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No play Persistent rain allowed no play, not even the toss, on the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The umpires had an inspection at noon, even though the rain had not stopped, and called it off for the day. The chances of play were so bleak that the teams had not even left their hotel.There is a forecast for more rain later in the day; it is expected to be overcast for much of tomorrow as well. On Thursday, too, the teams had to cancel their practice sessions because of rain.Bangladesh lead the two-match series 1-0 after registering their maiden Test win over Pakistan in the previous outing. Pakistan had fielded an all-pace attack then but included legspinner Abrar Ahmed in their XII this time. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed is fit and is expected to replace fellow fast bowler Nahid Rana. But we will have to wait at least until Saturday morning for the playing XIs.According to the original schedule, this Test was supposed to be played in Karachi but the PCB shifted it to Rawalpindi because of ongoing construction at the National Stadium.

Charith Asalanka had been appointed their T20I captain just before the ongoing series against India

Andrew Fidel Fernando30-Jul-2024Sri Lanka’s selectors have appointed Charith Asalanka as the new ODI captain, replacing Kusal Mendis. Asalanka had been named T20I captain as well, ahead of the ongoing series against India after Wanindu Hasaranga had resigned from the role following Sri Lanka’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.The same set of selectors had appointed Mendis as the ODI captain in December 2023, though he had also led Sri Lanka in several matches in last year’s World Cup in an acting capacity. Though Mendis has been in good touch with the bat, and Sri Lanka won six of the eight completed ODIs under his leadership, the selectors opted to go in a different direction. Under Mendis’ captaincy Sri Lanka had won five consecutive home matches against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, but lost 2-1 away to Bangladesh.Asalanka’s elevation to the T20I captaincy was expected following Hasaranga’s resignation, but a change in the ODI leadership was somewhat unexpected, largely because Mendis has not been in the position long. Nevertheless, Asalanka has been one of Sri Lanka’s more consistent ODI batters, averaging 43.59 with a strike rate of 90 across 52 innings.Test batter Nishan Madushka, 24, has also been included in Sri Lanka’s squad for the three ODIs against India on August 2, 4 and 7, while the likes of Akila Dananjaya and Chamika Karunaratne receive recalls.Seamers Dilshan Madushanka and Asitha Fernando, who were only added to the T20I squad after Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara were ruled out, will stay on for the ODI series. Left-arm spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage has also found a place.The remainder of this squad is largely as expected. Illness continues to keep Chameera out, while a fractured thumb makes Thushara’s participation impossible. In addition to Madushanka and Asitha, Matheesha Pathirana is the only other specialist seamer. This is understandable given Khettarama stadium in Colombo, where the three matches will be played, tends to be spin-friendly. There is no room for Lahiru Kumara or Pramod Madushan, who had played in Sri Lanka’s most-recent ODI series, against Bangladesh.On the spin-bowling front, Sri Lanka have plenty of options, between Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dananjaya and Wellalage. Kamindu Mendis and Asalanka himself can send down some part-time spin as well.The top order seems fairly set. Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, and Mendis are likely to form the top three. Kusal Perera has not been included, despite some good T20 performances recently. Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, and Kamindu are in the mix to be in the middle order. Captain Asalanka will likely bat at No. 5.Sri Lanka squad for ODIs vs IndiaCharith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando

Celtic are in the process of making some significant moves this summer and look to have reignited their interest in an exciting attacker, according to a report.

Celtic searching for attackers to offer final third variation

Brendan Rodgers opted to operate with Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah as central options during the second half of last campaign, taking a look at the market before deciding to stick rather than twist in January.

However, Celtic are set to conclude a deal for Fulham youngster Callum Osmand after the Wales international turned down the opportunity to sign professional terms at Craven Cottage, offering an alternative threat through the middle.

Nevertheless, Frank McAvennie believes the Bhoys should offer a shock deal to Jamie Vardy amid their efforts to strengthen across the front four positions, with free agent Danny Ings also recommended by the former Scotland international.

The ex-Celtic explained: “Vardy. I would take Vardy. I know they are talking about him going to Rangers, but I would take Vardy at Celtic.

“They (Vardy and Danny Ings) are goal scorers. Two of them are goal scorers. They are just natural predators. Get them up here. Good names.”

Celtic can forget about Kvistgaarden with move to sign "gifted" £0 striker

With Celtic seemingly set to miss out on signing Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brøndby, they should instead go for a “gifted” free agent.

Jun 10, 2025

While it feels unlikely that either of the duo mentioned would arrive north of the border, there is an appetite for another striker and winger at a minimum to bolster squad depth.

Marco Tilio’s return from Melbourne City could also intrigue Celtic, but it has always felt likely that the Bhoys will dip into the market to acquire new creative threats.

Speaking of which, Rodgers’ men have now reportedly opened talks with a familiar target as they look to push a deal over the line, per recent developments.

Celtic hold discussions to sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha

According to Sacha Tavolieri on X, Celtic have made contact and opened discussions with Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s camp to begin ‘new discussions regarding personal terms’ involving the Royal Antwerp man.

Retaining an interest in the former Belgium Under-21 international since last summer, further updates are expected on his future in the coming days as Rodgers looks to land his man.

Labelled “unpredictable” by Ben Mattinson, Balikwisha is someone the Irishman has personally expressed an interest in signing and his small sample size on the pitch over the campaign has illustrated why.

Despite having injury issues, the 24-year-old registered four goals and three assists in 18 matches across all competitions. Valued at roughly £4.2 million by Transfermarkt, it remains to be seen what the ballpark figure is for Celtic to secure his services.

If you’re a Sri Lanka fan, there isn’t much to cheer about in this World Cup. And the root problems do not lie with the coaching staff or the on-field leadership

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Jun-2024To the people in charge of Sri Lankan cricket,We hope this email finds you in a well.We are writing this after observing another embarrassing start to a World Cup campaign. We regret to take this tone, but honestly, this has gone on long enough, and something needs to be said.Over the past week, we have stayed up late into the night, and woken up early in the morning, to watch the men’s team play in the ongoing T20 World Cup.While we were excited about the state of the bowling resources in this squad (our fast-bowling battery has never been faster), we were always worried about the lack of dynamism in the batting, which never seemed up to modern T20I standards. As if to prove our point, Sri Lanka collapsed to 77 against South Africa, then 124 for 9 against Bangladesh. Unless there are some serious upsets in Group D, Sri Lanka are out of the T20 World Cup for exactly the reasons expected.It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that this World Cup campaign could have just been an email.We also take no pleasure in noting that it is now exactly ten years since Sri Lanka last won a global cricket tournament, a victory we remember celebrating in truly euphoric fashion, by the way. In the seven years leading up to that 2014 T20 win, Sri Lanka had been in major finals four times, and were more or less a fixture in the semi-finals.Related

• Jayawardene resigns as SL's consultant coach six months after one-year extension

• Wounded Sri Lanka take on confident Nepal to stay alive

• 'So unfair' – Sri Lanka, given a raw scheduling deal, struggle to find their bearings

• Rishad Hossain, a package Bangladesh don't understand but can't ignore

• Mustafizur, Rishad, Hridoy dazzle in Bangladesh's tight two-wicket win over Sri Lanka

Since 2014, however, Sri Lanka have not made a semi-final once. There have been many captains of the Sri Lankan team (too many to count), and almost as many coaches. We have observed a pattern, where after every World Cup failure, coaches and captains are blamed, only to be replaced by the next set of scapegoats coaches and captains.As we have observed this pattern over ten years now, it is becoming clear that the root problems do not lie with the coaching staff or the on-field leadership. Dare we ask how long the decision makers, at the board and CEO level, have been in their jobs?In the past year, the board president has frequently been in the news, and was engaged in a war of words with the former sports minister. The only tangible outcome for us, and for Sri Lankan cricket in general, is that the Under-19 Men’s World Cup, which was supposed to be played in Sri Lanka in January, was moved to South Africa.We will still wake up to watch the matches, of course. If the last ten years have proved anything, it is that Sri Lankan fans’ love for the game is basically unconditional. The moment there is a good spell, or a great innings, or a fun win, we tend to yank our knockoff jerseys out of the closet, and turn up, faces painted, throats full of song. It doesn’t matter if it’s only an Associate team that Sri Lanka is beating. What matters is the chance to dance in the stands to .Perhaps the greatest thing about being a Sri Lanka cricket fan is what we often say: – even if the ship sinks the party still bangs.But it feels the ships SLC sends out to World Cups get worse and worse. And that they are not worthy of the parties we keep throwing at them.Best regards,Sri Lanka fans

Before Mohali, Green’s highest T20 score was only 36. After Mohali, he may just be the ideal understudy to Australia’s T20I openers

Andrew McGlashan21-Sep-20223:12

Hardik Pandya – ‘Green played some really good shots’

In his most recent YouTube round-up of the world of cricket, India offspinner R Ashwin picked out his players to watch. The third of them was Cameron Green, in itself hardly a left-field choice – given his recent form – but Ashwin added this comment: “I am sure some team will break the bank for him in this year’s [IPL] auctions.”He couched it by saying if Green was available and there are a whole load of factors which mean he might not be – everything about his career has been very carefully managed so far – but it was a mark of his standing in the global game after barely two years of his international career. Even more so because, when Ashwin made his remark, Green had played 14 T20s and had a top score of 36.However, it was only a matter of when, not if, he would make an impact in the format, and it came on Tuesday in Mohali. Having never opened in his professional career – “I’m assuming that won’t be the batting order,” Matthew Hayden said on commentary when the team list was put up – Green strode out with a record chase in front of Australia and promptly dispatched his first four deliveries against Umesh Yadav to the boundary. His brute force was later on display when he peppered the crowd on the leg side.Related

Spotlight on India's death bowling as Australia look to seal series

Wade and Green stun India to ace 209 chase

It has been quite the few weeks for Green with the white ball: he claimed a maiden ODI five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe, then secured a backs-to-the-wall chase against New Zealand in Cairns, at the end of which he was barely able to move due to cramp. If you go back a little further to the tour of Sri Lanka, he calmly saw Australia across the line in a low-scoring scrap in Colombo.”[I was] kind of got thrown in the deep end a little bit,” Green said at the post-match presentation where he was named Player of the Match for his 61 off 30 balls. If the aquatic theme is continued, he’s taking to each new challenge like a duck to water.Green is a certainty in the Test side at No. 6 and the ODI spot is now looking increasingly secure, but even as recently as a couple of weeks ago, he was uncertain about the route his T20 career would take, at least in the short term. “Everyone aspires to be [a three-format player] but will just have to wait and see how heavy the schedule is, how much time you get to actually improve your T20 game,” he said during the series against New Zealand.Cameron Green started off with four consecutive fours•Getty ImagesHe had not been named in the World Cup squad and was on this tour because David Warner was rested. If Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis had both been fit, he may still not have got this chance. He signed a deal with Perth Scorchers which means he will play in the BBL for the first time since 2020 after the Test series against South Africa, but it still felt as though it could be the format that played third fiddle for a while. Things might have changed now.The move to open the batting was not a last-minute call. It’s an option that has been discussed by both Australia and Scorchers for quite some time as way of giving the teams more flexibility. A hallmark of Green’s early white-ball career is proving to be his adaptability. He has gone from being an ODI No. 8 to being a T20I opener in the space of a few weeks.”He impresses every time I see him,” Matthew Wade said. “I saw him a couple of years ago for WA and he was a bowler who batted nine, to see where he is now is quite remarkable. The plan was always for Greeny to open, the coach and captain feel like that’s the best spot for him to really find his feet at T20 level and he showed tonight that will be the spot for him going forward for a while.”Warner will return for the World Cup (and the final string of warm-up matches in Australia) while there is confidence that Marsh and Stoinis will be fit, but Green is now clearly the first-reserve should batting reinforcements be needed. Wade said he is viewed as the ideal understudy should anything happen to the incumbent top three.”[It’s] really impressive to see a young player go out in front of a packed stadium chasing [209] – and he copped a bit of tap in his last over bowling – to seem to be able to just turn it around and go and put a performance forward like, that is good signs,” Wade said.This was one innings, in belting batting conditions and it’s easy to get carried away, but evidence is only mounting that Green will be a generational player. And these days that invariably means a player in great demand. Whether it’s next year or not, Ashwin is unlikely to have been far off the mark.

He has the potential to be West Indies’ long-term No. 3 across formats. Can he fulfill it?

Matt Roller02-Sep-2020As Phil Simmons and Kieron Pollard plot West Indies’ T20 World Cup title defence in 2021, they can feel safe in inking in three names from Nos. 4 to 6: Nicholas Pooran, who made his maiden T20 hundred on Sunday evening, off 45 balls, on a pitch where the second-highest strike rate was 128.26; Pollard himself, a T20 titan who seems to be getting better with every passing year; and Andre Russell, the star of last year’s IPL and a man who’s taken power-hitting to new heights.At No. 3, Shimron Hetmyer’s name is currently written in pencil. Hetmyer is clearly the man West Indies want in that slot – he has not missed a T20I since August 2018, after all – but his performances in the role to date have left his position insecure: he averages just 21.4 in the role, with a strike rate of 121.59. He feels his place is not yet locked in.Hetmyer has plenty of opportunities to impress before that tournament. He started this year’s CPL – a tournament that has been difficult for batsmen due to slow, low pitches and a lack of match practice – with two half-centuries, and is desperate to break Guyana Amazon Warriors’ knockout curse if they reach the semi-finals, which they look likely to.And after that, he has a USD 1.1 million price tag to live up to at his new IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals. “I’m still learning my game somewhat,” Hetmyer tells ESPNcricinfo. “I’m trying to take it one step at a time: setting out how to build an innings, how to set it up and how to finish it.”I’m hitting the ball pretty well. To come out after five months without competitive cricket and to get two good scores was something I’d take any day. For most of it, I tried to spend some time and home and relax – to take my mind off the game, to be honest. It had been three or four years without a break.”The IPL will serve as a good audition for that T20 World Cup. While it will be staged in UAE rather than India, Hetmyer knows that he will be playing with and against the world’s best on pitches that suit spinners.His reflections on his season for Royal Challengers Bangalore last year – “it wasn’t the best; it wasn’t what I was looking to do in my first year of IPL” – are mixed, but in truth he was set up to fail. He was used at No. 5 (twice), as an opener, and at No. 4 in the first four games of the season, then left out for the rest of the tournament until the final game with RCB already out.But his innings on recall – 75 off 47 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with four fours and six sixes in a successful chase of 176 – gave him confidence that he belonged at that level.”I’m not really trying to put too much emphasis on what happened last year,” he says. “It’s always nice to go back and reflect on it and see what went well, like in the last game – what I did well, and how I went about setting up my innings.”I think some of the other games, I was kind of ultra-aggressive, somewhat. I’m still learning my game and trying to set it up in such a way that most times, I’ll be successful. In some situations, I tend to become ultra-aggressive and move away from my actual gameplan. I’m really trying to structure it better – starting in the nets and taking that onto the field, still thinking about every step I’m taking.

“In some situations, I tend to become ultra-aggressive and move away from my actual gameplan. I’m really trying to structure it better – starting in the nets and taking that onto the field, still thinking about every step I’m taking.”

“I heard from Keemo [Paul] and Sherfane [Rutherford] that they’ve very good people and very good guys to be around [at Delhi], so I’m actually looking forward to that. For me it’s another opportunity to showcase my talent and do what I love. I’m trying not to think about the money too much – I’m trying to just do what I’ve been picked to do, and see the money as a bonus.”While Hetmyer’s focus is currently on the CPL, he has been unable to escape the fact the IPL is looming. In the Amazon Warriors’ early-season game against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, he was mic’d up on the field, and told by the Capitals’ spin-bowling coach Samuel Badree: “Shimron, on behalf of the Delhi Capitals coaching staff, we want to see you drop some weight before you go off to the IPL.””I did [take it as a joke] to be honest,” Hetmyer chuckles. “We have a good relationship, both from when he used to play and even off the field now. I’m going to the gym and doing my fair share of running, and so on.”But fitness has been a consistent theme this year after a challenging 2019. That year started and ended well, with ODI hundreds at home against England and away in India, but his figures for the calendar year – averages of 24.40 (Tests), 38.70 (ODIs) and 18.36 (T20Is) – were underwhelming. This year, he found himself left out of the ODI squad to play Sri Lanka due to a failed fitness test in February, and Badree’s jibe seemed to have a layer of uncomfortable truth to it.The hope with Hetmyer is that he can knuckle down this year and come good on his clear promise. As the ‘s Santokie Nagulendran has noted, Guyana is yet to produce a great T20 cricketer; anyone who has seen Hetmyer in full flow knows he has the ability to fill that void.But Hetmyer’s aspirations extend beyond that. In fact, Test cricket is the format he is keenest to crack. “There’s like this legacy for Test cricket in Guyana,” he explains. “It’s something to live up to. I haven’t done as well as I would have liked, but I’m up for the challenge. I’m trying to just find my footing.”He sat and watched England’s series against Pakistan from his hotel room in Port-of-Spain, and admits to “sitting and thinking about it” when his mind wanders. He is cagey when asked about his decision to decline selection for West Indies’ tour there earlier this year. “It was just the matter of Covid. That’s it.” Does he have any regrets about giving others the opportunity in the middle order? “None that I could think of.”But the thing that Hetmyer keeps coming back to is his age: he is only 23, and he emphasises time and again that he is still learning, still working out the tempo and rhythms of batting in each format.”I’m still taking it one step at a time with my career as it is and with my batting,” he stresses. “But it’s coming. It’s going to be here sooner rather than later.” You would be hard pushed to find a fan in the Caribbean who doesn’t hope that is true.

Fabrizio Romano has now shared an update on Endrick’s future at Real Madrid, with West Ham’s striker search taking a significant twist.

Endrick is gearing up to leave Real on loan in January, and Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have been touted as one of the fierce contenders for his signature.

The 19-year-old, still widely regarded as one of Brazil’s brightest young prospects, hasn’t exactly had a smooth ride since joining the La Liga giants.

With first-team opportunities limited at the Bernabeu as a result of fitness issues and competition for places in Xabi Alonso’s side, a loan move appears to be the next logical step for his development.

West Ham have reportedly held talks about bringing Endrick on loan, already positioning themselves well in the race for his signature ahead of January.

Other clubs are also interested, like Sevilla, Real Sociedad and Brentford, according to some reports, but West Ham’s reported early discussions could give them an edge.

This comes as Nuno allegedly urges David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers hierarchy to sign a new defender, midfielder and forward (GiveMeSport), but with funds tight, temporary deals could be a key theme of their winter window.

Endrick is poised to be one of Europe’s finest talents available on loan in January, leaving little wonder why West Ham are very keen to secure his signature.

While the teenager has struggled for game time under Alonso, Endrick did score five Copa del Rey goals to fire Los Blancos to the final of the competition last season, before they eventually lost to Barcelona.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

The former Palmeiras sensation would be an excellent signing for West Ham, and one who’d inject much-needed flair and enthusiasm to their forward line.

The prospect of a Premier League move could also tempt Endrick, as it would do with any other player on the continent, but according to Romano, West Ham now face growing competition for his services.

Fabrizio Romano shares Endrick update as West Ham striker search takes twist

Taking to X, the reliable transfer journalist now claims that Ligue 1 giants Lyon have opened talks to sign Endrick on loan — which could seriously impact West Ham’s chances of a deal.

Endrick is believed to be intrigued by the possibility of a move to France, as Paulo Fonseca’s side already make their intentions known with an “official approach” just over two months before the January window opens.

Commenting further, Romano also says that while Endrick is still waiting to assess all of his options, potentially including West Ham, the attacker is pretty keen on Lyon as an option.

If a move for Endrick eventually becomes out of West Ham’s reach, it is worth noting that they’ve also held rumoured discussions about signing his Real teammate, Gonzalo Garcia.

The Spaniard, who finished last summer’s Club World Cup as the competition’s joint-top scorer, has also struggled to establish himself as a starter for Alonso this season and could be a great alternative to Endrick.

There are other options for West Ham as well, but it is absolutely imperative that the club back Nuno with a new centre-forward, especially considering Niclas Fullkrug’s injury woes and their lack of decent options.

West Ham already working on deal to sign £40 million striker in January.

أعلنت رابطة الأندية المصرية المحترفة عقوبات مباراة كهرباء الإسماعيلية وبيراميدز، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى بيراميدز مع كهرباء الإسماعلية على ملعب استاد الإسماعيلية، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع.. حكم مباراة بيراميدز وبتروجيت في الدوري المصري

وحقق بيراميدز الفوز على كهرباء الإسماعيلية بهدفين مقابل هدف، ليزيد من رصيده إلى 26 نقطة في وصافة جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري المصري.

وقررت الرابطة إيقاف محمد أوناجم، لاعب كهرباء الإسماعيلية مباراة وتغريمه 5000 جنيه، بسبب حصوله على البطاقة الصفراء الثالثة.

وغرمت الرابطة فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية، 50 ألف جنيه وذلك بسبب حصول اللاعبين على عدد ستة بطاقات في نفس المباراة.

وفي نفس الوقت تقرر إيقاف محمود عبد الحفيظ زلاكة، لاعب بيراميدز، مباراة وتغريمه 5000 جنيه، بسبب حصوله على البطاقة الصفراء الثالثة.

Since the start of last season, Tottenham Hotspur have only won six home games in the Premier League.

A big response was needed ahead of Saturday’s clash against Fulham, but the relegation-threatened Cottagers swept into a two-goal advantage after six minutes, and the damage was done.

Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders

Club

League Position

xG

(1) Man City

2nd

24.2

(2) Chelsea

3rd

22.9

(3) Crystal Palace

9th

21.1

(4) Arsenal

1st

21.8

(5) Brentford

10th

21.1

(17) Tottenham

12th

11.9

Data via FBref

This, sadly, is no uncharted territory, with Ange Postecoglou’s incredible Europa League triumph unable to save him from the axe as the Lilywhites limped to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank was snapped up, the former Brentford boss having done so well in west London.

But things have hardly gone swimmingly several months into the Danish tactician’s stewardship.

Spurs could consider summer target

Frank still believes he can turn things around at Tottenham, but he’s running out of time. The fans are fed up, and there is a widening chasm in regard to the connection between manager and supporter.

To dare is to do, but Spurs daren’t spread their wings and showcase their attacking quality, it seems. Frank might employ a grittier, more pragmatic defensive and build-up structure than his predecessor, but he will fall by the wayside without taking off the fetters.

And with Oliver Glasner likely still on ENIC Group’s radar after summer interest, a solution may be right there for the taking.

In June, Tottenham chiefs held talks with the trophy-winning Crystal Palace manager before opting instead to push ahead with Frank, though the Austrian said he was committed to the Eagles cause after his stunning FA Cup win.

However, rumours of Glasner’s departure from Selhurst Park have since persisted, and the fan view from south London is that the 51-year-old will leave the club by the end of the season.

Why Spurs should appoint Glasner

Glasner has worked wonders since replacing Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, claiming the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2025, but also fashioning this side into a genuine contender at the front end of the Premier League. They are currently competing in the Conference League.

Described as a “top-five manager in the world” by one Premier League content creator, Bayern Munich wanted Glasner’s signature before pushing ahead with Vincent Kompany, and competition is sure to be thick if he remains the Eagles boss next summer.

Typically employing a three-man backline, Glasner would find players in north London who have already established a measure of understanding in a similar system.

His aggressive duelling style and fluidity in set-up could actually play into Xavi Simons’ hands, the Netherlands midfielder having struggled since signing from RB Leipzig this summer.

Simons, 22, has lacked sharpness and physicality in the final third for the Lilywhites, but there’s no question that he is a top talent and that his numbers in the Bundesliga, both in regard to output and athleticism, suggest he has what it takes to cut the mustard.

And if you hark back to that xG-related table, you will observe that Palace sit third in the standings there. Frank will feel hard done by, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski still recovering from injuries picked up last season, but there can be no excuse for the manner of Spurs’ performances. More should be given from the players on the pitch.

You need only look at Simons’ prolific campaigns in Germany to understand that this is a special player, varied in his attacking approach, creative, combative, crafty when on the ball.

Xavi Simons in the Bundesliga

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

32 (32)

25 (25)

Goals

8

10

Assists

11

7

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (1.0)

2.0 (0.9)

Touches*

62.6

68.0

Pass completion

82%

83%

Big chances created

14

12

Key passes*

2.5

2.0

Dribbles*

2.6

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.2

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

1.6

Duels won*

6.3

5.4

Data via Sofascore

The young Dutchman is a “game-changer”, as said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he has the capacity to become a superstar in the Premier League.

Tottenham haven’t exactly provided him with arable land to root in his skills and grow into a leading man down N17. Frank proved at Brentford that he is a good manager, but maybe he just isn’t right for this Spurs project.

Glasner, however, would be a jackpot appointment, and his previous success in shaping Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise into elite creators on the biggest stage suggests that he would be the manager to revive Simons’ potential.

Under Glasner’s wing, Olise posted seven goal involvements from the eight games he was involved, injured for much of his early time at the helm. Eze scored 20 goals and assisted 14 more across 56 outings before completing a big-money move to Arsenal.

The security and balance of Glasner’s tactical set-up would free Simons’ playmaking quality up, and if Frank is dismissed, this would be the coach to go for.

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