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Leeds United could have a genuine chance of signing a player with a £50 million valuation on a permanent deal, according to reporter Phil Hay.

Leeds eyeing promotion push…

Following their relegation last term, Leeds could've collectively been forgiven for finding themselves in a difficult place regarding morale this season; nevertheless, Daniel Farke has made a positive impact at Elland Road and has formed a side that looks likely to contend for promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

In their last six matches, Leeds United have won five and lost one, with their only defeat coming against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium in late October, leaving the Whites with 28 points from their opening 15 league fixtures. Ipswich Town occupy second place in the Sky Bet Championship as they continue to go from strength to strength under Kieran McKenna however, making it a difficult task for the Whites to gain access to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Continuing to build momentum will be key for Farke and company, who will be keen to ensure his side claim three points at home to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday to close the gap between themselves and the Tractor Boys.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Farke isn't underestimating Plymouth Argyle's threat, as he stated via BBC Sport: "We have to be more spot on for this game than we were for the Leicester match. For me, two situations in the season are really important. One is when you have a setback, how you react. We have had this already this season and we have reacted in a good manner with performances and results."

Now, The Athletic journalist Hay has indicated that the 49ers could be in with a chance of being able to land a high-profile player on a permanent deal at Elland Road.

Leeds could land Joe Rodon in permanent deal

Speaking on the Square Ball Podcast, Hay has suggested that Leeds could land loanee Joe Rodon on a permanent deal despite initially being told when enquiring about the Wales international in the summer that he would cost in the region of £50 million.

Joe Rodon's statistics in 2023/24 for Leeds United – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

12

Goals

0

Assists

0

Hay stated: "I don’t think that’s at all unlikely (Rodon joining permanently). I don’t know about January, but I think at some point in the future. Given the way he’s played, he looks like a very steady addition.

"When Leeds first got in touch with Tottenham about him, they were told he would cost £50million, that was his asking price. Leeds said ‘Listen, we just can’t do that, so thank you very much and goodbye’. Then Spurs got back in touch to say ‘Actually, you could just have him on loan for a season'.

"I would have thought, the way he’s played so far, that he’ll be very much in Farke’s mind as someone who would be an advantage to keep beyond this season."

Making an average of 3.8 clearances and 1.3 interceptions per game in the Sky Bet Championship, Rodon looks to be a solid piece of business from Leeds and signing him on a permanent could be a very wise move if the price comes down a touch (Rodon statistics – WhoScored).

It's a time of change at Rangers following the dismissal of Michael Beale, and the subsequent arrival of Philippe Clement to guide the Gers back into Scottish Premiership title contention. The former AS Monaco manager has a difficult task on his hands, but will be keen to make his mark in Scotland, and achieve what Beale, ultimately, failed to at Ibrox.

The Belgian will likely have an eye on the January transfer window right away, with reinforcements necessary if he is to mould the current Rangers side into his own. Clement could yet be helped by one particular off-field addition, too, with reports suggesting that Rangers have made their first move.

What's the latest Rangers news?

On the pitch, Rangers will be hoping to get off to the perfect start under their new manager, with their first game after the international break coming against Hibernian. As things stand, the Gers are seven points adrift of table-toppers Celtic, having already suffered three defeats in the Scottish Premiership this season.

It has become apparent that the business completed in the summer hasn't worked out as well as it could have done, resulting in questions over recruitment. The latest Rangers news suggests that those at Ibrox are attempting to solve their off-pitch issues, however, with an approach made for Brighton & Hove Albion head of recruitment Sam Jewell to become their new technical director.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Jewell is considering the proposal, but is not convinced about leaving Brighton at the highest point in their history. The Seagulls, of course, are flying in the Premier League, and earned a place in the Europa League for the first time in their history after an excellent campaign last time out. Welcoming Jewell would certainly help solve some of Rangers' problems, though it remains to be seen whether the Brighton man will accept the role.

Who is Sam Jewell?

Making the move to Brighton in 2018 after initially working as an opposition scout for Newport County and a chief scout for Swindon Town, Jewell's rise has been almost as impressive as the Seagulls'. He has played an important role in the work done off the pitch to make Brighton into the recruitment machine that they have become, which has seen players like Moises Caicedo thrive before leaving for large fees.

Jewell is the exact type of person that Rangers could do with when it comes to identifying players, given their relatively small budget compared to others around Europe. The Brighton man could unlock similar gems to those he has helped bring to his current club, before helping them to ensure an incredible profit.

It would represent a major coup if Rangers were to land the 34-year-old, who has helped to transform Brighton in the Premier League by identifying talent from the likes of South America. As things stand, however, with the Seagulls at their highest point in history, and Rangers contrastingly struggling, it remains to be seen whether Jewell will make the move to the Scottish Premiership. It would certainly be an impressive move from the Gers, that's for sure.

Adil Rashid has shot back at critics, in particular former England and Yorkshire captain Michael Vaughan and the Yorkshire county, after his selection in England’s Test team drew flak. He thinks Vaughan’s comments are “stupid” and “do not matter”, and he is hurt by Yorkshire’s expression of disappointment, which might lead him “to think about the future in terms of which county I play for”.Most of the criticism, though, has been aimed at the England selectors for giving Rashid a Test comeback in “unique circumstances” even though the legspinner had turned his back on red-ball cricket for Yorkshire. Rashid had a good ODI series against India, including bowling India captain Virat Kohli with a sharp legbreak. Rashid is the second spinner alongside Moeen Ali in the squad for the first Test. Both Dominic Bess and Jack Leach, who played Tests for England after Moeen and Rashid had been dropped, were overlooked.In his column in , Vaughan called Rashid “unprofessional” for not making himself available for Yorkshire when “he knew he had a good chance of being picked” for the Tests.Rashid responded belligerently, saying it was not his fault he was offered a place in the squad. “There has been a lot of hoo-ha. I don’t see what the big deal is, with people talking about me being retired,” Rashid told . “I didn’t say anything about retirement, which some pundits have said. It was not an easy decision, but when your country wants you and asks if you are available, you cannot just say no.”Getty Images

About Vaughan he was much more scathing: “His opinions do not matter to anybody. When I mentioned at the start of the year I will not be playing red-ball cricket, he tweeted something then. He was being controversial and saying his stupid things then too. A lot of people have got no interest in what he says. It is about getting people to like what he says.”I don’t think he has an agenda against me. I played under and with him but sometimes ex-players come out and start talking nonsense about current players. If he wants to carry on talking just because he is bored with nothing better to say, then that is his choice. There will be people out there who are not happy. There will be haters, like the pundits who are saying it is a disgrace. That is not my fault.”Rashid said he expected better from his county Yorkshire. Their CEO Mark Arthur has criticised the selection too because Rashid had not made himself available for red-ball cricket for Yorkshire, who even had to loan a spinner for just one match, the Roses clash.”They might be disappointed for various reasons, but it would have been nice if the chief executive or head coach could have said, ‘Well done, congratulations on being selected, good on you.’ As opposed to being angry and upset for not playing red-ball cricket for them, even though I told them I would not be doing so.”I did not do anything wrong in that sense. There is no reason for Yorkshire to react like this. It was not something I expected or wanted. It would have been nice to have got the support from your county or the people close to you, but if they do not want to give their support, that is their problem. I don’t need anybody’s support in that situation. I know what I want to do and achieve. If I give 100% and it goes well, it goes well. If it doesn’t then I will still be happy.”If they treat me like they have done, don’t see any value in me and are disrespectful to me, I have to think about the future in terms of which county I play for.”

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been suspended for the third and final Test of the series against West Indies after he was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the second Test.What’s worse for Sri Lanka, Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha, could miss between two to four further Tests, after being charged with “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game” after their side had refused to take the field for almost two hours on the third morning.Chandimal had been charged by the ICC for ball tampering while the Test was on after video evidence indicated that on the second day’s play, he was taking sweets out from his left pocket, putting them in his mouth, before applying saliva to the ball within the space of a few seconds.Chandimal pleaded not guilty then and later attended a hearing with match referee Javagal Srinath, his team management and other match officials at the end of the match in which the video evidence was used and the Sri Lanka captain admitted putting something in his mouth but wasn’t able to recall what it was, according to the ICC release. Srinath, as a result, handed Chandimal the maximum punishment available under the code, which was two suspension points and a fine of 100% of his match fee.”After reviewing the footage of the incident, it is clear that Dinesh applied an artificial substance to the ball, namely saliva containing the residue of something he had in his mouth, an action which is prohibited under the ICC Code of Conduct,” Srinath said in the release.”The footage shows that upon receiving the ball, Dinesh took something from his pocket and put it into his mouth. After sucking or chewing whatever he put in his mouth for a few seconds, Dinesh then proceeded to spit on his finger and polish the ball with his saliva which would have contained the residue of the artificial substance that he had in his mouth, on two separate occasions.”During the hearing, Dinesh admitted to putting something in his mouth but couldn’t remember what it was, which I found unconvincing as a defence and the fact remains it was an artificial substance.”In the pre-series briefing held on the back of the ICC Cricket Committee recommendations, both the sides were explicitly told that the match officials would be extra vigilant towards all aspects of fair play, including changing the condition of the ball and as such it is disappointing that this has happened.”It is understood that Sri Lanka had objected to the match officials’ initial charge partly on technical grounds, and this was the reason they stayed off the field for two hours. Although the tampering had occurred in the third session of the second day, the umpires had only viewed the corresponding footage before play on the third morning, and only after viewing the footage did they impose five penalty runs, and change the ball.Part of what Sri Lanka’s team management had objected to was the timing of the match officials’ charge. They were only told roughly ten minutes before the scheduled start on day three that a player stood accused of ball-tampering. They made the case that the issue should have been dealt with on the previous day itself. Both Sri Lanka’s team management and the board in Colombo have since been tight-lipped on what their other objections could possibly have been. Long before the hearing had taken place, the board had issued a release stating that it would “take all necessary steps to defend any player, in the event any unwarranted allegation is brought against a member of the team”.Chandimal has the right of appeal – an appeal that must be lodged within 48 hours. But it is likely that SLC’s focus will now move to the more serious “spirit of cricket” charge. If found guilty there, Chandimal, the coach and the manager could all stand to miss both Tests against South Africa in July, in addition to further ODIs. The charge is a Level 3 offence and breaching that carries an imposition of four to eight suspension points.One thing that complicates Sri Lanka’s situation is that there is no strong leadership at SLC at present. The board is effectively defunct because the previous administrators had failed to hold elections before their term elapsed. SLC is presently under a caretaker “competent authority”, appointed by the nation’s government, while fresh elections are organised. These charges have arrived at a time in which SLC leadership is especially inexperienced.The ICC’s imposition of a suspension on Chandimal, when it had not suspended Faf du Plessis for a very similar offence in Hobart in 2016, is understood to be down to a change in ICC policy. Following the ball-tampering incident involving Australia in Cape Town earlier in the year, match officials have been instructed to impose the harshest possible penalties to ball-tamperers. In any case, the playing conditions relating to tampering are in the process of becoming more stringent, even if those new rules will not come into effect until the end of the year.The loss of Chandimal for the third Test is a serious blow to Sri Lanka. Even if an appeal is lodged, it is unlikely any further hearing can be held before Saturday, when the third Test is due to begin. Not only had Chandimal been in form – he made a hundred in the second Test – there are few captaincy options in the squad. It is possible that Rangana Herath, who was dropped for the second Test, will return to lead the side in the third (he has been stand-in captain on five previous occasions). Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, now the official vice-captain of the team, is another option.

Jofra Archer insists that the dream of playing Test cricket for England remains his ultimate ambition, but admits that a life-changing winter on the global T20 circuit may eventually force him to reassess his priorities in a bid to avoid burn-out.For the past two years in county cricket, Archer has been quietly recognised as the Next Big Thing, ever since breaking into Sussex’s first team midway through the 2016 season. But it was during his stint with the Hobart Hurricanes in the recent Big Bash that he shot to global prominence, consistently pushing 145kph in claiming 16 wickets at 23.06, as his team finished runners-up to Adelaide Strikers in this year’s final.Off the back of those performances – which also included some breathtaking moments of all-round skill, such as two incredible run-outs and a nonchalantly brilliant one-handed return catch off Brisbane Heat’s Ben Cutting – Archer was snapped up for GBP 800,000 by Rajasthan Royals in this year’s IPL.”It is life-changing,” Archer told ESPNcricinfo at Hove, ahead of his departure for India. “I’ll be able to buy my own home, and change my family’s life as well.”It’s probably the biggest T20 competition outside of international cricket, and I can’t play international cricket at the moment, so it’s probably going to be the biggest challenge of my life so far. I just want to perform as well as I did in the Big Bash and take that form back to Sussex.”The reason that Archer cannot currently play international cricket is that he has opted to put his England ambitions ahead of those of his native West Indies. He turned 23 this week and is in the early stages of his seven-year residency qualification, which means that his availability for Test cricket won’t be until 2022 at the earliest.”I just want to tell them, be patient, I’m coming,” was Archer’s message for England’s Test supporters, who might see in his languid and athletic attributes the answer to their long-standing fast-bowling problems.”[My priorities] won’t change. I think Test cricket is the reason I tried to become a pro, I just hope that the time flies. If it is that I have to wait until 2022, I’m much happier doing what I’ve done this winter and seeing new places, so either way I’m not fussed about waiting.”Nevertheless, there’s a huge amount that could happen in Archer’s career between now and then, especially given the proliferation of the global T20 leagues. This winter alone, Archer has already featured in the Bangladesh Premier League, the Big Bash and the Pakistan Super League, and is set to embark on another packed county season with Sussex when he returns from the IPL at the end of May.”For me is about juggling cricket and my family time,” he said. “I’m in England for 210 days a year, and other franchise tournaments limit my family time, but family time is most important to me. If it is that it is going to cut into my family time, I may have to leave a tournament out.”My family keeps me grounded, keeps me sane,” he said. “I try not to be away for too long, it is very easy to be constantly on the go. l literally left Bangladesh [in December] and went to the Big Bash, within hours of it finishing. You can be here, there and everywhere in a matter of hours.”His next venture, however, promises to be a step into the unknown, as Archer makes his first foray into the IPL. He will at least have some familiar faces around him, with Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes making for a sizeable English contingent at the Royals, the Jaipur-based franchise which won the inaugural IPL in 2008.”Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of Jos over the winter,” Archer said. “He was in Bangladesh as well as the Big Bash. I don’t really like bowling to him so it’s really good to have him on my team. And Ben Stokes, he spoke to me as well, after the auction, it’s good to know I have support even before I go there.”One significant name who won’t be present for this season, however, is Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, who had been set to captain the Royals until his contract was terminated in the wake of the recent ball-tampering scandal.”The biggest key is not to let it get to you,” he said. “There’s hype in every tournament in whatever tournament you go to, but obviously with Steve Smith not being there now, that probably shifts some of the hype off of me, but I just want to stay clear of that, to be honest.”With his laid-back Bajan attitude, Archer doesn’t look like the type of guy to let fame and fortune go to his head. But he still remembers clearly the moment his life changed during the IPL auction,”We’d just finished one of the Big Bash games, I was a bit upset because we lost – it was the last prelim game and we had to hope that Renegades beat Brisbane Heat, and they did – but before that I was a bit upset. So I went into my room to watch the auction, and I still can’t believe that so many teams were bidding for me, and I still can’t believe I went for that much money.”One man who missed out this time around, however, was Archer’s Sussex team-mate, Tymal Mills, who was himself the stand-out tale of the 2017 auction when Royal Challengers Bangalore paid GBP1.4 million for his tearaway quick bowling. Though Mills is as phlegmatic about his situation as you could wish any player to be, his is a useful cautionary tale about the ups and downs of professional sport.”I haven’t really spoken to him too much about it as we were still playing at the time and I didn’t want to shift my focus from the Big Bash,” said Archer. “But this year the draft was a bit weird. Guys like Martin Guptill, T, even Chris Gayle didn’t get picked up in the first rounds. So I’m not too sure what the teams are looking for, really, but I just can’t wait to get out there and just do well.”Two years ago I was playing club cricket, then halfway through that club season I made my debut here with Sussex. And the rest is history really. Everything happens for a reason, I believe that, and I showed that this winter.”

Nottingham Forest have been handed a significant injury boost that could impact them massively when the Premier League resumes following the international break.

Reds boss Steve Cooper has been focused on making sure his side kicks on following their survival last season. He has said that he is "interested in being positive," as his side looks to avoid the dreaded 'second season syndrome.'

Having picked up six points from a possible twelve, Forest sit in the top half of the table and have the right to be optimistic about what the season could bring. Positive news on the injury front gives all the more reason for fans to be hopeful after the international break

Who is set to return from injury?

On Tuesday night, Brazilian defender Felipe made his long-awaited return to action for Nottingham Forest's U21s.
He was one of two notable figures that featured on the night for Forest's youth team, with new signing Callum Hudson-Odoi also starting on the right-hand side.

The pair both played an hour for Warren Joyce's men, who slumped to a 2-1 defeat against League Two side Harrogate Town.
However, it acted as important minutes for both players who look to sharpen up their fitness as they edge closer to a return.
Felipe was out of action for the majority of pre-season with a knee injury. He has been continuing his recovery during this time and missed the first four Premier League games of the season, as well as Forest's Carabao Cup defeat to Burnley.
In August, Felipe spoke to NottinghamshireLive, revealing exactly what his injury was and how he was feeling. He told them:
"It’s really good, much better than before. The recovery is going really well. I am just in the final phases of recovery for being back playing.
"It was a variety of different things, different niggles. A fibrosis in the kneecap was diagnosed, and that was holding me back. But that is all recovered and resolved now."
With this latest update, it seems the veteran defender is in the very latter stages of his recovery. He could even make a return during Forest's next fixture at home to Burnley on September 18th.

What impact did Felipe have last season?

Felipe, who is believed to be one of the top earners raking in around £80k-per-week at Nottingham Forest, joined the east Midlands outfit from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid last January.

The Brazilian "warrior" – as once lauded by journalist Callum Castel earlier this year – featured 16 times in the Premier League for The Garibaldis and was an important part of the team whenever he featured. So much so that Sofascore gave him the joint-highest rating of all Forest players in the Premier League last season.

He averaged 2.3 interceptions per game, 2.6 tackles and 5.6 clearances as he became a formidable part of Forest's defence. No other player, let alone centre-back, could match his output for interceptions and clearances, which highlights just how much of a key figure he has been for Cooper.

Upon joining Forest, Felipe made it clear exactly what fans could expect from him.

"A lot of strength, going into challenges strongly, these are my characteristics and it is what people love in football around the world."

It is fair to say Felipe has delivered on his promises and fans will be happy to see him back in the starting line-up after the international break.

Celtic are closing in on their seventh summer signing and he will arrive this week to finalise his move to the Scottish giants before their crucial Glasgow Derby match against Rangers this weekend.

What's the latest transfer news involving Celtic?

According to Honduran outlet Diario Diez, Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma has already said goodbye to his teammates and is in London to put the finishing touches to his impending move to Celtic.

He will then travel to Glasgow to be officially unveiled by the Scottish champions and will don the iconic number seven jersey at Parkhead, which has been worn by club legends such as Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson in the past.

The Scottish Sun detail that Celtic will pay a fee in the region of £3.5 million for the Honduras international and he could be the first of five late-window incomings to bolster Brendan Rodgers' underperforming side. Manchester City youngster Tommy Doyle has been mentioned as a potential arrival to bolster the Irishman's engine room before the deadline.

Several outgoings are also expected and it is believed that Benjamin Siegrist, James McCarthy, Albian Ajeti and Ismaila Soro could all be on their way out of the club.

Celtic have failed to score in over 180 minutes of football and were knocked out of the Viaplay Cup against Kilmarnock, followed by putting in a disappointing display in a 0-0 draw against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, as per Sky Sports.

Cited by The Sunday Mail (27/08 print edition, page 59), Celtic boss Rodgers has laid down the gauntlet to the Hoops' hierarchy to fulfill his wish for further recruitment in the market before the close of play, stating:

“We need to improve for sure. I spoke to the club when I came in and, assessing the squad, we need to improve the quality. It’s clear if you see the team, if you go back to my first time here the team was fast and dynamic, got through the lines quickly, created and scored goals.

"So this is what we’ll eventually get to. But we’re missing those certain profiles so hopefully we can bring that into the squad and be a lot cleaner and a lot quicker in our play.”

What could Luis Palma bring to Celtic?

Since Portuguese winger Jota left Celtic to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad earlier in the summer for a fee in the region of £25 million, the Hoops have lost a valuable creative outlet, which is something Palma could help to remedy due to his direct style of play.

During his time in Greece, Palma has been a live wire and regularly troubled opposition backlines, registering 17 goals and 11 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Dubbed a "huge player" by Aris manager Apostolos Terzis, Palma will be desperate to hit the ground running at Celtic and show that he can live up to the hype of his iconic shirt number.

Cited by Football Scotland, Terzis has confirmed that Palma is leaving Aris and stated in an interview: "I want to wish him the best of luck with his new club, Celtic. He worked so hard for our team and Aris also helped him a lot to develop."

On the night before the biggest day of his career, Rajneesh Gurbani could barely let his eyes close. It was the “woke-up-worrying-it’s-late” experience that most of us have endured at some stage. Except that for Gurbani, it wasn’t just another day at the office.Gurbani was playing the biggest match of his life. His body had already been through a hellacious lot, having sent down 49 overs. Gurbani had taken his team to the brink. But there was still a job to do. This was his chance to not only witness history but make it happen.Sleepless and weary, the events that unfolded after Gurbani took the field at Eden Gardens on Thursday could well have been a dream. Except, it wasn’t. For four whole days and a bit, the match continued to swing both ways. But throughout, there was one constant: Gurbani never ceased to tantalise. Resolute and courageous, he kept Vidarbha’s dream alive.”Anxiety. I felt it all night long,” he said. “I woke up at 12.30am thinking it’s 6. I wanted the match to start then and there and finish the whole thing off. For the first time, I was ready at 6am with my clothes on and ready to go.”Once he took the field, the nerves only got worse. It made him change his angle repeatedly, at one point doing it four times in an over. Karnataka weren’t going to go down without a fight. But Gurbani wouldn’t buckle. Blessed with a keen sense of understanding of his strengths, Gurbani continued to bowl the best way he knew: being consistent with his lines and lengths and try to force an error from the batsmen.The plan worked. Vinay Kumar poked at a wide one. Abhimanyu Mithun miscued a big hit. And S Aravind edged one that shaped away from him. In each of those deliveries, Gurbani had managed to find subtle movement. As the last of those wickets fell, Gurbani sank to his knees, with team-mates jumping on him. He then acknowledged a thinly scattered crowd by flashing the match ball. Some of Vidarbha’s players were in tears, but Gurbani was moved when he saw the emotion on coach Chandrakant Pandit’s face.”All the credit to how I’m bowling goes to Chandrakant Pandit sir and Subroto Banerjee sir,” he said. “Both of them supported me well and brought about some skill changes. Chandrakant sir used to make me bowl at one spot for an entire day. He used to make me bowl on demand: a whole day of inswingers, a whole day of outswingers or hitting the off stump. This sort of match simulation meant that when I came out, I could bowl any of these deliveries at any instant.”Outswing is Gurbani’s natural weapon. He can swing the ball in the air and get it to move off the deck. He manages skiddy pace, which makes him a dangerous bowler in front of the stumps. Gurbani has a smooth run-up. The action flows from the time he runs into the crease, at an easy pace. The wrist position is accurate as he tilts back and the movement is supple when he bends his back.”He has worked on the incoming delivery,” Prashant Vaidya, the former India pacer and the VCA’s incumbent vice-president, told ESPNcricinfo. “He was very consistent with his length, his line used to be very good and he was essentially a very good away-swinging bowler. But this year, he has improved greatly in bringing the ball back in. So if that starts happening, even his strength, which is the ball moving out, becomes more lethal. When you can move the ball both ways, it puts the batsmen in two minds. And he has improved in pace, which has made him more effective with the natural swing he has.”Gurbani’s ability to read situations and recognise his strengths stand out. Though shy off the field, his willingness to take initiative and bowl in any situation impressed Vaidya. That quality came through in Vidarbha’s quarter-final, when Gurbani ripped through Kerala with four wickets in four overs and gave Vidarbha a substantial first-innings lead. For Vadiya, that spell in the quarter-final was still a more accurate reflection of the improvements Gurbani had made.”These are favourable conditions to seam bowling, but the spell he bowled to Kerala in the quarter-final, that was out of nowhere,” he said. “In four overs, he turned the entire game on its head. I think that really stands out for me.”If I have to compare him to somebody in India team, he is in the mould of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I would not hesitate to put him in that mould. He puts the ball consistently in that corridor and has the ability to swing it both ways.”The technical side apart, a lot of the pre-season work for the lithe and wiry Gurbani went into building himself up physically. “It was all about pushing myself to run that extra mile or the extra session or two in the gym,” he said. “But through all of it, the goal was to become champions. While lifting weights in the gym, I used to have guys come up to me and say, ‘Guru, put on 10 kilos; Vidarbha needs you to be strong’.”So it was about working harder and pushing yourself harder for that extra spell. We were obsessed with becoming champions, because becoming champions is what is going to give us our identity.”For Vaidya, work still remains on the fitness front. “As you go to higher levels and play more cricket, you need to complement or balance it with physical fitness,” he said. “Because he is going to play longer seasons, more cricket. You need strength.”He’s a very wiry person. I don’t want that to change because that’s his strength. That gives him that momentum and agility. But you need the strength to bowl longer and play longer seasons.”Having a coach who thinks like him has reconfirmed what Gurbani wants out of this sport. “When Chandrakant sir came into the side, we all wondered how he is,” he said. “And we were all advised that he will either make you do it or make you leave cricket.”It was in sync with how I am personally – either I grow in cricket or I leave cricket. I don’t want to be stuck in between. Of course, he shouts at me, and I want him to shout at me so I don’t get too carried away. Watching his emotions when the team doesn’t perform – he can’t sleep. Though performance is not in his hands, seeing him being so involved and invested inspires us.”Where Gurbani goes from here is anybody’s guess right now. But whether he grows in cricket or leaves cricket, for the hand he has played in Vidarbha creating history, he has made his name synonymous with the state’s cricket for the next few years at least.

Naik Cricketers cruise in middling chase

05-Nov-2017Batting first, the Scorpions had a flying start, scoring 17 runs in 2 overs. The openers gave a start but couldn’t capitalize on the situation, by the end of 4th over, they were down to 36 runs for 3 wickets. Wickets kept falling in regular intervals due to aerial shots and run outs due to miscommunication between batsmen.Naik Cricketers controlled the runs from the 6th over, making the batsmen play defensive shots and hold their wickets. They ended their innings at 50 for the loss of 8 wickets.Chasing a gettable target of 51, Naik batsmen ensured to finish the match as early as possible, the opening batsmen played aggressive to reach 30 runs in 3 overs for the loss of 1 wicket.Dhanuka & Mandar ensured the runs kept ticking on the board. Usman who was the only bowler to take two wickets from Scorpions managed to take the partners out in the 5th over but by then the game was already over, a four hit by Imran ended the match and Naik winning comfortably.

Sofyan Amrabat has turned down offers from Saudi Arabia as his priority is a switch to Manchester United, according to Fabrizio Romano

The Moroccan midfielder looks set to depart Fiorentina this summer.

What is the latest Sofyan Amrabat news?

It seems the midfielder has made his decision on his future.

According to a report from L'Equipe, the Fiorentina player was a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, who wanted to add him to their squad which includes new signings Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Allan Saint-Maximin. The report also stated that the Moroccan was set to make his decision on his preferred destination in the following days, and that his current club had resigned themselves to the fact that he was to depart this summer.

United have been long time admirers of Amrabat, having tried to bring in the midfielder back in the January window following his impressive performances during the World Cup that saw him get named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament.

The deal never happened and Amrabat remained with Fiorentina for the rest of the season, which was a campaign that saw him lose out in both the Coppa Italia final and the Europa Conference League final. Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag previously worked with the defensive midfielder at Utrecht, and is pushing for the club to complete the transfer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Amrabat had turned down the offer from Saudi Arabia, as he is focused on completing a switch to the Red Devils. The Italian journalist also stated that United are waiting on the sales for Fred and Van de Beek to fund the transfer.

"Sofyan Amrabat, rumoured as potential target for Al Ahli last week, from what I understand, he does not want to negotiate with Al Ahli, but also all Saudi clubs as his priority now is Europe. Sofyan Amrabat wants to go to Man United, so he rejected very important financial approaches from Saudi because he wants to wait for Man United.

"As I always told you, there is no official bid to Fiorentina as they have to sell Fred, and it’s not going to be to Galatasaray from what I’m told, so other clubs are keen on Fred. But also, Donny Van de Beek, the conversation with Real Sociedad is ongoing, so Man United wait to sell one between Van de Beek and Fred before proceeding, but both will leave guys by the end of the summer, and then they will proceed with a bid for Amrabat, that is the plan at the moment."

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Who do Man United have to sell for Amrabat?

There are two midfielders who could depart Old Trafford this summer to create the space for Amrabat.

One name Romano mentioned was Fred. The 30-year-old has seen his role reduced at United under ten Hag, and with the arrival of Mason Mount as well as the potential signing of Amrabat, opportunities would be even further limited for the Brazilian.

According to a report from 90min, Galatasaray have seen an offer rejected that fell below the asking price of £20m set by Man United, and have since pulled away according to Fabrizio Romano. Saudi clubs remain interested in the midfielder, and Fulham could reignite the interest they showed earlier on in the summer.

The other name mentioned by Romano was Van de Beek. The Dutch international has had a disappointing career at Old Trafford following his £39m switch from Ajax in 2020, having only made 60 appearances for the club during a three-year spell blighted by injury problems that have forced him to miss 52 games.

According to reports, Real Sociedad have opened talks regarding the midfielder despite concerns about the player's injury problems, with the asking price set to be £25m.