England manager Gareth Southgate has insisted the door is still open for Arsenal defender Ben White to return to the squad before Euro 2024.

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White has made himself unavailable for selectionEngland have major injury problems in defenceSouthgate would welcome White backWHAT HAPPENED?

White asked to be left out of the latest England squad to face Brazil and Belgium as he has informed the Three Lions he does not want to be called up for the time being. His absence has added to Southgate's problems in defence with Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw, Marc Guehi and Trent Alexander-Arnold all injured. Kyle Walker and John Stones also picked up injuries during the most recent international break. Yet Southgate has not ruled out taking White to Euro 2024 and has made it clear the door remains open if the Arsenal star wishes to return.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

He told reporters: "It's really for Ben now. As I've said, the door is open for us. That's clearly difficult ahead of the Euros, when [he’s] missed all of the qualifying campaign and you've got players that have played all the way through.  But we have no idea of knowing who's going to be available in that area of the pitch. We’ve lost four to injury this camp. So, as I said, for me, it's open. I have absolutely no issue.”

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The Arsenal defender has reportedly opted to snub England duty due to difficulties adapting to a fringe role within the squad, and also because of a previous confrontation with assistant manager Steve Holland. White flew back early from World Cup 2022 because of "personal reasons" and has not featured for the national team since. Arsenal team-mate Declan Rice has said he will try to convince White to change his mind, but it remains unclear if White will play international football again, at least during Southgate's tenure.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WHITE AND ENGLAND

England's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium were Southgate's last chance to see his team in action before he names his preliminary squad for Euro 2024 on May 21 – two days after the Premier League season finishes. The Three Lions then play two friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland before Southgate must name his final squad by June 8.

Rangers haven't exactly had a routine season so far in the Scottish Premiership, with Michael Beale's poor run of results leaving them with no choice but to dismiss the former Queens Park Rangers manager. In his place is Philippe Clement, who previously took charge of AS Monaco. The new boss has a difficult task on his hands, with the Gers in the midst of a slight transitional period that they hope will end with silverware once again.

More changes off the pitch are set to add to Rangers' woes, too, according to reports, with a key member of the club's backroom staff set to depart the club in favour of a Premier League move.

Latest Rangers transfer news

Even though Clement will be forced to wait until the January transfer window before he can make changes on the pitch and leave his mark on his new squad, Rangers can at least make some adjustments upstairs, for better or worse. The changes could take some getting used to for all involved, but if Clement has success, then the Gers will not be complaining, having already fallen seven points behind Celtic this season.

The latest Rangers transfer news suggests that Phil Cowen could be among the changes. According to Football Insider, the club's head of talent ID has handed in his notice, and has agreed to join Premier League side Arsenal as the head of their academy scouting. The news coincides with Rangers' reported attempts to land Brighton & Hove Albion recruitment chief Sam Jewell, however, perhaps making the move from Cowen more logical.

Jewell is reportedly weighing up the move, but is hesitant to leave Brighton at the highest point in the club's history, in a rise that he has played an important role in at The Amex.

Who is Phil Cowen?

The head of talent ID at Rangers since 2021, Cowen has played a part in the promotion of youth players such as Ross McCausland into the first-team at Ibrox. And as Clement looks to utilise every aspect of his squad, losing the Arsenal-bound Cowen could come as a major blow. It signals yet more disorganisation from a Rangers perspective, amid the recent managerial change.

If the Gers can land Jewell, then it may be seen as a good move all round, but there's no indication that they have the power to pull the Brighton man away from the impressive job that he's currently doing for the Seagulls. As for Cowen, he now has the opportunity to work with one of the best academies in English football, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Ashley Cole, and Tony Adams all graduating from Hale End throughout Arsenal's history.

After the international break, Rangers square off against Hibernian, where they will hope to put an end to the chaos both on and off the pitch by securing all three points in Clement's first game in charge. As the weeks go on, we'll get more of an idea just how far the new manager can take the Gers in the Scottish Premiership and Europe.

Liverpool have enjoyed a strong start to the 2023/24 Premier League season, as Jurgen Klopp’s side bid to find their way back into the top four after last term's shortcomings.

There was some premature anxiety going into the new campaign after the Reds endured a patch of rejection during the summer transfer window, in which three defensive midfielders opted against relocating to Merseyside.

Andre Trindade opted to remain in Brazil to complete the season with Fluminense, while Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo preferred Chelsea, leaving Klopp in a position to expand his search for midfield reinforcements.

Liverpool concluded the summer having welcomed Dominik Szboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo as part of a rebuild in the engine room, however, with the January window looming, the Reds are expected to make further moves.

Reports in the media have linked a host of talent to Anfield already as the countdown begins to the opening of the winter window, with some high-profile names suspected to be of interest to Klopp.

Liverpool transfer targets

After knocking on the door of Fluminense in the summer, Liverpool were told that Andre would not be available due to his, and the club's, desire to complete the season together.

The Brazilian campaign traditionally ends in December, with reports suggesting that the Premier League outfit could delve back into the idea of signing the highly-rated 22-year-old.

With a release clause of £34m, the combative midfielder could be an additional option for Klopp to integrate into his side.

In the more advanced areas of midfield, the Reds have also been linked with a sensational move for Bayern Munich sensation, Jamal Musiala, who could make a shock return to England four years after his exit from Chelsea’s academy.

A report from BILD in Germany claims that the attacking midfielder is on Klopp’s list to bring to Anfield, with his price tag expected to be in the region of €100m (£87m).

Only time will tell how serious the Merseyside giants are about capturing the 20-year-old’s signature, with Bayern not expected to let their star leave easily after his blockbuster breakthrough over the past few years.

Jamal Musiala’s playing style

With four Bundesliga titles and a Champions League medal in his collection, it is important to remember that Musiala was only born in 2003.

The Germany international showed signs of his potential at the age of 17, as he began to develop into the Bayern first-team, when his capabilities in an array of roles became apparent.

Primarily deployed in the number 10 role, the 20-year-old wizard has transferable skills to play slightly deeper as an 8, as a box-to-box midfielder, and even feature on the wide channels to exert his skill set in the final third.

As highlighted by scouting site Breaking the Lines, who produced a scouting report when the German was just 17, Musiala’s strengths were noted through his “close control, dribbling skills, and mobility”.

Later in the report, the site described his close control as “excellent”, listing his combative edge, eye for goal, and speed as further identifiable strengths in his complete game.

At the conclusion of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed the former England U21 international as an “elite talent”, as he moulded himself as a vital member of Bayern’s XI.

A seasoned playmaker and a figure that can hold his own in the middle of the park, Musiala would be a blockbuster addition to Klopp’s side, in an acquisition that could supply a vast array of creativity to the squad.

The stats that suggest Jamal Musiala would be a good signing for Liverpool

Last season, the Stuttgart-born star directly contributed to 25 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 12 and assisting 13, with his most important goal of the campaign undoubtedly coming on the final day.

In the 89th minute, Musiala netted the winner against FC Koln to drive Bayern to claim the top spot in the final minutes of the 2022/23 edition of the Bundesliga, subsequently handing his side the German crown.

Being the hero on the final day cemented what was a phenomenal season for the 20-year-old whiz, who continues to prevail as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.

Average

Rank in Europe

85.6%

Top 1%

5.53

Top 14%

4.01

Top 26%

4.05

Top 1%

0.34

Top 5%

1.03

Top 1%

Such claims are supported by his numbers, as highlighted in the table above, where he ranks highly in comparison to other attacking midfielders within Europe’s top five leagues and European competitions.

The Germany international’s strength in distribution and array of threat in the final third is portrayed through his numbers, with his playing style and approach to the number 10 role similar to a star that once graced Anfield.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho was the catalyst for Liverpool’s creativity following his arrival in England back in 2013.

The Brazilian, like Musiala, was utilised primarily as a number 10, while also being nominated to take up positions in the wide areas when called upon to widen his threat.

Following his £142m departure from Merseyside in 2018, the demographic of Klopp’s side has shifted, with the brilliance coming from the attacking trio taking centre stage and somewhat muting the requirement for a dominant central creator.

In signing Bayern’s playmaker, Liverpool could to some degree, reinstate the spark that Coutinho once shed on the side, with the two players sharing a host of qualities.

Philippe Coutinho

Jamal Musiala

20

25

2.1

1.6

83.9%

85.4%

3.4

2

2.3

2.3

In the Brazil international’s final full season with the Reds, the £142m man contributed both goals and assists, as well as showcasing his inevitable threat when behind the front line of attack.

Similarities are noticeable to Musiala’s game, who, at 20 years old, is moulding into a potential world beater as he continues to develop effortlessly at the highest level, which could make the manager's next version of Coutinho.

Now that the brilliance of the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino has departed, adding another spark into the final third could restore Klopp’s side to the highs they were producing a few years ago.

While a fee as high as £87m for a 20-year-old seems extortionate, the talent of Musiala and his trajectory is undeniable, presenting Liverpool with the opportunity to grasp a potential success-inducing figure at Anfield.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers may face a challenge to keep hold of one of his first-team men in January after it emerged that another club is now keeping a close eye on his situation, according to reports.

Celtic's tale of two contrasting draws in the space of a week

During midweek, Celtic produced an awe-inspiring performance in front of a raucous atmosphere at Parkhead to record a 2-2 draw against La Liga high-flyers Atletico Madrid, with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma enough to secure a point in the Champions League despite being pegged back twice by strikes from Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata.

Finally getting off the mark in Group E, Celtic boss Rodgers praised his side's efforts as they prolonged their hopes of securing European football after Christmas, saying: "That was a really good performance, but we just couldn't get the win. I don't think you can say they'll fly back to Spain not knowing they've had a tough game. They didn't create so much. Their equaliser was fantastic and shows the quality at this level."

He then added: "Our reaction in the game was superb, having the courage and the bravery to play. We showed we can compete with a top level team. We can create opportunities. We can play the game the way we want to play."

Despite this, Celtic returned to Scottish Premiership action away to Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday and a sluggish performance against a stubborn opponent could only yield a 0-0 draw in Edinburgh, with tired legs playing their part in a low-key affair.

Nevertheless, Rodgers commended his side for their points total in the first ten matches of the Scottish Premiership campaign and urged them to rediscover their best form against St Mirren at Parkhead on Wednesday, stating: "We've played ten games now. We've had eight wins and two draws and we've been to every ground in the country and did well in the main. The effort and commitment was there; now we need to recover and get ready for Wednesday."

Celtic's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Scottish Premiership

St Mirren (H)

Celtic Park

Scottish Premiership

Ross County (A)

Global Energy Stadium

Champions League

Atletico Madrid (A)

Wanda Metropolitano

Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen (H)

Celtic Park

Scottish Premiership

Motherwell (H)

Celtic Park

Celtic transfer update on Matt O'Riley

According to a transfer update from Football Insider, Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley is on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion, who have sent scouts to watch the Danish playmaker in action regularly as Roberto De Zerbi assesses his options in the engine room. From their observations, the Premier League high-flyers are believed to be hugely impressed by his exploits and have set their sights on a move.

The Seagulls are among a host of clubs that have watched the 22-year-old in action this term as he continues to go from strength to strength under the tutelage of Rodgers.

Adding goals to his game, O'Riley has gone on to notch six strikes and four assists from 14 appearances across all competitions for Celtic this season (Matt O'Riley stats – Transfermarkt).

Commended for his "wonderful attitude" by Celtic boss Rodgers earlier this year, O'Riley has taken his game to a whole different stratosphere in 2023/24 and, unsurprisingly, clubs from south of the border have started to take notice of his consistent form.

كشف طارق سليمان، رئيس الجهاز الطبي لـ منتخب مصر الأولمبي عن تفاصيل الإصابة التي تعرض لها أحمد نبيل كوكا خلال مباراة الفراعنة الأخيرة أمام أوكرانيا الودية.

وتعرض أحمد كوكا للإصابة في الدقيقة 60 من المباراة الودية التي أقيمت مع أوكرانيا وانتهت بالتعادل 1-1 في إطار استعدادات منتخب مصر للمشاركة في أولمبياد باريس 2024.

وقال طارق سليمان في تصريحات صحفية: “الأشعة التي أجريت للاعب أحمد نبيل كوكا أثبتت وجود كدمة في وجه القدم في المنطقة القريبة من الإصابة القديمة والجهاز الطبي يسعى لتجهيز اللاعب جيدا  قبل المباريات الرسمية التي تنطلق يوم 24 يوليو بمواجهة الدومينيكان”.

طالع | ياسر عبد العزيز يكشف طبيعة إصابة أحمد نبيل كوكا.. ويوضح موعد عودته

وقام الجهاز الطبي بعمل العلاج الأولي بعد المباراة ويقوم اللاعب بإجراء جلسات علاجية وتأهيلية تحت إشراف صلاح عاشور أخصائي التأهيل والعلاج الطبيعي بمعدل جلستين فى اليوم.

وقام طارق سليمان بالتواصل مع أحمد جاب الله رئيس الجهاز الطبي بالنادي الأهلي وأرسل له التقرير والأشعة الخاصة باللاعب.

MatériaMais Notícias

Pode não ter sido uma atuação de gala do Corinthians, principalmente no segundo tempo, mas a vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Coritiba trouxe muito mais do que os três pontos importantíssimos para a tabela do Brasileirão. Entre essas lições, a que chama mais a atenção é a sensação de que é possível tirar mais do time de Vagner Mancini, que já mostra um repertório melhor do que outrora.

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> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão clicando aqui

Mesmo com uma melhora significativa com a chegada do novo treinador, que definitivamente tornou a equipe competitiva, há algumas rodadas o torcedor certamente sentiu que o Alvinegro já havia chegado ao seu limite técnico, sem indicar evolução, sem ter variações para mudar de patamar e a certeza de que a briga seria mesmo para fugir do rebaixamento em todo o campeonato.

Essa situação vem mudando um pouco a cada rodada, ainda que o Z4 permaneça como um sinal de alerta que não foi excluído de forma definitiva. Contra o Grêmio, se segurando de todas as formas possíveis jogando com dois a menos durante um bom tempo, diante de uma das melhores equipes do país, conquistou um empate em 0 a 0 que foi comemorado com uma vitória.

Ali, na Neo Química Arena, foi mostrado um espírito que há muito não se via, inclusive destacando lideranças técnicas como Fagner e Luan, que mesmo com todas as dificuldades se sobressaíram e quase levaram o Corinthians a uma vitória épica. Há um mês, sem sombra de dúvidas, o torcedor corintiano não apostaria que seu time com dois expulsos seria capaz de algo do tipo.

Esse mesmo torcedor, na última quarta-feira, quando viu uma escalação com três volantes, sem um jogador de velocidade no ataque e com Lucas Piton na ponta esquerda, duvidou do que poderia ser a prática em campo, mas se surpreendeu quando viu lampejos de jogadas trabalhadas, com agilidade, com periculosidade e até com infiltrações de Roni e de Gabriel dentro da área.

Vale destacar que não foi um espetáculo alvinegro, pelo contrário, o segundo tempo foi de um nível técnico baixíssimo, mas mostrou que o time pode sim jogar de diferentes maneiras dentro da partida diante das condições apresentadas. Na primeira etapa aproveitou o fisico, o bom momento e abriu o placar, na segunda já desgastado e mais recuado, se sustentou e optou por garantir os três pontos preciosos, uma vez que o ataque deixou de funcionar.

E é exatamente isso que a equipe vinha precisando, quando um setor não funcionava, o outro precisava compensar, mas o que vinha acontecendo era a falha em ambos. O time não balançava a rede do adversário, mas era vazado. Foi assim que veio a eliminação na Copa do Brasil, tanto no jogo de ida quanto na volta, apesar da polêmica da arbitragem ocorrida no Independência.

A atuação no primeiro contra o Coritiba e a superação diante do Grêmio mostram que há sim espaço para o Corinthians de Mancini ir além do que vive hoje. Com a evolução de Luan, com a adição tática, técnica e anímica de Fábio Santos, com a importância de Fagner e a esperança da melhora física de Jô, há muito potencial para crescimento, que pode levar os corintianos a quererem algo mais do que brigar para não cair. É preciso se manter competitivo.

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Arsenal have seen a host of talent grace the pitches of both the Emirates and Highbury over the years, with many names creating unforgettable memories for the Gunners before departing.

From the heroes of Arsene Wenger's invincibles, to the Frenchman’s earlier classes at the Emirates, the north Londoners have a rich history of being the home to some of the finest stars in world football.

Despite having such a valued reputation in English football, the Gunners haven’t always had the players to go with their club status, with the end of Unai Emery’s reign and the start of Mikel Arteta’s showing some of the worst form of the Premier League era.

Thankfully for Arsenal, the Spaniard has managed to turn fate around in north London, guiding his side back into the Champions League thanks to a shift in culture at the club over the past 18 months.

The brilliance of stars such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli has led Arsenal back to such heights, following in the footsteps of the exciting wingers before them that once enjoyed life in the capital.

One name that often falls under the radar for his time at the Emirates is Lukas Podolski, who at 38-years-old is still showing that he can compete with the best on show at his former club, many miles away from N5.

How much Arsenal signed Lukas Podolski for

Rewind to 2012, and Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign Podolski from FC Koln for a fee of £10.9m at the age of 26.

The German had represented Koln for two spells prior to his move to north London, signing for Bayern Munich inbetween where he won the Bundesliga title, the DFB Pokal and secured 106 appearances.

Deployable in most areas in the front line, Podolski was an established German international and well-thought-of player in the Bundesliga, making his arrival at Arsenal one of excitement.

Why Arsenal signed Lukas Podolski

Arsenal had secured a deal to sign the versatile forward in March, with the underlying narrative at the time being that Wenger was hoping to bring in more star quality to assist in convincing Robin van Persie to remain in north London.

While the rumours of Podolski’s input in Van Persie’s situation were simply speculation, they made some sense, as the German was set to arrive in England in searing form off the back of an explosive 2011/12 campaign.

Arsenal lost Van Persie in disastrous circumstances that summer, however they did gain Podolski, who had contributed to 26 goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances for Koln the season prior, scoring 18 and assisting eight to showcase what he could offer Wenger’s depleted side.

The winger had also claimed two assists in only two DFB Pokal appearances that term, signalling his ability to create as well as score, as his hammering left foot was the prized possession of the notorious hitman.

Lukas Podolski's statistics at Arsenal

Once lauded as “clinical” by Wenger, the Poland-born whiz made an exemplary start to life at Arsenal, contributing directly to 28 goals in all competitions, scoring 16 and assisting 12 in his debut campaign.

In the Premier League, the forward made no mistake in asserting himself promptly in England, scoring 11 goals and assisting ten in his opening 33 appearances during the 2012/13 campaign, however his luck quickly expired.

In the following season, Podolski was only handed 20 appearances in the league, in which he only netted eight goals and recorded four assists, as Wenger’s squad grew in the areas that the German had hoped to occupy.

The season still ended high for the former Koln whiz, who by the summer of 2014 had won the FA Cup with the Gunners, aided by his three goals in four appearances in the tournament that term, with his personal success flying higher than domestic accolades.

In 2014, Arsenal boasted three World Cup winners in their squad, as Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Podolski were victorious on the biggest stage by winning the ultimate prize in Brazil.

Lukas Podolski's record at Arsenal

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

2012/13

42

16

12

2013/14

27

12

5

2014/15

13

3

0

Figures via Transfermarkt

Unfortunately for the winger, his joy in South America didn’t translate to him earning more minutes in north London, as the 2014/15 campaign marked the beginning of the end for the well-loved star at Arsenal.

After being granted only seven Premier League appearances that term, Podolski made the decision with the club to go on loan in January, seeing him join Inter Milan where he netted only one goal in 17 Serie A appearances before returning to his parent club.

Wenger made the decision to cash in on his £10.9m dynamo in the summer of 2015, as he joined Galatasaray for a mere fee of £1.4m, seeing a huge financial loss based on his price tag after arriving from Germany just three years prior.

What Lukas Podolski did after leaving Arsenal

After signing for Galatasaray, Podolski made a quick impact by scoring in his debut season in the Super Lig, where he spent two years with the Turkish giants before embarking on a new journey.

In Istanbul, the 130-cap international won the Turkish Super Cup twice with the Lions, as well as contributing to 52 goals in 75 appearances, leaving a hero to sign for Japanese side Vissel Kobe in 2017.

Podolski played alongside Andres Iniesta in Japan, and enjoyed an exciting two and a half years representing the club, scoring 17 goals in 60 appearances before returning to Europe once more.

In his second shot at football in Turkey, the former Arsenal diamond spent a year and a half at Antalyaspor but failed to make an impact as memorable as his time at Galatasaray, as he scored six Super Lig goals in the 18 months he was at the club.

What Lukas Podolski is doing now

From Germany, to England, to Japan, to Turkey and now Poland, Podolski has experienced the highest highs a player can hit in his career, however at 38, his playing days seem far from over.

With just under two years remaining on his deal with Polish outfit Gornik Zabrze, there is plenty of football to be played by the Gliwice-born veteran, who is still performing at a high-level today.

In fact, last season, the German secured eight goals and ten assists in all competitions, suggesting that he is still operating at a high level in the later years of his playing career.

By recording ten assists last term, Podolski registered more assists than Arsenal’s creator-in-chief, Martin Odegaard, who notched eight assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.

Lukas Podolski vs Martin Odegaard – 2022/23 league form

Statistic

Lukas Podolski

Martin Odegaard

Appearances

29

37

Goals

6

15

Assists

9

8

Key passes per game

1.6

2.1

Big chances created

11

14

Passing accuracy %

84%

84%

Figures via Sofascore

Over ten years since his arrival at the Emirates, the World Cup winner is still showcasing that he can kick it with the best on show in north London, despite nearing 40…

Barcelona midfielder Pedri says his recovery from a muscle injury is going well but refused to put a date on his potential return to action.

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• Pedri suffered new injury in early-March
• Midfielder says recovery is going "well"
• Spain international not sure on return date

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pedri sustained a new injury during his team's La Liga clash against Athletic Club in early March and has been out of action since then. The midfielder is expected to be available again before the end of the season, but no date has been set.

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  WHAT PEDRI SAID

  Speaking in a chat with Barca supporters, Pedri said of his return to action: "As soon as possible but without specifying a specific date or match. I want to be at my best to enjoy the most important part of the season with my team-mates, because the upcoming matches are very nice. At the moment everything is going well. Apart from my recovery and gym work, I am very careful with my diet, removing things that did not make me feel good, and I do Pilates as well as work in a hyperbaric chamber."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pedri, 21, sustained a hamstring injury early in the season that kept him sidelined from late-August until early-November. The fitness issues have seen him limited to just 24 appearances in all competitions for Xavi's team this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PEDRI?

  It is not yet known if the Spain international will be back for either of the two legs of his team's Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain. Xavi's team travel to the French capital for the first leg on April 10 before they meet again six days later.

Cricket South Africa will decide by the middle of September if it will host a T20 league, and has strongly indicated that a second postponement is possible if the financial viability of the event is not secure. In its first public statement on the league since CEO Thabang Moroe confirmed a six-team tournament on July 31, CSA explained it will not pursue a T20 league “at all costs” and prefers an approach of “cautious optimism”.Earlier this week, CSA’s league suffered a major blow when pay-television broadcaster SuperSport announced it was withdrawing from its equity share of the new tournament, effectively leaving CSA to fund the event itself. SuperSport was due to hold a 49% share in the new league after CSA opted to move away from private ownership. Four of the eight owners of the original T20 Global League (GLT20) are considering legal action against CSA, further complicating the organisation’s plans to launch a new T20 league.CSA has been pushed so far back that it has been unable to announce domestic fixtures for a season that should start in a month, unable to address the parliament’s sports and recreation committee earlier this week, and has asked for a postponement while preparing for next month’s AGM while being unable to provide any detailed information to the provincial affiliates, players or fans. It aimed to put the last of those right with a lengthy statement on Friday afternoon, the crux of which is that CSA believes it is in a healthy enough financial position to minimise the need for a T20 league.”It is important to highlight that CSA is a profitable sporting federation and that much as we believe in the product, we do not have to host a T20 league to assure financial sustainability,” Moroe said. “The game of cricket in SA is in a healthy state as demonstrated by the growth in cricket development at grassroots levels, a healthy pipeline of young future talent, as well as women’s cricket that has progressed with leaps and bounds.”Despite losses of over R200 million (USD 14.1 million) following the failure of the inaugural GLT20, CSA said its annual financial statements would still show “substantial reserves”. Given that CSA’s research has shown that a T20 tournament can take anywhere between four and seven years to break even, it is no longer looking at a league as a way to obtain financial independence away from ICC grants, in the same way former CEO Haroon Lorgat was.Lorgat, who conceptualised the GLT20, believed CSA could lessen its reliance on “Big Three” tours (hosting India, England and Australia are the only profitable series for South Africa) by launching its own IPL-style league. That was one of the key reasons Lorgat sought private investment. Now that CSA does not regard a T20 league as a major cash-cow, its approach to the concept is completely different from Lorgat’s.The release mentioned a “toned-down” event from the original GLT20, which could accommodate for private ownership at some point in the future. It also noted that an equity investment was “not a prerequisite” for a tournament of this nature, indicating it could be completely in-house. Though CSA remains committed to pursuing “every possible opportunity” to launch the league this year, time pressures and the absence of any exact deal – be it equity, broadcast or sponsorship – means South Africa could go a second summer with a massive gap in the calendar.”CSA believes that this can become a global sport event on the national calendar. However, the desire to host such an event cannot be considered at all cost,” CSA’s release read. “In this regard the CSA approach to cautious optimism might not be a popular approach. As a responsible governing body, CSA must ensure that an aspirational event is not to the detriment of the bulk of many cricketing activities that currently serve players and supporters.”The T20 league is pencilled in for November-December, when there are no other international fixtures in the South African calendar. After hosting Zimbabwe until mid-October and a short white-ball trip to Australia in early November, South Africa do not play any cricket until Boxing Day, when Pakistan arrive.

Sunderland could be set to lose one of their most integral players next year, with a fresh report claiming that they are happy to cash in on him in January.

Sunderland transfer updates: Clarke, Ballard

Over the summer, Tony Mowbray sanctioned the permanent sales of Ross Stewart, Leon Dajaku, Bailey Wright, Carl Winchester, Lynden Gooch, Isaac Lihadji and Danny Batth, whilst sending Elliot Embleton, Alex Bass and Joe Anderson out on loan for the remainder of the season, but there’s now another star who is being targeted.

At the Stadium of Light, Daniel Ballard is once again wanted by Premier League side Burnley after he previously turned down the opportunity to join them, but it would appear that the defender isn’t the only first-team feature in the northeast that Vincent Kompany’s side have set their sights on.

Before September 1st, Jack Clarke was the subject of a £10m rejected offer from the Clarets, but having made an impressive start to the new season, where he’s established himself as the Championship club’s overall top-performing player with a match rating of 7.54 (WhoScored – Sunderland statistics), he is back on their radar.

As per the same outlet as above, Burnley and Brentford are both preparing bids for the left-winger at the start of next year, and whilst the red and whites stripes stayed strong in their position before the previous transfer deadline, it sounds like they now have other ideas regarding the 22-year-old’s future.

Jack Clarke transfer update

According to Football Insider, who have shared a transfer update on Jack Clarke, Sunderland are holding out for a fee of more than £15m for their prized asset, but then would be willing to sell.

The Bees and Clarets are both once again name-checked as his two potential suitors, and it’s stated that the northeast outfit would be more than happy to sanction their attacker’s sale should they receive their desired fee in January.

How many goals has Jack Clarke scored?

In the Championship this season, Clarke has scored seven goals in 11 appearances which shows how prolific he can be in the final third (Transfermarkt – Clarke statistics), and even if the ball doesn’t always hit the back of the net, he poses a constant threat to the opposition.

The York-born talent has recorded 38 crosses and 21 shots in the second-tier so far this term, both of which are higher than any of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Sunderland statistics), showing what a standout star he is when it comes to creating opportunities.

Furthermore, Mowbray’s dynamo is a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including three roles across the frontline and the same number in the midfield, so his ability to adapt makes him a wonderful option for any manager to have at their disposal.

Whilst Clarke is a “golden” player that Sunderland should want to retain the services of, as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it’s easy to understand that they could be tempted to cash in should they receive a respectable offer, so this will be a situation to keep a close eye on in the weeks and months ahead.