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Shakib Al Hasan’s explosive approach was the perfect foil to Tamim Iqbal’s patient game at the other end, as the pair batted Bangladesh to a strong position in Khulna

Devashish Fuloria in Khulna04-Nov-2014Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal have a number of similarities. Both are left-handed, both developed in age-group cricket, both started their international careers around the same time, both tasted early success and became national icons, both have played more or less the same number of Tests and have similar records in terms of runs scored, averages, and fifties. There is also not too much difference in the number of centuries they have scored.Both players had been waiting a long time to increase their tally of Test hundreds. Tamim, for four years, and Shakib for more than three. Drought figures of that order would chew into a country’s growth, so it’s possible to make a connection on how Tamim and Shakib’s respective dry periods could have been a cause of Bangladesh’s stunted growth in Test cricket. The two should have done better given the amount of exposure they have had around the world but, if one is to look ahead, the two batsmen converting their starts to centuries could be the start of a regeneration process.It was also a good sign for Bangladesh that the two batted together in contrasting styles despite their similarity in stats. They also bring other contrasts into the team: Shakib comes from Khulna, once the wild west of Bangladesh, and Tamim comes from the port city of Chittagong. Shakib joined a boarding school – the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan – at an early age while Tamim grew up at home.That contrast of styles, of early years, is a trait often visible in the most-successful partnerships: belligerence balanced with stability, the excitement countered with a dead-bat, the lofted shots complemented by ground strokes. It was the perfect recipe to grind down the opposition and still ensure the scoreboard kept moving at a quick pace.

That contrast of styles, of early years, is a trait often visible in the most-successful partnerships: belligerence balanced with stability, the excitement countered with a dead-bat, the lofted shots complemented by ground strokes. It was the perfect recipe to grind down the opposition and still ensure the scoreboard kept moving at a quick pace

On the first day, Bangladesh had been understandably slow; they wanted to bat long and not hand Zimbabwe bowlers the advantage. On the second morning, it would not have been surprising had Bangladesh continued in the same manner for at least the first session. But Tamim came with a fresh outlook and he got the innings moving with a couple of straight drives off the seamers, shots that were part of the method – playing straight – he was using since the first day but were played in quick succession early in the morning.The excitement of the day, however, was generated by Shakib as he lofted the first ball from a spinner over the long-on boundary. Almost every time he left the crease to a spinner, Shakib aimed to hit over the top. There was no restraint on him. And with Zimbabwe feeding him with inexperienced spinners and part-timers in that crucial first session, he had no reason to hold himself back. Even as Brendan Taylor pushed men in the deep on the leg side, Shakib kept aiming for the gap at wide long-on.It was during one of these attempts that he played probably the shot of the day. He stepped out to hit Natsai M’Shangwe towards that gap but realising the ball had been flighted too far outside off, he switched into a gorgeous Sangakkara-silky drive. Tamim could have been swayed into showing his repertoire of shots but he was rock solid in his discipline and hardly played a sweep shot in his entire innings. His on-drive through wide mid-on to reach his century was the perfect accompaniment of the hard-hitting action from Shakib’s end.When Shakib had walked in, Tamim had 69 against his name but by the time Tamim reached his fourth Test century, Shakib had already racked up 56. By the time Tamim left, the team score had swelled past 300 and the partnership had been worth 132, of which 89 had come from Shakib.It is remarkable that in the 32 Tests Tamim and Shakib have played together, it was only the fourth instance of them being in at the same time. It was also their first century stand in any form of the game.As the relative fragility of their middle order again showed, Bangladesh need their big guns to fire consistently, in parallel and in their own styles. The success, as both players’ remarkably subdued celebrations showed, will often feel the same.

The allrounder splits opinion; awash with IPL cash and with three first-class triple hundreds. He is an in-your-face-cricketer trying to establish a Test career and took Lord’s by the scruff of the neck

Sidharth Monga at Lord's20-Jul-2014He wears gloves with fluorescent lines to Lord’s. He could play in a singlet and denim shorts at Wimbledon. He looks like a bundle of nerves at the crease. The bat taps down three times, the leading sleeve is rolled up like Kevin Pietersen’s, he shrugs his leading shoulder as the bowler starts to run in, then he squats in his stance, the top half of the body almost leaning out of the rest of the frame, the back lift high as if he were a Lara. You can smell fidgetiness.Within the first 10-15 minutes at the wicket, he has played awkwardly in front of his body, he has charged at quick bowlers, he has looked hopeless playing straight balls across the line, he has called for ridiculous singles, he has charged down against spin and played a worse shot than his predecessor did and perished doing, he looks like he does not belong yet when you look at the scoreboard he is 23 off 20.These are not any 23 off 20. These are 23 off 20 in a tense Test on a pitch that has done a bit throughout the Test. These are 23 off 20 from a time when India are effectively 179 for 6, in the middle of what looks like a collapse, and with new ball around the corner.You can see why he is so annoying to the opposition. A man who clearly has no business batting at Test level, but the ticker he has in abundance. Shane Warne on commentary talks about how he loves adversity. The Indian fans in the crowd go with a chant that has become a bit of a cult: “Ooooo Raavi Jadeja, ooooo Raavi Jadeja.” A chant so catchy, the man himself has amended his Twitter handle to reflect it.Get out of the way, Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja is taking over Lord’s.England, in response, are going helter skelter. They do not like disorder; you cannot get on a bus here without an Oyster card and simply pay in cash. Jadeja with the bat in hand is anything but order. He is India’s Jaad In The Box. This is incredibly high-risk strategy. He can easily nick off, get hurt, run out, get caught at mid-on, or even trip over so awkwardly in his charging at the fast bowlers.This strategy is not for everyone, but for Jadeja it is life as usual. Back home, at his farmhouse in Jamnagar, he resides with his Doberman Rocky and four horses. He rides them without a saddle, forget knee caps or a helmet. Flashy cars, look-at-me sunglasses, RJ or Ravi inscribed on most of his belongings, he is a bit of a king, a warrior king, befitting the name Jadeja. He does not like the pedigree Arabian horses you get in England. He does not like James Anderson either. Anderson does not like him. They could both be banned for the next Test.

Back home, at his farmhouse in Jamnagar, he resides with his Doberman Rocky and four horses. He rides them without a saddle, forget knee caps or a helmet. Flashy cars, look-at-me sunglasses, RJ or Ravi inscribed on most of his belongings, he is a bit of a king, a warrior king, befitting the name Jadeja

So when Anderson comes out to bat on day three, the chant goes up in the stands. MS Dhoni yields to the demands and brings Jadeja on. Anderson reverse-sweeps first ball, a shot that has brought him runs at Trent Bridge. This pitch is different, though. The ball bounces a little extra, and Anderson is caught at first slip.A day later, the new ball is taken, Jadeja is batting like Jadeja does, and England call upon Anderson, who removes the amazingly disciplined M Vijay just short of a century. There has been no effect on Jadeja, though. The second ball he faces from Anderson he dances down and swings, gets a big inside edge that goes in the air, and just out of the reach of square leg. Anderson responds with a short ball, but this time Jadeja is in the crease and defends.In the next over, bowled by Stuart Broad, Jadeja moves a touch across, plays across the line, is nearly lbw and nearly caught off the leading edge to the same ball, but that still does not pull him back. He gets a shortish ball, into the hips, around middle and leg, but because he is moving across, he can tuck it fine for four.If they bowl short, he pulls in front of square, with no pretence of elegance and so hard as if the ball is an object to be hated. In the next over he charges at Anderson again, without warning or rhyme nor, and somehow – not off the middle of the bat – drives him through cover for four. Two balls later an inside edge saves him from being plumb lbw.TwitterAnderson is in his ear, he is mock-clapping Jadeja from mid-off as Broad runs in to bowl from the Nursery End. He then lofts Broad back over his head, his first correct and elegant shot. And follows it with a pull. The pièce de résistance comes when he punches Anderson off the back foot, through point, for a get-out-of-my-face four. He is already 40 off 29. The lead is now 236. India already have a fighting total, and England are demoralised.The field has spread, singles are available, and Jadeja strolls his way to his Test best and his first fifty. Upon reaching there he gets into a sword dance, his bat brandishing like a naked sword. He is the king, the warrior king, Lord’s his subjects, watching in awe, standing up to applaud. Those who laughed at him once laugh with him now.Jadeja has not always been the king. He is as working class as it gets when he bowls. Bowling ball after ball on the same spot hoping for some natural variation with no pretence of being the spinner today’s Jim Laker would conjure when dreaming of paradise. If MS Dhoni asks him to switch to round the wicket, he switches round; if the captain wants over, he goes over. In the field he chases after every ball in a manner you would not associate with royalty. In the nets he painstakingly bats for longer than any other batsman. One extra throwdown, one extra hit, anything to do to become valuable to the team.If the batsman represents the flashy royalty he has now become, Jadeja the bowler and the fielder are the real Jadeja. He was not always this rich. He used to go to cricket, away from home, with only Rs 10 in his pocket. Forget exotic pets and feeding them and providing a playground, the young Jadeja did not know where his next meal would come from.Jadeja gets out for 68, his job as royalty is done. Twenty minutes later, the working-class hero is back on the field. As early as the seventh over of the innings, his captain calls upon him. The first ball slides in, hits Sam Robson on the pad, and appeals. The bat is awfully close to the pad, the batsman seems to have been hit outside the line of off, but Kumar Dharmasena raises his finger after long internal deliberation. Replays show the ball has hit the pad fractionally before hitting the bat, Hawk Eye says a smidgeon of the ball is inside the line when it makes contact with pad, and that Dharmasena is right.This is Jadeja’s day. Just give in. Resistance is futile. Go into the stands, or out in the streets, and sing, “Ooooo Raavi Jadeja.”

Canterbury clinched their third Plunket Shield title in four years despite suffering a seven-wicket loss to Wellington in Christchurch. The winners were decided after defending champions Auckland conceded a three-wicket defeat to Central Districts in Napi

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2017The winners of the Plunket Shield were decided in the last hour of the last round of matches as Auckland, who needed a win to lift the trophy, went down to Central Districts by three wickets and Canterbury clinched their third title in four years. Canterbury were leading the table with 101 points before the last round, followed by Auckland with 93 points. While Canterbury went down to Wellington by seven wickets, taking four points to finish on 105, Auckland’s loss meant they finished third with 98 points after being overtaken by Northern Districts, who beat Otago by three wickets.Auckland had a sniff of victory and the title by reducing Central Districts to 281 for 7 in the chase of 301 before an unbeaten 43 from Tom Bruce steered Central Districts home, in Napier. The chase was led by George Worker’s 130 off 144, his sixth first-class hundred, but they stuttered from 192 for 2 to 213 for 5, and soon 281 for 7, before Bruce’s rescue act earned them 16 points. Earlier, Auckland were restricted to 200 for 9, thanks to a five-for from Navin Patel, after a rain-affected first day. But they fought back by dismissing Central Districts for 181 as Colin Munro (3 for 22) and Tarun Nethula (4 for 49) disturbed the opposition’s top and middle order. With a slender lead, Auckland had a shot at victory by declaring on 281 for 7 after fifites from Michael Guptill-Bounce (52), Munro (56) and Mark Chapman (55) but Central Districts overhauled the 301 target in under 70 overs by scoring at 4.37 runs per over.In Christchurch, Canterbury began the final day leading Wellington by 59 runs with only four wickets in hand. Troubled by the Wellington quicks, none of Canterbury’s top five could score in excess of 15 in the second innings. Captain Andrew Ellis, however, stretched his overnight score of 34 to 110 – his ninth first-class century – while No. 9 Logan van Beek added an unbeaten 54 to his first-innings score of 66, pushing the lead past 200, prompting Canterbury to declare on 293 for 8.Chasing 227, Wellington secured the victory for the loss of only three wickets, piloted by an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 170 between Hamish Marshall (105* off 94) and Tom Blundell (63*). It was the second win in ten matches for Wellington, whose tally of 86 points earned them a fourth-place finish.Blundell had earlier anchored Wellington’s reply to Canterbury’s first-innings tally of 197 with a 113. He added 184 runs for the sixth wicket with Peter Younghusband, who fell three short of a maiden first-class century. The duo helped their side take a 67-run lead, before Canterbury medium-pacer Will Williams rolled them over over with a career best 4 for 37.Northern Districts, meanwhile, stole a three-wicket win against Otago, with heroic centuries from Daryl Mitchell (106) and Tim Seifert (151) in the fourth innings in Dunedin. Like Central Districts, Northern Districts were set a stiff target – of 347 – but the twin centuries meant three wickets from each of Michael Rae and Rhys Phillips went in vain.Northern Districts’ fourth win of the tournament was set up by 11 wickets from Ish Sodhi. Otago had earlier secured a first-innings lead of 157 after a double-century from Anaru Kitchen (207) helped them score 432 for 8. Northern Distrcits were bowled out for 275 in reply, only Dean Brownlie scoring a half-century, with Nathan Smith and Rae striking thrice each. However, Sodhi’s 7 for 59 in the third innings meant Otago declared at 189 for 8, despite strong contributions from the top order, and Northern Districts aced the daunting chase by losing no more than seven wickets.

Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Fulham's free transfer bid to sign forward Manor Solomon following his impressive Craven Cottage loan spell, according to reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

Who will Spurs sign after Maddison?

Spurs, much to the delight of new manager Ange Postecoglou, have moved swiftly for some of their top targets in this last fortnight.

Guglielmo Vicario joins from Empoli to shore up their goalkeeping options, while chairman Daniel Levy also managed to sign playmaker James Maddison from Leicester City for £40m.

These two transfers, coupled with the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus, mark a solid start to this summer transfer window and reports suggest they're also after a star centre-half.

Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and others have been linked with moves to north London while there is a belief that Postecoglou wishes to add attacking reinforcements as well.

The departures of both Arnaut Danjuma, who has returned to parent club Villarreal, and winger Lucas Moura on a Bosman have left Spurs slightly short of wide forwards.

As a result, the north Londoners are said to be keen on a move for Shakhtar Donetsk's Solomon, coming after a FIFA ruling allowed players to leave Ukraine freely amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The legislation allows Solomon to halt his contract, without approval from Shakhtar, and move wherever he pleases – meaning Tottenham can sign him for free.

As a result, The Evening Standard and Kinsella claim Spurs are "interested in hijacking" Fulham's "free transfer bid" for the Israel winger, as the Whites are also keen on him following his 2022/23 loan spell in west London.

While not much is added beyond that, it does appear Postecoglou and Levy are eyeing fresh faces in the forward areas.

Who is Manor Solomon?

Solomon scored in five straight games between February and March, bagging four overall in the league, with the 23-year-old impressing during his temporary Fulham spell last campaign.

The winger has also been heralded by sections of the Israeli press, as sports journalist Josh Halickman describes Solomon as an "exceptional athlete" and puts him up there with his country's most influential sportspeople of recent times.

Fulham boss Marco Silva also praised Solomon for his flair and capability in one-on-one situations.

"He has scored some important goals for us," said Silva.

"His one-v-one situation is really strong and coming from the left he is important."

Preparing to do battle with the Premier League’s best clubs on and off the pitch, Aston Villa are now reportedly monitoring a young defender who’s already been compared to Paris Saint-Germain star Marquinhos.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans were in the middle of their first rough patch for some time, with the balancing act of European and domestic football proving to be a difficult task for those in the Midlands, making the comfortable victory over Brentford all the more important. Goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash ensured that Unai Emery’s side picked up three points for the first time in eight games in all competitions.

Hoping to be out of their recent rut, those at Villa Park can now turn their attention towards the January transfer window, which is just under a month away. On that front, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast. Names such as Nicolo Fagioli and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez have both had mentions in two deals that would undoubtedly improve the depth in Emery’s side.

They’re not the only names that have stolen the headlines, however. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now monitoring Matte Smets alongside the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The 20-year-old defender has played a vital part in KRC Genk’s title push in the Belgium Pro League so far this season, having only arrived in the summer.

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Now, be it six months on from his arrival or, indeed, a full year, Smets could find himself heading for the exit door amid such interest. Compared to PSG defender Marquinhos by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, the Beglian is certainly one to watch.

"Elegant" Smets could replace Diego Carlos

When 2025 arrives, it may well be a case of out with the old and in with the new for Aston Villa, with an ageing Diego Carlos potentially making way for Smets. Now 31 years old alongside Tyrone Mings, Carlos is among the replaceable players in the Midlands and ones that they should consider showing the door in an attempt to prevent the consequences of an ageing squad.

Smets wouldn’t exactly be a bad option to turn to, either. The 20-year-old is already at the centre of a title race despite his young age and has seemingly emerged on the shortlist of other top Premier League sides – earning Kulig’s Marquinhos comparison and “elegant” tag as a result.

It would send yet another statement of intent if Aston Villa managed to win the race for Smets’ signature ahead of their top four rivals, especially following a recent dip in form.

Powerful Singapore-born hitter has enjoyed rapid rise over last 12 months

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2022Lancashire have signed Tim David as one of their overseas players for the Vitality T20 Blast.David, who has played T20Is for Singapore but is also eligible to represent Australia, has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last year. A powerful hitter, he impressed for Lahore Qalanders in the 2021 PSL, joined Surrey and then Southern Brave via a trip to play club cricket in the Netherlands, before spells in the CPL and the IPL.Related

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He is currently featuring in the PSL for reigning champions Multan Sultans, for whom he has made scores of 71 from 29 balls and 51 off 19 in the first fortnight of this year’s competition.”Tim fits the profile of player which we have been looking to bring into our T20 squad and his addition will give us more power in the middle order,” Lancashire’s head coach, Glen Chapple, said. “His impressive T20 record – both at international level and in various leagues around the world – speaks for itself and we are really looking forward to him joining us in May.”David, whose career strike rate in T20 is 158.52, has also featured in the Big Bash for Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes.He was signed on a short-term contract by Surrey last summer, after the club experienced an injury crisis during the latter stages of the Blast, and went on to feature in the Royal London Cup, scoring two hundreds and averaging 68.00. David then joined up with Southern Brave as an injury replacement, playing in the final as they won the inaugural men’s Hundred.”I am really excited that this opportunity has come about, and I can’t wait to join up with the rest of the Lancashire Lightning squad for the start of the Vitality Blast in May,” David said. “There is such a strong squad at Emirates Old Trafford and hopefully I can contribute with the bat and the ball to help the team go well this summer.”I thoroughly enjoyed my brief spell with Surrey and the Brave in England last year and I am looking forward to building on that experience with the Red Rose.”

Christian Pulisic and Co. have been told how Mauricio Pochettino will take the USMNT to a "new level", with Tim Ream discussing their evolution.

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Argentine tactician calling the shotsGame growing internationally and domesticallyBuilding towards home World Cup in 2026Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino inherited the managerial reins with the United States in September 2024. Positive progress has been made during his short reign, with five victories collected from six matches so far.

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Improvement in the present is considered to be important, but the USMNT are building towards the longer-term goal of being fiercely competitive at a home World Cup in 2026. Ream believes a squad loaded with talent will be firing on all cylinders by then, courtesy of their Argentine tactician.

Getty/GOALWHAT TIM REAM SAID

Veteran defender Ream has told FIFA’s of the benefits that Pochettino brings: “He just brings an intensity and a focus in everything that he does, and he translates that into the players. Over the first couple of camps, that’s what we’ve seen and it’s been evident. He's going to continue that. He's going to evolve us. He’ll improve us in the way we want to play, in our transitions, movements, and rotations, trying to confuse opposition with different setups. He’s going to lead the evolution of who we are as players and as a nation. He's going to take that to a new level.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

It is not just in the international arena that the American game is growing, with the likes of Lionel Messi – who is starring at Inter Miami – helping to boost the MLS brand. Ream is also back on that stage, after 12 years in England with Bolton and Fulham, and is impressed with what he has seen since heading home.

Former India bowling coach has previously had an IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2022Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has been appointed in the same position by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the upcoming 15th edition of the IPL.”We are very excited to have someone of the calibre of Bharat Arun joining us as our bowling coach,” Venky Mysore, Knight Riders’ CEO & MD, said in a statement. “He will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to KKR’s strong support staff. We are delighted to welcome him to the Knight Riders family.”Related

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Arun, a medium-pacer who played two Tests and four ODIs between 1986 and 1987, brings with himself considerable coaching experience, having had two stints with India’s national side – first from 2014 to 2015, and then from 2017 till the end of the T20 World Cup in 2021.Before that, he was part of the India team which won the Under-19 World Cup in 2012, and has also been a part of the coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, other than being with India’s domestic teams Tamil Nadu and Bengal.”I’m very excited and looking forward to becoming part of a highly successful franchise, such as the Knight Riders,” Arun said. “I have admired the Knight Riders franchise for not only being very successful in the IPL and around the world in T20 leagues but also for the way it is very professionally run.”His time with Knight Riders will not be the first time in the IPL. He spent three seasons – 2015 to 2017 – with Royal Challengers Bangalore as their bowling coach before he became part of the India set-up.”With a strong and successful pedigree in the international game, I’m sure Arun will complement the current staff we have and I look forward to working with him,” Brendon McCullum, the Knight Riders head coach, said. “His experience at international level and the ability to give confidence and clarity to our bowling group will be important, as we attempt to quickly align a new group of players to the values and style of play for KKR.”

Moise Kean was stretchered off and taken to hospital after sustaining a head injury during Fiorentina's Serie A clash against Verona.

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Kean suffered a serious head injuryHad to be stretchered off the pitch after he collapsedVerona beat Fiorentina 1-0Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Everton and Juventus forward Kean collapsed on the pitch just after the hour mark after sustaining a head injury following a collision with Pawel Dawidowicz and Diego Coppola. The player was initially allowed to return to the pitch after suffering the knock but he soon fell on the ground near the centre circle and was then stretchered off the pitch with a neck brace.

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The visuals from the pitch were scary as players from both teams rushed towards the player after the incident. The club's medical staff quickly attended the Fiorentina star before he was taken off the ground on a stretcher. Fiorentina have since confirmed Kean has been taken to hospital.

FIORENTINA ISSUE STATEMENT

A club statement read: "ACF Fiorentina announces that the footballer Moise Kean, during the match against Verona, suffered a head trauma. The footballer is in hospital for tests.

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WHAT FIORENTINA SAID

Manager Raffaele Palladino also spoke of his concern for his player: "I was very worried on the touchline and hope it is nothing serious. Health is the most important thing."

The “wonderful” Omar Marmoush has reportedly made it his “dream” to seal a move to Liverpool, following a stunning start to the season in Germany.

Liverpool transfer news

Transfer rumours regarding the Reds are coming thick and fast currently, with exciting young Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado the latest to be linked with a move to Anfield. It has been claimed that Liverpool scouts think the 21-year-old could be perfect for Arne Slot’s controlled style of play, bringing poise and technical quality in the middle of the park, completing 91.2% of his passes in La Liga this season.

Another player who the Reds have reportedly scouted is Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, who has been one of the Premier League’s standout attacking players in 2024/25 so far. The Cameroon international could be considered an ideal long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, as doubts persist over the Egyptian King’s future.

The lack of a new midfield signing irritated some Liverpool fans during the summer transfer window, and while a move for Martin Zubimendi may now be out of the question, Real Madrid ace Aurelien Tchouameni is a rumoured target for the Merseysiders.

"Wonderful" player dreams of Liverpool move

According to a new update from Bild [via Sport Witness], Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Omar Marmoush has made it his “dream” to join Liverpool and eventually replace Salah.

The report claims that “things look different” regarding the 25-year-old’s current suitors, with the Reds seen as “above all” in pole position in the race to acquire his signature. Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are all thought to be eyeing him up.

With every report that emerges regarding Marmoush, the more it looks as though the Egyptian is a primary transfer target for Liverpool moving forward. The Frankfurt star is enjoying an incredible start to the season, registering a remarkable 16 goal contributions (10 goals and six assists) in just nine Bundesliga appearances, outlining his relentless end product.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Schubert has said of him: “I think that what Omar Marmoush has done in the German League since last season deserves greater praise and attention. Marmoush confirms day after day that he is a distinguished talent and a wonderful player. There is no doubt that his move to one of the big clubs in Europe is very close.”

The future of Salah is such a major talking point at the moment, but even if the 32-year-old ends up signing a new deal at Liverpool, long-term planning is essential, in terms of ensuring the Reds have the perfect successor lined up.

Hopefully, the Anfield legend extends his stay and remains at his highest level for several more years, but he will need to be managed more carefully and a player of Marmoush’s ilk could be perfect to gradually usurp him as time passes.

Fabrizio Romano: £36m Liverpool star on the brink of signing new contract

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a big update from Anfield this week.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 4, 2024

If his form this season is anything to go by, Liverpool would be signing a future superstar who delivers goals and assists consistently, with his peak years still ahead of him.