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Eyeing promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Burnley are now reportedly in advanced talks to sign a defensive reinforcement for Scott Parker in January.

Burnley transfer news

Sat third in the Championship and one point adrift of automatic promotion as well as four away from leaders Sheffield United, Burnley will be hoping that the January transfer window can help them close the gap on their promotion rivals. To jump straight back up to England’s top tier in just one season despite losing Vincent Kompany at the end of the last campaign would represent great success for all involved at Turf Moor.

Currently on a run of eight games without defeat, it’s safe to say that the Clarets are certainly in fine form to attract players when the January transfer window swings open. And that could make all the difference.

Whilst keeping hold of players like Josh Brownhill will also be vitally important, Burnley could yet welcome the reinforcements that take them over the line in the race for promotion.

Burnley eye £1.6m deal for "one of the best" in his division this January

He could be a vital addition to secure automatic promotion for Parker’s side.

ByBen Browning Dec 3, 2024

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Burnley are in advanced talks to sign Oliver Sonne in the January transfer window in what could be a deal worth £2.5m.

Having seen their bids for the right-back turned down by Silkeborg last summer, those at Turf Moor have seemingly gone again to greater success to all but secure a long-term target.

Still just 24 years old, Sonne is entering his peak years and looks likely to complete the biggest move of his career yet to coincide with that. Handing Parker an important mid-season boost, Sonne could eventually take Connor Roberts’ place as a younger, fresher option down Burnley’s right-hand side and will, at the very least, add crucial depth.

"Strong" Sonne can replace Roberts

With Roberts heading for the exit door as a free agent unless he signs a new contract before the end of the campaign, Sonne’s potential arrival couldn’t have been timed any better. The Peru right-back will at first add key depth to Parker’s backline before likely stepping in to replace Roberts in what Burnley will hope to be a Premier League side when the summer arrives.

Sonne certainly has his fans around Europe too, with Pano Scout – Dinamo Tbilisi’s former video scout – describing the 24-year-old as a “very aggressive” player with a “strong physical build” at the start of December.

Whether the right-back proves to be the only January addition at Burnley remains to be seen, but the Clarets could certainly be an interesting side to watch next month as they look to bridge the gap on Leeds United and Sheffield United at the top of the Championship.

Navgire stars with 69 as Velocity’s score of 174 was enough to secure them a berth in the final

Sreshth Shah26-May-2022 to chase 191, all they had to do was not lose by 32 (or more) runs.Related

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At the halfway stage, a chase of 191 seemed daunting and it appeared that the prudent strategy for Velocity would be to approach the game like a 159 chase. However, Yastika Bhatia and Shafali Verma smacked 36 in four overs and Kiran Navgire, batting in her first innings of the competition, hammered 69 in 34 balls to show that they were playing like it was 191 that they needed. Eventually, they lost steam and fell 16 runs short, but not before threatening to break the highest total record for most of the chase.A chase to rememberThe chase began with Shafali being joined with a new partner for Velocity’s second game. Bhatia was promoted to open, and together they made use of the field restrictions to lift the run rate to nine in the first four overs. But Bhatia fell for 19 to Salma Khatun’s offspin around the stumps after being bowled while trying to slog.Shafali, who had started aggressively with five fours in her first 14 balls, then fell for 29 for Velocity to lose both set openers in quick succession. But while the 18-year-old was around, she entertained with her cuts and inside-out punch shots through the off side.When Laura Wolvaardt walked in at No. 4, she and No. 3 Navgire were both on 0, and the score read 50 for 2. With two new batters in the middle, Trailblazers’ target of restricting Velocity to inside 158 seemed like a reality again. But the very next ball began a deflating process that would eventually last till the final ball.Kiran Navgire smashed a 25-ball half-century•BCCIThat’s because Navgire, facing her first ball of the competition, and facing the experienced Khatun, started off with a slog-swept six over deep midwicket right away. She then punched the Bangladesh spinner through cover and followed it up with another six over the leg side to start with 17 in her first five balls.The onslaught would continue till the 17th over, with a final tally of five fours and five sixes from Navgire’s bat. The Dhoni fan who hit 54 fours and 35 sixes in her debut T20 season for Nagaland in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy showed why she is considered the new big thing in Indian white-ball cricket by dominating through the middle overs. By the time her two sixes ended the 14th over, Velocity needed only 20 more runs to go past 158, and as the time out was called, the Trailblazers shoulders had dropped.Navgire eventually fell for a 34-ball 69 in the 17th over, but not before she set the record for the fastest fifty (25 balls) in the competition’s history. With two tidy overs from Sophia Dunkley and Renuka Singh pushing the required run rate for the match target of 191 to over 10, Navgire looked to find the boundary for the 11th time, but was out stumped by Dunkley.As she walked back to a standing applause from the dugout and her home state crowd in Pune, Velocity needed only five to reach 159 and with 20 balls to spare, the result that decided the finalists was in the touching distance even though the match target of 191 appeared to get out of reach.Velocity eventually secured finals qualification in the 19th over with debutant Simran Bahadur hitting the ‘qualifying’ runs – a paddle four to fine leg – off Hayley Matthews. That ensured the defending champions would be knocked out, even if they did sign off with a 16-run win.Trailblazers push the limitsKnowing that they had to post a total that was big enough to keep that 32-run buffer for the bowlers, Smriti Mandhana’s Trailblazers started off aggressively even though the captain herself fell for 1.Sabbhineni Meghana – making her debut for the season – muscled 73 runs in 47 balls, and Jemimah Rodrigues clubbed 66 in 44 balls to lead the way in setting the competition’s highest score. The duo got together in the third over, and eventually put on 113 runs together in 73 balls for a second-wicket stand that kept the run-rate hovering around 8.50 through the innings.Meghana, in particular, enjoyed scoring over the bowler’s head to full balls in the opening salvo with the new ball and grew into playing the square shots as the innings progressed. Rodrigues was more innovative, walking across the crease to find the boundaries behind square on either side.Meghana reached her fifty in 32 deliveries but did enjoy some luck in her innings. She was dropped by Sneh Rana and Ayabonga Khaka through her stay, and was eventually out in the 15th over to Kate Cross.Rodrigues, who reached her fifty in 36 balls, then accelerated in Matthews’ company to eventually finish with a strike rate of 150. Matthews and Dunkley then added a brisk 32 in the death overs to set an impressive target. It wasn’t enough though, as Trailblazers paid the price for a big defeat in the opening game.

The former Canadian national team player, current Apple TV analyst joined Mic'd up to discuss Messi, MLS, Jesse Marsch

Kaylyn Kyle has covered virtually every soccer league you can name. She has been there for the Premier League and Ligue 1. She has watched on – and played at – the Olympics and the Women's World Cup. But in her estimation, nothing quite compares to MLS.

"It's one of the most exciting, because you genuinely don't know who's going to win every single weekend," she tells GOAL.

Kyle's journey has been a somewhat chaotic. From Canadian national team standout to high-profile MLS analyst, the former midfielder has been involved in the game at all levels – on and off the field. And now, she has settled in the Apple TV studio, hosting MLS 260 and regularly appearing as a sideline reporter for some of the biggest games. MLS, and its ever changing world, makes her life as interesting as ever.

"I gotta be honest, because you go into the season thinking, 'OK, yeah, I'm set. I know exactly what I'm talking about.' And then the transfer deadline, 24th hour, there's 17 different changes, player movements, in and out, and you're like, 'Oh, Jesus, where's this player from?' " Kyle says.

But she's uniquely placed to keep track of everything. She has done a bit of everything – from hosting, to reporting, to actually playing the game – and established herself as a relevant, and often loud voice in the American soccer landscape.

Kyle talked MLS, NWSL, Canadian soccer and more in the latest edition of Mic’d Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.

Getty Images SportON THE 2025 MLS SEASON

GOAL: What have you made of the MLS season so far? Has it been better than you expected?

KYLE: I've covered every league under the sun, and since coming to MLS, I think it's, for me, it's one of the most exciting, because you genuinely don't know who's going to win every single weekend. Whereas when you're you're looking at the Prem, you're looking at La Liga, you have those top, top, top teams that seem to get the job done. Yes, there's the one-offs, like Nottingham Forest, that catch you by surprise. But I feel like with Major League Soccer, they make us do these preseason predictions, and the fans go crazy and they're so upset, and they're like, "You don't know what you're talking about. You're an idiot. You shouldn't have your job.' "

But it is so hard because there is so much movement in the offseason. Now there's the new rule in Major League Soccer, which I absolutely love, where teams can buy players from other teams, which, for me, was a game-changer this year. I mean, you saw [Dejan] Joveljic from LA Galaxy going to Sporting KC. You saw Evander move. It's a very cool rule, and I love it, and I think it's added so much. But, yeah, it's chaotic, I gotta be honest, because you go into the season thinking, "OK, yeah, I'm set. I know exactly what I'm talking about." And then the transfer deadline, 24th hour, there's 17 different changes, player movements, in and out, and you're like, "Oh, Jesus, where's this player from?" Then you throw in the homegrown players… so it's chaotic, it's a lot of fun, and it's a league that I feel like just keeps you on your toes at all times.

GOAL: You got that sense from the playoffs last year, that literally anything can happen.

KYLE: Everyone's like, "What's the playoffs? Like, the team who just won the Supporters' Shield should win the league. It's the biggest trophy." But I'm like, "Americans, we love the playoffs." You tune into the NHL for the playoffs. You tune into the NFL for the playoffs. It's fun, it's entertaining. Those underdog teams can sneak in now, with that play-in-game. It's fun.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportON INTER MIAMI

GOAL: We have to talk Inter Miami. How would you summarize Lionel Messi's impact on MLS?

KYLE: The thing is, is everyone's like, "Oh, he's changed Major League Soccer" – and he hasn't. He has in a way, for sure, he's gotten more eyes on it from maybe other leagues from around the world or other countries that didn't rate Major League Soccer – and now they tune in because of him and are like, "Oh, this is actually a really good league." But every league that Messi has gone to people tune in. I mean, you look at Ligue 1 for example, there's four really top teams. I'm going to get killed by by French supporters, but like Marseille, Lyon, and PSG. And when he went to PSG, I didn't know a lot about the league. I didn't watch the league. And then obviously, we started covering it with BEIN sports. So he does that at every league that he goes to. I mean, people tune in to watch Lionel Messi. So I think what he's done for Major League Soccer is incredible, because I think he's gotten eyes on it in a way where now people look at the league differently.

He had multiple clubs in Europe that he could have gone to, and he chose Major League Soccer, and he chose Inter Miami, which I think people are like, "He's at the tail end of his career." He was fresh coming off a World Cup in 2022 winning with Argentina, and arguably was one of the best players in the tournament. So I hate that narrative of like people saying "It's a retirement league" because it's not, and now it's also a development league of young, up-and-coming South Americans that then gets sold for $15 or $20 million over to Europe, like we saw with Miguel Almiron. So I just think the league has done such a great job in the short amount of time. It's not the EPL where, you know, it's hundreds of years of people being born into supporting Everton or Liverpool or Man City.

But you can already see the impact of what Messi has done with the league, where these stadiums that weren't filled, and now they are filled, and they're having to change venues so they can accommodate ticket sales of people wanting to see Lionel Messi. So I think it's incredible what he's done. I think it won't stop when he does retire, because now you're starting to see more and more players tuning in because of Messi and being like, "Oh, actually, this looks like a little bit of me." I mean, Emmanuel Latte Lath for Atlanta United, or Kevin Denkey at Cincinnati. It's been really cool what he's done, not only on the pitch, but the awareness that he's bringing off the pitch as well.

GOAL: What do you make of Javier Mascherano as a manager?

KYLE: He's done an extremely good job, and I think there was a lot of pressure on him when he went in, because you have a manager like Tata Martino, in 18 months, they lifted the Leagues Cup. They set the points record and they lifted a Supporters' Shield. Yes, he does have Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Messi, I understand that. But the pressure on Miami is to win everything, whether it's the CONCACAF Champions Cup, whether it's the Club World Cup, whether it's the league, the Supporter's Shield… they have the players to do so, so and one of the deepest benches here in Major League Soccer, and then obviously the pressure because he played with Messi. So the narrative of "You got the job because of Messi" is there, but I think he's done an extremely, extremely good job.

They lost a lot of key pieces last year, like Diego Gomez, Matias Rojas, and they've had to fill it. They went out, they found Tadeo Allende. They found Telasco Segovia, two players that have played massive roles. People are talking about disciplinary stuff, you know – three red cards already early on in the season – but it's not really any different of a story than what we saw last year from Inter Miami. But he's done a great job having to rest Messi for a few games and manage his load and bringing in players to get the job done. And they're second in the Supporters' Shield under Vancouver Whitecaps right now top in the Eastern Conference.

GOAL: Four matchdays in, who's your way-too-early favorite to win it all?

KYLE: I gotta go Inter Miami. They've come back, to win down to 10 men in two matches. And then you have Messi. And you just can't bet against him. I feel like they will go back-to-back years winning Supporters' Shields. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I don't see them having an early exit like we saw last year against Atlanta United.

GOALON THE USL, DIVISION ONE LEAGUE, PRO-REL

GOAL: USL is getting a Division One league with promotion and relegation. Should MLS be worried?

KYLE: It's always great when you have competition. When I grew up as a player, if you don't have competition, it doesn't make you better. And I think you know, with what the USL is doing, I think it's a fantastic platform for players to improve and get better and get professional games, because we have seen a lot of USL players make the jump to Major League Soccer, and we have seen a lot of Major League Soccer players make the jump to USL. Competition is always good, and I think it only will improve the sport here, and it's also showing the growth of the sport here in North America, which is incredible to see.

What I will say with Major League Soccer, though, in just 25 years, and since Don Garber has taken over as commissioner, he took it from 10 teams to 30 teams. We now have soccer specific stadiums that sell out. We now have soccer specific training grounds that are multi million dollar training grounds that are quite honestly, better than a lot of European training grounds. So I will say what Major League Soccer has done in a short amount of time, and the infrastructure that they've created, for me, is some of the best in the world. Again, not I'm not talking about the Barcelonas, the PSGs, but I am talking about those, maybe teams 20 to 13, when you look at some of their training grounds, and then you look at a Columbus Crew training ground, even an Inter Miami training ground… It is amazing to see the growth in Major League Soccer and the growth here with the USL, and, you know, just getting more and more competitive.

GOAL: And promotion-relegation, which was recently announced by the USL. Is it necessary?

KYLE: For USL, I think, the more you can innovate, and the more that you can add growth, the more the game gets better. So if that's the way they thought they could get better and add maybe a few more eyes on the USL, get more fans in the stands, make it more competitive. I don't know the ins and outs of the USL as well as I do with Major League Soccer, but I will say I love seeing change, and I love seeing growth. My husband played in the USL, I love the USL. Competition is great.

AFPON NWSL TRANSFERS

GOAL: I wanted to touch on the NWSL a little bit. You played in the league, you had quite an influence in the women's soccer sphere. There have been some significant departures, though, to Europe this offseason. What do you think this means? Should the league be worried?

KYLE: It's continuing to grow. There's expansion clubs that are slowly starting to come in. I was there at the beginning where places didn't have training grounds, we didn't have breakfast. So where the NWSL has gone from to where it is today has been night and day. So well done to the NWSL. But what I will say is, when you are a player, you want to play in the Champions League. We don't have that here in North America, obviously. And I do think it's almost a similar situation as Major League Soccer. When you do make that jump to Europe, I feel like when you make the jump to England, I don't think it's isn't competitive for team one to 10. I think they have team one to 5, where it's very competitive, they pay good money, they have proper training grounds, and they're in the Champions League. Ultimately, every player would love to play in the Champions League. I wish I would have!

So I do feel like when you are losing a player, because I got both sides of it. When the girls are talking about it, they're like, "It won't hurt the league." But it will hurt the league, because you want your biggest and best stars in the league. But what I will say, a lot of players that have played in Europe come to the NWSL and they realize this is a very difficult league. It's very transitional, it's very athletic, it's very competitive from team one to team 10. But yeah, obviously, when I look at it, you never want big stars to leave a league, because ultimately that hurts.

The soccer analyst believes that the Norwich City forward needs to find the right balance between his performances for club and country

Sargent's impressive club form contrasts with USMNT strugglesLalas emphasizes the importance of translating club success to international levelSargent hasn’t scored for the USMNT since 2019Getty Images EntertainmentWHAT HAPPENED

Josh Sargent continues to shine for Norwich City, recently netting a dramatic stoppage-time winner against West Bromwich Albion. However, his performances for the USMNT in the recent CONCACAF Nations League matches didn’t quite hit the same heights. This inconsistency caught the attention of Alexi Lalas, who tackled the topic on his State of the Union podcast, acknowledging the frustrating gap between Sargent’s club form and his national team contributions.

“This is where the Josh Sargent discussion gets interesting,” Lalas said. “He’s having a hell of a year, and we always talk on S about looking at things through Red, White, and Blue-colored glasses. What American players do at their clubs matters, but ultimately, there’s a direct line to what they do for the national team.”

Lalas stressed that while Sargent was handed the No. 9 role during the recent USMNT window, he struggled to make an impact – though so did the team as a whole. “He didn’t produce in a system that didn’t produce, so it’s not all on him,” Lalas noted. “But when Josh Sargent scores a goal, the American in me says, ‘Hey, that’s great – an American scoring goals, no matter the level.’ I love to see that.”

Still, Lalas couldn’t ignore the lingering concerns about Sargent’s ability to replicate that success for the USMNT. “But the other part of me says, ‘OK, fool me once.’ This is a player who still hasn’t consistently translated his club form to the national team. So while I’m happy for him, my excitement is tempered until he proves he can do it in the Red, White, and Blue.”

AdvertisementWHAT ALEXI LALAS SAID

The former USMNT defender further added that Sargent needs to figure out a balance between his performances for club and country.

“And I totally get why the reaction from many out there, ‘Yeah, that’s fine and well but you didn’t do it for the national team’. And if you’re going to be an international, in this case, Sargent is an international, there is going to have to be a balance. And we’ve said times that just because you’re playing well for your club, doesn’t mean it necessarily translates to the national team. And by the way, the opposite is true too, just because your playing like crap at the club team, doesn’t mean you can’t come into the national team and do great things," he continued.

“Josh Sargent has been far from doing even great things when it comes to the national team and that’s why I think that there is this tempered balance type of opinion when he does something like that. And it shouldn’t only apply to Sargent."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Sargent has been in superb form for Norwich City this season, netting 13 goals for the Canaries in 25 league appearances out of which nine have come in his last 11 games. However, in contrast, the USMNT international has scored just 5 goals in 28 caps for the team, with his last goals coming against Cuba in November 2019.

Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

Following their win over West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City have moved back into the race for a promotion playoff spot and are five points behind sixth place Baggies. They face Plymouth Argyle next on April 4 on the road before hosting Sunderland at Carrow Road on April 8 and then go back on the road to face third-place side Burnley on April 11.

South Africa posted their fourth-biggest win in terms of runs in the format after half-centuries from Wolvaardt and Luus

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2022South Africa’s pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail picked up 5 for 8 to bundle Ireland out for 89 in the third ODI, and lead her team to a 189-run win and seal the series 3-0 in Dublin. Coming into the match having taken 3 for 16 and 3 for 31 in the first and second ODIs respectively, Ismail played a key role in handing South Africa their fourth-biggest win in terms of runs in the format, as she picked up her 300th international wicket, becoming only the fifth bowler to do so in the women’s game, after Jhulan Goswami, Katherine Brunt, Ellyse Perry and Anisa Mohammed.Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus combined to post 177 runs for the third wicket, which was South Africa’s fifth-highest partnership by runs in the format, to take them to 278 for 5.The duo of Andrie Steyn and Lara Goodall, who had put up a 165-run stand in South Africa’s win in the previous ODI, were dismissed early this time. South Africa got off to a sedate start after electing to bat, losing Steyn to a run-out in the seventh over. Goodall then joined Wolvaardt and the duo began to accelerate, but offspinner Rachel Delaney quickly halted the progress by having Goodall stumped for 18. Luus and Wolvaardt then came together to put up a solid stand and take the visitors to a competitive total.Luus hit 11 fours in her 104-ball 93 while Wolvaardt’s 128-ball 89 was laced with six fours. Jane Maguire broke the strong partnership by dismissing Wolvaardt, while Arlene Kelly removed Luus and Chloe Tryon in the 48th over.In the chase, Ireland lost two wickets in the first over to Ismail, who then came back to strike again in the fifth and seventh overs. Offspinner Raisibe Ntozakhe put Ireland in further trouble, removing Sophie MacMahon and leaving them at 13 for 5 in 12.3 overs. Mary Waldron and Kelly tried to help Ireland recover from Ismail’s fiery opening spell with a 57-run stand. But Luus made sure it did not last too long, as she pinned Waldron in front for 32 in the 24th over. It went downhill from there for Ireland, as they lost their next four wickets for just nine runs, with Ismail wrapping up the match with her fifth wicket in the 33rd over.With her second five-for in ODIs and 11 wickets in the series, Ismail was named the Player of the Match and Series.

This is a new year. Is this Liverpool’s year? Let’s not be too hasty – especially with Arsenal narrowing the deficit in the Premier League title race with an impressive win at Brentford – but the Reds are fixed in pole position.

The Saka-less Gunners reduced the gap to six points, leapfrogging Nottingham Forest into second place. There’s still a sizeable gap to bridge toward Liverpool, who also have a game in hand, but too many false dawns have stretched across Merseyside in recent years.

Liverpool have plenty of success stories over the past decade, but plenty more agonising flashbacks besides. That’s football. It’s staggering that Arne Slot has done so well after gripping Jurgen Klopp’s baton last summer, taking Liverpool to another level that promises, at least, gripping showdowns across multiple cylinders.

Signings are needed though to complement – hopefully – some stirring contractual resolutions. Liverpool merely dipped their toes into the market last summer, but will need to strengthen considerably this year, lest their rivals catch up and overtake them this year and next.

Liverpool looking at big signing this year

As per Football Insider, Liverpool have made Morgan Gibbs-White their top target this year, with the dynamic midfielder endowed with the completeness to make more than a few ripples within Anfield’s squad.

It’s claimed that FSG’s recruitment team have upped their interest in the Nottingham Forest star ‘ahead of the January and summer transfer windows’, suggesting that a move this winter isn’t out of the question.

Gibbs-White has been the life-juice of Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-placed side this year, and prising him away won’t be easy. In fact, he was valued at £60m by his outfit during the off-season and they will hardly be looking for a reduced figure after the progress this term.

What Morgan Gibbs-White would bring to Anfield

Nottingham Forest appeared to splurge upon their return to the Premier League in 2022, scattergunning across the market as they sought to preserve their place back in the big time. It worked. Just.

But English football felt that business had been conducted haphazardly. English football was wrong. The Tricky Trees have burgeoned into one of the most steely and cohesive units in the Premier League, with Gibbs-White pulling the strings from the middle.

Forest signed Wolves’ talent in August 2022 for a fee rising as high as £42.5m, something that was met with derision from many circles of the Premier League’s sprawling support base. The Tricky Trees will feel that they’ve had the latest laugh, for Gibbs-White is one of the highest-performing midfielders in the Premier League this season.

Still only 24, Gibbs-White has now claimed 35 goal contributions from 95 appearances, and having been praised as a “monster in transition” by one analyst, the Englishman’s general play is highlighted, with such an impressive distinction through his playmaking, yes, but also his defensive work and on-the-ball retention.

Also praised for his “magic tricks” by reporter Jamie Martin, the £80k-per-week star has the quick-footed, fast-thinking style that works perfectly at the City Ground, marrying flair with tactical pragmaticism.

There’s also a combativeness to him and a sense of responsibility too. The free-scoring Chris Wood has commented on Gibbs-White becoming a “really positive leader for Forest” who is “always looking to progress the team.”

Bearing the full package, Gibbs-White could even become Slot’s own version of Steven Gerrard at Liverpool. That’s a bold claim, but just hear us out.

Slot's own Steven Gerrard

Steven George Gerrard. Liverpool’s ultimate superstar. The iconic England midfielder engineered the greatest Champions League triumph in history, played 710 times for his boyhood club and registered 341 goal contributions.

The Premier League title eluded him but he remained on Merseyside throughout his European career and knitted a connection with the city that will endure forever.

He was the perfect centre-midfielder, in many ways, for his all-encompassing nature made him a force to be reckoned with across the various roles. Eight, six, ten – he could do it all, and with panache at that.

Gibbs-White has the prototypical skill set to assume the kind of dynamic approach that Gerrard once plied in the Premier League, with his ball-playing and -carrying skills reminiscent of the Scouse hero. Moreover, Forest’s midfield talisman has fostered an impressive defensive game through Nuno’s strategic system.

The skills learned during this time are transferrable, and Liverpool would be sure to reap the rewards of such an impressive tactical range. In fact, Gibbs-White has even been warmly referred to as the “Aldi Jude Bellingham” by BBC analyst Raj Chohan, praising his athleticism and ability to plough through even the most noble of defensive lines.

Matches (starts)

15 (15)

14 (14)

Goals

3

6

Assists

3

4

Shots (on target)*

1.7 (0.9)

1.4 (0.6)

Pass completion

80%

89%

Key passes*

1.8

1.1

Dribbles*

1.4

1.1

Ball recoveries*

4.1

3.0

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

3.0

Total duels (won)*

5.3 (46%)

5.4 (57%)

Bellingham is cut from a similar cloth as Gerrard, describing the retired pro as his “hero” and admitting that he has attempted to incorporate similar aspects into his own game.

Jamie Carragher has also waxed lyrical about Bellingham and drawn him against a prime Gerrard, with his strength across every single area something unique and hardly replicable.

Ultimately, Liverpool know that their lionised skipper is someone who will never be replaced, not really, but through Gibbs-White, whose silky ranged passing, crunching challenges and leadership skills provide him with the template, there could be a second coming to a lesser degree.

One thing’s for certain: Slot’s tactical acumen would only elevate Gibbs-White’s impressive game over the coming years, and while he’s been eye-catching since moving to Nottingham, at Liverpool he would raise his game by many levels.

Worth more than Trent: Liverpool have hit gold on £115m star in the making

Arne Slot has turned this Liverpool talent into a superstar.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 2, 2025

Los Blancos are looking for a new, world-class centre-back to build a defence around and the France international is the ideal candidate

This is how it goes in Madrid. A good footballer might be available. There are whispers that contracts could be run down, or that thinly-veiled links could bring two parties together. Jude Bellingham loves Zinedine Zidane. Kylian Mbappe had Cristiano Ronaldo posters on his wall. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham went to a few concerts together – and seemed like good mates in a celebration at Euro 2024.

The unfortunate thing for Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Liverpool is that these things often end up being true. Where there is digitally-generated smoke, there tends to be fire. And the latest fad in the Spanish capital surrounds another top-tier talent in the Premier League. Every so often, Saliba links crop up in the French or Spanish media. This is part of the football landscape. Saliba is among the best centre-backs in the world. The fact that he does not currently play for Madrid means he will be linked with Los Blancos until he eventually does.

The scary reality here – at least for Arsenal fans – is that this one makes sense. Madrid, unfortunately, have a need at centre-back. Should Alexander-Arnold sign and Fran Garcia continue to improve, the full-back situation is sorted. In the middle, though, there are long-term questions. And Saliba, best-in-the-world-elect, is the perfect man to hold down the middle for years to come.

Getty Madrid's defensive issues

Madrid are bad defensively this year. There's no real way to spin it. This team, whose calling card a couple of years ago was their ability to keep the ball out of the net, can't stop opponents from scoring.

They have the fourth-best defensive record in La Liga, behind Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club. In cup competitions, they're even worse. The four goals conceded to a blunt Real Sociedad side looked bad, as did porous showings against Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Liverpool.

And then, there have been the woes in big games. Barca have found the blueprint to beat Los Blancos this year: play vertically, and force an immobile centre-back pairing to run. It worked a treat in two Clasicos, the Blaugrana scoring nine times across their two meetings this year.

Part of this is a personnel issue. There have been individual absentees that Carlo Ancelotti can point to – not least Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao. Injuries haven't helped in midfield, either, with Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni all missing time. The lackadaisical attitude towards defending from Kylian Mbappe, too, is detrimental.

Piece it all together, and Madrid are both weak in individual areas and limited as a team. There is no real recognizable structure here, and an obvious formula to beat them.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe significance of an elite defender

No one defender alone can fix all of those issues. But it would be a pretty good start. Perhaps an apt comparison is that of Virgil Van Dijk at Liverpool in early 2018. That team, too, was excellent going forward but flawed at the back. His arrival shored things up, and turned Jurgen Klopp's side into an elite defensive unit. The same can be said of Ruben Dias at Manchester City, or, further back, Sergio Ramos' growing influence at Madrid.

And make no mistake – if Saliba isn't of that calibre yet, he's not far off. In fact, he has already done the same for Arsenal. This is a team, remember, that toiled through years of 'banter era' central defenders. While Saliba was out on loan in France, Gunners had to watch the likes of David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi play at the back. They were, at times, comically bad.

Saliba alone did not change that – it took some tactical nous from Mikel Arteta and some sound defensive rejigging – but he certainly played a key role. And Arteta summarized his impact in full back in May 2024.

"He had to prove himself elsewhere. And he was incredible, consistent, regular, he knew how to handle other problems. He came back and, after one or two training sessions, in a new environment, we knew that from now on he could do it. Since then, he has proven it brilliantly to everyone. His progress and consistency are incredible. We are very happy to have him with us," Arteta said at a press conference.

Getty ImagesThe French connection

The centre-back had made waves among Arsenal fans for some time. There were whispers of this French kid out on loan who could someday become atop class talent.

But the wider sphere didn't take notice until one key moment. When Mbappe runs into left channel, you are not supposed to stop him. The French forward is too quick, too agile and too clever for most centre backs to get anywhere near him.

But on October 25, 2021, Saliba did. And he pinched the ball away, too, making a dramatic last-ditch tackle to deny what seemed to be a certain goal. Suddenly, people began to take notice. Who was this kid? And how could he run down the man no one can catch?

As it turns out, the duo have previous. Saliba, famously, was coached by Mbappe's father as a child. The two are intrinsically connected. Mbappe backed Saliba for success, too, dubbing him one of the best centre-backs in the world, and pegging him as a star for the future of French football.

"He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place. For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus," Mbappe said in 2024.

If flattery counts for anything, then Mbappe has done his job.

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Getty Images SportArsenal lacking something

It is worth, at this point, examining where Arsenal are right now. Arteta has made immense strides as manager, turning this team from an afterthought into a consistent title contender.

With this current squad, under this current manager, the Gunners will always be in the conversation for winning the Premier League, and a threat in cup competitions.

But there is a certain element to the side missing. It is not just the overwhelming need for a No.9 that still hasn't been addressed.

There's something deeper at play here, something holding them back, something that prevented them from overhauling Manchester City in two title races before being shockingly left trailing in Liverpool's wake this season.

While Indian players are not expected to play, the league commissioner Graeme Smith said a number of international cricketers were already on board

Firdose Moonda20-Jul-2022South Africa’s new franchise T20 league is likely to allow four international players in an eleven, with no other requirements – such as transformation targets – imposed on the teams. Indian players are not expected to be available for the league, but Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) ambition is to make it the second best in the world, with a player salary cap of US$1.5 million.While player names will only be revealed in the coming weeks, Graeme Smith, the league’s commissioner, said CSA has already contracted a “a number of leading international players” to combine with local talent.”This is truly an exciting time for South African cricket; the overwhelming interest shows that the country remains valued in the global cricketing eco-system,” Smith said. “A robust bidding process was followed to select the final six owners, the decision was informed by a scorecard based on various criteria to ensure the utmost professionalism, independence, and objectivity to the process.”As reported by ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday, the six teams that will form the league were all bought by groups that own franchises in the IPL. It is understood that a number of South African entrepreneurs bid for the teams, but their offers were well below what the IPL franchise owners bid.”The strong sports background of the respective owners and the global brands they manage ensures that South African cricket and the broader industry will benefit from their expertise and resources, as they bring stability and experience to the League,” Smith said.The owners of Mumbai Indians bought the Cape Town team; the Lucknow Super Giants owners got the Durban team; the Gqeberha [formerly Port Elizabeth] team went to the owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad; the owners of Rajasthan Royals got the team based in Paarl; JSW Sports, the co-owners of Delhi Capitals, bought the Pretoria side; and Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited picked up the Johannesburg franchise.While several other IPL franchises already have a footprint in other leagues, this is CSK’s first investment in an overseas T20 competition.”We have been evaluating new opportunities across the globe over the past few years,” CSK CEO KS Viswanathan said. “We felt this T20 league in South Africa will be highly competitive and it is a great opportunity for us to give back to the sport. It would also help us to spot new talent.”Nita Ambani, director of Reliance Industries, said: “I’m delighted to welcome our new T20 team to the Reliance family. We are excited to take the Mumbai Indians’ brand of fearless and entertaining cricket to South Africa, a nation that loves cricket as much as we do in India. South Africa has a strong sporting ecosystem, and we look forward to exploring the power and potential of this collaboration.”Though CSA made 10 cities available for bidding, ESPNcricinfo understands that the board pushed for Johannesburg, Centurion, Cape Town, Paarl, Durban and Gqeberha – the same as the MSL teams) – to host the tournament. Locally, concerns are growing that the country’s central region in the Free State, which includes cricket boards in Bloemfontein and Kimberley, are being neglected and will see waning support for cricket and development of cricketers in the current environment.The involvement of South African television broadcaster SuperSport, which has a stake in the league, is what insiders are saying gives the league “a much better chance [of success] than the other two tournaments” that failed. In 2017 the Global League T20, which also had IPL-owners involved but no confirmed broadcaster, was abandoned before it began, and the Mzansi Super League (MSL) was effectively given to the public broadcaster for free in 2018 and 2019. Supersport’s involvement this time includes a 30% share in the tournament as well as television rights.CSA is aiming to announce more details, including the name of the league and the date of the player auction, early next month. The league is slated to take place in January 2023 and at the same time in subsequent years, with the tournament due to start immediately after the New Year’s Test. According to the draft of the ICC’s FTP seen by ESPNcricinfo, in 2024, the league could coincide with a Test tour of New Zealand, and in 2027, with a home series against England. CSA has taken the pragmatic view that in some years the T20 league will be played at the same time as Test cricket, but white-ball players should be available for the league.A potentially more serious clash is with the UAE’s International League T20, which will also take place in January. Sources close to CSA say the board is backing their own league to be more successful because of the domestic talent base, which will require fewer international players to make up teams and should guarantee a high quality of cricket.

Blackburn manager John Eustace has now confirmed that his team are interested in signing a “special” Leeds United player.

Leeds transfer news

Given the fact that the Whites sit at the top of the Championship table, it may not be a surprise to see that they are yet to do any transfer business this month. However, that doesn’t mean the club or Daniel Farke are not looking at players, as reports keep emerging of potential targets that they have in mind.

Leeds scouts watching "pacey" versatile wide player during transfer window

Daniel Farke wants to strengthen his backline and Leeds have their eye on a familiar face.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jan 13, 2025

A report has recently claimed that Leeds are looking to sign a new goalkeeper in this transfer window, given the mistakes that Illan Meslier has made throughout this campaign, even though Farke has publicly backed him. As well as looking for a new goalkeeper, Leeds scouts watched Bali Mumba in action for Plymouth Argyle this weekend, as they took a closer look at him.

The defender is known to Farke, as he is the one that gave him his Premier League debut with Norwich City, and given the German wants to improve his full-back options, they could be set for a reunion. Aside from potential arrivals, Leeds are set to see a player leave Elland Road, as Joe Gelhardt closes in on a move to Hull City. The forward is set to join the Tigers on a six-month loan deal as he searches for more football.

Eustace confirms January transfer interest in Leeds player

Gelhardt may not be the only player to leave Leeds, as when speaking to The Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn Rovers boss Eustace confirmed that Patrick Bamford is on a list of potential targets for this month.

Bamford, who was dubbed “special” by former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, has been at Elland Road for seven seasons now after joining the club from Middlesbrough in 2018. The forward has been an important player for the club, but recent reports have suggested that his time at Leeds could be coming to an end, despite being under contract until 2026.

It was reported in December that the Whites could let the £70,000-a-week man leave this month, and it now seems that Blackburn are one side interested in his services.

Eustace has revealed that he believes Bamford is a good player and went on to admit that he is on their list of players they have looked at: “Patrick is a very good player. I played with him at Derby a long time ago when he started out.

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“He’s a consistent performer at this level; he plays for a huge club in Leeds. But there will be lots of names thrown towards me, and I’ll just say they’re good players. You’d have to ask the club. He’s a player on a long list that we have looked at, and we’ll have to see.”

Departing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker is set to line up alongside Olivia Rodrigo and The 1975 after landing a shock gig at Glastonbury.

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Ex-England striker stepping down from MOTD roleDue to speak at iconic festival in SomersetTaking to the stage alongside musicians & comediansFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

It has already been announced that Rodrigo and The 1975 will be filling headline slots on the Pyramid stage when an iconic festival returns to Worthy Farm in late June. Charli xcx, RAYE, Neil Young and The Prodigy are among the other notable acts to have been locked in for the 2025 event.

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According to , ex-England striker Lineker – who is stepping down as MOTD presenter after 25 years in that post – will also form part of the Glastonbury line-up alongside some iconic musicians and comedians.

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Lineker will not be singing or telling jokes, with his presence expected on ‘The Information’ stage. Said venue is described by Glastonbury as a "dedicated space for discussion and debate… with a diverse programme of speakers, activists and political figures."

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WHAT NEXT?

Former Lionesses star Jill Scott, who is a Euro 2022 and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here winner, will also be speaking, as will Chelsea’s commercial manager Carly Telford. The subject matter for Lineker’s discussion is yet to be confirmed.