Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard as a potential Plan B, with the German champions growing increasingly doubtful over their chances of signing Liverpool’s Luis Diaz. Trossard’s versatility, experience and short contract make him an appealing alternative as Bayern look to reinforce their left wing this summer.
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Bayern turn to Trossard after Diaz talks stallArsenal may sell due to expiring contract situationTrossard’s versatility suits Kompany’s tactical visionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool are standing firm on their stance that Diaz is not for sale and Bayern have started exploring alternatives. According to German publication BILD, Arsenal forward Trossard has emerged as a serious candidate for the Bundesliga giants.
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Bayern are in urgent need of wide reinforcements following the exits of Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel. While Diaz remains their top priority, Trossard’s experience and contract situation make him a more attainable option. Arsenal could be open to a deal to avoid losing him on a free next year. Additionally, the Belgium international recently changed agents, and his new representative, Dirk Hebel, has strong ties to German clubs, potentially easing a move to Bavaria.
DID YOU KNOW?
Trossard scored ten goals and provided ten assists across 56 appearances last season, proving to be a valuable attacking option for Mikel Arteta. He also deputised effectively as a central striker during injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
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Bayern will continue to monitor Diaz’s situation but could soon accelerate talks with Arsenal for Trossard. The Gunners must now decide whether to extend the Belgian’s deal or cash in before the new campaign begins.
فاز منتخب السنغال على نظيره نيجيريا، بهدف دون رد، في مباراة قوية بين المنتخبين، أقيمت بينهما اليوم الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين 2025.
والتقي منتخبا السنغال ونيجيريا، في إطار الجولة الأولى من عمر مواجهات المجموعة الرابعة لبطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين.
وانتصر منتخب السنغال، بهدف نظيف سجله لاعبه كريستيان جوميس في الدقيقة 75 من عمر اللقاء، ليقتنص أسود التيرانجا أول 3 نقاط في البطولة الإفريقية.
طالع.. فيديو | التعادل يحسم مباراة السودان والكونغو في كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين
وتضم المجموعة الرابعة من بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين، منتخبات السنغال ونيجيريا والسودان والكونغو.
وبعد انتهاء الجولة الأولى من المجموعة الرابعة من كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين، يتصدر منتخب السنغال الترتيب برصيد 3 نقاط، ويأتي في المركزين الثاني والثالث الكونغو والسودان على الترتيب بنقطة واحدة، ويتذيل المجموعة منتخب نيجيريا بدون نقاط.
وتقام بطولة كأس أمم أفريقيا للمحليين، في تنزانيا وكينيا وأوغندا بمشاركة 19 منتخبًا، مقسمة على 4 مجموعات، أول 3 مجموعات تتواجد بها 5 منتخبات والمجموعة الرابعة بها 4 منتخبات.
أشاد الاتحاد الدولي لكرة السلة “فيبا”، بـ منتخب مصر بعدما قدم الفراعنة أداء أكثر من رائع في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا لكرة السلة “الأفروباسكت” المقامة في أنجولا.
وحسم منتخب مصر تأهله إلى الدور ربع النهائي، بعد تصدره لترتيب المجموعة الرابعة برصيد 4 نقاط، وذلك قبل الجولة الأخيرة أمام أوغندا غدًا السبت.
طالع | منتخب مصر للسلة يهزم السنغال ويتأهل إلى ربع نهائي بطولة الأفروباسكت
ونشر الاتحاد الدولي لكرة السلة عبر موقعه الرسمي تقريرًا عن المباراة التي جمعت منتخب مصر بنظيره السنغالي، والتي انتهت بفوز الفراعنة بنتيجة 91-77، في ثاني جولات دور المجموعات لبطولة الأفروباسكت.
وأشاد “فيبا” بالأداء الكبير الذي قدمه منتخب مصر أمام السنغال، مؤكدًا أن مصر تمتلك جميع المقومات في هذه البطولة، من لاعبين رماة، وأصحاب أدوار محورية في الوسط، بالإضافة إلى نجوم قادرين على الاختراق والتسجيل.
ومن المقرر، أن يتأهل المتصدر إلى دور الثمانية مباشرةً، بينما يخوض الوصيف وصاحب المركز الثالث دور الـ 16 المؤهل للثمانية الكبار.
وتضم قائمة منتخب مصر للسلة في بطولة الأفروباسكت بأنجولا تضم القائمة النهائية كل من عمرو الجندي، عمر طارق، إيهاب أمين، يوسف أبو شوشة، آدم موسى، ياسين نصر، يوسف باترك، خالد عبدالناصر، محمد طه، إبراهيم زهران، أنس أسامة، أحمد أبو العلا.
ويرأس البعثة الكابتن طارق السعيد، نائب رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة السلة والمشرف على المنتخبات الوطنية، فيما يتكون الجهاز الفني من محمد الكرداني مديرًا فنيًا، محمد سليم مدربًا، رامي جنيدي مدربًا، أحمد الجارحي مدربًا، سامح صلاح مديرًا إداريًا، إسلام جمعة طبيبًا، عبدالرحمن الجلاد محلل أداء، محمد جمال مدرب أحمال، علي موسى استشفاء، السيد علي المنسق الإعلامي للمنتخبات المصرية.
Wicketkeeper-batter, who also holds Australian citizenship, will replace Quinton de Kock for Renegades’ final two BBL games
Alex Malcolm04-Jan-2024Melbourne Renegades have sent an SOS to Netherlands captain Scott Edwards to be available for the last two games of the BBL season as a replacement for the injured Joe Clarke.Edwards is currently in South Africa with the Netherlands team on a training tour that includes five practice matches against SA20 teams before the start of that tournament and a month-long camp.But Edwards, who also holds Australian citizenship, is leaving South Africa early to return to Melbourne, where he grew up, to be available for Renegades’ final two BBL matches, as they will be without a specialist wicketkeeper-batter after Quinton de Kock departs for the SA20 following the match against Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday.Related
Edwards, Dutchman from Melbourne, is coming home for World Cup
Mujeeb's BBL season cut short by Afghanistan Cricket Board
Renegades don’t have a local wicketkeeper on their list, having traded Sam Harper to Melbourne Stars for legspinner Adam Zampa. They had recruited de Kock to keep in the six games he was available for, and were relying on Clarke to fill the role for the remaining matches. But Clarke’s season-ending quad injury threw a spanner in the works.Englishman Jordan Cox was recruited as a replacement player for de Kock, and has played two matches for Renegades already as a specialist batter – one before de Kock’s arrival, and the other as Clarke’s replacement in the Melbourne derby on Tuesday. Cox has played as a wicketkeeper in 24 of his 88 T20s at professional level, but has not kept in his last 26 matches dating back to January last year.Edwards, 27, qualifies as an Australian local, and had played in Renegades’ practice matches before the BBL. But the Netherlands ODI and T20I captain, who had a very impressive ODI World Cup in India with both bat and gloves, was not signed by any of the BBL teams despite being fully available for the tournament, even as Stars only carried one specialist wicketkeeper in their 18-man squad.Edwards instead spent December playing club cricket in Melbourne before heading to South Africa with the Netherlands team. But he will return to Melbourne on January 11, and will be available for the second Melbourne derby against Stars at the Marvel Stadium on January 13 and for their final match of the home-and-away season against Sydney Thunder on January 17 if required.Edwards has never played in the BBL or been contracted despite winning the Ryder Medal as the best player in Victoria’s Premier Cricket competition in 2021. He has also never been contracted to play domestically in Australia despite being eligible as a local, although he has played second XI cricket for Victoria in Cricket Australia’s second-tier four-day competition that sits underneath Sheffield Shield cricket.Renegades replace Mujeeb with HoseinRenegades have also added West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein for the last two games of the season after Mujeeb Ur Rahman was ruled out of the remainder of the BBL following the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s decision to revoke his No-Objection Certificate.It continues a tumultuous season for Renegades, with their captain Nic Maddinson dropping himself mid-season due to being out of form, while long-time captain and all-time leading run-scorer Aaron Finch was also left out of their most recent match despite being fit, and has announced he will retire at the end of the season despite having a year to run on his contract.
The WPL final is scheduled for March 17 in Delhi, two days before England’s first T20I against NZ in Dunedin
Matt Roller02-Feb-2024The ECB has made an unsuccessful request to New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to move the dates of England’s upcoming women’s tour, with four players deemed unavailable for the first three T20Is as a result of their Women’s Premier League (WPL) commitments in India and two others pulling out of their franchise contracts.NZC confirmed the fixtures in July for the tour, which comprises five T20Is and three ODIs between March 19 and April 6. The BCCI had only publicly announced the window for the WPL last Wednesday, with the final scheduled for March 17 in Delhi – two days before the opening T20I in Dunedin.ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB asked NZC to consider shifting the series back but were told it would not be possible. “We explored every option available to us to make sure all our players were available during the New Zealand series, but that didn’t quite work out as we would have liked,” Jon Lewis, England’s coach, said.”Yes, there are things that other boards could have done, but they’re things that are totally out of our control to be honest. We’ve had to react to the situation as best we can… it’s quite a unique situation. It’s quite complex… we talk to everyone as individuals and work out what we think is the best plan for them.”Lewis blamed the late release of the WPL’s schedule, which was decided several months after NZC had confirmed the dates of England’s tour. “[The series] was in our diary for a very long period of time,” he said. “The WPL dates came out very late. Moving forward, all the boards around the world will create a window for the WPL similar to the men’s game.”Related
Nat Sciver-Brunt: 'I'd be lying if I said money wasn't a factor'
The ECB told the eight England players with WPL contracts that to be considered for selection in the first three T20Is, they would need to leave India before the knockout stages. Jonathan Finch, the director of England women’s cricket, said: “All players participating in the WPL were given our backing to remain in India for the duration of the tournament.”Lauren Bell (UP Warriorz) and Heather Knight (Royal Challengers Bangalore) both pulled out of their deals last week. “They withdrew once they learnt that the WPL regulations don’t allow for replacements mid-tournament, not wanting their respective WPL teams to be disadvantaged by their early departure,” Finch said.Lewis himself will leave the WPL after UP Warriorz’s final group game on March 11, with assistant coach Ashley Noffke likely to deputise if they reach the knockout stages. “I had good discussions with the franchise,” Lewis said. “Hopefully, we’re in a really strong position. We’ve got a lot of cover in the coaching department and UP have been really accommodating.”Jon Lewis: “Moving forward, all boards around the world will create a window for the WPL similar to the men’s game”•ICC via Getty Images
England named two separate T20I squads on Friday, one for the first three matches and another for the final two. Hollie Armitage and Linsey Smith will be replaced by Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz), Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indains) and Danni Wyatt (UP Warriorz) ahead of the fourth T20I. Kate Cross (RCB) will arrive for the ODIs, while Issy Wong (MI) was not selected for either format.”We tried to make sure that all the players that are in New Zealand with us will get a really fair crack, rather than worrying about Nat Sciver-Brunt getting knocked out [of the WPL] on one day, flying in three days later and taking their position in the team,” Lewis said, framing the clash as “a brilliant opportunity” to test England’s depth ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.With Wyatt in India for the full WPL, Tammy Beaumont looks set to open the batting in the first three T20Is and will win her 100th cap in the format. A pedestrian strike rate meant she has spent two years out of the side since her 99th, but she has since shown her dynamism in domestic cricket. “We asked her to go away and improve in certain areas,” Lewis said. “She went away and she did that.”Mahika Gaur, who has played in England’s last two T20I series, is unavailable as she continues to study for her A-Levels, while Freya Kemp has been picked as a specialist batter for the parallel England A tour to New Zealand after a recurrence of a back injury. Kirstie Gordon (T20s) and Grace Scrivens (ODIs) will captain the secondary tour, while Tash Farrant and Emma Lamb both feature after back injuries.England T20I squad vs New Zealand: Hollie Armitage*, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey+, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone+, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt+, Linsey Smith*, Danni Wyatt+ ()England ODI squad vs New Zealand: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni WyattEngland A squad vs New Zealand: Georgia Adams, Hannah Baker, Alice Davidson-Richards, Tash Farrant, Kirstie Gordon (T20 captain), Freya Kemp, Emma Lamb, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Sophie Munro, Grace Potts, Paige Scholfield, Grace Scrivens (ODI captain), Seren Smale, Rhianna Southby, Mady Villiers
Lucas Vazquez has finally left Real Madrid after 18 years with the team. It looks like his boat could head to Italy to play against Luka Modric.
Juventus offered Vazquez after Real Madrid exitSalary demands could delay or block transferPlayed 402 games and won five UCL titlesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Vazquez has been offered to Juventus following his Madrid departure, according to a report from . The 34-year-old is now a free agent having left Santiago Bernabeu, where he won five Champions League titles and made 402 appearances. Juventus, in need of depth on the right flank amid potential exits of Timothy Weah and Andrea Cambiaso, have been approached by the player’s agents with a proposal, as the player recently snubbed a La Liga proposal.
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The Old Lady are actively scouting replacements on the right flank, with Damien Comolli evaluating several names alongside head coach Igor Tudor. While younger targets like Joan Gonzalez and Fiorentina's Dodo remain on the radar, Vazquez presents a cost-effective and experienced option, as he would arrive on a free transfer. However, his previous €4.5 million salary at Madrid could prove a stumbling block. Juventus might attempt to navigate this via a multi-year contract to distribute the wage burden.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Spanish international made 32 appearances in La Liga last season under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring once and assisting five times. Despite being 34, he remained a regular starter before the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold under new coach Xabi Alonso.
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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?
Juventus will continue to assess right-back options in the coming weeks. While Vazquez is seen as a short-term solution, the final decision will depend on how negotiations around contract length and salary unfold. Juventus open their Serie A campaign next month and aim to finalize squad reinforcements before pre-season ends.
Ending a wait that lasted eight years, Mumbai lifted their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in front of a jubilant home crowd at the Wankhede. Up against a stubborn Vidarbha team that refused to give in, Mumbai were eventually comfortable in defending 538 to win the final. Captain Ajinkya Rahane credited the triumph to the vision instilled in the team by head coach Omkar Salvi.”I think our journey started in June and it was all because of Omkar’s vision. We all had a vision as a team, but it came from Omkar,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference. “We focused on player fitness, creating a great culture in the team and giving freedom to all the players, not only on the field but off the field as well.”And you know, when someone is not doing well, you have to back that individual. It’s a team sport. Some players will do well in the team, few players won’t do well. But it’s all about backing all the players in the right time,” Rahane said. “So I think massive credit to Omkar. He has worked hard for this moment. Today I am really proud of him, really happy for him. His hard work has really paid off.”Related
Mumbai find a way to ensure the Vidarbha miracle wasn't to be
'Our mentality is that we can win from any situation' – Mumbai players celebrate 42nd Ranji triumph
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Shreyas Iyer off the field in Ranji final for second day in a row
Rahane said that the title win, and the fact that there are several players from Mumbai representing India, bodes well for the team.”This victory means a lot. 42nd title, waiting seven-eight years. Last year we played really good cricket but unfortunately because of one run we couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. But this 42nd title means a lot. And as you mentioned, ten players representing Indian cricket, it’s massive.”He also underlined the importance of players turning up in domestic cricket.”I want to mention one thing about BCCI giving importance to domestic cricket which is a very good thing, telling players to play domestic cricket. Which is very important,” Rahane said.”From here on, for Mumbai cricket, it is important to keep growing, to keep thinking about how can we get better in all formats,” he said. “Winning the championship after eight years, we did this, but again, we want to repeat this in the coming years. Our focus will be on that.”But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mumbai on the fifth day of the final as Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar and rookie Harsh Dubey played out a wicket-less morning session, sparking chatter about a potential upset of epic proportions. It wasn’t to be, but Rahane was the first to tip his hat to Vidarbha’s resilience.”The way they played cricket, the way they have fought in this match. When you concede a 120-run first-innings lead and are chasing 538, it’s easy to give up. But the sport teaches you that if you don’t give up and believe in your abilities, anything can happen,” Rahane said.”Chasing 538, the character which they have shown in the second innings was a great learning experience for all of us. The grit and determination with which they batted was very good.”The last 7-8 years they have been doing really good. They had a couple of championships and they won Irani Trophy once or twice. They are playing really good cricket.”Dhawal Kulkarni took the final wicket to seal Mumbai’s victory•PTI
Wadkar: ‘Never thought we were out of the game’
At stumps on the fourth day, Karun Nair had said that Vidarbha, 290 runs away with five wickets in hand, were faced with a “tough task” but also that they are a team that would not quit.Wadkar and Dubey exemplified that in their defiant partnership that saw Vidarbha go into lunch on the final day 85 runs closer to their target with no more damage to the wickets column. Wadkar scored his second century in Ranji Trophy finals, while Dubey brought up his second first-class fifty.”When we had our huddle, when we spoke in our team meeting, when we were speaking in our partnership, we didn’t think even 1% that we are out of the match,” Wadkar said.”We were just thinking that all the batters together, we’ll win the match. Because it’s the final and the last inning, so there was no scope of giving up or thinking negative. You have to go for the win, so we just believed that we will win.”Wadkar said that the Mumbai team kept having many discussions on their tactics since the fourth day, when he put on a 90-run stand with Nair and started his 130-run partnership with Dubey, but at no point did Rahane or his team look flustered, which meant that he knew Vidarbha still had a long way to go in the match.”[Mumbai] were having discussions since yesterday. When I was batting with Karun, when I was batting with Harsh. So they had discussions on field changes and bowling changes,” Wadkar said. “I was just observing their captain, Rahane, that what are his expressions? Is he talking a little harshly with the bowlers? Because then we would know that we are in the game.”But from his attitude, it looked like he was cool and calm. He didn’t let it show if he was getting frustrated or that we were getting close to the game.”So we also felt that we are quite far in the game and we have to go a long way. We did have a long way to go, of course, but from the attitude of the opponents, you get vibes about what they are thinking. But from his attitude, it didn’t look like [they were getting frustrated].”Akshay Wadkar scored his second century in a Ranji final•PTI
MCA increases prize money for Mumbai
While Mumbai were already receiving INR 5 crore from the BCCI for winning the Ranji Trophy, the Mumbai Cricket Association decided to double the prize money with a prize of INR 5 crore of their own.”MCA President Amol Kale and Apex Council has decided to double the Ranji Trophy prize money. The MCA will pay additional sum of Rs 5 crore to the winning Mumbai Ranji Trophy team,” the MCA said in a statement.Mumbai coach Salvi praised the board for the move, saying it would give the players more security.”I think nowadays there are very less institutions that provide jobs [to players]. I think BCCI taking that step and giving that money and along with that MCA putting that step forward to equal that amount is a great help for the players who don’t have jobs or other sources of earning,” Salvi said.”It also gives an inspiration. Definitely I feel [Inspiration] should be intrinsic but the monetary help will give them the security and it will stabilise them mentally and financially and they will give more to the game.”
Hernández was fined, given warning as Mexican Football Federation launched investigation into sexist social media posts
Was sanctioned by the FMF for his comments
Mexican president also criticized the player
Did not play in Chivas' opener
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AFP
WHAT HAPPENED?
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández took to social media to express regret over recent controversial statements posted on social media. The striker was fined by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) while both Chivas and sponsor Puma issued statements distancing themselves from his comments.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, labeled his remarks as “sexist.”
Over the weekend, he had posted: "Don’t be afraid to be women, to allow yourselves to be led by a man. Women, you are failing, you are eradicating masculinity, making society hypersensitive.”
On Thursday, the 37-year-old issued an apology on Instagram:
“I wholeheartedly thank everyone who has supported me and those who, with respect, have shared their perspectives and challenged me to be a better person. I deeply regret any confusion or discomfort my recent words may have caused; it was never my intention to limit, hurt, or divide.
"As a father, a man, and a member of this community, my priority is to act with respect, humility, and responsibility. I am listening, reflecting, and committed to expressing myself with greater clarity and sensitivity – especially on such delicate topics.
"I believe change starts within. I will use this opportunity to understand, grow, and continue working to become a better version of myself – guided by honesty, love for my family, my values, and my love for all of you. Thank you for your understanding, your expectations, your love, and your companionship on this journey.”
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AFP
WHAT CHICHARITO POSTED ON THURSDAY
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DID YOU KNOW?
Hernández did not feature in Chivas' Apertura 2025 debut due to an injury, but he's expected to return to action this weekend. His second stint with Chivas has been underwhelming so far, with just three goals in 34 appearances.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHICHARITO AND CHIVAS?
Chivas will host Atlético de San Luis Saturday as part of Week 3 of the Apertura 2025.
Celtic have already completed their first signing of the summer transfer window, which opened for business on Sunday, by agreeing to bring Kieran Tierney back to Parkhead.
The Scotland international will officially return to the club at the end of this month, upon the expiry of his contract at Arsenal, to be Brendan Rodgers’ left-back for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.
Tierney, as you can see in the graphic above, won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first stint in Paradise after coming up through the academy system, before being sold to Arsenal for £25m in the summer of 2019.
Six years later and the Scottish full-back is returning to the club on a free transfer to bolster the Northern Irish head coach’s options at the back next term.
Tierney is not the only former Celtic full-back sold for big money who is on the move this summer, though, as Jeremie Frimpong has signed for Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of £29.5m.
How Celtic hit the jackpot with Jeremie Frimpong
The Hoops hit the jackpot with the full-back when they snapped him up from Premier League giants Manchester City for a very modest fee of £300k in the summer of 2019, a few months after Rodgers left to join Leicester City.
Celtic were willing to take a gamble on a player who had not played a minute of senior football up to that point, as he had been playing
U23 and U18 football for City.
Former Celtic defender Jeremie Frimpong.
Because of his lack of senior experience, there was no way for the club to know how he would adapt to playing regular first-team football in Scotland, which is why it was a risk to bring him in as a right-back option.
However, he hit the ground running for the Hoops, winning the domestic treble in the 2019/20 campaign, with a fantastic debut season as a senior player.
Frimpong stayed at Celtic for another six months, playing 22 times in the 2020/21 Premiership season, before signing for Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £11.5m at the start of 2021.
This shows that the club hit the jackpot with the defender because they were willing to take a gamble on an inexperienced young full-back from England for a modest fee, and went on to make a huge profit on the defender.
Frimpong then went on to provide 30 goals and 44 assists in 194 appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions before his big-money move to Liverpool this summer.
The Scottish giants are now reportedly eyeing up a move for the full-back who could follow in the Netherlands international’s footsteps at Parkhead.
Celtic eyeing move for English full-back
According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign left-back Harley Mills from English League One side Peterborough United in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Posh are currently mulling over an approach from Premier League side Fulham, who have offered £1m for the teenage defender, which shows that there is competition for his signature.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that Celtic have joined the race for the League One full-back because Rodgers wants to bring in competition in the left-back position for Tierney, who is poised to return to Parkhead on a free transfer from Arsenal at the end of the month.
Greg Taylor is out of contract and currently due to move on from the Scottish giants this summer, whilst Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan deal has expired, which has left Tierney as the only left-back contracted to the Hoops heading into next season.
Mills has been identified as a player who could come in to provide back-up in that position initially, as a replacement for Taylor, and he could now come through the door this summer as Frimpong 2.0 if Rodgers signs him.
Why Celtic should sign Harley Mills
Firstly, it is worth reinforcing that the 19-year-old talent would only be a second-choice at left-back in the 2025/26 campaign to start with, because Tierney will be the go-to option given what he achieved in his first spell at Parkhead.
This means that there will not be a lot of pressure on Mills to perform straight away, as was the case when Frimpong arrived from Manchester City’s academy, and that is backed up by a potential fee of £1m, which is not a mind-blowing amount of money to spend on a squad option.
He would, therefore, be given time to adapt and adjust to senior football in Scotland, as the young left-back does not have a wealth of experience as a first-team player under his belt.
Mills, who was hailed as “outstanding” by youth coach Jamal Campbell-Ryce, has played 20 times for Peterborough, including 12 appearances in League One, but did catch the eye at Wembley in the final of the EFL Trophy.
The English star scored a phenomenal free-kick in a 2-0 win over Birmingham City for his side, and that capped off what was an excellent campaign for the Posh academy graduate in that competition.
24/25 EFL Trophy
Harley Mills
Appearances
6
Sofascore rating
7.25
Goals
2
Key passes per game
1.2
Big chances created
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.2
Duel success rate
67%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Mills showcased his quality in and out of possession across six appearances in the EFL Trophy, winning the majority of his duels with opposition attackers whilst also scoring two goals and creating one ‘big chance’ for his teammates.
He only started eight games in League One, averaging 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 62% of his duels, but his form in that cup competition shows the kind of potential he has as a left-back.
Mills has shown potential as a strong defender, who can win his duels at an efficient rate, and as an attacking force with his quality as a scorer and a creator of goals, which suggests that he is worth gambling on for a fee of £1m.
Like Frimpong, he could be a low-risk full-back signing from English football who could go on to be worth millions more in the future if things go well for him in Glasgow.
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It speaks of the crossroads at which Dawid Malan finds himself that he will start the 2024 season moonlighting as a batting coach for Yorkshire.Even with the T20 World Cup two months away, Malan, the ICC’s No.11-ranked T20I batter – Phil Salt (second) and Jos Buttler (ninth) are the only Englishmen sitting higher – seems unlikely to make the squad for the 2022 title defence. Despite being halfway through his year-long ECB central contract, he is already looking at what comes after.Malan will turn 37 in September and announced during the 50-over World Cup in November that he would be parking first-class cricket to prolong his white-ball career, which includes the T20 Blast this summer. Though he was left out of the white-ball tour of the Caribbean at the end of last year, stints at the SA20 and PSL kept him busy in a winter that began with the 50-over World Cup in India.He returned from Pakistan two weeks ago and, at present, has no plans to hit balls again until the start of May. In the meantime, Yorkshire batters now have an extra sounding board at Headingley, with over 100 caps and centuries in all three international formats. For Malan, it will show him whether coaching is an avenue he would like to pursue once he decides to call it a day.”It’s quite exciting,” said Malan. “I’m going to do a bit of coaching in my off time and help the boys out two or three days a week. I’ll work with the firsts and seconds, whoever is around. I’ll see if I can share some of my knowledge, if anyone wants it, and if it’s something I enjoy for after cricket.”I still feel I’ve got two or three years of playing if things go well and I can still perform, but I want to give back as much as I can now. It’s exciting to be back and give myself a different kind of challenge for this time of year than I usually have.”It’s an unofficial capacity. Whoever is at home, be it first team or second team, I’ll throw some balls and speak to whoever wants to speak to me about batting without treading on any of the coaches’ toes.”Related
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Malan pitched the role to head coach Ottis Gibson last week, who was surprised. Gibson was in for a further shock on Wednesday when Malan also revealed he could U-turn on his first-class retirement this summer if “that itch” comes back, or his summer is limited to just the Blast and the Hundred, in which he was picked up by defending champions Oval Invincibles in last month’s draft after his release by Trent Rockets.”At first I was a little bit surprised because I was thinking: ‘Is he thinking retirement already?'” Gibson said on the initial conversation, before adding: “And then you tell me that he wants to play red-ball cricket, so I’m like, ‘Wow, where is he going with this?'”Nevertheless, Gibson would welcome Malan back into the Championship fold. He has only played 17 first-class matches for Yorkshire since moving north from Middlesex in 2020, but boasts an impressive average of 55.93 from 1,622 runs, with five centuries. Anything resembling that output will go far in helping a young squad surer of their footing – and no longer weighed down by a 48-point deduction – in their push to return to Division One. Ultimately, the caveat to all the above is Malan’s schedule.At this juncture, international commitments look unlikely. Despite top-scoring for England at the 50-over World Cup with 404 runs at 44.88, Malan was left out of Matthew Mott and Jos Buttler’s squads for the Caribbean. Other high-profile batters missed out to preserve them for the Test tour of India at the start of 2024. Malan’s absence, however, felt like moving on outright.Malan was in and out of the Multan Sultans’ XI in the PSL•PSL
Ben Stokes’ decision to pull out of contention for the World Cup could yet open the door for a recall, with Malan fulfilling a similar role as a left-handed anchor. But Rob Key pointed to his recent output in T20Is when explaining his omission from the squads that faced West Indies and his form was middling over the winter.”I’d like to be,” Malan said, when asked if he was in consideration to defend the T20 title he contributed to two years ago. “I wouldn’t say performance would have anything to do with it. In 2023, I had a pretty good year in 50-over cricket and I wouldn’t say I’m old, considering Jimmy [Anderson] is 42 or something like that! I can’t see it being an age thing, and there’s a tournament in a few months’ time.”Obviously I know they might want to go in a different direction. That’s absolutely fine. They’re entitled to do whatever they need to do that they think is the best way to move English cricket in the right direction. I still feel I’m good enough and young enough to do it. That’s out of my control, selection-wise.”Malan was coy about why his time might be up as an international cricketer. He had a conversation with the management following the conclusion of England’s dire ODI campaign in India, but was unwilling to divulge what exactly was said. A meeting with Key in the next fortnight will give him clarity on where his future lies.”I have no idea what they are thinking at the moment,” he said. “We have got appraisals in 12 or 14 days so I’ll probably find out a bit more then. I will just take it as it comes. I am not looking too far ahead or wanting something that might not be there.”If it is, it is; if it isn’t, it isn’t. I have made peace with that. I have a different path that I am looking at at the moment in terms of the last two or three years in my career and if things pop up, they pop up. And if they don’t, they don’t. It’ll be interesting to see where things are and, yeah, it’ll be good to have a good chat with Keysy.”