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Hashim Amla leaves the international stage having made a mark on not just his fellow cricketers, but on athletes across the globe.

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2019

The mighty # @amlahash … The Father figure of our team. So much wisdom , so much humility , always a smile on ur face and has been the rock of the batting line up for as long as I can remember. Well done on ur legendary career bud. THANK YOU !!! We definitely gonna miss you pic.twitter.com/ILwp12URER

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) August 9, 2019

View this post on Instagram

‪Unreal career @amlahash ! So many doubted u early on, but your fighting spirit, humility & incredible one of a kind talent took u to the top of the mountain and ultimately to one of the best players in the world and certainly I’ve ever seen. Congrats on an amazing career, Humaam‬

A post shared by AB de Villiers (@abdevilliers17) on Aug 8, 2019 at 8:28am PDT

A brother , guide and a well wisher to every one in proteas dressing room will be missed.Jazakallah for all the help and love @amlahash let allah bless you for everything you intend to do in future #Legend

— Imran Tahir (@ImranTahirSA) August 8, 2019

Congratulations to Hashim Amla on a fantastic international career..what an amazing journey it has been since seeing you for the first time in the Kingsmead nets in the late 90’s… well done..respect.. @amlahash

— Shaun Pollock (@7polly7) August 8, 2019

There arent enough words to describe your contributions… to the team.. to me… and to the country as a whole!

A person we could always look to for advice and wisdom.

You truly brought a whole nation together… Thank you for everything @amlahash #Legend #SilentWarrior pic.twitter.com/qd8mNR4OD8

— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) August 8, 2019

Morals, respect, hard work, dedication , family man , team player , faith are the stats I will remember and tell kids about forever One of the very best to play this beautiful game The silent WARRIOR @amlahash – love you bro look forward to that chai you’re making

— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) August 8, 2019

You have served your country with great distinction and been a source of inspiration for many youngsters @amlahash! Wishing you a wonderful retired life. Good luck my friend. pic.twitter.com/U7OeLwWFtk

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 9, 2019

Congratulations @amlahash for brilliant career..always enjoyed the battle with you in the ground while bowling to you ..wish you lots of happiness going forward.. Great man may god bless you pic.twitter.com/OW3lHaKpHj

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 8, 2019

Thank you for blessing the cricket field legend – @amlahash. You are a role model both in an out of the ground. I wish the very best to you for your second innings. #Legend #Respect #RiseAndRise pic.twitter.com/v0sf3zvMFV

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) August 8, 2019

The great #HashimAmla has surprised the world with his announcement to retire from all forms of cricket, what a legend & what a great human being & great brand ambassador of the game respect to you wish you best of luck ..

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 8, 2019

Congratulations to @amlahash on such a wonderful international career.Truly a legend and a great human https://t.co/limTgUwQRt will definitely be missed by the cricket fans all over the world.Many prayers for your future life.

— Misbah Ul Haq (@captainmisbahpk) August 8, 2019

First time I played against @amlahash was in u-19 World Cup in New Zealand.showed the glimpse of his class by playing an outstanding inning against us,surely he finished his international career by being one of the greats of South African cricket.Happy #retirement brother #amla

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 8, 2019

Legend on & off the field. Congratulations on an amazing career habibi, May the most high continue to bless you & your loved ones @amlahash pic.twitter.com/apXt8IhLZv

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) August 9, 2019

The mighty #

I would loved to have had some of your steely resolve and concentration!!!

Congrats on an inspiring and brilliant career laden with humility @amlahash.

Thanks for those endless hours at the crease which gave us so much joy.

Much respect pic.twitter.com/Musk6MgYMi

— Bryan Habana (@BryanHabana) August 8, 2019

Niroshan Dickwella, meanwhile, thinks any target under 225 will be achievable

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle16-Aug-2019Any lead in excess of 200 could be a winning one for New Zealand on a wearing Galle pitch, Tom Latham has said. Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, meanwhile, feels any target below 225 could be chaseable.New Zealand are currently 177 runs ahead, with three second-innings wickets remaining, with BJ Watling and William Somerville unbeaten overnight. The second new ball is due in four overs.”I think anything above 200, we are not too far off from that,” Latham said after stumps on day three. “The important thing for us is to come back tomorrow morning and put up those partnerships like we did today. Like Tim Southee (who put on 54 with Watling for the seventh wicket), Will Somerville can help us build a partnership with BJ, who has been outstatanding today. Hopefully we can stitch that total to make as many as possible. We know how tough it can be in the fourth innings to chase down a score.”It’s a surface where when you get in, you can score, but sometimes things happen quickly in this part of the world. This wicket is no different. Through the three innings we have seen wickets lost in a hurry. Hopefully we can put pressure on the Sri Lankans and the wicket keeps deteriorating and the spinners will come into play.”The highest successful fourth-innings chase in Galle is 99 for 3, but that record may be slightly misleading – there haven’t been that many middling fourth-innings targets set at this venue, and teams have made nine 200-plus fourth-innings totals in draws and losses. What’s more, although there is substantial turn on this particular pitch, it is not yet unplayable, Dickwella said, having made 61 in the first innings and kept wickets for most of day three.”The wicket is turning but it is slow turn,” he said. “Slower than what we usually get in Galle. Even if we get a target of 225 or so, I think we can chase it down. Batting fourth will be tough on this wicket, no doubt, but we have a decent batting line-up. Those chasing stats are what teams have done in past. We’re a different team and this is a different opposition. We have to play according the situation. Our batters will do the job, I feel.”Key to New Zealand’s good position in the match was the 63 not out from Watling, who arrived at the crease with the score effectively 63 for 4, before putting up good partnerships with Henry Nicholls and Southee and a burgeoning one with Somerville.”It was a fantastic innings by Watling,” Latham said. “He is a guy who stands up when we need him. The tough situations bring the best out of him and it’s great to have him in our team.”

Hardik Pandya is going to be one of several points to ponder as India pick their squads for New Zealand on Sunday

Nagraj Gollapudi11-Jan-20202:44

‘Conditions in New Zealand ideal to include a seam-bowling allrounder’ – Bangar

India will begin their new decade in Test cricket with two Tests in New Zealand, starting on February 21. The series, being part of the World Test Championship (WTC), is very significant for India; they would be fairly confident of making the inaugural WTC final in June 2021 if they were to win this series. On January 12, India’s selection panel, led by MSK Prasad, will pick India’s squads for this tour – there are five T20Is and three ODIs to play before the two Tests.The selectors and the Indian team management have agreed that they need to offer a long run to the pool of players they have been fielding in limited-overs cricket, so it is unlikely they will tinker much with those squads. The one big change on this front is likely to be the return of allrounder Hardik Pandya post his back surgery.But, keeping in mind the significance of the Test series, it poses a number of questions. Here’s what the five-man selection panel is likely to deliberate on Sunday.Who can be the third opener-cum-back-up batsman?
With Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal forming a good partnership at the top during the home Test season, the selectors will focus on picking a third opener who can also offer back-up elsewhere. There is more than one available option for this. Leading the way, clearly, is KL Rahul, who has been delivering in the limited-overs formats. Along with Hanuma Vihari, Rahul can also play the extra specialist batsman’s role in the top order.Others in the race would be the youth brigade comprising Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran. All four were named in the India A side as part of the shadow tour. Shaw would have considered himself as a favourite, but an untimely shoulder injury might push him to the back of the queue. While Shaw was serving his doping ban, Gill was named in the Test squads for the West Indies tour, and the home Tests against West Indies and Bangladesh.Hardik Pandya reacts in the field•Getty ImagesWill Hardik Pandya return in whites?
After being forced to undergo a back surgery, Hardik has been included only in the limited-overs leg of India A’s tour of New Zealand. The last time Hardik was part of the Indian Test squad was during the 2018 England tour. Between then and now he has played one first-class match, in December 2018. The selectors might think it is too big a risk to rush the allrounder into the Test squad, especially with T20 World Cup scheduled later this year. This could mean India are likely to continue with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as the two – spin-bowling – allrounders.A fifth fast bowler or a third spinner?
Usually on overseas trips, India have travelled with at least 16 players – such was the case on their last away trip too, to the Caribbean in July last year.Here, the selectors will keep in mind that there is just a three-day break between the two Tests. Also, importantly, the pitches in New Zealand over the last decade have slowed down. So do they pick four fast bowlers and a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav, whom India coach Ravi Shastri had said would be his lead overseas spinner following the triumph in Australia last year? Or will they pick a fifth fast bowler in the absence of a fast-bowling allrounder like Hardik? If they go with the latter, Navdeep Saini is likely to be the primary choice although he will not feature in the two first-class matches India A will play prior to the Test series.Probable India Test squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav/Navdeep Saini

After putting on five-star display against Crystal Palace, the good news could be short-lived for Manchester City amid reports that one midfield star is willing to take a pay cut to get his move this summer.

Man City put five past Crystal Palace

When Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards struck to hand Crystal Palace a shock 2-0 lead at the Etihad, it looked set to be an all too familiar story for Pep Guardiola’s side. That is, until Kevin De Bruyne took a hold on proceedings.

The Belgian, into his last six games of his Manchester City career, scored a stunning free-kick before playing his part in Omar Marmoush’s swift equaliser midway through the first period.

Putting on a show, Manchester City then hit three goals without a response to seal all three points against an in-form Crystal Palace side. Speaking after an excellent display, De Bruyne told TNT Sports: “I thought the first 20 minutes, it was actually alright. We had a couple of chances but they pounced on two chances, one a corner and then obviously the Eze chance.

“I was wondering, ‘What’s going on here?’, but I think the reaction was really good. Obviously, scoring very quickly the first and the second changed the feeling of the game. I think overall we played really well.”

Man City in contact with "electric" £30m full-back with Walker-esque pace

The Citizens could land a bargain deal…

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 11, 2025

It may well prove to be an all-important victory for the Citizens as they battle to secure Champions League qualification, with De Bruyne hoping to ensure of a fitting farewell in the process. That said, the Belgian may not be the only one saying his goodbyes in the coming weeks if recent reports are anything to go by.

Benfica eyeing Bernardo Silva move

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, as relayed by Sport Witness, Benfica are now plotting a move to sign Bernardo Silva, who is reportedly willing to take a pay cut in order to secure an exit away from Manchester City.

In doing so, the midfielder would be going full circle back to his boyhood club. Now 30 years old and a player who’s been past his excellent best at times this season, Silva would be completing a fitting move.

If that is to be that for the Portugal international in Manchester, there’s no doubt that he’ll be bowing out as a modern-day legend at the home of the Premier League champions. Guardiola’s praise has often reflected that legend status, too.

The Spaniard told reporters in December: “We are lucky with the players we have, for example, like Bernardo. I know he’s a special player for me, but how he puts his heart into those positions.

“He is an incredible winner and example for us in how he behaves in different positions and always tries to help and read what happens in certain positions. Playing attacking midfield, holding midfield, always defensively he makes an incredible effort.”

Over the years, Tottenham Hotspur have been known for being the home to numerous elite-level attackers who have made a name for themselves at the top of European football.

Harry Kane is undoubtedly the club’s best-ever goalscorer, registering 280 goals during his time in North London, breaking the record set by the infamous Jimmy Greaves.

He would depart to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, carrying on his superb form in front of goal, notching 78 efforts in his 86 outings for the Bundesliga outfit.

After his departure, Ange Postecoglou’s side have still managed to find the back of the net, scoring 60 times in their 32 Premier League matches in 2024/25 – the third most of any side in the division.

However, it hasn’t been enough to lead them out of the bottom half of the table, with the Aussie already targeting reinforcements to prevent such a situation from occurring next season.

Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Despite investment into the front line in recent seasons, Spurs are still in desperate need of added options to help provide the goods in the final third on a consistent basis.

Antoine Semenyo is the latest attacker touted with a move to North London in recent days, with the Bournemouth star just one player on their shortlist ahead of the upcoming window.

However, if they are to secure a deal for the 25-year-old’s signature, they will have to fork out £70m, with Andoni Iraola’s side reluctant to offload their talisman.

Matheus Cunha is just another name thrown into the mix, but like Semenyo, a potential club-record fee is needed to prise him away from Molineux in the coming months.

Such a high figure could lead the side back into the race for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, with journalist Florian Plettenberg claiming the Lilywhites are still in contention to land the 19-year-old sensation.

However, Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig are also keen on a deal, which could cost any interested party just £35m after the Saints’ relegation.

The player who could be Spurs’ next Gareth Bale

Winger Gareth Bale will go down as one of Spurs’ best ever players after his impact during his time in the first team, starring for the Lilywhites on two separate occasions.

The Welsh international originally featured at left-back, before his hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League catapulted him into a forward role – one that would change his career trajectory massively.

He registered 71 goals during his two stints in North London, with 26 of his efforts coming in the 2012/13 season, leading to his eventual £85m move to European giants Real Madrid.

12 years on from his big-money sale, the hierarchy could be about to land their new version of the superstar in the form of Dibling, with the youngster following on the same path of joining the club from Southampton.

However, his similarities stretch way beyond such a move, with his ability to glide past the opposition similar to that of Bale, having the potential to emulate the former Spurs fan-favourite.

When comparing the 19-year-old’s stats from the ongoing campaign to Bale’s final year on loan at the club, Dibling has managed to match or better his tallies in numerous key areas – showcasing how much of a superb addition he would be.

The Southampton star, who’s been labelled “outstanding” by Sky Sports’ Joel Thomlinson, may have been outscored by the Welshman, but has notched a higher take-on rate per 90, along with more carries per 90 – showcasing his relentless running into attacking areas.

He’s been a menace to countless backlines this season, winning 2.5 fouls per 90, whilst also completing 81% of his passes, with both of his subsequent tallies higher than those of Bale.

Whilst the teenager has a long way to go until he reaches the levels produced by the former Real Madrid star, the figures he’s produced this year are nothing short of sensational, having the platform to improve further in the years ahead.

His direct nature makes him a constant threat, but he just needs the final product to his game to allow him to break through and become the next elite talent in North London.

It’s vital that the hierarchy work tirelessly to win the race for his signature this summer, with Dibling having the tools to point Ange’s side in the right direction in 2025/26.

Their best LW since Son: Spurs plotting £70m move for "world-class" star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making moves ahead of the summer transfer window.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 16, 2025

Leeds United are back in action once again this evening as they prepare to travel to Oxford United in the Championship for the first of their two Easter matches.

The Whites play after Sheffield United face Cardiff City earlier in the day and this means that they could go eight points clear of third place with a win, if results go their way.

Daniel Farke has already shown that he is willing to make bold selection decisions ahead of big games, having already played a blinder by dropping Illan Meslier recently.

Why Illan Meslier was dropped by Leeds

The French dud was dropped by the German head coach after making two crucial mistakes in the 2-2 draw with Swansea at Elland Road at the end of last month, dropping a cross onto Harry Darling for the first goal and being beaten too easily for the second strike.

Meslier conceded 2.73 more goals than expected and made three errors that directly led to goals in the Championship before finally being taken out of the team in favour of Karl Darlow.

The English shot-stopper has prevented 0.56 xG in his three appearances since he came into the XI, without making a single error, and provided a solid presence between the sticks.

His ability to claim crosses and take danger out of situations has been appreciated by the fan base, as shown by the post from reporter Beren Cross above.

Farke could, now, repeat the trick he played by dropping Meslier by dropping another regular starter in Joel Piroe, whose performances have dipped of late.

Why Joel Piroe should be dropped

The Dutch centre-forward started the 2-1 win over Preston North End and came off the pitch without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts for the eighth game running.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Piroe started all eight of those matches, returning zero goals and zero assists, and has only scored one goal in his last ten starts in the Championship for Leeds.

The left-footed forward was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment in February, and that is one of the issues with his performances for the Whites because the striker does not offer enough in his general play without goals to go with it.

As you can see in the table above, Piroe is regularly dominated by Championship defenders in duels on the ground and in the air, whilst he does not excel as a passer, creator, or dribbler in possession.

This means that the former Swansea City attacker has been a lightweight in the Whites starting XI in the past eight matches as a starter, because of his poor all-round displays as well as his lack of impact in the final third.

Therefore, Farke could repeat his Meslier trick by ruthlessly ditching Piroe from the team to unleash Patrick Bamford, who recently came off the bench to win six of his nine duels against Middlesbrough.

The English number nine could provide more physicality at the top end of the pitch, as the Dutchman has been too easy for defenders to play against, as Leeds look to get their Premier League promotion over the line in the coming days.

Farke already his next Rutter in Leeds "weapon" who's shining out on loan

Daniel Farke may have his next Georginio Rutter in this Leeds star who is out on loan.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 16, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now prepared to shell out a significant sum for one “impressive” forward wanted by Bayern Munich, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange doing their homework ahead of the summer window.

Tottenham preparing for Bodo/Glimt with Europa League final at stake

Carrying a 3-1 lead into their Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, the north Londoners have a major chance to seal their place in the final and potentially clinch a first major trophy in 17 years.

Tottenham: £4m-per-year manager who Levy wants is tempted to replace Ange

He’s now open to joining Spurs.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 6, 2025

Uncertainty still surrounds the long-term future of manager Ange Postecoglou, but if the Australian does end up departing N17, he’ll be determined to end his two-year stay on a major high, following the tactician’s early-season suggestion that he always wins trophies during his second term in charge.

Some bad news for Spurs is that star midfielder James Maddison will be absent from their semi-final clash and most likely the final, with the England international sustaining a serious knee injury.

Postecoglou has some key decisions to make in regard to who starts Thursday’s vital clash in Norway, and their London derby draw against West Ham over the weekend served as an audition for potential starters.

“The beauty about today was that a lot of our guys who haven’t played a lot of minutes recently, we’ve got some real meaningful minutes and I thought we did well on the day,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against West Ham.

“It’s important for Deki to play. He’s missed so much football with his injury, and he’s just getting back into some rhythm.

“Pape, Archie Gray, the two wingers, Mathys and guys like Djed and Kevin, I just think it’s really important those guys play and have Biss back up again for another 90 minutes and even Richy to play again. It’s been a juggling act for sure to try to get to a position where we’ve got a squad that’s capable of tackling what’s ahead. We’re still cursed with some bad luck along the way, but I was really pleased the guys that got the minutes today.”

Tottenham "ready to pay" £25 million-plus for Tim Kleindienst

Following a 2024/2025 campaign riddled with injuries to key men, Levy and Lange must back Postecoglou or any prospective new manager with fresh faces ahead of next season.

Tottenham are believed to be in the market for a new forward, and another name now attracting their attention is Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst.

The “underrated” and prolific German is enjoying the season of his life, having racked up 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, not to mention four goals in six caps at international level.

According to CaughtOffside, who labelled him “impressive”, Tottenham are “ready to pay” £25 million-plus for Kleindienst this summer and potentially sign him ahead of Kompany’s Bayern.

The Bavarians’ interest in him is a clear indicator of just how much the centre-forward has impressed in the Bundesliga this term, but Spurs are not the only Premier League side contending for his services either, so Kleindienst’s future will be an intriguing story of the summer.

Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic to manage the club for a second time in the summer of 2023 when Ange Postecoglou decided to ditch Parkhead for the Premier League.

The Northern Irish head coach, who had left the Hoops to join Leicester City in 2019, enjoyed a fantastic first season back in Glasgow, winning the Scottish Premiership and the SFA Cup.

Celtic, despite already enjoying a successful campaign, backed Rodgers in the summer transfer window by signing the likes of Auston Trusty, Arne Engels, and Luke McCowan, as well as signing Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah on permanent deals.

That backing looks to have paid off because the Hoops are a SFA Cup final win over Aberdeen from winning the domestic treble, which would be an improvement on the 2023/24 campaign.

Celtic could, therefore, back Rodgers once again in the upcoming summer transfer window to bolster the squad even further, potentially with a view to going further in the Champions League.

One player who has been linked with a potential move to Parkhead ahead of the 2025/26 campaign is Lennon Miller, who is currently starring in the Premiership.

How much Lennon Miller could cost Celtic

Back in March, The Scottish Sun reported that Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise are working on a deal to sign the Motherwell star for a fee of £5m.

They are Brighton & Hove Albion’s sister club and the report claimed that the Premier League side view him as a long-term prospect and would want him to play European football with USG before making a move to the AMEX in the future.

The Scottish Sun added that both Celtic and Udinese had offers turned down by Motherwell for the Scotland international in the January transfer window.

Football Insider have since reported that the Hoops remain interested in a deal for Miller and are set to pursue him in the summer transfer window, which suggests that they could challenge USG for the £5m-rated star.

The Scottish star, dubbed Motherwell’s ‘Star Boy’ by the league’s official X account, has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Premiership for his club at such a young age this season.

Miller, who only turns 19 in August, has showcased his quality in and out of possession in the middle of the park throughout the 2025/26 campaign, as a midfielder who can break up play as well as provide quality at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, the Motherwell star has been an excellent creator for Motherwell, with 11 ‘big chances’ created in 29 matches, whilst also being able to consistently break up opposition attacks with tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.

These statistics, for a player who is only 18, explain why he could be well worth the reported £5m transfer fee for Celtic, or any of the other clubs interested in signing him.

The Hoops, though, already have a central midfield player who is worth even more than the £5m that it would take to sign Miller, because the club have hit the jackpot with club captain Callum McGregor.

How much Callum McGregor is worth

The former Scotland international came up through the youth ranks at Parkhead before emerging as a first-team star for the club after a loan spell with Notts County in England.

McGregor first came into the senior set-up in the 2014/15 campaign, after that loan down south, and has gone on to rack up a staggering 514 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The left-footed star, who has won ten Premiership titles with the Scottish giants, is now the Celtic captain and an integral part of Rodgers’ team in the present day, at the age of 31.

McGregor was valued at just £127k by Transfermarkt at the time of his emergence in the first-team at Parkhead, and that value has soared significantly in the past 11 years, as shown in the table below.

The Scottish star’s value skyrocketed throughout his early career at Parkhead and peaked at £7.6m in 2023, but it has gone down slightly in the last couple of years.

That is not because of his performances, though, as he has naturally declined in value with age. There is not much sale value in a player who turns 32 this summer, which may be why his value has dropped down to £5.5m.

Despite his value having dropped in the last couple of years, McGregor is still worth £500k more than Lennon Miller, who is reportedly valued at £5m, which shows that Celtic have hit the jackpot with their captain.

They have struck gold with the central midfielder because he did not cost them a penny to sign, given that he came up through the academy, and has developed into an incredibly valuable asset and key player on the pitch.

In the 2024/25 campaign, McGregor has made 50 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops and is on course to lead the team to a treble, if they beat Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.

The experienced star has also scored ten goals, including the one above, in those 50 matches, which shows that he has provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position.

Earlier this year, his Rodgers lauded his quality, saying: “He is such a unique player, the tempo setter for the team. He’s tactically so good, he really is a coach on the pitch.

“He sees all the pictures we want and he knows when to release himself to shoot or create goals. A wonderful player who is the glue for this team.”

This shows that McGregor remains an important player for the manager, given how often he has played this season, whilst also being more valuable than a midfielder the club are reportedly looking to sign this summer.

Fewer minutes than Nawrocki: Celtic must axe flop who's "not good enough"

Celtic must finally part ways with this player who has played fewer minutes than Maik Nawrocki.

By
Dan Emery

May 9, 2025

Celtic have, therefore, hit the jackpot with the Scottish metronome, who is on course to spend his entire career at Parkhead, and they may hope that they can develop more players like him through the academy system in the years to come.

Despite their huge success in the Premier League this season, changes are expected at Liverpool over the summer window to hand Arne Slot with the funds to bolster his squad.

The Reds claimed the title with multiple games to spare, highlighting the excellent work done by the Dutchman after taking the reins last summer from Jürgen Klopp.

Such an achievement was made even more impressive after making just one addition, but that could be about to change in the coming months.

Even though the transfer window is not yet open, the hierarchy have already laid the foundations for potential business, handing Slot the best possible opportunity to build on his early success at Anfield.

Numerous additions are expected on Merseyside over the summer window, with one player emerging as a potential key target over the last couple of weeks.

The latest on Liverpool’s attempts to sign Florian Wirtz

In recent weeks, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz has become a key target for Liverpool as Slot looks to bolster the options at his disposal in 2025/26.

The German, who’s registered 30 combined goals and assists this campaign, has been one of the shining lights in the Bundesliga, undoubtedly contributing to the interest from the Reds.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit, with Bayern Munich and Manchester also credited with an interest in landing the 22-year-old sensation during the off-season.

Despite the rumours linking him elsewhere, it was reported this week that the Reds were ready to offer a deal to the German outfit to potentially land the young star.

Undoubtedly, a player of his quality will likely cost a small fortune, with other players currently on the books on Merseyside needing to be sacrificed to fund such a deal.

The Liverpool player who earns over 2x more than Wirtz

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, numerous players have been touted with moves away from Liverpool this summer, with many likely to raise key funds.

Darwin Nunez joined for a club-record fee back in the summer of 2022, but has struggled to provide the goods at Anfield, notching just 40 goals in his 142 appearances for the club.

Such form has led to rumours over a potential departure, with the likes of Napoli and Atlético Madrid already interested in making a move to land the Uruguayan international at a cut-price.

However, he may not be the only player out the door this summer, with Slot needing to sell Andy Robertson, especially if Milos Kerkez joins the club in the coming months.

The Hungarian has been touted as a replacement for the Scotsman this summer, with the 31-year-old falling way below the high standards he’s set for himself in recent years.

The defender joined in an £8m deal from Hull City eight years ago, exceeding all expectations and registering 11 goals and 67 assists for the Reds – enabling them to reach new heights in recent seasons.

However, 2024/25 has been a year to forget for Robertson, only registering two assists across all competitions, with his major asset now looking to be ineffective compared to previous campaigns.

Such showings have led to broadcaster Nubaid Haroon claiming that he’s been “struggling” as of late, with his stats produced highlighting his decline in recent years.

His current weekly wage of £160k-per-week doesn’t offer value for money, given his lack of positive impact, with the left-back the fourth-highest earner in the squad.

Such a figure is over two times higher than that of current target Wirtz, who currently earns just £72k-per-week, according to Capology, highlighting how much the club need to cut Robertson from the squad.

Whilst it would be a brutal decision given his tally of 341 appearances for the club, unfortunately, his time has come to be moved on as they prepare for a new era under Slot.

Such a deal to sign him back in 2017 will go down as one of the best in their recent history, undoubtedly being a modern-day icon regardless of what happens this summer.

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Despite winning the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, Liverpool are incredibly active in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their squad.

The window officially opened for business on Sunday and the club have already confirmed Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong as their first signing of the year.

He has come through the door as the direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has completed a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup.

Liverpool are also reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as David Ornstein has claimed that the Germany international is keen to make the move to Anfield.

The 22-year-old star delivered 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Reds could be bringing in an influential figure at the top end of the pitch.

These new signings coming in could provide added competition for the existing stars at Anfield, and one player who may need to be on his toes is Ibrahima Konate.

Why Ibrahima Konate could be concerned this summer

The France international started 30 of his 31 appearances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, as the main partner for Virgil van Dijk at the back.

However, it did not always look like that was going to be the case for the former RB Leipzig star. Last summer, Football Insider reported that Arne Slot was not convinced by the centre-back, due to his performances on the pitch and in training, as well as his injury record.

That was seemingly backed up by the Dutch head coach’s decision to go with Jarrel Quansah next to van Dijk ahead of Konate on the opening day against Ipswich Town. However, the English youngster endured a difficult half against Liam Delap and was replaced by the French titan at half-time.

Konate then went on to be a regular starter in the Premier League, despite those early concerns about his place in the side, but there were still moments that could throw his long-term future into doubt.

As you can see in the table above, the French colossus was largely dominant in duels on the deck and in the air, but was also no stranger to making a mistake at the back.

Errors crept into his performances, with three errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition, in the Premier League, and that is why the club’s reported interest in a new central defender could leave him concerned this summer.

Liverpool eyeing deal for new centre-back

According to Football Insider, the path has been cleared for Liverpool to pursue a deal to sign RB Leipzig central defender Castello Lukeba in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the German side’s seventh-placed finish in the Bundesliga, which means that they will not be playing European football next season, has cleared the path for the Reds to swoop in for the centre-back, making them one of the favourites to secure his signature.

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It states that the French star has a release clause of £74m in his contract with Leipzig, and that Liverpool are on high alert after his team failed to qualify for Europe.

The report adds, however, that the Premier League giants will attempt to use the situation to negotiate a lower fee for the 22-year-old titan, which means that they could sign him for less than the £74m release clause.

Konate could, now, be concerned by this news because another centre-back arriving at Anfield this summer could create competition for his place that could see him drop out of the starting XI on a regular basis.

If Liverpool can get a deal over the line for Lukeba in the coming weeks or months, Slot could have a centre-back on his hands who has the potential to be an upgrade on his current partner for van Dijk.

Why Castello Lukeba could replace Ibrahima Konate

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as the “perfect” left centre-back slash left-back hybrid, which could mean that he could move over to the left side of the pairing with the captain on the right in order to replace Konate.

The Leipzig star’s reliability, first and foremost, is what may attract Slot to him. In 103 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for Lyon and Leipzig combined, the 22-year-old star has not made a single error that has directly led to a goal for the opposition.

On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that Mattinson has also referred to him as “one of the best defensive prospects in world football” and one of “the best U21 centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.”

In comparison, Konate has made five errors leading to goals in just 82 appearances in the Premier League, which suggests that he is nowhere near as reliable as Lukeba in that sense.

This means that Slot could rely on the £74m-rated star more to deliver consistent performances without making critical mistakes that create chances for the opposition.

As you can see in the table above, Lukeba also made slightly more tackles and interceptions per game on average at league level this season, whilst also winning a higher percentage of his ground duels.

Konate appears to have the edge over him when it comes to winning aerial duels, although the Leipzig star is not weak in that respect, but overall, the Liverpool defender comes out second-best.

These statistics indicate that the Reds number five should be concerned about his place in the starting XI if Lukeba walks through the door, because the young titan has the qualities to displace him next season.

Slot could improve his team by signing the French star to provide a more reliable presence at the heart of the defence in comparison to Konate, due to his lack of errors in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, which is why this could be an excellent addition for the club.

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