Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are reportedly "in a hurry to close" one move for a standout starlet as Spurs prepare to bid for him.

Postecoglou requests new centre-back at Spurs

Following manager Ange Postecoglou's incredible start to the Premier League campaign, where they won eight out of a possible ten top flight matches at one point, Spurs went on a downward spiral after a series of key injuries.

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Micky van de Ven pulled up with a hamstring problem in Tottenham's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in early November, and Cristian Romero's suspension meant Postecoglou was left without both of his first choice centre-backs.

The north Londoners went on to lose four out of a possible five, before finally breaking that streak with a recent thrashing of Newcastle. While Romero is back and available again, Postecoglou was forced to play both Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as the makeshift centre-back pairing for a time.

Levy and Tottenham's boss will be keen to avoid a repeat of that, so it's reported that Spurs are prioritising the signing of a new centre-back in January. The Lilywhites are believed to have even already opened talks to sign Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

Publicly, Spurs' head coach has admitted to British media that he quite simply needs new centre-back options.

"Centre-back is still a position where, especially in our structure, it is one of the few positions where you need guys with outstanding attributes in there," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's defence (via football.london).

"We’ve been very fortunate that he [Davies] has been able to fill in for us there. He’s really good at taking in information, he really understands the game, not just his own role but how we want to play and that’s helped him.

"Having Romero next to him helps in that sense and Vic because he’s taken a bit of a leadership role back there as well. Ultimately, we still need to sign another centre-back because at the moment we are a little bit on tenterhooks because if something happens again we are short and we are already short."

As well as the likes of Todibo, Genoa star Radu Dragusin is still being linked despite his proposed new deal with the club.

Spurs "in a hurry to close" Dragusin move

Italian news outlet Fantacalcio have an update on the Romanian's potential move to Tottenham. Indeed, they claim Spurs would be in a hurry to close a deal for Dragusin and are preparing an offer to sign the Genoa starlet next month.

Radu Dragusin's best performances – 2023/2024	Match Rating (via WhoScored)
Genoa 1-0 Verona	7.60
Genoa 4-1 Roma	7.56
Genoa 1-0 Salernitana	7.50
Lazio 0-1 Genoa	7.45
Torino 1-0 Genoa	6.96

The 21-year-old, who's been called a "rising star" of Serie A (Mazhar Abbas), is also attracting interest from clubs in Italy but it is Levy and co who would apparently have no trouble paying his asking price.

Dragusin has been a crucial mainstay of Alberto Gilardino's side this season, starting 16 Serie A game and putting in some big performances.

The January transfer window slams shut in a little over a week and Arsenal are reportedly looking to snap up a player from one of their Premier League rivals.

Arsenal considering second attempt at Wolves star

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have set their sights on a move to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Rayan Ait-Nouri to bolster the club's options at the back. The Gunners had a bid rejected for Ait-Nouri last week, with Liverpool also lurking with an interest.

Now, according to Football Insider, Edu and co are "considering" another swoop to sign the Algeria international before the end of the window, or could simply lay the groundwork to get it done in the summer. He is currently under contract through to the end of the 2025/26 campaign and Wolves have an option to extend that by 12 months, which means that they are in control of the situation and under no pressure to cash in.

The report claims that Arsenal and Liverpool continue to monitor his situation at the Molineux as they eye him up as a possible addition to their respective squads. However, it states that Ait-Nouri is likely to remain with the Old Gold beyond February's deadline day and that a summer switch is more likely. The Gunners, and Jurgen Klopp's side, are equipping themselves for a battle at the end of the season as Edu attempts to improve Arteta's full-back options.

Ben White

£50.2m

Brighton

Jurrien Timber

£34.3m

Ajax

Oleksandr Zinchenko

£30m

Manchester City

Kieran Tierney

£23.2m

Celtic

Jakub Kiwior

£21.4m

Spezia

There is no mention this time of how much Wolves would demand for the defender, but the previous report of a rejected bid claimed it would take £50m to tempt Wolves into selling the versatile left-back, whether that is in January or the summer. It now remains to be seen who will be willing to make the first move out of Arsenal and Liverpool in the race to sign Gary O'Neil's impressive ace.

Ait-Nouri's Premier League form is outstanding

One of the reasons why Edu and Arteta may be considering a swoop for Ait-Nouri is that he is a proven Premier League performer who would not need any time to adapt to the rigours of English football. The Algerian whiz, who was hailed as "underrated" by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 82 top-flight appearances for the Old Gold since his move to England from Angers, initially on loan, ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

He is a dynamic and progressive left-back, as evidenced by his exceptional assist in the clip below, who could help the Gunners with his play in possession, and he is also versatile enough to play further up in a back five, as well as slot in on the left side of a back three if needs must.

In the Premier League this season, Ait-Nouri ranks within the top 15% of his positional peers for non-penalty Expected Goals (npxG) and Expected Assisted Goals combined per 90 (0.17), as well as for shot-creating actions per 90 (2.43), which speaks to his attacking quality.

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The 22-year-old dynamo, impressively, ranks in the top 1% of Premier League full-backs for successful take-ons per 90 (2.36) and this suggests that he could be particularly effective at bypassing the opposition's press to then release the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in space down the left flank.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo vem fazendo uma boa campanha no Brasileiro Feminino Sub-18. Semifinalista da competição, o Tricolor bateu o Internacional por 3 a 1, no jogo de ida, fora de casa, e agora enfrenta as Coloradasna próxima segunda-feira (08), às 15h, no CFA Laudo Natel, em Cotia.

ATUAÇÕES: Coletivo funciona na goleada do São Paulo em Limeira

Uma das destaques do time é a camisa dez e atacante Giovaninha. Artilheira do time na competição com cinco gols, ela comemorou a boa fase e projetou sua volta ao time profissional, com apenas 18 anos.

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– É sempre muito importante marcar e mostrar evolução. Atacante precisa de gol e estou trabalhando forte para levar isso também para quando eu retornar ao profissional – afirmou a jogadora ao site oficial do São Paulo.

Neste ano, após uma temporada com a equipe principal, a atleta voltou a equipe de base para disputar o Brasileiro. Mais experiente, ela vem se destacando no torneio e sonha com o título da competição.

– Acredito que não só eu, mas todas as atletas almejam muito esse título, ainda mais por ser o único que não conseguimos conquistar com a base ainda. Estamos muito focadas para buscar essa vaga na final e ter a oportunidade de lutar novamente pelo título. Eu gostaria de fechar minha passagem na base com chave de ouro – finalizou.

It is fair to say that Erik ten Hag's penchant for bringing his former players to Manchester United hasn't gone particularly smoothly during his Old Trafford tenure thus far.

The Dutchman's first summer in charge saw him opt to reunite with both Lisandro Martinez and Antony, the South American duo having been part of the Ajax side that claimed title glory in both 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Despite issues with injury in the latter part of 2023, Martinez has arguably one of the club's "best signings" of recent years – according to Patrice Evra – although the same, sadly, cannot be said for Antony, who has scored just eight goals and contributed only three assists in 66 games following his £86m arrival.

After also utilising his Dutch connections to acquire the likes of Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst, the most recent summer window saw Ten Hag again seek out familiar faces in the form of Andre Onana and Sofyan Amrabat, the pair having played under the 53-year-old at Ajax and Utrecht, respectively.

Those two deals have gone largely the same way as Antony thus far, rather than Martinez, with Amrabat heading off to AFCON without anyone really noticing, after starting just seven Premier League games, while Onana produced a string of errors during the club's Champions League run – namely away to both Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.

To think then that United could yet again back the manager in his desire to sign another of his former assets may have alarm bells ringing, although one current target does at least boast a strong record under Ten Hag's watch.

Man Utd eyeing another Ajax star

As per a report from the Mirror last week, the Red Devils are believed to be interested in signing 21-year-old striker, Brian Brobbey from the Eredivisie outfit, with the club said to be 'keeping tabs' on the promising Dutchman.

The suggestion is that Ten Hag – who handed the forward his debut in Amsterdam – wants to sign a new marksman this month in order to provide competition to both Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial, although the club only have the means to pull off a loan deal.

That could then scupper any approach for Brobbey, who won't be allowed to depart on a temporary move, although if United can raise funds for a permanent approach, they would seemingly be able to snap up a player who turned them down back in the summer of 2022 – after returning to Ajax following a brief spell at RB Leipzig.

Brian Brobbey's record under Ten Hag

The last time that Brobbey opted to leave the Johan Cruyff Arena didn't exactly go to plan, as the 5 foot 11 marksman failed to score and provided only three assists in just 14 appearances during his time in Germany, having joined the Bundesliga side in 2021.

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While he ultimately failed to get going during that solitary half-season at Leipzig, home comforts have been kind to the Amsterdam native, as his record for the Dutch giants now stands at an impressive 40 goals in just 101 games in all competitions.

Also previously prolific in the youth ranks – notably scoring 37 goals in 41 games for Ajax's U19 side – Brobbey was handed the chance to impress at first-team level by Ten Hag in the 2020/21 season, going on to net six times in just 19 games.

Having also returned to work under the one-time Utrecht coach on loan for the second half of 2021/22, the in-demand talent then plundered a further seven goals in just 13 appearances, taking his overall tally under Ten Hag to 13 goals in just 32 games.

Brobbey's record under Ten Hag

Games

32

Goals

13

Assists

3

Minutes played

869

Starts

7

Minutes per goal

67

Stats via Transfermarkt.

Despite often finding himself behind the more experienced Sebastian Haller, the one-cap Netherlands international boasted an impressive scoring rate under the current United boss, bagging once every 67 minutes – while he has 13 goals in only 25 games this season.

Clearly a talent who fits smoothly into Ten Hag's system, there may be a sense of optimism that the £49k-per-week ace could follow in the footsteps of Martinez, rather than Antony, by flourishing at the Theatre of Dreams, particularly as he possesses the tools to be a menacing Premier League striker.

Brian Brobbey's style of play

Described as a "powerhouse" by U23 scout and journalist, Antonio Mango, Brobbey appears to have the attributes to be able to meet the physical challenge of leading the line in England's top flight, having been dubbed "The Brobbeast" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

His credentials to be a prolific Premier League number nine can also be seen by his likeness to one-time United man, Romelu Lukaku, with former Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann stating back in 2021:

"In regards to his physique and the way he plays, he is similar to Romelu Lukaku. And we would be happy if he can manage to become a player with the same qualities. But to paint a picture for the fans, you can definitely say that he is similar to Lukaku."

That likeness can also be seen by their current displays, with both men regularly looking to get in behind an opposing backline, with the Roma star ranking in the top 6% among his European peers for progressive passes received at an average of 8.76 per 90, while young Brobbey averages 8.63 in that regard.

Of course, Lukaku isn't too fondly remembered at Old Trafford due to his "woeful" finishing during his two-year spell at the club – as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst – although the towering Belgian is a proven goalscorer, even recording 42 goals in just 96 games for the Red Devils.

While the 30-year-old also underwhelmed following a £97.5m return to Chelsea in 2021 – scoring just eight league goals that season – at his best he certainly ran Premier League defences ragged, netting 121 times in 278 games in the competition.

If United could get their hands on that fit and firing version of Lukaku, in the form of his heir apparent, Brobbey, it could prove to be the perfect striking addition for a club that have scored the fourth fewest goals in the top-flight this season.

Erik ten Hag took a hilarious dig at Roy Keane after guiding Manchester United to FA Cup success on Saturday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ten Hag took a dig at Roy KeaneGuided United to FA Cup winDutch coach's future remains uncertainWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils rode on Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbiee Mainoo's first-half strikes to edge out rivals Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. After bagging the Carabao Cup in his maiden season at Old Trafford, under-fire Ten Hag has now added a second trophy to his collection.

Right after winning the title, Ten Hag spoke to United legend and ITV pundit Roy Keane and took a dig at the former club captain during a hilarious conversation.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPWHAT TEN HAG SAID ABOUT KEANE

As Ten Hag joined the ITV crew, Keane told the head coach: "You must be proud of them, we've always questioned players about their quality at Man United, but character and leadership. They showed character today – which I had questioned, and a lot of people have…you shouldn't listen to them pundits anyway! Take no notice of the pundits.

The Dutchman then responded by saying: "But you told me!" before Keane pointed at fellow pundits Ian Wright and Joleon Lescott and said: "No, them two!"

The United boss then took a dig at Keane's managerial career as he said: "You had trouble to manage a team!"

This led to Keane saying: "Ah, I won a Championship with Sunderland…give me some praise, ah come on! You're too harsh on me!"

The manager then tried to explain his statement by saying: "What I said to you," before the pundit interrupted by saying: "I agree."

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GOAL/GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite the win over City, the 54-year-old's future at Old Trafford remains unclear as the club have reportedly identified Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna as his successor. INEOS chief and United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was asked but the coach's future after the game, however, he remained tight-lipped on the topic.

رفع الفرنسي كيليان مبابي، مهاجم ريال مدريد، رصيده في جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2024-2025.

وتلاقى ريال مدريد مع ريال سوسيداد في مباراة بالجولة الخامسة لبطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

وسجل مبابي هدف ريال مدريد الثاني في المباراة من ركلة جزاء بالدقيقة 72، وكان فينيسيوس جونيور سجل الهدف الأول ومن ضربة جزاء أيضًا، في الدقيقة 58.

وأصبح رصيد مبابي 3 أهداف في الدوري الإسباني حتى الآن، خلف روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مهاجم برشلونة.

بينما تمكن لامين يامال، لاعب برشلونة، من تسجيل هدفين في مباراة برشلونة وجيرونا، في الجولة نفسها من الليجا، ليرتفع رصيده إلى 3 أهداف، بالتساوي مع مبابي. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني

1 روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، برشلونة، 4 أهداف.

2. كيليان مبابي، ريال مدريد، 3 أهداف.

3. لامين يامال، برشلونة، 3 أهداف.

4. رافينها، برشلونة، 3 أهداف.

5. أيوزي بيريز، فياريال، 3 أهداف.

6. خافي بوادو، إسبانيول، 3 أهداف.

7. بورخا إيجليسياس، سيلتا فيجو، 3 أهداف.

8. داني أولمو، برشلونة، 3 أهداف.

9. فينيسيوس جونيور، ريال مدريد، هدفان.

10. ماركوس يورينتي، أتلتيكو مدريد، هدفان.

11. خوان كروز، ليجانيس، هدفان.

12. أرنوت جروينفيلد، فياريال، هدفان.

ويمكنك مطالعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني بشكل محدث من هنا.

Stevie Eskinazi’s first century in one-day cricket led Middlesex to a comfortable six-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Lord’s.In the week he qualified through residency to represent England, the South African-born 25 year old – who also spent time playing for youth sides in Australia – struck a mature 107 not out as he and England Lion Nick Gubbins shared an unbroken stand of 184. Their partnership eclipsed the team’s competition record for the fifth wicket set by Eoin Morgan and Neil Dexter against Surrey five years ago. Gubbins was 98 not out after striking the winning boundary.Given Middlesex’s success batting first in their opening-day win over Essex, Dawid Malan’s decision to bowl under a cloudless sky looked a curious one. There was early vindication, however, when Tim Murtagh brought one back off the seam to trap George Hankins lbw with just 11 runs on the board and it might have been worse for the visitors had Malan not spilled opposite number Chris Dent just one run later.The Gloucester skipper looked set to cash in on the reprieve, moving smoothly to 47 and sharing a 65-run stand with wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, only to throw his wicket away, top edging a pull shot off Toby Roland-Jones (2 for 59) into the hands of Tom Helm at long leg.Roderick (38) too failed to make the most of a good start when cutting one too close to him, John Simpson taking the catch behind the stumps.James Bracey (83) and Benny Howell, though, settled down to dominate the middle overs, the former endangering occupants of the Mound and Tavern stands where he deposited four sixes. Howell, meanwhile, proved the perfect foil, keeping the scoreboard ticking over as the pair shared a century stand at a little over a run a ball.At 212 for 4 with a little under 15 overs left, the men from the west Country looked set for a mammoth score, but Bracey faltered in sight of his century, smearing the excellent Murtagh to George Scott at deep cover.Howell (55) continued on to his own half-century but, like others before him, then departed, caught down the leg-side off a wayward delivery from Roland-Jones.Thereafter the innings lost its way, leaving Gloucestershire short of the 300-plus their start had suggested.Middlesex began strongly, two towering sixes from Paul Stirling helping them to 28 off three overs. However, the Ireland international’s dismissal to a lazy swish at a wide one from Matt Taylor sparked a slump.Simpson was caught and bowled by Daniel Worrall without troubling the scorers and when the in-form Malan drove the same bowler to short cover the hosts were 36 for 3.Morgan briefly led a counter-offensive, including a towering six, but when he was caught behind at 103 for 4 the visitors were well in charge. The robust cameo had put Middlesex ahead of the asking rate, meaning Eskinazi and Gubbins could rebuild patiently.Their 50-stand came in 41 balls with Eskinazi first to 50 from 48, before Gubbins achieved the landmark from one ball fewer. The 100 partnership came from 86 balls by which time the momentum had swung the way of the Londoners and, growing in confidence, Eskinazi eased to a century as the win came with 7.4 overs to spare.

Manchester United are in the market for squad improvements this month and one striker is believed to be "open" to a move to Old Trafford, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man United's hunt for new signings…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in the house for the first time on Sunday and witnessed the Red Devils draw 2-2 against a Tottenham Hotspur side ravaged by injury problems, which will have given the 71-year-old plenty of food for thought as he looks to improve the footballing culture at Old Trafford.

On the face of it, the INEOS businessman reflects a key figure who is keen to help Erik ten Hag plan for the long-term and integrate young players into a framework where they can become stars for many years to come at the Premier League giants. According to Football Insider, Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren has been earmarked as a target in a potential summer swoop.

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The report states that the Red Devils are "all over" the 18-year-old's situation, having made regular contact with his agency and could look to enact a swoop that may cost an initial £25 million, with various performances related add-ons driving the fee up to around the £50 million mark.

Benfica star Joao Neves is another option that Ten Hag's men are trying to lay the groundwork for in another pursuit that could start to accelerate later this year. Despite this, Roger Schmidt, who is the manager of the Portuguese giants, has confirmed that the 19-year-old will not be sold this month under any circumstances.

Nevertheless, United have also already made contact with an experienced striker who is open to a move back to England, according to a new report.

Eric Choupo-Moting open to Man United move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, transfer insider Romano has indicated that Bayern Munich striker Eric Choupo-Moting would be "open" to joining Manchester United this month.

Previous reports have suggested contact has taken place between the Red Devils and his representatives over a move. Stuttgart poacher Serhou Guirassy and Donyell Malen of Borussia Dortmund's agents have also been spoken to.

Eric Choupo-Moting's key statistics in 2023/24 – Bundesliga (Sofascore)

Shots per game

1.2

Shots on target per game

0.7

Expected goals

3.90

Big chances missed

6

Goal conversion

11%

Average match rating

6.88/10

Romano told the outlet: "Yeah, I think he will be open to that. I'm also hearing that at Bayern Munich they're very happy with him because he's been super professional every time they needed him, he's always been on point and always been available in the best conditions."

"Bayern would like to keep him, even though they have Harry Kane, because Mathys Tel is very young, he's doing fantastic but he's very young."

Labelled "great" by former manager Julian Nagelsmann, the 34-year-old has made 20 appearances across all competitions this campaign, registering three goals in the process (Choupo-Moting statistics – Transfermarkt).

Despite not outwardly resembling an eye-catching mid-season signing, the former Stoke City man could offer some handy expertise in attack for the remainder of the campaign, alongside providing reliable cover for Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial, making this one to watch as a short-term solution.

The Manchester United outcast has given a timely reminder of what he can do on the biggest stage, and he could be worth the risk for the Three Lions

The task of picking a 26-man England squad for the European Championship will have been difficult enough for Gareth Southgate given the wealth of talent at his disposal, but a resurgent Jadon Sancho will have given him another headache. Having put a miserable spell at Manchester United behind him, the winger has rediscovered his confidence back on his old stomping ground on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

Granted, the 24-year-old has not hit the heights of the season that convinced United to shell out £73 million ($93m) to take him to Old Trafford in 2021, with a fairly modest return of three goals and three assists since returning to Germany, but he has caught the eye when it mattered most.

Sancho's outstanding Champions League semi-final display against Paris Saint-Germain will surely be lingering in the back of Southgate's mind when he sits down to finalise his selection, and there is a case to be made for him to go to Euro 2024 as a wildcard option. Under the lights at Signal Iduna Park, he looked like a man hell-bent on proving a point.

• Getty
  

  Champions League masterclass

  The main reason Sancho may have squeezed back into the frame for a place in Southgate's squad is a masterful individual performance on club football's biggest stage; with the world watching as favourites Paris Saint-Germain arrived in town for a Champions League semi-final first leg on May 1, Sancho was immense.

  The winger tormented his full-back Nuno Mendes all night long, completing the most dribbles by an English player in the Champions League since 's records began (12). He became the first player since Lionel Messi in 2008 to complete more than 11 take-ons in a Champions League semi-final, and he won the most duels (13) and created the most chances (three).

  Underdogs Dortmund would go on to win the game 1-0 and completed the job in Paris to reach an unlikely Champions League final, where Sancho will have an incredible opportunity to prove his worth to his country in colossal encounter that will be played out under the Wembley arch. His semi-final first-leg display is one that put the world on notice, and Southgate must surely have been impressed.

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• Getty
  

  'Game by game'

  Sancho predictably wasn't called up for England's March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, in what was Southgate's final opportunity to analyse the players available to him before picking his 26-man squad for the European Championship.

  That omission was considered to be telling for Sancho and the other overlooked players on the fringes of the Three Lions setup, with Southgate usually hesitant to spring a surprise or take a big risk when it comes to decision time.

  The Manchester United loanee will know, then, that his chances of sneaking onto the plane to Germany are slim, but he isn't giving up hope. Asked about his Euro 2024 hopes after running the show against PSG in Dortmund, he said: "I take it game by game and performances like today I hope it carries on."

• Getty Images
  

  Monumental failure

  However, Sancho's failed spell at United and acrimonious exit could feasibly override any of the good work he has done during his return to Dortmund, with Southgate likely acutely aware of his history of indiscipline.

  The attacker underwhelmed massively in his debut season at Old Trafford following his blockbuster transfer in the summer of 2021, with his eight goal contributions paling in comparison to the 36 he managed in his final season in Germany. A strong start to his second campaign was then derailed by physical and mental health issues, as he was removed from the squad altogether for a number of months.

  This season, a very public falling-out with Erik ten Hag has proven to be the death knell for his time at the club. Sancho reacted angrily after being left out of the squad that travelled to face Arsenal in September, and he was subsequently exiled from the first team. He has not played a minute for the Red Devils since, securing a loan return to Dortmund in January.

  It is said Sancho had issues with lateness throughout his time at United, while his application was also called into question. Speaking after his move in January, Ten Hag said: "So after he was signed, one year before (I was here), and there were issues. We have had issues all the way through, and so you can make out his stay at Manchester United so far is not a success."

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• Getty
  

  Southgate's Bundesliga problem

  Although he risks contradicting himself with his captain Harry Kane now starring for Bayern Munich, Southgate has also been hesitant to lean heavily on players from the Bundesliga in the past, waiting some time before making now-key man Jude Bellingham a regular starter and using Sancho sparingly after his debut in 2018.

  Speaking about the German top flight in 2022, the England boss said: "The league is definitely a brilliant league for young players and coaches to develop, but of course the standard of the Premier League is undoubtedly higher."

  He made similar comments in reference to Sancho amid his initial struggles at United in 2021. "With Jadon, I’m not surprised," he said. "The Bundesliga is totally different, Dortmund is a big club but Manchester United is one of the biggest in the world. You’re not going to get the goals and assists numbers anywhere near in our league, that you are in the Bundesliga."

The Chennai Super Kings batsman struck form after a lean season and lauded Dhoni’s support at the crease against Delhi Capitals

Sruthi Ravindranath in Chennai02-May-20195:56

Important to rotate strike and play smartly in Chennai – Raina

Nearly all the accolades, on social media and on commentary, after Wednesday’s match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals were reserved for MS Dhoni. The 80-run Super Kings win had it all, when it came to Dhoni: smart captaincy moves, the now-familiar boundary hitting at the death and the blink-and-you-miss-it stumpings. He was named Player of the Match. But he did not steal all the thunder this time. Two old Super Kings hands delivered after a long wait. Suresh Raina scored a well-crafted 37-ball 59 and Ravindra Jadeja’s abilities were on full display, too: a 10-ball 25, returns of 3 for 9 and athleticism on the field.At Super Kings’ den at Chepauk, it is Raina who is the crowd’s favourite after Dhoni, the to Dhoni’s . The cheers Dhoni gets at Chepauk are unmatched, but the only other player who gets close is Raina. He is the highest run-scorer for Super Kings and has consistently been among the top run-getters in nearly every season. This year, however, things have been quite different. Before the match against Capitals, Raina had made 247 runs in 12 games, with one half-century. In the two matches he captained, he looked out of sorts and fell cheaply. Under his captaincy, they lost their first home game of the season.Moreover, there have been questions on the Super Kings’ performances without Dhoni. They have been heavily reliant on their captain, who has done the bulk of the scoring this season. Raina, his deputy, stepped in as captain for two matches but was unsuccessful and there were doubts on whether Raina was feeling the heat without Dhoni.BCCIOn Wednesday, Raina addressed these questions with the bat, and later, at the press conference.”I think I’ve done well for Gujarat Lions as well as a few games for India,” Raina said after the match. “Losing him [Dhoni] as a captain is not an issue, losing him as a batter is always difficult for us.”That’s what happened in those games we lost. He gives us a lot of freedom to play and when he enters, he creates pressure on the opposition. I’ve done well as a captain but I didn’t perform with the bat in those two games. When he’s not there in the team you see the difference. He’s done very well as a captain and a mentor. You’ll probably see me more next season when he says, ‘Okay, I’m done but now you look after.'”So has Dhoni given him any hint about the forthcoming season? “No, it’s not about the hint. It’s as long as he wants to play. You know how he is,” Raina said.And how does Dhoni’s captaincy affect Raina?”See, I’ve played for India under his captaincy, he knows my game, he knows how to plan in the middle overs. He tells me what to do there. He always gives the right sort of advice. Today I told him I felt confident against left-arm spinners, because [Amit] Mishra was bowling really well and he wasn’t giving me any flight with the ball, so I thought let’s take a chance and hit a couple of boundaries. I then told Dhoni ‘I’m going to go hard at him [left-arm spinner J Suchith] because I feel more confident’. He lets you play freely but at the same time gives advice about certain things, which is good to follow.”At the end of 10 overs against Capitals, Super Kings had 53 on the board and had lost Shane Watson for a duck. The Capitals’ spinners were taking control on a slow Chepauk surface but Raina began to change the tempo of the innings, by hitting J Suchith and Chris Morris for boundaries. Once Raina fell, Jadeja joined Dhoni at the crease, and his elevation to No. 5 seemed like another tactical move given Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav’s dip in form. That move paid off as the duo added 43 off 3.4 overs, and helped Super Kings amass 77 runs off the last overs to finish on 179.BCCI”My plan was to just play through the Powerplay,” Raina said. “They have a few spinners and good-quality fast bowlers. That was the plan, just to stick and rotate the strike. That’s what I was telling Faf too: ‘No need to block the ball. If you’re not getting it, just be in positive intent.’ That’s how he hit two sixes. I think it’s important to play smart cricket in Chennai. After every six overs, the game changes.”Super Kings’ concerns aren’t limited to Rayudu and Jadhav’s form. Openers Watson and Faf du Plessis also have just one half-century to their name. Raina believed this was due to the tough home conditions, with turning tracks in play at Chepauk since the start of the IPL.”Last year we played in two different venues. We played in Pune, where the climate was good, and now in Chennai. In Chennai, you need a lot of character especially when it comes to fitness. Mentally, your character has to be up all the time. You need to constantly rotate the strike. If you have wickets in hand you can always score those extra 30-40 runs and that’s what we did [against Capitals].”The weather has played a key role for us. Take Watson for instance, he played very well for us last year. This year here [in Chennai] he’s been getting good starts but has not been able to convert. But we’ve been bowling really well. This is the best bowling line-up we’ve been having for the last couple of years.”