Chelsea are in advanced talks over a deal for RB Leipzig starlet Xavi Simons, as has been the case for some time, but they may not have it all their own way.

Negotiations are far down the line for his signature, as widely reported, but Fabrizio Romano says that Chelsea are still attempting to make sales before pressing forward with a deal for the Dutchman.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

“Chelsea remain in talks with RB Leipzig and Xavi Simons wants to go there,” said Romano on his YouTube channel around two days ago.

“There are advanced talks, but at the moment, there’s been no breakthrough. Why?

“It’s not been done for two reasons. The first one is that RB Leipzig are completely focused on the Sesko deal. So they’ll resolve that and then clarify Xavi Simons. Secondly, Chelsea are working on the outgoings. I told you that the contract and salary are almost agreed, but we have to wait for official statements for Armando Broja, Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and all the rest.

“Then there’s the conversation on the price between the two clubs, which is something absolutely important.”

Despite some reports in the last 48 hours claiming that Chelsea have reached a ‘total agreement’ for Simons, it appears there is still some work to do for the 22-year-old’s signature.

The former PSG playmaker is determined to join Chelsea, though, and has removed Leipzig from his Instagram bio in a clear hint that Simons has his eyes on a move to Stamford Bridge.

However, as per Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips, a mystery club is now threatening to derail their pursuit of the Bundesliga sensation.

Mystery club threaten Chelsea hijack for Xavi Simons

Writing via his Substack live blog [16:38, Thursday], an unnamed side have now come in for Simons, and this could ‘complicate things’, or at the very least force Chelsea to up the ante.

“SPTC Sources have heard that another ‘unnamed club’ has now come in for Xavi Simons,” wrote Phillips.

“Source states it could ‘complicate things’ or it could ‘speed Chelsea up’.

“Simons has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and is and has always been waiting for the move to us, but I’m not sure it’s been a Chelsea or nothing attitude so this would concern me.

“Let’s just hope it speeds us up to agree a fee.”

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol states that the Blues want to agree a deal for Simons below the £50 million mark.

Given Tottenham’s glaring need for a number 10 after James Maddison’s serious knee injury, we speculate that Thomas Frank’s side may well be the mystery club here.

After all, they were ready to spend £60 million on Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White just last month before Evangelos Marinakis blocked the move, so Daniel Levy is quite clearly prepared to splash the cash on a new attacking midfielder.

Winless in their opening three games, Borussia Monchengladbach fired manager Gerardo Seoane, the club announced Monday. The squad, which features two USMNT players – Gio Reyna and Joe Scally – is reportedly interested in another American, Pellegrino Matarazzo, as the replacement. Matarazzo was Hoffenheim's manager until the start of the 2024-25 season.

Matarazzo reportedly linked

Matarazzo has been reported to be linked with the club, according to Tom Bogert and Kicker. Bogert reported that the 47-year-old has been considering his future and has been patiently waiting for his next opportunity.

He has a 57-47-71 record as manager overall, leading both Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, and was linked with the U.S. national team job before Mauricio Pochettino's hiring last year.

READ MORE:

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat his hiring could mean

Scally has been a fixture at the club since his arrival in 2021, making 123 league appearances and being one of the Bundesliga's top right backs. Reyna made his debut for Gladbach on Sunday, showing glimpses of quality despite the team's 4-0 defeat. 

If Matarazzo is selected as new manager, he could lean into two players who have starred for the USMNT over the years. 

GettyGladbach's struggles this season

Gladbach have just one point this season and have struggled on both sides of the pitch. They have yet to score a goal this campaign and have conceded five, tied for third-most allowed this season. 

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Looking ahead

Things don't get any easier for Gladbach when it comes to upcoming opponents. They face U.S. international Malik Tillman and Leverkusen on Sept. 21 and take on Frankfurt the following week 

If there were loyalty cards in Test cricket, Matt Henry would be in line for a free Zak Crawley.Henry bagged Crawley for the sixth time this series – and eighth overall – late on day three in Hamilton, as England went to stumps on 18 for 2, chasing a ridiculous 658.An earlier lbw dismissal off the fifth ball of England’s second innings was overturned successfully on height, after Crawley had made strides down the ground. Henry then pinned Crawley in front with his last delivery of the day. Umpire Adrian Holdstock’s finger went up again and Crawley called for DRS once more, only this time umpire’s call had leg stump clipped by a whisker.Crawley’s walk back was perhaps the first time the torment endured over the last few weeks spilled over on the field. There were a few choice words for Holdstock and a meeting with match referee David Boon could round off what has been a dispiriting tour for the opener.Related

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His series ends with just 52 runs from six innings at an average of 8.66. No England opener has batted as many times in a single series and averaged so little. Factor in 139 runs at 27.80 on the tour of Pakistan and it has been an unhelpful winter for Crawley’s career average. Having moved past 33 after the first West Indies Test in the summer, following strong showings in the 2023 Ashes (480 runs at 53.33) and away series in India at the start of 2024 (407 at 40), it has dropped to 30.51.England’s management has long insulated Crawley from criticism, citing steadfast belief he is capable of other worldly innings against the best teams in the world. His output against Australia last year, along with striking the first ball of the series for four off Pat Cummins, and a domineering 189 in the fourth Test as one of three fifty-plus scores, vindicated their stance.It is a stance that remains, particularly with India and Australia on the schedule for 2025. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick reiterated their support of Crawley, while also empathising with his struggles as a former opening batter.”It’s always tough when someone gets something over you, and you find it really challenging and you’ve got to come up with plans,” Trescothick said. “I had similar situations in my time when I was playing against other oppositions.”You go away when you’ve got the opportunity, which he has now, to try and think about it before next time they come up against each other.”I think the important part of this is to remember we’re very much focussed on him being the opening batter for a good period to come. We’ve seen the damage that he does and how he goes about it.”I don’t want to give you too much about how he goes about it in the changing room because it’s the private area of what we have… but he’s a strong character. Although it’s challenging when it’s like this, when someone gets you under the pump, it’s tough, but he’ll find a way. And we’ll help him find a way to get back to that point.”Trescothick also confirmed Crawley’s poor form had nothing to do with the fractured finger sustained in the third Test against West Indies which ruled him out of the Sri Lanka series at the end of the summer. Nevertheless, he has scored just 191 runs across 11 innings since.England do not play Test cricket again until May, with a one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, in which time they believe Crawley will emerge from his slump. He will return home after this tour and then head out to South Africa for a stint with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, which begins on January 9. Free spirited white-ball cricket may be what he needs to emerge out of his funk.

A new era awaits Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this forthcoming Premier League campaign.

Thankfully, despite season after season of relegation panic, their swansong offering at Goodison Park wasn’t drenched in the worry of Championship football potentially coming to the Toffees’ new state-of-the-art home, as Everton finished in a comfortable 13th final spot under David Moyes.

Now, it’s up to the Scotsman to deliver more success to the blue half of Merseyside, with more signings presumably in the works to ensure they improve on their 13th position this time around.

Everton in talks to sign £300k p/w ace

Everton have been busy in the transfer department so far this summer.

Indeed, the Toffees have managed to welcome in five new faces ahead of their upcoming adventure into fresh surroundings, with both Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sticking out as notable purchases up top and through the middle.

While Dewsbury-Hall offers plenty of Premier League experience, the top-flight side might well venture down the more untested route when recruiting other midfield assets, with Sunderland’s 18-year-old gem Chris Rigg reportedly on their shopping list.

However, much in the same ilk as the former Chelsea man, Everton could also offer an escape route to another outcast struggling towards the top end of the Premier League, as talks continue to occur between the Toffees and Manchester City reserve star Jack Grealish.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Journalist Dominic King has taken to X to suggest that Grealish would be receptive to the idea of moving to Moyes’ outfit, with talks also ramping up – as per football journalist Mike Joyce writing for the Times – as Everton attempt to bring the £300k-per-week midfielder in on loan, despite those wild wage costs.

Further reports from one Toffees insider note that Grealish is “in agreement” to join Everton on loan.

How Grealish is shades of Barkley

The Birmingham-born 29-year-old won’t be viewed as a complete lost cause, with the idea of Grealish getting back to his prior best enabling Everton to win a temporary star who possesses shades of Ross Barkley’s game when he was at his peak at his boyhood club.

Before finding out the hard way how unforgiving football can be – with a limp 12 goals and 11 assists coming his way for Chelsea from a century of appearances – Barkley was a rip-roaring success story at his boyhood employers with runaway efforts like this one against Newcastle United.

In total, the 33-time England international would power home a respectable 27 efforts from 179 Toffees outings, on top of also picking up 25 assists, leading to one of his former Everton bosses in Roberto Martinez, heralding his overall ability as “incredible.”

Grealish would be showered with the same adoration when he was still pulling on Villa claret and blue, as seen in Brendan Rodgers branding him as “marvellous” to watch when situated in the Leicester City dug-out.

All this lavish praise was warranted, too, as the ex-Villans captain bettered Barkley’s Everton tally by amassing a bumper tally of 32 goals and 43 assists in the West Midlands, leading to the Citizens splashing out an excessive £100m on the attacking menace’s services.

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Unfortunately for Grealish, this dive into the unknown at the Etihad backfired, leaving the 29-year-old now in a position where he needs to breathe life back into his faltering playing days, off the back of a 2024/25 campaign where a middle-of-the-road seven-goal contributions were averaged.

Often chucked out to the left wing under Guardiola, it could well be a masterstroke to come by Moyes if he places Grealish back into his preferred number ten spot, with that freedom perhaps reawakening his Villa best, gifting the much-loved Toffees boss his new Barkley in the process.

After all, Barkley managed to recover his career from the brink when he joined Luton Town in 2023.

The same could soon happen for Grealish, therefore, who was once even labelled as a “magician” when strutting his stuff for his hometown side by ex-Premier League regular Ashley Cole.

It will be up to Moyes and Co. to get this magic back out of him after an underwhelming stint in Manchester, with a version of Grealish back at his very best, an unbelievable weapon to possess.

Just imagine him & Ndiaye: Everton aiming to sign PL star alongside Dibling

As Everton chase Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, David Moyes also wants the Toffees to sign a “magic” Premier League winner who was once worth £100m.

ByBen Gray Aug 10, 2025

Milne replaces Usama Mir for the first three games, while Renegades have signed USA allrounder Hassan Khan and Hurricanes have signed Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil

Alex Malcolm08-Dec-2024Melbourne Stars have signed New Zealand quick Adam Milne for a pre-Christmas stint in the BBL as a replacement for Pakistan legspinner Usama Mir who will miss the first three matches of the season.Stars are also set to unveil a new captain this week after Glenn Maxwell stood down at the end of last season. Maxwell is unlikely to be fit for the first match against Perth Scorchers on December 15 as he continues to recover from his hamstring injury and it remains to be seen whether he will appear in any of the first three games before Christmas.Mir is also unavailable for the first three games against Scorchers, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers which will be played in three cities in the space of five days. Stars have swooped on Milne to fill in for those three games. He has previously played in the BBL for Sydney Thunder in 2020-21, taking just five wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 7.56.Related

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“To be able to secure someone of Adam’s talent and experience is a huge boost for the squad for the first three games,” Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said. “Adam knows Australian conditions well, we value what he will add to the squad and we look forward to seeing what he can produce.”Milne also covers for the absence of Scott Boland who is on Test duty. Stars could also be missing allrounder Beau Webster for at least the opening game in Perth as he looks set to remain with the Test squad for the third match against India in Brisbane which starts on December 14. Stars’ second BBL match against Heat falls on day five of the third Test, meaning Webster could potentially be available if he is released from the Test squad pending Mitchell Marsh’s fitness.Stars are also missing England Test opener Ben Duckett for the opening three games of the BBL season, as he completes his Test duties in New Zealand, with Joe Clarke set for his second stint at Stars as a replacement after playing two seasons from 2021-23. Clarke also played six games for Melbourne Renegades last season and three games for Scorchers in 2020. He recently played for Victoria in the Global Super League in Guyana.Hassan Khan will play for Renegades in the BBL•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Renegades have signed USA spin-bowling allrounder Hassan Khan as a replacement player. The former Pakistan Under-19 representative has yet to play international cricket but starred for San Francisco Unicorns, a franchise run by Cricket Victoria, in Major League Cricket taking 10 wickets and scoring 204 runs at a strike rate of 143.70 across his nine games. He was named domestic player of the tournament. He also performed well for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the GSL.”Hassan is an exciting young talent who gives us options in both departments,” Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten said. “His ability to contribute in those important middle overs with the ball and add valuable runs down the order will be crucial as we push for success this season.”Hobart Hurricanes have signed Afghanistan left-arm wrist-spinner Waqar Salamkheil as an overseas replacement for Rishad Hossain who has been ruled out of the entire BBL due to international commitments and the Bangladesh Premier League, despite being Hurricanes’ third pick in the overseas draft.Salamkheil will be available for the first six games of the BBL season before departing for the ILT20 in January. He was Trinbago Knight Riders’ leading wicket-taker in the recent Caribbean Premier League bagging 15 scalps in 11 matches, playing alongside two other Hurricanes players in Tim David and Chris Jordan.”Waqar is a tremendous young talent, he adds a different element to our bowling line-up and is a wrist-spinner with a well-disguised wrong-un, similar to Rishad,” Hurricanes High Performance Manager Salliann Beams said.”While we are disappointed that Rishad can’t join us because of the BPL, we know that we have someone who will help us win matches in the first half of the tournament in Waqar.”He was on our radar during the draft, with Ricky [Ponting] and Hopsey [James Hopes] familiar with his talent after seeing him play in franchise cricket, he will complement what we have in our squad already.”

Carlo Ancelotti's club career was believed to be over when he joined Brazil at the end of last season. However, the legendary Italian head coach does not rule out a Real Madrid return for a third spell, claiming that Los Blancos are the only team which would tempt him to prolong his 30-year long career in football management upon ending his international adventure.

• Ancelotti hints at managerial future after Brazil stint ends

  Ancelotti bid an emotional farewell to Real Madrid at the end of last season, departing the club as the most successful manager in their history with 15 trophies to his name across two spells. Having been a head coach for three decades, it felt like his move to Brazil would be his last big managerial job. However, the Italian has confirmed that he doesn't rule out returning to the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu for the third time.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  One eye on the 2030 World Cup?

  While speaking to earlier this week, Ancelotti discussed his future with the Selecao and admitted that he has "no problem if the CBF (Brazil Football Federation) wants to continue" their association. Indeed, the legendary Italian signed only a one-year deal with Brazil, which expires after next year's World Cup. Ancelotti, though, said that "it would be nice" to stay at the helm until the 2030 World Cup.

• What did Ancelotti say about a third Real Madrid stint?

  Despite stating in May that his club career might be over, Ancelotti was open to the possibility of returning to the Spanish capital and manage Los Blancos. "Real Madrid is the only team I will accept managing after Brazil," he revealed in an interview with

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  When do Brazil play next?

  Having secured qualification to next year's World Cup, Ancelotti's troops will return to action next month, when they take on Asian heavyweights South Korea and Japan in friendly fixtures.

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta’s transfer plans, after manager Mikel Arteta was handed the major boost of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres’ imminent arrival.

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Gyokeres, according to The Independent, will fly out to Singapore for his medical as he looks to play some part in their pre-season tour of Asia, with Arsenal finally reaching a full breakthrough to sign the 27-year-old earlier this week.

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Gyokeres is poised to join Arsenal in a deal worth £64 million, including add-ons, with a full verbal agreement now struck between all parties as Arteta prepares to welcome the prolific number nine to his squad.

Given Arsenal’s struggles to break teams down last season, Gyokeres has the potential to be a title-winning signing, and people who’ve worked with the Sweden international simply cannot find enough superlatives to describe him.

“He really was incredible,” said Adi Viveash, who coached and mentored Gyokeres at Coventry City, to Sky Sports.

“His power, taking the ball and running with it, bursting through gaps, linking the play, being very good in both boxes set-piece-wise – which wasn’t a strength of his, but he became certainly very good at defensive set-pieces with me through front post defending.”

“If you give Vik half a pitch in behind with a high line and you get the line wrong, you’re never going to catch him. He’s going to keep making the run in behind so you’re wearing down opposition.”

After Gyokeres, who’ll also be joined by defender Cristhian Mosquera in Singapore, the plan for Arsenal is to prioritise a central attacking midfielder (Ben Jacobs).

Arsenal are seriously interested in Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, as they have been for weeks, but more and more noise is surrounding an alternative to the England international in RB Leipzig sensation Xavi Simons.

Arsenal contact Xavi Simons camp amid Barcelona meeting

According to Romano, Arsenal are guaranteed to have made contact with Simons’ camp, with Chelsea also seriously contending for the 22-year-old’s signature as they plan transfer talks with Leipzig this week.

La Liga champions Barcelona, led by their sporting director Deco, also held a meeting with the Netherlands forward’s representatives recently, but a move to the Camp Nou is seen as unlikely for this window and more one for the future.

Right now, it appears Chelsea are the current favourites for Simons. However, Arsenal remain “attentive” to his situation and a north London switch hasn’t been entirely ruled out yet, meaning he’s still one to watch.

Leipzig only signed the player from PSG permanently in January for an initial £43 million, with Simons now preparing to leave the Bundesliga side after spending some significant time there on loan previously.

Called a “difference maker” by ex-Leipzig boss Marco Rose, Simons has racked up an impressive tally of 21 goals and 23 assists during his time in Germany, but the Premier League could now beckon for him.

Interestingly, journalist Buchi Laba is convinced that Simons would be a “better” Arsenal signing than Eze.

Arsenal chiefs were recently handed the chance to sign a Chelsea star this summer, with sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners recruitment team delivering a clear response.

Mikel Arteta’s side have spent north of £200 million this window – an outlay signaling major ambition ahead of another Premier League title challenge.

There’s still interest in Eberechi Eze, with reports suggesting the player is keen on the move, but there’s still been no official bid to Crystal Palace. Arsenal are still in dialogue with the 27-year-old’s representatives (Fabrizio Romano), though, so a move for Eze remains on the cards as we enter the final three weeks of the summer.

Interestingly, BBC journalist Sami Mokbel doesn’t see it happening unless Arsenal can sell players first, namely Leandro Trossard.

They’ve also been linked with Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet recently, who’s believed to be debating his long-term future after Arsenal’s approach for the 20-year-old recently (Graeme Bailey).

In a major boost for Arteta, the north Londoners brought an end to their long search for a new number nine.

Viktor Gyokeres sealed a blockbuster move from Sporting CP to the Emirates Stadium late last month, in a deal worth up to £64 million with bonuses included following weeks of back-and-forth negotiations.

It’s a major statement from Berta, who was thought to be a big admirer of the 27-year-old and prioritised him over fellow top striker target at the time, Benjamin Sesko (Simon Phillips).

Gyökeres netted 54 goals in all competitions last season – numbers that made Europe’s elite take notice, but Arsenal ultimately won the race.

He arrives as the long-term solution through the middle, and has been handed the iconic No.14 shirt, once worn by Thierry Henry. Gyökeres has big shoes to fill, and the Sweden international will be desperate to get off the mark as soon as possible.

Arsenal needed firepower, and they’ve got it.

Interestingly, Berta was actually handed the chance to sign another rival centre-forward before agreeing a deal for Gyokeres.

Arsenal's response after being offered Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson

That man was Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who’s now set to leave Stamford Bridge and become one of the next moving number nines in this summer’s striker domino (Fabrizio Romano).

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal turned down the chance to sign Jackson this summer after being offered the chance to do a deal, which also comes as good news for Newcastle, who’ve held informal talks with the Senegalese and have less competition in pursuit of his signature, with Man United also signing Sesko.

The 24-year-old did command a valuation of £80-£100 million, according to Sky Sports, but it is now believed that Chelsea could sanction his sale closer to the £56 million mark.

Joe Cole has actually called Jackson one of Chelsea’s “most important” players, but their deals for Joao Pedro and Liam Delap means his place in the first team is no longer cut and dry, with an exit firmly on the cards.

أعلن أول مرشح في انتخابات النادي الأهلي، تقديم أوراق الترشح بشكل رسمي، استعدادًا لخوض سباق الدورية الانتخابية المقبلة.

وكشف أحمد مجدي الحيوان، عن تقديم أوراق ترشحه على عضوية مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، فوق السن مستقل.

وكتب الحيوان، عبر حسابه الشخصي على فيس بوك: “بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم إيماناً مني بعظمة النادي الأهلي كمؤسسة وطنية بدورها الرائد في الرياضة والمجتمع، قررت الترشح لعضوية مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي – فوق السن”.

طالع.. رسميًا | الخطيب يعلن قائمته في انتخابات الأهلي 2025.. موقف عبد الحفيظ وياسين منصور

وتابع: “ساعياً ومتطلعا لاكون صوتاً صادقاً ودرعاً قوياً للنادي وأعضائه الكرام وجماهيره العظيمة”.

وأكمل: “أعاهدكم على أن أبذل قصارى جهدي للحفاظ على مكانة نادينا العظيم، وأن أعمل بكل إخلاص واتقان وشفافية لتحقيق ما فيه الصالح والخير للأهلي وأسرته الكبيرة”.

وأضاف: “فمن يرى فيَّ خيراً وقدرةً على خدمة الكيان، أرجو منكم الدعم والمساندة أخوكم أحمد مجدي الحيوان والله ولي التوفيق”.

ومن المقرر أن تعقد انتخابات مجلس الأهلي يومي 30 و31 أكتوبر المقبل.

Ramesh Mendis has missed out, while Nishan Peiris has been picked in a slightly different looking Sri Lanka spin department

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Nov-2024

Lasith Embuldeniya is back in the Test squad•Associated Press

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya has been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the two Tests in South Africa, more than two years after he last played a Test. Offspinner Nishan Peiris, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in September, has also been included.Ramesh Mendis, the offspin-bowling allrounder, misses out on selection, though he claimed six wickets in his only Test appearance this year. Ramesh, additionally, can bat.Though Prabath Jayasuriya leads the spin contingent, this amounts to something of a shake-up in the ranks with Sri Lanka playing in Durban and Gqeberha, where the tracks are expected to take more turn than most South African surfaces, particularly as matches wear on.The squad is largely as expected in the batting and seam-bowling fronts, however. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and allrounder Milan Rathnayake make up fast-bowling outfit. Top order batter Oshada Fernando makes it in into this squad, but Nishan Madushka – who has made a bright start in ODIs – does not.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Both Embuldeniya and Oshada have partly been picked on account of their good performances in South Africa in 2019, when Sri Lanka had also played in Durban and what was then Port Elizabeth. Embuldeniya took six wickets at 23.83 across three innings on that tour, while Oshada hit a fourth-innings 75 not out alongside Kusal Mendis to see Sri Lanka home in what could have been a tough chase. Neither player, though, has been especially impressive in domestic cricket over the last season, though Embuldeniya did have a decent outing in the four-day National Super League.Several Test specialists are already in Durban for a pre-series training camp, overseen partially by former South Africa batter Neil McKenzie, who serves as Sri Lanka’s consultant on this trip.Kusal Mendis, Asitha, Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have also been pulled out of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, after Sri Lanka sealed that series on Sunday. This is so those players can have a couple of extra days to recover and begin preparation for the Tests in South Africa.The first Test is scheduled to start on November 27, in Kingsmead, Durban.Both Sri Lanka and South Africa have a shot at finishing in the top two on the World Test Championship table.Sri Lanka squad for Test series in South AfricaDhananjaya de Silva (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha