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Liverpool are considering making an £8m offer for a highly-rated young player who “has everything” in his game, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have had some quiet transfer windows of late, with supporters left frustrated by a lack of business, even though they are shining under Arne Slot, topping the Premier League table after a flying start to the campaign.

More signings should be expected moving forward and Juventus starlet Kenan Yildiz has been mentioned as an option for Liverpool. It is believed that £66m could be enough for the Merseysiders to get their man, with the 19-year-old an attacking player with a high ceiling.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Reds future is still in doubt, with the vice-captain not yet signing a new contract at Anfield, so it’s no surprise to see potential replacements being lined up. Porto right-back Martim Fernandes has been mentioned as a target, with the 18-year-old already racking up 24 appearances for the Portuguese giants.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has also been linked with Liverpool, but the Dutchman is seen as a replacement for Ryan Gravenberch, should his international teammate depart. That would be a huge shock, however, given his performance under Slot this season, where he has become one of the first names on Slot’s team sheet.

Liverpool planning £8m offer for young star

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Liverpool are contemplating tabling an £8m bid for Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller, with club scouts giving “glowing reviews” of him. The 18-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in Scottish football and has been linked with a host of other big clubs, including Newcastle United, Celtic and Rangers.

Miller would very much be one for the future at Liverpool, rather than someone who could come straight in as a key starter, especially with the Reds already possessing so much depth in the middle of the park. Like current Anfield youngster Ben Doak, though, the Motherwell ace is a player who has an enormous amount of potential, recently being lauded by Andy Halliday.

“I’ve been lucky to play with a few talented youngsters, but I look at Lennon and he’s got everything. It’s not even being a young player, I think he’s one of our best players and has been for a couple of seasons, now. I think we’ve very lucky to have him, but I’ve said this many times as well, and I think Lennon knows it, that’s he’s also very lucky to have Motherwell.”

Despite still only being 18 years of age, Miller has already played 59 times for Motherwell, showing that he is already an important figure at the heart of his side’s midfield.

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The lure of moving to a club as big as Liverpool would surely appeal, even though he knows his playing time would be limited, and he could be loaned out to begin with, potentially even remaining where he is for another season.

Wayne Parnell has been ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury, while Temba Bavuma is fit to play

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2022

Bangladesh are unlikely to change their playing XI for the decider against South Africa•AFP/Getty Images

Big pictureBefore reaching South Africa, Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and coach Russell Domingo were confident of notching up a maiden ODI series win here. They started with a big win in the first ODI in Centurion, but the hosts hit back in the second game in Johannesburg. The teams now head to Centurion again for the decider – a first on a Bangladesh tour of South Africa.South Africa have been blowing hot and cold since the start of 2021, winning seven of the 15 ODIs and losing six, with two matches producing no result. It will not be an easy task for Bangladesh to thump South Africa at home; however, it wouldn’t impossible either.A strong bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada, who picked up a five-for, helped South Africa level the series in the second ODI. Lungi Ngidi too bowled well and so did Wayne Parnell, before injuring his left hamstring. But they might have expected a bit more from the spin duo of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.Related

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Quinton de Kock attacked Bangladesh from the word go, and Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma, nursing a hand injury, kept them in the game in the short chase. South Africa will want more from their batters, and not just in runs, but also to take on the Bangladesh bowling attack like de Kock did in the second game.Bangladesh are unlikely to change their playing XI, with the same set of players having featured for the sixth match in a row in Johannesburg. Such consistency in selection is not common with the visitors, and it shows the approach of a captain and a coach who believe in giving enough chances to a player to prove his worth before dropping them after a poor performance.Runs from the likes of Litton Das, Yasir Ali and Afif Hossain have not only eased the pressure on the four senior batters, but has also made Bangladesh a well-rounded batting side. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will be manning the top-order fort, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, surprisingly off colour lately, will be expected to provide the flourish in the end.Bangladesh’s bowling has also done the job. Taskin Ahmed will be leading the attack with his accuracy and searing pace. Mustafizur Rahman is the end-overs master, while Shoriful Islam has shown he is adept at both ends of the innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is evolving as an allrounder, with Shakib being the backbone of the bowling department.Form guideSouth Africa WLWWW (Last five completed matches; most recent first)
Bangladesh LWLWWKagiso Rabada will once again be key for South Africa•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlightKagiso Rabada, the leader of South Africa’s pace attack, will be expected to do a bulk of the damage to guide the hosts to the series win. The fast bowler rattled the batting line-up in the second ODI, where his first spell extended to seven overs.There is a lot of talk about promoting Afif Hossain up the order, but Bangladesh believe he will be best suited for No 7. It also looks like Afif is getting accustomed to the role now, evident in the way he rescued the team with an unbeaten 93 after the early collapse in Chattogram against Afghanistan, and also after he scored a brisk 72 on Sunday. Though he is usually aggressive, Afif also knows when to curb that instinct for his team.Team newsWayne Parnell has been ruled out of the match with the hamstring injury, which means Marco Jansen might take his place in the side. Captain Temba Bavuma, who injured his hand, is fit to play. South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Kyle Verreynne, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Keshav Maharaj, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiDespite the seven-wicket loss in Johannesburg, Bangladesh are unlikely to change their line-up.Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsOnly two out of 12 times have teams lost scoring after 300-plus runs batting first at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The third ODI promises to be a run fest. The forecast says there will be no rain on Wednesday.Stats and trivia Both of Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket hauls in ODIs have come against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s 314 against South Africa in the first ODI was the first time they scored 300-plus in an ODI when only five bowlers were used by the opposition.Quotes
“If we can handle the first ten overs well, [and] if we don’t give them too many wickets, we can definitely score runs against them in the middle overs.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now monitoring a “fantastic” striker who could be set to leave his current club, according to a report.

Tottenham transfer news

Tottenham’s attacking prowess was on show for all to see last weekend, as they romped home to a shock 4-0 win away at reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, but manager Ange Postecoglou is still keen to strengthen his frontline.

PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder Malik Tillman has become the latest target, with Spurs recently lodging an enquiry to assess whether he is available, while English winger Jamie Gittens is also on the radar after his impressive performances for Borussia Dortmund.

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In terms of out-and-out strikers, the Lilywhites currently have the likes of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison on the books, but with the latter’s recovery from a hamstring injury set to be delayed, Postecoglou may be keen to bring in another option.

Calvert-Lewin on Tottenham radar

Reports from Spain have now detailed that Tottenham are looking to strengthen their attack, meaning a move for Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be on the cards.

The striker’s contract with Everton is set to expire at the end of the current season, and he is in no rush to commit to a new deal which would keep him at Goodison Park, potentially opening the door for his departure.

The Toffees view Calvert-Lewin as one of their key players, and they are still trying to convince him to stay, but a number of other Premier League clubs are now queuing up for his signature.

Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Spurs are all named as potential suitors for the Englishman, with the latter keen to add depth to their attacking options.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games

Date

AFC Bournemouth (a)

December 5

Chelsea (h)

December 8

Southampton (a)

December 15

Liverpool (h)

December 22

Nottingham Forest (a)

December 26

The Everton forward has proven himself over a number of years in the top flight, amassing a total of 56 Premier League goals during his time on Merseyside, meaning he could be a decent back-up option for the likes of Solanke and Richarlison.

It would also be a low-risk signing for Tottenham, given that the 27-year-old could be available for free at the end of the season, which is a real bonus. Having been lauded as “fantastic” by members of the media as recently as last season, there are plenty of reasons for Spurs fans to be excited about this potential acquisition, but there are a few question marks over Calvert-Lewin’s recent form.

Before the game against Man Utd on Sunday, the former Sheffield United man has weighed in with just two goals, and he ranks in the sixth percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, underperforming his expected goals by a huge margin.

As such, Postecoglou will need to think carefully about whether the Everton man is a worthwhile addition to his squad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil is a man under pressure. The 2-2 draw against Brighton last week proved that the Old Gold have the fight in them to finally secure a Premier League win.

A clash against Crystal Palace awaits them this weekend. Oliver Glasner’s men aren’t exactly enjoying the best of seasons either, but they did beat Tottenham Hotspur last week to move up to 17th place in the top flight.

O’Neil will have to unleash his strongest team on Saturday evening at Molineux, with Matheus Cunha being the key figure in the side.

Matheus Cunha’s season in numbers

The Brazilian was arguably O’Neil’s most consistent performer last term, top-scoring with 14 goals across all competitions.

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Despite Wolves’ poor start to 2024/25, Cunha appears to be carrying the form he demonstrated last term into the current campaign, already notching four league goals.

Not content with scoring goals, the former Atlético Madrid star has also created five big chances in the Premier League, averaging 1.7 key passes per game and 1.7 successful dribbles per match.

If he maintains this form, Cunha could score more than 14 goals this season. Giving him that freedom in an attacking midfield slot will be crucial over the next few weeks as the club looks to move away from the relegation places.

Goals

4

Assists

0

Big chances created

5

Shots per game

3

Key passes per game

1.7

Goal conversion %

15%

Via Sofascore

Could this see O’Neil make a few tweaks to his system? Perhaps bringing in someone who could dominate the midfield and offer plenty of defensive support?

If so, bringing Andre into the starting XI for the clash against the Eagles, after he was a substitute against Brighton last time out, could work wonders for both Cunha and Wolves.

Andre must be unleashed for Wolves

The summer signing arrived to much hype and fanfare, having made nearly 200 appearances for Fluminense, winning the Copa Libertadores during his time with the Brazilian side.

The midfielder may have only started five Premier League games for Wolves, but during his appearances, the 23-year-old has averaged a pass success rate of 95% along with recovering 3.6 balls, making 1.4 tackles, and winning three total duels per game – a success rate of 66% – for the Old Gold.

These statistics demonstrate that the youngster can circulate the ball well while being able to contribute effectively from a defensive point of view.

Having a player like Andre playing behind him, moving the ball around the pitch, and stopping any potential attacks could give Cunha more freedom to push forward whenever possible.

Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed Andre in 2023, saying: “We can’t talk about André without talking about his physicality. At 5’9” you’d think he’s not the most physically imposing but that’s far from the truth. André is a typical South American midfield dog. He loves to get stuck in and is very strong & aggressive in duels.”

If he can bring this sort of tenacity to the table against Palace, then Wolves may just win the midfield battle. This will give Cunha more opportunities to create chances and score a goal or two.

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Captain hails return of “massive” asset as team prepares to depart for Australia

Andrew Miller02-Nov-2021Joe Root says that he could almost “hear the smile down the phone” when Ben Stokes rang him to say he was ready to return to action for this winter’s Ashes tour, and knows that his team-mate will do everything in his power to be fully prepared for the first Test in Brisbane on December 8.Stokes, who suffered a badly broken finger at the IPL in April, missed the entirety of England’s summer Test campaigns against New Zealand and India, and withdrew from all cricket to focus on his recovery, and manage his mental health, shortly after standing in as captain in an ODI series against Pakistan in July, following a Covid outbreak in England’s original squad.However, he underwent a secondary operation last month, to remove scar tissue that had been hindering the flexibility in his left index finger, and soon afterwards he stated on social media that he was able to grip his bat properly for the first time in months. A successful return to the nets has since followed, and with that weight on his mind lifted, Root is confident that the Stokes of old won’t be far behind.”Obviously, it’s massive news,” Root said on the eve of the Test specialists’ departure. “Speak to anyone within the game, whether they’d prefer to have Ben in their team or not, and everyone would say they would. On a personal level, I’m just absolutely thrilled that he’s in a place where he can get back playing and enjoy the sport once again.”Although we all know what Ben is capable of, we’re still managing expectations,” Root added. “He’s been out of the game a long time, he’s had a serious injury and he’s got a lot of work to do to get himself back to the Ben Stokes we all know. But if there’s one thing we can bet on with Ben it’s that he’ll do everything he can to ready himself and then put in performances that help England win games of cricket.”Speaking to Sky Sports News, Stokes attempted to downplay his own importance to England’s prospects. “A team in cricket is 11 players, plus the extended squad and all the backroom staff, so I know that one player doesn’t make a team,” he said. “I know that I’m a senior member of that team over the last few years [but] every member of that team is just as important as each other. We all play different roles and everyone is capable of winning that match by themselves.”Ben Stokes and Joe Root share a laugh during a training session•Getty Images

Already, however, the simple fact of Stokes’ inclusion has transformed the dynamics of the England squad, with a second world-class batter now set to feature alongside Root in the top five, while his vital status as a frontline seamer means that England will be better placed to accommodate a specialist spinner, a problematic selection once again following Moeen Ali’s retirement from Test cricket last month.Stokes has a proven track record in both disciplines in Australia, having made a brilliant maiden Test century at Perth and taken six first-innings wickets at Sydney during England’s 5-0 whitewash in 2013-14. He missed the subsequent campaign in the wake of the nightclub incident at Bristol in September 2017, but his stunning century in England’s one-wicket win at Headingley in 2019 is more recent proof of the impact he can have on any given Ashes contest.”He’s a massive asset in many respects,” Root said. “First and foremost, his performances on the field, especially what he has done against Australia in the recent past. But also the way that he plays his cricket. Look at where we are going: we are going to have periods of play where it’s going to be very challenging. We’re going have to have people stick their hands up and grab the game – he is someone who will always do that.”He’ll lead from the front in that respect, he is a brilliant leader in the dressing room and people follow him. They look at how he works, how he practices, how he goes about his cricket. And they all want to go along with him.”That’s a great trait to have, along with being capable of performing how he does. It’s a huge boost for balancing the side as well, as he has done for such a long time now. Everything about the way he goes about things is going to be great for us.”Related

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Root himself will be travelling with huge expectations too, following a stellar run of Test form in 2021, in which he has amassed 1455 runs at 66.13, including six centuries. And given that Australia’s hard and true pitches are among the best in the world for batting, he knows the onus will be on all of England’s top-order to knuckle down and deliver the consistent first-innings scores that set England up for their most recent away Ashes win in 2010-11.”The most important thing is weight of runs,” Root said. “To be successful there, generally sides have to make big scores and you have to manage that well. That comes down to the responsibility of all the batters. You have to separate the mentality of what might be a good score in English conditions and understand the hard work and different challenges [posed by] Australian wickets and that environment.”Root himself has already stated that he is “desperate” to improve his Test record in Australia, a venue where he has yet to make a hundred, and where has suffered defeat in eight of his nine matches across two tours in 2013-14 and 2017-18. But he believes he is more in command of the mental side of his game this time around, and is gunning to “stamp his mark” as his predecessor Alastair Cook did with 766 runs in that 2010-11 win.Joe Root is in stellar form after six centuries in 2021•PA Photos/Getty Images

“I probably wanted it too much, I was too desperate, and it had probably a negative impact on the way I played,” he said of his previous tours. “I put too much pressure on myself, and I think one of the things that has really helped me this year is stripping a little of that back, really going and enjoying my cricket, and my batting, and I have a bit more clarity and understanding of my own game.”One thing I have got coming into this series is a lot more evidence and information on those conditions than the last two tours. That will stand me in good stead as well. And making sure we are fully prepared for what we are coming up against. Australia’s attack has been very similar for a long period of time now, there’s a lot of information and knowledge that we can prepare ourselves for ahead of the series if we put that work and practice in, and making sure that we are ready to face and counter whatever’s thrown at us.”Despite Eoin Morgan’s claim that England’s crushing victory over Australia at the T20 World Cup would have no bearing “whatsoever” on the Ashes, Root added that the confidence taken by England’s multi-format players – in particular their two star performers in that contest, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes – was bound to feed into their preparations for the Test series.”You have to try and lean on that confidence and performance the T20 side put in the other night,” he said. “There will be guys from both teams involved in that series and I suppose you want to try and capture as much confidence going into that series as much as you can.”

Fresh from their midweek trip to Bergamo, Scottish champions Celtic return to Premiership action away to Motherwell on Sunday afternoon, with the Old Firm side seeking to get back to winning ways after recording two successive draws in all competitions.

The caveat to that last statement is that both stalemates have come in key fixtures against surprise title rivals Aberdeen and Europa League holders, Atalanta, with the Hoops having still only lost once this season across domestic and European competition.

With the Dons breathing down their neck, Brendan Rodgers’ side can ill afford a slip-up at Fir Park, albeit with the travelling party set to be boosted by the potential return of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor from injury.

Whether Rodgers does choose to shuffle his pack defensively following Wednesday’s titanic display remains to be seen, although there could well be changes further up the pitch, with summer signing Arne Engels among those who might benefit from a rest.

Arne Engels' display vs Atalanta

A return of five goals and assists from just nine games is a respectable record indeed for Celtic’s club-record addition, with the £11m man having made a strong early impression in that creative midfield berth.

With such a price tag, however, comes understandable scrutiny and criticism, with the promising Belgian also not helped by the pressure to try and fill the shoes of Matt O’Riley at Parkhead.

As Rodgers has rightly stated in defence of the midfielder, the 21-year-old is being somewhat harshly judged as he is “nowhere near the finished article”, albeit with the Northern Irishman also hinting that there will be times when he may come out of the side to “recover”.

Ahead of today’s meeting, it could represent one of those occasions for Engels to make way, particularly with the playmaker not exactly setting the world alight last time out, having been awarded a 6/10 match rating by The Scotsman’s Mark Atkinson.

With Celtic largely on the back foot, it was undoubtedly difficult for the former Augsburg man to make an impact, although he did win just two of his seven duels, while also giving the ball away on nine occasions from just 31 touches, as per Sofascore.

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As such, with Engels having also struggled in last weekend’s top-of-the-table clash – as he notably lost possession 20 times – the time may be right for a midfield reshuffle.

The player who could replace Engels vs Motherwell

Thankfully for Rodgers, he does have depth in the centre of the park, with Paulo Bernardo having also signed permanently this summer, alongside former Dundee man, Luke McCowan.

With McCowan having been the player to replace Engels off the bench in recent games, it may well be a chance to flip those roles this time around, allowing the 26-year-old a rare chance to impress from the outset.

The £1m addition is yet to start a game for his new club since arriving in late August, although he did get off the mark after scoring against Hearts in just his second league outing.

Previously described as perhaps the “best midfielder in the league outside the Old Firm” by writer Kai Watson – who also praised him as a “creative and tenacious” asset – the Scotsman will be keen to showcase the type of form that earned him a move in the first place, after registering 15 goals and assists last term for his former employers.

Possessing that wand of a left, something that was particularly on show as he delightfully teed up Alex Valle in the build-up to Adam Idah’s strike against St Johnstone, the new man could well be best suited to trying to emulate the impact of O’Riley, or the likes of Ryan Christie and Tom Rogic before him.

Stat (*per game)

Engels (Augsburg)

McCowan (Dundee)

Games (starts)

32 (13)

37 (37)

Goals

3

10

Assists

2

5

‘Big chances’ created

1

9

Key passes*

0.6

1.6

Pass accuracy*

75%

71%

Tackles*

1.0

1.5

Interceptions*

0.5

1.0

Total duels won*

48%

45%

Possession lost*

6.9x

17.3x

Of course, having someone like McCowan as an option off the bench to try and unlock the door is certainly useful, yet at some stage, a starting berth will need to be dished out.

While Engels is still finding his feet in Scottish football, his fellow midfielder has proven his talents in the Premiership in recent years. Now he needs a proper chance to prove that he is good enough to have made the jump to a club of Celtic’s mammoth stature.

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Club chiefs are convinced that an “extraordinary” player at their disposal is set to join Tottenham Hotspur next year, with a report this week detailing exactly why Spurs are seen as a very likely landing spot in 2025.

Tottenham slump to 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace

It was an afternoon to forget for Spurs at Selhurst Park on Sunday, with Crystal Palace securing their first win of the new Premier League season at the expense of Ange Postecoglou’s side.

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In what was a very “Spursy” display, striker Jean-Philippe Mateta’s only goal of the game handed Palace a 1-0 victory over the north Londoners, with Tottenham failing to break through a home side determined to bag a much-needed three points.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

November 3

Tottenham vs Ipswich Town

November 10

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

Tottenham vs Fulham

December 1

Bournemouth vs Tottenham

December 5

Following their collapse at Brighton just before the international break, Postecoglou had done well to guide his team back on the right patch with crucial victories against West Ham and AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, but this result at Palace highlights the serious work which Spurs still need to put in as they attempt to go up another level.

“It was a game which turned into, and it didn’t surprise me, a bit of a battle,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s defeat at Palace.

“Lots of stop, starting and standing around. We didn’t deal with that really well at all. We didn’t get to grips with just the nature of what was transpiring out there. It turned into a bit of a battle. They dealt with it better than we did.

“It was a game we needed to stay composed and not sort of fall into the trap of trying to play the game ultimately Palace wanted to play. It turned into a game that was battle after battle, duels, stop starts, waiting around. We need to be a lot more clear-headed about how we deal with that rather than fall into the trap of doing what we did today.”

To add some much-needed quality to Postecoglou’s ranks, which may still be required if they’re to reach to levels of Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, it is believed Spurs are identifying transfer targets for 2025.

Real Betis chiefs convinced Johnny Cardoso is set to join Tottenham

According to ABC Sevilla, via Sport Witness, one such player could be Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso – with the Lilywhites possessing an option to sign the USA international for around £21 million by June next year.

They struck this pledge with Betis as part of the deal which saw Giovani Lo Celso head in the opposite direction in the summer window, and because of this, Betis chiefs are convinced that Cardoso is destined to join Tottenham next year.

This would result in the La Liga side making a £12.5 million profit off the 23-year-old’s exit, so there is a real incentive for Betis, as a move to London for Cardoso is seen as very likely by those within the club at this stage.

Called “extraordinary” by Betis director Manu Fajardo, Cardoso is viewed by many in Spain as a player with real potential.

Manchester City have reportedly reached a full agreement with Lens to sign centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.

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Man City tracking Lens' KhusanovDeal struck with French teamSet to be City's first signing in JanuaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A full agreement has been struck between both teams and only a few details need to be sorted over the weekend before the transfer is sealed, Julien Laurens reports. City will pay €40 million (£34m/$41m) for the centre-back, Fabrizio Romano reports, with Khusanov to undergo a medical in the coming days.

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City boss Pep Guardiola has demanded January signings following a string of defensive injuries and now he appears to have got his man in the talented 20-year-old. The struggling Premier League defending champions have been shipping more goals this season than in campaigns gone by and perhaps Khusanov can help with that issue.

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Khusanov, who joined Lens from Belarusian Premier League team Energetik-BGU in 2023, has already racked up 18 caps for Uzbekistan. He has also only played 31 times for the Ligue 1 outfit but looks set for a big-money move.

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It remains to be seen if Khusanov has played his last game for Lens and if he makes his City debut next week, with games against Brentford and Ipswich Town to come in the Premier League.

Leeds United have recovered from their stumbling start to the season to remain unbeaten in the Championship after four matches with two wins and two clean sheets in their last two, but now Daniel Farke must watch from behind the sofa as his players jet off around the globe on international duty.

Leeds players away on international duty

The Whites have a whole host of stars included in their national squads during this two-week break from domestic action – probably far more than most second tier teams in fact, leaving fans waiting with bated breath for injury-free returns to Yorkshire.

Junior Firpo starred in a 3-2 CONCACAF Nations League win for the Dominican Republic against Bermuda on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes in a more advanced position than his usual role at Leeds, putting in plenty of hard yards after his teammate Edarlyn Reyes was shown a straight red card just ten minutes into the fixture.

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Back in Europe the likes of Ilia Gruev and new signing Manor Solomon have been in action, with the former playing the full length of Bulgaria's 0-0 draw in Belarus last week while the winger got 80 minutes in Israel's 3-1 defeat in Belgium.

Former manager – now Canada boss – Jesse Marsch squared off against current star Brenden Aaronson in Kansas City, and it was Marsch who came out on top as his side beat the United States 2-1 and Aaronson was withdrawn with a quarter of an hour left after a quiet performance on the right wing.

USA media slam Aaronson's anonymous display vs Canada

Aaronson looks to have returned from his loan spell a new man this season, featuring in every league game so far and finding the back of the net twice – albeit possibly with one more had he buried the late chance against Portsmouth.

He was poor in action for USA this weekend however, with Sofascore statistics revealing he had virtually no impact on the game, mustering zero shots, key passes, successful dribbles or crosses, while he won just two of his seven duels (29 per cent) and lost the ball nearly as many times (9) as he completed passes (12). NBC Sport gave him a 4.5/10, praising his work rate but claiming he was "slapdash especially with the ball".

Other USMNT outlets were quick to highlight his poor display too, as per MOT Leeds News, with Soccer America giving him a 3/10 rating and GOAL.com saying: "Just didn’t really do much of anything. He wasn’t bad, particularly compared to some of his teammates, but he didn’t make many positive things happen, either."

The Whites return to action next weekend with huge home clash against fellow promotion candidates Burnley, but before that Aaronson has the chance to redeem himself as the USA take on New Zealand in a friendly late on Tuesday night – whether the timing of that fixture harms the 23 year-old's chances of featuring in a 12:30 kick-off come Saturday is up for debate.

The three-match ODI series between Afghanistan and Pakistan will be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota, Sri Lanka instead of in the UAE, as originally planned. The series, which is the first bilateral contest between the two sides, will be played between September 1 and 5, and ESPNcricinfo has learnt that the venues in the UAE were unavailable because of the second leg of IPL 2021, which has been tentatively scheduled to begin on September 20.Earlier this month, the schedule for the CPL was tweaked to avoid an overlap with the IPL, and the next edition of the PSL, in 2022, has also been slotted into a January-February window to avoid a clash with the Indian T20 league, expected to be played in April-May.Related

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The Pakistan-Afghanistan series will count towards points in the ICC Super League, where Pakistan currently sit in fifth with 40 points from nine matches, and Afghanistan are eighth with 30 points, having won all three their matches so far. Afghanistan have played four matches against Pakistan previously, two of them in the UAE, one in Fatullah, and one more in Leeds during the 2019 World Cup. Aside from having never played a bilateral series against Pakistan, they are also yet to beat them.The Hambantota stadium last hosted an ODI in February 2020, when Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 161 runs. This will be the second instance of the stadium being a neutral venue; the last time also involved Pakistan, when they faced Kenya back in the 2011 World Cup.Pakistan are currently gearing up for the start of their tour of the West Indies, which will begin on July 27 with a five-match T20I series, before a two-Test series that will end on August 24. Afghanistan’s last bit of cricket was in March, when they swept Zimbabwe 3-0 in a T20I series, after drawing the Test series 1-1. Their last ODIs were against Ireland in January this year, where they had sealed a 3-0 series win.