Carlos Corberan will be aiming to finally win promotion up to the Premier League as a manager with West Bromwich Albion next season, having experienced the sour taste of play-off agony twice now with both the Baggies and at former employers Huddersfield Town.

West Brom getting knocked out in the semi-final stages last season definitely still stung for the Spaniard, but he has also experienced the deep sorrow of a defeat at Wembley in a Championship play-off final, losing 1-0 to Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest back in 2022 to deny the Terriers top-flight football.

One member of that despondent Huddersfield group could even link back up with Corberan if everything goes to plan.

West Brom interested in move for £1m rated star

According to football journalist Alan Nixon, the Baggies could reunite their manager with one of his ex-Terriers stars in the form of Sorba Thomas this summer, with the Welsh winger itching for a move away from the John Smith's Stadium after his side's relegation down to League One.

Yet, even as Michael Duff's men now stare third-tier football in the face, they will not be easily intimidated into getting rid of Thomas for a low price, with Nixon further stating that a £1m price-tag has put above the 25-year-old's head which West Brom might view as too steep.

This could allow for FC Nantes to race to the front of the queue and land Sorba's services instead, with West Brom only paying one fee for an incoming so far this transfer window, as the Baggies continue to operate as wheeler dealers in the market.

What Thomas would offer West Brom

With no Matt Phillips now at Corberan's disposal, West Brom need more reinforcements down the right wing to keep the likes of Tom Fellows and Grady Diangana on their toes.

Therefore, West Brom might just have to break the bank slightly in order to land Thomas at the expense of their French competitors, with the Welshman champing at the bit to link back up with Corberan again.

The 25-year-old attacker was even purchased by the Spaniard from non-league Boreham Wood when the Baggies boss was still occupying the dug-out in West Yorkshire, with the best patch of form of his career to date coming under his watchful eye.

Described as "sensational" by pundit Ali Maxwell, Thomas would amass three goals and 16 assists during the 21/22 season for Huddersfield in all competitions, which ended in the ultimate disappointment of play-off heartbreak, before struggling the season after Corberan's departure, with just six assists managed and zero goals scored.

Games played

43

Goals scored

3

Assists

12

Touches*

43.6

Big chances created

19

Shining for the Terriers as an assist king from many a set-piece, with a staggering 19 big chances created across that same campaign, the likes of Kyle Bartley and Brandon Thomas-Asante will love accompanying Thomas onto the Hawthorns turf knowing that he will be able to put chances on a plate for them to power home.

He will also fill a gap left behind the aforementioned Phillips departing, who was also known to deliver a killer ball into the danger area across his long-standing Baggies career, with 31 assists tallied up from 255 West Brom clashes.

Also capable of scoring a vital strike like Phillips managed with this late effort against Watford in 2016, with four goals bagged last season for Huddersfield even as his relationship became strained with the West Yorkshire outfit, this could be a deal that suits all parties well if a move gets over the line.

West Brom must sell their wanted man who's worth more than Mowatt

West Bromwich Albion might look to cash in soon on this inconsistent dud.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 11, 2024

Arsenal have made their approach to sign an out-of-the-ordinary target, with both Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta personally in agreement over one key transfer wish.

Arsenal eye new midfielder as Thomas Partey could leave

According to recent reports, Arsenal chiefs still expect midfielder Thomas Partey to leave this summer, as the Ghanaian enters the final season of his contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Related Arteta reconsiders signing £200k-per-week star with Arsenal poised to move

The Gunners have pulled a U-turn.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 20, 2024

Partey made just 14 Premier League appearances for Arsenal in a 2023/2024 season blighted by fitness issues, so the 31-year-old is being regularly linked with a north London exit.

Saudi sides are believed to hold an interest in Partey, as well as clubs in the Turkish Super Lig, but it is unclear as to how much Arsenal will want for their star who they signed for around £45 million from Atletico Madrid in 2020.

Thomas Partey's stats in all competitions for Arsenal

Appearances

115

Goals

5

Assists

4

Bookings

24

Red cards

1

Minutes played

7,794

(Transfermarkt)

In any case, they've been scouring the market for potential Partey replacements, and midfielders who can come in to provide that extra bit of competition for Declan Rice and Jorginho in the centre of the park.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been on Arsenal's radar for some time, and his contract includes a £51 million release clause. Arsenal are apparently willing to pay the £51m price for Zubimendi, but the difficulty lies in persuading the Spaniard to leave his club.

“Midfield is still a high priority, and we know that Arsenal have had a long-standing interest in Martin Zubimendi," said journalist Ben Jacobs to GiveMeSport.

“And the challenge there is about persuading the player to leave Real Sociedad because he's very much in love with the club and the culture, lifestyle, so he's settled. But because he's in his mid 20s, not early 20s or a teenager, it's kind of a crossroad, because once you turn 26, even though that's your peak, a lot of clubs like to buy a little bit younger. So we wait and see whether Arsenal move in that direction.”

Meanwhile, another previously reported target for Arteta's midfield, Amadou Onana, has now joined Aston Villa – shutting the door on any proposed move to Emirates for now.

Benfica starlet Joao Neves has been linked with an Arsenal move, but reports suggest he could cost as much as £102 million to prise away from the Primeira Liga.

Arsenal make approach for Mikel Merino after Edu and Arteta wish

According to The Daily Mirror and journalist Ryan Taylor, another midfield player in their thinking is Zubimendi's club and international teammate, Mikel Merino.

The former Newcastle United man enjoyed a terrific Euro 2024 campaign with Spain, scoring the winner against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals, and has entered the final year of his contract at Sociedad.

The Mirror claim Arsenal have made an approach to sign Merino and gauge the costs of a potential deal, with separate reports claiming he'll cost around £25 million.

Both Edu and Arteta are said to be keen on signing a new midfielder and agree that it is something they should pursue before deadline day. Taylor says Merino is an out-of-the-ordinary target for Arsenal who does not fit their usual profile, but his experience and availability are big draws for the club.

Stephen Fleming has stepped back from his role as Trent Rockets’ coach in the Hundred, with Andy Flower confirmed as his replacement.Fleming, the long-term head coach of IPL side Chennai Super Kings, took part in the competition’s inaugural draft in October 2019, but opted against travelling to the UK this summer. It is understood that Fleming had intended to bring his family over, but was unclear whether he would be able to do so with the country still in lockdown and decided to resign from the job.”I’m really disappointed that I won’t be coach of the side this summer but ultimately family has to come first,” Fleming said. “The current global crisis has made it very difficult to travel and the extra time needed for quarantines has made it hard to get the right work/home balance.  Andy is a world-class coach with experience all over the world and I’m sure the Trent Rockets men’s team will have a fantastic first season of the Hundred with him behind them.”Related

• The Hundred to launch with women's fixture on July 21

• The Hundred – men's draft announcements

• The Hundred – full 2021 squad lists

• Flower: Looking after the person more important than developing the player

Flower, his replacement, has a growing reputation as a franchise coach. He is currently with Multan Sultans in the PSL after leading them to the top of the group stages in his first season. He has also coached Maratha Arabians to an Abu Dhabi T10 title, finished as a runner-up with St Lucia Zouks in the CPL and Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10, and worked as Kings XI Punjab’s assistant coach in last year’s IPL.Flower was involved in the Rockets’ recruitment in Monday’s draft, which saw them sign Timm van der Gugten and Samit Patel to complete their squad. However, it is understood that some squad members were unaware of the change of coach until Tuesday.”Stephen will be a tough act to follow, but the guys put together a really strong squad in the original draft with a mix of international and local talent,” Flower said. “We have built on it in this draft with van der Gugten and Patel joining.”Flower’s appointment will reignite the debate over the absence of any British head coaches in the men’s Hundred, which came in for criticism when jobs were initially offered in 2019. All eight head coaches in the men’s competition are from overseas, though the majority of support staff are British.Jonathan Batty will replace Lydia Greenway as Oval Invincibles head coach•Getty Images

There has also been a change of head coach in the women’s competition, with Lydia Greenway stepping down from her role at Oval Invincibles. She will be replaced by Jonathan Batty, the former Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and Surrey wicketkeeper, who was in interim charge of South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy last summer.It is understood that Greenway is still likely to be involved in the competition as a commentator, having previously worked for both Sky Sports and the BBC.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is personally after a £30 million alternative option to striker Gabriel Jesus, and it is believed the player in question has his heart set on a move to the Premier League.

Edu and Arteta targeting new striker for this summer

Helped by sporting director Edu, the general consensus for a while has been that the north Londoners are keen to bring in a new number nine ahead of another title tussle with Man City next season.

Edu plans move to sign ex-Gunner with £50m Arsenal ace tipped to quit

The Gunners are ready to move.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 9, 2024

Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz netted 51 goals between them in all competitions last season, with the latter proving very effective in his makeshift forward role despite a slow start to his debut campaign at the Emirates.

Arsenal's top scorers in all competitions last season	Goals
Bukayo Saka	20
Leandro Trossard	17
Kai Havertz	14
Martin Odegaard	11
Gabriel Jesus	8

However, it is believed Arsenal still want a new natural striking option, and have been linked with a host of very interesting names. Reports out of Portugal recently stated that Arsenal have held talks over signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, and even Napoli star Victor Osimhen is on Edu's radar as they work their way through targets.

The Gunners attempted a deal for RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko earlier this summer, as widely reported by reliable media sources, but the Slovenia star instead decided to sign a new contract with his current club.

After failing in their pursuit of Sesko, Edu is rumoured to have been working on different striker targets since. Ajax star Brian Brobbey, who scored 22 goals and assisted 12 more in all competitions last season, is on the Gunners' list.

The 22-year-old's impressive season in the Eredivisie earned him a call-up to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024, where he will soon face off against England in the semi-finals on Wednesday evening.

Arteta personally wants Brobbey at Arsenal

According to The Sun, Arsenal boss Arteta personally wants Brobbey as an alternative to Jesus, but Man United manager Erik ten Hag is also a real admirer of the Dutchman and considering an attempt to bring him to Old Trafford.

As a result, both sides could be set for a tug-of-war over Brobbey, amid claims he'll cost around £30 million to prise away from Amsterdam. Taking into account the forward's impressive goal tally, £30m could be seen as a bargain price, leaving little wonder both Arteta and ten Hag go head-to-head for Brobbey's services.

"Because he is so fast and strong, he was very annoying for the defenders of PSV and dangerous for Ajax," said former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk after Brobbey's performance against PSV Eindhoven in the KNVB Cup final last year.

"Leave Brobbey alone. In my eyes, he should always play. Otherwise, Ajax will have too many attackers who want the ball in their feet and the team will be too predictable."

In a few days, Liverpool will step into August, the month of the "crescendo" in the transfer market, according to new sporting director Richard Hughes.

Liverpool are the only team in the Premier League yet to complete a major signing this summer as Arne Slot implements his brand of football at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp's swansong season restored stability and Champions League football, bagged the Carabao Cup, but now the Merseysiders must fight to rise further.

Can that be achieved without one or two impactful adjustments? The pragmatic undertones emanating from the club point toward a low-key conclusion to the summer's business, but that's certainly not to say that an exciting upgrade won't be brought in at one area or another.

Wataru Endo served as the specialist No. 6 last season, signed from Stuttgart for £16m after FSG fumbled other targets, but Marseille have bid for the Japanese, 31, already this summer and his conservative ball-playing style doesn't quite align with Slot's fluid, fast-moving system.

As such, Liverpool would be wise to strengthen further in defensive midfield, with an exciting up-and-comer already lined up.

Liverpool's search for a midfielder

According to a report from Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb at the weekend, Liverpool have registered an interest in Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup, having been arrested by his tough-tackling quality.

Genoa would entertain offers of €25m (roughly £21m) for the Denmark U21 international, and with Aston Villa also known suitors, Slot and Co will need to act quickly to secure the talent's services.

What Morten Frendrup would bring to Liverpool

Genoa signed rising starlet Frendrup in a shrewd €3.5m (£3m) deal back in 2022, with the deep-lying midfielder since rising to a strong position in Italian football, having amassed 89 appearances, notching ten goal contributions.

One of Europe's finest tacklers, Frendrup's 133 tackles in Serie A last season played an instrumental part in Genoa's comfortable campaign. Atalanta's Ederson, another Liverpool transfer target, recorded 83 tackles in second place, some 50 behind the 23-year-old.

Indeed, as per FBref, Frendrup ranks among the top 1% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 13% for interceptions and the top 17% for blocks per 90, emphasising his imperious quality in protecting his backline.

His impressive six-assist haul last season also hints toward a ball-playing quality that hasn't quite been able to be showcased at Genoa, such is the direct, counter-attacking style of football under Alberto Gilardino.

But at Liverpool, that all could change, allowing the exciting prospect to realise his lofty potential at the heartland of Slot's system. Endo could play an important role over the coming campaign, but he's probably not the solution in the biggest moments when ball-playing fluidity needs to be at its apex.

Frendrup must be signed and moulded into a world-beater.

Why Frendrup would be an upgrade on Wataru Endo

Frendrup might not have been able to showcase his passing quality to the extent that Liverpool scouts might have liked, but there's little question that he boasts the technical and athletic acumen to rise to the fore under Slot's wing, learning Liverpool's ways.

Genoa's tactical approach precludes ball-playing fluency of that calibre anyway. Last season, as per Opta, Genoa ranked 11th in Serie A for passes per sequence, at a rate of 3.09.

This direct style of play presented Frendrup with a tough task in utilising his passing range to his maximum, instead, the Dane was tasked with enforcing his steely authority in the middle of the park.

Moreover, the outfit's lack of average zonal control aligned with Genoa's 16th-place ranking for possession in the Italian top flight last term. This is all a roundabout way of suggesting that Frendrup would grow into the ball-focused role at Liverpool, for it is prioritised by Slot and his tactical team.

Endo, for example, completed 80% of his passes in the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign, whereas the Japan international averaged an 88% pass success rate last season with the Reds.

One thing that Endo didn't bring to the Premier League was defensive strength, not in the way that a top team like Liverpool requires. As you can see below when comparing his metrics to Frendrup's, the industrious Liverpool man simply doesn't have the kind of mettle to protect the backline that is required.

Morten Frendrup vs Wataru Endo (23/24)

Stats

Frendrup

Endo

Matches played

37

29

Matches started

36

20

Goals

2

1

Assists

5

0

Pass completion

81%

88%

Touches per game

46.8

54.4

Tackles per game

3.6

1.7

Interceptions per game

1.4

0.7

Key passes per game

0.4

0.6

Recoveries per game

5.3

3.7

Dribbles per game

0.4 (67%)

0.3 (67%)

Ground duels won per game

5.8 (61%)

2.9 (41%)

All stats via Sofascore

As you can see, Frendrup is a far superior defensive player, with his mobility, energy and enthusiasm in recycling possession and quashing attacking efforts leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to describe him as a “midfield machine”.

He's just far more robust, ready to provide Liverpool with the kind of zest and zeal needed in the engine room to supercharge Slot's budding system.

While signing Frendrup, who is admittedly untested as a natural free-flowing passer, comes with an element of risk, he has ample talent to see him skyrocket to the upper echelon of holding midfielders in Europe.

Perhaps it would be wise to keep Endo on the books, but his skillset is limited and Frendrup could be the perfect successor.

Related On the list: Liverpool want £27m striker who'd make Salah unplayable

The Reds are part of a lengthy list of suitors for this rising star.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 29, 2024

The Gunners looked back to their best as they enjoyed a memorable night in Europe with a 4-0 win over the Serie A leaders.

Arsenal boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification on Tuesday with a comprehensive win over Juventus thanks to goals from Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord.

The Gunners dominated the first half and had chances through Alessia Russo, Emily Fox and Katie McCabe before taking the lead in some style. A well-worked move ended with Foord laying the ball off to Maanum to slot past goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

More chances flowed after the break, as Fox hit the woodwork, before the floodgates opened in the final 15 minutes. Blackstenius doubled Arsenal's lead with a superb solo goal, while fellow substitute Caldentey smashed home a third five minutes later. Foord then grabbed a goal her impressive performance merited in the closing stages to make it a great night for Renee Slegers' Gunners.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Italy…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (7/10):

  A confident showing from the stopper. Dealt with everything comfortably.

  Emily Fox (8/10):

  Looked to get forward at every opportunity. A lively presence for the Gunners, almost made it 2-0 earlier in the second half but was denied by the woodwork.

  Leah Williamson (7/10):

  Also involved in the opening goal and went close with a couple of headers in the second half.

  Steph Catley (6/10):

  Solid showing at the back for Arsenal. Booked for pulling back Amalie Vangsgaard.

  Katie McCabe (7/10):

  Was a real threat from set-pieces. Almost scored a free-kick and another delivery nearly yielded a second for Arsenal.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Beth Mead (7/10):

  Had a good battle up against Delphine Cascarino and was lively on the right. Replaced on the hour.

  Lia Walti (6/10):

  A little sloppy in possession at times.

  Kim Little (7/10):

  The skipper played a key role in the opening goal with a gorgeous through-ball.

  Caitlin Foord (8/10):

  Caused Juventus all sort of problems down the left. Grabbed an assist for the opener with a nice lay-off and scored the fourth late on.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Frida Maanum (7/10):

  Finished off a well-worked move for the opening goal. Replaced on the hour.

  Alessia Russo (7/10):

  Went close in the first half with some decent efforts but couldn't find the back of the net.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Stina Blackstenius (8/10):

  Effectively sealed the win with a fine solo goal.

  Mariona Caldentey (8/10):

  Posed a threat after coming on. Smashed home the third.

  Lina Hurtig (7/10):

  Came on and grabbed an assist for Caldentey.

  Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10)

  A late sub but also bagged an assist.

  Renee Slegers (8/10):

  Another good result for Slegers who saw her team cruise to an important victory. Good use of substitutes too as Blackstenius and Caldentey finished off Juventus.

يرى جيمي كاراجر، أسطورة ليفربول، أن أحد لاعبي فريق كرة القدم الأول بالنادي، أيامه اصبحت معدودة على الرغم من تألقه في الفترة الاخيرة.

ليفربول يتصدر جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز قبل مواجهته مساء اليوم أمام ليل الفرنسي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، التي يحتل فيها أيضًا المركز الأول.

طالع أيضًا.. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام ليل اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وفي تصريحات لشبكة “سكاي” البريطانية، قال كاراجر: “داروين نونيز أيامه أصبحت معدودة في ليفربول، رغم تسجيله هدفين في الفوز على برينتفورد”.

وأضاف: “لا أتخيل أنه سيكون في النادي الموسم المقبل، لست مطلعًا على المحادثات، ولكنه لا يمكن الاعتماد عليه في الموسم المقبل، فهو لاعب بديل في الوقت الحالي”.

وأشار: “يمكن القول أن نونيز هو أكثر لاعب بديل في الدوري الإنجليزي مساهمة في الأهداف سواء التسجيل أو الصناعة، وربما يكون هذا هو دوره حتى نهاية الموسم، ولكن في الموسم المقبل لن يكون له مكان في الفريق”.

داروين نونيز هذا الموسم شارك مع ليفربول في 27 مباراة بمختلف المسابقات، وتمكن من تسجيل 6 أهداف وصنع 3.

After weeks of no activity in the transfer market, it appears as though Newcastle United could be edging closer to another signing to help bolster Eddie Howe’s squad.

Over the last 24 hours, there has been movement in a deal to bring Sheffield United striker Will Osula to St James’ Park, in a move to add more depth to the centre-forward position.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Magpies have agreed a £10m deal with £5m in potential add-ons, with the final details to be sorted before the deal is complete.

On the face of the transfer, it seems like a strange move after he failed to find the back of the net in any of his 21 Premier League appearances last season, but the Danish forward is a talent with huge potential.

The young striker could be joined on Tyneside by another forward before the end of the transfer window, with Newcastle needing to reignite interest in one player they’ve previously expressed a desire to sign.

Newcastle could move for £45m ace this summer

In a window where they’ve been linked with a whole host of attacking talents, Howe’s side are yet to complete a deal for any forward-thinking players, with Osula set to be the first in that area of the pitch.

Noni Madueke has looked the most likely to join the club in recent weeks, with it reported that the Englishman has already agreed personal terms to join the Magpies.

However, with no official agreement yet to be confirmed, the club could reignite a move to sign Nottingham Forest right-winger Anthony Elanga this summer.

The Magpies previously registered interest in the 22-year-old at the end of June, with both clubs needing to raise funds to avoid an FFP punishment, but instead secured a move for goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have placed a £45m valuation on the Swedish international’s head this summer, with Elanga potentially able to replicate a deal for a current Newcastle star.

Why Elanga could be Isak 2.0 for Newcastle

Fellow Swede Alexander Isak was an unknown quantity to many Newcastle fans upon his £60m move to Tyneside back in 2022, but two years on, he’s cemented himself as one of the club’s most talented players in the modern era.

He’s added needed goals to Howe’s frontline, scoring 35 goals in his 67 appearances for the club – an average of a goal every 1.9 games he features in.

With the current Forest attacker an international teammate of Isak, he has the potential to repeat the masterclass the club produced a couple of years ago, with his stats also benefiting soon-to-be new addition Osula.

The “frightening” Elanga, as described by journalist Laurie Whitwell, registered 14 goals or assists last season, whilst averaging 3.6 progressive carries per 90 – showcasing his desire to get the ball into the final third, handing Osula frequent opportunities.

Games played

36

Goals + assists

14

Progressive carries

3.6

Progressive passes

1.8

Successful take-ons

1

Touches in penalty area

4.5

He’s also averaged 4.5 touches per 90 in the opposition’s penalty area, demonstrating his ability to cause problems in attacking areas – handing Newcastle a greater opportunity to improve their already impressive tally in front of goal.

Although he could cost the club a hefty sum, he would be a brilliant addition and one that could form an excellent partnership with his compatriot.

Elanga could also be perfect for the incoming Osula, who will need more frequent opportunities in front of goal given his lack of impact in the final third last season – potentially helping him settle into life on Tyneside.

Record fee: Newcastle ready bid for "generational talent" who's like Yamal

He enjoyed a stellar tournament at Euro 2024 this summer.

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Malan, Billings, Livingstone, T Curran all land deals but Hales, Roy and Rashid go unsold

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Moeen Ali ‘excited’ to play under Dhoni at CSK

Moeen Ali has ended a difficult week in India on an unequivocal high, after being picked up for Rs 7 crore (US$959,000) by Chennai Super Kings at the IPL auction.The price tag is almost four times the figure that Royal Challengers Bangalore (Rs 1.7 crore; US$265,000) paid for Moeen in 2018, and marks an immediate return to the tournament after he was released by RCB at the end of the 2020 season.Having entered the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore (US$274,000), Moeen was the subject of significant interest from the newly rebranded Punjab Kings before being secured by CSK, where he will link up with his fellow England allrounder Sam Curran.CSK are in the progress of a rebuilding phase, after failing to reach the IPL play-offs for the first time in the competition’s history, and the signing of Moeen came after they had narrowly missed out on the services of his fellow spin-bowling allrounder, Glenn Maxwell, who was picked up by Moeen’s old franchise, RCB, for Rs 14.25 crore (US$1.95million)L Balaji, CSK’s bowling coach, said of the signing: “We were focusing on an allrounder and power-hitting. Moeen is a good buy. He is handy with the ball and also can bat in the top order. [Shane] Watson gave us that flexibility in the top order. Now Moeen gives us depth and the option of a dual role – [I’m] 100% sure he’ll fill in what we’re looking at.”Moeen’s IPL credentials are likely to have been enhanced by his performance in the second Test against India at the Chepauk Stadium this week, where he claimed eight wickets in the match – his first Test appearance for 18 months – then signed off with an explosive cameo of 43 from 18 balls in the final moments of India’s 317-run win.Related

Dobell: Spurned Moeen begins long kiss goodnight

Root, Silverwood apologise to Moeen

Silverwood: Tests remain a priority despite IPL demands

Live blog – The 2021 IPL Auction

Either way, Moeen’s involvement in the tournament is a boost to his prospects of playing a major role in England’s T20 World Cup campaign, which is also due to be staged in India at the end of the year. Moeen was part of the squad that toured South Africa in December, but was left out for all three T20Is as England opted to field a single frontline spinner.Though he has been named in England’s T20I squad for their five-match series against India next month, Moeen’s departure from the Test squad this week attracted controversy when it was implied by Joe Root, England’s captain, that he had “chosen” to go home rather than compete for a place in the final two Tests, with the series currently locked at 1-1.Root subsequently apologised to Moeen, as did England’s head coach Chris Silverwood, who acknowledged that a request had been put in for Moeen to stay on tour, but that his absence from the Ahmedabad Tests had been decided by the ECB in advance, in accordance with their rest and rotation policy.Moeen played only three times in the 2020 IPL season•BCCIThe request had been put in by England as a consequence of Moeen’s disrupted winter schedule. He contracted Covid-19 on arrival in Sri Lanka in January and was required to spend a fortnight in quarantine, as a consequence of which he missed both Tests at Galle as well as England’s victory in the first Test against India in Chennai.Moeen’s reluctance to accede to England’s request stemmed in part from the prospect of him picking up a new IPL contract, which would have meant a stretch of five months away from his young family, with the tournament due to end in the first week of June.To date, Moeen has played 19 IPL games for RCB, scoring 309 runs at a strike rate of 158.46, and taking 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.14.Moeen was the star attraction among English players in the opening rounds of the auction. Dawid Malan, ranked the world’s No. 1 T20I batsman by the ICC, was signed by Punjab Kings for Rs 150 lakh (US$204,000), while Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Adil Rashid were all unsold. Mark Wood withdrew from the auction on Wednesday.Having gone unsold initially, Sam Billings picked up a bid of RS 200 lakh (US$273,000) from Delhi Capitals. Tom Curran will join him at the franchise, after he was sold for RS 525 lakh (US$719,000) following a bidding war against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Liam Livingstone was the other Englishman picked up, returning to Rajasthan Royals for RS 75 lakh (US$102,000) after skipping the 2020 season.

Mason Mount will reportedly get an opportunity to revive his Manchester United career under new boss Ruben Amorim.

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Mount can revive his career under AmorimPortuguese coach likes the English midfielderMidfielder recently rejoined trainingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Mount has had a nightmare journey at Old Trafford since moving from Stamford Bridge last season. The former Chelsea star has been plagued with multiple injuries that have limited him to just 26 appearances across all competitions for United over the last 17 months. However, reports that the England international will get an opportunity to revive his career under new United boss Ruben Amorim.

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The report adds that Amorim is an admirer of Mount's versatility in the centre of the park and he plans to incorporate him into his preferred 3-4-3 system. The Portuguese coach's arrival in Manchester during the international break could be a huge boost for the English midfielder, who has just returned to training. With several players out on international duty, the ex-Chelsea star will get ample time to work closely with the new manager.

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However, Mount, will have to perform consistently and most importantly prove his fitness to earn a regular place in Amorim's lineup, with there little margin for error left as United seek to climb out of the bottom half of the Premier League table and launch a bid for European qualification.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

The Amorim era at Old Trafford will officially kick off on November 24, with United set to face Ipswich Town away from home. The Red Devils are due back in Europa League action four days later at home to Bodo/Glimt.