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Manchester United have a World Cup-winning defender on their shortlist at Old Trafford as Erik Ten Hag looks to bolster his backline before the end of the window, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Benjamin Pavard moving to Manchester United and who could he replace?

According to The Daily Mail, West Ham United have had a £30 million bid accepted for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, who is now mulling over whether to take the Hammers up on their offer and move to the London Stadium.

David Moyes would consider appointing Maguire as club captain following the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal; however, the England international could yet look to stay on at Manchester United or explore other available opportunities to further his career.

In light of the speculation surrounding Maguire's future, Manchester United have drawn up a four-man shortlist to replace the 30-year-old this summer, which includes Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace stopper Marc Guehi, Nice star Jean-Clair Todibo and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, as per the same outlet.

Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has recently delivered an update regarding £83k-a-week earner Pavard's chances of securing a move to Old Trafford, stating on Twitter X: "Man Utd, at this stage the favorite in the poker for Benjamin Pavard! Pavard can really imagine to join MUFC as Ten Hag wants him. Concrete talks are ongoing and positive. Price valuation: Around €30m. Tuchel wants to keep him. Pavard wants to leave Bayern. Would be a massive loss for the club."

Pavard featured 43 times in all competitions for Bayern Munich last term, registering seven goals and one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has indicated that Pavard is top of Manchester United's list of potential recruits to strengthen the heart of their backline.

Jones stated: “Manchester United have been hoping that Harry Maguire would become open to this move, but obviously it’s out of their hands how much West Ham United can offer him and the buying club have to be a little careful not to rattle current important members of their squad with the personal terms they are putting to Maguire.

“Todibo in particular I have always been told is a very key target, so it’s interesting if they decide to totally dismiss that one now. Pavard has a level of experience and establishment in the game that United like very much and the fact he is so adaptable will be a real asset to Ten Hag. The latest update is that United are very hopeful rather than confident on this but the fact they have been able to even seriously consider it is positive, and the player has indicated that he would like the move.”

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United will open their Premier League account at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday and will be keen to showcase their credentials as potential title winners this term, as per Sky Sports.

Alongside Maguire, The Mirror claim that Fred, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek are likely to be sold as Ten Hag looks to streamline his squad in the final weeks of the window.

Fiorentina enforcer Sofyan Amrabat has emerged as a 'top target' for Manchester United and will be targeted now that Rasmus Hojlund has arrived at Old Trafford, as per The Daily Mail.

Turkish journalist Sercan Hamzaoglu has claimed that French striker Anthony Martial has been offered to Fenerbache as the Red Devils look to resolve his future at the club.

The outfield of the Shere Bangla National Stadium has been rated “poor” by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe who oversaw the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia last month

Mohammad Isam14-Sep-2017The outfield of the Shere Bangla National Stadium has been rated “poor” by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe who oversaw the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia last month in Dhaka. Crowe, in accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, submitted his report to the ICC in which he “expressed concern” over the quality of the outfield.The report has been forwarded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, which now has 14 days to provide its response. Once they respond, it will be reviewed by ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, and Ranjan Madugalle from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.”The grass was their main concern and we understand why they found it to be poor,” BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said. “The weather this year was the worst in the last decade, but the groundstaff gave it their best.”The matter will be dealt by Clause 4 of the process in which the first occasion of such a rating is dealt with a warning and/or a fine not exceeding $15,000 given together with “a directive for appropriate corrective action”. If it happens again within five years of the first finding, the fine goes up to $30,000.Although the Test was held during Bangladesh’s off season, the BCB’s grounds committee was preparing the Dhaka outfield for months in advance. After the 2016 BPL final was completed, the outfield grass was completely taken off and the surface was relaid. But ESPNcricinfo had learned a week before the Dhaka Test, there were serious concerns about the quality of the outfield. There was even talk of the Test match being shifted elsewhere as most of the ground didn’t have full grass covering, giving it a brownish look.So much so that on the day before the game, Crowe was seen having long discussions with the stadium’s curator Gamini Silva and BCB’s grounds department staff. Reportedly, the ground wasn’t handed over to the match referee in time as the groundstaff needed more time for last-minute touch-ups.During the Test itself, the outfield seemed slow and some players privately spoke about the poor quality of a normally fine ground. This is the first time the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s outfield has come under such scrutiny.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their efforts to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign…

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Villans are preparing to make an offer of €15m (£13m) to sign Real Madrid central midfielder Dani Ceballos during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Unai Emery is keen on a deal to bring the former Arsenal technician to Villa Park and has pushed for Monchi to test the LaLiga giants' resolve with a bid for his services.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

It states that Italian side AC Milan are also interested in signing the 26-year-old gem but the Villa boss is hoping to use the lure of regular game time to convince him to make the move to England after the pair worked together at The Emirates.

How good is Dani Ceballos?

The Spain international is an excellent midfielder who could be a fantastic addition to the squad as he has already proven himself in the Premier League and is coming off the back of an impressive season with Real Madrid.

Ceballos averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 30 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's team, which is a score that only three Villa players were able to beat, and the club's interest in him is bad news for Leander Dendoncker, who did not enjoy a successful year.

The 28-year-old dud averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.70 in 24 Premier League outings for the Villans, which placed him 13th within the squad, as he struggled to deliver consistently good performances after his move to the club last summer.

It was reported last month that the Villans would be willing to cash in on the Belgium international for a fee of up to €12m (£10m) amid interest from a number of clubs in France.

The arrival of Ceballos could accelerate any potential negotiations surrounding an exit for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star, as it would push him further down the pecking order, and he would then face the prospect of a season of sitting on the bench or in the stands.

Dendoncker failed to contribute much to Villa on the pitch last term as he ranked outside of the top ten within the Villa squad with 0.3 key passes and one tackle per game, whilst he completed 88% of his attempted passes, to go along with his unimpressive average rating, as per Sofascore.

Ceballos, meanwhile, made one key pass and 1.4 tackles per match last term for Real Madrid, which would have placed him in the top seven performers in those respective statistics for the Villans, and could make a greater impact at both ends of the pitch with his ability to open up opposition defences whilst also being able to cut out attackers to regain possession.

The Spanish maestro's last Premier League season for Arsenal also suggests that he has the ability to push Dendoncker further down Emery's plans.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.06 across 25 outings in the 2020/21 campaign as the talented ace made 1.1 key passes and 1.5 tackles per clash.

Douglas Luiz (7.10) was the only Villa player who managed to record a Sofascore rating of 7.00 or higher last term and this suggests that Ceballos, who was once dubbed an "animal" by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, could be an outstanding performer for the club.

Therefore, his arrival would be terrible news for Dendoncker as it could leave the Belgian flop out of the first-team picture with the likes of Ceballos, Luis, Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, and Boubacar Kamara, which could force him to explore a move to France.

The 31-year old fast bowler last played international cricket in June 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2017Ireland fast bowler Max Sorensen announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. The 31-year old had made his debut in 2012 and was groomed as a replacement for veteran seamer Trent Johnston, who would quit the game a year later. In all, Sorensen played 13 ODIs and 26 T20Is, picking up 16 and 26 wickets in each format. He was excellent in first-class cricket, with 28 wickets at 19.57, including a best of 5 for 37 against Scotland in 2013 that also paved the way towards the Intercontinental Cup title.Sorensen, born in Johannesburg, last represented Ireland in June 2016. Considering his age and troubles with injury – a shoulder problem has forced him to play as a specialist batsman for his club Leinster Lightning – he has decided to look beyond cricket.Max Sorensen last played for Ireland in June 2016•Getty Images/Sportsfile”At this stage of my career, I feel I need to move on with my life,” Sorensen said. “I realise the likelihood of me getting back into the set-up is unlikely, with my various injuries and fluctuating performances in the past year or so. It’s time for me to move forward and hang up the international boots. Once again I want to thank all involved with Irish cricket for their help and support – it truly means a lot.”Sorensen was part of Ireland’s three most recent World T20 campaigns and he opened the bowling when they beat West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. He is currently fifth on the list of bowlers with most T20 wickets for Ireland, taking 43 in 37 matches. Sorensen’s peak performance came in 2013 when he was their leading wicket-taker during the 2013 World T20 Qualifier in the UAE, with 14 in 8 games, which helped Ireland win the tournament. However, his performances tapered off in the following years, leading to the 2016 World T20. In that tournament, against Oman in Dharamsala, Sorensen had to defend 14 runs off the last over, but ended up conceding 16 as Oman pulled off a two-wicket win.Outgoing head coach John Bracewell marked him as a “tireless worker, never giving anything less than 100% effort”.”He always exhibited professionalism and passion, as well as obvious skill. He was a fine role model to the younger players in the squad, and was a very popular figure in the dressing room. I wish him all the best in his future.”Despite a shoulder injury limiting Sorensen’s ability to bowl, he struck a match-winning 98 not out for Leinster against Munster Reds in the Inter-provincial T20 tournament in June.

Hibernian have suffered arguably their biggest nightmare during this transfer window, as Kevin Nisbet finally departed Easter Road for Championship side Millwall, netting them a cool £2m in the process.

It was second time lucky for the Scottish striker, as he turned down a move to the Den back in January and although Lee Johnson knew that he couldn’t keep hold of his prized asset for long, it will still sting knowing he has departed.

He will now need to replace the player if Hibs are to challenge for third spot in the Premiership next season.

Who have Hibs signed?

Johnson has made a decent start to the transfer window, signing Dylan Levitt, Adam Le Fondre and Elie Youan to spearhead his challenge for a top-three finish and surely more will arrive soon.

One player who may potentially find himself back at Easter Road is striker Mykola Kukharevych, after he made some encouraging comments about the club.

He said: "Hibs fans write to me on social media every day. My situation is not sorted yet. There is still a possibility I could stay at Hibs for the new season too.

"The support is insane. It was the first time I saw fans like that. They travel in big numbers away from home too. I was shocked to see so many of them."

This will please the supporters and the onus is on Johnson to secure another loan spell for the popular £600k-rated Ukrainian.

How good is Mykola Kukharevych?

If Hibs are to make a move for the striker, they could face some competition from Polish side Rakow Czestochowa as they have identified him as a key target.

The 22-year-old still has three years left on his current contract with French outfit Troyes, meaning Hibs will have to settle for a loan deal for the second season in a row if they wish to see him performing in the Premiership.

Although playing just 15 matches due to suffering an injury towards the end of the 2022/23 season, he still managed to score five times and could replace Nisbet’s goals should he stay fit.

The 26-year-old showed just why clubs south of the border were after him, netting 12 goals in just 20 matches, and he finished his stint at Hibs having scored 39 goals in just over 100 matches, a solid hit rate.

Nisbet and Kukharevych ranked in the top two for scoring frequency across the Hibs squad last term, netting every 114 and 174 minutes respectively, while the duo also displayed their intent to score as often as possible by taking 2.7 and 2.3 shots per game, good enough to rank them first and third.

It’s clear that the 6 foot 3 machine has all the required attributes to fill the void left by Nisbet should he join Hibs again for a second spell.

The club finished last season as the fourth-highest scorers in the league with 57 goals, yet in order to secure that top-three finish, they will need a player who is able to score 20 or more and Kukharevych could be the ideal candidate.

The opener said his Man-of-the-Match effort was “very satisfying” and gave the team confidence that could hopefully rub off on their supporters as well

Sa'adi Thawfeeq01-Jul-2017After scoring his maiden ODI ton, a Man-of-the-Match effort in a record chase, Solomon Mire said he was hopeful the result would encourage more people in Zimbabwe to support the team.”The win just allows hope for the fans and the people who are following the team. It allows them to stay in and stay involved. Hopefully we will get more support from our people back home and all round the world as well,” said Mire.”There is a bit more belief in the team. When we started today, at one stage we thought we would be chasing quite a big score – about 350. To be able to bring it back the way we did gave us a little bit of momentum going when we went to bat.”We had the belief that if we batted for a long period we would be able to compete in the game, and winning really capped it off for us. It’s such a huge thing for Zimbabwe cricket to be able to win against a top team like Sri Lanka,” he said.Mire, whose previous highest score in 17 ODIs was a 55-ball 54 against Afghanistan, described his 112 off 96 balls as ‘very special’.”It was a very satisfying, especially considering it was such a huge win for us. We have beaten Sri Lanka here for the first time so I am happy to contribute to the win. It was pretty tough and I was cramping up halfway through. I tried to keep re-hydrating, but it is something that takes a bit of time to get used to, the heat. Hopefully going forward we will be better prepared.”We challenged ourselves. We knew that if someone batted a long time and made a hundred, it would put us in a good position to be able to chase. We have been trying to work something like that in the last few months and it was due.”We needed someone to actually put his hand up and score some runs. Luckily, it worked for us today. Going forward the template we will be to try and bat as long as possible and the runs will come,” he said.Zimbabwe’s intent to bat long was studded with runs that came behind the wicket against spinners, particularly through sweeps and reverse sweeps. The opener said it was a conscious effort.”Coming into this series, we were sort of preparing to have those options [the sweep and reverse sweep] for us to use because we were thinking the wickets might be a bit challenging against spin. It worked today and is something that we would try and continue utilising.”

Manchester United are reportedly interested in making a move for Juventus winger Federico Chiesa this summer as Erik ten Hag aims to significantly bolster his attacking options.

The Old Trafford side will have only signed Mason Mount during the current transfer window and with the start of the Premier League season just over three weeks away, the Dutchman doesn’t have long in order to make another few signings.

Are Manchester United interested in Federico Chiesa?

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), United are the latest club to signal their interest in the Juventus winger.

Ten Hag will face some competition from Liverpool and Newcastle United for Chiesa, although with Champions League football gracing the Old Trafford pitch next season, it could be the ideal incentive in order to lure him to Manchester.

If the Serie A side were to receive a bid of €50m (£43m) for the 25-year-old whiz, then he ‘can leave’ Italy and the Red Devils may be tempted to launch a bid in the coming weeks.

How good is Federico Chiesa?

Before suffering a serious ACL injury in January 2022, Chiesa was primed to be the next darling of Italian football, especially with his exploits during his time at Fiorentina and with the national team.

The left-winger emerged onto the scene during the 2016/17 season and eventually registered 59 goal contributions – 34 goals and 25 assists – across just 153 games before joining the Old Lady in 2021.

He played a key role for Italy as they won their first European Championship since 1968 when he scored twice during Euro 2021, and it certainly appeared as though he was ready to explode and develop into one of the finest players in Italy.

It hasn’t quite worked out that way due to his injury and since returning to action, Chiesa managed just four goals and six assists last term, yet he could certainly be an upgrade on current United left-winger Jadon Sancho, with the Englishman struggling during his stint at the club.

Considering United shelled out a fee of £73m for the former Borussia Dortmund starlet, he has yet to live up to the expectation, scoring only 12 times and grabbing six assists across his two seasons at the club.

Following a promising start to last term, Sancho missed a large chunk of the campaign due to physical and mental health issues, leading to his failure to claim a place in the England squad for the 2022 World Cup.

Although Chiesa also failed to sparkle last season, he still registered more shots per 90 (2.75 to 1.12), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.63 to 0.48) and was successful with a higher percentage of take-ons (53.3% to 42.3%) than Sancho, and although he didn’t score as much as league goals as the Englishman (six to two), it appears as though he posed a bigger attacking threat in terms of total shots and his ability to take on defenders.

Once hailed as a “diamond” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Chiesa also had more league assists than the 23-year-old (five to three) and missed fewer big chances (one to two), suggesting he is able to create more chances for his teammates and there is no doubt that if he returns to his pre-injury form, he could be an upgrade on Sancho next season.

Crystal Palace have now entered the race to sign Getafe goalkeeper David Soria, who could be brought in as a replacement for Vicente Guaita, according to reports from Spain.

What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

Palace offered Guaita a new contract earlier in the transfer window, with it being reported that the Spaniard is happy at Selhurst Park, and is willing to battle Sam Johnstone for a place in the starting XI next season – however, he is yet to sign a new deal.

The 36-year-old has just one year remaining on his current contract, meaning his future is in doubt, and he has now emerged as a transfer target for Getafe, as reported by Marca (via Sport Witness).

Getafe are targeting Guaita as a potential replacement for Soria, who has now been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest recently making their interest clear.

The Eagles have also now joined the race for the 30-year-old, viewing him as an option to replace their current goalkeeper, amid the doubt surrounding his future at Selhurst Park, given that he is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.

In summary, Palace entering the race for Soria has caused Getafe to look at replacements for their goalkeeper, and Guaita has been "sounded loud" as a possible target, meaning the two clubs could end up swapping their goalkeepers this summer.

How good is David Soria?

Journalist Alvaro Canibe has recently hailed the £25k-per-week shot-stopper for the influence he has in the dressing room, as well as for his performances on the pitch, saying: "Thumbs up for David Soria. His excellent level on the pitch has only been surpassed by his courage, leadership and attitude off it. This season has made his importance clear. Captain without the armband. Colossal.

With an average Sofascore match rating of 6.97, the 6 foot 3 colossus was ranked as Getafe's second-best performing player in La Liga last season, and he particularly impressed when it came to saving penalties.

Up until April 8th last season, the Getafe star had saved four of the seven penalties he'd faced, more than any other goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues at that stage of the campaign.

Not only that, but the Madrid-born goalkeeper's save percentage in general is also very impressive, stopping an average of 75.3% of the shots he has faced per 90 over the course of the past year, placing him in the 81st percentile when compared to his positional peers.

The only potential criticism that could be made of the former Sevilla man is that he does not appear to be particularly good with his feet, given that he ranks in the 99th percentile for number of passes launched, and he is only in the 13th percentile for touches per 90.

That said, Soria could still be a really solid signing for Crystal Palace, as he would be more than capable of pushing Johnstone for a place in the starting XI next season.

Michael Vaughan, Joe Root’s boyhood hero, has branded England’s batting “appalling” and suggested it was born from “a lack of respect” for the values of Test cricket.

George Dobell17-Jul-2017Michael Vaughan’s criticism of the England side is “unfair” according to England captain, Joe Root.Vaughan, Root’s boyhood hero, branded England’s batting “appalling” on the BBC’s and suggested it was born from “a lack of respect” for the values of Test cricket. “They look like they are playing a T20 game,” he said.England were bowled out for just 133 in the second innings at Trent Bridge, succumbing to the second biggest defeat, in terms of runs, in their history against South Africa. Across the game, they lost several wickets to oddly aggressive strokes, with Root himself guilty of a loose drive in the first innings and Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali falling in similarly aggressive fashion in the second innings.It was England’s seventh loss in their 10 most recent Tests. And it left Vaughan both unimpressed and suggesting that England were struggling to adjust having just played several months of white-ball cricket leading into the ICC Champions Trophy.He was not alone in his condemnation. Another former England captain, Nasser Hussain, blasted England for playing a “rubbish brand of cricket” on Sky Sports, while Geoff Boycott described the performance as “absolute tripe” on the BBC.But Root, who has seen Vaughan as a mentor, countered by saying England had simply suffered a bad game and that he “couldn’t believe” Vaughan would suggest such a thing.”That’s very unfair,” he said. “I can’t believe he’s actually said that, to be honest.”We pride ourselves on winning series like this and unfortunately we’ve played poorly this week.”While Root admitted some of England’s batting was “disappointing,” he insisted the result was not a fair representation of the team’s quality. He accepted, though, that England’s batsmen were struggling to adapt between limited-overs and Test cricket and warned they would have to learn the lessons quickly if they were to win a series that is currently squared at 1-1.”It was very disappointing the way we played today,” Root said. “We’re a side that doesn’t like giving anything away and unfortunately today that wasn’t a fair representation of how good we are as a team.”It’s important to stay calm. There’s a lot of cricket left to be played in this series. It’s important we don’t sulk and we don’t get too down on ourselves. We’re a good side and we don’t lose that overnight.”We need to learn the lessons quickly from this week. We didn’t assess the situation well enough in the first innings and then from that we couldn’t find a way to get back into the game.”A lot of sides do [struggle to adjust between formats] in world cricket: the amount of white-ball cricket we play and the crossover between formats.”Part of Test cricket is trying to find a balance [between defence and attack] and, if it’s not your strength, you build it into your natural game. You have periods where you can absorb a bit of pressure and find the right moment to apply it when chances come along.”Throughout this game we have not done that very well at all. We are capable of doing it and have done it previously but this wasn’t a very good example of it.”But it’s part and parcel of Test cricket. We need to be better at that. There’s no shying away from it. We need to make sure we learn quickly and, if we are in a similar situation at The Oval, for example, we play it slightly smarter.”The ways we’ve gone about it previously haven’t worked so we have to look for something different and make sure we work very hard at that and make sure it sticks.”

Stuart Broad has emerged as an injury doubt ahead of the Test series against South Africa after requiring a scan on his heel

George Dobell21-Jun-2017Stuart Broad has emerged as an injury doubt ahead of the Test series against South Africa. Broad bowled just one over before leaving the pitch as his Nottinghamshire side defeated Leicestershire by an innings after complaining of pain in his left heel. An England spokesman subsequently confirmed he would have a scan in the next 24 hours to ascertain the extent of the problem.The news is likely to cause concern in the England camp ahead of the Test series, starting at Lord’s on July 6. England are already likely to be without Chris Woakes, who is recovering from a side strain, while Ben Stokes played in the Champions Trophy with a sore knee and James Anderson has just recovered from a thigh injury.Broad will also be keen to play in the Royal London Cup final at Lord’s on July 1, while England would have wanted him to gain some pink-ball experience in the round of day-night Championship matches that is scheduled for next week. It may well be that he is rested from one or other game as a precaution even if the scan shows nothing more than bruising.Broad has managed his heel problem for some time. While specially made boots have alleviated difficulties, it is likely that he rarely bowls pain free these days. While Peter Moores, the Nottinghamshire coach, stressed that Broad left the field purely as a precaution and would not have done if the context of the match had been different – Notts were cruising to victory – the fact that he is undergoing a scan and the proximity to the Test series suggest the issue may be a little more serious than suggested.”Stuart had a bit of pain in his heel,” Moores said. “He’s had it for a while. If the situation had been different he could have pushed on through it but there was no need to so he came off and we’ll monitor it and look after him.”