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Chelsea chiefs have internally discussed the possibility of signing a once-£100 million player, who is in the current England squad for Euro 2024.

Chelsea to move for new senior attackers this summer

The west Londoners have already sealed deals for Marc Guiu from Barcelona, who put pen to paper on a £5 million move, and Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian to the tune of a rumoured £51 million.

Chelsea now prepared to sell £200,000-per-week star after Maresca decision

The Italian has a preferred option.

9

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 4, 2024

However, both players could be seen as ones for the future rather than immediate upgrades to Enzo Maresca's first team. Estevao isn't even linking up with the club until 2025, so it is believed more attackers could come through the door at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are still interested in Napoli star Victor Osimhen, while Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams remains a heavily linked target for Maresca. The west Londoners were heavily reliant on both Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson for their output last season, with both players scoring a combined 42 goals in all competitions.

Chelsea's top scorers in all competitions last season	Goals
Cole Palmer	25
Nicolas Jackson	17
Raheem Sterling	10
Noni Madueke	8
Conor Gallagher	7

The Stamford Bridge recruitment team want to add more attacking impetus, with journalist Simon Phillips now claiming they've reignited their interest in Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Chelsea chiefs hold internal discussions over signing Toney

The Three Lions striker, who came off the bench against Slovakia to help rescue England with the winning assist for Harry Kane in extra time, was commanding a £100 million price tag in January – as Bees boss Thomas Frank was determined to keep him until this summer at least.

He could now leave for much less with his contract expiring next year, with Chelsea chiefs holding internal talks this week over whether to sign Toney.

The 28-year-old's best season came during 2022/2023, where he bagged 20 goals in the Premier League alone, but was forced to spend the majority of last campaign on the sidelines due to an on-field ban for alleged gambling.

Interestingly, Chelsea have been urged to do a Toney deal for years now, with Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony claiming back in 2022 that they could seriously benefit from him.

“I’ll say this. Is there a better number nine at Chelsea? Is there a better number nine at Man United? Then let me ask you a question," said MacAnthony on The Hard Truth podcast (via GOAL).

"If you were Man United and Chelsea and you can go and write a cheque for £100million and buy a player from Holland or a player from France and Italy and give them a year-and-a-half to acclimatise, are you going to write a cheque and buy one of the top three number nines in the Premier League, who is not even in the prime of his career?”

“If Liverpool had owners who would write that cheque, I would happily have him in Liverpool’s team, like that. The proof is in the pudding, he’s promoted to the Premier League with a team that’s not fancied to stay up, he’s one of the top three goalscorers in the Premier League in a team that, again, is not a favourite to be top-10, top-12 in the Premier League.”

Celtic are closing in on the signing of an "outstanding" new goalkeeper with a huge amount of pedigree, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Celtic transfer news

It has been a quiet summer transfer window at Parkhead to date, but Brendan Rodgers will know the importance of making new signings, not just in terms of staving off the threat of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, but also in order to do better in the Champions League.

One player who could complete a permanent move to Celtic is Adam Idah, who enjoyed a fruitful spell on loan at the club during the second half of last season, including scoring the dramatic late winning goal in the Scottish Cup final triumph over Rangers. The Hoops are reportedly set to make an improved offer for the striker, as they look to bring him in from Norwich City.

Another loanee, Paulo Bernardo, has also been linked with sealing a permanent switch to Parkhead ahead of next season, and a £6m deal is now believed to be in place, allowing him to come in from Benfica on a long-term deal.

There are also some current players who could leave this summer, one of which is Matt O'Riley, who has been the subject of a bid from reigning Europa League champions Atalanta. Rodgers will no doubt be desperate to keep hold of the Denmark international, but his head could be turned by a move away.

Celtic close to signing "outstanding" goalkeeper

Taking to X on Friday, Romano claimed that Celtic are close to announcing the signing of Kasper Schmeichel, snapping him up on a free transfer after his spell at Anderlecht came to an end.

"Kasper Schmeichel, set to become new Celtic GK – understand contract will be valid until June 2025. Deal will also include an option for further season, until June 2026."

With Joe Hart retiring at the end of last season, finding an ideal replacement for the Englishman felt vital for Celtic, and Schmeichel could be the perfect addition.

The links to the former Leicester City star seem to have come from nowhere, with the Hoops linked with just about every other available goalkeeper on the planet up to this point, so they have clearly moved smartly in silence to wrap up a deal.

At 37, the veteran goalkeeper is the same age as Hart, and he possesses plenty of pedigree, not only winning the Premier League title with Leicester back in 2015/16, but also making 105 appearances for Denmark.

Rodgers knows him extremely well, too, following their time together at the Foxes, with the Hoops boss saying of him in the past: "He's been brilliant for me in my time here, there's moments where it looks like it's going to be a goal and he pulls off a save.

:His concentration and his desire to stop the ball going in the net is so good. He always produces for us, he's absolutely outstanding when he had to be here. That's why he's one of the top keepers at this level."

Kasper Schmeichel's club career

Appearances

Goals conceded

Clean sheets

Leicester City

479

586

147

Notts County

49

39

25

Nice

46

47

13

Leeds United

40

55

10

Anderlecht

32

33

8

Bury

29

27

11

Cardiff City

14

14

5

Man City

10

11

4

Falkirk

10

12

3

Coventry City

9

12

2

Darlington

4

1

3

Given his age, Schmeichel may not quite be the force he was a few years ago, but there is no reason why he can't enjoy a similar level of influence to Hart at Celtic, proving to be a figure of huge consistency and experience between the sticks.

Deals may not have been finalised yet but Aston Villa will sell Douglas Luiz to Juventus, collecting cash, midfielder Enzo Barrenechea and talented winger Samuel Iling-Junior in return.

The Premier League's profit and sustainability (PSR) rules have dictated the summer but the June 30 deadline looms large. Luckily, Villa's prudency has seen them successfully circumvent the possibility of breaching such rules. Now, with Champions League football lying ahead, Unai Emery's outfit can make real headway.

Aforementioned signings are augmented by the nearly-completed move for Ross Barkley, but Luiz's sale marks the loss of a true linchpin, and Emery looks eager to push ahead and sign another replacement.

Villa eyeing Douglas Luiz replacement

According to Spanish outlet AS earlier this week, Aston Villa are tussling with a number of top European clubs for Real Sociedad midfielder Brais Mendez, who has a €60m (£52m) release clause in his contract.

The Spaniard is considered a fundamental, near irreplaceable member of Imanol Alguacil's team, but if Villa endeavour to meet his buyout price, he may well find himself pulled toward the English Midlands.

Why Villa are interested in Brais Mendez

Last season, Sociedad finished sixth in La Liga and Mendez proved his level as one of the standout performers, making good on past praise from journalist Zach Lowy that he is a player of "sensational" quality.

Across 44 appearances in all competitions, he scored eight goals and added nine assists, also winning 1.3 tackles and 4.6 duels per match average in the Spanish top flight, as per Sofascore, to underscore his multi-strength skill set.

A dynamic midfielder, Mendez would emulate Luiz's impressive attacking instinct, with his goal and assist tally from last season ranking him among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 10% for assists and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

This could compensate for the departure of Luiz and then some, who ranks among the top 16% of midfielders for goals, the top 22% for assists and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90 himself.

Attacking midfield

18

3

5

Central midfield

13

1

2

Right winger

6

3

2

Centre-forward

1

0

0

As you can see, he's not shackled to one position, instead enjoying sweeping success across a range of roles – even competent on the right flank when called upon.

But he'd principally be utilised in the centre of the park, pulled into a more industrious, but still forward-moving, role to tailor toward Emery's system.

In this sense, he truly would be a fantastic replacement for Luiz. Barkley too offers a range of versatile tools to ensure success at Villa Park but Mendez has proven himself to be a player of flair and unique ability from the middle.

A "smooth operator" – as noted by an effusive Lowy – the £36k-per-week ace is daring and deadly from behind the frontline, something that Luiz has also demonstrably succeeded in being at Aston Villa.

Moreover, given the nature of the Brazilian's (soon former) modus operandi under Emery, he averaged 1.7 tackles and 4.2 successful duels per Premier League match in 2023/24, Mendez would be a terrific heir.

Further players Mendez could replace

With Barkley joining a talented group of forward-thinking midfielders consisting of John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and, sometimes, Morgan Rogers, it might feel a tad congested, with Luiz never really deployed further up the field, instead moving forward at an apt opportunity to wreak chaos.

Might another sale be necessary? According to The Times, Aston Villa have recently rejected a £20m offer from Tottenham Hotspur for Ramsey, with the player-plus-cash trend this summer at the centre once again, with Giovani Lo Celso offered.

Lo Celso has never nailed down a starting spot at Spurs since signing for an eventual total of £42m in 2018, despite his patent passing pedigree. He might prove to be a square peg in a round hole under Emery, simply a number and unable to perform the many-faceted jobs to the desired standard.

Ramsey, however, is not unexpendable despite Emery's desire to retain his services, with the Lions making it known that the homegrown attacking midfielder would require a fee of £40-50m to prise from Villa Park.

Mendez could prove to be an upgrade on the 23-year-old, who is talented but inconsistent and marred by setbacks, starting only eight Premier League matches last season and last completing a competitive appearance in early March due to a toe injury.

Still, Ramsey is a good player and excels when unshackled and pointed toward the opposing penalty area, using his wheels to drive forward and strike on goal or thread balls into the path of striking teammates.

Furthermore, he carries a robust and defensively aware style of play that mirrors that of Mendez, with the boyhood Villan averaging 2.0 tackles and 4.6 successful duels per game during the 2022/23 season, when he enjoyed far brighter fortunes on the injury front and posted six goals and seven assists from 31 starting appearances in the English top flight.

There's no question that Villa wish to keep Ramsey at the club but given the need to continue to appease PSR rules and the fact that Mendez could be brought in as a more complete and clinical replacement, it might be worth allowing him to leave, should the lofty price tag be met by a team like Tottenham.

Clearly, Mendez might just be the full package to fire Aston Villa toward new levels of success. With Champions League football beckoning, the Spain star would be a fitting replacement for an outgoing stalwart in Luiz, and potentially even Ramsey too.

New bid incoming: Aston Villa lining up "monster" Cash upgrade

Unai Emery is aiming to sign a talented Italian defender this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 26, 2024

BBC pundit and former Scotland international Alan Hutton has reacted to the news that Celtic have tabled a bid to seal a "smart signing" in the summer transfer window.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops have been linked with various players ahead of what could be a busy summer in the transfer market, and Fenerbahce goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has been mentioned as a possible option to come in.

Joe Hart has retired from football, bowing out on a high after winning both the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup, and Livakovic is seen as the potential man to fill the void between the sticks. Celtic have reportedly tabled a bid of £7.6m for his services, with "extensive talks" held over a deal.

Elsewhere, Brendan Rodgers is thought to be keen on Bournemouth 'keeper Mark Travers as an alternative to Livakovic, with the 25-year-old possibly eyeing more regular football moving forward, having been loaned out to Championship side Stoke City last season.

Fotis Ioannidis is another player who has been linked with a summer move to Celtic, being seen as a dream attacking teammate for Hoops star man Matt O'Riley. The Panathinaikos forward scored five times in as many starts in the Europa League last season, highlighting his pedigree as a footballer.

Pundit talks up Celtic completing Livakovic signing

Speaking to Football Insider, BBC pundit Hutton talked up the idea of Celtic completing what he feels would be a "smart signing" of Livakovic in the summer, calling the offered fee a "big number".

"If he kicks on and does what everybody expects him to do, it would be a smart signing. They could make a lot of money out of it. The Euros has normally got an impact on that, if he goes there and plays really well, his valuation could go through the roof as we’ve seen previously.

"It’ll be an interesting one to watch what happens. These are big numbers, but I think Celtic are a club that can pay that sort of money and fees, especially if they get money in. We’ll see how it develops, but Celtic have definitely got the scope to spend that kind of money."

Livakovic makes plenty of sense for Celtic, with the 29-year-old a hugely experienced player but also someone who still has plenty of years left in him at the top level.

The Fenerbahce man is currently representing Croatia at Euro 2024, starting both of his country's opening two matches at the tournament, and he has a total of 56 caps at international level, also playing an important role in his nation reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Celtic could sign "crazy" Idah alternative in biggest deal since Jota

The Hoops are reportedly interested in signing the talented young centre-forward.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 23, 2024

Livakovic jumps out as a brilliant choice to come in and do a strong job after Hart, although he will clearly have big shoes to fill, considering what an influential performer the Englishman was for Celtic for a sustained period. There is no reason why he couldn't be a superb successor, though, and possibly even an upgrade, given his age.

Phil Parkinson has called on his Wrexham players to learn from their loss to Stevenage Town and bounce back in this "unforgiving league".

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wrexham lose 1-0 at Stevenage
• Parkinson says it's an "unforgiving" league
• Fires warning to his players

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A Louis Thompson goal in the 10th minute condemned the Red Dragons to their second League One defeat of the season. After the match, manager Parkinson challenged his players to bounce back from this when they face Northampton Town this weekend, but sent a warning of sorts to his players as well.

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  WHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

  When asked what message he would send to his players ahead of their next game, he said: "Take our medicine. We've got to get back and assess team selection, what we are going to do, we'll have a look at Northampton and get ready to respond and that is what we will do. It's an unforgiving league but every league is competitive. This is more unforgiving because the quality level is higher but we've got better quality and strength in depth and we are capable of coping with it. We're in a strong position but we need to improve in periods of games where you are under a bit of pressure. And I felt we didn't have enough players who responded to that today [Tuesday]."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham are going for an historic third-straight promotion, something no other team has done within the top five levels on the English football pyramid. They still sit second in League One and are in the automatic promotion spots but they will need to improve if they are going to make it to the Championship. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that Stevenage have the fourth-best home record in League One.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Wrexham, who have won all four of their home games this season, return to Stok Cae Ras on Saturday afternoon when they host lowly Northampton Town. Incidentally, if they can improve their away form, which is the 14th-best in the division, they will be right up near the top of the table this season.

Virat Kohli has highlighted the “character” of Mayank Agarwal as a factor that “stood out” for him during India’s tour of Australia in 2018-19, where Agarwal made his Test debut. In Part 2 of a chat with Agarwal on , Kohli explained what impressed him the most about the opener.The visitors had dropped Shikhar Dhawan for the Test series and then lost Prithvi Shaw to injury in a warm-up match, leaving them with only Murali Vijay and KL Rahul as experienced names in the line-up.But after both openers failed to deliver in the Adelaide as well the Perth Tests, India switched to a completely new opening pair for the third Test in Melbourne. Despite the series being tied at 1-1, Kohli believed Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari – who started his career batting at No. 6 and had never opened before – were up for the challenge of facing the new ball in Australia.On getting someone new and inexperienced into the side midway into a series – like Kohli did with Agarwal in Australia then – he stressed that one’s approach to the game mattered the most. “I had seen you play for RCB [in the IPL]. I knew even then you played international bowlers with absolute conviction and would take them on. You were performing well in first-class for a while and in a dominating way [as well],” Kohli said.He stated that Agarwal being positive and going about things in the right manner also worked in his favour, especially “when there was a requirement”. “That is something that always stood out with you and when you had scored so many runs, it was a no-brainer for you to come in when there was a requirement. But it was your character that stood out the most for me than the number of runs you had scored because I knew you’d be fearless and play without a baggage and thinking what might happen,” Kohli mentioned.ALSO READ: Virat Kohli credits Sachin Tendulkar for turnaround after dismal 2014 England tourOn Vihari, Kohli was quick to point out how he immediately took up the opener’s slot despite starting out in the middle-order.”We had seen the way Vihari played – he would come towards the ball, he was brave and he was sure of himself – and in the first opportunity that we presented to him to open the innings, he said, ‘I’m going to do it’. That is what matters to me the most. A guy who wants to get into the tough situations will come out either holding his head high or learning.”Eventually, India won the Melbourne Test by 137 runs to take a 2-1 lead and following a draw in the next match in Sydney, became the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia.On being asked by Agarwal as to what routine he followed before getting ready to face every ball, Kohli responded that that he tried analysing “everything about the bowler”. “If he bowled a certain delivery, then was there a difference in his body language? Did he do something different in his run up and his wrists? Was the arm speed different or was he holding the ball [in] a different way?”He described it as an “amazing feeling” when he hit the bowler after perfectly judging his methods. “[If] I’ve seen the ball position and I know where the ball is going to come, that’s the most amazing feeling as the bowler actually bowls there [where you want him to] – then you just smash it and it’s an unbelievable feeling. But for that, you need to be ready and at peace with yourself so that the fear [of getting out] goes away.”

West Indies have officially added fast bowler Shannon Gabriel to their squad for the Test series against England. Gabriel had been part of the reserve personnel on tour but has proved his fitness and comes into the 15 vying for contention at the Ageas Bowl next week.Gabriel underwent ankle surgery last year and has not played a first-class game since September, but he claimed figures of 8 for 122 across West Indies’ two warm-up games in Manchester.”I am delighted that we are able to add Shannon to the Test squad,” CWI lead selector Roger Harper said. “He has shown that he is fit and ready, he will add experience, firepower and potency to the bowling unit.”The addition of Gabriel to the full squad means West Indies will be able to call upon the same attack that helped them to a 2-1 series win over England in the Caribbean last year – although there have been concerns over the fitness of captain Jason Holder, who has been suffering from an ankle niggle and only bowled five overs so far on tour.

Chris Gayle has avoided sanction for his public criticism of Ramnaresh Sarwan and other Jamaica Tallawahs personnel, after the CPL Tournament Committee (CTC) said in a media release on Friday that it was satisfied with the batsman’s statement, even though he stood by his comments – calling Sarwan a “snake” and “vindictive”, and accusing the franchise owners of “playing a game”.A three-member independent tribunal had been looking into Gayle’s comments, made in a YouTube video on April 27, where he had made clear his displeasure at being abruptly ousted by Tallawahs for the 2020 season.In the statement, Gayle indicated that he realised how his words might bring disrepute to the tournament and Cricket West Indies. “I made these videos with one single intention – to explain to the fans in Jamaica the reasons behind what has now become my second departure from Tallawahs franchise,” Gayle’s statement read. “It was my greatest wish to finish my CPL career in Jamaica – playing in front of my home crowd at Sabina Park with the franchise that I had previously led to two CPL titles.ALSO READ: Tallawahs ‘weirdest’ team I’ve ever played for – Andre Russell“In so far as my resentment at the treatment, I stand by my comments in those videos. My words were spoken from the heart. Having said that, I must be honest and say that I now realize how portions of my comments may be viewed as being damaging to Cricket West Indies, and to the CPL Tournament and its brand – a tournament which I have sincerely enjoyed not just being a part of, but also helping to build and promote.”The CTC said it was satisfied that Gayle would continue to act in good faith and the tribunal, set up after a formal complaint on May 6, would no longer be needed, and that the CTC, CPL, and CWI all considered the matter closed.Gayle had returned to Tallawahs – the Jamaica CPL franchise – last season after a stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the two seasons. Gayle had been given a three-year contract and said he had always wanted to end his career in the “uniform” of Tallawahs. But in a late development late in April, he ended up signing for St Lucia Zouks. Just about a week after that, he lashed out at Sarwan, who is an assistant coach at Tallawahs, the chief executive Jeff Miller and owner Krish Persaud.With Sarwan, in particular, Gayle had indicated the issue went as far back as to their Under-19 days in 1996, when a complaint about Gayle watching TV late into the night forced head coach Gus Logie to evict him from a camp.Gayle said in his video that Tallawahs had a “good” team last season, but were “traumatised” by Sarwan, who he claimed was close to Persaud. “Sarwan wanted to be the manager, he wanted to be the coach. But Sarwan is like the owner for the team because Sarwan go back and tell the owner what transpired within the team,” Gayle had said. “Sarwan want to put curfew for players when game starts at 8 o’clock. Sarwan, when me and you play for West Indies, we used to party every night, so why you want to put curfew for players, why do you want to tie down players?”Sarwan you are a snake. You are so vindictive. You are still immature. You are still stabbing people in the back. You are still carrying news. When you gonna change, Sarwan, seriously? When are you planning to change?”Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle during their Test-playing days•Getty Images

Following the outburst, Sarwan had “categorically” denied any hand in Gayle’s ouster from the team and said that decision had come from the owners and management.”In that video, he has levelled false allegations and tarnished the good name and reputation of a series of persons,” Sarwan had said. “I was the focus of most of the onslaughts. I reply, not because I feel that Gayle’s rantings are worthy of it, but because I feel that the public’s record must be set straight and also, to protect the character and careers of so many people, whose image he sought to besmirch.”On Wednesday, CWI president Ricky Skerritt had hinted on a Trinidad-based radio station that Gayle’s comments might draw sanctions for bringing the game to disrepute, given that he was still active in the league and not a retired player speaking as an outsider.The CPL, independent from the CWI, was satisfied with the statement, which went on to say: “It was never my intention to damage the T20 Tournament, as playing in the CPL has guaranteed an opportunity for the past 7 years to play in front of the great fans of the Caribbean. This is a privilege which I genuinely appreciate and have never taken for granted.”Right now, my eyes are fixed firmly on the season ahead, and the new challenge which playing for the St. Lucia Zouks franchise will bring. I hope to see you there.”The tournament is scheduled for August-September this year.

Faf du Plessis refused to answer questions pertaining to anything other than the Wanderers Test, including one that asked if the series finale would be his last red-ball match, as he prepared for the must-win clash.A tired-looking du Plessis did not respond to acting director of cricket Graeme Smith’s assertion that the pair would meet post-series to seek “clarity,” on du Plessis’ future or on having the ODI captaincy taken away from him and given to Quinton de Kock. Instead, he asked for tunnel vision for the next five days as he attempts to stave off a third successive Test series defeat.”I’d like to, for my own personal reasons, have my focus specifically on this Test match,” du Plessis said. “I know there’s has been a lot spoken about all the other things and too much noise away from Test cricket and the Test team. I would like to speak about what is in front of us.”This is about this Test match for me. I have not changed communication to you guys in one instant. I’ve said the same thing but the question keeps coming up. I am still committed to playing for South Africa. That hasn’t changed. It’s normal business as usual.”ALSO READ: Philander a good thing we never fully appreciated while we still had himThe announcement of de Kock as ODI captain to lead South Africa to the 2023 World Cup and Smith’s indication that du Plessis’ leadership across formats is up for discussion suggests it is not “business as usual”. But it’s understandable that du Plessis needs to create a vacuum for the next week. His legacy is at stake.He is arguably South Africa’s most astute captain, who took over at a time of uncertainty with AB de Villiers see-sawing over his availability and several strike bowlers injured, who steered the team to series wins against Australia home and away and who stayed when it would have been simpler to jump ship. That is perhaps du Plessis’ most underrated quality. His selflessness.He could left after the 2019 World Cup, when overseas offers abounded and knowing that the Ottis Gibson era was over, a tour to India loomed and CSA were at the tip of an iceberg of administrative and financial crises. Du Plessis decided his duty called more than the dollars of overseas leagues and decided to shield his successor by taking the blows.That du Plessis’ reign has to end, if not soon then at some point, is obvious. He said so himself after the Port Elizabeth Test when he admitted, “I can’t do it forever.” Now, it is about how it ends.Du Plessis began his career by taking advantage of an opportunity created by injury (JP Duminy tore his Achilles’ during the first Test against Australia in 2012) and built it on tenacity. The most honourable thing his team can do is emulate that in what could be his final bow and he seemed to ask for it when, instead of calling on them to be technically better, he asked them to have a change of mindset.”When you are deep in the series already, the extra time in the nets is not going to make that much difference,” du Plessis said. “The challenge is how mentally strong we are. There’s not enough time to change techniques. The secret weapon lies in how strong we can be emotionally and mentally.”The captain’s call comes from first-hand experience of seeing how a team that has been dominated can capitulate at the final hurdle. Two years ago, South Africa came here 2-1 up against an Australian side that were reeling from off-field scandals and beat them by 492 runs. Du Plessis does not want a reverse repeat of that to affect his team.”If you are mentally off it, teams that are on top of you just keep running with that momentum,” he said. “We need a solid, where we can get a partnership going and feel confidence through the dressing room or if we are fielding, then get early wickets so we can get stuck into their middle order. But we know England are not going to say, ‘here you go guys here’s five or six wickets in this next session, let’s play now’, we have to earn it.”There are no easy answers on the horizon for Faf du Plessis•Stu Forster/Getty Images

The hardest thing South Africa will have to work for is runs after failing to pass 300 in the first innings all series. Team management have called on the line-up to show more fight, but du Plessis wants them to combine it with clever strategic thinking.”You can also get let down by your skill and then your skill looks like you didn’t fight but you either let down in your skill levels or you are let down in a mental error and then it looks like you are not a fighting team but actually it was just bad decision making,” he said. “There needs to be fight and we showed that at Newlands. There was good decision-making there, good game plans and the guys batted with clarity. If you look at PE, we were almost confused as a batting unit.”Du Plessis has instructed his batsmen not to listen to too much advice from outside, particularly from television commentators who have been picking apart South Africa’s game plan.”It’s dangerous to listen to all the outside influence,” he said. “As a young player, when great players talk about how you should bat, guys listen because they want to improve. But there is also enough information in our dressing room. Most importantly, it’s about trusting what has got you to the level now to be successful and not feel you have to change your game to be successful.”He may as well have been saying the same thing to himself. Du Plessis has been zoomed in on in this series with scrutiny on his form (no half-centuries in his last eight innings) and whether he is doing enough to front up. It may be time to acknowledge that the latter is all he has been doing.With no clear successor for the Test team, du Plessis has had little choice but to keep the job, no matter how badly it’s going for him or how much he wants to run away. His harsh tone and hollow expression may have been the embodiment of that sentiment. Or it could be the perfect facade.Under this kind of pressure, the best leaders have the ability to emerge with their reputations enhanced. Du Plessis has done it before and if the Wanderers Test is his final frontier, he will want to cross it with class.

The allrounder had hurt his back while fielding in the second T20I on Tuesday

Deivarayan Muthu08-Jan-2020

Associated Press

Sri Lanka allrounder Isuru Udana has been sidelined from the team’s must-win third T20I against India in Pune on Friday with a back injury. The 31-year had injured himself during India’s chase in the second T20I on Tuesday night, while attempting to stop the ball at short third man. Udana immediately hobbled off the field and did not return to take the ball.Udana’s injury depleted Sri Lanka’s attack although Dasun Shanaka stepped in and bowled four tidy overs, giving up 26 runs. India eventually chased down the target of 143 with seven wickets and 15 balls to spare, handing Sri Lanka their fourth successive defeat in the format. India are now 1-0 up in the three-match series, with the first T20I in Guwahati having been abandoned without a ball being bowled.After the loss in Indore, Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur said that Udana had hurt his back and was in “hell a lot of pain.” Despite being ruled out, Udana will work with the physio and stay back with the squad in Pune.