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One of Everton’s busiest transfer windows in recent seasons came in the summer of 2022, when Frank Lampard was manager. The Toffees signed six players on permanent deals, and two players on loan, as they looked to boost Premier League survival hopes for the 2022/23 campaign.

The headline signing from that season was Amadou Onana, who joined from Lille for £33m, although he has since left for fellow Premier League side Aston Villa. The Toffees signed four first-teamers who are still at the club today; Dwight McNeil, James Garner and Idrissa Gueye cost them a combined £26m, and James Tarkowski joined on a free.

Their sixth and final permanent deal that summer was a player who has also now departed the club. That man is striker Neal Maupay.

Maupay’s Everton record

It is fair to say that Maupay’s move to Goodison Park did not work out for any party involved. The Toffees signed him from Brighton and Hove Albion for £15m in 2022, and he never really found his best form in front of goal.

Life as an Everton player started superbly for the striker, who scored in just his second game for the club, a strike at Goodison Park against West Ham United.

However, the Frenchman failed to find the back of the net again and ended his time at Everton with one goal in 31 appearances.

Last term, the former Brighton striker left on loan to return to his former club Brentford. The 28-year-old had a far more successful time of things for the Bees than he did as an Everton player. His second spell in West London saw him score eight goals and grab three assists in 31 appearances for Thomas Frank’s side.

Following the expiration of his loan at Brentford last July, the striker departed Everton permanently. He made the move back to France, signing for Olympique Marseille, where former Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi is now manager. The French outfit signed him on loan with an obligation to buy him in 2025.

Things did not go according to plan for Maupay at Goodison Park. Then manager Lampard was very close to bringing in a different striker, who is now one of the deadliest players in the Premier League.

Who Everton nearly signed instead of Maupay

The player in question here is Aston Villa and England international Ollie Watkins. The striker has been a revelation under Unai Emery over the past 18 months and scored the Three Lions’ winner in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.

According to an exclusive report from Football Insider back in 2022, the Toffees ‘registered their interest in signing’ Watkins during the final days of the summer transfer window. Incredible though it may seem, the report does state Villa were ‘open to letting Watkins go’, as they searched for a quality centre-forward.

Well, as it turned out, Watkins proved to be that very player for the Villans. He has now played 177 times in that famous claret and blue shirt, scoring 74 times and grabbing 29 assists. That included a superb 2023/24 campaign, in which his 32 goals and assists in 37 Premier League games helped the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1983.

Season

Games

Minutes

Goals

Assists

2020/21

37

3328

14

5

2021/22

35

2955

11

2

2022/23

37

3136

15

6

2023/24

37

3226

19

13

2024/25

6

446

4

2

Watkins, who was described as “elite” by football statistician Statman Dave, has quickly become one of the most valuable players in the Premier League. According to a report from The Mirror in July, he is valued at an eye-watering £85.7m, far more than what the Toffees could have expected to pay back in 2022.

Everton fans can only dream about how things might have turned out for them had they managed to sign the Villa striker instead of Maupay.

Perhaps Lampard, who was sacked in January 2023, would have kept his job, with the Toffees were reaching the pinnacle of European football thanks to Watkins.

Everton wanted to sign "special" £30m star but are stuck with Lindstrom

Sean Dyche could have signed a talented Championship sensation this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 1, 2024

Peterborough's chairman has blasted fans calling for Darren Ferguson to be sacked over his decision not to bring on Tyler Young against Everton.

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Tyler was left as an unused substituteFerguson defended his selection decisionsPeterborough chairman backed his managerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Football fans were left disappointed on Thursday when a historic FA Cup moment failed to materialise. The clash between Everton and Peterborough at Goodison Park had the potential to see veteran full-back Ashley Young and his son, Tyler, become the first father-son duo to compete against each other in the competition’s 154-year history. However, Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson’s tactical decisions prevented this milestone from taking place.

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Ashley, the 39-year-old former England international, came on as a substitute for Everton in the 73rd minute, with his team leading 1-0. Despite the sentimental opportunity, Ferguson opted not to field 18-year-old Tyler, citing the competitive circumstances of the match. By the time Everton sealed their victory with Iliman Ndiaye’s stoppage-time penalty, all of Peterborough’s substitutions had been made, leaving the younger Young on the bench.

"The last substitution was a difficult one because I did want to get Tyler on. As much as I wanted to get him on with his dad, I had to do what’s right for my team," Ferguson said after the match.

"It was very difficult, but I’ve got to do what’s best for the team. If the game had been 2-0 at that point, I would have put him on, but at 1-0, I couldn’t. If I sent a central midfielder on at 1-0, I’ve got three forwards sitting on the bench wondering what’s going on."

WHAT DARRAGH MACANTHONY SAID

On Friday, the Everton star posted on social media that he was "gutted" and Ferguson’s decision drew ire from fans, some of whom called for the manager’s dismissal. However, Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony staunchly defended Ferguson, labelling the criticism as unwarranted and irrational.

In a strongly worded tweet, MacAnthony stated: "This nonsense has to stop. My manger was 100% correct in his actions. This wasn’t some friendly or exhibition event. Tyler is doing fantastic with our 21’s & progressing phenomenally with bright future but bringing him on at that time considering circumstances around game with us one down with minutes left was not right thing for team. Putting stupid tweets out asking for him to be sacked is unintelligent & frankly moronic. In time even Ashley will appreciate this as opposed to his current feeling around it."

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Young, who has been on the fringes of Peterborough’s first team, has only made one senior appearance so far. That came in an EFL Trophy match against Stevenage in October 2024. The teenager is regarded as a promising talent and has been making steady progress in Peterborough’s U21 setup. Despite his inexperience, fans were eager to witness the symbolic moment of father and son facing each other on the pitch. However, Ferguson’s decision highlighted the balance managers often need to strike between emotion and practicality.

Former badminton player will replace Urooz Mumtaz, who resigned in May

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-2021The PCB has roped in Tania Mallick, a member of the Pakistan Olympics Association, to head their women’s cricket wing. The position was vacant since May this year after Urooj Mumtaz – who was holding multiple jobs in PCB – relinquished the main role, allowing PCB to hire a full-time head.Tania, 52, an alumnus of Lahore University of Management Sciences and a former badminton player, represented Pakistan at the Seoul Asian Games 1986. She became the national champion in the 1987-88 season. She has been vice-president of the Punjab Olympic Association since 2010, is currently vice-president of the Punjab Squash Association, and is also serving as a member of the Pakistan Olympic Association’s Education and Women’s Commissions.The PCB has taken over three months to find a candidate for the post, with the first lot of candidates who applied not making much of an impression in the initial interviews. The board had to invite more candidates to come forward, and extended the deadline to do so, having begun their search for a replacement immediately after Mumtaz left.Related

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PCB's new ethics code takes aim at conflict of interest

Mumtaz wasn’t working on a full-time basis, with the former captain holding multiple positions, including that of the chief selector of the women’s team apart from having a place in PCB’s cricket committee. She was also a commentator on PCB’s panel. The multiple roles she held began to come under increasing scrutiny, especially with the board’s new ethics code looking to clamp down on any potential conflicts of interest.The PCB women’s wing functions independently under the PCB. Previously, the department was headed by a general manager before it was revamped, creating a full-time role. Before Mumtaz, Shahid Aslam – who is the Pakistan team’s assistant coach – had a stint to oversee women’s cricket. The women’s wing is more structured than ever, with PCB and looking to expand the pool of women cricketers in the country.The PCB has also been offering hefty salaries across the board for the country’s top women cricketers, as well as more lucrative financial incentives for domestic cricket. They have also launched a parental support policy for all contracted cricketers. The women’s cricket selection committee is headed by Mumtaz, and till recently had fellow former cricketers Asmavia Iqbal and Marina Iqbal as it’s members, until Marina gave up the post to focus on her commentary career.

Manchester City have reportedly been left 'surprised' by the lack of recognition Erling Haaland’s new contract has received from the Premier League.

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Striker has penned 10-year dealOften used as face of the divisionMasters yet to make any commentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific Norwegian striker, who already has two top-flight titles in England and a couple of Golden Boots to his name, has penned a stunning 10-year deal at the Etihad Stadium. Those terms are intended to keep him in his current surroundings until 2034.

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Haaland agreeing such a contract is considered to be a major coup not just for defending champions City, but the Premier League as a whole. The 24-year-old frontman is often used as the face of global marketing campaigns that help to promote English football around the world.

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Richard Masters, as chief executive of the Premier League, would have been expected to comment on a deal that is big news for the brand that he controls. Haaland’s agreement has however, as reported by the , been met with silence by those at EPL headquarters.

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WHAT NEXT?

That has come as some surprise to City – who made Premier League history last season when claiming a fourth-successive title triumph – but they have been locked in a 115-charge Financial Fair Play battle and other legal arguments with the English authorities and are still waiting to discover what punishments, if any, they will face when it comes to supposed financial misconduct in Manchester.

A cut-price move for an “exceptional” Newcastle United target could be on the cards in the January transfer window, in a more marquee deal than the recent links to Wout Faes and Nikola Milenkovic.

Newcastle eyeing £75m double deal

Eddie Howe has found his centre-back options decimated in recent months, with serious injuries to Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles leaving him horribly lacking in that area of the pitch, especially with little business done there in the summer, barring the signing of the versatile Lloyd Kelly.

Key additions are required at the heart of Newcastle’s defence moving forward, and they have been linked with a sensational £75m double swoop for Faes and Milenkovic. The duo are currently plying their trade at Leicester City and Nottingham Forest respectively, but could relish the opportunity to move to a bigger club.

The Premier League pair are seen as potential long-term replacements for current Magpies defenders Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, both of whom are in their final year at St James’ Park. It remains to be seen if either will be handed extensions, but the fact that they are now 32 years of age suggests that could be unlikely.

Should neither Faes nor Milenkovic move to Newcastle, they will surely turn to other options instead, whether that be in January or next summer, and it looks as though they could now be set to revisit a former target.

Newcastle "considering" cut-price January signing

According to The Northern Echo‘s Wilson on X, Newcastle are “considering” going back in for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi in January, even eyeing him on the cheap, with his report saying a “cut-price deal” is the aim.

Guehi still feels like the most exciting centre-back option for the Magpies, especially if they now believe they can sign him for cheaper than what Palace were demanding in the summer. The 24-year-old impressed so much for England at Euro 2024, proving to be one of their standout players after filling in for the injured Harry Maguire throughout the tournament.

Former Three Lions star Joe Hart said of him: “Huge shoutout to Marc Guehi. I thought he was exceptional. He really stepped in and was really calm on the ball. I thought Guehi allowed John Stones to play his game. The more Marc plays, the better that [centre-back] partnership will get.”

Guehi certainly hasn’t expressed a willingness to now remain at Palace for years to come, suggesting that a move to Newcastle may still appeal to him, and given his age and profile, Paul Mitchell should do all he can to acquire the England international’s signature.

Newcastle eyeing £75m Premier League duo to possibly replace Schar and Burn

They are new targets for the Magpies.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 14, 2024

Granted, the Eagles have struggled this season and the defender arguably hasn’t been at his absolute best, but he has discussed a “tough” summer without much of a pre-season, so there should be no concerns from Newcastle about him being a flash in the pan.

In a video on Facebook, she said a leg injury made her take this decision

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Oct-2021Allrounder Eshani Lokusuriyage, who was instrumental in perhaps Sri Lanka’s greatest ODI win ever, has retired from international cricket, aged 37. In a video on Facebook, she said a leg injury had prompted her to make that decision.”I’ve decided to retire from international cricket,” Lokusuriyage said. “However, I will continue to play for my club side – Navy. I want to take this opportunity to thank the fans who’ve been with me since 2013. Please continue to support me, because I’ll still be a club cricketer.”A right-handed batter, and right-arm seamer, who made her international debut in 2005, Lokusuriyage played 89 ODIs and 68 T20 internationals. It is for her heroics during the 2013 World ODI Cup, however, for which she will be most fondly remembered. Having taken 2 wickets for 49 against England after opening the bowling, Lokusuriyage thumped 56 off 41 to revive a flagging Sri Lanka chase (their target was 239), and delivered the team to the cusp of a thrilling one-wicket victory.Having won the player of the match in one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets, Lokusuriyage also starred in a victory against India days later, when she struck 56 not out off 31 and took a wicket.”It was in 2013 that people around the world got to know who Eshani Lokusiriya is,” she said. “I was able to achieve those things because I had a good coach, a good captain, and good team-mates. I’m really thankful to all of them. I’m so grateful for all the fans, and I ask them to continue supporting women’s cricket.”All up, she struck five fifties in ODIs, with a highest score of 65, and took 49 wickets in the format. She also has 36 wickets in T20 internationals. She last played for Sri Lanka in 2018. There have been no internationals for Sri Lanka’s women’s side since early 2020 for Lokusuriyage to be eligible for.

The teenager is the latest American to break through in the Bundesliga and he looks like a player with the ability to stick around for a long time

Noahkai Banks wasn't given time to be nervous. He would have been and probably should have been if this was a normal debut, but this was anything but normal. The 18-year-old defender was being thrown right into the thick of it with no time to think and, more importantly, no time to feel those nerves.

The American teenager's Bundesliga debut for Augsburg came as a 29th-minute injury substitute. There was hardly any time to warm up or get ready. Nope, Banks was into the game and expected to step up. Sink or Swim. Augsburg ultimately lost the game, falling 1-0 to Stuttgart, but there's no doubt about it: Banks swam.

Now, less than a month since, it feels like the young center back has already arrived. He's started twice for Augsburg since coming off the bench back on Jan. 12, showing signs of why many see him as a future U.S. men's national team star. That future may not be too far away, either. USMNT center back spots remain up for grabs and, if these first few weeks are any indication, Banks is a player that could grab it sooner than many think.

Many see Banks as a potential USMNT center back of the future. His performances in the Bundesliga show that those believers may be right. Banks has stepped up to the challenges so far with a unique combination of size, skill, and composure that make him look like the ideal modern center back. It's early days, yes, and Banks still has a lot of proving to do, but you only get one crack at a first impression, and Banks' was about as impressive as it could have been.

Getty Images SportWhere it all began

Born in Honolulu, Banks' soccer education didn't really come in Hawaii — it came in Augsburg. Since joining up with the club at the U-10 level, Banks has been pushing towards everything that has gone on over the last few weeks.

Since joining the German club, the defender has battled his way right up through the ranks. He made it to the U-17s in 2021 at just 14 years old. It didn't take long for him to make it to the U-19s and, ultimately, the reserve teams, too. FC Augsburg have always been high on him. The club has always seen him as a key prospect. It's why it tied him down to a long-term deal last summer in a move that signaled that his first-team arrival was imminent.

 “Noahkai is a very talented center back who we believe can make the leap to the Bundesliga," sporting director Marinko Jurendic said at the time."He showed last season that he can adapt quickly to a higher level and his performances in the U23s have earned him his place in the first team. We are delighted to be able to promote yet another player from our youth academy to professional football. We will continue to work with Noahkai individually, and give him the best possible support for his personal journey towards becoming a Bundesliga player."

Banks' success hasn't just been limited to Augsburg, either. On the international level, Banks is eligible for Germany but has exclusively featured for American youth national teams so far. In 2023, he was a member of the U.S. U-17 squad for that year's World Cup. In that team, he joined highly-rated American prospects like Nimfasha Berchimas, Keryol Figueroa, and Cruz Medina as the U.S. fell in the Round of 16 to Germany, coincidentally. The teenager has represented the U.S. up to the U-20 level, providing an assist against France last year with that group, but turned down a call-up to that team last summer to focus on preseason with his club team.

"I’m delighted to be given the chance to prove myself in the first team," Banks said. "It’s a childhood dream come true for me, and I’ll do everything I can to make it to the Bundesliga with FCA."

It ultimately worked. It took a few months but, as we moved into 2025, Banks has arrived in Germany's top flight.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe big break

It showed a strong level of trust from manager Jess Thorup. When Maximilian Bauer went down with an early injury, Thorup needed a replacement in the left side of Augsburg's back three. He turned to Banks, throwing him right into the game with little time to mentally comprehend what was happening.

“As everything happened so quickly, I didn’t have much time to feel nervous,” Banks told FCA TV. “I was happy to be on the pitch and focused on my game."

Banks looked relatively unfazed. He completed 32 of his 36 passes, including two of his three long balls. He won two tackles, had two interceptions, and won three of his five duels. Tossed right into a tough Bundesliga clash, Banks didn't look overmatched, which is all you can ask of a young center back.

It proved to just be an introduction, though, Banks was just getting started.

Getty Images SportHow it's going

Banks' debut against Stuttgart was solid and, for a teenage centerback, solid is basically spectacular. After two more substitute appearances, though, he was finally given his first start against Heidenheim on Jan. 25 and there's no caveat about that game: Banks fit in perfectly.

Banks went 70 minutes in that match, looking every bit like a USMNT star of the future. He completed 52 of his 53 passes, including all seven of his long balls. He has a whopping 11 clearances. He won two tackles and all three of his ground duels. Most importantly, Augsburg didn't let in a goal while he was on the field, going on to earn a 2-1 win. His performance earned him a spot in WhoScored's Team of the Week, and it was fully deserved. That was his true breakout performance, the one that officially put him on the USMNT radar not for the future, but for the present.

His next appearance was somewhat of a step back. Back in the XI against St. Pauli, Banks was credited with an unfortunate own goal. There wasn't anything particularly bad to it, as Banks was punished for attempting to make a heroic clearance off the line, but it was an own-goal nonetheless. Outside of that, the passing numbers still pop, as he went 51 of 54 in that metric, although he did struggle a bit more with the physicality in that second start.

Still, it's easy to see what Banks is and what he can be, particularly if he continues to get these Bundesliga chances.

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Getty Images SportBiggest strengths

There's something you notice quickly about Banks, and it's very obvious: his size. His 6'3" frame makes him stand out even among players significantly older than him. It's that frame that allows him to compete defensively against top-level attackers in one of the world's best leagues. He's tall enough to win headers, but also fast enough to outpace them.

Banks isn't all physicality, though. In fact, when you really watch, his game is very much about finesse.

In his brief Bundesliga run, Banks has already proven to be an elite passer of the ball. In his 250 minutes played so far, he's completing 94.6 percent of his passes. These aren't just sideways, either, as he's also completed all but one of his 12 long passes. In that way, Banks is a prototypical modern center back — tall enough to swat attackers away, but skilled enough to be the player that kickstarts an attack.

Despite his age and lack of experience, Banks already has some key tools for success, but, as expected with an 18-year-old defender, he's still anything but a finished product.

Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Premier League season came crashing to a halt against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.

The Gunners suffered a calamitous 2-0 defeat to the Cherries on the South Coast, to leave them reeling on 17 points, with Manchester City and top-of-the-table Liverpool having the chance to extend their leads on Sunday.

It was a game that many thought should have been a routine win for Mikel Arteta’s side, against a side managed by his childhood friend Andoni Iraola. However, a first-half red card for William Saliba meant the Gunners had an uphill battle to get anything from their trip to the Vitality Stadium.

Ryan Christie opened the scoring for the Cherries in the second period, getting on the end of a well-worked set-piece routine. Their lead was doubled after Justin Kluivert converted from the penalty spot, a kick won by Evanilson after he was fouled by David Raya.

It was a very disappointing day’s work for Arteta and his side, who missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table and apply pressure to their title rivals. There were certainly some poor performances throughout from the Gunners.

Arsenal’s poor performers vs. Bournemouth

Two of the players who had a particularly poor outing in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday night were Saliba and Jakub Kiwior. French centre-back Saliba cost his side dearly, hauling down Evanilson inside the Gunners half.

The Brazilian was chasing a loose backpass from Leandro Trossard and was dragged down by the Arsenal number two, who was the last man and therefore deemed to be denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

His short half-hour performance against the Cherries earned him a 4/10 rating by Football London journalist Kaya Kaynak. He claimed Saliba ‘seemed to panic’ when the former Porto striker ran in behind him.

Kiwior came on to replace Raheem Sterling, who was sacrificed following the Frenchman’s red card. He never really looked settled in the game, as his Sofascore stats suggest. The Poland international completed just 76% of his passes, winning two from five duels and failing to win his only tackle.

He also put Raya in a difficult position with the backpass, leading to the Spaniard committing the foul which led to Bournemouth’s penalty, and was replaced in the 81st minute even though he came on as a substitute himself. He received a 5/10 rating from Kaynak at full-time.

One Arsenal player whose job was made tough by Saliba’s red card was Ben White, and he also struggled to make a positive impact on the game.

White’s stats vs. Bournemouth

As is often the case when a red card goes against your team, the Gunners defenders struggled from the 30-minute mark onwards. England international White was one of those who were outnumbered but had an even harder job given he did not have the highly rated Saliba next to him, nor even a right-footed player.

That also had implications on the Gunners’ number four getting forward. Normally one to venture down the right wing and get crosses into the box, the 27-year-old had to be far more conservative and hold his position.

The post-match stats for the former Brighton and Hove Albion man did not make for pretty reading. Whilst White looked after the ball well, completing 91% of his passes, he won just two from five tackles and four from nine duels in total.

Stat

Number

Touches

47

Pass accuracy

91%

Passes completed

29/32

Ground duels won

3/8

Aerial duels won

1/1

Tackles won

2/5

Number of times possession lost

9

Kaynak gave the Arsenal number four a 5/10 rating for his performance on the South Coast. He noted that there was not much White could have done going forward, although did point out he was ‘beaten on a couple of occasions’ by winger Dango Ouattara.

Arteta will be desperate for White and his teammates to bounce back in mid week, as they face Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 19, 2024

Former India captain will take over from the New Zealand series starting November 17

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-20214:23

Moody: Dravid’s challenge will be to manage the schedule

Rahul Dravid will succeed Ravi Shastri as head coach of the national men’s team after the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE. Dravid’s two-year term will begin with the upcoming home series against New Zealand, starting November 17.”It is an absolute honour to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, I am really looking forward to this role,” Dravid was quoted as saying in a BCCI statement. “Under Mr (Ravi) Shastri, the team has done very well, and I hope to work with the team to take this forward.”Having worked closely with most of the boys either at NCA [National Cricket Academy], U19 and India A setup, I know they have the passion and desire to improve every day. There are some marquee multi-team events in the next two years, and I look forward to working with the players and the support staff to achieve our potential.”

“Rahul’s effort at the NCA has nurtured several young cricketing talents who have gone on to represent the country at the international stage. I am hopeful that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights”Sourav Ganguly

Dravid’s appointment – made official by the cricket advisory committee comprising Sulakshana Naik and RP Singh on Wednesday – was always on the cards after he sent in a formal application for the position. This was after he was convinced to do so by Sourav Ganguly, Dravid’s former team-mate who is now the BCCI president, along with the board’s top brass following meetings during the IPL playoffs last month.”Rahul’s effort at the NCA has nurtured several young cricketing talents who have gone on to represent the country at the international stage,” Ganguly said. “I am hopeful that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights. Rahul has had an illustrious playing career and is one of the greats of the game. He has also served Indian cricket as Head of National Cricket Academy (NCA) with distinction.”Dravid has been director of the NCA in Bengaluru following four years as coach of India A and India Under-19. Under him, India reached two Under-19 World Cup finals, losing one (to West Indies in 2016) and winning one (against Australia in 2018). At the NCA, Dravid helped set up a process for injury management and rehabilitation, as well as training programmes for coaches across the country, and developed roadmaps for age-group, men’s and women’s cricket.The Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri combine has taken India to some great achievements•ICC/Getty ImagesIn July, Dravid stepped in as interim head coach for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. The series was held concurrently with the men’s Test tour of England, which was helmed by Shastri. Since then, speculation has been rife about Dravid taking over full time after Shastri’s tenure ended.Shastri, who replaced Anil Kumble in July 2017, will end his stint as head coach with many accomplishments. Under him, India became the first Asian team to beat Australia in Australia (2018-19) in a Test series. They went on to repeat that feat earlier this year. India also made a run to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship, which they lost to New Zealand. Soon after that, they took a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series in England before the series was postponed – the final Test will take place next year – because of a Covid-19-related concern in the Indian camp.Dravid’s support staff is set to be announced in due course. Paras Mhambrey, Dravid’s colleague at the NCA, is the front-runner to replace Bharat Arun as bowling coach, while Abhay Sharma and Ajay Ratra are among those who have applied for the position of fielding coach. On Wednesday, current batting coach Vikram Rathour confirmed his re-application for the position.Dravid takes over at a busy time, with India set to host New Zealand for three T20Is and two Tests. In December, India are scheduled to tour South Africa for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is. Upon their return, India will host West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa as part of the 2021-22 home season.Among Dravid’s immediate challenge is to oversee the captaincy transition in the T20I format with Virat Kohli set to give up captaincy after the T20I World Cup.

The Dynamo are set to pay straight cash for the U.S. international, with Philly retaining a sell-on clause for the midfielder

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Jack McGlynn reportedly traded from Philadelphia to Houston21-year-old made USMNT debut in JanuaryPhilly retains large sell-on clauseGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?

The Houston Dynamo have reportedly acquired U.S. international Jack McGlynn from the Philadelphia Union, with the Western Conference side paying a straight cash fee of $2M for his services. No allocation money is set to be involved, according tothe same report.

McGlynn made his USMNT debut this past January under Mauricio Pochettino, with the 21-year-old having a breakout camp on the international stage, bagging a goal and an assist in a 3-2 victory over Venezuela.

The report adds teams from Italy and the English Championship approached the Union, but Houston's fee was a higher valuation.

was the first to report the trade.

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McGlynn is one of the U.S.' brightest midfield products at the moment and is being touted to have a big future for both club and country on the world's biggest stage. A move within MLS comes as a shock to many, but there is still an expectation that he moves to Europe sooner rather than later, considering the sell-on clause that the Union put on to the deal.

With the Union, McGlynn made 135 appearances across four seasons. He was signed to a professional deal at age 17, becoming one of many young Union Homegrown players.

If the deal is announced before Sporting Kansas City's reported transfer agreement for LA Galaxy striker Dejan Joveljic, it will be the first deal under MLS' new rule.

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McGlynn was nominated for the 2024 MLS Goal of the Year, after he scored against rivals D.C. United with a long-range effort that went into the top corner of the net.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MCGLYNN?

The 21-year-old looks set to travel to Texas to seal the deal with the Dynamo, just weeks before the 2024 MLS season kicks off.

The Dynamo's campaign begins on Feb. 22 against cross-state rivals, FC Dallas. McGlynn will face his former club Philadelphia on Saturday, July 19.