Wolverhampton Wanderers will be desperate to pick up their first Premier League victory of the new season when travelling to AFC Bournemouth this coming weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold were torn to shreds 4-0 by Manchester City on the opening day, as Rayan Ait Nouri returned to his old side to deliver a killer blow, while Matheus Cunha’s absence was there for all to see, too, as the weak hosts struggled in the forward areas.

With Jorgen Strand Larsen also now reportedly on Newcastle United’s shortlist of striker targets, the hectic transfer window could soon go from bad to worse for the depleted West Midlands outfit.

Yet, there are a few players also catching the Old Gold’s eye, away from the constant chatter about those departing the building.

Latest on Wolves' midfield search

Wolves have been active in the window with incoming signings.

Fer Lopez joined the Molineux ranks for £19.5m, having previously played alongside Strand Larsen at Celta Vigo, while Jackson Tchatchoua has also just completed a switch to the Premier League side from Hellas Verona to strengthen Pereira’s personnel in the right-back spot.

Up next, Wolves could soon welcome Barcelona number 17, Marc Casado, to their ever-growing camp in the middle of the park, if reports are to be believed.

Indeed, as per reports from Spanish outlet Marca, Casado is attracting interest from both the Old Gold and West Ham United, having been left out of Hansi Flick’s first team plans last time out versus RCD Mallorca as La Liga kicked off. The Premier League pair are said to be ‘closely monitoring’ his current situation.

The report does state that the 21-year-old ace only has eyes for Barca, but a £26m bid could soon come Flick and Co.’s way for the La Masia academy product.

Pereira will hope he can get an ambitious deal over the line for the Spanish youngster, with Casado perhaps capable of offering the same level of class and excellence on the ball that Ruben Neves once gave Wolves in spades during his celebrated stay at Molineux.

Why Casado can be Pereira's own Neves

Neves would arrive at Wolves in the summer of 2017 as an undoubted coup, having arrived at the then-Championship club for just £15m from FC Porto, despite having suitors from the Premier League in both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Wolves certainly got themselves a stunning bargain by landing the Portuguese star when they did, with Neves going on to be an integral part of the Old Gold jigsaw over many a season, culminating in 30 goals and 13 assists coming his way from 253 total appearances.

Casado’s potential arrival onto the scene does have a similar Neves feel, considering the 21-year-old has reportedly had eyes watching him from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this summer, on top of the Spaniard being more used to Champions League contests at the Camp Nou assisting Raphinha than any Premier League basement battles.

Still, much like the Al-Hilal midfielder routinely steered Wolves to comfortable mid-table finishes – with Neves’ lowest final position in an Old Gold shirt coming in at 13th – Pereira will hope Casado’s addition to the group means defeats such as the one suffered at the hands of the Citizens don’t crop up all campaign long, as more successful days lay ahead.

La Liga games played

23

League goals scored

1

Assists

3

Champions League games played

10

Champions League goals scored

0

Assists

2

After all, despite limited first-team opportunities, Casado has shown he can cut it at the very top with Barca, with one goal and five assists falling into his lap last season in La Liga and Champions League action.

Therefore, the 5-foot-8 star shouldn’t find the step-up to the Premier League to be too overwhelming, with a hope he can instantly settle in, like Neves managed all those years ago.

Moreover, he even possesses elements of Neves’ game when it comes to stepping up as a leader, with the 28-year-old going on to don the Old Gold armband regularly across his lengthy spell at the club.

Former Barca great Rafael Marquez would herald Casado as a “total leader” when first making waves in the Camp Nou senior set-up, while further being branded as a “machine” by ex-Spain teammate Yeremi Pino.

Transfer Focus

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

All this positive talk points in the direction of this being a worthwhile purchase to pursue, particularly if he goes on to be as effective as Neves.

Offer will be accepted: Wolves now very keen to sign "superb" La Liga star

He’s a wanted man.

1 ByTom Cunningham Aug 19, 2025

He hit the winning runs for India in their landmark Test win at The Oval in 1971, the highlight of a colourful career

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2025

Syed Abid Ali, who represented India in 29 Tests from 1967 to 1974, has died in California aged 83.A medium pacer who was renowned for his high standards of fielding and lightning-fast running between the wickets, one of Abid Ali’s greatest moments on the cricket field came with the bat: he hit the winning runs for India from No. 8 at The Oval in 1971 to give India their first series triumph in England.These runs came via a “square cut that never reached the boundary as it was engulfed by jubilant supporters charging onto the ground”, as had been reported on ESPNcricinfo.Abid Ali also played five ODIs between 1974 and 1975, which also happened to be India’s first five ODIs.Related

Rewind To 1971: India's day of glory at The Oval

Ask Steven: Who was once no-balled for throwing in a Test?

He finished with 47 wickets from his 29 Tests, including career-best figures of 6 for 55 in his debut innings against Australia in Adelaide. His medium pace came with enough variations to test batters. He also recorded six Test-match fifties, including twin fifties in Sydney later in that debut series.It could be argued that he was an allrounder, given that those two fifties came as an opener, and he batted at the top of the order in 21 of his 53 Test innings and scored 1018 runs at an average of 20.36 in his Test career. Those fifties in Sydney included “cavalier treatment of the new ball,” the match report said. Overall, he batted across the order for India, everywhere barring Nos. 4, 10 and 11.Then, there were his impressive fitness levels and fielding. His ESPNcricinfo profile sums it up thus: “Abid Ali had the feet of a sprinter, the energy of a marathon runner and the will of a decathlete, but his misfortune was that he was born 20 years too early. His game was made to order for one-day cricket: he bowled brisk medium-pace, fielded outstandingly, and was a busy lower-order batsman who ran between the wickets as if on invisible skates.”His focus on fitness came at a time when it was not the norm in cricket, and helped him gain a reputation both as a close-in fielder and for his spot-on flat throws from the outfield. Former ESPNcricinfo columnist V Ramnarayan, who was a young cricketer in the Hyderabad domestic circles when Abid Ali was in his prime, wrote of him: “The punishing regimen of training he followed was often the subject of anecdotes, wildly exaggerated and embellished, but perfect entertainment in the evening after a long day at the ground.”Syed Abid Ali during his stint coaching UAE•AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

He was also quite a bit of a character. Ramnarayan wrote: “He was demonstrative in an age when most bowlers tended to hide their emotions. His appeals to God when he beat the edge, and his sardonic grins at batsmen blessed by the Lord – unfairly in Abid’s opinion – were sights to see and remember.”He was once no-balled for throwing in a Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch, but his blatant chucking apparently came in protest against Gary Bartlett having taken a six-for with an action that the Indian team felt was suspect.Abid Ali never went on to establish himself as a premier name in Indian cricket, in part because he had the misfortune of being a bowler in the era of India’s famous spin quartet. He was a mainstay for Hyderabad, though, playing 212 first-class games across 20 seasons, taking 397 wickets at 28.55 and scoring 8732 runs with 13 hundreds and 41 fifties. He played his last Test match in December 1974, his last ODI in June 1975, and his last first-class game in 1978-79.”Shri Syed Abid Ali was a true allrounder, a cricketer who embodied the spirit of the game,” BCCI president Roger Binny said in a statement. “His contributions to India’s historic victories in the 1970s will always be remembered. His dedication and versatility made him stand out. My deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”After his playing days, Abid Ali went on to coach Andhra at the Ranji Trophy, and also had stints with UAE and Maldives. At the time of his death, he was living in Tracy, California, with his family.

With the deadline approaching, Aston Villa have reportedly set their sights on a shock late hijack to sign a player who is already in the final stages of a move to Manchester United.

Latest on Aston Villa targets

It’s been a difficult summer for Aston Villa. Not only have they been limited by PSR issues, but they’ve also missed out on targets when they have attempted to welcome incomings – the latest of which being George Mikautadze. Reports emerged that Villa had agreed personal terms with the Lyon forward, before Villarreal swooped in to agree a late deal.

The fact that Unai Emery revealed that he wants two players in every position indicates that Villa could work on further deals before the end of the window, but it remains to be seen just who arrives.

The Spaniard told reporters: “The club are working hard to get our structure as strong as possible with the players in the squad, trying to get two players for each position. There is still work to do, maybe even some players leaving more and we will have to sign and complete the squad with some players.

“The first reason now why we are missing something other in our structure and in our squad with our players because some players left one week or two weeks ago when we were expecting to a deal before.”

Since those words, rumours have suggested that former loanee Marco Asensio could be on his way back to the club, whilst a shock hijack on Manchester United could also take place.

Aston Villa eyeing late Lammens hijack

As reported by The Daily Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Aston Villa are now eyeing a last-ditch move to sign Senne Lammens ahead of Manchester United. Earlier reports from Sacha Tavolieri revealed that the Royal Antwerp goalkeeper is closing in on a move to Old Trafford and the transfer is in the “final stages”. The door, however, is still ajar for Villa to swoop in.

It would be an almighty blow for the Red Devils, but an excellent hijack by Aston Villa. The talented shot-stopper would instantly become the long-term successor to Emiliano Martinez, whose future is far from guaranteed in the Midlands these days.

After Asensio: Aston Villa agree personal terms to sign "electric" forward

The Villans mean business…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 29, 2025

Given how advanced United’s deal reportedly is, though, Villa chiefs will need to act fast if they do want to pull of a sensational hijack. As the deadline approaches, the goalkeeper continues to be one to watch.

Manchester City will start the new Premier League season without the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed last week that the Spaniard will be absent due to an injury suffered in the Club World Cup against Al-Hilal.

Of course, that is a huge blow for City, but they have made recent signings to help cope with the loss. Nico Gonzalez joined last January, and Tijjani Reijnders was a summer acquisition from Italian giants AC Milan. He made the move to the Etihad Stadium for a fee of £46.5m.

However, it does seem like the Citizens will be chasing a new midfielder before the summer window slams shut in two and a half weeks.

Man City’s latest transfer targets

One of the areas of the pitch in which City are looking to strengthen is on the wing. It was reported earlier this week that they are plotting a move for Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo, in a deal that could be worth £85m.

Transfer Focus

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

The big spending might not stop there. According to a recent report from Caught Offside, it is believed that Guardiola’s side are ‘stepping up their interest’ in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.

Their Spanish boss is ‘known to be a long-time admirer’ of the Cameroon international.

However, they face a fight to acquire his signature. Cross-city rivals Manchester United are said to be ‘leading the race’ to sign the Seagulls star this summer. A fee of £100m is reportedly what Brighton will demand if he is to leave the Amex Stadium this month.

Why Baleba would be a good signing

Few players in the Premier League are spoken of as highly as Baleba at the moment. The 21-year-old was described as a “powerhouse” midfielder by Ryan Adsett of Talk Seagulls.

Last term for the Seagulls, the former Lille star was a key player. He made 40 appearances in all competitions, with 34 of those coming in the Premier League. More often than not, he played as a number six, although he operated further forward as an eight, and even as a centre-back at times.

The midfielder is known for his spectacular goals, too, and is a good contributor going forward. Last season, he chipped in with four goals and two assists across all competitions, including this stunning hit in the 93rd minute to secure all three points against West Ham United.

There is certainly a case to be made that the 21-year-old is a bigger talent than Reijnders. City’s new number four has only played three times for the club, but is already someone who you can see will be a “special footballer” for City.

At least, that is according to City social media presence Steven McInerney.

Indeed, in those three games for his new side in the Club World Cup, the Dutchman has left a big impression. He dazzled with his quick feet, sharp touches in tight spaces and ball-carrying ability, on show in this video.

Factor in the cost difference, however, with Brighton’s asking price for Baleba double what City paid for Reijnders, and it is easy to see how the 21-year-old is a bigger talent.

The stats from domestic football last season back that up, too. For example, in the Premier League, Baleba averaged more completed open play passes with 37.9 and won more duels with 6.8 each game. Compared to Reijnders, he completed an average of 36.3 open play passes and won just 2.7 duels per 90 minutes.

There is a strong case to be made that Baleba is a far bigger talent than Reijnders. Not only do the stats reinforce that idea, but he is valued at double the price, and well spoken about by one of the leading analysts in the game.

A fee of £100m is hefty, but there is little doubt that Baleba would improve this City team leaps and bounds. As analyst Ben Mattinson has noted, he is already “one of the best midfielders in the league”.

He's Cherki 2.0: Man City now targeting "technically beautiful" £60m star

Man City have still got business to do this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 14, 2025

Josh Little, Ireland’s left-arm seamer, is set to follow in the footsteps of his former international team-mate Tim Murtagh, after signing for Middlesex for the 2025 season.Little, 25, is likely to feature primarily in the Vitality Blast, but will be available for other formats, subject to his international and Irish domestic commitments. The final details of his deal remain subject to Cricket Ireland issuing a No Objection Certificate.To date, Little has claimed 139 international wickets across both white-ball formats, including 4 for 45 on debut against England in Dublin in 2019. His best figures of 6 for 36 came in an ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare in December 2023.He brings with him a wealth of experience on the T20 franchise circuit, including a stint with Gujarat Titans in the IPL, whom he helped reach the final in 2023. He has also featured in the Caribbean Premier League, the SA20, the ILT20, Major League Cricket, and the Lanka Premier League, and the Hundred, with a pair of stints with Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire.”It’s an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to be part of Middlesex, one of the most prestigious cricket clubs in our game,” Little said. “I can’t wait to meet everyone, see some familiar faces, and put in the hard yards both on and off the field.”I’d like to thank Middlesex for putting their trust in me, and I’m thoroughly looking forward to what’s to come. The opportunity to play at Lord’s is hugely exciting and I can’t wait to get going.”Little’s unveiling follows last week’s news that Kane Williamson had signed a joint deal to play for Middlesex and London Spirit in the 2025 season.Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, added: “To secure a player of Josh’s T20 experience and proven ability is huge for us, as he has performed at the highest level of white-ball cricket around the world for the last few years.”He brings something different to our attack. He’s got genuine pace, is a left-armer, which in itself poses problems for batters, has a fierce short ball, and has skills that make him perfect for bowling both at the top and in the death overs of an innings.”We can’t wait to welcome Josh to the Club and look forward to unleashing him on the Blast this summer.

The USL club insist that they can coexist with their MLS neighbor – they just need to take a different approach to the sport

Kyle Martino can see it now. The packed stands. The ball zipping around the field. The players, chasing it here and there, passing and moving. For most, it will be a familiar scene from any match. For Martino and the Atletico Dallas ownership group, it's the actualization of something bigger. 

This is a different approach. 

Soon, there will be two professional soccer clubs that carry Dallas in their name. One, FC Dallas, is a legacy brand, an MLS club with 18 playoff appearances, 2 U.S. Open Cups, and countless USMNT talents to come through their ranks. Atletico Dallas don’t exist as a fully functioning soccer club yet. But they have a badge, a brand, and an idea. 

This is a USL club that represents a different part of the same area. FC Dallas play in the sparkling suburbs, nearly 40 miles from the city. 

Atletico Dallas, meanwhile, forges its identity in the streets. Their team, they hope, will be packed full of locals, kids that grew up on blacktops and searing sun, shuffled into a first team of adoring fans. A massive metropolitan area, they insist, needs a second team that represents the core of the city. 

“We're trying to create a community asset that's going to last for 100 years, and that begins in the street, in the communities and areas that might be underserved,” co-owner Matt Valentine told GOAL. “They definitely don't have organized elite club-level soccer in the US market as it exists today.” 

It’s a simple principle, really. FC Dallas have a niche. They are a founding MLS club that operates out of a high-quality facility in a different county. Suburbia suits them. Theirs is a talent factory amid townhouses. 

Atletico Dallas are set to operate from Dallas County, a metropolitan area of 2.8 million people, more densely populated and more diverse. They may border each other, but this is a different area that caters to perhaps a different kind of footballer. Valentine, Martino, and the team’s management want supporters to follow both. There is room for two badges. 

And, for them, it starts in the city.

• Atletico Dallas
  

  Street FC offers a model

  Martino is not from Dallas. He was born in Atlanta, spent his youth in Connecticut and played college soccer at Virginia. His all-too-brief MLS career was carried out first in Columbus, and then Los Angeles. He retired at 27, just as he was entering his prime, due to persistent hip injuries. 

  His response? Make soccer a business. There was a stint as an analyst with NBC Sports’s Premier League coverage, and now as a commentator for TNT Sports. He is a voice in the United States men’s national team sphere. He is also a savvy businessman.

  Chief among his empire of events spaces and soccer ventures is Street FC. It’s a simple premise: Urban America has a lot of blacktops – mainly old basketball courts – and not many open fields. Those surfaces could be the platform for five-a-side soccer, at all levels. Give people a space, a ball, and make it very cheap – and the results could form naturally over time. 

  His involvement was a no-brainer for Valentine as he shaped the Atletico Dallas brand. The two were introduced, and Valentine flew to New York three days later.

  “I thought it would be a few weeks later, maybe a month later, and we’d consider it,” Martino said. “Matt was like, 'Sorry for my language, F*ck it, what are you doing this week?’”

  That visit sealed everything. Martino showed Valentine a few Street FC courts. They grabbed a few beers. Martino agreed to become a partner in his business. After that, it was just a question of logistics.

  “I was like, ‘OK, we got a partner. We got to figure out how to make this work,'" Valentine said.

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• Atletico Dallas
  

  'A massive, massive agent for change'

  But going about this all wasn’t particularly easy. It is one thing to have a blacktop and a dream. It is another entirely to be able to put that into place, build a brand, and inform a community about a professional soccer team. 

  There are some guiding principles here. Soccer in the United States is becoming more accessible, but there are still massive financial barriers to playing in many areas. That leaves droves of would-be professionals, mostly from minority communities, phased out of the game from a young age. 

  Atletico Dallas believe they can target those talents, give them a voice. 

  “I think that we can be a massive, massive agent for change around the Dallas community,” Valentine said. “The vehicle happens to be a sport that Kyle and I love and are incredibly passionate about. And there's nothing better to galvanize the community and people than sport.” 

  Dallas already has a soccer community. The city itself, the footprint Atletico’s ownership want to claim, is invested in the sport. It is Atletico Dallas’ job, then, to provide an outlet to actually play. 

  That can take a number of forms. It’s about working with influencers in the local area and amplifying their impact. It’s about going to community events and hiring local staff. It’s also about borrowing from other success stories – LAFC, Seattle Sounders, and Louisville City, for example – and following their models. 

  “We're not going to be the explorers that map our own path here,” Martino said. “A lot of people have figured out how to do it right from the start. So we're going to cherry-pick some of those great ideas from the people that have led the way ahead of us and did a groundswell, a community movement before they took the field.”

• Atletico Dallas
  

  'I wanted a club that's serious'

  Martino can’t lie. He had no involvement in the brand, the badge or the colorway. That is not his doing. But he might be a pretty good case study as to why others might subscribe to the Atletico Dallas movement. 

  So much of soccer culture worldwide, these days, is visual. Sure, there will always be the old heads who get into a team because of proximity or convenience. But bringing on new people? That requires compelling visuals, a coherent brand. What, exactly, a club looks like has to mean something. 

  Valentine knew he needed something compelling. So, he scoured the Dallas area for local designers – those who could get what it means to piece together the visual messaging for a Dallas club. 

  He settled on Robert Milam of Dallas-based ModestWorks. 

  “I wanted a club that's serious, that takes the game seriously, but that's like, rooted in the things that I love about the sport, the kind of romance of the game, the history, the passion,” Valentine said. 

  Milam obliged. He created something sleek and interesting. Nowhere on the badge do the words “Atletico Dallas” appear – something that initially led to a few questions among casual onlookers. 

  Instead, it’s a black shield, with a silver outline. A wolf and snake are shown dueling in the middle. While some observers have disregarded it, Martino fell in love. 

  “My jaw dropped,” he said. “I just thought, ‘You guys nailed this.’ I like the rules that it breaks because it leaves room and time for us to earn the right to mean to them what they already mean to us.”

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• Atletico Dallas
  

  Built from the streets

  And perhaps that’s the broader challenge. Atletico Dallas won’t kick a soccer ball officially until 2027. They still have 18 months to figure out the specifics. But they have a badge, they have a brand, and they have a vision. And everything starts there. 

  Martino, of course, is a key operative. But there are other promising signs at play. They have acquired one of the biggest youth soccer clubs in Dallas. Right now, they have 2,500 players in their academy. Their hope is to have 4,000 within two years. There are plans in place for a state of the art training facility. They will play in the Cotton Bowl for now, but the future is wide open. 

  And so we return to Martino’s vision: the winning team, the pretty soccer, the packed stadium, including the local kids who learn how to play in the city in which they were born. 

  This is a football club that is going to be built from the streets. The early pieces are in place for it to last.

Former Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Bas Dost has hung up his boots at 36 after a terrifying on-pitch collapse in 2023. The Dutchman described his difficult recovery from heart inflammation as "maddening" and revealed a "dramatic" setback that he called a "slap in the face" following his unsuccessful attempts to continue his career.

Getty ImagesDost calls it a day with the sport

Former Netherlands international Dost has announced his retirement from professional football. The decision comes after a lengthy battle with health issues following a cardiac arrest he suffered on the pitch in October 2023, with the player describing a major setback in his recovery as a "slap in the face" in an interview with Dutch newspaper .

AdvertisementDost reveals 'maddening' recovery and 'dramatic' setback

The terrifying incident occurred during an Eredivisie match between his club NEC and AZ, when Dost collapsed on the field and required resuscitation. He was later diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. After an initial prognosis of six months for recovery, Dost suffered a devastating blow. "It was maddening. The prognosis was that the inflammation would disappear after six months. I thought I'd be able to play again next season," he said. "But in March, a scan was done – with dramatic results. The inflammation was almost back in full force. That was a slap in the face for me."

AFPA prolific career in the Bundesliga and beyond

Dost enjoyed a successful career as a powerful centre-forward across Europe, becoming particularly well-known for his time in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. Across his spells with both clubs, he scored an impressive 48 goals in 121 Bundesliga appearances. Before moving to Germany, he was the Eredivisie's top scorer with Heerenveen, and he also had a prolific stint at Sporting CP in Portugal. For Netherlands, Dost won 18 caps and scored one goal.

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What next for Dost?

While the 36-year-old confirmed that "the inflammation is now gone," the nearly two-year ordeal has prompted him to end his playing days. Dost took the opportunity to express his immense gratitude to the first responders who saved his life on the pitch, stating: "I cannot put into words how grateful I am to you." He retires with a legacy as a clinical and physically dominant goalscorer who made a significant impact in multiple top leagues.

Apart from hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand and West Indies will compete for the last two spots in the main World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2025

Pakistan vs Ireland and Scotland vs West Indies will kick off the qualifying competition in Lahore on April 9 ahead of the women’s ODI World Cup, which will be played in October this year in India. Bangladesh and Thailand, the other teams in the fray in the six-team event, will face off the following day.Apart from India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the World Cup, and the final two spots will be filled by the top-two teams from the qualifying tournament. The games will be played at the new-look Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore City Cricket Association grounds. The two venues, as well as the Aitchison College grounds, will host the warm-up fixtures on April 5 and April 7, after the visiting teams arrive in Lahore on April 3. The last set of games will be played on April 19.Tournament schedule

April 9 – Pak vs Ire & Sco vs WI
April 10 – Ban vs Thai
April 11 – Pak vs Sco & Ire vs WI
April 13 – Ban vs Ire & Sco vs Thai
April 14 – Pak vs WI
April 15 – Ban vs Sco & Ire vs Thai
April 17 – Pak vs Thai & Ban vs WI
April 18 – Ire vs Sco
April 19 – Pak vs Ban & Thai vs WI

The schedule has been officially released today, on March 14, just over three weeks from the start of the tournament, though three boards – West Indies, Ireland and Bangladesh – had put out the dates and venues in an unofficial capacity when announcing their season’s fixtures and in the case of Bangladesh, their squad for the event.This is the second ICC tournament that is being held in Pakistan, after the Champions Trophy and all the matches will be played in the country. Lahore is the only city being used for the event, as there will be no PSL matches held there until April 24. That tournament starts in Rawalpindi on April 11.As reported earlier on ESPNcricinfo, because of the reciprocal arrangement arrived at by the BCCI and the PCB before the Champions Trophy earlier this year, Pakistan, if they qualify for the main event, will not travel to India to play their matches. Those matches will be played at a neutral venue.India will host the women’s ODI World Cup for the fifth time in 2025 – and the first time after 2011. It will also be the first global women’s tournament to be held in India since 2016 when the T20 World Cup ran parallel to the men’s event. The 2025 edition is set to be similar to the 2022 edition, with eight teams taking part and playing a total of 31 matches.

Newcastle United have made it through the storm that was the summer transfer window, and Saturday’s controlled victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers has got the ball rolling for Eddie Howe’s side.

The Premier League proved a happy playground for the Magpies last season, who also won the Carabao Cup and have qualified for the Champions League, which looms very large indeed.

It’s a shame that Alexander Isak won’t be with the Toon, but the Sweden striker forced his way out and signed for Liverpool in a record-breaking deal.

In different circumstances, Elliot Anderson continues to go from strength to strength away from St. James’ Park, and while the homegrown talent would have been a perfect fit in this United side, Howe moved to sign some kind of replacement in Jacob Ramsey.

Ramsey could be Howe's new Anderson

It’s been over a year since Anderson left Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in a £35m deal, forcibly cut away by PIF because of PSR.

It’s fair to say the 23-year-old has been thriving of late, awarded the Man of the Match award in each of his first two Three Lions caps and playing an instrumental part for a high-flying Tricky Trees outfit, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “midfield warrior” and a “powerhouse carrier with a bit of passing range”.

However, Howe signed Ramsey from Aston Villa in a £42m package this summer, and while the dynamic midfielder is currently sidelined with injury, he has the skill to play a similar role: athletic and dynamic, he offers a forward-thinking skillset.

If Ramsey can overcome his current fitness setback, an ankle injury, then he could become a real player for Howe’s side.

And should he reach his potential at the club, where would this leave Joe Willock?

Why Newcastle must now sell Joe Willock

Regarding numbers, Newcastle are hardly overloaded in the middle of the park. Sean Longstaff was sold to Leeds United for £10m this summer, and Isaac Hayden departed on a free transfer.

But Willock might find his playing time reduced with Ramsey now in the ranks. Once an attacking midfielder, the former Arsenal prospect has been fashioned into more of a number eight, but injuries and subsequent struggles for form have kept him on the periphery over the past few years.

Willock – Newcastle Stats (PL)

Season

Apps (starts)

G + A

25/26

1 (0)

0 + 0

24/25

32 (11)

0 + 2

23/24

9 (5)

1 + 0

22/23

35 (31)

3 + 6

21/22

29 (24)

2 + 0

20/21

14 (11)

8 + 0

Data via WhoScored

An energetic and tenacious midfielder, the 26-year-old Willock has been frustrated by hamstring and achilles injuries in recent times, but when on the field he has left plenty to be desired, having been branded as “disappointing” a year ago by The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, who was discussing how the Englishman needed to step up, as his ball-carrying ability was a cut above his teammates’ own skills.

That’s no longer the case. Ramsey is a high-level dribbler, and his big-money addition certainly suggests that Howe is willing to invest time and effort into shaping him into the player he ought to become.

If that means that Willock needs to be sold, it’s a sacrifice the manager might be willing to make. After all, Willock earns a healthy salary of £80k per week, which isn’t as much as the £120k-per-week Ramsey, but is actually double the £40k-per-week earnings of Anderson over at the City Ground, as per Capology.

The key points here are twofold: Ramsey is valued, entrusted with a big role in the squad and expected to deliver in the years to come; Willock himself earns a fair wage, but his diminished returns of late suggest Newcastle might not be getting bang for their buck.

The lad’s natural talent was never up for dispute. He’s a sharp playmaker with the movement and vision to make things happen. He’s the complete package. But Newcastle have other such players, and even with Anderson long sold, the arrival of Ramsey issues a warning to Willock, who has only played 25 minutes of football so far this season.

Willock is no longer a spring chicken, and given the strength of Newcastle’s starting midfield trident and the addition of Ramsey, it would appear his days are numbered on Tyneside, should he want to play regular minutes during the prime years of his career.

Given that he earns a pretty penny – double as much as Anderson at Forest – the need to ship him out is only heightened, especially with the likes of Lewis Miley waiting in the wings.

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The international break will have come at a welcome time for Rangers and under-fire boss, Russell Martin, with the former Scotland defender having endured a miserable start to life at Ibrox.

Four points from four in the Premiership, alongside a Champions League qualifying embarrassment, has already plunged the ex-Southampton boss into crisis. Can he turn it around?

There’s no hiding from what was a miserable August, although nothing has been decided yet. The season is only in its infancy.

With 14 new signings needing to properly bed in to life in Glasgow, it may still be too soon to properly judge Martin’s tenure, albeit with the pressure on considering the nature of their summer outlay.

Roughly £30m was reportedly spent by the Gers during the most recent window, with the most notable investment having been the £8m that was splashed out on goal-shy Everton youngster, Youssef Chermiti.

That eye-watering fee – which could rise to £10m with add-ons – will bring with it a lefty weight of expectation. Is the Portuguese striker worth the risk?

Youssef Chermiti's record pre-Rangers

Three goals in 22 games for Sporting Lisbon. No goals in 24 senior outings for the Toffees. A record that points to Rangers – and former Everton chief Kevin Thelwell – gambling on potential rather than proven quality.

It is a “heck of a gamble” at that, in the words of club legend Ally McCoist, with there little evidence to suggest that Chermiti will prove to be a success in Scottish football, amid his recent woes on Merseyside.

Signed on a £15m deal by the Premier League side back in the summer of 2023, the 21-year-old has been reduced to bit-part status since then, albeit with then-boss Sean Dyche admitting in 2024 that he was recruited as a “development player” who would have fared better with a loan move.

Rather than a temporary exit, Chermiti has now secured a permanent switch to Scotland, thus marking the club’s most expensive outlay since the £12m capture of Tore Andre Flo back in 2000.

The merits of such a deal can be debated long into the night, with the Portugal youth international – who has scored seven times in 75 recorded games at academy and senior level, as per Transfermarkt – in need of a positive start to try and win over an expectant fanbase.

That said, the Light Blues’ extensive recruitment can help ease the burden on the marquee new addition, with Bojan Miovski likely to be the main man in attack for Martin and co instead.

Bojan Miovski's market value

If Chermiti is the long-term expensive gamble, then Miovski appears to be the perfect alternative, providing an experienced, ‘proven’ option who has already delivered the goods in the Premiership.

Market Movers

Described as a player who “does everything” during his time at Aberdeen by Billy Dodds, due to his impressive scoring rate and link-up play, the Macedonian marksman could prove a real coup following his £2.6m switch.

Indeed, while Chermiti is yet to flourish at first-team level, the 26-year-old has more than proven his worth in recent years, having notably scored 44 times in 98 games during his time at Pittodrie.

That impressive haul included a fine record on the big occasion, with Miovski scoring four times from just nine meetings with Rangers in all competitions, alongside netting three times in eight games against Celtic.

Livingston

7

5

Rangers

9

4

Hibs

9

4

Ross County

8

4

St Mirren

7

4

Motherwell

7

4

Celtic

8

3

While a return of four goals in 23 games for Girona last term is hardly the most eye-catching, the clinical number nine has already been there and done it for the Dons, a fact that pundit Andy Walker believes will make him a “better signing” than his new teammate:

That fact is also reinforced when considering what Miovski’s actual market value is, with the Gers having seemingly secured a bargain when considering their £2.6m investment.

As per the great minds at CIES Football Observatory, the 33-cap international has a peak value of as much as €16m (£14m), eclipsing the figure that was dished out on Chermiti.

While Rangers won’t be looking to cash in on their new addition any time soon, that valuation does point to them striking a significant profit in the years to come.

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