All posts by h716a5.icu

Still reeling from their failure to qualify for the Champions League, Aston Villa have instantly set their sights on summer upgrades which could reportedly include a defender who has won it all in English football.

Aston Villa may still face PSR consequences

It’s fair to say that Aston Villa went all in on Champions League qualification, knowing that failure would have its consequences – that failure simply couldn’t be an option. So, the reaction when Manchester United sealed a shock victory on the final day after Morgan Rogers’ goal had controversially been disallowed was always going to be strong.

Villa slammed the decision, which they feel cost them their Champions League place, citing that a more experienced referee should have been in charge of such an important game, rather than 35-year-old Thomas Bramall.

Whether the blame truly lies with Bramall or Villa, themselves, for missing out on a place in the top five is not the question those in the Midlands should be answering, however. Instead, they should turn their focus towards how they’re going to navigate their way past increasing profit and sustainability concerns.

Already, the likes of Emiliano Martinez have been linked with moves away from Villa Park in a shock exit which is becoming more and more of a possibility. The Argentine is undoubtedly one of Unai Emery’s key men, but could be shown the door as they look to balance their books this summer.

Perhaps in a defiant attempt to welcome upgrades even in the face of PSR concerns, Aston Villa could still welcome fresh faces in the coming months. The likes of Lucas Chevalier is one name on their reported shortlist to replace Martinez, whilst those in the Midlands have also seemingly set their sights on signing a Premier League champion at a bargain price this summer.

Aston Villa informed about Joe Gomez deal

According to Empire of The Kop, Aston Villa have now been informed about Joe Gomez’s situation at Liverpool and are one of eight Premier League clubs currently keeping an eye on the defender who will be allowed to leave Anfield this summer.

The veteran centre-back, who can also play as a left and right-back, will reportedly cost any potential suitor just €30m (£25m) in the coming months in what is a bargain deal for such an experienced player. After becoming a two-time Premier League winner in recent months too, Gomez himself is reportedly open to an Anfield exit in pursuit of a starting place elsewhere.

He's Grealish 2.0: Aston Villa keen on £55m star who has the "X Factor"

Aston Villa are looking to upgrade their attacking options this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 3, 2025

Whilst the 28-year-old has endured his fair share of injury problems, there’s a reason why he’s Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team player and Arne Slot recognised his quality earlier in the season, telling reporters: “Joe is patient in a good way, he always makes sure he is ready whenever the club or his teammates need him, and that is special when it comes to his mentality because not many players can do this for so many years that he has done this.”

If Aston Villa want to get back into the Champions League next season, then to say they could do a lot worse than signing a defender who’s won the competition would be a major understatement.

Manchester United’s front line is in desperate need of an overhaul this summer, with such a department massively holding them back from any success under Ruben Amorim.

The side only managed to net 44 times in their 38 Premier League outings last campaign, with no player in the first-team squad managing to register double figures.

Departures are to be expected in such an area, with academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho one player likely to be sacrificed in the coming months, after hitting out at his lack of action in the Europa League final.

Rasmus Hojlund could be another to leave the Red Devils during the off-season, with any sales massively helping Amorim in his quest to land new stars at Old Trafford.

As a result of the pending futures of the aforementioned players, targets have already been drawn up, with the hierarchy appearing to be making moves in the transfer market.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

The 3-4-2-1 formation utilised by Amorim at United requires specific players to be signed if they are to fit into the current system and be a success at the Theatre of Dreams.

A striker has been one of the main priorities in recent weeks, with the likes of Dušan Vlahović, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitiké all firmly remaining on the club’s radar.

However, a new twist has emerged, with Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres still seen as their number one target for the position, according to TEAMtalk.

They claim that the Red Devils remain confident of a deal to land the 54-goal forward despite the Swede claiming that he’s only interested in a move to join fellow English side Arsenal.

It also states that the board at United believe his previous spell under Amorim in Portugal could play a huge factor in the deal, with the attacker wanting a move to England this window.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s answer to Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé is a forward who has constantly tormented backlines across Europe in recent years, cementing himself as one of the best attackers in world football.

The 26-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer from PSG, after enjoying a six-year spell in Paris, which saw him net 235 goals in his 264 appearances.

His move to Spain has seen him continue his tremendous run in front of goal, registering 43 efforts in his 56 outings for the LaLiga giants, forming a deadly partnership with Vinícius Júnior.

Every team across the continent must wish they had a version of the forward, with his form in front of goal something which is extremely hard to find in the modern game.

However, United could be about to land their own version of the superstar, in the form of Gyokeres, with the Swedish international a force to be reckoned with in front of goal.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to Mbappé by FBref, managing to match or better the Madrid talisman in numerous key areas, highlighting how much of a sensational signing he would be for the Red Devils.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “the best striker in Europe” by The Athletic, has outscored Mbappé, whilst averaging a better goal per shot on target rate – handing Amorim the clinical edge he’s been lacking as of late.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

46

34

Shot on target accuracy

52%

49%

Goal per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Key passes completed

2

1.5

Take-on success

46%

44%

Carries into opposition box

3.1

2.9

Aerials won

51%

40%

He’s also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted whilst registering more carries into the opposition box, having the ability to create an attacking opportunity out of nothing.

Gyokeres’ dominance is also reflected in his higher percentage of aerials won, with his ability in the air offering the side the needed focal point they’ve often lacked.

Given the interest from elsewhere this summer, the hierarchy must work quickly to secure the Sporting CP star’s signature, with the forward a talented all-round option.

His comparisons to Mbappé highlight the threat he carries, with the 27-year-old having the skillset to end their long-standing pursuit of a new talisman at Old Trafford.

More exciting than Mbeumo: Man Utd in talks to sign "very special" talent

Manchester United could be about to land a star who could thrive under Ruben Amorim.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 18, 2025

There looks set to be plenty of change at Ibrox this summer after Russell Martin was officially unveiled as the new manager for Glasgow Rangers.

There could be plenty of inward and outward business for the Scottish giants before the window slams shut at the start of September, and one player who could be on his way out of the club is central defender Robin Propper.

The latest on Robin Propper's exit from Rangers

At the start of this month, RangersReview reported that the Dutch defender is ‘expected’ to seal a permanent exit from Ibrox before the end of the window.

It was then claimed by Dutch media that FC Twente would like to pay a fee of £1m to bring the Gers flop back to the Netherlands, and that he had already agreed a three-year contract with the Eredivisie side.

Fast forward to the present day, and the latest update on Propper’s future is that he is waiting to hear from Rangers about what they want to do with him heading into next season.

FC Twente sporting director Jan Streuer explained the situation earlier this week, saying: “We have to wait and see with him. Robin wants to hear from his club on what they’re going to do.”

It now remains to be seen whether or not Propper, who scored two goals in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, will be at Ibrox next term.

The former FC Twente skipper is not the only Rangers star who could be on his way out of Ibrox, though, as another player is reportedly closing in on a transfer.

Rangers star Dessers reaches agreement to leave Ibrox

According to reports relayed by The Daily Record, centre-forward Cyriel Dessers has agreed a £30k-per-week contract with Greek side AEK Athens ahead of a move to the club this summer.

The report claims that they have made the Nigeria international their number one transfer target, and now they have reached an agreement with him to ditch Ibrox for the Agia Sophia.

Appearances

35

35

Goals

16

18

Big chances missed

27

21

Ground duel success rate

29%

34%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

31%

Dessers, who has missed 48 ‘big chances’ in two Premiership seasons with the Light Blues, is keen on making the move, per this report, and it is now down to the two clubs to agree a transfer fee for the player.

The Daily Record adds that the club’s new American owners are prepared to hold out for a significant fee for the Nigerian marksman, and that AEK Athens are expecting to pay a fee in excess of £5m to land their number one target.

As aforementioned, the 30-year-old attacker, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is “awkward” to play against due to his physicality, has been incredibly wasteful with the ‘big chances’ that have come his way in the Premiership since his move from Cremonese in the summer of 2023.

Cashing in on the experienced forward, despite his respectable goal return, could provide Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell with the opportunity to target a more ruthless striker who can be relied upon in the big moments when the big chances fall their way.

He's Jelavic 2.0: Rangers ready bid for "complete" £6m star

Rangers could be set to make a bid for a new striker who could be the club’s next Jelavic.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 14, 2025

Despite the loss, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus looked on the positive side, saying “these big games are always gold dust”

Andrew McGlashan12-Jun-20245:54

Finch: Zampa owns the stumps and it’s hard to play square against him

They overcame a small wobble to win convincingly, completely outplayed their higher-seeded group opponent and now dispatched a lower-ranked team with clinical ease. Australia can lay claim to having had the most serene path so far in T20 World Cup 2024, a marked contrast to living on the edge as they have done in recent global events.Things could change, of course, come the Super Eight but Australia are a well-drilled side with, seemingly, all bases covered. Pat Cummins was able to have the first game off; there was no need to push a sore Mitchell Starc into this one. Others could now get a rest against Scotland ahead of the next stage, which sees three games in six days for all the teams who make it.Namibia were not expected to be a roadblock, but this tournament has thrown up the unexpected quite frequently. This, however, was not going to be a night for anything to be added to that list. Australia’s powerplay bowling was relentless; Adam Zampa helped himself to the middle and lower order; the fielding was outstanding and the chase brutal.Zampa, becoming Australia’s first male player to 100 T20I wickets, took the plaudits with the Player-of-the-Match award – his second in two games – and from his captain. Like in the ODI World Cup, he has so far operated as the lone frontline spinner, supported by Glenn Maxwell’s offspin.”If you look at his career, especially over the last five years, he’s probably our most important player,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said at the post-match presentation. “He loves the big moment, loves the pressure, and that comes with experience. He’s bowling beautifully at the moment, so we’re lucky to have him.”Gerhard Erasmus finished with 36 off 43•Getty ImagesIt took 24 minutes and less than six overs to knock off the target. Run rate was of no concern, or benefit, for Australia (whether they take note of England’s in a few days’ time is another thing entirely) but they were in no mood to hang around. Perhaps they can squeeze in another of Antigua’s 365 beaches before hopping over to St Lucia.”I think in the back of your head turning up today, that’s how the day should go for us,” Josh Hazlewood said. “And it’s one thing thinking that, it’s another thing actually going out and doing it. So, it was up to us to set the tone as the bowling group and to have them 3 for 16 [15], 5 for 20-odd really sort of set that tone. Then obviously we’ve got the freedom with the bat to chase a lowish score as quickly as possible… but yeah, it’s good to get a win like that.”Gerhard Erasmus, the Namibia captain who was made to sweat 17 balls to get off the mark, did not shy away from the result and conceded his team had not played their best throughout the competition, which started with a Super Over win against Namibia and then a loss to Scotland. However, he hoped his players would still take gains from the experience.”I think these big games are always gold dust in the sense that you get a physical run out with the best in the world,” he said. “You tend to face different ball speeds, different skills at a very high quality, a very high consistency and whether that’s a game that runs very close or one that you even lose quite far, it’s still gold dust that you need to try your best to take in every moment of that and every sort of experience that you can because they don’t come around often. So hopefully, some of the boys could do that tonight again, even though it was a bit of a runaway.”

Nottingham Forest have a huge season in 2025/26 ahead of them. After being in contention for a Champions League spot for much of the campaign, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could only qualify for the UEFA Conference League, although that is still a fantastic achievement.

Their good performances have drawn interest in their players from other clubs in the Premier League. One of those sides is Newcastle United, who are targeting a move for Anthony Elanga.

The East Midlands outfit currently values the Sweden international at £50m, showing just how important he is to the club and their exciting project.

If Elanga does depart the City Ground this summer, they will need to sign a replacement. Reports suggest they may already have someone lined up.

Nottingham Forest's potential Elanga replacement

Sorting an Elanga replacement this summer is something Forest simply must get right. The Swedish forward is a versatile player, so if he does leave, Nuno must surely go and sign a player in a similar mould.

Well, perhaps the man who could replace Elanga is Juventus star Timothy Weah. According to a recent report from Gianluca Di Marzio, the City Ground side ‘are interested in’ signing Weah this summer. The report suggests that the ‘clubs have already started contact and the negotiations are in full swing’ to agree a deal.

At this stage, personal terms with the USA international do not seem to have been completed. However, a fee is becoming more clear, with the Italian giants seemingly wanting just £12m for Weah this summer, which seems like an excellent value for money deal.

Why Weah would be a good replacement for Elanga

It was a really impressive campaign on a personal level for Weah, in what proved to be a turbulent season at times for the Old Lady. He became an important player and helped Juve to qualify for the Champions League, finishing fourth.

Across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, Weah, who is the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George, played 43 games, including one in the ongoing Club World Cup. In that time, he scored six goals and assisted a further five, with eight of those goal involvements coming in Serie A.

One of the words that springs to mind when discussing Weah is versatility, with Dougie Critchley describing him as “one of the most versatile players in world football”. He is incredibly flexible, able to play as a winger on either side, a full-back on either side and as a centre-forward.

This offers his manager, who could well be Nuno next season, extreme tactical flexibility, both during a game, should he wish to make tweaks, or before a game. Having a player who can play in multiple positions is certainly useful for any manager.

Indeed, that can be said about Elanga, too. The 23-year-old can also play on either flank, operating on the right wing most often last season. Like Weah, he can feature as a centre-forward, too, doing so seven times in 2024/25.

Stepping up and replacing the Forest number 21 will not be easy for Weah, though. Last season in Garbaldi Red, Elanga scored six Premier League goals and assisted 11, playing all 38 games. That included a sensational strike against former side Manchester United.

The underlying numbers via FBref for both players stack up well against each other. For example, Weah averaged 3.08 progressive passes per 90 minutes for Juve, compared to Elanga’s 2.27 each game for Forest, rubberstamping their creative threat in the final third.

Stat (per 90)

Weah

Elanga

Goals per shot

0.24

0.14

Key passes

1.04

1.8

Progressive passes

3.08

2.27

Tackles and interceptions

2.75

0.9

Progressive carries

2.47

3.67

There is no doubt that losing Elanga would be a huge blow for Forest. However, signing Weah, an even more versatile attacker who still manages good output, would be a superb way to replace their talismanic attacker.

He would be cost-efficient and offer Nuno tactical flexibility and quality in the final third. This seems like an excellent move for Forest this summer.

Hudson-Odoi upgrade: Nottingham Forest ramp up move for "ruthless" star

Nottingham Forest eye a move for a Championship winger who could be an upgrade on what they have.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 21, 2025

Arsenal hold a concrete interest in an “unbelievable” Cristhian Mosquera alternative, and they have now made an approach over a potential deal, according to reporter Sami Mokbel.

Gunners identify Mosquera as main centre-back target

Mikel Arteta is blessed with having a top-quality centre-back duo at his disposal, with Jamie Carragher heaping praise upon William Saliba and Gabriel last season, suggesting the defenders complement each other.

Speaking about Saliba, the Sky Sports pundit said: “I think he is one of the top centre-backs in European football. As a partnership, him and Gabriel is as good as anything in the Premier League.

“I think Saliba is the better player but Gabriel is the better leader, and Saliba needs to bring that to his game if he wants to get to the levels we talk about with Virgil van Dijk.”

Saka will love him: Arsenal agree initial fee to sign £60m "monster"

Arsenal could be growing closer to signing a new striker.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 29, 2025

However, with Gabriel absent through injury during the back end of the campaign, Arteta was left a little short on options, with Jakub Kiwior filling in, suggesting it could be savvy to bring in additional strength in depth at centre-back this summer.

Mosquera has emerged as Arteta’s main target to come in as a back-up option for Gabriel and Saliba, with the Gunners expected to make a bid for the 21-year-old, however, they have now made a move for an alternative option.

That is according to Mokbel, in a report for BBC Sport, with the reporter stating Arsenal have now made an approach to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who is expected to be available for a fee in the region of £40m this summer.

The north Londoners hold a concrete interest in Guehi, having made an initial enquiry, but their interest may have cooled, having now turned their attentions to Mosquera.

Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also retain an interest in the Palace captain, so it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, should the Gunners decide to launch a move.

Guehi could be better-suited to Arsenal than Mosquera

It remains to be seen whether the England international would be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, given that it would be difficult to force his way into the starting XI, but there are signs he could be a more suitable addition to the squad than Mosquera.

Crucially, the Palace star already has experience in the Premier League, having been a key player for the Eagles for a number of years, while he has also outperformed the Valencia defender across some key defensive metrics over the past year.

Average per 90

Cristhian Mosquera

Marc Guehi

Tackles

1.52

1.79

Blocks

1.0

1.62

Clearances

3.47

4.80

Aerials won

1.11

2.0

Lauded as “unbelievable” by members of the media, Guehi could be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, but a move for an established centre-back could cause unrest if it means Gabriel or Saliba receive less game time.

The team has asked to be administered by East Asian Cricket office in Australia, and not play under ACB banner or be called the Afghan national team

Firdose Moonda01-Jul-2024Seventeen female players, contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in 2020 before the Taliban takeover, have asked the ICC to assist them in setting up a refugee team based in Australia in the absence of a national side. The players made their request in a letter sent to ICC Chair Greg Barclay on Saturday, pleading for “support and guidance” from the game’s governing body to formalise themselves, even as the ACB is unable to recognise them.Crucially, the players acknowledged that “due to the government policies of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Cricket Board and thus the ICC cannot recognise them as a national team of Afghanistan”, and have not demanded to play under an ACB banner or even to be called the Afghan national team. Instead, they have asked to be administered by the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia as a refugee team which will enable them to “represent all Afghan women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan”.Their letter comes against the backdrop of their men’s team’s unprecedented success in reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, and capturing global attention with their performances. The women’s players expressed their joy at the men’s achievements even as they reflected on their own plight.Related

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“We, the formerly contracted players of the Afghanistan Women’s team, are proud and excited by the achievements of Afghanistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and wish to congratulate Rashid Khan and his team on reaching the semi-finals,” the letter read. “A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers.”In November 2020, the ACB had held a women’s cricket trial in Kabul, and agreed to contract 25 women’s players, with the aim of developing a slow progression of fixtures. A tour to Oman was being mooted as their first assignment, but it never took place, as nine months later, the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan saw women and girls banned from most areas of public life, including sport.Many of those involved in sport sought exile abroad, and a significant proportion of Afghanistan’s female footballers and cricketers now live in Australia. There are also some in the UK and Canada. Most of them continue to play cricket at local clubs, and while they have received assistance from various organisations, they have not been able to formalise themselves into a representative team. They have chosen this moment, with Afghan cricket in the headlines, to remind the world of their existence and to propose a solution to their continued exclusion.

“We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket to show the world the talent of Afghan women, and to demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC”Excerpt from Afghanistan women’s letter to the ICC

Currently, the ICC is unable to offer them official status, because as a member organisation, it relies on individual boards to compile and recognise teams. The ACB, because of the Taliban’s position on women, cannot recognise a women’s team. There are fears from various quarters that forcing the issue of a women’s team on the Taliban government would put lives at risk.The exiled players understand the sensitivities, and have asked for recognition in a different way, by being afforded the status of a refugee team. From their communication, it appears that only Afghan refugee cricketers will be included in their proposed set-up.”Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face,” the letter said. “Like the Afghanistan men’s team, we aim to compete at the highest levels. We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket to show the world the talent of Afghan women, and to demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC.”The ICC have been contacted for comment.

Aston Villa haven’t got the ball rolling just yet on adding some memorable signings to Unai Emery’s camp.

Marco Bizot has entered the building as another goalkeeper option, but it’s hardly a signing to get overly excited by, whilst the likes of Tottenham Hotspur splash the big bucks to land Mohammed Kudus, alongside Arsenal suddenly sparking into life in the chaotic transfer window.

Unfortunately, the main conversations surrounding the Villans this window continue to be the amount of outgoings that could take place, with Jacob Ramsey looking at an exit, with a move away from the West Midlands to nearby Nottingham Forest potentially in the works.

Still, there’s sufficient time for Villa to make waves in the market with some standout additions, as a £40m winger now comes onto their radar.

Aston Villa register interest in brand new attacker

Of course, whilst selling Ramsey would be a blow to the Villa system, he didn’t cost the Premier League side a single penny, owing to his homegrown status. Therefore, any sale would represent profit, something that could be vital as far as PSR is concerned.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Still, if they can keep him around, he would be seen as a valued member of Emery’s squad heading into next season, even as bold attacking additions are rumoured to be on the Villans’ shopping list.

Nicolas Jackson is one name floating about as a striker target, but a fresh report by the Daily Mail Online might well trouble Ramsey’s long-term future at Villa Park as Alejandro Garnacho is eyed up by Emery and Co. as a brand-new left winger option.

The report states that both Chelsea and Spurs have been keeping tabs on the South American’s fractured situation at Old Trafford for some time, but it’s Villa who have now registered their interest in the attacker.

It’s stated that the Red Devils do not expect to get anywhere near £70m for Garnacho, which is what their previous price-tag had been, with £40m perhaps a more realistic suggestion based on more recent reports.

How Garnacho compares to Ramsey

This might well go down as a worthwhile risk to take on Villa’s end if they do pursue his signature further, with Garnacho at his Theatre of Dreams peak arguably a better talent than Ramsey back at his boyhood employers.

Even when his relationship with Ruben Amorim last season was strained, Garnacho showed more than enough flashes of quality for his beleaguered side.

Indeed, in all competitions across the 24/25 campaign, the 21-year-old fired home a mightily impressive 11 strikes, on top of collecting ten assists, which is a hefty tally Ramsey very much struggled to get to at Villa Park.

Games played

58

46

Minutes played

3569

2326

Goals scored

11

4

Assists

10

5

The Forest-linked attacker would fall short of Garnacho’s total by a worrying 12 goal contributions, with his offering the season before not any better at just one goal and two assists.

On the flip side, the £40m “superstar” – as he was once labelled by football content creator Liam Canning – again reached double digits with 15 combined goals and assists, as one of those strikes even came about on the biggest stage of them all in the Champions League.

Therefore, losing Ramsey might not be the most disorientating development if Garnacho is purchased as his immediate replacement, with the South American also capable of playing in a number ten role like his English counterpart.

That’s not to forget he’s also capable of the spectacular. Remember that ​​​​​​overhead kick at Goodison Park? Of course, you do.

Moreover, if Emery puts his full trust into Garnacho and his confidence becomes sky-high, much like the Marcus Rashford loan situation last season, even more could soon come from the “generational” attacker, as he was once glowingly labelled by football analyst Statman Dave.

Villa have endured a testing summer to date with all their PSR issues, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world if Ramsey soon departs the building, if Emery and Co. have a reinvigorated Garnacho up their sleeve.

Aston Villa step up pursuit of £6m "warrior" who starred at Club World Cup

The Villans are battling Manchester United for the signature of a player who caught the eye in the USA.

ByDominic Lund Jul 15, 2025

The renovation work could impact the Test against England in Karachi

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2024The PCB is confident that Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi will be ready in time to host the Champions Trophy next year, though ongoing work could continue to impact their bilateral commitments this season, including the Test against England in Karachi.The board has already moved the second Test against Bangladesh, originally scheduled in Karachi, to Rawalpindi. Speaking to reporters on Monday in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, acknowledged that “matches [during the season] may move back and forth but the main target is that these stadiums are ready before the Champions Trophy”.England play their second of the three Tests in Karachi, from October 15-19. In announcing the switch of Bangladesh’s Test to Rawalpindi on Sunday, the PCB did not exactly nail down Karachi as a venue for England.Related

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“At this stage, we will not like to speculate on the hosting of the second Test in Karachi from 15-19 October and will continue to work closely with the architects and construction experts on the safe and secure hosting of the match, while keeping the England and Wales Cricket Board updated,” the statement said.The fluidity of the situation is evident in how the switch in venues for Bangladesh occurred. Two days after posting ticket prices online, the PCB announced the Karachi Test would be played behind closed doors with no spectators. Then on Sunday they announced they were moving it to Rawalpindi, because they wanted to ensure the renovation work went on uninterrupted and that hosting a game while such major work was being undertaken could have an impact on the game.Naqvi confirmed on Monday the reasons for the move. “Our calculation was that we could do matches without crowds, but various security institutions and the police said that even if there are people working inside, you shouldn’t host a match.”

“None of our stadiums could qualify internationally. Not the seats, not bathrooms, and a view that looks like you are watching from 500 metres away”PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi

That talk with journalists has led to some reports that Naqvi implied a change in venues or dates for the Champions Trophy from the draft schedule the PCB has submitted to the ICC. In a statement on Tuesday the PCB emphatically denied that was the case.”During the media talk, which is available on the PCB’s official YouTube channel, the PCB chair clearly stated that the redevelopment and redesign of the three designated stadia would be completed on schedule, ensuring readiness to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB chair also mentioned that while some domestic matches may need to be shifted to facilitate uninterrupted construction work, this in no way pertains to the ICC Champions Trophy, which remains a priority for the PCB as a premier eight-team international event.”During that media talk, Naqvi did point to the pressing need for this renovation work. “Our stadiums and those abroad, there is a massive difference,” he said. “In no way were our stadiums international-standard stadiums. None of our stadiums could qualify internationally. Not the seats, not bathrooms, and a view that looks like you are watching from 500 metres away. If I want to stay in a 1980 model then great, but the world has gone far ahead.”Naqvi pointed out that while both stadiums in Lahore and Karachi are eventually undergoing total upgrades, partial renovation between now and early next year will mean they are ready in time for the Champions Trophy.”Right now we have five months,” he said. “In that time, definitely the two enclosures on either side [in the Gaddafi stadium] and the main building [will be ready], that is the focus for now.”The stadiums will be totally upgraded. Not just this but we plan to have a new stadium in Islamabad, in Abbottabad, we want to work on that as well. A few stadiums that we don’t operate – we’ve written to the local authorities that either you upgrade it or hand it to us so we can host domestic and even international cricket there. These stadiums will be 100% upgraded but in the next five months, the target we have, we hope to complete that.”The New York stadium [for the T20 World Cup] was completed in the last 10-15 days. We will be ready well before that timeline.”

Manchester United look set to have a new-look attack for 2025/26, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo on course to feature in the two forward roles behind a striker under Ruben Amorim.

Cunha was the first addition through the door at Old Trafford after INEOS triggered the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause at Wolves. Speaking after signing, Cunha said:

£185m signings with Cunha: AI predicts Man Utd's 2025/26 starting line-up

Four new faces could be in the side against Arsenal in August.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 22, 2025

Taking the No. 10 shirt from Marcus Rashford, Cunha will be looking to have a big impact in his first season as a Red Devils player after hitting double figures for goals in the last two Premier League seasons at Molineux.

AI predicts how many goals and assists Cunha will record for Man Utd in 2025/26

In 24/25, Cunha bagged 15 goals in 33 league games, while also registering six assists in a Wolves side that finished on the same points as Man Utd.

ChatGPT has predicted Cunha to bag 18 Premier League goals, ‘matching or slightly beating his Wolves output, underpinned by strong support from midfield’.

That figure, with cup competitions, could rise to 22, assuming he is regularly involved in the EFL Cup and FA Cup under Amorim.

In regards to assists, Cunha could register nine assists in the Premier League and 12 in all competitions as he is ‘likely to flourish as a secondary creator’ under Amorim.

Premier League

18

9

All competitions

22

12

AI predicts how many goals and assists Mbeumo will record for Man Utd in 2025/26

Meanwhile, with Mbeumo also moving to Manchester from Brentford, Amorim will have another attacking star with an excellent Premier League record.

The Cameroon international had his best ever season in front of goal during 24/25, scoring 20 goals and providing eight assists in 38 top flight games.

ChatGPT has predicted Mbeumo to find the back of the net 17 times in the Premier League, while matching his 24/25 tally of eight assists. ‘Designed for high creativity and goal-chances’, it is claimed that Mbeumo may alternate at times under Amorim, adjusting to life at a bigger club.

Premier League

17

8

All competitions

21

10

In all competitions, Mbeumo has been backed to score 21 times and provide 10 assists, meaning in total, the two Man Utd signings could contribute to 65 goals over the 25/26 campaign, something which Amorim and the Red Devils would be delighted with.