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After he helped show Arne Slot’s side the door in the Champions League, Liverpool and FSG are now reportedly ready to table a sensational £85m offer to sign one particular Paris Saint-Germain star.

FSG and Liverpool ready to spend big

Whilst they’re often at the centre of Liverpool frustration when the transfer window swings open and the Reds take on a sell before they buy initiative, FSG could yet be in for a busy summer this time around. Slot, although watching on as his squad ease towards the Premier League title, is reportedly eyeing quite the overhaul and that won’t come cheap.

The likes of Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota, among others, could find themselves heading for the exit door whilst Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain on course to leave as free agents – potentially igniting a frantic summer transfer window.

Better passer than Van Dijk: Liverpool ready £42m bid for 6'3 centre-back

The Dutchman is still on course to become a free agent…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 12, 2025

It seems as though the Reds are already beginning to think about replacements for the big three too, with names such as Wesley Franca, Marc Guehi and Alexander Isak all linked to Anfield in recent weeks.

Before any of those targets emerge, however, the Premier League champions in waiting seem destined to turn towards a player they’re now all too familiar with.

According to reports in Spain, FSG and Liverpool are now ready to table an offer worth €100m (£85m) to sign Ousmane Dembele from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

In a case of if you can’t beat them, sign them, Liverpool’s squad would much rather have Dembele as a teammate rather than a rival after he gave them all sorts of nightmares across two legs as PSG eventually advanced on penalties. Scoring the equaliser and taking full advantage of the Reds’ defensive mix-up, the Frenchman passed his Anfield audition with flying colours.

"Magical" Dembele is the main man at long last

There was growing concern that Dembele was heading down a route destined to arrive at what might have been rather than a talented star realising his full potential. In the Frenchman’s case, however, time has proven to be a virtue. Now 27 years old, he has put Barcelona nightmares and early PSG struggles behind him to become one of Europe’s best at the peak of his powers.

Dubbed “magical” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the winger has already impressed Anfield once and Liverpool’s reported plan suggests that they’re keen to ensure that they’re benefitting rather than suffering from his talent the next time he’s in Merseyside.

If the Reds are forced to find a replacement for Mohamed Salah this summer, then the PSG star should be a top candidate after scoring 29 goals and assisting another six in all competitions so far this season.

Last-wicket stand of 130 leaves Lancashire in trouble against division leaders

ECB Reporters Network26-Jun-2023

An unexpected last-wicket stand of 130 between Sean Abbott and Dan Worrall and some aggressive bowling by their seamers helped to put first division leaders Surrey in a good position against Lancashire at the Kia Oval.Abbott and No.11 Worrall both made entertaining half-centuries as Surrey scored 360 to establish a first-innings lead of 86. Abbott and Worrall then struck in successive overs as Lancashire lost three wickets clearing their arrears. They reached stumps on 113 for 4, a lead of 26.The day and perhaps the outcome of the match may have been shaped in the 75 minutes or so after lunch when Abbott and Worrall came together with Surrey 230 for 9 and proceeded to score at a run a ball for the next 21 overs and demoralise Lancashire.Worrall pulled Daryl Mitchell for six to put Surrey in front during an over in which they took 24 off the New Zealand allrounder. The fifty partnership took just 35 balls before Abbott reached his half-century with a straight six off Jack Blatherwick.Lancashire had their chances though. Abbott was badly dropped by Tom Bailey at backward point off a reverse sweep on 55 and added another ten before Keaton Jennings shelled a more difficult chance in the covers.While Abbott is a very handy lower-order batter – this was the 15th fifty of his first-class career – Worrall had only scored one half-century in his previous 112 first-class innings. But the 33-year-old from Melbourne was rarely troubled as he brought up his second career fifty from just 56 balls with five fours and a six.Abbott hit the ball cleanly and at times a long way, clearing the ropes five times in his 87 from 69 before the stand ended rather tamely with Worrall run out by Josh Bohannon after a mix-up for a career-best 51.Surrey had started the second day 70 for 4 and lost their fifth wicket on 108 when Jamie Smith was superbly caught diving forward by Jack Morley running in from the midwicket boundary.He wasn’t the only batter guilty of a loose shot. Will Jacks and Sam Curran seemed to have seized the initiative in an entertaining stand of 103 off 97 balls for the sixth wicket when Surrey lost two in two in identical fashion as first Jacks (64) and then Jordan Clark tamely clipped deliveries from Mitchell to midwicket.The morning session produced 145 runs with Curran scoring 52 off 51 until he departed in the second over after lunch to a mistimed pull when Tom Bailey dropped short but well outside off stump. When Tom Lawes padded up to Will Williams, Lancashire had picked up four for 20 in 4.5 overs and appeared to be taking control, but not for the first time in the LV= County Championship this season Surrey wrested back the initiative.Curran got the Kookaburra ball to swing nicely, making the breakthrough when he shaped one away to take Jennings’ edge and Tom Latham held on at second slip.Luke Wells and Bohannon added 59 for the second wicket but, just when it appeared Lancashire were in calmer waters, they were rocked by the loss of both in six balls. Worrall returned to the attack and Bohannon mistimed a hook, with Ben Foakes sprinting forward to take the catch after a full-length dive. Wells then cut hard at Abbott in the next over and Latham clung on instinctively in front of his face at gully and just before the close Dane Vilas was pinned in front by Clark.

Adrien Rabiot has revealed his frustration with Juventus as he explained why he decided to leave the club to join Marseille last summer.

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Rabiot left Juve last summerSays they failed to convince himGave brutal assessment of the clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

French international Rabiot criticised Juventus for their lack of clarity, ambition and transfer strategy, singling out sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli as the main reason he didn’t renew his contract. In an interview with, Rabiot says he felt unconvinced by the club’s direction and chose to join Marseille, missing out on Champions League football in the 2024-25 campaign.

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Juventus endured a difficult season as they fell out of the Serie A title race and were eliminated from the Champions League at the last-16 stage. After coach Thiago Motta was sacked, Igor Tudor managed to lift the Bianconeri to a fourth-place finish in the league, securing a place in the Champions League. Rabiot, who went on to finish second in Ligue 1 with Marseille,

WHAT ADRIEN RABIOT SAID

The midfielder said: "There was an interest in continuing together. Thiago Motta had also called me, but Giuntoli didn't do what was necessary to convince me. And I didn't have the feeling that he wanted to build something important. Given their chaotic season, perhaps I was right."

Rabiot didn’t just walk away from Juventus for a new challenge, his exit was rooted in growing frustration over the club’s transfer strategy. He admitted: “For a few years now, no purchases worthy of Juve had been made and this frustrated me because I had the impression that there were few of us on the pitch who did what was necessary. I didn't want to continue in those conditions."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Rabiot joined Bianconeri outfit in 2019 and eventually became one of their key midfielders and captains. He played under Massimiliano Allegri, Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo, adapting to multiple roles across midfield. Despite offers elsewhere, he stayed an extra season before deciding to leave a year ago.

It wasn’t pretty, but Manchester United are through to the next round of the FA Cup. The defending champions beat Leicester City, managed by club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, running out as 2-1 victors thanks to two second-half goals.

The Red Devils were, quite frankly, disappointing in the first half. Leicester took the lead in the 42nd minute, with the ball bouncing in off Bobby Decordova-Reid after Andre Onana made a strong save.

United did bounce back in the second half. Joshua Zirkzee, who came on in the 64th minute, converted a loose ball in the six-yard box to draw United level. Then, with extra-time approaching, United found their winner.

After winning a free kick in stoppage time, Bruno Fernandes whipped the ball onto Harry Maguire’s head, and he fired home to win the game. Incredibly, he was in an offside position, but with no VAR to intervene, the goal stood.

It was not the best night for the Red Devils, although Zirkzee and Maguire both played well, aside from their goals.

Zirkzee & Maguire’s performances vs Leicester

Both goalscorers on the night for United performed well and had a big impact. Zirkzee offered Ruben Amorim’s side a focal point which they previously didn’t have. He was able to link up play for United and bring others into the game.

His performance was held in high regard by Samuel Luckhurst, writer for The Manchester Evening News, who gave the United number 11 an 8/10 for his night’s work. He explained the Dutchman made “a big improvement on his teammates”.

As for Maguire, the England international was impressive aside from his goal, helping to keep out a Leicester side that knocked on the door in the first half. With that being said, he perhaps could have done better for the Foxes’ goal, leaving Wilfred Ndidi unmarked in the box.

Maguire’s stats from the game show just how well he performed against his former side. As per Sofascore, the United number five won six duels and made four clearances, as well as completing 85% of his passes.

Despite the fact that Zirkzee and Maguire ultimately saw their side through, some United players struggled against Leicester. One of those was striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund’s stats vs. Leicester

It was another frustrating night for United’s number nine against the Foxes. He has been in frustrating form for much of the season, and it was a similar story against Van Nistelrooy’s side, with the striker having very little involvement in the game.

Hojlund didn’t make many runs in behind, aside from one occasion in the second half when he looked threatening. Once again, he struggled with his hold-up play, losing key duels against the centre-backs.

His stats from the game reflect how disappointing he was on the cold Friday night at Old Trafford. He had just 23 touches, fewer than Onana’s 27, completed 62% of his passes, and won 2 out of 8 duels. Worryingly, the striker did not manage a shot at goal.

Stat

Number

Touches

23

Pass accuracy

62%

Passes completed

8/13

Ground duels won

2/4

Aerial duels won

0/4

Number of times possession lost

9

Shots on target

0

Luckhurst was critical of the Denmark international, giving him a post-match rating of 3/10 for his efforts. The journalist said he “did little right all night”, a scathing review which was clearly backed up by his stats.

Hojlund is a player who looks short of confidence at the moment. He has not scored since the 12th of December in the Europa League, which is frustrating for the Red Devils. He was a big investment, and to see him struggling so much will be a worry.

The 22-year-old will certainly have been relieved to see Maguire score the winning goal in Fergie Time but while the defender will continue to play a regular role, the Dane must find himself on the bench next time out.

Both teams have gaps to fill in the shortest format, but their work may be stalled by rain yet again

Hemant Brar19-Nov-20223:21

Laxman: ‘Hardik has an exemplary work ethic’

Big pictureAfter a washout in Wellington, the three-match T20I series between New Zealand and India has been reduced to a two-match affair. But apart from that, and a change of venue to Mount Maunganui, little else has changed. In fact, there is a forecast of rain for the second T20I too.India, for the foreseeable future, will be trying to find batters who are naturally suited for T20 cricket, instead of asking some to bat against their natural style. This series will also be another audition for captain Hardik Pandya, who is being talked about as a potential future leader in the shortest format. However, they now have one game fewer for all this.Related

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It’s difficult to gauge whether New Zealand are better or worse placed when it comes to power-hitting. They have got Finn Allen at the top and Glenn Phillips in the middle order but both Devon Conway and Kane Williamson bat in the anchor mode. What the hosts would want from this series is for Williamson to find fluency, and for Allen to find consistency.The Bay Oval is sold out for Sunday’s game. Once upon a time, it used to be a reasonably big ground but not anymore. As local boy Ish Sodhi put it, “If I can clear the rope batting at No. 8 or 9, I don’t think the top six will have any issues doing that.” So expect a high-scoring game, provided the rain stays away.Form guideNew Zealand LWLWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
India LWWLWIn the spotlightKane Williamson hasn’t had a great time in T20 cricket in the last one year or so. After a poor IPL, where he scored 216 runs at a strike rate of 93.50, his struggles continued at the T20 World Cup as well. While he did score 178 runs in five innings at the global event, his strike rate of 116.33 was once again below par. Experts such as Tom Moody and Stephen Fleming believe Williamson is still valuable to the side, but the reality is he needs to improve his strike rate.

Watch India tour of New Zealand LIVE on Prime Video from Nov 18 to 30.

India are still trying to figure out how to get the best out of Rishabh Pant in this format. For someone who looks tailor-made for T20 cricket, not being able to nail a spot in the playing XI is perplexing. In the middle order, he is expected to attack straightaway but a first-ten-balls strike rate of 112.94 paints a very different picture. This year, he also opened in three games. Is that the role India now want to try him in?Team newsFrom New Zealand’s squad of 13, Michael Bracewell and Blair Tickner could be the ones sitting out.New Zealand (probable): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 James Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Adam Milne, 11 Lockie FergusonIf Pant doesn’t open and continues to bat in the middle order, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda will be left fighting for one slot. One of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav is likely to sit out as well.India (probable): 1 Ishan Kishan, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Shreyas Iyer/Deepak Hooda, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPitch and conditionsThe average first-innings total in seven completed T20Is at the Bay Oval is 199. The spinners have fared better in terms of economy rate, conceding 8.05 per over as compared to 9.65 for fast bowlers. The previous T20I here, almost two years ago, was washed out, and the weather could play spoilsport once again.Stats and trivia In 2022, Suryakumar Yadav has hit 60 sixes in T20Is, the most by a batter in a calendar year. The next best is Muhammad Waseem of UAE with 43, also in 2022. Pant (970) is 30 short of the 1000-run mark in T20Is. He will be the 11th Indian to reach there. In five T20 innings at the Bay Oval, Phillips has 196 runs at a strike rate of 183.17.

Whilst the transfer deadline has passed in the Premier League to bring to an end any incomings, Wolverhampton Wanderers are still busy on the exit front with one player now reportedly set to complete his move.

Wolves transfer news

It’s been a busy few days for those in the Midlands, welcoming two late reinforcements in Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga, who will be looking to make instant impacts in a Wolves side desperately searching for Premier League survival.

The latter, whilst not their first choice, should provide fellow fresh face Emmanual Agbadou with a much-needed defensive partner, whilst the former represents a key midfield arrival.

Munetsi’s arrival should prove to be particularly important in the face of January exits and after putting pen to paper at Molineux, he was quick to express his delight – telling the club website: “I’m very excited. It’s probably going to be the first time I’ve had a big opportunity to be representing a bigger club.

“Nothing against Reims, but now you’re going to be playing in the Premier League, playing for Wolves. Also, we have a greater population in England for Zimbabwean, I think I will feel even more at home than what I was doing in France.”

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That aforementioned January exit comes in midfield, of course. According to journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu as relayed by Sport Witness, Mario Lemina is now travelling to finally complete his exit away from Wolves to join Turkish club Galatasaray before their 7pm deadline.

The former captain has looked destined for the exit door since being stripped of the armband and although it looked for some time as though his next destination would be Saudi Arabia, Galatasaray have come swooping in for his signature.

Lemina finally gets his move

For a moment, there may have been concerns that Lemina was set to stay put at Wolves after his Saudi move collapsed. As things stand, however, the £45,000-a-week man is indeed set to get his move courtesy of Galatasaray. All being well, it’s a resolution which suits all parties and one that Wolves can move on from having already welcomed a replacement in Munetsi.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Marshall Munetsi

Mario Lemina

Starts

19

15

Progressive Passes

26

48

Tackles Won

18

31

Ball Recoveries

72

73

In a different reality, Lemina could have been destined for greater things in the Midlands. It wasn’t so long ago that he was the man with the captain’s armband and he was the player sacrificing himself to fill in at centre-back.

Months later, however, unsavoury scenes against West Ham United took that armband away and Vitor Pereira’s arrival signalled the end of the midfielder’s time in a Wolves shirt.

Now 31 years old, Lemina has the chance to get back on track courtesy of Galatasaray in a move which could bring an end to his time in the Premier League altogether. As Wolves look to stay afloat, meanwhile, they’ll hope to see Munetsi thrive where Lemina ultimately failed.

He made 193 opening the batting in the 2nd XI tournament before retiring

Andrew McGlashan14-Sep-2022

Will Pucovski will head into the new domestic season with a huge score under his belt after retiring with 193 to his name in a Victoria 2nd XI match against New South Wales.He faced 404 balls across more than 10 hours in the middle, hitting 19 fours and a six, before calling time on his innings having been part of a 270-run opening stand with Ashley Chandrasinghe.Pucovski, who made his Test debut against India in January 2021 but then required shoulder reconstruction, had last season disrupted by further bouts of concussion – a problem which has been a theme throughout his career.He has recently returned from a training camp at the MRF Academy in Chennai and is now looking primed for the start of Victoria’s season later this month. It begins with the Marsh Cup on September 23 then their Sheffield Shield campaign begins on October 6 against South Australia.”It’s one of those things that I’ve got to deal with, and its ramifications, work through it and hopefully play some consistent cricket,” Pucovski told ESPNcricinfo while at the camp in India. “It has been stop-start for me, but [it’s about] sending yourself to play, to put all of your goals and ambitions to one side and make sure you’re having fun while playing and working through all those issues.”I have a lot of processes in place, and a lot of awesome people around me to help me through that. Ideally you don’t get hit that often, but that’s part of the game. Sometimes it’s just about dealing with it and taking it as it comes.”Pucvoski averages 51.63 in first-class and during the first part of the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield he made back-to-back double-centuries.A strong start to the season could put Pucovski back in contention for the Test team should a batting vacancy arrive and fellow Victorian Glenn Maxwell was delighted to see him in the runs.”Pretty happy for him, he’s a good egg,” Maxwell said at the launch of Australia’s T20 World Cup kit. “I was at the pre-season stuff with him a few weeks ago before we went away and he looked in really good spirits, pretty happy with how his pre-season has gone and he was just excited to get back into it.”Said he absolutely loved [the India camp]. Will’s a cricket nuffie, he loves soaking up new information, trying new things and for him to go over there is going to be great for his game. Hopefully it’s a good sign of things to come for this summer because with him going well it’s really exciting for Australian cricket.”Chandrasinghe, who has yet to make his first-class debut, is another player to keep an eye on this season. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2nd XI competition last season and scored five centuries in a row playing premier cricket in Darwin during the winter.

There was a delay in the visa process and it needed the intervention of Guyanese president

Shashank Kishore04-Aug-2022The Florida leg of the T20I series between India and West Indies for the fourth and fifth games is set to go ahead as planned this weekend following the stamping of USA visas for both teams on Wednesday.There was a delay in the visa process for both teams and it needed the intervention of Guyanese president Irfaan Ali to ensure the paperwork was complete after members of both teams flew into Georgetown via a charter flight following the completion of the third T20I in St Kitts on Sunday. The teams were earlier expected to receive their USA travel document in Trinidad or St Kitts, the venues of the first three T20Is of the series.Related

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While Cricket West Indies (CWI) had been confident of the issue being resolved in time, they had been preparing a contingency plan to stage the final leg of the series in the Caribbean, mostly in Port-of-Spain.While those with the requisite USA visa flew in from St Kitts, the rest of the touring party will fly into Miami via a charter from Georgetown on Thursday. Among them are India head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma.The T20I leg has been hit by a series of logistical hitches. The second T20I in St Kitts was delayed by three hours after a late arrival of team kits from Trinidad, which hosted the series opener. As a result, the third T20I the following day was also delayed, with the start time pushed back by 1.5 hours to give players sufficient recovery time.India currently lead the five-match series 2-1, with the next two games scheduled back to back on Saturday and Sunday. They will be sweating over Rohit’s fitness after he retired hurt in the third T20I due to back spasms.The Central Broward Park, in Lauderhill, Florida, is a regular pitstop in India’s tour to the Caribbean with matches being staged at the venue on every tour since 2016.

Ange Postecoglou has railed against coverage of a spat between Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson during Tottenham's win over Southampton.

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Tel took late penalty in 3-1 winJohnson denied chance to score hat-trickPostecoglou defends Bayern Munich loaneeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

During Spurs' 3-1 win over Southampton at the weekend, Brennan Johnson scored a brace. In injury time, Spurs were awarded a penalty, and instead of Johnson being allowed to take it, Mathys Tel stepped up after coming on as a substitute. Tel scored, and Johnson appeared unhappy both before he took the kick and after the full-time whistle.

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Spurs are 14th in the Premier League table and are preparing to play Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. The clash with the Bundesliga side is perhaps the last chance Spurs have to salvage their season. As a result, Postecoglou has slammed the constant negativity around the club.

Getty Images SportWHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID

Postecoglou told reporters: “We scored, we won. Delighted. It's incredible, it's just… literally turning gold into crap when it's Tottenham.

“Seriously. If we're 2-1 up tomorrow night and get a penalty in the last minute, I want the best penalty taker to take it. I mean the one slight against this club is apparently it hasn't been a winner.

“Well the winner's mentality in the last minute of the game is to score a goal. We scored a goal. And yet somehow in this ultimate universe where everything Tottenham does is wrong, that's come out as a negative.

“Be that as it may. From my point of view, I was delighted because as I said if that's tomorrow night and we get a penalty in the last minute and get a third goal which could be really decisive, I'm really pleased with the way the players handled it.”

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WHAT JOHNSON SAID

After the game, Johnson admitted he did want to take the penalty, telling the club's media: “It's only normal for me to want to take the penalty. There's only a certain amount of talking to do before it gets quite messy.

“I've been in the situation before when I've had people wanting to take the ball off me and it kind of unsettles you a little bit. I knew the game was pretty much done but still, I didn't want to unsettle anyone or start any disagreements.

“So, once the decision was made, I just had to get on with it.”