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Liverpool will have a commanding presence in the transfer window this summer and could use that leverage to pull off an audacious player-plus-cash deal to land an exciting target, according to a report.

Liverpool look to build on Premier League title triumph

After laying claim to their second title of the Premier League era, the Reds are winding down for the campaign and won’t be too frustrated at surrendering a two-goal advantage in their draw with Arsenal last weekend.

Ultimately, Arne Slot has led his side to the goal they set out to achieve at the start of the season. Now, many are beginning to wonder what happens next once their celebrations are in the memory bank.

That is still a while off yet, though Liverpool are active in their pursuit of summer reinforcements and could look to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield. The Netherlands international is someone the club are aware of as far as his situation goes, with a release clause of between £29.5 million and £33.8 million being something they are willing to exploit.

Lyon winger Malick Fofana is also being targeted by Liverpool, potentially becoming a replacement for Luiz Diaz amid the latter attracting interest from Saudi Pro League outfit.

Liverpool’s final Premier League assignments
Brighton & Hove Albion (A)	Amex Stadium
Crystal Palace (H)	Anfield

Darwin Nunez is another that could be moved on to free up funds and space for reinforcements in a period where Slot is expected to be ruthless in his decision-making to mould a squad fit to defend their crown. Realistically, Liverpool have nothing to prove to anyone, but they could potentially surpass their jointly-held record of 20 titles that they share with Manchester United next term with a repeat performance of this season’s excellence.

Making strides to equip themselves to do so, the Reds are now eyeing a swap deal that could see one of Europe’s revered attackers arrive on Merseyside.

Liverpool eye Ademola Lookman and Federico Chiesa swap deal

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Liverpool would be willing to swap Federico Chiesa for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman to bring the Nigeria international back to the Premier League. Formerly of Everton, Lookman has registered 19 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season. His current employers are unlikely to make allowances relating to his £50 million+ valuation, so Chiesa could be used to whittle that number down.

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Dan Emery

May 12, 2025

The Liverpool star could now be thrown into a potential swap arrangement after struggling to make an impact following his move from Juventus. Earning £150,000 per week, the Italy international has scored twice and registered two assists in just 13 outings, making him a prime candidate for a summer departure.

That said, it remains to be seen whether a swap would be the preferred option for both clubs or if conducting seperate deals is a more viable alternative to put through the books.

Celtic ran out in front of their own supporters at Parkhead for the first time since they won the Scottish Premiership title when they faced Hibernian on Saturday.

The Hoops clinched the league title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United away from home at the end of last month, before they travelled across Glasgow to play out a 1-1 draw with their rivals last weekend.

It did, however, look as though Hibs were going to spoil the party when they took the lead at Celtic Park thanks to an opening goal from Martin Boyle in the 25th minute.

The Premiership champions, though, bounced back and led before the break after goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah turned the game around, before Reo Hatate added a third in the second 45.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has suffered with hamstring injuries this season, was given the weekend off by Brendan Rodgers, in order to manage his minutes in the final few weeks of the season.

That opened up a position at the heart of the defence and the Northern Irish head coach opted to go with Auston Trusty next to Liam Scales.

Scales and Trusty's performances for Celtic this season

The Hoops reportedly paid a fee of £5m to sign Trusty from English side Sheffield United in the summer transfer window last year to bolster their left-sided centre-back options.

The USA international and Scales have competed for the starting berth next to Carter-Vickers at centre-back, but they have also had to play alongside each other at times when the former Spurs man has been unavailable, like on Saturday.

Although Celtic won the match comfortably in the end, Trusty, who lost 100% of his ground duels, had a moment to forget when his poor attempted clearance dropped straight to Boyle to find the back of the net.

Unfortunately, errors have been too common for the former Arsenal defender in the Premiership this season since his £5m move to Parkhead, particularly in comparison to Scales and Carter-Vickers.

24/25 Premiership

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Liam Scales

Auston Trusty

Appearances

29

25

21

Error led to shot

1

1

4

Error led to goal

0

0

1

Penalties committed

0

1

0

Dribbled past

3x

5x

11x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Trusty has made more errors that have led to shots, more errors that have led to goals, and been dribbled past more times, despite playing fewer matches than the other two centre-backs.

This also shows that Scales, who was unlucky to give a penalty away at Ross County, has been more reliable than the American dud in the Premiership.

This is despite the former Aberdeen loanee being worth just £3m, as per Transfermarkt, which is £2m less than the fee the club paid Sheffield United for the other left-footed defender.

The Ireland international has not made as many errors as the former Premier League flop and that may be why Rodgers has preferred him over Trusty alongside Carter-Vickers in recent weeks.

However, the Celtic boss did still opt to select Trusty on the right side of the defence over Maik Nawrocki, a naturally right-footed player, and the Hoops must ruthlessly ditch the Polish centre-back this summer as a result of his lack of minutes on the pitch this season.

Why Celtic should cash in on Maik Nawrocki

The 24-year-old defender, whose Transfermarkt value is just £1.7m, was an unused substitute once again against Hibernian, as he failed to add to his paltry two appearances in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign.

When questioned about Nawrocki’s lack of game time in March, Rodgers explained that it was because he prefers to have left-footed players on the left. He said: “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty, because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.”

However, Carter-Vickers was unavailable against Hibernian and the manager still opted for Trusty on the right side, despite him being a naturally left-footed player who has the same problems that Nawrocki has playing out on his weaker side.

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This suggests that the former Legia Warsaw star’s lack of game time goes beyond Rodgers’ concerns about which side of the centre-back pairing he plays, as he was unwilling to give him minutes against Hibernian with no other right-footed centre-backs available and the title already wrapped up.

The most frustrating part of this for Nawrocki, however, may be that this has come after his impressive performances in the Premiership in his two outings in March.

All the way back in January of last year, Nawrocki told reporters that he was prepared for his moment to shine in a Celtic shirt, and that moment eventually came in March of this year when Trusty and Scales were injured and he was named in the XI against Rangers and Hearts.

Maik Nawrocki

Vs Rangers

Vs Hearts

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

Error led to shot/goal

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Polish star took his chances to impress with dominant and reliable defensive displays in those two matches, which led to pundit Chris Sutton hailing him as “fantastic”.

However, Nawrocki has been an unused substitute for four matches, missed out on the matchday squad twice, and not played a single minute of football since the win and clean sheet against Hearts.

As aforementioned, his Transfermarkt value now stands at just £1.7m. This means that he is worth less than Scales (£3m) and Trusty (bought for £5m), whilst also being the least used centre-back option, with just two league outings.

Therefore, Celtic must brutally axe the 24-year-old outcast from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window because he is a depreciating asset who is not getting enough minutes on the pitch.

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Rodgers has shown that he is not ready to trust Nawrocki ahead of Scales or Trusty and it is now down to the board to find a team that is willing to snap him up so they can recoup some money for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

A former Premier League manager is interested in taking over at Rangers, and is now just awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about a move to Ibrox, according to a new report.

Rangers slip up again as Celtic claim Scottish Premiership title

It was a weekend to forget for Rangers fans as rivals Celtic clinched their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title — and a 13th in 14 seasons — while the Gers slipped to another draw.

Celtic cruised to a 5-0 victory over Dundee United to seal the title, while Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling St. Mirren — results that highlight the contrasting fortunes of the two sides this season.

After the draw with St. Mirren, Rangers caretaker boss Barry Ferguson described his team’s performance as “not good enough.”

“I know it’s a difficult place to come, but when you take the lead twice, you need to maintain that lead,” he told BBC Scotland. “That’s been a problem all season, and that’s the reason we have not been challenging. You can do all the work on the training ground and say all the right things in meetings, but when you cross that white line, you have to deal with it yourself.”

On Celtic’s title triumph, he added: “It’ll be painful for my staff, it’ll be painful for the supporters. And I want it to be painful for my players. Because you’re at Rangers, and we need to start challenging, properly challenging, for trophies.”

Martin "interested" in Rangers move

Though Ferguson has undoubtedly been an improvement on former boss Philippe Clement, he may not stay in charge beyond the end of the season — meaning the Gers and the 49ers will need to find a new man to take the reins at Ibrox.

According to The Scottish Sun, that man could be former Southampton boss Russell Martin. Martin was sacked by the Saints earlier this season after a disastrous Premier League campaign that ultimately ended in relegation. However, he is a target to take over from Ferguson at Rangers.

The Sun reports that Martin is very interested in the job and is simply awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about filling the position.

Despite his poor record with Southampton, Martin received heavy praise from one of the game’s greatest managers — Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Speaking after City’s 1-0 win over Southampton back in October, Guardiola said of the former MK Dons boss: “It’s a good game to learn as a manager. I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well.”

On how Martin set Southampton up that day, Guardiola added: “They are really good. I’m a spectator. I prefer the players to get the ball to feet, not the teeth.

“When I see the opponent do the things I like to do with my team and they do it really well, I make a compliment. I’m sure I will learn; there were some movements, the reasons why they do things, the movements they make to link to the striker. It’s not easy.”

Manchester United have now identified a new top target to replace Andre Onana this summer, amid concerns over the goalkeeper’s performances this season, according to a report.

Man Utd star dropped after Lyon disaster

Onana had a point to prove heading into Man United’s Europa League clash against Lyon, having received heavy criticism from Nemanja Matic before the match, but the Cameroonian put in a very disappointing performance.

After making a major blunder, which allowed Rayan Cherki to bag a late equaliser, the goalkeeper received a 5.9 SofaScore match rating, the lowest of any player on the pitch, and he was subsequently dropped for the 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United.

Given that Altay Bayindir also failed to impress at St. James’ Park, Ruben Amorim has a selection dilemma heading into the second leg against Lyon on Thursday night, which is perhaps his side’s most crucial game of the season so far.

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However, Amorim’s lack of faith in his goalkeepers means it is now looking increasingly likely a new option will be brought in between the sticks this summer, and a new top target has now been identified.

According to a report from Spain, FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is the leading candidate to replace Onana, with Old Trafford chiefs now ramping up their pursuit of a new goalkeeper.

Costa’s impressive performances for club and country mean he has now been pinpointed as the Red Devils’ number one choice, most notably putting in some top displays for national side Portugal at Euro 2024.

The Portugal international is protected by a €75m (£64m) release clause, and Porto are unwilling to sanction his departure for a lower fee, so United will need to spend big to get a deal over the line this summer.

"Superman" Costa could be upgrade on Onana

The Porto shot-stopper put in some top displays at Euro 2024, while he has also impressed in a Porto shirt for quite some time, having been lauded as a “superman” by scout/writer Jacek Kulig after catching the eye in the Champions League.

Perhaps crucially, the 25-year-old appears to be competent in possession of the ball, given that he ranks in the 93rd percentile for touches per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Not only that, but the Porto academy graduate is particularly adept at saving penalties, recently denying Christian Eriksen from the spot in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League clash against Denmark.

At 25-years-old, Costa may be about to enter his prime years, and his performances for both club and country indicate he could be a real upgrade on Onana, who is running out of time to save his Man United career.

India struck a familiar, unavoidable chaos fueled by jangling nerves to lose from a winning position

Shashank Kishore14-Oct-20244:18

Takeaways: Australia block out the noise, India’s fielding in focus again

Long before the pall of gloom set in, it felt like a dream you hoped would last longer. The fans – nearly 15,000 of them in Sharjah – came rushing in through the turnstiles as the sun went down, boisterous and full of joy, chanting, singing, waving and doing just about anything to get the attention of Jemi, Harry or Smriti.The days of packing a stand with school kids handed out free sandwiches, it seemed, were long gone. With all that indifference and systemic apathy (only somewhat) behind us, it felt like the start of a new era. All it needed now was that fuel to propel the rocket into orbit.India needed that push to go from being contenders to champions. And for that, they needed to play like one, against the real ones, who know how to close out games from impossible situations, even if their captain happens to be hobbling on crutches and moonwalkers. India couldn’t have asked for a more grander stage.Related

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The noise, buzz, colour, madness – it was mayhem, but it was glorious. Never before had security guards used to seeing four administrators and five ground staff guffaw over endless cups of Irani chai been put to this kind of last-minute riff-raff, where every pre-match drill, including elaborate security mechanisms, needed rehearsing.This was India vs Australia, billed as the match of the tournament, not without reason. The grandness of it all deserved a thriller. And we got one. Inevitably though, it felt like the rockstars who everyone was here to watch, were leaving their performance midway. Unless Pakistan play the match of their lives on Monday night.Australia clinically disarranged India’s jigsaw, leaving them with several questions and fewer answers, a heartbroken captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, who looked spent, physically and emotionally, gasping for breath in unforgiving October humidity.For all the dropped catches and missed run-out chance and the chaos surrounding Asha Sobhana’s one-leg hobble just prior to the start, which no one seemed to think was serious enough initially, India had Australia on the ropes, like they’ve had them on a few occasions. Think back to last year’s T20 World Cup semi-final in Cape Town or more recently last December’s T20I series in Navi Mumbai.Despite India’s top-order wobble, with Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues all gone, Australia briefly wobbled. Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma – a contrasting pair – brought India within 53 runs of victory. With two set batters at the crease and 30 balls to play and with six wickets in hand, this was India’s chance to nail it. But they struck a familiar, unavoidable chaos – the story of their evening – fueled by jangling nerves.In the space of four balls, they lost two wickets. Deepti holed out to the 59-metre pocket at deep midwicket, and Richa Ghosh, their biggest six-hitter who has seemingly been batting a position lower than ideal, run out stealing a non-existent single to cover. All that might and muscle that had gone into preparation reduced to zilch thanks to a split-second’s indecision. Halfway through the run, Richa was hoping against hope Phoebe Litchfield would miss. She hit bull’s eye to send the hugely partisan Indian crowd into a state of shock.Phoebe Litchfield’s direct hit ran Richa Ghosh out•ICC/Getty ImagesAs the LED bails lit up, Renuka Singh’s jaws dropped, hands on head. Shreyanka Patil was in disbelief, glaring at the replays on the giant screen, Mandhana was staring aimlessly into the distance and Rodrigues glum. The shock told you a story. The unraveling was rather swift, but not too unfamiliar. Especially in crunch moments.You only have to go back to Cape Town last year, or maybe the Commonwealth Games. India have lost from winning junctures. The deep wounds of the past even had them engage a sports psychologist for moments like these. And when it didn’t come off, the sense of shock was palpable.All said, this was peak Australia, doing Australia things. A team that knows how to conjure magic when pushed to a corner. Like Megan Schutt bowling a 17th over that went for just one run with India needing 41 off 24. Or Litchfield hitting a crucial last-ball six in her cameo 15. Or Annabel Sutherland killing the game by picking up two wickets off her first three balls in the final over.All of which is incredible, but perhaps not more than Australia completing their spectacular defence without needing to bowl Ellyse Perry or Grace Harris, even Tahlia McGrath. Or having to play without their chirpy, intimidating captain and gun opener Healy, who knows what it is to deflate India in a world final with 86,000 people watching live. It was simply a testimony of Australia’s depth and resolve.The end was so utterly predictable that fans who couldn’t wait to get in made a quick beeline for the exit, long before the final ball was bowled. From Mexican waves and wild cheering to every Bollywood chartbuster until half an hour earlier, there was momentary silence that reflected the glum in India’s change rooms.Monday may or may not throw up surprises. But long after the dust settles, India must do some soul-searching. With a 50-over World Cup to look forward to within a year, India need to “learn from the disappointment and experience” – head coach Amol Muzumdar’s assessment – to go from being contenders to becoming champions.

Babar Azam will be leading Zalmi after switching over from Kings, who have Shoaib Malik back

Danyal Rasool10-Feb-2023Karachi KingsCaptain: Imad Wasim
Coach: Johan Botha
Batting Coach: Ravi Bopara
Assistant Coach: Michael Smith
Full squad: Imad Wasim, Haider Ali, Andrew Tye, Mohammad Amir, Imran Tahir, Matthew Wade, Shoaib Malik, Aamer Yamin, James Fuller, James Vince, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Akhlaq, Irfan Khan Niazi, Qasim Akram, Mohammad Umar, Sharjeel Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ben Cutting, Musa Khan, Faisal AkramLast season: sixth
Just because a calamity can be foretold doesn’t mean it can be prevented. Kings’ 2022 squad looked unbalanced and disjointed from the outset, and that is exactly the way it played out across the season. Mohammad Amir was injured early, there were few good spin options, and almost no batting firepower to speak of. All that combined for the worst win-loss record in the history of the PSL, as Kings won just one match and lost nine.Related

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What has changed this season?Where do you start? Well, only one place, really. Babar Azam is no longer part of Kings, having moved to Zalmi during the trading window last November. He is the highest run-scorer in PSL history – aside from being the biggest name in Pakistan cricket at present – but that doesn’t necessarily mean his absence will spell disaster for Kings. One of their most enduring problems last season was the inability to get off to quick starts, and while Babar may be prolific, he is not as pacy up top as most T20 sides would want.But it is Kings’ inability to adequately bolster their batting firepower that remains their biggest concern. James Vince will likely take Babar’s place as opener, though his partial availability means Sharjeel Khan might need to provide most of the powerplay fireworks. In the middle order, Haider Ali and Ben Cutting, both of whom have PSL pedigree but have since fallen out of form, will need to come good.Shoaib Malik has returned to Kings from Peshawar Zalmi•PSLThe partial unavailability of Tabraiz Shamsi, another key player, spells trouble for Kings, who are, once more, short of high-class spin options. Joe Clarke has been replaced by Matthew Wade, who Kings showed enough faith in to pick in the Platinum Category. Shoaib Malik, too, has returned to Kings from Zalmi, with Imran Tahir and Andrew Tye the other high-profile signings.Player to Watch
Middle-order bat Tayyab Tahir was named Player of the Match in Pakistan’s One Day Cup – their premier 50-over domestic competition – final last month for hitting 71 in a win for Central Punjab, for whom he cracked 573 runs – the most by any batter – in the tournament. Those efforts earned him a maiden call-up to the national side, as he was also the third-highest run-scorer in the National T20 Cup last year, striking at just under 139. In a Kings side with limited power in the middle order, his contributions could be vital.Overall, by some distance, Kings’ is the oldest squad in the league; there are five players aged 35 and over. The timeless Imran Tahir, now 43, will need to shoulder much of the spin-bowling responsibility, and whether or not this season is a bridge too far for him might well determine how Kings go this season.Key stat
There are only two men over the age of 40 playing the PSL this year. Both – Imran Tahir and Malik – belong to Kings. No other side has a player over the age of 38 in their squad.Babar Azam has moved over to Zalmi from Kings•Pakistan Super LeaguePeshawar ZalmiCaptain: Babar Azam
Coach: Daren Sammy
Batting Consultant: Kamran Akmal
Full squad: Babar Azam, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz, Arshad Iqbal, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Haris, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Aamer Jamal, Saim Ayub, Salman Irshad, Haseebullah Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Richard Gleeson, Peter Hatzoglou Sufyan Muqeem, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Usman Qadir, Jimmy Neesham, Haris SohailLast season: Eliminator
Zalmi faced an uphill struggle to guarantee playoff qualification given how the first half of their campaign went. They sat fifth after their first six games, having won just two matches until then and needing four successive wins to guarantee qualification. But a late-season surge thanks to a number of individual performances in key games ensured they achieved just that, ultimately finishing in third place. In the playoffs, though, that run came to an end in the first Eliminator, as Islamabad United pipped them in a thriller.What has changed this season?
Babar arrives and immediately takes over the captaincy, and how Zalmi and Babar work together would be fascinating. After seven seasons at Kings, a franchise that has been inconsistent throughout its history, he arrives at one which has sustained success; Zalmi are the only PSL side never to miss out on the playoffs.However, Zalmi have lost out on a number of power hitters that shone at crucial stages in 2022. Hazratullah Zazai, Haider Ali and Liam Livingstone have all left, as has Malik. It places significant responsibility on two young local batters in Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub, each of whom enjoyed breakout seasons in the last 12 months.Veteran Wahab Riaz, 37, will still be around for Zalmi•AFP/Getty ImagesBut in the West Indies duo of Sherfane Rutherford and Rovman Powell – the latter only partly available – as well as big-hitters Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Jimmy Neesham, they might just have replaced them adequately enough.The bigger concern might lie in the absence of premium fast bowlers, with the possible exception of Wahab Riaz, the 37-year old Zalmi veteran. Offspinner Mujeeb ur Rehman will only be partly available too, while Richard Gleeson will come in to cover while Powell is absent. Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal and Usman Qadir will have to ensure Zalmi’s bowling isn’t a pushover, while 18-year old left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem might also get a chance.Player to watch
Saim Ayub made his PSL debut aged 18 in 2021 at a time when the big stage perhaps came too quickly for him; he scored 114 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of only 108.57. But in the National T20 Cup last year, he was the second-highest run-scorer with 416 runs at a much-improved strike rate of 155.12. He followed it up with 461 at 107.20 in the Pakistan Cup, and won a contract at the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on the back of his form. Still just 20, Zalmi’s roster offers him a glistening opportunity to light up the PSL this time around.Key stat
Zalmi now have the highest wicket-taker in PSL history in Riaz (103), as well as the most prolific run-scorer in Babar (2413).

Gloucestershire spinner believes his life story can help next generation as he signs three-year deal

Andrew Miller10-Dec-2020How often do we talk glibly about “heartbreak” in the all-consuming world of professional sport? It can be bandied about without thinking in the heat of the match-defining moment – the missed milestone, the tight finish, the thought of what might have been, if only that crucial moment had gone your way.But when Gloucestershire’s hopes of silverware ebbed away on a soggy Finals Day at Edgbaston in October, perspective was the one thing that their defeated dressing room retained in abundance. For, as Tom Smith, their left-arm spinner, puts it: “we’ve all been through a few things in our lives”.Two years ago, Smith himself was close to walking away from cricket in a grief-stricken blur, following the death of his wife Laura from a rare form of liver cancer – a tragedy that left him bringing up two young daughters on his own, and fearing that he would forever be judged in his day job as “the widower”.But, he says, the love and support of his Gloucestershire team-mates helped carry him through the darkest days of his life – and vice versa too, for remarkably, he was not alone in experiencing some of the rawest grief imaginable.”When you think what the dressing room’s been through, it’s pretty incredible,” Smith tells ESPNcricinfo. “So much has happened over such a short period of time. It’s made us a very mature group of players, very emotionally intelligent.”In April 2018, the club’s assistant coach Ian Harvey suffered the loss of his own wife Amanda, while in 2017, Gareth Roderick’s father took his own life. In the same timeframe, Cindy Klinger, wife of the former club captain Michael, underwent multiple operations for Stage 4 breast cancer, while Benny Howell’s lifelong struggle with ADHD is further evidence that the club offers a level of genuine emotional support that few employers could hope to replicate.And today, for Smith, that support has been reaffirmed in a new three-year contract that offers him the chance to step into a coaching role at the club in the final year of his deal.”It’s a really exciting opportunity for me,” Smith says. “I’ve always thought that coaching would be something I’d like to transition into after my playing days, but to be given an official role is very exciting and I can’t wait to get started. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this club. They believe in backing the individual, as well as the cricketer, and they’ve supported me every step of the way.”The deal is a reflection not only of Gloucestershire’s willingness to invest in its people, but of the levels to which Smith himself has lifted his game, which he now freely admits has helped him to feel alive again after months of “numbness” in the aftermath of Laura’s death in August 2018.In this year’s Blast, Smith truly came into his own, claiming 14 wickets at 17.35 in Gloucestershire’s run to Finals Day, at a remarkable economy rate of 5.92. And while he was unable to exert his hold on their semi-final, as Surrey dominated a rain-reduced contest at Edgbaston, he nevertheless finished the season with a small but significant personal accolade, the Gloucestershire Supporters’ Player of the Year.Tom Smith – and several of his team-mates – have received off-field support from the Professional Cricketers’ Trust•Getty Images”I feel like I’ve improved every year, really,” Smith says. “I guess that comes with age and experience, and the hunger to be better, but so long as my numbers are getting better each year, I’d like to play as long as possible.”But I know that cricket will come to an end eventually, and with the girls to think about, I’ve got no option but to plan for the future,” he adds. “The last thing I want to do is sit back and relax, and think I’ve got three good years ahead of me – that’s not me at all. I just want to keep improving on and off the field, and be the best me I can be.”Taking life for granted has not been an option for Smith since Laura’s death, and never was that more apparent than during the grim early months of the English summer. The country was in lockdown and instead of preparing for the cricket season, Smith was furloughed in his house in Bristol, with his waking hours taking up with home-schooling for Rosie, aged 6, and Clara, 4.”It was very, very hard,” he says. “I think the lack of exercise really troubled me the most, because with the children being so young, our one outing a day was spent with Rosie riding a bike and me pushing Clara around in the buggy while she went to sleep in the afternoon.”I just wasn’t exercising. I was sat at the table doing phonics, and just didn’t feel in control of anything. I was living the same day over and over.”Eventually, Smith began doing shuttle runs in his 15 metres of back garden, just to guard against pulling a hamstring if, by some miracle, the season did get back up and running. But then, suddenly, there was light at the end of the tunnel as Gloucestershire’s players were called back for pre-season training, and as the campaign got underway in August, Smith found himself experiencing a joy that he had struggled to replicate in the preceding months.”I look back at it, and although it was awful, a really dark period for me, in a way it was quite positive because it enabled me to feel the way I’m feeling now,” he says. “There’s happiness and reflection on a good season, but also I just enjoyed my job, which is something I can’t say I’ve truly felt with all the stress of the past few years.

“The one thing I’ve learned is that you just have to try and enjoy the game, there’s so much stress and there’s so much pressure on performance. It’s easy to say that, but I do feel over the last few years I’ve just enjoyed the game, because we are so fortunate to do what we do.”

“For the longest time, I felt like I was just existing really,” he admits. “Playing cricket, looking after the children, I just felt numb all the time. I did think about retiring because I didn’t want to be known as the widower, I wanted to be known for my cricket. I just didn’t want that judgement.”I know it was all cooked up in my head, but it took me a while to realise that. And as the year went on, I got more and more excited by the prospect of the season and realised it was something I wanted to do.”For me to go through that, where cricket was taken away, was something that I’d never experienced. I always had cricket in my life since I was tiny, so it really made me appreciate what I do for a career, and how lucky I am to play for Gloucester with a great group of players, who are extremely supportive of my situation.”You do wear a bit of a mask as a cricketer,” Smith adds. “You leave your home as a single parent and then you arrive at the ground as a sportsman. You’re judged for what you do on the field, so I feel very free on the pitch. It’s a chance to stop thinking about what’s going on at home, or worrying about the children. I can just go out and perform.”ALSO READ: Off-field struggles bring Gloucestershire’s squad togetherClearly it’s not quite that simple, and Smith has spoken previously of the huge support he received from the PCA’s Professional Cricketers’ Trust, through whom he was able – among other crucial contributions – to source a nanny to provide his girls with the maternal support they would so clearly need when he was away for a match.But even the littlest details of Smith’s career are complicated by his changed circumstances. “The club understands that sometimes I’ll be late to training because the timings overlap with the school run, or that I’ll be unable to commit to an event because I have other stuff on,” he says. “They’ve allowed me to be the best single parent that I can be, so to be able to commit to them for another three years, and thank them for their support, is something that’s really important to me.”The one disappointment for Smith was that he was unable to share any of his rediscovered love of cricket directly with his girls this summer. Though he concedes that neither of them is especially sporty, and that Clara tended to be scared of the fireworks whenever she came to the Blast in preceding seasons, the inability to involve them in the fabric of the club this year is something he regrets.”I would have loved them to come to some of the summer, but it wasn’t to be,” he says. “But most of the players probably suffered in the same way. The lack of crowds was one thing but many players’ parents, brothers and sisters come to most games. The cricket is just as important to them as to the individual.”At the age of 33, Smith is confident that he will continue to give his best on the field for Gloucestershire for some time yet, but is understandably cautious about what the future may hold, notwithstanding the coaching path onto which he appears to be heading, and for which he will soon be embarking on his ECB Level 4 badge.Gloucestershire wore a one-off kit for their Blast game against Sussex in 2019 to mark Rainbow @ Grief Encounter’s support for Tom Smith’s family•Getty Images”I’ve got to be realistic that there may not be a job at the end of the three years,” he says, “if all the spaces are filled or if Covid hits badly, and budgets are tight. But I’ve always used my winters well and tried to do work experience and extra studies. I’m currently working for a wealth management company, which keeps me busy because I still have to actively think about what I might do if the coaching isn’t there.”For the time being though, Smith knows that his life experiences will be of value in aiding Gloucestershire’s next generation of cricketers, particularly spinners – a breed that tend to require sympathetic handling in their developmental stages.”I do think that some of what I’ve been through in the last few years will be of value to young players,” he says. “Everyone goes through periods of their careers where they believe that one bowl or one bat is going to be it for them, and that puts them under so much pressure.”The one thing I’ve learned is that you just have to try and enjoy the game, there’s so much stress and there’s so much pressure on performance. It’s easy to say that, but I do feel over the last few years I’ve just enjoyed the game, because we are so fortunate to do what we do.”I’ve noticed it more and more in recent times when dropping the children off to school,” he adds. “The parents are worried about the security of their jobs, or they’re working all the hours through the night, and we just go and play cricket.”Of course there is stress around that, you do have to perform, but I also think we’re so fortunate. It’s taken me a while to realise that but I think if I can pass that on to the next generation, it’s hugely important.”

Leeds United “would sell” Wilfried Gnonto in the January transfer window, with it being revealed they would reinvest the money raised into a different key area of the squad.

The Whites may need to reshuffle their squad somewhat this winter, given that results have gone downhill considerably over the past few weeks, suffering defeats in four of their last five matches in the Premier League.

Losing games is one thing, but it will be particularly concerning for Daniel Farke that his side were beaten by fellow strugglers Burnley and Nottingham Forest, with Sean Dyche’s side running out 3-1 winners at the City Ground last time out.

There are some difficult fixtures on the horizon before Christmas, with the 2024-25 Championship winners set to take on Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, which means they are at real risk of being cut adrift by the time the transfer window opens.

Leeds willing to sell Wilfried Gnonto to fund move for new striker

Consequently, Leeds may have to take drastic measures in an attempt to preserve their Premier League status, with top source Dean Jones revealing they are prepared to cash in on Gnonto, saying: “This is going to be a transfer window of opportunism and there are clubs who have been tracking Gnonto, wondering if he is finally going to leave. I expect someone to try their luck, and I have a feeling the player will have his head turned if a big enough side comes in for him.

“Leeds would sell him at the right price, I’m pretty sure of that.

“I get the feeling he’s a player they would now sell and then reinvest because they really are looking for some new life in their attack.

“Primarily that would be in the shape of a striker, but I wouldn’t rule out any player with attacking nous at this point because the club’s hierarchy know they have left the team short of options up top.”

The £40k-a-week winger has struggled on the injury front this season, being ruled out due to a calf issue, but he was unable to make a real impact even prior to being ruled out, failing to register a goal or an assist in his opening four Premier League games.

At 22-years-old, the Italian is still young, and he has previously received high praise from Junior Firpo, who said: “Nobody expected it, when he first came in. He is a shy guy, didn’t talk too much; on the pitch, too. But unbelievable from day one.”

However, Leeds clearly need to bring in a new striker, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin failing to hit the ground running, having scored just once in nine Premier League games, so it may be worth cashing-in on Gnonto to fund a move for a centre-forward.

Leeds and 49ers keen to sign Troy Parrott in January

Leeds and 49ers keen to sign Troy Parrott in January after Ireland heroics

This would be much-needed for Daniel Farke.

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 17, 2025

Liverpool are now reportedly ready to launch an offer worth over £35m to sign a key defensive addition instead of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi in 2026.

Carragher admits it's "crisis time" at Liverpool

Liverpool look out on their feet. Mentally and physically, they have simply not competed in the last month. Defeat against Crystal Palace was a warning sign, before games to forget against Chelsea, Manchester United and now Brentford arrived to compile the Reds’ misery.

Off the back of four Premier League defeats in a row, the Premier League champions no longer look inevitable. They look like one of the most beatable sides in the top flight. It has been an inescapable disaster for Arne Slot in the last month, who couldn’t help but admit that even he’s not sure how to solve his side’s current problems after defeat at Brentford.

Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher went as far as to say that it’s “crisis time” for those at Anfield: “To see the champions lose 4 games in a row in the Premier League with the expenditure in the summer, I think we’re in crisis time for Liverpool right now.”

Serious questions have now been asked about Liverpool’s summer spending. They finally broke the bank, handing Slot the keys to the kingdom with a spending spree worth over £400m.

They broke records to sign Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz while also welcoming Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez, among others, all arrived. It was, barring Guehi’s collapsed move, the perfect summer.

Yet, months later, and only Ekitike has shown signs of real instant quality and the Reds have seemingly been forced back to the drawing board in need of defensive improvements.

Liverpool ready to launch Ordonez offer

As reported by South American outlet Bolavip and relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now ready to launch an offer to sign Joel Ordonez ahead of Inter Milan worth over €40m (£35m) in 2026.

Liverpool lining up January move for starting calibre centre-back wanted by Real Madrid

Would this be a dream addition for Arne Slot?

ByHenry Jackson Oct 27, 2025

The Club Brugge defender would act as an alternative to Guehi, who has interest from Anfield and elsewhere ahead of becoming a free agent next summer.

With Ibrahima Konate yet to sign a new deal and Virgil van Dijk approaching his final year, Liverpool desperately need to organize the future of their backline. If they are to miss out on Guehi, then they must go all out on an alternative like the Ecuador international.

Minutes

532

742

810

Progressive Passes

4.83

4.51

6.22

Tackles Won

0.52

1.22

0.44

Successful Aerial Duels

2.41

4.27

5.11

Whilst there should be concerns about Ordonez’s aerial ability, his work in possession would at least help provide a solution for Liverpool, who have struggled to progress play without Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Described as “hyper aggressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 21-year-old will be one to watch if Liverpool miss out on Guehi and Konate departs in 2026.

At the same time, he is mindful of the “balance between attracting retired Indian players and keeping the league competitive”

Vishal Dikshit13-Nov-2025

Graeme Smith said the SA20 is well-suited to attract more Indian players•SA20

SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith “would love to have more Indian players” in their T20 league and it’s something they will continue to work on with the BCCI. So far, former India batter Dinesh Karthik is the only Indian to have played in the SA20, having turned out for Paarl Royals in the last season.The BCCI’s current policy is such that no player active in Indian cricket – international, domestic or the IPL – can participate in overseas T20 leagues, which is why Karthik participated in the SA20 only after his retirement from Indian cricket. The league has a strong Indian connect as well, with all six teams owned by IPL team owners.”Firstly, we would love to have more Indian players [in SA20],” Smith said in Mumbai on Wednesday. “I think whenever India play in South Africa, you can see the love for the Indian team. The talent is incredible. I think we will continue to work with the BCCI on these things. And I think if that ever changes with the six IPL franchises, I think we’re perfectly suited to be able to attract Indian players. Those type of contracts with Dinesh signing with Paarl Royals is always a direct deal between the franchise [and the player]. And I think, obviously, with retired players and more retired players coming, it’s a balance between attracting that retired Indian player but still keeping your league competitive. And our franchises really want to win, as you’ve experienced in IPL and in SA20. So they’re always looking for the best players who can perform consistently.”The fourth season of SA20 will go on for a month from December 26, 2025 to January 25, 2026 across six cities. Even though South Africa mostly play the traditional Boxing Day Test from December 26 in their home season, this time that day will mark the start of their marquee T20 league. Last year, they had hosted Pakistan at the time, which saw a thrilling game that South Africa clinched by two wickets to seal their WTC final spot. In 2023, India had played the Boxing Day Test – also in Centurion – which the hosts won a lot more convincingly, by an innings and 32 runs. Barring in 2022, 2012, 2008, 2005 and 2001, South Africa have played the Boxing Day Test at home regularly since the start of this century, and before that too.This time, South Africa will be in India for an all-format tour that begins with two Tests from November 14 and will culminate with the last of the five T20Is on December 19, with only a week’s gap for the SA20 to begin. As Smith pointed out, there was no Boxing Day Test agreed upon in the FTP for this year by Cricket South Africa.Dinesh Karthik became the first Indian player to appear in the SA20•SA20

“Yeah, it’s actually always been the case, though, in this cycle, that Cricket South Africa never had international cricket in this window,” Smith said. “The South African team is here [in India] until 20 December. And then SA20 is now taking place there. And then there’s the T20 World Cup here in India in February. So it was a very small window. And I don’t think South African cricket ever had a tour lined up, never mind being WTC champions. I think this goes back years in terms of the FTP cycle.”Such is the crunch in the cricket calendar that only two days after SA20 ends in Cape Town, South Africa will host West Indies for a T20I series starting from January 27 in Paarl. Soon after that the T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7 in India.Smith also lauded the recent laurels in South African cricket, especially in ICC events over the last few years. The men’s team won their first WTC, in June at Lord’s this year, and recently the women’s team made their first ODI World Cup final, finishing as the runners-up to India earlier this month. In 2024 and 2023 as well, South Africa had made the finals of the women’s T20 World Cups.Does that mean a women’s SA20 is coming soon?”In terms of women’s cricket, we’ve spent a lot of time and effort investing in grassroots with Under-19 camps and schools programmes,” Smith said. “I think Cricket South Africa is working on a domestic programme now. I think the challenge that South African cricket has is that our national women’s team is very good, but the tier below needs to be developed. So we’ll look at it probably from next season, obviously with women’s IPL and national team schedules getting busier and busier. We’ll probably look to start exhibition matches like IPL did.”CSA could take a leaf out of the BCCI’s book, who started with a Women’s T20 Challenge – like a mini women’s IPL – in 2019 with three teams. That T20 tournament was played for two more years – in 2020 and 2022 – before the BCCI launched a five-team Women’s Premier League in 2023.