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Had Liverpool failed to recover a semblance of top form heading into 2026, Arne Slot would only have a tenuous grasp on his position in the dugout.

But the Reds are now seven games undefeated, intent on putting the wretched results across the first half of this campaign behind them.

There’s no question that Liverpool are still wanting in regard to performance levels, though, with a lack of fluency and sparkle in the middle of the park leading to some nerve-wracking finishes in recent weeks.

Much has been made of Liverpool’s interest in centre-back Marc Guehi and wide forward Antoine Semenyo, but landing a midfielder in 2026 could prove every bit as important.

Liverpool could sign a midfielder in January

The 2025 January transfer window was a busy one for the Premier League, and it’s bound to be more of the same next month.

With Semenyo ostensibly headed for Manchester City and Guehi available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, this might be the right time to add a dimension to the engine room.

And according to reports from December, Liverpool have shown an interest in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler this month, and could now be buoyed by some interesting new information.

Indeed, Spanish sources have now revealed that Rodrygo’s return to form and the abiding presence of Jude Bellingham could see the Turkish talent, 20, sold next year.

Guler is a versatile and gifted player, capable out wide and, more recently, in the centre.

Los Blancos are warming to the prospect of his departure, but told Manchester City back in October that they would have to stump up around £130m. Liverpool will not pay such a sum.

How Guler would improve Liverpool's midfield

Guler’s career has been spent across a range of positions. This is not uncommon for a young star with many technical gifts, but it’s curious to note that he has drifted into a midfield berth under Xabi Alonso, hitherto recognised as a crafty right winger.

Arda Guler’s Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals + Assists

Attacking midfield

73

15 + 14

Right wing

62

15 + 19

Central midfield

22

4 + 6

Centre-forward

4

4 + 3

Left wing

4

0 + 1

Data via Transfermarkt

Real Madrid are bobbing up and down this year, and while Guler’s future may lie elsewhere, he has still given a fine account of himself, actually called the “best CM/AM prospect in world football right now” by journalist Neal Gardner.

Across all competitions this season, Turkey’s new superstar has scored three goals and provided seven assists. He has started 15 times in La Liga, completing 91% of his passes, creating 2.2 chances per game and winning 55% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Guler has already tussled against Mac Allister, and though he’s come out on the losing side at Anfield, the Turkish talent might just have the quality to replace Liverpool’s Argentine star.

It is sad to write these words. Mac Allister is a tremendous player, instrumental in all the success of recent years at Liverpool. But there’s no denying his decline this season, lacking his trademark energy and sharpness and completeness.

Given Dominik Szoboszlai’s emphatic form, Liverpool’s potential bid for an elite midfielder would have to come at someone’s expense, and Mac Allister might just be that person, so far removed from his title-winning level of last year.

Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insights Get the full picture on Liverpool’s midfield plans, subscribe to our newsletter for expert transfer analysis, deep dives into targets like Arda Guler, and how potential moves could reshape the squad.

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One Reds-focused content creator has even gone as far as to say that the 27-year-old “looks like Fabinho in his final year”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.

Real Madrid have overpackaged their attacking ranks, and Guler may get lost in the river of players who are all competing to nail down a starting berth at the world’s pre-eminent superpower.

It bears testament to Guler’s quality that he is only 20 and has played much football for Florentino Perez’s outfit. At Liverpool, he would find the love and adoration needed to realise his potential, though there’s a good chance any deal for him would come at Mac Allister’s expense.

Related Liverpool could sign a bigger talent than Semenyo in "world-class" £70m ace

Liverpool are weighing up a move for a belated Luis Diaz successor in 2026.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Ramon Sealy was named the player of the tournament © ICC

Bermuda Under-19s recorded a narrow 13-run win over Canada and, in doing so, have qualified for next year’s U-19 World Cup. Bermuda set Canada 195 to win from their 50 overs but they slipped to 181 for 9, with Malachi Jones picking up 3 for 37.After being asked to bat on a bright sunny day in Toronto, Bermuda got off to a solid start before Kevin James (3 for 23) and Arsalan Qadir (3 for 24) began to make inroads. From 35 without loss, Bermuda slumped to 57 for 4, and it was a fifth-wicket partnership of 46 between Khiry Furbert, the wicketkeeper, and Malachi Jones (33 from 49) which began their recovery.The real rescue hero though was Stefan Kelly, the allrounder, who ended unbeaten on 52 from 55, adding a crucial 79 for the seventh wicket with Furbert. With Canada boasting a powerful batting lineup, 195 was most gettable. Ruvindu Gunasekera began in sublime fashion with 31 off 42 balls, including five fours, and he was given good support by Chris Manohar (40 off 70), with whom he put on 55 in 13 overs.It was lucky 13 for Bermuda, as the partnership was broken in that over, and the combination of off Tamauri Tucker (2 for 17) and Jones (3 for 37), saw Canada stumble to 90 for 5, and suddenly Bermuda looked to be in control.Rustum Bhatti threatened to take the game away from Bermuda but he was left stranded on 64 to spark Bermudan celebrations.********The other match at the Maple Leaf South-West ground was another close affair as Cayman Islands Under-19s secured a narrow two-wicket win against Bahamas Under-19s.Chasing 213, Cayman Islands were coasting to victory with captain Ramon Sealy leading the chase with 66 off 77 balls, an innings which included 11 boundaries. However, they lost their way, losing four quick wickets for 15 runs and the score read 152 for 5. Robert Hewitt held the chase together with an unbeaten 25 and in the company of Corey Cato, the ninth wicket pair added 28 to attain the target. They had Mr Extras to thank as well as Bahamas conceded a whopping 42, including 31 wides.Earlier, Sealy won the toss and sent Bahamas in to bat and the openers responded with a stand of 66, with Jonathan Barry scoring 58. Jerry Jesubatham and captain Gregory Taylor then chipped in with 41 and 30 respectively to push the score to 212. Cayman Islands too struggled to contain the extras as the bowlers sent down 26 wides, conceding 38 extras in all.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Bermuda U19s	4	4	0	0	0	8	+2.723	986/180.4	547/200.0
Canada Under-19s	4	3	1	0	0	6	+4.210	750/119.2	415/200.0
Cayman U19s	4	2	2	0	0	4	-0.682	584/163.4	583/137.1
Arg U19s	4	1	3	0	0	2	-2.626	400/173.2	634/128.3
Bahamas U19s	4	0	4	0	0	0	-3.584	510/200.0	1051/171.2

Gibbs: ‘Sir Clyde and I go a long way back. He was the best man at my wedding. He completely destroyed the myth that great cricketers can’t be great administrators’ © Getty Images

Garfield Sobers, Everton Weekes and Brian Lara led a list of outstanding past and present Test players who paid their final respects to Clyde Walcott on Saturday. Walcott was one of the most famous and revered West Indian cricketers, and several of those he played with, managed, and gave advice to, attended the funeral service at St Mary’s Church.Sir Clifford Husbands, the governor general, and Owen Arthur, the prime minister, topped the dignitaries who also included cabinet ministers Anthony Wood and Jerome Walcott. The congregation also included knights, Sir Richard Cheltenham, Sir Douglas Lynch, Sir Carlyle Burton, and prominent businessmen Geoffrey Cave, David Bynoe, and David Deane.Predictably, though, cricketers, some of them carrying bats, and administrators took centre-stage and formed their own team. These included Desmond Haynes, Robin Bynoe, Cammie Smith, Wes Hall, Joel Garner, Wayne Daniel, Richard Prof Edwards, Seymour Nurse, Stephen Camacho, Peter Lashley, Rawle Brancker, Lance Gibbs and David Holford were all present. Captain Peter Short and Owen Estwick were on hand to ensure that the administration was in order.Walcott managed Barbados youth teams in the 1970s and the two high-scoring schoolboys of that period, Winslow Ashby and Ricky Craig, were in attendance along with Emmerson Trotman, who is wrapping up a three-week holiday here.Gibbs, the first spin bowler to take 300 Test wickets, said no praise could be too high for Walcott. “Sir Clyde and I go a long way back. He was the best man at my wedding. He completely destroyed the myth that great cricketers can’t be great administrators,” said Gibbs. “Jeff Stollmeyer, Allan Rae and Wes Hall have also proven that. I personally think that most of our top cricketers should be associated with the board, so that we would be able in inculcate some of the habits of the great players.”Gibbs noted that outside of the former Test players, the attendance was disappointing. “If something of this nature had happened in India, England, or Australia, if one of their top men had passed away, all of the young players would have been there. West Indians are not very supportive. I thought I would have seen more of the young cricketers because I am sure that Sir Clyde at Spartan must have passed on knowledge to some of the fellas. It was mostly former West Indies players in attendance.””For example, autograph seekers are always around in England, Australia, and on the subcontinent. They stay outside of your room for days just to get an autograph. You don’t see that happening in the Caribbean. People tend to forget you in the Caribbean when you have finished playing.”Walcott, who passed away last week at the age of 80, played 44 Tests and scored 15 centuries, a record five in a single series against Australia in the 1955 home series.

Troy Cooley has kept a watchful eye on James Anderson during his summer with Lancashire © Getty Images

Troy Cooley, the England bowling coach, believes James Anderson can play an important part on the winter tour of Pakistan, after rediscovering his form during a season of county action. Anderson was called up to the squad for the final Test against Australia and Cooley says the time away from the international scene has helped him.He told the Press Association: “Watching Jimmy perform this year has been fantastic. He’s gone back and basically done everything England and Duncan [Fletcher] have asked of him – and that’s to become a complete bowler.”Anderson claimed 60 wickets for Lancashire in the County Championship, following a dispiriting tour of South Africa last winter, as his performances suffered from a lack of regular cricket. His rapid move into the England team during the 2002-03 tour of Australia and the World Cup meant that this was his first full season for Lancashire.He followed his stunning start to one-day cricket with a five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe on Test debut. With England’s attack suffering from injuries he rapidly became the leader, but his form began to tail off during the 2003 summer. Then on the following winter tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies he lost his place and became a bit-part player in the Test team.But with Simon Jones currently rated as only 50-50 to recover from his ankle injury in time for the Pakistan tour, Cooley says that Anderson is ready to step back up to the side.”He’s taken 60 wickets and watching him at the Oval, you just saw something different,” he said. “He’s come back a better bowler and if people like Simon don’t make it he will be ready to take the challenge. He’s been on this stage before, he likes the stage so there is a little support there if one of the others don’t make it.”However, Cooley is still confident that Jones can play a part in Pakistan, where the reverse-swing that was developed over the summer will be a key weapon for England. “The doctors are working hard to help him now and let’s hope he’s fit and raring to go because he’ll suit those conditions nicely.””He’s not started bowling again yet. He’s being earmarked to bowl again in a week or so and hopefully he’ll be alright for that – it’s one step at a time for him.”Meanwhile, there are also growing concerns about the fitness of Chris Tremlett, the Hampshire fast bowler, who has ongoing knee problems. Tremlett has had three painkilling injections since May and did not appear happy towards the end of the season. He is currently visiting a specialist in Stoke to try and cure the problem before the tour departs.Tim Tremlett, his father and Hampshire’s director of cricket, says now is the best time to get it sorted: “He’s had the problem since May but now there is time to work properly in the gym to strengthen it. Our physio has been in touch with the ECB doctor, who knows what’s going on.”

SK Nair, the secretary of the BCCI, feels that too much is being made about the whole issue and that problems regarding iteneraries are nothing new© AFP

While Gerald Majola, chief executive of the South African board, may have revealed his confusion over South Africa’s tour itinerary of India, the Indian board (BCCI) has shown a much more relaxed attitude.Speaking exclusively to Wisden Cricinfo earlier today, SK Nair, the secretary of the BCCI, said that too much was being made of this issue, and that confusion over itineraries was not a new phenomenon. “There are always certain commitments that come in between,” said Nair. “This year we had the Pakistan tour that wasn’t initially part of the itinerary but finalised later, since the government permitted the tour to go ahead.”South Africa are scheduled to arrive in November and we are still in the month of June. There is still four to five months left and we have to decide the number of matches and the venues where they will be played. All this is part of a process which will involve negotiations between the boards.”He added, “It is a problem between the two boards, and this is something that usually happens while finalising a tour itinerary. The negotiations will happen soon and the final decision will be arrived at in about a week or so.”Nair also pointed out that there was no fixed time-frame for these decisions to be taken and made it very clear that the BCCI had no intention of rushing into any decision. Nair, though, wasn’t willing to comment on the possibility of the series being called off and only said, “Our president [Jagmohan Dalmiya] will be talking to the South African board president in the next few days and after that we will get a clearer picture.”There has also been widespread speculation about the BCCI wanting to get the South Africa series over quickly, with two back-to-back Test matches in order to squeeze in a short series against Pakistan, likely to include three one-dayers. But Nair was categorical in his denial, and said, “This is not related to the series against Pakistan. This is a regular series and that is something entirely different.”Yet, however cool an exterior the BCCI may portray, it is difficult to ignore the reports in the South African media regarding the whole issue. Colin Bryden, wrote in the Sunday Times, that the South African board is irked by the fact that, “The Indians appear to have pushed the tour low down on their list of priorities, even though the November date has been on the ICC Test calendar since a ten-year plan was approved by all participating countries three years ago.”Mark Smit of the Business Day was even more scathing, and wrote, “Clearly, the first prize for the Indians is the Australian tour. Everything else is ‘small potatoes’ as far as they are concerned … it is hardly surprising that the Indians are trying everything in the book to get their subcontinental rivals to their country. It’s all about money, money, money.”But Nair wasn’t prepared to react to these comments and just said, “We are not really bothered about what the media has to say. Unless we get anything in writing from the South African board, we are not willing to react to the media reports. As far as we are concerned, we are still negotiating.”

GOLD BOND
SUPER DRAWWeek 15 – 11/04/03

£2000 JackpotG.4388 I Pearson£500 C.4060 J Truscott£200 LL4546 Mrs Bowen£200 S.2898 R Stubbington£100 AC5821 Mrs Ward£100 C.1600 Mrs Carr£100 S.3107 P Kerr£100 AC6580 C Wright£100 BB0617 S Poole£100 V.0421 Mrs Smith£100 AN3409 W Soames£50 K.4354 C Armitage£50 HH6939 J Taylor£50 W.5613 M Napper£50 G.0951 A Burtbriggs£50 X.2425 S Morris£50 V.3915 R Wilkes£50 GG2306 K Atkinson

Powerhouses Piton Dover and the relative unknowns MTW will clash inthe final of the Barbados Fire & Commercial Shield cricket competitionnext week.The two sides booked their final date with hard-fought wins in thesemifinals, yesterday. Dover, the kings of lower division cricket,worked hard for a four-wicket victory over Combermere School, making144 for six after the original target of 175 was reduced due to rain.MTW, at home, reached their first final by restricting Central to 197to win by 12 runs.At Waterford: Experience got the better of youth as Dover’s middleorder chose the right ball and the right moments to launch theirattack.Man-Of-The-Match Jerry Kirton blasted three sixes in the space of fiveballs just when it was needed. Kirton’s 28 off 16 balls came with hisside still needing 52 runs off eight overs. Together with Wilbur Bruce(50 two fours and two sixes off 79 balls), he added 45 in six decisiveovers to which the students had no answer.This festival of power hitting came after rain had forced the umpiresto reduced the target from 175 in 40 overs to 144 in 33 overs. At thebreak the score was 76 for three in 22 overs with the game truly inthe balance.I’m an attacking player and I knew I had to be positive in order forus to win the game, said Kirton, who like Bruce is a former CarltonFirst Division captain.From the time I left the pavilion I was planning to attack. We arefull of confidence but not over-confident. Any team (MTW) which makesthe final must be good. We won’t be taking them lightly in the final.Kirton paid Combermere the ultimate compliment, saying they were thebest school side he had ever played against. The level of fitness, thebatting and the bowling was very good. They really made us fight, andfight hard.Kirton also starred with the ball, snatching four for 23 as theschoolboys lost their way at the end, losing the last five wickets for18 runs after Calvin Watson (49) and Rohan Nurse (34) both battedattractively.Maybe the boys could write this one down to experience.At Pine Basin: Cheers and shouts greeted MTW’s victory over theseasoned Central.Fortunes fluctuated all day and the margin of victory said it all. MTWhad to battle back from a difficult start but took control after thevisitors bowlers’ rocked them at the start.Led by their captain and Man-Of-The-Match Geoffrey Padmore with aflamboyant half century, they transformed a position of uncertainty toone of comfort.Padmore belted out seven fours and two sixes in a entertaining knockof 73 which took his team from 70 for five to a respectable total of212.Padmore enjoyed two good partnerships;the first was a seventh-wicketstand with Peter Blackman worth 69 and an eighth-wicket stand withWinston Gittens for 59 runs.The tail rallied around their captain until he was last out.Central started positively posting 50 in six overs with in-formopening batsman David Forde striking four sixes in a quickfire knockof 37.However, the introduction of left-arm spinner David Payne saw theinnings quickly slumping to 112 for six, before Arglye Catwell, with42, brought some glimmer of hope back to the Vaucluse men, but with 19needed in the last over, he only managed four before he was stumped bykeeper Peter Blackman.

Sussex have again questioned the viability of cricket festivals at Horsham and Arundel, suggesting that at least one of them could be dropped next season unless there are more indications of commercial and community interest.Most at risk over recent seasons has been Horsham, which looked under threat two years ago before a late influx of sponsorship gave it a stay of execution.Festivals have been in gradual decline for decades as counties have invested heavily in their main grounds, commercial support has wavered and players, the media and some spectators have come to expect better facilities.Zac Toumazi, Sussex’s chief executive, has told BBC Sussex about Sussex’s cricket festivals: “We all love it and all want it but very few want to pay for it. I am a massive supporter of it but the economics have to be considered.”Sussex’s chairman Jim May sounded even more pessimistic. “Our takings at Horsham and Arundel were considerably down last year on the prior year – gate money by over 30% while hospitality wasn’t good at all. It is the old cliché: ‘use it or lose it’. Unless we get significant sponsorship I find it highly likely we will only be playing at one festival ground in 2016.”Only part of that decline could be put down to a disappointing Sussex season that ended in relegation in the Championship, especially as crowds at Hove actually rose on the previous year.Horsham CC is one of oldest cricket clubs in the world. The first recorded game for a side based around the town was in 1771, the club dates back to 1806 and has been at its current ground at Cricketfield Road since 1851.”I’ve been clear I would like the festivals to continue,” Toumazi said. “We look at the model all of the time but I can’t guarantee what the outcome will be.”

Gloucestershire have signed Andrew Tye, one of the outstanding performers in the Big Bash League, as their second overseas player for the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast.Tye, a 29-year-old fast bowler and a team mate at Perth Scorchers of Gloucestershire’s profolic batsman Michael Klinger, was a key part of their victorious Big Bash League campaign in 2015.He took 14 wickets at an average of 18.3 and a strike rate of 16, prompting Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch to describe him as the “find of the tournament” on Twitter.Tye said: “I am delighted to have signed for Gloucestershire for the NatWest T20 Blast. I have heard great things about the club from many sources, including my Perth Scorchers team mate, Michael Klinger.”A specialist death bowler and clean-hitting lower order batsman, Tye’s form in 2014/15 saw him secure an IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings.Despite hailing from Perth, Tye will be no stranger to English conditions, having played Second XI cricket for Somerset, Durham and Northants.He will be available for the duration of Gloucestershire’s NatWest Blast which kicks off under floodlights against Sussex Sharks in Bristol on May 20.Gloucestershire’s head coach Richard Dawson said: “I saw him last year in the Big Bash where he was very impressive in helping Perth Scorchers win the competition. We are looking to make improvements in T20 cricket this year and get through the group stages. Andrew will help us achieve that. He is a highly-skilled bowler who will significantly add to our T20 cricket.”A late bloomer, Tye only made his professional debut in 2013 at the age of 26, but he has gone on to cement his place in the team in all three formats of the game.

Kapil Dev has dared the BCCI to sack him from his position as chairman of the National Cricket Academy © AFP

Kapil Dev has challenged the Indian board (BCCI) to remove him from his position as chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for associating with the Indian Cricket League (ICL). The ICL was launched by the Essel Group a few months ago and intends to organise a Twenty20 tournament in October.Kapil, who joined the ICL’s executive board as its chairman and was sent a letter from the BCCI on the issue, told an Indian news channel, “I have already sent my reply to them. They can remove me from the NCA if they want to.”They only wanted me to contribute to the game of cricket, and when I am doing so they cannot challenge me. If I can do something for the game and the young cricketers through the Indian Cricket League, I will not budge.”Kapil also reacted to the BCCI decision concerning pensions for players joining ICL. “I did not go to them asking for pension, and if they want to stop it, what can I do? Let them stop it.”Kapil, India’s only World Cup-winning captain, didn’t know what made the BCCI see a potential rival in the ICL.”Why do they see ICL as a parallel or rebel body? The BCCI is trying to promote the game in India and if somebody else is pumping in more money why is it a problem with them?”This league can help the BCCI only. This can help Indian cricket and shape so many careers. What is BCCI’s problem?”Speaking to the same channel, Niranjan Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, made it clear that players like Kapil would have to make a choice. “We have decided not to recognise ICL in our Working Committee meeting as no state association was in its favour. We don’t want to promote anybody who wants to be a parallel body. We have a policy and there will not be any re-think on this.”Kiran More, another former player to join the ICL, had resigned from his post as secretary of the Baroda Cricket Association.