In a Facebook post, Shakib speaks of why he joined politics, and also says he wants to bid farewell to the game with his fans in attendance

Mohammad Isam09-Oct-2024

Shakib Al Hasan is set to play his final Test match in Dhaka later this month•AFP via Getty Images

Shakib Al Hasan has apologised for his silence during the student-led protests in Bangladesh in July, which led to several hundreds of deaths. It is the first time that Shakib acknowledged the movement that led to the fall of the longstanding Awami League-led government – in which he was a member of parliament (MP) – on August 5.”Firstly, I would like to pay my respects to all the students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination movement, and were martyred or injured during the people’s uprising,” Shakib wrote on his Facebook page. “I extend my deepest respect and condolences to them and their families. While no sacrifice can compensate for the loss of a loved one, nothing can fill the void of losing a child or a brother, to those of you who were hurt by my silence during this critical period, I respect your feelings and sincerely apologise. If I were in your place, I too might have been upset.”Related

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Shakib was playing in the Global T20 Canada franchise league during the violence in Bangladesh in July. During one of the matches in early August, Shakib argued with a fan who had asked him about his silence on the upheaval back home.Apart from being an MP, Shakib, of course, is arguably Bangladesh’s biggest cricket star ever, a larger-than-life figure in Bangladesh, and so his silence rankled. He was named in a murder case related to the protests, along with 146 other Awami League leaders, while he was playing the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.On September 26, Shakib, who resides in the USA with his family, announced his retirement from Test cricket. He said that if the authorities could guarantee his safe entry and exit from Bangladesh, he wanted to play his last Test in Dhaka, against South Africa from October 21. He had not been in the country since the T20 World Cup in June, having linked up with the Test squad directly in Pakistan and India. BCB president Faruque Ahmed said the board could not guarantee him the security he wanted, but at the government level there were positive signals for Shakib. Sports adviser Asif Mahmud had said the government would provide him with security, but Shakib needed to explain his political stance to his fans.In his long Facebook post on Wednesday, Shakib duly spoke of why he had joined politics last year. He had got an Awami League nomination, and went on to win comfortably from the Magura-1 constituency.”I was briefly the member of parliament from the Magura-1 constituency. My political involvement was primarily driven by my desire to contribute to the development of my hometown Magura. As you know, it is difficult to directly impact the development of one’s area without a specific role in Bangladesh.”My wish to develop this area is what motivated me to become an MP. However, at the end of the day, my primary identity is as a cricketer for Bangladesh. No matter where I have been or in what position, I have always carried cricket in my heart.”Shakib concluded his post by paying tribute to his fans. “You all know that I will soon be playing my last match… I want to say goodbye with all of you around. At the moment of farewell, I want to shake hands with those whose applause compelled me to play better. I want to meet the eyes of those who cheered in joy when I played well and whose eyes welled up with tears when I did not. I believe that at this farewell moment, you will all be with me. Together, we will close the story that, in truth, stars not me, but all of you.”

Liverpool won the Premier League last season, finishing ten points ahead of second-place Arsenal. Few gave Arne Slot a chance to establish himself as a title-race outlier, but he took the division by storm.

And he’s been rewarded in the summer transfer market, with FSG green-lighting ambitious moves for Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, with the latter signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m.

Navigating the transfer market has become a far more delicate matter for Liverpool after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.

But Liverpool’s forward interest dates back to the start of 2025, with Darwin Nunez transfer-listed while the Reds pursued the Premier League title.

Nunez is still set to leave Liverpool, with the Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal among the frontrunners, and FSG have worked to sign a replacement.

While nothing’s set in stone, it looks like that replacement is going to be Hugo Ekitike.

The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool

Liverpool appear to have won the race for Ekitike, with the 23-year-old submitting a transfer request as he looks to inch a move to Merseyside closer.

Newcastle United were also in the mix, but have dropped out following the Reds’ concrete advancements.

Ekitike’s is an unrefined skill set, but with a few tweaks here and there, he could prove a stunning signing for Slot’s cause. After all, talent scout Jacek Kulig remarked that he “could definitely reach world-class striker levels”.

With 22 goals and 12 assists to his name across the 2024/25 campaign, such a claim certainly seems to have some substance.

On Friday morning, Sport BILD reported that Ekitike had linked back up with Frankfurt for training and, as things stand, is slated to join his teammates on their pre-season tour in the United States.

The Reds are closing in on their quarry, but they have another target in their sights, too. You might even say he’s an upgrade on the French forward.

Liverpool lining up another striker

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still pushing to land Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, in spite of their push for Ekitike’s signature and indeed the rebuffed formal approach for the Sweden striker earlier in the week.

Liverpool were willing to put a £120m offer on the table, but the focus shift to Ekitike in recent days speaks of a roadblock between Anfield and St. James’ Park.

Elsewhere, Foot Mercato have revealed that Isak and Newcastle have given Al-Hilal the initial green light to commence discussions over a deal that would send shockwaves through the footballing world.

While this is peculiar news, it perhaps suggests that the Isak saga is not quite finished for Liverpool this summer.

Why Liverpool should sign Alexander Isak

Time was when Liverpool’s owners were widely regarded as being frugal, if effective with their resources. But who can call FSG misers now? Having forked out a shedload on new signings this summer, there’s still more yet to come.

BBC reporter Sami Mokbel believes that Liverpool’s interest in Isak will remain intact regardless of the outcome of the Ekitike saga. One of the French talent’s underlying qualities to have piqued Slot’s interest is his versatility, with a sharp tactical mind and a nimble athleticism making him, as Kulig alluded to, world-class material.

But Isak’s already there, with pundit Alan Shearer hailing his “world-class” level. Indeed, there’s a case that the Swedish gem’s the finest number nine in the game right now, having scored 27 goals and supplied six assists across all competitions for the Magpies in 2024/25. Certainly, he’s the most complete, with pundit Ally McCoist saying: “In terms of his all-round game, he’s unstoppable.”

Without a doubt, Isak would pack a heavier punch than Ekitike, definitely across the next campaign or two. Sure, the Frankfurt man has the potential to become one of the best, but his Swedish counterpart is already there.

Newcastle signed him from Real Sociedad for what still stands as a club-record £63m deal, and injuries have been his only foible.

Instrumental in securing United as a top-end competitor, scoring as they beat Liverpool at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup and end a 70-year trophy drought, he would revolutionise a Liverpool frontline already packed with high-level quality.

1.

Erling Haaland

97

85 (0.88)

2.

Mohamed Salah

108

66 (0.61)

3.

Alexander Isak

86

54 (0.63)

4.

Ollie Watkins

112

50 (0.45)

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

101

38 (0.38)

And not just a goalscorer, Isak’s completeness can be observed through his FBref data. The stats-led site reveals the 25-year-old ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries, and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

The thing is, Liverpool cannot afford to be so reliant on Mohamed Salah for goals, especially now that the right winger has turned 33. In Isak, Slot would sign a striker with a far superior ball-striking ability than Ekitike; certainly, the Swede is more efficient and economical in his efforts, with a conversion rate to be feared and an impressive rate of creativity besides.

The £120k-per-week forward is just one year away from his penultimate year on Tyneside. Then the alarm bells will be screeching down the St. James’ Park hallways. Perhaps Newcastle will want to cash in for a pretty penny while they still can.

Newcastle, for sure, know that Liverpool are willing to break the British transfer record (again) before summer’s out. And from a Reds perspective, sporting director Richard Hughes will be doing all he can to achieve this, for Isak is the cream of the crop and would certainly arrive as a more accomplished and complete player than Ekitike.

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Liverpool have two primary candidates to bolster their forward line; Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike.

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Newcastle exceeded expectations when winning the Carabao Cup and rolling out the carpet for the forthcoming Champions League campaign, qualifying as they did via the Premier League.

Given that Eddie Howe was forced to contend with less than fluent form in the early stages of the season as a by-product of a disappointing summer transfer window that was itself preceded by a crushing end to their 2023/24 season, missing out on Europe after Manchester United won the FA Cup, this is a truly remarkable feat.

And now, during this current window, more adversity has been met. Newcastle need new forwards, but they’ve struggled to reel them in thus far.

That is, up until a breakthrough in regard to Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.

Why Newcastle are signing Anthony Elanga

When Newcastle parted ways with Miguel Almiron midway through the 2024/25 campaign, it was expected they would sign a replacement.

They have needed a right-sided forward for a while, but Jacob Murphy’s incredible form has tempered the urgency over the past 12 months, having chalked up 20 goals and assists in the league alone last season.

Now, though, Elanga could provide the perfect competition, bringing a high-speed, high-energy and high-creativity style of football to Howe’s team, already so impressive in transitional sequences.

Having already seen a £45m offer knocked back, the Magpies have demonstrated their intent by returning with an improved £55m bid, with anticipation growing that their efforts will prove fruitful.

Having already missed out on a slew of top targets such as Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United are in need of some uplifting news.

They will strike gold with Elanga, who has posted 31 goal contributions across his two top-flight terms with Forest, after initially signing from Man United for £15m in 2023.

However, Elanga’s high stock doesn’t mean he automatically qualifies as the cream of Newcastle’s wide attacking crop.

Murphy and Harvey Barnes have both been exceptional for the Toon; however, Anthony Gordon would wager himself the best of the bunch.

Newcastle have hit gold with Anthony Gordon

Gordon didn’t start his Newcastle career on the firmest footing. Indeed, after forcing his way out of Everton and joining the Toon in a £45m deal back in January 2023, he played a peripheral role that lacked a potent finish over the business months of that campaign.

However, he’s since come alive; now a fully-fledged Three Lions star and one of Howe’s most talented forwards, fearsome alongside the world-class Alexander Isak, Gordon is regarded as “one of the best wingers around” by retired manager Harry Redknapp.

It bears testament to his quality that even after an up-and-down year, only scoring nine goals (and providing seven assists) across 42 games, the 24-year-old has still retained the admiration of the fans and indeed potential suitors, who have circled over recent weeks.

Matches (starts)

35 (34)

34 (28)

Goals

11

6

Assists

10

5

Shots (on target)*

2.3 (0.9)

1.7 (0.6)

Pass completion

82%

81%

Key passes*

1.6

1.5

Big chances created

16

6

Dribbles*

1.5

1.1

Ball recoveries*

3.6

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.1

Duels (won)*

5.3 (49%)

4.4 (52%)

Gordon might not have had the finest season in the world, but he showcased his high-level quality across the previous year, racking up 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and dazzling with underlying creative and physical metrics that were certainly still on show last term.

His efforts across his first full term on Tyneside saw the England international crowned the club’s Player of the Year, a talisman through an injury-hit spell that hampered Howe’s project considerably.

The goal involvements act as a neat barometer for assessment of Gordon’s talent, but his performances on the field almost defy such statistical analysis. His driven, tough and intelligent performances have made him an instrumental part of Howe’s success, especially as he’s so versatile, playing dutifully as a right-winger or even as a makeshift centre-forward.

But Gordon’s high ceiling was rubber-stamped when Liverpool came calling, the Anfield side being offered their one-time academy member as St. James’ Park sweated over compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

Ultimately, United managed to weave around any costly breaches by offloading more peripheral members of the squad – like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – but the fact remains that fans got a glimpse of the financial reckoning their winger is held in, with the Reds looking to strike a deal for £75m.

That figure in itself underscores Gordon’s superior value to Elanga, who could leave the City Ground for £55m, but Gordon has actually seen his stock rise higher still this year, with the £150k-per-week talent now valued at an eye-watering £100m.

His might seem over-expensive, but this is the modern market we’re talking about, and it illustrates Gordon’s reputation as being one of the most talented wingers on the continent.

Confident in his skills, Gordon has declared himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, owing to his combative and electric running style, his willingness to take on his man and get stuck in during defensive phases.

Having extended his contract with Newcastle in October 2024, Howe must well and truly feel that he has hit the jackpot with this wonderful player, whose left-sided predilection will perhaps see him partner Elanga for years to come, servicing the focal Isak in the middle.

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Newcastle have come a long way over the past few years, but with Howe engineering such exciting and precise signings with a regularity that eludes many of their divisional rivals, there’s every chance that the best is yet to come.

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Everton are now reportedly prioritising a deal to sign a Premier League gem as part of The Friedkin Group’s impressive plan to splash as much as £150m this summer.

Friekdin planning £150m spending spree

The Toffees have already seen a glimpse of Friedkin’s spending when they secured deals for Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Carlos Alcaraz. But they may just be getting started.

As Everton enter a new era at The Hill Dickinson Stadium, the new owners are reportedly keen to make a statement with a spending spree that will hit the £150m-mark this summer and several targets have already entered their radar as a result.

After recently welcoming Barry and Travers, Everton have reportedly made their first offer to sign Douglas Luiz on loan with an obligation to buy from Juventus. The Brazilian endured a nightmare first season in Turin and now desperately needs a return to the Premier League just one year on from leaving Aston Villa.

It would be quite the move from Everton if they managed to win the race for the midfielder’s signature, especially after losing Abdoulaye Doucoure at the end of last season. Luiz, meanwhile, would undoubtedly be keen to get back to his best at long last.

Luiz isn’t the only name who’s threatened to steal the headlines as of late, however. The Toffees have also reportedly set their sights on West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek and Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.

Like Luiz, the latter needs a fresh start this summer if he is to get back to his best. But even as a serial winner at The Etihad, it’s actually Grealish’s City teammate who sits top of Everton’s shortlist of targets.

Everton now prioritising McAtee move

As reported by The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Everton are now prioritising a move to sign James McAtee as part of their £150m spending spree this summer. The midfielder was often left frustrated at Manchester City last summer, as Pep Guardiola opted for other options even as his side faced some of their worst form of his incredibly successful tenure.

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Now, in search of the game time that he requires, McAtee is likely to be on the move. And it’s not just Everton who are interested. The talented midfielder has also attracted the interest of Entracht Frankfurt and others from around European football, handing the Toffees a difficult battle to land his signature.

Previous reports have suggested that the 22-year-old will be available for just £25m, but whether competition for his arrival increases that price remains to be seen.

Praised for a “fantastic” start to 2025 by scout Jacek Kulig, McAtee could yet find himself in new surroundings by the time that the year comes to an end and the new season is well underway.

علق محمود حسن تريزيجيه، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، على الفوز على سيراميكا كليوباترا، بهدف نظيف، في مباراة جمعت الفريقين مساء اليوم، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الممتاز.

وفاز تريزيجيه بجائزة أفضل لاعب في مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا، بعدما سجل هدفًا رائعًا بطريقة R2، في شباك محمد بسام.

طالع | رجل مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري

وقدم اللاعب أداءً مميزًا من الناحية البدنية والفنية، وسجل هدف الفوز ووضع بصمته المؤثرة خلال المباراة التي انتهت نتيجتها بفوز الأهلي بهدف نظيف.

وقال تريزيجيه في تصريحات صحفية عقب اللقاء: “الحمد لله على الثلاث نقاط، مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا البداية، وسنكمل الانتصارات فيما هو قادم”.

وتابع: “الفريق كله أحسن لاعب، والجمهور رقم 1 وله فضل علي، ولن أفعل أي شيء يغضبه، فأنا عدت للأهلي من أجلهم”.

وأضاف: “نعد الجماهير إننا (هنموت نفسنا) ونتوج بلقب الدوري، والإشارة في مباراة إنبي لم تكن لجماهير الأهلي وان شاء الله نسعدهم”.

وكانت جماهير الأهلي قد رددت هتافات هاجمت فيها محمود حسن تريزيجيه قبل بداية مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا، بعد إشارته في مباراة إنبي (بالصمت)، التي وجهها لبعض المشجعين، قبل أن يعتذر ويحتفل معهم اليوم.

 

Australia began their T20 World Cup defence with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, who slumped to a second defeat in less than 48 hours to leave their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread. Australia kept Sri Lanka to under 100, and knocked off the runs inside 15 overs. But their speed of run-scoring was not enough to put Australia on top of the group ahead of New Zealand on NRR, which could prove crucial in a pool where they have already been two upsets.While it was relatively straightforward for Australia, they would be the first to admit that they were not at their most clinical best. Their bowlers sent down five no-balls and two wides, and the 13 extras were the fourth-highest contributor on a sorry Sri Lanka scorecard. That continues a trend of Australia conceding the most number of extras since the start of last year, and is a discipline they would want to tighten up on.Nitpicking aside, Australia held the advantage early thanks to medium-pacer Megan Schutt, who finished with the best figures among the bowlers on a spinner-friendly track. Between them, spinners Ash Gardner, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham bowled 12 overs, which cost only 55 runs while they shared four wickets.Sri Lanka’s only real resistance came from a 31-run fifth-wicket stand between Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva, and they were the only batters to get more than 20. Sri Lanka ended up well short of a par total, but initially made a fist of defending it. They had Australia 35 for 3 and were fielding excellently, but did not have enough runs to make a game of it.Beth Mooney hit 43*, and sealed the chase in the 15th over•ICC/Getty Images

Australia’s awesome start

If there was any thought that Australia would be anything less than their absolute best as their tournament got underway, that was swiftly dismissed as they got off to the perfect start. Schutt started proceedings with the tournament’s second maiden over, and Gardner followed up with a second, which immediately raised questions of Chamari Athapaththu’s decision to bat first.She got bat on ball in the third over, when she guided Schutt past backward point for two, but the over ended badly when Vishmi Gunaratne was given out lbw off the last ball, and reviewed to no avail. Schutt got the ball to tail in from outside off and pin Gunaratne on the back pad in front of middle and leg stump. Ball tracking confirmed her dismissal.Things got worse two balls later, as Gardner beat Athapaththu’s sweep shot and asked for a review after the on-field decision seemed to suggest it was sliding down leg. But ball-tracking judged it to be hitting leg, and Athapaththu had to depart for a second single-figure score to start the World Cup. Sri Lanka were 6 for 2 in the fourth over.

Sri Lanka fail to cross 100 second time

Sri Lanka’s batters can’t be blamed for trying to make something happen in their search for runs, but their attempts to be attacking were unsuccessful as they could not get the ball to clear the boundary. Samarawickrama, who battled hard to score 23 off 35 balls, was the first to play a poor shot when she swung at a full, wide delivery from Molineux without much conviction, and popped a simple return catch to the bowler.Hasini Perera only faced four balls for her 2, and was then given a gift when Wareham sent down a filthy full toss which she swiped at, but towards Gardner, who took a good catch over her right shoulder. And in the final over, with runs needed to put up a respectable total, Anushka Sanjeewani tried to lap Schutt but ended up scooping the ball straight to Wareham at short fine leg.Udeshika Prabodhani cleaned up Alyssa Healy in the first over of the chase•ICC/Getty Images

Alyssa’s aggression = Udeshika’s reward

Sri Lanka were under the pump when they conceded eight runs off the first three legal deliveries of the Australia innings, but Udeshika Prabodhani had the perfect response. Her fourth ball was on a length and angled in, and Alyssa Healy shaped up for the leg-side flick, but the ball held its line and beat her completely to find off stump. Prabodhani closed out the over without conceding another run, and from nowhere, Sri Lanka were in the contest.

Beth bosses it

When Wareham was run-out in the third over and Ellyse Perry was bowled, the match teetered on an upset. But then, there was Beth Mooney. Arguably the best chaser in the women’s game, she took her time upfront and found her first boundary after the powerplay, when Inoshi Priyadarshani offered a full ball down leg, and Mooney paddled it fine for four.She was into her work when she sent Sugandika Kumari over mid-on for four, which reduced the runs required to under 50. In typically responsible fashion, Mooney was there at the end, unbeaten on 43, and hit the winning run in the 15th over.

Celtic have made a habit out of buying and developing and selling on young talent over the years, as they have made millions in profit through player trading.

The likes of Matt O’Riley, Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele, and Virgil van Dijk, among many others, have come and gone thanks to the club’s excellent recruitment work.

Whilst they have had success in plucking players out of top European countries, like van Dijk from the Netherlands or Dembele and O’Riley from England, they have also had success in snapping up talent from more obscure leagues.

For example, Celtic signed Kristoffer Ajer as a 17-year-old for £650k from Norwegian side Start, before they went on to sell him to Brentford for a reported fee of £13.5m.

The Hoops plucked the teenage talent up and sent him out on loan, to Kilmarnock, before integrating him into the first-team to develop into a £13.5m player, and they could repeat a similar trick with their interest in a midfielder this summer.

Celtic enquire about deal for Serbian midfielder

According to Cukaricki sporting director Vladimir Matijašević, Celtic have made contact over a potential deal to sign central midfielder Andrej Bacanin before the end of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “There’s significant interest in our young players, and right now the spotlight is on Andrej Bačanin’s transfer. His performances last season for both our team and the Serbian national side at youth level have drawn attention from numerous clubs.

“We’ve had enquiries from Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers, and clubs like Ajax and Udinese are also interested, among others. It’s possible more options will emerge, but I expect the transfer to be completed within the next ten days.”

This shows that the Hoops are interested in the 18-year-old talent, who could arrive at Parkhead to follow a similar path to success in Scotland as Ajer.

Why Celtic should sign Andrej Bacanin

The Scottish Premiership giants should push to win the race for the teenage starlet’s signature this summer because he could be a future star for the club.

At the age of 18, Bacanin should not be expected to arrive as an immediate first-team star, as he only just made his breakthrough at senior level in Serbia in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Instead, the Serbia U19 international could follow Ajer’s path by joining another Premiership team, or a club in another country, on loan to continue his development, before making the step to Brendan Rodgers’ team further down the line.

Although he may not be ready to make an instant impact in Glasgow for Celtic, his performances in the Serbian Superliga show that he does have potential.

Appearances

17

Starts

10

Goals

1

Assists

2

Tackles per 90

2.3

Interceptions per 90

1.8

Error led to goal

0

Penalties committed

0

As you can see in the table above, Bacanin offered a screening presence in front of the back four when he played, averaging 4.1 tackles and interceptions per 90 in the division.

Meanwhile, no central midfielder for Celtic managed more than 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game, which suggests that the Serbian youngster could offer a defensive midfield option that Rodgers does not currently have.

As was the case with Ajer, though, Bacanin will need to be playing games week-in-week-out to hone his skills and develop as a player, which is why bringing the young whiz in before sending him out on loan could be a shrewd move.

The Hoops could snap him up this summer, to ensure that their rivals do not steal a march of them, before sending him away to develop and improve, with the hope that he will come back a better player who is ready to make his mark on Parkhead in the 2026/27 campaign.

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Serbian Football Scout, who is a professional scout for MLS side Colorado Rapids, previously dubbed Bacanin a “true midfield controller”, and he could control games for Celtic in the future, if they get this deal done.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now in talks over a deal to sign a “powerful” defender, and they are in a strong position to win the race for his signature, according to a report.

Wolves looking to bolster defensive options

Wolves were vulnerable defensively for large parts of the 2024-25 campaign, particularly struggling to prevent their opponents scoring from set-pieces, and they have now set out to upgrade their backline this summer.

Several targets have been identified at centre-back, including Udinese’s Thomas Kristensen and Christopher Wooh, while Vitor Pereira may also be required to bring in a new right-back, with Nelson Semedo still yet to commit to a new contract.

Wolves battle to sign versatile £17m+ star who created 22 chances in 24/25

The Old Gold are ready to ramp up their pursuit.

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The Old Gold are still working on keeping Semedo at Molineux, with a new deal being offered, but the full-back is yet to give them an answer, amid interest from Manchester United, who have held internal talks over a move for the 31-year-old.

As such, Pereira may also be eager to get a new right-back through the door this summer, and Wolves are one of two clubs best positioned to sign Almeria’s Marc Pubill, according to a report from Marca (via Sport Witness).

Talks have been opened over a deal for Pubill, with Almeria looking to receive a fee of €15m (£13m) after failing to achieve their goal of promotion to La Liga last season, and the next few days will be key in terms of his future.

The defender is said to be considering offers from both AC Milan and the Old Gold, indicating that a proposal of sorts has already been made by the Premier League club, and he now has a big decision to make.

"Powerful" Pubill could be solid long-term Semedo heir

Of course, everyone at Wolves will be hoping that Semedo commits his future to the club, given that the right-back remained a key player last season, making 34 Premier League appearances, but the Almeria full-back could be a solid long-term replacement.

Perhaps most notably, the Spaniard is an Olympic gold medallist, having been a part of the squad that was crowned champions at Paris 2024, scoring his side’s first goal in the competition.

The 22-year-old is not afraid to push further up the pitch and contribute going forward, as pointed out by football scout Ben Mattinson, who described him as “marauding” earlier this month.

Pubill’s exploits for his country indicate that he could be a fantastic signing for Wolves, capable of making an instant impact at Molineux, and at £13m, a deal for the full-back would not break the bank.

He will re-unite with Dravid, not long after they lifted the T20 World Cup this year

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2024Vikram Rathour, the former India batting coach, will once again team up with Rahul Dravid as he joins the support staff at Rajasthan Royals in a similar capacity. Dravid was named the RR head coach earlier this month.Rathour’s association comes on the back of a five-year stint with the Indian team, where he worked alongside Ravi Shastri and later Dravid. In June, Rathour’s contract ended soon after India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.”Having worked closely with Vikram for many years, I can confidently say that his technical expertise, calm demeanor, and deep understanding of Indian conditions make him a perfect fit for the Royals,” Dravid said in a statement.Related

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“Together, we’ve built a strong rapport, guiding India to key successes, and I’m thrilled to reunite with him. His ability to nurture young talent and elevate players’ potential will be invaluable as we aim to further strengthen our squad and continue building a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals.”This will be Rathour’s second IPL stint, having earlier been part of the coaching set up at Punjab Kings. He has also been the director of cricket at Himachal Pradesh previously.Earlier this month, Rathour was part of New Zealand’s coaching set-up as batting consultant in Greater Noida, as part of their preparation for six Tests they were to play in Asia.”The opportunity to work again with Rahul, and now with a talented group of young cricketers, is hugely exciting,” Rathour said. “I look forward to contributing to the team’s vision and working toward our goal of developing top-class players for the Royals and for India which can help in winning championships.”Back in the day, Rathour was a prolific scorer for Punjab, scoring a majority of his 11,473 first-class runs for them. His international career was very brief; he played six Tests and seven ODIs between 1996 and 1997.

Celtic are in the market for more signings this summer and may have landed a boost in their pursuit of a key target, according to recent developments.

Brendan Rodgers quells Celtic transfer concerns

Since Celtic announced former Kawasaki Frontale forward Shin Yamada as their latest signing, there has been little in the way of rumours on incomings surrounding the Scottish Premiership champions.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers is confident the Hoops can strengthen before the window is out, claiming that his side will act to replace the presence of Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn in attack.

He stated: “I’m not really fixated on, ‘I need £10m, £15m or whatever’ – I just need quality players. That is about opportunity and seeing the right players with the right value. The market is complicated, especially when you are trying to get of the level we would like.

“We all know we’ve lost goals and would love to replace it with quality. The market is not as easy as it may seem but I am very confident as a club we will bring in the right players.”

One story that has come to the surface is Celtic’s pursuit of FK Cukaricki midfielder Andrej Bacanin, who is also being tracked by Rangers, Udinese and Ajax following a series of encouraging displays in his homeland.

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Furthermore, the Bhoys have saw a £1.5 million bid turned down for Go Ahead Eagles star Jakob Bruem. Putting a spanner in the works, he is reportedly valued at £5 million.

With plenty of stories beginning to escalate, Celtic have now received a clear indication that one of their targets has his heart fully set on a move to Parkhead.

Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha wants move to Celtic Park

According to the Daily Record’s Scott Burns, Royal Antwerp ‘know’ winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha wants to move to Celtic as direct discussions continue to take place over a potential cut-price deal.

Sporting director Marc Overmars is ‘reluctant’ to climb down from his £5 million asking price, but he knows that the Belgian Pro League club may need to offload the 24-year-old this summer to avoid losing him for free when his contract expires in 2026.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s injury hit 2024/25 campaign

Appearances

18

Goals

4

Assists

3

Dubbed a “technically sharp wide option” by scout Will Glavin, Balikwisha has been on Celtic’s radar for quite some time and could also be joined by another striker and a midfield arrival should he make the move to the Scottish Premiership.

Marco Tilio and Luis Palma’s recent loan departures have left Daizen Maeda, James Forrest and Hyunjun Yang as the only recognised wingers at the club and Rodgers’ variety in the final third is dwindling ahead of his side’s league opener against St Mirren next weekend.

Balikwisha is a known commodity among the corridors of influence at Parkhead, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this one pick up over the next few days.