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Manchester United have reportedly not given up of hope of striking a deal for Barcelona midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, despite the recent capture of Casemiro.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, the Red Devils are still in contact with the player’s representatives and are believed to still be ‘hopeful’ that a deal can be struck, even amid suggestion that the move is now dead in the water.

The report reveals that despite the £70m addition of Real Madrid icon Casemiro, the Dutchman remains the ‘number one objective’ for manager Erik ten Hag this summer, with United having previously agreed an €85m (£72m) fee with the Catalan giants back in July.

As per the report, the move has subsequently been held up by the issue regarding deferred wages at the Camp Nou, with the La Liga outfit seemingly demanding that the 25-year-old reduce his salary or be sold.

The piece adds that the Premier League side ‘firmly believe’ that the 44-cap maestro will make the move to England once those issues over earnings are sorted, despite ongoing rumours that the playmaker is reluctant to join the club.

Murtough masterclass

Despite concrete rumours regarding De Jong having first emerged as far back as early May, the former Ajax man appears no closer to making the move at present, with it having been yet another long, drawn-out transfer saga involving United.

Should this latest report be believed, however, all hope is not yet lost, with technical director John Murtough potentially able to pull off a late transfer masterclass if he can get the 5 foot 11 ace through the door before the window slams shut.

Although there is obvious frustration on all sides at the protracted nature of the deal, any ill will would seemingly quickly evaporate if the switch could be completed between now and 1 September, such is the quality of the individual.

The “incredible” talent – as described by national team coach Louis Van Gaal – is simply a master with the ball at his feet, possessing an innate ability to drive forward from deep as well as initiate attacks with an incisive forward pass.

That is evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 6% for progressive passes received among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, with it unsurprising why Ten Hag is so desperate to secure a reunion with his former asset.

Despite the growing frustration over the lack of movement in the deal, the 51-year-old has repeatedly stressed his desire to sign the “right” players rather than those who are simply available on the market, with that no doubt a commendable approach to avoid a repeat of the scattergun dealings of the recent past.

It has become something of a gruelling and potentially “humiliating” situation for the club  – in the words of pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – regarding De Jong, yet what a coup it would be if Murtough could pull off a shock swoop late in the day and get the deal over the line.

Arsenal are ‘genuinely looking’ to sign a new winger before deadline day on September 1, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Yet to find their man

Edu has already been busy this window, digging deep in his pockets to secure five new additions, including Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Premier League rivals Manchester City, but the transfer guru isn’t finished there.

The Gunners have been linked with a number of wide players in recent weeks from the likes of Raphinha, who has now joined Barcelona, to Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, though progress on that front is yet to surface.

The Latest: Arsenal’s winger search

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones revealed that Arsenal are indeed plotting to bring in a new winger ahead of the window closing, but said that they won’t force a deal.

“Arsenal are genuinely looking at options here, but it has to be the right fit. They can’t get this one wrong because they’ve already got a good set of attackers and they’ve got to complement them rather than rock the boat.”

The Verdict: Diaby is the perfect candidate

It yet remains to be seen whether Arsenal have any particular targets in mind, but one individual whose name has cropped up most recently is Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby.

The Frenchman was in fine form for the Bundesliga giants last season, clocking up a remarkable 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, via Transfermarkt, and can play down both flanks.

These kinds of figures and versatility will be very appealing to Mikel Arteta, and if he was to put pen to paper, the Frenchman could prove to be a revelation at the Emirates.

Nottingham Forest are on the verge of completing the signing of Stuttgart midfielder Orel Mangala, journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Mangala strongly linked with move

On Monday, the Reds were strongly linked with sealing a deal for the 24-year-old, as Steve Cooper looks for another midfield signing after Jesse Lingard.

It was claimed that it was only a matter of time until the move was sorted, with Mangala free to leave Stuttgart after making 28 appearances in the Bundesliga last season.

Now, it looks as though he could be a Forest player in a matter of hours, rather than days.

The Latest: Transfer nearly complete

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday morning, Romano provided an exciting update, saying Mangala is indeed set to join the Reds imminently and outlining the details of the transfer:

“Nottingham Forest are set to sign Orel Mangala from Stuttgart, here we go. Full agreement reached, as first called by Florian Plettenberg – deal now completed.

“More details: £12.75m fixed fee, £3/4m add-ons. Been told sell-on clause also included around 12/14%.”

The Verdict: Another shrewd acquisition

Midfield was always an area that needed strengthening ahead of Forest’s return to the Premier League, considering the calibre of players that exist in the top flight.

Cooper has delivered emphatically on that, bringing in the youthful Lewis O’Brien and hugely experienced Lingard, and now seemingly also adding Mangala to his squad in what represents a shrewd signing.

Mangala has one cap to his name for Belgium’s golden generation and will hope to feature at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, while a total of 72 Bundesliga appearances is proof that he can cut it at the top level.

Celtic centre-back Christopher Jullien still looks likely to complete an exit from Parkhead this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Jullien’s injury-plagued career

The Frenchman has suffered cruel luck in the injury department in recent years, with his progress hampered hugely by ongoing fitness problems.

Jullien made just one appearance for Celtic in the whole of last season, coming in the Scottish Cup, and Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt have forged a strong centre-back pairing in his absence.

The 29-year-old’s current Hoops deal expires next summer, so now is the last opportunity for the club to earn a fee for offloading him, amid reported interest from clubs in his homeland.

The Latest: Joseph discusses Celtic exit for Jullien

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Joseph claimed that there is still plenty of interest in Jullien ahead of a possible exit from Celtic.

The reporter stated:

“I think Celtic were expecting clubs to come in for Jullien, they knew there was interest in Germany and France. I think there’s still interest in France in particular.”

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

It makes total sense for all parties for Jullien to depart Celtic this summer, getting him off their wage bill but also allowing him to be a key player elsewhere.

Neil Lennon once described the defender as ‘excellent’, and had it not been for injuries, there is every chance that the Frenchman would have become a formidable player for the Hoops.

A summer exit would allow him to move on at the right time and then let Ange Postecoglou sign a less injury-prone centre-back as a strong squad option, such as Celtic-linked Tottenham ace Japhet Tanganga.

Wolves have been credited with an interest in Mario Vuskovic recently and the Hamburg centre-back could be the ideal man to replace Romain Saiss in Bruno Lage’s side next season.

According to Sky Germany, Wolves are keen on signing the 20-year-old after his impressive performances with the Bundesliga.2 side last season.

Despite only exercising their option to buy the defender for £2.7m in March, the German side are seemingly looking to make a quick profit on the young defender, with the report from Sky Germany claiming that they value him at around £8.6m.

Although he is only 20, Vuskovic has already amassed 76 senior appearances for Hadjuk Split and Hamburg SV, while he is also a regular in the Croatia U21 side, so could be a solid addition to Lage’s backline next season.

The Old Gold are still yet to make a signing this summer and with the season set to kick off in less than a month, supporters will be desperate for some new additions, especially after a disappointing end to last season.

Wolves’ success in the early part of the last campaign was built on a strong defence, and Saiss was a big part of that, making 31 appearances in the top-flight and averaging a strong 6.84 rating from WhoScored for his appearances.

If Lage is going to stick with playing three centre-backs again next season, then another signing is needed to support Conor Coady and Max Kilman in Wolves’ backline, and Vuskovic could represent an excellent long-term option for the Old Gold.

At 6 foot 2, he is unlikely to struggle with the physicality of the Premier League, and £8.6m could prove to be a bargain if he can adjust quickly and live up to his obvious potential.

BBC contributor and podcaster Dave Azzopardi was full of praise for the centre-back recently, suggesting he was “very highly rated” by those at Hamburg and given Wolves’ need for new signings, the Croatian should be a priority for Lage this summer, as he could slot in on the left-hand side of the defence to fill the gap left by Saiss’ departure.

And, in other news… Lage plotting game-changing Wolves bid for £22.5m-rated star, he’s “one of the best”

Celtic youngster Karamoko Dembele is attracting interest from Ligue 1 side Brest, according to a report in the last 48 hours from French outlet Foot Mercato. 

The lowdown: Teenage sensation

Following a debut in a 2–1 victory against Hearts when aged just 16, the fledgeling teenager has remained on the periphery of the Hoops’ squad ever since.

In the time that has passed the England and Scotland youth international has made nine further first-team outings for the Glasgow giants, opening his account in a 4-0 victory over St. Johnstone last year.

Now, as Dembele’s contract heads steadfast towards its conclusion at the end of the month (Transfermarkt), one potential suitor has emerged from the ether…

The latest: Brest keen

As per Foot Mercato, Brest are ‘one of the options’ for the one-cap England Under 18 starlet.

It’s claimed that the French top-flight outfit are ‘well placed’ to add Dembele – who was hailed as ‘exceptionally good’ by Dutch legend Ruud Gullit – to their squad this summer.

The report definitively states that the London-born ace’s future lies ‘elsewhere’ having spent four years a part of the setup at Lennoxtown.

The verdict: Another one?

Despite failing to make the desired impact after bursting onto the scene, Dembele remains a supremely talented individual with plenty to offer moving forwards, proven by playing a pivotal role in the Bhoys’ development side.

There has been a worrying trend developing in recent times as some of the most prodigious, highly thought of talents – such as now Liverpool revelation Ben Doak – move away from Celtic Park before they’ve had the chance to truly blossom.

In order to address the problem, the Hoops and Ange Postecoglou need to show that there is a pathway to first-team action for those nurtured in Glasgow so that the club can maintain a nucleus of its best homegrown youngsters for a longer period of time.

As for Dembele, after making just two appearances during an injury-ravaged 2021/22, it may bear out that the £225,000-valued winger was unlikely to make the grade at the Scottish Premiership champions anyway – time will tell.

Newcastle United have continued talks with Manchester United over signing Dean Henderson, as per 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Goalkeeper pursuit

According to a report by the Daily Mail from 21 March, the Magpies had drawn up a list of potential goalkeeper targets ahead of the summer transfer window, with Eddie Howe keen to increase competition for first-choice Martin Dubravka.

Old Trafford shot-stopper Henderson was linked with a move to St James’ Park in January, with the 25-year-old having failed to dislodge David de Gea as the Red Devils’ first-choice. However, negotiations were swiftly concluded when the Manchester club raised the possibility of Dubravka going in the opposite direction.

The Latest: Henderson talks continue

Taking to Twitter, Bailey has shared the latest news on the Magpies’ pursuit of Henderson, claiming: “Newcastle continue talks with Man Utd over Dean Henderson.”

In the corresponding 90min article, he reported that the Tyneside club are long-term admirers of the former Sheffield United loanee, with the goalkeeper having made it clear that he wants to play regular first-team football.

It is understood that negotiations have yet to determine whether an agreement will involve a permanent transfer or a loan move.

The Verdict: Good move for Henderson

With Henderson having failed to play a single minute of Premier League football across the entire 2021/22 campaign, the 25-year-old will need to move elsewhere if he is to establish himself as a potential England number one.

Newcastle could be the perfect destination to achieve that mission, given the club’s huge ambition and upwards trajectory.

From Howe’s perspective, the Magpies will be getting an up-and-coming young prospect, who former Blades teammate Sander Berge labelled “exceptional”.

However, with Henderson’s contract set to run until 2025, Newcastle may be quoted a substantial fee by Erik ten Hag’s side; and with the player’s current £120,000 weekly wage topping Dubravka’s reported £38,000 per week, this won’t be a cheap deal for PIF to get over the line.

In other news: Magpies make offer for this Serie A gem

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is now ‘ready to pursue’ an agreement as he eyes a ‘sensational’ new transfer target, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Guardiola set for overhaul?

Erling Haaland’s summer signing from Borussia Dortmund ahead of City’s next Premier League campaign appears to be the tip of the iceberg going by recent claims.

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Guardiola is believed to be on the hunt for more new additions as the English champions ahead of the 2022/2023 season, including an heir to the departing Fernandinho and a possible new left-back.

Despite being in the midst of a fierce title battle with rivals Liverpool, with a crucial last remaining matchday set to determine the victor, Eastlands officials have allegedly started their transfer work behind-the-scenes.

The Daily Mail and journalist Dominic King, sharing some news, now have an interesting City development as they eye a new target in Brighton defender Marc Cucurella.

The Latest: King makes Cucurella claim…

As per The Mail reporter, taking to Twitter, the Sky Blues and Guardiola are ‘ready to pursue a £30m deal’ for the Seagulls star as they seek to solve their left-back issue.

Despite the phenomenal form of Joao Cancelo, who can operate on that flank, his natural position is on the right and City’s boss allegedly wants a natural left-footer on that side for ‘balance’ – as written in the report.

The Verdict: Priority?

As well as Cancelo, Guardiola has a brilliant makeshift option in Oleksandr Zinchenko at his disposal who has proven reliable and an underrated member of the team over these last few campaigns.

His regrettable most recent display away to West Ham aside, the Ukraine international is often a more-than capable deputy when called upon and we believe signing a left-back is more of a problem for the future.

That being said, Cucurella may well be one to monitor over the next couple of seasons.

The Spaniard, still just 23-years-old, has impressed in England since joining Brighton from Getafe last summer and no full-back has won possession more times over 21/22.

Called a ‘sensational player’ by members of the media (Josh Bunting, Islington Gazette), pundit Paddy Kenny was also in awe of how Cucurella ‘tore’ City’s arch rivals Man United ‘apart’ in a 4-0 victory recently (Football Insider).

The defender notched a goal in that game against the Red Devils and proved menacing, and if he were to do the same against them in a Sky Blue jersey, there is little doubting Cucurella would soon become a fan favourite.

In other news: £100,000-per-week ‘phenomenon’ could be Man City’s next star signing after Haaland, he’s ‘tempted’ to join…find out more here.

Osman Samiuddin, ESPNcricinfo’s senior editor, picks his all-time Pakistan World Cup XI

Osman Samiuddin02-Apr-2019You might think stuffing a couple of ’70s superstars – when ODI cricket was a different sport to what it is now – in an all-time World Cup XI is giving romance too much due. But Zaheer Abbas especially was ahead of his time as an ODI batsman (hello, strike rate nearly 85, only behind Kapil Dev and Viv Richards in the mid-’70s to mid-’80s decade for batsmen with over 1000 runs). Majid Khan’s contribution in those early World Cup games is undoubted, though his inclusion does also lead us back to that eternal Pakistani truth: there ain’t no Pakistani openers.ESPNcricinfo LtdFor a little bit, straightforward selections: Javed Miandad no arguments, Imran Khan no arguments, cornerstones of Pakistan’s only World Cup triumph, capable of long, stabilising partnerships and setting up of defendable totals. And then, Misbah-ul-Haq. Sorry, but this is anxiety: at some point Pakistan will be 17 for 3 and that is the house in which Misbah lives.Moin Khan’s glovework is incidental really to his madcap ability to sweep sixes off fast bowlers. But alongside Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar’s inclusion, it’s also a confession that the 1999 Pakistan World Cup side is probably my favourite. Mushtaq Ahmed beats out Saqlain Mustaq, because legspin. No sixth bowler is a risk but what a quintet.

By making up for his lack of wickets with a classy half-century, India’s lead spinner may have hauled his side towards safety on a Rajkot deck that hasn’t yet sprung to life

Alagappan Muthu in Rajkot12-Nov-20160:48

Ganguly: ‘Ashwin at No. 6 will allow India to be a better team’

It was a bit of a job trying to explain R Ashwin was the world’s No. 1 bowler.Fifty-six overs for two measly wickets in Rajkot. How could he do this? That too at the start of a marquee series. Against an opponent who was supposed to read spin bowlers about as well as a toddler reads hieroglyphs. Clearly, this Test has been nothing short of a big smiley face sticking its tongue out at every prediction anyone has ever made about it. England are on top, if you didn’t know.So maybe it wasn’t surprising that after getting no reward with the ball, Ashwin scored a chanceless, effortless half-century after India’s situation had got as dicey as it ever had in the four days of play so far.Still, he could at least have thrown his bat around and got a few nicks over the slips and third man. Nope. Middled pretty much everything. Played beautiful little late cuts and cover drove like a champion.On the fourth day, the one Indian batsman averaging over 50 misjudged length, hit across the line and was bowled. Another trod onto his stumps. With five and a half sessions left, and a lead of 176 still intact, England had gained a substantial opening. Except, Ashwin stood in the way. Probably just to spite them. Or maybe it was to haul his team out of trouble. You decide what’s more plausible.The hallmark of a batsman, it has long been said, is how much time he has to play his shots. The slowness of the pitch lent Ashwin a hand, but the ease with which he was picking good-length balls and manoeuvring them into gaps either side of the pitch was just too much. Sure, his stance is like VVS Laxman’s. And yes, some of their shots are similar too. The running, definitely. Now he has gone and taken up the role as the rearguard specialist too?India wouldn’t have won in St Lucia without Ashwin the batsman. He made 118 off 297 balls having come in at 87 for 4. They may yet lose in Rajkot but his 70 off 139 meant that might only happen if England’s bowlers can take 10 wickets in two sessions or so. Considering it has taken four days for the teams to bowl each other out, and with the turn expected of the pitch arriving to the party subdued and fashionably late, India have a good chance of keeping the series level despite trailing for most of it so far.Ashwin showed the magic in his hands every time he played the late cut. He also did the one thing that is inextricably associated with a pure batsman: farming the strike.India lost their ninth wicket in the 156th over. England needed six more overs to bowl them out because Ashwin kept finding a single off the last two balls of an over to make sure he was on strike for the next one. He would exploit Rashid’s drift by coming down the track and taking the ball on the full to find a single at long-on. He met wide yorkers from Ben Stokes with the open face and steered the ball behind point. He left Mohammed Shami with at best two balls per over.Ashwin was caught on the midwicket boundary going for a six off the last ball of the 162nd over. The field was brought up and offspinner Moeen Ali was bowling around the wicket, cramping him up and reducing the chances of working the ball into a gap. He saw the ball was tossed up, he realised runs were on offer, he backed himself to clear the fielder and he went for it. Hmmm. That’s about as batsman-y as it gets.I really should’ve known better and introduced Ashwin as the world’s No. 1 allrounder averaging 47 in Tests in 2016, a “series-defining” hundred included.