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If Rangers were to sell Romanian international Ianis Hagi this summer, "it would be quite a surprise", claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Rangers transfer news – what's the latest on Ianis Hagi?

Rangers have been undergoing something of a squad overhaul in recent weeks, with the Teddybears seeing senior players like Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent all leaving the club and a swath of new faces arriving.

So far, the Glasgow giants have signed six new players this summer, splashing the cash on striker Cyriel Dessers, who cost £4.5m from Cremonese and fellow centre-forward Sam Lammers, who cost the club £3m from Atalanta.

With the club clearly spending big this summer and more potential incomings on the way, several players have been linked with moves away from Ibrox to help free up more capital to fund Michael Beale's overhaul, with one of those linked with a move being Hagi.

According to Football Insider, Serie A side Lecce view the player as a 'concrete target' this summer and have already made contact with the Scottish giants over a potential transfer.

Rangers legend Alan Hutton told the publication that while he hopes the player stays, he thinks the club could sell:

"There is definitely a question mark there. Hagi had a stop-start season with a serious injury that did not allow him to play as much football as he wanted, but you still think at this moment in time, he would be knocked down the pecking order, especially with the new signings.

"I would like to see him stay but if they did get a reasonable offer in they would listen to it. "

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Ianis Hagi and Rangers?

Jones was quick to point out that the departure of Hagi seems unlikely at this point, as everything around the club suggests he will be staying.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I mean, he seems unlikely (to leave), and actually, it would be quite a surprise at this point if he did go. I mean, the noises around it seem to suggest that they will be staying."

How good is Ianis Hagi?

It has been a tough few years for the Romanian international, having started his career at Ibrox brightly in the 2020/21 season to having it abruptly cut short the following season due to a knee injury.

That injury required surgery, which caused the dynamic midfielder to miss a whopping 69 games for the Gers across 371 days from January 21st 2022 to January 27th 2023.

Before his injury, however, he was electric north of the border, especially in that first season when he started 20 games, scored six goals, and assisted a further nine, picking up an average rating of 6.93.

It was this kind of form that led Gigi Becali, the owner of Steaua Bucharest, to make a very bold prediction:

"I think he will be a great European footballer in the future. For me, he will be worth €100m (£85m) in just two years."

His then-manager Steven Gerrard was also full of praise for the Romanian youngster, hailing him as "magic" after a spectacular Europa League goal at Ibrox in 2020.

With the now 24-year-old just getting back to his best after the tough journey he's been on over the last 18 months, Rangers should do all they can to find a place for him in the team going forward, even if he doesn't quite live up to that €100m (£85m) prediction.

A round-up of the WCL Division Three matches from Kampala held on May 29, 2017

Peter Della Penna in Kampala29-May-2017Oman are one step closer to replicating Afghanistan’s dramatic rise up the WCL ladder from 2008-09 after they stormed past Malaysia by 131 runs at Lugogo Stadium to top the WCL Division Three table. The result helped them secure their third consecutive promotion.Naseem Khushi was the latest player to make hay with the short boundaries at Lugogo, smashing four fours and eight sixes in an unbeaten 77 off 30 balls in a late surge that took Oman to 293 for 7, after they had been sent in. It was the third fifty of the innings and the quickest after 61 off 76 balls from Aqib Ilyas and 51 off 69 balls from captain Sultan Ahmed.Malaysia went pedal to the medal early in their chase in a desperate attempt to both win and do it fast enough to take their net run rate above Uganda and USA in order to avoid relegation. They reached 94 for 3 in 10.4 overs on the back of opener Anwar Arudin’s 33-ball fifty. His innings, however, ended when slingy fast bowler Munis Ansari had him caught behind for 57 off 35 balls at the end of the over. Malaysia subsided meekly thereafter to be bowled out for 162 in 33.1 overs.Ansari, who had struggled all tournament with just one wicket coming into the match, ended with 4 for 47 while legspinning allrounder Khawar Ali wiped out the tail to finish with 5 for 23.File photo – Rizwan Cheema’s 35-ball 42 was not enough for Canada to topple Singapore•Associated PressSingapore completed a sweep of the North American contingent at Division Three with a two-run win over Canada at Kyambogo Oval. Canada still gained promotion despite an equal 3-2 record with Singapore thanks to a vastly superior net run rate, the tournament tiebreaker, while Singapore’s win ensured they avoided relegation.Their net run rate was worse than both USA and Uganda at 2-3, so a loss would have sent them back to Division Four but Canada collapsed with victory in sight. Chasing 167, they lost their last four wickets for 17 runs to be all out for 164 with 12 overs left unused.Singapore’s innings was anchored by Anish Paraam’s 58 off 75 balls at No. 3 after they had been sent in. But when he fell to to Bhavindu Adhihetty in the 32nd over to make it 147 for 7, Singapore’s tail lasted less than five overs, before they were wiped out by Adhihetty and Saad Bin Zafar, who finished with 3 for 10 and 2 for 39 respectively.Canada’s chase got off to a rocky start when Adhihetty fell for a duck off the third ball and they lost wickets at regular intervals thereafter. Allrounder Rizwan Cheema looked set to take Canada over the line with 42 off 35 balls, including five fours and two sixes, but he fell to Anantha Krishna with eight needed to win. The legspinner kept his composure under pressure to also dismiss Hamza Tariq and then Saad Bin Zafar with just four needed to win to put Singapore one wicket away from victory.Canada only lasted two more balls before last man Cecil Pervez was run out, going for a second run off Krishna, ensuring Singapore were spared relegation in dramatic fashion.Elmore Hutchinson’s half-century at No. 9 set up a dramatic finale at Entebbe to save USA from relegation•Peter Della PennaUSA saved their place in Division Three in similarly dramatic circumstances with a 13-run win over Uganda at Entebbe, sending the hosts back to Division Four.Set a target of 146 to win, Uganda needed to get to 141 in spite of a loss to stay above USA on net run rate. But USA’s spinners wreaked havoc on a track offering significant turn with Steven Taylor taking 5 for 32.When Taylor dismissed Frank Nsubuga for the ninth wicket in the 30th over, Uganda still needed 27 runs to overtake USA on net run rate and they nearly did it as tailender Henry Ssenyondo provided valiant support, lasting 42 balls, to captain Davis Karashani. With Taylor, Mrunal Patel (1 for 27) and Nosthush Kenjige (2 for 43) all bowled out, Taylor tossed the ball to pacer Jessy Singh for a steady diet of yorkers until one finally broke through Karashani’s defense and clipped leg stump to finish off Uganda for 132 in 43 overs.Though Taylor claimed five wickets, it was Elmore Hutchinson who took home the Man-of-the-Match honors after hitting 52 off 50 balls from No. 9. USA had been reduced to 104 for 9 in the 44th over but Hutchinson scored 39 out of the last 41 runs in a 10th wicket stand with Kenjige. The last over of the innings saw Hutchinson strike two fours and a six off Jonathan Sebanja in a back-breaking sequence that ended up being the difference in keeping USA up and sending the hosts down.Oman will play Canada in the tournament final at Lugogo on Tuesday. USA will face Singapore in the third place match at Kyambogo while Uganda and Malaysia will square off at Entebbe in the fifth place playoff on the same day.

The Zimbabwe captain was disappointed after a seven wicket defeat to Sri Lanka, saying his batsmen did not adjust to the change in the pitch on Sunday and play more straight-bat shots

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Jul-2017Graeme Cremer conceded Zimbabwe’s batsmen may have been too eager on the sweeps and reverse sweeps during the second ODI on Sunday, even though those strokes had proved productive during Friday’s record chase. Sri Lanka’s best bowler Lakshan Sandakan, meanwhile, had come prepared for that tactic from Zimbabwe, which goes some way to explaining his match figures of 4 for 52.Zimbabwe had been 67 for 1 before the spinners came into operation in Galle, and prompted a collapse that cost the visitors five wickets in the space of 10.3 overs. Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl all fell attempting to sweep or reverse sweep.”Maybe with the wicket, we should have adjusted, should have hit the ball down the ground a bit more,” Cremer said after the seven-wicket defeat. “I thought the wicket was a little bit different from the pitch for the first game, and we didn’t adjust early enough. At one stage we could have batted off the overs – 230 could have been a decent score, but we lost too many wickets in the middle.”Sandakan, playing his first ODI since March, employed several strategies to counter Zimbabwe’s sweep-happy batsmen. Early in the innings, he overcame Hamilton Masakadza’s reverse sweep threat by firing deliveries on a leg-stump line. Later in the innings, the dip he achieved also made him a difficult bowler to play across the line.”We identified that they were sweeping us, and we tried to change the field, slow the ball up a bit and change our lengths,” Sandakan said. “We didn’t try too many changes, but length and pace was important and it worked for us today. We also bowled wicket to wicket – a little straighter – to stop some of those shots.”While Sandakan had made the more telling blows to the opposition innings, debutant legspinner Wanidu Hasaranga knocked out Zimbabwe’s tail with a hat-trick in his third over. After the match, captain Angelo Mathews said he had not known much about Hasaranga, which suggests Cremer and the Zimbabwe are likely to have been even less enlightened on the threat he posed.”To get a hat-trick on debut that something special,” Cremer said of Hasaranga. “He looked a little bit nervous when he started, which is understandable. But credit to him when he stuck at it, and credit to the skipper having faith in him to keep him on. To clean up the back end of the innings was excellent.”Sandakan also lauded the 19-year-old’s poise. “When someone is debuting, he is under pressure. He managed the pressure well and bowled his googlies, flippers and leg-spin nicely.”

Fulham have now made a bid of €25m (£22m) for Benfica defender Morato, who is keen on a move to Craven Cottage this summer, according to a recent report from Maisfutebol.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

At the moment, Fulham appear to be bracing for a couple of major departures, with Aleksandar Mitrovic reportedly telling relatives he will never play for the club again, in light of them valuing him at £52m to ward off interest from Al Hilal.

Marco Silva's future is also in doubt, with the manager's agents meeting with representatives of Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli in London, to discuss a potential £40m deal to manage in the Saudi Pro League.

With the future of their star striker and manager up in the air, it is a worrying time for Fulham, however, they still remain active in the transfer market, having recently submitted a bid of £15m for Ajax defender Calvin Bassey.

However, considering the Dutch side paid £20m for the 23-year-old last summer, it seems unlikely they would be willing to part with him for a lower amount, and the Cottagers have now identified Morato as a major target.

That is according to a report from Portuguese outlet Maisfutebol (via Sport Witness), which states that Fulham have now stepped up their interest in the Benfica defender by lodging a "decisive" offer of €25m (£22m) in order to acquire his services.

Silva's side are willing to offer the 22-year-old a significantly-improved salary package, which would nearly quadruple his wages, and the player himself would be keen on a move to Craven Cottage.

The Brazilian has allegedly instructed Benfica to accept the proposal made by the west London club, but Benfica have already turned down four bids in recent days, so it remains to be seen whether £22m is deemed to be a high enough offer.

Who is Morato?

The Francisco Morato-born defender initially made his breakthrough with Sao Paulo, attracting the attention of Benfica, where he has spent the last four seasons, making a total of 50 appearances for the Portuguese club.

However, the 6 foot 3 centre-back has been unable to cement a regular place in the starting XI, making a total of just nine outings in the league last season.

Given that Benfica won the league title last season, it is understandable that the former Sao Paulo man was not able to break into the first team, and he could still be a quality signing for Fulham.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Benfica ace as "magnificent", while also claiming he "has everything to become a world-class centre-back."

One of the £8k-per-week defender's best attributes is his passing ability, having averaged a pass-completion rate of 90% over the past year, which places him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

It would certainly be a risk for Fulham to sign Morato, given that he only has very limited first-team experience, but he is still very young and he is showing signs that he could go on to be a top player.

Crystal Palace are "in a really good position" to beat Chelsea to the signature of Flamengo's highly rated and highly sought-after youngster Matheus Franca, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Matheus Franca joining Crystal Palace this summer?

It hasn't been a great start to the summer window for Palace so far this year. They have made just one senior signing so far, and it was the rather uninspiring signing of Jefferson Lerma from Premier League rivals Bournemouth.

However, the departure of club legend Wilfried Zaha is the biggest problem for the South Londoners, as his performances over the last few seasons have been instrumental in keeping them in the league, and to see him leave for free is nothing short of a disaster.

That said, the club do appear to be making inroads with some potential transfers, one of those being for the highly-rated Brazilian youngster Franca.

According to Brazilian publication Tocedores, Palace co-owner John Textor has made an offer for the 19-year-old in the region of £26m, putting them in direct competition with cross-city rivals Chelsea for his signature.

The Blues have also made an opening bid for the exciting prospect after meeting with his representatives in London earlier this month, per Globo.

The fact that he has made just 28 senior top-flight appearances since making his debut in 2021 has done little to put people off, with football scout Jacek Kulig waxing lyrical about the youngster, saying:

"Great midfielder, great striker, he can play almost everywhere. One of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil at the moment."

What did Dean Jones say about Crystal Palace and Matheus Franca?

Jones was surprised by Palace's success in reaching this point of the transfer battle but was full of praise for them and didn't rule out the possibility of them securing his signature.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Yeah, it would be massive for them if they could actually win this battle. I mean, it's not easy to even get as far as they've got with it to be honest because he's a player that has been coveted by a lot of clubs.

"Getting to this moment and obviously Chelsea being the biggest of them and Chelsea don't normally miss out on targets like this. It has to be said that Palace have put themselves in a really good position to actually sign him."

Who else have Crystal Palace been linked to this summer?

While Franca would undoubtedly be an excellent signing for the future, it's unlikely that he'd make an immediate impact on the team and so, the South London side are likely to do some more business this summer before the transfer window slams shut on September 1st.

One of the players that the Eagles are interested in is Arsenal's American striker, Folarin Balogun. The 21-year-old is coming off a brilliant season in France, where he scored 21 goals for Ligue 1 side Stade Reims and achieved an average match rating of 6.9.

The club's interest in the young prodigy was revealed last month by Football Insider, an interest that was confirmed by Ryan Taylor earlier this month when he told GIVEMESPORT that Palace were still "looking at him."

The biggest hurdle for this deal is that Arsenal now want close to £50m for their young American, which would eclipse Palace's previous record transfer fee of £27m, which they paid Liverpool for Christian Benteke in 2016.

Perhaps Roy Hodgson's side could get some kind of discount should they include a buyback clause, as they are going to have to find a way to replace the goals lost from Zaha's departure.

North group leaders Leicestershire made it four wins out of four, all away from home, in the NatWest T20 Blast when they beat Durham by 27 runs at Chester-le-Street.

ECB Reporters Network20-Jul-2017
ScorecardNorth group leaders Leicestershire made it four wins out of four, all away from home, in the NatWest T20 Blast when they beat Durham by 27 runs at Chester-le-Street.The Foxes appeared to have made a hash of their innings as they subsided from 100 for 2 in the 12th over to 123 for 8 after 18.The return of quicker bowlers allowed Matt Pillans to strike two fours and there were also four leg byes as 21 came off the last two overs to leave them on 144 for 8.It proved more than enough as Leicestershire learnt from the success of Durham’s spinners for Colin Ackerman and Callum Parkinson to take two wickets each in reducing the Jets to 31 for 5.Left-armer Parkinson added a third to end a stand of 30 when he bowled Usman Arshad and Durham finished on 117 for 8.Callum Parkinson took three wickets to hurt Durham’s chase•Getty ImagesWith the Sky cameras present on a sunny evening, Durham came under fire after choosing to bowl. The visitors’ top three all made rapid progress, but Mark Cosgrove’s 33 was the top score.The failures of the middle order put him under pressure and he holed out at deep midwicket in the 16th over to become one of four victims for Paul Collingwood.Seven overs of offspin produced 3 for 33 with Ryan Pringle taking 2 for 22 and Adam Hickey 1 for 11 in three.They hauled Durham back into the game after Luke Ronchi and Cameron Delport took 14 off Chris Rushworth’s opening over and had 37 on the board after four.Delport departed for 29 when he sliced Rushworth to backward point, then Cosgrove opened the face and ran the first ball he faced to the third man boundary.Ronchi reached 32 off 22 balls before dragging a Collingwood slower ball to wide long-on, where Pringle held the catch before conceding only three runs off the tenth over.Pringle then struck twice in the 12th as a smart leg-side stumping by Stuart Poynter got rid of Ackerman then Ned Eckersley lofted to long-off.That double blow set the collapse in motion, but Clint McKay followed his 5 for 11 in Leicestershire’s last game by striking with the first ball of Durham’s reply.Left-hander Hickey reached for a wide one and sliced to Delport at point and when Ackerman came on for the fourth over Clark pulled his first ball straight to deep midwicket.Michael Richardson chopped an attempted cut into his stumps and Parkinson took the next three wickets.Jack Burnham attempted a ramp to fine leg and was bowled, Collingwood chipped to deep mid-on and Arshad was bowled for 27 when Parkinson came back for his final over, the 15th.It was left to skipper Paul Coughlin to salvage some pride for Durham with an unbeaten 42.

Lasith Malinga has his thoughts on why Sri Lanka continues to struggle in their efforts to bridge the gap to the next wave of stars following a string of key retirements after the 2015 World Cup

Andrew Fidel Fernando31-Aug-2017Sri Lanka have “lost a generation” of cricketers from the national fold, and cannot afford to do so again. Fresh from having presided over Sri Lanka’s largest ever runs defeat in ODIs, stand-in captain Lasith Malinga delivered the aforementioned grim diagnosis.Malinga’s argument is this: where for most of his career he has played in teams comprising mostly of experienced players, he now finds himself in a side where very few have more than 50 ODIs on their record. Eight of Thursday’s XI, for example, have played 37 ODIs or fewer. Of those, a stunning five have played fewer than 10 ODIs.Partly, this is the result of a rash of injuries, but also Malinga says, the failure of a generation of Sri Lankan cricketers.”What I personally think is that our problems are because we lost a generation of players,” Malinga said after the 168-run defeat to India on Thursday. “If that generation was here, we wouldn’t have an inexperienced team like this at international level. We had players like Chamara Silva, Thilina Kandamby, Jehan Mubarak, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Tharanga Paranavitana and Malinda Warnapura.”Those players played about 10 years of domestic cricket by the time they were 29 or 30, and played internationals for two or three years, and then they were out of the international scene. We lost that 10-12 years of experience from them. It’s really hard to get that experience from a fresh-out-of-school cricketer or a club cricketer.”Malinga, in fact, was one of only four cricketers over the age of 30 in Thursday’s XI. Of the other three, Malinda Pushpakumara was making his ODI debut and another, Milinda Siriwardana, was playing his 20th ODI. Only three years ago, Malinga was playing in a side featuring the likes of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Rangana Herath.”In previous teams, you had players who had played a 100 ODIs, or at least 50 ODIs,” Malinga said. “When I started playing in 2004, there were seven or eight experienced players in the team. A few years ago we lost that. Now our cricket has declined. We need that – every other team in the world has that experience in their XI.”Like several coaches and management staff, Malinga believed Sri Lanka’s present squad has the ability to become a good team. He prescribed a stable selection policy as perhaps Sri Lanka’s best route back to competitiveness.”A lot of our players are inexperienced at international level, but they get their places because they perform at domestic level,” he said. “I think if we gave some chances to the young players here, we will get players who can play for a long time. If we can give them experience to the team that goes to the 2019 World Cup, then you will have players who have played 30-50 ODIs.”If we keep criticising everyone one by one, we will keep getting these new teams. We have to protect the players we have. The current thinking is always: ‘The player who is in the team is bad, but the one outside deserves a place.’ As a player who has played 14 years international cricket, I think the people who are in the team are there because they are better than those outside.”On his own future, Malinga has given mixed signals. While before this match he suggested he would play for some time yet, even jesting that he would be around until 2023, he raised the possibility of retiring even this year, after this match had been lost. He claimed his 300th ODI wicket in this game, when he had Virat Kohli caught at deep point.”In the Zimbabwe and India series I couldn’t play well. I’ll see where I’m at after this series, and evaluate how long I can play given the way my body is. No matter how experienced I am – if I can’t win a match for the team and do what the team needs, there’s no point in me being here. If I can’t deliver that, then I’ll happily retire.”

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could look to weaponise his knowledge of the Spanish market to secure further signings at Villa Park this summer, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

How has Aston Villa's transfer window gone so far?

Aston Villa have made some excellent additions in the summer transfer window after managing to bring in the services of Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby and Youri Tielemans, as per Transfermarkt.

Marvelous Nakamba, Wesley Moraes, Morgan Sanson and Viljami Sinisalo have all departed the club either on loan or permanently while Ashley Young and Jed Steer left Villa Park upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of last term.

Villans boss Emery spoke excitedly about his ideals for the new season in an interview cited by The Daily Mail, stating: "I am very excited with this phase we are going to have this year. 'Now is the moment to try to build, to create a small family between us and big commitment with every player."

Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, otherwise known as 'Monchi', was appointed as Aston Villa's new President of Football Operations last month and has been tasked with navigating 'football matters' at Villa Park, which will enable him some degree of a say on potential incomings at the club moving forward.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano thinks that Aston Villa could 'explore some possibilities' in the Spanish market between now and the close of play in the window.

Romano stated: “I think they will move on other targets, for example, full-backs. I will keep an eye there for Aston Villa because they're exploring some possibilities in Spain.

“And then we will see, but for sure, Villa are very satisfied with the work they've done in the market.”

Who have Aston Villa been linked with in recent times with Spanish connections?

In keeping with the Spanish connection referenced by Romano, Football Insider claim that 27-year-old Spain international Adama Traore is being courted by Aston Villa in what would be a surprise transfer pursuit.

Traore is believed to be on a shortlist of attacking targets alongside several other options as Emery looks to add some pace in the final third heading into the new campaign.

One report in Spain has indicated that Aston Villa 'continue to push on the offensive side' to try and land Barcelona forward Ferran Torres; nevertheless, any prospective agreement would be difficult to reach with the former Manchester City star, who isn't keen to leave his current employers this summer.

Barcelona are unlikely to make a decision on the future of Torres until the future of Ousmane Dembele is solved amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain in his services.

Mundo Deportivo via TEAMtalk state that Aston Villa could financially outmuscle competitors Sevilla, Almeria and Real Betis in the race to sign Levante full-back Marc Pubill, who is expected to join a bigger club this window.

Levante find themselves in financial trouble and would be willing to sell the 20-year-old and Aston Villa President of Football Operations Monchi has identified Pubill as someone who could make an impact at Villa Park.

The Barbados Tridents captain said he had overstepped while looking for the extra effort needed to send down a short ball

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2017Kieron Pollard has denied he deliberately bowled the no-ball that potentially cost Evin Lewis a record-breaking hundred in St Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ 10-wicket win over Barbados Trident at the Caribbean Premier League.Lewis was on 97 off 31 balls when he took strike with the scores level, a boundary away from the fastest hundred in CPL history and the second fastest in all T20 cricket. But Pollard overstepped the line by a big margin, Patriots had the one more run they needed for victory, and Lewis could not have a crack at the record.Pollard, the Tridents captain, said he overstepped as he was trying to put extra effort into a short ball, his best delivery option. “When I took up that ball in that last delivery, I had one thing in my mind: trying to bowl a delivery, my best delivery – what has been working for me throughout the tournament – a short delivery to see if he [will] have a waft at it, to see if it can go up in the air and we can get him out,” Pollard told Sports Max.”Although we would have lost the game, I was still thinking of getting him out, and using my strength, what I had been doing. Unfortunately, [the] stride went for that extra, I stepped over the mark and I think that has been the talking point, of what actually happened, the actual no-ball itself.”It wasn’t intentional, nothing was intentional at any point in time. I acknowledge that we have lost the game but I am not going to just go there and bowl a ball just for him to hit it for six or four, for him to score hundred in that sense. That’s not my nature, and I don’t think any sportsman will just do something to that effect.”This isn’t the first time that Pollard’s on-field actions have been questioned. In the IPL, he was once ruled to have run one short in a bid to retain strike, and the sportsmanship of that was questioned. In 2014, Pollard was involved in a heated altercation with Mitchell Starc. The Lewis incident triggered outrage against Pollard on social media, but he said his conscience was clear.”What I am a big believer in is I can sit here and I can talk to you and I can tell you untruths and I can make up all sorts of stories,” he said. “But one person I can’t make up a story to is when I watch myself in the mirror. When I watch myself in the mirror, I know what my intentions were in that particular delivery, and my intention was just try to bowl the best delivery.”Pollard, however, said he had a chat with fellow Trinidadian Lewis on the matter, and that things were cordial between them. “I just told him [Lewis] ‘well played and good luck in the playoffs’. He just laughed it off. Evin Lewis… he came up after me in Trinidad to play cricket. We play cricket together. Our whole management is the same sort of management. At the end of the day, [some people may say] Kieron Pollard is jealous of Evin Lewis and things like that. That’s not in my nature. I have been the first one to congratulate somebody. I have been the first one to send him a message and always be there no matter what. And this is not going to stop me from continuing to do that.”Yes I did [talk to him after that]. We had a conversation. I wouldn’t share the exchange of the conversation but we had a couple of Whatsapp messages and it’s all cordial. No, I didn’t apologise to him. To me, there is nothing to apologise for. We just laughed it off.”

Sofyan Amrabat has turned down offers from Saudi Arabia as his priority is a switch to Manchester United, according to Fabrizio Romano

The Moroccan midfielder looks set to depart Fiorentina this summer.

What is the latest Sofyan Amrabat news?

It seems the midfielder has made his decision on his future.

According to a report from L'Equipe, the Fiorentina player was a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, who wanted to add him to their squad which includes new signings Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Allan Saint-Maximin. The report also stated that the Moroccan was set to make his decision on his preferred destination in the following days, and that his current club had resigned themselves to the fact that he was to depart this summer.

United have been long time admirers of Amrabat, having tried to bring in the midfielder back in the January window following his impressive performances during the World Cup that saw him get named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament.

The deal never happened and Amrabat remained with Fiorentina for the rest of the season, which was a campaign that saw him lose out in both the Coppa Italia final and the Europa Conference League final. Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag previously worked with the defensive midfielder at Utrecht, and is pushing for the club to complete the transfer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Amrabat had turned down the offer from Saudi Arabia, as he is focused on completing a switch to the Red Devils. The Italian journalist also stated that United are waiting on the sales for Fred and Van de Beek to fund the transfer.

"Sofyan Amrabat, rumoured as potential target for Al Ahli last week, from what I understand, he does not want to negotiate with Al Ahli, but also all Saudi clubs as his priority now is Europe. Sofyan Amrabat wants to go to Man United, so he rejected very important financial approaches from Saudi because he wants to wait for Man United.

"As I always told you, there is no official bid to Fiorentina as they have to sell Fred, and it’s not going to be to Galatasaray from what I’m told, so other clubs are keen on Fred. But also, Donny Van de Beek, the conversation with Real Sociedad is ongoing, so Man United wait to sell one between Van de Beek and Fred before proceeding, but both will leave guys by the end of the summer, and then they will proceed with a bid for Amrabat, that is the plan at the moment."

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Who do Man United have to sell for Amrabat?

There are two midfielders who could depart Old Trafford this summer to create the space for Amrabat.

One name Romano mentioned was Fred. The 30-year-old has seen his role reduced at United under ten Hag, and with the arrival of Mason Mount as well as the potential signing of Amrabat, opportunities would be even further limited for the Brazilian.

According to a report from 90min, Galatasaray have seen an offer rejected that fell below the asking price of £20m set by Man United, and have since pulled away according to Fabrizio Romano. Saudi clubs remain interested in the midfielder, and Fulham could reignite the interest they showed earlier on in the summer.

The other name mentioned by Romano was Van de Beek. The Dutch international has had a disappointing career at Old Trafford following his £39m switch from Ajax in 2020, having only made 60 appearances for the club during a three-year spell blighted by injury problems that have forced him to miss 52 games.

According to reports, Real Sociedad have opened talks regarding the midfielder despite concerns about the player's injury problems, with the asking price set to be £25m.