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Bowling yorkers may be ‘simple’ for Delhi Capitals’ main weapon, but Rabada has also shown the adaptability that is the hallmark of the best

Sruthi Ravindranath in Bengaluru08-Apr-20194:19

Rabada’s mantra for a perfect yorker

An astounding spell to defend 10 runs in a Super Over: check. Dismiss the likes of David Warner, Andre Russell and Virat Kohli in pressure situations: check. Get three wickets in an over and finish with your career-best T20 figures: check.This season, Kagiso Rabada seems well-placed to conquer the IPL frontier.Three years ago, with his relentless pace and sharp bowling, a 20-year-old Rabada was one of those exciting bowlers the world couldn’t get enough of. By 2016, he looked set to be an all-format star for South Africa, and was touted as the future leader of their pace attack. He looked primed for an IPL deal then, but opted for a county stint with Kent instead. “He’s still got loads of years to play in the IPL,” his national captain Faf du Plessis had said of his move.A middling performance in the T20 World Cup that year was followed by an impressive county season, and some scintillating Test and ODI performances. An IPL deal soon came calling, with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) scooping him up for INR 5 crore (nearly 10-million Rand) for the 2017 season, turning Rabada into an overnight millionaire.But for someone who came with a big reputation and deeds to match, Rabada’s performances in IPL 2017 were below-par. In his first outing in the tournament, he contributed more with the bat than the ball. In six innings that season, he finished with just six wickets. For someone whose death-bowling skills were raved about, his numbers at that phase were particularly unimpressive, with just two wickets at an economy rate of 11 and an average of 40.5. His chance at redemption in the tournament in 2018 was stalled due to an injury.Kagiso Rabada is elated after dismissing Chris Lynn•BCCIRabada has now come back to the IPL, having added 157 more international wickets and further top honours since that 2017 season. And in IPL 2019, he already has 11 wickets in six games, and is currently on top of the bowling charts. Even better are his figures at the death, where he’s picked 10 wickets at an economy of 8.65. These numbers are a testament to the “world-class” tag he’s been carrying around for the last few years. And that’s not counting the memorable Super Over against Russell, and Kolkata Knight Riders, where he bowled six yorkers while successfully defending 10 runs.How does he do it? If you ask Rabada, it’s not that difficult – apparently.”A yorker can be a high-pressure delivery but it’s really very simple,” Rabada says. “All you have to do is practise it – as simple as that. A yorker is an effort ball, definitely, because you are trying to spear it in, in the first six to beat the batter for pace. But I wouldn’t say that it is too energy-sapping. I don’t think so. It’s like bowling a good-length ball at a good intensity. You just bowl the yorker at a good intensity.”But despite the ‘simplicity’ of yorkers, Rabada showed the quality the best bowlers have: adapting to conditions. On a two-paced pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, he opted for slower balls and cutters, eschewing his affinity for the fast and straight balls.”This was a quick and bouncy wicket, similar to Mumbai. It was stopping a little bit,” he said. “But it wasn’t bad for the batsmen to play on. Coming to India, not all pitches are cliche Indian wickets here. Of course, there is turn, which means you can use your slower balls because they can grip. All in all, when playing in India, you know there’s dry conditions, so you have to use your cutters because they work.”After clocking upwards of 145 kmph in the first two deliveries he bowled, he had AB de Villiers hole out to a well-disguised slower ball. He almost got Kohli at the end of the eighth over when the Royal Challengers’ captain had mistimed a pull off a pacy short one, with the ball looping off the toe-end of the bat just above Rabada and falling safely behind him. He wouldn’t be denied for long though, and the very next ball that Kohli faced off Rabada – the start of the 18th over – he was out. Rabada followed that up with the wickets of Akshdeep Nath and Pawan Negi in the same over – both removed by the short ball – to finish his destructive spell.”It’s always gold to get wickets in T20 cricket,” he said. “All you try and do is get the ball in a good area, whatever ball you’re trying to bowl, (try to ensure that) the batsman is going to make the mistake. You’re not actually trying to get the batter out. You try to see where he’s trying to score first of all. He has to take the risk especially in the 18th over. It helps with all the analysis and reading the play at the moment, but things just happened for me. Another time, they could’ve taken six ones and it would have been a different game. But in T20 cricket you want to get wickets and it happened for me that over. All I tried to do was to keep it simple.”In a year when his team are aiming to turn everything around – they started with the name and hope to end with vastly different results than they’ve got in seasons past – Rabada’s ability to get the best out of himself and churn out match-winning spells will be crucial for Capitals.

Without reading ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary or watching the highlights again, can you get all six right?

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2019
You can read our ball-by-ball commentary of Yuvraj Singh’s feat here.And relive all the sixes below:

#OnThisDay @YUVSTRONG12 caught

in the 2007 #T20WorldCup. pic.twitter.com/1hvwKE2CBf

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) September 19, 2019

The India captain seems to love batting against West Indies; only Sachin Tendulkar has more centuries against a single opposition

Bharath Seervi11-Aug-20198 – Number of centuries against West Indies in ODIs. Only Sachin Tendulkar has more hundreds against a single opposition, which is nine against Australia. Kohli has eight tons against two other teams – Australia and Sri Lanka. Tendulkar also has eight hundreds against Sri Lanka. No other batsman hs more than seven centuries against a single opposition.ESPNcricinfo Ltd34 – Innings taken by Kohli to complete 2000 ODI runs against West Indies, which is the least by any batsman against a single opposition. The previous record was 37 innings by Rohit Sharma against Australia. Kohli is the first batsman to score 2000 runs against West Indies. The previous record was 1930 by Javed Miandad, whom Kohli passed in this innings.72.57 – Kohli’s average against West Indies, the best among all batsmen with 1500-plus runs against a single opposition. He has five hundreds in his last eight innings against West Indies.

Virat kohli another master class in one day cricket @imVkohli @BCCI .. what a player

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) August 11, 2019

8 – Kohli is now the eighth highest run-getter in ODIs. He went past Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 11,363 runs in this innings to take eighth position. Now only Tendulkar sits above him among Indian batsmen on the list.11 – Number of innings without a century by Kohli in ODIs before this knock. He played nine innings in the World Cup in England and Wales without getting to the three-figure mark. The last time he went more innings in a row without a century was 13 in 2015, which had also spanned the World Cup.

Also: how concussions are different from say, a broken arm, and why even the possibility of one should require strict action

Sidharth Monga25-Nov-2019What is a concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that results in temporary loss of normal functioning of the brain. It is usually caused by a blow to the head or a blow to some other part of the body that results in rapid movements of the head. It is not always accompanied with external signs of head trauma, nor is a normal brain scan a reliable test of concussion.Why are there substitutes for concussion and not other injuries?
Pain caused by other injuries is conspicuous and more obviously debilitating. Concussions are not that straightforward, and if unattended, can leave players susceptible to a second impact because of reduced brain function. Such second impacts can lead to severe neurological complications, and can in some cases be fatal. It is, therefore, critical to take off the field a player who has a concussion or even suspected concussion to eliminate that risk. However, this is a competitive sport played by elite competitors. Cricket, in particular, tends to carry a problematic idea of “courage”.It can be difficult to convince a player to come off or a team to play with effectively 10 men when the symptoms are not that obvious. In a way, despite being more lethal than other injuries, the symptoms – or a possibility – of concussions are easier to brush off.So, the ICC wants to “lessen the cricketing consequences of a decision to rule a player out”, allowing players the chance to receive proper treatment for blows to their head.What happens during a concussion test?
The symptoms of a concussion typically include nausea, dizziness, visual problems, lack of consciousness, lack of balance or co-ordination, disorientation, confusion, momentary loss of memory. Players are asked if they are feeling a headache or nausea. They are checked on balance. Their memory can be tested by asking the cricketing version of Maddocks questions, such as “what city are we in”, “what session of the day is this”, which two bowlers are in the attack at present”. They might be asked to read signboards.In rugby, doctors maintain baseline scores on these criteria and test concussions suspects on them. Cricket hasn’t yet made baseline testing a matter of routine, but some teams already do that.Even if a player is allowed to continue, a video review of the injury is carried out to look for immediate symptoms that might have been missed in the direct observation. If such symptoms are present in the video review and not being reported by the player, he still needs to go off the field.India physio Patrick Farhart signals for a new helmet as he assesses Hanuma Vihari•Getty ImagesHow come Steven Smith and Hashim Amla continued playing then?
Amla, in the World Cup 2019 opener, and Smith, in the Lord’s Ashes Test, did carry on batting and later developed concussion symptoms. It is not atypical even in other contact sports for a player to develop concussion symptoms belatedly, which actually makes it an even trickier injury to handle. A concussion can only be properly ruled out 48 hours after the first blow.The absence of symptoms doesn’t mean the absence of concussion, which is why rugby is extremely strict with how it deals with it. A rugby player involved in a collision that typically leads to concussion has no choice but to go off for testing. Although it advises regular observation, and a SCAT5 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) test at the first available moment when the player is off the field, cricket is not yet as strict as rugby. Smith, for example, decided by himself that he wanted to carry on. As did Mushfiqur Rahim when he waved off the physio during the Eden Gardens Test.When asked about this, an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo: “The concussion protocol in cricket varies from rugby to some extent as cricketers have protective gear in the form of helmets, and hence a lesser proportion of head knocks result in concussions.” While that might be true, examples of Smith, Amla, Liton Das and Nayeem Hasan – who all continued to bat for varying lengths of time before availing a concussion substitute – is evidence that might push ICC more towards rugby protocols.Is a physio qualified to give a concussion test?
Ideally, you want a doctor to do it but, at the moment, not all teams travel with a team doctor. For example, Australia do and India don’t. While the ICC has not made it mandatory for teams to travel with a doctor, a physio still remains pretty qualified to take medical fitness decisions on behalf of his team.However, the ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo of the work being done to regularise the process: “The ICC requires that a doctor who has knowledge of concussion management and the ICC Concussion Management Guidelines be available on match day to provide the necessary support to participating teams . The ICC has also been focussing on the professional development of all team healthcare personnel, in particular, the capability of team physiotherapists to oversee healthcare decisions such as concussion.”In time, perhaps the “if required” might be removed and an independent doctor or a team of doctors might become a mandatory presence at all ICC matches.Can the system be gamed?
Perhaps yes, but you would always expect a team to name their best players in the starting XI; any further change will, at least in that team’s estimation, weaken the side. The only conceivable advantage a team can gain by gaming the system is if it realises it has misread a pitch and picked a wrong combination. Not only will it be diabolical to go to such an extent, but the ICC match referee will also likely strike down any such request. The match referee is empowered to disallow a replacement that is not “like for like”. Such assessment depends on the role the said replacement is likely to play for the rest of the match. If al allrounder replaces a batsman, he will not be allowed to bowl. A spinner might not be allowed to replace a fast bowler unless he just bats.How long does it take to return for a concussed player?
Unlike rugby, cricket doesn’t lay down a minimum requirement of time off training, but it tends to agree with the rugby’s stipulation of a week away. Says the ICC protocol: “Generally, concussion symptoms will settle within two-three days and a player diagnosed with a concussion is ready to return in about a week but, in some individuals, this time might be shorter or longer. Medical oversight, as occurs in elite teams, is essential if a player is to return to play within a week or on a subsequent day of a multi-day match.”

Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in February 2006 remains one of the Gunners’ finest nights in their history.

In the clubs’ first-ever meeting, a sole Thierry Henry goal was enough to give the north Londoners a slim advantage going into the second leg at Highbury.

Arsene Wenger’s side would pull off a big Champions League upset by holding the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo to a goalless draw to make the quarter-finals.

19 years on, Arsenal are once again heading to the Santiago Bernabeu, this time hoping to secure a semi-final berth after a spellbinding 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

But what has come of the side that beat Real Madrid nearly two decades on? Here, we look back and reminisce over the players who started on that special night.

1

Jens Lehmann

Goalkeeper

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made history in the 2005/06 Champions League, helping the Gunners produce a record 10 consecutive clean sheets in the competition.

The shutout in Madrid was clean sheet number 5, and Lehmann miraculously repeated the feat in the second leg, partly thanks to a sensational save to deny Raul.

Since retiring, the Invincible has been in coaching roles at Arsenal and Augsburg, and can currently be seen as one of the managers in Baller League UK.

2

Emmanuel Eboue

Right-back

The 2005/06 campaign saw Emmanuel Eboue’s breakthrough at Arsenal, with the full-back standing in for Lauren in the Cameroonian’s final season at the club.

Eboue managed to keep Robinho quiet at the Bernabeu, with the Brazilian taken off after an hour for Spain legend Raul.

The Ivorian has kept a low profile since retiring and has previously opened up on his mental health struggles following the end of his playing career, while he remains a cult hero in N5.

3

Philippe Senderos

Centre-back

Philippe Senderos was called upon to deputise for Sol Campbell while the England ace was out.

Senderos had not long turned 21 at the time of the first leg and kept Ronaldo at bay for 180 minutes, during which he was faultless, perhaps bar a fluffed clearance in the second leg that could have cost Arsenal dear.

Another former player to step away from the limelight since retiring, Senderos retired in 2019 after playing for second-tier Swiss side Chiasso.

4

Kolo Toure

Centre-back

Kolo Toure was a part of the Invincibles squad before moving to Manchester City in 2009.

He marshalled the back four alongside Senderos and was one of the heroes of the 2006 Champions League run, scoring the eventual winner in the semi-final against Villarreal.

Toure moved into coaching following retirement and was most recently the manager of Wigan Athletic, though he failed to win any of his games in charge.

5

Mathieu Flamini

Left-back

Mathieu Flamini was Arsenal’s makeshift left-back throughout their Champions League run with Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy both unavailable.

The Frenchman played every minute from matchday 2 until the quarter-final second leg against Juventus, securing 9 clean sheets in 10 games.

Now a successful entrepreneur, Flamini is a partner at GF Biochemicals, which looks to provide sustainable solutions for oil-based products that harm the environment.

6

Freddie Ljungberg

Right-midfield

Freddie Ljungberg is an Arsenal hero, and another of the Invincibles squad who stuck around long enough to beat Madrid on their own backyard.

The Swede had chances to score himself before Henry’s opener as Arsenal made a threatening start in Spain, coming closest but for a last-ditch challenge from Roberto Carlos.

Ljungberg was an Arsenal youth team coach and briefly the Gunners’ interim manager following Unai Emery’s sacking, and can also be seen alongside Jens Lehmann in the Baller League, where they manage N5 FC.

7

Alexander Hleb

Centre-midfield

Alexander Hleb was a January signing from VfB Stuttgart, and had seemed a shrewd addition to the side based on his first impressions.

His link-up play set up several chances on that night in the Bernabeu, and was a key player for the Gunners until his departure to Barcelona in 2008.

Now 43, the Belarussian has seemingly stepped away from football altogether since retiring in 2019.

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Declan Rice’s heroics against Real Madrid have got to be among the best.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 9, 2025

8

Gilberto Silva

Centre-midfield

Gilberto Silva was Arsenal’s primary midfield general post-Patrick Vieira, and the experienced head in the middle of the park before leaving north London in 2008.

Another Invincibles star, Gilberto won the league and FA Cup during his time at Arsenal.

Having retired in 2015, the Brazilian is an athlete mentor and public speaker, as per his X account. He is also a club ambassador for the Gunners.

9

Cesc Fabregas

Centre-midfield

Cesc Fabregas was in something of a breakthrough campaign at Arsenal as he emerged from the shadow of the departed Patrick Vieira, whose Juventus side he helped knock out of the Champions League with a goal in the quarter-final.

In the round of 16 against Madrid, Fabregas played the all-important assist for Thierry Henry to give Arsenal the lead in the Spanish capital.

A former Gunners captain, Fabregas is now the manager of Italian side Como, who are set to secure safety in Serie A following their promotion last year.

10

Jose Antonio Reyes

Left-midfield

Jose Antonio Reyes became an instant hero following his arrival at Arsenal in January 2004, and was an integral part of the team in his first 18 months at the club.

His Gunners career petered out after that, but Reyes did play in all bar one of Arsenal’s matches in the Champions League, starting both legs against Madrid.

Reyes sadly passed away in 2019, though he is still fondly remembered by the Arsenal faithful as one of their Invincibles heroes.

It was remarkably just over six years ago that Marcus Rashford enjoyed one of the greatest moments of his Manchester United career, with the Englishman rifling home from the penalty spot to send Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The United academy graduate had been the undoing of Paris Saint-Germain with that last-gasp spot-kick, while he also netted again in the Parc des Princes during the 2020/21 campaign, to clinch another famous win for Solskjaer and co.

Something about the Ligue 1 side appears to bring the best out of the 27-year-old, it would seem, with the in-form forward having again been electric when facing off with the Parisien outfit – albeit this time in Aston Villa colours.

The Red Devils outcast put in a simply masterful display through the middle for Unai Emery’s side, having notably produced a breathtaking assist for Villa’s third of the night as the hosts flipped the encounter on its head. In truth, it was vintage Rashford.

Frustratingly for the Villans, they could not complete the comeback after bravely crashing out, while for those back in Manchester, such a fine individual display may have Ruben Amorim thinking twice over his decision to exile the £300k-per-week marksman.

But would a return to Old Trafford really be in the best interest of all parties this summer?

Why Rashford still needs to be sold this summer

As far as Rashford is concerned, the decision to make the move to Villa Park back in February could hardly have gone better, with the Midlands side also still in the mix for a top five finish in the Premier League, while having also reached the last four of the FA Cup.

The polarising sensation has been central to Emery’s plans in recent months, with the assist for Ezri Konsa last night taking his total tally to nine goal involvements in just 15 appearances since making the move. Jesse Lingard at West Ham United anyone?

Free from the shackles and the scrutiny of being a Manchester United player, Rashford has looked reborn in claret and blue, with Tuesday night seeing him create four big chances in total – more than any other player on the pitch.

That display backed up Emery’s decision to once again select his loan star ahead of compatriot, Ollie Watkins, in the centre-forward berth, with the Villans boasting attacking depth that Amorim can only dream of – not least with Joshua Zirkzee now sidelined with injury.

Speaking on Amazon Prime, United legend Wayne Rooney suggested that he would “love” to see Rashford back playing for the Red Devils next season, while also claiming that the player himself “wants” to be back at the Theatre of Dreams.

That said, it was only in December that the England international outlined his desire for a “new challenge” after being given the cold shoulder by Amorim, with it difficult to see any form of reconciliation occurring ahead of next season.

Indeed, having found his groove at Villa, why would Rashford risk enduring another stop-start campaign back at his parent club – not least considering three of the last four seasons have been rather underwhelming for him in a United shirt.

As for the club itself, the chance to rake in a £40m fee from Villa – a deal that would represent pure profit – is no doubt difficult to turn down, with it perhaps best for everyone that a permanent separation occurs this summer.

That said, even if Amorim and co do change their mind, at least they have only opted to loan out Rashford thus far, with the option of a homecoming still on the table. The same can’t be said for everyone that INEOS have let go…

Man Utd may have made a bigger mistake than Rashford

It appears to be a growing theme that players who have left Old Trafford have gone on to shine elsewhere, albeit with the club having largely been correct in moving those players on.

Indeed, in the case of Anthony Elanga, the Swedish speedster had scored just four goals in 55 games for United prior to departing for Nottingham Forest. David de Gea, meanwhile, was public enemy number one for his mistake in the FA Cup final, before being allowed to leave for nothing.

Equally, the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho – now on loan at Real Betis and Chelsea – had hardly pulled up any trees following their £86m and £73m arrivals, respectively, with the pair netting just 24 goals between them in 179 games.

Even Rashford had endured a miserable 18 months after scoring just 15 goals for United following the start of the 2023/24 campaign, with few of a Red Devils persuasion having contested with any of those exits at the time.

In the case of Scott McTominay, however, it may well be a different story, with the Scotland star having actually been one of Erik ten Hag’s key men last term, before sealing a £25m move to Napoli over the summer.

Indeed, the 28-year-old was the Dutchman’s rescue act having repeatedly delivered the goods in an attacking sense, with the rampaging midfielder – who notably netted a brace at the death against Brentford – ending the season with ten goals to his name in all competitions.

The joint third-highest scorer for United in the end in 2023/24, McTominay appeared to be thriving in an advanced midfield berth, albeit with the desire to meet PSR regulations – and the pursuit of fellow midfielder, Manuel Ugarte – leading to INEOS deciding to cash in.

Ten Hag has since admitted that he “didn’t want” to sell the 6 foot 4 giant, yet was almost “forced” into agreeing to the decision due to the club’s financial constraints.

As it is, McTominay has gone on to dazzle in Naples in 2024/25 to date, with the midfield “monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – notably netting twice last time out to keep Antonio Conte’s side in title contention.

Those latest strikes – both of which were assisted by Romelu Lukaku, no less – showcased just what the Lancaster-born hero is all about. Indeed, for his first of the night, McTominay charged from deep before curling home from outside the area. For his second, the ex-Red Devil expertly headed home after towering above the Empoli defence.

The emerging Naples sensation now has eight Serie A goals to his name this season, with only Bruno Fernandes able to match that tally for league goals back in Manchester.

McTominay is then picking up where he left off last term, with INEOS having made a rare move for United by selling a player who was actually in form – unlike the exiled Rashford.

With the Red Devils now in the midst of their worst-ever Premier League campaign, that bold call doesn’t appear to have aged well…

Forget Bayindir & Heaton: Man Utd could unleash "superb" Onana replacement

Man Utd’s goalkeeping woes continued on Sunday afternoon, with a solution needing to be found…

By
Robbie Walls

Apr 15, 2025

Burnley are now interested in signing an “outstanding” Fulham player who has worked and won promotion under Scott Parker before, according to a recent report.

Burnley already planning summer transfers

The Clarets confirmed their promotion to the Premier League on Monday evening after beating Sheffield United, and not even 48 hours later, already Burnley’s chiefs are working on transfer business ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

Sky Sports: Burnley set to sign 25 y/o after promotion in new £8m update

Burnley are now set to sign an exciting forward with a new price-tag emerging.

By
Brett Worthington

Apr 23, 2025

It’s been claimed by former footballer Lee Hendrie that midfielder Jonjo Shelvey won’t be at Turf Moor next season. Shelvey’s contract expires at the end of the season, and Hendrie believes a new deal will not be offered.

Hendrie told Football League World: “I’m not sure that they will secure a deal for him. To be quite honest, I think that going into the Premier League, I think that the squad has to be a lot stronger. Jonjo obviously hasn’t featured too much, so I don’t think that will be one that they’ll be looking to make permanent and keep him there again. With his contract expiring, I think he’ll move on.”

Meanwhile, it’s been reported by Sky Sports that Burnley are now set to sign Jaidon Anthony on a permanent basis, with the Clarets securing his services for £8 million, rather than the £10 million that was originally reported during the summer transfer window.

Burnley want to sign Fulham ace who has worked with Parker

Anthony could be the start of a long list of players potentially arriving at Turf Moor during the summer. According to Give Me Sport, Burnley now want to sign Harrison Reed from Fulham, a player Parker knows very well.

The report states that Burnley are keen to land the 30-year-old midfielder if Fulham are willing to do a deal. The Premier League side do have a few options in the middle of the pitch, and that has resulted in Reed falling down the pecking order this season, playing just 11 times in the league.

It’s claimed that Fulham and Marco Silva are looking to strengthen their midfield once again this summer, and therefore, Reed could be one that is moved on to make room in the squad.

Given his status in the Fulham team and the fact he has worked with Parker before, during his time in charge at Craven Cottage, Burnley are keen to explore a deal, but at this stage it remains unclear how much Fulham will want for the midfielder, who is under contract until 2027. During the 2019/20 campaign in the Championship, Reed played 28 games, including the play-offs for Parker, as he played an important role in the Cottagers’ promotion.

In that promotion-winning campaign, Parker labelled Reed “outstanding” for his performances. He said: “I was really impressed with him. I thought he was outstanding. We brought him in against Cardiff last week – a tough team – and it was difficult for him, and I thought against WBA he was immense, really.”

Heading into this campaign, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City must have felt confident that they could clinch a jaw-dropping fifth Premier League title in a row.

Unfortunately for the Citizens, Arne Slot’s Liverpool would go against this foregone conclusion and romp home as champions themselves, but the sky blue half of Manchester still have the FA Cup final to look forward to in an attempt to lift some form of silverware.

Then, a rebuild of sorts could be on the table at the Etihad, with midfield reinforcements perhaps needed considering Kevin De Bruyne is exiting City when the season is over, on top of an equally ageing Ilkay Gundogan leaving a lot to be desired.

Man City's transfer targets in midfield

A whole host of names have been churned out subsequently, seen in the likes of Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White being linked as statement buys that could enhance Guardiola’s men in the number ten spot.

Another target thrown into the mix recently has been ex-Norwich City man Gabriel Sara, with reports from France even stating that contact has already taken place between City and Sara’s current side, Galatasaray, over a move.

But, the FA Cup finalists might well seek out alternative targets away from solely landing Sara, with The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards now reporting this week that the Premier League giants are interested in striking up a deal with Newcastle United ace Sandro Tonali.

After all, the Magpies number 8 would be seen as an upgrade on Sara if he was to join, especially when you consider Tonali has been classy performer throughout his St James’ Park stay to date.

How Tonali would be an upgrade on Sara

Whilst Sara has tasted English football in the past when on the books of the Canaries, he has never notched up any minutes in the intense Premier League across his career to date.

On the contrary, Tonali has been a top-flight regular for Eddie Howe’s men ever since his bumper £55m move from AC Milan back in 2023.

This season alone, the 24-year-old star has tallied up 32 league appearances for the Toon, with his consistent, classy performances from the middle of the park seeing him described as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by his agent Giuseppe Rossi, having picked up three goals and two assists.

Whilst Sara can boast heftier numbers in terms of output when starring in the Turkish top division this season with eight goal contributions overall next to Tonali’s five, the Galatasaray number 20 does still come up short in certain aspects of their respective midfield games.

As can be seen looking at the table above, Tonali – who has even be hailed as “world-class” previously by football journalist Carlo Garganese – would be able to give City lots of energy from the middle of the park away from simply chipping in with goals and assists, with more ball recoveries and duels won on the end of the Italian than Sara has managed in the Super Lig.

Forceful in approach on top of stylishly spraying the ball about, the 24-year-old might well be the perfect midfield addition as City go about revamping all over the pitch, with a steady Premier League purchase helping Guardiola’s side to shore up away from a vibrant Omar Marmoush bombing forward.

Reports do suggest that Tonali is happy to stick it out with the Toon, but if an opening presents itself soon to snap up the Italian over Sara, City need to go all in for the Magpies fan favourite.

The new Bernardo: Man City in contact to sign "ridiculously talented" star

With Bernardo Silva potentially set to leave Manchester City this summer, could Pep Guardiola have his eye on a “ridiculously talented” replacement?

By
Ben Gray

Apr 30, 2025

Newcastle United’s campaign hangs in the balance, the uncertainty cloaking the gateway back into European competition.

Fourth in the Premier League, two points behind sixth-place Nottingham Forest (who sit just outside a Champions League-qualifying spot), Eddie Howe’s Carabao Cup champions need to hold their nerve over the final few weeks, with fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton looming.

It’s a good position the Magpies hold, though, and Howe will be confident that he can get back into the big time and convince some exciting players to join the St. James’ Park cause.

Indeed, Newcastle have already put an offer on the table for one player searching for a way back into the Champions League.

Newcastle eyeing up new midfielder

Although Alexander Isak’s departure from St James’ Park this summer now looks unlikely, it hasn’t stopped a whole wave of new attackers being linked with a move.

Bryan Mbeumo is one hot topic in the Toon right now, with recent reports suggesting Newcastle ‘can afford’ to get a deal over the line if they were to push hard enough this summer.

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While strengthening in attack will be key, particularly if Howe’s men reach the Champions League, they must not neglect other areas.

According to Spanish reports, Newcastle have put a firm offer on the table for Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera, with the La Liga club open to the 27-year-old’s sale this summer.

Whether the proposal, worth about €25m (£21m), will be enough to convince Girona to part with Herrera remains to be seen, especially with Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest also keen on a deal.

What Yangel Herrera would bring to Newcastle

Howe likes his midfield to pack a punch. Bruno Guimaraes is silky, stylish and all the superlatives, but he’s also a combative little player, tenacious in the tackle.

Sandro Tonali also has a certain bite to his game, interspersing defensive efforts between the many long, stroking passes that define his style. According to Sofascore, he’s won 1.4 tackles per top-flight fixture this term, winning 54% of his ground duels.

Then there’s Joelinton. A raging bull of a midfielder, he’s a fantastic asset, so much energy and flair as he lopes around the pitch, winning duels, recovering loose balls and generally just menacing his opponents.

That’s not to negate his technical ability, of course, but it’s clear where Joelinton’s strengths lie. Such strengths are hard to replicate, but Newcastle could do just that with Herrera, who for the past three seasons has played for Girona, the first of which he was a loanee, sent out by Manchester City.

Like Joelinton, Herrera likes to get forward and score, ranking among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and the top 13% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref. He also ranks among the top 9% for aerials won per 90. He’s been described as a “monster” of a player by Opta journalists Jamie Kemp and Robbie Dunne.

The Newcastle midfielder’s data follows a similar track. He ranks among the top 18% for goals, the top 9% for shots, the top 8% for touches in the box and the top 5% for aerial battles won per 90 (also FBref).

Such similarities have actually seen the stat-driven site record Joelinton as Herrera’s most comparable player, hardly that surprising after collating the two pieces of data.

It’s curious that the players’ metrics are so closely aligned, and it’s more interesting still that Herrera actually outstrips Joelinton across defensive areas. The 27-year-old is a real La Liga menace, and one who could complete Newcastle’s midfield next season, blending that technique and combativeness that Howe likes so much.

With the Champions League on the cards once again, Newcastle have an attractive project which could convince the Girona man to jump ship.

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Spurs parked the bus and shut up shop against a dominant but largely unthreatening Man United side in the Europa League final on Wednesday, following Brennan Johnson’s scrappy opener just before half-time, with Postecoglou’s side displaying a resoluteness we’ve scarcely seen this season.

The heroics of shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario in goal, not to mention the stellar performances of Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, helped Spurs to keep a rare clean sheet and end the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy.

Their 1-0 win over United in the Europa League final also marked their first European trophy since 1984, with the Lilywhites squad and Postecoglou celebrating long into the night after what was a monumentous occasion at Ruben Amorim’s expense.

The trophy drought is now officially over, and to put the cherry on top of an already-sweet cake, Tottenham are set to play Champions League football next season.

The significance of Wednesday evening cannot be overstated, with Spurs’ qualification for the Champions League handing the north Londoners a seismic financial windfall whilst also making them a far more appealing destination for the continent’s top talents.

The summer transfer window is right around the corner, and Tottenham have dramatically increased their odds of tempting world-class targets by hoisting the Europa League aloft in Spain.

According to reports, a centre-back signing is on the cards this summer, and they retain a keen interest in Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

Spurs actually made an ambitious £70 million bid for the England international in January, which was rejected by Eagles chairman Steve Parish, but the consensus is that Tottenham are still eyeing a move for Guehi as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Marc Guehi prepared to hold Tottenham transfer talks

According to GiveMeSport, who shared a new update on his future this week, Guehi would be keen to hold talks with Tottenham and find out what they have to say – providing a boost for Postecoglou’s side in pursuit of the defender.

As per their information, Spurs have been given “fresh” belief they can seal a deal for Guehi after their European conquest, and Palace may have to sell him for £50 million or less considering the player’s contract situation.

Club chiefs are also “adamant” behind-the-scenes that qualification for the Champions League could tempt the 24-year-old to N17, and it is clear why they wish to sign Guehi this summer.

He’s been a pivotal member of Palace’s backline for years, and is now an established England regular following his impressive performances in place of Harry Maguire during Euro 2024 last year.