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Glasgow Rangers ended the summer transfer window having moved on a lot of deadwood and high earners, although their replacements will be judged as the season progresses.

Deadline day saw Philippe Clement make two signings, bringing defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo and attacking midfielder Nedim Bajrami to the club in a bid to bolster his squad.

While hardly marquee names, the pair will add some quality to the squad which may prove to be the difference over the next couple of months.

The first Old Firm game of the season takes place on Sunday afternoon, but it may come too soon for the two new signings.

Clement has yet to win a derby since taking charge of the Light Blues last October, something which will have to change should Rangers target the Premiership title this season.

The Belgian will be buoyed by the fact his team secured a confidence-boosting 6-0 win over Ross County last weekend. Celtic will be much tougher opponents, however, especially at Parkhead.

Rangers starting XI in the Scottish Cup final (25/05/2024)
Player	Position
Jack Butland	GK
James Tavernier	RB
Leon Balogun	CB
Ben Davies	CB
Ridvan Yilmaz	LB
Mohamed Diomande	CM
Nicolas Raskin	CM
Dujon Sterling	RW
Todd Cantwell	AM
Fabio Silva	LW
Cyriel Dessers	ST

With that in mind, here's a look at the starting XI that Clement could unleash on Sunday afternoon as he aims to win his first Old Firm match, with two potential changes from last week's triumph.

1

GK – Jack Butland

The 2023 summer signing has played every single game so far this season, and he will continue to keep his place in the starting XI against Celtic.

Last term, Butland conceded nine goals against the Glasgow side, a tally which he will hope is far lower this season.

He has kept clean sheets in three of the club’s six matches so far during 2024/25 and Clement will be hoping his fourth clean sheet arrives as soon as tomorrow afternoon at Parkhead.

2

RB – James Tavernier

The captain hasn’t been at the races at all this term. Having played every minute of every game so far, the defender has registered just two assists in all competitions.

Considering the fact he scored 24 goals and grabbed 12 assists last season, his form has dipped dramatically. It is still highly unlikely that Clement will drop him from the starting XI, regardless of how he is playing, but Tavernier will need to stand firm against the Celtic frontline.

Daizen Maeda gave him a torrid time last season and if this happens again, the side will be weaker down the right flank.

3

CB – John Souttar

Like Tavernier, Souttar has played every match so far for the Light Blues, putting his injury issues behind him hopefully once and for all.

Following Connor Goldson’s departure, the Scot has emerged as one of Clement’s first-choice centre-backs, and he will be keen to nullify the Celtic attack on Sunday afternoon.

The main question is, who will partner him at the heart of the defence in what will be the most important match of the season thus far?

4

CB – Robin Propper

The Dutchman – a summer signing from FC Twente – has made three appearances since joining the Gers, but he did have to be substituted against St Johnstone in the League Cup clash a couple of weeks ago.

This saw the defender miss the 6-0 thrashing of Ross County, with Leon Balogun coming in for him. The 6 foot 5 titan was then subsequently subbed off with an injury during that game, which will see Propper back in the starting XI.

Balogun – dubbed a “warrior” by Clement last term – will hopefully make the bench, but the former Twente centre-back will be the one who starts this match.

5

LB – Jefte

The Brazilian will continue to play on the left side of the defence due to Ridvan Yilmaz’s injury issues.

He has been utilised further up the field, but his defensive qualities will be useful against the Celtic frontline on Sunday.

6

CM – Mohamed Diomande

Clement seemed to be giving Diomande a much-needed rest last weekend, but when Balogun was brought off, the Ivorian was called into action.

The 22-year-old has the potential to be one of the club’s best players, with a tie against Celtic giving him the perfect opportunity to showcase his wide range of skills.

If he performs to his best, then Rangers should have control of the midfield area during the match, with the youngster taking the place of Dujon Sterling as the second alteration.

7

CM – Connor Barron

Since joining the Light Blues, Barron has formed a wonderful duo in the heart of the pitch with Diomande.

The two youngsters could be the future of the Ibrox midfield and a dominant showing against the Parkhead side will certainly boost their confidence heading into the international break, no doubt about that.

8

RW – Vaclav Cerny

The Czech winger has been one of Clement’s most impressive summer signings. He scored a stunning goal against Motherwell, while adding two assists already, and he has the ability to cause chaos to the Celtic defence.

Having a genuine goalscoring threat on the right flank could make all the difference for the Ibrox side tomorrow afternoon.

9

AM – Tom Lawrence

The Welshman will likely be the one unleashed in the number ten slot behind the main striker, especially as the game against Celtic may come too soon for Bajrami.

Lawrence has registered two goal contributions and created three big chances in the Premiership this season. If he plays like how he did against County, the former Derby County gem could be a key threat.

10

LW – Rabbi Matondo

The winger delivered arguably his finest performance since joining Rangers last week, scoring twice and grabbing two assists.

His long-range screamer against Celtic last season will give him confidence that he has the skills to shine in a match of this magnitude. The onus is for him to go and do it on the pitch.

Nottingham Forest have their eyes on signing a 21-goal striker and even made a late approach before the closure of the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

The Premier League side had a very busy summer, as they club brought in several new faces to boost Nuno Espirito Santo's squad, keen to avoid a repeat of last season’s struggles. It has been a positive start to the campaign for the Reds too, as they are unbeaten in their opening three games of the season, with their latest result being a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves.

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Forest added 11 players to their squad over the course of the summer, arrivals that are a mix of experienced international players as well as some up-and-coming talents who may need more time to adapt. The club’s biggest capture was midfielder Elliot Anderson, who joined from Newcastle United.

Elliot Anderson

Newcastle

Morato

Benfica

Nikola Milenkovic

Fiorentina

Ramon Sosa

CA Talleres

David Carmo

FC Porto

Jota Silva

Vit. Guimaraes

Marko Stamenic

Red Star

Calos Miguel

Corinthians

Eric da Silva Moreira

FC St. Pauli

James Ward-Prowse

West Ham

Alex Moreno

Aston Villa

After signing James Ward-Prowse late in the day, they were also linked with a move for Ernest Nuamah from Lyon. The 20-year-old was wanted by Fulham and Everton, but it was claimed that the Reds had won the race for his signature, only for the youngster to remain at Lyon.

While looking to add to the squad, Forest also had a fight on their hands to keep hold of one of their best players. It has been revealed since the window closed that Newcastle United included Miguel Almiron in a player-plus cash offer worth £50 million to sign Anthony Elanga. Forest stood firm and rejected the second offer in as many days from the Magpies for the winger, but that might not be the end of it as Newcastle could return in January.

Forest were very busy until the end of the transfer window, and it has been revealed that they had their eye on another player before the window closed.

Nottingham Forest make approach for 21-goal striker

According to The Athletic, relayed by Nottingham Forest News, Forest made a late enquiry to sign Simon Banza on loan from Portuguese side Braga. The enquiry was deemed as “extremely ambitious”, so he is clearly a player high up on the recruitment team's list, perhaps opening the door to a future move when his current side have more time to get their ducks in a row.

The 28-year-old has been with Braga since July 2022, playing 90 times for the Portuguese side and scoring 37 goals to go with 15 assists. Last season was a particularly impressive campaign for the striker, as he scored 21 times in 28 Liga Portugal games.

It has been claimed that Forest were interested in a loan deal, but Braga's status as a Europa League side complicated things, so perhaps Nuno will have to launch his team into the European places if he wants to get a deal done in 2025.

It is fair to say that Wolverhampton Wanderers have not had the start to the Premier League season they would have wanted. The Old Gold had a baptism of fire, facing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, before hosting Chelsea for their first home game. It has certainly been a tough few matches.

Wolves’ first outing against Arsenal saw them fall to a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz did the damage for the Gunners, helping themselves to a goal and assist each to sink Gary O’Neil’s side in arguably the toughest away game they'll face.

Their first game at Molineux was even more frustrating, with Chelsea running out 6-2 victors thanks to three assists and a goal from Cole Palmer, and a hat-trick for Noni Madueke. Wolves got on the score sheet through Matheus Cunha and new signing Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Although it has been a winless start, they have the chance to turn things around as they face Burnley in the Carabao Cup second round at home. It has certainly been tough to find the right formula for the Midlands club who are still getting used to life without two of their best players.

Wolves' major summer sales

Indeed, O’Neil and his side have seen the squad decimated this summer, losing two of their most important stars from the 2023/24 campaign. One of those who departed was club captain Max Kilman.

The 27-year-old made the move to East London to sign for West Ham United in a deal worth £40m. It was certainly a big blow to lose the captain, who was an ever-present for O’Neil’s side last term, playing 90 minutes in every single game for the Old Gold.

However, perhaps an even bigger sale for Wolves this summer was Pedro Neto, who left Molineux to switch to Stamford Bridge and join Chelsea in a deal worth £54m. His return to the Midlands last weekend typically saw him register an assist for Joao Felix, another new signing for the Blues.

Indeed, getting an assist at Molineux is what Neto did so well during his time at Wolves. In the 2023/24 campaign, the 24-year-old registered nine assists and got himself on the score sheet in just 20 games. As per SofaScore, that was more than any of his teammates, with his 11 combined goal involvements bettered by two players, including Cunha.

The enterprising Brazilian attacker is a player with whom the Portuguese winger had a superb partnership. In just 21 games together, they have combined for five goals, more than any player in Neto’s career to date.

Frustratingly, the Chelsea number seven was injured for large parts of the last campaign, a recurring theme in his career for the Old Gold. In total, he missed 121 days and a whopping 23 games with a hamstring injury.

Following the sale of one of the club’s deadliest attackers, it does mean Wolves need to bring a replacement to the club before the transfer window slams shut on Friday.

They have recently been linked with one player who could become Neto’s dream replacement and strike up a similar partnership with Cunha.

Wolves' answer to losing Pedro Neto

The player in question here is Burnley and Italy U21 international winger Luca Koleosho. The 19-year-old impressed for the Clarets last season in the Premier League, and since their relegation back to the Championship has been linked with a move away from the club and back to the top flight.

According to a report from the Express and Star over the weekend, the Old Gold have been in talks to sign the 19-year-old this summer, and are hoping to bring the young winger to Molineux ‘before the end of the transfer window’.

A price for the youngster has not yet been named, although he is valued at £5m by Football Transfers. Should they sell him for around that price, Burnley would make an excellent profit on the deal, given they paid £2.6m up front to sign him last summer from Espanyol.

Last term for Vincent Kompany’s side, Koleosho played 15 times in the Premier League, getting one goal and one assist, although he sadly missed the second half of the season with an injury. He has started the new Championship year on fire, scoring his first goal in a 5-0 win over Cardiff City.

Should the Italian join the Midlands side this summer, he could become the dream replacement for Neto. Like the Portuguese winger, Koleosho is a quick and direct player, who loves to take on defenders in one-on-one scenarios.

Indeed, this impressive dribbling ability is reflected in their FBref numbers. Per 90 minutes last season, the Italian averaged 4.91 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to Neto’s 5.83 each game.

One area that the Burnley winger does edge the new Chelsea signing is carries into the penalty box per game. Koleohso averages 2.69, whereas Neto averages 2.5 per 90 minutes. As the stats show, the pair are very similar.

Koleosho vs. Neto dribbling stats

Stat (per 90)

Koleosho

Neto

Progressive carries

4.91

5.83

Carries into the final third

3.43

3.87

Carries into the penalty box

2.69

2.5

Take-ons completed

3.06

2.2

Take-on success rate

42.3%

42%

Stats from FBref

One area in which Koleosho falls slightly behind the 24-year-old Portugal international is his creative passing numbers. Last term, he averaged 0.10 expected assists and 1.02 key passes per game, compared to Neto’s 0.22xA and 2.26 key passes.

Should Wolves move for the young Burnley winger this summer, he could prove to be the perfect replacement for Neto in O’Neil’s transitional system, which requires excellent ball-carrying skills that he can provide.

The Old Gold boss would no doubt hope the Clarets attacker can also strike up a successful partnership with Cunha just as Chelsea’s number seven did at Molineux. Given the similarities in their profile, it is not too far-fetched to think that they could do just that, especially if Koleosho can improve on his creative passing outlet, which might naturally increase with higher-quality players around him.

The teenage Italian is a “serious player”, as football scout Antonio Mango described him. For a potentially low fee and a player with high potential, it could be the dream signing for the Old Gold as they look to replace one of their best players of the O’Neil reign.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Em partida atrasada da 19ª rodada do Brasileirão, oPalmeirasvenceu o Ceará por 2 a 1 na Arena Castelão. Zé Rafael e Deyverson fizeram para os visitantes, e Cléber descontou. Os paulistas não venciam o Vozão em Fortaleza desde 1997. Em Campeonatos Brasileiros, isso não acontecia desde 1973.

RelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO! Assista aos melhores momentos de Ceará 1 x 2 PalmeirasVídeo20/10/2021PalmeirasATUAÇÕES: Weverton, Zé Rafael e Scarpa são os melhores em vitória do PalmeirasPalmeiras20/10/2021PalmeirasScarpa exalta vitória do Palmeiras e seu desempenho: ‘Valorizar a atuação coletiva e a minha’Palmeiras20/10/2021

Aniversariante do dia! Recorde capas emblemáticas do LANCE!, que faz 24 anos

Com o resultado, o Verdão chega aos 46 pontos, ultrapassa o Fortaleza e assume o 3º lugar na tabela. Este é o quinto jogo seguido sem vitórias do Vozão, que estaciona no14º lugar e fica a três pontos da zona de rebaixamento.

No sábado (23), às 17h30, a equipe de Tiago Nunes vai até oAlfredo Jaconi encarar o Juventude. Na segunda-feira (25), os comandados de Abel Ferreira recebem o Sport, no Allianz Parque, às 21h30.

BOM INÍCIO DO VOZÃO

A partida começou bem movimentada no Castelão. Aos três minutos, Lima cruzou da esquerda para direita. Fernando Sobral pegou de primeira e a bola acertou a rede pelo lado de fora.

Próximo da metade do primeiro tempo, o Ceará equilibrou a posse de bola e passou a rondar a área de Weverton. Do lado alviverde, Rony era o jogador mais acionado da equipe, pelo lado direito.

Aos 25′, Marlon recebeu na entrada da área e fez boa jogada com Gabriel Santos, mas o atacante furou o chute. No lance seguinte, Piquerez reclamou de pênalti após trombada dentro da área.

WEVERTON SALVA O VERDÃO

O Vozão crescia na partida e, em jogada ensaiada de falta, ficou perto de abrir o placar. Aos 36′,Kelvyn tocou para Lima, que ajeitou para Erick. O camisa 97 bateu no canto, e Weverton evitou o gol.

Quatro minutos depois, Weverton fez outra grande defesa. Sobral avançou pela direita e cruzou para a entrada da área. Vina pegou forte, e o goleiro do Verdão mostrou reflexo e mandou para escanteio.

GOLAÇO DE ZÉ RAFAEL

O Palmeiras não conseguia incomodar os mandantes, mas na bola parada abriu o placar no último lance do primeiro tempo. Luiz Otávio parou ataque com a mão e o juiz assinalou falta. Próximo da área, Zé Rafael chutou por cima da barreira, e inaugurou o marcador no Castelão.

LUIZ ADRIANO QUASE ESPANTA MÁ FASE

Após o intervalo, o Ceará voltou com o mesmo ímpeto ofensivo, e o Palmeiras seguia apostando em uma marcação baixa e nos contra-ataques. Lima tentou dois chutes de fora da área, que passaram perto do gol nos minutos iniciais.

E na jogada de velocidade com Rony, o Verdão chegou a ampliar a vantagem. O camisa 7 avançou pela direita, cortou a marcação e tocou para Luiz Adriano. O camisa 10 deslocou Richard, mas o bandeira deu impedimento, que teve a análise do VAR.

ABEL MUDA, E PALMEIRAS AMPLIA

O Vozão seguia em busca do empate, e Gabriel Lacerda, aos 17 testou firme para nova defesa de Weverton. Contudo, a bandeira de impedimento já estava levantada no lance.

Apesar das chances, foi o Alviverde quem conseguiu o gol no segundo tempo. No seu primeiro toque na bola, Gustavo Scarpa recebeu pela esquerda e cruzou rasteiro para Deyverson. O atacante, que havia entrado na vaga de Luiz Adriano, escorou para as redes.

CLÉBER DEIXA O FINAL EMOCIONANTE

Mesmo com dois gols de desvantagem, a equipe da casa não diminuiu o ritmo, mas estava sem sorte. Em escanteio cobrado por Jorginho, a bola passou por todo mundo.

Aos 43 no entanto, após vacilo de Piquerez, o Ceará recuperou a bola no ataque. Jorginho rolou para Cléber. O atacante girou para cima da marcação, chutou no canto, e diminuiu o placar. Mesmo com o gol, a equipe da casa não conseguiu o empate, e saiu do Castelão derrotada pelo Palmeiras, que teve um gol de Gabriel Veron anulado no final da partida.

FICHA TÉCNICA
CEARÁ 1 X 2 PALMEIRAS
​Data: 20 de Outubro de 2021, quarta-feira;
Horário: 19h (horário de Brasília);
Local: Arena Castelão, em Fortaleza-CE
Árbitro: André Luiz de Freitas Castro-GO
Assistentes: Cristhian Passos Sorence-GO e Hugo Sávio Xavier Correa-GO
VAR: Heber Roberto Lopes-SC, Éder Alexandre-SC e Márcio Eustáquio Sousa Santiago-MG
Público/renda:Não divulgado
Cartões amarelos:Igor, Vina, Erick e Luiz Otávio (CEA); Zé Rafael, Weverton (PAL)
Cartões vermelhos: –
Gols:Zé Rafael (48’/1ºT) (0-1); Deyverson (26’/2ºT) (0-2) e Cléber(43’/2ºT) (1-2)

CEARÁ: Richard; Igor, Luiz Otavio, Gabriel Lacerda e Kelvyn; Marlon (Cléber, 18/2ºT), Fernando Sobral(Fabinho, 39/2ºT) e Vina (Jorginho, 33/2ºT); Lima (Mendoza, 33/2ºT), Erick e Gabriel Santos (Jael, 39/2ºT). Técnico: Tiago Nunes

PALMEIRAS: Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Luan, Gómez e Piquerez; Felipe Melo, Zé Rafael (Danilo Barbosa, 39/2ºT), Raphael Veiga(Gustavo Scarpa, 25/2ºT) e Dudu (Gabriel Veron, 39/2ºT); Rony(Breno Lopes, 20/2ºT) e Luiz Adriano (Deyverson, 20/2ºT). Técnico: Abel Ferreira.

Glasgow Rangers dropped points in their Premiership opener over the weekend following an uninspiring away performance.

Sound familiar? The Light Blues may be a point better off than at the same stage last season, but the side looked flat throughout the first half, with the same problems that plagued the team towards the end of last term persisting.

James Tavernier looked a shadow of his former self, Cyriel Dessers missed yet more big chances when it was easier to score and Scott Wright offered absolutely nothing from the right flank during his time on the pitch.

Before the transfer window slams shut in a few weeks, Philippe Clement must add another one or two players to his attacking options, otherwise Celtic will run away with the league title.

Opponent

Date

Dynamo Kiev (Champions League)

August 6

Motherwell (Premiership)

August 10

Dynamo Kiev (Champions League)

August 13

St Johnstone (Premier Sports Cup)

August 17

Ross County (Premiership)

August 24

Via Sky Sports

Could a Championship starlet be top of the list for the Belgian?

Rangers still in the hunt for Championship winger

According to Football Insider, Rangers are still chasing a deal to sign Plymouth Argyle winger Morgan Whittaker this summer in a bid to improve their squad.

The Ibrox side had a bid for the youngster rejected back in January as they sought reinforcements ahead of the second half of the season. Could this summer be different?

Premier League clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford are also keen on Whittaker, but surely the lure of European football and the chance to win trophies will be a big incentive for the current Plymouth sensation?

Wayne Rooney won't want to lose one of his prized assets, especially as he practically kept the Pilgrims in the second tier with his displays last term, but every man has their price and he would be a great replacement for the aforementioned Wright.

Wright is certainly not the answer to the Light Blues' attacking issues, especially with his dismal record in front of goal.

His performance against the Tynecastle side on Saturday should be the last time he starts for Clement.

Scott Wright’s game in numbers vs Hearts

Credit where credit is due, Wright somehow manages to avoid the cull following the end of every season, despite clearly not being of the required quality to take the Ibrox side to the next level.

The winger lasted just 60 minutes on the pitch before being brought off for new signing Vaclav Cerny, yet he failed to offer any positivity going forwards.

Indeed, Wright failed to deliver an accurate cross from three deliveries, failed with his single dribble attempt, made zero key passes and took just shot which was blocked.

Minutes played

60

Touches

29

Accurate passes

9/12 (75%)

Key passes

0

Crosses

0/3

Shots

1

Dribble attempts

0/1

Duels won

2/7

Possession lost

10x

Furthermore, he also lost possession ten times, won only two of his seven attempted duels and was dribbled past once in what was a severely underwhelming performance.

Glasgow World journalist Lewis Anderson gave the Scotsman a match rating of just 4/10, stating that he ‘didn’t have much impact at all’ and this tells the full story of how woeful he was in the final third.

It is now time for him to move on so Clement can add some more quality to that side of the pitch. While Cerny should prove to be a solid signing, Whittaker is miles better than Wright and could offer much more positivity.

Morgan Whittaker’s 2023/24 season in numbers

The £9k-per-week winger was one of the finest players in the Championship last season, scoring 19 goals in the second tier (20 overall), while also chipping in with eight assists in the process.

This ranked him as the fourth most clinical player in the league last term, showing how impressive he was in the final third, something which Clement is desperate to add to his team.

Goals

19

2

Assists

8

0

Big chances created

10

1

Successful dribbles per game

1.2

0.4

Shots on target per game

1.4

0.3

Key passes per game

1.4

0.6

Among his teammates, Whittaker also ranked first for shots on target per game (1.4), big chances created (ten), key passes per game (1.4) and successful dribbles per game (1.2), showcasing his qualities across a range of attacking metrics.

It wasn’t just among his own squad that Whittaker shone, as his statistics when compared to the rest of his peers in the second tier were just as impressive.

Indeed, throughout the 2023/24 campaign, the Englishman ranked in the top 1% for shots on target per 90 (1.45) and in the top 9% for goals and assists per 90 (0.61), which is further evidence of his effectiveness for Plymouth.

A move to Rangers would give him a grander stage to shine on. Becoming an instant upgrade on Wright in the process.

Why Morgan Whittaker would be a good signing for Rangers

Whittaker offers a wonderful threat in the opposition half, scoring plenty of goals while also being able to generate chances galore for his teammates.

His former manager Steve Schumacher hailed the winger upon joining the club on a permanent basis last summer, saying he is "one of the most exciting prospects in the EFL", a statement which was certainly proven correct following his goal-laden campaign.

Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson also heaped plenty of praise on the player amid the links to Ibrox, saying he is “tall, strong, quick & left footed on the right” which is exactly the sort of profile Clement needs on his flanks.

He is almost the exact opposite of Wright, who isn’t the fastest, fails to beat his man and offers nothing in front of goal.

Indeed, since joining the Glasgow side in January 2021, Wright has scored just 12 times in 118 appearances for the club, which works out as a goal every 9.8 matches, a truly dismal figure for a winger.

In his senior career, Whittaker has played only 170 matches, yet during those games, he has scored 41 goals, working out as a goal every 4.1 matches.

You don’t have to be Columbo to work out that the Englishman is a far superior choice to Wright and that Clement should be working his magic in order to lure him north of the border.

It will be tough, especially with Premier League interest, but if the Belgian wishes to add a genuine goal threat on the right flank, Whittaker is his man.

The 0-0 draw against Hearts demonstrated how badly the club need goals injected into the side. The Plymouth Argyle star would be a major coup.

Rangers have genuine interest in move for huge McCausland upgrade

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the English forward.

ByDan Emery Jul 30, 2024

Diana Baig finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series after picking up a career-best 4 for 30

Firdose Moonda26-Jan-2021South Africa made a strong statement of intent ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup by completing a clean sweep of Pakistan in Durban, with victory by 32 runs in the third ODI.South Africa have now won six ODIs in succession following their 3-0 win in New Zealand last January, through which they automatically qualified for the global showpiece. While the World Cup is still a year away, preparation has had to be ramped up especially as fixtures are scant in the current pandemic. Neither South Africa nor Pakistan had played since last year’s Women’s T20 World Cup and though there were signs of rust on both sides, the ODIs were hard-fought and entertaining.After two tense matches last week, in which Pakistan lost by 3 and 13 runs respectively, the visitors fell away in the finale. They were all but out of the contest at the halfway mark of their chase when they teetered at 73 for 5 while going after a target of 202. By then, South Africa’s stand-in captain Sunè Luus had become the 20th player to claim 100 ODI wickets, and the fourth among her countrywomen. Luus reached her milestone with the wicket of her opposite number Javeria Khan, whom she caught off her own bowling, after Javeria top-scored for her side with 33.Pakistan needed bigger individual contributions but the usually aggressive pair of Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar were kept quiet and the early collapse was too much for them to recover from. Overall, their coach David Hemp assessed it as a series of missed chances. “We had opportunities to win all the games,” he said. “We need the top four to score runs.”File photo – Diana Baig picked up career-best figures of 4 for 30•Getty ImagesContrastingly, South Africa had their best start with the bat after Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt put on 79 for the first wicket with Wolvaardt going on to score her 17th career half-century. Her dismissal, caught behind off the series-leading wicket-taker Diana Baig, sparked a major tumble for South Africa. They lost 7 for 48 and Baig finished with a career-best for 4 for 30. At 172 for 8, South Africa did not likely to set Pakistan 200.Trisha Chetty’s 34 off 43 balls took them to a decent score, though the middle-order has work to do on their contributions. Mignon du Preez, who scored just 47 runs in the series, will attract particular attention given her seniority and skill.”There’s been a lot of starts but the kick on is not happening in terms of converting,” coach Hilton Moreeng said. “It’s an aspect we need to keep working on. We identified that the application is not there for everyone. We absorb a lot of pressure but when its time to translate that and put the opposition under pressure, we have two new batters at the crease, so we need to always have an in-batter.”South Africa will be more pleased with the way their bowling stood up in big moments. Ayabonga Khaka’s control and use of the slower ball saw her finish as South Africa’s joint-leading bowler across the three matches, with the same number of wickets as Shabnim Ismail, known for her pace. Luus and Marizanne Kapp, who sat out the final game, also made important inroads to ensure South Africa have a depth and options going forward.File photo – Laura Wolvaardt top-scored for South Africa with 58•Getty ImagesPakistan were also pleased with their efforts with the ball, particularly that of Baig, who led their attack. “She is a great learner, she wants to get better and she has got a great work ethic,” Hemp said.Both coaches acknowledged that long layoffs for their teams contributed to some of the less-than-flattering moments that we saw throughout the series with dropped catches and missed run-outs a feature on both sides. For Hemp, Pakistan need to play against opposition ranked above them more often. “The more opportunities we have to play against sides who are ranked higher, the better. South Africa have nine players who are regularly playing in the best T20 competitions in the world,” he said. “We have to address our basics of the game. That’s where we are letting ourselves down.”For Moreeng, South Africa need matches because it is the only way they can can give themselves a real chance at the World Cup. “The ladies need game time,” he said. “We could see from the first game that we had enough preparation but there is only so much you can do. There were a lot of basics we were not doing right. We feel we need to stay active – that is the only way we can prepare.”The teams start a three-match T20I series at the same venue on Friday, where conditions are expected to be hot, slow and low as they have been so far.

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has shone a light on the brutal realities of balancing elite-level football with high school studies.

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• Teenager broke into Barca team last year
• Highly-rated defender still at school
• Discussed brutal schedule in interview

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Having broken into the Barca first team while still based at La Masia and firmly committed to his high school studies, the 17-year-old is seemingly working flat out to keep up while starring in Barcelona's table-topping side.

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  WHAT CUBARSI SAID

  Cubarsi opened up about his daily routine in an interview with , saying: "I'm studying the second year of social high school. I train in the morning and go to class at three in the afternoon. The teachers from León XIII come to La Masia and I have class until eight in the evening. If there's a Champions League, I have to ask for notes or be attentive the next day to catch up. Sometimes it's difficult to study, but I'd like to study a degree in marketing or business administration, but first I have to finish high school and then we'll see."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It's admirable that the teenage starlet is still so committed to his education, especially given his explosive start to life as a professional footballer. Since emerging from La Masia and into Barca's first team last year, he's already been described as a cultured and "refined" centre-back with great technical ability, and those skills have allowed him to rack up 30 La Liga appearances and counting before his 18th birthday.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CUBARSI?

  Cubarsi may have shone under Hansi Flick so far at Barca, but in the coming months he'll face real pressure to maintain his levels and keep his place in the first team, with experienced pros Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia both set to return from injury. Next up, his side face city rivals Espanyol on Sunday.

Vincent Kompany has defended Harry Kane from criticism at Bayern Munich after he scored a hat-trick against Stuttgart on Saturday.

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• Kane nets superb treble
• Had been criticised before international break
• Kompany delighted with England captain

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kane got back among the goals on Saturday as Bayern thumped Stuttgart 4-0. The England captain scored a superb hat-trick to bounce back from an uncharacteristic three-game drought, during which time his side lost to Aston Villa in the Champions League and drew with both Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kane was branded "invisible" after Bayern's defeat to Villa, while his performance against Leverkusen led German media to question his record in big games. Now, Kompany has defended the striker, insisting that he will continue to make a serious impact this season.

• WHAT VINCENT KOMPANY SAID

  Kompany told reporters: "To be honest, I didn't waste any seconds thinking about whether he scored or not [in the past games]. I know what qualities he has. He's always hungry, even in training. Sometimes we forget how hard Harry works for the team. He's always scored goals, and will always score goals. That won't change."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Bayern play Barcelona in a mighty Champions League clash in midweek. They then return to Bundesliga action on Sunday against Bochum.

Aston Villa have held "talks" with a "big character" ahead of a summer move to the club, according to reliable journalist Rudy Galetti.

Aston Villa transfer news

Villans supporters are still basking in the glory of their fourth-place finish in the Premier League, booking them a place in the Champions League in the process. It could give the club a fantastic opportunity to become a real force again, not least in terms of enticing brilliant players to Villa Park.

One eye-catching player who has been linked with a summer move to Villa is Conor Gallagher, who was one of the few bright sparks for Chelsea during an otherwise underwhelming 2023/24 campaign. The 24-year-old is now preparing for Euro 2024 with England, where he could even start alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in midfield.

Gallagher isn't the only Premier League player who the Villans are believed to be looking at, however, with Fulham's Andreas Pereira also appearing to be on their list. The 28-year-old started 34 of his side's 38 league matches in 2023/24, proving to be a key figure at Craven Cottage.

A reunion with Jack Grealish has even been mooted in some quarters, with the 28-year-old struggling to impress at Manchester City of late, leading to him being left out of England's Euro 2024 squad. He was a hugely popular player at Villa Park during his first stint, and his performances earned him a £100m move to the Etihad, so his return could be met positively by the fanbase.

Aston Villa hold "talks" with "big character"

According to Galetti on X, Aston Villa have begun "talks" with Matteo Guendouzi over a move from Lazio this summer, and Unai Emery has spoken to him, he said in his story for TEAMtalk.

Guendouzi could be an excellent signing by Villa, and the fact that Emery knows him well from their Arsenal days suggests that he will already be fully aware of the quality he could add to his team.

Still only 25, the £52,000-a-week Frenchman has reportedly fallen out with Lazio manager Igor Tudor, possibly increasing the chances of him moving on this summer, while Gary Neville once heaped praise on him at Arsenal, saying:

"Since the moment he came into the team, Guendouzi, he has looked like a big character and a leader. He gets on the ball all the time, he shows great courage to play and he’s always demanding from his teammates."

Appearances

33

Starts

27

Goals

2

Assists

3

Tackles per game

1.0

Key passes per game

0.7

Clearances per game

0.7

Interceptions per game

0.6

Since those comments, Guendouzi has matured further as a footballer, and he could add both bite and technical ability to Villa's midfield, helping fill the possible void left by Douglas Luiz, should the current Villans hero move on.

Wolves have been stung after a report claimed that one of their key players is looking to leave for a new club this summer.

O'Neil outlines Wolves' summer plans

Gary O'Neil has already confirmed that there will be changes happening at the club ahead of the new Premier League season, but that sales will have to power it.

“I don’t think there will be money available to us if nobody leaves so, if we decided not to sell a big player, then there is maybe some little bits or pieces we can do," he explained.

“There are some players out on loan that have value as well that we might be able to do some bits with. The club is expected in the foreseeable future to be able to fund itself, so we need to be able to work with what we have, whether we can move things out and improve it by bringing things in".

Wolves could sign £30m "monster" who's a bit like Hwang

He scored a Premier League hattrick last season

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 5, 2024

But he will be keen not to lose his key assets for pennies, something that has now been touted.

Mario Lemina keen to leave Wolves for Europe

Now, a fresh report has surfaced concerning the future of midfield general Mario Lemina, who played a key role in Wolves' success last season.

Lemina is into the final 12 months of his £45,000 per week deal at Molineux, and there have been no discussions over a new deal yet despite making 35 Premier League appearances for the Old Gold last season.

Lemina's impressive campaign

Appearances

35

Goals and assists

5

Tackles and interceptions per 90

3.97

Key passes

0.61

Pass accuracy

85.8%

Yellow Cards

10

BBC pundit Danny Murphy was full of praise for both Lemina and Joao Gomes as they helped their side beat Tottenham back in February, dubbing the pair "outstanding".

"They work well together defensively, they get back in and fill holes and with the ball they've got belief and great technical ability. They know Tottenham like to play out, they were brave and tried to win it back. As soon as they won it back they got the transitions with the pace of Neto and Hwang [Hee-Chan] up front.

"The defensive work in central midfield is something that goes unnoticed sometimes, but you can't win matches in the Premier League unless your midfielders do the hard yards and the dirty bits and they did it brilliantly. The pair of them, outstanding."

It is a partnership that Wolves may well be keen to keep heading into the new season but risk losing if the latest reports are anything to go by. That is because former side Galatasaray are ready to take him back to Turkey, according to A Spor, relayed by Sport Witness who add that Lemina has said yes to a move to the Turkish champions.

To do that, they are ready to table an offer of around €4m (£3.4m) for the 30-year-old, with the Gabon midfielder keen to make a return in order to play Champions League football once more, something that he tasted during his last spell with Galatasaray.

However, that is unlikely to be enough to tempt Wolves into selling their midfield maestro, despite their financial fair play concerns, with the club likely to find it difficult to replace his quality for such a measly sum ahead of the new season. Unless Lemina forces a move, he may well still be walking out at Molineux for their first game of the season.