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Manchester United have held talks with Monaco defender Axel Disasi over a potential move to Old Trafford this summer and the 25-year-old would be 'really excited' by the prospect of pitching up at Old Trafford, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Is Axel Disasi joining Manchester United?

According to RMC Sport, Manchester United are frontrunners to sign Disasi this summer in a deal that could cost in the region of £35 million to complete.

Taking to Twitter, renowned journalist Romano took to Twitter to detail that Manchester United alongside Newcastle United are keen to bring in Disasi, stating: "Newcastle and Manchester United are both exploring Disasi deal, no bids yet. Newcastle approached player side this week, expected to make contact with Monaco. Ten Hag approved Disasi — talks for weeks on player side but still waiting for approach with Monaco."

In 2022/23, the France international enjoyed a solid campaign for Ligue 1 outfit Monaco and showed an unusually potent goal threat from central defence, registering six goals and four assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Disasi showed plenty of calmness at the back last term and helped to stamp out dangerous attacking situations with regularity, completing 2.9 clearances per match in the French top-flight, according to WhoScored.

Last month, The Mirror claimed that both Disasi and Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund have indicated that their preference would be to move to Old Trafford this off-season, giving Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag a major boost in his hunt for reinforcements.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano has given some further insight into Manchester United's quest to land Disasi from Monaco.

Romano stated: "I will keep the name of Axel Disasi in the list. They spoke to the player's side and the player would be really excited to join Manchester United. Disasi is a player they like."

Who is coming to Man United 2023?

Aside from their pursuit of Disasi, who has been called a "hidden gem" after his brilliant performances, Manchester United have been active in the market as Ten Hag eyes quality additions ahead of the new Premier League season commencing.

Mason Mount has already been officially signed off on as the Red Devils' first summer arrival from Chelsea and could make his debut on Wednesday when Manchester United take on Leeds United in Oslo.

Sky Sports News report that Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is a name that may follow Mount to Old Trafford, though the Serie A giants are demanding a fee of £51 million to let him depart the San Siro.

Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper Zion Suzuki could also come in to strengthen the goalkeeping department in the aftermath of David De Gea's 12-year spell at the club coming to an end.

Telegraph Sport have signalled that a £50 million bid is set to be launched for Atalanta rising star Hojlund, who is viewed as a youngster with considerable potential by Old Trafford chiefs.

Rumours will continue to swirl around as the transfer window begins to reach fever pitch; however, it is clear that Manchester United are on the trail of numerous players and we will likely see movement in the next few weeks with regards to incomings and outgoings.

Old Trafford was silenced on Sunday when Marc Skinner's side were beaten by Man City, a result which highlighted several of the Red Devils' issues

Sunday was a huge day for Manchester United’s women’s team. The Red Devils welcomed bitter rivals Manchester City to Old Trafford and a club-record crowd of 43,615 fans streamed in to watch. Most of them were hoping to see a home win, one that would move United to within a point of Arsenal in second place in the Women's Super League, and four behind leaders Chelsea, while also leaving City nine points off the pace with only seven games played. But although it was an historic day at the 'Theatre of Dreams', the match was a nightmare for the hosts.

Despite home advantage, despite going 1-0 up after 21 minutes and despite playing against 10 players for almost half an hour, United came away empty-handed. They were sloppy, wasteful and uncomfortable in what turned into a 3-1 win for City.

Marc Skinner admitted after the match that his United team probably now need to go unbeaten for the rest of the season to stand any chance of winning the title. But based on what we saw on Sunday, that looks highly unlikely.

The 2022-23 campaign was an incredible one for Skinner's side. They were the only team to battle Chelsea for the WSL title until the final day, they secured a spot in the Women’s Champions League for the first time and they reached a maiden Women’s FA Cup final, too.

But the outlook is quite different with almost a third of this 2023-24 season gone. United couldn’t reach the UWCL group stages after landing a very tough tie in qualifying with Paris Saint-Germain, they’re seven points behind league leaders Chelsea and a defeat at Old Trafford to City has only intensified dissatisfaction among the fans. So, what is going wrong?

Getty ImagesKey exits

As well as losing highly-rated assistant manager Martin Ho, who has since guided Norwegian side Brann into the Women’s Champions League group stages, there were 13 first-team departures during the summer, two of which were hugely significant: Ona Batlle and Alessia Russo.

Batlle is the best right-back in the women’s game and her return to Barcelona, the club she came through as a youngster, felt inevitable for some time. She was always going to be extremely difficult to replace as there is no one quite like the Spaniard, who excelled as an inverted full-back during her time in Manchester.

Russo didn’t light the league up in her final season with United, scoring just 10 goals, but her move to Arsenal was an issue because of the way Skinner opted to tackle the task of replacing her. A flurry of new attackers have arrived, none of whom are providing the same kind of focal point as Russo.

AdvertisementGettyLife after Russo

Geyse – a tricky, direct and energetic forward who joined from reigning European champions Barcelona this past summer – is now playing the No.9 role on a regular basis. She is a wonderful talent and has shown flashes of her brilliance already. She is also a very different player to Russo.

On her Man Utd debut in October, in a dramatically late win at Aston Villa, Geyse was a constant nuisance for the opposition but she drifted out wide so often that it left no one in the box to put chances away. That has been the case for most of her time in United red, too.

"If the forward goes into the wide channel, then the other one has to come in and we have to flood the box because of the way that we play. That will come, I've no doubt about that," Skinner said after that win on the WSL’s opening weekend.

“Geyse is different to Alessia. Alessia is a pin player and spins and switches. Geyse can hold it and turn you and go. That's a different type of forward. I think when we watch it back, we can be more positionally ruthless and I think that will come.”

It was Rachel Williams who saved the day at Villa Park, the experienced forward coming off the bench to win the game in stoppage time. As a classic No.9, it was she who brought that penalty-box presence United had been lacking – and it wasn’t the only instance of that happening this season. The 35-year-old, the team’s top goal-scorer in the WSL this season, also came to the rescue away at Brighton earlier this month.

It's fantastic when you have players on the bench who can make a difference but Williams’ goals have often shown that United simply lack a starter who can be in the right place at the right time to get on the end of the chances being created – and finish them ruthlessly.

GettyThe right combination

Why is that the case? Well, Geyse has a lot of talent but her final product and decision-making aren't always convincing. She’s also not that orthodox centre-forward that will lurk in the box, waiting to sniff out a goal. Melvine Malard, however, appears to be a little more like that.

The France international joined Man Utd on loan from Lyon this past summer but has largely operated in a wide role despite it feeling like a switch of positions between her and Geyse would be beneficial. When she gets in the box, she is deadly, as her four goals for the club already have shown. Yet, she is often stuck on the wing struggling to make an impact. Even Nikita Parris, who excelled in a central role against Everton, appears to be a better option as a starting No.9 than Geyse, whose talents could be maximised out wide.

Skinner has tinkered a little with that front three this season but has yet to really nail down those killer combinations that can make United a more clinical side. He’s also stressed that the players are still adapting to life in England and learning the language to communicate with their new team-mates.

“There are still barriers,” he said on Sunday, speaking about the glimpses of that relationship between Geyse and Malard. “It’s just the little details. For example, if we're going to play more direct, then we can play underneath, so maybe Geyse is the highest player but then Melvine drops underneath so if Man City see get the first contact, we're in the second space and once we're in that second space, I don't think Man City would live with us. But we end up being in a flat line because they can't quite communicate quickly as the ball is travelling. There are all those little details that they don't yet have the language skill to do.”

But until Geyse and Malard are able to work in tandem in their current roles, can Skinner change things so that their abilities can be fully exploited while the relationship is still growing? After all, those partnerships take time to grow and there just isn’t a lot to spare in the WSL.

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GettyIssues aplenty

There are only 12 teams in the WSL. Each side only plays 22 games in the division. So, when you’re seven points off the top of the table after as many matches, it’s quite a lot of ground to make up if you want to be a factor in the title race.

Skinner has spoken about time, about how these players will gel and they will work together beautifully on the pitch, but nearly a third of the league season is now gone and he is still speaking about it. How long will it take?

Let’s also not forget that Malard is a loan player. You don’t want to be waiting four months for someone on a temporary deal to make an impact. You need to make the most of their presence as soon as possible, especially if Skinner wants Man Utd to compete for the title and to have another go in Europe next season.

The problems don’t just surround the forward areas and how this attack looks without Russo, either. Batlle’s departure has made United weaker at the back both in and out of possession. Errors when playing out from the defence are creeping in more and more frequently, with captain Katie Zelem caught on the ball in her own half in the build-up to City’s second goal on Sunday and Maya Le Tissier playing a short backpass to Mary Earps that proved costly for the third.

There are also questions around the midfield, namely why so much of United’s play seems to completely bypass it, and why the balance does not seem right a lot of the time in the combinations of three that Skinner picks. Rectifying the latter could go a long way to putting a stop to Ella Toone’s poor form in 2023, too.

Tottenham Hotspur could sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United this summer and club talisman Harry Kane wouldn't 'be too concerned' over the 30-year-old joining him in N17, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Maguire?

As per The Evening Standard, Tottenham are keen on signing Maguire from Manchester United this summer as Ange Postecoglou gets to work regarding potential additions in north London.

The report states that Spurs may be reticent to move due to Maguire's £190,000 per week salary at the Red Devils; however, a loan move may emerge as a potential option for the 30-year-old in the transfer window.

ESPN understand that both Tottenham and West Ham United have been offered the chance to acquire Maguire, with Erik Ten Hag said to be open to letting go of his club captain.

Ten Hag has also spoken about the future of Maguire in a recent interview, stating: "I'm happy he's here… it's also a decision he has to make [because] nobody would be happy with this situation."

CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs told The United Stand YouTube channel that Wolverhampton Wanderers could also become a contender to tempt Maguire with a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has suggested that Spurs marksman Kane would be content if his international teammate Maguire was to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

Jones told FFC: "He's a total professional, he's come through some really tough times if you think of the mental challenges that he's faced on the back of some of his performances. I think if Tottenham were to ask Harry Kane for his views on it, I don't think he would be too concerned about Maguire coming."

Would Harry Maguire be a good signing for Tottenham Hotspur?

Maguire has his critics, it is fair to say; nevertheless, he has shown impressive mental resilience over the last year or so and would offer an experienced head in the Spurs backline if he was to move to the Lilywhites.

In 2022/23, the Red Devils' captain made 31 appearances in all competitions for his current employers in total, as per Transfermarkt.

The 30-year-old has shown his awareness to dangerous attacking situations efficiently in the season just gone, making an average of 2.6 clearances per match in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.

FBRef also note that Maguire has excelled compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of aerial duels, winning around 3.01 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the top 12% for this metric.

Of course, some Tottenham fans would have doubts over the signing of Maguire due to his underwhelming time at Old Trafford, though he can still be a competent defender and has proved his worth at times for Manchester United over the last year.

A big update has emerged on Celtic and their efforts to find a new manager ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest on Brendan Rodgers to Celtic?

According to The Guardian, the Hoops are on the verge of completing a deal to bring Brendan Rodgers back to Parkhead.

The report claims that talks between the Northern Irish head coach and the Scottish giants have progressed well and a move back to Paradise is now 'all-but sealed'.

It states that the club believe that they have landed their man to replace Ange Postecoglou, who joined Tottenham Hotspur last week, and that his strong respect for majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has played a key part in his decision to return.

Is Brendan Rodgers a good appointment?

The 50-year-old coach could be a phenomenal appointment by the Hoops as he has the potential to be the perfect replacement for the recently-departed Australian chief.

During his two years at the helm, Postecoglou won five domestic trophies and proved himself capable of dominating Scottish football.

The 57-year-old won the League Cup and Premiership double in his debut campaign before completing the domestic treble this season by adding the Scottish FA Cup alongside the other two trophies.

However, the Greek-born tactician did not have it all his own way when competing in Europe.

Across the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League, he won three of his 14 games on the continent outside of qualifying matches and did not win a single knockout clash.

Rodgers could come in and replicate the impact that Postecoglou had at Parkhead as the Northern Irishman has already proven himself in Scotland.

During his two-and-a-bit year stint in Glasgow earlier in his career, the ex-Swansea boss won seven domestic trophies and won back-to-back trebles in his two full seasons in charge.

This shows that the 4-2-3-1 coach knows exactly how to dominate the league and cups in Scottish football, in the same way that the now-Spurs chief did in the campaign just gone.

The former Liverpool manager, who was hailed as "very confident" by his former captain and Anfield legend Steven Gerrard, also struggled in Europe whilst at Celtic.

He failed to get past the group stage of the Champions League in two attempts but did win four knockout games in the Europa League, which suggests that the talented boss may fare slightly better than Postecoglou on the continent.

Therefore, Desmond could be about to land a perfect replacement for the Australian boss by securing this deal for the free-agent Northern Irishman, who could come in and hit the ground running at Parkhead.

India captain Virat Kohli praised Yuzvendra Chahal as someone who “never says no” to bowling in any situation after the legspinner took 6 for 25 in India’s 75-run win over England at Bangalore

Deivarayan Muthu in Bangalore01-Feb-20172:05

‘We fought fire with fire’ – Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli has hailed the emergence of his side’s youngsters after they trampled England by 75 runs in the decider of the three-match series in Bangalore to add the T20 trophy to the Test and ODI series wins over the past three months.”We got the results we wanted,” Kohli said. “Obviously winning all three series feels really, really good right now because we’re up against a top-quality side. We understand that and to come on top after the end of all three series is a great feeling altogether knowing that we didn’t have that much experience in our teams.”The Test team is almost as good as new. Even in the one-day circuit, we have 3-4 experienced guys, but rest of the guys who stepped up are all youngsters, which is, I think, is a massive, massive boost for Indian cricket.”Kohli singled out wristspinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who led the hosts to a series win in Bangalore with figures of 6 for 25, an Indian record, for special praise. He was also pleased with the depth in the spin group, led by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were both rested for the T20 leg.”The key today was to take wickets in the middle overs,” Kohli said. “Chahal didn’t do such a bad job with that. I always back someone like Chahal. In the IPL too, I use him in most of the matches. He never says no to bowling with the new ball or bowling in the middle overs, so I mean having a guy like this is great. He doesn’t say no to any situation.”It was Amit Mishra who set the stage for Chahal by removing Jason Roy with a loopy legbreak in the seventh over before finishing with 1 for 23. Mishra’s last over in the 13th, which cost India just three runs, preceded Chahal’s third over in which the latter took down England’s big guns – Joe Root and captain Eoin Morgan. Kohli said that the wicket-taking ability of Chahal and Mishra would allow the management to rest Ashwin and Jadeja “whenever” they want.”See guys like Chahal and Mishy, who has done well for us in limited-overs and in Tests also,” Kohli said. “Jayant [Yadav] too came in beautifully and did very well for us in the Tests. It gives us an opportunity to rest Ashwin and Jadeja whenever we want. There is no harm in using them as Test specialists and keeping them fresh. Guys like Chahal and Mishra and even [Parvez] Rasool are bowling so well. So we have a lot of spinners who are not only run-containing bowlers but also wicket-taking bowlers.”Chahal and Mishra both have an attacking mindset. All I tell them is go for the wickets, even if you get hit for a six, no big deal. Having them as the next line of spinners is a great thing for us.”Suresh Raina, arriving in the second over of the match after Kohli was run-out for 2, showed that attacking mindset with the bat to lay the groundwork for India’s score of 202 for 6. He set off with a flair-dripping inside-out six over the cover-point boundary and often flitted around the crease to throw the bowlers off their lengths, a departure from India’s recent safety-first approach with the bat in T20s.”The way we batted was again a revelation,” Kohli said. “Even after me getting out initially, Raina and KL [Rahul] didn’t stop their instincts, which is needed in T20 cricket. To reveal themselves, to find their characters, players need to play that way. They don’t need to think about what has happened. They need to keep thinking and looking ahead. That’s exactly what we did this game.”Kohli also credited MS Dhoni and senior seamer Ashish Nehra for offering their inputs during various stages of the limited-overs series.”I take a lot of advice from MS and am always speaking a lot to Ashish Nehra too,” Kohli said. “In the ODI series, I was talking to MS a lot. Although I have captained in the Test format for a while, ODI and T20 games move very fast. So to take advice from a person who has captained the side at this level for so long and understands the game really well is never a bad idea in crucial situations.”Kohli revealed that he was looking to squeeze an over from allrounder Hardik Pandya and widen the equation further after exhausting Chahal’s quota, but instead turned to a strike bowler in Jasprit Bumrah after discussing with Dhoni and Nehra. Bumrah responded by sewing up the game and the series with two wickets in three balls.”Bringing on Bumrah right after that over from Chahal, I was thinking of giving [Hardik] Pandya another over instead,” Kohli said. “[Dhoni and Nehra] suggested that let’s not wait till the 19th over and instead bring on the main bowlers. So these things really help when you are a new captain in the limited-overs format. But again, I am not new to captaincy, but there has to be a balance between understanding the skills needed to lead in shorter formats. MS has been helping a lot on that front.”

Tim Bresnan, whose valiant batting narrowly failed to bring Yorkshire a third Championship title, has undergone a third elbow operation to try to restore some of the nip that made him an England allrounder

David Hopps22-Oct-2016Tim Bresnan, whose valiant batting narrowly failed to bring Yorkshire a hat-trick of County Championship titles, has undergone a third elbow operation to try to restore some of the nip that made him an England allrounder.After several seasons of managing the elbow injury that has afflicted him since 2011, Bresnan had a further operation on Monday to clean out the joint, bringing him hope that he can “get some of the old firepower back.”Bresnan set greater store by his batting in 2016 as his bowling standards slipped a little, his efforts culminating in his unbeaten 142 against the eventual champions Middlesex at Lord’s which kept Yorkshire’s challenge alive until deep into the final day.Bresnan averaged more than 48 in the Championship, more than any other regular Yorkshire batsman – outdone only by irregular contributors Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and the short-term overseas signing Jake Lehmann.”The surgery went really well and the post-op signs have been very positive,” Bresnan told Yorkshire’s website. “The surgeon has said that it wasn’t as bad as they thought it might be. They just removed a few spurs and bumps.”It should give me a better range and reduce the pain that I have had, which hopefully will help me to get some of my old firepower back. It’s feeling pretty good already and it’s just a case of easing back into my gym work over the coming weeks. I wouldn’t normally be bowling at this stage of the year so it’s worked alright.”Yorkshire’s physio Kunwar Bansil said: “Tim has had problems with his right elbow dating back to 2011. We have managed these problems over the past few seasons but there is now a window of opportunity following the end of the 2016 season to improve the symptoms. He has had key-hole surgery to clean out the joint and smooth off any rough edges.”It should result in an increased elbow extension range making him feel more comfortable when bowling. We are now five days post-op and the initial signs are really good. We envisage that he will be fully fit in a couple of months but there are no real time constraints due to the time of the year.”Bresnan first had an elbow operation late in 2011 to remove a bone fragment. He regained his England place, but his bowling returns supported the notion that his effectiveness with the ball had been somewhat diminished.Another operation followed before the 2013 season to remove extra bone and scar tissue, causing him to miss England’s tour of New Zealand, and though he returned to play in the back-to-back Ashes his Test career ended in Australia later that year.Flashback to Tim Bresnan’s Lord’s heroics•Getty Images

Arsenal are reportedly already looking ahead to the summer transfer window as the 2022/23 campaign comes to a close later this month.

The Gunners have enjoyed an expectation-exceeding season, with a top-two finish and Champions League football confirmed, Mikel Arteta’s side can still win the Premier League title, should Manchester City drop points in their remaining fixtures.

Not many at the club would’ve predicted the success this year would bring, however a lot of room for improvement remains, with a lack of squad depth seriously tainting title hopes in north London following defensive injuries.

The absence of Takehiro Tomiyasu and particularly William Saliba left Arteta with little cover in defence and a lack of quality to fill the void the Frenchman left in central defence.

Ahead of the summer transfer window, the Gunners have been linked to a number of potential signings, with news emerging this week that another former City star could join the ranks in north London.

What’s the latest on Joao Cancelo to Arsenal?

According to 90min, Arsenal are one of the clubs monitoring Joao Cancelo’s future in the summer.

Currently on loan at Bayern Munich after making a swift exit from Pep Guardiola’s plans at the Etihad, the £250k-per-week star is 'unlikely' to be reintegrated into the Spaniard’s squad next season.

The Bundesliga champions are reportedly against paying the €70m (£61m) fee to sign the right-back on a permanent basis, according to renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

90min, meanwhile, understands that Arteta is a fan of the versatile defender, who he believes would 'slot nicely' in his plans and tactical system heading into next season.

What could Joao Cancelo bring to Arsenal?

Once lauded by former City man Paul Dickov as “sensational” and being “right up there” with the best full-backs in the world, there is little doubting the quality Cancelo can produce.

After a tough year of unexpected change and being in and out of squads, the Portuguese has maintained a high level of performance among Europe’s elite, as shown by his numbers below, via FBref.

In terms of fitting into Arsenal’s young team, the experienced full-back could challenge the similarly versatile Ben White for a spot at right-back, and fits Arteta’s plans of having an attack-minded maestro, capable of playing as an inverted full-back in central midfield – a la Oleksandr Zinchenko but on the right.

As speculated by Football Insider, the Spaniard reportedly has an idea for a central role for the English defender mapped out, potentially leaving a vacancy at right-back for a player such as Cancelo to fill.

The 28-year-old wide player has similarities to White’s game, as shown through his statistics per 90 this season, as per FBref.

White averages 1.76 tackles per 90, as well as a huge 7.18 progressive passes per 90, showing his involvement going forward and transitioning play.

Cancelo top’s the England star for both, with 2.12 tackles per 90, as well as reading the game as an attacking full-back expertly by averaging 7.20 progressive passes per 90 – placing him in the top 3% for this area among Europe’s top five leagues in his position.

There’s no denying the talent the Portuguese star has in his locker, can Mikel Arteta be the one to settle the full-back after a challenging year?

That remains to be seen, though what is clear is the fact that Cancelo can be a mighty signing for the Gunners during the off-season and one that could either rival White or aid their defensive frailty.

Kalabagan Krira Chakra beat Kalabagan Cricket Academy by 29 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday

Mohammad Isam07-Jun-2016

Kalabagan Krira Chakra beat Kalabagan Cricket Academy by 29 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.After rain had stopped play on Monday, with KCA 35 for 4, they were bowled out for 128 in 39.2 overs. Kalabagan were 91 for 4 in 23 overs in reply before heavy rain suspended play on the reserve day as well. Kalabagan were found to be 29 runs ahead of the D/L par score at the end of 23 overs.Kalabagan’s sixth win helped them move to seventh place, leaving them with an outside chance of making it to the six-team Super League, provided other results on Wednesday and Thursday go in their favour.Nuruzzaman, the right-hand batsman, top-scored for KCA with 42, and was among only three batsmen in their top-seven to register double-digit scores, Myshukur Rahaman (17) and Mehedi Hasan Miraz (22) being the others. Nuruzzaman struck five fours in his 66-ball knock.Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak took three wickets while Kalabagan captain Mashrafe Mortaza and left-arm spinner Shahbaz Chouhan took two each.Hasanuzzaman, fresh from his 95 against Mohammedan Sporting Club, led Kalabagan’s reply with a 57-ball 47. He struck three fours and as many sixes before being caught at sweeper cover off Abu Jayed in the 21st over. Jayed, the right-arm pacer, finished with 2 for 15.If Brothers Union beat Legends of Rupganj at the BKSP-3 ground tomorrow, the relegation play-off will be redundant, sending KCA and Cricket Coaching School into next season’s Dhaka First Division Cricket League.

Burnley could reportedly make an ‘audacious’ move to sign Borussia Dortmund star Raphael Guerreiro this summer, despite their current transfer embargo.

The Lowdown: Clarets charged…

The Championship high-flyers were placed under a surprise embargo after failing to submit their financial accounts by March 1, the deadline to hand over necessary paperwork.

Vincent Kompany’s side will want this lifted as quickly as possible and especially before the summer, where they will more likely than not be preparing for life back in the Premier League.

Burnley’s boss is confident the issue will get resolved ‘very soon’ considering the reason they weren’t able to send over their accounts on time.

The club changed auditors last year, and in a statement, the Clarets wrote that was the main reason why their accounts weren’t sent over by March 1 – but they did provide other financial details to the EFL.

They are yet to have the embargo lifted but reports suggest Kompany and co are confident it will be rescinded by April.

The Latest: Guerreiro on Burnley radar…

According to 90min, Burnley are so confident their embargo will be lifted that they’re making transfer plans for the summer.

Indeed, reporters Sean Walsh and Graeme Bailey write that ‘sources have suggested’ the Turf Moor side ‘could make an audacious attempt’ to lure Dortmund star Guerreiro to Lancashire.

The 61-cap Portugal international is out of contract at the end of the 2022/2023 season, making him an enticing prospect for Burnley and other suitors on a free deal.

Leeds United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Wolves are also in the running.

The Verdict: Ambitious…

Guerreiro is a player of great experience and real quality with Man City even linked to making a move just last year.

The 29-year-old has enjoyed quite a decorated career at both club and international level, winning the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the Nations League three years later.

For Dortmund, Guerreiro has clinched domestic honours galore with two German Cups and a German Super Cup in his trophy cabinet.

According to WhoScored, the versatile left-back remains a key player under Edin Terzic – ranking as their fourth-best performing player by average match rating in the Bundesliga this season.

Guerreiro has racked up an impressive seven assists in that time whilst averaging Dortmund’s second-highest rate of key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).

Defensively, the former Lorient star has also made more interceptions per match than any Dortmund player.

It’s crystal clear to us that he would be a stellar signing for Kompany with superstar England international Jude Bellingham even once saying Guerreiro ‘runs rings around everyone’.

Cristiano Ronaldo faces six-pack competition from his new training partner, with son Cristiano Jr joining the Al-Nassr superstar in the gym.

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• Portuguese icon famed for his work rate
• Keeps himself in best possible shape
• Son following in famous footsteps

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Portuguese icon is famed for his relentless pursuit of perfection, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner having worked tirelessly to keep himself in the past possible condition. At the age of 39, he is showing no sign of slowing down on or off the pitch.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Even when he is not required to be at Al-Nassr’s training centre for collective drills, Ronaldo is reluctant to take a day off. Fortunately, he has a willing “partner” at home who is just as eager to tread a path to the very top of the game.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Cristiano Jr is now part of Al-Nassr’s academy system – having previously followed his father to Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United – and the 13-year-old is very much a chip off the old block. He has been showcasing his talents on the pitch of late, and boasts a physique off it to rival that of his famous dad.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Ronaldo will continue to push himself to the limit in 2024, with there more major silverware for him to chase down. He has helped Al-Nassr into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, taking his goal tally for the current campaign to 33 through 34 appearances in the process.