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The tussle for primacy between the two world-class competitors has witnessed more twists and turns in the ongoing series against South Africa. Trust it to get more heated

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Pune14-Oct-20198:29

Agarkar: India’s call to play three seamers brilliant

It was the fourth day of the Pune Test, and Dean Elgar had just driven Ravindra Jadeja through cover, where R Ashwin had dived to his right, a fraction of a second too late, and failed to stop the ball.Jadeja had addressed these words to the sprawled fielder. He had turned away from the wicket, so the stump mic didn’t pick them up too clearly, but the gist seemed to be, “This guy can bowl, but the other things…”

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Team-mates say these things to each other in the heat of the moment, so this isn’t about reading into Jadeja’s words for signs of animosity between the two spinners. Some bowlers simply can’t hide their annoyance when fielders don’t back them up to the fullest degree, even if they’ve made a valiant but failed effort. Anil Kumble, a soft-spoken man off the field by all accounts, became an embodiment of seething rage whenever someone misfielded off his bowling.But the message contained in Jadeja’s words may well be the one that’s deciding the hierarchy between the two spinners when India need to play just one of them. In the tour of the West Indies that preceded the series against South Africa, India preferred Jadeja over Ashwin in both Tests.It isn’t fielding that kept Ashwin on the bench, notwithstanding the massive edge that Jadeja, perhaps the world’s best outfielder, may have over him in that department. It is, rather, the two players’ divergent batting returns over the last few seasons.ALSO READ: Virat Kohli moves to within a point of No. 1-ranked Steven SmithUntil the 2016 tour of the West Indies, where he batted at No. 6 and made two hundreds, Ashwin was clearly ahead of Jadeja on the batting front. By the end of that tour, Ashwin had scored 1439 Test runs at 34.26, with four hundreds and six fifties, and Jadeja 495 at 20.62, with just the one fifty in 26 innings.It’s been a different story since then, though, with Ashwin’s returns falling away and Jadeja rediscovering his inner batsman. The batsman who came to Test cricket with a first-class average of 53.66, and three triple-hundreds for which he, and India’s first-class system, were mocked rather than celebrated.In this second coming as a lower-order batsman, Jadeja has scored 1226 runs in 40 Test innings at an average of 47.15, with 11 fifties and a maiden hundred. If there’s a single montage that captures India’s domination of home Tests in this period, it’s his bat-twirling celebration of personal landmarks, cutting immediately to a grinning Virat Kohli calling his batsmen back in. Through his Test career, Jadeja has averaged 74.70 when India have declared, with seven fifties and a hundred in 21 innings.He hasn’t just been a declaration specialist, though. Last year’s run of away tours may have begun with question marks still hanging over his ability in pace-friendly conditions, but he delivered whenever he got the chance, displaying not just the strokeplay he is always been capable of, but also the temperament of a top-order batsman.ALSO READ: Wriddhiman Saha’s rare weekend in the spotlightAt The Oval last year, for instance, he came in with India 160 for 6 in response to England’s 332, and made an unbeaten 86. It wasn’t a slap-happy romp like his third-innings half-century at Lord’s in 2014; it was a proper, measured innings where he trusted his defence and his judgment outside off stump. He left 36 of the 101 balls he faced from the fast bowlers, employing shouldered arms more frequently than any other shot.Even during his 91 in the Pune Test, he was quite happy to take his time early on, and was on 6 off 29 balls when Kohli brought up the half-century stand for the fifth wicket. He was on 9 off 44 when he hit his first boundary, a drive against the turn off Keshav Maharaj. He followed this with an incredible bit of timing, a back-foot flick that beat midwicket to his left and then a sprinting, diving deep square leg to his right.R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja walk off the field•AFPWhen he plays shots like that, and when he gives himself time to settle at the crease before playing shots like that, Jadeja looks like a proper No. 6. There’s a relaxed air about him, a naturalness about the way he sets up at the crease. If he’s made any adjustments in his technique over the years, they’ve probably been subtle ones, and on the surface he seems to have stuck to the same batting mechanics through all his highs and lows. It’s much the same with his bowling.Ashwin, on the other hand, is an inveterate tinkerer, whether it’s all the load-ups he has used while bowling, or all the variations he’s attempted and mastered, or, indeed, all the ways he’s faced up to bowlers.When the ball flies effortlessly off his bat, Ashwin can be a joy to watch. But for one of the most natural strikers of the ball in Indian cricket, it’s strange how unnatural his batting can look until that moment of bat meeting ball. Over the many years of his international career, he’s tried various trigger movements, discarded his bat-tap and taken to waggling an upraised bat behind him, and made multiple changes to his alignment at the crease.There was a time when he used to be, in his own words, “extra side-on”, which prevented him from playing fluently down the ground, and he opened up his upper body to be able to do so. During his only appearance with the bat in this series, in Visakhapatnam, he seemed to have reverted to a closed shoulder position, but it’s not clear if he’ll stick to it in the long term.It may or may not be related to all the tinkering, but Ashwin’s batting output has declined in recent months. There have been a few good knocks, particularly away from home – he made 38 out of a 71-run partnership with Kohli at Centurion; top-scored in both innings of the disastrous Lord’s Test; and scored 25 in Adelaide after coming in at 127 for 6, helping Cheteshwar Pujara through a key part of his match-turning first-day hundred – but there have been no fifties since August 2017. He’s batted 23 times in that period, and averaged 17.90.It’s for all these reasons, probably, that Kohli, while talking about them, has lately tended to say “Jadeja and Ashwin” rather than “Ashwin and Jadeja”.But as important as their batting contributions may be, they will always be judged as bowlers first. When India had to choose between Jadeja and Ashwin in the West Indies, they were choosing between two spinners with exceptional records, with no clear statistical basis to say one was better than the other. You don’t take 200 Test wickets at an average below 25 without being a bloody fine bowler. It’s a caricature to say Jadeja is just a metronome for the captain to wind up and point in the batsman’s direction.But Jadeja hasn’t looked at his best since the West Indies tour. His action has always been mostly shoulder, but at times during that tour and against South Africa it’s seemed shoulder, without the full thrust of his back hip at the crease, and as a result his trajectory has looked flatter than before, without the late dip he gets when he’s at his best. When batsmen have played forward to him in defence, they’ve seemed to get closer to the pitch of the ball than they used to, meeting the ball with the lower rather than upper half of their bat.The lack of dip perhaps explains why he’s been hit for so many boundaries down the ground – he’s conceded 10 sixes and 16 fours in the V in these last two series, not just to the top order but also lower-order biffers like Kemar Roach and Dane Piedt.Since coming back into the XI in Visakhapatnam, meanwhile, Ashwin has been at his teasing best, finding ways to get past batsmen on surfaces that haven’t offered exaggerated help for the spinners. He’s averaged 21.64 against South Africa to Jadeja’s 34.40 and, for once, there’s been some truth to the idea that Ashwin has the tools to trouble batsmen independent of conditions while Jadeja needs a certain amount of assistance. Their first-innings numbers in this series support that idea, with Ashwin averaging 19.45 to Jadeja’s 68.33.Ashwin might not be getting too many opportunities to contribute with the bat just yet, but with the ball he’s done everything he can to remind his captain and coach of his qualities. Nonetheless, Jadeja’s bowling blip, if it’s a blip at all, cannot last forever. This is a tussle for primacy between two world-class competitors, and we will doubtless witness many more twists before the next Test match that has room for only one of them.

CSA has recommitted to transformation targets but the absence of black African players remains glaring

Firdose Moonda04-Jan-2020Temba Bavuma’s ears must be burning. Though he is not involved in the Newlands Test and is not even in Cape Town after being released from the squad, everyone in South African cricket is talking about him.This was the venue where Bavuma scored the only hundred of his 39 Test career to date, against this opposition, so naturally there were going to be throwbacks. But it doesn’t end there.Some use that hundred as evidence Bavuma has what it takes to play at this level, others point to the absence of any others to say that he doesn’t. There are those who believe Bavuma should return to domestic cricket and break down the door with runs and those who believe his presence, regardless of form, is essential for purposes of representation. And then there is CSA.The board’s press release on Saturday, reaffirming their commitment to transformation and denying that the recent ream management overhaul is a whitewash, may not have been intentionally about Bavuma, but it was.

Has nothing to do with form.. you score one 100 in 5 years you question technique and temperament.. some batsman just can’t cut it at the top level. Just another case of it

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) January 4, 2020

It came two days after Faf du Plessis said the team does not see colour, which sounds like a nice statement but is naive in the South African context. This country has, since 1652 when the Dutch East India Company arrived on its shores, seen colour. It saw colour through slavery, colonialism and Apartheid and sees colour even more in democracy. But the rainbow nation is not without shades of grey.The key takeaway from the statement was the reassurance given to black Africans that they still have a place in the game in South Africa. There is a difference in this country between black and black African and it is both problematic and necessary. While all black people were affected by the evils of the Apartheid regime, the black African population were the most severely marginalised and mistreated. They are also, by far, the biggest majority. Redressing the wrongs committed against them is non-negotiable but where does that leave other black people, those who are coloured, mixed-race or of Indian descent?Recently, here in the Western Cape, the Cape Cobras wilfully missed their transformation target when they went into a fixture with two instead of three black African players but seven players of colour overall. The Cobras communicated their decision to CSA and one of their arguments was that in offering opportunity to players of colour and not discriminating between the different black races, they were doing their bit for transformation. As far as the Cobras were concerned, CSA did not disagree with them, especially since the subject had also been discussed at the coaches’ conference last year.ALSO READ: Bavuma told to find way back through ‘weight of runs’CSA, who were still governed by the Thabang Moroe administration at the time, were due to have an enquiry into the matter but since the crisis and changes in the executive, the whole saga has quietly gone away. Now it seems CSA may not be so lenient.”Transformation targets have been set for all our teams below the international level that have to be implemented on a game-by-game basis,” Chris Nenzani, CSA’s president, said. “This is an obligation to a very important bottom-up approach. The CSA board is mandated to enforce these policies without exception and to take corrective action where non-compliance occurs.”That means the differentiation between players of colour and black African players will remain rigidly in place at domestic level, where teams are required to field a minimum of six players of colour, of which at least three must be black African. The national team also has a target – six players of colour of which at least two must be black African – but theirs is calculated on average over a season, “to give team management the flexibility to select teams based on the unique match-to-match requirements and in line with obtaining objective realities,” according to Nenzani.So South Africa’s new management are not in any trouble . They have gone into the first two Tests against England with only four players of colour (Zubayr Hamza, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada) of which one (Rabada) is black African, and will need to make up the numbers in other fixtures. Part of the reason South Africa have fallen behind the target is because of injury – Lungi Ngidi would almost certainly have played ahead of Anrich Nortje if he did not have a hamstring injury. The other part is form. Bavuma, who started the summer with a hip niggle, was declared fit for Newlands but dropped. And that’s what people are angry about.

We are just crossing fingers that Rabada doesn’t get injured otherwise there will be no [black players] leftMakhaya Ntini

The Black African Cricket Clubs (BACC), who held a meeting last week during the Centurion Test, make up some of those people. They questioned whether CSA’s acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith, could be trusted with on development, given his background. When they spoke about Bavuma, they referenced the support – financial and otherwise – that he has had in becoming an international batsman, which requires significantly more resources than becoming a bowler. Bavuma is from a middle-class family and went to an elite school, St Davids, essentially walking in similar shoes to a white player. The BACC asked what happens to people who do not have those advantages and at the moment, very few people have the answers.CSA has hubs situated in townships and programmes aimed at nurturing players from diverse backgrounds but very few of those players come through. The bulk of the country’s cricketers (and rugby players) are produced from a handful of Model C – the highest-quality government school formerly reserved for white children only – and private schools. Those who can afford to access the structures that can turn them into professional sportspeople, do and those who can’t, most of whom are black African, are lost. For that to change, CSA and the government have to work together to increase facilities and therefore opportunities for all at grassroots level.The trouble is that there is an impatience, perhaps a justified impatience 29 years post-unification of sports across the racial barrier, for change to happen at all levels, not just the bottom.The country is demanding black African heroes. In 2019, rugby delivered with Siya Kolisi the captain of the World Cup-winning side. At the start of 2020, cricket has regressed, according to some, with only one black African player in the Test XI. “We are just crossing fingers that Rabada doesn’t get injured otherwise there will be none left,” Makhaya Ntini told ESPNcricinfo.Ntini knows what it’s like to be the only black African in the side, the flag-bearer for a nation carrying the weight of expectation on his shoulders alone. It is what turned him into the loudest and most boisterous member of the squad, a persona that could not be criticised. He also knew that as soon as his performance dipped, even a touch, “I would be gone, just like that.”Ntini played his entire career under pressure to perform and fear of being dropped. He survived because success stalked him and because he did not talk about the challenges. Now, nine years since he retired, he is more willing to address the issues that came with being a representative for things much bigger than himself, and he thinks asking Rabada or Bavuma to shoulder the same burden would be “unfair”.Graeme Smith, Enoch Nkwe, Mark Boucher and Linda Zondi at the unveiling of South Africa’s new coaching structure•AFPThe same word could be used to describe the circumstances of players on the other side. Those who are chosen ahead of black African players can become targets for the anger of people who feel underrepresented and disenfranchised. Rassie van der Dussen is an example of such a player. He knows that there is a groundswell of support for Bavuma to return, and he would be forgiven for looking over his shoulder rather than at the next ball. But he isn’t doing that.”Growing up, it [transformation] is something we have been aware of, it’s something that is a reality in South Africa, not only in sport but in all aspects of life,” van der Dussen said. “As a white player, as any player, you are there to do a job, to put in performances and win games for your team. It’s not about thinking about this guy must play or that guy must play. You get an opportunity and you can’t do much if you don’t get the opportunity and you work hard for the opportunity and you’ve got to try do everything in your power to make sure you are ready when it comes.”Simple. Or maybe not.Equality of opportunity for players of colour, and specifically black African players, is what South Africans want, but that can only be achieved if there are enough people to offer that opportunity to. There are currently no black African batsmen in the top 23 run-scorers on the first-class charts (Wandile Makwetu is 24th). Eight of the top ten batsmen are white. There’s more representation in the bowling department where Malusi Siboto sits second, Lutho Sipamla joint-seventh and Tshepo Moreki joint ninth.The real question South Africans need to be asking is why they aren’t more players of colour on the domestic circuit who can provide the national team with options. The answers will lie in the same historical injustices previously mentioned and in the steps that need to be taken to spread the game to various different parts of the country and its people. It has been 29 years, but they are still not close to being fixed. Instead, talk in South African cricket centres on Bavuma, in whom this complicated scenario is encapsulated.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has already decided to part company with a member of the Gunners squad this summer, and it is very likely he’ll join the plethora of stars who appear destined to depart N5.

Arsenal set for busy summer window under Andrea Berta

Berta’s arrival could signal the start of a serious overhaul at the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta anticipating a “big” first summer transfer window under the Italian’s leadership.

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GiveMeSport have previously claimed that as many as seven major signings worth up to £300 million could be made before the start of the next Premier League season, including a new back-up keeper, full-back, two midfielders, a left-winger, right-winger and striker.

High-profile departures are also anticipated, especially Jorginho and Thomas Partey, who are both entering the final two months of their contracts at Arsenal, with both deals set to expire on June 30th as things stand.

Jorginho is attracting interest from Brazil, and pre-summer talks have been held with Flamengo, while left-back Kieran Tierney is also set to leave at the end of the season as Celtic prepare for his arrival at Parkhead on a Bosman deal.

“During the January 2025 transfer window, we acquired the permanent registration of Jota and the temporary registration of Jeffrey Schlupp,” confirmed the Hoops.

“In addition, we extended the contract of Kasper Schmeichel and entered into a pre-contract agreement that will see Kieran Tierney return to Celtic in July 2025.”

Partey, meanwhile, put on a phenomenal display in Arsenal’s most recent match, a 3-0 dismantling of Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League tie, prompting some calls for the Ghanaian to be handed a new contract at N5.

However, it remains the belief that Partey is looking to leave Arsenal and embark on a fresh chapter this summer, with Barcelona among the African’s preferred destinations (Mundo Deportivo).

Arsenal will sell Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer with decision made

Now, an update has also come to light on £150,000-per-week defender Oleksandr Zinchenko and his future at the Emirates.

The Ukraine international has seriously struggled for game time, thanks to a combination of injuries and competition for places at left-back, with Jakub Kiwior, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori all fancied ahead of him.

Journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, says Arsenal will sell Zinchenko this summer as a result, and it is believed Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato could even come in as a replacement.

“Zinchenko will be allowed to leave, although that will be easier said than done considering his wages and Tierney is going,” said Bailey.

“Jorrel Hato is still a player they love – they’ve done all the work on him for years – they’ve been following him since he was 16. Liverpool like him as well. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hato came to England this year.”

Arsenal’s credible links to Hato stretch back to 2023 (The Athletic), with the teenage Dutch starlet capable of playing at both left-back and as a left-sided centre-back. Hato has come on leaps and bounds since then as well, becoming a mainstay for the Eredivisie side and even managing to chalk up six assists in the top flight this season.

Monday was the day. Leeds United officially confirmed their promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking at the start of this week.

The Whites knew that they had a chance to get out of the Championship if they beat Stoke City, and they ran out emphatic 6-0 winners against the Potters.

Five of their goals came in the first half, before Wilfried Gnonto got in on the act in the second 45, and that result meant that they could cheer Burnley on against Sheffield United in the evening kick-off.

The Clarets beat the Blades 2-1 at Turf Moor in a result that confirmed Leeds and Burnley’s places in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign, whilst the two teams must still battle it out in the final two matches to see who wins the title.

Daniel Farke can now start to think about his preparations for next season and how his team will attack the top-flight; the players who will remain key to the starting XI, and those who may not be up to the task of stepping up.

One player whose future will be interesting to see unfold is centre-forward Joel Piroe, who has struggled at times this season but provided a reminder of his quality against Stoke.

Why Joel Piroe could be replaced this summer

The former Swansea City marksman is a terrific finisher at Championship level, that cannot be denied, as he has scored 19 goals from 16.41 xG and only missed 12 ‘big chances’ in the division this term.

Piroe scored four goals from four shots, totalling 1.35 xG worth of chances, against Stoke on Monday, showcasing his ruthless edge in front of goal.

However, he found himself completely unmarked in the box for all four of those chances, as the Stoke defenders left a lot to be desired with their performances, and the striker may not get that kind of time and space in the Premier League.

The left-footed forward had failed to score in his previous nine Championship starts, leading to doubt about his place in the team before his exceptional showing on Easter Monday, and Farke may question whether or not he has the attributes to be the club’s starting number nine in the top-flight.

As you can see in the table above, Piroe’s work off the ball has left a lot to be desired in the Championship this term, as he has been dominated by opposition defenders on the ground and in the air.

The 25-year-old striker is too lightweight at times, as shown by his dreadful success rate in duels, and that is a big concern ahead of a Premier League season where Leeds will be with their backs against the wall and fighting to avoid relegation.

All three newly-promoted teams, assuming Ipswich do not win all five of their remaining games and West Ham lose all of theirs, are being relegated from the Premier League this year, as they were the year before, which illustrates how difficult it will be for the Whites.

This means that Leeds will likely need a centre-forward who can alleviate pressure on the team by holding the ball up, duelling with defenders, and by running the channels to stretch the play and open up space for the midfielders to work.

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Unfortunately, Piroe’s physical data suggests that he will not be cut out for thatrole in the Premier League, which is why Farke could replace him with a new signing this summer.

One star from the 6-0 win over the Potters who should not be replaced in the starting XI for next season, though, is right-back Jayden Bogle, who has been an even better signing than Piroe.

Why Bogle has been a better signing than Piroe for Leeds

The English full-back was reportedly signed for a fee of £5m from rivals Sheffield United last summer, whereas Piroe was signed from Swansea for a reported fee of more than £10m in the summer of 2023.

Despite costing less than half as much as the Dutchman, Bogle has been far more consistent in his performances over the course of this promotion-winning campaign at right-back, showing that the club hit the jackpot with their deal for the defender.

Piroe has dipped in-and-out of the team at times, coming off the bench on ten occasions, and has gone through dry spells, with zero goals in nine games prior to the Stoke match, as well as struggling with his lack of physicality consistently throughout the season.

Bogle, on the other hand, has started all 42 of his appearances in the division, averaging 87 minutes played per game, which illustrates how much Farke has relied on him week-in-week-out.

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old full-back has shown that he can mix defensive quality and strength with outstanding attacking contributions from a defensive position.

Bogle, whose pass to Piroe against Preston was dubbed “tremendous” by Aidy White, has the drive and quality to motor down the right flank to deliver goals and assists – assisting Piroe’s second against Stoke.

The ex-Sheffield United star has also won the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air, without making any errors that have directly led to goals against for Leeds.

Therefore, Bogle is a complete full-back who seems to have the qualities required to make the step up to the Premier League in Farke’s current team, because he has the physicality and the technical ability to deal with the step up.

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This is why he was an even better signing than Piroe because he can handle both sides of the game, making him a player with top-flight potential, and he cost less than half as much, which shows that Farke hit the jackpot by signing him from the Blades.

Glasgow Rangers need to change their transfer strategy if they wish to compete domestically next season.

Celtic will wrap up their fourth successive Premiership title soon, and if the Light Blues don’t change things this summer, the drought could go on for much longer.

Of course, much will depend on who becomes the new manager of the Ibrox side this summer as Barry Ferguson’s interim spell looks set to end in a few weeks.

Last summer, Philippe Clement signed players such as Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, and Jefte. This trio could potentially make the club plenty of money when the time to cash in arrives.

Signing a few experienced squad members is still important this summer, but the vast majority of transfer business should be focused on those who are yet to hit their peak.

With Lyall Cameron already making the move from Dundee to Rangers this summer, it appears the Gers are looking at raiding the Dens Park side for the second time in a matter of months.

Rangers target move for Josh Mulligan this summer

Journalist Joshua Barrie of the Rangers Review has recently stated that the Light Blues are interested in making a move for Mulligan in a bid to add more Scottish talent to their squad.

The 22-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer, which means the club won’t have to pay a penny in order to secure his signature.

This type of move is one that could offer plenty of rewards for the Gers for such a low-risk signing, something which needs to happen more often.

With James Tavernier’s future uncertain as he enters the last year of his deal in Glasgow, Mulligan could be an ideal heir for the Englishman.

Why Josh Mulligan would be a great signing for Rangers

The Scottish U21 international can play across a range of positions. For Dundee this season, he has played in the centre of the midfield, on the right flank, and at right-back.

While he might not be able to match Tavernier for goal contributions – five assists across 36 matches this season for Dundee – Mulligan still has plenty to offer going forward.

Indeed, in the Premiership this season, he has created eight big chances while also averaging one key pass and one successful dribble per game in the top flight.

A move to Ibrox would allow Mulligan the chance to play for a team that will fight for domestic trophies, plus giving him the chance to feature in European competition, whether it be the Champions League or Europa League.

Josh Mulligan’s market valuation at Dundee

According to Transfermarkt, Mulligan is currently worth €600k (£500k) at the time of writing.

Given his impressive performances for a relegation-threatened Dundee side, this value will surely increase in the next few months, especially if he moves to Rangers and showcases his talents.

If, and it’s a big if, Mulligan shines at Ibrox and becomes the player everyone expects of him, he will make the club millions in profit.

At this moment in time, however, there is another Scottish youngster in the first-team squad who is currently worth a lot more than Mulligan – Connor Barron.

How Connor Barron has performed for Rangers this season

In one of the worst-kept secrets last summer, Rangers finally announced the signing of Barron after weeks of rumours.

The midfielder left Aberdeen upon the expiration of his contract, duly made the move south to Ibrox, and was essentially seen as an ideal replacement for Ryan Jack.

Following 76 appearances for the Dons, it was clear that Barron was looking like a solid signing. He clearly knew how to perform in the Premiership and had made six appearances in the Conference League for the Pittodrie side last season.

His performances were hailed by Scott Gemmill, Barron’s U21 manager at international level, who said: “Connor is very impressive on and off the pitch the way he conducts himself.”

It didn’t take long for him to make his mark at Rangers, starting both of the Champions League qualifying matches against Dynamo Kiev, along with operating in the starting XI for the first 13 league games.

2025 hasn’t been as productive, however, as Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande have established themselves as the main midfield duo at Ibrox in recent months.

This has left Barron resorting to appearances from the bench in order to get playing time. He did feature for 83 minutes in the recent 3-2 victory over Celtic at Parkhead and was even made captain for the 2-2 draw against Aberdeen a few weeks ago.

Overall, it has been a solid debut campaign in Glasgow for the young midfielder. In the Premiership, Barron averages a 90% pass success rate, makes 2.1 tackles, 1.1 clearances, and recovers 3.4 balls per game.

Furthermore, he loses possession only seven times per game and wins 50% of his ground duels each match for the Ibrox side, which suggests that he is reliable on and off the ball.

Connor Barron’s market valuation at Rangers

Although Barron initially arrived at Rangers for nothing, the Gers were forced to pay a fee of around £640k for the midfielder after they were due compensation because his career began at Aberdeen.

This still looks like it could become a bargain transfer for Rangers, especially considering his market value has increased recently.

Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, Barron is now worth €2.5m (£2m) following an impressive debut season in Glasgow.

This means that he is currently worth even more than Mulligan, who is valued at £500k, and that illustrates how much the Gers hit the jackpot with the Scotland international.

Much will depend on who the new manager will be, but Barron has laid the foundations for a potentially successful spell at Rangers.

He is worth a lot more than Mulligan, and this valuation should rise exponentially as time goes on.

Whatever happens, it appears as though the club are looking to bring in the best of Scottish talent this summer. With Barron and Cameron now part of the squad, Mulligan could be the next player to link up with Rangers.

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And just like that, Arsenal’s Premier League dreams are officially over for a third year on the bounce.

Mikel Arteta’s side had to watch Liverpool claim the title yesterday afternoon after they blitzed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at home.

While there have certainly been some extenuating circumstances this year, it would be fair to say that the Reds are deserving winners, as with four still left to play, they’ve outscored the Gunners by 17 goals.

With this in mind, it’s no secret that Arsenal fans are desperate for the club to sign a new striker in the summer, so it’s rather unfortunate that Arteta sanctioned the sale of one who’s currently outscoring two of their most heavily linked targets: Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak.

Why Arsenal want Isak & Sesko

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at why Arsenal would want to sign Isak and Sesko this summer, as the last few months have seen them constantly linked with the club.

Starting with the former, the most obvious answer is that, since moving to Newcastle United, he’s become a lean, mean goalscoring machine.

For example, this season alone has seen him rack up a brilliant haul of 26 goals and six assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games.

However, what is just as important is that he’s performing at this level in the Premier League, meaning he’d likely need little to no time to adapt at the Emirates.

In contrast, Sesko doesn’t have that experience, but on top of his 26 goal involvements this term, he has two other advantages.

The first is that, at just 21 years old, there is every chance he could continue to develop into a seriously impressive player by the time he reaches Isak’s age, and the second is that, at 6 foot 5, he’d help make the Gunners even more intimidating to play against.

However, while either striker would be a fine addition to the club, it must be frustrating for Arteta to know he oversaw the sale of a player who’s outscoring both of them.

The former Arsenal ace outscoring Isak & Sesko

While Arteta made several impressive sales last summer, like Eddie Nketiah’s £30m move to Crystal Palace and Emile Smith Rowe’s £34m move to Fulham, he made one which has since backfired.

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In July, the Gunners agreed to sell young striker Mika Biereth to Austrian outfit Sturm Graz for about £4m.

The Danish poacher had spent the latter half of the previous campaign on loan with the club, where he racked up a reasonably impressive tally of nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances, so it would be fair to say that even at the time, the fee seemed low.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, that has since proven to be the case, as in the first half of this season, he ended up scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 25 appearances.

This incredible start to the campaign was enough to convince AS Monaco to spend around £10.8m on him in the January transfer window.

Since moving to the French Riviera, the “outrageous” talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has gone from strength to strength, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in just 17 appearances for his new club.

That means that the young striker, who Arteta sold for what now looks like pennies on the dollar, has managed to rack up a tally of 27 goals and eight assists in just 42 appearances, which works out to a goal involvement every 0.83 games.

In other words, Biereth is currently outscoring Isak and Sesko, making Arsenal’s decision to sell him in the summer all the more baffling.

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By
Matt Dawson

Apr 28, 2025

Arsenal may have saved themselves from a potential embarrassment on Sunday afternoon, but that does not change the fact that this summer has to be a monumental one.

Mikel Arteta told us it would be early last month, and while the arrival of Martin Zubimendi is certainly exciting, the area that needs reinforcing more than anywhere else is the attack.

Moreover, while the team’s need for a new striker – or two – is undeniable, a dynamic, direct, and dangerous left-winger is arguably just as crucial to support Bukayo Saka’s efforts on the other flank.

The good news is that the board seem to agree, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the most exciting wingers in world football, someone who’d be a massive upgrade on Leandro Trossard.

Arsenal's winger search

Given Arsenal’s lack of threat off the left this season, the last few weeks have seen several top-quality wingers, such as Rafael Leao and Daizen Maeda, linked with the club.

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The former could reportedly be available for around £85m, and while that is a considerable sum of money, his tally of 12 goals and 13 assists in 48 games this season suggests he’d be worth it.

Maeda, on the other hand, could be the Gunners for just £25m, which might be a steal considering he’s scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in just 49 games this season.

However, Andrea Berta and Co might be after someone slightly cheaper than the AC Milan star but with more experience in a top-five league than the Celtic ace, which is where Nico Williams comes into play.

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal is one of several teams incredibly interested in the Spanish superstar.

In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that the North Londoners are ‘at the front of the queue’ for the dynamic winger, and that Berta and Co have already held talks with his camp.

If Arsenal successfully convince the 22-year-old to join them this summer, they’ll have to pay his £48m release clause to get the deal done, but even so, he’d be more than worth it and a significant upgrade on Trossard.

How Williams compares to Trossard

If Arsenal get their way and bring Williams to the Emirates in the coming weeks and months, he’d likely only join with the promise of regular game time, which in turn would put him up against Trossard, but who comes out on top?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, it’s the Spaniard who emerges victorious.

For example, in just 44 appearances, totalling 3050 minutes, the Pamplona-born star has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.44 games, or every 169.44 minutes.

In contrast, the Belgian international has scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 54 appearances this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.84 games, or every 175.78 minutes.

What about when we take a look under the hood, then? Which winger has the more impressive underlying numbers?

Unsurprisingly, this is another comparison in which the “world-class” Bilbao star, as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, comes out on top and quite comfortably at that.

For example, he does better in most relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, key passes, ball recoveries, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Trossard could still be a valuable squad player, Williams is the far superior winger in practically every facet, and he’s eight years younger. Therefore, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the Spaniard this summer.

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Chelsea transfer chiefs have made contact over signing a “unique” forward who Real Madrid are targeting to replace the coveted Rodrygo, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea prioritise winger signing amid uncertain futures

Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk all face uncertain long-term futures at Stamford Bridge.

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His agents were at Stamford Bridge in the last few days.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

May 21, 2025

While Madueke has started each of their last seven Premier League games, making 39 appearances in total under Enzo Maresca this season and scoring 11 goals, it is believed by some that Chelsea could still sell the Dutchman, amid interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle (GiveMeSport).

Chelsea have triggered the obligation to buy clause in Jadon Sancho’s loan from Man United as well, which was conditional on them finishing above 15th in the table, but the ex-Borussia Dortmund star may actually be sold on when the window reopens.

Indeed, some reports suggest that Chelsea are even plotting the use of Sancho as a makeweight in potential deals for wide targets, like Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, while Mykhailo Mudryk’s failed drug test has resulted in a lengthy suspension/investigation for the Ukraine international.

Given Mudryk, Sancho and Madueke are all not guaranteed to be mainstays for Maresca next term, Chelsea are reliably believed to be in the market for a new winger, with BlueCo thought to be prioritising the position alongside signing a new striker and centre-back (Simon Phillips).

Real Madrid star Rodrygo has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the last week, but the Brazil international would cost a marquee fee and there is no guarantee that they’d win the race, with Arsenal now freshly contending for him.

What is clear, though, is the possibility of Rodrygo leaving the Bernabeu. Spanish newspaper Marca have reported that Real are already eyeing replacements for the 24-year-old, and he’d be the most likely candidate to depart if they sign Athletic Bilbao sensation Nico Williams.

Chelsea make contact over signing Nico Williams

Interestingly, as per Romano, Williams is another wide player who Chelsea “love”. The £170,000-per-week forward has been on fire over the second half of 2024/2025, and a move is highly anticipated this summer after Williams’ decision to remain in Bilbao and snub a transfer last year.

His contract includes a £49 million release clause as well, which may not pose a problem for Chelsea, but the Spain international is thought to be demanding around £400,000-per-week from any interested side.

However, that hasn’t stopped BlueCo from expressing a serious interest in the attacking talent, who bagged 19 assists in all competitions last season and helped his country to glory at Euro 2024.

According to Romano, speaking via his YouTube channel, Chelsea have made contact about signing Williams, as they attempt to gauge the expense of his final package.

“Chelsea and Arsenal love Nico Williams and have made contacts to understand how much the whole package will be,” he said.

“In recent years, it has been very expensive. €58m clause, taxes, salary and commissions.”

Called a “unique” player by Blues legend Jose Mourinho, there are financial aspects to consider, especially if Chelsea don’t qualify for the Champions League, but he’d be a truly stellar addition.

Manchester United’s front line has massively disappointed throughout the 2024/25 campaign, being one of the main reasons for their dismal Premier League finish.

The Red Devils finished in 15th place, just three places above the relegation zone, finishing the season with two times fewer points than eventual champions Liverpool.

Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo finished as the top scorers for Ruben Amorim’s side, both notching just eight goals, with no player managing to reach double figures in the league.

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were both massively out of form throughout the entire year, only scoring seven goals in the Premier League between them.

As a result, the hierarchy have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements in such a department, with numerous names already mentioned with a summer switch to Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

With the transfer window set to open over the next couple of weeks, United have already begun work to land new stars to help Amorim’s quest of being a success in charge of the club.

Viktor Gyokeres, Hugo Ekitiké and Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with a summer switch to join the Red Devils, but as of yet, no progress has yet been made on such deals.

However, work has been conducted on a deal to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen over recent days, that’s according to Italian journalist Valter De Maggio.

He claimed on radio station Kiss Kiss Napoli, that the Red Devils hierarchy have met up with the Serie A side and negotiated a potential deal for the Nigerian international.

The journalist also confirmed that Antonio Conte’s side would want £40m plus current striker Hojlund in the other direction for the 26-year-old, who’s scored 36 times in 40 appearances on loan at Galatasaray this season.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Delap

Over the last couple of weeks, striker Liam Delap has been widely touted with a move to join United this summer after his £30m relegation release clause became active.

The 22-year-old scored 12 goals for relegated Ipswich Town, undoubtedly being their shining light in a dismal campaign, leading to his subsequent links to join the Red Devils.

However, despite the interest, it appears as though Amorim’s side are set to miss out on a deal for his services, with Chelsea taking the lead in the race for his signature in recent days.

It’s been reported that United’s lack of European football has handed the Blues the advantage, leading to the potential interest in a deal for Osimhen as a result.

However, when comparing the pair’s respective stats from the recent season, the Nigerian has managed to better him in various key areas – undoubtedly being a better addition than Delap.

The Napoli star, who’s been labelled “the best striker on the market” by Statman Dave, has massively outscored the Englishman and registered a higher shot on target rate – highlighting his clinical edge in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted and achieved a higher take-on success rate, handing Amorim an all round option in the final third – something he’s greatly missed.

Osimhen’s dominance doesn’t end there, winning more aerials, with his ability in the air offering the club a needed focal point, which they desperately need to take them back to their former glory.

The reported deal, which could see Hojlund move back to Serie A, may prove to be a blessing in disguise for United, moving on a player who’s simply not at the level required for the Premier League.

It may be disappointing to miss out on Delap given the bargain price he’s available for, but the Nigerian has demonstrated that he’s a better option, handing the club the elite-level attacker they need to right the wrongs of 2024/25.

Forget Garnacho: Man Utd must sell flop who's worth even more than Cunha

Man Utd could find a different solution to selling Alejandro Garnacho…

By
Robbie Walls

May 29, 2025

It is set to be a busy summer transfer window at Aston Villa, especially throughout the month of June.

The Claret and Blue Army’s 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United on the final day of the season condemned them to sixth place, missing out on Champions League qualification, thereby having to settle for a spot in the Europa League.

This, as outlined by Steve Sutcliffe of BBC Sport, only increases the financial pressure on Aston Villa, who may be forced to sell key assets before 30 June to avoid breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

So, with at least one first-team figure seemingly heading out the exit door, Unai Emery should be pushing hard to sign a “magical” replacement.

The latest on Leon Bailey's future

According to a report by The Telegraph, Leon Bailey is being ‘targeted’ by a number of Saudi Pro League clubs who are hoping to tempt him to move this month.

Rahman Osman of the Sun adds that newly-promoted Neom SC, who have former-Premier League players Saïd Benrahma, Ahmed Hegazi and Mbaye Diagne on their books, have already ‘held initial discussions’ with Bailey, and a £25m move is expected to be finalised this week.

Bailey was not included in Jamaica’s squad for last week’s Unity Cup in West London after, as outlined by Elias Burke of the Athletic, a public falling out with the JFF last year, thereby highly unlikely to feature in the Reggae Boyz’s World Cup qualifiers this week, nor the CONCACAF Gold Cup later this month either.

The winger joined the Villans from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £25m four years ago, but his role in the team has diminished as the table below outlines.

As the table highlights, Bailey endured a massive drop-off in form, importance and output from last season to this campaign, underlining the fact now is the right time for Aston Villa to sell, so should they target a replacement who will be rather familiar to supporters?

Aston Villa's dream Bailey replacement

Marco Asensio arrived at Aston Villa on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January and was certainly a roaring success, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances, bagging braces against Club Brugge, Chelsea and Cardiff during victories at Villa Park.

Ali Tweedale of Opta’s the Analyst believes the Spanish international added a ‘sprinkling of stardust’ to Villa’s attack, noting that Emery, who he believes to be a ‘huge fan of his compatriot’, would surely be eager to sign him permanently.

Well, with Spanish publication Sport claiming that he is valued at €15m (£13m) by the newly-crowned champions of Europe, he could head back to Villa with Birmingham Live’s John Townley revealing that Asensio is said to be ‘open to returning to Villa permanently’.

Described as “magical” and a “truly impressive talent” by Juan Pericas, who was his youth team coach at Mallorca, he’d certainly be an expert replacement for the departing Bailey.

As the table outlines, albeit from an admittedly small sample size, Asensio largely outperformed Bailey in claret and blue this season.

The Spaniard scored six more goals, despite playing around 900 fewer minutes, while registering a higher percentage of his shots on target, completed passes and successful take-ons. In short, he’s just a far more dangerous player.

Thus, if Villa are able to sell the Jamaican winger for £25m and sign Asensio for around half that, this would appear to be excellent business.

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