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Discarded and unfit, Zaheer Khan sighted an unceremonious end to his career. Then he decided to do something about it

Nagraj Gollapudi25-Nov-2013The change is striking. If you have not seen Zaheer Khan for a while and spot him in person, or on television, you might mistake him for an army cadet. Like a fresher at a defence academy, he is lean, lithe and sports a crew cut. Not the Zaheer with fat around the hips, whom Michael Holding called unfit after a cursory glance from a distance on the first morning of India’s Test series in England in 2011.Hips don’t lie. Today Zaheer’s are slimmer and more flexible as he turns to deliver the ball. Although the run-up is the same, he is now capable of accelerating without breaking sweat. The biggest change in Zaheer, who has been selected for India’s Test series in South Africa, is that he doesn’t have to worry about breaking down.Before his return against West Indies A in October, Zaheer had played no first-class cricket in 2013. He pulled a hamstring in a Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat in the last week of 2012. During the IPL, he achieved tournament-best figures of 4 for 17 in a victory against Chennai Super Kings, but he spent more time in the Royal Challengers Bangalore dugout than on the field.After numerous hours trying to rehabilitate at the frugally equipped National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore over the last couple of years, Zaheer began to get frustrated. His last Test for India had been against England in December 2012, and he desperately wanted to impose himself on batsmen again.Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh at Tim Exeter’s performance centre•Tim ExeterSometime in June this year, Ashish Kaushik, one of the trainers at the NCA, told Zaheer and Yuvraj Singh – who was also keen to get specialist attention on the fitness front – about Tim Exeter, an athletic and performance coach, who runs a centre in the small picturesque town of Brive-La-Gaillarde, between Bordeaux and Lyon in southern France. The place suited the pair’s desire to train in an environment where they could remain anonymous.This was the first time Exeter was working with cricketers. To him, though, the two were just athletes. “I could tell they were not as lean as they needed to be,” Exeter says. “Having not worked with the guys before, I was not familiar about where they should be. But one of Zak’s major goals was to get his body fat levels down and get stronger.”Originally from Scotland, Exeter, who describes himself as an athletic performance coach, moved to France five years ago along with his wife Helen and four children. He played rugby for Scotland at representative level, and once for the national team, before he broke his neck and moved on to coaching. He came to France with a couple of England rugby players – 2003 World Cup winners both – who were, like him, playing for Northampton at the time. Exeter had spent close to seven years with the club but decided to move because he was not happy with the inconsistencies in the coaching system.”I specialise in improving performance and reducing injury risks,” Exeter says. “Making athletes more robust so they don’t pick up silly injuries, or help them come back from injuries better. The areas of specialty, particularly, are speed and agility, and movement efficiency. It is not about making them fast in a straight line. It is about being able to change in all directions. It is three-dimensional.”If your movement is more efficient, you will use less energy, but you will also be more consistent, and that also allows you to generate more.”India might not have had a more skilled fast bowler, but niggles, recurring injures and inconsistent fitness habits were threatening to make Zaheer, who turned 35 this October, obsolete. He knew his chances in ODI cricket were slim, with the selectors set on the World Cup in 2015. The only way back was through Test cricket, which couldn’t have been easy given its fitness demands. Her needed to make a decision about where he wanted to go.

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The first thing Exeter worked out was a strict diet, and Zaheer bought into it without complaints. A combination of the right food and rigorous training became the routine during the six weeks he spent in France.”Where a lot of people go wrong is, they eat too much bread and pasta and a whole lot of stuff like that,” Exeter says. “But if you are not in an endurance sport like cycling or distance running, it is not good to have such food. There has been a fallacy that pasta is king, and you have got to smash carbohydrates down, but it can actually blow you up. So he reduced that a lot, and switched to more protein, like fish, and vegetables along with moderate amounts of fruit to help improve his body composition.”

“Zak said that he is not the fastest bowler in the world. That is not his intention. What he wants to be able to do is bowl at a good pace, do it consistently, and do it all day”Tim Exeter, athletic and performance coach

The message was simple: if your intake of calories is more than what you expend, then you are going to put on weight. An advantage for Exeter was Zaheer knew his body well. “He is like any good professional athlete I have worked with,” Exeter says. “I know what will work, but you always need the coach-athlete relationship to be working to tweak things. In that respect Zak is brilliant. He does know his body. He also knows what he wants. So we were able to develop some interesting stuff specific to him and it worked.”Other than the weight control, Exeter worked extensively on Zaheer’s running technique, which increased his efficiency as a bowler and made him quicker on the field while spending less energy. “Zak said that he is not the fastest bowler in the world,” Exeter says. “That is not his intention. What he wants to be able to do is bowl at a good pace, do it consistently, and do it all day. If he has bowled 120 balls a day, he wants to know that he can bowl the last one nearly as hard and fast as the first one.”According to Exeter, Zaheer has a highly demanding bowling action with a huge impact on his landing foot. “There is a massive force coming down on the leg he plants down before he delivers,” he says. “He has got to have the ability to decelerate, which has mainly to do with his right leg, which is the last part of his bowling action. As he jumps up in the last part of his bowling action, he comes down very hard on his right leg because he uses that as a pivot to generate speed on the ball. That was an area we focused a lot on. That is why you start with the core, the hip area.”Apart from putting the players through a strenuous outdoor training regime, which started at six in the morning on weekdays and focused more on movements and running technique, Exeter asked Zaheer to make waves with heavy ropes – the toughest exercise – in the gym. He also had him lift dead weights while squatting on the ground, and perform vertical jumps. The physical changes started to become visible after about a month. By then Zaheer had lost 5kg, and was more flexible in his movements.”It [the weight loss] just allows him to do better, and more often, and become consistent,” Exeter says. “We worked on flexibility through his hip region, mobility of his hips, which would transfer positively into his bowling and would take a load off his lower back as well. So getting him stronger through the central part of his body would not only protect his back but also allow him to produce more powerful rotations.”When Zaheer checked in, he had failed in the deadlift from the floor. “But by the end he had started to lift some reasonable weight – around 115kg – which he could not do at the start because he had not got the strength in the core and back,” Exeter says. “In that lift he is not only working his legs, he is working his glute, his hamstrings, his upper body, his core, his back, his forearms.”

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Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer’s former team-mate and a good friend, could not believe the physical change. He had met Zaheer in London before he left for France. “He looked determined,” Agarkar remembers. “He told me he was going to push himself to achieve the required fitness.” Injuries and constant niggles pushed Agarkar into retirement this October, so he understood what Zaheer was going through. “It is about bowling with that extra weight for 20-25 overs every day,” he says. “And that takes its toll.”Tim Exeter worked on Zaheer Khan’s bowling action to help him reduce pressure on his body•ESPNcricinfo LtdWhen Zaheer returned from France, Agarkar was amazed at the striking difference. “We could not believe how lean he had become,” he says.According to Sudhir Naik, Zaheer’s long-time coach, his biggest challenge before he trained with Exeter was to last a whole Test. “It was mental, where he would worry how long he could last,” Naik says. “He was always confident as a bowler. He was only worried about fitness. But so far, in the last two months, he has just built on the momentum. Especially in the three Ranji Trophy matches he has played, he has bowled extremely well, with full speed, including long eight-to-nine-over spells at a stretch.”Even though the selectors had ignored him for the home series against West Indies earlier this month, Zaheer’s aim was to get match-fit. Along the way he bowled influential spells that helped Mumbai snatch crucial points. Sulakshan Kulkarni, Mumbai’s coach, agrees with Naik. “In the five-odd matches he has played recently, he has bowled nearly 200 overs [147.3 in five matches] and not once did he come back to the dressing room [for a comfort break or treatment],” Kulkarni says. “You never needed to bother about his bowling. But now he looks the fittest cricketer in the team. So mentally, skill-wise, he was on top.”How can we be sure that Zaheer, who has had an injury-prone body, will last the distance, enough to take him over the last bend of his career? Training smart and focusing on the pre-season training are the key areas, Exeter says. “He told me he has played for 13 years solid. When you are younger, you can get away with murder, but as you get older it is wise to step back and have a preparation period through pre-season training. When you hit a certain age, you only need one injury, and then it just starts a chain of events, but you can definitely get it back when you are more robust. No question about that.”When Zaheer and Yuvraj arrived at Exeter’s centre in the middle of a vibrant European summer, they had excess baggage. “They arrived with four to five jackets, thinking it was going to be cold,” Exeter chuckles. While the summer took care of that, Exeter is satisfied he has played a part in getting rid of the excess body weight.

Michael Clarke again demonstrated his captaincy skills but the more modest player pool at his disposal hampered Australia’s efforts

Daniel Brettig at Lord's29-Jun-2012A winning record, it is often said, does not necessarily make a captain great. Ricky Ponting has won more Test matches than any other captain in the history of the game, yet opinions on his leadership of Australia are mixed. Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards were similarly considered fine players and strong leaders, but their tactical ability was often called into question because of how a rich supply of West Indies fast bowlers and batsmen meant they were seldom short of options. By contrast, Stephen Fleming is regarded as a great leader of New Zealand, for he extracted the very most he could from a modest talent base.Michael Clarke has greater resources at his disposal than Fleming, but considerably less than Lloyd and Richards. Certainly he has less than Ponting enjoyed in the first half of his captaincy. As a result, Clarke will have numerous days as captain of Australia where his own contribution, be it in the field or with the bat, will not be enough to guide his team to victory. At Lord’s in Australia’s first encounter with England since 2010-11, Clarke experienced one of those days. He did most things right in the field, and performed ably with the bat, but walked off at dusk with a 0-1 deficit to his opposite number Alastair Cook.Before the match Clarke had said the major improvement in his side since the last Ashes was in work ethic, their willingness to train hard for a common goal. Asked whether the team’s skills had improved he was less sure. “With hard work and a lot of training you hope your skills improve,” he said. “I guess we’ll see, over the next couple of weeks, how we go when we’re under pressure against a very good and confident one-day team.”It turned out at Lord’s that Australia’s skills and composure were not yet at the level required to better England. The visitors may be No. 1 in the ICC’s ODI rankings but it was the hosts who showed greater presence of mind at the important moments, and better skills at the right times. Eoin Morgan’s late-innings hitting took the target beyond Clarke’s ideal, then piercing spells by James Anderson and Tim Bresnan destabilised the chase. They were helped by Clarke’s involvement in a run-out just when it seemed he and Matthew Wade might threaten the target, one of only two miscalculations Clarke could be said to have made across the day.Clarke’s captaincy for the majority of England’s innings was admirably alert and typically assertive. He favoured slips and catching men long after the balls lost their shine, posted three men in the arc between gully and point to restrict Jonathan Trott’s pet cut shot, and worked his angles neatly to limit the number of boundaries that can flow quickly at Lord’s if field placings are imprecise.His choice of bowlers was also shrewd, calling on Pat Cummins after one rain break for instance, then calling on Xavier Doherty for the first over following the conclusion of the batting Powerplay – a gambit for which he was rewarded with Trott’s wicket. As a batsman Clarke is known for capitalising on the drifting nature of an ODI’s middle overs, pushing singles here and there. But as a fielding captain he does not allow himself to be lulled, constantly seeking wickets and challenging the batsmen to hit through or over his field settings.

“Steve Smith’s place in the Australia team remains hazily developmental, the one blind spot in the ‘role clarity’ espoused by captain and coach”

It was only towards the end of the innings, as Morgan tilted the match with a series of brazen blows that reaped 48 runs from the final four overs, that Clarke briefly resembled a more ordinary one-day captain. The bowlers did not let Clarke down entirely, as loose deliveries were few and each man generally bowled to his field. But they did not find an extra gear to match that reached by Morgan, and left a batting line-up of middling quality with about 20 more runs to chase than they would have preferred on a day when cloud and cold aided the England attack. With time, that gear will be found more often, as bowlers like Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc develop, but it was absent here.Australia’s reply began soundly enough, David Warner showing typical spunk in his first international innings on English soil, and the No. 3 George Bailey aiding him in a useful partnership, though the Tasmania captain remains a somewhat optimistic choice at first wicket down. Clarke came to the crease with the task still in hand, and it would never slip away so long as he was there. However David Hussey and Steve Smith did not do enough to help him in the middle order, and were to be put in the shade by the combative Wade.As captain, Clarke is responsible for Australia’s batting order, and he appears to have erred by placing Smith ahead of Wade, who already has one match-winning Test innings to his credit. Smith’s place in the Australia team remains hazily developmental, the one blind spot in the “role clarity” espoused by Clarke and the coach Mickey Arthur. He is a batsman and legspinner, but seldom bowls, and so far has not looked capable of holding his place with the bat alone. To play him at No. 6, ahead of Wade, was Clarke’s second misstep, one that can be argued to have been made as much at the selection table as in the dressing room.Brett Lee’s bold rearguard came up short, leaving Clarke with a few areas to ponder ahead of Sunday’s second match at The Oval. Where should Smith and Wade bat? How might his bowling attack be better balanced to cope with a late-innings acceleration? And what can be done to prevent Anderson and Bresnan, those familiar Ashes tormenters, from making the pivotal breaks? Clarke did little to detract from his growing reputation for agile captaincy at Lord’s, but to win this series his team will need to be better.

Hygiene, nicknames, freeloaders, arson and more in this interview with the Mumbai Indians’ enfant terrible

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi20-Apr-2009Is it true that you have 20,000-plus songs on your iPod?
Yes, it is true.Which one do you listen to the most?
The one am hooked on to these days is [What’s the point of living without you].Who is your (partner)?
I’m trying to find one.Tell us a secret about yourself.
For what?There must be something we don’t know.
I take a shower every day.What was the most naughty thing you did as a kid?
I was very naughty. I’m still like that. Once, at school, I shot at a beehive, after which there was complete chaos. When they found I was the culprit, the teachers gave me a lot of stick.Name one mistake you try never to repeat on the field?
I don’t want to give loose balls. I don’t want to drop a catch, especially off my own bowling. And I don’t want to get out by giving a direct catch.You are supposed to be a specialist at giving your team-mates nicknames. Give us some examples. And which one was your best?
Viru’s [Virender Sehwag] is good – “Lala”. Yuvi’s [Yuvraj Singh] is “Buggi”, [Suresh] Raina’s is “Bhabhi”.What’s the one ball you’ve bowled that you will always treasure?
My best ball in Test cricket is the one that got Michael Hussey in Bangalore last year. He left the ball and it turned in to him like a legspinner. I don’t know how it happened and it was like a mystery ball even to me. I was shocked when I saw it again later, because it turned in big time.One sledge you won’t forget?
Actually a lot of people are scared to sledge me, because if they do so they know they will have to hear a lot of crap from me later.Batsman you most enjoy beating?
Brian Lara. Toughest.What’s the best thing about playing cricket for a living?
God has been kind that I can actually do something I love.One compliment you won’t forget?
I’m still waiting for it. Perhaps I will get it when I pick up my 500th Test wicket.What do hotel rooms need to make them more enjoyable?
I don’t want to say. You will land me in trouble.Which ground has the most hostile crowds?
Sydney.And the most amusing crowds?
Kolkata and Mumbai.Which tour do you look most forward to?
Going home. That is a very short tour, but the one I enjoy the most.What do you like to drink to celebrate a victory?
I enjoy a glass champagne or wine with my team-mates after a victory.How often do your friends ask you for free tickets to matches?
All the time. Once someone asked, “Can you get 70 tickets please?” Seventy! stadium, [I don’t own the stadium]. People feel we get tickets easily, but we only get three each. It’s hard to explain to friends. They think we are lying. That is not the case.If you could have one thing from the likes of Anil Kumble or Sachin Tendulkar, what would it be?
The thing I would like from them is the way they handle things: they are very calm. Of course, apart from that, I would try to be like them – they are champions. And I hope people remember the day I leave cricket.If you were to design a t-shirt, what five words you would put on it that describe you best?
Emotional, straightforward, prankster, fighter, no-nonsense.If your house was on fire what would you grab first?
I will grab the guy who burned my house and make sure I burn him first.

Alan Shearer has expressed his frustration with Newcastle United after they released what he deemed a misleading statement regarding Alexander Isak’s absence from their pre-season tour. The former Newcastle captain and the Premier League's all-time top goalscorer criticised the club’s decision to cite a “minor thigh injury” as the reason for Isak missing the trip, just hours before news broke that the Swedish striker wants to leave the club this summer amid interest from Liverpool.

Isak left out of Newcastle's pre-season tripMagpies claimed it was because of an injuryReports then emerged stating striker wants to leaveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Isak played a pivotal role in Newcastle’s resurgence under Howe. Since arriving on Tyneside, he has scored 62 goals in just 109 appearances, an impressive strike rate that has helped transform the Magpies into a top-five Premier League side. The highlight of his time in black and white came earlier this year when he led the front line as Newcastle lifted the Carabao Cup, ending the club’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. His efforts also contributed to the team securing a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, returning them to the Champions League.

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Despite the swirling speculation and Isak’s desire to leave, Howe and the Newcastle board are not ready to give up on their star striker just yet. According to sources close to the club, there is hope that a new contract could be negotiated, potentially with an agreement in place for a departure next summer. However, Liverpool are actively pursuing the striker, which has led the Swede to consider his options.

WHAT SHEARER SAID

Speaking to , Shearer said: "It's ridiculous what Newcastle put out this morning to say he wasn't on the trip because of a slight thigh injury. If they thought people wouldn't see through that…it was disappointing. They should've just told the truth straight away. I understand it's a very difficult situation for them but it is what it is."

Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, Shearer sympathised with the pressure on Howe but emphasised that honesty would have gone a long way.

"Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year," he added. "If that can't happen, then it is what it is. You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150 million ($203m), and if he really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way.

"Isak has been brilliant for Newcastle, helped us achieve our dream of winning a trophy and if there's no way whatsoever that he can be persuaded to stay at Newcastle, then they have to get the best deal possible and if someone's prepared to pay what they want, you have to say thank you and build for the future. There's no individual bigger than the football club."

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Should Isak complete a move this summer, it would likely surpass the current British record fee Liverpool recently paid (£116m/$157m) for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. However, Newcastle would be looking for a sum well above that, nearing the £150m mark. Such a deal would be a massive financial coup for Newcastle, who would then look to reinvest that amount into finding an able replacement.

Rasmus Hojlund was greeted by wild scenes in Italy as the Manchester United striker arrived to complete his medical ahead of a loan move to Napoli. The 22-year-old has been left out of all four of United’s competitive games this season but is now set for a fresh start. His loan includes a conditional obligation to buy for £38 million should Napoli qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Hojlund arrives to complete medical with NapoliMan Utd striker greeted by swarms of excited fansLoan includes £38m obligation clauseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hojlund touched down in Italy on Sunday as Napoli fans swarmed him on his way to a medical, chanting his name and welcoming him as their newest star. The forward will undergo tests before finalising his switch from Manchester United to Napoli on a season-long loan. The agreement includes a conditional purchase clause that could see him move permanently if Conte’s side reach the Champions League.

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The Danish striker has endured a tough time at Old Trafford, netting just four league goals in the 2024-25 campaign. United were open to letting him leave after he slipped down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim. Napoli, however, see him as a long-term option in attack and hope his arrival can boost their Serie A and European push.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR HOJLUND?

The 22-year-old will complete his medical and is expected to be officially unveiled as a Napoli player within the coming days. The striker’s first task will be settling quickly into Conte’s system and pushing for a starting spot. For United, attention now shifts to offloading their 'bomb squad' members.

A Gareth Roderick century left Worcestershire in a commanding position after day one of their Vitality County Championship with Kent at Canterbury.The visitors were 308 for 5 at stumps, with Roderick hitting 117 from 281 balls, after the former Kent 2nd XI player Kashif Ali had given them a platform with 72. Adam Hose was unbeaten on 50 at stumps, reaching his half-century with a single off Nathan Gilchrist in the final over of the day.Matt Parkinson took 2 for 79, but it was largely a torpid day in the field for Kent, who struggled to make anything happen on a benign pitch until Joey Evison claimed late two wickets to end the day with figures of 2 for 39.The day began in sombre fashion, with an emotive minute’s applause for Worcestershire’s Josh Baker, who died last week at the age of just 20. Both teams wore black armbands and the flags flew at half mast over the Frank Woolley Stand.A crowd of over 1000 made the most of the first genuinely warm day of the season at the Spitfire Ground and to no one’s surprise the visitors chose to bat after winning the toss.Players took part a minute’s applause in memory of Josh Baker•Getty Images

Kent’s new overseas signing Beyers Swanepoel generated some early swing, but the hosts’ only victim during the morning session was Jake Libby, who had looked lively on his way to 19 until he was lbw to a Wes Agar delivery so plumb he turned and walked off before the umpire even had time to raise his finger.It was 94 for 1 at lunch and although Kent weren’t bowling badly, Roderick and Kashif looked largely untroubled. They put on 136 for the second wicket, until the latter began to look jittery against Parkinson, eventually nicking him to keeper Harry Finch.Brett D’Oliveira got a start, but having almost nicked Parkinson to Daniel Bell-Drummond at the start of the 61st over he went a couple of deliveries later, snared by the Kent captain at first slip for 18.It was 210 for 3 at tea, but if the D’Oliveira wicket had briefly revived Kent’s hopes, they faded during the evening as Hose joined Roderick for a partnership of 102 that seriously dented home morale.Roderick drove Agar through cow corner to reach 100 but Evison belatedly gave a dwindling number of home supporters something to smile about when he sent his off stump cart-wheeling, before getting the night-watcher Joe Leach lbw for 1 at the end of the penultimate over.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has reportedly been told by Paris Saint-Germain about their plan to sign Lucas Chevalier from LOSC Lille, leaving the Italian understandably frustrated.

• Donnarumma unhappy with PSG
• Chevalier joining European champions from Lille
• Italian linked with move away

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French and European champions have agreed a deal to bring the 23-year-old Frenchman to the club, in a move that has disturbed the Italian goalkeeper. report that, when Donnarumma was made aware of Chevalier's imminent arrival, he wasn't pleased amid uncertainties over his place in the starting line-up. Donnarumma was integral to PSG's success in the Champions League last season and will clearly be upset to have been cast aside.

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  Should Donnarumma, whose contract expires in 2026, be made available for transfer, it will alert a number of leading clubs across Europe and the rest of the world. Both Manchester United and Chelsea are searching for a new man between the sticks, with Andre Onana and Robert Sanchez yet to prove a stable, safe pair of hands. Donnarumma would provide a comprehensive upgrade for both Premier League clubs, but there are yet to be any club-to-club discussions. Given the 26-year-old's contract situation, PSG will be determined to get the highest fee possible in the summer transfer window to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United's hunt for a new goalkeeper has proven to be a thankless task so far this window. Moves for Botafogo's John Victor and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez have failed to materialise and there appears to be few clubs ready to take the error-prone Onana off of their hands. The Red Devils' transfer woes do not stop their either, with reports on August 2 claiming that Benjamin Sesko has chosen Newcastle over Old Trafford as his next club.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DONNARUMMA?

  It is unknown whether Donnarumma will agitate for a move or remain in the French capital to fight for his place. That said, should Chevalier start the Ligue 1 season as the No.1 – which RMC Sport reports is Luis Enrique's plan – a late-window deal for the Italy international could be a real possibility for United or Chelsea.

Marko Arnautovic's agent has confirmed talks to join boyhood club Rapid Vienna after the striker left Inter on a free transfer.

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• Marko Arnautovic is a free agent
• Striker in talks to return to Austria
• Rapid Vienna has shown prominent interest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 36-year-old striker's brother, Daniel Arnautovic, who is also his agent, is currently discussing a possible move in which the Austrian can head back to his country.

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  Arnautovic was used as a substitute in Austria's win in the World Cup qualifying fixture against Romania. In the press conference later, the Serbian expressed his desire to play for the national team in the upcoming World Cup 2026, only after which he will contemplate his retirement plans. With the ex-Inter striker determined to make an impression on the global stage next year, his priority would be to play in a team where he gets a good amount of minutes. As his brother and agent confirms, there is no agreement with any club as of now.

• WHAT DANIEL SAID

  Talking to , Daniel Arnautovic said: "Marko is on holiday and is training privately to be fit for his new club. If there is an agreement with a team, he will join them immediately. Rapid have strong interest. We are in contact, but that’s all it is at the moment. A lot of what is written in Austria is not true. Some of the news about Marko is crazy. There is currently no agreement."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARNAUTOVIC?

  The forward has scored two goals and provided one assist in the World Cup qualifiers. Austria are currently placed second in Group H and will face Cyprus in their next fixture on September 7.

Tottenham are interested in signing Genoa defender Koni De Winter this summer, amid reports of interest in Cristian Romero.

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• Spurs eye Serie A centre-back
• De Winter valued at around €30 million (£26m/$35m)
• Defender could replace Cristian Romero

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Corriere dello Sport, Spurs are interested in signing Genoa defender De Winter this summer as they look for potential replacements to Cristian Romero. The Argentine has been heavily linked with a potential move to Atletico Madrid, and a deal to sign the Belgium international could see the green-light given for Romero to move on. Spurs have already agreed a £5 million ($7m) deal to sign Kota Takai, another centre-back, from Kawasaki Frontale.

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  Juventus and Inter Milan are also reported to be interested in De Winter but Spurs have now emerged as a potential candidate to bring the defender to England. The 23-year-old, who has won three caps for Belgium, has made 57 appearances for Genoa and offers the versatility to play at right-back as well as centre-back.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  De Winter came through the youth academy at Juve but he was repeatedly loaned out, joining Empoli in 2022/23 and then Genoa on loan in 23/24. The latter signed the defender permanently for an overall package worth €10 million (£8.5m/$12m), and the club are now seeking around €30m (£25.5m/$35m) if they are to sell this summer, meaning they are set to make a tidy profit.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  As well as Spurs, Juve, and Inter, Crystal Palace are also reported to be interested in signing De Winter this summer. It remains to be seen if he will be on the move, but there are no shortage of suitors.

Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has urged head coach Ruben Amorim to consider giving Antony another chance at Old Trafford.

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Van Der Sar wants Antony to return to Man UtdAntony was loaned out by Amorim in January Brazilian had stunning loan spell with Real BetisFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Legendary former Manchester United goalkeeper Van Der Sar spoke about the club's transfer plans this summer and had a piece of advice for head coach Amorim, urging the Portuguese to consider giving Antony another lifeline at Old Trafford following his stunning six-month loan stint at Real Betis.

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After being signed for a gigantic £85 million fee back in 2022, the former Ajax prodigy failed to justify his price tag and live up to the demands of the Premier League. Midway through last season, following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils appointed Amorim. However, Antony couldn't break into his starting XI and had to find an exit route, which he found in the form of Real Betis. In Spain, the winger thrived, scoring nine goals and delivering five assists in 26 games as he found his mojo back.

Despite his return to form and proving to be a real game-changer at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, the 25-year-old reportedly has no future at United. In fact, they are even ready to accept a huge loss on their initial £85m investment as they are ready to accept bids worth as low as £30m.

WHAT EDWIN VAN DER SAR SAID

Van Der Sar recently provided his thoughts at an event, stating: "Luckily, I'm not in a position anymore to dictate at a club which kind of players have to come, but they're on the right track by signing a more experienced striker, maybe with another one on the way.

"The two players they signed in the winter break were good, so they should be fine if they give faith to the manager. "Maybe [Alejandro] Garnacho's going to go, I would say bring Antony back, but I'm not sure if that's realistic."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

The Brazilian international's future remains up in the air. United are adamant that they do not want to bet on Antony for a second time, while Real Betis are desperate to find solutions to sign him ahead of next season, even if it's on loan again. Reports suggest that he has attracted interest from elsewhere, with Juventus considering a potential move. Bayer Leverkusen, who appointed Ten Hag as Xabi Alonso's successor, are also planning to reunite Antony with his former manager.