Lasith Malinga sat out Galle’s game against Colombo, and is expected to fly out to join Mumbai Indians before returning for the one-day tournament final

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Apr-2019

Akila Dananjaya got a five-wicket haul for Colombo•Sri Lanka Cricket

Dimuth Karunaratne was finally able to produce the kind of substantial ODI score Sri Lanka’s selectors were looking for, but it was offspinner Akila Dananjaya who impressed the most in the final round of group games in the Super Four Provincial Limited-Over Tournament, taking 5 for 53 for Colombo against a Galle side that had won both their previous matches.In addition to Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga also made half-centuries on the day. Neither of those players seem to be serious contenders for the World Cup squad, however.Akila had been Sri Lanka’s first-choice spinner last year, until he failed a biomechanics test and had his offbreak banned. When he remedied his action and returned to the fray, he looked a diminished bowler in the one-dayers against South Africa, taking only two wickets in four games.Angelo Mathews top-scored for Dambulla against Kandy•Sri Lanka Cricket

This showing against Galle, however, may persuade the selectors to pick him in their World Cup squad, perhaps alongside legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who is also having a good tournament. Akila’s wickets in this match were important ones – he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana and Minodh Bhanuka, all of whom had been in decent form. Hasaranga was one of his victims as well.Karunaratne’s 86 off 74, meanwhile, propelled him to the top of the tournament run-scorers’ list after three matches, which is a strong suggestion to the selectors that he is ready to play ODI cricket again.His innings helped Kandy ease to a seven-wicket win over Dambulla, who had earlier been dismissed for 198 thanks in part to Thisara Perera’s 4 for 25. Karunaratne will have one more chance of strengthening his World Cup case when Kandy play Dambulla again on Wednesday.A notable absence from the Galle XI for this match was captain Lasith Malinga, who is expected to fly back to India in order to be available for Mumbai Indians’ match against Kings XI Punjab at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. He is, however, expected to catch another overnight flight back to Sri Lanka that same evening, in order to make it to Dambulla in time for the Galle v Colombo tournament final.

A club have reportedly made their first move to sign an "outstanding" Everton player, with the Blues demanding more than £40m for his services.

Everton transfer news

The Blues are in such a better place than they were earlier in the season, excelling under Sean Dyche and reacting superbly to their 10-point deduction in the Premier League. Four straight wins in the league without conceding a goal is a testament to how well Everton are doing, and while their midweek EFL Cup exit at the hands of Fulham was disappointing, the positives are clearly outweighing the negatives at the moment.

Dyche is getting a huge amount out of his current squad, but the Toffees boss surely wouldn't be against the idea of bringing in new signings once the January transfer window arrives.

A permanent move for Jack Harrison has been mooted recently, with the Englishman impressing on loan from Leeds United, while Iliman Ndiaye has also been linked with a move to Everton, even though he only joined Marseille during the summer.

However, there is always the threat that some of the Blues' most influential players could be wanted by other clubs – and one such rumour has recently emerged.

Everton dealt Amadou Onana blow

According to Marca [via Sport Witness], Barcelona are interested in signing Everton midfielder Amadou Onana and have "already had some contacts" with him over a move to Camp Nou.

The Blues won't allow the Belgian to leave on the cheap, however, and will demand at least €50m (£43.3m) for his signature should Barca want to get a deal over the line. The La Liga giants see that as a "considerable figure" to have to pay.

On the plus side, the report does state that "there is no option" for Onana to move to Spain in January, so it looks as though a summer transfer is more likely.

Losing Onana would be a massive blow for Everton, with the 22-year-old such a dominant physical presence in the midfield, but also a strong technical footballer.

Former England international Darren Bent has labelled him as "outstanding" in the past, and he has played a big part in the Blues' good form of late.

Onana has started 12 games in the Premier League so far this season, winning an average of 2.8 aerial duels per match and 2.5 tackles per outing. There is still so much to come from him in his career given his age, so to suddenly see him head off to pastures new would be a setback.

Amadou Onana's Premier League stats this season	Total
Appearances	13
Goals	1
Aerial duels wins per game	2.8
Tackles per game	2.5
Pass completion rate	85.4%

That being said, the lure of moving to Barca can be great for many footballers, even though they arguably don't have the same pull that they may have had in previous years, so it would be hard to begrudge him moving there at the end of the season.

One thing's for sure, Everton simply have to remain in the Premier League if they want to keep hold of the Belgium international, but that does look likely, given their current form.

Offspinner Will Somerville will have the chance to face former team-mates after being added to the New Zealand squad for the three one-day matches against Australia in Brisbane next week which act as World Cup preparation.Somerville played for New South Wales between 2014 and 2018 before returning across the Tasman to resume his career in New Zealand having been offered the prospect of international cricket. The opportunity came his way last year when he made his debut against Pakistan, taking seven wickets in Abu Dhabi to help clinch a famous series victory.That remains his only Test to date with home conditions not requiring two spinners, but he will have the opportunity to show his one-day skills – a format in which he has only played six matches – in the three games which do not have ODI status.New Zealand have named a shadow squad for the matches in Brisbane with the majority of their World Cup 15 currently at the IPL and Ross Taylor playing county cricket for Middlesex. The squad is captained by Tom Latham and includes Tom Blundell, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham and Henry Nicholls from the World Cup group.Pace bowler Seth Rance, who has played two ODIs and five T20Is, has also been added to the squad which has expanded to 15 players.Australia will have all their World Cup players available with them being recalled from the IPL for the training camp.New Zealand XI squad Tom Latham (capt), Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Seth Rance, Hamish Rutherford, Blair Tickner, George Worker, Will Young, Will Somerville

Real Madrid are set to miss out on a future coaching prospect as the club legend has reportedly handed in a transfer request to move to Germany.

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Raul set to leave CastillaDoes not manage any team in SpainWill head to Germany for a fresh challengeWHAT HAPPENED?

According toRaul has informed the club of his desire to leave Real Madrid Castilla to pursue coaching opportunities in a senior team. After five years at the helm of Real Madrid’s reserve team, Raúl feels it is time to take the next step as he is determined to break new ground and embrace the challenges of a different league.

AdvertisementRaul Gonzalez TwitterTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Raúl’s aspiration to manage in the Bundesliga stems from his long-standing connection with Germany. During his playing days, he had a successful stint with Schalke 04, where he not only adapted to the language and culture but also developed a deep appreciation for the style of German football.

It must be noted that Schalke had previously attempted to bring him back as a coach. Following their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2022, Schalke approached Raul with an offer, which he declined, citing his desire to wait for a head coaching opportunity at Real Madrid. The same scenario unfolded later that year when Schalke dismissed Frank Kramer. Despite these approaches, Raul’s loyalty to Real Madrid kept him from accepting these offers at the time. But now he looks set to lead the club and guide them back to Bundesliga from the second division.

DID YOU KNOW?

Interestingly, Raul’s decision is partly influenced by the career trajectory of his former teammate Xabi Alonso. Alonso, currently the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, is seen as a potential future manager of Real Madrid, potentially succeeding Carlo Ancelotti after an incredible season at Bay Arena. Ancelotti, who has guided Real Madrid to another La Liga title and a Champions League final appearance against Borussia Dortmund, remains under contract until 2026. Raul recognises that Alonso’s current standing puts him ahead in the race for the top job at the Bernabeu, prompting him to look elsewhere to further his career.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

To facilitate his transfer, he has hired a new agent, Pablo Barquero, who also represents Manchester City’s Spanish international Rodri. As he prepares to embark on this new journey, the football world will be watching closely to see how the legendary striker fares as a manager in senior football.

Following the chaotic transfer window that ensued over the summer, we now already find ourselves in January with the winter window now officially open.

Clubs tend to avoid dipping into the winter market as they’ll often be required to pay a premium for players. Nevertheless, we’re still expecting an influx of deals across the continent and beyond, particularly in the Saudi Pro League.

Read more: Saudi Pro League transfer rumours

So with the window now here, Football FanCast provides an informational guide detailing everything you need to know.

When did the January transfer window open? Premier League

The Premier League January transfer window will open on Monday, 1 January 2024.

EFL

The EFL January transfer window will open on Monday, 1 January 2024.

La Liga

The La Liga January transfer window will open on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.

Serie A

The Serie A January transfer window will open on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.

Bundesliga

The Bundesliga January transfer window is expected to open on Monday, 1 January 2024.

Ligue 1

The Ligue 1 January transfer window will open on Monday, 1 January 2024.

Saudi Pro League

The Saudi Pro League January transfer window is expected to open on Monday, 1 January 2024.

When does the January transfer window close?

Premier League

Here in England, the Premier League January transfer window will close on Thursday, 1 February at 11pm GMT.

EFL

Here in England, the transfer window for the Football League will also close on Thursday, 1 February at 11pm GMT.

La Liga

Over in Spain, the La Liga January transfer window will close on Wednesday, 31 January at 11pm GMT.

Serie A

Over in Italy, the Serie A January transfer window will close on Wednesday, 31 January at 7pm GMT.

Bundesliga

Over in Germany, the Bundesliga January transfer window is expected to close on 1 February at 5pm GMT.

Ligue 1

Over in France, the Ligue 1 January transfer window will close on 31 January. Though timings aren’t currently known.

Saudi Pro League

The Saudi Pro League operates slightly differently, with their window due to slam shut a couple of days earlier on Tuesday, 30 January 2024.

Can clubs still sign players past the deadline?

Technically yes, clubs can sign players past the 11pm deadline, however, they’ll need to submit a deal sheet in order to do so.

A deal sheet must be signed and submitted between 9pm and 11pm leading up to the deadline. The form essentially provides the relevant authorities with evidence that a transfer has been agreed.

Should it be accepted, clubs will be granted an additional two hours to complete the proposed transfer, allowing for any last-minute formalities like medicals and outstanding paperwork to be completed.

The time varies when signing an international player, with the club having to abide by the FIFA Transfer Matching System deadline of 12am.

In order to register a player, the club must submit all the relevant documents to the Premier League, which include the contracts and the transfer agreement.

Transfers from abroad may require additional documents such as permission to work in the UK and international clearance.

All paperwork must align with Football Association (FA) rules and sometimes FIFA regulations.

How many loan players can clubs sign?

Premier League clubs can’t register more than two loan players at any one time. Across the course of a whole season, clubs can register four loan players.

Under no circumstances will sides be allowed to register two players on loan from the same club at any one time.

The rules vary slightly for the EFL, with teams able to register a maximum of five loan players in a matchday squad, though, no more than two can be over the age of 23.

Such is why we often see the loan market utilised far more in the lower leagues rather than the Premier League.

How many players can clubs loan?

FIFA have introduced a new ruling which will see a reduction in players going out on loan. Currently, teams can loan out a maximum of seven players, though, that will reduce by one each season. So put simply, in 2025/26 sides will only be allowed to loan out five players.

A 2021 Council of Europe Report believes the FIFA Transfer System Reform was introduced to protect the development of a young players career.

“The new regulations on the loan system are planned to prevent their misuses, protect careers of young players and ensure the integrity of competitions.

“Excessive loaning of players has influenced the competitive abilities of the clubs, distorted the uncertainty of the results of sport competitions and slowed down the development of the players’ careers.”

Clubs will now have to be more strategic moving forward and we may say a huge curtailment of slightly older players heading out on loan, with the younger generation taking priority.

Further, perhaps the loan-to-buy format clubs have often utilised in recent years will start to phase out with FIFA’s new rulings.

How many non-homegrown players can clubs sign?

Following the close of each transfer window, Premier League clubs must name their 25-man squad. Players under-21 can supplement this number throughout the campaign without having to take up one of the 25 spots, thus promoting more academy graduates.

No more than 17 non-homegrown players can be registered. In order to qualify as homegrown, the player must have played for an FA affiliated club for at least three years prior to turning 21.

So for example, Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez and Manchester City’s Nathan Ake both classify as homegrown, having been on the books of an English academy for three years before turning 21.

If sides don’t have enough homegrown players to fill the quota, they must name a smaller squad. For instance, Liverpool named a 24-man squad last season as they only had seven homegrown players.

Brexit has complicated matters, with clubs no longer able to sign players from the European Union under the age of 18. That would’ve impacted Manchester United, who wouldn’t have been able to sign Alejandro Garnacho untill July 2022.

Previous rules allowed United to sign the talented winger as a 16-year-old in October 2020, joining from Atletico Madrid.

Rajasthan Royals came into this match – their last at home this season – with their IPL 2019 campaign hanging by a thread, needing to win all their remaining games to be in contention for the playoffs. But thanks to an electric outing in the field from Jaydev Unadkat, a 78-run opening stand between Ajinkya Rahane and Liam Livingstone, and a nerveless 48 not out from Sanju Samson, they were able to keep their hopes alive with a clinical seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Jaipur.Royals weathered a bruising second consecutive fifty from Manish Pandey and overcame some scrappiness in the field, holding Sunrisers to 160 for 8 when they had reached 121 for 3 with five overs to go in their innings. Unadkat’s efforts were key, and he took 2 for 26 to go with his three catches. Livingstone, opening for the first time in the IPL, launched the chase with gusto, hitting three sixes in his 44 off 26 balls, and Samson then held his composure to finish the job.Rajasthan’s win did not only keep their campaign alive, it also ensured that Chennai Super Kings are the first team guaranteed a playoff spot in the competition.Warner goes boundary-freeDavid Warner came into this match with 295 runs in his last five innings and a chance to claim an IPL record. Twice before has someone struck five fifties in a row – Virender Sehwag achieving the feat in 2012 with Jos Buttler matching him last year – and Warner has been in such unbeatable touch that yet more runs seemed almost a formality. He was gifted five of them off the first ball of the innings, having tried to leave Varun Aaron but failing to withdraw his bat in time to unintentionally dab the ball behind point, where the fielder swooped and shied to add four overthrows to a quick single. Helped by Royals’ early sloppiness in the field, with 20 extra runs coming from misfields and overthrows through the course of the match, Sunrisers ended the Powerplay at a reasonably healthy 51 for 1, but Warner never got going on a slowish track. He was yet to score a boundary when he aimed a wild slash at the first ball of the 13th over, bowled by Oshane Thomas, to present a swirling chance that was snaffled by a diving Steven Smith. Smith jarred his right elbow completing the catch, and the physio ran out to add an extra layer of strapping to his arm afterwards, but he said in the post-match presentation that it was only precautionary.Pandey drives it forwardWhile a slightly sluggish track played its part in Warner’s struggles, Pandey showed that there were still runs to be had. He picked up where he left off after his 49-ball 83 against Chennai Super Kings last Tuesday and went hard from the first ball he faced tonight – literally. He swiped a full-blooded drive off Shreyas Gopal to get going with a four straight away, crunching seven more in the next eight overs to race to fifty from just 27 deliveries. Though Warner didn’t reach the boundary, he did at least do the job of handing much of the strike to Pandey as the two shared in a 75-run second-wicket stand.

Out twice off one ballPandey cruised into the 60s with his ninth four in the 15th over but was then dismissed by some brilliance by Samson behind the stumps. Pandey aimed a late dab at a Gopal legbreak but was over-balanced into the stroke and lifted his back foot, with Samson waiting for just the right moment to whip the bails off and stump him. As it turned out, Pandey had also feathered an edge as the ball passed him, so he would have been out anyway on review.Pandey’s fall sparked a chaotic finale to the innings as, in the space of 31 deliveries, Royals surged to strip Sunrisers back with six wickets for just 34 runs. Poised at 121 for 2, Sunrisers stumbled to 160 for 8, with Rashid Khan’s four and a six off the last two balls – the only boundaries hit by anyone in the last five overs – helping to add a modicum of respectability to their effort. But Royals dropped almost as many chances as they held as their early fielding woes returned, with Samson, Gopal and Varun Aaron all dropping chances of varying difficulty. Shrugging off the untidiness of those around him in the field, Unadkat held three catches all on his own – two tumbling efforts in the outfield and one brilliant caught-and-bowled as he got some major hang time on a leap to pluck a one-handed return catch from Deepak Hooda out of the air.Sanju Samson flicks•BCCI

Liam Livingstone, I presume?Livingstone has spent the last two weeks warming the bench, but Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer’s return to England for national duty opened up a position for him in Royals’ playing XI, and he made the chance count with a recognisably bullish 44 that set up the chase. Livingstone had a more than capable ally in Rahane, and together they bested Rashid in a key moment in the game, cracking a six each to take 16 runs from his first over. Livingstone slammed 20 runs off his own bat in Siddarth Kaul’s first over as Royals raced through the Powerplay at ten an over. By the time Rashid finally broke through, the job was already half done and the required rate was a manageable 7.54.Turner finally breaks his duckAfter a 55-run stand between Samson and Smith put Royals within touching distance of a vital win, Ashton Turner walked to the crease with five ducks in a row on his back and a potentially awkward 13 from 18 needed. He managed to get a bit of willow on an indipper from Bhuvneshwar Kumar first up to get off the mark and draw ironic applause from his team-mates in the dug out. Even Bhuvneshwar was smiling, though Turner kept a straight face. Samson then put the finishing touches on the chase, swatting his fourth four to end the match unbeaten on 48.

Manchester United have highlighted their number one target for the upcoming window, with Erik ten Hag demanding that the board bring them to the Premier League, according to a fresh report.

Rasmus Hojlund's underwhelming start

Over the summer, Rasmus Hojlund joined the club from Atalanta, but having scored just one goal so far this season in the top flight, it’s fair to say that he’s not hit the ground running as well as he or anyone associated with the club would have hoped (Transfermarkt – Hojlund statistics).

With Anthony Martial’s deal also set to expire at the end of the season (Man United contracts), Ten Hag is understandably looking to dip into the market to find a new centre-forward, and his search appears to have led him to Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy.

Man Utd ready to take concrete steps to sign "magnificent" £26m player

The Red Devils are looking to bolster their ranks in the centre of the park.

By
Chloe Chadwick

Dec 30, 2023

The Guinea international has firmly established himself as Sebastian Hoeness’ best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.87 (WhoScored – Stuttgart statistics), and his impressive performances have caught the eye of the hierarchy.

The Red Devils reportedly sent scouts to watch the 27-year-old live in action earlier this month, and the representatives who were in attendance must have been impressed with what they witnessed if the following update is to be believed.

Man United lining up move for Guirassy

According to Football Insider, Man United are seriously interested in Guirassy, who is thought to have an £18m release clause – though any possible deal taking place involving Stuttgart's talisman is likely to depend on the opinion of the club's new ownership.

"Man United have made VFB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy a top target ahead of the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider. The 27-year-old striker is available next month at a cut price of £18million thanks to a release clause inserted in his contract.

"The Dutchman views Guirassy as a good fit for his tactical style at Old Trafford and is pushing United’s recruitment team to get a deal over the line. However, all transfer business at United now requires approval from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team after they gained sporting control from the Glazer family this month."

Guirassy is on an "outrageous" hot streak

In the German Bundesliga this season, Guirassy has posted a remarkable 18 contributions, 17 goals and one assist, from just 14 appearances, showing how prolific he can be in the opposition’s box, where he’s constantly posing a threat to defences (Transfermarkt – Guirassy statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 1, Arles’ native has recorded 45 shots over the course of the current campaign, which is more than any other of his fellow teammates, displaying what a standout performer he is in the attacking areas of the pitch compared to his peers (FBRef – Stuttgart statistics).

As described by The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, Guirassy is currently on a run of “outrageous” form, and while his club won’t want to lose him, Man United arguably need to capitalise on his release clause by paying the fee needed to prise him away from the MHP Arena.

The two openers put on 365, the biggest partnership for the first wicket in ODI history

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy05-May-20191:35

All the records Campbell and Hope broke

185 (O’Brien 68, Nurse 4-51, Gabriel 3-44) by 196 runsBetween those two moments, separated by two days, Ireland bowled 62.1 overs, conceded 463 runs, and failed to take a single wicket.The bulk of those 463 runs – 365 of them – came on Sunday, as John Campbell and Shai Hope put on the biggest opening partnership in ODI history. They came within seven runs of the biggest ODI partnership for any wicket – a record held by another West Indies pair, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. They came within 17 balls of becoming the first opening pair to bat through the entire first innings of an ODI. They did, however, become the second pair of openers – after Brendon McCullum and James Marshall – to both score 150 in an ODI innings.It left Ireland an improbable 382 to chase, and they didn’t get remotely close. Kemar Roach and Sheldon Cottrell reduced them to 21 for 3, and there was no recovering from there, even if there were a couple of bright partnerships involving Kevin O’Brien, who made 68, first with Andy Balbirnie and then with Gary Wilson. Playing his 100th ODI, Balbirnie had to retire hurt on 28, when a nasty bouncer from Shannon Gabriel hit him on the helmet; he returned later but only added one run to his score.West Indies’ bowlers presented a much bigger wicket threat than Ireland’s had, Gabriel’s raw pace offering the starkest point of difference; he pinged O’Brien’s helmet too, apart from bagging three wickets. There were also four for the offspinner Ashley Nurse, including one off a dipping offbreak that spun through the gate to have Barry McCarthy stumped. With the last six wickets adding just 32, Ireland’s innings only lasted 34.4 overs.Ireland’s assortment of medium-fast seam and honest fingerspin must be the least threatening bowling arsenal of all the Full Member teams at the moment, and Campbell and Hope took it apart in an utterly controlled and clinical manner. Watching this, it was hard to believe that these two teams had both been in the same ODI boat, fighting to make the World Cup grade, the last time they met.John Campbell and Shai Hope put on the biggest opening stand in all ODI cricket•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesPlenty has happened since then, and much of it has been encouraging for West Indies, to the extent that they will be counted among the most dangerous line-ups at the World Cup that they so nearly didn’t qualify for. Today’s partnership didn’t even come from their first-choice opening pair. Campbell, who clattered six sixes in a 137-ball 179, isn’t in the preliminary World Cup squad, and Hope, who stroked a cultured 170 off 152, doesn’t usually open the batting.Both, though, were too good for Ireland’s modest attack. They were watchful early on, but once they had seen off the initial new-ball nibble – Tim Murtagh and Mark Adair went past the edge on a fair few occasions, with Campbell in particular taking time to get his feet moving – they pretty much did as they pleased.Only 42 came off the first 11 overs, at which point Ireland made their second bowling change, bringing on McCarthy, their fourth seamer. McCarthy’s first ball was a stomach-high full-toss, which Campbell flat-batted over the long-off boundary. His third ball drifted onto Hope’s legs, and he tucked it away to fine leg for four. The next ball was a wide half-volley, and Hope unfurled an extra-cover drive. Four more. Eighteen came off that over, and from there on the runs flowed unchecked.Shai Hope defends off the back foot•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesHope drove the seamers eye-catchingly through the covers, often opening his bat face to beat short extra diving to his left, and down the ground, and used the shuffle across the crease adroitly to pick up leg-side singles and twos off all lines and lengths. Campbell was the likelier of the pair to hit over the top, and he also showed a fondness for the lap-sweep off the seamers, picking up three fours with this shot.After scoring only 37 in the first ten overs, West Indies scored 68, 80, and 74 in their next three ten-over blocks. Then came the long-promised carnage: in the last 44 balls of their partnership, Hope and Campbell clattered 106 runs. Both batsmen began clearing their front leg and flat-batting the ball where they pleased. Adair went for 21 in the 41st over, George Dockrell for 16 in the 42nd, Josh Little for 16 in the 45th, Adair for 18 in the 46th, and Murtagh for 17 in the 47th.By this time both batsmen were past 160 and the world-record partnership for any wicket beckoned. But trying to fetch a rising ball from outside off stump, Campbell sent a rare top-edge ballooning high in the sky. It took an age coming down, but a tumbling William Porterfield eventually got under it at mid-off. It was Ireland’s first ODI wicket in 374 balls. Like the old cliche about buses, the next wicket came in the same over, Hope picking out the fielder at deep square leg.Almost miraculously, only 16 came off the last three overs, and West Indies fell short of their highest ODI total – achieved just over two months ago – by eight runs. With the World Cup less than a month away, it’s not a bad time to make your two biggest ODI totals in the space of three matches.

The January transfer window is due to slam shut in just over a week and Scottish giants Celtic appear set to enjoy, or endure, a busy end to the month.

Brendan Rodgers has already made one signing so far this month as 24-year-old winger Nicolas Kuhn has joined from Austrian side Rapid Wien on a five-and-a-half-year deal.

That is expected to be the first of many before the end of the window as the Northern Irish head coach also has his eye on a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a striker, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

This means that Hoops supporters could have an exciting 12 days or so to look forward to if the club are able to land their top targets to bolster the squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Alongside Kuhn, a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a centre-forward, Celtic are also reportedly attempting to land a new defensive midfielder for Rodgers.

Celtic have held talks to land South Korean talent

According to the Daily Record, the Bhoys have held talks with FC Gwangju over a deal to sign their talented enforcer Ho-yeon Jung before the end of the window.

The Scottish giants are eyeing up a swoop for the impressive midfielder to bolster their options in the middle of the park, which comes after Hyeok-kyu Kwon was allowed to join St. Mirren on loan until the end of the season earlier this month.

It states that there is a 'good' chance that a move will progress between the two sides over a transfer for the South Korean battler before the deadline at the start of February.

However, there is no mention of how much Gwangju would demand for his services, how much Celtic are prepared to pay for him in January, or how the talks between the two clubs went.

The Daily Record do add, though, that the South Korean side would prefer Jung to depart at the end of the year. This suggests that they could put a deal off until the end of the season or ask the Hoops to loan him back to them until the 2023/24 campaign.

If Celtic are able to tempt Gwangju into a deal for the midfielder before the deadline, Rodgers could land a dream partner for Matt O'Riley in the middle of the park.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has reported that Spanish side Girona are interested in a deal to sign the Denmark international ahead of the second half of the campaign.

However, the reporter stated that the club are in a strong position after the central midfielder put pen to paper on a 'bumper' contract, which means that they are in control of the situation.

O'Riley's Premiership dominance this season

The 23-year-old magician has been in magnificent form so far this season for the Hoops and has proven himself to be one of the manager's top performers in the division.

He has made the Scottish Premiership his playground with his ability to influence matches at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis for the Bhoys.

O'Riley has contributed with ten goals and seven assists in 21 top-flight matches as a central midfielder, which is more than one goal contribution every other game on average.

No Celtic player has scored more league goals than the Danish ace. He is the only ace who has made it into the double figures for Rodgers, with Kyogo Furuhashi (eight) and David Turnbull (seven) the closest to him.

Meanwhile, Luis Palma (nine) is the only Hoops star with more assists than O'Riley and the only player in the squad with more key passes per game (3.4) than the ex-Fulham prospect (2.6).

Appearances

38

Goals

Three

Assists

12

Big chances created

16

Key passes per game

2.2

As you can see in the table above, the impressive Celtic star has significantly improved his goalscoring output from the middle of the park in comparison to last season.

He has developed the ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis whilst remaining a constant creative presence for his teammates.

Why Jung could be a dream partner for O'Riley

Rodgers could now land a dream partner for O'Riley in midfield with a deal for Jung as he is an impressive defensive midfielder who is also super reliable in possession.

The 23-year-old caught the eye with his impressive displays in the top-flight of South Korean football throughout 2023 and could be an excellent signing for Celtic if the talented ace can translate those showings over to the Premiership.

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

7.6

Duels won

Three

Pass accuracy

86%

Chances created

Five

As you can see in the table above, Jung is capable of having highly creative performances in midfield whilst also being a strong presence off the ball.

Jung made 34 K League 1 appearances throughout 2023 and provided his manager with a tough-tackling option, with 2.9 tackles and interceptions combined and 5.4 ball recoveries per match.

Meanwhile, no Celtic midfielder has managed more than 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premiership this season, which suggests that the Hoops target could add a bit more steel to Rodgers' options in that position.

The 5 foot 11 gem, who was once described as a "good prospect" by Asian football expert Dario Focardi, is also impressive with his work in possession.

Jung completed 90% of his attempted passes in the K League 1 last year and only Callum McGregor (93%) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (92.1%) have averaged a higher success rate in the Premiership out of every Celtic player with at least one start.

This suggests that the Gwangju star could retain the ball at an exceptional rate for Rodgers whilst also being a fantastic defender who can win possession back multiple times per game by cutting out opposition attacks.

Therefore, Jung could be a dream partner for O'Riley as he could sit at the base of the midfield and recover the ball before using his efficient passing to find the Danish magician in dangerous positions, where he can then work his magic in the final third.

Manchester United began the new year in positive fashion with a comfortable 2-0 win over League One neighbours, Wigan Athletic, in the FA Cup on Monday evening, with Erik ten Hag's men setting up a Fourth Round meeting with Newport County or Eastleigh to boost their hopes of a long run in the competition.

While that most recent triumph proved a rather smooth outing against the lower league side – as was expected – there would still have been notable frustrations for the former Ajax boss, with the Red Devils' frontline once again failing to fire.

It ultimately took a long-range effort from full-back Diogo Dalot, as well as a late Bruno Fernandes penalty, for United to get the better of Sam Tickle in the hosts' goal, with it having been yet another day in which summer signing Rasmus Hojlund simply couldn't buy a goal.

The Danish hotshot spurned numerous chances – including prodding wide with the goal gaping – to ensure his domestic tally remains at just one goal this season, while on the flanks, neither Alejandro Garnacho nor Marcus Rashford got themselves on the scoresheet.

The pair now have just eight goals between them in all competitions in 2023/24, while absent teammate Antony, for instance, remarkably remains without a goal or assist in all competitions this season – despite having featured on 21 occasions.

With every passing week, the £86m addition looks even more like a waste of money, hence why Ten Hag may be looking to replace the "frustrating" talent – as described by club legend Gary Neville – with Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen.

Man Utd transfer news – Donyell Malen

According to a report from Football Transfers, the Red Devils are weighing up whether to make a loan-to-buy offer for the Netherlands international this month, with discussions having already been held within Old Trafford regarding that potential swoop.

The report indicates that United could use the fact that the 24-year-old is part of the SEG agency – alongside Ten Hag, Sofyan Amrabat and Hojlund – in order to strike a deal, albeit with Dortmund said to be more likely to sanction a 'straightforward' permanent sale instead.

Man Utd in talks to sign £60m star who could send McTominay packing

The Red Devils are reportedly keen on a deal to land the central midfielder.

ByDan Emery Jan 9, 2024

As the piece also notes, this interest in the £52m-rated talent comes at a time in which Jadon Sancho could potentially be heading in the other direction back to Germany, amid reports that the Englishman is in line to return to Westfalenstadion on a short-term loan.

Signing Malen – who can feature on the flanks or through the middle – could then allow Ten Hag to instantly replace Sancho in the squad, as well as ensure the Dutchman can acquire a a replacement for the floundering Antony, who has himself been tipped for a departure of late.

Donyell Malen's style of play

A deal for the right winger would be following the recent trend of signings under the Ten Hag regime, with Malen another who has plied his trade in the Eredivisie, having previously been on the books at PSV Eindhoven.

The 5 foot 11 speedster – who was also once part of the youth set-up at both Arsenal and Ajax – scored 55 goals and contributed 24 assists in just 116 games during his time in Holland, with such form subsequently leading to a move to Germany back in 2021.

That switch has proven fruitful for the 28-cap international as he now has 41 goal involvements to his name in just 96 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, having typically operated on the right flank, or the opposite side, of late.

Interestingly, as far as United are concerned, the wideman's style of play has previously been likened to a former Old Trafford asset, with ex-Ajax youth coach Brian Tevreden describing him as being a "bit like Alexis Sanchez" in the past.

Such a comparison may perhaps have alarm bells ringing among those of a United persuasion, with Sanchez previously enduring a miserable and costly stint in Manchester, after also arriving in a January window back in 2018.

Having been handed the club's number seven shirt and a bumper £400k-per-week deal, the Chilean ultimately lasted just 18 months before being shipped out on loan, having provided just 14 goal involvements in that time.

At his best, however, Sanchez was a real menace during his time at Malen's former club, Arsenal, after scoring 80 goals and registering 45 assists in 166 games in all competitions, having been dubbed an "exceptional footballer" by ex-Gunners boss, Arsene Wenger.

For United's sake, they will be hoping that Malen emulates the impact that the now-veteran forward had at the Emirates rather than the Theatre of Dreams, with the Red Devils no doubt keen to avoid another costly January mistake.

How Donyell Malen compares to Antony

Even if that Sanchez comparison may work against Malen with regard to his chances of thriving at United, it is not too difficult to argue that he could represent a sizeable upgrade on the aforementioned Antony on the right flank.

It is worth repeating that a player who cost €100m still hasn't delivered a goal contribution this season, with it no surprise that the mercurial Brazilian is among those that the incoming Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be seeking to move on.

While Malen himself has not been prolific, he still boasts a tally of five goals in 15 league appearances this season – a figure that only Scott McTominay can match in the Premier League for Ten Hag's side.

The £99k-per-week marksman also significantly outperformed Antony at a time when they were both plying their trade in the Eredivisie for PSV and Ajax respectively, with the current United man having moved to Amsterdam in 2020.

That 2020/21 campaign did see Antony enjoy a productive debut season at the Johan Cruyff Arena with a haul of ten goals and ten assists in all competitions, yet Malen, by contrast, registered a mammoth 27 goals and ten assists in that same season – albeit while operating more centrally.

Malen

Antony

32

32

19

9

9

8

13

10

1.2

1.1

1.6

1.3

7.28

7.22

Of course, signing players from Dortmund – or with Dutch connections – has not gone particularly well for the Red Devils of late, as the cases of Sancho and Antony can attest to, yet Malen could be the player to potentially break the mould if a deal is to be agreed this month.

At the very least, he would serve as an extra body to pep up Ten Hag's attack, although more optimistically, the Sanchez-esque dynamo could be something of a difference-maker in a lifeless United frontline.