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Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez's contracts end on June 30, 2025, but upon a special request by FIFA, the duo will earn two-week extensions.

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Modric and Vazquez nearing contract expiryReal Madrid will rely on the duo for the Club World CupFIFA has asked club to give two-week extensions Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Real Madrid will be among the leading contenders to win the inaugural edition of the revamped Club World Cup, set to kick off in June. In preparation for the tournament, FIFA has requested that clubs offer special short-term contract extensions to players whose current deals expire on June 30, 2025. As a result, AS reports that Madrid veterans Modric and Vazquez are expected to receive unique two-week renewals, ensuring they remain eligible to compete in all of the Club World Cup fixtures scheduled for July. That is, if Madrid progresses to the knockout stages.

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Madrid have been paired with Al-Hilal, Pachuca, and RB Salzburg for the group stage of the Club World Cup. Their games will be played on June 18, June 22, and June 27. Should they finish as runners-up in the group, they will play their Round of 16 tie on June 30. If they finish first, they will play their last-16 tie on July 1, one day after the contracts of Modric and Vazquez expire. For the two seasoned campaigners to legally be eligible for all the subsequent games, provided Los Blancos go deep into the tournament, they'll have to sign short-term renewals until July 13. Madrid are patient and will sit down with two of their senior-most members to extend their contracts for a further 14 days.

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However, the long-term futures of both Vazquez and Modric at the Santiago Bernabeu remain uncertain beyond the Club World Cup. Reports suggest that the Merengues are unlikely to offer a contract renewal to the 33-year-old right-back for the 2025–26 season. With Dani Carvajal expected to fully recover from his ACL injury ahead of the new campaign — and the anticipated free transfer arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold — Madrid are already planning for the future at right-back, potentially leaving Vazquez surplus to requirements.

As for Modric, AS reports that a renewal remains difficult but not entirely off the table. The Croatian maestro is eager to continue competing at the highest level in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. However, any extension would be contingent on him accepting a reduced salary and embracing an even more diminished role within the squad.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Although Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals and lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona, they remain alive in a bid to defend their LaLiga crown. Carlo Ancelotti's side are currently four points behind their rivals from Catalonia, whom they will face on May 11. Before that, though, a game against Celta Vigo on Sunday, May 4, awaits.

Aston Villa failed to beat ten-man Ipswich Town over the weekend, drawing 1-1 at Villa Park, leaving them ninth in the Premier League after 25 games played, having won ten times, drawn eight times and lost seven times, accumulating 38 points so far.

Despite generating 2.42 xG in the game, taking 25 shots in the game, creating six “big chances” and holding 76% possession, the Villans only managed to score one goal, whilst ten-man Ipswich (having had Axel Tuanzebe sent off in the first half) also scored once, despite having 24% possession and only taking four shots.

Since Jhon Duran was sold in the January transfer window, Villa haven’t got that same inevitable goalscorer coming from the bench, which is showing in not only the results, but also their xG performance numbers, underachieving their xG in both Premier League games since his departure.

That has, as a result, heaped further pressure on main man Ollie Watkins to keep delivering…

Ollie Watkins' season in numbers

Watkins has made 34 appearances so far this season for Unai Emery’s side, scoring 12 goals, providing nine assists and totalling 2,369 minutes played. Whilst this is brilliant output overall, Watkins is underachieving his xG by -0.15 per 90, with a -3.7 xG underperformance this season.

Duran was a brilliant striker option for Villa to have alongside Watkins, as both strikers offered different attributes to the side, allowing Emery to make changes during games in order to give his side the upper hand, something he has now lost the opportunity to do in this manner.

Whilst Villa have signed Marcus Rashford and Donyell Malen in January, who are both brilliant additions in their own right, they are now missing the same clinical finisher and physical specimen type of striker that Duran was, which has taken a string away from their bow this season.

But one man that Villa ditched back in 2023 could have offered this alternative profile, and he is even outscoring Watkins this term.

The former Villa star who's now outscoring Watkins

Wesley Moraes is now playing for Fatih Karagumruk in the second division of Turkish football two years after leaving Villa on a free transfer, and has made 22 appearances so far this season, scoring 14 goals, providing five assists and totalling 1,784 minutes.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Duran

Watkins

Goals

1.17

0.45

Assists

0.00

0.42

xG

0.58

0.61

xAG

0.04

0.21

Progressive Carries

1.02

1.65

Progressive Passes

1.84

0.74

Shots Total

4.60

2.87

Goals/Shot

0.24

0.13

Key Passes

0.61

1.32

Shot-Creating Actions

2.14

2.60

Aerial Duels Won

3.06

1.69

When comparing Wakins and Duran’s underlying metrics this season, you can see the level of clinical finishing, aerial prowess and overall goal output (per 90) that is now missing from the squad. Watkins clearly offers a more well-rounded profile, creating for others, but currently, Villa need someone to convert their created xG into goals.

Wesley was described as a “throwback” striker by former Villa hero, Dion Dublin back in 2019, and this is the exact profile of striker the Villans are now missing on the bench, since the loss of Duran.

Whilst Emery should have enough with the likes of Rashford, Malen and Watkins to rotate his centre-forward position and the surrounding pieces to get results, there is no hiding that losing Duran was a huge loss, and even a lower quality striker of a similar profile, could be very useful for the side.

Aston Villa's 7/10 sensation was better than Watkins vs Ipswich

Aston Villa dropped more points in the Premier League on Saturday against Ipswich.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Feb 16, 2025

Celtic were left frustrated in the 2023/24 campaign after they were knocked out of the Champions League before they won a match in the group stage.

The Hoops won one of their six matches in the group, with that victory coming against Feyenoord in the last game, and were dumped out of the competition before the knockout phase.

This time around, in the new-look format, Celtic have qualified past the league phase and they are now set to face off against Bayern Munich at Parkhead in the first-leg of the play-off round.

The Scottish Premiership leaders, who have already beaten Bundesliga side RB Leipzig 3-1 in Glasgow, will need a big result to take back to Bavaria for the second-leg in Germany next week.

Celtic are no strangers to a big night under the lights in Europe and they will need another one of them this evening when they welcome Vincent Kompany’s side to Parkhead.

One of their most famous wins in the Champions League came against a Lionel Messi-led Barcelona team back in November 2012 during the group stage.

Tony Watt's heroics against Barcelona

The Hoops welcomed the Spanish giants to Glasgow and produced a sensational performance to come away with all three points, as they beat the LaLiga side 2-1 on the night.

Barcelona registered a whopping 24 shots, 14 of which were on target, but they only scored one goal as Fraser Forster put on a mammoth showing between the sticks – one so good that it led to Messi describing him as “not human”.

Celtic took the lead through Victor Wanyama in the first half when he met Charlie Mulgrew’s deep corner to head in at the back post to make it 1-0.

The three points were sealed, however, thanks to the heroics of Tony Watt, who scored the second goal of the game to give the Hoops breathing space, which they ended up needing when Lionel Messi pulled one back in stoppage time.

Forster sent a kick long down the middle of the pitch, that was completely missed by Xavi, and sent Watt, who anticipated the mistake, through on goal to rattle a brilliant finish into the far bottom corner.

It ended up being his only Champions League goal for Celtic – what a way to do it – and it is one that supporters may not forget for a very long time.

There is now an opportunity for another player to etch their name into Celtic folklore by being the player to score the winning goal against Bayern Munich under the lights at Parkhead in the Champions League tonight.

Chalkboard

Brendan Rodgers, now, has decisions to make in regards to who is going to line up as part of the front three from the start, after the Hoops beat Raith Rovers 5-0 in the SFA Cup in their last outing.

The Celtic forwards who could miss out against Bayern Munich

South Korean forward Hyun-jun Yang was handed a start against the Championship side on Saturday in the cup and caught the eye with an impressive performance on the left flank.

The 22-year-old ace assisted two of the five goals, teeing up Daizen Maeda and Luke McCowan for goals, and got himself on the scoresheet with a close-range finish.

However, Yang has failed to register a goal or an assist in four outings in the Champions League this season, and has also produced just one goal and zero assists in 14 appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops.

This does not suggest that Rodgers should be making the call to keep the right-footed whiz in the starting line-up, but there could be a tougher call to make with Jota.

The Portuguese forward returned to the club in January, signing permanently from Rennes, and has contributed with one goal and one assist in three matches so far.

However, Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn have been in terrific form for the Scottish giants on the flanks this season, which could keep Jota out of the XI for this match.

Appearances

7

8

xG

1.84

0.88

Goals

3

2

Big chances created

0

4

Assists

0

1

As you can see in the table above, both wingers have shown that they can make an impact in the final third in the Champions League this term, which is why they should start out wide this evening.

This means that Rodgers should ditch Yang and keep Jota on the bench, moving Maeda back out wide, and that would free up the number nine position for Adam Idah to be unleashed.

Why Adam Idah could be the new Tony Watt

The Celtic boss must unleash the Ireland international from the start against Bayern tonight because he has proven, on several occasions, that he has the ability and the mentality to step up when Celtic need him.

Last season, Idah scored two goals, including a stoppage-time penalty, in a 2-1 win over Hibernian on his full debut for the club. Shortly after that, the Irishman came off the bench at 1-0 down away at Motherwell and scored two goals to turn the game around to put his side in front.

His most memorable moment from his loan spell, though, came when he scored the winning goal against Rangers in the SFA Cup final at Hampden Park.

Idah, who was once hailed as “incredible” by Rodgers, then signed for the Scottish giants on a permanent deal from Norwich City last summer, and the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January has finally made him the first-choice number nine for the Hoops.

Shortly after the Japanese forward’s departure, the 24-year-old marksman showcased both his quality and his mental fortitude in the 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Celtic may have gone on to lose the game but they still managed to claw themselves back to 2-2 after being 2-0 down after just five minutes away from home in the Champions League, thanks to a quickfire double from the ex-Canaries ace.

Idah has shown, time and again, over the past year or so that he can be a clutch player who scores important goals at important times for Celtic, just as Watt did in that famous win over Barcelona.

Therefore, Rodgers must unleash the 6 foot 3 centre-forward from the start in this game against Bayern tonight, as he could be a difference-maker at Parkhead.

Van Dijk 2.0: Celtic can strike gold with young gem who's dominant & pacey

Brendan Rodgers could unearth his own version of Virgil van Dijk in the young ace.

ByDan Emery Feb 11, 2025

Leeds have already made a final decision on Daniel Farke's future, with Premier League planning already underway for the Championship winners.

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Leeds have already clinched the Championship titleSet for Premier League returnChairman Paraag Marathe addresses Farke's futureFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite rumblings in recent weeks hinting that Farke's position could be in jeopardy, the club’s leadership has made it clear that he remains a central figure in their plans moving forward. The confirmation comes on the back of Leeds' triumphant return to the English top tier, following a commanding campaign that saw them finish as Championship winners.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Speaking to the press, club chairman Paraag Marathe offered an emphatic show of support for Farke.

“I want to tell you all I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel,” he said. “I’m really excited about collaborating with Daniel, with Robbie Evans, with Adam Underwood and, together, we are going to build the best squad we can with every penny we’re allowed to spend to compete in the Premier League.

“I’m under no illusions it’s going to be easy. I know all the stats. Last season’s three promoted clubs went right back down. Two years ago, three promoted clubs went right back down, but we have something they don’t.”

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Marathe hailed Farke's composed demeanour and firm self-belief even in tough times. Reflecting on a particularly tense moment in the promotion race, the chairman recalled Farke’s confident response to the media after a disappointing draw with Swansea City.

“When he told you all he was 100 per cent confident we’re going to the Premier League, after the draw against Swansea, he believed it and I love him for it," he said.

Although public support from the board had been lacking during the height of the speculation, Marathe also revealed that he had maintained regular contact with Farke behind closed doors.

"He has that conviction and belief. We continue to stay in touch all the time. I did tell him privately, I’m looking forward to moving forward together," he added. "I didn’t feel like it was my time to speak because someone wanted to put out a rumour or whatever. It wasn’t my place in time to speak at that point, but I did talk to him privately.”

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With Farke’s position secure, the focus at Elland Road now turns fully toward assembling a squad that can not only survive but thrive in the Premier League. Recruitment, planning, and strategic decisions are all underway as Leeds aim to avoid the fate of recent promoted sides who were quickly relegated. The club will also watch closely as the Championship Playoffs unfold, culminating in the final at Wembley on May 24, to learn who will join them in the top flight next season.

Captain Ervine says the team is still positive ahead of the clash against Netherlands, but a lot of things need to go right

Himanshu Agrawal01-Nov-20222:24

Moody: Zimbabwe will look to maintain momentum and popularity

Big pictureIt is not often that Zimbabwe stand a decent chance of qualifying for the semi-final of an ICC tournament. They were one win away from making the final four of the ICC Knockout – later renamed Champions Trophy – in 2000, but fell short against New Zealand; they made the Super Sixes in the 2003 World Cup, but fizzled out in the race to the last four.All these years later, a well-rated Zimbabwe unit led by an allrounder living a dream are two steps away from history. To begin, they will need to beat Netherlands, something they will surely fancy.Although they are still in contention, Zimbabwe need a collective performance to keep themselves afloat before the much-tougher challenge of India comes their way. Wessly Madhevere helped them rack up 79 in nine overs against South Africa but the rest of their batters hardly contributed, before the bowling was clubbed for 51 in three overs; but when they squeezed through a one-run win against Pakistan, it was their bowlers Sikandar Raza, Brad Evans, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava who helped defend a meagre 130; and come Bangladesh, only Sean Williams made a defining contribution as Zimbabwe fell short by just three runs in pursuit of 151.For Netherlands, four out of their six games so far in this World Cup – including the first round – saw tight finishes. They won two of those four matches, before India and Pakistan brushed them aside. But like their bowlers showed by dismissing four batters and making Pakistan work hard even in their chase of 92, Netherlands aren’t easy to push over.Although they are already out of the tournament after threatening to upset Bangladesh in their first game of the Super 12s, the Dutch have certainly left their mark. After all, Max O’Dowd is the World Cup’s fifth-highest run-scorer and Bas de Leede is its joint second-highest wicket-taker.Zimbabwe and Netherlands don’t meet often – they have played each other only seven times across formats so far – No. 8 will be on the biggest stage and both teams will be relishing it.Sean Williams is one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced players•Getty ImagesForm guideZimbabwe LWWLW (Last five completed matches; most recent first)
Netherlands LLLLWIn the spotlightZimbabwe will seek more consistency from their captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams, two of their most experienced members in the current set-up. They have fallen for a combined seven single-digit scores in 12 innings since landing in Australia, even as Zimbabwe hope they can deliver when it matters most. Both are in the twilight of their careers, and what better opportunity to ensure they walk away with sweet memories?Netherlands’ bowlers have conceded 160-plus only twice across six matches in this competition. The show has been led by Bas de Leede, who has nine wickets at 14.44, while Paul van Meekeren isn’t far behind with seven at 19.42 and an excellent economy of 5.66. De Leede will turn 23 in a few days’ time; van Meekeren will turn 30 next January but Netherlands will hope these two can serve them just the same way for the years to come.Team newsZimbabwe have used 13 players in the Super 12s stage, with tweaks only in their bowling line-up. They wouldn’t want to make too many changes to what looks like a settled unit, with the only decision being whom to leave out in case they decide to recall Luke Jongwe.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Wessly Madhevere, 2 Craig Ervine (capt), 3 Milton Shumba, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Regis Chakabva (wk), 7 Ryan Burl, 8 Tendai Chatara, 9 Brad Evans, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing MuzarabaniPaul van Meekeren has picked up seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.66 at the T20 World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesNetherlands have nothing to lose now, so might give opener Stephan Myburgh another go, considering this could be his farewell tournament. De Leede was substituted against Pakistan after being hit under his eye while batting and might miss out on WednesdayNetherlands (probable): 1 Vikramjit Singh, 2 Max O’Dowd, 3 Stephan Myburgh, 4 Tom Cooper, 5 Colin Ackermann, 6 Scott Edwards (capt, wk), 7 Roelof van der Merwe, 8 Tim Pringle, 9 Logan van Beek, 10 Fred Klaasen, 11 Paul van MeekerenPitch and conditionsIt was cold and windy in the build-up to the game in Adelaide, and it might still be cold on Wednesday with up to 2mm of rain also expected. However, the game is unlikely to be affected.Stats and trivia These two teams met at the highest level for the first time in the 2003 World Cup, where Bas de Leede’s father Tim was a part of the Netherlands’ side that lost to Zimbabwe. Side note: Bas’ cousin Babette also plays for the Netherlands women’s team. Sean Williams was in Zimbabwe’s squad for the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where they beat Australia, and were eliminated in the group stages only on net run rate. Sikandar Raza’s strike rate of 150.56 is the second-highest for batters with at least 600 runs in T20Is in 2022.Quotes”The real highlight for us would be to make the semis. I think that would really put the icing on the cake. The guys are still very positive that we’ll get there. We’ve just got to come into these last two games with a lot of energy.”
“The novelty [of making it to Super 12s] has kind of worn off now after the first three games. We haven’t put in a complete performance in these three games, and so the guys are determined to change that when it comes to these last two matches and walk away with at least one win, but hopefully two wins.”

New Zealand fast bowler will be available for ten rounds of red-ball competition

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2022Neil Wagner, the New Zealand left-arm fast bowler, has signed to play for Yorkshire in their first ten LV= Insurance Championship fixtures next season.Wagner, who has previously had county stints with Lancashire and Essex, will join ahead of the start of Yorkshire’s Division Two opener against Leicestershire on April 6. His deal runs until the end of July, when there will be a lengthy break in the Championship for the Hundred and One-Day Cup.”We are delighted to have confirmed the signing of Neil for the opening ten rounds of the Championship,” Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket, Darren Gough, said.”His record in first-class cricket is phenomenal, and the impact he has had on Test cricket playing for New Zealand has been huge. We are blessed to have some great bowlers to choose from within our ranks and believe that, with the addition of Neil, we have the bowlers to bowl any team out”.Wagner, 36, is New Zealand’s fifth-highest Test wicket-taker with 246 at 26.71. He has taken almost 800 wickets in his first-class career, and also has a Championship winner’s medal from the 2017 season with Essex.Wagner said: “I’ve always enjoyed playing my cricket in England and to be getting this opportunity again at such a big club like Yorkshire CCC is a great honour. I feel like I can offer a lot to the team with my experience, attitude and skill set, so I can’t wait to get going. I want to be a big part of helping move the team back up into Division One.”Yorkshire, who announced on Thursday that they have released Gary Ballance from his contract, have entered a rebuilding phase after being relegated on the final day of the 2022 season, with Steve Patterson, David Willey and Tom Kohler-Cadmore also among those to leave.Shan Masood, the Pakistan batter, will take on the captaincy next summer, while fast bowler Matt Milnes and allrounder Ben Mike have been recruited from Kent and Leicestershire respectively.

Manchester United's men and women's teams will wear different shirt sponsors in their as part of a special collaboration.

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Man Utd teams to wear one-off sponsors this weekendCollaboration aimed at promoting the fight against AIDSAmorim's men face West Ham as WSL side meet ArsenalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ruben Amorim's men and Marc Skinner's Women's Super League side will take to the field this weekend without the usual Snapdragon logo on the front of their shirts. Instead, both sides will have (RED) branded across the famous jerseys.

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The initiative is part of a collaboration with MatchWornShirt in an effort to show support for the fight against AIDS. After the matches, the limited edition jerseys will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to aid the battle against health injustice and to help fund life-saving programmes in vulnerable communities.

DID YOU KNOW?

The United women's team will be the first to wear the one-off shirts when they visit Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the WSL on Saturday. The following day, Bruno Fernandes and Co. will wear it at Old Trafford for their match against West Ham.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

While Amorim's side are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League and with an eye on the Europa League final, Skinner's team are desperate to three points as they look to overtake Arsenal into second place in the WSL.

Chelsea are prepared to seriously push for the potential signing of a defender who’s drawn comparisons with William Gallas, following their decision not to bring in a star new centre-back in the January transfer window.

Chelsea postpone defender signing after Trevoh Chalobah re-call

Enzo Maresca’s side were tipped to target a central defensive ace early on in the winter window, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano sharing news at the time that they were internally debating many options, including Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

Chelsea perform U-turn over signing prolific striker after £25m price drop

The Blues require a Nicolas Jackson alternative this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 21, 2025

However, a move for the Palace defender did not materialise, despite some reports that Chelsea had a low-ball offer for Guehi rejected. Instead, the Blues opted to activate the re-call clause in Trevoh Chalobah’s contract, with the Englishman bringing his temporary spell at Selhurst Park to an end.

Aston Villa (away)

February 22nd

Southampton (home)

February 25th

Leicester City (home)

March 9th

Arsenal (away)

March 16th

Tottenham (home)

April 2nd

Since returning to Chelsea, the previous Maresca outcast has started three of their last four Premier League games, even grabbing an assist in his first game back against Wolves, but BlueCo are also thinking of more long-term solutions.

Reports have suggested that Chelsea are pushing hard to sign Guehi this summer after deciding not to compete for the Englishman in January, and GiveMeSport journalist Dean Jones believes that they’re current favourites to land him, ahead of both Bayern Munich and Tottenham.

The 24-year-old isn’t their only defensive target, though, with Barcelona star Jules Kounde also on their shortlist.

The £216,000-per-week Frenchman can operate both centrally and as a full-back, meaning he could even step in for Reece James or Malo Gusto out wide if required.

This makes him an attractive proposition for Maresca, and there have been suggestions that Kounde and Barca boss Hansi Flick haven’t exactly been seeing eye-to-eye behind the scenes lately.

Now, reporter Graeme Bailey has shared an update on Chelsea’s interest.

Chelsea prepared to push the boat out to sign Jules Koundé

Speaking in an interview this week, Bailey claimed that Chelsea are willing to seriously pursue a move for Kounde if given encouragement, as it is stated that Maresca’s side are massive fans of the 26-year-old.

“Chelsea love Kounde,” said Bailey to the Chelsea Chronicle.

“Barca have had these issues with him and are confident he will sign a new deal. He’s one of the players Chelsea would push the boat out for, he’s a spectacular player.

“He’s such a brilliant fit, he’d be like the Gallas type player where he can play centrally, can play right. He would be brilliant for Chelsea.”

This season, Kounde has proved an indispensable member of Flick’s matchday eleven – making 24 La Liga appearances and averaging more tackles per 90 than any other Catalans mainstay (WhoScored).

Batter has been cleared by the BCCI’s medical team after undergoing rehab at the NCA

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2023Shreyas Iyer will join India’s squad for the second Test against Australia in Delhi, having been passed fit by the BCCI’s medical team. The middle-order batter had been sidelined from the first Test in Nagpur because of a back injury that had also ruled him out of the home ODI series against New Zealand last month. Iyer subsequently underwent rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.After playing the two-Test series in Bangladesh in December, Iyer had a swelling in his lower back for which he was given an injection at the NCA. He was originally expected to travel from Bengaluru to Nagpur and join the India squad for their preparatory camp for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on February 2. However, his rehab was extended and in his absence, Suryakumar Yadav made his Test debut in Nagpur, scoring eight in India’s innings victory.Related

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In Delhi, Iyer could potentially slot back into the XI ahead of the other contenders Suryakumar and Shubman Gill. Iyer has played seven Tests so far, scoring 624 runs at an average of 56.72 and strike rate of 65.13. He is particularly strong against spin, which makes him a key batter for India on turning tracks. Iyer is also one among four Indian batters to average above 50 in Asia since the start of 2021.The second Test will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from February 17.India squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav.

Everton may finally be looking forward after a strong run of results under David Moyes, but the Scot will know he has plenty of work to do between now and the summer transfer window.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's uncertain Everton future

Due to injury, Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has vanished into the background since the early moments of David Moyes’ return to Goodison Park. The future couldn’t be more uncertain for the England international with three months left to run on his contract.

Finding himself among the Toffees’ top earners on £100,000 per week, the Sheffield-born man has contributed three goals in 22 appearances this campaign. While he offers a reference point in attack, there is an argument to say that now may be the time for all parties to go their seperate ways.

Over the last year, Calvert-Lewin has snubbed several offers to extend his Everton contract. His fitness problems have allowed Beto to take the mantle as the main centre-forward, registering five goals in his last five Premier League outings.

Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti have barely featured under Moyes or Dyche, spending prolonged spells on the sidelines that have left the Blues short of offensive firepower. Reading between the lines, they simply have to address the striker position during the summer window.

Everton’s strikers in 2024/25

Beto

6 goals in 19 appearances

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

3 goals in 22 appearances

Youssef Chermiti

N/A

Armando Broja

No goals in 6 appearances

Calvert-Lewin may be the one to make way given his high wages. However, his presence in attack will be difficult to replace, given the fact he is only 11 strikes behind Romelu Lukaku’s return of 68 goals during the Premier League era.

Looking to the future, Everton are now readying an enquiry about the availability of a top-flight star who is revered among supporters at Goodison Park.

Everton ready enquiry for Tottenham star Richarlison

According to GIVEMESPORT, Everton are set to enquire about the possibility of a sensational reunion with Richarlison this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur said to be looking for a fee of £40 million to sanction the Brazil international’s departure.

Despite arriving in North London for £60 million in 2022, Spurs are prepared to take a hit to get him off the books as he enters the final two years of his deal, leading to The Friedkin Group preparing an approach.

Everton have a "monster" who could be Moyes' new Rooney & it's not Beto

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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 6, 2025

Moyes is unlikely to wait around and wants to ascertain whether it would be possible to come to an agreement early in the summer transfer window. If not, the Scot will swiftly move on to alternative targets.

Richarlison has become a peripheral figure at Tottenham this campaign, notching three goals in 14 matches. Consistent niggles have prevented the 27-year-old from having a greater impact under Ange Postecoglou, though his scoring frequency in the Premier League this term stands at every 143 minutes.

While the former Watford star’s love for Everton is universally known, it remains to be seen whether Moyes will be given the financial backing to complete a statement deal once his side bed into their new home at Bramley Moore Dock.