Joshua Kimmich's contract at Bayern Munich is set to run out next summer and the German has revealed when he will make a decision on his future.
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Kimmich's Bayern Munich contract up in 2025Barcelona and Man City interested in midfielderWants to decide future before next summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Kimmich has been a major target for Barcelona over the last few seasons as the Catalan side have struggled to replace Sergio Busquets in midfield. However, the La Liga side have not been able to sign the German due to Bayern Munich's asking price. With Kimmich's contract set to run out in the summer of 2025, Barcelona have been hoping to sign the 29-year-old as a free agent, while Manchester City have also joined the race for Kimmich.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Kimmich has not revealed whether a contract proposal has been put in by Bayern Munich, however, talks have been ongoing between the German side and the 29-year-old's entourage. The German international has now revealed that he knows when he wants his future decided as he wants clarity on the situation.
WHAT KIMMICH SAID
Speaking to ZDF SportStudio, Kimmich said: "I will not wait until summer. I will sit down in winter and then try to see the bigger picture. And make the right decision."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KIMMICH?
The German international will want to focus on the current season for the time being as the Bavarians look to recapture the Bundesliga title from Bayer Leverkusen. Currently top of the pile, Vincent Kompany's side face Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday evening.
Aston Villa will embark on an exciting adventure when they return to the Champions League next season. It will be their first time playing amongst Europe’s elite since the competition rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. In fact, they haven’t played in the Champions League since 1982/83, having won the whole thing the season before, in 1981/82.
Villa’s pathway to qualification for the Champions League last season saw them finish fourth in the Premier League, two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur who occupied fifth and therefore the Europa League spot. In total, the Villans ended the campaign with 68 points.
Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa
However, according to Understat’s expected points tally, they hugely exceeded their expectations. In reality, instead of their 68 points, Unai Emery’s side should have got 55.43xPTS, which would have placed them seventh in the top flight instead. However, their overachievement shows just how impressive the Midlands side performed last season.
Indeed, with their Champions League adventure awaiting them next term, the Villans will need to add players to their squad who can enhance their chances of a good performance in the competition. In fact, they have recently been linked with one player who could bring plenty of European experience to their squad.
Aston Villa target Premier League striker
The player in question here is Chelsea and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku. Since returning to Stamford Bridge for £97.5m in 2021, the all-time record goalscorer for Belgium has become something of an outcast in Blue, and could now permanently leave this summer after several loan spells.
According to a report from Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, the Villans are ‘pressing hard on the Belgian striker’, and could launch a bid and leave other suitors in the dust as they look to beat competition to his signature.
Indeed, the other side showing the strongest interest in Lukaku this summer is Italian giants Napoli. However, for Gli Azzurri to do a deal this summer, Victor Osimhen must depart the club. The Nigerian striker was linked with Chelsea, but a deal to Stamford Bridge may now be off after they are set to sign Samu Omorodion from Atleti.
Should Villa nip in front of Napoli in the queue to sign Lukaku this summer, they will have to fork out a fee of £30m, assuming Chelsea ask for the same price the 2022/23 Scudetto winners were charged for the Belgian.
Why Lukaku would be a good signing
It has certainly been an interesting few years for Lukaku, who put up some impressive numbers for his second club in Italy, AS Roma. The 31-year-old Belgian scored 21 goals and grabbed four assists in 47 games in all competitions last term. He grabbed 13 goals and three assists in 32 top-flight games in Italy, as well as seven goals and an assist in 13 Europa League games.
One thing that Lukaku can bring to Villa next season if he joins the club that could be crucial is experience and goals in the Champions League. He is vastly experienced in the biggest club competition in Europe and boasts an impressive record.
Season
Club
Games
Minutes
Goals
Assists
2017/18
Man United
8
704
5
N/A
2018/19
Man United
9
546
2
1
2019/20
Inter
5
405
2
2
2020/21
Inter
5
446
4
N/A
2021/22
Chelsea
6
320
2
1
2022/23
Inter
8
177
3
1
The 31-year-old’s excellent goalscoring record amongst Europe’s elite is better than some legends of the game. Italian icon Francesco Totti has only scored 17 goals in the Champions League, and legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo boasts just 14 goals in 40 games.
Having played in a Champions League final, albeit ending up on the losing side, the former Inter striker could bring plenty of experience to a Villa side taking an unknown step into arguably club football's biggest competition.
Not only will he bring goals and experience in the Champions League, but the signing of the Chelsea man would mean he is the first Belgian striker to play for the club since Christian Benteke between 2012 and 2015.
The Belgian, who, like Lukaku, is something of a journeyman himself, was superb for the Villans during his time at the club. He played 101 games, getting himself on the scoresheet 49 times as well as grabbing 12 assists, before getting a big £32.5m move to Liverpool.
Benteke was a talisman for Villa, and the signing of Lukaku would certainly have shades of that prior deal, given he has an exceptional goalscoring record and could become a cult hero at Villa Park if he manages to find his best form.
One of the only stumbling blocks for a deal to sign Lukaku for Villa this summer could be his wages. The 31-year-old is currently earning an eye-watering £325k per week at Stamford Bridge according to Capology, which would see him be the highest earner at Villa Park by some distance.
The highest-paid players in Claret and Blue currently are Boubacar Kamara and his Belgium teammate Youri Tielemans, who both earn £150k per week. The Chelsea striker currently earns £175k per week more than those, and even if he accepted a wage reduction, it could be hard to negotiate a weekly wage in line with Villa’s current wage structure.
Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley once described Lukaku as an “absolute phenomenon”, and if he can rediscover his best form, such as what he showed at Everton or during his first spell at Inter, Villa could have one of the best strikers in the Premier League on their hands.
Inter Milan's former loan striker Romelu Lukaku.
There is no doubting Lukaku’s quality, and if he gets on a goalscoring run, Emery’s side could find themselves progressing through the Champions League thanks to one of the most exciting strikers of his generation.
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Perth Scorchers opener Jason Roy is in severe doubt to take his place in Saturday night’s BBL final against the Sydney Sixers with him needing to pass a final-minute fitness test prior to the toss.Roy was withdrawn from the Challenger against Brisbane Heat on Thursday night after injuring his ankle at training during the week when he went over on it during a warm-up game at training in unusual circumstances.Cameron Bancroft replaced him at the top of the order and made an unbeaten half-century in a rollicking 114-run opening stand with Liam Livingstone which set-up the Scorchers’ comfortable win.Scorchers captain Ashton Turner said Roy has barely tested the ankle since the injury and would need to do so before being declared fit to play.”He hasn’t been put through many physical tasks,” Turner said. “I think the call was made pretty early that he’d miss the last game. I know he’ll do a fitness test before the game tomorrow and I think he’s waiting as eagerly as I am to see how much he can move and what his restrictions are. On the back of not being able to really test it, I don’t think anyone has a great idea of the chances of him playing.Related
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“It was pretty innocuous. I wish it was on film because he would have looked like a bit of a clown. He was changing direction with no balls around him, no other people around him and he just went over on his ankle. It was one of those, sort of, freak incidents.”At the time no one really knew what was happening. It’s unfortunate for him. He’s been such an important part of our team and like most superstars of international cricket they love playing in big games and they pride themselves on their performances in big games. I know he was shattered to not be able to take his place in the XI.”Turner said it was a luxury to be able to bring in Bancroft at short notice and have him perform like he did, considering he had batted just five times in the tournament prior to the Challenger and had not opened in a T20 game for more than two seasons.”It’s a nice position to be in for me where I’m not too stressed either way,” Turner said. “We’d love to have [Jason] come back. He’s been brilliant for us in this tournament. But should he not pull up and be able to take his place in the XI, to have Cam Bancroft, who has shown over a number of years that he’s capable of playing match-winning innings as he did last night., we’re very fortunate to be in that position.”The Scorchers and Sixers will meet for the fourth time in a BBL final and the fourth time this season. The two teams have developed a healthy rivalry in the 10 editions of the tournament.The ending to the Qualifier in Canberra last Saturday, where Andrew Tye bowled a wide which denied James Vince the chance at a century, has the potential to add extra spice to the final but Turner was not convinced.”I’ll say yes so you can write about and create some more hype and gets some more eyeballs on the articles,” Turner said. “I think that there are so many different factors that come into creating tension in a game. There’s probably no more motivation than being able to lift a trophy to incentivise playing well.”I said this on the night of that game that anyone who knows AJ Tye knows that he plays the game in the best spirit. That was an unfortunate end to the game and I said on that night I hope it didn’t take away or detract from how well James Vince played. He was brilliant that night and that being said, to watch AJ bowl last night, he was back to his best.”It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Scorchers after starting the season without a win in their first four games. There was some pressure on coach Adam Voges after the winless start but Turner believes his calming influence has played a big part in their turnaround in form.”We knew it was a long season, 14 games, and we knew we were too good a team to keep losing,” Turner said. “Our fortunes were going to turn eventually and thankfully for our coach’s sake, we were able to take some of the heat off him. He’s been brilliant throughout the tournament.:The consistency from when we’re losing to when we’re winning, the preparation has remained the same. Vogesy has been so level-headed throughout a long tournament that we feel as players we’ve been able to pay him respect by winning games and hopefully we can give a trophy to lift tomorrow night.”
Having already made five summer signings, Monchi is certainly not holding back as Aston Villa get ready to take on Europe’s elite in the Champions League next season.
Improving the first team squad this summer will give Unai Emery the perfect chance to take the club to the next level in Europe while allowing them to maintain a spot in the top four of the Premier League table during the 2024/25 campaign.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
It will be a difficult task, but if the Spaniard can recruit well across the remainder of the transfer window, then is possible for the club to continue their upward trajectory.
Could the Midlands side turn towards the Championship for their next potential signing? There is a current second-tier sensation who has been earmarked for a move to Villa this summer…
Aston Villa eye Championship superstar
According to Football Insider last week, Villa could be 'tempted' into making a bid for Leeds United starlet Crysencio Summerville after his displays in the second tier have caught the eye.
The Yorkshire side have placed a staggering £40m price tag on their prized asset in order to sell him this summer, which could fend off interest by several teams.
Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Brighton are also keen admirers of the winger, while Paris Saint-Germain could make a move for the Dutchman as they seek a replacement for Kylian Mbappé.
Having lost the playoff final last season, Summerville may wish to make a return to the Premier League rather than spend another season in the Championship. This could give Emery a solid chance of securing his signature, especially considering they are in the Champions League too.
Lewis Dobbin
Everton
Ross Barkley
Luton Town
Ian Maatsen
Chelsea
Samuel Iling-Junior
Juventus
Enzo Barrenechea
Juventus
Could he even be a better option to call upon than Moussa Diaby? The former Bayer Leverkusen gem struggled for consistent game time last season after his club-record-breaking move in the summer.
Moussa Diaby’s season in numbers
The Frenchman was one of the most interesting transfer stories from the 2023 summer transfer window. Diaby cost Villa £51.9m from Leverkusen as Emery delivered a massive statement of intent as to where he wanted the club to be at the of the season.
Having registered 97 goal contributions across just 172 games for the German side, the transfer was looked upon as one of the most impressive pieces of business conducted by a Premier League side last year.
Unfortunately, despite showing glimpses of his talents, Diaby was rather hit or miss with his form, scoring ten goals while grabbing nine assists in all competitions.
Among his teammates, Diaby ranked fourth for shots per game (1.4) in the top flight, along with ranking second for big chances missed (7), fourth for key passes per game (1.2) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (0.8), solid, but certainly not spectacular statistics during his maiden season in England.
He will be expected to hit the ground running at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, especially after having a year to settle into life in the Premier League.
If Emery does make a concrete move for Summerville, however, might the Dutchman be a better option on the flank than Diaby?
How Crysencio Summerville shone for Leeds
His positional flexibility could be a big bonus for the Midlands side. While he spent the majority of last season on the left wing, Summerville is equally adept at performing on the opposite flank if required.
In 49 matches for the Elland Road outfit, the 22-year-old scored a remarkable 21 goals while grabbing ten assists, ensuring he won the Championship Player of the Season award in April.
Journalist Jake Winderman even praised his “world-class” ability last October, and it is evident that a talent like his deserves to be playing in the Premier League.
Among his teammates last term, Summerville ranked first for goals and assists (28) in the second tier, along with ranking second for big chances created (17), first for key passes per game (2.6) and third for successful dribbles per game (2.3), showing just how much of an impact he had in the final third for the club.
How Summerville could be an upgrade on Diaby
When compared to his positional peers in leagues similar to the Championship, Summerville ranks in the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.59), the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90 (6.1) and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90 (5.04).
Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville
In comparison, Diaby ranks in the top 18% in Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions (3.31), the top 27% for touches in the attacking penalty area (5.63) and the top 5% for progressive carries (3.89) per 90 when compared to his own positional peers.
While Diaby may have been compared to those in higher divisions, Summerville has outperformed him in a range of performance metrics in recent months.
The Leeds gem does have prior experience in the Premier League too, which could prove to be a major advantage for Emery. He has featured 34 times in the top flight for Leeds between 2021 and 2023, scoring four goals while registering two assists in the process.
If he moves to a club like Villa, where he should get plenty of chances in the starting XI, he will be able to carry on his form which saw him emerge as one of the most exciting wingers on the continent.
Splashing out £40m on the player could be a gamble, yet it is one that Emery should be intent on making if he has any ambitions of bolstering his attacking options ahead of next term.
It could pay off handsomely, as there is no doubt the winger can only get better, which could see his value increase as time goes on.
The next few weeks are an exciting time to be a Villa supporter, that’s for sure.
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Arsenal have entered pole position to sign a club's star player after making a more intriguing proposal than Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain.
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We're now over a fortnight into the summer window, and Gunners sporting director Edu has been one of the least busy transfer chiefs in the Premier League so far.
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Bar the permanent signing of goalkeeper David Raya – who joins from Brentford in a deal worth around £27 million after spending 2023/2024 on a season-long loan at the Emirates – Arsenal are yet to make a summer signing despite the plethora of rumours.
Arsenal are believed to be targeting a new goalkeeper to replace the exit-bound Aaron Ramsdale, who has been widely tipped to leave, while Edu is also reportedly chasing a new defender, midfielder and forward (Simon Collings).
Arteta's side narrowly missed out on a first Premier League title in 20 years last season, despite pushing eventual champions Man City right to the final day, so the north Londoners are now looking to string together the final pieces of a winning formula.
Arsenal are attempting to sign a new centre-back, even if they conceded the fewest goals of any top flight side last season. Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have been pivotal at the heart of Arteta's defence since the beginning of 2022/2023, but the Spaniard apparently wants a star alternative.
Arsenal
29
Man City
34
Liverpool
41
Everton
51
Man United/Crystal Palace
58
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White and Jakub Kiwior are Arteta's available options to cover Saliba and Gabriel, but the aforementioned trio are preferred as makeshift full-back options more often than not.
This has lead to intensified interest in Bologna star Riccardo Calafiori, who is also fresh off the back of an impressive campaign personally at Euro 2024. The Italian was a sore miss for Luciano Spalletti's side against Switzerland in the last 16, and turned heads with some accomplished performances in the group stages.
Arsenal in pole position to sign Calafiori after best offer
Sky journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, writing on his personal website, has an update of his own on Arsenal's widely reported attempts to sign the 22-year-old.
He writes that PSG, Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen are contending for Calafiori as well, but it is the Gunners who are getting "closer and closer".
Edu and co have presented a better project and more "intriguing offer" to the player and club, with Arsenal now in pole position to sign Calafiori ahead of PSG and their London rivals.
The next few days are described as decisive, and it won't be a cheap operation. Much like what's been reported elsewhere, Di Marzio states Calafiori will cost £42 million to prise away from Bologna.
India’s squad has landed in Australia on Thursday for a two-month long tour comprising three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests. Most of the players have flown directly from the UAE, where the just-concluded IPL took place. Some of them – like Cheteshwar Pujara, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – have travelled with their immediate families. The Indian touring group will go into quarantine for two weeks, during which they are allowed to train subject to clearing the Covid-19 testing protocols put in place by Cricket Australia in coordination with the local government. It is understood they will start training from November 14 in Sydney. Most of the players have already been living the bio-bubble life for nearly three months now and they’ll be going through its rigours for two more.Rohit Sharma – who led the Mumbai Indians to their fifth IPL title this week – and Ishant Sharma were not a part of the touring party. Rohit, along with Ishant, will be joining the squad only before the Test series starts on December 17. While Rohit is being rested from the limited-overs leg of the tour due to a hamstring injury he got during the IPL, Ishant suffered an abdominal muscle tear that had ruled him out of much of the tournament.India’s captain Virat Kohli will be returning home after the first Test concludes on December 21 in order to attend the birth of his first child. The Australian government’s quarantine rules of 14 days – applicable for the entire squad despite flying from a biobubble in the UAE – means it would be very difficult for Kohli to come back to Australia and play any part in the remaining three Tests.India also remain wary about their Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who missed the last two matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL after injuring both his hamstrings. They also had to pull out mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy from their T20I squad after he was learnt to have been suffering from a shoulder injury, with pacer T Natarajan taking his place. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson – who was initially a part of only the T20I squad – was added to the ODI squad as a reserve wicketkeeper. The tour starts with the first ODI in Sydney on November 27, followed by the three T20Is ending on December 8. But the second and the third T20Is clash with a three-day tour match between Australia A and India A, which begins on December 6. That follows another warm-up fixture starting December 11, before the first Test begins in Adelaide.The Adelaide Test will also be the first time that India will be playing a day-night Test away from home, with their only pink-ball Test having come against Bangladesh in Kolkata last year. The tour then moves to Melbourne and Sydney – who will be hosting the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests – before concluding on January 19 with the fourth and final Test in Brisbane.Despite restrictions around the Covid-19 pandemic, Cricket Australia had confirmed that crowds of varying degrees will be allowed to attend each of the fixtures between Australia and India.
If last summer was all about Declan Rice for Arsenal then it would appear as though this summer will be about RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian striker is at the forefront of interest from multiple Premier League clubs, most notable of which are the Gunners and Manchester United.
The latest on that saga, according to reports, is that a £47m bid had even been lodged for his services with another claim a few days prior suggesting he has already said 'yes' to a move to north London.
So, what next? Well, there still feels like a long way to go before things are wrapped up by all parties involved in the deal.
Where will Arsenal's transfer plans take them next? Well, potentially to the Netherlands.
£20m star keen on moving to the Emirates
The Telegraph reported in midweek that Arsenal were targeting a move for Feyenoord left-back Quilindschy Hartman.
The latest on that pursuit comes courtesy of the Standard, who noted this weekend that the player was indeed keen on a move to the Premier League, and more specifically to Arsenal.
However, that is very much dependent on whether Edu and Co formally step up their interest in the forthcoming months.
There are two issues, though. Chelsea are also interested and the player is actually out of action with a knee injury until 2025. As such, a move is far more likely to occur in January, if at all.
The player is currently valued at £20m by Transfermarkt.
How Hartman could benefit Sesko
Before Sesko allegedly said 'yes' to joining Arsenal, it was likely he had two main considerations.
The first was whether he'd happily play second fiddle to Kai Havertz up top. The second was whether he'd entertain the idea of playing from the left wing.
The 21-year-old only played as a central striker last season for Leipzig, scoring 18 goals in 42 appearances but he can play on the flanks, potentially using his rangy and athletic profile to give Arsenal added impetus on the left where he can cut inside.
If that was to be Sesko's position, then Hartman could well find himself regularly linking up with him.
Sadly we won't get to see him in action at the European Championships with the Netherlands, but for those who have seen up close in the Eredivisie under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot, there are some interesting traits there.
Described as having had an "exceptional" few seasons by scout Antonio Mango, the 22-year-old is known for being a "flying left-back" who can provide high-intensity and tough tackling.
With that in mind, he already sounds like a dream for the potentially incoming Sesko. So, how do the stats paint him?
Well, compared to leagues similar to the Dutch top-flight (via FBref), Hartman ranks in the top 2% of positionally similar players for shot-creating actions per 90, the best 6% for carries, the top 1% for through balls and in the best 10% for key passes.
Any attackers in Mikel Arteta's forward line must be licking their lips at the thought of that.
Hartman vs Zinchenko: 2023/24 League Stats
Stat (per 90 mins)
Hartman
Zinchenko
Progressive carries
1.96
2.09
Progressive passes
6.61
12.0
Pass completion %
80.6%
87.6%
Key passes
1.61
1.52
Crosses into penalty box
0.43
0.21
Shot-creating actions
3.83
3.51
Tackles won
1.09
1.57
Interceptions
1.22
1.05
Aerials won
1.30
1.41
Stats via FBref.
Luckily, the full-back doesn't shy away from his defensive duties either, winning 1.30 aerials per 90 minutes and ranking among the best 10% of full-backs for tackles in the attacking third of the pitch. Evidently he stays high and wins the ball back high, immediately sparking goal-scoring opportunities.
An aggressive front-foot defender, he sounds exactly like the profile of player who could benefit Sesko and potentially even take the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to the next level on the left flank.
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The former captain also called on the government to assist with the growth of the game in SA
Firdose Moonda18-Aug-2020Graeme Smith remains steadfast in his support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the face of an “enormous amount of abuse”, including “death threats” following his actions at the 3TC match in July. At that game, Smith – along with all 24 participating players, match and administrative officials and commentators – took a knee and wore an armband with the BLM logo on it. That prompted criticism from those who do not agree with the anti-racist stance and more criticism from those who feel Smith has done too little, too late.In the lead-up to and since the match, at least four former national players – all white – opposed the gesture in support of BLM while several former players of colour have since gone public with their stories of discrimination, some under Smith’s captaincy. Smith, who is now South Africa’s director of cricket, believes some outpouring of expression stems from disappointment in how South African society has stagnated almost three decades after democracy.”It has shocked me how heated things have got. I get that in South Africa we’ve got so many issues and in some ways its felt like we are bearing the brunt for government not having delivered on a number of things over the years and the frustration of that,” Smith said on a webinar hosted by the financial advisor network PSG. “You pick up the paper or you click online and you all see all the negativity and the disappointment and the frustration in people’s lives and livelihoods being affected, so it’s been a tough period post that [3TC] game.”The 3TC match is the only cricket South African players have been part of since the country went into lockdown in March. It took place ten days after England and West Indies became the first cricket countries to show their support for BLM. The first South African player to be asked for this thoughts on the matter was Lungi Ngidi, who said he hoped his team-mates would join other sporting personalities in taking a stand against racism. The next day, Pat Symcox, Boeta Dippenaar, Rudi Steyn and Brian McMillan questioned Ngidi’s stance and asked him to show similar consideration for the victims of farm murders. That, in turn, sparked a racially charged conversation that is continuing in cricket circles.Smith supported Ngidi, first in a statement on social media, and then at the 3TC match and reiterated that today. “Lungi, in my mind, said nothing wrong. He expressed an opinion – he didn’t make a statement – and expressed the fact that the team was going to get together and have a conversation and in no right did he deserve to be attacked. What happened to him and the way the guys came at him is entirely wrong,” Smith said.Andile Phehlukwayo and Lungi Ngidi take a knee before the start of the 3TC match•AFP via Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s players have since spoken about the BLM movement and are headed to a culture camp at the Kruger National Park this week to discuss team identity, and Smith is pleased with the unity in the ranks. “Within the space, we’ve handled it extremely maturely. We got together, we listened, the conversation was open, people shared and we decided to support each other in this movement,” Smith said. “That’s what taking a knee meant to us. The fact that we are all together. I haven’t seen the team having such an honest conversation in a few years, which is great.”But that containment of togetherness has not captured the entire cricket community and Smith expects there is more soul searching to be done. He categorises the stories of discrimination into two groups: those that were a consequence of South Africa’s divided past and those that resulted from the nature of competitive sport. “It’s not only sport, its business and life as well. There’s lost heroes everywhere. We’ve got to be able to listen and share in the stories other guys are bringing to the fore as well, understand where they are coming from and the goal for us is to try and find a way to move forward in the right direction,” he said.ALSO READ: Graeme Smith denies Thami Tsolekile’s allegations of racial discrimination”Sport is also brutal. Cricket is brutal. It’s a high performing environment, your personal performance is always under scrutiny whether you are a batter, a bowler, and with sport you also have people who feel begrudged not getting that opportunity, not getting enough of a chance and it’s a fine line between the two.”So how does Smith, in his role as director of cricket, work towards increasing opportunities for all? A common answer offered is in grassroots projects, and that is one area where CSA has invested heavily in. Last year, R358 million (approx. US $20.6 million) was spent on development and Smith is spending some of his time trying to ascertain if it was spent smartly enough. “The strategies around how we bring people through and grow the game is something we can debate because for that amount of money, you want to be seeing rewards,” he said.He also called on the government to assist, tying in with his earlier point that many of the structural inequalities that remain from the Apartheid era have not been addressed. “At what point do governments step in and help with the growth of the game and the facilities?” Smith asked. “Cricket is not a cheap sport. You can’t just pick it up and run around. You need the bat, the ball, the facilities. Our goal is to create heroes and if we can create a high performing team, where there are no questions around selection, from a political point of view, people will resonate with it. We want to see the game represent all the people. We want to be successful. Let’s get it going.”
Leeds United could be preparing for a Premier League campaign this time next week as they face Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday.
The Whites travel to London knowing that they are potentially 90 minutes away from returning to the top-flight of English football at the first time of asking.
Daniel Farke's side swept his former side Norwich City away with ease as they won 4-0 in the semi-finals of the play-offs, and they now must overcome Russell Martin's men at Wembley to claim their place in the top division.
If Leeds do win promotion back to the Premier League, the German head coach will have to make a number of tough decisions with the playing squad to ensure that his group is strong enough to kick on and achieve a successful season.
Daniel Farke
The upcoming summer transfer window will provide the Whites to bring in new talent to bolster the team, whilst it also allows them to cash in on players they want to move on.
With this in mind, Farke must finally cash in on one player – on more wages per week than Crysencio Summerville – who is now reportedly set for talks over his future at Elland Road in the coming weeks.
Forward set for Leeds exit talks
According to Football Insider, Premier League side Everton are set to hold talks with the club over a deal to sign Jack Harrison on a permanent basis this summer.
The report claims that the two teams will meet to discuss a possible permanent exit from Yorkshire for the English forward after the play-off final on Sunday.
It adds that the former Manchester City winger is keen to remain with Sean Dyche on Merseyside and is 'unlikely' to play for Leeds again, irrespective of the league they are in next season.
The outlet states that Everton have confirmed that Harrison will be returning to Elland Road upon the expiry of his current loan deal, but that a permanent move is still on the cards for the ex-MLS attacker.
There is no mention, however, of how much the Whites would want or the wing wizard, or how much the Toffees are prepared to pay to land his services this summer.
Leeds paid £11m to sign the ace from Manchester City in 2021 and Transfermarkt currently has his market value at £18.8m, which possibly provides an insight into the kind of fee the club could demand.
Farke must now finally cash in on the winger, who the Whites failed to part ways with permanently last summer, this summer and use the funds to reinvest in his squad, whether that is for a Premier League or Championship campaign.
Jack Harrison's career with Leeds in numbers
The young winger initially joined the club on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2018 and spent three seasons at Elland Road on a temporary basis before his permanent switch in 2021.
Harrison only managed four goals and three assists in 37 matches in the Championship during his debut season under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2018/19 campaign.
However, he followed that up with a return of six goals and eight assists in 46 matches as Leeds won the title and secured promotion up to the Premier League.
The left-footed ace then proved himself to be a useful player for Bielsa and Jesse Marsch in the top-flight over the subsequent three campaigns in the top division.
2020/21
36
8
8
2021/22
35
8
1
2022/23
36
5
7
As you can see in the table above, Harrison regularly chipped in with goals and assists to help the team in the final third, with at least five goals in all three seasons and seven or more assists in two of the three terms.
In the 2022/23 campaign, the 27-year-old winger slightly underperformed in front of goal with five strikes from an xG of 5.45 but also created nine 'big chances' and was only rewarded with seven assists.
However, the Leeds loanee was not able to continue that impressive form over to his spell at Goodison Park this season, as he rarely contributed at the top end of the pitch during his time with Dyche and his men.
Why Leeds should cash in on Jack Harrison
Farke must cash in on the forward for a number of reasons ahead of the 2024/25 campaign; the first one being that any fee brought in would bolster his transfer kitty to make moves of his own.
Secondly, the aforementioned report from Football Insider claimed that Harrison wants to remain at Everton and Leeds should not be entertaining players who do not want to be at the club, as it could cause disruption in the dressing room if there are unhappy duds who would rather be somewhere else.
Everton's loan forward Jack Harrison.
Thirdly, there may not be a better time for Leeds to cash in on the attacker at the age of 27. He should be in the prime years of his career and may not have much development left to go through, as he is now an experienced player, and selling him now could avoid the risk of his value plummeting.
Finally, his performances on the pitch this season do not suggest that he would be value for money for the Whites to keep hold of, when you consider that he earns more than Summerville.
Per Capology, Harrison is on a whopping £90k-per-week at Everton, which he was also on last term with Leeds, whilst Summerville is said to be on just £15k-per-week.
Appearances
29
43
Goals
3
19
Assists
3
9
Big chances created
5
17
Expected Assists
3.30
12.53
Key passes per game
1.0
2.6
As you can see in the table above, the current Whites attacker enjoyed a sensational regular season in the Championship with a staggering 28 goal involvements.
Whereas, Harrison, who also plays on the left flank, only had six goals and assists combined for Everton, with fewer goals than he managed in every Premier League season he played for Leeds.
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Therefore, Farke must finally cash in on the dud as his performances on the pitch do not suggest that he is worth the supposed wage, particularly in comparison to Summerville, and his desire to remain at Goodison Park makes this a deal that makes sense for all parties involved.
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney ditched the lavish life of a Hollywood actor to try his hand in retail by putting in a shift in a Manchester shop.
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McElhenney appeared in new clipActor roped into working a retail shiftWrexham owner wore iconic jerseyWHAT HAPPENED?
The co-creator, actor and writer had the script flipped on him when he paid a visit to the Classic Football Shirts shop in Manchester. Seemingly making a purchase, the Hollywood star was pulled into work a shift at the shop, hanging up shirts, putting signs out and serving customers.
AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPWHAT MCELHENNEY SAID
Wearing the iconic Netherlands jersey from Euro 1988, the Red Dragons chief appeared in a sketch for the shop's social media account, in which he dropped in to make a purchase, saying to the cashier: "Thank you, enjoy your shift!"
When the employee replied: "You too," McElhenney spun around in shock and was put to work.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
McElhenney, 47, has become a famous figure in football since he and Ryan Reynolds purchased Wrexham in 2020, bringing worldwide fame to the club thanks to their media savvy and ability to bring in sponsorship and partnerships with huge companies, as well as creating the documentary series.