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Newcastle United have reportedly lined up a “world-class” striker to replace Alexander Isak before the new Premier League season.

Howe hints at Isak exit

The future of Isak continues to dominate the headlines at St James’ Park, with the Magpies desperately trying to convince the Swede to remain at the club.

Newcastle’s star man reportedly wants to leave in the summer transfer window, however, most likely to Liverpool, with Eddie Howe not exactly speaking confidently about the situation over the weekend.

“He will be aware he is in the news every day and I’m sure that is not easy for anyone in that situation. Conversations that happen with Alex and the club, or Alex and myself, will stay private for obvious reasons.

“We do share a good relationship. He has been magnificent for us since he joined. He’s very popular in the dressing room. “We would love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. Although, whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle.”

It doesn’t feel likely that Isak will stay at Newcastle as things stand, and if the 25-year-old does depart, a stellar replacement will need to be found. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa have been linked with moves to the club and now another top player has been thrown into the hat.

Newcastle eyeing "world-class" Isak replacement

A new report from Caught Offside now claims that Newcastle are “tracking” Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus this summer, as they potentially plan for life without Isak.

AC Milan and Barcelona are also credited with interest in the £265,000-a-week Brazilian, with the Magpies said to be “exploring options to strengthen their attacking line”.

Jesus’ time at Arsenal may have petered out, with injury problems holding him back, but there is still plenty of sense in Newcastle making a move for him.

His fitness issues would make it a gamble, in fairness, but the 28-year-old has proven himself at the highest level for years now, being hailed by former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov.

“Centre-forwards know how to deliver from outside and Jesus has done everything he needs. It was lovely to see him on the scoresheet, as well. He’s a special player. Many people question him, but he really is a world-class player. He produces. Every time he is called upon, he delivers.”

Jesus has scored 19 goals for Brazil, coming in 64 caps, as well as registering 121 goal involvements in 229 Premier League appearances, showing what an elite attacker he has been down the years.

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Unlike Sesko, he has shown that he can be a force in England’s top flight when fit, although there is also an argument to say that the Leipzig man would be the more sensible long-term option whose peak is still in front of him.

It has not been the easiest summer transfer window for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side have constantly seen their first-choice targets across the pitch turn them down, or they have lost out to other clubs. Bryan Mbeumo’s proposed move to Manchester United is a prime example of that.

Well, the Magpies have lined up a deal for former Man United academy star Anthony Elanga as an alternative to the Brentford winger, with the Nottingham Forest man set for a medical before a proposed £55m move.

At the other end of the pitch, Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini is a clear target for the Tynesiders. However, the Italian is not the only defender Howe’s side are lining up this summer.

Newcastle’s new defensive target

It remains to be seen just how realistic a deal to sign Scalvini is for Newcastle this season. The Magpies were reportedly engaging in discussions with Atalanta over the weekend, as per reports.

Well, another centre-back that the North East giants are pursuing is Chelsea’s French international defender Axel Disasi. According to a report from RMC Sport, Newcastle are one of a few sides who ‘have begun talks’ for the former AS Monaco star.

They are thought to be ‘interested in the international’s profile’, and could look to do a deal in the region of £25m, the fee Chelsea want from the move.

However, they are not the only club in the race, with Spanish outfit Villareal the one side ‘particularly persistent’ ahead of the deal.

Why Disasi would be a good signing

The 2024/25 campaign was by no means an easy one for 27-year-old Disasi. He fell out of favour under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea and departed the club on a six-month loan deal in January, joining Aston Villa temporarily.

The centre-back, who was a part of France’s 2022 World Cup squad, made 27 appearances across all competitions for the Blues and the Villans last term. However, with just 852 Premier League minutes under his belt for both sides, he surely did not play the number of games he may have wanted.

Yet, the Frenchman did impress at Villa Park, despite the lack of football he played last term. Villans boss Unai Emery said in March that Disasi was a player “growing in confidence” the more he played. That came after a Player of the Match performance against Brentford away from home.

As football talent scout Jacek Kulig once said, he is a “dominant” player when at his best.

The Chelsea defender could be the perfect alternative to Scalvini, who also didn’t play in 2024/25. However, that was due to injury, with the 21-year-old first recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, before picking up a shoulder injury which essentially ended his season.

So, last season, the Italy star made just eight appearances. However, in 2023/24, a season in which Atalanta won the Europa League, Scalvini played 44 games. In the final, he played 45 minutes against a Bayer Leverkusen side who had, until that clash, gone invincible. He helped keep a clean sheet and steer his side to a 3-0 win.

With little football for both players last season, it is perhaps tough for the Magpies to judge who is best to sign. However, stats on FBref from the 2023/24 season can be used to help make a better call, with Disasi’s numbers stacking up well against his Italian counterpart.

For example, the Chelsea number two, who will surely leave Stamford Bridge this summer, averaged 3.9 progressive passes and 3.55 clearances per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Atalanta star averaged 4.1 progressive passes and 2.51 progressive passes each game.

Disasi and Scalvini key stats 2023/24 season compared

Stat (per 90)

Disasi

Scalvini

Progressive passes

3.9

4.1

Progressive carries

1.05

1.06

Tackles

1.15

1.87

Clearances

3.5

2.51

Ball recoveries

5.23

5.76

Aerial duel win rate

69.9%

66.7%

Stats from FBref

Whilst there is no doubt that Scalvini would be a good addition for the Magpies, his injury record is a worry, and Disasi could prove to be the dream alternative. The 27-year-old brings experience, progression from the back and good reading of the game, as stats like ball recoveries show.

For just £25m, this could be the dream addition for Newcastle this summer, to enhance the quality they have at the back.

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Manchester United have made ‘first formal contact’ over a move to sign a star who wants to move to Old Trafford rather than Barcelona.

Man Utd looking to upgrade on Hojlund and Onana

It is shaping up to be a frantic few months in the transfer window for the Red Devils, with a major squad overhaul potentially on the cards ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge.

A plethora of players such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho have returned from loan spells and could be moved on permanently, whereas Matheus Cunha became United’s first summer signing.

More attacking additions are on the cards, with a replacement for Rasmus Hojlund being mentioned. The Denmark international has struggled for goals at Old Trafford and has been linked with a return to Serie A.

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Ruben Amorim wants to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

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In fact, Amorim has reportedly made it clear that Hojlund doesn’t feature in his long-term Man Utd plans, with the club looking to sell the forward on a permanent basis, although an initial loan offer which includes an obligation to buy may also be considered.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres are just two strikers who United have spoken about to solve their number nine issues.

Meanwhile, someone who has been heavily linked to replace Andre Onana is World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez.

Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now, there have been recent claims that the Aston Villa star wants to make the move to Old Trafford over the coming months. Now, a promising development has emerged regarding Man Utd and Martinez.

Man Utd make first contact for Emiliano Martinez

According to reports abroad, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd have now made ‘first formal contact’ to sign Martinez from Aston Villa.

It is reported that the Red Devils have approached Martinez’s agent over a deal as they want to make him first choice at Old Trafford over Onana.

They back up reports that Martinez is keen to stay in England despite interest from Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Galatasaray, who have also been in touch. However, with Martinez willing to snub a move to Spain and Turkey, it is added that this ‘further paves the way’ for Martinez to join United.

On £150,000-a-week at Villa Park which works out at £7.8m per season, Martinez’s last trip to Old Trafford was extremely eventful.

The Argentine received a red card on the final day of the 24/25 season as Villa failed to to qualify for the Champions League, and despite no European football being on offer at Old Trafford for now, he seems to be keen on a move to Manchester.

Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 49-ball 50, which bailed India out from a precarious situation on a low-scoring New York surface against USA, wasn’t a typical 360-degree knock, but it impressed his captain.”He showed he’s got a different game as well, that is what you expect from experienced players,” Rohit Sharma said on the official broadcast after India won their third straight game to enter the Super Eight stage. “To come out and bat differently if the situation demands, that is what Surya did. The partnership [67-run stand] with [Shivam] Dube was very important for us. In the end, to take us home was a great effort.”We knew it was going to be a tough task scoring those many runs [111], but credit to us. At the end, we held our nerves, got that partnership as well. We lost wickets upfront but credit to Surya and Dube to show that maturity and take the game till the end.”Related

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Dube finished on 31 off 35, and though he did the job required off him, the scorecard won’t reveal his struggle to force the pace against cutters dug into the surface. Dube was on 5 off 14 balls at one point, but muscled a six off Corey Anderson in the 15th over just as USA were beginning to tighten the screws. Before that shot, India needed 44 from 35.While Dube’s spin-hitting has made him a point of difference in the middle overs for Chennai Super Kings for two IPL seasons now, and led to his selection for the World Cup, he is also expected to chip in with the ball. On Wednesday, Rohit turned to Dube for an over. That went for 11. In a match where 221 runs were scored from 38.2 overs.”I think that is something we want; we want options with us,” Rohit said when asked about Dube the allrounder. “As and when we feel like we can use them, we should be able to use them. Today, I thought we could use them, the pitch had something in it. But yeah, again, all I want is to have options moving forward.”Rohit called the conditions “very tough” for batters, but lauded his bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh, for leading the way. Arshdeep struck twice in his first over – the first of the match – and finished with 4 for 9, his career-best figures in T20Is. Hardik Pandya also picked up two key wickets, of Aaron Jones and Anderson, with short deliveries.”We knew bowlers had to take the lead,” Rohit said. “We knew run-scoring is difficult on this pitch. Again, all our bowlers did the job, particularly Arshdeep, the way he started off was magnificent. Playing cricket here wasn’t easy. It could’ve been anyone’s game.”All three games we played, we had to stick in till the end and take the game as deep as possible. Lucky for us, we managed to pull through in all three games and [we] take a lot of confidence for a victory like this.”Rohit also lauded USA’s Indian-origin players for their performance. Saurabh Netravalkar, the left-arm seamer, was his junior in the Mumbai circuit once upon a time, while Harmeet Singh, the left-arm spinner, went to the same school as him in the Mumbai suburb of Borivali.”Lot of these guys, we’ve played cricket together,” Rohit said. “But I’m very happy to see them, their progress in cricket. Last year, we saw them play in the MLC [Major League Cricket] as well, they’re going from strength to strength, and I can hope for nothing but the best for them. They’re hard-working guys making their mark here in US.”

A Spanish newspaper has shared the truth behind rumours of a Leeds United contract offer to defender Junior Firpo, having spoken directly to the player’s entourage.

Leeds plan busy summer as multiple approaches made

The Whites don’t have to worry about the Championship play-offs this time around; they can sit back and enjoy what unfolds this weekend, knowing they are back in the Premier League. And given Leeds finished their season a couple of weeks ago, the club have already been putting plans in place for where they want to strengthen their side.

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It’s been reported that Leeds are plotting a double transfer swoop on Newcastle United duo Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff. Wilson’s contract at St James’ Park is set to expire at the end of the campaign, and Longstaff is said to be available for around £12 million, meaning both deals are doable for a team coming up from the second tier.

Meanwhile, BBC and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards believes James McAtee would be a fantastic signing for the Whites, having been linked in the last few weeks.

But strengthening their defence may be seen as more of a priority, as West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal has emerged as a potential target, with the 49ers making an approach to West Ham already.

Spanish newspaper makes Firpo contract claim

Signing new full backs may be a top priority given the circumstances surrounding Firpo, whose contract expires at the end of June. His future remains a hot topic of conversation, and according to Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo, Leeds have made a ‘juicy’ contract offer to keep Firpo at the club.

The newspaper references rumours of an agreement on a four-year deal worth £155,000-a-week – a total cost of over £32m.

The Spanish outlet claim they have spoken directly to Firpo’s camp, and while there is an offer on the table, nothing has been agreed yet.

That is because Firpo has received offers from other clubs, with Serie A side Lazio in the mix. It also goes on to add that Real Betis, who have been linked with a move for Firpo for a while now, must accelerate their plans if they want him to return to Spain.

As well as Lazio and Real Betis being interested in signing Firpo, it was also claimed earlier this month that Barcelona are plotting a move, as his agents may have already spoken to the La Liga winners.

Apps

119

Goals

6

Assists

22

The 28-year-old has been at Elland Road since 2021, but in his four seasons at Leeds, it could be argued that the 2024/25 campaign was his best one yet. The left-back scored four goals and registered an impressive 10 assists in 32 Championship games, making him one of the most attacking defenders in the division. Therefore, it is no surprise that Leeds are trying their best to keep hold of a player who could help them a lot in the Premier League.

Liverpool’s second-half collapse may have put a dampener on Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, although the Premier League champions had started the day in rampant mood, after racing into a two-goal lead at Anfield.

Two goals in the space of a minute from Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz came amid that first-half onslaught for the hosts, with the pair having now scored 18 and 17 goals, respectively, this season in all competitions.

With Mohamed Salah – who boasts 33 across all fronts – rounding off that frontline, the trio have been the standout figures in Arne Slot’s attacking unit in 2024/25, with no other player having reached double figures for goals thus far.

While there had been doubts over Diaz’s future at the club, more recent reports suggested that a new deal could be on the cards for the former Porto man. Salah, of course, has already put pen to paper on his long-awaited contract extension.

Games (starts)

35 (17)

33 (21)

Goals

8

10

Scoring frequency

206min

179min

Big chances missed

6

6

Big chances created

5

8

Assists

5

3

Key passes*

0.7

1.0

Pass accuracy*

79%

84%

Successful dribbles*

0.9

0.9

With Gakpo, meanwhile, tied down until 2028, the flanks look to be in a good place for the Merseysiders moving forward. That said, a new wideman could be on the cards this summer…

Liverpool's search for a forward

It is no secret that Liverpool’s priority ahead of next term is likely to be the addition of a new centre-forward, with Darwin Nunez looking set to depart after netting just seven times in total this season.

The primary target would appear to be Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, albeit with the £100m-rated Swede seemingly out of reach, the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are also reportedly under consideration.

Away from the pursuit of a number nine, however, journalist Graeme Bailey has also reported that the Reds could be in the mix for Athletic Club sensation, Nico Williams, with the Spaniard seemingly ‘willing’ to move to England this summer.

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According to Bailey, it is Arsenal and Chelsea who are leading the race at present, although Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool have all made contact with the player’s representatives.

As reported elsewhere, the Euro 2024 winner would be able to depart if any suitor triggers his €58m (£49m) release clause, albeit with one potential sticking point likely to prove his wage demands. The Daily Mail – via GOAL – reported he would be looking to earn more than £400k-per-week, a figure close to what Virgil van Dijk will seemingly be taking home following the signing of his own extension.

Such a salary could prove a real stumbling block for Slot and co, although should a compromise be met, the 22-year-old would be a more than worthy addition to the Anfield ranks.

Why Liverpool could be targeting the next Gakpo

As noted above, Sunday’s stalemate with the Gunners saw Gakpo get on the scoresheet once again, with the 26-year-old nodding home from Andy Robertson’s whipped cross to notch his tenth Premier League goal of the campaign.

That marked the first time that the former PSV Eindhoven man has reached double figures for league goals for the club, after netting 15 times in the 18 months prior to that, following his £35m arrival in January 2023.

Prior to moving to Merseyside, the then-Manchester United target had been a real revelation in his homeland for PSV, having registered 55 goals and 49 assists in 149 games for the Eredivisie giants, offering a relentless threat down the left flank or in a central role.

Such quality had also been on show on the international scene, with Gakpo scoring in every group stage game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, just a matter of months before moving to England.

In many ways, there would be a sense of Deja Vu if young Williams is to follow suit this summer, with the Bilbao wizard having also dazzled in his homeland, with 61 goals and assists in 166 senior games.

That includes a return of 11 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season, amid the Basque side’s surge to the Europa League semi-final, with it no surprise that he has been dubbed “one of the best wingers on the market” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Like Gakpo too, it is for his national team where Williams has perhaps made the bigger splash, having started in six of Spain’s seven games en route to glory last summer, while memorably netting in the showpiece success over England.

A natural right-footer who typically operates off the left flank, much like Gakpo, Williams also emulates his Liverpool counterpart due to his versatility, having also been just as comfortable operating on the opposite side in his career to date,

That flexibility should ensure that the in-demand speedster provides welcome competition and cover for the likes of Diaz, Gakpo and Salah on either flank, with the chance there for Williams to enjoy gradual progression in a Liverpool shirt – much like Gakpo has been afforded the time to do.

As this campaign has already showcased, Slot’s starting lineup looks strong and healthy – now it’s the time to really enhance the squad as a whole with exciting, high potential moves.

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Glasgow Rangers must find a way to get back on top in Scottish football after they missed out on the Premiership title for the fourth season running.

The Light Blues will finish second once again in the top-flight and held the champions to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the last Old Firm clash of the campaign on Sunday.

Cyriel Dessers, as you can see in the clip above, scored the only goal of the game for the Light Blues, but it was not a perfect performance by the Nigeria international.

Cyriel Dessers' performance against Celtic

The experienced centre-forward did incredibly well for his goal with a good run and touch to take Mohammed Diomande’s pass in and then showed strength to hold off Liam Scales before burying his finish past Viljami Sinisalo.

Unfortunately, though, Dessers did not show that strength for much of the game, as he lost all four of his ground duels and lost four of his five aerial battles.

The former Cremonese striker also completed just 53% (7/13) of his attempted passes in the match, which means that the forward struggled out of possession and with the ball at his feet outside of his goal.

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One player who was worse than the goalscorer, though, was attacking midfielder Nedim Bajrami, who should be ruthlessly ditched by the 49ers this summer.

Why Nedim Bajrami should be sold

The Albania international, who joined the club from Sassuolo last summer, was selected to start as part of the attacking set-up against the Hoops and was even worse than Dessers.

Barry Ferguson’s number nine, at least, scored the only goal of the game for the Light Blues to make up for the rest of his disappointing display. Whereas, Bajrami made little to no impact at the top end of the pitch in his time on the field.

Vs Celtic

Nedim Bajrami

Minutes

66

Ground duels won

2/2

Aerial duels won

1/1

Pass accuracy

72%

Crosses completed

0/2

Shots

0

Key passes

0

Big chances created

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Albanian forward did not create any chances or take any shots as Sinisalo’s goal, but did show some good fight to win all three of his duels.

This shows that he was even worse than Dessers because the Nigeria international made a telling contribution in front of goal and created one chance for the team, whilst the ex-Serie B ace offered nothing in that respect.

Ultimately, Bajrami is an attacking player who should be in the team to make things happen in the final third, and he has not done that consistently enough this season.

The 26-year-old flop has scored three goals and provided one assist in 38 appearances in the Premiership and the Europa League combined this term, including just two goals in 27 league matches for the club.

It is now down to the incoming owners and the new manager to ruthlessly move Bajrami on in the summer transfer window, after what has been an underwhelming debut season at Ibrox, because he has not proven that the quality is there for him to be a key player moving forward.

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Manchester City are now keen on signing a former Manchester United player this summer, with Pep Guardiola looking to strengthen his defence, according to a report.

Man City targeting new left-back

Man City’s rebuild commenced in the January transfer window, with the likes of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez being brought in, and more reinforcements will be needed this summer, with Kevin De Bruyne set to leave.

Guardiola is also keen to bolster his options at left-back, given that Josko Gvardiol is one of the manager’s only options, and City are said to be in constant contact with AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez, who may now be available for just £30m this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie is also of interest to the Sky Blues, with new sporting director Hugo Viana pushing to sign the Italian, who he has been tracking since 2021, although it is unclear whether Spurs would be willing to strengthen a direct rival.

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According to a report from Spain, Man City have identified six targets at left-back, including Benfica’s Alvaro Carreras, who has enjoyed an outstanding season in the Liga Portugal.

Given his impressive form, Carreras is now among the City coaching staff’s favourite targets at left-back, indicating that Guardiola is a big fan, but a significant bid may be needed to prise him away from Benfica, given the 22-year-old’s importance to the Portuguese side.

Amid links to Liverpool earlier this season, it was revealed the left-back has a £42m release clause included in his Benfica contract, but it is unclear whether the Sky Blues would need to fork out the full amount to get a deal done.

Carreras impressing in the Champions League

There are clear signs the full-back could be able to make the step-up to a club of City’s stature, having put in some top performances in the Champions League this season, with reporter Alvaro de Grado describing him as one of the competition’s “revelations”.

The Spaniard made ten appearances in Europe’s elite competition, providing two assists prior to his side’s exit at the hands of Barcelona, while he has also impressed defensively over the past year, ranking highly across some key metrics.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.20 (86th percentile)

Interceptions

2.0 (99th percentile)

Blocks

1.50 (84th percentile)

Not only that, but the former Manchester United man has been indispensable for Benfica in the Liga Portugal, scoring an impressive goal in his side’s 4-1 triumph against FC Porto earlier this season.

It is clear that Guardiola will need to bring in a new left-back this summer, with the manager lacking options in that area of the pitch, and Carreras could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.

He has shown how dangerous he can be as a spin-hitter, but his bowling remains a work in progress

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jan-20242:38

Can Shivam Dube be India’s crisis man?

Every time Shivam Dube hits a six, commentators, the media and fans bring Yuvraj Singh into the conversation. The comparisons are mostly about the bat swing, the timing, the power and the fluidity of the stroke as the ball flies deep and high into the stands.Dube would be the first to point out that Yuvraj was a different style of batter who could dominate all bowling attacks at the highest level in high-pressure situations. And he could bowl and was an ace fielder as a youngster. At his best, all this made him a near-complete allrounder in white-ball cricket, and Dube is working hard on becoming just that.If there is a similarity between the two, it is their effortless manner of hitting sixes. Dube showed off this ability in the first two T20Is against Afghanistan. And it is this six-hitting prowess that stands him apart from other contenders who are eyeing the seam-bowling allrounder’s spot behind Hardik Pandya in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup this June.Related

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Shivam Dube joins the IPL's six-hitting elite

In IPL 2023, no batter hit more sixes against spin than Dube’s 22. Dube, who plays for Chennai Super Kings, hit 20 of those sixes in the middle overs (7-16).With a cut-off of at least 100 runs in this phase, only Heinrich Klaasen (185.34) and Sanju Samson (172.17) had better strike rates than Dube’s 172.07. But Klaasen (116 balls) and Samson (115 balls) hit 16 and 18 sixes respectively against spin in the middle overs while facing more deliveries than Dube (111 balls).In the IPL 2023, Dube batted everywhere from No. 3 to 6 and played impactful knocks at almost every position. He was behind Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad in terms of most runs for CSK but played an equally important hand in MS Dhoni’s team winning their fifth IPL title.Shivam Dube was Chennai Super Kings’ designated spin-hitter during IPL 2023•BCCIAfter making his India debut in 2019, Dube retreated quickly to the domestic circuit after failing to make an impression at the international level. Looked upon as a back-up to Hardik, Dube did not raise any compelling reason, either as a batter or bowler, for selectors and the team management to persist with him.However, in the last two years, under the guidance of Dhoni, Dube has steadily blossomed into a match-winner, though specifically as a batter. The short ball was a big weakness for Dube. He had tried to counter it by playing aggressively, but that approach wasn’t really working for him. So in the last IPL, he took a step back and found a compromise solution against the short ball in the middle overs – he was only out once to fast bowling at that length, while scoring at just over a run a ball – while maintaining an overall strike rate of just under 130 against fast bowling in that phase.Playing percentage cricket against pace ensured that Dube was able to make the most of his assigned match-up: taking down spin. Such an approach was responsible for several defining knocks in the IPL: in the final against Gujarat Titans, and before that against Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.Batting at No. 4 against Afghanistan, Dube performed a similar role in the first two matches, making unbeaten half-centuries playing high-voltage cricket, especially against the spinners. A good example of why the selectors and the team management are excited about his ability in the middle overs came in Indore where he was on 7 from as many deliveries before dashing to 50 off 22. Against spin, he hit 36 runs off just 15 balls. It included three successive sixes off Mohammad Nabi, who has an impressive record against left-hand batters.Though he was dismissed cheaply by a moving delivery in Bengaluru, Dube won his maiden Player-of-the-Series award. He did not hide the fact that he was proud to do what allrounders are meant to do: make a difference.While he has barely bowled in the IPL for CSK, India used him in mini-spells against Afghanistan. Head coach Rahul Dravid said he and captain Rohit Sharma were satisfied with Dube’s efforts with the ball despite being asked to bowl at “challenging” times in each match.So is Dube the allrounder a viable option for India’s T20 World Cup squad? Dravid would not commit, but observed that Dube had returned as an “improved” player. “He has certainly put his hand up and said, ‘Look, here I am and these are the skills I possess, and if you are looking for something like that, I have got this ability,'” Dravid said after the series. “He really showed us that he has got some really good ability through those middle overs against spin. Also with the ball. He bowled some good overs and he has learned some lessons as well that it can be a very unforgiving bowling in a place like Bangalore.”Shivam Dube scored at a strike rate of 158.97 during the Afghanistan series•BCCIThose on the outside, too, feel Dube is a strong contender to play as an allrounder, specialising in hitting spin through the middle overs while delivering an over or two in a match, giving India a sixth bowling option.”He looks like a late bloomer, which is fine,” former India batter WV Raman says. “Regardless of how much cricket he has played [for India], he has been around for a while, which means he has got the experience. The situation at the moment is right for him to step up and contribute in more ways than one. I would consider him as one of the all-round options.”As a bowler, though, Dube remains a work in progress. Against Afghanistan, he returned figures of 1 for 9 (2 overs), 1 for 36 (3 overs) and 1 for 25 (2 overs). Barring one over at the death in Indore, he bowled in the middle overs. While he is tall and well-built, Dube doesn’t generate a lot of pace and bowls mostly in the early to mid 120s (kph) range, relying more on his slower deliveries.Raman is not concerned about Dube’s lack of pace. “It is not about pace,” he says. “It’s about variations he can conjure and how he can implement them. He has developed the back-of-the-hand delivery and he also rolls his fingers on the offcutter. He has time to develop at least one more variation, possibly a yorker or a slow bouncer. If he can get reasonable control over these deliveries, because of his height he can pose an awkward challenge for the batter. Because of his tall stature, the yorker becomes difficult [to hit] and the slower bouncer, too, can be difficult for the batter to gain any control [against] and play an attacking shot.”The question for Dube, as for every other contender for the allrounder’s role, is how frequently he can replicate his good performances. Both Dravid and Raman agree that IPL 2024 will be a good testing ground.Now that he has had a taste of winning matches for India, Dube is hungry and keen to evolve and make the T20 World Cup squad. After the Indore T20I, he said he knew he needed to persist with all the things he was doing that allowed him to execute plans with confidence. “It is not just about skill,” he said. “It is about mentally how you play the T20 game, how you handle the pressure of which bowler you take on. So that is more important. Being focused on every ball from my side is very important. Not hitting wild.”Wise words. Even Yuvraj would agree with them.

Four capped Indians, one uncapped player, and some decorated overseas players are among the front-runners

Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Sundararaman08-Feb-2022Shreyas Iyer
Set 1 – Marquee players
Base price: INR 2 crore
Role: BatterAge, batting talent, brand potential and success as a leader have made Shreyas Iyer such a compelling choice, that franchise officials believe he could end up being the most expensive buy at the auction. As a batter, Iyer has not done much since 2015, when he made his debut for Delhi Daredevils and finished as the Emerging Player of the IPL having scored the most runs – 437 – by a debutant (a record he held until 2018). Handed captaincy midway through IPL 2018, Iyer showed character and led the Capitals to two successive play-offs, including their first final (in 2020). But once the franchise had decided to retain Rishabh Pant as the captain last IPL, Iyer opted to head to the auction this time. IPL teams prefer an Indian player as a long-term captaincy option. Moreover, Iyer is also part of the bunch along with Pant and KL Rahul, who are looked at as future India captains. Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders could be on the lookout for captains. Even the likes of Chennai Super Kings will look for a replacement for MS Dhoni, who is likely to be playing his final IPL this season. Don’t be surprised if the Capitals, too, express interest as that would help them nearly retain the core from the past few seasons.David Warner
Set 1 – Marquee players
Base price : INR 2 crore
Role: Opening BatterNot many would have predicted David Warner to go under the hammer. Warner is an IPL legend. He is the most successful overseas player in the history of the league. Between seasons 2014 to 2020, Warner amassed 3819 runs at an average of 52.31 and strike rate of 144.98. Virat Kohli was next on the runs tally, with 3605 runs, but at a strike rate of 135.27. But the truly astonishing thing was that Warner achieved his tally despite missing out entirely on IPL 2018. He won the orange cap twice and led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title in 2016. Warner’s biggest strength in the IPL is his ability to play spin and his consistency. Warner has scored over 500 runs in six successive seasons he was part of, and sored them at a healthy strike rate and average. One bad IPL season in 2021 and a few off the field events changed his fortunes. However, Warner was back among the runs as he won the player of the tournament award in the T20 World Cup that took place immediately after IPL 2021. An overseas opener and a seasoned IPL player, Warner still has a lot to offer. There could be some teams who might not be keen on Warner in the set-up, but there will be more teams that do want him, and all of them will have to budget well to get him. Being an IPL-winning captain to boot, Warner could easily slip into the leadership group, if not the leading role itself.He’s back. Ishan Kishan unfurls the big hits once again•BCCIIshan Kishan
Set 4 – Wicketkeepers
Base price: INR 2 crore
Role: Wicketkeeper-batterScouts believe he hits the ball much harder than Pant. That he has a better base than Pant during his set-up. And like Pant, he is short, but recognised as one of the most dangerous powerhitters. He is just 23, but Ishan Kishan has a powerful CV as a wicketkeeper-batter. In IPL 2020, Kishan clubbed a record-breaking 30 sixes, which played a huge role in him ending up as Mumbai Indians’ highest run-getter in their title run. Kishan had shown he was well worth the INR 6.2 crore Mumbai had paid him at the 2018 auction, nearly 35 times the price Gujarat Lions had bagged him for in IPL 2016, after he had emerged as a young talent having led India to the Under-19 World Cup final that year. In the last two IPLs, Kishan scored 757 runs for Mumbai with six fifties, averaging over 40 and striking over 140. Last IPL, he demolished the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack on the way to a 16-ball half-century, the fastest last edition as well as being quickest ever for Mumbai. Kishan’s greatest success has come as an opener at Mumbai, but he showed he could bat in the middle order too, something he has also done in red-ball cricket for India A. As a power-hitting wicketkeeper-batter, Kishan is an allrounder that virtually every franchise would covet. Consequently, despite not featuring in the opening rounds of the auction, franchises are likely to dedicate a massive sum for him.Deepak Chahar
Set 5 – Fast bowlers
Base price: INR 2 crore
Role: Fast bowling allrounderTwo of the best batting performances in ODI cricket in the last year come from the flashing blade of Deepak Chahar. Both heroic performances, one which ended in a win – against Sri Lanka – and the other nearly won India a match – against South Africa – showed that Chahar has added another string to his bow. He will be looked at as a bowling allrounder now. A Powerplay specialist with the ball at Chennai Super Kings, the franchise he played for since 2018, Chahar picked up 42 of his 58 wickets in the first six overs. That was 15 more than the next best, Trent Boult, in the last four IPL seasons (2018 to 2021). During this period, Chahar was also the leading wicket-taker for Super Kings, who won the IPL twice. Chahar can swing the ball early, and also has a killer knuckle ball which he is not shy to employ with the new ball. Historically, barring the record sum of INR 11.50 crore that Rajasthan Royals paid for Jaydev Unadkat in 2018, no Indian fast bowler has ever fetched an auction price above the 10-crore mark. Then again, there have been no proven Indian fast bowlers who showed they could win matches with the bat either, till Chahar came along.Jason Holder
Set 3 – Allrounders
Base price: INR 1.5 crores
Role: Fast bowling allrounderJason Holder’s stocks are rising, and rising rapidly. Chennai Super Kings (2013) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014) picked him very early in his career at low prices. Then in 2020, he went unsold and was picked up as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh by Sunrisers. Holder’s IPL performances went to the next level, taking 30 wickets at an average of 16 and scoring 151 runs, often at crucial times. However, most of his wickets have come in the UAE, so the question of whether he can replicate that in India remains. His height allows him to extract bounce from a good length and his ability to play spin is a big strength. Not many players can give you four overs across phases and bat in the top six. Holder was the player of the series in the recently concluded T20Is against England, taking important wickets at the top of the order. Among the first 170 names in the auction roster, there are only nine overseas players who have listed themselves as pace bowling allrounders. Holder’s competition are Pat Cummins, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Marsh, Dominic Drakes, Marco Jansen, Chris Jordan, Jimmy Neesham and Odean Smith. Marsh does not bowl and is injury prone, while Bravo is 37. With teams wanting to lock up their playing XI as soon as possible, one can expect some fierce bidding for Holder. He is also likely to cross the 10-crore mark.Yuzvendra Chahal – will he fetch more than any wristspinner has ever got?•RCBYuzvendra Chahal
Set 6 – Spinners
Base price: INR 2 crore
Role: Lead wristspinnerNo bowler has more than the139 wickets Yuzvendra Chahal has taken in IPL since 2014, the year he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore. It is remarkable that Chahal has managed that despite playing a healthy proportion of his matches in the pocket-sized Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Only Rashid Khan stands in front of Chahal in terms of consistency and impact as a wristspinner. Chahal might have lost the speed and confidence in the last couple of years, but recently he has shown his rhythm is back. While the Royal Challengers did not retain Chahal – unless the legspinner wanted to head to the auction – it would not be a surprise if the franchise bid for him keenly again. Virtually each of the 10 franchises will be on the lookout for a wristspinner, a category that does not have too many quality options, especially when it comes to Indian players. In 2018, Royal Challengers retained Chahal using the right-to-match card for INR 6 crore. Chahal has now shown the potential that he can become the first wristspinner to breach the 10-crore mark.Shahrukh Khan
Set 8 – Uncapped allrounders
Base price: INR 40 lakhs
Role: Power-hitting finisherFinishing a T20 innings is one of the hardest roles to play. Very few have had consisten success in that role. The likes of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya are a few names that come to mind. On an average, batters at 6 and 7 get just 7-10 balls an innings. To create an impact in such a short time is hard. To fill that position with a specialist in a 10-team IPL becomes critical. With not many overseas finishers around, franchises might look for an Indian to play that role. That is where Shahrukh Khan’s promise and performance becomes critical. At over 6’4″ Shahrukh is a towering presence and is muscular like Pollard. Not many in Indian cricket can hit the ball as hard and far as Shahrukh, according to franchise scouts, who have witnessed his batting for Tamil Nadu in domestic white-ball cricket. His strike rate of 181 in the last two seasons of the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali is the fifth-best, and his strike rate of 139.62 in the last two seasons of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy is the second-best after Suryakumar Yadav. He has also smashed 29 sixes in the Vijay Hazare over the last two seasons, the joint-highest with Venkatesh Iyer. All that prompted Punjab Kings to pay Shahrukh INR 5.25 crore in the 2021 auction. However, they couldn’t find him a regular spot in the team. In the opportunities he has got in the IPL, he has scored 153 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 134.21. Indian cricket has been trying hard to find a back-up for Hardik as a finisher who can bowl, and Shahrukh’s selection for the ongoing ODI leg of the West Indies series will come as a boost for the uncapped player on the eve of the auction.Kagiso RabadaSet 1- Marquee players
Base price : INR 2 crore
Role: Fast bowlerKagiso Rabada has taken the most wickets in the IPL in the last three seasons: 70 wickets at a strike rate of 14.4 and an economy of 8.13. When you look at the stats on the surface, it reads very well. However, when you dig a bit deeper, 45% of his wickets are of batters at six or below and he has conceded 55 sixes – the most by any bowler during this period. While Rabada is a wicket-taker, he could leak many runs as well. The gap between Rabada’s best and worst is significant. But the reason Rabada features in this list is because he can generate 140-plus speeds consistently, not break sweat while bowling Super Overs, something he did more than once at his previous franchise Delhi Capitals, and is one of the fittest bowlers. A fast bowler who can bowl extreme pace and take wickets is one of the most sought-after commodities in the IPL. Multiple teams will be seeking a fast bowler on their first XI sheet, and that automatically means Rabada will gain traction considering he is also among the first 10 players in the auction.