Leicester City could be set to lose one of their first-team stars in January, with a fresh report revealing that he is wanted by a huge club overseas.
Leicester City transfer news
Over the summer, Enzo Maresca’s side sanctioned the sales of nine players on a permanent basis, whilst a further three were sent on loan for the remainder of the season in search of more regular game time, and here is how the club’s outgoings panned out:
James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)
Victor Kristiansen (Bologna)
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United)
Boubakary Soumare (Sevilla)
Timothy Castagne (Fulham)
Luke Thomas (Sheffield United)
George Hirst (Ipswich Town)
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)
Caglar Soyuncu (Atletico Madrid)
Daniel Amartey (Besiktas)
Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
Jonny Evans (Manchester United)
The King Power Stadium outfit, however, might still be forced to cash in on even more next year, one in particular being Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has reportedly previously attracted significant interest from Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Foxes have now additionally received more attention regarding a favourite in the Midlands in the form of Kelechi Iheanacho, who is facing an uncertain future with his deal being set to expire at the end of the current term in the Championship (Leicester contracts).
The Nigerian striker was linked with a move to Crystal Palace, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Everton before the deadline in September, and whilst a switch failed to come to fruition at the time, the 27-year-old is believed to have gained an admirer from overseas.
Kelechi Iheanacho transfer update
According to FC Inter News, sharing a transfer update on Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester are set to face a battle to hold onto their centre-forward who is wanted by Inter Milan, but it's stated that they are yet to make a decision on whether to pursue a deal.
“Among the players proposed is also Kelechi Iheanacho, a 27-year-old Leicester striker who will also expire in 2024. For the moment in Viale della Liberazione it's availability is recorded, but before arriving at a verdict it will be necessary to make several evaluations on the characteristics of the Nigerian.”
Leicester City strikerKelechi Iheanacho.
How many goals has Iheanacho scored?
Since the start of his career, Iheanacho has racked up an impressive 133 contributions, 86 goals and 47 assists, in 292 appearances, which shows how “prolific” he is in the final third, as hailed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig (Transfermarkt – Iheanacho statistics).
Sponsored by Nike, Maresca’s left-footed ace also ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion so he has strong link-up play with his fellow teammates in and around the opposition’s penalty area (FBRef – Iheanacho statistics), and he can do more than just lead the line.
The Foxes’ £80k-per-week earner (Leicester salaries), has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline, including out wide on the left and right wings alongside as a second striker, so retaining his services is vital and he definitely deserves to be offered a new deal.
USMNT U23 star Gianluca Busio has revealed his ambitions for 2024, which include promotion with Venezia and a role in the Paris Olympics.
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Busio reveals 2024 Olympics ambitions
Focused on promotion campaign with Venezia
Prepared to fight for midfield role with USA
WHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to , the midfielder revealed that he believes his current form with Venezia – and his partnership with fellow U.S. international Tanner Tessman – could put them both in a position to be on the roster for the Paris Olympics.
The Venice-based club are second place in Serie B, and the American duo have anchored the midfield the entire campaign. However, Busio himself is primarily focused on promotion before he turns his attention to the Summer, a time where he believes there will be 'no offseason' as he shoots for a roster spot.
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WHAT BUSIO SAID
“The team is a good group,” Busio said of the U-23 USMNT roster, led by Marko Mitrovic. “We have good young players in MLS, and in Europe. It's pretty cool because we have guys in very different situations. Some guys who are pushing to get to Europe, some guys who are just starting in MLS, stuff like that. And it's just cool to see the different experiences [and] the different aspirations. Everybody has the fire. You can tell it's a really talented group. Everybody is showing it at some level. This is going to be really special group together.”
The 21-year-old added that the Olympics, he believes, are a dream for any young athlete, and with them slowly closing in, it's hard to keep them out of the back of his mind.
“A lot of Americans, especially athletes, grew up watching Olympics, not just soccer,” Busio said. “I was watching every sport there. Once I heard we qualified to through the U-20s, I was already locked in. I wanted to try to push for a spot on the team. Now that it's coming closer and closer – it's in the back of my head. My main priority now is in Venice right now. But as soon as the season is done, it's not really offseason. It's preparing for the Olympics because that is a goal of mine and something that I really want to play in. It’s a huge priority.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
With only 18 players available on the entire roster, there will be some tough cuts in the center of the pitch for many of the young players in the pool. With the likes of Aidan Morris, Joshua Atencio, Tessman, Yunus Musah, Rokas Pukstas and Benja Cremaschi all competing for what will likely be narrowed down to four spots, the competition will be fierce. That's not to mention the possibility of players like Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams competing as one of the select over-age players, or an age-eligible Gio Reyna as well.
Teams will be allotted three players over the age of 23 for a sense of veteran leadership on the pitch, while the 15 players will have to be compromised of players under that set age.
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WHAT NEXT FOR BUSIO AND THE U23 USMNT?
Busio, who was called in for both October and November U23 USMNT windows, will look to report back this March with Mitrovic's squad when they take on a Thierry Henry-managed France side in an international friendly on March 25. It will be good experience for the U.S. squad, with the French seemingly having a heavily stacked side of young talent who play for top European squads across Europe.
Looking to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Leeds United will have their eye on January reinforcements, hoping to hand Daniel Farke a major boost. So far, the former Norwich City boss has had an inconsistent spell at Elland Road, with things starting to improve just before the international break.
That said, if the German is handed a substantial budget to work with when the winter window opens, he could really cement the Whites' Championship play-off chances. And those in Yorkshire will now be boosted by the incoming money from one particular sale, which could result in some crucial arrivals.
Latest Leeds United transfer news
During the summer, Leeds did well to weather the storm of several departures, welcoming the likes of Joel Piroe and Ethan Ampadu in the process. Piroe has got off to a particularly strong start, finding the back of the net a total of seven times in 12 games. Farke could yet be handed a financial boost to welcome players of a similar level to his new star striker too, following the latest Raphinha transfer news.
According to Football Insider, Leeds are set to receive a £21m installment from Barcelona for their deal to sign Raphinha back in the summer of 2022. The installment is set to arrive before January as part of the initial £55m deal. That fee could yet be used to pay off some of Leeds' own debts, rather than be sent entirely the way of Farke to welcome additions.
Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear did recently state that the manager will have funds available, however, telling the Supporters' Advisory Board, via The Yorkshire Evening Post: "Also, discussion about funds, if needed in January, due to injury, will be available. The greater value in January will be from the loan market, [the club] have deliberately kept two loan spots free.”
Since making the decision to leave Leeds, Raphinha's stats show that he has endured a mixed spell at Barcelona. The winger has scored just 12 goals and assisted a further 15 in 57 appearances in all competitions. Certain numbers arguably prove that there is still a player ready to set the world alight there, however, as per FBref.
Player
Assists Per 90
Progressive Passes Per 90
Non-Penalty Goals Per 90
Raphinha
0.42
4.43
0.38
At his best, Raphinha has earned high praise, too, including from former teammate Daniel James, who told FIFA: "He’s a magician. He’s always been a great player – I played against him at United and he was always great – but he’s improved so much. He fully deserved his Brazilian call-up and I think since he got it, he’s pushed on even more, he’s even more confident. He can do absolutely anything on the pitch. It’s great playing with him."
At the time, the winger's exit would have hurt Leeds, but as it continues to pay out, they may well face the benefits both on and off the pitch, especially when the transfer window opens.
West Bromwich Albion have been given a boost after learning that one of their first-team stars is available for today’s game vs Preston North End in the Championship.
What's the latest injury news at West Brom?
At the Hawthorns, Carlos Corberan is currently without the services of Josh Maja and Daryl Dike, both of who are yet to make any kind of significant progress with their own respective injuries, and they aren’t the only ones that have been sidelined for a longer period of time.
According to medical expert Dr Rajpal Brar, Adam Reach isn’t expected to return to training until at least November, with December being earmarked as the month that could possibly see him once again being introduced to the starting squad in the Midlands.
The Baggies, however, have received some good news on Erik Pieters, who was forced off the pitch with muscle tightness during the 0-0 draw against Millwall earlier this month which saw him miss a day’s training due to fatigue.
The Dutch left-back has been a key player for the boss so far this season having firmly established himself as the Spaniard's top-performing defensive player, so the following positive update regarding the 35-year-old’s fitness should bring a huge smile to the face of supporters at the Hawthorns.
Is Erik Pieters set to return for West Brom?
Taking to X on Friday, The Express and Star’s Lewis Cox confirmed that Pieters will be available for West Brom when they travel to Deepdale to take on Preston. He wrote:
“Morning! Semi Ajayi returns to training today and Albion will assess him after defender rolled an ankle late on against Millwall. Fellow defender Pieters fine for trip to unbeaten Preston after late withdrawal last week.”
West Bromwich Albion defender Erik Pieters.
How good is Erik Pieters?
According to reliable journalist Josh Bunting, Pieters is a “superb” defender and he’s certainly proved that following his strong start to the new campaign, therefore, it will come as a huge boost for Corberan to have him at his disposal for West Brom.
The Unique Sports Group client, who earns £15k-per-week, has made a total of 11 tackles so far this term which is the second-highest number throughout the squad with Conor Townsend being top on 12, via FBRef, alongside averaging 2.1 clearances per second-tier game, highlighting his desire to get stuck into challenges and win back possession for his team.
Sponsored by Nike, the left-footed ace is also a versatile operator having been deployed in five various positions over the pitch since first bursting onto the scene, including at wing-back and in the midfield on both the left and right flanks, as well as at centre-back, making him a fantastic option to have in the building.
Whilst Corberan does have Townsend as the other senior option available to him in the same position as Pieters, the fact that he’s started six out of the eight matches this season hints that the latter is his preferred choice, so he will be happy that his star is back to full fitness.
India are in town, and that usually means packed stadiums anywhere in the world, but Old Trafford on Tuesday will be some way short of a full house. With the T20I coinciding with England’s round-of-16 FIFA World Cup clash against Colombia, the fans who do show up will be forgiven if they glance at the replay screen a little wistfully, wishing they were watching Alli rather than Ali.There will be a lowish-key feel to this game, and in some ways it isn’t a particularly significant one, the fate of most T20Is when a World T20 isn’t looming large. But this game could have knock-on effects on the weeks and months ahead. This is the first India-England clash of a long summer of India-England clashes, an opportunity to land an early punch or two.Both teams will also use these games to build towards next year’s 50-over World Cup, and gear their white-ball game towards the flat batting conditions expected in this part of the world.England’s standing as world cricket’s most fearsome ODI line-up is predicated upon their treating ODIs as extended T20 games. Having made 221 in their last T20I, at Edgbaston last week, they will want to show they can flex their batting muscle just as much against an Indian attack containing the swing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the wristspin of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.India, for their part, know they are only one or two ingredients short of a line-up that could be as relentlessly aggressive as England’s. The search for those ingredients, however, has been long and frustrating, and it isn’t over yet. One priority is finding a settled slot in the top four for KL Rahul, and the other is figuring out which of the other options – of whom Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey and Suresh Raina are part of their current squad – is the best fit at No. 6.If India can find answers to those questions on Tuesday, and if England continue their barnstorming batting form, Old Trafford might even forget the football.
Form guide
England: WWLLL (last five completed games, most recent first) India: WWWWW1:24
Morgan ready to experiment with batting line-up
In the spotlight
England’s stand-in coach Paul Farbrace may have said it isn’t so, but is Joe Root‘s place in England’s T20 line-up under threat? Given the riches of explosive talent around him, and given the imminent return of Ben Stokes from injury, Root might need to make a couple of defining contributions against India to reinforce his value in the shortest format.He had a sensational IPL as a wicket-taker in the Powerplay overs, and with Jasprit Bumrah out injured, there’s no better time than now for Umesh Yadav to stake a claim to be part of India’s first-choice T20 attack.
Team news
England (probable): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Alex Hales, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 David Willey, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Adil RashidIndia (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 KL Rahul, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Dinesh Karthik/Manish Pandey, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
Pitch and conditions
Old Trafford usually offers more pace and bounce than other English pitches, though not a lot of seam movement. The pitch for the fifth England-Australia ODI here just over a week ago provided some turn as well, and Moeen Ali prospered to pick up a four-wicket haul. The pitch for Tuesday’s game is a different one, though Kohli noted in his pre-match press conference that it looked a little dry. Expect both teams, therefore, to play two spinners.The weather leading up to the game has been warm and dry, with temperatures in the mid-to-late 20s (Celsius). No rain is expected on Tuesday.
Stats and trivia
England have a 6-5 win-loss record against India in T20Is, and have won all three of their meetings in England so far.
Virat Kohli is eight runs short of becoming the first Indian, and the fourth batsman overall, to 2000 in T20Is. Rohit Sharma isn’t too far behind – he needs 51 to get there.
Umesh Yadav has only played two T20Is so far, the first in August 2012 against Sri Lanka and the second last Friday against Ireland. He missed 65 matches between his two appearances – an Indian record. One of his potential opponents on Tuesday, Liam Plunkett, holds the overall record for matches missed between T20I appearances (74). Incidentally, Plunkett’s gap years also came between his debut and second match.
Kuldeep Yadav (11.2) and Yuzvendra Chahal (13.0) have the best and third-best strike rates among all spinners who have bowled in ten or more T20I innings.
Quotes
“We expect England to come hard at us. And we certainly want to play positive and hard-fought cricket. It’s going to be an exciting series for sure, we believe that we have the side to put up a great fight.” “Generally it is a different challenge particularly when you play against subcontinent teams. It normally exposes sides like ourselves and South Africa and Australia to spin, reverse swing, different challenges to that we are normally used to.”
With football's ever-growing popularity and commercial reach, football kits have increasingly become seen as fashion pieces as well as representations of the teams that wear them.
It's not just clubs, though; international teams will regularly release one or two new kits every year, especially when there is a tournament on the horizon, and with Euro 2024 fast approaching, expect to see a raft of shirts released in the coming months.
With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of the 12 best shirts ever worn at the European Championships.
12
Poland 2012
Kicking off the list is an inclusion that may surprise some: Poland's home shirt from their European Championships on home soil in 2012.
While the tournament was excellent, with Poland and Ukraine being fantastic hosts, the men in white and red didn't do much on the pitch.
They took two points from their first two games courtesy of two 1-1 draws. However, the draw against Russia on matchday two was almost seen as a win given that the visitors scored first and the fierce rivalry between the two teams. Unfortunately, a loss to the Czech Republic in their third game meant they finished rock bottom of their group, but they looked good doing it.
Poland tend to make great shirts most years, but this simple design with the rectangle across the chest, an eagle in the middle and a badge off to the side all come together to make an excellent, modern kit that wouldn't look out of place today, 11 years on.
11
West Germany 1988
Okay, we're going a little further back in time for this one.
Germany have a history of producing quality designs for international tournaments. Something about that white and black base just looks brilliant regardless of what else they do to it. That said, for our money, their 1988-1990 effort is their best to date.
The 1988 competition was staged in West Germany, and while the team made it out of their group – beating Spain and Denmark in the process – they were beaten in the semi-finals at the hands of eventual winners, the Netherlands.
The top itself is undeniably iconic. The plain white base with the German flag printed across the front in Adidas' best template is instantly recognisable, and Germany even modelled their 2018 kit on the design.
10
England 2021
The first England entry on the list, and like every other shirt here, it's a corker.
If we are being honest, England shirts can often be quite dull. You can't do much with an almost entirely white top, but for Euro 2020, Nike found a way to make it far more interesting.
The thick navy collar combined with the jagged stripes up the side gives some much-needed intricacy to the shirt, and we just love the badge's central placement – why can't all badges be central?
The tournament itself was a memorable one for the Three Lions as the cross-continent nature of the competition meant that they played most of their games at home, including a memorable round-of-16 win over Germany.
Alas, it was still England, and so it inevitably ended in penalty shootout heartbreak as Italy clinched the title in a tightly contested final at Wembley Stadium.
9
England 2022
england-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023
Back-to-back England, but the Lionesses' shirt for the 2022 European Championship deserves to be on this list.
Where the men came agonisingly close to lifting what would've been the country's first European title, the women went one better. The final was once again held at Wembley Stadium, only this time, the opposition was Germany. It was a fantastic spectacle, with England clinching it in extra time, much to the delight of a sold-out crowd.
The shirt itself was also a stunner. It didn't have the navy detailing of the men's, instead featuring a faint diamond pattern base with an iridescent Three Lions and Nike tick.
8
Sweden 1992
Much like in the domestic game, in international football, some teams are instantly recognisable from the colour of their shirts alone, and Sweden are a great example of that.
The rich yellow and royal blue colour combo is unmistakably Swedish, and it just so happens to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing combinations as well.
With so many iconic kits to choose from for the Swedes, we have opted for their 1992 home shirt. It has everything you'd want from a Sweden top: a rich yellow base, royal blue stripes that pop from a mile away, and a chunky retro collar with a perfectly placed Adidas logo at its base.
The competition itself took place in Sweden and was a relative success for the Swedes, as they made it out of their group and to the semi-finals, where they would be beaten by Germany.
7
Italy 2021
Few international football teams look as stylish as Italy, and their effort for the 2020 European Championship is no different.
When picking the best Italian shirts, you are spoilt for choice, but we reckon this is their best effort to date. The two-tone blue base looks brilliant on the pitch, and the Renaissance-inspired print just gives it that edge over some of their plainer designs, as do the collar and gold detailing.
It was also a tournament to remember for Gli Azzurri as they went in as dark horses and ended up winning it all after breaking English hearts in the final at Wembley Stadium.
6
England 1996
Okay, this is the last England shirt, we promise – but it is a beaut.
1996 is one of those years that has become mythologised in English football. It was a tournament that made people genuinely believe the team would finally lift some silverware again, and in front of a home crowd as well.
The game against Scotland and Paul Gascoigne's goal live on and are instantly recognisable for England fans – even for those who weren't around to see it – but as it always does, the tournament ended in penalty disappointment for the Three Lions, once again at the hands of the Germans.
That said, at least the team looked good, thanks to this brilliant shirt from Umbro. The incorporation of electric blue around the number and along the chunky collar really helped the shirt to pop, and a central badge always helps make a shirt look better.
5
Denmark 1992
Scandinavia's second representative on the list, Denmark, have produced some stunning kits over the years, but we reckon their home shirt for the 1992 European Championship takes the cake.
The 1986 top might get more attention, but the design and history attached to this one give it the edge. The plain red base paired with the striped red and white sleeves really makes this top stand out amongst other red and white shirts – and we just love a retro collar.
1992 is probably the greatest year in Danish football due to the fact that they – somewhat surprisingly – won the European Championship that year. It was surprising for a couple of reasons: one, for as good as they were, they were underdogs compared to teams like Germany and the Netherlands; and two, they didn't even qualify for the tournament.
The Danes only entered the competition after Yugoslavia were disqualified following the breakup of the country and the ensuing violence.
4
USSR 1988
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR, might not exist anymore. Still, when they did, they had an excellent track record in international tournaments – and an even greater record of beautiful kits.
The 1988 European Championship was the last Euros they appeared in, as they played as the Commonwealth of International States (CIS) for the 1992 edition of the tournament following the dissolution of the state.
1988 was a massively successful tournament for the team, though, as they beat England and the Netherlands in the group stage before beating Italy in the semi-final. Unfortunately, they couldn't do the double over the Dutch in the final, and they would have to settle for second at their last-ever Euros.
The shirt itself was a stunner. The base was red and white and used one of Adidas' best-ever templates, while the collar and detailing made it stand out from the others that used the same base design.
3
Croatia 1996
Now, this one might be a bit marmite in that some will love it – like us – and some will probably hate it, but you just cannot make a list like this and not include Croatia's iconic shirt, specifically the 1996 edition.
The checkerboard pattern is certainly garish; there's no getting away from that, but it's unique, eye-catching and instantly recognisable. The tricolour detailing around the collar and sleeves takes it up another level and comfortably makes it one of the three best kits ever worn at a European Championship.
The team themselves had a reasonably impressive tournament that year, with group-stage wins over Turkey and Denmark – who were then the reigning champions. However, they were ultimately knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Germany.
Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 49, coupled with Usman Khan’s two wickets propelled Pakistan towards a series win against Scotland, thumping the hosts by 84 runs in the second T20I
The Report by Danyal Rasool13-Jun-2018Leask 3-31) beat Scotland 82 (MacLeod 25, Faheem 3-5) by 84 runsAnother T20I masterclass from Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik propelled Pakistan towards a series win against Scotland, thumping the hosts by 84 runs in the second T20I at the Grange. Under overcast conditions with a light drizzle threatening to interrupt the game for most of the match, Shoaib exploded – much like the first game – in the last few overs, smashing five sixes as he blitzed 49 off 22 to help Pakistan surge to 166.Unlike Tuesday, Scotland were never quite in the hunt for this one, losing George Munsey off the third ball, and never quite managing any momentum that might suggest a real contest could be on the cards. They were untidy with their running, rushed with their strokeplay and generally uncomfortable in the face of a sensational Pakistan in the field. It was a much improved bowling performance from the visitors, spearheaded by Usman Khan, who came in for Mohammad Amir, and registered figures of 2-0-4-2. Scotland began to fall away rather dramatically towards the end, with no less than three players run out as Kyle Coetzer’s men were bundled out for 82.There was some drama before the start, with Cricket Scotland officials and the television production team locked in an argument over using a fresh pitch for this game. The TV crew were concerned their cameras couldn’t be in line with the bowler at one end of the pitch, the result being a slightly askew broadcast angle from the Pavilion End. It’s the sort of drama people associate, sometimes patronisingly, with cricket on the Associate landscape.But Scotland wouldn’t have wanted the haphazardness to extend to their on-field performance. Pakistan got off to a flying start again, though Scotland were unfortunate not to have Fakhar Zaman out in the first over. Chris Sole extracted both an outside and an inside edge in the first six deliveries, the former put down in the slips, the latter narrowly missing the stumps. Both went for four. Sole had bowled an excellent first over, and conceded 12 runs.Shehzad and Zaman put on 60 for the first wicket, but Scotland, just as they had done in the first game, struck back in the middle overs. The runs were restricted right up until the last two overs, with batsmen unable to kick on from starts in the face of tight, disciplined bowling from Scotland’s bowlers, particularly Mark Watt and Michael Leask.Peter Della Penna
But Shoaib Malik came to Pakistan’s rescue once more, with a whirlwind last two overs, scoring 32 of Pakistan’s 34 runs as they turned a slightly below-par score into an imposing one of 166. He was put down at the end of the 19th over on the long-off boundary, a simple catch that Leask failed to hold on to. Just as Tuesday, the drops cost Scotland dear in the field as Shoaib went on to score 14 in the final over, leaving Scotland to ponder how to improve their fielding against a quality opposition like the one they faced today.The pitch looked no worse than the one used on Tuesday, where 200 seemed about par. But the change of pitch today meant the long-on/ midwicket boundary from one side of the ground was 10 meters larger, and shots that would have comfortably carried over the ropes on Tuesday were being caught inside the boundary on the field, including a spectacular tag-team catch and relay effort from Dylan Budge and Watt to claim Sarfraz at deep square leg. That restricted Pakistan to the relatively modest 166, and made it arguably a more searching chase than the previous one might have been.However, at no stage of the Scottish innings did their batsmen begin to establish any sort of relationship with the boundary rope. Pakistan circled around them in the infield, and the pitch looked a fair bit faster when the Pakistan bowlers were operating on it. Usman isn’t a regular starter for Pakistan, but when in form, almost always seems to make a match-winning difference. He hurried on to the batsmen, and as the rain began to get slightly heavier, the Scottish mood began to match the Edinburgh weather. They could do little more than shuffle around for ones and twos and get the odd boundary, but it was never nearly enough to challenge the ever-rising asking rate.It was unfortunate to see the home side losing their heads towards the end, with a couple of unnecessary run-outs easing Pakistan’s way to an inevitable win they didn’t need any help with. Calum MacLeod was the man at the other end for all three of Scotland’s run-outs, but you’d be hard-pressed to blame him for any of them, what with the Pakistan fielders prowling, looking to save every run as the asking rate bounded out of sight. Faheem Ashraf came back to polish off the last two wickets, giving his figures a shiny new look by the end, having taken three wickets for five runs.By the end, Pakistan’s dominance was so absolute, it was easy to forget the strides Scotland have made over the past few years. It would be harsh to focus on the manner of the defeat, and more prudent to reflect on the professionalism with which Pakistan have moved on from a Test series against England to a T20I series in Edinburgh, never letting their focus waver, and fielding a full-strength team when several others might have chosen to rest players. It was apt respect to pay to a side that has very much earned it over the last week.
USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie could return to the Premier League with negotiations on a new deal at Juventus reaching a stalemate.
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Midfielder exploring potential return to EnglandContract expires at the end of next year, no extension immediateHas tallied nine assists this season in all competitionsWHAT HAPPENED?
McKennie's contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and there has been little movement on a new deal for the 25-year-old. The Italian club might be looking to cash in as a result, as they are willing to accept a €20 million (£17m/$22m) bid for their star midfielder, according to . The reports would seem to counter talk that the Bianconeri are prepared to offer McKennie an extension.
AdvertisementWHAT MCKENNIE SAID
In January, the midfielder asserted that his second spell at Juventus is an opportunity to return to his best: "When I left Leeds, I knew I had a bad showing. I knew I didn’t have the time that I thought I was going to have or that maybe I should have had. It put me in a mindset that when I came back here to Juventus, I was starting brand new. I’m going back to Juventus like it’s my first time. I have to prove myself all over again.”
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
McKennie has seized a role in central midfield for the Bianconeri, starting 24 Serie A games this season and tallying seven league assists. Juventus are third in the Italian top flight, and seem well positioned to return to the Champions League ahead of the 2024-25 season.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE
The USMNT midfielder seems poised to be a part of the Juventus midfield going forward. He is set to feature on March 17, when his side take on Genoa.
Allrounder included in England’s 14-man squad to face India after recovering from hamstring tear
ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2018Ben Stokes has been recalled to England’s 14-man squad for the three-match ODI series against India, having recovered from the hamstring tear that ruled him out of the second Test against Pakistan in May, as well as the subsequent limited-overs fixtures against Scotland and Australia.The ODI leg of India’s tour gets underway on July 12 at Trent Bridge, the scene of England’s world-record innings of 481 for 6 against Australia earlier this month, and by then Stokes is expected to have tested his fitness by playing in the Vitality Blast for Durham against Yorkshire at Headingley on July 5.England ODI squad v India
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Mark Wood
Assuming he comes through that match unscathed, Stokes could be in line to make an early comeback in the third of England’s three T20Is against India, on July 8 at Bristol – the scene of his last ODI appearance on home soil in September 2017.Despite his lengthy period on the sidelines, and the success of England’s white-ball team in his absence – they achieved a 6-0 clean-sweep against Australia in ODIs and T20Is this month – the England management have no doubt about Stokes’ importance to their first-choice XI.”Ben is a three-in-one player,” Paul Farbrace said ahead of the squad announcement. “He can bowl and he is the best fielder. You are going to bring him in as soon as he is available. It might mean another shift in your batting order but he’s not a bad bloke to be coming into your team.”Stokes’ return means bad news for Sam Billings, the Kent captain who has failed to grab his opportunities in his intermittent outings in England’s power-packed middle-order. He made 12 from 14 balls as England tripped up in their run-chase against Scotland at the Grange earlier this month, and 11 from 18 balls in his solitary outing against Australia at Cardiff, when Eoin Morgan pulled out with a back spasm on the morning of the game.Billings will, however, get a high-profile opportunity to restate his credentials when he leads Kent in the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup, against Hampshire at Lord’s on Saturday.England’s other notable injury absentee, Chris Woakes, has not been recalled to the squad at this stage, as he is still recovering from a torn right quad and a long-standing knee injury. However, if he proves his fitness, he could be added to the squad during the latter part of the ODI series.Sam Curran, who made his ODI debut against Australia at Old Trafford last week, having also made a Test debut against Pakistan earlier in the season, has been excluded from the squad, with his brother, Tom, ahead of him in the pecking order now that he has recovered from a niggle.