for 116 in a lacklustre innings where no one passed captain Fatima Sana’s ultimately crucial 30 in 20 balls, as she batted down the order at No. 7, and losing opening bowler Diana Baig to injury one ball into their defence, Pakistan looked well out of the match halfway through.But Sri Lanka had no response to their spin attack led by offspinner Omaima Sohail, who proved particularly tricky, keeping the ball low and extracting plenty of turn in taking 2 for 17. Nashra Sandhu also took two wickets and fellow left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal three, while Sana’s medium pace yielded two in a standout all-round performance from the young skipper.Baig took no further part in the match after breaking down during her run-up with what appeared to be an injury to her right calf muscle, which was already heavily taped, and Sana stepped in to complete her over.Related

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After changes in lifestyle, Fatima wants to be as quick as Ismail

All-round Fatima Sana, spinners give Pakistan a winning start

Pakistan had already been without Baig at the previous T20 World Cup in South Africa early last year after she fractured her finger shortly before the tournament, but on this occasion Sana said she believed it was just cramp and “she will be okay in the next match”.”When I got the captaincy I decided that I will lead from the front, so that’s the main thing I did today,” Sana said. “Unfortunately we got the early injury, I was under pressure at that time but and Muneeba [Ali] and Nida [Dar] told me that you have to come and do your work and so that’s the main thing because our whole team is banking on it.”At the age of just 22, Sana took over from Dar as captain in August. This was just her fourth T20 match in charge.She may have been quick to credit Dar and Muneeba for their support, but Sana’s captaincy caught the attention of opposite number, Chamari Athapaththu.”I would like to congratulate Pakistan captain, Fatima Sana,” Athapaththu said during the post-match presentation. “She played really good cricket and she is always leading from the front.”Meanwhile, ‘who else besides Athapaththu?’ has been a question following Sri Lanka around for a while now, their skipper enjoying an extended streak of form dating back to mid-2023. Since her unbeaten 80 off 47 balls against New Zealand in Colombo in July last year, Athapaththu has scored 928 runs in T20Is at an average of 44.19 and strike rate of 136.47, compared to her career strike rate of 110.77.And while it looked like it might be asked once more whether she would prove the difference when she took three pivotal wickets for just 18 runs, in truth, Sugandika Kumari had already gone some way to answering it by removing both Pakistan openers inside the first four overs of the match. Sugandika later returned to remove Baig, the eighth wicket to fall.Athapaththu took a wicket in the powerplay and two more in as many balls as Pakistan stared down the prospect of being bowled out inside their 20 overs. They reached the end but only just as Udeshika Prabodhani – who also finished with three wickets – removed Sadia, caught by Gunaratne at mid-off, with the last ball of the innings.When Athapaththu effortlessly scythed Sadia’s third ball to the boundary through point, Sri Lanka fans could have been forgiven for thinking victory would be swift. But that feeling fell away in the third over of the run-chase when Sana struck, luring Athapaththu to attempt a lofted drive which went straight to extra cover.As Sri Lanka wickets steadily tumbled – only Nilakshika Silva (22) and opener Vishmi Gunaratne (20 off 34) reached double figures – the run rate never fired and what might have been had Athapaththu stayed in became a question once more.Vishmi admitted the Sri Lanka batters struggled with the low, slow Sharjah pitch and the lack of pace from Pakistan.”It wasn’t easy to adjust to the conditions,” she said. “It was low pitch and they didn’t give pace to us and it was very difficult after this.”Both sides will expect to face sterner tests in the coming days. Sri Lanka play defending champions Australia next, back in Sharjah on Saturday, and Pakistan will play India in Dubai on Sunday.

Manchester United’s hunt for new attacking reinforcements has been evident over the last couple of weeks, with the hierarchy making key moves in the transfer market.

Matheus Cunha has already arrived at Old Trafford in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking to provide the firepower needed within the final third.

Bryan Mbeumo is another player who’s been firmly on their radar over the last couple of weeks, with multiple bids already being made for the Brentford talisman.

The Cameroonian international has stated his desire to join Ruben Amorim’s side this window, but he could still stay with the Bees if his asking price isn’t met during the off-season.

However, despite the interest in his signature, moves are being made elsewhere this summer to try and provide added depth and quality in the final third.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Given the tally of just 44 goals scored in the Premier League last season, United have been desperately hunting for a new talisman to lead the line in 2025/26.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Victor Osimhen and Moise Kean have all been touted with moves to the Theatre of Dreams, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of the aforementioned stars.

However, a new name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, in the form of free agent forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to Sun Sport.

The 28-year-old is currently without a club after leaving Everton at the end of his current contract, with the Red Devils already making contact with his representatives, as per the report.

It also states that Amorim is a keen admirer of the attacker with a surprise move on the cards this window in an attempt to add depth to the current forward line.

Why United’s latest target could be Weghorst 2.0

Wout Weghorst joined United on loan back in the 2022/23 season, looking to provide squad depth in the front line during the Erik ten Hag era at Old Trafford.

The Dutch international made 31 appearances for the Red Devils during his temporary stint, scoring just twice and leaving the club – leaving at the end of his short-term stint.

He struggled to capture the hearts of the fanbase during his spell at Old Trafford, often missing numerous gilt-edged chances, as seen by his tally of four big chances missed in the Premier League.

However, a deal for Calvert-Lewin could see a repeat of a move for the 32-year-old, with the Englishman possessing a similar frame and skillset given their target man role.

The former Toffees star has previously been a top-level Premier League forward, with his best season coming back in 2020/21, where he managed to net 21 goals across all competitions.

Such form led to him being labelled as just “like Cristiano Ronaldo” by former teammate Richarlison, but it’s safe to say he’s failed to replicate such levels in the last couple of years.

He’s only managed 18 goals in the last four seasons, often struggling with injuries and only making more than 30 appearances in one of those campaigns.

Games played

26

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

63%

Passes made (per 90)

9

Successful dribbles

0.5

Times dispossessed

1.8

Aerials won

49%

Chances created

0.3

When delving into the stats he’s produced in recent seasons, they showcase how much he’s struggled, with his potential move to the Theatre of Dreams one they desperately need to avoid.

Calvert-Lewin would likely also command a hefty pay packet if he were to move to the club, earning an estimated £100k-per-week in his last season at Goodison Park, according to Capology.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils need another striker this summer if they are to push up the table in 2025/26, but it’s evident that he’s not the man to fill the void.

A deal for his signature is reminiscent of that for Weghorst from a couple of years ago, with the hierarchy needing to pursue alternative targets to hand the manager the tools and ambition for success.

Bad news for Bruno & Amad: Man Utd want to have deal "finalised by Monday"

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to another summer addition for Ruben Amorim.

13 ByEthan Lamb Jul 5, 2025

Is it set to be a busy summer at Celtic?

After missing out on the treble, beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Hoops are expected to heavily reinforce their squad this summer.

Well, with a crucial Champions League play-off tie circled in red on the calendar, taking place at the end of August, Brendan Rodgers will want his summer business to be done early, so are the Premiership champions about to land a new recruit?

Celtic targeting a new midfielder

Defenders are certainly the order of the day for the Celts this summer with Kieran Tierney’s return to Parkhead one of Scottish football’s worst-kept secrets.

However, the full-back isn’t the only player who could be closing in on a move to Paradise according to reports.

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Celtic have ‘opened initial talks’ to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

They outline the fact that the 20-year-old spent this season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, and the Portuguese club have an option to make this move permanent for €5m (around £4.2m).

However, given interest from Celtic, as well as Lille, Rio Ave are preparing to make a quick profit on Tıknaz, placing a €10m (around £8m) price-tag on his head.

So, would he be a good signing for the Scottish champions, and which former Celt is he reminiscent of?

Demir Ege Tıknaz: the next Nir Bitton?

Writer Ryan McGinlay believes that Tıknaz’s ‘resemblance in play-style to Nir Bitton is uncanny’ and, should he arrive, if the Turkey international had even half as successful a Celtic career, he’d be doing well.

Bitton signed from FC Ashdod in 2013 and would remain at Celtic for nine years, making 271 appearances and winning 18 major trophies.

Naturally a defensive midfielder, the Israeli international would frequently fill in at centre-back too, with Kieran Devlin of the Athletic praising Bitton’s ‘reading of the game’ and ‘composure in possession’, with Joe Sullivan labelling him ‘versatile and highly reliable’.

So, could Tıknaz be something similar?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Turkiye U21 international ‘reads the game well’ allowing him to ‘step up and intercept​​​​​​​’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’, adding that he possesses a ‘decent passing range’ too.

Meantime, in an interview with Sarah Shephard of the Athletic, Tıknaz​​​​​​​ himself says he has a similar playing style to that of Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker… I can play box-to-box too”.

Well, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, the Turkish youngster is one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, so let’s assess his statistics in the Primeira Liga this season.

​​​​​​​

Worth stating first and foremost that, according to a study by Bernd Frick, Tommy Kweku Quansah and Markus Lang, the Primeira Liga is one of the ‘least balanced leagues’ in European football, so the fact that Tıknaz was playing for Rio Ave, who finished 11th, makes his statistics all the more impressive.

The Turkish midfielder ranks highly for metrics both in and out of possession, sat third when it comes to interceptions, while also registering noteworthy numbers when it comes to his pass completion percentage as well as passes into the final third.

Thus, all available evidence suggests Tıknaz is a high-quality, high-potential player, one that Celtic should absolutely be looking to snap up.

​​​​​​​

Celtic could strike for "excellent" 85-goal hero who wants Parkhead return

The Bhoys are on the lookout for more firepower.

5

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 7, 2025

In an attempt to weaken their top-five rivals, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly readying a big transfer play to sign a Manchester City star who’s not short on potential suitors.

Leicester clash now a must-win for Nottingham Forest

After one win in their last five Premier League games, Nottingham Forest are in danger of derailing their season at the worst moment possible, with just three games remaining to claim Champions League qualification.

A 1-1 draw against Brentford last time out at least ensured that they avoided three consecutive defeats in all competitions, but Nuno Espirito Santo will be well aware how important victory against Leicester City is this weekend.

The Nottingham Forest manager told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “We are always aware of the quality of our opposition, and this is the responsibility of the players no matter what situation the team is in.

“Both sets of players are going to give their all, and as long as we are the better team, we should be proud. We expect a tough match and it’s an East Midlands derby and it means a lot for all of us at the club.

Nottingham Forest believe they can sign "exceptional" £50m star this summer

The Tricky Trees are keen to sanction reinforcements.

BySean Markus Clifford May 10, 2025

“Looking back at our last game, we insist we have to be more clinical, improve on set pieces, create more and defend properly. Everything we have done during the week we have to bring to the game. This is what we have to evaluate if we’re going to the fundamentals that we want to.”

What Champions League qualification would do for Nottingham Forest in the transfer window this summer cannot be overstated, especially as they reportedly go in pursuit of signing one particular Manchester City midfielder.

Nottingham Forest readying McAtee move

According to The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest are now readying a big transfer play to sign James McAtee from Manchester City this summer. The midfielder is reportedly keen to leave the Etihad in pursuit of a starting place elsewhere, opening the door for those at the City Ground to make their move.

That said, Forest aren’t alone in the race for his signature. Reports have also revealed that the likes of Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in the City graduate and see him as an ideal player to replace Florian Wirtz.

Of course, the advantage that the Bundesliga club have is that Manchester City are one of the reported clubs chasing a deal to sign Wirtz this summer.

Described as “talented” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, McAtee is likely to have a decision to make when the summer transfer window arrives. However, whether that ends with a move to Nottingham Forest remains to be seen.

West Bromwich Albion are now considering a move for an “unbelievable” manager as a replacement for Tony Mowbray, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

West Brom searching for Mowbray replacement

West Brom were in a strong position to reach the Championship play-offs for much of the season, but they endured a torrid run of form during the business end of the season, with the Mowbray era coming to an end after a 3-1 home defeat against Derby County.

Ultimately, the Baggies ended up finishing in ninth place, four points below the top six, which indicates a play-off finish could be possible next season if they appoint the correct successor to Mowbray, and they have a number of potential options in mind.

Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason has been reported to be the top target, while the Albion board could also look at bringing in Steve Cooper or Russell Martin, who are both out of work after being sacked by relegated Leicester City and Southampton this season.

Their own Parker: West Brom looking at "outstanding" Cifuentes alternative

West Bromwich Albion look to have a new top candidate to replace Tony Mowbray.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 5, 2025

It could make sense to bring in a manager with Premier League experience, but with West Brom looking to secure a top-six finish next season, there may be nobody better suited to the task than Stockport County boss Dave Challinor.

According to EFL Analysis correspondent Graeme Bailey, West Brom are now considering a move for Challinor, who may be capable of leading The Hawthorns outfit to the top six, considering he has never finished outside the play-offs in his career.

The Stockport manager has been shortlisted by the Baggies, having caught the eye by leading his side to a third-placed finish in League One this season, while also leading the Hatters to promotion from the National League and League 2.

"Unbelievable" Challinor could be exciting appointment

The 49-year-old is yet to manage a club the size of West Brom, but he has managed to impress everywhere he’s been in the lower leagues, achieving a total of seven promotions and most recently leading Stockport to League 1.

Wrexham may dominate the headlines, but what the former Tranmere Rovers man has achieved at Stockport is just as impressive, with his side finishing third in their first season in League 1, just five points below the Welsh side.

The Chester-born manager, who often deploys a 3-4-1-2 system, also received high praise for his achievements during his time with Hartlepool United, leading them to promotion from the National League in 2021.

It would be a gamble to appoint Challinor, given that he has no experience as a manager at Championship level, but his stellar record of leading teams to the play-offs indicates he could be an exciting appointment for West Brom, who will have aspirations of returning to the Premier League next season.

India’s batting not living up to its potential in the first innings has been a recurring theme in 2024-25

Sampath Bandarupalli03-Jan-2025185 India’s total on Friday is the second lowest by any team in the first innings of a Test match in Sydney since 2001. The lowest was 127 all-out by Australia against Pakistan in 2010.8 All-out totals of 185 or less by India in Tests in 2024-25, the joint-most such totals for any team in a Test season. Five other teams also had eight totals of 185 or less in a season.