Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the T20Is against India with a left ankle sprain and is also in doubt for the two-match Test series.Ngidi was due to play in the first two T20Is and then a domestic four-day match starting on December 14 in preparation for the Tests. But he will now be assessed by Cricket South Africa’s medical team before a decision is made on his availability for that fixture.Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks, who has played 19 T20Is for South Africa but none since July 2021, has been called up as a replacement.That leaves South Africa without three first-choice bowlers for the T20Is, after Kagiso Rabada was rested for the series and Anrich Nortje was ruled out for the entire tour as he recovers from a lower-back stress fracture. But they still have a strong selection of quicks to pick from. Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Ottniel Baartman and Hendricks, along with allrounders Nandre Burger and Andile Phehlukwayo, are all in the current squad. However, Jansen and Coetzee will be released after the first two games to play red-ball cricket ahead of the Tests.None of the frontline quicks will play in the ODIs, with Baartman and Williams to lead an attack that includes Burger, Wiaan Mulder and uncapped Mihlali Mpongwana.South Africa’s two experienced spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, have been included in both white-ball squads with Maharaj also part of the Test set-up.

Atalanta fans are stupefied by the club's decision to sign Southampton flop Ivan Juric to replace Roma bound head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Atalanta sign Juric to replace Gasperini Fans of Atalanta unhappy with the signing Previously sacked by Southampton and RomaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Gasperini left Atalanta this summer after having spent nine years with La Dea, as the legendary Italian coach signed with AS Roma. The latter side had been on the lookout for a replacement for the retiring Claudio Ranieri, and signed Gasperini as head coach on a three-year contract. In the follow-up, Atalanta decided to sign former Roma boss Juric, who had been sacked by Southampton in April after leading the Saints to an early relegation from the Premier League. Atalanta fans are now questioning the 49-year-old's signing despite his last two jobs having ended with a sacking.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

X user @LeandroComo wrote: "Percassi and Paglicua intentionally want to find THE WORST manager in Serie A history to destroy the club.. Ivan Juric is an absolute flog. How is this guy still working?? Sacked always. Please go away, Juric."

@VujatovicAlex added: "Football's so odd man, had an absolute stinker with Southampton and then gets a role at a top-five Serie A club."

@SportsTraderIT wrote: "WHY????? He was bad with Roma, relegated in the Premier League, and he is getting hired by Atalanta."

Southampton fan @JustSaints_ joked: "Ivan Juric returning to a top Serie A job after winning one match in the PL, relegating Saints FC, playing Joe Aribo at centre back & smoking a few cigs at the training ground."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In all fairness, Juric has had to contend with a fair few issues at both Roma and Southampton, as he had to lead both sides without any preseason. He had taken over from Daniele De Rossi just a month into the season at I Giallorossi before he was ultimately sacked as well after less than two months. The same happened during his stint with the Saints, where he took charge of an underwhelming squad from Russell Martin.

WHAT NEXT FOR JURIC?

Despite the move seeming to be a weird decision, Juric has proven to be a very tactical manager during his time with Torino, and Atalanta will be hoping that the stylistic similarities between Juric and Gasperini will make the transition less turbulent than it could have been.

As interest continues to arrive over Eberechi Eze’s signature, Crystal Palace have reportedly turned their attention towards a talented attacking midfielder who could replace their star man.

Man Utd interested in Eze

Among the clubs interested in Eze are Manchester United. The Red Devils are desperate for reinforcements this summer, and as Ruben Amorim searches for the perfect attacking midfielder to slot straight into his 3-4-2-1 system, Eze could be an ideal choice.

The Crystal Palace star has once again been vital for Oliver Glasner’s side, who find themselves in an FA Cup semi-final and pushing for a top-half finish.

Glasner is certainly well aware of Eze’s importance too, albeit in a “strange season”, having told reporters after Crystal Palace thrashed Fulham 3-0 in their FA Cup quarter-final tie: “I think Ebere has had a strange season, he hasn’t had many goals in the Premier League and he has been unlucky, but he keeps going, he’s also struggled with strange injuries.

“The goal against Latvia and his first for England means a lot for him. He always has the confidence, we know he’s an amazing finisher to cut inside on his right foot with an amazing finish. We need this quality, he helped us today massively.”

Mateta swap deal: Crystal Palace could now get chance to sign £70m+ striker

He desperately needs a move.

2 ByTom Cunningham Apr 4, 2025

It’s the type of quality that has attracted those at Old Trafford, who will reportedly have to splash out as much as £60m if they are to lure the England international away from Selhurst Park this summer.

Palace, of course, have eventually managed to cope without Michael Olise following his departure to Bayern Munich last summer. Now, they’ve reportedly set their sights on a player who could replace Eze in the event of his exit this time around.

Crystal Palace racing to sign Sem Steijn

Already preparing for the worst, the Eagles have reportedly set their sights on replacing their star man. According to The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now battling to sign Sem Steijn from FC Twente this summer, having already sent their scouts to watch the talented attacking midfielder in action in recent months.

The 23-year-old has got better and better in recent seasons, culminating in an incredibly impressive campaign and his best yet in the Netherlands. Scoring 26 goals and assisting a further six goals in all competitions prior to this weekend, it should come as no surprise to see the likes of Jacek Kulig sending praise the Dutchman’s way.

The football talent scout rightfully described Steijn’s season as “amazing” following a campaign which has attracted the interest of Palace, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, among others.

If Eze does depart this summer, the impressive Dutchman should sit top of Crystal Palace’s list of potential replacements.

The South Africa captain flayed 102 off 63 balls as she and Marizanne Kapp dominated Sri Lanka

Firdose Moonda27-Mar-2024

Laura Wolvaardt struck her first T20I century as South Africa racked up their second-highest total in the format to start their series against Sri Lanka in emphatic fashion. They won the opening fixture of the three-match series by 79 runs, after posting 198 for 5 and bowling Sri Lanka out for 119 in the first meeting between these two sides since the last T20 World Cup.On that occasion, South Africa lost to Sri Lanka in the tournament opener but went on to reach the final, and since then, the teams have faced contrasting fortunes. South Africa have played ten completed T20Is and lost seven; Sri Lanka have played 12 matches and won seven. But, recent form counted for nothing when Sri Lanka sent South Africa in to bat on a flat Benoni pitch.Tazmin Brits was dismissed in the third over and Marizanne Kapp sent in to No.3, and made the most of the opportunity for more time in the middle. Wolvaardt and Kapp shared a second-wicket stand of 116.Kapp recorded her fourth half-century in the format in an innings laced with cut shots but it was Wolvaardt who took centre stage, with 12 fours and three sixes, including a gorgeous hit over extra cover. She reached fifty off 39 balls and a hundred off 61 to finish with a strike rate of 161.90 – well above her career strike rate of just over 111.18.The only real disappointment from the South African innings was the run-out of Sune Luus, who was playing in her 115th T20I – the most by any South African – but had an outing to forget. Luus left the field in the second over of Sri Lanka’s innings after she dug her knee into the turf while chasing a ball to the boundary. She returned in the fifth over.Sri Lanka used six bowlers, all expensive, and Achini Kulasuriya was the most successful. Her 2 for 39 included the wickets of Wolvaardt and Kapp, consolation for a poor fielding effort. Both Wolvaardt and Kapp were dropped in their innings – Wolvaardt in the 60s and Kapp in the 20s, and they made Sri Lanka pay.Sri Lanka have never scored above 182 in a T20I, let alone chase that much and they suffered a massive early setback as they began their task. Kapp had Chamari Athapaththu caught behind off the final ball of the opening over, with a delivery that shaped away and took the edge. Kapp bowled only two overs as Wolvaardt shared the workload around either side of a rain break.Sri Lanka’s innings was interrupted after seven overs, with their score on 48 for 2, but no overs were lost. On resumption, they needed 151 runs in 13 overs and only Harshita Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera, who scored 38 and 30 respectively, and put on 44 runs for the third wicket gave them any chance. Sri Lanka were bowled out inside 19 overs to give South Africa a series lead.

أعلنت قناة مفتوحة عن إذاعة مباراة منتخب مصر الأول أمام بوركينا فاسو والتي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وتقام مباراة مصر ضد بوركينا فاسو، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثامنة من التصفيات المؤهلة إلى مونديال 2026، على أرضية استاد 4 أغسطس.

ويخوض منتخب مصر اللقاء تحت قيادة المدير الفني حسام حسن، الذي يأمل في قيادة الفريق للفوز على حساب بوركينا فاسو ومواصلة تصدر جدول ترتيب المجموعة، وحسم بطاقة التأهل إلى كأس العالم.

وتضم المجموعة الأولى كلًا من مصر، بوركينا فاسو، سيراليون، جيبوتي، إثيوبيا وغينيا بيساو، ويأمل الفراعنة في تعزيز صدارتهم والتأهل رسميًا إلى نهائيات كأس العالم.

طالع | حازم إمام يُدافع عن تريزيجيه: كان أفضل من محمد صلاح.. والهجوم ضده مبالغ فيه

ويتصدر منتخب مصر ترتيب المجموعة الأولى برصيد 19 نقطة من 7 مباريات، متفوقًا على بوركينا فاسو صاحب المركز الثاني بـ14 نقطة. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة مصر وبوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

ومن المقرر أن تذاع المباراة عبر قناة 2 mbc masr، وكذلك قناة ssc

ويسبق اللقاء بساعة استديو تحليلي موحّد على القناتين يقوم بإدارته: ابراهيم فايق، ويتواجد كل من: محمود عبدالرازق (شيكابالا) ومحمد بركات وأحمد عز ومحمود فايز. معلقو مباراة مصر وبوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

وسيعلق على المباراة كل من فارس عوض على  2 mbc masr وعصام عبده على ssc.

Jofra Archer is now England’s rising star, but a few years ago he was sleeping on the floor at his friend’s

George Dobell10-May-2019Jofra Archer has, at times, been forced to take the scenic route to international cricket.Not so long ago, he was reduced to sleeping on a friend’s floor as his pursuit of a career in the game was threatened by a series of back injuries. Struggling to make a dent even in club cricket – his team wanted him to bowl them to league success; he could provide only a few overs before the pain became too great – he found himself representing what might best be described as a pub team with team-mates who, let’s put this delicately, probably wouldn’t challenge him in the bleep test.Jon Filby, now chairman of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, takes up the story.”I formed a team in 1985 with my good friend Gavin Bailey,” he says. “We’re called the Two Hopes who, as everyone knows, are ‘Bob’ and ‘No’. It’s social cricket, really, and every couple of years we arrange a tour of the west country. By 2015, I was 55 years old and, while there were some younger guys in the side – some good cricketers – we had no great pretensions.”Anyway, when the fixtures came through for our tour that year we had a bit of a shock. We had been scheduled to play against some pretty strong county league sides and feared a bit of a mismatch. So my son, Tom, asked a team-mate of his from Slinfold Cricket Club – the Bajan allrounder Akeem Jordan – whether he would like to come along and strengthen us. He said yes, but could he bring his friend, Jofra. ‘Great,’ we said. There was no payment, or anything like that, but we said they could stay with us.”The first thing that struck us all about Jofra was his manners. We had hired a big house in West Looe and there were about 20 of us staying there. Anyway, every morning my partner and I would cook breakfast for everyone. Jofra helped out with both the cooking and the washing-up and immediately struck up a good rapport with everyone.”Jofra Archer (front row, middle) poses with his Two Hopes CC team-mates•Jon FilbyArcher had come to England in 2014. Chris Jordan, who he had met in the nets in Barbados, had suggested to Archer that he should try to use his UK passport (his dad, Frank, had been a driver on the London Underground for many years before retiring to Liverpool) and encouraged him to come to Sussex. But while the club monitored his progress, there was no contract and very little income.In those first couple of years, he played for Middleton-on-Sea in the Sussex Cricket League. He was clearly talented, but the back injuries were persistent – as they often are in young, fast bowlers – and there were times he couldn’t bowl. In one game, Archer reduced Cuckfield to 8 for 5, taking all five wickets, but then couldn’t bowl any more. Cuckfield recovered to go on and win and, while Archer was popular, there was just a little frustration about his inability to deliver the overs his side wanted.So he found himself at a loose end and was able to join Akeem and the rest of the Two Hopes in Cornwall. With Filby deciding it probably wouldn’t be in the spirit of things to unleash two Barbadian fast bowlers on their unsuspecting opposition, it was instead decided they would bat at No. 6 and No. 7 “if required”.They were required rather sooner than might have been expected. Their opponents that day, Lanhydrock CC, soon reduced them to 26 for 4 when Archer strode out to join Filby. It soon became apparent that, however quick Archer was between the wickets, there weren’t going to be many threes run.”I have lovely memories of batting with him,” Filby says. “I think we only put on about 25 but, what I really remember is, when I was out, he put his arm round my shoulder and walked me most of the way back to the pavilion. The funny thing is, just over a year later, I saw him do exactly the same thing on Championship debut after he had added 160 for the seventh wicket with CJ [Chris Jordan]. On that occasion, Jofra was out and he and CJ walked most of the way back to the pavilion commiserating with one another.”Jofra Archer and Akeem Jordan take a breather out in the middle•Jon FilbyFilby’s dismissal brought Jordan and Archer together. And together was where they stayed for the next couple of hours, both registering centuries and adding 180 together in increasingly fluent fashion.”It’s a beautiful place to play cricket,” Filby says, “with the pitch in the grounds of a National Trust property. There was a large metal fence at one end of the ground which protects cars visiting the property from cricket balls. But in the later stages of the innings, both of them started to challenge each other to see how many balls they could hit over it. Quite a crowd developed. It was obvious we were watching something a bit special.”Neither man bowled when Lanhydrock batted, but Archer kept wicket and, in Filby’s words “did it beautifully”. The Two Hopes won by ten runs.”I was a bit worried Lanhydrock might feel we had duped them,” he says. “Some clubs might not have liked us turning up with these two young guys who were clearly a class above. But they put on a BBQ for us in the evening and were perfect hosts. Jofra and Akeem impressed everyone with their cricket and their friendliness.”At that time, Jordan was the more successful cricketer. He played as an overseas cricketer for several years in Sussex and Archer, until weeks before his breakthrough in first-class cricket, was sleeping on his floor. Filby noticed that Archer, in particular, had no money to spend and ensured his plate was always full at breakfast and tea. “I used to wonder when else he ate,” he says now. “He had things really tough for a while. It’s lovely to see things work out for him.”Roles are reversed now. Archer is already established as something of a superstar in T20 cricket and would appear to be on the brink of an exciting international career. Really, his future looks golden. Jordan, meanwhile, recently broke into the Combined Campuses and Colleges side in Caribbean regional cricket – he claimed a five-wicket haul in the semi-final of the Super 50 Cup before his side completed a shock by defeating Guyana in the final – but a first-class debut remains elusive. Even after Archer made his own Sussex debut, however, he could be seen going to watch Slinfold CC play to support his old friend.Jofra Archer receives his cap from Jon Filby•Jon FilbyIt is remarkable the role chance has played in Archer’s success, though. Not only was he fortunate to be able to utilise the UK passport he inherited from his father, he was also thankful for something of a fixture disaster which saw him handed a first-class debut that might, possibly, not have happened otherwise.Sussex, you see, were involved in a T20 match in Cardiff on July 7, 2016. There’s nothing unusual in that, you might think. But that game finished at around 10pm and, 13 hours later, they were due to play Pakistan in a first-class match at Hove. Only three men from that T20 side were included in the tour game and Archer, who had by then played a bit for Sussex 2nd XI but was still without a contract, was given his chance. He claimed two wickets in his first spell – Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood – and later added Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali. Within days, he had signed his first county contract, and the rest is history.But let’s get back to Cornwall. The day after the Lanhydrock game, the Two Hopes took on Falmouth. But there was to be no repetition of Archer’s success. Instead he was dismissed second ball but, rather than moping about his failure, he did what every could club man does: he took stints as both scorer and umpire. He remains good friends with many of those with whom he played on the tour and not so long ago turned out to support a Sussex Cricket Foundation event.”He hasn’t changed at all,” Filby says. “He’s as humble and modest as ever; the most unassuming superstar you could hope to meet.”So any chance of a recall for the Two Hopes? “He’d be very welcome,” Filby smiles. “But we think he might have bigger fish to fry these days.”

Trevor Hohns and his selection panel made three big calls for the Brisbane Test – and they all contributed as Australia closed in on a series lead

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba26-Nov-20170:48

‘I’d rather be in our change room than theirs’ – Starc

Australia’s selectors made six changes for this Test. That, for the mathematically challenged, is more than half the team. Not since 1998 had Australia so significantly revamped their side between two Tests – on that occasion between Bangalore in March and Rawalpindi in October. It worked: Australia won by an innings in Rawalpindi and took the series. The final outcome this time remains to be seen, but Australia’s selectors would so far be satisfied with their decisions.Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were always going to return in Brisbane after Steve O’Keefe and Ashton Agar formed part of a three-man spin attack in Chittagong, and Usman Khawaja’s recall was expected in home conditions after Hilton Cartwright replaced him for a Test in Bangladesh. But the remaining three changes were more fundamental shifts, and all three of those inclusions have contributed significantly in this Test.Shaun Marsh, chosen to replace Glenn Maxwell, contributed 51 in the first innings at the Gabba. It was a teaser of an innings, a start that will ensure Marsh retains his place in the side, but which could have turned into something bigger. Still, Marsh’s contribution to a steadying 99-run stand with Steven Smith cannot be underestimated – even if Maxwell scored 278 at the same time in a Shield game in Sydney. Maxwell is waiting, but Marsh has played a useful role in Brisbane.It was widely expected that Matthew Wade would lose his place having averaged 20.23 since his recall last summer at the expense of Peter Nevill. Wade was preferred due to his batting skills, and a lack of runs meant his position had become untenable. What was not anticipated was that his replacement would be his Tasmania team-mate Tim Paine, a man who has barely kept in the past few Sheffield Shield summers, and who had not scored a first-class hundred since 2006.Paine’s controversial inclusion, and the description by national selector Trevor Hohns of him as the best wicketkeeper in Australia, meant he would always be under immense scrutiny. A difficult dropped chance off Nathan Lyon’s bowling in the first innings was thus heavily analysed. Paine needed one really sharp piece of work to ease the pressure, and it came when his quick hands whipped the bails off when Moeen Ali leaned forward and dragged his foot on to the crease off the bowling of Lyon.Few people seemed confident in the appeal, but Paine was adamant Moeen was in trouble. The third umpire Chris Gaffaney agreed, albeit in a decision that created much debate. The dismissal of Moeen was all down to Paine, and came at an important time: England’s lead stood at 129, and Moeen’s departure precipitated a collapse of five wickets for 40, which in turn left Australia chasing a very gettable 170 for victory.Cameron Bancroft leans into a drive•Getty ImagesAnd that chase brought into play Australia’s other new man, the debutant opener Cameron Bancroft, chosen to replace Matt Renshaw, who had been struggling for runs in the Sheffield Shield. Bancroft fell cheaply in the first innings, prodding tentatively and edging behind, and the importance of this second innings for him should not be forgotten. Two failures on debut would have heaped the pressure on to a young man of intense disposition.Bancroft has incredibly high expectations of himself – he was struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg during this Test, and Mitchell Starc only half-jokingly said Bancroft was disappointed in himself at missing the chance – and likes always to be in the game. He has opened in all 123 of his first-class innings and only once, while opening with Kurtis Patterson for Australia A, has Bancroft not faced the first ball of the innings.But if Bancroft walked to the crease with a lot on the line, he left the ground on the fourth evening having banked his place in the team. His composed, unbeaten 51 had taken Australia to within sight of victory and a 1-0 Ashes scoreline, and his 114-run stand with David Warner will, barring a catastrophe on day five, become just the seventh century opening partnership in successful Australian Test chases.Bancroft looked unhurried at the crease, but was willing to attack when the opportunity presented, as when he lofted Moeen over long-off for the first six of his Test career. He is the first Australian opener to make his debut in an Ashes Test since Michael Slater in 1993 – Slater likewise scored a fifty on debut and went on to a long and fruitful career.Australia’s selectors picked Bancroft on his irresistible form, Marsh for his experience and Paine for his glovework. With Australia on the brink of victory and each of those men having made valuable contributions, Hohns and his panel will consider their decisions justified.

Chelsea haven’t been in the same high-flying form they started this Premier League campaign with, losing four of their last eight games in all competitions, including a 1-0 loss against Arsenal, a 2-1 loss against Aston Villa and back-to-back losses against Brighton.

However, despite their poor run of form, Enzo Maresca’s side still find themselves fourth in the Premier League table with nine games left to play as they enter the final stretch for UEFA Champions League qualification.

Chelsea are the Premier League’s joint-fourth top scorers, netting 53 times in 29 games so far, but whilst their defensive numbers have improved this season, Maresca will still be keen to refine this area of the pitch next season, looking to add personnel that fits his tactical ideas both on and off the ball.

Chelsea want to sign Premier League defender

Having kept a clean sheet in three of their last six games in all competitions, signing a new defender may not top Maresca’s bucket list this summer but they are on the lookout for a new centre-back, nonetheless.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Blues have been linked with a move to bring Marc Guehi back to Stamford Bridge from Crystal Palace but he’s not the only Premier League star on the club’s radar.

Indeed, according to reports from Spain, via SportWitness, Chelsea are in the race for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, and will challenge the likes of Real Madrid for the 19-year-old defender’s signature in the summer transfer window.

The report mentions that Maresca will be a key figure in this deal, with the Italian reportedly being in “direct contact” with the defender’s entourage for “years” after playing for Malaga in Spain, the same academy Huijsen was with from 2015-2021.

Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that the Spanish defender has a £50m release clause, which will become active in the summer, valid for all clubs with no limitations around the deal. Romano also stated, ‘movements around the defender have already started.’

How Dean Huijsen compares to Fofana & Colwill

Bournemouth made the signing of Huijsen for a fee of around just £12.6m, with add-ons potentially taking the deal to a total of £15.2m.

That has proven to be a bargain with the 19-year-old making 27 appearances for the Cherries this season, scoring twice and contributing to six clean sheets in his 2,093 minutes played.

The number of minutes he’s played is particularly important here. That’s because no other teenager in the top-flight this term has played more often than him.

So, what could he offer to Maresca’s set-up and how would he improve the make-up of this Chelsea backline?

Well, when comparing Huijsen to both Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, you can see the Bournemouth defender is a combination of the two.

Goals + Assists

0.12

0.00

0.07

Progressive Carries

1.38

1.46

0.37

Progressive Passes

4.20

2.46

4.04

Pass Completion %

83.5%

90.2%

89.6%

Passes into Final Third

5.80

4.15

4.70

Tackles

1.49

1.00

1.26

Blocks

1.70

1.08

1.07

Interceptions

1.92

1.08

1.04

Aerial Duels Won

2.55

2.08

2.52

Indeed, Huijsen provides the aggressive duel qualities to win aerial and ground battles, make tackles and blocks, but also has the on-ball silk to pick passes, making 5.80 passes into the final third per 90 minutes.

Notable scout Jacek Kulig has labeled the 19-year-old as a “phenomenal” young centre-back who has “maturity far beyond his years” and it is clear to see why he has such a long list of suitors with these qualities.

The Spain international has the ability to partner either one of Colwill or Fofana next season, possessing both the on-ball qualities needed in Maresca’s back line – usually acquired by Colwill’s inclusion – and also having the defensive capability to step up, defend high and win his duels.

Having these three as centre-back options next season could give Chelsea and Maresca a much better chance of taking that next step and eventually challenging for a title.

Maresca can forget Neto & Nkunku by starting Chelsea "genius" in new role

Enzo Maresca could have a solution to his current Chelsea centre-forward issue.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 27, 2025

Andy Robertson labelled Liverpool target Florian Wirtz an "exciting talent" as the Reds aim to wrap up a deal for the exciting Germany playmaker.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Liverpool step up Wirtz pursuitReds ready to shell out club-record feeRobertson spoke out on potential signingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 22-year-old playmaker is on the verge of joining the Reds in what could become the most expensive transfer in British football history. Although negotiations are still ongoing between Liverpool and Leverkusen, reports indicate that a deal has been struck, with only the payment structure left to finalise.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Should the €150 million (£127m/$171m) deal be completed as expected, Wirtz’s move to Anfield would eclipse the £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo, setting a new benchmark in Premier League transfer spending. He had a sensational campaign in Germany, scoring 16 goals and assisting 15 times, spurring the Merseyside club to break the bank for the Germany international.

WHAT ROBERTSON SAID

Speaking to , Robertson shared his thoughts on the player Liverpool fans hope to soon welcome to Merseyside.

"He was excellent against us (Scotland, at Euro 2024) I do remember that," he said.

"Obviously that game was extremely tough for us, but he was excellent, he was the one causing us problems in the half-space, running in behind, he can mix it up. I haven't seen too much of him but I have played against him and that was enough to see he was going to be a top player. We played Leverkusen in the Champions League this year as well and we dominated that game a bit more as well, so it was probably a bit more difficult for him, but certainly in the German team against us he was excellent.

"We're certainly linked with him, that's for sure! You can't miss it, you can't not see it. But if we get him through then an exciting talent is through the door. We've already got a lot of exciting talent in there. He's a right good player. He'll only help us, and if he does get through the door then we'll be excited to play with him."

DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool’s triumph in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign took many by surprise. Now, with the club crowned champions once more, Robertson acknowledges the shift in expectations heading into next season.

"I think that [pressure] is something that we're going to need to deal with," Robertson said. "The lads that have been there for a while. Me, Virgil, Mo and Ali, after we won the league the last time, we were kind of used to the pressure.

"For a lot of the lads that won it for the first time this season, and the lads coming in, they'll feel the pressure for the first time. We'll be favourites and there will certainly be more expectation on us than there was at the start of last season. That kind of suited us last season, we could go under the radar, get off to a good start, and by the time people took us seriously we were probably too far ahead!"

Nottingham Forest are having a brilliant campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo and there is every chance their progress could secure Champions League football, which is bound to appeal to prospective summer targets.

Nottingham Forest could enjoy a transformational summer window

At the beginning of the season, there wouldn’t have been too many Premier League fans who would’ve had Nottingham Forest on their bingo card to finish in the Champions League slots.

Nevertheless, the Tricky Trees have put themselves in a remarkable position with nine matches left to play, potentially paving the way for an exciting market period at the City Ground.

Pushing their level of ambition to the limit, Nottingham Forest have made contact with Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres’s representatives. The Sweden international is viewed as an ideal long-term replacement for prolific marksman Chris Wood.

Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham is also of interest to the East Midlands-based outfit. Securing a mercurial return to Europe’s top table doesn’t seem to be enough for Espirito Santo, so it is no surprise he is aiming to cement their status as one of the most exciting sides in the English pyramid.

While their efforts in the Premier League could reap significant rewards, Nottingham Forest still find themselves in contention for the FA Cup and evidence that silverware is achievable at the City Ground is only likely to further their scope for savvy recruitment.

Nottingham Forest in ongoing talks over signing record £60m+ star for Nuno

He could be a fantastic addition this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 23, 2025

Undoubtedly, the temptation to shell out big fees for premium talent will be on the mind of Evangelos Marinakis. However, value for money appears to be king under Espirito Santo’s reign if their latest target’s contract situation is anything to go by.

Nottingham Forest position themselves for cut-price Yoane Wissa deal

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are set to reignite their attempts to sign Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and could land the in-form frontman for a ‘reduced price’ of between £15-20 million, as per Pete O’Rourke.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international will enter the final year of his deal at the Gtech Community Stadium this summer and is viewed internally as ‘smart business’ should the Tricky Trees manage to push an agreement over the line.

Yoane Wissa’s excellent season for Brentford

Appearances

30

Goals

15

Assists

2

Shot-creating actions (Premier League)

49

Non-penalty Expected Goals (Premier League)

13.6 XG value

Labelled “remarkable” by Bees boss Thomas Frank, he has also managed to create 17 chances and take 117 touches in the opposition’s penalty area this campaign on league duty, illustrating his capacity to bring others into play.

Stepping forward to fill the void left by Ivan Toney’s departure, Wissa has proven himself as a Premier League starter and may be cashed in on by Brentford to avoid the scenario where he departs on a free transfer in 2026.

Seizing their opportunity, Nottingham Forest will now hope to convince the 28-year-old that committing his future at the City Ground is the best course of action in light of the club’s upward trajectory.